Freedom Fighters

15, No 17 Things I Wished I Had Learned Before Turning 50

Here’s number 8 – we may not get to number 9 … J

Take care of yourself: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

There’s much dialog and writing today about the care for our souls. That really ties into #1 – making your quiet time a non-negotiable. If you are doing number one consistently, you are nourishing your soul and that’s a good thing.

We men do not take care of our emotions very well. Typically we don’t cry well. I read a book by a good friend many years ago and one of the chapters was “REAL MEN CRY!” We tend to think that crying makes us weak (or appear weak). But if we really want to be Jesus followers, remember that Jesus cried. There are several times in the gospels where it mentioned that Jesus cried.

Tears are ok! Besides helping out our eyes, they are the relief valve to emotions that sometimes get bottled up. I have learned so much from men who have been in our 120-day addiction program. Some of the biggest, masculine, macho men have had the tenderness of heart and have not been afraid to shed tears in front of their peers.

As men we often do anger well! How about joy and laughter? There is way too much pain and suffering in this world. We’ve forgotten how to laugh. One of my fondest memories of my grandmother is one night when I was home sick. My parents were at church and my grandmother was babysitting me. I cannot remember what prompted this, but I can remember very vividly something making her laugh and for the next hour we were both doubled over in pain laughing hysterically. When my parents came home, we couldn’t pull it together to tell them what had happened. It’s ok to cry – it’s ok to laugh.

Now comes the painful part. Taking care of ourselves physically. This hurts because it is where I am right now. I am not talking about yearly physicals and all that fun stuff. I am talking about caring for the bodies we have.

Years ago we hosted a conference for Christian Camping leaders at America’s Keswick. At the end of the conference, the President of our organization had 100+ men join hands to pray for each other. Bob had recently had a heart attack and was concerned for the rest of us. He lovingly but firmly asked as to look around the room at each other and then carefully chided us and encouraged us to take responsibility for the dealing with the “battle of the bulge.” Most of the men gathered in that circle had bellies that hung over their belts.

I have struggled with weight my entire life. Jan and I made a commitment this year to work on this area of our lives. It is tough! It is hard work! But it is worth it. We rebuke men for dabbling in addictions to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling, and porn. But what about gluttony? The Bible had lots to say about that issue.

For some of us, this is a REALLY tough issue. It’s hitting below the belt (no pun intended)! But we do need to take a look at this as leaders and men of God. I will never look like Johnny Atlas at this stage in my life. But I know that in order to finish well, I have to take the painful steps of changing my lifestyle.

If you are thin – remember at the rapture (if you believe in one) there is a grand reversal – the thin will be fat and the fat will be thin! Oh I think that is wrong theology – it says we shall all be changed! J

Seriously, if you are thin, don’t look down your noses and the men who are struggling. Come alongside them and encourage them.

Ok. I have to end this for today. I trust this helps. If you are in the battle with me, let me know – I want t pray for you and encourage you. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 1 Chronicles 22-24; Proverbs 24; John 8:28-41

Motivations: There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. C. S. Lewis

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:13 ; Level 2: Ephesians 6:14-21

Powered Up:  Prayer is more than a wish; it is the voice of faith directed to God. – Billy Graham