Reasons Why it's Great to be a Man

Most of the time we address fairly serious topics on this blog--stuff dealing with faith, career and family. Even politics. But once in a while we just want to have some fun. Here’s a list of "reasons why it’s great to be a man," taken from a book I read recently. The list brought a smile to my face. I think it will do the same for you. Drum roll please:

Reasons Why It’s Great to be a Man:

• Your last name stays put
• Chocolate is just another snack.
• Car mechanics tell you the truth.
• You don’t care if someone doesn’t notice your new haircut.
• You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt
• Wrinkles add character.
• Wedding dress: $ 5000; Wedding Tux: $100.
• Shoes do not cut or mangle your feet.
• One mood, all the time.
• Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
• You can leave the hotel bed unmade.
• You get credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
• If you are 34 and single, no one notices.
• You are not expected to know the names of more than five colors.
• You never have to drive to another gas station because this one's just too icky looking.
• You can quietly watch a game with your buddy without thinking, "He’s mad at me."

Source: Jolly Jokes for Older Folks by Bob Phillips (Harvest House)

My Cable Addiction

Recently I fell prey to an ugly addiction. It tore me from my family, cost me money I didn't have, and left me in a nearly catatonic state for hours at a time. No, it wasn’t drugs. Not quite. I was addicted to cable TV.

I was primed for the addiction. I grew up without TV and during my bachelor days I subsisted on "poverty vision," which included whatever channels I could get with bunny ears and clever furniture arrangement. Finally, as a married man, I was ready for the real thing.

"Come on, honey." I said. "It will just be for the playoffs."

Well, the playoffs came and went. But I had become one with the couch, flipping through channels incessantly. And this wasn’t just basic cable. I went for the full package. A few times my frustrated wife snatched the remote from my hand—how dare she!—and I went scrambling after it like a skid row junkie. I had a problem. There was only one way out.

I cancelled it.

Cable was stealing time from my family and God. Prayer and devotions were replaced with ESPN and Law and Order. Most people don’t abuse TV like that. But I think we can all identify areas where our time can be better spent. When something threatens our family and spiritual life we need to nip it in the bud.

Have a Philippians 4:8 Attitude

Your attitude is completely learned. This is great news. It means your attitude can be improved when you make a concerted effort to do so. And when your attitude improves, your whole life improves. Since attitude is so important why not shoot for an ultra-positive attitude?

An ultra-positive attitude is a way of thinking that attracts opportunities and creates contentment. It’s a mindset that keeps you healthy, optimistic and resilient when dealing with the inevitable ups and downs of life.

The key to developing this kind of attitude is best expressed through the words of the apostle Paul. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Remember, what gets impressed through your habitual thinking gets expressed through your circumstances. Whatever you think about the most never remains a secret for long. Thinking, talking and worrying about what you don’t want can never bring you what you do want.

The downside of our human nature quietly nudges us to emphasize what’s unavailable and minimize what is available. It’s so easy to get consumed with the obstacles and forget about the goals. It’s so easy to entertain hostile, turbulent thoughts about the future and miss the gift of the present. I encourage you to start thinking through the lens of Philippians 4:8. This is the key to developing an attitude worth imitating.

Tommy Newberry is the author of The 4:8 Principle available from Tyndale House Publishers this September.

Take a Vacation ... from Yourself

From time to time, it's a wise idea to schedule some special rejuvenation time. You can't get out of your body, of course, but you can hit the "refresh" button on your mind. You can accomplish this by changing some of your habits, especially your thinking, for a week or so.

During this time, make an extra effort to dissolve all variations of negativity, including criticizing, complaining, condemning, self-pity, and worry. At the minimum, just postpone these self-defeating habits. Think of it as healthy procrastination.

If you normally read a lot in the evenings, try watching a little TV instead. And if you typically watch TV each night, give it up for a week and just read. If you hardly ever read fiction, then find a classic novel and dig into it. In the morning, read a different newspaper. Or maybe take a week off from the news altogether.

Enjoy some food that’s unusual for you, and shop for it at a different grocery store. Take an alternative route to your office in the morning and pay attention to the new sites along the way, as well as the humorous facial expressions on your fellow commuters.

Avoid the usual exercise routine. If you typically run, then try walking or vice versa. Or maybe try exercising during lunch or for a longer period of time, or with a partner if you normally do it solo. Visit some friends that you haven’t seen much lately or make an effort to initiate a friendship.

Shake up your spiritual life as well. Worship at a new church or try praying in a different way. Revamp your morning devotion. Mix in some fresh disciplines or simply substitute some new rituals in lieu of your normal routine. Consider rereading your favorite inspirational classic or maybe just practicing solitude or meditation if you don’t do that already.

These are just a few ways to "stir up the pot" and create a vacation from yourself. You can devise many more approaches, but it’s up to you to take the initiative. You can always return home from this brief getaway, but you might just find you like it too much to come back. It is worth thinking about.

Tommy Newberry is the author of Success Is Not an Accident and The 4:8 Principle available from Tyndale House Publishers this fall.

George W Bush impersonator John Morgan at GMA Week

Is Mitt Romney a Christian?

"I believe in God, believe in the Bible, and believe Jesus Christ is my Savior."

So said the tall, statuesque man from behind a podium as he addressed the congregation. But he was not a pastor. And this wasn't church. The words came from candidate Mitt Romney at the second Republican presidential debate. The presidential hopeful, a lifelong Mormon, sounded like an evangelical Christian.

Romney’s prominence has placed Mormonism center stage and once again raised the question: Are Mormons really Christians?

They want us to think so. In recent years, the Latter Day Saints have been increasingly insistent on their Christian status. And many Mormons, like Romney, craft their language to garner inclusion by mainstream Christians. I remember touring the Polynesian Cultural center in Hawaii, which is run by the LDS church. Before showing us the temple my tour guide smiled broadly and announced to the group, "I love Jesus with all my heart."

Unfortunately, proclamations of affection for Jesus, no matter how heartfelt must be qualified. I hate to be a grumpy heresy hunter, but Mormonism is defined by significant departures from (and additions to) biblical and historic Christianity. Ultimately it’s God’s job to decide who is truly a Christian. But as men representing Christ we need to stand up for the nonnegotiable doctrines of our faith. And Mormonism denies or twists lots of them.

Six Habits of Spiritually Happy Men

I've been meeting with men for over three decades. Many of those men exude a contagious joy and contentment. Their lives are peaceable, orderly, and recommend Christ. They’re downright happy!

Most of these happy men exercise six spiritual habits that keep them "abiding in Christ." These six habits are not litmus tests that you can use to judge a man’s walk with Christ. That would be extremely dangerous. These habits do nothing to improve a man’s record with Jesus. They are, however, indicators or “clues” of a deeper commitment to live by faith and make a difference in the world.

Habit #1: Spiritually happy men read the Bible regularly.

They love God's word, and want to regularly read and meditate on the Bible. I've never known a single man whose life has changed in any significant way apart from the regular study of God's Word.

Habit #2: Spiritually happy men pray with their wives.

Praying with your wife symbolizes a depth of relationship with God and each other. Shaun from Bozeman, Montana asked his men’s group, "How many of you pray with your wives?" Only one of the eight men answered, "Yes." For the last year they have been holding each other accountable. Here’s what Shaun has to say….

The benefits when we are obedient in this area are amazing. Here are some comments from the men when they pray with their wives on a consistent basis:

-I feel a closeness to my wife that wasn't there before
-Communication between us is better
-The petty things are just not a big deal anymore

Habit #3: Spiritually happy men are in a small group.

Consultant Pat MacMillan surveyed over 2,500 Promise Keepers who had kept their promises. He asked them, "Who helped you keep them?" The two overwhelming answers given were, "My wife" and "My church-based small group." Focus on getting men into small groups.
Spiritually happy men are personally vulnerable and seek to be held accountable by other men. This group might be with a few men, or only one other man. It might meet for Bible study, discussion, fellowship, prayer, accountability, or a combination.

Habit #4: Spiritually happy men are active in a church.

Active church involvement is the overflow of a deeper work that Christ is doing in a man’s heart. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
If you are not in a church, find one. If you are not active in your church, set an appointment with your pastor and say, "Give me an assignment…I’m ready." He will know what to do next.

Habit #5: Spiritually happy men tithe.

Generosity is a highly underrated source of happiness. I’ve never known a man who tithed who was not happy. On the other hand, I’ve known a lot of guys who have not tithed and were miserable.

Someone may argue that tithing is not New Testament. I agree that the New Testament concept is proportionate giving: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income" (1 Corinthians 16:2). But wait! The Old Testament also says give in proportion: "Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy 16:17). Both Old and New Testament suggest proportionate giving!

So what is the “benchmark” for proportionate giving? What does the New Testament say? In Matthew 23:23 Jesus said, “For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.” Tithing is our benchmark and, by the way, it’s the minimum—but I wouldn’t push that too far.

Habit #6: Spiritually happy men are serving the Lord.

Personally, I would rather die for a worthy cause than live for no reason. And I think most men feel the same way.

Once a man has been in the real presence of Jesus, he will never be happy until he finds a way to express his gratitude through love and good deeds. Brother Lawrence put it this way, "I tell you that this sweet and loving gaze of God insensibly kindles a divine fire in the soul which is set ablaze so ardently with the love of God that one is obliged to perform exterior acts to moderate it."

Business leader, author, and speaker, Patrick Morley helps men to think more deeply about their lives, to be reconciled with Christ, and to be equipped for a larger impact on the world. Visit his Web site, http://www.maninthemirror.org/