Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

In this message, Pastor Jim Ramos opens up his Sex Box, teaching you the lies our culture tells us about sex and what married sex is supposed to look like. This message is from The MAG, The McMinnville Area Gathering for men, which meets weekly most Wednesday nights at Grange Hall in McMinnville, Oregon. You can come out to see Jim Ramos in person by checking his speaking schedule at menintherena.org, or bring him to speak at your next event. (Note: Jim's speaking calendar is filling up fast due to the Sept 3 release of his new book, "Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God" with David C Cook publishing. If you'd like to bring him to your church to speak or run a workshop for you men, reach out soon!) [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. ]

The Dad Type Quiz is live! Take it at meninthearena.org/dadtype What type of Dad are you? We've discovered there are 8 basic types of dad, with their own strengths, issues, and challenges. Your career type and phase of fatherhood changes the issues you face as a dad. In this week's equipping episode, Jim Ramos outlines how we came up with the 8 different Dad Types, helps you identify which one you are, and outlines some of the challenges your particular type faces. This episode pairs well with the Dad Type Quiz at meninthearena.org/dadtype. Take the quiz to learn your type, get a customized result based on your fatherhood phase and career, and get resources tailored to where you are in your fatherhood journey. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

Have you ever written your wife a love letter? Every man should be able to write a love letter to his wife. In this week's interview and in preparation for Valentine's Day, Jim Ramos' friend Kevin Brewer joined him to teach you how to write a letter or note that your wife will treasure forever, even if you're not a writer. Step 1: Make a list. Jot down and start making a list : 1. Start with showing you're thinking of her. Can be basic stuff and could include physical attraction. 2. 1 or 2 things your wife does that you're proud of. 3. How has God used her in your life (bonus if you include Scripture) 4. Her character traits or qualities as a women 5. Past memories, current situation and what you see in future. Step 2: Take a break. Take a break - be fresh. Walk away to process. Step 3: Write your letter. Come back - Sit down and start putting together the letter. Try using a nice piece of paper. Tips: "Write a love letter without using the word love." Find other words the explain your feelings - "love" can be overused. Put anything down. It doesn't have to be deep, just something to trigger emotion and feeling. It doesn't have to be long. The main thing is to show you're thinking of her. Even if you're not a writer - that's to your advantage because it shows your sacrifice. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

Have you ever noticed that men are often "blindsided" by divorce? Too many men seem to be losing their wive's hearts without realizing it until it's too late. If you want to avoid that fate, this week's 10-minute equipping episode is for you. In this episode, Jim Ramos teaches you the 9-part "Couple's Meeting" framework outlined in Aaron and Jocelyn Freeman's excellent book, "The Argument Hangover." [Check out the book here: https://tinyurl.com/argument115] Watch our interview with Aaron Freeman here. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

Do you define yourself by your career? Is your self-worth shaped by your achievements? As men, culture tempts us to find our value in what we do and how much we can produce. In this week's interview, Jim Ramos is joined by former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp to discuss how we can rise above the production expectation and find our worth in the right things. Here's Jeff's Book: (checking out the book through our link supports Men in the Arena - thanks!) http://tinyurl.com/receive115 [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

Have you noticed married Christians calling their spouse their "partner?" Many modern Christians are using this antibiblical word to describe their husband or wife. In this 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos teaches you why this word should never be used and how to correct others when they do. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

You're a man, and you know God has called you to lead. The problem is, you don't know what that looks like in realtime. In this week's interview, Jim Ramos was joined by Jeremy Stalnecker, the co--founder of the Might Oaks Foundation. You'll walk away from this episode with simple but profound leadership techniques to help you take those you love from where they are to where they need to be. Here are the links to the books we talked about today: Leadership by Design - http://tinyurl.com/leadership115 March or Die - http://tinyurl.com/marchordie115 [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

Are you overweight? Exhausted? Busy? Out of shape? This is your episode! In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Jim Ramos shares his "one word" for 2024 and the 5 health rules he has committed to live by this year. In addition to the 5 heath rules, a big part of Jim's fitness this year is his commitment to do the MTNTOUGH fitness program. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com

Are you a LEO or first responder? Do you see people at their worst? Maybe you find yourself resenting the very people you're suppose to be helping? This week, Jim Ramos was joined by Paul Lee, the Executive Director of the FCPO (Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers), for a powerful conversation about how peace officers and first responders can find peace in the midst of the storm. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

This is a reboot of a past episode #61 of the Men in the Arena Podcast.

This is a reboot of a past episode #514 of the Men in the Arena Podcast.

This is a reboot of a past episode #410 of the Men in the Arena Podcast.

This is a reboot of a past episode #338 of the Men in the Arena Podcast.

This is a reboot of a past episode #602 of the Men in the Arena Podcast

This is a reboot of a past episode #502 of the Men in the Arena Podcast.

[Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com] You're VERY aware of your wife's broken areas, but it's not always clear what to do about them. It helps to hear how another guy did it right! In this unique episode, we get a refreshing female perspective on how one husband tackled the problem of his wife's brokenness. This week, podcaster Heidi St. John joined Jim Ramos to give you practical tips and examples of what her husband did to love her through her brokenness and small steps he took—that you can adopt—which added up over time to help her heal and create a thriving marriage.

[Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com] In this 30-min message given by Jim Ramos at a local gathering of Christian men, Jim discusses 3 types of Christian men. Jim challenges us to look in the mirror, recognize which type of man we are, and consider how we need to change to protect those in our circle. This message was given at The MAG (the McMinnville Arena Gathering for Christian men) in McMinnville, Oregon.

What does it take to level up as a man? This week Jim Ramos is joined by BetterMan CEO Chris Harper to explore his 4 Pillars of Masculinity. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com]

[Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com] In this 30-min message given by Jim Ramos at a local gathering of Christian men, he teaches you what "No Pain, No Gain" means for the Christian man. This message was given at The MAG (the McMinnville Arena Gathering for Christian men) in McMinnville, Oregon.

[Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com] Do you fight with your wife about the same things over and over? Does a fight sometimes derail your intimacy for days or weeks? You're experiencing an Argument Hangover! In this week's expert interview, Jim Ramos is joined by Aaron Freeman, co-author of the book "The Argument Hangover." Aaron shares practical tips for how to shorten that disconnect after a fight, and teaches you how you can fight with your wife in a way that will bring you closer together instead of further apart.

[Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app. mtntough.com] In this 30-min message given by Jim Ramos at a local gathering of Christian men, he teaches you what it means to become a WALL around the women in your life. The message draws from Deuteronomy 22:8 - "When you build a new house, build a low wall around the edge of the roof so you will not be guilty if someone falls off the roof." In it, he also includes his 10 Marriage-Saving Guardrails to protect your marriage from infidelity - a list of 10 rules/things you should NEVER do with the opposite sex. This message was given at The MAG (the McMinnville Arena Gathering for Christian men) in McMinnville, Oregon.

Every man asks the same question over and over in his mind: "Do I have what it takes?" In other words, am I TOUGH ENOUGH? In this week's interview, Jim Ramos is joined by MTNTOUGH founder Dustin Diefenderfer, an expert on mental toughness. They unpack one myth about toughness that you may believe, and teach you how to get more mentally and physically tough. Men in the Arena is now sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab! Enter code ARENA30 at mtntough.com to get 6 weeks of free access to the app: MTNTOUGH Here's the book mentioned in the podcast: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter Dustin founded MTNTOUGH to help individuals become more mentally tough, believing this is the key for them to reach their specific personal and professional goals. "Ever since I was young, I noticed certain people had something others didn't. I wanted to know how they got it... and how to help other people get it. That's why I built MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab. To be the best in the world at mental toughness...Ultimately, so our customers can have a better life." Dustin's areas of expertise include ultra running, mountain and hunting conditioning. Dustin has completed numerous ultra marathons and marathons, running 12 marathons in one year to support his work in Africa. He has spent his entire life pursuing his passions in the mountains of the Western United States. "Hunting has always been my passion and backcountry hunting has tested my mental toughness like nothing else, and without a doubt has made me a better man."

The man of God carries a unique load. Six, in fact! In this 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos teaches you six things a godly man carries to His world that help those in it win. When a man gets it—everyone wins!

Are your kids in public school? In this week's interview, author and former principal Tony Rorie joined Jim Ramos to discuss how to train children in the principles of chivalry, honor, moral excellence, and courageous leadership in the context of public school.

Men and women are different. This shouldn't be a controversial statement, but it is! In this episode, pastor Jim Ramos unpacks five things he's discovered about how, generally speaking, GOD (not culture) made men and women INHERENTLY different.

Are you struggling with God's calling on your life? Is God asking you to do something way outside your comfort zone? In this week's interview, Hearts and Souls ministry founder Kirk Milhoan joins Jim Ramos to discuss the radical outcomes you'll see, and the doors that will open, when you say "yes" to God.

Think you're TOUGH? Don't be so sure. There are four areas of toughness, one in which even 80% of Navy Seals are statistically weak. In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, author and pastor Jim Ramos outlines the four M's of toughness and helps you determine if there's an area you need to get tough.

Find yourself yelling at your kids? Or repeating your own dad's angry parenting patterns, the very ones you swore you'd never use? You know you shouldn't yell, but how else can you win power struggles and get through to your defiant kid? In this week's interview, Kirk Martin, host of the Calm Parenting podcast, joined Jim Ramos for another power-packed, tactical episode to equip you to become the calm dad you know your kids deserve.

There are two types of Christian men. Which one are you? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos identifies the difference between a "Christian" and a real follower of Jesus. You'll wall away from this episode knowing which type of Christian YOU are, and what to do about it.

Are you CRUSHING IT living as the man God made you to be? Or are there areas where you've been CRUSHED by the enemy? This week, Jeff Voth joined Jim Ramos to discuss his book, Serpent Crusher: A Plan to Become a Better Man By Crushing the Things that Crush You. They discuss what a Serpent Crusher looks like, areas where men tend to be crushed in life, and how you can get out of the shape you've been crushed into and into the manly, masculine shape for which you were created. Serpent Crusher Book on Amazon (using this link to check out the book helps support our ministry): https://tinyurl.com/serpent115

This is part two in this series contrasting Christian and non-Christian marriage. Did you know that two Christian spouses don't necessarily add up to a Christian marriage? Divorce is an epidemic in the Church because Christians are approaching marriage like functional athiests. In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos teaches you about the Bible's Love Triangle and gives you seven ways that a Biblical marriage differs from a worldly one. You'll walk away from this episode with a clear idea of the ways that you and your wife may be approaching your marriage wrong, and how to get back on track.

Are you ready for sexual integrity? This week Sam Black joined Jim Ramos to discuss his book, The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It. You'll walk away from this episode with a list of the resources you need to find your healing once and for all.

Did you know that two Christian spouses don't necessarily add up to a Christian marriage? Divorce is an epidemic in the Church because Christians are approaching marriage like functional athiests. In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos teaches you about the Bible's Love Triangle and gives you seven ways that a Biblical marriage differs from a worldly one. You'll walk away from this episode with a clear idea of the ways that you and your wife may be approaching your marriage wrong, and how to get back on track.

Are you a Christ FOLLOWER? You sure 'bout that? In this Sunday Sermon given by pastor Jim Ramos at Redeemer's Church in Reedley, CA, Jim walks you through the time Jesus was approached by three different fans, what He told them they needed to do to become true followers, and how you can become more than a fan of Jesus.

Ever feel like your prayers aren't doing anything? Do you wonder if you're praying the wrong way, or for the wrong things? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos teaches you the prayer method that he credits with growing Men in the Arena from 15 men in a coffee shop to impacting millions of men worldwide: the 5 "P's" of EFFECTIVE prayer.

If you're gonna be a good dad, you need these 7 things in your tool belt! This week, Dr. Ken Canfield joined Jim Ramos to discuss his bestselling book (more than 100,000 sold) The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers.

Ever wonder why men tend to die before women? There are practical reasons and spiritual ones. In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos explores the mantle of manhood and the story of Zuriel, the Mason, the Warrior and the Moving Man. You'll end this episode better equipped to the carry the load in your own life.

Are you stuck in a cycle of sexual sin? It's time to break free! In this week's interview, Jim Ramos is joined by Nick Stumbo, co-host of the Pure Desire podcast, to discuss his book, "Setting Us Free." They walk you through the seven pillars of sexual freedom and how to break the cycle once and for all. Setting Us Free on Amazon

In this Ask Me Anything episode, pastor Jim Ramos answers the following questions submitted by followers on social media: 1. "How do I respond as a Christian to gender dysphoria/transgenderism/gender identity issues?" 2. "You talk about all the journals you have written over the years. What is your process for journaling?"

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Jim Ramos answers these three questions submitted by followers on Men in the Arena's social media: "Should a husband say 'I love you' even if you are struggling with loving her or even if you aren't there? Would that be a lie?" -opsymops on IG "I just want to know what you think about being a warfighter and a Christian, and if pilots/soldiers should feel convicted in this regard?" - Will G on Instagram "Hey Jim, do you have a favorite father son devo or book study to do together? Son is 18."

In this AMA episode, Jim Ramos answers three questions submitted by our social media audience: 1. "Is a Christian man commenting on or following sexy/thirst trap type social media accounts infidelity?" 2. "What if my 'Christian' boyfriend or fiance is doing a lot of 'non-Christian' things?" 3. "I saved myself for marriage, but my spouse didn't. How do I move past that?"

In this AMA episode, pastor Jim Ramos answers three questions submitted by followers on social media: "With the way marriage screws over the husband if a divorce happens and the wife can take half his assets and his kids, is it really worth the risk?" - FAQ "What is the bare minimum required to qualify as 'married?' Don't want to get the government involved." - FAQ "What's your favorite Bible verse and person in the Bible?" - lyjt493 on Instagram

In this AMA episode, Jim Ramos answers these two questions submitted by followers on our social media: "I am a police officer and am in the Coast Guard reserve. I have spent my entire adult life in service to my community and/or country. I feel my calling is to protect people but am starting to feel burnout. What do you recommend I do?" - Jed emailed to [email protected] "I've been married 18 yrs, for 8 years he hasn't talked to me, touched me, we sleep in the same bed but it's like roommates. As a Christian I feel conflicted as it says we shouldn't divorce. Is there any guidance you can provide as to what is the best way a Christian can go about this situation?" - Ila L. on Instagram

Men, you know you have potential, but how do you reach it? How do you choose which goal to pursue, and once you do, how do you get there? In this week's interview, Jim Ramos is joined by bestselling author Jon Acuff to discuss his new book, All it Takes is a Goal. They discuss the three zones that high-performing men bounce between and a 3-step plan for busting you out of your rut so you can achieve what God made you for. https://tinyurl.com/goal115

In this AMA episode, Jim answers this question submitted by a follower: "How do you pick a church? I want to know how Jim Ramos would pick a random town in a random state, move there, and pick a church. What are the things you look for that are reasons to stay, reasons to leave? I believe youll be blown away at how many people take notes on your answer and use it when hunting down a church." - Jacob D.

In this AMA episode, Jim answers 3 questions submitted by followers on social media: "How should I handle my ex-wife bashing me to our kids?" "How can I lead my kids into a real, deep and authentic relationship with God?" "How can I prepare for the 'Stress Bubble of Life' and how can I thrive in the mist of it?"

In this AMA episode, Jim answers 4 questions submitted by followers on social media: "How do I find my spouse? I've been praying and waiting." - Guboyz89 on Instagram "When should a young person know they are ready for marriage?" - Andrea D. on Facebook "If men are usually not as far along spiritually as women at the beginning of the relationship, how can a woman know if a man has the potential to be a good husband?" - TikTok "How long should a couple be engaged? Do you think you and Shanna got married too fast?" - Facebook

Jim kicks off an AMA series to answer listener questions. This week he answers: "When you were called into the ministry (like I believe I am being called into right now) how did you truly know? When did you know it was your calling from God to be in ministry?" - Logan W. on Facebook "Why do you make videos in the woods like you just buried a body and you're running from the cops?" - Ro E. on Facebook

Men, what is your unique purpose? What did God put YOU - specifically - on the planet to accomplish? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos outlines what does and doesn't constitute a "real" life's calling, describes common misconceptions of what makes a life's calling, and gives you 3 questions you can ask yourself to test and discover what God's calling on your life may be.

You've heard it takes two to tango - but it can only take ONE to change a marriage. Do you feel like you don't know who your wife is anymore? Is there a wall between you and your wife and you're not sure how to get through it? In this 10-minute equipping episode, Jim teaches you 10 proven ways to reconnect and draw close to the woman God gave you. When a man gets it, everyone wins. The principles from this episode were drawn from Jason Karampatsos' excellent book The Elephant in the Marriage. (https://tinyurl.com/elephant115)