My Brothers at Four Oaks East,
All of us aspire to virtue. I know you want what I want: to be man who embraces and embodies the vision of the good life that Jesus commends in the Sermon on the Mount - to be a loving, whole, courageous, just, obedient, self-mastered, others-centered, future-oriented man of integrity.
This vision of true flourishing to which we aspire extends to and makes a claim upon every part of us - our mind, our will, our vocation, our hobbies, our finances, our family… and our sexuality. It’s that last bit I mentioned - the one we don’t discuss much in the church - that I want to talk about.
Let’s be frank - the quest for sexual fidelity and whole-personed holiness is as complex and challenging as it’s ever been. Rapidly changing social attitudes and an even more rapidly changing technological landscape are powerful weapons in the hands of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The enemy has arrayed himself against us, and we don’t want to him lightly.
Yet still, there is hope. For God is for us and with us, and has given us his Word and each other, to help us.
In light of the challenges that sober us and the promises that strengthen us, I am asking that every man who calls Four Oaks East home do all they can to join me for Men’s Night on Friday, November 18 from 6-9 PM at the Ministry Center. I understand you may have something on the books you can’t change at this point. But otherwise, please mark this evening off as “devoted to the Lord” and join us. We’ll sing, we’ll hear testimonies and teaching from God’s word, then we’ll feast together.
Side-note on the feasting component - some of us are proficient and powerful practitioners of the oven, pan, and grill. But all of us have one or two go-to dishes we can make that bless our kids/friends/fellow-diners. Whatever your “specialty” is, I’d love for you to bring some for us to share if you’re able. I’ll be smoking a couple of pork butts to contribute. However, if you can’t bring food for any reason, don’t let that hinder you from being there. Please just come and enjoy.
By your side, under his mercy, and in the grip of his grace,
Josh