Pride?

"Pride costs more than hunger, thirst, and cold."
-Thom. Jefferson

Definition of a Man

This comes from Tony, Jr--worth sharing.
Definition of a Man:
1. He is the same man in public as he is in private
2. He defends his family, the Weak and the Word of God with all his strength
3. He lives for something greater than himself
4. He lives with vigor and dies ready for the journey
I did this in response to a class you taught years ago.

Thanks Tony--I love this kind of stuff.

So, you wanna be a man

I've been enjoying my new job for a couple of months now, and with less stress I have done a lot more thinking about ministry. I have been told that nobody enjoys being a man more than I do. Now,I'm not sure that is true, but its a compliment I received happily. You see, it wasn't meant that I am the most macho man, or strongest or toughest man this guy knows. The compliment was that I know a man's role, and I celebrate the difference between men and women. How does this tie into ministry? Well, one thing that I believe a real man does, is take his work seriously. If he's in a job he knows or plans to be temporary, he still does that job the best he can. If he has a hobby, or some other job that is voluntary, he strives for excellence in that, as well. My extra-curricular activity is ministry. (I would really like to be in ministry full-time, but right now that's not happening.)
Every year in June, I take the graduating guys from my church on a hike, with other men along, and we tell the young guys what we think it means to be a man. There is some Biblical stuff involved, but more sociological and cultural stuff. We discuss what unchurched people think a man is supposed to be, and what the "typical" churched man seems to be. Funny thing is, what we think a man is and what a lot of American men think, is quite similar. Askmen.com is not one of the purest sites around, but it has one of the best articles on manhood I've read in a long time. Here is their version of Manhood 101. Again, I do not condone all that they publish..or much of what they publish..but this is good. Read it and come back, I'll wait.

Doobedoobedoooooooooooooooo

What'd ya think? If you take the 8 traits and apply your own definitions, its great stuff.
I'll give you 4 traits that I have taught and strive to live by:

• Reject Passivity
• Take Responsibility
• Lead Courageously
• Expect Greater Rewards

Being a man is no easy task, especially with so many cultural factors--homosexuals, metrosexuals, feminists, lawsuits, racism, status quo, pride, greed, idolatry--the list is endless. Not everything on the list is bad, but we have the natural potential to make anything bad--or good. I think being a man depends on the fight in your heart and mind to do the right thing, much more than the fights we have with people that think differently than we do.

Other thoughts:

Hockey players are them men of sports. In most American sports today, the athletes that are considered great tend to be more individualistic. Not to dis the talent of Allen Iverson, Shaq, Barry Bonds, T.O., or whoever else may be on the cover of next week's SI, but hockey players are more connected to the team's results. Oh sure, MLB players are well-versed in the its-all-about-the-team vocabulary, but they have to practice it.

Watch NHL playoffs:

They don't pretend to be friends with the other teams--teams don't shake hands until the series is won.

They depend on each other more--the nature of the game demands that.

Do you know that in the NHL, no player shaves from the beginning of the post-season until the Stanley Cup is won? Its the brotherhood of man in simple form.

Wayne Gretzky made his NHL debut October 10, 1979. He became the all-time leading goal scorer for the NHL on March 23, 1994. He became the all-time assists leader March 1, 1988. What do you think he focused on?

Cal Ripken and Lou Gehrig were the men of baseball. They are remembered for some great seasons and some great acheivements. But their great acheivements came as a result of their best--going to work. They have the 2 highest consecutive games played streaks, with each playing over 2,100. The latest, greatest streak since then ended recently at 518. How many of us have gone to work 518 consecutive work-days? That's supporting the team.

BTW-I now allow anonymous comments, but please don't be obscene.