The FEW

I'll admit it. I love Clint Eastwood westerns. Not Clint Eastwood movies in genernal, just the westerns. There's nothing like a lone drifter coming in to save the day in the face of impossible odds against a hoarde of heartless villains. There's something deep inside each of us who wants to be the guy to right all the wrongs in the world.

One thing is true about every Eastwood western - he ALWAYS works alone. He didn't even ride off into the sunset with the girl! How many times was Sandra Locke's heart broken simply because he was an avowed loner with no time or place in his heart to give to anyone?

There's only one thing wrong with that scenario: We weren't created to work alone.

The whole idea is fantasy. But, its the idea that most of us live out even if we SAY we don't buy into it. The "pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps" mentality that we've adopted as westerners doesn't help either. Most people believe their value is based on the quality of their performance...and this falsity is encouraged in every institution we encounter. But, what happens when your performance isn't up to par? Don't we hide our shortcomings and put on the facade that we "have it all together" when, in reality, we're sinking in a pit of self-loathing?

That was me until recently. Through some really challenging circumstances, God has been taking me through a kind of "religious detox" - a journey I'm not sure will ever be over but at least now I'm a willing participant! Through this process, He's showing me how rewarding it can be to truly live in community with other believers who handle your heart well - something I never really found in the institutional church.

When trying to define this "living in community", one finds that you really can't define it. You can only define what is ISN'T. "Living in community" isn't going to a designated building every Sunday morning and putting in your hour-and-a-half for God with people you don't really know and don't really care about and whom you won't see for another week. It isn't watching a performance of hip music and a talented speaker giving you an emotional fill-up to help get you through the week. That kind of "community" is full of Clint Eastwood-type loners constantly comparing their week's performance against each other hoping to gain points with God. Just because you were entertained doesn't mean you're any closer to God or to each other!

What I need is a band of brothers willing to lay down their very lives for me - and me for them. I've come to the realization that I can't walk this road alone - nor do I WANT to anymore. If we're going to influence our sons, daughters and the rest of this generation coming up behind us, we need to figure this out.

That's why we've created the FEW - the Fellowship of Extraordinary Warriors

I believe that as the men go, so go our families, our churches and our communities. Because of this, the men of The River are setting aside every Wednesday night at 7:00 to meet together and tell our stories, share our victories and pray over our struggles. John 7:14 tells us, "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a FEW find it." I want to be part of that few.

But I can't find it alone. I need brothers. Not to "keep me from sinning" but to call out in me the warrior that is already there. This won't be a "Bible study", we won't be "going through a book". We'll be sharing the weight of our own lives and watching God transform us into what is already true about us - Extraordinary Warriors.

If this is what YOU need, fly me a message and I'll let you in on the details.