Welcome to The Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leader. Scott intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas, this is your fun Friday episode. Let's get right into it. Okay. So the scripture of the week, this week, it's been Christmas. This is Christmas is just over. We focus on a verse that really is important for this time of year, Isaiah 7.14. Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son. She will name him Emmanuel. Love that verse, fellas. Hopefully, you guys have a Merry Christmas. I know Christmas is just over. All the hustle, all the hustle. You survived it. You made it through. So I'm excited to be here with you. Again, we've unpacked the Christmas story directly from the Bible in the last episode on the spiritual kickoff episode of Monday this week. We did unpack this Isaiah 7.14. And yes, fellas, we do a daily spiritual kickoff within the lion within us. So if it's something that you'd be encouraged by, go check us out at thelionwithin.us, okay? So for our Fun Friday episode, which we got some changes coming. I'm gonna talk to you about that next week. But we usually talk about a health, wealth, and a self-tip. That's kind of the pillars of the lion. Health is mind and body, wealth, our career and finances, self is husband and father. How do we improve in those areas? Okay. So the health tip is really simply. Uh, look, just read the Bible story this week. I know Christmas is just uh the Christmas story in the Bible, rather. I know Christmas is just over, okay? Uh it's not too late to take some time to slow down to read the story. And again, make this not just a tradition, but a reminder of why we celebrate. You know, you can read it, read it privately and just soak in it for yourself and then read it out loud, man. Let your kids hear the miracle of Jesus' birth from your own voice. Like open up your to what I went through in our last episode, Matthew 1, Luke 2, and walk through it together and show them what it means for the word to become flesh and dwelt among us, man. I mean, it's just a great opportunity because when you take the the chance right now, fellas, the opportunity to lead it home by reading God's word, it's not just strengthening your spiritual health, it's anchoring your family in truth, man. And like this is a crazy time of year. Everybody's so busy. So take the time, don't rush it. Just let the story breathe. And then just um let your family recognize this is where the true peace of mind can be found. It's not in anything that you're gonna find on Amazon. I promise you that. It's found in the Word of God. All right, that's your tip. So your wealth tip, pay it's very simply. Remember, some of the best deals are found today, like right after Christmas. Keep your eyes open, okay? It's just good financial stewardship because uh today after Christmas, you find some really good uh sales and people trying to get rid of stuff. Uh, and it's really good chances to bargain and try to work to work people, work with people for better prices. I mean, retailers are trying to clear inventories, travel prices sometimes drop, uh, donations opportunities are around. So be intentional here about spending and giving this time of year, okay? Um it's a great time to go look for that much-needed tool or tech item. Sometimes those things are deep discounts right now, okay? So, or it could go to option out and put a little extra savings to the side so you can bless someone else who's struggling, okay? Because true wealth we have to remember it's not about stewardship, okay? It's not about getting a deal, it's about making wise decisions that align with our values as Christians, that biblical worldview, okay? So keep your eyes open, keep your heart generous, right? And maybe you'll find some really great postseason investments to uh to make that's gonna be a true blessing. All right, now self-tip. Here it is. Don't forget date night, okay? Christmas clutters up everything. All right, so if you've made it to this to right now, let's say it's Friday, right? Yeah, it's Friday. Hey, take your wife out tonight, man, because it's so easy with the Christmas parties and the kid commitments and all the to-do list that just drowns us, right? The cooking and all that stuff. It can be easy to forget to take time with our spouse, okay? And it can crowd that out. So just don't forget the date night, man. And it doesn't have to be fancy. You literally could just go out and get some coffee together or take a walk uh and and check and maybe go to a neighborhood, walk through the neighborhood and just look at Christmas lights, or or just drive around and talk with no distractions. Like just let her know how much she means to you. If you survived another Christmas together, like that's a big deal. That's worth celebrating, okay? So, I mean, you're it's not about checking a box here, boys. It's about showing her and letting her know how much you love and how committed you are. And that's really one of the greatest gifts you can give to your family. It's let them know how much you love mama. I mean, it's just it, you know, love on your wife, okay? That's your three tips your health, wealth, and self. Read the Christmas story in the Bible, please. You know, take the time to do that if you haven't yet already. Even though Christmas was yesterday, it's okay. Remember, some of the best tips or uh the best deals rather are found right after Christmas. So have that stewardship eye open, okay? And then don't forget to date your wife, fellas, okay? Make sure we get we're as super intentional about that. So, book of the week. Now I know Christmas just passed, okay, but it's not too late. Get your copy of Unleashing to Lion within. I know we're talking about it a lot, but hey, this is I'm super just just encouraged by the feedback I've gotten on this book. Again, Pastor Jovi wrote the the forward forward. Super thankful for him for doing that. But it's very practical, it's very easy. I know it looks thick, guys, but trust me, each little chapter is like three pages. I'm telling you, this is this is bite-sized chunks that you'll be able to consume and uh really hopefully get a blessing, get a challenge from it, be encouraged by it. That's what it's all about. And look, hey, you got a little Amazon money right now? Head on over to Amazon.com, get your copy of Unleashing Delion within. Okay, not too late. All right, dad joke. Got a couple Christmas dad jokes. I know it's a day after Christmas. We can still do those. That's dads. We can we have the right to do that. So what do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Oh, well, they're claustrophobic. Okay, so that's pretty good, right? All right, number two, uh, what do you call an elf that sings? Well, that would be a rapper, of course. All right, so let me know which one you like best, fellas. Number one and number two, which what do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? That's claustrophobic. And then number two, what do you call an elf that sings? That's a rapper. Get it? W-R-A-P-D-E-R. All right, fellas. So let me know. Dad jokes are all about getting the eye rolls, getting the size, getting the I can't believe you said that. So if these work, let me know. If you got a dad joke you want us to use as well, support at the linewithin.us, send that thing over. I'd love to get you connected with it, okay? All right, fellas. Question of week spin. How are you gonna share Christmas? How are you gonna really share the true meaning of it? Okay, if you haven't done it yet, it ain't too late. All right, so come on back next week, guys. We're gonna have our New Year's episodes. Got some announcements we're gonna wanna make. Pretty excited, pretty nervous, but I think you're gonna enjoy it, okay? So I look forward to seeing you. Hopefully, we'll see you uh here next week. And I just thank you for taking the time to hang out with us today. Merry Christmas again. Pray that uh you you really had a great day. I know it can be super challenging this time of year. So just praying uh peace for you and encouragement for you, and you know what's coming. Just keep unleashing the lion within. If you've ever opened the Bible and had the thought, where do I even start? Brother, you're not alone. I've had those moments all too often. And I found that having a guide was helpful. And that's why we created the I'm just a guy series on the Bible app. They're short, they're honest, and they help you read scripture and walk it out. And these plans speak to the real stuff that we're wrestling with as men, like marriage, anxiety, loneliness, shame, pornography, and so much more. Do this all without pretending or piling on a bunch of self-help nonsense. And lots of guys are using them in their small groups, and they're helping to spark honest conversations and take simple next steps in their discipleship journey. So if that sounds helpful, check them out at the lionwithin.us slash uversion. So that's y-o-d-e-r-s-i-o-n or just open up your Bible app and search for the Lion Within Us. And it's my hope that these reflections will encourage you in just a few minutes and help you walk with him all day long.