CHRISTMAS LESSONS FROM ST. NICHOLAS

WHAT LESSONS DOES ST. NICHOLAS TEACH US?

To All the KING's Men,

May the true message of Christmas find itself creeping up on you as the last Advent days wind down! I pray that you will take advantage of the 12 days of Christmas and use them to:

• Pray, giving thanks to God for life, family, church & the world in which we live and serve;
• Reflect, taking count of blessings and opportunities to share what has first given to us;
• Thank, using that time of reflection to make a list of those who have helped us along the way...in recent days and even in years gone by and then to actually...THANK them;
• Build Up, not being content with the way things are, but observe where and why life is the way it is and then chart out a plan to add on and build up that which is good...

And here's a bit of inspiration to carry you into the 12 days of Christmas...

Most adults are aware of the decades of the crossing of traditions of Pere Noel, Weinachtsman, Kris Kringle and Sinter Klaus in order to get to the jolly of elf we've come to call Santa...and some are even aware that much of the early traditions flow from the events recounted in the 9th century by church historians on the life and acts of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in the 4th century. In our day, he is now known as St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a city in Turkey and today known as "Lycian." In fact, St. Nicholas's Church still stands in the ancient area of Myra dating back to the 9th C A.D. and built over the original church in the mid-500's A.D. His story remains a household treasure there and so allow me to share 3 things that I think St. Nicholas can re-teach the church of this 21st C generation...

1. GENEROSITY----Nicholas' parents died when he was young. His father was a merchant in Patera (nearer the coast) and with his parent's inheritance he went to live with his uncle who was a priest and Nicholas began studying for the priesthood. And one of the vows of a priest is to take on a life of poverty. Nicholas' actions here are memorable as he forged ahead.

He heard of a man who had 3 daughters of marriageable age but had no dowry to offer the father of a suitor. Over a period of time, Nicholas came by night on horseback tossing a bag of gold into the window of the man's home. Soon all 3 daughters were married and with the last bag of gold landing in a shoe on the kitchen floor, to this day, thousands of young people place their shoes in the kitchen of their parents home on DEC 6 (St. Nicholas Day) and find their shoes filled with "surprises" in the morning.

2. SPEAKING OUT FOR THOSE WITH NO VOICE ---- As Nicholas became a priest, it was by surprise that he became bishop! When the old bishop of Myra died, the area priests and bishops had a difficult time finding a suitable replacement. One of the bishops said to the others, I will go to the church tomorrow morning as it has been revealed to me in a dream, that the first priest to enter the church for prayer, named Nicholas, will be our new bishop. So, unbeknown to Nicholas, he went to the church in the morning for prayers and when asked by the old bishop, "what is your name?" He replied, NICHOLAS and the priest took him by the arm and led him to the others and announced, "here is the new bishop of Myra, Nicholas." And so he began his work.

At one time, two men were falsely accused of stealing money by the mayor of Myra but it was the mayor himself and two others who were in collusion for this illegal act. Word came to Bishop Nicholas that these two men were to be executed later in the day and as Nicholas went to see the mayor to confront him of this issue of justice, it just so happened that 2 generals and a large army were passing through Myra at the request of the Emperor. The generals did not know of the two men who were falsely accused and to be executed that day. But, when Nicholas showed up at the mayor's office (with the 2 generals and the army behind them) the mayor spat out the truth and the two men were freed. Many say, "God is funny..." but others say, "God is at work when faithful people speak up in behalf of those with no voice..."

3. HOLY RAGE ----in A.D 325, Emperor Constantine called a Council of church leaders, bishops and pastors to sort out all of the information going around about Jesus and the Church...much of which was confusing to many besides the emperor. Nicholas, bishop of Myra is said to have attended that meeting. He along with others believed that Jesus and the Father were of one substance, one person and equal to each other.

Also at that meeting was a fellow Christian and priest, Arius. He was insistent that as Jesus was born of a young virgin, and thus being human, he could not be equal to God the Father. Pastors are familiar with this moment in history..."the homoousian controversy" but as Arius was making his case, Bishop Nicholas got up from his seat and for all practical purposes gave Arius a shot to the face that was noticeable enough to get him kicked out of the Council of Nicaea for the remainder of the meeting.

You see, Nicholas did two things that were wrong...A) he struck a brother in the faith and B) he struck that brother in front of the Emperor which was REALLY against the law of the day...and as a result, Nicholas was stripped of his bishop's robes, and locked up under guard for the remainder of the meeting. However, when the Council finally formed it's statement of faith, the one we know as the NICENE Creed, Bishop Nicholas ruled the day as Arius was tagged 'heretical' in his theology, Jesus and the Father ARE one and he was given his robes back to return to his work in Myra and became in essence the hero of the Council of Nicaea. HOLY RAGE...something we hear little of these days...

Luther knew holy rage when he nailed 95 statements to the Wittenberg Church door. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew holy rage when he marched on Birmingham and Washington, D.C. Nelson Mandela knew holy rage and did so by quietly living out his time in jail only later to become his nation's president and an advocate of peace and cooperation amongst peoples. I think most of us can say, "we know it; but we don't see it that often..."

Aren't those good lessons and good attributes for our men's minstry? To show generosity for Jesus' sake; to speak out for those who have no voice and to lay claim to holy rage that all of us would remain discontented until every man's knees would bow and every man's tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord of their lives...

May you have a blessed 12 days of Christmas and do be on the lookout for detailed information of how you and the men in your congregation can take part in the 2010 Annual Gulf Coast Synod LMM Gathering...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

"GO THE DISTANCE; EASE HIS PAIN!"

"Go the distance; ease his pain!"

What are men willing to do?

A forced fast can be a spiritual experience...trust me, I enjoy a good Italian sausage sandwich or 3 scoops of Blue Bell Moolenium Crunch...but this time the doc said..."no food; no liquids" and in order to get my undivided attention...my forced fast lasted 3 days...

So, after laying in a hospital bed for 5 days I had the time to think and ponder over many things. Things to be thankful for. Things that are left undone. Things to be adjusted. Things to be renewed. Things that I thought were important and things that now have greater sense of urgency than ever before....The writer of Ecclesiastes was true to his heart when he wrote, "there is a time and place for just about everything."

Part of my forced fast included a re-look at one of my favorite movies, "Field of Dreams."I like baseball flicks and I still miss playing catch with my dad...but this is a movie of unresolved pieces of men's lives and goals not ever attained. And in this movie, we find 3 strangers (Ray Consella, Terrance Mann and Archie aka DOC or MOONLIGHT Graham) whose paths cross and each one has something to offer the other. The field was built; they went the distanced. They tried to ease each other's pain. And as a result, each of their lives get blessed. It is not an easy movie for me to watch but with each sitting I find myself looking ahead again and not backward.

So for me, it's time to ask, "what are men willing to do once they realize life has limitations and life is short and life is uncertain?" Will our answers cause us to balk? Walk? Bolt? Buck up? Carry on? Dig in? A man of faith will respond in a different way than a man with no faith at all or as Paul Tillich once said, "a man will show his ultimate concern (i.e. a man's God) by what is most important to him." ( My paraphrase!) Normally we can discern this by checking his debit card purchases and how he spends his time. More to come about that...and so this November, as we are on the heels of Martin Luther's birthday and baptism day ( NOV 10 & 11, respectively) and as we think about being a bit more thankful I share this reminder in the middle of this message....so keep reading...

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 supporting God's work in your church!'
+ ' ( ' = 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...

And lately, I've started asking the young men and older men at New Life Lutheran Church a simple question which evokes an immediate answer or a look of amusement...
"How's your D.A.W.G." ---your.....Daily Appointment With God... Get one if you don't have one!

The work we do is not rocket science. It's harder and it's life-long...so don't be discouraged... there's work to be done...

I have a classmate and colleague, The Rev. Dr. Johan A.A. Bergh who wrote this brief reflection...

I hope it stirs you as much as it has me...

"It takes some getting used to.
It’s not easy living in your own skin realizing that all your foibles are not irreversible and
all your fabulousness is not irresistible.
It’s not easy, in other words, coming to your senses to realize your failures cannot kill you
and your successes cannot save you.
You are saved by grace through faith.
This takes some getting used to.
Living your life out in Christ is not a matter of improving your prowess in being like Christ,
it’s rather a matter of getting used to the fact that at your baptism you were given the
promise that there just is no improving you! On both fronts: when God looks at you….
you are the worst and you are the best all at the same time, for Jesus sake, not your own.
To be totally cut down and then totally rebuilt all at one time….at baptism……well, this
takes some getting used to. It doesn’t call for you to improve on it. It calls for you to get
used to it.
Sanctification (the state of being holy) is simply (!) a matter of getting used to Justification
(the state of being saved).
You can’t improve on your salvation.
You can get used to it."

It's my prayer that all the men we know can get used to it...

I was sharing an Internet note with some of my old college friends who to this day cannot believe, "Gigee" He's still a pastor?" in which I reminded them that it's this GRACE thing that keeps me connected to this thing called CHURCH...for had God not grabbed ahold of me and said, "don't let go," I would have self-destructed decades ago...Truth be told, God's grace hasn't let go of me...or you...

Why? Because God sent his son into the world...to ease our pain...to go the distance...we built a field of unholy dreams...but he came anyway...and he promises to return and until then I hope that you will be a follower of this one called Jesus so that you will go the distance and ease the pain of the men around you...or as Sean Connery once said, "What are you prepared to do?" But that is from another movie.... and we shouldn't be surprised, then, at the blessing that comes our way...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

HOW'S YOUR D.A.W.G. ?

How Can a Man Live Without His D.A.W.G. ?

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 supporting God's work in your church!'
+ ' ( ' = 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...

Lately, I've started asking the young men and older men at New Life Lutheran Church a simple question which evokes an immediate answer or a look of amusement...

"How's your D.A.W.G." is men's ministry lingo for "How's your Daily Appointment With God?"

Get it? D.A.W.G. ------Daily Appointment With God...

Also known as ...

• ...quiet time for prayer and conversation with God,
• ...AKA a specific plan for taking one's self out of the grit and grind of the world and talking to God and listening for a response;
• ...AKA a personal and private moment (5 minutes, 10 minutes, an hour, 24 hours--you pick it!) with the one who knew you before you were born, the one who made you in your mother's womb, the one who was present at your baptism and confirmation day and the one who has walked with you, sometimes even carrying you throughout your life and the one who will open a door to the fullness of life eternal when death's cold hand reaches out to snatch you from all the God has provided for you...a personal and private Daily Appointment With THAT God...

D.A.W.G.? Do you have one? You need one! It''s urgent! Every man I know needs a D.A.W.G. After all, who really wants to be your best friend? The one who knows you best, right? And that means that you would want to be best friends with him and the only way you will ever accomplish that reality is to spend time with him...everybody needs a D.A.W.G. ....

Recently, I was getting eye-balled in a not so good kind of way....mostly rolling eyeballs from my Confirmation Class (8th & 9th graders) when I reminded them that they needed to know the books of the Bible and know them by name, in order and to spell them correctly. The eye-balling and eye rolling was a result of their felt need to not know them like I want them to know them and then they asked the famous question, "why?" To which I replied with great enthusiasm...

"Why? Why do I want you to know this?" "Well," I went on (rather than off on them), "what is one of the goals of our catechism ministry?" They stammered and stuttered and finally said, "to get confirmed?" (saying 'confirmed' with your voice pitch going up on "irmed" part of 'confirmed!") And while that seemed like a good enough answer for them for the moment, they also knew they were busted and know also that trying to bluff the pastor is like marching around the church building seven times and blowing trumpets hoping the building would fall down...it just isn't gonna happen...and so with a graceful and gentle voice I reminded them...

"One of the goals of our catechism ministry is that you all come to understand the Bible as your friend...reemember? The Bible is YOUR friend! And your friend certainly wants you to know their name...or names...like Genesis, Exodus, or Matthew, Mark or Luke or I John or II John or III John...and you don't want to misspell your friend's name...that would be disrespectful...." It's actually the very first time I ever explained it this way...

And their response was to do some more eye balling and eye rolling only knowing a little better why this was really an important thing...

And now, as grown men, we too want to see the Holy Scriptures as our friend...the ancient texts of God as guides and lamps for our lives in this often dark and broken world, to come to know that Word of God = the presence of God and that Word of God = Treasure of God and that Word of God is like what Luther said is "the cradle in which the baby Jesus lays" and that in this Word of God Jesus claims he will forever "remain" with us. How much more important then that we tend to our D.A.W.G....and see the Bible as the key to this time together...

So, on Saturday, OCTOBER 31st...Reformation Day...we'll all get a chance to tend to our D.A.W.G. ...and here's what's happening...

• REFORMATION DAY @ New Life Lutheran Church in Pearland 9 AM - 12 Noon;
• A time for worship, fellowship, learning and rejoicing in the presence of the Holy;
• Keynote Bible Study presenter = Doug Haugen, National Director for L M M;
• Keynote Presentation = ELCA Vice-President, Carlos Pena and men from First Lutheran Church in Galveston reporting on how life on the island is and how we can help yet;
• Special Presentation = "1 Simple Way to Make Your Men's Ministry Grow and Multiply"
• Master Builder's Bibles will be for sale to congregations for group and individual use;
• Breakfast will be provided. A free will offering will be shared.

Registration will open at 8:30 AM. Please RSVP the number of men from your church planning to attend and or send your questions to brian@newlifelutheran.com.

That's enough for now. I must go take care of my D.A.W.G.

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

Walking With God & Connecting w/ Men

"WALKING WITH GOD & CONNECTING w/ MEN"

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 supporting 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...

A few weeks ago, I preached a message to the people at New Life Church that began with this news..."I should be dead by now!" More than once! And over my 55+ years of living I can say that with confidence and as a confession. Some of the those near death experiences were when I was very young and a couple during my HS and college years and yes the stories include alcohol and a car and a woman and her boyfriend...and I'm not going to share the details here but I think you get what I mean and the last time was just a year ago...an episode that didn't involve alcohol, a car, a woman or her boyfriend but rather a river, an inner tube and three water shoots that seemed to have my number... and for a moment, death and I had a duel.

Yes, I should be dead by now...I could be dead by now...but I'm not and so I will give thanks to God for each breath each and every day until I have no more breath in which to give thanks which will then require those in my family and friendship circles...to give thanks in my absence...and I trust they will for a life of walking with God includes a life of connecting with others especially the men I know...they are all around us...

But, let's make sure this is a Lutheran kind of piece by first saying...

• God walks with us...as it's God's intention for us to never be abandoned...
• God's Holy Spirit places other men in our lives to nurture us, challenge us and for each of us to have opportunity to challenge and nurture others...
• Jesus' words to us..."follow me" and "go, teach, preach and baptize" are good reminders as well as good directives of both Jesus constant presence and the call to be disciple.

Therefore, walking with God and connecting to other men around us is indeed a "God Thing" and requires some effort on our part. Let me even go so far as saying that this kind of work requires a plan AND when it comes to plans I'm always mindful to recall, that... 1) most plans or new plans are always better than the plan we never had; and 2) all plans are worth review from time to time and updating and expanding. So, for me and for all of us...having a plan to walk with God and connect with the men God has placed in our lives is a worthy thing.

This is then a process of transformation. St. Paul reminds us in his letter to his friends in Corinth... "In Christ you are a new creation...the old has passed away and the new has come..."

How do we do this? And how do we model this for others? Transformation comes in layers. It's not just about me or you but it's about me AND you and it's not just about me or you or you and me but it's also about me and you and how these transforming connections involve others. It's like asking the question..."are you a thermometer or a thermostat?" A thermometer only reports the condition... cold, warm or hot or a shift from one to the other. The thermostat adjusts to the cool, warm or hot and changes the condition at hand. Let's look at it this simple way:

1. Transformation happens WITHIN! It is the result of God's Holy Spirit at work in and around us as we pray, worship, study, invite, encourage, give and serve as Jesus' disciples. It's God's own doing and as these faith practices are lived out...we are changed...
2. Transformation happens BETWEEN! This is the result of two others posed in an arena of change. Husbands and wives; fathers and sons, grandfathers and grandsons find themselves growing and developing a stronger and more intimate partnership and blessing comes to both;
3. Transformation happens AMONG! This is really the miracle work of God's Holy Spirit, for as others see transformation in us and in a growing number of others and the good which flows from this change there is a growing sense of "imitation" to be cultivated...and then families are changed, neighborhoods are changed, communities and nations are changed. Even churches can discover the joy of this kind of transformation...we call it "the communion of saints..." and as Martin Luther described it..."the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren..."

Why? Some of us could be dead by now. Some of us have been more fortunate. But, we all know deep down inside ourselves the cries in our own heart and the cries in the hearts of others. They are longstanding and life-long...

• the cries to be loved by our mother and father who will hold us when we are hurt;
• the cries to be loved by a friend, one whom we can share our deepest secrets and trust without fear and whom we can love back;
• the cries of those who are weaker than ourselves who are hungry and thirsty to have God walking in their lives and to be connected with others

We don't have to look any farther than our own mirror to see and recognize the need to walk with God and see the face of Christ standing next to us in that same mirror and to hear him say, "turn around" (repent), "walk with me" (follow) and find someone near to introduce me to so that we might walk together (making disciples)...

That's a vision of men's ministry that requires constant effort, constant oversight and constant evaluation. And I know this one thing...congregations that are working at this are better off than congregations that are not. So, to the KING's men I know...Walk with God...connect with the men around you...

I don't always say things like this; but when I do, I say it on purpose...

Stay faithful my friends,

Brian

"Lutheran Men in Mission Stimulus Package"

LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION STIMULUS PACKAGE


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...

In February, I was able to gather with Doug Haugen, our Director for ELCA LMM and other leaders of Lutheran Men in Mission. We met in Chicago. It was cold. But, we were indoors, safe and warm and conversation boiled with enthusiasm and hope as we celebrated the "stimulating" news of LMM's 5.01 C.3 status and a certain Independence from ELCA benevolence support. And what was so exciting is that information was shared that LMM could now receive...are you ready..."free money"...

Yes, that is right...but, nothing's free, eh? Well, ya, sure, ya betcha...not exactly...but pretty close...so keep reading as I pass on this note from Doug...

Dear Partner in Men's Ministry:

Challenge! We are living in challenging times, yet the opportunity for reaching men for Christ has never been greater. Thanks to your support and participation 2009 is our most exciting year of ministry yet. We continue our emphasis on Bible distribution and study, events that make disciples of men and assisting congregations to become a culture that welcomes young men.

Along with that, we are focusing more than ever on leadership for your congregation. Through events we are sponsoring in each region of the country over the next two years we are helping congregations like yours make disciples of men by training leaders with the most up to date information and resources.

More exciting news! Challenge!
1) Three men have stepped up and issued a challenge. Our goal is to raise $60,000 in the next six weeks. These men will contribute $30,000- and challenge the rest of us to match it by May 15.
2) LMM is now enrolled in the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans GivingPlus program. If you are a member, Thrivent will contribute $1 for every $2 you contribute up to $600. In other words, your contribution of $600 would be matched with $300. Please see the attached form for more information and return the form with your gift to the address below in order to have your gift matched. (ACTUALLY, the form cannot be linked to this blogspot...but if you shoot me a quick e-mail...like right now...and ask for the form...I can send it back to you to download, complete and return to LMM with your gift...)

Now, that is exciting news...stimulating news and a way for Lutherans to share what is ours...our faith, our hope, our love and our gifts...

Second, allow me to wish you a joyful 50 days of Easter...may the risen Christ be your north star for all that you say and do...

And remember...do share this note with others in your congregation...and see who is willing to come with you to Camp Lutherhill Friday and Saturday, May 15-16 to help "spruce up" the grounds before the campers arrive in June...there is no cost for housing...just meals but we'll need to know how many from your church are coming so that the chef will have enough to feed us...

Lastly, whatever you have been doing with the men in your church...keep it up...keep encouraging...have them go back and re-read some previous postings on this blog...

One man @ at a time; no man left behind,

Brian Gigee, Gulf Coast Synod Men's Ministry Coordinator

"Resolution"

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...

As people enter a new year, many find themselves barking out one resolution after another. I'm not even going to make a list of all the resolutions made on 12/31 or late in the afternoon on 1/1 because most of them are already undone...we've all been there...done that!

I did a quick look in five or six of my Bible translations, though...The Message, the NIV, the New Revised Standard Version and even in the People's Bible along with New King James Version...and as I tried to locate references to the word, "resolution," I found none.

The word, "resolution" does not appear in the scriptures! (If you find a translation where it does, please let me know!)

But, I'm not alarmed nor discouraged. After all, who needs a new year's resolution to begin to live a certain way or change a certain behavior, when Christian men like us are already given license to be reformed, transformed, conformed and informed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God who is Jesus? But, if you are in compelled to look in the mirror of your own life and heart and if you desire to make positive adjustments in your doing and being...then consider some of these things before you leap...

When Paul wrote his letter to his friends at Ephesus, he reminded them that the world was dangerous. In fact, he called "his generation"---evil. He also reminded them that standing with one another, supporting and nurturing each other was a critical component to daily life in the Body of Christ. About 2000 years later, we see the world is not that much different...

• Of the men who married between 1970 and 1974, just 46% were still in that marriage after 30 years;
• Of the 72 million children in America under the age of eighteen, 33% of will go to bed tonight without a biological father in the house;
• Children in female-headed families are five times more likely to live in poverty, repeat a grade, and have signs of emotional problems compared to families where a father is present;
• More men in our culture will know that JFK and Marilyn Monroe hooked up once or twice than those who know Lydia was a seller of purple and provided a Jesus-style hospitality as reported in the Acts of the Apostles;
• By the time a child reaches the age of 6, he or she will have spent more face to face time with the TV or computer than they will with their father for the rest of their lives.

This may not sound like an overt list of evil, but this is a tell-tale sign that much in our life and culture is broken. Today in the news, a man with a good German Lutheran name (Schrenker) from Indiana was reported to have stolen investments monies from clients, his wife was filing for divorce, the local agents confiscated his 6 computers, his files and he was found at a road side rest in Florida after flying one of his two planes south, parachuted over Alabama (the plane was on auto-pilot and crashed in Florida) and then took a motorcycle out of the storage facility he rented and drove to Florida and is now in a Gainesville hospital after slitting his wrists. Was this guy a member of one of our Lutheran churches? I don't know and even if he wasn't, there had to be one nearby and so I ask, "how did the Christian men in his corner of the kingdom fail him?" "How did he fall through the cracks?" Is this just the first of more desperate actions to come by the men we know? What do we resolve to do about this?

Perhaps now more than ever, it is time for our pastors and our lay men to bond together to see that every congregation in our synod show signs of an active and engaging men's ministry. I'm not going to list all the ways that you can or should do this. Each congregation must prayerfully discern what is the best way to move forward in the context they find themselves. This blog-site is filled with stories and ideas and this blog-writer is willing to come and visit with your men (and pastor!) to find ways in your setting to train and support the ongoing work of men's ministry.

What are we RESOLVED to do? Who are we RESOLVED to become? When will we be RESOLVED to act? Why would we be content to be RESOLVED to do something else? And as the old Jewish proverb reminds us..."If not me, who; if not now, when?"

It is true that the word, "resolution" does not appear in the scriptures...

But the resolve of God in Christ is clear...we have been...

• created in the image of God to bear fruit in the world;
• wiped clean in our baptism from the stain of original sin;
• claimed by God and made members of the Body of Christ;
• gifted with the Holy Spirit with a power that the gates of hell cannot keep out;
• sent into the world to be light, leaven bringing hope and love to all around us.

Perhaps our new ELCA vision statement makes it more clear...

"God's Work. Our hands."

One of my favorite quotes is from St. Benedict... "ora et labora." It simply means, "pray and work" and that in the end is my daily resolution...it is the rythym of life...it is the path of God that gives meaning and purpose to life and reflects the resolve of Jesus whose prayers and work led him to the cross so that sin, death and the will of the evil one would no longer bind our hearts, minds and hands...

May your resolution be a revolution for you, God and the world...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian