The Roof Guys

Random and unorganized valentine thoughts

Guys are pathetic. It is so true. We are every bit as sentimental as the ladies, though we exsude much energy to hide this fact. Yet, behind and beneath the countless layers of “toughness,“ you find within us men a disturbing amount of mush. Josh Harris was the first to help me realize I was not alone when he made the confession that he was “in love with love.”

This is not an attempt to reveal a tender side. This is an attempt to reveal that us guys can be down right pathetic. Sure, we might like to think that we are beyond it.

I came across a poem that I wrote about 1 ½ ago, when I was struggling in my contentment with singleness. That was a real turning point in my life where I began to see (largely) my singleness as a gift, and began to find much joy in it. I hope you all appreciate the enormous humility and vulnerability that is taking place to make this point.

Oh love, you dormant friend of mine

Hidden deep, yet so sublime

When shall you wake and show your face,

Within my heart to take your place?

 Yet still you sleep, as well you should,

until the master says 'tis good.'

But on that morn do brightly shine

upon the one who shall be mine.  

And at that time with boldness say,

that this is God's appointed day.

In love with love. I would have to say that of all those that I know, no guy has been more guilty of this than my childhood friend and hero, Ben Laughman. The man will make any of us feel like we are as stoic and unmoved as a Russian army. I was able to witness this truth about Ben when he pursued and married my sister. This bearded, carhartt wearing warrior electrician was and and continues to be hopelessly in love with loving my sister. It has been disgusting. I dare not go into details. 2 years after their marriage, with their second child on the way, Ben continues his passionate pursuit of my sister. Sometimes it is a little embarrassing to witness. Yet, the best part has been to see how his love has changed my sister.

Charles Spurgeon wrote of the Christian Marriage:

“Happy woman and happy man! If heaven be found on earth, they have it! At last, the two are so blended, so engrafted on one stem, that their old age presents a lovely attachment, a common sympathy, by which its infirmities are greatly alleviated, and its burdens are transformed into fresh bonds of love. So happy a union of will, sentiment, thought, and heart exists between them, that the two streams of their life have washed a way the dividing bank, and run on as one broad current of united existence till their common joy falls into the ocean of eternal felicity.”

Uh. Happy Valentines?

For the poor man

I was just reading something that I thought was worth posting. 

My buddy and fellow roofer, Stefan, pulled a book of his bookshelf and bestowed it to me as a birthday gift.  I feel like I have found a hidden treasure.  I can't help but wonder if men like Martin Lloyd Jones, and Charles Spurgeon were reading and learning from this book, as their writtings seem to reflect this.

The book is entitled, The Poor Man's Morning and Evening, and was written by a puritan named Robert Hawker.  It is outlined much the same was as Spurgeons Morning and Evening, with two "short"  devotions a day.  The book is much larger than Spurgeons, however, and requires slightly more purpose and intent in reading it.

Just to salt your oats, here are parts of the February 4th morning devotion..

""The Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me."  Lam I. 16

Whence is it, my soul, that those distressing thoughts arise? Pause, and inquire.  Is the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, indeed withdrawn, when Jesus, they Jesus, sweetly and graciously promised that he should abide for ever?  This cannot be.  Is the righteousness of Jesus less; or hath his blood to atone and cleanse, lost its efficacy?  Oh no!  Jesus' righteousnes, and Jesus' all-atoning propitiation, like the almighty Auther of both, must be eternally and everlastingly the same; 'yesterday, and to-day, and forever;'

Hath God thy Father forgotten to be gracious?  Oh no!  God thy Father proclaimed from heaven that he is well pleased for his dear Son's righteousness' sake; and never, never, shall a word gone out of the Lord's mouth be altered.

From whence then, my soul, is the leanness, thy fears, and despondency?  Canst thou not discover?  Oh, yes!  It is all in thyself, and thy unbelieving fram;  thou art looking to thyself, and not to all-precious Jesus! ... Can anything be more plain, than that thou art making a part savious of thy feelings, and not a whole Savior of they Jesus?"

Also check out David Crowder's new album, Collision.  It is great... "I saw the light.. I saw the light..."