Had a Great Weekend

[dpricenator]

My wife signed me up for a weekend Men's retreat up in the local mountains. About 220 men from our church went up to Forest Home in the San Bernadino National Forest. The guys in my cabin were great and in all stages of thier walk with Christ. We had some amzing worship sessions and the food was outstanding. I went on a several hours hike up the steepest switch back trail I've ever seen. Kicked my but that did. The best part was out Keynote speaker.

Michael Franzese spoke to us 3 times over the weekend. He is the only Ex-MOB member tyo ever publicly leave that life. He was the biggest earner ever in the Columbo Crime family in New York. His story is truly inspiring. He has written a book, BLood Covanent, that tells the whole story. He now travels the world speaking on the evils and traps of gambling and criminasl acvtivity and how he came to Christ. He speaks to the MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and roughly 50 collegiate athletic programs every year. He answered ever question we had for him, including some of the more difficult "violent" questions. This guy is the real deal when it comes to telling the Mob story.

On a side note he says the 3 movies that accurately depict the life of a mobster. Goodfather 1&2, Goodfellas, and Donnnie Brasco. Ok I guess that's 4. If any of yoou are interested here is a link to his book on amazon.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Covenant-Michael-Franzese-Story/dp/0883688670/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8390431-3547040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191857148&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Covenant-Michael-Franzese-Story/dp/0883688670/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8390431-3547040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191857148&sr=1-1[/ame]

I'll tell you the fellowship II had with the men of my church and with the Lord has really opened my eyes to some of the things I have been a part of recently and how those need to change. Be it participatinng in dirty talk about girls or smoking Pot daily, or whatever else I'm doing that is not in line with the the Lord's plan. I am making some changes in my life and can't wait to get started. I've always been a believer, but have never felt the calling I had this wekend. Not to fear I will still be having a good time and will still partake in the pleasures of cigars and alcohol, I just need to make sure i don't go overboard.

 

[jwintosh]

Amen brother!! Amen!! i've been to a few retreats up at Arrowhead! been a counselor for a few more! goood stuffff!! i've been to a few 'promise keepers' events too! mighty goooood stufffff!!

if you ever get a chance to hear Frank Peretti, you've gotta do it! and, if you're into spiritual warfare stuff, his fiction books are absolutely gripping!!

 

[dpricenator]

I may be making an Amazon order later in the week. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[jwintosh]

start with, "This Present Darkness", then to the sequel, "Piercing the Darkness." I've loaned out lot's of books,,, never got back my Peretti....

 

[CWS]

Sounds like it was a growth experience. Excellent. Another to peruse is, The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. Its kinda a mind blower.

 

[Clinton]

I'll tell you the fellowship II had with the men of my church and with the Lord has really opened my eyes to some of the things I have been a part of recently and how those need to change. Be it participatinng in dirty talk about girls or smoking Pot daily, or whatever else I'm doing that is not in line with the the Lord's plan. I am making some changes in my life and can't wait to get started. I've always been a believer, but have never felt the calling I had this wekend. Not to fear I will still be having a good time and will still partake in the pleasures of cigars and alcohol, I just need to make sure i don't go overboard.

So the Lord's plan doesn't let you talk dirty about girls or smoke pot, but cigars and alcohol are ok? How much trouble will I be in if I do three or more of those concurrently?

 

[tedski]

So the Lord's plan doesn't let you talk dirty about girls or smoke pot, but cigars and alcohol are ok? How much trouble will I be in if I do three or more of those concurrently?

Burn the heretic! itchfork

 

[blessednxs65]

Kudos to you Dpricenator and special kudos to Mrs. DPricenator?

As we attempt to navigate this thing called life, we come to know God as He revealed Himself through the Bible. Jesus Christ and the Church. In that it is an ongoing walk, events like the one you attended help us to develop both the capacity to hear His voice and accountability fellowship relationships. I pray that you continue on this path and the your journey to meet God be like that of David who asked "Where can I go to meet God?" Be like the deer which panteth for the water and find Living Water in Him.

Romans 12:1-2 tells us that we are to renew our minds. This is a daily activity, day by day, moment by moment. Ask God for what you need to do daily to become more like His Son and He will provide. I encourage you (if you do not already have one) to enlist the support of an accountability partner, one whom you give permission to ask the tough questions of you as you attempt to live out this calling.

Be blessed and know that I am praying for you.

 

[dpricenator]

So the Lord's plan doesn't let you talk dirty about girls or smoke pot, but cigars and alcohol are ok? How much trouble will I be in if I do three or more of those concurrently?

For me it's more about my behavior and the example i'm portraying. Am I going to stop smoking pot and talking dirty? I hope so, it is going to be a struggle. Smoking Pot is in violations of man's law, thus nviolation of God's law. Talking dirty about women or having vulgar conversations does not show an example that will plant the seed in someone's heart. I don't plan to stop smoking cigars or drinking, because i don't think that either of those habits portray a bad example as long as they don't rule my life. To answer your question with what I learned this weekend. All sin is equally offensive in God's eye. The ground at the base of the cross is level.

 

[Clinton]

I don't plan to stop smoking cigars or drinking, because i don't think that either of those habits portray a bad example as long as they don't rule my life.

But isn't the Lord's plan explicit? Don't you have some guidelines defined by a church and/or the Bible? Why do you get to choose what's a sin and what's not?

 

[dpricenator]

But isn't the Lord's plan explicit? Don't you have some guidelines defined by a church and/or the Bible? Why do you get to choose what's a sin and what's not?

So am I to think that because I sin once that there is no hope? I want to say that I am not new to Christianity or to Christ, I have been a believer and Saved for 17 years and went away from the church for roughly 7-8 years in the middle of that time. We are all sinners no matter what. I stayed away from church and the Lord for many years with the thought that there was no way I could be forgiven for what I've done. I came to grips with how wrong I was a few years back. I have several freinds who won't go to church now because they smoke pot daily and think that because they are going to go home and smoke it will wipe away what they did by going to church. Church is a great place to learn and to fellowship, but is not the route to heaven, Jesus is. If you are of the thinking that you have to be perfect to be saved, you are wrong. And I guess that a cigar or a glass of wine or scotch could be a sin in the sense that we are supposed to keep God's Temple clean and pure. However, I don't see either of those actions, when taken in moderation, leading someone to think badly or too turn thier back on Christ. My goal is to lead my life with the purpose of edifying the Lord. I would be glad to send you some reading material if you would like. Nothing too intense, but something that might shed a more educted and well spoken view than I have.

 

[Clinton]

No thanks.

 

[jwintosh]

haha! but another devil's advocate!! church is religion. Jesus Christ is all about relationship!! figure it out now, or later,,, your choice!!

 

[Trumpetchris]

hey guys, Jesus turned water into wine, not the other way around. Moderation is key- I agree with you. Don't let it rule your life.

Be nice to others, respect people, and share what you can with others- that's what they all teach. Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[Electric Sheep]

Hey dude, I smoked pot every single day -- multiple times a day -- for a very, very long time. I was a bona fide pot head in every sense of the word--it was my complete lifestyle!

One day, I decided for my own personal reasons that I needed to quit smoking pot. So I just quit. Cold turkey. I put down the pipe and the bong and the papers and the bag and all the paraphernalia I could round up and gave it all to a fellow pot head. And you know what?

I had ZERO withdrawl issues. Nada. Zilch. None whatsoever. And I didn't miss it one bit afterwords.

I've been totally clean for 12 years now, and it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Absolutely everything I've achieved in my life I accomplished *AFTER* I quit.

So regardless of WHY you're quitting, I say CONGRATS!

You're doing a good thing.

 

[cvm4]

Good move DP :thumbsup: Don't let that spiritual high get away from you.

 

[dpricenator]

Thanks for the support guys I appreciate it.