This Stuff Matters with Tom Gray

For our final episode of 2024, we want to connect you to a high point of the greatest story ever! Christmas is the point in our story where our Rescuer enters the plot-line to begin the battle to reclaim all we have lost – life, purpose, meaning, joy and peace. Enjoy soaking in the details of the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Use these discussion questions as prompts for your family and/or gathering to connect more personally and deeply to the greatest story ever.1. The angel told the shepherds that the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord hadbeen born in Bethlehem – role play with your family or group, as if you had been the shepherds, the initial discussion they must have had after the angels left them, before they decided to go into Bethlehem to see it for themselves. See if you can really get into character and discuss everything they might have been processing, from the shock of seeing the angels to the content of the message and its ramifications, to the decision to finally go see it themselves.2. In the broader story, Joseph is going to be communicated to by an angel as well, but for the specific story we’ve read he’s in the story but he’s having to rely on some second-hand communication through Mary and the shepherds. Discuss from Joseph’s perspective … A. Would the details of the baby, his birth, and his identity/purpose have been easy for you to believe and accept, or difficult? Andwhy? B. As men like to do, Joseph undoubtedly would have had his mind flooded with thoughts of the future, his future, the role he would be responsible to play, how his life was about to look radically different than he’d previously thought or dreamed – talk through together what you think this night, the event of Jesus’ birth would have been like to him/for him – including the struggles of faith he probably did or would experience. Are there any similarities to his faith journey and yours? If so, what?And, finally – here is the link to Help the Persecuted, which Tom mentioned in this episode. https://htp.org/We’ll see you in 2025 – Merry Christmas!

Join us for the season opener of This Stuff Matters as we sit down with John Offerdahl, former NFL linebacker turned successful entrepreneur. In this episode, John shares his journey from sports to business and the lessons learned along the way. Discover how he integrates his passion for football with his business acumen to make a positive impact both on and off the field.In this episode, you'll hear about:    •    John's transition from football star to business leader.    •    The key principles of leadership that have guided him through various challenges.    •    How mentorship and a purpose-driven life have shaped his approach to business and personal growth.Tune in to start your season with inspiration and actionable insights from one of the sports world’s most influential figures.

Save the Date for our next This Stuff Matters Live Event with Erick Erickson. Join us in Kennesaw, GA on October 17th, 2024. More info to come on our website, www.thisstuffmatters.netTo subscribe to our new AAA Newsletter, you can do so at the bottom of our homepage at this link www.thisstuffmatters.netHit us up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Save the Date for our next This Stuff Matters Live Event with Erick Erickson. Join us in Kennesaw, GA on October 17th, 2024. More info to come on our website, www.thisstuffmatters.netTo subscribe to our new AAA Newsletter, you can do so at the bottom of our homepage at this link www.thisstuffmatters.netHit us up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Save the Date for our next This Stuff Matters Live Event with Erick Erickson. Join us in Kennesaw, GA on October 17th, 2024. More info to come on our website, www.thisstuffmatters.netTo subscribe to our new AAA Newsletter, you can do so at the bottom of our homepage at this link www.thisstuffmatters.netHit us up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Save the Date for our next This Stuff Matters Live Event with Erick Erickson. Join us in Kennesaw, GA on October 17th, 2024. More info to come on our website, www.thisstuffmatters.netTo subscribe to our new AAA Newsletter, you can do so at the bottom of our homepage at this link www.thisstuffmatters.netHit us up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

I Want to Live Forever – the Foolishness of Pursuing Longevity Our consistent tendency, as human beings is to take good things, and turn them into bad things by making them main things. It’s really easy to begin pursuing longevity as if it’s the main point of life. On today’s episode, we’ll take an intentional look at our obsession with longevity and offer a better approach. Get your tickets to our Erick Erickson dinner on October 26th here - https://www.thisstuffmatters.net/ Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

The goal of today’s episode is to help you take your unexpected trials and tragedies and 1) put them in the right perspective, 2) avoid being completely defeated by them, and 3) even thrive in spite of them. We must know, remember and regularly remind ourselves about unexpected trials and tragedies: 1. We’re not immune to them 2. We’re not defined by them 3. We’re not going to have to endure them forever 4. We’re not alone in them As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 We’re very excited to introduce you to Joshua Youssef, the CEO of Help The Persecuted. Here is a link to the organization’s website. We hope you will connect with them and perhaps become a part of helping with their critical mission. https://htp.org/ As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Part 1 of our interview with Joshua Youssef Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 We’re very excited to introduce you to Joshua Youssef, the CEO of Help The Persecuted. Here is a link to the organization’s website. We hope you will connect with them and perhaps become a part of helping with their critical mission. https://htp.org/ As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Meet Fran Mann, Jr. – a husband, an executive at Aflac, a backwoods bush pilot, a motocross racer, and a man battling cancer. Send me an email (below) if you’d like to subscribe to Frank’s daily text message devotionals. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Part 1 of our interview with Frank Mann, Jr. Meet Fran Mann, Jr. – a husband, an executive at Aflac, a backwoods bush pilot, a motocross racer, and a man battling cancer. Send me an email (below) if you’d like to subscribe to Frank’s daily text message devotionals. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Anxiety disorders have risen 20% in the last four years in the U.S. Today, we want to hit one significant root cause of many manifestations of anxiety and discouragement. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Getting into a saving, life-altering personal relationship with God is where stability and strength are found: https://www.thisstuffmatters.net/how-to-have-peace-with-god Then, accepting what God says about who we are and what makes us valuable is the antidote to the treacherous quicksand of living for the opinions of any human(s): https://kenboa.org/spiritual-formation/who-does-god-say-i-am/ As always, please download and share the episode with anyone who will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

As we navigate through life, we inevitably encounter trials and tribulations that can take a toll on our mental health. It's a reality that more and more adults are grappling with depression and anxiety. In this episode, Tom explores the purpose and story of each individual and how it fits into their life, as well as the bigger life story happening all around us. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts - email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Dr. Gordon Pritz, a now-retired, forty-year public educator, has been married for 46 years to wife, Ginny. He is the fourth of five boys in his family. He and Ginny have raised four boys to manhood, and are now proudly investing in the lives of their four grandchildren. An athlete, teacher, coach, and administrator, Gordon has impacted countless lives over the course of his life and continues to do so to this day. He has coached eight teams (Wheeler and McEachern) to wrestling state championships in Georgia. In 2003 he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He finished his full-time professional career as the Superintendent of Schools of the Douglas County school system in Georgia. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Dr. Gordon Pritz, a now-retired, forty-year public educator, has been married for 46 years to wife, Ginny. He is the fourth of five boys in his family. He and Ginny have raised four boys to manhood, and are now proudly investing in the lives of their four grandchildren. An athlete, teacher, coach, and administrator, Gordon has impacted countless lives over the course of his life and continues to do so to this day. He has coached eight teams (Wheeler and McEachern) to wrestling state championships in Georgia. In 2003 he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He finished his full-time professional career as the Superintendent of Schools of the Douglas County school system in Georgia. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Enjoy part 2 of our interview with a great man, a real difference-maker in the world, Dennis Gomez. If you are interested in learning more about the mentoring organization that Dennis has been involved in, here is the link to their website - https://100blackmen-atlanta.org/ As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me atinfo@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Enjoy part 1 of our interview with a great man, a real difference-maker in the world, Dennis Gomez. If you are interested in learning more about the mentoring organization that Dennis has been involved in, here is the link to their website https://100blackmen-atlanta.org/ As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

In a world threatening to be pulled into the black hole of laziness and leisure, the way forward will be to renew our strong commitment to industriousness as a critical virtue – aka, hard work. The biblical/old testament model (Exodus 20:9) leads us to work six days per week and rest one day per week. Traditionally as Americans, we enjoy a rigorous five-day work week with one day designated for rest and recreation and then an additional day dedicated to corporate worship. Let’s beware of and outright reject the growing push for fewer hours/days of work and more days of idleness. Wealth is almost always squandered three generations after it was earned, largely because the work ethic which earned it was jettisoned for the love of leisure. As Americans, let’s re-commit ourselves afresh to the glorious joy of the American work ethic. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.

Truth = that which is in accordance with fact and reality. Whatever is built on truth thrives. Whatever is built contrary to truth crumbles. As we near the 4th of July, we must recognize the greatness of our nation is a result of its foundation being built on the truth – “we hold these truths to be self-evident …” Every human life, every family, every organization, and every culture thrives to the extent it aligns with truth, and suffers to the extent it strays from the truth. Our revolution of souls and society is first and foremost a renewed commitment to pursue and practice truth. The truth will set us free, but first, it might make us mad. We have to love enough to be ok making ourselves and others mad initially to be able to thrive ultimately. As always, please download and share the episode with anyone you think will benefit from it. Hit me up with questions or thoughts – email me at info@thisstuffmatters.net or text/voice message me at 678-453-6774.