CULTIVATE

Men and women are different.

Did you need to open to this page for me to tell you that?

Probably not.

You don't have to be a neurosurgeon to realize that boys and girls, men and women, are different.  God did that.

He creates this planet and sets man - pre-woman - in the garden and says, 'Take care of it.  Cultivate it.  Grow it, create, sustain it, make everything as grand and big and awesome as possible.'

And from that day to this, men have been trying to do that - with everything.  It's just what we are.  We can't help ourselves.

For instance, did you know that 47-year old dudes still keep track of what they bench press?  I'm not kidding.  Why?  Because they want to get bigger and stronger.  That have to.  They can't help themselves.  It isn't a disease of self-absorption; it's how they're made.  It's deep inside them.

You can watch a guy discover a new sport - play it twice - and all of a sudden he's invested two thousand dollars in equipment for it.

He goes out on the lake on a boat with a friend on Saturday and on Monday he's bought all kinds of brand new fishing tackle.  It's what he is.

He goes running with a friend for the first time - next thing you know he has a $400 heart monitor watch.  God did that to us.

The mantra of every man when it comes to sports, cars, technology:  'Bigger, better, faster ... bigger, better, faster ... bigger, better, faster ... bigger, better, faster.'  

We'll toss out the old phone before it's really old just to get the newer, faster, cooler version with all the updated gadgets, bells and whistles.  Help us, Jesus.

Because we're cultivators.  Designed that way.  By God.  Almighty.

But that means we were also designed to cultivate other people - our wives - our children - our families - even those around us -- to encourage others, bless others, pour into others, nurture others, build into others.  And here's the problem:  When men have not submitted themselves to Christ, they're still cultivators.  They just cultivate wrong things - sometimes even bad things.

That's why we need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit - to keep us cultivating what is good and honest and pure and awesome and holy and right.

I'm praying for you, guys.

And be blessed.