This week we’ve been in Manzini doing some training with Gary and Lisa Black.… and one of the major topics has been the roles of men and women and the changes that are happening in our culture and our church.
So, usually, I am not usually a subscriber to this topic. I listen to the “girl talks” every year at our youth rally and think… that’s a load of crap. Books about this topic I usually get half way through and quit. But, this week has been different. It’s weirding me out a little that this is hitting home with me… but I’m going to go with it… bear with me.
My notes are too long but here are a few relevant tidbits to what’s on my mind:
Men of God are a dying breed. We don’t empower the men of the church to be men… Our men and our churches are becoming effeminate. Young men aren’t being initiated. They aren’t being mentored. We don’t challenge young men to step up to the plate.
This was a hot topic last night… “step up men of God, let’s go already. Be powerful, be men. Get off your butts and take a stand for the Kingdom of God.”
If you want to know what a powerful man of God in the making looks like please read any of the blogs of my 6 brothers for the year (6 men out of 26 world racers… ridiculous… get out here boys… you’re missing out… but that’s a blog for another day).
So I’m thinking about all this on my way to the internet today and I received this email from one of my best guy friends. Prayers for Men of God answered through email… awesome. This is what it can look like every day… for any of us, wherever we are.
“On Mondays I go down to Urban Promise to volunteer with an after school program which is right in the middle of Wilmington. But there are some kids that come, who compared to what I have, have almost nothing. I’m not talking about just material things. I’m talking as far as role models, positive surroundings, opportunities, and values. But yesterday God REALLY broke my heart for them…
I’m thinking what does the Gospel mean to kids in this situation? I know obviously that it means something but I’m wondering… how do these kids see it as something that is worth even taking seriously and thinking about? Because when they accept Jesus, that’s probably not going to bring a positive male into their lives, that’s not going to help them to get by financially, that’s not going to keep them safe on the streets. After that yesterday, I started thinking about the many kids in the inner city that are in this same situation and there are many that are in worse situations than they are!! Many who unlike them don’t even have an after-school program to go to that practices good values and teaches them positive things…
On the way home yesterday, I felt sick, thought I was going to throw up in the car. Thinking about the conditions and different situations def shook me. I can’t imagine how much it hurts Jesus. I think Jesus just let me experience a small piece of what he sees and mourns over, and it was like a punch in the stomach. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all last night and this morning also.
So God is really showing me this, and really letting me experience what it is like to be a co-laborer with Him, and an ambassador for Him. I felt like staying down there and being there for each of these kids and forgetting about what’s going on in Newark. But God’s really showing me how he wants me to serve in the future which is awesome.”
This email is an encouragement and my challenge to myself:
Find something that wrecks you and get on your knees about it. Let’s step up and be God’s Kingdom people. Find someone today who needs to know God loves them and Be Love.
