The reactions we have to the word transitions are as different as our experiences.  For me, at least for the most part, the word transitions means excitement, challenges, opportunities and lots of new adventures ahead.

It is with that perspective that I share with everyone that my tenure as president of CSB Ministries ends on November 13th.  It has been a joy to lead this ministry and to build relationships with so many people over these last 6 years.  I have been blessed to serve in a ministry that I am passionate about as well as one that has had a significant impact in my life both as boy and as a man.

Thank you to all those who have provided support to me personally as well as to CSB.  It has truly been a joy to serve with you.

It is with great joy that I also share with you that the Board of Directors has appointed John Launstein as the new president of CSB Ministries.  I have gotten to know John over the past 20 months as he has served as the president of CSB Canada.  He will be serving in both roles, which I believe is an exciting opportunity to bring his vision and passion for the ministry throughout all of North America.

John grew up in Brigade and believes passionately in our mission; Building the godly men of today and tomorrow.  John also served as a pastor before joining CSB and I believe this experience will continue to help the ministry relate well to church pastors and other key church staff.

I praise the Lord for strong evidence of his leading in this transition.  When my wife and I started this journey we chose to be bold and ask for “God-only” miracles.  There have been several we can point to.  I won’t recount them here except to say that I believe it is clearly God’s design to have John Launstein step into this role at this time.  In the last few days we have seen several confirmations of this through the exciting things God is doing.

If you have been worried or frightened by “transitions”, I encourage you not to be.  Look upon them as opportunities for God to do new and exciting things.  They are times when we can draw closer to him and see him work in ways that are “exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine.

I have been blessed.  I hope you will be too in the days ahead.  Please pray for John as he steps into this new role as well as for the mission of CSB. 

Don Paterson

In the White House it was recorded concerning Lincoln and his two youngest sons, Willie (10) and Tad (8) that “no room was sacred from their intrusion; no conference too weighty to be broken in upon by the rush of their onslaught.”
Excerpts taken from “Walking with Lincoln”, written by Thomas Freiling

President Lincoln understood the value and importance of being a father who was present.  He loved his children and seemingly always found ways to be available to them.  He understood that relationship and love are wrapped up in being available and engaged with kids.  He not only loved being with his own children, he loved being with children period.

President Lincoln understood clearly the words of Matthew 19:14;
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them;
for such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Men, we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to engage with our children and especially with our sons.  We need to put ahead of ourselves the children God brings across our path and into our lives. 

In the context of God’s plan, it is up to godly men to invest in the lives of sons and spiritual sons to leave a legacy of service, of discipleship and of love.  That should mean more than career or possessions.

May it be so in my life…to the third and fourth generation as God allows.

The media literally slams the Biblical image of men portraying men as weak, soft and incapable of much of anything (anybody seen the ad that has Danica Patrick’s pit crew dress up in high heels, miniskirts and sports bras – all men??).

It is imperative that as men, and more specifically as men of God, that we engage with our response to these realities.  Something I stated in an earlier blog is that if you claim to be a Christ-follower and active in a local church then you are the spiritual father of, not only your own sons, but of every young man and boy in your church.

Men of God, we must take this responsibility seriously, we must stand up and fight for our young men.  If we don’t, how will they know what it means to be created as a male in God’s image?  If we don’t, how will they know the critical roles and responsibilities God has ordained for them as godly leaders in their families, churches and communities.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in ones youth.
Psalm 127:4

We are involved in spiritual warfare and, as men of God, we must engage in the battle. I am convinced that one of the biggest battles is for the lives (hearts, minds and souls) of our young men and boys.  If the men of God do not model Christ-like character and values, how will the next generations learn?  If we do not invest in discipleship and mentoring of young men and boys, how will they be able to stand against the wiles of the evil one?

Each of us has a responsibility to be spiritual fathers to our sons and the other young men and boys that Christ brings across our path.  As men of God, and warriors for Him, it is our responsibility to guide the arrows (spiritual sons) entrusted to us. 

Are you willing to invest as God would have you in this awesome task?  Do you understand the critical need to leave a legacy in these next generations?  Do you see what is happening in our world because of the forces of evil and our lack of response?

Will YOU, man of God, stand up and be counted as one of God’s warriors, helping to shape and guide the arrows (spiritual sons) God has entrusted to you? 

Don Paterson

There will be an Iron Sharpens Iron conference held on October 17th in the Tacoma, WA area www.ironsharpensiron.net

I will be doing a new workshop at that conference on this topic. 

To a significant and alarming degree we have lost the perspective that life is a journey and there is critical importance and value in having a long-term view of life.  This is particularly true for those of us claiming to be Christ-followers.  Take a moment and think about just three names from the Bible;
• Abraham
• Moses
• Paul

If you ponder the lives of these three amazing men it doesn’t take long before you realize that a central part of their lives was their journey.  They each lived lives where journeys played critical roles in their physical and spiritual growth and development.

Should it be any different for you and me?

This is particularly true for our spiritual journey.  We must take a long-term view – we must realize that growth, maturity and intimacy with God are the result of a day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month and year-by-year journey with God.  Spending time, that is the equivalent of “twittering”, will not result in you or me understanding the significance of “Be still and know that I am God”.

This is equally important for understanding discipleship.  For us to truly disciple or be discipled, we must understand that it is a journey.  Discipleship cannot happen in minutes or days.  It happens when deep relationships are built and maintained over months and years. 

In my last blog I talked a little about relationship and the challenge it presents for men.  It is out of this that I think we can also see why men struggle with discipleship.  By definition, discipleship means taking a journey with someone.  It is investing the time, energy, joy and pain to build a deep relationship that allows essential and sustainable spiritual growth and development.

To be men of God we must be discipled throughout life by godly men.  We must take the long-term view that true discipleship is a worthy goal and it is a life-long endeavor.  In addition, if we want to raise up new generations of godly men who are capable of serving and leading in family, church and community, we must understand that the godly men of today must disciple young men and boys.  This is long, hard work.  But it is the right long-term view, it is God’s view.

There is no greater call a man can answer than to be the tool God uses to unlock a young man’s potential. 

Don Paterson

Maybe it is because we spend the majority of our time working towards and believing that our most significant contributions relate to being warriors/protectors and providers. 

Many of us respond quickly and heroically if our families need protection or if there is any kind of “enemy” that needs to be slain (broken toilets, bullies or barriers).  We take seriously our responsibility to provide food, clothes, shelter and as many “extras” as we can.

All of this can be well and good, but for many of us it wreaks havoc with relationships.  We question the need or don’t have time for significant relationships because we feel it takes all of our time and energy to be the best providers and warrior/protectors we can be.  But, is this right?  Is this God’s design for men?

As men of God we need to wrestle with His Word and specifically Christ’s teaching on the two greatest commands found in Matthew 22:37-39;
1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”.
2. “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Jesus teaching clearly puts the highest value on relationship.  As men of God we must take this seriously and wrestle with our response to these commands.  If I truly want to be the man, the husband, the father, the friend that God wants me to be, I must be in relationship with the people in my life.
• Seek God first - cultivate a deep, personal relationship with the Lord.
• Strive to love my family and God loves me.
• Desire to love my “neighbors” – all those people God brings across my path and into my life.

Love is relationship first and foremost.  Break down that barrier and I believe we will begin to live the abundant life. 

Oh, and if you are worried about that son of yours, love him.  Really love him.  Spend time.  Talk with him.  Build a deep relationship by showing him you care about him as a person and you are interested in the things he is interested in.  Show him how to love…the Lord….himself….others.  It will change you and it will change him…forever.

If you are a Christ follower and are part of this church body, then you are a spiritual father to every young man and boy in this congregation.

This is a very important and powerful concept that I have been pondering and praying over a great deal in recent months.  I need to give credit to Dan Schaffer for stirring my heart on this issue.  Dan is the founder of Building Brothers ministry and author of the book “Spiritual Fathers” - Restoring the Reproductive Church. 

As husbands and fathers we must lead our families spiritually.  As much as you and I may struggle with this, it is not optional.  We must show our families the love and strength of spiritual leadership that models for them the attributes God calls us to - the fruits of the Spirit.  As men, as fathers, we must wrestle with our relational side seeking to develop a close personal walk with our Lord and allowing Him to show us the ways we can build deep relationships with our families - relationships that lead them to their own close, powerful, life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ.  And we must be willing to invest in the lives of young men and boys as God brings them across our path and into our life.  With God’s help this is how we can build spiritual strength back into our families and churches.  This is how we can help create a strong spiritual legacy for generations.

In reading Dan Schaffer’s book, I came away with a very powerful and convicting thought that I cannot escape.  If my desire is to be a spiritual father, then I must actually be a spiritual grand-father for that to be true of me.  Think about that; I must invest in someone’s life not simply bringing them to the point of becoming a Christ-follower, but I must invest in them to the point that they have the capacity to disciple someone else to that moment of making the decision to also be a Christ-follower.  This is a picture of what God truly wants from us as men.  To truly empty ourselves and be led by His Spirit, who will then equip us to lead in our families and our churches with spiritual strength, with boldness and with humility as one who has been redeemed our our Spiritual Father!  To lead and disciple others to the point that they are passionate to lead and disciple others...and so on...and so on…

He is..."able to do immeasurably more more than all we ask or imagine...” Ephesians 3:20