JULY 2011 EDITION

Last Friday our men’s group was discussing a chapter in the book we are studying, “Choices That Change Lives.” It talked about the four aspects of life, which include the physical, mental, social and spiritual. I asked the group which aspects they felt they needed to work on the most. One of the gentlemen whom I greatly respect said he knew that he should say, “Spiritual”, but he felt that he really needed to work on the mental aspect of his life. This reminded me of the story of the little boy in Sunday school. His teacher held up a picture and asked the children to identify what type animal it was. The little boy timidly raised his hand and said, “Miss Peggy, it sure does look like a squirrel but I know that answer is supposed to be “Jesus”!

As our discussion moved along, someone suggested that the “spiritual” encompasses all the other aspects of our lives. He quoted Deuteronomy 6 and Matthew 22 where it says, “You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

As for the mental aspects of improving ourselves, I remember when I first became a Christian; I would sit for hours studying the Bible. It was a whole new body of knowledge for me. I am challenged each week by the Friday Morning Group discussions. The men in the group come from different points of the compass, spiritually speaking. My comfort zone is often disrupted by new ideas or ideas contrary to my belief system presented. I am forced to defend my position factually and not just emotionally. My weekly preparation for the Friday Morning group keeps my mind sharp.

As for the social aspects of growth in our lives, ours spiritual life presents a great opportunity. Through active participation in church, Sunday school, Bible study and fellowship groups, we are stretched socially. In addition, as we seek to share our faith with those we encounter in our day-to-day activities, we grow as well. When you have a heart to really know people before you share your faith with them, you begin to see people in a different light. Scripture exhorts us to go into all the world (Mark 16), not just our own “holy huddle.” It also says that we should not forsake the meeting together as some would do (Hebrews 10).

In the physical aspects of growth, we are told that “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…therefore, honor God with your body.” (I Corinthians 6) The apostle Paul talks about how he disciplines his body in I Corinthians 9) “Therefore I beat my body and make it a slave.” William Barclay, in his commentary on this verse speaks about both physical and mental discipline:

“To win the fight and to be victorious in the race demands discipline. We have to discipline our bodies; it is one of the neglected facts of the spiritual life that very often spiritual depression springs from nothing else than physical unfitness. If a man is going to do his best work in anything he must bring to it a body as fit as he can make it. We have to discipline our minds; it is one of the tragedies of life that men may refuse to think until they become incapable of thinking. We can never solve problems by refusing to see them or by running away from them. We must discipline our souls; we can do so by facing life's sorrows with calm endurance, its temptations with the strength God gives, its disappointments with courage. “





MINISTRY NEWS

We are considering a couples trip, as we have done in the past, to one of the most beautiful places in the U.S., Montana’s Glacier National Park, next summer. If you are interested, please contact me at 678-986-4814 or e-mail me at buckreese41@yahoo.com for details.

We have moved our Friday Morning Men’s Group to the Marietta Country Club. This move has attracted more members to the group. We are currently discussing the book, “Choices That Change Lives” by Hal Urban. It has fostered some lively discussions. Guys, we invite you to join us at 7:00 a.m.

I highly recommend a book I have just finished and thoroughly enjoyed. It is called “Leadership and Self-Deception,” an international bestseller by the Arbinger Institute. It does go “from preachin’ to meddlin” as the saying goes. There are both “aha” moments and “ouch” moments in the book. This book is practical for both organizations and individuals in the area of interpersonal relationships. It is written in a very readable narrative style.

We are open to beginning a new men’s group on a weekday morning, other than Friday, in the downtown Marietta area. If you are interested, please call me at 678-986-4814.

Thank you all for your friendship, support, and encouragement.