Men, The Ascent begins September 14. This is our next 40-day challenge, and we are going up the mountain with Jesus. For 40 days, we are walking through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ clearest teaching on what life in the Kingdom actually looks like. This is not just another Bible study. This is formation. Jesus steps onto the mountain and confronts everything we chase, fear, worship, hide, and call strength. He flips our view of the Kingdom upside down. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Love your enemies. Pray in secret. Fast without performing. Do not store up treasures on earth. Do not be anxious. Seek first the Kingdom. That is the road we are walking for The Ascent. And we are not meant to walk it alone. So here is the charge: Start building your fire team now. Who are the two to four men you know, like, and trust? Who are your ride or dies? Who are the men you want beside you as you follow Jesus? Who are the men you are willing to open Scripture with, pray with, tell the truth with, and surrender with? Start there. Forge Tribe is not trying to administratively manufacture brotherhood. We are not saying, “Come join our friend group.” The invitation is not just to enter our brotherhood. The invitation is to bring the gospel into yours. If The Crucible meant something to you, do not just consume what God gave you. Steward it. Invite somebody. And do not just invite men who will participate. Invite men who will invite men. Invite men who can gather their own two to four guys and bring the gospel into their brotherhood too. That is the heart of this. 2 Corinthians says, “For the love of Christ controls us.” It says we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. That is not abstract. That is not just for pastors or missionaries. That is your actual life. Your friends. Your brothers. Your roommates. Your coworkers. Your unit. Your golf group. The men God has already placed near you.

Daily - Time with God: 30 minutes everyday in my bible with journaling to end the day. Weekly - Pick a day to fast that works with my workout schedule! - Brotherhood check in: Going to reach out to a different friend everyday to check in - Exercise plan: min 5 workouts per week Food & Drink - Sugar boundary: No sugary snacks - Snacking boundary: No snacking throughout the day and no food after dinner - Alcohol boundary: Max 1x time per week, never alone. Special occasion can be added for an additional day of the - Media boundary: No social media at all unless for work purposes. Sabbath - Spend intentional time with my family - What I will not do on Sundays: No work regarding my 9-5, only things that will involve my kiddos - What rest and recreation will look like: Slow day, outdoors, family, presence Seasonal - Be intentional and hangout and spend time with a brother in need - Annual 2-day prayer retreat plan: Once per year, alone or with another brother (camping) no work or media Brotherhood - Who I will stay connected to: My Fire Team and one call with brother weekly - How I will stay visible: Respond within 24 hours and initiate one extra conversation each week

Brothers, One of the realities of a season like The Crucible is that it tends to bring deeper things to the surface. When we start stripping away distractions, comforts, and coping mechanisms, many men begin to confront things they’ve been carrying silently for years — struggles in marriage, old wounds, anger, addiction, or simply the weight of life. Because of that, I want you to know about an incredible resource available to you. Forge Tribe is partnering with Dr. Dave Ruth from Touched Lives. Dangerous @Dave Ruth is a seasoned Christian counselor who has spent decades helping men, couples, pastors, and families walk through life’s challenges through biblical counseling and discipleship. He also served as chaplain for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, walking alongside men in high-pressure environments and helping them navigate the deeper issues of the heart. What makes this even more meaningful is that Dave is currently going through The Crucible with us. I’m blessed enough to have him in my Fire Team, and we’ve been walking this journey together day by day. Many years ago Dave made a promise with God that he would never charge for counseling. He only gets involved with people when he believes God has placed them on his heart to serve. Earlier this week Dave shared something with me that I want you all to hear. He told me that it is deeply on his heart to provide counseling for men who are going through The Crucible. Because of that, Dave has generously offered to make himself available to any Forge Tribe brother who may need someone to talk to during this season. If something surfaces during The Crucible — struggles in your marriage, relational conflict, unresolved pain, spiritual questions, leadership pressure, or you simply need wise counsel — I strongly encourage you to reach out. You can DM me and I will connect you with Dave, or you can reach out to him directly if you prefer. Strong men don’t carry everything alone. Wise men seek counsel.

We are nearing the end of the first week of the CRUCIBLE! These devotions have hit me hard, and the disciplines have exposed many of my weaknesses. In honor of the Sabbath, we intentionally relax one discipline on Sunday. Of course, our goal is not to go wild, but to intentionally enjoy something that you've abstained from throughout the week. The Sabbath was designed as sacred rest, reordering our hearts to receive God’s gifts with gratitude instead of gripping them with control. Everything we have is a gift from our Almighty God. We should reflect on that as we engage in our choice (see the GIF below for a sneak peak at @Matt Coapman praising the Lord as he gets into his hot shower). I haven't decided what I plan to relax yet. What are you going to enjoy?