Where are the MEN???!!!

This is not new and I am sure you have heard this over and over again. "Where are the men in the church?" This is not only a local church issue but a global one. There is a lack of men in the mission field in areas where men are very much needed.

In a local church setting, many men are missing(physically AND/OR spiritually). I've many wonderful and godly lady friends but it seem the wonderful and godly men are either missing or taken. I'm not saying that singlehood is bad or wrong but the issue is not that the ladies want to remain single for life. Rather, one major issue is the lack of good, godly men (that are still single).

I have heard and read countless times of news from missionaries in the field that they need MEN. To do what? To reach out to boys and men and talk about men stuff and to do the things guys do together. This situation is actually worse than the situation at home in the local church. In a recent encounter with a group of 6 missionary candidates, I saw that there was only 1 male. Where the men?

Are they less reached? Do they resist the gospel more than women? Are they too pre-occupied with striving for their family that cross-cultural work became the least of priorities? Why are there less males in the church? And especially so in the mission field?

As a guy, maybe it is time to think about this. About reaching a guy friend, about going to places where you are more needed, about leading your family into a strange place for the gospel's sake.

So where are the men? You're 'it'. You are the answer if you are a man reading this. Go and fish some.

Manhood and Purity

Excerpt from the book, "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker with Mike Yorkey

"God's definition of real manhood is pretty simple: It means hearing His word and doing it. That's God's only definition of manhood-a doer of the Word."

"Men receive a chemical high from sexually charged images - a hormone called epinephrine is secreted into the bloodstream, which locks into the memory whatever stimulus is present at the time of the emotional excitement."

"Your purity must not depend upon your mate's heath or desire. God holds you responsible, and if you don't gain control before your wedding day, you can expect it to crop up after the honeymoon."

"You see, sexual impurity isn't like a tumor growing out of control inside us. We treat it that way when our prayers focus on deliverance, as we plead for someone to come remove it. Actually sexual impurity is a series of bad decisions on our part - a result of immature character - and deliverance won't deliver you into instant maturity. Character work needs to be done."

"God will run with you, but He won't run for you. It's time to plunge ahead and go like a man."

I've learned a lot from this book. Every guy should grab it and read it - you'll be surprised by the honesty in it, and biblical, practical ways in dealing with the battles every man faced - battles with sexual lusts, thoughts & temptations. Being a male does not give us guys the excuse to say we are easily stimulated by what we see. A real man deals with it and gives no room for sexually charged images to enter through his eyes.

So as the author says, go at it like a man and shape up one's character and maturity even before the wedding day arrives. It's gonna be a daily battle - so let's fight it like a man.