Become Good Soil

We are made in the image of God; we carry within us the desire for our true life of intimacy and adventure. To say we want less than that is to lie. – The Journey of DesireFriends, It started with an ocean lifeguard dory boat race. Two-man teams set to row from the coast of Catalina Island across the twenty-two-mile open-water channel back to the mainland near San Pedro. To add to the adventure, it was the opening of lobster season. In response, Jared and his buddy cooked up an off-the-couch adventure to dive for lobsters all day around Catalina, camp on the beach, wake up in the predawn, and launch their self-powered dory at 4:00 a.m. to complete the epic race back home. This is a glimpse into the heart of Jared Sayers, a trusted friend of mine who has consented to the path and process of becoming a king. Husband, father, waterman, entrepreneur, recovering business executive, adventurer, artist, and craftsman, Jared is a man who seeks to drink deeply of life in the fullest possible measure. Above all, he has taken risks and carries scars of failure, heartbreak, and triumph that tell a story of masculine initiation. Through the doorways of pain and desire, Jared is passing through his initiation into an adventure with God he would never have imagined. And he’s inviting us to do the same. The invitation is to allow the Father to use Jared’s story as an interpretive grid to shine a light deep into your heart as a man and to attune you to who God wants to be for you and what he is up to in calling you out to deeper waters and bigger surf. Join us for this unique but universal story of masculine initiation. Locate your own heart and take the next risk, if you dare. For the Kingdom, Morgan To dig even deeper and glean from all Jared is stewarding, check out more at his blog, A Blue Mind, and his Salt & Sea Camp for kids.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the path that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Jesus of Nazareth Eugene Peterson phrased Jesus’ words this way: “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” (Matthew 7:13-14 MSG) The Becoming a King Retreat is vigorous and requires total attention. It is not easy or cheap. It doesn’t provide a shortcut or easygoing formula.  It’s an evergreen invitation back onto the narrow path that leads to life.  And it’s working.  Men are being formed and forged.  They're discovering healing and hope.  They’re finding their smiles and their tears again.  And they’re being initiated deeply into the Kingdom of God.  We’re concluding this three-part series with more stories from the frontlines of the Becoming a King Retreat. We think you’re going to love it.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

We don't believe something by merely saying we believe it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as if it were true. – Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart  In Part 2 of this conversation, we hear another fresh batch of stories from the frontlines of our newest mission: the Becoming a King Retreat.   Constructing a four-day context that shepherds men into their masculine initiation, the Becoming a King Retreat weaves together story, teaching, rest, play, and worship. Men all over the globe are getting their hearts back through it.  And it’s only just beginning.  What if you had another chance?  What if you could be courageous, again? Friends, join me and a few courageous others choosing to invest in the holy and daring work of strengthening the hearts of other men. They are men who have risked offering strength, love, and service on behalf of others, and they are discovering the deep fruit of doing so.  Come along into Part 2 of this conversation as we encounter men who not only believe God is a good Father, but are risking to act as if it were true.   For the Kingdom, Morgan

Rule with the heart of a servant. Serve with the heart of a king. Friends, we’re pulling back 50 yards from the frontline to hear fresh stories from the field.  The Becoming a King Retreat is slowly and steadily building an irreversible revolution in the hearts of men all over the world. We’re hoping the stories of men like you taking risks all around the globe will inspire you to do the same. What if there was a way to be good again? It isn’t cheap. It isn’t quick. It isn’t easy. Few things will facilitate our masculine initiation more deeply than offering strength, love, and service on behalf of other men. This series is an invitation to join us in bringing the mission and message of Becoming a King on behalf of other men—that they might become the kind of men to whom God is glad to entrust the care of his Kingdom.  Come along into this first conversation as we hear reports from men courageously choosing to serve with kingly hearts...and rule with servant hearts.  Find an exclusive event to attend or offer one in your local area at www.BecomingAKingRetreat.com. For the Kingdom, Morgan

Reflect on the past year and uncover its treasures while seeking divine guidance. Embrace mental and spiritual preparation for what's ahead, shifting from self-reliance to divine direction. Explore masculine initiation as a path for personal growth and leadership. Engage in introspective reflections to recognize both successes and challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of your relationship with God. Evaluate your relationships for growth potential and embrace transformation through self-reflection. Set clear intentions for the new year to align with divine purpose.

Each human soul has to enact for itself the gigantic humility of the Incarnation. Every man must descend into the flesh to meet mankind. – G.K. Chesterton Friends, We have a gift for you.  Take up a childlike heart again and be swept up into the awe and beauty of Immanuel—God with us.  Join us for this special BGS Christmas podcast.  Through the generosity of Penguin Random House Publishing, it’s our joy to take you into a generous portion of The Carpenter’s Gift. Written by David Rubel and whimsically illustrated by Jim LaMarche, this modern-day parable and timeless classic is sure to access the childlike place in your soul. This Christmas season, we invite you to revel at the miracle of God pursuing us and forever joining us in the fullness and limitations of our humanity. For the Kingdom, Morgan We encourage you to bless someone this Christmas season with The Carpenter’s Gift.

The podcast explores the importance of surrendering to God and relying on His presence in masculine initiation. It delves into reflections on parenthood and faith, discussing the challenges faced while caring for a handicapped daughter and the struggle with identity and masculinity. The podcast also emphasizes the mission of becoming whole through embracing pain and healing. Additionally, it touches on the transformative journey of settling into God's plan and the impact of personal growth and fatherhood. The speaker expresses gratitude for the vulnerability of the men sharing their stories and invites listeners to reflect on God's invitation.

Exploring the challenges and rewards of masculine initiation, embracing transformation, finding true identity, healing and positive change, unveiling the false self, and the impact of deep friendship on personal growth.

However quickly or slowly the call of God comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural….If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for his purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, he will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony. – Oswald Chambers How do we steward the kingdoms God has entrusted to our care?  What do we do when things go sideways? What can we do now so that we will be thriving a decade from now? The Helsers entice us to plunge deep into mature sonship and daughtership. As Melissa beautifully teaches, “Our lives are one percent talent and gifting, but 99 percent trust and dependence in friendship with the Lord.” We get to choose, friends.  We get to choose to be with God, rather than impress him.  In the hidden parts of our lives, in time and over time, we can experience friendship with God that far outweighs the fleeting nature of talents.  Join us for the fourth and final episode of this series as the Helsers blaze yet another Kingdom trail that leads to Life.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. (1 Samuel 3:9) – Oswald Chambers  Friends, Jonathan David Helser teaches, “In the Garden, it all began with a kiss. God’s first moment with us is…messy." And though we started out as dirt in the cherishing hands of the Trinity, our God invites us into more. Over a lifetime of maturing, we are intended to become the children, the friends, and, finally, the lovers of God. The Helsers have consented for decades to the movement and invitation of God in their lives.  It hasn’t been easy.  It hasn’t been cheap.  It hasn’t been quick. But through them, God is blazing a path for generations of disciples to become the friends and lovers of God.  In time and over time, they’ve practiced trusting the affection of God rather than trusting their gifting. A thousand times a thousand, they’ve chosen to receive and rest in the bottom-line reality that God’s love is better than life itself—and they’re inviting us to do the same.  Come along into Part 3 of this series as we follow the Helsers on the path and process of becoming the sons, daughters, and lovers of God.  For the Kingdom, Morgan "I will take delight in you. As a groom rejoices over his bride, so will I rejoice over you." – Isaiah 62