BoldMan Chronicles

Leading Men Summit 2011 presentation now available

2012-01-29T16:18:25Z

If you missed attending 2011 Leading Men Summit with Gordon MacDonald, you missed a terrific time of learning, sharing and Going Deep, the title of Gordon's presentation and latest book.

But while you may have missed out on the experience, you can still take in the information. Through our partnership with Bethel University we have made his materials available to you. You can access the audio pesentation via iTunes. Simply follow these instructions:

Open iTunes on your computer. You must be connected to the internet.
Click on iTunes Store to access the Apple iTunes Store.
In the SEARCH box in the upper right hand corner, type in Bethel University.
Under "Institutions", click on Bethel University.
It will bring up several options. In the second section labelled "What's New", the second icon from the left is "Church Ministries - Pastor Seminar" with the "Improving Your Impact" logo. Click on the icon to see the list of recordings.

The accompanying slides can be found here.

Gordon MacDonald Speaks to Leaders at the 2011 Leading Men Summit

2011-11-16T16:14:31Z

Over a hundred leaders from across the state gathered last week with noted pastor, best-selling author, Denver Seminary Chancellor and Leadership Journal editor, Gordon MacDonald. Speaking at the 9th annual Leading Men Summit hosted by BoldPath Life Strategies and Bethel University, MacDonald explored how to foster the creation of deep people within our communities.

"The first priority of the Christian leader is to assure the continuous training of of people," asserts MacDonald. He describes this process as cultivating deep people. Inspired by the observation of by Richard Foster that "the desparate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people," MacDonald and his wife, Gail, set out to intentionally cultivate deep people within their church. Their experience in personally cultivating Christian leaders inspired his latest book, Going Deep: Becoming a Person of Influence, published just last month by Thomas Nelson.

In his highly interactive presentation MacDonald posited this question: "What if a church decided that its pastor's chief responsibilty was to lead the effort to produce a continuous flow of deep people. Deep people, according to MacDonald, possess the following qualities: loyalty to Jesus, bibically grounded, growing as a "whole-person," healthy personal relationships, wisdom, spiritual gift awareness, inspiring, generous, compassionate, and are self-regulated.

To effectively cultivate these kinds of people, MacDonald suggests the direct involvement of the senior pastor in CDP (Cultivating Deep People) groups. He offered several CDP principles to consider. Chief among them, the effort needs top leadership support. "Don't do this without consulting your elder board," MacDonald advised. It must be given personal high-priority, occupyng as much as 20% of a pastor's time commitment. The group must meet off-site (home based), be team taught, possess "high-bar' covenants among members as a high-priority, have clearly defined starting and ending points, practice engaged dialogue, and vitally important, the participants must be selected, not volunteer, to be a part of the CDP group. MacDonald advises selecting between 12-17 people that exhibit teachability, social interaction skill, leadership skill, faithfulness, spiritual curiosity, be participative and are not "problem-driven." people.

Bethel University will soon post audio from the Summit and the post-Summit session Gordon MacDonald led on his prior work, Who Stole My Church?, where he shared his insights and observations about the future of the church. For now, you can download the PDF of the Summit presentation here.

Do You Want to Change the World? Think Courageous.

2011-09-26T03:27:14Z

The movie Courageous is already a success, and it hasn't opened yet.

On Friday, September 30th, Courageous will open across the country on 1400 screens. As everyone knows, opening weekend is critical in the movie business. A film's ultimate success nearly always depends on a strong first showing. Yet, no matter how many weeks Courageous ultimately runs in the theaters, it's already a success. And it has nothing to do with the film, but everything to do with following a passion.

Courageous is the fourth release of Sherwood Pictures, a ministry founded nearly ten years ago by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Believing that even the small community of Albany could make a difference in the world, the church raised $20,000 to create their first film, Flywheel, which opened in a whopping 3 theaters. Yet, the proceeds and learnings from that film enabled them to make Facing the Giants and after that Fireproof, the latter becoming the highest grossing independent film of 2008 taking in more than $33 million. In my opinion, their latest installment is poised to have an even greater impact.

While male moviegoers will be inspired to be better dads, the more transcendent message of Courageous is in the belief of a small community in Georgia who trusted God that they could make a difference around the world by going into the moviemaking business.

The next time you wonder about what kind of difference you can make, think of the creators of Courageous--their passion will be on display this coming weekend and beyond. If you don't think you have the talent, think Courageous--their skill improved with each movie they made. When you think your dream requires more resource than you have, think Courageous--they trusted God in prayer and stepped out in faith to achieve what no other church in the world has done. And all this from little Albany, Georgia.

Imagine what you can do with the dream God's put inside of you. From your own little Albany, you, too, can put your faith on display for all to see. Start the way they did, ask God to show you His dream for you, then step out in faith and act on it. If you're ripe for that journey, attending a Dream Intensive might be a helpful next step. And for your own inspiration, take in a showing of Courageous this weekend too.

In what ways does the Sherwood example of faith inspire you?

This post first appeared on Leary's personal blog at www.learygates.com.

Dream Intensive: October 14-15, 2011

2011-09-02T23:32:56Z

Do you have something you wish you could do with your life--an idea you can't shake--but you just can't seem to get started, or know how to? Or, do you feel stuck and find yourself frustrated or dispassionate about your life? If so, I invite you to join me on October 14th and 15th at Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington, MN for the debut of the Dream Intensive workshop.

For years I've been meeting with people just like you. They know there's a lot more potential in their tank than they're currently releasing; and it bothers them. They know something is holding them back. Fear? Lack of a plan? Little encouragement from others? Maybe all of these. I designed the Dream Intensive to tackle these issues head-on. It's a highly creative and interactive exploratory of the dream God's planted in your heart. It will help you create greater clarity of your dream and how to pursue it--even if you're not aware that you have one.

This is the workshop that I want to go to for my own dream. Because it's highly participative, the enrollment is limited to 20 people, Christian adult men and women, who want to experience breakthrough in their life. If that sounds appealing to you, I invite you to visit the Dream Intensive website at www.dreamintensive.com to learn more.

I hope to see you on October 14th at the Dream Intensive.

Live on Purpose Retreat: March 18-20, 2011

2011-02-10T16:02:08Z

Rough year? Need to get some time away with the Lord?

The men of Zimmerman Evangelical Free Church invite you to join them March 18-20 at the Timber Bay Retreat Center in Onamia, MN for their spring retreat. BoldPath Founder, Leary Gates will be speaking about living an intentional, purposeful life. Live on Purpose explores the four biblical characteristics of a purposeful pursuit. Read Leary's blog post on the retreat and register online at the church website. The cost to attend for the weekend is $100 per guy.

Interview with Wes Yoder

2011-01-13T19:35:00Z

Wes Yoder recently sent all of us men an invitation. We've been invited to a "new conversation" and his new book, Bond of Brothers, kicks it off. Bond of Brothers is a look into the inner questions men ask and invites us into a bold conversation about them (read an excerpt). Wes is the Founder of the Ambassador Agency, the oldest Christian-based talent agency in the US. His firm represents many of the most notable authors and speakers and has provided media representation for The Purpose Driven Life and The Shack and other NY Times bestsellers. He has personally appeared on
NBC Nightly News, ABC's Prime Time, Dateline NBC, CNN Headline News, and the TODAY Show with Ann Curry (watch the interview). Leary Gates reviewed his book (read the review) and conducted this interview with him for the BoldMan Chronicles.

]]> BMC: You've been in the publishing world for a long time, leading an organization that's brought a lot of visibility to many authors and speakers. Yet, this is your first book. What inspired you to take up the pen and write Bond of Brothers?

WY: Years ago, I read a piece by C.S. Lewis on writing in which he said if one has something to say, it is possible to find words by which to say it, but the key is knowing what you want to say. Bond of Brothers took me awhile. I saw and felt what I wanted to say well in advance of finding the words that captured the message. I spent five years in the process of observation and writing about friendships, my relationships to other guys, and what I saw as a great sadness among men, that is, the shallowness that marks much of our life together. Men, I noted, are ushered to their greatest silence at the time of life when they have the most to say, when they have more to contribute than at any other time of their life. But they remain silent because they do not believe this.

It was my daughter's marriage that provided my wake-up call. I had no context whatsoever to discuss with other men what it really means for a father to give his daughter "to one of us" yet giving their daughter(s) in marriage is one of the most significant things a man will ever do.

BMC: What's been the initial response from readers to your book so far?

WY: Men are saying many kind things, but especially that Bond of Brothers is giving them a starting point to go deeper in friendship, a language, if you will, to express themselves in new ways among their friends. Several men have told me, "You wrote my autobiography. How did you do that?" Women readers are saying it's a book for them, too, to better understand the men and boys they love.

BMC: What one thing would you like men, in particular, to do differently as a result of reading your book?

WY: I'd like us to learn how to ask better questions that lead us deeper, to come to understand the value of reinvesting in friendship even after experiencing the hurt and betrayal that every man knows. Friendship can be costly. Sometimes it means we have to invest time, give of our hearts, or use hard-earned resources. Sometimes it means we lay down our lives for the good of a friend, or are misunderstood. My hope is that many guys will come to see this investment in others not only as "worth it", but to accept that being life-givers is a vocation to which men are called by God. I believe Jesus wants us to see, at the very minimum, that the Kingdom of God is a table-full of friends who have been invited to The Great Feast.

BMC: Bond of Brothers, in many ways it seems, is a collection of insights you've gained from your "Dinner and Conversation" group? How did that group come to be and what made that time so effective for men to be open with others?

WY: I was always impressed with accounts of Sir Winston Churchill and his regular dinners with friends, and of the Inklings who seemed to treasure conversation in ways that eclipsed our modern American way of life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, Life Together, was also a tremendous influence in my early spiritual formation.

I noticed that in the company of women most men defer or don't say much about what they are actually thinking. On the safe subjects, certainly, but on the things they care about more deeply, not so much. I noticed conversations on my porch with a couple of the guys always went places we never tended to go in mixed company and I observed in this a significant insecurity in men such as one experiences when learning to speak a new language. Coupled with observations that my conversations with most guys never really went anywhere, a friend of mine and I decided to start a dinner for men to see if guys cared to talk about the things we never or seldom discuss. That was the birth of our Dinner and Conversation group.

We discovered quickly when we asked questions that give the opportunity to go deep, but of themselves are not condemning, men will begin to tell you of the deepest part of their souls, not all at once, not with all the detail at first, but will begin in a safe environment to share their life as it actually exists, not just as they wish it to be. This is critical to actually becoming alive. Life is a gentle thing that needs nurture, but once a man is alive, the strength, gentleness and confidence that flow from him give life to others. We are discovering more of this as time goes by. We talk about spiritual friendship and the spirituality of just about anything, and we invite Jesus, who says we are his friends, to be present with us in our friendship with each other.

BMC: Of all the questions you explored in Bond of Brothers, which do you think most men have difficulty coming to terms with?

WY: With the issue that life is so much more difficult than they expected it would be. That is not a question in and of itself, but we have asked many questions around this theme. What is the greatest sorrow of your life? What is your greatest fear right now? Why did our fathers seldom tell us of their struggles, or their weakness? What should I be telling my son?

What we are learning is that we do not have to "fix" each other and we don't have to know all the answers. But we are also learning to become present with each other in our afflictions, our sorrow, and in the struggles of our manhood and life on the fallen planet. We are learning that the truth helps, really helps, and that Jesus enjoys being with us and that has put a smile back on our faces. Our fears are not what they once were.

BMC: One of the key premises of your book is that the "more a man knows himself, the more he knows other men." What are some of the ways you might suggest a man, especially a young man with fewer life experiences, can grow in the kind of self awareness that your book portrays?

WY: We are told by life experience and by the Word of God to get wisdom. God says he will give wisdom to anyone who asks, and will not scold him for asking. We see the benefits this provided to Solomon and think some of the benefits might be quite nice. Solomon also wrote, "Get wisdom, but above all else, get discernment." Discernment is the sharpening of wisdom, the refinement of knowledge until knowledge becomes a useful tool, and with respect to oneself, discernment is a genuine understanding of who I actually am or am not. Discernment provides the authentic character assessment of who I am when no one is looking.

Authenticity of soul and spirit comes from making no agreements except with the truth. In other words, I will allow no lie about myself, not even those I love the most, to become my reality. I will not permit insecurity or fear, neither pride nor arrogance, to rule over me since all of these are rooted in lies or half-truths. I will not listen to the deceitful voice of abusers, lies, fear or self-aggrandizement. Instead, I will ask God to reveal what is true about me. I will seek His voice and ask him to show me when I began believing specific lies that come to mind. I will accept the reality of what is actually true about me as my starting point for transformation and accepting my identity as a son of the Father. This will become the reality I accept day by day, both the good and what is shabby or broken, so that the change He is doing in my life can actually continue until I am transformed into the image of Christ.

BMC: Thanks, Wes, for taking the time with us and for the investment you've made in Bond of Brothers to capture the significant questions men are asking themselves.

Bond of Brothers by Wes Yoder

2011-01-13T19:09:16Z

Bond of Brothers is must read for the Bold Man. In it Wes Yoder weaves together conversations he has shared with men over the past five years; conversations on a range of intimate questions that are not always easy for men to discuss. The book serves nicely as a conversational fire-starter, first to stimulate your own thinking, then to share your thoughts with others. Read it to jump start your own conversational journey with your wife or your men's group.

For more information, read Leary's review of Bond of Brothers and read the the BoldMan Chronicles interview with author Wes Yoder.

Attempted Robbery

2011-01-12T23:47:05Z

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Depending on where you live and your personal experiences, crime is a constant threat against which we need to be on alert - vigilant. Yet sometimes we are not alert to a more subtle form of attack - one that often goes undetected until its effects begin to be noticed. It is possible to lose something without being aware of it for a period of time.

]]> Consider this warning from Jesus:

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber...All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:1, 8-10)

Jesus used the metaphor of sheep resting securely in a sheepfold to warn against the risk of a thief undetected who sneaks in to steal, kill and destroy. We are not sheep, but very much like sheep. Like sheep we need to know our Shepherd's voice if we are to avoid being robbed of the best in life.

Practically, this means we must make a priority of daily discerning the voice of God among all other voices, both in our heads and in the culture that surrounds us, and of cultivating the habit of trusting Him to lead us along the path to safety. Failing to be alert to the reality of various thieves in our lives and taking appropriate precautions to protect ourselves against their schemes will rob us of the joy that comes from the life Jesus promises.

Threats to our spiritual well-being are many: Illness, depression, financial pressures, relationship disruptions, unemployment, resentments... The list could go on and on. Each threat brings its own anxieties. These anxieties are thieves to our vitality. Yet, one thing is certain: The joy of the Lord is our strength. Only the knowledge of the presence and loving care of the Shepherd can shield us from those things that would steal our joy.

As you look forward to what God has in store for you this year, take some time to get reacquainted with the Master's voice because you never know when a thief will appear.

Leading Men Summit at Bethel University, November 11

2010-10-25T01:44:17Z

If you want to engage the men in your church in discipleship and service, you don't want to miss this year's Leading Men Summit at Bethel University on November 11th. For the last seven years leaders from around the state have been gathering to share ideas and gain insights for inspiring growth and action among the men you serve.

This year, Vince D'Acchioli, Founder of On Target Ministries, will present a strategic action plan for re-engaging the men of your church. Vince has shared the principles of that action plan, Grow Your Men, Grow Your Church with thousands of pastors nationwide. You and your leadership team will benefit from the insights Vince and other leaders will be bringing on November 11th.

Leary Gates, Founder of BoldPath Life Strategies, recently spoke with Vince via video conference. Take a look below and visit the Summit website for more info and to register.

Take advantage of the early registration discount when you register by October 31st.

The Intentional Man Workshop: September 17-18th

2010-08-07T20:38:23Z

Get intentional this fall!

On September 17-18, BoldPath founder Leary Gates will be presenting the Intentional Man Workshop, a brand new offering from BoldPath Life Strategies.

The Intentional Man Workshop will equip you with a strategy and framework for thinking purposefully about the next twelve months of your life. Presented in two half-day sessions you'll gain new perspectives and some powerful tools to help you live more intentionally. Session one explores the biblical basis for intentional living and offers four pillars of intentionality for you to act upon. In session two, you'll create your year of living courageously plan as part of an extended edition of the popular Year of Living Courageously workshop.

Get more intentional and join us in Virginia, Minnesota on September 17-18 for the Intentional Man Workshop. To learn more and register visit http://IntentionalMan.com.

Year of Living Courageously - Pastor's Edition: Twin Cities May 13th

2010-05-01T16:48:13Z

On Thursday, May 13th, we'll be conducting a first-time, special edition of our Year of Living Courageously workshop--just for pastors. The Year of Living Courageously Pastor's Edition is a unique and intense personal goal setting workshop exclusively for professional clergy. It's a unique opportunity for you, as a pastor, to create, reflect and interact about your own courageous goals. Learn more and register at http://livecourageously.com (click on Pastor's Edition). Or to get a little background on the origin of this workshop, read Leary's recent blog post about it.

If you attended a Year of Living Courageously Workshop, you'll want to encourage your pastor to attend this workshop designed expressly for them.

Anchor Points Coming to the Twin Cities: April 27

2010-04-16T14:28:42Z

Church Pastors and Leaders: Discover strategies to cultivate an environment that fosters intergenerational relationships and values. On Tuesday, April 27, BoldPath Life Strategies is partnering with Dr. Chuck Stecker and A Chosen Generation to present Anchor Points--a one-day seminar at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, MN.

You and your ministry team will receive 'graduate level' training on the tools and strategies to build an intergenerational church. You'll learn about:

The difference between multigenerational, cross-generational and intergenerational ministry.
The role of mentors and coaches.
The purpose and value of rites of passage.
How spiritual maturity can be a reachable target.
Why the church is lacking in spiritual continuity and how we can recapture it.
Why many churches are not making disciples.
Clear strategies for all ministries to reach all generations.

Visit the Anchor Points seminar webpage to learn more and to register. Early registation discounts available through April 17. You can also read the most recent BoldMan Chronicles interview with Chuck for more information. Please let other ministry colleagues know about this special event.

New IronWorks Season: Game On! Play Hurt.

2010-03-30T16:07:19Z

You can feel the pain. You're working harder than ever before just to keep up. You may even be out of work. Either way, you're likely battered and bruised. The Spring 2010 season of IronWorks will explore the eight character qualities every man needs to keep their head and heart in the game.

IronWorks is a non-denomination gathering of Twin Cities men on Friday mornings and Wednesday evenings for fellowship and the practical application of God's Word to everyday issues.

If you live in the Twin Cities, especially the south suburbs, make plans now to drop by for our series kick off on Friday, April 2nd at 6:30 a.m. (IronWorks Sunrise) or on Wednesday, April 7th at 5:30 p.m. (IronWorks Sunset). All sessions are held at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville.

If you can't make it to an IronWorks live, you can still be a part of the experience because all of the sessions are available on audio and video at the IronWorks website. They make a great resource for men's study groups in your church too. Visit the MettleMedia page to view prior seasons with your men's group.

Interview with Dr. Chuck Stecker

2010-03-30T15:31:26Z

Never before have we segregated our churches more based on age, gender or special need. Dr. Chuck Stecker's passion is to see churches return to truly intergenerational communities. As Founder of A Chosen Generation, Chuck travels around the world helping churches deploy strategies that keep young adults actively engaged in their church and developed into leaders that impact every area of our society. As an ordained minister, Chuck holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Leadership and has served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and as a Regional Director for Promise Keepers. He is the author of Men of Honor & Women of Virtue, the Power of Rites of Passage and contributing author of Effective Men's Ministry: The Indispensable Toolkit for Your Church. Chuck is bringing his Anchor Points seminar to Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, MN on April 27th. BoldMan Chronicles recently caught up with him for this interview.]]> BMC: Chuck, what does it mean to have an intergenerational church and what does one look like?

CS: We often confuse "intergenerational" with multi and cross-generational. Intergenerational is not a program or a new ministry. InterGenerational is an "environment" that intentionally grows relationships that cross generational boundaries and ways of thinking normally associated with one age group or another.

BMC: Why is it important for church leaders to be thinking "intergenerationally?"

CS: The funny thing is that most leaders already know that it is important to be thinking "intergenerationally." In addition, they have already been given a vision from God that His church is to be His family. Every leader I speak with is not asking "why," they are asking "how" and wanting to know if anyone help them.

BMC: What good role models exist for intergenerational ministry?

CS: Outside the church we are seeing a huge movement in the business community that already understands the need to connect generations for effectiveness. In addition, the greatest role model for "intergenerational" ministry is the family. By design and God's plan, the family is intended to be intergenerational.

BMC: What are some of the most important things a church leader can do to cultivate an intergenerational environment?

CS: Realizing that this is a major part of Anchor Points seminars, one of the great things that leaders can do is create value for all age groups or generations that is increased when we relate and serve beyond our own age group.

BMC: Tell us about your ministry, A Chosen Generation. How did God lay this burden on you?

CS: I am in the slow reading group. God has a tendency to give me a little to chew on and if I do not choke on that, He gives me a little more. I began in 1996 by exploring God's plan for adulthood for our two sons. This lead me to beginning rites of passage. Even with that, I did not anticipate God launching a specific ministry in me to help churches conduct ceremonies for their young adults. In time God revealed His purpose for me to not just equip and train churches in the need and conduct of rites of passage, but the strategies for intergenerational ministry. It has become a fantastic ride for me and clearly my passion. This is not what I do, but who I am and why I was created.

BMC: You say that you were created for this. Do you have a clear purpose or mission statement for your life that you would like to share?

CS: Absolutely! My mission statement is: "To equip and train Godly leaders who will intentionally reproduce into generations yet to be born."

BMC: What can leaders expect to learn at your upcoming Anchor Points seminar?

CS: We slowly unpack 3-4 days of "graduate-level" training in an 8 hour period to help leaders bring clarity to the vision that God has already given them regarding a church family for all generations. Leaders will leave with a better understanding of the generations in their church. In addition, they will be introduced to concepts of lifewalking, ministering in transitions, intentional relationships of coaching, mentoring and encouraging. One of the most important "takeaways" from Anchor Points is a "common language" among the various ministry leaders.

BMC: What do you mean by a "common language?"

CS: Most often in our churches, the pastors go to their seminars and the men theirs. In addition, the women go to theirs as well as the youth or student ministry leaders to their own. Now the "seniors" have theirs and when everyone gets together, no one speaks the same language. They are trying to say the same things with different words and often different definitions. The result is just frustration and conflict. Whatever we do, it just gets easier if we are starting with the same definitions.

BMC: Thanks Chuck. We're looking forward to learning more about creating an intergenerational church when you are here with us on April 27th.

You can learn more about the upcoming Anchor Points seminar being held on April 27th be visiting the seminar webpage or by visiting A Chosen Generation.

Get your Thought for the Day

2010-02-13T18:15:47Z

New for 2010. Leary Gates, BoldPath founder and teacher, has launched a new feature on his personal blog site. His daily Thought for the Day includes a thought provoking quote, often from a famous leader or author, followed by a reflection on applying the principle as intentional men of God. It's a daily one-minute post you can have delivered to your inbox or favorite RSS reader.

Click here to view the blog and subscribe or read a sample on the difference between a being a dreamer and a visionary.