FirstAdam: A Transparent Podcast for Men

Every decision you make reflects your evaluation of who you are. When you look back at last year, are you happy with the direction of your life? The decisions you made? Are you where you planned to be? As men we have to ask the question: If your life is moving in the direction of your decisions, do you like the direction your decisions are taking you? Most men will look back and think of all the areas in which they are not where they thought they would be. The problem isn't desire, it's decisions. Little decisions daily result is directional change. So ask yourself a question, what direction am I moving? As we look forward to a new we are reminded of Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do,. and he will establish your plans." When your values are clear, your decisions are easier. Join us this episode as we talk about what does it mean to make God decisions, not just good decisions for the new year.

Is it a wonderful life? One of the most popular Christmas movies details the struggle that all men have. Do I make a difference? At the core of every man, he contemplates that question. Does my life matter? Would others be better without me?

In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" George Bailey asks those very questions. But what is really interesting is the actor who played George Baily struggled with those questions. Jimmy Stewart was an accomplished actor, US Army Captain, A combat pilot during the war, and a Princeton University graduate in Architecture. Yet when he returned to the US in August 1945, Stewart was a changed man. He had lost so much weight that he looked sickly. He rarely slept, and when he did he had nightmares of planes exploding and men falling through the air screaming (in one mission alone his unit had lost 13 planes and 130 men, most of whom he knew personally). He was depressed, couldn’t focus, and refused to talk to anyone about his war experiences. His acting career was all but over.

It's a Wonderful Life was a terribly difficult movie for him to make because he was personally dealing with the core plot of the movie. Do I matter? Does my life count for anything?

Join us this episode as we talk about the lies we believe and what stops us from having a wonderful life. John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Do you have a wonderful life?

Trying harder doesn’t work. Yet that's what men do. We think we can overcome the issues of our lives by just trying harder. And when that doesn't work, we figure out a way to medicate the issue. We turn to something to numb the pain because the feeling of whatever issue we have suck. So what do you medicate? What issue are you trying to fix and with what medication do you use? The problem is medicating doesn't cure, it only covers. It covers the underlying problem. This episode we are joined by a guest who openly admits that porn was his medication. This is a real, honest, transparent conversation with what happens when we medicate instead of turn to the cure. Take a listen and ask yourself...if not porn, what do you use to medicate?

Are you a risk taker or do you play it safe? Most men avoid risk because of the unknown. But what if....? Have you ever asked yourself...what if I _________(fill in the blank). So what stops you? Faith is a step into the unknown. There is a song by Elevation Worship, the lyrics go:

I'd rather slip

Walking on water

Than spend my life

Wondering, "What if?"

Lord, if it's You

Tell me to come

'Cause You alone can tame the wildest wind

As men, God is calling us to live as a risk taker. To put faith into action. But to be honest getting out of the boat and walking into the unknown is dangerous. But we are called to live dangerously not recklessly. To live dangerously means to walk where we wouldn't normally walk. To do what we wouldn't normally do. But in order to do so, we have to trust like we wouldn't normally trust. That's what God is calling us to do. Join us this episode as we battle the waves that keep us from trusting and stepping out of the boat into the unknown.

Autopilot: a device for automatically steering or controlling. How many men live on autopilot ? We are all controlled by something. Many men are controlled by reactions to problems, others expectations, our past experiences, or maybe even a sinful pattern. Sometimes living on autopilot is only setting men up for a crash. But in contrast sometimes autopilot if controlled by the right thing can lead you to safety and security. 1 Peter 4:1 …since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, Arm yourselves also with the same mind. In other words...which autopilot controls you? We need prepare ourselves..arm ourselves, so that when life crashes we respond in the same way Christ did. Join us as we talk about how God prepares us in attitude and provision.

Suppress: To consciously avoid or prevent. Have you ever tried to hold a beachball under water to suppress it? The amount of energy and force it takes is amazing. No matter how you strong you are or how much you struggle, the beachball always comes back up. Why because the ball is designed to come to the surface. That is no different than the truth. Truth is always designed to be revealed. But we try to suppress it. No matter how much we try to suppress the truth of God in our lives, eventually we have to deal with it. All of us have areas in our lives that we know are not honoring to God. It comes from our desires to do what we want to do. Our desires distort His design which leads to distance and destruction. Join us as we talk about what it means to suppress the truth. What beachballs are you trying to hold down these days?

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

― Plato

There is a difference between being afraid and fear. We run away from what we are afraid of. But when we fear something, we are often drawn to it. The fear of God can motivate people to follow out of a sense of devotion and love for God. Being afraid of God is a negative reaction from a belief in a punishing God.

Two questions:

1. What areas in your life do you "fear" God?

2. What areas in your life are you "afraid" of God?

One draws you to relationship and the other draws you from relationship. Listen in as we discuss the difference and how being afraid of God and fearing God have impacted our lives.

The Day After... You went on a retreat, or a vacation, or took sometime away, and now you have to face your life again. The same pressures, problems, and circumstances are still there. Sometimes it's hard to get back to life. The day after can be difficult. Life starts back up again. And to be honest, coming down from the mountain is always difficult.

But remember, although the situation or problems are the same, you are NOT. Many times we go from the Mountain top right into the Valley. We go from an extreme spiritual high or connectivity with God to a devastating time of distress and discouragement.

1. When you are on the mountain you can forget about your problems for a while.

2. When you are on the mountain you can see Jesus

3. When you are on the mountain you can hear from God

Unfortunately, we must come off that mountain. Let me say this before we go any further:

1. When you are in the valley you can endure your problems.

2. When you are in the valley you can still see Jesus.

3. When you are in the valley you can still hear from God

But the most important reminder is Jesus Came Down from the Mountain also. Matthew 8:1 “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.”

The retreat or vacation is meant to refresh your perspective and reestablish your position. Join us this week as we talk about The Day After. How we get back to life after a great retreat.

For the next 6 weeks you can join us live on zoom at 7:00 Arizona Time. Come be a part of the conversation.

Zoom Link: https://occphx.zoom.us/s/5086856596

In the late 1970's a cartoon aired on tv in Chicago called "The Most Important Person". You can search it on youtube. Half way through the cartoon a little boy sings a song called "I'm Lonely". The lyrics are powerful:

I am lonely I want someone to play with me. I'm lonely I want someone to stay with me.

I'm lonely I want someone to share the day with me, shout hooray with me, run away with me it's no fun being lonely.

I want someone to talk with me. I'm lonely. I want someone to walk with me.

I'm lonely. Yet there are times when I need to be alone. Like it on my own. But today I'm lonely.

If men were honest they would say they are lonely. 27% of men say they have no friends. 42 Million Americans say they suffer from chronic loneliness. Yet God never meant for us to be alone. As a matter of fact He says that it is not good for man to be alone. So why are we? This episode we dive into why men struggle with loneliness and why men who have so much to offer other men take their wagon filled incredible tools and gifts and go home. Listen in to an honest conversation from guys who get it.

Hostage: one that is involuntarily controlled. Many men are controlled by feelings of anxiety or depression. They are literally held hostage by an involuntary feeling that can't be described, identified, or understood. The problem is we never talk about it. We just try to "Man Up" because of the social stigma and lack of transparency as men. However, 77% of men polled have suffered from common mental health symptoms like anxiety, stress, or depression. 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about it. In this episode, we are joined by our buddy, Chet. A retired law enforcement professional who found himself in a hostage situation with anxiety. Honest talk about an issue that men don't talk about.