Loving Real People

Then Jesus returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Mark 14:32-42)

Jesus must have felt desperately lonely and in need of loyal friends, the night he led his eleven disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane. He separated Peter, James, and John apart from the rest, and took them a little deeper into the garden. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Then he went a short distance further, fell to the ground, and prayed, “Father take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36) When he returned to his three trusted disciples he found them asleep. Can you detect the note of disappointment in His voice as He said, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?”

This scene repeated itself three times. In his most desperate hour, Jesus was alone. Even his most devoted disciples and best friends could not share his time of anguish with him.

In our lives, also, there will be times when human friends will disappoint us. If we’ve been looking to them to meet our needs, we’ll be bitterly disappointed. But that is just the point. We are to look to God to meet our needs Who will never fail us. Jesus was not left without comfort. “An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and strengthened him.” (Luke 22:43)

Despite Peter’s failure to support Jesus during his darkest hour, Jesus expressed his love for him. “I know how it is: ‘the spirit is willing, but the body is weak‘”, he said to Peter. (Mark 14:38)

Jesus loved even the people who disappointed him. He loves real people, not ideal people. And I’m very glad about this.

Dear God, I want to love as Jesus loves. He loves us with all our imperfections. Help me to love my friends like He does. Amen

Question: What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

James 1:21

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21

Ezekiel 33:30-32

³⁰ “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ ³¹ So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. ³² You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!

Putting On the Armor: Week Four Discussion

Week 4: The Shield of Faith

Memory Verse for this week: Ephesians 4:1 – I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received.

Piece of Armor: The Shield of Faith

Day One Summary: Knowing What Faith Is
What is Faith? Hebrews 11:1 says it is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.  Faith is not just someone’s opinion or emotional or unrealistic hope.  It is a solid conviction resting on God’s words that make the future present and the invisible seen.

God is the shield and the refuge.  He goes before us, watches over us, and protects us in times of trouble.  He gives us the faith that protects us.

Using Scripture to combat the enemies attacks
Question: Do you believe God’s Word to be true?

Discouragement – Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go
Temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
False Teaching – 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Persecution – Matthew 10:28-31 ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Doubts – Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Day Two: Living on Offensive Faith

We are not called to be fortresses
A church standing still can’t be obedient to the Great Commission because it’s certainly no threat to the Enemy.  Some churches have become fortresses.  Their members never go out into the community.

Question: Why do you think some Christians have this fortress mentality?  Can those perceptions be changed?  If so, how?

The Shield is an offensive weapon. – Sometimes we best stand against the Enemy when we press forward in obedience to deflect the Enemy’s arrows
Faith is an action Word.

Hebrews 11 – The Hall of Faith Chapter

Question: What is the most risky thing that God has called you to do by faith?  Why do you think you had the faith to believe?

Faith on the offensive is going where God asks, regardless of the cost.

Day Three: Following the Example of Others

Abrahams Call to Faith in Genesis 12:1-3
Question:  If you were Abraham, how do you think you would react?
How willing are we to trust God with the unknowns in our life?

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance, he went  out, not knowing where he was going.

Question:
Where does your Faith struggle?  What has God called you to that frightens you?
Who’s watching you?  Have you ever thought about such a thing?

Day Four: Understanding attacks on Faith

The Enemy attacks Faith through Worry

• He wants us to focus on temporary not eternal
• He wants us to think worry will somehow make a difference
• He wants us to think that somehow God doesn’t know what we need
• He wants us to be consumed with the possibilities that have not yet happened; he wants us to be worried about tomorrow

Questions to ask yourself:
Are you worrying about temporary things?  Is your worry adding one moment to your life, or taking it away?  Does your worry imply that God doesn’t know what you need, or that He is unwilling to meet that need?  Are you worried about the current reality of things, or about what might happen?

The Enemy Attacks Faith through Fear and Doubt
Matthew 14:22-26

Day Five: Increasing Our Faith

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes by Trusting the Word

Genesis 15:1
Deuteronomy 20:1
Joshua 1:9
Isaiah 41:10
Jeremiah 46:27
Luke 2:10
Hebrews 13:6

Questions: What do those verses have in common?
How are we living by faith?
What are we doing that shows that we are living by faith?
Do we live by faith in the easy times, or just the hard times?

Review:
Wearing the Belt of Truth means knowing and living the Word of God
Wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness also requires knowing and living the Word of God.  The Word revelas God’s standards of righteousness for us
Wearing the Sandals of Peace means that when we know God’s peace, we stand firmly and march forward to tell others about Him
Standing firmly and marching forward demands that we carry the shield of faith
Carrying the shield of faith requires hearing, knowing, believing, and living God’s Word.

Next Week: The Helmet of Salvation

Putting On the Armor: Week Three Discussion

Week 3:  The Sandals of Peace

Memory Verse for this week:
Ephesians 2:8-9 – By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast

Review:
1. Jesus made the right choices because His desire to please the Father was more important than anything the enemy offered.
2. Jesus knew the Word in order to respond to the Devil’s attacks
3. We must know what the Word says in order to stand firm against the Enemies attacks
4. Glorifying God means denying our self and focusing on Him.  Willing to sacrifice your desires on behalf of others.

Piece of Armor: Sandals of Peace

Day One Summary: Wearing the Sandals means that we are standing on the defensive

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong
James 4:7 - Submit to God, But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.  Resist him, firm in the faith.

5 Ways to Defend Yourself:
1. Resist temptation when the Enemy seeks to lead you into sin.
2. Stay faithful even when the battle rages
3. Refuse to compromise Biblical truth
4. Keep your eyes focused on God in spite of distraction
5. March forward in faith at any given moment

Question: Which one of these 5 ways is easiest for you to do?  Which ones are the hardest?

Having our feet sandaled isn’t only defensive but also offensive:  sharing the gospel

Question: Have you ever considered the sandals of peace to be an offensive weapon?

Day Two Summary: There is no Gospel of Peace Apart from Jesus

Read: Ephesians 2:1-3

List words or phrases that describe our lives prior to meeting Jesus

Question: Is there any hope for us apart from God?

Day Three Summary: Our Relationship with Others

Relationships Matter: Read the following Scriptures and describe what each says about relationships
Exodus 20:12
Deuteronomy 6:4
Ephesians 4:1
Ephesians 5:22
1 Peter 3:7

Unity Matters:
Read: John 17:20-23

Forgiveness Matters:
Steps to Forgiving Others
1. Admit my anger and ask God’s forgiveness
2. Ask God to help me let go of my pain
3. Meditate on God’s grace toward me
4. Pray for the other person
5. Focus on doing good towards others.  The changes your focus away from anger

Discuss with the group these 5 steps.  Be honest about the challenges you face with these steps

Day Four Summary: Getting Ready to Tell the Story

Make sure You are wearing the full Armor of God

Question: What steps have you taken to make sure that you are wearing these? Have you taken any steps?
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Sandals of Peace

Understand that Believers are Blinded by the Enemy
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
What is the state of unbelievers?
Who has created this blindness?

Get Others to Pray for You.
If you are going to tell nonbelievers the good news of the Gospel, we’d better be ready for the Enemy to fight against us

Question: How important is prayer?  How much of a priority do we actually make prayer?

Day Five Summary: Telling the Story

Be alert to tell others about Christ:
1. Intentionally develop relationships with nonbelievers
2. Know people, and always be prepared to minister to them when they are hurting
3. Pray for these people daily
4. Take the time to ask others about themselves
5. Be ready to respond when someone asks about your day or your weekend
6. Learn to bridge conversations to talk about your Christianity

Summary: What does wearing the sandals of the Gospel of Peace mean?

Standing firm in our faith, knowing God’s Word and being prepared to share our faith with others. Building a foundational relationship with others. Notice it takes all three pieces of the armor so far to be doing this step.

Putting On the Armor: Week Two Discussion

Week 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Memory Verse for this week:
Ephesians 1:17 – I pray that the God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him

Review Last week:
1. Jesus made the right choices because His desire to please the Father was more important than anything the enemy offered.
2. Jesus knew the Word in order to respond to the Devil’s attacks

Piece of Armor:
Breastplate of Righteousness

Day One Summary: Wearing the breastplate of righteousness means that we live like Jesus did – a life of obedience to the Father’s Will

Jesus is our model of righteousness

1 John 2:1 – If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the righteous One
1 John 2:29 – If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well; everyone who does what is right has been born of Him
1 John 3:7 – Little children, let no one deceive you!  The one who does what is right is righteous just as He is righteous
Philippians 3:9 – and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Isaiah 59:16-17 - And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head;

We can’t be righteous because of our sin, so God makes us righteous in His eyes through the death of Jesus who paid our debt of sin in full.

Romans 5:19 Just as through one man’s disobedience that many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who did not know sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Question: If God makes us righteous, do we really need to worry about the way we live? (Romans 6:1-2)
We who have been saved and made righteous by God’s grace must daily choose to make righteous choices.  God gives us the armor so that we can live the way He expects us to live.

List words or phrases that you believe describe how Jesus lived

Jesus came to earth with a clear goal:  To seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) fulfilling the Father’s will that He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)
Nothing in this world would deflect his attention from the Fathers will

Question: What kinds of things keep us from doing all that God expects from you?

If we choose to wear the breastplate of righteousness, we must confront the distractions and obstacles that we face.

Day Two Summary: The Enemy Attacks Righteousness

Strategy One:  The enemy begins a conversation with Us.  (Genesis 3:1-7)
The longer we discuss the temptation with the serpent, the more likely we will give in and sin.  The more we think about the temptation, the closer we get to failure.

Question: What are some excuses you have used to convince yourself to give in to temptation?

Strategy Two: The enemy directs our attention to what we are missing.
We we focus our attention on what we don’t have, we place ourselves in a dangerous place of temptation
Worry – We get so caught up in what we can’t control that we lose our focus on God’s provision (Matthew 6:25-34)

Question: What are some of the blessings that God has given you?  Why do we tend to focus on what we don’t have?

Strategy Three:  The enemy makes sin look good.
Satan makes sin look inviting.  Fun.  But, only for a time. (Hebrews 11:25)

Question: What are some practical steps to take when  dealing with temptation

Day Three Summary: Wearing the Breastplate means thinking properly

Joseph and Potiphars wife in Genesis 39:1-23 (page 34)

Question: How would you react if you were Joseph?

Wearing the breastplate of righteousness helps us know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.  If we think wrongly, if we wrongly define what sin is and what its not we’re much more likely to act wrongly.

Wearing the breastplate means choosing to do right.  We must engage in right thinking.
Genesis 39:10 – As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.

The Temptation process:
The enemy is relentless in presenting us with temptations
The enemy has an intentional strategy – offering little compromises that lead to greater sin.
The potential power of evil words
The potential power of the flesh (a woman’s beauty)

Wearing the breastplate means fleeing temptation
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:13 then 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Day Four Summary: Standing against temptation

The Story of David
Even a Man of God can fail
David’s story reminds us that we are one bad decision away from falling.
David allowed his humanity to lead him.
David tried to cover up his sin

Through all of David’s story – God did not give up on David.  Even though David was forgiven he still had consequences for his actions

One basic rule of spiritual warfare:  The enemy works in hiddeness,
Adam and Eve hid themselves in their shame
Josephs brothers tried to hide their sin when they sold him
Ananias and Sapphire hid their sin in their hearts until Peter called confronted them.

Wearing the breastplate of righteousness helps enable us to live righteously so that we have nothing to hide
If you know that you will need to hide your actions you know that you are not wearing the breastplate of righteousness.  Think before You act.

Day Five Summary: Tough Choices in the gray areas

Question: What are some examples of the gray areas that you face?

Question: Do we know enough of the Bible to be certain it doesn’t speak about these gray areas?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work

We must know the bible well enough to be able to make decisions for the gray areas.

Question: What Biblical principles might guide me?

My actions should not be a stumbling block to others – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
My actions should build up others.  1 Corinthians 10:23-30
My actions must glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Glorifying God means denying our self and focusing on Him.  Willing to sacrifice your desires on behalf of others.

Wearing the breastplate means that we live as Jesus did.  The breastplate can’t be separated from the belt of truth.  The way that these two are connected will become more evident as we progress through this study, and you will start to understand why Paul said we must wear the full armor of God.

Putting On The Armor: Week One

Week 1:  The Belt of Truth

Memory Verse for this week:
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ.”

Piece of Armor:
The Belt of Truth
Ephesians 6:14 (New Living Translation) 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Day 1 Summary:
Eph 6:11-12 clearly indicates who are enemy is and is not.  We don’t wrestle against human beings even though we may wrongly assume other people are the problem.

Christians battle against a supernatural enemy whose forces would overwhelm us except for the presence of God in our lives.

Questions: Can we battle against this enemy on our own?

Day 2 Summary:
The Word of God is Truth.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We know that Satan is a liar and the truth is not in him (John 8:44)

David understood that the Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, reliable, and rewarding.  The Word revives the soul, make the inexperienced wise, makes the heart glad, enlightens the eyes, and warns God’s servants. (Psalm 19:7-11)

Living according to Scripture’s truths enable us to keep our ways pure.

Questions: Do you have a reading plan for the Bible? Have you ever used a plan for reading it? Do you know how to interpret the Bible?

Steps to Interpret the Bible:
Read the Bible in more than one translation
Understand what you are reading: a Gospel, Epistle, one of the Prophets, a history, etc
Use appropriate study tools, examine the cultural and historical background
Read the passage in its context to the specific book.  Old or New Testament?
Look for the authors intended meaning in the passage
Commentaries, bible dictionaries, etc.

Wearing the Belt of Truth means knowing Jesus personally.

Day 3 Summary:
Jesus who knew the Truth, spoke the Truth, and lived the Truth, is still the Truth today.

The Enemy knows that if he can deceive us about Jesus and His work, he misleads us about the very cornerstone of the Christian Faith.

Focus:  Hebrews 4:15 – We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet is without sin.

Questions: How often do we give in to temptations?  (Most of the time we think of the big ones)  What about the smaller ones? (sleeping in a little longer, watching what we say, gossip, our language,)  Jesus took all of these things into account.

Day 4 Summary:
Matthew 4:8 – The One who is the Word of God used the Word to make the right choices
1. Jesus made the right choices because His desire to please the Father was more important than anything the enemy offered.
2. Jesus knew the Word in order to respond to the Devil’s attacks
3. Jesus experienced God’s blessing when He overcame temptation

What we do is as important as what we don’t do.
James 4:17 says that if we know to do good and don’t do it, that is a sin

Day 5 Summary:
Accountability: a willingness to be honest about, and to accept responsibility for my actions as one means to strive for Christlike holiness.
You must desire to be held accountable; its voluntary
Being accountable requires honesty
Accountability demands we take responsibility for our actions
Accountability is not a shortcut to avoid spiritual disciplines; Bible reading, prayer
The goal is growth in Christlikeness, personal holiness should be the result.

Questions: Who would really want to talk to other about issues they face in their Christian lives?
Why should we be accountable to someone?
What are your feelings about being accountable to someone?  What does that require?  Do you know anyone you can be accountable with?
How does accountability relate to the belt of Truth? (keeps us honest)

We stand strongest against the enemy when we stand united.  When we have accountability partners we know that we don’t fight alone.

Only when we understand and apply Gods Word properly can we wear the belt of truth:

Read: James 1:22

Scriptures for Group Activity (Page 25)
READ: Matthew 16:13-20

Hebrews 4:15
Romans 1:3-4
John 1:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Hebrews 1:3
Isaiah 7:14
2 Corinthians 5:21
Matthew 1:18
Hebrews 2:17
Matthew 1:20
Hebrews 7:26
1 John 2:2
John 10:30
Matthew 1:24-25
1 Peter 2:22
Hebrews 4:10

Final Thoughts:
1. Jesus made the right choices because His desire to please the Father was more important than anything the enemy offered.
2. Jesus knew the Word in order to respond to the Devil’s attacks
3. Jesus experienced God’s blessing when He overcame temptation

These three things that Jesus did can give us hope for living in righteousness.  The concept of living righteously will be explored in week two as we cover the Breastplate of Righteousness.

Putting On the Armor: Introduction

Introduction:
WE ARE AT WAR!
Is this a relevant statement in our culture today?

When engaged in a conflict, why do we need to:
a) Accurately identify our enemy?
b) Understand the reasons for the conflict?
c) Determine strategies for victory?

Read: Ephesians 6:10-20

How do these verses
a)define spiritual warfare?
b) accurately identify our enemy?
c) recognize our primary strategy for victory?

Spiritual Warfare: The supernatural conflict caused by the opposition of Satan and his followers to the sovereignty of God, His will, and His people

Basic Principles of the Study:
Believers face schemes of a real enemy
God has provided every spiritual weapon necessary for the believer’s victory
Empowerment for victory comes as we use the spiritual armor God provides to every believer
Victory is gained when the believer correctly employs the spiritual weapons of God’s armor

Study Format:
The study spends one week on each piece of the armor of God
The study is in a daily format of 5 days a week
At the end of the 5 days is a more in depth study
A Daily in the Word study which covers related scriptures and applicable ways to apply what God shows you
Each week has a memory verse for those interested in doing that.
Side bar notes to help with the study
A weekly review at the end of each week

Discussion:
One issue I hope to study or understand
One idea I’ve already had from our discussion
One piece of armor that intrigues me the most

Read: Ephesians 6:18

Importance of Prayer
Prayer requests

Mission Trip to Sierra Leone

The following is Brett Glover’s journal from his mission trip to Sierra Leone.  Thanks Brett for sharing this amazing journey with all of us!

The Mask

Luke 12:2 (New American Standard Bible)
But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known

This was a verse from a devotional I read this morning. I know I’ve read it before, but I haven’t put much thought into it. The Message translation puts a different spin on it, that really got my wheels turning.

“You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known.” Luke 12:2 MSG

We all have a tendency to wear masks. For some of us we have a different mask for wherever we may be. Example, some of us, wear a mask at church, at work, at home, or with different groups of friends. There are only a small handful of people that I know that don’t wear any masks. They are the same no matter who they are with, or where you see them. There is one mask that we probably wear more than any other, and it is also one of the most dangerous, but hard to get rid of masks. The small talk mask. Men wear this mask most of the time.  We wear it at home whenever our wives want to talk, or with our kids when we don’t want to bee bothered, and we wear it whenever we are around other men. Men love to small talk. We small talk about sports, movies, the weather, church, our families, and even our struggles. This is exactly where the enemy wants to keep us. If we keep our small talk mask on, then we aren’t growing in our relationships with others. We are keeping others at a distance. I think we do it for a lot of different reasons. For guys, the fear of rejection. Fear plays such a big role in most of our lives, and guys don’t want to open up because of fear of being rejected. Maybe we’ve been hurt in the past because someone broke our trust. That’s happened to me a few times. Whenever we are hurt we tend to close ourselves off from others so that no one can hurt us again. It’s a natural tendency. It’s also dangerous whenever we close ourselves off, because that gives the enemy a doorway into our thoughts, and our heart. He will take that and slowly build on it, where we fear opening up. When we reach that point, he has succeeded, because the enemy wants us to live in fear. If he can paralyze us where we are at, we can’t reach where God wants us to go. Up until last year I lived almost every day wearing a fear mask. I was living in fear of everything, until God helped me to break that mask, and it wasn’t an easy thing to do.

The small talk mask is one of those masks that I am committing to destroy. As men, we need relationships with each other. We need to know that there are other men who struggle with the same things that we do. We need to have a safe place that we can go to, a safe person that can help us when we’re down. The enemy wants to keep us down! God wants us to RISE UP! We have bought into a lie that we are better off keeping things to ourselves. God wants us to expose these things to the light. As men, we have got to pull together and stop fighting amongst each other. We have to realize that there are men right here in our church praying for each other, encouraging one another, and trying to build relationships with other men. Just a little over a year ago, I was so alone. I never wanted to open up to anyone. I struggled with who I was, where I had been, and where I was headed. God has shown me through several men in this church that we are all in this thing together. Let’s pray for one another, and be there to hold each other accountable, to love each other. Let’s be open and honest with each other guys. We all struggle. There isn’t one guy on this list that doesn’t. It’s ok for us to admit that. I know that it is hard for us as men to admit that we struggle. We want to carry the burdens all by ourselves. The truth is, we can’t do it by ourselves. Walking this walk is not an easy thing to do. We need these relationships with each other and we need to know that there is someone we can talk that knows where we are at, and either has been there, or is at that same place right now.

I am praying hard this year, that God will build up the men in this church and that by the end of 2010 we will have taken those masks and smashed them to pieces. I am praying for relationships this year.