Before I get started, please leave a review for my podcast on the app that you are using and share it on your social media with someone that you feel needs to hear this message today.

I wanted you to know that my book, Freedom to Ascend is on sale now on Amazon, so pick up your copy today!  https://a.co/d/8CziyhT

Lastly, if you have land that you feel compelled to donate for my future ministry of helping to heal others in their journey of life, please send me an email, which is provided in the show notes.  [email protected]

Let’s get started.  This message today is one of the main missions in my life, which is to serve God and spread the Good News.  

When I die and I meet God, He is going to ask me one question?  Did you do enough to help save souls for My Kingdom?

How am I going to answer that, with a definite Yes or well, sort of?

God gave me a voice, like John the Baptist and I am going to use my gift to honor Him by sharing the truth of His Love and Mercy.

So let’s get some stats to address the problem and then how can we fix it.

Most recently, Gallup found 81% of Americans expressing belief when asked the simple question, "Do you believe in God?" This was down from 87% in 2017 and a record low for this question first asked in 1944, when 96% believed. It reached a high of 98% in the 1950s and 1960s.

As the percentage of people who believe in God is declining, the rise in stress and anxiety is increasing.

Already at or near record highs in 2020, these experiences of stress, worry and sadness ticked upward in 2021 and set new records. Worry rose two points, while stress and sadness increased one point each. 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Why are more and more people not believing in God?  

A key factor in keeping young people from falling away from their faith is the influence of their parents. It’s as the Proverb says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). One particular study found that when both parents were faithful and active in the church, 93 percent of their children remained faithful. When just one parent was faithful, 73 percent of their children remained faithful. When neither parent was particularly active in church, only 53 percent of their children stayed faithful. In those instances where neither parent was active at all and only attended church now and then, the percentage dropped to a mere 6 percent.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These are two ways that we can bring pleasure to God- by worshiping Him and loving others. This is similar to what Jesus says the greatest commandment is in Matthew 22:36-40. He sums it up by telling us to love God and love others. We love God by worshiping Him and praising Him.

We love others by doing good to them and sharing with them.

Hebrews 13:16 tells us another way that we can please God: by loving others. When we love others, we are reflecting the love that God has for them. That is why it matters how we treat people.

Our actions are a reflection of how God has loved us. And since we've been loved by God, we ought to do good to those around us.

“In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

You can purchase my book here —------- https://a.co/d/8CziyhT

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

Kathy is a mother of two children, a pharmacist, a semi-pro cyclist for 35 years, and currently writing her first book from all of her adventures in life.  Kathy enjoys each gift given by God and truly believes in the message that the impossible is just an opinion.  She recently finished racing 450 miles in Cape Epic this past spring and it was the hardest race she has ever done.  Kathy continues to inspire everyone around her by pushing her boundaries by taking on challenging mountain bike courses to show all of the world the beauty of God’s creation and how taking on difficult tasks can be a game-changing experience for growth in your life.

Take-Aways from Kathy were:

How to contact Kathy: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathy.judson.3

Email: [email protected]

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

Phillipians 2:5:

Romans 12:2:

Having a strong mindset is important for several reasons:

1. Resilience: A strong mindset helps individuals bounce back from setbacks, challenges, and failures. It allows them to persevere and keep going despite obstacles, enabling them to overcome difficulties and achieve their goals.

2. Mental well-being: A strong mindset promotes positive mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and negative thinking. It helps individuals develop a more optimistic and hopeful outlook, leading to greater happiness and overall well-being.

3. Goal attainment: A strong mindset is essential for achieving success and reaching one's goals. It provides individuals with the determination, focus, and discipline needed to stay committed, work hard, and make necessary sacrifices to achieve their desired outcomes.

4. Confidence and self-belief: Having a strong mindset boosts self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-belief. It helps individuals trust their abilities, embrace challenges, and take risks, leading to increased personal growth and success.

5. Adaptability: A strong mindset enables individuals to adapt to changing circumstances and embrace new opportunities. It helps them remain open-minded, flexible, and willing to learn, allowing them to navigate uncertainty and thrive in different situations.

6. Leadership and influence: A strong mindset is crucial for effective leadership. It helps leaders inspire and motivate others, make tough decisions, and handle challenging situations with composure and clarity.

7. Emotional intelligence: A strong mindset enhances emotional intelligence, allowing individuals to better understand and manage their own emotions and those of others. It helps build better relationships, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively.

Overall, having a strong mindset is important as it contributes to personal growth, resilience, success, and overall well-being in various aspects of life.

If you are going through anything in life and need help in your career, relationships, faith, or fitness please contact me at my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or 

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

Laura Gray is a recently published author. Her children's book is titled, "The Swing on the Silver Star in the Royal Purple Sky: Adventures of the Little Girl Seeking her Lost Inner Light"

In 2015, as a result of her own childhood trauma, she created IPride, a self-esteem, empowerment program primarily for youth.

Whether in a classroom of middle school students or hiking with an adult looking for ways to break through during a life transition, Laura calls on her strong faith in God, professional training, and diverse life experiences to help them discover their power within and explore endless possibilities.  Ultimately working with them to become personally invested and responsible for their future and achieve optimal potential. 

This was a candid conversation to learn about her story and how you can use your past to paint your future.

If you are going through anything in life and need help in your career, relationships, faith, or fitness please contact me at my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or 

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

​

Your Awakening

TIME, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HABITS

“Time is The coin of your life. it is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” Carl Sandburg

A 2021 report by e-marketer estimated that the average daily time spent with digital media in the United States is around 8 hours per day for adults. 

IF YOU SPEND 4 HOURS A DAY ON YOUR SCREEN FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS YOU WILL HAVE LOST 

Mentor:

Talk about my experience with Gerard and the importance of having a mentor.

According to a survey conducted by Linkedin in 2018, professionals reported spending an average of $1,000 to $5,000 per year on professional development.

Why is it important to seek more knowledge:

So, HOW MUCH ARE YOU INVESTING IN YOURSELF EACH YEAR?  

HABITS: A study published in the Journal of clinical psychology in 2014 found that only 8% of people were successful in achieving their New Year's resolutions.

It’s essential to approach your new habits with a realistic mindset, focused on progress by having small wins rather than being perfect.

If you are going through anything in life and need help in your career, relationships, faith, or fitness please contact me at my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or 

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

Dear Megan,

I am grateful for your simplicity

I am grateful for the way you hold my head when you kiss me

I am grateful for YOUR LOVE for our family.

I am grateful for the HIGH STANDARDS you set in

EDUCATION for our kids and at school 

I am grateful for  YOUR COOKING SKILLS

I am grateful that you are a master cleaner in the kitchen as well

I am grateful for your organizational skills

I am grateful for how punctual you are at every event

I am grateful for driving our kids to multiple sporting events after a long day of work

I am grateful that you take care of our finances

I am grateful that you were conscious to make sure our kids are clean and bathed every day

I am grateful that you always have everything ready to go before we leave for a trip

I am grateful that you always bring snacks for the whole family in the car or wherever we are

I am grateful that you have a full-time position at school and at home

I am grateful that you do your nails instead of going to the store

I am grateful that you dye your hair instead of going to the salon

I am grateful that you choose TJ Maxx over the mall

I am grateful that your idea of a vacation is exploring and hiking with our family 

I am grateful that we go to church as a family

I am grateful to receive grace before dinner, even when kids are screaming at each other

I am grateful that you like to explore nature

I am grateful that you love the beach

I am grateful that you love to learn and read many books

I am grateful for how close you pay attention to the detail of dressing, our children because you know I’m not the best at making matches with tops and bottoms

I am grateful that you wake up in the middle of the night  to take care of our kids when they’re sick

I am grateful that you take care of me when I am sick, even if it may be a cold

I am grateful that you read to our children and your rocking chair

I am grateful for sitting on the front porch together, just reading a book or watching the neighbors walk by

I am grateful for you taking thousands of steps up and down the stairs to do laundry

I am grateful that you feed the birds and Watch your beautiful Cardinals greet you each morning.

I am grateful that you hold me accountable

I am grateful that you make me realize what’s most important in life

I am grateful that we work out together

I am grateful that you take care of your body well

I am grateful for just holding your hand. 

I am grateful to watch her kids snuggle in bed with you

I am grateful for each morning I rise. I thank God you are my life.

Megan, Happy 16th anniversary and if it wasn’t for you in my life I don’t know where I would be today. You have truly made me a blessed man by being by my side all the days that we have been together. Even though our relationship isn’t perfect, I always know that we will fight together to continue to make memories with our family and with each other.

Lastly, I am grateful that you said yes, on the day of our engagement and yes, on the day of our wedding.

You have been my rock, my friend, and the glue holding us and our family together.

I love you and I thank God each day for the past 20 years.  Happy Anniversary Babe!

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

Erin is a men's lifestyle and transformation coach. He is a man of faith, student of fitness, host of The High-Value Man Podcast, instructor and co-founder of The Modern Day Knight Project, a men's 75-hour personal development experience, and co-founder and instructor for The Squire Program, a father and son rite of passage. Erin is here on a mission to build better men.

Erin also preaches on four pillars of living a fulfilled life: Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances.  He also has a 10-year vision plan with a statement that he says a couple of times a day, which is “I will achieve a hundred million dollar business within the next 10 years by deploying the high-value man program and formula and serving 10,000 men on the mission to becoming the best versions of themselves.”

Take-Aways from Erin:

How to contact Erin: 

https://erinalejandrino.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefitbeard/#

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

In this episode, I have Eric Kienle back on after one year, this time as the champion of the last man standing at the Mid-State Mile. During this interview, we drilled deep into what Eric truly learned in the past four years from the Mid-State Mile and how it has not only made him a better ultra-runner but more importantly a better person. If you would like to learn more about Eric and his journey as a runner, go back to Episode #27 in my podcast.

Below is an excerpt that Eric wrote from his experience after winning the Mid-State Mile.

Follow Eric on Instagram: @erickienle

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

Gavin is a man of faith who strives to get better each day.

In this episode, you will learn from his early childhood of dyslexia to his father having a stroke and his wife's long battle with cancer. We began this conversation with our epic ultra-run in South Carolina to complete the most miles we have ever covered. Since this was the first time Gavin and I met, we talked about how important it is to surround yourself with the right people, why doing hard things helps you in life, and how to grow from these experiences.

5 Take-Aways from Gavin:

You can follow Gavin on Instagram at:

gavin_hannan121

You can follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgrdina04/or by going to my website at:  www.johngrdina.com

If you feel compelled to donate land for my future ministry, please email me at [email protected]

- Also please leave a review on the app you are using to listen to my episodes, as this helps grow the show!!!

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GEAR THAT I USE FOR RUNNING:

SHOES: NorthFace https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/mens/mens-footwear/mens-trail-run-c213281/mens-vectiv-infinite-2-shoes-pNF0A7W5M?color=FM9

Saucony Guide https://www.saucony.com/en/guide-15/

UNDERWEAR: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/  20% Discount- Code: truesupporter 

WATCH: Coros Pace 2 Watch https://coros.com/pace2

HEADLAMP: Fenix https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hl18r-t-rechargeable-headlamp

SOCKS: Xoskin https://www.xoskin.us/ and Bombas (running) https://bombas.com/collections/mens-performance-socks

ANTI-CHAFING: Salty Britches https://getsaltybritches.com/

40 Days of Deliverance will provide an opportunity for you to reflect, reset,

and restore your life. The areas that we will focus on are

your soul, body, and spirit. You will use proven strategies

of discipline and obedience to help build structure

and guidance during this journey. You will have an

accountability partner and the GROUP to support each

other during these next 40 days. This group will be a beacon

of hope, fellowship, and support during this journey. Your

sharing and encouragement will fuel the discussions on

WhatsApp, where constant communication will take

place.

Keep seeking the Lord and ask Him for guidance as to the mission, vision,

and goals that HE has in store for you. All of us have been

given gifts from above; it’s now a matter of how we use our

gifts in this world to give Him glory each day.

According to Paul, he stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:23

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you

through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and

body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ.”

Therefore, we will focus on these three main

areas (SOUL, BODY, and SPIRIT) during our journey so

we can strengthen them to spread the Good News and be

prepared to imitate Christ daily. In each area, there are

specific strategies and actions to take on a daily basis to

improve each of these areas.

If you are interested in joining a group,

please sign up at: johngrdina.com or email grdinajohn@

gmail.com