January 2008 CCF Men’s Meeting

We had a great men’s meeting last night! Thanks to the twenty-six men who braved the cold. Thanks to Gary Brock for getting the pizza. Thanks to Jeff Cazzell for leading us in worship. Thanks to Joe Carruth for sharing an important word from the Scripture and God’s heart on “Priorities!”

He finished to the applause of the crowd. I wish I could tell you to listen to the recording, but we met in the Fuse Room and it wasn’t recorded. I too would love to listen to it again.

Brian Fields introduced Joe with some remarks from our Subiaco leader’s retreat last week. Basically the greatest and second greatest commandment as pronounced by our Lord. Then what we heard most clearly was, “Husbands, love your wives….” During this journey, you’ll learn about My love, and the power it will bring to your lives and walks. Do it! That's what it seems He's saying.

Joe started right there with, “(2Co 4:5 NAS77) For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.”

He said quickly and quietly that our priorities are to be (1) God (2) Wife (3) Children (4) Work, in that order. Then he said, “OK, we can go home now.” Powerful statement. Powerfully true.

Yet he went on to say, “We can know what they are, but not what they look like in practice.” He went on to teach about “love” from the word and life of Christ. He gave examples of how these priorities should work and flow in our lives, with “agape” love informing all the other kinds of love. Love then is the motive, referee, and driving force in demonstrating our priorities.

We want to get to the place where, “We see our priorities not as duties and obligations – but as opportunities to love.”

The New Testament calls it, the “new and living way of the Spirit.”

Joe, the Lord was good to you, and to us. It was an honor and a blessing to be there.

(Eph 5:25 NAS77) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;

(Col 3:19 NAS77) Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.

Subiaco Men's Leaders Retreat 2008

WORDS TO GAZE UPON
(Gen. 30:30)

“SING MORE”

“Expectations” “Expectations”

“Love your Wives”

“We’re not walking in the fullness of His power, because we’re not walking in the depths of His love.”

“COINS” => Prayer Instruction & Reminder God is near…

Look for “coincidences”

Live One Day at a Time – “Manna”

Don’t carry two days burden on one day.

Go Deep with God (Abide there) before trying to go up & out.

Go deeper with your brothers as you go up & out.

The limits of our expectations are measured by our availability.

“Many prayers” & “Mini prayers” God is pleased with many prayers.

“Log Jam” is slowing flow of God to us personally & at CCF.

“Offenses!”

Ps 6:9 “The LORD has heard my cry…the LORD accepts my prayer.”

B.G. – Home from Thailand

B.G. spoke at our December 18^th men’s meeting. He was so refreshing, humble and honest. He had complete freedom to share whatever he wanted, but if I could have asked him to share exactly what I believed would help our men the most, it would have been just the things he shared! You can listen or download and burn a CD by clicking here.

I’ll try to recap a few of his thoughts from my notes that evening. The first sermon B.G. heard when he arrived in Thailand was about “breakthrough.” He said, “I was heading into something big, but I was drying up spiritually. I needed breakthrough.”

“The devil didn’t temp me too much with direct sin, he’s more subtle than that. He just caused me to put my love for the Lord on the back burner.”

“I wasn’t there in Thailand alone. I had a community there that saw my need and ministered to me. They told me, ‘Spend more time with the Lord; He misses you.’”

“I was on the sidelines for a while. So I could recover, rest, train. It was the first time I went through a real ‘discipleship’ program. I felt like this was my rookie year.”

There’s more, much more. As Paul Harvey says, “... the rest of the story!”

Not hungry enough for God? Want motivation to seek Him again? Listen to B.G.’s word!