"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
II Timothy 2:2
The MD5 Bell Curve A bell curve is a type of graph that is used to visualize the distribution of a set of chosen values across a specified group that tend to have central, normal values as peak with low and high extremes tapering off relatively symmetrically on either side. A bell curve generally shows about 10% of a population excel or thrive, 10% wither away, and 80% are stuck in the middle. How does the bell curve relate to MD5? Defining Reality We began the MD5 process with an assessment that helped us “define reality” so that we could make course corrections as needed. Periodically, it is good that we reassess where we are so that we continually adjust our course to ensure we arrive at the intended destination. A collective assessment reveals we are experiencing the bell curve distribution described above in MD5. For example, only 37% of us are opening the Flashbacks each week. Attendance at dinner and speaker functions has now dipped below 30%. The monthly meeting of the MD5 Lab is attended by 10% of the men that completed MD5. Breaking bread together and investing in like-minded Christian men does not seem to be as intentional as it may have once been. The Men God Calls us to Be In the MD5 Orientation, every cohort member is challenged to live a life of Biblical Manhood. A life focused on closing the gap from the men we are to the men God calls us to be. A purpose filled life with minimal regrets. As the world attempts to make men into amorphous blobs of passivity, we as MD5 men want to be more and live with intentionality as God calls us to do. Remember the Feeling Please take yourself back in your mind to Red Letter Day and remember the emotions that were stirred deep inside of you. There has yet to be a cohort that wasn’t deeply moved on that day. Further, the intentional path you wanted to take was extremely clear the day you read your Life Plan aloud to your cohort of men. Being a man of purpose and intentionality were so motivating at that time. Live Intentionally Let’s not go meandering along, bumping the guardrails of life and hope that it works out. I can assure you, we won’t be pleased with the final results. Let’s accept responsibility to be that purpose driven man that God call us to be. Be the man that leads courageously in all areas of life because someone is always watching the example we model. Opportunities abound to step-up and invest eternally in other like-minded Christian men that attended MD5 with us. We devoted a year of our lives to the MD5 brotherhood. Please, let’s not let that energy die and that year be for nothing. Challenged, Now Reset! If this Flashback seems as though I’m calling us out, you’re correct. Let’s ask ourselves, “Where do I fall on the bell curve?” Please take this Flashback as a challenge and reset our energy on living out Biblical Manhood. We are all in the struggle together and none of us have this figured out. I’m always willing to buy you breakfast and discuss how the MD5 resources are here to help. If I only hear from one man, this Flashback is worth it.
Roger Smithson MD5 Facilitator
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