In this email ...- FEATURE ARTICLE: If You Want Friends, You’ve Got to Value Them
- You're Invited: Renewed Man Summer
Gathering -- August 1-3
- Share These Emails With Friends
- Where This Content Comes From ... and how to get more
- FIND OUT MORE ... (about me)
|
- FEATURE ARTICLE: If You Want Friends, You’ve Got to Value Them
|
|
|
|
“I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street.” – Virginia Woolf
Woolf’s line is both funny and sobering. It’s true, isn’t it? Many of the friendships we lose aren’t because of some big blow-up, but simply because we stopped paying attention. We let them fade. Before we beat ourselves up over this, let’s be honest: We can’t maintain close friendships with everyone. And not every friendship is worth holding on to. Some relationships drain us, rather than build us up — and letting those fade can be a good thing. But that doesn’t let us off the hook. The real question is: Which friendships are worth the time and energy it takes to nurture them? Who are the people you want in your corner? Choosing Your Inner CircleWhen I
teach this in the Boot Camp, I issue a simple but powerful challenge: Find five people Five people you trust. People you
enjoy. People who “get” you — and who will encourage you to grow into the person you’re meant to be. These friends should be the ones who: - Know the truth about you — the real struggles, not just the highlight
reel.
- Support you in the struggle — even if they don’t share it, they care enough to walk with you through it.
- Bring joy — you actually like being around them (this matters more than we admit).
A Note About Support
GroupsIf you’re part of a support group — whether that’s Renewed Man, a church ministry, or a 12-Step recovery program — not everyone in that group is going to be in your “five.” And that’s okay. Some people in the group will share your struggle but not your chemistry. (They might be good people, but you just don’t click.) Others you may never fully trust. That’s normal. Your five might include people inside and outside of that group. Why This MattersFriendship
like this changes everything. It strengthens your mental and emotional health. It shapes the way you show up in your marriage and your work. It grounds you when life gets chaotic. Relationships like these are among the most valuable treasures in life. Don’t take them
for granted.
|
|
|
|
Next Action:
Today’s action step is to keep thinking through the list of friends you can count on for support. You might put your list of friends and potential friends into three
categories: - People you know and trust, who know your story, and are important friends.
- People you are just getting to know in the program who seem like they could become friends.
- Old and trusted friends who could probably
become part of the cohort of supportive friends … but you need to invest more in those friendships. Maybe they don’t know much about your story, or maybe you’ve lost touch with them, and it’s time to renew or deepen the relationship.
As you look at this list of names, are there people you would
like to reach out to? People you want to spend some time with? Make a plan to do that in the next week.
2. You're Invited: Renewed Man Summer Gathering Coming to Minnesota on August 1-3 We’re excited to announce our first-ever in-person gathering for the Renewed Man community! This program has brought together men from all over the U.S. — and even a couple of other countries — but until now, it’s all been virtual. This summer, we’re changing that. For the first time, we’ll gather face-to-face for a weekend of connection, growth, and celebration. And this event isn’t just for guys already in the program.
If you’ve been curious about Renewed Man or want to learn more, you’re welcome to come and check it out. It’s a great opportunity to experience the heart of the program and meet some of the men who’ve been
walking this journey. Here are the details: - Location: Bethel Church, Princeton, MN
- Starts Friday evening, August 1 with
dinner and welcome
- Saturday, August 2 will include training sessions, group connection time, and a celebration dinner
- Sunday, August 3 we’ll wrap up with worship and a “Next Steps” conversation over lunch
More details will be coming soon, but for now, mark your calendar. We’d love to see you there — whether you’re already part of the community or just taking your first step. Things we'll be
addressing at this gathering: - Why Churches Are So Bad at Helping People With Addiction
- Taking Men's (and Women's) Ministry to Another Level
- Lessons Learned on the Recovery Journey
- The Renewed Life: A new technology for today's challenges
- The Spiritual Question of
Recovery: What are you Willing to Die For?
Simply respond to this email if you'd like to hear more!
3. Share These Emails With Friends Share this with a friend, or on social media. Here's the button to sign up for this newsletter:
4. Where This Content Comes From ... and how to get more Much of what I share in these newsletters comes from the Renewed Man Program — a coaching and teaching series I developed to help men grow in emotional strength, relational integrity, and spiritual depth. At its heart, the program is about cultivating a deeper kind of self-mastery — not through willpower alone, but through wisdom, support, and spiritual clarity. One of the core areas we focus on is self-control — particularly when it comes to sexuality. In a world saturated with online erotic content, this is a battle many men face daily. But Renewed Man doesn’t stop there. The principles we explore are intentionally holistic, touching every part of life: how we handle stress, how we communicate, how we lead, and how we heal from the
wounds we carry. While the program is created with men in mind, the truths we explore are not gender-specific. I’ve found that many of the same insights bring clarity and encouragement to women as well — which is why I include them here, in this space. If you’ve been reading these reflections and feel ready to go deeper, I want to invite you to consider joining the Renewed Man Boot Camp. It’s a 12-week immersion where we walk through these life-changing principles together. Each week includes a short video teaching, daily practices, and access to a support or coaching group that I personally lead. It’s not easy work. But it’s good work. And it’s worth doing.
Find out more about the Renewed Man Program
here.
|
|
|
My name is Mark Brouwer, and I’m a spiritual teacher who serves as a pastor, writer, speaker, coach and mentor. You're receiving this because of our connection through church ministry or one of the renewal programs I lead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
