The measure of a man

I love the spam folder in my email. Every once in awhile I open it just to see the ridiculous things people try to hook me in with. Evidently there are a whole bunch of people out there that think my life would be better if I had more money, if had a supply of Viagra, and if my 'member' were bigger (hope I didn't offend anybody there). Its just that someone (many someones actually) assume that because I am male, I have certain needs. That is the only qualifier they have on me. They assume my typical maleness.

It scares me that 'maleness' has gotten down to the genitalia that makes us male. Isn't there a whole bunch more about being a man than that? Or are there really guys out there that buy into this junk? I think something has gotten pretty lost about our culture if that's what it means to be a man.

So let me throw out another perspective. Maybe the 'measure' (couldn't resist the pun) of a man is the ability to live for others, live with an authenticity that comes from Jesus within him, and from the guts to stand up against a profane culture that defines maleness in stupid ways.

I see Jesus being the perfect man, and when I die, I want to look as much like Him as I possibly can. I want to profoundly impact people for Him. I want to be so present, so focused, so acutely aware of the Father in me that to encounter me is to encounter Him. THAT'S what it means to be a man. And you don't need 'length' or Viagra or lots of money to do that!