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Vulnerable Dudes

2/6/2012

4 Comments

 
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     I'm a  proponent of strong male leadership in the church.  I believe that our mission is desperate for manly, courageous, godly, muscular leadership.  Lest you think this means chauvinistic locker-room leadership, let me tell you about our annual men's retreat this past weekend.

    I've been leading this retreat for the last 5 years.  Friday night always consists of rowdy forms of testosterone-induced competition.  Sweaty guys playing bean bag toss and ping pong.  Some guys extended the play until 4:00AM.  There was also venison sausage and adult beverages (in moderation). 

    But strong male leadership is not defined by games, chest-hair, or guy sweat.  Something remarkable happened this year that took our annual retreat to another level.  Our format included a panel of five men who were asked a variety of questions ranging from health to family to work.  The panel was honest and forthright.  This vulnerability immediately lowered the defenses of the larger group, opening up a whole new level of conversation.  Suddenly we were having an hour-long conversation about pornography and sexual temptation.  Men were making new connections, supporting one another, and praying.  There was a sense of, "I'm not the only one. I'm not alone."  And from such vulnerability comes strength.

    Jesus calls his disciples to a posture of servanthood, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant . . . even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:26-28).  This is leadership on your knees.  This type of leadership means you put yourself under others.  And if you do that, you need some muscle to do the heavy lifting.  Humility and vulnerability require strength. 


    Men typically have a hard time being vulnerable in general, and in the church especially.  We feel the need for pious facades.  I am grateful that this weekend cracked the wall and allowed for a new level of strength among many of our men - a strength proven in its vulnerability.   I have courage in the mission when I know these men are on it. 

4 Comments
mimi rusert
2/8/2012 09:28:11 am

Please invite Dave next year. My words of encouragement to him about going are totally ignored!!!

Reply
Tim Barone
2/16/2012 04:38:10 am

Thanks for the post. Were the questions to the panel prepared? or did they rise naturally from the group?
Men must get together and claim the fight as their own. We need to know that we have common enemies and discover that we have allies in our fights.

Reply
Jeff Cloeter
2/16/2012 05:25:22 am

Tim, I gave the panel some prepared questions. We started with those, but things quickly took off from there. A healthy exchange between larger group and panel. This spilled into smaller groups, and one-on-one conversation.

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I was on the panel link
2/29/2012 02:35:06 am

Wasn't exactly sure how this "panel thing" was going to work but no doubt we had the Holy Spirit squeezed in with us. Why am I still amazed when GOd has control and I think to myself how did that just happen? Totally awesome when us men put it all out there and let the big guy do his work!

Need more of that CM boys.

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  • Blog
  • About
    • Sixth Generation
    • Jeff Cloeter
    • If you're not a Christian . . .
    • Contact
  • Loved & Sent
    • Get The Book
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    • The Stories
    • My Children's Book
  • The Daily Pattern