The third characteristic that Mr. Lewis refers to in his list is a real man leads courageously.    Courage has been defined as taking action in spite of your fear.  Everybody get afraid.  The key to being a man is doing something even when you are afraid.  In the picture above you see a group of soldiers that were in this battle on Iwo Jima.  These men took control of their fear and displayed great courage.  This is a great snapshot of leading courageously:  another way to say that is “a real man raises the flag.”  Let me tell you a little about this picture.

A long time ago on an island far away there was a major battle fought over the control of a little island called Iwo Jima.  The people who were fighting were the Japanese and the Americans.  The Japanese wanted it because it would keep the Americans away from invading their homeland.  The American understood that if they could win the battle there they were a step closer in winning the War that had already caused a lot of people to lose their lives.  After a very intense 36 day fight the American won the battle.  Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who said, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”  In other words we kicked butt and took names. 

Listen how **John Bradley(second from the right as you’re looking at the picture) describes the morning of the flag raising. “In the morning of Feb 23 we organize a patrol of 40 men who would work their way up the mountain.  We started up the mountain immediately after the Naval barrage and plane strafing was over and we reached the top. And I might add that the reason we reached the top of Mount Suribachi without a single enemy shot being fired was because the Japs were still in their caves waiting for the bombardment to be lifted. When we reached the top we formed our battle line [the platoon moved from the column formation used to climb the mountain trail to one with the squads and fireteams on line] and we all went over the top [attacked] together and much to our surprise we didn’t find a Jap in sight. When we got there I was with the group that swung to the left and immediately the Lieutenant sent a man around to look for a piece of staff [i.e., a flagpole] that we could put the American flag on. And the Japs had some old pipes that were laying around there, they used these pipes to run water down below the mountain. And we used this Jap pipe and we attached the American flag on there and we put it up. And Joe Rosenthal happened to be there at the right time. He came up a little while after we were on top and much to his surprise the picture that is now so famous….the Flag Raising on Mount Suribachi.

I hope you never have to experience the horror of war.  But if you do I pray that you will have the courage to raise the flag.  Most men don’t go to physical war, but there are many wars that we wage in our personal lives, in our jobs, in our ministries, with our families and in our communities that require us to lead and to lead with courage.  Raise the flag my boy, don’t let it hit the ground.  Don’t give up just because something is hard.  The greatest victories you will have in life will come after much hardship and dogged determination on your part.  The greatest things in life require hard work and don’t come easy.  I know you have what it takes to stand up and raise the flag.

Love,

Dad

* *I got the details of this story and you can read the rest of the account of the battle at http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/battleiwojima.htm

**Recollections of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima by Pharmacist Mate Second Class John H. Bradley, USN, with the 5th Marine Division.  Adapted from John Bradley interview in box 3 of World War II Interviews, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center.  

Letters to Josh is a series of letters written from a dad to his son Josh trying to capture some of the important life lessons he wanted to pass on.  These letters are a bit random in nature but each is written to address a key issue in the development of a young man.  These letters are written from a very imperfect father whose love knows no bounds for his son.  These letters are shared with you (the reader) only because we hope that the things we are learning and thinking through will help you and your sons.  

By Greg Primm

It’s just Wednesday but it has already been a busy week in our house.  On top of the normal activities of life — work, family commitments, exercise, gymnastics and dance lessons for my daughters, etc. — I’m hosting some auditors in our office for the next two weeks, I’ve got a couple of new projects getting started, and to top it off my wife had a flat tire today.  I’ve been busy from 5:30 am to 10 pm every day.

In the midst of all this, I ran into a great post about kicking back, relaxing and doing . . . nothing.  In our over-scheduled, busy lives we often forget to leave time to re-charge by just sitting and enjoying the world around us.  

In the business world I work in, the objective is to create a profit margin — to spend less money than we bring in so there’s something left over.  With profits, companies can invest in the future, reward employees, and provide a return to its owners.  We should strive to create margin in our personal lives as well.

If we are constantly spending all of the energy we have, we won’t have the mental or physical reserves to take advantage of opportunities or invest in relationships.  

So rather than write a longer post, check my Facebook account, or watch more TV, I’m going to sign off now, have a conversation with my wife,  and then read a good book.  My to-do list can wait until tomorrow.  

Photo credit:   victor_nuno

By James Kissinger

 “God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don’t. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.”

 The above excerpt is from an article written by Tony Snow. A friend sent me the article a year or so ago, and from time to time I pull it up when I need strength. When I need perspective. For years I had enjoyed listening to Tony as a commentator on Fox News. I was aware of his very public battle with cancer, and I always looked up to him for the courage with which he faced it. From listening to him talk, I knew he had strong underpinnings of faith. This article laid those beliefs out. Tony Snow lost his battle with cancer, but the perspective he shared while looking death in the face is one we can and should claim, here, now, in health.  Here’s the link to the article:

 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html

 Enjoy. JLK.

Photo credit:  John Poplett

by The Howitzer

Dear Josh,

I remember the first real baseball game my dad ever saw me play.  I was 14 and he had come in from Las Vegas to visit.  I was the leadoff batter and we were the visiting team, so I was the very first batter.  Unbelievably, I hit my very first homerun over the fence in my life.  I had been hitting the ball pretty good but never even close to a home run.  I guess I was just pumped up to see him at my game.  Life is funny sometimes; things don’t always turn out like you want them to.  Sometimes you face problems and challenges that make you want to stay in the dugout.  But, a real man will step up to the plate and swing with all he has.  Sometimes he will hit a homerun; sometimes he will strike out or even dribble one out to the pitcher.  But, if you have the courage to try, you will get a lot of hits.  One thing for sure is that you will be known by your willingness to step up and take your cuts. 

The second characteristic that Mr. Lewis talks about in his definition of manhood is about responsibility.  He says a real man takes responsibility.  You and I defined that as stepping up to the plate.  Over these next couple of years I want to see you take more and more responsibility.  Someday you will be the man of your house and you will be in charge.  You will own a number of responsibilities (sometime you will feel like they own you).  You will be responsible for providing for your family’s needs.  You will be responsible for your family’s safety.  You will be responsible for your family’s well being.  You will be responsible to be the kind of man that God wants you to be.  All of these responsibilities will challenge you and you will be tempted to stay in the dugout.  But, the exciting part of life is looking out at the pitcher challenging him give you his best pitch.  There is nothing more fun than to send one out of the park.  But, win lose or draw you have got to get in the game.  Take chances! Don’t settle for status quo!

What I am asking from you for now is to take small steps.  When you start a job, finish it.  When mom and I put you in charge of something do it with all your heart.  Take care of your stuff.  Work hard at school and your activities.  Be a servant.  Be a contributor in the family.  Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.  I love your passion!  Use your passion to help our family succeed.  If our family succeeds you will succeed.

 Watch out for the curveballs!  They are tough to hit!  But, they can be hit!

Love,

Dad

Letters to Josh is a series of letters written from a dad to his son Josh trying to capture some of the important life lessons he wanted to pass on.  These letters are a bit random in nature but each is written to address a key issue in the development of a young man.  These letters are written from a very imperfect father whose love knows no bounds for his son.  These letters are shared with you (the reader) only because we hope that the things we are learning and thinking through will help you and your sons. 

Photo by dcJohn