Foxhole Symphony
Foxhole Symphony
From Isolation to Brotherhood: The Epidemic of Male Loneliness
The statistics are shocking: only 41% of men report being satisfied with life, only 27% have six or more friends, and 44% of surveyed men reported suicidal thoughts in the previous two weeks. Male loneliness has become an epidemic with deadly consequences, linking directly to premature death, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and mental health struggles.
Steve and Mark dive deep into the cultural lies that keep men isolated: self-sufficiency that rejects help as weakness, self-promotion that creates carefully curated personas, and self-protection that builds walls against vulnerability. These barriers directly contradict the transformative power of authentic Christian community, where men find belonging, accountability, and growth.
Through personal stories and profound insights, they reveal how surrendering these self-centered defenses leads to breakthrough. When men gather in authentic community – taking off masks, speaking truth, and supporting each other – chains begin to fall away and healing flows. This transformation isn't just personal; it ripples outward to impact families, workplaces, and communities.
The hosts share a powerful insight from a recent men's conference where hundreds of attendees expressed three core desires: clarity of purpose, release from the past, and brotherhood with accountability. These desires, identified through AI analysis of participants' responses, perfectly align with what authentic community provides.
Whether you're struggling with loneliness or simply sensing there's something more to Christian brotherhood than surface-level connections, this episode offers practical wisdom for the journey. Stop believing you can thrive in isolation and discover how vulnerability transforms men's lives.
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Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the transformational value of men in authentic community.
Speaker 2:In our foxhole. Men are equipped to build relationships that foster belonging, accountability and growth.
Speaker 1:Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in isolation and instead join us on the journey from broken to whole.
Speaker 3:Hello everyone. They call me the Maestro and we are back in the foxhole where we actively pursue belonging, accountability and growth through authentic relationships. No masks, no agendas, just iron sharpening iron. Steve and Mark are in the foxhole today and they are talking about our struggles with loneliness. You know what time it is? Get comfortable, open your notes app and let's get this symphony started.
Speaker 2:Hey, welcome back to Foxhole Symphony Podcast. I'm Sarge here with Mark, my good friend. Good to see you, buddy.
Speaker 1:Hey can you count up to 89?
Speaker 2:89? 89. 89 episodes. It only took us 16 years. No, not true. No but it's funny, man, I can't you know. We talked to so many podcasters and they're like oh yeah, we drop. You know twice a twice a week, you know once a week, whatever you know. And it's just, man, our rhythm of every other week has been good for us. That's good.
Speaker 1:And look at how the Lord, you know, turns and twists and turns of life and it has been such a blessing to just have it every two weeks. There are moments I'm reading a devotional going. Ah man, I wish I was talking to Sarge right now. We could do it. This is an episode. How many dozens of times has that happened to you?
Speaker 1:But at the same time, the rhythm of just you know, now that you live in Florida, just seeing you and having a chance, I mean I just want to talk to you. So this is cool, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, amen, amen, god is honored by this time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, hey, we're going to jump in and uh and talk about just the reality of, um, you know, isolation and loneliness. We, we've talked about this a little bit, uh in the past, uh, maybe even a lot uh, as it relates to, you know, our, our, just the theme of Foxhole Symphony, and that is the the, you know, authentic Christian community and the transformational value they're in Right. And so we, um, you know, this topic has been on my mind and I started looking at some, some statistics. And I wanted to start with that because we've got a loneliness epidemic in in in the U S? Um, and you know, in fact, it's so bad I don't even know that we largely realize it's a problem. Some of us might, because it maybe hits closer to home, and others maybe not so much. But here's just a few statistics I wanted to kick us off with.
Speaker 2:First of all, 41% of men rate themselves as being satisfied with life 41% 4 out of 10, as being satisfied. Only 27% of men report having at least six friends. 27% have at least six friends and 15% report having not one friend. 15% of men Suicide statistics there's tons of them. I'll just focus on these couple. 80% of suicides are men. Many may realize that, but 80% of suicides are men and 44% of men surveyed reported having suicidal ideation in the last two weeks. That statistic, to me, is one of the most alarming 44 percent of men surveyed reported having suicidal ideation in the last two weeks. Come on, so you know, these are some staggering statistics and there's lots of data around the direct correlation, the direct connection between loneliness and not only suicide but to premature death, cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, not to mention anxiety and depression. So there are some significant factors here. Factors here, uh, as it relates to to lonely, loneliness and and and and isolation.
Speaker 2:So I was at a conference last week, as you know, and one of the first things they did at this conference and this is this is, uh, you know, I don't know 500, a thousand Christian men, mostly Christian men and, uh, they had these little puzzle pieces on the tables and they started with this like, what is it that you want to get out of this weekend? Essentially, why are you here? Why are you here Now? This was not an intensive men's weekend like we've talked about in the past, like Mark Men for Christ or others. This is a pretty general gathering of men, some good, solid speakers, but people that just you know looking to grow, get together. I mean, there's there's some social aspects, there were some again, some speakers and things like that.
Speaker 2:Not a deep dive, ok, right, well, men filled out these puzzle pieces and then stuck them on the wall and attached them to basically make this piece of artwork, this puzzle Right, put this together and I took a picture of it, and actually a guy I was with took a picture of it and entered it into chat, gpt to get an AI summary of the sentiment on these puzzle pieces on the wall. So cool, so cool. Um, dude, it's's unbelievable what came out the messages on these cards, so so. So here's, here's the summary. I'm just going to read it to you. This is a brief, brief portion. I mean, hey, I hit, spit out this huge report. I'm just going to give you the high points it says.
Speaker 2:Uh, these messages reveal a deep emotional undercurrent among these men. Beneath the surface, their words express three core desires Clarity of purpose they want to know why they are here and what they're supposed to do next. These men are tired of drifting. They feel the need to step into something greater, but lack a clear mission. Number two, to something greater but lack a clear mission. Number two release from the past. Many are carrying wounds, guilt or struggles that they know they need to let go of but don't yet know how. And number three brotherhood and accountability. They don't want to fight alone. They're searching for real connections with other men who understand their struggles. They know isolation is killing them, but they need a space where they can be real without fear of judgment. That was the summary from AI of all these hundreds of puzzle pieces. These are the three core desires from these men. Is that mind blowing?
Speaker 1:Were the puzzle pieces already written on or did you have to? No, oh, okay.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no. I mean, they were blank puzzle pieces that men were just. All they said was why are you here? Got it? Why are you here, like, are you kidding me? Overwhelming. And then they, I mean, it went on. I'll just a couple more bits. It says the unspoken pain behind their words. This is AI. They feel stuck, isolated and restless. They don't want to just hear about change, they want to be transformed. But transformation requires action and many of them are standing at the edge, waiting to be pushed. Standing at the edge, waiting to be pushed. The biggest question left for them will they finally surrender the war that's keeping them stuck and step into the battle that actually matters? I mean, come on, bro, these are not my words, like no.
Speaker 1:That's powerful stuff.
Speaker 2:Right. And so you know, I'm looking at these statistics on loneliness, looking at the statistics, the data around health. You know the direct correlation of loneliness. You know these, these, these, these hundreds of puzzle pieces on the wall in this, this glaring summary of the core desires and the emotional or undercurrent, and I'm saying, man, that is what we're about, like, this is what we've been talking about for the last four years.
Speaker 1:Right, it's true. And, by the way, december 23rd, september 23rd of 2021, our third episode was called caving up.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:December December of 2021, we started this. One of the first three things you and I wanted to talk about was men's propensity for caving up, going alone, being alone.
Speaker 2:So here we are I mean right Like here we are, four years into this episode 89, you know 90 episodes and you know this is an epidemic. It's an epidemic and so you know we remain passionate about this topic. And you know, because I think not only because it's an epidemic, but you and I, mark, have seen the freedom I mean we have. We have leaned so far in to this topic, not just on a podcast but personally, with our lives, right, launching, fostering, facilitating groups, from Band of Brothers to Foxholes to Victorious Together to Mark Mann, to every context and environment. I've been doing it in the workplace, in the marketplace, no matter where I am, no matter what it is.
Speaker 2:I'm drawn to it because we've seen the transformation take place, we've seen the heart change, we've seen what God does when we take off the masks, when you know we lean in, when we're willing to, you know, be vulnerable, open up our hands, surrender, bring to the, bring to the foot of the cross, and not only that, climb up on the cross and be crucified with Jesus to have our wounds. You know pain, whatever it is to put to death and to see. You know and watch and hear God say okay, now we can get started Now we can get started and the chains begin to fall off and the healing begins and there's life transformation that then, with the heart of that one man, just sends ripples through his community, beginning with his family, community, workplace, neighborhood, you know other men, whatever it is. And so we continue to lean in, to run in and watch God work in that way.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and I, I, I need to say so I'm I'm processing this and going back trying to think of, like, what was, what was my life like before I met you, before I met the men I trust the most? I, that 27% number still resounding with me. It's the only one I wrote down to your stats. I think that's high. I was surprised that 27% said they had six friends now.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:For me. I have lots of acquaintances, my nature, my job. Just I'm connected, right, I'm networked, as it said, but not crazily so. But I will tell you, there are six men in my life who I think would stop what they were doing and rescue me if I needed rescued. That's my definition of friendship. That's what I need in my life Now. I don't need buddies, I'm not. I'm not. But did you but?
Speaker 2:to your point. Yeah, Before all of this, did you have that? I mean did you have six men, six friends, you know six men.
Speaker 1:No, and it began with an awakening. There was an awakening catalyst for me that's my experience and it was born from the church. It was born from a life group. My need to start the band of brothers was born from my looking at us in a group of couples and parents and kids and going, wow, none of these guys I mean these are? These are guys I'd like to get to know better. These are guys I'd like to see what God might have in store. And, dude, it was totally selfish. I've admitted this how many times on the podcast. It was me needing to be connected. I seek community. I seek community like a guided missile, but but that, that catalyst, that awakening.
Speaker 1:I just want to say to to our listeners this is a journey of falling on and off. For me, that's surrendering, is daily that you just referred to. There's a there's a constant falling off track, getting off track and and friends and the Holy spirit knocking me back on track and just continuing the journey day by day, one day at a time. Yeah, look, man, I'm 16 years older than you and I am thinking about the end of my career, the end of this, the end of that, looking forward to what's happening for me and Ria next in our lives, so on and so forth. Looking forward to what's happening for me and Rhea next in our lives, so on and so forth. Thinking through those things, I have this will my friends be with me to the end?
Speaker 1:Those are the kind of conversations I'm having in my head and with God and I'm sure it's very different for you, I'm guessing, given where you are in your life and we haven't talked about this but where you are in your career especially, you're in the explosive growth mode. Right, I'm in maintenance mode. Yeah, I'd like to take my victorious together brothers to my deathbed. That's what I want.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I'm going to act like a gentleman. I'm going to to uh um, handle my life. I'm going to manage my day. I'm going to seek the Lord each day. I'm going to keep my focus where it belongs on the cross. I'm doing whatever I can as part of God's plan for me to ensure that those friendships, my community that I've chosen, stays my community.
Speaker 2:I'll fight for it man.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's, that's where I'm coming from.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you'll fight for it and you'll fight for them, absolutely, that's. Yeah, that's where I'm coming from. Yeah, you'll fight for it, you'll fight for them absolutely, you know, I I think like, regardless of the different stages we may be in now, back then we were in the same stage. That's true, that's right. So it's very interesting, right like they were. The common ground was you know, you're, you're seeking this, you're knowing there's something missing, you're, you're, knowing, you were, you know, drawn to and made for more. And what was missing was that that authentic Christian community which, again, based on the statistics, very common, very common. This is the common ground. I mean, you have 500, you know 700 men writing on these little puzzle pieces and this that the summary is you know 700 men writing on these little puzzle pieces, and that the summary is overwhelmingly clear and it's it comes down to a lack of authentic Christian community. And so you know, I'm, I'm here, I am 16 years, you know, younger, totally different stage of life, but looking for the same exact thing going. Something's missing, that's really important.
Speaker 2:Yeah. That's an important note yeah, yeah, and so it applies to you.
Speaker 1:If you're listening, it applies to you. It doesn't matter, that's right. You can text or call or email. Either one of us will tell you our perspective, but it is the same and we, we did start that journey together. I'm proud to say and honored to walk it with you today. It doesn't matter, I could care less what you're doing.
Speaker 1:I mean, I love what you're doing, but that has nothing to do with my continuing the deep desire to find authentic community through Christ with you and share it with other men. I mean, look, come on, we got to model this. This doesn't work. Men aren't going to. Those statistics aren't going to change unless men like you, like Sarge, rocket. Sarge is out there out front. That's where God wants you.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I believe, that and I just, you know, listen, the other thing that I think and we've touched on this a little bit before, but I think it's important to note, you know, cause there's, there's a lot of people. There's a lot of people thinking right now, they're listening and they're saying, you know, I got, I'm surrounded by people, right, and for you, I would say, how authentic is it? How authentic are you in those environments? And if you are, praise God and our others. And if they're, if they're not, what can you do to, to to bring them along and to continue to model authentic community, um, and and and maybe maybe you're there and maybe you're surrounded with so many people, the challenge for you is is is to embrace solitude, right, I was there, I was there and to understand that it's it's also not only okay to be alone, right, but that you know Jesus retreated to be alone with the father, and that that time is critical, and so it's.
Speaker 2:It's both, and this is not an either or right. There are those that are, uh, hey, listen, deeply connected to the father, right, spending time with the Lord, um, and still missing community.
Speaker 1:Right, cause they're happy they're, they're in their comfort zone. Right, you think you got it, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, I mean for whatever reason. But then there's those that have neither right. It's just them, it's just that they're not. They're not connected to the vine, they're not connected to others, and it's, it's, it's. Both are critical. That's that's my point. That's the point I'm trying to make is that both are, you know, critical aspects of being in healthy relationship, healthy relationship with God, so that we can be in, you know, healthy relationship with others.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I would just say this is not a race. It is not where everyone is starting at the same time in the same place, the same. You know weather and you're where you are. You're where God has you today and in some cases that quite possibly could be a very messy place.
Speaker 1:Right, we, we Sarge you, and I know a lot of guys that came from the gutter to glory right, it's beautiful and others that are, you know, good, just good, church guys. The guys you see around. They look good, happy, handsome. You know everything's good. Now, how are you doing? Fine, right, and knowing they too need authentic community, they need other men around them. It could be to your point large group, small group there's a lot of different ways to do this. We've chosen a certain way to do it and find fruit in that. Right, we have rich conversations and strong relationships. Honesty you know just the depth of candor that we bring. You know, in our circles, the men that we have chosen to be closest to is amazing to me, if you had asked me 20 years ago if this were where God would have me today.
Speaker 1:Not in a million, and I didn't know what I was doing. Don't wait for the rule book. There's no playbook. Well, there is. It's called the Bible. But you know, if you're a guy like me who loves planning and wants to write it down and love spreadsheets, don't wait for your spreadsheet. If someone had been around to tell me, I don't know, I may have found this faster, but I sleep really well with where God has me and the journey I'm on, knowing it will last until my last day. I'll still be seeking, I'll still be surrendering.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's important, you know, cause it's, it's it's one thing to say like, oh, just go do it Right. Like there are barriers there are, there are absolute. You know there are barriers, there are absolute. You know obstacles in the way of getting to a place of authentic Christian community, and some of them are really simple, but some of them are a little more complex. But you know there are three that I've been thinking about that all revolve around self, that are, I would say, common barriers and you know they're, they're all rooted in in in our woundedness, but they are so uh, of the world, they're so common in our culture and in fact, they're even. They're not just common, they're, they're, they're um, they're promoted, they're, they're, we're trained in this, we're, we're. You know, we're brought up in this, and it's self-sufficiency, self-promotion and self-protection, or self-preservation, self-sufficiency, self-promotion and self-preservation, right. So, self-sufficiency, I, I got this right, you got this. You can do. You know, you gotta, you gotta do it. Nobody's going to do it for you.
Speaker 2:Right, you gotta do it, yeah, right, and, and it's you know, and, and to need others is to be weak, right, this idea of independence, so like, so that's number one. Self self-promotion, right, like I mean, come on, I mean we, we, I mean you know, the world is self-promoting, it's just, you know, get on any social media. It's just. Like, I mean, it's unbelievable, right, everybody's an expert, everybody's a, you know, a guru, everybody's an influencer, everybody. You know, it's like, it's incredible, it's insatiable. And guess what? Like, we want it, we want it, we want to be glorified, our flesh wants to be praised, we want to be lifted up, we want to be seen, we want to be seen right by the world.
Speaker 2:And this is dangerous, it's a slippery slope. So this, you know, it is not biblical, it's not biblical. Biblical, it's not biblical. I mean, look at philippians 2, look at, read matthew 6. You know, like, you know the the idea of self-promotion is I, I, I've had conversations with people about this. They're like, what do you mean? It's not biblical? Like it's that we've been that coerced, you know, and and to to believe that. You know, uh, we should be elevated. So, anyway, and then the self-protection piece, and this is the piece that the self protection, self-preservation, like you know, is really slippery. This is probably the slipperiest, the most slippery, slipperiest Slippers. There are scriptures obviously around us protecting right. Protecting our families, protecting the vulnerable, those who can't speak up for themselves.
Speaker 1:Right A friend giving his life for a friend.
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, there are countless scriptures about God as our refuge, our strength, our protector, and so, you know, this idea of vulnerability, when it comes down to authentic Christian community, it requires vulnerability. Into these conversations with people about this and they're like well, like, does God really want us to be vulnerable? Like, where does the wisdom? Well, yes, it requires wisdom, yes, it requires discernment. But, man, I just can't help but look back at the life of Jesus. I can't help but look at the life of Jesus and and and and see what he did for us and what he modeled for us, you know, did for us and what he modeled for us, you know.
Speaker 2:Look at the life of the disciples, like you know, I mean, listen, peter of all people, right, peter of all people, rejected Jesus when faced with danger, right, in the spirit of self-protection, right, fear took over, he hid. I, I, I get it, I get it. Uh, I've lived it. But that's why we need each other to call each other into that and by continuously, because, left in my own devices and my own flesh, I don't know that I've got the courage, I don't know that I've got the courage to continuously step into this place of vulnerability. So the more more we practice it, the more we do it with one another, the more our lives reflect just this, this, this, the, the sacrifice and the, the almost invitation of, you know, suffering again, to kind of climb up on the cross and be be, you know, climb up on the cross and be, you know, crucified with Jesus and then, and only then, you know are we fully surrendered to him and he says, okay, now we can get started.
Speaker 1:Now we can get started. Wow, you're hitting so many things that are in my head. Right, so we are agreeing. The ultimate surrender was Jesus, Jesus's death on the cross, ultimate. We've also talked many, many times about the need to surrender daily, moment to moment. I'm thinking of the three things you just mentioned preservation, promotion, et cetera and the key, the common denominator, is the word self. Therein lies the problem for me.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:Really, I mean, I feel like you're taking a hammer hitting me right in the forehead, because the the hardest part of this journey for me is getting outside myself, to stop making myself the center of the universe.
Speaker 2:Stop, stop, you know just yeah, well, yes, and so how right it's, it's, it's, it requires this awareness of why that is what is happening. That causes us to go back to it Like a dog returns to its vomit. It's our wounds. It's our woundedness. What is the wound? What is what happened that still needs healing? That causes us to lean away rather than lean in right, to be cynical, untrusting, self-centered and highly susceptible to rejecting God in his ways.
Speaker 1:Am I willing to surround myself with men who will call me on my stuff? And Justin Camp is the one who changed my heart on this. He said authentic community doesn't bring you around men who call you out, they call you in, and that is an important distinction that you're my vulnerability with you or yours with me. On the night I met you, your decision to do that level of vulnerability that knocked me backwards on my ass to the point where I ran from you. Yeah, for weeks you scared the crap out of me, like what the hell is this going on on my front porch and praise the lord that I somebody, dude, it was not me. I've got goose flesh all over my body right now. I, it was not me, it was the lord and smart men around me. Yeah, this is what it's like, this is what I need, and you and that vulnerability.
Speaker 1:I've only talked about that episode in our lives. Besides with you and me, with anyone listening to the podcast in praise, look where we are 20 years later. Yeah, because I wasn't, you know, calling you out for your weakness and your woundedness and vulnerability, but we together were called in into the spirit. So I think that distinction is really important for folks that are concerned about where they are and what this mess looks like. You know, when they look in the mirror, what do they see and what do they think others see when the world is shouting at you it's okay to self-promote, it's okay to self-preserve, it's all okay to be self, self, self, self-improvement, self-help, self, all day long, from billboards to news. Right, stop me now. Yeah, am I shouting at you?
Speaker 2:Within the church. Within the church, you know, I mean we're not talking about just, you know, people that don't know God.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Within the church this is a common, you know, within the body of Christ, we don't. This is what I'm saying. I don't know that we even see it. Most of the time it's that slippery, you know, and it's a tactic of the enemy. The enemy's going oh yeah, this is this, is I got them right where I want them? Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's loosely veiled in the church and covered by a lot of different things there. That's a whole different podcast, I think. But, but, but I'm not. I'm not saying the church is bad, I'm saying that there are phonies at my job and there are phonies at my church.
Speaker 2:That's all. Absolutely. Listen, we're humans and we're susceptible, no matter where we are or or. You know what we believe we're susceptible to. You know, sin. We're susceptible to sin, and but we've got to recognize it as sin. That's the. It starts there, you know, and that's what I'm saying. Like it's slippery, like really Well, self-promotion, like I, you know, like I'm driven, well, yeah, be driven toward what and why? What's your motivation, what's your heart? It's your heart posture, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's so many lies, but again, probably another deeper podcast. I would say this for me, my real practical experience with this is often wondering and you and I have talked about this about taking this podcast on the road, about speaking out in public about what we believe and what we feel and what we feel called to feel and what we feel called to. And I still and I haven't done it very much at all except in small groups and small weekends but I do think about the self-promotion part of that. I'm guilty of pride, the pride monster. I carry on my, you know, the backpack I carry around every day that I've got to drop in my bedroom before I head out for the day and I'm worried about going out, you know, and start talking about what I see and feel and believe in my heart, worried that there's a self-promotion happening there.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, that's my fear. Going back to that AI summary of those puzzle pieces clarity of purpose, release from the past, brotherhood and accountability. We talk a lot about all three of these, but they're connected. All three of those are connected, right? The clarity of purpose we just talked about, you know, wanting for yourself to drop in that backpack, like if we don't wake up in the morning and know why God gave us breath and we don't leave the house on mission for him, then we're going to be on mission for ourselves.
Speaker 1:Amen, that's a good word. Stop Say it again.
Speaker 2:That clarity of purpose is so critical? Because if we don't wake up and know why God gave us breath and leave on mission with Him each day, we will be on mission for ourselves. And the challenge is what I see most men doing is trying to balance the two. There's no balance in our human flesh, our human strength there's. That'll drive us bonkers. That's why these men 500, 700 men show up writing on these puzzle pieces that very thing as christians, because they're trying to do both. They're trying to build their own kingdom and still honor God and build his Listen can't be done.
Speaker 1:No, stop now, Right. Stop hitting your head, and then it's the release in the past.
Speaker 2:So it's the mission. We can't get to clarity of purpose and be on mission without the release from the past, without understanding the wounds we carry, the things, the very things you just talked about, the things that get in the way, right, if we have awareness of those and we don't walk through those and get healing from those, then we can't be on mission. And then, and only then, right, and maybe both of those things can happen, not maybe they do. Both of those things happen. The release from the past, the clarity of purpose, the mission happen in the context of authentic community. And they require vulnerability, they require accountability, they require support and and and you know, and all of a sudden, when we do this, suddenly we find that our greatest needs are met Right, so we're trying to meet our needs as a result of our woundedness, on our own, in our own self-sufficiency, our own self-promotion, you know, our own self-protection.
Speaker 2:Right protection, right To be seen when, if we just surrender and die to ourselves, we actually get the very thing that we needed to begin with, and we get it in the most holy and godly way, and that is to be seen with no judgment, nothing but God's love and grace and all of a sudden there's peace and there's joy, right and we're on mission, and so again, we keep bumping up against them. They come up and they, you know, you get a left hook here and there, and that's why we, you know, we need our community to lift us back up, brush us off.
Speaker 1:Absolutely For Sarge. In closing, for me, I'll tell you that we promised men and women almost four years ago that this podcast would focus on authentic community, showing people where they could find belonging, accountability and growth. That's right, since we've already beat the accountability thing to death. Today I'm here to tell everybody listening that the sense of belonging that comes from this investment you're going to make and the growth in your spirit, in your personal lives, at home, at work, in your neighborhood, at your church, it's worth it. It's great. It's not good, it's great Putting God in the center and surrendering that sense of belonging to something special, something united, and the growth that comes from that. I think you, like me and Sarge, will be shocked and surprised in a good way, what God might do with you and how he might grow you if you do this. The ROI is supernatural.
Speaker 2:Amen. That's all I got. Listen, that's more than enough, more than enough. So, uh, listen, I just want to encourage everybody open up your hands, release whatever it is you might be holding on to lean in, and I promise you you will receive all that you need from the loving father. And so, um, and he'll say now we can get started and you'll begin to experience so much more fully. Brother, this was great. God bless you. Thank you for doing life with me and, um, we wish you all the best, you too, bro, peace, peace.
Speaker 3:Steve told us. The following three themes were identified by AI after it was able to review all of the men's answers to why are you here at a men's conference? They lack clarity of purpose. They needed release from the past. They desired brotherhood and accountability. Well, first of all, it's scary amazing to me that ai was able to crunch that data and find such accurate themes that every man struggles with at varying levels. And I would say that the answers to the three themes are found in the inverse order of what the AI generated.
Speaker 3:First, we find trusted brothers where you can have a purposeful relationship and accountability. In the midst of those trusted relationships, speak your truth, all of it, every gory detail, how it made you feel, what was said, what was done, what was not done. Then think through and speak what it is that you really needed in those moments. This, my friends, is a journey, not a race. In fact, we call it doing work, and that's because it can be exhausting, but the finished product is always worth it. As you walk with your brothers towards God's grace and mercy and healing on that journey, as you spend time with the Lord, ask him to reveal to you where he's working and join him there. That's where we find our clarity of purpose.
Speaker 3:Man, I just wish someone would have made a podcast that covers stuff like this. Man, I just wish someone would have made a podcast that covers stuff like this Lord, please continue to use this podcast to impact the lives of all who listen. I ask that you would bring hope and healing to each and every one of them, lord. Meet them right where they are and reveal yourself to them like only you can do.
Speaker 2:In Jesus' name, amen. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it and invite others to the Foxhole. You can find us wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Be sure to subscribe so you know when new episodes drop, and please rate us and comment there too, as it'll help us get found by others who could benefit. Find, follow and like us on your go-to social media networks by searching Foxhole Symphony or visit foxholesymphonycom to make it super easy to find us. Drop us a line with feedback, questions, topic requests. Who knows, maybe you'll be a guest on a future episode. In the meantime, prepare to move, embrace discomfort and just be you.
