Men

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Men

Determined

some definitions . . .

Determined adjective

1: having reached a decision :firmly resolved

was determined to become a pilot

is determined not to let it happen again

2 a: showing determination

a determined effort

b: characterized by determination

… will deter all but the most determined thief.

Health

A Man is Determined to hunt his dreams.

Freedom & Independence

Education

Society, Culture & Morality

Grace

A. Ingestion
1. Stay hydrated. Experts advise sixty-four ounces of water daily as a goal. Start where you are; build slowly from there.
2. Take quality, recognized vitamin supplements.
3. Reduce preservatives and sodium-packed processed foods.
4. Increase consumption of leafy green vegetables and fruit.
5. Reduce consumption of carbohydrates (especially for us who sit at a computer for lengthy times).

B. Exercise
1. Take a walk. Set a goal of 10,000 steps a day. Start where you are and build from there. Your smart phone or watch can track this for you.
2. Become a gym member. Find an affordable membership plan and “just get to the gym.” Once you’re there you will do something, even if it is floating in the pool or sauna. I bring my iPad and watch streaming services while exercising. Time flies!

C. Medical
1. Get a checkup from your primary physician.
2. Take any meds prescribed to you in the way they are prescribed, consistently.

A Man is DETERMINED to care for his physical health.

Ambition

Dreams:

Simple questions: What are you good at? What do you do whether paid or not? What satisfies you, beyond good food, good fun, great company, and great beaches (replace the last—my favorite—with your joy destination). Use your hands? Your mind? Your words? What . . .do . . . you . . . want . . . to . . . accomplish, man!!! Fast forward to your last days on this earth. Finish this sentence (don’t reply with the cliched though appreciated spend more time with friends and family. This is about your accomplishments): “I wish I could/would have…”

Final question: What are you doing about it, today?

A Man is Determined to achieve freedom & independence (w/exception to God) where it exists.

Freedom/Independence:

1. Is additional income available to you? Are you pursuing it? If not, why?

2. Are you spending more than you make? Do you owe credit card debt? If so, minimalize. I would eat Top Ramon and peanut butter every day to eliminate credit card debt, of which I have none. Credit card debt is a financial cancer.

3. Do you use cash? Don’t! I don’t even carry cash on my person. Ever. I only use credit cards with no annual fees that pay cash back percentages on every purchase (some five and six percent! I remember one time when I looked at my AMEX account, I had a cash back amount of over $700 to use at my discretion. Guess what I did with it. No, I didn’t go on vacation or buy a toy. I used it all to pay off the balance and invest in the Stock Market). Then I pay off all credit card balances every month. Follow my example.

4. Are you investing a percentage of your income? A wealthy Christian man with whom I worked and who greatly influenced my views on money management once asked me what my #1 bill to pay is every month (Regardless of your views on tithing, we’ll set that aside—not a topic addressed in this book). I stumbled, hoping to sound smart. I failed. Like me, most people answer rent/mortgage. He stated I was incorrect. The first bill, he claimed, was paid to “Me Inc,” as an investment vehicle. He told me that if I couldn’t pay rent/mortgage or utilities after paying Me Inc. first, I was to make payment plans with the other parties. Once I patterned that practice, payment plans are needed less and less because Me Inc. becomes stockpiled and bountiful. Money is not where I place my faith. It is neither good nor evil (the love of it is where we fall into trouble). I work, as scripture directs, to be a good “steward” of it.

5. Do you look forward to the money you receive annually after filing your tax return (or worse, blow it after receiving the overpaid tax amount). Do you fear “owing” when filing your tax return? Stop! Both are foolish mindsets born from a lack of discipline and poor money management. Let me ask you a question: When you get a loan from a bank, do they charge interest? Of course, that is a stupid question. Now, you are the bank. When you loan the state or federal government money (overpaying taxes), how much interest do they pay you when sending your overpaid amount back after you file? The answer is of course zero. You are in essence providing a 0% interest loan. What to do? Simple.

a. Every month set aside the money you would be paying in taxes (if an employee, contact HR and reduce exemptions to the lowest legal level, even O), and invest it. Where and how is up to you. There are many vehicles (Stock Market, Bonds, Treasuries, CDs, etc.)

b. When taxes come due (quarterly for the self-employed, annually for an employee) and you find that you “owe” for any given tax period, take from your monthly accumulating investment the amount you owe and keep the remaining interest/growth. Your vehicle pays you on the money you invest every month, the government does not. The key? You must be disciplined, investing the amount every month you would otherwise be giving the government.

A Man is Determined to pursue education (knowledge) where it exists.

1. Are you satisfied with your education, that you have completed the highest level of formal academic/vocational education both available and suitable to you, from an institution worthy of your time, labor, and tuition costs?

2. Do you possess the most reputable licensing/certificate/ranking in your current vocation/career? That question posed, is this your chosen career, or did you settle for what you could get without your best efforts?

3. If further education and training is available to you--academic, vocational, occupational--are you pursuing it? Why or why not?

A Man is Determined to impact society, culture & morality.

Culture and Society:
1. While I do not support attacking those voted into Office, I do believe in attacking ungodly laws, edicts, ordinances, statutes, policies, and mandates. Being both a man and a Christian does not preclude us from influencing our culture to better the lives of those around us who are affected by the aforementioned. I encourage you to vote. We need more godly men to run for office. Is that you?

Sexual Morality:
1. With Whom? When?
a. A woman. Homosexuality is not the construct in which God gave us sex and the pleasure it derives.
b. Within the confines of marriage.
· Sexual plurality (multiple partners) carries with it a diminishing pleasure return in its practice, consequently demanding more frequency and/or more partners, cheapening the God-given gift. Women become objects perpetually reduced in value.
· Inconsequential, uncommitted sex is, primarily for women (and many men), emotionally damaging.
2. When tempted. Yes, sin, or “missing the mark” as the term means, can be exciting in the moment. So is skydiving. Would you do so without a parachute? Think about that the next time you are “turned on” by a woman, single or married, when it comes to the act of sex outside of marriage. You won’t just be harming yourself.

A Man is Determined to offer grace.

Men reading this, take a lesson from Jesus when engaging the Samaritan woman at the well and the bleeding woman—or any woman. Grace before logic; care and affection before debate. Be determined in your response to those weaker than you and to the lost. It isn’t about winning an argument or lucid doctrinal correction.

It is the Holy Spirit, not you, men, that draws a believer to Him. Don’t think you can compete. You’re not that good, which should take some pressure off you.

When engaging a person in great need . . .

One man to another, I strongly encourage you to implement the preceding practices with discipline, regularity, and consistency. Because I believe…

A determined man considers his health, is driven to pursue the dreams for which he is equipped, seeks freedom, independence, and knowledge where they exist, impacts the culture around him, runs from sexual immorality, and dispenses grace, especially to those both weaker and in great need.

Summary