The following is an excerpt from The Standard by Josh Khachadourian. It’s a featured Speakeasy selection, and there are still limited review copies available for qualified reviewers.
THE #1 FEAR MEN HAVE IS BEING A FAILURE…
There is a deep need in the heart of every man to achieve greatness, overcome challenges and pursue excellence. At the core of our beings we are hard-wired to overcome obstacles, compete and win. We want to ‘have it all.’ In our quest to discover our life’s meaning we pick up shallow pursuits, get side tracked constantly and find it easy to lose our course as we map out our goals and pursue our ambitions. Underneath all of our busy activity is our need to upgrade every area of our life, a desire to play bigger and take our game to the next level.
Many men today are searching for meaning. Our search to have it all is connected with our search for significance. Never before has there been a time where we have so much information available to us through our present-day media machine. Right now endless shelves of books, internet articles, blogs and podcasts are waiting to be downloaded. We have no shortage of opinions and theories on the topic of masculinity and what true manhood is.
The down side to such readily-available media is that everyone has a platform…whether they speak truth or not. It can be overwhelming and confusing as to who has the corner on what true masculinity is and how manhood should be defined. So many voices have emerged to lead, shape and show men ‘the way,’ which has only exasperated the current crisis go-ing on with men. It’s no wonder many are confused. There is no question masculinity is under attack. We face a real crisis and real men need to emerge.
In my quest to have it all, I paid a high price in my investment of time and dollars. My quest led me to years of training. I read countless books, consumed endless hours of media, took courses, and worked with coach-es, only to discover that the man I was aspiring to be was found in a book written thousands of years ago. I am talking about the ancient wisdom contained within the Bible.
In my journey to become the man I always wanted to be, I discovered an often-overlooked model Jesus provides men. I found a pattern in His life through what He models, His methods and His actions. He is the standard by which you and I are called to live up to, and once you see this everything changes.
THERE IS A CRISIS AMONG MEN
There is a debate raging over masculinity. Influencers, movements and corporations are fighting to define what it means for you to be a man. With definitions like ‘toxic masculinity’ invading the conversation, there is a tug of war over defining what the standards are for men. If you feel like your identity as a man is constantly in the crosshairs, make no mis-take…it is, and it’s not your fault.
Today’s man is suffering from:
- Fatherlessness
- Lack of purpose
- Lack of identity
- Lack of vision
We have lost the definition of manhood; men are searching for their sense of value and meaning. Today’s man is chasing status because he lost his significance, he does not know his authority and does not respect him-self. The results of this is leaving men in a lethargic state, complacent and bored, meandering through mediocrity and it’s carrying a devastating impact on our families and our society.
Praise for The Standard
“First structural analysis of Christ I’ve read. It is a smooth read, entertaining and informative. Really shows Jesus’ human side in all of its aspects. Good book to go back to to check yourself as life rampages on. Lots of Biblical references and self-help techniques (‘Coaching‘ sections). Highly recommendable.”
—Amazon Reviewer
“What I love the most is the structure of the book. Can you read it like a normal book? Absolutely. Can you also use it as a devotional? Yes! I enjoy the fact that I can pick it up and if there’s something that sticks out to me (like an area where I need to improve), I can go to that section and receive insight and some coaching advice so that I can apply what I’m learning in my life.”
—Amazon Reviewer
“This book has challenged me in more ways than one. I had never thought much about the humanity of Jesus and how many years he spent quietly being diligent as carpenter and serving his neighbors and community. He was a man that was hardwired just like you and I, but also demonstrated restraint and diligence when needed. He would do excellent work as a carpenter and would later use those skills in his ministry. He stayed in his lane and never waivered from his Fathers calling. He lived quietly for 30 years and then changed the world in 3. As men we sometimes want to speed up the process to reach success and achievement.”
—Amazon Reviewer
“If you’re a man, and you’ve been looking to all of the examples around you for manhood yet you still find holes in those examples you need this book. If you’ve been scouring the pages of books trying to find a good framework for manhood as a supplement, then look no further than this book. What Joshua Khachadourian has put together is a book the peels back the layers of who Jesus is and lays the groundwork for the One and Only example for manhood. As you turn the pages you will begin to see all the reasons why Jesus is the model for manhood. But it doesn’t end there, Josh calls you to take action in your everyday life and challenges you to go the pages of the Bible to draw even more out of all we’ve missed before.”
—Amazon Reviewer
About the Author
Josh Khachadourian is a husband, father, leader, coach and host of the Raising The Standard podcast. Josh has spent the last 15 years ascending the corporate ladder in a Fortune 500 company where he focused on building high performing teams and developing best in class leaders. Josh has encountered and observed the pressures today’s men are facing. Most men are grappling for identity and struggling through challenges in life without a plan. Jesus provides a plan and sets a standard that is relatively unknown to the modern Christian man.
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