Seven Brothers On A Mountain

On March 12, I went on a journey with six other men. A journey that made a profound impact on my life and relationships.

We went to a beautiful place with a beautiful name. The Sky Corral Ranch in Bellvue, Colorado (www.skycorral.net). It took about 25 hours to get there in a rented van. We left on March 12, 2010 and returned on March 21, 2010. It was in between these days that some important things took place.

With Jeff Oates - our fearless leader, Stanley Sanders - our great encourager and messenger to the ones who love us and awaited our return home, Anthony Sanders - the one who kept everyone smiling, Bill Reeves - the one with the experience and needed skills, Eric Lewis - the one with boundless energy and undaunted optimism, Bunny Crocker - the All-American in basketball and great ice road hero and me.

Our journey was a long one, but a fruitful one. Fruitful in many ways. We got a lot of work done and were able to help fulfill an important ministry. More importantly, we got to know one another much better. We got to make new friends and learn more about our great God.

We attended a church service there on Sunday, March 14. We sang a song about how God's glory fills the earth. As we sang of God's glory, I looked out the window. I became overwhelmed. I was unable to speak for a moment. God is indeed glorious! His creation screams out His glory. (Psalm 19:1)

While we were there, we went to the top of the mountain. The experience left a great impression on me. While the view was absolutely breath taking, it was what I learned on that day that made it so special. As I watched the guys take in the view, I realized that we were indeed brothers in a Royal Family. Our God is more than words can describe, He is...I AM.

Offended

I said something to someone today that I'm not sure I should have. I've been thinking about whether I should apologize or not. Thinking about it got the wheels in my little head turning.

As Christians, many of us seem to have our focus aimed in the wrong direction. We see how the lost behave and look down our noses at them. We act so offended and we tend to judge. These are the very people we are supposed to be ministering to. Not sitting in judgment over. (Matthew 9:10-13, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

We were the same once. In darkness, without understanding, dead in our sins.
(Romans 5:8)

It is the ones in the church, the ones who profess Christ and exhibit profane and vulgar behavior and language. The ones who warm a pew and shout amen on Sunday morning and then are indistinguishable from the world every other day. It is these who should offend us most. Not the lost. Not those still in darkness. (1 Corinthians 5:12)