Overcomers Overcoming

Aaron Shelley explains the meaning and application of momentum and values to families and businesses. He and his friends always seemed to be primed for success. He grew up in a suburban neighborhood with ten boys who became his friends. They went to the same church and schools while also participating in the same scout troop. He played sports in the street almost every day. He regularly played video games and board games together. Each family had about the same amount of money and had two parents at home. He and his friends were living the American middle-class lifestyle. After high school, each went their separate ways. He learned his best friend's parents divorced two years after high school. As he grew older, he went to college, got married, got an engineering and business degree, had four kids, and started a business. One friend became a lawyer, got married, and then got divorced. One had six kids, serious health issues, and worked a blue-collar job for a logistics company. One started his own construction company and had four kids. And one was sentenced to life without parole for the rape and attempted murder of a twenty-year-old woman. How can lifestyles be so different when they seem to be the same?

Ron and Marty discuss their life experience and marriage of trust. Some people immediately trust others, while others "cogitate" over trust in relationships. It is a matter of personality in combination with life perspective and experiences, and trust is essential in a connected relationship and being an effective leader. An organization's people feel comfortable knowing they can trust their leaders. Dating and marriage can last when you know you can trust your mate. So, how can you know if you can trust a potential mate? Ron and Marty have a digital relationship course grounded in their marriage journey that began 7 September 1968. It is fulfilling. However, we know the best is yet to come.

Jon Katz has a story of overcoming a horrendous breakup after his fiancée identified herself as a lesbian. The breakup drove him to temporary pleasure-seeking, catalyzing him to turn his life around after intense pain. He became obese and experienced an apartment fire on August 1, 2022. This was a massive blessing in disguise--by stripping me of "everything." He learned, with the proper perspective, nothing of value can ever be taken from us. What is truly valuable are our internal assets. Accordingly, he decided to change the past and make a new future. Since getting healthy, he established a citywide food rescue program to feed thousands of families a week. The greatest high comes from helping others to absolve their pain - the same pain I managed to absolve myself. This is his life's mission, calling, and purpose. You can learn more about Jon at www.nycfoodways.com and https://www.instagram.com/nycfoodways/.

Clay Boatright lost his wife of 35 years to ovarian cancer, and his two daughters were born non-verbal with special intellectual and physical needs. How can we overcome life's traumas that seem insurmountable? Clay has learned through life experience if God is involved, everything can be an opportunity. Does God cause events or allow them to happen in the life of those who can endure the trial? Over the years, Clay developed a deep understanding of the disability industrial complex and served on various health and education advisory committees, including Board President for both The Arc of Dallas and The Arc of Texas. In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Clay to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Washington, DC. In 2013, he was appointed Founding Chairman of Texas Health & Human Services' IDD System Redesign Advisory Committee, which he held for six years. Clay writes about his life experience and dedication to God in his book "God's Plan – Our Circus," available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Erin Clements continues her life story of marriage betrayal and her recovery. Her emotional recovery required about six months of healing. During that time, she hoped she could share with and garner empathy from those inside her church. She was uncertain if she could share her innermost feelings within her church for fear of judgment or ridicule. She felt the emotional support she needed came more from outside the church than inside. She explains many of the emotions she experienced during this life trauma recovery period.

The U.S. Army investigated LTC Jason G. Pike, arrested him, and tried to break him. He is A Soldier Against All Odds. Diagnosed at age seven with an acute learning disability and failing first grade that year, Jason was sent back to repeat it. At age nine, he was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a crippling bone disease dissolving the bone of his knee that added to his academic challenges and a significant physical disadvantage.With more than three decades of national guard and active service, after starting his military career at seventeen and retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was told that none of it would be possible. For that advice, there were indeed excellent grounds. His story, therefore, is one of survival, perseverance, and a refusal to quit, no matter what, a characteristic gifted to him by his father. His book, "A Soldier Against All Odds," is on Amazon.

Christel Owoo went to Ghana to do research. She left the Netherlands as an atheist and returned to Holland as a believer in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. God, the Holy Spirit, works in the lives of all people – even atheists. It is a matter of if and how we respond to His leading. God led Christel to have an encounter with several God-believing people in Ghana. Through those encounters, she knew the God of the Bible existed. You can learn more about Christel at www.christelowoo.com and through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/christel.owoo.

Erin Clements continues her life learning experience by describing her emotions, including, "Why me, Lord?" We might wonder if we deserve something as devastating as we are experiencing because of something we did. Erin experienced many of these emotions. However, after reckoning with our Lord, she knew her life experience could be a learning opportunity and possibly even a ministry to others. She is at the point of getting beyond the initial emotions to where she can now learn from her past and advance herself and others through her evaluated life experience. God is the strength in her life to overcome any challenge. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4)

Mary Henderson transitioned from a seven-figure business she founded to her current coaching business. From her life experience, she coaches and inspires others to make life decisions that might seem very difficult to make. Some people are facing life transitions by choice or chance, possibly resulting from the COVID pandemic, and life change might be most difficult for those who need life stability. However, fulfillment can motivate the difference for a better life that is yet to come. You can learn about Mary at www.maryhendersoncoaching.com or on LinkedIn.

Erin Clements continues her life-evaluated testimony by sharing statements that sometimes trigger emotions that dominate our current thinking. Comments that are meant to encourage others can be processed negatively. We do not know why we think and feel the way we do until we assess our life and statements that impact our thinking. Too often, we make impulsive statements with negative connotations that stay with the person we speak to for a long time. Through coaching and counseling, we can overcome low confidence and self-images resulting from these statements.