EDITOR'S NOTE:  Some of the following subject matter discussed in this interivew may not be suitable for young children.  Parents, please use your discretion.

About a month ago, I had the opportunity to meet up with author, speaker, teacher and football fanatic Kenny Luck during his book tour in a dark and vibey Italian restaurant called Campisi's in Dallas, Tex. 

The landmark establishment is also known as "The Egyptian," given the fact that there's a second sign – left by a former tenant years ago and still hanging outside today – that reads "The Egyptian."  Quirky and perhaps confusing.  Some folks even think the restaurant is run by local mafia.  Me, I just think it has great pizza and a good atmosphere.

Along with his media reps, Kenny and I discussed his latest book and the movement he envisions taking place in the hearts and minds of young men in this generation, as they are challenged to live radically as men of God.

Not long after that, we talked in greater detail via phone, when Kenny had returned to his home in Trabuco Canyon, California, where he is the president and founder of Every Man Ministries, and the area leader over men's ministry and a member of the teaching staff of Saddleback Church, as well as the author of the recently released "Every Young Man, God's Man" (WaterBrook Press). 

In this 200+ page young men's guide to living "life the way Jesus did … to the extreme," Kenny considers no subject taboo and gives his own testimony (warts and all) to further connect with his young readers.  Chapters discuss struggles many young men are facing today, including masturbation, Internet pornography, fantasizing about women, lies and secrets, shirking from responsibility and much more. 

As I asked him more about his book, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Kenny's heart to reach young men so that they will impact our culture for Christ.  Listen in. …

Laura:  Kenny, in your latest book, "Every Young Man, God's Man," you talk about the "Man Zone."  What is that and what happens there?

Kenny:  The idea is that if you're 17, 18, 19, 20 … if you're leaving your house, leaving for college, or entering the workforce, then you have a man-sized body with man-sized issues, man-sized responsibilities and man-sized consequences.  But what we see multiplied by millions of young men is that they're going into the Man Zone with boy-sized character, which means that up until this point it's all been about fun. 

We can't allow young men to go into manhood without the right thinking about God, people, consequences to action, responsibilities, etc.  We're doing a disservice to them.  We're setting them up for failure in that critical window of time which will shape the next 30 years of their life.  The reality of the Man Zone working out in my own ministry today is that forty and fifty year olds say to me:  "Where were you when I was 18 to 25?  If I had heard you then, the last three decades of my life would have looked a lot different.  No one ever gave me that talk.  But if they did, I would have chosen the narrow road because I don't want pain."