Hello everyone,
What I got for Christmas: A nasty cold virus! We left for our lake house Monday morning, looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation, and spent the time dealing with sneezing, runny noses, and watery eyes. We had to come back to Ericson to get rested up and ready for Sunday.
We found time for a little ice fishing, but the ice isn’t as thick as I’d like, and with thawing temperatures every day, we were somewhat limited in where we fished. It was still good to get away for a short time and a change of scenery.
Alex and I have spent a few hours watching football on television during “bowl week.” I’m always interested to see the variety of commercial ads during these games. We are told everything from what car or truck to drive, what is the latest fad in electronic gadgets, the best products to help us appeal to members of the opposite sex, and even what beverage to drink.
One ad that caught my attention was for a particular brand of hard liquor. In it, this so-called “Man’s man” is telling men to dress like men, etc., and above all to “drink like a man.”
My response to that kind of advertising is this: A real man doesn’t base his manhood on his preference in liquor, the car he drives, or his brand of cologne. The Biblical view of what makes a real man is based entirely on what’s in his heart, not on what’s in his bottle, his driveway, or his bathroom cabinet.
What’s my point? In this new year, men, let’s forget about Madison Avenue’s view of manhood, dust off those Bibles and find out what makes a real man. Here are a few verses for starters:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Be courageous and strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). Be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith (Titus 2:2).
Married men, be considerate of your wives, and treat them with respect… so that nothing will hinder your prayers (1 Peter 3:7).
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
These are just a few of many scriptures relating to husbands, fathers, and men in general. Perhaps if we were more focused on these manly attributes, instead of the ones promoted by advertising gurus, our society would be in much better condition.
What if we were to do a better job of following God’s standards? Might we make a difference?
Just thinking,
Pastor Jerry
sandhillspastor 