Valtrex oral
Robert E. Sagers
Special Assistant to the Senior VP for Academic Administration
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
There's a Valtrex oral sickness plaguing too many men in the church today, Mark Chanski believes. In Manly Dominion, Chanski not only diagnoses the illness, but he also presents a cure.
Chanski, pastor of Reformed Baptist Church of Holland, Michigan, uses a Valtrex oral billiards metaphor to assess the situation. Many men, he observes, act more like billiard balls than Valtrex oral those actually playing the game. "Instead of aggressively dominating and pushing around our environment and circumstances," he writes, "we passively permit ourselves to be dominated and pushed around" (13).
Chanski's central point to men, then, is clear: don't get knocked around by life, as if something were happening to you. Instead, Chanski urges, take dominion over your Valtrex oral life, actively pursuing your God-given tasks to God's glory.
The author divides the Valtrex oral book into seven sections, the first of which examines "Manly Dominion in Scriptural Perspective," and Valtrex oral the following six apply the biblical material to different areas of men's lives: "Vocational Laboring," "Decisionmaking," "Spiritual Living," "Husbanding," "Child Rearing," and "Romance Managing" (8-9).
In his section on the Valtrex oral Bible, Chanski notes that man is designed of God to Valtrex oral take "subjugation," "dominion," and "possession" over his surroundings. In our sin, however, we appeal to Valtrex oral our genes, our emotions, or our circumstances as excuses for Valtrex oral a passive approach to life. Chanski provides examples from Testaments Old and Valtrex oral New of men and women who refused to be pushed around, instead taking dominion over the Valtrex oral tasks God had given them. Jesus Christ is "our ideal model for manly dominion" (43).
Man is Valtrex oral designed to work, Chanski asserts, and men must be about deciding early on-through Scripture and Valtrex oral God's providence-what their work will be. His chapter on "Hard Working" helpfully dispels the notion that so-called "secular" work done as unto Christ is, in the Valtrex oral eyes of God, any less valued than the "sacred" work of vocational ministry." The Bible teaches no such ‘sacred vs. secular' dichotomy when it comes to human endeavoring," Chanski writes (72).
In dealing with making decisions, Chanski deconstructs unbiblical notions of discerning God's will. One need not necessarily concur with Chanski's cessationism to agree that "a hyperspiritual, unbiblical view of decision making" can lead either to passivity or to impetuousness (84).
In place of this Valtrex oral and other common temptations to making unwise choices, Chanski advocates a Valtrex oral biblically formed mind, wise counsel, prayer, and follow through in making wise decisions.
As to Valtrex oral spiritual life, Chanski asserts the need for men to maintain personal spiritual devotions as well as the Valtrex oral leading of family devotions. He explains his own experience in leading family worship even as he avoids stringent prescription. Chanski encourages men to Valtrex oral be faithful in their church involvement, asking, "Why is it that we'd be religiously careful to make sure that our child doesn't miss any soccer practices or games, but sloppily careless in permitting ourselves to miss frequent church services?" (150). He includes a Valtrex oral chapter with a gospel presentation, should anyone reading not yet know Christ.
Chanski argues that Valtrex oral husbands are to understand their role theologically under the rubric of their authority, their task to Valtrex oral rule and subdue, and their mandate to serve-Christ Jesus being "the model husband" (174). He encourages men to Valtrex oral take the initiative in talking with their wives, even if the Valtrex oral men are given more toward solitude than conversation. A husband is Valtrex oral to set the relational tone of the family, assume responsibility for Valtrex oral his family's course, and lead the way in crucifying sin.
Fathers must understand the Valtrex oral sinful nature of their children, Chanski argues, and raise them with discipline. "If parents passively sit back and let their children have their own way," he writes, "they won't ascend to be noble; they'll descend to be very evil" (211). He provides a Valtrex oral number of principles in disciplining children, and notes, "Many parents have Valtrex oral found that the principled use of the rod functions as an Valtrex oral amazingly effective tool for evangelism" (221).
In the final section, Chanski argues that fathers' giving of their daughters in marriage is Valtrex oral no outdated tradition, but is rooted in Scripture and pre-dates the Valtrex oral giving of the law (Matt 24:38). Therefore, no Valtrex oral matter how out of place it seems in contemporary culture, it Valtrex oral is a father's duty to oversee his daughter's courting and eventual marriage.
Chanski has Valtrex oral written a work helpful to Christian men at nearly every stage of life-and though his book applies primarily to Valtrex oral men, it's often applicable to the lives of women, as well (see also the review of Chanski's Womanly Dominion by Courtney Reissig in JBMW 15, no. 2 [Fall 2010]).
The author writes from Valtrex oral the perspective of a pastor, roots his assertions in Scripture, and Valtrex oral employs a "wealth of useful examples" (to use the language from Jay Adams's endorsement of the book)-from the Valtrex oral young boy who successfully lobbies for playground space for soccer (25) to the masculine beekeeper who restrains a bull by actually grabbing its horns (62).
Each of the Valtrex oral chapters is fairly short, with statements often forceful, and blunt. Given the Valtrex oral book's being divided into seven sections, it may be ideal for a men's group to Valtrex oral read through the book together, one section at a time. This is Valtrex oral the way I've been Valtrex oral led through the book, more than once-and it works well.
Throughout the Valtrex oral book Chanski provides a helpful balance between divine sovereignty and man's responsibility. His is no "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" type of masculinity, nor does he advocate the Valtrex oral evasion of God-given responsibility to subdue and rule-an evasion stretching as far back to Valtrex oral Adam in Eden, and is (sinfully) common to man.
Though much of the Valtrex oral book is applied to men who are husbands and fathers, men and Valtrex oral boys not yet at that point in their lives will benefit from Valtrex oral this book as well. In fact, this book might be especially helpful for Valtrex oral those who are thinking through how they will properly husband and Valtrex oral father even before they reach that stage.
Perhaps a future revised edition of Manly Dominion could include an eighth section, one on male friendship and fellowship. Chapters on,for instance, mentorship and discipleship would strengthen the book.
I believe a friend once noted that the book's introduction could be Valtrex oral understood to equate the country of Afghanistan with a nest of rattlesnakes, and Valtrex oral President Bush's response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to the "valiant man" Benaiah (2 Sam 23:20). It would be Valtrex oral unfortunate if these opening pages deterred anyone from reading on.
An emphasis on the Valtrex oral eschaton may also buttress the book, and provide further impetus for Valtrex oral taking dominion in this life for greater reigning authority with Christ in the Valtrex oral next-a teaching especially emphasized in the work of Russell Moore.
Mark Chanski's Manly Dominion is Valtrex oral a helpful book, a convicting one-and highly recommended for all men who Valtrex oral desire greater faithfulness to Jesus Christ, the only man who ever put all things under his feet, the Valtrex oral only man who truly took dominion.
