Category: Basic Training

As I continue making my case for 2025 as The Year for Better Male Friendships, let me state again that I believe the real problem is not the number of friendships but the quality of those friendships. In this next post, I describe the basic type of friendships many men have these days, and provide a teaser about the best type of friendship he needs: the GodBuddy friendship that I will describe in the next post.  My Case (So Far) for Better Male Friends So far in this series, I’ve written about why experts claim there is an epidemic of loneliness in the U.S. and a Decline of Friendship. I also wrote that many people feel they have No Time for Friends since we spend so much time on our smartphones and social media. Unfortunately, this has also led to Male Disengagement from the Real World because The Effect of the

Throughout this series about 2025 as The Year for Better Male Friendships, I’ve highlighted experts’ concerns about the growing epidemic of loneliness. Some point to The Decline of Friendship as a key factor. Others argue that social media has made staying connected easier—even as smartphones contribute to Male Disengagement from the Real World, leaving us with fewer close friends. However, I believe the real issue isn’t the number of friendships we have today but rather their quality. This post explores the biggest challenges men face and how cultivating deeper, more meaningful friendships can help us overcome these challenges; ultimately making us better men. The Root of All Our Problems: Pride If you ask any man about his biggest challenges, you’re likely to hear a multitude of issues. These may include financial struggles, job stress, marriage and raising children, time management, anger, and lack of confidence, among others. The list could

As I continue making the case for 2025 as The Year for Better Male Friendships, let’s look at just how many relationships a man can and should have. In this excerpt from my book, Get Out of Your Man Cave: The Crisis of Male Friendships, I describe the limits of our social network and suggest the optimal number of friends one should have.  We are Designed for Community As human beings, we are designed for relationships. As I stated in my last post, Don’t Be “That Guy”, author and pastor, John Ortberg’s book, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them explains that for all our quirks, sins, and jagged edges, we need each other. In community, we come together as a group of flawed, abnormal people for life-changing relationships. But how big should your community be?  One of the key parts of my GodBuddy theory is that men need