"Resist the devil and he will flee from you" - James 4:7. What would happen if a man really understood the power and authority available to him in this verse? I think about questions like this and believe that our enemy fears what we might become; Men made in God’s image. We love to see a man begin to believe that there may be more to him than he ever thought possible. But it requires moving into risk.

Beginning to move into risk may look like riding a dirt bike, going rappelling, or playing paintball. But there are areas that are much riskier yet like marriage, relationship, leadership and mission. We desire to see men move into these with strength and confidence. But often men do not feel that they have what it takes to meet these challenges, why?

Men were created by God to bear the image of His strength and to use that strength to fight for others. Isaiah says to become "oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor" - Isaiah 61:3. But the enemy of God has been fighting since we were young to keep us from becoming who we were created to be. So we seem to bear the image of our wounds and try to take on the identity this fallen world has given us.

The "Good News" is that Jesus came to give us freedom from the power our enemy has held over us and heal our wounds so we can be who he had in mind before creation. Jesus asks us to "follow Him" into an adventure to uncover and release our true selves, our true hearts and join Him in His mission to do the same for others. This is our goal.

Everything we will engage in is pointed in this direction whether we are watching a movie, challenging ourselves outdoors or digging in to a study. So look for an upcoming opportunity to join us and see where God will take you.