The Male Domain

Lead Them to Calm Waters

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:08:00 +0000

As a homeschooling Dad, one of my duties is to protect my wife and children from "doing too much." It's a lot for my wife to already be the primary educator in the home, keeper of the home, covenant partner to myself, and all the other things that's wives and mothers do, so to allow them to take on unnecessary commitments never ends well in my home.

Over the years I've seen homeschool families lean toward overcompensating for the fact that their children aren't in public school doing all the things that public school children do, and they seem to think that enrolling their kids in more and more is somehow going to help their kids not feel so different or left out. Now, I'm not advocating living a cave-like existence, where your family never does anything, but again, the norm isn't too much non-involvement, it's over involvement.

I'm not one to let the public schools decide how many activities my children should be involved in. I don't let them set our educational agenda, dictate what's taught in our home, or let them have unfettered access to my wife and kids daily lives, so why should I feel any pressure from them when it comes to activities outside the home. They have no jurisdiction whatsoever in my home, and I aim to keep it that way.

Signs of your wife and children hitting critical mass and having an over-committed schedule could be:

More irritability in the home
Children not happy unless they're going somewhere
Wife stressed out
Dad not resting after work due to kids activities
Dad's day off consumed with wife and kids commitments
Family's schedule at mercy of children's schedule
Saying no to church and fellowship because of other commitments
No gentle and quiet spirit in your wife
Family not home when Dad's home
Kids activities becoming a source of tension between parents

These are just some symptoms that maybe it's time reevaluate your family's priorities. Eliminate what you can and really enjoy that which mattes most. Rather than the kids doing too many things on their own, plan to do some neat and exciting things as a family. It bothers me greatly when I see Dads who don't take their families to enriching family events where history is taught, friendships are formed, and everyone is encouraged.

Dad's, don't let your children grow up and leave the home without you having done everything you could to make them feel like you really believed they were gifts from the Lord. A weekend getaway with Dad is worth so much more than a season with strangers.

Sit down this week and consider what your wife are involved in and committed too, then begin asking yourself whether or not it's something they need to do or can it be eliminated. Then, sit down with your wife and ask her feedback on what you think is best. Listen to her as your helper and covenant partner, but remember, whatever decision you both make, you're responsible for it and the impending results.

If you listen to your wife, even if you don't agree, covenant headship dictates that you can't say, "I told you so." If you can't bless the decision then don't do it. You're the head of the home, go out and function as such with the Lord guiding your path.

Be the leader your wife and kids need you to be, and be the man of God the LORD created you to be. Lead your wife and children to calm waters; even if they aren't asking for it, they're looking for it.

Best wishes!

Better Health for Only $1.49!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Click photo above for PDF purchase!

Male Domain readers, you're just one click (maybe two or three) away from getting on the road to better health!

I'm offering my eBook, "The 60 Day Juice Fast" for half off the regular price of $2.99. Now, through Memorial Day, you can purchase the book for only.....(make sure you're sitting down)....$1.49!!! (fireworks in background)

The PDF, NOOK and Kindle are available immediately at the sale price!

Buy extra copies for your friends and family who could use a dose of good health, and as always, all proceeds from the sale of my book go to feed hungry children....eight hungry children to be exact!

Blessings, and have a wonderful

Memorial Day Weekend!

A Companion of Fools

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:51:00 +0000

Three Fools of Carnival, Pieter Bruegel the Elder

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

-Proverbs 13:20

There is much wisdom in this Proverb, both for young and old alike. In my home, we talk regularly to our children about the company they keep, the books they read, and how they spend their time, because my wife and I both know the powerful influence these have on our lives.

In high school, I was the proverbial "fool" that Christian parents would've wanted their little Johnny to stay away from, and had my hand in leading many a young person down the fool's road. I lacked wisdom and discretion in many areas of life, and enjoyed finding others who shared my views. It wasn't until the Lord's grace reached me and transformed my life by removing my heart of stone and implanting a heart of flesh, that I was able to finally see my folly; and folly is putting it mildly.

So what company are you keeping these days? Who do you enjoy spending your days off with, your free time with, and your internet time with?

What about your children; what company are they keeping?

Who do you believe in your heart, has the hearts of your children?

Have they become "the companion of fools," or do they walk with the wise?

The Proverb says "whoever walks with the wise becomes wise," but what exactly does that mean? To 'walk' with the wise is to willingly reject the fool's path. Walking with someone is a predetermined, cognitive act, that moves you in a certain direction. It isn't just 'knowing' the wise, or once in a while heading in the same direction as the wise; NO, it's much more intentional, much more decisive, much more engaging, and much more formative. It's doing life with the wise, and letting the wise shape your life.

A companion of fools is easy to spot. He's the guys who mopes around aimlessly in life while the wise move toward a vision of where they want to be. The fool is seldom called upon to accomplish anything because no one, except maybe his mother, believes he can do much of anything based on his track record. He's the guy who quits every job he has because he believes his boss is picking on him. The guy who refuses to join the military because he hears stories about how hard boot camp is and that he can't play video games there. The guy who's only looking for a date, not a wife, and only pursues girls who's dad isn't the protector he's called to be in her life. The fool thinks life should be easy, where as the wise understand the fall of man and the duty of man toward God to bring order out of chaos in a fallen world.

The fool says little in life of any substance. He holds no place of honor in the systems of government God has established for humanity to live and function under. He's the guy who says "let's eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we shall die." The wise "eat, drink and are merry" as well (1 Cor. 10:31), but for much different reasons. In 1 Corinthians 15: 33-34, Paul says,

"Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."

Are duty as men toward God is to pursue wisdom with all our heart. And our duty as fathers and parents is to raise sons and daughters who pursue wisdom with all their heart. The trumpet has sounded and the King awaits your service....

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith,

act like men, be strong."

-1 Corinthians 16:13

"The 60 Day Juice Fast" Official Launch and Huge Give-A-Way!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:09:00 +0000

I've been a little silent lately on the blog because I've spent the past two months writing, editing, and publishing my new eBook, "The 60 Day Juice Fast," which shares my journey and helps others pursuing good health in the way of juice fasting.

To celebrate today's official launch, my wife is hosting a HUGE give-a-way over at her blog, "A Wise Woman Builds Her Home." We're giving away well over $100.00 worth of good, quality products that will benefit your entire family, so be sure to go over and enter. Entering is easy, takes only a moment, and makes you eligible for the BIG prize. A full list of products included in the give-a-way are can be seen here.

The eBook is available at Amazon for your Kindle readers, or as a PDF download for any device that reads PDF documents. Same great price of only $2.99 for both!

Purchase from Amazon

Or As A PDF download

Here's a trailer for the eBook to give you an idea of what to expect!

A very special thanks to my wife, June, for all her hard work in helping me see this day come to a reality!

Fathers and Daughters Out for the Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:55:00 +0000

On Monday, April 16, 2012, I had the honor of escorting my three beautiful daughters to a Father/Daughter banquet in Homer Glen, Il. that was hosted by Christian Heritage Church of Orland Park. This was the third year they've hosted it, and it just keeps getting better every year.

The guest speaker was, Todd Wilson, of Familyman Ministries. He spoke about what it takes to turn the hearts of fathers and daughters back to one another. His message was simple, straight forward, and touching.

The night began with a lovely five course meal, followed by some fun games where a handful of daughters had to help dad get ready for work and gift wrap their dads to show what a gift he was. Todd then spoke over dessert, and the night concluded with fathers and daughters having an opportunity to dance a waltz together, and as a group we danced the Gay Gordon and Virginia Reel.

All in all it was a fabulous evening, and one that every daughter should have the opportunity to experience with her dad. If nothing like this exists where you live, perhaps the men from your church could pull together and host one in your region.

To see more photos and read more about the event click here.

Here's a few more pics from the night!

We all fit at one table!

Friends and family (L-R) Herb, Vince, Me, Tony

Our table

Me showing everyone how to dance!

My daughter, Naomi!

Aerial shot of the banquet hall!

My friend, Herb being Gift wrapped by his daughters!

My daughter, Joy!


Me and my daughter, Janai, enjoying a waltz!


My friend, Tony, getting help from his daughters to go to work!

Happy Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:49:00 +0000

From my family, to yours, we want to wish everyone out there a very Happy Easter Sunday, and we pray that the power of the resurrection touches you mightily on this day that the world recognizes the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Don't Grow Weary...

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:25:00 +0000

An encouraging word to parents in our 3rd video blog. Happy Palm Sunday to everyone, and hope you all have a wonderful and safe Holy Week!

Our Children's Reputations

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:18:00 +0000

I recently started Vlogging in the hopes of being able to interact with you, my readers, more. I'm new at this, so it will take some time to work out the kinks, and improve upon my skills. My wife and other lady friends have already said I need to smile more, so I'll keep that in mind! :-)

Share your thoughts, and let me know what you think. Also, if you have any ideas on a topic you'd like me to cover, or have a question you'd like me to answer as a Vlog, please let me know. Thanks, and God Bless...

(If you'd like to receive new videos as I release them, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking here!

The Male Domain's YouTube Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 06:56:00 +0000

I've been wanting to Vlog for quite some time, and finally made my desires a reality. (For those unfamiliar, the word 'Vlog' is short or 'Video Log' just like 'Blog' is short for 'Web Log.) I posted my Inaugural Vlog recently and hope to post up a Vlog about once a week or so.

My first one is an introductory post and is a bit longer than I wanted, and will be sure to shorten them in the future. I hope to Vlog about various topics and will be looking for ideas to tackle from you, my readers. So if you have some thoughts on topics, let me know.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel and will get new videos as they get released, by visiting us at The Male Domain's YouTube Channel. Thanks, you all, and be blessed!

PS --There's a little box in bottom right hand corner of our side bar that will show our newest video postings as well!

The Result of NOT Fathering Your Sons

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:10:00 +0000

6 year old, Aliyah Shell, pictured above.

This past weekend saw 49 people get shot, with 10 fatalities, in the city of Chicago, where I grew up. One of the victims who died was a 6 year old little girl named, Aliyah Shell, who was shot while sitting with her mother on the front porch of their home, as her mom brushed her hair while they prepared to attend a birthday party on a warm, sunny afternoon.

Read the article here.

The reason this post is entitled, "The Result of NOT Fathering Your Sons," is because these shootings, as with most violent crimes, were perpetrated by young men with no fear of God, and no measure of self control, which fathers, like myself, are commanded to instill in their sons when they're growing up. When boys are allowed to grow up without men teaching them what manhood is all about, we end up with weekends like this one. The two young men who shot and KILLED this innocent little girl are 18 and 16 years old, who's lives are now forever changed, like Aliyah's.

I have a hard time believing that these two young men have hard working fathers who spend lots of time with them living at home. If that turns out to be the case, I will be very surprised. More often than not, young men who commit crimes like this are being raised by single moms, who are doing what they can to pay the bills and keep food on the table, while the men who fathered the boys, are out doing their own thing. I grew up in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, so I know what I'm talking about. But not for the grace of God, I would have been one these young men.

Having said that, I really wouldn't have a problem with the fathers of young men who commit crimes like this being held responsible in some fashion. True, the fathers didn't pull the trigger of the gun that killed Aliyah, but neither did they train the hearts of the boys who did, and for that, I say, hold them responsible.

Now the Chicago Police Department is scrambling as they look for ways to combat violent crime in Chicago, so that the citizens there can feel safe, when the only answer needed is found in the world's most bought and read book in human history, the Bible. One verse we can start with is Ephesians 6:4, which reads;

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Or how about Psalm 78:5, which says,

"He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,"

And if we're man enough to read on, Deuteronomy 21: 18-21 says this to fathers of rebellious sons:

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Now, will sin reign in the hearts of some sons, even though they've been brought up and disciplined by Godly men, yes...

Are men responsible for their own actions in the sight of the LORD, yes...

Can the violence we see in our culture being thrust upon society, in large part, by men, be GREATLY reduced, yes it can...

This little girl didn't have to die in the arms of her mother, who had dreams and goals for her little gift from God, the way that she did. The two young men who killed Aliyah will pay for their crime, in this life and the next, apart from faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sin, and as a society, we long for justice. But what about their fathers? Are they around? Are they alive? Do they even know what their sons did???

In Revelation 21:5, Jesus said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And to that, I say, Amen.

As men, we must embrace our roles in society and do our duty to the LORD. He has commanded us to disciple our children, to love our wives, and to work hard. With a quick glance at culture, it doesn't take long to see how men have completely abandoned what they were created for, and wear their refusal to be a man as a badge of honor. LORD help us.

As you go through your day, keep Aliyah's family in your prayers, as well as the city of Chicago. I have family that live there, know men ministering there, and believe God can do amazing things there.

May every man do his duty...

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**If you're able to help with the $8,000.00 funeral cost, please visit my wife's blog where she's collecting money to give to the family. This little girl was best friends with my friends young daughter in kindergarten, so this story is very disturbing on several fronts. If you can't help financially, please pray as you remember to. Thanks, and God Bless...

CAPTIVATED: Finding Freedom in A Media Captivated Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:43:00 +0000

A few nights ago, my family gathered together for movie night, and watched a new movie that came out a few months ago entitled Captivated: Finding Freedom in a Media Captive Culture. It was a blessing to watch and very informative. I know that it can be hard to find good quality movies to watch in your home, but this is one I highly recommend and will spark wonderful discussion with your children afterwards. Here is a peek at the trailer:

The description:

Everywhere we go we are surrounded by screens. Have we entered a techno utopia or a virtual prison? Should we be unreservedly celebrating or cautiously analyzing? Has social media given us richer, fuller friendships, or have our relationships become robotized? What should we expect from the next generation, when the average American child has over fifty-three hours of screen time a week?

Discover answers to these questions and more from church leaders, media experts, and inspiring individuals and families from across America, and learn how God’s Word addresses the unique media challenges which our captivated culture must face.

One of the strongest points of this movie is that they had teenagers, dads, and women personally speak out about their addiction to media and how they overcame their circumstances. My children were impressed, encouraged and challenged by speakers such as Ray Comfort, Kevin Swanson, KP Yohannan, and other godly men in the movie. This is a wonderful movie for family movie night!

You can get this powerful movie here now on sale for 10% off.

Or at Amazon HERE.

Also, my wife is trying to save people money when they purchase items from Vision Forum by using this coupon code. Check it out!
LAST DAY to save $15 off a $50 order at Vision Forum!

Here's To Good Health!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Stacy Kennedy wrote a nice piece on the importance of men living a healthy lifestyle. From eating right, to getting enough exercise, it pays to get healthy. Her article can be read on the Reboot Your Life website by clicking here. Have a great weekend!

Lessons Learned From My 60 Day Juice Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:47:00 +0000


November 2011 ------------------------------------ March 2012

I recently concluded a 60 day juice fast, and wanted to share briefly, a few lessons I learned during my journey. I originally set out to do 30 days, but during that time watched the documentary, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," by Joe Cross, on Netflix and was inspired to extend it to 60.

What I learned:

God's design for the human body is incredibly resilient. (Your body knows how to take care of itself if given the chance to.)
You don't NEED food to live on, you NEED nutrients.
When allowed to repair itself, your body's an amazing physician. (Your body will burn fat, repair cells, detoxify itself, and slim down evenly through the process.)
Years of neglect can be undone in a short matter of time.
Juicing fruits and vegetables is fun, and can be a family endeavor.
Getting healthy is contagious. (During my fast, I put out a "10 for 10" challenge on this blog, and got about 12 people who took me up on it. As well, three of my children also fasted, my 9 year old son and 15 year old daughter fasted for 3 days, and my 19 year old daughter fasted for 10 days. As well, my wife also fasted several meals during that time!)
The Lord will give you strength to accomplish what you don't think you can do.
Food should be appreciated, not taken for granted.
There's an entire community of people out there fasting and trying to get healthy. (The fan page for the movie has over 113,000 fans!
Complete strangers will get behind you and encourage you toward your goal.
Everywhere I went smelled like food.
Your body will respond to your mind's decision.
It's totally worth it.
God is good!

It was quite an adventure, and took me down many roads. I spent several outings with my wife and friends in restaurants and diners, and really wasn't tempted much. For those interested in the numbers, here they are:

Total weight loss - about 65 pounds.
Waist - from size 48 to 42/44.
Abdomen - lost about 8-9 inches around.

My goal now is to keep the weight off by eating much healthier. I will continue to juice in the mornings for my essential green needs, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Am I going completely green, or vegan, no I'm not. But I won't be eating meat like I used to either.

I look at it this way; if most of my meals are healthy, then on Sundays, when my church has their delicious potlucks of meat and desserts, or when my wife and I go out for lunch or dinners, I'll have the freedom to indulge a bit without feeling guilty. I plan to make plenty of my own salads for lunch and will begin a good exercise program as well. And oh yeah, I will fast again. I'm even thinking about the next 60 day fast---seriously. You with me on this one???

So here's to good health my friends. Take care of yourselves out there, and If I can help in any way, please contact me and I would consider it an honor to offer my input!

Living in the Good of the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:55:00 +0000


From the movie, "Passion of the Christ"

This past Sunday, March 4, 2012, I had the honor of preaching at New Hope Christian Fellowship, a church I'm helping to plant in Northwest Indiana, and I preached from John 8. The story is well known among Christians, and was powerfully portrayed in Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ."

My message was titled, "Living in the Good of the Gospel," and I encouraged everyone to always remember a few things that would help them do this. Among them are:

Never take your salvation for granted. (We all deserved death, but received life.)
Remember who we were without Christ, and rejoice in who we are with Him!
Like the woman in John 8, when rightfully condemned, we were allowed to walk away clean, redeemed, and forgiven.
All have sinned in some fashion. (Romans 3)
All sin is deserving of death. (Romans 6)
We received mercy, grace, and salvation so others may do the same.

My hope and prayer for you as well, is that you'll take some time today to reflect on the goodness of the gospel, and how undeserving anyone is to receive God's mercy, but have. God wants His children to know they've been redeemed and set free. He wants us to know as well, that when we sin, He's prescribed how it should be handled in 1 John 1, namely-- confession.

If you've stared death in the face, and have lived to tell about it, thank the Good Lord above for His amazing grace. Living in the Good of the Gospel is a state of mind and an attitude of the heart. How you doing with it?

Christian Tatoo Artists

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

(From the Archives of The Coloseum)

This is Seattle tattoo artist and shop owner Damon Conklin. Scary dude, right? Think again.
He's an evangelical Christian who uses tattoos as a form of religious expression.

Christian tattoo shops are gaining a lot momentum these days. Some of the artwork being done is fantastic. But not all would agree that tattoos on Christians is OK, right?

So I'm asking what you think.

Should Christians get tattoos?

Is any scripture violated by getting them?

What message is sent by Christians who get them or have them?

To read the full article on the tattoo artist above click here! I could be wrong, but I believe he goes to Mars Hill.

Apostolic Gifts...Alive or Dead?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Do you believe the Apostolic Gifts ceased with the Apostles, or might they still be alive and well in today's world? Are the gifts of Miracles, Healing, Tongues, etc., still flowing to and through Christians today? Just curious about what you believe....

Man's Role in Marital Communication

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:27:00 +0000

I think we'll all agree that communication in marriage is a main ingredient for a successful marriage, but guys, have you ever stopped and thought about how easy our part is? I mean seriously, it struck me the other day while out on a lunch date with my lovely wife. She spoke and I listened. I listened to her share her thoughts and ideas, her concerns and questions, and her excitement about the future while she works on some new eBook ideas. And what did I do --I listened. Oh yeah, I inserted the occasional, well timed, "uh huh," and "oh really." I also threw in a few, "that's great," and one that most men do well, the big ol "Wow."

So there it is. After 20 years of marriage, I finally got the communication thing down pretty well. Our lunch date ended with my wife feeling happy she got to share everything on her mind for a few hours, and I got to listen to her share. Most guys can do this with some effort, and it isn't too far from grunting, so you don't feel feminine doing it either. So give it a shot, guys, insert a few strategically placed words during a lengthy conversation your wife is having.......with you, and watch how happy she'll be knowing that you love her.

Happy communicating!

Starting the "10 for 10" Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Good morning, Juice Heads! (name commonly used for weird people who juice their own fruits and veggies)

Today's day 1 of our 10 day Juice fast challenge. To bring you up to speed, the next 10 days are the last 10 days for my 60 day juice fast, and I'm super excited to have you joining me on this journey toward better health.

There are some of you who've never juiced before, while others, have juiced for up to 40 days or longer. The key to juicing, that I've found, is to stay focused on your mission. When you fast, you feel like an outsider in society, because everywhere you go, there it is, FOOD. So remember, you have a goal of better health. Losing weight, feeling better, detoxing your body, and improving your quality of life are just a few of the benefits you're going to experience over the next 10 days, so keep that in mind!

So who's on the juice fast with us? Here's who I know for sure are doing some form of fasting over the next 10 days, so please encourage one another, pray for one another, and know you're not alone. Fasting with us are:

Mike
Al
Susie
Janai
Steve
Rhonda
Maury
Tony
Mignon
Arabah
Cocosmommie..... (Blogger profile name....I think!)
June
Ravi

Congratulations to each and every one of you for your decision to take this vital step toward better health!

Where to go for information about fasting, recipes, etc.: Reboot Your Life

Movie to watch for motivation, inspiration, and encouragement: "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead"
(Available on Netflix, or you can rent on Amazon.com and stream!)

What to expect when you fast....

Day 1 - Weird.... You're not doing what you've done every day of your life for as long as you remember. You'll feel a little cut off from the world, and you might even wonder if it's worth it. Also, you may feel nauseous, light headed, lethargic, and maybe have a headache if you're coffee drinker. Don't worry, all this is normal and it's actually a GOOD sign. It means your body had begun to detoxify itself, and clears up around day 3 or 4 for most people.
Day 2 - Weirder.... You're still not doing what you're used to and your body doesn't like it! But hang it there, the end result is well worth the momentary discomfort. You might wonder if you can make it without eating. You, or people around you, might question your sanity for not eating. Good hearted and well intentioned people might tell you that you have to eat food. Trust me, if you're not on prescription medication, you don't!
Day 3 - Not as bad as the first two. You're growing more confident in your ability to do this, and your body's beginning to understand what your telling it. You and your juicer have been getting to know each other and now the relationship seems more natural.
Day 4 - A day of breakthrough! You'll notice some slight changes in your body. Your pants are just a tad looser, you've probably dropped about 4-5 pounds, and you notice your skin getting tighter. The symptoms experienced in the fist two days are usually gone, and you're starting to have better focus and more energy. See, I told you it would get better!
Day 5- You're on a roll and no one's stopping you. If you're juicing enough, and the right stuff, you shouldn't be hungry. By this time, the flood of micro-nutrients your body's ingesting are beginning to reverse the years of bad eating and you're starting to rebuild your body from the inside out!
Day 6-10 - Much like day 5. The weight really starts falling off and your clothes fits much nicer. You look in the mirror and like what you see. Your energy level is up and you find yourself getting more accomplished each day. You might even begin telling others that they should fast!

Tips for a successful juice fast:

Drink plenty of fresh juice. Typically, I drink about 50-60 ounces of fruit and vegetable juice a day, along with about a 1/2 gallon of water.
Find a good GREEN juice you like and drink it daily. Your body needs the nutrients found in green juice. The Reboot Your Life website mentioned above has plenty of good recipes for you to try. My staple Green drink is:

1/2 bunch kale
1/2 bunch spinach
1/2 bunch turnip greens
1/2 bunch dandelion
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks
2 tomatoes
1 lemon
1 lime (peeled)
1" size piece of ginger
And I like to throw in about 10-12 strands of cilantro

(Try and use at least two - three of the greens mentioned above, which are the first four items.)
This recipe will yield me my full days' supply of nutrients, and the reason I make it all at once is because I can't juice at work, so I juice at home, and take it with me!)

For Breakfast, I like to have any the following items:

1 pineapple (peeled of course)
4-5 apples (green or red, or both together)
8 kiwis
3 apples and 4 carrots

I hope this information helps, and my hope for you during your fast is for you begin the process of moving toward better health. It isn't easy, but it sure is worth it. Juice on!

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Be sure and let us know how things are going for you during your fast. You can leave comments here, or you can write on the wall of The Male Domain at our Facebook fan page. Either way you choose, just let us know how you're doing!

One Day Til the Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:05:00 +0000

You still have time to join me on my "10 for 10" challenge. We'll start tomorrow, Monday, February 20th, and end on Thursday, March 1st.

Start what you're asking - a ten day juice fast! Read my previous post to learn about it and see a trailer for a documentary on Netflix that's been a huge blessing to me!

I'll post again this evening with a list of everyone who's doing the fast so we can encourage one another on the journey to better health!

My "10 for 10" Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I haven't written about it, but I've been on a juice fast for the past 46 days, and plan on doing 60. I started out with 30 days in mind, but around 24 days into it, I decided to watch the documentary, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" on Netflix, and was motivated to go for 60. If you have Netflix, I HIGHLY recommend you watch that movie. It's tremendous!

So far I've lost about 55 pounds, went from 48-44 on my pant waist, and feel great. I have a lot more energy throughout the day and haven't felt this agile in a long time. My 10 year old son, Ravi, saw me come out the bathroom with no shirt and said I have a "six pack." He may need glasses, but I'll take it!

So, about my "10 for 10" challenge. I'm looking for 10 people to join me on my journey to good health and do a 10 day juice fast with me. The dates are from February 20 - March 1. These are the last 10 days of my 60 day fast, and would love to end my journey with you partnering with me. We can all break our fasts together on the morning of March 1st!

If you've never fasted before, visit the website, Reboot Your Life, which was founded by the creator of the documentary mentioned above. There's loads of great information for you to read and learn more about fasting and moving toward better health.

So whether you're a seasoned faster, or first timer, would you please consider joining me on this journey. The Lord describes us as 'mind, body, soul and spirit' and I believe He desires for all these areas to be as healthy as possible. Let me know if you're in via an email, or 'Friend' me on Facebook. God Bless and Juice On!

Here's the trailer for the documentary, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," which can be seen on Netflix, or rented on Amazon for $2.99!

The Essence of Masculinity

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:42:00 +0000

Boys Will Be Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I have five boys, so let's just say I know a thing or two about how boys act on their road to manhood. Besides having five sons, I have two older brothers, and we were no different growing up either. Boys have a need to express themselves in masculine ways, and a good parent won't try to beat that out of them, or steer them toward expressing themselves like their sisters. A bloody nose is good medicine for the road ahead.

The goal of raising sons is to prepare them to be leaders one day. Whether that's in the form of husband, father, business owner, elder or deacon, we need to teach our boys that life isn't always fair and that sometimes they may need to fight for what is right. To shield your boy from the pain of life is to render him damaged for the the future. Momma won't always be there, and they should learn early on that Momma doesn't always have to be there.

Recently my boys have had some minor tussles with other boys from the neighborhood, and like good sports, after the dust settled, they shook hands and put it behind them. By no means do I want to raise bullies who seek blood for no good reason, but on the other hand, neither do I want to raise cowards who go running away when life gets a little tough. There's a time to talk, and a time to fight; a time to stand fast, and a time to retreat; and our goal as parents is to teach our boys when those times are.

Conquering A City In 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Here we are fellas, a few days past Christmas and a new year on the horizon. If you're like me, your scrambling through the files of your mind trying to decide what needs to change next year and what went well this year. Most of us make New Year's resolutions at the beginning of each year and hope that we'll see them come-to-pass. There are many areas of my life that I know the Lord would like me to improve upon next year, and by His grace they will be different come December of 2012.

I'm wondering if you'd like to join me on a quest to improve the quality of life for yourself and for your family in the coming year. I know that by making my desires public, I open myself up for public inquisition at any time. Maybe that's a good thing. Men need to be challenged in all areas of their life, like the kings of Israel and the Prophets who helped guide them. The first king who didn't have his own prophet ended up allowing his passions to run wild and it led to much sin and heartache. I'm speaking of Solomon, who as and old man wrote about the meaninglessness of everything life had to offer expect obedience to God.

So if you're willing to join me in setting out to conquer the city that's known by your name, send me an email or post a comment on this blog.

Below is a list of some areas of life that I'd like to improve upon next year and some areas that I know other Men struggle with and need to conquer if they're to truly excel in their walks with the Lord and in the leadership of themselves and their families:

Prayer life

Study of God's word

Family devotions with wife and children

Finances (budgeting, debt elimination, saving, etc. I know this is a major one for many men, and if I could, I'd like to recommend a book that's easy to read, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.)

Marital oneness (Connecting with our wives at a heart level on a daily basis. Not sure how to, just ask your wife.)

Sexual purity (Another big issue, if not THE issue, that has crippled the power of men in the church. Whether it's adulterous relationships, masturbation, pornography, fornication, or any other sexual sin--until we as men get control over our God-given desires and steer them in the right direction, we will lack the power to serve that comes through purity. Let's put this sin to death, men!)

Family ministry endeavors (What can your family do as ministry to others in 2012? Whether it's serving in a homeless shelter, nursing home, soup kitchen, or caring for the elderly in your neighborhood, find something you can do together and do it!)

Discipleship of children (I'm talking about intentional discipleship here, not just what comes by living with you.)

Home improvements (the condition of our homes is a reflection of our lives and a message to our wives.)

Fasting and prayer (I'm beginning the year with a 30 day season of fasting and prayer that I'd love for some men to join me on. I'll go from 1/2/12 - 1/31/12. Let me know if your interested. You can do 1 day a week, 10 days, 20, or all 40. You decide and stick to it.)

Diet and exercise (For too many of us, the question isn't whether or not we need to lose weight, the question is, how much weight do we need to lose? I want to see my grand-kids, so I know that this is gravely important.)

Knowledge expansion (What I mean here is how are you continually developing your mind? Did you read any good books this year? What do you plan to read next year? I would challenge you to read a minimum of 6 books next year. That's only 1 book every two months. Some of you who read well and more quickly should read 12 books, one per month. Read in diverse areas as well. If you need suggestions, let me know.)

Church Life (The Lord opened the door for my family to team up with several other tremendous families to start a family integrated church in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland area, and with the basic structures put in place in 2011, we're believing 2012 will be a year of blessing and growth if we honor the Lord and follow where He leads. So I'll be praying and fasting for our new Church, New Hope Christian Fellowship, and would cherish your prayers for us as well. And, if you might be interested in visiting us, we'd be honored to have you as our guest!)

These are just some of the things that I've been thinking through for myself and for other men close to me. This is not an exhaustive list of areas that need addressing by men, it's just meant to get you thinking about next year. Consider it and send me your thoughts.

And oh yeah...Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Merry Christmas to all friends of The Male Domain

from the Fuentes Family! (not pictured above)

2011 is almost done, and we look forward with
great anticipation to 2012!

Lord Bless You...

Single Christian Ladies and the Men Who Need to Marry Them

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

There's an epidemic in the church today of twenty-something year old young ladies who've never been courted, or have been asked for their hand in marriage, and this ought not be the case.

We need to train, and re-train, the young men in the church today in the art of taking a wife, and we dads, need to raise our young boys in such a way that will enable them to actively, and aggressively, pursue a young lady for the purpose of courtship and marriage. The family helps to ensure the future of the church, and a good, Godly family is an exceptional witness of the grace of God to a non-believing world.

Bible colleges and churches are filled with beautiful, intelligent, Godly gals, who are just waiting to be pursued by a strong, masculine young man with a compelling vision for his future family. While they're waiting, many young ladies are going all the way through college and beyond, and rather than wait any longer, they may opt for the mission field, pursue a career, or perhaps even settle for a "non-believer" because he simply pursued her. This is shameful, and a blight on unmarried Christian men. We must protect the daughters of God, and one way of protecting them is by marrying them!

I have a good friend who had fallen victim of the "de-fanging" that occurs to many young men once they become a Christian. They're told so often that those beautifully attractive young ladies are their sisters, and that Christians don't do things like non-Christians, and they should never do anything that might "mess up" the relationship if things don't work out, that they end up just observing them, and going to single events with them, until one day they see those ladies move away, go to another church, or marry someone they've settle for, and spend the rest of their lives with someone who doesn't have the kind of vision they always hoped their husband would've had. This occurs far too often, and it doesn't have to be this way. The problem with de-fanging the young men, is that, well, they're still men, with the same hormones, same desires, and same need of a Godly companion.

The rare exception to this would be those who God supernaturally calls to be single for their entire lives, for a very specific purpose that He's ordained. This is rare, but does occur. Unfortunately, the church is full of men who haven't been called to singleness, but haven't been equipped for marriage either. I hope to help change this!

The friend I spoke of was able to regain his "God-given aggressiveness" before it was too late, and went out and pursued the girl he wanted, and today they're happily married serving the LORD together in ministry. Him and I had some good talks about what steps he needed to take to see this come about, and I'll be sharing some of those thoughts in the next several posts.