Men's Leadership Summit...Day 3

Well, I'm back home now and me and Stephen are still digesting everything we heard and experienced at the Summit. Even though my family has been home educating our children for over 14 years, and I've heard some of these men speak before, and their messages doesn't change throughout the years, it's always encouraging, exciting, challenging, and empowering to hear the message of why we do what we do articulated with clarity and passion from men who God has raised up for such a time as this.

There were many memorable moments and quotes from the conference. My son Stephen asking Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham, Kevin Swanson, and the other who spoke what he should be doing now as young boy since he feels God calling him to be a Pastor. Also at the end of the last message, all the sons were asked to come forward as Scott Brown prayed God's blessing and favor over them as all the men in attendance raised their hands to the Lord, which was a very stirring moment!

Two quotes I thought were memorable are:

• "History is not made by majorities, but by dedicated minorities." - Doug Phillips
• "Let's stop using our children as canon fodder in the culture war." - Voddie Baucham

On the final day we started with a nice bible study geared at helping men in their marriages from the current President of ATI. Then we heard from Mike Cheney on the dynamics of "Leading and Bleeding" with your leadership team. And finally, after brunch, we heard some encouraging words from State Senator Kevin Lundberg on how God has saved a remnant in the Colorado State Legislature. He told us that 10 current State Senators had or are currently homeschooling their children. After Kevin Lundberg, came Kevin Swanson, who delivered the final call for Men to rise up to be the kind of Men God has called them to be. He laid out his 40 year vision for the homeschool movement and got a standing ovation that lasted at least 3 minutes. It was powerful to say the least!

For anyone interested in purchasing the messages that were delivered at this Summit, they are available at Resounding Voice. You can purchase individual sessions or the entire conference on CD or Mp3. If you're a homeschooling Dad especially, or just a Mom looking for encouragement, I'd spend the money in a heartbeat. Investing in you is investing in your children, and investing in your children is investing in the future of the kingdom of God.

So here's a few more photos from the event for you to enjoy, and perhaps we'll see one another at a future event. On the way home I met up with some friends at Fair Oaks Dairy Farm for some ice-cream and fellowship. It was a great three days with my son that I hope he never forgets...

Above is Colorado State Senator Kevin Lundberg.

He strongly supports home education!

Men's Leadership Summit 2009...Day 2

Me and Stephen are greatly rejoicing tonight as we turn in for a much needed night of rest. We've been on the go since 6:30 this morning and have enjoyed every bit of the day. It's now 11pm and as Stephen lays in bed I wanted to share a few thoughts and photos with you.

Today we heard from Doug Phillips, Brian Ray, Chris Klicka, Scott Brown, Kevin Swanson and Voddie Baucham. Wow, what a line-up! It was like drinking from a fire hydrant all day long, and loving every minute of it. They sounded the battle cry for the hearts of our children, the health of our families, and the legacy of our nation. And all I can say is, the message was received...

The highlight of the day wasn't having breakfast with Voddie Baucham, or meeting legends in the home discipleship movement like Norm Wakefield and Rick Boyer, who I spoke with over lunch, as great as those moments were. No, it was much more significant than that. It was helping my son Stephen ask the panel of Doug, Voddie, Kevin, Brian and Chris what he should be doing now as a young boy to help him prepare to be a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ! And then hearing those Men of God as they looked him in the eye and offer their advice to him. That was golden!

Well, here's some photos from the day, hope you enjoy them...

Men's Leadership Summit 2009...Day 1

Me and Stephen, my 9 year old son, arrived in Indianapolis safe for our three day getaway at the Leadership Summit 2009 gathering. Me met some old and new friends and enjoyed two very stirring messages from Kevin Swanson and Voddie Baucham respectively.

Both Men laid out a clear and compelling vision for what Men need to do in order to break the cycle of children growing up in Christian homes and then walking away from the faith at an alarming rate of between 70-88% before the end of their freshman year of college.

Their challenge to us in the home discipleship movement is, with God's word guiding us, God's word informing, God's Spirit leading us, and God's Son saving us, can we do better? Must we do better? I think the answer is clear...

We have a long day scheduled tomorrow so by for now. Here's some photos from the first night...

Stephen: "Hi Mama"
Me: "Hey Kids, Hey June, Love Ya"

Contemplative Quote...

"Most Men lead lives of quiet desperation
and go to the grave with the song still in them."
- Henry David Thoreau

Your Life on Stage...What ending will yours have???

This skit is worth watching again and again. God's grace is never-ending and so is eternity. Are you ready for it??? If you feel far from God, it isn't because God's far from you!