Collars & Calluses

Collars & Calluses: Episode 32 - Practical Manhood - Seek Wisdom, Act Like a Man, Integrity

Bill and Rich continue their Proverbs-focused series by discussing practical manhood through the theme of appropriateness, especially in speech, and framing manliness as an “art” learned through Scripture, experience, and lived models. Aimed particularly at younger men, they introduce Rich’s blog article “Counsel for Young Men: 13 Rules for Life” and cover three rules: (1) seek wisdom and submit to it by pursuing formal and informal mentors, learning from older godly men, and “reverse engineering” life and marriage from the reality of death; (2) act, speak, and dress like a man, including firm handshakes, clear direct speech, and dressing appropriately rather than “slobified” cultural norms; and (3) pursue integrity—doing the right thing even when costly—illustrated by Daniel, Joseph, and Clarence Thomas, emphasizing fear of God, responsibility, and initiative.  Contact us: collarsandcalluses@gmail.com

Collars & Calluses: Episode 31 - Q&A - Pleasure, Procreation, & The Talk

In this Collars and Calluses episode, Bill and Rich answer listener questions about sex in marriage, emphasizing that Scripture treats procreation and pleasure as a unified “package deal,” with marriage requiring openness to children and a high view of children as blessing and duty under the creation mandate. They warn against adopting the world’s anti-child mindset and argue contraception must be evaluated by motives and methods, rejecting abortion as “birth control” and opposing hormonal birth control due to possible abortifacient effects and health risks, while allowing natural family planning and condoms as potentially lawful. They also discuss cultural propaganda against motherhood and the importance of disciplined parenting. A second question addresses how to talk to children about sex, urging ongoing age-appropriate conversations, trust, parent-led instruction, and guarding against pornography and cultural sexual confusion.  Contact us: collarsandcalluses@gmail.com

Collars & Calluses: Episode 30 - Q&A - Navigating Vocations

Hosts Bill and Rich answer a listener’s question about vocational direction for men who lacked guidance beyond “get good grades and go to college.” They argue this reflects under-fathering and urge men not to adopt a victim mentality but to seek mentors, assess strengths and weaknesses, and pursue marketable opportunities rather than “follow your passion,” noting work is often hard and fulfillment includes providing for family. They caution against romantic views of work and against internet pressure to become entrepreneurs, emphasizing that many should start within structured employment and learn broadly. They discuss scenarios of an 18-year-old preparing for marriage, a 27-year-old artillery veteran leaving the military with savings and four children, and a construction estimator with limited upward mobility considering business ownership, stressing risk assessment, money management, and learning from wise counselors. Email: collarsandcalluses@gmail.com

Collars & Calluses: Episode 29 - The Jewish Question

The episode of Collars & Calluses responds to a listener question about Romans 11 and modern Jews, outlining three views: dispensationalism (Israel and the church as two peoples of God with ongoing special status for Jews), covenantal futurism (a future mass conversion of Jews), and a minority preterist view claiming Romans 11 was fulfilled before AD 70 with no continuing Jew/Gentile distinction. The hosts argue Romans 9–11 addresses God’s covenant faithfulness, that unbelieving Jews are not saved apart from Christ, and that Paul’s olive tree image teaches one people of God with unbelieving Jewish branches broken off and Gentiles grafted in, yet with a future large-scale Jewish conversion after the “fullness of the Gentiles.” They reject a preterist reading as historically and exegetically implausible, critique both uncritical pro-Israel dispensationalism and anti-Jew scapegoating, and urge young men to stay informed without being consumed by online algorithm-driven obsessions that distract from personal responsibility.

Collars & Calluses: Episode 28 - Q&A - Fruit of the Spirit-Video Games-Pastoral Ministry

Bill and Rich answer listener questions on Collars & Calluses, inviting more submissions via collarsandcalluses@gmail.com and on X (@wrs2_, @Vicar1973). They discuss how the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) is relational and manifests differently in masculinity and femininity, arguing the church and culture have often privileged feminine expressions of virtue; they illustrate this through distinct motherly and fatherly forms of love and through sex-specific challenges in self-control. They address video games, saying gaming isn’t inherently wrong but can delay maturity, foster addictive habits, and substitute “virtual dominion” for real-world skills, so it should be bounded like other entertainment. Finally, they consider whether young men should enter pastoral ministry, urging a slower path with apprenticeship, maturity, external confirmation of calling, real-world work experience, and awareness of the unique pressures on pastors’ wives and children, while also noting a pastoral shortage.