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Answering The Question, “Where Have All The Men Gone?” [Series]

“Man up!”, “Be a man!”, “Grow some balls!”, “He’s a real man.”, “Authentic manhood.”

These phrases (and more like them) echo in today’s culture and hidden behind those phrases is a question seems to haunt men in society today — “What does it mean to be a man? An authentic man?”

In today’s post modern culture the meaning and image of true masculinity is seriously getting diluted, tainted, watered-down and completely lost. Unfortunately the narrative that’s being played out today is ‘boys in men’s bodies’ with only a few wanting to be men…but not exactly knowing how, while others remain nonchalant.

Houston…we have a deficit of authentic manhood in today’s society! Seriously, where have all the men gone?

Lets answer that question.

How To Hit The Target — All The Time!

As our church men’s group worked through week nine of our Stepping Up series, we learned the metaphor of the arrow in reference to having a clear vision for our family and specifically our children.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

—Psalm 127:4-5

Have you ever shot an arrow? You take an arrow out of your quiver, you place it into position on the bow, you pull back looking down the length of the arrow…waiting for the target to come into focus before you launch it. It’s awesome! Hitting your target with an arrow requires skill, strength, patience and a calming focus. The destiny of the arrow is completely dependent on many factors.

Ok, so what does this have to do with vision or children for that matter?

Why Planning And Providing Are So Important

At week eight of our Stepping Up series with our church men’s group we dug into the importance of planning and providing. Something that not too many men think about or do.

We are told that a man is to provide for his family, right? The challenge facing most men today is that they don’t even know what authentic manhood looks like because their fathers didn’t model it out for them. I know because I was lost in this area. My father was not that compass for me growing up and a boy without a “compass” is like an explorer without a map!

Do you know what it means to provide for your family? Do you have a plan for your family?

Some do, but many don’t. Let’s dive into planning and providing — and why it’s so important.

What Can The Guards At Tomb Of The Unknowns Teach Us?

We are half way through our ten week Stepping Up series with our church men’s group and the finish line is slowly coming into focus. This weeks topic was about men ‘stranding firm’ and it really hit home for me. The video that kick started the session led with a byopic of the the guards that have chosen to take on the duty of guarding the Tomb Of The Unknowns.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified. It is also known as the Tomb Of The Unknowns, but it has never been officially named. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States of America. The World War I “Unknown” is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations’ highest service awards. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. Presidents who presided over their funerals.ⁱ

Even if you already know this, its worth repeating — these soldiers have NEVER left the tomb unguarded for any reason. Pause and take that in for a minute!

Why the example of the Tomb Of The Unknowns? And, why is this so important in God calling a man to step up?

Lets unpack it a bit.

4 Characteristics Of Authentic Manhood

We are in our third week of week of the Stepping Up series with our church men’s group. Today we journeyed through defining what is authentic manhood?

Defining authentic manhood is tough, because we don’t see it much in our modern progressive culture. In today’s world view the very idea of manhood has been emasculated and masculinity is under attack. The dominant narrative throws out labels such as clueless, knucklehead, bumbling idiot, fill in the blank ________.

Voddie Baucham, pastor at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring Texas shares that if you could package up todays definition of “manhood” it would the three B’s: billfold, ball-field and bedroom. Being a man in today’s standards is about how much you make, what do you do (focus on athletes) and how are with the ladies. Wow, does today s culture have it wrong!

Heartstone Journey starts the conversation around authentic manhood with Jesus Christ as the model. Why? Because He is the model!

Unfortunately, most of us men don’t follow this model. We follow the Adam model and here’s why.

Answering The Question, “Where Have All The Men Gone?” [Series]

How To Hit The Target — All The Time!

Why Planning And Providing Are So Important

What Can The Guards At Tomb Of The Unknowns Teach Us?

4 Characteristics Of Authentic Manhood

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

Resources