Defining Moments

We all have a few moments in life we'll never forget. You remember where you were on 9/11, the first time you met your wife, and especially the day you gave your life to Christ.

I can tell you exactly where I was, what I was doing, and who was there during those moments. The details are still crystal clear. For those of you who know me well, you know me remembering anything is a miracle in itself. I don't exactly have the best memory. But one of those unforgettable moments for me was completing Carry the Fire.

There's a quote on the website where I talk about earning a few patches and badges during my military career. But none of them carry the significance of earning the Men's Alliance patch. Not because of the patch itself, or the status, not even because of the incredible brotherhood that comes with it.

It's because of what I had to become to earn it.

Carry the Fire challenged me in ways I never expected. It forced me to examine my walk with Jesus, sharpen my understanding of Scripture, learn to defend my faith, and confidently share the most important message in history, the Gospel. It wasn't just another course. It was discipleship. It changed the way I lead my family, the way I disciple other men, and the way I live out the Great Commission.

That patch isn't a trophy at the end of a game. It's a reminder that following Jesus requires commitment. Discipleship isn't passive. Every man is called to keep growing, learning, and leading others to Christ.

Maybe you've thought about signing up but keep telling yourself, "I'm too busy." Or maybe you think, "I'm good,. I don't really need this." I'd challenge you with this: if you're too busy to intentionally grow as a disciple of Jesus, then you're too busy. And if you think you've got this, you've missed the whole point of the Gospel.

Jesus didn't call us to be comfortable. He called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The men who change their families, churches, and communities aren't the ones who know the most, they're the ones willing to be shaped by God and obedient enough to go.The greatest risk isn't failing. The greatest risk is spending another year becoming the same man you are today.

Years from now, I believe you'll remember completing Carry the Fire as one of those defining moments in your life not because you earned a patch, but because God used that season to shape you into the husband, father, leader, and Barbarian Ambassador for Jesus He created you to be.

Gladiator