Man's Best Friend

We call them "man's best friend", a title earned everyday, except for the day they die, and then we are at a loss as to what to do.  They are joyous to see us, sad when we leave, easily forgive, and never judge.  They are not upset when you lose your patience, but rarely loose theirs.  They never fail to love even when they have been ignored.

I cried great big tears of grief as my wife and son and I laid our dog of sixteen to rest.  The memory of that day still produces a gnawing emptiness in the pit of my stomach.  It is a day I will never forget.

It will be a day he will never forget either.  A group of men gather together to share a time of sharing, connection, bonding. They enjoyed a meal, some prayer, and fellowship. They are a small group.  The man,  the host whose house they met at,  looked over to see his four legged friend collapse and die. Not a pleasant sight.  But this group of men gathered around him, consoled him and then they all grabbed shovels and helped him bury his dog. 

There are many bonding times a man can have - BBQ's, hunting, fishing, biking, running building cars and on and on.   Few will compare to the bondering experience these men shared on  this night.   Brothers helping a fellow brother say goodbye to his best friend.  That's what small groups do. Share. Everything.  

Proverbs 18:24

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. MSG

Of Thee I Sing....

Small Groups are known for a lot of things, but their power of prayer is significant and powerful.  It is a time we approach the God of the universe on his thrown and humbly ask for his guidance, provision, forgiveness and love at the same time offering up our praises.   I've seen, heard and experienced God's movement not only in the groups I've attended, but also from the stories that leaders have told me of nothing short of miraculous movements that can only be explained as being super natural, without explanation, miraculous ... everything that is normal for God. 

On this one particular evening, a small group gathered.  The evening had gone as expected with no surprises.  It had come to the point in the evening when prayers would be offered up.  The group spoke about where they were asking for God's intervention and provision and then bowed their heads and closed their eyes.  One by one they laid their petitions on the alter of God.  Then it came the turn of one of the female members of the group.  It was quiet as a small voice that was heard.  Words accompanied by a melodious sound.  A song of praise, a cry of need, a request of intervention, all  accompanied by a sweet, flowing voice.  This person was singing their prayer.  Some people are intimidated by praying out loud, much less singing.  This person found connection with God through her sonnet of love. 

Of thee I sing...

May we have a heart that sing our prayers to God. 

Why?

I gratefully accepted this job as associate pastor over small groups almost a year ago now.   I knew how important small groups were to the the foundation of being a believer in Jesus.  I knew some of the fun, amazing, humorous and yes sometimes even sad stories that have come out of my group alone.  Over the year I have continue to hear the same kind of stories come of the groups that I get to help pastor.  I thought it was important to share some of those stories as they come.  I have chosen to write stories that will encourage and challenge, edify and maybe even confirm our faith in the living God.   I choose not to include names of the people involved or the groups that they are involved in because the stories could be any one of us at any time.   I will write when I hear a story.  At times it might be every day, at times it might be once a week.  I hope I will always have a story to share and I hope that you will enjoy and be moved by life that takes place in living rooms every week.   So let' get started.