[First, let me thank Chris Chavez for his insight into this weekend’s men’s conference (Note: NONE of the contents of this blog are his thoughts or opinions!). Also, read the DISCLAIMER to the RIGHT of this blog before continuing to read!]

I have been asked on a few occasions since this weekend’s 2011 Men’s Conference, “So, have you enjoyed the Men’s Conference?” Well, instead of repeating the same answer, I’ve decided to write it out. And, understand, some of it may be tongue-in-cheek and, well, most of it will probably get me in “trouble” (like THAT hasn’t happened before!). So, buckle up and BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Let me first say this: I love this guy*! I first heard him speak at last year’s men’s conference (the first I had ever attended of the church’s!). He is a gifted speaker and, sadly, I have not read EVERY thing he’s written in his blog (yeah, I’m starting this week so that I can gain a contextual understanding of what he said this past weekend!), and I agreed with the end-result of what he was saying. I guess I just had difficulty with the incredulous things he was quoting Mark Sayers as saying about what has observed of our society’s consumerism**.

I THINK I understood what the main speaker was saying this entire weekend.

The weekend began with the passage of Genesis 1.26-30A (ESV) and the statement that “culture is defining manhood through our media’s advertising campaign”. Several examples were humorously given: beer commercials, the Chevy truck with the “man-step”, Old Spice deodorant, the Dos Equis man, and ArtOfManliness.com Website. Now, he didn’t say anything negatively against the products themselves or the contents of the Website, but related how in their “image creation”, they miss the essence of manhood and that masculinity has now become an accessory. FORTUNATELY, later, he gave two ways how we as Christians can exhibit creation in the image of God!

I found myself being more distracted with questions during this conference than I have during ANY conference or meeting in over 30 years! Questions such as:
*WHAT is the end purpose/importance of defining (or re-defining) masculinity? HAVEN’T we as Christians who regularly attend The Village ALREADY learned how to define masculinity with the help of Matt Chandler’s 6-part Bible study series, “The Image and Glory of God” in August, 2008 (btw, Everything I Learned about Biblical Masculinity, I learned from Matt Chandler!)?
*Just WHO is questioning our masculinity?
*Who CARES what others’ opinions are of our masculinity?
*Are we as Christian men REALLY LISTENING to culture SO CLOSELY that we’re questioning our own masculinity within the Body of Christ and those questions being based on ADVERTISING? Have we stooped so low to STUPIDITY?
*Does everyone chase after how they want to appear to others? REALLY?!
*Are people who move to N.Y. THAT STUPID to “put stock” in believing in the “reality” of television shows like “Friends” and “The Cosby Show”?

Now, I don’t work for or in the advertising industry, but, in the 46 years of my life, I have learned a few things:
*Advertising is used to sell a product but shouldn’t be taken seriously
*Most if not all photography (televised or printed) are Photoshopped (Duh, those burgers NEVER look as good in real life!)
*The television shows we watch are FICTION and just that: actors portraying what is scripted.

In my conversation with Chavez (and an earlier conversation with my home group leader), both stated that, whether I admitted it or not, I was affected by culture and advertising. While I don’t believe that I am COMPLETELY, 100% shielded from culture and advertising, I have taken several steps that I believe might have contributed to my incredulous surprise to this weekend’s messages:

*While I don’t necessarily drive with “blinders”, at 4:45 am, I am conscious enough to pay attention to other drivers, street markings, street signs, and traffic lights. I rarely, if ever, look further up than the level of the aforementioned to see billboard and outdoor advertising (remember: it’s ALL Photoshop and usually advertises CRAP I don’t use or care about!).
*I use Facebook for social networking with my fellow Villagers, Bible college alumni and community-at-large (NOT “image self-identity”!) (which, thanks to limiting the amount of information I display on my Profile and the fact that I rarely if EVER look to the right!), instead of roaming all over the Internet and, remember: it’s ALL Photoshop and usually advertises CRAP I don’t use or care about!
*My email provider is GMail which is FREE and DOESN’T have advertising (like Yahoo!)!
*I rarely enter malls or shop (okay, except for Goodwill, Barnes and Noble, or Half-Price Bookstore) and do a majority of my consumerable items (home, health) through my Quixtar/Amway North America independent business Website, clothing from LLBean.com or LandsEnd.com and book purchases through Amazon.com or the local Barnes and Noble or Half-Price Bookstore. NONE of these companies use the “advertising campaign” methods mentioned above!

So, to answer the initial question, “Did I enjoy the 2011 Men’s Conference?”, I have to first say, “I wouldn’t necessarily use the word ‘enjoy’ “. Let’s just say that I found it both very incredulous and enlightening in regards to what others apparently believe our men are questioning in their masculinity!

For Matt’s series, “In the Image and Glory of God”, go to http://thevillagechurch.net, then click the tab “Resource Library”, scroll down and click “Studies & Seminars”, then scroll down to the messages entitled “The Image and Glory of God”. GREAT series!

*Note: If you attended the Men’s Conference, then you know who the main speaker was. I have chosen not to use his name, as I do not wish to incriminate him for the things I’ve heard him say of his fellow New Yorkers and my interpretation of them.

**Consumerism in the context of this blog posting is defined thirdly by www.thefreedictionary.com as “attachment to materialistic values or possessions”. Do NOT confuse this with the economic definition as “the principles and practices associated with the utilization of economic goods”.