Be Bold, Be Gentle

Prepping for Easter

2012-02-01T04:12:00.000-06:00

Easter is April 8 this year, men. That's about nine weeks away.

What are you doing in February and March to prepare your family for this holy celebration?

Need some ideas? Check out this 2011 guide for ideas: Suggested resource

Are You Being "With" ?

2012-01-31T04:17:00.000-06:00

This was the devotion I led at our recent church business meeting. -- Glenn
-=-=-=-=-=-

This ministry is always about people, and always about Jesus, and is larger than any one of us.

‘With’ is an important word, a powerful concept. I’d like you to listen for ‘with’ in these Bible passages:

"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:13-15)

So Jesus chose men to be with him and be his disciples. That “being with Jesus” time had a powerful influence on them:

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

The elders have spent some time in the recent months thinking and praying about developing leaders in our congregation – not just for our own boards and teams, but leaders who can influence the world.

We can do leadership development and training the cheap way or the expensive way. The cheap way is to spend about $60,000 and send a bunch of people off to cool-sounding week-long training classes and have 'em come back with certificates. The expensive way is to man up (and lady up) and pour your life into someone by being with them.

Let’s consider some opportunities:

Enormous challenges for teenagers -- they need men and women who will be withthem. They need good families. That's why we invest in youth staff and want to be there for parents.

We need to be with our spouse. We need to be with one another as

believers-- this is why we stress small groups!

Thousands of people who live in the neighborhood we live in are desperately lonely. These people need someone to be withthem.

There are over a billion souls in unreached people groups who have not yet heard about the God who wants to be with them. That's why we're emphasizing cross-cultural missions and sending people from our fellowship.

And when we grow weary, we will remember that we will be with the

Lord. He is faithful on his part: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

We are told that we will be with Jesus at the end of earth as we know it:

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14)

[You can tell the whole arc of the Bible story around the word ‘with’: God created Adam and Eve and was with them. Sin broke that fellowship. God worked out His plan to restore relationship so that through Jesus Christ we can be with Him again.]

Sounds great, doesn't it? Let's be real with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ: it's harder to be with specific, real, imperfect individuals than to talk about it. Much harder. Many times, it is beyond our capacity and our capability. The little committee members in our heads say, “Ok, but let’s go be with somebody besides this guy.”

The open secret is that the power to be with people is our abiding

connection with Jesus: "4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch

cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can

you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for

apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he

is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are

gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and

my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for

you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so

prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I

loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will

abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and

abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy

may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:4-11)

3D Printing

2012-01-25T05:45:00.002-06:00

Something our children will take for granted: 3D printing to create objects. Remarkable.

Mentoring a Younger Christian

2012-01-21T04:10:00.000-06:00

Outstanding article: "How to Influence a Younger Christian"

Print this off, pray over it. Who is in your sphere of influence? Encourage them to watch you!

For Dads With Daughters

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-06:00

Terrific list: 50 Rules for Dads With Daughters. Enjoy!

The Vocation of Work

2012-01-17T04:16:00.000-06:00

My friend Matt Perman provides some excellent comments here about the vocation of our work.

Monday Morning Motivation from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Bad Parenting .... Sometimes Humor Helps!

2012-01-15T04:06:00.000-06:00

Doubtful on the 'Singularity'

2012-01-13T04:05:00.000-06:00

Ray Kurzweil continues to predict that with the exponentialgains of computer systems and digital technologies, the “singularity” event iscoming when computers surpass human capabilities – less than 20 years fromnow. The “global brain” of networked computer systems will somehow usherus into a new kind of utopia, and effectively let people live forever. (See his poular book, The Singularity is Near )

Call me a curmudgeon, but I’m a skeptic.

This is a massive leap from the current capability curve,and depends on a critical epiphenomenon that would be more terrifying thanhelpful. PCs are faster now, but software still does what we tell it, andnot even what we intend most of the time.

Are there truly no problems that can’t be solved with moreCPU cycles, more data? Hello, is anyone married, have children, or tried toco-create something with others in a project? (“Gee, Timmy, your problemis not that the team isn’t getting the project completed on budget, it’s thatyour PCs are too slow.”)

Upload yourself to the ‘cloud’ brain so you can liveforever? Most of us routinely struggle to fully describe our experienceswith a language we’ve spent a lifetime using. I’m not sure how we’regoing to translate 100 billion neurons of memory (with something like 10^14^thinterconnections into digital format.

We socialize our learning, and codify some learning intosystems (markets, governing laws, accepted practices), but in general everyperson and every generation has to learn the same lessons. Our collectivedata grows over time, but more slowly than the collective knowledge. Wisdomaccumulates even more slowly. Why would there be a different paradigm fora digital network?

The digital network requires an enormous amount ofinfrastructure, electricity, and maintenance by (you guessed it) humanbeings. Kurzweil’s future view requires even more.

My view is that the “singularity” is a secularists fantasy.

There’s no doubt that we’re only partially into the digitalage, and we will see some remarkable things in the future. Why? Because of our imagination, our drive, our ability to dream. I’m a bigproponent of technology used to help people do more and be better.

Why do I write about this on a blog titled “Be Bold, Be Gentle” ? The truth: the people you and I work with areextraordinary. They have amazing potential. They’re not machines,and do not have the limits of machines. Grip this truth, believe in them,and help them achieve more than anyone thought possible.

Book Recommendation: Boring to Bravo

2012-01-11T04:09:00.000-06:00

(Why do I have a book review on presentations on a blog for husbands and fathers? Because I know many of you give presentations at work, in civic organizations, and in church. -- Glenn)

I highly recommend Boring to Bravo: Proven Presentation Techniques to Engage, Involve, and Inspire Your Audience to Action, by Kristin Arnold

I have recommended other presentation books in the past, so why do I recommend you study this one? The main reason: the focus on interacting with and engaging your audience. This is an essential skill for presenters and teachers today. Presentations which change minds and lives must be engaging.

Kristin Arnold is a good writer, so you'll enjoy the reading time.

I particularly appreciate her comments about the mindset you need to cultivate in order to engage an audience. The book is written more for professional speakers and trainers, but you'll find most of it applies for small group presentations and teaching times.

If you want to be selective in reading this book, study the chapters on stories, use of humor, illustrationss, interacting with Q&A, and calling for decision/action.

Boring to Bravo delivers the promise implicit in the title. Get it.

Hold Up a Mirror and Say...

2012-01-09T04:12:00.000-06:00

Men, hold up a mirror and say this aloud:

"You are the leader of this family.
God holds you accountable.
Cherish your wife.
You are a model for your son(s).
You are a model for your daughter(s).
You can't lead people to where you aren't.
God made you a man, so act like one.
You can do 3 to 10 times what you think you can do.
God enables you to do everything He asks you to do.
Yeah, you're tired. You can still serve.
You are secure in Jesus Christ.
No temptation is stronger than God.
You are not your own, you were bought at a price."

Repeat as often as necessary.

Engraved

2012-01-07T04:23:00.000-06:00

There are some verses and passages you go back to time and again. Isaiah 49:16 is one of mine:

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands"

A few thoughts to encourage you:

God is speaking to his children of Israel, and by extension, we who have been grafted in and adopted as heirs. Think of how sensitive your palms are, and how visible they are to you. They're never more than an arm's length away! "Engraved" suggests permanence and lasting effect. This is not magic marker or ball-point pen scrawling to remind you of something ephemeral. What is engraved? Not a picture of story of my ancestors, but me. What a precious statement from the God of the Universe!

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands"

20 Seconds of Courage

2012-01-05T03:57:00.000-06:00

We watched the "We Bought a Zoo" movie recently, and I really liked this scene. What can you and I do with just 20 seconds of insane courage? How can we talk with our boys about these matters?

How to Read the Whole Bible in 30 Days

2012-01-03T04:19:00.000-06:00

A Father's List of Things Learned

2012-01-01T03:58:00.000-06:00

Men, go here now and study "Things I Have Learned" -- this is a list of truth statements from John Piper's father, plus his commentary. Excellent, outstanding.

Study it.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T04:24:00.000-06:00

The 3650 Challenge -- Not Your Ordinary "Read the Bible in a Year" plan

2011-12-23T04:14:00.001-06:00

I commend this challenge to you -- a wonderful opportunity to step up your Bible reading! From Tim Challies:

"...read or listen to 3,650 chapters of the Bible in 2012. .... I plan to use Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System to read the Bible. This system calls for 10 chapters per day, with each chapter being drawn from a different part of the Bible. This means that over the course of 2012 anyone who uses the plan will go through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the Old Testament wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the Old Testament History and Prophetic books about 1.5 times."

Go for it!

What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons

2011-12-19T04:09:00.001-06:00

I greatly appreciate the feedback I've received via email about my short Kindle book What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons. Matt Perman's blog post was especially kind.

One man wrote "I spend too much time just going along and reacting to what comes up. Thanks for giving me a bigger picture and some hope. I especially like your idea to tell stories about real men."

May we fathers raise mighty sons!

You Are a Twig

2011-12-17T04:34:00.000-06:00

You are a twig. You're a thin dowel rod. You're easily snapped by a toddler-sized problem.

The world will say, "Get bundled up with a bunch of other twigs, and be strong together!" Indeed, it's much more difficult to break a bundle of dowel rods.

But not impossible.

You need to be in union with Jesus Christ. Then you are a twig duct taped with many other twigs to the unbreakable steel rod of Jesus Christ. That's the Church.

Please Use Words, Too

2011-12-15T04:00:00.003-06:00

Good encouragement to speak the words of the Gospel, and explain our actions in Jesus' name.

"Go After The Young Men"

2011-12-13T04:33:00.001-06:00

Mark Driscoll suggests the Church should go after the young men.

"The problem is the Church today is just a bunch of nice, soft, tender, chickafied church boys. 60% of Christians are chicks and the 40% that are dudes are still sort of...chicks. It's just sad.
"We're looking around going, How come we're not innovative? Cause all the innovative dudes are home watching football or they're out making money or climbing a mountain or shooting a gun or working on their truck.
They look at the church like that's a nice thing for women and children. So the question is if you want to be innovative: How do you get young men? All this nonsense on how to grow the church. One issue: young men. That's it. That's the whole thing.
They're going to get married, make money, make babies, build companies, buy real estate. They're going to make the culture of the future. If you get the young men you win the war, you get everything. You get the families, the women, the children, the money, the business, you get everything. If you don't get the young men you get nothing."

Did Jesus Have Bad PR?

2011-12-11T04:12:00.008-06:00

Back in 2006 I gave a Christmas devotion for the seniors group at our church. I tried to help people think about the terrible public relations job around the birth of the Messiah. From a human perspective, this was a PR disaster! Listen to it here: http://www.teachtochangelives.com/christmasdevotion.htm

One of Glenn's Most Embarrassing Moments

2011-12-09T04:23:00.001-06:00

If you've got 11 minutes, I'll tell you about one of my most embarrassing moments -- and how God did me a huge favor by humbling me. Check it out here.

What I Learned in the BWCA

2011-12-07T04:19:00.008-06:00

I originally published this in August 2006, and am sharing it again to encourage you dads leading teenagers. -- Glenn

-=-=-=-

My son and I spent several days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area last week, traveling about 40 miles by canoe and portage, and camping along the way. Here are a few things I learned along the way:

This is a huge area, with lots of open space, and you're just the visitor there. Even the ducks know this. Certainly the bald eagles do.

It helps a lot when you son is as strong or stronger than you. 50 pound canoe, 50 pound packs, and a food pack, it adds up.

I took along my notebook and pen, assuming that I'd have tons of great ideas and insights. I prayed a lot, but didn't think about much to write down. Instead, I had a wonderful experience of "Be still, and know that I am God."

When wolf howls wake you up at 1am, you discover some urgency in your prayer that wasn't there when you laid down to go to sleep.

Our ancestors were tough! And how did they find there way around without topo maps, anyway? You would think someone would rig up a solar-powered neon "P" sign to mark these portage sites!

Minnesota mosquito legends are all true.

Teenagers recover faster than 44 year olds. I'm sure I knew that before, but this trip reinforced it.

There are some rocks and tree roots that no Thermarest mattress can make comfortable.

Coordinated paddling gets you there much faster, with less effort. Parenting is much easier when the kids cooperate, right? And our spiritual growth is much faster when we lay down our foolish defensive pride and let God work in and through us. Community life is better when we submit to the idea of paddling together.

The worst rocks are the ones that don't stick up out of the water, but are just below the surface. You don't see those until the last seconds, or until your canoe grinds over them.

The best way to have good conversations with your teenage son is to go with whatever he wants to talk about, and not try too hard to steer the conversation to where you think it should go.

We're eager to do it again, but willing to give it a year or so.

Comparing Perspectives

2011-12-05T04:08:00.011-06:00

Imagine that someone interviews your friends, relatives, and coworkers and asks what they see in you.

Then that same interviewer contacts God and asks what He sees in you. What's the comparison?

This is a good way to assess how much we're hiding from people, and the congruence of our inner and public lives.

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." (Rev 20:12)

Shining Shoes

2011-12-03T04:16:00.004-06:00

Dads, be sure you teach your boys how to shine shoes properly. Yes, I know few people weather leather shoes that need shining anymore, but it's important to know how.

How to Speak With Others

2011-12-01T04:15:00.004-06:00

How do we respond to people in dealing with challenges -- including sin issues -- in the community? We live in a world hypersensitized to 'politically correct' speech. Our choice of words can get us into serious trouble, but failing to speak appropriately is failure of leadership and in the end unloving. A word spoken well is a treasure (see Proverbs 25:11).

Jesus must be our model. Sometimes he spoke boldy, even harshly. Other times he was gentle and warm. Consider these examples:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew

11:28-29)

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matthew 23:33) [Glenn's comment -- read the whole chapter.This is not an isolated verse out of context as Jesus rails against the teachers of the law. You won't soften this one.]

“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” (Mark 1:41)

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:9-11)

Jesus advocated simple speech in His Sermon on the Mount:

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

Sometimes Jesus didn’t speak at all:

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long
time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. (Luke 23:8-9)

(This may be the most gracious experience Herod could have received from the Lord of the Universe standing in front of him!)

Jesus helps us understand that what comes out of our mouths is really from our hearts:

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)

We see Paul's counsel to the Colossians (and by extension, to us today):

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-7)

Jesus' harsh words were less frequent than his warm counsel, and directed at the hard-hearted, legalistic, and proud (but I repeat myself). I don't know of examples where he spoke harshly to a hurting person who understood that they needed mercy.

A few take-away points:

· Jesus knew what was in each individual, discerning the heart, and spoke accordingly. How we speak (or not) with people is based on what helps them, helps the Church mature, and glorifies God.
We will sometimes need to speak hard truths in a hard way.

· Our conversation must be plain, not duplicitous or deceiving.

· Our conversation must be grace-full, an expression of the new heart we have from "Christ in us, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

· The way to improving our speech is to ask God to transform our hearts.

Mentoring a Younger Guy

2011-11-29T04:20:00.014-06:00

Most of you reading this should be mentoring a younger guy.

(Yes, I've heard all the excuses.)

It's good for you, it's great for them. Number one excuse I hear that sounds half-way valid: "I wouldn't know what to say, or how to advise them. I've made so many mistakes, who am I to mentor another?" My responses for this:

First, you can rely upon the Holy Spirit to work. Really, you can. "Do not fear," is a command we need to remember.

Second, only men who've made mistakes are qualified to mentor others. Perfect men aren't needed.

Third, being with him, investing time with him, conversation with him, is more important than you having "the right answers." In the months and years to come the fact that you cared enough to be with him far outweighs any particular advise you have for him.

I suspect that while reading this a guy or two came to your mind. Act on that -- call 'em, set up a time to get together. This kind of mentoring doesn't have to be a long-term thing ("we'll meet weekly for the next eighteen years...") at all. Start with a coffee break together. But get started.

Invest 10% in Learning

2011-11-27T04:14:00.017-06:00

There's an old adage about giving 10%, saving 10%, and living below your means in order to be generous -- many lifetimes of wisdom to respect in that concept.

As fast as the world is moving today (technologically, economically), I wonder if we should add "invest 10% for continuing education and learning opportunities." In most organizations today being reactive is no longer fast enough -- you have to anticipate, adjust, adapt, grow. Even those of us who have been paid by one company over years and years are working differently than we used to -- and will work differently in the months and years to come.

We stay constant on relationship and leadership principles, because people will still be people. But practically everything else is changing rapidly -- and the rate of that change is increasing.

I believe this is something we need to talk about with our older children. They're growing up in a very different economic/technical/globalized world than we did.

Observed Time Rhythms, vs. Revealed Time Rhythms

2011-11-25T04:23:00.000-06:00

(Note: this is a cross-post from my blog for Bible teachers. -- Glenn)

Teachers, you need a rhythm of work that includes rest.

These time periods are observed from the astronomical rhythms (which, of course, are God's design):
The day
The month
The year

But the concept of a week is a revelation from God. There is nothing astronomical about a week. While your body has a daily need for sleep, there is nothing 'natural' about needing a rest day each week. These are revealed to us by God as good for us. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)

Incorporate a day of rest in your teaching ministry.

1, 2, 3, 4 ...Christian Worldview

2011-11-25T04:22:00.011-06:00

Dads, here is a very helpful outline to ground your kids in the distinctives of a Christian worldview. (Source: Kevin DeYoung) This would be an excellent dinner conversation while families are together for Thanksgiving!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

One God. We worship one, personal, knowable, holy God. There are not two gods or ten gods or ten million gods, only one. He has always been and will always be. He is not a product of our mind or imagination. He really exists and we can know him because he has spoken to us in his word.

Two kinds of being. We are not gods. God is not found in the trees or the wind or in us. He created the universe and cares for all that he has made, but he is distinct from his creation. The story of the world is not about being released from the illusion of our existence or discovering the god within. The story is about God, the people he made, and how the creatures can learn to delight in, trust in, and obey their Creator.

Three persons. The one God exists eternally in three persons. The Father is God. The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is God. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, is also God. And yet these three—equal in glory, rank, and power—are three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity helps explain how there can be true unity and diversity in our world. It also shows that our God is a relational God.

For us. Something happened in history that changed the world. The Son of God came into the world as a man, perfectly obeyed his Father, fulfilled Israel’s purpose, succeeded where Adam failed, and began the process of reversing the curse. Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. He rose again from the dead on the third day. By faith in him our sins can be forgiven and we can be assured of living forever with God and one day being raised from the dead like Christ.

Making Decisions that Please God

2011-11-23T04:19:00.001-06:00

Excellent article on making decisions that please God. Print these off, study them, and then help your family understand these things! Let's be men that lead.

Dry Bones Come to Life!

2011-11-21T04:22:00.003-06:00

This is a powerful video interpretation of Ezekiel 37:1-10

Are Your Man Enough to Handle This Challenge Today?

2011-11-19T04:19:00.000-06:00

Men, gather 'round, listen up for today's challenge:

Be still before the Lord.

Intentionally set aside 10 minutes and be still. If your mind is still noisy, keep going.

Listen to the Lord!

Now, follow-through and obey.

Performance Is A Function of Preparation

2011-11-17T04:15:00.000-06:00

Athletes and the military live and breathe this truth, but I don't observe that enough business and non-profit leaders see preparation as essential. I say that because I don't see people investing a lot of time and effort in preparation.

Yes, people will -- on a deadline -- pull together a presentation and rehearse a bit.
Yes, people do -- when pressured -- work on non-urgent tasks.
You are likely thinking right now, "I agree that preparation is important. But WHEN would I POSSIBLY have the time to do more preparation?"

No way to sugar-coat this answer: make practice and preparation and rehearsal a priority that tops the priority of lower-level things which others could do, or don't add a lot of value. Delegate important work to others. Don't do "stuff" just to be busy.

Look at your calendar for the next 3 weeks. Some questions for you:

What are some important meetings that you should invest time to be prepared for? Can you anticipate the questions that will come up, and rehearse excellent answers? Can you think through the critical issues and write out your perspective, so you can succinctly cover it in the meeting?

What is something important that is not on your calendar that should be? (Remember, calendars are not just for meetings, but for scheduling blocks of focused time for to work on high priorities.) Hint: review your performance goals, both individual and group.

Another suggestion: pick an area where you would like to get better, and then schedule time for this. Let's say you want to be a better communicator in oral presentations. Schedule time for action on this. For example:
Buy that book Glenn recommended by
Read that book by
Use what I learn in the _____ meeting on
Make notes about that presentation, and decide what to do differently next time
Pick another presentation by
Join Toastmasters by

The more focused time you invest in practice and rehearsal, the less likely that you'll be stuck in a performance rut.

Careful With That Extrapolation!

2011-11-15T04:22:00.004-06:00

Consider these four quotations:

“In the space of one hundred and seventy-six years the Lower Mississippi has shortened itself two hundred and forty-two miles. That is an average of a trifle over one mile and a third per year. Therefore, any calm person, who is not blind or idiotic, can see that in the Old Oolitic Silurian Period, just a million years ago next November, the Lower Mississippi River was upwards of one million three hundred thousand miles long, and stuck out over the Gulf of Mexico like a fishing-rod. And by the same token any person can see that seven hundred and forty-two years from now the Lower Mississippi will be only a mile and three-quarters long, and Cairo and New Orleans will have joined their streets together, and be plodding comfortably along under a single mayor and a mutual board of aldermen. There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.”
- Mark Twain in Life on the Mississippi

“If a bacteria cell divides every twenty minutes, then in 24 hours a single bacteria cell will produce a colony of bacteria which weighs more than planet Earth.” (Grade 6 Science textbook)

“At this rate of adoption, every man, woman, and child on the planet will have two cellphones each by 2014 – and an iPad.” (Industry trade magazine)

“The lily pad doubled in size every day. It completely covered the pond on day 23, but hardly anyone noticed it until day 20 when it covered 1/8^th of the pond. By then it was too late to do anything.”

In the real world of growth and declines, we have to pay attention to trends and possible extrapolation in order to decide how to act. Extrapolation is a necessary skill for managers in order to assess situations and proactively plan for the future.

But the Mississippi River is still over 2300 miles long, more than a hundred years after Mark Twain penned Life on the Mississippi. Bacteria colonies have never weighed as much the planet. There are many reasons why cell phones will not be uniformly distributed worldwide. Lily pads will not grow forever.

Here’s the key: Pay attention to constraints and counter-balancing trends as you consider extrapolations on trends. Think about limiting factors to growth (or decline). Don’t make linear or exponential extrapolations assuming conditions for that growth or decline remain constant.

Stuck on a Problem? Go Up or Down a Level

2011-11-13T04:20:00.003-06:00

David Allen pointed out an excellent approach to problem solving in his original book, 'Getting Things Done.' He said that when we get stuck on a problem, we need to either move up a level (bigger picture, more context, more abstract) or move down a level (more details, a smaller view, a narrowed perspective) to find the solution.

"The world we have made, as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far, creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them." (Albert Einstein)

Try this out for yourself the next time you feel 'stuck' on a problem.

Great Examples In History

2011-11-11T04:17:00.010-06:00

It’s been said that all genuine leadership is by example. Studying history and biography is helpful! Some good choices for books on strong but imperfect leaders in difficult situations:

Harry S. Truman -- I recommend McCullough’s outstanding biography Truman

Lewis & Clark – Into the Unknown

Earnest Shackleton – Endurance

Robert E. Lee – Emory Thomas wrote (in my opinion) the best biography

Queen Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I, Genius Of The Golden Age

Winston Churchill – Paul Johnson’s outstanding analysis of his character traits

Gandhi -- Gandhi the Man: How One Man Changed Himself to Change the World

Golda Meir – Golda

Margaret Thatcher – Portrait of the Iron Lady

Theodore Roosevelt – Mornings on Horseback (McCullough) and Theodore Rex (Morris)

George Washington – Washington: A Life

FDR's Prayer -- Appropriate on Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T04:15:00.003-06:00

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Call to Prayer

June 6, 1944

Franklin D. Roosevelt's call to prayer, 6 June 1944, as 57,000 American and 75,000 British and Canadian troops were in bloody battle to establish five beachheads on the coast of Normandy:

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

Trust and Manliness

2011-11-09T04:07:00.008-06:00

Here are some good insights from Kevin Kelly, author of What Technology Wants:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Trust is a peculiar quality. It can't be bought. It can't be downloaded. It can't be instant--a startling fact in an instant culture. It can only accumulate very slowly, over multiple iterations. But it can disappear in a blink. Alan Weber compares its accretion to a conversation: "The most important work in the new economy is creating conversations. Good conversations are about identity. They reveal who we are to others. And for that reason, they depend on bedrock human qualities: authenticity, character, integrity. In the end, conversation comes down to trust."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Consider how important the manly qualities (authenticity, character, integrity) are to building up relationships and families and communities. Let us be grateful for new hearts made by Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us!

How to Question Fears

2011-11-07T04:23:00.006-06:00

Ron Edmonson gives 7 questions to ask when facing fears:

Is it a God-given or a man-made fear?
Is it a rational or an irrational fear?
Is it probable or improbable?
Can anything be done to diminish the risk?
Is what I’m fearing necessary or unnecessary?
Is the fear personal or impersonal?
Are you satisfied with the status quo?

Read the whole article, very good.

Obligation Nestled into Thanksgiving/Fellowship/Gospel

2011-11-05T04:19:00.006-05:00

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Romans 1:8-16 (emphasis mine)

Recently I was captured by v14: I am obligated. I am obligated to everyone (that’s what “Greeks and non-Greeks, wise and foolish” means). This is duty; it is calling; we’re under orders. We do not have the right to be selective in whom we love and serve.

One of the gracious patterns we see repeated in the Scriptures is that commands are in the context of grace and love and power to fulfill the commands. We need to see these connecting arcs, rather than pulling out commands in isolation.

Here the obligation of v14 is in the context of

· Giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ for the evidence of His work (v8)
· The desire to serve others – and be mutually encouraged in Christian fellowship (v12)
· The power of the Gospel message to bring salvation to everyone who believes (v16)

Quick side-note: doesn’t our experience confirm that as we give to others we ourselves are encouraged and strengthened? Let’s remember this when those natural fears of “I can’t give to this person” come into our hearts.

Praise God for putting such a rich calling of obligation into the context of thanksgiving, fellowship, and life-giving power of the Gospel!

Christian, and Living Together?

2011-11-03T04:12:00.000-05:00

Increasingly, Christian couples are living together without or before getting married. (Mirrors the societal trend as a whole.) Listen to this pastoral advice from John Piper. He helpfully points out that you must be concerned about the testimony to people around you -- and suggests you fast-forward to consider what you would say to your daughter sixteen years from now. Remember, much wisdom in these situations comes when we acknowledge "it's not about me."

Does Watching TV Make You Less Fearful?

2011-11-01T04:10:00.037-05:00

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7)

Battling fears is everyday work for husbands and fathers. Paul reminds Timothy that God does not make us timid and fearful and weak -- but powerful to love others. (Quick sidebar: it's curious to me that Paul does not say that the Spirit God gave us makes us super-intelligent, perfectly eloquent, with six-pack abs!)

My observation is that a lot of television, radio, newspapers, blogs, and Facebook time is pumping things into our minds and heats that provokes timidity, fearfulness, anger, frustration, hopelessness. We tolerate this because we've been convinced that we should be "well informed." Instead of well informed, we're badly skewed, pushed off-balance, easy marks for foolishness.

Let us come to the news of the day with discernment and confidence in God's sovereign work. That means a regular diet of the Word, of gratitude, of remembering God's faithfulness in our own lives.

Build yourself up by putting good things into your mind and heart. Here's one example, Casting Crowns' new song "We Were Made To Be Courageous":

Break...With a Purpose...Request Your Prayers

2011-10-01T04:10:00.000-05:00

October is my month to focus on writing. I have several books to finish editing and publish. To create the time and space for this work I will fast from

Twitter, Facebook, blogging, Netflix, YouTube, TV, following my favorite blogs, etc.

Since I am an info-junkie and crave input, please pray for me! I'm eager to accomplish a greater objective in October.

I plan to be back to blogging regularly in November. Until then, men, be bold and be gentle!

We Help Our Kids Dreams

2011-09-29T04:05:00.007-05:00

Dads, I recommend you look at this short article, "Dream Releaser Not Dream Giver." We want so much for our kids. But there's a key insight as dads that God wants us to hear:

“Your job is to be a dream releaser for your sons, not a dream giver. I am the giver of dreams. I want you to release them.”

Read it.

In a related way, an excellent movie for moms and dads to watch is Searching for Bobby Fischer. It's available on Netflix.

My First Kindle Book -- Can You Help?

2011-09-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

I would really like your help!

I just published my first Kindle book, “What Fathers ShouldTeach Their Sons” on Amazon. Woo-hoo!

It’s selling for only $0.99 and all the profits ($0.38 per copy) will go to support a missionary project in SE Asia. It’s a closed country situation, so I can’t be more specific.

This is a very short book, focusing on the mindsets, relationships with others, and specific skills and experiences that I believe fathers best instill in sons. Many fathers have told me how valuable this information has been for them.

Here is the description:

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Boys can learn from almost anyone, but there are some things which fathers teach best to sons. There is a generational call of fathers to help boys become men. Our boys are staying boys too long. We aren't giving them the kinds of training that produces both toughness and tenderness. We've abdicated far too much training to school teachers and youth pastors and sports coaches. One unexpected consequence: sons think less of their fathers because their fathers aren't the ones guiding them. This book outlines the important mindsets, relationships with others, and specific skills and experiences that boys need to become men. Some things might take only a few minutes for a boy to master. For others, mastery requires practice over several years. Some may be "caught" from our modeling rather than specifically "taught." All are important.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

There are three ways you can help:

Buy a copy! (If not for you, gift a copy to a father you know.)

Write a review and post it on Amazon. Be candid, please.

Pass this information along to others who might be interested.

Thanks!

Glenn

Helps For Travel Temptations

2011-09-27T04:21:00.003-05:00

Many of us have to travel on business, and face additional temptations. Here are some strategies that can help:

Put a picture of your wife and kids in the hotel room.
Call home every day.
Double the amount of time you usually spend in the Word. Work on memorizing a verse or passage.
Play Christian music in your hotel room -- get a Christ-praising song in your heart and head!
Limit TV watching. Put a towel over the TV to add a step to turning it on. Don't watch anything you wouldn't watch with your wife.
Have an accountability partner who can check on you. Work out code-words to use in normal conversation or around others.

Remember that God is always with you and watching you - nothing is hidden from Him. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses -- and my dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather are among them. May God, our families, and our brothers find us faithful. Amen!

Not "Getting Over" God's Promises

2011-09-25T04:18:00.000-05:00

I excitedly read the Bible as a new Christian, seeing with new eyes the wonderful promises of Jesus. I read John 15:7 one morning in 1985 and looked at the cross-reference in Matthew 21:22:

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
“If you remain [abide] in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

Astounded by the incredible magnitude of these promises, I woke up my roommate, the man who had led me to Christ. (It was about 3 a.m.) “Have you seen this?” I said, reading the verses to him. He had been a Christian since he was a young boy. “You’ll get over it,” he said, and rolled over. [In fairness, I don't think I caught him at his best :-) ]

Brothers, we should not be “getting over” the promises of Jesus. How’s your prayer life? Do you have some holy discontent for the status quo?

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Yeah, I should read that book on prayer,” DON’T. Just begin praying now.

Family Time -- Listen to the Gospel of Mark

2011-09-23T04:13:00.005-05:00

Dads, here is a terrific idea: gather your family around the computer and watch this fabulous presentation of Max McClean dramatically reciting the Gospel of Mark.

I think even fairly young children will be engaged, and that you'll be blessed as well. Who knows, perhaps your kids would like you to read another book of the Bible to them?

Steps to Destroying the Foundations

2011-09-21T04:15:00.011-05:00

Joe Carter outlines the progressive steps to destroying a culture: unthinkable, radical, acceptable, sensible, popular, policy.

Let us not be surprised as the onslaught of evil; it's been going on since the beginning. These culture wars are not new. There was nothing "golden" about the 1950's. All that is truly required for the foundations to crumble is for good men to do nothing, usually out of inane fear of being labeled a bigot or an ignoramus.

Let's Get Some Accurate History on the Crusades

2011-09-19T04:18:00.037-05:00

"But what about the Crusades?" This question comes up regularly when I'm sharing my faith. Bringing up the Crusades is a rhetorical device which should refute any shred of thought that Christianity has either moral validity or benefit to the world. I agree with Carl Medearis that would should be speaking of Jesus, and that defending the long, complicated history of Christianity usually does not lead people into a life-transforming relationship with the Son of God. But let us not be so ignorant of the truth about the Crusades -- in the context of the whole history of the Muslim and Christian interactions -- that we allow ourselves to painted into corner by incorrect historical "sound bites" from indoctrinated fools.

Paul Crawford has done us an invaluable service in his brief article "Four Myths About the Crusades." I encourage you to print this off and study it. He covers these four myths, well-written, backed up with references:

1. The Crusades represented an unprovoked attack by Western Christians on the Muslim world.
2. Western Christians went on Crusades because their greed led them to plunder Muslims in order to get rich.
3. Crusaders were a cynical lot who did not really believe their own religious propaganda; rather they had ulterior, materialistic motives.
4. The Crusades taught Muslims to hate and attack Christians.

Understanding history more accurately will prepare you for conversations with people willing to actually dialogue about significant matters. If they won't, then it's their loss. Do what you can to educate them. Always speak of Jesus.

And for the Kingdom's sake, please educate your kids about the Crusades! It's very likely that the other people educating them (you are their primary teacher, right?) don't know any more than ignorant sound bites and half-truths promulgated since the 1800's. (By the way, movies like "The Kingdom of Heaven," however fun to watch, reinforce these myths.)

Happy Constitution Day!

2011-09-17T04:17:00.007-05:00

The US Constitution was signed on this day in 1987!

Here are two quotes to ponder about the US Constitution:

"Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction. ... To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions [is] a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. ... The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots. ... The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch. ... On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed. ... [C]onfidence is every where the parent of despotism; free government is founded in jealousy and not in confidence; it is jealousy & not confidence which prescribes limited constitutions to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power ... in questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution." (Thomas Jefferson)

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. ... The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People. ... [T]hey may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. ... A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." (John Adams)

The Mathematics of Spiritual Change

2011-09-15T04:08:00.007-05:00

Change is a function of disatisfaction with the status quo, vision for a better future state, and the amount of inertia to be overcome. We could write the mathematical function like this:

Change = f(D, V; I)

I have a great vision for being fit and trim, but my disatisfaction with the current state is often too low to overcome the inertia. Sometimes I have a lot of disatisfaction, but limited vision about the desired future state. Either way, change doesn't happen quickly.

Spiritual change should be expressed this way:

Spiritual change = f(holy dissatisfaction, godly vision; fleshly inertia, Satanic resistance)

or

Spiritual change = f(HD, GV; FI, SR)

Not all disatisfaction is holy, nor all visions of the future godly. Most of our inertia if from our flesh, this body of death. And we face resistance from the forces of evil, led by the prince of this world.

If you aren't changing, think about what factor(s) are strongest in your situation now. Let that be a help to your prayers.

Being a Godly Husband and Father Is...

2011-09-13T04:20:00.012-05:00

Being a godly husband and father is:

hard
inconvenient
humbling
lonesome
costly
time-consuming
self-crucifying

Do the right thing anyway.

Decline is a Choice...and Your Choices Affect Your Family

2011-09-11T04:24:00.027-05:00

"Daddy, I don't know why you read the newspaper, it just makes you mad." This was my sweet daughter's observation at age 8, and it's became a running joke for years.

On this, the 10th anniversary of 9-11, I want to encourage you as husbands and fathers, to be men of conviction, to be strong, to believe in bright futures.

I am concerned about the trajectory of the US as a nation. There are many worrying trends. We can point a lot of fingers at government leaders, failures of institutions, poor decisions by others, sin and foolishness abounding. I could write for a long time about the need for we men to step up and lead well in these days. But today I want to focus on another important truth.

It's been said that worry is temporary athiesm.

For the sake of your families, and for the future of all our countries, as Christian citizens, I implore you: be wide-eyed about reality, but not despairing. Work for justice and righteousness in governments and institutions, but do not forget that it is the Lord our God who provides for us. Help others in need, reflecting the generosity of our Heavenly Father. Make choices -- whatever your sphere of influence -- that build others up, taking personal responsibility and reaping self-respect.

Do not allow your family to see you express concerns, fears, anxiousness -- but not follow-through with confidence in Christ and the sovereign grace of God which frees us from all fear. Notice how many Psalms begin with fears and even anger, but finish with praise. This is the model, men. Make sure your family learns confidence in the face of the real world.

"You Know What That Means..."

2011-09-09T04:12:00.003-05:00

I mentioned to a friend recently that we're past a new milestone, with the kids out of the house and on their own adventures. "You know what that means," he replied. "It's time for you to help more dads who still have kids at home."

I love it when God uses older men to speak into your chest!

When Someone Comes to Mind...Act This Way

2011-09-07T04:05:00.010-05:00

Ever had the experience of someone coming to mind, when you least expect it? Perhaps you're in the middle of a chore, and your buddy Brad comes to mind. You haven't thought about him in a while. What do you do?

Act on this!

First, take this as an opportunity to pray for Brad, specifically.

Second, reach out and let Brad know you are praying for him. Find out if there is some way you can help. Encourage him!

This is how we respond to promptings of the Holy Spirit. This is how we follow-through on the adventure of the life following Jesus!

Kindle Tip -- Share Your Highlights

2011-09-05T04:03:00.000-05:00

I use my Kindle reader, a lot. I really like the Kindle app on the iPad -- very nice, unless you need to read a lot in direct sun.

One of my big problems early on with the Kindle was that I couldn't pass along the books for others to read. Perhaps some day this will be resolved by new digital rights management tools, but in the meantime I've discovered an excellent strategy -- share my highlights from the book.

It's easy to do. Everything you highlight, and all your inserted notes, are available on your personal Kindle page. (Maybe you didn't know you had a personal Kindle page!) To retrieve those, simply point your web browser at kindle.amazon.com and log in with your account information. Click on the "Highlights" link and everything is listed there -- simply copy/paste into something else to share with others.

This works really well for capturing key ideas and facts from books that you can share with your family, friends, or work team.

Boys and Weapons and Sticks

2011-09-03T04:05:00.002-05:00

Note: I originally published in this in Oct 2009. -- Glenn

I've been called sexist and primitive and backwards, but I do believe there are fundamental differences in the ways boys and girls are wired.

Matt Chandler said in a sermon that boys are "made to build things and break things. And girls can make any two objects friends."

Boys can make anything into a weapon. I've seen boys pop the heads off Barbie Dolls and declare them "hand grenades." If you hear the sound of simulated Star Wars laser blasters ("Pew! Pew! Pew!") in church, it's going to be coming from a boy squinting down his finger. I'm old enough that we said "bang." Knives. Bows and arrows. Ropes. Whips. Hammers. Screwdriver? "Watch me stick this screwdriver in that tree!"

And of course boys love sticks. Walking sticks. Sticks to beat things with. Sticks that become weapons in imagination. As we grow up our sticks get bigger and more sophisticated. In one sense, our ICBMs are a big stick.

(I acknowledge there are girls who love sticks and rocks, too. The kid with the most accurate arm in the West Virginia holler where I grew up was a girl name Glenna. She killed more than one squirrel with a rock. But the fact is that very few girls are like this, and nearly all boys are.)

Boys love to challenge one another. Sometimes over the stupidest stuff. It doesn't suprise me at all that the last words of many a man were "That's nothing, hold my beer and watch this!" Can you even imagine a girl or grown women saying that?

I know many mom's who are just horrified about their son's tendency towards weapons and fighting. And their husbands often feel pressure to "tame" their son.

My counsel: don't fight it, channel it.

Channel this energy into being prepared to stand against evil and defend innocents and the weak. You need to model this yourself, but also instruct them.

A good strategy is to watch movies with your boys (Sergeant York, The Green Berets, The Patriot, Brave Heart, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, and others -- yes, your son may not be old enough yet) and talk with them about how men behave in these difficult situations. This means you watch a scene together, stop the movie, and talk about it. Let the movie be a conversation starter.

The idea is to fill their imagination with fighting against evil, and persevering in the right cause, to serve and protect others. That's ultimately what all this drive in boys is about.

Read more in my earlier post, What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons.

P.S. If there are movies that you recommend, add them in the comments below.

The Warrior Ethos

2011-09-01T04:03:00.005-05:00

I recently finished Steven Pressfield's short but excellent book, The Warrior Ethos. Well worth your time, if you want some clear thinking and observations about warriors. This has immediate applications for you as a man, and for training your children.

Here are some passages from the book, to whet your appetite.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Every warrior virtue proceeds from this—courage, selflessness, love of and loyalty to one’s comrades, patience, self-command, the will to endure adversity. It all comes from the hunting band’s need to survive. At a deeper level, the Warrior Ethos recognizes that each of us, as well, has enemies inside himself. Vices and weaknesses like envy and greed, laziness, selfishness, the capacity to lie and cheat and do harm to our brothers. The tenets of the Warrior Ethos, directed inward, inspire us to contend against and defeat those enemies within our own hearts.

No one is born with the Warrior Ethos, though many of its tenets appear naturally in young men and women of all cultures. The Warrior Ethos is taught. On the football field in Topeka, in the mountains of the Hindu Kush, on the lion-infested plains of Kenya and Tanzania. Courage is modeled for the youth by fathers and older brothers, by mentors and elders. It is inculcated, in almost all cultures, by a regimen of training and discipline.

There’s a well-known gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps who explains to his young Marines, when they complain about pay, that they get two kinds of salary—a financial salary and a psychological salary. The financial salary is indeed meager. But the psychological salary? Pride, honor, integrity, the chance to be part of a corps with a history of service, valor, glory; to have friends who would sacrifice their lives for you, as you would for them—and to know that you remain a part of this brotherhood as long as you live. How much is that worth?

Ordeals of initiation are undergone not as individuals but as teams, as units. Courage is inseparable from love and leads to what may arguably be the noblest of all warrior virtues: selflessness.

Plutarch asked, “Why do the Spartans punish with a fine the warrior who loses his helmet or spear but punish with death the warrior who loses his shield?” Because helmet and spear are carried for the protection of the individual alone, but the shield protects every man in the line. The group comes before the individual. This tenet is central to the Warrior Ethos.

Selflessness produces courage because it binds men together and proves to each individual that he is not alone.

This is another key element of the Warrior Ethos: the willing and eager embracing of adversity. In 1912, the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton was seeking volunteers for an expedition to the South Pole. He placed the following ad in the London Times: Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful; honor and recognition in case of success. The next morning, 5000 men lined up to volunteer. The payoff for a life of adversity is freedom.

Cyrus of Persia believed that the spoils of his victories were meant for one purpose—so that he could surpass his enemies in generosity. I contend against my foes in this arena only: the capacity to be of greater service to them than they are to me. Alexander operated by the same principle. Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies. The capacity for empathy and self-restraint will serve us powerfully, not only in our external wars but in the conflicts within our own hearts.

We want to be part of something greater than ourselves, something we can be proud of. And we want to come out of the process as different (and better) people than we were when we went in. We want to be men, not boys. We want to be women, not girls. We want a rite of passage. We want to grow up.

The hardest thing in the world is to be ourselves.

Let us be, then, warriors of the heart, and enlist in our inner cause the virtues we have acquired through blood and sweat in the sphere of conflict—courage, patience, selflessness, loyalty, fidelity, self-command, respect for elders, love of our comrades (and of the enemy), perseverance, cheerfulness in adversity and a sense of humor, however terse or dark.

Solomon's Giving Pattern

2011-08-31T04:18:00.001-05:00

9 [The queen of Sheba] gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon …. 12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country. (2 Chron 9:9,12)

22 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. (2 Chron 9:22-24)

King Solomon was fabulously wealthy with goods and wisdom. I’ve highlighted two parts of 2 Chronicles 9 to make a few points.

1. The queen of Sheba gave him tons of gold and more – but Solomon gave the queen more than she brought to him! This is the model set by God for us in all our relationships. Our Creator God gives us infinitely more than we bring to him. Parents give their children more than they give to them. We should give our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not-yet believers more than they bring to us.

Test yourself to see if you are following this pattern of giving.

And what did Solomon give the queen of Sheba? Gold? Horses? I suspect not.

2. In verse 23 we see that wisdom is what people considered most precious of all. Even in our affluent cultures today [and we enjoy many things which even King Solomon did not have!], wisdom is the prized possession that people seek. And where does wisdom come from? God.

Are you seeking wisdom above all else? Do you recognize its True Source?

Don't Just Go Through the Motions

2011-08-29T04:17:00.000-05:00

Be Thirsty

2011-08-27T04:18:00.000-05:00

Men, I challenge you to be thirsty and drink -- frequently, in copious volumes. I'm concerned, looking around, that we're raising a generation of men and future men who think it's normal to be dehydrated. "Oh yeah, well, I [drink a little] on Sunday mornings, right? And I help my kids with their AWANA verses, so I drink some then, too."

I'm not talking about ethanol, Diet Coke (TM) or water, men.

I'm talking about the Bible.

I will say it again: I challenge you to be thirsty and drink frequently and copiously. No more dehydration!

How to Fight With Your Wife

2011-08-25T04:08:00.000-05:00

Strange title, yes?

Husbands, we all need to know how to lead through the inevitable conflicts that occur with our wives. Please note that I'm putting the responsibility on YOU to lead through it.

I'm not a professional marriage counselor. I'm not a perfect husband. I do write with some experience of what you should NOT do when disagreements come with your precious wife. But instead of writing what NOT to do, let me keep you focused on what you should do.

1. Recognize that you are all-too frequently a selfish ass. Chances are very good that you are the one being self-centered, pig-headed, and wrong. Remind yourself that sins like pride will take you farther than you wanted to go, to places you didn't want to be, and cost you more than you wanted to spend.

2. Assume that your wife is operating with the best of intentions. There is no reason to interpret her words and actions assuming she's aiming to sabotage your happiness, or make you less manly.

3. Put your relationship ahead of being "right" about an issue. In a trillion years, will this issue matter? (The relationship will. A trillion years is well-short of eternity, brother.)

4. You have two ears and one mouth. Listen and speak in that proportion. Work hard at understanding her perspective.

5. Avoid making it personal. If you hear yourself say, "When you don't..." you're probably steering into a deeper ditch. There is no "formula" here, but you lead best when you work together to address problems and make decisions about issues.

If this resonates with you, then I encourage you to read the excellent book Love and Respect.

Are You Blessing Your Workplace?

2011-08-23T04:05:00.027-05:00

Are you blessing your workplace? Do you make a conscious effort to pray for the people around you, and the success of your boss and employer?

One idea is to create a prayer trigger, something that reminds you to pray. For example, I have an employee id badge that I swipe to get through the electronic locks on doors. I've developed the habit to pray for my boss every time I swipe the id badge. I've associated other prayers with booting up my PC in the morning, turning off the office light, walking by a printer, etc.

I make it my goal to encourage 5 people every day at work. That's another way I bless our workplace.

I observe some of my co-workers intentionally bringing in food, finding and sending articles of interest to people, etc. There are many ways we can serve others.

Looking for some ideas on how to bless your co-workers and your workplace? Check out this nice list of 30 suggestions. What other ideas do you have?

Fuel for Mealtime Prayers

2011-08-21T04:10:00.006-05:00

Guys, here is an idea: build the practice of interceding for an unreached people group or a nation in your regular mealtime prayers. The Operation World book is a terrific resource. Here's another one: sign up for a daily email from JoshuaProject.net.

Help your family get their eyes off their plates and their Publish Poststuff, and learning about their not-yet brothers and sisters.

Bible Teaching Videos

2011-08-19T04:18:00.003-05:00

I know a number of you teach regularly. You might be interested in the videos I've been posted at my YouTube channel. If you subscribe you can get an update whenever I post a new video.

Friendship in Marriage

2011-08-17T04:40:00.001-05:00

Great post you need to read, on friendship being key to marriage.

Now, take 2 minutes and think prayerfully. What will you do today to strengthen your friendship with your wife?

Hold Her Hand

2011-08-13T04:22:00.007-05:00

Some years ago I spoke with a beautiful couple on their 60th wedding anniversary. They had walked together with the Lord for many years and simply glowed. "What's the secret of your marriage success?" I asked them.

He beamed, immediately reached over and grabbed her hand, and said "Hold her hand! I've never gotten into trouble holding her hand." They both smiled, and I thought -- "Wow, there's a good practice."

So I commend you men: hold your wife's hand. Hold her hand when you walk together, pray together, watch your kids play ball, whenever. You have a license for this public display of affection, after all!

Be Strong In the Lord

2011-08-11T04:20:00.002-05:00

Powerful lyrics! Great for men on the front lines of marriage, parenting, and honoring Jesus!

Short blogging break

2011-08-05T05:01:00.001-05:00

I'm taking a short blogging break, be back soon.

Practicing Unity on Disputable Matters

2011-08-04T05:48:00.000-05:00

It's tragic when we see Christians fiercely divided over disputable matters -- so much so that I can only imagine how God's crummy enemies are cheering it on.

I recommend Steve Cornell's article to you: "How to Practice Unity On Debatable Matters." It's concise, helpful. This would be good to review with your wife and children.

Here's the summary:

Decision Making When Christians Differ

Using Romans 14 & 15 as a guide, Dr. Friessen suggested five points:

Learn to distinguish between matters of command and matters of freedom (14:14,20).
On debatable issues, cultivate your own convictions (14:5).
Allow your brother the freedom to determine his own convictions – even when they differ from yours (14:1-12).
Let your liberty be limited, when necessary, by love (14:13-15:2).
Follow Christ as the model and motivation of servanthood (15:3-13).

Read the whole article.

What Do Men Need to Be Reminded Of?

2011-08-03T04:17:00.002-05:00

I recently overhead part of a grocery store conversation where two wives were swapping stories about how much they had to remind their husbands to get things done.

I'm grateful that my beloved reminds me of upcoming events, of projects that need my attention, of things which I should know about but tend to slip from my attention. I need to keep working on my craft of active listening and remembering things.

Since Joshua needed to be told to be courageous five times in short order (see Joshua 1-3), and the prophets and Jesus didn't hesitate to repeat important information, I don't think it's a sin to need to be reminded. (There is sin associated with ignoring what we should know and do.)

But hearing these ladies I began to wonder, "what are the important things that men need to be reminded of?"

Here are some ideas:

Jesus is Lord, King, Master, Teacher, and Friend -- He will never leave or forsake you.
Dying is not the worst thing that can happen to you.
You are not your own, you were bought with a price.
Others need to come first.
Love your wife.
God has children, but no grandchildren. Train your children accordingly.
You need the Gospel every day.
You need the God's Word every day.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid! You were made for dangerous things.
Fight for your family, and defend the weak and helpless in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Exhibit self-control in word, thought, and deed. Gentleness is strength under control.
What do you have that you have not been given? Use it for God's glory.
Speak the truth in love. Be discerning, and call out evil for what it is.
God loves you right now, the real you, but loves you too much to leave you there. Let go of what lies behind and strive forward in the adventure God has for you.
Life is hard. God is good.

Other thoughts?

Courage -- and the Presence of God

2011-08-01T04:18:00.011-05:00

Fear is our natural state because of sin. Everyone working on behalf of evil will strive to keep you in a state of fear, so that you might be more easily controlled and managed and manipulated. It makes sense for tyrants and schemers to squelch courage, because it is so important in standing against evil and for the truth!

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:6-9

Several dimensions of courage are seen here:

v6 – courage for the sake of others (“lead them into this land”)

v7 – courage to obey the law

v9 – courage to not fear when the opportunities to be afraid come

At the heart of courage is the presence of God. “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (v9)

So when you need courage, go back to the fundamental bedrock truth that God is with you, will never leave you, will never forsake you -- and stand there boldly!

(Adapted from a devotion by Pastor Kent Wagner)

Training Up Your Boys to Men

2011-07-31T04:20:00.000-05:00

Vern S. Poythress wrote an excellent article in 1999 titled "How I Have Helped My Boys Boys Become Christian Men" which I recommend you print off and study.

He and his wife decided on a course of training (which lasted several years) leading up to a special ceremony, which they called Bar Jeshua. The training covers critical areas for spiritual maturity:

Knowledge of the contents of the Bible.
Memorization of selected verses and passages of the Bible.
Knowledge of the major teachings of the Bible (doctrine).
Personal piety.
Projects of service and mercy.
Wisdom in dealing with various spheres of life.

The most interesting part for me was how they consciously treated their son differently once they declared him a man, though he continued to live with him:

What happens after our boy becomes a man? He has the privileges of a man. The privileges must be real and meaningful. This part is scary for Diane and me. But we told ourselves, "It is better to give our young man lots of freedom now, while he is still at home. At 14 he is still young enough to come and ask us for advice. He is young enough to know that he doesn't know everything. For him to explore under these conditions, when he is still in our home, is far better than waiting until he goes away to college and we don't see him or talk with him about all the challenges."
When our boy becomes a man, lots of changes take place in many areas, some big, some small. As a man, he no longer needs a baby-sitter. He can baby-sit younger children himself. He sets his own bedtime and rising time. He decides when he does his homework and how long he works on it. He decides what TV programs he watches and how long he watches. He can (at first with supervision) teach a children's Sunday school class. He participates in the "family council" when my wife and I discuss, plan, and make important decisions. He can buy and care for his own pet. He excuses himself from the table rather than being asked to be excused. He buys his own clothing, school supplies, and gifts. He pays rent once a month, based on an estimate of his share in the utilities, food, and other costs. And he has an allowance to match these new responsibilities! In addition, if I pay him to do an extra job, I pay him at a going rate-at least the minimum wage, and more than that for jobs that are demanding.
But even when our son is a man, he is still part of the family and still lives with us. We love him just as much. We kiss and hug him just as much. We play together. We have certain rules that we would have for anyone living with us, even people outside the family. We expect him to be at meals on time. We expect him to be considerate of other members of the family. If he goes somewhere, we expect to know where he is. On Saturday night we meet as a family and assess the week. We continue to talk with him about where he is spiritually. If we see sin in his life, we will exhort him as we would exhort an adult who was on intimate terms with us. We continue to encourage one another and teach one another as fellow believers in Christ (Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:14).
Christianity, after all, does not isolate adults from one another, but puts them in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). In that body we are answerable to one another. So Ransom's freedom is not freedom for immorality. If I were to see my brother in Christ filling his mind with raw TV programs, or neglecting his homework, or even just staying up too late every night and then dragging in the morning, we would sit down and talk. We would ask, "Is this really wise for a Christian man?"

Read the whole article to get the details. This is worth discussing with your wife, men! And I would love to hear is there are corresponding examples for training up daughters to be Christian women.

You might also want to check out my article "What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons."

Chocolate Cake for Breakfast

2011-07-29T04:27:00.000-05:00

One of my all-time favorite Bill Cosby shticks -- brilliant!

Money Matters

2011-07-27T04:09:00.007-05:00

I continue to find young families with significant money problems -- these put tremendous strain on the marriage and family life, and limit ministry opportunities.

Men, money matters. I urge you to proactive effort to get free of debt, to put away an emergency fund, to save for future investments. Live so you can be generous with others! If you aren't where you should be financially, then get help. Smart people get help! Pick up a Dave Ramsey book or go through a Crown Ministries course. Engage your wife in this process, so you strengthen your marriage in the process.

Impact of the Welfare State on Men

2011-07-25T04:13:00.018-05:00

I've committed to limiting my political statements on this blog. Pursue other blogs if you want red (or blue) meat. But decisions by government officials over time do affect families and men, and of these I will speak!

I highly recommend this Dennis Prager column, "Ten Ways Progressive Policies Hurt Society's Moral Character." Men, we must swim upstream and care for our families, work hard to support them and others in our communities, and be responsible adults. We must teach our boys to become men who do these things, and our daughters to become worthy women.

Print this off, read it, discuss it with you wife.

Social Media Fast -- You?

2011-07-23T04:12:00.007-05:00

Observation: an increasing number of men are spending a lot of time staring at phones and computer screens, keeping up on various social media.

I encourage you to ask this question: do I need to fast from this for a time, in order to put more focus on God's work in the world, my neighbors, my family?

Take the Initiative

2011-07-21T04:24:00.017-05:00

I've spoken recently with a number of husbands and dads recently who have aching hearts about relationships and situations in their immediate and extended families.

The common theme was that the man was "stuck" in inaction, frustration, and anger.

If you're in a situation like this, here is my counsel: take the initiative. Lead. Start. Forgive. Speak. Write the note, make the call. Find ways to serve. Set aside your foolish pride and thoughts of "how it should be." Pray together. Hold hands. Hug.

It matters little who is "at fault" or who is "right." It matters little how long something has been going on. Satan likes you think about those things, and don't let God's crummy enemy to be thrilled.

You don't have an aching heart at the moment? Take initiative for some proactive love and service to your wife and children and relatives! Consider others before yourself. You bring honor to the Lord Christ, and minimize the risks of aching hearts in the future.

Where Are The Men?

2011-07-19T04:06:00.002-05:00

Uncertainty...and Confidence

2011-07-17T04:25:00.014-05:00

When you're a toddler there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're in second grade there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're an awkward preteen there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're seventeen and struggling to be independent there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're seriously thinking of asking this amazing women to marry you there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're a new dad there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're kids are teenagers there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're 49 and the world just seems different now there are lots of uncertainties.
When you're old enough to count the significant 1/2 years again there are lots of uncertainties.

Maturity is a long process of putting our hope in what is confident, and doing what is right.

There are many reasons to be confident:

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of our God endures forever. (Is 40:8)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deut 31:8)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matt 28:18)

“What no eye has seen,
   what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
   the things God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9)

Simple Reminder Today: Only Two Kinds of Marriages

2011-07-15T04:10:00.000-05:00

I've got a simple reminder for you today: There are only two kinds of marriages -- those being worked on, and those that aren't.

What can you do today to work on your marriage? Hint: it probably requires some inconvenience or sacrifice on your part.

Leadership Craft

2011-07-13T04:11:00.001-05:00

I'm pushing ahead on a new project to release free materials on leadership development from a Christian perspective -- I call the model "Leadership Craft." A couple of requests:

1. Please pray for me!

2. If you would be interested in an early look, email me at "leadershipcraft" AT gmail DOT com

Thanks!

Have You Danced With Your Daughter Lately?

2011-07-11T04:22:00.003-05:00

Encouragement

2011-07-09T05:28:00.000-05:00

Reminder: Being the husband and father that you're called to be is worth it, even though it's hard work. This is God's plan to grow and stretch and deepen you, get you beyond the selfishness that over time only makes you smaller and weaker as a man. Take a deep breath, and get back into the battle, men.

Raising a Godly Daughter

2011-07-07T04:13:00.001-05:00

Perry Noble shares some excellent practices worth emulating, dads!

If you have other ideas and suggestions for dads of daughters, please share in the comments!

P.S. Here is my suggestion on what fathers should teach their sons.

Happy July 4th!

2011-07-04T04:13:00.000-05:00

Family Worship

2011-07-03T04:26:00.020-05:00

Even the guys I know who do pretty well with family devotions and Scripture/sermon discussions at meal times shudder when they're challenged to lead Family Worship times.

Family Worship times, oh my! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

I highly recommend this article by Jerry Owen, Second Thoughts on Family Worship.

He helpfully points out that

family worship is not expressly commanded/required in the Bible (though Deut 6:6-9 is!)
if done, family worship is not the most important spiritual thing you do
family worship should be delightful for everyone

Owen writes with some humor and skill. My favorite sentence: "There is a reason kids loved to be around Jesus, and it wasn’t because he was lecturing at length about the Torah or the Five Points of Calvinism."

Read the article, it's worth discussing with your wife. Second Thoughts on Family Worship.

Maybe...You're Just Making Excuses

2011-07-01T04:16:00.000-05:00

This is powerful.

D.A. Carson on the Biblical Qualifications of Elders and Deacons

2011-06-29T04:15:00.002-05:00

Very helpful insights here on the biblical qualifications for elders and deacons. "Elders are...to be exemplars of the principles mandated for all Christians." My suggested take-away for you men: man up! Live to these standards.

Humor Break: Things You Don't Say To Your Wife

2011-06-27T04:12:00.001-05:00

Jesus Didn't Respond Based on How People Responded to Him

2011-06-25T04:05:00.007-05:00

(From a devotion I led recently...)

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we are to lead a congregation with a diverse set of ideas and opinions. This is not a new problem in the history of the Church, of course, and not even new to us. But it has been on my heart to study this in the Scriptures.

I keep coming back to Jesus. We need to believe what God says: we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and God’s ambassadors to a spiritually dead world. We engender community by dying to self, loving others in the grace of God, and following Jesus. “In this world we are like Jesus.” (1 John 4:17)

How did Jesus handle diverse reactions to his ministry? Let’s look at three situations where he performed miracles: healing the paralyzed man (Luke 5), restoring a man’s withered right hand (Luke 6), and converting water into wine and healing the sick (John 2).

16 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:16-18

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke 5: 17-26

1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke 6:1-11

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

John 2:23-25

In each case we’re told that Jesus knew what they were thinking, what was in their hearts. Sometimes there was great praise to God (Luke 5) and “people believed in his name” (John 2), and sometimes the miracle engendered hatred (“[they] were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.” Luke 6:11).

Jesus didn’t respond to their response. Knowing what was in their hearts, their thoughts, “Jesus would not entrust himself to them.” (John 2:24). He did not need their testimony. He knows He is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5). He knows his relationship with the Father. Remember, Jesus did not have the kind of sinful pride we so often do! He operates out of love (which asks for nothing in return) rather than fear. Fear and pride go together well.

Jesus’ view of His calling and ministry (and God’s view of our ministry) is independent of how people respond.

If we’re to be Jesus-like leaders, honoring God, we must operate out of love. We must build people up, help them mature, engage in difficult conversations, humbly obey Christ, be open and teachable, listen well, serve well, do the right thing irrespective of whether people are praising God or plotting “what to do to” us.

It may help to take the long view of events. A trillion years from now (still short of eternity), looking back, what was the right thing to do?

Thoughts on Feeding 10 Billion People

2011-06-23T04:14:00.010-05:00

My friend Kevin Nelstead posted some good questions about feeding our growing world population. I added a long comment, reproduced here because I hope people see an example of how to work from biblical principles to address complex issues.

=======

Kevin, before answering your questions, I think it’s appropriate to back up and create some context – biblical principles and pertinent observations.

From a biblical worldview, I propose these principles:

· Persons, being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and having an eternal soul, are significant and of infinite worth.

· God gave mankind the responsibility of being stewards of His creation (Genesis 1:28). Being a steward means making decisions and working through trade-offs. Stewardship does not mean ownership; only God “owns” creation (Psalm 50).

· Sin affects both people and the planet (see Romans 8:22); neither is perfect.

· God is sovereign over His creation, but mankind cannot entirely tame it or control it. We do not live in perfect harmony with creation (Genesis 3:17-19).

· The Creation we see today is not eternal, it will be remade in God’s fullness of time (Revelation 21:1-5). People’s souls are eternal, and therefore take priority over creation when there are conflicts.

· We do not know when this age ends (Ecclesiastes 8:7; Mark 13:32); we cannot assume it is either a short time or a long time when making stewardship decisions.

Pertinent observations, though not strictly biblical:
· Natural systems have resilience, but also breaking points. We have a very poor record of understanding the limits of systems or predicting how they behave. We tend to miserably under-estimate or over-estimate effects of changes and trends. All simulation models are wrong. Some are useful.

· People have imaginative and creative powers to solve complicated and complex problems. Malthusian projections have been wrong partly because they did not take into account human versatility/ingenuity, tremendous improvements in agricultural productivity and the logistics of moving food and purifying water.

· Human beings are terrible at estimating risk and responding realistically to it.

· War, ethnic politics, and foolish pride have caused more hunger than actual lack of food on the planet. The starvation deaths because of distribution challenges of available food and lack of clean water are avoidable.

· Charity support models have not been effective when continued for long periods of time, because they invite corruption and eliminate the incentives for individuals and groups to create sustainable infrastructure. There are many lessons from aid given to Africa over the last 50 years.

· Central planning models fail, and fail worse as systems grow more complex. There are many variables we cannot control and barely influence. We often confuse leading and lagging indicators. We have at best incomplete historical data, of varying usefulness. Production models tied to individual economic and political liberty have sustainably produced the most food over many years.

Thoughts with respect to food production:
· The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is calling for a 70% increase in food production by the year 2050 to feed an estimated 9 billion people. The Eastern Hemisphere is both where most of the population growth will occur and where productivity challenges are greatest.

· I believe we can produce food to 50% more people than live today – it will take concerted efforts on my fronts, but I believe it can be done. We need progress in plant breeding, animal management, and agronomic practices. The amount of arable land is roughly constant now – so improving yield productivity is our best hope. More people moving to urban centers means longer distances to move food.

· The best approach to feeding the world is a rich mix of all kinds of farming. There are places in the world where large-scale monoculture is feasible, and many more places where it is not. I think commercial interests and individual liberty will continue to drive a rich mix. Central planning efforts will distort markets and perpetuate inefficient approaches.

Success will require contributions from For-profit and Non-profit entities, both small and large. There is room for all – and I believe all have specific valuable roles and unique contributions in feeding the world.

· Water is crucial. Read the excellent book, “The Big Thirst.” The problems of sufficient clean water are manageable.

· Land management is crucial. Farming on marginal land creates problems which need to be solved later.

· It would be possible for the US to feed itself from smaller, organic farms. But… perhaps 50% of the population would need to be involved, rather than the 2% on farms today. And there would no grains, fruits, and meats to export.

· Plant breeders are making strides with both transgenic and non-transgenic crops, and harvestable yield continues to climb. I find it difficult to imagine doubling or tripling yields without some GMO.

· Government policies can promote progress or hamper it. I personally believe the intellectual basis driving many government policies is unbiblical, favoring the environment over people, and by default assuming humans ARE the problem.

· My hypothesis is that God has distributed food production potential across the continents so that we would have to work together and build relationships. Regions which have the capacity to produce surpluses should produce surplus to feed others. It makes sense economically, too.

Answering your other questions:

We are fulfilling the mandate “be fruitful and multiply” – but I don’t have the revelatory insight to say “We’ve fulfilled it. Stop.” History teaches us to be confident that some of the solutions to our challenges will be created by people yet to be born!

Christians have the most helpful worldview for working through the stewardship issues and simultaneously valuing human life and individual liberty. Therefore I pray regularly for more believers to follow Jesus into agriculture and food production and government agencies which oversee them.

*Note: I’m employed by a leading multinational agriculture corporation. My comments do not in any way represent the company’s position.

We Were Made to Be Courageous!

2011-06-21T04:02:00.002-05:00

Terrific message for men here, much needed!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T04:16:00.000-05:00

Men, I hope you have a terrific day! Celebrate, and also recommit to being the father our Heavenly Father desires for you to be. The world needs great fathers.

Wordle for this blog

2011-06-19T04:15:00.004-05:00

You can use Wordle to make a "word image" from any text or web page with an RSS feed. Here's this blog:

I'm encouraged to see Jesus so prominently displayed!

Waiting

2011-06-17T04:18:00.034-05:00

I have several friends who are waiting. A lot. One friend tells me "I passed Remedial Waiting 101 and 201 and I'm almost done with Remedial Waiting 301."

I find it very interesting that God commands Elijah twice to go to a location and stay there, without explaining what Elijah is supposed to do while he's there (other than wait):

² Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

⁵ So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. ⁷ Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to him: ⁹“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

And Elijah did such non-monumental ministry in these locations that no one knew where God's prophet was for over 3 years. Zero public ministry. (See 1 Kings 18:10) I believe every man will, at least at some times, be called/commanded to wait.

There is something deep in a man which struggles with waiting. I suspect God knows this, and knows that waiting is the best thing for us.

What do we do while waiting? Michael Hyatt has some excellent suggestions, well worth your time to review. He emphasizes recognizing that God is in control, renewing your faith in God's steady provision (this is what I believe that Elijah needed to develop), and redeeming (rather than wasting) the time to prepare for the future.

My friend in Remedial Waiting 301 tells me this song has really helped him remember to serve God and continue to worship while he waits:

What Challenges Are You Facing as a Dad/Husband?

2011-06-15T04:24:00.005-05:00

Looking for your feedback, men -- what challenges do you face now? What are you struggling with? I'd like to know, and then I will write more blog posts to address those. Comment below, or email me at info(at)teachtochangelives.com. Thanks!

Happy Flag Day!

2011-06-14T04:05:00.000-05:00