The genesis of this episode began with my utter exasperation shopping for new homeowners insurance after receiving a 100% increase in my premium over last year's rate.  As I examined the root causes of the rate hike, I realized that I just might need to re-evaluate my entire risk management mindset.

The California wildfires in January, recent floods in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Uri Winter Storm in Texas a few years ago have put this topic front of mind for many of us.

It begs the question, "What do you place your faith in?"

My guest for this Good Friday episode is Dr Michael Sprague who is the Chaplain for the Louisiana state legislature.  Michael also is an author and wrote a book after experiencing Hurricane Katrina and it full fury living in New Orleans as it struck.  The title of his book is: "Disaster: Betting the Farm on God in Life's Storms"

We discuss the concept of brokenness vs the kingdom of me, the dangers of becoming too comfortable, and answering our calling, regardless of risks, by putting our faith in God and His plan for us.

We close with a strong message of encouragement for all of our listeners who may on their own road to Mount Moriah, as Abraham was with Jacob, remaining faithful and trusting that God will provide the ram in the thicket just in time for each of us!

Michael posts daily on both LinkedIn and Facebook and has a website at: 

www.capitolcommissionlouisiana.org

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

The first official day of Spring was March 20th and we are entering Holy Week with Palm Sunday this weekend.  Both help us to blossom ourselves both spiritually and physically so I thought this episode should be one that promises hope and healing.

Just like Christ's death on the cross brought despair to his followers, a grim diagnosis for one's own health can also be a dark place.  It is how we respond to such bad news that demonstrates our faith or perhaps lack thereof.

My good friend Dr Austin Ruiz is a man of small physical stature, standing about five feet five inches tall but is a true GIANT in my eyes for his incredible faith and perseverance in facing not one, but two separate death defying illnesses. His story is one the should inspire all of us!

Dr Ruiz is a retired ophthalmologist from Harker Heights Texas and serves on the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors with me as a governor's appointee.

In this episode he relates his two year battle with leukemia through five treatment regimens and his wrestling match with Satan himself trying to get him to simply give up.  He called upon the Holy Spirit and was rescued by him in this spiritual warfare.

A year after his remission and full recovery from leukemia, he was hit by another very grim diagnosis, sepsis.  This battle ended up costing him both of his lower legs to amputation but he is walking today on his prosthetics and has never given up.  What an example of faith he offers us all!  This is a not to be missed show!

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

In our last show my guest, Travis Koch, and I began our discussion about the wrestling match many parents are facing with school choice. We also discussed the book “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt.  The subtitle of his book is “How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.”  His primary diagnosis of the root cause was outdoor play has been replaced with screen play. 

In today’s Part 2 episode, we dig deeper into the political wrestling match taking place today in the Texas Legislature.  A House bill and a different Senate bill on school choice have both already been passed in each chamber.  Now the two versions must be hashed out in a conference committee and sent to Governor Abbott for his signature creating a new law that will take effect this fall.

Travis walks us through what the new law will likely mean to parents who have children in private schools, home schooling programs, or public schools today.  He also highlights what his new school, West Christian Prep, offers to address the concerns of boys in particular.

Another episode packed with great information to help your with your wrestling match in this arena.

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

Parents throughout the United States experienced an unintended consequence from the COVID pandemic from 2020 to 2022: an up close look at their children's education curriculum and teaching materials.  And they were shocked!

Across the country children fell way behind and most are still struggling to catch up, especially boys, due to the culture and gender wars that have exacerbated the problems in education not only in K-12 but also in higher education with all of the DEI initiatives placing higher emphasis on labels than qualifications.

The wave of discontent, concern, and outright fear has washed across the entire nation state by state. School choice has become a major issue and many states have already passed new laws that allow parents more educational funding for options like home schooling and private schools. In Texas our Governor has made school choice a top priority and campaigned against candidates in his own party's primaries to defeat those obstructing school choice legislation in our state.

The confluence of all of these events presents a significant wrestling match for parents on school choice.  How we choose to educate our children will have far-reaching consequences and with so much disinformation out there surrounding the money issues facts are difficult to discern. Wisdom is needed.

My guest today,  retired USAF Colonel Travis Koch, has been on the show before in January of 2023 as we discussed the book Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men.  At the time Travis was the Passport to Leadership Director and Head Boys Lacrosse Coach at Houston Christian High School.

Since that time he was given a dream by the Holy Spirit to start a new all boys school with an all male faculty in West Houston which is coming to fruition this fall. The school is called West Christian Prep (WCP) and will begin with grades 3-5.

In this first episode we set the stage and diagnose the problem to plot where we are today.  We close this episode with things that parents can do in their homes first to begin to correct the problem, and we are focusing on boys here.

In the next episode we will discuss the two bills in the Texas House and Senate which have already been passed (HB3 and SB2) and how they appear to be reconciling those two different versions to put a bill on the Governor's desk to sign into law this year.  And finally Travis will walk us through how West Christian Prep was created and is working on the "faces and spaces" to offer new and better choices for Texas parents.

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

The first quarter of every new year often has a heavy focus on finances, whether it be personal or business.  

Our national debt is north of $36 trillion, an inconceivable figure!

We are all feeling the pinch of inflation as it erodes our buying power and savings.

Basically, at every level of our society from individuals, to families, to communities and even our country we have a HUGE problem.  It is our covetousness, always wanting more than we can afford.

My guest for this episode is my very own pastor, Dr Ryan Rush of Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, Texas.

In this episode we go to scripture for wisdom about how to be content with what we have. We also discuss the warnings found in scripture about the ruin and destruction that covetousness brings.  1 John 2:16 gives the three primary tools in devil's playbook to temp us: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  We want to feel things. We want to have things. And we want to be things.

Pastor Rush offers two simple words to combat these: gratitude and generosity! 

This is one sensational episode that truly is for every person out there breathing!

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

My guest for this episode is my good friend Pastor Michael Tadlock, Senior Pastor at Bethel Church in Jennings LA. Michael shares his miraculous healing story after contracting COVID at the end of 2020 which led to a severe bout of pancreatitis that almost took his life and required a 40 day hospitalization.

But as Paul Harvey used to say, "And now, the REST of the story!"

After recovering from pancreatitis Michael was cruising along with life going quite well and then was diagnosed with diabetes as a lingering consequence of his earlier illness.  And even pastors get angry with God sometimes folks.

Michael recounts his wrestling match with his inner man about where this anger was really coming from, pride.  

After some deep self examination work and prayer he was able to experience true transformation in how he could better give God his best in every area of his life!

It's a terrific story you won't want to miss as we all consider the importance of proper diets at this time of year!

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

Today's episode concludes our dynamic four part series on the spiritual provisions Pastor Dwight Edwards covers in his book Revolution Within.  First is our new purity, second is our new identity, third is our new disposition, and fourth is the new power that comes with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

This is magnificent because it is the same resurrection power that raised Christ from dead and it is available to each one of us!! 

If you have enjoyed this series please let me hear from you as I am eager to increase listener engagement and seek ideas for future show content.  Dwight's ministry today is called No Greater Life and you can learn more about other books he has written and living your best life at his website www.nogreaterlife.com 

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

I am so pleased to announce that this is the 100th episode of Wrestling With the Inner Man to kick off 2025!

We are doing a four part series on spiritual provisions Pastor Dwight Edwards covers in his book book Revolution Within with this show as the third installment.  The previous two provisions we discussed were new purity and new identity.

The third provision, our new disposition, explains how the indwelling Holy Spirit makes us genuinely want to be obedient to the will of God.  The premise goes like this: anything written on our hearts becomes instinctive, not requiring conscious thought, somewhat like birds knowing when and how to migrate south for the winter. No more striving to conquer life on our own terms under our own power.

These instincts are similar to hunger and thirst for our survival, only in this case the soul in every single one of us thirsts for a love that cannot be diminished by our performance and a hunger for making a difference in this world which cannot be erased.  So unconditional love and a desire for impact is what truly drives us all and these can only be met by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

It's a fascinating conversation with Dwight that I'm sure you will enjoy!

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

We are covering spiritual provision number two, a new identity, from pastor Dwight Edwards book Revolution Within in this episode.

Think of Matt Damon's character Jason Bourne in the film The Bourne Identity.
He was given a new identity in the movie, but in his case, he kept returning to his old identity to piece together his old life.  With our new identity in Christ, we don't ever have to go back to our old criminal ways!

Dwight discusses our transformation from condemned slaves to adopted children!

It is a most uplifting message, especially to begin the new year with you new identity!

If you like these episodes please follow the show and text us your thoughts on possible new show topics in 2025!

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.

Because of what God has done for every believer, you actually possess outlandish treasures you may never have dreamed existed!

God has made "New Covenant" promises to each of us. And in fulfillment of those promises, He has placed within every believer four revolutionary provisions: a new purity, a new identity, a new disposition, and a new power.

These lavish supernatural resources permanently reside within your soul right now - ready for release every day of your life on earth!

Join Pastor and author Dwight Edwards and I in this four part series discussing these spiritual provisions from his book, Revolution Within.

Revolution Within shows what these four provisions are and how to release them, so you can experience all the best God has for you. And when you do, you fulfill your God-given purpose in life. Because God doesn't want us just to be spiritually whole but to be spiritually provocative.

As you tap into this vibrant eternal reality, you'll experience fresh intimacy with God, new liberty, a deepened sense of community with other believers, and a new capacity for ministry.

You can learn more about Dwight, his books and and his  No Greater Life ministry at his website: https://www.nogreaterlife.com/
 

Send us a text

Visit www.thesavagepath.com for more on David, his book The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity, and the Savage Path Ministries Corp.