Halfway There

Join the Halfway There Conversation

Hi Friends,
This week, if you were looking for a great story this week, let me recommend to you episode #37 with Mark Casson. Mark shared that today is the anniversary of his release from prison. He shares the story of how he came to Christ and pleaded guilty, grew while in prison, and stepped into ministry. It’s a great story!
I also invite you to join Halfway There’s brand new Facebook group. It’s called the Halfway There Conversation Group and we will see three things happen:
Share your story – this will be a place for you to share the story of your walk with the Lord. We will often have conversations that invite you to tell us how God has been faithful to you.
Connect with other believers – The amazing power of groups is to connect you to people you otherwise never would have know. My heart’s desire is that you would meet some people in this group that challenge and deepen your faith. You are not alone.
Hear stories that boost your faith – Just like we do on the podcast, as we discuss the spiritual journey you will find yourself trusting the Lord more deeply.
Join the Halfway There Conversation Group now.
Keep the faith!
Eric
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079: Tim Morris and How Your Heart’s Desire Unlocks Your Purpose

Tim Morris is a professional coach called to empower visionary leaders to turn their ideas into a movement. He has developed a program called Design Discovery that is “a framework to know the superpowers, tools they uniquely use, environment they come alive, the specific people they are called to serve, and the fruit they are designed to produce.” Tim shares his experience learning listening prayer, why your heart can be trusted, and how to discover your design.
Tim is also my coach and has been instrumental in helping me overcome the obstacles in my way to achieving my goals. Design Discovery helped me find my sweet spot and now Tim is helping me grow in it. If learning to live in your design is intriguing to you, listen to this episode and then reach out to Tim for more information.
Stories Tim shared:
Why he loves apostles, prophets, and evangelists and his calling to empower them
The youth pastor who led him to give his life to Christ
The church service that left him depressed for several years
The moment when God spoke to him about the trustworthiness of Scripture
How to master listening prayer (Silence, Imagination, Flow, Test)
Why the heart is a trustworthy guide to who you are
His journey into Design Discovery and how Tim uses it to unleash the heart
Discerning God’s will for your life through desire
How he came to understand spiritual warfare
Great quotes from Tim:
If the enemy can take an apostle down, he can take them all down.
God is more normal than you can imagine, and more supernatural than you can imagine.
Desire is the leading part of the heart. Emotions, mind, and will follow behind.
One of the other legit sources of God’s communication to us is via our heart’s desires.
Christians should be the most desirous people on Earth.
Resources mentioned by Tim (Amazon Affiliate links):
Design Discovery free coaching session and Five-Fold Assessment
The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost
4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice by Mark Verkler
The Gospel of the New Heart on Tim’s blog
Jeremiah
Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill
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078: Rob Decker Discovers God’s Tenderness for Himself

Rob Decker is a personal trainer who has been radically changed by God. Today, Rob shares the moment when he jumped out a window and the tender words the Lord spoke to him in the hospital that built his faith again. His story is one of radical transformation from a hard drinking, drug abusing young man to a clear-eyed man with a full heart who speaks personally of the love of God.
Listen to Rob’s story and be sure to share with a friend!
Stories Rob shared:
Learning that his step-father was not his dad
Rob was always aware that God was his father
The unique physical experience he had during his conversion
What drew him to unhealthy relationships
The moment he jumped out a window to commit suicide and survived
What his extreme response reveals about who he is
The peaceful moment when God spoke to him about how his situation will be resolved
The joy he feels today about his relationship with the Lord
Great quotes from Rob:
It [a suicide attempt] was a very hard experience but it was the beginning of a great walk with God.
He will give you your youth back.
I’m one of his bratty kids.
Resources Rob mentioned:
Isaiah 53
The Passion Of The Christ (Amazon affiliate link that pays me a commission if you buy it, or anything else)
Rob’s appearance on CBN
Find Rob at his website
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077: Teresa Blaes Asks About All the Anomalies

Teresa Blaes is the host of the Unresolved Life podcast and explores life’s most difficult questions. Today, Teresa shares the serious events that shaped her to be a deeper questioner of God and everything she encounters. She details her journey through skepticism, painful moments, and the gentle leading of the Lord. When you hear some of the events of her life you will be amazed that she emerged with faith at all and her willingness to ask deep questions will make sense. Please go to Apple Podcasts and subscribe to Unresolved Life for more.
Please listen and share with a friend.
Stories Teresa shared:
Podcasting as a way of answering life’s most difficult questions
Growing up in a non-Christian home and traumatic events
Attending a school for the blind and the spiritual encounter that scared her
Giving her life to Christ after a radio invitation
The first time God spoke to her
Ministering to a crack addict name Jake
All the difficult questions that books like Job raise
Learning within days that her mom died and that she was permanently blind and how that affected her relationship with God
Wrestling with God over what he wants her to do
“Seek me and you will find me.”
Great quotes from Teresa:
If you’re not honest with him, he can’t work.
You can come to him and question him even with your baggage. He is not afraid of the questions.
Resources mentioned by Teresa (Amazon affiliate links):
Unresolved Life Podcast with Teresa Blaes
Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman
Walking with God: How to Hear His Voice by John Eldredge
All Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love by John Eldredge
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Bonus: Tonya Jewel Blessing Shares the Snake Bite Story

Tonya Jewell Blessing shared her story with Halfway There on episode #36 last year. Not long ago she reached out to me to say that she wanted to share an amazing encounter she had with a snake just before coming back to the United States for a visit. Today, she shares that story and her new new book, Soothing Rain: Living Water to Refresh Your Soul (Amazon affiliate link).
Please listen to this incredible story of God’s faithfulness and share with a friend!
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076: Phil Gauthier Dives into the Story God is Creating

Phil Gauthier is the host of the God Watch Podcast and has become a good friend. Today he shares his story of coming to Christ after doing drugs all night on a lakeshore, learning the character of God, and starting his own podcast. Phil is a true entrepreneur who has his own plumbing business in Des Moines, Iowa. You will hear his heart for sharing the Good News of God’s love for people. Phil’s show encourages you to embrace where God has you and to come out on the other side of struggle stronger.
Please listen to this show with Phil and share with a friend. And go to iTunes to subscribe to God Watch.
Stories Phil shared:
We chat about making Christian podcasting
The moment at the lake when he gave his life to Christ
A near death experience that convinced him it was time to give up drugs
Finding the character of God as his means for growth
How he shares the Gospel with people he meets every day and why openness is crucial
Why millennials represent an opportunity for the church
What makes God feel distant sometimes
Why he decided to start the God Watch Podcast
What he’s learned from listening to stories for his podcast
Great quotes from Phil:
I needed to pursue God but it turned out he was pursuing me the whole time.
If you don’t understand his character, you can’t understand his love, his compassion, and the greatness that is him.
Nearly every day I’m talking about Jesus with a stranger.
If you stick with it, you come out on the other side stronger.
The stories we share happen every day in churches, every day among friends.
Resources Phil mentioned:
God Watch Podcast
Subscribe to Phil’s show, The God Watch Podcast, in iTunes
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075: Ken L. Roberts and How the Hard Times Shape You for the Better

Ken L. Roberts is a former pastor and church planter turned author and life coach. Today he shares the story of how God led him to the sweet spot of his life. The story winds through the most challenging moments in his life including hitting a spiritual wall while serving as a pastor and the unexpected death of his wife. Ken shares that being on a deeper journey with God helped him through those difficult moments and led to his current period of ministry helping believers break through the wall and leaders “live well while they lead well.”
Please listen and share with a friend!
Stories Ken shared:
Growing up as a pastor’s kid and giving his life to Christ at age 7
Feeling called to ministry at age 17
The gap between what he believed and what they were doing
Stumbling into new spiritual disciplines that refreshed his spirit
The tragic death of his wife and choosing to embrace God in it
Bringing together all the pieces to find his sweet spot
The three nails he wants to pound for the rest of his life
Great quotes from Ken:
An animal won’t come out unless you’re quiet. Your soul is the same way.
I’m more settled with mysteries than I used to be.
Resources Ken mentioned:
Unexpected: Navigating Life’s Unforeseen Turns (Faith)
Staying Power
Life Focus Course
The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development by Dr. J. Robert Clinton
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster
The Critical Journey, Stages in the Life of Faith, Second Edition by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich
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074: Nephtali Matta God Brings Redemption and Restoration

Nephtali Matta is the ministry coordinator of Koinania house, a ministry that helps men after they get out of prison. I first met him in a seminary class at Denver Seminary. Nephtali was the guy who seemed to have it all together with a bright future in ministry. Today he shares the story of discovering the dangers of people pleasing and trying to look like you have it all together. He let people in but never “gave them all the cards,” as he says, which meant no one knew his situation. When he went to jail on a domestic violence charge and spent 16 months there, his life was irrevocably changed.
Please listen to Nephtali’s story and share with a friend!
Stories Nephtali shared:
Growing up with a difference between (Expectations)
The domestic violence incident that changed his life
Moving back to Colorado while trying to get his marriage back together
Going to jail while waiting for his legal issues to be worked out
Jailhouse chapel service where he experienced grace
His ministry in jail that confirmed God’s calling in his life
Discovering how hard it is to enter life outside jail.
Finding his position at Koinonia House
The grace he is able to offer to others
Great quotes:
The people of God are a lot more willing to accept you for your flaws and your sins, if you let them, than you’re probably giving them credit for.
I’m really bad at changing people and if I do then I’m probably messing them up.
I wasn’t lying about anything but I was hiding a lot.
Tell anybody. Tell everybody. I’m tired of hiding.
Resources mentioned:
RadicalTimeout.info
khnm.net
Nephtali’s Twitter (see him with a halo)
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