Father figures

A few weeks ago I was chatting to a new friend by the name of Bruce who is serving God and the people of South Africa through an exciting sports ministry (check out www.aishopeacademy.org/). We hooked up to discuss CVM SA (Christian Vision for Men South Africa).

Bruce shared with me something that clearly was coming from his heart; the idea of father figures. Bruce works with a lot of young, impressionable men.

Question - Who is standing as a father figure for these guys, and the many others in our communities?

When we look at our society today we can see many issues; crime, unemployment, poor living conditions etc etc. We hear these issues reported on our news programs, for some we have even experienced, first-hand the negative outcome of such issues.

Question - Should we just sit back and complain, should we sit back and wait for others to address the issues?

Clearly the answer is NO!

We can all get on board and try to do something to turn things around.

One thing I want to highlight in this post is the whole idea of father figures.

Not every young man out there, in everyday life, has a positive role model, mentor figure in their life. Even those who still have their biological father or other family members like uncles don't always have a real positive father figure in whom they can learn from and turn too. I think this is where, for many young guys, things start to fall apart!
But change, even for those who have turned to crime is possible; just ask guys like Bruce who works with young offenders.

What we need is men who can act as a father figure, mentor to the next generation. This was something that I think past generations were often pretty good at. But it's something we, in today's world have, dare I say, forgotten about. We need men who can first set good examples; this needs to be in every area of life including family, work and their social lives. From there we need men who will make time to invest in the next generation and guide them as they grow into the men of tomorrow.

I'm a Christian, so from my stand point I would say that such father figures need to know God as Lord and Saviour. From such a relationship life can be lived the right way and the positive example needed can be lived out. But actually let's not limit this idea to the Christian church. Men today, regardless of religious beliefs need to live life right, and as they do, they can in turn be the example setters for the next generation.

Okay, so maybe I tweaked your interest. What does being a father figure to the next generation entail?

Well I've already mentioned setting the right example, but if you can give more you will help more. We need guys who are able to come alongside young guys, not to judge them but to walk with them through those formative years. We need guys who will make themselves available to young men as a listening ear and as a help in times of trouble. We need men who recognise that they themselves have had positive things like morals, practical skills and so on invested into them, and they now can invest such experience into the next generation.

There is much more that can be shared and I invite you to comment on this post if I can help you or encourage you further.

If like me you see the importance of such father figures, mentors in society and you want to get on board, take a look at those young guys already known to you. Is there anyone you can befriend, (A piece of advice here; don't force things and speak to any parents involved before making your approach). Another way to offer yourself as a father figure or mentor is to talk to your local church leaders. They should be able to advice you and point you in the right direction.

I would also like to make myself available to you. If you leave me a contact email or phone number I will contact you and help to put you in touch with the right people.

Before I close this post, let me say to any young man who reads this who feels they have no such positive figure in their lives, there are guys like Bruce, like me, who care. Please speak to the right people and let them help you as you go on with your life, (the comment part of this post is for you too).

Thanks for reading.

Location:Jeffreys Bay

For God So Loved the World...

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)

If you’re a Christian, you will undoubtedly know this verse very well. It may well be the first verse you ever memorized. Actually many in our world today, who don’t even know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, have probably heard this verse; it’s so widely known.

My devotional today encouraged me to read it as though it was the first time I had ever seen it (why don’t you pause here and do likewise – read it like it’s completely new to you).

What an amazing verse? What is the gospel that I preach, ‘John 3v16’; it’s all there isn’t it!
For God… The creator of all life, the Almighty God, the one who we can all know as ‘our God’.

so loved the world… Warts and all, God loves this world; the good and the bad parts of it, God loves this world. Those that mess up, like me! Those that get it right, God loves them all!

that He gave… God wasn’t forced into anything, He wasn’t blackmailed. No one had Him over a barrel. God, our God gave; He made a choice to give something so incredibly precious, not just for those in the world who are good, but for all of us.

His only Son… Some of us haven’t been blessed with having children yet; I would like a child. Our God had one; He had a son, and He gave Him to die on a cross for each and every one of us.

that whoever believes in him... Key word here is ‘believe’. It doesn’t say ‘whoever earned or deserved. Believe - we’re called to believe in Jesus. It’s not that hard to believe in things really; I believe in my football team (AFC Wimbledon), I believe they’re the greatest football team ever!! Believing in things isn’t hard; it’s a choice one makes. We’re invited to believe in Jesus.

should not perish… Does this mean we won’t die? Answer: We die, we all die, but death isn’t final. Death is like the metamorphosis from one existence to another.

but have eternal life… Life with no end isn’t something that all people would consider a good thing. But we’re not talking about life as we know it, in the here and now. We’re talking about life with Jesus, in a place of incredible perfection. Life where one can fully realise that for which one was created for.

Did you read this incredible verse anew today?

How has God spoken to you?

Who needs Spiderman’s spidey senses!

Within our church here we’ve started a new journey through the book of Romans. Over the coming weeks I’m going to be adapting my sermons for my blog. I think that God is giving me this stuff to share with my fellowship, but also to encourage men everywhere.

I hope you enjoy the read.

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1–7 (ESV)

If you look at Romans 1:1-7 you see the apostle Paul introducing himself to the church in Rome. Verses 3 & 4 really stand out for me concerning the two detailed natures of Jesus.

First we see that Jesus was a descendant of King David. This being the case means we are able to recognise the human nature of Jesus. These verses however show that Jesus was more than just a man, He was also the Son of God, and declared so through His resurrection in power.

Guy’s think about this for a moment, Jesus isn’t some distant deity that has no clue as to what being a bloke is all about – He is fully God but also fully man. Now don’t ask me how to theologically explain how that is all possible. If I have to get into all that, you might end up missing the quite amazing truth that Jesus knows all about being a bloke.

You know what? I can follow a God like that; one who knows my struggles! I can worship a God like that; one who isn’t some far away distant deity!

Keep looking at these verses and you’ll see mention of Jesus being resurrected in power. This is something that we as believers have in common with Jesus. You see, when we turn to Jesus and ask Him to be our Saviour, our Lord, something amazing happens. In less than a micro second to us, we die and are re-born. In that micro second we, like Jesus, are resurrected in power and declared sons and daughters of God. That’s cool stuff right there eh?

It’s such amazing stuff that Hollywood and Marvel comics have been using the idea for years. Notice how Marvel’s Superheroes nearly always go through some kind of near death experience. This experience is closely followed by the receiving of some kind of new power!

Now as followers of Jesus, we may not have Spiderman’s super spidey senses, but we do have something that’s quite unique to us as Christians. We have the Holy Spirit who lives within us. He, among many other things, is the new power of God that we are re-born with.

Now the Holy Spirit lives in and with us for many reasons, one is all about the idea of bringing about change. Something happens in us when become Christians doesn’t it? We start to change from the inside out; we start to take on the characteristics of Jesus. In fact I defy you to show me a person who knows Jesus as both Lord and Saviour, who hasn’t experienced some kind of change in their life!

The change however doesn’t stop with our remodelling; as we become more responsive to the Holy Spirit within us, He will often lead us to engage in our communities in new ways, ways in which He can begin to influence change. In the hands of God, each and every one of us can be an instrument of change in our local communities, in our circle of friends, and even in our families.

I want to encourage you as you read this, to recognise the new nature you’ve been born with. When you started believing in Jesus; when He became your Lord and Saviour, you were given a new nature, one known as a ‘child of God, born in power’. Recognise this amazing miracle in your life, work with the Holy Spirit and you won’t see a fictional tale of a superhero making a difference, you’ll see a real life bloke making a difference wherever he goes.

Go, and save the day!!

Forget and forgive...

I’ve just been having a chat with a young girl who earlier in her life experienced the breakup of her parent’s marriage. It was very hard for all involved, and has left some really hard memories in her life.

She asked me how can she forget and forgive.

First, my heart went out to her; at such a young age, she shouldn’t have to be asking such questions. I say to her and anyone wanting to move on from traumatic events in life, that healing starts with forgiveness.

Forgiveness has its roots in our choice making, though it may feel like it comes from our emotions. We can choose to forgive or not too, and both will affect our emotions. When we chose to forgive, we don’t only release the other party, we release ourselves. In time our emotions will catch up with the choice we make.

Forgetting is something we all want when it comes to horrible memories – forgiveness can start that process, but shouldn’t give us the expectation that we will always forget. Some things live on and may never be forgotten (it sucks I know, but that’s the truth!). But hear this, if we chose to forgive, we start the healing process and we do what Jesus would want us to do.

I believe that Jesus knows our pain, that he knows what we’re struggling with, and yes He can make us completely forget the past hurts of life. However, sometimes what He does is help us move on, He helps us live on. Complete healing from our hurts will one day come to us, but in the meantime Jesus can show us how to find release.

When we turn to Jesus and seek forgiveness for the things we’ve done wrong in our lives, we often forget that we can also leave at the cross, the wrong things that have been done to us. If you’re carrying scars from past hurts, why don’t you today, give them over to Jesus so that He can work with you to bring healing from them?

In closing, I want to speak to parents – I haven’t as yet been blessed with children so I don’t pretend to be an expert on the subject of parenthood.

In a perfect world parents would remain together as husband and wife, and would never have the difficulties that often leave a lasting impact on their children. That’s the perfect world (one that we can all work towards), however, that’s not the world this young lady has lived in and she isn’t alone. Can I just say to parents (in fact not just parents, but uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and so on), we need to be aware of the hurts some children are carrying, hurts that are, maybe being experienced by them in almost complete secrecy. We need to come alongside them and love them through the pain. We need to seek wisdom from God and lead them to that place of healing.

May God meet with us as we seek Him for wisdom and healing, and may we all be used by God, as he seeks to bring freedom to the many children out there who are hurting.

Glorious Day...

What a great song from Casting Crowns...

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shone among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

Living, He loved me...

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him
The grave could not keep Him from rising again

Living, He loved me...

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Belov’d One bringing
My Saviour Jesus is mine

Living, He loved me...

That's the gospel guy's - Jesus is the One I want to proclaim in word, song and in my living.

Reaching men for Jesus isn’t only a dream of mine…

Reaching women is equally important! However, we must work with what we’ve been given, and God has given me a burning passion to, a) see men saved, b) see these men walking consistently with the Lord and being the husband, father, brother and friend that God designed them to be.

Tall order… nah, not if you know that God is anointing you for the task!

So let me begin; those of you who know me, know that I’m not your stereo-typical pastor, I don’t fit the mould that some have of pastors. I’m a bit down to earth and a bit like a hard boiled fruit sweet; hard on the outside but with a sweet, soft centre! It’s a combination that I believe makes me very useful to God as He seeks to grow His Kingdom through reaching men and, in turn, their families.

When I arrived in South Africa, I felt a growing passion to reach men but the early days weren’t the time that the Lord wanted to release me for such a pursuit – it was a time to build me. Now I find myself at the Jordan River with God, about to enter the Promised Land.

Last year (November) God made a way for me to visit the UK and meet up with a guy called Carl Beech, the international director of a group called CVM (Christian Vision for Men), http://www.cvm.org.uk/index.php

CVM are having a massive impact in the UK and now around the world; they are seeing men reached with the gospel message. Lives are being changed globally. How exciting is that?!

When I met with Carl we discussed my dream of being used by God to impact guys in South Africa with the gospel message. Carl, like me, was very excited about this possibility. Since then God has been leading us to embark upon launching CVM SA. The main aim of this group will be to take new ground for the Kingdom of God in South Africa with respect to men. There is a lot of work to be done in setting up such an active group, and I trust the Lord to provide all the wisdom, resources, and finances to make it happen.

My next step is to look at setting up the organisation, share the vision with others around the country, and get on with the task of resourcing local churches to reach men for God.

I’ve been invited to go back to the UK in late June 2012, to spend time with Carl and the team, to learn from them and to be further equipped to make this exciting ministry a success here in South Africa.

God is the enabler, the anointer and the provider. If you would like more information about CVM SA or feel that you would like to support this ministry to men in South Africa, both financially and through prayer, or with your own time and skills, please make contact with me. You can do so through facebook or you can email me directly at mlk307@gmail.com

Please share this post with family and friends.

God bless you and thank you for your time.

Mark Knight