One of life’s inevitabilities is that it will throw you curve balls.  Whether those curve balls come in form of life-altering events or minor annoyances, work stresses or personal trials, they also inevitably produce emotion.  We might not be able to dodge the curve balls, or squelch the emotions that follow, but we can control how those emotions are then acted upon.

Chad takes a long, furrow-browed stare at emotional inevitability as lead for this episode, while Ben plays the psychologizing co-host with a familiar-sounding southern drawl.  The two face up to their general confusion over feelings and discuss how men might better deal with them.  If it is neither good nor bad to experience an emotion, then how do we determine whether or not the emotion can be trusted?  Can feelings lead us astray or betray us?  What are some ways that men can master their emotions, and how can the theological term Joy be a possible solution to emotionality?

SHOW NOTES:

Wheel of Emotion:  ejuktec3mb8wv51i9nlm.png (1202×1198) (d207ibygpg2z1x.cloudfront.net)

Bill Johnson sermon on Joy:  The Power of Choosing Joy | Bill Johnson – Bethel Redding Sermon of the Week | Podcast on Spotify

Peter Kreeft essay on Joy:  Joy by Peter Kreeft

MAN TALK EDITION – Guest Hosts, Noah Stolly and TC Cipollone

Cheers! to another four-mic, four-man roundtable discussion on a crucial leading question.  Our hosts and guest hosts wrestle with this two-ton topic, each winding down to a conclusion on how they will finally answer the question at hand.  (Listeners, weigh in by emailing mightymen@manhoodrestored.tv)

Noah Stolly and TC Cipollone are both MIGHTY, devoted fathers.  They also each have very unique and contrasting stories on how they first came to be fathers.  The two guest hosts tell their stories and use their respective experiences to help Ben and Chad pin down the what-abouts of fatherhood.  How does becoming a father change a man?  What is it exactly that a father does that makes his role so critical in the life of a child?  What larger societal impact does a father make by taking, or not taking, the full responsibility of his calling?

SHOW NOTES:

Fatherlessness statistics:  The Extent of Fatherlessness – National Center for Fathering (fathers.com)

Quote in-closing by Noah:  Dads Are Most Ordinary Men – Pam Brown Quotes (themindsjournal.com)

Allegiance to a favorite sports team is a complex phenomenon deep in the psyche of a man.  Claiming a team as your “favorite” often starts at the tenderest of ages; following that team closely for years–through star players, through heartbreaks, through championship runs–creates a kind of unique loyalty, one that becomes curiously embedded in a man’s identity.  It could even be said to border on devotion.  That’s particularly true for a Cleveland Browns fan (Ben).

Ben makes a big announcement as the player-coach/host in this press conference of an episode, while Chad kicks around questions and ideas as the back up to the backup co-host.  The two pull passion for sports teams up by the roots to figure out just how deep the devotion goes for men.  What does it look like to become too personally invested as a fan of your favorite team?  Are there any front office or player actions that should automatically sever your allegiance to a franchise?  What are ways that we can insulate ourselves from letting our fandom slip too easily into fanaticism?

In an essay titled “On Christian Masculinity”, author Brad East makes some thought-provoking arguments about how Christians ought to view masculinity.  In his critique, he sets his sights on books and blogs (and podcasts?) that popularize modern models for manhood, claiming they “turn ‘being a man’ into a kind of pathology” and too easily dismiss the model for masculinity laid out by Jesus Christ.

Chad turns Chief Editor for this essay critique of an episode, as Ben reverts to his teaching days and breaks out a red pen to markup East’s major points.  The two make East their ghost guest and playfully put him (and his ideas) in the dock.  To what extent should the life and example of Jesus Christ serve as a model for what it means to be a man?  Do modern concepts of masculinity diverge from Christian theology?  And can natural, manly virtue be a compliment to holiness?

SHOW NOTES:

Brad East’s Essay:  On “Christian masculinity” — Brad East

Curtis Hamrick is the Executive Director of the Auglaize Mercer Business Education Alliance (AMBE), a non-profit organization that connects local students with local businesses for meaningful career opportunities in the two-county area.  Curtis graduated from Wright State University, spent 20 years as a vocational teacher at various area schools, and was born and raised on a grain farm in Mercer County where he has been a life-long resident.  He’s been married to his wife, Kristin, for 15 years, and they have two children.

Chad elects himself Sheriff to enforce the laws of good conversation for this episode, while he hands Ben a badge, deputizing his co-host and calling on him for backup.  The two interrogate their guest, a true Parochial Man, about the benefits of living, working, and raising a family in a small community.  What are some of the cultural contrasts between life in rural Ohio and other more urban areas?  What is the work that AMBE is doing to open the eyes of students, educators, and parents to the career opportunities available locally?  What are some examples of students who’ve successfully connected to careers in their hometown, and how can parents find out more about those local opportunities for their kids?

SHOW NOTES:

AMBE Website:   About Us | Auglaize Mercer Business Education Alliance (ambealliance.org)

AMBE Facebook:  (19) AMBE Alliance | Facebook

Curtis in the News (Wapak Daily News):  PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions