Men of Fuel,

Over the past year we have learned valuable lessons on how to live life better as men—by reviewing the biblically-based truths of how to become better husbands, better fathers, better friends…and now the question is, how do we engage our most prized responsibility and gift God has given us?

How do we take what we have learned about God’s promise of wanting something MORE for us, and applying that into our families Where do we start?

Well, we start this Wednesday morning, at Fuel  for the premier introduction of our Summer Series, “Engaging Our Families” which will be taught for three weeks in June and three more in July by executive coach, entrepreneur, and President of Paradigm Leadership Solutions, Walt Tomme.

Men, this is FREE executive-level life training that would normally cost you hundreds of dollars, yet could save you your family…for only the cost of waking up a little bit earlier on Wednesday mornings.  That’s a pretty compelling ROI.

For the past thirty years Walt has coached a broad spectrum of clients that range from political leaders to business executives, entrepreneurs, and technology and professional service professionals. His influence and impact on the business and thought leaders inside and outside the beltway is very impressive.  He’s one of the most connected people you will ever meet in the greater DC area.  Yet, he also contributes locally, after serving as a Youth Football Coach in the Chantilly Youth Association for over 14 years he became the Leadership Coach at Oakton High School for six seasons.  During that time Oakton had the highest percentage of wins in regional play in the Northern Region, won one State Championship in 2005 and narrowly lost in the State Semi-Finals in 2008.  This past year he was invited to join the football program at Centreville High School and was part of the effort that took them to the State Championship Game.  He is presently working with the Centreville Baseball Team as they make their way into post season play.  This next year Walt will be training a group of Character Coaches for the Northern Virginia Region of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  He is the husband of Deborah for 39 years this month, the Father of Erin (a missionary in Guatemala) Matt (an Account Manager for a software consulting firm and a Young Life Volunteer) and Sara (a sales professional and a former staff member and leader with Young Life).  Walt  is also the proud grandfather to Kayla, Hunter and Savannah Tomme.

Let me put this in the perspective of a one-kneed former athlete:

Life isn’t really a game, but in order to be enjoyed, its been designed to be played well, to be played smart, according to the rules of engagement.  Having a Bible, is one thing—because we need to study and learn the playbook. But we need to become men of action, to put that knowledge to use.  And while God is our head coach, he gives us an assistant coaching staff that HE works through to develop us for each season of life and to put His plan for us into action.  That’s what this is all about—personal development for us to be able to step into and better see God’s plan for our lives, and our families.

I encourage you to join us this Wednesday and to invite a friend or two to take advantage of this opportunity to experience a level of training and mentoring that’s traditionally reserved for Congressmen and their staff or board-room level executives.

See you Wednesday, and eager to get engaged…

Invest and Invite,

Pat

This morning, Dr. Clark gave an inspirational talk about taking risks.  Ever play the game RISK, the board game of strategy and world domination?  It’s a game of calculated risk, alliances, and perhaps a little luck of the roll of the dice.

In many ways the game of Risk is analogous to life…no, not the game of Life, real life, without the luck.

In order to win, we need to take risks.  We can’t sit back and hide in New Zealand while our enemy captures the territory around us and we just wait to get eliminated.  Our calling is to step out from our safety zone…stretch our borders and enter new territory.  Roll the dice, and move out…

Yet most of us are not wired to move out.  Most of us want to be courageous, but we don’t want to take the necessary risk. We stand on the edge of the cliff, and look at the chasm below us and imagine what the death feels like when we hit the bottom.

In many ways, we are like the spies entering the promised land, and only see the giants and the challenges…not the benefits and the opportunities…nor God’s promise of something more for us.

But what if that were to change?

Imagine if God gave you a shot of courage that lasted 24 hours, and meant you had no fear…what would you do?

I challenge each of you to think about what courageous step you need to take this week.

Call the doctor?  Schedule that appointment with the Dentist?  You know its something you may not WANT to do, but you’ll be much better for it.

Confront your boss? Ask for a raise? Talk to your wife about your sex life?  What???  Seriously…did I get your attention? What conversation with your family are you putting off and getting passive-aggressive over?

How can we step out in faith and be bold enough to trust that God has something for us once we face our giants?

This time, don’t do it alone.  Ask Christ to join you.  Ask for His strength, His words, His courage…and invite him into the courageous step that you are going to take together…

In our weakness, we find His strength.  In our weakness, we have limits.  But with God, all things are possible.

Do the impossible, complete the improbable, attempt the unimaginable and be amazed by what God can do THROUGH you.

Stop playing it safe.

Go get ‘em boys…

Taking the risk with you,

pat

Men of Fuel;

Tomorrow morning we continue in the series, “Playing it Safe” and will look further into the dynamic of how when we play it safe, we often miss what God has for us.

As we realized from our recent talks, God is much more interested developing our character rather than designing our comfort.  Yet, we often seek routine, hate surprises, and want even-keeled consistency in our lives, jobs, and our relationships.

As leaders, we falsely believe having that tight control over our circumstances  protects us, when in reality, at times it prevents us from experience the challenges that God has laid out before us.  We were made for so much more than we allow ourselves to experience.

We were made to be daring, to walk on the moon, to explore the depths of space, to sail across seas…and live an adventurous life of faith, resting in the protection of God , bravely living under His grace.

That does not mean we stand up through the moon roof when we drive, nor take wildly silly risks.  But somewhere between living like a stuntman and Grizzly Adams or the slouch that drives back and forth from his comfortable home to his comfortable office, there is a call by God to becoming more adventurous in almost every aspect of our lives.

Do we step out in faith in our jobs and stretch ourselves to become the best that we can be?

Do we raise our children with dreams of becoming whatever they want, or are we forming them to be seekers of comfort?  Get an education, get a high paying job…retire early…

What about being OK with a little unknown?  Being ok with making tough decisions and taking risks?

I know I set my limits based on my own past performance, and rarely look at what I can do with God…

I define myself by what I cant do, rather than define my life by what God can do through me…how about you?

Does this resonate with you?  Are you happy being comfortable or do you miss a little more adventure and spice to your life?

Well, come join us tomorrow morning and find out more about playing it less safe…and trusting that God has something MORE for you…for your marriage…for your family…for your career…for your impact on the Kingdom…and for God’s glory through your walk of faith, and courage.

Invest, and Invite,

pat

Men of Fuel

Woke up this morning for the first time since last Thursday “Not Stuffed”, and I have to admit that it felt good. And while it took a few days for all of that food to be processed, so did the amount of things that I took in while interacting with my family. Now while I did not have the “hornet’s nest” to contend with that Pat described for us in a previous E-mail, I still had 20 family members gathered together each with their own insecurities and issues that all work together to create our own unique brand of dysfunction.

What was so interesting to me was the fact that these three sisters ( My mom and two Aunts) all grew up in the same house, and while there are times that I can see the similarities in the way they act, they each play a different role vastly different than the other two. What’s even more interesting is that only one of my Aunts can see it, or is at least willing to talk about it. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that she is probably the most grounded. I guess the next question would be, is she more grounded because she is willing to talk about it, or is she willing to talk about it because she is the most grounded. My argument would be for the former.

How did your Thanksgiving go? Any family dynamics that sound familiar to the above? Anyone in the family that didn’t get invited? Did you not get invited?

Family can be the greatest thing in the world, which is the power that makes the dysfunction so destructive.

Do I realize that “My House” possess that same power? The power of life or death that is dispensed on a daily basis.

Am I intentional in all of my actions or by default am I replicating the dysfunction of the past?

Come on out this Wednesday as we begin our new series “My House”

Everyone has lived in one, is the one you are in today allowing people to live?

See you tomorrow morning

D.R.

—
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Men of Fuel,

I wish I had something witty to say about the treasure trove I reaped with all this Halloween candy because I had sown the seeds of goodness, and now I was harvesting a pillow case full of Butterfingers and full-sized Snicker’s bars. But, that’s merely due to the almost 3 hours of Trick ‘or Treating my boys did last night, hitting the same houses that gave the best candy 2 times or more…

Despite the lame example, its just a fact; we reap after we sow…and will be the topic of our continued conversation on Wednesday.

IF you missed last week, Mark Joseph taught that “We Reap More Than we Sow” and did an amazing job teaching the principle of of “compounding interest” and how when we invest in good things, we get way more in return than we ever imagined. He told a story of a woman who had bought 3 shares of Abbot Labs stock in the 1930’s…and how it grew into a fortune worth over $7M that she bequeathed to her alma matter when she died. That didn’t happen over night, the stock had to split, grow, split, grow…etc…

But the returns re-invested and the dividends kept adding up, compounding year over year. Crops grow over time, and whenever we try to harvest anything, the fact is, we have to wait for it. When we desire sudden changes in or lives, or expect immediate results we set ourselves up for disappointment. Ever go on a diet for week, and get upset for not losing weight fast enough? Ever try to speed-up a relationship? You want to harvest a good friendship, it takes time for that crop to come in. How receptive are we to people that want to accelerate what only grows gradually or organically?

Think back to that clingy girlfriend that wanted to introduce you to her Mom and Dad after the first date. How quickly did you run away? But isn’t it funny in our lives, that we can act just as crazily?

We can’t reap and sow the same field at the same time. The seeds need to germinate, and then take root. The soil needs to be watered, and the sun needs to shine. But, after —and this period can be months or years later—after we sow, we will reap. As Jesus teaches us, not all of our seeds will land on fertile soil. Not all seeds will grow. But those that do, watch out, because you are going to get more than you ever imagined.

Please join us tomorrow, as we continue this series, “The Law of the Harvest” as DR Carlson walks us through the principle, “We Reap After We Sow.”

Invest in a friend, and Invite him…

See you Wednesday morning, and if you have not LIKED our Facebook page, please do so NOW!!!

Pat

Pat Mancuso
patmancuso@mac.com  
(703) 401-8302
FUEL
See our Blog at: https://menoffuel.com/blog
Join us at: https://www.facebook.com/MenOfFuel

“It’s what you need to keep you going…”

Our mission is to create a comfortable, relevant and honest environment where men can explore and discuss aspects of life, purpose and faith.

We accomplish our mission by reviewing pertinent issues in men’s lives, examining them through relevant biblical principles, followed by a time of discussion with other men.

Wednesday mornings, September through May…and beyond
6:30 AM to 7:30 AM @ Hidden Creek Country Club, Reston, VA.

http://www.hiddencreekcc.com