Over the past decade or so, I've heard a lot of nonsense about what it means to be a Christian man.

One Texan I know argues that a Christian man ought to be taught to use guns and to hunt. I'm not clear on the connection between hunting and knowing God, but he certainly thinks there is one. Others continue to chew on the matter of male versus female dominance in the household, how much emotion a man ought to display in public or before his loved ones, and what jobs are appropriate for men.

It never ends. The other day, while browsing through a local bookstore, I overheard two young men talking. One of them held a book. The other said, "Man, you can't buy that. It's not a man's book."

For what it may be worth, I think a Christian man ought to set his sight on three goals.

Practice personal prayer--Some men will learn to pray public prayers, some will not. Some men will become wonderful prayer partners with their spouses and even children, while others may find it impossible to relax their guard enough. All Christian men, though, can and should embrace the discipline of private prayer. The Apostle Paul, who urges us to pray without ceasing, is our role model.

Look for and seize opportunities to help others--Model yourself on James, who taught that faith without works is dead. He had fairly specific works in mind: feeding the hungry, caring for the weak or helpless, taking in the stranger or the outcast. Very few men in American society do so. We're way too busy with careers, hobbies, and sports. Christian men dare to do things not encouraged by our surrounding culture. If you want to follow Christ well, follow James' lead.

Take time to spend time with Jesus. The Apostle John serves as the role model. He hung on every word of Jesus, stuck close to Jesus, and thought deeply about what he saw and head. As a result, John may well have become the apostle most like Jesus. Christian men are not afraid to spend time with Jesus. Regular public and private worship are important to us. Reading the scriptures, especially the Gospels, is part of our daily life. Thinking about the words and deeds of Jesus, spending time in the presence of the Risen Lord--it's what we do. We do these things that we might grow to be more nearly like Jesus.

If a Christian man will follow these three disciplines, all other things fall into place. Try it for six months (about as long as it takes for a revised diet and moderate exercise to improve your health). Don't be surprised if at the end of the trial period, you look in the mirror and see a Christian man staring back at you.