MAY 2012

A contemporary Christian song that I have recently encountered has become quite meaningful to me. It is "Blessings" by Laura Story. Here are some the lyrics:

"Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"

May I take some liberties with the lyrics to personalize them?

What if your blessings come from a year of unemployment?

What if your healing comes through the pain of foreclosure?

What if a thousand "why's" are what it takes to know you are near?

And what if your struggles are God trying to get your attention so that you can really learn how much He loves and cares for you?

James Chapter One Verse Two says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (The Greek word for testing used here means to tear down and build up as in developing muscle or the training of a Marine Corps recruit) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I have experienced two different seasons of unemployment in my life. One time I was without a job for a year. The next time it was for about six months. For a man, losing his job and waiting for the next opportunity to arise is as taxing on his self-esteem than anything I know. So much of our identity is tied up in what we do.  Although I cannot say I enjoyed those experiences, at this time in my life, I can truly say I would not wish for anything to be different.  God taught me more in those difficult times than I can tell you. At the time I was terminated from my job, I quoted a saying that I had heard, "I do not know what the future holds, but I do know the One who holds the future." I sensed a peace that passes all understanding that day.

I have not faced foreclosure but have experienced financial loss. Again, God showed me things through that process that I would probably not have learned in prosperity. I saw His hand of provision in ways you would not believe. In addition, He taught me, through his Word and through godly counsel, how to be a better steward of His resources.

 (over)

I admit there were times when I shook my fist at God and told Him to "lighten up"!

I think that He appreciated my honesty rather than some pious platitudes. He is a big od. He could understand my anger and lovingly walk with me in my pain.

The song ends with the following:

"What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy and what if the trials of this life...the rain, the storms, the hardest nights are Your blessings in disguise?"

Are you willing to allow for the possibility that the struggles you are going through are His blessings in disguise?

MINISTRY NEWS

Our Friday Morning Group has grown to include seventeen men since we have moved our meeting to the Marietta Country Club Men's Grill. We have been studying "The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. It has been a very challenging study.

We are planning a much larger Wounded Warrior Golf Outing in conjunction with Marietta Country Club slated to be held in November with soldiers from Fort Benning and Fort Gordon as well as Wounded Warriors living in the Atlanta area.

We continue to walk daily alongside men, meeting with individuals over the breakfast or lunch table, to discuss the challenges they are facing, whether it be marital, financial, employment or family issues.

We continue to plan for a trip to Guatemala next winter during their dry season to help with The House of Hope Project.

This is all made possible by the generous support of people like yourselves to whom we are most grateful.

JUNE 2012

I have been reading a book "Falling Upward" by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who lives in New Mexico and is the founder of The Center for Action and Contemplation.  Its subtitle is "A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life" My spiritual "father", Dan Hayes, who led me to Christ some 37 years ago, recommended it to me."   I must say it is an intriguing book.   I was attracted to the book because it talks about living the second half of our lives. Previously, our Friday Group had read Bob Buford's book, "Halftime, Moving from Success to Significance, which dealt with the practical issues of living in the second half of our lives with significance.

I am taking the liberty of quoting from the text of "Falling Upward" to describe some of Rohr's ideas about living the second half of our lives:

 "In the second half of life, we do not have strong and final opinions about everything, every event or most people, as much as we allow things and people to delight us, sadden us, and truly influence us.  We no longer need to change or adjust other people to be happy ourselves. Ironically, we are more than ever in a position to change people - but we do not need to - and that makes all the difference. We have moved from doing to being, to an utterly new kind of doing that flows almost organically, quietly, and by osmosis. Our actions are less compulsive. We do what we are called to do, and then try to let go of the consequences. We usually cannot do that very well when we are young."

"Yes, the second half of life is a certain kind of weight to carry, but no other way of being makes sense or gives you the deep satisfaction your soul now demands and even enjoys. This new and deeper passion is what people mean when they say, 'I must do this particular thing or my life will not make sense' or 'It is no longer a choice.' Your life and your delivery system are now one, whereas before, your life and your occupation seemed like two different things. Your concern is not so much to have what you love anymore, but to love what you have - right now. This is a monumental change from the first half of your life, so much so that it is almost the litmus test of whether you are in the second half of life at all."

In the first paragraph, the author talks about doing what we are called to do and then try to let go of the consequences.  This idea struck me as being very relevant to my situation at this stage of my life. In 1992, I received a call to minister to men and their families in a different sort of pastoral counseling ministry, one where I would walk alongside of men and meet with them, not in an office setting, but over the breakfast or lunch table.  I would also create safe spaces where men could meet and discuss the issues of their lives without fear of judgment or condemnation.  I sought out the counsel of men who knew me best, warts and all. They confirmed this calling and thus began the adventure of Net Work Ministries that continues to this day.

'I must do this particular thing or my life will not make sense.'  I want you to know

I still feel this way about Net Work Ministries and I know I am still called to this ministry.  Thank you all for making this possible.

MINISTRY NEWS

Summer is a difficult time for most non-profits and, in the current economy, even more so.  We would ask your prayers for

Net Work Ministries at this time.  We know one of God's names is Jehovah Jireh (Our God Provides).  This is where we place our trust.  Please join us in praying expectantly.  We know whom God calls, He equips.  We also understand that we must continue to be excellent in what He has called us to do. We welcome your suggestions and comments on how we might achieve this in a better way.  We are also open for more opportunities to serve Him and you. Let us hear from you.

E-mail us at buckreese41@yahoo.com or call at 678-986-4814.

We continue to minister to men in our Friday Morning Men's Group as well as meeting individually with men for counsel and encouragement.  We also minister through a Third Monday Bible Study featuring John Riley (formerly of Metro Bible Study) as the speaker. This meets at the Parc at Duluth Senior Living Facility.  Joe Carroll is the host and sponsor of this group.        

I am grateful for your friendship and partnership in ministry!