Gettysburg: 1/16/10---At 7:22 EST, Thursday night, a Union soldier rose from his field desk, took a deep breath and exhaled for what seemed like eternity. The heaviness in his voice was genuine as he told us that on July 1,2,3; 1863, the ground on which we are standing, was transformed from 6,000 acres of fertile farmland to hallowed ground.

This uniformed solider reminded us that 165,000 American boys and men stood in the shadows of these trees, laid in the trickling waters of these creeks and squinted over waist-high rock walls that still stand, patiently awaiting the cannonade that would soon take place. At precisely 12:56 on July 1st, the Confederate barrage began and continued unabated for almost an hour. And then the Union cannons opened-up and the devastating, ear-piercing display of their firepower rained down on the southern force they knew was here, but could not see. Finally, through the smoke and haunting silence, the Confederate forces emerged from the tree line 2-deep, a thousand yards wide and began to move toward the awaiting northern forces.

For the men assembled in the ballroom of the Wyndam Hotel for the CBMC East Coast Conference, the story they heard of what took place next was riveting. Hearts pounded, tears flowed minds were transfixed with a consuming realization of what happened here. The 51,000 who died in three days of bitter fighting were young boys: our sons and brothers. Some ranged all the way to 80 years of age: our fathers and grandfathers and we know this beyond a shadow of a doubt because they bear our names, American names, and they came from states in which we live, the Unites States!

They came to this place 147 years ago, and battled sometimes, hand to hand, for the truth and more than 200 men of CBMC have come here for the next two days to continue that battle, but this time it is a spiritual battle, one that pits man against “the enemy.”

When the solider sat back down at his desk, the silence was deafening though 200 men filled the room.

Mark Crocco, who spent years in pastoral ministry and who now is president of Integrity Consulting Group took the stage and reflected, “Men, Christ was on this battlefield in 1863. There are accounts that many who fell here knew Jesus and openly proclaimed him.” Crocco then quietly asked: “So, are you living your life in the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Because if the answer is “no”--- you are missing out on the very basis of Ephesians 3.”

When the session concluded, men were authentically moved by what they heard. “That message was a graduate level emersion into spiritual empowerment,” suggested Andrew James of Reston, Virginia. Haitian native Phillippe Prosper, now from Rockville, Maryland observed: “I love the dynamic of truth in the kingdom-building mindset of CBMC and that is what I took away from this first day. My heart’s desire is to seek the truth and I have no time patience for detours.”

Every year this extraordinary conference attracts a smattering of non-believers and a plethora of mature followers. But no matter where a man is in his personal journey of truth, men here in Gettysburg are a true “band of brothers.” They have been brought together by a union of spirit; one that Christ himself has orchestrated. It is no accident that a “lost man” is sitting shoulder to shoulder discussing prayer, how to live victoriously in Christ, and interacting about how to be transformed in the image of a Savior who 2,000 years ago was nailed to a cross.

Spiritual growth is learning to live increasingly more in the image of Christ. The next step is Christ likeness, or doing the things Jesus did, learning to act like Jesus acted and saying the things our Savior said.

A beautiful moment occurred as Mark Crocco concluded his two sessions. In a prayerful voice he asked, “Wouldn’t be amazing that when each one of us goes to be with Jesus, our son or daughter would one day ask, ‘“did you ever meet a man who was more Christ-like than my Dad?’”

Now that is a question worth pondering. And while we’re at it, how about we examine the manner in which we are living our lives. How comfortable is Jesus living inside each of us? If we cannot answer that question with absolute certainty, the Battle for the Truth will continue to rage in the hearts of men.

The CBMC East Coast Conference continues through Saturday. Still to come is a charge to the men in the ministry from new CBMC President Lee Truax. Jeff Skeen, President and CEO of Titan Fitness will speak on reaching the “next generation” of CBMC leaders and Marc Fey, the former Executive Director of Focus on the Family’s Truth Project will examine what we must do regularly if we are to emerge victorious in God’s eyes in our personal battles for truth.