Raising Real Men

Is that a shocking statement from a politically conservative, evangelical Christian? It’s meant to be. We need to hear it. As I listen to the comments following the State of the Union, the latest debates and the primary voting, there is a lot of harsh rhetoric being hurled around. Last night one of my sons read someone’s…
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Every year I try to collect a few things from the news that speak to manhood — either a great example of true, noble, God-honoring masculinity, or a cautionary example of how easily we men fall victim to our own weaknesses.  Every year, there are plenty of examples of both types. We don’t claim these…
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This morning I went into the hospital for a medical procedure. “Who will be driving you home?” Our 16 year old had brought me because they hadn’t mentioned someone 18 or older would need to sign the discharge paperwork, so he’d headed home. “I don’t know. My son went to trade with one of his…
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“We’d like for you to sing traditional carols at the Tree Lighting.” “Wonderful, that is just what we love to do.” Our homeschool history club advisor was glad when the organizers of our town’s tree lighting ceremony finally called. It was someone different this year and we needed to know how long they wanted us…
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When the outnumbered defenders of the Alamo refused the Mexicans’ demand to surrender, General Santa Anna ordered his buglers to play “El Deguello” – a call meaning “no quarter”, a signal that no prisoners would be taken, and anyone surviving the assault would be put to the sword. As everyone knows, that’s precisely what happened…
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Fabled career goes up in smoke because a subordinate took a wrong turn Joe Paterno spent 46 years coaching football at Penn State University. Last night, the Board of Trustees told him no, you can’t retire in six or eight weeks. You’re fired, as of now. And he’s not the perpetrator. Joe’s problem really stems from…
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Oddly enough, we were on the way to church when the subject of Halloween costumes came up. Our approach to the event has been contrarian from the start

 “What is it that drives people to dress like that for Halloween?” my wife asked me.  She wasn’t talking about little girls dressed like ballerinas and fairies, but folks of any age play-acting the monster variety. Why, indeed, would anyone want to pretend to be a zombie, a vampire, or a ghost for a few…
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Today is St. Crispin’s Day, my son informs me, the 596th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.    King Henry V of England was hopelessly outnumbered by the approaching French Army, but

Not many movies had me in tears in the opening sequence. “Courageous” did. I’m not an “early adopter” of whatever comes down the road–I think I didn’t upgrade to Windows 95 until Windows 98 came out. Movies are a little different, and there may not be many days left in the theater schedule for this…
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