Introducing...Tuesday Talks!

This last week started the new season of community at Element Church.  Starting this Tuesday, I'll be leading a Men's prayer group aptly named Called.  I don't want to go to deep into the vision God gave me for this group (that would ruin session 1 on Tuesday morning), but I'll tell you that it is focused on the calling God has placed on every man to lead.  As men we are Called.  We are called to be men of character, men of conviction, men of righteousness and Men of Honor (shameless plug for my friend Shane's group and Blog).  We are called to be leaders. In our home, in our work place, in our churches, and in our cities.  I'm super excited for what God is about to do in the men of Element and and Cheyenne.

Here's the deal... Called will be on Tuesdays (starting this Tuesday, September 6th) at 6 am in the Element Church Well.  All dudes are invited!  And, because I feel like I need to chronical what God does in Called and in an effort to write on a more frequent basis, I plan on posting a blog, every week called Tuesday Talks, on the stuff we cover as a group.  I'll include some sort of devo and maybe a weekly challenge or something, we'll see how it develops.  So stoked for Tuesday!

Called,

Bruce

Follow the Leader! (The 40 Year Old...Part 4)

I know it's been a little bit since the last post of this series, but a lot has gone on since then...like I got stinking MARRIED!!! (That's another blog)  Anyway, here's Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

I think one of the most important things that a man needs to do is lead is to lead by example.  In the military we have a saying that goes, "Lead from the front".  The implication being that a leader gets out in front of those following them and leads the way.

As men we are called to lead.  That leadership must be one based on God's word and geared toward leading others, by example and in righteousness, to Christ.  In Titus 2:7 Paul directs Titus and all of us in this by saying, "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching."


Also in his letter to the Thessalonian church Paul, in talking about living an idle life, says, "For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you." (2 Thes 3:7)


We are called to be Christ's example to the world.  We are called to live lives worthy of God, righteous and set apart as His.  We are called to holiness.  We are called to be different than the world.  The important part about this idea is that this isn't about legalism.  It isn't about blindly following a list of rules that make you look different.  This is about BEING different.  It starts by allowing Christ to change our hearts, transforming and conforming us into His image.


In that we become different from the world...set apart as God's holy nation.  And it starts in our homes.  The way you live your public life should simply be a reflection of your private life.  What your wife and kids see at home (or your parents, other family, roommate) should be the same thing that people see in public.


If your kids never see you open the bible and read it, will they?


If you never pray with your wife, will she know that she can trust you in EVERY part of your marriage?


If you never ask forgiveness from your wife and kids, will they know what responsibility look likes and how grace works?


That's just three of the many questions you should be asking yourself.  Leadership starts in your home and has to be by example.  And our best example died to save us and resurrected so that He could lead us to the Father.


Leading by example,
Bruce

Blew my Stinkin' Mind

Let me start by saying, I've never been to a conference, retreat, bible camp, etc...Either never really had a desire or the capacity (time, money, etc.) to attend one. Well I got the chance to attend my first pastor's conference. Really it was a roundtable (we actually sat a rectangle one) discussion for college pastors. It was presented by theMILL (link: theLEAD Network), which is the College/20-Somethings Ministry for New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. First off, theMILL staff, lead by Pastor Aaron Stern (Blog Bump Here), did a phenomenal job. I took away SO much that my head is spinning. Second, that 1 1/2 days I spent with theMILL, and other College/20-Something Pastors, changed a lot of perceptions I had and gave me a deeper and more clear desire to walk with this generation as they walk with Christ. Third, that 1 1/2 days will probably end up spawning a few different blogs as I go through my notes, so look for that. I am so STOKED (that's my new word lately) for what God is doing in my life, with Element Church and what is on the horizon for theSHIFT. Here are some pics from theMILL (albeit not good ones, but still conveys the size a bit):

theMILL empty

theMILL filling up

Stoked,

Bruce