Authentically Adam: Restoring God's Original Design for Men

In Part One, Wayne and Cory Waddell, local preacher for the Bear Valley Church of Christ, discussed some of the tensions that can develop between elders and preachers. In Part Two, the conversation turns toward solutions.What can elders and preachers do to build trust before problems arise? How should disagreements be handled? And what happens in a congregation when its leaders genuinely respect, encourage, and trust one another?Wayne and Cory discuss the importance of clear expectations, honest communication, mutual encouragement, healthy disagreement, and developing relationships that extend beyond meetings and ministry decisions.Elders and preachers will not always agree—and healthy leadership does not require them to. But they can learn to disagree without damaging their relationship.Different responsibilities. Different roles. But the same Lord, same church, and same mission.Episode Resources:[email protected]

Few relationships have a greater impact on the health of a local congregation than the relationship between its elders and preacher. When trust and communication are strong, the church benefits. But when tension or mistrust develops, the effects can reach far beyond the men involved.In Part One of this two-part Authentically Adam conversation, Wayne is joined by Cory Waddell, local preacher for the Bear Valley Church of Christ, to examine where tension between elders and preachers comes from.How do preachers sometimes contribute to the problem? How can elders unintentionally create frustration or uncertainty? Wayne and Cory discuss expectations, communication, differing perspectives, and the challenges that can develop when relationships are neglected.Elders and preachers have different responsibilities and roles—but they serve the same Lord, same church, and same mission.Episode Resources:[email protected]

What are the things every father wants his daughters to know?In this episode of Authentically Adam, Wayne shares ten lessons he hopes his girls will carry with them throughout their lives. From recognizing that they are blessings from God and refusing to let fear or criticism hold them back, to choosing friends wisely, staying close as sisters, and learning the power of forgiveness, these are lessons that reach far beyond childhood.Above all, this episode is a father’s reminder that success and happiness are never the ultimate goal. The greatest hope a Christian father can have for his daughters is that they remain faithful to God—and that one day, the entire family will be together in heaven.An episode for fathers, daughters, and anyone who understands just how special that relationship can be.

Blame-shifting is nothing new. In fact, it’s as old as sin itself.In this episode of Authentically Adam, Wayne uses Major League Baseball’s decision to “end the shift” as a starting point for a much more important discussion: our tendency to shift responsibility when our decisions go wrong.Scripture gives us three memorable examples. Adam blamed Eve—and indirectly God—for his sin. Aaron blamed the people for the golden calf and offered the almost comical explanation that he threw the gold into the fire and “out came this calf.” King Saul insisted he had obeyed God while blaming the people for the parts of God’s command he ignored.Different men. Different circumstances. Same problem.Blame-shifting often reveals something deeper: we have abandoned the responsibility God gave us and allowed the pressures, desires, fears, or expectations of others to rule our hearts.For men called to lead in their homes, churches, and communities, ending the shift requires three things:• Take responsibility — Own your decisions and actions.• Limit your empathy — Don’t allow the emotions and expectations of others to replace conviction.• Let God rule again — Allow His truth, rather than pressure or passion, to direct your heart.Mature leadership begins when we stop explaining away our failures and start owning them.

We’ve heard plenty of warnings about controlling our passions—especially when it comes to lust and sexual temptation. But what if the biblical conversation about passion is much bigger than that?In the Season 14 premiere of Authentically Adam, Wayne explores how our passions include the desires, fears, anger, impulses, and emotions that influence how we respond to life. Passions aren’t always sinful, but they aren’t always trustworthy either. Left unchecked, they can control our reactions, shape our attitudes, and even drive us toward passivity, isolation, worry, and frustration.Using examples from David and Elijah, along with biblical teaching from Romans, Ephesians, Titus, 1 Thessalonians, and 1 Peter, this episode considers how godly men can understand and properly direct their passions.The goal isn’t simply to suppress what we feel. Instead, our passions must be ruled by a mind that is itself ruled by God.Three qualities can help us get there:• Clarity of mind — 1 Thessalonians 5:4–8• Stability of soul — Titus 2:2• Readiness to act — 1 Peter 1:13Godly masculinity isn’t passionless. It is passion brought under the rule of God.Episode Resources:"Leadership and Emotional Sabotage" by Joe Rignely