I just read an article this week which further conrfirms the downward impact secular humanism is having in our country.  Like Europe before us, the recent census data is showing that more and more Americans are choosing not to have children.  What a headache and inconvenience they can be anyway.  Secular humanist beliefs end up making already selfish human beings even more self-absorbed.  "I can't do all the things I want if I have to raise children."  I don't even want to get started on how many people have children but basically invest the minimum time and energy actually raising them.  Children, society and self-absorbed adults end up short-changed because of this skewed perspective on children.

The Bible says in Psalm 127:3-5, "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

Oh how much happiness men miss out on by not treasuring the sheer privilege of fatherhood.  I was overwhelmed with a small dose of the joy recently with my youngest arrow, Daniel, as we were able to participate in baseball together.  Men, soak up the joy of fatherhood (and/or grandfatherhood) to the extent that God has so blessed you!  Enjoy!

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If you think the promise is true and has application to us in our day, then please watch the video I'm linking to here:  http://vimeo.com/12372623

If you're able to make it to pancakes and prayer, please let us know how many people to prepare pancakes for by e-mailing Janice at Janice.Morris@jfbc.org

In my 19 years in vocational ministry I have seen far too many divorce tragedies which ultimately could be traced back to communication issues.  Communication is the highway on which relationship travels.  Miscommunication or under-communication hinders or derails relationship.  Over time, the communication problems can build on themselves until there is little relationship left at all.
Yesterday my children conducted a funeral.  There was a tragic death directly resulting from a lack of communication.  The tragedy unfolded this way.  A sweet little bird built its nest in the front porch light fixture at our house.  We saw it and were careful never to turn the light on since the nest was built.  The other night Dana and I went out for a date and forgot to tell the babysitter not to turn on the front porch light.  She did, and when we arrived home, that little bird was dead.
Typically, men aren't by nature as strong of communicators as women.  I submit to you today however, men, that cannot be an excuse.  Relational life and death is in the balance.  Communicate!  Actively listen!  Talk!  If you stink at it, work at it.  You can learn!  Give the communication process significant time and energy investment.  It's more important than you think to talk everything through. 
As we were leaving for our date, we thought communicating with the babysitter about dinner, bed times, bathing and teeth brushing were important.  It was the little front porch light issue we overlooked as unimportant that brought about the small tragedy.  The same can happen in our marriages guys. 
I'm sure you are working at getting better at something in your life, men:  your golf game, getting in shape, becoming a better leader, something.  I simply want to encourage you to make "communication" one of the chief things you actively work to get better at.  There is a lot at stake.

Men - I wanted to pass on to you this article written by Joe Ehrmann which I thought was very powerful.  Enjoy.

ONE TEAM-ONE HEART-ONE LOVE =

I went to Yeardley Love's funeral with my twenty two year old son.  The University of Virginia lacrosse player was appearently murdered at the hands of a former boyfriend. My son, a college lacrosse player, was friends with Yeardley, her accused murderer, and many of the men and women on the UVA lacrosse teams.   Sitting next to him, I could feel and see him trying to process the conflicted emotions surrounding the enormity of this tragedy, compounded by knowing both the victim and the victimizer.  The young men sitting around me sobbed and sniffled. At one point in the ceremony I turned to an emotionally distraught young man and asked him if I could give him a hug. I was surprised at the strength and endurance of his hug as he held onto me seeking comfort and, I suspect, affirmation of his emotions and manhood. As he let go he said "thank you" without ever looking at me. Here lies part of the problem and a solution to the epidemic of violence women experience every day in Maryland and America.

 

At an early age, boys are fitted with emotional straightjackets tailored by a restricted code of behavior that falsely defines masculinity. In the context of "stop crying," "stop those emotions," and "don't be a sissy," we define what it means to "Be a Man!" Adherence to this "boy code" leaves many men dissociated from their feelings and incapable of accessing, naming, sharing, or accepting many of their emotions. When men don't understand their own emotions it becomes impossible to understand the feelings of another.This creates an "empathy-deficit disorder" that is foundational to America's epidemic of bullying, dating abuse and gender violence.  Boys are taught to be tough, independent, distrusting of other males, and at all cost to avoid anything considered feminine for fear of being associated with women. This leads many men to renounce their common humanity with women so as to experience an emotional disconnect from them. Women often become objects, used to either validate masculine insecurity or satisfy physical needs. When the validation and satisfaction ends, or is infused with anger, control or alcohol, gender violence is often the result.  Violence against women is often thought of as a women's issue; but it is a mistake to call men's violence a women's issue. Since men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of this violence, this men's issue calls to question the cultural values that produce men who hurt women. Sadly, Yeardley Love was only one of four women murdered by intimate partners that day. Who knows how many others were raped, battered, sexually abused, harassed or exploited by men that day and every day in America? 

 
Since Yeardley's funeral was packed with athletes, coaches, parents of athletes and sports fans, we need to look at the role sports could play in preventing future tragedies. Athletic Directors, coaches and educators have an almost unparalleled platform to bring together youth, families, and community partners to break the silence of gender violence and then design, implement and create preventive programs and activities. Educating boys and men in prevention programs is critical to reducing all forms of violence.  Coaches can and should teach their players to challenge the attitudes and assumptions that dehumanize women. Players need to be taught how to confront abusive peers and how stand up and speak out on behalf of their mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunts and female friends. Since so many boys no longer have a mentoring network of fathers, uncles, elders, and other males to initiate, train and guide them into manhood, coaches should and must assume part of this responsibility.

Well, I've been blogging for men for a year now, and I've taken the last month off of submitting entries.  I've felt a need to stop talking so that when I do blog, I actually have something worthwhile to say. 

Over the last month I have been particularly struck with the pain and frailty of we men.  We are wee men in many ways.  The truth is my interactions with my friends have all and only been with flawed and fallen men.  I'm increasingly convinced there are no other types.  Even men who have been redeemed from the fall, fall every day.  My brothers-in-arms are in great pain from un-, under-, or dissatisfying- employment.  They ache from relational wounds.  They struggle under the strain of habitual sins and personal deficiencies.

So, for my first blog entry of my second year, I want to offer simple encouragement to my men, my brothers.  I found a source of strength in the words of the Israelites recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:3.  When Solomon dedicated the temple, the glory of God filled the temple and fire from heaven fell to consume their sacrifices.  The verse says, "When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, 'He is good; his love endures forever.'"

Men, know and cling to this simple and profound truth, He is good and His love for you endures forever!  Your constant failings, frailties, struggles and doubts don't change His love for you.  When we get to the end of our short earthly lives, our summary statement will be "He is good, His love endures forever!"  His love for you is stronger than your weaknesses.  His love for you overshadows your sin and sadness.  Know it, cling to it, rest in it, worship Him for it!

It's a fresh day, a new start, let's go!  Fueled by His love!  It's strong stuff!

Guys - I'm sending out a link to a short video (12-15 minutes) about Joe Ehrmann.  You'll enjoy it and be inspired by it immensely.  He is a guy I'd like to have come speak at a future Man Church.

http://buildingmenandwomen.org/media/HBO_Joe_FLV.html

Have a great week!

Well, it's Monday!  As we launch into another frantic week, I want to encourage you to behold.  Driving in this morning I was meditating on the end of 2 Cornithians 3.  The verb "behold" from verse 18 jumped out as I was confronted by the awe-inspiring sunrise.  We don't use the word "behold" much in modern English.  Unfortunately, we also don't actually "behold" much either.  "Behold" at its core is significantly different than "look at".  It carries the thoughts of "study", "think about", "meditate on", and "respond to".  In our frenetic world we rarely do more than "glance".  My brothers, to become the men God wants us to become, and the men our world needs, we need to give significant time to beholding the glory of God.  It is through the regular beholding of His glory (both in the world and in His Word), that we are progressively transformed into His image - true manhood.  Beholding the glory of God is a vital life commitment of the man of God.  He disciplines himself to regularly behold God's glory.  Why don't you take some time today to start, or re-up your commitment to behold?!


¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect (as in contemplate) the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  NIV

¹⁸But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NAS

¹⁸And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  ESV

To the married men!  I have not yet met the man who has a perfect marriage.  Just because practical perfection may never be fully realized in this life, doesn't mean we shouldn't hold out the ideal as the target we're shooting for.  I hope you'll be inspired and encouraged to keep aiming for the ideal through the following two quotes.  Remember, your marriage isn't just about you.  How you function within your marriage has huge potential impact in this world.

“How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They are, in very truth, two in one flesh; and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit. They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God's church and partake of God's Banquet; side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another; they never shun each other's company; they never bring sorrow to each other's hearts.”  Tertullian (Translation is Ancient Christian Writers 13, p.35)

“We can conclude that a husband and wife serving together as partners in the gospel, in spiritual and marital unity, was not unusual in the early church.  In fact, Tertullian praises this image and mutual commitment, using it as an example of Christ’s presence in the world.  The marriage union in a Christian context gave a strong witness for the cause of Christ in the early centuries of the church.” Susie Hawkins, “From One Ministry Wife to Another”, p. 20-21

My calling in life is to be a part of leading a revolution of souls and society.  The gifts He has given me to use toward this end are leadership, communication, wisdom and faith.  I just want to use whatever opportunities He gives me to exercise His gifts for the calling He has put on me.