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You gotta have FAITH, BOY!!!

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This past weekend my dad flew up to Chicago and spent a long weekend with my family and I.  Needless to say, I had other commitments that I had to find a sub as some family events had to trump what would have been my "fun".  So I asked my good friend Dave (from Faith Boy) to stand in for me and play a round of charity golf.I was so surprised by the course of his day that I asked him to do a guest blog for all of us...here it is:

Dante called me to ask if I would be able to take his place at a golf outing since he was unable to make it.  I thanked him for thinking of me and inviting me but kindly declined because I had never golfed before.  Dante encouraged me to go so I could try out the sport and to enjoy fellowship with the other guys in the group.  So, I decided to go not knowing what to expect or whether I would have any talent at golfing.  I enjoyed the time on the green with my 3 Christian brothers from Men of Faith and enjoyed God's beauty around me.  I think I'm taking a liking to golf; I pleasantly enjoyed it after my much encouragement from my fellow players who also encourage me to be strong in Jesus Christ.  It is brothers like them that make my walk stronger with my Savior.  After the 18 holes, the golf outing was over.  By the way, this was not a Christian golf outing.  The four of us decided to eat dinner in the country club's restaurant.  After getting our food and before eating, we prayed together.  We really enjoyed one another's company and Christ was the center of the conversation.  After an hour an a half, most of the other golfers who were at the outing left.  There was a verbal altercation at the bar in the restaurant and one of the guys in our group kindly asked them to take it outside.  They didn't take kindly to our request but after a few minutes, they calmed down.  One part of our conversation was about brokeness and how Jesus helps us through our hurts and trials.  Soon after, the waitress brought coffee to our table.  Here's the great part of the story: the waitress turns to me and the other guys and says, "I was drawn to your conversation and I'm looking for God in my life."  Of course, I was blown away how the Holy Spirit works and the opportunities He presents to us.  I had a chance to tell her that what she said was awesome before she walked away.  Christ was tugging at my heart to say more to her later.  In the meantime, all of the commotion at the bar stopped and at least 4 guys who were at the bar, came to our table and said they were so sorry about what happened at the bar.  I was also blown away by this - before leaving for the night, I got a chance to tell the waitress that one of our church locations was across from the country club.  I encouraged her to attend.  She said that  she already heard about it and was thinking about going.  She couldn't believe that we were from that same Church.  Wow - that's just how the Holy Spirit works.  Maybe that's the confirmation she needs to start going to Church and having a relationship with Jesus and that's our confirmation that Jesus' light was shining through us!  What a great time it was to be with like minded brothers in Christ.  Always bring Christ with you no matter where you go and His grace and glory will always show up.

Thanks Dave, great testimony!

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Sometimes we just have to live it to show it to get it in order to share it!

Our role is to encourage, comfort and encourage others to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ!

Blessings,

Dante

Accountability, Integrity, Men's Groups and more

We are Men of Faith.  I would like to tell you about a special group of men that started over 6 years ago.  The original six men came back from a men's overnight retreat and decided that they wanted more out of this special weekend.  They decided that they would meet early Saturday mornings from 6:30am to 8am.  The reason for the time was that it would put them back home early enough for their wives (families) and they wouldn't miss the whole day with family.  This original six decided to do the right thing and invite more men to this group, who invited more men to the group and so on.This special group started out by reading Scripture, talking about real life issues and praying together.  In some cases, they even helped guys who weren't comfortable in praying out loud to pray together as a community of believers.

Over the years, this special group has expanded into worship (there is nothing like a group of 25 to 40 guys singing with a guitar and worshiping the Lord).  We start the morning out now with songs, prayer, bible study and a lively discussion.

What this group is:  1) A safe place (what is said in there stays in there) 2) A place for life transformation (that is, we have a simple formula:  Pray, Sing/Worship, open the Bible and then the Holy Spirit does the rest).  3) A place to find accountability, mentors, and friends to carry your burdens.

 

What this group isn't:  1) A place for gossip 2) a place of disunity and discord 3) a social club.

What are you missing?  I guess what I am asking to all of our readers is this:  Are you meeting with other brothers (a men's group), accountability partner(s), a mini-church?  Are you reading your word daily and spending quiet time with the Lord?  Are you allowing the Lord to have your entire life or are you separating only what you want to give him? 

I would strongly encourage you to seek, serve and get involved in men's group (mini-church) near you.  I would encourage you to start one (with approval from your church leaders) and do exactly that (Open the word, sing, pray and yield to the Holy Spirit).

It is transformational!   What are you waiting for?

Dante

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

Often times I find myself in hills and valleys and sometimes both in the course of a day given that we live and work in a world that is fading.  Sometimes when I catch myself feeling low and or isolated I start to think on things that are Kingdom minded.So many times we read about self help books and ways to make ourselves better.  Somewhere along the line I think we miss the true element of Christianity - It is all about Jesus! He is the way, the truth and the life and that no man can come to the Father but through Him.  For all have sinned and come short...

I used to be very annoyed about the Apostle Peter.  I mean, seriously, he walked with Jesus and was a trusted friend.  I mean, after all, Jesus said to him, "Peter, upon this Rock, I will build my church."  Then I start looking through the Bible and realize that all men are sinful and come short of the glory of God.  Let's take a look at Peter's life:

THE GOOD:  Mark 8:27  And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BAD:  Mark 8:31  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man mustsuffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  

THE UGLY:  Mark 14:26  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29  Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same."  Then you know the rest of the story...he did exactly as Jesus predicted.

 

 

 

THE REDEMPTION & HOPE OF JESUS:  

Acts 2:14-41

English Standard Version (ESV)

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[a] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,and your young men shall see visions,and your old men shall dream dreams;18 even on my male servants[b] and female servantsin those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.19 And I will show wonders in the heavens aboveand signs on the earth below,blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;20 the sun shall be turned to darknessand the moon to blood,before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[c] delivered up according tothe definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;my flesh also will dwell in hope.27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,or let your Holy One see corruption.28 You have made known to me the paths of life;you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30  Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at my right hand,35     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain thatGod has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

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What I find interesting here is that even after our most ugliest moments in life, when we have the love of Jesus and the salvation and redemption that only comes from him, then great things can still happen to all of us.  That is, when we submit and obey to God's will in our life, then He will use us for his kingdom purpose(s).

Now for the rest of the story:  Peter's life was good, bad and ugly.  But he had at least one moment (and many more as he grew in wisdom, humility and obedience).  He was instrumental leader and well respected in the church of Jesus Christ.  He was a faithful giant among the saints.  Jesus saw something in Peter that Peter didn't even know existed.  Jesus believed in him and loved him and redeemed him and grew him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is a hope for each and everyone of else.  Do you believe?  Will you submit and obey?  Will you allow God to lead you in his Kingdom will?

Dante

The Grace of Anger, from Dr. Gary Chapman

The Grace of AngerFrom Dr. Gary Chapman

Ephesians 4:17–32 ~ The Grace of Anger

I.  “You have not conceived of anger as being a gift of God to us but I believe it is.  I think anger is the most misunderstood emotion and it is certainly the most mis-managed human emotion.”

“Every human you will ever meet will experience the human emotion of anger.”

1) What is the Source of Anger? ~ Anger is rooted in the Nature of God 1 John 4:8 ~ God is love, 1 Peter 1:16 ~ God is holy therefore the Scripture teaches that God is angry every day with the wicked (Psalm 7:11). The Scriptures never says God is anger but they do say that because God is love and God is holy He experiences anger every day.

Why Do We Experience Anger?

Because we are made in the image of God and we have a concern for righteousness and justice.

(Gen. 1:27)

2) What is the Purpose of Anger?

It is to motivate us to take constructive action. All great social reform was born out of anger.

God is our Model. How Does He Handle Anger?

a. God punishes the wrong-doer ~ (Rom. 12:19) Do not take revenge but leave room for

God’s wrath. 1 Peter 3:9 – He doesn’t take pleasure in that.

b. He announces impending judgment and calls people to repentance ~ (Jer. 3:12-13 & Jonah 3:9-10).

“He says if you continue in this road I am bringing judgment I am calling you to repentance and when you repent God’s answer has served a positive purpose.”

On the Human Level There Are Different Types of Anger:

a. Definitive Anger  ~ someone wronged you or someone else

Galatians 2:11-14  – “You and I encounter wrongs, people wrong us and we sometimes wrong other people. It is godly anger it is based on God’s nature and our nature.”

b. Distorted anger ~ when no wrong has been committed (Cain is an example in Gen. 4:4-7).

Naaman the leper, 2 Kings 5:9-12 – “Was his anger legitimate, the prophet told him how to be healed but he didn’t do it the way Naaman thought he should’ve done it. A lot of our anger is because people don’t do  things the way we  think they should do it and it’s not legitimate.”

“It is not a sin to forget.”

3) How Do We Process Anger?

a. Admit Your Anger (Ephesians 4:26) ~ being angry, sin not.

“It’s not a sin to feel anger. But people often sin when they are angry… They’ve picked up the idea that good Christians don’t feel angry.”

b. Restrain your initial response (Proverbs 19:11)

c.  Locate the focus of your anger ("Why am I angry"

1.  What wrong was commited?

2.  If it is "distorted anger" then confess your anger as selfishness (James     1:19-25)

II.  If you find yourself with distorted anger?

A. Have forbearance (Ephesians 4:2) Accept their humility.

1.  there are two types of persons

a.  Pointer (to the point - no explicit details)

b.  Painter (gives you every detail on the situation - from buildings, settings, scenery, etc.,)

B. If it is definitive anger then take constructive action (Luke 17:3-4; Galatians 6:1)

5 Signs of a healthy family, by Dr. Gary Chapman

In a healthy family, there will be…I. …An Attitude of Service (Scripture:  Ephesians 5 & 6).

5:22  Wives, submit to your own husbands; 5:25 Husbands, love your wives; 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right; 6:4 Fathers…bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Service is a way of life as we do this out of reverence of God (Eph 5:21). 

Two Games to foster Service within the family:  Game #1:  Statement to instill service, “I really appreciate that.”  Response to statement, “And I really appreciate that…”  The purpose of this game is to have a heart of appreciation and gratitude.  This shows both love and respect for those that we serve.  Our family is most paramount.  That is, if we are not serving in the family, then how can we serve elsewhere effectively?  Game #2:  Statement to instill hope of service, “Do you know what I would really like you to…”  Response to statement, “I’ll try to remember that…”  Note:  This is not an expectation that you statement will be immediately acted upon.  Rather, it is to share what you would really like and the other would respond that they are hearing.

Service opportunities beyond the family:

1) Daily Sharing Time:  This could be done around the dinner table (or family devotion or before family game time).  Family member that served that day, “One act of service that I did today is…”  Have the family respond in a very positive way to encourage that service attitude.

2) Plan a Family Service Project (Scripture:  Colossians 3:23, Mathew 20:25-28).  Ideas could be to work at a food shelter, rake the neighbors yard (without getting paid – ask for permission first).  Help someone in need. Visit the sick at the hospital (nursing home and/or assisted living).

II.  …Intimacy between Husband and wife (Ephesians 5:31; Genesis 2:24).  Intimacy is much more than just physical.  Types of intimacy (men take note):

1. Intellectual Intimacy – this entails sharing thoughts, opinions and desires).  This does not entail putting the other down or dismissing their ideas as stupid or insignificant.  Rather, take the time to learn each other and grow with each other.

2. Emotional Intimacy – sharing your feelings

3. Social Intimacy – trips together, outings and dates (with and without the family).  Taking the time to invest in each other’s passions together (this does not mean that I have to knit and she has to golf or run…)

4. Spiritual Intimacy – (note:  Only 40% of couples that profess the name of Jesus pray together).  This takes time and may be uncomfortable for some.  Ways to build up to this is to share scripture together and thoughts on what spoke to you in that text (verse, chapter, book).

5. Physical Intimacy – sharing each other’s bodies. 

III.  …Parents will teach and train their children (Ephesians 6:4).  Two action steps are to:  1) Nurture – training by action and 2) Admonition – teaching by words.  Note that both of these actions must always be done together.  This two are always best done in the context of love.

IV.   …Husband will be loving leaders (context Ephesians 5 & 6).  Husbands are to be the Head, savior (be like Jesus as he heads the church. Husbands are to love and give to their wives (5:25-28).  Husbands are to feed and care for their wives.  Husbands are to leave their parents and become one flesh with his wife.  Husbands are to love and lead their children.

Husbands should not only be willing but to be able to ask these questions to their wives: 1) What can I do to help? 2) How can I make your life easier? How can I be a better husband to you?  Just think if the world could see every marriage in the Church of Jesus loving and serving each other – WOW!

V.   …Children will obey and honor their parents (reference Ephesians 6).  Obedience is a healthy word and a must in our daily walks as Christians.  This should be modeled to our children (they should want to own our faith…).  Steps that need to be instilled (taught and learned from our children) are:

1) Build respect

2) Build responsibility

3) Build character (Obedience comes before honor)

How do we teach obedience?  1) By our model.  2) Let them learn by letting them suffer the consequences of their actions.  Mom’s if you are always repeating 2 to 3 times for your child to act and they respond only on the third warning (when you come to them and change/modify their behavior).  The challenge is to take this 3rd action step to the first.  So let’s say little Johnny is up in his room playing and making a mess with his toys.  You (mom’s) tell him that you are making dinner and before he comes to eat, that his room needs to be picked up.  Instead of warning him once, twice and then coming up to inspect and correct the 3rd time, take the action step 3 and make it action step 1.  That is, “Johnny, I want you to get ready for dinner and have your room picked up when I call you when dinner is ready” (dinner is then made).  If the room is not cleaned (guess what) Johnny missed dinner, misses story time misses the privilege of obedience.  This is a lesson that they will learn not to repeat when they know that your first action step means business.  Let’s say Johnny is 16 and learning to drive and getting the car on Saturday and Sunday.  Chore:  Johnny before you take the car, the car must be washed no later than 12pm Saturday.  Saturday afternoon rolls around (and Johnny missed the 12pm deadline).  He asks for the keys to the car and lo and behold, you say, “I am sorry Johnny.  The rule was clear and precise.  The car was supposed to be washed by noon on Saturday.  You cannot have the car.  Let’s hope you don’t miss the deadline next week.  (Johnny won’t miss next week – he knows you mean business). 3) Teach obedience by rewarding obedience (Psalms 19:11).  Honor is caught not taught!

Homework assignment for you and your family:  Give a copy of I. thru V. and have each family member rate our family on each point from a scale of 0 (really bad) to 10 (really good and God-honoring).  Pick one to work on together...

More to follow,

Dante

Here for you...

ACTS Adoration -  Spend some time praising God for who He is and what He has done

Confession - admit to God where you have blown it or fallen short

Thanksgiving - Thank God for your forgiveness and the other great things He is doing in your life.

Supplication - This is the part where you bring your prayer requests to God

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What are some Bible verses on prayer?

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

"…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3)---

Sometimes I need to be reminded (quite often) about how important prayer, worship and training in spiritual matters are.  Quite often, I can catch myself doing acts of service, family things and letting all the daily jaunts of life get in the way of what really should matter (Who really does matter)!

If you have time, take a few minutes and listen to Matt Redman's song, Here for you, to put things in perspective.  It is songs like these that make me realize how awesome and mighty our God is.

When is the last time we took time to pray like ACTS?

Finding my way to my knees tonight!

What about you?

Dante

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