HOG HEAVEN BREAKFAST!

What a feast of stomach, soul, and spirit! Our May 17th Men’s Breakfast had approximately 100 guys turn out to see the most beautiful Harleys you could ever lay your eyes on, ate stacks of pancakes and sausage and then topped it off with a great testimony from Bill Blackburn, former Vietnam era Navy pilot turned counselor businessmen and pastor.
Bill shared his story of God’s redemption from a life headed in all the wrong ways and how he has now found the right path to wholeness and the “true measure” of manhood. He challenged us to also find our own identity and measure from Jesus and the word of God.
Our Lead Pastor Ray was also on hand to encourage us to get connected into men’s groups. He reminded us of the next Group Link in August as a great way to find a group. Thanks also to our Young Adult Pastor Mike Magura for the personal anecdote on “getting your lawn mowed” (or how to let other guys into your life and “turf”).
For a first hand look at some of the best Harleys around we thank Latus Motors. Check them out if you want to ride in style.
And as always, much appreciation goes to Tom Abalan, Ted Hartzel and the crew for “serving us men”.
The next Breakfast will be September 13th. See you next month at The Role of the Man Seminar, June 6,7th (see the previous post).

STRAIGHT TALK ON A MAN'S ROLE IN LIFE

Guys - you must take this opportunity to hear one of the best teachings on what God says about manhood. Click on the link and then go to the registration button and reserve your place. This seminar is being co-sponsored by several men's ministries in our area. It will be touring in only 10 other cities in America this year. Don't be bummed and miss it! Do it now!

http://www.newhopecommunitychurch.org/family/content.cfm/Ministries/Men/Events/The_Role_of_the_Man

Also check out http://www.t-men.com for a short video on the speaker David Mclaughlin.

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MAY MEN'S BREAKFAST

MEN SERVING MEN
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 7:30AM -9:00AM
(In the Fellowship Hall and Gym)

WITH GUEST SPEAKER: BILL BLACKBURN
Bill will be speaking on his past and present walk with the Lord and the importance of accountability.

Bring your appetite, and invite your friends and neighbors!
Latus Motors Harley-Davidson and the Harley boys will be there with a great collection of motorcycles to look at. You won’t want to miss it!*

Volunteers are needed. Contact Tom Abalan at 503.939.7002 to get involved.*A $5 donation will help cover the costs of breakfast.

THE ULTIMATE MEN’S MINISTRY

What is the ultimate goal for New Hope’s men’s ministry? - To see every man become like Jesus. This is the “bottom line” will of God for each if us. He has no greater plan than each of us be conformed to His image (Rom.8:29).

How does this happen? Just as Jesus personally discipled a few, select men we must do the same. There is no better method than men personally discipling each other. The most powerful men’s program is more than breakfasts, retreats, or even small groups. It’s men engaging each other in simple life on life and being transformed by the Word and Spirit of God.

Jesus did not do pancake breakfasts to equip men nor did He do any retreats. What He did do was invite men – one here, two there, to follow Him. Neither was He trying to “plant a church” and set up weekly meetings. Rather, His strategy was simply to speak into a few men’s lives to the extent that they would learn to go out and do the same. He taught them by example and narrative in a simple way that was very transferable. He taught and modeled character, conduct and biblical values. As He trained the 12 they became the 72, then the 500 and on and on.

Just how efficient is this method? Consider the following: There are two strategies to win people to Christ. One is to win 10 people to Christ each day. That’s 300 a month, 3600 a year. In thirty years the total would be an impressive 108,000 people saved.

Another is to win one person to the Lord in a year and to carefully disciple this individual. By this careful discipling that person should be able go out and win someone else to Christ. Year number two finds two people, each one, winning one person to the Lord and carefully discipling each new convert. Each subsequent year it doubles again and by the 28th year over 5 billion people will have been discipled - basically, the world’s population. Unfortunately, if at any point we loose the focus it can derail the multiplication process, but this shows the great potential for discipling new believers and sending them out to disciple others.

If we would just follow Jesus’ simple and effective example for our ministry to men we would see more of them transformed into His likeness. We need men who will obey the final word and command of Jesus – “Go, make disciples…” (Matt. 28:19,20)

If you are interested in becoming a disciple of Jesus or to disciple other men contact any of the following NH Men’s leaders contact me; Dennis Deardorff, dennisd@newhopecommuntychurch.org or make a comment to this post.

THE NEXT GREAT HEALING BOOK

The next great book to offer inner healing and deeper relationship with God is here:

The Shack

It will jerk your paradigms and probably wet your eyes in a good way. It is a story everyone can relate to but especially guys - like all of us who carry battle wounds from life and are trying to survive. This book may become bigger than The Purpose Driven Life because it strikes at the core of our need to know our "papa" better. http://theshackbook.com/

GREAT BOOKS FOR DISCIPLES

John Eldredge, Walking with God

I have found another great book for basic spiritual growth. If you enjoyed Wild at Heart by John Eldredge you will also enjoy his latest entitled Walking with God. At the core of being a disciple or follower of Jesus is the ability to listen to Him. If we can’t listen to Jesus how do we think that we can follow Him? As Jesus began His earthly ministry He was first tested in this basic discipline, listening to God. When enticed by the enemy to take matters into His own hands Jesus responds, “…people must feed on every word of God.” (Matt. 4:4).
Eldredge writes from his own journal how he has personally learned to listen to God. In a very transparent way he shows how he worked through the things that keep us all from even hearing God. He dealt with such things as disappointments, fears, sorrows, guidance, desires and getting his heart in the place where it could find true joy. Most of us are good believers but are we good followers? The book is one of the best in helping to develop this basic skill as a follower of Jesus.