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3 Ways To Break Free Of The Homer Simpson Syndrome

3 Ways To Break Free Of The Homer Simpson Syndrome

Turn on the television, head out to the movies or browse social media and one of the major themes is that men are witless, pointless or mere playthings to be stepped on by the entire family. Like infomercials, men are endlessly lampooned and are shown as absent or feckless fathers.

Is all fair with dads on the family front? Does culture have a blind spot when it comes to the role of men in families? Would much of the jokes aimed at fathers be banned if they were aimed at women, ethnic minorities or religious groups? Most of the men I know are devoted, hardworking and would do anything for their families. Even give up their lives to save them.

There was a time in culture when men were always the authority figure and the head of the tribe. In comparison, today’s culture is polar opposite where men are demonized and sidelined way too much. We all heard the “who wears the pants in the family” jokes but leadership in the home is no laughing matter. During the last few decades our culture has redefined the meaning and responsibilities of men and women in society and in the home. Many men have become emasculated, confused and insecure. With this new narrative taking a firm grip on society, men don’t know how to step up and lead the home anymore. Growing up, most men lacked a good role model for leadership at home and don’t have a clue of what it means to lead a family. The result, they do not lead effectively or they do not even try.

Sadly many men have become passive or lunk heads in the home. They’ve decided that the easiest thing to do is nothing and that’s exactly what they do! The simplest thing with the smallest risk is to straddle the fence and let the wife do all the heavy lifting. When a man is married to a strong wife who takes over, he often lets her do just that…take over. Come on guys!

What are we telling young boys if the examples of fatherhood they see everyday are parodies of incompetence?

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April 5, 2016 Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: courage, dad, family, featured, husband, kids, marriage

Almost All Women Stand By Their Men; Very Few Men Stand By Their Women

Almost All Women Stand By Their Men; Very Few Men Stand By Their Women

I just came in from walking the dog on a beautiful New England Sunday afternoon to write this weeks article, when I started to rummage through one of my journals to figure out what to write about. Among the almost illegible handwritten notes and papers stuffed between the pages a pamphlet fell out titled, “Living By Vows”

After taking a few moments to read through it I was really touched by the love and commitment the author demonstrated to his ailing wife. I share this because I spent the morning with my fiance enjoying a nice breakfast at a local coffee shop in downtown Concord, NH and I find this pamphlet timely as we begin to write our vows.

In a society where many marriages have been reduced to a contract with an exit clause or a “whats in it for me” proposition, I hope sharing the powerful message reorients us to whats really important and the power of our spoken words “I do!” After Columbia International University’s President Robertson McQuilkin’s wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, these were his ruminations back in 1990 on what he had learned from his years of ministering to her, and being ministered to in return.

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March 15, 2016 Filed Under: Journal Tagged With: courage, featured, life, love, marriage, relationship

Living Life Or Chasing The Wind. The Choice Is Yours!

Living Life Or Chasing The Wind. The Choice Is Yours!

With no winners in Saturday night’s (January 9, 2016) record $949.8 million Powerball drawing, the next jackpot could reach an estimated $1.3 billion, said lottery officials. The Powerball is at an all time high and there is an excitement in the air.

Before you get caught up in all the excitement and the whispers of wealth, take a moment and give the second chapter of Ecclesiastes (written by a guy who had it all) a good read through. Sure, we can pursue material things in life (and most of us do) and yes, when we loose our stuff (and we will) — much of it can be found again. But there is one thing that’s really tough to find again once you loose it: LIFE!!

Seriously, will your life really be better if you win? …maybe for a time.

Whatever chapter of life you’re in right now, remember we will all face that day when the last curtain falls.

On that day, what will you remember?

On that day, what will you wish you had more of?

Lets dig into this a bit more…

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January 11, 2016 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: family, featured, identity, kids, life, marriage, success

One Thing Social Media Got Right About The Decision On Gay Marriage, #LoveWins!

One Thing Social Media Got Right About The Decision On Gay Marriage, #LoveWins!

On June 26, 2015 a deeply divided Supreme Court of the United States handed down a ruling that redefined marriage on a national level, effecting every state. I will admit that I do not agree with this decision, I question it’s Constitutionality and its a sober moment for me. We can debate this all day long, but I believe that Supreme Court disregarded thousands of years of definition of the most foundational unit of society to answer what many are calling a shift in culture.

Notwithstanding which side of this you land on, the popularity of this event has taken front stage on social media, traditional media and the world stage. The White House and many other building around the world have been lit up in rainbow colors in celebration of this decisions around gay rights.

Making something popular doesn’t make it true!

—Bill Johnson

The reactions I’ve seen on social media ranged from expected, surprising, passionate, energetic, disappointing and just downright nasty. Some are rejoicing, some are confused, some are losing hope and some are lashing out with a narrative of decline and hate. Many who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ feel like they just got punched in the gut and are wondering how they should respond to this decision and how they should engage in the broader conversation.

My intent of writing this article is to think through how to respond as the Church when the law of the land and culture fundamentally changes the perspective of marriage and many other issues. Spending some time listening to conversations, reading headlines, doing some research and some soul searching…I started asking myself some questions that many of us might be asking whether we know it or not. Does this decision mean that the sky is falling? Does this decision mean that God abdicated His throne? Does this decision rewrite the Bible? Does this decision mean that a shift in culture trivializes God’s word? What does this mean for churches? Does this decision mean that we should lose hope?

To begin to answer these, let’s dial things back a bit.

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June 30, 2015 Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: courage, crisis, featured, God, hope, love, marriage

#002: Have You Ever Felt The Blunt Force Trauma of Life? [Podcast]

#002: Have You Ever Felt The Blunt Force Trauma of Life? [Podcast]

Have you ever felt the blunt force trauma of life? Have you ever been in this place, where you never thought you would be able to hope again, breath again, believe again or recover? Do you want to stop just existing and live fully alive?

We ask God to fix this (our circumstance) and God says I’m trying to fix you…so I can use you to reach out touch the world.

*Interview starts about 30 mins into the broadcast.

http://www.aliveinchristradio.com/programs/aic/aic-radio-live-032613-master.mp3

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April 2, 2013 Filed Under: Life, Podcast Tagged With: broken, courage, crisis, divorce, family, hope, journey, life, marriage

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Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be. -Tony Dungy

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Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, without walls. -Proverbs 25: 28

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