Fighting Resignation

by Shawn Martin

there is much i could blog about today - having come off a particularly great weekend; a great evening out with co-workers, our high school football team remaining undefeated, my son winning his first game of the season, having dinner with some men from my small group, or that more men continue to sign up for the boot camp. This morning in court, something caught my attention and reminded me i hadn't yet posted the blog for today. i'm sensing that i should then write about that. i wish that it was something as positive as the weekends events. sadly, it's not.

case after case that i watch come through court is a clear picture of fathers' continued absence and passivity in the lives of their families. Continually abdicating their true selves. the 'anti-vision' of a familiar ministry: they've embraced passivity, denied responsibility, lead cowardly, and believe there's no greater reward.

this morning the parents were found to be actively using illegal substances and in eminent risk of losing custody of their children, immediately. the Judge, visibly angry, demanded a response from either parent as to why they deserved to have their children. the mother spoke. she sobbed. she pleaded for another chance to prove herself. the father? not a word. he simply stood there, trying to avoid eye contact.

being a man myself, i can identify with his plight. being called on the carpet. made aware of his failure. his inadequacy made public. being asked to present immediate evidence as to why he's worthy. to show he has what it takes (yikes! that feeling hits close to home doesn't it?). he chooses not to fight. refuses to defend his integrity or even to throw himself on the mercy of the court. he did something much worse... nothing.

he denied responsibility and embraced passivity. there was no fight in his eyes, only shame. i wonder if he feels there is anything worth fighting for. i see it in the men all around me, and in humble admission, within myself. the Father is in need of warriors.

men, there's little more than 2 weeks before the fall Boot Camp. it is very exciting. even as i'm writing this Bob called to say there may be some other men committing to attend. the numbers are slowly rising. i am excited for the encounter (i pray) men are about to have with the Father. the new found freedom they'll leave with. it won't get easier. in many ways the battle becomes harder. eyes will be opened to see life for what it really is. but it'll be through eyes of greater clarity, purpose, freedom, and fire.

Registration closes in THREE days men. it is our desire to see every man walking in this message. cultivating a relationship with the Father. finding their true selves from Him and living out of that truth, strength and courage. Battle. Adventure. Beauty. Eldredge reminds us, the story of our life is the long, sustained assault on our heart by the one who know what we can become... and FEARS us.

Please be in prayer for the Team over the next three weeks. that God would give us the words to speak, the wisdom to follow His leading, and that mens' hearts will be prepared and open to receive the life He longs for us to have.

Pay Attention to Prompting

by Bob A Clifton

I am not one to pay much attention to end times. Even starting out this blog like that brings embarrassment. This is something God tells us to keep an eye on all the time. I remember my wife really digging into the subject a couple years ago when the Left Behind series came out. I enjoyed listening to her give me the summed up version of what was going on as the latest book would come out and the story would unfold farther. I am thinking of different friends over the years that have spent time in Revelations wanting to understand some of the end time mysteries. Honestly I always am pretty skeptical of people who look to closely into this stuff.

Well in the last ten days, not by my prompting, have ended up in four conversations about the end times. A couple people asking some questions, an associate of mine sending me a video, and then a breakfast where a close friend had a heavy burden about some things he sees unfolding in the world right now. Then I crack my bible today to prepare for an upcoming bible study and am led to Hebrew 10:25.

Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching

Catch that last part? Incredible I thought. One thing I have learned in the last couple years of my walk with Christ is to pay attention to what is going on around me. Not like slipping off of a curb, but understanding how he is trying to get my attention. This issue that has come up with the end times has been a good example of other things that he has brought up and wanted me to pay more attention to. I love this interaction from him. Times like this are the easiest for me to see him loving on me. He knows I am pretty thick in the head so when he wants to get a point across or bring up something for me to look into, he hits hard!

Do you have ways in place for discerning when God has something he wants to speak to you? Always remember that God is always communicating with us. If we have a heart for the Father and are open to his leading, we will often understand what he wants to tell us. His relationship with us is very similar to that of a loving father, here on this planet. Some things you can expect from Christ include:

1. His delight. Do you know what it is to experience someone delighting in you? My boss stopped in yesterday to tell me how much she enjoys me and my enthusiasm. Now you need to know my boss is repelled at the idea of being touchy feely, so this was a big step. Recently, and only very recent have I started experiencing God’s delight in me. I sat out on my porch last night and watched a thunderstorm roll through. I just found myself saying thanks, God knows how much I love the elements like snow, rain, sleet, and anything intense.

2. Correction. Our Father is interested enough in you to set loving limits. When we choose not to live within his system and go toward sin we can expect him to correct us. It may not come in the form we grew up with, but it will come.

3. Direction. Do you see that God is leading you in a certain way right now? Who and what is he using to bring direction to your life. Just today a close friend of mine was told that her contract would end on July 15. Obviously on the surface that seems like a pretty sad deal, but what I like is the way God uses those moments to make clear his direction.

4. Relationships. Just as I experienced the revelation God wanted to reveal to me, he will often do that through our close relationships. The bible is makes so clear that our church participation is critical for us to be encourage and be encouraged by the relationships he has put in our life.

5. His Word. Enough said! You have to be in his Word to be clear about his prompting.

There are so many other ways, but pay attention this week to how he is prompting you.

Have her back by 10:00

By Shawn Martin

A great weekend is coming to a close. My church's yearly mens retreat was friday evening to Saturday noon. It's always a great time. This year we had a team event called a 'mantathlon' and the team i was on, the Chest Hairs, took first! The massive steaks we have on the Friday night are amazing.

After the camp out i went home to get ready for my son's football game and i was somewhat anxious. Not about the game but who i was meeting at the game. It was my daughter's new boyfriend. man, do i not wanna deal with this. I would love for all my kids to be focused only on acedemics all through school (including college) before they tread the murky and painful waters of romantic relationships. And she's already had her share of heartache. Unfortunately i was right about each of them from the start. Teenage boys haven't changed in the 20 years since i was one and i knew all the games and angles. So i don't think she could bring any guy home that i wasn't convinced just wanted to get in her pants.

But back to the story. She told me a week ago her boyfriend wanted to meet me so i decided to make it a family afair. invite them both to her brother's football game then home for pizza. i ended up having to hold one of the first down markers during the game, but i half time i went and shook his hand. He had a good grip. that was a plus. back at home we kept it light and humorous. i have to admit, i also wanted him to apporve of us; think we were cool.

After some small talk they left. it wasn't more than a couple minutes later that my daughter 'texted' me, "Do you like him?" It was so important for me not to 'over protect' her like i had done the previous boys i knew were after one thing. emotional protecting turned into lecturing about how dad knows how it's going to play out.

in his book, She Calls Me Daddy, Robert Wolgemuth speaks to interviewing dates/potential suitors. i have non-residential joint custody of my daughter so i didn't have the opportunity to have the physical influence i wanted with her 'dating', but had, i'd do it like Wolgemuth. All boys were interviewed by him. He gives a fantastic story of one such interview in the book; quite humorous too. But joking aside, "This is an intimate thing between you and her. She's trusting you by 'letting' you talk to her boyfriends. Don't abuse that priviledge. Remember this interview is not about your approval of your daughters choice in boys. Every boy passes your inspection, regardless. (Gulp.) The very fact that the interview is going to take place will have a sorting affect by itself."

Back up! EVERY boy passes? That's a hard pill to swallow. But i knew the way i 'told you so' to previous boyfriends had little positive effect. So i sized the new boyfriend up in my mind, but spoke none of it to her. he actually seemed like a 'good kid' anyway. and though i knew, as a 17-year-old boy, he will have sex on his mind... i had 'the talk' with my daughter and periodically the subject comes up. there's nothing knew i can tell her. she knows what's right and where i stand. i have to trust that she will make the right choices. hopefully she will, but if she doesn't...i'll still love her and support her. that's what it's about anyway. pouring into her life and giving her no doubt of her personal worth and beauty. The more you do that, the less you have to worry about boys. she'll respect herself too much to settle for less.

Courage

by Bob A Clifton

Courage

In a recent opportunity at Ft. Riley I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Charles Smith. Dr. Smith is a professor, author, and speaker for Kansas State Research Extension. His most recent book is titled “Raising Courageous Kids”. After 9/11 Dr. Smith started asking the question of what gives people courage to do heroic things. Dr. Smith read countless stories of people rising up and being heroes in the midst of a tragic scene. Dr. Smith wandered why some people went down the stairs to save their own life for 9/11 and why other people went up the stairs to try to save another life. From that questioned spawned the idea of this book. How do we raise and create a courageous kids?

The root word of courage, originating from a French word, is divided into two parts. The first being “cour”, which means heart. The second part is “age”, meaning action; heart action being the total meaning of courage. I thought this was brilliant. Something Dr. Smith brought up was that all heroism involves acts of courage. As I thought about this two word meaning, I began wandering what it would mean to have one or another. I often have action that does not involve heart. I can even say, sadly, some of my movement toward other people have involved action without the heart. I can also say that I have had heart about many things, but had no action to back that heart up.

Something he said that really grabbed my attention is what I will focus on today. Dr. Smith said “all courage has overcoming fear as an element.” This really struck me, not only to teach children but more for our daily walk with Christ. 1 Peter 4:1 says”

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

I got to thinking on my way home that it takes courage to live this Christian life. I mean really live this life. A recent initiative at my job has led me into a relationship with a young lady that is absolutely opposed to the Christian faith. I have thoroughly enjoyed our discussions, debates, and disagreements. She is a fire ball of world optimism, global issue awareness, feminine rights, and opposition of religion, especially Jesus Christ. Honestly it has been a long time since I have been in relationship with someone that has this strong of a belief pattern. Since being at home my opportunities to interact with people who oppose Christianity has lessened. This has been such an eye opener to the task at hand in bringing the gospel to the world.

I typically don’t think of myself as a very courageous person. I leave that title for martyr’s, our incredible military, and children who do miraculous feats. But what does God think? Is he proud when I show “heart action” at work? I could easily pass on the struggle of what that conversation is going to bring. Knowing that in this day and age it will be easy for her to find people that side with her and give affirmation to her belief system. Does it take courage to go home and be present as a dad after a long day at work? What about talking to the teenager at church that is isolated and struggling to fit in.

I wander where God needs you to have “heart action”. I am thinking of a place in your life where God is going to have to come through in order for you to be successful. A battle that is not small, but a battle that is beyond your own strength and comfort to come through. Could be a relationship at work, or it could simply be engaging your wife that has been upset with you for weeks. So many places are built for men to have courage, and unlike any other time in history so desperately needed. What would it mean for you to have courage today?