Kevin Stensrud's Personal Testimony

Real Dudes,
We had 18 men present at Ox Strong this past Saturday (one new attendee), and many others viewing on YouTube / livestream as well. Below is a summarization of Kevin Stensrud’s testimony and challenge to us men. He did a fabulous job. If you’d like to still view it, then it’s available at this site  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1VWJwH_Vk&feature=emb_err_woyt.
Enjoy!
Nate
 
1 Kings 8:38 (NKJV) states that, “whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:”
 
“The Plague of His Own Heart.”
What was the plague/disease/cancer/sin in Kevin’s heart?

• A developed inner-ego.

 
What fed Kevin’s inner-ego?

• Family’s Athletic Successes
  • Kevin’s Dad
    • Played college football at ISU, and then played 11 years in the NFL.
    • A godly man…he too had his inner struggles that he hid for many years.
  • Kevin’s Older Brother
    • Got a full-ride to play basketball at ISU, and then ended up playing football there instead. He received some BIG 12 honors during his time there. He too ended up in the NFL for a few years.
  • Kevin and His Brothers.
    • Made All-State in several sports in high school. This continued feeding his ego even when he realized that everything comes from God.
    • Kevin went on to play football at UNI…he received a full-ride scholarship. 
  • Needless to say, Kevin had a charmed childhood, and didn’t struggle for anything the world had to offer him.
  • Kevin’s wife, Rachel.
    • She was an All-American volleyball player in High School and was even recognized in Sports Illustrated. She was from Waterloo so she wanted to stay close to home…she played at UNI, which is where they met. She was also asked to try out for the Olympic Team, but that was short-lived when she and Kevin found out that they were expecting their first child. Her success in sports also fed Kevin’s ego.
• Personal Professional Successes
  • Kevin was the top salesman at Martin Brothers…making really good money.
  • Constantly entertaining clients at nice restaurants, bars and casinos.
  • Began inviting and including personal friends on the bill. The inner ego wanted to please others at any cost.

 
Some results of Kevin developing an inner-ego?

• Humility.
  • Going to NFL training camps, but getting cut each time.
  • Working at Kum & Go while training for the NFL.
  • Losing his job at Martin Brothers…his security blanket. God broke him…Kevin thought, “What good am I without a job?”
  • Marriage Counseling.
    • Finding out things about himself that he couldn’t see before. Being asked by the Therapist, “Why do you think you’re so great?” Therapists don’t tell you what you want to hear, but rather what you need to hear. Sounds like David and Nathan in the Bible (2 Samuel 12).
  • Kevin’s expectations in life were becoming unmet.
• Nearly losing his wife and family.
  • Unintentionally, clients and success were becoming more important than his own wife and children.
  • He figured the more he worked and the more money he brought home, the happier his wife and children would be.
  • Moving from City to City…each time farther away from their families who were back in Iowa. This made it very difficult for Rachel. She knew God called her to be a stay-at-home mom and she loved that, but she didn’t sign up to be a single parent…she needed Kevin’s help, and she needed him home, but he wasn’t since he was traveling for work so much.
  • His wife had to be brutally honest with him.
    • She moved back to Iowa with the kids so she could get some support from her family. She wanted to remain married, but living apart from each other if he was going to choose to remain living in Atlanta.
    • The tension was building in their home and marriage.
    • She told him that she needed him to provide emotionally more than financially for their family. To be there for them.
    • Kevin quit his job and moved back to Waterloo to be with them. He was able to land a job in insurance in three days, and then later got a job with Martin Brothers. A job that began with good intentions, but in time created more tension in his heart and home.  
    • His wife told him that they needed to get marriage counseling or this marriage is over.
• Little white lies.
  • Kevin was called out by his wife…so his ego convinced him to begin telling little white lies so he could continue doing what his heart was drawn to. Little by little watching his integrity fade away at home and in the work place.
  • He was called out by the CEO of Martin Brothers as well. Expenditures were out of control, but who were they to question the best salesman they had. Their patience and trust ran out on him whether he agreed or liked it or not.
• The pain of his integrity becoming devalued hurt tremendously.
  • Fired from Martin Brothers for questionable and excessive expenditures.
• Inner struggle.
  • Wondering many times, “How did I get here?”

 
Lessons Kevin has learned along the way.

• Learn from past mistakes, and do whatever it takes to not let them happen again.
• After losing his job at Martin Brothers he was unemployed for one month. This provided him an opportunity to be the stay-at-home dad. To be there emotionally and intimately for his family. During this time he asked God, “What does leadership look like?” God replied, “you’re hitting the mark now.”
• He realized that his family wants him. He has a young family so he didn’t miss out on a lot…he still has a lot of time and opportunities to see his family flourish in life. To be there for them, and to be a part of their lives.
• When Kevin was hired on at Grinnell College he said in his interview that he and his family had no intentions to leave Grinnell anytime soon…according to Kevin, it was time to put the focus on his wife’s successful career at work and as a coach.
• He regained confidence when he allowed Christ to become center of his life once again.  

 
Kevin’s challenges to us. 

• Ask yourself, “What does leadership look like for you in your family?” “How does God want you to lead?”
• Apologize to those you’ve hurt. Kevin was able to do that with those he was close with at Martin Brothers and with his own family.
• Get life priorities in line…integrity, honesty, and living for Christ.
• Be a content individual.
  • Philippians 4:11-13
• Realize that God is working all things together for His good and for His glory!
  • Romans 8:28
• Set pride aside and get Godly Counsel from a Godly Counselor for whatever you’re struggling with.

 
Songs:

• Slow Fade music video by Casting Crowns
  • Slow Fade teaching video
  • Slow Fade lyrics
• Lead Me music video by Sanctus Real
  • Story behind the song Lead Me
  • Lead Me lyrics