I feel this threat of becoming the last of the great “friendless American males”. So easily I can retreat to being this nice guy who never really engages another guy. I meet with these 5 or 6 compadres every Sat am and we have this agreement to be open and watch out for each other. Still I find it easy just to keep to myself.

Most guys do this as they cruise through their 40s and 50s and it all goes so quick. It happened to my dad in spades. He was essentially alone from age 50 on.

“My calling and my friends are the two things in which my life turns” Friedrich Schliermacher.

True.

Dave

Caleb was an incredible guy at age 40. He teamed up with Joshua and insisted “we must by all means go in and take the land”. He looked past difficulties and obstacles and believed God deeply.

Amazing thing about this guy is that he could have retired early and lived in some prime ocean front real estate along the Med. coast. But no way. At age 85 he puts in a request for a building permit in what would be like present day downtown Bahgdad.

This is a guy who was getting closer to God and stronger in Grace and truth and power.

See Craig Groschel’s blog this am at lifechurch.tv:swerve 

LifeChurch.tv is continuing their At The Movies series this weekend through the weekend of August 4 & 5, 2007. This is an excellent series extremely similar to our own Grace @the Movies Sundays.

I encourage you to tune in to LifeChurch.tv’s Internet Campus to participate in this excellent series. Here are the times on this:

LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus times
Sat Night Experience - 7:00pm CDT
Sunday Experience- 11:30am CDT
[click here to go directly to the campus]

Movies are a huge part of our lives, capturing and revealing who we are… maybe even changing us in the process. Once a year, LifeChurch.tv produces At the Movies, a message series that relates timeless truths to some of today’s blockbuster hits. Fun and relevant, At the Movies is LifeChurch.tv’s most anticipated annual event. Come see what happens when Hollywood meets church!

Gordon MacDonald has been a hero and “father” to me through his writings. Several years ago I digested (read and reread and ruminated on it) his classic book “Ordering Your Private World”. It is the most influential book in my life.

This morning I began reading his book “A Resilient Life” and it looks to be another lifechanger.

I want to digest it bit by bit before I begin to talk about it with others. Watch here for my “world rockers” from this book over the next few days.

You can move ahead no matter what.

Dave

I recieved a note from an out of town friend who asked for a resource for someone who is depressed. Here is my response to my friend BJ.

Hey BJ!

Usually if a guy is struggling, there is unresolved/ ignored/ not ever aware of issues with family of origin. Depression is fueled by anger and guilt…the unseen type. Also, the core relationship with God may be running on false assumptions (I need to be a better Christian, after all I’ve done God could not be pleased with me, etc). “The Search for Significance” by Robt McGee is an essential book. I also am hearing a new book discussed by Gordon McDonald- “The Resilient Life”.

I love you BJ and it is cool to see you going forward.

Dave