Host: Dan Panetti

Here are some helpful additional resources to further your Biblical worldview development:

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Guest: Randell Holmes, Jr., college student/athlete at Texas A&M University, author of Daily Devotional for Teen Boys

Welcome back to our conversation with Randell Holmes. This week Randell starts off firing from both barrels as he challenges us to grasp the difference between what he calls “fruitfulness over faithfulness.” Many young men are more concerned with the “fruitfulness” of the things of this world - God is concerned with your faithfulness to produce SPIRITUAL fruit in your life and your community!

I mentioned the incredible book Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle and the question that Ryle asks, “Where are the godly older men?” Ryle thought there were so few godly older men because the enemy and worldly ambition bent them closer to the temporary things of this world and they never grew up tall and strong for the Lord’s service. Randell reminds us that a lot of young men don’t believe that following God is “truly worth it.” Scripture reminds us in Psalm 84:10 that it is better to be “one day” in the presence of God than a thousand elsewhere! You might ask, “Is following God truly worth it?”  Randell’s challenge to you is that you’ll never know unless you truly try it. That reminds me of an incredible statement from the British author G.K. Chesterton who said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

Our next topic of conversation brings up the idea of Christian hedonism put forth by John Piper in Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Piper says that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Check out this article from Desiring God’s website for further explanation. Randell reminds us that Romans 8:5-6 addresses this same concept - that when our minds are set on what the flesh desires, that “mind governed by the flesh is death.” But those who set their minds on “things above” or the “Spirit” have “life and peace.”

Randell’s recommendations for this year:

Final word from Randell - if you’re not a believer/follower of Jesus Christ - you’re missing out on God’s purpose for you! Find a good church, open the Word of God, ask some questions and get some answers about the true meaning of life!

Randell’s book is part of a 3-part series that covers young men from youth through college:

Guest: Randell Holmes, Jr., college student/athlete at Texas A&M University, author of Daily Devotional for Teen Boys

As a young man, Randell found his identity in football…but in college, something changed. To be honest, what changed was Randell himself. God truly got a hold of Randell’s heart, his life, his passion and his trajectory in life changed forever! Randell went from a “football player” to a young man passionately pursuing a relationship with the Lord.

Great reminder from Randell that walking with Jesus is a relationship…and for a relationship to grow and mature, it takes intentionality - time, energy, focus. If you want to get closer to God, get in the Word, spend time in prayer, and find an older, more mature Christian man to disciple you. Some guys don’t want to “get closer” to God - they are fine with “distance” because then they control the relationship - but that’s like having a Ferrari and driving it in first gear - it’s time to shift and accelerate that relationship!

What’s next for Randell - well, he’s off to an incredible place called Campus by the Sea, a Christian camp on Catalina Island in sunny California! Join me in praying for Randell and this incredible opportunity to impact the lives of others! And don’t forget to come back next week for the incredible continuation of our conversation with Randell.

Randell’s book is part of a 3-part series that covers young men from youth through college:

Guest: Campbell Panetti

What “tools” would be good to have developed (or at least been exposed to, be familiar with) by the time you’re 20-years-old? This is a fun and meaningful conversation with Campbell about important “life skills” - not only how these skills are developed, but what skills should we concentrate on to truly be on the road to “success” in life?

The tools/skills that we addressed in this episode:

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Guest: Campbell Panetti

What “tools” would be good to have developed (or at least been exposed to, be familiar with) by the time you’re 20-years-old? This is a fun and meaningful conversation with Campbell about important “life skills” - not only how these skills are developed, but what skills should we concentrate on to truly be on the road to “success” in life?

The tools/skills that we addressed in this episode:

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Host: Dan Panetti

Trust

Facing the Giants movie

Tim Tebow interview with Kirk Cameron: Here’s How We Start Making a Difference

Train

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Guests: The Entire Panetti Family!

Our family has been selecting a “Word for the Year” for quite a while and I wanted to share this process with each of you because I really believe it can be such a valuable and rewarding experience - honestly, the process of looking for the word is, in my opinion, the most valuable part - spending time in God’s Word and in prayer and expectation - asking God what He wants to do with you this year, considering ways that you can and should grow in maturity and grace, and actually reflecting on God’s goodness and provision over the past year - it’s such a rewarding and wonderful exercise for every believer! I hope that this becomes an annual tradition in your life as it has in ours. 

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Host: Dan Panetti

I believe that too many men fail to make significant and meaningful plans for the future because they either falsely believe that they are “fine” and don’t really need to change…or they’ve tried the world’s concept of temporary changes and are tired and disappointed with the lack of true purpose. Well, that is a great set up for my word for 2026 - Purpose, that I took from Psalm 57:2 where God’s Word says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”

Did you know that God Most High HAS a purpose for YOU? He does. And He wants you to know Him, know His plan, and live in such a way that you advance His purpose for your life. If you are looking at your goals for 2026 with that mindset, asking God what He wants to do in and through you, your goals will reflect a much different concept than just self-promotion.

Guys, my prayer for you is that you do the hard work of preparing yourself to truly know God…and make Him known through your life - all that you say and do would be a reflection of His goodness and glory for the world to see. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5 that they “are the light of the world.” I think you can agree with me that this dark world needs more lights…lights that shine brightly and point the way to the hope that is Christ Jesus! As you look at all the Christmas lights on your Christmas tree - that’s exactly what they are doing…pointing you upward toward heaven to see the true Light of the World!

Praying for you to have a Merry Christmas - and to prepare yourself for an incredible New Year - ask what God wants to do with your life…and then walk in a manner worthy of your calling in the coming days ahead!

Host: Dan Panetti

In Democracy in America, French writer Alexis deTocqueville makes the statement that democracy/liberty enables men to do “great things.” But, he also emphasizes that America’s top priority shouldn’t be producing men who can do great things, but producing “great men.” What makes a “great man”? As you consider your goals and “Word for the Year” consider what you’re pursuing - great things…or being a great man? Proverbs 22:1 tells us that a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches - so there is a choice to be made, a decision, a direction that differs between the two end goals - which will you choose to pursue?

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Psalm 57:2

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

God is at work…what is HIS purpose for YOUR life? Don’t get caught in the comparison game of temporary things, seek the greater good of a bigger God who has designed you for His good works…and walk in them…meaning that you need to move at God’s speed, not the hurried pace of this world to enjoy God’s purposes being revealed and perfected in your life. Men, don’t miss this - your eternal rewards are tied to your eternal investments into God’s purposes for your life.

Resource Suggestions

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.