Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

This summer we will be reposting a few of our favorite interviews. Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield immediately stuck out for us. Every dad needs to hear this episode. In January 2010 Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield founded The Abba Project where she leads dads of daughters ages 13 to 30 to dial in with more intention and consistency to their heart space. She leads a local group in Portland, Oregon annually every year from September through May. (you can read more under ) Dr. Michelle has coached offspring Abba Project groups in Virginia and Washington State, with more to come. Dr. Michelle has written a book for dads of daughters titled, and it’s also available in audiobook form in her own voice on Audible . Her second book, is filled with scripts for dads to equip them to strategically lead their daughters into conversations that matter, with a focus on greater depth that will allow her to know herself better! Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield hosts a radio program called The Dad Whisperer where her purpose is to provide practical resources for dads, especially those with daughters. (available , , , , and ) Boots on the Ground For every daughter you have, sit down with them and ask them to talk, and ask to hear their heart. of Tell Them, What Great Fathers Tell Their Sons and Daughters

I have noticed something in guys that attend the church that I want to address. Since our target is men in the stress bubble of 28-55 years old this will be very helpful. Biblically speaking every Christian is a minister and every minister has a ministry. Here is the problem I want to address. It is the man who does not serve others because, as he puts it, his family is his ministry. THIS IS ADMIRABLE and THIS STATEMENT PUTS HIM IN AN ELITE CLASS OF MEN. But here is the lie. God has called ALL MEN are ministers to the family. This is a biblical mandate to love, lead and serve the family unit. The Biblical Mandate is DIFFERENT from your Personal Mission. Your mission is what things God has wired your to-do and placed on your heart Based on your SHAPE. of Tell Them, What Great Fathers Tell Their Sons and Daughters

Joel Van Der Loon shares about his experience of being alone in the wild and what it taught him. Joel’s experience in the outdoors began from childhood growing up in South Africa and Tanzania, East Africa - in particular, living off the grid on an isolated stretch of tropical coastline of wild bush, hosting an array of animal species. I spent 12 years traveling the world through 40 countries and crossing oceans as a professional crew member, exploring some of the world's most remote locations by sea. I have hiked, camped, and paddled in just about every type of ecosystem and trained in desert, alpine, jungle, and temperate survival methods. I have put myself into testing conditions with little more than a knife, water bottle, and the clothes on my back. I believe that there is no substitute for teaching from a position of real-life experience. Joel started training people in 2015 in San Diego- California on the Los Coyotes Indian reservation. He taught folks from all walks of life including military, fire-fighters, boy scouts, school kids, celebrities, physically disabled, and contestants of survival shows. He was a participant on Episode 3 of Discovery channels Bushcraft Build-Off and History channels Alone season 7. Joel and his family moved up to Central Oregon in 2018. He still returns to Africa yearly to learn from the Hadza Bushmen. Participant on History channels Alone and Discovery channels Bushcraft Build Off. Wilderness survival and Connection to nature. Learning from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The importance of spending time alone in nature with our creator. Boots on the Ground Take a full afternoon in the wilderness and reflect and find gratitude for what God has given you. of Tell Them, What Great Fathers Tell Their Sons and Daughters

Drs. Paul and Virginia Friesen have been involved in Family Ministries for more than 40 years through family camps, church staff positions, speaking, consulting, and writing. In 2003, they founded Home Improvement Ministries (), a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping individuals and churches to better encourage marriages and families in living out God's design for healthy relationships. As the lead resource couple at Home Improvement Ministries, the Friesens regularly speak at marriage, men’s, and women’s conferences in the US and internationally, as well as local family and parenting seminars, and have an ongoing ministry with professional athletes. Paul and Virginia both have Doctorates in Marriage and Family Therapy from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Between them they have authored more than fifteen books and curriculums on parenting and marriage, including Letters to My Daughters, In Our Image, Raising a Trailblazer, Before You Save the Date, The Marriage App, and most recently, Lovin’ Your Wife Like Christ When You Ain’t No Jesus. Paul and Virginia were married in 1976 and are the parents of three young adult women, two of whom are now married to wonderful, Godly men. Their middle daughter is living fully for Christ as a single woman and trusting God for His best. Paul and Virginia’s greatest joy in life is knowing that their children are “walking in the truth.” is available to you for 50% off with code: arena2019 at check out. Boots on the Ground Commit to regularly praying for your wife. If you already do that, Take your wife on a creative date. One that you plan, doing things that she loves.

Episode 436 called “You are Soft” was our most responded to podcast—good and bad. After listening to it recently, I still stand on what I said, “WE ARE SOFT.” Soft equals weak. SO, when I say soft, I mean we are weak. Which is why I wrote the book, “STRONG Men Dangerous Times” People think Jesus was a pastor, I think he was more of a coach. Listen as Jim unpacks these thoughts. of Tell Them, What Great Fathers Tell Their Sons and Daughters