OM DENNE EPISODE
More info about Justin: https://cornerstoneclassicalschool.org/
I'm digging into the fourth pillar of this show: relationships, specifically the relationships men have with other men. The Bible talks about iron sharpening iron, and I'm joined by my good friend Justin Drummonds, father of five, to talk honestly about why so many men, myself included at different points in my life, struggle to have relationships that go beneath the surface. We open up about our own friendship and how the Lord brought mutual friends into both our lives at just the right time, and why isolation, not a lack of acquaintances, is the biggest stumbling block most men face.
Justin and I unpack what I call the "lily pad" problem, the way men hop from work relationships to church relationships to neighborhood dads without ever really landing anywhere. We talk about how most guys, when you really ask them, have fewer than five real friends, and maybe only one or two they could actually tell you anything meaningful about. We get into what it looks like to sit with another man's pain instead of rushing to fix it, the way Job's friends sat with him in silence before they opened their mouths and ruined it, and how I had to confront the fact that for years I was using people to feel liked instead of seeing them as image bearers God placed in my life to edify and be edified by.
We close out talking about the exhausting weight of wearing a different mask for every room, as a dad, a husband, a leader, a church member, and how that mask has to come off before anyone can really love the man underneath it. Justin shares the three categories of men every guy needs in his life: mentors who you look up to, brothers who sharpen you like iron, and younger men you're pouring into, and we talk about the difference between building a life focused on money and accomplishment versus building a legacy that impacts generations. If you've been coasting on surface-level friendships, I hope this conversation pushes you to take honest appraisal and go deeper. Thanks for watching, guys, and here's to making the next third of your life your best third.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: The Fourth Pillar
04:08 – The "Lily Pad" Problem: Surface-Level Male Friendships
08:16 – Most Men Have Less Than Five Real Friends
12:22 – Sitting With a Friend's Pain Instead of Fixing It
16:33 – From "People User" to Seeing Friends as Image Bearers
20:45 – Living Coram Deo: True Humility Before God
24:55 – The Exhausting Weight of Wearing a Different Mask for Everyone
29:04 – You Only Have So Much Time: Choosing Your Inner Circle
33:09 – The Three Men Every Man Needs in His Life
37:26 – Building a Legacy, Not Just a Life
Welcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on:
- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age.
- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress.
- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships.
- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections.
- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook.
Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third!
Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)
