And God Gets All The Glory!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…….” ~Jesus~
Matthew 28:19a
Hi Men:
Upon reflection of this past weekend, I was thinking about these (2) verses:
“And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” (Jeremiah 45:5 KJV)
“Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4
PHOTO ABOVE
So what’s going on in that photo? We are in Lee Yih’s living room on Saturday (19th). Most of you know Lee Yih, a disciple of Walt Henrichsen. [ A Quick Snapshot of Lee’s Life] He and his wife Miltinnie were two train wrecks on an Army base in Germany during Vietnam when a young couple (David & June Otis) starting inviting them over for dinner. After a while the question was asked by Miltinnie, “Why are you two so different?” Of course the answer was Jesus Christ. While in Germany, Jesus invaded their lives. Both Lee and Miltinnie then graduated from Stanford and Lee took a job with Goldman Sachs and was eventually transferred to Hong Kong. After a very successful run in the brokerage business, Lee wanted to get a Masters in Theology and moved his family to Dallas, thus graduating top of his class at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). Lee had a big vision on how to plant successful churches, but by divine intervention, just prior to graduation, Lee picked up this guy from airport by the name of Walter Henrichsen. Lee then announced to Miltinnie they were going to follow Walt to Colorado where Walt would take Lee and introduce him to the network of laymen up there. In due time, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Lee became a discipler of men and Miltinnie a discipler of women. This was just the beginning as they both exchanged their lives for other people, which took them to Boston, the Bay Area, China, Hong Kong and across the USA.
Back to the photo. Miltinnie organized a surprise birthday party for Lee and invited long term friends and the regulars on his Bible studies. Men came in from China, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and all parts of the USA. The photo shows only about 2/3 of the room. Miltinnie asked these men, who were discipled by Lee, if they could share a moment on how God used Lee in their lives. Of all people Lee understands the following verse from Jesus: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God” (John 5:44). That morning was a glorious tribute to our wonderful Savior. Most men became quite emotional and shed tears as they shared how God used Lee in their lives in such a profound way.
[ Lee gave me permission to share this letter he sent just 2 days after the weekend event at this home]
Gentlemen,
I write this letter barely recovered from what happened this past weekend. It’s been hard to process. From discomfort at the “glorification of the worm” process, to feelings of being undeserving, to emotions of feeling immensely loved by you all, to gratitude to God for the life He has given me, to plain ole feeling rich because of having so many friends like you! What an assembly of Christian men you are!
Many of you have written to me about how edifying the weekend was for you and how spiritually renewed and motivated you feel afterwards. Well, guess why? It was because of what you heard from the sharing of everyone who came! You were the program this weekend, and the evidence of the Holy Spirit in your lives was palpable in our meetings. Thank you for sharing from your hearts. The stories and the tears were incredibly edifying.
I was struck by how we all do the ministry. We all catch it from each other and it explodes out to others. We aren’t compelled to do it, we just “become” people who do it. In that sense we are Christian transformers. Having been transformed by God’s Word and God’s Spirit, we do it to others.
I became a transformer after a year spent traveling with Walt. You all became your own form of it ostensibly after you were touched in Bible Study. This weekend was a powerful manifestation of how it is supposed to work. What is the “it”? It is lay ministry, yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, laying aside our own aspirations, loving men, and becoming “it” for God. Let’s keep on keeping on and infect others with it. It is not planned or strategized. It just happens when we obey The Great Commission to do E Squared.
We don’t need to compare ourselves with one another. The fact remains we are all debtors to God. We all fall short, and cannot repay our debts so it does not matter who is less of a sinner than others. We all need the same work from the cross of Jesus. Let us therefore put on Christ, the only currency that God will take, and go out and take men back from bondage, enslavement and from being seduced by the lies of God’s enemy. I am truly amazed at hearing what my pitiful life yielded in you, and how you are giving away your lives for the Kingdom? The same Spirit that worked through this piece of doo can also work through other pieces of doo doo. I’m looking forward to the Party that will be in eternity!
Your undeserving brother, grateful beyond words,
Lee Yih
Personally I want to thank Miltinnie and her daughter Christie who organized the entire weekend, all the logistics while keeping it a secret the whole time!
NOTE: LEE WILL AGAIN BE TEACHING AT THE ZION BOOT CAMP ON DEC 8TH -10TH. PLEASE CALENDAR
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD …… and down the street
As I have mentioned previously, one of the beautiful things I get to do every Thursday when Leo, my landscaper, arrives is pray for him before he leaves. Now Leo is telling me about some of his cousins that are sick or in the hospital, so I am giving him Spanish Bibles to deliver to them. Leo says it is a HUGE blessing for his cousins. If you don’t know who Leo is, here is the Friday letter where he received Christ: E²Vegas.org/Friday-Mens-Group-5-5-23
Yesterday, one of our brothers invited me to lunch down the street. You may remember Jorge Hernandez and his testimony at Zion in 2021 (YouTube 43 Mins). If you haven’t seen it, it’s truly an eye-opener…… God’s grace and mercy!
Jorge works with FCA and is one of their directors over several High Schools. Jorge shared a story where he was preaching to the HS students the message of the Centurion’s Servant from Luke 7:1-10. Afterwards Jorge asked the students if they had this kind of faith in the Gospel to stand up…… to Jorge’s astonishment about 80% stood up. Jorge then told me he was heart-broken and I asked him why. He said, “Because these students have no one to come alongside them and disciple them.” He then quoted the words from Jesus, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…….” (Matt 9:37-38) I know plenty of men that check the box on Sunday and that’s pretty much it. Let’s be praying to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
By the way, I asked one of the restaurant servers if she would take our photo (a great way to get her attention). Of course she agreed. After the photo I then asked her if I could give her something and she said “If you want to.” I then gave her the Million Dollar Book of John, her eyes lit up, then I pulled out Steps To Peace With God and asked her if she could explain the Gospel. She was raised Catholic and didn’t know what the Gospel was. I said, “Not only did it change my life at age 40, but you see Jorge there? He was in a car that exploded and caught fire. Afterwards it was the Gospel that saved his eternal life.” You should have seen her face. She gratefully took the materials along with “Are You A Good Person?”
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me………”
Dan
Prayer Request: Today at 7am Eastern Time, my son John takes his wife Paige to the Univ. of Tennessee Medical Center to induce labor. She is one week overdue. Please pray that our gracious Lord would have His hand on all aspects of this delivery. The baby’s name is Jude. Thank you……….
Men: A must read…. This week’s devotional drives home what is going on right now,
even though Walt wrote it back it 2012!
Evil Men – Day 238 Red Book To order this devotional: Click Here
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
CONFERENCES
Men:
If anyone would like to attend either of these (2) conferences coming up next month, please look over the attached information…….
Conference #1: Pine Valley Men’s Retreat
September 14th – 16th
Click Here for Overview and Agenda
——————————————————-
Conference #2: Southwest Men’s Retreat
September 29th – Oct 1st
If anyone would like to attend the 2023 Southwest Men’s Retreat in Arizona,
below is the registration information!
September 29th @ 5:00PM – October 1st @ 11:00AM
COST: $220 / person
This year’s Theme verse:
“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching
every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Jerry Bangert, Physician, Tucson, AZ
Winston Parker, Businessman, Jacksonville, FL
Scott Bangert, Dermatologist, Tucson, AZ
Chris Martin, Businessman, Lancaster, PA
James Fox, Businessman, Brunswick, OH
DRIFTING TOWARD DUMBNESS
Men:
During the weekend at Lee’s home, I visited with a brother from Hong Kong. He is a software architect for a large company. We were discussing AI and I asked him what the end result could be. He said that it may very well remove the ability for people to think for themselves. We both said that would terrifying because that would only leave the culture to define who they are. He brought up Walt’s Three Part article, “ Drifting Toward Dumbness” that he wrote over 12 years ago.
Here was the introduction to his first paper:
March 2011
Dear Co-laborer:
For these next three issues of this letter I ask for you to indulge me in an endeavor to communicate a few of my phobias. Lord willing, I shall return to the subject of an eternal hope in September.
Here are a couple sentences from his paper. You will not want to miss reading Drifting Toward Dumbness……..
………… people do not want to think deeply; they enjoy reminiscing on past experiences. They love reliving their time at Disneyworld, the cruise they took, or the wonderful time skiing. They do not like to reflect on their purpose for living and where they are going with their lives.
An awareness and development of the soul is why we are here. Yet we have created a culture that denigrates the soul in the pursuit of passion. Happiness is meeting my expectations; holiness is my meeting God’s expectations. Since happiness is the goal of life, we are destined never to be holy. Information becomes knowledge when you apply it; knowledge becomes wisdom when it becomes part of your soul.
Facts of the Matter
THE NARROW PATH
Picture a modern eight lane highway with scores of high speed cars cruising with ease down its expansive thoroughfare. Unnoticed and off to the side is a crooked narrow path, fraught with hazards that winds its way steeply up the side of the mountain. If you look closely enough you will observe one lonely pilgrim, staff in hand, arduously working his way up its demanding corridor.
Those cruising the highway who happen to notice the path taken by the struggling pilgrim would naturally conclude that such a course is,
- Uninviting
- Not for us big dogs
- Too demanding
- Rather odd and out of step with the main stream
- Pointless
Jesus spoke of this path, “Go by the narrow gate. For the wide gate has a broad road which leads to disaster and there are many people going that way. The narrow gate and the hard road lead out into life and only a few are finding it.” (Matt. 7:13,14 Phillips)
Christ’s statement is in league with other “narrow” Biblical pronouncements, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again… Without holiness no one will see the Lord… Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” …. Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 3:3b; Heb. 12:14b; Matt. 7:21; Jn. 14:6)
Our natural response is to reject what appears to be truth that restricts. Yet exacting truth can spell the difference between life and death: Remember the erroneous “O” rings related to the tragic destruction of the “Challenger” space craft? Or the 900 sincere but misguided Cool Aid drinkers in South America?
The narrow path could be a teenager who, against extreme social pressure chooses to say “no” to pre-marital sex. Or a businessman who decides against the common practice of padding his expense account. Or a person who refuses to allow into his mind any stimuli that does not meet the high standard of Philippians 4:8: That which is “ true – honorable – right – pure – lovely – admirable – excellent – and worthy of praise.”
The irony is that the narrow path leads to freedom rather than bondage and to eternal life. The alternative path titillates us in the immediate but in the long term proves to be a dead end street of disillusionment and death.
QUESTION:
Which path are you really choosing?
R. Dwight Hill
Great Audio Teaching to Review
Men: 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.
Attitudes Toward Circumstances – Walt Henrichsen ( 24 Min)
This was sent to me this week….. I really like it:
Lord Jesus, I am your witness.
I release my sin and receive your righteousness.
I release my brokenness and receive your wholeness.
I release my emptiness and receive your fullness.
I release my chaos and receive your creativity.
I release my sickness and receive your healing.
I release my despair and receive your joy.
I release my striving and receive your rest.
JUST FOR FUN
Here is a short 4 minute video from Saturday Night Live (SNL) by Adam Sandler.
I remember years ago being really unhappy with my current situation and thought by going on a vacation that it would cheer me up………hahahaha…… WRONG!
Actually this skit is quite profound. Think of the people you know that it applies to…….. those that have “ants in their pants” 😊
Romano Tours – SNL (YouTube 4:11 Mins)
