February 1, 2025 • 37 mins
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Chris Grainger as he shares his journey from an electrical engineer to a leader driven by faith. Discover how his career path evolved, the challenges he faced, and his faith journey that led him to creating 'The Lion Within Us' podcast and community.
Chris also discusses leadership principles, the importance of discipleship, and balancing professional and spiritual life. Learn how you can integrate faith into your work environment and make a meaningful impact. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable insights on leadership, faith, and personal growth!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jason (00:02):
Welcome to the biblical leadership outwork podcast.
I am your host, Jason Woodard.
And this month's episode, we'llmeet Chris Granger, the founder
of the lion within us.
And online men's discipleshipcommunity that helps brothers
across the U S.
Grow in their faith.
Chris has a devoted husband andfather who is passionate about
(00:24):
fulfilling every role God hasgiven him for the glory of
Christ.
Professionally.
He works in marketing for anelectrical distribution company
and is an electrical engineer bytraining.
Join us as Chris shares hispowerful testimony insights on
biblical leadership wisdom.
And how God has guided him tobuild a thriving online
community that supports andencourages men in their walk
(00:46):
with Christ.
I hope you find this episode asinspiring and encouraging as I
did.
All right.
Well, Chris Granger, brother,thank you for being on the
podcast, man.
I can't wait to get to know youand share your story with the
audience.
So thank you.
Chris (01:03):
Yeah,
Jason (01:06):
So talk, talk to us a little bit about your
background, man.
Like let's talk professionally,like how has God taken you kind
of from, let's say high schoolthrough to where you are now.
And what are you doing?
Chris (01:17):
I mean from, you know, after high school, I went to,
uh, just a community college.
I knew I wanted to doengineering.
So, uh, You know, I went tocommunity college, then I went
to Old Dominion in Norfolk and Ihave electrical engineering
background.
So that was, that was the thing.
Got connected with an electricaldistributor as like a co op.
You know, that was a big dealfor, for me back then was, was
(01:39):
finding a job to help pay forcollege,
Jason (01:41):
Just get started.
Yep.
Chris (01:43):
that's it.
So I did a co op for a couplesemesters and then I had a job
waiting for me.
Uh, when I graduated and wentstraight to that and that's
just, and I'm still with thatcompany now.
I mean, I was 20, 23 years ago.
So just been, it's been great,uh, working for them.
And, uh, but I mean, so far asthe, the faith element into it,
there, there really wasn't, tobe honest, there was no faith
(02:04):
element to my work.
Uh, it was just, you know, makeas much money as you can and
climb the ladder.
And just, uh, you know, I alwayshad a level of ethics and
everything I did, but, uh, thefaith, I didn't think they.
That you can mesh those worlds,you
Jason (02:20):
Yeah, right.
Chris (02:21):
so for the longest time they didn't, they didn't mesh at
all.
And, and, uh, you know, fromthere, it's just been a, uh, an
interesting journey.
We can go wherever you want.
So far as, you know, I kind ofgot into podcasting that opened
up some doors, which has beenkind of fun, but, but yeah, I'd
just love to wherever you thinkwe should go here.
Jason (02:38):
Yeah.
What is, so what is your rolenow with the company?
You've been there that long.
What do you do for them?
Chris (02:42):
Yeah.
It's really transitioned a lot,man.
I went from, from managing oneof the big divisions.
Then they, we decided to divestof that division.
Uh, just.
The economics didn't seem to,you know, really make sense to
keep making investments in it.
So I transitioned from atechnical oversight, leadership
role to more now, uh, intomarketing, which is kind of
(03:03):
crazy.
So I shifted to marketingbecause I started the podcast
for the company.
And, uh, Marketing and writing.
So I just do a lot of writing, alot of videos now as a
distributor, we, we, we make alot of content and that's been
kind of my sweet spot.
I can crank that stuff.
liked it, uh, you know, and,and, uh, kind of differentiates
(03:24):
us.
So I've been kind of been doingthat for the last couple of
years.
Jason (03:27):
that's really, um, I think a unique background to
have that technical, especiallyon the electrical engineering
side, technical background thatmoves into a marketing role.
I think that that's a, that's abridge that probably not many
electrical engineers ever crossinto.
Chris (03:41):
No, man.
Well, I mean, it's kind of like,well, most marketers have no
clue what they're selling.
Right.
they, they want to make itflashy and make it look good.
And I can be like, that's crap.
Yo, like let's, this, we need tomake this better.
This is what really matters topeople.
And I think that's helped, youknow, just having that technical
and, our, uh, our, our executiveteam, they love it.
(04:01):
They, they love that they have atechnical eye on that side of
the fence.
Jason (04:06):
Now that, yeah, that is good.
I know we have a marketingpeople that work in our business
and you know, that's theirbackground.
So we encourage them to come outand understand what we're
making, what we're building, youknow, who our customers are, but
they've got to learn that you'vegot, you've already got that
background.
And so this is an electricaldistribution company.
You guys working with likeelectricians, general
contractors, that sort of, isthat who your customer base is?
Chris (04:28):
Yeah, we're industrial.
So primarily with the heavy,heavy, big end users, we don't
do a ton of contractual work,but, uh, but yeah, that's,
that's primary.
Southeast is where we'relocated.
Jason (04:38):
Yep, okay.
So yeah, so tell me a little bitabout that location family like
what's your family situation?
What's that look like?
Chris (04:45):
Yeah, man.
So I live in North Carolina,close to Raleigh.
So we, we live on, uh, weactually moved to a small farm,
uh, last year.
So we've been, uh, you know,we're coming up on a year and a
half and where we've been here.
So we got a horse boarding farmnow.
So we, uh, we wanted to dohomesteading and.
Try get out of the suburbs.
God was calling us to this andhe opened some crazy doors.
(05:08):
And next thing you know, wewere, you know, sitting from
the, you know, 3000 square foothome in the suburbs with a pool
and all the stuff that comeswith the suburbs to a 1600
square foot home built in 1950on 23 acres where we got, you
know, 14 stall horse barn.
So it's been like crazy.
You know, going with that, butgot four kids, uh, 14 down to
(05:30):
two, three girls and a boy,wonderful wife, you know, and
then the lion within us, all thestuff that goes with that.
So it's just been the, reallythe last probably 18 months have
been the craziest of my life.
Jason (05:42):
yeah So are you guys getting right into the
homesteading piece like you gotbesides the horse boarding
animals?
You're raising animals big hugegarden that sort of thing.
Chris (05:51):
Yeah.
Big garden.
Uh, we got chickens.
We're getting ready to expandthe chicken stuff out, you know,
and my wife and I were trying todo small things, incremental
things, projects with watercontainment.
You know, trying to just, justmanage that, that better.
Uh, we want to do our own meatchickens now.
So we're actually transitioningthe type of bird out so we can
(06:11):
raise our own meat chickens.
And so just little pieces andelements like that.
She cans everything.
So we try to, to do all that.
Uh, I pick on her.
It's like, you know, you do allthis stuff and it will still
pick up a pizza because you'reso tired after all the work, you
just want something to eat.
Right.
But, uh, well, but we're trying,we're making those steps in the
right direction.
Oh
Jason (06:30):
when it was probably late 90s My family and I my kids were
real little then we moved to alittle there's only two acres
but yeah We started Big Garden,raised steer, you know, and I
can remember I was superfascinated with the whole idea
of kind of that Selfsufficiency, homesteading, and
it was still fringe then, right?
This is, yeah, whatever, 30years ago, a little less, and
(06:52):
you know You could find a fewbooks about it And I mean at
that time the internet was juststarting to be a thing And now,
and of course, now we live in,you know, we live in a town, so
we've kind of gotten away fromall that, but it's not fringe
anymore.
It's becoming more and more, I'dsay, mainstream.
People are getting reallyserious about it.
And of course, between YouTubeand everything, there's so much
available.
People sharing what they'redoing, how they're doing it,
(07:14):
innovative ideas on how to doit.
Chris (07:16):
that's right.
Jason (07:18):
I miss it, I think.
We love our house.
We've got an old, historic homein a historic neighborhood my
wife and I love.
But I man, I had a little bit ofmissing being out in the country
and yeah, having the animals anddoing, yeah, it's even just
physically, you know, out there,whatever, splitting wood, doing
chores get you out.
Yeah, it's good.
It's good for you.
I think it was definitely goodfor our kids when they were
(07:38):
little.
I mean, my, my son was almost 30now, but when he was, three
years old.
He was out in the snow gettingeggs.
That was his job.
You go get eggs chickens andit's good.
responsibility for him.
Chris (07:49):
100%.
Jason (07:50):
Yeah.
So Chris, tell us a little bitabout your faith journey.
Like how did you come to knowthe Lord?
What's that look like?
Chris (07:56):
Yeah, I mean I kind of grew up in the south man.
It's kind of like everything inthe south You know, you got you
got football you got race andyou got jesus, you know Those
are the three right then and uh,but I didn't really have a
relationship.
I mean we didn't go to church asa family You know, we, we, we
knew God existed, but we didn't,we didn't really lean into it.
So I started going to churchwhen I was 16 and, uh, for
(08:17):
unrighteous reasons, cause mygirlfriend was going to church.
She's like, Hey, you want to goto church with me on Sundays?
I'm like, sweet.
You wearing a dress.
I get to go sit with you for afew hours.
Absolutely.
I'm all in.
So, you know, completelyunrighteous, but, uh, Definitely
got saved when I was 16, butman, be honest with you, Jason,
man, that's where kind of whatled me to the lion is after I
(08:38):
got out the water, I had no guyswalking with me.
You know, I had my dad, who's myhero.
He's, he's always been there,but I had no other spiritual
mentors helping me along theway.
Jason (08:50):
Yeah.
Chris (08:50):
And when I went to ODU, man, it was just like, straight
downhill, just like, I mean,very secular, secular school.
Do what you want to do.
Live like you want to live, getout of college with an
engineering degree, went intosales, started making a lot of
money.
And, uh, man, it just, my faithjourney, it was just, I got
there and I honestly thoughtthat was the finish line, you
(09:12):
know, like, I'm safe, good.
Yeah.
Jason (09:14):
yep.
I got my, I got my ticketpunched.
Yeah.
Chris (09:17):
That's right.
I'm, I'm good.
And I just, so did my thing, didmy thing, was married, had two
little girls.
They were three and five.
And then my wife at the timesaid, she's out.
She left.
She left all of us.
She left me and the girls.
So I'm sitting there with athree and five year old.
Like, Oh, okay.
(09:37):
So, I mean, at that point,really leaned into the church,
started getting serious about myfaith.
Like, you know what God's wayhas got to be better than my
way, because my way has led mehere, which I mean, I got my
girls, they've been with me eversince, and then we've had two
more.
That's how we have the four.
now we have a little age gapbetween them, but.
It was very clear that, you knowwhat, discipleship matters and
(09:59):
I'm not going to just sit byidly and not do anything about
it.
So that's what really led to,you know, the Genesis of the
land within us.
Jason (10:08):
So, so tell us about that.
We haven't talked much aboutthat really at all yet.
You and I have, but not on thepodcast so far.
So tell us about what's the lionwithin.
What is that?
Chris (10:18):
Yeah.
I mean, really, we built this,well, first of all, I just
started off with a, with an ideathat I knew was from the Holy
spirit.
I went to my wife.
I'm like, I think the Lord wantsme to use this podcasting skill
that I learned at my, My job to,for him, I'm like, really think
he wants me to do this, babe.
And she was like, well, what doyou think he wants you to talk
about?
I'm like, well, I've been inleadership roles literally since
(10:38):
I was 14.
Like I've, I've, I've been inmanagement roles since I was 14.
It's been crazy.
It's like, I think he wants totalk about leadership and
discipleship, you know, to helpguys really lean into that and
just understand that better.
And, uh, she starts laughing.
I'm like, what are you laughingabout?
She's like, well, don't youthink it's.
You have, you're married.
And at that time we had nothingbut girls had my daughters, our
(10:59):
two oldest daughters, and we hada little girl, she's like,
you're surrounded by estrogencalling into this world,
testosterone.
She's like, obviously you got todo this.
So, I mean, we say, all right.
So we just said, put a littlesimple business plan together,
knew how to get a podcast out.
And, uh, recorded about threemonths worth of, uh, Episodes
just on the backend hit launchand just prayed.
(11:21):
And all of a sudden it just tookoff.
It's like, wow.
I mean, this, and this was, youknow, 2021, 2022, somewhere
around there.
And the show just really juststarted taking off.
And it was very quickly.
It passed the show that westarted for the, for the
business.
I mean, in no time, it passedthat for downloads and said,
okay, maybe we got somethinghere.
(11:42):
And the whole thing was like,Podcasts, as you know, you know,
you're sending a message out tomany, but it's hard to talk to
them directly about, you know,what's going on in their life.
So that's when I learned aboutthis idea of online communities
and trying to figure out, okay,how can we make this a tangible
thing?
And so we, we beta tested that.
(12:03):
So we have a, uh, like a virtualonline community with an app and
the whole experience.
And then we launched it and nowwe got, you know, several
different options ofsubscriptions for that, for that
community experience wherewe're.
You know, doing masterminds withguys, we're doing Bible studies
with guys, where we're bringingthem together every day on a
live, you know, readingscripture, we call it a
(12:23):
spiritual kickoff.
So we have lots of differentways where we're serving
virtually.
And then also do, uh, you know,live events, you know, a couple
of times a year as well.
So it's, it's been kind of, kindof cool to see how, how all of
it just is, it's just growingorganically.
Jason (12:38):
That's, now that is exciting to feel that you were
called to do that and takingthat step of faith and obedience
and then seeing the fruit fromit.
Curious, on the app, did youdevelop that?
Did you pay someone to developthat?
That's something I've never
Chris (12:51):
Yeah, no, we, we could, uh, pay, but that's a lot of
money.
So we found a platform that's anopen architecture type platform
that It gave me what we neededto, for development, uh, without
having developed it fromscratch.
So, know, we can go live on it.
We can post, it's kind of gotlike a social media look and
feel to it, but then you canalso schedule events and, and,
(13:15):
and coordination sort of tons offlexibility and it's mobile
friendly.
So it's an iPhone and anAndroid.
They have an app they candownload, but once the guys get
it and they see it and they,man, it's, it becomes very
sticky because it's a very, it'sjust a unique way to engage with
them.
Jason (13:31):
Nice.
You got guys all over thecountry or in your area?
Like, what's that look like?
Chris (13:35):
Yeah, it's actually very little in my area, man.
It's, it's all over the U S andCanada right now.
So we have couple of Canadians,primarily East coast, but man,
we got Indiana, Utah.
I mean, literally all overTexas, Saskatchewan, Canada.
I mean, it's, uh, it's nuts.
Ontario.
So, uh, it's been kind of fun tosee, like our lunch, we have a
lion lunch on Wednesdays.
(13:56):
We had a guy in Georgia, NewJersey, Saskatchewan, Indiana,
uh, and me in North Carolina.
So we're all over, we're allover the place.
Jason (14:05):
So you get, so people could find you by searching in
the app store for the lionwithin app.
And then obviously online foryour
Chris (14:12):
I mean, the easiest way is to line within online.
Um, if, because if you go to theapp store and search for the
line within us, you're not goingto find it.
Cause we'd go through that thirdparty as
Jason (14:21):
okay.
Okay.
All right.
Chris (14:22):
that's how that works.
That is.
That our website takes, takescare of all that,
Jason (14:26):
That's all right.
What's uh, hey chris questionfor you spiritual disciplines.
Like what's that look like foryou personally?
How do you stay close to thelord yourself and grow in
sanctification?
Chris (14:37):
man, I mean, for me, it's just, it's in the work daily all
the time.
So as part of the lion, youknow, we do what's called daily
spiritual kickoffs.
That's literally every morningI'm picking this up and I'm
reading God's word for theseguys.
Like we've been working throughPsalms since March.
So that, that helps.
So it's like, it of forces me alittle bit.
But really the man, to be honestwith you, there's a couple of
(14:59):
other things for me.
I teach all the time.
I'm teaching at the, at thechurch, teach kids, teach
adults.
So anytime I can findopportunities to teach, I'm
going to do it.
Uh, I just, I make that becauseteaching, if you have to teach
something, you're going to leanin.
Jason (15:11):
That's right.
Chris (15:12):
But probably the big thing for me is, uh, you know,
as a podcaster, I do likelistening to podcasts, but I'd
listen to sermons.
I got a couple of go to pastorsthat, you know, I've, I've vet,
I trust.
And now I love them and I've,I've got to meet most of them,
uh, through the podcast.
And then, you know, those arethe guys I'm, I'm constantly, so
(15:33):
I'm just very careful about whatI allow to come in.
You know, uh, I just keep theguard, like now I know nothing
about the latest music that'sout there, or I mean, I'm, I'm
kind of a boring dude when itcomes to that stuff.
If you want to talk about, youknow, Leonard Skinner or 90s,
like I'm, I'm your guy, youknow, when, talk about these,
(15:53):
these new folks, I just don'tknow them because I'm just.
I don't allow that in.
So that's kind of a, you know,maybe that makes a little weak
spot for me, but you know, I'drather sure up the, the face
side.
Jason (16:03):
Yeah, what who's some of the guys that you follow chris
on the
Chris (16:07):
Oh, number one, Joby Martin.
Uh, he,
Jason (16:10):
Joey
Chris (16:11):
Joby, J O B Y.
So he's out of Florida, thechurch of 1122.
He is the, he's my guy.
I've interviewed him threetimes.
He's awesome.
Uh, so I listen to him.
I listened to a lot of JohnPiper.
Jason (16:23):
Yeah, love John Piper
Chris (16:25):
Piper just, I mean, I'm not smart enough to listen to
Piper, but I always feel smarterafter I listened to him.
You know, it's one of thosethings.
So, uh, then, you know, J.
D.
Greer, there's Robert Gatley.
There's, there's several otherones that, that I'm, I'm, I'm
listening to a new pastor inVirginia now.
So I'll, I'll, I'll kind of vetthem first, but I mean, Joey's
my go to then, you know, justhave a couple of guys like this.
(16:45):
I average probably, you know,five to eight sermons a week,
you
Jason (16:50):
yeah, yeah.
Yep.
It's so much out there I wasjust I love RC Sproul if you
know passed away several yearsago, but I was Of course they
still have, you know, to stuffonline.
That's the, um, renewing yourmind.
I was just listening to one onthe way home from work today.
It's like, you know, it'sChristmas teaching and yeah,
just there's so much goodcontent.
Chris (17:11):
It is
Jason (17:11):
another one.
Yeah, that's good.
That's a good way to put, yeah,when I'm moving or if I'm
working out or if I'm moving,I'm not in a yard, working on
whatever, doing chores aroundthe house or I'm in my vehicle
most of the time I'm listeningto, uh, a podcast and news a
little bit, but also just a lotof there's so much good content
from Bible teachers andpreachers out there.
(17:32):
So
Chris (17:33):
I will say, since, since you said news, man, for your
listeners out there, the, thenumber one for me, hands down,
and I always give him a shoutout wherever I can, but the
briefing with
Jason (17:43):
Oh yeah.
I listened to it probably threeto four times a week.
Chris (17:46):
Oh yeah.
Okay.
just making sure.
Yeah.
Like down, probably the, one ofthe best ones out there.
Jason (17:52):
It's like, it's like, I feel like sometimes, I don't
know, I could go on and on aboutthat.
The fact that that man can comeon every day and, and, and.
Analyze a topic.
I mean, I said one day, so mostof the men I'm close with at my
church listened to the, welistened to the briefing also.
And I'm like, I might be able todo what he does.
(18:14):
If I had a month to prepare,maybe I said that man gets up
whatever it's 3am every day andjust cranks another one out.
And it is, it doesn't matterwhat the topic is.
If it's world war history, likepolitical history,
Chris (18:28):
there's a trick, there's a trick to what he does and I
don't know if you've noticed.
So, and I've, I've met with hisassistant cause we were trying
to work out how to come on.
He's actually got a photographicmemory.
Jason (18:39):
Yeah, he's got, yeah, I figured he had to have just an
incredible
Chris (18:42):
Yes, he doesn't forget anything man, and he's I mean
and like they've shown picturesof him prepping I mean just it's
Jason (18:48):
everywhere.
Yeah.
Chris (18:49):
it's it's a dumpster fire on his desk But I he knows what
it is, but I trust that man.
I mean, he definitely hisinsights are incredible.
Jason (18:57):
Yeah.
He's, he is one of probablydefinitely less than five, maybe
one or two men that I followthat I can honestly say I've
never heard him say one thingever that I was like, I don't
know if I agree with that.
I mean, like there's guys I,like John MacArthur, I love
MacArthur once in a while.
I'm like, uh, I don't know.
(19:18):
You know, it's a little bit likenothing first order.
These are all godly men, youknow, that God's called to, but
there's a couple and he's in,uh, Mueller's one of them that
I've just like, never doesn'tmean doesn't make them any
better.
I've just like, in my ownanalysis, I'm like, man, this
guy's just, just brilliant.
And he's, he's balanced andbiblical and full of grace and
Chris (19:38):
Oh, yeah.
Jason (19:39):
Yeah, yeah, he is awesome.
My go to everyday on news that Ido tell a lot of people about is
The World and Everything In It.
It's a, a, it is a news podcast,been around.
as a daily news podcast forprobably 13 years.
They they've had a magazine outthere for decades.
Um, I can't remember what thename of the magazine was, but
(20:01):
now it's under the world newsgroup, but they do like a 25
minute daily news podcast.
It's all, you know, from abiblical perspective, but yeah,
it's that one and then thebriefing is my mainstay, uh,
day.
So good.
Um, what?
Let's not talk about leadershipa little bit.
Chris, like I said, you've beenin leadership for a long time.
What, when you think aboutleading others at work, at
(20:24):
church, your family, like whatare the core principles that you
always go back to?
And as your disciple men thatyou talk about, like always,
always go back to key things.
Chris (20:34):
Yeah, I mean, it's all over the place.
I mean, probably the one thatjust comes up the most salient,
the most often is just humility,man.
And I think that's like, there'sso many guys out there.
They want to get on top so theycan have some power.
I'm, and I just always had tobring them back to the upside
down kingdom.
I'm like, that is not what, youknow, at the end of the day,
(20:54):
it's about serving.
It's about loving and thinkingless of ourselves and, and, and.
We're not thinking less ofourselves, but thinking about
ourselves less.
It you know, that, those basicfundamental definitions.
And usually, uh, when I'mworking with guys, the thing
that gets in our way is pride,you know, pride, pride jumps in.
And once pride starts takingover and it doesn't take much, a
(21:17):
little pinhole of pride can, canreally penetrate and cause a lot
of issues.
So that's, that's usually wherewe try to go and try to help
with.
Jason (21:24):
Yeah.
Yep.
Sharp.
Yep.
Just knock some of that off.
You're right.
It's the kind of the pride isthe, uh, just the, the poison
that kind of can go all over,
Chris (21:33):
That's right.
Jason (21:34):
leadership and, and the undermine it.
What, when you were a youngerleader, uh, what were some
things that you struggled withand have you, have you learned
to manage them?
Do you still kind of strugglewith them?
Like, what did that look likewhen you were young leader?
Yeah.
Chris (21:51):
back to when I first got like a sales engineer role and I
was given an account package andit's like, okay, you go sell
this and this is your, this isyour, your, uh, know, your, your
product box, if you will, ofwhat you had to offer fear of,
of not knowing.
And fear, the feeling like Ialways had to have the answer
(22:12):
and that crippled me like forthe first six months, I remember
saying my manager's office, he'slike, bro, he's like, you're too
smart to just be sitting in thisoffice.
Why aren't you going outselling?
I'm like, well, I'm trying tofigure out, you know, this
product.
So, so when I get in front of acustomer, I want to have all the
answers.
He's like, do you think you'reever going to have all the
answers?
And I'm like, yeah, he's like,he's like, that's never going to
(22:34):
happen.
And then he was like.
He, he did something to me,Jason.
It was crazy.
He's like, you like motorcycles,right?
I'm like He's like, do I knowanything about motorcycles?
And I said, I don't think so.
He's like, give me five minutes.
And I wanted out of his office.
I came back in and he did asales call where he was a
motorcycle salesman.
Didn't know anything aboutmotorcycles, but just was, was
(22:54):
just engaging me in conversationaround motorcycles.
And at the day, he got the POand I'm like, bro, I need to
know how to do that.
He's like, well, you know, hetaught me a lot about humility.
one, no one went to say, I don'tknow, but I will find out.
And just asking superbquestions.
And that's that lesson served mereally well, you know,
throughout the, my sales career.
Jason (23:16):
I love that man.
What a great that's a that's alesson.
You'll never forget.
That
Chris (23:20):
No, I mean, I'm still telling it 20 years later,
Jason (23:22):
Yeah, right And well and that goes back to I think what
you said about the pride issueis it really at the end of the
day?
You you didn't you wanted tohave all the answers you want
people think whatever that's apride thing.
We do it, right?
mean, that's something we alwaysteach Young employees and our
that's part of our culture we'rereally trying to develop where I
work is like don't be afraid toask questions and For the guys
(23:42):
and gals who have been there along time You is always be ready
and willing to answer questions.
We want that type of environmentwhere people are never.
fearful of asking questions andthey know they're going to get
help.
They're know they're going toget people to come and support
them.
And that's, that's developed forus a pretty collaborative
environment.
that's, yeah, trying to keepthat, keep that level of
(24:04):
humility for everybody.
Hey, we're here to help.
We know that you don't have theanswers, you know, and
Chris (24:08):
right.
Jason (24:10):
had a conversation recently with a young apprentice
and uh, you know, I told him andI've, I've gone through an
apprenticeship and I said, youdon't have to prove anything to
anyone.
We promoted you because we seeall the potential in you.
So don't ever, you know, dosomething risky or dangerous.
And he's in a field that, youknow, he gets into electrical
panels and things.
(24:30):
I'm like, don't ever be afraidto ask a question.
It's okay.
We expect that you don't, you'reworking with guys who have been
in this field for 20, 30 years.
We don't expect you to know evena lot at this point.
Chris (24:41):
Right.
Jason (24:42):
ask questions.
You know, you've proven yourselfto a point to get this.
Okay.
So I think that's huge when you,Chris, when you go into your
work environment.
So we've talked a little bitabout that.
You're in district, you know,you work in a electrical
distribution.
Um, it's not a ministry you'reworking around, you know, other
people who, by some arebelievers, many are not, but so
in your work, how do you try tohonor Christ?
(25:05):
What are some things that you doin your, in your work
environment to honor the Lord inthat job?
Chris (25:10):
Yeah.
I think for me, the main thingis trying to just show the light
wherever I'm at.
And then I really took anintentional, uh, just a leap of
faith last year with thecompany.
I went to HR and I said, youknow what?
Something's burnt is on myheart.
And I think I have anopportunity to help some
employees.
And I, and then we're like, whatare you thinking?
I'm like, well, I like to starta prayer group within the
(25:32):
company.
Everybody gets a lunch break.
There's lunch hours.
We have lots of remote workerstoo.
It's like, would you be opposedif you, uh, if I were to talk to
some people, you know, one onone, maybe we don't send out HR
about this, but if we, if somepeople want to utilize that,
that lunchtime.
(25:53):
to, to get together on a regularcadence and pray.
And they actually thought it wasa great idea.
Jason (25:58):
Wow.
Chris (25:59):
why you, why don't you explore that and explore that
with some people, with somemanagement.
So I, I explored it with somemanagement, uh, came back and
now we've had a standing weeklyevery Wednesday and that's
turned into a Bible study nowtoo.
So we pray for the first.
20 minutes or so.
And then whoever wants to stayfor the lunch hour, uh, we just,
(26:19):
we dive into the word and it'sbeen a great way just to get to
know each other and encourageeach other.
And then that's now opened up.
I've kind of become the companylike pastor or
Jason (26:29):
Chaplain.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris (26:31):
Yeah, it's like corporate Chapman's America.
So, you know, it's, not that,it's not like that, but it's
like, I mean, they're, they'retexting me on the side about,
you know, I got this going on myfamily or this and that, and
which is great.
And it's just, uh, it's,
Jason (26:43):
for that.
Yeah.
Chris (26:44):
but I mean, it took a, it took a little bit of a risk for
me just to have theconversation, but it was, you
know, I was, to me, I was like,all right, this is a no brainer.
If she says no, what's the worstthat can happen.
So let's try it.
And, uh, now it's turned intosomething that's blessing some
folks.
Jason (27:00):
That's great, man.
That's a huge success story.
Hopefully it'd be an inspirationto people.
I have prayed, I had a boss onetime, um, and he was a believer
and, uh, he and I, you know, weknew that about each other.
And we started just every Fridaymorning, we'd meet in his office
and pray.
We did that for a long time.
And that was such, and we justprayed about work stuff, you
know, people we knew that werestruggling and about our
(27:22):
leaders, you know, praying forthem.
And, that was, that was really,really good.
Uh, but that's, that's cool thatthat's grown like that.
How many people, like how manypeople on a weekly basis
Chris (27:32):
On a, on a weekly, it could be, you know, five to 10
folks, you know, we had probably20 something on our, on our list
and then we're, looking to seehow, okay, how can we expand it
out next year in 2025 so we'llsee.
It's just being, you know,faithful in the, the small
things and we'll see, uh, howGod grows it.
Jason (27:53):
That's good.
Yeah.
Good for you, man.
That's super cool.
Hey, Chris, if you had someonecome to you as a going to move
into a leadership role, firsttime ever, and they're like,
Hey, when I, and you probablyhad to ask this in your
discipling that you do with, uh,with other men, but they're just
wanting to sit down with you andget some advice on what they
should do as a first timeleader, what they should not do.
(28:13):
Uh, what are some things thatyou would talk to them about?
Chris (28:17):
Uh, I always just go back to asking really good questions,
you know, not coming in with anytoo many preset notions.
And, you know, because this,they said this, this is the way
it's always been done.
I just, I always like askingquestions, understanding,
exploring, uh, definitely nottrying to flex any, any type of
authority too early.
I think that gets a lot of guysin trouble, uh, when we start
(28:39):
trying.
Way through versus, uh, youknow, uh, they're, there's a
saying I tell guys all the, forall the time of seek first to
understand, let's see first tounderstand guys, this, I mean,
it's biblical, it's scriptural,James talked about it and it's
being slowed down a little bit,ask some really good questions,
understand the, the, theunderlining, um, you know,
driving factors here and thenperspective.
(29:00):
I mean, The, the problem thatmost leaders have is they, they,
they only take into accounttheir perspective and we don't
slow down enough to understandthe other perspectives around
us.
I mean, even to the point where,for my, for my, my leader now,
who's a COO of our company,they're, they're thinking about
different businesses and thingsthey should look at moving
(29:20):
forward.
From some acquisitionstandpoint.
And I, and he was like, beforewe go that far, I want to slow
down and understand the marketvariables.
Like, let me understand thecompetitors a little bit better.
So he put me on a project to dothat.
Most leaders wouldn't do that.
Most leaders say we got thecapital.
Let's go figure out where wewant to spend the money, who we
can buy.
And I think those, those stepsof slowing down, asking really
(29:42):
good questions, it's going toserve.
It served him well in hiscareer.
And I think it serves lots ofguys.
Jason (29:46):
yeah.
That's something I got toconstantly remind myself of.
My team and I did a, uh, a disc,uh, the disc.
So we did a kind of a group discthing this week with, uh, um, an
HR, kind of a consultant that wework with on projects.
And she came in and walkedthrough a good reminder for me
because I'm a, I'm a shootfirst, ask questions later,
wired guy.
And, you know, there's severalpeople on my team that are more,
(30:08):
methodical, you know, and likedifferent pace.
And I have to remind myselfthat.
That, uh, I need to, I need togive them some space to think
through, you know, whatever mynext brilliant idea is that I
want to start tomorrow and
Chris (30:20):
That's right.
Jason (30:21):
yeah, you just got to take, yeah.
Listen, the other, the one Ialways say, if people have
listened to my podcast, theyhear me say it all the time, but
it's listen, learn, then lead.
You know, especially when you'renew on a team, new to an
organization.
Chris (30:33):
That's right.
Jason (30:34):
Yeah.
What's, yeah, that will serveyou well.
What's a.
Like, what do you hope for yourlegacy?
Chris, I know you've got manyyears ahead of you.
You're not on the edge ofretirement, but when you think
about, you know, when that timecomes and you leave your
organization, for example,you've been there 23 years.
That's a long time.
What do you hope people wouldremember about you?
Chris (30:55):
Yeah.
I, from, from, from that comedystandpoint, I don't, I don't
really know.
I think really what I thinkabout legacy, I'm thinking more
lion now of what can we do froma lion standpoint to where.
You know, we're helping discipleguys well into the future.
And, and, you know, Mike Tysonmade a funny quote about legacy
a few weeks ago.
(31:15):
I don't know if you heard thatit
Jason (31:16):
No, I'm sure it's interesting.
Chris (31:18):
well, it was, it was a kid who asked him about legacy.
He's like, man, Lexi, nobodycares about legacy.
You're going to die.
And then, you know, people don'tforget about you a couple
hundred years.
And that just, it, it hit me theeyes.
I'm like, bro, that's not badway really think about it.
I was
Jason (31:30):
Yeah.
Chris (31:31):
you know, Tyson's, you don't get a lot theological,
right.
But you got that right.
I mean, it's just at the day,man, like I just need to, for
me.
Serve and love my family thebest I can now, not get too
wrapped up in the business itemsand, and, and know that God's
going to provide and just try toteach the fundamental truths to
as many people, predict that thenumber one disciples are my
(31:53):
kids.
then the other disciples thatcome across my path, the guys
that I'm meeting at the linewith, I mean, if we can teach a
couple of just fundamentaltruths there and then let that
ripple effect just happen.
Right.
I mean, I think that for me,that would be.
Check the box in a day.
Hopefully I hear the words.
Well, good, well done.
Good and faithful servant,
Jason (32:11):
right.
That's it.
Yep.
My favorite Tyson quote is,Everybody's got a plan until you
get punched in the face.
Chris (32:18):
it.
That's it.
Things change then, man.
That's
Jason (32:22):
recently about my grandfather on my father's side.
He has, he, before he passed,he's been, he's been gone, I
don't know, 15 plus years now.
But, but several years before hedied, he took up, uh, wood
carving as a hobby.
And I have in my, in mybathroom, it's a cross with a
hand holding it.
It's a wood carving.
(32:43):
And then he wrote on it, Godforbid, that I should glory and
any other but the cross ofChrist.
it's, you know, super personalto me.
He was someone I always lookedup to as just a man, but also a
man of faith.
And I, you know, what thethought that occurred to me the
other night was my youngest sonnever met him.
So he doesn't have any memory ofhim.
Even my oldest son has a littlememory.
(33:04):
But now my grandchildren, likewhen I, you know, when I pass
away, he's his memories gone bythe time my generation passes
away.
And, you know, people talk aboutthat in the third generation.
So first, for sure, asbelievers, you know, that's,
important.
To your point, at the end of theday, it's well done, good and
faithful servant.
That's it.
That's, that's our, that's ourgoal.
(33:25):
So
Chris (33:26):
That's it.
Jason (33:27):
So, uh, brother, uh, before we wrap up, what, like we
talked a little bit about thewebsite, but I want to make sure
people know how they can reachout to you, find out about the
line within, investigatediscipleship community online.
And I'm, I mean.
Chris (33:43):
Right.
Jason (33:44):
Discipleship is really the reason I do this podcast is
to help other Christian leadersgrow and it helps me and you
know, I'm hoping it helpsothers.
So it's all about that.
So I definitely want to makesure they are clear on how they
can find you, get ahold of you,how they can check it out.
Is there even some pay, youknow, does it cost anything or
(34:04):
can they do some of it for free?
Like
Chris (34:06):
Yeah, for sure.
Jason (34:07):
that before we wrap
Chris (34:08):
sure.
Yeah.
I mean, first of all, just foryour listeners, email me.
I mean, chris at the lion withindot us is my email address.
So just send me an email, butthen go to the lion within
that's the lion within dot us.
So it's not.
com, but it's dot us.
And, uh, When, if you pop there,you're going to find, uh, at the
top toolbar, we have, we havefree resources.
(34:29):
So we have, you know, I'm anauthor on the Bible app for you
version.
So, uh, I got 30 somethingdevotions out there.
So we have those up there.
We have our weekly newsletter,which is not like some cheesy
newsletter.
Like I really put some, some,some thought leadership into it.
And then we have a really coolChristian leader assessment,
like It's it's seven levels.
(34:49):
It's incredible.
We put, we put a ton of time,effort, money into it.
So, and all that's free.
So just go check, you know,check that stuff out for your
listeners, but then over you'llfind on that same tab, we have
offerings and then we have threetiers to our community.
Uh, everything it is, uh, it's apaid model, uh, that we have
this set up because we'rekeeping trolls out and we're
(35:10):
serving, really serving highlythe guys that are there.
We have events happening Mondaythrough Saturday.
Every day of the week, there'san event, uh, between our
mastermind groups, our lunches,our Bible studies.
On Friday, we have what's calledour Friday Forge, where we throw
out a complex topic, and thenhow do you address it as a
Christian man.
So we'll talk about, you know,somebody commits suicide, did he
(35:31):
go to heaven?
That was last You know, I mean,there's just, I mean, we hit
some hard topics, like how doyou defend that?
So, uh, that's, that's all partof it.
So just, just actually.
The lionwithin.
us and explore that and justreach out if you have questions.
Jason (35:46):
I'll put a link to that in the podcast show notes and on
the YouTube.
So yeah, for sure.
I want to check it out.
Uh, appreciate what you'redoing, man.
That is, um, that's, that'samazing.
I mean, just to be able to havethat resource for people from
wherever they are, they can bein community and for sure pray
that they have that communitywithin their church.
But you know, sometimes, Thatdoesn't exist, um, for whatever
(36:07):
reason, and even if it doesexist, this is an additional of
men you can come alongside of,so, yeah,
Chris (36:14):
and what the guys been telling me mainly is, you know,
We have men's groups in ourchurches, but very rarely do
they get real.
I mean they'll we'll gettogether once a month We'll have
a sausage biscuit or somethinglike that, but it's hard To
really, you know, I'm strugglingwith pornography or I'm
struggling this in my marriage,or I'm struggling with finances.
It's the local church sometimesto bring, be that transparent.
(36:36):
These guys, I don't know whyit's a God thing, but they just,
they come in with that and thennext thing you know, it's iron
sharpening iron, these guys arejust leaning in.
So just encourage you to checkit out.
If you're looking for authentic,you know, transparent type
Jason (36:49):
yeah, that's good, that's true man, cause those, yeah,
that is, can be a challenge, so,praise the Lord for that man,
thank you for what you're doingbrother, uh, I look forward to
getting this out there andhopefully we get some more
people that, uh, find value inthat and will connect with your
group, so, thank you for yourtime, I know you're busy, I
appreciate you being on theshow.
Chris (37:05):
Thank you, brother.
Appreciate you.
Jason (37:07):
Alright.
Alright.
Alright.
And thank you for joining usthis month to hear from another
leader, God is using to advancehis kingdom.
I pray.
This episode is blessed you andencourage you.
Be sure to tune in next monthfor another inspiring story from
a leader, striving to honorChrist and their work.
Welcome to the biblical leadership outwork podcast.
I am your host, Jason Woodard.
And this month's episode, we'llmeet Chris Granger, the founder
of the lion within us.
And online men's discipleshipcommunity that helps brothers
across the U S.
Grow in their faith.
Chris has a devoted husband andfather who is passionate about
(00:24):
fulfilling every role God hasgiven him for the glory of
Christ.
Professionally.
He works in marketing for anelectrical distribution company
and is an electrical engineer bytraining.
Join us as Chris shares hispowerful testimony insights on
biblical leadership wisdom.
And how God has guided him tobuild a thriving online
community that supports andencourages men in their walk
(00:46):
with Christ.
I hope you find this episode asinspiring and encouraging as I
did.
All right.
Well, Chris Granger, brother,thank you for being on the
podcast, man.
I can't wait to get to know youand share your story with the
audience.
So thank you.
Chris (01:03):
Yeah,
Jason (01:06):
So talk, talk to us a little bit about your
background, man.
Like let's talk professionally,like how has God taken you kind
of from, let's say high schoolthrough to where you are now.
And what are you doing?
Chris (01:17):
I mean from, you know, after high school, I went to,
uh, just a community college.
I knew I wanted to doengineering.
So, uh, You know, I went tocommunity college, then I went
to Old Dominion in Norfolk and Ihave electrical engineering
background.
So that was, that was the thing.
Got connected with an electricaldistributor as like a co op.
You know, that was a big dealfor, for me back then was, was
(01:39):
finding a job to help pay forcollege,
Jason (01:41):
Just get started.
Yep.
Chris (01:43):
that's it.
So I did a co op for a couplesemesters and then I had a job
waiting for me.
Uh, when I graduated and wentstraight to that and that's
just, and I'm still with thatcompany now.
I mean, I was 20, 23 years ago.
So just been, it's been great,uh, working for them.
And, uh, but I mean, so far asthe, the faith element into it,
there, there really wasn't, tobe honest, there was no faith
(02:04):
element to my work.
Uh, it was just, you know, makeas much money as you can and
climb the ladder.
And just, uh, you know, I alwayshad a level of ethics and
everything I did, but, uh, thefaith, I didn't think they.
That you can mesh those worlds,you
Jason (02:20):
Yeah, right.
Chris (02:21):
so for the longest time they didn't, they didn't mesh at
all.
And, and, uh, you know, fromthere, it's just been a, uh, an
interesting journey.
We can go wherever you want.
So far as, you know, I kind ofgot into podcasting that opened
up some doors, which has beenkind of fun, but, but yeah, I'd
just love to wherever you thinkwe should go here.
Jason (02:38):
Yeah.
What is, so what is your rolenow with the company?
You've been there that long.
What do you do for them?
Chris (02:42):
Yeah.
It's really transitioned a lot,man.
I went from, from managing oneof the big divisions.
Then they, we decided to divestof that division.
Uh, just.
The economics didn't seem to,you know, really make sense to
keep making investments in it.
So I transitioned from atechnical oversight, leadership
role to more now, uh, intomarketing, which is kind of
(03:03):
crazy.
So I shifted to marketingbecause I started the podcast
for the company.
And, uh, Marketing and writing.
So I just do a lot of writing, alot of videos now as a
distributor, we, we, we make alot of content and that's been
kind of my sweet spot.
I can crank that stuff.
liked it, uh, you know, and,and, uh, kind of differentiates
(03:24):
us.
So I've been kind of been doingthat for the last couple of
years.
Jason (03:27):
that's really, um, I think a unique background to
have that technical, especiallyon the electrical engineering
side, technical background thatmoves into a marketing role.
I think that that's a, that's abridge that probably not many
electrical engineers ever crossinto.
Chris (03:41):
No, man.
Well, I mean, it's kind of like,well, most marketers have no
clue what they're selling.
Right.
they, they want to make itflashy and make it look good.
And I can be like, that's crap.
Yo, like let's, this, we need tomake this better.
This is what really matters topeople.
And I think that's helped, youknow, just having that technical
and, our, uh, our, our executiveteam, they love it.
(04:01):
They, they love that they have atechnical eye on that side of
the fence.
Jason (04:06):
Now that, yeah, that is good.
I know we have a marketingpeople that work in our business
and you know, that's theirbackground.
So we encourage them to come outand understand what we're
making, what we're building, youknow, who our customers are, but
they've got to learn that you'vegot, you've already got that
background.
And so this is an electricaldistribution company.
You guys working with likeelectricians, general
contractors, that sort of, isthat who your customer base is?
Chris (04:28):
Yeah, we're industrial.
So primarily with the heavy,heavy, big end users, we don't
do a ton of contractual work,but, uh, but yeah, that's,
that's primary.
Southeast is where we'relocated.
Jason (04:38):
Yep, okay.
So yeah, so tell me a little bitabout that location family like
what's your family situation?
What's that look like?
Chris (04:45):
Yeah, man.
So I live in North Carolina,close to Raleigh.
So we, we live on, uh, weactually moved to a small farm,
uh, last year.
So we've been, uh, you know,we're coming up on a year and a
half and where we've been here.
So we got a horse boarding farmnow.
So we, uh, we wanted to dohomesteading and.
Try get out of the suburbs.
God was calling us to this andhe opened some crazy doors.
(05:08):
And next thing you know, wewere, you know, sitting from
the, you know, 3000 square foothome in the suburbs with a pool
and all the stuff that comeswith the suburbs to a 1600
square foot home built in 1950on 23 acres where we got, you
know, 14 stall horse barn.
So it's been like crazy.
You know, going with that, butgot four kids, uh, 14 down to
(05:30):
two, three girls and a boy,wonderful wife, you know, and
then the lion within us, all thestuff that goes with that.
So it's just been the, reallythe last probably 18 months have
been the craziest of my life.
Jason (05:42):
yeah So are you guys getting right into the
homesteading piece like you gotbesides the horse boarding
animals?
You're raising animals big hugegarden that sort of thing.
Chris (05:51):
Yeah.
Big garden.
Uh, we got chickens.
We're getting ready to expandthe chicken stuff out, you know,
and my wife and I were trying todo small things, incremental
things, projects with watercontainment.
You know, trying to just, justmanage that, that better.
Uh, we want to do our own meatchickens now.
So we're actually transitioningthe type of bird out so we can
(06:11):
raise our own meat chickens.
And so just little pieces andelements like that.
She cans everything.
So we try to, to do all that.
Uh, I pick on her.
It's like, you know, you do allthis stuff and it will still
pick up a pizza because you'reso tired after all the work, you
just want something to eat.
Right.
But, uh, well, but we're trying,we're making those steps in the
right direction.
Oh
Jason (06:30):
when it was probably late 90s My family and I my kids were
real little then we moved to alittle there's only two acres
but yeah We started Big Garden,raised steer, you know, and I
can remember I was superfascinated with the whole idea
of kind of that Selfsufficiency, homesteading, and
it was still fringe then, right?
This is, yeah, whatever, 30years ago, a little less, and
(06:52):
you know You could find a fewbooks about it And I mean at
that time the internet was juststarting to be a thing And now,
and of course, now we live in,you know, we live in a town, so
we've kind of gotten away fromall that, but it's not fringe
anymore.
It's becoming more and more, I'dsay, mainstream.
People are getting reallyserious about it.
And of course, between YouTubeand everything, there's so much
available.
People sharing what they'redoing, how they're doing it,
(07:14):
innovative ideas on how to doit.
Chris (07:16):
that's right.
Jason (07:18):
I miss it, I think.
We love our house.
We've got an old, historic homein a historic neighborhood my
wife and I love.
But I man, I had a little bit ofmissing being out in the country
and yeah, having the animals anddoing, yeah, it's even just
physically, you know, out there,whatever, splitting wood, doing
chores get you out.
Yeah, it's good.
It's good for you.
I think it was definitely goodfor our kids when they were
(07:38):
little.
I mean, my, my son was almost 30now, but when he was, three
years old.
He was out in the snow gettingeggs.
That was his job.
You go get eggs chickens andit's good.
responsibility for him.
Chris (07:49):
100%.
Jason (07:50):
Yeah.
So Chris, tell us a little bitabout your faith journey.
Like how did you come to knowthe Lord?
What's that look like?
Chris (07:56):
Yeah, I mean I kind of grew up in the south man.
It's kind of like everything inthe south You know, you got you
got football you got race andyou got jesus, you know Those
are the three right then and uh,but I didn't really have a
relationship.
I mean we didn't go to church asa family You know, we, we, we
knew God existed, but we didn't,we didn't really lean into it.
So I started going to churchwhen I was 16 and, uh, for
(08:17):
unrighteous reasons, cause mygirlfriend was going to church.
She's like, Hey, you want to goto church with me on Sundays?
I'm like, sweet.
You wearing a dress.
I get to go sit with you for afew hours.
Absolutely.
I'm all in.
So, you know, completelyunrighteous, but, uh, Definitely
got saved when I was 16, butman, be honest with you, Jason,
man, that's where kind of whatled me to the lion is after I
(08:38):
got out the water, I had no guyswalking with me.
You know, I had my dad, who's myhero.
He's, he's always been there,but I had no other spiritual
mentors helping me along theway.
Jason (08:50):
Yeah.
Chris (08:50):
And when I went to ODU, man, it was just like, straight
downhill, just like, I mean,very secular, secular school.
Do what you want to do.
Live like you want to live, getout of college with an
engineering degree, went intosales, started making a lot of
money.
And, uh, man, it just, my faithjourney, it was just, I got
there and I honestly thoughtthat was the finish line, you
(09:12):
know, like, I'm safe, good.
Yeah.
Jason (09:14):
yep.
I got my, I got my ticketpunched.
Yeah.
Chris (09:17):
That's right.
I'm, I'm good.
And I just, so did my thing, didmy thing, was married, had two
little girls.
They were three and five.
And then my wife at the timesaid, she's out.
She left.
She left all of us.
She left me and the girls.
So I'm sitting there with athree and five year old.
Like, Oh, okay.
(09:37):
So, I mean, at that point,really leaned into the church,
started getting serious about myfaith.
Like, you know what God's wayhas got to be better than my
way, because my way has led mehere, which I mean, I got my
girls, they've been with me eversince, and then we've had two
more.
That's how we have the four.
now we have a little age gapbetween them, but.
It was very clear that, you knowwhat, discipleship matters and
(09:59):
I'm not going to just sit byidly and not do anything about
it.
So that's what really led to,you know, the Genesis of the
land within us.
Jason (10:08):
So, so tell us about that.
We haven't talked much aboutthat really at all yet.
You and I have, but not on thepodcast so far.
So tell us about what's the lionwithin.
What is that?
Chris (10:18):
Yeah.
I mean, really, we built this,well, first of all, I just
started off with a, with an ideathat I knew was from the Holy
spirit.
I went to my wife.
I'm like, I think the Lord wantsme to use this podcasting skill
that I learned at my, My job to,for him, I'm like, really think
he wants me to do this, babe.
And she was like, well, what doyou think he wants you to talk
about?
I'm like, well, I've been inleadership roles literally since
(10:38):
I was 14.
Like I've, I've, I've been inmanagement roles since I was 14.
It's been crazy.
It's like, I think he wants totalk about leadership and
discipleship, you know, to helpguys really lean into that and
just understand that better.
And, uh, she starts laughing.
I'm like, what are you laughingabout?
She's like, well, don't youthink it's.
You have, you're married.
And at that time we had nothingbut girls had my daughters, our
(10:59):
two oldest daughters, and we hada little girl, she's like,
you're surrounded by estrogencalling into this world,
testosterone.
She's like, obviously you got todo this.
So, I mean, we say, all right.
So we just said, put a littlesimple business plan together,
knew how to get a podcast out.
And, uh, recorded about threemonths worth of, uh, Episodes
just on the backend hit launchand just prayed.
(11:21):
And all of a sudden it just tookoff.
It's like, wow.
I mean, this, and this was, youknow, 2021, 2022, somewhere
around there.
And the show just really juststarted taking off.
And it was very quickly.
It passed the show that westarted for the, for the
business.
I mean, in no time, it passedthat for downloads and said,
okay, maybe we got somethinghere.
(11:42):
And the whole thing was like,Podcasts, as you know, you know,
you're sending a message out tomany, but it's hard to talk to
them directly about, you know,what's going on in their life.
So that's when I learned aboutthis idea of online communities
and trying to figure out, okay,how can we make this a tangible
thing?
And so we, we beta tested that.
(12:03):
So we have a, uh, like a virtualonline community with an app and
the whole experience.
And then we launched it and nowwe got, you know, several
different options ofsubscriptions for that, for that
community experience wherewe're.
You know, doing masterminds withguys, we're doing Bible studies
with guys, where we're bringingthem together every day on a
live, you know, readingscripture, we call it a
(12:23):
spiritual kickoff.
So we have lots of differentways where we're serving
virtually.
And then also do, uh, you know,live events, you know, a couple
of times a year as well.
So it's, it's been kind of, kindof cool to see how, how all of
it just is, it's just growingorganically.
Jason (12:38):
That's, now that is exciting to feel that you were
called to do that and takingthat step of faith and obedience
and then seeing the fruit fromit.
Curious, on the app, did youdevelop that?
Did you pay someone to developthat?
That's something I've never
Chris (12:51):
Yeah, no, we, we could, uh, pay, but that's a lot of
money.
So we found a platform that's anopen architecture type platform
that It gave me what we neededto, for development, uh, without
having developed it fromscratch.
So, know, we can go live on it.
We can post, it's kind of gotlike a social media look and
feel to it, but then you canalso schedule events and, and,
(13:15):
and coordination sort of tons offlexibility and it's mobile
friendly.
So it's an iPhone and anAndroid.
They have an app they candownload, but once the guys get
it and they see it and they,man, it's, it becomes very
sticky because it's a very, it'sjust a unique way to engage with
them.
Jason (13:31):
Nice.
You got guys all over thecountry or in your area?
Like, what's that look like?
Chris (13:35):
Yeah, it's actually very little in my area, man.
It's, it's all over the U S andCanada right now.
So we have couple of Canadians,primarily East coast, but man,
we got Indiana, Utah.
I mean, literally all overTexas, Saskatchewan, Canada.
I mean, it's, uh, it's nuts.
Ontario.
So, uh, it's been kind of fun tosee, like our lunch, we have a
lion lunch on Wednesdays.
(13:56):
We had a guy in Georgia, NewJersey, Saskatchewan, Indiana,
uh, and me in North Carolina.
So we're all over, we're allover the place.
Jason (14:05):
So you get, so people could find you by searching in
the app store for the lionwithin app.
And then obviously online foryour
Chris (14:12):
I mean, the easiest way is to line within online.
Um, if, because if you go to theapp store and search for the
line within us, you're not goingto find it.
Cause we'd go through that thirdparty as
Jason (14:21):
okay.
Okay.
All right.
Chris (14:22):
that's how that works.
That is.
That our website takes, takescare of all that,
Jason (14:26):
That's all right.
What's uh, hey chris questionfor you spiritual disciplines.
Like what's that look like foryou personally?
How do you stay close to thelord yourself and grow in
sanctification?
Chris (14:37):
man, I mean, for me, it's just, it's in the work daily all
the time.
So as part of the lion, youknow, we do what's called daily
spiritual kickoffs.
That's literally every morningI'm picking this up and I'm
reading God's word for theseguys.
Like we've been working throughPsalms since March.
So that, that helps.
So it's like, it of forces me alittle bit.
But really the man, to be honestwith you, there's a couple of
(14:59):
other things for me.
I teach all the time.
I'm teaching at the, at thechurch, teach kids, teach
adults.
So anytime I can findopportunities to teach, I'm
going to do it.
Uh, I just, I make that becauseteaching, if you have to teach
something, you're going to leanin.
Jason (15:11):
That's right.
Chris (15:12):
But probably the big thing for me is, uh, you know,
as a podcaster, I do likelistening to podcasts, but I'd
listen to sermons.
I got a couple of go to pastorsthat, you know, I've, I've vet,
I trust.
And now I love them and I've,I've got to meet most of them,
uh, through the podcast.
And then, you know, those arethe guys I'm, I'm constantly, so
(15:33):
I'm just very careful about whatI allow to come in.
You know, uh, I just keep theguard, like now I know nothing
about the latest music that'sout there, or I mean, I'm, I'm
kind of a boring dude when itcomes to that stuff.
If you want to talk about, youknow, Leonard Skinner or 90s,
like I'm, I'm your guy, youknow, when, talk about these,
(15:53):
these new folks, I just don'tknow them because I'm just.
I don't allow that in.
So that's kind of a, you know,maybe that makes a little weak
spot for me, but you know, I'drather sure up the, the face
side.
Jason (16:03):
Yeah, what who's some of the guys that you follow chris
on the
Chris (16:07):
Oh, number one, Joby Martin.
Uh, he,
Jason (16:10):
Joey
Chris (16:11):
Joby, J O B Y.
So he's out of Florida, thechurch of 1122.
He is the, he's my guy.
I've interviewed him threetimes.
He's awesome.
Uh, so I listen to him.
I listened to a lot of JohnPiper.
Jason (16:23):
Yeah, love John Piper
Chris (16:25):
Piper just, I mean, I'm not smart enough to listen to
Piper, but I always feel smarterafter I listened to him.
You know, it's one of thosethings.
So, uh, then, you know, J.
D.
Greer, there's Robert Gatley.
There's, there's several otherones that, that I'm, I'm, I'm
listening to a new pastor inVirginia now.
So I'll, I'll, I'll kind of vetthem first, but I mean, Joey's
my go to then, you know, justhave a couple of guys like this.
(16:45):
I average probably, you know,five to eight sermons a week,
you
Jason (16:50):
yeah, yeah.
Yep.
It's so much out there I wasjust I love RC Sproul if you
know passed away several yearsago, but I was Of course they
still have, you know, to stuffonline.
That's the, um, renewing yourmind.
I was just listening to one onthe way home from work today.
It's like, you know, it'sChristmas teaching and yeah,
just there's so much goodcontent.
Chris (17:11):
It is
Jason (17:11):
another one.
Yeah, that's good.
That's a good way to put, yeah,when I'm moving or if I'm
working out or if I'm moving,I'm not in a yard, working on
whatever, doing chores aroundthe house or I'm in my vehicle
most of the time I'm listeningto, uh, a podcast and news a
little bit, but also just a lotof there's so much good content
from Bible teachers andpreachers out there.
(17:32):
So
Chris (17:33):
I will say, since, since you said news, man, for your
listeners out there, the, thenumber one for me, hands down,
and I always give him a shoutout wherever I can, but the
briefing with
Jason (17:43):
Oh yeah.
I listened to it probably threeto four times a week.
Chris (17:46):
Oh yeah.
Okay.
just making sure.
Yeah.
Like down, probably the, one ofthe best ones out there.
Jason (17:52):
It's like, it's like, I feel like sometimes, I don't
know, I could go on and on aboutthat.
The fact that that man can comeon every day and, and, and.
Analyze a topic.
I mean, I said one day, so mostof the men I'm close with at my
church listened to the, welistened to the briefing also.
And I'm like, I might be able todo what he does.
(18:14):
If I had a month to prepare,maybe I said that man gets up
whatever it's 3am every day andjust cranks another one out.
And it is, it doesn't matterwhat the topic is.
If it's world war history, likepolitical history,
Chris (18:28):
there's a trick, there's a trick to what he does and I
don't know if you've noticed.
So, and I've, I've met with hisassistant cause we were trying
to work out how to come on.
He's actually got a photographicmemory.
Jason (18:39):
Yeah, he's got, yeah, I figured he had to have just an
incredible
Chris (18:42):
Yes, he doesn't forget anything man, and he's I mean
and like they've shown picturesof him prepping I mean just it's
Jason (18:48):
everywhere.
Yeah.
Chris (18:49):
it's it's a dumpster fire on his desk But I he knows what
it is, but I trust that man.
I mean, he definitely hisinsights are incredible.
Jason (18:57):
Yeah.
He's, he is one of probablydefinitely less than five, maybe
one or two men that I followthat I can honestly say I've
never heard him say one thingever that I was like, I don't
know if I agree with that.
I mean, like there's guys I,like John MacArthur, I love
MacArthur once in a while.
I'm like, uh, I don't know.
(19:18):
You know, it's a little bit likenothing first order.
These are all godly men, youknow, that God's called to, but
there's a couple and he's in,uh, Mueller's one of them that
I've just like, never doesn'tmean doesn't make them any
better.
I've just like, in my ownanalysis, I'm like, man, this
guy's just, just brilliant.
And he's, he's balanced andbiblical and full of grace and
Chris (19:38):
Oh, yeah.
Jason (19:39):
Yeah, yeah, he is awesome.
My go to everyday on news that Ido tell a lot of people about is
The World and Everything In It.
It's a, a, it is a news podcast,been around.
as a daily news podcast forprobably 13 years.
They they've had a magazine outthere for decades.
Um, I can't remember what thename of the magazine was, but
(20:01):
now it's under the world newsgroup, but they do like a 25
minute daily news podcast.
It's all, you know, from abiblical perspective, but yeah,
it's that one and then thebriefing is my mainstay, uh,
day.
So good.
Um, what?
Let's not talk about leadershipa little bit.
Chris, like I said, you've beenin leadership for a long time.
What, when you think aboutleading others at work, at
(20:24):
church, your family, like whatare the core principles that you
always go back to?
And as your disciple men thatyou talk about, like always,
always go back to key things.
Chris (20:34):
Yeah, I mean, it's all over the place.
I mean, probably the one thatjust comes up the most salient,
the most often is just humility,man.
And I think that's like, there'sso many guys out there.
They want to get on top so theycan have some power.
I'm, and I just always had tobring them back to the upside
down kingdom.
I'm like, that is not what, youknow, at the end of the day,
(20:54):
it's about serving.
It's about loving and thinkingless of ourselves and, and, and.
We're not thinking less ofourselves, but thinking about
ourselves less.
It you know, that, those basicfundamental definitions.
And usually, uh, when I'mworking with guys, the thing
that gets in our way is pride,you know, pride, pride jumps in.
And once pride starts takingover and it doesn't take much, a
(21:17):
little pinhole of pride can, canreally penetrate and cause a lot
of issues.
So that's, that's usually wherewe try to go and try to help
with.
Jason (21:24):
Yeah.
Yep.
Sharp.
Yep.
Just knock some of that off.
You're right.
It's the kind of the pride isthe, uh, just the, the poison
that kind of can go all over,
Chris (21:33):
That's right.
Jason (21:34):
leadership and, and the undermine it.
What, when you were a youngerleader, uh, what were some
things that you struggled withand have you, have you learned
to manage them?
Do you still kind of strugglewith them?
Like, what did that look likewhen you were young leader?
Yeah.
Chris (21:51):
back to when I first got like a sales engineer role and I
was given an account package andit's like, okay, you go sell
this and this is your, this isyour, your, uh, know, your, your
product box, if you will, ofwhat you had to offer fear of,
of not knowing.
And fear, the feeling like Ialways had to have the answer
(22:12):
and that crippled me like forthe first six months, I remember
saying my manager's office, he'slike, bro, he's like, you're too
smart to just be sitting in thisoffice.
Why aren't you going outselling?
I'm like, well, I'm trying tofigure out, you know, this
product.
So, so when I get in front of acustomer, I want to have all the
answers.
He's like, do you think you'reever going to have all the
answers?
And I'm like, yeah, he's like,he's like, that's never going to
(22:34):
happen.
And then he was like.
He, he did something to me,Jason.
It was crazy.
He's like, you like motorcycles,right?
I'm like He's like, do I knowanything about motorcycles?
And I said, I don't think so.
He's like, give me five minutes.
And I wanted out of his office.
I came back in and he did asales call where he was a
motorcycle salesman.
Didn't know anything aboutmotorcycles, but just was, was
(22:54):
just engaging me in conversationaround motorcycles.
And at the day, he got the POand I'm like, bro, I need to
know how to do that.
He's like, well, you know, hetaught me a lot about humility.
one, no one went to say, I don'tknow, but I will find out.
And just asking superbquestions.
And that's that lesson served mereally well, you know,
throughout the, my sales career.
Jason (23:16):
I love that man.
What a great that's a that's alesson.
You'll never forget.
That
Chris (23:20):
No, I mean, I'm still telling it 20 years later,
Jason (23:22):
Yeah, right And well and that goes back to I think what
you said about the pride issueis it really at the end of the
day?
You you didn't you wanted tohave all the answers you want
people think whatever that's apride thing.
We do it, right?
mean, that's something we alwaysteach Young employees and our
that's part of our culture we'rereally trying to develop where I
work is like don't be afraid toask questions and For the guys
(23:42):
and gals who have been there along time You is always be ready
and willing to answer questions.
We want that type of environmentwhere people are never.
fearful of asking questions andthey know they're going to get
help.
They're know they're going toget people to come and support
them.
And that's, that's developed forus a pretty collaborative
environment.
that's, yeah, trying to keepthat, keep that level of
(24:04):
humility for everybody.
Hey, we're here to help.
We know that you don't have theanswers, you know, and
Chris (24:08):
right.
Jason (24:10):
had a conversation recently with a young apprentice
and uh, you know, I told him andI've, I've gone through an
apprenticeship and I said, youdon't have to prove anything to
anyone.
We promoted you because we seeall the potential in you.
So don't ever, you know, dosomething risky or dangerous.
And he's in a field that, youknow, he gets into electrical
panels and things.
(24:30):
I'm like, don't ever be afraidto ask a question.
It's okay.
We expect that you don't, you'reworking with guys who have been
in this field for 20, 30 years.
We don't expect you to know evena lot at this point.
Chris (24:41):
Right.
Jason (24:42):
ask questions.
You know, you've proven yourselfto a point to get this.
Okay.
So I think that's huge when you,Chris, when you go into your
work environment.
So we've talked a little bitabout that.
You're in district, you know,you work in a electrical
distribution.
Um, it's not a ministry you'reworking around, you know, other
people who, by some arebelievers, many are not, but so
in your work, how do you try tohonor Christ?
(25:05):
What are some things that you doin your, in your work
environment to honor the Lord inthat job?
Chris (25:10):
Yeah.
I think for me, the main thingis trying to just show the light
wherever I'm at.
And then I really took anintentional, uh, just a leap of
faith last year with thecompany.
I went to HR and I said, youknow what?
Something's burnt is on myheart.
And I think I have anopportunity to help some
employees.
And I, and then we're like, whatare you thinking?
I'm like, well, I like to starta prayer group within the
(25:32):
company.
Everybody gets a lunch break.
There's lunch hours.
We have lots of remote workerstoo.
It's like, would you be opposedif you, uh, if I were to talk to
some people, you know, one onone, maybe we don't send out HR
about this, but if we, if somepeople want to utilize that,
that lunchtime.
(25:53):
to, to get together on a regularcadence and pray.
And they actually thought it wasa great idea.
Jason (25:58):
Wow.
Chris (25:59):
why you, why don't you explore that and explore that
with some people, with somemanagement.
So I, I explored it with somemanagement, uh, came back and
now we've had a standing weeklyevery Wednesday and that's
turned into a Bible study nowtoo.
So we pray for the first.
20 minutes or so.
And then whoever wants to stayfor the lunch hour, uh, we just,
(26:19):
we dive into the word and it'sbeen a great way just to get to
know each other and encourageeach other.
And then that's now opened up.
I've kind of become the companylike pastor or
Jason (26:29):
Chaplain.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris (26:31):
Yeah, it's like corporate Chapman's America.
So, you know, it's, not that,it's not like that, but it's
like, I mean, they're, they'retexting me on the side about,
you know, I got this going on myfamily or this and that, and
which is great.
And it's just, uh, it's,
Jason (26:43):
for that.
Yeah.
Chris (26:44):
but I mean, it took a, it took a little bit of a risk for
me just to have theconversation, but it was, you
know, I was, to me, I was like,all right, this is a no brainer.
If she says no, what's the worstthat can happen.
So let's try it.
And, uh, now it's turned intosomething that's blessing some
folks.
Jason (27:00):
That's great, man.
That's a huge success story.
Hopefully it'd be an inspirationto people.
I have prayed, I had a boss onetime, um, and he was a believer
and, uh, he and I, you know, weknew that about each other.
And we started just every Fridaymorning, we'd meet in his office
and pray.
We did that for a long time.
And that was such, and we justprayed about work stuff, you
know, people we knew that werestruggling and about our
(27:22):
leaders, you know, praying forthem.
And, that was, that was really,really good.
Uh, but that's, that's cool thatthat's grown like that.
How many people, like how manypeople on a weekly basis
Chris (27:32):
On a, on a weekly, it could be, you know, five to 10
folks, you know, we had probably20 something on our, on our list
and then we're, looking to seehow, okay, how can we expand it
out next year in 2025 so we'llsee.
It's just being, you know,faithful in the, the small
things and we'll see, uh, howGod grows it.
Jason (27:53):
That's good.
Yeah.
Good for you, man.
That's super cool.
Hey, Chris, if you had someonecome to you as a going to move
into a leadership role, firsttime ever, and they're like,
Hey, when I, and you probablyhad to ask this in your
discipling that you do with, uh,with other men, but they're just
wanting to sit down with you andget some advice on what they
should do as a first timeleader, what they should not do.
(28:13):
Uh, what are some things thatyou would talk to them about?
Chris (28:17):
Uh, I always just go back to asking really good questions,
you know, not coming in with anytoo many preset notions.
And, you know, because this,they said this, this is the way
it's always been done.
I just, I always like askingquestions, understanding,
exploring, uh, definitely nottrying to flex any, any type of
authority too early.
I think that gets a lot of guysin trouble, uh, when we start
(28:39):
trying.
Way through versus, uh, youknow, uh, they're, there's a
saying I tell guys all the, forall the time of seek first to
understand, let's see first tounderstand guys, this, I mean,
it's biblical, it's scriptural,James talked about it and it's
being slowed down a little bit,ask some really good questions,
understand the, the, theunderlining, um, you know,
driving factors here and thenperspective.
(29:00):
I mean, The, the problem thatmost leaders have is they, they,
they only take into accounttheir perspective and we don't
slow down enough to understandthe other perspectives around
us.
I mean, even to the point where,for my, for my, my leader now,
who's a COO of our company,they're, they're thinking about
different businesses and thingsthey should look at moving
(29:20):
forward.
From some acquisitionstandpoint.
And I, and he was like, beforewe go that far, I want to slow
down and understand the marketvariables.
Like, let me understand thecompetitors a little bit better.
So he put me on a project to dothat.
Most leaders wouldn't do that.
Most leaders say we got thecapital.
Let's go figure out where wewant to spend the money, who we
can buy.
And I think those, those stepsof slowing down, asking really
(29:42):
good questions, it's going toserve.
It served him well in hiscareer.
And I think it serves lots ofguys.
Jason (29:46):
yeah.
That's something I got toconstantly remind myself of.
My team and I did a, uh, a disc,uh, the disc.
So we did a kind of a group discthing this week with, uh, um, an
HR, kind of a consultant that wework with on projects.
And she came in and walkedthrough a good reminder for me
because I'm a, I'm a shootfirst, ask questions later,
wired guy.
And, you know, there's severalpeople on my team that are more,
(30:08):
methodical, you know, and likedifferent pace.
And I have to remind myselfthat.
That, uh, I need to, I need togive them some space to think
through, you know, whatever mynext brilliant idea is that I
want to start tomorrow and
Chris (30:20):
That's right.
Jason (30:21):
yeah, you just got to take, yeah.
Listen, the other, the one Ialways say, if people have
listened to my podcast, theyhear me say it all the time, but
it's listen, learn, then lead.
You know, especially when you'renew on a team, new to an
organization.
Chris (30:33):
That's right.
Jason (30:34):
Yeah.
What's, yeah, that will serveyou well.
What's a.
Like, what do you hope for yourlegacy?
Chris, I know you've got manyyears ahead of you.
You're not on the edge ofretirement, but when you think
about, you know, when that timecomes and you leave your
organization, for example,you've been there 23 years.
That's a long time.
What do you hope people wouldremember about you?
Chris (30:55):
Yeah.
I, from, from, from that comedystandpoint, I don't, I don't
really know.
I think really what I thinkabout legacy, I'm thinking more
lion now of what can we do froma lion standpoint to where.
You know, we're helping discipleguys well into the future.
And, and, you know, Mike Tysonmade a funny quote about legacy
a few weeks ago.
(31:15):
I don't know if you heard thatit
Jason (31:16):
No, I'm sure it's interesting.
Chris (31:18):
well, it was, it was a kid who asked him about legacy.
He's like, man, Lexi, nobodycares about legacy.
You're going to die.
And then, you know, people don'tforget about you a couple
hundred years.
And that just, it, it hit me theeyes.
I'm like, bro, that's not badway really think about it.
I was
Jason (31:30):
Yeah.
Chris (31:31):
you know, Tyson's, you don't get a lot theological,
right.
But you got that right.
I mean, it's just at the day,man, like I just need to, for
me.
Serve and love my family thebest I can now, not get too
wrapped up in the business itemsand, and, and know that God's
going to provide and just try toteach the fundamental truths to
as many people, predict that thenumber one disciples are my
(31:53):
kids.
then the other disciples thatcome across my path, the guys
that I'm meeting at the linewith, I mean, if we can teach a
couple of just fundamentaltruths there and then let that
ripple effect just happen.
Right.
I mean, I think that for me,that would be.
Check the box in a day.
Hopefully I hear the words.
Well, good, well done.
Good and faithful servant,
Jason (32:11):
right.
That's it.
Yep.
My favorite Tyson quote is,Everybody's got a plan until you
get punched in the face.
Chris (32:18):
it.
That's it.
Things change then, man.
That's
Jason (32:22):
recently about my grandfather on my father's side.
He has, he, before he passed,he's been, he's been gone, I
don't know, 15 plus years now.
But, but several years before hedied, he took up, uh, wood
carving as a hobby.
And I have in my, in mybathroom, it's a cross with a
hand holding it.
It's a wood carving.
(32:43):
And then he wrote on it, Godforbid, that I should glory and
any other but the cross ofChrist.
it's, you know, super personalto me.
He was someone I always lookedup to as just a man, but also a
man of faith.
And I, you know, what thethought that occurred to me the
other night was my youngest sonnever met him.
So he doesn't have any memory ofhim.
Even my oldest son has a littlememory.
(33:04):
But now my grandchildren, likewhen I, you know, when I pass
away, he's his memories gone bythe time my generation passes
away.
And, you know, people talk aboutthat in the third generation.
So first, for sure, asbelievers, you know, that's,
important.
To your point, at the end of theday, it's well done, good and
faithful servant.
That's it.
That's, that's our, that's ourgoal.
(33:25):
So
Chris (33:26):
That's it.
Jason (33:27):
So, uh, brother, uh, before we wrap up, what, like we
talked a little bit about thewebsite, but I want to make sure
people know how they can reachout to you, find out about the
line within, investigatediscipleship community online.
And I'm, I mean.
Chris (33:43):
Right.
Jason (33:44):
Discipleship is really the reason I do this podcast is
to help other Christian leadersgrow and it helps me and you
know, I'm hoping it helpsothers.
So it's all about that.
So I definitely want to makesure they are clear on how they
can find you, get ahold of you,how they can check it out.
Is there even some pay, youknow, does it cost anything or
(34:04):
can they do some of it for free?
Like
Chris (34:06):
Yeah, for sure.
Jason (34:07):
that before we wrap
Chris (34:08):
sure.
Yeah.
I mean, first of all, just foryour listeners, email me.
I mean, chris at the lion withindot us is my email address.
So just send me an email, butthen go to the lion within
that's the lion within dot us.
So it's not.
com, but it's dot us.
And, uh, When, if you pop there,you're going to find, uh, at the
top toolbar, we have, we havefree resources.
(34:29):
So we have, you know, I'm anauthor on the Bible app for you
version.
So, uh, I got 30 somethingdevotions out there.
So we have those up there.
We have our weekly newsletter,which is not like some cheesy
newsletter.
Like I really put some, some,some thought leadership into it.
And then we have a really coolChristian leader assessment,
like It's it's seven levels.
(34:49):
It's incredible.
We put, we put a ton of time,effort, money into it.
So, and all that's free.
So just go check, you know,check that stuff out for your
listeners, but then over you'llfind on that same tab, we have
offerings and then we have threetiers to our community.
Uh, everything it is, uh, it's apaid model, uh, that we have
this set up because we'rekeeping trolls out and we're
(35:10):
serving, really serving highlythe guys that are there.
We have events happening Mondaythrough Saturday.
Every day of the week, there'san event, uh, between our
mastermind groups, our lunches,our Bible studies.
On Friday, we have what's calledour Friday Forge, where we throw
out a complex topic, and thenhow do you address it as a
Christian man.
So we'll talk about, you know,somebody commits suicide, did he
(35:31):
go to heaven?
That was last You know, I mean,there's just, I mean, we hit
some hard topics, like how doyou defend that?
So, uh, that's, that's all partof it.
So just, just actually.
The lionwithin.
us and explore that and justreach out if you have questions.
Jason (35:46):
I'll put a link to that in the podcast show notes and on
the YouTube.
So yeah, for sure.
I want to check it out.
Uh, appreciate what you'redoing, man.
That is, um, that's, that'samazing.
I mean, just to be able to havethat resource for people from
wherever they are, they can bein community and for sure pray
that they have that communitywithin their church.
But you know, sometimes, Thatdoesn't exist, um, for whatever
(36:07):
reason, and even if it doesexist, this is an additional of
men you can come alongside of,so, yeah,
Chris (36:14):
and what the guys been telling me mainly is, you know,
We have men's groups in ourchurches, but very rarely do
they get real.
I mean they'll we'll gettogether once a month We'll have
a sausage biscuit or somethinglike that, but it's hard To
really, you know, I'm strugglingwith pornography or I'm
struggling this in my marriage,or I'm struggling with finances.
It's the local church sometimesto bring, be that transparent.
(36:36):
These guys, I don't know whyit's a God thing, but they just,
they come in with that and thennext thing you know, it's iron
sharpening iron, these guys arejust leaning in.
So just encourage you to checkit out.
If you're looking for authentic,you know, transparent type
Jason (36:49):
yeah, that's good, that's true man, cause those, yeah,
that is, can be a challenge, so,praise the Lord for that man,
thank you for what you're doingbrother, uh, I look forward to
getting this out there andhopefully we get some more
people that, uh, find value inthat and will connect with your
group, so, thank you for yourtime, I know you're busy, I
appreciate you being on theshow.
Chris (37:05):
Thank you, brother.
Appreciate you.
Jason (37:07):
Alright.
Alright.
Alright.
And thank you for joining usthis month to hear from another
leader, God is using to advancehis kingdom.
I pray.
This episode is blessed you andencourage you.
Be sure to tune in next monthfor another inspiring story from
a leader, striving to honorChrist and their work.
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