Is it okay for men to cry? Jesus did, as we see in the famed Lazarus story of John 11. But what about men in today's culture? In this month's episode, I talk about crying over the death of a dog and the death of a car and how it's okay for men to have a more sensitive side. Even if it's the only side.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I'd made brotherhood my idol. Looking back, I see it so clearly now. So madly obvious. I made this pursuit of brotherhood and even ministry my idol. And I got the wind knocked out of me on the asinine climb.
Have you ever tried to "pray the gay away"? God's way of doing things often — nearly always — involves an exorbitant amount of waiting, process, and journey. It's a brand new MANLY MONDAY, featuring Simeon's story from Luke 2, the concept of Jesus coming to earth as a baby rather than a man, and my bangs.
Tom shares his two greatest masculine struggles: capability and beauty. To counter those long engrained voices, he dives into 1 Samuel 17 and Psalm 139 for stories and thoughts from everyone's favorite ruddy poet-king.
I recently returned from a men's retreat in which I came face-to-face with my biggest struggle: not anything regarding my sexuality or sexual addictions. But simply feeling like a man. Like a man among men, assembled on an equal playing field rather than somewhere on another field's sidelines.
It's National Coming Out Month. For this month's MANLY MONDAY, Tom takes a look at the hunchbacked woman of Luke 13, relating her 18-year story to his own 19-year journey of coming out and finally bringing the dark below to light.
Just because I'm "out" doesn't mean I'm always going out of my way to talk about sexuality. Outside my closest friendships, I still don't feel comfortable sharing. I still feel ashamed of my sexuality. Even after all this time. All these stories, written or otherwise.
It's MANLY MONDAY! In this episode, Tom dives into two storms from Scripture: one with Jesus in the boat and one with Jesus on the waves. He's present in both storms but also calling us to something beyond.
MANLY MONDAY returns after a month's hiatus! Join me as I tackle the question (that used to be) on everybody's (or a vocal few's) minds (or not).
Call it a "new direction" or a clearer translation of what YOB has been from the start: a community desperate for Jesus. My 31-year Jesus journey leads me here. Wherever "here" is. Broken on the floor. Echoes of the past ringing in my ears. Doubts for the future always shadowing my vision no matter how many tears I blink away.