AuthorDino Katsiametis

Marcus Slaton (21)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

#81 How Do You Reconcile the Death of a Child With Faith – Pastor Erik Rees

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

          1. March 3, 2011, Jessie Rees (age 11) was diagnosed with an incurable form of Brain Cancer.  She moved to heaven on Jan 5, 2012 and Erik knows that through Jesus he will see her again.  Erik has to invest in his family everyday, there is no rewind button.  This is his testimony.“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” – Ephesians 2:10
              1. Biggest Weakness – Selfishness.  We all fight it, but this hit him hard after Jessie was diagnosed.  Erik had taken his family for granted.
              2. Biggest Strength – Faith in God.  It’s what got him through the death of his daughter.  Erik yelled and screamed at God, but has held on to the promise of heaven.
              3. Dark Time – Grew up in an abusive family with an abusive father, but although the time with Jessie was very dark, she was the silver light.  Every dad wants to save their child and when you can’t the only option is to trust.
              4. Jessie asked the question “when do the other kids go home?”  After hearing the answer she asked, “How can we help them?”  This changed everything.
              5. She created bags for the kids who couldn’t leave the hospital.  Jessie’s middle name was Joy and so they came up with Joy Jars.  Erik and Jess did this in the garage and then would bring them up to the hospital on her next visit.  During Jessie’s 10 month 2 day fight she sent over 3,000 Joy Jars to children with the message of NEGU (Never Ever Give Up).
              6. To donate go to jessie.org
              7. Erik uses Jessie’s NEGU motto to get through every day.  He spends a lot of time pastoring to families of children with cancer.
              8. Our faith does not tell us to sit on the sidelines, so Erik focuses on creating smiles.
              9. Erik had prayed and screamed and begged God to help his daughter.  When she wasn’t, he took the only choice he had which was to believe in God, his family and to not be bitter for their sake.  God had answered the prayer that Jessie wouldn’t suffer.
              10. After Jessie went to heaven, Erik’s wife went through severe depression and despair.  It took them a year to a year and a half to get through the initial grief.
              11. Jessie’s mom is now heavily involved in the foundation.
              12. Great Advice: Find people to be your anchors, who know you as well as God does and be real with them.  Get help.
              13. God’s Man of Influence – Allow God to work through you to do good in the world.
              14. Recommended Book: “Living the Life You’re Meant To Live” by Tom Patterson

For past shows and to learn more about the God’s Men of Influence community, check us out at www.godsmenofinfluence.org

Join us on Facebook for our daily devotionals and updates and please like our page www.facebook.com/GodsMenOfInfluence

Help us spread the Word and please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. Tell us what insights you took from this episode.

Continue Reading
4

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

#80 Fear, Insecurity, Anxiety and the Healing Message of the Bible – Mark Giraud

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

          1. What happens when you grow up lacking affection from your parents?  Insecurity, fear of transitions and anxiety ruled Mark Giraud until he read his bible and began to heal.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” – Proverbs 3, 5 & 6
            1. Mark is a wealth consultant for Vantaquest.  At Vantaquest, they encourage clients to find their calling not only financially but in life.
            2. Today Mark is grateful that God has brought him to a place where he can be obedient and happy in his relationship with the Lord and his family.  He’s very involved in Celebrate Recovery ministry.
            3. Biggest Weakness – A drive to perform that became a false Idol and an effort to control.
            4. Biggest Strength – Commitment to Christ and be faithful.
            5. Dark Time – Grew up in New Orleans and was missing a lack of emotional connection with his parents.  Normal transitions were difficult for Mark, because life felt scary.  Mark struggled with low self-esteem and anxiety.  He was socially awkward and when his parents divorced it made things worse.   The lie was that he had something to prove and led to a performance focus that left him empty.
            6. His life looked OK when he was first married, but he was dying inside.
            7. At 25 he became a Christian when he missed church on Christmas Day and went back to reading the bible.
            8. God showed Mark a book “How People Can Change” by  and this taught him about community.  Mark found a counselor who said he was not loving his wife well by not confronting her problems. His wife wasn’t interested in transforming their marriage.
            9. Mark had to change the pattern of avoiding conflict and he couldn’t do it without community and God.
            10. In every addicts life, there’s always an enabler helping them to continue their behavior.  Mark became very intentional about getting better.  He had to acknowledge the things from the past and grieve for them with God.  Then he repented for carrying the lies with him about himself and take responsibility even though it was easy to feel like a victim.
            11. God’s Man of Influence – Be aware that the Holy Spirit lives within you.  Seek God’s will and be obedient to it.
            12. Recommended Book – “S.H.A.P.E” by Erik Rees
            13. 562-598-7800

            mark@vantaquest.com

             

 

For past shows and to learn more about the God’s Men of Influence community, check us out at www.godsmenofinfluence.org

Join us on Facebook for our daily devotionals and updates and please like our page www.facebook.com/GodsMenOfInfluence

Help us spread the Word and please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. Tell us what insights you took from this episode.

Continue Reading
1

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

#79 God Wrecked Him In Order To Help Him – John Tumminello

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

          1. God will show a man who he’s been so that he can change who he will be.  This is a lesson that John Tumminello learned when he woke up having everything, looked in the mirror and hated himself.“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” – John 15:5
            1. John is from NY.  He’s a father of 2 children and husband.  While trying to help people, he believes he’s learned more than he’s given.  God has wrecked him to teach him.
            2. John’s non profit’s are focused on the fatherless and those who were wounded by their experiences with their fathers.
            3. John’s father had one arm and ran a deli to keep the family fed and his mom was detached.  He didn’t feel a lot of affection as a youth, because his parents suffered from the were scared to stop working.
            4. Biggest Weakness – When he’s running ahead of God
            5. Biggest Strength – To encourage people.
            6. Dark Time – He didn’t even know how he got there, but his dark time lasted 5 years.  He was told he was selfish emotionally and would consume people and alcohol.  He was very promiscuous  John was at a high point financially and in business during his dark time.  He used his skills for his own advantage instead of for God’s kingdom.   Anyone who has God’s spirit does not enjoy that lifestyle, it’s there to cover the pain.
            7. John grew up Catholic, but it was more of a cultural experience.  In that space God, put the right people in front of John, like a Christian brother who prayed for him from age 16 to 38.
            8. 2 people who were really close to John that called him emotionally selfish was the change he needed.  He woke up, looked in the mirror and saw the ugliness.
            9. It took 5 years to change his life. John went into isolation.  He moved to California to try and get away from himself.
            10. The final transition was when he started reading.  Found a book called “Just like Jesus” by Max Lucado.  It was when he first really heard the Gospel even after Catholic high school and college.
            11. When John struggles it’s because he is not trusting God.
            12. God’s Man of Influence – Less words and more action.  Lead with who you are.  Walk in a way that let’s people know that God is in your life.
            13. Recommended Book – “Tattoos on the Heart” by Greg Boyle and “Abba’s Child” by Brennan Manning.

             



 

For past shows and to learn more about the God’s Men of Influence community, check us out at www.godsmenofinfluence.org

Join us on Facebook for our daily devotionals and updates and please like our page www.facebook.com/GodsMenOfInfluence

Help us spread the Word and please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. Tell us what insights you took from this episode.

Continue Reading
Marcus Slaton (20)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

#78 Pornography Always Leads to Greater Sin – James M

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

        1. Pornography is not a victimless crime and led James M down the path to divorce and even greater sin.  In his testimony James talks about the difference between going to church and taking the time to know God in your day to day life.“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10
          1. Biggest Weakness – Apathy.  James gets too caught up in daily life and forgets to give time to talk with God.
          2. Biggest Strength – Being a good father and husband.  God has called him to have unconditional love for his family and to be a spiritual leader.
          3. Dark Time – Addicted to pornography in the late 90’s while he was in the military.  He started objectifying women and James believes it is a disease and not a victimless crime.  It changed the way he looked at his wife and led to divorce.  The sickness continued until 2005 when James found God.
          4. Christian music helped him to discover the Word and the message behind it.
          5. The lightbulb went off when James was doing things he was not proud of and realized this was not who he was called to be.  He asked God one night “why am I doing what I’m doing? Why am I sinning?”
          6. The next service he went to at church was about pornography.
          7. James was baptized in 2005.
          8. James grew up Catholic and always believed that family and church go hand in hand.
          9. Having a God centered marriage is the best chance of having a lasting marriage.
          10. James is remarried and allows God to guide he and his wife through the ins and outs of their life.
          11. Advice – Look to God first in all things.
          12. Recommended Book – “Happily Ever Laughter” by Ken Davis

           

For past shows and to learn more about the God’s Men of Influence community, check us out at www.godsmenofinfluence.org

Join us on Facebook for our daily devotionals and updates and please like our page www.facebook.com/GodsMenOfInfluence

Help us spread the Word and please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. Tell us what insights you took from this episode.

Continue Reading