Coming to you from an entrenched barricade deep in the heart of central North Carolina, Masculine Journey After Hours, a time to go deeper and be more transparent on the topic covered on this week's broadcast.
So sit back and join us on this adventure. The Masculine Journey After Hours starts here. No. Welcome to Masculine Journey After Hours. We are in the middle of our foundation series, which we will be in the middle of forever, until God says not to be.
So we'll be in it for a little while, so get used to that saying. To the restoration of all of us. Yeah, until Act 4. If you've been following the Masculine Journey of late. We are in the process of talking about the larger story last week on both shows, the first show of this week, and we've gotten all the way up to Act II out of four Acts.
But we will finish Acts 3 and 4 in this last segment. And so where we're going to pick up, we're not going to go back and talk a lot about those. If you want to know what those are, go back to your podcast. Look back at this one right before this one, and you can get caught up. Or go back three if you have some time and really get caught up on the larger story and what we're talking about.
But jumping into Act 4 is really our Act 3.
Sorry. Yeah, I said pick three, my lord. That's a visual thing. It all goes back to Shrek at some point. Act 3 is where we enter the picture.
Act 3 is Genesis 1. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. When we enter into the story, and evil's already there waiting. Mm-hmm. Right.
Keep in mind what's happened for Satan. He has been at the right hand of God. You know, one of the key people in God's group, right? I mean, he's a leader in there, and then he sends and he's cast down with a third of the angels. Right, and then God creates another creation in his image.
Mm-hmm. Right. Not Satan's, but God's. Right, in God's image. I've met people I thought were in the other image.
Well, we're not. We're not mentioning those people. Yeah, they're not here today. No, we're all made in God's image. Right.
And so that's yet another in his eyes smack in his face. You know, and this is, in his opinion, the enemy's opinion. A lower creation. Right, he d we don't have the powers that angels do. We don't have the presence.
When you look back at what angels could do, there were two of them that wiped out thousands of people. Right. At the end of times, there are how many? Four angels that come? Yeah, four angels will wipe out a third of all mankind.
Right. I mean, obviously, as strong as you may get, you can go to the gym every day. You're not going to knock out a third, you and three of your buddies of mankind. You're quite angelic. Yeah, you're not.
And uh and look how an angel was always represented in Scripture when they were in front of a human. The human fell to their knees in fear, right? Because they're just a powerful being. And so that's your enemy. and he sees you come along, Right?
Creation in his own image. Right, and so it has a special hate for you. And so when we pick up, you know, we have we already know what happened with the fall, right? If you've followed the Bible at all, you know what's happened with the fall. And so we have to have a Savior that comes along.
And if you're a Christian, you understand that. You need to have Jesus enter the picture. to counteract the enemy's behavior. Right, and to set things right. And so, would you guys like to set up this clip from Saving Private Ryan?
So this is really the Battle of Normandy D Day And you got John Miller, Captain John Miller, that's on the boats, and you hear him. you know, given orders to his Uh army that are attacking the beach. And that we're you know, John Eldridge points out that this is a visual of m what it Really looked like when Jesus came to earth.
Now we didn't see all this. But Jesus, even the form of a babe, the Spirit of the Father was given these orders and It ends up, okay, you know, we're headed towards the beach, towards the enemy. You're coming. With a purpose of taking back what it was lost. Or in this case, D-Day, it was Europe.
was lost to Hitler. And it just shows and to parallel that even more. John Eldridge compares this clip With Christmas because of Jesus coming to earth for that rescue, and you don't think about saving Private Ryan and Christmas going together. But when I heard that, I was like, that's brilliant. That's exactly what it was.
I mean, we didn't see the, you know, you know, that there was stuff going on in the heavenlies when Jesus was born because that was a big day, a big time. But, um, Just play the clip and you can hear this. you know this Attack or on the beach. Yeah, the plan. When we come back, I'll tell you about a biblical story that was even more cruel than anything you'll see in this movie.
So we'll come back and talk about that. Oh, sorry, wrong clip. I guess that would be Frodo talking about the markings. I had a whole segment between shows to get it. But I'm trying to figure out what Sam, I almost said Satan's story will be, but Sam's story now.
Yeah, yeah, right. I've got to remember what it is.
So we'll go ahead and play the clip. And Clip will give you time. That was a teaser that gives me time to get my head straight.
So here we go. Yeah. Clear the rim! 30 seconds! Got me with you!
Horse right six, sharpenstack sticks! Move fast and clear those murder holes! Want to see plenty of beat between men. Five men is a juicy opportunity. One man's a waste of ammo.
Just hang out of your weapons. Keep those actions clear! We'll see you on the beach.
Now, if you've watched Saving Private Ryan, it is a brutal. Brutal movie, especially this opening clip here, and it is very tough to watch. And I never served in the military, and I have talked to men that have watched this that have seen battle. and how it's it's a very hard film for them to watch. 'Cause it's accurate.
Yeah, it's very accurate on what it m can look like. Right. But there was a lot of warfare going on here on the earth. And I'm one of those people that remember biblical stories, but not as much biblical detail.
So, Darren, Andy, you'll have to help me on the details. But one of the things that happened right before Christmas time was, wasn't it Herod that knew? That there was a Savior coming to the earth, right? And it was going to be born. And so what did he have done?
He had all the kids a certain age and under killed. Satan inspired. Satan inspired, right? The enemy was already having a bloody warfare here. Trying to kill the Son of God.
Right, right. I mean, so that was happening, and that's clearly defined in Scripture. Right. Right? That there was a war that was every bit as bloody as this.
Right. And even more real on a level of just thinking about every child below the age of three or something, I think it was. Yeah. Was put to death in this period. And that's where, you know, all the things, you know, you guys can go back and read it.
It's in scripture. But going through. We need a savior. We need someone to come right. The wrongs.
What was Jesus after, guys, when he came after our hearts, came after our souls, came after us? What was he intending to do?
Well, in in John 10, he says, you know, that he came to give us life and life abundantly.
However, the second half of that verse is that. But you have an enemy, and that enemy is here to kill, steal, and destroy.
So, part of what Jesus is doing is battling Satan. for your soul, for your heart. And But part of that is also he's trying to give you back. everything that Satan stole. Luke 19.
were told That Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost. Not Just the lost, the person who's lost, but all that was lost, which was God's original creation. um beauty beauty and innocence and purity and All of those things. Fellowship. Fellowship.
Yeah. Community. Deep, intimate community with each other with no malice. And. That sort of thing, all that's been lost.
And so Jesus is after. all of that, not just our souls. Except he gave us a choice. We have to accept him. That's right.
And we have to choose to follow him, right? We're still given free will in the midst of it. And not everybody does. Right. Yeah, he's not going to drag anybody into heaven kicking and screaming.
Yeah, and and we're touching on very, very little part of what Jesus came for, right? He came ultimately for our salvation. He came for yes, that. He came for our re re reunite us with the Father to provide a way to the Father. Jesus says, I'm the way, right?
The way to what? The way to the Father. He also tells us in Isaiah 61, which he quotes in Luke 4 when he comes out of the desert, right? He quotes, This is my mission, basically. They've come to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free.
He's after that, what has kept you captive? The enemy. Right, we needed a savior because we had an enemy that kept us in bondage. Yeah. Right?
But things that were lost, our union with God was lost. Our understanding of what people would call our calling, our purpose. Or the reason we were made. There are no accurate. Our ability to reflect His image.
Absolutely. Accurately. Right. We're each given a version of God's image that we uniquely bear. Right, and if we don't learn to walk in that the world goes without seeing it.
And so there was a lot that was lost there. Along the way, and it gets us to another great clip that kind of parallels this from a great movie, Dead Poet Society. Yeah, Dead Poet Society is the it's actually the first movie that I ever used a clip from. To teach a group of teenagers about a thousand years ago when you said, Whoa, what a red light. But In this particular clip, Robin Williams is the teacher and He is explaining to these young men who are pursuing life at a very high academic school.
But he's talking to them about poetry, and that's the vessel. Truth comes in, so don't get hung up on the poetry. Although I love poetry, I write poetry a good bit. Um However, The idea is That There is a reason why we're here. And that part of that reason is just life.
You know, Galatians 5 says That we have been set free for freedom's sake, and He's given us life and life abundantly, and all those different things, right?
So there's life, but then there's identity. But then he talks about The verse that we get to write, our own verse that we get to write, in other words, we've got the dignity of causation, that we're not a bunch of spiritual robots, that God does give us a choice, to Grant's point. We get to say yes to Jesus, and then Jesus invites us into that journey with him, into that war. That's what we call the masculine journey.
So you can go ahead and play that, Cliff.
Okay. No matter what anybody tells you, Words and ideas can change the world. I see that look in Mr. Pitt's eye. Like 19th century literature has nothing to do with going to business school or medical school, right?
Maybe. I have a little secret for you. Huddle up. I'd love. We don't read and write poetry because it's cute.
We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race. is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love. These are what we stay alive for.
To quote from Whitman. O me, O life of the questions of these recurring. of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer.
Then you are here. here. That life Exists. and identity. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.
that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be? It's such a great clip. I love it. It illustrates one of the.
things that I think I've shared with maybe young fathers more than any other thing and that is This idea that we walk through life. And it's good to walk through life saying, What does God want me to do? What does Jesus want me to do? There are scriptures full of that. Right.
But then we get so caught up in that that we forget that Jesus sometimes doesn't care What we do, as long as he gets to do it with us. And the way that I'll remind them of that is. I'll ask them, you know, if you asked your kids right now, What do you want for Christmas? and your five-year-old daughter comes to you and says, Well, daddy, I just want what you want for me, Daddy. I mean, no five-year-old ever has said that.
Not any that I've known. And it would almost break my heart if they did. Right? You're asking because you want to give a gift that you know is going to bless this child's heart, is going to just make their eyes light up. And we often don't see Jesus as that in our life that he's saying, Sam.
What do you want for Christmas? What do you want to do next week, Sam? What do you want to do with your ministry next year, Sam? What do you. We miss that.
Not what will make your life more efficient or what will you. What makes your heart come alive? Yeah, what do you need? Is it for a need or is it for a want? You want him to express desire.
out of their identity of what's important to them. Mind, body, or spirit. Yeah. Now Harold, out of all the clips we've had, I would think that you would have a comment on the poetry clip. Mm.
that that had to speak something to your heart. Oh, it definitely does. Uh I've We've we've got a little display table in the hall. And I guess it's got I don't know, twenty or thirty or whatever number of poems that I've written. Oh.
I've got a lot of them. Oh. addressed my sweetie. on her birthday or our anniversary. Um But yeah, I I love the the the writing of poetry.
Because you you're taking a a core thought. And you're distilling words. Diane.
so that in the fewest number of words you can have the greatest Comments. And I I just love that aspect of it. Um But because you have to really think. Uh to to write it. Um One of the ones that she treasures As as do I.
I wrote many years ago. Um I am you. You or me. Together we are one. Strange Love the key.
Uh till time is done. Um And I've got a cross I've got that poem cross stitched. or that I did the cross stitching. Oh And uh It's mounted in a frame where we have a picture that was taken of us kissing beneath a street sign in Huntsville, Alabama. That's Jan and Harold.
Well there were straights. in her sister's neighborhood. It had our names on it. And, you know, to me that's just Yeah. I've been married to her now for sixty one years.
Seems like yesterday. Uh-huh. For me telling her how I feel about her. in in poetry is is just I love it. Another way you could say that is it pulls you out of the smaller story of life and puts you back into the larger story of love.
and the important things. Yep. You know, and that's one of the things that I loved about that clip is he lets you know, yeah, you have the things you have to do in life. Yep. We're made to execute in the smaller story, right?
To figure things out, to do stuff. I mean, we're made, God made us that way. We're just not made to do it without Him, right, Andy? Yep. And he said that's what those smaller story things would give gives us the possibility to have.
To do those other things, it gives you the flex. I mean, you gotta live, you gotta eat, that kind of thing. But if. you know, you do those things, they energize or give you the ability, I guess, to I don't know if I'm saying it right, but those aren't the things that sustain you. The stuff that sustains you is love, beauty.
It's the reason why you do those smaller story things, right? I work to provide for my kids, I work to do this, or whatever that may be. It's a a means to an end. Right. But if you do it without God, There's no joy in it or a little joy.
Right. And if you're without God, who are you there with? There's three on the stage. Yeah. So you're walking hand in hand with the enemy, and he pulls you more and more into the smaller story and further away from God.
Yep. And, you know, we were talking in the break between shows that. That's the difference between Jesus and us in a large way, right? Or the way that He lived His life, let's say that. That He lived His life both in the small story.
You know? I mean Eating dinner. That's a small story. I mean, I've had some big story dinners, but most of the time, you know, putting gas in your truck, that's a small story. But Jesus lived this transcendent life where he always recognized.
that even his small story thing, Could make a difference to somebody else and be part of their larger story, but he was also always looking at the in John 13, when he's getting ready to submit to death Before his disciples, they're thinking very small story, he's thinking large story, and he says it this way: that knowing where I came from, knowing where I'm going to, knowing who sent me here, and who I'm going back to. He took a towel. wrapped it around his waist. washed his disciples' feet. Seems very small story.
In some aspects, and yet that's the difference. And it's not just with Jesus, it's that way with us. I mean, we can help others transcend that small story life. by maybe doing small story things. But for the mission.
or the intent, of of getting to the larger story. Yeah, for me a lot of what happens is I get sucked into the smaller story. Oh yeah. And when I find that I have no joy, when I find that I'm in fear, when I find that I have anxiety. It's a key indicator for me I'm living in the smaller story and that I'm walking.
not intentionally. But I'm walking without God in some areas. You know, and when I bring him back into that. those things dissipate. Not that the problems go away.
But how I interpret them, how I feel them, because there's a larger context. You know, I can worry about not being able to pay this bill this coming month, or I can think about all the times that I pushed against that in the past, and God helped me get through it. Right, that there's going to be challenges in your life, there's going to be trials and tribulations. That's pretty clear in Scripture. Why are we surprised when it happens?
When it happens, it's our opportunity to turn even more clearly into God. if we haven't already. Right. But the enemy tries to pull us in the other direction, and that tends to be what happens, and we spiral the other way. Yeah.
This week has been a tough week the last couple of weeks. I dumped all of it on Sam right during dinner tonight, but You know that The perspective is different, but there are those trappings to make you want to go back to your default and respond the same way you always did, or look at it that way. And, you know. Uh This is context again. I feel like, you know, I know.
I'm not 40 minutes into the movie. I understand the movie. I've seen this movie before. And I feel like I've. I still struggle.
I still am very frustrated. But how I look at it, I don't go to woe is me. Why does it happen to me? You know, this isn't fair. This, you know, a lot of the things that it's, you know, when you get a lot loaded up onto you at the same time, you're like, what is it?
Do I have like a target on me or something? Yeah, you do. But it gives you perspective. I often fight back. I'm going to continue to try to keep my larger story perspective now.
I know that right now, this week, I need to get more context from him. That's what I think is also important in this: getting interpretation of what's going on so you understand how the enemy is trying to put you in the smaller story and what's my place to step into the larger story during whatever circumstances. Yes, this year for me is has, like a lot of us, has had a lot of challenges. We haven't revisited the Word of the Year mid-year. We just haven't done it.
But we we do have a Word of the Year we do each year, and my Word of the Year was Sonship. Which scared me a lot when I got it because I'm like, I don't know why I'm going to need it. You know, not that I'm just being transparent. You know, I'm like, What are you telling me, God?
Well, if he would have told me all the stuff that I was going to face this year, I probably wouldn't have had the strength to do it. But knowing that that was my word, that when I would face something, I'm like, okay, I can either continue to feel the way I'm feeling or I can listen to my word and say, God, okay, I need you to father me in this. I'm just laying this. I need to do my part, but I need you to help me know what my part is. I don't absolve myself of what I need to do.
I give the leadership to you to let me know what I need to do. Right, and help me navigate through these things that's come up this year. And it's this year's been a challenging year with just lots of different pieces of it. We have to get to act four real quick. And so we're going to play a clip real quick from Gladiator, and hopefully, we'll get it in, but let's try it and we'll go from there.
Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him.
Who will help me carry him?
Now we are free. I will see you again. But not yet. I know that clip felt a little out of context, but I wanted to make sure we had the chance to get it in because that's a very. End of Gladiator.
Yeah. You know, and i if you've seen the movie Maximus Dies, But you see him going through the golden fields as he's returning and he's being restored to his family. Both his wife and his son had been killed. Right, and things were righted at the end. If you ever watch the movie Titanic, There's a scene in there where everything's made right again at the end.
And why does that move our heart? Because that's Act IV. Yeah. Right. The world is restored to the way it was meant to be.
God rights what had been wronged. Right, and so everything's made new again. Yeah. Right, not new things. But made new again.
And that's the Promise Act IV, and how wonderful is that? Yeah, I don't know what that looks like. Yeah. But I know it's going to be amazing. It's why all those stories draw you in.
It's, you know, the children in Narnia that, you know, walk into. The next life. And You know, I I shed a tear there every time. Yeah. Every time.
Yeah, our hearts are made for happily ever after and that's what it is. Yeah, the end of the Lord of the Rings. They go off into the sunset, I guess it is. You know, it's an amazing thing that there is restoration. There are things.
And why does our heart pull for that? Because our heart was made for Eden. Right? We just don't live there right now. Right.
And it doesn't change the way you feel. That's why things feel so wrong here because they are. We are living behind enemy lines. Go to masconjourney.org to register for the upcoming boot camp November 20th through 23rd. We'll talk with you next week.
