Men of Fuel

This Wednesday, which is tomorrow (Don’t get thrown off by the long weekend) we will be heading into our third week of our “Identity” series.  One of the main themes of our series thus far has been that we as men tend to build our identity based on a false sense of masculinity.  We as men go through life looking to our left and looking to our right and seeing that other men are not only also buying into this same false sense of masculinity, but using it as a measuring stick of success.  So we throw our hat into the ring, since this is what we think it takes to be a man, and we begin at first to compete and then we compare.

• Can I run faster than William?
• Am I stronger than Shane?
• Can I get more girls than Steve?
• Can I sell more than Allen?
• Is my salary higher than Bill’s?
• Is my office bigger than Greg’s?
• Is my house bigger than Ted’s?
• Is my title more important than Frank’s?

Compete and compare, Compete and compare.  We all do it.

But who wins?

May I suggest that if our competition is based on a false sense of masculinity, meaning something that isn’t true, then the cycle of compete and compare produces no winners.  The game is rigged.  As a matter of fact, the only thing the cycle of compete and compare will ever produce will be shame.

Come on out tomorrow, and invite a friend, as we dive into week three of our Identity series: “The Shame Factory”

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