My Passion A message of brotherly love:

In Patrick Morley’s book “How to Disciple Men” he dives into why men today are hurting so much. He asked men to put into their own works “what is holding you back from feeling alive”. In similar meetings with men a Pastor friend of mine asks them, “what is one thing you would like to change about your life”. What’s the one thing blocking you from a more intimate relationship with our Creator?

​

Here are some responses from men just like you and me.

​

• I just feel like I am alone

• I don’t feel like God cares about me personally – not really.

• I don’t feel like my life has a purpose – it feels random.

• I have destructive behaviors that keep dragging me down.

• My soul feels dry.

• My most important relationships are not healthy.

• I don’t feel like I’m doing anything that will make a difference and leave the world a better place.

Have you felt like this? Have you experienced hopelessness, days of darkness that have held you down and crushed any hopes of living like a Godly man. Have you experienced anger, fear, uncertainty if your prayers are not being answered? What is blocking you from attaining a closer relationship with Christ? Is it you? Is it the things of this world?
 

Have you felt that you’re alone at times or God does not care? I know I have at times. Do you have unwanted behaviors you would like to remove? Are you chasing idols and things you worship more in your life that are weighing you down? Are you tired and barely treading water?
 

What if all your answers were in here? (hold up your Bible) What if all your strength, hope, worship and love were right in front of you? What if other Godly Gospel loving men here in your church were able to come along side of each other and carry, lift, encourage and fortify each other in Christ.
 

I’ll tell you what it would do. It would help save marriages, restore relationships, and glorify the Kingdom of God. It would not only save marriages and bring peace, but it would keep the unification and sanctification of marriage, family, church centered on Christ, his Gospels, and the love of the Church. Paul emphasizes in Galatians 5:13-14, that “For you were called to brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, server one another.”

​

Most of us are too busy, disengaged or distracted by this world. Maybe you are suffering or experiencing unbelief? Are you looking for relief or a Redeemer? Jesus is the answer! In Ephesians 4:11, Paul shares that church ministry leaders are not called only to minster, but to equip the saints to do ministry themselves. He said, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." So, let us "come" and "follow" Christ!

​

I have experienced the highs and lows and sins of the flesh. I have and still battle at times with fears, anxieties, worry and depression. But through God’s undeserved grace and even still more grace, He is rescuing you and me like it says in Ephesians 4:13 -16, He is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”