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Our lives are made up of twists, turns, curveballs, and unmet expectations. Not to mention the world is pulling us in a million different directions in regards to how our identity is formed.
My guest on today's show knows all about the struggle you and I face. Jesse Bradley is a former Pro Soccer player turned pastor who has spent a good part of his life working on addressing where his identity is found. You'll find his story fascinating and his wisdom insightful as you listen to this episode.
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My guest on today's show knows all about the struggle you and I face. Jesse Bradley is a former Pro Soccer player turned pastor who has spent a good part of his life working on addressing where his identity is found. You'll find his story fascinating and his wisdom insightful as you listen to this episode.
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Many of us think risk-taking is difficult – but it's not. It's actually way more simple than we make it out to be. Our problem is we don't often have the system or ideas we need in place to assess whether or not the risk we want to take is worth it.
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, I talk about a risk I recently took in becoming a StoryBrand Certified Guide. There was a lot I learned through the process and I thought it was valuable information you needed to know in learning to take risks in your own life.
On the show, we'll talk about the three simple steps you can take that will make risk-taking look easy. I promise you, it's not as daunting as we make it out to be.
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On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, I talk about a risk I recently took in becoming a StoryBrand Certified Guide. There was a lot I learned through the process and I thought it was valuable information you needed to know in learning to take risks in your own life.
On the show, we'll talk about the three simple steps you can take that will make risk-taking look easy. I promise you, it's not as daunting as we make it out to be.
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Becoming a successful entrepreneur doesn't happen overnight. It takes a large amount of time and one very special skill that most never acquire – stepping into the unknown.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith has learned this incredible skill of stepping into the unknown. William Warren is the founder of The Sketch Effect, a company that helps ideas come to life by using visual communication.
On the show today, we unpack William's life and the steps he took into the unknown that helped him become the successful artist and business owner that he is today.
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My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith has learned this incredible skill of stepping into the unknown. William Warren is the founder of The Sketch Effect, a company that helps ideas come to life by using visual communication.
On the show today, we unpack William's life and the steps he took into the unknown that helped him become the successful artist and business owner that he is today.
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Post navigation #046: LEARNING HOW TO ADMIT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG W/ JOSH HARRIS]]>
When tragedy strikes our lives, we have two choices. We can choose to move forward and live. Or, we can lay over and die. My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith understands that decision all too well.
When John O'Leary was just a boy, he was burned in over 90% of his body. He remembers making the decision to live. That decision has affected his story, live and mission since that moment. John now lives to inspire people to live this full life now.
Recently, I had an opportunity to sit down with John, a St. Louis native and capture his story and the message he uses to inspire people to this Full Life. It was such an honor getting to sit down with him. You are going to love this Story Session.
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When John O'Leary was just a boy, he was burned in over 90% of his body. He remembers making the decision to live. That decision has affected his story, live and mission since that moment. John now lives to inspire people to live this full life now.
LIVING TO INSPIRERecently, I had an opportunity to sit down with John, a St. Louis native and capture his story and the message he uses to inspire people to this Full Life. It was such an honor getting to sit down with him. You are going to love this Story Session.
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We've all grown up thinking that we will always be right. I know, it's sort of silly – but it's true. We have been raised in a society that encourages us as men to hold to our truths, stand up for what we think is right and never relent. There is power in living that way – but there is also a major blind spot. You'll miss the strength you can gain in being wrong.
My guest on today's show knows all about embracing the power of being wrong. Josh Harris is the New York Times Best Selling Author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. His book has sold over a million copies and was translated into dozens of languages.
But there's just one problem. Recently, Josh realized that the principles he laid out in his book were wrong. They were inaccurate and even egotistical. (His words, not mine.) Josh has since been on a mission to tell the world how powerful it is to be wrong. You are really going to enjoy this episode.
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My guest on today's show knows all about embracing the power of being wrong. Josh Harris is the New York Times Best Selling Author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. His book has sold over a million copies and was translated into dozens of languages.
But there's just one problem. Recently, Josh realized that the principles he laid out in his book were wrong. They were inaccurate and even egotistical. (His words, not mine.) Josh has since been on a mission to tell the world how powerful it is to be wrong. You are really going to enjoy this episode.
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW]]>
Men don't enjoy talking about the past. We are often present and future-oriented people. Even if we were interested in talking about the past, we're pretty sure the only thing we would find there is pain.
I understand this all too real for myself. Lately, I have been spending a lot of time with young men and their passion for the future. But in our time together I am sure to remind them of one important truth they need to learn about themselves – don't forget or ignore your past. Embrace it.
For us to become the men we long to be, it's important that we take a look back on our lives and embrace the events, tragedies and hurts that made us. On this episode of Adventurous Faith, we talk about the four benefits of why you should begin embracing your past. I'm confident that after listening to this episode that embracing your past won't seem as daunting – but it will be necessary.
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I understand this all too real for myself. Lately, I have been spending a lot of time with young men and their passion for the future. But in our time together I am sure to remind them of one important truth they need to learn about themselves – don't forget or ignore your past. Embrace it.
STOP IGNORING YOUR PASTFor us to become the men we long to be, it's important that we take a look back on our lives and embrace the events, tragedies and hurts that made us. On this episode of Adventurous Faith, we talk about the four benefits of why you should begin embracing your past. I'm confident that after listening to this episode that embracing your past won't seem as daunting – but it will be necessary.
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There is a gap between older and younger generations. In our world, this plays itself a lot through whining, complaining and throwing stones at each other. As young men, we have allowed all the negativity that people throw at us often get to us in ways we shouldn't.
It's time for a better frame of mind. There is a better way to reach out to those who are older, wiser and more connected than you that can help you grow exponentially.
My guest on today's show knows all about the power in choosing to allow yourself to be invested by those older than you. Grant Skeldon is an author and founder of The Initiative Network which is an organization that equips young people to be missionaries in the workplace. Grant also intentionally reaches out to those older than him to get the wisdom he needs to live this life. You'll love today's show.
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It's time for a better frame of mind. There is a better way to reach out to those who are older, wiser and more connected than you that can help you grow exponentially.
CLOSING THE GENERATIONAL GAPMy guest on today's show knows all about the power in choosing to allow yourself to be invested by those older than you. Grant Skeldon is an author and founder of The Initiative Network which is an organization that equips young people to be missionaries in the workplace. Grant also intentionally reaches out to those older than him to get the wisdom he needs to live this life. You'll love today's show.
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The views we have about money were shaped when we were young. For some of us, that view is healthy – and it's helped us to build the life we want and understand money as a powerful tool. For others of us (myself included), the relationship with money that was established when we were younger was not so healthy. In fact, it may continue to wreck your life today.
HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith understands the power your relationship with money can have on you. Nick True has spent the better part of his twenties navigating that very issue in his own life. He and his wife Hanna are now in a place where they are thriving in their life because they have worked through a lot of their money issues. They now help other young people do the same with their business Mapped Out Money.
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HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith understands the power your relationship with money can have on you. Nick True has spent the better part of his twenties navigating that very issue in his own life. He and his wife Hanna are now in a place where they are thriving in their life because they have worked through a lot of their money issues. They now help other young people do the same with their business Mapped Out Money.
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Many of us have grown up believing that in order to do good in the world, we have to complete massive projects or tasks. This just isn't the case. In fact, it's the complete opposite. The most basic way to making a great impact in the world is through several small, everyday ordinary acts of goodness.
DOING GOOD IS SIMPLE
My guest on today's show is Chris Marlow, the founder of Help One Now, an organization that specializes in helping equip families in impoverished countries. They're mission and passion is simple: doing good can and is easy.
What I loved most about our conversation together were the simple tools that Chris shares on how you and I can learn to do an even greater good by simply walking outside our front door and helping one person in a simple way.
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DOING GOOD IS SIMPLE
My guest on today's show is Chris Marlow, the founder of Help One Now, an organization that specializes in helping equip families in impoverished countries. They're mission and passion is simple: doing good can and is easy.
What I loved most about our conversation together were the simple tools that Chris shares on how you and I can learn to do an even greater good by simply walking outside our front door and helping one person in a simple way.
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Not all of us are in business, but all of us need a powerful relational network to help get us through life. We are hard-wired for relationships and made for community.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with a good friend and mentor, Brian McCrae. By day, Brian is a mortgage broker (yes, he did the mortgage on my house) but also by day, he has built a powerful relationship network in St. Louis that helped him to launch Mastermind St. Louis, a monthly free networking and leadership development event that hundreds attend each month.
It was such a privilege getting to sit down with Brian to capture a little more of his story, but also hear how he built a powerful referral network that he has. You'll enjoy this episode!
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Not all of us are in business, but all of us need a powerful relational network to help get us through life. We are hard-wired for relationships and made for community.
RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with a good friend and mentor, Brian McCrae. By day, Brian is a mortgage broker (yes, he did the mortgage on my house) but also by day, he has built a powerful relationship network in St. Louis that helped him to launch Mastermind St. Louis, a monthly free networking and leadership development event that hundreds attend each month.
It was such a privilege getting to sit down with Brian to capture a little more of his story, but also hear how he built a powerful referral network that he has. You'll enjoy this episode!
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON TODAY'S SHOW
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Greatness is something that eludes every man. We want it, long for it and at times go to great lengths to achieve it. Our problem ensues when we think we have achieved such greatness, only to find out we are still fragile, breaking easily on the turn of a dime.
My guest on today's show understands the pursuit of becoming a great man. But even greater, Gordon Dalbey understands the power of what it means to do great work on the heart before you can become great. Great healing must occur before you can become great.
This extended interview with Gordon is full of a lot of years of wisdom and direction on how to find the healing you need to move forward into the greatness you're looking for.
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Greatness is something that eludes every man. We want it, long for it and at times go to great lengths to achieve it. Our problem ensues when we think we have achieved such greatness, only to find out we are still fragile, breaking easily on the turn of a dime.
HEALING THE MASCULINE SOUL
My guest on today's show understands the pursuit of becoming a great man. But even greater, Gordon Dalbey understands the power of what it means to do great work on the heart before you can become great. Great healing must occur before you can become great.
This extended interview with Gordon is full of a lot of years of wisdom and direction on how to find the healing you need to move forward into the greatness you're looking for.
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON TODAY'S SHOW
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We long to pursue and achieve great things in life. It's in our hard wiring - to experience life and adventure to the full. But most of us spin our wheels wanting more of this "full life" but never knowing how to experience it. We want God to speak to us, but we're not sure if we know how to listen.
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are going to talk about the ever-important practice of letting God out in front to lead your life and four straightforward but basic practices you can begin doing today to hear God's voice more clearly in this noisy world.
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We long to pursue and achieve great things in life. It's in our hard wiring - to experience life and adventure to the full. But most of us spin our wheels wanting more of this "full life" but never knowing how to experience it. We want God to speak to us, but we're not sure if we know how to listen.
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are going to talk about the ever-important practice of letting God out in front to lead your life and four straightforward but basic practices you can begin doing today to hear God's voice more clearly in this noisy world.
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON TODAY'S SHOW
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I want you to think about these important two questions before listening to today's episode:
For you to have a successful 2019 - both personally and professionally, what do you think you'll need?
What do you want to see happen in 2019?
Many of us would say that we want an epic 2019. We want this year to be better than lasts. There is nothing wrong with that desire. We run into problems when our desires outrun our disciplines. For you to have the incredible year you are looking for, you are going to need to be intentional about how you spend your time. And it doesn't begin by thinking about the year as a whole. It begins by thinking of how you intentionally spend your days.
I want to watch you crush it in 2019, but not before you learn to find a greater balance to your life. This episode is all about the 7 areas of balance you'll need to use to get your life, both personally and professionally, in order.
I want you to think about these important two questions before listening to today's episode: For you to have a successful 2019 - both personally and professionally, what do you think you'll need? What do you want to see happen in 2019? Many of us would say that we want an epic 2019. We want this year to be better than lasts. There is nothing wrong with that desire. We run into problems when our desires outrun our disciplines. For you to have the incredible year you are looking for, you are going to need to be intentional about how you spend your time. And it doesn't begin by thinking about the year as a whole. It begins by thinking of how you intentionally spend your days.
EPIC YEARS BEGIN WITH INTENTIONAL DAYS
I want to watch you crush it in 2019, but not before you learn to find a greater balance to your life. This episode is all about the 7 areas of balance you'll need to use to get your life, both personally and professionally, in order.
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON TODAY'S SHOW
2019 is going to be epic.
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2019 is going to be epic.
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At the end of every year, I have a few things on my mind. – the holidays, eating good food, resting, spending time with family and goal setting. I could spend an entire episode or more talking about how important each of these are (especially food) but I won't. Today, I wanted to take some time and talk about the process I use to set goals.
Over the years, I have adopted different ideas and practices for goal setting. In the last couple of years, I have invested a lot of time & money in the goal setting system Michael Hyatt uses in his "Best Year Ever" program. This online course, coupled with the everyday use of his Full Focus Planner, not only help me to stay on track but help me to set and reach goals every year. This year is no different. But, as I approach this upcoming year, there is a 3-layer grid that I have developed and began implementing into setting my goals. Here are the 3 areas that I want to make sure my goals line up with:
I begin with asking the question, "God, where do you want me to go this year and what do you want me to do?" I don't view this as treating God as a genie, but more as my leader and guide. With this question, I am asking God to go out in front and lead me. I learned this lesson from John Eldredge in Walking with God.
Before anything else, relationships are the most important thing. Relationships aren't just something, they are everything. I believe this now more than ever. When trying to see where I am heading for the coming year, I want to ask more "who" questions and less "what" questions. Who needs to be involved in this coming year?
I could easily set goals in areas that could just make me money – but would I be good at them? Probably not. I want my goals to be focused on the skill set that I can bring to the table. Now, this does mean you shouldn't pursue a new skill – or set a goal to pursue a new skill. I just want to make sure that most of what I am doing is in my wheelhouse. It keeps everything in check. And, let's be honest, it's what's going to bring home the greatest revenue return for the business.
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Over the years, I have adopted different ideas and practices for goal setting. In the last couple of years, I have invested a lot of time & money in the goal setting system Michael Hyatt uses in his "Best Year Ever" program. This online course, coupled with the everyday use of his Full Focus Planner, not only help me to stay on track but help me to set and reach goals every year. This year is no different. But, as I approach this upcoming year, there is a 3-layer grid that I have developed and began implementing into setting my goals. Here are the 3 areas that I want to make sure my goals line up with:
1. I WANT MY GOALS TO BE GOD DRIVENI begin with asking the question, "God, where do you want me to go this year and what do you want me to do?" I don't view this as treating God as a genie, but more as my leader and guide. With this question, I am asking God to go out in front and lead me. I learned this lesson from John Eldredge in Walking with God.
2. I WANT MY GOALS TO BE RELATIONALLY DRIVENBefore anything else, relationships are the most important thing. Relationships aren't just something, they are everything. I believe this now more than ever. When trying to see where I am heading for the coming year, I want to ask more "who" questions and less "what" questions. Who needs to be involved in this coming year?
3. I WANT MY GOALS TO BE SKILL DRIVENI could easily set goals in areas that could just make me money – but would I be good at them? Probably not. I want my goals to be focused on the skill set that I can bring to the table. Now, this does mean you shouldn't pursue a new skill – or set a goal to pursue a new skill. I just want to make sure that most of what I am doing is in my wheelhouse. It keeps everything in check. And, let's be honest, it's what's going to bring home the greatest revenue return for the business.
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I haven't been short on telling you that this business is all about God. You have probably figured that out about now. From the very inception of this business, I have wanted God to guide and direct this entire thing. If I take control, all is lost.
A couple of weeks ago I was having a conversation with my fiance, Shauna about something happening in the business. Her response caught my heart in the best way possible. "Yeah, it's Seek God, Pursue People."
My heart leaped with joy. That is it. Those were the words I had been looking for that summarize why we are doing what we are doing and what it all means to us.
Adventurous Faith is a business that seeks God first. We then pursue the heart of those God puts in our path through relationships. God is leading us this direction in 2019. It is going to be an epic year!
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I haven't been short on telling you that this business is all about God. You have probably figured that out about now. From the very inception of this business, I have wanted God to guide and direct this entire thing. If I take control, all is lost.
SEEK GOD. PURSUE PEOPLE.A couple of weeks ago I was having a conversation with my fiance, Shauna about something happening in the business. Her response caught my heart in the best way possible. "Yeah, it's Seek God, Pursue People."
My heart leaped with joy. That is it. Those were the words I had been looking for that summarize why we are doing what we are doing and what it all means to us.
Adventurous Faith is a business that seeks God first. We then pursue the heart of those God puts in our path through relationships. God is leading us this direction in 2019. It is going to be an epic year!
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When we learn to be thankful and cultivate a heart of gratitude, we set our minds on the present.
When I can learn to show gratitude towards those I love and care for, our relationship bond cannot be broken.
Sometimes, the name of the game is mental toughness. Expressing and showing gratitude helps me to form it.
When I can stop and think about what I am grateful for, my heart remembers what God has already done and brought me through.
When you use gratitude as a way of life, it helps put you in your place. You begin to realize that all that has been given to you was handed to you by God.
]]>When we learn to be thankful and cultivate a heart of gratitude, we set our minds on the present.
2. Gratitude has helped me to build stronger and healthier relationships.When I can learn to show gratitude towards those I love and care for, our relationship bond cannot be broken.
3. Gratitude has helped me to form a stronger mental fortitude.Sometimes, the name of the game is mental toughness. Expressing and showing gratitude helps me to form it.
4. Gratitude has helped me to remember what God has already done.When I can stop and think about what I am grateful for, my heart remembers what God has already done and brought me through.
5. Gratitude has helped me to remember my place in this world. God is God, and I am not.When you use gratitude as a way of life, it helps put you in your place. You begin to realize that all that has been given to you was handed to you by God.
]]>Curt Steinhorst is the founder of FocusWise. FocusWise is an organization built to help reduce distractions and improve communication in the workplace. Curt is the author of "Can I Have Your Attention?" where he shares his thoughts on research on what it looks like to help yourself, your team and company get the focus you need to get better work done.
This conversation with Curt was a lot of fun. There are a lot of great practical tools and application he gives in how you can help yourself get more work done. Here are some takeaways you'll get from this episode:
Curt Steinhorst is the founder of FocusWise. FocusWise is an organization built to help reduce distractions and improve communication in the workplace. Curt is the author of "Can I Have Your Attention?" where he shares his thoughts on research on what it looks like to help yourself, your team and company get the focus you need to get better work done.
LEARN HOW TO FOCUSThis conversation with Curt was a lot of fun. There are a lot of great practical tools and application he gives in how you can help yourself get more work done. Here are some takeaways you'll get from this episode:
Over the last several months of growing this coaching practice, one of the more vital lessons I have learned is that the process I am offering men in finding a balanced life is virtually priceless. I not only have the skill set, but I have the tools, experience, and ability to coaching high-achieving men to even greater success in their businesses and personal lives. I am more convinced of this than ever.
That is what this episode is all about. It's about me needing to raise my coaching rate, but more importantly, it's about me finding greater self-worth in what I am doing.
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]]>Over the last several months of growing this coaching practice, one of the more vital lessons I have learned is that the process I am offering men in finding a balanced life is virtually priceless. I not only have the skill set, but I have the tools, experience, and ability to coaching high-achieving men to even greater success in their businesses and personal lives. I am more convinced of this than ever.
That is what this episode is all about. It's about me needing to raise my coaching rate, but more importantly, it's about me finding greater self-worth in what I am doing.
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]]>My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith knows all about the pursuit of finding meaning. Dan Cumberland is the founder of The Meaning Movement - an organization that helps people find meaningful work in their life by exploring their story and other vital areas of their lives that are often neglected.
Dan is doing fantastic work, and I cannot wait for you to hear his energy behind what he is doing. It is contagious!
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith knows all about the pursuit of finding meaning. Dan Cumberland is the founder of The Meaning Movement - an organization that helps people find meaningful work in their life by exploring their story and other vital areas of their lives that are often neglected.
Dan is doing fantastic work, and I cannot wait for you to hear his energy behind what he is doing. It is contagious!
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW ]]>On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Jeff Goins. Jeff is a best-selling author and very successful entrepreneur. Over the course of about a year, he was able to launch a successful writing business and make over six-figures. His story only goes up from there. Over the course of a couple of years, he successfully made over 7 figures while achieving all sorts of success But in the middle of his journey, he found himself lost, no longer doing what he really started out to do.
There is plenty to learn from Jeff's story and I know you'll enjoy it.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Jeff Goins. Jeff is a best-selling author and very successful entrepreneur. Over the course of about a year, he was able to launch a successful writing business and make over six-figures. His story only goes up from there. Over the course of a couple of years, he successfully made over 7 figures while achieving all sorts of success But in the middle of his journey, he found himself lost, no longer doing what he really started out to do.
There is plenty to learn from Jeff's story and I know you'll enjoy it.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Such a novel idea isn't it? Most of us believe we should grow where we are planted but rarely live out our lives according to this great purpose. We love scaling and growing things, ideas and companies beyond our means and reach. It's a beautiful pursuit - but is it a necessary one?
What might it look like for you and I to grow our ideas and businesses in the communities in which we live? Sure, there are people all over the world that need to hear our thoughts (and yes, I DO believe that). But the greatest impact you and I can make is in our own backyards.
This changes everything for Adventurous Faith. No, not the vision or even means of making business happen. But, it does change how I believe God is calling us to scale it. 2019 is shaping up to be a great year for growth. I can't wait to see the impact we get to make in The Lou!
]]>Such a novel idea isn't it? Most of us believe we should grow where we are planted but rarely live out our lives according to this great purpose. We love scaling and growing things, ideas and companies beyond our means and reach. It's a beautiful pursuit - but is it a necessary one?
What might it look like for you and I to grow our ideas and businesses in the communities in which we live? Sure, there are people all over the world that need to hear our thoughts (and yes, I DO believe that). But the greatest impact you and I can make is in our own backyards.
HOME IN ST. LOUISThis changes everything for Adventurous Faith. No, not the vision or even means of making business happen. But, it does change how I believe God is calling us to scale it. 2019 is shaping up to be a great year for growth. I can't wait to see the impact we get to make in The Lou!
]]>My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith has stopped wishing he could live abroad and started doing it. Ricky Shetty is the founder of DaddyBlogger.com and the host of Digital Nomad Mastery. DNM is a resource dedicated to people who want to want to learn how to live abroad and make a living.
As you'll learn on today's show, Ricky didn't always live this way. It has only been in the last couple of years that Ricky has decided to take his life on the road.
Over the last few years, Ricky has learned a lot of great lessons on how to live as a digital nomad. He is now inviting others to come along the journey with him - whatever country that may lead them to. On this episode, he shares his story, practical advice, and wisdom on how to approach becoming a digital nomad.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith has stopped wishing he could live abroad and started doing it. Ricky Shetty is the founder of DaddyBlogger.com and the host of Digital Nomad Mastery. DNM is a resource dedicated to people who want to want to learn how to live abroad and make a living.
THRIVING AS A DIGITAL NOMADAs you'll learn on today's show, Ricky didn't always live this way. It has only been in the last couple of years that Ricky has decided to take his life on the road.
Over the last few years, Ricky has learned a lot of great lessons on how to live as a digital nomad. He is now inviting others to come along the journey with him - whatever country that may lead them to. On this episode, he shares his story, practical advice, and wisdom on how to approach becoming a digital nomad.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEI know that most of the Chapters of my Start-Up Story are of me talking about the business. Those are all important and real conversations to have. But most importantly, this business is all about relationships. And those relationships aren't all always just about business. They are real, raw and personal.
Adventurous Faith is about planning a life with the ones you love and allowing God to take the lead. This is why talking about my engagement on the podcast is that important. My personal life and Adventurous Faith aren't two separate things. They are one and the same. I cannot wait to see the life that God has for both Shauna and I as we moved forward in our relationship and further into this business.
Shauna currently plays an intimate role in the business. You will only see that grow, morph and change as we get married and God grows the business. I'm excited more than ever that she and I get to do this together.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for tuning in to our story. I look forward to sharing more about us in some future episodes.
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I know that most of the Chapters of my Start-Up Story are of me talking about the business. Those are all important and real conversations to have. But most importantly, this business is all about relationships. And those relationships aren't all always just about business. They are real, raw and personal.
ADVENTUROUS FAITH JUST ISN'T ABOUT BUSINESSAdventurous Faith is about planning a life with the ones you love and allowing God to take the lead. This is why talking about my engagement on the podcast is that important. My personal life and Adventurous Faith aren't two separate things. They are one and the same. I cannot wait to see the life that God has for both Shauna and I as we moved forward in our relationship and further into this business.
Shauna currently plays an intimate role in the business. You will only see that grow, morph and change as we get married and God grows the business. I'm excited more than ever that she and I get to do this together.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for tuning in to our story. I look forward to sharing more about us in some future episodes.
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My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith is Jordan Raynor. Jordan is the auth of Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate and Risk. He is a serial entrepreneur, former member of The White House staff under President Bush and is currently the CEO of Threshold 360.
Jordan's message is simple. God is the first entrepreneur and he has called us to create. Whether inside the church or in the marketplace we have a responsibility to use the gifts and talents that God has given to us. While the journey isn't easy, it's necessary as the call doesn't wain, but only pushes us forward.
Jordan had a lot of wise thoughts to give about the way we view entrepreneurship in the world and how that applies to those of us that consider ourselves to be a part of the Christian Faith.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith is Jordan Raynor. Jordan is the auth of Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate and Risk. He is a serial entrepreneur, former member of The White House staff under President Bush and is currently the CEO of Threshold 360.
LIVE OUR YOUR FAITH AS AN ENTREPRENEURJordan's message is simple. God is the first entrepreneur and he has called us to create. Whether inside the church or in the marketplace we have a responsibility to use the gifts and talents that God has given to us. While the journey isn't easy, it's necessary as the call doesn't wain, but only pushes us forward.
Jordan had a lot of wise thoughts to give about the way we view entrepreneurship in the world and how that applies to those of us that consider ourselves to be a part of the Christian Faith.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEJohn is the New York Times Best Selling Author of Wild at Heart among many other books. He is the founder of Ransomed Heart, a ministry based out of Colorado. John has made it his life's mission to call the heart's of men and women back to God. He's been at it for several years and has a global following with his podcast, books, conferences, and seminars.
This interview is one for the books. It encapsulates so well the mission of Adventurous Faith and the call God has on our lives. In our interview, John and I discuss what it looks like to seek true adventure and thereby come to live free. It's not an easy road, but it's the life that God has designed and rigged this world for.
As you listen to this episode, I invite you to think about what this message looks like for you. It's not easy to hear, but necessary in order to become the man you long to be. What are the practical steps towards crucial and epic adventure you need to take in order to become the man God longs for you to be?
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John is the New York Times Best Selling Author of Wild at Heart among many other books. He is the founder of Ransomed Heart, a ministry based out of Colorado. John has made it his life's mission to call the heart's of men and women back to God. He's been at it for several years and has a global following with his podcast, books, conferences, and seminars.
SEEK TRUE ADVENTURE & LIVE FREEThis interview is one for the books. It encapsulates so well the mission of Adventurous Faith and the call God has on our lives. In our interview, John and I discuss what it looks like to seek true adventure and thereby come to live free. It's not an easy road, but it's the life that God has designed and rigged this world for.
As you listen to this episode, I invite you to think about what this message looks like for you. It's not easy to hear, but necessary in order to become the man you long to be. What are the practical steps towards crucial and epic adventure you need to take in order to become the man God longs for you to be?
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE
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I mentioned in the last chapter of my Start-Up Story that after my interview with John Eldredge that he gave me a few moments to ask him a couple more questions. I only asked him one: "John, what wisdom or advice would you give to 35 yr old John when starting this business." On the last episode of my Start-Up Story, I shared piece of wisdom number one. This week, I want to share piece of wisdom number two with you.
Most of us plan our lives or businesses by doing all the hard work and then asking God to bless it. There isn't anything wrong with this approach. But, if you think about it, we're only getting the lesser half of what is possible. What if we ran our decisions through God first and asked him what He desired of us? That could change everything.
John's second piece of advice to me was simple:
"Begin practicing listening prayer. It will change the way you grow this business."
Something like this is hard for me. I'm a mover, shaker and innovator. I want things to happen my way. But that's definitely not the best way.
This won't be easy, but I want to begin building this into my life. One of the books that I want to read in the next month or two is John's book, Walking With God. It's a book on learning to hear the voice of God and having him guide your life rather than the other way around. I believe it will do wonders for my life and business. You may want to check it out.
]]>I mentioned in the last chapter of my Start-Up Story that after my interview with John Eldredge that he gave me a few moments to ask him a couple more questions. I only asked him one: "John, what wisdom or advice would you give to 35 yr old John when starting this business." On the last episode of my Start-Up Story, I shared piece of wisdom number one. This week, I want to share piece of wisdom number two with you.
PRACTICE LISTENING PRAYERMost of us plan our lives or businesses by doing all the hard work and then asking God to bless it. There isn't anything wrong with this approach. But, if you think about it, we're only getting the lesser half of what is possible. What if we ran our decisions through God first and asked him what He desired of us? That could change everything.
John's second piece of advice to me was simple:
"Begin practicing listening prayer. It will change the way you grow this business."
Something like this is hard for me. I'm a mover, shaker and innovator. I want things to happen my way. But that's definitely not the best way.
This won't be easy, but I want to begin building this into my life. One of the books that I want to read in the next month or two is John's book, Walking With God. It's a book on learning to hear the voice of God and having him guide your life rather than the other way around. I believe it will do wonders for my life and business. You may want to check it out.
]]>Today's guest on the Adventurous Faith Podcast Story Session is Matthew Mossotti. Matthew is the founder of Planet Me Productions. Planet Me a creative company dedicated to producing media that inspires the human soul into the heavenly realms. Sounds epic, doesn't it? It is!
Our paths crossed several years ago at church. Matthew's heart for God inspires me. He also has a crazy amount of creativity and loves to pursue excellence in all things. I knew he would be a valuable voice to add to the Adventurous Faith podcast.
Today's guest on the Adventurous Faith Podcast Story Session is Matthew Mossotti. Matthew is the founder of Planet Me Productions. Planet Me a creative company dedicated to producing media that inspires the human soul into the heavenly realms. Sounds epic, doesn't it? It is!
Our paths crossed several years ago at church. Matthew's heart for God inspires me. He also has a crazy amount of creativity and loves to pursue excellence in all things. I knew he would be a valuable voice to add to the Adventurous Faith podcast.
It was an honor just to sit down with Matthew to capture his incredible story of coming to Faith. Just wait until you hear it! God is writing epic into Matthew's story on a regular basis and I know you'll be inspired by listening to him share. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM MATTHEW'S STORY]]>
God has been doing a great amount of work in my heart since starting Adventurous Faith. I'm far from all the answers but I feel I am gaining some traction in becoming the man and business owner that God desires for me to become. As I have been en-route on this path there have been several issues in my heart that have come to light about the self-help movement in my own life and I've decided to start bringing those ideas out into the light.
"You alone are the LORD You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. - Nehemiah 9:6
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. - John 6:68
3. It eliminates two core practices and disciplines of the Christian Faith
Process - We can have anything instantly. Why go through the process and initiation of becoming a better human by what you've learned and grown through the process if you don't have to?
Limits - A long-lasting belief and practice in the self-help movement are that you can become and be anyone you'd like to be. Limits do not exist there. The problem is that they do and they come from Someone greater than us. God doesn't give us limits to break us down but because He loves us and knows what's best for us.
4. It Throws the attention on what you are doing for yourself rather than what God is doing inside of you.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ADVENTUROUS FAITH START-UP GUIDE
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God has been doing a great amount of work in my heart since starting Adventurous Faith. I'm far from all the answers but I feel I am gaining some traction in becoming the man and business owner that God desires for me to become. As I have been en-route on this path there have been several issues in my heart that have come to light about the self-help movement in my own life and I've decided to start bringing those ideas out into the light.
THE SEVEN REASONS WHY SELF-HELP IS STUNTING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH."You alone are the LORD You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. - Nehemiah 9:6
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. - John 6:68
2. The Self-Help Movement makes you believe that YOU are the driving force making the greatest version of yourself.3. It eliminates two core practices and disciplines of the Christian Faith
Process - We can have anything instantly. Why go through the process and initiation of becoming a better human by what you've learned and grown through the process if you don't have to?
Limits - A long-lasting belief and practice in the self-help movement are that you can become and be anyone you'd like to be. Limits do not exist there. The problem is that they do and they come from Someone greater than us. God doesn't give us limits to break us down but because He loves us and knows what's best for us.
4. It Throws the attention on what you are doing for yourself rather than what God is doing inside of you.
5. It provides a "duct tape repair" option rather than true healing. 6. It leaves you in control of your life, which is really no control at all. 7. It provides no real solution for hope in the broken world we live in.CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ADVENTUROUS FAITH START-UP GUIDE
REACH OUT TO ME]]>
If time allows, I like to chat with my guests after the show. I like to get their wisdom on life or share more about what I am doing with Adventurous Faith. John had time available and was willing to chat with me. I asked him one very specific question:
"If you could go back and tell 35yr old John wisdom on how to run this business and ministry, what would you share with him?"
He wasn't short on advice. For the next couple of episodes of my start-up story, I want to share with you what John told me. There were two thoughts he gave to me and this young business. The first was this:
It didn't take me long to realize what he was talking about. He was telling me the speed at which I should be going. I am a go-getter. I'm not afraid to grow quickly and move fast while doing it. I love it - but I'm learning lately that it probably only serves my ego instead of those around me. John was speaking great wisdom over me when he told me - "Ben - crawl. walk. run."
It may sound difficult to believe, but those words were life-giving for me. Don't get me wrong, they are not easy to hear - but they bring life to my always driving soul.
I want to spend the rest of my life doing Adventurous Faith. This is my legacy. When you think about it, what benefit is it to me to grow this thing overnight? It will just kill me.
God, teach me to first crawl. It won't be easy, but it's exactly what I need to be doing.
]]>If time allows, I like to chat with my guests after the show. I like to get their wisdom on life or share more about what I am doing with Adventurous Faith. John had time available and was willing to chat with me. I asked him one very specific question:
"If you could go back and tell 35yr old John wisdom on how to run this business and ministry, what would you share with him?"
He wasn't short on advice. For the next couple of episodes of my start-up story, I want to share with you what John told me. There were two thoughts he gave to me and this young business. The first was this:
CRAWL. WALK. RUNIt didn't take me long to realize what he was talking about. He was telling me the speed at which I should be going. I am a go-getter. I'm not afraid to grow quickly and move fast while doing it. I love it - but I'm learning lately that it probably only serves my ego instead of those around me. John was speaking great wisdom over me when he told me - "Ben - crawl. walk. run."
It may sound difficult to believe, but those words were life-giving for me. Don't get me wrong, they are not easy to hear - but they bring life to my always driving soul.
SLOW IT DOWNI want to spend the rest of my life doing Adventurous Faith. This is my legacy. When you think about it, what benefit is it to me to grow this thing overnight? It will just kill me.
God, teach me to first crawl. It won't be easy, but it's exactly what I need to be doing.
]]>My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith knows what your story feels like. He lived it himself. Paul Sohn is the founder of QARA, an organization that exists to help twenty-somethings find their True North. He is also the author of Quarter-Life Calling. Paul is a successful speaker, author, mover & shaker in the young adult space and believes there is more to get from this young generation. Paul's passion for what he does was born out of his own story to see great change being made in the world and he believes this generation, upon finding their calling, is up to the task.
In our episode, he drops some great wisdom bombs and practical wisdom and advice on how to navigate your calling so you can go out into the world and do what you were created to do.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith knows what your story feels like. He lived it himself. Paul Sohn is the founder of QARA, an organization that exists to help twenty-somethings find their True North. He is also the author of Quarter-Life Calling. Paul is a successful speaker, author, mover & shaker in the young adult space and believes there is more to get from this young generation. Paul's passion for what he does was born out of his own story to see great change being made in the world and he believes this generation, upon finding their calling, is up to the task.
In our episode, he drops some great wisdom bombs and practical wisdom and advice on how to navigate your calling so you can go out into the world and do what you were created to do.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEToday, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, my guest is Zack McCullock of Your Money, Your Freedom. Zack and his wife Jenna leaped a few years back with their finances that rocked their world. They sold most of all of their possessions and lived out of a camper for 11 months and retired $50,000 in debt. It's an incredible story that took a lot of guts with a massive amount of return on the back end.
But, here's a question for you. What do you feel like when you hear a story like that? Seriously - what comes to mind? Does it make you happy? Does it make you upset or pissed off? Do you wish you could do something like that? All of us do - but most of us aren't willing to take risks to get there. And that is what Zack and I talk about on the podcast today.
If you want to change your family tree, most often that begins with you getting your relationship with money right first - and that often can't happen without a large leap.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, my guest is Zack McCullock of Your Money, Your Freedom. Zack and his wife Jenna leaped a few years back with their finances that rocked their world. They sold most of all of their possessions and lived out of a camper for 11 months and retired $50,000 in debt. It's an incredible story that took a lot of guts with a massive amount of return on the back end.
But, here's a question for you. What do you feel like when you hear a story like that? Seriously - what comes to mind? Does it make you happy? Does it make you upset or pissed off? Do you wish you could do something like that? All of us do - but most of us aren't willing to take risks to get there. And that is what Zack and I talk about on the podcast today.
If you want to change your family tree, most often that begins with you getting your relationship with money right first - and that often can't happen without a large leap.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEBut, the best part of this last weekend wasn't the sessions or pages and pages of notes that I took about how to run a better business and be more productive. It was an unexpected lunch I had with another entrepreneur who has become a distant mentor of mine.
A few years ago I was introduced to Jeff Goins, an online business owner who helps writers find their audience called Tribe Writers. I have been a student of Jeff's for a couple of years now, and I highly recommend his course and community. It's fantastic. I met Jeff at his Tribe Conference last year, and we have just stayed in touch via social media over the previous year.
I learned Jeff was at Achieve before it started and I sought him out to catch up with him to see how his world was doing and share a little bit more about my new venture, Adventurous Faith. In our conversation, one thing leads to another, and I said "Hey, you want to go grab lunch? I'm buying." I knew this was an opportunity I wouldn't get a second swipe at, and I wanted to take it. He graciously accepted, and we hopped in my car and headed to this off the beaten path Greek join located near the conference.
I had all sorts of questions I wanted to ask him. Not very often do I get in front of a guy who's killing it in his entrepreneurial space and get to pick his brain. I was all ears.
There was a lot I learned over the course of our conversation, but more than anything I learned A LOT more about Jeff - who he is as a person and most importantly what he's been learning about himself over the last year as a businessman. It was fascinating on so many levels, but there was something Jeff continued to come back to in our conversation that resonated with me in a profound and meaningful way.
One of the earlier questions I asked him was about what was working in his business right now and what he was thinking about changing. His response surprised me.
"I'm done doing things just because they work."
Wait, what? Don't' you do things because they work? It was all in at this point. Our conversation continued down a path I didn't see coming, and it was all about getting off the success train. Now, what did Jeff mean by those eight simple words?
So many young, driven and passionate entrepreneurs get in the game because they want to make more money. Not a wrong reason to join the fun at all! But the problem ensues when you allow your desire for more money to drive your ego and the belief that you think it will make you happier.
The only problem with this belief is that it never plays out that way. You'll never get there. You'll never get to the point of greater happiness with more money. It just doesn't exist. Your net worth may grow, but your satisfaction with yourself and who you are becoming will never move an inch. It can't. Why? Because we aren't wired this way.
Jeff and I's conversation took many twists, turns and leaps but this idea kept running to the front of my mind. How much of my ego is driving what I'm doing? What am I doing that I hope will make me look like a happier, more successful person but in the end will only motivate me to work harder and achieve more?
We live in a broken world that drives our broken system of success and happiness. I, too, have bought into the system full throttle. But even this early in the game I am beginning to see how it won't make me any happier. I had to re-learn the lesson over a Greek salad on a Friday afternoon, but it was worth it.
The struggle is real, and God's willingness to teach me this lesson so early in the game leaves me undone. Lunch with Jeff was a gift from God that I never want to take for granted. I'll remember that conversation for a very long time.
]]>
But, the best part of this last weekend wasn't the sessions or pages and pages of notes that I took about how to run a better business and be more productive. It was an unexpected lunch I had with another entrepreneur who has become a distant mentor of mine.
A few years ago I was introduced to Jeff Goins, an online business owner who helps writers find their audience called Tribe Writers. I have been a student of Jeff's for a couple of years now, and I highly recommend his course and community. It's fantastic. I met Jeff at his Tribe Conference last year, and we have just stayed in touch via social media over the previous year.
AN UNEXPECTED LUNCHI learned Jeff was at Achieve before it started and I sought him out to catch up with him to see how his world was doing and share a little bit more about my new venture, Adventurous Faith. In our conversation, one thing leads to another, and I said "Hey, you want to go grab lunch? I'm buying." I knew this was an opportunity I wouldn't get a second swipe at, and I wanted to take it. He graciously accepted, and we hopped in my car and headed to this off the beaten path Greek join located near the conference.
I had all sorts of questions I wanted to ask him. Not very often do I get in front of a guy who's killing it in his entrepreneurial space and get to pick his brain. I was all ears.
There was a lot I learned over the course of our conversation, but more than anything I learned A LOT more about Jeff - who he is as a person and most importantly what he's been learning about himself over the last year as a businessman. It was fascinating on so many levels, but there was something Jeff continued to come back to in our conversation that resonated with me in a profound and meaningful way.
GETTING OFF THE EGO TRAINOne of the earlier questions I asked him was about what was working in his business right now and what he was thinking about changing. His response surprised me.
"I'm done doing things just because they work."
Wait, what? Don't' you do things because they work? It was all in at this point. Our conversation continued down a path I didn't see coming, and it was all about getting off the success train. Now, what did Jeff mean by those eight simple words?
So many young, driven and passionate entrepreneurs get in the game because they want to make more money. Not a wrong reason to join the fun at all! But the problem ensues when you allow your desire for more money to drive your ego and the belief that you think it will make you happier.
The only problem with this belief is that it never plays out that way. You'll never get there. You'll never get to the point of greater happiness with more money. It just doesn't exist. Your net worth may grow, but your satisfaction with yourself and who you are becoming will never move an inch. It can't. Why? Because we aren't wired this way.
WHAT AM I DOING TO GROW MY EGO?Jeff and I's conversation took many twists, turns and leaps but this idea kept running to the front of my mind. How much of my ego is driving what I'm doing? What am I doing that I hope will make me look like a happier, more successful person but in the end will only motivate me to work harder and achieve more?
We live in a broken world that drives our broken system of success and happiness. I, too, have bought into the system full throttle. But even this early in the game I am beginning to see how it won't make me any happier. I had to re-learn the lesson over a Greek salad on a Friday afternoon, but it was worth it.
From my conversation with Jeff, Here's what I'm processing right now in my start-up:The struggle is real, and God's willingness to teach me this lesson so early in the game leaves me undone. Lunch with Jeff was a gift from God that I never want to take for granted. I'll remember that conversation for a very long time.
REACH OUT TO ME]]>
Due to the sensitive nature of what my friend does and where he serves, you won't hear his name or location as he serves in a very difficult country. You will only hear his story. The passion in his heart will move you.
Anxiety is a topic that comes up more and more. More young people suffer from a form of fear, anxiety or even depression than at any other time in history. This battle crosses across all ages, backgrounds, and stories - forcing us to live lives we weren't created for.
In my conversation with my friend, he tells the story of a recent story from his own life in which persecution came flooding in. From his experience, fear and anxiety began to see into his heart and soul causing him to consider what this means for his faith. It was a battle - and he wasn't afraid to go there.
What you'll learn is that my friend's healing didn't come through his own means. There was a greater work at play.
]]>
Due to the sensitive nature of what my friend does and where he serves, you won't hear his name or location as he serves in a very difficult country. You will only hear his story. The passion in his heart will move you.
ANXIETY IS A REAL THINGAnxiety is a topic that comes up more and more. More young people suffer from a form of fear, anxiety or even depression than at any other time in history. This battle crosses across all ages, backgrounds, and stories - forcing us to live lives we weren't created for.
In my conversation with my friend, he tells the story of a recent story from his own life in which persecution came flooding in. From his experience, fear and anxiety began to see into his heart and soul causing him to consider what this means for his faith. It was a battle - and he wasn't afraid to go there.
What you'll learn is that my friend's healing didn't come through his own means. There was a greater work at play.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE]]>
What if you weren't here on accident? What if you were here very much on purpose? God created us with great intention and hard focused purpose. Nothing was by accident. You and I were created by God with great intentionality and hard focused purpose. Our lives begin to take shape when we not only learn these truths about our lives but surrender to them every single day.
My guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith understands the meaning of purpose. How can I say that? Because he has spent almost his entire life watching God map it out for him in an incredible story that only God could write.
Ben Malcolmson is the Special Assistance to Pete Caroll of the Seattle Seahawks. But Ben's journey to the NFL sidelines takes some crazy turns to get there. Ben's story is inspiring, funny, and full of purpose and an Amazing God who always is looking out for us. There is a lot of encouragement you will receive from our conversation.
What if you weren't here on accident? What if you were here very much on purpose? God created us with great intention and hard focused purpose. Nothing was by accident. You and I were created by God with great intentionality and hard focused purpose. Our lives begin to take shape when we not only learn these truths about our lives but surrender to them every single day.
YOU HAVE A GREAT PURPOSEMy guest on today's episode of Adventurous Faith understands the meaning of purpose. How can I say that? Because he has spent almost his entire life watching God map it out for him in an incredible story that only God could write.
Ben Malcolmson is the Special Assistance to Pete Caroll of the Seattle Seahawks. But Ben's journey to the NFL sidelines takes some crazy turns to get there. Ben's story is inspiring, funny, and full of purpose and an Amazing God who always is looking out for us. There is a lot of encouragement you will receive from our conversation.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEJust yesterday I hit this feeling of being overwhelmed after a day full of work. For whatever reason, my heart just seemed to not get over it. I even remember thinking - now would be a good time to take a break, go for a walk and just hand this over to God. But I didn't. I chose to try and beat my feeling with more work. I just kept hustling.
It's the most backward thing in the world, but God has weighed on me recently to trust him more for work I cannot do. I'm a seven on the Enneagram - which means I long for and strive for more. Sound like me? Oh yeah - it's me to a T. Through this learning process, God is reminding me when enough is enough. He's telling me to stop hustling and start trusting.
I get it. This wisdom is entirely backward to what the world says we should do. We should have everything figured out. Run all the tests. Do all the research. Have all the widgets doing their thing so you can make that money. It's all great. It is. But it's not affording me the mental rest I need in this process. It's just making it worse.
So, when I find myself with my computer still open at 9 p.m. trying to run down an idea, I'm probably not doing myself any good. I'm probably wrecking myself more than anything.
God reminded me once again that this business is going to look wildly different than what traditional business wisdom (or new, flashy entrepreneurial wisdom for that matter) suggests it will look like.
I'm good with different.
]]>
Just yesterday I hit this feeling of being overwhelmed after a day full of work. For whatever reason, my heart just seemed to not get over it. I even remember thinking - now would be a good time to take a break, go for a walk and just hand this over to God. But I didn't. I chose to try and beat my feeling with more work. I just kept hustling.
It's the most backward thing in the world, but God has weighed on me recently to trust him more for work I cannot do. I'm a seven on the Enneagram - which means I long for and strive for more. Sound like me? Oh yeah - it's me to a T. Through this learning process, God is reminding me when enough is enough. He's telling me to stop hustling and start trusting.
IT'S BACKWARDS.I get it. This wisdom is entirely backward to what the world says we should do. We should have everything figured out. Run all the tests. Do all the research. Have all the widgets doing their thing so you can make that money. It's all great. It is. But it's not affording me the mental rest I need in this process. It's just making it worse.
So, when I find myself with my computer still open at 9 p.m. trying to run down an idea, I'm probably not doing myself any good. I'm probably wrecking myself more than anything.
God reminded me once again that this business is going to look wildly different than what traditional business wisdom (or new, flashy entrepreneurial wisdom for that matter) suggests it will look like.
I'm good with different.
REACH OUT TO ME]]>
The problem with our desire with more is that it often doesn't get us the results we are looking for. In fact, it ends up causing more problems than solving because, as Puff Daddy has always said - Mo Money, Mo Problems. Ok, I digress.
The question I want you to begin thinking about is this - is more really the answer? Maybe the barrier between you and this incredible full and amazing life isn't more of something - it's less of it.
Jesus said...
"I have come that they might have life and have it to the full." - John 10:10
What is this "full" life that Jesus speaks of? Do I have to get something to get it? Do I need more of something? Not exactly. In fact, it's the complete opposite of what you and I may think that it is. Jesus is calling us to do and have less.
Jesus makes his case for this life he is calling us to with the story of The Rich Young Man, found in Matthew chapter 19. What we'll learn in our conversation today on the podcast was that it wasn't so much about what the young man did, did not do or what he had. It was about what he was willing to give up to obtain the full life Christ was calling him too.
The problem with our desire with more is that it often doesn't get us the results we are looking for. In fact, it ends up causing more problems than solving because, as Puff Daddy has always said - Mo Money, Mo Problems. Ok, I digress.
The question I want you to begin thinking about is this - is more really the answer? Maybe the barrier between you and this incredible full and amazing life isn't more of something - it's less of it.
Jesus said...
"I have come that they might have life and have it to the full." - John 10:10 LESS FOR A FULL LIFEWhat is this "full" life that Jesus speaks of? Do I have to get something to get it? Do I need more of something? Not exactly. In fact, it's the complete opposite of what you and I may think that it is. Jesus is calling us to do and have less.
Jesus makes his case for this life he is calling us to with the story of The Rich Young Man, found in Matthew chapter 19. What we'll learn in our conversation today on the podcast was that it wasn't so much about what the young man did, did not do or what he had. It was about what he was willing to give up to obtain the full life Christ was calling him too.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEMost of us believe that both of these ideas are exclusive. We can't have both success and significance. But what Aaron works tirelessly with men to understand is that they not only can have both - but have it abundantly.
On today's episode of the Adventurous Faith Podcast, my guest Aaron Walker tells his incredible story of 40 years as an entrepreneur and a snapshot into the life God is leading him to create - a life of success & significance. Aaron's story isn't without a few ups and downs - but it is very much on purpose.
Aaron runs a coaching and consulting business out of the Nashville area called View From the Top. His ISI Mastermind groups are second to none and you will love our conversation. Aaron is full of life, wisdom and encouragement for those who need it.
- Aaron's book - View From the Top
- Aaron's Mastermind Groups
Most of us believe that both of these ideas are exclusive. We can't have both success and significance. But what Aaron works tirelessly with men to understand is that they not only can have both - but have it abundantly.
On today's episode of the Adventurous Faith Podcast, my guest Aaron Walker tells his incredible story of 40 years as an entrepreneur and a snapshot into the life God is leading him to create - a life of success & significance. Aaron's story isn't without a few ups and downs - but it is very much on purpose.
Aaron runs a coaching and consulting business out of the Nashville area called View From the Top. His ISI Mastermind groups are second to none and you will love our conversation. Aaron is full of life, wisdom and encouragement for those who need it.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE- Aaron's book - View From the Top - Aaron's Mastermind Groups
]]>Coaching has been and will continue to be a primary focus for my business. It puts my best skill sets to work, allowing me to pour into the lives of young men and is going to help bring quick money into the business.
Growing the Adventurous Faith podcast is a close second to coaching. It doesn't have the potential right now to bring in near the amount of money that coaching does, but it helps get my message to get out there. This will help spread the word about the business and what I am doing. Oh, and I LOVE podcasting!
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date with everything Adventurous Faith and this podcast. I think it's safe to say that God is up to something incredible right now. He is working in my life and this business, and I attribute a large part of that to all of what I am focusing on right now while keeping Jesus at the center of this enter thing.
]]>Coaching has been and will continue to be a primary focus for my business. It puts my best skill sets to work, allowing me to pour into the lives of young men and is going to help bring quick money into the business.
PODCASTINGGrowing the Adventurous Faith podcast is a close second to coaching. It doesn't have the potential right now to bring in near the amount of money that coaching does, but it helps get my message to get out there. This will help spread the word about the business and what I am doing. Oh, and I LOVE podcasting!
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date with everything Adventurous Faith and this podcast. I think it's safe to say that God is up to something incredible right now. He is working in my life and this business, and I attribute a large part of that to all of what I am focusing on right now while keeping Jesus at the center of this enter thing.
]]>But there is a better way. It's not just a better way - it's an incredibly more powerful way to grow the life you are looking for. Enter the power of masterminds. Masterminding, as you here on this episode combats the ideas that our ideas are the greatest, and the best way to achieve maximum results in your life, business and performance is to gather the collective wisdom of other people. That is what masterminding is all about.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Anthony Witt, who has spent the majority of his professional career not just promoting the importance of masterminding but living it out every single week. He has a vast array of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to what it looks like to do life together, and if you're looking to up your performance game, this episode is for you.
But there is a better way. It's not just a better way - it's an incredibly more powerful way to grow the life you are looking for. Enter the power of masterminds. Masterminding, as you here on this episode combats the ideas that our ideas are the greatest, and the best way to achieve maximum results in your life, business and performance is to gather the collective wisdom of other people. That is what masterminding is all about.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Anthony Witt, who has spent the majority of his professional career not just promoting the importance of masterminding but living it out every single week. He has a vast array of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to what it looks like to do life together, and if you're looking to up your performance game, this episode is for you.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODEYou and I were made for work, but we were equally created for rest, too. This is a discipline that has gone completely lost to us in our modern world. I interact with young men on a daily basis who at times work between 70-80 hours a week and never take a day off. Sure, they may leave the office. But only to go home and fire up the e-mail and continue the process of work over and over.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I sit down with Matt Heffner of Our Daily Rest and we talk about the glaring problem facing each of us every single day - our inability to rest. Sure, it's easy to talk about taking a nap, but for Matt, our conversation is much more personal. It wasn't a passion for the afternoon snooze that brought him to a complete stop-still, but a diagnosis that ended up being a gift from God. Matt's journey into the discipline of rest is one you will not want to miss.
]]>
You and I were made for work, but we were equally created for rest, too. This is a discipline that has gone completely lost to us in our modern world. I interact with young men on a daily basis who at times work between 70-80 hours a week and never take a day off. Sure, they may leave the office. But only to go home and fire up the e-mail and continue the process of work over and over.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I sit down with Matt Heffner of Our Daily Rest and we talk about the glaring problem facing each of us every single day - our inability to rest. Sure, it's easy to talk about taking a nap, but for Matt, our conversation is much more personal. It wasn't a passion for the afternoon snooze that brought him to a complete stop-still, but a diagnosis that ended up being a gift from God. Matt's journey into the discipline of rest is one you will not want to miss.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE
]]>
To say I'm a little bit nervous is an understatement.
But even just calling out how nervous I am is a big help. Why? Because it helps me to process what I'm feeling. And despite popular beliefs among men, processing how you are feeling and what got you there is a good thing.
When I think about how nervous I get, I think about the amount of control I feel like I need to have on the business to make sure it stays afloat. That is a terrible way to live. I believe even more that it is a terrible way to run a business.
There is a reward that waits on the other side of our disconnect. It sounds and feels a lot like restoration, completeness and wholeness. Jewish people would maybe call it Shalom. I believe that is a good word.
God is not interested in us taking control of everything. He's more interested in us being obedient to his voice, disconnecting when we need to and being fully present to the world around us. That is my goal in this week as you read this post and listen to this episode. I want to be more present with Shauna, God and those around me.
This is the story of my start-up and what I am learning in real time. Thank you for listening. I'll be back in the saddle next week.
]]>To say I'm a little bit nervous is an understatement.
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DISCONNECTBut even just calling out how nervous I am is a big help. Why? Because it helps me to process what I'm feeling. And despite popular beliefs among men, processing how you are feeling and what got you there is a good thing.
When I think about how nervous I get, I think about the amount of control I feel like I need to have on the business to make sure it stays afloat. That is a terrible way to live. I believe even more that it is a terrible way to run a business.
WE WERE MADE TO GET AWAYThere is a reward that waits on the other side of our disconnect. It sounds and feels a lot like restoration, completeness and wholeness. Jewish people would maybe call it Shalom. I believe that is a good word.
God is not interested in us taking control of everything. He's more interested in us being obedient to his voice, disconnecting when we need to and being fully present to the world around us. That is my goal in this week as you read this post and listen to this episode. I want to be more present with Shauna, God and those around me.
This is the story of my start-up and what I am learning in real time. Thank you for listening. I'll be back in the saddle next week.
REACH OUT TO ME ]]>Without realizing it, most of us have built our lives on The Rat Race. We move so fast for so hard, hoping to gain the approval of everyone watching and in the end, even if we win, we're still a rat.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I sit down with my good friend, Brandon Jackson. Brandon is a
dedicated Christ-follower, Husband, Father, Friend and the owner and operator of CrossFit Valley Park, a wildly successful Crossfit gym in the St. Louis area.
But Brandon's story wasn't always one of success. In fact, it was the success that almost ruined him. The way to the life Brandon always wanted needed to come by way of surrender.
Most of us get on the Rat Race because we hope we might stick out and find what we're looking for. But the truth is, the only path to the peace we are looking for is found in Jesus. Tune in to today's episode and hear how Brandon got there and what's keeping him there today.
Without realizing it, most of us have built our lives on The Rat Race. We move so fast for so hard, hoping to gain the approval of everyone watching and in the end, even if we win, we're still a rat.
THE JOURNEY TO SURRENDERToday, on the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I sit down with my good friend, Brandon Jackson. Brandon is a
dedicated Christ-follower, Husband, Father, Friend and the owner and operator of CrossFit Valley Park, a wildly successful Crossfit gym in the St. Louis area.
But Brandon's story wasn't always one of success. In fact, it was the success that almost ruined him. The way to the life Brandon always wanted needed to come by way of surrender.
FROM WANTING APPROVAL TO GOD'S APPROVALMost of us get on the Rat Race because we hope we might stick out and find what we're looking for. But the truth is, the only path to the peace we are looking for is found in Jesus. Tune in to today's episode and hear how Brandon got there and what's keeping him there today.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE
]]>
You and I need to sleep more. That is something I am learning in real-time of my business this week. We know how to work and work hard - but rest is deathly important to growing the lives and businesses we want. We've just taught ourselves to be numb to it.
In the middle of learning what it's like to get more sleep, I'm reminded even further - I wasn't built to be the 80-hour per week guy. Not only do I not think it's healthy, but I believe it's unnecessary as well. If you want to grow a life and business that is going to flourish in the long run, you need to sleep.
This is my start-up story in real time. Listen in and hear what I'm learning.
]]>You and I need to sleep more. That is something I am learning in real-time of my business this week. We know how to work and work hard - but rest is deathly important to growing the lives and businesses we want. We've just taught ourselves to be numb to it.
IM NOT THE 80-HOUR PER WEEK GUYIn the middle of learning what it's like to get more sleep, I'm reminded even further - I wasn't built to be the 80-hour per week guy. Not only do I not think it's healthy, but I believe it's unnecessary as well. If you want to grow a life and business that is going to flourish in the long run, you need to sleep.
This is my start-up story in real time. Listen in and hear what I'm learning.
REACH OUT TO ME ]]>On this week's episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Sam & Blaine Eldredge of "& Sons" and have this ever-important discussion on what it looks like for a young man to begin building and shaping the framework that is going to house his soul for the rest of his life.
God has given us a template for growing our soul. Through his word, the practice of spiritual disciplines and other important places of apprenticeship and initiation with older men, God has given us all we need to grow and nurture a healthy soul. So, what are those practices?
In our conversation together, Sam & Blaine talk about several essential elements they have found healthy in their young lives that have helped to keep their souls in check. These elements aren't always about doing, but often about eliminating and being mindful of what is attacking your soul and how to combat them.
Our conversation took some different turns, but I think you will find it valuable in how to process and put into action the spiritual growth you are looking for as a young man.
On this week's episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down with Sam & Blaine Eldredge of "& Sons" and have this ever-important discussion on what it looks like for a young man to begin building and shaping the framework that is going to house his soul for the rest of his life.
THERE IS A TEMPLATE FOR THE SOULGod has given us a template for growing our soul. Through his word, the practice of spiritual disciplines and other important places of apprenticeship and initiation with older men, God has given us all we need to grow and nurture a healthy soul. So, what are those practices?
In our conversation together, Sam & Blaine talk about several essential elements they have found healthy in their young lives that have helped to keep their souls in check. These elements aren't always about doing, but often about eliminating and being mindful of what is attacking your soul and how to combat them.
Our conversation took some different turns, but I think you will find it valuable in how to process and put into action the spiritual growth you are looking for as a young man.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODESo, coming into this week, I knew it would be a little tricky in my "re-entry". You probably know that anytime you come off of a break or vacation, hitting the grind again can be difficult.
I spent Monday looking at the next three months, this next month and what needs to be happening this week. I then turned my focus to following up with a lot of people that I have been working on connecting with. Here is the lesson I am re-learning this week:
This is hard to do in a results-driven world. We want to focus on what we are going to get - the prize - not on what we have to do to get there. This struggle is very real for me right now.
What I decided to do to cure me of my results-driven mentality is to focus on my to-do list and what needs to get done. This isn't always easy, but necessary to do in order to grow the business we desire to grow.
]]>
So, coming into this week, I knew it would be a little tricky in my "re-entry". You probably know that anytime you come off of a break or vacation, hitting the grind again can be difficult.
I spent Monday looking at the next three months, this next month and what needs to be happening this week. I then turned my focus to following up with a lot of people that I have been working on connecting with. Here is the lesson I am re-learning this week:
FOCUS ON THE PROCESS, NOT THE RESULTSThis is hard to do in a results-driven world. We want to focus on what we are going to get - the prize - not on what we have to do to get there. This struggle is very real for me right now.
FOCUS ON THE TO-DO LISTWhat I decided to do to cure me of my results-driven mentality is to focus on my to-do list and what needs to get done. This isn't always easy, but necessary to do in order to grow the business we desire to grow.
REACH OUT TO ME]]>
I noticed this play out in my own life a few weeks ago. It was the middle of the day, and I found myself on Instagram, doing the typical Instagram thing of checking your profile 20 million times per day. I quickly recognized a familiar face and profile and was swept into the action. Before I even realized it, I was stacking my life up against theirs.
How many followers do they have? How often do they post? They look like they travel all the time - I wish I could do that. Their family is beautiful. I wish I had a life like theirs.
Boom. I found myself sucked into the vortex of comparisons and struggled to get out of it.
Day after day, week after week, post after post - you and I spend our lives stacking up everything we have against what others are doing...and it's killing us. So, how do we fix it?
Inside of each of us is a desire to be seen and heard. We didn't create this desire nor placed it there ourselves. Our Creator has hard-wired this into each of us. The battle of comparisons is won when we can fix our desire to be seen and heard by God, first.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith podcast, that is the exact conversation we are going to have. What exactly is this battle of comparisons that we fight every day and how do we win it? The answer is much more straightforward than you might think.
]]>
I noticed this play out in my own life a few weeks ago. It was the middle of the day, and I found myself on Instagram, doing the typical Instagram thing of checking your profile 20 million times per day. I quickly recognized a familiar face and profile and was swept into the action. Before I even realized it, I was stacking my life up against theirs.
How many followers do they have? How often do they post? They look like they travel all the time - I wish I could do that. Their family is beautiful. I wish I had a life like theirs.
Boom. I found myself sucked into the vortex of comparisons and struggled to get out of it.
WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO DEATHDay after day, week after week, post after post - you and I spend our lives stacking up everything we have against what others are doing...and it's killing us. So, how do we fix it?
WE LONG TO BE SEEN AND HEARDInside of each of us is a desire to be seen and heard. We didn't create this desire nor placed it there ourselves. Our Creator has hard-wired this into each of us. The battle of comparisons is won when we can fix our desire to be seen and heard by God, first.
Today, on the Adventurous Faith podcast, that is the exact conversation we are going to have. What exactly is this battle of comparisons that we fight every day and how do we win it? The answer is much more straightforward than you might think.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE]]>
I get it - it's backward. Shouldn't this be the other way around? It should, but this week at the beach has been different for me. I've never stepped into this favored week with a brand new business I'm trying to get off the ground. I find myself thinking about and processing more about work, and it's tricky.
There is something to learn through this process. The entrepreneurial life for me is something that is enticing. No, not working ungodly amounts of hours - but creating a life that I don't have to vacation from. That's the goal. But I am only just beginning, and this goal is still a bit out of sight for now.
Until then, I plan on still trying to find the tension between work, rest and what vacations may need to look like now and moving forward. Thanks for listening to my start-up story and hearing about what I'm learning about starting a business in real-time.
]]>I get it - it's backward. Shouldn't this be the other way around? It should, but this week at the beach has been different for me. I've never stepped into this favored week with a brand new business I'm trying to get off the ground. I find myself thinking about and processing more about work, and it's tricky.
There is something to learn through this process. The entrepreneurial life for me is something that is enticing. No, not working ungodly amounts of hours - but creating a life that I don't have to vacation from. That's the goal. But I am only just beginning, and this goal is still a bit out of sight for now.
FIND THE TENSIONUntil then, I plan on still trying to find the tension between work, rest and what vacations may need to look like now and moving forward. Thanks for listening to my start-up story and hearing about what I'm learning about starting a business in real-time.
REACH OUT TO ME ]]>On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, I sat down with my friend, Jim Barnard and had him share his struggle of a current and ongoing "trouble" he finds himself in: a chronic illness his wife is suffering with. Jim didn't ask for this. He didn't bargain or even want this life for himself. And yet, God has done some incredible through him and his wife, Alisha's life that Jim could have never even seen coming. God has taken what the enemy has meant for evil and destruction and turned it all around for good.
Jim's story is one of relentless hope, undying love to Alisha and the everyday struggle of what it looks like to navigate a life of faith while experiencing this illness day after day. I am inspired by Jim's faith.
]]>
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, I sat down with my friend, Jim Barnard and had him share his struggle of a current and ongoing "trouble" he finds himself in: a chronic illness his wife is suffering with. Jim didn't ask for this. He didn't bargain or even want this life for himself. And yet, God has done some incredible through him and his wife, Alisha's life that Jim could have never even seen coming. God has taken what the enemy has meant for evil and destruction and turned it all around for good.
A HEALTHY MARRIAGE...NO MATTER WHAT.Jim's story is one of relentless hope, undying love to Alisha and the everyday struggle of what it looks like to navigate a life of faith while experiencing this illness day after day. I am inspired by Jim's faith.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE
]]>
Fast forward to earlier this week. I was sitting in front of a potential client wondering if he was tracking with what I was sharing about Adventurous Faith. God nudged me - "Just go there." So, I did. And before I knew it, in full confidence in who I was and what Adventurous Faith is I was sharing with him how important Jesus is to this entire process. It was coursing through my veins, and I couldn't stop it.
God continues to work in this little start-up of mine, and this is my story, in real time of how he is doing it. Thanks for listening.
]]>Fast forward to earlier this week. I was sitting in front of a potential client wondering if he was tracking with what I was sharing about Adventurous Faith. God nudged me - "Just go there." So, I did. And before I knew it, in full confidence in who I was and what Adventurous Faith is I was sharing with him how important Jesus is to this entire process. It was coursing through my veins, and I couldn't stop it.
GOD LOVES NUDGING USGod continues to work in this little start-up of mine, and this is my story, in real time of how he is doing it. Thanks for listening.
REACH OUT TO ME ]]>REMAIN IN ME
Jesus, while sharing one of his final moments with his disciples, he gave them those exact instructions: Remain in me. More than anything else, Jesus wanted his disciples to know - he wanted us to know - that for us to do anything worthwhile in this life we must first, above all things, remain in Him.
This question remains - how does that sit with you? How does that stack up in how you view being successful?
]]>
Jesus, while sharing one of his final moments with his disciples, he gave them those exact instructions: Remain in me. More than anything else, Jesus wanted his disciples to know - he wanted us to know - that for us to do anything worthwhile in this life we must first, above all things, remain in Him.
This question remains - how does that sit with you? How does that stack up in how you view being successful?
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODE:]]>
This last week I had this important meeting with this company. I had my guns loaded and I was excited to see what might come of us talking about what their needs were and how I might be able to help them. After a lot of conversation, we turned to talk about how I could help and it all took a turn. Why? Because there wasn't a deal to be made. Was it because I wasn't good enough, smart enough or didn't have the skills? Nope. It was because there wasn't the opportunity I was looking for. See, I was hoping for a contractual agreement in which I would get paid by this company to help serve their clients. This opportunity wasn't on the table. It's because God had something better in mind - way better in fact.
Without getting into much of details, instead of working for this company in some capacity, I now get to meet with their clients, build a relationship with them and see if my services as a company will be a good fit. This is huge for a lot of reasons.
I'm undone. God saw something I couldn't see and clearly laid it on the table for me. Soon after this happened, I was reminded of a verse found in Psalm 75 that has become vital in me getting this business off the ground.
No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another. - Psalm 75:6-7
Promotion comes from God. He provides opportunities. He promotes one and brings down another. It is God who opens doors and closes others.
My girlfriend helped me to kick this idea around in my heart shortly after this meeting when she said "God gave you the best option. He sees the long-term and gave you exactly what you needed." It's true. God did exactly that. I am undone by the way he cares for me in that way.
]]>This last week I had this important meeting with this company. I had my guns loaded and I was excited to see what might come of us talking about what their needs were and how I might be able to help them. After a lot of conversation, we turned to talk about how I could help and it all took a turn. Why? Because there wasn't a deal to be made. Was it because I wasn't good enough, smart enough or didn't have the skills? Nope. It was because there wasn't the opportunity I was looking for. See, I was hoping for a contractual agreement in which I would get paid by this company to help serve their clients. This opportunity wasn't on the table. It's because God had something better in mind - way better in fact.
Without getting into much of details, instead of working for this company in some capacity, I now get to meet with their clients, build a relationship with them and see if my services as a company will be a good fit. This is huge for a lot of reasons.
I'm undone. God saw something I couldn't see and clearly laid it on the table for me. Soon after this happened, I was reminded of a verse found in Psalm 75 that has become vital in me getting this business off the ground.
No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. - Psalm 75:6-7
Promotion comes from God. He provides opportunities. He promotes one and brings down another. It is God who opens doors and closes others.
My girlfriend helped me to kick this idea around in my heart shortly after this meeting when she said "God gave you the best option. He sees the long-term and gave you exactly what you needed." It's true. God did exactly that. I am undone by the way he cares for me in that way.
]]>Each trip comes with its own set of stories and memories. With every new year comes new traditions and hopes for what a week on the mountain will bring. I never thought I would have a trip like this. I am beyond grateful for it.
Do adventure and risks have the look of something epic every time? Of course not! An adventure that grows your friendships is one that begins just outside your front door. This means it is going to look different for everyone. A trip like b-ski is often what works for me and my friends. The point of taking risks and going on an adventure together isn't to do something crazy. The point is do something outside of normal.
Normal is good - normal keeps life...normal. It's good and steady at times. It serves its purpose. But, normal isn't always what you and I need.
If we want to change, we need something more than normal. For relationships to grow radically, we need to induce the unknown - adventure and risks causing a friendship bond to form in ways we never dreamed possible.
On this episode of the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I am joined by two dear friends and b-ski brother's of mine - Jonathan Knepper & Nick Tilley. Both of these guys have their share of travel and experiences from all over the world. But what makes them both special is not that they have been a lot of places and experienced the beauty of this world, it's that they understand the power of what seeking adventure does to friendships.
On this episode, we revisit the story of the beehive basin snowshoe hike. We talk about what we learned - about the unknown, each other and how that hike pulled us closer together. We had an honest conversation about why adventure and friendship go hand in hand.
When my friends and I head up the mountain, we aren't always sure of what we get ourselves into. It's in those moments where we see the true side of ourselves. We are exposed to the people we truly are. They see me. I see them. There is no way around it.
We see our fears, weak spots, and vulnerabilities. This is all because we decided to venture into the unknown.
It's in those moments where we learn to pick one another up. We know what we need to say to get each other through the tricky and unknown spots.
True adventure comes with its unexpected moments. When something goes as it shouldn't, we're exposed. If you'll let it, it can pull the bond tighter in your friendships.
Through the unexpected, you and your friends have a shared experience no one else does. It's because you went through an experience no one else has. You have a story to tell - and you'll have it for the rest of your lives. This will pull you closer together.
Some of my greatest moments of joy and pure delight have come from trips and treks like Bro-skiing. It's been in these moments of pure delight where I begin to realize how life was supposed to be lived - and I don't want anything else.
This is meant for you, too. Your life was made for this. But, you have to choose it.
When you choose life with community, loneliness doesn't look as sexy anymore. You'll have experienced life as it was meant to be - with each other.
Find the unknown, seek the unexpected and search for pure delight. Do it with those closest to you, and you'll find adventure.
This is the place where community grows richer, deeper and faster than it could anywhere else.
Get a group of friends together this week, this month and go on an adventure. Don't plan it all - step into something new and watch what God will do. You will grow closer than you ever have. Engage in the conversation below ||
Each trip comes with its own set of stories and memories. With every new year comes new traditions and hopes for what a week on the mountain will bring. I never thought I would have a trip like this. I am beyond grateful for it.
YOU & YOUR FRIENDS NEED TO START TAKING ADVENTURES TOGETHERDo adventure and risks have the look of something epic every time? Of course not! An adventure that grows your friendships is one that begins just outside your front door. This means it is going to look different for everyone. A trip like b-ski is often what works for me and my friends. The point of taking risks and going on an adventure together isn't to do something crazy. The point is do something outside of normal.
Normal is good - normal keeps life...normal. It's good and steady at times. It serves its purpose. But, normal isn't always what you and I need.
If we want to change, we need something more than normal. For relationships to grow radically, we need to induce the unknown - adventure and risks causing a friendship bond to form in ways we never dreamed possible.
On this episode of the Adventurous Faith Podcast, I am joined by two dear friends and b-ski brother's of mine - Jonathan Knepper & Nick Tilley. Both of these guys have their share of travel and experiences from all over the world. But what makes them both special is not that they have been a lot of places and experienced the beauty of this world, it's that they understand the power of what seeking adventure does to friendships.
On this episode, we revisit the story of the beehive basin snowshoe hike. We talk about what we learned - about the unknown, each other and how that hike pulled us closer together. We had an honest conversation about why adventure and friendship go hand in hand.
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS EPISODE: THE UNKNOWN WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER.When my friends and I head up the mountain, we aren't always sure of what we get ourselves into. It's in those moments where we see the true side of ourselves. We are exposed to the people we truly are. They see me. I see them. There is no way around it.
We see our fears, weak spots, and vulnerabilities. This is all because we decided to venture into the unknown.
It's in those moments where we learn to pick one another up. We know what we need to say to get each other through the tricky and unknown spots.
THE UNEXPECTED WILL HELP HELP FORM YOUR BOND TIGHTERTrue adventure comes with its unexpected moments. When something goes as it shouldn't, we're exposed. If you'll let it, it can pull the bond tighter in your friendships.
Through the unexpected, you and your friends have a shared experience no one else does. It's because you went through an experience no one else has. You have a story to tell - and you'll have it for the rest of your lives. This will pull you closer together.
THE MOMENTS OF PURE DELIGHT KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY TOGETHERSome of my greatest moments of joy and pure delight have come from trips and treks like Bro-skiing. It's been in these moments of pure delight where I begin to realize how life was supposed to be lived - and I don't want anything else.
This is meant for you, too. Your life was made for this. But, you have to choose it.
When you choose life with community, loneliness doesn't look as sexy anymore. You'll have experienced life as it was meant to be - with each other.
Find the unknown, seek the unexpected and search for pure delight. Do it with those closest to you, and you'll find adventure.
This is the place where community grows richer, deeper and faster than it could anywhere else.
GO DO ITGet a group of friends together this week, this month and go on an adventure. Don't plan it all - step into something new and watch what God will do. You will grow closer than you ever have. Engage in the conversation below ||
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Since firing this business up full-time, I have sat down 42 times to talk about the vision of Adventurous Faith. Some may call it accessive. I would call it being as strategic as possible.
Along the way, God and others have taught me so much about how to position myself, my business and even the small things like what sort of language to use when talking to people. It's given me a chance to hone my message in ways I could only learn by talking about it over and over. I consider all these sit downs a huge blessing.
Hear me. Sitting down and having meetings doesn't make all of what I am doing easy. Grinding is hard - and I'm still navigating it in a business. I am typing this up on a Thursday evening after being in and out of conversations all day long because this message is important to me.
I don't mind grinding it out. I don't like the word "hustle," so that's what I'll keep doing. What I believe that is in the hard work I am doing in putting these meetings together and pushing this business forward, God will come in and move in ways I could not have dreamed otherwise.
So - for the foreseeable future. If you see me out and about, it's likely that I'm headed to my next meeting and casting the vision for what I believe is going to be a fruitful business.
]]>Since firing this business up full-time, I have sat down 42 times to talk about the vision of Adventurous Faith. Some may call it accessive. I would call it being as strategic as possible.
Along the way, God and others have taught me so much about how to position myself, my business and even the small things like what sort of language to use when talking to people. It's given me a chance to hone my message in ways I could only learn by talking about it over and over. I consider all these sit downs a huge blessing.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE GROWING A BUSINESS EASYHear me. Sitting down and having meetings doesn't make all of what I am doing easy. Grinding is hard - and I'm still navigating it in a business. I am typing this up on a Thursday evening after being in and out of conversations all day long because this message is important to me.
I don't mind grinding it out. I don't like the word "hustle," so that's what I'll keep doing. What I believe that is in the hard work I am doing in putting these meetings together and pushing this business forward, God will come in and move in ways I could not have dreamed otherwise.
So - for the foreseeable future. If you see me out and about, it's likely that I'm headed to my next meeting and casting the vision for what I believe is going to be a fruitful business.
]]>I've been processing the idea of confidence and the self-made man a lot lately. This is part of the reason for this episode so early in the Adventurous Faith journey. I believe part of the reason it's been so close to my heart is that the more I process Adventurous Faith, the more I realize that the call to this life that Christ has for you and I isn't about us. Sure, we "take the risk", but in the end, the goal is that it is all about Christ - with him and control. And you can't get too far down the road of losing control of your own life only to find it in Jesus without talking about confidence.
I spent most of my twenties building and working on the self-made man. I lived with zero patience in building the life I really wanted. So, I took control and decided to make my self in hopes that I would become the man, in the end, that I had always longed to become. But what I learned after experiencing nothing but emptiness at my own pursuit of building my own confidence was the goodness of God. I could not have experienced this at my own hand. I had to come to Jesus.
Which brings me to today's episode. On this episode of Adventurous Faith, we're going to have a conversation of what the world views as being self-made and how God, in this Adventurous Life he is calling to, wants us to form a different life altogether. This life God is calling us to is not driven by who we are and what we do. It is built around who God is making us into with his goodness smacked right dab in the middle.
Show Notes: benweaver.com/012
Don't forget to Subscribe & Leave a Rating & Review!
]]>I've been processing the idea of confidence and the self-made man a lot lately. This is part of the reason for this episode so early in the Adventurous Faith journey. I believe part of the reason it's been so close to my heart is that the more I process Adventurous Faith, the more I realize that the call to this life that Christ has for you and I isn't about us. Sure, we "take the risk", but in the end, the goal is that it is all about Christ - with him and control. And you can't get too far down the road of losing control of your own life only to find it in Jesus without talking about confidence.
THE SELF-MADE MANI spent most of my twenties building and working on the self-made man. I lived with zero patience in building the life I really wanted. So, I took control and decided to make my self in hopes that I would become the man, in the end, that I had always longed to become. But what I learned after experiencing nothing but emptiness at my own pursuit of building my own confidence was the goodness of God. I could not have experienced this at my own hand. I had to come to Jesus.
Which brings me to today's episode. On this episode of Adventurous Faith, we're going to have a conversation of what the world views as being self-made and how God, in this Adventurous Life he is calling to, wants us to form a different life altogether. This life God is calling us to is not driven by who we are and what we do. It is built around who God is making us into with his goodness smacked right dab in the middle.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ON TODAY'S EPISODEShow Notes: benweaver.com/012
Don't forget to Subscribe & Leave a Rating & Review!
]]>When I first got into wanting to start my own business, I thought all the voices that God would put around me to listen to (both far and up close) would give me the direction I should go. As in - if they say it, it must be the right direction I should go. But that isn't the case at all, even as I am in the infant stages of Adventurous Faith.
What Sam shared with me was that sometimes what the world may say to do with its conventional wisdom, and what Jesus would say to do may look wildly different. I know what you may be thinking - well, duh, Ben. Yes, but think about it for a moment. We are so bombarded with ideas, processes, thoughts and directions that the loudest voices we let into our lives and businesses every day is what the world says we should do. Market this, push this, say this, don't say that, go go go.
Now, there's nothing wrong with hustle - but there is something wrong with not paying attention to what Jesus may want to do rather than what the conventional wisdom of the world may be offering.
I get it - we always think our ideas are the best. But, what if our ideas suck? I know mine often do. What if I began approaching every idea, project, or opportunity I could do to grow my business with "Jesus, what would YOU like to do with this thing?" It's a wild and crazy idea, isn't it? The creator of all things - the most creative being to have ever existed with a few awesome ideas on how to grow a business? Nonsense. The sarcasm should be palpable at this point.
I want to build my business not on my thoughts, but the thoughts of Jesus. I want his ideas to overtake mine on everything. Why? Because His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts much higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I've got a way to go in letting Jesus into these two parts of my business. However, I understand more than I ever did - and for that, I'm grateful. God is up to something with this business, and I cannot wait to see what he'll do with it.
Thanks for keeping up with my Start-Up Story.
]]>
When I first got into wanting to start my own business, I thought all the voices that God would put around me to listen to (both far and up close) would give me the direction I should go. As in - if they say it, it must be the right direction I should go. But that isn't the case at all, even as I am in the infant stages of Adventurous Faith.
What Sam shared with me was that sometimes what the world may say to do with its conventional wisdom, and what Jesus would say to do may look wildly different. I know what you may be thinking - well, duh, Ben. Yes, but think about it for a moment. We are so bombarded with ideas, processes, thoughts and directions that the loudest voices we let into our lives and businesses every day is what the world says we should do. Market this, push this, say this, don't say that, go go go.
Now, there's nothing wrong with hustle - but there is something wrong with not paying attention to what Jesus may want to do rather than what the conventional wisdom of the world may be offering.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUALLY ASK THE QUESTION - "JESUS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT, IDEA, ETC.?"I get it - we always think our ideas are the best. But, what if our ideas suck? I know mine often do. What if I began approaching every idea, project, or opportunity I could do to grow my business with "Jesus, what would YOU like to do with this thing?" It's a wild and crazy idea, isn't it? The creator of all things - the most creative being to have ever existed with a few awesome ideas on how to grow a business? Nonsense. The sarcasm should be palpable at this point.
I want to build my business not on my thoughts, but the thoughts of Jesus. I want his ideas to overtake mine on everything. Why? Because His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts much higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROCESSI've got a way to go in letting Jesus into these two parts of my business. However, I understand more than I ever did - and for that, I'm grateful. God is up to something with this business, and I cannot wait to see what he'll do with it.
Thanks for keeping up with my Start-Up Story.
]]>
I've never spent any time in the corporate world, but there is one thing I am learning about what it means to be "in business". You have to be very intentional about your time, what you do with it and what you don't. This is what today's guest is still working on, but in a way has mastered in fine fashion.
Tony Biaggne is a Creative Director for the North American division of Amazon. His world moves fast. His team is responsible for a lot of creative content that is used all over the world. Tony's story is fascinating in that the collection of his life experiences have helped him to make his way through the Amazon jungle and keep his faith at the same time. For Tony, it's about finding the balance of working hard to produce the results that are demanded of him but also remembering to keep his priorities in check. Time with his family is especially important to him, and that is not something he's willing to sacrifice on the corporate floor.
RESOURCES TALKED ABOUT IN TODAY'S EPISODE
Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review if you love the show!
]]>I've never spent any time in the corporate world, but there is one thing I am learning about what it means to be "in business". You have to be very intentional about your time, what you do with it and what you don't. This is what today's guest is still working on, but in a way has mastered in fine fashion.
HOW TO WORK FOR AMAZON & LIVE FOR JESUSTony Biaggne is a Creative Director for the North American division of Amazon. His world moves fast. His team is responsible for a lot of creative content that is used all over the world. Tony's story is fascinating in that the collection of his life experiences have helped him to make his way through the Amazon jungle and keep his faith at the same time. For Tony, it's about finding the balance of working hard to produce the results that are demanded of him but also remembering to keep his priorities in check. Time with his family is especially important to him, and that is not something he's willing to sacrifice on the corporate floor.
HERE IS WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODERESOURCES TALKED ABOUT IN TODAY'S EPISODE
Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review if you love the show!
]]>I like money. In fact, I like A LOT. I enjoy it so much that I think it's OK to make a lot of it. Now, I'll be honest with you from the beginning of this post and let you know that I've never made a lot of money. But, it's still something I would love to do.
I think that's a fairly simple question you can answer. Anyone who tells you they aren't interested in making good money - or A LOT of it is merely lying to you. But sometimes we convince ourselves (or...at least I have) that making money or too much much is flat out evil. Well...it's not - and it never will be.
But even still, I have wrestled with my relationship with money for a long time, and in starting this brand new business, I have had to work through some of my baggage of how I think about money. I'm through a lot of it, but it sometimes creeps up on me.
I bring up the money idea because this last week on a video call with my coach, he asked me the ever important coaching question - "What are you doing this week to move the needle on your business?" To put it another way - what are you doing to make money?
That's a great question. At first, I didn't have an answer. But with his help (and some humility from me) we figured it out. What he was trying to get me to understand and even more importantly practice was constantly and consistently show up every day with the pursuit of growing and moving the business forward. And the way you do that in business is...spoiler alert: making money.
That's what this week's chapter in the Start-Up Story is all about. It's about finding and grinding a way to begin making money.
As you listen, let me know what you think and how you're processing it. I'd love to hear from you.
I like money. In fact, I like A LOT. I enjoy it so much that I think it's OK to make a lot of it. Now, I'll be honest with you from the beginning of this post and let you know that I've never made a lot of money. But, it's still something I would love to do.
DON'T YOU WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY?I think that's a fairly simple question you can answer. Anyone who tells you they aren't interested in making good money - or A LOT of it is merely lying to you. But sometimes we convince ourselves (or...at least I have) that making money or too much much is flat out evil. Well...it's not - and it never will be.
But even still, I have wrestled with my relationship with money for a long time, and in starting this brand new business, I have had to work through some of my baggage of how I think about money. I'm through a lot of it, but it sometimes creeps up on me.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE?I bring up the money idea because this last week on a video call with my coach, he asked me the ever important coaching question - "What are you doing this week to move the needle on your business?" To put it another way - what are you doing to make money?
That's a great question. At first, I didn't have an answer. But with his help (and some humility from me) we figured it out. What he was trying to get me to understand and even more importantly practice was constantly and consistently show up every day with the pursuit of growing and moving the business forward. And the way you do that in business is...spoiler alert: making money.
That's what this week's chapter in the Start-Up Story is all about. It's about finding and grinding a way to begin making money.
As you listen, let me know what you think and how you're processing it. I'd love to hear from you.
REACH OUT TO ME ]]>It took me a while to figure it out, but I began to grab some traction with my mornings. I would change it up to see what worked and chuck anything that didn't seem to fit. My mornings, over the course of time, began to take shape. It was then I noticed something pretty amazing - my days began to look radically different too. And I don't mean I had "better days" or that I felt better - although that was mostly true. My days became much more productive and meaningful. I got more done. I am learning that if you can make a good to-do list and accomplish good, purposeful work every day - you'll go places.
But that is where most of us get stuck. We don't know how to get to those purposeful days because we don't' know how to get started on the right foot. And the right foot is the morning routine.
In this episode of Adventurous Faith, we talk about the importance of the morning routine. When you can learn to build a morning routine for yourself, it can change your life. To be honest with you, I wouldn't be where I am today without having started to form this morning routine almost two years ago.
It took me a while to figure it out, but I began to grab some traction with my mornings. I would change it up to see what worked and chuck anything that didn't seem to fit. My mornings, over the course of time, began to take shape. It was then I noticed something pretty amazing - my days began to look radically different too. And I don't mean I had "better days" or that I felt better - although that was mostly true. My days became much more productive and meaningful. I got more done. I am learning that if you can make a good to-do list and accomplish good, purposeful work every day - you'll go places.
But that is where most of us get stuck. We don't know how to get to those purposeful days because we don't' know how to get started on the right foot. And the right foot is the morning routine.
In this episode of Adventurous Faith, we talk about the importance of the morning routine. When you can learn to build a morning routine for yourself, it can change your life. To be honest with you, I wouldn't be where I am today without having started to form this morning routine almost two years ago.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODELast week was sort of introduction of sorts. Today is chapter one. I actually was going to wait until next week to release another episode of the Startup Story Podcast, but I felt it really important to share this. I wanted you to get the reality of what I'm feeling.
Last Friday my girlfriend and I, we went for a long hike. We took my dog, and we spent the day just hiking, and it was a beautiful day. It was. It was great, but that evening I began to feel a sense of fear and anxiety roll over me. And that is nothing new. Over the last several months I've felt that in several different ways about this business and specifically how it may get off the ground. I wondered if it's going to work, and I carried that weight fear and that anxiety with me through the evening, but when I lay down my head on my pillow last Friday evening, I was determined to get up Saturday morning and to make sure that I wouldn't carry that anymore because I didn't want it to ruin my day or my weekend. Or, even specifically, get a foothold into my business.
I want to read to you the journal entry I wrote on Saturday morning. There's nothing special about it, but I think will give you the little bit of the context of what I'm learning about fear about anxiety. I wrote this down. It says...
This morning and late last night were difficult. I had the first wave of doubt roll through. Will this work? It's revolved explicitly around money. Do I have enough to get me through to not get a job? Should I get a job now? Anxiety and fear began to weigh down on my heart, but this morning I'm going to trust and surrender a little bit of fear is a good thing, but I will keep it at the fences. Jesus, I need your help in peace this morning. Please move in.
It was just a simple prayer. Just the simple exercise of me to record down my thoughts and I just want to unpack that for you.
I was feeling fear and anxiety in my heart. But one of the things that I'm sure of in this life, and I believe it because God's word says though, is that his word says that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of a sound mind. And so I'm not going to let fear and anxiety in and wonder if I have what it takes. I'm not going to let it own me. I just refuse to. And one of the sayings that I've kind of come up with wrote down in this journal entry and that I am going to live by is learning to keep fear at the fences.
To be honest, this isn't easy. What that means for me is knowing that fear is there, knowing that it's a part of my life, but keeping it at a distance. I believe a little bit of fear is a good thing. If we're not afraid to step into new seasons and new directives in our life, I think we can become very complacent and comfortable. For me, I'm learning to keep fear at the fences.
But you need to know last week I became overwhelmed. I think I let it get a little too close to my life and I struggled immensely and I began to wonder. But Saturday morning I woke up, I wrote that down in my journal, and I just started to pray, asking God to take this fear, this anxiety that was tearing me down and to let go of it.
When I was able to do just that - I had an incredible weekend. I did. I was able to continue doing some work and building this business. I've been able to spend this week working hard and getting some things done. And to be honest with you, God is already intervening in the places in which I feel like fear and anxiety can make its way. He's filling in the gaps there. And it's been incredible. Now, has it been easy? Absolutely not. I'm not saying that it's been easy, but I can tell you that because of all the hard work I'm putting in, I believe God is going to do HIS work.
One of the sayings that I live by is I'm going to do what only I can do, which is waking up early, sending emails and recording podcasts. It's coaching clients. It's building this business, and all that entails. And God, I'm going to trust you for what only you can do. I'll be honest. That's not always easy because I struggle with control and wanting to do things the way that I want to do them, but I'm learning to let go. I'm learning to let God take hold of all of the pieces and parts of my heart and my life and this business and let him do that and so fears real. It's absolutely real.
Maybe this is where you're at. Now, maybe you're not starting a business. Perhaps for you, it's an idea. Maybe something is going on in your mind right now, and you are wanting to take this step forward, but you are letting fear or anxiety ruin your life. I want to challenge you to put that fear to the fences of your life. It can still be there - but don't let it own you. Don't let fear own your time, mind and your heart. Because if you allow it to do that, it's going to own you then fully.
This is one of the lessons I'm learning that's been on my heart literally all week, especially after last weekend. And I just wanted to take this opportunity to share that with you because I think it's important.
I would love to hear what you are up against. Feel free to connect with me on the social channels listed below or send me an e-mail at ben at ben weaver dot org.
Last week was sort of introduction of sorts. Today is chapter one. I actually was going to wait until next week to release another episode of the Startup Story Podcast, but I felt it really important to share this. I wanted you to get the reality of what I'm feeling.
FEAR & ANXIETY CREEPING INLast Friday my girlfriend and I, we went for a long hike. We took my dog, and we spent the day just hiking, and it was a beautiful day. It was. It was great, but that evening I began to feel a sense of fear and anxiety roll over me. And that is nothing new. Over the last several months I've felt that in several different ways about this business and specifically how it may get off the ground. I wondered if it's going to work, and I carried that weight fear and that anxiety with me through the evening, but when I lay down my head on my pillow last Friday evening, I was determined to get up Saturday morning and to make sure that I wouldn't carry that anymore because I didn't want it to ruin my day or my weekend. Or, even specifically, get a foothold into my business.
I want to read to you the journal entry I wrote on Saturday morning. There's nothing special about it, but I think will give you the little bit of the context of what I'm learning about fear about anxiety. I wrote this down. It says...
This morning and late last night were difficult. I had the first wave of doubt roll through. Will this work? It's revolved explicitly around money. Do I have enough to get me through to not get a job? Should I get a job now? Anxiety and fear began to weigh down on my heart, but this morning I'm going to trust and surrender a little bit of fear is a good thing, but I will keep it at the fences. Jesus, I need your help in peace this morning. Please move in.
It was just a simple prayer. Just the simple exercise of me to record down my thoughts and I just want to unpack that for you.
YOU CAN'T LET FEAR OWN YOUI was feeling fear and anxiety in my heart. But one of the things that I'm sure of in this life, and I believe it because God's word says though, is that his word says that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of a sound mind. And so I'm not going to let fear and anxiety in and wonder if I have what it takes. I'm not going to let it own me. I just refuse to. And one of the sayings that I've kind of come up with wrote down in this journal entry and that I am going to live by is learning to keep fear at the fences.
FEAR CAN BE A GOOD THINGTo be honest, this isn't easy. What that means for me is knowing that fear is there, knowing that it's a part of my life, but keeping it at a distance. I believe a little bit of fear is a good thing. If we're not afraid to step into new seasons and new directives in our life, I think we can become very complacent and comfortable. For me, I'm learning to keep fear at the fences.
But you need to know last week I became overwhelmed. I think I let it get a little too close to my life and I struggled immensely and I began to wonder. But Saturday morning I woke up, I wrote that down in my journal, and I just started to pray, asking God to take this fear, this anxiety that was tearing me down and to let go of it.
When I was able to do just that - I had an incredible weekend. I did. I was able to continue doing some work and building this business. I've been able to spend this week working hard and getting some things done. And to be honest with you, God is already intervening in the places in which I feel like fear and anxiety can make its way. He's filling in the gaps there. And it's been incredible. Now, has it been easy? Absolutely not. I'm not saying that it's been easy, but I can tell you that because of all the hard work I'm putting in, I believe God is going to do HIS work.
DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO & GOD WILL DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DOOne of the sayings that I live by is I'm going to do what only I can do, which is waking up early, sending emails and recording podcasts. It's coaching clients. It's building this business, and all that entails. And God, I'm going to trust you for what only you can do. I'll be honest. That's not always easy because I struggle with control and wanting to do things the way that I want to do them, but I'm learning to let go. I'm learning to let God take hold of all of the pieces and parts of my heart and my life and this business and let him do that and so fears real. It's absolutely real.
Maybe this is where you're at. Now, maybe you're not starting a business. Perhaps for you, it's an idea. Maybe something is going on in your mind right now, and you are wanting to take this step forward, but you are letting fear or anxiety ruin your life. I want to challenge you to put that fear to the fences of your life. It can still be there - but don't let it own you. Don't let fear own your time, mind and your heart. Because if you allow it to do that, it's going to own you then fully.
This is one of the lessons I'm learning that's been on my heart literally all week, especially after last weekend. And I just wanted to take this opportunity to share that with you because I think it's important.
I would love to hear what you are up against. Feel free to connect with me on the social channels listed below or send me an e-mail at ben at ben weaver dot org.
What are the struggles you are up against? Where do you need to push fear to the fences of your life?]]>There's a good chance you find yourself in the same shoes. You want to make a difference in this life you've been given, but sometimes you're left wondering how in the world you'd like to go about doing it.
Here's the reality we need to remember - The vehicle for thriving in this life and making a dent in this world happens through people. If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships.
[clickToTweet tweet="If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships. " quote="If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships. "]
Today, on the Adventurous Faith podcast, I am joined with one of my best friends Kenny Deshields, and we are going to take a deep dive into the 5 friends that every man needs to thrive in life. If you want to be the best man possible, you need to have these 5 friends in your life.
If you're anything like me, you may struggle to find each of these types of men in your life. But it doesn't change your need for them. You need each of them, I promise you.
Some of the guys in your life will morph and take on different roles at different times. In my own life, most of the time these are all separate men. I have identified their gifts and I seek out a friendship. I don't always have each of these roles filled, either. But I am always seeking them out.
If you want to thrive in life and make a dent in this world, it begins with relationships. It begins with these 5 types of men that will help form and shape you into the man you want to become.
I wrote a blog post about the 5 friends every guy needs - check in out HERE.
There's a good chance you find yourself in the same shoes. You want to make a difference in this life you've been given, but sometimes you're left wondering how in the world you'd like to go about doing it.
Here's the reality we need to remember - The vehicle for thriving in this life and making a dent in this world happens through people. If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships.
[clickToTweet tweet="If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships. " quote="If you want to succeed in life, you have to succeed in friendships. "]
Today, on the Adventurous Faith podcast, I am joined with one of my best friends Kenny Deshields, and we are going to take a deep dive into the 5 friends that every man needs to thrive in life. If you want to be the best man possible, you need to have these 5 friends in your life.
THE FIVE FRIENDS EVERY MAN NEEDS TO THRIVE IN LIFE 1. The Truth Teller 2. The Listener 3. The Sage 4. The Merciful 5. The Risk Taker How do you get these friends?If you're anything like me, you may struggle to find each of these types of men in your life. But it doesn't change your need for them. You need each of them, I promise you.
Some of the guys in your life will morph and take on different roles at different times. In my own life, most of the time these are all separate men. I have identified their gifts and I seek out a friendship. I don't always have each of these roles filled, either. But I am always seeking them out.
If you want to thrive in life and make a dent in this world, it begins with relationships. It begins with these 5 types of men that will help form and shape you into the man you want to become.
I wrote a blog post about the 5 friends every guy needs - check in out HERE.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODEAs I sat on my couch that evening, there was one thing which became clear to me - I hated the entire last week of training. But my feelings drew deeper than hate. I no longer had the mental edge in my tank to pursue this "dream" one more time. It just didn't feel right. I can hardly even explain it to this day.
It this most unexplainable moment I wanted to make sure my heart took notice of what my mind was telling me. As I thought more about it, something else began to stir inside of me. It was this desire to write.
Years ago, writing was a passion I wanted to pursue. "You'll write books," my friends declared over my life in college. Even back then I remember there being something to the pitter patter that went off in my heart anytime anyone would mention it.
Each writer as a story about how they first got into writing. This story is mine. On that Friday night, my heart took a turn, and I began to pursue that pitter patter in my heart I once felt years ago in my college dorm. I never thought it would turn to where my life is driving me now.
Life is full of moments in which you and I will look back on and think "It was there, at that moment where everything changed." That night on the couch was one of those moments for me.
The next day, I woke up and set a timer for 20 minutes. I wrote whatever came to my heart or mind and when the timer stopped, I did. I continued this exercise for the next several weeks. In early May of that same year, I was speaking with another writer about what I was doing. She shared an intriguing factoid with me. She told me it takes a writer around 100,000 words to find their voice.
"Hmm," I thought. Maybe there is something to this? So I set my next goal. I would spend the summer writing 100,000 words. At the end of the summer, I would see if it was something I enjoyed. This time around, I pushed the timer to the side and decided 1000 per day would be my benchmark.
On labor day, 2016, I finished.
I don't tell you that part of the story to get a pat on the back. I share that with you because sometimes we have to chase down our dreams and see if they stick.
We have to send them to the lab of our lives in trial after trial to see if they give us the results our hearts hypothesized weeks or months earlier.
Mine did. So I kept writing.
But even after 100,000 words, I was left with more questions than answers. I was still trying to find my voice. I decided I needed to run this down even further.
I decided to put some skin in the game. Sometimes you'll find it necessary to do that with your dreams if you want to see if it works.
I joined a fantastic community called Tribe Writers who have a passionate leader named Jeff Goins. I soon found myself at home with likeminded people who just wanted others to start paying attention to their work. As I explored the community further, I saw that it was never about "look at me." I found it to be more "look at this." We are artists looking for others to pay attention to the work pouring out of our hearts and minds to a world in desperate need of hope and what this art represents.
Through completing the Tribe Writers course, I started a blog. I then began having more conversations about what I should be writing and found myself starting another blog which fit me better.
Looking back on this entire process, I found myself in the delight of God. I just continued to pursue whatever may be forming inside of me and what it one day may become.
As 2017 continued to roll on, I started having more and more conversations. I talked with those closest to me about who I am, what I wanted to write about and what I wanted to do.
Through each of these threads, I began to notice something. It's something each of us will miss if we're not careful. It was God at work in my heart. What I didn't see back then but see in 20/20, technicolor now is God was pushing me this direction.
At first, I didn't move. Why? After hard-learned lessons in my own life, I am not a guy who likes to leave or abandon too quickly. I love my job and what I have been privileged to do for the last 15 years in serving as a youth pastor. Even still, I kept on pursuing it.
As 2017 wore on, I began to ponder - God, what are you doing here?
He was masterfully teaching me the art of letting go - surrender, and trust.
Life often doesn't happen at the speed I want it to. But within the same breathe I can tell you life on God's plan and purpose has ever failed to leave me in amazement, either. I suppose I'm not really in control like I thought I was. Ah well, life is more fun this way.
In the late fall of this past year, more conversations with those closest to me along with the leadership at my church turned me into a place of decision in my own life. I decided it was time to pursue this call to write, speak, and create in the entrepreneur space, full time.
On May 31st of this year, at 34 years of age, I left the staff of my church and I am pursuing the call on my life outside the four walls of the only career I have ever known.
And that is why I decided to quit my job and career and pursue my dream.
I get it. You don't have to remind me this is where a lot of people get off the bus with all this "God talk." I'm not naive in thinking that. But for those of you who may find yourself rolling your eyes at the words above, give me one more sentence of your attention:
The same God who is calling me is the same one nudging you.
See, you wouldn't have made it this far down the article if you didn't think there was something to what I am saying.
Sure, you may be thinking: "Leave a stable job and career that you love to pursue this?! You're either crazy or a freaking genius."
I'm probably a little of both. But I don't deserve the credit here. All I did was take one step of obedience. All I did was decide to stop racing triathlons. All I did was set a timer and start writing. All I did was set a goal to write 100,000 words. All I did was join an amazing writing community. All I did was start a blog and hit publish. All I did was sit down and have over 100 conversations to run this down and get to the bottom of this dream.
God did the rest. And by the rest, I mean the heavy lifting. See, I don't have the time to tell you the number of doors God has opened up in response to every step I have taken. I'm undone - entirely undone by what God has done here. And you can laugh, roll your eyes and turn the other way, and that is fine. But what I can tell you more than anything is this - I have more peace than I ever have in my life.
And you want to know how I got that peace? By relinquishing control. That is where God does his greatest work - in surrender.
As I sat on my couch that evening, there was one thing which became clear to me - I hated the entire last week of training. But my feelings drew deeper than hate. I no longer had the mental edge in my tank to pursue this "dream" one more time. It just didn't feel right. I can hardly even explain it to this day.
It this most unexplainable moment I wanted to make sure my heart took notice of what my mind was telling me. As I thought more about it, something else began to stir inside of me. It was this desire to write.
"You'll Write Books."Years ago, writing was a passion I wanted to pursue. "You'll write books," my friends declared over my life in college. Even back then I remember there being something to the pitter patter that went off in my heart anytime anyone would mention it.
Each writer as a story about how they first got into writing. This story is mine. On that Friday night, my heart took a turn, and I began to pursue that pitter patter in my heart I once felt years ago in my college dorm. I never thought it would turn to where my life is driving me now.
Moments that change everything.Life is full of moments in which you and I will look back on and think "It was there, at that moment where everything changed." That night on the couch was one of those moments for me.
The next day, I woke up and set a timer for 20 minutes. I wrote whatever came to my heart or mind and when the timer stopped, I did. I continued this exercise for the next several weeks. In early May of that same year, I was speaking with another writer about what I was doing. She shared an intriguing factoid with me. She told me it takes a writer around 100,000 words to find their voice.
"Hmm," I thought. Maybe there is something to this? So I set my next goal. I would spend the summer writing 100,000 words. At the end of the summer, I would see if it was something I enjoyed. This time around, I pushed the timer to the side and decided 1000 per day would be my benchmark.
On labor day, 2016, I finished.
Learning to chase down your dreamI don't tell you that part of the story to get a pat on the back. I share that with you because sometimes we have to chase down our dreams and see if they stick.
We have to send them to the lab of our lives in trial after trial to see if they give us the results our hearts hypothesized weeks or months earlier.
Mine did. So I kept writing.
But even after 100,000 words, I was left with more questions than answers. I was still trying to find my voice. I decided I needed to run this down even further.
Much Needed CommunityI decided to put some skin in the game. Sometimes you'll find it necessary to do that with your dreams if you want to see if it works.
I joined a fantastic community called Tribe Writers who have a passionate leader named Jeff Goins. I soon found myself at home with likeminded people who just wanted others to start paying attention to their work. As I explored the community further, I saw that it was never about "look at me." I found it to be more "look at this." We are artists looking for others to pay attention to the work pouring out of our hearts and minds to a world in desperate need of hope and what this art represents.
Through completing the Tribe Writers course, I started a blog. I then began having more conversations about what I should be writing and found myself starting another blog which fit me better.
Looking back on this entire process, I found myself in the delight of God. I just continued to pursue whatever may be forming inside of me and what it one day may become.
I then had lots of conversations...As 2017 continued to roll on, I started having more and more conversations. I talked with those closest to me about who I am, what I wanted to write about and what I wanted to do.
Through each of these threads, I began to notice something. It's something each of us will miss if we're not careful. It was God at work in my heart. What I didn't see back then but see in 20/20, technicolor now is God was pushing me this direction.
At first, I didn't move. Why? After hard-learned lessons in my own life, I am not a guy who likes to leave or abandon too quickly. I love my job and what I have been privileged to do for the last 15 years in serving as a youth pastor. Even still, I kept on pursuing it.
God, what are you doing here?As 2017 wore on, I began to ponder - God, what are you doing here?
He was masterfully teaching me the art of letting go - surrender, and trust.
Life often doesn't happen at the speed I want it to. But within the same breathe I can tell you life on God's plan and purpose has ever failed to leave me in amazement, either. I suppose I'm not really in control like I thought I was. Ah well, life is more fun this way.
In the late fall of this past year, more conversations with those closest to me along with the leadership at my church turned me into a place of decision in my own life. I decided it was time to pursue this call to write, speak, and create in the entrepreneur space, full time.
On May 31st of this year, at 34 years of age, I left the staff of my church and I am pursuing the call on my life outside the four walls of the only career I have ever known.
And that is why I decided to quit my job and career and pursue my dream.
Because God is calling me.I get it. You don't have to remind me this is where a lot of people get off the bus with all this "God talk." I'm not naive in thinking that. But for those of you who may find yourself rolling your eyes at the words above, give me one more sentence of your attention:
The same God who is calling me is the same one nudging you.
See, you wouldn't have made it this far down the article if you didn't think there was something to what I am saying.
Sure, you may be thinking: "Leave a stable job and career that you love to pursue this?! You're either crazy or a freaking genius."
I'm probably a little of both. But I don't deserve the credit here. All I did was take one step of obedience. All I did was decide to stop racing triathlons. All I did was set a timer and start writing. All I did was set a goal to write 100,000 words. All I did was join an amazing writing community. All I did was start a blog and hit publish. All I did was sit down and have over 100 conversations to run this down and get to the bottom of this dream.
God did the rest. And by the rest, I mean the heavy lifting. See, I don't have the time to tell you the number of doors God has opened up in response to every step I have taken. I'm undone - entirely undone by what God has done here. And you can laugh, roll your eyes and turn the other way, and that is fine. But what I can tell you more than anything is this - I have more peace than I ever have in my life.
And you want to know how I got that peace? By relinquishing control. That is where God does his greatest work - in surrender.
I hope you'll stick around and watch what God does. He tends to put on quite a show if we take notice. ]]>A couple of years ago I went on a first date that changed my life forever. No, I didn't end up marrying this girl and spending the rest of my life with her. In fact, I never saw her again. But in the small amount of time we spent together, she gave me a gift I will never forget. She was humble and honest about the man she was sitting across from and spoke words about me that I needed to hear.
Naturally, you might think I would be disgusted by her observation. But I had been searching for what was keeping me from building healthy relationships in my life and I discovered it through her honesty.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down and re-count that famous first date and have a conversation with Jeff Taylor a professional counselor and we unpack everything necessary when talking about vulnerability with men. There is an entirely new level you can gain in your relationships when you can learn to become more vulnerable people.
A couple of years ago I went on a first date that changed my life forever. No, I didn't end up marrying this girl and spending the rest of my life with her. In fact, I never saw her again. But in the small amount of time we spent together, she gave me a gift I will never forget. She was humble and honest about the man she was sitting across from and spoke words about me that I needed to hear.
SHE TOLD ME THAT I LACKED VULNERABILITY.Naturally, you might think I would be disgusted by her observation. But I had been searching for what was keeping me from building healthy relationships in my life and I discovered it through her honesty.
On this episode of Adventurous Faith, I sit down and re-count that famous first date and have a conversation with Jeff Taylor a professional counselor and we unpack everything necessary when talking about vulnerability with men. There is an entirely new level you can gain in your relationships when you can learn to become more vulnerable people.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT BEING VULNERABLEWe live in a culture in which we have been taught to take rather than give and consume rather than invest. We do this with just about everything imaginable. For most of us, we consume so we can get ahead. We consume so we can get the life we want. And guess what - for a while, our consumption of anything and everything around us gives us precisely what we want.
But if there is anything I am learning about my journey it's this - the life I want and the consuming I want to do isn't always what is best for me. What I should be doing is building the life I need. If I can learn to do that, then I know it will turn into the life I want.
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are going to talk about consumption and how it has made its way into how we handle our relationships. Just as we consume everything else, we have learned to consume other people. This habit has only destroyed our inability to create and foster healthy relationships in our lives. If we want to build the lives and legacies we want, we must get over this.
See, the highest return you will see in this life is not in the stock market. The most significant return is in giving and investing in relationships and people. Your legacybegins and grows here.
We live in a culture in which we have been taught to take rather than give and consume rather than invest. We do this with just about everything imaginable. For most of us, we consume so we can get ahead. We consume so we can get the life we want. And guess what - for a while, our consumption of anything and everything around us gives us precisely what we want.
But if there is anything I am learning about my journey it's this - the life I want and the consuming I want to do isn't always what is best for me. What I should be doing is building the life I need. If I can learn to do that, then I know it will turn into the life I want.
STOP CONSUMING PEOPLE. START INVESTING IN THEM.On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are going to talk about consumption and how it has made its way into how we handle our relationships. Just as we consume everything else, we have learned to consume other people. This habit has only destroyed our inability to create and foster healthy relationships in our lives. If we want to build the lives and legacies we want, we must get over this.
See, the highest return you will see in this life is not in the stock market. The most significant return is in giving and investing in relationships and people. Your legacybegins and grows here.
WHAT YOU'LL HEAR & LEARN IN THIS EPISODENo, I'm not talking about the physical pain you and I seek after in search of the perfect workout or body. I'm not even talking about the weird and random scars you may have from pulling whatever stunt as a kid. I'm talking about something much more profound. In fact, it's not even surface level.
You and I struggle to be good at relationships because we aren't good at leaning into the un-comfort and pain that often come with interacting, caring for and loving other people. We don't like to deal with emotional pain. Why? Because we don't want to experience the hurt it may bring.
On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are continuing our conversation on relationships and the ever-present speedbump that keeps us from entering into these strong relationships we want: entering into the pain and un-comfort that relationships bring. For you and I to get the life we desire, it comes by healthy relationships - and healthy relationships come by un-comfort, getting through and over awkward and being open to experiencing others and yourself, even if it hurts.
No, I'm not talking about the physical pain you and I seek after in search of the perfect workout or body. I'm not even talking about the weird and random scars you may have from pulling whatever stunt as a kid. I'm talking about something much more profound. In fact, it's not even surface level.
I'M TALKING ABOUT EMOTIONAL PAINYou and I struggle to be good at relationships because we aren't good at leaning into the un-comfort and pain that often come with interacting, caring for and loving other people. We don't like to deal with emotional pain. Why? Because we don't want to experience the hurt it may bring.
ANSWER ME HONESTLY - WHERE HAS THAT GOTTEN YOU?On today's episode of Adventurous Faith, we are continuing our conversation on relationships and the ever-present speedbump that keeps us from entering into these strong relationships we want: entering into the pain and un-comfort that relationships bring. For you and I to get the life we desire, it comes by healthy relationships - and healthy relationships come by un-comfort, getting through and over awkward and being open to experiencing others and yourself, even if it hurts.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:Resources Mentioned in the Show:
Scripture: John 10:10
]]>Resources Mentioned in the Show:
Scripture: John 10:10
]]>"Imagine if 100 people decided to download an episode of your podcast. That is 100 people that have decided to sit in a room and listen to you for 25 minutes."
Essential Ideas in the Episode you don't want to miss:
Resources Mentioned
To learn more, visit: benweaver.org
]]>"Imagine if 100 people decided to download an episode of your podcast. That is 100 people that have decided to sit in a room and listen to you for 25 minutes."
I was blown away. You couple the potential for influence that Pat was talking about and spread of an important message like I believe Adventurous Faith is and you've got something that I believe can make a massive impact on the world. When I heard what Pat said in those few moments, I was sold on podcasting. A few months later, this little guy you see here was born. In this first episode, I wanted to introduce you to the idea of Adventurous Faith and for you to hear my story. I wouldn't say my story is any more special than yours, but it's my story - unique and purposeful for the journey God has me on. I believe every adventure begins with a person. And every person has a story. In this first episode, I wanted you to hear mine. I hope you enjoy.Essential Ideas in the Episode you don't want to miss:
Resources Mentioned
To learn more, visit: benweaver.org
]]>