Be watchful, stand firm in the faith and act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Men, just a reminder, don’t get caught off-guard in this ever-increasing violent, anarchistic culture we find ourselves; ALWAYS BE PREPARED and ALWAYS BE AWARE.

I grew up with the mentality that it is better to be judged by 12 rather than be carried by 6. Whenever a crisis strikes, you should already have decisions made and then all you must do is act out those decisions. Don’t find yourself making decisions in the middle of an attack/crisis. Even the Boy Scout motto is ‘Be Prepared’. The Scout organization goes on to explain/teach “Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment and do it.”

To me, one of the most important things to know is what the predators or the bad guys are capable of and just how quickly situations can turn violent. One element of being aware is to know your environment, be able to leverage your environment to create weapons to help you get out of the situation. Another tip that I have said to folks is, “develop the ability to immediately detect a threat and know when to take it to the next level”, knowing when it is necessary to do so is crucial and vital. When violence becomes necessary, you must have that intention and purpose already in your head; there is no halfway. You must have a resolve about delivering as much violence as you can to not only match the level of aggression used against you but to surpass it.

Last year I posted a few videos on FB and I talked about a friend of mine who often says, “If you don’t cheat in a fight then you don’t want to win badly enough.” I will tweak that just a little by stating it this way: “If you don’t cheat in a fight, then you don’t want to live badly enough.” Sun Tzu, in the Art of War, explains the importance of “laying plans”. He states, “The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.”  So, don’t neglect this, be prepared to do the right thing, at the right time, and do it. “Nothing ever becomes real until it is experienced. Even a proverb is no proverb to you till your life has illustrated it.” [John Keats]

As men, we must be aware of what is going on around us.  Jesus said. “If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14) Most men are asleep these days. We need to be attentive. We need to know the condition of our life, our family, and the world around us. There are many passages in scripture that tell us to be watchful. The ability to Stand firm should be expected of men, of husbands, of fathers. Let us not be as roller coaster types of men, in other words, no high/low, on/off, or hot/cold. Men should not waver or retreat.

Love always protects. We absolutely have the right to defend ourselves and our families, and, as far as I am concerned, our neighbors too!  The world needs real Christian men who are in love with Jesus, their wives, their kids, God’s Word, the church, and the things of God. The definition of protection is to shield from injury; love always protects. When someone is in harm’s way, love will protect them by shielding them from injury, danger, and/or loss. Love guards and is willing to defend. Men, love your family enough to say, “I will protect you.” Men, love your neighbor enough to say, “I see these thugs coming, I will stand ground with you, and I am going to help protect you and yours by whatever means necessary.” It’s simple self-defense, much like the recent Kyle Rittenhouse situation. Love doesn’t delight in evil, but it does not put up with injustice.

Grow up, be men, not boys. Manhood is about taking responsibility. Contrary to our demasculinized culture, in the Christian Faith, men are given a charge to lead, provide, and protect women and children. Jesus came to this earth as a man. As a man, Jesus exemplifies and empowers us to walk in His steps, to live as He lived, to act like a man. He made a whip and drove out the con artist and swindlers. He stood up for a woman caught in adultery. He called the Pharisees snakes. In the book of Revelations, Jesus is riding a white stallion, with a sword and a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God and all the armies in heaven follow Him. He will strike down the nations and He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron and release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ACT LIKE A MAN– be courageous, be brave, be a man of valor. Do what you say you will do. No making excuses. Men are commanded to be strong. Godly men admit their own weaknesses and are strong in the Spirit because Jesus is our strength. Real men exercise self-control by being under the Spirit’s control.