009 - My Favorite Christmas Presents And Presence

134 - How to Have Your Best Vacation Ever - Setting Expectations

134 - How to Have Your Best Vacation Ever - Setting Expectations

Summer is almost here, and with it comes the excitement of vacation planning! Whether you’re planning a getaway with your spouse, family, or friends, the anticipation for a restful break is huge!

In this episode, we'll explore how to set five key expectations, how to manage them wisely and avoid common vavcation traps to ensure your vacation is refreshing and fulfilling. 

Join me as we seek to align our time away with God's intention for rest and rejuvenation.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• Five key vacation expectations to help you have the best vacation ever

• Tips for managing pre-vacation stress

• Balancing personal desires and group dynamics during family vacations

• The importance of incorporating spiritual practices into your vacation routine 

Key Takeaways:

• Identify what you want from your vacation—relaxation, adventure, or specific activities—and talk to your companions to balance personal desires and group enjoyment.

• Before your vacation, discuss your plans with family or friends to align expectations and minimize potential tensions.

• Establish clear vacation financial boundaries, be mindful of everyone's situation, and balance budget-friendly and unique activities to maximize enjoyment and minimize stress.

• Incorporate spiritual practices like prayer, reflection, or sharing faith experiences into your vacation to nurture well-being and strengthen connections, acknowledging vacations as chances for spiritual growth and outreach.

• Embrace physical activities that match your interests and abilities, balancing adventure and leisure while prioritizing rest for lasting memories without pushing physical limits. 

“Your time and rest with family and friends, I just want to remind you, this is important to God. And I believe it's His sincere desire for you and for me to take a break after the hard work.”  

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133 - Financial Forensics - 5 Steps of a Financial Choice

Have you ever considered how you make a financial choice?

In this episode, we're discussing the 'anatomy' of a financial choice and how small choices over time can lead to significant results. Using the Financial Forensics model, we'll follow five crucial steps in making wise, faithful stewardship decisions.

Join me as we explore how big and small choices can shape our financial and spiritual journey over time, ultimately empowering you to align your choices with God's greater purpose.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• The Financial Forensics Model: 5 steps to financial decision-making

• Choosing wisely with your faith as your guide.

• Understanding how small choices can compound into significant results

Key Takeaways:

• Financial choices are like building blocks. They can lead us closer to our goals or away from it. Each choice we make can compound over time, much like how small successes accumulate into significant accomplishments.

• To understand the anatomy of these choices, we can break them down into five steps: the source of the question, our senses, our mind, our heart, and finally, making the choice.

• The source of a decision can come from anywhere. Being aware of these influences helps us guard our hearts and minds against negative inputs so we can foster a mindset that aligns with God's truth and principles.

• Through prayerful consideration and aligning our choices with God's guidance, we can make decisions that benefit us financially, honor our faith, and lead us toward a life that pleases God. 

“I truly believe that the little financial choices we make every day have the ability to bring us closer to God or closer to the world. That's why it's so critical that we choose wisely.”  

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132 - The What, Who & Why of the 'Kingdom Advisor' with Rob West

It’s a special treat to have my friend Rob West join us this week. Rob is the CEO of Kingdom Advisors and the host of the nationally syndicated radio program, Faith & Finance. 

Today, we'll talk about the Kingdom Advisors organization and how Certified Kingdom Advisors make a transformational difference in financial planning and and the financial industry with a biblical worldview. 

In this episode, John discusses: 

• Kingdom Advisors as an organization and its significance in the financial industry

• The importance of integrating faith with financial decision-making

• The challenges and natural inclinations individuals face in managing finances

• The spiritual aspect of money management and financial stewardship

Key Takeaways:

• Money is not just a financial tool; it’s also a barometer for spiritual health and values. Understanding this role helps us recognize what's truly important and where our trust lies.

• We have to recognize the differences in money management styles and backgrounds within relationships so we can navigate relationships well. This can help us appreciate individual perspectives while aligning on financial decisions.

• Certified Kingdom Advisors combine financial competence with a biblical worldview, offering specialized guidance that aligns with Christian values and priorities.

• How our financial decisions serve as a powerful testimony of faith and trust in God's provision amidst life's uncertainties. 

“Our ability and willingness to continue giving generously, helping others in need, and trusting God for His provision as the provider in the midst of chaos, I think, is a real testimony to the world that is watching.”  - Rob West

CONNECT WITH ROB:

• Website: https://kingdomadvisors.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karobwest/

• Faith & Finance radio show: https://www.faithfi.com/show

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131 - Have you Ever Experienced Spontaneous Generosity?

Have you ever heard of spontaneous combustion? 

It's a fascinating phenomenon where fire ignites without an external heat source. But what if I told you there's a similar concept regarding generosity? 

Join me as we observe an encounter from Genesis where Jacob is spontaneously generous. There’s transformative power in spontaneous generosity where you can embrace a life of impactful giving with blessings beyond measure. 

In this episode, John discusses: 

• Fascinating facts of spontaneous combustion

• The opportunity of spontaneous generosity

• Giving from a place of deep gratitude and faith

• Cultivating spontaneous and consistenty generosity 

Key Takeaways:

• Spontaneous combustion occurs without external heat sources due to chemical, biological, or physical processes, resulting in fires like those from dirty rags, hay bales, or compost piles.

• Spontaneous generosity mirrors this phenomenon, arising from internal gratitude and love for God, leading to bold and immediate giving without hesitation or calculation, driven by an internal force beyond logic.

• Cultivating spontaneous generosity involves being prepared to give, seeking counsel and wisdom, and trusting in God's guidance while leaving the outcome to Him, and acknowledging the limits of personal judgment.

• Embracing spontaneous generosity opens opportunities for miracles, transforming lives and multiplying blessings beyond measure, making giving a central and impactful part of one's life.

“Let your giving go big and bold, and watch God show up in some incredible forms of blessings that will simply amaze you.”  

Resources Mentioned:

• Fire Prevention 52: Spontaneous Combustion–Fact or Fiction?: https://www.nps.gov/articles/fire-prevention-52-spontaneous-combustion.htm

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130 - 3 Trendy Traps You Want to Avoid

Today we're talking about how many so of us grapple with modern-day financial traps that can hinder our journey toward true joy and wise stewardship, just like in the story of the wealthy ruler from the book of Mark. 

Join me as we focus on three trendy traps that are way too easy for us to fall into. Once we’ve uncovered them, we’ll explore some strategies rooted in biblical wisdom that will pave the way for a more peaceful, empowered, and aligned financial journey.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• How financial traps hinder financial freedom

• Balancing money, wealth and spiritual fulfillment in modern life

• Wise financial stewardship in today's consumer-driven society

• Embracing truth, stability, and God's bigger plan 

Key Takeaways:

• The story of the wealthy ruler in Mark's gospel reveals a timeless tension between worldly possessions and sacrificial love. It echoes today's tension between material wealth and spiritual fulfillment.

• Trendy traps like lifestyle inflation, instant gratification, and social comparison are tempting. To combat them, we must embrace the biblical principles of contentment, self-discipline, and identity anchored in Christ to navigate financial decisions wisely.

• By cultivating authentic relationships, embracing the values of stewardship, and sharing financial wisdom grounded in faith, we can experience personal fulfillment and become powerful testimonies of God's provision and faithfulness. 

“When you can stay out of these traps, you are going to experience a kind of financial freedom, peace, and fulfillment in a way that you likely have never experienced before.”  

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