Every man, single, dating or married is called to be the cover for women around them. For the fact is that we are called to protect women. This is not to say that women are weak and all that crap. Men are still called to be a cover for their sisters in Christ. We are called to be honorable and protecting of their spirituality, their conditions of heart and emotions. We are called to stand for them and be there for them as men willing to fight for our sisters' heart, spirit, body and soul. No woman or girl is just a woman or girl. Each woman is still a member of the body of Christ, and no matter what relation that woman...any woman has to you; be it your mother, your sister, your girlfriend, your friend, or even the girl whose name you don't even know. No matter what role any woman plays in your life, she is still your responsibility. This is not a matter of ruling over, but a matter of honor and protecting. As a man, I am called to cover, protect, and honor the heart of each woman. To fight for and protect each woman's condition of heart, mind, spirit, and body. Why do men wait until they're in a relationship to start realizing this stuff? Why have I sought so hard to be a 'man of God' my entire life and failed to realize I am not just called to respect and honor the girl I was interested in at the time? No! If I am a true man of God, I am called to honor, protect and cover EVERY woman. No woman is just a woman. Each woman is my responsibility. I am my sister's keeper!
Wild at Heart: in the city
What is it about downtown that makes me feel like John Eldredge? For those who don't get the reference, the majority of this entry will make no sense...well maybe it will.
I do enjoy being outside. I love camping and I enjoy a good hike. I do enjoy the mountains though I'm not too inclined to carry a pocket knife at all times or attempt to round up my meals with only my bare hands and my multi-tool (I do own one).
Though I do enjoy the outdoors, I actually sense myself "coming alive" when I am wandering the streets of midtown Chicago, San Fransisco, or Sacramento. Something about being in the big metropolitan city atmosphere that makes me feel like Hiro on the first season of "Heroes" the first time he shows up in Times Square. I feel like that every time. I want to say hello to every uninterested city-dwelling passerby because everyone should be so excited to be there.
I like walking blocks at a time to a small "swanky" coffee shop to sit and read by the storefront window.
I like walking along with my white earbuds connecting my ears to my front jeans pocket.
I like finding a parking place (don't too much enjoy the search for one).
I enjoy old houses, studio apartments, and flats.
I enjoy small independent business among large corporate business.
I enjoy small city parks that almost feel like the mayor is playing a real life version of sims city where the city is dying of low oxygen and lacking recreation.
I enjoy diversity.
I enjoy visiting places "Christians don't normally go".
I enjoy endless individuals, which represent endless relationships I could have.
I enjoy that thing in my heart that leaps at the vision of me getting to know a lot of people in this room, this coffee shop, this park, this city. It is that thing that leaps within me to think about how many friendships I could create down here, and how many of those friendships could lead to a difference made in how someone sees Christians.
How many people could I meet downtown that could one day be talking to someone else who says, "I hate Christians. All Christians are..." Could the people I meet say to their friend, "Well, I actually have this friend I met at the coffee shop who is different than that."
My heart leaps at the possibility of building life-changing friendships before or even instead of converts.
There are so many friendships to be had downtown, and I would love to see people come to Christ, but there are a lot of people who need to trust Christians before they will ever trust Christ.
Now I am wild at my heart to make that a reality in a place where I feel God's pleasure on my heart every time I am there.