Being Vulnerably Honest

It’s been two years since we started the CQI Zoom classes, now known as the Fellow Warriors’ classes. Tim and I are very encouraged and joyful as we’re watching the Fellow Warriors become more and more spiritually capable and mature.

We’re experiencing II Corinthians 7:13 (ASV), “Therefore we (Tim and I) have been comforted: and in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus (the Fellow Warriors), because his (our) spirit(s) hath been refreshed by you all.” (These and all the following parenthesis, emboldens and cross-outs are mine.)

Not only that, but the ongoing continuance of Philippians 2:2 (ASV), because you are “make(ing) full my (our) joy, that ye be of the same mind (as the Christ), having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (of attaining Christ-likeness);”

Then too, Luke 15:10 (ASV), “Even so, I say unto you (Fellow Warriors), there is joy in the presence of the angels of God (and in Tim and I) over one (each) sinner that repenteth (after facing each struggle).”

Tim and I are so grateful as we watch and hear the Fellow Warriors identify with each other by realizing we all are having to declare war against our sin natures. They’re realizing that all of us men are struggling with our sin nature.

As time passes, typically within the first year of biblically submitting themselves to being discipled for matching themselves with the Christ, they’re successfully developing the ability to analyze themselves. As Fellow Warriors, all fighting the same battle, they’re seeing the value of being honest so we can provide them with God’s specific biblical solutions. They’re learning to be mentally alert, so they can literally write down verbatim, the “he said/she said words and situations”. The purpose for writing it down is so they can bring it up in class for learning the Christ-like responses, along with the lessons that God wants them to learn for Christ-like resolution.

That’s what Romans 8:28 (AMP) is telling us, “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

I thought you would enjoy hearing from our Fellow Warriors yourself by reading some of their testimonies!

Dear Ken and Tim,

“It’s almost hard for me to imagine where I was at, emotionally/spiritually those years ago before I started the CQI lessons, classes, and weekly discipleship calls. Without all that, I would likely still be the same angry, controlling, and insensitive man that I used to be. It has greatly increased my ability to be aware of my lower (sin) nature and be able to say “NO” to it and not allow it to control me, and to know the heart of God.

“I was so spiritually dysfunctional, I didn’t know my own spirit, let alone being able to identify with anybody else’s heart/spirit.

“I am by no means perfect, even though I strive towards that.

“But I can say for sure that I’m much more aware of my own emotions (the voice and expression of my spirit), enabling me to also be much more aware of and identify with the heart/spirit of others much better, to understand, respond to, and care for them in a Christlike manner and create much more meaningful spirit-to-spirit connected relationships than I’ve ever had before, not only with my wife and children, but also friends, and even people I meet for the first time.

“I can certainly verify that this is not a quick easy process and fix. It takes a tremendous amount of patience, endurance, and commitment to overcome the old self and build a solid foundation for spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness.

“God bless you for your continuing commitment to teaching and discipling others how to unapologetically and genuinely take their role as godly men seriously with heart and humility. Godspeed.”

Glen

“There is no question that Christ Quest’s Fellow Warriors has radically transformed my life.  I am a 56-year-old physician who, although a believer, had nearly destroyed my life and my marriage.  I truly did not understand my wife or have any idea about what it is to be a spiritual leader.  As a result, I cycled between passivity and abusiveness in my marriage.  I did not understand my human spirit or my wife’s spirit. I certainly had no idea how to communicate on a spirit-to-spirit level.  It is important to note that I had been a believer for 30 years, but no church that I attended ever discipled me in the way Ken, Tim and their team do. 

“As a participant in Christ Quest Fellow Warriors, I have learned how to truly be more Christ-like.  Now, I seek to care for my wife’s spirit as Christ would.  I am learning to be a proactive servant leader.  In our bi-weekly sessions, I have found teaching, support and accountability in my small group cohort of Fellow Warriors who, under Ken and Tim’s direct discipling, are growing towards Christ-likeness together.  My wife and I have experienced new levels of connectedness and intimacy that previously we had never thought possible!  It is no exaggeration to say that Christ Quest Ministries has rescued our marriage and transformed it into something beautiful.  Because of our spirit-to-spirit interactions, we have also learned to listen for and interact with God’s spirit in a new and transforming way.  It has not been easy and has required a lot of work.  I am not saying that have learned everything I can yet – far from it — but in just 6 months my life and marriage are profoundly improved.  I can’t wait to see where we are when we complete the program a couple of years down the road.  I thank God for bringing Ken, Tim and Christ Quest Ministries into my life.  I firmly believe this teaching should be a part of every man’s Chrisitan education.  I just wish I had found it sooner!”

Brian

“Since joining the Christ Quest Institute back in January of 2024, I have seen significant growth in my relationship with my wife and my walk with Christ.  Prior to Jan of 24', I was living what I thought was a pretty good life.  I went to church, my wife and I didn't really fight, and I had quit drinking, which I occasionally did. Financially we were doing good, things seemed great! However, there had always been issues of lack of communication and compassion towards my wife on my part.  I guess I never really knew how to communicate with her and never addressed any of our issues we had in the past, as they say, I swept everything under the rug.  In early January of ‘24, I had a life changing experience that resulted from poor choices on my part due to me doing things my way and distancing myself from my Lord and Savior.  After that incident in Jan. of ‘24, my life began to crumble, especially my relationship with my wife. I had never addressed our past issues, and this specific incident made things much worse, so much so that I didn't think we would make it out and divorce was definitely in the not-so-distant future.  Shortly after my Jan. ‘24 incident, a day later to be exact, I was introduced to the Christ Quest Institute by my neighbor which he said was life changing for him and his relationship with his wife.  I was willing to do anything to keep my marriage together and decided to give it a shot.  Since joining Christ Quest Institute I have gained a much deeper understanding of my wife's role and its importance in my life.  I have learned to identify my wife’s emotions and mine, a much better understanding of her spirit and how to care for it.  I have begun to study her character to become a better husband and spiritual leader as Christ intended me to be.  At first while learning it was difficult to apply all the valuable lessons I was receiving.  Once I started to apply the lessons, assignments, and weekly projects, I began to see real changes in my relationship with my wife. The Christ Quest Institute has drastically improved my marriage and relationship with my wife. I am truly humbled by the Christ Quest Institute's teachings, examples, encouragement, leadership, and brotherhood I have experienced since joining in Jan. of 2024.  I highly recommend this to any man seeking to not only better their walk with the Christ, but to truly begin to understand and care for their wife and her spirit as Christ would. 

Thank you. 

Armando Rimada

In November 2019, four and a half years ago, all the new car dealerships in Phoenix had virtually no pre-owned/used cars on their lots. Used cars were at a premium. And I had a used 2019 Honda CRV. Before January of 2021 it was just under two years old and only had 29,000 miles on it.

Also, I’ve wanted a Subaru for many years, and a new one was $30,000. Considering the used car market was at a premium, I could get $28,000 for my Honda.  My Honda was not two years old and under 30,000 miles which was also considered premium.

But to take advantage of all that I needed to move quickly. Before the Honda moved into the three-year-old category and the speedometer read 30,000. I sold the Honda in November of 2021. But the new cars weren’t available till January of 2022. So, we had no car.

We were blessed though, in that there was a 92-year-old lady who needed care and Nancy had been caring for over several years. The lady had expressed that Nancy had become her best friend and had a car that she didn’t drive so she said we could have it till the new cars came out.

Then came January and we were able to buy the new 2022 Subaru, the lowest priced model, for $2,000 above the price we sold the Honda for at $28,000.

Here it is 2025, so now the 2022 Subaru is 2 I/2 years old and has $28,000 miles on it. Then, Friday, a month ago, it wouldn’t start. When the AAA guy came here to tow it to the Subaru dealership, he said it was the battery. So, he put a new battery in it for $288. I was flabbergasted. I haven’t bought a battery since I remember them being $24. Anyway, it still wouldn’t start. It wouldn’t even make a clicking sound. So, I had to tow it once more to the Subaru dealer. 

Let me do another preface: The young lady who was my service representative was an excellent representative of Subaru and very empathetic about my dilemma. She called me four days after it was towed in, letting me know that they had found the problem.

It was the BIU electrical panel (pictured) and was going to cost, part, labor, and taxes, $1,446.48. That’s when I found out that although all the mechanical parts of the car are still under warranty, an electrical problem is not. It was 7 months past the two-year electrical warranty.

I very calmly and politely reasoned with the service department asking if Subaru could let me know if there was any way I could have done something to break that part. They agreed with my conclusion. Continuing, I stated that the problem had to be the results of being a faulty manufactured part from the factory and Subaru should shoulder the responsibility for it.

The dealership said they could not make that decision. So she gave me the phone number of the Subaru Customer Advocacy and asked me to talk with them. I called them, and a lady answered who was very kind to me. So, I explained the situation to her and shared what a financial hardship that would be for me. Plus, it was an issue that was from their faulty part and how I felt this would be their responsibility. She was very empathetic and said, “I will take care of this for you.” The next week, the dealership notified me that Subaru was going to take care of it. But it would take a week before they got the part and got it installed. Guess how I felt? And I didn’t forget to profusely thank God too.

I also called the lady and let her know how grateful I was for her being so professional and responsible and how she had been the cause of me feeling greatly relieved and pleased. She said, “No one else has ever done that to me.” I said, “That’s sad because you certainly deserve it.”

Next, the Subaru dealership called me and let me know that my car keys would need to be reprogrammed. When they put the new part in, they realized that my car wouldn’t start with my car key due to the new part. They asked me if I had any other keys and I let them know that I had two more. I brought them in, and they reprogrammed two of my keys, but the one that I had been using was ruined because of the electrical panel problem; I would need to buy a new one.

I was told that that key would cost $445 dollars. Startled, I tried to reason with them that the faulty part is what caused the key to become useless. But they referred me again to the Customer Advocacy. This time a guy answered. No matter what I said, he let me know that they couldn’t accept responsibility for it! So, I called the dealership and asked if they would accept responsibility for it? The woman, who was my service rep, said she would talk with the head of that dealership for me. As a result of her advocacy the head guy said their Subaru dealership would take care of it for me!

Does God understand what’s going on in Ken Nair’s life? He put the right people for me to talk to, and I was able to see that He is fully capable to manage a car manufacturer and dealership! Thank you, Dad! I can say that because God says, “He will be the Father to the fatherless…”

Tests Devised by God for Proving Ourselves

Is it possible that God will allow our trust and commitment to Him, along with our obedience to be tested?

What does Joshua 6:6-16 reveal? It starts by telling us that God gave Joshua a plan whereby he could capture the city of Jericho.

As you’re reading, may I ask you to join me by mentally visualizing yourself, right there with them, in this situation as though it’s actually taking place right before your very eyes as you read? And watch it come to life as you read.

Here’s what I literally visualize (and want you to visualize with me) as I read Joshua 6:6-16. Joshua’s gathered all his men together and is informing them, “Okay guys, God has shown me that He wants us to go to Jericho and take possession of it.”

Adding, “Here’s the plan. We’re taking with us seven priests and they’re going to take with them, seven trumpets of ram’s horns.” Are you visualizing with me? The men are seriously listening, and kind of nodding their heads in acknowledgement while they’re listening. But the next thing he says causes you and me as well as them to look at each other with puzzled expressions — questioning what they just heard.

He continues, “When we (you and I too) all get there, here’s what we’re going to do, we (you and I) along with the priests are going to march all the way around Jericho one time a day for six days. And while we’re marching, the priests will be blowing their trumpets. But I don’t want to hear a single word from anybody while we’re marching. Then, on the seventh day we’re going to march around the city seven times. But here’s the really exciting part, on the seventh day, after our seventh time around the city, everybody gets to stop and scream as loud as you (you and I) can while the priests are also blowing their horns.”

Now all these guys have deeply respected Joshua as God’s representative, so I can’t imagine anybody saying anything like this out loud, but “You’ve got to be kidding, right?” But inwardly, I can see them thinking those kinds of thoughts. How about you?

Then too, because they’re going to be doing a lot of marching, I can see them setting up camp close to Jericho. Notice with me, that the next morning they’re getting up early to go march. Because of the “uniqueness” of this battle, I hear them out loud with each other, complaining, “I can’t believe we’re really going to do this.” Are you (and I) also wondering?

As you and I picture them, since they couldn’t talk while marching, talking afterward with smart-aleck remarks, like, “I guess we showed them. Did you notice some of the guys up there on the wall watching us shaking with terror?”

Listen to them grumbling? Do you think Joshua is oblivious to their grumbling? Do you think he didn’t know there might be some who would question his leadership? Do you think his troop’s trust and commitment were being tested — proven?

Is it possible that our trust and commitment to obedience will be tested?

It wasn’t until the seventh day, and who knows how many miles of marching, that they saw the results of their obedience — the walls came crumbling down. Will we (you and I) have to endure miles of “marching on the path” that God has us traveling, before we see the results?

Next is II Kings 5:1-14. This time (you and I) are going to observe a general named Naaman. He was famous throughout the land where both God and his King favored him. Can you imagine him feeling favored though, when he became infected with leprosy?

But you and I are encouraged because we hear a little slave girl from Israel, who was captured during a raid, tell Naaman’s wife that there was a prophet in Samaria who could cure Naaman.

So, you and I follow Naaman as he heads for Israel with a letter from his king to the king of Israel. You and I watch him load up ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment (clothing). As we watch him do that, we wish we had a little of that stuff.

We see him a little confused at first because he went to the king, not knowing he was supposed to go directly to Elijah the Prophet.

But Elijah heard about him and sent a messenger to Naaman with specific instructions for getting rid of the leprosy.

We hear the messenger telling Naaman, “Go and wash in the Jordan River seven times and your flesh will be restored to you — you’ll be clean.”

You and I see the general get furious. Here he is, so famous he expected to be preferred, getting special treatment. He assumed, “Surely Elijah would come out to me and stand to summon the Lord his God and wave his hands over the place where I have leprosy and cure me.” We hear him add, “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel. Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So, he turned away in a rage.

We watch the general’s servant, pleading with him, wanting him to reconsider.

Now comes my point about being tested and proven.

We observe Naaman walk in the water half disgusted. Dipping: once, twice, three times, with a disgruntled attitude and look on his face. Maybe thinking, “What an idiot I am.”

You and I visualize his servant trying to encourage him to continue. So, we then watch him continue…the fourth dip, he mumbles out loud, “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” Then the fifth time, “Is this stupid or what?” The sixth, “Well, I’ve gone this far. I’ve only got one more to do. I might as well finish.” Finally on the seventh time, He shouts out loud, “Incredible! It actually worked! Man am I glad I didn’t quit!”

How many times have we almost given up because it seemed like a ridiculous waste of time.

Next, Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (KJ21) makes it pretty clear — in answer to the question, “God, why have you had us in the wilderness for forty years?”

God’s answer, “…the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, (thine spirit) whether thou wouldest keep His commandments or not. (Parenthesis mine.)

It’s pretty clear that God was giving them a chance to be tested and to prove, not only to Him, but to themselves, their character and their commitment to godliness.

Another example is found in Genesis 39. Here we find Joseph’s commitment to God being tested and proven on several occasions. Potiphar’s wife had tried several times to seduce him and each time he escaped.

He tells her why, “9 There is no one greater in this house than I, and he (Potiphar) has withheld nothing from me except you, because you’re his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God.” (Parenthesis mine.)

Above seeing this as an offense against Potiphar, Joseph’s greater commitment is to God. Still, she lied about him, and he ends up in prison. And this is only one of a “truck load” of tests he endured — you can read about it in Genesis 39.

Lastly, we see that Jesus himself was tested. It was the Holy Spirit who took Jesus to the desert, specifically to be tested.

Here’s something to consider as our example. If God is willing for Jesus to prove to us that His commitment was to be obedient, why wouldn’t God be willing for us to be tested and have our commitment to obedience be proven also?

In Acts 14:22, we see that the Kingdom of God (which here on earth is within us — within our spirit), wherein historically we Christians, are going to get strengthened as we face the tribulations caused by our sin nature and learn how to defeat it.

How else will others see our commitment to God through our Christ-like testimony?