Chris Grainger: 1:43

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders. God intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas. This is your fun Friday member spotlight. We're getting ready to have a lot of fun. But before we do scripture the week this week is Psalm 37, the fifth verse. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will act. And I took some time to unpack that verse in our spiritual kickoff episode, guys. Go back and listen to that one. Then our last episode is our buddy Drew Parker. So you guys are going to enjoy that one. In fact, the guy that we're getting ready to introduce, he was with me when we met Drew in Florida. So I'm pretty excited that he's going to be on this week as well as Drew's episode. And by the way, guys, Monday through Friday, daily spiritual kickoff, completely free. Gives you access to our prayer request space. All that stuff can be found at the linewithin.us. Okay, so check that stuff out. But enough of that stuff. Let's get to the fun stuff of what this episode is all about. And that's my brother John Rogers. So, John, how you doing today, man?

Jon Rogers: 2:42

I'm doing great. How you doing?

Chris Grainger: 2:45

Man, I'm doing good. Doing good. I uh look just been excited to chat with you. And uh I've I've I don't know if you just heard me talk about Drew was the last episode that just came out. We got to meet him in Florida, if you remember.

Jon Rogers: 2:59

I definitely remember that. Yeah, I get to share that uh song with my kids every time be like, hey, I met this guy.

Chris Grainger: 3:10

That's right. Blame Jesus, man. Blame Jesus. That's right. Well look. Well, look, man, uh, I'm super curious. I'm excited to have you on, to, to share your story, and and really this is all about just getting letting our listeners get to know you know the guys that are in the line within us, man. So yeah, just tell us a little bit about yourself, John, a little bit about your background, family, and how you got connected with us.

Jon Rogers: 3:36

All right. Um so my background is I'm originally from uh the Midwest in Indiana, uh about an hour outside of Chicago. Uh moved my family down, my wife and my three daughters, uh, to the North Carolina, South Carolina border area uh 2018. Um and that's where, you know, that year was kind of a tremendous year where like a lot of lot of things, negative things happened in our lives. Um and that's one of the things that started making us walk closer to God. And that that continued. Um we went through some job up and downs. Uh, and then finally I got to be able to go back to my passion with being an entrepreneur. Uh opened my own gym. Um the location of my gym also had a church right next door, uh, which is now the church that we call home. Um and uh, you know, I have uh like I said, I have three daughters, one that just turned 18. Um, and then I have twins that are nine. Uh we're heavily involved in sports. Um I actually coach uh three different sports throughout the year um with the rec area here. Um and then we also just started a travel ball team for my twin daughter. Uh we didn't start it, but we joined a travel ball team that I'm now one of the coaches on uh for uh basketball for my twin daughters. Um uh for the past couple of years, the walk with the Lord has been a major part of our lives and honestly has taken our lives to greater extent than we ever could imagine for ourselves um in in every way. So that is something that's really a big part of our lives, something where we make every decision in our lives, my wife and I, um learning to lead my family. Um that actually led me to the first kind of men's group that I was a part of. Um I got I was with that for a while. There was a lot of travel involved in it, um, a lot of financial stake to it, and uh, I felt like it was uh uh causing a stress that I didn't need to be there, so I started to look for something a little different. Um and I came across uh you by literally just searching um and and looking uh for somebody that I that I felt connected to spiritually. Um and uh an episode that you did with Joby Martin is actually really what uh caught my attention the most because I had started to follow him online already. Um so that's where kind of where I got to you guys, and honestly, the platform that you built has made it really easy to be part of a men's spiritual commute uh community. I've actually learned from that a lot and been able to then immerse myself more into my own community, uh being a part of a couple more men's Bible studies, things like that right now. Uh, but I've learned a lot from here uh from your book to finding other books to listen to. I really love that aspect of things. I love learning. Um and uh I also love that you start every day with that spiritual kickoff. I think that is a it's a you know, it is I think it's more important to get started with the Lord in your day rather than waiting until right before you go to bed. Uh so it's it's just been a wonderful experience. Um, it's also nice that you're not that far away. So I'm looking forward to the meetup this spring. Um and and you know what? The fact that uh I was blessed enough and you blessed me enough to allow me to go to Florida with you. Uh that was an experience that I'll never forget. It was incredible to be in an area in an arena like that. Um and I was very proud to the uh support the line was in within that. Uh this is a community I think that is really simple to be a part of. It doesn't take a lot of commitment to be a part of it, and I think it fits perfectly in the average guy's life, uh, especially guys that have families and marriages, because you make that such a big part of the community that you've built. And I think uh that has really I I I I've seen that grow in so many guys on this platform, and I think that uh it kind of really helps me see that and then even take more account of myself. So um, you know, just honoring you with what you've built. Uh it's been uh fantastic to be a part of this. Um and and like I said, there's no stress of being a part of this. It is something literally where we are just growing spiritually, and it's fantastic.

Chris Grainger: 8:10

Amen, brother. Amen. Well, man, thank you for sharing that, John. And and I tell you, guys, you're listening. Uh, John and I didn't know each other. Well, we we haven't even known each other a year yet. I mean, this has been it's it's grown fast, our relationship, and uh it's just it's all centered on Christ and the chance to for him for you to come to Florida with me, man. That was awesome. We had a great time down there, by the way. It was and hearing Joby and those guys up front. So I'm so thankful you were able to come to that, bud.

Jon Rogers: 8:39

Yeah, I'm I'm so thankful. I still talk about that all the time. Uh it was uh it was an experience of something like I've I've never experienced before. And to see you know, I think I think you know, Joby obviously talks about a lot. You talked about a lot, you know, a lot of your um studies on the the Bible app are geared towards men and everything, and and how we need to be better men, and to actually see an arena, like an actual, like like Jobish Church is like the size of an arena. Like to see that many people in there, that all men there to worship, learn more, get closer to God, and to build our relationships properly in every aspect. Relationships like ours, relationships like our marriages with our kids, how to be better fathers, husbands, business leaders, all these things that God has called us to be. Um, and then I mean to be in the room with the spiritual leaders that that Joby brought in, I mean, that was incredible. Like I I uh there's a couple of guys that uh in the Bible studies that you know, one of them we talk about it almost weekly. I actually he's the one I gave Joby's book to. So it's it's uh this has opened up a lot of avenues for me in the sense of where to learn a little bit more spiritually, and it's it's been fantastic for me.

Chris Grainger: 9:57

Awesome. That's awesome. Now you've also leaned in even further with the lion. You're in one of our mastermind groups, and and I'm just curious, you know, what what led you to join that mastermind and what's been your experience so far?

Jon Rogers: 10:11

What led me to join it was actually because you were keeping it small. So the fact that we're all little small individual groups, I I love the small intimacy of it. Um, because nobody's ever overshadowed. So you know, you know, when you get in like big groups of things, there's some people that flourish, and those, I'm not one of those people. Um it it's one I like the intimate intellectual conversations that you can have with just a few people. Um that is something where where I I just connect better. Um and you creating that on a platform that is really easy to use, and all I gotta do is wake up 20 minutes earlier than I normally do. Like uh, so so I mean it's you know, I'm all I'm out here on the East Coast, so uh it's a little bit better than my brothers on the West Coast. Um but we get to the fact that we get to actually sit there, talk about things, how do things get get connected to the Lord? And and the my favorite part about the mastermind isn't you're not using it as a coaching tool, you're allowing us to just grow together in a community. So it's not you're you're not setting out a curriculum in it. Instead, we're kind of leading it week to week individually, in a sense of, hey, here's me personally, here's what I'm dealing with. Can I get your guys' help with this? What's your guys' advice? Um another thing I really like about it is uh I can say this for at least my small group of men, is that we all come from different backgrounds, we're all from across the country. Um we're all in different uh seasons of life right now.

Chris Grainger: 11:52

Um and I think I think that makes it so much better, too. 100%, man. I mean, and and you guys are leaning in, like to your point, you know, that's not like a lion curriculum that we're putting out there. It's it's literally what's so important to you, you know, what what are you guys working through? What do you need assistance with? And it sounds like you know, you guys are really just developing some deeper bonds, even outside of just that meeting, but just some deeper relationships there, and that's what it's all about.

Jon Rogers: 12:23

Yeah, it's it's been really it's been really interesting, you know, especially with like the group chat and everything like that. Um so you know, we uh there's a little bit of accountability right now in the fitness realm, uh, because one of the guys in there really wanted to start get back in shape, and that that is actually my expertise. Um so we're using that a little bit in there. Um a lot of guys, uh there's one guy on the West Coast who shares uh everything he eats, pretty everything he cooks up, and it's all look delicious looking food. Um so I mean it's it there's uh there's a nice community to it, and I think you know what's great about that is that is what most men are missing. Um, you know, especially somebody like me who moved literally you know a thousand miles away from what was my home. Uh obviously meant I left people behind. So growing in relationships uh I think is really important. Um, I mean the Bible tells us not to walk this alone. So it's it's a lot of things I think that make it easy with the platform that you've built. Because if all I gotta do is respond to a quick text, uh that makes it a little bit easier if I gotta get up once every two weeks, like I said 20 minutes earlier, to get on a phone call for an hour. I mean, in reality, we could make those phone calls last longer if we weren't on time restraints, right? So so I mean it's it's been it's honestly it's been super smooth, it's been easy. Uh it's something that I encourage a lot of guys to try to find, uh, whether they want to deal with the line within or find it in some other way. Uh because there's a there's a lot of lost guys out there. Um and I think being a part of this has allowed me to speak better on things because now I have a couple of guys in my life asking asking me to be a part of their lives. Um, you know, so it's I think without the line within, without being a part of those masterminds, I wouldn't be showing that outwardly. Um for them to take advantage of that. So, you know, I think it's it's just been a big help. And so I'm taking from what you guys have created, and I'm able to use that then within my own community and keep spreading it that way too. So it's been like I said, overall, like there's there's nothing negative I can say about it. It's all been great. Um, you know, and also it you know, those bi-weekly calls, they keep us in check. We know that every two weeks something's gonna come up, and if we were the last person to talk, we're gonna be held accountable for something. You know, and and that's that's something I think every man needs as well. You know, I'm my own boss. I'm the person that keeps myself accountable at all times and work. So being a part of the lion allows me to have extra accountability as well. So I think I like I said, overall, I think it's it's fantastic. And I encourage everybody that comes across that when they're looking for something that all right, you don't have a people in person you can go meet.

Chris Grainger: 15:19

Here's this. 100%, brother. Well, thank you for saying that. And it's funny because I was writing a plan for the Bible app right before that we start recording. I didn't even tell you this before we started, but I'm I'm working on a plan uh called I'm Just a Guy Uh Who Feels Numb. And I'm working through one of the days I'm working through on that plan is about um isolation, how numbness grows in isolation. And I was doing some study, and like after high school, like the stats show like the the number of friends that guys have just tanks. I mean, I've truly, you know, friend friendships, relationships. And there's, you know, when you're in high school and you're growing up, there's this proximity element to it where you're around people, it's kind of forced by a little bit forced on you. Uh, but afterwards, it's not so much proximity, it's more intentionality and then vulnerability. Because I think we got plenty of surface level friends. Like that it's easy to find those. Uh, but man, being intentional, being vulnerable, it sounds like that's what you guys are doing in the mastermind. That definitely was the hope when we designed it. And that's just I feel like it that's such a gap in so many guys' lives. I'm just encouraged to hear that that's it's working for you, brother.

Jon Rogers: 16:31

Yeah, and it's and it's not just working for me, but also seeing it to work for everybody else that's in the mastermind. Um you know, when you first do this and you don't know anybody at all, everybody's a little apprehensive right at first. Uh, but now I I don't even remember how many months we're into this now. Uh, but now it's just it's it's just common practice. We're all comfortable with each other. Um and it's one of those things like we can even have like side messages and and uh out of the group talking to each other one-on-one. And it's it there's a comfort built because the platform allows us to do that. There's nothing being forced. This is all voluntary, and it's it's one of those things where every guy craves this, you know, no matter what they say they do or not, they find it in some way. You're either going to find it in the world or you're gonna find it through God. And that's one of those things where I think this makes this platform makes it so easy to find that through God instead, that you know it it stops letting people have excuses, you know, and building that community, building that friendship that you know you always hope lasts a long time. It there's there's very few things that are as valuable as that.

Chris Grainger: 17:47

Amen, bro. So so so far for you, what's been the biggest impact?

Jon Rogers: 17:52

Biggest impact, like I said, is the accountability part. Um being able to you know how easy it would be just to sleep in on those Wednesday mornings? Yeah, you know, like it's because our our call is 6 a.m. Eastern. So um it'd be it'd be really easy just to sleep in instead. But even if I have that thought, by the time I get done with that call, I'm full of energy, I'm invigorated, I'm ready to go for the day. Um it's one of those things where when when you're with people who are also following God, you're you're gonna get an energy from that. You know, you when you leave, when you start that morning being filled with the Holy Spirit because of just maybe a man's going through something something rough and you're able to help them out, help them build a plan. You know, the fact that you're when one of us is talking, the rest of us are trying to serve. And that rotates every week. And to be able to do that and then learn go from doing that, then to always take that in through the rest of the day, to where again I am walking to how am I going to serve today? Um takes a lot of selfishness out of it. Um, like I said, being an entrepreneur, being my own boss, it's really easy to fall under the traps of, oh, my employees will take care of that kind of thing. So that for that for me, I think, has has really helped me grow as a business owner and a leader. Um and also inside my house as a leader. Um so it it has made me keep myself in check a lot better than than a lot of anything else has.

Chris Grainger: 19:35

Love it, love it, John. Well, I mean, there may be some guys listening that you know they're considering the joining the the Lions Den, or maybe they're thinking about putting in an application for the mastermind. What what would be your words of encouragement to them?

Jon Rogers: 19:48

Oh, stop thinking about it and just do it. You know, the the nothing gets done until you put the work into it. And everybody that wants to continue to sit on the sidelines are gonna be stuck in the same place over and over again. You know, the worst the worst thing that comes out of you jumping in is you don't like it and you leave. You know, that's the worst thing that's gonna happen. This platform is so easy to be a part of. Um there's no guilt if you miss a prayer request or anything like that. You know, there there's there's no negative to being a part of the group. But if you're looking to grow yourself spiritually, if you know your walk isn't proper, you need the help. And everybody needs help in something, in some avenue of life. Nobody's perfect, nobody does anything alone. Um and I I think that most people, most men in general, think that if they're gonna quote unquote be strong, they gotta do it themselves. Uh, my personal opinion, the strongest people are always the ones looking for the help. Um, and then be willing to do the work that the help gives you. So I think, you know, I I I see no point in waiting anymore. If you're thinking about it, just do it. Uh go to the free version of the app, join the Lions Den, ask for the mount uh ask to be part of the mastermind. If you're ready to dig deep, definitely get a part of a mastermind. Be held accountable every couple of weeks with another group of men, hold them accountable just as well, and you're gonna come out uh ahead of anywhere you thought you could do on your own.

Chris Grainger: 21:27

Man, brother. Well, man, this has been it's thank you for sharing that, John, and and and so appreciative for you and you're you're a big part of it. Uh just again, uh nothing but but hats off to you, bro. You're making us all better too. I always I always pick on John whenever he's on the SKO and I I'll get I'll throw it out because if those guys are looking to get healthy to get to get some big old guns to reach out to you because you you got that figured out brother.

Jon Rogers: 21:52

Yeah, trying to get getting uh getting my left back to the size of my right after uh bicep surgery right now.

Chris Grainger: 22:00

There you go. You'll get it. You'll get it. Well look, we're gonna do uh we're gonna wrap this up here, guys. You know, we got a book of the week, and I'm gonna pull I pulled this book because John and I got it while we were in Florida. Uh Jeff Foxworthy was giving them out. This is not biblical at all, guys, but hey, it's a redneck uh dictionary. So I have I've laughed so much reading this book after we got back from Florida, I was like, well, I'm gonna throw this out for the book of the week. So there you go. Um John, I got two dad jokes for you, man. I'm gonna see which one you like. Maybe maybe you'll like both of them. So the first one is uh dogs can't operate MRI machines, uh, but cats can. So how's that one sit for you?

Jon Rogers: 22:37

That's a good one. I like that. What's the other one?

Chris Grainger: 22:41

Yeah, the other one is what do you call a dog who meditates? That's a werewolf. A werewolf?

Jon Rogers: 22:50

I I I like the first one better. First one's better. Cascan's better.

Chris Grainger: 22:56

Yeah, Cascan is better. All right, that's it. That's true. That's true. So look, guys, we put those dad jokes in the lion every week as well on Friday. So you can vote on them, let us know. And uh the question of the week this week is where is God asking you to wait when you want to act? So think about that, guys. You if you if he's asking you to be still, you better be still and just trust that he is moving. So uh, guys, the lionwithin.us is where you connect with us. The mastermind, all that information is there on the website. And uh, John, it's been an honor, brother. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today.

Jon Rogers: 23:26

Thank you so much for having me on board and thank you for everything she put together.

Chris Grainger: 23:32

All right, brother. You have a great day. You guys take care and just keep unleashing the lion within. If there's one habit that can change your home, it's this when a husband prays with his wife. Not because it's a magic formula, but because it recenters your marriage under God's authority and care. And let's be honest, a lot of guys want to do it, but most don't know how to start without it feeling awkward. Maybe you tried it before and it felt forced, or maybe you've never tried it because you don't even know what to say. Or maybe you're thinking, man, I'm not a pastor, I'm just a guy. And that's why we created this guide. It's our how to pray with your wife. Simple guide. It's biblical, it's practical, and it's designed to help you start praying with your wife in a way that actually feels natural. So it's a five-section guide and it gives you a simple framework to get started. Okay, it makes sure everything is grounded in scripture and it also has a powerful PDF that you can pull up whenever you need, especially when things get off, because they're gonna get off. That's normal. So this is all about reclaiming your marriage and reclaiming the spiritual leadership reigns of your home because praying with your wife is one of the strongest ways to fight for unity, to build trust, and to right the ship when life starts to pull you off a course. So if you're ready, get access today at thelionwithin.uslash guides. That's thelionwithin.us slash guides and start unleashing the line within at home by leading your marriage through prayer.