Let's talk about that.
Scripture of the Week
"Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple 'Yes' or 'No.' Otherwise you will be condemned." (James 5:12)
James says "above all." That's not filler. This one matters more than it looks like it does.
Let Your Yes Be Yes
A man who needs to swear an oath to be believed has a credibility problem. James isn't just talking about lying. He's talking about the kind of man you're becoming.
If your word is good, you don't need to dress it up. No oath. No "I promise, I swear." Just yes or no, and people trust it because you've done the long, slow work of being a man who does what he says.
Here's the hard part. Everybody over-promises right now. Everybody. Which means the man who simply follows through is rare. And rare is powerful.
That reputation isn't built in one big moment. It's built one kept word at a time.
Challenge This Week
Name one commitment you've made that you haven't kept. To your wife. To your kids. To your team. To God.
Then close the gap today. Either do it, or have the honest conversation about why you haven't. No more letting it sit.
Resource of the Week
Live Free with Josh Howerton. Straight talk, no fluff, and it'll push you in the same direction as this week's message: be a man whose word actually means something. Listen here. This guy is one of my favorites in the Christian Influencer space. What do you think about his content?
Brotherhood Update
Two things worth knowing this week.
We launched the Brotherhood Forged merch site. First drop is live now. Check it out.
We're also on TikTok now. If that's where you scroll, come find us and follow along.
And the Brotherhood itself is growing. Real growth, real men, real conversations. It's $60 a month to join, and here's what that actually gets you: men who will call you on your excuses, a standard to walk toward instead of drift away from, and a seat at Monday's call, where we dig into the lies we tell ourselves and hold each other to the truth. Not a subscription. A commitment to become the man you were made to be. It’s an INVESTMENT in becoming the man God is calling you to be.
A Word From Joey
I'll be honest with you. Finishing what I start is one of my own fights. I've got half-built plans behind me that never made it past the good idea stage. Writing this newsletter, growing this Brotherhood, showing up for Bobbie the same way I did on August 14, 1992. None of that gets easier because I want it to. It gets easier because I keep my yes.
If that's your fight too, you're not alone in it. That's exactly why we built this thing.
Know a man who needs this? Forward it to him.
If this newsletter has been worth something to you, would you consider chipping in to help keep it going? No pressure at all, just grateful for every man who does. Give here, or send it via PayPal to [email protected]. Thank you for being part of this.
If you are interested in joining our community, check us out at Brotherhoodforged.com The link is at the top of our page, we’d love to have you join us full time.