Masculinity: Unwanted critique

Paul Couglin's article, Masculinity: Unwanted touches on masculinity's image as poor in the world. Couglin explains that the culture sees masculinity as corrupt and provides an incorrect picture of masculinity to boys: pathetic. Our culture then questions why we have such poor father and husband figures and no true men leading the country. The answer to that simple question is that as boys they are stripped of their powerful and dangerous potential as being wild men for God. Society teaches and molds men into a domesticated lifestyle in that the workplace is the controller and drains the wild and passionate lives locked behind the doors that God wants to open. He concludes by telling us to fight for justice and raise the boys into powerful young men on fire for God.

I do not believe the blog was related to mine because the article did not analyze masculinity in the depth it should be analyzed. In fact, I believe that Couglin should not have used the world "Masculinity" in the article at all. If the word was in the title, it should have been the focus which it was not. For example, in the article Couglin elaborates on the Greek word, "thumos." His first sentence about the world begins with, "God created men and women." Understanding man and woman is crucial in acknowledging what God calls us to be, but if this article is supposed to be about the masculine faith, I feel it is unneccessary to discuss women. Christianity in general was the main foundation for the reader, and masculinity was only brought up throughout the article, here and there. This leads to my analyzing of the strengths and weaknesses of the reading. In stating what society looks for in a "man," Couglin may then emphasize why there is so much hurt and pain resulting from men's actions. Again though, weak points are results from his supporting sentences wandering from the main idea. Overall, I enjoyed the article, but did not find it important for my personal reading in understanding the idea of christian masculinity.
http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/paul-coughlin/masculinity-unwanted-11600960.html

Embracing God's Purpose

I have always pondered what would happen if I lost the ability to use a body part, such as my arm. This would not only break me down mentally, but also completely eliminate the chances of me furthering my baseball career. During a mentor meeting this summer, my mentor quoted a man named Nick Vujicic saying, ""The biggest temptation I believe is to feel comfortable, to feel like you've worked through all of that here on Earth, and are satisfied with this life." This quote appears in Zaimov's article endorsing Vujicic's book, "Unstoppable." This quote is so important and relevant to the idea of embracing God's purpose. The worst thing you can feel is comfortability and Vujicic supports this with a quote later in the article:  "With me, in my life, I know that there are people who can get encouraged to see how God can use a man without arms and legs to be his hands and feet, but I wanted people to know that I am not a superhero, it is not about me, or how well I speak or articulate – it is the Spirit of God. It is an active relationship with him." Vujicic not only denounces comfortability but also states that he uses his disabilities as an advantage. Those watching his life understand that God can and does work through anybody as long as you open yourself to his plans for your life. This being said, as a reader it is necessary to acknowledge the importance of God's perfect purpose for yourself. Whether it is as drastic as Vujicic's situation, or whether you live an ordinary life, people will see a difference in the way a servant of God lives. Understanding that Vujicic went from trying to commit suicide multiple times, to embracing his purpose and evangelizing through the nations, is not only inspiring but God-breathed! Know that our Father has a purpose for you that is far greater than we can imagine and will only prosper us and not harm us. Nick Vujicic talks "Unstoppable"