And of course there’s always SEAHAWKS games!!!! Based on the number if jerseys I see at NWL, I think e very one could agree on this.

I was also thinking about high school & my relationships… they tended to form naturally around shared interests (although sometimes they began because we were in the same class together). I wasn’t needing the school to help me build relationships per se. However, I am thankful for the football games, basketball games, & dances. The school rallied at these events. They are memories I still enjoy today. I’m glad I went to the dances (even though they were often corny) & got pictures taken.

Basically, I’m still left wondering…

1) Are we thinking about the new guy, the overlooked ones, the marginalized, the forgotten?
2) Are there any things we do just because we belong?

Thanks for sharing your view on this Al. I miss your mom’s tamales.

Is being of the same gender and attending the same church enough to make a men’s group seem interesting, and appealing, let alone inviting?

The answer for me has always been, “no”. The church guys who I am really friends share common interests with me: football, fantasy football (which I am horrible at, yet they keep inviting me because I’m the league doormat), movies, and technology. We’re really comfortable insulting each other — in love of course. Maybe I’m being too consumer minded, or unwilling to get out of my comfort zone. I don’t have anything against the other men in my church, but this is why these group events never seemed organic to me — I’m not feeling the “menschkeit”.

I’m going to end up talking with a bunch of guys who are not going to really be close friends, and I’m not a major fan of small talk. Sorry, don’t mean to be negative, haha.

1. Playing sports in the park or at the gym, mostly basketball or soccer

2. BBQ at someone’s house or a park

3. Watch baseball or football

4. Trip to some place new, maybe see a concert, catch some grub, maybe hang out at the beach.

Honestly the whole phrase “man up” never made sense to me because what does that constitute? Does manning down mean that you’re suddenly a woman when everyone knows that you aren’t? Or you aren’t human unless you live your life as a gender instead of a human being? Demeaning masculinity in any man is the most damaging thing you can do at some times and at other times it helps us get stronger or more motivated. I already made a blog about this kind of thing called “You are not your ballsack.”

I think that’s a blessing that I was given being born trans, I know the unrealistic pressures of both men an women. Both of them are ridiculous standards and are psychologically damaging.

Funny thing – my wife is still mad at me for turning down a speaking opportunity at a friend’s church in North Carolina. It was for a “men’s conference” and I said nope, can’t do it. She wanted the trip. I did too – but couldn’t picture myself speaking at one of those things.

I don’t think everything the institutional church does is phony or corrupt or misguided though. Sure, there’s a lot of that out there. But there’s great stuff happening too – and I’m proud to participate in it.

I personally think of institutional church -vs- organic (or home or missional) church debates as being much like the institutional school -vs- home school ones. Both sides tend to discredit the other. Both sides claim to have the best way. Both sides have really good things about them. And both sides have some rather embarrassing tendencies too.

I love you and I love what you’re doing. You have balls. Thanks for being you and for challenging the rest of us to think differently.

It last for a little while, a few relationships are formed, and then it dies off.

I’d sign up for a gang, a club, a secret society, that was no larger than 20 dudes, that was invite only, that met together monthly to drink, smoke cigars and pipes, be transparent, pray, and come together to do local gritty missionary work that was never publicized, never proclaimed from the rooftops or pulpit. That was love in secret, that only the recipients knew what God used us to do. (Oh wait, i think I’m already doing this.

Other then that, you can keep your church men’s ministry stuff. If you’ve been a Christian for a year then you’ve heard enough preaching, let’s start being and doing.

Paint balling

Some type of sporting activity

I will definitely do the top 5 burger joint. Lol