Influencers of the Central Valley

The Gratitude tn M24                         It’s hard to believe it has already been two months since our last M24. So this post is a flashback post of what I had gathered from this amazing and almost indescribable men’s event up in the hills of Tehachapi. I want to thank God for this weekend, and secondly, thank Matt for surrendering to God and obeying God's calling in bringing us all together!! This M24 weekend went by so quickly. It was hard to leave the safe place and refuge that God showed us this weekend. 1500-1800 men, all desperate to hear from the Holy Spirit, were present. I couldn’t help but be in awe and complete gratitude when I had the opportunity to greet every man who came to the event this weekend, including each one of you. As each man entered those gates, the Holy Spirit exposed their need for Jesus right before my eyes, and my heart broke with the overwhelming feeling of compassion. Some of them showed...

  Through the Spectacles of God                                                  In today's cultural views, it can be hard to navigate through the rights and wrongs, the moral and immoral, ethics, and social norms. There are some decisions that seem obvious when being a follower of Christ, yet another follower will disagree. This can create a lot of division within the body of believers. I was discussing a view with a person the other day, and we were on different sides of the spectrum regarding the subject. Many Christians will say in this situation you simply need to love them. But what does that mean? Is it watering down the truth of God's love or possibly saying things like, “God loves you the way you are,” and then smiling and continuing to another topic? Is this the way we should display God's love? Most of us would say, “no,” yet we find ourselve...

”What” did I just read? The Bible is filled with many interesting and strange stories. Some are easy to understand, while others are confusing. For example, the story of Moses leading the people to the Promised Land makes sense. However, the story about God sending two bears to attack and kill 42 boys who mocked Elisha's bald head, or the story of a talking donkey, are harder to understand. Each story, though, contains something God deliberately included for us to apply or consider in our own lives. Whether you are a new reader or one who has invested many years in God's book, there will always be something new to take away from one of God's stories. A good reminder that encourages me to read, no matter how many times I have read a story or a particular piece of scripture, is this: the Bible is a living book that never changes, but our lives are constantly changing. Therefore, what you read today may not stand out presently, but tomorrow or years from now, when reading that...

-shel·ter- with a capital "S" I woke up this morning with one word on my mind: " shelter ". I couldn't figure out why I would wake up to a word, but it was there. After I got out of bed and started my morning routine, the word stuck in my brain. It simply would not go away. Just like one of those songs that you can't get of your mind and it plays over and over again. So, I went and got my Bible and proceeded to look up scripture relating to the word "shelter". I found Psalm 91 . This piece of scripture is one of the most powerful and reassuring psalms I have ever read. It was a blessing to read this morning. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence . He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithf...

WALK               And he walked with God… To walk with Jesus is to experience the infinite possibilities of what God the Father can do. Jesus and the Spirit have made themselves available to be the influence in our life experiences. A child of God can simply read and listen to God, but when the Son of God says, “Walk with me,” He is saying, “Come and let me show you our Father.” What is the motive in sharing this? The answer is this: men who love Christ are driven to show other men Jesus; they want other men to taste and see that He is good. They want other men to experience a real Jesus, a Jesus that makes an eternal impression, life-changing experiences not once or twice, but always. Men of God look forward to spending time and walking beside Him every day. God’s creation and God’s Word proclaim who He is. All you have to do is simply read a little, get up, go out the front door, and meet Him at the end of the driveway. Then say, “Show me,...

4 of 5 Final Thoughts Series-The voice that sings.. The fourth of our “Journey’s final thoughts” was a statement from another one of our men:      "The voice that sings is a voice that teaches."  We could take this statement in so many directions, but the one that stimulates my thought the most is how influential songs and music can be in our lives. I'm sure all of us can relate to hearing a song from our past and instantly being brought back to that exact moment when the song meant the most to us. It may also remind us of who we were with or what we were doing. Either way, songs and music are a powerful influence in our lives. I must admit that most of the songs I remember from my youth were not songs that would necessarily glorify Christ, and I wouldn't say that I should be shamed for the music I chose in my youth, only because I know God was patient with me and still is. But as I fell more in love with my Savior, my secular world, including music, seemed...

3 of 5 Final Thoughts Series-And he said with such confidence….. I would venture to say that throughout life, a person experiences more trials than not. If we were honest and looked back into our past, trials would be the easiest to recall. Some of us know and still remember the life we experienced before having Christ and the Spirit in us. Do you recall the pain and helplessness that came with those trials? There was nothing out, no one who could bring true comfort and peace and only by God's mercy did you get through them and yet gave no acknowledgment to God. Then there are those who have known God since childhood and have experienced trials knowing God would be faithful in their shortcomings. Either way, trials are difficult and extremely uncomfortable, and no healthy-thinking person wishes to experience the consequences of trials. Yet we are given several verses in Scripture reminding us that trials are going to happen as we journey through the world that is not meant for us. ...

2 of 5 Final Thoughts Series -Dropped from the sky.. One of the most influential characteristics that Jesus taught and walked was serving one another. He insisted that  we put others before ourselves. Always considering the other person before making comments or taking action. I think we all can honestly say we struggle at this. Yes we may do it out for some but Christ said we are to do it to all. Most men come to a journey group not really knowing what to expect. Most of the time the one who invited them just says, “I can’t explain it, you just have to come and experience it for yourself. “ And when the Holy Spirit reaches into the heart of this individual he quickly learns and truly experiences the contagious desire to out do one another in serving each other. Today's final thought is from a brother who experienced just that. He was invited by a longtime friend and decided to come to one of our sessions. . What happened next was perfectly orchestrated by the Spirit. In less than ...

Final Thoughts Series 1 of 5 Are We A Nobody? As the men were exchanging conversation, a couple of them were discussing the impact that a man of God in the world could make on others, and how it didn’t matter about their status, finances, looks, popularity, or even intellect. It’s because of Christ and those men who surrender to the love of Christ are transformed and take on a new identity in becoming the representative of Jesus. The two men’s final statement was this. what the world sees as a nobody God sees as a somebody."-Matt and Allen   When most of the men started their journey some did feel like nobody’s  and others may have felt like somebody’s with no purpose. But soon their relationships grew in Christ and with one another. Little did they know it would change everything.  When considering your Influencer journey, be encouraged by God’s words written through Paul.  “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by hum...

Visions or knowing God's words?  “But he delights in the LORD's instruction, and meditates in his instruction day and night.”  (The more you know the words of God, the more you will see them.) Last night, as I lay between sleep and awake, a living picture formed in my mind. It was a picture of a man - a mild and meek warrior, no armor, just a modest cloak - knelt down among rocks in a sandy clearing with his head bowed and his hands clutched to the top of his sword  The sky was the color of the sun setting in its final moments. A breeze came across from where I stood, and I could feel its comfort, hearing only the softness of its held-back roar, and then seeing its swirling effect on the sand as it moved carelessly past the kneeling warrior. This figure of a man appeared to be in fervent prayer. I could feel the presence of the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I moved closer towards him. ...

Restless because you were made for more…..  Two nights ago, I was praying with several men during an influencers event. I was listening to one of the men’s prayers when he said this phrase: “We are merely restless servants of God.” That phrase really made an impression on me regarding the influencer’s ministries. When I have the opportunity to share with other men about this ministry, many of them also share how they have an uncontrollable and indescribable desire to do something for God. They have some ideas of what that service might be, but they can’t quite place their finger on it. Some have even shared that they struggle to find a place where they fit in when it comes to expressing and living their love for Christ. I don’t necessarily see that as a problem in these men’s lives. I see it as a gift from God. What I recognize in them is that the Spirit of God has been provoked in their lives, awakened if you will, and has caused a desire to serve and give. In other words, a “rest...

Be strong for the week….. The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 Some lyrics from Shane and Shane to remind us that he has gone before us.  "There's peace that outlasts darkness,Hope that's in the blood, There's future grace that's mine today, That Jesus Christ has won, So I can face tomorrow, For tomorrow's in Your hands, All I need You will provide, Just like You always have. I'm fighting a battle, you've already won, no matter what comes my way I will overcome. I don't know what You're doing But I know what You've done. I'm fighting a battle you've already won. There's mercy in the waiting, manna for today and when it's gone I know you're not. You are my hope and stay When the sea is raging, your Spirit is my help, he'll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ and I'll say that is well. I know how the story ends....

Listen to the Purpose ……..   “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” -Jesus  When God calls, He equips! God qualifies those He calls. Please don’t ever forget – When God calls us, He equips us! He will not call us and then abandon us to figure things out in our own strength. When God calls you, He qualifies you. When God calls you, He equips you. When God calls you, He will provide. May our answer always be – “Here I am, send me!” May we always remember – Whatever God requires, He will provide for. When God calls us to do something, we need not fear – God will always provide the skills, ability, direction, and resources we need to carry out His will. “God doesn’t call the qualified: He qualifies the called.” Today, discuss this with God. Ask Him to show you ways that He will use you. Ask Him to open your eyes and be sensitive and attentive to the life of those ...

The world loves a trendy Jesus……. To be a Man of God is to be different. In today's culture, Christianity has become something 'not' Christian. You see this in our churches and in other Christians around us. Many churches have become trend followers. Churches and worldly self proclaimed christians have forgotten that being a true follower of Christ is not easy, it is not always convenient, it offends and it doesn't cater to a seeker-friendly culture at the expense of distracting from the true reason in attending church. I have personally seen churches that look and act more like a Starbucks hangout than an actual house of God. This includes worship music that isn't biblical, yet we sing it because it is on the top Christian chart. God does not need constant changing trends to attract His people. God is an unchanging God. He doesn't change to be more relevant or cooler in a culture, yet His people seem to change Him continually by reinventing a culture to appease...

Part 2-I can’t breathe… Conclusion to yesterday's “Dear younger me” post. The reason we wanted to draw attention to this song is that it explains something many of us do not understand or have often forgotten while on our journey with Jesus. One of the lyrics of this song stated, “it's not your fault, you were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” Some of us have been Christians for many years, while others maybe for just a few months. No matter the length of time of being Christ followers, we all agree that it can be difficult. We all deal with the issue of sin in our lives, and some of those sins seem to be a continual battle.  We will be good for months or maybe years, and then the temptation of that sin shows up again, and again we fail and have to start over. This is frustrating, and many times, we cry to God, why don't you just fix this!!! I know you can!! Yet again self pity wins and we come to God with questions like, “Why did you make me this way? Why am I ...

Part 1 Not made for this world….. Lyrics by Mercy Me Dear younger me, Where do I start? If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far, then you could be one step ahead of all the painful memories still running through my head. I wonder how different things would be.  Dear younger me, I cannot decide. Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life or do I go deep and try to change the choices that you'll make because they are choices that made me. Even though I love this crazy life, sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride. Dear younger me, If I knew then what I know now condemnation would've had no power, my joy my pain would've never been my worth, if I knew then what I know now.  It would've not been hard to figure out what I would have changed if I had heard. Dear younger me it's not your fault, you were never meant to carry this beyond the cross. You are holy, you are righteous, you are one of the redeemed. Set apart a brand new hear...

Sandpaper people ……. A professional finish carpenter  understand wood well. When a carpenter is woodworking, they are eventually going to come to a point where they have to sand their project. When you sand wood, you start with the most aggressive sandpaper grit, for example 80 grit, and work your way down to a finer grit like 220. The number indicates the number of particles within a square inch of the paper. Most of us do not like sanding; it's tedious, dusty, and tiresome. Some relate it to the sound of someone scratching a chalkboard. But when it comes to the quality of the finished product, this is where most fail in what started well but ended less than perfect. With that said, one of the men in our morning group talked about how people are much like sandpaper. Some have an aggressive grit, and we don't like being around them; others are finer, and we can at least tolerate them. These people just rub us the wrong way. But though we prefer not to have sandpaper people in o...

CONTRIBUTION Focus on the word 'contribution.' It seems different from the word 'giving' when looking up this verse (Rom. 12:13) in different translations. I found different words used in comparison to 'contribution,' such as share, communicate, relieve, distribute, the need to help, communicating, administer, and add to. As men abiding in Christ, we are transformed and renewed into a new nature, and a sense of obedience forms in us that stems from the gratitude when the gospel penetrates your heart. This forms a Christ-centered perspective through our personal life experiences. The more we experience the gospel, the more gratitude we have, and this gratitude instinctively produces the desire to contribute. Our 'trials,' or 'experiences,' cause us to thrive on an abundance of Jesus, which overflows, and we must share from that abundance. Consider it all joy when we face trials. To thrive is to contribute to Christ's kingdom without hesitatio...

God and the bear....   I was sitting on a bench at a campground reading last Saturday morning. I looked up and in front of me was one of those chainsaw carvings of a bear. The artist made the bear kind of cute and harmless. I couldn’t help but think about a few outdoor encounters that I have had with bears, and they are definitely not cute and harmless. When encountering a bear, it has been said that you are not to run. You are to put your arms in the air, look as big as you can, and make noise. Many of us will most likely never encounter an actual bear. But there will be many times in our lives that we will encounter a bear on our spiritual journey. The above suggestion when encountering a bear is not to run but to dominate the moment. That is easier said than done. For just a moment, let's imagine this  scenario. You are walking on a path through some woods and you hear the sound of some timber cracking. You turn and see a bear digging in an old log, foraging for food. You s...

Only Children Go To Heaven.  At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:1–4.  The title was misleading, but it got your attention.  When you read a verse like this, it might set you back for a moment. And it should. Jesus does not hold back when he sees his apostles become prideful, trying to jockey their position in heaven. He says something that should get our attention:  "Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." He then goes for the throat of his disciples: "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." I'm sure the disciples shrunk back ...

SOCIAL MEDIA The term "social media" often sparks a strong opinion from everyone. While some individuals opt not to engage with it due to their aversion, others utilize it frequently with great enthusiasm. I recently had the chance to listen to a sermon by Pastor Adrian Rogers, who wisely pointed out that social media, by its very nature, is neither beneficial nor detrimental; it simply serves as a platform or soapbox. The inherent value of social media is determined by the heart of the person employing it. This realization struck a chord with me, as I acknowledged that the opinions we express on social media reveal the true nature of our hearts. Moreover, the content we consume has the capacity to shape our hearts, encouraging them to become more like what they are exposed to. In response to this insight, Influencer's Facebook page will be introducing a daily 60-second read or video designed to inspire your day and cultivate a heart more like Christ. We invite men to enc...