Leaders: Zack Grelling, Chris Carlson, Mike Smith, John Matthews
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Men,
Last night was primarily about TAKING STEPS towards TAKING ACTION and so we kind of breezed through Chapter 8 a bit . . . and I think, by the end of the night, we came up with some really good stuff as we approach the end of our Crazy Love book. The goal (for those of you who weren’t at group last night) is to get a head start on the next 6-week series that Pastor John is going to be talking about 2 weeks from now . . . he’s calling it Servolution. Pastor John wants our entire church to start a Revolution of Servanthood within the community around us. So basically, our Man Group would STOP MEETING on Monday nights for 6 weeks and actually DO something. So last night was about our Man Group getting started NOW!
Each of us went away last night with a very specific task . . . RECON. Each of us were assigned to a reconnoissance team (see below) with one or two other guys from our Man Group to go out and find more info/details about a particular ministry opportunity that would give our group a chance to serve our community as a team.
With this kind of format, there are a few options as to HOW we would serve:
#1 We can cover more ground along the 210 freeway if we serve in multi-groups of two or three. #2 We can split ourselves down the middle and simply serve in two equal groups of seven. #3 Or we can find ONE really big project that will take a combined effort.
I’m game for a mixture of ALL. Here is what the group came up with last night. Reply-To-All to this email and tell the guys WHAT you’ve done so far . . .
#1 Team Happy Hour: Mike Smith & Kyle McCarthy
These guys are going out this week to research the different happy hour’s locations that available within our community. The initial goal so far is to reach that guy sitting alone at a bar before he is inebriated and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with him.
#2 Team Teen Juvi-Jail: Kevin Roland & Tanner Shade
These guys are going to look for a local Juvenile Detention Center or Men’s Prison that would allow a group like ours to come in and serve in whatever way we can. Kev/Tanner = Find something as local as you possibly can. Take a look at the Rancho Cuchamonga Juvenile Center website and see if we can do anything there.
#3 Team Hoops 4 Him: Nathan Chakerian, Chris Carlson, Jon Ball, Kyle Eden
These guys are scoping out the local talent in places like the Glendora Youth Center up the street and HUGE public parks in the Azusa area near Jon’s house to see what days are busy b-ball days and what days seem quiet. The goal would be two-fold to (1) get into a game or multiple games across the different courts and then represent Christ with our good attitudes and sportsmanship on the court and (2) to strike up conversations with guys who are just sitting on the sidelines waiting to get into the next game.
#4 Team Beautification: Zack Grelling & Jose Velasquez
As you can see below . . . I’ve already started my RECON. Team Beautification will set out and find the places in surrounding cities like Azusa, Covina, West Covina and clean up the trash in the community that people have just thrown on the ground. It doesn’t really impact PEOPLE unless we wear a t-shirt that says something like, “Cleaning Up Because He Cleaned Me Up,” but this is a stewardship issue – taking care of what He’s given us because it all belongs to Him anyway.
Azusa Trash #1
Azusa Trash #2
So here is the question . . . what team do you want to join John Matthews, Kevin Speck, Miguel Garcia, & Tyler Fletcher?
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Good Afternoon Men,
This morning I was reading Luke 9:57-10:24 as part of my devotion for the day (click here to read it for yourself) and I came across three specific portions of Scripture that have had me thinking a lot about how much and how fast I would be willing to give up for God if He ever asked me to literally follow Him anywhere. So please feel free to add your own input:
#1 How Much? (verses 9:57-62) Am I really willing to give up everything to FOLLOW Him? Jesus basically said that following Him means that you won’t even have a pillow to rest your head. Jesus said, “even foxes and birds have homes but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Whoa! The Son of our Holy God was not welcomed anywhere. There isn’t much I have ever sacrificed to the point where I actually FELT the sting of letting something go for God. The closest I’ve ever come to that level of sacrifice was when I packed up what I had and moved to Vietnam for 2+ years and lived as a missionary. I definitely felt the sting of true sacrifice on a daily basis when I left my girlfriend/fiance/wife behind for that much time. This question is for all of us: Has God already asked me to give it all up and I simply wasn’t listening? What does it even mean to give it up and follow him?
#2 How Fast? (verses 9:57-62) Do I have the guts to drop it all on the sand and just walk away in the very moment? Think about the 2 men’s reply when Jesus looks them in the eye and says, “Follow Me!” One man says, ”Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” And the other man says, ”I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Reading back over both of these answers, I realized that I had always thought as a kid that the first man was on his way to his Dad’s funeral and wanted to put him in the ground first but I think that was wrong. I think the man was telling Jesus, ‘please let me live out the rest of my Dad’s years by his side and then I will come find you once he passes on.’ And the other man’s answer was obvious – he wanted closure with his family before He followed God. But look at what Jesus said to both of them. To one man He said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. And to the other Jesus said, ”No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” The reality of it all is that EACH OF US right now would probably say, “No! I do not have the guts to do that!” So I’m asking, (A) Do you think God wants every Christian ready at a moments notice to be willing to drop everything in order to FOLLOW HIM? (B) If you answered YES and think God wants that of every Christian, then what do you need to start doing TODAY to start down that path?
#3 How Can I? (verses 10:1-24) I think it was no coincidence at all last night that we all decided to leave my house in pairs of TWO . . . I like to say that we went out last night “two by two.” Read Chapter 10:1-4 and look at what Luke writes, “He sent them two by two ahead of Him . . . He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ ” And so men, let’s go out two by two this week and actually hold one other accountable to something YOU are feeling convicted by God to work on and then let’s all sit back and watch God work. “Return with joy” next Monday with your reports.
So Zack, who is my wingman this week? Well, we decided all the two by two pairs at group last night . . . take a look and then ACTUALLY CALL EACH OTHER and TALK about WHAT you are going to hold each other accountable for and HOW you are going to do that (text, email, phone, prayer, etc.). Let’s see WHO actually takes this seriously?:
Zack Grelling / Kyle McCarthy
Chris Carlson / Jon Ball
Mike Smith / Jose Velasquez
John Matthews / Tanner Shade
Kevin Speck / Kevin Roland
Nathan Chakerian / Tyler Fletcher
Kyle Eden / Miguel Garcia
Hosea 13:6 “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Good Morning Men,
Before summarizing Man Group last night let me begin with some basic administrative information.
#1 Man Group Takes A Hike (MARK your calendars
We all agreed last night that the Azusa Canyon hike will take place on March 26 & 27. Everyone who responded to the survey said they could hike in together at 5:00pm so that is what we are going to do . . . hike in at 5:00pm . . . so that means we will meet at Grace Church to park all of our cars at 4:30pm, load up all our gear into 2 or 3 cars max and get to the trailhead no later than 5:15pm.
#2 Prayer Requests
We only had 8 guys show up for group last night out of 14 guys and that felt a bit weird to me. So let’s PRAY for the 6 guys who couldn’t make it to group last night – we know what was going on with most of them and so PRAYER is the least and most we can do. Guys who WERE there last night, maybe you can meet up with one of the 6 guys who couldn’t be there to fill them in over coffee.
John Matthews: his wife is about to take her nursing board exam and he needed to stay home and help her study for the BIG test.
Jon Ball: he and his wife are out of the city – maybe out of the state – so someone pray for him and his wife this week as he is away.
Kevin Roland: he relies primarily on his brothers car to get him from Point A (Pasadena) to Point B (everywhere else) and that car died.
Tanner Shade: we don’t know what he was up to last night. hope everything is ok Tanner – didn’t hear back from my text and Nathan’s text.
Tyler Fletcher: he was getting on the job training last night and couldn’t make it to group. I got 2 calls from him letting me know he couldn’t come.
Miguel Garcia: he got his old job on campus (Mon-Thurs). After a phone call and 2 emails, he said he wants to stay with us and endure the 16 weeks.
#3 Remembering Week One
Please remember guys, our group looked each other in the eye and said:
#1 I expect that when I ask 12 (now 14) guys to PRAY for me, I expect them to actually pray for me.
#2 I expect HONESTY. Why come to group and put on a fake smile when that’s not what this is about?
#3 I expect my ‘brothers’ to call me out on my mistakes QUICKLY and not just laugh my sins off.
#4 I expect guys to take time to contribute when we communicate each week with weekly EMAILs.
#5 I expect that if you’re going to commit to 12 weeks that you actually COME! No lame excuses!
Last Night:
With all that said and done, let’s move on: I felt last night was the beginning of a DIGGING DEEP session. Not only are you going to have to DIG DEEP and look at yourself as a man and decide whether or not you are truly a lukewarm Christian as Chan explains or if you are one who serves God faithfully and naturally out of the Crazy Love He has for us BUT you are also going to have to DIG DEEP in His Word (the Bible) these next few chapters. I looked ahead and got excited about “Chan’s Challenge” in Chapter Five to read the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) and I hope you are excited as well! Take a look at the email attachments (the suggested 7-day devotional) and let’s see who can make it through this weeks challenge to read all 4 Gospels . . . or maybe we can start with just 1 or 2.
Anyone else excited?
Zack
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Here is our devotion for Chapter Four: CLICK HERE
Good morning gentlemen,
Thank you for your individual contributions to group last night.
If you weren’t there last night (Chris & Kevin R) we covered Chapter Three and discussed various topics including the FEAR we should all have for God, what a “quiet time” is supposed to look like, and a few other topics as well. But most of all it was good to just hang out and relax as we get to know each other better and better week after week. There is a quote I’ll take from page 61 that I think bundles this chapter into two sentences:
“The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with Him-and we wonder, indifferently how much we have to do for Him to get by.”
Next Weeks Task
Please understand that the task you were all given last night (which is attached to this email) is NOT something you do the day of Man Group. Please don’t show up having barely prepared for your portion and having jotted something down on paper as you walk into group from your car. Instead, use “your portion” of the task as something you can meditate on daily this week: read your portion of the chapter, read your portion of Scripture, and before you write anything down . . . PRAY. So let’s see how this all goes – let’s see if this works better than “I only made it to Friday’s devotion.” Maybe you will get something more out of this method.
Peace be with you,
Zack
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Men,
Thanks for another great week of commitment from you guys. MOST of you showed up and all of you prepared ahead of time. Thank you Chris for hosting all of us over at your house!
Great conversation last night guys – how do we practically “do all things for the glory of God” when we have all kinds of different guys in our group: students, post college, unemployed, guys that work in cubicles, etc.? What about guys we see on TV who clean out porta-potties for a living and “seem” to have more JOY in their daily tasks and lives than I do with Jesus Christ in my life. Kevin Speck read from his book: shouldn’t we live with more joy than Buddhists? Mormons? Atheists? And if we don’t, then why don’t we? Some good stuff to think about this week men, take it all in!
Take Action:
Reply-To-All and answer these 3 questions below.
#1 Time to think outside the box. Help me make a list of our brainstorming-ideas as tall as Kyle Eden! Last night we talked about “not talking” as much anymore and actually doing something with our Man Group time on Monday nights and make an impact in our community. So here is your chance – no idea is a dumb idea. If you think it then type it and REPLY-TO-ALL in an email back to all of us. Explain your idea and how the 13 of us can make an impact for the cause of Christ. I’ll compile a list all week long and bring it to group next week.
#2 Don’t stop with just one guy. Like I said, it’s not an assignment to go and get coffee with another guy this week BUT let’s see if this trend continues. I didn’t really realize it until AFTER each of us prayed for one another last night but every single guy at group prayed . . . and they actually knew the person they prayed for enough to make it personal. I don’t know about you guys but that was AWESOME for me to hear. Let’s keep it going this week! I’ve got Kyle this week. Who are you hanging out with this week?
#3 The Chapter Three 7-day Devotion. It sounds like most of us made it to Day #3 or Day #4 last week with our devotions. Let’s see if someone/anyone can come to group next week with a testimony of having read God’s Word for 7 days straight. Start today with Day #1! And remember, as you read, to REPLY-TO-ALL with your comments about that day’s devotion. Let’s keep the weekly conversation going.
Let’s Talk About Fun:
Some of us were talking around the fire last night about the 13 of us taking an OVERNIGHT hike up Azusa Canyon on a Friday/Saturday under the stars in the near future. If we planned something fun like that - how many of you would be interested in hiking in a few miles, making camping overnight, and then possibly spending the Saturday morning in some “Francis Chan-style” quiet time as he talks about in Chapter Three? (read page 58)
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Chapter Three
Day #1: Tuesday / Read Matthew 7:11
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
My own love and desire for my kids’ love is so strong that it opened my eyes to how much God desires and loves us. Nothing compares to being truly, exuberantly wanted by your children. Through this experience I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God’s great love for me and for every person He made. How could I not trust a heavenly, perfect Father who loves me infinitely more than I will ever love [anyone closest to me]? [p.55]
Day #2: Wednesday / Read Isaiah 40:22-24
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
If I could pick ONE word to describe my feelings about God in those first five years of being a Christian, it would be fear. Basically, any verses that describe His overwhelming greatness or His wrath were easy for me to relate to because I feared my own father. Do you fear God? Should you? And if so, are you “in love with the One you fear?” [p.56]
Day #3: Thursday / Read Matthew 22:34-38
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
Most Christians have been taught in church or by their parents to set aside daily time for prayer and Scripture reading. It’s what we are supposed to do, and so for a long time it’s what I valiantly attempted. When I didn’t, I felt guilty. But Jesus didn’t command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love. [p.57] Have you ever thought that maybe your lack of motivation to pray, read and study God comes from your lack of love that you should have for Him? If you really loved God, wouldn’t the natural result to worship Him be more intimate and sincere instead of guilt driven and forced? So what do you need to do in order to fall in love with God again?
Day #4: Friday / Read Jeremiah 1:1-19 (focus on v.4 & 5)
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
God knew you and me before we existed. Recently, out of a desire to grow in my love for God, I decided to spend a few days alone with Him in the woods. Before I left, my friend prayed, “God, I know how You’ve wanted this time with Francis.” The more I searched Scripture the more I realized my friend’s prayer was right on. Please don’t skim over this truth just because you’ve heard it before. Take some time to really think about it. I’ll say it again: God knew you and me before we existed. [p.58]
Day #5: Saturday / Read Ephesians 2:10 (review Jeremiah 1:6-10)
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
[Today’s] verse is meant for me and all others who have been “saved by grace through faith.” My existence was not random, and He designed me for a specific work. [p.59] Do you live in fear of failure or do you live knowing your daily task is to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do?
Day #6: Sunday / Read Luke 18:19 & Isaiah 64:6
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
Many people look at their lives and weigh their sins against their good deeds. Our good deeds can never outweigh our sins. So why, when we constantly offend Him and are so unlovable and unloving, does God persist in loving us? Why does God love us, despite us? I do not have an answer to [these] questions. But I do know that if God’s mercy didn’t exist, there would be no hope. Think about this: No matter how good we tried to be, we would be punished because of our sins. God’s mercy is a free, yet costly, gift. [p.60]
Day #7: Monday / READ Ephesians 1:18
Read the Bible online: CLICK HERE
The holy Creator sees you as His “glorious inheritance.” The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing , all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing. The wildest part is that Jesus doesn’t have to love us. [And] the irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time. The best things in life are gifts from the One who steadfastly loves us. But an important question to ask ourselves is this: Are we in love with God or just His stuff? Can you say, “I love you. Not your beauty, your money, your family, or your car. Just you.” Can you say that to God? [p.62]
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Monday, February 1st, 2010
Chapter One rocked all of us a bit last night, didn’t it?
“Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you?” Whoa!
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Here we go again! Last night was a GREAT night to kick-start Round #2 of Man Group! We made a few changes AND we made a few additions as well! Mike Smith brought his 2 guys and joined our group last night. And, we had 4 guys come last night that had never been in a Man Group until now. All in all, we had an awesome night of introductions.
From where I was sitting, one of the most pivotal moments last night was when the question was raised, “What are you specifically looking for from a group like ours? If this was a group of your brothers – what would you expect from them over the next 12 weeks? And don’t use a cliche word like ‘accountability.’ Be as specific as you can.” And then to sit back and listen as each guy contributed something very important to them was powerful – because the things that were said are so true about ALL men in general.
For example, our group looked each other in the eye and said:
#1 I expect that when I ask 12 guys to PRAY for me, I expect them to actually pray for me.
#2 I expect HONESTY. Why come to group and put on a fake smile when that’s not what this is about?
#3 I expect my ‘brothers’ to call me out on my mistakes QUICKLY and not just laugh my sins off.
#4 I expect guys to take time to contribute when we communicate each week with weekly EMAILs.
#5 I expect that if you’re going to commit to 12 weeks that you actually COME! No lame excuses!
I’m pumped to see what happens this time around. And I think the guys are too. 12 guys is not much of a SMALL group but it’s a great start! See you next week, after we’ve all read Chapter One.
Monday, November 30th, 2009
We definitely had one of those “where two or more are gathered” moments on Monday night. There were three of us in attendance on Monday. I could blame the holiday season but that’s not gonna happen because those that were there brought a certain kind of loyalty to the group with them. We had the opportunity to open our mouths less and open up the pages of our Bible more – and it was awesome!
We’ve got one more week until we finish the book together . . . and as I look back this has been a challenging book to kick off Man Groups. We “fixed bayonets” on Monday night as we talked about what it takes to prepare for close combat with evil. I was given a great appreciation for the guys that have dedicated themselves to change this September – December quarter.
Dedication
One of the guys offered up a quote he had heard Jonny say in the Sunday night Co122 service and I thought it was fitting as we discussed our commitment to God in this particular Man Group. It went a little something like this, “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove on the last day that prayerlessness was not from a lack of time!”
Monday, November 16th, 2009
Last night, our Man Group ended in a very unique way . . . we had a baptism. By the end of the night last night, Tanner Shade decided he was ready right then and there to hop in the water. Looking back, his experience and even his answers to our questions in small group mirrored the message in Acts 8:26-38.
Acts 8:26-38
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Tonight was a great night men. We got through Chapter 8 but then ended up staying focused on getting back to the basics so that we would not leave any open kinks in the armor for Satan’s “assassins on assignment.” After that conversation started we decided to take the remainder of our time and create a practical way to keep each other accountable. And so, we came up with THIS plan . . . explained below.
Alright guys, it’s time to get serious this week. We’ve coasted most of the way and it’s now time to buckle down and take in some daily personal application.
Click Here guys and it will take you to the daily devotion called BREATHE from Mosaic Church. It’s an online book and so all you have to do when you get redirected to the page is click on the next page arrow and it will turn the page for you online. So once you get there “open” the cover of the book and read the first page that explains how the daily devotional works and how it relates to BREATHE. The bottom line is this men: every day the devotional book will introduce a daily passage from the Bible – your goal in reading this every day is to “consciously apply the passage every time you enter into one or more of your daily environments.” There are 6 environments: Home, Work, Rest, Play, Serving & Waiting.
Go Figure It Out:
And so guys, click on the link above and then click over to the first devotional page (Day #1). It will ask you to read Psalm 37:1-4 and then apply it to your entire day tomorrow (Tuesday). But here’s the catch . . . once you read the passage you will need to (#1) answer two questions about the passage, and then (#2) check the boxes where the verse applies to your daily “environments.”
Here is your head start on the passage:
Psalm 37:1-4
Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD
Your Day of Devotion Responsibility:
Zack / Tuesday
Nathan / Wednesday
Jon / Thursday
Tanner / Friday
Chris / Saturday
Kevin / Sunday
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Chapters 6 & 7: The Arsonist (Part 1 & Part 2)
There were 2 great starter questions that got each of us thinking in our group last night: #1) In your life experience, list some examples of incidents that reveal the cleverness of Satan. #2) What do you notice about the quality of your relationship with God when you get really busy?
After listening to Jon tell us all about his past Small Group experience last night, it was very evident to me how Satan loves to sneak in where there is a kink in the armor and cause as much damage as he can once he gets in there. The bottom line I took away from last night is that we should not blame Satan for everything that goes wrong with us. Take responsibility for your own crap but, at the same time, acknowledge that Satan loves to reside in those permitted spaces of a believer’s life and he has a destructive mission. He cannot indwell as the Holy Spirit does because that is neither his mission nor his legal right. But he will, however, attempt to seize areas where there exists the smallest openness to entertain a will other than God’s will. He wants to drive a boat into that particular area of your life, have a voice, get a yes, explode a bomb, maim, kill, and move on to the next host community.
So, man up, men! How? Find another guy (wingman) to fight WITH you – not just pray FOR you as he watches you go off to battle alone. Who is your wingman? How often do you communicate with one another? And then . . . once you find a wingman expect the following to be “added” to your daily life:
(2 Peter 1:5-8) Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan’s Resume
You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.
Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.
Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.
By your many sins and dishonest trade
you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire come out from you,
and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.
Ezekiel 28:14-18
October 26th, 2009
Chapter 5, Night-Vision Goggles.
Last night our guys looked on as God taught us 3 specific lessons in regards to character, integrity & being “filled with light.” The 4 of us that were present at Man Group last night learned these 3 things: #1) Your character builds when you gain the ability to rationally inspect yourself. #2) Your integrity builds when you allow your Wing-Man (others) to inspect you. #3) You can ONLY be “filled with light” when you allow God to hold you up to His light and point out your areas of weaknesses.
Most importantly, the essence of this chapter is: #1) acknowledge your weaknesses, #2) confess your weaknesses (to those you trust), #3 voluntarily allow God to work through you and others to hold you accountable in making a CHANGE in your harmful/habitual patterns.
Good stuff last night.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
October 19th, 2009
We moved our Small Group / Man Group Monday night meeting to Tuesday, October 20th this week only so we could all be together for the Man Group Softball Challenge. We had a GREAT time last night even though we lost to the old guys. And even though there were only 2 guys “representing” from my group last night, we had almost 30 guys total on the Man Group side of the baseball diamond last night. All in all, it was a GREAT night to play ball!
October 12, 2009
Last night was good and hard all at the same time. It was good because there were only three of us present and that gave us more of a chance to get to know each other better. It was also hard because the other three are experiencing rough patches: Kevin has the flu but really wanted to make it last night. Jon double-booked our group meeting with other life-stuff and is trying to make time for group (something HE said he needs right now). And Chris flew up to be with his Mom and family in Washington.
October 5th, 2009
Last night felt really good to me! I don’t know what my guys thought about Man Group last night but it seemed high energy to me . . . with the ultimate intention to ACT and DO something after we finish this book. But we’re only in Chapter Three right now, let’s not speak too soon.
We had 120% attendance too. How you might say? Plus1 baby! All 5 of our guys have been praying that Jon Ball would come to Man Group after his official invitation last week . . . and he came. But he not only CAME to Man Group, he is JOINING our group – that’s the word he used (join). Our group is now at 6 but we’re not going to stop there. Captives need to be freed out there, right guys!?!
Last night we spent the bulk of our time in Matthew 10. And after reading Matthew 10:1-16 the guys in our group got fired up to DO something specifically in regards to “releasing the captives free.” My prayer request for us is that the guys would keep this fire burning these next 9 weeks so that they will be ready to DO something after getting some training under their belt. That they would do something/anything: join the GO team, join the Thursday night PRAYER team or get involved somewhere else at Grace. Not for numbers sake or attendance sake but to do our part and pick an intentional fight with the evil in our corner of the world!
September 28th, 2009
Man Group got off to a great start last night and finished strong with a commitment to pray for each other this coming Wednesday about a specific “thing” and then we all loaded up and went to Donut Man!
Last week we had a few some-what “off-topic” questions asked at the end of group and so, this week, we started the group off by digging into God’s Word about those specific questions and reading through certain passages to find the answers together . . . a fun little exercise before we dove into FIGHT.
With that said, all 5 of our guys showed up to Man Group last night (no excuses) and each of us were very intrigued by Chapter Two. Kenny’s real-life story about Wendy in Room #302 was a great example of the Real Evil in this world. It was not like telling campfire ghost stories at all – it was an actual account told of the one whose sole purpose is to rob, steal, kill and destroy! A few of us even shared our own personal stories about spiritual battles and warfare within our own families.
All in all, I am excited about how far we’ve come in Week #1 & Week #2 and I look forward to what God is already doing within our group. Each of us is praying for ONE guy (in specific) to join our group in the next 3-5 weeks and all the guys are excited about this first “prayer & fasting” commitment. Pray for us as we dig deep so that we can reach out!
Zack
September 21st, 2009
Talk about weird emotional crap (Mike) . . . our group was no different than the rest when we met tonight for the first time. Although everyone on our roster showed up for Man Group on time, it took some real work to get there . . . no joke – my car would not start today. And I came to find out AFTER our group ended tonight that Brian Rietze’s car wouldn’t start today either. Coincidence? I think not!
What a perfect segue right into Chapter One of FIGHT, huh? The whole purpose of Chapter One is to acknowledge that Evil is real and that the Devil is out to get you. Tonight was a pleasure getting to meet some new guys and it is exciting to think about what is ahead for ALL of us.
Pray hard men. Pray for yourself and pray for the guys around you! Opening up your eyes to The Book (The Bible) and focusing in very specifically and intentionally on this book (Fight) will truly open your eyes up to the reality of Evil and it will force you to choose between:
#1 A Continued Life of Spiritual Laziness or
#2 Picking a Fight and Taking the Fight to Evil itself!
Let’s do this!
Sweet