THANK ME LATER, LADIES

This one is for the man in your life. The one in search of meaning and purpose. The one who secretly wonders what it might be like to talk with other guys at a deeper level than baseball scores and politics. The way it seems so easy for women to do. The one who gets close to it with a, “Hey, bro, what’s up?” but not much deeper than this with the other guys in his world. And, anyway, who calls somebody “brother,” if you didn’t grow up in the same family?

“BROTHER” TANNEBERG

Yes, there was a time when I was called “Brother.” I’m purposely calling each of you “brother,” just now, a descriptive term I was called in my first church, as a 23-year-old pastor. “Brother” Tanneberg—something clerics received in bygone days as a designation of reverence and respect by our peers and the laity we served.

Later on in California, I became known, and to this day still am, simply as “Ward,” or “Pastor T,” a warm and easy tag I still enjoy. Upon returning to the Pacific Northwest, I found myself needing to adjust yet again. Different time, place and culture. Get used to “Pastor Ward,” “PW,” or “P-Dub,” unless you didn’t know me well; then I was “Pastor” or “Doctor” Tanneberg.

The designation, “Reverend,” always made me uncomfortable. It never fit well. Like a cloak others threw over me in an effort to cover up the grime and grease under my fingernails and the leftover smell of cow dung clinging to my farm boots. It was not me. The Holy One alone is to be revered. I understood this and, thankfully, this remains a part of who I am to this day. Truly.

WE BE BROTHERS ALL

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.”~ Matthew 23:8

It is an important word, mentioned 182 times in the New Testament. 

Someone came to Jesus one day and told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.” ~ Matthew 12:47-49

And so we may speak to and of one another as “brothers.” We are not just guys who get together for a golf game or a business transaction. We are followers, a band of Jesus’ brothers! 

Our PRAYER as Jesus’ brothers— 

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” ~ Luke 22:32 

Our THOUGHTS as Jesus’ brothers—

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 

Our DAY-T0-DAY as Jesus’ brothers—

“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:13

WE ARE JESUS’ BROTHERS

Do you have friends in the faith you consider to be “brothers”? I do. And I treasure each of them. We have lived through some of life’s highest highs and lowest lows together. We are more than friends. We are family. We are Jesus “brothers,” not because we say so, but because he says so!

We are not alone in our faith walk. So, let us pray, think, and live like the brothers we truly are.

Our VICTORY as Jesus’ brothers—

‘Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” ~ Revelation 12:10 (I’ll be shouting, yea GOD, from the stands on that day, for sure. Hands raised high!)

Blessings, my brother. We win best and most when we stick together!