Don't Waste Your Life

See this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJzUnxiKwA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdontwasteyourlife%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

On travel.. grateful for the HCC Live stream

Based on the picture below, can anyone guess where I am today? Perhaps comment below, as well as perhaps your travel story about faith?


I'm staying with friends with my wife, Diane. We used to live here when we were first married, and I've stayed in touch with some neighbors in the old apartment complex. These friends matured into a successful architect, entrepreneur, interior designer turned mom, etc. But being from Iceland and state religion, etc., these friends have no spiritual appetite.

It's Sunday morning. Since they sleep in, Diane and I decided to find a local church, not wanting to go to our old Lutheran church as it is a shadow of its former self, depressing, and confused in its ministry, and thus not edifying. So we thought, let's try to find a vibrant local non-denomination, bible church. So I looked and looked via Google Maps for something nearby. Nothing. A bunch of out-dated Web sites with old-looking pastors, stale pages, stale content - a barren desert of Christianity not suitable for a tough case like these friends of ours.

Frustrated and bummed, I suddenly remembered, "Wait a minute, we could tap the live stream of HCC?!?! Let's give it a try!" Sure enough, no problem to find it, and there it was - home. The HCC Sanctuary with Pastor Matt leading communion.

Man, am I grateful for the church God has planted me in. PRAISE GOD! Oh, yeah, I bookmarked the site on my friend's browser's home page. As soon as they get up, I'll tell them about it. Very very cool. Great sermon too about the bricks and the cross. Led to a great discussion with Diane. Oprah, listen to this! Sermon from May 3rd, 2009.

Looking forward to Bernhard Langer and Tom Randall in two weeks.

Band of Brothers

I have been blessed with a group of men that encourage me and hold me accountable. Together we fight the daily spiritual battle that rages around us through the power given by the Holy Spirit. There is a bond that has been formed over the years through trials and laughter that is priceless. This group holds me up and strengthens me. They help me to be faithful in my walk. They are a gift of God. I don't know God's exact purpose in having twelve disciples appointed in leadership of the early church, but I imagine they felt this bond. I think God has made us in a way that flourishes in fellowship and community. I cannot run the race alone. A good friend gave me the DVD of the mini series Band of Brothers, a story about a group of men fighting in world war two. They also developed a bond that still exists to this day, in those yet living, through suffering and helping each other over the duration of their war experience. We today fight a battle against the principalities and powers unseen that would, if able, destroy us. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. God has given us the means to wage the battle as a Band of Brothers. John Eldredge in his book Wild at Heart tells the story of Henry V at Agincourt. His army is weary and greatly out numbered by the French. As they prepare for battle, Henry bolsters the troups by saying (according to William Shakespeare in Henry V 1599):

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother....And gentlemen in England, now a bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here;
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us.

Let us fight the good fight of faith in honor of our King Jesus with the power given by the Holy Spirit and with the unity of a band of brothers.

Tom Randall & Bernhard Langer - May 19th, 2009 @ HCC

This is very very cool. Kudo's to Tim Schofield for orchestrating this event. In connection with the Senior PGA at Canterbury, Tom Randall & Bernhard Langer are going to sneak over to Hudson Community Chapel for an evening visit. Invite your friends. Let's pack it out. And Oh, yeah, I might show up with my green jacket and get Bernhard to wear it for a few pictures. LOL.

Facebook - 1,000,000 Men Against Prngrphy

Interesting. I saw on Fb that my son Zach had joined a group called

1,000,000 men standing against prngrphy

600+ members already. Perhaps consider joining, commenting, posting useful links, inviting friends, etc. Would joining and participating have encouragement and witness potential in any way on any level?

Curious on thoughts...

The Need For Meeting Together

The church is called "the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)" in the Bible with Christ being the head. The implication is that we as individuals, united with Christ and controlled and empowered by the "head," have different gifts and functions all connected to each other and ultimately to Jesus. So the finger has a different gifting and function than the eye for example. The best function of the finger is dependent not only on the power given by the "head" but also by the adjacent hand, skin, blood vessels etc. The point I am making is that we, as the body of Christ, need others for fellowship, communion, accountability and encouragement in our lives in order to function as we should in God's eyes. Cut the finger off from the head and it will blacken and harden in death. Remove the skin and nail from the finger and it will remain alive but be less than it was meant to be. Our culture glorifies the independent self reliant man. So, many in the church are going it alone and suffering for it. Christian men need other men in their lives in order to live the fullest in Jesus Christ. Scriptures that support this are:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24,25 ESV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 ESV

If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.....Bear one another's burdens.... Galatians 6:1 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom...
Colossians 3:16 ESV

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13 ESV

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ec 4:12 ESV

Applications/Observations:
1) We should be, as Christian men, in regular fellowship with other Christian men.
2) The function of this fellowship is for exhortation, encouragement, admonishment, teaching, restoration, comfort and strength.
3) This fellowship should be sought out by the individual.
4) The ultimate purpose of this fellowship is for God's glory.

Relaunching the HCCMen Blog

Time to get interactive. This Blog will be updated on a regular basis. If you have anything you think might be blogged at any point, please send a note to mikewise07 at aol.com. Please comment on any story as well. Comments of necessity (spam, etc.) need to be moderated, so it may take some time for your comment to appear.

Note from the Men's Ministries Board Meeting. It looks like the next Band of Brothers event (see pictures from last time on smugmug) is going to be May 1st, so save the night. The Mens Breakfast on 1/31 was a great success, though we felt bad for the guys who were shut out due to space limitations - won't happen again. Here's a few pictures (more on smugmug)