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Making men MEN again. The David Alliance will help you slay your giants.
Episodes
May 28, 2026
May 28, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
Books available here:
https://garthheckman.mysamcart.com/the-faith-based-cancer-manual/#
I have talked openly about my cancer journey before… 3 cancers started in my Colon, spread through my Lymphatic then liver cancer… they said I’d be dead in 2 years with liver cancer. But even though I made it I was left with a brain tumor and an enlarged heart… plus severe neuropathy and hearing loss and a few other goodies…
But what I kept telling myself was I hope others can learn from my journey… so I just finished
5 eBooks on my cancer journey. I just listed them on Etsy and Sam cart. If you have questions about cancer for yourself or a friend feel free to hit me up. But with that I want to do a short series on what I learned the hard way from living through the hard way.
1. Prayer Becomes a Lifeline, Not a Ritual
Before cancer, prayer can feel like a spiritual discipline — something you do because you should. Cancer strips that away entirely. When you are lying in a clinic chair watching chemicals drip into your veins, prayer stops being a religious exercise and becomes the most honest conversation of your life. You learn to pray with a rawness and desperation that actually draws you closer to God than a thousand comfortable Sunday mornings ever did.
2. God Is Present in the Darkness, Not Just the Highlights
It is easy to sense God in the mountaintop moments — the answered prayers, the breakthroughs, the celebrations. Cancer teaches you to find Him in the valley. In the 2am fear. In the waiting room silence. In the moment the doctor walks in with results. You discover that His presence was never limited to the good days — He was always there. You just needed the noise of a comfortable life to be stripped away before you could feel Him.
3. Surrender Is Not Weakness — It Is the Bravest Thing You Will Ever Do
The control you thought you had was always an illusion. Cancer simply makes that undeniable. Learning to say "God, I trust You with this" — and actually mean it — is one of the most spiritually mature and courageous acts a human being can perform. You discover that surrender is not giving up. It is giving over — and there is an inexplicable peace that follows that most people never experience until they have no other choice.
May 27, 2026
May 27, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
VERY FAMILIAR STORY -
*TIED TO MY NOTES TODAY
THE BUILD UP and DEMISE OF ISRAEL
THE PEOPLE WANTED A MAN OVER GOD (They wanted a King)… Here is an old quote: when more than one votes… you can assure its the wrong decision.
It wasn’t a King that was truly the problem -
BUT RATHER following a man, that was the problem. It was the peoples desire to follow a King over a prophet who followed God.
***No one voted a prophet in.
****People choose a King, God chooses a prophet.
Saul offers false sacrifices
Saul chooses to disobey Gods orders to wipe out the Amakalites
Saul becomes erratic and tormented by demonic spirits
Saul now operates out of fear
*Israel and the army now saw their enemies the way their leader did - IN FEAR.
The battle of David and Goliath was never really about David and Goliath. It was the culmination of Israel's spiritual decline under Saul, and the first visible sign that God had already been at work preparing a different kind of leader — one after His own heart.
1 Samuel 17
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
David's arrival on the battlefield was jarring precisely because of the contrast. He was young, unarmored, and inexperienced — but he carried something the entire army had lost: a reference point for who God was.
David doesn’t call out the enemy, he calls out his tactics… His weapons of choice.
WHY?
In 1 Samuel 17:45, David identifies a three-fold physical threat.
In John 10:10, Jesus identifies a three-fold spiritual threat. They map onto each other in a way that shows how the enemy operates:
| Goliath’s Arsenal (1 Samuel 17:45) | The Thief’s Mission (John 10:10) | The Spiritual Parallel
- The Sword. | To Steal | Goliath relied on his sword to strip Israel of their land, their freedom, and their identity. The enemy wants to rob you of your peace and purpose.
The Spear. | To Kill | A spear is designed for a direct, fatal strike. Goliath’s Literal goal was to end David’s life; the thief's goal is total spiritual death.
The Javelin | To Destroy | A javelin is thrown from a distance, bringing unexpected, widespread ruin. The enemy aims for complete devastation of your life and relationships.
The Core Contrast: Flesh vs. Spirit
The real tie-in between these two passages is the **source of victory** that both David and Jesus point to. Both stories set up a stark contrast between reliance on worldly power and reliance on divine power.
* **David’s Answer:** Right after naming Goliath's weapons, David says, *"But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts."* He acknowledges the physical threat but completely bypasses it by relying on God's authority.
* **Jesus’ Answer:** Right after naming the thief's three-fold threat, Jesus says, *"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."*
Bears and Lions can’t call you out. They can’t mock you, cast verbal jabs and doubt at you.
Historical Context
His defiance of Israel's armies was also a taunt against their God. Your problems, issues, fears, is a taunt against God!
Goliath's relys on human technology, political position and physical power.
David invokes God's character and power, not his own resources. This echoes the idea that God's name represents His active intervention (similar to Exodus 3 or the Psalms).
It wasn’t the weapon David had it was the Worship.
Slingers were common;
- Tribe of Benjamin 700 warriors ambidextrous
- Sling a stone up to 95 MPH
- At over 200 yards…
They were so confident they would inscribe words on their stones… MINE WOULD BE “ROCK ON”
David contrasts Goliath's weapons with the invisible but superior heavenly host. This title appears frequently in prophetic books but here underscores early recognition of God's military sovereignty.
"Whom you have defied [cheraf-ta]": The verb charaf means to reproach, taunt, or blaspheme. Goliath's challenge is personal against Israel's God, making this a theological battle, not just military.
YOUR PROBLEMS ARE A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM…
i.e. Your problems are a “who is your God Problem”
Do you know who my father is?
- a. No
- b. Yes and I don’t care
- c. Yes and I will leave you alone
BUT WHAT IF THE QUESTION WAS THIS IN THAT SITUATION… “I wonder who my father is?”
Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) "The LORD will provide" — revealed when God provided a ram as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. Genesis 22:14.
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רָפָא) "The LORD who heals" — revealed after God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah for Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 15:26. Covers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Jehovah Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) "The LORD is my banner" — declared by Moses after Israel's victory over the Amalekites. A banner was a military standard — the rallying point in battle. Exodus 17:15. God Himself is the flag Israel fights under.
Jehovah Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) "The LORD is peace" — spoken by Gideon after encountering the angel of the Lord and fearing he would die. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict but wholeness, completeness, and flourishing. Judges 6:24.
Jehovah Rohi (יְהוָה רֹעִי) "The LORD is my shepherd" — the opening of Psalm 23. One of the most intimate names — depicting God as the one who leads, feeds, protects, and restores.
Jehovah Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) "The LORD our righteousness" — a prophetic name pointing to the coming Messiah who would be the righteousness of His people. Jeremiah 23:6. Deeply connected to the New Testament doctrine of justification.
Jehovah Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) "The LORD is there" — the name given to the restored Jerusalem in Ezekiel's vision. Ezekiel 48:35. God's presence dwelling permanently with His people — echoed in Revelation 21 with the New Jerusalem.
Jehovah Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) "The LORD of Hosts" or "The LORD of Armies" — one of the most frequently used names in the prophets. It pictures God as the commander of vast heavenly armies. Used powerfully in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi.
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) "The LORD who sanctifies you" — Exodus 31:13. God as the one who sets His people apart and makes them holy. Sanctification as His work, not ours alone.
Jehovah Gmolah (יְהוָה גְּמֻלּוֹת) "The LORD of recompense" or "The God of vengeance" — Jeremiah 51:56. God as the one who repays — both in justice against enemies and in vindication of His people.
The Compound El Names
El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) "God Almighty" or literally "God of the mountains" or "the all-sufficient one." First used with Abraham in Genesis 17:1 when God renewed His covenant. It speaks of God's absolute sufficiency — He is enough for every need.
El Elyon (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) "God Most High" — used by Melchizedek blessing Abraham in Genesis 14. It emphasizes God's supremacy above all other powers, rulers, and so-called gods.
El Olam (אֵל עוֹלָם) "The Everlasting God" or "God of eternity" — Genesis 21:33. He has no beginning and no end. Time exists within Him, not the other way around.
El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) "The God who sees me" — spoken by Hagar in the wilderness after she fled from Sarah. Genesis 16:13. One of the most tender names — God seeing the forgotten, the marginalized, the one who thinks they are invisible.
El Gibhor (אֵל גִּבּוֹר) "Mighty God" — Isaiah 9:6, in the famous messianic prophecy. One of the titles given to the coming Messiah — pointing directly to Christ.
El Hannun (אֵל חַנּוּן) "The gracious God" — Nehemiah 9:31. God whose grace prevents Him from completely destroying even a rebellious people.
New Testament
Abba (אַבָּא) "Father" — an Aramaic term of deep intimacy, closer to "Daddy" than formal address. Jesus used it in Gethsemane. Paul says believers are given the Spirit of adoption by which they cry "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15.
Emmanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל) "God with us" — Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23 with the birth of Jesus. Perhaps the most staggering name of all — the eternal God choosing to be with humanity in flesh.
Why This Matters
Each name was not invented by theologians — it was revealed in a moment.
God didn't introduce Himself as Jehovah Rapha in a lecture. He revealed it when Israel was thirsty and the water was bitter. He revealed Jehovah Jireh when a father was about to lose his son on an altar.
The pattern is consistent throughout Scripture:
Every name of God was born out of a human crisis that God personally entered.
That means the names are not just theological categories — they are a record of God showing up. And for anyone studying or teaching these names, the invitation is not just to know them but to discover which name corresponds to the specific place of need you are standing in right now.
Lets end on this: 1 Sam. 17:40
40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
WHY FIVE STONES?
Because Goliath had 4 brothers!
Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Lahmi AND SIX FINGER FRANK
…THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GIANTS…
But who is your God?
He is the one who crushed satans head and gives us the victory!
CALL ON HIS NAME AND HE SHALL ANSWER.
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
Bears and Lions can’t call you out. They can’t mock you, cast verbal jabs and doubt at you.
Historical Context
His defiance of Israel's armies was also a taunt against their God. Your problems, issues, fears, is a taunt against God!
Goliath's relys on human technology, political position and physical power.
David invokes God's character and power, not his own resources. This echoes the idea that God's name represents His active intervention (similar to Exodus 3 or the Psalms).
It wasn’t the weapon David had it was the Worship.
Slingers were common;
- Tribe of Benjamin 700 warriors ambidextrous
- Sling a stone up to 95 MPH
- At over 200 yards…
They were so confident they would inscribe words on their stones… MINE WOULD BE “ROCK ON”
David contrasts Goliath's weapons with the invisible but superior heavenly host. This title appears frequently in prophetic books but here underscores early recognition of God's military sovereignty.
"Whom you have defied [cheraf-ta]": The verb charaf means to reproach, taunt, or blaspheme. Goliath's challenge is personal against Israel's God, making this a theological battle, not just military.
YOUR PROBLEMS ARE A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM…
i.e. Your problems are a “who is your God Problem”
Do you know who my father is?
- a. No
- b. Yes and I don’t care
- c. Yes and I will leave you alone
BUT WHAT IF THE QUESTION WAS THIS IN THAT SITUATION… “I wonder who my father is?”
Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) "The LORD will provide" — revealed when God provided a ram as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. Genesis 22:14.
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רָפָא) "The LORD who heals" — revealed after God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah for Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 15:26. Covers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Jehovah Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) "The LORD is my banner" — declared by Moses after Israel's victory over the Amalekites. A banner was a military standard — the rallying point in battle. Exodus 17:15. God Himself is the flag Israel fights under.
Jehovah Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) "The LORD is peace" — spoken by Gideon after encountering the angel of the Lord and fearing he would die. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict but wholeness, completeness, and flourishing. Judges 6:24.
Jehovah Rohi (יְהוָה רֹעִי) "The LORD is my shepherd" — the opening of Psalm 23. One of the most intimate names — depicting God as the one who leads, feeds, protects, and restores.
Jehovah Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) "The LORD our righteousness" — a prophetic name pointing to the coming Messiah who would be the righteousness of His people. Jeremiah 23:6. Deeply connected to the New Testament doctrine of justification.
Jehovah Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) "The LORD is there" — the name given to the restored Jerusalem in Ezekiel's vision. Ezekiel 48:35. God's presence dwelling permanently with His people — echoed in Revelation 21 with the New Jerusalem.
Jehovah Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) "The LORD of Hosts" or "The LORD of Armies" — one of the most frequently used names in the prophets. It pictures God as the commander of vast heavenly armies. Used powerfully in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi.
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) "The LORD who sanctifies you" — Exodus 31:13. God as the one who sets His people apart and makes them holy. Sanctification as His work, not ours alone.
Jehovah Gmolah (יְהוָה גְּמֻלּוֹת) "The LORD of recompense" or "The God of vengeance" — Jeremiah 51:56. God as the one who repays — both in justice against enemies and in vindication of His people.
The Compound El Names
El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) "God Almighty" or literally "God of the mountains" or "the all-sufficient one." First used with Abraham in Genesis 17:1 when God renewed His covenant. It speaks of God's absolute sufficiency — He is enough for every need.
El Elyon (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) "God Most High" — used by Melchizedek blessing Abraham in Genesis 14. It emphasizes God's supremacy above all other powers, rulers, and so-called gods.
El Olam (אֵל עוֹלָם) "The Everlasting God" or "God of eternity" — Genesis 21:33. He has no beginning and no end. Time exists within Him, not the other way around.
El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) "The God who sees me" — spoken by Hagar in the wilderness after she fled from Sarah. Genesis 16:13. One of the most tender names — God seeing the forgotten, the marginalized, the one who thinks they are invisible.
El Gibhor (אֵל גִּבּוֹר) "Mighty God" — Isaiah 9:6, in the famous messianic prophecy. One of the titles given to the coming Messiah — pointing directly to Christ.
El Hannun (אֵל חַנּוּן) "The gracious God" — Nehemiah 9:31. God whose grace prevents Him from completely destroying even a rebellious people.
New Testament
Abba (אַבָּא) "Father" — an Aramaic term of deep intimacy, closer to "Daddy" than formal address. Jesus used it in Gethsemane. Paul says believers are given the Spirit of adoption by which they cry "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15.
Emmanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל) "God with us" — Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23 with the birth of Jesus. Perhaps the most staggering name of all — the eternal God choosing to be with humanity in flesh.
Why This Matters
Each name was not invented by theologians — it was revealed in a moment.
God didn't introduce Himself as Jehovah Rapha in a lecture. He revealed it when Israel was thirsty and the water was bitter. He revealed Jehovah Jireh when a father was about to lose his son on an altar.
The pattern is consistent throughout Scripture:
Every name of God was born out of a human crisis that God personally entered.
That means the names are not just theological categories — they are a record of God showing up. And for anyone studying or teaching these names, the invitation is not just to know them but to discover which name corresponds to the specific place of need you are standing in right now.
May 25, 2026
May 25, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
The battle of David and Goliath was never really about David and Goliath. It was the culmination of Israel's spiritual decline under Saul, and the first visible sign that God had already been at work preparing a different kind of leader — one after His own heart.
1 Samuel 17
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
David's arrival on the battlefield was jarring precisely because of the contrast. He was young, unarmored, and inexperienced — but he carried something the entire army had lost: a reference point for who God was.
David doesn’t call out the enemy, he calls out his tactics… His weapons of choice.
WHY?
In 1 Samuel 17:45, David identifies a three-fold physical threat.
In John 10:10, Jesus identifies a three-fold spiritual threat. They map onto each other in a way that shows how the enemy operates:
| Goliath’s Arsenal (1 Samuel 17:45) | The Thief’s Mission (John 10:10) | The Spiritual Parallel
- The Sword. | To Steal | Goliath relied on his sword to strip Israel of their land, their freedom, and their identity. The enemy wants to rob you of your peace and purpose.
The Spear. | To Kill | A spear is designed for a direct, fatal strike. Goliath’s Literal goal was to end David’s life; the thief's goal is total spiritual death.
The Javelin | To Destroy | A javelin is thrown from a distance, bringing unexpected, widespread ruin. The enemy aims for complete devastation of your life and relationships.
The Core Contrast: Flesh vs. Spirit
The real tie-in between these two passages is the **source of victory** that both David and Jesus point to. Both stories set up a stark contrast between reliance on worldly power and reliance on divine power.
* **David’s Answer:** Right after naming Goliath's weapons, David says, *"But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts."* He acknowledges the physical threat but completely bypasses it by relying on God's authority.
* **Jesus’ Answer:** Right after naming the thief's three-fold threat, Jesus says, *"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."*
May 24, 2026
May 24, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
VERY FAMILIAR STORY -
*TIED TO MY NOTES TODAY
THE BUILD UP and DEMISE OF ISRAEL
THE PEOPLE WANTED A MAN OVER GOD (They wanted a King)… Here is an old quote: when more than one votes… you can assure its the wrong decision.
It wasn’t a King that was truly the problem -
BUT RATHER following a man, that was the problem. It was the peoples desire to follow a King over a prophet who followed God.
***No one voted a prophet in.
****People choose a King, God chooses a prophet.
Saul offers false sacrifices
Saul chooses to disobey Gods orders to wipe out the Amakalites
Saul becomes erratic and tormented by demonic spirits
Saul now operates out of fear
*Israel and the army now saw their enemies the way their leader did - IN FEAR.
The battle of David and Goliath was never really about David and Goliath. It was the culmination of Israel's spiritual decline under Saul, and the first visible sign that God had already been at work preparing a different kind of leader — one after His own heart.
1 Samuel 17
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
May 21, 2026
May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
Are you able to ask for directions? Why do men get made fun of for not asking for directions… I have never had a problem with asking for directions… but I guess some men do. Hmmmm weird, but anyway there is a myth out there called
The Myth of the Maverick
Gentlemen, let’s be honest about something.
For most of us, asking for help doesn’t just feel uncomfortable. It feels like an admission of weakness or defeat. We’ve been conditioned to believe that a real leader is a lone warrior—the man who has all the answers, carries all the weight, and never, ever shows a crack in his armor.
We look at asking for help as a white flag. We think it means: "I am not strong enough. I am failing."
But I want to challenge that today. Keeping your mouth shut when you are drowning isn’t leadership. It’s pride. And biblically speaking, isolation is the most dangerous position a man can put himself in.
Look at the life of Moses in Exodus 18.
Moses was the ultimate leader. He led millions of people out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and spoke to God face-to-face. Talk about a resume. But Moses fell into the trap of the "Maverick." He was sitting from morning until night, trying to judge every single dispute for the entire nation of Israel by himself. He was carrying the whole weight on his own shoulders.
His father-in-law, Jethro, watches this play out and gives him a brutal reality check in Exodus 18:17-18:
"What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."
Notice what Jethro didn't say. He didn’t say, "Moses, you lack vision." He didn't say, "Moses, you lack character or anointed power." He said, "The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."
Even the most anointed, powerful leader in the Old Testament had human limitations. Moses’ value didn't drop because he needed help; his leadership capacity expanded when he accepted it. He appointed capable men to share the burden, and only then did the nation thrive.
Men, true biblical leadership is never about independence; it is about interdependence.
God did not design you to be a solo operator. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
When you refuse to ask for help—whether it’s in your marriage, your business, your mental health, or your spiritual life—you aren't protecting your leadership. You are starving it. You are cutting yourself off from the strategic reinforcement God has placed around you.
Asking for help is not a failure of leadership; it is an act of strategic ownership. It’s looking at the mission and saying, "The mission is more important than my ego. Winning the battle matters more than me getting the credit for doing it alone."
Let’s drop the lone-wolf act. Real strength is having the courage to look a brother in the eye and say, "The work is too heavy today. I need another strand in the cord."
That’s not weakness. That is how kingdoms are built.
May 17, 2026
May 17, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
Driving with Kim in the car when we were first married. I pulled a gun on a guy in a corvette!
I was on my way to Youth Group - I was the youth pastor.
Judges 6
11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
1. He Was Living in Poverty and Oppression
For seven years, Israel had been brutally oppressed by the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples. The oppression was so severe that the Israelites had abandoned their homes in the valleys to live in dens, caves, and strongholds in the mountains (Judges 6:2).
The invaders would sweep through the land like locusts, destroying crops and slaughtering livestock. The text notes that Israel was "brought very low" because of Midian. Gideon wasn't a wealthy noble or a ruling judge; he was a victim of a devastating, nationwide economic and military siege.
2. He Was Hiding in a Winepress
When the Angel of the Lord finds Gideon, he is threshing wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11).
- Why this matters: Wheat was traditionally threshed in an open, elevated area (a threshing floor) so the wind could blow away the chaff. A winepress, however, was a pit dug into the ground or carved into rock.
Operating out of fear, survival and panic.
3. He Was From an Insignificant, Idol-Worshipping Family
4. He Was Battling Deep Skepticism and Grief
Gideon’s immediate reaction to the Angel’s blessing ("The Lord is with you, mighty warrior") is not pride, but bitter skepticism. He looked at his current reality and concluded that God had abandoned them:
The Irony of the Title
When God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," Gideon is:
- In hiding (not in battle)
- Doubting God's presence (not acting in faith)
- Belittling his own status (not displaying courage)
The title was prophetic. God was not validating Gideon’s current resume; He was naming the potential that He was about to unlock through His own power.
When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:12 and addressed him as a "mighty warrior" it was a statement of what God would do through him, not a description of who Gideon currently was.
He saw what he would do - which in turn is who he would be - in turn is who He really was in Gods eyes!
Can an egg fly?
Can a puppy protect you?
Can an acorn shade, protect and feed thousands of animals?
Can a spark destroy city?
We see an egg - God sees an eagle!
We see a puppy - God sees the Rottweiler that attacked the sex predator who ran into the Childs yard.
We see an acorn - God sees The Foret de Trancais 26,000 acre forest
We see a spark - God sees the Chinchaga fire burning 4.2 million acres.
Do you think when Jesus saw the disciples arguing over who would be the greatest, when Peter would deny him, when Thomas would doubt him, when they would not understand simple scripture, when they could not heal a boy, or worried over storms, food or religious leaders… HE SAW THEIR STORY! You will all be so committed and change the world so powerfully that they will need to Kill you to stop you! And you will be honored to give your life for me!
How does Jesus see us?
We are salt
We are light
We are friends
We are secure in him
We have overcome the world
We will do greater works then Jesus
We will have rivers of living water flow out of us
We will tread on serpents, scorpions, nothing will hurt us
We are plugged directly into him
He is always with us
We will crush the serpents head
We are the head and not the tail
We wear a robe of righteousness
We are more than conquerors
EVEN WITH THE DISCIPLES… JESUS WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEM - BUT NEVER REJECT THEM OR GET ANGRY AT THEM OR SHAMED THEM.
Rather he would
Ask a question
Correct their perception
And never reject them.
2 Kings 6 The King of Aram is mad and thinks there is a traitor. It is Elisha… Go kill him.
- 14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.
16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
- Its right there!
What is? Your answer - it’s right there. You just can’t see it.
**Yesterday I was praying and seeking Gods wisdom on finances… he pointed to my kitchen table and showed me a stack of money… he said its right there. You just can’t see it… but its there.
You might think you can’t see it because you are in the dark… no you are not in the dark, you are in the preparation phase which can feel like the dark.
The Chinese Bamboo Tree (your example)
Spends the first 5 years growing almost nothing above ground while developing a massive, deep root system. In the 6th year, it can grow 80–90 feet in just 6 weeks.
The Saguaro Cactus
Grows extremely slowly — often only 1–2 inches in the first 10 years. It can take 30–40 years before it even grows its first arm. Then, once established, it can live 150–200 years and reach 40–60 feet tall.
May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026
7 min
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
#The brotherhood manifesto
#TripleCsurvivor
Taking up your cross" is often viewed through a lens of submission, but when analyzed through the mechanics of character and endurance, it reveals itself as a high-level feat of internal power.
Here are three talking points on why this act represents the ultimate expression of strength:
1. The Mastery of Volitional Suffering
True strength is rarely found in the absence of pain, but rather in the voluntary adoption of responsibility despite it. Most people spend their lives fleeing discomfort or seeking the path of least resistance. To "take up a cross" is to consciously choose a difficult path for the sake of a higher purpose. It requires a level of psychological and spiritual fortitude that far exceeds mere physical exertion because it involves silencing the primal instinct for self-preservation in favor of duty.
2. The Weight of Integrity Over Ego
The "cross" often represents the heavy burden of standing for truth, even when it is socially or personally costly. It is easy to be "strong" when the crowd is cheering you on; it is a monumental feat of strength to carry a conviction that makes you a target. This represents the shift from external validation to internal alignment. It takes more "lifting power" to carry the weight of one's principles through a storm of opposition than it does to follow the momentum of the status quo.
3. Absolute Discipline of the Will
In any high-performance endeavor, the greatest enemy is the "inner quitter"—the part of the mind that seeks comfort when the load gets heavy. Taking up your cross is the ultimate exercise in willpower over whim. It is a daily, repetitive commitment to a mission that offers no immediate physical reward. This type of endurance builds a "moral callus," transforming a person from someone who reacts to their environment into someone who purposefully shapes their character through sustained, disciplined action.
This concept suggests that the strongest person in the room isn't necessarily the one with the most power over others, but the one with the most po
May 12, 2026
May 12, 2026
7 min
The David Alliance
Garth Heckman
The Busy Man's Substitute
There is something about a man that would rather build something than bow to something.
Give a man a mission and he'll work himself to exhaustion. Ask that same man to sit quietly in prayer for thirty minutes and he'll suddenly remember seventeen things that need to get done first.
We are, by nature, doers. And somewhere along the way, we convinced ourselves that doing things for God was the same as being with God.
It is not.
The Scripture
"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.'" — Luke 10:40–42
Now before you say "that's a story about women" — slow down.
Martha is every man who has ever stayed busy for God while quietly avoiding intimacy with God. She wasn't sinning. She was serving. She was working hard, doing good things, keeping everything moving.
And Jesus gently called it a distraction.
The Honest Truth About Why We'd Rather Work
1. Work gives us something to show for ourselves. Prayer produces nothing we can photograph, present, or point to. You can't put thirty minutes of quiet conversation with God on a report. But a new ministry program? A mission trip organized? A church built? That's something. That feels like proof we matter.
The hard truth is that a lot of what we call "work for God" is really work for our own sense of worth. We need to feel productive. We need to feel useful. Sitting in silence with God doesn't feed that hunger — it exposes it.
2. Work keeps us in control. When you're managing a project, you hold the pen. You make the calls. You set the timeline.
Prayer requires the opposite posture. It requires you to come to Someone greater than yourself, admit you don't have all the answers, and wait. For a man wired to lead and fix and solve — that is genuinely uncomfortable. We don't like waiting. We don't like not knowing. And prayer, at its core, is an act of surrender.
3. Work keeps us from the conversation we're afraid to have. Here's the one most men won't say out loud: sometimes we stay busy because being still means being honest. And being honest with God means the real stuff surfaces — the fear, the failure, the sin we've been managing around, the doubt we've never admitted to anyone.
A project never asks you how you're really doing. God always does.
The Deeper Problem
When a man substitutes work for prayer, he doesn't just miss out on rest — he starts running on his own fuel. And a man running on his own fuel will eventually hit empty at exactly the wrong moment.
Every great project built without a foundation of prayer is just a man's plan with God's name on it.
Moses didn't lead two million people through the desert on strategy. David didn't defeat Goliath on confidence. Nehemiah didn't rebuild the wall on project management skills. Each of them had one thing in common before the great work began — they had been alone with God long enough to know it was His work and not theirs.
The work they did for God flowed out of the time they spent with God. That order matters more than most men realize.
The Gut Check
Ask yourself honestly:
- When was the last time I prayed longer than I planned for a project?
- Do I know God's voice — or just His assignments?
- Am I building His kingdom or building my reputation inside His kingdom?
- If God called a halt to every ministry project tomorrow, would I still have a relationship with Him — or would I have nothing left to talk about?
The Invitation
Jesus didn't say Martha's work was wrong. He said Mary's choice was better.
The better thing is not always the bigger thing. Sometimes the most powerful thing a man can do for God's kingdom is close the laptop, silence the phone, sit down in a quiet room and say —
"I'm here. Not to report. Not to plan. Not to ask for anything. Just — here."
That kind of prayer doesn't feel productive. It doesn't look like much from the outside.
But it is the one thing that turns ordinary men into dangerous ones.
Because a man who knows how to be with God is a man God can trust with the work.
Closing Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the times I mistook my busyness for faithfulness. Teach me that You want my presence before You want my productivity. Still the part of me that needs to perform — and grow the part of me that simply needs You. Amen.
"Be still and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10