Follower of One : Missions For The Rest Of Us

n this week's episode of the Follower of One podcast, Mike speaks with James Madison. James is a 25 year veteran in executive leadership and currently runs his leadership and executive coaching company called OnPurpose Life. Please give him a warm welcome to the community! 

Episode Breakdown

1:02 - Meet James Madison with OnPurpose Life

3:32 - How to find your Purpose

6:27 - Get In Touch with James 

7:07 - James' story to Christ

9:07 - Using Your Faith Everywhere

11:52 - What is Your Gift?

14:17 - Marketplace Ministry

Understand Your Purpose

As Christians, we carry ourselves through life with God's purpose in mind. But what is our purpose? Sometimes shifting through the debris of our experiences makes our purpose a bit blurry and hard to find. Meet James Madison. James works tirelessly for all of his clients to help them find their purpose and it all comes down to our passion, talent, and experience. What is your passion? Talent? Experience? When those three meet, that is a good indication of what you should be doing. I believe we all have this struggle in our lives when we reach a certain point. Sometimes you can discover this at an early age, and other times it is much later in life. The goal is to find it no matter what. So, what purpose do you have? No idea? - Contact James! 

Faith in Everything

James uses this quote from St. Francis - "Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary, use words". This sums up how we should view faith outside of the church! It should be through our actions and our example, not through quoting scripture, or trying to make everyone we meet a believer right there and then. Our faith is designed to lead not make them drink. We have a duty to the people around us. That duty is to be the shining light we see in God. How have you been the example you want to see in others? Has God shown you ways to live your faith in every action? If these are still lingering questions for you, join us for the next Marketplace Mission Trip! 

Interview Quote

"What is your purpose? There is this idea that it is a luxury to know what your purpose is. You have to become aware of your purpose first and then walk in it let these things call upon you. It is what I call more flow, and less hustle."

Connect with James

James' LinkedIn

OnPurpose Life Website

James' Email

The problem of fear. In this second message from the Parable of the Talents, one slave was afraid. His fear directed his actions. When fear directs our actions, we make bad choices. He chose to protect himself, to avoid the risk of loss and as a result, he lost. When we live generously, we win. We make Jesus visible when we're generous because we follow Him. Today, be generous. Give more than you get and make others successful.

Don't forget about our upcoming Marketplace Mission Trip! Listen to the end of all episodes this week to learn how to join and become a minister at your work. Thank you for being a Follower of One!

The problem of fear. In this second message from the Parable of the Talents, one slave was afraid. His fear directed his actions. When fear directs our actions, we make bad choices. He chose to protect himself, to avoid the risk of loss and as a result, he lost. When we live generously, we win. We make Jesus visible when we're generous because we follow Him. Today, be generous. Give more than you get and make others successful.

Don't forget about our upcoming Marketplace Mission Trip! Listen to the end of all episodes this week to learn how to join and become a minister at your work. Thank you for being a Follower of One!

Is God bringing people to you to talk about your faith? If not, why not? Are you practicing the 5 daily activities (Pray, Appreciate others, Know what you believe, Serve others, and Speak for Yourself)? If you are practicing these activities and still, God is not prompting others, maybe there is sin in your life you need to address. Mike talks about how evil is present with us all the time and how we might need to address sin in our lives before we get to speak with others about our faith.

Is God bringing people to you to talk about your faith? If not, why not? Are you practicing the 5 daily activities (Pray, Appreciate others, Know what you believe, Serve others, and Speak for Yourself)? If you are practicing these activities and still, God is not prompting others, maybe there is sin in your life you need to address. Mike talks about how evil is present with us all the time and how we might need to address sin in our lives before we get to speak with others about our faith.

Do you ever frustrate yourself? Do you have challenges with anger? Mike had a bad day by repeating a frustrating mistake. He said today was the "broken Mike" podcast. What do you do when you fail? Or what kind of grace can you offer to others who may be having a hard day? Pray for others and try to put them ahead of you and ask God to sustain you. He can restore the joy of your salvation.

Do you ever frustrate yourself? Do you have challenges with anger? Mike had a bad day by repeating a frustrating mistake. He said today was the "broken Mike" podcast. What do you do when you fail? Or what kind of grace can you offer to others who may be having a hard day? Pray for others and try to put them ahead of you and ask God to sustain you. He can restore the joy of your salvation.

What is, not being in want? Do you wonder if you're broken? Do you know you shouldn't "want" but notice that you still do? God puts the desire for good things in us. He created us to want good things. Mike used to think of himself as the perennial "before picture." But recently, he has learned to wait for God to provide. When we ask God for good things - things He desires to give us - and we wait on Him, we will see Him work. Find good things to ask God for and wait for Him. He will encourage you about your good desires. Trust Him and wait for Him. Deliver God's grace rather than searching for it all the time and you will see your wants diminish.

What is, not being in want? Do you wonder if you're broken? Do you know you shouldn't "want" but notice that you still do? God puts the desire for good things in us. He created us to want good things. Mike used to think of himself as the perennial "before picture." But recently, he has learned to wait for God to provide. When we ask God for good things - things He desires to give us - and we wait on Him, we will see Him work. Find good things to ask God for and wait for Him. He will encourage you about your good desires. Trust Him and wait for Him. Deliver God's grace rather than searching for it all the time and you will see your wants diminish.

We spoke in the previous episode (Episode 266) about being intentional, or purposeful in how we live. Paul goes on to use a sharp word as the opposite of living with intention: foolishness. If we blow our life, living for ourself instead of being careful, and intentional in how we walk, we are foolish. Many people, myself included search for God's will for their life. We want to know if it's God's will that we take a particular job. 

Paul says we can avoid being foolish by understanding God's will. Have you ever struggled with that question? First, why is that important? We know that when something is created, the one who created it had a purpose. There was an intent. You were created for a reason. It sounds a little circular, but some of that reason is to have a relationship with God. He wants us to know him and understand him. Following what we do know is the first part of that purpose. 

Don't forget this is the last week to sign up for the Marketplace Mission Trip. This is a free 2-week exercise to practice living our faith full-time, in our regular daily life and circumstances. There's not cost to try it out. Learn more and sign up at www.MarketplaceMissionTrip.com.