KING OF THE HILL – Pause Part IV – JourneyMEN 09-20-2007

INTRODUCTION
Somewhere along the way you will be presented with an opportunity to jump ahead, to take a shortcut, to move closer to that goal you are chasing. And the only catch is that you will have to temporarily abandon your values. So what will you do? It turns out that Jesus was made just such an offer in His third temptation. Examining His response will prepare you for your moment of truth.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.) Name some people in our culture who have taken unethical shortcuts in order to get what they wanted quicker. What were the results of their decisions?
2.) Read Matthew 4:8-9. What is it about shortcuts that make them so tempting that the devil though he could tempt Jesus with a shortcut?
3.) Read Deuteronomy 6:10-13. What does your response to the temptation to take shortcuts say about in whom you put your trust?
4.) Read Matthew 4:10-11. What did Jesus gain when he chose unbroken fellowship with the Father over instant authority over the kingdoms of the earth (cf. Matthew 28:18)?
5.) What do you stand to lose when you take a shortcut?
6.) Have you ever been faced with an opportunity to jump ahead, but it required you to temporarily abandon your values? What was your response? What were the results?
7.) What do you currently want to get so badly that you are set up to temporarily turn your back on God?
8.) In this area, how can you remind yourself to choose what is important over what is immediate?

THINK ABOUT IT
When you take a shortcut you miss out on an opportunity to experience God?s intervention on your behalf. In the area where you could see yourself being tempted to take a shortcut, how could God intervene to give you the results you want, without compromising your intimacy with Him? WHAT WILL YOU DO?When faced with the temptation to take a shortcut commit to pause...and say the following, "Temptation, you're not going to steal my future. You're not going to steal my family. You're not going to steal my faith."

CHANGING YOUR MIND
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Matthew 4:10

Darrin Clock Fund

Hope everyone had a great week! I wanted to give you an update on Darrin Clock…
I have been in regular contact with him regarding his and his daughter's battle with Cancer. As you know, Katee's surgery went well and now she is undergoing Chemotherapy treatment along with Darrin.

It is hard to imagine having to fight your own terminal illness, but having it compounded by news that your daughter has cancer as well…it is almost unimaginable. We are however encouraged to hear news of progress in both of their treatments. Just weeks ago, Doctors gave Darrin little chance of survival past 6 months, but Darrin never stopped hoping. He notified me today that there was even a small shrinkage of the cancer when he visited his Oncologist yesterday. The Doctors are absolutely baffled! Praise the Lord and the glory be to Him!
So many of you have asked what can be done to help. Frankly, there is a financial need. With ongoing medical treatment there is mounting medical bills and a great deal of missed work. Even the most prepared person can find themselves in a situation where they need help financially because of circumstances way beyond their control. This is one of those times…
Imagine for a moment that you need to get several (highly priced) prescriptions filled per week. Now multiply it by two. Now factor in the fact that you need to miss one day per week because of Chemotherapy. This doesn't include the time you may miss because you feel so sick you can't work the following day. Bottom line is; it compounds and it is expensive.

Darrin has never asked for money, but I know it is rapidly becoming a concern. If you are able to help, I am asking for your support on Darrin's behalf. As Doug has said, we need to pray like it was us that were sick and I think we need to give that way as well. If it is in your heart to help, on Sunday, please put in the offering under benevolence "Darrin Clock" in addition to your regular tithe/offering and we will make sure it gets directly to him. There is a fund that has been established at Castle Rock Bank with full disclosure for contributors. It is important to Darrin that people can see where the money is going.
Thanks fellas! Talk to you soon!

Charles

Ps - if you would like to know more of the Clock family, please visit: www.darrinsday.com

Pause Part III - Proving Ground

JourneyMEN September 6, 2007

PAUSE Part III – Proving Ground

INTRODUCTION
Every day people fall into the temptation of presuming on God. You see it in the young couple that spends irresponsibly and then asks God to bail them out financially for example. But what's wrong with that? Hasn't God promised to take care of us? In this session we'll discuss the second of Jesus' three temptations in the desert and what it teaches us about presuming on God. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When in your life have you had an idea, launched that idea, and then expected God to bail you out? What were the results?
Read Matthew 4:5-6. What was behind the devil's request? Why would it have been a sin for Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple?
Read Psalm 91:11-12. In these verses God promised to protect His Messiah. How can a promise be turned into presumption?
Read Exodus 17:1-7, the story of Israel at Massah referenced in Deut 6:16. How did the Israelites put God to the test? How did they try to manipulate God?
Read Deuteronomy 6:16. When do you find yourself breaking this prohibition by presuming on God?
Read Matthew 4:7. What do we learn from Jesus' response?
When do you find yourself trying to get God to adopt your agenda?
What do you miss out on when you continue to try and manipulate God?
How can you begin to stop trying to manipulate God and start cooperating with Him?
THINK ABOUT IT
This week evaluate your prayers, your excuses, your explanations, your decisions, through the lens of Are you cooperating with God, or are you trying to manipulate Him? Is your attitude more like "If I jump, He'll catch me," or "I'm here to cooperate, not manipulate"?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
At the beginning of each day this week, pause...and say Matthew 4:7 to yourself. Surrender to God's will and choose to cooperate, not manipulate. CHANGING YOUR MINDJesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:7

GRACE!

I guess I am obliged to blog about the why the morning started...before the climb on Thursday.

I called Doug at about 6:00 am and asked if he thought it would be a good idea if I got doughnuts for the guys. He said, "yes, that's a great idea". So, I did. It takes way longer than it should buying the doughnuts (which by the way - I'm not allowed to even eat doughnuts - these are for my boys). Now I am running behind schedule (which by the way - I HATE). Driving to Rock Park and a Castle Rock Police Officer whips around and gets right behind me. "Oh crap", I am thinking. I am also thinking, "If you are going to pull me over, do it now so the guys don't see me." The squad car keeps following. I start thinking, "Heck, maybe I am going to get lucky".

As soon as I hit my blinker, BAM, the 'lights of the law' start circling. Now I am thinking, "Maybe the guys wont see me", except they were ALL RIGHT THERE...ALL 15 OF THEM, laughing, taking pictures. Talk about embarrassed...

I couldn't believe it! What are the chances??

The officer gets out and sees all of the men in the parking lot, looking surprised, she says, "What's going on here?"

Someone says, "This is our Men's group and he is the 'Ring Leader', you gotta let him off". She then started talking to my pastor. Now how humiliating can it get? Then another friend of mine comes over, who happens to also be in Law Enforcement and tells the officer to 'take me in'. The only thing missing was my mother being there!

Turns out, the Police Officer was incredibly cool about the entire thing and I will NEVER SPEED AGAIN!!!

And Fellas, Next time - GET YOUR OWN DOUGHNUTS!!!

This post is dedicated to the brave men and women of the Castle Rock Police Force

-Charles

What a Morning!

We had an incredible morning on Thursday climbing 'Mount Castle' - okay, it's not quite a mountain - but it is a pretty big rock! It never ceases to AMAZE me the hunger the men of our community have to come together to make themselves and one another better - Praise God!


We have a God who not only invited us to call Him Creator, but Heavenly Father. While we were at the 'summit', it was easy to see that we have an awesome God that is an incredible creator. We could see practically more than a hundred miles in every direction. The beauty and majesty of His creation is breathtaking. But what makes me even more at awe is that God not only invited us to call Him The Creator, but Heavenly Father. He wants a personal relationship with us - now that is exciting!


This really struck me as I was talking to the other JounneyMEN. I thought to myself, "It's all about relationships".


I could be climbing this rock myself, and it may be okay. But what if I slip? I don't think I could have or would have wanted to go any higher if Matt weren't standing in the spot that was a little scary - but I trusted him and I kept moving ahead...



Matt is a Fire Fighter and I knew that I could trust him. He stood at the scariest place on the climb and encouraged everyone as they passed this area - reassuring everyone and telling them exactly where to step. It gave me comfort that he was standing there and it help alleviate my fears (and the fears I had for the others in the group). It gave me confidence and security knowing that he was standing there.





Isn't this similar to our faith? When it is strong, we move - we climb with confidence! Just knowing He is there, we are able to trust and feel more safe. As a leader, you feel more confident because He is there at the scary places on the 'mountain' for your people. God is the ultimate Fire Fighter! He is the ultimate encourager. On the other side, what if our faith is weak? We hesitate, we become paralyzed with fear and uncertainly. God does NOT want this for us!


Wow! God wants me to call Him Father. He wants relationship just as He built us for relationship with one another. He is there for me. Helping me along the climb. Now that is amazing!





On top of The Rock, we prayed (together) for the community - specifically the men, the families, the businesses and all of the churches. We focused outward, symbolically and vowed to remember that we will continue to look outward as this is what God told us to do.



We concluded by joining hands and reciting the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, The Lord's Prayer before descending down again.

What a way to start the morning. Knowing that the hills I climb, I don't have to climb alone. Our Heavenly Father is there and so are the JourneyMEN...