In all the roles I've been privileged to play in life, I've seen that men in our society are emotionally disconnected from each other and from God. But we need masculine relationships-friendships with other men, not just marriage and family. We need other men to hold us accountable in our actions and in our beliefs. God uses our relationships with other men to reveal His character to us. These close friendships help us define who we're supposed to be: men. And not just men, but men after God's own heart.
The importance of masculine relationships has diminished in modern society. We men have lost our masculine identities and we are playing roles in society today that are not in our character, not in our nature. I thought that manhood was an end in itself, that manhood was symbolized by success in wartime or in sports. But I now realize that manhood is the vehicle to the kind of life men are supposed to lead-where our most important missions are love of God, love of spouse, love of family, love of community, and love of country. - CHAD HENNINGS
CHAD HENNINGS played nine seasons for the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s. Before that he was an Air Force fighter pilot who flew more than forty humanitarian missions during the first Gulf War. He won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the country while playing football for the Air Force Academy. Currently, he is a husband, father, businessman, and speaker for Christian and business audiences.