Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 3 2025
The Man Every Boy Wants to Be
At the end of a movie the other night, one man said of another
who had moved on from their partnership:
“There goes the only man I ever fully respected. He’s what every boy thinks he’ll be when he grows up and what every old man wishes he had been.”
That hit me hard. What a powerful statement about a man’s character. It wasn’t about accomplishments, but about a life so genuine that it stirred admiration across generations.
Now let me ask: Who is that for you? Who do you admire and wish you were more like,
not in talent, but in godly character?
Shouldn’t every one of us have spiritual men in our lives that we can look up to and learn from? Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) That means it’s okay—even necessary—to follow and learn from someone who is ahead of us in the faith.
But here’s the hard truth: many men don’t have even one, let alone two or three, spiritual voices they admire and draw from. Why not?
Is it pride? Fear? Or just the resistance to let someone else get close enough to really see us?
The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Yet most men resist this sharpening. We act like we can hold it all together, right up until the moment the rope slips through our hands and the ship goes down.
Let’s be honest: men hate the word accountability. We don’t want to list the three areas we struggle in and have someone check in on us monthly. But think about it—don’t we all live differently when someone’s watching, waiting, or listening? Scripture reminds us,
“Two are better than one… for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
Trying to “monitor ourselves” in spiritual battles is like walking into war without armor. Paul warns us: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Here’s my challenge: stop resisting what you desperately need. Find one or two men you deeply respect—men who are spiritually strong, battle-tested, and humble before God. Invite them into your life intentionally. Ask them to walk with you, pray with you, and speak truth when you can’t see clearly.
This isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Someday, when your time here is done, someone will speak words about you. What do you want them to say? My prayer is that they’ll look at your life and say, “There goes a man I fully respected—a man who followed Christ and left behind a legacy worth imitating.”
Who will you invite into your life today?
Don’t wait for the storm to hit.
Start building the kind of relationships that will help you finish strong.
Brothers, let’s be honest—most of us would rather limp along in silence than admit we need someone to walk with us. But that’s pride talking, not wisdom. And pride is the very thing that keeps so many men…too many men from finishing well.
The truth is this: you will not drift into becoming a man of honor. You will not stumble into Godly character. And you will not “accidentally” build a legacy that others respect. These things only happen when we intentionally invite men into our lives who challenge us, sharpen us, and call us higher. We have a Men’s group called Courageous that meets every Monday night at 7pm at our Grace Family Land O Lakes Campus. If we are too far, or if you have your own church or your own group. Then get involved all the way. Stop wading in the shallows and get serious, leaving a life that will glorify God and prepare your family and your legacy the right way. Dive into the deep waters of God!
Think about it—who’s praying for you regularly? Who knows the battles you’re fighting?
Who could pull you back when you’re headed toward danger?
If the answer is no one, then you’re already on thin ice.
Scripture doesn’t give us wiggle room here:
- “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
- “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)
Listen, I am dead serious about this. You may think you can fight this battle on your own—but battles fought alone are usually lost.
So here’s the challenge: Don’t wait until you’re drowning to throw a rope. Don’t wait until temptation has already consumed you to wish you had help. Don’t wait until you’re too old to look back and wish you had lived differently.
Every boy dreams of being that man—respected, steady, courageous. Every old man wishes he had been. You’re still breathing, which means there’s still time to choose.
So I’m asking you: Who are you going to invite into your life—today? Not “someday.” Not when it feels comfortable. Not after the crisis hits. Today.
Because the man you’ll be remembered as tomorrow is built by the choices you make today.
Brothers, step out of isolation. Swallow the pride. Knock on the door. Make the call. Ask the question: “Will you walk with me? Will you help me stay faithful? Will you help me finish strong?”
Someday, when your story is told, let them say:
“There goes a man I fully respected—he walked with God, he lived with honor, and he finished well.”
Father,
I come before You today knowing I cannot walk this life alone. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Forgive me for my pride—for pretending I am strong enough and hiding the battles I should have brought into the light. Break down my walls, Lord, and tear out every excuse.
I don’t want to waste my life and be remembered for nothing. Your Word says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). I want to be remembered as a man who walked with You, who fought hard, who stood firm, and who lived with integrity. But I cannot do this without Your Spirit, and without brothers who walk beside me.
Lord, Your Word declares, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Give me the courage to seek out men of faith, to open my heart, and to let them sharpen me. “Two are better than one… for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). Surround me with brothers who will not let me quit, who will pray when I am weak, and who will pull me back when I wander.
Father, make me a man worth respecting—not for my own glory, but because my life points to Christ. Let me be able to say at the end of my race, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). And when my story is told, may it be said: “Here was a man who lived for Jesus, and left behind a life worth imitating.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I started hosting an Online Discovering Jesus 5-week class last night. Week 2 will be on Tuesday nights
Sept. 9th, at 7pm ONLINE for people of all ages. Please send me a note if you would like to attend or know someone who would like to grow their faith. If you have a big screen at home, you can create a time to invite friends or neighbors who would like to join you in a Home Group for 5 weeks. Let’s get creative. Here is your link to join us on Tuesday. If you desire to invite someone send them this email and just have them join us. https://meet.google.com/cfm-udos-iks
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Don’t give up on me yet. The King will Come – Yet
