CHRIST - THE REESE SOURCE JULY 2009

At a recent meeting that I attended, Ken Boa, a noted Christian author and teacher, shared a story of some soldiers in France during World War II, who happened upon an old record player and a recording of the famous opera tenor, Enrico Caruso. They turned on the machine and started playing the badly scratched recording. Ken shared that there were two types of men listening to that recording that day. One only heard the scratches and complained. The other listened more deeply and only heard the master’s voice.

Am I listening or complaining? How do I listen deeply to hear the Master’s Voice amidst the “scratches” that life presents us? The old southern saying says, “When you are up to your ears in alligators, it is hard to remember your job was to drain the swamp!”

Our job…“Be still…and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)

It is hard to be still when “the wheels are coming off”. It is hard when you just lost your job and you are fifty-five years old. It hard when the doctor just gave you the news that it is The Big ‘C.’ It is hard when you wife of twenty years announces she is leaving for someone else. It is hard when the bank says no more time, pay up, or moves out. Are you listening for the Master’s Voice? How do we do that?

In our culture of noise and busyness, it is difficult to “Be still”. Sometimes, God has to get out the” two- by- four” to get our attention. Ken went on to share a quote from C.S. Lewis, who said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, and shouts in our pain”. “Pain”, Lewis says, “is God’s megaphone”.

Many years ago, I was terminated from my job as Area Director for Young Life. This was an extremely painful time in my life. God had been speaking to me for many years about my anger issues. I just rationalized my anger and refused to acknowledge my problem, I blamed everybody and everything but me for my outbursts. People covered for me many times, which only further enabled my inappropriate behavior. Finally, God had to use the “two-by-four” on me. God had to “lay me aside” for a time, about one year actually, to allow me to hear His voice. At first, I only complained about the “scratches”, but, in time, I surrendered and learned to listen deeply and hear the Master’s voice.

Are you going through difficult times right now? Are you listening to the “scratches” or listening more deeply for the Master’s Voice? Let’s talk.

MINISTRY NEWS:
Our Friday Morning group continues to grow. First Fridays have been an important vehicle for that growth. We feature a member of our group who shares stories from his life. The speaker in July was Dr. Paul Payne, who shared truly fascinating stories of growing up in China. Of the many amazing things he related, he said that the first airplane he ever saw was the Japanese bomber that was attacking the town in which he lived. Another interesting fact was that one of the teachers he had in the mission school was none other than Eric Lytle, of whom the movie “Chariots of Fire” was made.

In keeping with last month's theme of growing up in a foreign country, our August First Friday speaker will be very relevant to those of us born south of the Mason-Dixon line. We are excited to announce that on August 7th
City Councilman and Senior Assistant District Attorney Van Pearlberg will share his adventures of growing up in the "concrete jungle" of Brooklyn.

Also of interest regarding the First Friday Meetings was the decision to invite our wives or significant others to hear our speakers.

Our Tuesday Night Lights group has come together nicely. We have had great discussions spring boarding off our study of “The Man In The Mirror”.

The “table fellowship” aspect of ministering to men has been and will be the most important aspect of Net Work Ministries. Sharing a meal together in the ancient culture of the Middle East was an expression of intimacy. Walking one-on-one alongside men in their life’s journey, sharing their struggles, celebrating their successes is the heart of Net Work Ministries.

God bless you for your friendship, love and support.