Friday Men’s Group 2/19/21

Hi Men:

Praying you had a great week “in” the Lord. 

Before I get started, I have been asked about past articles included in my emails….. “where can I find that article on _________?”  My good Irish buddy Patrick Breen, who created, updates and monitors the website has made it pretty easy.  Example:  Just go to the main website: E²Vegas.org then click on “News” and it will bring up the Friday Men’s Group emails.  Let’s say you wanted to find the quote by the Atheist, Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller.  On the right side you would do a search for “Penn” and (4) of the archived emails would come up and just click on the first one Friday Men’s Group 12/11/20  and scroll down to find his quote.  

Note: There can be a lot of information in these emails, so go through them at your leisure or over the weekend.  Remember, I take no ownership, so you may keep them, forward them or trash them 😊

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PERFECTVILLE: What’s up with that?  My buddy Ned in San Diego called and we had a great conversation.  He said recently he has been using the word “Perfectville”  with non-believers.  Of course, “Heaven” – “Eternity” – “Kingdom” etc. are great, but if you want to get someone’s attention, try “Perfectville.” Something like, “Hey, Bob, I was thinking the other day on what it would take to get to Perfectville.”  They will look at you like you’ve lost your mind, but their response will be something like this: What in the world are you talking about?”  Then you’re off and running.  You could even pull out a “Steps to Peace with God” and go through it with them.

I was talking with one of the brothers about “Perfectville” and he said if we don’t make some Perfectville T-Shirts, he will.  I spent a few minutes on a bumper sticker that might read something like this.  Any ideas are welcome.

So who gets to go to “Perfectville?”  Well, here are just (2) verses that should give us a hint:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  John 14:15

 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments,
he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  1 John 2:4

You guessed it…….. those who repent, trust Jesus 100% and remain obedient to God’s Word……. THE BIBLE, gets to go to PERFECTVILLE

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ATO Follow-up:  Last week I shared one of my experiences in my Greek fraternity at UNLV Friday Men’s Group 2/12/21.  Since then, I have had a number of replies, so let me share a few more facts.  I do think our fraternity was worse than the one portrayed in the movie “Animal House” with John Belushi.  When I pledged back in 1971, we had a membership comprised of dopers, rednecks and returning Vietnam Veterans.  Our “Hell Week” was just that….. Hell.  As mentioned last week, I was elected the President of the fraternity, and was re-elected for a total of (3) terms.  Remember, I compressed my 4-year undergraduate degree into SEVEN YEARS!

ATO stands for:  ALPHA TAU OMEGA (Interesting…. Right?).   It was founded right after the Civil War and it’s first chapter was at VMI (Virginia Military Institute).  So what’s your point Dan?  My point is that I presided over (6) pledge class initiation ceremonies.  We used words from a secret ritual book.  Here is a clip of those words (Worthy Master = President / Worthy Chaplain = VP).

As the President (Worthy Master) of Alpha Tau Omega, I had no clue as to the significance of those words.  Why?  Because back then, I didn’t have a relationship with the Lord of my life, Jesus Christ.  I was just repeating words from the ATO Ritual & Secret Work (see attached PDF).  Believe it or not, when Alpha Tau Omega was founded around 1865, its main purpose was to introduce college men to the Person of Jesus Christ.  So what happened?  All we have to do is look around, that dripping faucet of SIN!  And brothers, it started years ago.  Today that faucet is turned on full force!

 Longing for Perfectville,
Dan

Memory verses from King David:

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”  (Psalm 119:67)

 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”  (Psalm 119:71)

 “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”  (Psalm 119:75)

Do you see how beneficial affliction is from an eternal viewpoint?  You might also review:   Hebrews 12:5-11

Men:  The lack of “Fear of the Lord” is a HUGE problem in the church today.  Ask yourself, do you honestly FEAR the Lord?

The Imminent Return of Christ – Red Book Day 49
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically

Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”

1 – II Peter 3:3-4

Lee Yih’s February Letter

Below is an update from Lee Yih

Note:  Most of you know this, but Lee has a Masters in Finance, was a successful stockbroker in Hong Kong, earned a masters of Theology and graduated top of his class from DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary), planned on becoming an innovative church pastor, but met Walt Henrichsen at his graduation.  Walt invited Lee and his wife Miltinnie to move in with them in Colorado and be discipled.  That changed their lives.  Today, Lee & Miltinnie continue to have an exciting discipleship ministry to the Chinese scholars, not only across the USA, but in China and Hong Kong.  This is the power of discipleship.

Facts of the Matter –    Here are two nuggets on Discipleship for you to reflect on.  To read the complete letter, Click Here

#1 Life Investment : Discipleship is not a short term program of weeks or months. We tend to think in terms of herding people in mass through prescribed programs, expecting them to pop out the other end “mature” and ready to change the world. No, discipleship is more like a parent investing in a child as he nurtures him through the various stages of growth. “…We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children…We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God…” (I Thess. 2:7b,8,11,12a) Bringing a person to a healthy level of spiritual maturity where they will consistently bear fruit usually takes 3 – 5 years.

#5 Life-on-life : By its very nature, discipleship is best accomplished (in many cultures) through a fair amount of individualized attention. Paul to the Thessalonians: “ …We dealt with you one by one, as a father deals with his children, appealing to you by encouragement, as well as by solemn injunctions to live lives worthy of…God…” (I Thess. 2:11b NEB) Paul reminded Timothy of their intensely personal relationship, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance.” (2 Tim. 3:10) Thus, it is essential that we engage our disciple at a level of relationship where true authenticity and transparency will transpire, both in his life and in ours, the discipler. The disciple also needs to observe in us a model of what he can become. Jesus, John, and Paul understood the force of example, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did…Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Pet. 2:21; 1 Jn. 2:6; 1 Cor. 11:1)

Play of the Week  –  The Unlikely, True Love Story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman

Shadowlands: A Virtual Dramatic Presentation…… by Max McLean
Premiers Sunday February 21 (4pm ET, 1pm PT) 

Register for Free:  Click Here

“Shadowlands” is explained this way in the play:
“This world that seems to us so substantial is no more than the Shadowlands. Real life has not begun yet.”

Note:  Attached is the playbill.  You might find Max McLean’s last page interesting. 

Audio Message of the Week – Both of these are good.By Paul Washer

Future Suffering in America:  (4 Min. YouTube)   (Done w/o Wretched Radio)

Ongoing Sin (18 Min. YouTube)  

Even more fallout from Ravi Zacharias

UK’s Zacharias Trust separates from RZIM and now RZIM Canada ceases operations
How to devastate an international ministry!  Heartbreaking…………

The Roys Report / RZIM Canada Ending Ministry

“The destruction that would come with their fall would be far greater than all the good they ever did in their rise.”

For most of my Christian walk, I respected the man, his teachings and his communication skills.  Yet…………. he truly was a “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing!”