Prime Time For College Men

By Tierce Green

THE COLLEGE YEARS are PRIME TIME for a young man to spread his wings and begin to discover who he is, who he wants to be, who he will follow, and how he will lead. What could happen if we intentionally created an environment where college men could experience manhood as God intended it to be?

That was the question Danny Allen began to ask. He had been leading men in his church for years with great success, but God began to prepare him for a new mission—a mission that would take him upstream to capture the attention of college men—a proactive strategy to redirect young men away from the less-than experience of conventional manhood toward the life of truth, passion and purpose they were created to live.

Danny initiated conversations with The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX and mapped out the strategy. He began with some test groups of college men during the Summer of 2018, and then opened up opportunities in the Fall to the entire campus for men to discover and process the principles of biblical manhood in community groups using the content of 33 The Series. About 60 men participated, and as they began to tell their story to friends, the movement gained momentum. Dr. Brandon Skaggs, Vice President for Student Life and many of the UMHB Faculty and Staff have noticed and are giving their full support.

I spoke for a UMHB33 event last semester with most of these men, then made a return visit to speak to the entire student body. As the 2019 Fall Semester begins, over 100 college men will be engaged in the journey toward authentic manhood on this campus! I have witnessed the impact of a movement that is only just beginning but already producing a measurable difference.

WHY CAN'T THIS BE REPLICATED ON ANY CAMPUS? The nuances of the culture and context will of course be different, but the strategy can be easily adapted to impact men at any college. Do YOU have connections and relationships that YOU can cultivate? Let's invest eternally in the lives of these young men. IT'S PRIME TIME!

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What Every Son Needs From His Father

By Tierce Green

What is it that every son wants and needs from his father? It’s important to understand the answer to this question because it not only helps us understand and process the relationship we had with our fathers, but it also helps guide us in our relationship with our sons. There are five things that are essential for a healthy father and son relationship.

[1] TIME TOGETHER. Experiences that build lifelong positive memories. Time together puts weight into a son’s soul that steadies him for life. It’s stuff like just taking a walk together, climbing a mountain together, working on a project together, or taking a special trip together. “Just me and Dad” – that’s what your son is thinking. He’s also thinking, “Dad doesn’t just love me. He really likes me! He’s supposed to love me, but he enjoys being with me.” Kids will grow in your presence when they know you truly enjoy them. That’s what time together does.

[2] LIFE SKILLS. Training must go beyond what he learns from books. He needs to be equipped with practical life skills that will help him succeed so he won’t be standing around when the hood’s up on the car, looking at the motor and wondering what it is. He’ll know where the oil stick is and he’ll know what to do with it. He’ll know how to check his tires. He’ll know how to tie his tie. He’ll know how to write a thank-you note. He’ll know proper dinner etiquette.

You don’t want your son to be fumbling around when he’s eighteen, or in his twenties, having to ask some other guy how to act. That breeds insecurity. He’ll know how to manage his bank account. He’ll know how to save money and spend less than he makes. He’ll know how to set his own alarm and get up by himself. He’ll know how to keep his room clean. He’ll know to act on a date with a woman. He’ll know how to share his heart. He won’t feel like a fool in life, because you’ve trained him up in the way he should go. Every son needs practical life skills from his dad.

[3] DIRECTION AND SOLID ANSWERS TO THE WHY QUESTIONS OF LIFE. More than just life skills, he needs a philosophy from his dad for what life is all about. You need to be talking to your son about what’s really important – the higher things, the noble things. Having spiritual conversations in your family should be normal. Your son needs to be comfortable talking to you about deep things, not just hunting, sports, and cars. Those discussions are great, but they won’t by themselves give a son direction in life.

[4] DEEP LIFE CONVICTIONS. Much of this comes from his dad’s modeling. Remember this: You will leave in your son what you’ve lived out in your home. It’s not just what you say; it’s what you do. It’s the way you react to situations. It’s the way he sees you make choices. When a son sees his dad model godly behavior, that is what builds conviction and a certain security about life.

[5] DAD'S HEART. Every son needs to be loved by dad. Every son needs to be affirmed by dad. And, every son needs his father’s blessing. That’s how a father gives his heart to his son.

There really needs to be some marked moments where a father can cast a vision for his son, affirm his strengths and gifts, and commit to help him step into that future vision. There’s nothing that gives more weight and value to a son than to have his dad put his arm around him at strategic moments, and look at him and say, “Son, I love you. I’m so proud of you!” Every son loves to hear his dad say, “You’re good at something.”

God the Father exhibited the importance of a son hearing these three things when he spoke from heaven in Matthew 17:5 saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This was God saying I love you my son, I’m proud of you, and I’m affirming your teaching skills. There is nothing more powerful in a son’s life than Dad’s heart.

Those are the essentials. If a son doesn’t get time with his dad, or some life skills, or some direction, some convictions, or some heart, it leaves a huge vacuum and void in his life.

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This is an excerpt from 33 The Series, Volume 2: A Man and His Story, Session 2: Dad. While the content specifically refers to fathers and sons, it is easily transferable to father and daughter relationships.

Every man must come to grips with the defining moments that have shaped his unique story. A Man and His Story helps men learn how to deal responsibly with their story by understanding their past and discovering God's best for their future. Learn more and order resources at authenticmanhoodinitiative.com. Save $5 with discount code: tiercegreen

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Freedom Behind Bars

By Tierce Green

The Alfred D. Hughes Prison Unit was not much to look at when we pulled into the parking lot at 7 AM on Saturday morning. It came to life as volunteers arrived and stories were told about how God is using 33 The Series to change men and shift the culture behind these walls. Terry McDonald, one of the volunteer leaders, had invited me to join them on this special day. It was the 2nd Annual Chariots of Fire Basketball Tournament between prison all-stars and former college, pro and semi-pro players from the free world, an event initiated and organized by one of the inmates—a real fireball whose life has been radically changed.

When I walked into the chapel for some pregame introductions, this inmate’s eyes lit up when he recognized me from 33 The Series. He passionately recited the manhood definition that is the foundation of 33:

Reject Passivity! Accept Responsibility! Lead Courageously! Invest Eternally!

I have subscribed to these four elements of authentic manhood for a while, but they were supercharged by his declaration today! We high-fived and automatically embraced in a big exhilarating brother-to-brother man hug.

What came next was totally unexpected. I was whisked into a storage closet by this inmate and five of his friends. I was a captive audience, and they began to speak freely about their relationship with Jesus and what they were learning about real manhood. They asked direct questions about my own personal experience with the principles they’ve heard me teach on video. Our closet conversation was intense, urgent, and transparent. Then we huddled and prayed for one another.

The outdoor concrete basketball court was thankfully covered to provide at least some protection from the Texas heat. There was a pregame program of inmate speakers who were gifted communicators. Texas State Representative Carl Sherman gave an inspiring challenge that was filled with well-used principles from God’s Word. His endorsement gave weight to the culture shift in this place. The main theme from all of these speakers was the unity they are experiencing as brothers in Christ—proof for the world that Jesus is the real deal (see John 17:20-21).

I had the privilege of speaking at halftime. Talks like this are easy and personally life-giving for me. I just shared from the overflow of my heart. The high point at halftime was when the inmate worship team led a song called Redeemed. "...You look at this prisoner and say to me 'Son, stop fighting a fight that's already been won.' I am redeemed! You set me free! So I'll shake off these heavy chains, wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be. I am redeemed!"

Redeemed is an up-to-the-minute story for most of these men. As the message connected with their hearts, the crowd naturally moved from the sidelines to center court, first hugging each other, then kneeling as they sang and wept and prayed. Many of these inmates experience more freedom behind bars than some men do in the free world.

It was truly an incredible day!

LISTEN: Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave

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I Got The Finger In Car Line Today

2,200+ students are enrolled in our daughter’s junior high school. Managing drop off and pick up for that many students can be a challenge. Some parents drop off in the horseshoe driveway by the front office. Others, like myself, drop off by the gym in the back. Either location requires patience and cooperation, two things we tend to run short of when we’ve had a rough start at home, or we’re running late, or both.
There are four-way stop signs to negotiate with people who never come to a complete stop and always think they’re next. There is the ebb and flow of yielding and merging, driving all the way to the end of the car line before you stop to let the kids out, giving the faculty a wave of thanks, or at least a quick nod and a smile. This is the dance we do every day in car line.

Today was different. Turning into the back parking lot was smooth. Merging and yielding and gracefully flowing to the drop-off point earned me an A+, at least in my mind. I gave a smile and a wave to the teachers who were helping direct traffic before circling around toward the parking lot exit. I had just one more maneuver to make to get back into the four lanes of school traffic and on my way to a meeting.

As I prepared to turn left, I imagined myself as a running back looking for holes in the line, gaps that I could shoot through, all within the 20mph school zone limit. Sometimes it’s clear in both directions, and I can glide all the way across to the far outside lane which is my objective. Other times I have to wait for something to open up just to get to the crossover space in the middle, then to the inside lane, and finally to the outside. Everybody knows this, right? You may have to share the crossover space with another vehicle and intuitively run the play together. These are suburban life-skills.

Today, traffic to the left was clear enough for me to make it to the middle crossover. I checked the right and determined that I could roll slowly to the middle, then ease behind the woman in the silver minivan as she passed without having to stop. That’s what I was thinking, but evidently she thought I was going to ram her. She abruptly stops. And now, I have to stop. She gives me a searing “How stupid can you be?” look and punctuates it by mouthing “What the ****?!” I instinctively reacted with a confused “What?” and raised my hands in a “What did I do?” gesture.

That was the tipping point for her.

She slammed the back of her left hand against the driver-side window with a long, skinny, middle finger standing furiously at attention. A sharpened fingernail added an extra angry inch to the salute. All that was for me. She turned into the parking lot to drop off her kids, and I continued down the road trying to process what just happened. I thought about turning around, maybe engaging her in conversation, but I quickly came to my senses.

As the dust settled, I thought about this lady’s kids who were in the car with her and whether this was something they had become accustomed to. I wondered, as they grow older, when life gets stressed and circumstances are out of their control, would this mom’s behavior become their behavior?

I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror and thought about times when I have reacted to situations in ways that didn’t represent well for my daughter who has been in the car with me. Granted, she has never seen my anger make its way to my middle finger, but there are other times I have self-righteously displayed a much less than the best example. Over time the buildup of these little cynical, sarcastic, arrogant, judgmental and condemning critiques are just as damaging as the occasional middle finger explosions.

There are so many teachable moments in life. Good, bad, or ugly, school is always in session. When I shared this story with my wife, she reminded me that you never ever mess with a mom in a minivan in car line. Lesson learned!

I got the finger in car line today. How’s your day going?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

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What I Learned In Prison Today

By Tierce Green

I'm writing this at the end of a very productive day, and MY HEART IS FULL! Stories from "the men in white" are always inspiring, and today at the Wynne Prison Unit in Huntsville, Texas was especially moving. God's grace is thick and tangible in this place. Men who would likely be at odds with each other on the outside now call each other brother. Many who entered this prison to serve time are now serving Jesus and loving others. We could see it in their eyes and feel it in their smiles as it resonated in our hearts. It was truly remarkable and compelling.

I couldn't help but compare and contrast what we experienced today with what we typically hear from most church guys. These inmates spoke much more freely about their desire to follow Jesus and be the men God created them to be. They weren't merely sharing their opinion on the Bible and trading information. It was personal and passionate—a powerful witness to the life-giving spirit of Jesus. This kind of humility and transparency is rare, especially in many church circles. [With God's help, we're going to change that.]

33 The Series Training Guides elevated their experience. Authentic Manhood provides PDFs of the outline portions and downloads of the video sessions free of charge to prison ministries like this one. This is huge, but having the complete Training Guides for each volume gives these men access to a catalog of supplemental content, inspiring stories and scriptures. This group was so grateful to have the actual Training Guide for the volume they are currently going through. Their workbooks were already well-worn and broken in, and it was obvious that they were seriously consuming the content from cover to cover.

One inmate said he was reading my bio in the Training Guide that morning and noticed that I live in The Woodlands which is about an hour south of the Wynne Unit. He had just prayed right before our team arrived and asked God if he could work it out for me to visit this unit. He had no idea that I would be there today. God had already answered his prayer!

These men know me from the video sessions. Being in the same room with them and sharing my story as I continue in this journey toward authentic manhood makes it real, but not only for them—it makes it more real and personal for me, too. This kind of camaraderie is not limited by proximity and circumstances.

As we were being processed out through all of the security checkpoints, one of the volunteers who has been doing this for a while asked if I'd like to drop in on a man who was recently paroled. This guy just lit up when we pulled in his driveway! His story flowed freely as he shared what God was doing in his life. Re-entry into the mainstream has not been easy for him, but you could see that he was determined to press on in his faith and create space for God to rebuild his life and his family.

As we prepared to leave he looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "I want you to know that the things I learned in Authentic Manhood literally saved my life."

Prison ministry is not my primary calling, but 33 The Series is being used very effectively in prisons all across the country. We can't help but lean in to this. We want to provide resources, coaching and encouragement to those who are specifically called to reach these men. We have a BIG OPPORTUNITY to impact over 10,000 inmates, and we need your help.

[DOWNLOAD THE DETAILS]

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Letters From Prison [#3]

By Tierce Green

Many of the stories I hear from prison inmates relate to breaking the cycle of a toxic version of masculinity modeled by a father’s presence or the painful void of his absence. This is poignantly clear in the letter below.

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Dear Tierce,

Thank you for spending time with us in the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, TX. Your visit caused many of us to take our journey toward authentic manhood more seriously. In this prison environment it’s difficult to reach men for the distance is sometimes too great. So many men are hiding or trying to cover up the real issues. The idols, both surface and deep, are hard to expose or actualize in this place. I found myself growing weary, but you encouraged me to keep on pursuing my godly ambition of teaching young men about biblical manhood.

I’m currently finishing up a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Education through a correspondence course. I would love to be a part of a ministry that reaches out to children of incarcerated fathers because that's my story. My father has been in prison for as long as I can remember. I was raised by a single mom who did the best she could, but I didn't have any man to teach me what manhood really is.  At the age of 16, I was sentenced to serve a life sentence by the same judge who gave my father a life sentence. In my 25 years of incarceration the Lord has been bringing me into his purpose for my life. 33 The Series has helped me understand that God’s Word is alive and applicable to men in every season of life and in every circumstance.

One of our biggest challenges is to live out reproducible discipleship, to make disciples who are disciple-makers. As you well know, discipleship in prison has its own unique challenges. Men respond differently to various methods, which brings me to the main point of my letter. In my opinion, 33 The Series is the most relevant and effective tool to help us accomplish this purpose. We have the videos, but we need Training Guides. Can you help with this? If not all of them, maybe at least Volume 1: A Man and His Design and Volume 3: A Man and His Traps. I’ve seen the light come on for so many men in this prison when we have gone through 33, especially with those two volumes.

We currently have a senior warden who is a man of faith and filled with the grace and love of Christ. He has permitted me and a few others who have been trained to bring 33 The Series to what is called the G4 offenders. [These are inmates who have had repeated challenges adjusting to prison life.] We believe that they are not a lost cause. We believe that Jesus can transform anyone totally and suddenly. We want to call these men into authentic manhood knowing that this will play a big part in their transformation.

Please pray for us in these endeavors. May the Lord bless you and keep you according to his tender mercies and goodness.

Sincerely,
[Inmate # ***435]

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In a recent letter from this man, we learned that he has recently been granted parole and will be transitioning out of prison into the free world. Pray that God will prepare the way and provide people who can be extensions of his grace and offer community and support for this man who has come so far.

Letters From Prison [#2]

By Tierce Green

33 The Series is being used very effectively in prisons all across the country. Learning and processing the principles of Authentic Manhood can have a direct impact on the recidivism rate—the tendency of a convicted criminal to re-offend. Below is another man’s story from behind bars.

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My Brother Tierce,

Let me begin with a big THANK YOU! I can’t begin to tell you how much we were were blessed by your visit, your words of encouragement and teaching. I now have men coming up to me throughout the Unit asking me about 33 The Series and how they can get into the Authentic Manhood class. Seeing you in the videos then meeting you in person and knowing I can call you MY BROTHER is such an encouragement to me!

I found my way to prison at the age of 36 after many years of addictions and living for myself. I kept falling for the lies in spite of my life spiraling out of control. I grew up in a Catholic home, attended every required mass, and even did some altar boy service when I was younger. I can’t say that I didn’t know God, because I did, or maybe I just knew a lot about Him.

It was in the Faith Based Dorm that I was challenged to join a small group of men for 60 days and to complete a book called “Experiencing God.” I had always been a runner from things that were too difficult or required commitment, but I committed to these seven men. I opened my heart to God for the first time and began to hunger for His Word. What I began to hear from God was that He wanted me to not just hear His Word, but to DO WHAT IT SAYS! So, I began to do it, and it began to make a huge difference in my life life and those around me. It’s not always easy to do what it says, but I will tell you this … Every day gets better and better!

The things that you, Bryan and John teach in 33 The Series have made a huge impact in my life. I entered the system with no high school diploma 15 years ago. Today, with God’s help, I am 50 hours into an associates degree and working toward obtaining my Certification in Chemical Dependency – the very thing that the devil tried to use to take me out!

Authentic Manhood has been so much more than a class for me. It has really grown me up and helped me understand what manhood is supposed to be. Boy, did I ever have a distorted belief! It has helped me in my relationship with my wife and my sons. They tell me they can sense a difference in me when they visit and when we talk on the phone. It has helped me with my understanding of work and finances and many other areas of my life. Even in this place we can live out the example of Jesus and His calling for our lives.

Thank you for letting God use you to create something like this to reach men like me.

Sincerely,
[Inmate # ***525]

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Letters From Prison [#1]

By Tierce Green

I had the opportunity to meet the man who wrote this letter while visiting the Hughes Unit in Gatesville, Texas. God continues to bring hope and healing to these inmates. Terry McDonald is one of the “free men” from the outside who freely and passionately give their time to step into this environment and point men like this to Jesus.

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Dear Mr. Green,

I am an inmate in the Alfred Hughes Unit in Gatesville, Texas. I am writing to let you know how much the lessons you teach in 33 The Series have deeply moved me. It has inspired me to be the man God created me to be. I am one of three inmate facilitators who lead this class. We have two “free-world” facilitators who come in from the outside to help us. We meet once a week for about two hours. This week will be my turn to lead the discussion on “Healing” from Volume 2: A Man and His Story. I look forward to it as my life is being healed by God’s grace.

Whenever I think of where I am now compared to where I used to be, I am reminded of how much "rough molding" has been required in the Potter’s hands. In the past, I hurt  the people I loved, but now I know how to reach out to them with true love and humility that I never knew was possible. Being a part of Authentic Manhood has taught me a lot about myself and given me a respect for the community of men who are going through this with me. I now understand the value of this kind of fellowship and community that will be with me for the rest of my life.

I’m still trying to find my biological father. It won’t destroy me if I can’t, but it will help to heal some very deep wounds if I can. Considering where I came from, I don’t hold anything against him … I cannot ... I am wounded for sure, but I am being healed. God has given me a concern for my father’s wounds, which maybe nobody has ever asked him about. Perhaps I’ll find him one day and be able to share with him what God has done for me.

While these Authentic Manhood classes are awesome, I am hoping that you may be able to help me out with a couple of things. First, I want to extend an invitation for you to visit us at the Hughes Unit. It would mean a lot to me and the other men who are going through 33. The second request is about the Training Guides. The ones we have are used and worn. We don’t have enough guides for some of the volumes we are going through. Can you send us more? We would all be very grateful.

Sincerely,
[Inmate #662***]

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The Rancher, The Pastor of Disaster & The Mortician

By Tierce Green

The Retreat at Jenness Park

It was a men’s retreat in the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. Most of the men were from small unincorporated towns in that area, towns built in the hills first mined during the 1849 California Gold Rush. Most of the churches are relatively small, from forty to a couple hundred people. Several of the pastors are bi-vocational. It was refreshing to speak to men who are simply hearing God’s Word and doing it.

The Pastor of Disaster

My ride from the Sacramento airport was provided by Rob Bline, co-pastor at Glory Bound Fellowship, a cowboy church in Burson, California. Wildfires are common in California. People seem to mark time by framing their stories with names like the Mokelumne Fire, the Butte Fire, and so on. Before Rob was officially on board with Glory Bound Fellowship, one of those fires had recently impacted the area. He was still in the interview process, but because of his experience with disaster relief Rob was recruited by the county to help organize their efforts. By the time he saddled up as co-pastor at GBF, God had given him connections and credibility just by locking arms with others in the community.

The Rancher

This event attracted a broad age-range of men in their twenties through their sixties. As I listened to their stories, I think I learned as much as I taught that weekend. One of those stories came from a semi-retired rancher who had a lot of miles on his body and his Bible. I jokingly asked how many times he had to drag his Bible around the parking lot to get it to look that rough and ragged. He quietly said, “That’s not from dragging, that’s from using. There’s lots of good stuff in there.” I could tell by the way he listened and the stories he told that God’s Word had equipped and mobilized him to impact his family and community. He loved God and practiced His Word. This man was a great example of authentic manhood.

The Mortician

Transportation back to Sacramento was provided by Glenn Moore, the men’s director for the association. Glenn is a bi-vocational pastor in Angels Camp, one of the few incorporated towns in the area. Glenn is a mortician, a caterer, an inventor and a saxophone player. Needless to say, Glenn is well-connected in the community just like Rob is, just like the semi-retired rancher is, just like most of the men that I met at this retreat—men who are connected, serving and sharing the gospel.

The Impact

Good news delivered with good deeds that glorify God and point people to Jesus ... sometimes the simplest things are the the most profound things.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:14-16

More Than A Certificate

By Tierce Green

FORTY-ONE MEN – all inmates in the Jester 3 Prison Unit in Richmond, Texas – celebrated their completion of all six volumes of 33 The Series this week. Dick Wall and his team have been faithfully mentoring these men since 2014 using this content as the primary tool to guide them in their journey toward authentic manhood. Dick and his team would humbly disagree, but I consider these guys to be a collection of Greater Houston Area All-Stars from Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Lakewood Church, and Second Baptist Church. This was my second experience with this team at this facility. Each visit has been a profound reminder of God’s grace and how his love knows no boundaries.

The prisoners recognized me from the videos and gave a warm welcome with warm embraces, high-fives and big smiles of appreciation. I saw an undeniable light in their eyes. We enjoyed a special graduation lunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken, lemonade and chocolate cake, but the conversations and the stories were truly the main course. These men freely shared what they had been learning about biblical manhood, several of them acknowledging that Bible teaching was not a new thing for them, but this was the first time they had understood how to apply biblical principles to specific manhood issues. One man said that 33 The Series was like an instruction manual for manhood that he never got when he was growing up.

Each member of Dick’s team presented a Certificate of Completion to the men in their group with heartfelt comments and specific words of encouragement. Most of the inmates shared a brief personal story about what they had experienced that clearly revealed they had not merely attended a series of classes to earn a completion certificate in their file.

I heard from several of the inmates what is often expressed by men on the outside—the regret of what their life might look like if they had learned these manhood principles earlier. I think most of us can identify with that. But thank God for his grace. It is never too late to repent and submit to his plan and purpose for our life. There is forgiveness and redemption, healing for the brokenhearted, comfort for those who grieve, and a crown of beauty instead of ashes. These prisoners understood that. You could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. They didn’t make excuses or blame anyone else. Their hope was in Jesus.

The unity in diversity that these men are experiencing was organic and uncontrived. It was as it should be. Why wouldn’t these men feel a deep sense of brotherhood and camaraderie that is born at the foot of the cross and sustained at the feet of Jesus? Let me just say that there were a lot of tears and encouraging words from brothers embracing brothers without regard to race or ethnicity.

Many of these men have maintained contact with their families during their incarceration. They told stories of how their wives and children are noticing something different about them. One of the most amazing moments for me was to hear how these men want their families and friends on the outside to discover what they are experiencing, to learn and apply these biblical principles for themselves. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus said, “Freely you have received; freely give.” This was freely giving as Jesus intended. They were moved with compassion for people on the outside who needed what they had discovered on the inside. If only more men in our churches could be equally moved.

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Special thanks to Dick Wall and his team, and to Chaplain Tom Lowe for his help and support. 33 The Series has been approved by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for use in Texas correctional facilities. It is also being used around the country in other prison systems such as Folsom Prison in California, Milwaukee County House of Corrections in Wisconsin, and Southeast Correctional Center in Missouri.

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Our First Father-Daughter Date

By Tierce Green

I always planned to be the first guy to ask my daughter out on a date and show her how it’s supposed to be done. You know, set the bar really high and eliminate some of the losers in her future. I just didn’t know that day would come so soon. You have all these principles, promises and plans in place but you have to stay flexible, adaptable. Parenting is a moving target and teaching opportunities pop up when you least expect them.

Our daughter, only three-years-old at the time, stood on her tiptoes peeking at a collection of wedding pictures hanging above the chest by our bed. Her eyes grew wide when she recognized her mommy in a wedding dress and her daddy in a tux.

"Mommy, what are those pictures?"

My wife could have simply answered, “those are our wedding pictures” and left it at that, after all, our daughter was only three. But she paused for a moment and responded with what I thought was a perfect answer.

"That's the day Daddy gave me a ring and promised to love me always."

Our daughter paused for a moment as she processed the answer, then moved on to something else. Several days later, there she stood again gazing curiously at our wedding photos.

Same Question: "Mommy, what are those pictures?"

Same Answer: "That's the day Daddy gave me a ring and promised to love me always."

There were a few more exchanges just like that in the days ahead until one day something unexpected happened. She asked the same question, but this time my wife responded with a question.

"Mommy, what are those pictures?"

"What did I tell you they are?"

"That's the day Daddy gave you a ring and promised to love you always."

That was a pretty incredible moment. We hit the target! We succeeded in teaching her the meaning behind the pictures. They weren’t just images documenting a wedding event. They were reminders of the day her Daddy made a promise to her Mommy, a promise to love her always. That should be enough, right?  But remember, parenting is a moving target. You’ve got to be ready to adjust your aim because it can shift at any moment. And so it did …

"Mommy ... Do you think Daddy will give ME a ring one day?"

It was probably a good thing I wasn’t in the room or I would have broken down and cried like a baby. You see, I’ve been wrapped around her little finger ever since the day she wrapped her tiny hand around my little finger. I had a mission: GET THAT GIRL A RING! But I knew that she not only wanted a ring; she wanted a promise, a promise that I would love her always.

So, I made a trip to James Avery. I found the perfect little silver ring with a tiny heart on it. Then I asked her out on a date to Johnny Rockets, just the two of us. She gave me a BIG smile and a BIG yes! Her eyes lit up when I told her that she would need to pick out a special dress for the occasion. It was hamburgers, fries and shakes, but this was special—OUR FIRST FATHER-DAUGHTER DATE.

Our waitress pulled out all the stops with balloons, pictures, special attention, and special milkshakes. She said it reminded her of some of the dates she experienced with her dad growing up.

After dinner we walked over to the plaza area of Market Street and found a spot next to one of the water fountains. As soon as I revealed the tiny gift bag she knew immediately what it contained. It was a priceless moment.

As I placed the ring on her finger I explained that this ring means three things:

“I promise to love you always no matter what. I promise to always love your Mommy. And most importantly, God will always love you no matter what.”

Every time that ring has been on her finger and people asked her about it, she would tell them exactly what it means.

A year or so after that first-date event, she lost the ring when she took it off to wash her hands at a restaurant. We retraced our steps later with no luck. Well, you know what I did—I made an emergency trip to James Avery! It was really another teaching moment. You see, the ring is just a symbol. She may lose this ring, too. She will definitely outgrow it. But she will never lose or outgrow those three promises.

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At this writing, our daughter is eleven-years-old and about to enter sixth grade. The ring is now on a necklace because it no longer fits her finger. Last summer she put her faith in Jesus. Now we have a new context to restate and apply the three promises I made on our first father-daughter date.

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Breakfast With An Unarmed Man

By Tierce Green

I’ve only had a couple of breakfast meetings with Mark Norris, but both have gone into inspiring extra innings. This is a guy who is knocking it out of the park leading inmates at various prison units in the Texas State Penitentiary system in Huntsville, TX. On this morning, I assumed the two of us would talk about what was happening with his work in prison, but Mark is a natural connector, and he had something else in mind.

I walked into Dosey Doe Music Cafe, and Mark was standing in the entry with a friend whom he had invited to join us. As I approached from the side I could see that this guy was missing his left arm. When introductions were made I extended my hand across his body to shake his right hand, but when he turned I saw that he was missing his right arm, too! It was only awkward for a brief moment. I said, “Dude, you set me up! I could tell you were down one arm, but by the way you were facing I had no idea you were down two!”

Jon Sheptock was born in New Jersey in 1976 with a very unusual affliction—he had no arms and a short right leg. This was too overwhelming for his birth-parents, so the evening he was born this precious but unwanted baby boy was turned over to the State. Six months after being placed in foster care, Joanne and Rudy Sheptock adopted Jon. God had led them to create a home where unwanted and disabled children could feel loved, safe and secure. The boy who once had no parents would now have a loving mom and dad plus 33 siblings!

There was a dark side to his journey—the stares, abandonment issues, excruciating self-doubt, and incessant ridicule. In his teenage years, he had a particularly hard time knowing where to fit in. It was in those darkest hours that he began to contemplate suicide. But instead of giving in to hopelessness and fears, Jon put his faith in Jesus.

It is truly amazing to see how God has helped him adjust and develop alternative skills to deal with the everyday things of life. These are skills that he teaches to wounded warriors and others with physical challenges. Among so many other things that most of us take for granted, Jon drives a car, feeds himself, opens doors, and can go to the bathroom by himself. (I’m still trying to figure out how that last one works!) Jon and his wife Staci have been married for 17 years. They have three daughters, ages 14, 9, and 7. Jon even learned how to change a diaper with his feet!

As amazing as his physical adaptability is, Jon is so much more than that. His joy, perspective, peace, motivation and winsome spirit in the face of extreme adversity flows from his faith in Jesus. He truly owns Philippians 4:13 …

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

He is quick to point out the importance of understanding that promise in the context that it was written, especially the lines just before it. Philippians 4:11-12 says,

“ … I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Doing “all things through Christ who strengthens me” is dependent upon learning to be content, not in circumstances, but in Christ.

Jon is the lead singer of a band called One Percenters. This also happens to be the name of an outlaw motorcycle club, but Jon's band has repurposed it, getting their inspiration from the story Jesus told about the shepherd who left the ninety-nine to find the one that was lost. Jon and his band take the gospel into prisons and other places bringing hope to the hopeless and good news to the lost. Here’s Jon, who has a legitimate excuse to sit on the sideline and wait to be waited on, but he is fully engaged.

I had breakfast with a couple of champions today. One of them clearly displayed more abilities than disabilities as he skillfully used his left foot to drink from a standard coffee mug, grab his fork to eat an omelet, and pick up a napkin to wipe his mouth. Both of these men are rejecting passivity, accepting responsibility, and leading courageously. They are investing eternally in prison, in the community, and in their church.

We shared stories of God’s love and provision, His grace and forgiveness. We talked about how we must expose more men to the real Jesus.

Whatever it takes. No excuses.

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I Was In Prison

By Tierce Green

It was a big win in the Estelle Unit at The Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, TX when 60 inmates started Volume 1 of 33 The Series, A Man and His Design. Spontaneous applause broke out when the first session ended. The men were energized by the presentation of the content, engaging in conversations and discussion about how to apply the biblical principles of manhood like never before. Mark Norris has been leading these men well for several years.

I connected Mark to Dick Wall, his counterpart who takes 33 into a prison in South Houston. I had the privilege to go with Dick and his team into the Jester Unit when the inmates were going through A Man and His Work. I was blown away by the discussions after the session as these inmates processed what they were learning and applying the Biblical Blueprint for Work to their responsibilities in prison—to see it as a calling, to create & cultivate, and to be a life-giving presence through their responsibilities behind bars. These biblical principles are clearly applicable for EVERY man WHEREVER they are.

We need more men like Mark and Dick to be God's image bearers, to love and serve Jesus by loving and serving others.

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus describes the difference in what his followers – the sheep – will do and what those who don't follow him – the goats – don't do. The profile of the sheep is in Matthew 25:34-40.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

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No Regrets Men's Ministries takes 33 The Series into the Milwaukee County House of Correction. Learn more at menwithnoregrets.org. Watch this short video of their story.

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Passing the Torch

By Tierce Green

Larry Reamy was just one man out of a thousand attending a seasonal gathering called The Quest in The Woodlands, TX. The impact on his life compelled him to lead other men in the journey toward authentic manhood. Here is his story and a challenge to the men he has led.

Larry’s Story:

Being a 33 host for the past few years has been a real joy for me. I have met so many unbelievable men, young and old, that have enriched my life. You have taught me so much about being a biblical father, husband, friend, and boss.

The Quest For Authentic Manhood started me on a new journey. God gave me an incredible peace and an overwhelming urge to bring men together and learn how to be real men. I knew that 33 The Series would be an effective tool to help bring men out of their shell and create a solid foundation and a safe place for them to learn and grow.

My job was just to start this movement and then back away and watch it take off. It took a little longer than I originally imagined, but that was exactly what God had planned. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

My time in this particular hosting role on my patio is up. The past four years have changed my life immeasurably. It is time to pass on that torch to a few solid men who I have grown to love, respect, and admire.

God has been reaching into your soul and imparting in you the same passion to lead other men as he did me. You know who you are! It's time to step out of your comfort zone, trust God, and take a step to help change men's lives in our community.

Don't let costs hold you back. A man should, and will pay $20 for each volume of 33 which will include his training guide and cover your video download cost of $30. You don't have to absorb these costs. Give men a chance to have some skin in the game and invest in something that will make an eternal difference in their life!

Need help implementing your plan to reach men? Let us know what’s on your heart. We’re here to guide you and provide the support you need.

What are you waiting for?

Men of Steel

by Tierce Green

The makeshift welding station was strategically positioned at the top of the driveway. Each man passed by it as he arrived. For six Tuesday nights these five young men, all of them in their twenties, gathered on this patio on a journey toward authentic manhood—a journey that began between a father and son, now extended through a son to his friends.

Dave Marks first heard the principles of authentic manhood with hundreds of other men. He and a small group of dads understood the advantage a young man would have if he learned these principles early in life to provide a clear framework for manhood. They designed an experience for their sons, teenagers at the time, to discover what they had learned. Dave is a pretty creative guy so this father/son experience was filled not only with great content but also with an interactive junkyard visit, homemade rocket launchers, a huge ceremonial bonfire and other “meaningful" pyrotechnics!

Dave understood the value of revisiting these principles at strategic times with his son Taylor. When Taylor was nearing the end of his college career, the Manhood Definition and the Four Faces of Manhood were now richer, deeper and even more practical. Taylor's first thought was how his friends needed what he had been learning with his dad. So, Alex, Stephen, Chase, Grant and Taylor huddled up for six weeks around A Man and His Design from 33 The Series to process the timeless principles of biblical manhood together. They decided to meet for a seventh night to share their Action Plans and to seal the covenant they would make to each other.

The conversation on the patio flowed freely. One of the realities that resonated with all of these young men was the phenomenon of so many guys in their twenties who are stuck in extended adolescence. They saw too much of it in their friends and felt too much of it in themselves.

Another common thread was the need to focus on the King and Warrior Faces of Manhood—to reject passivity and lead courageously. One of them expressed his desire to have a more developed Friend Face and to connect with others on a more substantive level. Living with a transcendent cause and investing eternally—these are the things these young men desired.

We moved from the patio to the welding station at the top of the driveway around a two-feet by two-feet steel plate. Looking back on that night we realized the symbolism in many of the elements.

The steel plate was actually a boilerplate. A lot of guys never open their chest up to another man. We tend to stuff our unresolved issues and settle for superficial “How’s it going?" and "I’m fine” conversations. We’re like a pressure cooker—a boiler—with a plate that leaks and causes damage to ourselves and collateral damage to others. Real men learn how to rip that plate off and deal responsibly with what is inside.

The steel boilerplate was lying across a large piece of scrap lumber on top of a wheelbarrow. The lumber was leftover oak from their church that was built fifteen years ago. The Four Faces of Manhood—King, Warrior, Lover, and Friend—were welded on the four edges of the plate. Each of the men took turns welding their initials into the plate. They were making a twenty-year covenant to stick together no matter what and to hold each other accountable in their journey toward authentic manhood. The heat of the welding torch heated up the plate, which in turn heated up the wood, filling the air with a pleasing aroma of oak, metal and smoke.

Someone suggested that the steel plate would rust as the years rolled by. We immediately felt that metaphor of life and the strength of the covenant that surrounded it. One of the guys had the idea to weld “33” in the middle of the plate because Jesus is our model of authentic manhood in the 33 years he lived on Earth. These men agreed that their covenant with each other would not exclude others from joining them in their journey. This group was the core that would include others along the way.

I had been invited to deliver a personal challenge to these men. I reminded them of the Laws of the Harvest:

1. You reap what you sow, so you need to choose your seeds wisely.

2. You reap in a different season than you sow, so be patient. Manhood is a process, a journey.

3. You reap more than you sow. Good, bad or ugly, your harvest is only as good as the seeds you sow.

We talked about transitioning well through the seasons of a man’s life, focusing on where you are now while anticipating where you are going, always living with the end in mind. Taylor’s dad pointed out that over the next twenty years these guys would gather at each other's weddings. They would gather at the births of their children and eventually the funerals of their parents. This was the reality of the covenant they were making.

I couldn’t help but think that here I am at the beginning of the winter season of my life, and there they are in their twenties just hitting their stride in the summer season of life. Our common purpose transcended our seasons just the way it should be. We are connected.

Good things happen in an environment like this—an environment of honesty and trust. A healthy level of vulnerability emerges where you can freely express the feelings of your heart, your struggles, your failures and fears. There is safety, camaraderie and genuine community. No one passes judgment on another, but at the same time no one diminishes the truth. This is the brotherhood of real men.

I capped off the evening with this excerpt from a spoken word piece that Tedashii created for us in A Man and His Design:

I refuse to let the sixty-year-old me look back at the twenty-year-old me like, "What was he thinking? Where was the plan?"
And I refuse to let the kid in me look down at that future grown man.
Don’t waste your seasons.

Seasons, by Tedashii / from 33 The Series, A Man and His Design, Session 6

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Understanding God's Grace

by Tierce Green

Finding God and experiencing His grace was never meant to be an endless scavenger hunt or massive jigsaw puzzle where you hope you get all the pieces in the right place. But with all the different religions and philosophies, a lot of people are confused. God expressed Himself and clarified His grace in a way we could understand by becoming a man through His Son Jesus.

The Bible says that God has placed eternity in our heart ...

“ … He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We have this eternal homing device that reminds us there’s something more to life. We were created to experience a life that is full of purpose and adventure, but we can’t—not without God’s grace. The life we long for is in His Son Jesus. The Bible talks about those who have the Son as those who have life, and those who don’t have Jesus as those who don’t have life.

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."  (1 John 5:12)

So, if you don’t have life that means you’re dead. I think we can all feel that death on some level.

It’s easy to identify someone who is physically dead because dead people act dead. They don’t sing or dance or eat or enjoy life at all because they’re dead! But identifying someone who is spiritually dead is not that easy. There are a lot of religious life-support systems and moral life-support systems that make them look like they are alive, but they’re not. They don’t have the kind of life that they were created to live.

Religion without a relationship with God is hollow and meaningless. It’s frustrating because you never know if you’ve done enough or been good enough to please God. You’re always looking over your shoulder. That’s no way to live. It really isn’t life at all.

Our nature is to think, “I’m not so bad.” You can always find someone who is worse than you and think, “At least I’m not that bad.” But God doesn’t compare one human with another and grade on the curve. He compares all of humanity with Himself and we all come up short. Romans 3:23 says,

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The word “sin” means “missing the mark.” Even the best, most religious or moral person misses the mark. That’s where the death we experience comes from. Romans 6:23 says,

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our sin is so serious, so severe, so grotesque that something drastic had to be done to fix it. It would be hopeless if it was left up to us because there is nothing we could ever do to make it right. Hebrews 9:22 says,

“ … without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

Our blood, sweat and tears are not enough. That’s where God’s grace and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus changes everything.

THE VERY BAD NEWS is we all come up short. We all miss the mark and because of that there is death, and without the shedding of blood, it’s hopeless.

THE VERY GOOD NEWS is this …

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:8-9)

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Matt Chandler explains Romans 5:8-9 this way:

“The word “justified” means that you and I stand before God acceptable, spotless, pure, and without sin. God looks at us and says ‘There is no sin in that man! There is no sin in that woman!’ All that blasphemy that we’ve done by choosing stuff over God; all the blasphemy that we’ve lived in by saying, ‘My way is better than God’s.’ All the blatant sin of saying, ‘Creation is better than God’ is REMOVED and God sees us as just.

‘Much more then, having now been justified by his blood … ‘

This is GREAT NEWS! There’s nothing about your effort in that text at all. Nothing about your might, your religious stamina, your morality, or cleaning yourself up. You have been justified by an act of God!

BOTTOM LINE: You have not earned right-standing in front of God by your effort or cleaning up of your life. We have been made pure, standing blameless in front of God, not because of any kind of religious or moral pursuit, but because Christ died, and in His death He absorbed all of God’s wrath for you and me. And that’s why the Bible says that for the children of God, we are not appointed to suffer wrath. Because the wrath bestowed upon you and me was absorbed by Christ’s death.”

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THAT’S GRACE! All we have to do is receive it; to humble ourselves and place our faith in what Christ has done for us. If you don’t think you have enough faith, you’re missing the point. We’re not saved by our faith. We’re saved by GRACE—God’s grace—through our faith. His death for our sin, and His resurrection for the life we were designed to experience.

How do you receive it? Just pray and tell God what you’re thinking; what you want to do. Accept responsibility for your sin. Own it and confess it to Him. Ask his forgiveness and humbly put your trust in what Jesus did for you—HIS DEATH for YOUR SIN. Then ask God to help you live like you mean it. You won’t be perfect, but by God’s grace you will see a measurable difference. This is God’s promise:

He who has the Son has life! (1 John 5:12)

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