As a young man growing up through my teens and twenties, I always wanted to know how to get more out of myself and those around me. As an athlete and student in college I wanted to know how to improve my game and prepare for the world of work I would soon face. In my thirties and forties I wanted to know how to be a better husband, how to manage physical and human resources in business and how to contribute to the community in which I lived. In short, I wanted to find out what made men successful in any endeavor. Now, in my fifties I’m searching for answers about future interests but with the advantage of learning two important things from the past. 1) Character is developed in the trenches of life and every one of us must face our challenges and learn from them before we can grow. Although the timing and end results may be different for everyone, character comes from experience (yours or your mentors). 2) A life of character and quality is built by being in right relationship with God and other people, and that takes time, effort, understanding, and humility.

Wisdom, Integrity, and courage are oft cited character buzz words, but what leads a man to express them in his life? In the hope of persuading men to seek a new perspective I offer a deeper look at a few building blocks to character development. I encourage you to seek the truth for yourselves and embrace change where necessary as early in life as possible.

This is by no means an exhaustive look at the character of men, but it is, I believe a good starting point. Over the years these books have given me and continue to give me knowledge, guidance, and support to address the life events that we all face in an effort to be fulfilled. Success in any endeavor requires help. We cannot accomplish goals of worth by ourselves. A key to a life of quality is the ability to examine and understand our own behavior when nobody else is watching. We must also review our motives and relationships with others in order to know our true self, our character. When we identify areas of improvement and decide to act, the character building process begins. So, if you are prepared to see life from a totally different viewpoint, open your eyes and your mind, take in one of the following books, and get ready for the ride of your life.

In no particular order with the exception of the first, I have listed the book, the author, and what I learned from each one. I offer these works to contribute to our victory over that which binds us. For in fact, the truth will set us free, and oh, what a way that is to live!

The Holy Bible â€" God
What I learned - The character of wisdom is supreme

No other book in the history of man contains more information about character development than the Bible. Clearly, it is the hallmark of all understanding and as such is the primary resource for knowledge about our identity. If you believe that we are made in the image of God, the Holy Bible is the manual about that relationship. Do you want to know who you are? Ask the Author! This book commands our attention and continues to define the most significant character of all â€" the character of God Himself. With a focus to honor its author and its message of salvation through Yeshua (Jesus’ Hebrew name), the Bible is priceless in the development of moral fiber and Godly living. Studying it, applying it and asking myself some very hard questions helps me expose my real character and is changing my life.

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
What I learned - The character of perseverance is measured by our choices

As a survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau, Victor Frankl knew pain, suffering, and adversity in its most tragic form. As an eminent psychologist during World War II and through personal experience, Dr. Frankl’s life and work confirmed to me that God gives us a choice. I was inspired by his struggle to survive under the most horrific conditions, but what blew me away was his conclusion that under any conditions we could respond in a way that would produce an outcome beneficial beyond the present circumstance. He did, and so can we!

As a Man Thinketh - James Allen
What I learned â€" Through faith my character becomes significant

The King James Version of Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:� This sounds so very cliché by now, but this verse and its deeper meaning is rich with the truths of God. As James Allen so poignantly lays out in this classic work we are and become the end product of what we think; what we believe. You might have heard that “nothing begins without a sale.� As true as that seems, the reality is the “thought� of the sale comes first. Everything in life is a manifestation of a thought. What is the focus of your thinking? That is where your energy will go. Are your thoughts good and noble thoughts as the Apostle Paul would say? What do you believe? It’s important to know before you ask any other question! I have learned that if I want to change any facet of my life, I must first change my thoughts.

The Precious Present - Spencer Johnson, M.D.
What I learned - The character of contentment leads to confidence

Dr. Johnson is profound in his writing. Also the author of “Who Moved My Cheese?� this earlier work hit me squarely between the eyes during a season of great striving. Youth has a way of bearing up under stress because of its vitality. As time goes on however, some of our goals get mired in the throws of life’s circumstances and we seem to get stuck in the past or striving for the future. This book does a fantastic job of presenting the value of living in the present moment and the meaning of contentment. This is, of course, another important character quality Paul spoke of in Philippians 4:12. Adopting this character reveals some of the gifts of God and the significance that already exists in my life!

Holiness - God's Plan for Fullness of Life - Henry Blackaby
What I learned - Character derives its power from Humility

Almost every believer, I think, wants to know what God’s plan is for their lives. Our society today is bent on immediate gratification, but does God work that way and what does He expect from us, from me?� Henry Blackaby, author of the well known series, “Experiencing God� answers some of these questions and he touched me with his burden for the people of God. His burden’s impact on us can best be described by one of the authors own prayers. He prayed in part, “Oh God,…I cannot ask You to make Yourself real to me unless I also ask You to do a work of cleansing in my heart and in my mind and in my will…� I am so glad that God will not abandon the work of His hands. Aren’t You? I’ve learned that searching for holiness and submitting to His discipline is often tough, but the reward is great!

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson succinctly describes, I believe, the power of choosing to develop the character of God in our lives, no matter what station we are in, and sums up my encouragement to men of all ages if they want to pursue the change that leads to a significant, meaningful and rewarding life.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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