February 2006 C&MA Men’s E-Newsletter

Impact
A man...and his wife...experienced significant release from historic sin patterns and began counsel/discipleship to restore the foundation and function of their marriage. 

A man, who had been addicted to pornography for most of his adult life, has been healed of that addiction.  With that healing came new freedom to become the spiritual leader of his family and contribute to ministries in his church.

A man dreamed of being anointed for healing for long-term debilitating back pain and went forward for anointing the next Sunday.  On Monday he received a call from a doctor who offered to examine him.  Before beginning the exam the doctor informed him that God was the one who healed.  God has restored the man to near normal.  God healed him.  The change in his physical appearance and his spirit is dramatic! 

What is God doing in your life? Send your testimonies to men@cmamad.org

News
C&MA Men’s Website. The C&MA Men’s Ministry Website has been refreshed to provide easier navigation. Several new features have been added: a Bible search capability, a men’s ministry website of the month link, and an archive of our ministry records. In addition, the news section has been divided into three sections: C&MA men’s ministry news (on the front page), a list of articles that are new on the site, and articles about men’s ministry in the national media. We are continuing to refresh materials on the site. Give us your ideas on ways we can make the site more useful to you. www.cmamen.org.

Life
Take Your Kid Out Back...
Backyard Drills® was founded to address the need for a sports instructional DVD series that focuses on supporting and enriching father and son relationships as well as developing athletic skills.

Initially focusing on fathers and sons, all Backyard Drills® materials feature celebrity, professional sports figures giving hands-on, visual instruction and motivation that teaches parents how to coach and mentor their children involved in, or desiring to become involved in, both team and individual sports. Check it out at www.backyarddrills.com  Get a $20 discount when you use the referral ID: MIM2005. (Featured Website)

More on Divorce
The divorce rate for couples who attend church together regularly is no different than for couples who don’t. But some sources say that the divorce rate drops below 1% for couples who pray together!

Make a resolution to pray with your wife regularly. Use a devotional book like Devotions for Couples (click here), keep a journal, or read a few verses of scripture together.

Check out these articles for more hints on praying with your wife:
Ten Practical Ideas to Build a Thriving Marriage & When Couples Pray

Leadership
Featured Website: Building Brothers @ http://www.buildingbrothers.org/
Building Brothers is dedicated to working with the local church to remove the various barriers that keep men from being involved within the life of the church. These barriers are addressed and can be removed as a core leadership models these principles:

• Understand and deal with the father vacuum.
• Establish a safe, masculine environment within the church to deal with issues.
• Develop men into leaders who can be trusted.
• Help men in their pursuit of God.

Man in the Mirror (MIM) needs “Your Stuff”! 
As MIM builds the Leadership Community in 2006, one part will be an online area of shared resources.  By mid-year, MIM expects to have a “library” of men’s ministry expertise available for leaders like you to go to for the ‘best practices’ in ministry to men through the local church.  So far MIM has received submissions for disaster relief, mission statements, logos, and names.

If you have an event that has worked particularly well, a book or resource you used for a small group or Sunday School class, or any other ideas on men’s ministry you think would help others, submit them now to brettclemmer@maninthemirror.org. Please be sure to include your name, e-mail, phone number and best time to call, the name of your church and its city/state.

The Leadership Community: Gathering and connecting leaders who are discipling men.

Reboot (with 1 Samuel 17:16-20)
The Enemy:  16 For forty days the Philistine [Goliath] came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.  The enemy is persistent and patient. 

The World: 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” 20 … He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. The army of Israel went into position with much noise but failed to engage the enemy. The world does not even recognize the real enemy. There is an apparent disconnect with verses 13-14.  Jesse told David that his three oldest brothers were with Saul and all the men of Israel.  Yet David had four brothers who were not a part of the army. Where are you? Are you: engaged on the frontline, on a hill watching the battle or living in a neutral country?

The Battle:  “He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions …” War was not a 24/7 operations as it is today.  Each morning the armies went out to fight.  War was fought during the day with the armies returning to their camp each evening. Spiritual warfare is a 24/7 operation. Satan can and does attack in darkness (sleeplessness, visions, dreams, nightmares, etc.)

The Spiritual Warrior: 20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. David was responsible, ensuring another shepherd was in place during his absence.  Do we obey our Father’s orders? Are we responsible believers?

My salvation cost Jesus his life.
Making him Lord cost’s me my life.