Response to Colorado Shootings last night...

“My God, it’s Chaos!” As the tragic gunshots of Colorado echo inside our collectively stunned hearts, the cries of victims ring out daily from the bloodied streets of Syria to the dying barrios of Jaurez. It seems as though ‘chaos’ has come alive, and gripped our world by the throat.

 In the biblical account of creation, the first recorded acts of God, it says there was, “chaos across the face of the earth.” So what did he do? He thundered across the universe a phrase that is still alive today; “Let there be light!”

 How do we respond to the chaos across the globe, thinking people must boldly declare, “Let there be light!” Light brings clarity to life. ‘Let there be light’ is about the championing of truth, honor and love.

Truth when spoken in love brings unity, healing and wholeness. The world needs you to speak truth to your children, to your employees, to your friends…to live in truth. Truth breeds a mature spirit. A mature person acts in the interests of everyone, not just selfishly as a child would. Truth is the center of mutual respect, integrity and honesty.

Honor is the awareness of the needs of others. Giving others equal value as they navigate the tides of life. Honor speaks highly of others, helps others, applauds the efforts of others, notices the needs of friends. Honoring others brings a pure motive to your heart.

Love is the desire to help or assist another even at your own expense. Love does not demand its own way, is not greedy or arrogant. Giving is the fullest expression of unselfish love, preferring others. Living linked to others, succeeding in life without stepping on those around us.

 Truth, honor and love demand that we speak out about prejudice, violent video games, the childishness of parents fighting at children’s games, the out of control porn industry, deadbeat dads, the glorification of war, the demeaning words we use for each other, the objectification of girls, the loosing of any moral standard. Someone needs to speak out - 'let there be light!' The world needs you to be a good dad, a good mom, a good mentor. You hold the key in your own heart… find someone who needs you. Help them turn on the light in their own lives. If we all do this, the light will fill the earth.

 Of all the things that Jesus was called, the opening line of his introduction by St. John might be the most significant… He has come as ‘the light’. It was the link to his title as ‘Prince of Peace’. Let your faith build a bridge of light for generations to come. Let’s speak to the chaos around us and declare, “Let there be light!”

Where is William Penn when we need him?

The Moral Compass of a Man of Faith; His first book got him arrested. When the jury refused to convict him, the judge put both him and the jury in prison. Later, the writings of this radical man became foundational for the Constitution of the United States. If George Washington is the “Father of our nation,” then William Penn is the “Grandfather.” Penn’s nonconformist views and actions would brand him a radical even today. Yet this man, so often overlooked by contemporary culture, held an ideal of freedom in his heart that still beats in the heart of our nation three hundred years later. His faith in God, his Biblical perspectives drew him into the fray, not away. About his faith in God and his involvement in culture, Penn said, “It is impossible that any people of government should ever prosper, where men render not unto God, that which is God's, as well as to Caesar, that which is Caesar's.” To have faith, was to be involved. William Penn landed in a splintered land of disparate viewpoints and unyielding religious prejudices in 1682. The hardy colonists who had endured the religious persecution of Europe and the murderous seas of the North Atlantic were now resigned to religious fiefdoms in separate colonies that were often as treacherous as the religious tyranny they had fled. In deep contrast William Penn had dreams of an open and free State, one where everyone was welcome, where Biblical freedom was the foundational truth and no one was unduly prosecuted because of his church or her beliefs. He settled in a place he named “Sylvania.” To assure Penn his rights, King Charles renamed it “Pennsylvania.” Penn named his first grand village “Philadelphia,” the “City of Brotherly Love.” His belief was that religion allowed freedom for men and harmony between them “since Religion itself is nothing else but Love to God and Man.” He wrote, “For where there is not Love; there is Fear: But perfect Love casts out Fear. Love is above all; and when it prevails in us all, we shall all be Lovely, and in Love with God and one with another." In contrast to the theologies of the other colonies, Penn stood strong against people being forced to attend a certain church, or have the badge of one chosen sect to do business. Penn even paid the locals, the Native Americans, for the land that King Charles had given him. Penn was revolutionary in the way he governed his colony. He claimed that “if we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants." His understanding of the Bible led him to advocate for and institute public education for all children, due process for people charged of crimes, equal rights for women, a free press, a written state constitution and a sense of brotherhood and mutual respect. His methods and reasoning were so persuasive that his capital, Philadelphia, became the first capital of the new nation, the United States of America. Where did Penn get his moral compass? He wrote in his second book, No Cross, No Crown, “true religion does not draw men out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.” His compass was an ancient one, one that had stood the test of time, the Holy Bible. Penn’s life was fully absorbed by his faith in God, his belief in the veracity of the Bible and his sense of the uniqueness of all mankind. Far from becoming a religious bigot due to his unwavering belief in the Christian God, William Penn based his arguments for all people to have religious freedom on the pages of the Scripture he loved. He wrote that people were “born with a title to perfect freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature.” In his own way, my father taught me what William Penn taught a young nation. He said, “A nation is not great by virtue of its wealth, but by the wealth of its virtue.” He also taught me, “private philosophy determines public performance.” Our nation is increasingly bifurcated, not along political lines, but within the very lives of individuals. Leaders attempting to live a public morality intended to please a constituency or community often practice a personal immorality intended to please only their own selfish desires. The nation has reeled from the scandals caused by such leaders so often that we have lost our ability to express shock and awe. “Such a shame” is now just “more of the same.” Where are the William Penn’s today? Where are the leaders who will honor their moral compass over the winds of political expedience? Where will we find men who will prefer the freedom of others over personal gain or those who fully believe in the right of all to have a voice, to have the freedom of choice that comes with a culture based on mutual respect and trust? Penn wrote that, “No one can be put out of his estate and subjected to the political view of another, without his consent." Yet today public discourse is fraught with the demand that those with opposing views abdicate, or at the least it is demanded that they quiet their views. Penn believed that everyone had a voice… that the Bible taught the involvement of all good people, with good will towards each other, and that all discussion lead, at the least to a mutual respect. Let Penn’s words be a guiding light for you and me, and hopefully for a new generation of leaders, “"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Against powerful business interests, narrow-minded zealots and the courts of Europe William Penn stood strong. He could be described in the writings of his beloved Apostle Paul in a letter that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth… “You have ten thousand instructors, but not many fathers.” The principle is that an instructor tells you what he knows, but a father gives you who he is. Penn gave us his life, his honor, his word. Where’s William Penn when we need him?

No Photos Please.

Seriously - there will be no photos from the meetings I'm in right now... As you read this, myself and key CMN allies are conducting an important summit in an undisclosed European location strategizing a major thrust into the Middle East. It is humbling to be among men who are risking their lives daily for the Kingdom – even to be here is a risk… as the man sitting to my right just confided – “I have spies watching me all over Europe”. Wow, this is really the frontlines we are on – you and I are part of a great harvest of souls, it is exciting, exhilarating - We are part of a strong, multi-denominational outreach, and we intend to RESCUE MEN! We will not back off.

I'll post photos later this week from the highly successful global Lions Roar in Dallas, and the UK Summit in London... also great stuff in Helsinki last week.

Today - please pray for this summit - and for these men as they go back to dangerous situations... and, for how CMN can help them build strong men and strong churches.

WE ARE CMN, WE RESCUE MEN!

peace
Paul

A Hero is Tragically Gone

I've been kicked in the heart - a great man of God has just tragically lost his life in Uganda - Ps. Leo Godzich with three others have just been in a tragic wreck and gone to be with the Lord. Leo and his wife Molly have been Tommy Barnett's assoc. pastors for decades and founded a powerful ministry National Assoc of Marriage Enrichment. NAME. It's active around the world with over 8,000 trained counselors. They have three daughters.

It is inexpressible the depth of pain we all feel... Our friend Alex Mitala was on the scene, waiting for the ambulance when Joann, my sister called him and confirmed the terrible news.

Please pray for Molly and their family - and all the families, churches, ministries involved.
We have only one course of action, our resolve - to move forward with all strength and vigor - with all the power of the anointing of God Almighty and do damage to the enemy - RESCUE those who are lost and dying.
Leo was a wonderful friend - we just messaged each other last night.
He and my dad loved each other - Leo has been a close friend for 25 years.
He will be so very missed... this really hurts.
Deeply love your family and loved ones... and tell them often.

grace/peace
pc

Remembering Mike Bower

Mike Bower - a commissioned man, was laid to rest today in Tacoma, Washington. Mike left thousands of friends, and his lovely wife Barb and daughter Jordan.
We loved Mike Bower. It is a deep sense of profound loss that grips us today, and yet we know the wonderful promise that one day, we will see Mike again.
He was a real man. A friend. A brother. He was a man who lived the truth, that Manhood and Christlikeness are synonymous.
Mike Bower was the man you want your son to grow up to be like.
A man of character, courage and compassion. He loved God, and God really loved Mike.
Mike knew what life was like on the fringes, so he lived to reach men in the margins of life.
An encouraging word, a smile, the hug of a brother, ready to help - that's how I remember Mike.
He was a man like David - a man after God's own heart.
While culture looks for better methods, God looks for better men... and, that was Mike Bower.
For all who may read this, for those who are listening to this note right now, there is one admonition I give to you today - it's your time to step up... Mike left a gap in the line, and it's your turn.
And, if you want to know how to do what's next - there's one powerful instruction I can give you...
BE LIKE MIKE.
I loved that crazy, wonderful man. I miss him. No matter where I was anywhere around the world - I knew Mike was praying for me. And, he was always the first to give to see the work increase.
For the rest of my life I will carry Mike in my heart. Every dusty road, every scattered village or high-rise city we walk into, every little church or brilliant cathedral... every time we travel through Germany, Peru or Indonesia or any one of two hundred nations, he will be with us.
And, in every meeting whether large or small - we will teach the men the truths of God's word.
And, then we will teach them this... BE LIKE MIKE.

pc

Prayer Conference Call for Lions Roar2011!

PRAYER CONFERENCE CALL FOR LIONS ROAR!
Encourage Men To Pray and Pray Men Pray are partnering with Christian Men's Network to provide a prayer covering for the up coming Lion's Roar 2011 Men's Conference in Dallas, TX 3-5 NOV 2011.
We will host a prayer conference call this TUESDAY EVENING 25OCT11 and the following Tuesday evening 1NOV11 at 9PM CENTRAL-10PM EASTERN.
Call into prayer conference call number 712-432-0234 PassCode 9545870#.
Pass the word and Pray as you are prompted of the Lord with other men around our country and the world. Rev. Rick Lindsay and Rev. Paul Louis Cole.

CORRECTION - JUST GOT WORD - CORRECT PASSCODE IS 954580#

Thanks for joining us!

Keep fire burning!
Paul

Jim Garlow's personal letter on LR11

Pastor Jim Garlow - great friend and brother just posted this letter to friends across the nation. Jim is a member of the CMN Ministry Board and Pastor of one of the largest Wesleyan Churches in the world in San Diego. He is a man of vast influence and global impact...


"May I be both frank and very personal?

As a busy pastor, I’m involved in many works. I serve as the Chairman of “Renewing American Leadership,” founded by Newt Gingrich, in Washington DC. I have a special needs child. And, I’ve just brought my beautiful bride home from a stay at a Houston medical center due to her ongoing fight with cancer. As the pastor of a wonderful church, I’ve been privileged to oversee building new facilities, which also meant successfully defending ourselves in a massive construction lawsuit involving 52 subcontractors and 80 insurance carriers.

But, I’m dropping everything I’m doing to be part of the Lions Roar Global Men’s Summit in Dallas, November 3-5, 2011. Why? Because discipling men is the surest method we have to impact culture, change families, strengthen churches, and transform our nation.

May I invite you to prioritize being part of this strategic event?

Discipling men is the model our Lord gave us. To disciple men everywhere is the command our Lord gave us. The fastest way to succeed in the pastorate is to be about what our Lord was about, and to do the first thing He told us to do—make disciples of men.

My denomination, the Wesleyan Church, was founded in 1848 with a goal to abolish slavery. Today, as then, we have evils in the world that we simply must fight. We need men who will lock arms to fight for our families and win more men to Christ.

Let’s not be too busy, or think our own lives are too full, to join with like-minded men, encourage each other to reach more men, encourage men to fulfill God’s call on their lives, and together make an impact on this globe.

I intend to bring a presentation at Lions Roar 2011 that God has forged deep within my heart through the battles of ministry and family life that each man faces. I trust it will touch you. I’ll see you there!

Your friend,

Jim Garlow"

Lions Roar 2011

Lions Roar - the summit on the global men's movement is arriving soon... amazing who is calling and saying they want to be here! Leaders of major denominations - directors of global ministries... it's all awesome, and all very humbling.

Join us at Lions Roar 2011 in Dallas. Be the warrior...

“Of every 100 men, 10 should
not even be here. 80 are nothing
more than targets. Nine of them
are the real fighters.
We are lucky to have them,
they the battle make.
Ah, but the one.
One of them is a warrior
and he will bring the others back.”
Heraclitus, 500 B.C.

Check out the summit at www.lionsroar2011.com
And, pray for us, with us - as we make some strong new initiatives come alive.

Stay ready.
Paul

My dad... and, we're running FULL speed!

Saturday, August 27 was a significant day...August 27 marks the nine-year anniversary of our father's home-going. General Patton wrote to his son on D-Day these words, "If I should go don’t worry but set yourself to do better than I have." Dad said over and over again to all of those who followed his ministry, "If I can raise up men to get their ten thousands where I’ve got my thousands, I will consider my life a success."

In the same spirit my dad put into motion... we're moving quickly – FULL SPEED!

The past few months CMN leaders from many nations have traveled over 150,000 miles around the world doing the ministry to men! I’ve personally met face to face with over 6000 leaders and men from Belize to Fiji to London to Lima. Thousands of men’s lives touched, challenged, changed—resulting in women, children, churches being healed, nurtured, released into their destiny.

And now—at our Dallas offices, the CMN Communications Center is about to become a reality. We’ve prayerfully taken a massive step of faith...we've signed a long-term lease on half of an executive building and yesterday we received the keys! We need a financial miracle to help us—every $100, every $250, helps turn on lights, buy desks, get accessed to high speed internet lines, install digital media platforms and much more. Please be involved - Thank you for your generosity.

Dad left nine years ago - and now, here we are still today—making it happen. Was Ed Cole’s life a success? Yes! You and I make it a success every day with what we do. Let’s not be weary in well doing—let’s reach men for Christ and never tire of the sacrifice it takes to experience the thrill of seeing a man’s life changed, or seeing the face of a child saying, “That’s my dad!” Nothing like it in all the earth. Nothing better. Let’s keep doing it!

Please pray about joining all the guys, your brothers from across the world, in Dallas at Lions Roar... this is a pivotal year for the ministry to men, and for the world.

The website is www.lionsroar2011.com

Love you my friend!
Paul

NZ, SYDNEY - 'SOURCE'

Just had amazing week in New Zealand last week with Mike Parks, Richard Eames and team - tremendous momentum happening! Great CMN event in Auckland - guys from across New Zealand joined up... amazing.
Sydney has been tremendous this week - C3 OxfordFalls BONFIRE NIGHT with the guys was awesome! Over 300 men around a 20foot wall of fire - how great is that!? Photos coming... attended Hillsong Conference with great friends Robert/Karyn Barriger with Taylor and Chana - Brian and Bobbie Houston are stunning leaders, highly motivating conference - you must attend some year - 25 years now and going strong!

Here's a short devo note - I think you'll like it - on 'Your Source'

What is Your Source?

God promised Abraham a son – and, he finally had one.
Fourteen years too early.

The issue was Abraham’s impatience, his fear, listening to wrong advice and the son he produced was Ishmael...A child that would bring grief to Abraham’s lineage to this very day. He had a son, but the source was Abraham, not God.

When God is the source, our lives produce eternal results, are protected by His peace and contain the power of His promise.

When we are the source, the product is finite, subject to sin and out of sync.

Psalm 46 says to ‘be still (wait) and know that I am God." Micah 7 says “I wait confidently." It is a constant instruction to us from God’s Word...wait for His timing.

Abraham couldn’t wait and he produced a stressor, not a successor. For you and me, it’s one of life’s most difficult areas.

Check what you’re about to do next week – is it His timing, or yours?

Who are you listening to – is it wise counsel or just mere advice?

Are you the source, or is God?

Grace/peace
Go strong!
Paul

Whewww.....

A LOT IS GOING ON!
Follow me on Twitter - paullouiscole - that way you'll stay current on what's happening... there isn't a day that something new doesn't happen!!
Since I last updated this blog we've been through Europe, Peru, Brazil and across the USA.
From Belize we went to Baton Rouge to be at the ARC conference, amazing group of leaders, then dashed over to Cleveland, Tennessee to meet with the dynamic leaders of the Church of God - great friends, and a new friendship utilizing the "Majoring in Men" curriculum!
Then it was two great Pastors training events in Dallas - with great results...
Brazil was an amazing week in April as 2800 leaders gathered with University of the Family - tremendous results - over 2500 churches now using our discipling materials!
From Brazil it was events in Orlando and Phoenix and then jumping on a plane for Europe.
WOW - England was amazing, tremendous breakthroughs - then Paris with a far beyond our expectation series of meetings with pastors and leaders... then Aachen, Germany with men from 8 nations attending a special strategy summit... then, Amsterdam and meeting with key leaders... from there - it was home for 12 hours and off to Peru...
Peru is an amazing place, what the men are doing is remarkable ... powerful, spoke at Robert Barriger's men's conference, met with key leaders from Argentina and Ecuador... tremendous!
Then, back and few days later (and a few hours sleep) we were off to Portland, Maine for a great weekend event and then back for last Saturday's D/FW men's event...
God is leading us into the greatest times of growth we have ever seen - a lot is happening...
please pray with us - please get on our email list - and follow me on twitter - that's really all the time I have to communicate - I get that done and I'm in another meeting... the average pastor would have spoken 22 times this year - we've done over 100 sessions in just 5 months!
THIS IS WHAT GOD HAS PUT INTO OUR HANDS! TOGETHER YOU AND I ARE GOING AFTER THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING IN CHRIST!!

Love you...
will try to get some photos up tonight...
be blessed!
Paul

DISPATCH FROM BELIZE

The Belize outreach was a major success! We made strong inroads into the culture of this desperately hurting nation in Central America. Meetings with key business leaders, national political leaders and church leaders all gave us great hope that this beautiful nation can be revived! Thank you to all who gave financially to make this happen – it was a powerful time, and great results were seen.

Belize needs a men’s movement - over 80% of all children are born outside marriage, the average income level is one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere (over 30% live in total poverty), the per-capita murder rate is 700% higher than the U.S. and drug usage is epidemic. This is a nation that has spiritually resisted most efforts to reform, restore and revive. It needs the RESURRECTION power of Christ to change the hearts of the men!

Rob Carman, international Christian leader, gave a passionate introduction to our mission at the Kiwanis meeting in Belize City, then followed that with dynamic messages all week. Ed Preston from Oregon, a ‘Gideon’s 300’ partner, was strongly received in the business event we conducted, titled “Creating a Motivated Team”. Omar Reyes, a Pastor from Forth Worth, introduced us to key business and church leaders from across the nation. We conducted meetings across the nation, and will hit the other key cities next time we’re there this year.

We had great discussions and a time of fellowship with the mayor of the national capital city Belmopan, met with business leaders in key cities and hosted an evening with key pastors from across the nation.

Our host, key connect is dynamic missions leader Scott Stirm. He’s been in Belize for over 20 years… a passionately dedicated man. His coordination and insights, key contacts and generous spirit made this a highly successful outreach. And, we will be returning to Belize regularly over the next three years.

Please pray for Belize, and go with us in 2012 for one of the three outreaches we will conduct. For friends in North America, it is a short journey – and one that you can do with some other men, young leaders and teens.



Belize can be a model for taking cultures from dysfunctional to healthy, from ashes to beauty. Pray with us for great wisdom, favor and protection… the enemy will not give up without a great fight.

Thank you for praying for this outreach, thank you for giving financially to the Lord, the men and families of Belize will forever be profoundly grateful to you.

Keep the fire hot!
Your friend, brother and ally,
Grace/Peace
Paul

5 Ways to Kill Your Men's Ministry!

Here are five ways to guarantee your ministry to men will die this year.

Of course, you will want to make sure you don’t do them! Let me know what you would add to this list. We’ll make it part of a teaching section on the CMN website.

1. Make sure the senior pastor is not involved
The pulpit is the propulsion center of the church. What is celebrated from the pulpit will be part of the life of the church. What is neglected will have no energy, and many will see it as secondary in importance. The DNA of the pastor fills the life of the church, and the pastor’s commitment gives life to the ministry to men. We are taking men to a particular place—to a passionate, committed lifestyle of following Christ. This singular purpose is to be at the heart of every pastor, biblically. Discipling men was at the core of the life of Jesus, and it must be our center priority.

2. Make fellowship a priority
Fellowship is always the by-product of purpose, never the goal. The focus must be maintained. It’s about building men strong spiritually. Keep the main thing the main thing. Have fun, hang out, do fun events, but — make the process the center of your purpose…everything continually points in to that, building strong men. We do events to bring profile and energy to the men’s movement, but that’s not the focus of a ministry to men, it’s the highly visible place that introduces men to your ministry to men.

3. Try not to offend anyone
If you back off the passion of reaching and building strong men, you will not get anything done. Iron does sharpen iron. Sermons don’t set men free, truth does.

Confront men with the life of Christ! What is it to be a real man, to be like Jesus. Don’t back off calling men to a higher level of living. Don’t lower the ministry to the level of your men’s lives. Bring them up to the life of an overcomer. That challenge may make men uncomfortable, but it’s what they need to break out of a ‘normal’ life.

The pain of staying the same must become greater than the pain of changing to move men to decisions that will bring transformation.

4. Guys are busy, don’t ask too much from them
The best guys are always busy…that’s why they get stuff done. Men who are not busy are not men of vision and capacity. For some of your men, you will have to help them adjust their priorities, if they’ve made the smaller things larger in their lives. Jesus called men who were working. They were busy people. He never called a man who was just hanging out.

5. Just let things happen
The ministry to men takes hard work. Nothing just happens... if you wait to see what will happen, that's what will happen, nothing. Here’s a great timeline of how to create and sustain momentum: prayer, planning, preparation, perseverance and perspiration…then, you’ve got to repeat it again, and then, repeat again.

“The very greatest things — great thoughts, discoveries, inventions — have usually been nurtured in hardship, often pondered over in sorrow, and at length established with difficulty.” -Samuel Smiles, Scottish Author

Put a system for discipling men into place, equip your leaders, empower them, THEN — watch, measure, adjust, push, lead and encourage.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

And, it’s what we are about as followers of Christ.

Build men, Build churches, Transform nations!
Make it a great month!

grace/peace
Paul

THREE KEYS TO MOMENTUM!

CONSISTENT. CONSTANT. CLEAR.

These three elements will help you build a powerful men’s movement in your church. To have a fixed focus, to stay engaged and to have a clear goal.
Men follow leaders who have a sense of where they are going. Focus gives us the space to put our full energy into something. If there is no clear focus, men tend to hold back. In the book “Daring” we talk about it in depth.
To stay engaged is the role of a strong leader…don’t give up, back off or waver in your commitment. Regardless of your own feelings, Proverbs 16 says it is the role of a man to commit his heart to a task, and then the answer comes from God. We commit, he fulfills. Success is the result of constancy of purpose.
Clarity is not a common thing in our world. There are a hundred opinions on every issue, and the obfuscation, manipulation of facts is a trademark of many national discussions. Clarity comes from the Word of God. The Bible provides a clear path for life… your men’s movement must be Bible centered, not fellowship centered. Fellowship is always the byproduct of purpose.

Minister to men where they are at… then take them where they need to go. Work with the men who are in front of you. Don’t look over their heads, looking for the ones you hope will be there. God has always used the man who was overlooked by the world, to do some of the greatest works for the kingdom.

Give your men clear goals that can be reached. Engage them for a 6 week course, or a 3 month study… it has an ending. Then have them do it again. It takes time to make a rugged disciple.
Your ultimate goal should be to get men studying God’s Word with other men. Small groups are the place where men can find the security to share what they are really dealing with.

Whatever you do… just start. It won’t happen until you do that.

Christian Men’s Network is here to help.

Grace/Peace
Paul

DISAPPOINTMENT.

Disappointment in life is not based on where we are, or what we find… it’s based on where we expected to be, or expected to find. The size of the gap between expectation and reality is the degree of disappointment we carry in our hearts. Jesus came to cover the gap! He fills, heals and closes the gap. Fill your life with His life, and yesterday’s disappointment will become the fuel for your tomorrow.

Do not carry last year’s disappointment into this year. Forgive, release, look forward. Looking to the past, carrying your failures, thinking often about disappointments and hurts will narrow your vision, sap your energy and fog your focus.

God is all about new beginnings… the God who lives outside of time, created time so you would have a new year, a new month, a new week… a new day!

Take a moment, meditate on the Word of God;

Revelation 21: 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

NOW, get up, get going. Make the phone calls, write the emails, run your business, love your kids, have food with friends… face your future free of the weight of the past, and live today fully alive!

YOUR BEST YEAR!

pc

(photo from Ps. Phil Pringle's early morning prayer)

GUTS - MEN.

Bill Scheer and GUTS church in Tulsa just held their first Maximized Manhood meeting this morning... Pastor Bill wanted to start with his key leaders - then spread the men's movement throughout his church - then, to the region!
Started with 150 strong men! This is going to be epic in Tulsa!

Hearing reports from around the world of same thing happening this week and next...new groups starting - big fresh wind in the sails of the men's movement globally!

Old proverb - "When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. Second best time? Today." So - maybe you wanted to start something last year, or the year before... don't get down - get started now! It's not difficult... Jason Debus from Phoenix said it best, "Two guys, Two books, Two study manuals - you've got a ministry to men!"

Proud of Bill.
Awesome.
Let's crank it!
paul

Live 2011 under Wide Open Skies!

Love this from 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 in the Message translation...

4-8But friends, you're not in the dark... You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

9-11God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

His life is in you - let's take on hell with a furious love of freedom - for everyone.

ALIVE!
pc

Christmas - family.

Christmas is an amazing time of year - friends, family, church, helping others - for us as believers, it is Christmas all year long... the same spirit we sense at this time of year, should fill our hearts throughout the year. Let's make that commitment, it's about Jesus, and He is about people!
A few photos of our family times... then, this blog will move more toward motivational, encouraging teaching in 2011, follow me on twitter at paullouiscole, which will include daily words of encouragement and news... my personal times with friends and family will be on facebook.

I pray 2011 will start full of fire for you!
That His love and grace will cover every step,
and that you will go for the fullness of God with reckless abandon!
Paul

MOTORCYCLE WRECK

Motorcycle wreck in Oregon Mountains - It was miraculous that I was not hurt worse than I am. I am able to speak/move but moving slowly with bruises and aching over my entire body. I took 25 stitches in my nose and mouth (I'll need plastic surgery in a year or so). I have facial fractures that cannot be mended surgically, so it's a time issue. My shoulders have torn muscles, I have cuts, abrasions and bruises in many other places... but I am fully functioning and operating. No one else was hurt, or involved.

THAT'S a photo of me just after surgery in the emergency room - got up and walked out hour later...

Ed Preston and I, with another friend had spent the afternoon riding up into the Cascade mountains outside Portland. Coming out of the mountains, I went wide on a turn that had a narrow pavement, my front tire caught the tarmac edge and I was propelled into the gravel and a field (this is the only area for many miles I would not have hit a tree or gone off a ledge/cliff!) - as I was slowing from 55mph - I thought I was going to make it - a perpendicular ditch I didn't see grabbed the bike, it stopped suddenly, then flipped, totalling wrecking the bike, I was thrown at around 40mph into the gravel and dirt - face first. The paramedics were sure I had a broken back, limbs, etc. The emergency doctors were certain I must have internal injuries, concussion, skull fractures, etc.
BUT
the ministering angels protected me from all of those things... The surgeon sewed me up, gave me some advil, and that night we went home - the next morning, I spoke at a men's event in Portland, that Sunday at the church.

Praise God for His protection! I pray for that in your family and in your life.
Great Lions Roar coming up!
www.LionsRoar2010.com

grace/peace
paul

AUSTRALIA!!

WOW! An amazing tour through Queensland area - great new friends Byron Graham, Ross Davies and Erroll Buckle.
This has been a time of gaining new traction... and it was spectacular! Hundreds of men attended events, and the process of CMN materials being used for discipling was launched with great, fresh traction.
Thank God for Al Furey introducing us to great new friends... we've booked events next Jully (2011) for the Gold Coast, northern Queensland and Fiji... (as well as the Germany, Ghana, VietNam, UK, Paris and other events already booked for 2011)




This photo is the men of Highway Church gathering around Pastor Byron Graham and praying for him... committing to being those who carry the sword with him - it was an amazing time...

Join us on a road trip and,
Let's make this happen!

be blessed!
grace/peace
paul