by Jeff | Feb 14, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw
Episodes in this series: BAM Part 1 | BAM Part 2 | BAM Part 3 | BAM Part 4
Building an atmosphere of mentoring involves the things we say and do. On this episode, Jeff and Dave discuss the opportunity mentors can use to “fire up” those around them. A great mentor is like a fire tender. They know how to make sure the fire doesn’t become destructive or flame out. Like a fire is dynamic, so is mentoring. There are ups that downs. There are times where the fire is steady and it doesn’t need more wood or oxygen. There are times when the fire needs more or less of those things depending on the situation.
One specific tool mentors use is their words. What we say, when we say it and how we say it matters. And we get to control the words we use! Listen in as Jeff and Dave continue this series of building an atmosphere of mentoring.
Become A Coach | One area that needs mentors is on our live coaching lines. Are you 18+? Want to give a young person a few hours a week simply by being online and available? Check out our coaching page to learn about becoming a coach with our partner, Groundwire.net.
Podcast: Download
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider a small gift.
Show Notes
DW. | Sabbath
The idea: Sabbath was given to us not just as a day of rest like many believe, but also as a day of relationship. This day was established to be one where families could intentionally instill value into one another. And they did this in some significant ways. Husbands would honor their wives in front of the group. By honoring, they would recommit their desire to love them and serve them. Maybe they would give gifts or do something that would show honor to them. Likewise, the parents would bless their kids. They would speak life over them, affirming them and their qualities or personal abilities.
Affirmation. Honor. Significant, meaningful time clear of distractions and “busyness”. These are the keys to making this day meaningful. What would happen if families used this example as a template for a couple hours 1 day a week? Would our family life be different today? Would communities be different? Will our country change?
How do we encourage as mentors?
- Words. Affirm the truth and debunk myths or lies they believe about themselves or others. Genuine, honest feedback is valuable to anyone. It doesn’t mean you’ll always like what they have to say. But the last thing any of us need are more empty words or empty promises. Let’s raise the expectation that we can all be honest and truthful, even if it hurts me or the other person’s feelings. Let’s create a culture of honesty, honor, generosity, and humility.
- No words. Active listening can be a greater encouragement to someone. Remember, not everyone coming to you with an issue is looking for you to solve it.
- Acts of generosity. This is done in a variety of ways using our time, talent or treasure. Generous people are people you want to be around.
What other ways can you think of?
The difference between empty flattery and solid encouragement
by Jeff | Feb 7, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220
Episodes in this series: BAM Part 1 | BAM Part 2 | BAM Part 3 | BAM Part 4
Mentoring isn’t just something we believe in theory. It’s foundational to life. One quality that makes a mentor great is their humility. They’re able to admit they don’t know everything. This week, Jeff and Dave discuss the qualities of good mentors. It may surprise you to know that you don’t have to have all the answers to be a mentor to someone.
Whatever your current situation is now, we want to invite you to be part of the vision of creating atmospheres of mentoring wherever you are!
Become a Coach
One area that needs mentors is on our live coaching lines. Are you 18+? Want to give a young person a few hours a week simply by being online and available? Check out our coaching page to learn about becoming a coach with our partner, Groundwire.net.
Podcast: Download
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider a small gift.
Show Notes
Galatians 5:13-26 | The Heart of a Great Mentor
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Point: A great mentor is not looking for personal gain. Loving your neighbor often comes at a price. Love isn’t easy. But it’s worth it. It involves pain and loss, at times. Acts of love often get ignored or dismissed easily. Don’t get discouraged!
But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Point: A great mentor watches what they say.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Point: A great mentor points out the dirty spots of our lives where we are acting opposite of what God would have for us. They’re not trying to make light of your flaws more than they want to help you get better in an area you’re weak. Usually, they’re pointing out something that’s obvious or should be obvious.
But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Point: If you’re living by what makes you feel good, you’ll end up doing this stuff. A great mentor will steer you away from danger. Listen to their wisdom. They know what they’re talking about.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
Point: Living the way God intended will produce the qualities every one of us is inspired by: love, joy peace… If you want these things in your life, God makes it simple. A great mentor will show you how to live simply by doing life together.
by Jeff | Jan 31, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220
Episodes in this series: BAM Part 1 | BAM Part 2 | BAM Part 3 | BAM Part 4
Mentoring isn’t just something we believe in theory. It’s foundational to life. Whether it’s raising kids or training the new recruit how to do his or her job, mentoring happens in a variety of ways everywhere… or at least it should. Faith communities are also greatly positioned in communities to be a hub for mentoring to take place. However, as time becomes more scarce and people become more interested in things they are people, we lose out in big ways when it comes to quality mentoring. And this generation, is in great need of awesome, inspiring, life-giving mentors.
Whatever your current situation is now, we want to invite you to be part of the vision of creating atmospheres of mentoring wherever you are!
Become A Coach | One area that needs mentors is on our live coaching lines. Are you 18+? Want to give a young person a few hours a week simply by being online and available? Check out our coaching page to learn about becoming a coach with our partner, Groundwire.net.
Podcast: Download
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider a small gift.
Show Notes
Join us at Winter Jam @ Silver Birch Ranch!
Think about every single sector of industry right now. Can you think of any jobs or careers in which training or mentoring was not a part of the job? Very few, I would imagine. So, why is it that faith communities are struggling to provide quality mentoring relationships for those who are searching? Do we just not see the value? Is our time and focus being put elsewhere?
A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be. -Tom Landry
by Jeff | Jan 24, 2016
Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220
Arguably the most disappointing seconds for the Minnesota Vikings came at the end of what seemed to be sure victory in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Steve Harvey experienced a momentary failure when he incorrectly announced the winner of Miss Universe 2015. Everybody fails. But not everyone succeeds. The road to success is paved with failure. And guess what?
It’s OK. Here’s why…
Podcast: Download
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider a small gift.
Show Notes
Share your thoughts:
Football is great for real-life examples that we can glean from. Take the Vikings game in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs a couple of weeks ago at home against Seattle. The last play of the game. Failure.
What is the worst part about failing? The worst part about failure has to be the people you let down. The memory of it and when people continually bring it up – not letting it define you.
Check out this video from Steve Harvey following a taping of Family Feud.
by Jeff | Jan 10, 2016
On this episode
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw
Depression.
According to the APA, “depression is a medical illness that affects how you feel, think and behave causing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
If you are struggling with depression and are contemplating suicide, please reach out and talk: 1-800-273-8255
Most of us would rather not talk about it. Its affects are wide-reaching mentally, physically and emotionally. And yet, we need to talk about it. You weren’t made to be depressed. But it does exist and people of faith and non-faith need to address it. Can we peel back the layers together and unpack this?
Podcast: Download
Subscribe & Support the Podcast
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes, Stitcher and Tune In Radio! Make sure to leave a ★★★★★ review and consider a small gift.
Show Notes
What Are the Main Causes of Depression? (source)
There are a number of factors that may increase the chance of depression, including the following:
Abuse. Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can cause depression later in life.
Certain medications. Some drugs, such as Accutane (used to treat acne), the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk of depression.
Conflict. Depression in someone who has the biological vulnerability to develop depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.
Death or a loss. Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may increase the risk of depression.
Genetics. A family history of depression may increase the risk. It’s thought that depression is a complex trait that may be inherited across generations, although the genetics of psychiatric disorders are not as simple or straightforward as in purely genetic diseases such as Huntington’s chorea or cystic fibrosis.
Major events. Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring.
Other personal problems. Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can lead to depression.
Serious illnesses. Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or is a reaction to the illness.
Substance abuse. Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.
