"You've got to Stand for Something
Or you'll Fall for Anything"
Aaron Tippin
Now Daddy didn't like trouble
But if it came along
Everyone that knew him
Knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero
Or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He'd say you've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right
And uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
Now we might have been better off
Or owned a bigger house
If Daddy had done more givin' in
Or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty
Just living his advice
Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight
He'd say you've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right
And uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
Now I know that things are different
Than they were in Daddy's days
But I still believe what makes a man
Really hasn't changed
You've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man
Not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right
And uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
You've got to stand for something
Or you'll fall for anything
"But Adonai said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have already refused him. For He does not see a man as man sees, man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.”
Let's talk about Masculinity or rather False Masculinity appearing as real Masculinity.
I've known a lot of males in my life that proclaimed themselves to be "men" with absolute certainty.
Some served in the military when I was in one of the branches, some were even Special Forces Operators. A few were martial arts experts and trained fighters or street fighters. Others were bikers or truckers or pilots or welders or factory workers. More than one were former gang members or former prison inmates. Many were policemen or firefighters or pastors. There was even a millionaire businessman and an Olympic Gold Medalist that came across my path at some point in the past.
It would be reasonable to assume that with all of these self-proclaimed "manly men" I wouldn't have been confused about what being a man looked like growing up and as a young adult. Any young man in this generation could tell you that its a jungle of confusion out there, even without men wearing dresses and becoming "Woman of the Year". Are we suppose to be like Tony Soprano, cause he gets respected like a real man-but he acts like an overgrown boy? Or are we suppose to act like honorable Andy Griffith who in this day and age would get walked all over and essentially spit on by the culture?
The same is true of real life men in our lives. It seems that forming a tech. start-up and becoming a millionaire by the age of 30 is today's proof of manhood. The generation before it was tattoos and learning to play electric guitar and buying a muscle car (the materialistic 80's). The generation before that it was volunteering for Vietnam in the military just as it was during Word War II. It constantly changes and no one can really keep track of what they should train their sons to become anymore.
I've been looking for an answer for years and the problem with identifying a real man so you know who to model yourself after always came down to the paper tigers that protected a fragile or missing Masculinity.
Paper Tigers are an art form in the far East. They are essentially made of paper similar to that of a Pinata (excuse the accent mark I can't find on the keyboard) in the shape of a tiger that is noticeably missing both its claws and it's teeth. They are nearly always in an intimidating roaring position. Aside from being made of fragile paper that is easy to tear they have also been defanged and declawed. They act however, like a full grown 800 pound real life tiger that has samurai swords on each of it's paws.
What we have come to define as verification of masculinity is more often than not just a paper tiger or a "paper warrior", like a little green wax soldier or a pinata samurai. It looks and sounds like masculinity until you really get up close like marrying it or being raised by it or depending on it for strength and perseverance and protection. Then the truth comes out too late to save you.
The lack of a real warrior underneath that armor is often concealed for years with the trappings of American Manhood like loud motors, loud music, loud guns, cigars and tattoos and a collection of whiskey bottles in the cabinet. These things aren't good or bad in their intended usage. They are just hobbies and hobbies help us relax and express ourselves and build community with friends. When these become a muscled up mirage that hides a boy hiding from the fight he signed up for then these "proofs of manhood" become a real issue for the women and the culture that has been fooled by them.
When real and actual masculinity is present then you will see courage and perseverance and wisdom and the willingness to confront and to sacrifice and to offer compassion and to lead through the fire.
All of which were given by The Creator to protect, provide for and stand in as priests for what really really matters. The previous and the next generation of warriors, kings/queens and priests on the Earth.
Unfortunately all that we have looked to as proof of manhood for these decades actually proves none of these. They simply prove most often that an American Male had a surplus of money to spend on himself or that he ignored other duties in order to create a surplus of money to spend on himself.
They prove that a boy had a hobby but not that a man has courage. A man may also have the same hobby. Hence the endless confusion when we look for hobbies instead of characteristics.
True masculinity cannot be manufactured in the factory like that motorcycle nor can it be bought like an Armanni Suite. These are paper tigers that love to growl at the wolf but feign to fight when the wolf is at the door. A paper tiger can't lead you through the fire because it will simply be burnt up.
"The World spins and spits Turmoil.
And the Nations toil for Peace.
The Paws of Fear upon your Chest.
Only Love can soothe that Beast.
And my words are Paper Tigers
No match for the Predator of Pain inside Her."
Love Will Come To You-Indigo Girls
How does Dorothy know if the one standing before her has true masculinity
Or is he just another Cowardly Lion running from the Flying Monkeys of the world?
Observe the fire and see what just keeps growing despite the presence of the flames.
Who is pushing through at a job that isn't easy or a degree program where everyone else quit?
Which Sailor is still doing push-ups when others have rang the bell to go home?
Who stands watch over the Mom pushing groceries and toddlers across the parking lot of the store?
Who instinctively jumps up to stand between you and the drunk man on the corner?
Who is taking other young men under a protective and wise wing?
Who is standing up when wicked men tell everyone to sit down or else?
Who has the courage to open his heart to a group or father a child that isn't his?
Who is willing to both dispense a bullet and also to take a bullet when all else has failed?
Who overlooks the offenses from a fool but charges full force at the wolf on the doorstep?
Who fights his battles more like David and less like Saul?
Gentlemen, return the Paper Tigers to the shelf as you look for opportunity to sharpen your own claws.
The best place to start is asking The Creator who only forms real and true Tigers.
After that, you must find a real and true Tiger to learn his ways.
"Killing Lions" Book Link
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Brian Newman
PO BOX 671
Ooltewah, TN 37363
paypal.me/letstalkshalom
Visit http://www.shalomtoyourheart.com for more resources.
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