To paraphrase Duvall's Lt. Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," "I love the smell of men in the morning. It smells like victory."
On Saturday mornings, thousands of men gather in small groups all over the country. Some take in hard coffee, some slough down burnt pancakes. During the summer, some guys are at Promise Keepers, where the Saturday morning music is red-hot and vertical (upward in complete worship).
On Sat. Oct. 6, 2007, I was with an estimated 20,000 men at the Washington Monument for Stand in the Gap 2007. (Hard to believe it's been 10 years since the huge gathering on Oct. 4, 1997.) The vision was totally unique, from David's Psalm 145:4 "One generation shall commend your works to another. They shall tell of your mighty deeds." They put together a six-hour program with four generations of men participating (Builders, Boomers, Busters, Mosaics). It made sense, surrounded by the Vietnam and WW2 memorials. Yours truly got to take the stage and represent for the 30 and 40-somethings. Here's the resolution I read, on "Renewal":
1. We renew with conviction our commitment to seek first you and your kingdom, above all else.
2. We renew with passion our resolve to live according to the purposes for which we were created.
3. We renew with courage our calling to stand against sin, disease, poverty, and injustice in our world.
4. We renew with boldness our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are unashamed to be identified as His followers.
5. We renew with dedication our desire to reject passivity and irresponsibility and to live as godly men who lead others into eternity.
6. We renew with resolve our surrender to the authority of your word and its truth for our lives.
7. We renew with hope our vision of the future because of your presence, promises, and eventual return.
2. We renew with passion our resolve to live according to the purposes for which we were created.
3. We renew with courage our calling to stand against sin, disease, poverty, and injustice in our world.
4. We renew with boldness our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are unashamed to be identified as His followers.
5. We renew with dedication our desire to reject passivity and irresponsibility and to live as godly men who lead others into eternity.
6. We renew with resolve our surrender to the authority of your word and its truth for our lives.
7. We renew with hope our vision of the future because of your presence, promises, and eventual return.
Check out the Stand in the Gap 2007 website for more inspiring words and photos. (http://standinthegap2007.org/)
The D.C. area guys are planning to host a gathering every 10 years, in perpetuity. See you on Sat. Oct. 7, 2017.
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