From False Fronts to True Faith

0:00 Intro/How Blake started Primed for Life

4:44 A faith journey from false fronts and posturing to a real relationship with God

15:20 Counsel for men who are exhausting themselves pursuing an empty lifestyle

19:29 What’s your “I Am” statement?

26:18 The tangible changes in Blake’s life since he got real with himself and with God

32:45 Valuable lessons from raising teenagers

38:03 How Blake works through moments of doubt or weakness

43:12 The disciplines that promote physical and spiritual health

Snippets/excerpts

7:59 to 9:49—Blake talks about how his walk with the Lord “started strong,” but went astray as he became more focused on growing his business and putting on a façade for others to see

11:06 to 12:52—On a mission trip to Honduras, Blake confesses to God that his worldly, superficial life is unsatisfying and unsustainable—and finally finds some clarity

27:45 to 29:10—Our spouses and children are a reflection of the way we treat them

29:11 to 31:10—How the “chair of honor” showed Blake just how big a positive impact the changes he was making in his life were having on his wife and kids

3:39—Are there any areas of your life that you keep intentionally separate from your church life or your spiritual development? Why do you think those two things can’t—or shouldn’t—intersect? What are one or two things you could do to bring them closer together? Luke 16:13

9:32—When you express your faith openly, how much of that is sincere, and how much is for show? Do you really feel and believe what you’re saying in your heart, or is there an element of just telling people what you think they want to hear? Matthew 6:1–6 

10:47—Think back to the times in your life when you’ve been most focused on putting on a “show” for others—of success, of happiness, of faith. When the day was over, did you feel mentally exhausted from having to keep up that façade? Were there people in your personal life whom you were disappointing because the way you acted toward them didn’t match the image you’d been presenting to everyone else? Psalm 32:3–4

12:25—What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever been asked, or felt compelled, to give up? Why was that thing so important to you, and what were the circumstances that made you realize you needed to separate from it and walk away? Mark 10:21–22

18:31—Are there times when you feel like “a roommate to your wife and a chauffeur for your children”? When are you most likely to feel that way? What are some things you could add to your daily routine to deepen those relationships? Ephesians 5:25

25:35—What is your “I Am statement”? Give it some deep thought, work on it over the next few days, and compare it to what that statement would’ve been five or 10 years ago. 2 Corinthians 5:17

31:18—If your family members decided to do the “chair of honor” at your next birthday celebration, what would you like them to say about you? Are you treating them in a way that would prompt them to say those things honestly? If not, what could you change about the way you interact with and relate to them? 3 John 1:4

42:02—Do you make prayer a regular part of your life, or do you mostly turn to him only when things are going badly and you need something? Do you give him thanks and praise when things are going well?