United Methodist Men Fed at Retreat (3/16/14)

The Israelites had been wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, but now they were about to enter the Promised Land.  They were about to be given "a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build..." (Josh. 24:13).  But how did this come into being?  Was it by the sweat of their own brow or was it an undeserved gift?  Did they earn this land or did God give it to them?  "Choose this day whom you will serve..." (Josh. 24:15).

We are faced with choices day by day, minute by minute.  We must decide to constantly yield to the Lord.  To throw away our "gods"; the things that we tend to value more than our relationship on God.  Autopilot doesn't work.  Intention does not equal intentionality.  We must constantly choose between ourselves and God.  Who we are becoming is the sum total of the choices we make day by  day.

Judges chapters 19-21 tells a wild story of rape, adultery, mutilation, and war.  And in the end, the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out.  And so the Israelites take some "unusual" steps in order to restore the people they had just gone to war with.  Judges 21:25 sums it all up:  "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."

"Truth" can fall into one of three areas: Absolutes (core truths of the Gospel), Convictions (Doctrines), or Preferences (opinions). Our goal isn't so much to have answers of right or wrong, but to have the ability to work with others to seek God's will.  We re not subject to truth "in our own eyes,"  but to the truth which comes from an active, intentional, and faithful relationship with God. 

In Judges 19-21 we learn that the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out.  But, when God allows Israel to have a king, He chooses someone (Saul) from the tribe of Benjamin.  God is a God of second chances.  And yet, Saul didn't recognize God's Lordship in his life.  He resorted to his own abilities.  He lived off his experience of being anointed by God and he never grew into a deeper relationship with Him.

Are WE growing?  Or, do we return to the things we used to be free from?  Saul didn't address sin in his life.   He went elsewhere for answers instead of turning constantly to God.  The consequences of "former sins" are always at work in us unless we are growing spiritually and constantly leaning on God's Lordship. 

On Sunday, Pastor Mike had to return home to serve his church, and Pastor Larry lead the final session. 

President Lincoln is held in high esteem today; but he was ridiculed during his life.  David is held up to be the greatest king today; but he was flawed during his lifetime.  God raises up the lowest to be the greatest.  The ability to lead comes from God, not from our inner qualities.

 David's final chapter shows us three facts about God's grace:

1. Wrong things can be made right.  Compare Psalm 51 to Psalm 32 when David agonized over his sin with Bathsheba.
2. God can leverage and use even our mistakes, failures, and valleys for His glory.
3. We can act to make relationships right inside of our life, like when David vowed to care for Jonathan's descendants.  But we need to allow God to surround us with a "team,"  just as David had Samuel, Saul, Nathan and Jonathan.

But we tend to want quick fixes.  The journey of faith needs steady and radical dependence on God.  It takes patience. Before you can be a witness and leave a lasting impact, you must be formed by God. 

After the session, Pastor Larry lead us in the Celebration of the Lords Supper.  Communion was held outdoors under a canopy of trees.  Surrounded by God's creation, we were able to sense His presence, love, and restoring power in our lives.