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A different kind of men's group...

We are a company of Christian men. We are also natural loners, who have recognized the dangers of isolation and are determined to escape them — Nate Larkin, Samson and the Pirate Monks A Different Kind of Men's Group Nate Larkin, Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood Editor’s note: Nate Larkin is the founder of the Samson Society, a fellowship of Christian men with groups that meet virtually and in-person across the globe. Many men (but not all) have come to the Samson Society from places of brokenness, addiction, or pain. But no matter how they arrive, all that attend recognize “the dangers of isolation and are determined to escape them.” In our present moment, most of us are being asked to practice social distancing. But social distancing does not mean isolation. If you need men to walk beside you in this difficult time — whether you’re struggling with temptation in isolation or just looking for authentic friendship with other men — you can learn more about virtual Samson Society meetings at SamsonSociety.com. Enjoy today’s excerpt from Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood where Nate outlines how this unique men’s group first began. * The Adventure Begins The very first official meeting of the Samson Society convened on Monday evening, February 16, 2004, in the Women’s Parlor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee. It was a little weird at first. “The Women’s Parlor?” each guy had asked when I invited him. “Our church has a Women’s Parlor?” “Yep. They showed it to me. It’s upstairs in the administrative wing, down the hall from the boardroom. We’ll meet there at seven.” “But why there?” “I don’t know. Dr. McCurdy recommended it because it’s quiet and private, I guess. And the boardroom is already being used.” As thirteen of us sat tentatively on rocking chairs and flowered sofas, surrounded by lace and needlepoint, I could sense the restraining presence of femininity in the room. The very air, redolent with potpourri, admonished us in dulcet tones, “Be nice.” But we were not there to be nice. We were there to be real. I distributed copies of the proposed Samson Society charter, a one-page document that I had been working on with Bruce McCurdy, director of the church’s counseling ministry. * “Before we get started,” I said, “I’d like to propose a protocol for this meeting, a simple way of taking turns that will also help us learn each other’s names. It goes like this: If you want to say something, begin by stating your first name, like this—‘I’m Nate.’ When the rest of the room recognizes you by name (‘Hi, Nate’), the floor is yours. No one will interrupt you while you are speaking. The floor is yours for as long as you need it, but please keep in mind that the meeting is only an hour long and we want to give everyone an opportunity to speak. When you’re finished, say ‘thanks’ or ‘that’s all,’ and the rest of the room will acknowledge your contribution, thanking you by name (‘Thanks, Nate’). Got it?” Everybody nodded. “Sounds like an AA meeting,” said Bernie. “Hi, Bernie,” said Mark. “I’m sorry. Was I supposed to say my name first?” Bernie asked, looking in my direction. I nodded. “Sorry. Okay, I’m Bernie.” “Hi, Bernie,” said the room. “As I was saying, this sounds like an AA meeting to me. Which is okay, I guess, but it isn’t exactly what I was expecting. It’s going to take a little getting used to.” The room was silent. “That’s all,” said Bernie. “Thanks, Bernie,” said the room. I looked around at my friends. “I’m Nate,” I said. “Hi, Nate.” The room reverberated with masculinity. I took a deep breath. “Most of you came to this meeting because I invited you. Some of you have been meeting with me individually for months or years. Some of you have seen me in other meetings or maybe heard me teach in this church. You may be expecting me to teach tonight, but that’s not what this group is all about. The Samson Society, as I see it, is not an expert-based organization, and it does not have a single leader or class of leaders. Anybody can lead. Everybody can contribute. We’re building this fellowship on the conviction that on any given day every Christian needs help and every Christian has some help to give. “That being said, I did spend some time today drafting a meeting format that I’d like to submit for our use as we get started. What I’ve written is not sacred, and it is certainly not perfect. Anybody can write a different meeting format—and I hope someone will—but for now what I’ve written can at least give us a starting place. Is that okay?” There were murmurs of assent. I looked at one of my close friends. “Mark, would you lead the meeting?” Mark shrugged. “Sure, if you want me to.” I said, “I also have four readings here that other guys can do at the appropriate times. Who will volunteer for a reading?” Four men raised their hands, and I passed the selections to them. Mark glanced down at the typewritten format I’d prepared. “Hi, I’m Mark,” he said. “Hi, Mark,” said the room. “Let’s open this meeting with prayer, followed by a reading of the Twenty-third Psalm.” We bowed our heads as Mark led us in a simple prayer. When we were finished, Glenn read the Twenty-third Psalm. A reverent quietness settled over the room. Finally Mark spoke. “Welcome to this meeting of the Samson Society,” he read. “We are a company of Christian men. We are also natural loners, who have recognized the dangers of isolation and are determined to escape them, natural wanderers who are finding spiritual peace and prosperity at home, natural liars who are now finding freedom in the truth, natural judges who are learning how to judge ourselves aright, and natural strongmen who are experiencing God’s strength as we admit our weaknesses. “As Christians, we meet at other times for worship, for teaching, or for corporate prayer. Today, however, we meet to talk. Our purpose is to assist one another in our common journey. We do so by sharing honestly, out of our own personal experience, the challenges and encouragements of daily Christian living in a fallen world. “Our faith rests in the love of God, as it is revealed in his Word and in the life of his Son. This is the great ‘Fact’ of the gospel, which is the foundation of our charter. Who has the Fact?” “I do,” said Jonathan, waving the paper I had given him. “This is the Fact.” “Hi, Jonathan,” said Bernie, grinning. “Oops, sorry. I’m Jonathan.” “Hi, Jonathan,” said the room. “This is the Fact. Number one. God exists. In the timeless mystery of the Trinity, he is perfectly harmonious, perfectly whole. “Number two. God is our Creator. He designed us to live in eternal harmony with him and each other, and to care for the rest of his creation. “Three. Spurning God’s fellowship, we all have sinned, forfeiting our created place and losing our spiritual lives. “Four. I have personally defied God’s law and rejected his love. Alienation from him has produced darkness and chaos in my life, for which I have often blamed others. “Five. God has continued to love me, even in my active rebellion, and in Christ has done everything necessary to restore me perfectly to himself. “Six. As I accept responsibility for my sin and find forgiveness in the finished work of Christ, I experience reconciliation with God and am progressively restored to harmony with myself and others. “And seven. Despite the lingering effects of sin, I am a restored son of the sovereign Lord, whose Spirit is at work in my weakness, displaying his glory and advancing his kingdom.” “Thanks, Jonathan,” said the room. Mark took over again. “Let’s take a moment to introduce ourselves,” he said, reading from the meeting format. “I’ll begin and we’ll go around the room. Those who wish may give a one-sentence statement of their reason for attending this meeting.” Mark looked up and smiled. “I’m Mark,” he said. “Hi, Mark!” “I came to this meeting tonight with a lot of curiosity and, to be honest, a little bit of fear, but what I’m feeling right now is mostly hope, a suspicion that something wonderful is going to happen. I’m glad to be here.” “Thanks, Mark!” said the room. The introductions progressed quickly as each man—Tom, Bruce, Mike, Glenn, Michael, Bernie, Michael, Mark, Jonathan, Mark, Dave, and David—described in condensed form the feelings or circumstances that had drawn him to the meeting. When the last guy had introduced himself, Mark resumed. “We in the Samson Society have been set upon a Path, a way of living that leads to godliness and freedom. Here is the description of that Path that is given in our charter.” He looked around. “Who has the Path?” “I’m Mike,” said Mike. “Hi, Mike!” “Here’s the Path. Number one. Believing the Fact, I surrender to God in simple faith, making no promises, but merely asking for his aid. “Two. I start attending meetings of the Society, and from its members I select a Silas, a trustworthy traveling companion for this stretch of the road. “Three. In honest detail I describe to God and to my Silas the course and consequences of my attempts to live apart from God. “Four. Encouraged by my Silas and others, I develop the daily disciplines of prayer, study, and self-examination. I abandon self-help, asking God instead to do for me what I cannot do for myself. “Five. I choose to trust the body of Christ, weighing the wisdom of my friends when facing decisions and seeking their strength when confronted by temptation. “Six. When I can do so without injuring anyone, I make amends for damage I have caused. If direct amends are impossible or inadvisable, I demonstrate my repentance in other ways. “And number seven. I offer myself as a Silas to others. Each day I ask God for the grace to seek his kingdom rather than my own, to serve those he places in my path rather than serving myself.” “Thanks, Mike,” said the room. Mark said, “Okay, we have now reached the sharing portion of our meeting. In sharing, we speak honestly out of our own experience. We tell the truth about ourselves, knowing that our brothers will listen to us in love and will hold whatever we say in strictest confidence. We try to keep our comments brief, taking care to leave plenty of time for others. We address our statements to the group as a whole rather than directing them toward any one person. As a rule, we refrain from giving advice to others or instructing them during the meeting, believing that such conversations are best reserved for private moments between friends. “The suggested topic today is, let’s see—” He looked over the collection of topics listed on the meeting guide and selected one. “Okay, the suggested topic tonight is fear, but we are not confined to that subject. You may speak about any issue that is currently commanding your attention. The floor is now open for anyone who wishes to speak.” * I listened in awe as the conversation unfolded. Each man brought his own story to the table, contributing a few fragmentary personal insights on the subject at hand. Each man led with his weakness, but most guys also had some experience, strength, or hope to share. Some quoted Scripture. The progression of the conversation sparked my own thinking. Eventually I took the floor and found myself saying things I had not expected to say. * By the time the sharing ended, I knew that something significant had taken place. God had been present in our conversation. Somehow, despite the absence of a sermon or a formal Bible study, we had all been instructed, exhorted, encouraged, reproved, corrected, and strengthened in our faith. We had experienced real fellowship, and I could already sense a fresh spiritual bond between us. Excerpted with permission from Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin, copyright Nate Larkin. Learn more about virtual Samson Society groups at SamsonSociety.com Watch the video of Nate sharing his own story: * * * Your Turn How are you looking to avoid isolation in these times? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Leave Comment Calling men to authentic brotherhood Save 50% off + get free U.S. shipping on your entire order, no minimum, with coupon code HOPE now through 4/30/2020 Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin Was $15.99. Sale $8.00 Get the deal   “Wow! If you are into playing religious games, burn this book. But if you’re tired of shallow, cliché-saturated stuff with God’s name attached, this book could change your life!” — STEPHEN BROWN, professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL “Christian men who love Jesus, but struggle privately with everything that most men struggle with, are about to find a new best friend. Nate Larkin has written the honest, no-holds-barred book they’ve been waiting for.” — CHARLIE PEACOCK, music producer “You might say that Samson was given the opportunity to see by having both his eyes gouged out. In his wake he left a pile of shattered and broken stones from the temple of Dagon. This motley band of brothers who bear his name, led by the motliest of them all, Nate Larkin, is growing every day in the understanding of their own blind brokenness. And now, another Temple is coming together from the ashes.” — MICHAEL CARD, songwriter, author With no-holds-barred honesty and poignant storytelling, Nate Larkin introduces a model of community and friendship that is reinvigorating men's ministry across the country, a model he calls The Samson Society. Too many men see the biblical hero Samson as their model for manhood--a rugged individualist of the highest order. Yet, Samson's solitary successes were eventually overcome by moral weaknesses. Larkin, through the story of his own past and the stories of those in The Samson Society, offers a radical, refreshing alternative.   Get the Deal   Shop Now You are subscribed to receive Steadfast, the men's newsletter at FaithGateway. Our mission is to help you grow and share your faith. Copyright © 2020 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.  All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN  37214  USA Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions *Manage Your Email Preferences or Unsubscribe *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally   Bible Study Material   Receive Free Shipping with code HOPE through 4/30 Bible Study Material from alibris Free shipping info here Affiliate marketer links: Affiliate marketer Rick Livermore will earn a commission on the Bible Study Material you buy from faith gateway store  and alibris.  Brought to you by Rick Livermore   If you would like to offset my expenses of producing all this free content, but you want to pass on buying  materials from faith gateway store and alibris, feel free to give a little something-------Give through PayPal-----Rick Livermore-Webmaster220 https://webmaster220.blogspot.com/ I live in San Juan Capistrano California now  a fan of  tubitv.com/category/faith_and_spirituality also a fan of tubitv.com/channels/dovechannel  The most important link on this blog is this one about cures to the coronavirus.  Also this one about vaccines that immunize people from catching the coronavirus.  Then there is this one about copper as a weapon to combat this virus. We feel this one could save some lives about the Red Cross

You've Heard The Bible, But Never Like This.....

The Bible comes to life like never before in The Bible Experience Audio Set, now up to 60% off.

Looking for a way to enhance your Bible study while you're at home? What new insights could you gain by using your ears instead of your eyes? The Bible Experience - The Complete Bible Audio is a whole new way to immerse yourself in God's Word.       Learn More

The Bible alone is powerful... But what happens when you add Academy-Award winning performers, state-of-the-art sound effects, and theatrical music to the greatest story ever told? You get the Inspired By... The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible Audio —  where Biblical characters of the Old and New Testament come to life and bring the drama and emotion of the Bible to new heights.    > > > Watch and listen to a sample of the incredibly powerful recording of Jesus' crucifixion by Blair Underwood as Jesus:    wATCH >   The Bible Experience Audio is an unprecedented audio experience that will bring the Bible to life like never before. Save up to 60% OFF through 4/13 only, plus get Free Shipping on the CD edition! Features include:   A captivating theatrical production of the Bible, both old and new testaments in Today's New International Version (TNIV) text   79 CDs, a making-of DVD, quick-guide key scripture reference, and carrying case   Dramatic performances set to an original musical underscore by the Prague Symphony Orchestra   Hollywood-style sound design created at Technicolor Studio   A star-studded cast of almost 400 performers, including 23 Grammy winners, 8 Emmy winners, 5 Golden Globe winners, and 3 Oscar winners   Performers including Forest Whitaker as the voice of Moses, Angela Bassett (Esther), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jonah), Denzel and Pauletta Washington (Song of Songs), LL Cool J (Samson), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Samuel Jackson (God, NT only), and more   Savings of more than $75 on the CD version when you order by midnight on April 13!         LEARN MORE Get a powerful Behind-the-Scenes look at the making of The Bible Experience and see the passionate storytelling from some of the world's best performers    WATCH >     Inspired By... The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible, Audio CD A Dramatic Audio Bible Performed By 400 Of Today's Biggest Stars 79 CDs + Making-of DVD List Price: $124.99 Sale Price: $49.99 (60% off - amazing savings!)   Plus your order ships FREE!   BUY NOW   Also... You can get the downloadable version from our friends at OliveTree via the OliveTree Bible app (Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows running app version 7.3 and above).   List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $29.99 learn more   What FaithGateway Customers Have To Say About This Bible: “Excellent listening quality and experience this is, making it very engaging and enjoyable for all to learn and grow in! Highly recommended as another learning source!” — L.C., Customer “I honestly love hearing the Bible, and reading it together with my NIV Bible. It is so dramatic and to hear the background sounds like your there watching unfold in front of you. Honestly I'm glad I bought it.” — Mary V., Customer "The Bible Experience is amazing! In the quiet of my devotion time this has been wonderful. What a wonderful way to “experience” the Bible." — Collette M., Customer    READ MORE REVIEWS   *Prices valid through Wednesday, April 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm.  Free shipping on all U.S. orders  with coupon code HOPE  through 4/30/20, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. FaithGateway ~ our mission is to help you grow and share your faith. No longer interested? You can  *Manage your preferences or Unsubscribe. Copyright © 2020 HarperCollins Christian Publishing. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville TN 37214  USA All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | View Our Privacy Policy *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally   Bible Study Material   Receive Free Shipping with code HOPE through 4/30 Bible Study Material from alibris Free shipping info here Affiliate marketer links: Affiliate marketer Rick Livermore will earn a commission on the Bible Study Material you buy from faith gateway store  and alibris.  Brought to you by Rick Livermore   If you would like to offset my expenses of producing all this free content, but you want to pass on buying  materials from faith gateway store and alibris, feel free to give a little something-------Give through PayPal-----Rick Livermore-Webmaster220 https://webmaster220.blogspot.com/ I live in San Juan Capistrano California now  a fan of  tubitv.com/category/faith_and_spirituality also a fan of tubitv.com/channels/dovechannel  The most important link on this blog is this one about cures to the coronavirus.  Also this one about vaccines that immunize people from catching the coronavirus.  Then there is this one about copper as a weapon to combat this virus. We feel this one could save some lives about the Red Cross