How to Fight a Bear

I found this clip and though it was important to share with "men". You never know when you might have to do a smack down on a bear.
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. What do you think?

Just Open the Door

Guest Blogger- Brian "da Bears" Heckman. Brian is making a huge difference in Tampa and he always challenges me to follow hard after Christ.

I used to cringe when I heard the word “evangelism”…I’d run the other way when my name was used anywhere near the word. Regardless of my feelings or reaction, though, I now “get” that God calls us all to fulfill His Great Commission. And, the grace-giving God He is, participating in making a difference has actually gotten, well, exciting.

Many of us attend churches regularly, but often miss God’s specific and individual call on our lives - to reach others for Christ. This call, the root of our faith, is why God tells us to gather on Sundays, and study the Bible, and fellowship with other believers. For many church-going people, I think we genuinely want to know ways we can practically participate in God’s work, and experience how alive and real God is.

In basketball “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. In business, “if you don’t ask for the business, you’ll never get it.” In our relationship with Christ, He’s told us many times that He’s got our backs (my paraphrase). But in order to move closer to Him, we have to make the move. Same with reaching others for Christ…we have to take the shot, or ask the question. If we don’t, God still completes His will, but just with someone else…and we miss our chance to experience Him.

I really grabbed hold of this “invest & invite” strategy taught at Church at the Bay. Its helped me really integrate God into my life, and encounter Christ in ways just as real as my “real-live” life experiences. I now know how real and alive God really is, right now…without requiring me to stand on the busy street corner screaming into a bullhorn while wearing a home-made billboard strapped to my chest informing people they need Jesus. I still don’t necessarily believe I have a gift of evangelism, but I’ve decided to let God figure that one out, while I continue acting on His nudge in my life.

Some ways we can “invest & invite” people in our lives:

• Introduce yourself to someone new every Sunday at church. Ask them where they live, how long they’ve been coming to CATB, and how they heard about us. Remember their name, even if you have to write it down.
• When co-workers ask how our weekend was, say something about church, rather than intentionally not mentioning it.
• Carry the CATB business cards in your wallet. Leave them places, seek opportunities to use them like you use your own business card.
• Become friends with people from church. Hang out with them regularly outside of church. It’s easy to invite & connect old & new friends in more casual settings.
• Forward Christian-based (but non-churchy) emails about being a better father and/or husband to guys, and engage them in conversation about it.
• Invite people to events/social gatherings that have nothing to do with church, God, or Jesus. God shows up where ever we invite Him, whether that’s a flag football field, happy hour, a dinner party, poker night, or beer & wings w/ the guys.
• Invite someone to a HomeTeam. Invite that person that keeps coming to mind, but you think will say no. Open the door, and give God the opportunity to work.
• Invite someone to church on Sunday. Sure, it’s a big deal, but it’s a bigger deal to have the answer they’re searching for, and not offer it to them.
• Invite someone to Tampa Frathouse mens’ group. Invite that guy who won’t come to church w/ you, who thinks church is for a bunch of sissies. Invite the guy with the alcohol problem, whose marriage is on the rocks. Maybe he’s been praying to God for someone to introduce him to Him.
• Make it a point to go the church baptisms. Be there for new believers who are taking their next steps.

Take time to talk with God in the mornings, asking Him to help you see opportunities in your day to participate in His work. Write down some of your experiences so you can look back on them after a month. Talk with Christ-following friends to keep each other encouraged.

I love the Olympics

I love the Olympics! The years of practice and discipline to compete at that level is amazing. It is hard sometimes to relate- because I have had years of practice and still dangle prepositions and say ummm. So I thought I would give you Olympic Bloopers! It's Friday and if you need someone else's failure to feel better- you will love this video!

If you don't see video- click here

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Being a Man

I invited Jeff Allinder (a huge servant at The Bay) to write a Guest Blog for Men! Home run!


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What defines manhood? American Heritage gives it a good shot:

• The state or time of being an adult male human.
• The composite of qualities, such as courage, determination, and vigor, often thought to be appropriate to a man.

What defines courage, determination, and vigor in our world today? Most of us don’t go to work on a horse, combine, or a with a tool belt. For those that do, vigor is more direct and discernable. For the rest of us, it comes from golf, softball, hiking, or watching the NFL. For purposes of this discussion, I’ll classify vigor as an easy part of being a man. This is pretty hard-wired and doesn’t require much effort, so I’ll move past it. This brings us to courage and determination:

Most of us don’t have to face the wilderness or risk our lives to provide for our families, so opportunities to display courage look a lot different than the image in our minds. I propose that courage for most men is better defined as shunning temptation. Taking the more difficult path, putting the needs of others first, THESE things take courage. Having moral and ethical integrity when no one is watching…that’s determination.

What does that look like for the average North Tampa/Westchase professional man?

• Avoid the casual flirtation with a female business associate, that girl at the gym, or wherever it presents itself. Instead, renew your marriage by recasting your wife in the light you remember from early dating time. Take that rush of exhilaration you got when your first dated her and put it on a shelf in your mind so that you can take it down and drink from it any time. Use that to keep those other doors tightly closed.
• Instead of tearing down other people, look for opportunities to build them up. There are always examples of people who aren’t as (insert limitation here). When the inevitable opportunities arise, deflect them. Then look for ways to put a spotlight on people doing good things great and small.
• Take the heat. When your subordinate at work misses the ball, take the heat. When you need to discipline your child and they whine, beg, or scream, take the heat. When your wife has a tough day and vents about something you did, take the heat.
• Admit that you don’t have it figured out. When you need something from your wife, tell her about it and ask her for it. Don’t get mad at her for not meeting a need you haven’t expressed and go looking elsewhere. When you need help, ask a friend. Cultivate relationships with men that you can lean on when those times come.
• Don’t be a victim. Don’t look for slights, lament bad fortune, or live with a sense of entitlement. Life is tough, and things aren’t going to go your way. Don’t allow your attitude to be determined by circumstances.

To me, these things require and represent courage. Doing them consistently requires determination. It is easy to look at guys who have screwed up big time and either dismiss them, pity them, or even sympathize with them. But they didn’t get there in a day. Instead of doing those things, seek to demonstrate courage, determination, and integrity every day. Seek out other men to do it with. Look for support, encouragement, and maybe even correction from them. Remember to have an eternal perspective and the joy that can overcome life’s challenges through recognition that the battle is fought and won. Be a man.

Football

7:30 a.m. THIS Saturday, August 16th

***Bring a DARK shirt & a WHITE shirt***

(This will probably be the last time we play until mid-Sept.)

Westwood Lakes fields:

From Veterans Expressway / 589:

WEST on Linebaugh, cross Sheldon Road into Westchase subdivision

RIGHT on Countryway, go about 1.2 miles on Countryway

STRAIGHT - Cross over Racetrack Rd., name changes to Nine Eagles Road…go 0.7 miles on Nine Eagles Rd.

LEFT on Westwood Lakes Blvd. into Westwood Lakes subdivision.

LEFT side will be fields (and a playground) as you enter Westwood Lakes Subdivision

If you want me to remove you from this list just let me know, no offense taken.

Brian Heckman

Cell: 813-777-9274