SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER: Rev. Greg Ott

Greetings readers and followers, 

Today, is another in a series of guest blogger postings by men excited about the Bethany 2012 event you've read about on occasion here.  Today's posting again comes from the pages of the General Conference of Disciples Men newsletter, 'The Voice'.  The post is  by my good friend, and event planning team pastoral advisor, Rev. Greg Ott who writes about the Isaiah 43: 19a scripture, 'See I am Doing a New Thing! Now it Springs Forth, do you not Perceive it?'.  Enjoy!  

Peace,

-Ray  

God is doing a new thing with the Disciples Men this coming July, 2012. Actually, that statement misleading, isn’t it? As the Scripture claims, I (God) am doing a new thing. This begs the question, “Has God ever stopped doing things?” Not when one understands that this text is written in the present tense. God is doing all the time. Pick any time in human history and the faithful will claim that God’s presence is inevitable. Therefore, it is misleading to write that God is doing a new thing in 2012. God is always doing new things, perhaps humans are having a hard time perceiving what God is doing. Whichever the case, XTREME FAITH-BOLD ACTION is a gathering of Disciples Men near the holy ground of the Campbell mansion. This is a sacred location for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) movement. The gathering will take place at Bethany College, West Virginia.

The design committee for this new gathering has come together with a positive attitude and through prayerful listening, has heard God's guidance for this event. Looking at every aspect with a faithful spirit, this gathering will appeal to young men with its creative hands-on work stations, free flowing worship opportunities and relevant keynote topics and men who have faithfully attended past events.  Echoing the prophet Isaiah, this committee hears God claiming that men's ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is going to be better than ever.  Our mysterious, gracious and redeeming God, is not placing on our hearts that past events had no value, but has showered us with enthusiasm that the future will be as good as and more glorious than before.


This said, the question we must ask ourselves, men, is can you perceive it? With the attitude and transforming mindset of Isaiah, our hope is that you can. Read the following aloud and hear your own voices with open ears:

• To the new generations of men searching for an event where men will enter into a greater relationship with Jesus Christ and experience God in their lives; XTREME FAITH is the event for you.

• To those men who have become disconnected, been in exile with their own spirituality and purpose in the church; XTREME FAITH is the event for you.

•  To those men who shutter at change, believing that anything new paints a grim picture of events from the past; XTREME FAITH is the event for you.

•  To men of every age, ethnicity, and cultural background, searching for a place to openly worship the God of diversity; XTREME FAITH is the event for you.

•  To men who demonstrate their faith with their hands, creative skills, and their “doing,” but not sure how this is a spiritual gift needed for the church; XTREME FAITH is the event for you.

Men, God is constantly offering and doing new things in our lives. Isn’t it interesting that we have the God-given ability to accept new things or pass them up on our earthly journey toward the Heavenly Kingdom. With bold action, journey with us to Bethany, West Virginia and see what God is doing.

Rev. Greg Ott

Pastor Counselor, 

Xtreme Faith-Bold Action Planning Team

Remember! Early bird registration for Xtreme Faith-Bold Action: A Gathering of Disciples Men, ends January 9, 2012.  Reserve your spot today at www.gathering2012.org