Men U: Courses For A Transformed Life

By Dave Wertheim

Your History Does Not Need to Dictate Your Destiny

Author Dave Wertheim understands that past challenges and setbacks can deter you from being the husband, father, friend, and leader you truly want to be. Using common situations that every man encounters, Men U offers courses that can reshape your decisions, relationships, and spiritual life, leading to a life that's really worth living.

You’ll find valuable insights that will inspire and motivate you to

- Rekindle your love affair with your wife
- Build up and nurture your children
- Live a single life that's God-honoring
- Demonstrate integrity and create relational bridges at your workplace
- Model wise financial stewardship

“I know of no other businessman who has had as much impact as Dave on the spiritual lives of men.”
—Ray Johnston, Senior Pastor Bayside Church, Author of What If It’s True?

“Dave Wertheim’s Men U Course provides a clear pathway for men once they get connected to church that is intentional. The church needs muscle for its mission locally in the form of leaders who stand in the gap between pastors and the people. This resource delivers the muscle.”
—Kenny Luck, Men’s Pastor at Saddleback Church, Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, Author of Every Man, God’s Man, Fight, Dream, and Risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Wertheim
• Release date: Aug 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310459184

Dave Wertheim

Dave Wertheim has been mentoring and discipling men for more than twenty-eight years. Raised in a Jewish family in the New York City housing projects, he came to faith in Christ at twenty-six. His own spiritual journey provides keen insights into how men struggle, process, grow, and ultimately are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Dave utilizes his thirty years of business experience in computer marketing and lessons from leadership in churches to relate and minister to men from all walks of life. Dave is Founder/President of Men U For Transformed Lives. He helps churches to develop thriving ministries for men, small groups, strengthening marriages, and discipling leaders. At Bayside Church, Granite Bay, California, Dave founded and directed the men's ministry for many years and served in numerous spiritual leadership roles. Dave is a graduate of The Ohio State University (MS), Columbus, Ohio and Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (BS), Brooklyn, New York. He loves basketball, beaches, and basking in the sun. Married to Rose for more than thirty-seven years, he currently resides in Roseville, California. They have three adult sons, Paul, Rick, and Michael, who are walking faithfully with the Lord.

Book preview

YOUR HISTORY DOES NOT NEED TO DICTATE YOUR DESTINY

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Author Dave Wertheim understands that past challenges and setbacks can deter you from being the husband, father, friend, and leader you truly want to be.

Using common situations that every man encounters, Men U offers courses that can reshape your decisions, relationships, and spiritual life, leading to a life that is really worth living.

You’ll find valuable insights that will inspire and motivate you to:

Rekindle your love affair with your wife

Build up and nurture your children

Live a single life that’s God-honoring

Demonstrate integrity and create relational bridges at your workplace

Model wise financial stewardship

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I know of no other businessman who has had as much impact as Dave on the spiritual lives of men.

—Ray Johnston, Senior Pastor Bayside Church, Author of What If It’s True?

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Dave Wertheim’s Men U Course provides a clear pathway for men once they get connected to church that is intentional. The church needs muscle for its mission locally in the form of leaders who stand in the gap between pastors and the people. This resource delivers the muscle.

—Kenny Luck, Men’s Pastor at Saddleback Church, Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, Author of Every Man, God’s Man, Fight, Dream, and Risk.

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Dave Wertheim is President of Optimum Consulting. He helps churches to develop thriving ministries for men, small groups, strengthening marriages, and discipling leaders. At Bayside Church, Granite Bay, California, Dave founded and directed the church’s men’s ministry for many years. He is a respected and sought-after speaker, trainer, motivator and encourager. He and his wife, Rose, have three grown children and reside in Roseville, California.

© 2009 by Dave S. Wertheim

Smashwords edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked (

niv

) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (Amplified) are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Editor: Simon Presland, www.therightchoice.org

Cover Design: Dave Eaton

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Published by:

Thriving Churches International

Box 230, Genoa, NV 89411

First printing, 2009

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN-13: 978-0-9716489-7-5

Praise for

Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life

"Dave Wertheim’s Men U Course provides a clear pathway for men once they get connected to church that is intentional. It meets a deep need that men are asking in the church which is: Now that you have me, what are you going to do with me? Men love clear and purposeful direction and that is what the men of your church will receive in abundance. The church needs muscle for its mission locally in the form of leaders who stand in the gap between pastors and the people. This resource delivers the muscle."

—Kenny Luck, Men’s Pastor at Saddleback Church, Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, Author of Every Man, God’s Man, Fight, Dream, and Risk.

This book is smart. It is wise. It is engaging. Many advice books offer great theory or a thorough survey of Scripture, but they’re hard to apply. Dave Wertheim’s book speaks to men right where they live and makes it easy to start benefiting from his lessons—today. This man, for one, is eternally grateful.

—Paul B. Carroll, co-author, Billion-Dollar Lessons: What You Can Learn From the Most Inexcusable Business Failures of the Last 25 Years.

"Dave Wertheim has done an excellent job of blending scripture, practical wisdom, and personal application. My challenge to any man who wants to grow spiritually is that he must do business with any issues that hinder his spiritual journey. Dave’s book will be a great help for you. Buy it and use it. I look forward to the series that follows in Men U."

—Rocky Fleming, Founder of Influencers, Author of The Journey to the Inner Chamber, The Prayer Cottage and the Sacred Garden, and The Journey.

"When I was called to serve as the Men’s Pastor of Bayside Church one of my first calls was to Dave Wertheim. Dave served as Bayside’s first Men’s Ministry Director, mentored the men who were leading most of the men’s small groups, facilitated the team that hosted the Men’s Retreats, served on the church board, and was the one guy I knew had the strategic thinking skills to guide me through the challenges I faced. It is very exciting that now men and churches all over the world will be able to access his practical and wise approach to life and ministry. Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life is a must read for any man who faces personal or professional challenges on the way to becoming all that God would call him to become."

—Greg Weisman, Men’s Ministry & Adventure Sports Pastor, Bayside Church

"Men U equips you to face the challenges of being a man, being married, and living the life you were meant to live. Be careful though. If you read and respond to the material in this book, your life may change forever! Men U does NOT fly at the 30,000 foot level. David will walk with you down the very real roads of life that we all travel and become your partner and friend. I encourage you to read, pray, and apply the truths in these pages."

—Dr. John Jackson, Executive Director of Thriving Churches International & Founding Pastor of Carson Valley Christian Center, Author of God-Size Your Church, PastorPreneur, and the Leveraging series.

"Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life is a compelling book motivating us to seek and do God’s will. Dave Wertheim’s words will strengthen your faith to both embrace God and invite Him to transform your life.

—Roger Crawford, Author of How High Can You Bounce?, Think Again! Discover the Possibilities Hidden in Plain Sight, and Playing from the Heart

"Dave Wertheim has been to the university and graduated with distinction. In Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life, Dave ‘Tells it like it is,’ ‘Puts the cookies on the lowest shelf,’ ‘Gives advice that real men who live in the real world’ will read and benefit from. Dave is a savvy businessman, loving husband, great dad, and devoted follower of the only ‘real man’ that ever lived, Jesus Christ. I was personally challenged by this book and I am sure you will be as well. Have a great time in Men U."

—Paul Friesen, Founder and Director Home Improvement Ministries, Couples Bible Study Leader for the New England Patriots, Author of Letters to My Daughters

"Men U by Dave Wertheim draws on his rich experience in business, as well as his love of mentoring, to go directly to the heart of the issues we face as men. From relationships in our homes, modeling wise financial stewardship, to living a life that’s God honoring, Dave relates what he has learned in an extremely practical, balanced way. The path of proven, Scripturally-based principles that he lays out, when followed, provides an invaluable asset to a man’s life. As I find myself in my fifth decade of mentoring men in the athletic arena, I wish I had this book to give to every individual with whom I have shared my life!"

—Jim Stump, Founder Sports Challenge

Praise from graduates for

Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life

Communications professional:

"For years, I went through the motions but was not living out my faith. Worse yet, I had hidden sin that kept me away from God and other godly men. Having now opened my life up to God, my wife and other men—I firmly believe the principles in Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life were the keys to unlock my intimacy with Christ, my wife, my family and my brothers in Christ. I simply don’t see how you get to know Christ and the life He has for you without these principles."

Rancher/businessman:

"When I first started Men U six months ago, I was initially taken back because I had never looked at my life this way before. Dave Wertheim’s no-nonsense, biblical approach has helped me view life through God’s perspective and impacted me dramatically. I’m now totally focused on allowing the Holy Spirit to transform every aspect of my life—for the rest of my life."

Sales professional:

"This book is from a rubber-meets-the-road believer. Dave Wertheim lives out the principles from Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life; effectively discipling men and helping them develop intimacy with Christ. I have been applying these practices for the past ten years and they have significantly broadened and deepened my effectiveness in walking with the Lord and loving others."

Research analyst:

There is simply no better process and material for living a godly life. While I’ve been walking faithfully with the Lord for a long time, applying these principles has developed my focus, commitment, and service to a whole new level.

Software quality assurance manager:

"As a new believer, there seemed to be so many paths to leading a godly life. Practicing the Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life process has enabled me to focus on the key areas that matter most. Over the last four years, this has transformed my walk with Christ, my marriage, my ability to lead at work, and the way I live my life."

CEO/President, Financial Services Company:

"As a lifelong Christian who is just beginning to ‘get it,’ I recently began applying the teachings from Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life. I heartily recommend it to all men who desire to grow spiritually. Dave Wertheim’s clear communication of God’s truths to men will speak to your heart in direct, practical, and challenging ways."

Land developer:

"For the past seven years I have been applying the precepts from Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life to search and understand Scripture to guide me toward living a Christ-centered life. Dave Wertheim’s example of godly living and his encouragement to read and apply God’s Word, and pray on a daily basis has deepened my intimacy with our Creator to a level I never thought possible. Thank you Dave for allowing your actions to speak more loudly than your words, and faithfully caring for and serving so many others."

Engineering program manager:

"When I received Christ into my life, I struggled with getting out of my comfort zone and changing old destructive habits. I soon realized my wavering was adversely affecting my marriage, parenting, and work. Adopting the biblical principles and disciplines from Men U has transformed my life. I have learned to become a devoted leader, a joyful servant, and consistent giver in my daily life. My focus and actions are becoming more and more Christ-centered, and God has blessed my life immensely."

Medical sales professional:

"The concepts and teachings in Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life have changed my life. I am a calmer, more focused father, husband and Christian. I am making the ‘Practical Tips’ a habit I practice daily, and it’s leading me to live a more god-honoring life. While I’m not fully ‘there’ yet, I’m making great strides and look forward to the day I can be teaching these principles to others."

CEO/Financial Planner:

"Dave Wertheim has been my bible study leader and a godly example to me for the past three years. I’ve been applying the Men U principles and my life and spiritual walk have been radically transformed. Through Men U I have discovered biblical truths in an easy to follow format that have brought to light many secrets that I had kept hidden for years. My marriage, family, and relationship with God have grown significantly through this process."

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

Prerequisite Course for Entering Men U

Course 1 Marriage 101:

Happy Wife, Happy Life

Course 2 Marriage 201:

Happy Wife, Happy Life

Course 3 Child Development 101:

If Your Faith Doesn’t Work At Home—Don’t Export It

Course 4 Child Development 201:

If Your Faith Doesn’t Work At Home—Don’t Export It

Course 5 Economics 101:

I Owe, I Owe, So Off to Work I Go

Course 6 Economics 201:

I Owe, I Owe, So Off to Work I Go

Course 7 Religious Studies 101:

Upon this Rock I Will Build My Church

Course 8 Religious Studies 201:

Upon this Rock I Will Build My Church

Course 9 Finance 101:

Investment Strategies

Course 10 Finance 201:

Investment Strategies

Course 11 Commencement:

Call to Action

Appendix A: Steps to Peace with God

Appendix B: Personal Testimony of Dave Wertheim

Appendix C: Sample Men’s Group Accountability Checklist

Appendix D: Suggested Readings

Appendix E: Diploma

Notes

Dedication

To my sons Paul, Rick, & Michael.

May you continue to be godly men as He molds

and matures you into His mighty men

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge and thank several people who have had a profound impact in making this book into a reality.