Monday, September 20, 2010

Who Will Carry You?


Last night we had an amazing event for men. Living Hope is partnering with The Uprising. It is a ministry just for men that my friend Tim Brown founded. They provide a kick-off event for churches and then accountability groups called "fire teams". We have seen amazing fruit from this ministry.

Last night we hosted a "Facemask" event. This is the first step in launching men into accountability groups. Men are challenged to see the problems we face as men, they are shown God's way to overcome, and encouraged to connect with other men to stay on course.

As the event was wrapping up, a man in the crowd had a medical emergency (he is fine). A group of men stepped up to care for him and carried him into the lobby where a physician was able to look him over.

The irony of that was not lost on me.

Here were hundreds of men gathered together being challenged to get into groups to stand together in their faith. Meanwhile a real life example of why we need each other erupted in our midst. This man needed other men to be there for him to get him to a physician. Everyone needs a group of friends that will be there for them and get them to the Great Physician, Jesus, in times of need.

It reminded me of how a group of men helped their friend get to Jesus in his time of need. Luke 5:17–19 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Who do you have in your life that will take you to Jesus when you need him most? Who is praying for you? Who has your back? Who is holding you accountable?

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