At Bible study last week, the pastor asked for us to tell what we were thankful for. I raised my hand and said "Men." At the look on his face, I explained. I've never been in a church where so many men were so active. There's a men's coffee hour every week where an increasing number of men meet to talk about life, and the meetings last much longer than an hour. These men have begun discussing favorite passages in the Bible. The interest keeps growing. Sure, we are a church with a lot of retired folks, but some men who still work have changed their work hours so they won't miss that morning coffee.

Also, the men show up early on Sunday morning to pray for the service, for our pastor, and for the families in the church. These men show up. They step up for jobs that I've normally seen shouldered by the women in other churches because there aren't enough men.

We women keep active, as well, but the burden of responsibility doesn't overwhelm us because the men carry a lot of the load. I've never been more impressed by the number of men who are eager to show up, step up, and be counted as servants of Jesus Christ