The Gospel Offends

Maybe I am a skeptic and maybe I suffer from critical thinking, but I have to say that I have come to a point in my life when I have to take the words of Popeye when he eloquently says, "that's all I can stands, cause I can't stands no more!".   Everywhere we turn, everything we read and listen to has been moderately changing from being able to be different and to have a difference of opinion and to even argue and debate on those opinions to an era where we are told that we cannot offend, we cannot insult, we cannot be different because that would not be acceptable to cultural terms.  If we look different and act different and do not like the way others carry themselves and have an opinion as such you will no longer be posed as a dissenter, rather, you will be classified as insensitive, a hater, someone who is prejudice and if you turn on the media something much worse.Do not misunderstand where I am going with this, because you will not read what you are expecting to read.

Here are some questions for you:

• Does the Gospel offend?
• If you call someone a sinner are you a hater?
• If you try to live by biblical standards to your everyday life, will culture deem you as someone who is intolerant?
• If you are preaching the gospel, are you prepared to offend?

Ephesians 6:12English Standard Version (ESV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Why would society want everyone to view and think the same way?  Why would culture want everyone to think and reason the same way instead of to celebrate the cultural differences that we have been given?  Why would the world want us to believe that everyone has their own way to self actualization and salvation?  Seriously, you think that this may not be the case? Then word the word of God in a public place and on topics that will call people out in their sin (not you, but the word of God) and see if you don't get a reaction.

Tell the world that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven and that without the knowledge of the Son then there is no way to the Father.  See if that offends!

I don't want you to take this as a green light to be a hypocrite nor do I give my blessing to thumb your nose at those who do not know the Lord.  Rather, in love, reach out to those who are lost (do not know the Lord) and are in a proverbial burning building and on their way to Hell if you do not share God's love with them.

The Gospel does offend.  It is ridiculous to tell the World that Jesus is the only way and not to offend.

Let's stop with the all inclusive, one religion (of self) and be true to God's word.

Let's do this in love and not being spiteful in how we serve the Lost.

Instead of trying to be right, let the Word of God rule in your life and let it lead you in how God wants us to serve those who do not know Him as Savior.

Colossians 3:15-17English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How would you share the gospel if you could no longer offend by just merely speaking the words of God?  Do you think that we are not that far away from this from happening?

Thoughts?

Blessings,D

Top 10 Ways to build a healthy marriage

We live in a world that is defiled with consumerism.  We live in a culture that says you deserve and you need to be served and you, you, you are the focus.  When we put this toward God's word and test society by the truth in the power of the word - we see truth and honor and integrity and the ways in which we should go.  Maybe you find yourself reading this to say what am I missing, or just maybe you are in a small minority of men and you are thinking what is this guy missing?Let's be real!

Top 12 ways to build a healthy marriage

1. Get right with God - don't just have remorse for sin in your life - be repentant of it - that is turn and go the opposite way.  If you are in unappropraite relationships whether physical or mental (pornography) - flee from this sin - put it to death daily.
2. Study His word daily - His Word never return empty
3. Pray continuously - Pray for your spouse, your marriage, your future wife (if you are single hoping to get married)
4. Serve your spouse tirelessly - don't make your marriage about what you can get out of it or what your spouse can do for you - make it about serving your wife and family
5. Give 100% instead of 50% - don't keep score - give all of yourself to that marriage
6. Don't keep record of right and wrong - Read 1 Corinthians 13
7. When you forgive the wrong, don't keep bringing it up to them - this is not biblical to keep bringing up past sins if they have been repented of
8. Invest your time, talent and treasure in them - God tells us to
9. Die to self - The Word of God tells us to
10. Be honest - need I say more?
11. Be true - do I really need to say more?
12. Be faithful - this goes without saying

Give these steps some time to let the Holy Spirit move each other.

Blessings,

Dante

When a boy turns thirteen....

This past February, my oldest son turned 13.  I only really have 5 more critical years to pass the torch of boyhood to manhood.  When Lance and I and Gary first met face to face many years ago we had in depth conversations about this very thing.  Going back there, in my mind, recently reminded me at that time how ill-equipped that I was for this journey with my son and my wife and I with our daughters.Don't get me wrong, my wife and I are equally yoked and we are doing a lot of things that are good and godly and teaching accountability and responsibility, but I think that I was out of my league when I listened to Gary and Lance talk about this plan and path that they had for their grandsons and son, respectively.  Needless to say, I did a lot of soul searching and planning for this with my son during that trip and the time since.

Anyway, my son and I had the first, of what I pray is many, a conversation about this journey from boyhood to manhood and what are some things that are to come.  From reading some books, to watching some movies, to taking some trips and facing some fears along the way, I cannot wait to see how he responds and for what God has planned for him.

I am so thankful that I do not have to do this alone.  I am thankful for Lance and Gary and for men of faith that I can walk with and talk to and lean on God and not my own understanding in all this.  If you scour this website you can see stages and even find Lance's plan with his son along the way.

Dennis Rainey, of Famly Life, posted this picture on Facebook and just hit such a positive emotion in me.  It is scary, as a parent, to realize that age 13 that you only have 5 years left before they are off on their own for college, manhood and the rest of their life.  Don't get me wrong, my wife and I will always be a part of our kids life.

Proverbs 22:6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go;even when he is old he will not depart from it.

This Scripture does not mean that your child will not face trial and tribulation, because if they are a follower of Jesus, then they will face trial and they will face tribulation.

I am excited to take this journey with my boy.  I am excited for the journey that my wife will have with our daughters.

God is good, all the time, God is good.

Blessings,

Dante

What I know I should do, I do not

Romans 8:12-17English Standard Version (ESV)Heirs with Christ12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Colossians 3:5-8English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[a] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Why is it so hard to understand some of the things of God?  Why do people try to dilute the Gospel to please the ways of men?  I guess when it is all said and done, I struggle with my sin that God has saved me from.  I know I am a sinner.  I know that my sins have separated me from the love of God.  That is, to say, until I came to know Jesus Christ as Lord.  I was once lost, but now I am found through Christ Jesus who died brutally on a cross for my sin and for your if you confess His name and believe that he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross and rose again from the dead you will be saved.  Confession is good for the soul.  The hardest thing to wrap my head around is that I still struggle with my fleshly desires.  The difference is that I no longer desire to please my selfish flesh, but to try to please God.  Yet I still succumb to pride and to sin.  I confess this sin to God and to my brothers (Men of Faith) and know that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has given me the perfect sacrifice for my soul and my sins of the past, present and future are covered by Him.

This being said, I still wonder and test and seek the truth that is found in Scripture.  For instance, why does it tell us, who are saved and covered forever by the Blood of Jesus Christ, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?  Why does it say in the New Testament that those of us who give in to the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God?  Why does it tell me to put to death the earthly desires of the flesh?  Does the Gospel offend?  Are we to call out sin or just always show grace?  Where is the balance in this?

Why does Scripture tell us to renew our mind?  Why does it tell us to pursue holiness?  Why does Scripture tell us to repent?  Why does the cross have to be so violent?  Why did God have to send His only Son to die for our sins and to be beaten and tortured and crucified for our sins?  Does God hate sin that much?

These are things that I wrestle with.  These are some of the things that I am diligently searching God's word for and looking for his direction of which way to go in the leadership of my family and His ministry.

Repent!  For the Kingdom of God is at hand!

Examine yourselves to see if you are still in the faith?

Pursue holiness and flee any form of sexual immorality.

Pray for me,

D

Magnify

mag·ni·fy  verb  "extol; glorify." "praise the Lord and magnify Him"Psalm 34: English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,and let us exalt his name together!

If you were to examine your life (your walk) this past week, ask yourself to take inventory in all that you do.  That is, to say, when you wake, work, eat, play, sleep and interact with others where does the Lord stand in your life?  Is God the Father, The Son and The Spirit the authority in your life, in all that you do?  Are you using your time, your talent and your treasure that you have been given by God in ways to honor Him?  Are you focusing more on what you want and how you want to promote your Kingdom instead of God's Kingdom.

For me, this is a daily struggle.  If I am brutally honest, there are days when I wake that I want to just roll over and sleep all day.  Or there are days that I just want to do life for me and my indulgences.  There are days that I just want to be selfish and not look out for others that God has given me to steward over.  

I was talking to our Care Pastor after Men of Faith yesterday, we both went out for breakfast yesterday and instead of the whole group of guys, it was just him and I.  It was really a great conversation and I truly enjoy this man of God who has been serving God's Kingdom since 1983.  When you meet him and his wife you truly see two servants that understand what it means to turn it back toward God.  They serve not to "check boxes" rather they do it to magnify God's glory.  So I was telling him that sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by what God has done for us, sending his Son to die on a cross to cover all of my sins.  I told him that I feel a deep sorrow and compassion for those who do not know him on their day of judgement and that their names that will not be written in God's Book of Life.

I also talked about the other question that we, who are truly Christ-Followers, will have to give an account:  What did we do with all the things that God has given us (His Time, His treasure and His talent).  Did our lives magnify His Glory.  Please don't take this as a condemnation or as a blog where Lance and I are trying to condemn you, the reader.  Quite the contrary.  This is an indictment toward us more than you.  I am an Elder of our Church, the leader of our Men's Group and Family Man that is given the charge to rear my children in the ways of the Lord.  I do not take this question toward you, rather, toward my daily walk.

There are days, months and even seasons where I can honestly tell you that I do get it and that I do magnify God.  But if I am really honest with you, then I feel like I have to share that I feel that there are more days were I am losing the battle against my old sin nature and the ways of the Evil One, who is a liar, and who is seeking to destroy everything good in my life.  He would love nothing more than for me to exist and to gratify my earthly desires - he wins over my life when I do this.  Or to fall in temptation and give in to it - he wins over my life.  Or to self-indulge in my old sin nature - he wins over my life.  A lot of times I hear this silent voice in my life that would say words like, "you hypocrite"  "you fake"  "you're a liar" and "nice CHRISTian example - way to lead your life and your family".  Over the younger years of my life, I would cave and retreat and fall back into that wretched part of my life.  These days, God has given me a stronger understanding of His Word and His love for me that is unmatched by anyone in this Universe.  I say to this silent voice, "Guilty!  Guilty of all that you are accusing me of, BUT I am covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

That means that all of my sins of my past, my present and my future are covered by His Blood.  That means oh silent voice and accuser of my sins in my life that God has won, death no longer has victory over my life.  Sin no longer can hold me because Jesus has paid for it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I wrestle with today is whether my life is magnifying the Lord in all that I do.  Am I being a good steward with all that I do?  I find consolation in that most of the time, I am broken and that I am a sinner and am broken and need daily repentance in my life to continue to make God the authority in my life that I know He is.  I have to ask for wisdom and guidance in all that I do.  Yes, I can be selfish and sinful, but I can ask brothers that I am walking with and my best friend (my wife) to hold me accountable:  Are my actions meeting my daily walk required by God.

Where do I find this in Scripture you ask:

Examine yourself:  2 Corinthians 13:5(ESV) 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Renew yourself:  Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) A Living Sacrifice 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]

Pursue God's Holy Living (only capable thru complete trust and obedience in Him and His Word):  Colossians 3 (ESV) Put On the New Self 3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 34: English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,and let us exalt his name together!

Let us come together and reason with one another.  This life is but a vapor?  What do you want to echo in eternity:  Did I live for my self or for a higher purpose (God's will)?

Blessings,

D

What is truth?

John 8:31-32New International Version (NIV)31 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  He said that no one will come to His Father, but through Him.

If you do no know Jesus as Lord, as Savior and as your redeemer, then the truth is not in you

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If you do not know truth (the Lord Jesus), then when you die, you will be asked if you know the Lord, Jesus Christ as Savior.  If you do, then your name will be written in the Book of Life.  If you do not, then you will be thrown into the Lake of Fire that was intended for the Devil and his angels.

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If you know the Lord as Savior and Friend and as your redeemer, then you will be asked another question....

I believe it will be asked like this:  What did you do with the things that I gave you?  The time, the talent and the treasure that God gave you?  Were you a good steward?  Did you spend it wisely, stewardship His Kingdom.  Was His will done?

Truth - Being in God's Will!

Blessings,D

What you permit, you promote

Matthew 12:33-37New International Version (NIV)33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This past Saturday, I led our men's group (Men of Faith) and focused on the question of what matters to God.  I read some scripture in the Book of Psalms and the Book of Job.  Over the past week and a half, I attended two funeral services.  One was for an Uncle and the other was for the father of my Senior Pastor.  I was impressed by the legacy that these men lead both in their families and in their community.  The eulogies among friend and family in both services were very touching and from the heart.  These men said words that they believed and were true about these men who are in Heaven today.

The other two things that I talked about was when my wife was really sick 8 years ago and we almost lost her as her body was approaching renal failure.  I had very young kids at the time and couldn't believe what was happening to me and asked God if this was His plan for me?  I prayed, I cried and I wrestled in confession and prayer to our Heavenly Father.  After several days (5 days) in all, the night before my wife would come back home to me and my kids, I finally prayed in a pool of tears that I trust God and that if His will was for Him to take my wife home to Him, then I trust Him and His will.  I let go of my wife and gave her to Him.  She's your's Lord - your will be done.  The very next morning, the prayer team called and my mother-in-law and I both had this unbelievable peace - the Peace of Christ.

The other eternity thinking event that happened in my life was when I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma twelve years ago.  I have been cancer free since that day, but my doctor is quick to point out that I am in the 5% chance camp of this type of cancer rearing its ugly head through my eyes and or my brain - meaning that it has 5% chance to come back this way to me.  Both this cancer and my wife and her health issues many years ago has kept an eternal grasp about how quick our lives will be.

I then asked the Men of Faith:  "For those of us in this room that will die we will have two questions to ask:

Question #1 - Do we know God's Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as our Savior (is our name written in the Book of Life).  Have we truly surrendered to God's will and turned away from our sins?  Have we put the old self to death (this is a daily battle) and put on our new self.  Scripture tells us to examine ourselves closely to make sure that we are still in the Faith.  The beginning of Wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

Question #2 - What have we, those of us who are saved, done with what God has given us?   Have we been good stewards of His time, His talent that He gave us and His treasure that He has given us stewardship over.

• Scripture on Time:  Psalm 90:12 ESV "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
• Scripture on Talent: 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
• Scripture on Treasure:  Malachi 3:6-10New International Version (NIV) Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes 6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.  “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.    Mark 12:41-44New International Version (NIV) The Widow’s Offering 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

After we die, we will have a judgement of our souls.  Those of us that know the Lord as Savior will have his sacrifice and his blood poured over our life.  His perfect life, his righteousness will be imputed onto us.   Scripture tells us that God will remember our sins no more because they have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.  What GRACE (God's Riches at Christ's Expense) and what Mercy God has given each of us.  If you do not know God's Son as Lord and Savior then every word, every deed and every action has been recorded and will be used to condemn those who do not know Jesus as Lord.  This makes my heart sad.  This will be a grave day for the lost, the Athiest and hater of good.

The second question will be good for some, okay for others and a day of regret for those of us who are saved, but know we can do more.  Job in his prime of life did these things for the Lord:

Job 29New International Version (NIV)

Job’s Final Defense29 Job continued his discourse:

2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, 5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,6 when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil. 7 “When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,8 the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; 9 the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;10 the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. 11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. 13 The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. 14 I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. 17 I broke the fangs of the wicked  and snatched the victims from their teeth.18 “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. 19 My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches.20 My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.’ 21 “People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. 22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;my words fell gently on their ears. 23 They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. 24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;the light of my face was precious to them.[a] 25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I dwelt as a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners."

2 questions for you:

Question #1 - Do we know God's Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as our Savior (is our name written in the Book of Life).  Have we truly surrendered to God's will and turned away from our sins?  Have we put the old self to death (this is a daily battle) and put on our new self.  Scripture tells us to examine ourselves closely to make sure that we are still in the Faith.  The beginning of Wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

Is your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit?

Question #2 - What have we, those of us who are saved, done with what God has given us?   Have we been good stewards of His time, His talent that He gave us and His treasure that He has given us stewardship over.

Blessings,Dante

Our Story is meant for God's Glory

James 1English Standard Version (ESV)Greeting1 James, a servant[a] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 5:14-20English Standard Version (ESV)

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.[a] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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The past 40 days I have been reading a book with 5 other men.  A book that would bring us together to discuss, text and especially to be in community with each other.  The ages of these 5 men ranged from 25 to 60 and I am in the 2nd oldest range of all 5 of us.  My Elder Brother and I were the oldest and two Elders that are equally yoked in Ministry and God's story.  It has been both humbling and challenging to listen to, watch and see these brothers walk out their salvation with fear and trembling.

I am amazed at how each of us has our own story to tell and if we are really open about the power of God in our lives, just how amazing it is to watch His Spirit move through our lives and see Jesus through the love of others.  The thing about these 4 brothers - they challenge me in being honest, being truthful and confessing when things don't always add up.  It is not about a checklist or doing the things that make us look good and then deep down inside missing the whole point of God's Glory - The Word of God Changes Lives.

When we sit honestly and meditate on His Word then we realize that we are free - free indeed to be the me that God intended for each of our lives.  I can never do good enough to earn the Salvation that Jesus gave us by His death and resurrection.  God, our Father, gave His only Son to die for our sins - WOW!  Let that marinate in your brain for a while!  Think on that, pray on that and rest in his loving Grace.

The Word of God changes lives.  What is your fruit.  When others see you, hear you, listen to you and do community of you - when they are left to reflect on you - do they see Jesus in your life?

Our story is meant for God's Glory.

I was once lost, but now am found.

I was once dead (to sin) and now am a new creation in Jesus (i have been given a new life)

I am now adopted into his glorious family.

That is love.

That is something that I can wrap my head around and praise Him, serve Him and thank Him for all that is in my life - both the good and the bad.  The trials and the tribulations.  The pain and the suffering.  Whether I know the reason this side of earth is not up to me to judge.  There is only one great Judge!

Blessings,

Dante

PS - I was so moved by this 40 day process that I bought 3 more books and gave them to the men in my small group (come Holy Spirit come)