Devotionals
June 3rd, 2006
We deviated from our usual flow and did not have a devotional today but instead ran the last DVD from the
Wild At Heart series (by John Eldredge). Wild At Heart is five guys, eight days, no script as they develop a
"Band Of Brothers". A Band Of Brothers can be defined as living in deep friendship with a shared vision.
Band Of Brothers is different than an Accountability Group model. The Accountability Group model focuses
on us being a sinner and surrounding ourselves with people to help us to not blow it. Someone else referred
to this as a parole officer model. Band Of Brothers differs because it pulls the good out of you and doesn't
start with a negative.
Why do Men's Groups fail?
- People are reluctant to be honest. (My opinion is this is because of
undeveloped friendships resulting in lack of confidence)
- They (the group) don't have a big enough story. Minimizing sin is not
enough.
How do we get started?
- Start by sharing life stories.
- Share your dreams from when you were younger.
- Start praying for a Band Of Brothers
Then, we should take what we learn from a Band Of Brothers and use it to start penetrating other lives
outside the group.
What steps do we take?
1. Got to get your heart back (what is your passion?).
2. Got to find your place in the battle. This won't come quickly.
3. Got to learn how to fight. Ask God for guidance.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or the doer of deeds
could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and
sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends
himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the
worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt