morningstarmen

This week we'll be looking at the remaining two of 4 total maxims which Stephen Mansfield puts forth in his book.  In the previous session from that topic we looked at Maxim 1: "Manly Men do Manly Things" and then Maxim 2: "Manly Men Tend Their Fields".  Today we'll look at Maxim 3: "Manly Men Make Manly Men"; and Maxim 4: "Manly Men Live to the Glory of God".
Special thanks to our guest speaker Joel Good. 

In an ideal world, all men would grow up in a healthy tribe.

Manly Men do Manly things.

Manly Men tend their fields.

Let's look at those ideas.

 

What is the Gospel message? Why is Paul able to say so confidently that he isn't ashamed of this message and the power behind it? Let's take a closer look.

Who doesn't like the idea of a miracle? But perhaps we don't completely understand the purposes behind each unique miracle. And perhaps we also don't quite understand the the one-of-a-kind nature of miracles. Let's take a closer look together.

Who hasn't been disappointed in a relationship? There is a gap between expectations and reality. Sometimes we are even disappointed with God. It seems that He promises certain things and then later is detached or unavailable.  He declares that He "Can", and yet in your case or mine, and at a moment of need, He "Doesn't". What do we make of the God who says that He can but then doesnt' always do as we hope.  Since prayer is the communications component of this relationship, it does seem  like that's something we'd want to communicate with Him about.  And it also seems like the subject matter for a great discussion. So let's have it.  What do we make of miracles?

If honest and open communication are central to a good relationship, then this must be true for our relationship with God also. But God is so much more than just a "friend". He  is King, Judge, Father, AND Friend. How do we communicate openly and honestly with God who is King? How do we communicate honestly which God who is judge - and especially when we know full well we're guilty.  It's impossible to be dishonest with someone who already knows. The only person I fool when I lie to someone who already knows?? It's me!  So honesty with God is really nothing more than telling God what He already knew. So it's really just taking what was "off the table for conversation" and putting it "on the table".

But isn't that a bit risky? Telling God that I've messed up opens my guilty self to God and now there is no longer even the pretense of hiding something. Now all that is left is dealing with what has been done, or left undone.