If you look around, it’s hard to believe that our peoples were once savage warriors, hard working farmers, and capable of lifting a finger to do anything other than turn on the TV.
Men, inside, you know you were made for more. You were made to be bold, brave, and fierce. To be a gentlemen doesn’t mean that you are weak. It means your strength is tempered with self-control.
We’ve long said that March comes in and goes out inversely like a Lion or a Lamb. The thought of being one or the other may be a bit frightening for men. Especially in a culture that no longer appreciates the fierce and bold virtues that once marked manhood.
We’ve often been told that men need to be the alpha. And this of course, relates to the idea that we need to be the most aggressive wolf (or lion) in the pack (or pride).
They tell us to show now mercy, to build and demonstrate strength. To strive to lead at all costs.
I don’t buy into the whole “alpha male” nonsense.
What are we, animals?
No. We are men! And men come in different strokes and sizes.
If the whole pack of wolves was alpha… You know the pack would die right?
There are different roles in the pack.
And we are supposed to be better then the animals…. And they already know that everyone can’t be alpha!
Sometimes, we need to live aggressively. Sometimes we need to lead the pack. But sometimes, we need to follow, to obey, to submit. To show compassion, to show mercy, to show love.
Honestly, I think what we need more on this planet is more men that know when to lead, and when to follow.
Historically, Jesus gets a lot of flack of saying “the meek will inherit the earth.”
For some reason, the english word meek has a connotation of weakness and lowliness.
But the word in the greek – πράος (práos) was often use to describe a horse that had been “broken” for saddle riding. That horse is obedient to his master – but you still can’t deny it’s strength, and the passion inside of it. The word implies “strength under control.”
I think what we need in this world are men who don’t think of themselves higher than they are. Men who have the strength to crush, but the self-control to know when not to.
Men who know when to lead and when to follow.
Men! Rise up and lead, love and learn!
Every Monday At Manlihood.com – we celebrate men of courage, valor, creativity, innovation, and honor. We celebrate men who have accomplished great things, that have set good examples, and then have made the world a better place. This is #mancrushmonday
Growing up as an evangelical Christian, we were often quoted scriptures about brave men and women who were killed for refusing to recant their belief in Christ. We were told of prophets who in told the story of God to people who didn’t want to hear it, at the risk of their very lives.
And we were told that it still happens today.
One of those more recent martyrs has always been a bit of a personal hero. HIs writings and his wife’s writings are full of courage and faith, and they have helped me as I have shaped my own faith.
According to Wheaton.edu
Phillip James “Jim” Elliot (1927-1956), evangelical missionary martyr, was born in Portland, Oregon, one of four children born to a Plymouth Brethren evangelist and his wife, a chiropractor. A pious and forthright Christian from his grade school days onward, he enrolled at Wheaton College in Illinois in 1945….
In 1953 Jim and Elisabeth married and continued his work in Ecuador. In September 1955 a missionary friend from Missionary Aviation Fellowship spotted a tiny Huaoroni (“Auca”) Indian settlement in the jungle. The Huaoroni, a heretofore “unreached” people known for their reclusiveness and ferocity proved an enticing challenge to Elliot and he and four other missionaries began to establish friendly contact with the tribe. After a three-month campaign, they finally established face-to-face contact in early January, 1956. While the initial meetings were friendly something went wrong in a meeting on January 8th and all five of the missionaries were speared to death.
Check out these courageous quotes from the 20th century missionary and martyr.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
― Jim Elliot
“Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
“When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die!”
― Jim Elliot, The Journals of Jim Elliot
“Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.”
“God always gives his best to those who leave the choice with him”
“Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living.”
“Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.”
“The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for, but we must believe that whatever it involves, it is good, acceptable and perfect.”
“Lord, make my way prosperous not that I achieve high station, but that my life be an exhibit to the value of knowing God.”
“Wherever you are – be all there.”
― Jim Elliot
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
― Jim Elliot
“If we are the sheep of His pasture, remember that sheep are headed for the altar.”
At Manlihood.com our mission is to educate, equip and entertain men in an engaging way. Fridays, we focus a bit on the entertainment, offering #manlymusicfriday – where we feature songs from a variety of genres that reflect the values of true masculinity. Want more ManlyMusic? Check out our playlist on Spotify!
Old war songs are very manly. They often tell the stories of bravery and courage. They might not be your typical listening on a Pandora playlist, but it’s definitely worth listening to some of these old stories. Songs like this are slice of living history.
My name is Andrew Tozier, a child of Lichfield Maine
I left my only family for sea, and salt, and rain
When Lincoln called the banners in 1861
I joined the union army for the land I’m from
We were baptized by fire, at the battle of Bull Run
And we fought our southern brothers, in the wind, the snow, and sun
And when our time was over, we heard our Governor say
Keep fighting for the union, for just another day
So we joined the lion of Bowdoin, Chamberlain his name
and we marched back into battle as the 20th of Maine
If we should die today, dream a dream of heaven
Take your northern heart with you to the grave
Be proud and true you are a union soldier
Stand fast, ye are the boys of Maine
Well, our western flank was missing
As the confederates pushed on
And we fought them tooth and nail
Our ammunition all but gone
Alone I stood with colors
Flying proud and true
For to let my northern brothers know
the battle was not through
Then appeared our lion roaring bayonets
Charging down the mountain with what soldiers we had left
We were steadfast as katahdin, hard as winters rain
Take that rebel yell with you to hell
We are the 20th Maine
If we should die today, dream a dream of heaven
Take your northern heart with you to the grave
Be proud and true you are a union soldier
Stand fast, ye are the boys of Maine
Josh Hatcher has published a new book on Amazon! It’s a book of “manly” poems. You should definitely check it out!
While you’re there, make sure you snag these books too!
We’ve long said that March comes in and goes out inversely like a Lion or a Lamb. The thought of being one or the other may be a bit frightening for men. Especially in a culture that no longer appreciates the fierce and bold virtues that once marked manhood.
“Truth be told, most of us are faking our way through life. We pick only those battles we are sure to win, only those adventures we are sure to handle, only those beauties we are sure to rescue.”― John Eldredge, Wild at Heart Revised and Updated: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s
For the last century – the idea of manhood has been unappealing. To be strong, courageous, willing to fight, the smell of hard work, the hair on our face and bodies- it’s all been painted as slobbish, beastly, and uncivilized.
Not to downplay or insult the contributions of women, but fighting, working, and rough men have built our civilization. Now that it’s built, and civilization lies comfortably on memory foam beds drinking foamy coffee drinks, we have invented a derision against the wild, raw, strength of man.
You, sir, are a lion. Wild, strong, beastly, and capable of crushing skulls with your bare hands. It doesn’t mean you will crush skulls, but it means you could. Knowing when to crush them and when not to crush them is what builds civilization.
As a man who is truly a lion, your strength must be tempered, disciplined, and reserved. Let them feel the weight of who you are. Walk into a room with confidence, and they’ll see your strength and your wildness, and know they don’t want to mess with that. When they see your gentleness, kindness, and temperament, they’ll respect it more, knowing the strength behind it.
Have you ever met that young soldier who comes back from bootcamp to visit with his family? He is lean, strong, fierce, and ready for battle. But there’s this sense of self-confidence and self-control about him. He went away a boy, and he came home a man. He’s been trained in hand-to-hand combat, and in peak-physical condition. But he looks you in the eye, he shakes your hand firmly, and stands up straight. That lion is there. He’s not a “tame lion” – but he’s a good one.
Every Monday At Manlihood.com – we celebrate men of courage, valor, creativity, innovation, and honor. We celebrate men who have accomplished great things, that have set good examples, and then have made the world a better place. This is #mancrushmonday
While our current picture of William Wallace is definitely shaped by Mel Gibson in Braveheart, it’s important to remember that Williams Wallace was actually a man who stood up and defended his homeland with courage and valor.
He’s honored as a hero of Scotland, and even those without Scottish heritage view h
im with respect and awe.
According to Wikipedia:
Sir William Wallace (Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas; Norman French: William le Waleys;[2] died 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence.[3]
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. He was appointed Guardian of Scotland and served until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Glasgow, and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn, and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians.
Since his death, Wallace has obtained an iconic status far beyond his homeland. He is the protagonist of Blind Harry‘s 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and the subject of literary works by Sir Walter Scott and Jane Porter, and of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart (1995).
While many quotes from the movie Braveheart are attributed to the actual William Wallace – these quotes are actually his.
We come here with no peaceful intent, but ready for battle, determined to avenge our wrongs and set our country free. Let your masters come and attack us: we are ready to meet them beard to beard.
Statement before the Battle of Stirling Bridge (11 September 1297), as quoted in History of Scotland (1841) by Patrick Fraser Tytler, p. 121
I have brought you to the ring, now dance if you can.
Statement before the Battle of Falkirk (21 July 1298); as quoted in The Story of England (1909) by Samuel B. Harding
I can not be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance. He is not my Sovereign; he never received my homage; andwhilst life is in this persecuted body, he never shall receive it. To the other points whereof I am accused, I freely confess them all. As Governor of my country I have been an enemy to its enemies; I have slain the English; I have mortally opposed the English King; I have stormed and taken the towns and castles which he unjustly claimed as his own. If I or my soldiers have plundered or done injury to the houses or ministers of religion, I repent me of my sin; but it is not of Edward of England I shall ask pardon.
Statement at his trial, rejecting the assertion he was a traitor to Edward I of England (23 August 1305), as quoted in Lives of Scottish Worthies (1831) by Patrick Fraser Tytler, p. 279
My Son, Freedom is best, I tell thee true, of all things to be won. Then never live within the Bond of Slavery.
As quoted in William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland (1948) by Sir James Fergusson, p. 4
We’ve long said that March comes in and goes out inversely like a Lion or a Lamb. The thought of being one or the other may be a bit frightening for men. Especially in a culture that no longer appreciates the fierce and bold virtues that once marked manhood.
Lambs are weak. Lions are strong.
As we explore this concept, I will admittedly tell you, most of the time, I think we should err on the side of the lion. I think that we should strive to be brave, and fierce. We should strive to lead the pride, rather than to frolic in the fields, and cower at the thought of wolves.
With that said, I think that even the fiercest and strongest war-like man has to know that there’s a part of him that has to fall in line. A part of him that must be subdued and soft.
A hardened soldier can indeed have tea with his daughter, and can indeed love a woman gently, and can indeed hold back the power and rage in order to communicate with his people diplomatically. Perhaps these qualities aren’t really “lamb-like” after all – but they are certainly not wild.
“For after years of living in a cage, a lion no longer even believes it is a lion . . . and a man no longer believes he is a man.”
― John Eldredge, Wild at Heart Revised and Updated: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul
I don’t want to see men tamed. I think it’s a dangerous thing to take a lion and to train him to be a house-cat. When I talk about finding balance, I don’t mean that men should be tamed. I think they should be TEMPERED. Men, finding balance does not mean that you are abandoning your lionhood in order to be a lamb.
When I was a child, my dad and I loved to wrestle. His strength was and still is baffling. I’ve watched him lift things no man should lift. I’ve felt the strength in his grip. As we would wrestle, he’d show me that strength, but it was always measured and held back. I always knew that this man had the power to crush my little skull with his bare hands, and the fact that he didn’t showed me more about his strength than anything. He was wild like a lion, but he was tempered.
As we explore what it means to be a lion, and what we can learn from the lamb – let’s strive to be balanced. Let’s strive to be men who embrace the fullness and wildness that is in us, but we must keep it tempered and in check, because that is what a good man is. Each use of our strength and wildness is carefully measured and used in ways that make those around us better, and keeps them safe.