Driving down the highway in an 18-wheeler, trucker Steve noticed a little lamb looking at him from the fence line of the sheep pasture. It was spring time in the Willamette Valley, and the pasture was full of little lambs. Each day as he drove by he would look at the sheep, and especially admire the playful little lambs. This particular little lamb seemed to look right at him as he drove by, and gave him the cutest little smile. Nothing better than that to make your day bright and cheerful.
The next day as he drove by that same pasture, once again there was a little lamb, right at the fence line, smiling at him. Looking right at him as he sped on by. Could it be the same little lamb, determined to stand by the fence and smile at cars and trucks as they hurried by?
Quickly, the questions began to swirl in his mind. Could it really be the same little lamb? And if so, what is the likelihood that it would be in the same spot two days in a row? Could it be injured? Was that cute little smile actually a look of desperation, a cry for help?
Another voice interrupted his thoughts. Clearly, he heard in his mind, “Go back and rescue the little lamb.” Easier said than done, though. You don’t turn a truck around on a dime, and you don’t want to waste company time for a silly little hunch about a silly little lamb. But he decided to heed that voice. He had to drive a five mile circuit, onto the freeway and back around on another highway, but he did it.
As he pulled off the side of the road by the lamb another car pulled up behind him. He thought, “Oh no, how am I going to explain this one to the highway patrolman?” But it was another woman who had noticed the same little lamb for two days now, and was also determined to see if it needed help. Together they went down to the fence line to check on the little lamb. Sure enough, it was in trouble, serious trouble. It had its head stuck in the fence and could not get itself free. Together they cut a couple wires on the fence, climbed over, and carefully pulled the lamb out of its predicament. They set it free and it ran away a few feet and turned back to look at them. Then it walked off a little farther and began to graze.
Back at the warehouse the story began to spread amongst many, many other employees. Some made fun of trucker Steve. But others, who knew the beautiful picture from the teachings of Jesus (Luke 15:4-7) marveled at the modern day illustration of that parable. Steve himself marveled at how clearly the Spirit of God taught him a unique lesson on loving and helping people who desperately need love and help. Not in huge numbers, but one little lamb at a time.
In the parable that Jesus told, the shepherd wrestled with leaving 99 sheep in the fold while going out to rescue one lost sheep. In our busy lifestyles, though, we need to take notice of the lamb that everyone else is passing by, hear the call of the Spirit, turn back from our appointed destination, and take the time to love and serve someone who desperately needs our help.
Perhaps it is because we don’t live in the love of God that we don’t love others well (I Jn4:7-19). Love changes hearts, truth changes direction.
June 23, 2013
The Scars of Life
On a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
(From an email off of the Internet, Nov, 2009)
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
(From an email off of the Internet, Nov, 2009)
December 29, 2012
Listen, My Son
What she would say to her son tonight had been rehearsed in her heart and mind for many years. Over and over, word for word, she had pondered every event, every conversation, every response. He was now eight years old, and he was beginning to ask questions she could no longer gloss over.
The evening started like most. The younger boys were put to bed. Father, too, was sound asleep after a long hard day hewing timbers. They trimmed the lamp brightly, and rolled out a scroll to read. She had to beg the Rabbi to borrow a different scroll every few weeks. The scroll they were reading together this night was the writing of the great prophet, Isaiah.
The boy began to read. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit." Mother reached over and put her hand on her son's hand and moved it to cover the scroll. He turned slowly to look into her eyes, anticipating full well the importance of what was to transpire. They turned to face each other and she held his precious little hands.
She began. "Listen, my son. So many things that you read are written about you. You have begun to suspect this, to realize it. Your questions clearly tell me that God's Spirit is revealing much to you already. I want to help explain. You are the one prophesied who would come from the root of Jesse. Joseph is not your real father. Your father is God. Jehovah. Yes, the God of our fathers, the great God of all eternity. I know this is difficult to understand, but I was a virgin when you were conceived. An angel from the Lord came to me to explain that you would be Emmanuel, God with us. He told me to name you Jesus. The angel also came to Joseph and told him to take me as his wife and to be your earthly father. The angel told him, also, to name you Jesus. Your name means Savior. It is through you, Jesus, that God intends to save his people from sin. I do not understand how, but your Father will show you in time".
"It confuses me that none of the religious leaders know or understand that you are the Christ. When the shepherds came to the manger on the night you were born they told us that the angels had said you would bring peace, and joy, and salvation to God's people. We thought that they would be only the first of many who would celebrate and rejoice at the coming of Messiah. When we presented you at the temple, though, only two people, Anna and Simeon, knew that you were God's son. Neither of them were of prominent stature, but their words were from heaven. They both confirmed that you are the redeemer, the savior, and a light to the Gentiles."
"Jesus, I have pondered all these things for years. Humbly I have come to the conclusion that I do not understand God's ways. But this much I do think I understand. You were born out of love. Indescribable love. God created mankind so that he might have a beloved. You are here by his great and loving plan to save us from the sin that keeps us from His great love. As you grow up I know that your Father's great love will become your own His love and your love will become one. And that love will help you to fulfill your Father's eternal plan. Love created man. Love brought you to the manger. Where love will lead you in the years ahead I do not know. Simeon said to me in the temple, though, that many would speak against you, and that my heart would be pierced. I do not understand. But I trust God's love. And you will, too, I know."
Then silence. Their eyes dropped. Heads bowed. After some time Mary took Jesus into her arms. Quietly, she tucked him into his bedroll. Angels stood amazed. The Father smiled upon the young boy, Jesus, His beloved son.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only beloved son..."
Love changes hearts. Truth changes direction.
The evening started like most. The younger boys were put to bed. Father, too, was sound asleep after a long hard day hewing timbers. They trimmed the lamp brightly, and rolled out a scroll to read. She had to beg the Rabbi to borrow a different scroll every few weeks. The scroll they were reading together this night was the writing of the great prophet, Isaiah.
The boy began to read. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit." Mother reached over and put her hand on her son's hand and moved it to cover the scroll. He turned slowly to look into her eyes, anticipating full well the importance of what was to transpire. They turned to face each other and she held his precious little hands.
She began. "Listen, my son. So many things that you read are written about you. You have begun to suspect this, to realize it. Your questions clearly tell me that God's Spirit is revealing much to you already. I want to help explain. You are the one prophesied who would come from the root of Jesse. Joseph is not your real father. Your father is God. Jehovah. Yes, the God of our fathers, the great God of all eternity. I know this is difficult to understand, but I was a virgin when you were conceived. An angel from the Lord came to me to explain that you would be Emmanuel, God with us. He told me to name you Jesus. The angel also came to Joseph and told him to take me as his wife and to be your earthly father. The angel told him, also, to name you Jesus. Your name means Savior. It is through you, Jesus, that God intends to save his people from sin. I do not understand how, but your Father will show you in time".
"It confuses me that none of the religious leaders know or understand that you are the Christ. When the shepherds came to the manger on the night you were born they told us that the angels had said you would bring peace, and joy, and salvation to God's people. We thought that they would be only the first of many who would celebrate and rejoice at the coming of Messiah. When we presented you at the temple, though, only two people, Anna and Simeon, knew that you were God's son. Neither of them were of prominent stature, but their words were from heaven. They both confirmed that you are the redeemer, the savior, and a light to the Gentiles."
"Jesus, I have pondered all these things for years. Humbly I have come to the conclusion that I do not understand God's ways. But this much I do think I understand. You were born out of love. Indescribable love. God created mankind so that he might have a beloved. You are here by his great and loving plan to save us from the sin that keeps us from His great love. As you grow up I know that your Father's great love will become your own His love and your love will become one. And that love will help you to fulfill your Father's eternal plan. Love created man. Love brought you to the manger. Where love will lead you in the years ahead I do not know. Simeon said to me in the temple, though, that many would speak against you, and that my heart would be pierced. I do not understand. But I trust God's love. And you will, too, I know."
Then silence. Their eyes dropped. Heads bowed. After some time Mary took Jesus into her arms. Quietly, she tucked him into his bedroll. Angels stood amazed. The Father smiled upon the young boy, Jesus, His beloved son.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only beloved son..."
Love changes hearts. Truth changes direction.
February 8, 2012
Satan The Sifter
It took me a while to figure out the many ramifications of his misplaced statement, but it finally came to me. We were discussing the concept of how Satan can influence our thoughts, and how we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. And Peter was one of the examples we were discussing. The story was cited where Jesus said to Peter, just prior to his arrest and trial, “Satan has asked to sift you, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Lk 22:31-32).
The comment was made, then, “That’s interesting, because Peter did go ahead and deny Jesus three times. So the prayer of Jesus was not answered.” I immediately challenged the presumption that Peter’s failure was what Jesus had prayed for. I said, “The temptation to fear and cowardice, and the ensuing failure of denying Jesus three times was not the sifting of Satan which Jesus prayed about. Jesus knew Peter would fail, and even told him so. We all fail him. What Jesus was concerned about was that Satan would move in immediately after and begin to mess with Peter’s emotions and thoughts, bringing on shame, guilt, despair, hopelessness, self-loathing, and possibly getting Peter to consider going out and killing himself, as Judas did.” After all, Satan’s ultimate goal is to deceive and destroy. (I Pet 5:8)
Satan the sifter wanted to separate Peter from Jesus, to tear down the trust relationship and cause his faith to fail him. Three full years of discipleship were put to the test that night. The failure of denying Christ was only the catalyst, not the test. The true test was whether Peter trusted Jesus to love him, to forgive him, to restore him. Or would he feel that his failure was cause for despair, believe Satan’s lie, and revert back to hopeless self-condemnation. And to what end would that lead him? However far Satan could take him. That’s why Jesus prayed for him.
As the story of Peter progresses, he does deny his Lord three times, just as Jesus said he would. And after the third time he remembers what Jesus had said. The guilt was immediate, and overwhelming. But Jesus’ prayer was answered. How? By Peter looking at his Lord, and Jesus looking back at him. God arranged for that prayer to be answered by putting the two of them in eye contact. Eye to eye, heart to heart, at the most critical point of Satan’s sifting.
What was communicated in the look of Jesus to Peter. Did Jesus look condemningly at him? Did his eyes say to Peter, “I told you so! You let me down.” No, not at all. Jesus communicated love, forgiveness, repentance, acceptance, restoration. He would not let Peter’s faith fail, the trust relationship was still intact, and it would carry Peter through.
Peter went out and wept bitterly. I am sure that he was terribly ashamed and so very sorry for denying Jesus. That was part of the tears. That was the bitter part. But I think that most of the weeping was the cleansing work of love. It was repentance completing its work, the repentance which Jesus initiated with his look of love. It was an unbridled celebration of grace.
Jesus was far more concerned over Peter’s response after the failure than He was about the failure itself. But the man who sees the failure as the key problem does not understand the heart of God. Jesus doesn’t keep record of failures, he waits lovingly to look at us eye to eye, in grace, so that forgiveness and repentance can restore the relationship. He wants trust to grow deeper through love so that we stand stronger.
The comment was made, then, “That’s interesting, because Peter did go ahead and deny Jesus three times. So the prayer of Jesus was not answered.” I immediately challenged the presumption that Peter’s failure was what Jesus had prayed for. I said, “The temptation to fear and cowardice, and the ensuing failure of denying Jesus three times was not the sifting of Satan which Jesus prayed about. Jesus knew Peter would fail, and even told him so. We all fail him. What Jesus was concerned about was that Satan would move in immediately after and begin to mess with Peter’s emotions and thoughts, bringing on shame, guilt, despair, hopelessness, self-loathing, and possibly getting Peter to consider going out and killing himself, as Judas did.” After all, Satan’s ultimate goal is to deceive and destroy. (I Pet 5:8)
Satan the sifter wanted to separate Peter from Jesus, to tear down the trust relationship and cause his faith to fail him. Three full years of discipleship were put to the test that night. The failure of denying Christ was only the catalyst, not the test. The true test was whether Peter trusted Jesus to love him, to forgive him, to restore him. Or would he feel that his failure was cause for despair, believe Satan’s lie, and revert back to hopeless self-condemnation. And to what end would that lead him? However far Satan could take him. That’s why Jesus prayed for him.
As the story of Peter progresses, he does deny his Lord three times, just as Jesus said he would. And after the third time he remembers what Jesus had said. The guilt was immediate, and overwhelming. But Jesus’ prayer was answered. How? By Peter looking at his Lord, and Jesus looking back at him. God arranged for that prayer to be answered by putting the two of them in eye contact. Eye to eye, heart to heart, at the most critical point of Satan’s sifting.
What was communicated in the look of Jesus to Peter. Did Jesus look condemningly at him? Did his eyes say to Peter, “I told you so! You let me down.” No, not at all. Jesus communicated love, forgiveness, repentance, acceptance, restoration. He would not let Peter’s faith fail, the trust relationship was still intact, and it would carry Peter through.
Peter went out and wept bitterly. I am sure that he was terribly ashamed and so very sorry for denying Jesus. That was part of the tears. That was the bitter part. But I think that most of the weeping was the cleansing work of love. It was repentance completing its work, the repentance which Jesus initiated with his look of love. It was an unbridled celebration of grace.
Jesus was far more concerned over Peter’s response after the failure than He was about the failure itself. But the man who sees the failure as the key problem does not understand the heart of God. Jesus doesn’t keep record of failures, he waits lovingly to look at us eye to eye, in grace, so that forgiveness and repentance can restore the relationship. He wants trust to grow deeper through love so that we stand stronger.
January 30, 2012
Splinter In Her Eye
The doctor hovered over my little girl’s eyeball with a drill in his hand. I was so tense that my muscles were sore. Neck, back, arms, legs, closed fists. I was holding still for her, I guess. I thought to myself, “What if she panics, or what if she jerks her head away out of fear? And just how sure is his hand?” She was sitting in his surgical room late one evening, responding to a call from the hospital emergency room. The doctor at the hospital could see the splinter in her eye, but could not remove it himself. So he called an ophthalmologist and asked if he could meet us at his office to remove the splinter.
It all started while having so much fun. I had built a nice high tree swing alongside the house. Our daughter loved to go out in the evening and have me push her higher and higher. She was fearless. When she got going really high she would clear the fence and brush up against the leaves and blossoms of an apple tree. Night after night she loved to have her Daddy go push her on the swing, higher and higher.
I got carried away one night, pushing her higher and higher. Too high. She swung up into the apple tree far enough that a branch brushed against her face. It didn’t hurt at the time, but we slowed down a bit so she wouldn’t get hurt. When she got done swinging we went in the house to rest. She complained that her eye hurt, like something was in it. I remembered the branches of the apple tree brushing her face so I tried to look around in her eye to remove whatever was lodged in there. But I couldn’t find anything. She was tough and didn’t want to complain, but I could tell it hurt pretty bad. She was starting to cry. And I was feeling worse and worse. I looked again and still could not find anything around the edge. Somehow I noticed the tiniest little sliver in the white part of her eye, so small that I could hardly believe that it could cause so much pain. But every time she blinked it scratched her eyelid, and she was pretty miserable.
So we headed to the hospital, not knowing what else to do. It was stuck in there pretty good, because they couldn’t get it out with a cotton swab. So that’s when we headed to see the eye doctor. I expected he would have some way to clamp her head still, and use some special tweezers to get it out. But no, he told her to hop up in the chair and started showing her the little drill he was going to use to drill out the sliver. She wasn’t the least bit afraid. She was so trusting, and so very happy. She was confident that this man knew exactly how to get rid of the pain in her eye.
And just like that, he was done. She was smiling, and they were kidding around, looking at the little splinter resting on the tip of his finger.
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” (Mt 7:4-5; Gal 6:1)
Helping my brother to remove sin’s hold from his life is likened to removing a splinter from his eye. The pain of that spiritual splinter can be intense – guilt, shame, failure, discouragement. Whoever would remove the splinter of sin, though, must be like a surgeon, filled with love, skilled in God’s truth, full of the Spirit. Love changes hearts. Truth changes direction.
It all started while having so much fun. I had built a nice high tree swing alongside the house. Our daughter loved to go out in the evening and have me push her higher and higher. She was fearless. When she got going really high she would clear the fence and brush up against the leaves and blossoms of an apple tree. Night after night she loved to have her Daddy go push her on the swing, higher and higher.
I got carried away one night, pushing her higher and higher. Too high. She swung up into the apple tree far enough that a branch brushed against her face. It didn’t hurt at the time, but we slowed down a bit so she wouldn’t get hurt. When she got done swinging we went in the house to rest. She complained that her eye hurt, like something was in it. I remembered the branches of the apple tree brushing her face so I tried to look around in her eye to remove whatever was lodged in there. But I couldn’t find anything. She was tough and didn’t want to complain, but I could tell it hurt pretty bad. She was starting to cry. And I was feeling worse and worse. I looked again and still could not find anything around the edge. Somehow I noticed the tiniest little sliver in the white part of her eye, so small that I could hardly believe that it could cause so much pain. But every time she blinked it scratched her eyelid, and she was pretty miserable.
So we headed to the hospital, not knowing what else to do. It was stuck in there pretty good, because they couldn’t get it out with a cotton swab. So that’s when we headed to see the eye doctor. I expected he would have some way to clamp her head still, and use some special tweezers to get it out. But no, he told her to hop up in the chair and started showing her the little drill he was going to use to drill out the sliver. She wasn’t the least bit afraid. She was so trusting, and so very happy. She was confident that this man knew exactly how to get rid of the pain in her eye.
And just like that, he was done. She was smiling, and they were kidding around, looking at the little splinter resting on the tip of his finger.
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” (Mt 7:4-5; Gal 6:1)
Helping my brother to remove sin’s hold from his life is likened to removing a splinter from his eye. The pain of that spiritual splinter can be intense – guilt, shame, failure, discouragement. Whoever would remove the splinter of sin, though, must be like a surgeon, filled with love, skilled in God’s truth, full of the Spirit. Love changes hearts. Truth changes direction.
January 26, 2012
Inculcation
I had to look it up in the dictionary when the Holy Spirit told me the word. It might as well have been in a tongue or a foreign language. But the definition in Webster’s was amply clear, and God’s direction was even clearer. He doesn’t need to say much to get across to me exactly what he wants to tell me. In response to my heartfelt prayer, His wise counsel emanated brightly from just that one word. He’s like that, over and over.
Remember Peter? Mr. Impulsive. Spirit led one moment, self led the next. Full of faith and trust, then he would turn around and fall on his face. Loyal and dedicated one day, but tomorrow found him captive to fear. When it comes to professionalism and finesse, the north country fisherman rated kind of low. But who else but Peter would you expect to get out of a boat in the midst of a storm and walk to Jesus. Trust came to him so naturally, He was so teachable. He must have been very likeable, too, the life of the party.
Jesus chose Peter. That amazes me. All twelve of his picks amaze me. Every one of them was rough around the edges, unrefined, disenfranchised. He didn’t pick a single millionaire, not one CEO type, not a single Pharisee or religiously trained scholar. Not one of them was “pedigreed”. I wonder how he knew who to pick, who to call and commission to follow him, who would respond and learn, who would be eager and zealous to fulfill His mission. He knew He was going to invest a whole lot of time and effort in twelve guys for a very limited time.
Jesus had to teach his disciples many of the same things, over and over again. They seldom understood at the first hearing. Jesus taught them patiently, and by constant repetition they learned. That is inculcation. Teaching and instilling by persistent repetition. Those broken, needy, disenfranchised men were the only ones Jesus knew could unlearn their old ways and patiently learn the new. They changed. And the world changed, too.
I was ready to give up leading the men’s group a year ago. I was discouraged, defeated, wondering if the effort was worth it. There was so much to change, so much to unlearn, and it seemed to go so slow. That’s when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Inculcation”.
This last week I looked around the room of ten guys, and I sat amazed, marveling at the change in their lives over the last several years. Myself included. Each one has their own unique and marvelous story. I call our group the ‘Fellowship of the broken and needy’. That might be what Jesus called his group of guys, too, at first.
“We urge you, brethren, admonish the undisciplined, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone… Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” ( I Thes 5:14, 24; NASB)
Remember Peter? Mr. Impulsive. Spirit led one moment, self led the next. Full of faith and trust, then he would turn around and fall on his face. Loyal and dedicated one day, but tomorrow found him captive to fear. When it comes to professionalism and finesse, the north country fisherman rated kind of low. But who else but Peter would you expect to get out of a boat in the midst of a storm and walk to Jesus. Trust came to him so naturally, He was so teachable. He must have been very likeable, too, the life of the party.
Jesus chose Peter. That amazes me. All twelve of his picks amaze me. Every one of them was rough around the edges, unrefined, disenfranchised. He didn’t pick a single millionaire, not one CEO type, not a single Pharisee or religiously trained scholar. Not one of them was “pedigreed”. I wonder how he knew who to pick, who to call and commission to follow him, who would respond and learn, who would be eager and zealous to fulfill His mission. He knew He was going to invest a whole lot of time and effort in twelve guys for a very limited time.
Jesus had to teach his disciples many of the same things, over and over again. They seldom understood at the first hearing. Jesus taught them patiently, and by constant repetition they learned. That is inculcation. Teaching and instilling by persistent repetition. Those broken, needy, disenfranchised men were the only ones Jesus knew could unlearn their old ways and patiently learn the new. They changed. And the world changed, too.
I was ready to give up leading the men’s group a year ago. I was discouraged, defeated, wondering if the effort was worth it. There was so much to change, so much to unlearn, and it seemed to go so slow. That’s when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Inculcation”.
This last week I looked around the room of ten guys, and I sat amazed, marveling at the change in their lives over the last several years. Myself included. Each one has their own unique and marvelous story. I call our group the ‘Fellowship of the broken and needy’. That might be what Jesus called his group of guys, too, at first.
“We urge you, brethren, admonish the undisciplined, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone… Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” ( I Thes 5:14, 24; NASB)
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