Boy / Man stuff

Boy / man blog

When I've taken young teenagers out for rites of passage activities I've often started by saying, "You're not boys anymore." 

Shoulders go back, chests puff out a little. A few exchange glances and nods. And then I finish my sentence. 

"But you're not men either." Then I've got their attention. I encourage them that they're on the journey towards manhood, a journey of learning respect, courage, wisdom and responsibility. A journey best taken looking toward good examples of men (and women) for inspiration and support. 

But I'm working through a new set of thoughts inspired by writing of a Franciscan priest named Richard Rohr. Next time I have such a chance to encourage young men I think I will say, "You're not just a boy anymore. You're becoming a man as well." Not as punchy but you'll see what I mean. 

As a man I must put away and overcome foolishness and self-centredness however there are great parts of childhood from which we should never let go. Rohr would say a healthy man holds hope and cynicism, fun and responsibility, fantasy and reality - in balance. 

Perhaps this is something like why Jesus meant when He encouraged us to have faith like a child. 

On a personal note this perhaps explains why I love working with young people and reading fiction for young people. Something about the amazing place in life where you've realised that the world and humans are far from perfect but you still believe that things can be better. 

Love to know what you think.

The Paraclete

With help from RA Torrey's "The person and work of the Holy Spirit' (free ebook on Kindle)

Paraclete is one of the words from Greek that Jesus used to describe the Holy Sprit, notably in John 14. Paraclete is a word that carries more meaning than the common English translation renderings such as Comforter, Advocate or Helper, as wonderful as they are. The idea of Paraclete or Parakleetos is, "one who is called alongside."

I've heard messages and sung songs about Jesus as our friend, and indeed what a great, understanding, life-saving friend we have in Him. Surely we can also be greatly encouraged by our friendship with the Holy Spirit. We live in the era of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus was foretelling in John 14. We now are blessed to have the ever-present, all-powerful Spirit of God alongside of us, standing by us through every moment from the mundane, to the tragic, to the exultant. 

What would your life be like if you really believed that?

What abundance are you seeking?

I think us humans are so afraid of losing everything that we seek to have and control whatever we can so that we feel safer. We all seek to have more than enough to try and scratch this itch but it doesn't satisfy.

So,

We hoard more stuff, 

We reserve more money, 

We eat more than we need,

We seek fleeting pleasures,

We cling to people,

We try to do more,

We try to be more,

We chase the wind. 

But life shows us that this rarely works, if only to make us forget our fear for a moment. There is an abundance that we can seek and will satisfy. We tend not to because we can't see Him and often forget Him until we get desperate again. 

We were made for Him. To seek Him. To enjoy His abundance. In our Father God there is more than enough love, comfort, power, grace, purpose and joy. 

In Psalm 23 David says that with God as his shepherd he has no lack at all, that his, "cup overflows."

What do you need of God's abundance?