It's Not My Credit to Take

The founder of The Lion Within Us, Chris Grainger, offers no apology for speaking the Truth of God's Word. As someone who connects with others and builds community by sharing personal stories of professional success, hurdles encountered, and how every circumstance is an opportunity to build and glorify The Kingdom, he helps men stand firm in their faith by strengthening them in the areas of health (mind & body), wealth (career & finances), and self (husband/father/brother in Christ). Chris believes that to show up as the men God intended men to be, they must dig into The Word and pray daily while serving as protectors and providers. While this flies in the face of contemporary culture, he is resolute in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the only One who can provide the strength necessary to navigate an eroding societal framework. This is a MUST LISTEN! THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! It'sNotMyCredittoTake

It takes a tremendous amount of courage in contemporary America to push back against the prevailing culture that undermines what it means to be a man, but Esteban Lutz does just that. And yet, this wasn't always the case, as he questioned himself at his most vulnerable, his most broken periods. During those times, Esteban experienced loneliness, severe depression, hopelessness, and even had thoughts suicide until he fell to his knees. When he believed there was no other way, he decided to open up and be obedient to God. At that point, he was willing to look for and step into the Light because he was in such a dark place and his life was transformed. Today, Esteban firmly believe that he would not have the relationship he has with Jesus Christ, his wife, his family, and his friends had he not gone through those chapters in his life...and what a life it has become! Praise the Lord! THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! It'sNotMyCredittoTake

After 25 years as a physical education teacher, John Shaw crashed. As a Christian in faithful service of others, namely his students and their families, in 2018, he found he had nothing left to give. The pain of his past finally caught up to him despite creating a de facto ministry in a secular school district. Just prior to performing a wedding ceremony, John went to the emergency room and informed the doctors and nurses that he was going to die even though, as tests later revealed, there was nothing physically wrong with him. Upon learning of this, he embarked on a journey of self-exploration alongside the Holy Spirit to "get underneath the underneath" and purify the anguish from so many years of suppressing the emotions of his childhood and, later, the emotions of the sorrow he felt after being called to ministry. Since then, John's life has been transformed and he continues transforming the lives of others through the guidance of Jesus Christ. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! It'sNotMyCredittoTake

To suggest that it is a miracle that Brian Argo is alive is a MASSIVE understatement. Having contracted the Delta Variant in August 2020, he proceeded to spend the next 92 days fighting for his life. At various points, Brian was given no more than a 1% chance of survival. His lungs were consumed with the virus. The oxygen levels in his blood dipped as low as 50%. And if that wasn't enough, he was visited by a dark entity that tormented his thoughts and dreams. Today, Brian is still on the path to recovery despite having to relearn how to walk. He credits his recovery to the power of prayer, the love of his wife of 18 years, Karen, and their two teenage daughters, and the AWESOME POWER OF GOD! His is a story of how the Lord can show up even in the darkest places and shine a light on the promise of what it means to be faithful. It's a truly remarkable story. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! It'sNotMyCredittoTake Check out his wife's account at Caring Bridge.

Life hasn't always been simple or straightforward for Isaiah Norris. While being exposed to Jesus Christ having grown up in a Christian family, Isaiah's parents struggled to make ends meet. His dad worked 18 hours days in the construction industry while his mom raised him and his 4 siblings and this experience left an indelible impression. Isaiah took the faith and work ethic he learned from his parents and has translated that into several successful careers, most recently as the CEO of Norris Consulting & Development. Now, as the husband of 14 years to his wife, Brianna, and father of 3 children (1 girl; 2 boys), Isaiah lives purposefully in the love of the Lord. A Journey of Love is about a man who consistently shows up in the lives of others looking more like Jesus Christ everyday and I am proud to call him my friend. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! ItsNotMyCredittoTake

On the verge of making the USA Olympic Track and Field Team ahead of the 1984 Summer Games, Richard Stewart was living a double-life. Despite his athletic prowess and success, he partied constantly with alcohol and drugs. This wasn't anything new, as his teenage, college, and graduate school years were marked by this repeated behavior, yet he longed for more. And on one fateful day nearly 40 years ago, Richard met Robin and he was captivated. She asked if she could send him a Bible. When it arrived a week or so later, Richard thumbed through it and was overcome by The Holy Spirit. It was in that moment he acknowledge his brokenness and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Shortly after, he and Robin got married and, 38 years later, they are still together, along with their 5 children and 5 grandchildren. To this day, Richard is one of the most thoughtful, devoted Christian men anyone could possibly meet and his story is worth hearing. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! itsnotmycredittotake.com

For years, Keith Lansdale buried intense trauma and pain under the rug. As a young boy, he was sexually abused, something that he has grown to be able to talk about openly and he didn't let it define him or his life. Despite the experience affecting his life and relationships, Keith found comfort and salvation in Jesus Christ. As an adult, he has been able to confront the pain head-on by getting underneath the underneath, which has allowed him to find a measure of healing. When you look at his life, it has been a successful one, even when dealing with the knowledge that he is "broken." As an outside observer, one might assume that his life has been easy, but they would be wrong. Keith has persevered and made something of himself because of the Lord's blessings and provision. He honors the Lord daily and gives thanks to The One who makes everything about his life possible. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! itsnotmycredittotake.com

Growing up in a military family and, later, having an esteemed career in the United States Air Force, Dr. Mark Clifford is no stranger to discipline. As a person of color, "Cliff" has had to fight fights that no self-respecting person should have to fight, especially in contemporary America. Despite this truism, he continues to be a beacon of hope for underserved populations, particularly in his work as Executive Director for The DREAM Foundation, which is an organization established to provide opportunities and access to underrepresented groups within the sports industry through education, access to industry professionals, mentorship, and guidance. This work allows him to let his voice be heard on complicated topics such as race and equality...and it's a voice that needs to be heard by anyone who desires to learn about how to treat all people with dignity and respect. I can say, unequivocally, that I am proud to call Cliff my friend. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! itsnotmycredittotake.com

Having once survived a "dead pool" during basic training, Jerry Dugan is no stranger to adversity. As a combat veteran in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he saw plenty of death and destruction and it wasn't until he made it home in one piece that he was able to find peace. Upon returning home, he learned his wife of 21 years, Olivia, had made a "deal with God" to get Jerry to church, but it didn't matter much, at least not initially, as he fought answering God's call. It wasn't until his pastor, essentially, called him out to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior that Jerry finally woke up. Since then, he has devoted his life to the Lord, his family, and his work. Recently, he published his first book, "Beyond the Rut: Create a Life Worth Living in Your Faith, Family, and Career," and he strives to help others move beyond their ruts to live a life of purpose. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! itsnotmycredittotake.com

It wasn't until Gary Almy was 22 years old that he came to Christ. He happened to be staying up late one evening and heard a preacher on a Gospel radio station and decided to pray for someone his age to show up in his life to speak about The Good News of Jesus Christ. The next day while working the drive-thru at a bank, a pastor, just a few months older than Gary, was waiting. Since that day ~43 years ago, Dr. Gary Almy has placed Jesus at the center of his life. And as a strong, principled, Christian man, he firmly believes that men need to show up in the world by showing "strength under control" and "strong in conviction." Today, he imparts his wisdom on the accounting students he teaches at Grand Canyon University while trying to look more like Christ in every interaction, which is certainly something for which we should all strive. THANK YOU for embarking on this quest! itsnotmycredittotake.com