Dudes! Clearly, I have stepped back from Skool in the quest to press into my first year of seminary. Who would've thought going back to school, running a business, and being an involved husband and father could be so time consuming! 😝 Things are going well over here, though, and I wanted to reach out to you guys and see if I can serve you in any way. Comment with prayer requests, questions, updates, or anything else you can think of because I want to hear from you, sincerely. I hope all is well and I hope to see your message pop up shortly! Ryan

Life is full, guys. I think we can all agree, as most of us have young kids, that every minute of the day is filled with something. I pray that it is good work, joy, and peace that it's filled with, but there are likely some frustrating situations going on, or trials you may be going through. I just wanted to let this be a space for you to comment the tough situations, share the joys and wins you've had, and find encouragement where you need it. How is everyone, doing?!

How connected to your wife are you, dude? If you have young kids like I do, I can tell you that intimacy, in any capacity, is incredibly difficult. As guys, when we think of intimacy, we're probably going straight to the idea of sexual intimacy. I mean, even Paul knows we can't control ourselves in that matter. His suggestion in 1 Corinthians is to get married so you don't "burn with desire". What do we do when we're burning? We try to put ourselves out, yeah? If we are disconnected from our wives, we can be tempted to "put ourselves out" in some destructive ways. Enter pornography. Seemingly harmless, pornography offers instant gratification to quench that burning desire we have. But porn is not harmless. It's actually incredibly destructive. Having instant access to countless sexual acts on display for our pleasure is no different than attending an orgy in Greek or Roman cultures back in the day. Sure, you might not be able to physically touch these women, but the images are being ingrained into your mind and your heart, twisting your view of God's design within marriage and bringing in corruption to your sex life. Not to mention, you are totally screwing up your dopamine and reward systems in your brain. Any of you have daughters? Those women/girls you see on the screen are daughters. Some are not on that website by their choosing, either, which is absolutely devastating to think about. But along with that, some of these women are mothers and wives, and that is another devastating sin in itself to witness. Another man's wife. Goodness, Lord help us. Now, I'm not sitting here all pious and looking down at you. I'm alongside you in the fight and I've succumbed to that temptation more times than I'd like to admit. Understand this: You can view porn and get a watered down, corrupted version of one of the greatest blessings we have in the physical world, or you can abstain from this destructive act and reap the rewards of self-control and blessings from the Lord for your marriage.

One thing you may have noticed about me, if you've been following for a while, is that I won't beat a dead horse a matter, really. We often see, on social media if we follow someone for a while, that they harp on one or two subjects over and over again, and that's the point, right? They have their subject matter and they talk about it often, but I won't usually write on something unless I have a prompting to write on it. Once it's been said, it's been said. And I don't feel the need to write on it again, unless I have that prompting. We all know that we want to be better men. And we're always looking for new ways and hot takes to find that hidden spark that will be the final thing we need to push ourselves over the edge and into this idealized way of being. The hope that the work is done and we are that way forever. Well, that won't happen until we die and fully in Christ in eternity. So there will be a constant striving towards betterment. And maybe I do need to be reminding you, and myself, constantly of the things that we need to be doing to make ourselves better. But even that, the making of oneself better constantly, isn't the goal. I think overarchingly it is, but the goal should be a constant bend towards submission, which no one wants to hear. As men, we want to be in control. And far be it from us to give up our control in such a way that we are intimately submitted to another man in Jesus. For some of us, this is easy. Our stories dictate a sense of helplessness, or a deep longing for masculine assistance because we've seen the fruit from it as children through our relationship with our fathers. Others, and I've seen it time and time again, find it difficult because men in authority have failed them. That makes it much harder to submit to this idea of submitting itself. Shifting gears here, think about the Sermon on the Mount. We look at that as a template to live, right? And all of it is about a surrendering to a new way of being that the world say is weak.

Hey guys, As we close out the year and step into a new one, I want to challenge us to approach 2025 with purpose and intention—not just in one area of life but in faith, fitness, and family. These are the pillars that hold everything together, and when we get them right, we’re not just better men—we’re better husbands, dads, leaders, and servants for God. Here’s the plan to help us start strong: Week 1: Vision and Prayer This week is all about reflecting and resetting. Before we start making goals or plans, let’s take some time to get clear on where we’ve been and where we want to go. Reflect on 2024: Ask yourself: What went well in my faith, fitness, and family? Where did I struggle? What do I want to do differently? Write it down: Lessons learned and a one-sentence vision for 2025 in each area. Start with prayer: Commit this process to God and trust Him to guide your steps. Week 2: Faith First If our faith isn’t leading the charge, everything else will eventually fall apart. This week, let’s focus on strengthening our spiritual core. Set some faith goals: Daily: Prayer and Bible reading. Pick a devotional or a Bible reading plan to stick with. Weekly: Worship and community—show up for your church and your brothers. Yearly: Commit to serving in some way that stretches you. Choose your focus: Pick a word or verse for the year that’ll guide your walk with God. This isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about deepening your relationship with the One who gives you strength for everything else. Week 3: Fitness Matters Strong bodies serve better. Taking care of your health isn’t just for you—it’s for your family, your purpose, and your ability to live fully for God. Set SMART goals: Strength: Build a consistent workout plan (doesn’t have to be fancy—just show up). Endurance: Find something that gets your heart pumping, whether it’s running, biking, or chasing your kids around the yard. Recovery: Prioritize rest, sleep, and stretching. Your body needs it. Pick one nutrition upgrade: Start small—drink more water, prep your meals, or cut back on the junk.