Stephen Arterburn - The Soul of a Hero: Becoming the Man of Strength and Purpose You Were Created to Be

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The Soul of a Hero: Becoming the Man of Strength and Purpose You Were Created to Be

Copyright 2021 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of lion figurine copyright Nicole Mason/Stocksy. All rights reserved.

Designed by Mark Anthony Lane II

Authors are represented by the literary agency of WordServe Literary Group, www.wordserveliterary.com.

The stories in this book are true, but in some cases we have changed the names and identifying details of the people involved to protect their privacy.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-1-4964-1371-0

ISBN 978-1-4964-2761-8 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-1372-7 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-2762-5 (Apple)

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After a combined seventy years of helping men overcome everything from feeling aimless and without purpose to private addictions and a myriad of complex male issues, we have come to believe that a high percentage of guys are lost, off track, and disconnected from their true calling: to be a hero.

Be honest now: Does the word hero resonate with you, or does it miss the mark, leaving you feeling cold and disconnected?

Maybe youre thinking, Whats heroic about my life?

Well, here are four things you need to know:

1. God created every man to have a heroic heart, soul, and mind. Its part of the image of God in us.
2. Theres a heroic path and purpose for every man, regardless of temperament, personality, or calling.
3. You have an enemy who will do everything he can to undermine your heroic journey.
4. If youre willing to fight (which is part of the heroic journey), you can uncover your heroic heart and pursue your heroic purpose.

So, who is this heroic man youre designed to be? Well answer that question more fully over the next seven chapters, but heres a working definition to get you started:

A hero is a man who knows his place in Gods eyes.

A hero is a man who knows his purpose on earth.

A hero is a man who enjoys healthy relationships.

A hero is a man who lives with a sense of meaning.

A hero is a man who lives with a spirit of adventure.

In other words, a hero is a man who is spiritually secure, strongly connected, and certain of his purpose. In the Bible, we see that heroism is built on strong character, courageous action, unselfishness, and faithfulness, even in the worst of circumstances.

Seriously, what guy wouldnt want to live that way?

As we go along, well take a deeper look at what it means to be a hero, and well explore how the hero within us evolves as we journey from boyhood to manhood.

In the meantime, lets approach it from a different angle. If youre at all like us, youre able to grasp deeper meanings more quickly and easily through stories you can relate to. So lets begin with three stories that illustrate the soul of a hero.

Eli began life with a bang. A natural athlete and full of energy, he spent his high school years working out and playing football, enjoying the accolades and adrenaline rush of being the team hero. College, on the other hand, was a bit of a blur. Eli would say he minored in business and history and majored in sports and fun.

After graduation, he started working at an accounting firm. The money was good, but for Eli the job was mind-numbing. His boredom grew, and any sense of adventure or accomplishment shriveled to insignificance in the daily drudgery of crunching numbers.

It was also a desk job, and Eli soon found himself out of shape, tired, and without much motivation to get off the couch after work. Within two years, this general malaise grew into full-blown depression. By the time he called in to the New Life radio show asking for help, his despair was so deep it made him want to give up on life. He knew something had to change, but what?

Then theres Jesse, a classic Renaissance man who found his meaning and purpose in whatever creative or intellectual endeavor he pursued. Even as a kid, he loved music, art, writing poetry, and reading literary fiction. His dad, a sports enthusiast and sometimes angry alcoholic, was open about his disappointment with Jesses bookishness and lack of interest in athletics.

When Jesse was eighteen, he left his small Southern town for New York City, where he found work as an assistant copyeditor at a trendy magazine. In time, he met and married Jen, a practical thinker and upbeat young woman who balanced out the cerebral, angsty, artsy, sometimes melancholy parts of his personality. Despite their differences, they shared a love of nature. Walks in Central Park became part of their daily routine. They both had a quirky sense of humor and loved going to local theater productions.

But even though Jen was cheerful and fun to be with, she didnt enjoy philosophy, wasnt a reader, and didnt ponder the meaning of life the way Jesse did. Sometimes he wished Jen could be the kind of companion who enjoyed discussions of ideas, theories, and beliefs. For the most part, though, he was left to find these kinds of fulfilling interactions at work.

Over time, Jesse formed a close friendship with Stella, one of the bookish, thoughtful women in the office. When he conversed with Stella about what he had been reading or contemplating, he felt alive. He came to see me (Dave) when he realized he was falling for Stella in ways that worried him. He loved Jen, but his inability to connect with her in deeper, intellectual conversations negatively affected his feelings of closeness to her. Stella seemed to fill an empty spot in his life. Was he in love with her?

Finally theres Ryan, a successful corporate salesman who accepted an early retirement package when his company downsized to stay afloat. His kids were grown and gone, and all four of his grandkids were in high school. During his first year of retirement, Ryan and his wife traveled the country, and he also played lots of golf.