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7 Habits To Help You Man Up

We are on a collision course with the the demise of our culture as we know it because there is an epidemic of men checking out! Far too many men have no direction or vision in life, are becoming emasculated at an epidemic rate and are scared little boys that have never crossed over into authentic manhood. In today’s postmodern 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.

Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.

-Stephen Covey

A common theme is that’s emerging is men and boys have become increasingly confused about their identity and role in today’s society. Fathers are not passing the mantle, media portrays men as incompetent, and society praises the “castration” of men. This subtle message has increasingly influenced the collective unconscious with devastating repercussions and young men have taken the bait of adverse societal cues as an excuse to avoid responsibility and never grow up!

For those young men who feel rudderless in today’s postmodern culture, here are some habits that will set you apart from the decaying norm and kick start your journey into authentic manhood.

Men, Stop Wasting Time And Find Your Courage!

We now are going to war. This is the beginning of the end.

The hour is late, and you are needed. We need your heart.

If there were something more I could do to help you see, I wish to God I could have done it. Tears fill my eyes for fear I have not done enough. You must turn, then, back to myth — tomorrow and the next day and the next. Read the battle of Helm’s Deep; it’s chapter seven of The Two Towers. Watch any of the trilogy of those films.

How A Stump Can Man You Up

Life is a journey. At times everything can be going great and life’s good, but often there are times when life gives you a solid throat punch! In tough times we can often feel alone and without any sort of compass to guide us. The boy in the legend below is symbolic of you, of me, and what he discovers is an important reminder for all of us on our road to manhood.

There is rite-of-passage into adulthood story for a Cherokee Indian boy where his father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him, and leaves him alone. To pass the test, the boy is required to sit on a stump (or log) all night and not remove the blindfold until the morning sun shines through it.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone. If he survives the night, he is a man. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each youngster must come into manhood on his own.

Why It’s Important For Guys To Act Like Men

With all the headlines about young men being confused about their sexual identity or masculinity, I think it’s time for men of God to rise up and model out authentic manhood. If you haven’t figured it out, there is an exploding subculture that is built on a foundation of accepting people who feel they cannot fit into the mainstream. Today’s culture, instead of being shaped by Jesus Christ, is being shaped by; hashtags, celebrity personalities, music, politics, do whatever you want, fill in the blank ________ that’s proving attractive to young adults.

Seems like every person has specific experiences and reasons for how their sexuality has developed. I still affirm to Scripture’s blueprint, which maintains that sexual identity except that of a heterosexual male or female is outside of God’s original intention and plan for human sexuality. The attack on manhood is on a steep trajectory and the message is clear that masculinity is a cultural cancer, unless you’re a woman pretending to be a man.

Ok, so in a world so confused with identity where do we start?

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

Your parents weren’t perfect and I meet so many adult men and women who hold a life numbing unforgiveness towards their parents. I was a member of that “not-going-to-forgive-you” gang for years.

Our parents often made it very difficult to love them growing up. They may not have been physically divorced, but it really felt like they were emotionally divorced. As kids growing up they had a front row seat to the breaking of our hearts…and they didn’t even know it.

I remember running down the hallway. Playing hide and seek. I didn’t know that I was searching for someone to notice me. I felt alone and undiscovered and old enough to understand, just when I’m supposed to be learning to love you let me doubt again

—Chris August (lyrics)

It’s tough enough to navigate life on a good day and many of us choose to carry an overstuffed sack of “unforgiveness.” God knows the pain and the price we pay for not forgiving and He wants to teach us what it means to forgive…to really forgive. Although we had tough and difficult days as a family, we had some good ones too. On my road to healing, I can now thank God so much that He used these times as my classroom to teach me how to better love and to forgive in every aspect of my life.

7 Habits To Help You Man Up

Men, Stop Wasting Time And Find Your Courage!

How A Stump Can Man You Up

Why It’s Important For Guys To Act Like Men

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

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