to register or request a church packet, go to either www.IronSharpensIron.net or www.floridamenofintegrity.org. A promotional video may be viewed and downloaded from the Iron Sharpens Iron website.

I encourage you to consider using some of the great resources available to support your ministries to men in your church, such as Great Dads, Unlimited Partnerships, or Reaching Every Man. We would be glad to connect you to a wealth of anointed speakers who live right here in Florida. For more information about any of the resources or speakers available to support your church and their ministries for men, please contact the FMI Office at (352) 371-6682, or e-mail info@floridamenofintegrity.org.

Have a wonderful summer, and stay cool and connected!

---

You’re Marriage – Growing or Rotting

Mike & Wendy Behar

Consider the Orange… On the tree it is beautiful, smells great, and gives promise of good things to come. As it continues on the life giving branch it continues to grow and mature, but the very instant it ceases to grow it begins to rot. Even though it still looks good and tastes good the rotting process has begun. For some time it will have the appearance of being everything God intended it to be but, the truth is that if it is not growing it is rotting. In the same way this is an example of what takes place in our marriages. We grow during the courtship process

and maybe even through the honeymoon and maybe the first year of marriage. Then we begin to take the relationship for granted, and become less intentional about nurturing and investing in it. The result, the rotting process begins. Like the orange we sit in church looking good only to later be surprised to hear that another marriage has ended in divorce. While no one enters into marriage with failure in mind, it often (about 50%) ends up that way. Why is it that we will invest in the maintenance of our vehicle, or buy a new golf club to improve our game, or spend money on pleasure, but not invest in the growth of our marriages?

Wendy and I made a commitment to each other on three rules when we began talking about marriage:

Our marriage would be centered on Christ. Divorce would never be an option to solving our problems. We won’t even mention the word. We would never stop investing in our marriage.

We encourage every man to make a fresh commitment today before it is too late and invest in your marriage. The woman that God has entrusted to your care is His precious daughter, and according to 1 Peter 3:7, “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” (NASB)

For more information about Unlimited Discipleship Ministries, visit www.udministries.org, or e-mail MIkeBehar@floridamenofintegrity.org.

---

REACHING EVERY MAN UPDATE

David Dusek

Did you know that we have trained pastors and men’s leaders in virtually every major Florida city? Since the introduction of the ‘Reaching Every Man’ model of men’s ministry leadership training (in partnership with Man in the Mirror) in December of 2007, I have personally trained men in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, Naples, Fort Myers, Lakeland, West Palm Beach, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala, Fort Lauderdale and all points in between! While driving some 10,000 miles across the state of

Florida, I have had the incredible pleasure of meeting over 850 men who have a passion to reach and disciple the men at their churches. The men’s leaders, including 145 pastors, have represented every major denomination, including United Methodist, Southern Baptist, Church of God Cleveland, Church of God Indiana, PCA, PCUSA, ELCA Lutheran, LCMS Lutheran, C&MA, Church of Christ, Calvary Chapel, Nazarene, Mennonite, Episcopal and Catholic men! Over 300 churches across Florida and southern Alabama have participated in this training, which is helping to change the landscape of men’s ministry, one church at a time.

Without a doubt, the most notable statistic of the 32 events that have been held in 16 short months is the over 118,000 men who attend the churches represented by the leaders who have joined me for Reaching Every Man. This vital men’s ministry training positions men’s leaders to best serve the men in their congregations, providing new ways by which men can become better husbands, fathers, servants and men of integrity.

Join us in the battle for men’s souls, either by attending, or hosting, a Reaching Every Man in your community, please contact David Dusek at 941-544-4799 or at DavidDusek@floridamenofintegrity.org. For complete event details, including a schedule of coming events, testimonials, curriculum and more, please go to our website at www.reachingeveryman.com. Reaching Every Man is a ministry of Man in the Mirror and Florida Men of Integrity.

What Are You Here For? (John 12:1-8)

Dave Stevanus

The beginning of chapter 12 of the Book of John contains a great story. There is much to learn hidden in this story about our lives as followers, believers and disciples. As Jesus is enjoying a meal and some time with friends we get an account of two people who are close to Him. Mary and Judas are both present at this meal. Both are close to Jesus and have spent real and personal time with Him. Both know that there is much to be gained through their connection to this Man. The problem is that only one of them

Mary sits at His feet, she is well aware of the fact that she is in the presence of a special friend. Humbly, sacrificially and culturally questionable she anoints His feet. Feet that had to walk everywhere He went, through dirt and dust and some other things that may have been left on the road by the animals who shared it. Mary let down her hair, something that just wasn’t done by the Jewish women of the day, and used her hair to wipe the perfume from His feet. This was not ordinary perfume, it was expensive and used under only the most special circumstances.

The point is that she sacrificed her position, her possessions and her person for her Savior.

As Mary performed this incredibly worshipful act and Jesus’ disciples saw it. Her act of sacrifice, however, offended Judas. He had to speak to his displeasure and ask why this expensive perfume would be used this way. He asked why not sell it and give the money to the poor. It was the time of the Passover Celebration and that money could be given to the poor. This seemed like an obvious gesture for such devout followers. Though some people in the room may have agreed with Judas only Jesus could see the true motive in his heart.

Here is the challenge of this story. Is your devotion to Christ like Mary’s? Is it humble, sacrificial and personal? Or is your devotion like that of Judas’? Good talk for those who are listening and only in it for what you can get out of it? Judas was the treasurer and was stealing from the men who he lived with. He just wanted more money in the collection so that he could take some of it. Are you like Judas, only interested in how your life with Christ can benefit you?

Give Every Man in Your Church an All-Time Classic This Father's Day
Project Father's Day - An Affordable Strategy to Reach Every Man

These books are a great tool for your Father's Day service. You can find statistics, sermon ideas, and sermon illustrations on our Project Father's Day Tips page.

SPECIAL! Order 20 or more boxes and get a 20% shipping discount! Call for details. 800-929-2536.

Driving Down Prices on Drive-Times!
Just in Time for Father's Day

That's right! We've dropped the price of Drive Time for Husbands, Drive Time for Fathers and Drive Time for Spiritual Disciplines to only $59! You save $20. In your busy life, using your commute to educate yourself is a great way to utilize those traffic filled moments. It also makes a great gift for Father's Day! Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Trouble viewing this email?
Click Here