Your Biggest Breakthrough

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

"You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

Are you in good company?

Punky Tolson made a promise when she was in high school. She had just become a Christian, and was full of high hopes of serving Jesus for the rest of her life.

Then she went to college - and promptly fell away from the faith, not to mention the promise she had made a few short years earlier.

She sought love, comfort, acceptance in the company of man after man after man - sometimes with no regard for the relationship status of the man she was with.

In one case, her presence most definitely put her man's status to "It's complicated."

"But I was helping him find happiness, he was in a bad marriage," she told herself.

The rationalization hamster just keeps on spinning, doesn't it? It spins one' reality distortion into absolute truth if you let it.

Why did this happen? Where were the friends who saw what was going on? Why didn't they intervene, try to make her see the error of her ways?

The company we keep defines who we are. When Punky began hanging out with people who meant business with their walk with God, she began making better decisions. Now she and her husband minister to those who are walking the path they've walked, in hopes others will stand strong in their faith.

In this episode, you'll hear:

-Why giving up is the best place to be...04:45

-How Punky got to the end of herself...11:35

-How Punky dealt with her breast cancer diagnoses...17:30

-Disciple-making and Punky's mission to help women...25:45

-What most people don't know about Punky...29:45

Resources mentioned:

punkytolson.com

(You can find her Life on Life podcast on her website)

John Piper

Call to action:

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

We can't believe it's our 33rd episode!

Good things happen in 3's.

For example, Jesus walked the Earth for 33 years.

While we've never interviewed Jesus (at least not for a podcast), we have had some doozies for interviews with people who follow Him.

In this episode, we're going to take you through some of our favorite highlights and takeaways from breakthroughs over the past 32 episodes.

And here's to many blessings and breakthroughs to come!

In this episode, you'll hear:

-How a top Mary Kay sales rep learned to confront cancer through joy, positivity and laughter and how you can overcome your own challenges ...03:40

• Episode 26 with Dawn Barton

-How a recovering perfectionist overcame his fear, wrote several books and won the National Quirky Person of the Year Award ... 10:45

• Episode 11 with Brant Hansen
• Book: Unoffendable
• Book: Blessed are the Misfits
• Book: The Truth About Us

-How a good Texan woman rewired her mind and used gratitude to override negativity and how you can do the same with a simple shit ...18:00

• Episode 12 with Karol Ladd
• Positive Life Principles
• Engage Positive Parenting Initiative

-A tech genius shares how you can balance your internet and social media usage and what happens if you don't ... 27:45

• Episode 18 with Micah Mitlyng

Call to action:

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Assembling words goes way back for Jon Edward Fugler. Growing up in Upstate New York, his first writing effort was to publish a neighborhood newspaper — which lasted one issue. In middle school, Jon printed and distributed a newsletter to his classmates and teachers reporting on his board game baseball league.

In 1973, Jon came to know Christ after hearing a college football coach speak on how to be born again. This event would change the course of his life and writing.

He spent over 30 years in Christian radio, turning out script after script, beginning as the radio writer for Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. From there, he wrote scores of scripts that would impact the hearts of radio listeners across the country.

Jon’s writing extended into print when, for a decade, he published the Christian Times newspaper, connecting believers with what God was doing in their community.

Journaling has been Jon’s habit for over four decades. He sometimes looks back on those writings to inspire him for his current works. His conversational style connects with readers on a personal level. Writing from his heart, he hopes readers’ lives will be different through their relationship with Jesus Christ.

“It’s not about performing for Jesus,” says Jon. “It’s about living with Jesus.”

He was influenced by author Skye Jethani, who teaches that life over, under or for God leads to defeat. Life withGod is what every person desires. Jon sensed that developing a habit of doing life with God was missing for believers. That’s what inspired him to write his devotional series, starting with Life with God: 30 Days of Joy.

“I feel that if someone can immerse themselves in one aspect of the Christian life for 30 days, it will change them,” says Jon. “This series is not about behavior. It’s all about relationship. The reader’s relationship with God. Growth happens when a person lets God flood their life.”

Jon’s passion is that every person on earth has access to the gospel. He is active today in media ministry to the world. He and his wife live in North Carolina. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

-How Jon came to faith at the age of 16...4:40

-The hard-charging high achiever for God hits a brick wall...8:25

-Embracing a mindset of "missionalism"...10:25

-What does it mean to really know Christ personally?...14:15

-Signs that our intimacy w/ God is waning...16:20

-Developing a relationship with God that supersedes a high performance mentality...21:15

-Love is spelled T.I.M.E...25:25

-How to cultivate fresh faith in God...27:45

-We won't truly pursue God until this happens...30:20

Resources mentioned:

-Fresh Faith 24/7, Jon's website

-Radical by David Platt

-With: Reimagining How You Relate to God by Skye Jethani

-Philippians 3:8-10

-James 1:22

-John 15

Call to action:

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Have you ever found it hard to forgive someone for doing something so unforgivable?

"I don't know man, there are some sins that just can't be forgiven."

That's no doubt something you've said, thought, or heard someone else say. Maybe you feel there are certain sins that are so awful, the person who commits them can't be forgiven, or certainly doesn't deserve forgiveness.

Our guest on today's episode was not a witness to such sins that may be deemed "unforgivable." She was the victim of it.

Brenda Crouch suffered traumatic abuse at the hands of someone very close to her as a child. The person she should have been able to trust most became the source of her deepest pain.

This person was fighting demons from his own past, and it caused massive failure and abuse. Brenda suppressed these memories, however they came back to her in the form of dreams and visions that were so real she knew they couldn't be just her imagination.

She coped with this trauma by seeking approval of her looks, her physical appearance. She finally realized that God simply loves what's inside her, not outside.

By understanding God's true grace, having this intimacy with God, she was able to extend genuine forgiveness to the one who had hurt her the most.

In this interview with Brenda Crouch, you'll hear:

-There are no shortcuts to healing...04:15

-How Brenda's self-identity went south as a child...09:10

-Trauma suffered as a child leads to trauma as an adult..13:15

-Breaking free from anger and victimhood, a form of idolatry...17:32

-Our enemy seeks to kill and destroy those made in God's image...19:45

-Learning a healthy way of dealing with self-hatred...21:30

-Forgiving, and leading to self-forgiveness, the abuser on his death bed...25:10

-Take advantage of the opportunity to show God's grace by forgiving others...31:00

-Perfectionism is your enemy...35:45

-One thing about Brenda no one has known until now...40:20

-How to receive a FREE signed copy of Brenda's book...43:45

Resources mentioned:

Fight Forward: Reclaim the Real You by Brenda Crouch

Call to action:

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

"She'd give the twelve apostles a run for their money."

This was spoken in reference to the mother of Shawn and Brian Chrisagis, who absolutely refused to accept that her twin boys, born three months premature, and deathly allergic to even small amounts of sunlight, would not be given every opportunity to survive.

The Brothers Chrisagis did indeed survive their childhood, which was lived in constant fear of death. Family members made tremendous sacrifices so that they could be properly cared for.

Surviving this ordeal gave Brian and Shawn confidence and faith in God and His Word that inspires thousands through their entertainment-based ministry.

As they say, "Without the brokenness, you can't become like Christ."

Their ministry has delighted audiences all over the world, and has opened doors to minister to heavyweights in the entertainment industry. Their message to us is that you don't need to be a megastar to be a witness for Jesus. You just need faith through your trials and brokenness to move others to Him.

In our conversation with the Chrisagis Brothers, you'll hear:

-Bubble babies: narrowly escaping death as infants...4:35

-Mom refuses to accept a seemingly certain fate for her children...9:20

-Finally allowed exposure to sunlight and windows...14:20

-What family life was like with two babies in need of constant intensive care...18:25

-Identify your children with the word of God, not their interests, personality, etc...24:25

-Restoring legends of the entertainment industry...30:35

-Me, myself, and I: What's preventing Christians from making an impact in this world...35:45

-Social media a catalyst to hyper-narcissism and a perversion of truth...39:35

-The blessings of remaining single...43:30

-Close encounters with law enforcement in rabbit and Santa Claus outfits...47:30

Resources mentioned:

-Chrisagis Brothers website

-YouTube channel

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Welcome to the show!

We had the idea to name our podcast Your Biggest Breakthrough because in speaking with people in our respective niches - Todd coaching men and Wendie coaching women and men in the Visibly Fit program - we kept hearing about how small victories in seemingly insignificant parts of people's lives led to major breakthroughs.

Breakthroughs in relationships, careers, physical appearance, health, the list goes on and on.

The truth is, it's those small wins that often lead to our biggest "breakthrough".

The Grand Canyon wasn't formed with a huge "breakthrough". It happened over a very long period of time. And so it goes in our lives.

In this shorter-than-usual episode, Todd and Wendie both share experiences in their own business endeavors where their own faith was tested.

There were no claps of thunder, nor bolts of lightning when their breakthroughs occurred.

Only peace and joy as they quietly submitted their own will to God.

In this episode, you'll hear:

-A small breakthrough regarding perspective in Wendie's business...2:30

-Understanding what is real and not real in our priorities...6:10

-3 areas in which total honesty are required...8:40

-Todd's burnout w/ his own business...11:00

-"The business has never been 'mine' in the first place"...13:30

-A standing invitation to find rest in the Lord...17:05

-The process of surrender is different for everyone...18:30

Call to action:

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Cancel Culture. It's the buzzword of the age.

Cancel everyone who's not in line with the consensus of The Mob.

Cancel Christmas.

Cancel 2020.

Cancel the divorce.

Wait, what? Cancel the divorce? Why, divorce should be the first option when a couple experiences difficulty in their marriage. At least that's how worldly minded people think.

Chuck Knapp, our guest on this episode, says that the Cancel Culture, while real and problematic in the here and now, is actually advantageous for the Gospel. It just makes God and His word more real to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

As a radio personality in both the Christian and secular realms, Chuck has long had a deep love for God and a desire to have the fruits of the Spirit manifest in his life. While not the personification of perfection, he's found the means to return to God and His word has allowed him to remain faithful.

In fact, he and his wife even cancelled their pending divorce as they both dove deep into the Scriptures, and the truth contained in them, and allowed them to be real in their life and marriage.

That's a Cancel Culture we most definitely approve of!

In our conversation with Chuck, you'll hear:

-How Chuck got interested in the afterlife...03:15

-Pushing the boundaries of what could be said on the air while remaining clean...07:30

-Why Chuck chose unemployment over a lifetime job offer in radio...11:45

-Why it was so easy to let loose in an environment that was known for its predictability...18:30

-Leaving radio ministry to pursue the desires of the flesh...22:30

-The dangers of forsaking the armor of God...29:15

-The process of restoration of the soul...33:30

-Why Chuck and his wife cancelled their divorce...36:15

-Chuck's wife Cheryl shares her perspective on the cancelled divorce...40:30

Resources mentioned:

Book: Undefeated Innocence by Chuck's wife, Cheryl

Book: Created for Connection

The Rhythmic Community course offered by Chuck's home church

Bill Scott shares a deeply intimate story of how he erred in his thinking, and allowed his pride, not to mention a deep hurt not fully processed, to cause him to stray from what he knew was the right way to walk.

Bill reveals the exact moment he chose to forsake his conscience and give in to a deceptive mindset. His skewed rationale prevented him from heeding the sound counsel he received to change direction and avoid certain consequences.

The beauty of Bill's story is not just one of restoration but also how you can offer hope and comfort to others who are hurting.

We're grateful for Bill being willing to share his story, and we do so in hopes our listeners will perhaps be swayed in the right direction when they are on the edge of a slippery slope of compromise. With loving support and a commitment to make things right, restoration can be the outcome.

Ultimately, the comfort we seek in the wrong things is what we truly seek in Christ - and following Him will give us the true joy and the healing we seek.

In our conversation with Bill, you'll hear:

-Bill's history in Christian fundraising ministry...05:22

-Beware the slippery slope of compromise...07:30

-The root cause of "all of a sudden" making a tragic decision...10:00

-Dealing with giving up The Truth while working in ministry...12:00

-Why we ignore sound counsel when we're in the wrong...16:05

-How to lovingly confront someone who's living in error...17:10

-How to seek and find accountability...19:25

-The restoration journey...23:50

-The end result of being humbled by a loving God...29:05

-The biggest influencers in Bill's life...31:55

-What is one thing about Bill that no one else knows...34:04

About Bill:

Bill Scott has been fundraising for 35 years with non-profit organizations, having hosted, consulted and coached over 500 fundraisers in nearly every state in the U.S. plus internationally in the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Egypt. He has helped raise over $250 million in revenue.

Over his 37-year career in radio, Bill has been involved participating in and lau8nching successful media ministries such as Dawson McAllister Live, as well as running his own syndicated radio ministry, ZJAM Youth Ministries.

Bill is also a certified life coach in the area of leadership, executive, and stress management coaching.

He has written three books:

• The Rock Your World devotional for teenagers
• Red Tears, a book about self-harm and
• The Day Satan Called

Find out exactly what stands between you and your biggest breakthrough and how you can achieve your next level of living.

Get your FREE 12-page starter kit now!

What is an "ugly cry"? Well, there's crying, either with joy or sorrow - and then there's crying so that you're just plain ugly. The make-up (if you use it) is streaking, you're bawling uncontrollable. It's messy any way you look at it.

Dawn Barton has had plenty of occasions to cry the ugly cry. Loss of an infant child, with a subsequent divorce, then later getting breast cancer forcing her to lose much of the traits she valued, without which she felt a shell of herself.

Dawn had to wrestle with feelings of anger toward her maker, not to mention inadequacy and feeling just plain ugly, whether she was crying or not. She realized that joy isn't a feeling, it's a focus. When she focused on being joyful, she saw things with a different perspective. That which made her feel ugly was reason to be grateful for her life.

Now she shares her story with audiences all over, including those lucky enough to catch this episode of our show!

In our conversation with Dawn, you'll hear:

-Joy is a focus before a feeling...5:05

-God can handle us being angry with him...6:45

-Dawn's marriage couldn't survive tragedy...10:30

-Advice for people to fix their anger problem with God...12:45

-Dealing with breast cancer...14:30

-Good and bad advice...17:30

-Leaving a lucrative career to write a book...20:00

-Who's Lucky, and why did Dawn hate it?...26:30

-Why people feels sorry for people who have never dealt with tragedy...32:45

-3 things on Dawn's "Joy List"...35:55

-One thing that prevents people from choosing joy...38:05

About Dawn, who you can find at dawnbarton.com

A multibillion-dollar direct sales company put Dawn on their Times Square billboard in the summer of 2018. In Dawn's thirty years of sales and marketing, she has been a top producer at every company she's worked for. Most recently, she was the #7 Sales Director in Mary Kay Cosmetics, when she took a leap of faith and left it all to write her first book, Laughing Through the Ugly Cry.

Dawn has been a public speaker for more than ten years, giving talks about cancer, joy, female empowerment, and direct sales. When she's not encouraging other women to find joy and humor in even the most difficult of circumstances, you can find her living happily ever after in Cantonment, FL with her husband, daughter, parents, mother-in-law, two horses, four dogs, and three cats (the pear tree has been inspected with no partridges in sight.)

In May 2021, Dawn was awarded "New Christian Author of The Year!"

Find out exactly what stands between you and your biggest breakthrough and how you can achieve your next level of living.

Get your FREE 12-page starter kit now!

What do men really want? Todd Isberner wrote a book on that very topic and now is put on the hot seat as Wendie interviews him. In it you'll hear the 4 F's every man needs to make a priority, how to master your faith, tips on becoming financially responsible, and eventually independent, and much more!

• Faith
• Family
• Fitness
• Finances

-Men are in a state of confusion today...3:00

-Why men need to master their faith to begin to be more manly...6:45

• Set faith-growing goals
• Commit to quiet time daily
• Find accountability and community with other men

-Be more committed to family...13:45

• Respect and honor your parents
• Own your role as a husband

-Commitment to fitness...21:05

-Why financial responsibility is essential...28:05

-Practical financial advice...30:50

What Every Man Needs To Know

toddisberner.com

Find out exactly what stands between you and your biggest breakthrough and how you can achieve your next level of living.

Get your FREE 12-page starter kit now!