We live in dark days when postmodern, "intellectual", emasculated "men" have surrendered as much of the world as they can to evil.  We live in a time when these self-styled morally superior beings look down their noses and wag their heads at those of us who still believe that a man has to stand and call evil out by name, and fight the fight that ensues.  Gentlemen, it's an honor to stand with you. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says:  "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."  As I said earlier, the postmodern culture will roll its eyes and murmur about machismo, ego and other "psych" labels that serve to make them feel better about having traded manhood for the approval of feminists (who ironically don't like them anyway and still seem to be very, very angry).

Let me make one thing clear.  Our standing and acting like men has nothing to do with self-confidence, rugged determination, or self-reliance.  Those are all lies, and can be observed in broken-down and embittered men.  No, the Lord has called us to live according to His Holy Spirit.  As we guide our families through this world that grows more evil by the day (as the Bible taught us it would), let us live trusting the Lord in everything.  1 John 4:18-19 teaches us that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us."  With our wives and kids holding our hands and looking to us, and the rest of the world watching, some raging against us and others confounded by disbelief, trust the Lord.  Because of His Son Jesus, perfect love has driven out fear.  "The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed."-Isaiah 53:5