Embracing Brokenness

Joseph Grenny is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including the communication classic, Crucial Conversations. His work has been used by nearly half of the Forbes Global 2000 and has helped millions of people achieve better relationships and results.

He cofounded Crucial Learning (formerly VitalSmarts), one of the world’s most respected learning and organization development firms, offering courses in communication, performance, and leadership.

Joseph also cofounded The Other Side Academy (TOSA), a residential school that teaches vocational and life skills to people with histories of crime, addiction, and homelessness.

On today's Podcast Steve talks with Joseph about the program at TOSA and the resultant changes evident in their students' lives. He also shares how God called him into this vital mission and the influence he's had by being obedient to that calling.

On today's Podcast, Steve and Colleen ask the question of whether it's possible for humanity to truly flourish on this side of heaven without Shalom. The discussion turns to the broader definition of Shalom as intended in scripture, not simply defined as Peace.

In Hebrew, it means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity (not necessarily financial), welfare, and tranquility.

According to the Surgeon General over 50% of Americans, which equates to millions of people, live with a profound sense of loneliness. Loneliness decreases life expectancy by 30% and is more dangerous than obesity and drug abuse. Just one example of what the absence of Shalom yields.

Every worldview imparts a particular vision of human flourishing. This is true of the biblical worldview as well.

Unfortunately, apart from Christ, these worldviews do nothing to respond to the consequences of fallen relationships, being a part of a greater story, and living for the only thing that can truly bring joy – the complete confidence that God is in control of every aspect of my life—so only artificial happiness can be obtained and it constantly required “more” to feed its fire.

Join in on the conversation.

The experience of anyone that finds themselves without a home, without a meal, and most importantly devoid of relationships that would prevent such an experience, is a unique one. This condition is often misunderstood.

After nearly 12 years of service to those experiencing homelessness in our community, Colleen has much to share about the conditions of poverty and those most underserved among us.

Listen in, you'll be surprised by how much you may not know about those considered the least among us but the most important in the kingdom of God.

Steve is joined by special guest, Preston Poore to discuss integrity in leadership as a Christ follower.

Preston has more than two decades of upper-level management experience in the Consumer Packaging Industry. He is a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Trainer, and Executive Coach. Preston wrote two books, his most recent is Discipled Leader (2022 Selah Award-winning Nonfiction Book of the Year), and prior to that - 21 Days to Sound Decision Making. Additionally, Preston is a minority shareholder and small-business owner of Numerica Corporation, an air and missile defense company based in Fort Collins, Colorado. He holds an MBA from Samford University and a BS in management from Colorado State University. He and his family reside in the Metro Atlanta Area.

Learn more about Preston’s platform and his book, Discipled Leader at prestonpoore.com

There's an ebb and flow to the rhythms of life. There's also an ebb and flow to the process we experience in our own healing journey through Christ. Today Colleen and Steve invited Michael Kurtz to have a conversation about how we approach that journey and what those rhythms might look like in your life.

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16)

As Vice President of Programs at Water Street Mission, Colleen Adams joins Jack Crowley, President, to share a story of restoration with one of their former guests. See how God transformed Sharon's life, as He does with so many through the ministry of WSM. For most of us, it's difficult to love the marginalized and those experiencing homelessness in our society. We don't understand the struggles.

In this episode of our podcast (also available in video form on Spotify and our YouTube Channel), we explore one woman’s story of feeling trapped and ending up without a home. But we also share how she made it out of that spider’s web.

Steve is joined by special guest, Allen Arnold, to discuss the message and meaning behind his latest book, The Eden Option, Choosing a Story 1 Life in a Story 2 World.

Allen is the Executive Director of Content at Wild at Heart and is a noted creativity speaker, coach and author. His focus is helping people actively pursue their creativity with God. As a former Fiction Publisher with Thomas Nelson, he oversaw the launch of more than 500 novels—and now invites others to step more fully into their Story by showing them how to pursue their dreams and talents together with God. He is the acclaimed author of The Story of With, Chaos Can't, and Waves of Creativity. He loves blue oceans, black coffee, hot salsa, and big ideas. Discover more at www.withallen.com

On today's Podcast, Steve joins Cristin Germaine on a regional radio program she hosts. WPFG's Community Issues and Missions is a program where people in our community share their personal journey, their ministry, or their organization. 

During the interview, Steve provides personal insights on his spiritual journey but also that of Embracing Brokenness Ministries and the calling God has given both him and his wife, Colleen.

Continuing on in our series of interviews with friends and allies, sharing God Stories from the past and present. Stories where our lives have been forever changed by a God who loves us and saved us each one.

On today's podcast, Steve is joined by Author, Speaker, and Mom of many, Cathie Rosado. We'll discuss her book, among other topics, Choosing Plan A - A Mother's Adventure with Adoption, Acceptance after Miscarriage, and, Acknowledging the Miracle of Children

Cathie was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where more than 250 years of her family history is strongly rooted. “Be fruitful and multiply” was very practical advice for this largely agrarian society. Cathie’s immediate family would depart from that tradition as her parents met in college and moved toward professional office occupations. She and her younger brother enjoyed a middle-class life, and though their parents divorced, it was amicable, and life was pretty good.

Cathie graduated from a public high school and defied what some saw as odds stacked against her, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s of science in economics with a concentration in accounting and entrepreneurial management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She headed into her professional career with many expectations for what life would look like, and then the year 2000 changed everything.

In that one year, she went from being a single professional finishing her Penn State MBA to a married working mother experiencing a whirlwind of change. “Be fruitful and multiply” would not look the same for her as it did for her ancestors. Expectations of how things were going to be would have to be tossed out the window as a whole new adventure lay ahead—one where she would have to keep moving forward even when the steps were difficult or unclear.

Today, Cathie continues to work full time in a professional role while juggling parenting and embracing her passion for volunteering and impacting people. She is trying to figure out her developing grandparent role while the nest is still pretty full. While this book may be her story, the prayer is that it encourages and positively impacts you as you live your story.

Cathie welcomes your feedback and would love to hear from you. To connect with her by email: contact@ChoosingPlanA 

Everybody has a story. Some we'd rather not tell, others we can't keep quiet about. Or at least not quiet about God's goodness in our lives, especially when the difference He makes has an everlasting impact. We're never the same because of Him.

This is some of Cathie's story.

Happy New Year everyone. We're back to our series of interviews with friends and allies, sharing God Stories from the past and present. Stories where our lives have been forever changed by a God who loves us and saved us each one.

On today's podcast, Steve is joined by Singer/Songwriter, Author, & Speaker, Cristin Germaine. Cristin is the Founder and Event Planner of "Dream BIG! Ignite Your Passion." She works full-time at Christ Community Church as the Office Director and is a single Mom to an amazing son who is 19. She is certified as a public speaker through The John Maxwell Team and was previously enrolled in the Nashville Artist Development University as a singer and songwriter. Cristin has published three anthology books, "The Beauty in My Mess," "The Best Advice I Never Got : Wisdom for Our Daughters," and "Parentpreneur Survival Guide: Co-Author Edition."

In May of 2019, Cristin released her first single, "Dream BIG!" which is based on her life and journals. She will be releasing another song in 2023 about domestic violence and her journey walking through that experience in her marriage. She is praying this new song will bring hope to women who have walked the same road and bring healing and wholeness.

Learn more about Cristin and her passion for Christ at her website; Dream BIG! Ignite Your Passion https://dreambigigniteyourpassion.com/

Everybody has a story. Some we'd rather not tell, others we can't keep quiet about. Or at least not quiet about God's goodness in our lives, especially when the difference He makes has an everlasting impact. We're never the same because of Him.

This is Cristin's story.