Training4Manhood

Guests: Mike Thornberry and Gabe Boyd

Chapter 3 The Essence of Marriage is grounded in Ephesians 5:31 (and Genesis 2:24)

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

Chapter 4 The Mission of Marriage is grounded in Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Gabe - the Word of God helps us understand what marriage is as God has designed as opposed to what the world thinks marriage should be.

Dan - marriage, from a Biblical standpoint, is the idea that anyone you’re having sex with is a person you are “uniting” and becoming one flesh - God has provided a place for that physical and sexual connection - within the bounds of marriage.

Mike - “covenant” is the promise of future love - this means that covenant love lasts regardless of emotion - it rides on intention, it is an act of the will. A “covenant” marriage is not about my happiness and it doesn’t survive (or thrive) because of how the other person acts, but how you choose to serve them!

Mike - the anchor of our marriage should be our identity in Christ - everything else rocks with the waves!

Gabe - when you’re a “consumer” of something, it’s difficult (impossible) to actually figure out how to “satisfy” or “please” another person - or even be satisfied or happy yourself.

Mike - everything is marketed to your individual benefit as a consumer, even marriage.

Gabe - within the idea of “covenant” there is a protection so that you can truly be vulnerable and fully “known.”

Dan - if you have a problem in your marriage, start praying for your spouse.

Mike - show me a husband and a wife who are praying together, they aren’t getting a divorce.

Dan - the essence of marriage is a profound and significant friendship!

Dan - can you be “unequally yoked” - meaning, can you connect your life with another person who does not have Christ at the center of their life…if Christ is at the center of yours?

Gabe - what is friendship in general - great place to start when you think about the idea and concept of marriage.

Mike - I am my wife’s CEO - Chief Encouragement Officer!!!

Keller - marriage has the power to set your life as a whole.

Keller - no other human being should get more of your love, energy, industry and commitment than your spouse.

Finally, Training4Manhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. You can visit our website at Training4Manhood.com to make a donation using PayPal or can donate with a Zelle account to [email protected]

Guest: Ben Rogers, 5 years Army paratrooper, 2X deployed to Afghanistan, 9 years law enforcement and SWAT team member.

1 Samuel 9 - the story of Saul and his father’s servant looking for the lost donkeys. Read it to get the emphasis behind the podcast!

“Situational awareness” is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety.

Military training keeps you “on edge” all the time - to help “heighten” your senses, to give you an awareness of things other than your own personal care and comfort!

T4M - developing “situational awareness” means that you see yourself as PART of the world, not the CENTER of it! Which means that you have a role to play - and choices to make - will you be a person who is looking to BE SERVED…or to SERVE OTHERS?

Ben - “situational awareness” means that you need to pay attention to all the facets of your life - your family, finances, freedom…you can’t just bury your head in your mobile phone and not pay attention to the world around you.

Situational awareness can be taught - it’s the self-discipline to not be self-absorbed.

Steps to Develop Situational Awareness:

1. Begins with self-discipline

Great resource: Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven

How to develop a “team” mentality:

1. Consider how your performance is evaluated by those around you…at work, at home, at school, etc…

Physical fitness is a great place to start the journey to self-discipline. Exercise, eat right, pay attention to the small details. As the famous Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Ben - people who read are the smartest people in the world - you’ve got to do it. Best thing to read to start your day - God’s Word!

Ben - apply “situational awareness” and pay attention to your marriage relationship! 

Ben - “complacency kills.” If you DON’T pay attention to these issues, there will be consequences for your lack of awareness.

Finally, Training4Manhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. You can visit our website at Training4Manhood.com to make a donation using PayPal or can donate with a Zelle account to [email protected]

Guests: Mike Thornberry and Gabe Boyd

Tim Keller begins the book by talking about the importance of marriage from God’s design in comparison to what the world thinks about the institution of marriage. He shares some powerful statistics about the decline of marriage in America and then shares a very powerful comment from comedian Chris Rock who said, “Do you want to be single and lonely or married and bored?” The institution of marriage has fully morphed into something that is solely for my personal pleasure - and Keller believes that is not God’s design or intent for marriage!

Chapter 1 - “A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery…” Ephesians 5:31-32

T4M is all about the idea that being a man is about being Christ-centered and other-focused, not self-absorbed. 

Gabe: marriage has to be seen through the lens of the Gospel.

Dan: marriage, like the Gospel, is life-transforming and makes us better people.

Mike: when I first got married, I didn’t have a good definition of love. “Love is the commitment of my will to the betterment of your needs regardless of the cost to me.” From Tim Kimmel, Grace Filled Marriage.

Gabe: you can only give what you’ve been given. You have to have a relationship with Christ to truly understand God’s design for marriage.

Keller: Marriage used to be a public institution for the common good, and now it is a private arrangement for the satisfaction of the individuals. Marriage used to be about us, but now it is about me.

Dan: Marriage, as an institution the way that God has designed it, doesn’t make sense without the foundation of a life that has been transformed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Do you have to truly understand God’s design for marriage to get married - no, but you won’t be able to enjoy God’s design for sex unless you experience it in it’s proper place within the boundary and protection of marriage. It’s like fire - in the fireplace, it’s great; outside the fireplace, it’s destructive.

Chapter 2 - “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

Mike: I wasn’t trying to help my spouse for a long time, I was trying to “fix” her. Big difference.

Dan: God loved us while we were yet sinners, and the walk of obedience changes us into the image of Christ. Marriage, when done God’s way, helps change us into the men and women that God desires.

Gabe: Keller writes, “Seek to serve one another rather than to be happy and you will find a new and deeper happiness.” This may sound ridiculous - but it’s true. The end result of marriage is that we would love each other for the glory of God, not our own selfish desires.

Guest: Scott Turner

Begin to develop a life of SERVICE  - look for opportunities to plug in and serve your community and your church. Pray that God would help you see the needs where you can serve - there is no “small” opportunity - Scott’s example of reading to younger children in the schools is such an important opportunity that men need to consider and fill!

Where does “service” begin - in the HOME! Before you export the wisdom of your life into the world, make sure that you’re actually living it out in your own home.

To learn more about “opportunity zones,” check out this resource - Dr. Ben Carson and Scott Turner, former Director of the White House Opportunity Zone and Revitalization Council, discuss the impact and future of Opportunity Zones with a panel of industry experts.

Wisdom from Scott:

1. Remember the sacrifices made by those who have gone before - to secure the freedoms that we have today!

Finally, Training4Manhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. You can visit our website at Training4Manhood.com to make a donation using PayPal or can donate with a Zelle account to [email protected]

Guest: The Honorable Mike Johnson, Congressman for the 4th District of Louisiana

Seven Core Principles of Conservatism

• Individual Freedom

1. Individual liberties should be protected against the imposition of government intrusion - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• Limited Government

1. When government expands, liberty contracts

• Rule of Law

1. No king above the law, everyone subject to the law

• Peace through Strength

1. Provide for the common defense - citizens, property, interests abroad…part of the Preamble of the Constitution

• Fiscal Responsibility

1. Most significant threat to national security - our national debt

• Free Markets

1. Allows for innovation and expansion - gives people the liberty to take risks and pursue their dreams

• Human Dignity

1. Everyone created in the image of God and has intrinsic value

Check out more with Mike and Kelly Johnson on their podcast Truth Be Told.

Remember to get The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim Keller - we will begin our books discussions to be released on the Fridays in October!

Finally, Training4Manhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. You can visit our website at Training4Manhood.com to make a donation using PayPal or can donate with a Zelle account to [email protected]

Guest: Rick Green

The Honorable Rick Green is a former Texas State Representative, a lawyer, and a successful entrepreneur who has built several businesses from the ground up. His goal is to help Americans to become salt and light in every area of life and to understand America’s Godly history and foundation. He currently travels the nation speaking for WallBuilders, teaching on the U.S. Constitution, and founded the Torch of Freedom Foundation and Patriot Academy. He resides in Dripping Springs, TX with his wife, Kara, and their entire family.

Check out more information about Rick Green and his ministry to train people to understand and engage in our political process through the Patriot Academy.

Do you want to live in freedom or tyranny?

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”

Thomas Paine, The Crisis, Sept. 12, 1777

“Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.  And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”

Ronald Reagan, Then-Governor of California, Inaugural Address, January 5, 1967

Socialism - the “means of production” is controlled by the government - who decides what you’ll do, who you’ll work for, what freedoms and opportunities you’ll have - those are the questions that clearly differentiate a “democracy” or “free market economy” from one that is socialist.

The Law by Frederic Bastiat - want to know why socialism won’t work and is actually harmful to everyone involved - read this!

If there is a problem in society, whose responsibility is it to remedy the situation? Is it the responsibility of the individual, the family, the church, or the government? There are different roles and responsibilities for each - but once a task has been absorbed by the government, it’s difficult to shift those responsibilities and activities back to either the individual/family or the church.

How to get engaged:

• Take a Constitution course.

• Understand the “political party” system. The “primary” election is the opportunity to select which food will be on the tables. The “general” election is selecting from the food that is already on the table. Also, understand how the political party system affects legislation - the party that has the majority within a given legislature has the power to assign committees and bills to particular committees - a very significant power.

• Do the best you can with what you have where you are. Understand this principle when you go vote - there isn’t a perfect candidate, but you need to select from the “best” of the choices available…and party DOES matter when you vote. For more information, check out Ivoterguide.com

• Make a financial contribution to a candidate of your choice!

Electoral College - think of the World Series. A team (candidate) has to win a majority of the games - it’s not a contest to see who scores the most runs!

Being an educated and engaged citizen is a commandment, a duty, a responsibility - as a citizen of the United States of America, being an educated voter is the first step to being an educated and engaged citizen!

Training4Manhood Giving Opportunity - Zelle account: [email protected]

Guests: Tyler Reeves, Ty Robinson, and Will May

Where to start? Start every day in the Word - connecting with God before you have to interact with others! It’s amazing how much conflict arises over things that don’t really matter - “personal preferences that replace professional priorities.”

You can learn so much more from people who are not like you! Sometimes the “challenges” are simply “differences.”

WHEN you encounter conflict - not if, but when. Great place to begin is with YOU. What have you done…and what can you do - instead of looking at the failings and flaws of others!

Are you giving energy or taking? Are you making the situation/environment better or worse? Be honest with yourself!

When you make a mistake or do something wrong, apologize.

Resource Recommendations:

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott

Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean by Kim Scott

If you have an issue, go talk to the person face-to-face. Email is not the best avenue to remedy a problem.

Are you an advocate or ally for your coworkers? Be a force for positivity in your workplace!

Celebrate in public and criticize in private.

Run to where God is pulling you…instead of running away from something that bothers you. Good rule of thumb for life, work, ministry, etc.

Training4Manhood Giving Opportunity - Zelle account: [email protected]

Guests: Tyler Reeves, Ty Robinson, and Will May

Today is Labor Day and we wanted to continue our deep dive into a few things related to the workplace - three episodes with three guys who have some vast experience in the marketplace. 

Are you chasing the title or willing to look for the experiences and responsibilities that will help you grow as an individual? Are you considering how the process works or just interested in getting a raise?

Self-evaluation should be constant. What are you doing to grow yourself as a person, which will logically spill over into the betterment of you as a worker as well!

Promotion Process:

1. Have I earned the right to talk about a promotion?

Great companies will find a role for great people. That promotion may or may not be on “your” time schedule, but great companies will find a way to get the most out of their employees…and reward them for what they’ve given!

Function within your own scorecard. Comparison is the ultimate thief of joy. Be careful of comparing yourself and your career path to the journey of other; you may not have the same goals or be willing to make the same sacrifices!

Be careful of taking “short cuts” or chasing the money!

What are my values that this time, at this season, in my life and career?

Your Life…Well Spent: The Eternal Rewards of Investing Yourself and Your Money in Your Family by Russ Crosson

Failure happens ALL the time - what will you learn from those setbacks, how will you respond?

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Training4Manhood Giving Opportunity - Zelle account: [email protected]

Guests: Tyler Reeves, Ty Robinson, and Will May

With Labor Day around the corner, we wanted to take a deep dive into a few things related to the workplace - three episodes with three guys who have some vast experience in the marketplace. 

Episode 1 Getting the Job

Great companies always want to hire great people!

When thinking about a company to work for, the guys recommend you look for a place that will be a great place to learn - a good company that trains people well and equips them to be successful.

Consider - is the company growing or is the company slowing?

What do you want to do? Who has God created you to be and what skills and talents has He equipped you with to be successful?

What do you need to be successful in terms of interviewing for a job?

• Dress for success, lean toward “more” professional than “less”

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul by John Eldredge

Roundtable Discussion Participants: Michael Thornberry, Gabe Boyd, Parker Panetti and Dan Panetti

Episode 4: Chapters 10-12

Every man needs a beauty to rescue.

Under the shadow of a man’s strength, a woman finds her rest. Good stuff.

We have a responsibility to fight not only for our own hearts, but for those we love as well.

Women want to know that you value HER.

The universe is so vast and so ageless that the life of just one man can only be measured by his sacrifice.

The essence of the book pushes you to ask the big questions of life. What am I going to risk? Will I trust God or will I sell out for money?

Don’t “drift” with the strongest current at the time - learn to swim upstream to your dream!

What’s the cost of not doing what you’ve been designed to do!

This is not an information book, it’s meant to inspire and move you - go do something!