The buck must stop somewhere. As men, choosing to stand our ground in this difficult world means we demand that the buck stops with us.

We do not make excuses. We do not keep score.

We choose to be the bedrock our homes can be built upon.

How does whatever burden or stress that is currently captivating your mind impact eternity?

It does not mean this life is not important. It does not mean this life is not stressful. It does not mean we haven’t had horrific experiences.

It does mean Christ has specifically said He desires to carry these burdens for us.

It does mean He knew we would be carrying these things one day, and chose to die for us so that we might live forever with Him, in heaven, free from these very burdens.

So… We ask again, “How do these burdens or stresses impact eternity?”

Think back to those moments in your life when you felt another person may have missed a moment with you. Perhaps you were hoping to talk to someone about something on your heart. Perhaps it was less serious and you simply hoped to share a story or ask a question but for one reason or another the other person missed the moment.

Now consider the times when we may have missed moments we could have cared well for another. Was it stress from work or life? Was it anger or irritation? Was it allowing something else to captivate our mind or attention? If it was, looking back on that moment, was whatever had captivated our attention more valuable than the moment we allowed to pass?

If the answer to the last question is, “no,” it’s not something to be ashamed of or sorry for. Wasting time on something we cannot change is silly; however, should we fail to try to better on our next opportunity, that is something worth being sorry for.

Time is our most valuable commodity. It cannot be created, purchased, or sold, only given to those we deem worthy or priority. Where we dedicate our time is a direct reflection of what we find most valuable.

When our world thinks of courage, we often think of our members of the military making heroic decisions to ensure the well-being of their brothers and sisters in arms, or perhaps our first responders like the story above, choosing to intentionally place their lives on the line for the sake of another.

Let’s make it abundantly clear, these acts of selflessness are the definition of courage, and these men and women deserve far more honor than we give them.

That said, these are not the only acts of courage our world witnesses on a daily basis, and we most certainly have opportunities to choose to be courageous whether or not we ever enter a combat zone or respond to a homicide in progress.

That father who has no idea how to cope with the things he’s done but chooses to not pick up the bottle, instead choosing to pick up his Bible and get on his knees. Courage.

That husband who feels disrespected, belittled, and worthless because of his wife’s words and actions, but chooses to respond with Christ-like love instead. Courage.

When we are home alone and the temptation of pornography strikes, choosing to get our mind right and not be controlled or captivated by the lies of lust. Courage.

That leader of the home choosing to get his family to church instead of hanging out with all of his buddies to watch the game. Courage.

That provider, having no idea how they’ll make ends meet, but instead of allowing his marriage to dissolve into endless conflict, taking it to the Father in heaven, trusting He will make a way, and doing whatever it takes to ensure his family is cared for. Courage.

When life’s countless distractions from sports, to social media, to hobbies threaten to waste our most valuable commodity, choosing to pour into the people around us instead, so that when that moment to impact eternity comes up, we have already placed that initial investment. Courage.
These moments and so many others are examples of courage because we are choosing to stand up to the schemes of Satan. Satan doesn’t need us to believe in him, he just needs us to be distracted or paralyzed by fear. As the men of this generation, we must choose to confront these schemes head on. We must choose courage.

It is not wrong, inappropriate, or insensitive to say a good, honorable man, capable of violence but far more capable of controlling it, makes our world a better place. The world, utilizing the mistakes of a few men, has demonized all men. A fraudulent message has been pushed that a man capable of protecting his family and society is “toxic”.

Here is the very uncomfortable truth. Violent, evil men have existed since Cain and Abel. These men have existed within every culture for all of human history, and have proven they are willing to prey on the innocent and defenseless.

God has designed men to be protectors and our men that train for violent encounters, are willing to risk their own safety for the sake of another, and do not seek violence but are prepared to use it, should be celebrated, not demonized.

Apples and Oranges

Let’s be abundantly clear, a man willing to use violence against women, children, and those who cannot protect themselves are cowards. Men who use violence for vengeance, to get their way, or in anger, are cowards. This is not the type of violence being discussed in this chapter. In fact, this is the exact type of violence we should be preventing.

We find ourselves at another crossroads. In order to participate in something, we must choose it. Our world seems to be full of men willing to passionately discuss politics, sports, work, and the latest news. What would our world look like if men chose to center these discussions on the pursuit of Christ and His Word?

The brutal reality is we are in the midst of a spiritual war far greater than any battlefield this earth has ever seen. Much like soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of enemy fire, we must stand tall against the real enemy. The enemy prowls like a roaring lion. The fight is far more real than anything we have faced.

Jesus, the Messiah Himself, chose to surround Himself with other men. Why do we at times believe we don’t need this same community?

We, as men, have the ability to drive the culture and temperature of our home and workplace. Let’s be abundantly clear, we cannot control the people at either location, but we most certainly can set the tone.

The world has told us when we receive respect, we give it. When we feel loved, we show it. We have been taught it is acceptable to ride the emotional wave in whichever direction the moment is taking us.

Be positively consistent.

We’ve all been around that person who:

• Is always late. Be on time.

• Is always negative. Choose to be positive or silent.

• Is hit and miss. If you say you’re going to be there, show up.

• Allows the work product of others to determine their day or work product. You set the standard.

• Allows the emotions of the wife to dictate their mood. You set the mood.

• Allows the obedience of their children to determine their demeanor. Cool, calm, collected… always.