"VISIONS & DREAMS" FOR 2009---Questions from Bishop Mike Rinehart

To all the KING'S Men...

K now Christ!
I nvite others to join God's team!
N urture your faith through prayer, worship & daily Bible reading!
G ive your time & money to support God's work in your congregation!'
' ( ' = a sign of "possession" and it's about "belonging"---who we are and whose we are!)
S peak well of your pastor and the men in your life!

KING'S men...that's who we are!

Or think of it this way..."one man at a time...no man left behind..."

And if that doesn't strike you...try the ELCA's Lutheran Men in Mission "vision" statement...

"That every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ
through an effective men‘s ministry in every congregation."

KING'S Men...I pray that we all sense God's Holy Spirit leading us to be just that...

Just a few months ago before Hurricane Ike wrecked havoc with our routines and whatever we used to refer to as "daily life," I sat down with Bishop Rinehart responding to his request to "share a vision" with him about men's ministry in our congregations and synod. We talked over lunch for about 90 minutes. He asked me questions and when we were done he asked, one more..."can you post this vision on our web-site and get this idea out to our pastors and our men?" It was also couched with the question, "and you will consider serving as the volunteer coordinator for men's ministry in the synod, won't you?" I said, "yes," to the first question without hesitation. The "couched" question required a more prayerful response and yet the answer is still the same..."God willing and with the help of the pastors and other men who are leaders in our congregations, I know this ministry can continue to grow and be a real gift to our men, their families, our congregations, this synod, the ELCA and the world! So, to all the KING'S men...let's dream and vision a bit about 2009... our conversation went something like this...

Question: "How strong is our synod's Lutheran men in mission?

Answer: That depends. At a synod level between 1/3 and 1/2 of our congregations have an identifiable men's ministry, a contact person and a communications link via phone, e-mail, etc. Each congregation is in its own place and journey; some farther along than others. Some not at all. However, I think the strength of Lutheran Men in Mission may be found in what we "don't know" and "don't see." It's all those men who are faithful in marriage and family, contributors to the life and breath of congregational ministry, diligent in their work and those kinds of things that are hardly credited as men's ministry. Our Lutheran Men in Mission must see themselves in a larger way than cutting grass, handing out bulletins, and gathering for breakfast and Bible study once a month.

Question: So, what is men in mission's greatest challenge?

Answer: Its a 3-legged challenge. One is to continue to the work of connecting pastors and men to this ministry and using it as a catalyst for all of congregational life. This is an ongoing "strengthening" process; two, is find ways to bring the other men (long-time members, new members, men with addressable stressors) on board and allow the work of men to be celebrated at many levels; and three, to force a conversation about "faithing" our daily life and work so that all the men in our churches don't see Men in Mission as something else to do...more work to plan and accomplish...more "to do's" on the schedule, but to see the work that is already being done by so many and for so many as a legitimate expression of men's ministry.

Question: OK, so how does this get done?

Answer: Well, we've been working on this for almost 5 years. For me, it goes back to the all-synod men's banquet we held in February 2004 when Coach Don Capers was the head coach of the Houston Texans and was the keynote speaker at that banquet. That night was a wake-up call. It was inspirational for all and our synod raised over $5000 to buy more LMM Master Builder Bibles to be distributed in our congregations. Men's ministry isn't rocket science. It's harder. At least that's what guys like Pat Morley, Doug Haugen and Rollie Martinson say. It's work that has begun, is continuing to be attended to and we won't stop until as Isaiah and St. Paul used to say, "til every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord." It is work that requires a coordinated effort with pastors and leaders, with congregational groups and clusters of congregations as well as seeing to it that every man understands the opportunity to have a role in this work.

Question: That sounds like a daunting task. Is this a recipe for failure?

Answer: Well, it is and it isn't. The truth is we have no real "showcase" congregation in our synod for men's ministry. Even when people ask me about the men at New Life in Pearland, I'm quick to respond...Oh, don't use us as the litmus test. We're way better at this work than we used to be; but those who are involved will tell you we have a long way to go!" But, what is essential here to convey is what Dwight Moody liked to say..."I like the work that we're doing now better than the work we weren't doing before." And I think this is critical to our men's ministry posture. We can't fail because whatever we do is most likely better than or more than what we never did before!

Question: So, is this all written out?

Answer: Yes. It's not THE plan; but it is A plan and most likely a plan that will help upgrade the men's ministry in any of our congregations. It's posted on http://www.soggyshoes.org/ and is also part of the synod reports for 2007 presented at this past year's synod assembly. If anyone has need, I can send a hard copy in the mail or even better yet, come in person to address a men's group and talk about dynamics and the mechanics of being effective. We start where we are go from there.

Question: Good. How do we de-girlify our/the ELCA’s men’s ministry strategy?

Answer:

• Continue challenging intergenerational conversations; make connections;
• Teach pastors and men to evaluate their setting, speak to the men directly during their worship experience and MOST OF ALL expand the image of men’s ministry beyond cutting grass, & being ushers;
• Make use of Camp Lutherhill for men’s events;
• Do congregational review of current “men’s ministry” items & expand list;
• Provide ways for men to use hands, back & hearts in church and community (i.e. Hurricane recovery, mission trips, Habitat for Humanity, Church plant upgrades, landscaping, softball, bowling, BBQs, etc.)
• Review the potential "feminine" facilities and find ways to "man up" the interior of our building and/or at least find a "place/space" to feature men's ministry;
• make it a congregational tradition to give a copy of the LMM Master Builders Bible to each man who joins the congregation. (not as part of the public welcome in worship but quietly afterward, with each man targeted with this gift and an invitation to "read it" and bring it to Bible study;
  

Question: What other dreams and visions do you have for our synod's men?

Answer: O,bishop, that will require another lunch and another blog entry. But, I WILL ask the pastors and men of our synod...

So, KING'S men...what dreams and visions do you have for yourself, your small group, your congregation, the synod? Drop a note back here and let's talk some more...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

"LOVE'S LONG REACH"

NOVEMBER, 7, 2008

To All the KING'S Men...

I write this on the occasion of what would be my parents 56th wedding anniversary. On the afternoon of November 7, 1952, Howard Gigee and Doris Hall made promises to each other to love each other and stand by each other through thick or thin 'til death they would part in front of God's altar and in the presence of their families and friends as well as The Rev. Dr. William F. Schmidt at good old St. Paul's Lutheran Church at the corner of Fifth & Caroline Streets in Youngstown, OH. What a grand occasion it was. I have pictures to prove it! But, like all of life, those promises were kept as long as promises can be kept and despite almost 35 years of marriage it was only death that did their marriage in. My father died in 1987. My mother died this past February but not a year goes by that I don't sense love's long reach from both of them when this day shows up on my calendar. Happy anniversary "Bud" and Doris! And try not to cause a commotion for the saints that stand near you even now...

This is not the first time I've written about my parents; but it is the first time that I've written about them in the context of their being part of the "saints in light" we remember on a Sunday as we did this past week. Some took time to "remember" on Saturday, November 1st while others waited a day and gathered with others in the holy places of God to honor those who have lived in faith, died in faith and made sure that this gift of faith was passed on to a next generation. And while I brag a bit about the faith of my parents, I suspect there are like persons in your faith life that you can point to as well as those who made certain that the Word of God and sacraments were placed before you...

My mother's faith had the German Lutheran imprint on it. She got it from her mom even though my grandmother's life was snuffed out by a drunk driver when my mother was 8 years old. Turns out things have changed since then as that drunk driver had four road kills before the law did anything about it. Her Uncle and Aunts took over when her mother's voice could no longer be heard each day. Faith in God was deeply rooted in the Schultz home; so it wasn't a difficult choice for Uncle Fritz and the others to step up and step in...

My father's faith was a cross between Methodism and a Scottish Presbyterian ethic. My paternal grandmother was a kind and quiet woman but showed a certain sense of boldness when she divorced by grandfather when my father was 14 (circa 1944 and no doubt a war ravaged culture played a role in her anxiety and sense of fear for the future!). Seems my dad's father loved "strong drink" more than he did his wife and children and especially more than he loved Jesus....In fact, I have many memories of my father searching the streets for his wayward father who by the time I was growing up in the 1950's and 1960's had pretty much become a street rogue and died a drunken and violent death. A child's love of parents is irrational and seemingly never-ending and I can only say that perhaps my father's love and concern for his father was a reflection of the growing faith in him that implicated God himself as the one who never stops loving, scouring the horizon and reaching out for us...

I need to tell you that I miss my parents. Obviously, my father much longer now than my mother. I miss calling them up on the phone and telling them about my day and about their grandchildren. I miss hearing stories from them and sitting in a restaurant and having a cup of coffee (my mom's favorite drink) or a plate of deep sea scallops and a piece of pie (how my NY farm-raised father ever discovered scallops remains a mystery but his mother could cook a tantalizing pie!) I miss sitting in the back yard of the only house they ever owned in the cool of the summer watching the 4th of July fireworks or waiting for them to arrive for a visit to Texas...I miss my father's determined hugs and my mother's lectures despite my adult opinions that often described "another way." I miss them both, but I sense that their love continues to reach out to me and through me because part of what was them is part of who I am now. It's a gift of God that reflects the mystery of God and a gift that must be acknowledged joyfully from time to time...

My parents weren't famous. They weren't notorious. I never saw their faces on the magazines at the check-out counter at Kroger's or H.E.B. They didn't seek to be famous or live with such abandon to risk notoriety; but they were known in their neighborhood. They were appreciated in their community. They gave themselves to God and Christ's Church without any sense of getting anything back as they both realized how Jesus had provided so well for them already...

So, as we move to a time where people are getting a bit more thankful about life, I'm grateful for the faith of my parents, for their modelling of a life that was filled with struggle and accompanied by heart-ache and yet overflowing with joy and satisfaction. They were not the poster children for being simul justus et peccator, but they certainly qualified. They didn't ask for much and gave away so much more...they are the saints of God that I want to aspire to and the kind of saintly lives I pray my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their children and grandchildren will aspire to as well...

In Paul's Letter to Titus, we recall what he wrote about Jesus...

"He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. 6 Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. 7 God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come - an eternity of life! 8 You can count on this." Titus 3: 5b-8

This new life that Jesus gives is the love that reaches out to us all from way way back and has the power to reach out to those who come after us...as the new song goes...

"Rejoice in God's saints...today and all days...a world without saints forgets how to praise..."

But, that's not all...

"Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer; their depth of adoring, Lord help us to share!"

And so we do; and so we are...and may LOVE's long reach grab ahold of your heart and mind this day and each day to come...

Brian

Seeking a Jesus Kind of Leadership

To all the KING'S Men,

In a post-Ike-kind-of-life, I'm praying that our men would seek a Jesus-kind-of-leadership life!

The scriptures present Jesus way of life this way...


7 LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES THAT JESUS MODELED

1. IDENTIFICATION: KNOW WHO I AM
+ Jesus said: I am ...the Light of the world... the Son of God...the Way, the Truth and the Life...the Bread of life.. (Jn. 8:12, Mk. 14:62, Jn. 14:6, Jn. 6:35)
+ Jesus said, I testify on My own behalf... John. 8:18 (RSV)

+ Therefore, we are God's children, God's men, the King's men...we know who we are!

2. CLARIFICATION: KNOW WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH
+ Jesus said: "....I know where I came from and where I am going..."Jn. 8:14 and
"I must proclaim the good news... for I was sent for this purpose..." Luke 4:43 (RSV)

+ Therefore, we continue to seek out men to integrate a faith that works for us each day!

3. MOTIVATION: KNOW WHO I AM TRYING TO PLEASE
+ Jesus said: "I only try to please the One who sent Me..." John 5:30 (NCV)
"No one can serve two masters..." Luke 16:13
"I have brought you glory here by completing the work you gave me..."

John 17:4 (NIV)

+ Who are we trying to please? God? Self? Spouse? Boss? Neighbors? Pastor?

4. COLLABORATION: WORK WITH A SMALL GROUP

+ He appointed twelve . designating them apostles . that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.. Mark 3:14 (NIV)

+ Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay
here and keep watch with Me... Matt. 26:38 (NIV)

+ Who is in your small group? Do you have one? Can you help start one? Start another?

5. CONCENTRATION: FOCUS ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT
+ As the time drew near for His return to heaven, He moved steadily onward toward Jerusalem with an iron will.. Luke. 9:51 (LB)
+Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God... Luke 9:62 (LB)
+ Martha was distracted... So Jesus said, .You are worried and bothered about so many
things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one..... Luke 10:40-42 (NAS)

+ Someone once said, "you can find out what is important to a man by going through his bank statement." What's in your wallet?

6. MEDITATION: LISTEN TO GOD CONTINUALLY
+ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.. Mark 1:35 (NIV)
+ News about Jesus spread even more. Crowds came to hear Him and to be healed...but
Jesus often slipped away to be alone so He could pray.. Luke 5:15-16 (NCV)
+ Plant your roots in Christ and let Him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your
faith, just as you were taught.. Colossians 2:7 (CEV)

+ As a man of God, do you prepare for worship like you prepare for your work? Like going on a date? Like planning your vacation? How do you prepare to spend time with God?

7. RELAXATION: TAKE TIME TO RECHARGE
+ Crowds of people were coming and going so that they did not even have time to eat. He
said to them, .Come away by yourselves, and we.ll go to a lonely place to get some rest... Mark 6:31 (NCV)
+ Jesus came enjoying life.... Matt. 11:19 (Ph)

+ Secrets of Lasting Leaders include:

• DIVERT DAILY
• WITHDRAW WEEKLY
• ABANDON ANNUALLY

If there is no such thing as a "normal life" then the life we lead as we attempt to live a Jesus modelled life will be a blessing not only to ourselves but to others as well...

Thank you, men, for being the face of Jesus to others...

Brian

"DIDN'T GEORGE CARLIN DIE?"

Labor Day weekend brings back all kinds of memories for people over 45. Picnics, parades, a day off from work were all part of the routine. Still, many are off on Labor Day even though our practices have changed with telethons, NFL special games and a quick trip to the mall, etc. But, no matter what, one thing we remember is that churches are normally gearing up for their Fall ministry of teaching and preaching..."back to work" someone yelled! Summer's over!

And here's a familiar verse from the writer of the Old Testament's book Ecclesiastes, the one called, "The Preacher." Chapter 3:1-8 are words we've heard...

1 There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: 2 A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap, 3 A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, 4 A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, 5 A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, 6 A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, 7 A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up, 8 A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Yes, it's that time again...Rally Sunday for Sunday's Cool and it leads us to the battlefront...and just in case you were paying attention...we're in a life and death battle with the forces of evil in us and all around us...are you prepared for the fight? I'm checking my spiritual ammo... Are you?

As I backed out of my drive-way this morning, my neighbor Ken was retrieving his morning Chronicle. I rolled my window down and we began to chat. He wanted to know how my son, Nathan did his first week of college. He's excited to learn that his brother Kenneth may be playing football at U of H this Fall. Ken, the neighbor, is a "deacon" at Shadycrest Baptist and loves the Lord and his neighbors and knows them all by name. He also loves the children in our neighborhood and asked me to pray for him as he was presenting to his church board tonight a desire to buy another bus for his church. I got clarification. Bus= 15 passenger van. But, it's a good deal no matter who's doing the buying...and I told him I'd have our whole church pray for him...

Ken glanced down on the passenger seat and noticed my copy of George Carlin's book, "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" The front cover has old George sitting in DaVinci's Last Supper with a fork and knife in his hands. I told him I like to read what others have to say about Jesus and life and stuff...so, I picked it up...and I said, "hey, Ken, listen to this," and I began to read from the Introduction...

"Since this book comes out in the Fall, I'd like to take advantage of this early opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable Christmas season and happy New Year filled with good fortune."

And then Carlin goes on in his usual acidic style...

"Of course, I realize this can't happen for everyone. Some of you are going to die next year and others will be crippled and maimed," he went on..."Still others will be stricken by diseases that can't be cured or will be horribly scarred in fires. And let's not forget the robberies and rapes---there will be lots of them...." and his concluding remark..."Therefore, many of you will not enjoy the happy and fortunate New Year I'm wishing for you. So just try to do the best you can."

We both chuckled. And then Ken got this quizzical look on his face, looked at me and looked at the book and then looked at me again and said, "Didn't George Carlin die?"

I smiled and said, "Yes, everybody gets to die..." and I pulled away and drove around the corner and God spoke in my ear and whispered..."Yes, but everyone doesn't really live..." ...a thought that took me straight to the end of the movie, "Second Hand Lions" when the now all-grown-up nephew of the McCann brothers exclaimed, "Yes, they lived, they really lived!" It's true. Everyone dies. Not everyone really lives.

Our theme for this year's Sunday's Cool is "Growing God's People!" It's about living. Living well. It's about living in the grace and love God. Living rich and deep in God's love, mercy and grace. It's about living as God's people with purpose and passion...as if our very lives and the life of the world depended on it...and it does...for nobody else will do for the world what God calls Christians to do...and that leads us to Sunday's question...you know...the one parents hear often from their children..."why do I have to go to Sunday School?" And the simple answer is...because Sunday's Cool provides us a setting to learn of God, to learn of Jesus, God's Son and to learn of God's Spirit who will guide and direct our lives so that we live well...each and every day...month after month, year after year, season after season...to live well...and as one person says, "better than I deserve..."

Psalm 90:12 reminds us... "Oh Lord, teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! "

A short but important prayer for all God's people! We are life-long learners. Young and old. And what does this look like? How will we know? How will others know? Well, it takes us right back to our 7 faith practices...

+ Pray + Worship + Study + Invite + Encourage + Give + Serve +

So that we might live well and live deeply in the love of God not only for ourselves but especially for others... "Everyone gets to die...but, not everyone really lives..."

Brian

QUESTIONS FOR CONVERSATION:

• Who is the man in your life that helped you realize others are watching you, too?
• What does it mean for YOU to "really live?" Is it a God-thing? Something else?
• What would you say to a young man you know he was told he had one month to live?
• What time is it in your life? What season? What's next?
• What are you doing, reading, re-viewing that is feeding your life?
• Have you taken time today to pray? Did you make a list?

"WHAT CAN OMAHA DO FOR YOU?"

LMM NATION TAKES BIG STEPS INTO THE FUTURE

I write this note on the heels of a 4 day road trip from Houston to Omaha and back. There's much to report! There's much to rejoice about! There's even more to look forward to...

First, let me recognize a few good men..."boots off" to Bishop Mike Rinehart for attending this historic gathering. To my knowledge he was the only ELCA bishop present who didn't have to be there! "Boots off" because he and Pastor Charles Parnell of Salem, Welcome rode motorcycles to Omaha. Prayer for their safe journey were also shared by Pastor Kerry Nelson, Covenant, Houston who led the motorcycle run up the highway on his way to Sturgis with friends and a preaching day in Grand Forks, ND. Velon Burnett, member @ Covenant, Houston and current President of Men in Mission in our synod was there also with his other Pastor, Brad Otto as well as 2 other CLC men, Sig Cornelius and David Steele (who also brought his wife, Martha!), Calvin Bongers, Zion, Houston, Kenny Sanders, Peace, Pasadena, Scott Quillen, Hosanna, Mandeville, LA, John Gestl, New Life, Pearland as well as my son, Nathan and myself.

Along with the men from the other 2 TX/LA synods we had more men present than when we met in Charleston, SC in 2005 and it was reported at the event this was the highest attended event in LMM history...So, thank you, men from the Gulf Coast Synod for representing our synod, our congregations and ourselves so well! And most of all, thanks to all of the men in our synod who wanted to go, could not and prayed for us anyway...

Another reason this event will be remembered as historic rings 2-fold...1st, LMM reorganized itself with a new constitution and by-laws making it an independent organization that will no longer need subsidy for ministry from ELCA benevolence gifts. In fact, it is a goal that LMM will be a contributor to the ongoing work of the ELCA as it continues to reach out to every man in every congregation...remember, LMM's mission statement is:

"That every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ
through an effective men‘s ministry in every congregation."

The 2nd part of this great event is to point out the successful completion of the $1.5 million "Building for the Future" Endowment Campaign. Men, the goal was not just met...it was exceeded and gifts continue to come in...there are many men in our synod and around the LMM nation that helped reach this goal. I will be given a list from Doug Haugen in the next few weeks and I promise to write personal thank you notes to each of you...

I also want to thank the following congregations for their significant gifts and remind them that a LMM BFTF gift has been given to them...in no special order...and it's in these places that men see the church in a greater way than most...I appreciate their leadership and sacrifice...

• Grace, Conroe
• Zion, Houston
• Covenant, Houston
• Martin Luther, Swiss Alps
• New Life, Pearland
• St. Paul's, Columbus
• Shared Ministry of Fayette County
• Lord of Life, The Woodlands
• Advent, Houston
  

If you would like to make a gift to LMM's Building for the Future Campaign, your gift can be sent directly to the LMM office in Chicago...that link is on the blog spot links on this page..

Now, for some other great news...

QUESTION?---"what will this endowment do?"

ANSWER---What endowments are supposed to do...create an account by which ministry can be done until Jesus returns! This fund will be used in 3 significant ways...sustain the current LMM leadership; allow for new leadership to be developed as we reach out to younger men, ages 19-30 and provide seed money for projects that support this work.

Our Master Builders Bible project continues to bear fruit and Bibles are also being distributed in Spanish as well. LMM gets $15 of the $20 dollars for each Bible ordered via Augsburg/Fortress.

QUESTION?---"what else is the LMM nation up to now?"

ANSWER---What else? Men from all over the country are returning to their congregations this Sunday with a renewed passion for men's ministry. The music of Peter Mayer and Dakota Road was inspiring. The speakers, Ernie Hinojosa, Dick Hardell, Coach Tom Osborne and Pastor Larry Clark were exceptional. They made us think, made us groan seeking forgiveness, made us laugh and reminded us to be hopeful about what God has in store for each of us and his Church!

So, I ask you to bring to worship this Sunday your Master Builders Bible ...a resolution passed unanimously in the LMM Delegates meeting on Friday... and take a deeper interest in the work of the LMM nation. As Lutherans will be reading their Bibles together more and more in the coming decade, all the men of LMM are asked to bring their copy to worship each Sunday as a witness that God's Word is central in all our thoughts and actions...

QUESTION?---"what did you forget to tell us?"

ANSWER---What did I forget? I didn't forget...but I appreciate your enthusiasm and desire to know more ...4 things...one...be on the lookout for a post-synod gathering this October to continue a conversation begun in June about the ministry we share as God's people in the TX-LA Gulf Coast synod...men, make sure that your congregation has men from all 3 generations at that conversation and be watchful for more info from the synod office...

2nd, a Tri-synod gathering is being scheduled for SAT, FEB 21, 2009 in Austin, TX @ Triumphant Love LC and our goal is to have over 300 men (at least 100 from each synod) or more there as we seek to be "Living It Up For Jesus"! So, begin praying about how you can fit into that event and please put this date on your calendars...

3rd, watch for some special opportunities in our synod for training, personal faith development and life mapping as we connect and co-partner with Camp Lutherhill in LaGrange for both work projects and faith projects like "One Year to Live," training for "No Man Left Behind," and a men's get-a-way with a weekend retreat of baseball movies (Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, The Natural, etc) and reflections on men, their lives, women and work...SO, you see men's ministry isn't just Bible study and coffee once a month on Saturday morning...

4th and perhaps most important...our brothers in the congregations and neighborhoods of New Orleans and Port Arthur continue to need our help in the ongoing recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as men are needed to help with work project in New Orleans July 23, 24 & 25 as part of the ELCA National Youth Gathering. You can help by reaching out to Scott Quillen via scottq@sstar.com who will be gathering names of congregations and men to assist. NOTE: When our older men ask, "why aren't the younger men involved in LMM?" one response is to make sure your HS age boys go to New Orleans and that some men from your congregation go with them...that's just one of many examples of "men's ministry" in the 21st century...

Ok, and now just a couple of other comments and questions...

• Call the young men in your church this week before they head off to college. Tell them you love them and wish them well in class and give them your cell # in case they must call!
• Check with your SS staff leader and make sure that there are men teaching (or co-teaching) for grades K-5th grade...point them out on Rally Sunday...our young boys MUST see men involved in God's work this way...
• Are there men in your church who are older, and can't get out? Call and pick them up for worship. Your voice may be one of just a few they speak to that week. Take them to lunch!
• Men...take a breath...walk with God...talk with God..God will talk back to you...listen...
  

As St. Paul once wrote..."I thank God for you always and pray for you. Your partnership is important to me...from the first day and even now..."

One man at a time; no man left behind!

Brian

HONORING OUR MOTHERS & FATHERS

HONORING MOTHERS & FATHERS---a sensitive time of the year!

The time between Mother's Day and Father's Day can be joyful for some and bittersweet for others. It's not quite as intense for those who annually meander their way from Thanksgiving through Christmas and into the new year, but, it's charged nonetheless. It's a time where we put all things aside and pay homage to our parents whether they are near by, far away, living still or have gained the fuller measure of eternal life. "Celebration" and "special time" are words that describe the moment. Cards are sent; flowers are delivered; e-messages and pictures of the grandchildren are attached. Neckties are bought; six-packs get opened and consumed with revelry and bear hugs abound. Honoring our mothers and fathers is as good for them as it is for us! It's an energy that is of God and knows no end. After all, it amplifies this the time of the year when school is letting out, people think about taking a break as summertime comes rolling at us on the coattails of Memorial Day and thoughts of 4th of July picnics loom on the distant horizon. It's just 5 weeks long, the time between Mother's Day and Father's Day that is... secular holidays with sacred overtones. I've missed my dad now since 1987 and this year is the first year that my Mother's Day was unlike any other as the recollection of her death this past February still stings.

So, what does it mean to honor our mothers and fathers? It must be more than a dozen roses and obviously more than a necktie. The Hebrew word for "honor" is "hadar" and it literally means to "adorn" or to "swell up". Is that what we think of honor in our culture? To adorn our moms and to tell others our dads are "swoll" ( GenY speak)? Luther may have said it correctly when he wrote in his catechism...Honor our mothers and fathers? Well..."we should fear and love God (a faithful thing) so that we do not despise or anger our parents..." which really means more about how we live our lives throughout our whole lifetime and not just how we treat them during this time of the year...

Therefore, allow me to share some thoughts about my life that I see as ways I honor my mother and father...things I've been working on for a good while and hopefully will be seen by my own children as they seek to honor me...

What did I learn from my mother and father that helps me in life? What did they do that I try not to so that I can give my children and extra edge to pass on to their own?

Here's how I try to honor my mother...she taught me...

• Harmony. Not just to sing the "high notes" of a bluegrass song; she taught me to sing that way while teaching me how to dry the dishes and helping grind the meat and sweet pickles before adding the mayonnaise to make lunch meat spread for school. Harmony is much more about being a contributing member of the family and expecting everyone to do their part. For the more voices in the song...the better it is...


• Competitiveness. This is both a good and dangerous thing. My mother could hit a shuttlecock down your throat in a friendly game of badminton in the back yard and ask you, "what's the matter?" as you attempted to pull it out of your mouth. Winning wasn't everything but if you were going to do something it was a priority to rise to the challenge. This also meant that she cheated in cards. No lie. When she'd teach you a new game and you got the hang of it enough to take the lead, she'd add a new rule like, "well grandma gets 5 extra points for having the 2 of Clubs on a Thursday. It's Thursday and look.. I have the 2 of Clubs!" It's good to play hard and play to win doing your best; but it's better to play fair even if that means coming in second or last.


• Active Faith. My mother taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir when I was a boy. When she grew older, in her early 70's, she put down her Lutheran Book of Worship and picked up her guitar and helped lead the singing at the contemporary service at her church. She went to Bible Camp with her grandchildren but also took the neighbor children and stood with them by the font on the day of their baptism. She shared her leadership talent by coaching my sister's softball team to a state championship. Her faith was never a secret and she showed what she believed by her actions and not just her words.

There's more to my mother than this but this is a good place to share with you what I learned from my father...

• Work Ethic. My father worked long days and long hours as a laborer. For 12 of my first 14 years he drove a delivery truck for Wonder Bread 5 days a week and on his day off (WED) he sat in the back of a Brink's armored car guarding millions of dollars of payroll for the mills, factories and fabrication plants in the Youngstown, OH area. His last job was being the athletic groundskeeper at our local high school. His days always started early but he was home by 4 PM to check in with his children, eat dinner and head off to Little League practice or a game or a meeting at church or to visit his sister. He often used a week's vacation not to play, but to paint the house. My two sisters and I never took a vacation with my parents. Sunday drives, yes. Long trips never. He worked hard so his children would have better than he and my mother had as children. They worked at this together. Some would even say he succeeded...

• Loyalty. I wouldn't say my father had a lot of really close friends. But, if you met him, you liked him and if you spent time with him you learned to trust him. He was loyal to his mother, his wife and family, his boss and his work and above all to his Lord and his Church. Loyalty is necessary when people move to the edge of quitting as it helps us remember the important relationships intact in one's own life. We live in a world of quitters. We're not a patient people. We don't really trust in the slow work of God. Consider all the talk about "pulling out of Iraq" compared to the almost 200 years of the British occupying India as a way to help it move to a democracy. Loyalty, then is the lifelong nurturing of the relationships that we are dumped into and also the ones we choose. Even though my father had few really close friends, at his death the line going from the casket through the funeral parlor and out the door into the parking lot spoke volumes. The funeral director told me there were more people at his funeral than the School Superintendent. Loyalty, therefore, brings honor.

• Humility. This has always been my biggest challenge and toughest task. You see, I am my mother's son, but never felt unloved by my dad. When my father would meet someone, he would always end the introduction with his name and the following words..."the pleasure is mine, I'm sure." You know, kind of like..."Hi, I'm Bob Smith; pleased to meet you"...and my father would offer a strong handshake and reply, "Howard Gigee, the pleasure's mine, I'm sure." This was my dad's way of letting the other person know he thought it was more important for him to meet them than it was for them to meet him. Humility. It's root meaning ..."to put one's face in the dirt." So, as hard as I've tried, I've never been able to live up to that standard...but I keep working on it and the memory of my father's approving smile entreats to not stop...

And that's just part of who my mother and father have been to me and all those they have known. They trusted God's grace for life and lived deeply in God's love and gave away what they were able to share with others. Like so many of our parents, they lived lives worth emulating or as Gomer Pyle was told Sgt. Carter..."imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

As a way of honoring my parents, especially my father, I have given a gift of $100 to ELCA Men in Mission. It's a legacy gift that will be placed in LMM's "Building for the Future" Endowment Campaign. This gift along with others will grow and help men's ministry in our church at multiple levels and reflects that faith passed on to me by my parents. Allow me to be so bold to ask you to do the same...match all of it, match any part of it or share a gift larger than that. Earmark it for LMM to your local church treasurer and I thank you in advance for doing so.

God has commanded all of us, "honor your mother and father," and it's the only commandment with a promise...that our days would be long and that we would prosper on the land that God has given us. So, may the time between Mother's Day and Father's Day be good days for you. Remember, some day someone will share a similar story about you!

One man at a time; no man left behind!

Brian

The Value of a Man---What is a Man's Life Worth?

To All the KING'S Men,

K-now Christ!
I-nvite others to join God's team!
N-urture your faith through prayer, worship & daily Bible reading!
G-ive your time & money to support God's work in your congregation!
' - (it's all about "belonging"---who we are and whose we are!)
S-peak well of your pastor and the men in your life!

KING'S men...that's who we are!

Or think of it this way..."one man at a time...no man left behind..."

And if that doesn't strike you...try the ELCA's Lutheran Men in Mission "vision" statement...

"That every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ
through an effective men‘s ministry in every congregation."

KING'S Men..."claimed, gathered and sent into the world with God's amazing grace..."

Well, that's a good start...Happy Easter time, y'all...the time of Pentecost is closing in!

What is the value of a man's life? And what does a man value in his life? These are good and appropriate questions for men in our congregations to talk over. I hope you do and I want to share some thoughts that can perhaps stimulate that effort...

In a dated article (June 1991) in Lutheran Women Today (yes, that's the WELCA news) it was said, "that despite what a man would like to be valued for, he's still valued by the amount of money he earns." (my parphrase) i.e. George Steinbrenner will always be more important that the NY Yankess bat boy. Some would agree and others not. But, this being said, it places our reason for being at risk if we succomb to the notion that it is THIS one thing we need to tend to as if nothing else mattered. Others things do; they matter alot.

Pass this page on to a friend or download and copy it if you want to use it for discussion...

VALUES FOR 21st CENTURY MEN’S MINSTRY
based on reflection from Dr. Joe Renzuli

Q: “How shall we prepare leaders for the 21st century?”

A: Consider the “time blocks” of our lives?

• How busy must we be?
• cell phones, e-mail and Fed EX rule
• materialism prevails
  o—> 31 minutes for the care of children / week
  o—> 5 minutes for romantic interlude w/ wife
  ·
• Success in not measured by the people we rub shoulders with but is a result of our worthwhile work coupled with our worthwhile pleasure
• The best way to predict the future is to create it! ( I find this most Biblical!)
• We live in a time which demands:
  o—moral courage
  o– vision linked to optimism
  o—hope
  o– a sense of power to change ( in and around)
  o—having a clear sense of destiny
  o—concern for the environment
  o– being passionate about a topic or cause
  o—having enough conviction to attract others

Question? - “What must we do to shape our own destiny vs. reacting to the world around us?”
Jesus said, “Take my yoke and learn from me; my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

St. Benard said it this way..."Jesus is my bee; he comes not to sting but to bring me honey."

Therefore, a man's life is valued by the voice and desire of Christ and what a man must value is the depth of the relationship he has with the same Christ and the others who he finds following along with him. This is good company, men.

I want to say "thank you" also for a few things...as it reflects this good company...

1. Thank you for your kind words to me at the death of mother, Doris this past February. As Mother's Day looms nearer, I find myself missing her immensely. Your prayers, words of encouragement and the simple question, "how are you today?" have deep impact and is a constant reminder to all the men in our congregations that we are always two kinds of people--the kind of guys who need support and the kind of guys who provide the support and never forget we are both of them!
2. Thank you for your diligence in getting men's ministry on the move in your congregation. I hear from others that the phrase, "men's ministry" is getting more than talk. It's action complimenting action. It's contagious!
3. Thank you to the men in South Louisiana for their efforts in organizing a "quarterly" gathering of men from area churches. This group will sustain and support the efforts of each congregation's men's minsitry and vice-versa.
4. Thanks to Velon Burnett (Covenant, Houston), Clyde Muske (Zion, Houston) John Dufrene ( Christ the King, Kenner, LA), Phil Oestreich (St. John's, Rutersville, TX), John Hunsicker (Martin Luther, Swiss Alps, TX), Kenny Sanders (Peace, Pasadena) for meeting with me in April to consider our synod and tri-synod events in the coming months. Guys, can we uphold these men in our prayers as we meet? Yes, we can!

Ok, this is a good place to stop. Stopping gets us started, again.

The value of a man?...take some time and talk that out with another man of value...

No One Left behind... man at a time...

Brian

SOMETHING GOOD FOR GOD

To All the KING'S Men,

K-now Christ!
I-nvite others to join God's team!
N-urture your faith through prayer, worship & daily Bible reading!
G-ive your time & money to support God's work in your congregation!
S-peak well of your pastor and the men in your life!

KING'S men...that's who we are!

Or think of it this way..."one man at a time...no man left behind..."

And if that doesn't strike you...try the ELCA's Lutheran Men in Mission "vision" statement...


"That every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ
through an effective men‘s ministry in every congregation."

KING'S Men...claimed, gathered and sent into the world with God's amazing grace...

Many years ago I had the pleasure of talking with someone who had just returned from an event where Mother Theresa was the keynote speaker. She said all kinds of great things; challenged those who were present but of all that was said and done, this one thing was remembered...

I wasn't even there; but I remember! She leaned over the podium at the conclusion of her presentation and said, "OK, you can't stay here. Go. Go and do something good for God!" You can envision her kind of "shooing" the people out...what a sensible thing to say in a world such as ours..."Go! Go do something good for God." It makes me want to make a list! How about you?

There are three (3) "good things" our synod men's ministry is tending to this Easter season besides the good things you and your men are tending to in your own congregations...

1) "Something Good for God" is a Friday-Saturday "work retreat" for men at Camp Lutherhill in LaGrange (April 18and 19) sponsored by Lutheran Men in Mission. It's our opportunity to do something good for God; something good for God's children; something good for our synod's camp and do something good for ourselves. Jesus said, “You discover your life when you give your life away..." To sign up drop a note to Matt (Matt@lutherhill.org) or Sara (Sara@lutherhill.org) to let them know how many from your congregation will be attending. Cost will be minimal and no more than $35 per (with Friday night housing and all meals. This event will spark some good conversation and get some small projects accomplished prior to the summer camp schedule. Please RSVP by WED, April 16. Some have already done so!

2) LMM "BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE" Endowment Campaign. This is not NEW news for many men in our synod as we have been sharing this info since the FALL of 2005. BUT, we are now down to the end as men make preparations for attending the national gathering in Omaha AUG 1-2-3. Each congregation in our synod has a challenge to the men to raise at least $1000 by Father's Day (send check to John Hunsicker 404 W Brasher St, Weimar, TX 78962-3104). This is a TRI-synod project with the other two TX-LA synods having a common goal to raise over $100,000 and I know our men will go over the top on that...SO...throw a party...cook some BBQ...fry some fish...and ask every man in your church to participate...as this is something that EVERY man in our church can do...give a gift...

3) READY-SET-GO to Omaha for the Triennial Lutheran Men in Mission National Gathering August 1-2-3. In 2005 our synod had more men from TX and LA than any of the other two synods and we want to have as many men go to this event as possible. Check out the web-link and gather info and encourage men in your congregation to register today...as of last week the registrations nationwide were 2Xs what they were for Charleston at this stage of the registration period...and that's very encouraging...you will be blessed...trust that...and here's the link to get there...http://elca.org/lmm/

This Saturday I meet with the LMM Synod Leader Team and we will be talking about these three things and also about a TRI-Synod gathering in Austin in FEB 2009. Please pray for your pastors, the men in your church and those who are in leadership positions in our synod.

Happy Easter to you all...this is a great time to be one of the KING'S men...

Brian

"Men Like Us"

Groucho Marx was once quoted as saying, "I wouldn't want to join a club that would have people like me as a member." It's not the kind of horn-blowing the Marx brothers were known for but we all get the point. But, what does it mean for us if we were to say of ourselves...

"I wouldn't want to belong to a church that would have people like me as a member!"

But, what kind of men are part of your church? Only the kind you like to hang out with or are there many and various kinds of guys? Hopefully, the latter. In fact, I like hanging out with all kinds of guys at New Life...not just jocks or wanna-be jocks or geeks (a therapist told me once...I'm more both that I think!) or rocket scientists or accountants or Starbuck's guys or guys that can work on old cars...or even guys with last names that don't sound German or Swedish...or guys who have a midwestern accent in the midst of Texas and Lousiana twang...

That's a reality that makes our churches strong...especially when we are "tending" to the men like our grandfathers tended to the garden or the back 40...an intentional, daily effort!

Here are some simple intentions from Dave Murrow from his web-site and a link where the men and pastors of this synod can begin working on developing a great "Father's Day" worship celebration with a focus on the men in your community of all ages...Murrow refers to the guy who is thinking about attending your congregation as "Nick" and most likely...he's no saint!

1. Stop sending Nick signals that church is for women. Take a look around the facilities. Is your church a place where guys like to "hang out?" What Would Jesus Do with your church plant?

2. Pay attention to Nick's life and become students of men. Have you read a good book about males? Life development? What men need at different age levels? Bring a behavioral psychologist to your "men's night" and have him walk the men through the "stages of a man's life." Also, a student of men is paying attention to discern what men need when they hurt; when they are afraid; when they have children to raise; when they retire. Pastors and leaders of men...study the men...

3. Men need great leadership. One thing I know about guys...they know a phony when they see one... Great leaders challenge, instruct, cajole, cheer and direct others through their own self-defined efforts. Leadership bears fruit which makes more leaders. See Jesus' life in the Gospels.

4. Helping men learn. Guys don't want to be dumb; they don't want to be left out. If there's any one thing I've learned in 25+ years of pastoral ministry it is this one thing...men in our churches will bend over backwards and go the distance when they understand what is going on. The key is found in the old proverb..."tell me something and I'll forget it; show me something and I might remember it; involve me in it and I'll claim it as my own." Isn't it interesting that Jesus' disciples finally got it...when they went out and did it...

5. Helping men worship. This is not rocket science. It's harder (so says Peter Moreley)! Help men learn that "going to church" is not equal to worship. Use the term "worship" rather than asking "where do you go to church?" It gives guys the idea that "church" is somewhere else where they are not rather than the reality that they ARE the church right now and where they are! Worship that involves men and plays to their senses engages men. Be visual. Sing "guy songs," and every once in a weekly sermon it's OK for the pastor to say something like..."and men...pay attention to this part...this is the part you won't want to forget." And please don't ask them to hold hands with the stranger standing next to him but do tell them that Jesus is in their lives as they come to eat and drink with other sinners. They like eating and drinking with other sinners.

6. Helping men serve. This may be one of the most critical aspects of men's ministry. Check out your church roster. Who are the most active, most committed, best contributing men in the church? You already know the answer to the question. The guys who are the most active and who "get 'er done" one day at a time and one week at a time all year long. Guys can be challenged to serve God IN and OUT of the church doors. It's a BOTH/AND kind of thing...not and either/or...

Do we want our churches filled with just guys life us? Or do we want to hear our Lord's call to "go, make disciples," giving way to our own wants and desires and rather doing the work that leads to churches full of men. Even though guys don't like to sing...we must all admit when God's house is filled with men...the singing is always better...

Blessings to you as you keep your collective noses to the grindstone of faith and work...

Here's the link to help you plan a wonderful "men's day" later this year...download it...it's FREE!

http://www.churchformen.com/GoForTheGuysSunday.pdf

Brian

Men in Mission "Training Day" and Gathering Encourages All

"Shout to the north and the south...sing to the east and west..." Men from all four corners of the synod...Texas AND Louisiana... and men from 3 separate generations gathered at Covenant Lutheran Church on Friday and Saturday, February 15-16. Here are some highlights...

• Over 30 men gathered for an all-day training session with Dave Murrow to respond to the topic, "Why Men Hate Going to Church." 11 of them were pastors!
• Peter Mayer gave a 2 hour concert to a small but intimate crowd on Friday night. Our hearts were on fire as we listened to songs of the grace, mercy and peace of God which comes to us even as surpise in our daily lives & struggles;
• We were reminded..."Men love God;" but the environment of our churches need adjusted to welcome more men;
• On Saturday, 85 men gathered! This is three times (3x) the amount of our 2006 gathering and almost twice as many that gathered in Temple, TX in 2007. One man from Advent, Houston, reported that this was the most attended annual synod gathering in his 20 plus years!
• Bishop Mike Rinehart preached and challenged us to be "border crossers" entering the lives of those different than ourselves and to be mindful of the opportunities we have to share God's love with others;
• Dave Murrow took us on a tour of what a man encounters on a typical Sunday morning! In the contest of Tim vs. Tina, Tim was the loser 10-0 in ten critical "church behaviors". More on that in another note!
• Velon Burnet was elected the new synod LMM President. John DuFrene from LA was elected 2nd Vice-President and plans for men attending the National LMM Gathering in Omaha, NE AUG 1-2-3 were shared with all;
• News of the establishment of an "Endowment for LMM" was shared also asking each congregation in our synod to "throw a party" with the intent of raising at least $1000 to help match a gift of $500,000 by one man from Wisconsin! We can do this! Let's do it!
• In 2009, our annual gathering will be held in a Tri-synod setting will all TX and LA men meeting in Austin, TX
• As we gathered to leave, pastors were recognized and all the men and clergy gathered around our bishop and to lay hands on him and pray that God will continue to bless his work and leadership.

So, thanks to all the men at Covenant for hosting us and for our synod's Men in Mission Leadership Team for their planning and tending to the details of this life-shaping weekend!

Men...write in your comments so others will know what this event meant to you...

Brian

St. Paul, Columbus, TX Men Aiming to End Hunger

Pastor Jeff Marsh is encouraged when he hears the words, "make the world a better place!" As men's groups all around the country are picking their battles to do so, here's one way the men of St. Paul are making the world a better place. He reports...

"Out here in Colorado County, we're infested with deer. So many deer, that landowners who go through the proper application process can get doe permits from TPW. Many of these doe permits go unused each deer season. In a sermon before deer season opened, I asked my congregation--which has several landowners who get doe permits--to use them all and to give away their unwanted venison to the hungry in our community.

That sermon prompted a member to pony up the money for a freezer to store the venison. This same man also promised to pay for processing! And this same man gave away every deer he killed this past season (seven). Even his son gave away most of the meat from the deer he killed. Another man did the same with his deer.

We also are willing to take other wild game--feral hog, duck, geese; as well as fish. So far, we've given away several grocery bags of venison to folks in the community.

And I personally gave away four processed deer to church members who don't have it so well."

And as God always seems to have his way with us...he says this, too...

"Now, we're planting a garden on church property so the hungry get vegetables as well as meat."

Do you have a good news story to share? Your ideas bless and energize the ideas of other men as we seek to be good and faithful servants of the gospel...

Brian

"What's So Great About 2008? --Thoughts for Stepping into the New Year!

A few years ago, there was a big TO DO about a book called, "The Prayer of Jabez." Turns out there is this one obscure passage in the Old Testament that someone could make a buck or two from. There was this honorable guy named Jabez who asked God to a) "bless him," b) "increase his territory," c) "protect him from evil" and d) "free him from pain."

Now, I know about a book that was written about I, II & III John in the New Testament, but somehow, in my own mind, I think it's pushing the envelope a bit to write a whole book about an unknown who prays a "gimme" prayer to God. Don't we already have enough of that already? Somebody called them "Jesus-We-Jus" prayers...you know..."Jesus, we just ask you for this and Jesus, we just ask you for that..." when all Jesus really wants is for us to pray for ourselves to be open to others...

My biggest concern as a pastor that year was that two men from the Church Council would end up in a fist fight in the parking lot because they prayed the prayer of Jabez and knew that God had granted them a closer parking spot to the Fellowship Hall door...and even though some tout this as a BIG and BOLD prayer to God, I admit that I find myself praying about other things...Why? Well, here goes...

A) I'm already blessed by God before I even ask. That's what God does. I don't have to do anything to be blessed...I just am. Because God does the blessing and God gives the blessing...the joy I have is discovering and discerning that blessing and let it flow in, through and out of me for the sake of the kingdom...which is his, too!

B) I don't need my territory expanded. I have enough of a time taking care of my own home, inside and out and when I gain more possessions, it just means that my insurance payments increase as well! And if this isn't a wrinkle enough, it may mean that I must place a security system to protect that increasing territory or rent a storage shed to keep it all in one place. "How much is enough?" is a question that men will need to ask often this year and the years to come.

C) I think, though, it may be a good thing that I ask God to "protect me from evil." But, when I really ponder my reality, I need to adjust even that request as the problem is far greater than when I pray each Sunday, "save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil." The prayer I like to prayer is..."Lord, save me from myself and protect others from the person I don't want to be..." You see, if Martin Luther was right, then the simul justus et peccator (at the same time saint and sinner!) that is our reality is the thing we should be praying about...to let the waters of our baptism drown daily the "old Adam"...the sinner... so that the "new Adam" ...the saint God calls me to be and the saint God has equipped me to be...can thrive.

D) And oh what life would be like if it were "free of pain." I'd like that but I also don't want to live a life that is numb. I've been quoted many times over the years, "pain is my friend." Not my best friend, but at least a friend I know on a first name basis and sometimes know even where he lives...I've discovered that when I take the posture that pain can be my friend, I'm aware that I'm really alive...and all that is good is without pain and when the pain comes I can even discern if 1) I'm being challenged to grow; or 2) I'm standing in a fire pit and need to run another direction...

All in all, I hope all the men who read this blog will consider what could be great about 2008 and perhaps you can start with the man you see in the mirror each day...created in the image of God to accomplish great things for God...

Here's a prayer that's not found in Bible...it was found in the billfold of Father Mychal Judge, chaplain to the NYFD whose body was brought out dead on a stretcher after the 9/11 attacks...

"Lord, take me where you want me to go;
Let me meet who you want me to meet;
Tell me what you want me to say;
And keep me out of your way."

May your life be a prayer greater than that of Jabez...I look forward to serving with you in the new year of 2008...and will pray that each congregation in our synod seeks to be a blessing to God and the world...remember what we're about...

"Lutheran Men in Mission--Building Men for Christ!"

and in our own part of the ELCA...TELLing synod...

"One man at a time...no man left behind..."

I value your prayer, your partnership and your efforts as seek to strengthen men's ministry...

Brian