How stupid! Have we not yet believed what Jesus, the apostles and the history of the Church have modeled, taught and proven? When God's people take prayer seriously as job one, God hears and moves in and through His people with His power!
Look, it is easy for many of us to weigh in with our opinions on politically ignorant positions. For example, it should be overwhelmingly obvious to any honest and sincere observer of history that a "big government"-type of solution to society's needs never works well. It only ends up serving the few governmental leaders dictating the proposed solutions. Society suffers under, never thrives under, big governments. How stupid to ignore the clear historical factual data.
Yet, many of the same Christians who can put the pieces together in their political thinking, plunge into the same sea of ignorance when it comes to their attempts to change the world spiritually (i.e. fulfill the great commission). The revolution of souls and society never has, nor ever will happen as a result of any of the above bulletted items. And, yet, those are the types of ideas and efforts most of us give our primary focus, thinking and energy. How stupid!
A mighty revolutionary who got it, Andrew Murray said, "The supreme question of foreign missions is how to multiply the number of Christians who will individually and collectively pray for the conversion and transformation of people. Every other consideration and plan is secondary to that of wielding the forces of prayer."
Yep! Wow! Amen! "every other consideration and plan is secondary to that of wielding the forces of prayer." I think Andrew Murray was saying, "It's prayer, Stupid!"
Would you today, men, make praying your primary commitment and activity as it relates to your marriage and your role in your home? Will you make prayer primary as it relates to everything concerned with your work life? Will you make prayer your primary focus as it relates to your recreational pursuits? And, will you make prayer your primary commitment as it relates to this world, your neighbors, our country etc...?
It's prayer, Stupid! (I mean that in a brotherly love kind of way :-))
"The great guide of the world is fashion and it’s god is respectability–two phantoms at which brave men laugh! How many of you look around on society to know what to do? You watch the general current and then float upon it! You study the popular breeze and shift your sails to suit it. True men do not so! You ask, “Is it fashionable? If it is fashionable, it must be done.” Fashion is the law of multitudes, but it is nothing more than the common consent of fools."
At its core manhood is powerful because it doesn't float on the whimsical currents of fashion or cultural trends. Manhood is anchored to timeless truth. Timeless truth out-lasts and over-powers the currents of culture. When a man knows who he is, why he's here, and where his marching orders come from, he stands secure, confident and at peace. Those qualities in and of themselves set him apart and move him from being a dinghy to being a lighthouse.
I have begun preparations for our Men's Conference we will conduct as a part of our Mexico Mission Trip, September 22-26. This trip is for all men. Men can also bring their Middle-school aged sons. You must register for this trip right away. The cost is minimal, the blessing to you and others will be maximum. Please click on the link below to register. Thank you men!
http://www.johnsonferry.org/registration/register.aspx?etUID=1330&InviteCode=
Please click and watch:
http://vimeo.com/13824194
and then click on the link below to register for Man Church this Thursday night
http://www.johnsonferry.org/registration/register.aspx?etUID=1426&InviteCode=