I love you daddy

How could one be a child and a 'Man' at the same time? This question has haunted me and perplexed me for weeks.They seem mutually exclusive.

In my limited view, to be Man is to be strong, perseverance, independent, be bold as a lion, unwavering despite pressure, a wrestler, an over comer, consider great & weighty matters, withstand great pain, a defender, goal oriented- not passive, etc...

In my limited view, to be a child is to be weak, dependant, quiet, not ambitious, vulnerable, able to be hurt, defenseless, trusting, simple in their view of the world, needy and basically the exact opposite of masculinity.

In some places scripture teaches to 'be a man', 'put away childish things', '& ' to be bold and be strong' with a 'face like flint'. Then in other places 'unless you change and become like a child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven', or 'my soul is like a weaned child, my soul is like a child within me'.

Which one is it? How are we to be as adult men or little son's?

One day while pondering these things I was listening to Jason Upton's album remember. It starts off with a cut where during the song he rebukes a tornado with reports from that concert where a actual physical tornado denigrates at God's rebuke through Jason. Read more about that event here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VILPyGtzNv4
That is power. Jesus rebuking the sea telling the disciplines to stop being afraid. One of his followers rebuking a tornado at God's command and God's power being displayed. That is masculine.
Then later in the CD he is babbling like a little baby in the song lullaby 'dada, adad, dada' with many men in the audience crying out 'I love you daddy!, I love you daddy!'. Then the CD ends with Jason acting like a child 'Daddy, come get me. I want you to play with me again. I tag you, your it' on a song called fly where angels come and join in the song. You can here about that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo6Nu5W256M
What a great object lesson on this tension being a 'MIGHTY man of God' yet being an embarrassing child before our Daddy. With David's heart 'I will be humiliated in my own eyes' as I please God with my childlike nature and worship of and love for Daddy.

Yet I still looked...Jesus show me, Jesus teach me.

Then I read in a commentary on being child-like the following
"Was Jesus like a child? In every way, Yes though he was also the perfect example of a mature man. He knew all about sin, yet he never sinned. He knew every emotion, yet he never gave into lust, temper, envy, hate and so on. He had all wisdom available to him, yet he spoke with simple words & told small colorful stories. He drew people to himself b/c he was gentle & kind. This vast power was used not in violent acts but in healing and restoring.
Jesus was the supreme child"

The answer to the riddle, the tension is Jesus himself. 100% man, 100% child. The tension held in perfect balance. Matthew 11 is a great example of both natures- declaring bold judgement on arrogance, yet offering help to the burdened saying of himself 'I am gentle & humble in heart'.

Childlike- I only do what Daddy is doing, say what Daddy is saying, giving deference to his father, gentle, humble
Yet Masculine- intellectually spars with the best & brightest, Brave-not my will yours be done, strong & calm in the midst of his false accusers, rejection by those closest to him yet unwavering in continuing to what was right, zealous for his Father's house, cause and heart.

I could write so much more.

May the men who read recover the child likeness our Father would love to restore in us- Ps. 131.
As a wiser, dear brother shared with me. Being a husband starts as a son. Being a father starts as a son. Being a man of God starts first as being a beloved son in their Daddy's arms.

As you let go of your grasp of what being a man is. Hold on to being childlike with your father you will begin to find the child like trust of Jesus as well as the masculine divine courage of Jesus.
In essence you'll be becoming more like Jesus the perfect Son, Father, Husband and Man.

Ed Cole had it right all along "Real manhood and Christlikeness are synonymous.”

i love you daddy

Could church become a community of Fathers?

I did not grow up in a small town (i.e. 200-1000 people) but I think about what it may look like. I picture the old west town. It is a community of families. Each father having a role or domain of influence, the mayor, the postmaster, the bank owner, the sheriff, etc… and each are mutually respected for their contribution.

In this community each family member is known and celebrated. There is a collective understanding between the adults. Every adult desires the children of the community to succeed. Every Father in the community is looking out not only for his own but for those youngsters in the community.

In this context, the younger are connected to more than just their families. The boys grow up to be men in a community of men/ fathers. The boy understands the context in which their own fathers contribute to the community. The young ladies are protected, honored and encouraged in this safe context. There are fathers looking out for wolves.

So that is the picture in my head of a small town, not let’s talk about how church can be structured today and what the experience of a younger person would be in that church.

In the book ‘Raising a modern day knight- Robert Lewis’, captures this need for a community of men to affirm boys becoming men. Not just the father alone. (Men by nature will seek to do everything alone, which is stupid but it is our bent.) He lays out rituals for boys at age 13, 16, and 18 within a community of men to establish their entrance into manhood. This same concept is laid out in book ‘Healing the masculine soul- Gordon Dalbey’ when he describes African custom for the men of the village along with the ‘Spirit’ to call out the ‘son of our people’ from behind the mother at their home’s door. Very cool, I recommend the book.

The point is, a community of father’s initiate’s boys into men. Then they have a broader context (men outside of their Dad) to experience this new identity. To encourage masculinity in it’s God given form by having other men send the same message A man accepts responsibility, rejects all forms of passivity, and is willing to sacrifice for the greater reward)- borrowed from Robert Lewis.

Another trend highlighting this need for church to become a community of Fathers is ‘family-centric churches’. A notable minister in this church stream is Voddie Baucham. He is a pastor in a family-centric church in Texas a regular speaker at home school conferences. They take the concept to the point of doing away with youth ministry and in favor of young people growing in faith in the context of their church and family combined.

I’m not advocating the stream of church per se but there is a lot I like in those churches. The emphasis of the teaching is given to the parents in being Godly and raising godly kids to impact nations.

So a couple of observations of churches I have been apart of through the years and churches in general. Churches typically encourage the division of youth from the Fathers. Thus you get the trend of ‘church-wise’ young men and women experiencing life much like non-Christians apart from adults and particular fathers. Their ‘substitute’ spiritual leaders are more like big brothers (youth pastors) without God given authority. Thus you get trends like ‘church-wise’ young men looking to get laid at church events or get close enough to the young women to get in their pants. The ‘substitutes’ attempt to wrangle in the youth but their attempts are in vain b/c they don’t have the God given authority given to the fathers. Now, I know God is merciful and this is not the pic of every youth group but you get the idea of ‘surrogate’ authority.

So what are men doing in these churches? Well one thing is, they are not learning about the role they have to play and the power invested in them by God. Much of them are distracted, ‘having the form of Godliness but denying its power’. God has invested in the men power to redeem them and bring redemption to younger generations. But without a vision men cast off restraint and become useless for the kingdom, just get bogged down in trying not to have affairs or in shallow hedonistic lives.

I must confess, the person who personifies this community of Fathers concept so well is Lou Engle. Every time he opens his mouth it is in the context of fathering a generation and calling others to the call to be spiritual fathers. God anoints ministries where the father’s hearts turn toward the children and in turn the children turn to the fathers.

Psalm 68:6 (NIV) 6 God sets the lonely in families.

Note the scripture does not say he puts the lonely into a family (i.e. One church with one dad) but families. A church should be made of up men empowered to adopt the lonely into families (small groups or whatever). God is in the business of empowering men and releasing them, not constraining them or reducing them. A church should reflect such a heart.

The young in the church should be known by the Fathers of the church, to bless and pray for them. How awesome would that be? Think of the young person or younger believers who would grow in this context. Why should the father blessing be limited to professionals?

You'll then move away from community and into competition or encourage passivity in the men. I don't know a man who does well with no role to play. It's OK for a season of restoration but unemployement (i.e. you have nothing to offer and are not wanted/needed) becomes less of a vacation the longer it goes on.

Now I see why Jesus prayed we would be one. There is such a power in unity. God has given men the role to lead (head of families). Unity in a community of men is a community of empowered leaders/father given room to bless and release. Less than this you limit the anointing that could be released in a church to hundreds of younger men and women that could come from a community of Fathers.


How true Paul was…
1 Corinthians 4:15
Even though you have ten thousand guardians (teachers, guides) in Christ, you do not have many fathers.

Abraham was "the Man"

This is just a head's up this is not a direct continuation of my previous post but a cool diversion.

This "the children inherent what the Father's conquer" stuff Psalm 69:35b, 36a is everywhere in the Bible if you are looking for it. So I was reading about Abraham and found something that was so freakin' great I've been waiting all week for time to write about it.

Abraham (I'll call him 'Ab' to shorten the writing) was tested. His faith was tested, major. Let's think for a moment. Do mother's test their sons? Yes, they do. Do father's test their son's? Yes, they do. Do they administer the same type of test. I would submit to you they do not.

Now, here is my take on the difference. Mother's seems to test sons to gauge sincerity of love toward the mother. I'm thinking of the "Jewish Mother", 'You neevver call, any more? why don't you call your muther?". But to past the test is to confirm to the mother her fears of lost love are not true. To past is to reassure Mom, you still love them.

So what of Father test? Keeping in mind sick Fathers can Doll out some sick test. I'm wanting just to deal with loving Father's for the moment. So what kind of test do they give their sons. Test to make them stronger. Test to show the son, the son's limits. Test to expand their abilities & limits. Instead of jumping in to rescue, Fathers let their son's taste defeat and victory. The pressure of these tests are simulations of real life pressure they will have to with stand as Adult men. Best story I've heard is, a kid with a cocoon. Watching and waiting for the butterfly to come out. The day arrives and when the kids sees the butterfly struggling and straining to get out, welling up with compassion he intervenes. He gets a razor and makes on a slight insession to make it "easier" for the butterfly only to kill the butterfly in the process. Without the stuggle to live, the butterfly will not have the strength to live. This kids compassion lead to the butterfly's death. They is one example of why Woman cannot put there son's through the tests neccessary to become men. And why Men can. What seems harsh or too tough, in the end is what makes them tough enough to stand. Having done everything to stand, stand firm then.

In my short history with God as my Father. God has tested me. I believe God tests every Man. It is one of his ways. As is holding us close and calling us Son, "beloved son" as Eldredge calls it.

God tested Ab. A severe test, kill/sacrifice the promised son I gave you and prophesied a Godly lineage would succeed from. It made no sense. It seemed to go against what God had promised. Keep in mind God called Ab 'his friend' James 2:23. I hope none of us ever have to be so sever, rips our guts out test. But Ab did.

Ab passed. He passed because he obeyed. He obeyed the Lord no matter the cost. He was 'The Man!'.God will place us in strategic situations to test our obedience. To make us "The Men!". He rarely just teaches us intellectually, he leads us right into the visceral place to forge us inside and out encouraging us to not run away from the circumcision of our hearts, the struggle that leaves of limping but forever changed for the better. Supplanter/Liar to strugger/contender with God. The latter seems more honest and masculine, It is legit and he can be proud of the outcome. The former name is shallow, immature, boyish and depending on his Mommy's schemes to get her boy something illegitamate.

The Bible even said Ab's assurance in God was so strong that he believed God could
raise Issac from the Dead. So here is the Freakin' great part.

God says- Gen 22:16. 'Because you have done this" not only will he be blessed but his kids will walk
in specific promises and destinies. Back to "the children of the righteous inherit whatFather's possess".

Before I get to the promises, know that those that walk by faith believing Jesus made us righteous through his
blood are Ab's kids. These promises are for me and you and for our kids. "I am one of them and so are you, so let's just Praise the Lord, right arm"

Gen 22:18 "your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies". Oh My God, I love a
a fight. Because, Jesus placed the victory over spiritual forces into our hands. So you have enemies.
Picture the enemies of your soul held up in a fortified city, a strong hold. A demonic
place of power. David wrote right before his death "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my
God I can scale a wall" 2Sam 22:30. You charge that stronghold, scale the wall and take possession of your enemies "safe place".

So that is good news for you as Ab's kid. But each of your kids will face their own enemies. But with strong
confidence we can pray and prophecy over our descendants they will take possession of the cites
of their enemies. Think of the power coming down upon latter generations with the Father praying and prophesying
these truths over them. God would honor that!! I'm getting excited just writing about it.

On to the next promise for Ab's kids. "Through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed BECAUSE YOU HAVE OBEYED ME" Gen 22:18
One of God's key strategy to reach nations for Jesus is through obedient men and the kids that come from those homes. All nations will be blessed
through the offspring extending the kingdom of God across the 7 mountains of culture (arts & entertainment, Business, Government, Family, Education, Media
and Religion) to transform every nation.

Why will his offspring bless the nations? Why will your offspring bless the nations? Because Ab's obeyed! If we Father's obey, the kids will bless the nations.
It is God's way.

Feeling like I'm cutting it short but I'm done for now. "BECAUSE YOU HAVE OBEYED ME". Obey Men. What powerful plans God has in store out of your obedience
to him. Cut off all the crap. Get with other men to pray and walk with you.

More to say, not enough time to say it. I'll write later.