Christ - The ReeseSource: Christ - The ReeseSource

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Christ - The ReeseSource - February 2010

It happened on Friday afternoon, February 12, 2010! A prayer was answered.

Let me explain. I am a kid about snow. I love it! I am sure if I lived up north somewhere, I would either hate it or, at least, dread its coming. But as for me, a native of Atlanta, snow has always been a much-anticipated event. We are teased by local T.V. weathermen (and women) whose dire warnings of an impending blizzard send thousands to the grocery stores for milk and bread as if they would be snow-bound for weeks by an inch of the white stuff! . At sixty-four years old, I still wake up in the middle of the night to check to see if it has snowed, not unlike a kid looking to see if he can see Santa on Christmas Eve. More often than not, I go back to bed sadly disappointed.

What is it about snow that I love so much? Usually, it comes as a surprise since we have been jaded by forecaster’s usually false alarms about snow accumulation. When snow comes during the week, it takes on a holiday sort of feeling as we are forced to stay home from work or school. I remember several instances in high school when my religious life would reach new heights when it snowed on exam day!

If we allow it, a snow day can be a day of great fun. Throw a snowball, build a snowman, and take a long walk in snow-filled woods. Build a fire, pop popcorn, drink hot chocolate, roast marshmallows, and make a great big pot of chili. As the song goes, “these are a few of my favorite things.”

I have great memories of times when I have been in places where there were measurable amounts of snow. All of these times have one common thread…a strong sense of peace. When there is no sound except the crunch of snow underfoot and the wind blowing through the evergreen trees, peacefulness pervades my being. This peace I feel is just a tiny glimpse of the peace that Jesus offers when he says in John 14:27,” Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”.

How do we access the peace that Jesus offers? Scripture again tells us how. It tells us to “Be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10) “Right!” you say. Look at my life. I have to work harder than ever just to make ends meet. I have the demands of a family. I want to be a good husband , father, and, in some of our cases, a good grandfather. Home ownership has its own responsibilities for me, maintaining my “stuff” as it were. How do I find time to be still other than when I am asleep?”

First, we must ask ourselves, “Is this peace and stillness what I really want or am I addicted to noise, rush and activity.” Think about it. Do I turn on the radio or TV. when I first get up? Do I turn on music, the news, or a talk show when I get in the car? You know…we do pretty much what we want to do. The guys in my groups have heard me say this many times. “I would love to lose ten pounds,” you say. “No you wouldn’t!” I say.If you really wanted to lose ten pounds you would diet and exercise religiously and do everything it takes.

The idea of being still for any length of time is intimidating for most of us when we think about it. My suggestion is to start small. Get up fifteen minutes earlier. Instead of turning on the radio or TV in the morning, take five or ten minutes to sit quietly by yourself.If you like, open your Bible and read a few verses. Try saying what Eli the priest told young Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. Expect God to speak to you. He will not speak in an audible voice but you may receive a strong impression about something…. or not, that’s o.k. too. Just the act of being still and quiet has value in itself.

On the way to and from work, you could turn off the radio or cd player in the car. Also, during the day, try shutting the door, turn off your cell phone, and, if you have an administrative assistant, have her hold your calls and have then explain that you are in a meeting, which you will be, in truth… a meeting with the God of the Universe. Wow, how cool is that! At the end of the day, just before closing your eyes, thank God for the day He allowed you to live.

Occasionally, take a walk by yourself in some quiet place. Take the time to listen and observe the things around you, really see them! Don’t be in a hurry to get your walk over, as we task-oriented guys are prone to do. The old adage, “Stop, and smell the roses.” applies here. Try a few of these things, I double-dog dare you!

May the peace of God, which passes along human understanding, fill your hearts.

MINISTRY NEWS:
There were no outstanding events in February, just a quiet sense of peace about the direction of the ministry. So much of what is done is cumulative over years of walking alongside men in faithfulness. Occasionally God allows us a glimpse of the way he is using Net Work Ministries to draw men nearer to Himself. More often than not, however, we will not see the results of what God has called us to do until we are face-to-face with Him and shoulder-to-shoulder with those to whom God has allowed us to minister. There our joy will be complete.

Please pray that I will remain faithful to the call God has placed on my life to minister to men and their families. Please pray that I will keep my eyes on Jesus rather than be distracted by the storms of life that will surely come my way. Please pray for the men in my sphere of influence that they will be drawn into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Please know how grateful I am for your friendship and support.

May our Lord bless you in new and surprising ways in the days that lie ahead.

NET WORK MINISTRIES, INC. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

NET WORK MINISTRIES, INC. EXISTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING TOGETHER GOD’S PEOPLE AND HIS RESOURCES TO PRESENT THE HEALING MESSAGE OF CHRIST’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, THROUGH WORD AND DEED, TO A HURTING AND LOST WORLD.

NET WORK MINISTRIES, INC.
2671 OLD HICKORY DRIVE, N.W.
MARIETTA, GA., 30064-1833
770-422-8638(office) 678-986-4814 (cell)
E-mail address – peggyandbuck@yahoo.com
Website: www.networkministries.blogspot.com

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Net Work Ministries, Inc. Purpose Statement

The purpose of Net Work Ministries is to bring hope and healing to men and their families by exposing them to the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Net Work also encourages men in living out their Christian faith in their day-to-day lives.

Net Work Ministries, Inc. is a pastoral counseling and resource networking ministry that brings God's people together for mutual support and enables them to use the abundant resources He provides. It is directed towards men, to bring them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to help them use the power of this relationship to become the men God intended them to be. This ministry helps men deal with issues that affect their everyday lives. It is a faith ministry that depends entirely on the Lord for resources and does not charge for its services. It is a fully accredited 501c3 I.R.S. organization.

Net Work Ministries was begun 1991 by a group of men who knew Buck Reese's giftedness in the areas of pastoral counseling and resource networking. Buck, who is a native of Atlanta, has been in ministry since 1975 and is an ordained minister. He was responsible for starting the Young Life high school ministry in Cobb County in 1977 and served as Area Director for 12 years. Buck was the Director of Church Relations for Rapha, Inc., a Christian counseling program, as well as serving as a pastoral counseling intern at Wesley Woods Geriatric Center. For 20 years Buck served as chaplain and assistant coach of the Marietta High School football team. Buck was selected to be a member of the 1998 class of Leadership Cobb and the 1999 class of the Honorary Commanders, programs of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce.

Buck's full-time commitment is to Net Work Ministries. He is in contact with men of all ages and walks of life. A typical routine would include: Having breakfast or lunch with a businessman to offer counsel and encouragement to strengthen their commitment to Christ and to enjoy each other's fellowship and support. In all these situations, Buck offers a listening ear and a caring heart and shares Scripture and wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. The goal in all of this activity is to bring those who do not know Christ into a saving relationship with Him. To those who are committed to Christ, but are dealing with issues of day-to-day living, he gives loving and effective counsel, encouragement and support.

Recently, I have added a new role to my ministry. I have accepted the role as volunteer Chaplain to the Staff of Young Life Southeast Region, which consists of the states of Georgia and Alabama. There are currently 50 local area ministries with staff. I will be the"minister to the ministers."

The Concept of Net Work Ministries

From Henri Nouwen’s book “Gracias”:

“It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.

From "The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision:

It is rare that a simple recitation of the gospel will cause people to instantly change their minds. It usually takes much more than that. Our own narrative typically involves a journey of discovery marked by relationships with respected friends and loved ones, reading, discussions, learning about the basis for Christian faith, seeing the difference faith made in the lives of people we know, and witnessing genuine faith demonstrated through acts of love and kindness towards others.

I Stand At The Door - My Calling To Men's Ministry

I Stand at the Door

By Sam Shoemaker (from the Oxford Group)

I stand by the door.
I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where the door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it.
So I stand by the door.

The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door - the door to God.
The most important thing that any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands
And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man's own touch.

Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter.
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it.

Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him.
So I stand by the door.

Go in great saints; go all the way in -
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics.
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in.
Sometimes venture in a little farther,
But my place seems closer to the opening.
So I stand by the door.

There is another reason why I stand there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia
And want to get out. 'Let me out!' they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled.
For the old life, they have seen too much:
One taste of God and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving - preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stand by the door.

I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door.
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply and stay in too long
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there too.

Where? Outside the door -
Thousands of them. Millions of them.
But - more important for me -
One of them, two of them, ten of them.
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
So I shall stand by the door and wait
For those who seek it.

'I had rather be a door-keeper
So I stand by the door.

Net Work Ministries Testimonials

Quotes

“I have been involved in Net Work Ministries for almost six years. I am privileged to serve on the Board of Directors and work with Buck on a variety of projects i.e.: Young Life, Good Samaritan Health Clinic, P.A.C.E., working with the poor and indigent, and supporting the men who attend Buck’s groups.

Buck and Peggy have been there for my wife Rita and I through our most difficult times. They are always loving, always supportive. Buck and his ministry are a wonderful example of what it means to serve. It’s what the love of Christ encourages all of us to do for each other.”

Dwayne Lambing,
Regional Vice President
Nordco, Inc.

The Friday group began as an opportunity for me to have in depth conversation about subject matter that I was not totally comfortable with i.e. formal religion and my personal relationship with God. I believed intellectually that the universe was not an accidental explosion, but it demonstrated a purpose that only a Creator could know. I felt a part of that universe and was comfortable with my life and the roles I played in it. But I still asked myself, is that all there is to life.

Through a series of very diverse and interesting books it became increasingly apparent that no growth in self is possible without the "pains" of self examination. Sometimes this would occur during the course of "intense" discussions and other times would occur in moments of quiet reflection on these conversations. I began to notice that in this crucible of frank and honest discourse that I could find a voice for my beliefs and at the same time be intellectually true to my beliefs in science.

As it has turned out for me, the books have been less important than the comfort and strength that I find in the relationship of men willing to discuss matters that are not in their comfort zones , and that require an intellectual and emotional honesty that are not found alone on an island.
Thank you for your role in making all of this possible,

Dr. Peter Re’,

Neurologist