Father/Son Team Day October 6th

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This annual event on October 6th is a great way for dads and their sons to spend the day enjoying their time together as they have fun competing with other dad/son teams and making unforgettable memories together.

• Air Pistols, Archery, Canoeing, Legume Launch and more!
• Six events for each age group (Grade K-2; Grade 3-4; Grade 5-6; and Grade 7-12)
• Trophies and ribbons will be awarded
• Bar-B-Que lunch provided

Download the Registration Form

Speaker:

Our speaker this year is Bill Heyne, former assistant Sheriff of Stanislaus County and Pastor at Central Valley Presbyterian Church. You won't want to miss his message regarding what the Bible has to say about fathers and sons.

Time and Location

The competition begins at the Kiwanis Youth Camp in La Grange, CA (Near Modesto) at 8:30 on

Prayer Requests

Thank you for praying for  our family's ministry. Here are some things that we'd love for you to remember in prayer for us:

2013 CSB Staff Conference
The annual staff conference is this coming week. (March 16-23) I'm flying to Buffalo, NY. Please pray that this conference continues to be as productive and edifying as the proceeding ones.

Jenness Park
I am preparing to speak at a Father/Son Camp at Jenness Park Christian Camp May 3-5. Please pray for my preparation as well as that the attendees come with hearts ready to hear the message.

ISI Men's Conference Follow-up
I just spoke at an Iron Sharpens Iron Men's conference this past Saturday. God gave me the chance to speak to between 75 and 100 dads who were each interested in learning how to better speak to their sons. Please pray that they took home valuable tools and that they have the courage and streangth to actually put these tools into practice.

New Churches
I have had the privilege recently of being contacted out of the blue by churches that want to help their men disciple the boys and young men in their congregation and would like CSB Ministries to help them in that regard. Please pray that God would bless me as I seek to help equip them and that the men in each church would have a bold and clear vision for how to accomplish this vital task in their church.

New Materials

We are releasing one new module for our 3rd-6th grade discipleship materials. Please pray that we can continue to meet this target.

The Mormon ... and His Dr. Pepper

"Remove God and your life is as meaningless as a can of soda."

Curtis is a 17 year old convert to Mormonism who my pastor George met in the park next to our church. He's been in the foster system since he was five and has been bounced around between 30 homes over the past 12 years. He's understandably a mixed up young man. George has had conversations with Curtis about Christianity over the past few weeks but Curtis has been fairly combative.

This past Sunday George saw him sitting alone on a bench again and so we both walked over and engaged him in conversation. After a few minutes George had to excuse himself from the conversation but it continued chugging along at a pretty fast clip with Curtis zealously articulating Mormon doctrine.  

All of a sudden he hit the conversational brakes and turned down a side street (there were no blinkers to warn me). It happened so fast I almost missed it. "I'm about this close to leaving the church anyway" he casually blurted out. "Huh???" Was my reply. Not very articulate I know, but I was confused. He explained that since his conversion six months ago he'd had doubts. "I think I'm just going to go back to how it was before. Just my own ideas about God."

"Really?" I inquired. This struck me as ironic. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea. If you go that route you'd be making the same mistake that Adam and Eve made and that resulted in the huge mess we're in today. They wanted to rebelliously try to mold God in their own image too. They wanted to figure out right and wrong on their own. And what resulted is the self-centered sin that ultimately bounced you into 30 homes over the past 12 years and that has resulted in all the other evil that has plagued the world since. You'd be falling into the same trap that they fell into and into which we all now fall apart from salvation in Jesus Christ. You'd be advocating the philosophy of idolatry that got us into this ugly mess."  

"But I'm not even sure I believe in God." He lobbed back.

I'd been eyeing his Dr. Pepper covetously the whole conversation. Suddenly that Soda seemed to be more than just a delicious beverage and source of my personal sanctification, it became a good object lesson. Taking my cue from Douglas Wilson in his debate with Christopher Hitchens (go to minute

Leadership Practice ... The Camporal

Each year in the spring young men in junior high and high school in our battalion ministries have a chance to practice the skills of leadership in the context of competition.

This is always a wonderful event to watch, as young men learn to lead and to follow. Where they see their strengths blossom and God shows them areas of weakness.

Examples from my own experience 20 years ago:

1. I learned to listen to wise counsel the hard way as a 13 year old when I cut the tip of my finger off with a hatchet during a fire building competition because I thought I could dismiss the counsel of an older man.  
2. I learned my tendency toward impatience in the midst of hardship as the 5 guys on my squad were trying to race around a course all standing on the same two 2X4 wooden boards. That required teamwork and my attitude didn't help.
3. I learned the importance as well as some of the finer points of hospitality in the life of the Christian as we cooked and served adult leaders as a part of the competition.  

To view some more pictures click here.

COOL READS ... Redemption -- Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

The theme of redemption stretches across all the pages of God's story. Jesus came to redeem his people. To free them from slavery to sin. But how should we understand and respond when certain sins seem to maintain a hold on us that we can't shake?

In this book Mike Wilkerson weaves together the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt with contemporary stories of people's redemption from sin. He does a spectacular job of maintaining constant contact with the Gospel while at the same time challenging us to respond to the freedom purchased for us by Christ in worship. Worship is after all the very purpose for which we were created.

It's a refreshing and challenging approach to killing our hangups without appealing to modern secular psycho-babble or the all to common warmed over christian versions of that same babble.

To read other reviews of this book and to purchase click here.

Prayer Requests 5/23/2012

Thank you for praying for  our family's ministry. Here are some things that we'd love for you to remember in prayer for us:

I met with a pastor in the Sacramento area who is interested in how we can help them disciple the boys and young men in their congregation. Please pray for the pastor as he meets with the key men's leadership team to cast the vision and to plan.

I had a great meeting with a church in the Modesto area that we already work with but they have some great ideas for growing their discipleship ministry. Please pray that God blesses their work over the next couple of months.

The Kindness Of God

It is a good thing when we prepare to come to the Lord's table that we take a moment to reflect on the character of the God who has set the table before us.

We often times have a really difficult time seeing the world clearly. Actually, the problem is worse. We usually get everything backwards. We emphasize what ought not to be emphasized. We identify problems where there really aren't any and miss the real issues. We do this because we still look at the world through eyes affected by sin. We do this because we lack eyes of faith. We do this because perfect clarity will only come when we can finally look back on the world from the perspective only the finish line provides.

So seeing life properly takes some shaking off the faithless scales of the flesh. And when we do, suddenly we realize just how backwards we've been. We see this in our doubts about God's existence. In our pride we look around at this world and we suggest that God should provide just a bit more evidence for his existence. The irony is that the problem is NOT that there is not enough evidence for His existence, quite the contrary, the problem is that He's provided far too much evidence. We get so used to the marks of his artistry popping up everywhere that we seem to think they are nowhere. Instead of being floored by the marvelous complexity of the human eye, instead of falling to our knees each time a sunset paints the sky, instead of the beauty of a rose (or even better a rose garden) causing us to cry out in worship, we look over all of this and cry out for evidence. The evidence confronts us in every moment and every crevice of our lives. In the tiniest details and those painted

Learning from Leia

Sometimes we forget that Christ changes everything. Nowhere is this forgetfulness more apparent than when we forget that the beauty and indispensability of grace is only beautiful and indispensable because we have been the recipients of that gratuitous grace. This grace changes everything. It changes our view of the world, our affections, our idea of what is beautiful, good, true, just, normal, interesting, and possible.

So we must not wonder at those who are still yet strangers and aliens to this grace, that when they hear us talk about salvation by faith apart from any effort of our own they often look at us with confused stares or explode in incredulity at the foolishness and injustice of this scheme.

Masculinity rightly lived out: Beautiful ... never cute

Super Novas, a snowflake, a midwest thunderstorm, and the intricate interdependence of the human eye are examples of features of our experience that are beautiful but that should never be mistaken for being "cute."

The same goes for masculinity rightly lived out.

 This video is another example of something that is beautiful but should never be mistaken for "cute." Great cinematography speaks volumes in this film short without one word uttered.

Manhood from Hazardous Journeys on Vimeo.

A Flower Put Me In My Place

I was a pretty aimless college student. I considered lot's of different degrees. For about  week I considered landscape architecture. I only went to one class. About halfway through the first class they were talking a lot about sketching. I am terrible at drawing. I had one shining artistic moment in Mrs. Vanda's 1st grade class. Kids were coming from all over the room to ask for my advice on drawing elephants. My art career began and ended in that moment.

By the time I reached college I had no pretensions regarding my art ability. I raised my hand knowing that my question would probably cause all the upper class-men surrounding me to look at me like I was stupid but ... whatever. When my suspicions regarding their reaction and the necessity of an ability to sketch were confirmed I immediately dropped the class. I replaced it with tractor driving. Seriously.

Gregg Family Ministry Update - February 2012

It's been an amazing two months! We're now officially in full time ministry, we celebrated Bob Nass' 35 years of faithful service with CSB, we hosted 40 young men at this years Junior Leadership Conference, and God has blessed us with new families to come alongside, to challenge and to encourage with the Good News.

I'll admit it's easy to get discouraged when we see the crumbling culture around us but being on the front lines of ministry we're able to see first hand that God is still active and I am more hopeful now than ever. If you don't believe me take a look at the ministry story below of a 13 year old who has learned a lesson most grown men never learn. We've also provided some camping and trip opportunities for Dad's, sons, and some adventure trips for young men this summer. My book suggestion this month is for anyone interested in a short book for anyone interested in a clear explanation of christian masculinity and a great resource for dads who want a resource to help them disciple their sons.

Camps and Trips this Summer

Camping and trip opportunities for Dad's, sons, and young men

• Father/Son Camp 
• Father/Daughter Camp 
• Father/Daughter Canoe 
• Father/Daughter Canoe Intermediate Add-On 

• Boys Adventure Camp Northern California 
• Boys Adventure Camp Southern California 
• Girls Adventure Camp Southern California 

• Base Camp (Intro to trip camping)  
• Aviation Camp 
• White Water Canoeing  
• Scuba Camp - Basic & Specialty Certifications  
• National Park - ROAD TRIP - to N-Vision

Ministry Stories: KERBLAAM!!!

You ever think things are fine and then ... KERBLAAM!!! Suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a mess?  

Matt thought everything was fine too. He was happily playing Foosball ignorant that a storm had been brewing around him until his youth pastor, Dan, called him aside and unexpectedly smacked Matt upside the head with a problem.

Dad's can be momma bears too and Dan believed that Matt had been ostracizing and isolating his son. This was not what Matt had expected at all. He thought that he was on great terms with Dan. Matt stood there dumbfounded with eyebrows raised in surprise feeling really defensive. The way the whole thing went down made it feel a bit like a blindside and the conversation was left as so many confrontations are ... awkward, no resolution, Matt feeling really defensive. Ripe for bitterness.  

Cool Reads: FUTURE MEN

Yeah ... there's a lot of books out there on raising boys. So I thought I'd save you the trouble of weeding through them yourself. Though there are some other good one's out there this is definitely one of my first picks.

First, Wilson does what few authors have done successfully if at all. He takes time to define exactly what masculinity is and he grounds it Biblically.

Secondly, he starts where we all should start, by recognizing that growing boys into men is accomplished with the same faith that a farmer employs when he sows seed in the ground. That faith is patient and is not directed toward the boy but toward God.

Lastly he is, as always, both abundantly practical, refreshingly biblical, and funny. It's a joy to read. To read other reviews of this book and to purchase click here.

Gregg Family Ministry Update - December 2011

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma's house in Grass Valley

In less than a month our family will be taking on all the responsibilities of full time ministry with  Christian Service Brigade   (CSB Ministries). This is absolutely exhilarating but as you might imagine a bit nerve racking and stressful. Were it not for God clearly calling us to this ministry the daunting enormity of it might just seem too big. However, with such a clear call the bigness of the call just makes it all the more exciting! As Jesus reminded us

"He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." -- Luke 10:2 

With the echos of a delicious Thanksgiving meal (or two) still pushing up the corners of my mouth that word "plentiful" has an especially encouraging ring to it.

We are in fact seeing a growing desire of fathers to disciple their sons, of sons to turn their hearts to their fathers, and of churches to help equip men in this gospel calling (Malachi 4:6). Don't believe me? Every newsletter I provide a story to encourage even the most "glass half empty" realists among us. If you read a little farther you'll get to this months really cool story.

The kids had a great time at Del Osso Family Farms in November!

AN IMPORTANT WAY YOU CAN HELP:

As we end this year, and look ahead to a new life as full time domestic missionaries we are entirely dependent on people like you to support us financially in this ministry. As of today we still have more than half of our support left to raise. Would you partner with us by committing to support our ministry with a monthly or even one time financial gift as we strive to help churches effectively reach men and boys for Christ?

The hardest part of our ministry: Dad's with pompoms

Brad is one of those young men poised to do great things. In a couple of years gaggles of grey headed grandmothers will be dragging their bewildered grand daughters across crowded church fellowship halls in hopes of sparking a romance. He is a godly young man and I can hardly blame those well intentioned octogenarians. But I must ask those blue haired matchmakers to plug their ears for a moment because I am about to remove their proverbial rose colored glasses.

Brad is a sinner AND he's a young man. Combine these two volatile substances and the explosion invariably produced will be lust. Yup. Even the squeaky clean kid who compliments those old grandmas on their Easter hats and is the first to volunteer to help stack the chairs at church, if he's a young man and a sinner will also struggle with lust.

Cool Reads: Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World

I gave this book to a young man last Monday for his birthday. When I saw him a week later he said he couldn't put it down. In fact he'd gotten in trouble for reading it in class.

This is in fact now one of my favorite books. I've read it twice, once to myself and a second time to my family. It took me a couple months to figure out how to even describe the book. It is part story telling, part satirical, part philosophy, and part natural science.

Let me put it this way. If you want to appreciate the world in a way you never have before, hear the most creative answer to the problem of evil that I've ever heard, encounter the quirkiness of the worlds philosophers, and enjoy every minute of it, then spend the $10 and never take snow, kittens, Kant, naked mole rats, eagles, Nietzsche, quarks, thunder storms and missing fingers the same way again! To read other reviews and to purchase the book click here for more information.

Do you know the guy in the cubicle next to you better than you know your own children?

How can we disciple our children unless we actually know them?

Here are a few questions that I brain stormed recently in preparation for a meeting with the men at our church. Take a look and see how well you'd be able to answer these questions about your children. Use it, not as a tool with which to beat yourself over the head, but rather as a ruler to assess the areas where you need to get to know your children better.

1. What words would you use to describe each of your children?
2. What are their strengths and natural abilities?
3. What are their weaknesses and the things that they struggle with?
4. What sins are they struggling with?
5. How will these realities affect them as they get older?
6. What are you doing to nurture their gifts?
7. What are you doing to help them overcome the sins that they struggle with?
8. What are their worries?
9. What are their favorite activities?
10. Who would they consider their good friends?
11. Are you asking your wives for their insights?

Reminder - getting to know your children requires that you set aside time. This will not happen by accident. Be at least as pro-active in doing this with the kids you love as you are with the co-worker that you can't stand.

Junior Leadership Conference

You'll be tired of your Christmas toys by then! Join me at The Junior Leadership Conference Dec. 28-30 and learn practical leadership skills.

We challenge our young men to be Christian Leaders but often leave them wondering exactly how to do so. This conference is intended to provide practical strategies to help equip young men for their important call to Christian leadership.

In an action packed setting this three day event is intended to help equip the young men attending to pursue Christ-like leadership. Team building, games, small group Bible studies, leadership seminars, service opportunities and a challenging and practical key not speaker are topped off by seriously amazing food.

No one attending this conference will leave without being better equipped to lead, inspired to serve, and very well fed!

Download the Registration Form 

KEY NOTE SPEAKER:

So you want to read the Bible ...

Below are some excerpts from a letter that my brother wrote to a friend of his who had expressed interest in reading the Bible. I thought it might be useful to post it for you all. I hope you find it helpful.

Sincerely,

Dave Gregg

Where to Start

My most emphatic suggestion is that you not read the Bible in order from beginning to end.  Many unsuspecting and ambitious individuals have employed this intuitive, but ultimately frustrating method.  I compare it to my college room mate who one day decided that he wanted to expand his vocabulary for the upcoming LSAT.  He then attempted to read Webster’s Dictionary from cover to cover.  Needless to say he never made it past the “C’s.”

The Bible is not written in chronological order and many of its passages will have greater significance once they are put into a broader context.  Although worthy of study, I’m sure at this point you are not interested in reading countless pages of Jewish genealogies, or instructions on how to build a temple and perform animal sacrifices.  I would therefore suggest that you first read certain books and highlighted passages that have a clearer and more direct impact on Christian history and theology.

What is the Bible?