Woke up in the middle of the night last night. Could not go back to sleep. Been thinking about the discussion around the ruthless elimination of hurry. I haven’t dived into the book yet, but have read a number of different resources related to the same theme: moving at the pace God designed and creating space for real communion to expand our capacity to know and experience God‘s love for us and thereby become fuller conduits of that love to those he puts in our lives. This has been a huge theme of reflection for me over the last six years and has steered me on a new theological journey as I seek to understand what that means. I am always in a hurry. I’m always trying to produce more. A few years ago I read a book by Justin Whitmel Earley. He describes his transformation from frenetic an anxious pace of life that led to serious physical complications to a life of liturgy. The name of his book is The Common Rule. He describes what we are looking at here in this community together. He talks about a rule of life and living inside the rhythms God designs for us. He wrote another book called the habits of the household. Haven’t read that one yet but want to! Anyway, It had a huge impact on me and created in me a desire for more liturgy. I started studying Anglicanism and fell in love with what I learned. There’s a reason so many men in America and so many people in America are returning to Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox faith. There’s a hunger for centeredness and a connection to ancient tradition, something that is deeper and more stable than common fads and pop spirituality. We long for truth that transcends our appetites and consumer centered lives. Liturgy and a rule of life are ways to help us do that more effectively. The learning I did while creating the Legend of Messiah devotional material for The Crucible also made a huge impact on me as I reflect on God‘s design for us, why he made us, why he created time and space defined by day and night, and how he designed us. And then to think how part of his rescue was to form a nation for himself and in forming them he created a calendar with appointed times that were all designed to keep his people in rhythm with his own story. Everything about their lives centered on the story of red redemption and pointed to him at the center of everything, and help helped keep them subordinate to his purposes. As I studied, I realized that the traditions we are learning about through a rule of life and liturgy are rooted in the faith of our Jewish “older brothers.” Jesus followed those rhythms. I’m trying to learn more about what those rhythms were and what that meant for Jesus and what that means for me.

Every day, we spent at least 15 minutes during our hour with God directed to sit in complete silence, and we were prompted to focus on a singular phrase. Through the 40 days, that was over 10 hours of meditation. Early in the process, I started compiling the individual phrases into a singular prayer, not knowing if it would make sense or flow together. I love what it produced, and I wanted to share it with you all. I hope it blesses you. I'm thankful to have this prayer with me year-round, even though the 40 Day Crucible has finished. The Crucible Prayer Jesus, I believe that with you, the best is yet to come. In all things, I take you at your word to me; so I will rise and go as you tell me, because I want to get well. I trust and declare that You alone are enough. I hear you telling me who you are, and I will not be afraid. There was a time that I was blind, but now and only through you, I can see. I hear you calling me out of my sin and death by name, because you love me. I'm in awe that you created me in your own image, and with your own hands you formed me; and unlike anything else in your creation your breathed your own breath of life into me. I am overwhelmed that you are mindful of me. You hold all things together when I seek You and heed your Wisdom. You are very great, O Lord. Through your sacrifice, the old man is dead and you have made me a new creation. Jesus, crush the lies of the Enemy that will come against me to try to separate me from You. You became the curse of my sin and nailed the curse to your cross; yet sin is crouching still, but You will deliver me. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Your rainbow is your promise, and I trust in You. Above anything the world has to offer, God, I turn to you. I trust in You and what You tell me. I choose to live by faith and love as your image bearer, and not for my own power, control, or glory. I am thankful that You draw near to me. Jesus, cover me with your blood. I will stand still and see all that You are doing in my life.

When the Forge Tribe leadership team invited me into their Fire Pit and then invited me to help with the Crucible, I knew I needed it not just for me, but for my family. One of the biggest challenges of my life has been learning to love my wife and raise my kids the way God calls me to. I’ve had enough mentors speak into my life to help me realize that while there are practical TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) involved in this, it is not primarily about TTPs. It’s about personal formation - becoming the man who God is calling me to be. If I’m living into that identity, everything else will fall into place. That’s what Forge Tribe and the Crucible is all about. My son will turn 11 this summer. He is growing up in a ruthless and toxically confused cultural concept of masculinity. I am asking God to help me model manhood for him in a way that will shape him forever. That’s one of the reasons I need the Crucible. That’s one of the reasons I desperately need a rule of life. I want him to see me joining with brothers in commitment and truth and a pattern of life defined by the rhythms of God. I want him to see this as normal, not unusual. Thank you all for helping create this community where I can continue learning to do that. Here’s a powerful article that speaks to the challenges we are up against to raising children: https://open.substack.com/pub/charper/p/bihes-and-bros?r=etv4n&utm_medium=ios

Brothers, The Crucible is not the finish line. It was the beginning. For 40 days, you stepped out of drift and into intention. You built rhythms. You chose discipline. You showed up before God and alongside your brothers. Now the question is simple: How will you continue? If you don’t decide, you will drift. So here’s what comes next: 1 — Invite another man Who do you want to lead through the next Crucible? Reach out. Bring him in early. Help him find a Fire Team. Keep it 3-4 men. “Dropped their nets and followed.” 2 — Stay in brotherhood Do not go back to isolation. Stay engaged with your Fire Team—or start a new one. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” 3 — Build your Rule of Life This is your off-season training plan. How will you pray? Fast? Stay disciplined? Stay connected? Write it. Keep it simple. Post it here in the community. “Train yourself for godliness.” 4 — Share what happened Complete the survey. What God did in you may be exactly what another man needs. “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” 5 — You don’t need to guess what to do next. Start in the classroom: The Prodigal God — Tim Keller Fighting Shadows — Jon Tyson Or build your own path and share it with Forge Tribe. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Stay in the Word. Stay in rhythm. Stay intentional. Looking Ahead This fall, we begin the next 40-day season—built for men who have completed this one. A deeper step. A new challenge. More to follow. You are not the same man who started. Don’t go back. Stay sharp. Stay grounded. Stay with your brothers. —Forge Tribe

1️⃣ Daily Rhythm - 30 minutes in scripture, 15 minutes of silent prayer, journal afterward. - Get at least 6hrs of sleep and be up by 5:30. 2️⃣ Weekly Rhythm - Work out at least 3 times a week - Fast from Friday Dinner until Saturday’s dinner each week - Call a family member once a week - Check in with a brother once a week - Finish a book every 2 weeks. Ideally related to faith, parenting, marriage, or leadership. - Do a hobby (spearfishing, painting, or drawing) for at least one session a week. 3️⃣ Food and Drink - Only use honey for sweetening drinks at home. No sugary drinks. No purchasing snacks with sugar. - Drink at least 3L of water a day. 4️⃣ Media - No social media scrolling. - No YouTube except for 1hr on Saturday. - No streaming except for Friday movie night with my family. 5️⃣ Sabbath - No work - Intentional time with family - Be present