Course Notes from April 19, 2026

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The Forest King’s Recalibration

 

Theme: The Vertical Axis & The Art of Calibrated Strength.

 

I. Opening Reflection: "Good Timber"

We begin with Douglas Malloch’s Good Timber. The "tree that never had to fight for sun and sky and air and light" never becomes a forest king; it dies a "scrubby thing."

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In the Cruciform framework, we recognize a vital truth: Timber cannot grow without the soil, and the soil requires cycles of rest to remain vibrant. To be "Good Timber," you must endure the gale, but you must also anchor deep in the stillness. A man who only fights but never rests becomes brittle. We do not rest because we are weak; we rest so that our strength remains calibrated and our timber does not snap under the pressure of leadership.

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II. Scriptural Reading: Psalm 127

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain... It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."

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The Vertical Insight: Rest is the ultimate act of trust. If the Vertical Axis (Integrity before God) isn't the primary builder, you are merely "eating the bread of anxious toil."

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III. The Core Lesson: The Warrior and the Lamb

The hardest part of the Cruciform life isn't just having strength—it’s calibrating it. Jesus Christ was the only man to perfectly integrate both the Lion (Warrior) and the Lamb (Gentle).

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1. The Warrior (The Lion)

The part of a man that says, "This far and no further." It is used for protection, discipline, and the pursuit of truth.

• The Shadow: When disconnected from the heart, the Warrior becomes a bully or a tyrant.

 

2. The Gentle (The Lamb)

The part of a man that says, "I am here for you." It is the energy of empathy, kindness, and patience.

• The Shadow: When disconnected from the spine, the Lamb becomes a Coward or a Doormat.

 

IV. The Three Calibrations

To lead effectively, a man must "switch" his energy based on the need of the moment:

1. The Whip and the Basin (Authority vs. Affection): Jesus used a whip to clear the Temple (Warrior) but a basin to wash feet (Lamb). 

   • The Calibration: A man is harsh with the problem, but tender with the person.

2. The Silence and the Shout (Restraint vs. Reckoning): Jesus was silent before Pilate’s ego but loud against the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

   • The Calibration: A man is quiet about his own slights; he is loud about the needs of others.

3. The Sword and the Ear (Protection vs. Presence): Peter drew the sword in the garden; Jesus healed the ear of the enemy.

   • The Calibration: True strength is meekness—which is not weakness, but "power under control."

 

V. Seven Foundation Scriptures

1. Genesis 2:2 – God finished His work and rested. (The Divine Pattern).

2. Psalm 127:2 – He gives to His beloved sleep. (The Futility of the Grind).

3. Isaiah 30:15 – In quietness and trust shall be your strength. (The Source of Power).

4. Mark 6:31 – "Come away... and rest a while." (The Command to Disconnect).

5. 1 Kings 19:5-8 – God’s prescription for Elijah: Food and Sleep. (The Physicality of Recovery).

6. Revelation 5:5-6 – The Lion who is also the Lamb. (The Model of Integrated Strength).

7. Matthew 11:28 – "I will give you rest." (The Invitation to the Vertical Axis).

 

VI. Three Anchor Quotes

• "The timber of the soul grows strongest when the wind is fierce, but it anchors deepest when the earth is still." — Inspired by 'Good Timber'

• "A leader who is always 'on' is eventually a leader who has nothing left to give." — Will Archer

• "Ten years from now, the only people who will remember that you worked late are your children." — Unknown

 

VII. The Practical Drill: The "Switch"

Practice the "Threshold Prayer": Before walking through your front door after a day of work, pause.

1. Decompress: Leave the "battle" of the day at the doorstep.

2. Calibrate: Ask God to help you "sheathe the sword" and "pick up the basin."

3. Enter: Walk in as a shepherd offering presence, not a tyrant demanding service.​

 

VIII. Discussion Group Questions

1. The Default Setting: Are you naturally more of a "Warrior" (prone to anger/control) or a "Lamb" (prone to passivity/pleasing)? How has this affected your home?

2. The Friction of Silence: Why does the idea of a "Digital Sabbath" or 30 minutes of silence create anxiety in you? What are you afraid you’ll hear in the quiet?

3. The Safe House: If we asked the people who live under your roof, would they say you are a "safe place" for them to fail? Why or why not?

 

IX. Call to Action (CTA)

• The 30-Minute Margin: Add a 30-minute buffer to all travel. Use it for silence and mental reset, not your phone.

• The Sunset Shutdown: All screens off 60 minutes before bed to allow the brain to enter the recovery phase.

• The 24-Hour Sabbath: One full day this month with zero business communication or project planning.

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Course Notes from June 28, 2026

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Jeremiah 1:5
God knew you before you were formed in the womb

Three main points

1. Brotherhood - Daniel 3

2. Lordship - Luke 14:25-33

3. Leadership - Hebrews 11:32-40

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Men are called to Lead our Families, our communities and our society.

Godly men must stand up to evil and overcome evil with Good.

 

Reference - When a nation forgets God and the church by the train tracks that sang louder to drown out the voices of those being taken to concentration camps in WW2. The actions of this church highlights the dangers of moral indifference, complicity, and the human tendency to ignore suffering when it disrupts our comfort.

Quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson
"Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

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Course Notes from July 19, 2026

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The Cruciform Man: From the Dust to the White Horse

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Text: Genesis 1:26-28; Philippians 2:5-8; Revelation 19:11-16 

Themes: Identity, Dignity, True Masculinity

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Introduction: The Crisis of the Modern Man

Brothers, look around. We are living in a generation of profound confusion. If you ask the world today, "What is a man?" you will get two competing, equally broken answers.

One side tells you that masculinity is a disease—that your drive, your physical strength, and your protective instincts are a problem to be medicated, solved, or suppressed.

The other side offers a cheap, plastic imitation of manhood. The internet "alpha male" gurus tell you that masculinity is about dominating others, flexing wealth, chasing women, and never showing a single moment of vulnerability.

Both are lies from the pit. One reduces you to an apology; the other reduces you to an animal.

Tonight, we are tearing down those idols. We are going to look at what it means to be a Cruciform Man—a man shaped entirely by the cross of Jesus Christ. To find our true identity, our unshakable dignity, and the bedrock of our masculinity, we have to look at the whole story. We must start in the dirt of Genesis, and we must end in the blinding glory of Revelation.

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Part I: The Genesis Blueprint (Your Identity & Dignity)

Turn to Genesis 1. God speaks the cosmos into existence. He commands the light, the oceans, and the stars. But when He creates man, He gets his hands in the dirt. The rhythm changes.

“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule…” (Genesis 1:26)

Hear this clearly: Your dignity is not earned; it is endowed. Before you ever accomplished a single thing, before you ever failed, before you ever closed a deal or committed a sin, the Creator of the universe stamped His own image onto your soul.

In Genesis 2:15, God places Adam in the garden and gives him two commands: to work it (abad) and to keep it (shamar). Cultivate and protect.

• Cultivate: Take the raw materials of the earth and make them flourish. Build. Bring order to chaos.

• Protect: Stand at the gate and keep the wolves out.

That is your original identity. You are kings under the High King, called to build and called to fight. But we know what happened. In Genesis 3, the serpent entered the garden. And what did the first man do? Absolutely nothing.

Adam’s original sin wasn’t just eating a piece of fruit; it was cowardly passivity. He stood silently while his bride was deceived and his domain was invaded. Ever since that day, broken men have defaulted to one of two extremes: we either abdicate our responsibility and become entirely passive, or we abuse our strength and become tyrants.

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Part II: The Cruciform King (Redefined Masculinity)

How do we get our identity back? How do we reclaim the dignity we threw away in Eden? We look to the Second Adam. We look to Jesus.

If you want to know what a real man looks like, you do not look to a podium, a boardroom, or an octagon. You look to a Roman cross.

The world says, "Use your strength to serve yourself." Jesus says, "I will use my strength to serve you."

Look at the upper room. The God of the universe strips down to the posture of a slave, takes a towel, and washes the filthy feet of the men who are about to abandon Him. Look at Golgotha. He doesn't assert His rights. He takes wood, iron, and the crushing wrath of God onto His own shoulders so His bride can live.

This is what "Cruciform" means. A cross-shaped masculinity. True biblical masculinity is taking the strength, the privilege, and the power God has given you, and bleeding it out for the flourishing of the people around you. Living as a Cruciform man is not a brief sprint of enthusiasm. It is an ultra-marathon. It requires the kind of mental endurance, reliance on teamwork with your brothers, and singular clarity of purpose that only comes when you willingly push through the pain for a greater goal.

• It means you absorb the hit so your kids can thrive.

• It means you die to your ego, your comfort, and your free time so your church and your community can be built up.

There is zero dignity in selfishness. Your dignity is fully realized when you lay your life down.

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Part III: The Warrior of Revelation (The Climax)

But brothers, do not mistake submission to God for weakness. Do not mistake a sacrificial heart for a soft spine. The story doesn’t end with Jesus in the tomb, and it doesn't end with Him simply being a "gentle teacher."

Turn to Revelation 19. The skies rip open.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns... He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God." (Revelation 19:11-13)

Look at the King! He is the Lamb who was slain, yes—but He is also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. A sword comes from His mouth to strike down the nations. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His thigh is written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This is the Jesus who defines your masculinity. He is infinitely tender with the broken, yet infinitely terrifying to the wicked. He heals the leper, and He shatters the empires of hell.

You are called to be like Him.

• Fierce enough to stand against a culture that hates God, yet gentle enough to hold your weeping child in the middle of the night.

• Unyielding when it comes to truth, yet breaking your own heart to show grace to the fallen.

Conclusion: The Charge

Men of the Cruciform, the time for playing games is over. The world does not need more overgrown boys. It needs men.

It needs men who know their identity is secured in Genesis, their salvation is bought at the Cross, and their ultimate victory is guaranteed in Revelation.

Stop apologizing for the strength God gave you. Use it. Cultivate your homes. Protect your families from the rot of this culture. Serve your wives like Christ loved the church. Repent of your secret sins, step out of the shadows, and stand on the firing line.

You are made in the image of the Almighty. You are saved by the blood of the Lamb. You ride behind the King of Kings. Now act like it.

Let's pray.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. The Eden Default: In Genesis, Adam failed through "cowardly passivity." In your own life, where are you most tempted to simply stand by and do nothing when you should be cultivating or protecting?

2. The Counterfeit vs. The Cross: Where do you see yourself buying into the world’s definitions of manhood (either the "toxic/apologetic" view or the "alpha/domineering" view)? How does the image of Jesus washing feet challenge that specific mindset?

3. The Ultra-Marathon of Sacrifice: Cruciform masculinity demands dying to self for the flourishing of others. What is one specific area (ego, comfort, hobbies, finances) where God is currently calling you to lay down your rights for the sake of your family or community?

4. The Lion and the Lamb: Revelation 19 shows Jesus as a fierce warrior, while the Gospels show Him as a tender healer. Which side of biblical masculinity do you struggle with more: being fiercely unyielding for the truth, or being deeply tender and gracious to the broken? Why?

5. Taking the Firing Line: Based on tonight's charge, what is one tangible, concrete action you need to take this week to stop playing games and step up as a Cruciform man in your home, workplace, or church?