Happy New Year Men!
I pray you have resolved to draw closer to our precious Savior in 2026! Let us clearly recognize that He lives in us and if we abide in Him, He will abide in us, enabling us to bear much fruit (John 15:5). And don’t forget, apart from Jesus, we can do NOTHING!
I hope you have the following at the top of your list for 2026:
- Daily Bible Reading (see below)
- Daily Prayer Time
- Bible Studies w/ Other Men
- One Timothy (disciple) and One Paul (mentor)
- Evangelistic Passion
- Accountability
If any of these are missing, ask the Lord to prioritize your life according to His perfect will. With these practices in place, the “other” areas of your life will fall into place. That doesn’t mean life will be without trials, but remember that trials are valuable because they conform us to Christ.
As you commit on the above bullet points, the verses below will become more prevalent in your lives. Here are a just a few to reflect on:
2 Corinthians 2:15–16
“For we are a fragrance of Christ… to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”
2 Timothy 3:12
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
John 14:6
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Christians are dangerous, not because we seek conflict, but because the truth we carry exposes darkness — and darkness always fights back. We see the spiritual war all around us, across our country and around the world. Let’s commit to be “Soldiers for Christ.”
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Over the holidays, the Lord reminded me once again that opportunities to share Christ are often right in front of us — in our own backyard.
The first photo is with Rueben, whom I first met at Home Depot over 2 years ago. This was the third time we’ve talked, and this visit led to our most meaningful conversation yet. Rueben shared that the most important thing he has learned is simply “to believe” (in what those verses say). We’ll have more conversations in the days ahead. Before I left, he wanted more tracts, and I was thankful to have them with me. He especially loved the Santa Claus Million Dollar Bill — he hadn’t received that one yet.
The second photo was taken that same day at Chicago Best Hot Dogs. I was the “only” customer in the store, which opened the door for a wonderful conversation with Heiddy, who is from the Dominican Republic. She couldn’t have been more receptive. I was able to walk through the tracts and share my testimony. She was genuinely excited and told me she wants to see me again. While I was eating, she went into the back and shared everything I gave her with an older woman who appeared to be her mother. I will be back with some Spanish tracts and a Spanish New Testament that a brother just sent me.
The third photo was taken at Whole Foods. I asked a man named Andre where I could find an item. Even though the store was extremely busy, he said, “I’ll show you.” He walked me directly to it. Before we parted, I asked if he had a moment and shared the Santa Claus Million Dollar Bill, Steps to Peace with God, Are You a Good Person?, and the Million Dollar Gospel of John. We opened it together and read the first few verses of John. “Overwhelmed” would be an understatement. He asked me to come back so we could talk more.
What struck me in all three encounters was the same thing: people are searching. And the Lord places us right in the middle of their lives — hardware stores, restaurants, grocery aisles — not as salesmen, but as conduits of the Good News we possess.
Again…… as Scripture reminds us:
“We are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved… an aroma from life to life.”
(2 Corinthians 2:15–16)
May we never underestimate what God can do through simple obedience — right where He has already placed us. Before you leave the house, bring your stuff and ask God to put someone in front of you…… it’s truly that easy!
A great read to start the new year (2 min read) Who Is Jesus?
Much Love in Christ,
Dan
Galatians 2:20
INTRODUCTION TO THE RED BOOK
Walter Henrichsen
Men:
Are we like Solomon? I’m not directly referring to his wisdom, wealth, or power. Instead, I’m talking about Solomon’s blatant disregard for God’s commands.
Below, I’ve included the introduction to the daily devotional, “Warnings for a People Not Listening to God,” commonly called the Red Book. Please take time to read it thoughtfully—don’t brush it off.
Ask the Lord to make you teachable as you read. What is He truly conveying to us through this message?
Click On Graphic To Enlarge and Send To A Friend
You can Order The Devotionals Here
Commit to Read the Bible in a Year
“It is the students of the Bible, and they alone, who will find it a weapon ready in hand in the day of battle.”
— J.C. Ryle
“An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.”
— A.W. Tozer
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”
— George Müller
Men, there are a lot of options out there, here are just 3 of them:
- Email Lyle Brennan: lyle@lylebrennan.com He sends out Walt’s daily devotional, “Thoughts From the Diary of a Desperate Man” and Read the Entire Bible in 1 Year.
- Whether or not you utilize Lyle’s, please contact him to receive his daily emails.
- Navigators Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan
- YouVersion for your phone: www.bible.com/ They have many Bible reading plans.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The Bible is not a book to be read once… but to be lived out.”
ZION MESSAGES
Listen to Jim Gustafson’s message at Zion.
Here are the notes as you listen to his message.
To go to the Media page: E²Vegas.com/episode/zion-boot-camp-2025/
If you missed Jerry Bangert’s message on 12/19/25 due to the Google issue, LISTEN TO IT HERE and scroll down to the “Zion Messages” section.
Since we often talk about being “Fishers of Men” this is a valuable review for 2026:
Fishless Fisherman’ Fellowship
One of the main reasons the church is in the wreck it’s in…
It’s become a keeper of aquariums
Living Waters: LivingWatersDownunder.com (3 mins)
Or
View it on YouTube (3 mins)
Forward the above links to your church buddies
What do you think? Were you a Fishless Fisherman in 2025?
What are your plans for 2026?
Unbelief –
by John MacKay | Dec 30, 2025
“Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, ‘Turn back from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.’ However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He gave them. And they followed idols and became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the Lord had commanded them not to do as they did”
(II Kings 17:13-15).
Read The Article HERE (2 minute read)
Do you know anyone thinking about getting a tattoo
or adding to their collection? This was an eye-opening video!
Watch on YouTube (13 minutes)
Men: Would you agree with this statement…..
“The most important question in life is,
where we will live forever?”
