HEALING THE MASCULINE SOUL NEW UPDATED AND REVISED EDITION JUST RELEASED BY “W” (WORD) PUBLISHERS

* Preface with historical overview * new chapter on “Fathers & Daughters” * amplified chapter on “Fathers & Sons” * engaging new stories and insights * added material on the roots of homosexuality See below endorsements by John Eldredge, Sheila Walsh, Bill Gaither and back cover overview, plus how to order

http://www.aabbafather.com

___________________________________________________________ August, 2003 DALBEY NEWSLETTER # 11

“CHILD-LIKE RESPONSE-ABILITY”

“We spend the first half of our lives trying to become adults,” as someone older and wiser once noted, “and the last half trying to become children.” It’s sad but true. Striving to “grow up and be responsible” at best makes us forget what it feels like to be a child; at worst, it makes us scorn the child-who is of course, too much like us: weak, needy, and powerless. What we disallow in ourselves, often we punish in others.

In a striking scene from the movie Hook, workaholic businessman Peter-who has forgotten that he’s in fact Peter Pan–and his pre-teen son are flying in an airplane. Out of boredom, the boy takes out his baseball mitt and begins to toss a ball up in the air. “Would you stop acting like a child!” the father explodes. “But Dad,” the boy protests, “I AM a child.” The rest of this marvelous film proceeds upon restoring the child-and thereby, destiny and power– in a man emasculated by his adult ambitions.

Why, oh why, does it take so long for us to see Jesus’ perspective on this?:

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child. And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.” (Matt. 18:1-5TEV)

As we “grow up,” we respond to the demands of the world for jobs, money, control, esteem. And then, one terrifying day, you wake up and realize you haven’t welcomed the child in your heart; in fact, you’ve lost him/her. The wonder, the hope, the passion, the fun-and indeed, the humility which invites them–where did they go? In spite of your best efforts to appear “mature,” you find yourself yearning for more freedom, more fun, and more friends to play with. Someone asks, “What do you really want?” and you panic. You’ve spent so much time and energy responding to external “demands” that you’re no longer able to respond to your internal needs. In a tragic irony, your life may be completely in adult order-from low-rate mortgage to long-term insurance–but you’re no longer response-able.

Yet amazingly, graciously–amid the darkness we’ve wrought as ambitious accomplices in the world’s deception–the Father has provided a saving beacon of light living right here among us, whose faces shine forth with the rejuvenating truth of who we are, where we come from, and in fact, where we’re destined. This is the ministry of the child: like Jesus, the child comes to restore our innocence-and thereby, to make us able to respond, that is, response-able.

When we’ve dismissed and forgotten our true selves, when our compulsion to cover our shame has jealously mocked and crushed all innocence, children are ever born again among us as an exuberant witness to our created purpose and destiny-their open, humble, and trusting hearts beckoning the gateway to Heaven itself.

Children respond. They feel, and do something about it. They laugh, they cry They experience life fully, and invite others into it. Like my 11-year-old son, they leap into the icy surf, feel the great waves crashing against them and shout to old hearts of all ages, “Come on in!” What’s more, children respond truthfully. Once, when my son was 5, I asked him to help me stuff envelopes with a flyer on my ministry material. “Is that how you trick people into buying your books?” he asked matter-of-factly. “Actually,” I offered lamely, “it’s called ‘advertising’.”

Ah, but such bearers of truth are an unwelcome threat to the kingdom of this world, where performance is the highest value and the shame of not measuring up is the primary motivator. In such a toxic environment, children “are to be seen and not heard”-as my grandmother often exhorted me as a boy. And the voice which beckons the Kingdom of Heaven-where God rules as King–is thereby silenced. Those who have forgotten the child cannot be responsible adults, because they are not able to respond openly to truth.

In this world, being responsible means providing for your own position and security. Its hallmark is industry, and its opposite, aimlessness. In the Kingdom of heaven, being responsible means being able to respond to God. Its hallmark is humility and its opposite, control. It means trusting that God has a plan for your life, and being able to respond as He reveals it. As John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-3), the voice of responsibility among Christians calls us to “prepare the way” for God’s coming work among us It’s not “I can do it with your help,” but rather, “You can do it with my cooperation.” Practically, this means getting ready to walk in His destiny, and thereby, do your part to bring His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Begin with the basics, and honor the child. Take time to play. Talk to your Father, and listen to His Word. Sing out loud; worship freely. Quit hiding your shame and get real with Him and others. Get up into your Abba/Daddy’s lap and cry out your wounds to Him for healing. Like King David (Ps. 139:23-24), ask Him to search your heart, then confess your sins and celebrate the freedom of His mercy. Tell your Father you need His power; ask Him to release the fullness of His super-natural Spirit in your life (Mt. 3:11).* In your church family, identify and learn to exercise your spiritual gifts. Get mad at the Enemy; renounce and cast out the demons that have seduced and oppressed you (Mk. 3:15).* Enjoy your body; eat healthy, exercise regularly. (* see Resources below)

When we’re not response-able to God, we can respond only to the world. We grow tired, even angry. We either comply unto death and burn out, or rebel, like my generation as hippies in the 1960’s, and drop out. Today, as my almost-60th birthday rapidly approaches, I don’t have the energy any more to feed this vicious cycle. I’m tired-literally-of responding to the world. I want to rest in my Father, to hear His call, and be able to respond.to Him with all the energy and focus He provides.

Get ready. God’s moving. It’s no time to be either industrious or aimless. It’s time to be response-able.

Shalom, Gordon Dalbey http://www.abbafather.com

RESOURCES

*To order new, updated Healing the Masculine Soul: Autographed (note name): $14 (free postage within US)

Make check out to “Gordon Dalbey,” send to Box 61042, Santa Barbara, CA 93160 (See back cover endorsements and overview below)

* Gordon Dalbey’s upcoming conference schedule: Sept 19,20 New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO Oct 10,11 Bill Gaither’s Praise Gathering, Indianapolis, IN Oct 17-19 Vineyard, San Luis Obispo, CA * “Ministering the Baptism of the Holy Spirit” online booklet: Reply to this Newsletter saying you want this and I’ll email it to you as an attatchment. Excellent biblically based, practical instruction on receiving the gift of tongues as an initiation into spiritual reality from a Christian view. * Deliverance from Evil Spirits, book by Francis MacNutt. Biblically based, balanced. http://www.christianhealingmin.org * Peace like a River, by Leif Enger: A “secular” novel that I couldn’t put down. A Midwestern farmer encounters Jesus and literally all heaven and hell breaks loose in his family. “Prarie Home Companion” fans will recognize Enger’s engaging style as a former writer for Minnesota Public Radio. _____________________________________________________________

Back cover of the new Healing the Masculine Soul (see http://www.abbafather.com for cover image)

“God used this book in a powerful way in my own masculine journey when I was searching for the healing that Gordon describes in these pages. I still recommend it to my friends.” (John Eldredge, author Wild at Heart)

“I was deeply moved by this book. The wisdom contained should be shared with all fathers and sons and every husband and brother.” (Sheila Walsh, author/Women of Faith speaker)

“I was so deeply impressed with this book that I sent copies to many of my friends.” (Bill Gaither, songwriter/producer Praise Gathering)

Today, politically correct voices cry out for men to be more sensitive, to tame their masculine nature. On the opposing side, the media bombards men with “macho” images of violence and lust. Is it any wonder men are left bewildered about what manhood really is?

This newly revised and updated edition of Gordon Dalbey’s classic work gives men hope for restoration by showing how Jesus has come to draw men to Himself and heal us. Through this refreshing journey into the masculine soul, Dalbey dares men to break free from deceptive stereotypes and discover the power and blessing of authentic manhood.

God is calling men today to get real with themselves and with Him. Healing the Masculine Soul gives powerful voice to this calling in every aspect of a man’s life-from sexuality and marriage to work and fatherhood.