Don't know about you but I'm...LOST

Okay, I watch one TV show religiously -- LOST. It's an addiction, but I've come to terms with it. It has gotten really confusing lately, and it's got plenty of juicy twist. I've heard several good ideas: that it's really all about a space/time continuum, that Ben & Widmore are trillionaires playing a high-stakes, real life game (courtesy of my friend Heather's brother). I've had the idea that the island is actually Eden. That's why people get better, because of the Tree of Life. That's also why people who turn dirty are 'eaten up' by the big black smoke monster. Sin finds you out in Eden. Plus, God set an angel to guard the Tree of Life after Adam & Eve ate from the tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil. Maybe the tree of knowledge is how Ben knows so much. Maybe the Dharma Initiative was about starting civilization over in Eden to see if we could get it right somehow. Maybe that explains all the power of the island.

The main thing, though, that I'm realizing is that it's not one thing. It's several things all together, which is what makes it really confusing. What do you think?

A little mid-May College Football Talk

A couple of college football notes from the spring. Here's something I don't get. Major college programs are scrutinized like crazy (and they should be) for the behavior of their student-athletes. LSU recently kicked QB Ryan Perriloux off the team after multiple run-ins with the law and breaking team rules. The most alarming of these include connections to counterfieting money. Kudos to LSU. But...Perriloux did what so many major program stars who mess up do -- he's transferring to a smaller school (Jacksonville St.). And they will face almost no scrutiny for letting him on the team, despite his legal troubles. Forgiveness is important, but I just can't figure out why it's okay for him to play at Jacksonville St. and not LSU, and nobody seems to care.

Playoffs? Playoffs?

Yes, the BCS powers-that-be shot down a 4-team playoff last week and I thought I'd weigh in on the issue a little bit for anyone that cares to listen. First of all, it's way more complicated than people on all sides of the issue make it out to be. Let me admit that I'm really not a playoff guy. I don't know if I'm happy they way things are, but I'm not sure a playoff is good for college football. And I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I do believe that many (not all) of the proponents of a playoff in college football are more sports fans than college football fans, because I'm not sure they understand the ramifications of what a playoff would do to the game I love. However, I understand that there are many who love college football and desperately want a playoff, and there are some good reasons for that, because the post-season isn't always what we want it to be.

I have a hard time even rationally discussing anything more than a 4-team playoff. An 8-team playoff would change the landscape of college football so much that I really can't even consider it a possibility. That's where I'm not sure what most people understand. Any 8-team playoff would include 6 conference champions from the major conferences. That is a given, and probably 2 at-large teams. That would make so much of the regular season moot. This past year, on the last Saturday of the season, the nation was enthralled at watching LSU vs. Tennessee, Oklahoma vs. Missouri, and Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia. I sat stunned in my den as Pittsburgh did then unthinkable. West Virginia was out of the national championship race because of one game. In an 8-team playoff, that game means nothing because WVU had already wrapped up the Big East. In fact, they might have even rested their starters. Could you imagine a world in which UGA, Ga. Tech, FSU, or Florida rest their starters in an end of the year non-conference rivalry game because the conference championship is the next week and they really only care about that coveted playoff spot. If you think that wouldn't happen, take a good look at the end of the NFL season. It happens every year. The Patriots didn't do it and what did that get them? They were just the first loser to cross the finish line and a team with a combined 14-6 record was somehow crowned champion over a team with an 18-1 record. I wish someone could please explain to me why that system is superior to a system that routinely pairs teams with 0,1, or 2 losses against each other for the championship.

The other problem is that it's not all apples and apples. The talent level in the NFL is more even across the board, the NFL schedules are mandated by the league, so you can't schedule patsies. However, this year, Southern Cal will play 12 BCS conference teams, UGA will play 10. Many schools will play only 8 or 9. Therefore, the total schedule is the formula in the NFL. That's a lot trickier in college football because two 10-2 teams don't always equal each other because of conference strength and out-of-conference scheduling. The bottom line is that an 8-team or more playoff would eventually render the regular season "almost" meaningless. If you don't think that's the case, then tell me about TV ratings for college basketball before March. Nobody cares, because the games don't matter. Even the most bitter rivalries (i.e. UNC/Duke) don't mean much but bragging rights because they're both going to the dance.

So, what about a 4-team? Well, I think a 4-team playoff could work, and I think it will probably happen one day, but it's not the end-all, be-all. It still worries me. Let me say why I think that it might be needed first. Namely, just what I mentioned above - scheduling and strength of conference. The past couple years have taught us that records do not equate across conference lines. There are discrepencies in scheduling that have to be addressed that might not can be unless it's played out on the field. I also think that there are usually 2-4 teams that are worthy of national title consideration. Even in the years when there are only two undefeated teams, it's not always that simple. After the last two BCS games, the '02 top three of SEC champ 12-1 UGA, Big 10 champ 13-0 Ohio St., and Big East Champ 12-0 Miami doesn't look as clear cut as it did back then. Obviously, the last few years have been chaos when 3-4 teams have legimate claims to a shot at the title. I think college football has become so regional that a 4-team playoff could help alleviate that.

I do think they will make a grave mistake if they use neutral sites for semi-final games, giving almost no reward for going undefeated. Imagine telling the Patriots they had to play the Chargers in Kansas City for the AFC championship last fall. They'd laugh at you...and deservedly so. So, if they go forward with it, I hope they give home field advantage to the top 2 for the semis. Moreover, few college football fans would be able to afford traveling to Miami one weekend, only to have to go to New Orleans or Pasadena 2 weeks later, especially if they expect to be in the top 4 every year, which USC, Ohio St., and whoever is SEC champion looks to be in the foreseeable future. It might be fun one year, but fans would wait it out to see if they made the championship game. After a few years, semifinal games would be made for TV events played in front of a bunch of empty seats at neutral sites. Look in the stands in the NCAA basketball early rounds and regionals if you don't believe me.

But my greatest fear is still that sanctity of the college season. On Aug. 30, we're all going to watch Bama/Clemson. On Sept. 13, we're all going to watch USC/Ohio St. On Sept. 20, we're all going to watch Arizona St./UGA...because those games mean everything. In a 4-team playoff world, they don't mean much because you could lose a high profile out of conference game and still run the table in your own league and be fine. I'm not sure I want that. Without home-field advantage, those games would mean almost nothing at all, because being ranked #1 would be no different then being ranked #4. I want the best for college football. I'm just not sure that people who are clamoring for a playoff understand what could be lost in the process. And I love the craziest 13-weeks in sports, when anything can happen, and one-game can make all the difference.

Just my 2-cents on a sport I love. Maybe you disagree. I'd love to hear why.

Bon Jovi still rocks it

OK, so my wife, Emily, and I got to see Bon Jovi rock out last Thursday night. Pretty amazing concert. He still rocked it out at whatever age he is. He sang all the old stuff. Of course, he didn't sing "Love for Sale" which is one of my old favorites that never got released. Check it out if you get a chance. I can't remember if that was on the New Jersey or Slippery When Wet album. I just remember that one cassette was white and the other was clear. Wow, I just said cassette. And he surprisingly left out a lot of the ballads. I was amazed by his energy.

Probably one of the coolest things of the concert, though, was Chris Daughtry. His band, Daughtry, opened for Jovi, and they invited Chris back out to sing "Blaze of Glory." He came out dressed just like Jon Bon Jovi & with a wig on. It was hilarious and showed what a good natured guy he seems to be. He said something that stuck with me during his earlier performance: "Thanks for spending your hard earned money to come hear us tonight." I appreciated that because it was true.

Free Lunch

So, I got a free lunch today...from someone I don't know. The server gave me a card that said I'd been "kinded." I thought that was pretty cool. I thought it was pretty awesome, and it made my burger taste that much better, because I live by the motto, "If it's free, it's for me." However, though I appreciate the kindness and I understand the anonimity, it leaves something to be desired. I understand the concept. I get the whole "pay it forward" thing. But "pay it forward" runs out. I'll never get a chance to thank this person, and I know that's the way they want it. I'd be the same way. I understand that me passing this kindness on is my way of thanking them. But I believe that kindness, real kindness, has to be backed up by something eternal. I cannot point my thanks to anyone, but what if I could point my thanks to God. The kindness shown me reminded me that people can be good, but I'm pretty sure I'll be reminded of the opposite in the next 24 hours. But if the reminder was that God is good and I had just forgot. Christians need to be kind so badly to the world. But deep down, we don't all need human kindness, we all yearn for something from our Creator. If you are a follower of Jesus, be kind, but make sure that people know that that kindness only comes from God. If you're not a follower of Jesus, rest assured that you have a kind Creator who wants to get to know you. And he wants to offer you so much more than a free lunch. On that note, thanks to whomever pitched in my burger today. You made my day!

Fire Water & Green Gravy

So, I'm at a bar (because that's where I think pastors should be) and this guy finds out I'm a pastor. And the FIRST thing he does is cut his eyes to my drink and see what my beverage of choice is that night. It was the great Asa Candler's Coca-Cola Classic. It's usually that or sweet tea. I don't drink. I never really have had the desire to, and my new friend told me why. What surprised me about this was the conversation that followed. I found out he was non-religious, had a general disdain for the Church and many Christians. He had a mistrust toward Christian political activist (don't we all?), and a considered himself happily unattached to any faith. That's fine...so why do you care what I'm drinking. He cares because it is in his blood to care. People care. People in the non-faith world want to see something different in those that follow Christ. You can be in the world and not of it. The call of any Christian is to do just that. But there must be something unique about Christians. Say what you want about alcohol. I know Jesus drank wine. I know Paul encouraged Timothy to drink wine. I believe the wine of the Bible real wine. But...there is a stigma that is attached to alcohol in American culture 2,000 years later. The same could be said for many other behaviors. And if Christians are to avoid even the appearance of evil...well, you can figure that out. We will have enough trouble loving people, being patient, holding our tongue, forgiving wrongful accusers, and offering grace. So, if there are behaviors that are easy to do to help separate Jesus Followers as unique and set apart, why wouldn't we do them. Because I'm finding that even the people who say they don't care -- really do care.

Now, my new friend also said to me about ministry: "I heard there's a lot of money in that." Of course, that's about as offensive a thing as one can say to me. And he must know something about ministry that I don't. Anyway, it just spoke to how so much of our culture is driven by money. Truthfully, it was sad, because I know too many good pastors, nurses, teachers, coaches, and many other professions that have money as the last thing on their list when they chose their profession. Here's the thing, though -- somebody did go into for money and gave my new friend that perception, and that bothers me, too. What we don't realize so often is that if Christians are going to impact the world, then every decision matters, because we will all suffer the consequences of past baggage. Hopefully, we can be about positive influences in and on the world in the future.

Master's Thoughts

Okay, so I'm back in the blogosphere. It's been a while, but it has mostly to do w/ trying to finish a basement before a new baby comes. Had to post some Master's thoughts, though. There are truly few things I enjoy more on a Sunday afternoon than major golf championships. I love competition, and the competition in golf in the four majors is so individual and intense. The Master's is the apex of that pressure.

You know, when Tiger first came on the scene back in the mid 90's, I wasn't sure what to think of him, but my respect for him is incredible now. He is the most publicized player ever, which means he also receives the most scrutiny. His 2nd place finish on Sunday seemed to be the biggest shock of the tournament. Tiger didn't win. He didn't make a Sunday move at Augusta National. And people were shocked. Tiger has made winning look so easy that he's made us believe it's easy. It's not. My brother is a high school football coach and he says, "It's hard to win games, but it's really easy to lose them." But I thought this years Master's displayed Tiger's greatness like never before. He didn't play great...and finished 2nd. He didn't have his best on Sunday...and was the only player in the top five that didn't shoot over par. And what is always the coolest to me about Tiger is that his perspective on his game is so raw and honest. He didn't putt good -- end of story. But he doesn't look at 2nd place finishes as a disaster like the press does, because he realizes that excellence is measured over the long haul, you can't hit a home run every time at the plate, and winning isn't easy.

Leaders that strive for excellence have to understand this. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and understanding excellence is crucial for perfectionist. Tiger did not play excellent this weekend. But he is still an excellent golfer. If he retired today, he'd still have an excellent career. Moreover, he realizes there's more excellence to be made. Leaders can get mired in poor performances or down times, not realizing that there is more excellence to be made. Somebody's got to make it, might as well be you. You will drive yourself crazy if you judge excellence by every move, but if you want to be excellent over the long haul, take the steps that will get you in that position when the long haul is over. And look to the future, don't dwell on the past. When one reporter asked Tiger if what losing the Master's does to his confidence as he pursues more major victories, he smiled that Tiger-smile and said, "Well, there's three more." Because there's more excellence to be made.

The Wednesday Word 2.27.08

"[The Kingdom] is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants." Mark 4:31-32

There is so much to share from my time in Israel, but the overall gift was how it made the Scriptures come alive. I want to share some of that with you. This passage, for instance, takes on greater significance now. We think we know what a mustard seed is, but what they sell in Publix is not a mustard seed. A real mustard seed is much smaller, and they are more prevalent in the Middle East. Smaller than a grain of sand. So fine that it seems as if your breath would blow it away. Tiny, tiny seeds. Seemingly insignificant. Sometimes the fragment of the Kingdom in us seems very insignificant. Maybe our faith is small. Maybe our understanding is minute. We beat ourselves up because we can't quite grasp it all or are brand new at faith or not as advanced as we should be. But the gift of the Kingdom is that it doesn't need to start off big. The important thing is that it is planted in us, and that we give that seed a healthy environment in which to grow. There is not seed of the Kingdom that is too small or too new or too simple. The Kingdom will work for itself. We just need to do our part. We are not the seed. We are the soil. Embrace the seed, no matter how small it seems in your life right now.

Top 3 Tuesday 2.26.08

Okay, so I'm back from Israel and have pretty much gone into a sweet tea coma since I've been back into the states. Good Lord, how do people in other parts of the U.S. and world live without that stuff? It has been good to taste the choice fruits of the South again, namely pork. I'm not sure I realized how much I love our little swine friends and all the delectable offerings they give us until I couldn't have them. So, today I'm giving you my top 3 pork dishes, mostly with a lot of local fare.

1 - The Grilled Pork Steak at The Corner Stop Cafe in Lawrenceville, GA. Really, it's hard to explain how incredible this dish is. If I'm in town on Tuesdays, I'm usually there for lunch.
2 - BBQ Sandwich at Hot Thomas BBQ in Watkinsville, GA. Man, I miss not living closer to Hot Thomas. It's perfect BBQ. Finish it off w/ some Pecan Pie and a glass bottle Coke.
3 - The Mediterranean Sausage Burger at The Grill in Athens, GA. Uh, it's a burger...made from sausage. Need I say more?

(close 4th & 5th were the Chipotle Wrap at Digger's in Lawrenceville, GA and Ribs at Dreamland BBQ in Tuscalossa, AL. Man, I love pork.)

Are you hungry yet? Got any gems I'm missing out on?

Mondays are Man-Days 2/25 Edition

So, I did something pretty monumental tonight. I took Morgan, my eldest son, to his first T-Ball practice. It's 3 & 4 year olds, so it's pretty much mass hysteria mixed in with a little bit of crying and a pinch of T-Ball every now and then. It was an awesome experience, though, and it was one of those moments when you sort of know what's coming down the road. This was different than school. School is emotional for moms. This was totally a man thing.

My wife stayed home with our youngest, so I took Mojo (as we call him) by himself. Something interesting happened during practice. When Morgan would do something he was especially pround of, he wouldn't look to his coach, he wouldn't gloat to his teammates -- he looked at me. And he was longing for affirmation. When we got home, he told his mother that he hit the ball and "Daddy said, 'Way to go, Morgan!'" He looked to me for what only I can give him. He cannot get that affirmation anywhere else. It can only be found with his father.

I'm no expert on child-rearing, but I think I've come to understand some things about boys. I have only one brother. My brother has only 2 sons and I have only 2 sons. My family simply does boys -- so far. There is an element to life that my incredible wife cannot impart on my boys. She is not a man and she can instill manhood in them. It's impossible. This isn't some kind of bravado that they're supposed to have. It's what my firstborn was looking for in that look: affirmation. Was that okay, Daddy? Did I do good enough, Daddy? Do I measure up? If I don't have the emotional fortitude to affirm him throughout the years, something will be missing in his life. If I can't communicate with him that he is all he needs to be, then he will forever feel like he's falling short. It doesn't matter if he's an athlete, a piano player, or a scholar...he just needs to know that he's okay with Daddy. The danger of all of this, of course, is much deeper, because "if I'm not okay with this father, I wonder if I'm okay for that other Father." If that thought begins to creep into the brain of young lad, it's simply toxic.

Carter

Home Sweet Home

Well, we're home. We got in about 6:00 a.m. this morning after a smooth 13 1/2 hour flight -- much smoother than the one over. Our last day in Israel was a beautiful one, without a cloud in the sky. We took in the Garden Tomb, which gives you a much better look at what Golgotha and the tomb Jesus was buried in looked like. We also went to the home town of John the Baptist, which in English is called "Spring of the Vineyard". It's a really cool little community that really reminded me of a small Italian town. We were able to visit the Museum of Israel, mainly to see two things: the Dead Sea Scrolls and a HUGE model of Jerusalem in Herod's day. It sort of made all the places we saw make sense. When I say "model", what I mean is a replica of the city that is almost the size of a football field. It took them 7 years just to build the model. We finished off the trip with dinner on the Mt. of Olives, which was awesome because it was one of my favorite places in Jerusalem. We saw the sunset over the city then headed off to the airport in Tel Aviv.

Let me just say that security at Tel Aviv is extensive. They cross every T and dot every i. All it all, it was incredible. Emily held up with toting that baby around, and we learned so much. We ended up taking over 600 pictures. Right now we're pretty jet-lagged and getting rested up to get back into the groove as parents and life. We have already guzzled multiple gallons of sweet tea and I have partaken of various and sundry pork products. Thank goodness we are no longer under the law! Pork is our friend!!!

Thanks for the prayers from so many of you. Hopefully next week we'll get back in the weekly routine of posts here as we find the way together.

Blessings,
Carter

Cold Day in Jerusalem

We miss our boys, but know they are being well taken care of. Thanks to all those that have helped! Well, we woke up to about 2-3 inches of snow on the ground in Jerusalem. But our plans included a trip to Bethlehem today, so we went to Bethlehem in the snow, which was pretty amazing. We visited the Shepherd's fields and the traditional site of the birth of Jesus. It's kind of interesting. Nothing here is really ever what you expected it to be, so it is all sort of awe inspiring. Basically, Jesus was born in a big cave that was used as a stable.

We also went to Mt. Zion and the tomb of David and got a look at the Upper Room. Of course, it is just the site of the Upper Room, as those houses have long since been torn down. Probably the coolest place we went today was the House of Caiaphas, the high priest. We went to the cave/dungeon where Jesus was probably held before he was handed over to the Romans (Luke 22:54-62) and the courtyards where Peter disowned Jesus. Being in that dungeon cell and singing Amazing Grace with my friends here was unbelievable. Much of what you experience here is kind of surreal.

The politics here are interesting. Both Bethlehem and Jericho are in the West Bank, which is basically Palestine. It is occupied by Israeli troops, so there is a check point you must go through and a wall much like what used to exist between East Germany & West Germany. Life is very hard for the Palestinians in Israel, which are mostly Christian or Muslim. However, the Palestinians keep electing radical officials that support terrorism toward Israel and Jews, so no one is innocent. Basically, they all want the land that is known as the West Bank or Palestine, and they've been fighting for 6,000 years over it. You learn over here that there are good people on all sides. It's basically the radicals on each side that cause all the trouble. But we still have much work to do in praying for the peace of Jerusalem.

I do miss sweet tea, but I am also jonesing for some pork products. Good Lord, please give me some sausage or bacon or ham! The pig is nowhere to be found in these kosher parts, and that is regrettable. The food pretty much all taste the same, but there are some decent things. We had some good roasted turkey last night. There are also very strange things. I've learned that we put a lot of sugar in our desserts, because here something may look very good, but after a bite you realize it needs about another cup of sugar in the recipe. Thank God for Asa Candler and the Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia. The most I've paid for one so far was $3.60 for a 12 oz glass bottle -- and it was worth every penny.

We are so thankful to have this experience. Em is doing well walking around the city toting around that baby in her belly. I'm so glad we were able to come for 10 days and not just a week because that means we would have missed Galilee. That's an amazing place away from the busy-ness of Jerusalem. If I ever came for a sabbatical here, I'd spend about the whole time in Galilee and take in the peacefulness of that region.

We miss all our friends and family and wish you could be here. See you soon. And save me a sausage biscuit and some sweet tea!!!!

Carter

Mid-Week n Israel

well, what can i say? it's pretty amazing over here. today we swam in the dead sea and visited Qumran, where the dead sea scrolls were found, a 2,200 year old community. We've already been to Galilee, the Mt. of Olives, the valley of the shadow of death, the garden of gathsemene. we've also gone through a couple of checkpoints at the israeli/palestine border, which is interesting. it's safe, so don't worry. we've seen so much and have so much more to see. but it makes every story come alive. the stories of Jesus are very real here. Boy, do i miss sweet tea.

Carter

The Wednesday Word

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4

I don't know about you, but it seems like it's always something. My Great Aunt used to say to me that I'd always be busy, no matter if I had anything to be busy about or not. I think that's just my nature. On the go all the time. When I go on vacation, I don't want to do anything but just sit because I "do" enough when I'm in the real world. You ever feel that way? You put on top of that the fact that it feels like I live in one of the busiest counties in the history of earth, and life can get, well, manic. Life oftten leaves me exhausted, never feeling like I gave enough to God, to my work, to my wife, to my children, to myself. But, for those who follow Jesus, we are not sustained by food or sleeep or rest. We are sustained by God. I find that more and more I need to turn to God for this sustaining. I find more and more that life is too much for me. The responsibilites of family are too great. The pressures of work are too strong. But God will have none of it. That doesn't mean when I turn to God that everything is just okey-dokey. It does mean that there is a change in my heart to understand that my problems and my busyness are not my own. My life is God's, and He is the fuel I need to make it burn. Are you looking for other ways to light your fire? It won't last, friend. Turn to the only thing that can sustain you.

Top 3 Tuesday

So, every Tuesday I'm thinking of Top 3's. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Israel, a place I've never been. I'm super-pumped. To be fairly young, I've been blessed to take some pretty awesome trips around the world, but I got to thinking, after getting the Holy Land under my belt, what would be the Top 3 places I've never been that I'd like to visit?

1 - Australia. Those people just seem cool. They speak English, too, which is good because I'd be able to immerse myself a little more easily with the locals. The whole Outback deal, the Opera House, a Vegimite Sandwich, it all looks like a great place, and a world away from me way down under. Really, though, I'd mostly be hoping my flight got detoured to a far away island so I could run into Jack, Sawyer, Kate & the gang.

2 - Japan. Just sort of feel like I have to experience the busy-ness of it all. The business culture interests me as well as the people. I don't know if I know a soul from Japan, and perhaps that's why I'd like to go.

3 - Spain. Somehow, when I was rounding my tour of Europe, I missed Spain. Those people look happy, and movies that portray Spain seem fun. And the movies are always accurate, right? I'd like to try realy Spanish food.

That's mine. What are yours?

Mondays Are Man-days

Okay, so it's officially Tuesday instead of Monday, but who's counting? What will be my first post? It has to be about men, because, well, I'm a man. Manhood is an interesting thing. I can really feel how society is trying to take it away. Christianity has tried to do so even harder. One of my life goals is to restore "man-ity" in my little corner of the world, especially for myself.

So, I play church league basketball, and yeah, I'm the pastor. I'm also the mouthiest one on the team, complaining about every call that goes against us, chirpping at the other team a little bit. My language is clean, but I'm mouthy. I'm not that good, but I play hard and feel like I left a little something on the court if I don't get a few fouls a game. I'm pretty sure I'm the only pastor playing in the league. Tonight, at the end of the game, after flying around all game and chirpping in the ref's ear all night, the ref says to me, "And your supposed to be a minister?" What the heck does that mean? I tell you what it means. I think it means we've messed manhood up big time.

We've conditioned ourselves to understand that a pastor or a Christian man is supposed to be meek and mild, turning the other cheek, and basically being a doormat for people to step on and run over. I just can find that in the Bible. And I know that we are supposed to be humble (and, yes, we are commanded to turn the other cheek in some situations), but the great men of God that I read about are fighters. Now, that doesn't mean physical fighting, but they had a mental toughness. I don't feel my best when I'm run over. I feel my best about being who God created me to be when I man-up. Now, this is really tricky, because being a man isn't about being some testosterone-filled jerk. It is about meeting the challenges ahead of us full steam ahead. The problem is that we train ourselves to be nice, meek, and mild in sports or business and then, when it really matters, we get run over by the real problems in life like addictions, temptations, finances, and relationship problems. We LEARN to run and hide. I don't want my two sons to be that kind of man. I want my boys to take life by the horns and dominate it...because I believe that God believes in them. I believe that God believes in us, too, men.

It's funny, I left that game and spent some time with friends who aren't sure about church or God yet. I'm glad to know them. They need to know that they can be that kind of man, that they can meet the challenges of life head on. Yes, this is a fine line, and I cross it mistakenly all the time. Sometimes being a man means giving yourself up, taking one for the team, or dying to your own desires. Those are the times that it's toughest to be a real man. Dying to yourself takes real masculinity, not some fake machismo. So, that's the nuance. Being a man is not about talking back to referees, being a great athlete, or gaining power as a CEO. It is about victory...ultimately over yourself and all the lies we are told about ourselves. Every guy has a different personality. I'm a self-professed loud mouth in pretty much all areas of my life (which has it's positives and negatives). Some guys are quiet. Not every guy is competitive, but no one wants to lose at life. Every guy wants to win the war with themselves. To defeat the voice that says, "You're not good enough." "You're a loser." "You'll never amount to anything." "Just shut up and take it." "Accept your place in the world." Those are lies from the devil himself. Life is a beautiful thing, but the wear and tear of life beats us down. Well, I came looking for a fight. And I'm bringing my big, bad Creator of the Universe God with me. Take life by the horns men. Dominate it. Because you were made in the image of Almighty God.