Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

Have you been hurt at church? One of the biggest barriers to men going to church is the people IN the church! In this week's interview, Pastor Jim Ramos is joined by Wendell Morton to teach you practical ways to deal with the wounds you've received from 'church people.' How do you stay in church even when it's filled by sinners? How do you forgive and release the bitterness that makes you reluctant to go on Sunday, or has even driven you away from the church altogether? You'll walk away from this epsisode with strategies to overcome hurt and release the only prisoner of unforginessness: you. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Did you know courage is a character trait developed over time? Like weightlifting, men have to practice, struggle and persevere to build the "muscles" of courage until it becomes who we are. The good news: God wired men to be courageous. Like a cattle brand, God has stamped the desire to be courageous into men. But it's up to you to make that choice. In this final message in the "Take Courage" series from the MAG, Pastor Jim Ramos shares how we can make sure our character is SOLID and not easily swayed by the worldly pressures men face. 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 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.]

You hurt for the victims of sex trafficking, but what can you DO about it? There's a way you can help survivors of sex trafficking without leaving your home. In this week's unique and powerful interview, Jim Ramos is joined by sisters Shannon Sloan and Amanda Kozlowski to talk about their ministry, the Free Bird Initiative. They share powerful stories of rescue and redemption and teach you how you can honor your own wife while helping empower sex trafficking survivors. Free Bird Initiative: freebirdinitiative.org Ring True: ringtrueco.com https://ringtrueco.com/product/subscriptions/ring-of-the-month/ GHOST: Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team:https://www.gcsomichigan.com/ghost (online safety training for parents) [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Congrats brother, you've married a strong Christian woman. But, what does she NEED from you? In her core, what does she need and want from you on a daily basis? In today's 10-minute equipping episode, pastor Jim Ramos teaches you the 4 core desires of every woman and the practical ways you can meet those needs. Jim pulls from Michael Thompson's (ep. 710) book KING ME(https://tinyurl.com/kingme115), taking his principles and breaking them down so you'll be able to take action starting today! Michael's book: https://tinyurl.com/kingme11 [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

"I'm fine" says every man…but it's not true. We live in a broken world and every man brings brokenness to the table. How do we sift through our brokenness to find healing? How do we break the cycle of childhood trauma and generational sin? And how do we forgive those that contributed to our brokenness? This week, Jim Ramos is joined again by men's ministry giant Patrick Morley (of 'Man in the Mirror' fame, listen to our interview about that book here), to discuss his new book, 'From Broken Boy to Mended Man: A Positive Plan to Heal Your Childhood Wounds and Break the Cycle.' This episode will help you identify your areas that are broken, create an actionable plan for healing them, and deal with the scars from past brokenness. Patrick's Books: From Broken Boy to Mended Man - https://tinyurl.com/wounded115 (using our link helps support the ministry, thanks!) Man in the Mirror - https://tinyurl.com/mirror115 [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

One of the biggest questions men ask is, "what does a spiritual leader look like and how do I become one in my home?" In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos reviews 3 practical ways men can lead by example using 1st Timothy 4:15. You'll walk away from this episode knowing how to start your journey to become the spiritual leader in your home. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Strength and courage. Can you have one without the other? These words are used over and over and commonly paired up in the Bible. In this message, Jim teaches the importance of why these words are often paired together, and what it means when you only have one of the two. This episode will challenge you to look in the mirror, face your fears, and tap into your strength as you strive to live a courageous life. This message is from The MAG, The McMinville 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 checking his speaking calendar at menintherena.org, or bring him to speak at your next event. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Want to meet Jim Ramos in person? In this week's equipping episode, Jim Ramos tells you about 3 upcoming in-person events on both coasts where you can come out and meet him. mancampwfr.com meninthearena.org/meetjim [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Divorcing Christian? Chances are you—or someone you're close to—has dealt with the pain of divorce. Today Jim Ramos is joined by Dale Brown to walk you through 9 critical steps for healing from divorce. These are personal practices that will help you survive, heal, and thrive. Dale gives practical advice to anyone dealing with the aftermath of divorce and will teach you how to lean into God and other godly men, and use the pain you're feeling now for good later. Here's the link to Dale Brown's book, 'Daily Survival Guide for Divorced Men: Surviving & Thriving Beyond Your Divorce Days 1-9' https://tinyurl.com/divorce115 (using our link to check out the book supports our ministry – thanks!) [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Are you believing LIES about God? You might be surprised. The enemy tells Christians these 7 lies about God and his nature to try to keep us away from Him. Thankfully God's Word can dispel them. You may be hindered from living your best life in Christ because of common lies many men believe. In today's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos lists 6 lies you may believe about God (found in Michael Thompson's book, "King Me"), adds in a bonus 7th, and teaches you how to dispel them with the Biblical truth.

Do you feel unseen in your daily life? Do you question where God has you and how he's using you? You may be in your season of obscurity. You're in good company – even Jesus had a season of obscurity! In this week's interview, Former Seattle Police Officer Jeremy Wade joined Jim Ramos to share his journey and how he questioned where God had him serving. They unpack how to know if you're in a season of obscurity, how you can survive and thrive while in it, and how to break out of it as you say 'yes' to God's will. Jeremy served with the Seattle Police Department for 13 years where he was awarded the Medal of Valor and Officer of the Year. He also served as the executive director of the Seattle Police Chaplains Association. He is the founder of Mission First Alliance, a gospel-focusedfirst responder alliance. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

How can a coward get courage? It's not a commandment, it's not a mosaic law, it's not a fruit of the spirit and it's not a Spiritual gift. So what is courage? Today at the MAG, Pastor Jim Ramos covers the first attribute of courage and also addresses mythes about courage that keep men from living courageous lives. Your step out of cowardice and into a courage starts here. 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. ]

Every man has a kingdom. Not every king rules well. If you ever feel powerless at work or home, wonder how to become the hero in your life story, or just want to make sure you're wielding the power God has given you well, this episode is for you. In this week's interview, author Michael Thompson joins Jim Ramos to discuss his book, "King Me: Loving and Leading in a Wounding World" and help you reclaim the heroism, power and authority God made you to wield. Here is the link to Michael's book: https://tinyurl.com/kingme115 (Using our link to check out the book helps support our ministry - thanks!) [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

You work hard, but are you working the right way? Will you be done working when you're retired? What place should work have in the life of a Christian man? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos walks you through a brief theology of work, teaching you what the Bible says about the work you're doing to provide for your family, and helps you identify ways you might be viewing work wrong. [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

Did you know that the Bible talks about your wife's "big O"? It does! What does a Christian man look like in the bedroom? In this week's message, pastor Jim Ramos and the guys from The MAG talk about what the Bible has to say about your O, hers, and how to have the bedroom intimacy that every man dreams of. Here is the link to the book referenced frequently during the message: The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Gregory -> http://tinyurl.com/sexrescue115 This message is from The MAG, The McMinville 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 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.]

Are you one of the millions of men who are making Jim's biggest marriage mistake? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Jim Ramos shares his biggest marriage mistake. This topic consistently goes viral on our social media channels, with millions of wives chiming in to saying their husband is making this very mistake. Listen up, men. Your wife might have been one of them! [Honor God through your fitness. Use code 'ARENA30' at mtntough.com for 6 weeks free access to the MTNTOUGH fitness app.]

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.