Man Making

I've mentioned before that manhood rites-of-passage concepts are not the exclusive domain of Christian fathers. Here's a manhood blog & website that appears not to be Christian in nature, but often has interesting insights and links to other info.

Of particular interest to me is the page that lists "guy films"...films the author has found contain themes that tie in well with manhood discussions.

These films can be great discussion starters for groups of men, and for a group of men and adolescent males. The debrief can always add some depth to a film for young guys, and you’ll be surprised where a discussion can lead a group. While the film will suggest the best questions, sample debrief questions might include:

• What scenes in the move were the most memorable for you? How did those scenes make you feel? Why?
• What was the most exciting part of the film?
• Who was your favorite character and why?
• What did the film teach you about being a man? Do you think men are like that in real life?

Man Making

Warrior's Hand Store

I finally "went commercial" and set up an Amazon store.

Really, I'm setting it up not because I want/expect revenue from it, but because I thought it would be a nice place to have an easy-to-navigate list of books & movies that have been meaningful to me in my journey through manhood and fatherhood.

If I make $1 off of it I will be surprised! If it helps one person find the right resource, I will be satisfied!

Warrior's Hand Store

Fireproof

I'm a little slow on the uptake when it comes to movies. Apparently this is a "Christian movie" (think Facing the Giants) that broaches the subject of marriage...and how to save it.

This seems like the type of movie I would typically wait to see on DVD (I get to go to the movies so infrequently, I like to save it for more visually epic films) but this might make a great date movie.

Check it out:

Welcome To FireproofTheMovie.com

Family Friendly Movie Reviews

If your home is anything like mine, there is a constant battle waged over media entertainment. The kids want to watch the latest cool/hyped movie or DVD oblivious to the negative elements that it may contain. As fathers, it is our responsibility to judge whether or not it is appropriate for them to watch.

Here are some resources that we can use to get detailed reviews of movies and other media, including specifics of what kind of objectionable material is present. These are invaluable for making informed decisions.

The only advice I would give is to talk over the reasons (especially with teenagers) why you have decided that a particular movie is unacceptable, rather than just saying "because I said so". This will help them to understand your reasoning and develop their own sense of media choice.

www.familystyle.com

www.pluggedinonline.com

www.screenit.com (subscription based)

Confessions and Compasses

Confession time...my family and I (not the youngest) have watched the Lord of the Rings movies, Narnia, and *gasp* Harry Potter. A couple of them have even read some of the Harry Potter books. I just don't get why certain fantasy movies are accepted in Christian circles and some are considered anathema. Yes, I've read the Christian books explaining why one is acceptable and the other not, but I just don't totally buy it.

The latest movie starting to generate some Christian anti-buzz is The Golden Compass, and although I haven't really researched it yet, I stumbled on this blog post from the "Confessions of a Bad Christian" blog that captures my feelings on the subject pretty well:

Paul was aware of the opposition to his faith and to the God he believed in. He was informed about the philosophies of those who opposed his faith. He engaged them in intelligent and probably spirited debate. The book of Acts honestly records the results.
...

Maybe that is why we are often more comfortable decrying the culture instead of engaging it. Most of us don’t like being labeled as airheads (The Message) or as a babbler (NIV).

Give this post a read and see if you agree that God can use even this movie for His purpose if we will just let Him. If you think I'm totally off base here, let me know...

Christians Shouldn't Lose Their Bearings Over a Golden Compass

Rascal

About as Disney as you can get, "Rascal" is the story about a boy and his raccoon. We've seen it before: a boy takes in a wild animal, animal causes mischief, neighbors blame animal and get mad at kid, and by the end of the film the boy must release the animal back into the wild.

But in today's deluge of computer generated craziness, this quiet little bit of Americana stands out as authentic and full of heart. I was actually worried that the pace was too slow for my kids as the movie started, but was pleasantly surprised to see them all enthralled by 5 minutes in.

While the main plot of Rascal is entertaining enough, there is also a subplot about a free-spirited dad realizing his growing boy's need for his involvement. Dads sensitive to the topics discussed on this blog will appreciate the realization the father makes.

Overall, a great family movie to watch and enjoy. I rented it through NetFlix, but it seems to be available for purchase as well.

Rascal

Stereotypes of Men in Media

Here's a quick article from the Media Awareness Network that summarizes a recent report identifying the most common male stereotypes portrayed in the media.

When I read it I immediately felt outraged and bemoaned the "evil Hollywood machine"...but as I thought about it more, I had to admit that in the past I have portrayed and accepted these stereotypes in my own life.

Hopefully seeing these for what they are will help us avoid falling into them. Especially hard to stomach is this one:

The Buffoon commonly appears as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic (or workplace) issues.

I hope to never portray that stereotype again!

Common Stereotypes of Men in Media

Follow Me Boys

Finding wholesome entertainment that everyone in our family will enjoy is hard. I have to admit we are getting a little tired of all the over-the-top CGI animal movies with "witty" banter and slap stick humor. So, we have gone back to some of the many live action Disney films that I remember from my childhood.

One of the more obscure and least "sugary" is Follow Me Boys!, a drama/comedy that has leading man Fred MacMurray as an honorable, wise, knowing figure, who as a scout leader is very much a role model to the boys in a small town.

We all loved this movie so much we bought the DVD and take it out every few months.

One of the biggest side benefits is the great hiking/marching song that the scouts sing throughout the movie. We have used it on many a family hike. I have attached a link to the lyrics.

http://conklins.googlepages.com/followmeboys.txt