Reflecting on a terrific Gray Wolf camp experience a few weeks ago still brings a smile to my face. The weekend just seemed to click. Talks around the fire pit, working together on the service project and for me, the Sunday worship experience was outstanding. I want to thank again Robbie Reider for not only leading worship in his warm familiar and intimate way, but also for sharing his personal story and a powerful message.

I really didn’t know what to expect from Robbie. Don’t get me wrong, Robbie is a world class worship leader and musician, but sitting around the campfire, early Sunday morning live with a bunch of cranky older men! Well, let me tell you Robbie delivered, in so many ways! Relaxed, funny, and connected to the entire group from hello.

Some of you may know that Robbie is a close friend and colleague of Josh Seurkamp, who just happened to be our speaker at Gray Wolf last year! Robbie was sharing his story with us and one pivotal part in his story revolved around Josh that he didn’t “need” Robbie to come to Cincinnati to join the Crossroads team rather he “wanted” Robbie to join the team! Robbie had built a great life out in Texas for himself and his family. A job he enjoyed and was good at, a beautiful home and even a pool! He shared with all of us sitting around the campfire that beautiful Sunday morning that he told Josh that he would “think about it” Over the next several weeks he did contemplate the offer.

Robbie opened up to the group sharing that the strange thing that kept coming into his mind was, of all things, a bumper sticker on Josh’s beat up old Toyota Corolla. The sticker read “Safety Is Not An Option”. I didn’t get it at first! As Robbie continued his story that became clearer to me. Typically, we all like to play it safe in life, don’t we? God was calling Robbie to use his talents to be a part of a great adventure, the unknown is anything but safe! Well long story short, as we all may know, he did move his family back to Cincinnati (without a pool) and has been an integral part of the dynamic and vibrant music ministry at Crossroads Church. Robbie shared with us “I didn’t want to go to Cincinnati and it took me some time to wrestle all sorts of doubts and fears. You can’t play safe and not be willing to take risks and follow God’s call in your life!”

As I write this blog, I want to do justice to the remarkable story that is a part of Robbie’s journey. Reflecting on when we truly serve our heavenly father, we must be willing to forgo our safety and let go and trust God’s call to follow him even when we are uncomfortable and possibly even afraid of the unknown. This reminds me of Nelson Mandela’s quote that speaks so loudly to me, ”There is no passion to be found in playing small or in settling for a life less than you are capable of living.”

Every man at Mighty Men has the training and talent to succeed, but do they have the guts to fail? Fighting through the doubts and fear is also rewarding, because the chances you take, the people you meet, the people you love, the faith you have is what will define you and defines me! At this Gray Wolf camp we prayed, lifted our off-key deep voices, shared communion, and worshiped together. We heard one of our campers stepping out in prayer expressing his gratefulness for Jesus coming after him and leaving the other 99 sheep. From the joy, humility, and emotion I heard in his voice, I knew that he was not “playing it safe”. He had been moved to choose to not play small or to just settle in life, rather to live the life Christ Jesus calls all of us to live! 

I cannot tell you that being a member of Mighty Men will be a “safe” option. I challenge and encourage everyone reading this post to reach out to Jesus in faith. No matter where you are, keep in mind “Safety is Not an Option”, right? Know that he will meet you where you are and call you to greater heights. Mighty Men would be excited and honored to come along aside you and be a part of your journey. 

~ HAMMER