Gulf Coast Men in Mission

Men's Ministry--"LOVE YOURSELF" --the Year Round Work of Christ!

2011-11-10T14:30:00.000-06:00

Men's Ministry-- the Year Round Work of Christ!

To All the KING's Men,

God's peace to you in Christ Jesus! Thank you for being leaders in your congregations! Our work is day by day, season by season, year after year!

Here's a message from Matt Kindsvatter, Director @ Camp Lutherhill...

"Thank you! We had over 145 people at Lutherhill chainsawing, trimming trees and pulling brush. We want to thank everyone who was part of the workday for being a blessing to Lutherhill!

If you missed your chance to come out don't worry we will be having another workday coming up. There is still plenty of work to be done on site. If you would like to get your chainsaw on or just come and help out groups are always welcome at Lutherhill. Free housing will be provided!"

If you have any questions please contact Matt via office@lutherhill.org or 888-266-4613.

I'm sorry I was not able to share that time with you in October. I would love to have been in this photo. Matt said that there was about a 60-40 split male/female ratio and what a great project all of the folks in our synod helped out with! Again, if your men would like to schedule a FRI nite /Saturday work day... that works for you... please let Matt know...

Now about the work that goes on year round... here's a short list of clues... 7 is a holy number!

Deuteronomy 6:4ff tells us to... 'love the Lord your God with all you heart, strength and mind; Jesus added to this GREAT COMMANDMENT by saying... 'and love your neighbor as yourself!'
So, FYI... loving yourself is an important preface to loving your neighbor! Love as in not a narcissistic way... to the exclusion of others and feeling superior to others...but none of us will be able to love those around us unless we have a good sense of self already. And THUS, Jesus would be right, that if we don't love ourselves very much... we will have a heck of a time loving others and that we WILL love them like we love ourselves, which might then not be all that much!
So how do you go about loving yourself?

Remember the value of the 10 Words (Commandments) These were given to teach, protect and guide us in our relationship with God and neighbor;
Pray, worship and study the Word of God. In short. Feed you spirit!

Prayer is talking to God. Do it! Then listen;
Worship is the most important thing we do as God's people! We don't 'go to church'... we ARE the church and the church gathers for worship weekly as was Jesus' custom (see Luke's gospel!)
Open your Bible. Read it. Find a study group. Make a plan. Live it. The Bible is NOT God. We do not worship our Bibles... but the Bible is God's Living Word and story to us of the God we DO worship!

Eat right and exercise. Call it a 'spiritual' practice and see this as a reflection that our bodies are indeed the 'temple of the Holy Spirit.' Does the God who lives and dwells in you live in a mansion or garbage can? Only you can answer that!
Encourage and invite others to the font and story of God! Tell them, "Jesus wants you to come to dinner with him before the big game!"
Give some money. Serve those around you! Give some time to your church, your community and be a loyal, honest employee at work! Time does not replace money and polls show that those who give generously and serve others and above average when it comes to personal joy and attitude toward life.
The Cross of Christ deserves our reflection. Take some time and read about crucifixion. Jesus was no sissy. The Romans were brutal. Compare Jesus' last hours with your work day and weekend. Be thankful!
Jesus gave his church a GREAT COMMISSION to go and tell. This is urgent work! The point of church. Not to get people saved...but to tell them they are. How would you act if you thought of yourself as just one poor slob only to find out you are the brother of the Son of God! A prince of the Kingdom who is accompanied by the Prince of Princes and the Prince of Peace? Now, there's a door open to a different way of looking at life... that life matters... that I matter... that Jesus has opened the gate to an eternal life and has 'renewed' the cosmos...

That's why we can go and tear down a camp that has been devastated by fire. Jesus is renewing the world...daily... and we pray, Luther once reminded us..."your Kingdom come your will be done" not so that the Kingdom will come and God's will would enter in but that those 2 things are here all by themselves, even before our prayers and that we pray this so we will not miss them and be on the lookout for them and participate in them... Man, that's good preaching!

Know that God loves you in Christ Jesus----> so know you are loved----> so you can love the world for Christ's sake... the year round ministry we all do... one by one, two by two, team by team, church by church, synod by synod... and sometimes we just set a date and do it!

Plan ahead for FEB 10-11-12, 2012 in Kenner, LA for the synod's annual meeting... Mark the date.. more coming real soon...

One man @ a time; no man left behind!

Brian

Gulf Coast Synod Coordinator for Men's Ministry

Men in Mission "WORK DAY @ Camp Lutherhill SET for OCT 29!

2011-10-15T09:17:00.021-05:00

To All the KING's Men...

GULF COAST SYNOD

MEN'S MINISTRY NEWS! FROM MATT KINSVATTER

Saturday, October 29 --- 'CLEAN-UP' DAY @ CAMP LUTHERHILL

On September 4th a fire went through Lutherhill! We were blessed that not one of our buildings was

damaged. There is some work to be done around the site, however. We would like to invite you out

for a work day to continue the clean up process. There will be work for all ages and skill level.

Hope to see you at Lutherhill.

Schedule

Friday 7:00pm- Camp will be open to anyone who would like to come up and spend the night!

Saturday - 8:00 AM - Breakfast 9:30* AM - Devotion & Orientation

10:30 - 12:30 pm Projects 12:30 - Lunch

After Lunch more Projects

Pool Open- 3:00pm

Hamburger Cookout- 5:00pm

Camp will be open to anyone who would like to stay the evening.

*9:30am on Saturday the Texas Forest Service join us to help in the orientation of our work effort!

If you have any of the following to bring with you it would be a great help:

Work Gloves Chainsaws Pole Saws Shovels Leads Loopers

Hand Saws Hats and protective eye wear will be helpful as well

OR anything else that can cut smaller brush.

If you don't have any of the above items don't worry we have plenty of tools here.

If you could RSVP to office@lutherhill.org or 888-266-4613. In your RSVP please let us know when you

will arriving.

One Man at a Time. No Man Left Behind!

Brian

CAMP LUTHERHILL, COLUMBUS, BASTROP, WALLER, MAGNOLIA and BEYOND!

2011-09-13T09:04:00.004-05:00

To all the KING's Men... This will be a time remembered with words like... "Remember the Alamo," "Remember Pearl Harbor," "Remember 9/11" and in a window of time where we remember 9/11 ten years out we will come to remember the Texas fires of 2011. This is not just Channel 2 news from afar. This is news in our front yard... it is people we know...they attend our churches... we know their names... we've had meals in each others homes... And so the burn hurts a bit more. It lasts longer. Personal does that.

I drove to Bastrop and La Grange yesterday( 9/12). I tried to bring some help. As I drove down the hill from Alum Creek to the east edge of Bastrop, I knew immediately that what I had in the back seat of my car was microscopic in comparison the burn trail I entered. And the greater destruction zone was the miles long stretch up HWY 21 north and east of the city. But, you know the story. You read the news. People were asked to leave. "Leave. Now," was the two-word warning many people heard. A 5 mile stretch of land and all that was on in was consumed in 45 minutes. It's more than a mess. But, that's what nature will do. We can prepare to some degree in advance. We can't control the weather. But, we can control how we respond to the destruction, hurt and heartache of our very own. I hear people say, "we should take care of things at home before we go helping someone across the ocean," and whether you believe that or not, now would be a good time to help our very own. And the good news? We already are.

That's one of things I really like about being in our synod and in the ELCA. Not the hurricanes (someone suggested that if our ELCA churchwide office is in Chigago, the 'windy city,' then after all the storms we've had in TX and LA we should be called, the "Windy Synod!") and not the fires but that fact that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Bigger than me. Bigger than you. Bigger than the gas and gift cards, cases of water, toiletries and baby items I had in the back of my Honda. Bigger than any one congregation or any corner of our synod. Therefore, getting info out and being ready to help becomes a key piece in what will happen in the days ahead.

So, as I recieve phone calls and emails from others, this is what I can share...

Pray. Keep praying. Our prayers remind US of other's needs;
Be a blessing. Life is harsh. Some days and in some places life is harsher. We have been blessed to 'bless' others. Do it; practice it; own it.
Be patient. We are part of a team of people. Immediate needs response, assessment and action are all part of a process. In fact, it's part of the 'creation' theology we cling to as life has seasons, hours and chapters or life and death and re-birth.
Be ready. Everyone has a role. And like our brothers and sisters in New Orelans, south LA and Galveston who continue to 're-build' (lives, familiels, houses, churches & communities) after the storms, there will be ongoing work in Bastrop, La Grange, Columbus, Waller and Magnolia. Like many a fight... we didn't start it...but we can help end it!
Map out a response---one that is personal and one that your congregation can take part in;
Recruit others. There will be "manual labor" projects to tend to once those directives comes from the staff at Camp Lutherhill and the bishop's office. Buy some chain saws, face masks, gloves, etc and set aside some clothes you'll want to throw away when the work day comes.
Make a gift. The synod office has set up a 'Fire Fund.' We've been told not to send any more clothes or water to Bastrop. May our response to the Fire Fund be just like that!

Many years ago I heard a lecture from Dr. James Fowler (the one @ Emory U in GA and not our Dr. Jim @ Lakeside Church in League City!) and he spoke of the stages of adult faith life and likened them to this simple system...

Life is full of "normal beginnings and endings"... the things that are common to us... i.e. learning to ride a bike, going to school, playing in the band, winning the Little League championship, getting a job, etc... the things that people in our culture do as routine... and in each of the beginnings and endings we learn something about God and this impacts our faith. But, life can be more complicated than this and so we learn about God and our faith is deepened when we experience...
"Crises moments"... they rock our world and set us back on our heels. Sometimes they knock us down, but not out. We get back up. They are temporary and we go on... things like having a job, losing a job and getting a new one, or having someone hit your car in the parking lot, then you get it fixed, or you fall off the ladder and break your arm, then your arm gets better and you hire someone else to paint your house so they can fall off the ladder... 'crises moments,' temporary setbacks and in each one we learn about God, ourselves and our faith is transformed once again...and then again... and yet there are times when life is much more harsh and we find ourselves eperiencing an...
"Intrusive life marking"... where at that moment, everything changes and everything is different. And there's no going back to the way it was...only a path that leads to the way it has not ever been. These moments draw us into a depth of darkness that challenges the very core of our faith and yet shows us the tenacity of the human spirit and psyche that is driven by the Gospel's message of grace and hope and purpose.... "intrusive life markings" like when a couple gets married and then sees that marriage crumble and die; or watching a parent fade from your very eyes, or losing a child for any reason or having someone tell you 'leave now' only to return 2-3-4 days later to a heap of smoldering ash that once was a family's home... Life is never the same... and even in these moments we learn of God and of ourselves and the deep truths that bring us from the darkness to wonderful light and life that is eternal...

So, thank you... Bishop Rinehart, our synod staff, pastors and laymen who have already responded... there will be more to do...and remember...EVERY man in every one of our congregations is part of Lutheran Men in Mission... We are the KING's men....

Know Christ...

Invite others to know him too...

Nurture those friendships...

Grow your faith via, prayer, worship and study....

' ... remember to whom you now belong...

Serve the Lord via your time, talent and wallet...

In the end, our lives are not ultimately defined by the common beginnings and endings we experience, nor the crises moments we encounter and endure nor by the life changes that are permanent... as Lutheran Christian men, our lives are defined by the primacy of Jesus, the Christ, the son of the living God. His life, death, resurrection and ascension, coupled with a command to love God, ourselves and neighbor with all our heart, strength and mind as well as to make disciples of all peoples demonstrates the model of the Godly life... showing us that Christ does make all things new... Do it; practice it; own it...in our corner of the kingdom and beyond...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

Rev. Dr. Brian K Gigee, Gulf Coast Synod Men's Ministry Co-ordinator

2011-08-05T13:04:00.003-05:00

'WHAT'S NEXT?'

-- an honest and rite question

To all the KING's men...
+ The man said the church was 'culpable' for the failure of his family. "What's next?"
+ My friend tried to take his own life when he got fired at work. "What's next?"
+ My nephew told me his girlfriend's pregnant. He wants to know, "what's next?"
+ The young man just finished college. The job market is thin. "What's next?"
+ The men from our church just returned from a 'mission trip.' "What's next?"

"What's next?" It's always the right question to ask! Whether it be asked in the AM on Monday after a restful holiday weekend, on Thursday at 4:45 PM with one more work day to go or at 10:30 PM on Friday as you climb into bed... "What's next?" is ALWAYS the question Lutheran Christian men ask in the middle of being servant-minded or as a new project, event or opportunity arises...

"What's next?" I write this just about 10 days after returning from the National Lutheran Men in Mission Gathering in Denver, Colorado. I'm encouraged by what I experienced, what I saw and heard and by remains in my heart now that I'm home and in my corner of God's kingdom... So, "what's next?" is the nagging question in my head and heart and so I am asking you, too... 'what's next?" NEXT for the Men in Mission in your congregation, NEXT for the men in your cluster of congregations and NEXT for the men in our synod...

In a recent memo to our men's ministry leaders in all three TX and LA synods I shared the following information and want all the men of our synod to know as well... pastors, AiMs, Youth & Family Ministry leaders, etc... what just happened and WHAT's NEXT!

National LMM News

A. Denver was fantastic... perhaps the best effort LMM has given us in a 12 years

1. Numbers were down 30% from previous 2 gatherings, but...

2. The average age of the assembly was lower also due to the work of the LMM Young Men's Council

3. We now have Bishop Hanson's ear... he stayed the whole time and preached us out on Sunday AM

4. Almost 400 men were there... less than 20 pastors and only 3 bishops. There needs to be a change in approach here...

NOTE: 2 years ago Saddleback Church (Rick Warren) 'cancelled a men's ministry training for lack of registrants and this year the UMC wanted to gather 500 men for their national gathering but cancelled it when less than 75 registrations were received. ASTOUNDING NEWS!)

B. Emphasis for the "ONE YEAR to LIVE" retreat ...changing men's lives! More soon!

C. A site for 2014 has not been set; however talks of two gatherings (east and west) are in the making. We would be 'West.' This would be more work on planning teams but would reach more men overall.

II. Region 4 News

A. Region 4 has representation from all synods except OK-ARK and Central States

1. Thanksgiving for the work of Henry Howe was acknowledged (more than once)

2. Tom Ness (from NTNL Synod) was elected our new Region 4 LMM REP over another candidate from NE. Both are committed to the ongoing work of LMM

B. The three synods for TX-LA had young and older men in attendance;

1. From TX-LA Gulf Coast was me and Kenneth Peterson from New Life/Pearland;

Chaplain Richard Brunk/Ft. Hood; Richard Baker/Christ. Brenham; Mark Dentler/Advent. Houston

2. Kyle Pederson (LMM Young Men's Ministry Specialist) sought out Kenneth Peterson @ New Life about reaching out to congregations in our synod re: LMM and seeking out the age 19-30 men. Kenneth currently lives in NW Houston and will reach out to Pastor Brad Otto (Messiah/Cypress) as a first step. Then he can reach out to Celebration and connect w/ the men at Covenant & Living Word.

3. A brief conversation was held in Denver at the Region 4 Caucus to consider having a REGION 4 gathering in Spring of 2013 as a 'pre-gathering to the Nat'l Gathering

III. Gulf Coast LMM News

A. We continue to reach out to each other

1. Pastor, AiMs and Youth and Family ministers will need to keep talking... L M M!

B. Facebook page needs some energy... we need to have a national LMM/FB push... where men all over the country log on to the local congregation/synod/national FB pages/groups

C. We have a weekend blocked off for a Men's Weekend @ Camp Lutherhill in LaGrange. I spoke to Matt Kindsvatter and there is no program per/se so we have an opportunity here to promote and go... nice time of year to be there...

1. OR we could use Denver men to come here to lead a "One Year to Live" retreat;

2. But, Spring 2012 after Easter may work best

D. 2012 Synod Meeting on the calendar! EJ Hanhart has secured Christ the King LC/Kenner LA for THRS - SUN FEB 9-12 for our annual synod gathering

1. In Brenham we spoke of doing it this way:

a. pre-gathering on THRS nite and leave early in the AM for a day's fishing trip for those who desired it

b. Friday nite gathering for all synod me @ CtK (NOTE: this is also Mardi Gras season so we will need to stay on top of housing and airfare)

c. This gathering has the intention of putting TX and LA men in the same room to build friendships for a return in July 2012 for the ELCA Youth Gathering. Jessica Noonan in our synod is in charge of "service projects"

2. I met Rev. Jay Gamelin (campus pastor @ Ohio St) in Denver and he and I are talking about him coming to NOLA that weekend. The best part of this event is to have the TX men stay in south LA to worship and have a lunch to talk about how we get back together in July. Jay gave a great sermon in Denver and I think he is a classmate or knows Pastor Barb Simmers in Slidell. Maybe he could preach there on Sunday?

3. Evan Moilan could also come from LWR Malaria Initiative and bring more men in on this great opportunity!

That is what I know about where we are... KING's Men... "What's next for you?" Please fill in the blanks... what are you doing in your congregation? Your cluster?.... please drop me a note and I will forward it to those who need to know...

Remember... if Lutheran Men in Mission in each congregation were 'a baseball' team ...only one of our 9 men would have a clear understanding of how we are, what we do and why... that's not good news...but it's the place we start...

One man @ a time; no man left behind,

Brian

Coordinator, TX - LA Gulf Coast Synod Men's Ministry

"I'm OUT---You're OUT--We're All OUT!"

2011-05-25T14:56:00.000-05:00

To all the KING'S men,

I've been thinking about this for a while...

The paradox of life and faith in God and we hold up the ways of the world and the ways of God...they don't always overlap and fall into place like those old plastic page overlays in the HUMAN BODY section of the Encyclopedia Brittanica...

Our thoughts and actions are challenged everyday... what we do and what we say... and how we say it and the 'meanings' that accompany...

Like... 'good' is 'bad' and "hi, how are you?" is "Sup?" and 'chillin' has nothin' to do with the weather outside... and you can call someone 'Einstein' and most likely you're not referring to an IQ but rather...lack of one... and ... well you get the point...

Same goes for "I'm out"... and "You're out"... what this may mean for a game of Texas Hold 'Em or baseball...does not mean the same in Jesus' kingdom...
Consider John's gospel in the 10th chapter to see what I mean... Jesus said to his friends...

"The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

How many times have I read this before? How many times have you heard John's retelling of Jesus' insight shared with his friends?

Well, this is what I've been muddling over for days... in the midst of life and death and births and weddings, baptisms and burials and school years beginning and ending as well as hanging around with the Bishop at Synod Assembly ... putting this 'listening' to Jesus and 'following' Jesus into a perspective that takes on meaningful-ness and bears fruit and... well... keep reading...

It's the verse 3 of John 10 that grabbed my heart in the public reading a Sunday ago... and it was just one word that poked me in the eye... and got wrapped around my heart...

v. 3 "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

And ... you got it... the word that poked me in the eye is the word "OUT!" Jesus calls his sheep by name and then leads then "OUT!" Wow! This is the exact opposite of how so many men in the world "see" and "view" CHURCH... a boring place to go in... so they never hear about the OUT-ness of God's kingdom work we share...

Imagine that??? ... being "called out" and it being a really good thing... being 'called out' and in order to make a difference...

But that's how the gospel is... it's above and against as well as that thing of God which challenges our culture...the gospel supports and yet is contrary to the life that we call 'real life.' When I fold a hand in a game of Texas Hold 'Em I throw down my cards and say, "I'm out." It is a sign of defeat... a loss... at least for that round... or if I hit a sharp grounder to the 2nd baseman in a softball game...my old legs won't get me to the base faster than the throw and 99 chances out of 100 the umpire will call me OUT!... And again... I go down in flames... head hanging discouraged and quietly sulking in the dugout...

But, when Jesus leads us OUT and calls us by name and calls us OUT...it is a sign of victory and a 'branding' that we belong to him and he goes ahead of us to prepare the way and what that means he is pointing us out to others as we follow to serve...

It's what is said often in my congregation @ New Life... "This is God's house (the sheep pen) and we are God's people (named and known by the shepherd) claimed, gathered and sent (called out by the shepherd's voice) into the world (not gathered to stay in the church nave) with God's amazing grace..." (what the world needs and more than enough has been given to us!)

So, if you hear me say..."I'm OUT" or if you hear me say to you..."You're OUT"...then know it is a good thing... as it is at the heart of what work as Lutheran Men in Mission is all about... it is the reality that we can't sit still as we follow the shepherd who has gone ahead of us...

But, let the sheep beware... we will need to keep listening for his familiar voice as Jesus reminded his disciples that there will be other voices who will seek our time and attention and our loyalty...our very heart and soul and mind... maybe you have heard these other voices...maybe you have let them drown out the voice of Jesus and maybe you have even followed them... but that's where the 'beware' comes in...the 'other' voices will trick us...they will seduce us and they will invite us away from the voice and the life and the mission of Jesus and lead us away from the one who offers grace upon grace and lead us to sin, death and destruction... they will dress up 'selfishness' and they will lift up 'greed' and 'self-indulgence' only to make us full of ourselves and in the end find that life has been sucked out of us and snatched away... and we will feel LEFT OUT and we will die...

However, the voice of the shepherd will keep calling...calling our names...your name...my name... and when we hear it... we will remember to whom we belong and what our purpose in life is all about... and we will be OUT with good cause and we will make a difference in each day via the name of Jesus'...the one who makes ALL the difference in the world...

Now, I hope to have you thinking about this for a while... and thinking that you may want to talk to the men in your congregation about the OUT-ness we are all part of...

So, what is there to do?

Pray--be specific;
Talk to some men around you...find out what they need...respond;
Seek out some HS grads or college grads--find out who is starting a new job;
Look around your facilities. Ask--- "are men 'welcome' here?"
Call all the 'dads' in your congregation and ask them to be at worship JUNE 19;
Plan a "men's day" Sunday this Fall;
How will you honor the military vets in your congregtation this NOV?
Do you have a men's study year round plan? Why? Why not?

Blessings to you these Summer months...and do let me know what is happening with men's ministry in your corner of the Kingdom...

Brian

MAN HOLES--- "Danger Zone --Menwork in Progress"

2011-04-13T09:00:00.003-05:00

WHAT IS GOING ON IN A MAN’S LIFE?
(Part 1)

Comments for 50+ years old OR Asking ‘How is a man defined?’ and "What are the danger zones?"

If Lent is that season of the church year where a man gets to take a second or third look in the mirror, then perhaps this post is timely as the time of Lent 2011 is closing in on Holy week. These are comments that flow from a conversation I had at the Dixie Chicken in College Station with my good friend Steve, whom I’ve known since I was a college freshman at Texas Lutheran University. I was 18; he was 19 and now we are in our late 50’s. Perhaps we may have 15-20 good years left in us; perhaps not. We are not consumed with our past nor fearful of the future so these comments are about the here and now as ‘faithfulness’ is only reviewed in the present! A second post will address the lives of men age 20 -40.

So, what is going on the life of a man 57 or 67 or 80? How are we defined? Are there danger zones...'man holes' left uncovered that when not paying attention to the way or faith and the road of life we can fall in to ?

Here's our list....

Family (of origin AND current circumstance)

We are raised a certain way and all we know is what we know. Is it enough?
When we leave home all we know about family is either affirmed or challenged. This is both a good and creative time to accept and nurture
As we grow older we seek to pass on the best our families have given

Work (top tier of earning power)

Older men are often amazed at the ‘entitled’ attitudes of younger men who desire to have everything their fathers and grandfathers spent a lifetime working toward.
There comes a time in a man’s life when he arrives at this upper tier that he desires to do the things in life he enjoys…the things he is very passionate about and allow others to do the things he has done effectively and can be done well by others; and
Someone suggests he ‘find a hobby,’ and create a ‘bucket list!’

Value System (intact/corrupted/adapted)

Men do not often really know what they believe and what is truly faithful and important until confronted with a choice that challenges their value system already living inside;
Some men make choices they regret and spend the latter years of their lives trying to unravel a messy life;
Other men trust their mentors…stay on a narrow path and reap a harvest in their later years for just plain doing the right thing. There is a certain 'contentment that lives in a man's heart here which can and does breed confidence to others.

Physical Condition (Aging/declining + brain body issues)

With each day we get closer to death. This reality cannot be halted;
Men can, however, make healthy choices about food, alcohol and tobacco use to add days to life; and
Good friends will be on the lookout for one another throughout the seasons of a man’s life and offering both challenge and support along the way.

Finitude (redeeming 'wasted time' vs. ending well)

We have the promise of an abundant life as we walk in the path of Jesus;
Even though few of us live to 100 or older, our fear of death has a huge impact on our quality of daily life and the life we choices we make;
A man’s grasp of ‘grace’ and ‘forgiveness’ or lack of will have a great impact on trying to redeem wasted time or end that life well.

Friends (How many? Where?)

The older a man gets the more he realizes how blessed he has been by having faith-filled and genuine friends;
Deeper friendships are few but cherished and bring a greater quality of life vs. having many friends of little substance;
Friendship should never be about the last man standing. A man may lose other friends prior to his own death; but hopefully there will be younger men who grieve at the time of his death.

Legacy (how will I be remembered?—Spouse, children, family, friends, God?)

Most men will not have a road or building name in their honor;
Most men will, however, leave a life-time of love and witness to many;
In the cemetery in Columbus, TX a tombstone stands with this epitaph: “Here lies the body of Ike Towell—no hope of heaven and no fear of hell.” What will others say about you?
What has God already promised you? Is that enough?

For further conversation and consideration...

MAN HOLES (dangerous circumstances for aging men and not in any particular order)

1. Living in a “culture of youth” vs. seeing ‘aging’ as a natural journey of life;

2. The ‘Denial of Death’ complicates participation/surviving this culture of youth;

3. Distortion of Priorities/Values causing of sense of “uprooting” from past;

4. Fear of other’s opinions—lack of self-definition and “needing approval”

5. Lack of integrity is characteristic of a non-integrated person;

6. Lack of desire to grow and become strong and remain “well;”

7. Unclear as to the value of “grace” and forgiveness;”

        a. Lack of “ritual” and “community” are key contributors to this lack

8. Unclear how to deal with “guilt and shame;”

9. Unresolved GRIEF is a key factor in the “troubling” behavior a man;

10. There is a high lack of any sense of “blessedness” in the American male;

11. As a man grows older he is more aware of his own “failure;”

        a. “We don’t fear failure; we fear success because it forces us to be responsible”

12. Most men are uncertain how and why “change” is a critical part of life’s journey;

        a. “We don’t think ourselves into a new behavior; we behave our way into a new way of thinking.”
                                                                                                                                  -Fr. Richard Rohr
13. How many friends does a man have by age 6o?

What will the men in your church and at your office coffee pot talk about today? Tomorrow? After Easter?

A blessed Holy Week to all of you. Jesus went into Jerusalem with purpose. He felt that anquish of having one last meal with his closest friends. He sweat drops of blood trying to be faithful to his father. And his way of being king and savior was to give in to the power and glory of God. Here is THE example and model of the Godly life---Jesus of Nazareth the one who points to the man holes of life...walks over and around them and says to us..."follow me."

Brian

"The Church as SHIP"

2011-02-23T09:33:00.000-06:00

Men... ...'it's time to go to work!"

St. Paul once wrote, "transformation comes via the renewal of your mind..." We all need that from time to time… and as Lent approaches… here’s a hope-filled transforming thought…

We all know the CHURCH is people...but we also refer to the ‘building’ as church… but whether it be people or structure… what if we considered church as ship?

One of the first images of the Jesus’ church is the "sailing ship". The Armenians adopted this image early on as they claimed themselves to be the first “Christian nation.” They sailed to the Holy Land to see where Jesus lived, taught, died and came back to life! Even today, they are the caretakers of the Chapel of St. Helen, Constantine’s mother, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Having the sailing ship as a Christian symbol points to the idea that the church is in "mission" and when we read the writings of St. Paul, we recall that the fulfillment of the "mission" often required a vessel… From the earliest days to spread the message of Jesus to Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, the British Isles, the New World of the Americas, the south Pacific islands and even back to the continent of Africa the sailing ship was an essential tool. Without a ship the message would have been passed on much more slowly…

Now, some church sociologists liken the modern 21st Century church to a ship... remaining ‘in mission' but some have suggested that there are now 2 kinds of churches...the Aircraft Carrier church and the Cruise Ship church… similar but not the same… How do you know? Which is which?? What makes them different? What kind of ship is your congregation?

The Aircraft Carrier is prepared for battle. It goes to where the needs are greatest. The carrier is prepared to engage in battle and has provided "training" so that each person is equipped to enter the battle with confidence. The aircraft carrier is a 'launching' station for those who are ready for flight and now wanting to take on the battle face to face. Sacrifice is the theme of the day. It makes a noticeable difference. Right away. This is the kind of image of church that Martin Luther wrote of as he shared his thoughts about the "priesthood of all believers..."

The other kind of church is the Cruise Ship church. It's fun. It's easy. People just pay the fee and take a ride. It only makes fun stops and doesn't require anything except to pay for the ticket and show up! Everybody who rides the cruise ship church expects to be served...not to serve... Everybody who rides the cruise ship church is wanting to dock quickly when the waters get rough...Everyone who rides the cruise ship takes the journey that is equipped to meet their personal needs…

I could go on here about lights and glitter and sumptuous meals vs. blood, sweat, darkness and toil, etc...but by now you already see the difference. You get the point. You're smart people.

But, which one is your church? Are the members of your congregation on the Aircraft Carrier? Or are some of the members of your congregation wanting the church to be the Cruise ship? And what about Captain Pastor? Where does he or she lean? It all points to what Dietrich Bonheoffer (the German Lutheran pastor who plotted to kill Hitler) wrote about in his book, The Cost of Discipleship when he addressed "costly grace" vs. "cheap grace." Costly grace is just that. There is a price to discipleship--the total of one's own life. "Cheap grace" is the trust that God will bail me out of all my messes because that's God's job... God works... I cruise...

Taking stock of these distinctions can really be at the heart of the matter where your mission is headed and as you look ahead to the season of Lent looming before us.... you may find value in having this kind of conversation with your ministy leaders and partners....

So, as you prepare yourself for worship each week and as you ponder what Lent might be for you… take a moment to look in the mirror and consider that...

The time of the Lent is about knowing oneself, the renewing of spiritual disciplines and sacrifice;
A life that does not take time for confession… is already dead… some suggest;
There are men in your life… in your family, congregation, workplace and neighborhood are ‘wounded’ and are looking for an invitation to get things right with God and themselves;
Getting on the ship and taking part in the battle DOES save lives;
Your getting on the right ship reflects YOUR life!

Take comfort in the wisdom of St. Paul...as he wrote to his friends in Corinth...

"17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center - Christ on the Cross - be trivialized into mere words. 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense." -Corinthians 1:17-18

Ok, it's time to load up the Aircraft Carrier...or would you prefer this Lent to take a cruise...????

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

NOTE We had a great time in Brenham for our Tri-synod Lutheran Men in Mission gathering last weekend... thanks to our Tri-Synod LMM Leader team for all the planning, Ps. Phil Fenton and the men of St. Paul's LC, Brenham for hosting and to all who attended...

2011-02-04T13:40:00.003-06:00

"Vince Lombardi
Could Have Been a Lutheran"

2.2.11

So, you liked the movie 'Groundhog Day?' Bill Murry? Repetition? Redundancy? Deja Vu? Well, whether we like it or not...there are some things we just must do over and over... and to be specific about the Christian faith...there are some things that we find ourselves doing over and over and when we do we call that "practicing our faith" so that when the occasion arise when we need to USE our faith... we have a faith to use!

And if we go to the coaching world, we will find the value of repetition in some the great quotes of the great Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi. Look carefully, coach could have been a Lutheran... that is if your geography teacher will allow you to stretch northern Italy all the way to southern Bavaria...or that there might have been plenty of Wisconsin Lutherans in VL's neighborhood!

Consider the wisdom of "Coach" ...

ON TEAMWORK

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” or
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

ON COMMITMENT

“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.”
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

DISCIPLINE

“I’ve never known a man worth his salt who, in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline."
“There is something good in men that really yearn for discipline.”
“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.”

LEADERSHIP

“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”
“It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men. Men respond to leadership in a most remarkable way and once you have won his heart, he will follow you anywhere.”
“Leadership is based on a spiritual quality --- the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.”

FAITH

“I believe in God.”
“I derived my strength from daily mass and communion.”

Did you catch that last quote... deriving his strength from daily mass and Eucharist-- the power of God that comes to him not from inside...but outside! Most Lutheran churches I know don't hold daily Eucharist services...but it's obvious to guys like me that VL knew the value of living in the rhythm of confession and forgiveness and reaching his hands out to the passion of God in order to use such an extraordinary power to lead others... aka 'the means of grace' which changes the world...

If we take the 'football' life quotes and translate them into Lutheran Church and Christian journey mantras we see quickly how our church and how our Lutheran Men in Mission can be strengthened and focused in ways we have yet to discover... so take advantage of those great faith behaviors we share...

+ PRAY + WORSHIP + STUDY + INVITE + + ENCOURAGE GIVE + SERVE +

When I read between the lines, I see in VL the understanding that every man has been given all the gifts necessary to do well in life and that these gifts are given to us in BAPTISM...remember in the Nicene Creed we call the Holy Spirit..."the Lord and Giver of Life"... and the good news for people like us is that we get to spend a lifetime discovering what those gifts are... perhaps it's part of the gift of Jesus when he said, "I have come to give you life... and life of abundance..."

So here's to Groundhog Day! Here's doing good things over and over that in that repetition of good things we find ourselves at our best being strong and serving the world in Jesus' name...

We're down to less than 2 weeks to get our men signed up to attend the gathering in Brenham...

Here's the link to register on line and the listing the agenda...

      http://txlamen.org/

Housing for Friday night is at the Coach Light Inn...     http://www.coachlightinnbrenham.com/

One man at a time; no man left behind,

    Brian

Our New Year's Mantra---"DOWN WITH JESUS!"

2010-12-30T17:10:00.000-06:00

To All the KING'S Men,

A blessed 12 days of Christmas to you...pray with me that all the men we know and the ones they love are full of faithfulness and experience good health in these days and deep into 2011...

Our New Year's Mantra---"DOWN WITH JESUS!"

The world seems to shout sometimes a bit louder than the Church… "Down with Jesus,” they say…

People in our country jockey for sides…some saying that God is our problem and Christians aren’t helping bringing people together… it’s a difficult time for some to sort things out and so we hear from others, “Down with Jesus!”

Even some of our closest friends and family members shout out, “Down with Jesus,” as they try to make sense out of lost jobs, illnesses not cured, marriages that have fractured, etc and unanswered prayers covering a host of ”gimme” petitions and personal requests that even if God wanted to say “yes” to he would end up being in collusion with the most selfish of behaviors…

“Down with Jesus” … words that we hear and may even say ourselves from time to time, but words that cannot and will not rattle Jesus desire to bring abundant life to every one who would believe… and don’t worry…he’s used to it… he can take it… because the words, “Down with Jesus” have a whole different meaning to him than they do to his detractors and those who keep trying to discredit his work and proper place in history… in fact, they are good words for people like us in times like this…

Think of it this way… the time had come…all the angels in heaven, archangels, cherubim and seraphim shouted out … "DOWN WITH JESUS!!!” And so they lead the way…the advance guard sharing a message of the ‘new life’ God is bringing to his creation… announcers to Mary and Joseph that God was up to something BIG!

Then there is the Holy Spirit… preparing the way to calm the heart and mind of a young Jewish woman… “Down with Jesus”… words she would ponder in her heart…

And what transpired? “The Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out!” John wrote in his opening gospel sentences… “Down with Jesus“…yah, sure you betcha and watch out now as the best is yet to come…

Jesus did come down… and became one of us…IMMANUEL… “God-with-us“…EMMANUEL… God incarnate…God in the flesh…

Herod tried to snuff his young life out… “Down with Jesus!” The people of Nazareth tried to throw him off the cliff… “Down with Jesus… The Pharisee and Sadducees tried to do him in…“Down with Jesus… and when the mockers and scoffers of Jesus gathered at Pilate’s courtyard… the insisted… “Down with Jesus”… and the soldiers shouted… "down with Jesus” on his way to the cross…these were words he was already familiar with…words declared by the angels and archangels, words announced by his Father and words echoed by the Holy Spirit…words that reminded him of his purpose in life…GOD COME DOWN…giving up his crown…to die for sinners like us…

St. Paul wrote to the Romans….

“Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life – no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: 7 8 If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. 9 We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. 10 When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us.” – (ch 6:6-10)

Jesus came down more than once… he was present at the creation… with Elijah in the cave… he helped shut up all the lions mouths when good Daniel he did save… he walked with Moses and God’s people across the desert sands and he went down from the hillside after feeding a hungry multitude, he went down from from the mountain after sparring with Evil One and he went down from Judea to Jerusalem…

John reported it this way… “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth…”

So, down with Jesus can only mean… "up with US!”… down with Jesus can only mean grace for the world… down with Jesus.. the victory cheer that God has brought new life to his people …

So, the next time you encounter one of God’s detractors…and you hear... "down with Jesus,”… give ‘em a “hell yeah!” as it is the power of God that has come down to us and now lives in us that we would amplify God’s light and life in the world…

Brian

CHRISTMAS TIME'S INCONVENIENCE

2010-12-03T17:17:00.005-06:00

TO ALL THE KING'S MEN...

Guys, our place in God's kingdom is powerful...let's pray with the Blind Boys from Alabama..."Lord, help me find my proper place..." Men, our work in Christ's Church is urgent, important and necessary...let us pray with Peter Mayer... "Lord, stir up the water in our souls... let the light come in the darkness...come and make us whole..." Men our witness is daily...let us pray with Jesus..."Father, your kingdom come; your will be done..." The world needs our prayers; needs our work. We need to pray for each other... our work is better done together...

We are coming to the days of Christmas. It can go a lot of ways for us. Our culture has taken the core meaning of Christmas and marketed away its soul. Long lines. Bargains galore. Fist fights in the mall parking lot over a rectangle of concrete. Overextended credit card purchases wear on our shoulders weeks and months into the coming year. Way too much eating and drinking. Our senses and our feet are numb and the celebration of Jesus' birth comes to us as an intrusion to our personal merry-making. We've lost touch with the voices of the angels, the mystery of God-in-the-flesh and this year...Pampers is selling diapers to the words of "Silent Night." How will Christmas go for you? Perhaps a good question to ask first, though, is this:

Why Men’s Ministry?

The data is startling. Only one out of every 18 men in our culture is churched. Imagine that 18 men went out to the local sandlot to play America’s favorite past-time and only 1 of the 18 men actually knew how the game of baseball is played. Only 1 knows the order of the base path. Only 1 knows what the glove, ball, bat and helmet are for. Only one man knows how to keep score and for how long.

What do we see? Bedlam? Chaos? Mayhem? Of course. Misunderstanding of purpose. Men running the wrong direction; some sitting in the bleachers. Men wearing gloves on their heads and others chasing each other with bats and throwing balls at one another. Eighteen men. Only one man knows how the game is played. No coach. It’s no wonder that so many find church a difficult place to be.

For every 10 men…

9 will have children leave the church;
8 will not have a satisfying job;
6 will make minimum payment on credit cards;
5 will have major pornography issues;
4 will divorce impacting 1 million children

Staggering? Some are surprised; others not. Is this the last word? Certaianly not...espeically for men like us...KING'S men...

     K now Christ;
     I nvite others to "come and see;"
     N urture the relationships we have as Jesus' friends;
     G row your faith via worship, study and prayer;
     ' ...remember always to whom you belong...
     S erve Christ's Church in the world generously via your time and treasure

Some would advocate that in order to get the world right, we need to get the church right; and in order to get the church right, we need to get families right; and in order to get the families right we need to get marriages right; and in order to get marriages right we need to get the men right...and Jesus is the one who gets it right for us...so, men’s ministry IS Godly work! That's also why we can say..."one man at a time; no man left behind!"

So, how will it go for you this Christmas? Will Christmas be an intrusion? Is this time of year an inconvenience to our already busy lives? Is Christmas an intrusion that just ups the ante on our already stressed out days and fractured and fragile relationships? Is Christmas the time we cringe when we get a sugary sweet greeting when deep down inside ourselves we know that we have played house, played games, faked our way through another day and used the ancient masks to hide behind so others will not know those things deep inside our hearts that scare us to death and prod us to do and say things that only lead to a lifetime of regret?

Well, be of good cheer. Christmas IS an inconvenience! Christmas IS an intrusion! Jesus IS God's surpise insurgent of love and grace into our lives...described by St. Paul as a "stumbling block!" Not just can be...IS... Why? Everyone will bump into Jesus eventually and have to decide what to do... and it's always been that way...

Check out the players as first recorded in the Gospels... How was Christmas for them? Here's a list of the men in the Christmas story and in each case the entry of Jesus into the world pushed them out of their own comfort place requiring them to act differently than they thought they would on that particular morning...

JOSEPH - had a plan. He had set up house and was living with Mary, his betrothed. Then he finds out about a baby that is on the way and he knows like Maury Povich says, "Joseph, you are NOT the father!" and has to have God's angel come to convince him to not dismiss his bride to be. And if that isn't enough, the local city leaders send the message that he has to take his family from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the Roman census. Road trip! No Amtark. Nice.
The Inn Keeper -- now here's a guy who finishes Holiday Inn Express Manager's training and is given the job of being the new innkeeper in Bethlehem. That's like the boss telling you, "we're world wide" and when you hear you are going to be "around Houston" you find out that you are the new manager at Holiday Inn in Danbury. I think he was spoofin' Joseph when he said, "I have no more room." His place was normally empty, but with the enrollment this new found opportunity to make a buck was just the ticket... actually, he was content to have a full house and now could relax... and saying 'there was no room in the inn' was an announcement of success! Though Joseph is disheartened; he pressed. The innkeeper gives in. Two little inconvenienced men. Really nice. But, look around...God winked and Mary smiled.
Herod -- the King of Judea...just got back from his winter palace at Masada at the Dead Sea and is busy packing to head to his summer home at Herodian, half way between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Life is good when you are the king... until 3 visitors come and ask the big question..."where is the king?" Huh? Herod was the king. Now Jesus' entry on to the scene causes a certain paranoia prompting him eventually to send soldiers to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem under the age of 3. Now there's a thorough and sick guy. Herod the Great my eye...
The Magi --aka 'the wise men.' They were. They took flight and followed a star. Try 'splaining that to the young boys along the road. They irked Herod and yet found time to bring gifts to the real King... the angel comes to them and says, "you better go home a different way" ...inconvenience all the way around but most likely saved their lives...
The Shepherds ---now here's a group of guys where inconvenience is a pleasure trip... shepherds were equal in status to 'garbage collectors' in our day. Junior high drop outs at best being paid little for a job no one really wants to do. But, hey, sheep are important... somebody's got to watch them---garbage piles stink...but, someone has to pick up the trash... so, these guys get the night off...and not just one angel...but a choir of angels tell them that God is up to something BIG...and despite a change of venue... they dare not miss it! They didn't! When was the last time you sang a song in church about a garbage collector?
The Soldiers--- we cannot not say anything about the soldiers... the ones called to protect the king and his family. Protecting them from tyrants, treasonists and conspirators maybe...but not babies...not infants... how sad and inconvenienced the soldiers must have felt when they got orders to kill ALL the baby boys in Bethlehem and...when they got to Bethlehem...the babies' fathers? What of them? What did the fathers of the little boys do...what could they do???...

So, men, welcome to Christmas time... KING'S men... enter these holi-days with courage and hope...your life may not be exactly like theirs but we are no different than the men in the first Christmas story... including this one reality... the inconvenient words God speaks to his son, Jesus...."it's time; now is the time..." and peace, freedom and grace come to town... the love of the parent... inconvenient but necessary... Love is that way... St. John said it this way... "For God so LOVED the world that he gave..." And so this moment and time when Christmas's inconvenince is thrust upon us...it it the very thing we celebrate...as this story makes all the difference in how all the other stories of our lives unfold...

This is God's work; our hands. Holy days... A joyful Christmas time to you all...may you see your inconvenience as gift and as the very ministry to others the world so desperately seeks...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

AN OPEN LETTER TO COLLEAGUES AND MEN OF THE GULF COAST SYNOD...

2010-10-12T18:31:00.007-05:00

CAUTION: Men @ Work

+MEN'S MINISTRY VALUE +

UNDEREMPHASIZED & UNDERESTIMATED!

To All the KING'S men,

Put on your hard hat---it's time to go to work...so let me just say this out loud...not in anger nor with brashful boasting...just an honest announcement...

"Our synod's men's ministry is underemphasized & underestimated..."

There, now, I feel better and after reading this post, I hope you will too...laymen, clergy, AiMs and youth ministry network leaders alike...I really do beleive this---men's ministry in the Gulf Coast synod is underemphasized and underestimated... at best... and misunderstood at least...

A number of years ago, the Washington Post shared an article that stated (my paraphrase)

"even though our budget will present itself with more shortfalls equalling millions of dollars and the mayor has been arrested for posession of cocaine, everthing else in Washington D.C. is just fine."

Some of you when reading this would say..."that does not pass the smell test!" And you would be right. There is not shalom in Washington D.C. and there is not shalom in the Gulf Coast synod when it comes to men's ministry. Why do I suggest that? Here are some symptoms...

I read a lot of newsletters. Most of our congregations have no visible sign of an attitude for men's ministry or seek to be engaging men in an intentional way by looking at their monthly calendar and in the body of the newsletter itself;
After four years of seeking to reach out to all congregations to coonect with men, many of our congregations are still not in the KING'S MEN network;
Only 3 pastors in the last 4 years have called to ask me about ramping up their men's ministry in their local setting;
I don't always add a 'read receipt' to e-communications, but occassionally when I do, there are a couple of pastors who dump it..."unread;" AND MOST RECENTLY...
The Men's SpiritualityRetreat @ Camp Lutherhill with Campus Pastor Greg Ronning of TLU set as the presenter was cancelled due to lack of registrants...

Even though our bishop is a proactive voice for men's ministry and we have no worry of lack of funding for there is no budget, everything is not just fine...and again, I'm not angry, sad or being brashfully boastful...I am only sharing what I see...

Now, please understand... I cannot NOT do this work. God's Holy Spirit has gripped my heart, mind, eyes, hands and feet and my attention to this ministry to, for and with men per all men's sake is a primary focus for me as a parish pastor. We all have our passions and I have mine ...ending global hunger in our life-time, tending to 21st century 'reformation' worship, and nurturing the family...especially 'blended' families to name my personal few and these do not take a back seat to all the other things that I find myself involved in pastoral ministry...preaching, teaching, coaching, ecumenical work, community service and being SEO (Second Executive Officer and subservient to Christ and his Gospel) tending to the visioning and administration of congregational life. Understand---pastor or church staff or member...we are all busy... so that is why it is important to work and think and live 'smart' for the sake of the gospel we preach and the perfect and preferred kingdom work we are welcoming as we must all admit...this kingdom comes all by itself and thus OUR personal "busy-ness" should not get in the way of God's work...

Thus my point... men's ministry is NOT something 'extra' pastors and men and the church at large do...rather it is a way of seeing the ministry we do using the gifts of men and reaching out to all men with the good news of Jesus and inviting them to take their rightful place at the font and table and lead the church, their families and communities in lives of prayerful devotion to God and service to the world... let me try to say it again... a bit differently...

Men's ministry is NOT something extra... it is an attitude of faith that permeates the household of God and impacts the lives of men...one by one...two by two... and in small groups and large gatherings... men's ministry is not a program...with a goal to begin and a deadline to meet...men's ministry may very well be the ONE thing (beyond Word & sacraments) that every church in the ELCA can rally around for the sake of our work as God's people...

Said a bit more simple... it would seem obvious that if every man in every congregation were engaged fully into this ministry...the women and children would follow. Men are called to lead. So many don't and when asked...they don't know how... what kind of churches do we want? That seems obvious, too!

Another way of lifting this up is to be a bit brash and confrontational... and that then comes with a challenge...simply stated... PROVE ME WRONG... there, I said it and I feel better now that I have... "prove me worong" and I say this with an honest understanding that if you try to do this..."prove me wrong"...I'm am confident that God's Holy Spirit will prove this work to be of value to you and if you tend to this work over the next 2-3-5 years...your congregation and ministry will not be the same and will in fact be something I dare say you've not anticipated...

Four years ago, Bishop Paul Blom appointed me to serve in a volunteer position as Co-ordinator for Men's Ministry in the Gulf Coast synod. I have no real job description and yet I think I have a very big drum to beat and some of you have thanked me for beating that drum with passion and power. You're welcome. Thank God, too..OK? Because that's what I do when I hear from you that you appreciate that I keep this ministry out in the foreground of our collective synodical work...

Two years ago, our newly elected bishop, Mike Rinehart, asked me to continue in this position and do this work and that I would have his blessing for the next 2 years...and now at the end of September 2010 that time period has expired and the bishop has asked me to beat this drum for at least two more years...but as I said earlier...there is no deadline for men's ministry...so, I'm writing to you today to let you know...

I am honored and humbled to serve our synod and the ELCA in this role and will soon have a job description to present to synod council for affirmation and adoption;
Lutheran Men in Mission is a movement of the laity...they are called "KING's MEN" in the Gulf Coast Synod and some congregations are embracing this reality better than others. Our best days remain the days to come;
The pastors, AiMs and Youth & Family Ministry network MUST get on board with this ministry attitude so that every man in every congregation gets the idea that they are LMM and have a ministry which is God given and intended to be shared. You can find out about the importance of this ministry by simply reading the church newsletter, weekly bulletin, and listen for ongoing opporotunities to grow and serve. Look. Listen. Respond. Plan. Act. Review. Look. Listen, etc;
LMM serves the work of pastors and lay leaders in the church. Thus, pastors, above all will benefit from this ongoing work...EX---teaching and coaching 5 men to make hospital visits IS an extension of pastoral care and also IS ministry by and for men...
Lutheran Men in Mission works to reach out to every man we know...those who are unchurched; those with a developing faith; those with a deep faith; those who are leading and coaching other men; AND men who are hurting...even their pastor who may be male OR female... Does your men's leadership team have a list of these men and a strategy to reach out to them? Perhaps, that's the place to start...

Lastly, see it this way...men's ministry is NOT the best thing since sliced bread... It IS the bread...or at least one of the 5 loaves a young boy gave to Jesus to feed a multitude...5 loaves... worship...teaching...outreach...service AND men's ministry... and when congregations and pastors are tending to these five loaves...a couple of fish show up too... and you can call those whatever you like...but in the end a miracle occurs and their is great contentment on the plain (or mount!).

Please wander around this web-site for a bit... read some back posts... check out some of the links... and so I invite the men in your church...including the pastors... to take time to gather at Peace LC in Pasadena on FRI-SAT November 12 & 13... to hear David Dusek share 'hands on' ways that each congregation can use to amplify their ministry to men and for men...

Please know that you can call me anytime...832.858.4076... there I posted my cell number and I feel good about that...men's ministry may be undersestimated or at least misunderstood... but can never be under valued!!!.... and your call would never be taken as intrusive or considered an interruption... and when you call remind me to tell you the old story of the father who had little time for his son...and how the young boy set out to get the world together by first putting the man together...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

A MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST TO BE ENVIED!

2010-09-08T17:45:00.001-05:00

A MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST TO BE ENVIED!

According to the Bible, ‘envy’ is one of the seven deadly sins and at all costs is to be avoided…it’s related to that old saying, “be careful what you ask for…” or hope for...or dream for… or scheme for or deceive for… uh-oh...see why the caution...

However, if there is a good side to envy...like to ‘model’ or to ‘emulate’ or to ‘strive to be like’ then the men’s breakfast I attended in Scottsdale, AZ is one that others should take note of…

The place was La Casa de Christo Lutheran Church in north Scottsdale, an All-American city on the NE spoke of Phoenix...just about 30 minutes from the airport there as well as in close proximity to ASU Sun Devil stadium and the place where the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks play. Easy to find, the church sits on 20 acres and has shown significant growth in the last 15 years. Having a full-time pastor on staff to devote much of his time to ‘men’s ministry’ doesn’t hurt...you need to know. Pastor Andy has been there almost 40 years. Pastor Jeff just under 3 and he followed a pastor who set the tone for a growing attitude of men’s ministry including holding a prayer breakfast...but only for the last 7 years…

I went to visit La Casa at the urging of former TLU President, Dr. Charles Oestreich. “you need to get out there and see what those guys are doing,” he said. Chuck said this to me well over 2 years ago and so it was good to finally be able to walk the campus with their pastor and to meet with some of their key male leaders. Their ‘hospitality’ to me a stranger (yet a brother) was to be envied!

You need to know that La Casa voted earlier this year to leave the ELCA and become and independent Lutheran congregation. And you ALSO need to know that this church is one of the 3 largest ELCA churches in the Grand Canyon Synod to bolt from the ELCA which has placed a terrible burden on the ability of that synod to function well to the point of not being able to afford a hotel to have their annual assembly. BUT, you also need to know that Pastor Andy and the good people of La Casa de Christo have offered their facilities to “HOST” the synod assembly as a way of maintaining good relationships with the friends and co-workers in the kingdom… oh yeah...the breakfast...and here's what happened...

Prayer Breakfast is ONCE a month during the school year only
First Saturday of the month. Everyone is reminded. Not everyone attends
Coffee pot goes on @ 7 AM. Food is served at 7:30 AM
Attending were men from the 20's to their 80's....over 150 in attendance and each person wore a name badge...and even a badge was prepared in advance for me...
Cooking is done by 'teams' of men on a rotation basis.
La Casa's "Music Director" led the men in a variety of songs covering different generations w/ guitar
Everyone was greeted by Pastor Jeff (staff pastor for men) and he turned the meeting over to their 'lead man' for 2nd welcome and announcements including men standing and introducing their guests
The opening prayer was also led by La Casa's lead man...
The Lead Pastor did a cool thing...

          Sometimes pastors get to the end of the line and chat with the tail-enders...sometimes the pastor gets
          to the front of the line and then "works" the room while everyone finishes eating. THIS pastor stood at
          the head of the line and handed out plates to EVERY man. Members, visitors and friends all got to be
          eye-balled by the pastor and he was able to greet each person there! Never say that done before !

A team of men work on the monthly keynote speaker schedule. It is always a key to gathering the men. This particular Saturday's speaker was a member of the La Casa and came forward 9 months after the death of his son (post-college age) and shared the incredible story of how he is now able to see God's hand in all the details of a story that became known nationally and internationally. Truly amazing despite my intentional lack of details here. And as many of us have similar stories to tell, it's not often any of us get up in front of 150+ other men and tell it. But, perhaps, that's one of the dynamics that makes the men's ministry at La Casa a safe and enviable thing...trust...
There were prayers for the family and also for those soldiers who serve the USA at home and abroad. The prayers included an older man's family as news of his grandson's death was shared. Men were sitting at tables of 8-10 so there was a sense of community and shared grief and joy as news both good and otherwise was shared.
The host team went to the tables to take an offering for the food...everybody gave something...
Pastor Jeff gave a blessing for all attending...Go in peace; serve the Lord...which had huge meaning for all there as the who shared the story of the death of his son, while in Germany, made it very clear to all that he had been a spiritual slacker...church attender..good dad, husband and worker...but didn't act out his faith via his church. He also made it clear that this was not God's punishment but rather he sees in himself an opportunity to "go in peace and serve the Lord" in a brand new way...

So, that's the simple visible picture....intentional gatherings; invitations; coffee; food; song; prayer; story; purpose; and a sending into the world for Christ's sake. As I've said before...it's not rocket science...just intentional planning and follow-up?

But, what about the sense of community? Partnership? How many congregations in the ELCA or in our synod could pull together 150+ guys on the first weekend when school just started...and it's the last weekend of the summer before Labor Day weekend? Answer...very few...if any at all... But perhaps the visible was a product of what is less visible at La Casa...

As I met with 3 different men...late 20's mid-50 and mid 70...after breakfast, they made clear the following of their journey...

Having the pastor's support is incredibly essential for all...newcomers and old-timers;
Having a staff pastor to provide vision, energy and spiritual support makes all the difference from where La Casa was to where they find themselves today;
Having a year round calendar of events and gatherings is critical. Some of the men who came to the breakfast had just returned 2 weeks prior from doing a project at the Navajo reservation 2 hours away. See? Not hard...just intentional;
Small groups and one-time events has led to the men's ministry expansion. Holding a golf tournament (wow, in Scottsdale, AZ?) for their Spanish ministry outreach project, starting a 'hiking' team for young and younger men; having "bikers" group that hits the trails once a month; etc are just a short list of examples of how La Casa is building friendships, trust and honest relationships with their men...
There is also a variety of adult education (there is another pastor on staff for "life-long" learning!) classes that men can attend together or with their spouse or a friend. Clue..."go, preach, teach and baptize.." Jesus said...
Lastly, La Casa has an intentional 'training' system built into their year-round men's ministry...call God's Men 101, 201, 301 or whatever...they do have a way for men to get together and gain skills and confidence to lead other men... and shucks, guys...our men do that at work...gain skills and confidence so that they will have a greater sense of being part of the big team...

And so I leave you with that and then this one final thought...was it worth going to Scottsdale? Sure. With one regret and that is there are still too many Starbuck's Coffee shops in the USA as on Friday AM I had scheduled an appointment with Pastor Jeff and another of the leaders of their men's ministry but as bad fortune would have it...we went to different Starbuck's on the same street just a couple of miles apart and waited each out til neither of us showed. So if Pastor Jeff makes it to Houston anytime soon...the coffee's on me....

It would be good of all congregations (ELCA and others) to envy what is happening at La Casa de Christo...

One man @ a time; no man left behind;

Brian

FREEDOM---Where are YOU From?

2010-07-05T12:42:00.000-05:00

"FREEDOM" ---Where Are YOU From?

To All the KING's Men,

Janis Joplin sang, "Freedom's just another word...for nothing left to lose..." Richie Havens just sang, "Freedom, Freedom." Maybe you can hear Mel shouting that same mantra dressed up like Willyum Wallace in "Braveheart." Martin Luther King, Jr. preached about it. People have lived and died over it. They have marched for it. They have sat down for it. They have gone to war for it. Some even came back from the battle zone to appreciate it. This weekend in America (AND ESPECIALLY THIS SUNDAY all around our synod) we celebrate it. Freedom. And, actually, Janis, it just is not another word...but I know you were singing Kris's song...

Bishop Rinehart has asked us to consider where we have come from to the land called the United States of America. As "sojourners" we all have roots even though it can be said of most of us that we are "not from around here..." yet some of us have been here a while...and there are still some who are coming to live in the USA. Have you given any thought lately to the freedom you have and what price your family paid to secure it? Here's my short story...

In my my family genealogy there are four main bloodlines... the Gigees, the Halls, the Wilsons, and the Schultzes. My mother's mother's family (Schultz) came to America around 1870. They came to build steel mills and my Great-Grandmother learned to walk on the boat coming from Mecklenberg, Germany to the USA. My mother's father's family (Hall) have been in the Carolinas as far back as the 1600's. They were farmers and later worked in textile mills. My father's mother's family (Wilson) has been around a long time in New York and my father's family (Gigee with a variety of spellings) owned land in NY before the Revolutionary War. They emigrated to the American colonies from England, Scotland and finally, Germany. They all ended up in Ohio. and one might say my roots, then, are deep in the American experiment. And then there was this Yankee boy from Ohio who came to Texas in 1972 and for all practical purposes...stayed...

P.S. That's also when I learned the difference between a "Yankee" and a "da*n Yankee."...just ask me...

So, how did you get here? How long ago? Was it just you? Your parents? Their parents? From where? Do you feel rooted? Do you feel displaced? What will you do with your freedom this season of your life? These are the kinds of questions that must be asked in from time to time... so, remember...that Abraham's (the Bible guy..not the president from Kentucky) father was a "wandering" Aramean... Joseph's brothers sojourned down to Egypt ... Moses led the 'hapiru' people out of slavery back to the land promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and that those who claim the name of Jesus seem to be always on the move...

Last thought...Jesus said, "if the Son makes you free; you are free indeed." Obviously, a freedom Jesus felt was worth dying for... AND Martin Luther made the great comment about the power our baptism and the identity we claim in it... "A Christian is a perfectly FREE lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all." ...

And so we are... be God's servant...be a KING's man... you are free to choose...

One man @ a time; no man left behind,

Brian

"A Litany for Fathers -- Dads of All Kinds"

2010-06-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

TO ALL THE KING'S MEN...

For some this first 1st part may be redundant...but please keep reading to get to the end...

My father is not your father...unless you are my brother or one of my sisters... and your father is not my father... unless you are my brother or one of my sisters...but OUR FATHER is my father and OUR FATHER is your father because God the Father is the father of us all...which also means that HOLY is his name and his Kingdom comes and his will is done...and that makes us brothers and sisters in our faith... in fact, if God the Father is the CREATOR of all...then all in the world are our brothers and sisters, too! So, happy Father's Day weekend...God the Father is gathering his children to praise him and serve his world...

Here are some thoughts about my father....I hope they help you have good thoughts about yours...

my dad was raised on a farm, grew up in the projects, bought a house in the suburbs and thought he was a king!
my dad's mother and father didn't make it 'til death us do part.' He and my mother did. I didn't. I pray my children will!
my father turned down 4 promotions to be a route supervisor for the Wonder Bread Co. so that he could have time to coach Little League baseball. Neither of his sons were playing Little League at the time;
my father helped at the church "men's paint day" of the Sunday School hallways and rooms. He was the only one who showed up that day. He stayed and painted as long as he had planned. Nobody knew but the pastor and God;
my dad never took me hunting or fishing and never taught me how to tie a necktie. He did show me how to use a shovel, a rake and a paint brush and made me learn the words, "let the tool do the work."
My dad loved his mother, took care of her in aging years, loved his wife til the day he died and "showed up" for his children's events as often as he could;
my dad taught me how to cut the grass making certain the front right wheel overlapped the last cut from the back wheels. Extra work was to be avoided;
my father worked two jobs most of his life. His part time job was a guard on a Brink's truck. We don't have any pictures of him working---just pictures of him relaxing at home and being with his family;
my dad had a keen eye, didn't miss much and you were a fool to think you could beat him at horseshoes or matching baskets in the driveway;
I only remember 3 good fights with my dad---a) when I quit baseball at age 14; b) when I didn't get a hair cut at age 17; c) when I quit my summer job in college with 3 weeks left in the summer. I had a back up plan to paint a friend's mother's house. My enjoyed watching me play fast-pitch softball, let his hair grow out and helped me paint that house the last 2 days.
my dad said an incredible thing to me when I got a little teary in the car watching my mother stand on the sidewalk in front of our house and cry as I was leaving again for college.... "she'll get over it," he said. She did. And I did, too.
my dad told me from time to time--"I'm proud of you." I knew he meant it.
my dad died at age 56. March 9, 1987. I had called him just a week before to talk (actually to brag about my new portable phone) on my daughter's 3rd birthday. The last thing he said to me on the phone that day was, "I love you." It was the last thing he ever said to me.
my dad has a funny way of showing up in my life in this past two decades...ask me about that... yesterday I glanced in the rear view mirror of the car and saw the top of my dad's head...smooth graying hair... funny how his love and presence persist...

I'm wearing my black T-shirt today that says, "Fortunate Son" on the front. I am. I can't lose. OUR FATHER is your father and my father and your father and my father is OUR father...the one who loves us to the end and beyond...

And here is my adapted litany for Father's Day...

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who strive to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support.

+ Let us pray to God for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect.

+ Let us praise God for those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

+ Let us praise God for those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

+ Let us praise God for those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

+ Let us praise God for those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

+ And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. - adapted from Kirk Loadman

Men's ministry is not rocket science; it's harder. Keep up this vital work.

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

"Generations of Fighting Men"

2010-04-26T14:24:00.000-05:00

"GENERATIONS OF FIGHTING MEN"

"What fight are you willing to engage?"

My Great-great grandfather enlisted in the North Carolina 26th back in 1860. He was a farmer and was fighting for state rights. His Company I was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia and led by General Robert E. Lee as well as generals Ewell and Pettigrew. They all ended up at Gettysburg, PA in July 1863. His name was Andrew Jackson Hall.

I've climbed up Seminary Ridge where he was wounded on the first day of the battle there and I stood in the wooded area where the NC 26th and others gathered to take part in Pickett's Charge the 3rd day. Standing there brought a chill to my spirit. I could smell the stench of unkempt soldiers amidst the musket powder. I could hear the echoes of chattering voices by the treeline and sense the pee running down the soldier's legs as they looked across the open fields to see the Union army camped at the top of Cemetery Ridge. Have you ever been there? Go as a grown man, with stuff to defend. Go there and remember how cruel war can be and how brothers have treated brothers and how other men's politics take the lives of young men who often just don't know any better.

G2-Grandpa Hall was captured by Union soldiers on the 3rd day and while being taken to the train station, they stopped by a stream to get a drink and as family legend tells...he overpowered a guard, stole his gun and headed off into the woods. He didn't return to what was left of his unit and he didn't see any desire to continue any killing; so he followed the stars and the Indian paths from SE Pennsylvania and returned to NC like 100's of other soldiers who went AWOL each day at the end of the war. Perhaps this action secured the family tree. His grandson was my mother's father.

I have no recollection or proof that either of my grandfathers were ever in the military. Between the two of them they father 11 children...9 + 2...( at least that we know of) but truth be told they weren't very good at being "dad" and left a train wreck behind for two families. I tell people they loved Jesus...but the loved Jack Daniels more..." Thus, their battle lines were blurred as I'm certain that no good has ever come in a home where excessive drinking was the norm.

My father enlisted in the US Air Force in 1952. At age 22 he was a bit older than most young men his age that did so and his joining up became an answer to a certain lack of life clarity. I don't think he was ever really good military material but he did get some clarity...he'd rather be in Youngstown, OH with the young girl who would become my mother more than greasing planes prior to a bombing raid in some cold God-forsaken foreign country. He served barley 6 months being given a "sole surviving son" honorable discharge during the Korean conflict. And the one huge fight my father and I did have besides playing HS baseball ( or not) in 1970 and getting my haircut in 1972 was my announcing that I was going to register for the draft as a "conscientious objector." His line in the sand was bigger than Col. Travis's... and so I was on the list in 1972 as a 1A target of the draft board... garnering a number 123. No one in my class, however, was called up. That all ended the year before... a campaign promise of Richard Nixon ...to end the war in Viet Nam.

I have uncles and aunts who have served in the military. Some as short-timers and some who made it a career. They have served well and often where danger was near. I have a cousin who served on US Navy submarines and I have a nephews who are currently in the USAF and in the Army...one of them is actually "somewhere" in the Middle East...and in a message to me this past week he wrote these things...and I thought I would include them in this blog... and with his permission...

My room mate says hes going to start blogging. My response was "about what". He went on to explain too me that people blog about nothing at all. I told him
"Great! You got plenty of material to write about then". I read that I'm supposed to consume 18 calories per pound to maintain muscle growth so about 3600-4000 a day which I was doing for a while but I lost 2 pounds this week. Seems like the food is getting worse but its still very good by Army standards so I cant complain. It does make it hard to eat in excesses though.
On the upside my run has gotten better and I have put on weight so its a plus. Think I will gain a lot more back home though.
It rained here and I watched a local driving down the road and he got stuck in the mud. He got out and pulled a shovel out of the trunk, walked around to the passenger side and handed the shovel to the woman. Then he got back in the car out of the rain while she dug out the tires and put bags behind the wheels. After about 10 minutes of this the man spins the tires and the car gets free, and he takes off down the road, the woman running behind with the shovel in the rain with no shoes. After about 200-300 yards the man slows down and throws some shoes out the window. I was alternating between laughter and disgust. It didn't seem real almost like it was a comedy skit. Can't really see that happening back home, you get a flat and tell your girl to change the tire in the rain then when its fixed leave her on the side of the road. Can't imagine treating some one like that, or who would want too be with a woman that allowed herself too be treated that way. Some times I feel like the locals aren't worth helping, they are still stuck 500 years in the past. "

Yet, my nephew's tour of duty there is not his first. He signed up to go a second time!

So, there have been soldiers in my family surrounding me for over 150 years...perhaps even longer as we're pretty certain that William Gigee fought in the Revolutionary War as he was listed in the 1790 census in Ulster Co. NY...the town clerk...and yet I've never donned a military uniform despite playing countless hours of "army" with dozens of other young boys in the 700 acre woods behind my house growing up. And if you ask a soldier these days or their families, "Why?"...and we have a number of them in our congregation, too, they will say that they are not fighting for "taxation" or "state rights" or "slavery" as some have claimed..but that they are fighting for freedom...theirs, ours and even for the 'stranger.' It's a battle they are willing to engage themselves in. No doubt there will be a variety of opinions from the hawks and doves and those who waffle, like me, back and forth in the middle...

It's an odd thing for a Christian to engage in military combat some say. We speak the words, "peace be with you," Sunday after Sunday and we know the commandment, "You shall not kill," and we can quote some good lines like..."America, Love It or Leave It" and "End the War- NOW" or Benjamin Franklin's great quote..."there never was a good war nor a bad peace"... and yet we find that there are times when "a good fight" is our only resort... and ultimately reflects the battle lines men are willing to engage themselves in. Some will fight; some will not. Some will join up and others will run. What fight are you willing to enter?

I know some who think that Christians should be 'pacifists.' They say Jesus was a 'pacifist.' But, if that were true...I mean really true in the "pacifist" sense, then I don't think Jesus would have followed his Father's desire to "come and dwell among us" ... to "come and be one of us"...to "come and fight the powers of the evil one"....AND WIN!

It's what we sing these Easter weeks..."The strife is o'er; the battle's won..." Jesus entering the fight on our behalf...taking on Satan face to face...toe to toe...power to power...and giving us cause to shout..."Alleluia" ...Christ is risen... God is on the loose...

And this is battle that I have been willing to enter...I'm not alone...and it's the battle for men's hearts and minds...to fight for themselves, their families, their churches, their communities...to put both feet fully into the circle of faith and trust in God's ways for all things...Simple? Hardly. Important? Youbetcha. Some will be more determined than others...

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, the Bible reminds us and included in those witnesses are those who have given their lives ( A Memorial Day thought) for the sake of others as well as those who have engaged in life's battle in other ways as missionaries of the gospel and medical personnel who have brought a better quality of life to those who battle just to live one more day... or teachers who spend a lifetime equipping others to live well and be and do their best... or civil servants who seek to 'serve and protect' our communities and even the "good people" of our churches who do things for others as a sign that Jesus has entered the battle and won... and that makes all the difference...

At the end of John's Gospel, Jesus says, "My peace I leave with you...as the Father has sent me; so I send you..." which makes me want to believe that Jesus didn't say that so others would...he said so that I would go out and you would go out and engage the world with love and grace and purpose...

Thank you for being part of this generation's "fighting men." It's a battle we must fight as the war has already been won...

One Man @ a time; no man left behind,

Brian

HOLY WEEK---No Time for Wusses

2010-03-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

"HOLY WEEK ---No Time for Wusses"

To All the KING's Men,

It might very well be urban legend, but there is evidence that my Texas Lutheran College, now University, fraternity, Omega Tau, coined the phrase, "WUS." I'm sure you've heard it. It is NO compliment! Call someone a "WUS" out of the blue and you very well get a sucker punch to the jaw...unless they really are one! A real WUS that is...

To refer to someone as a 'WUS' is to suggest that they:

a) "can't hack it" or worse yet---"won't hack it" ---whatever the task may be;
b) demonstrate behaviors others might refer to as "sissie" or "chicken"; OR
c) come from questionable background & exhibit character unbecoming of a human being

After all, one's first exposure to the fraternity's "WUS" savvy language is normally discovered in the form of a question. And that question was normally asked by an Omega Tau pledge (me and 100's of others over 50 years) upon learning that the letters "W S" were to be painted on the left sleeve or our pledge shirts. "What does 'W S' stand for, sir?" comes the query. Then comes the ego crash as Omega Tau pledges are asked a retortive question, "Pledge, what is the lowest thing on earth?" And whether they know the answer or not, the answer is promptly given----"Whale Shi%$#" which is then mentally and emotionally compounding as the fraternity pledge learns that his palce in life is LOWER than that! Worse than WS...wow!

But, whether the Omega Tau fraternity actually coined the term WUS, I cannot confirm 100%. However, what I can confirm is that whether you were ever involved in that fraternity or not, Holy Week is no place for Wusses...no place for chickens, no place for sissies and those of questionable character for Holy Week is time and place where the power of God was both placed under attack and unleashed into the world from Introduction to Epilogue. It's God's story and work as seen from the cross and God's redemptive work and glimpse into the future from inside the bowels of an empty hewn stone tomb...a story which requires courage and certain tenacity to enter into.

You see it's one thing to ride into Jerusalem and be hailed as a king! That had happened many times before...but never did the King ride in on a donkey. Jesus changed the story. It's one thing to go and celebrate the Passover meal with your family and closest friends; but it's another thing to change the flow of the dialogue and place a whole new set of rules about what happens when that meal is shared again. Jesus established new trends and traditions that are held tightly to even today. Normally, a king would not go out in public to pray with the expectation that "some" would be out to get him, betray him and hand him over to death. But, Jesus faced betrayal and arrest in a public place under the banner of prayer. It's one thing to be ridiculed and laid out to die for all to see...even the heroic story of William Wallace wants us to root for the good guys..but Jesus was hung out to die in between 2 common thieves. The new king of Israel...just 5 days prior is now equal to a couple of neighborhood thugs. No 11 PM news flash here.

Even his burial was strained and strange. No ritual. No preparation. Just hurriedly carried from the site of the crucifixion to a borrowed grave. You would think that the one who knew he was to go up to Jerusalem to die for God's people would have had the foresight to have a burial plot lined up. Then the disgrace of all the rumors and his own friends on the run, the Roman rulers placed armed guards at the tomb entrance to secure the body. Even Abraham Lincoln didn't get that kind of attention!

And then...what happened...the power of God at work...rolling stone, vanquished guards, empty burial cloths & an angel with a simple message.."He's not here. He is risen, just like he said."

No, this story is not for wusses. It is a whirlwind of terror and destruction followed by a peace that passes all human understanding. Have you ever considered what happened to Jesus on the cross? How many times have you heard other men...men of all ages say..."Church? Church? Naw, I don't want to hang around with all those goodie-goodies and sissies!" OR that wonderful moniker... "Church is for women and kids!" Do you think they have any idea of what Jesus endured on his way to the cross...the mockery, the spitting, the ridicule, the lashing of a whip to the back and having it cleansed with a lotion of lemon and salt? Have the "tough guys" we know ever heard that part of the story.... to say nothing of his being nailed at the feet and wrists, with a crown of thorns shoved into his scalp and forehead, having his side pierced and taking part in a slow death of self-asphyxiation? Very few cultures have ever devised such a cruel way of dying...most of us will die with much more dignity and far less pain. So much for tough guys...for when most men hear the real details of Jesus' final hours...they go running to the TV to watch another episode of "HOUSE", NCIS or take in an ESPN Classic show that they already know the outcome... No, my good friends...Holy Week and all that it brings is not for wusses...

But, Holy Week IS for all of us...in whatever place and posture of life we find ourselves. Luther discovered that great gift when he heard so loudly the words of Jesus at the Last Supper..."given and shed ..."FOR YOU..." which he, in turn, translated as "pro me,"...."FOR ME!" No matter where or how we find ourselves, the drama of Holy Week was all orchestrated by God for the benefit of God's people...the meek and mild Jesus we hail all to often was instead a man of great grit, a man's man who could take it...take so much that Paul reports he took on the sins of all the world...for all times and all places... I know no man who could do that.

So, here's the new line for Holy Week...from one man to another... "Life's hard. Jesus showed us that. I'll walk with you. Let's walk together alongside Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Let's gather with his disciples at his supper. Let's stand with John and the woman and the soldier at the foot of the cross. Let's run to tomb and hear the angel's message..."he's not here. He has gone ahead of you just like he said."

Fact is, most of my life I've been a WUS, but it could have been even worse had I not had others to walk with me and remind of the power of God at work and how Jesus' living and dying and rising places a model of Godly living before keep me focused on the now and the future...

Holy Week is not for WUSSES...but this WUS will be there and I invite y'all to come too and grab hold of the power of God that breaks the bonds of sin and death and leads us into the coming kingdom of God...

Holy Week & Easter blessings to all the KING's men...I'm always interested in what you think...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

In Memory of L.F. Cardenas

2010-02-01T12:11:00.000-06:00

IN MEMORY OF L.F. CARDENAS---ONE OF THE KING'S MEN...

To all the other KING'S Men,

This past week I was in San Antonio, TX at the annual Tri-Synod Theological Conference. It's the annual gathering of clergy and AiMs to learn, connect and as our bishop Mike Rinehart said, "tend to our self-care." It was a good three days filled with both joy and a couple of heartaches.

On Tuesday, I was told by Pastor Steve Cauley (Advent, Houston) that "Mr. Cardenas was in the hospital and not expected to live." He told me this because even as I was never L.F. Cardenas' pastor, I considered him a brother and friend on this journey of faith we all share together. This news was echoed by Pastor Larry Beck the next morning and Saturday I learned that a celebration of Mr. Cardenas' life would be held today. So, I'm writing this note in his honor and to the glory of God during the time of the funeral of which I wanted to but could not attend.

It is a great thing that we do as Lutheran Christians. We do not worship our dead, but we take time to celebrate the lives of our family and friends and remind ourselves that "our day will come, too!" I did not know L.F. Cardenas well. But, what I do know of him will never be forgotten. I did not know where or when he was born. I did not know his wife or his family. I've never been to his home and I don't know what kind of work he did when he was younger. But, I did know that he was a quiet leader at Advent Lutheran Church in Houston and I did know that he had a bad heart and had surgery in years past. This "bad heart," though, was also a "great heart" and that is what I want to relay to you...

In the Fall of 2003 I shared an idea with the Lutheran men of this synod at a gathering at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Lawndale. About 3-4 congregations were represented. Mr. Cardenas was present. We had chicken and I recall the green beans were excellent! I met many of the leaders of men's ministry in our synod over the past 25 years. I and one other member of my congregation were the "youngest" ones there and the idea I shared was about having an old fashioned "father-son-grandfather" kind of gathering to raise money to purchase LMM Master Builder Bibles to give to younger men in our synod.

The idea was simple. Throw a party. Sing. Men can sing well when they are together! Eat a good meal. Have a great keynote address. Make it lasting as we DO something for others. It would take a lot of men to make happen and that night as I shared the idea, I said, "I'll do this; I'll try to make it happen, but as of right now...we have no speaker, no date, no place and no money." All agreed the idea was worth pursuing and over the next few months, it happened!

And here is where L.F. Cardenas comes in. As the Lutheran men left the gathering that night many of them shook my hand and encouraged me to 'get 'er done'... but one man came to me, did not even introduce himself but placed a tattered $10 bill in my hand and said, "here's some seed money for your project. Good luck." I thanked him and asked who he was and then went home with a spirit of great joy and hope. And I took the $10 bill and placed it in an envelope and tucked in my office desk drawer.

And so, with the help of many leaders in our congregations, the support of Bishop Paul Blom, and many other pastors in our synod along with some additional seed money in the form of a grant from Thrivent for Lutherans, we had an event...one that men still talk about and one that has yet to be rivaled...with almost 300 men in attendance represented by 3 generations and honoring our Jr. Hi and HS male athletes, then head coach Dom Capers of the Houston Texans gave a wonderful keynote address along with words of inspiration from LMM National Director Mr. Doug Haugen and with music from the Harbor Light Choir made up of recovering alcoholics and those with other chemical addictions. See the story on http://www.elca.org/ and click Lutheran Men in Mission to open the pdf file for "Foundations" Spring 2004 issue... We raised over $5000 via a silent auction of sports memorabilia and as they say, "a good time was had by all."

At that gathering I found Mr. Cardenas among the men from Advent church. I walked up to him with a big smile, reached in my pocket and pulled out a tattered $10 bill. "do you remember this?" I asked him. He smiled and didn't say a word. I went on, "See what your $10 got us? Thank you L.F., your 'seed' has blessed the lives of many!" He told me that he was glad to be able to do this and I was satisfied that his good deed was recognized and I thought that would be the end of it...not so...there's more...

As the evening was winding down and as people were leaving the Clarion Hotel on Hwy. 290, Mr. Cardenas approached me and was carrying a big smile as well. He grabbed my hand, and place what I perceived as another $10 bill with the words, "here, this is for your next banquet!" Then he walked away and as he did I turned my hand over to discover that the $10 bill was actually a $100 bill which led me to tears to think that there are those still in this church who have such a spirit of generosity. And then the miracle occurred...one that only God could have provided...

Now, the banquet hall was even less crowded, the hotel crew was cleaning tables and I told some of the men from my congregation of L.F.'s gift...Coach Capers was standing in that circle and heard the story and then reached in his wallet and said, "here, I'll match that $100! I had a great time tonight." And now you need to also know that Coach Capers came almost an hour before the event was to begin. He signed autographs, took pictures with fathers and sons and grandfathers and refused any kind of honorarium for speaking. "I only do this kind of thing 2-3 times a year, " he told me. While we were blessed by his words, obviously Mr. Cardenas' 'seed' had blessed Coach Capers too.

And that's my story. That's my encounter with a quiet yet generous man of God. And I suppose if you ask the men (and pastors) at Advent Lutheran Church on Pinemont in NW Houston they will tell you other stories of the quiet generosity of one L.F. Cardenas. And I know they will! That was not my last conversation with L.F. We have spoken several times since then and I will miss him at our annual synod men's gathering at Grace, Conroe this weekend. And I hope as many men in our synod as well as our pastors can come and give thanks to God for the life of L.F. Cardenas and all those who have helped shape the future of men's ministry in this synod.

One man at a time; no man left behind.

Brian

P.S. I have two $100 bills in an envelope. Anyone ready for another party?

SHORT THOUGHTS AND DIRECTIVES FOR FEB 2010

2010-01-14T09:01:00.000-06:00

"SHORT THOUGHTS & DIRECTIVES FOR FEB 2010"

KING's Men, let's be quick about this...but let us be diligent...

THOUGHT # 1 - Our annual synod conference and gathering of men will be FEB 5 -6 @ Grace, Conroe. Thanks to the men at Grace and their friends at Tree of Life for working together to be good hosts...Cost will be $25 per person.

THOUGHT # 2 - This will event will be FUN, REFLECTION, TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS and POINT to the FUTURE...you should already have some info from the synod office to insert in your bulletins and FEB newsletters and e-mails to get this word out to the men in your church...

THOUGHT # 3 - FUN--for the men who arrive EARLY on Friday...they can go golfing or fishing...for quick info about times and cost...contact CALEB SHAW springmores@hotmail.com;

There will be a meal served in the evening for all participants...

THOUGHT # 4 --REFLECTION -- On Friday evening the men who have gathered early will share in a review of the moving, "GRAN TORINO" followed by a discussion and evening prayer.

On Saturday morning, Pastor Steve Cauley will lead a 30 minute worship service modelling, "Church for Men," and how that can be used to reach out to men in our ministry areas.

Other speakers and presenters for our assembly will be the men from Living Word LC in Katy and their "mission" story to the Lutheran congregations in Peru; DICK MOELLER of Water2Thrive will also share how men in our congregations can help with this ministry and hopefully, George and some of the men from First Lutheran in Galveston can share an update on how life on the island is...

THOUGHT # 5 -- BUSINESS -- On Saturday, Norm Smith, ELCA President for Lutheran Men in Mission will be our speaker. We will hold elections and take care of our synod business that day.

THOUGHT # 6 -- FUTURE POINT --- Our synod will host the 2011 Tri-synod gathering of LMM (Austin/2009; Waco/2007. We will want to choose a site for the that which will assist men from our synod as well as NTNL and SWT. July 2011 is also the year for our National LMM Gathering in Denver. Information on that is forthcoming.

Also, our synod has the opportunity to host a 1.5 day "Man in the Mirror" training to assist men, pastors and congregations in expanding and strengthening their vision for ministry with men...late OCT or the first weekend in November may work best...and I hope we can talk about that this weekend...

And as we all walk confidently deeper into 2010 I leave you with this prayer...

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me;

Within your wounds, hide me.

Never let me be separated from you.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

At the hour of death, call me;

and bit me come to you.

That with your saints I may praise you

forever and ever. Amen.

-Ignatius of Loyola

Now go back quickly and pray that prayer in the plural for all the men in your life...us and we...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

Brian

For more information...

Velon Burnett mvburnett@sbcglobal.com

Pastor Gigee brian@newlifelutheran.com

CHRISTMAS LESSONS FROM ST. NICHOLAS

2009-12-17T14:31:00.000-06:00

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...

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!"

2009-11-10T10:37:00.000-06:00

"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. ?

2009-10-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

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

2009-09-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

"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:

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...
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;
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"

2009-05-01T17:09:00.000-05:00

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"

2009-01-14T10:30:00.000-06:00

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

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

2008-12-08T09:24:00.001-06:00

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"

2008-11-08T12:02:00.000-06:00

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

2008-09-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

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?"

2008-09-09T17:14:00.000-05:00

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?"

2008-08-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

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

2008-05-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

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?

2008-04-28T16:52:00.000-05:00

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...

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!
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!
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.
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

2008-04-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

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"

2008-02-27T16:29:00.000-06:00

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

2008-02-20T22:06:00.000-06:00

"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

2008-02-20T21:59:00.000-06:00

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!

2008-01-11T11:15:00.000-06:00

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

"Men's Ministry--What's the Point?"

2007-10-30T16:18:00.000-05:00

The work of ministry to and with men goes on...

Did you get the results of the recent poll? Half of the members of our churches in TX and LA are male. Two-thirds (2/3) of those men are over the age 45. Of all the men in our synod and all the congregations in our synod there were 22 responses to our poll...the results are in...

How well is our men's ministry doing?

a) not well @ all------------------------------ 6 (27 % )
b) as good as can be expected --------------2 (9 % )
c) better than I thought ---------------------2 (9 % )
d) better and better --------------------------8 (36 %)
e) send in the cavalry ------------------------4 (18 % )

Where does your congregation fit in the mix? What work is being done to change the landscape in your congregation so that everybody...men...women...and children...members and those who are seeking God's face have a clear picture of the breadth, depth and scope of ministry to and with men? Remember, God's Holy Spirit has already given you all the resources necessary to build and strengthen a positive men's ministry in your setting.

Now, as someone asked me lately, "what's the point?" It was a question brought forward by someone who is quick to compare his own life others and also quick to think better of others than of himself. His "what's the point?" question challenged me to some "points" of my own about how and where men of all walks, ages and experiences fit into this work we do...and as always, I value your "points" on the matter as well...

10 Points to Ponder for ministry to and with men...

Point # 1- Men think they know their strengths and weaknesses (for the most part) and yet can be all too quick to compare their life and work to another;
Point # 2- Men are better at comparing their lives to other men than seeing Jesus as the model of the Godly life and compare their lives to his;

Point # 3- Men look at other men and wonder about their strengths and weaknesses (and never really see the truth either way) and find ways to be thankful they are not like one guy and envious of another---usually on the same day, any day;
Point # 4- Men need to remember that ALL men have strengths and weakness as well as great joys and dark sorrows, battles won and battles lost, that are neither shared nor celebrated. We are more alike of each other than we think!

Point # 5- St. Augustine once said, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us!"

Point # 6- Therefore ALL men need to quit worrying about other men and tend to their own lives understanding that ALL men have both light & darkness in and around them. This kind of thought really levels the playing field of life;
Point # 7- Then men can reach out to other men in love because in this kind of grid no one is better or worse off than anybody else...
Point # 8 - And by reaching out to each other we can hold each other up and also help protect each other from our greatest enemy--ourselves!

Point # 9 - And when we find ourselves being both accountable to one another and holding each other up and protecting each other from our own selves, then we have created a safe space and sacred space for other men to come and be part of this experience;

Point # 10 - And when other men who have been far from God (their admittance, not mine) discover this moment of grace and holy community, then ministry to and with men takes on a life of its own, ordained and blessed by God and benefiting all of God's people.

Simply said, the point is that each man must tend to his own life's spirit and purpose. It's called "self-definition." It took me some time to get this better now than before...in a sense learning the difference between two important prepositions, "to" and "for." As God's child, I'm responsible TO you but not FOR you and likewise you are responsible TO me but not FOR me. Luther stressed this when he said that "in our baptism we are free to be God's servant accountable to no one and responsble to everyone." ( my paraphrase). What a great outlook on life, its meaning, its value, its purpose flows from this thought...do you know some men who need to get this point? If so, there's your work...If so, there's your mission...if so, there's God waiting to work a good work in and through you!

Feel free to share these points with others and as I wrote above, I'm looking forward to your point of view as well...

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

Brian

"No Man Left Behind"

2007-10-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEN'S MINISTRY IS BEING ECHOED ALL OVER!

If someone came to your church and scribbled these letters on the whiteboard of your Fellowship Hall----Y C I P D T G T R I I G----what might you conclude?

You can predict a rainy day using the facets of trigonometry?
You sip Gatorade by the oil rig?
You see it's pretty darn tiring going to Randall's immediately in galoshes
All of the above
None of the above

Actually, it's 5 ---None of the above...but the phrase Y C I P D T G T R I I G can be used for yourself, your family, your business and in this case your church...as in...

...Your Church Is Designed Perfectly to Get the Results it is Getting...

Now adjust that phrase and attach it to the existing men's ministry in your congregation...

...Your Men's Ministry Is Designed Perfectly to Get the Results it is Getting...

Someone has likened men's ministry to this kind of a scene...only 1 out of 18 men in America are mature men of faith...did you get that? Just one in eighteen men are disciple-making disciples of Jesus. For some that may be a surprise. For some, they won't care one way or the other. For others to consider this may be a staggering thought and yet for others it will be viewed as an opportunity to role up their sleeves and get to work. But, for our sake the importance is not that we know this; what is critical is that we can do something about this and the time is now. For if our ministry to and with men is for the long haul, the best place to start or continue is right where we are.

Another way of addressing this is to consider what many have learned in AA when it comes to the definition of "insanity." The definition? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." So, let's not go insane here...but rather start or continue where you are in your ministry with men and do something different to foster different results!

Consider 18 men going out on a baseball diamond. All the equipment is present. Bats, balls, gloves, helmets, bases, the field is lined and the game is on. But, only one man knows the rules of baseball. Can you see it? 17 guys running around willy nilly inside and outside the lines, hopping the fences, running the steps of the stadium, playing hide and seek in the dugouts and back hallways, wondering why three bases are square and one in the shape of a pentagon and what the heck that little rectangle of rubber on the mound of dirt is all about? Can you imagine 17 guys tossing balls at each other, chasing each other around with bats and setting up duals with goofy looking boxing gloves? And one guy---just one guy---running around trying to get the other 17 to listen and to learn the way of the game...does your church reflect that image sometimes? Does your men's ministry have an abundance of players who still need to get to know the game and witg just a few coaches or with just one or none? I understand why so many get frustrated so easily.

As the angel said to Joseph, "do not be afraid..." And so we won't but we'll need to trust the story and direction of God to find our way to a deeper, more meaningful and more focused ministry to and with men...and know this...there is a growing movement in our synod and around the ELCA to expand and strengthen the work of Lutheran Men in Mission. It's a ministry that is both urgent and necessary for the long haul to benefit our congregations and for the spiritual well-being each and every man we know...including ourselves. As author Pat Morely suggests...the gospel of Jesus Christ and the saving message that is ours to share is so important that we should desire to have "no man left behind."

Here's a short list to get your congregation jump-started or re-strengthened...

talk about men's ministry at your church every Sunday;
find a place to post news and information about the work of your congregation's men;
look beyond the boundaries of your own congregation and reach out to ELCA neighbors;
Consider ways to "encourage" each generation---

Give a Master Builder's Bible to each male HS graduate;
Offer a parenting class to young men and their spouse with children;
Promote father-son gatherings and "one-night" fishing trips or camp outs;
Sponsor a "Financial Peace" seminar (ala Dave Ramsey) to promote good stewardship;
Honor the young and older men in your congregation who are serving or served in the military;
Help men in your congregation view "men's ministry" as more than cutting grass and handing out bulletins;
Mix the generations and host a tailgate party for a Texans game, etc.

These ideas can be good grist for your idea bank and remember that each congregation has it's own unique way of reaching out to men. Ask your pastor to pray for the men of the church in the Sunday prayers of the church. Pray for your pastor and your congregation often as this is the gateway to growing men's ministry for all of us...

It's my hope that as the days, weeks, months and years go by...all of us will seek to be that one man in the midst of 17 others to help teach, lead, mentor and coach so that as our LMM vision statement will be lived out..."That every man has a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men's ministry in every congregation."

Please echo those words nearby and far away...each and every day...the need is urgent and our efforts and even our neglect will not go unnoticed... with "no man, I mean no man left behind..."

Brian

I-C-E = In Case of Emergency

2007-10-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

I-C-E = In Case of Emergency

As our Gulf Coast Men in Mission promote...ministry is experienced in a myriad of ways. One of God's call to men is to tend to the family; to provide nurture and protection. This message was shared to me by a good friend of many years. It is self-explanatory.

The below message is provided for your consideration and implementation as a personal protection measure. ICE is a simple and practical idea that is easily accomplished.

Read on.......

The ICE Campaign - "In Case of Emergency"

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence the "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" (In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was promoted by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE".

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3, etc. Be sure it's in your kid's cell phones also.

So what are you waiting for? This is too easy. Program your cell phone with an ICE number today!

Regards, Charles D. Banfi Jr.

Antiterrorism, Law Enforcement and Physical Security HQ, RDECOM

Shared Ministry Travels North for Mission Effort in Kansas

2007-09-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

Pastors Karl Johnson and Glenn Hohlt, pastors at the Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County, have traveled to Greensburg, Kansas (where a tornado recently caused major damage) and are served as chaplains (from June 2 to June 8). You can read about their trip on Pastor Karl’s blog at www.myspace/sharedministry (click on the blog entries in the right hand column).

The following is from the Shared Lutheran Ministry web site:

If you would like to help, here are some options:
+ Donations of money and gift cards;

+ Donations for travel expenses for the pastors and others for future trips;
+ Pray, read your Bible, reflect on what you read, and talk with others about what God's

call to discipleship means for us.

Pastor Glenn has responded with Lutheran Disaster Response for several years, and the Coordinator assigned to Greensburg is a friend of his. Pastor Karl traveled for a week in El Salvador after they experienced two earthquakes in 2002. Pastor Glenn and Pastor Karl both feel a strong sense call to help in Kansas. We hope you will help as you are able. The journey will be challenging and difficult, but it will undoubtedly be filled with blessings as we reach out to our neighbors in Kansas.

For aerial images of Greensburg, visit Click here.

New Life Men in Pearland Cross the Border to Build

2007-08-27T17:39:00.000-05:00

There's an awareness that is growing in congregations around the country..."church isn't something that we go to...church is what we are..." It's about vision and movement and an intentional tending to the delicate needs of the world outside the door of our churches. And when that discovery becomes personal, congregations and in particular the men in those congregations find themselves involved in amazing things...

In January 2007, Pastor Ricardo Sinisterra led two car loads of men from New Life LC in Pearland to a "sister" congregation, Christo Rey in Reynosa, Mexico. The community's existence has taken shape as people continue to live on the "edge of town," near the dump with a population that continues to grow week by week. This community lives in extreme poverty and the roads are made of mud and only a couple of vehicles ever find there way there. People walk a variety of paths to come together on Sunday for worship and Bible study and a community meal, often the only meal some get on that day.

There are many children there and this new ministry finds itself with unique opportunities and unique challenges. Two challenges in particular were to bring joy to the lives of the children at Christmastime and to expand the worship space that has existed now for a number of months there. The men's group at New Life were ready to respond.

As the weeks of Advent unfolded, the New Life men asked families from the congregation to bring clothing and toys for the children at Christo Rey. The response was amazing! As a result, an entire SUV was converted, with seats taken out, to a U-haul cargo wagon top to bottom, door to door and were delivered on Epiphany Day, January 6, the day we recall the "3 kings" came to visit the Christ child. What delight the parents and children experienced with this huge surprise.

The next day, the men poured concrete and placed beams and added 40 feet to the existing worship space at Christo Rey. The men stayed for worship, they sang, they prayed and they gathered to celebrate the Lord's Supper and rejoice in the "family of God" which God had put together that day. One man mentioned, "it was a Christmas miracle! It changed their live and mine!"

Another trip is being planned to Reynosa on the first weekend of December. And more trips are planned after that. There's an awareness that is growing in congregations around the country..."church isn't something that we go to...church is what we are..." It's about vision and movement and an intentional tending to the delicate needs of the world outside the door of our churches. And when that discovery becomes personal, congregations and in particular the men in those congregations find themselves involved in amazing things...

How does your men's ministry reach out? A trip to Mexico or Port Arthur or New Orleans is not the goal. Mission trips that are a "one-time" event or projects that are ongoing both qualify...

Is there a woman in your congregation (or a friend of the congregation) who needs her porch steps rebuilt?
Can the men of the church provide a "quick stop" auto check (tires, oil, belts, etc) for those who are widowed or single parent moms, just before the weather turns cold?
Does your congregation have a group of men trained to visit other men when they are hospitalized or at home, on the mend and unable to drive? Who can help?
Which man has a "sermon" in his wallet and is ready to preach just in case the pastor gets sick at 7:30 AM on Sunday morning?
Which men attend the City Council meetings and School Board meetings in your community and report to the congregation their work and decisions?
Are the men in your congregation equipped to pray and then serve others willingly?

Intentional, perisistent and consistent efforts by the men in our congregations makes men's minstry both worthwhile and desirous for others to take part! Think BIG. God thinks BiGGER!

St. Paul's, Baytown Men Assist Rita Recovery

2007-08-26T15:32:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the St. Paul's, Baytown, TX Men in Mission story on their web-site...if you have a similar story to tell or another story to share from your men's group...please send it to me and I'll add it to our list...

So, thanks to Rip and all the guys at St. Paul's, Baytown...your efforts make our vision statement make sense...

Lutheran Men in Mission..."that every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ through and effective men's ministry in every congregation..."

Here's a story you'll want to share...

http://www.stpaulsbaytown.org/new_L_M_M.html

Brian

Men's Ministry---Needed Now More than Ever

2007-08-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this blog for the first time, then let me tell you that this is the first time I've shared my thoughts on this blog but not the first time I've shared my thoughts on this matter. And the matter is the necessity of each congregation in our synod accepting a posture of claiming the urgency of the development, re-development and strengthening of the quality and shape of the ministry to and with men. Someone simply said, "if the church is like a car, then it won't go far on three wheels (worship, education & outreach). The fourth wheel is men's ministry!"

I have been serving as the Coordinator for Men's Ministry in our synod for just about a year. I guess that's what I get when the men from my congregation placed a resolution on the synod assembly floor in 2006 requesting a position such as this be created and then was subsequently asked by our out-going (you can take that 2 ways!) Bishop, Paul Blom to serve the synod this way. I said, "yes, I will," and I must tell you that I have been blessed beyond all belief by the great work that is being done by so many men in our synod and encouraged by even greater things to come! In fact, our new bishop Mike Rinehart has already become one of our synod's best advocates for men's minsitry.

I have visited in many congregations; it'snot enough, but it's a start. I have spoken to hundreds of men; but I'm just experiencing the tip of the iceberg, I'm sure; and in so doing I have learned much...such as...

many of our congregations do not have an identifiable men's ministry;
most of our congregations can point to two to three men or a group of men who qualify "loosely" as the men's group there;
some congregations have a remnant of men's ministry, mostly made up of WW 2 veterans. Their work and devotion to Christ's Church must be celebrated & affirmed;
some congregations are doing unique things with men that old established former ALC congregations would be understood as "different" or "strange;"
some congregations have a men's ministry but do not have any connection to Lutheran Men in Mission, existing as "isolated" men's group, not relating to other congregations;
some congregations are hopeful to build and establish a kind of men's ministry that many are talking about.

But, the bottom line is that men's ministry is most often misunderstood or described in a way that minimizes the amazing work and call that Godly men respond to day after day. The confusion is summed up in the old saying... "we put on our God face on Sunday and the rest of the week we do as we want." And even as how untrue this really is, it's a posture that leads to minimizing the impact Lutheran men actually have. But, there is hope as one man after the next discovers that faith and daily work are intertwined, that faith and family are indivisible, that faith and self-direction are essential and the quality of life in a man increases when these elements are tended to daily and in an intentioanl way. We all desire a stable world; we all want a strong nation; we all wish for peaceful communities; and we all want our homes and congregations to be filled with love and generosity and harvest for God's kingdom. I beleive this can all be true...at all levels and it will take one many at a time to make the difference and our goal is to leave no man behind...

It is my hope that this blog will open doors to men around our synod. Men of all ages and especially the young men in our church ages 19-30. As I said, it's my hope and prayer that we do not leave one man behind and I hope you will prayerfully join me in that same posture. It is already happening...God is doing a great thing ...again...as a ground-swell of ministry to and and with men and those most important to them, empowered by the Holy Spirit continues to surface and grow stronger each day. So, let us trust God's faithfulness, as we open our hearts and minds to the teaching of his Son, Jesus. We have nothing else to do but commit our lives to the work we have been given in this time and place as we await the fullness of the coming Kingdom of God.

So, your thoughts, quips, comments and questions are welcome here....just "blog on," and join in the conversation or write me directly--- brian@newlifelutheran.com.

Brian Gigee, Lead Pastor

New Life, Pearland, TX