One thing I want to say up front. While I helped bring Forge Tribe together, this is the first time I’m actually walking through this content in real time. I’m not ahead of it. I’m being exposed to it the same way you are. The story of Cyrus stood out in a way I didn’t expect. Cyrus was a Persian king, not part of Israel, yet God names him in Scripture and uses him to restore Jerusalem and send the Jewish people back from exile. That’s not random. It shows a level of continuity and intentionality in the Bible that’s hard to ignore. God isn’t just working inside one group of people. He is orchestrating history itself, using whoever He chooses to move His story forward. That shifted how I see things. It makes me think about how often God is working through people and situations that don’t look obviously spiritual, but are still part of something much bigger than we can see. As the week moved into the life of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount, what stuck with me was how direct He is about the heart. Not just behavior, but what’s underneath it. It made it clear that this isn’t about meeting a standard. It’s about something deeper that none of us can fix on our own. That tension between wanting to live rightly and recognizing that I can’t produce righteousness on my own kept coming up for me. But Day 35 was what brought everything into focus. I was sitting there holding my third son, a newborn, while reading it, and that changed how I saw it. Most of the language around the table, the bread, the cup, the covenant feels heavy and layered. It’s easy to understand it intellectually but still feel a distance from it. What connected for me was something simple. My son can only receive. He doesn’t contribute anything. He depends completely on what’s given to him. And it made me realize how difficult that posture is for me. Most of my life has been built around figuring things out, carrying responsibility, and making things happen. That instinct has served me, but it also shapes how I approach God.

Brothers, One of the realities of a season like The Crucible is that it tends to bring deeper things to the surface. When we start stripping away distractions, comforts, and coping mechanisms, many men begin to confront things they’ve been carrying silently for years — struggles in marriage, old wounds, anger, addiction, or simply the weight of life. Because of that, I want you to know about an incredible resource available to you. Forge Tribe is partnering with Dr. Dave Ruth from Touched Lives. Dangerous @Dave Ruth is a seasoned Christian counselor who has spent decades helping men, couples, pastors, and families walk through life’s challenges through biblical counseling and discipleship. He also served as chaplain for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, walking alongside men in high-pressure environments and helping them navigate the deeper issues of the heart. What makes this even more meaningful is that Dave is currently going through The Crucible with us. I’m blessed enough to have him in my Fire Team, and we’ve been walking this journey together day by day. Many years ago Dave made a promise with God that he would never charge for counseling. He only gets involved with people when he believes God has placed them on his heart to serve. Earlier this week Dave shared something with me that I want you all to hear. He told me that it is deeply on his heart to provide counseling for men who are going through The Crucible. Because of that, Dave has generously offered to make himself available to any Forge Tribe brother who may need someone to talk to during this season. If something surfaces during The Crucible — struggles in your marriage, relational conflict, unresolved pain, spiritual questions, leadership pressure, or you simply need wise counsel — I strongly encourage you to reach out. You can DM me and I will connect you with Dave, or you can reach out to him directly if you prefer. Strong men don’t carry everything alone. Wise men seek counsel.

I was 47 years old when a friend told me how they constantly feel. I immediately related and thought "that's me since I was 5 years old." They described it as "Restless, Irritable, and Discontent." Their description struck me between they eyes and sticks with me to this day. I hadn't been able to put a label on the way I'd constantly felt for decades and the only reprieve was when I distracted myself with work, relationships, or extra-curricular activities. I distracted myself A LOT and to the point it became a massive blind spot. With most of those distractions cleared out over the past few years, I had still been left with these unresolved feelings of always wanting to be in motion, anxious about the world around me, and wanting it to be changed in my direction. Now though, with the ability to recognize those feelings, I can sit with them and sort it out with patience and God's view on the subjects. Working through the lessons in "Prayer" I set out to find God's hot take on these things that I wrestle with, meditate on the scripture, and progress towards peace. The verses below are what I found and how I've been thinking about them during my prayers this week and have been asking for one simple thing over and over "Lord, guard my mind with your peace." Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Meditating On: When my mind won’t settle, God offers guarding peace, not more pressure. Philippians 4:11–13 “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Meditating On: Contentment is learned dependence, strength for the moment I’m in, not the one I wish I had. Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Meditating On: Irritability isn’t “just my personality”. Scripture treats it as a spiritual wisdom issue. Psalm 131:1–2 “I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother…”

What's the hardest thing to go without so far?

Welcome to The 40 Day Crucible. You’re in. The Crucible = the 40-day Challenge The Crucible starts February 23. Until then, your job is simple: read the guide + build your team + get ready. Do These 3 Things (in order) 1) Read The Crucible Guide Go to Classroom → find The Crucible Guide → read it. This explains: - the disciplines - the weekly rhythm - what’s expected (and what isn’t) - how to do this with your team 2) Build your Fire Team (this is the point) The goal is for you to assemble your own team and bring them with you. Your goal: 3–5 men you can be honest with for 40 days. Do this today: - Invite your guys to join this Skool community - Start a group text thread to start communicating with each other (iMessage / WhatsApp / whatever you choose) - Name it something obvious: “Crucible – [Team Name]” 3) Set your weekly team meeting Pick a weekly time now (keep it simple): - In person or - Zoom / Google Meet / FaceTime — your call Consistency beats intensity. Just choose a time and lock it in. What happens on Feb 23? - The Crucible begins February 23 - Each day’s devotional content drops at midnight (so it’s ready when you wake up) Lone Ranger? We’ve got you. If you’re ready to jump into a Fire Team but don’t have one yet: Click here to get placed on a team: LONE RANGER SURVEY We’ll match you with a team as quickly as possible. If you’re unsure what to do next: 1. Classroom → Crucible Guide 2. Build your team (3–5) + invite them 3. Set your weekly meeting time