- Welcome everyone.
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We're excited to share
some country wisdom with you.
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- King Solomon had
a thing or two to say
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about the path to
wisdom in Proverbs 4, he wrote,
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let your eyes
look directly forward
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and your gaze be
straight before you.
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Keep straight
the path of your feet
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and all your ways will be sure.
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- Join us now
for Country Wisdom.
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(mellow music)
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(iron clanking)
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We got an amazing
program for you tonight.
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It's certainly an
interesting location
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and there's a group of people
you're going to love to meet.
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And the first one, Marty Miller,
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thank you for being with us.
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- It's good to be here.
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- I have to jump in
here with a question.
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- You would, I know.
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- You mentioned it's
an interesting location,
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something of an understatement.
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This is what the third man cave
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that the two of you
have dragged me into.
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Our next episode if we
had needs to be a quilting bee
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or something, but I need to
know why I'm even in this place.
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- Why don't you go
ahead and tell her?
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- Well, one of my favorite
verses is Proverbs 27:17,
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which basically states
that as iron sharpens iron,
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so does one man sharpen another.
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And so what I found in
working with groups of men
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in small group context
is the whole purpose is
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really discipleship.
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And discipleship is an effort
to take men where they're at
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and to sharpen them so
that they can be more of a tool
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in God's hands.
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And so, the
small group is really
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what we're trying to
really communicate here.
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And that idea of
becoming more like Christ.
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- You actually
ended up in this location.
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Tell us about it because
you're talking about sharpening.
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I mean, there's
probably a lot of pounding
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and everything
else that goes on too.
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- Well, this is a
little blacksmith shop
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at the back of the
campus here in Tennessee,
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near where I live
and they have a club
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and they meet once a week.
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And so I just arranged
that we would come here and to
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pound some iron and some steel,
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and there's a lot of lessons
to be learned in the process.
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- What I want to know is,
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this kind of sounds
like a dream of yours
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or you were a little bit driven.
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Can you share a
little bit backstory?
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- Well, yeah, I mean,
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I've always
enjoyed being with people,
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but I enjoy nature, God's
creation and I've learned to
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say, God, what do you want
to teach me out of your word
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but also out of lessons
from nature, lessons from life.
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And so after 30 years
in teaching education,
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I transition to doing
full-time men's ministry.
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And I've been excited
about that because really it is
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education as well, but
it's education about life.
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I taught biology for many years
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and biology is a study of life.
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And I find now that I'm
really engaged in helping men
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and myself to
have a better life.
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So to me, that's really the,
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the foundation of
how I got started.
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- Okay. And have
you found some success
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in what you're doing?
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- Yeah, actually
for about seven years,
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I've been working in a ministry
called Blueprint for Men
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and the reason I feel
like God gave me the name
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for that ministry is
because men need a plan.
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And ultimately
Jesus is the plan.
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He is the blueprint.
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But everybody's life
comes into play with genetics,
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life experiences and
wherever they come to Christ,
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he takes them where
they're at and he says,
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let me help you become who
I really designed you to be
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and have that really
good life that I promised.
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And so really to me,
that's what it's all about
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is seeing that
change in a man's life
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just like it
happened in my life.
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- I have a question
which might be opening the
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proverbial can of worms,
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but why do you think it's
important for men to have a
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group? We live in a
world that really doesn't want
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men to be men anymore.
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We live in a world where
there's a lot of confusion about
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what a real man is,
let alone a Christian man.
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So why do you
think that men, you know,
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what made you think
we need to get together?
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- Well, for my own life, I
found that when my wife and I,
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we had children
and I was in the crush
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of my teaching career,
there was no time for friends
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and I believe it's interesting.
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And I know that in the
Bible, this was talking about
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having a spouse.
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It's not good
for men to be alone,
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but I think that principle
is universal for men and women.
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We're created
to be in community.
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And Satan, he's a predator.
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He wants to destroy us.
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And just like any predator,
if he can select us out
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and isolate us,
we're very vulnerable.
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Look at Samson in
the Bible, strongest man,
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the most macho man and
he was taken down by a woman
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very easily.
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- Marty, we don't
want to interrupt you
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because I know you've
gotta go get your guys
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and kind of get started.
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So we'll let you do that.
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Appreciate it. -
[Marty] All right.
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Thank you.
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- Hey Janice, how are you doing?
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- Hey, you wrote another book.
00:05:17.48\00:05:19.78
- I did. Had a
burden on my heart
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and God helped me get it done.
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- So the Plan of
Love, what's it about?
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- Well, it's really
about God and eternity.
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Saw everything that
was going to happen here
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and his amazing love.
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He says, I'm gonna
take care of the problems.
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I'm gonna take care of the
situation by giving my own life.
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He did all that, but
we've been lied to so much.
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We don't see what
God has planned for us,
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what God is doing for us.
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Matter of fact, the angel
came down to Mary and said,
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you shall call his name Jesus
for he shall save his people
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from their sin.
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Notice it wasn't in, but from.
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- Where can people get the book?
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- Hey, I'm glad you asked.
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Folks, if you'd like
your own personal copy,
00:06:00.96\00:06:02.89
log on to
TalkingDonkeyInternational.org
00:06:02.89\00:06:05.59
and please, if you
would, send us a donation of
00:06:05.59\00:06:07.76
$12 or more - [Janice] or more
00:06:07.76\00:06:09.96
- [Jim] and
we'll get you the book
00:06:09.96\00:06:11.60
and I'll be happy
to sign it for you too.
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Thank you so much.
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- Well, it's good to
see everybody this evening.
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It's our first time getting
together with our small group.
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And I always like to of
course, start out with prayer
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and then we're gonna
do a few introductions
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but let's just bow our heads.
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Father in heaven, we
thank you for the opportunity
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we have to gather
together as a group of men,
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we wanna be better men.
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We wanna be more like you.
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And as we come together,
we invite your holy spirit
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to be here, to guide and
direct all of our conversations.
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And as we open your word,
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may you speak to us
in a special way today.
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And may we be sharper
instruments in your hand,
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in Jesus name. Amen.
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- Amen.
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- Well, I think it's
kind of neat to be able to
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have a group meet
in a blacksmith shop.
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And I really want to
thank Dusty for setting this up
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and we're gonna have
some fun a little bit later.
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But I think one of the
most important things to do
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before we get started is to
do our little introductions.
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Some of you know,
each other and some don't.
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So I'll just start it off.
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I'm Marty and I've
been doing small groups
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for quite a long time,
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and it's really changed my life
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and I've seen it
change many men's lives.
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There's just a brotherhood that
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God designed us to experience.
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And many guys find
themselves in a lot of isolation
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by taking a step to
be in this small group,
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you are taking the right steps.
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So why don't we just
start across here and
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just say your name, maybe
something you really enjoy,
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whatever you want to share.
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So just take a short time.
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- My name is Xaver.
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I love motorcycles.
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I'm from Louisville Colorado,
that's where I was born.
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Married four years.
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I'm a student for
computer science and I love God.
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And I love small men's groups.
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It's been a world
of a change for me
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I'm 30 and I wish I was
doing something like this
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at least 10 years ago.
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- Glad to have you.
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- Glad to have you Xaver
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- Robert.
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- My name is Robert and I am
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I'm over 50
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and just moved here from
Texas about six months ago.
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And I've been getting a
lot out of these small groups.
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So my marriage had a
crisis in my marriage about
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six months ago.
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And the biggest
concept I have, the biggest,
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I guess, concept
I've gotten is that,
00:08:59.27\00:09:02.27
so I had a comparison of
what it means to be a man.
00:09:02.27\00:09:06.11
Oh, I just, I'm
better than my dad.
00:09:06.11\00:09:08.14
I'm better than
him. I'm, you know,
00:09:08.14\00:09:09.24
I'm better than
all these people.
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I'm in the 99% compared
to, you know, mainstream.
00:09:10.61\00:09:15.42
But coming to these groups,
00:09:16.79\00:09:19.99
I've been introduced to a
totally different concept.
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It's the biblical standard,
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which is much higher and
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ironically enough,
it's much more satisfying.
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My wife is much more satisfied
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in the very short amount
of time we turn that crisis
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into an opportunity.
00:09:34.60\00:09:36.40
And our marriage is blossoming
00:09:36.40\00:09:38.61
and we're 15 years
in and it's better.
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It's severely
better than it's ever been.
00:09:41.31\00:09:44.95
And I'm on a great trajectory.
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So, I get the opportunity
to apply the biblical standard
00:09:46.95\00:09:50.19
to my father skills
and my husband skills
00:09:50.19\00:09:53.82
and my, you know, being a man.
00:09:53.82\00:09:56.62
So I'm just, I'm very grateful
for them, for the groups.
00:09:56.62\00:09:59.63
- Thank you, Robert.
00:09:59.63\00:10:00.90
That was great.
00:10:00.90\00:10:02.30
Dusty.
00:10:02.30\00:10:03.13
- I'm Dusty.
00:10:03.13\00:10:04.03
I've been familiar with
small groups on and off.
00:10:06.07\00:10:09.20
Been trying to
get to Marty's group
00:10:10.31\00:10:11.94
Blueprint for Men.
00:10:12.91\00:10:14.18
About two years
things, life challenges my dad
00:10:14.18\00:10:18.01
and his age and
the health challenges
00:10:18.01\00:10:21.08
and things that went with
that have prevented me up until
00:10:21.08\00:10:24.09
a short time ago and through
prayer and the encouragement
00:10:24.09\00:10:27.66
of another member.
00:10:27.66\00:10:30.39
Finally, one Sabbath morning,
I got up and went for it
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.93
and have been glad
it's been a blessing
00:10:34.93\00:10:37.27
and a strength
to me in many ways,
00:10:37.27\00:10:39.87
in taking on many
challenges that I see every day.
00:10:41.27\00:10:43.61
I work with young
people every day and
00:10:44.81\00:10:46.94
it's just been good
all around and helping me
00:10:48.14\00:10:50.38
make it through the
everyday challenges,
00:10:50.38\00:10:52.91
not only at work, but
at home and in hobbies
00:10:52.91\00:10:57.39
and other things as well.
00:10:57.39\00:10:58.59
- Thanks Dusty and appreciate
you again, setting this up
00:11:00.09\00:11:02.72
so we can have this
environment and have some fun.
00:11:02.72\00:11:05.96
John.
00:11:05.96\00:11:07.13
- Yeah. My name is John
00:11:07.13\00:11:08.46
and I am so happy to
be here this evening.
00:11:08.46\00:11:11.37
I have been
involved in men's groups
00:11:11.37\00:11:14.34
probably since 1999.
00:11:14.34\00:11:17.17
- Wow.
00:11:17.17\00:11:18.51
- And it has just made a
huge difference in my life.
00:11:18.51\00:11:22.38
And then being
involved with Blueprint for Men
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.25
in the Sabbath morning meetings
has just been life changing.
00:11:25.25\00:11:29.12
So I can't say enough
good things about small groups,
00:11:29.12\00:11:32.79
about men coming together,
being vulnerable to each other,
00:11:32.79\00:11:36.62
trusting each other,
holding each other accountable
00:11:36.62\00:11:40.20
is just an amazing thing.
00:11:40.20\00:11:42.16
So I am really excited
about what we're gonna be
00:11:42.16\00:11:44.30
talking about this evening.
00:11:44.30\00:11:46.50
- Well, what we're
gonna talk about is to me,
00:11:46.50\00:11:48.50
the setting that we're in here,
00:11:48.50\00:11:50.24
and we're gonna take a
look at Proverbs 27:17,
00:11:50.24\00:11:53.27
and we're gonna just
discuss it for a little bit.
00:11:53.27\00:11:55.01
We've got just a real short
study today, but Proverbs 27:17,
00:11:55.01\00:12:00.05
I think most Christians have
heard of this verse many times,
00:12:01.38\00:12:06.12
but it's simply
this, iron sharpeneth iron;
00:12:06.12\00:12:08.59
So a man sharpeneth the
countenance of his friend.
00:12:08.59\00:12:12.49
So the principle
here to me is that
00:12:12.49\00:12:16.26
we need each other to be
better in the way that we are.
00:12:16.26\00:12:21.34
For example, if you
go out to cut down a tree
00:12:22.47\00:12:25.74
and you have an ax,
00:12:25.74\00:12:27.34
it's a lot better to have
a sharp ax than a dull ax,
00:12:27.34\00:12:30.05
right guys?
00:12:30.05\00:12:31.35
You're gonna work a lot harder.
00:12:31.35\00:12:33.21
So it's more important
to take that ax periodically
00:12:33.21\00:12:38.12
and sharpen it, take
the time to sharpen it
00:12:38.12\00:12:40.56
and your work will be easier,
you'll be more effective.
00:12:40.56\00:12:44.19
And I think that
applies in our lives.
00:12:44.19\00:12:46.39
And so I've got right
here down here on the floor,
00:12:46.39\00:12:51.20
like an old ax head.
00:12:51.20\00:12:52.97
And when I think of, you know,
the state of manhood today,
00:12:52.97\00:12:57.04
I think of really, a
lot of guys are kind of
00:12:57.04\00:12:59.67
feeling like this.
00:12:59.67\00:13:00.84
You know, they
really have lost their way.
00:13:00.84\00:13:03.24
The handle's broken off.
00:13:03.24\00:13:05.28
Out in the woods, I
found this all rusty and dull,
00:13:05.28\00:13:09.62
but with some work, this
thing can be all cleaned up,
00:13:09.62\00:13:13.05
sharpened, put a
new ax handle in this,
00:13:13.05\00:13:16.59
and it'd be pretty
well close to good as new.
00:13:16.59\00:13:18.66
I bet you could make
it that way. Right, Dusty?
00:13:18.66\00:13:20.53
- Pretty close. - Pretty close.
00:13:20.53\00:13:21.90
Yeah. You could paint it up
and it would be good as new.
00:13:21.90\00:13:25.60
And that that's really, to me
00:13:25.60\00:13:27.20
the message of what God
wants us to experience in life.
00:13:28.64\00:13:32.64
He takes us wherever we're at
00:13:32.64\00:13:34.68
and he wants to
transform us into his likeness.
00:13:34.68\00:13:38.81
And I appreciate Robert
what you share about how
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.72
that transformational
power of God's word
00:13:41.72\00:13:44.72
and in your life in
a small group concept.
00:13:44.72\00:13:47.89
What about you guys?
00:13:50.09\00:13:51.43
What do you think when
you think about something,
00:13:51.43\00:13:53.36
getting sharp?
00:13:53.36\00:13:55.06
I'm gonna pose a question.
00:13:55.06\00:13:56.46
If you're gonna
sharpen something,
00:13:58.20\00:14:00.54
is the object you're
sharpening it with going to be
00:14:00.54\00:14:04.24
a harder steel
or a softer steel?
00:14:05.34\00:14:08.81
What would cause that ax head,
00:14:08.81\00:14:11.28
for example, to get sharpened?
00:14:11.28\00:14:13.05
What would you need?
00:14:13.05\00:14:14.82
- Well if it's a file,
00:14:14.82\00:14:16.38
the file's gotta be
hard and it's gotta be sharp
00:14:16.38\00:14:19.95
and it's gotta be
able to scrape the metal
00:14:19.95\00:14:23.63
off of what
you're trying to sharp.
00:14:23.63\00:14:25.89
- And it takes time. Right?
00:14:25.89\00:14:27.20
- And it takes
time, many strokes.
00:14:27.20\00:14:29.03
- Okay. So there's
gotta be some time.
00:14:29.03\00:14:31.57
There's going to be - pressure
00:14:31.57\00:14:32.37
- an application of force
00:14:32.37\00:14:34.80
and it's gotta be
harder than the other. Okay.
00:14:34.80\00:14:38.07
So how does that apply in maybe,
00:14:38.07\00:14:40.64
did you have
something else Dusty?
00:14:40.64\00:14:42.01
- I was gonna say you
guys talk about being easier
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.65
and more effective,
00:14:44.65\00:14:46.31
but one of the biggest things
that most people get hurt with
00:14:46.31\00:14:49.85
on tools is dull tools.
00:14:49.85\00:14:52.59
We get hurt with more
dull when we're not kept up
00:14:52.59\00:14:55.82
than when with
a tool is sharper.
00:14:55.82\00:14:57.79
The tool is sharper, people
aren't going to have to use
00:14:57.79\00:15:00.33
as much pressure to use it,
00:15:00.33\00:15:01.60
less chance of it
coming back at you.
00:15:01.60\00:15:03.77
And it's also just safer.
00:15:03.77\00:15:06.60
So if we're sharper
in what the Lord is doing
00:15:06.60\00:15:08.94
and working with us
and more in contact,
00:15:08.94\00:15:11.11
we're going to be
much more well equipped
00:15:11.11\00:15:14.31
to take on the
challenge, whatever that may be.
00:15:14.31\00:15:16.78
- I love it.
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.11
I never really thought
about that, but that's a,
00:15:18.11\00:15:20.08
that's a true point.
00:15:20.08\00:15:21.15
- And it takes
practice to sharpen the tool
00:15:21.15\00:15:25.65
according to the edge
and how it's gonna be used.
00:15:25.65\00:15:28.06
- Right. - Yeah.
00:15:28.06\00:15:29.06
When I was a
student in Southern,
00:15:29.06\00:15:31.79
I was the student
instructor in the wood shop
00:15:31.79\00:15:35.53
and there was a
little saying we had to say,
00:15:35.53\00:15:37.50
a dull instrument is an
accident waiting to happen.
00:15:37.50\00:15:40.34
- Interesting. - Oh, definitely.
00:15:40.34\00:15:42.00
- Yeah.
00:15:42.00\00:15:43.37
- So being sharp has safety
features as well as efficient.
00:15:43.37\00:15:48.41
So when I think of something
being a harder material,
00:15:50.15\00:15:53.85
how does that apply to us here?
00:15:53.85\00:15:57.19
If you know, the idea of
water seeks its own level,
00:15:57.19\00:16:00.99
you know, like when you
were back in high school, Xaver,
00:16:00.99\00:16:03.79
you know, hanging
out with your friends,
00:16:03.79\00:16:06.26
that's kind of
dull and dull. Right?
00:16:06.26\00:16:08.23
Kind of dumb and dumber. Right?
00:16:08.23\00:16:09.70
We see this kind
of behavior. Right?
00:16:09.70\00:16:12.33
And in some, I mean,
00:16:12.33\00:16:13.67
I know of guys that are
probably 50 or 60 years old,
00:16:13.67\00:16:16.74
that probably haven't matured
a whole lot since then. Right?
00:16:16.74\00:16:20.44
- Well, it doesn't take
00:16:20.44\00:16:21.81
someone stronger than you
00:16:23.51\00:16:25.61
- Okay. - To help sharpen you.
00:16:25.61\00:16:28.95
Because if I come
into a group and I have
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.42
strengths and weaknesses
and I have blind spots,
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.82
it just takes
somebody that's more awake
00:16:35.82\00:16:39.23
on and he can
point out my blind spots.
00:16:39.23\00:16:41.30
That's the
accountability, the blind spots.
00:16:41.30\00:16:43.97
That's what I'm
trying to expose, get rid of,
00:16:43.97\00:16:47.50
address, which
makes me stronger.
00:16:47.50\00:16:51.17
So it is, I don't
need somebody super.
00:16:51.17\00:16:53.98
I mean, the spirit
of being in the group
00:16:53.98\00:16:56.88
and the people showing
up emotionally available
00:16:56.88\00:17:00.25
and engaged, there's
a magic that happens.
00:17:00.25\00:17:04.72
There's a process that happens.
00:17:04.72\00:17:06.82
So that's what comes to my mind.
00:17:06.82\00:17:08.32
- You don't have to be
the Uber Christian Guy.
00:17:08.32\00:17:10.99
- And there's a
risk to be taken.
00:17:10.99\00:17:12.99
- Yeah.
00:17:12.99\00:17:13.80
- You have to take a risk
00:17:13.80\00:17:15.83
to be vulnerable
in the first place.
00:17:15.83\00:17:17.63
- Yeah.
00:17:17.63\00:17:18.97
What's showing up is part of it,
00:17:18.97\00:17:20.40
it's the humility to show up.
00:17:20.40\00:17:22.74
And put yourself at, you
know, exposure with the group.
00:17:22.74\00:17:27.74
- Talk about
life. - Talk about life.
00:17:27.74\00:17:30.48
show up, and then yeah.
00:17:30.48\00:17:32.58
The process that
we do, talk about it,
00:17:32.58\00:17:36.18
there's a natural
process that goes with that,
00:17:36.18\00:17:40.22
that we can look at all that.
00:17:40.22\00:17:41.26
- In a safe
environment. - Right.
00:17:41.26\00:17:43.79
- Safe and
confidential environment.
00:17:43.79\00:17:45.19
- It's kind of like, what's
said in the blacksmith shop
00:17:45.19\00:17:48.33
stays in the
blacksmith shop. Right?
00:17:48.33\00:17:50.27
You know, we
all kind of get that
00:17:50.27\00:17:53.00
confidentiality is a key part
of a small group experience.
00:17:53.00\00:17:56.71
So we've got a group
of guys that are committed
00:17:56.71\00:18:00.41
going in a direction together,
00:18:00.41\00:18:02.58
but we need God's word
really, that's going to be the
00:18:02.58\00:18:05.38
ultimate tool where
God speaks to our heart
00:18:05.38\00:18:09.78
in a very specific way.
00:18:09.78\00:18:11.49
So Robert, I had to had
you have a verse about this
00:18:11.49\00:18:15.22
isn't that right?
00:18:15.22\00:18:16.09
- That's right. - On your item,
00:18:16.09\00:18:18.36
you know, we hardly
used real Bibles anymore.
00:18:18.36\00:18:22.43
So you got it keyed up there.
00:18:22.43\00:18:24.53
- I got it keyed up. Okay.
00:18:24.53\00:18:26.23
It was 12, right? - Yep.
00:18:26.23\00:18:28.57
- Hebrews 4:12,
00:18:28.57\00:18:30.57
for the word of God
is alive and powerful.
00:18:31.81\00:18:35.74
It is sharper than the
sharpest two-edge sword,
00:18:35.74\00:18:39.18
cutting between
the soul and spirit,
00:18:39.18\00:18:41.12
between the joint and marrow.
00:18:41.12\00:18:42.92
It exposes our
innermost thoughts and desires.
00:18:42.92\00:18:45.45
- So guys, let's
just think about that.
00:18:46.99\00:18:49.49
How does that strike you?
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.76
I mean, that's almost surgical.
00:18:52.76\00:18:55.56
Any reflections on that verse,
00:18:55.56\00:18:57.67
how it applies to us
becoming sharper ourselves,
00:18:57.67\00:19:02.00
but it's almost like
there's a surgery going on.
00:19:02.00\00:19:04.37
It's not just this
external thing, it's deep.
00:19:04.37\00:19:07.28
- Well, the key to
that is God's word.
00:19:08.38\00:19:10.51
- Yes.
00:19:10.51\00:19:11.85
- And if we are spending
that quiet time every morning,
00:19:11.85\00:19:16.05
praying before,
and then in his word,
00:19:16.05\00:19:19.22
the spirit of God to our mind
00:19:19.22\00:19:21.52
cuts to our heart
all the way to the quick
00:19:21.52\00:19:24.46
- Right.
00:19:24.46\00:19:25.59
- And shows us what
we need to do or not do.
00:19:25.59\00:19:30.00
- Right.
00:19:30.00\00:19:30.90
- One of the things
that text reminds me of is
00:19:32.17\00:19:35.14
the other one where,
00:19:35.14\00:19:36.47
and this is one that is
taking me a while to get through
00:19:36.47\00:19:39.51
and really
understand and that is that,
00:19:39.51\00:19:41.58
the God has and understands
the desires of our heart
00:19:43.41\00:19:47.92
better than we do.
00:19:47.92\00:19:49.55
And if we can figure out
how to surrender that to him,
00:19:50.92\00:19:54.09
which is hard to do,
because we wanna be in control,
00:19:54.09\00:19:57.39
he will give us desires.
00:19:57.39\00:19:58.79
And when we get down the road
aways, we'll look back and go,
00:19:58.79\00:20:01.70
wow, I had no idea.
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.60
I know it has for me,
in many different ways.
00:20:04.70\00:20:07.17
And that doesn't mean
that I don't struggle.
00:20:08.30\00:20:10.57
But yeah, that's
something that really stands out
00:20:12.24\00:20:15.01
is that he really knows
us because he was our maker.
00:20:15.01\00:20:19.38
He was the one
that knit us together.
00:20:19.38\00:20:21.12
He knows what we
want better than we do.
00:20:21.12\00:20:24.35
- So kind of what you're
saying is that, that ax head,
00:20:24.35\00:20:27.89
that I had, that was all
dull and dirty and stuff.
00:20:27.89\00:20:30.86
He made us in a certain
way and we've lost our way.
00:20:30.86\00:20:35.93
And he wants to
kind of bring us back
00:20:35.93\00:20:38.93
and make us
even better than new.
00:20:38.93\00:20:40.80
- Yeah.
00:20:40.80\00:20:42.20
- I wanted to say
something about that verse,
00:20:42.20\00:20:43.81
actually the very first one,
and I'm sorry for backtracking.
00:20:43.81\00:20:46.61
I think about a lot of things
like iron sharpening iron,
00:20:46.61\00:20:51.61
I think of, you know,
00:20:51.61\00:20:53.11
you have to have a harder
compound in order to do that.
00:20:53.11\00:20:55.85
And so, yeah going back
to the high school thing
00:20:55.85\00:20:58.95
and the dull and
dull, the dumber and dumb,
00:20:58.95\00:21:00.86
if you have these weak
people that are representing
00:21:00.86\00:21:03.56
weak metals, you are
just gonna dull yourself.
00:21:03.56\00:21:07.00
You're probably gonna
end up hurting yourself.
00:21:07.00\00:21:08.96
But if you have somebody
who's Christlike or, you know,
00:21:08.96\00:21:12.17
have given their hearts
to God, that's a harder well.
00:21:12.17\00:21:15.84
And that's something
that you can rub up against
00:21:15.84\00:21:18.94
and get sharper.
00:21:18.94\00:21:20.34
And that's what I believe
this small group is about.
00:21:20.34\00:21:22.01
We're becoming vulnerable.
00:21:22.01\00:21:24.48
We're spending
time against each other.
00:21:24.48\00:21:25.75
We're rubbing up on each other.
00:21:25.75\00:21:26.88
I might be dull and
you might be sharper
00:21:26.88\00:21:30.32
by spending time with you,
I'm able to become sharper.
00:21:30.32\00:21:33.49
And then with the
second verse, you know,
00:21:33.49\00:21:36.29
God is the sharpest.
00:21:36.29\00:21:38.56
And it's funny because in
that verse where it talks about
00:21:38.56\00:21:41.53
God's armor and the
Bible being the sword and like,
00:21:43.03\00:21:47.80
God represents the
sword with the Bible.
00:21:48.97\00:21:51.84
And so when you read the Bible,
00:21:51.84\00:21:53.81
you can use that as a
tool to like carve off
00:21:53.81\00:21:58.18
these sinful
things, whatever it might be
00:21:58.18\00:22:01.35
that's causing you to sin.
00:22:01.35\00:22:03.22
And nothing else could do
that other than the Bible.
00:22:03.22\00:22:07.09
Cause otherwise it
probably lead an infection
00:22:07.09\00:22:09.69
or wouldn't do it the right way,
00:22:09.69\00:22:11.13
but it's like a, such
a precise surgical tool.
00:22:11.13\00:22:14.20
Because the way it allows
you to see in that mirror,
00:22:14.20\00:22:18.07
the reflection of
Jesus and your imperfections.
00:22:18.07\00:22:21.80
And so I just
wanted to say that.
00:22:21.80\00:22:23.64
- Yeah. So many
things we could say,
00:22:23.64\00:22:25.51
but our time is up right now.
00:22:25.51\00:22:27.21
And I just want to bring
this short time to a close
00:22:27.21\00:22:32.28
and then we're gonna go
work on pounding some iron.
00:22:33.62\00:22:34.85
And I think Dusty,
00:22:34.85\00:22:35.98
you've got some
stuff set up for us. Right?
00:22:35.98\00:22:37.42
- We can. - Yeah.
00:22:37.42\00:22:38.99
So why don't we go ahead
and close out with prayer.
00:22:38.99\00:22:42.69
Dusty, would you pray for us?
00:22:43.83\00:22:45.36
- Dear heavenly Father,
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.40
thank you for a chance to
get together with brothers.
00:22:48.40\00:22:50.67
- The great
Catholic monk, Martin Luther
00:22:53.70\00:22:56.07
was so concerned
with his salvation,
00:22:56.07\00:22:58.67
that when in Rome he climbed
the holy stairs on his knees
00:22:58.67\00:23:03.01
to earn salvation.
00:23:03.01\00:23:04.98
But when he reached the top,
00:23:04.98\00:23:06.88
God flashed a Bible
verse before his mind,
00:23:06.88\00:23:09.92
the just shall live by faith.
00:23:09.92\00:23:12.35
That brings me to the
title of a free pamphlet
00:23:12.35\00:23:15.49
that I'd like to give you.
00:23:15.49\00:23:17.23
It's called, Am I Good Enough?
00:23:17.23\00:23:19.96
It's easy to get your copy.
00:23:19.96\00:23:21.83
Go to
TalkingDonkeyInternational.org
00:23:21.83\00:23:25.40
and order offer 107.
00:23:25.40\00:23:28.30
Am I Good Enough?
00:23:28.30\00:23:29.77
It will be a comfort for you.
00:23:29.77\00:23:32.37
- Guys, I've gotta,
thank you for letting me
00:23:34.11\00:23:35.94
invade your space and
listen in on your group.
00:23:35.94\00:23:40.05
You know, early on
before the guys got here,
00:23:40.05\00:23:42.82
I was asking you, why
did you feel so moved?
00:23:42.82\00:23:45.85
You had to have a men's group.
00:23:45.85\00:23:47.56
You know, what
was motivating you
00:23:47.56\00:23:50.23
and why is it this necessary?
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.26
But after observing you,
I'm getting a little glimpse
00:23:52.26\00:23:56.03
and I approve now.
00:23:56.03\00:23:58.40
- I'll tell you why
I need a men's group,
00:23:58.40\00:24:00.14
cause the women really need it.
00:24:00.14\00:24:02.34
- I had that thought.
00:24:02.34\00:24:03.64
I was watching you guys
listening to you and thinking,
00:24:03.64\00:24:06.27
what woman wouldn't
want her husband to be here,
00:24:06.27\00:24:09.54
doing what you're doing.
00:24:09.54\00:24:10.81
- There are mostly
women that are in fact
00:24:12.71\00:24:15.62
when I speak anywhere
00:24:15.62\00:24:17.02
and talk about this
small group experience
00:24:17.02\00:24:20.39
and transformational power
of discipleship journey for men,
00:24:20.39\00:24:24.99
I get more amens
from women than from men.
00:24:24.99\00:24:29.56
And so women can do a
lot to nudge their husbands
00:24:29.56\00:24:34.27
or boyfriends to engage.
00:24:34.27\00:24:37.61
- You know, as I read my Bible,
00:24:37.61\00:24:39.24
God is looking for men
who will become Christlike.
00:24:39.24\00:24:43.48
Well, Christ died for us.
00:24:43.48\00:24:45.85
And that's really what the
Bible says too about the men.
00:24:45.85\00:24:48.18
You should be
willing to die for your wife.
00:24:48.18\00:24:51.05
I'm guessing that you
fellows have been in this group
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.46
quite a while, have seen
major changes in your families
00:24:53.46\00:24:56.69
in your life. Is that true?
00:24:56.69\00:24:58.16
- [Men] Yeah. True.
00:24:58.16\00:24:59.89
- Anybody care to share
with us a little bit about that?
00:24:59.89\00:25:02.76
Yeah. - Willing to share.
00:25:02.76\00:25:04.17
Well, this is my second marriage
00:25:05.47\00:25:08.07
and I was going through a
little bit of a rough patch
00:25:08.07\00:25:11.41
about a year ago and
that's when I realized I need to
00:25:11.41\00:25:14.91
reach out for God and I did.
00:25:14.91\00:25:17.35
And he led me to a
small Bible study group
00:25:17.35\00:25:20.78
who led me to gentlemen,
who led me to Blueprint for Men.
00:25:20.78\00:25:23.42
I went to a men's retreat
and I gave my life back to God.
00:25:23.42\00:25:26.79
And ever since then,
00:25:27.89\00:25:28.99
I've been sober from
so many things in my life
00:25:28.99\00:25:31.59
and it's
changed my view of life.
00:25:31.59\00:25:34.30
My life, coworkers,
friends, everything.
00:25:34.30\00:25:37.80
I value things
more, value my wife more,
00:25:37.80\00:25:40.94
which in turns
she reciprocates that.
00:25:40.94\00:25:43.77
Our relationship's better
than it's ever been before.
00:25:43.77\00:25:46.24
And I now really know
what love is so much so
00:25:46.24\00:25:50.11
that I really would die for her.
00:25:50.11\00:25:52.21
And it's just been
amazing and growing up,
00:25:52.21\00:25:56.52
not growing up, you
know, growing with these men,
00:25:56.52\00:25:59.95
they're sharp tools and they're
helping me become sharper.
00:25:59.95\00:26:04.59
And it's just been amazing
and been a blessing cause
00:26:04.59\00:26:08.06
they know so much.
00:26:08.06\00:26:09.36
And I mean, they say that
they've been benefiting from me.
00:26:09.36\00:26:13.80
That's hard to believe,
00:26:13.80\00:26:15.60
but I just really
have come to enjoy them.
00:26:15.60\00:26:18.71
And that's why I say,
you know, 10 years ago,
00:26:18.71\00:26:20.98
I wish I was a
part of group like this.
00:26:20.98\00:26:22.24
And I encourage every guy,
00:26:22.24\00:26:24.01
whether you're married
or single, have kids or not,
00:26:24.01\00:26:26.82
join a small group like this.
00:26:26.82\00:26:29.18
- Amen.
00:26:29.18\00:26:30.52
I was thinking, you know,
you look at the coals and you,
00:26:30.52\00:26:31.89
you pull a coal away
from the fire. What happens?
00:26:31.89\00:26:34.82
It starts dying.
00:26:34.82\00:26:36.29
That's why you put
all these coals together.
00:26:36.29\00:26:38.39
They're gonna flame and grow.
00:26:38.39\00:26:40.30
Marty, you said it all.
00:26:40.30\00:26:42.13
So Marty, why
don't you just tell us,
00:26:42.13\00:26:43.93
tell the audience how
they can get in touch with you,
00:26:43.93\00:26:46.37
how they can join a
group, how they can, you know,
00:26:46.37\00:26:48.70
fight together with God?
00:26:48.70\00:26:50.31
- Well, we have a website
where you can find information.
00:26:50.31\00:26:53.24
It's BlueprintForMen.org
and you can initiate
00:26:53.24\00:26:56.68
one of your own groups.
00:26:56.68\00:26:57.88
We've got resources.
00:26:57.88\00:26:59.25
We're can glad to help
you engage in your own way.
00:26:59.25\00:27:01.42
But we have
online groups as well.
00:27:01.42\00:27:03.02
So there's lots
of possibilities.
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.75
- But pretty much guaranteed,
it'll change your life.
00:27:05.75\00:27:08.16
Change your marriage.
00:27:08.16\00:27:09.59
- If you invest the time,
00:27:09.59\00:27:11.16
God will always show up
and you change your life.
00:27:11.16\00:27:13.90
- And not just marriages, change
every relationship, right?
00:27:13.90\00:27:18.00
You guys noticed
that? - [Men] That's right.
00:27:18.00\00:27:20.00
- If don't want
change, don't join.
00:27:20.00\00:27:21.97
(men laughing)
00:27:21.97\00:27:23.84
- You heard him.
00:27:23.84\00:27:24.94
If you don't want
change, don't join.
00:27:24.94\00:27:25.97
But if you want
change, join a group.
00:27:25.97\00:27:28.28
Call Marty, get ahold on
the website, get ahold of them.
00:27:28.28\00:27:31.68
Your life will change.
00:27:31.68\00:27:34.12
(iron clanking)
00:27:34.12\00:27:36.85
Thank you for watching.
00:27:43.19\00:27:44.56
Join us again for
another exciting Country Wisdom.
00:27:44.56\00:27:46.63
- See you next time.
00:27:46.63\00:27:48.06
(mellow music)
00:27:48.06\00:27:50.70