Tom Ahl, Guest Convo

Tom Ahl is the owner of the Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships in Lima, Ohio.  His father started a Buick dealership in Lima where Tom worked from a very young age.  He went on to graduate from Northwood College in Midland Michigan and get married in the very same year, 1973.  In 1974, at the age of 23, Tom started the present Chrysler dealership.  Tom and his wife have 4 daughters and 13 grandchildren.  His Family of Dealerships is well known for its generosity toward the community.

Ben rolls up on the lot, ready to bargain his way into a good deal on this interview.  Chad stands by staring under the hood, pretending to know what he’s looking for.  The two buckle up for Tom’s inspiring story and find a great deal of wisdom and advice along the way.  What is Tom’s story of coming to faith in Jesus Christ and how did that impact his life?  How has Tom approached stewarding the success that his dealerships have had?  And what sorts of advice would Tom give to men in today’s day and age?

SHOW NOTES:

Tom Ahl Dealerships: We Love To Support Our Community | Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships

Story of Stanley Tam referenced by Tom:  God Owns My Business: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, But Formally and Legally…: Tam, Stanley, Anderson, Ken: 9781600661877: Books (amazon.com)

Progressing to the letter “P”, the third topic in his “M.A.P.S.” series, Ben takes a look at another one of the biggest traps men face today:  power.  It’s a trap that puts many influential men on the front pages for the worst reasons.  It’s also a trap many of us think, based on our life circumstances, that we’d never get caught up in.  Lest we be deceived, the Tim-tation to power lurks everywhere.  Essential question for this episode:  how do we avoid the pitfalls that come with power?

Ben’s the captain, issuing body checks and calling the formations for the episode.  Chad protects the goal by sending opponents to the penalty box, as the two shuffle out onto this topic’s thin ice.  Is it possible to gain and maintain power while also staying humble?  How can things like personal isolation, lack of accountability, and concern with external appearance lead to abuse of power?  What is the proper end or purpose of power for those given the responsibility to wield it?

SHOW NOTES:

Cautionary Tale:  “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” (podcast – The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill | Podcasts | Christianity Today )

Scripture Reference (Philippians 2):  https://biblehub.com/philippians/2.htm?msclkid=0242772ed00b11ec91810dff7071fec6

Our world is obsessed with “great men” who go to the furthest extremes of human excellence at any cost.  It exalts, celebrates, and otherwise immortalizes this version of “greatness” to the expense of alternatives that might balance that with qualities like character or wisdom.  Think of professional athletes turned political activists; think of billionaires turned medical experts; think of beautiful movie actors turned social influencers.  In other words, we live in an age that dismisses the common man.

Chad dons a white lab coat and a tinge of sarcastic high-mindedness as the lead for this thought experiment.  Ben sniffs and skitters here and there through the maze of Chad’s many machinations, as the two set out to establish a potentially groundbreaking theorem (will the world ever be the same?).  The term “common” carries such a drab connotation – how can we properly reinvigorate its meaning?  What do the wisest teachers in history say about what makes a man “great”?  And what did George Bailey, Tyler Durden, and Montgomery Gentry all intuit about genius of being a common man?

SHOW NOTES:

Illustration of “Gotheotherwayism” (Seinfeld):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y_6fZGSOQI

Aristotle’s Golden Mean:  https://prezi.com/qppf2e4zyjgo/aristotle-the-golden-mean/?frame=3a3e97f0b0fe600f828aae52ba0118741fe695cf

George Bailey’s Rant:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q

Scripture Reference (Micah 6:8):  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%206%3A8&version=ESV

Chesterton Quote (it wouldn’t hardly be an episode without one):  https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1253754

Bonus Convo:  Should a Protestant Do Exodus 90?

As a follow up to Ben’s “negotiated” commitment to take on the Exodus 90 challenge, we have an fun, informal conversation about how it went for him.

Ben shares, and Chad probes:  would Ben say he successfully completed the challenge?  Was there anything he struggled with or didn’t like about the program?  What kinds of benefits or perspectives did he gain by engaging in the many disciplines?  Did he grow closer to God during the 90 days?

In essence, would Ben recommend this to other men – including Protestant men?

SHOW NOTES:

Scripture reference:  Philippians 4:10-12  https://biblehub.com/context/philippians/4-10.htm

Father Nathan Cromly is the founder of Eagle Eye Ministries, the Saint John Institute, and the Saint John Leadership Network.  Based out of Denver, Colorado, his ministries seek to form and equip people to become missionary entrepreneurs and leaders.  Father Nathan’s teaching & speaking have reached national audiences; he has been featured on the Catholic television channel, EWTN, on such programs as “Life on the Rock” and “Women of Grace”.  He also hosts his own popular podcast, “Dare Great Things for Christ.”

Chad hefts the battering ram that busts open this interview, while Ben stands watch for any eye-splintering shrapnel that might ensue.  The two co-hosts set the stage and clear the way for Father Nathan to go on his own “Catholic rant” about masculine leadership.   What is the proper way to differentiate male leadership from female leadership, and how can emphasizing those differences create complementarity?  In what ways does the Bible teach us about being wise and good leaders?  How can a man effectively witness to his faith at the workplace in today’s cultural climate?

SHOW NOTES:

Father Nathan’s Leadership website:  https://saintjohnleadershipnetwork.org/

Father Nathan’s Podcast page:  https://www.daregreatthings.org/