Strength Through Suffering & What’s Hiding in the Woods?

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Wolves & Wisemen Reignited — Episode 31

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About This Episode

Apparently...

Episode 31.

This week starts where Wolves & Wisemen Reignited should start:

With faith.

The Check In tackles strength through suffering and the idea that some of the hardest periods of our lives may also be the periods where God is building us the most.

Using James 1:2–4 and Romans 5:3–5, the guys talk about perseverance, character, recognizing God's direction, trauma, PTSD, therapy, victim mentality, and learning how to move forward instead of allowing the past to control the future.

Then the show takes a turn.

A very dark turn.

Fringe Files heads deep into the woods to talk about missing hikers, voices that shouldn't be there, complete silence in the wilderness, unexplained staircases, the Sierra Sounds, military ghost stories, 29 Palms, and the uncomfortable feeling that maybe humans aren't always alone when we're standing in the middle of nowhere.

Welcome to Episode 31.

The Check In: Strength Through Suffering

The central faith discussion of Episode 31 asks a difficult question:

What if the struggle you're going through isn't meaningless?

What if it's preparing you?

What if God isn't simply trying to remove every difficult thing from your life?

What if He's using some of those experiences to build you into the person you'll need to become?

James 1:2–4

The first passage comes from James:

James 1:2–4

The conversation focuses on trials producing perseverance and perseverance ultimately producing spiritual maturity.

The guys compare the process to a blacksmith working metal.

The heat isn't there simply to destroy the metal.

It's there to shape it.

Refine it.

Strengthen it.

Life can work the same way.

Some of the strongest relationships we have are forged through shared hardship.

Military service.

Family problems.

Financial struggles.

Work.

Loss.

Failure.

Those aren't necessarily experiences we'd choose.

But going through difficult things together can create bonds that comfort never could.

And the guys ask:

Why would our relationship with God be any different?

God Doesn't Just Give You Patience

There's an important idea that comes out of the discussion:

If you ask God for patience, He may not simply hand you patience.

He may give you an opportunity to practice it.

If you ask for strength?

You may encounter something requiring strength.

If you ask for perseverance?

You may find yourself in a situation where quitting would be easier.

Faith isn't necessarily about removing every obstacle.

Sometimes it's about trusting God enough to walk through the obstacle.

Give It To God

One phrase comes back again:

Give it to God.

The guys talk about the amount of mental energy people spend obsessing over situations they can't control.

You replay it.

You worry about it.

You build scenarios in your head.

You try to solve things that aren't yours to solve.

And sometimes the answer is simply:

Give it to God.

Then pay attention.

Because the answer may not arrive the way you expect.

Sometimes you miss the first sign.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Until eventually God has to metaphorically hit you in the face with it.

And suddenly you realize:

Oh. That's what You were trying to tell me.

Romans 5:3–5

The second passage is Romans 5:3–5.

The guys break it into a progression:

Suffering → Endurance → Character → Hope

That's the path.

Suffering produces endurance.

Endurance builds character.

Character produces hope.

And the important part isn't pretending suffering feels good.

It doesn't.

The point is that suffering doesn't have to be wasted.

Something can come from it.

Something can be learned.

Something can be strengthened.

And something in you can be different when you come out the other side.

What Is God Preparing You For?

One of the biggest ideas from the Check In is that sometimes the lesson you're learning today isn't actually about today.

It may be preparing you for something later.

Maybe you need patience.

Maybe humility.

Maybe discipline.

Maybe you need to learn when to listen.

Maybe you need to stop immediately reacting.

Maybe you need to put somebody else first.

And sometimes...

You have to learn the same lesson more than once.

Because apparently God knows when we didn't actually understand the assignment the first time.

Stop Living in the Rearview Mirror

The conversation then gets more personal.

The guys discuss people becoming trapped in what happened to them.

Pain is real.

Bad experiences are real.

Trauma is real.

But eventually there's a difference between acknowledging what happened and allowing what happened to become your entire identity.

The guys compare it to driving down a freeway while constantly staring backward.

You become so focused on what's behind you that you miss everything happening around you.

You can't change yesterday.

But you can decide what you do with today.

Trauma, PTSD & Getting Help

The discussion also makes an important distinction:

Trauma isn't the same thing as choosing to live as a victim.

PTSD can create very real reactions.

Sounds.

Situations.

Memories.

Triggers.

Sometimes your body reacts before your conscious mind even understands what's happening.

The guys share personal experiences with triggers and talk about identifying what causes those reactions.

They also discuss therapy and the value of getting help when you need it.

Faith and professional help don't have to be enemies.

Sometimes somebody else can give you tools you didn't have.

The important thing is actually using those tools.

And continuing to move forward.

Rebel Report

After a long Check In, the show moves into Rebel Report.

The guys discuss current events involving Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, and the conflicting messages coming from recent interactions between political leaders.

They also discuss a roller coaster incident in Galveston where riders became stranded high above the ground while rescuers worked to reach them.

Which leads to an important Wolves & Wisemen public-service announcement:

Theme-park roller coaster?

Maybe.

A ride that arrived at the county fair three days ago on the back of a truck and was assembled by a traveling carnival crew?

Absolutely not.

The Missing Scientists

Episode 31 also returns to a story discussed on previous episodes:

Scientists connected to sensitive U.S. research programs who have gone missing.

The guys discuss reports that the remains of scientist Melissa Cassius had been found after she had been missing for nearly a year.

What makes the story particularly interesting to the show is the claim that her remains were discovered in an area that had previously been searched.

The guys question how something that significant could supposedly have been missed during the earlier search and connect it to the broader mystery surrounding other scientists they've previously discussed.

It's exactly the kind of story that lives somewhere between Rebel Report and Fringe Files.

Folks on Fire: The Bat Dog

Yes.

A dog gets Folks on Fire.

And deservedly so.

The guys highlight a minor-league baseball bat dog whose job was to run onto the field, retrieve bats, and return them.

Unfortunately, a player crossed the dog's path.

The dog did what the dog always does.

The player didn't.

The collision resulted in an injury and ultimately contributed to the bat-dog program being discontinued.

The guys' verdict?

The dog was just doing his job.

Bat Dog is on fire.

Coyote vs. Acme

Episode 31 also celebrates something many people who grew up watching Looney Tunes can appreciate:

Wile E. Coyote finally taking Acme to court.

The guys react to Coyote vs. Acme and the idea of Wile E. Coyote suing the company responsible for decades of defective rockets, explosives, catapults, traps, giant magnets, and other products that somehow never managed to kill the Road Runner.

After everything Acme put that coyote through...

He probably deserves representation.

Folks on Fire: Little Merf Graduates

Then comes one of the most personal moments of Episode 31.

Little Merf is graduating high school.

Dad puts together a video filled with photos documenting her growing up—and naturally includes a few pictures specifically chosen to embarrass her.

Because that's part of the job.

But underneath the jokes is a proud dad looking at his daughter finishing one chapter and beginning another.

Smart.

Independent.

A good head on her shoulders.

And an entire family getting ready to show up and celebrate her accomplishment.

This is what Folks on Fire is supposed to be about.

Congratulations, Little Merf.

Folks on Fire: Conrad

After arriving late to the show, Al manages to contribute one more Folks on Fire.

Conrad had himself a day on the baseball field:

Two doubles and a single.

And apparently these weren't Little League "everybody threw the ball around for 45 seconds" doubles.

The kid was legitimately hitting.

Good work, Conrad.

Boners: Act Like You've Been There

Sportsmanship becomes the theme of part of this week's Boners.

The guys react to excessive celebrations and players taunting opponents.

That brings up one of the simplest pieces of advice a coach can give:

Act like you've been there before.

Hit the home run?

Act like you've done it before.

Strike somebody out?

Act like you've done it before.

Win something?

Act like you've done it before.

And even if you haven't?

Act like you have.

Confidence doesn't require being an asshole.

Boners: The Coworker Who Is Never There

Another Boner goes out to a category almost everyone who has ever worked somewhere understands:

The coworker who is always gone.

Vacation.

Leave.

Another day off.

Another reason they're unavailable.

Meanwhile everybody else gets to pick up the work.

If your coworkers know your leave schedule better than they know your actual work...

You may be the Boner of the Week.

Sacked

Then it's time for the intellectual centerpiece of Wolves & Wisemen Reignited:

People getting hit in the nuts.

Episode 31 brings out a compilation of nut-shot failures before moving into one involving fishing.

And apparently the fish wasn't satisfied with being caught.

It wanted revenge.

Face.

Then nuts.

Apparently that fish had been training for this moment.

Today in History

Before entering the woods, Episode 31 takes a quick trip through history.

Among the events discussed:

1935 — Babe Ruth retires from professional baseball.

1886 — President Grover Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in the White House.

1924 — The Indian Citizenship Act becomes law.

1970 — Bruce McLaren dies while testing a race car.

1997 — Timothy McVeigh is convicted in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing.

The guys also discuss Henry Johnson receiving the Medal of Honor posthumously and Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

And then...

It's time to go into the woods.

Fringe Files: Creepy Woods

There's something different about the woods after dark.

During the day?

Beautiful.

Peaceful.

Relaxing.

At night?

Every snapping branch becomes a murderer.

Every animal becomes Bigfoot.

And when the entire forest suddenly goes silent?

That's when you start wondering whether you're actually the thing being hunted.

Episode 31's Fringe Files explores one of humanity's oldest fears:

What is hiding beyond the firelight?

Missing 411

The guys begin with stories associated with the Missing 411 phenomenon.

Hunters.

Hikers.

Campers.

People who seemingly disappear in wilderness areas.

Sometimes search teams can't find anything.

Sometimes belongings are reportedly discovered in strange locations.

Sometimes people seem to disappear unbelievably quickly.

And then there are stories where searchers claim to hear something even stranger.

A familiar voice.

Don't Follow the Voice

One of the creepiest stories discussed involves a man hiking with his wife.

His wife disappears.

He searches for hours.

Eventually darkness forces him to stop and camp.

Then he hears her.

"Come get me."

Her voice seems to be calling from somewhere in the woods.

Except he can't tell exactly where it's coming from.

It seems to come from everywhere.

Stories like this connect to an old wilderness warning:

If you're in the woods and hear somebody you know calling your name...

But you know that person isn't there...

Don't answer it.

And definitely don't follow it.

The Oz Factor

Then there's the silence.

Not ordinary quiet.

Complete silence.

Birds stop.

Insects stop.

Animals stop.

The entire environment seems to shut down.

Some paranormal researchers and storytellers refer to experiences like this as the Oz Factor.

The guys have experienced versions of that feeling themselves.

And when you're standing in the middle of nowhere and everything suddenly stops making noise...

Your brain notices.

Immediately.

The Sierra Sounds

The conversation moves to one of the most famous pieces of alleged Bigfoot audio:

The Sierra Sounds.

Recorded deep in the mountains of Northern California, the recordings contain strange vocalizations described as screams, whoops, knocks, and sounds resembling some kind of unknown language.

The guys discuss the story of outdoorsmen returning to a remote camp year after year before eventually recording the bizarre sounds.

Whether Sasquatch was holding a staff meeting outside the campsite is another question entirely.

But the recordings remain creepy.

Staircases in the Woods

Then we get to one of the strangest modern wilderness legends:

Random staircases in the middle of the forest.

No house.

No foundation.

No obvious structure.

Just stairs.

Search-and-rescue stories and internet folklore have popularized accounts of isolated staircases appearing deep in wilderness areas.

And supposedly?

You're not supposed to climb them.

Naturally, one of the guys immediately admits:

If he finds one...

He's climbing it.

The contingency plan?

Tie a rope around him first.

Solid wilderness strategy.

The Forest at the Base of Mount Fuji

The conversation also touches on Japan's Aokigahara Forest near Mount Fuji.

The forest has become internationally known because of its tragic association with suicide.

The guys discuss stories about people entering the forest, leaving markers behind, and the eerie reputation the area has developed.

It's a reminder that not every frightening story connected to the woods is supernatural.

Some are frightening because they're painfully human.

The Woods During Military Training

Then the Fringe Files becomes personal.

The guys start sharing stories from military training.

Camp Lejeune.

Camp Pendleton.

29 Palms.

Jungles.

Deserts.

Remote training areas.

Fire watch.

And that unmistakable feeling when you're surrounded by armed Marines...

And somehow the woods still make you uncomfortable.

One host remembers sleeping in the jungle surrounded by roughly 30 Marines and multiple machine guns.

Still creepy.

Another remembers being on fire watch when the wind suddenly stopped and everything became completely silent.

That's when your imagination starts working overtime.

The Lieutenant of 29 Palms

Then comes a Marine Corps ghost story.

The guys discuss a legend involving a mysterious lieutenant said to wander around 29 Palms.

According to the story, the pale figure appears near checkpoints or vehicles and asks to be invited inside.

And apparently?

You don't invite him in.

The legend is connected in Marine folklore with vehicle accidents, rollovers, and strange events around the massive desert base.

Is it just a story Marines tell each other during long nights in the field?

Maybe.

But when you're standing watch at 3:00 AM in the middle of the Mojave Desert...

You probably aren't going to volunteer to find out.

Something Was Banging on the Trailer

The guys also share a much closer-to-home wilderness story.

While sleeping at their property, one of them wakes up around 3:00 AM.

Something is banging on the trailer.

Not scratching.

Not wind.

Banging.

He considers whether somebody from camp might be messing with him.

Then decides:

If somebody needs him badly enough, they know where the door is.

He's staying inside.

Probably one of the smarter decisions made during Fringe Files.

The story gets stranger when they talk about unexplained noises around camp and elk remains found in trees nearby.

At that point?

Maybe just go home.

Why Are Humans Afraid of the Woods?

Underneath all the paranormal stories is actually an interesting question.

Why do forests become so unsettling at night?

Maybe some of it is evolutionary.

For most of human history, darkness meant danger.

Predators.

Enemies.

Unknown terrain.

Limited visibility.

We aren't necessarily the biggest, fastest, strongest, or best-equipped animal in the wilderness.

So maybe that uncomfortable feeling isn't irrational.

Maybe it's ancient programming telling you:

Something could be watching you.

Of course...

That doesn't explain the mysterious voices.

Or the Sierra Sounds.

Or the staircases.

Or whatever was banging on that trailer.

We'll leave those for another night.

Episode 31

Faith.

Suffering.

Strength.

Trauma.

Moving forward.

Missing scientists.

Bat Dogs.

Looney Tunes.

Baseball.

Nut shots.

Missing hikers.

Voices in the woods.

Bigfoot sounds.

Staircases.

Military ghosts.

And something banging on the trailer at 3:00 AM.

Pretty standard Tuesday night around here.

But underneath the chaos, Episode 31 comes back to one central idea:

You're going to struggle.

The question is what you become because of it.

Learn from it.

Grow through it.

Ask for help when you need it.

Trust God through it.

And keep moving forward.

Also...

If you hear your name coming from deep in the woods at night?

Maybe don't go investigate.

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Wolves & Wisemen Reignited is about faith, family, grit, growth, current events, history, strange stories, hard conversations, and having enough humor to make it through all of them.

New episodes every Tuesday night.

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