Men's Ministry

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MEN'S MINISTRY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25

Greetings Men – Have you ever heard of an organization called “Assurance Wireless”? Basically, it a government (a.k.a. taxpayer funded) program that will give you a free cell phone and 250 free minutes every month. Google “assurance wireless” and check it out for yourself. Here’s a clip from their website…

Virginia residents have something to get excited about: Assurance Wireless offers free government cell phone service in Virginia! Now eligible Virginia residents can get a free modern cell phone and 250 free voice minutes a month. Free phone service from Assurance Wireless does not require a credit check, a deposit, monthly fees, or a contract. All you have to do is qualify for the program and you get free cell phone service for one year. When a year has passed, if you still qualify for the program all you have to do to keep your free cell phone service is complete the annual certification application (this takes five minutes).

By now, you are probably wondering how you can qualify for Assurance Wireless’ free cell phone program. Well, it is pretty simple. You can qualify for Assurance Wireless service in Virginia under government program-based eligibility criteria; no one else in your household currently has a Lifeline phone; and you have a home mailing address.

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MEN'S MINISTRY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18

Greetings Men – I hope none of you showed up last week expecting snacks and found a dark room. But fear not… we are back on this week and LANCE COOPER is on for snacks!

It is ironic that I get to write about what Andy calls the debt spending crisis today… TAX DAY. Our national debt is basically “credit”. We have spent more as a nation than we have taken in, so we had to pull out our national “credit” card and go into debt to stay afloat.

Andy defines “credit” as reaching into your future, grabbing cash, and pulling it into the present, and spending it now. What a great definition! Do you have any concept of the magnitude of our national debt? Do you know what YOUR individual share of that debt is? Every citizen’s share of the national debt is $49,990. But wait that’s not all. As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia – a fairly conservative state – you owe another $7,371! That’s a total of  $57,361 for each of us. Let’s put it in perspective. If we have 30 men in our group tomorrow night, we would have a collective debt of $1,720,830. And that’s just DEBT – not ongoing operating expenses! If you want to get a visual representation of this, go to usdebtclock.org and watch the numbers roll. It will boggle your mind!!

So what does this mean to us personally and individually? We basically got to this point because too many individuals and institutions SPENT more than they had to the point that the DEBT caused a massive national implosion. Just look at how many houses are in foreclosure, how many businesses have folded, how many major banks and investment institutions are gone. Andy will talk to us about giving, saving, spending and the influence of money on our lives.2

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MEN'S MINISTRY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

Greetings Men – I recently got this note from our resident “Sage Of Wisdom” Lee Andrews that was funny, ironic and sad all at once.  Here’s the note:

The food stamp program, part of the Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of food stamps ever.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service asks us to "Please Do Not Feed the Animals" because the animals may grow dependent and not learn to take care of themselves.

Isn’t this crazy? I also heard a report on the news recently that as a nation, we have become dependent on other countries for oil, finances, computer parts, rare earth metals used to make computers, batteries, etc., and a host of other things. As Lee’s note points, we as a people have become dependent on the government or “someone” to look out for us or take care of us. It seems that both as a nation and as individuals we are dependent on anything or anyone – that is besides the only truly DEPENDABLE source – God!

Admitting our dependence on God often requires us to humble ourselves – something that is often difficult for us to do until we get to the end of ourselves and realize our need for a Sovereign God!

This week, Andy discusses our need both as individuals and as a nation to make a “Declaration Of Dependence” on God. Only then will true recovery begin.

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MEN"S MINISTRY - WEDNESDAY MARCH 28

Greetings Men – This week, Andy will talk about “credibility” --- particularly in the realm of the political world. However, the issue of “credibility” is widespread.

This week I have experienced firsthand the result of a “credibility” issue – both positive and negative. And this is why Dave Cummings is leading our group tomorrow night. THANK YOU DAVE.  Let me explain.

Betsy and I needed some work done at our house in Nelson County. We were told, signed a contract, talked to about a dozen people, who all assured us the work would be done on Monday, March 26. However, between last Thursday and Saturday, the whole deal fell apart. NOW, we are waiting for the work to be done tomorrow before 5:00 PM… or Thursday morning …. hopefully!!!! Not that this is a big deal, but we TRUSTED in a large company and people who did not meet either their promises or our expectations – even though it was advertised and printed in a contract…. CREDIBILITY was/is at stake. Such is life in a sinful world.

But on the positive side, the man who showed up today to do part of the work, was a born again believer, and we had some wonderful time of fellowship with him while he was “destroying” our kitchen… God IS good!!

BUT, what does this say about the world in which we live? Credibility is an issue… whether it is in a business, a person, or our leaders in government. Here’s what Andy is going to talk to us about this week…