AuthorDino Katsiametis

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1. Ask yourself the question “What’s the Difference Between Success and Significance?”  That’s what Ted Chang had to discover so that he could keep his family together.  Ted had all the money and professional success that he could ever want, but at what cost?

   “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. Ted has been married for 30 years, has two sons and has always been an entrepreneur.  He is committed to learning to let God lead his life in business and family.
   2. Biggest Weakness – Very competitive  When success happened in his career his relationship with God drifted.
   3. Biggest Strength – Ted’s ability to Study the Word and apply it in his life.
   4. Dark Time – When Ted started his business he had mortgaged his house and ended up one week away from missing payroll.  His wife had a difficult time and was ready to leave him.
   5. Ted realized that his children saw everything, the good, the bad and the times he turned away from God.
   6. At age 52 after a tremendous amount of success, Ted realized that his life didn’t really mean much because his drive had taken over his family.  He asked himself, “What’s the difference between success and significance?”  Ted was a workaholic and knew his family was suffering.
   7. Ted dedicated his children to the Lord’s purpose and took it very seriously.  God has looked after them and they’ve learned what it means to be a child of God.
   8. Today, Ted is the President of a restaurant group that is a franchisee of Pieology.  It’s a Christian based business that is committed to reaching people with God’s Word.
   9. Recommended Book – “Halftime” – Bob Buford
   10. God’s Men of Influence – Declaring God’s power to the next generation through sharing and testimony.

    

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Greed and lack of gratitude for God’s gifts landed Reniero Francisco in prison.  With his partner, Reniero started a hedge fund and lost all of his client’s money.  Fear and ego kept him from being upfront with those who invested and Reniero tried to cover it up with his own money.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Mathew 6:24

1. Very judgemental.  Wants to put energy toward himself and become a better Christian.
2. Greed is what put Reniero in jail.
3. Biggest Weakness – Accepting God’s Will.
4. Biggest Strength – Hope.  Believes that something good is coming out of a bad situation.
5. Dark Time – Currently living in prison because of greed.  Reniero lost everything.
6. Personal responsibility in jail is a major problem.  Without a schedule he would dwell on being in prison.
7. Has worship practice 4 to 5 times a week and does bible study 3 times a week.
8. He encourages other inmates to seek another way, but they don’t want it.  He continues to make himself available.
9. Reniero has 4 more years and believes it’s in God’s hands if he gets out early.
10. Reniero’s crime was covering up when his partner lost his client’s money in a hedge fund investment.
11. Reniero was being greedy and selfish.  God had given him everything and he was not satisfied with what he was given.
12. He is trying to live for God and purge his greed, but it is a struggle that’s worth fighting.  “How does God want to use me?” is what he continues to ask himself.
13. Greed is always out there to take a hold of all of us.  He thought he was a good guy.
14. The devil goes after those living in the Word and therefore Reniero wants to let go of desires.
15. He struggles with the idea of going back to a humble life from luxury.
16. “Please have what I want be in line with what you want me to do” is his prayer every night.
17. Reniero’s family has never been closer, but is being tested constantly.
18. Advice – Live today like it’s your last day.

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

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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.

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God is immensely greater than anything we can imagine or understand.  Mark Howerton became very in tune with the essence of his faith when working as a Pastor at Rock Harbor he was critically injured on the 55 when he was struck by a speeding car while trying to assist people who had had an accident on the highway.  The pain and recovery was such that his faith was shaken and Mark was forced to ask “Why would God allow bad things to happen to a good person?”

“Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

1. Mark is a licensed marriage and family therapist.
2. He and his wife of 19 years have 4 children.
3. Adoption was a priority to Mark and Kristen and they started with their first son from LA.  Next they had a biological daughter.  After that they adopted 2 more children through an organization in Port Au Prince,  Haiti.
4. Biggest Weakness – Mark says that he is selfish, rude, narcissistic and entitled and is lazy about controlling these tendencies.
5. Biggest Strength – Mark has a Pastoral heart and is able to be compassionate and walk with people during their struggles.
6. Dark Time – 10 years ago Mark was in a horrible car crash.  While driving with his wife and friends on the freeway an accident happened in front of him and when he got out to help was hit by a speeding car.  Mark was in shock and critically injured.  When they got him to the hospital he was not allowed to have pain medication or surgery for 10 hours because of his head injuries.  He meditated on his prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ show me your mercy” to get through the incredible pain.  Mark stayed in the hospital for a month and had 5 surgeries in total.  Amazingly, after months and months of rehab he is fully recovered.
7. During that time Mark battled with depression, but was very grateful that his wife Kristen was always there with patience.  In hindsight, he wishes that he had expressed that gratitude more than he did.
8. Mark was a pastor, but over the course of recovery his faith was wounded.  “Why would God allow bad things to happen to a good person?  What is the essence of my faith?”
9. Mark had a very immature faith before the accident.  A + B does not always = C.  God is immeasurably greater than anything we can imagine.
10. Mark’s wife Kristen Howerton’s Blog “Rage Against the Minivan” in which, she talks about getting through the accident among many other things.
11. Support Structure for Mark was the community of pastors at Rock Harbor as well as a group of close friends.
12. Recommended Books – “The Power of Pain” – CS Lewis

“The Post Evangelical” – David Thomas

13. Best Advice – You are not alone.  People will be around to help even strangers.  Reach out and find those communities and have an earnest call to faith.
14. God’s Men of Influence – Continue to let my light shine before man.

www.markhowerton.com , www.balancedlifeleadership.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.