I have been doing allot of Pondering lately (just ask my wife) and one topic has been coming to the top of my head.        How do I go forward?        It has been 2 months since the GMM Conference and our Topic of                “Activate Your Faith”    has been in my thoughts….     How am I going to do this?               Well three names came to mind –   Jonathan from the Old Testament   –   Peter from the New Testament –   and Jeremy Camp in the presence.     Here are my thoughts on each one before I put them together…
Jonathan and His Armor Bearer:                 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+14&version=NIV\
Pastor Jeff did a talk on Jonathan at our first GMM Conference and it was a Powerful one.   He had stated that we cannot sit under the Tree with Saul and do nothing.   We have to go forward as Jonathan did – even if it means going forward with uncertainty – but going forward in knowing of God’s promises.   There is one important item in this story – there were 2 men going forward together – Jonathan and the armor bearer (who was protecting Jonathans back).    As men – we have different gifts – but no matter what your gift is – we must go forward together.  As you know the rest of the story – God was with Jonathan and he succeeded in conquering the Philistines.
Peter Walking on Water:    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV
I did a study on a book about Peter:  “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat” – it was a great study in taking that first step of Faith and going to Jesus.   But as the book stated – so many of us choose to stay in the Boat and do not take that first step of Faith.  As we do take that first step – -like Peter we will probably lose our grip on what we are actually doing – but Jesus will pull us up again and again.   But like Peter – we have to keep on going forward and learn from are failures to accomplish what Christ has in store for us.
Reckless – by Jeremy Camp:     http://www.songlyrics.com/jeremy-camp/reckless-lyrics
I listened to a description of why Jeremy wrote this song on KLove one day.  This is my brief version of what I got from it.   So many times when God is asking us to go forward and accomplish what he would have us do – we stop and weigh out what the consequences might be.   Most of the time when we weigh out what might happen – it keeps us from doing what God wants us to do.   Please click on the link and read the Lyrics of Jeremy’s song.   It takes practice to be Obedient and there are times that we will be persecuted and we will fail.  That must not keep us from doing God’s will and we may have to be a little Reckless in going forward no matter what the consequence may be.
OK – are you starting to see the comparison of these three men…   Since the beginning of time – we have all had to choose to go forward in Faith to accomplish what God has in store of us.  If we set back and do nothing – then he cannot accomplish what he wants for us.    My pondering lately has been about where God is taking my wife and me.   We have made some major choices recently in which direction of where God would have us be.   Through it all I am still not sure what that may be – but I have learned that I must go forward to see where it will take me.   The most important thing that I have learned is:  “God really wants to know if we are willing to give him all of us – before he can work through us”.
 
Bobbyg                                              “Activate Your Faith”
 

This is the Last part of my series on “How is your Relationship with Christ”   I would like to share where it has taken me….  And how God is working in my life today.
I would like to list a few areas that have been extremely Enhanced because of getting rid of the junk in my life….

1.  I hear God more Clearly – “Hearing from God doesn’t depend on how old you are, but on your Relationship with him” (Quote from Strong men in tough times).
2. I seem to talk to Christ more now then I have ever done and it keeps growing.
3. I am more open to where Jesus is taking me — I have learned to do a Check on my Comfort Level – it should be on the uncomfortable side to keep me growing…
4. I am seeking more Evangelistic opportunities on sharing the good news.

**My relationship with my Wife and 3 Sons is much better.
**Work is still a Challenge – but I keep asking myself – “Do they see Jesus in me?”  –  This is the one that I am having the  hardest time with today.
**Relationship with my Church is getting better – this one still needs some tweaking.
As you can see – I still have a long ways to go to get where Christ would have me be – but while I am working on all these areas – My Relationship with Christ is growing all the time.
 
Here are some tools that may help you in seeking that dynamic Relationship with Christ.
*Forgive Daily  and   Apply Grace in all that you do.
*Pray ALLOT
*Exercise Your Comfort Level at all times.
*Remember to check Daily and get rid of the Junk – put a reminder in your pocket to help.
This Takes allot of Discipline to keep your Relationship with Christ growing and it will be a daily practice to keep out all the junk that hinders it.    Look for the Areas in your Heart that have been hardened and fix it.
 
Here are some Quotes to Ponder…………………….
What you want is irrelevant to what God wants.
It is your Decisions that matters (Good or Bad) – and they have consequences and will change your life and your relationship with Christ.
What are you going to choose to do today?
Hearing from God and acting on it… (“If we wait on a sign from God, it will probably never happen – if we go forward (As Peter stepping onto the water) then we will see the signs of Christ) (Quotes from Chasing the Wild Goose).
 
“But I’ve come to realize that getting where Christ wants me to go isn’t nearly as important as becoming who he wants me to be in the process.  And Christ seems to be less concerned with where I am going than with who I am becoming.   I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God”.
  It is all about the Relationship   –     WHERE IS YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST RIGH NOW?
Bobbyg
**Remember this year’s GMM Theme:   “Activate Your Faith”   –   this is a big part in what you need to do Daily…
 
 

This is the 4^th part of my series on “How is your Relationship with Christ” – and it is about getting rid of all the junk in your life that keeps you from having the best relationship you can possibly have with Jesus. 1^st part was getting rid of the junk daily – the 2nd part was developing a network of support – the third part was about Healing Relationships.  Now I would like to visit a little on what Hardens our Heart…
There are times when we harden our hearts about Issues, Politics, and worldly stuff that will definitely keep us from having that great relationship we are seeking with Jesus.  I would like to identify a few that have done that to me.

1.       Politics:  This can be a very Big one for most of us – I am one of those Far Right Republicans that use to think all Democrats were idiots (not any more though).  I use to listen to Rush – Shaun – Glen and just took in everything that they said to heart.  The next thing I knew is that I was just as angry as they were and was preaching the wrong gospel to whoever would listen….    The old saying about what you take into your Heart will probably be what comes out of your Mouth is very true.   It did not take long before my whole focus was on what was wrong with this country instead of How Do I tell people about Jesus…   I finally had to stop listening to all of those guys and get back into my Quiet times and Read the Bible…  Now I am not so angry and my relationship with Jesus has been restored.     If you are where I was – you need to do the same…
2.      Gray Areas:  There can be what I call Gray Areas — here is an example: if Diane (my wife) and I have different opinions – that does not mean mine is always right.  There can be two right answers….    I have been caught up in trying to prove that I am always right – that the next thing I know it makes me extremely angry when my wife cannot see that she is wrong.  Well guess what – I have learned from some great mentors that my wife may be right also (well just sometimes – OK most of the time).   You have heard the women are from Venus and Men are from mars – well that is correct – we see things from a different perspective and it is OK…   So do not spend allot of time trying to prove you are right – focus on what God is telling you through your difference and learn.
3.      The Bible:   There have been major Splits in Churches and we have several Denominations over what we call the truth from our perspective.  I have had the pleasure of visiting several Churches since GMM started.  I have to tell you there are Great churches out there that do not all believe the same way – but we will all be Heaven together.    I have come up with 5 beliefs that I stand on that will unite me with other believers and I am extremely careful on the items that divide us…  Unity is a must in the Kingdom of God if we are going to be The Church that God has created.

If you have noticed one of the key areas that has been discussed in this series is Forgiveness and Grace —  We have to stay focused on this in all that we do if we are going to have that Awesome Relationship with Jesus…  **There is this Quote from Strong Men in Tough Times that I would like to share:  “When men experience tough times, the only way they can forgive as God forgives is by the power of His Holy Spirit.  We don’t have the ability in our natural selves.  Forgiveness is always by Grace.  Forgiveness is always in spirit, not just word.”  — This is a great way to keep your heart from hardening.
So Stay focused on keeping an Open Heart – not a Hardened one and you will achieve that Relationship with Jesus that goes beyond any expectations.
Bobbyg

This is the 3^rd part of my series on “How is your Relationship with Christ” – and it is about getting rid of all the junk in your life that keeps you from having the best relationship you can possibly have with Jesus.   1^st part was getting rid of the junk daily – and the 2^nd part was developing a network of support.
Now I would like to talk some about Healing Your Relationships.
The first area I would like to look at is our relationship with our Wives – for us married guys – if our wife is not happy then no one is happy.

•                *I wrote a blog on “The making of Your Bed – Is this the Real Problem”   if you have time you may want to read it – http://godsmightymen.zocosites.com/?p=152   But it talks about that most of the problems that we have with our wives are really our own problems and not theirs – so just get over it…   well not really but there is allot of insight to this story – it saved my marriage.
•                *Then it is always great to have an accountability partner to share your issues with – most of the time this will clear any heartaches you are having with your wife – pray together about it.
•                *Then find easy ways to eliminate your problems without getting into a heated discussion.  I like to tell the tooth paste story on this one.   My wife would always use my tooth paste instead of hers and leave the lid open all the time – then all the goo would start collecting at the opening.  This was a really big problem for me (not her) – so one day I bought some orange tooth paste because I like orange.  To my astonishment my wife used it and stated that she did not like it….  Guess what, my problems were settled – I bought orange tooth paste from then on…   problem fixed the easy way…

One more relationship with family is Kids….    This one is really easy – find a support group or mentor… and maybe a Pastor you can blame….  Raising kids is no easy task so it is a must to find ways of keeping your battles on the important stuff and making the other issues simple.
Work:  The biggest thing I can say here is always do a self check on yourself and ask “Do they see Jesus in Me?”     I really struggle in this area and have constantly had to remind myself – “this is only a job and my testimony has to be great”.   I had a co-worker ask me one time – “Are you one of those Jesus Freaks?”…   I do not ever want to get asked that again……  Yes I AM.     But please remember work is work – leave it there – do not take your frustrations home (this can be really hard at times).
Church:  This is where people can get hurt…….   Here is an example that I have been taught by a very good friend of mine (Grant).   Relationships inside a Church is like being in Battle side by side with our Swords and fighting the Battle with all our might.   While we are swinging our swords next to each other – there may be a time or two that we nick each other.   Now comes the Big Question – What do I do when my fellow Christian nicks/hurts me….   “Forgiveness and Grace that is what comes to mind… and again it is very hard to do…   Another Blog if you have time – http://godsmightymen.zocosites.com/?p=121
**Healing Relationships is another Daily Discipline and takes allot of Practice –  Keep doing it and watch your Relationship with Jesus grow…………………..
Bobbyg
 

In Part 1 – I wrote about getting rid of the junk in your life on a Daily Basis – this is a must to be able to hear the promptings from the Spirit.  On this Blog I would like to tell you about how I have developed a Support network to help me keep the junk out.
I have three areas of support that are a must for me…

1.  You need a Pastor or Spiritual Leader that you can have a coke with.
2. A couple of guys of accountability.
3. A church family where you can connect with ministry – life group.

This scripture has the best explanation as to why we need a support network.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9>12:  ⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
I would like to expand how I use each one of my supports.
Pastor:   Pastor Bob and I go out for Cokes at times (that is when you are in trouble) but most of the time we meet for Breakfast or Lunch and just talk about stuff.   One of the examples l like to us is a conversation we had about my eldest son.  My son was missing allot of school and was going to flunk out of 11^th grade – so I met with Pastor Bob.  After a long conversation – one of his great spots of wisdom he gave me was that not everyone is meant to go to school.  So I had a long conversation with my son and we checked him out of school that afternoon.   Long story short – he worked construction that summer and went back to school the next year and graduated with his class.   *One other item – make sure and tell your wife what you are going to do – when she came home I told her what I had done…..  Not a good thing.   I just told her Pastor Bob told me to do it… (Everyone needs a Pastor to Blame – it works).
Accountability Guys:   I call these my 2am guys – someone you can call at 2am and they will come….   These are your best help in keeping all the junk out of your life – someone you can just talk to.   One thing about a 2am guy is that he may tell you some things that you will not like – but remember he is there to Help..
A church Family:  It is important to be surrounded by a church family to keep you Positive.  So many times we surround ourselves with the wrong people and it will keep you from going forward.   Get involved with a Ministry or some type of Life Group – these will help you see where God can use you.
So as I stated in the Beginning – you need a Support Network to help keep out all the junk in your life so that Christ can work through you in some very powerful ways.
Bobbyg
 

      God has equipped each of us with amazing strengths, talents and gifts.   The world may try to dismiss them.      “Nothing special.”      “Won’t amount to anything.”      “Not good enough.”     But hopefully your heart pauses and says,          “Wait a minute.     Let’s call in someone who can truly know my worth.”
        That’s when Jesus enters the picture. He leans over your life and declares,          “Worthy, Priceless!”
         As men we must dare to accept that what Jesus says about you is genuine – that you are a person of great worth, a man of real strength and value. No matter what anyone says.
       No matter what you’ve done. No matter- – –
      When you are down in doubt ask the One who truly knows you from the begining to the end, he will show you what’s real.
God Bless,
Jim

     For many years I thought it was my duty to judge Everyone, what a lie from the enemy. As I grew and learned the Truth of Christ quickly I realized how wrong I was. Though scripture tells us to judge the fruit of a believer, it never tells us to judge his or her heart, that belongs only to our Lord. We are to gently correct them always in Love.   Mat: 7:1 Do not judge so you will not be judged & more important verse 2.
     We should always keep in mind that when we start to judge another person believer or not that God will hold you responsible for your words and action. Mat: 7:5 should be the first thing that comes to your mind, YOU Hypocrite. That should scare you enough to stop you in your tracks and get you back to where you should be.
      By no means am I saying I have this down. I have BLOWN IT many times, but as we mature in Christ are action and words should reflect that we are trying to live a life as HE instructs us to live.
 Jay

“Radical Truth and Grace” what does that look like – what does that mean…?   The best way that I can describe how this means to me is when Jesus came upon a group of people who were going to stone this women for being an adulterous.  (John 7:52 > 8:11)
Jesus encountered a group of Pharisees that were going to stone this Adulteress because of her sinful life style – and they were justified by the Law to do this.   Then they asked Jesus what he would do….  (Jesus was writing something on the ground).   Jesus response was that whoever has not committed a sin to be the first one to cast a stone.   As you know the rest of the story,  no one could cast a stone and walked away.   When all this was done – then Jesus asked her where they had all gone – and had no one condemned her?  No one had..  Jesus next response was:  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
How many times are we like the Pharisees?  We Judge someone for their sinful life styles and we are ready to send them straight hell because of their life styles.   As in this story:  is their sin any greater than ours (answer – John 19) – are we going to cast the stone?  My Friend Nick and I have been discussing this allot lately because of where his ministry is taking him.   I have to admit – I was throwing some very large stones at what life style we were discussing.   Nick’s response would be:  We need to be telling people that God Wishes that all people would be in Heaven with him ,  instead of telling them that they are going to Hell if they do not change their ways “Grace”.   Then we proceed to tell them about Jesus   “The Truth”.         “Radical”
As we encounter people – How is our response when we really disagree with them – whether it be for:   a life style – political affiliations – which church do they go too?   I would encourage you to do as Jesus had done in the story above –   “Radical Truth and Grace”
Bobbyg

It has been a couple of weeks since the GMM Conference “Activate Your Faith” and I have had the pleasure of some great Quiet times in driving several miles all over Wyoming since then.  During this time – God has been talking to me about one of the main accomplishments we want everyone to get from the Conference.
“We wanted guys to Enhance their relationship with Christ”
“Hebrews 12:14-15:  ¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
     This scripture has taught me that we must get rid of the junk in our life daily to be able to allow Christ to do his work in our lives.  That would be the stuff that separates us from Him.

1.  Addictions:  this was covered at the Conference.
2. Relationships that have gone astray.
3. Finances
4. Abuse to you or a family member

**the list goes on – but each of us has something that will keep our relationship with Christ from going to the next level.
I had one of those things that I held on for almost 20 years that I had justified as being right and God did not have a problem with how I felt.  Someone had abused one of my kids and I seen that person as unforgiveable and deserving Death.  I read the book “The Shack” one day and then had a great conversation with one of my 2am guys (we will visit later about having a 2am guy).   I thought that the book was real – but it was the author coming up with a way to explain to his Children the different relationships that we have with the Trinity under extreme circumstances – what an awakening that was.  Then I had a visited with my 2am guy – we started talking about the Forgiveness that this book gets into.  As I had stated – I had convinced myself that my un-forgiveness was warranted because of what had happened.  My Friend’s response was WWJD (what would Jesus do) – these are times when 2am guys can be a pain.   He was right – so I started praying that this individual could have the same relationship that I had with Christ and could be saved…. WOW.  But as in the Book – I had to do this daily for a very long time….. But it worked – the junk that had separated me from having a great relationship with Christ was going away and I started hearing his directions more clearly.
**My point to this story is that when we have those difficult things that keep us from having a great relationship with Christ – we must deal with them DAILY.   I learned to put something in my pocket to remind me of this on a daily basis – it is a Bell at the present time.
“Focusing on our response to Christ and our Relationship with him is a Heart thing…”   and we must have a clean one to be able to hear his prompting for what he would have us do.  When I finally cleared out the blockage – I would actually have to look around to see if someone was talking to me – but it was the clear voice of the Spirit within me that I could now hear more clearly.
I would encourage everyone to think about what it is that keeps them from expanding their relationship with Christ to the next level and pray about it – DAILY for the next few days…   This is just a start on how to clean the junk out of your life – there is allot more tools that you need to keep this going.
More to come………………….
bobbyg

I have been on the Road the last couple of days – and the Analogy of the Road Less Traveled has been my focus – with the snow today – that seemed to be the best road to take.  There was a letter in the News Paper on Sunday from a Pastor and he was commenting on another article from another Pastor.   What I really got from the letter was that we need to seek the truth from the one and only person that has it   “Jesus”.    Seeking the Truth from Jesus seems to be the road less traveled…   we seem to seek the truth from other sources – such as Grand Fathers, a really good friend, a counselor – but not the one source we should be going to.
As I was traveling today down the road less traveled – there seemed to be more sun light and it was a much easier way to go.  As with seeking the Truth from Jesus – He is the light and our Life will be filled with Love, Joy, Peace and all the other Gifts that he promises if we seek it.
 
This article also explained that the other Pastor was directed towards the truth that our culture was taking – and it was in Contradiction of Christ’s words.   As we seek the truth – we may not like what we hear – but it is the Truth and the only path that we should be taking.  As in my travels — the road will not always be great and I did run into a few storms along the way.  But as with the storms of life – if we focus on Jesus – he will take us through anything that comes our way.  As the article finished – it stated that “Jesus is the truth and his words to us are final, timeless and universal”.   AMEN
As we get closer to the upcoming GMM Conference – I am reminded about what it is that the Conference is about.   Vicki at the Civic Center wrote this description that is posted on the Cheyenne Civic Center Web Site:  “God’s Mighty Men Conference: Keynote Speaker Pastor Paul Ruzinsky. Your Relationship with Christ will be enhanced to a new spiritual level – Join this conference with God’s Mighty Men and experience this new relationship with Christ.”   This is a great way of explaining what we must stay focused on.
**So Please as you go forward in seeking the Truth – Look to the one and only person that has it   “Jesus Christ”.                                              “Activate Your Faith”
Bobbyg