From the Home Place

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are also doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

January 30, 2026

Five a.m. and it’s 30 degrees, reaching up to 36 for a high. We had snow most of the day yesterday, and we are supposed to get more today. It would appear that January is going out like a lion.

Last night I had the privilege of visiting with five young men, all under the age of 30 from 4 different states that all have ties in Wyoming. We plan to meet weekly to study about what it means to be male and what it looks like to be a man of God. I consider it an immense privilege to visit with these young men about topics they are each wrestling with. As the Bible states, “Iron sharpens Iron.”

One of the five young men has a group of older gentlemen that he meets with on a weekly basis. I asked him to share what that “men’s breakfast” group means to him; I could see the yearning in each of the other guys. I have heard it said that “masculinity is endowed,” and I believe it to be so. As such, we need to give our young men the opportunity to be around older men!

As a young boy, adulthood, and on into adulthood, I was very blessed to have many older men who took me on as a part of their life mission. You see, back then, ranchers neighbored, to the point that I worked with other men almost as often than I worked with my dad.

Men like George, Orman, Eldon, Clayton, Jim, Bebe, Jimmy and several others built into my life on a regular basis. They shared their wisdom on working cattle, breaking horses, fixing fences, pulling wells and doctoring sick critters. More importantly they taught me the value of fighting for a woman, and to never fight over a woman. They each worked at developing my work ethic, my character and my view of humanity, but more importantly they helped me figure out me. These men taught me how to read both animals and humans. They each contributed into my life, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

All of these men except one, no longer walk this ‘ol ball of dirt, so now it is my turn to build into the lives of young men. A job that I cannot accomplish alone. They each need older men to set a clear track for these young fellers to follow.

You see my friends, I strongly believe that none of us live our lives for ourselves. We have been placed here for those around us. It doesn’t matter whether we are male or female, there are those around us who would be blessed if we were to consistently build into their lives.

Ladies, I am of the opinion that each of you possess skills that young ladies would love to learn. You each have wisdom about being a woman in general, and more specifically about being a woman of God. If you have experience of how to be a good wife, a mom and all of the other hats you wear, there is quite likely a young lady, or group thereof, who would be blessed to have you build into their lives.

As older adults, we each have talents and wisdom to share with the younger folks around us. You see, it takes no special abilities to be able to talk with someone else about the valuable lessons you have learned about life, especially a spiritual life. There are young people in your community, in your church, who need who you are.

May I challenge you? We each receive the same twenty-fours each day, we get to choose how we spend those hours. Will we waste time, or will we use time? Do you want to do more with the life you have left? If so, then use some of it to influence those younger than yourself.

I’m of the opinion that one of the major reasons our nation is in the condition that it is in, is because older people have quit building into the lives of others. Let’s face it, if you are over 50, you have seen more sunrises than you will ever see sunsets. Why not use the days that you have left to leave your thumb print upon the life of a younger adult? After all, building into the life of a younger adult is much better than nagging at the older person you live with, or those around you.

Come on friends, one of the things we can still do is help someone build a life worth living!

Building into others with you, Neal