As a new follower of Jesus thirty years ago, this Keith Green song was one of my favorites. The song and its message became lost to me for awhile as I walked away from God. It's good to be back!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
We Will Ride
"We Will Ride" is a song that never fails to stir me...to touch a deep place within. I first heard it four years ago at a Wild at Heart Boot Camp conducted by John Eldredge and the team from www.RansomedHeart.com. It is particularly poignant with the "Lord of the Rings" clip added during an instrumental interlude about midway through the video.
Yes, Lord. Yes. What is it He's asking me to say yes to today? And how about you? As you hear the music and lyrics of this song, what is it you're saying yes to?
My Blog: www.BenGColeman.com
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Satan's Meeting
This video does a great job of unveiling what best-selling author John Eldredge calls "the spirit of this age." Turn your sound up to hear the background music.
My prayer: God, what knowledge and insight do You have for me here? (If any lacks wisdom, let him ask.)
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
It's Good To Have A Brother!
A year and a half ago I was in Colorado attending Wild at Heart Advanced. This is a four day event for alumni of Ransomed Heart's Boot Camps which are based upon John Eldredge's book for men, Wild at Heart. One evening following a lengthy Q & A session, the team showed an optional movie. Since I had recently seen the movie, I opted out and headed back to my room.
Just as I walked out of the meeting room's main doors, I heard the word Belize. I didn't see who said Belize, so I spoke up. I wanted to meet this man since I've enjoyed some of the best scuba diving ever in Belize. It turns out he was skipping the movie, too, and we happened to be staying in the same building.
Had I known where our conversation over the next hours would lead, there is not a chance I would have whispered Belize, let alone nearly shouted the word in an raucous crowd. For more than a decade prior, I had made all sorts of vows mainly centered around the words, "never again."
Close masculine relationships are difficult for most men to navigate in this modern era. Early in my Christian life, I experienced this band of brothers friendship. But as the four of us departed college and went our own ways, neglect took it's toll and we grew distant.
I had another shot at a close knit friendship with a small group of men in the decade of the 90's. Working for the same company made that dynamic particularly challenging. Some individuals who were not a part of our little band felt excluded and threatened. A few, learning of the level of commitment we'd made to one another, thought we were weird and took delight in spreading all manner of disparaging innuendo, often sexual, about us. I'd had enough of these deep masculine friendships after a personal betrayal by one of our group. Never again would I put myself through all of that heartache and disappointment.
Playing the lone ranger through career upheaval, major health challenges, and significant financial losses had left me just about totally taken out starting the new millennium. When I first read Sacred Romance and Wild at Heart it was like a drink of cool water after many hot days. Eldredge's books and the Isaiah 61 message of freedom resonated strongly and deep within my core. So much so that just a few months prior to the conference, I found myself breaking all sorts of agreements I had made, particularly those involving the "never again" to allowing myself to being vulnerable...vulnerable with anyone especially with a few men.
Not even a handful of times during my life span have I experienced an instant heart connection with someone. Over the next few hours as Darren and I talked, that's what happened....for both of us. Today, it seems like I've known him all of my life. Each of us has traversed a lot of territory over the last 18 months. We have watched each other's backs. We've enjoyed some awesome adventures. Both of us have endured some rough days.
When it comes to precedent, I think of Jonathan's and David's well chronicled friendship and love for one another. Psalm 133:1 talks about how good and pleasant it is for brothers to get along. Proverbs 18:24 talks of a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Last Thursday my son, Drew, and I headed up the mountain in Colorado to attend my 20th Wild at Heart Boot Camp. This past summer has been some of the best of times, some of the worst of times for me. In all of those times I have enjoyed the great blessing of a brother not born of blood, but of the heart. Darren would not be attending this event and I would miss him for sure. I was disappointed to miss his call. His voice mail message told me that he'd be praying for me and the men I had invited. I heard confidence and strength in his words.
And I experienced a Father's love when Darren said, "it's good to have a brother!"
Just as I walked out of the meeting room's main doors, I heard the word Belize. I didn't see who said Belize, so I spoke up. I wanted to meet this man since I've enjoyed some of the best scuba diving ever in Belize. It turns out he was skipping the movie, too, and we happened to be staying in the same building.
Had I known where our conversation over the next hours would lead, there is not a chance I would have whispered Belize, let alone nearly shouted the word in an raucous crowd. For more than a decade prior, I had made all sorts of vows mainly centered around the words, "never again."
Close masculine relationships are difficult for most men to navigate in this modern era. Early in my Christian life, I experienced this band of brothers friendship. But as the four of us departed college and went our own ways, neglect took it's toll and we grew distant.
I had another shot at a close knit friendship with a small group of men in the decade of the 90's. Working for the same company made that dynamic particularly challenging. Some individuals who were not a part of our little band felt excluded and threatened. A few, learning of the level of commitment we'd made to one another, thought we were weird and took delight in spreading all manner of disparaging innuendo, often sexual, about us. I'd had enough of these deep masculine friendships after a personal betrayal by one of our group. Never again would I put myself through all of that heartache and disappointment.
Playing the lone ranger through career upheaval, major health challenges, and significant financial losses had left me just about totally taken out starting the new millennium. When I first read Sacred Romance and Wild at Heart it was like a drink of cool water after many hot days. Eldredge's books and the Isaiah 61 message of freedom resonated strongly and deep within my core. So much so that just a few months prior to the conference, I found myself breaking all sorts of agreements I had made, particularly those involving the "never again" to allowing myself to being vulnerable...vulnerable with anyone especially with a few men.
Not even a handful of times during my life span have I experienced an instant heart connection with someone. Over the next few hours as Darren and I talked, that's what happened....for both of us. Today, it seems like I've known him all of my life. Each of us has traversed a lot of territory over the last 18 months. We have watched each other's backs. We've enjoyed some awesome adventures. Both of us have endured some rough days.
When it comes to precedent, I think of Jonathan's and David's well chronicled friendship and love for one another. Psalm 133:1 talks about how good and pleasant it is for brothers to get along. Proverbs 18:24 talks of a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Last Thursday my son, Drew, and I headed up the mountain in Colorado to attend my 20th Wild at Heart Boot Camp. This past summer has been some of the best of times, some of the worst of times for me. In all of those times I have enjoyed the great blessing of a brother not born of blood, but of the heart. Darren would not be attending this event and I would miss him for sure. I was disappointed to miss his call. His voice mail message told me that he'd be praying for me and the men I had invited. I heard confidence and strength in his words.
And I experienced a Father's love when Darren said, "it's good to have a brother!"
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