Ep. 156 - Doing Hard Things Part 4: The Hard Thing of Spiritual Honesty

Ep. 159 - Stop Pushing Through - Love Me Through the Struggle Part 1

When life gets hard, most men default to pushing through—working harder, carrying more, and trying to fix what feels out of control. But what if the answer isn’t found in striving… but in surrender? In this episode of I Know a Guy, we explore what it means to stop performing in difficult seasons and instead allow the Father to meet us right in the middle of them. If you’ve been carrying weight alone or trying to muscle your way through life, this conversation will invite you into a different way—the way of a beloved son. Steve’s new book, The Father Eclipse, is now available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7]

Ep. 158 - Doing Hard Things Part 6: The Hardest Thing We'll Ever Do

We men know how to work hard, push hard, achieve hard, and compete hard. But for many of us the hardest thing we’ll ever do is believe we are loved apart from performance. So we spend our lives trying to prove ourselves. At work. In marriage. In leadership. Even spiritually. In this powerful conclusion to the “Doing Hard Things” series, Steve talks about performance-driven living, father wounds, identity, and the exhausting burden so many men carry trying to earn approval, worth, and belonging. Drawing deeply from the message of The Father Eclipse [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1], this episode invites men to stop striving for identity… and begin living from their true identity as beloved sons of the Father. Be sure to grab a copy on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1]and share it with your men's pastor at church and the men in your group - and watch what the Father does! I am Your Beloved" [https://open.spotify.com/track/3wNS3dTyxxEQQdfDz3yFeK?si=29c40f7f60ad4b7c]  Written by Jonathan David Helser and Brandon Lake.  Performed by Jonathan and Melissa Helser.  ℗ & © 2022 Bethel Music. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Ep. 157 - Doing Hard Things Part 5: The Hard Thing of Repair

Most men want to be respected. But many of us were never taught how to repair relationships after we’ve caused pain. So we defend ourselves.  Explain ourselves.  Withdraw and minimize. Meanwhile the people we love most are often left carrying wounds we never intended to create. In this episode of I Know a Guy, Steve talks about humility, apologies, rebuilding trust, and the courage it takes to own the impact of our emotional absence, shutdown, anger, or performance-driven living. He also shares personal reflections connected to his new book, The Father Eclipse [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1], including the painful realization that many men can provide physically while unintentionally going to the sidelines emotionally with their wives and children. Repair is hard. But humility may become the doorway to healing.

Ep. 156 - Doing Hard Things Part 4: The Hard Thing of Spiritual Honesty

We men can become really good at doing spiritual things. Reading Scripture. Praying. Leading Bible studies. Going to church. Serving faithfully. Meanwhile internally, we can still feel distant from God, emotionally shut down, exhausted, ashamed, or disconnected. Why? Because many of us learned how to perform spiritually before we learned how to be honest spiritually. In this episode of I Know a Guy, Steve talks about the difference between spiritual activity and intimacy with God — and why slowing down, becoming aware, and bringing our real hearts before the Father may be one of the hardest things men ever do. Drawing from his own journey and themes from his new book, The Father Eclipse, [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1] Steve explores how father wounds and performance-driven living can distort the way we see God — and how beloved sons begin learning to live FROM love instead of FOR it. Be sure to grab a copy on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1]and share it with your men's pastor at church and the men in your group - and watch what the Father does! The One-Minute Pause [https://wildatheart.org/pause] app Steve mentioned on today's podcast is a great tool for understanding your heart and relieving worry, anxiety and stress.  Check it out.   I am Your Beloved" [https://open.spotify.com/track/3wNS3dTyxxEQQdfDz3yFeK?si=29c40f7f60ad4b7c]  Written by Jonathan David Helser and Brandon Lake.  Performed by Jonathan and Melissa Helser.  ℗ & © 2022 Bethel Music. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Ep. 155 - Doing Hard Things Part 3: The Hard Thing of Relationships

Most men know how to be around people. Fewer men know how to truly be known. We can build careers, lead teams, sit in church every Sunday, and even have guys around us regularly… while quietly living isolated lives. Many of us learned how to perform strength instead of pursue connection. So we hide behind work, humor, independence, busyness, or emotional shutdown — and wonder why we feel disconnected from our wives, kids, friends, and even God. In this episode of I Know a Guy, Steve talks about the hard work of relationships, vulnerability, brotherhood, and emotional presence — and why isolation may be one of the greatest threats facing men today. He also weaves in parts of his own story from The Father Eclipse, [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1] including how father wounds and performance-driven living can quietly shape the way we connect — or disconnect — from the people we love most.  Grab a copy today on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Father-Eclipse-Earthly-Identity-Clearly/dp/B0H1FBN6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Fn_Ep5EVLOdZuCq_4QN8LrxD5Y5XKSqT2HTov1Kqg.G86MEj89AvD-tPXLpPRJxT28baJ8AajDLjmoc3Wt-IQ&qid=1778671882&sr=1-1]and share it with the men in your community. Are you looking for Fitness, Faith and Fellowship with a group of dedicated men?  Check out F3 [https://f3nation.com/] and find a location in your city.  It's FREE and open to all men.