Gmen May 2014

News The Reason

A riot is the language of the unheard. – Mr. Luther King

C

ould it be that the gospel hasn’t been heard in the realms of

atheism, liberalism, secularism and other religions, because we’ve demonstrated it with words instead of power?

Proverbs says that, “Open rebuke is better than secret love” [Prov 27:5] Could it be we’ve been to secretive about our convictions as believers?

The onslaught continues.

6.6.14

G Men

K

ingdom rebellion is born of love.

ordered systems, inhabitants and glory.

It’s the love of a father standing

Politics, business, education and culture, it’s

against a pharaoh. It’s like a

time to take all of it back, baptize it and make

shepherd fighting a wolf. Too often we forget,

it holy! Redemption starts with saving human

there is no love without hate. “The fear of the

souls, but it doesn’t end there! God wants the

LORD is to hate evil, pride, arrogance and the

fallen world back too. This is why Jesus said

evil way” [Proverbs 8:13]. Those who fear, or,

pray in this wise, “…your kingdom come. Your

reverence and love God, will simultaneously

will be done.” [Matt 5]. God’s dominion is

hate or be irreverent towards evil.

consistent with His plans being carried out in

Maybe you’re that Christian that thinks God wants all of us to move out to a mountain

the earth’s affairs.

Whether it was Moses pushing against

on a hill, meditate and never come back. This

Egyptian rulers, or, Abraham Lincoln

defies our direct orders, “Go ye into all of the

emancipating the slaves, all of the great men

world…” [Matt 16:15-16] The Greek word

in scripture and history, were willing to go

there is kos'-mos or the worldly affairs, its

against how things are, to establish how they

should be. They were never conformists.

The Rebel’s Rules Of Engagement Get Aggressive “Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man

like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger, someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” [Mark 3:27]. Satan’s not going to just roll over and play dead while you take back all God has for you. Let’s not forget that to truly love God, we must really hate evil, and take a stand accordingly.

Get Knowledge “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” [Prov 24:5-6]

We must get information on the world in which we live, if we’re to effectively take it back for Christ.

Get Going You don’t have to get it right, just get it going! As you go, God will help you get it right. Too many men lack initiative. They’re waiting for confirmation from 12 prophets, a divine dream, and an appearance from 3 angels. No! Take step towards making right the wrongs in this world, and watch God work with you [Mrk 16:20]

So believe it or not, you and I are called to rebellion! It’s not what you’re used to hearing I know, but its what the masculine ear needs to get aggressive for Christ.

Building Men. Raising Sons!

While God seeks to kill that which should not be allowed to live in us, Satan tries to breathe life into it.

A

rt Greco is discovering that God kills and the devil gives life — that Christ is in the business of destroying and Satan is in the business of

sustaining. While God seeks to kill that which should not be allowed to live in us, Satan tries to breathe life into it. Perhaps that’s why he finds himself addressing God in a rather strange way when he prays lately, using a

much less common title, his dominant title in a

own ability to perform is the basis for his

dying man’s life: “Oh dear Holy Assassin: Be

credibility. It is this type of authenticity that

loving enough to eliminate what pollutes my

lays the groundwork for a book offering bold

heart and erodes my soul. And when the day

definitions of the hallmarks of redemptive

comes that I attempt to annul this contract, to

spirituality: humility, teachability, celibacy,

withdraw the permission I now give, listen

courage, faith, yieldedness, and loyalty.

instead to the instructions of Your own

Greco explores these concepts with powerful

headstrong mercy. Swallow hard, breathe

tenderness and rugged hope that rests in the

deep, take aim, and pull trigger. Amen.”

knowledge that when we are weak, we are

There is winsome vulnerability

strong.

throughout God Kills. Beginning with a preface that chronicles spiritual survival amidst the horror film of clinical depression, Greco spends his first chapter [“The Author Is A Hypocrite”] laying to rest the idea that his

God Kills is a book most have never read before meaning that in the vast array of volumes that ponder God, spirituality, faith, etc., there seem to be many that say the

same thing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong

discussion of spirituality that invites actual

with that, and it’s not as if Greco doesn’t

growth instead of merely the appearance of

interact with common themes found in

growth, beckoning all toward genuine, vibrant

writings on spirituality, but he brings

life in Christ.

something new to the conversation if only because he shares so freely from his

Covenant Church in San Rafael, California.

substantial and seasoned life experiences.

God Kills welcomes readers into a

Art Greco is a teaching pastor at Marin

He and his wife of 35 years, Brenda, have three adult children

refreshingly candid and encouraging

Oh dear Holy Assassin, be loving enough to eliminate what pollutes my heart and erodes my soul.

Events Our next G men’s meeting [Men 18+] is on June 6th at 7:00 P.M. Our next Giant Killaz meeting [Boys 10-17] is on June 6th at 6:00 P.M.

Bulletins If you’re interested in being commissioned in 2015 email us at Gmen@mobcc.org.

Connect with us online by clicking here

Scripture Philippians 1:28 Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God.

Thought When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.