Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

I Corinthians 16:13,14

The scripture above was used in a fantastic sermon by Pastor Dale Brooks at GFC on a Mother’s Day.  Yet, he took the opportunity for men to understand how they should treat women in their lives. It was excellent – check it out on gfconline.com/media.

Father’s Day is here and this scripture is resonating in my heart even a year after Pastor Dale’s message.  My life is surrounded by manhood.  I am a son to a man who taught me the importance of character, honesty and hard work.  I talk with my hands like him and we have been known to shed a tear.  I am a son in law to a man who demonstrated integrity and family values in many situations where I learned and grew.  I have two biological brothers – extremely smart and both bring a unique flavor of strength and compassion to their lives.  I have three brother in laws.  Diverse as they are, their love for family is the same.  I am a father to a young man who is gifted and in tune with his relationship with God.  He is a great husband and dad…I can’t wait to see what comes next.  I have son in laws.  These men are  excellent in their love of God and what they do in life.  I am honored to watch them lead their families.  As of this writing, I have two grandsons.  They are learning to talk, swim, crawl and eat.  I watch them and I smile…and that is the men they are…they bring life and joy.

My pastor and boss is a man who is genuine, real and every bit of the leader that I aspire to be.  He has patiently watched me grow and I am the pastor I am today because of him.  I serve with a group of executive pastors – men of diverse talents, abilities and passions.  Their diversity is matched by their unity – a genuine love of God and people.  I have a personal board of men who help give me wisdom and insights into what steps I need to take…and what to avoid.  I have a life coach who has taught me the importance of being positive, looking at things from a different perspective and to forgive.  I have a few men who are not biological brothers but I value them as such.  They are family.  I do a weekly Bible study of a cast of characters – we laugh, poke and prod each other in life and what the Bible says.  But when you look them in the eye and shake their hand, they are locked in.

And there are so many more men that speak into my life through their words and actions. None of them are perfect – read the scripture at the top again…they were never asked to be.  But the other characteristics…they are doing just fine.

Way to go men!