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Men's Retreat Report
This past weekend myself and a few othe men attended a men's retreat. In between the fun, food and football, we found the time to catch a sermon or two. The guest speaker was Gayle Erwin, Author of the Jesus Style. The condensed version is this Jesus said
Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Read Chapter)
Jesus also said "follow me" being interpreted "imitate me", if we're to imitate Jesus as sheep among wolves, these are the tools that most reflect Jesus that are going to help us win the battle against wolves.
The Jesus Style
1. Servant
2. Not Lord it over
3. Example
4. Humble
5. As a child
6. As the younger
7. Last - Others first
8. Least
9. No force
10 No blind ambition
11. No reputation
12. Human
13. Obedient
14. Death
(Matthew 18, 20, 23 | Mark 9, 10 | Luke 9, 14, 22 | John 13 )
(click #'s to read chapters)
As I glanced over the Jesus Style list, it made me realize just how much more I need to rely on the work of the Holy spirit to complete the work that God has called us to do.
The one thing I personally took away the most was "being an example". I always want to remember no matter where I go with the fury of lamb (its a joke, lambs have absolutely no defense mechanisms), that whether I like it not, remember it or not, I need to be an example, at the workplace, in the home, in the ministry, and in my travels. And the example that I desire for people to see is that of a person that walks with Jesus Christ.
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Psalm 50:14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Read Chapter)
 God loves a good bar-b-q. In the book of Leviticus God lays out the instructions of burnt offerings. What God required was that the people would bring to the priests lambs to be sacrificed upon the alter by fire. There were many reasons and sacrifices, yet in Leviticus chapters 3-6 (read chapters), we observe the sacrifice offerings for sins, trespasses, and peace. The sin offering was in regards to mistakes that were made against God without the knowledge of knowing you broke a law. For example when I lived in Arizona, in addition to the right hand side of the road and the left hand side of the road, there was a center lane that you were allowed to drive in, north in the morning rush hour, and south in the evening rush hour, yet at certain times of the day, you weren’t allowed to make certain turns from that lane. I had made a turn at one of the no turn times and was not aware of this law being from CT, the cop pulled me over, and luckily gave me a warning after seeing my CT license and hearing the joy of my voice to rush home and see my 2 week old savannah during my lunch break. A trespass offering was a deliberate breaking of one of God’s laws, for example every time we jay walk, or make a turn on red in front of a no turn on red sign (guilty as charged). And a peace offering, really was like a guilt offering, because the reality was, no matter how many offerings you made, you never really felt at peace with God… kind of like the Conscience Fund (IRS):
Conscience Fund The account to be credited when remittances are received from taxpayers to ease their consciences. Usually a note is attached indicating it is for the "Conscience Fund." For example: A taxpayer may write a note stating, " I will be able to sleep better now." Although we’ve made sacrifices for our sins and trespasses, our hearts still convict us that the sacrifice we made just wasn’t enough to remove our guilt and shame, so God made provision for us to offer an additional sacrifice for peace with God to assist in the removal of our guilt and shame (taken from IRS.GOV site)
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the messiah, would basically fulfill all the requirements of the Law Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Read Chapter)
Of course the only man in History to come close to fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53 was Jesus, the Christ! He became the ultimate sacrifice by laying it all down with his life.
Paul states Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Read Chapter)
Its been said the problem with the living sacrifices is that we are constantly getting off of the alter. Since Jesus was God in the flesh reconciling the world to himself as a sacrifice, its only reasonable that we lay our lives down for him in return.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Read Chapter)
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Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (read chapter)
Every so often the devil makes a move that infuriates the Christian community. “the last temptation of Christ” , The Davinci code, and now “Religilous”, featuring comedian Bill Maher. As Christian, some churches will tell us we need to take a stand… protest, picket go go go , fight fight fight, win win win… yet rarely do we see the opportunity for evangelism, why? We’re not equipped, we cry out that we want to share Christ with some one, yet we realize we’re scared we’re not equipped, what if they ask something I don’t know the answer too, or how do I open up the conversation?
Well now you don’t have to fear those issues, because Bill Maher is opening up the floor for you. For years I have monitored his career, I am in a lot of aspects a “fan” , and every so often he pushes the “God” button. In the Movie Religious (a play on the word ridiculous) he basically has taken every mocking question in regards to “God and Christianity” and put them all into one movie. At the work place, I guarantee if you haven’t heard these questions before, you will hear them now… Questions like “why do opposing teams pray before a game asking God to help them win as if God cares?, How does God hear all prayers and decide which ones he is going to answer, Jesus hates rich people, he said it in the bible, and my #1 favorite question… “If God is so powerful why doesn’t he snap his fingers and rid the world of evil”?
Beloved you are equipped, before you came to Jesus Christ, these questions festered in your heart, yet on one faithful day, God’s light shined on your heart, you realized you were a sinner, your darkness was no match for the light of Christ, you became aware that if you were to die today and stand before the throne of God giving an account of your life, you would fail the test of perfection, and that a “savior” was necessary. And the only one declared since time began to have lived a perfect life, and be accepted into heaven on the basis of His perfection is “Jesus Christ”. You accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Before you came to Jesus Christ you knew all you needed to know, you didn’t understand the trinity, you had no idea of pre - mid - or post rapture, you didn’t care if Cain got his wife from his own bloodline… all you cared about was having your sins forgiven and never having to pay the price for the only lie in life you told, or the one time you ran the red light and didn’t get caught, you knew that even though in man’s eyes you got away with every sinful thought or action, you understood that God knew what you did, and the penalty for your disobedience was death. Yet God is loving and merciful and says “you don’t have to pay the debt, your forgiven on the basis of my wrath being poured out on my son Jesus, instead of you” And how did Jesus survive this, He was God in the flesh. “God died for you” Jesus said, no greater love does a man have than to lay down his life for his friends. Will you lay down your life for Jesus Christ!
Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (read chapter)
Matthew 10:16
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Read Chapter)
P.S I said my favorite question is “why doesn’t God snap his fingers and rid the world of evil” The reason is in God’s justice, if he had done that, April 7, 1997, I would have suffered his wrath, because it wasn’t until April 8th 1997 that I gave my life to Christ, God is merciful, and just, and he is giving every sinner a chance to repent.
It is a great launch pad question into your own testimony, Be encouraged, enriched an equipped, to take advantage of this great opportunity that Bill Maher has presented us with.
Bill Maher Religulous Trailer You Tube
Click Image To Watch | Bill Maher on Larry King
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 Today, hundreds will grieve, thousands will mourn, and millions will remember the attacks on 9/11. Our thoughts, prayers and hearts will be turned towards yet another dark time in American history. These moments in time become a speed bump, because as much as we would like to move on business as usual, we must stop and remember not only those affected by the tragedies of 9/11, but all tragedies we experience in our lives. It forces us to grab a hold of a favorite memory as we try to let go of the painful experience.
After David, had sinned with Bathsheba and then had Bathsheba’s husband killed, the Lord sent word to David that David’s own son would die. David’s entire life was put on hold, much like ours when we have had to stand by and watch a loved one die. David like many of us, fasted and prayed that the Lord would be gracious and spare his son, and life is frozen until God’s will is done, whether that be full restoration, or moving on to be with the Lord.
Unfortunately for David, he lost his son. After he lost his son, he got up and was able to move forward. David’s servants didn’t understand. David was grief stricken to learn from the Lord that his son would die, how could he possibly be able to move on business as usually now that his son is actually gone… and David says “2 Samuel 12:23 I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (Read Chapter)
David understood very well that death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning, as the saying goes… last breath on earth, first breath in eternity. David knew that his son wasn’t coming back, but one day he will go to be with him and the Lord.
 For Christians, the resurrection is our blessed hope. Because Jesus Christ rose from the grave we have absolute proof that there is a heaven with a God that loves us and is able to raise the dead. It is our blessed hope, it my blessed hope that I one day will be reunited with the ones I have lost in my past My grandfather, My Aunts, Sal age 15, Lance age 17, Domanie age 20, Graham age 20, Jeremy age 8, Mom and Dad Burch.
Jesus Christ is our blessed hope
1 Thessalonians 4 : 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (Read Chapter)
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Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Read Chapter)
 | | Copy-Cat LOL | Our daughter Savannah is now in middle school. As she grows and becomes more involved in life. I notice three things. 1. Things that she mimics of me that are good, 2. Things she mimics of me that are bad, and 3. Things that she doesn’t mimic of me at all.
I’m simply overjoyed when I see Savannah mimicking a quality that I see within myself (I’m sure there some major pride in that statement, yet I’m sure y'all know what I mean). I’m embarrassed when she mimics my bad qualities though too (especially when you don’t think a child would pick up on something like that LOL)… I’m saddened when she doesn’t pick up on certain qualities that I would desire her to possess.
As we look to be more like Jesus, I’m sure we all imitate Christ, in a lot of areas, and we have nothing to worry about in imitating Christ in bad areas only because Christ was absolutely perfection and no darkness in Him. Yet, there are those areas that we’re not being imitators of Christ at all.
Be sure to pray this week that the Holy Spirit enables you to mimic the Christ like qualities that will not only enhance the quality of life for ourselves, but more importantly enriching the quality of life for those around us, and we'll experience more people wanting to spend more time with us like spending time in a garden, because our lives are emitting that sweet smelling aroma of Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (Read Chapter)
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