Tedward's Ramblings

S.K.I.N.ed

June 2, 2009 at 2:16 pm (Life) (accountability, s.k.i.n., skin)

Tuesday mornings are when the Men’s Bible study/accountability group I am in meets. The groups name is S.K.I.N. and if you ask anyone in the group why it is called that we may giggle or snicker a little and then possibly tell you, but it is a good reason. The group was originally started by the Pastor of The Worship Cafe @ Northway, Kent Chevalier.I was able to attend a few times when Kent was leading the group, but between my final semester at Slippery Rock, and going to Ireland for part of student teaching I did not get to be under his leadership of the group as much as I would have liked. Leadership has transitioned to my friend Dennis now, and while he leads the group, we all take turns running the individual meetings, and for the most part I have loved it.

Our group has been under attack from Satan lately. I know that some people might shy away from this statement, but I don’t for a few reasons. For a while this group has been challenging each other to be real, dig into God’s divine inspired word, and to do more than be hearers of the word. Five of the people in the group work with the student ministry, one person from the group works in a high school classroom. We have some room for impacting the next generation. Along with the  impact we have, we were challenging each other to grow personally and in our relationships, spurring each other to “Chase our Lions”. ADD MOMENT: If that last bit confused you check out “In a Pit with a Lion” by Mark Batterson. But when a group of men come together for God, bringing an impact on the youth and helping each other to grow in Christ OUR enemy, Satan, likes to try and muddle things up.  One member of our group is sitting in a prison, two members in our group have been having difficulties with each other and their current situations, and many of us have been tempted by pornography over the past week. With this we are making a stand for Christ, and recommitting to hardcore accountability. We are using 9 basic questions right now, but I think we will be using these to grow from and create a more personalized list from. here are the questions:

1.  Have you been with a woman in any way this week that was inappropriate or could have looked to others that you were using poor judgement?

2.  Have you been completely above reproach in all your financial dealings this week?

3.  Have you exposed yourself to any explicit materials this week?

4.  Have you spent daily time in prayer and in the Word this week?

5.  Have you fulfilled the mandate of your calling this week?

6.  Have you spent quality and quantity time with your family this week?

7.  How did you do in your personal high-risk area this week?

8.  Do you have any un-confessed sin in your life?

9.  Have you just lied to me?

We also wonder if we had been asking these questions if perhaps they would have convicted our brother in Christ and helped to keep him from behind bars. It is very likely he would have done what he did anyway, but what if? Today’s group brings to mind some questions I have for you,

Do you have people in your life to hold you accountable?

Are you honest with the people you do have?

If you don’t have anyone, why?

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