Monday, June 23, 2008

The Real "Offroad" Men


Dennis Engman, one of our men’s leaders invited a few guys to join him on a weekend campout on the White River last month. It turned into seven guys anxious to rough camp in the most out-of-the way place they could find. Packed with firearms, ammo, tents, food and cooking gear and the help of an ATV they set up camp in the bottom of the river canyon. For three days and nights they shot up pop cans, hiked, chased around with the ATV, and told tall stories –generally just shared life and Jesus. Dennis says that this has sort of been a tradition each year, just getting the guys together and lettin’ loose. (Note "gun totin" Rod Marsh!) Way to go guys! This is what being a “band of brothers” is all about, seeking after our true hearts as men of adventure and mission. See more pics on the campout at http://picasaweb.google.com/roger.penn/Camping_memorial_day_08?authkey=JxzR_WtsKP8
Got a tale of your band of brothers?Let me hear about it and post it. Post a comment to this article or email me at dennisd@newhopecommunitychurch.org .

Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Brotherhood of the Hook



Tom Abalan just had to show off his “fish hook” lapel pin to me the other day. As usual Tom expressed a lot of passion about its meaning. He is a passionate guy in general but the hook thing is right on! He wears the pin as a discussion starter but most importantly for what it says about his heart. He has a heart for men. He wants to “hook” them for Jesus. He wants to see their lives turned around and made “alive, alert, and enthusiastic”.
The fishhook pin has been around for a long time and has been used to symbolize various ministries but seeing it the other day on Tom’s lapel brought a fresh revelation to me about the essential mission of men’s ministry. Just like Jesus we to need to be “fishers of men”, hooking men and saving them from the “slough of despond”. What is that? Here’s the definition:
1. a place, as a hollow, full of soft, deep mud
2. Etymology: after Slough of Despond, a deep swamp in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
deep, hopeless dejection or discouragement
3. moral degradation
4. a swamp, bog, or marsh, esp. one that is part of an inlet or backwater
(Thanks to http://www.yourdictionary.com/slough)

Men don’t often know that they need to be “hooked”. The “slough” has engulfed their lives to the point that they think its just their natural environment. Not until they get hooked by Jesus and brought to the surface do they realize that life can be better.
How about joining Tom and the rest of us in the “Brotherhood of the fishhook”. If you want to be about hooking guys and helping them follow Jesus, ask Tom for a pin. You can reach him at tom@letstalkhouses.com . Lets go fishing!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Dennis Puleo: One Man's Decision; A Machine Gunner's Story

Here's a great testimony that many of you hard working, press hard, make it while you can, survive anything types will enjoy. Dennis beat the odds but it finally ( or should we say the Holy Spirit) brought him to his senses. He is now traveling as a speaking consultant for Man in the Mirror Ministries. You'll enjoy. Beware! He doesn't pull any punches because he knows what he is talking about.
Click on this link and scroll to 3/14/2008; Dennis Puleo: One Man's Decision A Machine Gunner's Story

http://www.maninthemirror.org/biblestudy/series.htm#archive

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Hey, Where are the Barbarians?!




Erwin McManus, pastor, teacher, and writer is upsetting the civility of our religion! How dare he challenge our expectations of a life full of prosperity and security. Where does he get off thinking that Jesus didn’t just die so that we can “build our havens”? Or do we have it wrong?
When you think about it why would Jesus endure the cross just so that we could have a peace plan with God and the easy life? The tragedy is that a number of us who call Jesus Lord have become so domesticated and civilized that we have lost the passion and power of that raw, untamed, and primal faith that Jesus really died to give us.
Christianity has become docile, domesticated and civilized. We have forgotten that there is a kingdom of darkness stealing the hopes and dreams of humanity, that the man who signs on with Jesus is not a gentleman but a barbarian warrior!
If you dare to look at who you are really called to be as a Christian, then this book is for you. If you prefer to hold on to your comfort plan with God then don’t bother. It will make you too upset.