Seven Principles of Fitness

Get in shape for life

“The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger If you’re committed to becoming the best possible version of yourself, you can’t ignore your body. Maybe you have a gym membership, or maybe you own some weights, but do […]

What Your Boss Wants

Master these old-school basics

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” -Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Congratulations! You got the job! Now what? If you’re just entering the work force, or changing to a new job, you wouldn’t be human if your excitement didn’t also contain a bit of apprehension. […]

That Thing You (All) Do

“Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Gimme a pen, I’m signin’! You’re signin’! We’re all signin’!” -Lenny Haise in That Thing You Do (1996) Yes, I quoted a movie from last century, but it’s one of my top five — you really should […]

What Ballroom Dancing Can Teach You

“Ballroom dancing made a man of me.” -Paul McCartney The mission of this blog is to motivate and inspire you to embrace Thriving Authentic Masculinity and to become the best possible version of yourself.  Toward that end, we engage topics that affect your physical, emotional and spiritual health, along with subjects that can help you […]

How to Be the Perfect Wedding Guest

“A guest never forgets the host who had treated him kindly.” -Homer Now that it’s springtime, it’s officially Wedding Season.  Soon you’ll start receiving wedding invitations, and perhaps even requests to stand with one of your friends as a groomsman or even as best man.  If this is new territory for you, here are some tips […]

Four Lessons from King Lune of Archenland

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” -1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) From the time my first son was born I have been a fan of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles […]

Stand for Something

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” -Romans 12:18 (ESV) In Rock Hill, South Carolina, a judge recently vacated the sentences of nine civil rights activists who were arrested and convicted in the 1960’s.   Their crime was sitting at the same lunch counter as whites in a local five and […]

Devote Yourself to the Process – Part II

“Not all who wander are lost” – J. R. R. Tolkien In Part I, we discussed the importance of committing to the process of becoming the man you were created to be.  We noted that this is a long-term campaign, not a quick trip to the corner store.  Now, I want to expand on the […]

Rader’s Rules – Great Career Advice

When I was a graduate student, the Institute had a series of guest lectures intended to enhance and broaden our thinking.  Attendance was mandatory. I can’t recall all the topics, but they ranged from Creativity to Ethics to building a successful career.  It’s this last that I want to share with you. Dr. Louis T. […]

Wynton’s Ways to Practice

I’ve been a musician since my early teens — ever since I spent an entire summer harvesting tobacco –by hand! — to buy my first bass guitar and my first amp.  And while I was proud of myself for earning the money and owning the equipment, I was immediately confronted with the task of learning […]