I found this article written by Scott Farrell recently.

Essential elements of today’s code of chivalry

There was no such thing as a “uniform” code of chivalry in the Middle Ages. Many people — from successful knights to contemplative philosophers — compiled lists of virtuous qualities, called the “knightly virtues,” which they felt defined chivalry. No two were exactly the same.

There were, however, several common themes found in these lists of knightly virtues. By combining these, we have created what we consider to be the seven knightly virtues of the modern code of chivalry:

Courage

More than bravado or bluster, today’s knight in shining armor must have the courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved.

Continue Reading »

1 Comment »

Proverbs 5: 8

Run from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!

With my wife and daughter going out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was left with a lot of, what we call around here, Cave time. I spent most of my free time reading praying and watching movies that are full of stuff blowing up and limbs either breaking or being completely severed!

This leads me to the following thought. As guys, the thought of running from a fight or challenge does not really compute, yet no other dragon has slain so many Valiant men as this one. Not having a son (yet), my concern is high! For we live in a day and age that is as sexually volatile as ever. One day soon I will sit with my son and these words will fall from my lips! “Run son, Run for your life!!!!!”

Gentlemen, let’s be proactive not only for ourselves but for a generation to come. My heart breaks for the young men and boys who, without strong leaderships, will suffer, because no one was there to simply say, “run.”

2 Comments »

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of the evil of your deeds.” Jeremiah 4:4

What does it mean to circumcise your heart? It means cutting off the former things of the old man. There are two types of circumcision of the heart. The first happens at salvation. The second, which I want to focus on, is a process of sanctification, the day to day dealings with our flesh.
Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

A few weeks ago, I was picking up a take-out order at a local restaurant. While I was there, I happened to overhear some woman telling her daughter that men were just big boys. What surprised me, is that she said it in front of two generations of men in her family, and the men laughed in agreement. I couldn’t have been more offended. Here is a woman who does not realize or respect a man’s place in the family, and two men who do not know they are the priests of their family. Here are two men who have either forgotten what their fathers taught them, or were taught by their mothers and other women that they are worthless as men.

We, as men, are not worthless. We are not just big boys - not that we can act like boys around a camping trip or a bass boat; that’s a different matter altogether - we are priests in our home. We have grown up from being boys. We must put off childish things. Men must realize their place in the home. It’s not politically correct. It’s biblically correct. When feminists are telling us that men are not the head of their home, that men and women are totally equal, and it doesn’t matter what the man’s role in the home is or that the home even needs to consist of a man and a woman, we need to know what the Bible tells us. Men and women are equally sinful, men and women have equal standing in salvation, but men and women have different roles in church and home. Moses met with the men of Israel, not the women, to give them God’s mandates, and they took that word to their families.

Now don’t get what I’m not saying. Women are not some sub-species to be trampled on. They should be more important to us men than anything. It is for us to love them, to protect them, and to esteem them as we esteem ourselves.

Men are called to be men, not big boys. We are called to love our wives. We are called to be responsible for our families. We are responsible for giving our wives the opportunity to be our crowning glory as we are the crowning glory of God. We are responsible for their every wrinkle. We are responsible for our children. When we give up our responsibility of our families to anyone, we become big boys. Boys have no cares, no responsibilities, no respect given to them. They won’t make the big sale, they must be cared for and provided for, because they are only boys. Don’t be just a big boy. God may have called boys, but He didn’t call them to stay boys. He called them to become men.

1 Comment »

Men are typically hunters by nature. We generally do not want to humble ourselves and ask for help. I have this philosophy whenever I go to the store, if I can’t find it, they don’t have it. It’s a very flawed philosophy, but most of us are content to search until we “know” there is no solution, or we find a makeshift solution, rather than ask someone who knows more about our situation than we do. It works the same way when we try to work out our problems rather than asking our all-knowing and sovereign God for the answer. We try to fix it ourselves and end up with bigger problems and more cracks in the vessel. We simply get better answers when we ask someone who knows more than us for help.

Then we have to use what we are given. When God answers our prayers with a plan, resources, talent, or people, we have to act on what God gives. Action without prayer is useless. Prayer without action is useless. We have to stay in the cycle of prayer and action; just like reading an instruction manual and doing each step as it is described.

Third, we cannot get upset when God’s plan doesn’t match ours, besides, God is the expert. He will fulfill the desires of our heart. If you want to reach the nations, He may not simply send you on a missions trip. He may give you the resources and talent to create an international organization or a website that is seen around the world. Just because it isn’t our plan, doesn’t mean that we can’t be successful in accomplishing it.

God calls for the proper stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure. That means prayer, study of the Word, using our resources wisely, asking God for wisdom and help.

No Comments »

I met an old salesman today whom, when I first met, seemed like the type of man every younger man looks up to- Past retirement age and still on top of his game. I liked him because he wasn’t pretty, nor did he try to be- he had grown accustomed to himself. Relatively speaking, I’m a newcomer to sales, and being involved in men’s work I am constantly surveying my surroundings watching how both young and old men interact, so I was interested to see what this veteran had to say when he approached me, and what sage mentoring he would offer- I’m into the whole young guy/old guy relationship thing.

I was on the lot by myself, trying to familiarize myself with the inventory when I realized he was there. “Where did you work before?”, he asked. I told him how I had been in the insurance industry and had naively trusted that those leading me were always telling the truth. Being into the whole mentoring thing leaves a few weak places in my armor exposed, so I tend to fall into it and blind myself to being used.

I examined his face, noticing that this man was a veteran of life. His left ear had a bandage on it, and it was clear that at some time in his past he had had some accident or sickness as his face was somewhat unbalanced, signs of a surgery that probably formed this man and gave him the distinctive persona of survivor and warrior. As I marvelled at the character and longevity of this man of ages, I noticed my defenses raise in preparation for a sucker punch. Continue Reading »

3 Comments »

What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men — men of prayer.

- E. M. Bounds

No Comments »

A man who has been a good Christian friend of mine for many years has recently, after being accused, confessed to gross sexual sins. Sin that had been going on for years, maybe all of the years (16) I have known him, He, like many of us, has had his struggles over the years. However, outwardly, he seemed to be doing fine. Teaching, extremely active in his church, a faithful member and a leader in his congregation as well as in his community. It came as a shock to everyone that knew him. He leaves a wife and five children in shock and wondering what their future holds for them.

It leaves me wondering what drove him to serve the way he did. I can only come to one conclusion - GUILT.

The guilt and shame he carried inside must have been the driving force. It pressed him to do more and more to try to cancel the debt he was feeling from his sin, sin he had still not repented of.

What appeared to be a life lived out of a passion and love for the Savior was actually being lived by a passion to alleviate the weight of sin, lust that he refused to lay at the feet of Jesus, lust that he loved and craved more than a relationship with the one who could free him completely. He literally had to deny the power of his God, refuse the prodding of the Holy Ghost and conciously choose his sin over deliverance and restoration numerous times over the years.

The collapse of his house has been great and all have witnessed it - there was no real foundation.

We cannot deliver ourselves. We cannot serve the Most High God out of guilt. Godly sorrow brings repentance and salvation, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2Cor. 7:10)

1 Comment »

I don’t think Dr Kings comments constitute “condemnation”. It seems to me that it simply points out the underlying issues that brought about the sin. Consider the following post in the blog:
—————————-
“This is an issue of fundamental brokenness in the area of his manhood. Ted might be a sound leader, might be a sound husband or a father, but unless he is a sound man - he is limited in terms of who he is and what he can become.

Your talent can take you places that your character can’t sustain you.

If you don’t deal with who you are as a man, you can never reach your potential as husband and father let alone touching the world in a meaningful way over time.”
—————————

Both of the Biblical men mentioned in the comment were used by the Holy Ghost as examples to send a message of warning to men of all ages that behavior like this will lead to misery, pain, and destruction to them and to multitudes of people around them.

David’s sin cost him the life of his sons and the stability of his family and his kingdom.

Samson’s cost him his freedom, his eyesight and eventually his life. And though his story of faith and might are renown, he brought about no lasting change in the nation due to his inability to be obedient.

Both men’s inability to curb their sexual appetites led them to destruction. God’s desire and ability to bless these men in the midst of their sin in no way minimizes his disapproval of it.

Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

This is an issue of fundamental brokenness in the area of his manhood.Ted might be a sound leader, might be a sound husband or a father, but unless he is a sound man - he is limited in terms of who he is and what he can become.

Your talent can take you places that your character can’t sustain you.

If you don’t deal with who you are as a man, you can never reach your potential as husband and father let alone touching the world in a meaningful way over time.

http://story.news.ask.com//article/20061106/D8L7IL980.html

1 Comment »