Minute with Mike | February 2022

“Bruh, you got to eat the meat and spit out the bones!” 

I recall hearing this first from Pastor Don Coleman, and I apply and share this bit of wisdom frequently with my kids and many others. We must be discerning about what we see, hear, and believe. 

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Our focus on mentoring in this season caused me to think about my own experience. 

My dad taught me a lot as a young man, but I also learned much from other men. 

As a teenager, I cut grass and did various farm work for a man who lived in our community and went to our church. I can recall many and various conversations with Mr. Benton about work ethic, stewardship, education, finance, and life. 

Here’s the clincher, I also watched and listened as he led, and especially when he prayed, at our church. I loved the way he talked with God. I’m thankful for his example and have been blessed to reconnect with him several times in the last few years. I’m still learning from him. 

I also learned much from my football coach. He was very influential in my life for several years. I could rattle off the lessons I learned about hard work, intensity, grit, and human nature that I learned from him. I still apply many of them today. But there was a difference. I honestly don’t know my coach’s spiritual condition or his eternal destination. However, I will say that when he called on the Lord, he wasn’t praying.

I learned much from these men. Not all was spiritual or immediately applicable.

I had to observe and discern what to keep and what to discard. 

This article first appeared in the Noble Warriors® Monthly Partner Letter, Battle Briefing. Click here to learn how you can partner with us.