You were made out of the dirt, molded from the clay, and that’s also where you are called to return.  It’s where you relate—the field of contest—whether it’s a football field, a baseball field, a golf course, or even a battlefield.  It’s on the field of contest that man clashes with other men sharpening his skills and strengthening his resolve.

Women relate face-to-face sharing feelings; men relate shoulder-to-shoulder facing challenges.  A woman tells you what she feels; a man tells you what he thinks.

The Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron, a man sharpens another man.” Iron does not sharpen with a caress but with a clash.  You become a better man by the competition.  The struggle strengthens you.

Do you always win?

No, but you become a better man.  The competition conditions you.

The field of contest has always been in the heart of a man.  Early man left the home to hunt in the field, to kill a wild beast, and to bring it home as a prize for his family.  The family celebrated his victory by cooking and feasting on his conquest.  At dinner, he was served first, because he was “The Man!”

Even though we still leave the house to enter the field of contest and return with provisions, something seems lost in translation when all we bring home is a paycheck.  The family doesn’t celebrate dad’s victories anymore.  Celebration has become expectation.  The family feels cheated if the money isn’t there when they want the latest cultural phenomenon.  The husband/father no longer receives honor for being the provider.  The dignity of vocation no longer commands respect.

“Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness,
is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of man.”

—John Eldredge

The adventurous spirit slowly dies when a man has to live his whole life refined in designer clothes.  Sometimes a man needs to get back out into the dirt and play as he did when he was a child.

So how about it, men? What do you do to get your “fingers in the dirt” and reclaim the adventurous spirit?

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This article is an excerpt from the book Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood by Neil Kennedy.  To learn more about Fivestarman or to order your copy of Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood please visit www.fivestarman.com.

You are free and welcome to re-publish, re-post, and in general share this article with any and all, so long as you keep all credits and links intact. For reprint rights, please contact us at info@fivestarman.com.

Washington (CNN) – Trevor Bayne may have won the Daytona 500 on Sunday, but a small charity he name-dropped will share in the spoils of victory.

The 20-year-old NASCAR driver was racing in just his second Sprint Cup competition and is now etched in the record books as the youngest driver to win the sports’ biggest race.

“I never thought in a million years we were gonna win our first one,” Bayne told CNN Monday morning. “It’s incredible.”

During his post-race news conference, Bayne was asked how he would spend some of the $1,463,813 purse he won from the race.

“I don’t know if I will splurge. I am definitely not putting it up for retirement yet, I am going to stay around for awhile,” Bayne said.

“Hopefully this money will help us get some more races, and there are a lot of foundations and ministries that need support. Back2Back ministries in Mexico is one, and there are a lot of good organizations that need some help, and we will help them out as much as we can.”

In a sport that has ads plastered over nearly every inch of the drivers and their cars, it was a big deal for Bayne to namedrop the Christian charity.

Trevor Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

Back2Back is an independent Christian charity working with orphans and the needy in Mexico, Nigeria and India. Bayne was introduced to the charity by Lonnie Clouse, a former chaplain for NASCAR with Motor Racing Outreach, who is now on staff with Back2Back.

“I assure you it was nothing short of miraculous.  Trever called me yesterday from the media center after the win with tears in his eyes and we prayed together over the phone,” Clouse said by phone from Monterrey, Mexico.

“This was part of God’s script and God’s plan for him.  He’s using his platform to talk about those with no voice and [about] orphan awareness.”

Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) provides weekend church services and Bible studies for NASCAR drivers and their teams who can’t get away from the track on race weekends. Clouse was MRO’s traveling chaplain for the NASCAR Nationwide series.

“Bayne was a faithful attendee at all our Nationwide Bible studies.  He would sit in the front row.  He would get up and read scripture or open in prayer, whatever we needed,” Clouse said.

Bayne traveled to Mexico to work with Clouse in November. “He was down here in Mexico staying with us and serving along side us helping with orphans,” Clouse said.

“We went and visited orphanages. He made quite an impression here. He was out playing soccer with the orphans.  We huddled them all around, and Trevor got to talk to them about what he did.  They were asking him how fast he went.  Most of them had no clue who he was and what he did,” Clouse said.

Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

After the race Clouse gathered the orphans together and filled them in on Bayne’s big win. “It was exciting for them to hear how well he did.”

Clouse was ordained in a non-denominational church. MRO pulls chaplains from many different denominations. Clouse said Bayne is member of a church near his home but gets most of his spiritual nourishment on the road from MRO.

For the former chaplain, all those Bible studies at the race track paid off when Bayne was in the winners circle.

“He summed up the two greatest commandments, ‘Love the lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  He got up on that stage and he was able to articulate those things beautifully.  It was a very very proud moment for me and for MRO.”

In this video, Bear Grylls of Man vs. Wild fame discusses his faith with Nicky Gumbel, the founder of Alpha Course. Started in London in 1979 as a brush-up course for rusty churchgoers, the Alpha Course has become a worldwide phenomenon and is now held in 163 countries. It is estimated that more than 13 million people worldwide have attended an Alpha Course.

The Alpha Course comprises 15 sessions held over 10 weeks and is free and open to everyone. No question is out of bounds, and participants are free to say as much or as little as they wish as they make up their own minds about the teachings of Jesus. Spirited discussions often ensue on topics ranging from Who is God? and Why am I here? to Why is there suffering? and Is God a delusion?

To learn more about Alpha or to find an Alpha course near you, visit www.alpha.org.

Brian Jennings shares his passion of living for Jesus on and off the waves. http://www.ransom.tv

While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard… literally.

In 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel. While taking a late-night walk, Helen Mason-widowed by war-discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann’s uniform, Helen is prepared to leave him to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.

Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion The Heart Mender offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts to create a future.

Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith, and forgiveness illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.

The Heart Mender

Release Date May 4, 2010
Click Here To Pre-Order

Wiley Petersen, from Fort Hall, Idaho, dreamed of being a Professional Bull Rider since he was ten years old. He became a devoted follower of Jesus Christ when he was eighteen and now uses the platform he has as a Pro Bull Rider to share his faith with everyone he meets.

“Since the day that I committed my life to Christ, my eyes have been opened to so many amazing things that God is doing. My life now has purpose. Everyday I fall more in love with my Savior and best friend.

I know that God is calling me into some sort of ministry (as He does everyone who surrenders to Him), and I just take life one day at a time. I know that I must keep my eyes on Him and my ears open to His voice.

Since I was ten years old, I have dreamed of being a Professional Bull Rider and now with God, I have seen that dream come true. I know that the same can be true for everyone. All we have to do is put God first in our lives and be willing to do what He wants us to do. Everything falls into place when we let God do the work.” -Wiley Peteresen

Learn more about Wiley at www.wileypetersen.com

Nascar Driver Blake Koch is bringing the message of hope to the fast tracks of Nascar thanks to his sponsors GodSpeaks.com and Daystar Television Network.

Blake has been racing cars for the past three years. In 2009 Blake finished 8th in the final point standings in the NASCAR Camping World West Series, runner up for the Sunoco Rookie of the year award, and made two NASCAR Nationwide Series starts finishing 17th on the lead lap on his first Nationwide race. Prior to this type of racing, Blake raced motocross for 8 years with numerous accomplishments and made a very good name for himself and for his sponsors.

Blake was considered one of the top racers in Florida and one of the top 20 racers in the Nation. With a noticeable natural talent and passion for racing, Blake will do what it takes to succeed in his new racing career.

“My goal is to win races this year, give God all of the glory and I will do what ever it takes to make it happen!”

Learn more about Blake and his racing schedule at http://www.blakekoch.com.

1. Each day read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month (31 chapters).
Choose a modern translation Bible which will better enable you to understand what the scripture says.

2. Choose to obey the principles of scriptural living.
A principle is a unwavering truth that you can apply with guaranteed results. Proverbs is filled with principles for navigating life.

3. Refuse to be a weak man.
Paul told his young friend Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your youth, but be an example.”

4. Condition your flesh.
You must make the decision to discipline your flesh. Your body is under your control. You must condition it as if you are in training for a contest.

5. Keep your eyes fixed upon purity.
Don’t allow yourself to “gaze” upon what is evil. Job made a covenant with his eyes so that he would not forfeit what he was working for as a reward.

6. Watch your mouth.
Don’t use language that reveals ignorance. Cursing or foul language simply exposes you as an empty headed person. Learn to speak with descriptive words that no one else uses.

7.  Keep your head cool.
Don’t take any substance that causes you to be mentally out of control.  The most dangerous moment in a young man’s life is through confusion.  There are people that want to get you out of your senses to take advantage of you.  Keep your head.

8. Stay focused.
Be single-minded in the pursuit of what you want in life. Don’t allow yourself to give up. Encourage yourself. Be your own coach. Learn from mentors. Read books.