The Encouraging Call to Manhood!

The Encouraging Call to Manhood!

by | Apr 12, 2018 | Men

It was late November of 96 and we were packing up to move north for our first full-time ministry after returning from the mission field.  The process included securing a moving truck and car trailer in tow.  I had never driven anything as big as this truck before and I was a bit concerned, especially with the car trailer attached. My dad never taught me how to handle anything this big before when I was a kid. Actually, he had never really encouraged me that I could do anything bigger than my present reality.

But my friend Todd, who is now a Bible Translator in Papua New Guinea, was with me as we made the final connections for the tail lights.  We wiped our hands off and took a deep breath from a job well done. Then, after another deep breath, I said, “Todd, you know, I’ve never really driven anything this big before and honestly I’m a bit afraid that I’m going to wreck it or something.”  Todd just looked at me and nodded his head once with a small smile. I went on, “but I guess I just need to be a man about it and push forward.”  Again, Todd just gave a small smile and quick nod and only offered the one-word response of, “yup.”

That’s really all there was to it from then on out. We prayed, asking for God’s help. I then shook Todd’s hand, thanked him, and then climbed into the cab and took off.  But that’s what I needed.  I needed another guy just to tell me that I was a man and that I could do it. (more…)

Entirely Equal but Defiantly Different!

by | Mar 8, 2013 | Social

Russian IWD Poster.

Today is International Women’s Day which is a big thing in parts of the world like Europe.  The first time I heard about this celebration was when Deb and I lived in Russia back in the mid 90s where IWD is a huge deal.  The roots of this movement began in the early 1900s on the heels of the industrial revolution where women experienced great oppression and unfairness.  In 1908, some 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights.  This movement continued in other countries and the first official day of celebration was held in Austria in 1911 and followed in the US with the 19th Amendment in 1920.  On this day of celebration I’m remembering some influential ladies in my life and am thankful for them, but I’m also a bit saddened at the agenda of the modern feminist movement.  Is this because I’m opposed to women’s suffrage and really am a chauvinist at heart?  No.  Rather, it’s because I am totally for women and sense that what has arisen out of this healthy and right call for equality has now morphed into a recipe for tears.  The problem that many may not grasp is the mistake of equating equality for sameness and thus a drive to purposefully remove any difference between the genders. (more…)