What should it mean to be a True Man? By and large, our culture tells us that masculinity is toxic. Toxic masculinity is a popular term these days. It's a term used to describe harmful and social destructiveness like misogyny, homophobia, and violent domination. Most today describe masculinity as an attitude or set of social guidelines that are stereotypically associated with manliness. So, the term "toxic masculinity" then is meant to imply that the idea of masculinity or manliness is inherently flawed and bad.

You’ve heard the expression many times before... “A man after God’s own heart.” What does it mean to be a person after the heart of God? Does it mean to model God-like qualities like love, generosity and compassion?

If you desire to be a true man (how God intended), then there will be some areas in your life that you will have to “Man Up” in. As a man, I’m preaching to myself, and I want to challenge you with areas that we all need to man up in:

In my experience trying to engage with someone who has any buy into woke ideology on any issue, especially issues around critical race and gender theory, is generally unproductive. No matter how reasonable and humble I try to be, no matter how well-crafted the words, no matter how unassailable the science, no matter how common-sensical the argument, I would probably be better off not Pursuing the matter.

The Payback Behavior

How do you serve God so that He is is magnified in your life? Churches are filled with servants of the Lord, and I want to tell you not to be a servant. And I’m basing it on Acts 17:25:

I think you can dishonor God by serving God. That’s what that text actually says. Let’s let say it another way  Mark 10:45

In the organic world, whether crickets or churches, DNA is the internal code that maintains the integrity of each multiplied unit. In crickets, it is DNA that encodes each cell with its proper process and place in the body. The cricket is correctly reproduced only if its DNA is correctly reproduced.

The book of Joel is really divided into two parts. In 1:1–2:27 we read about a crazy locust plague that came over Israel as a judgment from God and how the people repented and God restored them. Then in 2:28 to the end of the book we read about how God at some future time is going to pour out his Spirit to bless his people and how he is going to gather for judgment the nations that have rejected him and his people.

There are some things you never say out loud, even though you know they are true. If you utter these secrets people can easily misunderstand you. Or maybe you might decide they aren't really. So you keep your mouth shut, and they remain secrets.

It doesn’t take much to realize we are living in times that are difficult to navigate. Political tensions with new corruption intensity every day that are domestic and foreign all connected globally. Cities and states with unbelievable violence issues. Sexual identity issues that are just crazy to even describe. Economic issues. Border issues. Disease issues. Education issues. Sex and slave trafficking issues. Injustice issues everywhere. Media corruption and information issues. But beyond the national and international level, what makes most of our lives difficult are the personal and private pains we carry around.

Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah” which means “Anointed One“ In Biblical times this was a familiar term to the Jewish people. They also understood that a special authority was given to the one God anointed. Israelite kings were “anointed” with Gods power as they ruled. In Jesus’ day, Israel put there hope in a figure that would restore them to the days of former glory, as in the kingdom of David.