Here’s the cool thing that I piqued my interest – they would meet and have church.  That’s right, in the pursuit of their passion or interest they would have worship, Bible study, pray for one another, and share the gospel – all the things that we do in “church.”

Then it hit me!  How many guys do I know who have definitive interests – fishing, hunting, cycling, motorcycles, lifting weights, running, technology, finances, their jobs, and a bajillion more I just don’t have time to jot down, that could use those gifts, passions, and interests to reach out to other guys?

I remember when I lived in Lufkin, Texas I rode with the Angelina Bike Club.  We met every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to ride mile after mile together.  Some went to my church, some attended other churches, some didn’t go to church at all.  But cycling was my bridge to this group.  It was what I lived for.  I prayed for them.  I encouraged them.  They encouraged me.  And I got the chance to minister to those guys.

When I moved to Saraland, AL I bought my first Harley.  Man! Did I have a blast using that bike that reach out to people. . .to guys in the same way.  Tom Briand and I went on many a ride on our Harleys.  We prayed together.  We encouraged each other and on several occasions we were able to encourage other guys.

What about you, men?  What’s your passion or interest?  And how can you use it to reach out to the men in your circle of influence?  What if you said something like, “God, I love doing/participating in ________________, I give it to you to reach men who share the same passion.“  Then, you begin open your eyes to who God leads you to.  You may have to join a club or organization.  Maybe not.  You may have to hang out with some guys you normally wouldn’t.  But aren’t those the guys we want to reach anyway?!

If we are going to change our families and communities we are going to have to change the hearts of men.  And that takes men willing to take a risk.  Men who will use their interests, hobbies, and passions to reach out to guys from all walks of life. It will take men who are willing to be bold.  Men who are willing to step out on faith and trust God.

Take the challenge!

Mike

I’m reading Tony Dungy’s autobiography, Quiet Strength. It’s a great read and focuses on his struggles and personal walk with God as it does his coaching career. As I read it I’m reminded and discovering some secrets of leadership that have helped Coach Dungy throughout his carer as a coach, father, husband, and Christ-follower.

Here are a few of them:

• Do what we do and do it better than anyone else – don’t try to be like someone else’s business or ministry and don’t let others dictate what you should do
• Do the ordinary things extraordinary – just do the small things well
• Focus on the fundamentals – focus on the basics of what you do, you don’t have to get fancy schmancy
• No excuses, no explanations – stop looking for and finding excuses why you can’t do something
• Focus on the job, not the surroundings – leaders don’t have to have the best, the greatest, nor the latest of everything to be successful
• Whatever it takes – do whatever it takes to be and do what God has called you to be and do
• Worrying about stuff is God’s job, just do what He’s called you to do – don’t worry about your job, finances, or what others think of you, just do what God’s called you to do
• Trust God that all things work together for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose, even when it doesn’t feel good to me – either you believe this or not, irregardless of your circumstance

I know some of these may be re-stated or redundant, but I like the way he says them. They seem to ring a bell with me. I’m still reading and as I find more leadership nuggets I’ll share them with you as I discover them myself.

Mike

I was lead to this question by God during consecutive quiet times just before the new year. Allow me to explain. After Christmas I asked God what He wanted from me this year. Yeah, I know the easy answer – “Your heart!” or “Your life.” or several Sunday School answers. And these wouldn’t be wrong. But that wasn’t what I was looking for, nor was it what God wanted me to discover – at least I don’t think it was.

Instead God lead me to John 6:1-13. It’s a very familiar passage to many of us. Reading it we find that it’s where Jesus feeds the 5,000 (considering all that was recorded were men, estimates are upwards to around 10,000 people). Through this passage there’s a couple of unique lessons God wanted me to learn and I want to share with you as 2008 gets kicked off.

Trust God to provide for you

As we begin reading we are allowed to listen in on Jesus’ conversation with Philip: Hey Phil, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” But we’re also privy to the thoughts of Jesus – He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. You see, God didn’t expect Phil to provide for the people. As a matter of fact Jesus asked him a where question, because Jesus already knew the how. Jesus was simply testing Phil, just like He tests you and me.

Philip’s answer was about the means. . .the how. He responded to Jesus’ question, “No matter how much money we have, it won’t be enough to buy what we need.” Of course looking back we think, what was Phil thinking? This is Jesus. He could do whatever he wanted to! Yet, we often respond like Philip. Ever responded to God like Him, He asks something of you and the first thing you mention is how you can’t do it? He asks you to trust Him and the first thing you do is tell Him how you can’t do something for God.

When we trust God to provide whatever it is we need – peace, love, direction, fellowship, companionship, finances, solutions, etc. – we have to leave the how up to Him. Why? Because He already knows how he will provide. He’s just waiting for you and me to trust Him. Don’t fall into the “How” trap. That is a trap of faithlessness.

Surrender your stuff to God

I’m cleaning out closets and getting rid of a lot of stuff. See, I’m a pack rat. I hate throwing stuff away. Why? You guessed it, I might need it later. Right? You know what I mean?

Listen, God started this process in my heart last year and it’s a lesson I’m still learning – stuff is just stuff. It doesn’t do any good to hold on to it. If you’re thinking its about memories or value or whatever, let me assure you I have plenty of reasons to hang onto stuff. But God has reminded me it’s just stuff. The memories are in my heart and in my mind. They will never go away. And the value – Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-21 that our hearts shouldn’t be set on the stuff of earth, especially things with monetary value. What if they all burned up in a fire? What would I do then? Where’s the value?

Instead, give your stuff over to God. Remember, though, stuff doesn’t just mean our physical goods. It means our abilities, our passions, our giftedness, our fears, our situations, our relationships. I told God I would turn my teaching abilities, my limited writing experience, my desire to read and study His Word, my ministries, my relationships, my marriage, my fears, my anxieties, my emotions (especially my anger and temper), my feelings all over to Him. Yeah, there’s some big things in there, but there’s also some things that I would consider little things or maybe not as consequential as others. That’s what God is waiting for you know?

Reading the passage in John we find a little boy gave up his 5 biscuits and 2 sardines. This was probably all he had. Barley loaves and fish were the food of the poor, so this wasn’t donated out of extravagance. It wasn’t like the boy said, “Here, take this, I’ve got plenty!” No, it was probably all he had. I wonder, was he the only person in the entire crowd that had food? If he wasn’t, then why didn’t others give up their meals? Probably for the same reason we don’t: It’s all I’ve got! If I give it I’ll have nothing. Yet a child said here, take it.
It’s like that with our stuff. God is wanting what you have. No guarantees. The boy had no guarantee that he would get any of the food back. But it didn’t stop him from giving it up.

Thank God for everything, even the small stuff

When Jesus received the biscuits and fish the first thing He did (after having the people sit down) was to thank God for it. It was all there was, nothing more. Just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Yet, Christ raised it up and thanked God for what He had provided. Jesus didn’t question God. He didn’t complain about what He didn’t have. He thanked God for the little bit they did have.

I have to say, this is the most difficult lesson for me to accept. I struggle with the stuff I don’t have. I complain, whine, cry, and plead with God for the stuff I don’t have – like enough money to pay bills, rather than thank Him for the house I have, the fact that I haven’t been late paying any of our bills, for a wonderfully supportive wife, clothes to wear, food to eat, opportunity to trust Him and grow in my faith, a loving family, I could go on, but there’s no need.

What about you? Do you complain to God for what you don’t have or thank God for what you do have – no matter how small or insignificant it appears to be?

Expect God to do the impossible in and through you -

When Jesus distributed the bread I think He knew that everyone there would eat well. John tells us that when they had enough to eat – i.e., when everyone was full – they gathered 12 baskets of leftovers. Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing? Watch Jesus lift up a handful of food and then watch everyone eat until they’re satisfied? OH MAN!!

Getting back to that little boy – I wonder if 5 biscuits and 2 sardines would have filled him up? Don’t know. But I do know he at to his heart’s content. I also wonder what he thought has he saw his “little” donation go farther and farther and farther and. . .?

Do you expect God to do the impossible in and through you? Do your pray believing? Do you surrender and trust believing? Jesus reminded us “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Do you want God to do the impossible in and through you? I tend to think there’s a lot of us who want the comfort and security we have now rather than risking letting go of it so we can He can bless us with an armful.

I’m expecting God to do something powerful in and through me this year. There’s a lot I could accomplish and do in my power, but I learning to want and desire the impossibilities of God. I hope you will, too.

Mike

In all honesty, there are times and parts of my life that I don’t trust God for or with. Take my finances. I should be trusting God like crazy right now. I’m beginning a new ministry, I’ve got bills to pay, and I’m getting married in 11 days. But every month I get ancy when bills come due and there’s little or no money in the account. Yet. . .every month God provides whatever I need to pay bills.

Speaking of the ministry, I don’t always trust God with the ministry, either. I don’t always pray for and expect Him to provide opportunities to speak and share. I’m sure I could go on and on, but the real question I must ask myself everyday is, “What am I trusting God for today – and expecting Him to provide?”

What about you? What are you trusting God for today? Are you trusting Him with your marriage? Are you trusting Him with your children? Are you trusting Him with your business or work? Are you trusting Him with your faith? Or your attitude? Or your joy?

Let me caution you here. God is not a magic genie who grants our every wish and I do not subscribe to the name it and claim it philosophy of religion. But I do know that if you will delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4). And if you ask, according to God’s Word – nothing contrary to His nature or His will – He will grant it, if He so desires. It may not be what you want, the way you want, or when you want. But, expect it!! Keep trusting Him. Keep putting it in His hands. Expect more than you already do.

Then wait and watch. Be sensitive to His leading and where’s He’s working. When you see Him leading you and providing, receive it!

So what are you trusting God for today?

Mike