Win Today with Christopher Cook: Your Roadmap to Wholeness

60% of people fear things that will never actually take place. 30% of people fear things that cannot be changed. 88% of people fear having to face a health crisis. And to be honest, I think I have been a member of each of those groups at many points in my life. And you probably have, too, right? So how do we deal? How do we move through the unexpected circumstances without being paralyzed by fear itself? How do we resolve unmet expectations for life? Today, we’re going to answer those questions and more with my guest, Christine Caine. She’s the author of the brand-new book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure. And today, here’s our target: successfully navigating through the unexpected, unpredictable moments of life. Buy the Book Is it possible to have peace in an uncertain world? To not only expect the unexpected but embrace it? Most of us want to have life under control. But God wants us to anticipate the unexpected with a faith deeply rooted in his goodness. He wants us to know that because he is in control, we don’t have to be. In Unexpected, beloved author Christine Caine helps us walk into the life God has for us—unknowns and all. Using dramatic examples from her own journey, Christine offers real-life strategies and biblical inspiration to help us move from fear and worry about ourselves to hope and trust in God. As we learn new ways to manage disappointment, strengthen our hearts, and build our faith, we can enjoy a new adventure with God that is more fulfilling than any day we spend trying to anticipate what will happen next. Stepping into our God-given destiny means stepping into the unknown, but we can embrace that calling because God knows it already. Nothing in our lives takes God by surprise. So even in the midst of personal upheaval, relational challenges, financial stresses, family transitions, career disappointments, and chaotic world affairs, we can expect God to be good and do good. What other expectation do we need to have? Listen to God’s dare to trust him in every unknown of your life today. Buy Unexpected now. About Christine Caine Christine Caine is an Australian born, Greek blooded, lover of Jesus, activist, author and international speaker. She and her husband, Nick, founded the global anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign. They also founded Propel Women, an organization designed to activate women to fulfill their God-given passion, purpose, and potential. Christine is the author of six books including Unashamed and Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!"

Imagine having the secret of living without fear, care, constraint, or worry. I really believe it’s possible. See, the path toward the outsized, unfettered, liberated existence we all long for is found in a truth as simple to say as it is hard to do: love people, even the difficult ones, without distinction and without limits. And the path to doing so really isn’t found in a formula or a five-step plan. It’s found in living a life characterized by belief, vulnerability, connection, and an unwavering to remind the people in your life about who they are. Well today, I’m sitting down with a cup of tea and  someone whose life epitomizes exactly those characteristics. His name? Bob Goff. And today, we’re talking all about living a meaningful life through the lens of his brand-new book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People. I’m not kidding when I say the book left me in tears as much as laughter. It’s so real, just like the conversation we’re about to have.

If money worries have you tossing and turning last night, you’re in good company. Even with the U.S. economy bouncing-back into shape, 65 percent of Americans say they lose sleep over financial concerns. Add to that, 37 percent of Americans lie awake at night fretting about saving enough for retirement. So, money is the focus for a lot—if not most—people in America today. But what if there was a better way to live your life. What if you could get unstuck from feelings of hopelessness about your future? What if you could stop striving in your own strength to provide for your family? Joining me to discuss these questions and more is author of the brand-new book, Poverty, Riches and Wealth: Moving from a Life of Lack into True Kingdom Abundance, Kris Vallotton. Kris’ own story is going to lay the groundwork to give you all hope and a strategy to overcome the “never-enough” mentality and walk in true abundance.

We’re in a precarious time as a culture. While optimism is high in several areas of life, many people are desperate for change, for help…for a miracle in other areas of life. Maybe I’ve just described you. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks. Maybe you’re facing financial collapse. Maybe you or a loved one is facing an incurable illness. Listen, I understand. In times like this, we need to bolster hope in our hearts. And truth be told, what many of us need is a miracle. Joining me today, is NY Times Bestselling author of The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel. And we’re taking a deep dive into his new book, The Case for Miracles: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural. Lee—a former atheist—is going to weave in his own story of personally encountering the God who still works miracles and changes lives. I want today’s conversation to inspire you. But more than that, I want your faith built. It’s too easy to become cynical and especially because of past disappointment, close our ears, and our hearts, to topics like this. I’ll be the first one to raise my hand on that one. I really believe this provocative conversation will encourage you to believe for the impossible in whatever you’re facing today.

I believe there is one factor—one key—that unlocks the door to experience your fullest potential and determines the altitude of your life, and that’s attitude. When the reins of life slip from your grip, your attitude is indeed one thing you definitely have total control over. And even more so, our ability to choose right thinking will either set our lives on a course for success…or failure. Today’s conversation is so rich and so full of wisdom. Joining us is world-renowned marriage and relationships expert, Jimmy Evans, and today, we’re unpacking his brand-new book, I Changed My Mind: Journey Toward Spiritual Maturity. The difference between success and failure is largely in our hands, and it all starts with attitude and right thinking. And because Jimmy is such a renowned expert on relationships, I took a few listener questions that you do not want to miss.

I believe that what we build in life is important. But far outweighing what we build is a principle of life and effective leadership that I believe separates good leaders from great leaders, and that’s the principle of building people for significance and impact in life. That’s why I love the premise of today’s conversation, because whether you realize it or not, you have the opportunity to inspire and add value to the people in your life. So this applies to teachers and especially parents; executives and entrepreneurs; sports coaches; artists and entertainers. You see, it’s one thing to be a hero in life. But it’s another thing to give your life to become a hero maker. Today, we’re diving into the deep-end of the leadership pool with Dave Ferguson, author of the brand-new book, Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders (Exponential Series). And we’re going to be talking all about what I believe is a secret to effective leadership and multiplication as well breaking-down five essential keys to becoming a hero maker for the lives of the people you reach. So teachers, this is for you. Coaches, this is for you, too. Parents and caretakers, this is especially for you. And executives, pastors, and artists, listen closely, because this is critical for your leadership legacy.

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." That's the power of belief. And it's so much greater than positive thinking. It's a deep-seeded sense of personal significance; significance that will be the breeding ground for determination, focused effort, perseverance, and a commitment to become your best for those that matter most in your life. You see, life, ultimately, isn't about building something. Instead, it's about building someone. At this point, many of you may be thinking, not for me. It's too late. And worse, I'm too late. But allow me to counter by saying this: there is more for your life than whatever you're currently facing. And even if you're already living a success-filled life, there is more. That's why, joining me today, is Brian Houston, global senior pastor of Hillsong Church. And today, we're talking all about developing a resilient spirit in the face of pain and hardship, overcoming disappointment, and establishing your life for significance; significance characterized by these words and the title his brand-new book: there is more.

What you don't know about yourself can hurt you and your relationships―and maybe even how you make your way in the world. But in contrast, what you do know will empower you to live a focused, intentional, and very effective life. Many of us find ourselves stuck in a rut from time-to-time. Wouldn’t you want to know how you landed there and how to get unstuck? Joining us today is author of The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, Ian Morgan Cron. Today, we’re going to explore your authentic self through the lens of the Enneagram: an ancient personality type system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. Maybe some of you are scoffing at me, saying, Chris, enough of the personality style conversation. That’s where I want to stay for a moment, because this is a much deeper, more meaningful topic than that. You were formed uniquely, for a specific purpose. I think we tend to put people in personality boxes too quickly. That’s why today, we’re talking about something more meaningful: our authentic self. About Ian Morgan Cron Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, Enneagram teacher, trained psychotherapist, Dove Award-winning songwriter and Episcopal priest. His books include the novel Chasing Francis and the spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. Ian draws on an array of disciplines—from psychology to the arts, Christian spirituality and theology—to help people enter more deeply into conversation with God and the mystery of their own lives. He and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”

We live in an era when true fathers are in short supply; where authentic men have been emasculated; where young boys simply age, but don’t mature. It’s not the case for every man. But it is the case for a lot of men around the world. Guys, I’m desperate for this conversation. I have an incredible father. He’s a real man. He’s a godly man. But I need to be strengthened from the inside out like a lot of you joining us today. But in an age when true fathers are in short supply, here’s the question: how do you find the path to manhood? How do you steer clear of the dangers? Joining us this week is bestselling author of Wild at Heart and Fathered by God, John Eldredge. And today, we’re calling men back to a simple and reassuring truth: God is our Father. In life's trials and triumphs, God is initiating boys and men through the stages of manhood and into a place of health and vitality. And today, we’re mapping out the path of manhood; not more rules, not another list of principles, not formulas, but a sure path men have followed for centuries before us. Find that path and become the man God sees in you.

It's no secret that those who are closest to us can wound us the most profoundly. Reeling from betrayal, we build walls around our hearts to protect us from the heartache, yet these are the very walls that block us from seeing hope, receiving healing and feeling love. And it can feel even more impossible to continue loving in the face of it. So i in those moments of unthinkable betrayal and hurt, how are we supposed to respond? And more pertinent, how are we supposed to heal? Sharing his own story of personal pain today, through his brand-new book, Love Like You've Never Been Hurt: Hope, Healing and the Power of an Open Heart, is pastor and New York Times bestselling author Jentezen Franklin. And today, he will teach us how to find the strength, courage, and motivation to get free from the entanglement of unforgiveness and bitterness. Toxic stress (and toxic emotions for that matter) are devastating on our bodies. We have to choose another way. And that way is the topic of today’s discussion. Buy the Book! The human heart was created with a great capacity to love. But along with that comes a great capacity to feel pain. There is no denying that those who love us, who are closest to us, can wound us the most profoundly. That kind of pain can be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. And it can feel even more impossible to continue loving in the face of it. Yet that is exactly what we are called to do. Sharing his own story of personal pain, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Jentezen Franklin shows us how to find the strength, courage, and motivation to set aside the hurt, see others as God sees them, and reach out in love. Through biblical and modern-day stories, he discusses different types of relational disappointment and heartache, and answers questions such as Why should I trust again? and How can I ever really forgive? The walls we build around our hearts to cut us off from pain are the very walls that block us from seeing hope, receiving healing, and feeling love. Here are the tools and inspiration you need to tear down those walls, work through your wounds, repair damaged relationships, and learn to love like you've never been hurt. Buy Love Like You've Never Been Hurt: Hope, Healing and the Power of an Open Heart right now! About Jentezen Franklin Jentezen Franklin is the senior pastor of Free Chapel, a multicampus church with a global reach. His messages influence generations through various outreaches and through his televised broadcast, Kingdom Connection. Jentezen is also a New York Times bestselling author who speaks at conferences worldwide. He and his wife, Cherise, live in Gainesville, Georgia, and have five children. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”

When I sent out a survey to all of you last year, a huge number of you said that one of the major reasons you feel (or have felt) stuck in life is because of a lack of time. In fact, 60% of you said that the reason you feel worn-out, stressed-out and unsuccessful is because of a lack of time. So today, we’re talking with an expert not only about time management, but about life management. That’s the bigger issue. We all have the same amount of time each day. And for a third of the time, we’re sleeping. So, we have to figure-out why there’s a gap between what you want to do and what you actually end-up doing with the other 16 hours each day. And I know this: we all have demands placed on us that we can’t control. But even in those times, we can create an ecosystem within our mindset about how we’re approaching the things that need to get done in the most effective and efficient way. Today’s guest is someone that knows how to get things done. And get them done well. His name is Lee Cockerell. If you’ve been to Walt Disney World in the last 20 years, you’ve experienced the precision and excellence of Lee Cockerell. Who is Lee at Disney? He is the retired executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort. The whole thing. He led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and the ESPN Sports Complex. As you can imagine, Lee had to become a time management expert, first as a means of survival and then as a way to help others make the best use of their time. So today, we’re answering your questions: “How do I prioritize my time so that my health and my family get the best of me?” “How do I say ‘yes’ to the things that are going to bring the greatest return?” “How do I prioritize the tasks I’m faced with each day?” “How do I become more efficient on the job?” This man set the standard for professionalism and customer service excellence in one of the most recognized companies…in the world. It was all on his watch. I trust that after having listened to this conversation, you’re going to walk away more equipped to simply do life better. And win. And get-up when you fall. And win again.

By now, you know that life can turn on a dime. A failed relationship, a lost job, or a financial crisis can change—and will change—your life in a moment’s notice. And you know as well as I do that we have decisions about how we will respond to adversity that will set the pace for our lives. I get it. The task of starting again can seem impossible. And sometimes you just need to rebuild your confidence and regain a sense of purpose. So if you’re trying to find the emotional energy, but you just don’t have it in you, let today’s guest, author of the brand-new book, “Putting It Together Again When It's All Fallen Apart: 7 Principles for Rebuilding Your Life,” Tom Holladay, provide some encouragement and tactics to move through the rubble before you. Tom has a unique story of crisis that I’m sure will resonate with you. Buy "Putting It Together Again When It's All Fallen Apart" Life crises can throw you into a tail-spin—a lost job, a failed relationship, a struggling business, a financial mess. Where do you start? How do you pull it together? How do you begin again? Tom Holladay experienced a catastrophe first-hand when a sudden flood in California destroyed his home, his church, and the homes of many church members. Tom and his congregation had to rebuild, and they used the principles in the book of Nehemiah to get back on their feet. Now a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church, Tom will help you discover seven principles for putting it together again that will give you the direction you need to get rolling on that fresh start. Holladay will walk you through seeing every problem as an opportunity, facing the obstacles head on and taking your first step, knowing how to expect and reject opposition, build on your success, and dedicating yourself to the One who rebuilds our souls. The task of starting again can seem impossible. And sometimes you just need to rebuild your confidence and regain a sense of purpose. If you’re trying to find the emotional energy, but you just don’t have it in you, let Holladay encourage you. He understands how difficult and rewarding the business of rebuilding is. This book is your encouraging how-to guide to starting again and stepping into a better future. Buy Putting It Together Again When It's All Fallen Apart: 7 Principles for Rebuilding Your Life now! About Tom Holladay Tom Holladay is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. In addition to his pastoral leadership and weekend teaching ministries, he assists Rick Warren in teaching Purpose Driven Church conferences all over the world. With Kay Warren, he is the co-author of Foundations: 11 Core Truths to Build Your Life On. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”

Somewhere along the course of life, we get complicated. And what I mean by that is circumstances often outside our control cause us to see ourselves and the world around us with a measure of skepticism, self-doubt, perfectionism, workaholism, insecurity, and shame. And I think a lot of it comes from the felt need to self-protect. That’s why, in the words of our guest, international bestselling author of “Loveable,” Dr. Kelly Flanagan, “the little one inside you is your truest self—the you who existed before things got confusing.” Said simply, there’s a worthy yet wounded little one in all of us. In Loveable: Embracing What Is Truest About You, So You Can Truly Embrace Your Life, Dr. Flanagan reveals the core insight gleaned from his years of clinical work: you are here for a reason, yet you cannot truly awaken to it until you have first embraced your truest, worthiest self and then allow yourself to be truly embraced by others. In other words, we are here to experience worthiness, belonging, and purpose, but they can only be truly experienced in that order. And that is the focus of today’s conversation. Buy "Loveable" In Loveable: Embracing What Is Truest About You, So You Can Truly Embrace Your Life, Dr. Flanagan reveals the core insight gleaned from his years of clinical work: you are here for a reason, yet you cannot truly awaken to it until you have first embraced your truest, worthiest self and then allow yourself to be truly embraced by others. In other words, we are here to experience worthiness, belonging, and purpose, but they can only be truly experienced in that order. Weaving heart-warming storytelling, gentle insights, and the wisdom of Dr. Flanagan's Christian tradition--including his belief that we are all "the living, breathing bearers of the eternal, transcendent, and limitless Love that spun the planets and hung the stars"--these pages invite you to remember the name you were given before all other names: Loveable. About Dr. Kelly Flanagan Kelly graduated with his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Penn State University and is co-founder of Artisan Clinical Associates in Naperville, IL. Several years ago, he discovered writing was the thing he never knew he always wanted to do, so he began the now popular blog, UnTangled, where he writes weekly about how to live redemptive stories right now. He is the author of THE MARRIAGE MANIFESTO and his first full-length book, LOVEABLE, will be published by Zondervan in March 2017. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!”

Let’s cut right to the chase. Because it’s February. And because cupid is on the move, I’ll just say it: God wants you to have amazing sex. He designed it. And He wants you to enjoy it in the covenant of marriage. But here’s the thing—and this is why we’re even talking about it today—culture has hijacked sex and prescribed it through the jaded, broken, convoluted lens of 50 Shades of Grey and mass media as a whole. And just because people asked, we’re not talking about technique today. That’s not even close to the focus. Instead we’re talking about the original design and intent for this incredible God-given gift to married couples. Joining me today are relationship coaches, speakers, and founders of NoSmallLife, Chris and Megan Rea. And today, we are talking about how to have better sex in your marriage. But our focus is what happens way before the bedroom. We shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about sex. In fact, I believe if more married couples engaged in open, healthy, appropriate conversation with their kids, we’d chip away at the polluted, skewed counterfeit that culture is propagating each and every day. Our conversation is both serious and light-hearted. We laugh. We joke. We have fun. But know this: our goal is to celebrate and promote the original design God intended for marriage. Singles, take notes. File them away in a time capsule for use in the future.

Turn on the news, turn on pop culture, and you’ll see a confused, embittered, orphaned society. And I think one of the first things we need to do is reclaim true masculine and feminine identity in 2018 amidst the cultural trend of emasculating men and de-feminizing women in so many forums. Joining us today to tackle these topics is a very well-known voice, Dale Partridge. Dale is a nationally-known bestselling author, founder of StartupCamp.com, and is an avid speaker and has been featured in various business publications including the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine, Fox News, NBC, INC Magazine, Mashable, MSN Money, Forbes and the Los Angeles Times. Today, we’ll be exploring parenting to dating and marriage, to sexuality, to even some of the disjointed values society is propagating. And then, we’ll be, as Dale says, "replacing the lies culture tells us about family & faith with truth that can't be ignored.”