Our generation hears the word integrity, and it seems to mean “honest and good.” A man of integrity is a man who won’t steal or lie. We pick this up just from hearing the way the word is commonly used. It takes our understanding a bit further, though, to know the word integrity is…
A Broader Vision
Every culture has its ideal vision of masculinity. Sociologist Erving Goffman once wrote, “In an important sense there is only one completely unblushing male in America: a young, married, white, urban, northern, heterosexual, Protestant, father, of college education, fully employed, of good complexion, weight, and height, and a recent record in sports… Any male who…
Becoming a Man of Action
Fighting Your Way Up There is an old saying: champions don’t become champions in the ring—they are merely recognized there. That’s true. If you want to see where someone develops into a champion, look at his daily routine. Former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier stated, “You can map out a fight plan or a life plan.…
All Relationships Are Going Somewhere
Here’s something I heard recently. “Men move toward whatever makes them feel competent.” As soon as I heard that I knew it was true. Every man I know migrates toward something that makes him feel powerful and in control. If it’s work, he puts in more hours, if it’s sports he’s constantly at the gym.…
How God the Father Initiates a Man
Desperate for Initiation A man needs to know his name. He needs to know he’s got what it takes. And I don’t mean “know” in the modernistic, rationalistic sense. I don’t mean that the thought has passed through your cerebral cortex and you’ve given it intellectual assent, the way you know about the Battle of Waterloo or the ozone…
What Makes a Man a Man?
Football has been dealt a credibility blow lately with the allegations against some of the NFL’s bigger stars. It raises some questions: Are we looking up to the wrong people? Are there no football players we can look to as role models? Tim Brown was a star wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders. He stood…