Thursday, January 07, 2010

encouraged

Right around 20 guys showed up for our first men's study this morning at 6:00 AM. I was humbled and encouraged by the turnout. I was hoping for around 10. Men are hungry for more.

If you missed it, it's not too late to jump in. Join us next Thursday. We are reading Piper's "The Pleasures of God" and the first three chapters are available online HERE. We were all challenged by reading the intro together this morning. Read and come prepared to discuss chapter 1 next Thursday.

If you can't make it right now, jump in when we start the next book in a couple of months.

I laid out these expectations for the study this morning . . .

  1. Show up consistently. I'm asking for a "book-long" commitment at minimum. When we finish the book you are free to hop out, but don't quit in the middle.

  2. Be on time. I'm committed to ending our formal discussion no later than 7:00 AM, so our time is short and precious. Let's make the most of it by starting together at 6:00 AM sharp.

  3. Come prepared, having actively read the assigned reading.

It was really too crowded in my office, so we'll meet in the Lower Fireside Room next Thursday (The entrance is just east of the office doors on the Pismo side of the campus.)

Life is short. It is so time to invest in things that matter and things that will last. Relationships, the knowledge of God, and our call to leadership as men are all things that matter.


On a sad note, I was reminded of the brevity and fragility of life last evening as we received news that Berkley Johnston, a family friend, unexpectedly passed away after suffering a heart attack yesterday. Berkley was only 46 years old. He leaves behind a grieving wife and three children. Our family is grieving with them and considering our own lives and all that really matters.

2 comments:

Janice Phillips said...

Praise God for the work going on in the men at Grace!

Praying for your family as you grieve and minister. Phil 1:3-11

Brian Wong said...

That's awesome! Praise God.