Top Ten Gifts for Men

After reading Trey Morgans list of Bad Christmas gifts for Men, I felt inspired to write a list of good gift ideas for men. Here is my Top Ten Best Gifts for Real Men:

10. Hand Tools: Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, anything that he can use with his hands. Even if your man is not the handy-man type; simply buying him these gifts will boost his manly ego and may even spark that handy-man gene.

9. A Tool Belt: What good are tools if you do not have a belt to display them in? Make sure it is of high quality material -- preferably leather (brushed or rough). A lightweight canvas apron is NOT a tool belt.

8. A Gift Card to a Hardware / Tool Store: He knows what he needs, let him get some therapy buy walking in a MAN-store make a selection and walk out.

7. Recreational Supplies: These vary from man to man. If he likes to fish, fishing gear is a great gift (a boat is even better). If your man is a hunter, you cannot go wrong with camouflage. If your guy is a spectator, buy clothing for his favorite team (Roll Tide Roll!).

6. A Gift Card to Bass Pro Shop or a similar outlet: This way he can get the gear he really needs that he does not already have.

5. A Year's Supply of Beef Jerky; Nothing says "I'm a Man!" like tearing hard dried beef with your teeth.

4. A Year's Supply of Sunflower Seeds: Manly seeds must be in the shell. Not only are sunflower seeds healthy, they give a man the opportunity to partake in a manly past-time: spitting. There is something reassuring to manhood when we expectorate the shells of sunflower seeds.

3. A Good Bible or Bible Study Guide: Real men need to be like the ultimate real man, Jesus. To be like Him, we must get to know Him through His word.

2. A Loving Home: Show your husband (father, son) that you truly love him. They may not be outwardly affectionate, but men do want to be loved and to show love.

1. Friendship: God looked down on Adam knew that man needed a companion like him. Men are social creatures and need friends. Wive, be your husband's best friend. And Husbands; be your wife's best friend.

My two cents worth,

Scott

Marriage Season

I attended Faulkner University as an undergraduate and completed my Bachelors in Bible in 1989. While there many joked about April and May being the month the guys on campus began thinking about what their girlfriends were thinking since the Fall . . . . Marriage. As a minister, I perform a few weddings each year and many of them are during the Summer months. As I was thinking about this morning I thought I would share some advice from my 20 years of marriage. (BTW - The picture to the right proves I am the luckiest man on earth.) This is for the men and women who are not married, who want to be married, who recently married, and who are celebrating decades of marriage. The advice is simple. I guarantee that this advice will help you in your marriage. Are you ready? Here it is:

Be the right person! Profound advice this morning. Take a look at 1 Pet 3:1-7,

"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."

Although Peter is speaking specifically to wives, much of what he says applies to husbands as well. We each need to focus as much, if not more, time on who we are on the inside as we spend on our outside. Below is a list of ten traits that will make me a better husband, and you a better spouse:

• Be Unselfish
• Be Patient
• Have Sense of Humor
• Be Trusting
• Be Forgiving
• Be Honest
• Be Adaptable
• Practice Self-Discipline
• Be Trust Worthy
• Be Able to Apologize

God Bless,

Scott