As we took our evening walk around the neighborhood, I heard laughter from the backyard of one home as we passed by. Peering through the slats as we walked by, I could see a dozen or more people our age hanging out at a pool, having a Saturday night party/hangout. I remembered the times when I went to pool parties and other social happenings before I was married. I had no ties, so I could pick up and go anytime I wanted. Granted, I came home alone every night as well, so it’s not like the freedom to roam was that wonderful.

Still, when day after day is spoken for, and about the only spontaneous thing you can do is to choose what toy to next play with your child, the freedom of days past has a certain allure.

Every parent should have time away. It should be built into our lives along with every other necessity. Becoming a parent doesn’t change your core personal needs, like privacy, silence, and time to reflect. We each have our own unique needs, and we need to make sure they are met. Whatever it takes to recharge your batteries, don’t pass up the opportunity to make it happen.

Our families benefit most from our presence and our involvement when we have the most to give. Would you rather spend four hours with someone who is tired and used up? Or would you rather have two hours with someone who is refreshed and able to enjoy the present?

We live with the sacrifices and choices we made to become married and parents. But we don’t have to punish ourselves needlessly. Find a parent, sibling, friend, or babysitter who can help you take a few hours away to recharge doing whatever it is you need.

Remember, your family needs quality time more than quantity time.

I own a handful of websites and blogs that require regular maintenance and updates. But this site is difficult to update. It requires the most introspection and calm, two things which I have in short supply these days.

One Real Man is a busy man, to be sure. Work, family, sidework, bills, research for the future, reading parenting books, and taking time for self-reflection. Who has the time?

It’s more than that, though. It’s the price of public honesty, regardless of how anonymous it is. I am publicly sharing my thoughts, beliefs, and feelings with you. And you can completely disrespect me or encourage me or say nothing. It’s totally your choice.

I haven’t written much lately, and I’m sorry for that. I know how bad it sucks to visit a site and find the same old content growing legs. I’ll try to do better. But no promises because, let’s be honest, this is not one of my money-making blogs.

There is a song. A sound yet to be heard. Traces of melody and haunting rhythms graze the edges of my consciousness. I am in search of God’s Music.

You’ll recognize it immediately. The air will be charged with energy and the presence of God. You will feel as though you have been translated to another time or place. The moment will instantly be the most gratifying moment you have ever experienced. All of this from the sound of God’s Music.

Spontaneous prophetic worship longs to be God’s Music. You will hear many more attempt to produce the sound. As hungry hearts pursue the physical expression of a supernatural reality.

Days like this, I am overwhelmed by information I cannot process. Fights with my wife, information regarding the imminent U.S. military state, stupid conflict with another person, lack of sleep, bad judgment calls, etc.

I want a redo. Start over from midnight on. Or fast forward to tomorrow. Not smoking makes stress ridiculously difficult to handle. I can’t talk sense into everyone or make them stop behaving like children.

The end is coming. The end is coming soon. In my lifetime. Or immediately after.

i wish i could stop. no i don’t. that would be a lie. i love iTunes. when i’m bored, i surf iTunes, looking for what “other people bought” that might be similar to what i like. it’s a disease. an addiction. a hardcore vice.

my wife hates it. i buy more music than she buys clothes. but i listen to music all day. i need fresh. i need inspiring. i need new.