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You gotta have FAITH, BOY!!!

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

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

Thanks Dave, great testimony!

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

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

Blessings,

Dante

Accountability, Integrity, Men's Groups and more

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

It is transformational!   What are you waiting for?

Dante

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

THE REDEMPTION & HOPE OF JESUS:  

Acts 2:14-41

English Standard Version (ESV)

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dante

Forgiveness....(excerpt from Dr. Gary Chapman)

The question:  Who is our model?The answer:  God

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 John 1:9

What is forgiveness?  To pardon or to take away.  Psalms 103:12 states, "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."  Note:  Forgiveness is a godly response to pray.

What forgiveness does not do:

1) Does not destroy our memory

2) Does not remove all painful emotions (What do you do with memory and pain - take it to God)

3) Does not remove all the consequences of Sin (references to Moses & David)

4) Does not rebuild trust.  (Note:  To rebuild make your life an open book (have accountability in every aspect of your life)

5) Does not always result in reconciliation

What if the person who sinned against you does not speak your apology language?

-By making you question their sincerity

-By faith, you choose to forgive them

What if the person does not apologize?

1) We lovingly confront them (Scripture Mathew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

2) We release the person to God (give it to God) (Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 2)

3) We pray for them and stand ready to forgive them (Scripture: Luke 23:34; Acts 2: 22-31)

4) We return good for evil (Scripture:  Romans 12:19-21)

We make forgiveness a priority in our lives by making it personal:

1) Whom do I need to forgive?

2) Whom do I need to lovingly confront

3) Whom do I need to release to God?

4) Whom do I need to apologize to?

Take a self exam for items 1 through 4:

 

•1 John 1:5 Walking in the light "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
•If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet we walk in the darkness, then we lie and do not live by the truth."

How honest do you want to be?

Dante

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