Training4Manhood

If I had to summarize Gladiator II, it would be the line from Proverbs 22:1 which tells us that a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches! The “good name” of Marcus Aurelius and Maximus is passed on to an inspires the life and efforts of Lucius - who sees how the pursuit of money and power ends up in corruption and deceit - and in the end it is worthless. Great question from this movie - what do you give “worth” to in your life - what do you worship? Many worship the gods of convenience and entertainment. I believe there is more to life - and I think that Gladiator II is not just an entertaining movie, but one that can make you think and wrestle with the great ideas and meaning of life…if you’ll let it!

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.

As I reflect on things going on in my world, I’m thankful for a God who knows when to step in…and when to step back.

And I’m thankful for my wife who balances our family and provides a wonderful counter perspective that helps me navigate better.

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.

This is the description of David recorded in 1 Samuel 16:18:

Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.

Part 2 examines the first three qualities:

These are great character qualities to develop in your own life - as Thomas Watson reminds us, you can judge a flower by its buds, you can judge a man by his youth!

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.

This is the description of David recorded in 1 Samuel 16:18:

Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.

Part 1 examines the first three qualities:

• Skillful in playing - David practiced, worked hard, didn’t quit when things were difficult…

These are great character qualities to develop in your own life - as Thomas Watson reminds us, you can judge a flower by its buds, you can judge a man by his youth!

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.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

Guest: Gabe Boyd

This is a throwback episode looking at one of the episodes that Gabe and I recorded talking about some important elements of what it means to be a man - this is the statement that we created to summarize those elements:

Men speak truth, serve others, love deeply, endure joyfully, and humbly walk with the Lord.

The concept of serving others embodies the idea that you see others and desire meet their needs even if that comes at a cost to yourself - this requires humility and an other-centeredness that is rare today - but so important for the maturity and development of a boy into a man!

The action steps that we included in those episode notes three years ago are still so good - so here they are:

Action Step

1. Take notice of those who serve you! Show appreciation to those who serve you… (special note - waiter at restaurant...tip well)

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.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

Primary vs. General Election

• The Primary Election is your opportunity to select the best candidate within your party to represent your party in the General Election

What if you don’t want to “align” with a particular party?

• Example - you like Shohei Ohtani as a player and you want him to win - he’s currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series - for Ohtani to win, you are saying that you want the Dodgers to win. If the New York Yankees win the Series, Ohtani does not. Period. So, it doesn’t matter if you like the Dodgers or not - it doesn’t matter if you like party politics or not, if you want particular views and values to be advanced, you will need to align with the party that advances those views and values and vote accordingly.

What if you don’t like the Electoral College and how the President is selected?

• Again, the Electoral College is about winning a majority of the votes from the majority of the states - like winning 4 out of the 7 games in the World Series - it’s not about how many runs (or votes) that you get, it’s about getting the majority of the runs (votes) in the majority of the games (states).

Finally, what if you think that your vote doesn’t “count?”

• Doesn’t matter - it’s your vote - and you have both a responsibility and opportunity to cast a ballot - take it.

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.

Perspective

• God’s at work, you can’t see everything…

Prayer

• Ongoing conversation with God - help me see what you want me to see…and learn…

People

• Have a proper perspective of others - use the word “friend” sparingly!

Here’s what I’m not saying…

• You don’t get to write your own story in life - you are not the master of your own fate, captain of your own soul - sorry William Ernest Henley
  • But, regardless of what happens to you, you can control your attitude

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.

Jeremiah 12:5

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy - Tim Keller

• Learn to celebrate the victories of others - their victory isn’t your defeat…

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.

Everything physical is a picture of something spiritual…

Genesis 1:26-27

Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

In the creation of physical life, there is one who initiates, gives…and one who receives…

In the creation of spiritual life, there is one who gives (grace)...and one who receives (new life)...

Our physical bodies point to God’s design for relationship and redemption!

When sin corrupts God’s design, our physical bodies point to the coming Redeemer - God institutes physical circumcision, the cutting away of the male flesh to point to the Messiah, who is the Good Seed (semen)

The spiritual reality that corresponds to this physical picture is the idea that as the receivers of God’s grace, our hearts are circumcised and new life is created.

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: Parker Panetti

Daniel 1:8 - Daniel resolved not to defile himself.

What areas of your life do you need to resolve to do and NOT do to be the man that God has called you to be?

Find some godly men and ask to spend time with them, ask them what things they would recommend you do to improve your position in life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - The Cost of Discipleship - the way that I read Bonhoeffer is that the mediocre faith that so many have simply isn’t even an option for those children of God who have been bought with the blood of Jesus!

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.