The Man in the Mirror Blog
The official blog of Man in the Mirror!
God was glorified on Saturday, February 18 as we held a luncheon to commission the first 18 Man in the Mirror Area Directors. They just completed their initial week of training. Many of their wives also attended. Their unbridled joy, determination, and sense of calling turned it into a celebration. We're at the front end of a goal to mobilize 330 AD's over the next 2 years so that every church in America can have access to a consultant to help them more effectively disciple men. - Patrick Morley
| Written by Jim Angelakos |
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Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" -- Matthew 22:37-39 Many years ago I discovered this amazing verse being lived out in the life of a man. While walking through a church lobby on our way into the sanctuary, an elderly gentleman approached us and welcomed us to the church. We're not sure how he knew that we were visitors, but somehow he did. We later discovered that this was his personal ministry. We had just relocated into the area and were checking out churches. We did not want to be noticed, wanting just to slip in and out of church. Well, that was not going to happen. Not while Walter was around. He was on a mission -- the mission of sharing God's love with everyone around him. The next several minutes were remarkable. Walter welcomed us, and then asked a very simple and engaging question: "What brings you folks here today?" That was it -- nothing else. He then listened to us intently. He did not interrupt us; he just listened all the while smiling. After sharing for several minutes, we realized that we had been monopolizing the conversation. We had run out of time; the service was starting and we needed to move into the sanctuary. We thanked Walter for welcoming us and listening to our story. Walter's final words I still remember today: "Welcome to our church. We're honored that you're here; we love you, and more importantly, God loves you." We left that day feeling welcomed, encouraged, valued and loved. In just a few moments, Walter managed to intentionally live out Matthew 22:39: "Love your neighbor..." Now, eighteen years later, our family worships and serves in that same church because Walter took it upon himself to make us feel loved. I still remember his words and actions -- to the point -- so that it's now become my personal ministry everywhere I go. Men, I challenge you today to do the same. Share God's love with those around you -- your wife, children, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers. Lace your words with grace, mercy, humility, compassion and most importantly, love. Let your words and deeds show God's love in action. That's godly love. That's true love. That's neighbor love.
Jim Angelakos serves pastors and leaders as a National Ministry Consultant at Man in the Mirror and is the Administrator of the Man in the Mirror Weekly Bible Study. Jim's daughter, Christina, also works at Man in the Mirror. WB #458 © 2012. Patrick Morley. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for non-commercial ministry purposes with proper attribution. |
For more details go to http://mim2012summit.org or call 800.929.2536
2012 Summit - February 9-11
Join our staff, field trainers, directors, denominational executives, pastors, ministry leaders and other “movers and shakers” in men’s ministry from all over the world. Click here for more details.
Whether you are new to men’s discipleship or an “old hand”, Start Your Engines with high-octane speakers, workshops, worship and fellowship at FUEL!
- Hear from speakers who motivate, inspire and challenge!
- Attend small group breakouts on key, relevant topics.
- Participate in interactive workshops.
- Review your ministry plans with experts from the field.
- Worship with like-minded leaders.
- Pray with brothers from all over the world.
- Learn more about current and planned initiatives at Man in the Mirror.
- Join 150+ other men at the weekly Bible study here in Orlando.
- Spend time with sponsors who are there to support your needs.
- Relax. Restore. Refresh.
Last year’s attendees said they left feeling renewed, re-fueled, encouraged, motivated, inspired and challenged. In this age of internet, social media, emails and blogs, take advantage of being able to network. Face to face. Man to man. Brother to brother. Rub shoulders with other leaders and men whose heart looks just like yours.
The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in the Walt Disney World ® Resort in Downtown Disney ® will be host to FUEL on February 9-11, 2012. Special discount rates on hotel rooms have already been negotiated so that you’re just an elevator ride away from the conference. The resort offers…well…everything. The on-site Disney representative is busy working on special discounts for our FUEL registrants at the Wyndham – an opportunity you’ll want to take advantage of if you decide to bring family members – or just explore on your own!
The average temperature in Orlando in February: 73º – The average disposition of a FUEL attendee: Bright and sunny
“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others”Romans 12:5
Compiled by Jim Angelakos for Man in the Mirror Staff Prayer Day (Aug 23, 2011)
Excerpts from Godly Counsel: Scriptures For Today’s World by Dr. Brian Campbell
I Am A Child Of God
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:26)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Rom 8:15-16)
I Am Made In God’s Image
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen 1:27)
I Am God’s Temple
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor 3:16)
I Am God’s Hand-Crafted Creation
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2;10)
God Created Me A Little Lower Than The Heavenly Beings
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5)
I Am Christ’s Ambassador On Earth
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)
As God’s fellow-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. (2 Cor 6:1)
I Am A Citizen Of Heaven
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Phil 3:20)
I Am A New Creation In Christ
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor 5:17)
I Am Being Transformed Into Christ’s Likeness
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18)
And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. (1 Cor 15:49)
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1 John 4:17)
I Am Christ’s Friend
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
I Have Been Chosen By God
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:16)
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor 1:21-22)
I Am A Saint
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1)
I Am A member Of Christ’s Body
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor 12;27)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. (John 15:5)
God Listens To My Prayers
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 16:23)
I Am An Heir To The Kingdom
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Rom 8:17)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:13-14)
I Am Strong In Christ
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil 4:13)
Christ Died For Me
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)
My Sins Are Forgiven
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. (Rom 4:8)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
I Am Free Of Condemnation
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Rom 8:1)
The Holy Spirit Lives In Me
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Rom 5:5)
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)
Because Of Christ’s Sacrifice, I Am Righteous, Holy and Blameless Before God.
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Rom 8:10)
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Rom 6:22)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (Eph 1:4)
God Loves Me
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
I Cannot Be Separated From The Love Of God
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)
I Have A Purpose
Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matt 22:37-39)
I Have A God Directed Mission
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer 29:11)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20)




