Speaking of models
God never planned for men to bully their ideas on others. Meaning. He never planned for guys to take advantage of those weaker than they are. To take advantage of women and children for selfish motives. God always had the plan that men will use their strength to protect, honor, and serve those who trust and depend on them.
Accountability
All ships rise with the tide, is another popular saying in the self help world. When men work together and hold each other accountable, as discussed earlier, all their networks rise and improve. Let’s touch a brief example.
If there is a culture of scarcity in the church and many believe that they’re destined to a mediocre life, many of the rebelling younger men will seek new ways to improve their economies. Their tactics may be crude, such as selling drugs and joining gangs, but their motives is to feel like they belong and also can advance out of that mediocre life.
Imagine now, if you will, a group of men who team up to research how to overcome the mindset of poverty. One man will use his library card to read up something about self help. Another will take notes at his job when they’re doing development training. Another will tap into the wisdom of his older generation about what has worked for elevating a community. Another will reach into his new political connections from school to learn about economic stimulus programs.
When they all sit and meet at the Men’s Ministry Monthly Meeting, the discussion is very lively, very engaging. Each man is there eager to learn, sharing what he knows, and holding each other accountable to try the many ideas they learned and report back. Over time, that group becomes a think tank that processes way more information than an individual can alone during the same amount of time. The success is built on each man holding every other man accountable to do his part in getting, sharing, teaching the information… as well as using it. Testing it. Applying modifications as needed.
In time, the group will see results, will start to see changes. The friends, families, and spouses of these men will start to see the change and question it. But, as more positive results start to accumulate, respect is given. Support is added. More information comes forward for them to consider. They become thought leaders. Agents of change.
Before long, the church community is seeing a revival and the whole of the community starts to see changes that make things happen for them in a positive way. Several generations of people have now just been lifted up from mediocre living. Several new generations now have hope and can more effectively resist the urge to joining illicit means of survival.
Is this easy and quick? Absolutely not! However, is it worth it. Most definitely! Lives depend on it. Has it worked before? Yes it has. And the communities that have benefited will say it is work but worthwhile work.
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'[money] is not a very big qu&o;isne#39t? Yes it is! No writing, no money. That aside, though, I can't imagine why anyone would want to retire. Even if I became suddenly and miraculously wealthy I would carry on writing until I dropped. Isn't retiring throwing in the towel, saying 'OK, I've done life, now I'll wait to die'? Maybe not if you had a job you didn't like, but writing = life. What would I *do* all day if I retired?