The following is a partial recollection of our Man Cave discussion at the Sunshine Rescue Mission on March 9, 2021.

          When hiking on a mountain trail with a lot of rocks in your path, you may have a tendency to walk with your head down to keep from tripping. When our heads are down, we miss the mule deer, elk, coyote, javelina or the many different kinds of birds in the forest. We miss the beauty of clouds on a horizon or a brilliant clue sky. It's okay to trip once in awhile and take your eyes off the obstacles to see opportunities.
          On March 9, 1841, the US Supreme Court voted to release from an American prison a group of folks who'd been called slaves. Slavery was still legal in many parts of the world including America. Transporting people with the intent on enslaving them was a violation of international law. The order was given to release 35 people (the original number was 53, but while on the voyage or in prison, 18 of them perished.) Funds were donated by compassionate folks to finance their return trip to Sierra Leone.
          On July 2, 1839, a group of 53 Africans were forced to board a slave ship bound for Cuba. Some had been kidnapped, others sold to pay family debts and a few were captured in war. After being sold to a couple of Cuban plantation owners, they boarded a ship bound for the other side of Cuba. A few days after leaving shore, the group mutinied and took control of the ship. They ordered the plantation owners to take them back to Africa. Eventually the wandering ship was overtaken by the US Navy in waters off of Long Island, NY - a long way from Sierra Leone. The name of the ship was "Amistad." which is Spanish for "Friendship."
          Upon their release, the Africans were accompanied by American Missionaries on their return voyage. After arriving in Freetown, Sierra Leone many of the freed people went back to their families. Some stayed with the Missionaries as they established the Komende Mission. Komende in Afrikaans means "forthcoming,  approaching,  coming,  nearing,  imminent,  future,  impending,  oncoming,  near,  prospective,  advancing,  progressing,  at hand,  close,  docking,  looming,  next,  rising,  in the cards,  in the offing," It's used to mean: "The upcoming generation is expected to be well-informed."
          One of the abducted children was named Margru which meant "black snake" in her language. The missionaries gave her a new name, Sarah Kinson. Sarah in the Bible means "lady, princess, noblewoman" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of Abraham's wife, considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. She was barren until she unexpectedly became pregnant with Isaac at the age of 90. Her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it at the same time Abraham's name was changed (see Genesis 17:15). Sara Kinson was educated in America and returned to Africa in November 1849 as the "schoolmistress" of the Komende Mission's new girls' school.
          We found that to be a fascinating story. Before we move on to make some deep observations, lets look at two other small, seemingly low impact stories.

1. ​Everyday I walk the grounds where I live to check the status of the spring bulbs that I planted last fall. Slowly they're popping up through slowly thawing ground after a long winter Shabbatt (Hebrew word for rest." 
2. My last failure happened on March 2, 2021 when I failed to meet my daily goal of 10,000 steps. I marked the day on my calendar as I resolved to begin again and correct the reasons that lead to my failure. My day of new beginnings was March 4th. I gave myself one day of rest to grieve my failure before beginning again.

Some valuable points:

• Rocks in our path can trip us or become stepping stones. Fear of tripping can cause missed opportunities. Michael Jordan was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He missed more shots than he made, but he was never afraid to shot again.
• Abducted people became slaves on a ship called Friendship. They fought back and appeared to lose as they were put in prison. After two years they were freed and were shipped back to Africa to Freetown. Bad things turn into good things when they're given to God. Romans 8:28 AMP "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose."
• Planting and planning both have a preparation process that requires patience. Fall is a time of letting go (put bulbs in the ground for future growth. Winter is a time of rest. Let God do His perfect work in you. Spring is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Summer is the celebration that reveals God's glory.
• People do things that may not be in the will of God, but all things that happen are allowed by God. Allow Him to do His work in you, and His will is revealed through you - regardless of what others do to you.

           Scripturally we examined a ruthless story in 2 Samuel 13 about the Rape of Tamar. It's a nasty story about an innocent young virgin who is taken advantage of by an immoral man. She was victimized and re-victimized by her brother. Too often we re-victimize people by telling them they should have done something to avoid being victimized. Go overboard with compassion and empathy.
          One of our main learning points today was "Don't Compare Yourself To Others." We will not measure up as a basketball player with someone like Michael Jordan. God wants you to be the best you He created you to be. Don't cheat God by trying to be someone else.
          There's another way we compare ourselves to others - we expect them to be like us. Just because we've been successful at conquering a problem like addiction, doesn't mean other folks can use the same method. Encourage people with your successes, but leave room for people to own their own stuff. The Bible is a life plan for all people, but it's also written to us as individuals. Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means He knows us all uniquely. 
          Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

FROM A MESSAGE AT THE SUNSHINE RESCUE MISSION MAN CAVE ON FEBRUARY 16, 2021 

          Life or time is never wasted in the mind of God. The timing of God's provision coincides with the hunger of man. Life is filled with hangovers - memories of things we wish we wouldn't have done. In today's lesson we'll learn how God orchestrated a miracle through a little boy of insignificance (we don't even know his name.) One little boy in a crowd of many thousands. He can use you too.
          There are two times in the Bible where Jesus fed thousands with a few meager loaves and fishes. He started with what we would call, "not-enough," and ended up with "more-than-enough." The stories talk about feeding 5,000 and 4,000, but that's only the men without counting the women and children. Here's one account of feeding of more than 5,000 from John 6:1-13 ICB. (Bold letters are for added emphasis by me.)
"After this, Jesus went across Lake Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias). Many people followed him because they saw the miracles he did to heal the sick. 
Jesus went up on a hill and there sat down with his followers. It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover Feast.
Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, 
“Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” (Jesus asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do.)
Philip answered, “Someone would have to work almost a year to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece.”
Another follower there was Andrew. He was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew said, 
“Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”
Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” This was a very grassy place. There were about 5,000 men who sat down there. 
Then Jesus took the loaves of bread. He thanked God for the bread and gave it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted.
They all had enough to eat. When they had finished, Jesus said to his followers, “Gather the pieces of fish and bread that were not eaten. Don’t waste anything.” 
So they gathered up the pieces that were left. They filled 12 large baskets with the pieces that were left of the five barley loaves."
          Here are some bullet points for you to chew on:

• People had to get hungry before the miracle occurred.
• An insignificant little boy with an inadequate supply was used by God to go beyond the people's needs.
• The little boy gave up all his food did not go hungry.
• Jesus gave thanks before the need was met.
• Did they give thanks for the leftovers?
• God does good things for us to remember in bad times.
• Nothing is wasted in the kingdom of God.
• Hangovers given to God become Do-overs.
• Leftovers are memories of God meeting our needs.
• The boy was willing, selfless and nameless - are you willing to be used by God that way?

          Jesus, just say the name. Be the leftover. Be the crumbs. Be the Bread of Life to every hungry person you meet. Are you willing to let God get the glory?  The boy gave up what he had, surrendered his sustenance and released his small provision. The results were a magnificent meal preceded by gratitude. 
          This is a mentoring story. Jesus used individual mentoring and group mentoring to teach a lesson. He used several different learning styles including, visual, auditory and experiential. The Disciples played a physically active role in a spiritual miracle. Jesus asks us to do the same. We are His mentors expected to go into the whole world and help others experience the miracle new birth in Christ. 

Romans 6:4-16 The Passion Translation"

Sharing in his death by our baptism means that we were co-buried and entombed with him, so that when the Father’s glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with him. We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life. 

For since we are permanently grafted into him[a] to experience a death like his, then we are permanently grafted into him to experience a resurrection like his and the new life that it imparts.

Could it be any clearer[b] that our former identity[c] is now and forever deprived of its power? For we were co-crucified with him to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us,[d] so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power.[e]

Obviously, a dead person is incapable of sinning. 

And if we were co-crucified with the Anointed One, we know that we will also share in the fullness of his life. 

And we know that since the Anointed One has been raised from the dead to die no more, his resurrection life has vanquished death and its power over him is finished. 

For by his sacrifice he died to sin’s power once and for all,[f] but he now lives continuously for the Father’s pleasure. 

So let it be the same way with you! Since you are now joined with him, you must continually view yourselves as dead and unresponsive to sin’s appeal while living daily for God’s pleasure in union with Jesus, the Anointed One.

Sin’s Reign Is Over 

Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. 

So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body to him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for his pleasure, ready to be used for his noble purpose.[g] 

Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.

Grace Frees Us to Serve God

What are we to do, then? Should we sin to our hearts’ content since there’s no law to condemn us anymore? What a terrible thought! 

Don’t you realize that grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, he will lead you into perfect righteousness."

          Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.