“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭6‬ ‭

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭

COME DOWN TO EARTH SCRIPTURE:

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭

““Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭

TRUTH HURTS | SWEET VINEGAR

5 TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM

YOU’RE TOO RELIGIOUS 

YOU’RE ALREADY EXPOSED

YOU’RE NOT FINISHED FAILING

YOU’RE STILL HEAVY

YOU’RE NOT SELF-MADE

MEN’S CONFUSION THAT BREEDS DISCONNECTION

CHAPTER 4 

LISTENING TO THE CALL OF ADVENTURE

“Life is supposed to be about adventure, about following God into the unknown and trusting Him. Then we turned all that into some safe, textbook religious experiences.

From healing and evangelism to preaching and prophecy, we attempt to build guardrails around people through our own fears, and we then call it theology or ministry. It's no longer adventure; it's duty. It's another veiled attempt to please a father who is absent, in the hope that I will perform well enough to get his attention, and in turn he will give me the affection I so desperately desire.”

Chapter 6

TEMPERING AGRESSION THRU INITIATION 

QUOTE FROM INITIATION CHAPTER:

“The saddest part of all this is that the men struggling the most are some of the best servants in the Church. 

The men caught in the most oppressive cycles of porn, the deepest bouts of depression, and the most aggressive behavior are the guys leading and serving on a Sunday. 

Then those same men, in order to minimize the sting of their transgression, serve more and develop a high degree of Christian moralism put on full display for all to see.

We develop moral superiority toward others as a defense mechanism to protect our secrets, while forcing out love and any form of accountability.

Some men will even double down on religious fanaticism as a substitute for true encounter, because they can't bear the thought that they might be exposed. 

To be exposed is the first step toward vulnerability, which is the first step toward authen-ticity, which is the first step toward true and lasting authority.

But the cost for most men is too high. They refuse to yield to the process, to face the giant, take responsibility for their own lives and their own actions and then see what happens when they step inside the fiery furnace and stand against the crowd.”

WHY DOES THIS TEXT FIT THE COMFORT ZONE SECTION OF THE INITIATION CHAPTER? 

CHAPTER 9 & 10

DISCOVERING TRUE STRENGTH BY EMBRACING FAILURE & ENGAGING IN THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF GRIEF

ISAIAH:  “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME”

“THE LORD HAS ANOINTED ME TO:

GODS DECLARATION

I will faithfully give them their recompense { reward; make amends for loss or harm suffered}, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭8‬ ‭

GOD’S PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE:

DANGERS OF THE LAST DAYS:

2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭5‬

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

‭‭ ‭

JESUS WARNS US:

“So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭

““If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬ ‭

““Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬ ‭

QUALIFYING DISCLAIMER:

3 COMPASSES FOR DIRECTION

3 CAUTIONS:  

WHAT ARE TEMPTATIONS WHEN HURT OR OFFENDED?

3 KEYS:

HOW DO MEN OF FAITH HANDLE OFFENSE?

Mike is the Executive Pastor at Victory City Church in the Austin, TX area. He comes from a long line of educators but was led to serve in vocational ministry. He and I discuss Biblical manhood and myths about discipleship. He shares his perspective on where the Church can improve on building and sustaining men's ministry programs.

MIKE SAYS:

FAILURE IS A CLASSROOM FOR GROWTH

CHARACTER IS CULTIVATED

GOOD TO DISRUPT THE ENVIRONMENT OF COMFORT

DISCIPLESHIP IS AN ORGANISM

CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE JUST 'PROGRAMMING'

https://victorycity.church

WATCH ONE OF MIKE'S MESSAGES:

https://youtu.be/dgFdPeWWn7I?si=vsHAuasYSqEeT461

“‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’”

Townsend Russell is "America's Dad" Founder and Personality for 100% Dad. Good Dads agree with him. Struggling Dads seek advice from him. Townsend retired at age 33 after starting and selling his 3 businesses. He spent the next 3 years exploring the country with his wife and 3 young boys while sharing encouragement and wisdom with Dads to create stronger and better families. Townsend has authored 2 book, is currently developing an RV Resort in Florida, and holds a Florida Real Estate License.

DAD VACANCY

DAD MYTHS

DAD SOLUTION

ACCESS TOWNSEND'S RESOURCES:

https://100dad.com

PURCHASE OUR RESOURCES:

https://last-in-line-leadership.square.site

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭

WHO & WHOSE I AM | GOD’S PROMISES

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬ ‭

“And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.””‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭

PEACE | REST | COMFORT

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

‭“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭

WORD | SWORD | FREEDOM

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””‭‭ John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬

‭“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭

GODS PLANS | GOOD WORKS | FAITH ACTIVATED “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭

HOLY SPIRIT | GIFTS OF SPIRIT

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬

BOOK : THE SPIRIT OF FATHERHOOD

CH 1 THE DAWN OF FATHERHOOD 

THE THOUGHT OF LOSING OURSELVES AND OUR INDEPENDENCE WHEN WE BECOME DADS

CH 2 A FATHERS SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Ch 3 FORGING UNBREAKABLE BONDS

Ch 4 ILLUMINATING PURPOSEFUL PATHS

Ch 5  DEVELOPING COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION 

Ch 6 A LEGACY OF LOVE