God's Men Of Influence Podcast

Eric Heard was a boy in a man’s body who got exposed.  He was weak in life because he couldn’t be who God wanted him to be.In the American culture we do not teach the rites of passage that allow a boy to become a man.  Fathers are too busy to speak truth into their sons.  This is a generational problem and Eric decided early as a father that he would never be absent.  He wanted to bless his son with the knowledge of who he is as a man.  It is men’s responsibility to step up and make order out of chaos. This is a very special show where we get a glimpse of a Pastor's perspective on Fatherhood. Recommended Book - “How to Raise a Modern Day Knight” by Robert Lewis For past shows and to learn more about the God's Men of Influence community, check us out atwww.godsmenofinfluence.org Join us on Facebook for our daily devotionals and updates and please like our page www.facebook.com/GodsMenOfInfluence   Help us spread the Word and please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. Tell us what insights you to

Eric Heard came from a family full of drugs and hate.  As a 17 year old child he considered throwing himself in front of a truck.   He was an unwanted child who was a product of his parents infidelity. His mom was an alcoholic who had been molested by her step-dad and tried to abort Eric 3 times. He never felt connected to his parents.   He began drinking in 3rd grade and the drugs came around the 6th grade and began selling marijuana in 7th grade. The addiction was medicating pain and it kept escalating because the drugs only can cut the pain temporarily and then you feel the pain worse when you wake up. When you look at his childhood it seems improbable that Eric would become a well respected Pastor, but that's exactly what he did.  In this show Eric talks about the men in his life that helped him heal from his sexual deviance, his fear of scarcity and his belief that he wasn't worthy of God's love..  There is a ripple effect of sin and so you must uproot the sins in your life.  The vigilance of keeping

Ryan is a Pastor and is married with three kids, but this is a very different marriage than his first one.  His testimony talks about the struggles and pressure that a pastor and pastor’s wife feel, and how he changed his approach in his second marriage to one of humility.   “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” - Psalms 16:11 Biggest Weakness - Ryan is a self-reliant addict rather than relying on Jesus.   We have less trust in God than we think we do.  Your money will let you down, but God never will. Dark Time - Ryan was married in 2003 as a young pastor and 4 months later his wife said she didn’t want to follow Jesus.  The spiritual rift kept pulling them apart.  She finally left and then he was asked to step down from his job as a pastor because he was separated.  7 months later he was drinking too much and literally banging his head on the wall.  God came to him in the form of 3 friends although many of his friends

#88 Addiction and Finding God in Prison - Brian Johnson Brian Johnston is a very different man today than he once was.  Brian suffers from a mental disorder and addictive personality which pulled him away from Jesus during the darkest times in his life.  It wasn’t until his last prison sentence that he finally understood why he was making such bad choices and how God could lead him toward the life he wanted.  This is his testimony “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future - Jeremiah 29:11 Biggest Weakness - The shame of his past still affects Brian.  It makes it more difficult to focus on all the good he has in his life.  It is difficult for him to forgive himself.   Biggest Strength - Love.  God taught him to love himself and love others.  He gives love now as much as is possible. Dark Time - Raised Christian with good parents.  There are things in his family like addiction and mental illness that ultimately beca

God has a purpose for your life regardless of whether you’re adopted or not.  Paul Aubin is a Chair person for a faith-based organization named Convene focused on CEO’s building Christian based businesses and comes on to tell the remarkable story and mystery behind his adoption. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ - Mathew 25:21   Married to a Women’s Pastor who works with couples named Margaret.  Together they have 7 children. Biggest Weakness - Because of his adoption he seeks validation and acceptance through sports and work.  Now he gets affirmation from God, but he still struggles. Biggest Strength - God has made it clear that he is to lead other men to be men of God.  To lead men from pride to humility. Dark Time - in 2000 things went bad for about 5 years.  When Paul lost his job, he lost his identity.  He went through financial issues, divorce, health pro

God has a purpose for your life regardless of whether you’re adopted or not.  Paul Aubin is a Chair person for a faith-based organization named Convene focused on CEO’s building Christian based businesses and comes on to tell the remarkable story and mystery behind his adoption. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ - Mathew 25:21   Married to a Women’s Pastor who works with couples named Margaret.  Together they have 7 children. Biggest Weakness - Because of his adoption he seeks validation and acceptance through sports, women and work.  Now he gets affirmation from God, but he still struggles. Biggest Strength - God has made it clear that he is to lead other men to be men of God.  To lead men from pride to humility. Dark Time - in 2000 things went bad for about 5 years.  When Paul lost his job, he lost his identity.  He went through financial issues, divorce, hea

Andy Jones should be locked away in prison, but God saved him.  Through a life of molestation, drugs, sex, theft and domestic abuse God was with him, but he refused to listen.  Andy has served as a ministry leader at Celebrate Recovery Ministry at Seacoast Grace Church, a ministry that helps broken people find their way back to God through a 12 step Christ based program.  This is his amazing testimony. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” - John 8:7 Biggest Weakness - Profanity Biggest Strength - Compassion and empathy Dark Time - Born to an alcoholic mother and father Andy struggled as a child.  At 7 years old he was put into a mental institution.  He was a wild child that his parents couldn’t handle.   If you misbehaved, you were locked into the white room where he saw his mom leave on a visit.   Andy stayed there for 16 weeks and then bounced back and forth between his mom and her crazy boyfriend and her dad and his abusive girlfriend.   Because he wet the bed, she

Andy Jones should be locked away in prison, but God saved him.  Through a life of molestation, drugs, sex, theft and domestic abuse God was with him, but he refused to listen.  Andy has served as a ministry leader at Celebrate Recovery Ministry at Seacoast Grace Church, a ministry that helps broken people find their way back to God through a 12 step Christ based program.  This is his amazing testimony. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” - John 8:7 Biggest Weakness - Profanity Biggest Strength - Compassion and empathy Dark Time - Born to an alcoholic mother and father Andy struggled as a child.  At 7 years old he was put into a mental institution.  He was a wild child that his parents couldn’t handle.   If you misbehaved, you were locked into the white room where he saw his mom leave on a visit.   Andy stayed there for 16 weeks and then bounced back and forth between his mom and her crazy boyfriend and her dad and his abusive girlfriend.   Because he wet the bed, she

During a dark time 23 year old Jon Farkas found the God’s Men of Influence podcast. After listening to the James & Teri Craft show and a drive he cried for 2 days.  Since then he’s been listening and letting the testimony of men inspire him and open him up even further to God’s love.  This is his testimony. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful

March 3, 2011, Jessie Rees (age 11) was diagnosed with an incurable form of Brain Cancer.  She moved to heaven on Jan 5, 2012 and Erik knows that through Jesus he will see her again.  Erik has to invest in his family everyday, there is no rewind button.  This is his testimony.   “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” - Ephesians 2:10   Biggest Weakness - Selfishness.  We all fight it, but this hit him hard after Jessie was diagnosed.  Erik had taken his family for granted. Biggest Strength - Faith in God.  It’s what got him through the death of his daughter.  Erik yelled and screamed at God, but has held on to the promise of heaven. Dark Time - Grew up in an abusive family with an abusive father, but although the time with Jessie was very dark, she was the silver light.  Every dad wants to save their child and when you can’t the only option is to trust. Jessie asked the question “when do the other kids go home?”  After hearing the an

What happens when you grow up lacking affection from your parents?  Insecurity, fear of transitions and anxiety ruled Mark Giraud until he read his bible and began to heal.   “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” - Proverbs 3, 5 & 6 Mark is a wealth consultant for Vantaquest.  At Vantaquest, they encourage clients to find their calling not only financially but in life. Today Mark is grateful that God has brought him to a place where he can be obedient and happy in his relationship with the Lord and his family.  He’s very involved in Celebrate Recovery ministry. Biggest Weakness - A drive to perform that became a false Idol and an effort to control. Biggest Strength - Commitment to Christ and be faithful. Dark Time - Grew up in New Orleans and was missing a lack of emotional connection with his parents.  Normal transitions were difficult for Mark, because life felt scary.  Mark struggled with l

God will show a man who he’s been so that he can change who he will be.  This is a lesson that John Tumminello learned when he woke up having everything, looked in the mirror and hated himself.   “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” - John 15:5   John is from NY.  He’s a father of 2 children and husband.  While trying to help people, he believes he’s learned more than he’s given.  God has wrecked him to teach him. John’s non profit’s are focused on the fatherless and those who were wounded by their experiences with their fathers. John’s father had one arm and ran a deli to keep the family fed and his mom was detached.  He didn’t feel a lot of affection as a youth, because his parents suffered from the were scared to stop working. Biggest Weakness - When he’s running ahead of God Biggest Strength - To encourage people. Dark Time - He didn’t even know how he got there, but his dark time lasted 5 years.  He was told h

Pornography is not a victimless crime and led James down the path to divorce and even greater sin.  In his testimony James talks about the difference between going to church and taking the time to know God in your day to day life. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” - Ephesians 6:10 Biggest Weakness - Apathy.  James gets too caught up in daily life and forgets to give time to talk with God. Biggest Strength - Being a good father and husband.  God has called him to have unconditional love for his family and to be a spiritual leader. Dark Time - Addicted to pornography in the late 90’s while he was in the military.  He started objectifying women and James believes it is a disease and not a victimless crime.  It changed the way he looked at his wife and led to divorce.  The sickness continued until 2005 when James found God. Christian music helped him to discover the Word and the message behind it. The lightbulb went off when James was doing things he was not proud of and realized this was

The Devil loves it when we doubt ourselves, but the truth is that God loves us no matter what.  If we remember our faith and put our lives in God’s hands, the we have nothing to fear and no reason to doubt.  In this episode Caleb Vaden talks about God, Family and the military.   “Because I feel that it is as real as it gets, and it is exactly what Jesus wanted us to retain” - Mark 12: 30-32,   Biggest Weakness -  Self judgement and doubt plague Brian. Biggest Strength - Faith in God. Caleb was saved when he was 9 years old, and it was a "light bulb" moment when he realized the sinner he was.  His hatred for his dad kept him from embracing the Lord. At the time,  there was a baptist church that Caleb had been going to that had an evangelical preacher visit.   Dark Time - I found out some horrible news about my dad and some heinous crimes.  Caleb was then deployed overseas and his marriage was coming undone.  He began allowing hatred to ruin his life. After the revelation where God showed Caleb forgiveness th

Brian Croom was addicted to drugs and alcohol in high school and women in his 20’s.  He was an adulterer and lost his job and his family.  With a gun in his mouth he heard God’s Voice and was saved.   Now diagnosed with MS, Brian has his family back, a job and is incredibly grateful of God’s Mercy.  This is his moving testimony.   “Trust in the Lord forever,for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” - Isaiah 26:4   Biggest Weakness - Having a hard time praying for his spouse and he’s not sure why. Biggest Strength - Transparency in his relationship with God.  It’s a great way to help a lot of people. Dark Time - Was in rehab while in high school for drugs and alcohol.  Then in his 20’s he became addicted to what women could do for him.  That caused him to be adulterous.  When he lost his job the affairs become public.  At the time Brian was not Christian, but his wife was a church-goer.   His wife left him and took his 2 youngest girls.  He had a gun in his mouth that morning, but he heard the wor

Forgiveness is the key to freedom.  God wants us to look at all people through his eyes and at that moment you can forgive anything.  Mauricio Rodriguez was thrown down a hole in an out house in Nicaragua and left to die by his biological mother.  God saved him and is now bringing him back to Nicaragua at age 31 to spread his words and help young women to be better mothers.  That is the power of forgiveness. “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth”  Exodus 9:16   Mauricio works full time on the Tree of Life 84.  His work for the foundation requires Mauricio to be in Nicaragua in the town of Esteli, when meetings are called. Biggest Weakness - Asking for Help.  Mauricio wants to be available for everyone, but can’t ask when he is having a problem. Biggest Strength - Compassion.  When he sees others suffering, Mauricio’s heart breaks and he must be with them.  He’s asked the Lord to always help him to hold on to that

Forgiveness is the key to freedom.  God wants us to look at all people through his eyes and at that moment you can forgive anything.  Mauricio Rodriguez was thrown down a hole in an out house in Nicaragua and left to die by his biological mother.  God saved him and is now bringing him back to Nicaragua at age 31 to spread his words and help young women to be better mothers.  That is the power of forgiveness. “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth”  Exodus 9:16 Mauricio works full time on the Tree of Life 84.  His work for the foundation requires Mauricio to be in Nicaragua in the town of Esteli, when meetings are called. Biggest Weakness - Asking for Help.  Mauricio wants to be available for everyone, but can’t ask when he is having a problem. Biggest Strength - Compassion.  When he sees others suffering, Mauricio’s heart breaks and he must be with them.  He’s asked the Lord to always help him to hold on to that co

What does it take to be a God’s Man of Influence?  Today Pastor Counselor Harry Robinson talks about one aspect which is what it takes to be a good father.  First advice, read “How To Raise A Modern Day Knight.”   Father’s have a massive influence on their kids.  “Raising A Modern Day Knight” recommends specific rights of passage for fathers to do with their children. Teach your sons at an early age how to love their mother by words and by example. Harry’s father demonstrated to him what a real man does and looking back he is very grateful. Rights of passage are to create landmarks to tell your son that he has reached a new level in manhood. Everybody has a definition of what a man should be.  A man takes responsibility and rejects the passivity to accept a greater reward.  A man leads courageously.  A father must be demonstrating these things at all times. Harry created a necklace for his son with beads that he could earn.  You speak into their life the recognition of their efforts with the beads. Creating

Pastor Harry Robinson is a man who has walked a journey long enough to trust God.  The truth is that God will be found when he’s needed and in dark times we must look for him more closely than ever.     “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” - Ephesians 2:8-10   Harry believes we all must remove our masks.  God doesn’t deal in falsehood. Biggest Weakness - Harry is clearly aware that he struggles with walking according to the flesh. Biggest Strength - Trusting in the Lord. When he walks in the spirit of God, great things happen.  He’s a constant companion. Dark Time - In his teenage years he experienced dark times, but also came to know God.  Harry started smoking Marijuana and understood that this was not what God wanted him to do.  There was never peace until he completely surrendered to God.  After a bankruptcy and having children, he asked God “what will you have me do?” In college Harry used to

Single Dad Beau Dobbs knows that his greatest purpose in life is to be a good father.  Though as an army veteran he suffers  with PTSD, Beau looks to God to support him with his children and with his struggles.  His life is changing in powerful ways. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” - Philippians 4:6 Greatest purpose in Beau’s life is to be a good father and a good Christian man. Beau’s blog is called “A Call To Manhood” at www.acalltomanhood.com Biggest Weakness - Surrendering to God’s plan.  Whenever Beau plans his own life, God erases it.   Biggest Strength - Beau’s ability to turn to prayer and have faith that God will provide in his perfect time. Dark Time - January of 2014.  Beau had been suffering from PTSD for 10 years and depression.  God was trying to get Beau’s attention and in Oct he had a near fatal car accident and in November his grandfather passed away.   As Beau asked God about what to do wi