If we have a roll of duct tape in our house, I don't know where it is and my wife was probably the last one to use it.  Am I then, not a real man?  I can change out the light bulbs in our house, but not much else on the "handyman" side of life.  I was sitting at a red light a while back when a truck pulled up next to me with the company name in bold print, "Rent a Man" handyman services.  Great!  I'm not Tim the Toolman or MacGyver, am I not then, a real man?

I know this hat I took a picture of at the Cracker Barrel is just a humorous prop, but the question of what constitutes a real man is no joke.  Our world has presented so many false images of manhood.  These false images have served to wreck many men and the families they are called to serve.

Do I have to be John Wayne or Clint Eastwood? Do I have to be a rugged, lone cowboy who doesn't need anyone else to conquer in life?   Do I have to be tougher than nails and fear no one or nothing? Do I have to be a man of few word and no tears?  

Do I have to be LeBron James or Tom Brady?  Must I be physically strong or athletically accomplished to be a man?

Do I have to be desired by women?  Do I have to prove I'm desirable by having a long list of "conquests"?  

Do I need to be Donald Trump or Frank Sinatra?  Do I have to attain recognition and respect from my peers for my business achievements or artistic successes?

I have a Summer growth challenge for you.  Let's find the real answers to these questions.  There are 73 days between now and Labor Day.  There are 89 chapters in the four gospels total (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).  You can do the math - you'll have to read one chapter every day, and two chapters on 16 of the days.  You're going to be looking for something specific, so you'll be able to skim some of the chapters.  If you're up for the challenge, it is this:  

• Write down everything you observe about Jesus that defines manhood, whether it is something He said directly or something you pick up about Him by inference or observation.  He was the only perfect and complete man who ever lived.
• In essence, lets look for every clue we can find which would tell us how Jesus would fill in the blank "Real Men _____".  
• If you do write these observations down, I would love for you to e-mail your list to me, either as you go or altogether at the end, either way is fine.  I'll compile the complete list and publish it for all of our men.  Use my tom.gray@jfbc.org e-mail address please.  It may be one of the best studies we've ever engaged in.