I have this thing for the Audi A6 automobile. Whenever I see one my covet button goes off and I am convinced deep down in my heart that my life would be so much better if I had one. Actually I did have one once…my brother had a ‘96 wagon that he no longer needed and so he graciously gave it to us. It was 11 or 12 years old, 190,000 miles on it and the sunroof didn’t work but it was still the nicest car I ever owned (might say something about our other cars). Only problem was that the transmission went out on it and by any chance do you know what a rebuilt transmission costs for an Audi A6? So now when I see an A6 and find myself thinking that I would be happier than I have ever been if I had that car, I can quickly think how much it costs to maintain one of those suckers and that usually helps…oh yeah and then there is the part of being able to afford one.

But it doesn’t stop with the car; there are all kinds of things that I am convinced would make my life better and the marketing experts have figured out how to take advantage of our discontentment. Have you ever-noticed how marketing guru’s today are so savvy in the way they convince us that our life, the way it is, sucks. Really, we watch a commercial and see how joyful and complete the actor/actress is because they have a new whatever, and we more often than not find ourselves loathing our position in life. And once they have you convinced that your life sucks the way it is they (usually with the help of a pretty girl in a bikini) convince us that our lives would be so much better with a new whatever…actually they make us feel like we deserve it and most of us at some time or another fall for it.

I have spent my fair share of time being discontent; wishing I could have something more or better. I also look around me today and I see so many who are discontent. They hope, dream, strive and long for the next thing that will make them happy. And you know what? It hardly ever does, at least for very long.

Have you ever asked why? Why am I seldom content? Why as soon as I purchase one thing that I have been longing for do I start searching the Internet for the next thing?

I was reading Philippians 4 the other day and this is what Paul said about being content… “For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Wow, what would it be like to be able to say that we are content with whatever we have? I think we tend to say, but that was Paul, of course he was content. No, Paul wasn’t any different than you and me but he did understand something that we forget sometimes. It is Christ who gives us the strength to be content. Because Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING we need.

Over my lifetime I have struggled with anger. Explosive anger that was usually unjustified and would seemingly come out of nowhere. I have been a Christian for 32 years and honestly for about 25 of them it didn’t seem to make much of a difference with my anger problem. Oh I tried all of the things Christians are supposed to do to overcome anger…prayer, confession, repentance, bible study, small group, accountability groups, etc. I still struggled with my anger though.

In 2002 a friend of mine gave me the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. My friend didn’t know it but the timing couldn’t have been better. God used the book, the conferences that are based on the book and other men who are on a similar journey to lead me deeper into Jesus and to start me on a journey of healing that would take me to places I never would have dreamed possible.

Eventually God led me to leave the ministry I was involved with for nearly two decades and start a ministry that is dedicated to rescuing the hearts of men. True Pursuit was launched in September of 2003 and it has been an incredible ride so far. I have wanted to blog for a long time but for a thousand reasons…none of them very good…I have always found a reason not to jump in.  Today signifies the start of something that will hopefully bring encouragement to those that find their way here.

I am convinced that every man has suffered one or more wounds in his lifetime that have shaped him into who he is today. Most of us still fall for the age-old lie that we are the only ones that struggle with our stuff and therefore we are convinced that it would not go well if we shared our struggle(s) with others. Of course when we take a little risk and open up to a friend we realize that in fact we are not alone in our struggles and that there is much strength and healing that comes from being real with ourselves, others and God.

You might be wondering what ever happened to my anger problem. It is gone…honestly, it is gone. I do not struggle with the anger issues I had fought with my whole life. I discovered that my anger was coming out of some childhood wounds that were never acknowledged and never dealt with. It is not just me you know. Having been ministering to men now for several years I seen much breakthrough, healing and restoration…much of which I am looking forward to sharing with you as we move forward.

Higher Up And Deeper In!