"Esse Quam Videri" is Latin for "To be, rather than to appear" it can be found in Cicero's essay "On Friendship". It is also the state motto for North Carolina and the motto for many organizations.
This is a statement that I feel rather infects the world today more than ever. So many times we act like we are going to do something, like we want to do something, but for unknown reason we don't risk it or we don't do it. We brush it aside and go on to something else that might be a little easier for us to do.
How often do we meet someone, or just see someone having fun and joking around with their friends and think to ourselves. "Man that guy/girl looks like they are so fun to be around, they "appear" to be a great friend." Then when we do get the opportunity to get to know them, we find that they are not who they "appear" to be.
How often do we do that to others?
So many people act or "appear" to be a certain person around some people, but around others they tend to be a totally different person.
Nathaniel Hawthorne once said - "No man, for any considerable period of time, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the truth."
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Riskless
"Every Man Dies, Not Every Man Really Lives." - William Wallace, Braveheart
MEN......
Why do we tend to take the easy way out?
Why don't we go out and do something that others might have told us, "You can't do that."?
Why do we often times not ask the girl out? Are we scared that we are not good enough for her?
or Are we just scared that she will say no, and through being scared never take that chance?
How do we see ourselves as men?
- Do you feel like William Wallace or Robert the Bruce?
- Do you feel like Maximus or Commudus?
Do you see yourself as the hero, or the man behind the scene?
When the going gets rough, why do we question if we have what it takes to overcome it?
Do we feel unprepared for being ready to deal with the risk that will come to us in our lives?
"Why don't men play the man? Why don't they offer their strength to a world desperately in need of it? For two simple reasons: We doubt very much that we have any real strength to offer, and we're pretty certain that if did offer what we have it wouldn't be enough" - Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 58
Why do we continue to build on the passiveness that Adam passed on to us?
Are we willing to live with the level of risk that God has invited us to cope with?
But do we carry that passiveness from Adam in us, or are we just placing that weakness on ourselves as an excuse for not going out to fight a battle, that we might not want to fight?
This reminds me of the conversation between Aragorn and Arwen in Rivendell:
Arwen: "Why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate."
Aragorn: "The same blood flows in my veins. Same weakness."
Arwen: "Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and you will defeat it. A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor, Aragorn. Ú or le a ú or nin." (The Shadow does not hold sway yet, Aragorn. Not over you and not over me.)
We are not Adam him self. We are his Heirs yes, but we are our own selves. There will be battles that will come to us in life, it is inevitable. But if we just let those battles pass us by? Those battles just don't go away, they don't just disappear into thin air. They will always be there and if we don't take care of it when it shows up then who will, or when will it show back up and bite us in the butt.
So, as men, let us take up the reins. Go out and take a risk. Do something that someone might have told you, "You can't do that". Go out and learn or do something that you have always wanted to do, but never made the time to do it. Ask out the beautiful girl that catches your eye, but you never thought you had a chance with. So go out, TAKE A RISK, TAKE A CHANCE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
MEN......
Why do we tend to take the easy way out?
Why don't we go out and do something that others might have told us, "You can't do that."?
Why do we often times not ask the girl out? Are we scared that we are not good enough for her?
or Are we just scared that she will say no, and through being scared never take that chance?
How do we see ourselves as men?
- Do you feel like William Wallace or Robert the Bruce?
- Do you feel like Maximus or Commudus?
Do you see yourself as the hero, or the man behind the scene?
When the going gets rough, why do we question if we have what it takes to overcome it?
Do we feel unprepared for being ready to deal with the risk that will come to us in our lives?
"Why don't men play the man? Why don't they offer their strength to a world desperately in need of it? For two simple reasons: We doubt very much that we have any real strength to offer, and we're pretty certain that if did offer what we have it wouldn't be enough" - Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 58
Why do we continue to build on the passiveness that Adam passed on to us?
Are we willing to live with the level of risk that God has invited us to cope with?
But do we carry that passiveness from Adam in us, or are we just placing that weakness on ourselves as an excuse for not going out to fight a battle, that we might not want to fight?
This reminds me of the conversation between Aragorn and Arwen in Rivendell:
Arwen: "Why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate."
Aragorn: "The same blood flows in my veins. Same weakness."
Arwen: "Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and you will defeat it. A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor, Aragorn. Ú or le a ú or nin." (The Shadow does not hold sway yet, Aragorn. Not over you and not over me.)
We are not Adam him self. We are his Heirs yes, but we are our own selves. There will be battles that will come to us in life, it is inevitable. But if we just let those battles pass us by? Those battles just don't go away, they don't just disappear into thin air. They will always be there and if we don't take care of it when it shows up then who will, or when will it show back up and bite us in the butt.
So, as men, let us take up the reins. Go out and take a risk. Do something that someone might have told you, "You can't do that". Go out and learn or do something that you have always wanted to do, but never made the time to do it. Ask out the beautiful girl that catches your eye, but you never thought you had a chance with. So go out, TAKE A RISK, TAKE A CHANCE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Attributes of a Man
From AU+Catholic Men's Camping Expedition 2011
A MAN IS:
Live your life by these attributes, ALL OF THEM, all the time, everywhere.
Live a life like that of St George who behavior was: Protecting Women, Fighting Evil, Dependence on Faith, Might of Arms, and Largesse to the Poor.
St. George
Always remember that the way we act everyday reflects the Love of God in our Hearts. (Proverbs 27:19)
A MAN IS:
· Trustworthy – MOST IMPORTANT, RELIABILITY, HONESTY
o "I am different from [George] Washington; I have a higher, grander standard of principle. Washington could not lie. I can lie, but I won't."
- Mark Twain
o A Man tells the truth, he is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him
o The Badge of Honesty. Having it lets you look at any man in the eye, lacking it he won’t look back.
o If others have trust in you wholly then they can know truly that you will have the willingness to fulfill the other attributes in this list, if another man cannot trust you then how can he know that you will be able to live out these other attributes whole heartedly
o TRUST IN THE LORD ABOVE ALL THINGS, trust in him and that everything that he has placed in your life is done according to his will and that he has a plan out there for you
o Trust in the Lord and the pieces of your life will fall right into place
o PROVERBS 3:5-6
o EXODUS 20:16
· Loyal – HONEST, DEPENDABLE
o "You see my kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions, or its office holders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out..." - Mark Twain
o A man is true to his family, friends, leaders, school, and nation.
o The very word is life itself, for without loyalty we have no love of person or country.
o Loyalty to GOD above all things living and material, because he is the only thing that will NEVER WEAR OUT, will NEVER FADE, will NEVER DIMINISH, will NEVER ABANDON
o LUKE 16:10
· Helpful - CARING
o "Be virtuous and you will be eccentric."
o "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
o A man cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.
o Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we help ourselves, not to mention mankind.
o Genesis 2:18 – God sent Eve as the only and perfect suitable helper for Adam
o Let us return the favor to our women, for how much they have given to us
o WITHOUT WOMEN MAN COULD NOT EXIST
o Women were sent to be the only thing that can possibly tame men
o Help without expecting in return. Give willingly without remorse
o HELP OTHERS THROUGH PRAYER FOR THEM
o Help others and we will be justly rewarded, God in the Kingdome of Heaven
o DUTERONOMY 15:11
· Friendly – LOVE OF NEIGHBOR
o "I can live for two months on a good compliment." – Mark Twain
o "The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right." – John Wayne
o A man is a friend to all. He is a brother to other men. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own
o BROTHERHOOD is part of the word. You can take it in a lot of directions – and do – but make sure and start with BROTHERHOOD.
o Be a friend to all no matter what background, gender, age, religion, nationality, etc.
o Say hi to a stranger, HEY DAY
o Spread Joy throughout the world by letting the love of Christ flow though you every moment of every day
o Get to know someone new, especially at CSO
o Share all, don’t set something up as private invite others to share in your joy
o Let the Lord UNITE us as Men, as a Community at AU, as a Society, as Humanity, as People of Christ
o Nehemiah 8:10
§ Go and enjoy food and drink and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the Joy of the Lord in your strength.
o PSALM 133:1
· Courteous - RESPECT
o "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
o A man is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.
o Allow each person his human dignity which means a lot more than just saying “yes ma’am” and “thank you sir”. It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored more…earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. DO IT NOW!!! – JUST DO IT
o Hold the door for others, girls or guys, young or old, any race any religion
o SHOW LOVE THOUGH NON VERBAL ACTS
o Let God’s gifts of Love and Peace act though you everyday
o Do things without the expectation of having something in return
o RESPECT FOR WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
o After Thursday night dinners, as men to take the initiative to clean up the tables and chairs
o MAN UP!!!!!!!!!! RESPECT ALL!!!!!!!
o EPHESIANS 4:29
· Kind – GENTLE, LOVE
o "The universal brotherhood of man is our most precious possession--what there is of it." – Mark Twain
o A man knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.
o This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But it’s like your bicycle, it’s just no good unless you get out and use it, and mean it.
o Open your heart to others
o Wear your heart on your sleeves, hold nothing back
o Spread God’s acts of Hope, Peace, Love, Strength, Faith, and Joy
o ALWAYS MEAN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
o PROVERBS 12:10
· Obedient - HUMILITY
o "Always obey your parents, when they are present. Most parents think they know more than you do; and you can generally make more by humoring that superstition than you can by acting on your own better judgment."
o A man follows the rules of his family and school. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.
o Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with your humanity.
o OBEY GOD’S ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!!
o Learn from your past mistakes and from others mistakes, because mistakes will be made, it is inevitable
o Spread to others God’s love
o Be HUMBLE to God and to your fellow brothers and sisters under Christ
o EPHESIANS 6:1-3
· Cheerful - HAPPINESS
o "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
– Mark Twain
o A man looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come along his way. He tries to make others happy.
o Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise you how many others do the same.
o SMILES ARE CONTAGIOUS
o Go about the things that you do every day in your life with joy, even if it is something that you don’t want to do
o Be happy even through the BAD TIMES
o PROVERBS 15:13
· Thrifty – CAREFUL, GIVING, SACRAFICE
o "Of course you can save money by denying yourself all these little vicious enjoyments for fifty years, but then what can you do with it? -what use can you put it to? Money can't save your infinitesimal soul; all the use that money can be put to is to purchase comfort and enjoyment in this life -therefore, as you are an enemy to comfort and enjoyment, where is the use in accumulating cash?"
o A man works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
o Means a lot more than putting pennies away, and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as anything.
o Through giving we will also receive
o NOT ABOUT BEING CHEAP
o Giving of time
§ Men’s Prayer on Tuesday mornings
· Only once a week
· Early, but fulfilling
· Makes the day SO MUCH BETTER
o PROVERBS 6:6-8
· Brave – STRENGTH
o "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward, it is not a compliment to say he is brave; it is merely a loose misapplication of the word."
o A man can face any danger although his is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.
o You don’t have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good days work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds.
o FEARLESS AND TRUE!!!!
o Stand up for yourself and your fellow brothers and sisters
o NOT ABOUT FIGHTING, physically
o There will always be fear, but it is those that are able to overcome it that are the strongest
o Don’t just exist, LIVE and LIVE WELL TO THE FULLEST
o Think of crippled people, those who are unwilling to give up on life and live it fuller than most of us, even though they have less than us (Human Experience Film)
o Stand up for what is right, and NEVER BACK DOWN
o Have the heart of a Warrior, fight for our women, fight for our fellow brothers, fight for our community, fight for LIFE
o Don’t be lured into battles that aren’t yours to fight
o Don’t fight your battles twice, this doesn’t mean give up
o It takes courage to have faith, because we all know that your faith will be sorely tested
o Don’t be Passive
§ Adam and his Passivity (Genesis 3:6)
§ Saving Private Ryan - Not Being Passive and staying to fight
§ Air Force One - Not being passive and fighting for his family and friends
§ The Patriot - start out passive, son dies, then comes out a warrior
o Have the HEART OF A WARRIOR:
§ Fight for our Women
§ Fight for our Fellow Men
§ Fight for our GOD
§ Fight for our Community and our Country
§ Fight for LIFE AND HAPPINESS
o Isaiah 42:13
o Exodus 15:3
o Nehemiah 4:14
o Philippians’ 4:13
o DEUTERONOMY 31:6
· Clean - PURE
o "... I do despise this washing business. I believe it to be a gratuitous & unnecessary piece of meanness. I never see them wash the cat."
o A man keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of others who live by high standards. He helps to keep his home and community clean. – John Wayne
o Soap and water help a lot on the outside. But it is in the inside that counts and don’t ever forget it.
o Place yourself around those who will keep your accountable for staying pure
o Physically Strong, Mentally Awake, Morally Straight (Scout Oath)
o Be of Pure: Heart, Spirit, Mouth, Body
o MORE THAN JUST NOT SINNING
o MORE THAN JUST SOAP AND WATER TO CLEANSE YOUR OUTSIDE
o Help others as well to remain clean in the eyes of the Lord
o RESPECT FOR YOUR FUTURE BRIDE
o Romans 12:1-2
o PSALM 24:3-5
· Reverent
o "Reverence for one's own sacred things--parents, religion, flag, laws and respect for one's own beliefs--these are feelings which we cannot even help. They come natural to us... But the reverence which is difficult... is the respect which you pay, without compulsion, to the political or religious attitude of a man whose beliefs are not yours. You can't revere his gods or his politics, and no one expects you to do that, but you could respect his belief in them if you tried hard enough; and you could respect him, too, if you tried hard enough."
o A man is reverent towards God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
o Believe in everything that you want to, but keep God at the top of it. With him, life can be a beautiful experience. Without him, you are just biding time.
o RESPECT GOD ABOVE ALL
o Respect others and their individual religious beliefs and customs
o Love him with all your: Heart, Soul, Mind, Body, Strength, Understanding
o Place God above all things, make him first in: relationships with others, friendships, marriage, school, prayer, family, etc.
o Don’t just bide your time on this earth. Live it and let the Lord live though you every moment. Because though him all things are possible and without him we can do nothing.
o MARK 12:30
Live your life by these attributes, ALL OF THEM, all the time, everywhere.
Live a life like that of St George who behavior was: Protecting Women, Fighting Evil, Dependence on Faith, Might of Arms, and Largesse to the Poor.
St. George
Always remember that the way we act everyday reflects the Love of God in our Hearts. (Proverbs 27:19)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
In a Relationship with NATURE
"It would be good to remember that the world of nature is the world God created and set us in. He didn't make Adam from polyester, but from the dust of the earth, and he didn't set him in the mall, but in the outdoors, in nature. The created world, with all its beauty and diversity and wildness, this is the world God intended for us to live in relationship to."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 101
"I looked to the east, and there a full moon was on the rise above the desert mesas, silver and round, poised above the cliffs like the grand dame of the evening on her balcony. And as I looked a breeze caressed my face, and I knew it was God. A flock of wood ducks flew across the moon, silhouetted by its light, and now the time was gone, and there was only Beauty, and Life, and Friendship. My heart was awakened, wooed by the great Lover."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 185
"I continued to return, though, because of the beauty I found there, wandering for hours in desert arroyos, stooping to examine the tracks of lizards and tortoises, getting down on my hands and knees to smell a cactus flower. The expansiveness, the austere beauty, the utter solitude made it, for me, what the Celts called one of the "thin places," where heaven and earth nearly meet. I felt the presence of God there in such palpable ways."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 203
"At last I am surrounded by wilderness. The wind in the top of the pines behind me sounds like the ocean. Waves are rushing in from the great blue above, cresting upon the ridge of the mountain I have climbed. Spreading out below me the landscape is a sea of sagebrush for mile after lonesome mile."
-Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 2
"Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of a man. The masculine heart needs a place where nothing is prefabricated, modular, nonfat, zip-locked, franchised, on-line, microwaveable. Where there are no deadlines, cell phones, or committe meetings. Where there is room for the soul. Where, finally, the geography around us corresponds tothe geography of our heart."
-Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 6
Remember that we are made from the Dust of the Earth, and to Dust we shall return (Genesis 2:7). God placed us in this world of nature and beauty so that we could enjoy it. We go through days of rain and thunderstorms every now and then, but the next time that it rains don't curse God for ruining your day, but thank and praise him for nourishing his creation. Remember that without water WE COULD NOT SURVIVE! Go out into the wild outdoors sometime. Take a hike to the top of a mountain and look out over the vastness of the world that we have been set in. Let the beauty of the Earth envelop your senses. Watch, Listen, Touch, and Smell what is out there. Take some time to sit out in the great wild, only you and God and his creation for us. Just sit out there and talk to him, but also listen to what he has to tell you. In scripture many times it says, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16). You see in the life of Jesus that before and after he performed miracles he would withdraw to places among nature to talk to his father. Since we are also God's sons/daughters why should we not do the same? Like Jesus, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jacob, let the Holy Spirit lead you out into the Wilderness!!!!!!!!!!!
Listen to this song by John Denver and write down the little acts of nature's beauty that inspire your senses:
John Denver's Annie's Song
Say this Prayer and ask God for him to help you to experience and enjoy his creation:
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 101
"I looked to the east, and there a full moon was on the rise above the desert mesas, silver and round, poised above the cliffs like the grand dame of the evening on her balcony. And as I looked a breeze caressed my face, and I knew it was God. A flock of wood ducks flew across the moon, silhouetted by its light, and now the time was gone, and there was only Beauty, and Life, and Friendship. My heart was awakened, wooed by the great Lover."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 185
"I continued to return, though, because of the beauty I found there, wandering for hours in desert arroyos, stooping to examine the tracks of lizards and tortoises, getting down on my hands and knees to smell a cactus flower. The expansiveness, the austere beauty, the utter solitude made it, for me, what the Celts called one of the "thin places," where heaven and earth nearly meet. I felt the presence of God there in such palpable ways."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 203
"At last I am surrounded by wilderness. The wind in the top of the pines behind me sounds like the ocean. Waves are rushing in from the great blue above, cresting upon the ridge of the mountain I have climbed. Spreading out below me the landscape is a sea of sagebrush for mile after lonesome mile."
-Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 2
"Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of a man. The masculine heart needs a place where nothing is prefabricated, modular, nonfat, zip-locked, franchised, on-line, microwaveable. Where there are no deadlines, cell phones, or committe meetings. Where there is room for the soul. Where, finally, the geography around us corresponds tothe geography of our heart."
-Wild at Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 6
Remember that we are made from the Dust of the Earth, and to Dust we shall return (Genesis 2:7). God placed us in this world of nature and beauty so that we could enjoy it. We go through days of rain and thunderstorms every now and then, but the next time that it rains don't curse God for ruining your day, but thank and praise him for nourishing his creation. Remember that without water WE COULD NOT SURVIVE! Go out into the wild outdoors sometime. Take a hike to the top of a mountain and look out over the vastness of the world that we have been set in. Let the beauty of the Earth envelop your senses. Watch, Listen, Touch, and Smell what is out there. Take some time to sit out in the great wild, only you and God and his creation for us. Just sit out there and talk to him, but also listen to what he has to tell you. In scripture many times it says, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16). You see in the life of Jesus that before and after he performed miracles he would withdraw to places among nature to talk to his father. Since we are also God's sons/daughters why should we not do the same? Like Jesus, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jacob, let the Holy Spirit lead you out into the Wilderness!!!!!!!!!!!
Listen to this song by John Denver and write down the little acts of nature's beauty that inspire your senses:
John Denver's Annie's Song
Say this Prayer and ask God for him to help you to experience and enjoy his creation:
Loving Father and Creator of all we come to you today deeply grateful for your creation. As we look around us we are amazed at the greatness and majesty of all that you have made. Nature around us speaks of your greatness - the vast expanse of the sky, the mountains, trees, lakes and streams speak of your great design. You have given us such beauty in the colors of the rainbow, the beauty of flowers and fields. Words cannot adequately express the magnificence of all you have created. We join in praise with the writer of the psalms when he says, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." May we show our love and reverence to you, our Lord, by caring for all that you have created. We humbly give you praise and thanks. Amen
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Beginning of Lent 2011
"Adam was given the earth to rule, but when the test came, he folded. He didn't speak, didn't act on Eve's behalf. Satan was there, attacking his wife, threatning the whole kingdom, and Adam didn't do jack squat. He fell through his acquiescence, through his silence and passivity. That is how Satan became the Prince of this Earth."..."Jesus came to win it back - to throw dowm the usurper, to break the claims of his rule, which were based entirely upon the sin of man. Through his absolute obedience to God and through his sacrificial death, he did indeed break every claim Satan might make to the kingdoms of this earth."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 242
See: 1 John 5:19, Genesis 3:1-7, Colossians 2:13-15, & Matthew 28:18
May we remember through this Lenten Season, that begins today, to fight for what we believe in and not give in to the tempetations of Satan or others. Let us show God's love for us and in us through the actions and deeds that we do everyday.
Proverbs 27:19 - "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."
-Way of the Wild Heart, By: John Eldredge, P. 242
See: 1 John 5:19, Genesis 3:1-7, Colossians 2:13-15, & Matthew 28:18
May we remember through this Lenten Season, that begins today, to fight for what we believe in and not give in to the tempetations of Satan or others. Let us show God's love for us and in us through the actions and deeds that we do everyday.
Proverbs 27:19 - "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."
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