New Commitment & Lessons Learned

It has been a year since our last blog. We started out strong, however, life seems to have curtailed our efforts. Today I have determined to make our blog an exercise of commitment. Today will be the first of many to come, as we shall seek to continue what we have started. Thank you Al, for reminding us each that we have neglected our post.

Here it goes...

With all that has occurred over the last year, struggles, setbacks, and successes have each made me stronger. I am certain to some that almost appears "clicheic" yet truth be told, it is very much what i feel and believe. God has a way of teaching us each what we must learn. The question though, is, are we willing to learn the lessons? As i look back over my life, i must honestly state, i have flunked some test and may even perhaps be in some remedial classes at this moment. Sometimes i got caught up in the victory part and found myself under that tree with Elijah. That may be one of the biggest lessons i have recently began to unravel and come to terms with. Plain and simple, God gets the glory and that's where glory should and needs to remain, with God. Yes! I attempted to think it was all me and tucked God's glory away. I bathed in the glory and boasted to others, "Man, I did it!" Hear is the kicker, God allowed me to get just so far and then gave me a major dose of reality topped with humility which reminded me that no accomplishments nor achievements were without His presence and design.

Shame on me! Now, why did i share that? I don't know. Do you?

Your Servant,

Claude

From My Heart

November is perhaps the most sentimental time of year for us. We were born in November. We celebrate our pastoral anniversary at Peaceful Rest in November. Last, but definitely not least, we were married in November.

On this past Wednesday (November 10, 2010), we had the privilege of celebrating our 41^st birthday. Our church held a wonderful evening of reflections to celebrate another year God has blessed us with life, health, and strength. This celebration was filled with excitement and encouragement as great people in our life – family, friends, and flock – took the time to express their love. We wish to thank each of them and the many persons who called, emailed, texted, or visited to say “Happy Birthday.”

Tomorrow, November 14, 2010, we will celebrate 16 years as pastor of the greatest church God yet has in commission – the Peaceful Rest Family of Faith! What makes this anniversary special is the “four preachers” who sponsor this blog will all be present. [Three weeks ago, we were in New Orleans for Ross’s anniversary at Tulane.] BROTHERS, please know your friendship is priceless and we appreciate the sacrifices you made to share with us.

Our third celebration this month will be our 13^th wedding anniversary. We will celebrate it in Thanksgiving service at our church followed by a trip to the Bayou Classic in New Orleans with our two fine boys – Ronald Timothy Jones, Jr. and Titus Sinclair Trammel Jones. They are truly the love of our lives. We will wrap up our anniversary with a trip to Nassau, Bahamas (No children! LOL).

We’d like to ask our partners in this blog to forgive us for not having posted anything recently but we would like to share a few points we found to be transformative in the text – The Secrets Men Keep. As we read this book, brothers, our prayer is God would use Stephen Arterburn to speak specifically to each of us at our various points of struggle.

A SIDE NOTE

For those who are not a part of the original “four preacher” who started this movement, this endeavor was born out of a God-created time and space where men of God bonded in a manner that provided transparency and transformation. We recognized it is possible for some persons to go through life without ONE “genuine” friend. The older we get the less likely we are to seek out friends.

We further recognized what was going on with our “fraternity of clergy” was something unique. We have moments of humor, moments of pain, moments of joy, moments of frustration, moments of recreation, moments of transformation, etc. We have cried together, laughed together, fussed and fought; yet what happens between us seems to make us better.

While everyone has the privilege of deciding who their friends are, we thought we would not be selfish but to invite others to experience this “koinonia”. Wherever you are, wherever you do ministry, please know “no one is an island” and we are truly “better together.” Seek out persons in ministry who can make you better.

BACK TO THE TEXT (Baptist preachers chase rabbits well!)

Why do people – particularly men – keep secrets? It’s FEAR! That’s right! Our age-old enemy, fear. The truth is we only have two options by which we can live our lives – fear or faith. Through fear our circumstances defeat us; through faith we defeat our circumstances. Fear says “NO!” but faith says “YES!”

As fallen creatures, we sin in three ways – words, deeds, and thoughts. That’s verbally, manually, and mentally. Unfortunately, our “religious tendencies” have placed a premium on the manual sins even when we excused the sins of speech. The easiest sins to “hide” are the mental sins. Sins like unholy attitudes and ungodly aspirations. We are often able to masquerade these sins because people usually cannot feel or hear them. They are “secrets.” BUT ARE THEY?

I find it amazing that Jesus uses the sin of adultery to challenge us with regard to mental sins. Everyone knows illicit, illegitimate intimacy that is physical is sin. We cannot argue with that. Then Jesus comes along and tells us the very thought of such is sin. Whether we touch (grab or graze, sic) or not, if we conceive the desire (even in secret) we have sinned. So much for our secrets.

We conclude this entry by reminding us in the words of the author that “life is an open book test.” Unlike many of the academic course we have taken, the “Author and Finisher of our Faith” has provided answers for us. The problem with the faith of many of us is we got the questions before we got the answers. What God has done by providing His Word is He has given us the answers before life presents us with the questions. The options is our – live victoriously according to the answers or live defeated by the questions.

Much Love Brethren

Shalom

Be Strong! Be Encouraged!

Tim

Why Men Keep Secrets

As we are reading, The Secrets Men Keep by Stephen Arterburn, there are several elements within his introduction which I appreciate. Perhaps the most intriguing and convicting of these is this statement, "Not one day goes by that a man doesn't think about something that no one knows but him--and that he often wishes he could at least talk about, if not deal with in a practical fashion." 1 Wow, if you have not been there allow me to make it clear, it is a troubling moment. I have found that even though I have made efforts at being completely transparent with my life the truth is I may only be translucent. Honestly, we recall things others don't know and wish we were able to unload the burden of secrecy into a vacuum which will provide great release. What is the problem? What makes us this way? Why do we keep secrets? I don't mean to be trivial, but remember what we used to repeat as children? Secret, Secret do not tell if you do you'll go to hell... Could this be tucked deep within our subconscious and indirectly causing our fear of revealing perhaps some of our deepest burdens. Hear me out. Perhaps, the hell we wish to avoid by not divulging our hidden weight is not the literal place but the hell of alienation, separation, disaffection and hostility. Let's be candid, there are people who say they want to know everything.  But, do they?  Is there a consequence for my transparency? Is there a hell to face daily because I want to be closer by revealing my fears, hurts, or even my mistakes? Am I making life and love tougher than it has to be? 

I look forward to answering these questions as we continue to explore this book and pray to be better then I am.

I'll Holla!

Your Servant,
Claude 
     

** 1 Inquiring Minds Want To Know, xi

THE SECRETS MEN KEEP……. Stephen Arterburn

Brethren,

Be assured I am NOT Guilty, I did not DO IT, but I did do . . . . . . LOL!!

The Introduction of this book was quite an eye opener for me. I do confess it is my strong desire to become "an open book", I concur that all of our life's experiences: good, bad, right, wrong, spiritual or immoral can be a blessing to one another and others that cross our pathways. What are the steps to become an "open book"? How do we clear the "static in our minds"? Can we resolve the "myriad of deflections"? Is it possible to remove the "guardrails" of our secrets and come clean to God and one another? Are you on the road of self-discovery, or just scrolling down Pretenders Blvd? Brethren, I believe this book will help us to become better husbands, fathers, sons, Pastors, Preachers, yes even better men!!!

Come on let's begin this journey!!!!!

Alejandro

Akwaaba

It is a great pleasure and privilege to have friends.  I could not have asked for three better friends then the ones God has added to my life.  I am blessed to have you guys as brothers in Christ.

Sincerely,
Ross

Blessings

Brethren,

I too am excited about this medium we have to encourage one another and our effort to collaboratively develop the insight of others.  I am blessed to be surrounded by brothers of integrity and spiritual direction. Let us Grow Together and Share Daily!


Your Servant,
Claude

Greetings

Brethren, I am excited about this vehicle of communication that links us together to share with one another ideas and thoughts that would advance the Kingdom. What a delight to have you, my beloved brothers in my life and my ministry!

We Are Better Together
 Alejandro Smith