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I think it was our older son's first official date with a girl; actually, just a couple of hours at the mall really. The next day he ran into some of the guys from school who just wanted to know one thing about his Friday night. "So how much did you get off her?" I know, it’s gross. They weren't talking about money. They were talking about conquest. Our son actually came home pretty disgusted, frankly. He said, "Man, those guys; they’re messed up!"

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Surprising Secret of a Real Man.”

Actually, a lot of us men have been raised on a messed up idea of what really makes you a man. Guys of all ages seem to think that it is conquest that makes you a real man: sexual conquest, athletic conquest, financial conquest, business conquest. So many men define their worth, their success, and their masculinity by whether or not they are conquering - conquistadores!

Virtually every guy has been told somewhere in his life, "Be a man!" But by whose definition? Is it your biceps that make you a man, your bank account, your bedroom exploits, being the boss? If you want to know what manhood is really all about, consult the Inventor of manhood. That would be God. If you go by His definition, you get Designer Manhood, and that is the real thing.

And guess what? It is all about conquest after all, but in a very different arena than most of us were ever taught. It's exemplified in our word for today from the Word of God in Proverbs 16:32. "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." You say, "Hey, look at these trophies. Look at all the victories I've won. Look, I conquered this whole city!" God isn't impressed. He says, "Oh, yeah? How are you doing with your temper? Are you really patient?"

Here's the surprising secret of a truly powerful man: he is conquering himself!

What's it mean to be a man who is conquering himself? Well, a powerful man conquers his mouth. He eliminates the trash talk, the angry words, the critical words, the hurting words. He knows the power of his words and he controls those destructive words and specializes in encouraging words.

A powerful man also conquers his passions, focusing all his desire on his wife. You know, if he's single, keeping his relationships pure and his body reserved for his life partner. A powerful man also conquers his coldness. He shows his love. He expresses his love so he doesn't leave a lonely son or a frustrated wife or daughter or a mother who just doesn’t know where she stands.

Another conquest that displays real manhood is conquering your hardness; that unwillingness to ever admit you're wrong or that you're hurting. A powerful man conquers his neglect as well; his failure to spend the time with the people who love him, the time they so desperately need. And, bottom line, a truly powerful man conquers his selfishness - his tendency to want everyone to revolve around him.

Many a man has found out he cannot be that kind of a man. The Apostle Paul said at one time, "The things I want to do, I don't do. And the things I ought to do, I don't." He said, "Why is it that I cannot get free of this darkness inside of me?" And then he said, "Thanks be to God, a rescue has come in Jesus Christ."

I can say as a man, and I can say on behalf of many men I know, that they never could have become the man they wanted to be and everyone they loved needed them to be until they surrendered to Jesus Christ, who died for their sins.

Maybe you've never done that. Well listen, I want to invite you to tell Him today, "Jesus, I'm yours." If you want to know more about that relationship, and I hope you do, would you check us out at ANewStory.com.

This hour, Christian counselor Joe Dallas will join us to explain how we handle the issues raised by the LGBT community. How do we respond in love while never being ashamed of the Truth? Have we gotten to the point where we think love is total acceptance of something, even if Scripture says it wrong, or does love mean loving someone enough to always speak the truth? Join us for an important conversation on a tough topic.

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Theology isn’t just about learning a lot of impressive terminology. Good, biblical theology is practical, and changes the way we interact with the world. In our new study of Titus called, Everyday Theology, we’re discovering how to develop a theology for everyday life.

Is the Church losing its voice when the world needs it most? In this powerful special presentation, Dr. Michael Youssef shares an urgent message originally delivered to Christian leaders in Washington, D.C.

As Biblical values face growing opposition, Dr. Youssef warns that silence and compromise are not options for followers of Jesus Christ. God calls His people to stand firm on His Word, speak the Truth with courage, and live out their faith in a culture that increasingly rejects Him.

This message challenges believers to:

• Reject fear, silence, and spiritual complacency,
• Stand firm on the authority of God's Word,
• Speak Biblical Truth with courage and conviction,
• Proclaim the Gospel without compromise,
• Put faith into action and pray for spiritual awakening.

The Church was never called to blend in or remain silent. Now is the time to stand for Truth, share the Gospel, and live boldly for Jesus Christ.

Scripture Focus: Acts 4:18–20

If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

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Your investments can do more than grow your portfolio. They can also create meaningful opportunities to bless others and support the work of God's Kingdom.

As the end of the year approaches, many Christians begin thinking about charitable giving. But generosity doesn't have to come exclusively from a checking or savings account. Your investment portfolio may offer additional ways to give, sometimes with valuable tax advantages.

Brian Mumbert, President and CEO of Timothy Plan, a pioneer in the world of faith-based investing, joined the show today to discuss how Christians can incorporate generosity into their investment strategies.

Before considering the financial benefits of charitable giving, it's important to remember why we give in the first place.

Scripture teaches that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God. Our responsibility is to manage His resources faithfully, recognizing that what He's entrusted to us can be used to serve others.

1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

That perspective transforms how we approach investing. Rather than viewing investments solely as a means of accumulating wealth, we can recognize them as another opportunity to practice faithful stewardship.

For Timothy Plan, this conviction has shaped the company's mission since its founding in 1994. Beyond helping investors align their portfolios with biblical values, the firm has supported ministries ranging from pregnancy resource centers to Christian media and initiatives that equip entrepreneurs.

Mumbert recalled a favorite saying of Timothy Plan founder Art Ally, who often quoted Christian businessman R. G. LeTourneau:

"I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back, but God has a bigger shovel."

While generosity doesn't guarantee financial prosperity, LeTourneau's words reflect a life shaped by the conviction that what God provides is meant to be used for purposes greater than ourselves.

For Christians interested in incorporating generosity into their investment strategy, Mumbert highlighted two practical approaches worth considering.

1. Donate Appreciated Investments Directly

If you own stocks, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have increased in value, you may be able to donate those assets directly to a qualified charitable organization.

This approach can offer an advantage over selling the investments and donating the proceeds. When you sell an appreciated investment, you may owe capital gains taxes on the profit. However, donating the investment directly to an eligible charity can generally allow you to avoid recognizing those capital gains.

Depending on how long you've held the investment and your individual tax situation, you may also qualify for a charitable deduction.

The result? More of your investment's value may go directly toward supporting the ministry or cause you care about.

2. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution From Your IRA

For individuals age 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) offers another opportunity to give.

A QCD allows you to transfer funds directly from an eligible IRA to a qualifying charitable organization. When the requirements are met, the distribution is excluded from taxable income. Additionally, if you're required to take minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA, a QCD can count toward satisfying that obligation.

This can be particularly helpful for retirees who want to support charitable causes while managing the tax implications of their retirement income.

Of course,

The second law of thermodynamics says things tend toward disorder. As time goes on, things fall apart. When it comes to our homes, a clean room never stays that way for long. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out there’s a spiritual parallel. Our Christian lives can get messy and out of sorts. But we’ll learn Jesus can come in sort it out . . . if we let Him. Pastor Greg urges us to open the door and let Jesus have access to every room of our spiritual house.

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