Friday Men’s Group 2/23/24

Wyoming Tetons & The Milky Way

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20

Hi Men:

I pray you have placed your complete trust “in” Christ this week.  After all, everything else will ultimately let you down!

PHOTO: The above photo was taken by B. Tafreshi years ago. As a kid that was raised in Wyoming and having our own Milky Way galaxy in the background, this photo was a double blessing! It’s an amazing photo, because the Tetons are lit up by the light from the moon….. crazy. To reflect on the majesty of God’s Creation, should give us ample comfort in the fact that He controls it all……… not one rogue electron in the universe!

 ———–

 I don’t think I’m wrong when I see Christians having more fear of where our world is headed than their “Fear of the Lord.”  Let me share a verse that I was reminded of from Isaiah 8:11-13,

For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power
and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’
In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy,
And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.”

For me, it appears that it doesn’t get any clearer than these verses.  Our problem is not Gaza, Hezbollah, Russian, China, Iran, North Korea or Wash DC……….. our problem is with Jesus.  But also, our solution is with Jesus.  Men, are you spending time in the Word?  Do you have quiet time with Him?  By that I mean, silent and alone with the Creator of the Universe.  Can you shut off the background noise?

How about Bible Studies? Recently we had a study in Matt 5 (Sermon on the Mount). A lot of guys were invited, but few attended. Fairly common. I do know that things come up, but are we truly prioritizing “Time in the Word?” Granted, everybody is busy these days, but do we allow other activities and issues that can be rescheduled to crowd our the Word? Is that a fair question? Might be good to revisit 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Please read and re-read Daniel’s Prayer – Chapter 9Like Jerusalem, we are being surrounded.  We need to throw ourselves on the mercy of the Lord and repent!

“Oh, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep
His commandments, we have sinned……”
(From:  DANIEL’S PRAYER)

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IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD AND DOWN THE STREET

On Wednesday I had lunch down the street with Nick and his daughter Aria. Nick was one of my Eagle Scouts from our troop years ago. He is the one that asked me to speak at his dad’s funeral last year. By the way, Nick is now one the District Executive’s for the Las Vegas Area Council. He will be a great asset for the BSA.
After Zion, Nick and I were talking about Aria and how he can pour into his daughter on the spiritual side. We discussed getting her an age appropriate Bible, that she can read and read with her dad. My son recommended the NIV Adventure Bible….. Perfect! It was such a delightful lunch as I had the privilege to present Aria her First Bible!
Side Note: When I walked into this restaurant that I hadn’t been in for a while, the manager hollered out, “Where the H-E-L-L have you been?” People don’t forgot you when they know your concern is about their eternity. In the past, I was having regular Bible studies with men there. By the way, I’m working on her language 😊

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Coming to Jesus is Death!  Your Death!
He asks you to lose your life so that you may find life in Him!
Dan
(Gal 2:20) 


 

Men:  These two truth are critical in your walk with the Lord

God Is Sovereign and Man Is Responsible – Red Book Day 55

The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”

 


 

APPLICATION, NOT KNOWLEDGE, PLEASES GOD

Men:  Our brother Lyle B had this devotional in his daily email a few days back. I felt convicted to insert it from, “Thoughts From The Diary Of A Desperate Man” 

A few observations:

  • I know a lot of guys that are way above my “pay grade” on Biblical knowledge and I greatly admire them. Yet sadly, I see little application in their Christian walk

Do they go to work to make money or represent Jesus?

When they leave the house, are they asking God to put a lost person in their path

Do they understand, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me?” Luke 9:23

Do they want to save their life or lose their life for His sake? Luke 9:24

Do they talk or think about their family, kids, vacations, money, sports, weather, politics, current events, etc …… MORE than they do talking about Jesus?

As you read the devotional below, ask the Lord to do business with you……. You might want to re-read The F.A.T Man again:

Rahab the Harlot – Blue Book Day 51

The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he” 


 

Lost Valley Men’s Retreat – March 1-3

 More Info • Retreat Full • Waiting List Only

Please pray for the men and speakers
for this upcoming conference

Photo: I took this back in 2008. No snow when we arrived on Friday and then it snowed all night. It was amazing. That St Bernard was awesome! Fantastic conference….. 


 

Men:  This week, Walt Henrichsen would have been 90 years old. A group of us were commenting how this man not only impacted our lives, but countless others. Please keep his dear wife, Leette in your prayers.

With everything going right now, do we view circumstances that come into our life as God’s leading in our life? This is a timely teaching to review.  Interesting to note that Walt gave this message while his son was dying of Leukemia.

Audio of the Week
Attitudes Toward Circumstances – Walt Henrichsen (24 Min)
DiscipleshipLibrary.com

 


 
He makes nations great and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

Job 12:23

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, despite man’s affinity to thinking they are in control, You are sovereign over all the earth. It is by Your great power and outstretched arm that You have made the earth, and You give it to whomever it seems right to You (Jeremiah 27:5). You alone hold the power to exalt nations and to bring them low; Your wisdom surpasses all human understanding.

Because of this great truth, we take comfort in knowing that as bad as this world sometimes feels, You truly do hold all things together. As Your servants, our job is not to solve all the world’s unsolvable problems but rather to obey Your voice and do the work You’ve called us to do in the allocated time You have given us. Sitting on our devices and being consumed with anxiety from the media serves no purpose in Your Kingdom.

By Your Spirit, please help us to be wise stewards of our time. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. And since we are Your laborers, enable us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work, knowing that because of You, our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

ONE QUESTION

How am I managing my anxieties and concerns in light of God’s sovereignty over everything?

Prayer and Photo by Ray Majoran – Glimpse of Infinity

 


 

James Tour: “This advice forever changed my life and relationships”
Watch On YouTube Shorts (50 seconds) 

If you don’t know anything about James Tour, check out his resume 
He is an Organic Chemist at Rice University and being Jewish, so incredibly bold for Jesus. You can find his debates on the origin of life all over the internet. This 7 minute YouTube is amazing. Send it to your traditional Jewish friends.


 

A Few Quotes

Lord, give to me a quiet heart that does not ask to understand, but confident steps forward in the darkness guided by Thy hand.

—Elisabeth Elliot

We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.

—John R.W. Stott

Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ.

—George Washington

Your one business in life is to lead men to believe in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirt. Every other thing should be made subservient to this one objective.

—Charles Spurgeon


 

Nothing is more fearful than the prospect of standing naked before the judgment seat of God. Today, R.C. Sproul teaches that if we are to be saved, we must not hide behind the rags of our own works but be clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Watch On YouTube (3 minutes)