I Love A New Face

Last night I was out late watching the Thunder/Lakers game with friends.  After the game, a friend of mine started talking to a young guy about some of my crazy traveling adventures.  Come to find out, this young guy has treaded a lot of the same ground that our feet have traveled.  His face lit up when I told him that my wife, myself, along with many other friends have lived and worked with kids (traveling hippies) in and around Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  He really lit up when he found out that the reason that we were there is because we are Jesus freaks.  Now we where connecting fast.  I started to learn more about him.

He is in OKC, on an adventure of his own.  He loves music, people, the arts, prayer and Jesus.  He came to OKC on a step of faith, only knowing that he loves these things and has a vision of being used in these areas in our city.  He wants to start a prayer community in the city that might look like IHOP in Kansas City.  He is keeping his time on the flexible side of the spectrum of time management...haaaa...i love it.  He ended up crashing on our couch last night & we hung out even more this morning.

I don't know what will come out of this random encounter, but I felt like there is some great take aways for each of us in this story.

1) Recognize the value of sharing your life story with others.  I think that we often feel far more "terminaly unique" than we should.

2) How 'bout some of the "creative bravery" that has lead this guy on one crazy adventure after another.  He has faith and confidence that God is not only at work, but is also willing and capable of using us in ways that are sometimes obscure and misunderstood.

3) Bringing people into our homes is a huge point of desparity in our culture.  It was so refreshing to see this guy needed a place to crash that night and having the freedom to say yes.  The fact that you are already worried, squirmish, and scared that I would dare to entertain a stranger is a clear marker that all of us have a long way to travel before we better understand some the simplest of ways that Jesus wants to use us in the lives of other people.

Kenny Deason
www.campuschurch.tv
405.474.1783

Good Soldiers

2 Timothy 2:1-7 has been the topic of our Thursday morning men's group. In this letter, Paul is challenging Timothy to "endure hardships like a good soldier." Good soldiers endure difficulties with their head up. Good soldiers do not quit as a result of hardships. Despite all of the hard things that life can throw at us, Paul & Timothy suffered as a result of their passion for the name and purpose of Jesus Christ.

I believe that we often face less glamorous stages of hardship before we are challenged with the degree of suffering that Paul is referring to. These guys faced hunger, sleepless nights, beatings, rejection, and slander due to their relentless persistence in kingdom work. Despite the degree of difficulty that we may or may not be facing at this time, consider those experiences as opportunities for growth and maturity. Even good soldiers receive some hard training on the peaceful soil of their homeland before facing the roar of a lion.

C.T. Studd

All manly names aside, and not to mention the ruthless beard, or the greasy mop slicked back, C.T. Studd deserves our attention due to the rugged and fearless life he chose to live and die while following Jesus from England to China, India, and ultimately Africa where he would die. This weeks Thursday morning Men's Group highlighted this man in history.

CT Studd was an early 20th Century missionary from England. He and six of his Cambridge classmates were accepted by Hudson Taylor into the pioneering efforts of the China Inland Mission. The seven students accepted by the CIM of that time would be labeled The Cambridge Seven and their selfless act of bravery would have a long lasting impact not only on their peers at Cambridge but also the English country side and the US. In fact one of the largest missionary movements of all time would be launched as a result of the obedience of these seven students. That movement is known as the Student Volunteer Movement.

Despite the life of affluence that each of these men where raised to not only enjoy but to manage as heirs of large fortunes, each of them had a radical call of duty that they heard from Jesus that demanded their very lives. CT Studd walked away from a professional cricket career that in itself would have earned him a fortune, not to mention the 29,000 pounds that he inherited from his father. CT Studd committed 100% of that inheritance to missions around the globe.

CT Studd would meet his wife in China and go on to do pioneering work in India and finally in Africa where he would die. CT Studd is a lesser known name of this era when compared to contemporaries such as DL Moody, Charles Spurgeon, George Mueller, but I find CT's life to be a great example of simple kingdom action that resulted in a transformed life that would be used by God to reach thousands and mobilize hundreds of thousands more not only in his life, but also in the lives of us who are serving after him. This time in history is marked by the presence of fearless men who risked and gave it all for the sake of the Kingdom Of God.

Thursday Morning Mens Group

WHEN: Every Thursday morning 6:30am-7:30am
WHERE: OCU BCM building at 2407 NW 23rd St.
WHO: If you are man, then you are welcome to come.

Come join a group of men who meet on a weekly basis to not only explore the unique purpose and responsibility of being men, but also challenge each other to experience God's expectation for our lives in this area.

The Bible has so many stories of men of faith that God has used throughout the ages. We will be challenged as we look at the journey that these men faced as they grew in confidence and boldness and were ultimately used by God because of their faith.

History also has tells a story of great men of faith. We will also look into the lives of great men of history and discuss their role in making the name of Jesus something more than a byword that makes people yawn.

There will be minimal reading for the group that will be provided via email. If you are not able to make it to the group, but would be interested in receiving the content provided for the group then please email us at campuschurchokc@gmail.com and write "Men's Group" in the subject. If you have any questions about the group, then also email the same address with the same subject.