Monday, October 26, 2015

Who is your role model?


As a man this is struggle that I often ask myself. Should I be like the guy in an action movie, a star athlete, a famous musician? Should I emulate my Dad or one of my brothers? In the book of 1st Corinthians 11:1 Paul tells the people to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ. Some would say then we should emulate Paul. But I think Paul meant has he follows Christ example, so should we follow Christ’s example.

I have been looking into the life of Jesus and reviewing it as a man, asking myself what examples or traits Jesus exhibited that every man should strive to have. I know we should all strive to be like Christ but then something hit me, as men we have a unique example. If I am a woman and want to live more like Christ I must look at his actions and translate them to my role as a woman. If I am a man then I simply need to see what I can learn from these actions. (This is where all the women can say he had to keep it simple for the men) With this in mind I have been studying what Jesus did that was “man stuff”. Things that reflected how a human man should behave.

The first thing I chose to focus on may actually shock some people. It tends to go against what we think a man should be.

                John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

Jesus as God delayed going to see Lazarus so that the miracle could occur. Upon arrival the man in Jesus wept at the loss of his friend. This has always struck me as odd because he knew that he was going to raise him from the dead, so why did he weep.

Empathy, the ability to feel the pain of those around him, to feel their hurt of the loved ones left behind, to know the suffering of Lazarus as he died. All of these things were not lost on Jesus. In his action of weeping others said “look how he loved him”. Our empathy for others shows our heart. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. So as men we need to be able to understand and share the feelings of others. This allows us to show our love for others and thru that the love of Christ for others.


As men we must weep for others.

Friday, October 2, 2015

I am definitely the 3rd string

I had a lady today tell me I couldn't be a pastor because my past disqualified me.

I started to point out perhaps she misread the scripture. Perhaps she imagined that Jesus could save me but not use me, that was just to much for Him to handle. Perhaps her southern baptist up bringing has placed doctrinal teaching in her mindset that aren't scriptural. I started to ask her if she would like to beat me with her KJV 1611 and set things right.

Instead I just smiled and thanked her for her opinion.

I admit I may be the third string. But if God wants me to in the game then 3 things I am sure of:

1) the first and second string players decided they weren't going in. So if your mad I get to play talk to them.

2) if your in the stands you are a spectator and don't really get to judge my qualifications.

3) the coach (God) said I was perfect thanks to his Son. His opinion is all that really matters.

Just saying.





- MZG