Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, December 21, 2020.

Becoming an adult and raising boys has often raised the question: "What does it mean to be a man?"

At a time of increasing negativity around masculinity, the question seems more pressing than ever.

But masculinity is good and has never changed.

"God created man" […] "male AND female He created them." -Genesis 1:27

If we look to the Creator rather than trying to define ourselves, we find that true masculinity is being what's needed for balance, well-being -to be whole.

Sometimes what's needed is stern and others, soft.

This is universally true: in the bedroom, nursery room or board room.

Masculinity is the other half of whole.

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

"But God has placed each member in the body just as He pleased…" -1 Cor 12:18

I was born
what I am
when I am
where I am

to affect
what I am (human, black, male, etc.)
when I am (1970s – )
where I am (Mississippi, America, Earth)

for the purposes of reconciling all things to God through Christ.

That latter part means we exist to bless everything we are a part of, to bring everything (that is not in rebellion) together into the peace and harmony of the perfect rule of Christ Jesus.

In the whole of Scripture, God's purpose is singular: to be together with His children. Everything He creates and does is for that purpose. (2 Cor 5:18)

This is our purpose and the reason we exist.

Sin, therefore, is embezzlement; to misappropriate what He's entrusted to our stewardship for any other purpose. (Matthew 24:45-51)

Let us repent and live according to this wonderful and high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

I'm not sure how it happened, but one the of the worse things you can call a man is insecure.

But, I'll own it. I'm insecure.

I often feel like I'm not good enough, don't have enough or simply am not enough.

And, I'm reminded of that everyday, several times a day in some way: media, commercials or exclusion in some form.

Insecurity is a daily battle but here's a strategy I've found to effectively fight it:

Insecure starts with "I".

So, don't start there.

A better place for "I" is toward the middle, serving as a connector such as in "friend", "family" or "Christ".

The point is, a good way of dealing with insecurity is to put "I" in context and focus on something larger than yourself.