REAL Man’s Toolbox
Make 2021 a year for building relationships By Leo Hellyer 2020 is almost a thing of the past – finally – and 2021 is approaching quickly. As Christian men, we have an opportunity to focus our efforts on exploring new relations and how that can affect the society around us. Instead of harboring ill will or misunderstanding about people who believe differently than us, or who we do not understand for whatever reason, we need to be building relationships. Through relationships, communication, understanding and empathy can take place. “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” – Colossians 3:14
and use diplomacy in bringing about change. As more and more interpersonal relationships are built, the better our nation will become. We have a lot of past mistakes and injustices to move past as a nation, and maybe as individuals. I think that we need to learn from our past, and move from our past, but I don’t think that it is wise to destroy the history of our past generations and pretend it does not exist. To move forward, we need to know where we came from.
“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” – Romans 14:19
Let’s begin praying now that 2021 will be the year Relationships are how unity is built up. When we that our nation truly comes to God. Let’s pray for are in relationship with someone, we respect them Leo Hellyer leadership that seeks God’s direction as they make and their opinion, even if it does not align perfectly decisions. Let’s pray that God will use each of us, with our opinions, background, and politics. After doing whatever it is that He wants us to do, wherever He wants us to all, we are all Children of the Living God. God loves all of us. He do it, to bring a revival to our nation. God will probably take some doesn’t like everything we do, but He loves us. All of us. of us out of our “comfort zones,” but we will be better off for it. God has a wonderful plan for us as individuals, and for the United “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to States as a nation, in 2021. We may not fully understand His plan, one another in honor.” – Romans 12:10 but we must remember, He is in control. I believe that part of His plan is for His When we have established a relationship people to rise up and be heard and seen. with someone, we are more inclined to Throughout 2020 we have heard and treat them with respect and brotherly seen a lot from those who wish to delove. We are more likely to have tough, stroy much of what has been built. honest, and challenging conversaI sense God calling His people. For tions while actually listening to us to be seen and heard, we must each other’s thoughts and feelings figuratively tear down the walls bebecause we have invested time and tween us and those who would like energy into the relationship. If we to physically tear down the walls of are living out our Christianity, we our communities. will have a number of friends who We need to build bridges that span are not Christian. If we are striving the chasm that separates us. Once to be more and more Christ-like evagain, this can only be done through ery day, we won’t just huddle around relationship, love, and compassion. We other believers; we will also reach absolutely must have prayer warriors, out to the lost. When Jesus was on the but we also must get out of our church Earth, He sought out the less fortunate, buildings and prayer closets and be seen the hurting, the lonely, the prostitute, and heard, presenting the truth, hope, and and the challenged. power of God Almighty throughout our We need to build relationships with all communities. of the people God brings across our path. We are called to be united and unified. Once These meetings are not just coincidences; again this is best done through building relationthey are Divine Appointments. If you see things ships with those who cross our path. around you that you do not like or agree with, then take steps to bring about change. Christian “… walk in a manner worthy of the calling with men bring about change through relationship, unwhich you have been called, with all humility and derstanding, prayer, compassion, and involvement. We gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in are God’s hands and feet on this Earth. love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond God created mankind to have relationship with Him. If of peace.” – Ephesians 4:1-3 n we are in relationship with God, then we will want to also be in relationship with others He has created and loves. When we Leo Hellyer is a non-staff pastor with a local church and has been married encounter people around us who have different beliefs, priorities, to his wife Norma for more than 45 years. The couple volunteered with the motivations, or commitments, we need to respond to them as God responds to us. God unconditionally loves us, even though He doesn’t Boise FamilyLife Ministry Team for 20 years. Leo has also been serving with like some of the things we do. We can love our brothers and sisters Boise Rescue Mission Ministries for 20 years and is currently serving at the even while we don’t like some of what they do or believe. River of Life Rescue Mission. He is president and chief firearms instructor Although the United States as a whole has some issues, we still live with Helping Hands Firearms Training LLC. If you have questions about in the greatest nation in the world. As Christian men of God, we Real Man’s Toolbox, or need other assistance, Leo may be reached at need to do everything that we can to build our nation up. We need to silverplate426@msn.com or 208-340-5544. build and not destroy. We need to communicate in love, cooperate,
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6 November / December 2020 | Christian Living
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