I have been inspired to start my own blog after reading many posts from Tony Elam, Joel Onyshuk , Luke Anderson and Peter Guirguis. These men have the best content and lessons that everyone can learn from. I am honored to have found friendships with them.
I consider myself a simple man compared to these guys and other men. However, I do feel in my spirit that the Lord has a purpose for me in this world. I feel at times when I read God’s Word, that I’m reading about my own life. I just want to be a vessel of God and that His power to be evident for all to see.
In Act 4:13, the Sanhedrin were left speechless by Peter & John, who was also considered ordinary men and worked on Christ behalf. Peter & John also worked together for the gospel…..not alone.
We can also find in Mark 6:7, that Jesus commanded the disciples to travel in two’s, work and preach to the lost. I have often pondered why Jesus had them travel in two’s. Let me share something that happened in my life that changed me forever.
When I first became a Christian, my thoughts of a “Christian Man” was live for Christ solo without any accountability to keep me in check from making ungodly decisions. After living many years like this, I was ready to leave my marriage and to turn my back on God. I found myself asking, “How can this be happening to me?”
These two scriptures are a few answers that I found in the Bible to answer that question. If Jesus wanted his disciples to follow this model, should I not also? I quickly repented and found Godly men that would hold me accountable in everything in my life. Its been the best decision I ever made. I was trying to be the “Lone Ranger” when it should have been “Band of Brothers”.
What does a “Band of Brothers” detail? Shakespeare gives a great example:
Henry V- Shakespeare
This day is called the Feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home
Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day and live t’ old age
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours
And say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars
And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words —
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester —
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s Day.—-
We are all brothers in Christ taking each others burden, praying for one another, encouraging and holding each other accountable. My life has been changed forever by this example.
Are you a “Lone Ranger”? Do you feel that you can do everything on you own? Let me know your thoughts….I welcome them.
Wow Mark, this is insanely awesome bro! It’s so wonderful to see that you have entered the blogging sphere. We need more Christians online sharing the love of Jesus and I couldn’t have thought of anybody better than you, Mark
I pray that the Lord blesses your blog and that He uses it mightily to accomplish His purposes. I’ll be sharing your posts on twitter multiple times throughout the week.
In the words of that jingle that you play at the beginning of the podcast, “You’ve got a friend…”
Thank you for the kind words, Peter. You always have something positive to say with a brotherly heart. Its because of you men that got me started with this.
Very good stuff, friend. Like Peter, I am also glad that you have begun to blog your thoughts. There is an intimacy here that is wonderful. Please let me know how I can resource you more. If you have something to plug, I’ll certainly do so.
I am looking forward to our meetup in November! I would like a tips from time to time, just to keep the content pure and on track. Thanks for your help!
Thanks for the kind words! We need to get together so we can do an overview of your site and see what we need to do next.
Thanks Tony! Mike and I will have to take you out for breakfast again….and that we can catch up on your http://www.makingsenseofsocialmedia.net ….I’m still not sold on Facebook yet.
Mark & Mike
Band of Brothers is a Term we mention a lot in our Real Men’s group. Making myself vulnerable to others in our support group has made me stronger and able to ask for support. Not only does it come but it allows me to share my strengths back again. Often Men don’t open up as they are two proud to do so, yet they hurt deeply as have done myself. The cool thing is often if one is not messed up we may still possess the experience t help our fellow brother.
One fact I keep finding during invites to our Men’s group at church is how many have joined for friendship. How often do we even think of the most basic hello to our unknown neighbor. When life is good we don’t always think of others yet a kind word can lift just about anybody.
Arnie….your a changed man from when we first met you. Knowing that you are now sharing Jesus with other people on your travels around the world makes it more special. Keep being Bold and keep Jesus the center of everything.