Man to Man

I’ve been truly amazed at the remarkable amount of media coverage Taylor Swift’s recent concert tour received. It was mind boggling to see the tens of thousands of hyped-up fans…

Like oil exploding to the surface as a new oil rig strikes oil underground, whenever I get ready to write my column, words burst forth in my mind and onto…

Well, guys, get your wallets out—its Valentines Day! We’re all about to shell out more than $26 Billion for roses, jewelry, chocolates, clothes, and fancy dinners! (And no…Bass Pro gift…

You might not expect to see the topic of demonstrating love covered in a man’s column. However, coming from my own men’s group this morning, this was the key point…

Hi, guys! I LOVE a good action movie! Being a military history buff and a former Army officer, I really enjoy true war stories like Hacksaw Ridge. As I am…

It’s hunting season– the time of year that gets men “all fired up!” No matter what you set your sights on–deer, elk, upland game, or waterfowl– it’s an addictive time….

September is the ideal time to take the plunge and join a men’s small group. A small group is as essential on the football field with special teams as it…

In March, I conducted a men’s retreat for over seventy-five men from a church in Lancaster, PA. My retreat was entitled: “Guys, God, and the Great Outdoors: Becoming a Man…

In 1993, the “Power Rangers” show first appeared on televisions across America. These mild-mannered teenagers transformed into fictional helmeted superheroes ready to battle evil. In real life, God offers His…

For two months now we’ve been talking about “Healthy Relationship Hacks” for both men and women. I hope they’ve been insightful and helpful. At the end of our lives, it…

When people start trimming bushes and trees you know “spring has sprung.” All winter I’ve been aching to clean out a mass of overgrown deadfalls and broken branches at the…

How many times have you heard someone say, “Let’s be real…,” or “Really?” These state the obvious conclusion that many times we are not being sincerely open and honest with…

One thing that has really helped my faith grow is realizing that while Jesus spent 30 years on earth in anonymity, we do know He understands our needs, struggles, and…

When men meet, the first question they ask each other is, “What do you do?” This shows how deeply our work is ingrained into our sense of self-worth. But there…

Guys love cowboy movies. One of my favorite westerns is “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”. In westerns, heroes endure unbelievable hardship, face overwhelming odds, yet come out on…

It is easier to “stay stuck” than move forward. People view change as a reaction to an external force, such as being fired or transferred. But the way we view…

Growing up in the Chesapeake Bay area, I observed firsthand the dramatic erosion massive storms inflicted on waterfront homes. Properties that successfully weathered these storms not only were equipped with…

Linda and I love the television show Lego Masters. While I grew up in the pre-LEGO world, I really enjoyed building with Erector sets, Lincoln logs, and Tinker Toys. We…

While working in my garage last Saturday, I heard a strange tapping at the outside base of my garage door. Perplexed at what this could be, I pressed the garage…

When I need to turn off my overactive, “ideaphoric” mind, I happily enter the “Nothing Box.” It still amazes Linda that when I drift off into a peaceful silence and…

I am ready for spring, aren’t you? Every day when I look out at my backyard, I get more anxious for warmer weather. One reason we bought our home a year ago was that it backs up to 100-acres of undevelopable woodland. And, like most guys, I love the woods!

What I do not like is the fallen timbers and rotting branches the prior owner failed to remove. Over the years, these deadfalls became an overgrown, tangled mess. Even worse, many tree branches are wrapped in boa-constrictor like monkey grape vines. These can kill the trees by pulling them down. (If these are in your tress, research them and get rid of them!)

Many sports teams …from high school to pro…are now in Spring Training. While I prefer fishing to football, I understand the concept of preparing for the upcoming season.

I understand the need for our own “Spring Training.” We joke about the “COVID 15 Pounds” we carry around on our waists, the result of grazing while locked down–but it is real. Comfort food added uncomfortable and unhealthy pounds to us all this year. I was particularly convicted when I read recently in 1 Cor 6:19-20 that “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”

I have a wonderful plaque on my wall that says, “Nature is the art of my Creator.” Looking out my window and marveling at the snow -covered woods behind my home brings this point so clearly to mind.

There is nothing like a coat of fresh snow over everything to bring new perspective to life. It is like a heavenly “do-over.” My mistakes in lawn care all disappear under a wonderful blanket of shimmering white snow.

I am delighted to announce that my husband, Reen, begins a new column for men this New Year. My husband is a true “Barnabas,” someone with the genuine God-given gift…

Reen Waterman with Missional Community Pastor Allen Smith My latest speaking engagement to men was at the Bay Area Community Church’s June 2022 Men’s Prayer Breakfast in Annapolis, MD. This…