Grace On Fire | Craft Your Life For A Higher Purpose

Have you noticed the growing trend among life experts all proclaiming certain rituals or methods as the key to an incredible life? Tony Robbins, Michael Hyatt, and others have been heralding the benefits of incorporating certain daily habits into daily routines. Surprisingly, some of these men are not religious, yet they are using the religious exercise. So where did they learn these “secret tools”? On today’s episode, I’m joined by guest host Dr. Brian Russell to discuss what he refers to as “the New Methodist.” In our conversation, we discuss how most of the methods employed by today’s secular life coaches have very ancient roots. The post How Leveraging Ancient Methods Can Positively Transform Your Life | GOF58 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Do you know how to take a vacation? For the longest time, I didn’t. Admittedly, vacationing was never a top priority for my family. So I never learned the importance of rest. So in this episode, I give you some spiritual direction on why you should take the time to rest. Plus, I’m giving you five practical strategies to help you master the art of vacationing. The post Mastering The Art of Taking A Vacation | GOF56 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Have you ever said these words, “I have a book idea?” Believe it or not, those are words that I have spoken and thought more times than I care to admit. So much so, my wife has challenged me to get serious and begin to write. But where do I start? Well, in this episode, […] The post Why I’m Writing My First Book | GOF55 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Most of the time, we are concerned about saving for retirement. But what if we turned this on its head and instead focused on generosity? In today’s episode, I talk with financial advisor Matthew Wright of McKinnon Wealth Management on practical steps you can take to maximize generosity. Listen to the Show http://traffic.libsyn.com/jonathangsmith/GOF54.mp3 This Episode’s […] The post Crafting Your Personal Finances To Maximize Generosity with Matthew Wright | GOF54 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to be a multi-millionaire? Sure. Let’s be real honest for a second. For people like you and I, we could all probably use a few more dollars to help solve some of our financial problems. But that’s just it. Millionaires do not think that way. They don’t think about getting out […] The post Thinking Like a Multi-Millionaire | GOF53 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Productivity is always on people’s mind. We want to produce more, make more, and do it cheaper. Personally, I don’t think there is a thing wrong with these commitments. But can our commitment to productivity backfire on us leaving us burned out? In this episode, I look at productivity from a theological perspective trying to […] The post Five Practical Steps to Becoming a Productivity Powerhouse | GOF52 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Mel Gibson’s movie ’The Passion of the Christ’ has inspired me again. Like many Christians, Easter is a time to reflect on the suffering of Jesus as well as to remember his resurrection. Movies like Gibson’s help to re-orient the mind and heart to the life of Jesus. Also, I share with you some thoughts […] The post How ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Challenged My Fear of Pain | GOF51 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Atheism and Theism have one single thing in common. Faith. That is an established fact. Why? Because like people of faith, it takes just as much faith to believe the dogma “there is no God.”  So what distinguishes the two faith systems from each other? Well, in this episode I argue that art, beauty, and […] The post Why Do I Believe in God? An Answer to Atheism | GOF50 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Greg Willson has a vision, to reach the city of Manchester with the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s great! But the real impressive story lies behind the journey he has had to endure to reach Manchester. Just a short while ago, Greg Willson was facing federal charges for mortgage fraud. Through a two-year ordeal, […] The post How Extraordinary Betrayal Led To A New Church Plant with Greg Willson | GOF49 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

How can the church do a better job in showing kindness to the LGBT+ community? That question is answered in my interview with Ty Wyss, founding director of Walls Down Ministry. In today’s episode, I talk with Ty to learn how to move from debate to friendship. Find out how to go beyond defensive posturing […] The post Showing Kindness to the LGBT+ Person with Ty Wyss | GOF48 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Does positive speaking, the stuff we say, really have the power to shape our lives? On this episode of GOF, I’m joined by guest host Dr. Brian Russell to discuss the power of language in everyday life. Each day we must make a decision, whether or not to frame reality in a positive, healthy way. Think […] The post Crafting Purpose Through The Power of Positive Speaking | GOF47 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Parents, are you frustrated by your child’s behavior? If so, you might want to grab a cup of your favorite brew and join me in this episode. I’m going to share my journey in learning how to discipline my kids. Not that I’m perfect, but I have discovered a few things. Also, this week I […] The post Disciplining Kids In The 21st Century | GOF46 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

What is the difference between hoping and wishing? Crafting real hope in life requires brutal honesty. But let’s face it. We are not honest with ourselves, our friends, or God. Stop wasting your time and your life. Real hope is not based on a wish but brutal honesty. The sooner we learn how to be […] The post Why Crafting Real Hope Will Change Your Life | GOF45 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

How do you quit things that aren’t working? Answering that question isn’t as easy as it may seem. There are all kinds of reasons why we get stuck in life’s ruts. Getting unstuck requires work and effort requires energy. So how can you objectively evaluate your situation to find ways to make a positive change? In […] The post How To Quit Things That Are Not Working | GOF44 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Every Christian has the responsibility to take personal development seriously. But with all of the complicating self-help and personal development material available, how do you know what to trust? In this episode, I sit down with my special guest Dr. Brian Russell of Asbury Seminary. We ask this question. How should the Christian respond to […] The post Why Christians Should Take Personal Development Seriously with Dr. Brian Russell | GOF43 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Sexual Identity doesn’t just automatically happen. There is a process involved, and everybody experiences it. But the majority of us just do not understand the subtle forces that shape the way we think about sexuality. With the rise of “Gay Consciousness,” however, research has quietly sought to figure out what’s happening inside a person. This […] The post Three Factors That Shape Sexual Identity in Gay Kids | GOF42 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Everybody talks about the power of incremental change in getting control of your life, but I didn’t believe it until I hit rock bottom. A year ago, I was overweight, depressed and feeling pretty low on myself. My crashing point came when I noticed that I lacked the energy to help out with my kids […] The post Why Incremental Change Was Key To Regaining Control of My Life | GOF41 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

The closet is generally associated with LGBT+ persons who have yet to share their sexuality with family or friends. But there is another closet seldom talked about – the one parents retreat into after learning about their child’s identity. So in this episode, I discuss the parental closet and offer some guidance on how to move […] The post How Parents of Gay Kids End Up In The Closet | GOF40 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

If you had to come up with a list of spiritual disciplines every Christian needs to master, then what would you say? Chances are you would rattle off several different activities. But when you drill down into the Bible, four disciplines consistently bubble up to the service. Whenever Christians start to experience burnout in their […] The post Four Essential Spiritual Disciplines Every Christian Needs To Master | GOF38 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.

Over the past few years, I’ve seen several top pastors fail morally or become the latest victims to burnout. At first, it’s easy to point out their faults. But let’s get honest for a second. None of these men had theology any different than my own. So what happened? Today’s episode features an encore interview […] The post How Emotions Can Sabotage Even The Best Leaders | GOF37 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.