BETHANY, WVA – It’s hard to post during an event like this weekend’s Disciples of Christ Men’s Gathering. My focus is on people, preparation for speaking and what’s next on the agenda. Posting a blog just doesn’t fit in.
Things got off to a great start Friday. Golf was fun, but the main event was the evening kick-off rally. Over 200 men gathered for a pig-roast (yes, the whole thing), followed by a concert, opening messages, communion, and prayer on the athletic field.
LIFE: The crowd was ALIVE! They responded enthusiastically, made a huge amount of noise when asked to, and – quite literally – rocked the house.
Just before communion, and after five other speakers, I had the opportunity to share a few opening remarks.
Essentially, I told them that my prayer is that every man there renew his focus on Jesus, and that they take to heart the words God shared with Joshua:
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
My focus this weekend is going to be a testimony to life.
NEW CREATION! Like all main-line denominations, there’s a lot of concern in the Disciples of Christ Church about declining participation, not just in men’s ministry but across the board.
People say they want things, “Like the good old days…” But here’s my observation, and it’s something I’ll be stressing tomorrow: “Jesus isn’t in the resuscitation business, Jesus is in the business of New Creation!”
Resurrection! Recreation! New Life! Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Friday evening, walking out in the beautiful West Virginia evening air to take communion and pray together, I could see new creation in over 200 men….
– DEREK