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What happens when you disconnect from the digital world for a year? This happened to Ciara Laine Myers, award-winning entrepreneur and author of the book, "Glasses Off: Seeking God When Your Vision Is Gone." Imagine the courage it takes to step back from your digital presence, not for a digital detox, but a spiritual one. Join us as we have a powerful conversation with Ciara about her year-long journey of faith and discovery.

Through her book, Ciara shares how that period of disconnection allowed her to discern God's voice better, and in the process, she discovered and embraced a new vision for her life. But it wasn't easy. Ciara recounts a pivotal moment when, in a fit of frustration and anger, she received the title of her book during prayer. Ciara takes us through an exploration of the Bible beyond the pure gathering of information, the importance of daily communion with God, and how being a visionary differs from being a dreamer. Learn from Ciara's seven practical steps on how to embrace and fulfill God's vision for your life.

Ciara's desire to provide value for others led her on a transformative path, and she shares this and more, including her journey into public speaking, with us. With Ciara's journey as a guide, discover how you too can unlock the power of pursuing God's vision for your life.

Order book from Amazon

Connect with Ciara:

Website: https://www.ciaralainemyers.com/

Monthly Newsletter: https://ciaralainemyers.substack.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.pt/ciaralainemyers/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaralainemyers/

Counseling Services: https://intentional-counseling.com

Counseling YouTube Channel (featuring Paul Myers): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQBREwLFoj0BS0Ta0YT0PHA

Ciara's personal blog:  https://veiledfree.com/

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This episode of the Pivotal People podcast is a riveting journey of faith and resilience featuring our special guest, Nick Nilson. Nick's story is one that takes us from his small hometown in Wisconsin to his remarkable transformation into an Associate Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston with pastor Joel Osteen , serving a congregation of 30 to 40,000 people weekly.  Nick's life is a testament to the healing power of faith and the potential each one of us has in our  lives.

Nick's new book has made the USA Today Bestseller list and it's a great read. It's title is based on Nick's personal experience: "You Can Live the Dream: Trading Disappointment and Discontentment for Peace, Joy and Fulfillment,"

Diving into the heart of his narrative, Nick shares the profound shift from his football dreams to becoming an influential pastor. He underscores the importance of having faith even in the face of adversity. His powerful message of hope encourages listeners not to resist the challenges life throws at them. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of seeing these closed doors as opportunities for greater things. Nick's inspiring words are a beacon of light that guides us towards finding our own purpose amidst the chaos.

In the latter part of our conversation, Nick speaks about the undeniable power of serving others. He believes that each one of us has been given influence and it's our prerogative on how to use it. Nick encourages us to use this influence to uplift others and spread positivity. He also underscores the significance of community outreach, and the role we all can play in making a difference. Join us for this episode, filled with insights that will make you reflect on your life, your struggles and the incredible potential you hold to make a difference.

Connect with Nick at https://www.nicknilson.com/

You can order his book from Amazon HERE

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We're inviting you to journey with us, alongside our guest Rebecca Rothman, director of donor relations at Faith Bridge Foster Care, as she unpacks her incredibly inspiring life story. Abandoned at birth, adopted, and now a beacon of hope in the foster care system, Rebecca's tale is not one to miss. Through sharing her personal experience, she illuminates the hardships and triumphs of fostering and adoption, and how they shaped her faith and purpose in life. Her upcoming book, "Abandoned for God", promises to be an intimate chronicle of her journey to healing and finding her divine calling.

The second part of our discussion takes a deeper look into the pressing issues and challenges within the foster care system. With her first-hand insight, Rebecca paints a vivid picture of the potential trauma children in the system face and how we can actively contribute to changing their lives for the better. We conclude this enlightening conversation by delving into Faith Bridge Foster Care's innovative programs and introducing their newest initiative — the Youth Opportunities Program. A must-listen episode filled with touching stories, life-changing insights, and how you can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Let's embark on this journey together.

Contact Rebecca here:
https://faithbridgefostercare.org/

https://www.instagram.com/rtrinklerothman/

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Can leadership truly be found within each of us? Let's uncover the answer in our engaging conversation with Tim Lupinacci, the CEO and Chair of the Baker Donelson law firm, one of the largest firms in the country. Not just a successful business leader, Tim is a self-proclaimed leadership junkie, actively transforming his car into a leadership university and practicing 'dinner table diplomacy' to better understand and inspire those around him. As the founder of the nonprofit Everybody Leads, he's dedicated to fostering leadership skills and confidence in underserved communities. 

Our discussion with Tim Lupinacci takes you on a journey exploring the power of words and mindful communication, from impactful quotes to a simple phrase from his nephew that holds immense significance. He shares with us how one sentence altered his career path, reinforcing how words can shape our lives. As we delve deeper into his leadership journey, we explore how he invests in relationships, practices active listening, and creates a conducive environment for ideas and feedback in his firm. Here's an episode that reminds us that leadership is not confined to titles or roles but is a potential within us all. So, let's tune in and uncover the leader in each of us!

Connect with Tim for more information:
CEO of Baker Donelson law firm: https://www.bakerdonelson.com/

Founder of nonprofit "Everybody Leads":  https://everybodyleads.org/

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Amanda Opelt, author of "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness and the Myth of the Blessed Life"  invites readers to challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God. Amanda examines some of the historic, religious, and cultural influences that led to the idolization of positive feelings and the marginalization of negative feelings.  

Amanda acknowledges the value of pursuing happiness but advocates for embracing a broader range of emotions within the Christian experience. She urges for the normalization of feelings like sadness, anger, grief and disappointment, highlighting their potential for growth in your faith journey. 

Amanda is available for interviews and can speak on how to find holiness in the midst of unhappiness and uncomfortable emotions, how being blessed is often misunderstood or misinterpreted or the importance of normalizing feelings such as sadness, anger, grief, and disappointment is a part of the Christian experience.

Learn more  and Order from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Unhappiness-Goodness-Myth-Blessed/dp/1546001921/ref=sr_1_1?

Connect with Amanda:
https://amandaheldopelt.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amandaheldopelt/

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Chris Beth is the Executive Director of The Bucket Ministry. It is an innovative and practical approach to providing clean water to impoverished communities in developing countries, while ministering to residents to share Christ's love. 

I am fascinated with Chris' story, the technology he uses, and am touched by his sincere love for this cause. I will be a supporter of his ministry after meeting him and learning about his exciting organization.  

Their website www.thebucketministry.org describes their appproach:
"We share God’s love through the gift of clean, safe, drinking water. We provide under-resourced communities around the world with long-lasting water filters, forge and nurture new relationships with Jesus Christ, and inspire systemic, Christ-centered change through discipleship training."

Chris started this ministry after a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his daughter.  His personal story is inspiring and encouraging, and motivates the rest of us to help in very simple ways.

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In this episode of the Pivotal People Podcast, we welcome Mark Bannon, an author, speaker, and professional coach, to discuss his upcoming memoir titled "The Boy From the Cave: From Hopelessness to Purpose." Mark shares his personal story of growing up in poverty and the challenges he faced as a result of his difficult childhood. Despite the hardships, Mark developed a strong work ethic and achieved great success in his professional life. However, he realized that he was running from his past traumas and sought to find purpose and meaning in his life.

We discuss Mark's journey of self-discovery, including his exploration of spirituality and his pursuit of various Eastern philosophies. Ultimately, Mark finds his way to Christianity through an unexpected encounter with a coworker from India who radiated peace. He begins reading the Bible daily and emphasizes the transformative power of connecting with God through scripture.

Our conversation delves into the importance of mental health and finding balance in life. Mark advises his younger self and listeners to face their traumas, take time for self-care, and be mindful of what they ingest mentally and emotionally. He emphasizes the significance of reading the Bible and encourages readers to seek their own understanding of faith rather than relying solely on interpretations from others or organized religion.

Today Mark is helping clients as a life coach, executive business coach and a speaker. You can connect with him at MarkABannon.com and on Instagram @markabannon .

His book comes out in August 2023 and is available to pre-order in June.
Learn more here and get a FREE download of the first 3 chapters of the book: https://markabannon.com/

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I had the privilege to discuss the documentary "The New Abolitionists" with director and producer Christina Zorich. She shared her perspective on the documentary's topic of human trafficking in Southeast Asia as well as other parts of the world. As she sheds light on the topic, she also provided encouragement on how the rest of us can  help in easy and practical ways. I know you will find her conversation as inspiring and encouraging as I did, particularly in light of how challenging this issue is.

THE NEW ABOLITIONISTS, was directed by Christina Zorich and produced by Zorich, Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis, and Susannah Julien Barnes, and features the participation of Olympia Dukakis, Christina Zorich, Eng Veng, Annie Dieselberg, Daniel Vaupel, and Andrea Aasen. 

Three NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations) are featured in the documentary. These organizations are nobly dedicating their lives to battling human sex trafficking with inspiring results everyday.

Film Festival awards include Los Angeles Film Awards (2020) LAFA August Award, Best Inspirational Film; Bridge Fest, Vancouver (2020) Grand Prize, Best Documentary; Hollywood Verge Film Awards (2020) Winter Award, Best Documentary Feature; Manhattan Film Festival (2021) Film Heals Award, Documentary Feature.  

THE NEW ABOLITIONISTS is a must-watch film for all who desire to learn more about this devastating crime and those who are bravely fighting against it.

You can find more information and links to watch the film here:
https://thenewabolitionistsdoc.com/
Find more in Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thenewabolitionists/
https://www.facebook.com/TheNewAbolitionists/

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Beverly Harzog is a nationally recognized credit card expert and consumer finance analyst for U.S. News & World Report. She's also the bestselling and award-winning author of five personal finance books. You can read her columns and see her US News interviews and videos here.

Her expert advice has been featured in thousands of media outlets, including TV, radio, print, and major websites. She’s appeared on Fox News, CNN Newsource, NBC New York, NY1, ABC New York, NBC NY, ABC News Radio, Bloomberg Radio, and more.

In this conversation, we discuss how people can improve their credit scores to help get lower interest rates on major purchases. We also discuss how to stay out of debt and be prepared for unexpected expenses. I've found Beverly's finance columns to be very helpful and practical. Check them out here:
https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/experts/beverly-harzog#bucket5

Get in touch with Beverly:
https://www.beverlyharzog.com/
https://www.instagram.com/beverlyharzog/
https://www.facebook.com/CreditJunkie/

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Between Mercy and Me will be available nationwide, on June 20 for one night only, through Fathom Events. Spring boarding from the Juneteenth holiday, the film is set to challenge societal norms and spark honest and raw conversations around sensitive topics including race, gentrification, interracial dating within the evangelical church and beyond. Between Mercy and Me is a must-watch film for all who desire to learn more about having honest, authentic, and more meaningful conversations about race, and the impact of racial divisions within the church. 

Find a theater near you to see the movie June 20th here: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Between-Mercy-and-Me

The film was written and directed by Craig Lamar Brown and is based on some of his own experiences experiencing racism and microaggressions – with the police and with other Christians. It stars Andrea Summer and David J Driskill, and Andrea also co-wrote the screenplay and the original music featured through the film.

View the 2 minute trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrZHui76HXo

Synopsis: The film centers around Hugo, a talented musician and worship leader in a Cincinnati community grappling with the impact of gentrification and tragedy. When his pastor challenges him to produce more inspirational music for the congregation, Hugo struggles with writer's block. In his search for inspiration, he meets Mercy, a jubilant and outgoing fellow musician, at a neighborhood coffee shop. As they join forces in their songwriting efforts, their relationship blossoms romantically, but they soon face challenges from friends, family, and their own communities. Determined not to let hard conversations or tension tear them apart, Hugo and Mercy set out to create space for honest conversations and work toward unification in their community. They courageously challenge biases, both seen and unseen, often left unspoken. However, one fateful evening, their relationship is rocked by a routine traffic stop that forces them to confront their own internal narratives and beliefs. Will they choose to embrace vulnerability with each other or let their relationship crumble under the weight of biases they worked so hard to overcome?

Find "Between Mercy & Me" at your local theater on June 20th.

Contact Craig Brown at https://www.instagram.com/craiglamarbrown/

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