Images of Manliness

If you want to know one of the primary reasons why genuine manliness is disappearing from our culture, look no farther than the media images of manliness that are being directed at us a million times a day. From commercials and movies, to the attitudes and behaviors of male celebrities, "rank and file" men are constantly flooded with impressions of what our culture deems as acceptable conduct for men. However, most of these images are completely contrary to the biblical duties and responsibilities of men.

Men are presented by media in a number of different ways.

#1 The slob. Typically, you see this type of man on fast food and beer commercials. Unruly hair, slouched on the sofa, wearing dirty clothes, staring into a TV set. They are also very common in modern comedy films, particularly those of the Judd Apatow / Jack Black / Will Ferrell variety. These men are clearly portrayed as being useless, aimless, unintelligent, wasteful, immature boozers and party animals. They wish only to have fun, do whatever they want, and never grow up.

#2 The dorky dad. I have been seeing this manifestation in commercials for cell phones and other portable devices, where dads are either out of touch, or even more obsessive then their teenagers. I've also seen a few fast food, pizza delivery, and TV dinner commercials where the kids are disgusted with their dad not bringing home something "cool." In any case, Dad gets plenty of eye-rolls. They have also been present in virtually every kids movie in the last 20 years. They are weak, bumbling, ineffective leaders, who usually end up apologizing to their bratty kids (always the stars of the film) for being too hard on them.

#3 The jerk boyfriend/husband. He is insensitive, distant, unfaithful, shirks responsibility, and is usually either overly macho or a slob. He is usually contrasted with his female partner, who is successful, refined, and in general, better than he is at everything. This portrayal places both men and women in an improper light.

#4 The ladies man. This is why I refuse to buy AXE products. Everything this company puts out, from their commercials to the wording on their labels says one thing: use it and they will come... all the way to the bedroom. A real man understands that God ordained for intimacy to occur only within the context of marriage, and is not only content to wait for the wife God has prepared for him, but strives to keep his heart pure until he is wed. Of course, AXE is not the only guilty party here. Sex has been used to entice men into buying a product for decades. Add this of course to the multitude of movies and songs that portray suave, handsome men wooing the ladies. Isn't this why even men admire guys like Brad Pitt? They're thinking, "Man I wish had his looks and his luck." This is not where the thoughts of a godly man should be directed.

#5 The rebel. This is the sort of man who ditches his responsibilities and rejects all authority, in order to forge his own (deviant) path. In generations past, such a reckless and lazy man would have been scorned. But ever since Marlon Brando and James Dean donned their leather jackets, white t-shirts, blue jeanss, and boots and hopped on their respective motorcycles and cars, we have turned them into idols. All men are under the headship of Christ and the leadership of other men He appoints over us. We are also commanded to be the heads of families ourselves. Such a noble calling is incompatible with the seemingly glamorous, but always empty life of the rebel.

#6 The dreamer. The grown man who ignores the needs and affections of his wife and children in order to relive his glory days, find himself in the midst of a mid-life crisis, or pursue some idealistic goal. The young man who rebels against his overbearing, old-fashioned, dream-squashing father and recklessly runs after sports and fame at the expense of a stable career (with the help of some other adult man who, unlike his father, sympathizes with him). Of course, in the end, the man will succeed, his family will apologize for not understanding him (typically found in the latter case), and he will walk away the hero. One of the most despicable, yet ubiquitous, types of men in cinema.

#7 The macho man. Somewhere along the way, we got the idea that the bigger your guns, the bigger your muscles, and the badder your attitude, the more manly you become. This is certainly not a concept you will find in Scripture, and is actually one of the more prevalent and harmful false images of manliness.

#8 The loner. While some of the manliest lines in film history have no doubt been uttered from the mouth of Clint Eastwood ("Are you gonna pull those pistols, or whistle Dixie?), portrayals of men of this type have contributed to the isolationist attitude of many males. Men influenced by the loner mentality believe they do not need anyone (especially family, friends, and God) to succeed and be happy in life. They miss out on rich friendships and other vital relationships, and end up miserable, depressed, and, well, lonely.

#9 The adventurer. It was once well said that men cannot live on bread alone. Yet while all men crave and need excitement in their lives, it has long been popular to portray men whose entire existence is built to thrive on the satisfaction of adventure. This unrealistic life of bravado and daring escapades makes male viewers discontent with their "boring" lives. Furthermore, it seems that spies, secret agents, gunmen, and the like inevitably have multiple girlfriends, use excessive foul language, and drink or smoke prolifically.

There are no doubt other types of men that I have not thought to categorize, but these nine should give you some idea of what I am talking about. Men like these are the rule, not the exception, when it comes to how men are portrayed in modern media.

But even in movies, music, and advertising, there are still vestiges of genuine manliness. In fact, it actually seems to me that in some circles manliness is making a comeback. It's almost as if some advertisers have realized that men are tired of these images, and that inside all of us is the faint cognizance that there is something better than the life we have been told to accept. Tradition is once again becoming cool. Though it used to be far more common in the early days of Hollywood, even many modern movies are featuring real men who are made to heroically embody the virtues of the strenuous life. And yes, there are even still songs that exalt the working man, and there are still musicians who have not forgotten how to be gentlemen. Beyond these, there are pictures. Photographs and paintings alike that have captured manliness at its greatest. Many of these images were treasured and seen by thousands or millions of boys in generations past, who found in them inspiration to become better men. There are also books, some of old and some of today, that praise the virtues of manliness and should be read by any boy who can get his hands on them.

From this day forward, one of the key purposes of the Repairers of the Breach blog will be to highlight these images of manliness. You will find posts that provide reviews on manly movies, books, and music; pictures of manliness and the stories behind them, and examples of manliness in advertising. The Manly Man of the Month will also be incorporated into this new initiative, for their biographies (not to mention their manly portraits) will be another source of rediscovering the lost art of manliness. I actually foresee posts of this nature representing the majority of my future posts. For years, I have been disgusted by unmanly portrayals, particularly in movies and advertising. It is high time to bring manliness back. I hope that the men and young men who read this blog will find these images of manliness instructive and encouraging to that end

The Fearless Heart of Martin Luther

One thing I have long admired about Martin Luther was his fearlessness. He knew that he served an almighty God and had nothing to fear from men.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

King David, Psalm 27:1

When men challenged him, he met their challenge head on. He knew that he knew the Truth. But Luther was such a firey man, and so emboldened by the Lord, that he even goaded his opponents and urged them to "bring it on."

You would scarcely believe how pleased I am that enemies rise up against me more than ever. For I am never prouder or bolder than when I dare to displease them.

Luther was also fearless because he understood that he had been given a purpose by God. He had seen the providence of God in his life, and how He had prepared him "for such a time as this." Not only did he understand the past, but he could envision the future and was strengthened by the fact that how he lived his life and fought his battles would prepare the way for generations to come. If men and young men today could capture such a powerful vision, they too could march ahead with equal courage.

I was born to fight with mobs and devils, and so my books are very stormy and warlike. I must remove trees and stumps, cut away thorns and thickets, and fill up quagmires. I am the rough woodsman who must blaze the way and clear the path.

Like the prophet Jeremiah, he was man with "fire shut up in his bones," and when that fire came out his mouth, his passion was a force to be reckoned with.

That I am vehement is not to be wondered at. If you were what I am, you too would be vehement.

Luther was indeed a man of great courage. But it is important for us to recognize as he did that his courage was not of himself. Such boldness comes from a heart that is wholly devoted to God. And it was this strength from God that allowed him to say those thunderous words that he spoke before the church council that was trying to silence him, to make him "confess" that everything he had ever written was a lie; words that should encourage the heart of every man of God who read them today.

Here I stand; I can do no other.

Manliness class

This week I launched my first major outreach since entering full-time ministry. I have started hosting two classes for young men on manliness. These classes are meeting at my church on Mondays from 6:30-7:30 pm and on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm. I began advertising the classes early September, using the word-of-mouth of several good friends and by circulating a flyer to several homeschool groups in the area. My Monday class has eight students, which includes my younger cousin and his classmates at Blanchard Public School. My Tuesday class has nine students, all of whom are homeschooled. We began this week by learning about the authority of the Word of God, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. Before we can study manliness, we must have our foundation in the Bible, and a proper understanding of our relationship with our Savior. As we progress, we will study the biblical and historical roles and duties of men, and how boys can use their time to adequately prepare for them. I would appreciate your prayers as I mentor these young men, and I would also ask that you pray for these young men specifically, that they would realize the calling and the vision that God has set before all men and earnestly desire to seek and fulfill it.

The Art of Manliness Book

You have probably noticed the links on the right-hand panel to the Art of Manliness website. Nowhere have I seen a better resource for men and boys to learn about manliness. Brett McKay is only 26 years old, but he has incredible insight into what makes a real man. I have learned so much from his website. You will find content on being a husband and father, how to get in shape, how to shave like your grandpa, how to be a gentlemen, the lost art of letter-writing, how to face life's challenges like a man, and so much more, drawing on lessons from great men of the past and present. As someone who is in the ministry of mentoring young men and striving to be a man himself, Brett's website has been both encouraging and challenging. Another great aspect of his website is the community page. It's an online forum where men can share ideas with one another about being men. There are many groups you can join based on interest (Christian Men, Manly Mentors, A Good Boot, Philosophers, etc), as well as discussion threads you can participate in. I would strongly urge all men to follow this website closely. Now, Brett has provided us with an excellent new resource, the Art of Manliness book, which, I can assure you, will be like no other book on manliness ever written. Brett has a brilliant way of melding the practical and the theoretical. So buy the book, get on the website, and be blessed as I have been blessed by the wonderful work he and his wife Kate are doing (as a side note, it is also amazing to see that the two of the work together on everything it takes to run the website; co-authoring posts and even now co-authoring a book). However you decide to benefit from or support what their doing, please pray for them, as they are practicing Mormons. More than anything I want for them, I want Brett and Kate to know the truth, and what being a man is ultimately all about.

Manly Man of the Month

For the month of October, we will be honoring and observing the life of Martin Luther. Through his studies of the Scripture, he became convicted of the truth that salvation is by faith alone, and that the Catholic Church was systematically deceiving the people into believing that salvation comes by works. By nailing his list of 95 theses (challenges to Catholic doctrine) to the door of the Wittenburg Church on October 31, 1517, he launched the Protestant Reformation. His statements and writings sent shockwaves throughout Europe, and we are still reaping the benefits of his manly boldness to this day. The admirable thing about Martin Luther, was that he was no quiet, timid, little man. With the fire of the gospel burning in his bones, he wrote with intense passion, and was not afraid to speak the truth before the church officials who tried in vain to silence him, though his very life was always at stake. In the spirit of James and John, this "Son of Thunder" is a prime example for the men of our day of the courage and tenacity it takes to be a man of God.

On Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Books

It just so happens that I came into this world around the same time that Walt Disney's The Jungle Book was being released on VHS. As a result, it was the first movie I ever saw and instantly became one of my childhood favorites, and a film I still love to watch to this day. At some point in my life, the possibility entered my mind that The Jungle Book might actually be based on a book. Upon confirming the result of my sudden epiphany, I quickly checked it out at the library and began reading. And just as the animated film was one of my favorite movies, so the book itself has also become a treasure. So here, in honor of Rudyard Kipling being our Manly Man of the Month, I present a few thoughts on his work.

In 1894, while living in America, the Indian-born British author published a short story collection entitled The Jungle Book. It was followed a year later by The Second Jungle Book. Fortunately for us modern day readers, most copies are published as a single-volume edition, usually titled The Jungle Books. Between the two, there are 15 short stories, eight of which deal with the adventures of the man-cub, Mowgli, who dwells in the jungles of India. As an infant, he is rescued from the cowardly, man-hating tiger Shere Khan by Father and Mother Wolf, who raise him as one of their own cubs. He is officially inducted into the Seeonee wolf pack, and takes part in their community. As such, he is instructed in the "jungle law" by the wise, old bear Baloo, who serves as a sort of schoolmaster for all the young wolf cubs (you are by now beginning to see that the Disney version differs substantially from the book). He also has the constant companionship of Bagheera, the panther. While Baloo mostly preaches the theory of the law, it is Bagheera who guides Mowgli in its practical application. Throughout the life of Mowgli, I have observed a number of important lessons for young men.

"The Mowgli Stories" (as they are often called) are in essence a coming-of-age tale. As a boy, Mowgli is very foolish and haughty, having no regard for Baloo's lessons, or the very real danger of Shere Khan. His attitude lands him in trouble on more than one occasion. In "Kaa's Hunting," he is captured by the bander-log, or monkey people, who at first entice him with their similarly foolish behavior. In many ways, the bander-log are much like the majority of today's boys. They are lazy, lacking any sense or direction. Kipling describes how they will often appoint themselves a leader, and boast of doing great things. But in almost no time at all, throwing sticks at each other and cackling become far more appealing than the effort required to fulfill their ambitions. Baloo and Bagheera offer numerous Solomonic warnings to Mowgli about avoiding their company. Unfortunately, Mowgli tires of the "dry, boring, old grown-ups who think they know everything" and ignores their council, finding himself in dire trouble when the monkeys refuse to release him. However, faithful friends that they are, the bear and the panther, enlisting the help of the crafty python, Kaa, come to Mowgli's rescue. In the end, the boy admits his wrong-doing and accepts his punishment.

The Law of the Jungle is a very powerful motif throughout the stories. We human observers are able to learn just a few of its precepts, but the spirit and power of the Law pervade the characters' actions. Mowgli and the other cubs are taught the law from a young age, and are expected to obey it in the interest of a peaceful existence with the other creatures of the jungle, especially Man. Baloo teaches Mowgli that the Law is like a creeping vine; no one can escape its dominion and consequences. Like Mowgli, all young men struggle with authority and submission, but like Mowgli, young men will nonetheless be confronted by its realities. Hopefully, they will also respond as Mowgli does in "How Fear Came," by marveling at its creation of order and justice.

There are in fact many more lessons to be learned by young men from the pages of The Jungle Books as Mowgli grows older, encounters Man, and gradually becomes more mature and introspective, but I would hate to spoil them for you, especially as they concern his acts of bravery and love. And though I have focused on the Mowgli stories, there are also valuable lessons to be found in the courage of the faithful mongoose "Rikki-tikki-tavi," the determination of "The White Seal," the right-of-passage experienced by "Toomai of the Elephants," and the selfless sacrifice that was "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat." Kipling's masterful stories are indispensable for young men. Just make sure you read an unabridged version.

Lest we forget...

Recessional

God of our fathers, known of old--
Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe--
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the law--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard--
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard--
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!

Rudyard Kipling

What is a man?

What is a man? What is he like? What must a boy do to be considered a man? To answer this question, we turn to the poetic wisdom of ROTB's Manly Man of the Month, Rudyard Kipling. Easily his greatest poem, "If" was written to answer those questions. It is a work which young men should read often, perhaps even memorize, or frame it and hang it on their bedroom wall so that is is ever before their eyes.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

The Old Man whose Porch I Painted

I painted an old man's porch yesterday. Never really done anything like that before. Didn't know how long it would take. Didn't know how much I would get paid. But an old man needed his porch painted, I needed money, and I'm always wanting to learn something new, so I thought, "Why not? I guess I'll paint an old man's porch today." I thought I'd make some money. Thought I'd learn how to paint a porch. But what I made and what I learned went far beyond what I would've expected. Turns out you just don't know what you might be in for, when you go to paint an old man's porch.

As I got my tools together and got started on the job, the old man took a seat on the porch. Sometimes he talked, sometimes he was silent. When he stared off in the distance, his eyes seemed to be holding back 90 years of memories of mornings just like this one. When he spoke, he made observation of the hummingbirds eating from the feeder he had hung from his backyard shed; how one was always the boss, how the funny little birds that seemed so innocent could severely bully one another, and how peaceful it was just to watch their acrobatic flight. He'd look out into his eastern neighbor's backyard, where a manufactured home was being set up. For what reason, the old man didn't know; but he sure knew the new home was too close to the old home, and that they oughtta change its angle so it'd be square with the property. Oh well; I guess a 90 year old man earns the right to complain about a few things.

As I worked, I watched the old man trying to walk around on his bad knees. Now this wasn't the first time I met this old man; we've actually been friends for several years. I knew why his knees were bad, and why he only has three fingers on his left hand. Actually, they're the same reason. This old man was in a war. The old man was one of the greatest generation. Sicily and North Africa are just places to me, just geographic locations you read about in history books. Not to the old man. To him, those are places on whose beaches he landed, places where friends died, places where he did his duty in this midst of hell, places he remembers with every painful step. He told me about some of these places, some of those friends. While we ate lunch, he showed me a book that the Army had put together, a history of the 45th Infantry Division's 179th Regiment in which he served. There were pictures, stories, statistics, maps. There was a list of casualties in the back. Several of those names had been marked with a yellow highlighter. They weren't just names to him. When we went back out, he told me some more stories. He joined the army in 1938, three years before Pearl Harbor. "Did you join because you thought a war was coming?" I asked him. "Naw," he said, "I was 17 years old and needed money. And $21 a month was a lot of money." He told me about a lieutenant in North Africa who did what had to be done to protect his men from a potential threat. Had the lieutenant done what he did today, he would have been crucified by the media, tried for war crimes, and accused of tarnishing America's reputation by resorting to barbarism. Back in them days, they just called it doing your duty.

The old man also a few good stories about growing up. He talked a lot about his brother, who is dead now. I could tell he misses him. The old man remembers well what it was like to be young. He said he worked as a painter for a sign company when he was 13 and 14. Can you imagine that today? I think his brother worked for the company and helped him get the job. His brother later became a business agent for painters and such in the city. Did that for about 20 or 30 years. I was glad the old man knew how paint. I sure didn't. He showed me a lot of tricks he still remembered. I had to laugh at the story he told about a school bully that chased him home several times. One day the bully made the worst mistake of his life; he caught him. After that, the young boy that became the old man never had to worry about the bully again. In fact, he started chasing the bully home!

He told me about his wife. A woman he loved with all his heart. They were married after the war. Never were able to have any children. After retirement, they travelled the country and he has some wonderful stories to tell about those days. She's been gone for over nine years now. But neither love nor pain have diminished.

We talked about changing times. He's lived on the same corner for 17 years, and lived just down the street for almost as long before that. Our area has seen some heavy development recently. You know times are changing fast when a 90 and a 20 year old man can both remember the day when you were lucky to see a car on the road, much less traffic.

If you've never done it before, painting a porch requires a lot of looking up. Made me think of Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, lying on his back, paint and plaster dripping in his face. I said something about it to the old man. He chuckled. I'd only seen the chapel in pictures. But the old man? He'd seen it with his own eyes, when he too was a young man. Back when he was fighting a war.

Did we talk about politics? The economy? You betcha! The old man has seen a lot of things in his day. It makes him shake his head in wonder at the irresponsibility of people. Why they drive expensive cars, live in big houses they can't afford, get buried in debt up to their eyeballs. Like about 90% of 90 year old men, he's a lifelong Democrat. It saddens him to see what the party of Roosevelt and Kennedy has become. He doesn't trust his president. Despises him really, for apologizing for America's wartime actions. Doesn't trust the people leading his country. He understands the foolishness of their policy, but doesn't know what to do about it.

It ended up taking me all day to paint the old man's porch. I learned a lot more than just how to paint. But as I reflected on the day, I thought of something else; something that saddened me. It was the thought of how few young men ever get the chance to paint an old man's porch. What are they missing? There are so many old men in this country with so many stories, just like the old man whose porch I painted. There are so many young men in this country, just like me, who need to hear them, but never get to. Why? We don't take the time to listen. We've got too many other friends. We're too busy with "life." And everyday, they, and their stories, are dying. We have told the old men that they don't matter, that we don't have time for them, that they have nothing to teach us. Yeats spoke accurately of these times: "That is no country for old men... an aged man is but a paltry thing." But are there yet old men? Are there yet young men? Then there is yet time. Young men, there are old men in your neighborhood, in your town, in your church, in your family. Now find one of those old men. Paint his porch. Listen to his stories. Hear his wisdom. Do you want to be a man? Learn from one who already is.

Wisdom is with aged men,

With long life is understanding.

Job 12:12

In hopes of rebuilding a country for old men,

Colton

ROTB's Manly Man of the Month

Welcome to the first installment of an exciting new feature on the ROTB blog: The Manly Man of the Month. Each month I will select one of my favorite manly men from history to be the focus of a series of posts throughout the month. These posts will not appear on any particular days or have a set regularity. Posts will include biographical information, excerpts of their writings, and lessons on manliness taken from their lives. I think this will provide my readers the opportunity to learn more about the historic art of manliness, and to see how much valuable knowledge there is to be gained from great men of the past.

For the month of September, we will be focusing our attention on Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). Mr Kipling was a prolific English author who had much to write about manliness, and we will have the privilege of gaining a great deal of wisdom from his words. He explores subjects such as the makings of a man, the importance of remembering the providences of God, morality and law, boyhood, reverence for life, and the nobility of women. Through Kipling's eloquent pen and wonderful imagination, we will see concepts relevant to manliness from a wide diversity of perspectives; from the naive eyes of a young sailor, to the ancient wisdom of a sagacious bear.

Today in History...

Forty-six years ago today, one man took his stand on the mountaintop.

One man addressed a nation.

One man spoke the truth in love.

One man defied hatred.

One man did his duty.

One man demanded justice.

One man showed remarkable faith.

One man demonstrated courage.

One man believed the impossible.

One man had a dream.

One man changed the world.

HONOR HIM.

Why "Repairers of the Breach"?

Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the bands of the yoke,

And to let the oppressed go free

And break every yoke?

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

And bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the naked, to cover him;

And to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light will be break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

You will cry, and He will say, "Here I am."

If you remove the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,

And if you give yourself to the hungry

And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness

And your gloom will become like midday.

And the LORD will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;

You will raise up the age-old foundations;

And you will be called the repairer of the breach,

The restorer of the paths in which to dwell.

Isaiah 58:6-12

I do not know of any other Scripture that speaks so powerfully to the impact of reformation. In particular, this passage emphasizes proclaiming liberty to those who need it most. I believe that the young men of my generation are one of the most enslaved groups of people in human history. They are enslaved to false images of manliness, to a future with no purpose, to a life with no vision, to meaningless distractions. They have lost connection with a heritage of manly men who have lived throughout time, and likewise have never forged a connection with the generations to come. They do not know where they came from, where they are going, or what their purpose as men is in this world.

It is time to rebuild the ancient ruins of the art of manliness; to raise up the age old foundation laid by manly men from King David to Theodore Roosevelt. It is time to repair the breach in the wall of manliness and restore the paths in which God intended for men to live. I have always been an admirer of Nehemiah. In fact, the camp I designed for young men that I mentioned in my last post was called the Nehemiah Corps Boot Camp. I see the mission of this ministry and the mission of Nehemiah as having much in common with each other, and much in common with Isaiah 58:12. Strong walls were an ancient city's best defense. They were the very symbol of strength in that time. The wall of biblical manliness has been destroyed in our day, as the wall of Jerusalem was destroyed in Nehemiah's. As the city of Jerusalem was left weak and vulnerable, our entire civilization has been left weak and vulnerable.

As a man who has answered the call of God to lead in the rebuilding of the wall, I also find incredible encouragement and strength from this passage. I am humbled that God so desires to honor the work of those who obey Him and take up the charge. Your prayers are much appreciated as I labor to repair the breach.

In Him,

Colton

My Story

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit my new blog. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and explain how Repairers of the Breach came to be.

I grew up in the small town of Blanchard, OK. I am the fourth generation of the Wilson family to live in this area, so our roots go pretty deep. Something else that goes pretty deep in the Wilson family is a strong work ethic. My great-grandfather and his father were both ranchers. My dad and granddad made their careers in the home-building business. With work ethic being so valued through my family history, it was understood that even as kids, my younger brother and I were expected to work hard and "make a hand." And we did. Brushhogging, construction site cleanup, tree trimming, brush hauling, and fence building were just a few of the multitude of skills I was taught and practiced. But as I grew older, I realized that the invaluable experience that had just come naturally to me was very rare among the young men of my generation. Very few had the opportunity to develop the work ethic, learn the skills, acquire the character, and make the money that I had.

But this was not the only training I was receiving. In the mid-1990s, my dad transitioned from home builder to full-time minister. Beginning in our living room, we started the Bible Study Center, a church which grew to a size that required its own facility within two years. Dad teaches the Bible in a very expositional, in-depth manner. Sometimes he teaches through an entire book (e.g. Romans, Ephesians, Philippians) or maybe a doctrinal study (e.g. The Deity of Christ, Baptism, God's Will). Because he teaches so thoroughly on Sunday morning, and discusses what he is studying with me throughout the week, I have learned an enormous amount about the Bible, about Christ, and about the Christian walk. But then the same thing began to happen. I realized that as a teenager, I probably had the equivalent of a seminary master's degree. But young men at churches all across the nation, were not receiving in-depth teaching of the word of God. They had a few beliefs that never developed into convictions, and their faith typically crumbled by the time they left home.

This understanding was further reinforced by another development in my life. Through the ministry of Dr. G. Thomas Sharp of Creation Truth Foundation in Noble, OK, I became familiar with the evidence for biblical creation. My curious and analytical mind, which had driven me to read dozens of science books as a kid, but had always been confused by why all of them taught evolution, was finally satisfied. There was a logical, scientific, and reasonable defense of the Bible's account of creation. I started reading creation science books and even started teaching classes at church. Through the materials I read, I discovered that young people all over had the same questions I did, but never got the opportunity to have them answered. I expanded my teaching to a local homeschool group, and even had the opportunity to speak at a church in Great Falls, MT.

All of these events were creating in me an strong urge to teach and to disciple and to share what I had learned with other young people. But what would be my focus? How would I do it? My original thought was that I would go into full-time creation ministry like Dr. Sharp. After graduating a year early from high school in 2006, I enrolled in the online Biblical studies program at what I thought was a conservative Christian college. But after one year, I found the biblical teaching was very weak and much was contrary to what I believed. Further, the extra-biblical courses (e.g. sociology) were taught from a strongly humanistic perspective. Frustrated, I left the college and spent the summer in prayer trying to decide what to do next. Because I still felt I needed a degree to pursue the ministry, my dad suggested civil engineering. It was a very science-related field, but I would not have to worry about running into flawed theology, or evolutionary philosophy. I applied and was accepted into the program at the University of Oklahoma.

Several things began happening at the same time from that point forward. First, I started feeling very drawn to making a career in civil engineering. It appealed to many of my interests. I began to almost forget about my earlier passions, and set my mind to becoming a licensed professional engineer. I studied hard at my classes, kept my GPA above 3.75, sent out resumes, attended career fairs, and was even hired as an intern this summer. But while I was pursuing what I thought would be a much easier path in life, God had other plans. He began using the time I was spending in college to refocus me and redirect me to whole new ministry I never saw coming.

Looking back, its very hard to see the chronology of events and how they were working together, but God was doing something great. It started with my Engineering Practice course when I was introduced to the concept of entrepreneurship. In October 2007, God gave me the idea to do a camp for young men in the spring to teach work ethic. I had long been able to develop friendships with boys several years younger than myself (another way God was working) so I took some of them and taught them the skills, principles, and character that I had learned. While I was driving back and forth to school, I listened to talks from Vision Forum's Entrepreneurial Boot Camp (which emphasized a family-based model), as well as The 200 Year Plan, along with several talks on Manliness. Courses I took at school in American history and Greek philosophy got me to thinking about very complex concepts and showed me how much I enjoyed exercising my mind in that way. The political climate in our nation was really grabbing my attention and I became involved in campaigns and staying up with the news. I was becoming fascinated with new concepts, new ministry outlets, new ideas to research, and so many things that I wanted to share.

At the same time, I was becoming more and more disenchanted with a career in engineering. Over this past summer, I began spending a lot of time in prayer and counseling with my dad about what I should do. The idea of mentoring boys was becoming very strong. I began teaching a series at church on manliness, and the response was incredible. I could see a very powerful need. I also saw that this ministry was something I was passionate about. I wanted to take everything I knew and would continue to learn about work, the Bible, politics, thought, science, history, etc. and train boys in the lost art of manliness. By the end of the summer, I knew this was without a doubt what God wanted me to do. I withdrew from OU, and made the decision not to resume any college education, but instead to self-educate as I had done through much of my homeschooling. I do not believe that college is necessary for success as it is often made out to be. What I do believe, is that God is faithful to those who trust and obey Him. I have decided to focus on this ministry and with God's help to develop it into something that will bring glory to Him, and have an impact on the lives of perhaps thousands of young men.

As you now realize, the path through which this ministry was developed was long and complicated. But I as I look back over it all, I am in awe of the providential hand of God. Even when I did not realize it, He was working in my life in mighty ways to prepare me to do His will to advance His kingdom. I humbly await what He has in store next. This blog will be a place for me to chronicle how He is working and how He is using the ministry of Repairers of the Breach for His glory. I will also be sharing with you thoughts, observations, and information on topics relevant to this ministry.

Thank you for reading,

Colton Wilson