Abraham, Isaac & Jacob

...and Joseph and Moses and Caleb and Joshua and Saul and David and Solomon. Need I go on?

There has been a lot of captivating conversation among many of females about the quality of men, or apparent lack thereof. What I want to know is what is strength in a man? True men, in my humble opinion, are those who are willing to stand up for who they are and who they will become (note Philippians 3:20-21). This includes their willingness to be bold.

We've heard a lot of messages lately that have focussed very heavily on the idea that God's men make mistakes. We're not talking nicey nice mistakes either. We're talking mistakes that many would divorce over. Seriously. Would I really want to be Sarah or Rebecca when husband tells pagan worshipper number 1, i.e. Abimelech, that I'm his sister? Jerk. Is that trust? Is that what "men of God" do to the women they love? Is that what "men" do to women at all? Is that what God calls strength? Can I even possibly work with that? Many of my friends have proposed: "Can I marry a man like that, one who is so weak? I'd rather not even bother."

Note to self: Sarah nor Rebecca divorced. Rather, they stood by their men.

We're talking Abraham here folks, the father of the faithfu, and Isaac. So what then? Instead of focussing on the weaknesses of men, perhaps it would be beneficial for us to focus on their strengths. "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the FRIEND of God" (James 2:23). I want that. I want the man I love to be a friend of God. I want our faith to be counted as righteousness.

Mark is studying at what point God's noted godly men chose to live according to God's standards. What did Abraham DO that God admired? Why is he called faithful? What did Paul do to become an apostle? What is it that God loves? What is it that women love? What are those positive traits that make men worthwhile?

In every story of every admirable man, biblical or not, is a man who chose right. And chose right consistently. I'm thinking Abe & Isaac and that whole Isaac being a casi-martyr, Paul could have stormed out after he got his sight back, Joshua could have said, "Nah, I think I'll just wait here" (ref. "as for me and my house..."). But they didn't. There was a turning point, a revelation, an incredible amount of faith.

I think many of my guy friends have it. Do the ladies recognize it? Do the men recognize it? Are men respectable who are so bold? Is that what women want?