Restoring Heroes Project

Lead your Family. Slay the Dragons. Obey Christ.

  • What is Masculinity?

    What is Masculinity? This is a question that men need to answer.

  • Tale Of Two Patriarchies

    You can not smash the Patriarchy. You are either serving the Godly Patriarchy or the wicked one. God the Father of Life or satan the Father of Lies.There is no middle kingdom.

  • Watch “The Procedure Reaction” on YouTube

  • Heart Of The Fathers

    and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
    Malachi 4:6 KJV

  • MISSING IN ACTION

    The stage was set. It was time for another musical experience with Broadmoor Elementary directed by Mrs. Smith. This year’s show was “Coloring Book”. A whimsical selection of songs and dance to have any mommy or daddy standing to their feet with sheer glee. Costumes made with the finest construction paper and the premium tape. The kind of costumes that say, “Hey I look like what I am supposed to look like”. The excitement/terror in the air was almost enveloping. The practice was over. The wait was over. It was show time. The curtain opens and ……

    I don’t know what happened next or at all really; that’s just how I imagined it. You might be thinking “How do you know all those details James?” or “How do you know about the premium tape and finest construction paper costumes in the land James?” 

    Well, here’s the thing I was supposed to be there. Okay, not just being there I had a few lines. What I mean by “a few lines” is… that I had a solo. I was one of the primary colors in the Coloring Book. I was the last of the Red-Hot Romeos. There I said it! Are you happy now? Where was I … oh yeah, I was supposed to be there, but I was not. I was at home that night. Why? Good question. Here is the answer: I forgot to tell my parents about the musical. Yep I went through all the practices. Even had one of those swanky costumes. Nevertheless, I had forgotten to tell my parents so there I was in the house. 

    Nonetheless the Coloring book went on without me. But not the way it was intended to. Not the way the director designed it to go.

    In my room that night I was so nervous. I was going through it in my head trying hard to come up with some excuse. Maybe blame the parents. I thought to myself I will say something like my parents would not let me go or you know my Dad be trippin sometimes. Maybe they would not have even noticed. Maybe everything went great.  These were my thoughts as I drifted to sleep with butterflies breakdancing in my stomach and the sound of the solo I was meant to sing as the soundtrack in my head.

    The next morning on the way to school the maybes were bouncing around like a superball thrown between a rock and a hard place in my mind. I finally convinced myself that no one even cared. That I would be fine. Well, I was wrong. Everyone noticed, everyone cared. The constant questions of where were you? And what happened? My head was spinning so fast for a brief moment that I thought I was on the metal merry go round of death that was on the playground. But don’t worry I did what any little boy would do in that situation; I LIED. The lies were flying out like Nerf darts. I told lies until they were all convinced that my parents didn’t let me go because of (insert lie here). 

     I knew I had dropped the ball. I knew I had an assignment given to me that I was expected to fulfill. I was trusted with something and I blew it. I was the Last of the Red-Hot Romeos, but I was missing in action. 

         Now the stage was set in Genesis.God has created a perfect world, everything was good. Chapter 2 we see that God created Adam to subdue the land and work the garden. A pretty sweet gig. Then on top of that God created the most goodest Creation in my opinion God created woman the rib of Adam. They had open communication,no fussing ,no secrets, no questions about if the jeans made her look fat. Nope, the word of God said they were naked and unashamed. Everything was perfect.

        The creator of the world gave Adam a command. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

    Genesis 2:16‭-‬17 ESV

        Adam had his directives. He had it all. He had a job with benefits, life and dental. Also the most beautiful woman in the world by his side. Communication was free and honest between him and the Creator. It was good.

    So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

    Genesis 3:6 ESV

        Did you see that? Adam was there the whole time! Not once did he intervene. Not once did he say hey that’s not what God Said or a snake shut your dirty mouth. He was missing in action. He dropped the ball. He did nothing.

        This is seen in the hearts of Adam and Eve as they felt shame for the first time. Fear caused them to hide from their creator. Adam hid from God thinking that God would not notice. That God would never know. Wrong!!! God definitely knew and when confronted Adam did what any man that brought sin and death into the world would do. He… blames Eve then Eve blames the snake. God cursed the snake Eve and Adam.

        The world went on but not the way the Creator intended. Not the way it was designed. Sin separated God and man. Death infected the world. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden covered and ashamed. All because Adam was missing in action.

      So, where are you? The stage has been set. You have a part to play and people depending on you. What are you going to do? Are you going to be missing in action?

  • The Lies Of Porn

    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

    Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 ESV

    Scheme
    verb
    make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.

    So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
    Romans 8:12‭-‬13 ESV

    Satan wants to destroy you. He uses many lies. However we are going to talk today about the lies of porn.


    Lies
    1. Porn is harmless fun
    2. Porn will satisfy



    Lie 1
    Harmless fun!

    Truth:
    Porn hurts the world

    Sex Slave trade

    Roughly half of the sample group (including men, women, and children) were used to make pornography films.

    80% of those who have been freed from human trafficking were forced to re-enact specific acts of pornography by the people who enslaved them.

    The majority of these victims are taught how to “perform” via pornographic material.
    From  everaccountable.com

    Dehumanizing and Actor abuse

    A common misconception about pornography is that it is just people having sex on camera. However, in mainstream pornography violence is now the norm, with men inflicting violence and abuse against women who are forced to submit to body-punishing and humiliating sex acts. A 2010 study of the fifty most popular pornographic DVD titles found that 88% of scenes included violence. Of these, 95% depicted violence against women by men.

    Female Performers recount incidents of physical violence against them in pornography.

    ”My first movie I was treated very rough by 3 guys. They pounded on me, gagged me with their penises, and tossed me around like I was a ball! I was sore, hurting and could barely walk. My insides burned and hurt so badly. I could barely pee and to try to have a bowel movement was out of the question. I was hurting so bad from the physical abuse from these 3 male porn stars.” -Alexa

    ”Guys punching you in the face. You have semen from many guys all over your face, in your eyes. You get ripped. Your insides can come out of you. It’s never ending.” -Jersey

    (After being whipped and caned for 35 minutes) “I’ve never received a beating like that before in my life. I have permanent scars up and down the backs of my thighs. It was all things that I had consented to, but I didn’t know quite the brutality of what was about to happen to me until I was in it.”- Alexander

    “I was crying and crying, which was not against their shooting rules. There was a male dominant and a male videographer and a female photographer. I kept looking to her to save me.”-Princess
    Collectiveshout.org



    Porn hurts you

    Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
    1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV


    Anhedonia
    An inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable.


    Lie 2
    Porn will Satisfy
    Truth:
    For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took off its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
    Genesis 3:5‭-‬6 ESV


    Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
    Isaiah 55:2 ESV

    So what is the fix?
    I know how you feel.
    Disappointed in yourself…
    Feeling hopeless
    What can I do with this info…

    A.N.T.H.E.M.  by John Piper

    Avoid
    Avoid as much as possible situations and the sights /sites that will arouse evil desire.

         So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
    2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

         The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
    Romans 13:12‭-‬14 ESV


    No in the first 5 seconds
    Say “No” to every lustful thought within seconds

         Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
    James 4:7 ESV

    Turn
    Turn your mind forcefully toward Christ.
    Attack the lies of sin with the promises of Christ.
      
       Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
    Romans 12:21 ESV

      
    Hold
    Hold the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out.

        Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
    Colossians 3:2‭-‬3 AMP


    Enjoy
    Enjoy a superior satisfaction

        So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord ! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
    Psalms 90:12‭-‬14 ESV

    Move
    Move. Go. Do something.





    The lies are everywhere and they promise to give you all your desires. Heroes, we must remember that serpent talk is the sweetest when he is around your neck. Lust is a lie. Those pixels that you click on are lies. If you do not fight you will surely die.

    Fight Heroes, Fight….

    https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/anthem-strategies-for-fighting-lust

  • A Hero’s Legacy

     As Christian men, we are charged with the great responsibility to provide, protect and be the priest of our homes. There is so much to unpack in each of these topics. However, today I will be talking about is Providing.

        Contrary to popular belief providing is more than just money. It is more than stuff and things. Not that these things are not important there is just something greater, something higher we need to provide. We need to provide a legacy for our families.

        A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22  (ESV).
       

    Here is what happened recently in my life. I run and teach a small Taekwondo class in Springfield, OH. It has not been going very well as far as student enrollment and retention. So, I had a spur of the moment family meeting. Sitting at Golden Corral over a dish of hand-dipped ice cream I talked to my family about my struggles with the company. I told them about my fears. I even asked my oldest girl,” If the business fails would you think your Daddy is a loser.” Their responses surprised me. First, my children were relieved that we may be stopping the class. Second, my oldest daughter showered me with encouragement and kind of rebuked me for thinking that she would ever think I was a loser. Then it hit me right there while a was eating cotton candy. That I had it all wrong. They were my legacy. I thought that I would build a company that I can pass down to them. Then they can pass it down to their families. Come to find out, they did not even want it. However, the way my oldest spoke made me realize that the thing that I need to continue to pass down is Jesus.

    Ephesians 6:4  (ESV)
    “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

    Deuteronomy 6:7-9  (ESV)
    7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

        These scriptures are a command from the Lord to teach your family about Him. To infuse every moment with talking about His glory. To create a rhythm of life that moves to His drum.

    Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)
    ” The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

        Heroes, there is nothing more important than seeing generation after generation knowing and worshiping the Lord. Let this truth guide you. You are not truly providing for your family if you are not leading them to Jesus.

  • Vicarious Warriors

    One thing a have noticed is that most men live in a fantasy where they are the ultimate action hero. They believe they have skills they never trained. They also believe that they are way more prepared for satan than they actually are.

  • Fear God. A letter from Fathers to Sons

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    Proverbs 1:7 ESV
    The Hebrew word used is Yir’ah 
    Definition
    fear, terror, fearing
    fear, terror
    awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)
    fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety
    revered

     Son,  it’s important that everything flows from the fear of the Lord. What I mean by that; is it is impossible for someone to truly get knowledge  without reverence to God. You can  have degrees in 50 different  disciplines and the Bible will still call you a fool if you say that there is no God.


    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
    Psalm 14:1 ESV

    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
    Psalm 53:1 ESV

    For example 
    What if you were a scientist that created robots like Astroboy, Megaman or Baymax. You made the programming needed for your creation to function. You created the environment in which your creation can thrive. You created it with a fully functional body and all the cutting edge tech inside. You even gave it A.I. ( artificial intelligence) with the ability to learn and create. 
    Then imagine that your creation started to learn. It started to create. It started harnessing raw materials. Then It gets awards and fame throughout the land. 
    All of sudden that robot starts to feel pretty good about itself. It starts to think that it will be better off without it’s creator. So it tries to destroy the creator.  What would you think as your creation is coming to get rid of you? Would you think this robot is malfunctioning. Yes, because you know what it’s incapable of knowing. That if you are not in the picture it can not function. The robot  doesn’t know you were there in the background of every endeavor making sure all systems were functional. You are the reason it has the ability to learn and create. It was using the hands you built to harness the raw materials. It’s very existence is because of you. 
    What would you do?


     God is the foundation to all things. The fact that we can gain knowledge is a testimony to the God of the universe. He has created us to guard and garden (Genesis 2). So that means God has put in us the capacity to learn, cultivate, invent, and harness the raw of the earth to make beauty. Through God we are called to make gardens (homes,churches,communities ).
    However you cannot do any of this effectively without the fear of the Lord.
    A fool does not fear the Lord. Since all knowledge comes from God. A man that tries to  separate himself from that source is foolish. 
     
    So fear the Lord. Fear and tremble at his power. Fear Him because He can destroy both soul and body ( Matthew 10:28). Remember that fear is just the beginning. Let it lead you to obedience.

    With Love
    Your Father

  • Comfort and Circus

    I was talking with a group of men, and the subject of the persecuted Church in other countries and the growth of such churches came up. You know the saying that the church had the most growth during extreme pressure. Basically the Chinese Church would benefit from going back underground because they will grow spiritually. Not because of the persecution but because of what the persecution produces: community, a common cause, an overall dependence on Christ. There was a longing for that type of persecution to happen in the western church not for the persecution but for what the persecution produces. We realize that what the western church is lacking is community, and a common cause and dependence on Christ.

    So the question is why.
    Why does it seem that the church in America is unaware of the persecution they are under? Why does it seem that the American Church is powerless? And what can we do?

    Let me tackle the first question. Why does it seem like the church in America is unaware of the persecution they are under? The answer is simple. The seducing power of comfort and circus.

    Comfort: a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.

    Because society’s obsession with comfort has bled into the church. We avoid anything that gets us out of the state of ease. We avoid real life communities for Social media, podcasts, YouTube, and blogs. Because it’s easier to act like you know what you’re talking about virtually. Instead of going through the awkward and uncomfortable times of getting to know someone in person flaws and all. Men avoid Brotherhood and women avoid Sisterhood for the same reasons. We choose to be miserable and lonely because it’s uncomfortable to do otherwise. We choose to leave the raising of our children solely to the youth pastors and government schools because obeying God when he says

    Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
    Ephesians 6:4 ESV
    is just too uncomfortable.

    We refuse to eat meat so we can shove a heaping spoonfuls of lukewarm mush down our gullets. Because chewing is just too…you know… uncomfortable. So we sit comfortably ignoring the signs of War. We ignore the millions of babies being murdered every year by Planned Parenthood. We ignore the thousands of men committing suicide every year because of lack of Brotherhood and the lack of strong community. We ignore the millions of families impacted my divorce, absentee fathers, Jezebel mother’s and dysfunctional households. Instead of quenching the fiery darts of the wicked one with our faith. We sit idly by watching the darts hit everything around us. We sit because it’s comfortable and getting up takes too much effort. In this war in the Foxhole we plug our ears and cover our heads with our blankets because it’s too uncomfortable to fight.

    Circus

    Circus is just another way of saying entertainment. The glittery, clown filled tightrope-walking, trapeze flying, dopamine drip that keeps you distracted from what’s going on. So intoxicating that you won’t dare look away for fear of missing out.

    In the circus sermons turn into motivational speeches about how you can “get yours “and be “a better person”. In the circus worship music is turned from worshipping God to self worship with Christian glaze so it goes down easy. In the circus the Thrills are not too thrilling.The risks are not too risky. There is just the right amount of excitement to keep the audience on edge of their seats. There is just enough to keep them engaged, entertained and wanting more. So like the churches during the Holocaust while the Jews were getting sent to concentration camps. We turn up the circus to keep us distracted from the horror that is right outside the door. We are detained by entertainment.

    Why does the Church in America seems so powerless?

    We are being choked slowly by the serpent. The serpent cannot defeat the Church but he can suffocate different bodies of churches. By subtly squeezing the life out of the people. That is how snakes constrict. They apply pressure until the prey exhales Then It squeezes until the prey is unable to breathe. Now it can devour its prey whole.

    So every time a man avoids responsibility and Brotherhood. Every time a pastor changes a sermon because the women might throw conniption fit. Every family that is lonely because the same people talk to the same people every Sunday. Every loud , immodest dressing girl and effeminate boy in the youth group. Every woman “pastor” allowed in the pulpit. Every “Jesus is my boyfriend” song and Joel Osteenish “Christian” book. The serpent squeezes a little tighter.

    What can we do?

    Rely on what Christ has done.
    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 ESV
    Because Christ has overcome the world.( John 16:33) We can overcome through Him.( 1 John 5:4-5) We must fight for the faith. We must fight the good fight. We must unsheathe the word of God and attack the dragon. We must storm the gates of Hell. We will not fail because God is with us. (Joshua 1). We fight for the King.

    The Wrap up.

    We are under intense persecution. However it is subtle and under the camouflage of comfort and circus. Satan is trying to constrict the church bit by bit. The serpent wants us distracted from the battle. However we must fight the good fight of Faith. Through the power of Jesus Christ we will overcome the world.