Because you really wanted to hear someone bang on about Memento again.

If you take the balance of all the literate days of my life up to this point, I've read the bible on less than half of them. My KPIs on prayer are probably strong if you include bed and mealtimes, but take a sharp hit if those go in a separate category.

Now, stakeholders will be heartened to see that these numbers are significantly stronger over the last 2-3 years, demonstrating that new policies and practices have lead to sustainable growth in key areas.

Now, there were two pieces that lead to this improvement. Firstly, the pricking of my own conscience as my children have come to an age where they obviously need daily devotions and instruction. And the second the loving harangues of my father in law, who is constantly extolling us to read our bibles and engage with the holy scripture.

Christian conscience, sparked by faith however imperfect, and the voice of one crying in the wilderness "make straight the way of the lord!" A dynamite combo.

I would like to imagine that I would have gotten there without that frequent, sometimes strident, always loving voice. But that is probably being too optimistic.

Really, lets think about this. Why are my abs shrouded by a veil of fat? I've had visible abs before. I've been stronger, faster, and looked better for my wife. I'm not even at the age when that should be an excuse. I can still do the work when I make the time and just do it. I don't have to eat like shit. I really don't need that second cocktail.

Accountability, motivation, and consistency are things that most men do not know how to cultivate in a vacuum. It is a month after New Year and the gym is empty once more. Most of our brothers brothers--me included--need a helping hand sometimes to do the things they ought.

Our church men's group, The Sons of Saint Joseph, has been wonderful in this regard. A place to go for support, encouragement, advice, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren.

Between spending more time in scripture and prayer, and having more of my brothers who are increasingly conversant in it, there is more delight in it. There is delight when my children pick up theological themes out of scripture, often even unprompted, bouncing on the couch with raised hands. Time spent in the scripture may yield other fruits in time, but for now it yields enjoyment, even joy in scripture, that I found less frequently as a younger man.

The community aspect is important. It is a kind of soft accountability, providing constant reminders and examples of the christian man I ought to be in the form of my brothers.

But even in that space, we've had men for whom it does not do quite enough, who are vocal that it is not sufficient. Who feel the need for structure and accountability that we once made a fitful attempt to create, but it turns out that creating programming for devotions and disciplines is hard work, and we could not bring it to fruition.

It is in this light that I think Memento is really a phenomenal idea.

For those who do not know, Memento is an app/website/service that sets a devotional reading schedule, provides tools for men in churches to connect with one another as accountability partners, and provides helpful suggestions for additional personal and spiritual disciplines that can be undertaken during lent.

The core of it is dedicated to daily prayer, reading of scripture, and fasting. Learning to find joy, comfort, and renewal in the scriptures in those week long campaigns between each euchararistic union.

To this you can add other suggested disciplines to help bring your flesh into subjection. Whether working out, more concentrated fasting, stricter limits on the use of technology, and the like.

People have liked to point out--often derisively--that one of the items is cold showers. No one is making you take cold showers. Your brothers will not think less of you for not taking a cold shower. I will not be taking any cold showers. Every conversation I've had with other lads about this has been purely non-judgemental. Most of what I hear is guys who are excited to have support in this journey.

I admit that I'll be doing a little bit of my own thing as well. Adding additional disciplines as lent proper hits, because I like preserving a clean distinction between pre-lent and lent. Memento has great suggestions, but they are not new laws.

And real talk, if you look at the list of people who have joined from our church, and the guys who are the most intense about personal discipline, lifestyle, etc, that Venn Diagram is definitely no circle. In fact, most of the men on list are like me: the guys who need a helping hand at times, and who have said as much.

I find the risk of pietism from this to be virtually nil. I think you guys overestimate us. You inaccurately predict that we will be congratulating one another, with back-slapping all around as we conquer the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. I'm flattered, really, but I think I have a more realistic picture of what is going to happen here. There is going to be a lot of talking about our weakness. Our failures, and our need for ongoing encouragement.

This is the purpose. To give men companions on this journey, to help and encourage them in their vocations and fathers, brothers, and friends; as Christian men striving to lead christian lives in spite of the weakness of their flesh and the evils of the world. The road is easier with help.

I have been doing it for 30 days, and the devotions have been solid. The devotional reading from Pr. Gramenz (you may be familiar with the late Niles Gramenz--they were affiliated) this morning was an absolute banger.

I was sick for a lot of Advent and Christmastide, and so missed much of the usual cadence of that part of the church year. I'm really looking forward to an intentional lent.

Oh, and about the cost, 5 bucks a month is not crazy. They have developer costs, they have a ton of writing to do, and it turns out, as I said earlier, that putting a program together like this is a lot of work. And what is the worst thing that happens here? A pastor makes a little money on a side job that involves providing resources for men to get better at prayer, fasting and meditation? Is that an evil thing? And $60 is not ridiulous--that is not that much more than a good devotions book. Don't be cheap. You've spent more money on dumber things.

Don't be a hater. Memento will be good for a lot of men who struggle with ordering their life around Christ.

And should it happen that somewhere a man is peer pressured into reading more scripture and praying more often, well, I think I can imagine greater evils.