SPEAKER_09 0:00

Men. Welcome to the most important podcast that you'll hear in a long time. It's the Men's Leadership Community Podcast, and it starts now.

SPEAKER_08 0:17

Well, here we go, guys. Long series, but it's I believe you're going to find it very, very practical and hopefully life transforming. And we've always, I mean, we've done some of these, but we've never done them together. So I think this is going to be great. We're going to go all the way through September 4th, and that's going to lead us right into um the retreat. So how about that?

SPEAKER_02 0:45

Awesome. Yeah. If you guys didn't know, you go take a look at our website, themlc.life. You can actually see this great picture that we've laid out, the roadmap to the 12 best practices, and you can get a hint of where we're headed. Starting with the MLC story today, we're going to talk about the vision, mission, and values of the MLC, and then kind of move forward through those 12 different practices that we have that hopefully are life-transforming in Christ for you and for me and the way that we journey with one another as brothers in Christ. So go to the MLC.life and you can click on the about and it'll take you to this great little roadmap that you'll see that we're going to follow through the series, Obi.

SPEAKER_08 1:23

Yeah, and I think it's important that you understand that while we do what we do, uh, we're, you know, if you take away this right here, really we're just another club. And there's frankly, there's a lot of other clubs in the D Assembly that have probably been around longer and much more resources. But really, the the heart of what we do, it's, you know, Christ-centered, because that is the reason why we do what we do. And he, we believe that he is the the way to a life that is transformative, but also a life that that allows you to go through uh your everyday living, not just surviving, but thriving in what you do.

SPEAKER_02 2:06

Yeah, and here you can take a screenshot of this, guys, and it gives you the layout. We're gonna have a couple of Fridays that we get off, you know, like July 3rd. We're gonna let guys be able to celebrate, you know, that weekend with July 4th and all those kind of things that are going on. So we got some Fridays that we're gonna take off, but this one gives you the conversations that we're gonna have on the Fridays that we're gonna have them. So it lays out the whole 12 uh part series that we're gonna do, Obi, and the Fridays that we're gonna be on those. So make sure that you take a little screenshot of this, have it in your calendar so that you don't miss any of these Fridays. That's right.

SPEAKER_08 2:41

Well, uh, it all started with the with a Zoom call, right? Um, you guys have heard the story. Andy was in a place where I was depressed during the during the during COVID. Some people are um you know, extroverted that need the you know, the they get their energy, they get their vibes, they get their encouragement from being around other men. And when you take that away, it's you know, kind of like clipping the birds off the wings off of a bird. Uh and it, you know, he was in a dark place. And so um it was Jen that told him, hey, how about you do a zoom, a zoom call, and Andy, what's a zoom? Um so I believe there were six people, I think, or I think there were six, right? Six people that started this thing. Um, and what began is a bunch of like six guys just sitting around talking about their state of mind, their state of being, their kind of grew into what you see today is a group of men that are working and fighting to resolve this problem of the lie of the lone wolf.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

You know, and Obi, that what happened during that time, I I think the the lie of the lone wolf, I didn't realize that I was living it myself, you know, because sometimes you can live the lie of the lone wolf and not even know that you're doing it, even as a pastor or somebody that's in ministry. But I was I was recognizing that, yeah, I love to serve people, I love to be around people, but a lot of what I was doing was still a very lone wolf lifestyle of I can do it all, I can manage it all. Uh, and COVID really hit me hard in the face that I can't do it alone. I was struggling on my own. I was running into mental and emotional health and wellness issues, uh, really harder than I'd ever had in my life before. And that cry for help, we talked about Rambo, like the end of First Blood, right? That cry for help actually went out where I had to reach out to other men. My wife saw that, you know, and and say, look, we were not created to do life on our own. But I think a lot of men fall into this. Look at how easy it is, the the lone wolf on the left, just in, you know, in your PJ, sitting on the couch by yourself with the phone. How many of us fall into that and don't even recognize that we're doing it? Uh, that all of a sudden we're doing a lot of life on our own, uh, by ourselves, and we're into that whole thing of, you know, I've got to muster up the strength, I've got to get it done myself, Obi. And it's just not the way we were created, and it's not healthy.

SPEAKER_08 5:18

No, not at all. Uh, and matter of fact, you can actually see this. And mind you, at this point, I want to point out that at this point in Genesis, the fall had not happened. Okay, sin had not entered the world. And Genesis 1:26 and 28 says, Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that the image shepherd poets over the fish in the sea, and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and cultivated, be shepherd poets over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, and over every living creature that moves in the ground.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

You know, Obian, on that one, real quick, go back just one real fast. I want you to recognize, guys, you may miss something very simple at the very beginning. Then God said, Let us. So God is community in and of himself, one God and three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God in himself is community. And when he says, Let us make mankind in our own image, he obi, his image is one of community. And he's creating us in his own image. So we're created in the image of God, which is community in itself. So, how in the world did we get to a place where we can think that we can do life on our own when we are actually created in and by and for community? Listen to that. In by and for community.

SPEAKER_08 6:55

In by and for community. Pretty big. The Lord took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat it from it, you will certainly die. The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Well, there it is. I mean, that's the second chapter of the Bible. It's not good for man to be a lone wolf. I mean, there it is in scripture.

SPEAKER_08 7:29

Yeah. I will make a helper suitable for him. Now the Lord God has formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was his name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But for Adam, no suitable helper was found.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

Yeah, so even, you know, God knows that it wasn't good for man to be alone. He knows that he's going to create Eve. He knows he's going to create community, and that Adam and Eve together are to cultivate that community. Guys, from the very beginning, it is in our DNA to be a part of a community. And that's what the MLC is all about.

SPEAKER_08 8:12

Yeah, we long for that, right? We long for that. There's something in here that longs for it. And going against that is really kind of going against the creative order of what God, what God did. Um, let's jump to Ecclesiastes 4 7 to 12 to 12, um, where now we have we have skipping over a few hundred thousand years, maybe.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

Just remember, this is the wisest man other than Christ that ever walked the earth. This is King Solomon, who tried everything in the world under the sun to see whether it had many meaning. And what he finds in this particular set of verses, though, because and why do we go back to it over and over again? Because he found that life in the lone wolf on his own, life that's friendless, is meaningless.

SPEAKER_08 8:58

Yeah. Again, I saw something meaningless under the sun. There was a man all alone. He had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. For whom am I toiling? He asked, and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is meaningless, a miserable business. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either one of them falls down, one can help the other one up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A court of three strands is not quickly broken.

SPEAKER_02 9:54

And these are just some of the realizations during COVID, Obi, that I had. Steve put it in there, the image of the lone wolf on the right look successful and happy on the outside, but holding deep pain and loneliness on the inside. And that's just kind of the things that came out uh during that time of really diving back into what does it mean to be a child of God? What does it mean to be one of his creatures, one of his creation? And what does it mean to be actually created for community and living in a time where we were isolated from one another and the pain that that brought. And these are just kind of some of the thoughts and the research that came out in scripture of that, of the the desire to get back together with community in some sense or form or fashion. And what came out of that, Obi Now, I would just share with you guys, I have more friends now in my life at 56 than I've had since high school, which is kind of crazy because we a lot of you, I don't know if you go through the same thing. You have a lot of friends in high school, maybe a lot of good friends in college, but then you you you start to get into that adulting where you get a job, you get married, you have children, you're raising a family, and it seems like the friendships kind of dwindle down. And then all of a sudden you find yourself at that midlife. What's part of that midlife crisis is man, do I have friends around me? Am I doing this all on my own? The world tells you that you're supposed to, so I guess I better keep trying harder to keep up with the Joneses next door, house, car, looking successful, whatever it may be. And then you look around and you wonder, can I count on my hand how many authentic friends that I actually have? And then you find yourself as a grown man all of a sudden wondering, what in the world? How am I gonna, how am I gonna reach out and make friends now at this stage in life? And it can be challenging to make friends later on in life.

SPEAKER_08 12:00

Yeah. Um, you know, and I I remember right after I lost my job back in 2009 that, you know, all the friends that I had uh that I had made that I thought were kind of like lifelong friends just dropped off the face of the earth. Uh, Steve's actually the only one from that whole season that actually endured even through to this day. And I appreciate that about him. And he always checked on me and and and asked me how I was doing. But after that happened, you know, we had O2, and it just seemed like our circle of friends just kept dwindling down and down. We, you know, we needed that. And that's when where God's people came in, being part of a church family, being part of a community group, of a covenant group where you have can have people and you can tell that I'm not okay. This is this is a difficult season that we're walking through. Uh, and it requires being open, honest, and vulnerable. Uh, like you said, Andy, you know, I mean, on the surface, I mean, you have a successful man with a with a beautiful wife and a beautiful neighborhood, driving a nice vehicle, pastoring a church. It's the epitome of what a successful person is. But on this, that that's just on the surface. But below the surface, you have somebody that's crying out that is in need, and you can't get to that part without being open, honest, and vulnerable, without getting to that point where you said, Hey, I need help.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

And the research just cries out that there are more and more men, especially now in the 21st century, that are living that way with that cry buried deep down inside of them, not finding a place where they can actually share that. And that's what the MLC is to be for, is to reach out to more men, to bring them into brotherhood and community to be able to grow on this hero's journey in Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_08 13:49

Yeah. So we say that, you know, that's kind of like our MLC story, and kind of where we take, where we take over is this in a world where men often feel isolated and alone. This is where we offer a beacon of hope guiding men on a transformative journey to discover authentic manhood through this. Is the this is the key part, right? Christ-centered discipleship, entrepreneurial leadership, and authentic brotherhood, inspired by our ultimate hero, Jesus. That's at the center of it all. This cannot work without Christ at the center. Otherwise, it's just another club of just dudes just hanging around. Um, so this is why we are so passionate about doing what we do, about inviting to make pleading with you every time to making sure that we're inviting other people, because there are even people that you may know uh can be suffering on the inside under the surface.

SPEAKER_02 14:47

The the world sells that lone wolf lie, and that lone wolf lie is all about survival, not about thriving. And the brotherhood of the MLC is about moving beyond surviving on your own and now thriving in a community once again, the way that we were meant to. So the difference between thriving and surviving is pretty huge, Obi.

SPEAKER_08 15:07

Yeah, and you know, you guys remember we we did a series called uh Brothers in Babylon that talked exactly about that where you know that was really the point of it. All is really it wasn't just about you know these the about these three or these four men that got taken into captivity uh in in in a in a new land, in a strange land, in a hostile land, and they weren't just surviving, they were thriving. And you know, this is kind of what called God called us to the life. We're not meant to just survive. God didn't just call us to survive, he gave us to give us life and give us life abundantly. And this starts on this side of eternity, I believe.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

You know, so as we're kicking off the journey, we take a look through the you know, through the looking glass to see what's out there ahead of us, and we take a look at the MLC vision and Revelation 21 is really where it begins, Obi, to see all things made new in Jesus, a fresh new beginning.

SPEAKER_08 16:02

Yep. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and then the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.

SPEAKER_02 16:40

Go ahead and go to the next one there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 16:42

And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. He also said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. To the one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But it's for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, is for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

SPEAKER_02 17:19

You know, and Jesus, this is Jesus speaking here, and he says, Behold, I am making all things new. And Obi, that that struck me. The lone wolf lie of our culture uh is filled with words like bigger and better. You're gonna be bigger, you gotta you gotta try harder, you're gonna be bigger and better. But Jesus doesn't talk about bigger and better, Jesus talks about making all things new. And one of the questions that we wanted to ask this morning, Obi, is what is the difference between better and new? Because our culture is always trying to sell us on being better, but Jesus says right here, Behold, I'm making all things new. And what is what is the difference in for you guys when you take a look at those two words side by side and thinking about what's the difference between better and new when I'm thinking about my own life and the difference between thriving and surviving? What do you guys think? Is there is there a difference between better and new? Yeah, Steve, go ahead. Jump in.

SPEAKER_06 18:25

I was just saying better is built on the same. You're just in trying to improve what you already have. New is new, it's a new beginning, it's starting over.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

Yeah, and you have that, you know, what are we trying to improve something that's broken? Or Jesus starting fresh and brand new, right, with a new man. Is that what you're getting at?

SPEAKER_06 18:47

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 18:48

Yeah. So pretty big difference there, you know. You think about what does it mean to improve something that's sinful and broken, which the world kind of thinks of Christianity as this progressively getting better, Obi, versus this forgiveness and brand newness, this new man in Christ rising up in Jesus, which is a whole different thing.

SPEAKER_08 19:10

Yeah, you know, the Bible talks about how even at our best, we're still filthy rags before a God that is holy, right? Even at our best, even if we spent your entire life devoting yourself to goodness, to benevolence, to live your best, most holy life before a God that is perfect outside of Jesus Christ, it's filthy rags.

SPEAKER_02 19:36

So, but that's gonna be hard to bring up with guys because we're not talking about guys, we need you to try harder, we need you to be better. We're actually talking about guys now, you know, I almost saying suffering the transformative work of God in their heart in their lives, Obi. We're gonna suffer the transformative work of God, right? Of making us new men. So, what what is for men who have been taught to be the lone wolf, to be big and strong, to be better, to try harder? Why is personal transformation, guys, so difficult at times? Why is change into God making us something brand new so difficult?

SPEAKER_08 20:16

You know, Steve, Steve put on the chat admitting that you are broken, wrong, sinful, and this one I hears, I think this is the key, not in control.

SPEAKER_02 20:26

Yeah. So let's just, yeah, think about that. Steve, way to get us started this morning, Steve. So, you know, our wives are gonna come out in a little bit, get their coffee right, and say, honey, I want you to sit down today and I want to share a couple of things about myself with you. First of all, I want you to know that I'm broken, I'm sinful, and I'm not in control. Is that is that kind of how most men think about starting their day in their marriages or sitting down with your children and saying, hey, this is where we're gonna start today, family. Yeah. So, Dave, take that a little step further. What is difficult about surrender then in these moments, Dave?

SPEAKER_01 21:02

Hey, well, it goes with control. We want to think we're in control, and I mean, I hate to say it, it's it's an idolatry. Every one of the Ten Commandments is that and idolatry. It's thinking we're God, and and we're not. We never are. So if we're gonna be open, honest, and vulnerable, it means I've got to surrender my control, I've got to surrender my primacy. I I just have to flat out surrender, whatever that looks like, and take the chips as they fall.

SPEAKER_02 21:33

Yeah. And Elliot, you said pride, jump in there with uh, you know, what what is the issue with pride and being in being able to surrender and ask God to bring about transformation?

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Well, we don't think it's anything wrong with us, number one. You know, we think uh, you know, it it's like the old song that I like sometimes, oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. Um, and and I mean, you think about King Saul, you think about King Saul, that was one of his biggest problems in being a in being a leader. I mean, he was he was chosen by the people, but his pride just got in the way of everything. And that's what happens to most of us being able not to make that transformation is that we have in our minds, well, I'm already perfect. Yeah.

unknown 22:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

Great one. Thank you for bringing up that old country western song. I hadn't thought about that one in a while. That's awesome. And then Greg Baker, jump in with, you know, being willing willing to embrace your role. What do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_03 22:37

I was just thinking about like whatever your whitewater rafting, if if you're in the middle of the boat and you think that you're the you're the guide, like you're never, you're never gonna help the team like accomplish the goal. So you just gotta be willing. You gotta be willing to like just embrace what God has equipped you with to for the betterment of others.

SPEAKER_02 23:00

Yeah, and talk about being willing, Greg. You have to be willing and intent on asking God to reveal the dark hidden places in your heart that are in need of the transforming work. And I don't think we talk about that obi enough as men as are we actively and intentionally praying for God to reveal the dark places in our heart where we hide stuff so that he can't see it, so that we can't see it, so that other people can't see it, that we really don't want transformed because we we actually don't want those dark hidden places to be changed. Uh, you know, but each and every one of us has that going on right now. So, what aspect of your life are you prayerful about right now that's in need of God's transforming work? Part of that prayer is going in, like in a Psalm 51 way, and asking God, hey, reveal those dark hidden places to me that are in need of transformation right now that I know I don't even want to go into.

SPEAKER_08 23:58

Well, you know, and how many times do you find yourself bartering whenever God is begins to talk to you about, you know, those hidden areas, you know, where he's saying, Obi, I need you to surrender. Um, you know, I need you to surrender your children, you know, the control you have on your children. You said, Well, God, what about what about uh it could be finances, it could be your time, right? And then you said, Well, God, how about I just, you know, serve an extra Sunday at church, you know, or how about I do this instead?

SPEAKER_02 24:30

Um, where God can't you can't serve your way out of the dark hidden recesses of your heart. Obi, thank you. You can't you can't man up, you can't try harder. God has to, Ezekiel, you know, in Ezekiel it says he'll reach into your chest cavity and pull out the dead, cold heart of stone, and he'll replace it with the beating heart of flesh of his son Jesus Christ. Yeah, you know, that's the transformation that we need is we need this, we need this surgical work by God done. You can't muster up the strength to do that.

SPEAKER_08 25:06

No, not at all. And the Lord is going to pursue you. If you're if you're seeking after him, he wants every corner of your body, of your soul.

SPEAKER_02 25:15

But that's why we're talking about getting together as men and talking about this on a Friday morning. Guys, we want you to walk away from this today actively and intentionally praying for God to reveal those deep recesses in your heart that need to be transformed, that only he can do the work, but you got to hear that in a community of brothers who are praying the same thing in their own lives. Yeah. So that it's not just looking at some guy, you know, it's not just looking at Greg Baker on the call and saying, hey, Greg, you know, 30 other guys on the call want you to pray that today, Greg. No, it's that each and every one of us are gonna walk away encouraged that we're all praying that together. And that through that, God is transforming each and every one of our lives. And then we come back and we talk about that journey with each other.

SPEAKER_08 26:01

Yeah. Which which brings us to our purpose. Right. Our purpose at the MLC uh it's cultivating a safe, brave, creative, and intentional, diverse environment that promotes and applauds. And here it is, open, honest, vulnerable sharing of our life successes and failures, so that more men might experience authentic, loving, brotherly relationships that are built on trust and accountability that leads us to gospel transformation of Christ-like character. So, all of this that we're doing, it's so that we can, you know, provide a place where you can be those things. It doesn't work if you know, it doesn't work. This doesn't work when you're trying to do solo.

SPEAKER_02 26:47

It just does not to share in the hero's journey, to share these things with one another along the way.

SPEAKER_08 26:54

That is what Romans 12 uh talks about. When Paul says, I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

SPEAKER_02 27:23

And remember, he's talking to a community when he starts this part of the letter. He's not talking to individuals, he's talking to a community that we will know God's will together.

SPEAKER_08 27:33

Yep. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. That's a that's a big deal. Having gifts that diff that differ according to the grace given to us, let us then use them, if prophecy in proportion to our faith, if service in our serving, the one who teaches in his teaching, the one who exhort in his exhortation, the one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with zeal, the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good, love one another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor, do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless who should persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, live in harmony with one another, do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

SPEAKER_02 29:06

Do life together. That's what that says. Do life together, stop doing life alone, do life together.

SPEAKER_08 29:14

Yeah, and you know what I'm seeing in all of this. There's nothing in here that says, you, you, you, you, you. You know, it it pours out, right? It overflows. And I think that's when it works the best when it comes out, when it is not just about you, you know, it's you serving others, you walking with others.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

Yeah, and when we talk about what is authentic manhood in the 21st century, we start with all the things that we think a man is supposed to be doing on his own. When number one in scripture is do life together. What does authentic manhood in the 21st century look like? Well, one of the key aspects of it is being in community with other men.

SPEAKER_08 29:51

Yeah. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink, for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not overcome, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

And how how easy is it to do all of those things right there on your own, Obi? Yeah, without accountability, without encouragement, right? Without feedback.

SPEAKER_08 30:38

You know, I shared with you guys a few weeks ago this video that I saw that went viral. Uh, and it was, you know, what do you do whenever you're you feel alone, you know, when you have issues. And it and it was just hundreds and hundreds of men that just kept adding to the video that's saying, you know, share with who?

unknown 30:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 31:00

You know, I'm not sharing my my problems with anybody. And it's just sad that that is the state of of mind for a lot of the men. So, with that being said, we're gonna ask you guys and open it up just to kind of ask you guys what what is the most challenging aspect of authentic manhood in the 21st century?

SPEAKER_02 31:20

Yeah, we want to know what you guys think. What's the hardest part about being a man today?

SPEAKER_04 31:26

A lot of it, I I think a lot of it is we're it's constant attack over manhood and manliness. If you show any aspect of masculinity, there's a certain group that will, you know, for whatever reason, shout it down. Yep. So the emasculation of men absolutely definitely on the rise. I mean, look for a while, even on sitcoms, every time you saw a father, he was a dumb o fie idiot, and the wife was a smart one almost every sitcom for years, and it's it's kind of like now every every man you see on TV is is not masculine. That makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 32:03

Yep. No, that's a good one, JV. Thanks.

SPEAKER_07 32:06

Well, we had back in the in the uh times where you had Archie Bunker and Eat It, you know, where Archie Bunker was, you know, that's what the whole show was all about, you know, on the family. It just uh his uh way of cultural integration. And uh, you know, so it just kind of seems like one of the hardest things to do these days as a man for me, not for me in general, but you know, because I I receive an anyone who comes within my you know, I I don't have never had you know, a jealous or racist bone in my body, but I see so many examples of it. And it's gotta be hard for people to get beyond some of those in some social circles. You know, as as much as like our group here, we're so diverse, we're so opened up, and we're allowed to to make you know our our chibunkerisms about each other and doing those kinds of things. But today that seems to be to try to be a man is just how to say, I don't care what group I'm in with it, I'm gonna be acceptant and rejoiceful of who I'm around.

SPEAKER_02 33:35

You know, Gunnar, and I think what runs through question one through three a little bit is it it's hard for men to trust in this day and age. It's hard for men to trust other men, it's hard for men to trust what's going on in in the world. So trust has become an issue of authentic manhood, of why it's challenging to be open, honest, and vulnerable, why it's challenging to make manly friendships, Obi.

SPEAKER_08 33:58

Yeah. Uh you know, I I really do think that the vulnerable part really, I think that's that's what I've found talking with the other with other men. I think that's the hardest part for men, is that vulnerability. You know, I I I shared with you that I was talking to some of my guys uh from church about about being open, honest, and vulnerable. And when I said that, you know, I had several that just they're like, ugh, you know, and I'm like, what is that? You know, what what is that? It's like I don't, I don't like that. I was like, then there's something there then, then we need to talk about that, right? That should not be our default uh reaction to being open, honest, and vulnerable.

SPEAKER_02 34:47

And authentically vulnerable, not not not like JB's talking about emasculated, but authentically vulnerable. But we live in such a comparative society that it's difficult to want to be open, honest, and vulnerable, to trust that other people are going to do the right thing with that vulnerability and return it to you also, because we're supposed to be better than each other. When we look at one another on the call right now, we're supposed to be making more money than the other guy. We're supposed to have a bigger house than the other guy, we're supposed to have the cooler car than the other guy. Our children are supposed to be better at sports than you, your kids. You know? So everything about the world that we live in and the culture that we're in is comparative, which makes it very challenging, especially with social media today, to get a group of men together to actually be open, honest, and vulnerable, where God can do his work in transforming our hearts, our minds, our bodies, and our spirits.

SPEAKER_08 35:44

Yeah. You know, and John uh, you know, was talking about what you just touched on just a few seconds ago, you know, that if we're open, honest, and vulnerable, it makes us open to attack. Uh, our vulnerability is weaponized against us. And again, this is why you, this is why it's so important to be part of a Christ-centered community, right? So that you are not just seeing, you know, because it's not just about seeing my needs, but it's also seeing about your needs. It's about making you much more than me. It's contrary to what the world, to what the world is saying. Which brings us to our our mission, or at our mission as the MLC. Uh, we inspire, equip, and empower leaders to advance whole life wellness in a broken world through the gospel, to advance peace in a broken world. And boy, is that ever relevant.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

Yeah, that Hebrew word shalom is often, you know, translated as peace, but actually it means whole life wellness. So when we take a look at these words in Jeremiah 29, you're gonna see the translation of shalom, not as just peace, but as whole life wellness, which is every aspect of your life with Christ at the center, Obi.

SPEAKER_08 36:56

Yeah, and Andy, that's not something that that I that I ever heard in church. Whole life wellness. And matter of fact, you don't hear, I mean, you know, you still don't hear it a lot, even though it's biblical. Whole life wellness.

SPEAKER_02 37:10

May is mental and emotional health and wellness month. And it's a specifically May is mental and emotional health and wellness month for men. So when we're talking about these verses right here, why is it important for a group of men to get together? Because our whole life wellness is an aspect of our life and brotherhood in Christ together. And we need to talk about our mentor and our mental and emotional health and wellness with each other, which we all struggle with. You can't say that you don't, you're not a broken, sinful human being, and you can't acknowledge that scripture says we're broken, sinful human beings in need of God's grace and say, but I don't struggle with mental and emotional health issues. We all do in different ways, and that's going to be a huge aspect of the brotherhood of coming together is bringing peace to one another's lives, growing and encouraging whole life health and wellness with one another in the community that we're bonding together in.

SPEAKER_08 38:07

Yep. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles who might have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce, take wives and have sons and daughters, take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage that they may bear sons and daughters, multiply there and do not decrease. So do life together.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_08 38:31

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name. I did not send them, declares the Lord.

SPEAKER_02 38:54

So where you see that in verse 7, where it says welfare, Obi, that's the word shalom. And welfare is whole life wellness. But seek the whole life wellness of the city, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its whole life wellness you will find your whole life wellness. So all of a sudden, here's the deal, guys. Your whole life wellness is wrapped up in the whole life wellness of the community in which you're planted. It's crazy. People tell you that, Obi.

SPEAKER_08 39:27

No. For thus says the Lord, when seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

SPEAKER_02 39:50

Now, again, there's that word welfare, for I know the plans that I have for you, declares Lord, plans for your whole life wellness. But that whole life wellness that God is speaking about and the plans that He has is for individuals that are embedded within a community of whole life wellness.

SPEAKER_08 40:08

You know, no, this one is always taken out of context. Just they always do the the four I'll have the plans for you, but they never do the ones before, the the the verses before, you know, or the ones afterwards, right? Um, so let again, we're just gonna ask you guys, uh, kind of think about this. What what is the most challenging aspect of being a follower of Jesus today? What is the most challenging aspect of intentionally seeking whole life wellness? And what is the most challenging aspect of chairing sharing the gospel? You guys want to chime in real quick?

SPEAKER_02 40:42

What do you guys think about just being a follower of Jesus today?

SPEAKER_01 40:45

What's what's the most challenging aspect of being one of the most challenging is speaking it out confidently without being a jerk and also not getting drowned out? I I work in a very quote woke industry. You're not allowed to say that. You'll you lose your job. And how do you find a way to be subversive and still, hey, I believe in the company, I want the company to succeed, I want to do my part, but I'm not gonna let that anything about that compromise my faith in Jesus because that faith is worth much more than some companies. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 41:20

Well, that's a good one. I think a lot of us struggle with is the balance between our career life and our following of Jesus, and where our career worlds tell us, no, keep your Bible outside the building.

SPEAKER_05 41:34

I was gonna just similar to Dave, I think just expressing disagreement and love is challenging. Just trying to still maintain a posture, a loving posture, but also still lovingly disagree with someone today is very challenging.

SPEAKER_02 41:48

Jay, that's such a huge one in our world today. If we don't agree with one another, that means we hate each other. Yeah, yeah. That's that's the culture that is being brought up. Uh, and that that, you know, hey, you either believe this and hate me or you agree with me and love me. And Jesus did a phenomenal job of disagreeing with those that he loved.

SPEAKER_08 42:08

Yeah, you know, and I think, and I really do think that uh being behind the keyboard really has allowed that to fester. It's removed the aspect of it where we sit together in a table in a community and talk, right?

SPEAKER_02 42:22

Okay, can how how do you have conviction with compassion? That's uh it's a tough one of being a follower of Jesus today. Is those two things are not mutually exclusive, Obi. They go hand in hand in Christ. But I would say only in Christ do those go hand in hand. Outside of Christ, I think they are mutually exclusive.

SPEAKER_08 42:45

Well, um we'll talk about our three pillars. I know we're uh short on time, and I don't think we're gonna go much longer. We just got a few more slides to go. We're right on it. Um, talk about our three pillars Christ-centered discipleship, entrepreneurial leadership, and authentic manhood, and that's uh being transformed more and more into the image of Jesus Christ um along our journey together. Together. So, how do we do this, guys? Right? And and we're, you know, we provide an environment where we can be open, honest and vulnerable in our weekly Zoom calls. We have the our monthly happy hours, which we had last night. It was a great success. We had 11 people to register, but we had like 23, I think, 24 people that showed up. Um, and uh it was our we have our annual fall retreat. And don't forget, guys, this one people forget about this one. The one on one mentoring, that's also very important. You know, you're either um you're never out of this uh this last one. You know, there's always somebody that should be mentoring you, and you should always be mentoring somebody. I I think that's how growth happens, I think that's how it's meant to be. Um So we get that. Um that's how we believe the you know the growth happens. That's how we believe we not only just survive, um, but we thrive.

SPEAKER_02 44:12

Yeah, and you know that so this whole this 12-week series, Obi, is aimed at we're starting today with just the basics, the story of the MLC, our vision, mission, and values, but we're gonna get all the way to week 12, which is about uh mentoring others, Exodus 18 principle in mentoring. And there may be guys on the call that are like, man, I'm not prepared or ready to mentor anyone. Well, hopefully after these 12 weeks, we've got you excited about wanting to not only be mentored, but to think about and pray about the men that God has placed in your lives uh that are around you that you want to be actively and intentionally mentoring.

SPEAKER_08 44:46

Yeah, I think sometimes we we, you know, we think that we get to a point where you're saved enough, right? Or you kind of get to spiritual retirement, right? Where you just kind of sit out, or you already already served my time at church, I've already done what it is. No, you know, we get to pour out, we get to pour out ourselves until the Lord kills us or until he comes back. And that's how that's how it happens, that's how growth happens.

SPEAKER_02 45:09

And Steve even put in there, you may be mentoring somebody and not even realize it. So this gives you some of the intentionality, Steve, of what you can bring to that mentoring. Uh, and and practice that, you know, and TJ says the consistency, it'll bring intentionality and consistency to that mentoring. So that's what we want to we want to bring alongside for for all of you guys. And just think about this, Obi, where we are today, you know, from six years ago, you say, Well, who would I who would I think of? It all just started with a list of five guys that I sent, you know, an email to. And then you you grow that group out of that, and then out of that, you you start asking those guys to pray about other guys, and it's like that old V Dow Sassun shampoo commercial, and she told two friends, and she told two friends, and you know, and on and on and on, and it develops outward to where now, you know, we're praying about you know 75, 100 guys at the retreat. But you know, our minds in the world today go to, oh, I'm supposed to be mentoring a hundred men. No, you're not. You're supposed to just be praying about the one or two, you know, that are already around you that God's already actively put in your life.

SPEAKER_08 46:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:18

And just to be a little bit more intentional and a little bit more consistent with that, and then to watch that, watch God grow that from there.

SPEAKER_08 46:26

Amen. Well, we're gonna close out in prayer, guys. We're always welcome to stay after party, kind of talk a little bit about it, and and thank you so much for your your time and then your faithfulness. And well, Lord, we thank you so much for every person that's here. It's not by accident. This is providence. This is you have a specific time and place for them. We're guided by you. All our steps are, and we ask you that as we go through these series, that you allow us not to just uh hear your word, not to just read your word, not to just uh sit and try to just cruise on through, Lord, but that you allow this your words, that you allow your scripture, that you allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to be transformative in our lives, to ignite a fire within us, to give us desperation, to give us uh a sense of urgency for the lost, for the men that are out there suffering. We were those guys at one point or another, and God help us from um walking with a swagger. We ask you that you uh begin working in our hearts, that you begin stirring our affection towards you and a passion for those that need you. Open up opportunities for these men uh so that they may start thinking about who to mentor. To, and if they're not being mentored by somebody to reach out to somebody that's older and wiser, has been walking with you longer that we can be mentored. Help us be open and honest and vulnerable in all we do.

SPEAKER_09 47:59

We love you. Amen. Thanks for joining and listening. We hope that you were truly blessed. Now you can join the live call every Friday morning at 7 a.m. Central Standard Time, and please bring a friend. And to learn more about the MLC, visit our website at the MLC. Have a great day.