ArmChair Coaching

What is the link between hope and purpose? Are they intertwined? Which comes first: hope or purpose? Can either be known apart from God?

I have my thoughts on this of course, but I am very curious to hear from you regarding this topic. Below are the definitions I collected for your reference in response...

Definitions From Merriam-Webster:

Purpose:

"something set up as an object or end to be attained"

Hope:

"desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment"

Bible Dictionary (KJV Dictionary) Definitions:

Purpose:

“That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be His purpose in the plan of redemption! The ambition of men is generally directed to one of two purposes, or to both; the acquisition of wealth or of power. We build houses for the purpose of shelter; we labor for the purpose of subsistence.”

Hope:

“A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.”

Keeping your promises…

Have you ever made a promise to someone, but for whatever reason didn’t keep it? I confess that I have. Making promises is easy, but keeping them? That’s more of a challenge—especially when we make promises carelessly.

The more prayerful and careful you are about making promises, the easier it will be for you to keep them. In the process, you’ll become more like our promise-keeping God and draw other people closer to Him as they seek spiritual truth!

Although we fail God, ourselves, and others daily, God can never and will never fail us, and His promises to us in the Bible (several thousand of them) have always and will always be kept by Him.

As a matter of fact, the word “promise” itself occurs over 50 times in the King James Version of the Bible. Here’s a sample for you to review on your own:

Romans 9:4
Romans 15:8
2 Corinthians 1:20
2 Corinthians 7:1
Galatians 3:16
Galatians 3:21
Hebrews 6:12
Hebrews 7:6
Hebrews 8:6
Hebrews 11:13
Hebrews 11:17
Hebrews 11:33
2 Peter 1:4

The first of these promises in the Bible is found in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

This promise was fulfilled in Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:7; Revelation 12.5, proving that God keeps His promises.

The last promise in the Bible is found in Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” This one is the best yet to come! Maranatha, the Lord is coming!

The Lord has promised to return for us, and we can be confident that He will do just as He said in His Word.

As a Christian Life Coach, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to assist people with the struggles in their daily lives, knowing that I can offer God’s unshakable and immovable foundation for life, on which they can securely build their future plans.

Why you should work with me as your Life Coach...

• Although the world around you will not stop, you need to make time to focus on your wants and needs as they relate to your strengths and challenges, which as a Life Coach I will help you identify.

• Highlight those things that are working in your life, as well as those that aren't, by working with me to evaluate your life journey to date.

• Tap into endless motivation through regular encouragement and accountability from me, so you can stay focused while building on your strengths, to achieve more positive change.

• Embrace your future by working with me to develop a customized plan, to ensure you successfully meet your newly-defined goals.

• Take action on those goals, as we keep track one measurable step at a time.

If you find yourself stuck in life, please contact me to schedule a FREE 15-minute introduction session, where you can identify your greatest challenge and then discuss the scheduling of more time together to develop, execute and measure the success of your plan to overcome it.

John Russell
ArmChair Coaching
615-504-3011
[email protected]

A guy knows he’s on the right path in life when his in-laws believe enough in his coaching business that they buy raffle tickets (3 for $5) to support a fabulous local cause, and win some business-namesake furniture for his office, and then against all odds they win. His mother-in-law said they would, committing it to prayer. What an incredible blessing!

I can’t wait to get them moved into my office, so I can more comfortably work side by side with my clients. Stay tuned for future photos from the great redecoration.

This morning I saw a post on LinkedIn, from a company that was installing a new CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Milling machine to expand their fabrication business. My dad was a tool and die, maker, his entire life. Although that beautiful (eye of the beholder) new machine will no doubt propel their business forward, the post transported me back in time to the weekends and summers I spent in the machine shop with my dad. I can still smell the cutting fluid and feel the broom in my hands.

I learned a lot from my dad, both professionally and personally, and he was always willing to answer the myriad of life questions I threw his way.

It's been 12 years since my dad died, and occasionally a fleeting thought still runs through my mind, that I should pick up the phone and strategize with him about my upcoming plans.

I am fortunate to have had others in my life that have coached me over the years, but I know that not everyone has those resources readily available. If you find yourself stuck in a life challenge, please contact me to schedule a FREE 15-minute introduction session, where you can identify your greatest challenge and then discuss the scheduling of more time together to develop, execute and measure the success of your plan to overcome it.

John Russell
ArmChair Coaching
615-504-3011
[email protected]

Friday the 13th: Turn your superstitious fear into fun!

Certainly for more years than I have been alive, Friday the 13th has held the blame for being the clearinghouse day for all things, well, evil in the world.

Some people are so traumatized by the prospect of something bad happening to them these days, that they purpose to not even get out of bed. As if evil would rather chase you through your day, than just find you waiting for it in bed, with the covers pulled over your head. Evil might be lazy, but it's not stupid!

In stark contrast to the rest of the world, my wife and I always look forward to Friday the 13th. She and I met on a Friday the 13th, we got engaged on a Friday the 13th, and we even got married on the 13th. It wasn't a Friday though, but that's because my wife-to-be at the time, thought two years was too long to be engaged and didn't want to give me the opportunity to delay things any longer. Sheesh! I even have the number 13 engraved in my wedding band, as a reminder of what good fortune Friday the 13th has brought to our marriage.

Over the years we have broken mirrors, stepped on cracks, owned black cats, and prayed for patience. None of which has ever brought us any of the associated misfortune.

Unfortunately, you missed Friday the 13th celebrations last year (hiding in bed no doubt), and you only have one chance this year to make things right. So today, make plans to change out of your pajamas, get into the world and take one of the many other bed-bound to dinner or something. I promise that you'll be just fine, and you just might make a habit of it.

My wife and I have both agreed that our ideal Friday the 13th, would be to have a steerage stateroom on the Titanic II, sailing effortlessly through the Bermuda Triangle, renewing our vows under the arch of an open ladder (properly adorned for such an occasion of course), with my having first seen her in her dress before the ceremony and although she was lovely, she wore nothing old, nothing new, nothing borrowed and nothing blue. What could go wrong?

Have a great Friday the 13th and be sure to start making plans now for the two opportunities on the calendar in 2023.

While you are waiting for the festivities to start today, please contact me to schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation session, so you can identify your greatest challenge in life and we can work together to formulate a measured plan to subdue it.

John

John Russell

ArmChair Coaching

615-504-3011

[email protected]

Many thanks to the AACC for offering me the "Certification for Hope-focused 3 “R” (HF3R) Su***de Prevention Training" program, as a special addition to the Mental Health Coach First Responders course. I was able to complete the training yesterday afternoon, and it will definitely be a great Biblically-based complement to my recent ASIST certification.

It took a while after completing the Mental Health Coach training, but my official credentials arrived in the mail yesterday.

Last week was crazy busy!

I graduated from the Lebanon Police Department's Citizens Police Academy on 05/05...

And then received my certification from the ASIST (Applied Su***de Intervention Skills Training) workshop on Friday.

What an incredible blessing to learn more about how the men and women of the Lebanon Police Department keep us safe and secure every day. Thank you all very much!!

I am also thankful for our ASIST trainers on Thursday and Friday at Immanuel Baptist Church, who provided our class with the tools needed to intervene in the lives of those who find themselves at a point in their lives where they have lost hope and cannot find su***de alternatives on their own.

It's already afternoon on Monday, but I expect God will have other tasks for me this week, which will give me the chance to touch the hearts and minds of those around me.

Get involved folks and let's make this an incredibly productive week!

Comparison of Grief Therapy and Grief Coaching #4:

Grief Therapy:

Asks the question, “Why?”

Grief Coaching:

Asks the question, “What’s next?”

Comparison of Grief Therapy and Grief Coaching #3:

Grief Therapy:

Emotion-focused – Emphasizes feelings.

Grief Coaching:

Action-focused – Emphasizes behavior and thinking.