I want to be a MAN....man!

Any men out there feel inadequate? I do. In my quest of manhood I have more and more noticed my inadequacies. Some of them I'm sure are hard wired but most I think are just areas I need to work on. If all it took to be a man was a dingle between my legs and a hairy chest, I'd have it made! I do know that God's plan for us men is way bigger than what I've accomplished, so my quest continues.

Now when I say I want to be a man, I mean I want to follow God's examples to be the head of my household as a husband, father, and spiritual leader. Yeah, not so easy. The godly man mentors in my life have been shining beacons in these times of the world's ever blurred man roles. Inadequacies in this area can only be blamed on my own heart. All of my friends and I, being married for only a few years and very new to daddyville, wrestle with one thing or another when it comes to being a man. These struggles we men wrestle with every day, are battles with in us that we most likely don't ever mention. Whether is a lack of knowledge, lack of direction, lack of desire, lack of ambition, or whatever the reason, men, we need to step up to the plate.

The act of stepping up is most certainly easier said than done. So many questions as to how and when, flood into my head about these God given tasks that are often daunting and usually way over due. I daydream about a "Man Camp" sort of thing. One or two weeks of men delving into their bible, listening to some sound doctrine, and discussing how to be the spiritual leader and head of the household. I remember going to a two day Promise Keepers conference with my dad when I was in my teens and I think it was similar to what I'd like, just less personal and less extensive.


My head silently keeps track of the intentions that have gone undone, the forgotten responsibilities, and the damage to my family that these failures have caused. The two areas I need to work on most, with out question, are nurturing a relationship with God and how that relationship affects my ability to be a spiritual leader. Because of my continued neglect to God, I lack clarity on how best to serve Him with the spiritual leadership of my wife and children. Saying prayers before meals and helping get the family up and out the door for church once a week is just scratching the surface.

My lack of clarity and therefor lack of direction no doubtingly adds to my procrastination. Thank you Naomi for not picking up where I've left off. Being that I promised to take on that role and at no point have I forgotten, my wife taking on that role would in effect, take my legs out from under me. Maybe I shouldn't speak for my man friends, but I'm going to. I believe our wives taking on the roles God gave us to tackle would have the the same affect on any of us guys. Never have I thought about this from the perspective of my wife. I'm sure Naomi wants to take over my husbandly roles as much as I want to take on her wifely roles. So, I don't want Naomi taking over my role in our family but in no way do i think she should be content with how things are. It's not ever easy hearing concern for an unfulfilled responsibility that you have meant to take care of. It's even more of a blow when you think everything is fine and you've taken care of everything. Either way, something needs to be said, action needs to be taken.

So men, lets take action before our wives express concern, while our children are young, and before our marriages are in shambles. I challenge us to do what it takes to glorify God as men, husbands, fathers, and buds.

I am Very much looking forward to the marriage retreat that's right around the corner. It is my prayer that at this retreat, we will look to God to empower us guys to step up to the plate, and become men.