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Richard Rohr responds to my critique of the “Warrior”
I hope the book Under Construction enjoys a wide reading. I am honored to be quoted in it, and I thank you for your personal vulnerability. I rather totally agree with your critique of the warrior archetype. It still dominates most books on male spirituality, particularly those from the evangelical Christian world. They do not [...]
MOvember
It took me till almost the middle of November but I finally joined the ranks of the moustache growing men. I’ve had a beard for the past 10 years so it was different from the usual scenario where men who are normally clean-shaven begin to grow a moustache. In my case I shaved off the [...]
Family rituals
I’m on the radio! You can check it out online at www.shaping families.com Here’s the introduction to the program. THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM — Families Under Construction. Gareth Brandt calls his book, “The men’s book for men who don’t read men’s books by an author who didn’t.” It is called, Under Construction: Reframing Men’s Spirituality (Herald [...]
Men in groups
Men are lone rangers, but even Lone Ranger had his Tonto. Although history is dominated by individual male leaders, it is also littered with men who have tried to go it alone and have failed miserably in life and relationships. We need others. My book actually started as an experimental men’s group. Now, a few [...]
Mennonite Boys Can Cook Too
The recent internet and publishing phenomenon [at least in the Mennonite world], “Mennonite Girls Can Cook” has got me thinking. I know that traditionally in Mennonite homes [and probably in most homes of the world], women have been the primary hosts and cooks, but let’s get with the times. This is 2011. Today there are [...]
Men’s Spirituality and Sexual Orientation
At the recent Mennonite Church USA convention I happened upon a communion service in the lobby of the convention centre. It was hosted by the “Pink Mennos,” a group of Mennonite Christians hoping for the greater inclusion of gays and lesbians in our churches. I was not really familiar with the group but was invited [...]
Confessing to my sons
I confessed my sin to my children yesterday. I’m the father of a daughter age 17 and three sons age 21, 19 and 10. Last night both my wife and I had work engagements and left our 10 year old with our two young adult sons who are home for the summer after being away [...]
50!
SONNET #50 We pause to contemplate the fifty years To summon up remembrance of things past Oh that we could forget the present fears That the next fifty will go twice as fast Today we mourn the sagging gut and breast The ear is muffled and the eyesight dim Men, they daily pine the [...]
Despicable Me
I watched the above movie with my kids yesterday. It was not only amusing but I found the transformation of a mean and tough bad man into a tender father rather interesting. It was all because of three young orphan girls. Men are slow to change and it often takes women to help us get [...]
Sports
I just finished watching the Grey Cup game [Canada's version of the Super Bowl] with my sons and friends. It was primarily a male affair. Women also play and watch sports but it has been primarily a man’s domain. Why do competitive sports get guys going? At coffee break in our lounge the men are often engaged in [...]