Greater Formation and Power Podcast

You may feel a bit worn at this time of year.  You may be tempted to try to coast for a while and simply hope that you will make it through the end of the year.  However, I want to encourage you to come alive at this time ... There is lots of life to be had, and there are people relying on you - whether they know it or not.

The next 6-8 weeks are very important for those in your spheres of influence.  They are in a mode of transition from 2021 to 2022.  They may be disheartened that some of what they hoped for in 2021 did not actually happen.  This may be a time cluttered with a lot of family activities and pressures, or it may highlight the lack of family connectedness for some.  For those in school, this is a time of ending the semester - tests and papers.  For people in business, it might be weighted by year-end goals or paperwork.  For nonprofits, it might include end-of-year fund-raising.  This is also a time where many emotional memories surface - some we are conscious of, some we are not, some have been healthily processed and some have not.  This is an intense time of year for many people around you.

In this podcast, I share thoughts on how to receive God's Spirit, walk in spaciousness, and serve your spheres of influence in the power of God.

One important way to serve is to "Pray Up" and "Pray Down."
Learning to "Pray Down" can be a game-changer!

ENJOY!

~ Coach Tom
.......

P.S. ... Whenever you are ready, particularly if you are in transition, here are three ways I can help you Get Clear, Get Focused and Be Fruitful!

1. Grab a Free Copy of my "4 Key Steps to Clarity and Fruitfulness" Document.  It's a Blueprint to help you move ahead.  Click Here

2. Join my FaceBook Group, "Greater Focus and Fruitfulness" for more teaching, training and community. Click Here

3. Work with me:
I can help you Clarify, Plan, and take Bold Steps into Your Future. Book a Free 45-Minute Strategy Session with me: Click Her 

I was very excited to do this interview because Rob is a good friend, not only so, I knew he would give a good interview ... and he did not dissappoint.

In this 2-part interview, we heard of the value of a generational family blessing.  We heard of spiritual growth influences and influencers in Rob's life - the importance of Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, Forgiveness, Intimacy with Christ, and the Power of Failure.

Rob described a time where he had to learn more about who he was - the good and the bad, and how that helped him to grow in self-awareness.

We heard of some spiritual encounters he's had that have helped him access the joy of the Lord.

And we landed on a powerful truth - that through "Reciprocity," we access true humility - that often leads to repentance and reconciliation.

Check it out!  And please leave likes and comments - and/or connect with us with questions or for more info.

~ Coach Tom
...........................

Rob Bashioum:
Rob and his wife Jess live in Salem Oregon with their four teenagers.  He is the Executive Director of Reach Training Institute and Pastor of Multiplication at Salem Alliance Church where he teaches and imparts the truth that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

• You can connect with Rob and learn more about what he's doing at
   https://www.salemalliance.org/

Andrea St. Louis is a highly intuitive Coach, Writer and Business Consultant with a passion for helping people to see themselves from God's perspective and to live in purpose. She is a wife, mother, and recent seminary graduate committed to teaching others to embrace authenticity and grace in sharing their stories, discovering their gifts, and embracing their place in the Kingdom.

• You can learn more about what Andrea is doing at:
  https://stepin2purpose.com/

.......................
You can connect with Coach Tom at:
https://greaterformation.com/
Email: [email protected]
.......

P.S. ... Whenever you are ready, particularly if you are in transition, here are three ways I can help you Get Clear, Get Focused and Be Fruitful!

1. Grab a Free Copy of my "4 Key Steps to Clarity and Fruitfulness" Document.  It's a Blueprint to help you move ahead.  Click Here

2. Join my FaceBook Group, "Greater Focus and Fruitfulness" for more teaching, training and community. Click Here

3. Work with me:
I can help you Clarify, Plan, and take Bold Steps into Your Future. Book a Free 45-Minute Strategy Session with me: Click Her 

I was very excited to do this interview because Rob is a good friend, not only so, I knew he would give a good interview ... and he did not dissappoint.

In this 2-part interview, we heard of the value of a generational family blessing.  We heard of spiritual growth influences and influencers in Rob's life - the importance of Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, Forgiveness, Intimacy with Christ, and the Power of Failure.

Rob described a time where he had to learn more about who he was - the good and the bad, and how that helped him to grow in self-awareness.

We heard of some spiritual encounters he's had that have helped him access the joy of the Lord.

And we landed on a powerful truth - that through "Reciprocity," we access true humility - that often leads to repentance and reconciliation.

Check it out!  And please leave likes and comments - and/or connect with us with questions or for more info.

~ Coach Tom
...........................

Rob Bashioum:
Rob and his wife Jess live in Salem Oregon with their four teenagers.  He is the Executive Director of Reach Training Institute and Pastor of Multiplication at Salem Alliance Church where he teaches and imparts the truth that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

• You can connect with Rob and learn more about what he's doing at
   https://www.salemalliance.org/

Andrea St. Louis is a highly intuitive Coach, Writer and Business Consultant with a passion for helping people to see themselves from God's perspective and to live in purpose. She is a wife, mother, and recent seminary graduate committed to teaching others to embrace authenticity and grace in sharing their stories, discovering their gifts, and embracing their place in the Kingdom.

• You can learn more about what Andrea is doing at:
  https://stepin2purpose.com/

.......................
You can connect with Coach Tom at:
https://greaterformation.com/
Email: [email protected]
.......

P.S. ... Whenever you are ready, particularly if you are in transition, here are three ways I can help you Get Clear, Get Focused and Be Fruitful!

1. Grab a Free Copy of my "4 Key Steps to Clarity and Fruitfulness" Document.  It's a Blueprint to help you move ahead.  Click Here

2. Join my FaceBook Group, "Greater Focus and Fruitfulness" for more teaching, training and community. Click Here

3. Work with me:
I can help you Clarify, Plan, and take Bold Steps into Your Future. Book a Free 45-Minute Strategy Session with me: Click Her 

FORGIVENESS - it's one of the most important spiritual-emotional-legal transactions in all of life!

It's a spiritual-legal transaction that has spiritual-relational implications.

Jesus made it clear that we need to be forgivers in order to receive the benefits of forgiveness.  (Matthew 6:14-15)

He also said that unforgiveness allows spiritual jailers to torment us. (Matthew 18:34-35)

Paul indicated that holding on to unforgiveness (and anger) can give the enemy a foothold (a place of influence) in our lives.

This is serious stuff!

So, this podcast focusses on how we can learn to concretely forgive - and bless others.  This will free us from unnecessary spiritual-emotional baggage, and enable us to be of benefit even to those who have harmed us.

Check it out, and let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

~ Coach Tom

[email protected]
..............................................

P.S. ... Whenever you are ready, particularly if you are in transition, here are three ways I can help you Get Clear, Get Focused and Be Fruitful!

1. Grab a Free Copy of my "4 Key Steps to Clarity and Fruitfulness" Document.  It's a Blueprint to help you move ahead.  Click Here

2. Join my FaceBook Group, "Greater Focus and Fruitfulness" for more teaching, training and community. Click Here

3. Work with me:
I can help you Clarify, Plan, and take Bold Steps into Your Future. Book a Free 45-Minute Strategy Session with me: Click Here

In this Podcast, Andrea St. Louis helps me interview David Wright.

We discuss David's experiences growing up in a Pentecostal Church that was full of young people, and the massive impact that Sister Ruby Henderson had on him.

David had a sense early in life of what God wanted, but he was not excited about the idea.  So, he ran (like Jonah) in a different direction - and became a successful lawyer.  One day, he surrendered the direction of his life to God - and that decision has steered the trajectory of all that he does.

In this podcast, we discuss some of the pains of ministry - and the need for real, tangible forgiveness.  Shallow forgiveness will simply not suffice.

We also discuss what Revival means, and how it can affect our present behavior.

Lastly, we touch upon a practice that David is finding most life-giving at this stage of his spiritual journey.

David Wright is an ordained, American Baptist Minister who serves as the assistant to the pastor at Peoples Baptist Church.

He also serves as the executive director for BMA TenPoint, Inc., a faith-based organization helping churches engage their communities.  He also teaches courses at Gordon-Conwell's Boston Campus (CUME - Center for Urban Ministerial Education). https://www.bmatenpoint.org/

Andrea St. Louis is a highly intuitive Coach, Writer and Business Consultant with a passion for helping people to see themselves from God's perspective and to live in purpose. She is a wife, mother, and recent seminary graduate committed to teaching others to embrace authenticity and grace in sharing their stories, discovering their gifts, and embracing their place in the Kingdom.

• You can learn more about what Andrea is doing at:
  https://stepin2purpose.com/

What does it mean to be a good human?

It relates to our identity as image-bearers of God.  We were created in the image of God.

Being in God's image points to our ability to connect with and commune with God.  We understand and receive our identity from being with God.  In that way we need to be Human Beings - humans, being with God.

We exercise our identities in God by exercising/expressing God's will/intent/perspective in our roles and life spheres.  We express our unique identities through our unique offerings to the world.  What do you have to offer the world? ... that is your unique Human doing.

To be a Good Human is to be a Human Being - with God and a Human Doing - through God's enablement and power.

At this point in your life, might God be encouraging you to grow on the Being or the Doing side?  We need both to be Good Humans!

~ Coach Tom

P.S. ... Whenever you are ready, particularly if you are in transition, here are two ways I can help you Get Clear, Get Focused and Be Fruitful!

1. Grab a Free Copy of my "4 Key Steps to Clarity and Fruitfulness" Document.  It's a Blueprint to help you move ahead.  Click Here

2. Work with me:
I can help you Clarify, Plan, and take Bold Steps into Your Future. Book a Free 45-Minute Strategy Session with me: Click Here

In this Podcast, Andrea St. Louis helps me interview Monica and Jeremy Chambers.

We discuss a burden for people in a post-Christian culture, whose hearts are often hardened to the church as we know it and do not find our common expressions of faith to be inviting.

Jeremy and Monica have given themselves to removing obstacles that are keeping people from tasting the love of God and experiencing intimacy with Him.  This involves a measure of intentionality and prayer, but no forcing or force-feeding.

We briefly consider the value and power of Micro-Churches.

We discuss burn-out and how a needed sabbatical saved, restored and changed both Jeremy and Monica.  And, we heard of some of their encounters with God - and practices they have found particularly spiritually helpful.

Jeremy and Monica have participated in launching disciple-making movements and networks of house churches in 35+ countries with a special heart for Richmond, VA. They also love rock climbing, chess, Costa Rica (where Monica is from), practicing MMA, hardcore metal, dubstep, and indoor plants. Prayer is of utmost importance in their lives. Jeremy has Masters degrees in both Intercultural Studies and Christian Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

• You can learn a little more about what they are doing at:
  http://www.ariserva.com/

Andrea St. Louis is a highly intuitive Coach, Writer and Business Consultant with a passion for helping people to see themselves from God's perspective and to live in purpose. She is a wife, mother, and recent seminary graduate, committed to teaching others to embrace authenticity and grace in sharing their stories, discovering their gifts, and embracing their place in the Kingdom.

• You can learn more about what Andrea is doing at:
  https://stepin2purpose.com/

When we see the needs around us that only God can meet, it can be overwhelming.  The needs in our families, friendships, neighborhoods, cities and nations are more than daunting.

It's important for us to remember that the life and power of God cannot be birthed through human effort.  It requires the miraculous work of God.  Whether we like it or not, we must be reliant on God's movement through us.

All authority has been given to Jesus, and He delegates that authority to us to accomplish God's will.  He GIVES US THE RIGHT to pray what He wants, to say what He wants and to do what He wants.

We can and must grow in this Kingdom authority to be effective in extending God's benefits to people.  This authority is rooted in our identity in Christ.  It is expanded through our intimacy with God.  And, it is activated through prayer, communication, and action that aligns with His purposes.

Listen in ... and apply what's shared in this podcast to grow in your spiritual authority in Christ.  God will us you and move through you to do miracles - and you grow in your spiritual authority.

~ Coach Tom

In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Dave Schmelzer. 

We discuss Dave's spiritual journey - from being somewhat antagonistic to Christians to becoming one himself.  We discussed Dave's unique love for the Bible, for learning, for the power of the Holy Spirit, and his evergrowing delight in developing a contemplative lifestyle.

We consider things like:
- Being Present
- Following Your Breath
- Drifting and Noticing
- Being Aware
- Being Still
- Connecting with God's Perspective

Dave served as lead pastor of a large and growing church in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a number of years.  He led through many stages of its development - and was particularly adept at connecting "non-religious people" with meaningful faith in Christ.

Dave and his wife - Grace - and their 5 children live in  Santa Monica, California.

Dave Schmelzer now hosts online groups focusing on contemplative spirituality for people spanning the United States and several countries beyond. He's published two books and podcasts at The Pocket Contemplative.

Here's a link to Dave's great podcast, The Pocket Contemplative.

There is a Puritan expression, "Action without Reflection is Meaningless Action."

What do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?

In this podcast, we delve into the value of Remembering and Reflecting.

I will share some simple practices that have been the most transformational in my own life over the last 30 years.

We will discuss the importance of a Sabbath Rhythm that includes Reflection, as well as how to meaningfully reflect on a daily basis.

The Daily Reflection is centered upon three words: Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow.

The concepts are simple ... the practice is powerful ... yet, it takes a while to do develop consistency.  

It starts with a simple plan.

Do you have a reflection plan in your life?
I'll help you get there.