Week of 07/07/07

Not too long ago, I was giving a CD by my Pastor that contained a song that had such an impact on me. It's not the kind of song that gets "stuck" in one's head like "It's a Small World" from Disneyland or some silly childhood song ... well you know the type. It's also not one of those songs that has been played over and over on the radio until you have to change the channel so you don't have to hear it again. No, it's one of those songs that grabs a hold of your heart, challenging it to understand why it has been such an impact.

Well as most of you have seen, these "Nugget's" are coming farther and farther apart. Though I have Dr. Meyer's book sitting right next to me the majority of the time and I pick it up and re-read the lessons, nuggets are not popping off the pages like they used to. And that has bothered me. At times it feels like you guys are being let down; sometimes I wonder if this ministry is coming to the end of it's season; and at other times I wonder if it's simply part of the process. I was so challenged by the timeframe of these "Nuggets" that I contacted Dr. Meyer for his thoughts and here's what he had to say:

"Hi Howard,

Mate, you can only do what you can do. I’m not sure I would come up with something every day or every week forever if I was only working on the net. The best accountability is the one you are working through personally with a few blokes face to face. If that’s not happening it will most certainly dry up. If there is day to day, face to face stuff happening with real live people you will always have something to share from the group. If you do have a personal group of guys you are relating to face to face, why not ask them if its OK to put up something from the group each week.

Blessings,

Al Meyer"

After hearing Dr. Meyer's thoughts, the wheels began to turn and as Dr. Meyer so stated, we "blokes" should probably get back on track with our accountability partners once again ... but more on that later.

So what about that song and why is it so impacting? Well it's called "Finish The Work" by Curt Coffield of the Resurrection Life Church. It's on the "Let The World See" album and I want to share some of the lines and how it fit's with where we are on our walk as Valiant Men. Here are the words:

So finish the work that You've begun
It's obvious You're not quite done, Oh Lord
Finish Your work in us

If we're gonna do all You've called us to
There's so much more we're gonna need from You
Finish Your work in us; Finish Your work in us

The first line states a well known Biblical fact: one day, those who believe in the Father will be joined with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

It's the second line that first hit me: "But for now the change in us is day by day." What this means is that no matter who we are, what our social status is, what race we represent, what sins we've committed; either knowingly or not and everything else that defines who we are, we are changing day by day and we MUST realize that. Each of is being changed in accordance with God's will for us; not our own. It's His grace and mercy and our acceptance of this that allows change to happen.

God is always willing to change us. It's our willingness to allow this change that challenges most of us. After all, we are flesh and there is much out there that our flesh loves to feast upon. And as long as we are alive on this earth, the day to day challenges will continue to declare war on us. The good news is that we always have Him to lean upon as long as we understand and accept that the changes in us sometimes will and sometimes won't happen overnight. It's a process that He takes us through.

The next line is a declaration: "We won't sit and wait for your to appear when there's so much more to do in us while we're here." This is a declaration that no matter what, we refuse to sit back and allow the world to dictate who we are, what defines us, allow the enemy to run amuck in our lives, and otherwise lead un-Godly lives. Taking this to the next level; yes, I have Covenant Eyes protecting me from what's on the internet but do I bounce my eyes, talk to my accountability partners on a regular basis, avoid situations that I know are not good for me ... not always. I don't know what the writer of the song had in his heart while writing this, but for me, when I sing along to it, I am declaring to God that I am not going to sit back idly waiting for Him to appear and am opening this vessel to Him to continue the work in me that He has already begun. And if that means continuing with the Valiant Man Nuggets in some way, shape, or form until He releases me, re-dedicating myself to the principles taught in the class, and receiving those things the Lord put on my heart for other men, then that's what I shall do.

That brings us to the next impacting lines: "So finish the work that You've begun. It's obvious you're not quite done, Oh Lord." Yes, I want to have the work completed. I want to be able to look at another woman and see her as one of my sisters in Christ. I want to be totally rid of any immorality that is still within me. So yes Lord, please finish the work that you've begun because I know that at least for me, you're not quite done.

And lastly, "If we're gonna do all You've called us to; there's so much more we're gonna need from You." This line is making a statement to God that we need more of Him and less of everything else. Whether it be more intimate time with Him in prayer and supplication, opening ourselves up to be a readily available vessel, or doing any of the other works that He wants us to accomplish in His kingdom,

Ya know, the bottom line is this: We Need Jesus to complete our lives, pure and simple. Nothing more, nothing less. And if we have any chance of completing the work that He has set before us to accomplish, we have to stay focused and not let any of our brethren go astray. I've added an .wma copy of the song to the link below so that you can listen and hopefully catch what the artist fully intended for you. If the song touches you like it did me, please go and purchase the whole CD at your local store or find it online.