Mark sat down with a 26 year old former athlete to discuss what it was like when he stopped playing sports. 

Landon Wolf played football at Oklahoma State University. In this episode you will hear about why he was prepared for the end of his football career. 

In his story, you will hear about how a unique experience as a young teenager helped him to think about his life differently. 

If you are in the area, and would like to have a heart to heart conversation with Mark, reach out here: [email protected]

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In this episode Mark has an organic conversation with a former football player. Mark Means played football in high school, and then played semi-pro ball before coaching high school football for 20 years. 

You will hear the story of how it all ended, the struggled within himself, and how he found a new identity. 

If you were an athelete, and faced struggles when it ended, we would love to hear your story. Reach out through email: [email protected]

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Mark sat down with a good friend for an unplanned conversation. This conversation is centers around how to face personal weakness and live free. Everyone has weakness and problems. How do we live with a sense of freedom when our problems make us feel so messy?

Many people attempt to hide their problems behind successes. We hide out of fear of what people will say or do with us when they know the real us. We might hide while judging others for the problems they have. 

We all need relationships with people who see the real us, yet believe in us. 

If you would like to join Mark in a conversation in his office sometime, reach out at [email protected] 

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Mark sat down with a young man who had a question about how to find friendship. Listen in as Mark gives Mason, a 23 year old, some thoughts on where to find friendship. 

Here are three keys to finding friends:

1. Think about the kind of people you like. Where do they meet? 
2. Think about the activities you might like participating in and then find out where these activities are taking place. 
3. When you get an offer to do something with people, be ready to step out. 

If you would like to learn more about our work, go to https://markdelaney.com/

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In this episode Mark sat down with a friend for a conversation. As soon as the conversation started, Mark thought it would be worth recording. Mark and Adam Oglesbee talk with each other about parenting. They invite you to listen in. 

Here are some thoughts from the conversation:

• As parents when can overreact when we see things in our kids that remind us of our own struggles. 
• We must avoid the instinct to "parent ourselves out of our kids." Instead, we need to parent the me out of me. 
• The fatal tunnel occurs when we hyper-focus on a problem and miss the surrounding issues that we are responsible for.

Mark mentioned his book, "One Step to Freedom." Click here to purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Freedom-Leaving-Habit/dp/168573023X

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How do we make the most of our life?

1. Leave the Smeagol mindset!
   1. There is nothing but futility and frustration. Never enough money, never enough fame, never enough success
   2. We were not made to be containers who live our lives to consume. 
2. Realize that our life is a gift to be given
   1. We were made to be conduits through which love and gifts flow. 
   2. God gives gifts to the sower. We are sowers. All you have is a seed to be planted. 
3. If you want to find your life….lose it! 
   1. Give your time
   2. Give your love
   3. Give you money
   4. Give your talents
   5. Give your things
   6. Give the real you!!!!! 

To contact us, email: [email protected], [email protected]

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In this episode, Mark and Adena let the listener experience a conversation about Mark's birthday thoughts.

1. I’m done sitting at “the kiddie table.” Here is what I mean. At family gatherings the kiddie table is obviously for the kids. It’s not a bad table, but it’s not where the decision makers sit. Speaking metaphorically, sometimes I feel like I live at the kiddie table and wait for an adult to authorize me to make decisions. This mindset makes me live small. This mindset makes me look for someone who has authority to give me permission to do something. 

2. I am done trying to sit at “the adult table.” Here is what I mean. Let’s face it. We all like the kiddie table better than the adult table. Kids are free. As adults it’s easy to be fake. At the adult table we have accumulated grudges against some people, and agendas with other people. The real stuff is easier to find at the kiddie table. The innocence of children leads to more laughter and unguarded love. The adult table can be full of insecurities and posturing. 

3. I am done thinking about what table I am sitting at. I feel like I have spent so much of my life trying to find my spot at a table. As a kid in school I used to look around the cafeteria and wonder if I belonged anywhere. I wondered how everyone else seemed to have friends. I wondered why I didn’t. Ultimately, I’m done trying to fit in. It’s the wrong goal. 

4. I want to spend my life serving the tables. A life full of service is a life full of opportunity. There is nobody to impress…ever. There are only people to lovingly serve. 

5. I want to spend my life with the people who are serving the tables. Culture pressures us to get the best seat, at the best table, and get the best steak. I don’t judge those who fall into that trap, because we all have. But I want to spend my life around people who have exchanged that exhausting pursuit with the fulfillment of a life of serving

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This is a scary question to ask oneself. How do I make the most of my life?
In this episode, Mark shares three thougths.

1. See you life redemptively
2. Make the most of the people in your life
3. Know your purpose

If you would like to support our work, you can go here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

If you have a question that you would like to discuss with Mark or Adena, you can reach out to mark at [email protected] 

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Politics and parenting have some things in common:

Politicians have a belief in how our country should be led. 
Parents have a belief in how our children should be raised. 

Politicians can fight against their opponent at the expense of doing what is best for the people. 
Parents can fight against their spouse at the expense of doing what is best for the children. 

Here are a couple of resources for you:
https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict
https://courses.markdelaney.com/disciplining-your-children-with-confidence

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Mark and Adena finish their discussion about partnership.
In a partnership both people have to be able to give communication, and receive communication. Consider a customer service desk at a store. Without a customer service desk the store would not be able to exist.

Here is the link to the video course Mark mentioned called "How to be the Hero During Conflict." https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict

Here is the link to the free marriage assessment. Simply answer the questions and receive a quick response to see how you are doing. https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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