Men–Are You Ready?

The weather is changing, leaves are starting to turn, kids are about to go back to school…and football season is right around the corner!

Maybe you’re a football fan (I am!) and maybe you’re not (which may be true of you)….  But much of the sports talk at this time of year is about the upcoming football season, who is expected to do what, who’s looking good and who isn’t, and what team will eventually make it to the Superbowl.  But behind the scenes, for several months now, training camps have been spooling up, players are conditioning, working hard, memorizing plays, practicing and preparing for what’s ahead…so is the same true of you?

I was talking to a Dad recently who kids have entered adulthood…they’ve gone off to school, moved out of the house, and some have just gotten married.  All of his kids are believers, which he’s very grateful for.  But he’s facing the reality of letting go…entrusting daughters to the care of new husbands, hoping that their parents have prepared them to lead, protect, and love their wives the way Christ does His church.

But the reality is that some many of our kids today are growing up in homes where Dad is absent…literally.  Statistics tell us that 40% of American kids will go to bed tonight without Dad at home…he’s gone…separation, divorce, abandonment have all taken their toll.  With Dad out of the picture, who is going to teach these boys to become men?  Christian Men?  Men who are strong, loving, protective, persevervant, faithful…like Jesus?

That’s the reality this Dad is facing…he has a son in law who is a believer, but who was never taught what it means to be a Christian Man.  Quite frankly, instead of acting like a man, his son in law is a boy who has never grown up…he’s making poor choices because he’s never had anyone to show him what it means to be a Jesus-Follower AND a husband.  What if this was YOUR son in law?  Your son?  Your friend?  Or maybe this is YOUR story too…?

For your own spiritual development (as well as for those the Lord has entrusted to you)  it’s time to hit training camp…and it’s called Men’s Fraternity.  We’re offering two blocks this year at the Journey…the first year “The Quest for Authentic Manhood” and the second year “Winning at Work and Home.”  Come join us as we learn and grow together as Men of God.  What it means to be a husband…a dad…an employee…a friend…and a spiritual leader in your home.  What if you already know how to do that stuff?  Then bring someone with you…like your son(s)…your neighbor(s)…your co-worker(s)…your friends.

If you were with us last year, we invite you to come join us again.  If you’re like me, you saw some true growth and development this last year and want to keep the momentum going…so don’t let this opportunity pass you buy.

Your wife, kids, grand-kids, family, friends, and co-workers need you to be the man God has created you to be…don’t put off your own development because “you’re to busy.”  Find a way to make time early Tuesday mornings…or come to the Journey on Wednesdaynights.  Your life is not the pre-season…this is the real deal.  Are you ready?