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Jesus, Daniel and Three Kings in Bethlehem
When you think nothing is happening, God is working for your good. Consider this remarkable Christmas story: Daniel was the man who funded Joseph the step-father of Jesus when he had to take his family and hide in Egypt for four years. How did he do that? It’s part of the story of a man who got stronger under pressure. Daniel was a man under pressure. He was a teen man captured during warfare and taken as a slave to Babylon. This is approximately 700 BC. He had three friends and together they held on to the faith they had...
One Book, One Man, Thousands Transformed
A few years ago, we spontaneously gave an offering on Saturday morning at the close of our Lions Roar Summit. That offering sent hundreds of Maximized Manhood books and other CMN resources to disciple incarcerated men in the Phoenix County prison. One of the men discipled in the prison was an offender named Paul Vargas. After leaving prison he started attending a Maximized Manhood group at a local church. His life was radically changed by the power of God. Not only did Paul build his faith in that men’s group, but he also continued his journey with Christ by working...
Never Give Up: A Father's Final Victory
I handed cash to a drug addict—what happened next blew me away. I walked into the church in Reno and met Tim, a resource table volunteer. I handed him the money bag with $120 to make change for cash sales and gave simple instructions. Here’s what I didn’t know. Tim was a recovering addict fresh off the streets. For ten years, no one had ever handed him cash. It would go up his nose or into his veins. Nobody gave Tim cash ... but I just gave him $120! (this photo is from that actual day) Tim had just received...
Friction
Life will always have friction. Like storms, it's ubiquitous, it will always be there. It’s part of being human. The key to a successful life is dealing with friction. Not all friction is bad. It takes friction to make a match spark for a flame. And yet, it’s the overwhelming presence of friction that can wear down our hearts. Like the brake rotors on an out-of-balance wheel, we can get worn down and misshapen. We can become a man we don’t want to be—headed in a direction we don't want to go. Bad rotors are said to be 'warped'. Jesus...
The Friend Who Brightens Every Room
When Jesus was born he was surrounded by animals. When he gave his life on the cross he was surrounded by criminals … and family. In between his birth and crucifixion, one of the constants of his life was that he was always with family and friends. Brotherhood is one of the core values of CMN. To be a friend and stay connected with the brotherhood. It’s said that a friend brightens the room when they enter – others brighten it when they leave. Funny, but too often true. Jesus had a close friend named Lazarus. In John 11 he’s...