Bold Men of Faith

A man needs adventure……. in his work, in his love, and in his spiritual life.

Deep in his heart he wants a battle to fight, and adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue because that's how God created him. The problem is that deep wounds from earlier years have taken away his confidence and in some cases, his masculinity.

For too long, the only call of Christianity to men has evoked no higher goal, than becoming a nice guy! No wonder men are bored to tears with church. Its time for us to become 'Bold men of Faith" and it begins by understanding what makes men come alive and stirs our hearts.

Deep in each one of our hearts are some fundamental questions, questions that can't be answered sitting around the kitchen table…

• Who am I?
  
• What am I made of?
• What am I destined for?
  

It is fear that keeps us a home where things are neat and orderly and under our control. But the answers to the deepest question are not found on television or in the refrigerator.

• Moses found his life's mission in the burning desert, lost in the trackless waste, at the burning bush he was called out into something much bigger than he had ever imagined.
• Jacob was under foreign stars, in the dead of the night when his name was changed. No longer is the shrewd business man but now he called one who wrestles with God.
• When Jesus was lead in to the wilderness, at its core was a test of his identity "If you are….."
  

If we are going to find out who we are and what we are doing here we have to be willing to take the journey ourselves.God has got for each one of us a life so rich and free, so dangerous and yet exhilarating in its impact.

Consider the following:

• Are you willing to surrender to God and his purposes for you as we start this journey together? Submit your mind, desire, heart, spirit, soul and masculinity to God and simply invite him to do whatever he'd like.
• Commit yourself to the pace God would have you go. Determine to be responsive to his prodding and maybe take a little more time on a particular section. Take a walk and set your pace! Don't be cruel to yourself, by taking great big strides just to get to the end, by doing this you will limiting what God wants to do.
• Commit to coming each time and prepare before hand for the discussion. Have an open spirit, a vulnerable heart, and a thoughtful mind.It will require each one of us to be honest and willing to look at out life from a new perspective. But as we invite God in, we'll find the adventure exciting, the battle challenging and the beauty of Christ breath-taking.
  

PRAYER

Jesus I come thirsty and hungry for more of you. I submit myself completely and totally to you. I give you my expectations for his group. I surrender my heart, mind, spirit, and soul to you inviting you to touch, deliver, speak, heal, counsel, teach and train me in whatever areas and ways you choose. Protect me from the ploys of the evil one. I stand in your authority against all distraction, impatience, self-contempt, against every lie, deception and temptation to turn to another god for comfort. Fill me with your life that I might more fully live in your larger story and with you rescue the hearts and souls of many. Amen