Your Biggest Breakthrough

We all go through moments where forgiving someone is really hard. But in this podcast episode, you'll hear a different perspective on forgiveness.

Our guest, Pastor Mark Sowersby, bravely talks about his tough childhood marked by abuse and how he struggled to forgive and heal.

He talks about how abuse affects the mind and how there wasn't much support or awareness back then. Pastor Mark also shares how he found faith and a supportive community, and how forgiveness changed his life.

He opens up about confronting his abuser and the relief he felt after forgiving them. Pastor Mark ends with words of hope and prayer for anyone who has been through trauma.

In this podcast, Pastor Mark Sowersby shares a strong message about God's grace and why being true to ourselves in our relationship with Him matters.

Chapters

00:00 Podcast's Introduction

01:35 Guest's Background

02:50 The Start of the Years of Abuse

05:32 Impact of Abuse on Pastor Mark's family

07:27 Effects of Abuse on Mark's Mind

09:24 The Turning Point of His Life

12:03 Finding Refuge and Protection

14:41 Finding Faith and Joining a Church

16:57 Seeking God's presence

19:21 Receiving God's Answer

20:45 Reading the Bible and Meeting His Future Wife

23:39 Struggle with Forgiveness

24:48 Moving the Mountain of Forgiveness

26:30 Putting the Cross in Front

28:18 Confronting the Abuser

30:27 Understanding Forgiveness

34:50 The Journey of Forgiveness

37:02 Mark's Future Projects

38:24 Encouragement and Prayer

Resources mentioned:

Forgiving The Nightmare Website

"Forgiving The Nightmare" Book

Guest's bio and social handles:

Instagram

Facebook

Pastor Mark Sowersby accepted the position of Lead Pastor at Calvary Community Church in the summer of 2021.

He grew up in North Attleboro, MA, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. He has been an ordained minister with the Assembly of God for 25 years.

Pastor Mark also leads a ministry called Forgiving the Nightmare. In 2019 he went through a time of great healing and began speaking about the experiences of his past, God’s grace, and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry and book Forgiving The Nightmare.

When he isn’t serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes of New England, spending time with his family. He and his wife Jennifer are blessed with four healthy children.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

In this episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Michele Arnoldy, a woman who has experienced incredible breakthroughs in her life. Michele shares her personal journey of navigating through the challenges of her husband's mental illness and PTSD, ultimately leading to his tragic death by suicide.

Michele's story is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience that can be found in leaning on God during the darkest times. Despite the heartbreak and pain, Michele's faith in Jesus remained unwavering, and she found hope and healing through her relationship with Him.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Guest's Background

05:08 Encountering Jesus and Surrendering

07:45 Meeting Chris and Sharing Jesus

10:15 Chris' Decision to Go Back to the Military

11:40 Year-Long Argument and Decision to Enlist

15:55 Chris's Deployment to Afghanistan

19:42 Strain on Marriage and Emotional Rollercoaster

26:01 Chris's Return and Reuniting

31:47 Moving to South Carolina and Dating Again

34:10 Moving to Des Moines, Iowa

36:13 Chris' Struggles with PTSD

38:40 Chris' Admission and Seeking Help

39:33 Chris' Job Loss and Behavioral Changes

43:29 Navigating the Emotional Impact of Chris' Death

46:03 Finding Breakthrough Through Jesus

Guest's bio and social handles:

Facebook: @coach2potential

Instagram: @michelearnoldy

Michelle Arnoldy has been a mentor at heart for 10-plus years. She has formally spoken into people's lives, molding them personally and professionally. Her life goal is never to stop growing herself to add value to others, and her passion is living well with purpose and intentionally helping others to do the same.

Michelle worked as an RN for nearly four decades, primarily in yard departments, and she wrote a memoir now spanning her 20-year difficult marriage to her late husband, Chris. She shares a strong message of hope during the tragedy of his death, her vulnerability with intermarriage trials, the challenges of mental illness, the truth of her faith journey, and how her faith sustained her throughout that time. This memoir is called "His Last Breath: A Soldier, his wife, and the Man That Saved Them Both." But Michelle is a proud mother of three sons and two daughters in love and five little grand littles. She lives hilltop in an old English cottage in South Minneapolis with her two doggie roommates, Macy and Sadie.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

In this conversation, Matt Potter, co-founder of Pray.com, shares his journey of faith and how it led him to create the popular prayer app. He emphasizes the importance of prayer and the ease of having a personal relationship with God. Matt also discusses the features and benefits of Pray.com, including daily devotionals, biblical sagas, and a community feed for prayer requests. He highlights the impact of the app on people's lives, including stories of how it has helped individuals in difficult times. Overall, Pray.com aims to create a world where everyone leaves a legacy of helping others through prayer and community.

Takeaways

• Prayer is a personal and easy way to connect with God, and there is no wrong way to pray.
• Prayer has a positive impact on mental health, reducing anxiety and depression.
• Pray.com offers a variety of features, including daily devotionals, biblical sagas, and a community feed for prayer requests.
• The app has had a significant impact on people's lives, providing comfort, support, and a sense of community.
• Pray.com's vision is to create a world where everyone leaves a legacy of helping others through prayer and community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest's Background

03:40 Early Journey of Faith of Matt

05:48 Growing Up in Church

08:00 Matt's Relationship with God

11:45 How To Pray

14:00 How Prayer.com Started and Its Founders' Stories

18:40 Prayer and Mental Health

22:36 Features and Benefits of Pray.com

26:50 Pray.com's Vision

29:48 Creating Community through Pray.com

31:30 Impact of Pray.com

37:42 Conclusion

Resources mentioned:

Pray.com

Guest's bio and social handles:

Instagram

Matthew Potter–PRAY.Com

Co-Founder & Head of Strategic Relationships

Matthew Potter co-founded Pray.com, the world’s #1 app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content, driven by a mission to grow faith and cultivate community. He brings expertise in strategizing change, building tech products and apps, and finding markets in the continuously evolving technology industry.

At a time when Potter was looking for ways to give back and become more spiritually connected, he serendipitously ran into his friend Steve Gatena at a coffee shop in Santa Monica, Calif. He could tell Gatena had been struggling, and they spoke of the recent loss of his friend and business partner in a plane crash but how he was beginning to find hope again through prayer. Shortly after that divine run-in, Potter joined forces with Gatena to launch Pray.com, desiring to apply his expertise to do something bigger for the Kingdom of God.

Before Pray.com, while he was still a student at Boise State University, Potter created HomeStack, a white-label real estate app. HomeStack launched in 2012, and Potter served as CEO until he stepped down to become a part of the team at Pray.com. Potter continues to serve as Chairman of the Board for HomeStack. In addition, Potter has developed over 6K apps.

Calling Southern California home, Potter is from Westlake Village, Calif., and enjoys traveling to new countries, investing in real estate, and visiting new sports stadiums. He currently serves on the board of trustees at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. Recently Potter has been featured on multiple podcasts including Seek. Go. Create. and The Mike Thakur Show

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

On today's episode, we have Justin Donald, the founder of The Lifestyle Investor and known as the "Warren Buffett of lifestyle investing."

Justin shares his personal journey of breaking free from financial constraints and achieving financial freedom through low-risk cash flow investing. With his straightforward investment system and 10 commandments of lifestyle investing, Justin negotiated deals with over 200 companies, generating sufficient passive income to leave his job within 21 months.

His success led him to write a bestselling book called "The Lifestyle Investor," which provides valuable insights and strategies for achieving passive income and financial freedom. This episode offers listeners the opportunity to learn from Justin's expertise and gain inspiration to pursue their own financial breakthroughs.

Timestamp Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Podcast

01:20 Introduction to Justin Donald

04:22 Justin's Faith Journey

07:13 Motivation for Pursuing Investments and Financial Freedom

09:10 Early Interest in Finance and Investing

10:57 Journey to Financial Freedom

11:56 Overcoming Doubt and Fear

15:26 Milestones and Lessons Learned

19:06 Perceptions of Mobile Home Parks

22:30 Financial Breakthroughs and Freedom

25:14 Perspective on Net Worth

26:35 Financial Freedom and Family

29:27 Getting Started with Cash Flow Investing

32:40 Overcoming Guilt and Negative Mindsets

35:28 Aligning Investments with Biblical Principles

37:36 Faith in Major Investment Decisions

39:24 Peace of Mind and Trusting God

41:19 Fun Fact about Justin

45:47 Closing Remarks

Resources mentioned:

The Lifestyle Investor

Guest's bio and social handles:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

LinkedIn

Entrepreneur Magazine calls Justin Donald the “Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing.” As the founder of The Lifestyle Investor and a master of low-risk cash flow investing, Justin’s ethos is to “create wealth without creating a job.” He simplifies complex financial strategies, structuring deals, and disciplined investment systems that consistently yield profitable results. 

After 21 months of investing, and before his 37th birthday, Justin’s investments generated sufficient passive income for him and his wife Jennifer to leave their jobs. Following his straightforward investment system and 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing, Justin negotiated deals with over 200 companies, multiplied his net worth to over nine figures, and continues to maintain a family-centric lifestyle.

Justin's extensive entrepreneurial experience includes owning several profitable real estate-related businesses, one of the largest mobile home park portfolios in the U.S., various additional rental property portfolios, Orangetheory Fitness and KidStrong franchises, and multiple successful operating companies. One notable venture is Stellar, a residential maintenance and rehab company that Justin co-founded, that recently completed its Series B funding round, led by Alerion Ventures and S3 Ventures, the largest venture capital firm in Texas.

Justin was recently invited to participate as a SXSW investor judge and speak at Texas Rangers Stadium. He is a member of Tiger 21 and serves on the board of Front Row Foundation International. Through his Lifestyle Investor Mastermind, Justin now consults and coaches entrepreneurs, executives, and successful media personalities on lifestyle investing. He hosts The Lifestyle Investor Podcast, with the aim of helping listeners consistently generate repeatable returns. Justin has also appeared on hundreds of podcasts and shared the stage with prominent figures like Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki, Sam Zell, Ron Paul, and Kevin Harrington.

In January 2021, Justin released his #1 Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling book, The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom. The book is now in the top 1% of all books ever sold, with all proceeds donated to the Tebow Foundation and Love Justice International, two nonprofits that combat human trafficking in over 30 countries.

Justin and Jennifer are dedicated philanthropists who contribute to various causes privately and through their church, with a primary emphasis on fighting human trafficking among other humanitarian efforts. Additionally, they sponsor several children through Compassion International. The Donalds reside in Austin, Texas, and love adventure-based international travel with their cherished daughter.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

Summary

This podcast episode explores the topic of loneliness and its impact on individuals' well-being. Todd and Wendie discuss the prevalence of chronic loneliness and its designation as an epidemic by the Surgeon General. They share personal experiences with loneliness and highlight the emotional, spiritual, and physiological consequences it can have. The importance of community and reaching out to those who are lonely is emphasized, along with practical steps to combat loneliness. The hosts also discuss examples of individuals who have made a difference in the lives of lonely individuals. The episode concludes with a reminder to find comfort in God and His promises.

Takeaways

• Loneliness is a prevalent issue and has been designated as an epidemic by the Surgeon General.
• Chronic loneliness can have negative impacts on emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.
• Reaching out to those who are lonely and creating community is important for combating loneliness.
• Practical steps to combat loneliness include joining community groups, volunteering, and reaching out to others.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Loneliness

01:16 Loneliness as an Epidemic

02:56 Wendie on Chronic Loneliness

04:08 The Impact of Loneliness on Health

05:08 Definition of Loneliness

06:19 The Importance of Community

07:27 Personal Experience with Loneliness

09:20 Emotional and Spiritual Consequences of Loneliness

10:20 The Desire for Isolation

11:23 Acknowledging and Addressing Loneliness

12:21 Practical Steps to Combat Loneliness

15:40 Examples of Reaching Out to the Lonely

20:00 Creating Community and Connection

22:00 Finding Comfort in God and His Promises

23:00 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

Chuck Reich's life was once a turbulent whirlwind of drugs and reckless abandon, a life marred by the never-ending call of temptation: "the boy you didn't want your daughter to be around" in his words.

But then Chuck encountered Jesus and his life transformed. Chuck left behind the shadows of his past and embarked on a spiritual journey that led him to become a pastor, offering guidance and hope to those grappling with similar struggles he once faced.

Today, he is the driving force behind Overcomers TV, a platform dedicated to helping others find the strength to overcome their own battles and discover the transformative power of faith in Christ.

We hope you'll listen to Pastor Chuck Reich's story and be in awe of the resilience of the human spirit and the profound healing of body and soul that is possible through faith in Jesus.

In this interview with Pastor Reich, you'll learn:

-Chuck was a legit villain, spiraling to rock bottom until his 30's...03:30

-God's Word slowly made his way into Chuck's heart and lifestyle...09:30

-Chuck surrenders completely to God's will and becomes a true servant...15:00

-Keep trying to quit, and you'll eventually be able to quit - with God's help...19:00

-Encouragement for anyone struggling with addiction, either personally or a loved one...22:45

-How addiction distorts self-awareness and affects our quality of life negatively...25:20

-Founding origins of and the good that comes from Overcomers TV...28:30

-Success stories shared from Overcomers TV...31:30

-We're all one decision away from stupid...34:45

-And much more!

Resources mentioned:

Overcomers TV

Guest's bio and social handles:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

On August 23, 2007, Chuck was led to launch Horizon Media Studios. The mission was to produce Television programs highlighting the Body of Christ in action which would complement the great teaching and preaching on Christian TV Networks. HMS has partnered with over 225 Christ-centered, Bible-believing ministries, producing segments and half-hour documentaries for “REVELATIONS” and “ANSWERING THE CALL”.

Chuck became an ordained Pastor on July 13, 2008. He has a real heart for evangelism/discipleship and has a passion to teach the Bible in small group settings. Chuck is married to Annette, they live in Farmington, New Mexico where Annette is President of Navajo Ministries – Four Corners Home for Children. Chuck also pastors Fruitland Christian Fellowship.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

What do you think of when you hear the term "superhero"?

Maybe a muscular man or woman donning a cape, flying through the night sky to foil the plans of evildoers who wish harm upon the human race.

While those make for good comic books and movies, the truth is that real heroes don't appear to be anything special, but have an inward fire to make an impact that far exceeds what their earthly powers may appear to be able to make.

Shane O'Rourke is one of these people, and we were thrilled to get him to sit down and chat with us about his journey of faith, and founding his organization Lift UP, whose unique "100%" giving model allows unprecedented amounts of funds to go directly to projects, all of which have been carefully vetted by Shane and his staff.

We invite you to grab your favorite beverage and listen in to our conversation with a young man who is making miracles happen all over the globe!

In this interview with Shane, you'll discover:

-Shane's faith journey as a young child...03:30

-Advice for parents to foster the calling in their children...06:15

-How the vision of missions crystallized in Shane's mind and life...08:30

-The unique structure of the Lift Up platform...16:15

-How Lift Up selects the projects to fund...19:30

-How to hear the voice of the Lord in seeking His will for our lives and careers....22:50

-Why do people choose alternate voices over the voice of the Lord?...24:30

-What is Lift Up Local?...27:30

-Build awareness globally by focusing on local needs...31:30

-And much more!

Resources mentioned:

Lift Up

Guest's bio and social handles:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

LinkedIn

Shane is a proud husband and father of two beautiful young children. He's an alum of Bethel University and enjoys time at the beach or on the basketball court. An entrepreneur with a significant vision, he's committed to making a meaningful impact on those who need it the most. After a transformative trip to Haiti, he launched Lift Up in 2018. Since then, the platform has grown from impacting one child to nearly 250,000 people in need.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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 another riveting episode of Your Biggest Breakthrough! Today, we're joined by a unique individual whose profession and passion beautifully intertwine – Dr. Pete Sulack. While many know him as a talented chiropractor who's touched countless lives with his healing hands, there's an even deeper story to be uncovered.

Journey with us as we delve into how Dr. Sulack transitioned from adjusting spines to adjusting lives through the power of the cross of Christ.

In places like Ghana and Pakistan, Dr. Sulack has ventured into the heart of darkness, using his resources to literally redeem individuals out of the chains of slavery and bring them into the light of hope.

Amidst great pain and suffering, he’s been a beacon of hope, sharing the transformative gospel of Jesus Christ to lost souls seeking solace.

Discover how one man's commitment to healing transcends borders, breaks chains, and introduces hope to those who need it most. This isn't just a tale of chiropractic magic but an inspiring narrative of faith, resilience, and unyielding love.

Join us and prepare to be moved, inspired, and uplifted.

In this interview with Dr. Pete, you'll learn:

-How Dr. Pete came into intimate relationship with Jesus...04:40

-Work as a chiropractor used to infiltrate culture with the Gospel...09:00

-Community with other believers is how we bear fruit spiritually...11:45

-How God spoke directly to Dr. Pete about ministering in Pakistan...15:00

-Do we fear intimacy with God because we fear what it might reveal?...19:20

-The history and mission of Matthew 10 Ministries...23:45

-How our spiritual condition affects our physical health...28:15

-And much more...

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Pete's website

Matthew10.com

Guest's bio and social handles:

Instagram:

@drpetesulack

@redeemchiropractic

Facebook:

@matthew10international

@Dr.PeteSulack

@redeemchiropractic

Dr. Pete Sulack is a chiropractor by day and an anointed evangelist by day AND night! He is a family man based out of Knoxville, TN. More than that, he is simply a son of the Most High God!

In 2006 he started Matthew 10 International as a way to have an offering to the Lord from his businesses. Matthew 10 is dedicated to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, serving widows and orphans, ministering to the sick, and empowering pastors and leaders.

Since its beginning, Dr. Pete has been around the world 25 times and preached to crowds of all sizes, from a few hundred slave laborers in brick factories in the Middle East to over a million souls in Nigeria, and all sizes in between!

He is also the author of The Joseph Blessing with Jordan Rubin and has a clinic, Redeem Health & Chiropractic which supports the ministry of Matthew 10.

It is in this setting that Dr. Pete is known as America’s Leading Stress Expert. At Redeem Health stage-four cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other ailments — all miraculously healed by the power of Jesus Christ. Dr. Pete has over 20 years of experience serving all ages – from infancy to 100.

The Redeem Health experience has been carefully designed to help “break the cycle” of chronic and traumatic stress for individuals and families in three ways: physically, chemically, and emotionally.

And people from all over the country and globe visit this practice routinely to seek health and healing.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

In the spirit of overcoming tremendous adversity, as we discussed in our previous episode with Mark Black, we introduce to you today Tahni Cullen.

Tahni was blessed with a beautiful baby, who was named Josiah, "Fire of God." However, within just a couple of years, it was evident that Josiah was a bit different. He was sadly diagnosed with autism, leaving Tahni and her husband devastated.

Yet, rather than wallow in self-pity, Tahni and her husband chose to seek the best care for Josiah, which eventually led them to realize that Josiah may be different from his peers, but he has a true fire within that inspires others in ways so-called "ordinary" people can.

In this interview with Tahni, you'll learn:

-The discovery of Josiah's autism, and the initial response to it...02:45

-Where is hope when there is no hope?...05:45

-Vaccines and inoculations and their role in bringing about autism...08:50

-The moment Tahni had a ray of hope for the future of Josiah...14:00

-Josiah has a major breakthrough in his learning and development!...19:00

-You'll do anything to help a child become what God means for it to become...22:10

-The importance of self-care while caring for another...28:00

-Supportive relationships outside the marriage while caring for a special-needs child...34:00

-Surprising results from Tahni writing her book about her experiences...37:00

-And much more...

Resources mentioned:

Josiah's Fire book

Josiah's Fire Facebook page

Guest's bio and social handles:

I have loved God and the Bible for as long as I can remember. I was seven-years-old when my daddy built me a wooden pulpit. I put on my plaid three-piece wool suit on a snowed-in Sunday to deliver a message on obedience to my family in the living room. Then, one day as this wonderful invention showed up at our house–a VCR–I picked up a flair for the theatrical as I would rewind and rehearse lines from the likes of “Anne of Green Gables.” The love of communication in writing, speaking, theater and sharing compelling stories has always run deep for me. It’s funny how you can trace those traits way back even to your childhood.

Little did I know that language and expression that I loved the most would be whisked away from my only son, leaving me wounded and speechless before my God. An autism diagnosis at age two for our little boy, Josiah, was so swift, so final, with the words, “No known cause. No known cure. Lifelong.” My deepest question was, “Wow, what happens to hope when there is no hope?” Everything that I loved, believed in, and thought I knew about God got tested. If Jesus was Burden-Bearer, I knew somehow I would have to see if He would be that for me when the pressure of sickness, work, marriage, loneliness, finances, and spiritual wrestling dog-piled on our lives.

Like so many things—impossible things—we are told to accept them and to learn to manage and to cope. The world is always trying to get us to just face facts and not to get our hopes up. “Your daughter is dead, Jairus. Why bother the teacher anymore?” But just when the facts start to get locked in as the “final answer,” if we listen hard enough, we will always hear Jesus say the same words He said to this dented father: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Does the same Jesus we serve today still sound like this?

It’s a complex road these days to a simple faith like this: don’t fear; just believe. I’d been desperately pursuing healing for five years, and learned so much about what intimacy with God, my identity in Christ, and my inheritance really meant to living out a Christ-following life. But despite our gallant efforts to help our son, my boy still was “severe,” nonverbal, stuck in the quicksand of autism. Life seemed frustrated.

And then, one day, something finally happened! The striving started leaving and peace settled in. Psalm 68:9 happened. “You, God, sent a plentiful rain, and did confirm your inheritance when it was weary.” After praying and praying, “Lord, let it be on earth, just like it is in Heaven,” I was given a rare opportunity to see the veil between Heaven and earth get very thin as my son unexpectedly typed his first sentence on his iPad, “God is a good gift giver.”

That message started what has been now hundreds of stored, typed pages of Josiah’s conversations with me. They have revealed him as a wise, funny little guy who can write beautiful poetry and lyrics, and has been given access into the heart of God that he has never been taught on this earth. Josiah’s words on an iPad have told of God’s unfolding love for us, His ways, His instruction, and even strategies for victory over the enemy. Truly, as we wait for the full reality of Josiah’s healing, we have seen the kingdom of God come near us through a boy who had no voice, but shouted RESTORE! Lord, may our story give You glory. You truly are a good gift giver!

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!

"Transform adversity into your competitive advantage." A phrase perhaps heard in any number of motivational talks you've attended, or hard lessons when "life happens" in its many forms and fashions.

Our guest today, Mark Black, has experienced adversity we've never encountered before on this show - and that's saying a lot!

For you see, Mark was essentially given a death sentence at the age of 23 when he was told he had congestive heart failure and lung failure. And he needed a transplant of both organs, and from the same donor!

Against the odds, Mark received his transplant, and went on to inspire everyone around him by running marathons and using his incredible story to encourage those who are going through their own brand of adversity.

Enjoy today's show!

In this interview with Mark, you'll learn:

-Mark's journey through multiple abnormalities from day one...05:00

-Challenges faced throughout childhood after multiple heart surgeries...09:00

-Mark's parents' strategies for teaching resilience and learning from consequences...12:45

-Dealing with congestive heart failure and a heart transplant during the college years...15:00

-Where was Mark internally and spiritually while essentially living in a hospital?...20:46

-Acceptance and adaptation are the key elements of the journey to resilience...26:30

-The Call comes letting know the donated organs are available...29:15

-Reactions spiritually, physically and mentally to carry another person's organs...32:30

-The thought process leading to the decision to run marathons after the transplants...35:00

-Advice to anyone going through immense challenges emotionally or physically...39:15

-Mark's ministry to others in light of overcoming his challenges...43:00

Mark's bio and social handles:

TED Talk with Mark Black

Mark's personal website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Mark Black is the only man in history to have run a marathon with someone else’s heart and lungs.

Born with a life-threatening heart defect, Mark survived two dangerous open-heart surgeries before the age of one. Twenty-two years later, after waiting on the transplant list for nearly a year, Mark was blessed to survive a perilous heart and double-lung transplant,

Three years later, he ran his first full marathon. Then he did it, three more times.

A resilience expert, speaker, coach, and author, Mark helps people “Break Through” their limitations and transform adversity into their competitive advantage. He is a Certified Speaking Professional has inspired more than 200,000 people at more than 600 organizations including Exxon Mobil and Mercedes Benz.

Mark lives in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada with his wife Marise and their three children; Emma, Matteo, and Caleb.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

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!