As noted in the previous post, I was privileged to attend a men's retreat this past weekend in Dickson, Tn. I wanted to share with you some of the highlights of the event.
We were blessed to receive one of the finest steak meals that you could possibly have. The cooking ministry of Empowered Ministries went beyond the normal links to satisfy the appetites of a bunch of hungry men. After the meal we gathered in the chapel for some worship that was lead by a group of men that are from the "Celebrate Recovery" ministry. These men lead us in worship at the beginning of each session. It's good to know that God is still in the "recovery" business. I think AA, and the like, is good, but let Jesus and the Holy Spirit loose in their lives and He makes worship leaders out of them. God is awesome!
Friday nights session gave us Chaplain J.B. Smith, from the The Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. He preached to us about having the "right stuff"! About having "Personal Integrity". God used this man of God to convict a room full of men about having what it takes to have the right relationship with God, your spouse, and others. He spoke about having the right principles, soundness of moral character, honesty being the best policy, and shared with us this message: Integrity depends on our relationship with God. We must be identified with Christ!
Saturday morning came early, 6am breakfast! The next session was worth getting up early! Pastor Jamie Allen from the Oak Grove Church in Charlotte, Tn. ministered to us in the 2nd session of the event, and man was he used by the Holy Spirit to break a bunch of men! He spoke about being a "Husband and Father of Integrity". Jamie's message was full of scripture and conviction. He shared with us his own personal testamony about an event that happened in his life and through the love and prayers of some friends in his local congregation, God saw him through. His message was: Don't play with fire! At the end of this session there was men kneeling at the altar and at their seats and all around the room in prayer and repentance.
The finale of the event came from Bishop E.C. McKinley, TN Presbyter, COGOP. Bro. McKinley presented a top knotch message with media clips from "We were soldiers" that spoke to us about "Leadership Integrity". Integrity is WHO you are. Character is HOW you live. Character is also how you live out your integrity. Maturity is learning WHAT is important in life. Integrity tells us that preparation is important in everything that we do. Integrity tells us that we must lead by example. We must take integrity personal. (And this is just the highlights).
Through these three men of God, I have realized that in my own life, I must make every effort to have this most important quality: Integrity. "God, give every man the integrity that he needs to win the lost, to sustain his family, and to reach the goal."
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