“Lately, Life Has Been a Roller Coaster”

Do you ever have those periods of time when life is, well, crazy?  When EVERYTHING hits the fan, deadlines are coming, stressors are numerous, money is constantly on your mind?  When you’re trying to live life to the fullest, be a great man, attend to your responsibilities and give everything your all?  I’ve had a few straight months of living like that.  Where life wouldn’t seem to slow down, and you’re always looking ahead to see if there’s an oxygen break coming soon.

Over the past two months specifically, I have been experiencing a lot.  LOTS of uncertainty and unknown.  Lately, life has been, as they say, a roller coaster.  TrueManhood.com Blog has been the recipient of a serious amount of neglect from me, and to my passionate readers and daily-blog-followers, I apologize.  I have some great stuff planned, that should be coming your way soon.

When life gets like this, I try to do a few things.  For instance… when I have uncertainty, I tend to pray more.  I try to listen harder to what God wants from me.  I try really hard to be aware of what’s happening in my life, taking an objective view of what is going on and what it could possibly mean.  I also tend to be better with money, realizing that only because we’ve been good with money when it’s fruitful and abundant can we make it when things are, let’s say, tighter.  I try to spend as much time with my family as I can, when life gets crazy busy.  The more time with them, the more focused I can be when I’m working – always remembering that work is work and home/family is home/family.  To name a few.

If life is throwing high-heat, curve balls, screw balls and spit balls at you, call time out and gather yourself.  Rely more on God.  Listen to Him more.  Step back for a moment and see what’s important and urgent.  You’ll make clearer decisions, reduce your blood pressure and overall, be a better man.  Oh yeah, did I mention that this sort of behavior is like working on growing in virtue?

TrueMan up!

“To Be Thankful…”

I’ve been thinking that a number of my posts have been negative examples of males lately, or simply negative innature in one way or another.  I wanted to post this video of an incredible man.  Nick Vujicic is an awesome inspiration.  You may have seen him before, but I suggest that you watch this video all the way through.  Shortly into the video, he shares some principles for life.  The first thing he says is simple, and important considering that tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  He says, “I’ve learned to be thankful.”  Simple, but true.

“It’s a lie to think that you’re not good enough.  It’s a lie to think that you’re not worth anything.”  From Nick Vujicic, the man with no arms or legs.  Believe this!

Watch the video, then think of all the times that you’ve wanted something you shouldn’t have, and in turn, have been completely lacking in thankfulness for the things you do have.  This guy doesn’t have any arms or legs, for goodness sake!  He swims, plays soccer, fishes, drives boats!  This man is incredible… what do you have to complain about?  Nothing!

I thought a part of the story that is important for men who are either newly married, engaged to be married or hoping to one day be married, was the part of the story when he spoke about not needing hands to hold her heart.  Powerful.

TrueMan up!

Most. Disgusting. Thing. Ever.

Have you heard of the couple in Minneapolis that is putting the life of their child up to the results of a “Life or Abortion” poll?  I hate even giving them any publicity because of how heinous and disgusting their actions are.

The couple, who won’t be named, have decided to create a poll on their website, also not named, to let the public determine whether or not they should keep their child or abort their child.  The couple is pregnant, and almost 20 weeks along.  If you visit their site, you’ll see all sorts of stuff, and namely, you’ll see relatively new ultrasound pictures.  They speak of their child as if it is a human child, not merely a blob or a muscle mass, or tissue, or any of the other “choice” words used to diminish the truths of nature.  The couple claims that this isn’t a publicity stunt (clearly it is) and that they aren’t swayed one way or the other just yet.  I’m disgusted by this father’s utter lack of manliness in this situation. Absolutely disgusted.

First off, a TrueFather does everything in his power to protect his children.  He does not put them up for auction, for spectacle, for amusement.  He does not harm them.  He does not take them for granted.  He does not murder them.

Secondly, a TrueHusband does everything in his power to protect his wife.  He does not exploit her. He does not make a spectacle of her.  He does not harm her.  He does not make choices that will cause long-lasting negative emotional, physical and psychological effects.

This male is not a TrueMan.  He’s not being a good father.  He’s not being a good husband.  In fact, he’s completely disregarding everything that is manly (virtue!) and choosing vice.  I am incredibly saddened for this couple, for their child, for everyone who has been exposed to this sort of crap and to anyone who actually considers this legitimate.  Let us unite together in prayer for the conversion of this couple and for the end to abortion and all attacks against human life.

NOTE: It has been speculated that this is, in fact, a publicity stunt in favor of the pro-life movement.  Regardless of the actual intention of the couple, this is incredibly stupid and should not be considered pro-life.

TrueMan up!

Good Men Are Hard To Find

Great video of a talk given by Fr. William Casey.  I like it, it’s great stuff.  Hope it’s beneficial.

God sets a father at the head of his family.  God confirms a father’s responsibility and authority over his family.

Not by being dictatorial or tyrannical.  Not by being a jerk.  But by being a role model of the strong masculine, Christian virtues.  If those virtues are absent, his authority will be diminished because of his own fault.

“Blood Money” – The Evils of Abortion

I’ve posted about “Blood Money” before.  “Blood Money” is a documentary film exploiting and exposing Planned Parenthood and the entire abortion industry.  This film is powerful and I highly encourage everyone to watch it.  The trailer is below and hopefully will help encourage you to not only watch the film, but also to do something about ending abortion.  I watched the film tonight with my wife and about one hundred other people from the local area.  The film is suitable for children of an appropriate age – the film does not use gruesome or graphic photos of aborted babies, but does graphically speak about abortions and the reality of what happens behind the murder-mill doors.

The pro-life fight only has two sides: one side FOR LIFE, the other side AGAINST LIFE.  There is no in-between.  Where do you stand on this issue?  “For I wish that you were either hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15b-16.)

Men – abortion is not a “women-only” issue, it is a real issue for everyone to get involved with.  We as leaders must stand up for the injustice that abortion does to women and without question, against the unborn child (a human being) that is living inside its mother’s womb.

Watch the trailer, if you can’t view it, click HERE.

TrueMan up!

We’ve Only Just Begun to Fight – Conference Call

I’m excited to announce an exciting opportunity for men all across the country.  On Monday evening October 18, 2010, Joe McClane, the Catholic Hack, along with Mark Houck (co-founder of The King’s Men) and I will be presenting on three topics: Choosing to Fight the Daily Battle and How To Win! by Joe McClane, Self Mastery by Mark Houck and The Vision of The King’s Men by me.

The call will feature ways to help fight the battle of sexual immorality and sexual sin.  Maybe youdon’t currently fail in this area, but I’m certain that one of your buddies does.  This could be just the tool you need in your arsenal to help your fellow man fight his addictions.  Consider joining us on the call.

For the men who do fail in these areas, make today the last day!  Fight for purity, fight for goodness, fight for your salvation!  There is freedom and you can experience it.  The three of us (Joe, Mark and me) collectively were addicted to porn for over 55 years!  But there’s good news!!!  We all now experience freedom from sexual sin and so can you!  It’s liberating, freeing and opens your life to goodness that you could never have imagined for yourself.  This call may be just the catalyst you need to get started in your battle.

For all the info, check out Joe’s site, catholichack.com or this address HERE.

Please RSVP to Joe at CatholicHack@gmail.com.  (You may remain anonymous on the call if you prefer.)

TrueMan up!

A Father to a Son

My new name is Dave DiNuzzo Sr… yep, we found out that we’re having a boy!  I am excited beyond words. I love all of my children, but to know that I now have the responsibility to raise a boy into TrueManhood is an honor and privilege. God has entrusted me with many things in life (such as being a father to daughters! – what a task!) and I couldn’t be more excited to embrace the challenges, peaks & valleys, and joys that will come in my life.

Recently, I received an email from a mother whose teenage son has been getting into some trouble and coming home drunk.  He’s the new kid at school and really struggling.  She asked for advice on what to do for her son, here’s what I wrote to her:

“First, what is his relationship with his father like?  This is the foundation of a young boy – how he sees his father will dictate much of what he does in life.  If his father is not involved, GET HIM INVOLVED.  All fathers must show their sons (and daughters – but that’s another discussion altogether) that they 1. love them 2. cherish them 3. are proud of them.  A father has to prove to his children, with his actions, that he cares.  One great way is simply by spending time with the child, doing something the child enjoys.  Many times, the child likes to do what the father likes to do, simply because the child knows that they’ll be able to be with him.  A son learns by his father’s example, first and foremost.  If a father loves and cherishes his children, they will know.  They will then be much quicker to correlate the love of their father with the love of God the Father!  If his father isn’t involved, stress the importance of his involvement.  A son wants to please his father, but if they are fighting, disagreeing and at each other’s throats all the time, the son will “protect” himself and will disengage.  “Fight with my father all the time or spend time with other kids that don’t like their parents either?”  — easy decision, if you’re 17.

A potential problem here is the influence of the kids at his new school.  Being the “new kid” is never fun, unless you show to all the other kids that you’re cool enough, smart enough, have enough “game” (as they call it) and that you deserve to be welcomed in.  The peer pressure for a 17 yr old boy to fit in is intense.  Ask him about this sort of topic and see what’s weighing on his mind.  If you attempt to talk to your son, which I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE AND RECOMMEND, do it as you would any adult.  Choose to respect him and his developmental stage enough to talk clearly and openly with him.  Showing him you love him will open his barriers, and hopefully, after a period of time, you will be able to get in.  If you’ve never talked to him about something like this before, start slow.  Don’t be a bull in a china cabinet, be soft and gentle, yet firm and clear with your expectations.”

Clearly, I could have continued on, mentioning many more tactics and ideas, but that’s not the point.  I want to draw your attention to the first part, about the father’s role.  As fathers (or one-day-fathers) we should all be aware of our influence on our children.  This is the most important human relationship we have, second only to our relationship with our spouse.  As fathers, we must strive to get better at being a dad.

Look at your life and your interaction with your children.  Look also at the interaction with your wife.  Are you being the example you really want to be?  Are you loving as Christ loves?  Are you giving your all?  Are you being selfish?  If you aren’t where you want/need to be, work to get there!

TrueMan up!

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