What is so special about men coming together studying God's Word anyway?

Galatians 6:1-2English Standard Version (ESV)Bear One Another's Burdens6 Brothers,[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Act like men

James 5:19-20English Standard Version (ESV)

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.

What is so special about men anyways?  Why are they so important in building God's Kingdom?  Why does God decide to use you and I in His plan?  Why does he make men the leader of the house?

Some statistics cited by Man in the Mirror:

Men’s Statistics Gathered by Man in the Mirror (with sources) 113,000,000 men in America 15 years of age and older.1 69,000,000 of these men make no profession of faith in Christ.2 Only 6,000,000 men are involved in discipleship or spiritual formation—1in 18 men. Imagine putting a football team onthe field, and only one player had studied the playbook.3 As many as 70% of men seek out pornography. As many Christians will divorce as non-Christians (34% vs. 33% according to Barna). 40% to 50% of recent marriages will end in divorce according to the United States Census Bureau.4 4 out of 5 students in evangelical churches will drop out of church by their senior year in high school (HowardHendricks). We have become a fatherless nation. 33%5of the 72 million children in America will go to bed tonight without theirbiological father in the home. 73% of households with children under 18 headed by married couples (vs. 91% in 1960); 27% households headed bysingle parents.6 Nuclear families comprise less than 23.5% of households.7 40% of Busters raised by divorced or separated parents.8 More than 50% children born in 1990s spend part childhood in single parent home.9 10 Two years after a divorce only 53% of children see their non-custodial parent on a monthly basis. Ten years after thedivorce on 28% have monthly contact. 11 66% children born in America will not live with both biological parents through the age of eighteen.12

---Male Population113,00,000 men 15 and older as of 2004, 10,600,000 were 15 – 19 years of age, and 10,800,000 were 20 – 24 years of age.http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/06s0011.xls , retrieved September 29, 2006. 2Estimate based on 39% indicating “born again.” 39% of Americans describe themselves as “a born again Christian.” (2001) Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important intheir life today. (2001) Half of those who attend a Christian church (49%) say that they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, andanother 36% say that they are moderately committed. (2001) Commitment to the Christian faith changes considerably with age. Of those who attend church, only 34% of Busterssay they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, compared to 52% of Boomers, 63% of Builders, and 70%of Seniors. (2001)Retrieved from Barna at http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PageCategory.asp?CategoryID=19 3Male DiscipleshipPer Barna: Of the 16% of churched adults involved in discipleship, 69% rely upon small groups for their growth.(2000) Of the 16% of churched adults involved in discipleship, one-fifth (20%) rely upon Sunday school and 11% attendother classes to grow spiritually. (2000)http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PageCategory.asp?CategoryID=9*The following two stats do not take into consideration how participation in discipleship may vary by gender:16% of America’s 38,880,000 men who attend church in discipleship = 6,000,00069% of 6,000,000 in small groups = 3,500,0004Garbarino, J. 1992. Children and Families in the Social Environment. New York: Aldine de Gruyter (p. 87). 5Living Arrangements of Children [Electronic version]. U. S. Census Bureau, U. S. Department of Commerce. April, 1996.6The Family Portrait (The Family Research Council), 14.7“The Changing American Family,” New York Times, May 18, 2001, retrieved from Internet June, 2003.8Dobson, 106.9Ibid., 134.10 Garbarino, J. 1992. Children and Families in the Social Environment. New York: Aldine de Gruyter (p. 87). 11 Ibid. (p. 87).12 Dobson., 54.

When men come together and read God's word together, worship together, and share real life together:

  • Things change
  • The Holy Spirit will move
  • Lives will be changed
  • Brothers come along side one another
  • Friendships are bonded for eternity (whether we like it or not)
  • Marriages are saved
  • Marriages are renewed
  • The Church will flourish

 

 

Blessings,Dante

 

 

 

Revival

RevivalJonah 4New International Version (NIV)

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now,Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die,and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh,in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Charles Spurgeon has this to say about a revival, "A true revival is to be looked for in the church of God. Only in the river of gracious life can the pearl of revival be found. It has been said that a revival must begin with God's people; this is very true, but it is not all the truth, for the revival itself must end as well as begin there. The results of the revival will extend to the outside world, but the revival, strictly speaking, must be within the circle of life, and must therefore essentially be enjoyed by the possessors of vital godliness, and by them only. Is not this quite a different view of revival from that; which is common in society; but is it not manifestly the correct one?"

First of all, in the book of Jonah, we read about a prophet (Jonah) he was called by God.  "The Book of Jonah is one of the Minor Prophets in the Bible. It tells of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah son of Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission.[1] Set in the reign of Jeroboam II (786–746 BC), it was probably written in the post-exilic period, sometime between the late 5th to early 4th century BC.[2] The story has an interesting interpretive history (see below) and has become well-known through popular children's stories. In Judaism it is the Haftarah for the afternoon of Yom Kippur due to its story of God's willingness to forgive those who repent.[Wikipedia}

In chapter 4, Jonah is angry with God because he has mercy and compassion on the people of Israel's enemy.  Jonah flees from God, because he did not want them to repent.  There is so much to this book that I encourage all of you to read it.  Study it and pray on it.

Let's look at some questions that we have a right, as citizens to ask:

  • Is our government truly representing its people?
  • Do both sides of the argument have valid points that should be addressed?
  • How do we heal as a Nation?
  • Why is the internet filled with so much hate and bitterness about others?
  • Where is God in this?
  • What is God's will in all of this for me, as a Christian?
  • What's missing from our schoools?
  • What is missing from our Congress?
  • Where do I turn to in this election year?
  • Whose got this anyways?

Let's be honest here, regardless of your political bent, something is wrong with this society when we put the "I" before the "We".

What is God's will for our lives as Christians (I can answer this one by His Word):

1 Thessalonians 4New International Version (NIV)

Living to Please God4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Let's come together by putting on the following the road map of Colossians 3:

  1. Setting our hearts on things above
  2. Setting our minds on God above
  3. Putting to death our old self (our old sin nature)
  4. Clothing ourselves with Love, Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience (take the log out of our eyes before we judge and condemn others)
  5. Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly
  6. Just don't say it - Do what God calls us to do
  7. Serve others before we self serve us.

Maybe instead of taking God's word out of the hearts and minds of our citizens we need to be praying for God's will in this country instead of what's best for you and me.

My heart breaks for

  • Those who wear a uniform and serve our country (who are being treated and have been treated harshly)
  • For the innocent who are being unfairly treated
  • For those whose rights are being violated by others
  • For the brokenhearted
  • For those who lost loved ones
  • For those who God cares for

Whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Dante

One of the greatest plays in baseball

[youtube id="IrV8QPQAhxo" height="375" width="594"] 

Philippians 3:20New International Version (NIV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Some questions for us to ponder:

  • How important is God's word to us?
  • How important is God's truth to us?
  • How important is our sanctification to God?
  • What's holding you back from taking your citizenship seriously?

Blessings,Dante

The impact of wow

[youtube id="fMhJIglG53k"]Philippians 2:12-13New Living Translation (NLT)

Shine Brightly for Christ12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Which word describes your life and your church to others:

  • WOW
  • WHOA
  • WOE

Which word describes your witness to others....?

Thoughts,Dante

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What is God's will in your life

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Proverbs-Main-Title-Slide-400x300Proverbs 1:1-7New International Version (NIV)

Purpose and Theme

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;for understanding words of insight;3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,doing what is right and just and fair;4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]knowledge and discretion to the young—5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,and let the discerning get guidance—6 for understanding proverbs and parables,the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs is known as the book of Wisdom.  Solomon is identified as the writer of most of the book.  God gave Solomon his wisdom.  Proverbs is a book of instructions on how to live a life pleasing to God and how to live a life of peace.  Proverbs is a guiding light (the word of God is a light unto my path).

Are you in God's word?

Are you under its authority?

Before you go to bed tonight understand this:

Proverbs 9:10New International Version (NIV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Who will you serve this day?  Self or God?

 

Blessings,D

 

 

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Guys, is your marriage in trouble, stagnant or on its way toward divorce

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considering-divorce1-578x295I read a story a while back (not sure of source) but it goes something like this:  A couple, who was hell-bent on getting a divorce came in to their Pastor's office.  They had both agreed that they wanted to continue to come to that particular church and they both wanted their pastor to approve their divorce.  They were a bitter couple who both made years of mistakes and were tired of each other and the pain that they caused each other.  They were angry, bitter and maligned and neither one could be in a room for longer than 20 minutes before a massive shouting match would ensue. So in walks the Pastor into his office and before he could begin the meeting they turned that bitterness toward willful demand and both insisted that the Pastor grant them a divorce and to keep their membership in good standing.  Each spouse, for the first time in 10 years, were perfectly aligned in their case in granting their divorce.  The Pastor tried every angle in counseling that he could and had used before even in the most difficult of situations and even this well-seasoned Pastor could not budge this couple.  So finally, he interrupted and spoke boldly and with authority to this rancid couple.  "Okay," he said, "I will grant both of your requests on one and only one condition..." the pastor said.  The couple was astonished and both shocked and looking back at each other said they would.  The condition was that for three months they had to live together amicably.  They had to turn insult into compliment, selfishness into serving and anger into gentleness.  They had to live gently and lovingly with each other.  They had to give it their most honest try to the pastor knew enough about this couple and their friends that he knew that they could not hide from doing that.  "Three months?," they both said.  Both of them expecting the pastor would have asked for a year and both were happy to honestly oblige.The first month was rocky and very short and curt between this couple.  One would have a bad day and they other would serve and do the necessary things to diffuse their tensions between them.  During the second month, the wife came home from work with a very bad day in the office and a colleague being fired after recent layoffs caused her to be steamed and looking for a fight.  A fight with someone who she especially didn't care for - her husband.  As she entered the house, she couldn't have even remotely expected the surprise that followed.  The entire house was cleaned, picked up and vacuumed.  The dishes were washed and put away and the laundry was done and folded.  There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen with a note that said dinner is in the oven and warming and your salad and dessert are in the fridge.  Still angry and still looking to fight, she entered the room in which her husband was working and deliberately did all the things that would have caused an argument and she even messed up their clean bedroom.  Failing to ignite his temper and anger she then decided to let rage leave her mouth.  The husband, committed to his promise to their pastor got up and said, "Let me get your dinner."  After serving her dinner and cleaning up her mess he went to bed.

The third month was finally there and they had just four weeks to survive their agreement and both were excited to get their pastor's blessing.  Later that month, just days before they had to go back to the pastor's office, they both got home late from work and both were looking for an argument without even knowing it.  The ironic thing about it was that each of them were serving the other and unselfishness doing what needed to be done in that house and for their marriage.  When they finally turned their attention toward each other stupid and angry phrases started to babble from their mouth.  To their surprise, both of their comments were so off the mark and ridiculous that neither one could stop laughing and the anger and bitterness evaporated.  That night they slept in their same bedroom together.

The very next day, the husband woke up not only to serve his wife, but he made the coffee and served his wife breakfast in bed.  To his surprise the wife was already up and laid out his clothes for work and they both had decided to play hookey from work and spend the day together....

The day finally came to meet the pastor and neither the man or his wife wanted to keep that appointment because neither one wanted to quit their marriage like that both had tried hard to do for he past 10 years.  There was silence for just a few moments in the pastor's office.  Both the husband and wife looked different.  Both the husband and wife were acting different and both of their body language was engaged toward each other.

What the couple didn't know is what God's word had spoken to the pastor 1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."  The pastor knew that both of them loved Jesus and both wanted the church of God to be their home.  So the pastor knew that this couple loved God, therefore the pastor knew that they had God's Spirit to guide them in this three-month journey.  Without missing a beat, the pastor took out the certificate of divorce and signed it as he had promised.  Prompting his executive assistant and executive pastor, he had them come into his office to witness this.  The couple squirmed sheepishly and interrupted this display by saying neither wanted a divorce.   Not only did God's word guide them to the truth, both started serving and caring for the other, both started to let go of the past and focus on the present and both let go and let God move in their life.

Guys - if your marriage is in trouble, holding on by a thread, or worse - it's been dead for quite some time - don't fret!  I have good news.  There is hope.  We do not serve a God who died on a tree, rather, we serve a God who was raised from the dead and can take dead things and make them knew.

Some questions to ask yourself:

  • What fruit are your bearing?Life by the Spirit13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

  • Who is the authority in your life? 2 Timothy 3:15-16New International Version (NIV)15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
  • What does God want from my marriage?Ephesians 5:21-33New International Version (NIV)Instructions for Christian Households21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

    25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

    1 Corinthians 13New International Version (NIV)

    13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

    4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

    8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

    13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

10 steps to turn things around:

  1. Pray
  2. Read God's word daily
  3. Serve unconditionally and do not expect anything in return
  4. Love unconditionally
  5. Love more unconditionally
  6. Forgive as you and your sins have been forgiven
  7. Pray
  8. Turn insult into blessing
  9. Walk with other brothers who will keep you accountable, walk with you and read God's word with you
  10. Pray some more and ask God to give you the direction in which you should go.Proverbs 3:5-7 New International Version (NIV)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.[a]7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord and shun evil.

Who better to trust then in the One whose words never return empty.

 

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

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What really matters?

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A story of two men.  One man who lacked nothing and another man who had to work for everything.  The Rich Man for all intents and purposes was all that the world would define as successful.  His retirement account was fully funded  at the age of 30 had 8 zeroes attached to it and his kids and grand kids (future children) and wife were fully funded as well.  He drove an Audi, a Porsche and a Range Rover along with an Indian Motor-cycle.  He had a condo in Vail, Colorado, a summer home in the Hampton's and a Penthouse in Chicago.  Everything that he touched whether good or bad seemed to always work out in his favor.  There was even one year where he had a bad year in investing in the stock market and bought property instead only to find out that he bought the bottom of the real estate market and doubled his investment in less than one year.  His parents were divorced as their parents were divorced as well.  He was a trust fund kid and never really appreciated anything that he earned or was given.  This man was very agnostic.  He knew that there was some superior being, because to say that there wasn't would be foolish.  But he lacked any positive legacy in faith and or mentoring in the way that God would call us to do so.The other man had a decent job by worldly standards.  He wasn't rich, by US standards, but he wasn't poor either.  If you were to mark him down based on income tax he would fall in the upper middle-class.  He had a wife and three kids and a family that he looked forward to getting home to every day.  He was by far not the smartest nor was he the dumbest.  He was average to above average in all that he did.  The difference is that he had to work hard for everything.  His dad instilled in him a work ethic that could be rivaled by few.  His mom gave him the importance of relationships and to treat the least of these with the utmost respect whether they deserved it or not.  His mom had a faith that was unending and yet realistic to know that she was a sinner that was in constant need of God's grace and forgiveness.  This man's relationship with God was the knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Savior, but to say that he was truly a friend of Jesus would be a stretch. That is, until a men's conference that challenged the very core of his being.  One speaker in particular asked him what legacy would his life leave?  That question haunted him and the other 40 men that went to this conference.  Ten of the men (including this man) pledged to take this further, to be real with each other and to confess their sins together.  They were not going to do fluff or pat each other on the back, but they were going to get real and get accountability and to start a regular men's group at their church.  So that very night six months before his big work trip came about these ten men confessed to each other.

All of these 10 men did not hold back nor hide anything.  One shared some infidelity, six shared pornography, one shared anger and two shared addictions.  All shared that they loved Jesus and they no longer wanted to just follow him, they all wanted to befriend Him and be His disciples.  So the journey began.

Six months later these two men, unbeknownst to them, met on their way to South America.  As God would have it, their paths crossed on first class.  The Rich man always flew first-class, but the other man was traveling for work and both of these men were going to somewhere in South America.  Both flew 11 hours to their destinations and both coincidentally sat next to each other on the flight down.  Out came the nuts, and the drinks and the dinner and dessert.  They both sat next to each other and both started a conversation about life and what really matters.  The man (who was in his 40's) respected the Rich young man because he was both astute and very well-educated.  Even though he exuded money and privilege, he didn't flaunt it in public, which was contradictory to what was written earlier about him.

The Rich young man envied this other man because something was different from any other man that he met or chatted with on long flights.  This man had contentment in a way that surprised this Rich young man.  He loved his family and he could tell there was something different so he asked.  And Faith was the topic of the remaining few hours and couple of glasses of red wine.  They talked about faith, about religion, and about this man's faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ.  At one point, the Rich Young Man asked if the other man was trying to convert him.  Of which, nothing was said either way, just what this men's group and God's word was doing in his life.  The conversation was riveting and neither man slept through this flight as both were intrigued by the other's lifestyle.

As they landed, both were shocked to find that they were staying at the same South American hotel.  The Rich Young Man offered the other man a ride in his arranged car to the hotel, of which the other man willingly said yes.  As they grabbed their luggage and found their driver they both were given water from the driver.  Only something was desperately wrong.  There was a woman in the front seat (the driver said it was his niece and he was going to give her a ride to the city after these men were dropped off.)  The Rich Young man said that would not be a problem and to bill his card for both of the men.  As there was long conversation on the flight and more than two glasses of wine, both men willingly drank the water and both did not realize that the water was drugged.  Hours later they both woke up somewhere in the rain forest and both were in shock as they were locked in separate rooms next to each other.  Drugged and tied and being held for ransom.  These men were the victim of kidnapping and the other man was at the wrong place at the wrong time given the Rich Young Man's status.

They were held for ransom and the ransom was huge.  The older man's company was working with the Rich Young Man's corporation on trying to negotiate for these men's lives.  Months had passed and the camps that held them were moved every 3 weeks.  A trust and friendship began between these men and the only thing they were allowed to have with them were the Bible that the older man had.  As his men's group was working on Scripture memory he gave the Rich Young Man his copy of the Bible.

And so they read - through the entire Bible.  Focusing on Romans, on James and on John.  Not really sure of the date, as either men weren't sure of how much time that had passed, these men both discovered God in a whole new way - one had a new Savior (Jesus Christ) and the other had two new best friends (Jesus and the Rich Young Man).  Through this conversation and conversion there was a guard in the camp that took a liking to these two men and took more of a liking to what was being shared between them - the Word of God.  This guard also came to know the Lord and just one week before these men were going to be either negotiated for ransom or killed for lack of payment, the guard freed them late at night and drove them across the border to the US Embassy.  These men were able to call their work and families before a ransom was paid out and the Rich Young Man chartered a plane to take them both back to Chicago.

They made the local newspapers and then the national news papers and then the talk shows and then more and more kept coming.  They both had their "10 minutes of fame" but neither used this for their own kingdom - instead they used it for God's kingdom.

Both were asked what really mattered when they were being held prisoner and both said the same - their faith in God, in His Word and their relationship with Jesus Christ.  They both left the US wanting and both came back completely content.  Their lives were forever changed and from that moment of conversion for the Rich Young Man and the other man was life-changing.  Their wishes and desires were no longer what they wanted, but instead was replaced by what God wanted from their lives.

"When it is all said and done", they said in their last television interview, "and we are kneeling at the judgement seat of Christ, we only want to hear two things:  1) Our names read in the Book of Life and 2) Well done my good and faithful servants".

what really mattersWhat really matters to you?

The world's view:

  • Riches
  • Wealth
  • Retirement
  • Popularity
  • Fame

God's view:

  • His Word
  • A relationship with His Son Jesus Christ
  • To be his disciples
  • To love the Lord God with all of our hearts, minds, souls and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves
  • To finish well

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

 

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