By Kirk Cheng

For those of you who don’t know me, I am an anti-social kind of a guy.  I really don’t like going to any kind of social activities, which involve talking to people.  Even when watching sports (which I love to do – No, I’m not a Warriors fan), I enjoy watching it by myself or only with my family.  

So, when the opportunity came to go to Men’s Retreat, I was honestly less than enthusiastic to go.  It was not until I got some “strong” prodding from some people (specifically, a person with initials DC), did I decide to go.

After going to Men’s Retreat, I can tell you that I am glad I went.  There are two things that God spoke to me during the Men’s Retreat…

1. I was reminded that my identity is in Christ, not in my status in man’s eyes.
   • As I get older, I thought that I would get wiser.  Boy, was I wrong!
   • Instead, I find myself hearing voices a lot in my head recently, saying that I am an idiot or a loser.  Many times, after meetings at work, where I don’t speak up or don’t contribute anything, I hear the voice “You are an idiot.”
   • Spiritually, I’ve also felt that in God’s eyes, I also am an idiot.  I don’t measure up to His standards or to the standards of the people of His church.
   • Pastor Mike said a statement in the Men’s Retreat that cleared up a lie that I have been listening to recently.  He said “Identity is received not achieved.”
   • My identity is in Christ.  I did not do anything to earn this identity.  God chose me and His Son died for me. Nothing that I have done or will do can earn my identity as a child of God.
2. God also talked to me through my brothers’ testimonies.
   • I’ve forgotten that we are all broken.  Looking at people at church on Sundays, I always assumed that everyone was doing well.
   • Through my brothers’ testimonies, I learned that we are all the same.  We are ALL broken, and we all have different issues that we are dealing with, physical ailments, problems with our marriage, problems with raising our children, temptations, insecurities, fears, etc…
   • God has called us to be brothers in Christ for a reason.  We are called to bear each other’s burdens, pray for each other, fight for each other in the battles of life.
   • Praying for my brothers in Christ, who are going through trials or who are suffering, touched my heart.  I believe that it touched our Father’s heart even more.

In conclusion, my mind was refreshed, and I was reminded that I am not an idiot or a loser.  I am a child of the one and only true God. There is NO higher status. I also was told by God to not be a hermit.  Stop sitting on the sideline, reach out to people who are in need, who are hurting, who need God’s hope and healing

Praise God for the truths that He revealed to the men during the Men’s Retreat.