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Making men MEN again. The David Alliance will help you slay your giants.
Episodes
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
There is no chance, favor, haphazardness, specialness, calling, blessing, or deserving of a Godly life.
What do I mean. When you look at someone who is Godly, has a solid marriage, financially secure, Godly kids and grandkids, They have Godly character, integrity and values… they ooze the presence of the Holy Spirit… no matter what hits them they just handle it like a boss, like an unmovable mountain of faith… they stay focused and locked in no matter what..
This doesn’t just happen… you don’t earn it, you are not born with it, you are not favored any more than anyone else.
So how does one become a great guitar player… wait what?
Or how about a great investor?
Or how does one become a great writer?
How does one become a master carpenter?
You have a simple formula…
Time, training, Test…
TIME
You have to spend time in that field…
You don’t just become a great artist because you choose to do it and that day… boom its you. Or guitar player or writer, or investor or MAN OF GOD. You have to put in the time. What does "10,000-hour rule," popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers, suggests that 10,000 hours of practice are needed to achieve mastery in any field.
Training is fundamental. If you spend 10,000 hours learning under bad training or teaching it don’t matter… you will still not achieve your best. I want to become a great preacher, speaker, communicator. So I write pages every week. I study great speakers and orators. I study great comedians and their delivery. I study the etymology behind my words. I train, I study, I work. I grade my talks, sermons, speeches etc… I hope I am harder on me than anyone else. And I ask others to rate my level of training.
Finally I know you have to be tested. Now here is the kicker.. you have to find ways to test yourself. You have to put yourself in areas where you are pushed. If you are a writer, you hadn’t in your material to publishers, you have people read it, you have other authors critique it. If you are an investor you put your own money in the market after your time and training. If you are an artist you see what your work will sell for? There are always opportunities to test your abilities.
So back to becoming a man of God…
Time, training and testing…
How much time are you in the word of God, at church involved in ministries, in prayer, in small groups, in accountability groups.
How much training teaching and learning are you doing. Is it quality training and teaching. Is it from a qualified instructor, pastor, teacher. Are you going to a church that challenges you to learn and not just tickle your ears. Sometimes we don’t put ourselves around those who will push us, expect more from us.
And finally test. Test your faith by sharing your faith. Sharing your opinions from a biblical perspective. Evangelism, prayer for the lost in the open market, on the street etc… Making the right decision when its tough, confessing your sins when its uncomfortable, being the head of the household and a godly husband, tithing and even giving above and beyond when you don’t feel like you have it.
24 hours ago
24 hours ago
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
What are the marks of a man in history?
Across the globe, various cultures have developed unique and often intense rituals to mark a young male's transition into manhood. These rites of passage serve to test physical and mental fortitude, impart cultural knowledge, and solidify the individual's place within the community. Here are a few examples:
- Amazonian Tribes (e.g., Sateré-Mawé):
- A particularly grueling ritual involves the "bullet ant glove." Young men must wear gloves filled with hundreds of highly venomous bullet ants, enduring excruciating pain to demonstrate their strength and resilience.
- Ethiopian Tribes (e.g., Hamar):
- The "bull-jumping" ceremony requires young men to leap across the backs of several cattle, proving their agility and courage.
- Pacific Islands (e.g., Vanuatu):
- "Land diving" involves young men jumping from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles, a dangerous feat that tests their bravery.
- Australian Aboriginal Cultures:
- "Walkabout" is a traditional journey where young men venture into the wilderness for extended periods, learning survival skills and cultural knowledge.
- Various African Cultures:
- Circumcision rituals are common, symbolizing the transition from boyhood to manhood.
- There are also many cultures that have rituals that include periods of isolation, where the young men are taught the traditional laws, and history of their people.
- Jewish Culture:
- The Bar Mitzvah, at age 13, marks a young man's religious coming-of-age, signifying his responsibility to observe Jewish law.
These rituals often involve:
- Physical endurance: Tests of strength, pain tolerance, and survival skills.
- Spiritual or ceremonial elements: Rituals that connect the individual to their cultural heritage and beliefs.
- Community recognition: Public ceremonies that acknowledge the young man's new status within the group.
- Instruction and knowledge transfer: Older men imparting essential skills and cultural wisdom to the initiates.
It's important to approach these cultural practices with respect and understanding, recognizing their significance within their respective communities.
What are my three marks of a man in todays world? Here are the three I think are relevant for your society.
Save your virginity until marriage
Serve others as a lifestyle
Evangelize the lost - tell others about Jesus
Why these three?
They do three things…
Evangelism: It challenges you to learn. You must learn scripture, learn how to read people. Learn how to share the gospel with differing people, belief systems and environments. Learn how to answer questions that have a biblical backing, loving in nature and make God look good. And how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Servanthood. It challenges you to live outside your world and the worlds view (its all about me - its all about what my eyes want, my soul wants, my appetites want, what my pride wants… servanthood crushes that)
One should monthly - and honestly more than once a month… but you should be serving in a capacity where you help others less fortunate than you. There are dozens of areas… food pantry, boys club, Prison ministry, Tutor kids, babysit for single parents, visit a nursing home, Go hand out sandwiches to the homeless, help your church in some serving role, houses for humanity, work at a pet shelter… And part of serving is giving your money and not just your time.
They challenge you to learn discipline and reliance on the Holy Spirit to tame your most powerful, lustful and fleshly desires. If you can’t tame your sex drive you will never fully be able to serve God with all your heart. It is the proving ground of truly wanting to be a man of God - more than evangelism and servanthood. If a girl/woman wants to marry a Christian man and he cannot handle is sex drive than he is simply confessing through his actions that his fleshly desires are more important than God and his word.
3 days ago
6 days ago
6 days ago
Navigating friendships can be complex, and sometimes, it becomes clear that a particular friendship isn't sustainable. Here are five warning signs that a friendship might not work out:
- Consistent One-Sidedness:
- If you consistently feel like you're the one putting in all the effort—initiating contact, planning activities, or providing emotional support—it's a red flag. Healthy friendships involve reciprocity.
- Lack of Mutual Respect:
- Disrespect can manifest in various ways, such as belittling your opinions, dismissing your feelings, or disregarding your boundaries. If you feel consistently undervalued or disrespected, the friendship is likely to be damaging.
- Frequent Drama or Toxicity:
- While occasional disagreements are normal, constant drama, negativity, or toxic behavior can drain your energy and well-being. If the friendship consistently creates more stress than joy, it's a significant warning sign.
- Erosion of Trust:
- Trust is fundamental to any strong friendship. If your trust has been repeatedly broken through lies, betrayals, or breaches of confidence, it's difficult to maintain a healthy connection.
- Feeling Worse After Interactions:
- Ideally, spending time with friends should leave you feeling uplifted or supported. If you consistently feel drained, anxious, or negative after interacting with this person, it's a sign that the friendship is having a detrimental impact on your emotional health.
My three closest Best friends… and I believe you can really only have 1 best friend… but that is debatable- however I don’t think you can have more than three from what I see in scripture… anywhoooo
Here are three common denominators in these relationships
We don’t have to talk all the time… we may go weeks, but we can easily pick up from where we left off. The trust and the friendship is long and trusted so much so that nobody ever panics… did I do something wrong… he hasn’t texted or talked to me in weeks…. However we rarely go weeks without communicating.
2nd
We are brutally honest… and it does not affect our friendships whatsoever - in the least.
Bike trip… what you said was right, how you said it made you look like a butthole…
3rd and I truly believe this is a huge one. We all have the same sense of humor… yes ours is twisted, and would probably offend some…maybe quite a few, but that is a bond that is unbreakable… and it gets us through the tough times with each other. When I am ready to punch babies in the face they will crack me up many times at my own expense and I love it. It keeps me grounded. If you saw our texts you would think we were in Junior high…
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
19)
- A. The Three Visitors:
- Three men appear to Abraham near the oaks of Mamre.
- They announce that Sarah will have a son.
- Sarah laughs at the announcement.
NOT MUCH IS SAID OF SARAHS FAITH… SHE ACTUALLY HAS NO FAITH OF HER OWN!
- B. Isaac's Birth:
- Sarah conceives and bears Isaac.
- Abraham is 100 years old.
She is a woman full of doubt… BUT GOD HONORS HIS WORD
SARAH She is a woman full of doubt.
GOD CAN MOVE ANYWAY!
Faith feeds the invisible (so does fear)
Hebrews 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
v. 11 A dative of accompaniment
She received faith… i.e. by faith of Abraham she received the gift of a son.
It was not Sarahs faith it was Abrahams faith that got her pregnant.
You don’t have to believe… I will believe for you!
YOUR SPOUSE DOES NOT HAVE TO BELIEVE
YOUR PARENTS,
YOUR KIDS,
YOUR PASTOR
YOUR BOSS
- IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU BELIEVE!
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
Abe is the father of our faith
Galatians 3:6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
Detailed outline of Abraham's life as described in the Bible, primarily in the Book of Genesis:
I. Early Life and Call (Genesis 11:26-12:9)
- C. The Divine Call:
- God commands Abram to leave his country, His family, and father's house.
*God must have shown up in a major way for Abraham to just leave.
He was the father of our Faith. He practiced great faith with no history or foundation in who God was.
7 promises give to Abraham by God
-1 I will make your descendants/nation a great nation
AND HE PROMISES HIM TO BE A GREAT NATION… NATIONS ARE DEFINED BY A PEOPLE WHO SHARE A HISTORY, HAVE TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES, and led by one government.
-2 I will bless you
-3 I will make your name great
-4 I will make you a blessing to others
-5 I will bless those that bless you
-6 I will curse those who curse you
-7 Through you people from every nation on the earth will be blessed.
Abrahams father died in Haran…. And now…
- D. Journey to Canaan:
- Abram, Sarai, and Lot depart from Haran.
- Abram is 75 years old.
- They travel to Shechem in Canaan.
- God appears to Abram, promising the land to his offspring.
- Abram builds an altar to the Lord.
- Abram moves to Bethel and then continues to the Negev.
II. Sojourn in Egypt and Return (Genesis 12:10-13:18)
Sunday Mar 23, 2025
Sunday Mar 23, 2025
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
II. Sojourn in Egypt and Return (Genesis 12:10-13:18)
- A. Famine in Canaan:
- A famine forces Abram to go to Egypt.
- B. Sarai's Deception:
- Abram fears the Egyptians will kill him for Sarai, who is beautiful.
- They agree that Sarai will say she is Abram's sister…. SHE TECHNICALLY IS HIS HALF SISTER… SAME FATHER.
- Pharaoh takes Sarai into his house.
- God plagues Pharaoh's house.
- Pharaoh discovers the deception and sends Abram away with Sarai.
- C. Return to Canaan:
- Abram returns to Bethel with Lot.
- Abram is now very wealthy.
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
TDA
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
Title: Created to Be You: Embracing God's Design
Introduction:
- Begin by acknowledging that in today's world, there's a lot of pressure to conform, to fit into certain molds. But what does God's Word say about our individuality?
- Ask the group: "Have you ever felt pressure to be someone you're not? Where does that pressure come from?"
Scripture Readings:
- Psalm 139:13-16:
- "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
- Discussion points:
- What does it mean to be "fearfully and wonderfully made"?
- How does this passage emphasize God's intentionality in creating each of us?
- How does the fact that God saw your "unformed body" and ordained your days, indicate his personal involvement in our lives?
- "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
- Genesis 1:27:
- "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
- "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
I have learned early on if I am singing a song that I wrote… don’t worry about how my voice lines up to anyone else’s… Do you think Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Kim Carnes, Ronnie James Dio, Louis Armstrong, Tom Waits, Stephen Pearcy… I could go on and on… do you think they wished they sounded like Adelle? NOT a chance, they would not be famous right now… they are themselves and famous because of it.
If I preach a sermon… I have many times wished I could preach like other pastors and communicators… their set up, their delivery, their insight, their knowledge beyond scripture… WOW… but I have learned I am always at my best when I am just me.
- Discussion points:
- What does it mean to be created "in God's image”? IT TRULY MEANS TO BE WHO HE CREATED YOU TO BE.
- How does this verse establish our inherent worth and dignity?
- How does this verse indicate that all humans have value, and are created uniquely?
- Discussion points:
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
- This passage speaks of the body of Christ, with each member having a unique and vital function.
- Discussion points:
- How does this analogy illustrate the importance of our individual gifts and contributions?
- How does this passage encourage us to value our differences and recognize our interdependence?
- How does this apply to our individual personalities, and giftings?
- Romans 12:2:
- "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
- Discussion points:
- What does it mean to "not conform to the pattern of this world"?
- How does the renewing of our minds help us embrace our true selves?
- How does knowing God's will relate to being our authentic selves?
Key Takeaways:
- God's intentional design: God created each of us with unique gifts, talents, and personalities.
- Value in individuality: Our differences are not flaws but essential parts of God's plan.
- Freedom from conformity: We are called to live authentically, not to imitate the world's standards.
- God's image: Each person bears the image of God, therefore each person has great value.
- The body of Christ: Our individual uniqueness is vital to the body of Christ.
Application:
- Encourage participants to reflect on their own unique qualities and how they can use them to serve God and others.
- Discuss practical ways to resist the pressure to conform and embrace their true selves.
- Pray for the group, that they may find the strength to be whom God created them to be.
Closing:
- Remind everyone that God loves them unconditionally and celebrates their individuality.
- Encourage them to walk in confidence, knowing that they are fearfully and wonderfully made
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
- When God wants to do something new,
Certain things seem to happen:
* We are ready but we still have to wait - 7 days on the ark with no rain, after God shut them in.
* People we love do not go with us on our journey
A spouse loses weight and starts to work out… but their significant other does not want to…
You become completely sold out on Christ… but your friends, your spouse, your kids don’t want to come along.
** many times everything has to go… even seemingly good things. God can use destruction, loss and death (as confusing as it is) to bring you new life, new direction and a new understanding of who he is.
Nature will use fires to destroy a few thousand acres of forest… but it ultimately brings greater growth.
*We may not understand the the process (build a boat… whats a boat?), the answer (fill it with animals) or the outcome… but trust God anyway.
- When they started all over Noah and his family had the same set up as Adam… and yet man still fell into darkness and messed up… fresh starts do not mean a different out come without the cross of Jesus Christ.
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
We judge others… it is natural, it is sometimes needed, but in a SINFUL WORLD may we have the eyes and heart of Noah. He saw where people were at…
What if you had glasses you could put on and you put them on after making a judgement call.
OVER A BILLION PEOPLE DIED… ALL LIFE ON EARTH DIED… NOAH WAS HEART BROKEN.
- Noah was in a evil wicked sinful world. Debauchery, sexual deviancy, witchcraft… and yet he was a preacher of righteousness. 2 Peter 2:5
MY PHONE CALL THIS WEEK: on a scale of one to ten, 1 you are going to hell. 10 you are going to heaven… where are you?
We judge others… it is natural, it is sometimes needed, but in a SINFUL WORLD may we have the eyes and heart of Noah. He saw where people were at…
What if you had glasses you could put on and you put them on after making a judgement call.
OVER A BILLION PEOPLE DIED… ALL LIFE ON EARTH DIED… NOAH WAS HEART BROKEN.