As way of encouragement this week I have included a message form Kenny Luck, the Saddleback men's pastor.
Kenny leads us every Thursday morning in a bible study directed at men's issues. Attending this study has been an important part of my recovery & I would encourage you to join me from 6:30 am to 7:30 am next Thursday at table No. 7. It’s another great way to connect with other men.
And the men's retreats are a MUST!!! So start making plans for our Houseboat Trip September 29th !!!
This message from Kenny ties into our reading last week in Luke 18:15-17 where Jesus asks us to be like children. So take a look:
The Boy Is Not Supposed to Die
Tension. Unpredictability. Letting go. Adrenaline.
Jumping off things is in our DNA. It took me two seconds to make my short list. Jumping off the roof. Jumping into a cold pool. Jumping off the roof into cold pools. Jumping on a trampoline. Jumping off the swings. Jumping on a pogo stick to Billy Joel music eight hundred and fifty seven times in my garage. Jumping over Calabasas Creek with my yellow Schwinn. Jumping into mischief for the thrill of it. How about you?
Our fathers looked at us and said, “What were you thinking?” We said, “I don’t know.” That’s because there was no explanation! We were being boys. That is, we were stretching the limits of our courage, we were testing the limits of our abilities, and we were risking injury for the rush on the other side of the experience. We lived for that feeling.
Funny that Jesus turned to a little boy to answer the spiritual significance question: “Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” In other words, what can I do here that will make me significant up there with God? Imagine the visual:
“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:2-3 NASB).
What would this mean in the masculine context? What qualities did they need to recapture from their boyhood which would shape their manhood in Christ?
Eager to trust. Eager to risk. Eager to “jump off.”
Risk is the DNA of man – of every man – and it’s put there by God and for God. You may have misplaced it, neglected it, or misused it but it is time to get it back and do something great for God with it.
Kenny
SW: Recovery is all about me... about my healing... and the first step to my healing is admitting that I am powerless... and what is more powerless than a child. Like powerless children we come to our Father... we can pretend we are big & strong... we can pretend we can do it alone... we can pretend we know it all... "let me do it daddy, let me do it!" we cry out... and somethings he lets us do. But, if we are honest, we must admit just where doing it ALL ourselves has gotten us. But HE knows our own true selves even when we don't. He ACCEPTS us just as we are. We are accepted! We just need to stop pretending, "... and become like little children," before our God... powerless ... & loved.
For this week: Continuing on Step 1 - Lesson 2
Reading:
Bible: Luke 21-24; John 1
Step Devotional: Time to Choose pg. 1309
Serenity Devotional: pg 351
Monday Group (20 June):
Devotional: Serenity pg 355
Sharing: Lesson 2 - Questions 4,5,6 & 7
No comments:
Post a Comment