Have you ever noticed that Christians speak normally to one another, but when they speak to aloud to God they lapse into a strange language and tone? I call this “prayer-speak” and it’s epidemic in evangelical churches today. Prayer speak sounds like this: Dear God, we need you. God, we just need your love. God, we just need your presence. Father be with us in this time of worship. Lord, just send your spirit so that every heart is touched.... Read more
The wounds that we receive to our heart and soul can either cripple us or motivate us to accomplish great things in life. Undoubtedly they are one of the biggest obstacles to having a healthy relationship. Our wounds determine the way we respond to things that are said to us and how we treat others in our life. Wounds that are not dealt with sit and fester within us until they eventually spew their venom unto those we love and... Read more
Men tend to put rules first; women tend to put relationships first. Read more
The elderly woman stood next to me in line at the bookstore and made googly-eyes at my son. She grinned gap-toothed at my 3-year-old, flapped her nose, and made motorboat sounds with her lips. Then she looked at me, her eyes shining. “You’re going to have so much fun raising your son,” she said. That wasn’t what I expected to hear. People normally look at a little kid and say, “Oh, how cute.” Or ask how old he is. But... Read more
Porn is part of your son’s everyday life. He sees it every day on television, in movies, and on computers. The pornography industry is working hard to catch your son’s attention and addict him early in life to their product. The porn industry is a $57-billion-a-year rapidly growing industry. They generate more money than CBS, NBC, and ABC combined, and more than the revenues from professional football, basketball, and baseball combined. The porn industry spends an incredible amount of money... Read more
In the past five years several mainline denominations moved to the left, particularly on issues surrounding relationships, homosexuality and gender identity. In 2009 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America allowed same-sex marriages. Last summer Presbyterian Church (USA) came within a handful of votes of doing the same, but backed away from the cliff at the last moment. Meanwhile, the Episcopalians went completely over the edge at their summer 2012 gathering. They authorized a special rite for homosexual marriages, and lifted... Read more
Perhaps no character trait embodies healthy masculinity more than that of honor. Honor is the soul of masculinity. It is a code that a man lives by that lifts him above mere mediocrity and survival. It allows him to use the incredible power that God has endowed him with to lift the lives of others beyond what they could ever be without his broad shoulders to stand upon. Honor allows a man to stand tall among lesser members of his... Read more
For decades churches have had difficulty engaging young men. Not only are guys under 30 underrepresented in worship services, they’re also largely absent from men’s events. The usual men’s ministry lineup of Bible studies, pancake breakfasts and annual retreats seems to hold little appeal. So what does appeal to young men? Superheroes. Comic books, films and video games – young men can’t get enough of them. Since the year 2000, more than 100 superhero films have been released in the... Read more
All boys want to know how a man is supposed to act. Our model of that role is what teaches our sons what it means to be a man. But for those of us who were not blessed to be raised by a good role model, what does this look like? Below are some thoughts on authentic masculinity. An authentically masculine man puts aside his needs, desires, wants–and sometimes even his dreams–for the benefit of others. He does this without... Read more
New York Timesbestselling author Adam Makos and I recently released a new book titled VOICES OF THE PACIFIC—the long awaited oral-history project featuring untold stories from the Marine heroes of WWII. The past few weeks I’ve been providing a special preview inside the covers of the book. For today’s story, listen to RV Burgin discuss the first wave of Banzai charges he encountered during the battle of Cape Gloucester. WARNING: he describes one night of pure hell. But... Read more
A Few Grown Men
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In