Strength in a man has the potential to destroy, and to construct.  To oppress, and to liberate.  To kill, and to protect.  A key determiner in the employment of that strength is whether or not its placed at the service of a good and worthy end.  It is also in submitting his strength that a man becomes most effective.  And submission requires one “dangerous” virtue:  humility.

Chad humbly submits his word subversion in this episode of untamed length, while Ben keeps his caution tape within reach, carefully auditing episode safety.  The two volley barbs and banter as they approach the edge of this idea’s steep precipice.  What’s the difference between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield?  In what way should men be feared (again), and by just whom exactly should they be feared?  What areas of life do men need to exercise more humility?

SHOW NOTES:

Who are our true enemies? (Kreeft article #2):  How to Win the Culture War by Peter Kreeft

Deion & Desmond clip referenced by Ben: Facebook Watch

Meaning of Meek:  Meek, Like a Warhorse (readjourneymagazine.com)

Isaac Randall is a 19-year-old computer engineering major at Purdue University Fort Wayne.  Born and raised in Celina, Ohio, Isaac has lived a life that’s been met with tragedy and great hardship.  Yet his courage in the face of those challenges is truly inspiring.  His harrowing story serves as a powerful testimony to importance of having faith in the midst of trials.

Ben warms up the crowd as the opener for this rock star of an interviewee, while Chad plays subtle background sounds on his MANdolin.  The two fade from the stage and find themselves humbled to hear this guest’s unique perspective.  When intellectual answers to the “problem of pain” fall short, what aspects of faith in God sustain us?  What legacy does an untimely death of a father leave in the heart of a son?  How does facing a life-threatening illness change one’s perspective on life – and on death?

Life is a balancing act.  Yet many of us find ourselves banking hard from one extreme to another:  some live life on cruise control, others with the pedal to the metal.  One approach leads to boredom, the other to burnout.  Ironically, it could be argued that both cases are in some sense “wasting” life.

Ben, upon a full audit of his life’s time, calls forth the cake and ice cream for this big announcement of an episode.  Chad (always a sucker for free goodies) comes along, looking to secure his slice of this halfway pie.  The two speculate over the possibility of maximal and meaningful impact in the here and now.  What close call did Ben recently experience that’s got him signaling a self-revolution?  What’s the story behind Chad’s ‘2041’ wristband?  How should we properly evaluate the way in which we prioritize our time, and can we measure the value of that time useage?

SHOW NOTES:

Ben’s book reference:  Amazon.com: Don’t Waste Your Life: 9781581344981: Piper, John: Books

Chad’s book reference:  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less: McKeown, Greg: 8601407068765: Amazon.com: Books

Death is coming for us all… someday.  Reminders of that reality aren’t hard to miss.  Think of physical limitations brought on by aging; of losing a loved one; of threats of illness or accidents.  In the end, there is no forgetting that we are mortal.  And yet trying to forget death (or more accurately, avoiding at all costs the very idea of it) is what most of us tend to prefer.  Given its inescapability, though, that might not be the wisest approach.

Chad is the Undertaker wrestling a dark opponent in this episode, as his trusty co-host, Paul “Ben” Bearer, manages ringside with a sickly, eerie voice imitation.  The two uncomfortably converse, a haunting token of Chad’s challenge sitting on the table between them.  What are some unhealthy ways that we often deal with the fact of death?  How can a more regular reflection on our own death give more meaning to how we live?  What is the practice of Memento Mori, and how can we incorporate it into a Christian context?

SHOW NOTES:

Fr Schmitz talk on the Four Last Things:  The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell by Fr. Mike Schmitz – FORMED

Fr Riccardo’s homily at his dad’s funeral:  Fr. John Riccardo – Funeral Homily for his father John J. Riccardo – YouTube

St Francis de Sales mediation on death:   + Saints’ Prayers – St. Francis de Sales – Meditation V: Of Death (saintsprayers.net)

Chad’s Challenge (purchase rec):  Memento Mori Skull Statue – Seton Shrine

Fresh off a record month, we are rapidly approaching 10,000 downloads (in less than half the time it took us to get to 5,000!).  To celebrate and show our gratitude to you, dear listener, we bring you a good-hearted, truth-seeking debate.  One that highlights some of our underlying differences as a Protestant and a Catholic: a debate on Baptism.  It’s a topic that Ben even says has become one of his biggest hang-ups with Catholicism.

Ben, therefore, fills this episode up with a pool (or font?) of questions, as he goads Chad into trying gainers off the high dive.  The two jump headfirst into the deep (and regenerating?) waters of this topic.  Is Baptism critical for salvation?  If Catholics say yes, wouldn’t that be a doctrine of “works salvation” if our eternity depends upon a ritual?  If Protestants say no, what’s the point of Baptism in the first place if all you have to do is say a prayer?  And how finally should we read passages in the Bible, like John 3:5?

We hope you enjoy!  Thank you for liking, subscribing to, and sharing the podcast!  Please give us your feedback on the debate at (4) Manhood Restored | Facebook or by emailing us at mightymen@manhoodrestored.tv

Ben’s denominations statement of faith.  https://glc.cggc.org/we-believe/ 
Alistair Begg- The Man in the Middle Said I Could Come