Men or Grown-up boys?

So I have ventured out to read as much as I can about "becoming a man." Internet articles, magazines, books, and blogs have all provided an interesting look into this subject. I have intentionally only read secular articles in order to get an idea of what the world thinks a man should be. Oddly enough I have discovered some incredible wisdom from secular writers on this particular subject.

I actually have thoroughly enjoyed the realness, bluntness, and even the great detailed explanations on what a man "should be" or "shouldn't be." It made me wonder about how well the Christian world is doing in explaining what it means to be a man of God. I'm not knocking the Christian world, but there is a myriad of secular sources that provide great advice on how to teach a boy to be a man.

My question for myself and other Godly men is " What are you doing to raise up Godly men and not just grown-up boys?"

There will be more on this later...

habits vs. character

Bad character can cause bad habits, but bad habits do not always mean bad character. You can have a mature developed character and still have bad habits. It happens to the best of us. But understand that bad habits don't define you, your character defines you. So address the bad habits head on.

Understand this though...being aware of your bad habits, addressing them, and then forming good habits will ultimately affect your character. Being self-aware and doing personal inventory of your habits is a part of your character development.

So bad habits don't spawn from bad character, but forming new habits can help shape your character.

Now, press on friends.

Take Inventory...

So I think for me the best way to get on track and stay on track with discipline is to take a personal inventory: priorities, projects, weaknesses, strengths...where I would like to see myself in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and in one year. I will do my best to be short and sweet and to the point.

Three Areas of Discipline:
1.Spiritual
2.Physical
3.Mental
I understand that for me all of these areas of discipline fall under the large umbrella of spiritual disciplines. If I am pledging to live my faith in a holistic way then all of these areas will be considered spiritual.

1. Spiritual-

• I will dedicate 30 mins each day to commune with the Lord. These are intentional,set aside, specific times that I will shut off all outside stimuli and truly focus on God, His word, and His voice. It may not seem much, but it is easily forgotten that we need to simply "be still, and know that He is God."
• I will study each day for a minimum of 15 min on a topic, word, chapter, person, or event in the word. Using an academic approach I will push myself to LEARN something new about the word of God each day.
• I will read outside reading each day. Some of the most incredible spiritual growth can occur when you read what God speaks through others. I am taking Eli Gautreaux's advice and doing my best to read dead authors, because as he says " You know how they finished their life." Modern writers are great ,but sadly some who have written some powerful truth end up in scandal or did not finish their walk of faith strongly. I am picky with who I will read.
• 15 min minimum in prayer-As I have experienced, when I choose to pray I always end up enjoying it so much that I will spend more than 15 min.

2. Physical

• I would like to spend a minimum of an hour of exercise--An hour because for me the first 30 min is for decompression and the second 30 min is for exercise.
• I will make better choices food wise. As little processed foods and sodas as possible. Water,water,water...at least a gallon a day.
• Rest--no less than 6 hours and no more than 9 hours. I can operate well outside of these boundaries.

3. Mental

• Simply put I want to feed my brain so that It doesn't turn to mush. I always want to be learning something. History,Philosophy, science, or Spanish.
• each day learn something

With all of that being said here are the projections of where I want to see myself.
In 3 months I would like to be completing all of these goals and resetting goals so as not to ever become complacent.

There will be more of these updates soon. There is a lot to write about.

My Camel's Back is broken...

Blogging has now begun. When I saw that my father had started his own blog, it was a realization that I needed to stop talking about it and start one of my own. I now understand that for me blogging/writing has been a way for me not only to put my "stuff"out there on the internet ,but it has also been a way to decompress. I will try not to have cathartic ramblings, but I cannot promise anything. I am excited to document my journey of discipline and allow others to keep me accountable on it. With all of this being said, Thanks dad for the final straw.