Go Beyond

Ponderosa State Park, Idaho

The term band of brothers was first popularized by William Shakespeare in his famous history play, Henry V. The great English playwright used the term to refer to a group of men whose dedication and loyalty to one another was strengthened in the heat of battle. Their shared struggle forged them into a band of brothers with ties as close or closer than any blood ties.

Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson later popularize the use of the term at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Nelson referred to the officers under his command as his “noble-minded friends and comrades. Such a gallant set of fellows! Such a band of brothers! My heart swells at the thought of them!” After the battle, Nelson often used the term to refer to those who had fought alongside him. He had nothing but the deepest respect and most heartfelt gratitude for each of these men.

Band of brothers is the term that my good friend Gil Harris uses to refer to the men in his discipleship group. These men meet regularly to study the word of God and to strengthen and encourage one another to be godly men, husbands, and fathers. Gil understands the strategic significance of strengthening men through involvement in a shared mission and shared adventure — occasions that call on brothers to work shoulder-to-shoulder to complete a task.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the past several days with Gil and the band of brothers as we have worked together on the new Kingsland Ministry Home in Boise, Idaho. I have watched each of these men enjoy fellowship and the opportunity to serve others together. Yesterday was a really good day as we traveled together into the mountains for a shared adventure, another occasion to strengthen the ties that bind brothers closer together.

On the way to the hiking trails at Ponderosa State Park, we stopped to visit a friend at the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Training Center, a place where young people are prepared to serve the interests of the kingdom around the world. The training center is something of a boot camp. Young people not only complete theological and missiological training, but they are strengthened physically by hikes and outings into the mountains.

Our time on the trails at Ponderosa Sate Park was fantastic. Hiking through the mountains was made more enjoyable because of sharing the experience with one another. We laughed, we prayed, we stopped to look at some of the most beautiful scenery in silence, and we enjoyed a trailside devotional time. We are all returning home with stronger hearts and closer ties to one another. God has used our shared mission and our shared adventure this week to draw us closer to Him and to one another. That’s something to be thankful for.