Category Archives: Men on the Path

Posted on

An Encounter with God

The Christians in the miracles and healing and spiritual gifts movements call it an encounter with God…I am wondering what in the world that is and means!  My friend, who you have listened to regarding miracles and healings, invites me to come to his last teaching engagement of the summer before he goes back to the mission field.  At the end of the service, I am watching him laying hands on people for healing etc.  There is a very strange woman rocking back and forth and waving her hands in the corner of the church.  This woman later walks up to me with her friend and asks to pray for me…as she is praying she is humming and talking jibberish aka speaking in tongues? but the English that she is speaking/praying out loud is about what God has put on her heart to share with me–God tells her-through prayer-things about me and my family that ONLY God could know! WOW!  What can a skeptic like me say to this?!!  The Christians who walk in these circles call it ‘getting your mail read’ when someone prays for you and speaks things that ONLY God could know about you.

What do you think?

Posted on

Men’s Topic #3: 3 Attacks on our Identity as men

Bucky taught us from Matthew 4:1-11.  Jesus prepared Himself for his encounter with satan by fasting for 40 days and nights! We lose sight of the fact that ‘fasting IS feasting’ on God and His word.  Fasting and prayer and meditation on His word doesn’t weaken us but strengthens us for battle.

There are 3 temptations/3 attacks that the world and satan use to attack our identity:

  1. performance trap: world tries to convince us that our identity is linked to our performance
  2. control trap: world tries to convince us that our identity is linked to how much power/control we have
  3. worldly possession trap: world tries to convince us that we are what we own
What is the cure for this pack of lies, attacks, temptations?
  1. Our identity DOES NOT come from what we do but who we are to God.  We are His beloved!
  2. Our identity DOES NOT come from our power and control but our job is to submit and put our trust in God.  We must give over our control to God.
  3. Our identity DOES NOT come from our stuff.  We are NOT what we own!
note: we also talked about how the world and satan love to isolate men.  Being in community, in fellowship with other men is essential!
As always PLEASE leave us your thoughts/insights etc by clicking on the “0 comments” in yellow at the bottom of this post and leave a comment.
Posted on

Men’s Topic #2: Are you enough?

Topic #2 is based on the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15.  This brief audio is about a LIFE CHANGING concept that will improve your marriage and relationships.  We are all walking around with the ‘I am not enough’ wound that society and our parents have given us.  This wound can only truly be healed by God, but our wives/s.o./friends can help heal this wound.  Please add your thoughts, questions, and comments below this post!

 

Posted on

Paul Young speaks and preaches AGAIN

This is the 1 of 4 teachings from July 2008 at Mariners Church when the author of the amazing book: The Shack spoke.  (There are 4 separate podcasts that you can listen from Mariners Church podcast; these 2 are the best of the 4.)

As always please share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Posted on

Men’s Topic #1: Where is your treasure?

Here is a GREAT email from Dave summarizing Men’s Topic #1 (and I have added 2 audio’s–Bucky’s teaching points and the debrief insights time): Where is your treasure?

The passages from Matthew that we talked about Wednesday are among my all time favorites. (For those unable to attend we covered Matthew 6: 19-34. You may wish to take a moment and read it before going further.)

Bucky covered so much this morning as he talked about Jesus’ Life Investment Strategy:

  1. One of the key words in these passages is “treasure.”  When we hear that word most of us think in terms of physical things – material possessions; but Jesus meant it as the order of the heart.
  2. We all have a treasure box – our hearts. What do you have in your treasure box? (“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”)
  3. We tend to organize our lives around our investment strategy. We need to organize it around God’s Kingdom and all else will follow. (“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well.”)
  4. It is impossible to treasure two things equally. We cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom. It does not work; one will eventually dominate. (“There shall be no other gods before me.”)
  5. The treasure isn’t something we get when we die (like some prize); it is here and now. The Book of Matthew is the Gospel of the Kingdom and it tells us the Kingdom of Heaven is here and now. We can have the eternal, abundant life today. Something Cynthia and I do each morning is pray together and one of the prayers we use is the one Dr. Bill G. gave us a few months back.  Ask Bill or me if you’d like a copy.

So, what does God treasure? He treasures people, relationships and the creative order of things. As you re-read these passages look for how God tells us about how He takes care of all things that honor Him. Don’t be afraid to take that step. Tell God you want to turn your life over to Him (“thy will be done”). “You will find rest for your soul.”

Posted on

Men on the Path: September 24

I hope to have a weekly summary post (hopefully with some audio) of our time together at our men’s group. I missed yesterday, but Dave has sent me a great summary! (Don’t forget to go to uberlumen.com and sign up for the updates by email and itunes podcasting):

As soon as I saw the scripture reading for the Men of the Path was about Peter walking on water (when Peter temporarily trusted in God and forgot about his fears) it reminded me of the John Ortberg book, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat.” What a title, huh? If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it. Bucky took that passage on fear and turned it into a positive by leading us into a discussion about risk. As one member at our table so aptly put it, you have to be willing to give something up when you take a risk. Getting to know God personally, enjoying His presence here and now is a risk. Most of us are afraid of what God might do. Another person at our table reminded us that everything we have (career, family, etc.) belongs to God. God wants us to have those things (not to excess) but also know He can take it at anytime. So we are to worship and honor Him first; everything else (yes, even that thing that just crossed your mind) is secondary. So, how do you spend your day, your week? What are your priorities in life? Write down your schedule for a typical week. What are you willing to give up for God?

In His Service,

Dave

Posted on

Why Go to Men’s Group? What is in it for me?

Join me in listening to an interview with Gene who gives a GREAT example and IMPORTANT reasons to join us at Men on the Path this coming Wednesday morning at 6:45am-8:00am.  

  • WHEN: Wednesday’s from 6:45am-8:00am
  • WHAT: We are going to be looking at the TOP 10 things men need to know
  • WHERE: North Park Community Center 

Note: it is best to enter the housing complex off of Portolla because then when you go through the gate the club house where we are meeting is straight ahead of you. When you enter at the Portola gate tell Jim, the guard there, that you are attending the Pathways meeting.
View Larger Map

Posted on

Men on the Path: Men’s Group on Wednesday’s

Get READY! We are starting a new adventure as men on the path together.  

  • WHEN: Wednesday’s from 6:45am-8:00am
  • STARTING: September 24, 2008
  • WHAT: We are going to be looking at the TOP 10 things men need to know
  • WHERE: North Park Community Center (NOTE: It is best to enter the housing complex off of Portola Parkway because then when you go through the gate the club house where we are meeting is straight ahead of you.


    • View Larger Map

Posted on

Men of Influence: Men’s Group on Friday’s

There are 2 men’s groups that I know and love.  One meets Wednesday mornings and the other on Friday mornings–both meet from 6:45am-8:00am.  The Friday morning group meets at Mariners Church, room 204 (see map).  I have been a part of this amazing, life changing group for almost a decade.  If you are free on Friday’s…join them! They are going to be looking at a GREAT book this season: Jack Hayford’s book, “Prayer is Invading the Impossible” The group starts September 19, 2008.


VIEW LARGER MAP

Posted on

Prayer Request Update re: Jeff’s cardiac arrest

I just received an update via email about Jeff’s condition. I know that many of you have been praying for him and his family.  PLEASE read his AMAZING journal entry!

I have cut and pasted it here as well:

I’m writing to say thank you for your love during my cardiac arrest, resuscitation, medical care and current recovery…

…to my Heavenly Father, who, obviously, holds my very life in His hands; Jesus, my Lord and Savior and the model of the person I strive to become; the Spirit of God, my daily strength and wisdom. Thank you for your grace.

…to Karen, Alex, Maddie and Ella, it is impossible to imagine a life without you. Thank you for loving me everyday.

…to mom and dad, for staying by my side the past 45 years

…to the rest of our family and friends, in the Port Streets (wow!), at the Boras Corporation, across Orange County and the country for your prayers, caring for my children and my wife, visits to the hospital to spend time with me and sacrificing time with your own families, coordinating meals…etc. etc., overwhelming…

…to St. Andrews Pres, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and my Friday morning men’s group, for being a model of what it looks like to worship God with our lives everyday, praying over me and reading God’s Word to me in the hospital, and prayer, prayer, prayer…

…to Hoag Hospital, my doctors, and the Newport Beach Paramedics, there are numerous exceptional medical people and facilities across the country, but none better.

There has been much prayer for me, and now from me to you-one of Paul’s prayers that has been a main life verse for me for over 20 years….

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV).

I look forward to the opportunity to say thank you personally to as many as God affords me the opportunity. Just one warning, any hug over 3 seconds brings with it the danger of getting wet.

Peace, Jeff Musselman

Posted on

Evil and Suffering, Passing the Blame

It took me some time to see it (15 years), but it finally dawned on me as I observed another doctor do it.  I saw a patient who was dying of end stage liver disease from alcoholism.  The first question that the admitting doctor asked the patient was “When was the last time that you had a drink?”  How is that relevant at the end of this patients life?

I have been guilty of this as well.  I have seen patients dying of lung cancer that I have asked if they smoked and how much.  WHY?!! There is no medical reason to ask.  We ask these types of questions because it makes us feel better.  We think to ourselves:  1. They are to blame for their demise and 2. I won’t get this horrible disease because I don’t smoke or I don’t drink.

The blame game does NOTHING to help with the suffering, the evil, the tragedies, the messes of life.  We must rise above the blame game to ask ourselves how can I help others through this and to help heal the pain with God’s help.

We all play the blame game and look for someone to blame.

Posted on

List of Top 10 Most Important Topics for Men

Get READY! We are starting a new adventure as men on the path together. Starting September 17, 2008 at North Park Community Center from 6:45am to 8:00am.  Look forward to seeing all your smiling faces again!!!

If you had to make a top 10 list of the most important Men’s Group Topics what would it be?  Please give me comments/feedback to help me get a top 10 list together.

Posted on

wordpress 2.6 and podpress 8.8 don’t mix

Coming soon! (If? When? the new version of podpress comes out to fix the problems between wordpress 2.6 and podpress 8.8) I plan to do a 10 part audio series on the VERY BEST men’s group topics of all time and an audio series on the best learnings from how to win friends and influence people!

Any other topics of interest? Let me know!