Listen Now

Stupid Money Rich

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘safe’? We think about the invention of so-called “safe spaces”.  It’s the idea that in a specific place you can be safe to be completely vulnerable.  Some schools, businesses, and workplaces have implemented these safe spaces.  But, are they really safe? We live in a society where everyone is encouraged to share their story.  We teach this idea of being completely vulnerable without any consequences, when that’s just not how it works.  You don’t need to tell your story to everyone, there’s a time and place.  In fact, sharing your struggles on social media can get you trapped in an algorithm of despair. What You’ll Learn: Why social media isn’t a safe space to be vulnerable. How to balance vulnerability with its potential consequences. Where you should be able to be 100% vulnerable. Why who you let into your inner circle is so important. Favorite Quote: “Vulnerability opens you up, and then the risk becomes great.” -Tim Holloway

It’s been a week since Tim and Jamie started The Marriage Journal, and they have some thoughts on it.  While they do agree that it works for both newlyweds and couples that have been together for a long time, Jamie warns that it does have a spiritual aspect to it that you have to be ready for.  After you make a marriage mission statement and draft some goals, the book leads you into a weekly exercise that aims to open the lines of communication. Each week is structured around a word, with the first week being ‘joy’.  It offers Bible verses and conversational prompts to get couples to explore their marriage.  Jamie says they spent an hour diving deep and really examining the Bible verses, but you could go through it in 15 minutes if that’s all the time you had.  Tim appreciates how the questions prompt them to touch base weekly and share things they maybe wouldn’t otherwise. What You’ll Learn: The story behind the Beating 50 Percent movement. Where you can find The Marriage Journal. What questions you can ask to check in on your marriage weekly. How Tim and Jamie view prayer and communicating with God. Favorite Quote: “I don’t believe it's one size fits all, you have to do what’s best for you.” -Jamie Holloway The Marriage Journal

Today we are going back to the future.  While doing their daily reading in Wake Up to the Word: 365 Devotions to Inspire You Each Day, the word of the day was ‘future’.  This got Tim and Jamie thinking about the past, present, and future.  The self-help movement is big on digging deep into past traumas, which leaves people feeling depressed.  On the other end of the spectrum, people are living anxiously in the future.  Even obsessing over the present can be detrimental We can’t just forget our past completely, though, or we’re bound to repeat the same mistakes.  The same way, we can’t just live in the moment with no regard for the future, or we’ll never get anywhere.  The key is to have a balance of all three.  Take the lessons from the past, plan for the future, and execute it in the moment. What You’ll Learn: What the ‘glory days syndrome’ is. Why you should forgive, but not forget. How living for the now can be detrimental. How to find a balance of the past, present, and future. Favorite Quote: “We need to view the past, present, and future to have a more well-rounded perspective of life”

Too often, people’s motives for doing a good deed is to simply gain recognition and praise.  The Bible tells us if you do it for those reasons, it’s like you didn’t do it at all.  The same goes for studying the Bible or having devotionals.  Tim and Jamie know that it’s inevitable that these activities will inspire them, but they don’t ever want to fall into the trap of doing those things simply to create content. In order to grow their spirituality, Tim and Jamie believe it’s important to feed it every day, not just for two hours every Sunday.  Reading the Bible, diving deep, dissecting it, and applying it to their lives has made all the difference.  Oftentimes, when people become leaders, they feed themselves only for the intention of feeding others.  Don’t fall into that trap.  Feed your spirituality, watch it grow, and most importantly do it for you. What You’ll Learn: Why we shouldn’t boast about our good deeds. What it means to have your daily bread and feed your soul. How to dive deeper into the word of God. Ways to grow your spirituality. Favorite Quote: “If you want to be spiritually alive, you have to feed yourself daily.” -Tim Holloway

The self-help/self-care movement has really stolen the spotlight over the last 20 years or so, but what does the Bible tell us about this topic?  You can’t go on social media without seeing an ad for some self-proclaimed guru that promises to help you discover your best self.  Their methods usually revolve around focusing on yourself and what makes you happy.  The Bible tells us that whoever finds his own life will lose it, but the person who loses their life for his sake will find it. We’re leaning into a highly individualistic society, but the true focus should be community and relationships.  Of course, that’s not to say that we shouldn’t take care of ourselves, but it’s a fine line between that and becoming self-centered.  All the mantras and bubble baths in the world won’t make you whole.  Try focusing on others and what you can do for them, and you’ll experience a deeper sense of satisfaction. What You’ll Learn: How self-help fits into Christianity. How anything in excess can be bad for you. How to find joy even when you’re unhappy. How to experience a full life. Favorite Quote: “The moment I stopped focusing on me and my problems, my burdens felt lighter.” -Jamie Holloway

The God Centered Man Show is now Real Connections.  In this rebranding, Tim welcomes his wife Jamie as a co-host and looks forward to a more well-rounded conversation.  Tim assures listeners that if you liked the previous content, you’ll want to stick around because it’s only getting better. Growing up in the Mormon church, Jamie had it engrained in her that to have a connection with God, you had to go to church.  Having issues with organized religion, as many people do, Jamie wondered if she could still have a spiritual side to her.  To her surprise, she’s found that she has a stronger connection with God now than she ever did while attending church.  This new connectedness has opened her eyes to many things, including the difference between happiness and joy, which we’ll discuss in this episode. What You’ll Learn: Why the God Centered Man Show is being rebranded to Real Connections. How Jamie has found a deeper connection with God. The lies people tell themselves about why they don’t have a relationship with God. The difference between joy and happiness. Favorite Quote: “Now that I’ve defined the difference between happiness and joy, I’d much rather be joyful.” -Jamie Holloway

Good gifts come from above. Don't err or be misled into thinking that bad gifts come from above. Belief that God is the source of your pain. Good – beneficial, wellness, useful There is none of this with God… Variables – able or apt to vary : subject to variation or changes. Fickleness – marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness. Transmutation – a significant and basic alteration : CHANGE. Inconsistency – incoherent or illogical in thought or actions. Volatile – characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change. Erupt into violence

G4105   (Strong). Deceive πλανάω planaō plan-ah'-o From G4106; to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. Total KJV occurrences: 39 Jer 9:6 You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the LORD. Ps 101:7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Roam from Safety – safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss. Truth – the body of real things, events, and facts. Virtue – conformity to a standard of right. G635   (Strong) seduced ἀποπλανάω apoplanaō ap-op-lan-ah'-o From G575 and G4105; to lead astray (figuratively); passively to stray (from truth): - err, seduce. Total KJV occurrences: 2 Astray – off the right path or route : STRAYING away from what is proper or desirable. Err – to make a mistake, to violate an accepted standard of conduct. To cause accepting as true or valid what is false or invalid. To make someone believe something that is not true. Gen 3:13  And the LORD H3068  God H430  said H559  unto the woman, H802  What H4100  is this H2063  that thou hast done? H6213  And the woman H802  said, H559  The serpent H5175  beguiled H5377  me, and I did eat. H398 Beguile – con, duped, fake, and hoodwinked. Delude – trick, misguide, misinform, mislead, and to sucker. What is the deception – you’ll become like God. 2Co 11:14  And G2532  no G3756  marvel; G2298  for G1063  Satan G4567  himself G846  is transformed G3345  into G1519  an angel G32  of light. G5457

Mat 23:2  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: Mat 23:3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Mat 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.” Grace is the exact opposite from religion. Grace is the unmerited and unearned favor of God obtained by Christ. On the other hand, religion says that His favor must be merited, earned, and deserved. The promise of religion is the favor of God, but if we already have the favor of God, then religion has nothing to offer us. This is why the religious system must keep us unaware of the grace of God. God promises to give His acceptance without any merit of our own. Therefore, the struggle to earn favor is over, and His people can find rest.

The foundation of Christianity is “He gave Himself”. The fuel for religion is you give yourself if you want the acceptance of God. Christ gave Himself for the purpose and intention to deliver us. Religion on the other does not give, it only enslaves. Jesus Christ brings freedom from the law (religion) and this present evil world. The Strong’s dictionary says “deliver,” means to tear out, let go, release, and rescue. This is what Christ gave himself for; to release us from, “the law” (religion) and the world system. The will of God is something that is often considered mysterious. We often struggle with understanding and knowing the will of God. Paul wrote, “deliverance” is according to the will of God and our Father”. God is saying, “I want my people free”. God finds no pleasure in His children struggling to earn His favor. God finds no joy in His children being insecure in His love. Religion on the other hand will tie a heavy load upon our backs that we are unable to bear. To those who are burdened and heavy laden (by religion) Jesus offers us rest, saying “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If religion depends upon the inner strength of man then all religion is a form of humanism. Humanism is mankind proclaiming they have what it takes to fully obey. This brings us to the place of trusting in our own abilities, which leads us away from the life of faith; religion places us as the source of our life. The Father is the source of grace and peace but religion is the source wrath and enmity. HE GAVE HIMSELF In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he wrote, (Jesus) gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” I believe Paul is reminding believers that it is Christ who gave Himself. This thought is much different than that of religion. Religion requires us to give ourselves first before we can ever expect to receive anything from God. We go to church and hear how we must give our hearts and lives to God, when Christianity is about God giving a new heart and life to us. When we came to Christ we did not have a heart, we needed Him to give us one. When we came to Christ we didn’t have life either we needed Him to impart His to us.

“The law” (Jews religion) began the Day the Jewish nation said “I will” to God. It is recorded in the book of Exodus that when God gave the terms of the covenant, the Jewish nation became married to Jehovah. They proclaimed that everything that God had spoken they would do, and decided that day they would measure up to the agreement. What they failed to recognize, was that they did not have the ability to fully obey. Religion is mankind striving to please God by obeying requirements and restrictions. The favor of God was directly dependant on whether or not mankind could obey. The agreement could not be made without the shedding of blood. To seal an agreement in Bible days a person would slaughter an animal, split it in two, and have each party walk between it. This is symbolic in that each party is swearing on their lives to be faithful. If one person was unfaithful, the other party had the right to require their life as payment for the unfaithfulness.

To inquire about coaching email-godcenteredmensrecovery@gmail.comPeace with God is the cornerstone of Christianity. Paul wrote, “Christ made peace through the blood of His cross.” The reason we can have a harmonious relationship with God is because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. The word peace means, “to join,” this means, we now can join God and be connected to Him. A relationship with God starts by understanding that God has made a way for us to come together and become one with Him. It’s important to notice that grace and peace come from God the Father and Jesus Christ is the embodiment of grace and peace. John wrote, “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” God is the agent of grace and peace and they cannot be found in a different source. Grace and peace cannot be obtained through any form of religious legalism.

The reason our Christianity is weak is that it lacks the required ingredients. The Christian life simply does not look or taste right without grace and peace. I love salsa and I like it hot, but I never get the flavor right the first time, because the peppers are always different. So I must repeat the taste test until it reaches my desired flavor. I believe God loves His people, but He likes them hot. The only way to burn with passion for our creator is to receive grace and peace from our Father. Jesus said, "salt is good but if the salt has lost its flavor what good is it.” Believers become useless and ineffective when we fail to receive grace and peace from God. Being Lukewarm is described by Christ as being distasteful to God. Why would Christ speak so harshly against such a condition? It might be due to the fact that you create lukewarm water by mixing hot with the cold. Even so grace and peace from God can not be mixed with law and legalism. Many believers, when they hear the word grace, think of God ability to see past our sins. But grace is God’s power that works in our soul, giving us the ability to live beyond our own human strength. For a believer to say that we have no need of grace is like saying that man has the ability to save himself, and we know that’s impossible. We are saved by God’s ability that operates inside of our hearts through faith.

Grace is not merely mercy during times of failure. Grace is the empowering love of Christ, giving us the ability not to sin if we don’t want to. Grace is empowerment, not just forgiveness. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace and peace are the two ingredients for a healthy Christian life. It’s easy to read the Bible and pass up this little phrase. We can also simply dismiss it a common greeting of the day, but the fact still remains that all man really needs from God are grace and peace. Without Grace and peace, our lives become weak. The definition of weakness is to become dull in quality, and insufficient in strength. This signifies not having the ability to sustain or stand under much pressure. As Solomon wrote, “if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Even so, without grace and peace operating in our hearts, we become something far less than we are. The reason our Christianity is weak is that it lacks the required ingredients. The Christian life simply does not look or taste right without grace and peace. I love salsa and I like it hot, but I never get the flavor right the first time, because the peppers are always different. So I must repeat the taste test until it reaches my desired flavor. I believe God loves His people, but He likes them hot. The only way to burn with passion for our creator is to receive grace and peace from our Father.

External Validation Verses Internal 

Walking In Dignity & Worth 

How To Dismantle Detrimental Beliefs