Who is that one person that you have always looked up to?  Who is the one male role model that you have always wanted to be like?  And, really, it can be a real person, a person that you know, a character from a movie, or something like that.  But think about that one person, get that one person in your mind – who is the person that you have always wanted to be?

Now think about your own life.  How does your life right now match up with that person?

This man is everything that we believe that we can be.

This man is everything that we know we can be.

This man is everything that God wants us to be.

The man that we see…

What does that look like for you?  Have you lost sight of that man?  Have you given up trying to be that man that you see?  Have you lost hope that you can ever be that man?  Or are you giving everything that you can to try to be the man that you see?

We’ve got one life to live.  Be the man that you see…

These are the stones that our life’s road is built upon.  Your choices will dictate everything in your life.  Some choices are small, and some choices are big.  Some choices are hard, and some choices are easy.  But there is one issue with choices that we need to consider as we try to become real men.

As you think about some of the great men of old and how these incredible men used to live, they always lived by a certain code.  The most important thing in life was that they were proud of who they were.  It was not about material things or power or prestige.  It was not about their life situation or house or where they live.  What was important to a real man was that he knew who he was… and that he was proud of who he was.

His character was the most important thing.  He would not care if he lived in a tent in the middle of the woods or lived in a trailer in one of the worst neighborhoods in the city – as long as he was living with integrity, that is all that truly mattered.  Or else he could not live with himself.  He could not confidently shake the hands of other men of old.  He could not hold his head up high in the assembly of true men, if he did not value his character.

So here is where the rubber meets the road.

When you are faced with choices between your character and something selfish – what will you choose?  Will you make the easy choice and go with what the world tells you is important (money, sex, fame, etc.) or will you take the hard road and value your character and integrity above all else?  …and more importantly, will you be able to live with yourself knowing that you chose selfish pleasures over your character?

Character, integrity, and who you are inside is important to men of old.  When faced with tough choices, they would not be able to live with themselves if they chose material possessions over their character.

The question is this: what kind of choices are you making?  And are you able to live with yourself right now?

An integrated life.

This is something that has been on my mind lately.  An integrated life – combining the things that we say into the things that we do.  Living out the ideals that we believe.  Really being the man that we see in our mind.

An integrated life.

Why is it so hard?  It’s hard because it’s simply not easy.  It’s not easy to be consistently disciplined.  It’s not easy to always do the right thing.  It’s not easy to take the higher road.  It’s not easy to be the man that you know you can be.  Selfishness.  Laziness.  Self-confidence.  Greed.  Apathy.  All that stuff.  All of those things get in the way of living this integrated life where we live out the things that we believe.

But we young men can take heart in the fact that it is possible to life an integrated life.  It is worthwhile to live an integrated life.  And even though it is difficult, it is the only way that a true man should live.  The men of old who came before us and live among us have paved the way.  Their example shows us that it is possible to live out the things that we say and believe.  They proved that you can be the man that you see in your mind, the man that God is calling you to be, the man that you know you can be.  The men of old have shown us that an integrated life is possible, worthwhile, and the only way a real man should live.

I am right on the journey with you guys – trying to live an integrated life.  Trying to live out the things that I am saying with this blog.  Trying to be the man that I see. We are all in this thing together.  Indeed, our very lives need to be integrated with each other so that we can help each other on this journey.

An integrated life.

Are you ready to be the man that you know you can be?

Usually the story of the birth of Jesus focuses on the role of Mary. Of course, her praise is well-deserved, but Joseph played a very large role in the birth of Jesus, as well. Here is a quick question to think about as we jump into this story of Joseph: “Was the reason that God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus because God knew what a great man Joseph was?”

God entrusted the care of His Son and Mary to one man – Joseph. And did Joseph complain when things didn’t go his way? Did Joseph whine to God because he had to take Mary all the way to Bethlehem? Did Joseph get mad when Mary told him that she was pregnant? Did Joseph give up when the going got tough and there was no room in any of the inns? Did Joseph feel sorry for himself when his wife had to give birth in a stable? No way. Joseph was a Man of Old.

When Mary first came to him, he treated her with respect and kindness. When the angel of God spoke to him, he responded with faith and determination. When he found out they had to leave their homes and travel to a distant town right before Mary had the baby, he set his jaw and did what had to be done. When there was no room in the inn, he found a way to provide for his family. When Mary had the child in a stable, he never left her side. When the shepherds and the wise men offered praise and gifts, he held his head up high and thanked God for His blessings. Throughout the entire Christmas journey Joseph showed that real men are kind, determined, humble, and strong in the midst of difficult situations and historic events.

Really, is there a better example of how to be a man than what Joseph shows us in the Christmas journey? His deeds go unsung. His story is untold. His role is virtually unnoticed. And that is perfectly fine with him. Real men like Joseph do not do what they do for glory or praises. Joseph sacrificed and gave of himself to protect and provide for Mary and the baby because he loved them… and it was the right thing to do. That is what Men of Old do.

Joseph is a perfect example of what it means to be a real man in the face of difficult situations and in the midst of great deeds.

All young men today should strive to be like Joseph.

I want to be like Joseph.

A handshake used to mean a lot more to a man. It was a sign of strength, a sign of goodness. If a man had a good, firm handshake – then he could be trusted. He wasn’t hiding anything. You could tell. You could just tell what kind of man he was.

And men wanted to have a good handshake, as well. They wanted their handshake to be good and strong and an extension of themselves. Their handshake was as good as their word. Do you remember the time when a deal used to be sealed with only a handshake? That handshake was that man’s word. Essentially, the handshake was the man.

That was a man of old. A man whose handshake was as honest and good as the earth beneath him. A man who prided himself in his handshake and who expected the same in return from you. For some men, a handshake was all that they had to give. They did not have anything else. For others, a handshake was the only way they knew to communicate. For most men, a handshake was all they needed.

Can you picture that man of old? Can you picture that? A strong man with a firm handshake who proudly shakes the hand of other good men. Real men meeting each other with an honest and true handshake that connects and builds up each man. Can you see it in your mind? Can you feel it in your heart? Don’t you just yearn for the simple goodness of a strong handshake between true men? It seems like we have lost that today.

Never underestimate the power of a firm handshake between two good men. Young men, this is where we need to be. This is where we need to go. This is who we need to be. Are you with me?

Let’s shake on that. Let’s learn to shake on that.