Samson and the Pirate Monks

A few months ago a good friend of mine, Kirk Adkinson of All Souls Church in Boulder, CO recommended that I go out and get Samson and the Pirate Monks. It took me awhile to have my library order/buy it for me because I kept forgetting the goofy title. If you read it you'll understand the title. But about 4 weeks ago I received one of my favorite phone calls, 2nd to the phone calls I receive from Christine, from my Weld Country Library. My book was in. They bought me a brand new copy to be finding its home forever in Farr Library; good tax money being spent.

The complete title is Samson and the Pirate Monks: calling men to authentic brotherhood by Nate Larkin. At the end of chapter 1, I was saying, "No way!" I was blown away by the realness, authenticity and candor of N. Larkin. I was hooked and ready to listen, learn and be changed.

If you're a man, then read it. No questions. Read this with a good buddy. Open your heart to the desire to be changed, transformed and to continue a journey of meeting with Jesus in a powerful community of men. This aint 'bout accountability, men's groups, rah rah tool time. Nate and his group of Pirate Monks paint a picture about real walking with Jesus that does change and transform your life.

This is one of the few books I didn't write down quotes. Sorry. I have photo copied stories because I don't want to miss the lessons and stories told.

I'm encouraging some of my friends to read this and prayerfully God will lead us to start a similar Samson Society. Go and get it.

Categories: Masculinity, God, Books, Spirituality, Movements

The Way of the Wild Heart - Eldredge

"The Glory of God is man fully Alive." Saint Iranaeus

I have read a bunch of books from John Eldredge the past 10 years and for some reason this one, The Way of the Wild Heart: A Map for the Masculine Journey, caught my eye either at the library or on someone Else's blog. This past February I read this book and it was a healing process. It really is about the journey and stages boys and men take through life and then how to teach and train your own boys.

Reading surfaced some covered issues that have been in my life and give some good explanation on why, how and when I feel and act the way I do.

He identifies six stages in our journey: boyhood, cowboy, warrior, lover, king and sage. All of which I have areas to see develop in and also have seen scars and victories birthed in.

If you're a man, know men, are married to one, raise boys to men and just are flat out puzzled by men, read this. It grabbed my heart and gave some good explanation to my fears in my own masculine journey.

I came across some good quotes of others there and his own stuck deep down in my soul:

• "Worship is the primary means by which we immerse ourselves in the rhythms and stories of our creator...the way people stay in rhythm with their creation, finding their place in it, (knowing) who they are and where they've come from, internalizing the creation cadences of God who made heaven and earth." Eugene Peterson
• "A lover comes to offer his strength to a woman, not to get it from her." p.?
• "Service to God is over shadowed by intimacy with God." p.?
• "God is a God of process." p.?
• "An Adventure is, by its nature, a thing that comes to us. It is a thing that chooses us, not a thing that we choose." How we respond to that adventure shapes us into the men we become." Eldredge quoting Chesterton p. 125

He also gives some good counsel for the battlefield of our souls

1. One battle at a time
2. Fight your battles once
3. During any important event, assume it's warfare
4. Resist it quickly
5. You wont feel like a warrior
6. Stay with it
7. It will make you holy

• "Are you willing to let go of your insistence to control, meaning, to allow for a life that exists beyond the realm of analysis, to let some portions of your life be impractical, to cease evaluating all things based on their utility and function? Coming closer to the heart, are you willing to let passion rise in you, though undoubtedly it may unnerve you? To permit the healing of some of your deepest wounds? Are you willing, at some level, to be undone?" p. 206,7
• "This is what a good king does--he uses all he has to make his kingdom like the kingdom of Heaven for the sake of the people who live under his rule." p.225
• "The truth is, either we choose it (humility) for ourselves, or our Father will arrange to have us humbled. For me, I'd prefer to forgo those moments if possible. I'd much rather choose the humble heart." p.247

Categories: Books, God, Masculinity