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Nature and God’s Power

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:14:00 +0000

It seems like the earth has been going through an unusually high number of natural disasters recently. Obviously there was the horrifying earthquake in Haiti, followed by quakes in Chile, China and, as of this morning, Afghanistan. We’ve also seen the volcanic eruption underneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier and the subsequent ash cloud that has shut down European air travel.

All these disasters have challenged the Christian community to reach out with as much prayer and support as it can. And please, if you can send support to any of these responder groups, do.

The string of events has also made me think about how easy it is for us to forget about the power of nature—and the one who created it. In biblical times, the natural world had a much more direct, immediate impact on people. They were reliant on good weather for crops and their livelihoods. Today in the United States, a bad growing season can mean higher prices in the produce section. For people back then—and many people in developing worlds today—good crops mean life and death.

Today it takes a giant ash cloud to shut down our travel. Back then, a simple thunderstorm could shut down travel on the land and the sea. Sailors were much more at the mercy of the weather, as evidenced by the plight of Jesus and the apostles during the night He walked on water. Before lightning rods, lightning was a constant source of worry for the fires it would cause.

The power of creation just had a more direct influence on the people of the Bible, and it naturally led to a more dependent view of God (whoever their God, or gods, might be). When something is out of your control, you can’t depend on yourself. Today we have much more control over the effects nature has on us, and therefore we are less dependent on God and His provision. But sometimes things happen that make us realize there are more powerful forces in this world than humanity. Ultimately, there is nothing we can do to escape the power of the God who created the world.

C.S. Lewis once wrote that nature is a way of helping us understand God. How do we understand what “big” is? How do we describe it? We use images from nature: mountains, the earth or the universe. Authors throughout the Bible use nature to help us understand the characteristics of God. David even spells it out for us in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (NIV).

Unfortunately, we still live in a fallen world, and sometimes nature reveals the power of God in ways we wished it would not. When that happens, we have to band together and show other characteristics of God, such as love and compassion, to one another. But let’s not witness the impact an earthquake, hurricane or volcano can have on our lives and continue to think we are in complete control.

Let’s remember that we are reliant on God’s mercy for every breath we breathe, and let’s look forward to the day when we will be able to enjoy God’s restored creation—free from the devastations of sin.

Tiger's New Nike Ad and the Importance of Fathers

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:21:00 +0000

If you've been awake at any point in the last four days, you've undoubtedly seen or heard about the controversial new Nike ad featuring Tiger Woods and his late father. It features a grainy, black-and-white close-up shot of a somber Tiger while the voice of Earl Woods questions him: "I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. And, did you learn anything?"

It's certainly a bold move for the sportswear giant to bring up Tiger's personal life in such a blatant way just as he is returning to professional golf with his appearance last week at the Masters. It raises a lot of questions and has provoked a variety of reactions. Some people are calling it genius, some are calling it inappropriate, and some think it's just creepy.

What I find interesting about the story isn't as much the content of the ad as the sheer magnitude of public reaction it's garnering. Clearly it is striking a chord with people. Why? The questions being asked of Tiger are ones he already has answered in interviews with reporters. What's different this time? It's different because his dad is the one asking the questions.

The relationship between fathers and sons is a very personal one to men. You don't often see it talked about publicly; and when it is, it often arouses deep emotions. It's why every guy cries at the end of Field of Dreams, and it's why people are so caught up on this 30-second advertisement.

Tiger, who approved the ad, called it "very apropos."

"I think that's what my dad would say," he told reporters Thursday. "It's amazing how it—how my dad can speak to me from different ways, even when he's long gone. He's still helping me."

Earl Woods is not a new name to sports fans. The story of his involvement in the early development of Tiger's golfing abilities is almost legendary. Tiger has mentioned him frequently as his role model, mentor and friend. Probably the most touching moment of Tiger's career was when he won the British Open after his father's death in 2006 and broke into tears after the last putt—a rare display of emotion from him. He dedicated the victory to his father.

However, also well known is that Earl was divorced from Tiger's mother and was not a faithful husband. Given the firestorm of drama around Tiger's own affairs, the ad seems to bring up the question of how much Earl had to do with his son's infidelities. Did he display habits that led to his son's problems? Would he have been able to steer Tiger in a better direction if he were still alive?

These are questions only Tiger can answer, but they are certainly ones to think about for every father and son out there. If you're a dad, it's a stark reminder of how much influence you have on your son's life and how important it is to raise him to love God. If you are a son, it's a call to live a life your father would be proud of.

The story of Tiger Woods over the last six months is the story of how much pain and tragedy sin can cause in a man's life. Let's learn the lesson and follow after God and His love every day of our lives.

When God Makes Us Wait

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:49:00 +0000

By Chris Glazier

One of the toughest and most valuable things God teaches us as Christian men happens when He asks us to wait. I’m not talking about waiting for the weekend or your next issue of New Man. I’m talking about the big stuff.

Every guy knows what this feels like: There’s something in life you really want. It could be a job, a promotion, a relationship or a resolution to a problem. You want it badly. You work for it, you pray about it, you do everything you can to pursue it. Sometimes, though, God asks you to wait and trust Him.

It’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen in life, because usually that thing we are praying for is good for us. Good, pure motives are behind it, and it would help us in life. Thus, the dilemma: We don’t understand why we have to wait for it.

One of the main reasons this happens is found in Romans 5:3-5: “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (NKJV).

If God gave us everything we wanted or needed the moment we asked for it, we would never learn anything. One of the primary ways He produces character and faith in us is by making us wait and trust Him. He isn’t going to give us this thing immediately, and He’s also not going to show us exactly how we’re going to get it in the long run. He asks us to trust Him.

This Easter reminded me of how hard it must have been for the disciples to wait after Jesus’ crucifixion. They were hiding out in a house, wondering if they were going to be arrested, feeling hopeless because Jesus had just been killed. I can’t imagine a more desperate situation.

Yet Jesus had told them—repeatedly—He was going to come back. He didn’t tell them how He would do it or exactly what the circumstances would be. There was no roadmap for the resurrection. But He did tell them that He would come back, and He asked them for a huge leap of faith to believe it.

He is still asking for faith like that. If you are feeling desperate, waiting for something that God hasn’t answered yet, don’t let it get to you. Let the Holy Spirit work in you through your trial to produce character, hope and faith. Learn to trust that God will answer your prayers, even though it may be in His timing.

A Soldier in God's Army

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:34:00 +0000

I’ve interviewed a number of missionaries over the last few months for New Man, and, honestly, I feel like a spiritual bum. Seriously, these guys are doing such awesome things for the Lord that I feel like Paulie standing next to Rocky Balboa.

Paul Richardson, the guy we feature in our Q&A today, grew up among headhunters and cannibals in Indonesia—in the remote eastern jungles of the largest Muslim country in the world. His parents brought him back to America as a teenager, but as a young adult he want back to Indonesia to set up Christian-education centers. I have trouble bringing up spiritual conversations with my co-workers, much less with headhunters.

Carl Medearis, the guy we featured last week, is a missionary to Muslims in the Middle East who lived in Lebanon for 12 years. He recently met with leaders of Hezbollah and two of Osama bin Laden’s brothers so he could show them love and learn what it means to truly love your enemies. I have trouble showing love to my neighbors who cook smelly food and stink up our apartment.

Mike Yankoski, whom I talked with a few months ago, once spent five months living as a homeless man to learn how to love the poor. I haven’t volunteered at a homeless shelter since college.

These men have amazing lives, and it’s downright inspiring to see how close they are to the Lord and how important and clear His calling is to them. They are willing to go to extreme places, abandoning the comforts and safety of their homes to reach people who desperately need the gospel.

I always feel convicted after talking with men like this—and I should. However, the funny thing is that, when I really pray and think about it, I don’t feel convicted about where I live or what I’m doing. Instead, I feel convicted about how good a job I’m doing where God has placed me.

See, I think of guys such as Richardson and Medearis as the special-forces soldiers of God’s army. They’re doing the dangerous, outrageous, crazy assignments. That’s what He has called them to do.

Me? I’m a regular enlisted man. I live in suburban America. I have an apartment, a job and a wife. I’m not called to tell headhunters about Jesus; I’m called to tell my neighbors and co-workers about Jesus. I’m not called to give all my money away and live as a homeless man; I’m called to give as much money as I can. I’m not called to pray with leaders of Muslim nations; I’m called to pray with my wife.

God has given me a specific area of responsibility, and I need to do my best to fill the role He has given me now. Will the Holy Spirit lead me in new directions and ask me to do more in the future? I’m sure He will. But, for now, I am where I am for a reason, and I need to listen for God’s voice every day to find out how I can be an influence on those around me.

How Does God Talk to You?

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

Answers to this question will probably vary based on your background and Christian experience, but I’d like to ask it anyway: How do you hear God’s voice?

I’ve been around a lot of different types of Christians and heard a lot of different answers to that question. I’ve known men who say they regularly hear from God in a clear, obvious way. They know exactly what God is saying to them and confidently move forward.

I’ve been around other men who say the way God talks to them is through the Bible. Reading God’s Word, meditating on it and praying leads them to an understanding of God’s voice and God’s will for them.

I’ve met guys who say they hear from God regularly, like a daily, ongoing conversation. I’ve met other guys who say that God speaks to them only on rare occasions of importance.

I’ve known men who feel that God speaks to them through their experiences and circumstances. They’ll be moving through life, working through something or contemplating something, and the situation puts them in a position in which, all of a sudden, it feels like God is really telling them something.

Finally, I’ve known Christians who take a more questioning, skeptical view of God’s voice. Not wanting to mistake His for something else, they will question the motivations behind what they’re hearing. They will double-check, probe and make sure that God has really spoken to them.

If you’re anything like me, you can relate to almost every group. I think I’ve experienced God’s voice in every way previously mentioned, plus more. God rarely talks to me in the same way every time, but one of the coolest things about the Holy Spirit is that when He does talk to me, I can recognize it.

I may be deep in prayer or driving my car. I may be reading my Bible or reading the news. I may hear a clear, obvious voice or a subtle whisper that is felt more than understood. I may feel close to God at the time or distant from Him. Regardless of the circumstance, when God speaks, I try to recognize it and listen.

So how does God speak to you?

What Lost Says About Being a Man

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:56:00 +0000

My wife and I have been getting into the TV show Lost recently (I know, we're really late to the party), and one of the things that has struck me is just how much it speaks to the topic of manliness.

Even if you've never seen the program, I'm sure you know generally what it's about: A group of people crash-landed on an island and have to survive together. They not only must figure out how to stay alive, but they also must face the pressures of living together. Throw in some bizarre mysteries occurring in the jungle, and you have a situation that is going to show what people are truly made of.

One of the interesting themes brought up in the show is the difference between who the characters were before the crash and who they are on the island. Such things as income levels, arrest records and so forth that mean a lot in the real world don't mean much on a deserted island. Instead, being skilled at fishing, hunting, shooting and construction mean a lot more. For instance, one character was a useless cubicle drone for a box company before the crash, but he's also an expert knife hunter, which makes him invaluable.

It naturally makes you question your manliness. If I was stuck on an island, what could I offer? Would I be able to protect people or provide food or shelter? Has our current culture taken away some of these manly qualities? In some ways I believe it has, but one of the cool things about life—and Lost—is that nothing is very simple.

As the show goes along, for example, and the group figures out the basics of how to survive, the other qualities of the characters become much more important. Suddenly leadership, integrity, friendship, wisdom and even faith become more crucial. These traits aren't as obviously useful as being able to hunt, for instance, but they're more important in the long run.

I think a lot of the time we can focus too much on the obvious male characteristics in our lives as well. I wish I were a little stronger, I wish I were a little more handy, and I wish I could fish better. But, in the long run, manliness is more about character than skills. A real man has integrity and wisdom and is a leader. When I think of the greatest, manliest man ever, He did have some sweet skills as a carpenter, but they were not what made Him great.

Learning to Talk With My Wife Is Life-Changing

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:24:00 +0000

If you're like me, talking about your problems, issues and fears comes about as naturally as shaking hands with your left hand (surprisingly difficult and almost always awkward). I'm the type of guy who likes to work things out on my own. If there's a problem at work, I'm going to figure out how to fix it. If there's a weight on my shoulders, I'm going to bear it without complaint. I don't know why—I think it's one of those guy things about not wanting to seem weak in front of others. Regardless, it's just the way I've always been.

My wife, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. If something bad happened at work, we're going to talk about it. If she's got a worry on her heart, we're going to talk about it. If there's even an issue that might be coming up months down the road, we're going to talk about it and plan for it.

When we first started going out, I had no idea how to handle this. I felt like a nerdy white guy with no moves at a dance party (I know how that feels because I am one). Talk about my problems? Why would anyone want to do that? Let's just deal with them ourselves and talk about happy things.

However, over the years, one of the many things about my wife that I thank the Lord for is this desire to talk about our issues. God did not put us on this earth so we could live by ourselves; He made us relational people for a reason. We are not supposed to deal with everything by ourselves. We are not strong enough, smart enough or wise enough to deal, alone, with everything the world puts us through.

Of course, self-sufficiency is still something I struggle with. Last week I got some challenging news that was pressing on my mind. My natural reaction to this sort of thing is to deal with it, pretend it's not a problem and figure out what to do about it. Of course, for the whole time it's on my mind, I'm going to be grumpy and irritable.

So instead of doing what I was inclined to do, I just told my wife what was going on the first time we talked about it. Everything in me was screaming not to, that she would think of me as weaker. Everything in me was wrong. As always, she was wise, encouraging and sympathetic. After a five-minute conversation, the weight was off my shoulders.

Guys, I'm pretty young and I don't know a lot about marriage, but one thing I do know is that this world is tough, especially right now, and we were not meant to handle everything by ourselves. If you have a wife, share everything you're going through with her as soon as you can. It's one of the most intimate things you can do.

For you single guys, make sure you've got one or two friends in whom you can confide. It doesn't have to be about big things, either. Often I've found that in accountability groups, we talk only about things we think are important enough to share—it can make you feel a little weak to share what's really bothering you if it's not an end-of-the-world type problem. But if anything is on your mind, talk to your brothers about it. You'll be amazed at how freeing it is and how much they will relate to you.

Changes Are Coming to 'New Man'!

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:28:00 +0000

By Chris Glazier

In the ever-evolving world of online journalism, we're constantly analyzing the way we do things and looking for ways to make it better. The old rules for print publications no longer apply, and as we figure out the new rules, one of the things we rely on most is your feedback.

Last year one of the things we tried with New Man was a switch to a twice-weekly e-mail. The experiment taught us a lot. One of the main things we found is that you receive a lot of e-mail every week, and having two issues of New Man hit your inbox didn't necessarily make the reading experience better. Out of respect for you and the amount of mail you receive, as of next week we will be switching back to a once-a-week New Man eMagazine, which you will be receiving every Monday.

Along similar lines, we've also been analyzing how many of you actually sit down and read every story in the issue. The answer: not many. Most of you pick a story or two that seem likely to be your favorite and stick with those. To be honest, it's how I read other newsletters as well. We also found that most guys are clicking on similar types of articles every week. Based on that, we will be sticking with the two-article format for the eMagazine. We will be putting only our best two stories in the e-mail, the types of stories you were actually reading anyway. This should make the reading experience a lot easier and quicker for you.

What will we do with the rest of the content previously found in the eMagazine? I'm glad you asked. In the immediate future New Man will be relaunching a significantly improved Web site. The new site will have access to all our old and new stories. It will be much easier to use and updated frequently. Much of the smaller stories and fun stuff will be transitioned to the site.

As always you can rely on New Man to keep you informed on everything relevant to Christian men. Expect plenty of interviews with top Christian leaders, athletes and experts. Expect news that will keep you informed on events that will affect you. Expect honest insights and advice. And expect to have a lot of fun, too.

Our Annual Valentine's Chick-Flick Survival Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Don't worry, guys: Valentine's Day is Sunday, and you know we wouldn't leave you unarmed going into what amounts to the Super Bowl for girls. So we're back with the third annual New Man Chick Flick Survival Guide.

In case this is your first time, here's the deal. We know that we owe the women in our lives a good night this Sunday. They put up with our stupidity, they let us watch a lot of football, and they never get enough credit. Unfortunately, for many women a good night involves a chick flick, and that's where things get tricky. Most of us prefer our movies to have more fighting than flirting.

To help balance your woman's desire for romance with your aversion to sappiness, we've scouted the current chick flicks in the theaters to find the most acceptable solution to your dilemma. Granted, we couldn't stand to actually sit down and watch all these movies one by one, but we did do a lot of investigating.

Here's the lineup, starting with the least appealing:

When In Rome
Any time a fountain of love is prominently involved in a film plot, there should be a big red flag waving in every masculine brain. When in Rome is the cleverly titled movie about a girl (Kristen Bell) from New York who takes a trip to Rome. When in Rome (get it?), she steals coins from a fountain and is immediately set upon by a group of goofy suitors. Amid the zany hijinks, she falls for a journalist played by Josh Duhamel. This fills the romantic-comedy requirement of at least one journalist per film.

You get the feeling with a movie like this that a bunch of movie execs got in a room, put a bunch of chick-flick stereotypes in a hat and just pulled them out to create a plot. New York + Rome + fountain of love + hot journalist + goofy sidekicks = movie.

It's possible that something like this could have been pulled off with an unbelievable cast, but that's not the case here. Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Heroes) and Josh Duhamel (Transformers) have been decent in some lesser parts, but they haven't shown anything approaching the ability needed to save something like this. The goofy suitors feature some decent comedians (Danny DeVito, Will Arnett, Jon Heder) but nobody who's going to make us forget what we're watching.

When in Rome also has the unfortunate timing of releasing a few weeks ago, which means we have piles of negative reviews to browse. By all accounts, most thought that Duhamel and Bell might have been able to pull off a good romantic comedy, but there was no saving this hackneyed, ridiculous screenplay. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press says, "It's all exceptionally predictable and disappointingly laugh-free."

New Man recommendation: Avoid if at all possible. Sedatives might be necessary.

Dear John
Another Valentine's Day, another Nicholas Sparks adaptation. Ever since The Notebook turned out to be one of the best romantic comedies in recent memory, studios have been churning one Sparky adaptation after another. Unfortunately for the men of the world, The Notebook seems to have been a one-hit wonder for Sparks. What we're left with is a series of melodramatic, sappy tearjerkers.

The latest of these cheery flicks is Dear John, which somehow managed to finally knock Avatar out of the top box office spot last week. The film stars Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!) and Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe) as young lovers who know each other for two weeks before Tatum leaves for military service. That's right—two weeks. The rest of the movie details their long-distance relationship as they write letters to each other. If you do happen to get dragged into this movie, don't ask your significant other why they would write paper letters when they could pick up a cell phone. You'll probably get a dirty look.

Although Dear John put up strong box-office numbers last week, we recommend against it. First of all, the leads just don't cut the mustard. Tatum is about as expressive as cardboard, and Seyfried … well, just watch this trailer. You'll get the idea. Lots of crying, lots of sentimentality, and lots of bad acting. This choice line from the trailer seems to sum it all up: "Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way we'll be together all the time, even if we're not together at all."

New Man recommendation: It will probably be better than When in Rome but expect to suppress the urge to roll your eyes quite a bit. There might be some spouse consoling required afterward as well.

Valentine's Day
Like last year, a strong movie choice for Sunday unfortunately isn't there—but of all the options, Valentine's Day shows the most promise. It hasn't released yet, so there's a big question mark about how good it will be, but the cast alone should make it more appealing than the previous films.

Here's a quick rundown, in alphabetical order: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper (pictured), Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine and Taylor Swift. Oh, and Julia Roberts, too (also pictured).

How could they fit such a ridiculous number of stars into one movie? Instead of telling one long story, Valentine's Day is a series of connected short stories that all take place on the day of love. Similar to last year's He's Just Not That Into You, this movie has a style that takes out a lot of the set pieces and fluff that make chick flicks a torture and distills each story down to its bare bones.

This doesn't necessarily mean that it will be a good movie, but the nice thing is that if you hate a particular storyline, you just have to wait a few minutes for the next one to kick in. Plus, you'll probably get a kick out of seeing the sheer amount of recognizable faces they manage to cram onto the screen.

We don't know if Valentine's Day is going to be good, but we know you probably won't enjoy the other two movies. If your wife is in the mood for a big-screen chick flick on Sunday, this is probably the best bet. However, be warned that the PG-13 rating cites "some sexual material and brief partial nudity."

New Man recommendation: It's worth a shot.

Rental Options
If you plan on staying in this Sunday but still want to watch a flick, here are a couple of good options. Careful, though, someone might get you to admit that you secretly like them.

You've Got Mail
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are the ultimate chemistry combo on screen. Throw in a charming script, supporting roles by Greg Kinnear, Dave Chappelle, Steve Zahn and Parker Posey, and you've got a romantic comedy worth watching.

Sabrina
Here's one you might have forgotten about or missed entirely. We prefer the '90s remake to the original, mostly because the new one has Harrison Ford. Watching him play against Greg Kinnear and the lovely Julia Ormond is a treat.

Fireproof
If you really want to make God's love for your marriage hit home, this is a great way to do it. Fireproof was a movie phenomenon last year, and God used it in amazing ways to bring reconciliation to countless marriages.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, guys. Be sure to show your wife or significant other how much she really means to you, and give her the best night you can. If there's one thing worth celebrating, it's the God-given love of your wife.

If you're looking for more ideas about how to truly show your wife that you love her, check out our second eMagazine article today and get them straight from the source's mouth.

Chris Glazier is the editor of New Man. He recently publicly admitted to liking the movie You’ve Got Mail. If you would like to comment on this article or mock him for his movie tastes, you can reach him at chriglazier@yahoo.com.

When I’m Not Hearing From God

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:44:00 +0000

You know those amazing moments in your prayer life when you feel truly in fellowship with the Lord, almost like He’s sitting there with you? You feel the power of His presence, His love and His wisdom. Those are the joyous, wonderful moments in the Christian life, almost like you’re standing on the top of a mountain in communion with the Creator. It’s fantastic—except when it goes away.

The tough part about the Christian walk is that it’s not made up of one long spiritual party on the mountaintop. There are valleys in between those mountains, and they’re not fun. As of this writing, I happen to be in one of the valleys.

Everything seems a little bit harder. I’m still praying, but His voice isn’t coming to me with instant words of wisdom, love and encouragement. I’m still reading and studying, but the lessons don’t seem as powerful, enlightening or awe-inspiring. It’s tough. I feel alone, tired and more out of touch with God.

Why does this happen? Does it mean that my spiritual life is in the dumps? Have I not been doing enough, and now God is punishing me?

I used to think that way. If I wasn’t hearing God’s voice, I used to blame myself and try to force myself to pray more, or more fervently, until I could make myself feel closer to God. I bet you’ve tried that approach as well, since that’s how American men deal with all the other problems in our lives—by working harder. Of course, when it comes to our spiritual lives, it’s never that simple.

But one of the things I’ve learned from God’s Word and older, more mature men in my life is that God doesn’t stick you in spiritual valleys because He’s punishing you. He does it because He knows what’s best for you.

Our Father in heaven is the wisest father of all. He knows exactly what we need. If we need a spiritual epiphany, that’s what our Father will give us. If we need an arm around our shoulder, that’s what our Father will give us. If we need to figure something out for ourselves and toughen up, that’s what our Father will give us.

As Romans 5:3-4 says, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (NIV). If you are in the middle of a valley like I am, know that God hasn’t left you alone. He’s giving you what you need. Have faith that, when this valley is behind you and you are back on the mountaintop, you will look behind you and realize exactly why God did what He did.

Tebow's Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Takes Courage

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Well, fellas, you've just been given another reason to watch the Super Bowl this year. If you haven't heard, Focus on the Family plans to air a pro-life ad featuring Tim Tebow during the big game. In it, the Heisman-winning quarterback and his mother, Pam, will share a personal story centered on the theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life."

Though the ad hasn't aired, the assumption is that it will center on the story surrounding Tebow's birth. When Pam was pregnant with Tim in 1987, she contracted a dangerous infection. She was working as a missionary in the Philippines, and her doctors there recommended an abortion. Pam refused. Now this story is to get 30 seconds of prime-time exposure.

When I first heard about the ad, my initial reaction was, "Uh-oh, that might turn some people off." See, as a Christian (and a Gators fan), I like that everybody likes Tebow. He's the rare public figure who everyone—from the talking heads on TV to the average Joe on the street—can agree is good. The only thing opposing college fans could criticize him for was being too good.

That might change after the ad. By taking a public stance on arguably the most controversial issue in America, Tebow is going to open himself up to a lot of criticism. Pro-choice groups are condemning the spot, calling on CBS to remove it from the Super Bowl XLIV programming.

Of course, nobody has seen the ad yet. But I'm guessing there's no way pro-choice viewers are going to enjoy it. And if they don't, they're certainly not going to feel the same way about Tebow after the ad as they did before it.

However, as much as I'd prefer for everybody to keep liking Tebow, I'm blown away by his courage to stand up for what he believes in. Though he's never been secretive about his view on abortion, he's now blatantly announcing his view to the world by appearing on an advocacy commercial.

In doing so, he's not just risking his current popularity, he's also risking his potential income. How many corporate sponsors will endorse an athlete who goes out of his way to support a controversial opinion?

But here's the thing: The goal of a Christian man's life isn't to be liked by everyone. Jesus certainly wasn't. As Christian men, we are called to stand up for what we believe, speak truth and defend those who can't defend themselves. Certainly we have to balance this truth with love, but trying to avoid controversy altogether is not in the bag. It's the coward's way out.

During an interview with reporters in Mobile, Ala., on Sunday Tebow said, "I know some people won't agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe."

It worked for me. I have even more respect for Tebow than I had before. He knows he has a platform right now, and he doesn't know how long that platform is going to last, so he's using it to stand up for what he believes in.

I admire that.

What do you think?

Haiti Needs the Power of Giving

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:01:00 +0000

I've been reading through the Gospel of John for the last few months, and it's interesting to me just how often John quotes Jesus talking about giving to our neighbors. It's actually been quite convicting to me to realize just how much emphasis He placed not only on sharing His good news with others but also on caring for others.

I think sometimes we underestimate the power of giving. Of course, what's most important in the life of every person is that they accept Jesus and be made new; but nothing communicates Jesus' compassion to others more than our giving to those in need. We are God's agents in this world, and if we are not taking care of our brothers and sisters, how can they see God's love?

Right now we are seeing the greatest outpouring of giving in recent memory. The tragedy in Haiti is astounding. As of this writing, more than 70,000 people have died, and unfortunately that number is expected to rise significantly.

If you're looking for good Christian organizations that will provide both physical and spiritual relief for those suffering in Haiti, I've included a list below. Please give as much as you can. Also, stay tuned to New Man in the coming weeks for more on what Christians are doing in the devastated nation.

World Vision

Convoy of Hope

Samaritan's Purse

Global Aid Network

Click here for more contacts.

How Do You Pray?

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:22:00 +0000

One of the things I'm trying to do a better job with this year is making consistent time for prayer. I've always loved to pray. It's one of those experiences that makes the Lord so much more real in everyday life. When I can feel His presence and communicate with Him, my Christian walk becomes much more palpable, authentic and, frankly, easier.

I've always loved praying, but for some reason I've always struggled to find a daily time for it. I seem to find the time for Him either when I have the day off or when I really need His help. That's not the way to treat someone you love, much less the creator of the universe. "Yeah, God, I would talk today, but You don't understand how busy I am."

I'm sure that I'm not alone in this dilemma (or at least I hope I'm not). So I wanted to ask you, the fantastic New Man readers, for two things. First, how do you find the time to pray regularly? Second, what do you do when you are praying?

As to the second question, I've always found that the praise + thanksgiving + intercession + personal needs formula feels natural to me. I don't follow it every time—sometimes God takes me in different directions. But if I'm not "in the mood" to pray, this pattern works really well.

First, I try taking a few seconds of silence to calm my mind. Then I start to praise God. I praise Him for who He is, what He has created, and the amazing things He has done in my life.

This leads to thanksgiving. After acknowledging how good God is, I find that the things He has done for me (and in spite of me) always seem more amazing—and I want to thank Him for that.

Then I move to intercession, which is probably the most important part of my prayer time. Nothing will make you more loving to your neighbors than praying for them. Oswald Chambers once said, "Discernment is not a call to judgment, but to intercession." You really capture God's heart when you intercede for others.

Last comes prayer for my own life. This is crucial, because God wants me to bring my cares and concerns to Him. However, I'll say that they seem a whole lot different after I've been praying for others. Often by then, my own concerns don't feel like such a big deal.

So that's how I usually do it; but I love trying new things too. How do you pray? Do you have a certain technique or do you just let the Holy Spirit lead you. Also, how do you make time for regular prayer?

The Solution to Post-Christmas Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:23:00 +0000

I hate taking down Christmas decorations. There's nothing more depressing than seeing your happy ornaments and twinkling lights go back into the boxes (or more frustrating than trying to figure out how you fit them in such tiny boxes to begin with). I always have a few sad moments when I realize this season I've been looking forward to for months is now over.

I love Christmas. I love seeing my family, hearing the messages at church, singing hymns, giving and receiving gifts, and enjoying a short break from regular life. That's why Jan. 2 comes as such a rude awakening. Everyone's going back to work and catching up on stuff they put off for the holidays. Plus, what do you have to look forward to? Two more months of winter and the tax season—that's what.

From that standpoint, this time of year stinks. But one thing God has been trying to teach me for several years now is to avoid putting too much stock in the "next big thing." Learning that lesson is hard to do because our culture is fueled by instant gratification and major events. Marketers and advertisers already are trying to get us to spend money for the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day. They're working to redirect our attention so we'll start looking forward to the next big thing.

In a relationship with Jesus Christ, though, the truly important stuff doesn't occur at the moment the next big thing arrives. Sure, we experience Christian events, rallies at churches and moments in our lives that we pinpoint as spiritual hallmarks. But as any experienced Christian knows, a life lived with Jesus is not about those big spiritual peaks; it's about how we walk through the valleys.

Jesus' process for transforming our lives involves changing us every day in small but meaningful ways. He develops passions in us; He develops good habits and routines; He develops love for others. That's why having such things as a regular quiet time and accountability partners are so effective, because they are steady and regular. They will have a much bigger influence on your spiritual life than the "next big thing" that you might look forward to.

Since I don't have another big thing coming up in the near future, I'm looking forward to improving my everyday walk with God at the beginning of this year. I need to take this time to develop routines and a consistent focus on the Lord that will carry me through the rest of the year. With God's help, my everyday life will become full of satisfaction in Him so I won't be as let down when the next big thing comes and goes.

2nd Annual Reader's Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Guys, welcome to the second annual Reader-Contributor Issue of New Man eMagazine. It's been almost two years since New Man switched from a print magazine to an online publication. There are certain things I miss about the print version, but there's also a lot I enjoy about the new format.

First and foremost is the way an online publication gives me the chance to feel closer to readers. Things such as e-mailing and posting comments have opened up new lines of communication between editors and readers, which I see as one of the best things about the new online-journalism world. Yes—even when my columns get ripped apart in the Comments section.

The other thing this new format has fostered is an increased capability for readers to take the next step and become contributors. Maybe you've seen our ad in the corner of each issue offering you a chance to write for New Man. That's something we take seriously. We regularly run stories from guys like you who feel they have something to share with the other Christian men out there.

It's really a blessing to receive thoughts and articles from you guys who read the eMagazine. My own life as a Christian man has been relatively short compared with many of you out there, so I love hearing from those who are wiser than I am.

This issue is dedicated to articles from readers who had something to say and submitted their work. Jeff Fisher's "Four Jobs of an Accountability Partner" is a great, practical example of how to do a difficult job that we all know is of extreme importance. Jason Brooks' "Outstretched Hands" is a poignant, thoughtful piece on the parallels between his father in heaven and his own role as father of a 4-year-old. Daryl Barlow's "The Saul in You" takes the story of David, King Saul and Goliath and uses it to show us the real mentality we need for finding victory in life.

I hope you enjoy their writings as much as I did.

To all of you who have submitted writings to us in the past, I sincerely thank you. I'd also like to encourage any of you who are interested in writing for New Man to e-mail your work to us. We dutifully consider everything that's sent.

Have a great new year!

Our Last-Minute Gift-Buying Guide for Husbands

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:37:00 +0000

It's Dec. 17, so you know what that means. Time to figure out what your wife wants for Christmas! I've heard that some men out there have all their Christmas shopping finished before Thanksgiving. Personally, I believe that's a myth. I've never once met a man who didn't have to make one desperate, last-ditch run to the mall this week for at least a few gifts. My father believes in the "24-hour rule," which states that any gift purchased before Christmas Eve doesn't count.

In our never-ending effort to help you guys out, we offer you the New Man guide to last-minute Christmas shopping. These tips are brought to you by a man with years of experience as a procrastinator—so take advantage of them!

1. Don't buy from kiosks.

I know that it's scary to walk into the women's clothing stores, and I know that it is so much easier just to pick up one of the nice, shiny things on display at the kiosk right in front of you. Even though the nice woman selling the miracle cream from the Dead Sea is convincing, don't give in.

Women know when you get something from a kiosk, and it won't turn out well. One year former New Man editor Drew Dyck purchased a variety of his wife's gifts from the "As Seen on TV" kiosk, thinking they would be a surefire hit. They were an epic failure.

2. Develop your parking skills.

One key to a good last-minute Christmas shopping run is a good parking job. If possible, look for any side entrances, such as the garden areas at Walmart and Target. If there's no entrance there, and the parking lot is a zoo, you have to refine your "follow someone to their car" skills.

Rookies will pick anybody leaving the store and follow them, but experienced Christmas Eve shoppers know that some people take longer get in their cars than others. Never follow someone with kids, someone who looks over the age of 75 or the Herculean woman carrying 18 bags. It will take them so long to get in their cars that you'd be better off parking across the street. The best bet is to find another man like you who is half-running across the lot to get to his next location.

3. Buy chocolate, but not too much.

Chocolate is one of those go-to items every year for the man on a shopping trip. You can't go wrong unless your wife is one of the two women in the U.S. who don't like it. The key with chocolate is not buying too much. It's a delicate balance because every woman wants a little chocolate on Christmas day, but no woman wants to pigout. Plus, in my experience, there's a bigger advantage to buying better quality chocolate than a lot of it. I can't tell the difference between a Snickers bar and a fancy truffle, but my wife can.

4. When in doubt on clothing, go with the smaller size.

Clothing is a risky item to place on the Christmas list. As a gift, it can be a big hit or a dangerous mistake. First of all, it's a good bet never to go with a piece of clothing unless your wife specifically mentioned it beforehand or another woman who knows her recommended it to you. Anything else is a shot in the dark.

More important is finding the right size. Like Rule 3, there's a delicate balance between finding something that fits but also not making your spouse feel bad because you bought the wrong size. If you're stuck between two different sizes, always go with the smaller one. Is she a small or a medium? She's a small. Trust me.

5. Remember this: The smaller the box, the better the gift.

This is a counterintuitive rule for men who think exactly the opposite. To a man, bigger boxes are much more fun. After all, you can't fit a TV or a power tool in a box made for a sweater.

For women, the opposite is true. Smaller boxes tend to contain small, shiny things. If you're that guy staring vacantly at the mall directory this Christmas Eve, keep in mind that women like shiny things.

Of course, the best way to find the right gift is to know your wife. If you know what she likes, then you're going to find things she will love. If she likes to be pampered, get her a spa treatment. If she likes to go outdoors, get her something for that. If she likes nice dinners, go for a gift card and a reservation.

In my experience, it's not about how much you spend; it's about how much you thought about it and how well the gift matches her. Or how shiny it is.

You're Still a Good Man, Charlie Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:48:00 +0000

When I was a kid, I remember hearing adults complain about the holiday season. They would whine about how busy they were, how difficult traveling was and how tight finances were. I also remember thinking these people were insane. How could you complain about Christmas?

Of course, the older I get, the more I understand. When I was a kid, I didn't realize how busy, expensive and complicated this time of year gets. I didn't know how painful this time of year can be for lonely people. I didn't know about debates over politically correct phrases or that Santa and Jesus could be competing for our attention.

Few things about Christmas seem to be as special as they were when I was a kid, but there's one little pop-culture Christmas tradition that seems never to get old and remains special: A Charlie Brown Christmas.

There's something about good ol' Chuck's take on Christmas that seems to never age. For one thing, it's a great little movie. It's clever, well-written and features the timeless jazz recording from the Vince Guaraldi Trio, possibly the best Christmas music out there.

But, of course, the reason A Charlie Brown Christmas manages to stay fresh and powerful since its debut in 1965 is the fact that it features the real Christmas story. Every time Linus gets up to perform his poignant reading of Luke 2:8-14, I get the same chills that I got when I was a kid. It's a profoundly simple message delivered by an untrained child actor, but it somehow manages to convey the love of God every time I see it.

It's amazing that the little movie even managed to make it to the tube at all. When it was first made, producers balked at the child actors, jazz music and especially the Bible reading. They thought kids would be bored. But creator Charles Schulz, a Christian, was adamant about the movie, particularly the reading. A behind-the-scenes feature said that when producers talked to him about removing the scene, Schulz remarked, "If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?"

Thank goodness he did. Now the good news of Jesus Christ humbling Himself and taking the form of human flesh gets aired to a national audience year after year, completely unedited. It still makes me feel like a kid every time I watch it, but more important, it reminds me what all this hubbub is truly about.

The Tiger Woods Scandal Is Simply Sad

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Unless you don't follow sports or news, or unless you've been cut off from the world for the last 48 hours, then you've heard that Tiger Woods, the best golfer in the world, has been exposed for having an extramarital affair (and possibly more than one). What started with a relatively minor car accident has turned into a nasty media firestorm that led to Woods' partner revealing numerous illicit text messages and a very condemning voice mail yesterday.

Numerous people on radio shows, columns and blogs have expressed a variety of reactions to the scandal. Some are having fun with it, reveling in the fact that the world's most recognizable sports figure has had his name smeared. Some are outraged, expressing righteous anger and calling for Woods' sponsors to drop him. Some are even defending him, saying the media has gone too far, and are asking people to respect Tiger's privacy.

I haven't seen many people express what I felt upon hearing the news, and my reaction was the same as a lot of Christian sports fans out there. I wasn't excited. I wasn't angry. I wasn't even surprised. I was just sad.

I was sad because another man has been broken and another family destroyed. I was sad because I wasn't surprised. I haven't come to expect much from male celebrities these days. I was sad that others were having fun with a situation that is not funny in any way.

I know it has to be hard for famous athletes. They face way more temptation every day than you or I will in a month. But it's sad that so many of them fall, especially because, whether we like it or not, American kids will always view athletes as their heroes. That's why I'm so thankful for men such as Tony Dungy, Tim Tebow, Kurt Warner and others like them, who have the kind of personal caliber we will continue to spotlight in New Man.

My final reaction to the Tiger controversy was this: The guy needs prayer. He's being hounded from all angles, he's going through something that is tough enough without the entire country knowing about it, and it's entirely his fault. Let's pray that he finds the Lord, and let's pray that he gets a chance to atone for his mistakes.

Top 10 Things to Be Thankful For

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:48:00 +0000

In honor of Thanksgiving, I’m happy to announce the top 10 things Christian guys can be thankful for in 2009. This list is in no particular order and will alternate between meaningful, truly important things and completely superficial fun stuff.

10. Cheap HDTVs
A combination of better technology and a crummy economy has now allowed men to view the world as it was meant to be viewed: on a couch in glorious high definition. So whether you’re watching the good (football), the bad (chick flicks) or the ugly (Gregg Popovich), you get to see every nook and cranny.

9. Wives
What would we do without our wives? Probably spend way too much time with our HDTVs. Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” (NIV). Solomon hit that one right on the head. Our wives take care of us, they challenge us, they inspire us to do better. They provide insight, wisdom, sympathy, love and lots of forgiveness. I couldn’t be more thankful.

8. Fireproof
Speaking of wives, men around the country renewed their commitment to their better halves this year because of the amazing film Fireproof.Created by the guys at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., this movie has become the most successful independent film of the past year, inspiring new commitments to marriage along the way. I have heard so many stories about the good things this movie has done, and I have been absolutely blown away with how God has used it.

7. The Return of 24
When season six of 24 ended, fans were worried that Jack Bauer had been all used up. That was until the show completely rejuvenated itself and kicked some terrorist tail in Washington, D.C. There are few things on television more satisfying than watching the baddest man on TV take down evil dictators and corrupt rich guys. Plus, this year’s exploration of the moral implications of Jack’s methods provided a great balance for the show.

6. Fantasy Sports
Even though Tony Romo killed my team last week, I’m still loving everything about fantasy sports. There are few things more fun than drafting a team and following your players as the season plays out. But the reason it makes this list is, I’ve never found an easier way to keep in touch with my long-distance friends. It’s a superficial game, but anything that keeps guys in community with one another regularly is a good thing.

5. Small Groups for Men
Despite the early wake-up times, there are few things in life that can be more important or meaningful than getting together with a group of men and sharing your lives together. Whether you’re studying Scripture, going through a book or just meeting for coffee, having a regular time of the week set aside for male friendships is something I hope all of us can be thankful for.

4. Children
This one’s tough for me to write about, seeing that I don’t have any kids myself, but it would be ridiculous of me to leave this out. Every dad I’ve ever met would always place his kids at the top of the list of things he’s thankful for.

3. Dads
On the flip side, for every guy out there who’s still got a dad he can talk to, you know there are few things to be more thankful for. There’s nothing like that father-son relationship. Whether you’re just discussing the latest news or sports, sharing about the challenges you’re facing or seeking him out for advice, it’s truly a blessing from God to talk with your father.

2. Football
What would a Thanksgiving list be without football on it? Let’s take time here to be thankful for the thing that not only gives us something to be irrationally passionate about every week in the fall, but also gives us a reason to use our HDTVs—and acts as a social lubricant for our conversations with other guys. Seriously, is there an easier way to start a conversation with one of your friends, your dad or your son than by asking, “So what do you think of the game?”

1. The Grace of God
As always, there is nothing in heaven and on earth more powerful or precious than the amazing grace of God. Through His grace, God forgives us for the little things and the big things. Through His grace we learn about the true nature of love. Through His grace, we will get to spend eternity in paradise, even though we have absolutely no right to such a gift. There is nothing anywhere to be more thankful for than the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Praying for Our Veterans Past and Present

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:03:00 +0000

During the last few years I’ve developed a little tradition for myself around Veterans Day. I found that in college there were several years when I completely forgot about this day to honor the men and women who have fought—or are fighting—for us in the military. That’s not a good thing. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the people who serve this country and willingly put themselves in harm’s way for others. If anyone deserves a day of the year to be honored, it’s them.

For the last couple years, I’ve watched either an episode of Band of Brothers or the movie Saving Private Ryan sometime around Veterans Day. I know it sounds trite and shallow, but if you’ve ever seen either that TV series or that movie, you know they leave a powerful impression. Both reveal not only the horror of what veterans have had to endure, but also the bravery, character and tenacity the job requires.

More than anything else, these movies give you a much better appreciation for the sacrifices our veterans have made. It’s kind of like watching The Passion of the Christ around Good Friday, although obviously on a much, much smaller scale.

Of course, simply appreciating what our soldiers have done for us is good. Praying for them is better. I can’t think of many groups of people more deserving or in need of prayer than our current and former military members. I’ve been looking around at various ministries that serve the military, and I’ve come up with a list of common prayer requests in case you would like to join me in my prayers:

Pray for their protection. They are putting themselves in harm’s way so that others may be safe.

Pray for their salvation. Nothing can lead people to thinking about eternity more than war, and ultimately nothing is more important than finding Jesus.

Pray for those who are home. We know that adjusting back to a regular life after deployment can be one of the hardest things for a soldier to do. This goes for soldiers both recently returned and previously returned, from a prior conflict.

Pray for their families. The long absences and difficult returns of husbands and wives can be extremely hard for those they leave at home. Pray that those families to remain strong and find some peace.

Pray for our chaplains. This can be one of the hardest jobs in the military and is possibly the most important. Pray that our military chaplains will have peace, wisdom, fortitude and the Holy Spirit at their side. That goes for chaplains serving both current soldiers and older veterans.

Pray for the people of Fort Hood. The tragedy that recently occurred there is still gripping the country, and prayer is needed above all else for the co-workers and families of the victims of Fort Hood.

If you’d like to find our more about supporting and praying for our troops, here are several resources you can check out:

The Presidential Prayer Team has an “Adopt Our Troops in Prayer” program, in which you can sign up to pray for those currently serving and their specific needs. Force Ministries is a Christian organization dedicated to serving our troops. You can check out their Web site to learn more about ways to help. Finally, the USO is always a good resource for meeting needs.

If you have any prayer requests or know of other ministries or ways to help honor and serve our troops, please let us know in the Comments section.

Why I See Heaven in the Changing Leaves

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Fall has always been my favorite season. It brings cooling weather, college football, the start of school, upcoming holidays. And for my wife and me, our birthdays are in the fall. But the last two years I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing something about fall that I've never been able to enjoy before: the changing leaves.

I live in Georgia. Last year I lived in Ohio; and every year before that, I lived in Florida. In Florida, leaves don’t change colors. They go from green to … well, green. The only time I had ever seen bright-orange or deep-red leaves on trees was in calendar pictures or on vacations. So for the last two years I’ve been enjoying these vibrant colors as if I were a kid.

Last week we hiked up a mountain known for its beautiful fall leaves, and one of my friends said something that I have been thinking ever since I moved north: “I’m so glad God made the leaves turn colors instead of just dying.”

It’s a great thought. Why is it necessary for the leaves to turn brilliant colors? There’s no scientific need for it; although, scientifically, there is of course a reason for it. All that’s happening is that as photosynthesis shuts down the trees lose their chlorophyll, which is what makes leaves green. As the chlorophyll leaves, other chemicals in the leaves show through before they fall. In some trees, such as maples, these chemicals make the leaves turn bright shades of red or other colors.

Why is it necessary, from a scientific perspective, for chemicals such as glucose to make leaves look brilliant to my eyes? I’m going with the Sunday school answer here: "Because God made it that way."

Nature, to me, is the ultimate reflection of what we can expect in heaven. In Romans, Paul talks about how creation will be restored to its original glory: “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom. 8:20-21, NIV).

Imagine looking down from the top of a mountain and seeing a valley filled with vivid leaves of yellow, orange and red. Quite a sight. Now imagine what that view will be like when creation is restored. That is what heaven will be like.

We should never let the cares of this world distract from the future joy, peace and fulfillment of heaven. Because of the love of Jesus, we will get to experience the world as it should be for all of eternity.

It’s something to think about the next time you see a gorgeous fall tree.

What Book Has Most Influenced Your Daily Life?

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:46:00 +0000

A co-worker asked me a completely random question the other day: "What book would you say has had made the most impact on your day-to-day life?" I was taken aback. (That's right, I just used the word "aback.")

I've thought a lot about my favorite books. I've thought about the most meaningful books or the most fun books. But I had never looked at them from the angle of actual impact on my life. As I thought about my answer, it was kind of convicting how many great books I have read that, if I was honest about them, haven't had a huge influence on my everyday life.

I continued to think about my answer while my co-worker rambled on about the latest self-help book that he had read (which was, of course, the reason he asked the question in the first place). A variety of answers came to my head. Obviously the Bible popped up first, but I felt like that was cheating, since God wrote it. The others: My Utmost for His Highest, the classic devotion by Oswald Chambers; Desiring God, John Piper's amazing analysis of "Christian hedonism"; Pascal's Pensees, which had more deep thoughts in a few pages than most do in a hundred.

In the end, I settled on Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis' simple masterpiece, as the one that had the most impact on me. I picked it was because of a particular piece of writing that has stuck with me through the years. There's a line that the Holy Spirit brings back to my mind pretty regularly, almost like a Scripture verse you have memorized and that has come to mean a lot.

It’s in chapter 8, where Lewis is discussing whether Christianity is hard or easy. He is talking about how hard the Christian life seems to be for many people because they think that God is calling us simply to behave.

He states that God isn't calling us to give merely our behavior to Him but our whole selves. Our entire life must be completely transformed by Him so that we see the things He sees and do the things He would do. It makes the Christian life so much easier than simply trying to behave well.

So how do we do that?

Here's where my favorite line comes in: "The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day."

One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my young Christian walk is that the Lord makes it so much easier to live this life if we are looking up instead of down. Constantly looking to God, constantly focusing on Him, constantly listening for Him will do more to make you like Jesus than all the determination in the world. Instead of trying to do good, I have found that it is much easier, and more enjoyable, to try to think on God, and then let Him work through me.

How about you? What book has made the biggest impact on your day-to-day life? I'm looking for a new book, so I'd love to hear some other recommendations.

Faith, Like Dating, Can Be a Mystery

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:11:00 +0000

One of my favorite things about church is listening to a message from the pastor that the Holy Spirit seems to be tailoring specifically for you. I love it when you can really feel the Holy Spirit's understanding seeping through. Whether you are reading a Bible verse, listening silently in prayer or hearing something in a message, you know there are just certain times when God is saying, "This is what I want you to hear."

My pastor's message on Sunday touched on something about faith that really stuck out to me. Faith, he said, isn't trusting that God will do something you ask Him to do. Faith is trusting that God will do what is best for you. Sometimes believers treat God like a personal genie. We want specific things from Him, such as "God, let me start dating that girl," or "God, let me get this job."

Often, if these specific things don't come to pass, we wonder if we didn't have enough faith that God would provide them.

My pastor had a different view on faith. He said faith isn't believing that God will give you a certain job; it's believing that God will take care of you. Faith isn't believing that God will give you this certain girl to be your wife but that He has someone perfect planned for you.

At first this seemed like a minor difference, while I was listening to the sermon, but the more I thought about it, and the more the Holy Spirit worked on my heart, the more I realized that I have been cheapening the power of faith.

Looking back, there have been so many times in my life when I prayed for something to happen, but it didn't. Then, something else came along that was as good or better than what I had hoped for. It may have been different from what I expected, but God has always been there for me. He knows what I need much better than I do.

My wife and I both have been praying for some major things, and on Sunday it felt to both of us like the Holy Spirit was saying: "Let it go. Have faith that I will take care of you."

I'm going to have real faith that God will provide more than we need, even though it may not be what I had in mind originally.

Top 20 Manliest Movie Characters / Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Guys, on Monday we gave you the first half of our latest list of "Manliest Movie Characters." Today we’re back with the second half, our Top 10 ranking. And we have a bonus for you—a few of our picks for the unmanliest of them all, the Top 5 Wimpiest Movie Characters.

We start with the guys considered to be the 10 manliest characters in movie history—as rated by the New Man editorial staff, that is. Beginning at no. 10, we bring you the wise guy of all wise guys. Enjoy!

10. Michael Corleone: The Godfather series
At the beginning of the first Godfather movie, you would never know that Michael would become the Corleone to make this list. But by the time the sequel rolled around, Michael Corleone could silence a room of "made men" simply by raising an eyebrow. Al Pacino plays one of the smartest, toughest, most ruthless characters in film history, and he doesn’t even throw a punch. He’s a gangster's gangster—a complete bad guy, but you find yourself rooting for him anyway. He’s the man.

We Wish We Had: The stare: Michael could make the toughest mobsters melt with that stare.

Best Quote: Michael Corleone: "Don't tell me that you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry."

Spiritual Take-Away: If you start down the wrong path, you can get lost on it.

9. Jason Bourne: The Bourne series
Who knew that Matt Damon could kick so much butt? As Jason Bourne, the CIA assassin with amnesia, he can still take down illegal intelligence agencies by himself even though he can’t remember anything. He can beat anybody in a fistfight, survive car chases in a Mini, teach reporters how to evade surveillance cameras, and shoot people dead while falling down flights of stairs. No matter what the situation, you know that Bourne will get the job done.

We Wish We Had: Access to a Swiss bank account.

Best Quote: CIA operative Pamela Landy: "This is Jason Bourne, the toughest target that you have ever tracked. He is really good at staying alive, and trying to kill him and failing ... just pisses him off.

Spiritual Take-Away: Bourne finds redemption by losing his memory, showing that no matter how bad someone is, they can still get a chance to start over.

8: Han Solo: The Star Wars series
Harrison Ford’s second appearance on our list is as Han Solo, the smuggler/scoundrel of Star Wars. Solo is brash, gutsy, smooth and quick, but he also has a heart of gold. He may be skeptical about the force, and he may be looking to get paid, but he’ll do anything for his friends—and eventually he even gets a princess to fall for him. Here’s how manly Han Solo is: In Return of the Jedi, Luke has grown up, is wearing black, has his own light saber and can use the force. He’s still not as manly as Solo.

We Wish We Had: The Millennium Falcon, of course.

Best Quote: Han Solo: "Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all right."

Princess Leia: "Occasionally, maybe ... when you aren't acting like a scoundrel."

Han Solo: "Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that."

Spiritual Take-Away: Choosing good friends can turn your life around.

7. Dutch: Predator
You knew the governor had to make the list. We thought about putting Arnold’s role as the Terminator on the list, but it’s not hard to be manly when you’re an indestructible machine—but when you’re taking on a super-powered alien whose sole purpose is to hunt you? That’s entirely different. Dutch is the leader of a group of the most ridiculously over-the-top soldiers in movie history, and he makes them all look puny in comparison (even Carl Weathers of Apollo Creed fame). What other movie character strips down to his skivvies and coats himself in mud to fight the bad guy?

We Wish We Had: The biggest chest in the history of the world.

Best Quote: Dutch: "If it bleeds, we can kill it."

Spiritual Take-Away: For Predator? We’re not even going to try.

6. Bruce Wayne: Batman Begins and The Dark Knight
Batman is the man, and the list of great Batman actors starts and ends with Christian Bale. As Bruce Wayne, Bale is one of the toughest, smartest and intimidating characters ever. He’s got everything: the martial arts, the Batmobile/tank, the awesome suit and the amazing detective skills. Plus, because the two most recent Batman movies have been so good, they allow the character to shine in ways none of the other movie did. In Batman Begins, we learn why and how Wayne becomes the man. In The Dark Knight, we see him take out one of the greatest villains in movie history. There’s only one superhero who’s going to make this list, and it’s the one without superpowers.

We Wish We Had: The Batmobile, or the cape that can turn into a glider.

Best Quote: Bad guy Flass: "Cops only go there when they're in force!"

Batman: "Do I look like a cop?"

Spiritual Take-Away: It’s not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you.

5. James Bond: Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace
James Bond has long been one of the manliest characters in movie history with his charming ways, his gadgets and his ability to dodge gullets. While you can debate about which actor is best as James Bond, there’s no debate about which is the manliest. Daniel Craig may not be as smooth or pretty as some of the other Bonds, but he is a beast. Instead of having the body of a runner, he has the body of a wrestler. Instead of judo chops to the neck, he tackles and chokes bad guys. He also runs through walls (see: the chase scene in Casino Royale). I think I might be able to take Pierce Brosnan or Roger Moore in a fight, but there’s no way I’d mess with Daniel Craig.

We Wish We Had: The Casino Royale tuxedo.

Best Quote: Bond: "Mr. White? We need to talk."

Mr. White: "Who is this?"

[White is shot in the foot and drops to the ground.]

Bond: "The name's Bond. James Bond."

Spiritual Take-Away: A lifetime of womanizing doesn’t mean as much as a few weeks with a true love.

4. Indiana Jones: The Indiana Jones series
Harrison Ford’s third appearance on the list is definitely his manliest, and one of the manliest in any movie ever. Jones may not be as big as some of the other guys in our Top 10, but no character has ever had more charisma. He’s got the whip, the fedora, the lopsided grin and the ability to escape from any trap. He can ride horses, camels and elephants. He can drive motorcycles, biplanes and boats. In addition to being an adventurer, he’s also a successful professor. All in all, Indiana Jones is one of the best characters you’ll ever see.

We Wish We Had: Some would say the whip, but our choice would be the fedora. Best hat in movie history.

Best Quote: Henry Jones: "Those people are trying to kill us!"

Indiana Jones: "I know, Dad!"

Henry Jones: "This is a new experience for me."

Indiana Jones: "It happens to me all the time."

Spiritual Take-Away: The fear of God is a good thing.

3. William Wallace: Braveheart
While everyone on this list was deserving of their honor, the last three stand head and shoulders above the rest. It was so close that any of them could have taken the top spot. At no. 3 we have William Wallace, the beastly Scottish warrior for freedom played by Mel Gibson. In the beginning Wallace just wants a simple life with his wife, but after she is murdered by the English, he is forced to fight. It turns out to be a bad mistake for the Brits. Wallace goes on to unite his country, taking on armies, evil kings and corrupt nobles along the way. Wallace is probably the most awe-inspiring character on this list because not only is he absurdly manly (check out the huge sword and the ability to pull off kilts) but he stands for ideals as well.

We Wish We Had: His Scottish claymore, which has to be the biggest sword ever seen on a film screen.

Best Quote: Wallace: "Lower your flags and march straight back to England, stopping at every home you pass by to beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today."

Spiritual Take-Away: Freedom comes at a price.

2. John McClane: Die Hard
When it comes to straight action movies, nothing beats Die Hard, and nobody beats John McClane. In the role he seems born to play, Bruce Willis stars as the New York City cop who is stuck in a skyscraper when it's taken over by terrorists. In many ways, McClane is the most cliché action character out there: the tough, break-the-rules cop who is too crazy for the administration but gets the job done. The difference is that McClane does it better than anyone else. He takes out the terrorists one by one in a variety of ways. He utters fantastic one-liners. Plus, he does it all without his shoes. If you’re wondering why McClane beat out Wallace, the scene where he runs over the glass in his bare feet was the one that pushed him over the top.

We Wish We Had: The ability to mock terrorists with so well.

Best Quote: McClane: "Nine million terrorists in the world, and I gotta kill one with feet smaller than my sister's." [Technically that’s not his best quote, but it’s the best one we can print. Everyone who has seen the movie knows what the best quote is.]

Spiritual Take-Away: Americans always beat Germans in movies.

1. Maximus Decimus Meridius: Gladiator
Our top honors go to the general-turned-slave-turned-hero, Maximus, from Gladiator. Maximus has everything you want in a manly movie character: He is a leader of men, he has principles and ethics, and he can fight better than anyone else. Even though he has had a career filled with memorably masculine roles, Russell Crowe outdoes himself as Maximus. He is a natural leader who doesn’t seek after power. He is a killer, but only because he is required to be. He has a family, and he loves and honors them. He does what is right, no matter what happens to him. He is placed in the lowest possible position, only to rise back to the heights of power simply through his own merits. No movie character has ever been manlier.

We Wish We Had: Maximus’ uncanny ability to inspire and lead others.

Best Quote: Maximus: "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Spiritual Take-Away: What we do in life echoes in eternity.

Bonus! The Top 5 Wimpiest Movie Characters
Here's the other side of the coin we promised—the five wimpiest characters in movie history. At least, these are the unmanliest ones we could think of. Again, enjoy!

5. Ryan Phillipe: in any movie
It doesn’t matter what movie he’s in—Flags of Our Fathers, Crash or another—Ryan Phillipe will be a total wimp. He’s like the anti-Russell Crowe.

4. Jerry Lundegaard: Fargo
William H. Macy plays the debt-ridden Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, who goes to despicable means to cover up his indiscretions. A great example of what secrecy and shame can do to you.

3. Pvt. Hudson: Aliens
Memorably portrayed by Bill Paxton, Pvt. Hudson is best-remembered for his classic meltdown after a run-in with the terrorizing aliens, in which he comes up with one of the greatest freak-out lines ever: "What are we gonna do now? That’s it! Game over, man! Game over!"

2. Paris: Troy
Just like Arnold had to make the manliest characters list, Orlando Bloom had to make the wimpiest. As Paris, Bloom cheats on a king’s wife and runs away with her, which starts a war that leads to thousands of deaths. Then he volunteers to do one-one-one combat to stave off the war, only to surrender and run back crying to his brother. That’s a lot of wimpiness in one movie.

1. Edward, Prince of Wales: Braveheart
Prince Edward is the perfect foil to William Wallace. The skinny, cowardly shrimp is more concerned with his clothes and his, um, special friend than the fact that his country is coming apart. Just the complete opposite of masculinity.

We'd like to know what you think! Did we leave anyone out? Was anyone ranked too high or too low? Let us know at newman@strang.com or chriglazier@yahoo.com.