AUGUST 2015 EDITION

This week I attended the Young Life Southeast Region Fall Staff Conference as part of my new role as Chaplain to the Staff. While there, the staff heard from B.B. Hobson, who is Vice President for Multicultural Ministries for Young Life. B.B. is a dynamic and challenging speaker and he directed his message to the staff as they begin a new school year of ministry. His main question to the staff also challenged me. It was this: “What are you going to do differently this year?” His thoughts were that it is easy to get complacent, to do the same old things in the same old way. Some would say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While that may ring true some of the time, I think it is always necessary to examine what we do and the way we do it. I need to ask myself, “Am I keeping things fresh or am I just “phoning it in”?

Net Work Ministries began in 1992 and shortly thereafter began a weekly Wednesday Morning men’s meeting. That group lasted for about ten years. We would study different Christian books as well as the Bible. That group ended with kind of a whimper as people drifted away. I recognize that there were diverse needs within the group as well as diverse personalities and backgrounds. I do recognize now that at least some of the demise of the group was caused by my complacency.

Fast forward to 1995, a group of six men began meeting together on a Friday morning at the Marietta High stadium conference room ostensibly to discuss “life views”. Primarily, this group was comprised of men who played tennis together at Marietta Country Club and knew each other. Soon they began inviting their friends. We discussed Christian books that dealt with men’s issues. In both groups, we would try to get away together on a retreat for a weekend to get to know each other better, share laughter, enjoy outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, fishing or hunting, as well as having devotional times each morning. The Friday Men’s Group continues to this day, some twenty years later. Here we are in 2015 and I feel challenged to examine what I can do differently to keep the group fresh and honor God who has called me to this ministry. I announced today that starting next week we will go in a slightly different direction by hearing a series of video talks by Andy Stanley, whom I consider one of the most relevant and dynamic ministers of our day. We will discuss what we have heard after viewing the message. I feel that the men welcomed the change.

Now, when I talk about doing things differently and keeping things fresh, I am not only talking about men’s groups but all aspects of our lives. In particular, for those of us who have been married for some time, what can I do differently this year to add new excitement to our relationship? What new ways can I discover to serve my wife? What new ways can I express my love for her? Am I just “phoning it in” like Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, when asked by his wife why he never tells her he loves her. He replies,” I told you I loved you when I married you, if that ever changes, I will let you know.” This is not a great way to keep things vibrant in a marriage!

Has my relationship with God grown stale and routine? Do I take God and my salvation for granted? Do I “get my ticket punched” at church on Sunday or at men’s group on Friday and then forget Him during the week? What can I do differently?

Ask yourself, “Are there areas in my life, in my work, in my marriage, in my family, in my friendships and particularly in my spiritual life that could use an infusion of fresh thought about doing things differently. What would honor God? Just askin’!                                                    

     MINISTRY NEWS

If you purchase anything from Amazon, may I ask you to use “Amazon Smile”.  They donate a small portion of the purchase to

Net Work Ministries. Here is the link:http://smile.amazon.com/ch/58-2009795. If you will bookmark this link and go to it when you wish to purchase something from Amazon, it will benefit Net Work.

I would be so grateful if you would consider this.

As always, I am truly grateful for your friendship and partnership in ministry by your prayers and financial support, both of which I need as never before. Blessings to you all.