HAL & PAMELA SANTOS

Every man needs a few other men in his life to challenge him!  What man doesn’t love a challenge?  Even a trip to the gym can turn into a challenge. Here you are at the gym lifting weights.  You glance over and the guy next to you is lifting five, ten or fifteen pounds more than you. You smile and nod at him. With your earbuds hanging from your ears, you think to yourself “that guy sure doesn’t look as strong as me.” You smile and continue with your assessment. “There’s no way he can push as much weight on the bench as I can push.”  More pondering and exchanging of smiles.  The challenge is ON!  “YEAH...I think I can do more than he can!” You load up the bar and then…

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How often do you let other men challenge you? To push you a little harder or to lift a little more.  How often do you take the challenge to be a better father, a more loving husband and a closer follower of Christ?  Is there man in your life who holds you accountable?  Men need other men!  The greatest life changing opportunities for men to grow in their walk with Christ will come through organized men’s ministries.  Ministries that are consistent with small group and large group gatherings.  Small groups provide opportunities to form lasting friendships where men can challenge each other.   I enjoy the great opportunity to minister to men at church retreats all over the country and I have witnessed the results of men being challenged by other men in large group assemblies.  Men’s retreats, whether on or off campus, provide a great time for men to come together to share their hearts and to realize that every man needs a few good, godly men to speak into their life.

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On July 3, 1971, three young men walked by my front porch and challenged me at the age of fifteen to surrender my life to Christ.  My life has never been the same. It’s been an adventure that is taking me to places where only the Holy Spirit can challenge me to grow. It is not something I can do on my own. God has enrolled me in life classes, I didn’t sign up for. They are classes that have taught me every day living as I have grown from a young man to now. They are classes which are teaching me how to manage a quickly approaching senior lifestyle. The greatest life challenges that I have received have been delivered by men who have walked before me and have given me insight to what is ahead.  They have boldly and unapologetically communicated what is required to be an everyday man of God. The question is…do I truly want my lifestyle to be challenged in every area?

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Who are those men who have challenged your leadership? Pawpaw Holden (my wife’s grandfather) always gave illustrative advice. Once I was walking through one of the many challenges faced by a church leader and was seeking his counsel. Pawpaw’s final word on the situation left me with a vivid realization.  He said “son, deal with it when it’s a cub, because if you don’t in time it will become a full-grown bear and overpower you!”  I have remembered his advice many times in the midst of leadership concerns and have effectively averted serious problems.

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Who are the men who have challenged your integrity?  As a young bible college student at International Bible College in San Antonio Texas, we were exposed to many great church leaders.  One speaker in particular had an immense effect on me…Rev. Maxie Thomas.  During a conversation, I asked him what he would share with a young man starting out in ministry. His words were clear and over the years have echoed in my heart as I have watched others who have stumbled in their life and leadership. He said “just remember that anyone at any given time is capable of doing anything, so keep yourself humble.” Those words have burned in my soul and have kept me accountable in my life throughout the years.

 

Who are the men who have challenged your life goal? While pursuing my master’s degree in organizational leadership, we were given an assignment to come up with a mission statement that could be put on a t-shirt. I pondered this assignment for a few weeks. I considered several different words and statements trying to produce something profound. Being the oldest in the class, I wanted to come up with something good. My ultimate statement... FINISH STRONG, NOT WRONG. When all is said and done, the basic goal is to live life with Godliness.

 

FINISH STRONG NOT WRONG.  No matter your age, no matter your income, no matter your stage of life, no matter the mistakes you have made prior to this moment.  Finish strong. Who is the man that could look into your computer, your phone and your TV recordings or movies? Finish strong. Who is the man who can stand with you and say you are truthful? Finish strong. Make sure you have a man in your life who can ask you the tough questions, and you answer them with truthfulness - there is no hint of hiding or deception in your answers. Finish strong. After you pass from this life to the next, what will your spouse, children and grandchildren be able to say about you? Finish strong. He was the man he said he was. He wasn’t one person in private and another in public. He really did finish strong and not wrong. Finish strong.

 

Today is the day to determine where you want your life to be! Every man needs a few men in his life to challenge him to be better, stronger and more Christ-like. Challenges are good.  If you don’t push yourself by adding more weight to the bar, then you will never grow stronger.  The rule in weightlifting is that a “spotter” is required for safety. The spotter is there to keep the bar from coming down on you should you not to able to lift it. They are also there to encourage and push you to challenge yourself.  Who is your spotter? Pray and ask God who that person is in your life.  Maybe it is someone you know right now or someone that God is bringing your way.  Let God use A Few Good, Godly Men in your life to make you stronger!      

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Hal Santos

One.64 Leadership