July 18, 2025 • 39 mins
Today's episode of Sunday Service by Pray.com features Kraig & Desiree
Ignite Kingdom Talk features Eric Johnson, president of Arnold Motor Supply, as he shares his journey of faith-driven leadership through adversity, including a major flood that tested his company. This special Sunday episode highlights the power of unity, community, and accountability among Christian business leaders. Through prayer, shared wisdom, and strategic groups, it offers hope and strength for navigating life and business in God’s purpose.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans ten eleven.
Thank you for opening my heart and mind to the truth. Lord,
You revealed the beauty of your son and the cost
he paid for me to be with you. All you
(00:22):
asked of me was to believe in that glorious truth
by faith. Faith is what pleases you the most. I
will confess you as my Lord and Savior and believe
God the Father raised you from the dead and will
raise me from death to be with you forever. Your
(00:42):
home is my heart, and you live your life through me.
I am your child, and you have filled me with
the supernatural life of your spirit. You are with me
twenty four hours a day and will never leave me. Amen.
Thank you for listening to today's daily prayer for more
(01:04):
inspiration Manned an incredible message from our feature pastor. Stay
tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday Service.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Welcome. This is Ignite Kingdom Talk. Make the marketplace the
Miracle Place. Welcome to the special Sunday Service edition of
Ignite Kingdom Talk. A space where we highlight the work
of God in the lives and businesses of Kingdom minded
business leaders. Today's guest is Eric Johnson, president of Arnold
(01:40):
Motor Supply and The Merrill Company, a member of the
Ignite Kingdom Board of Advisors, and a recipient of the
twenty twenty five Keeler Leadership Award. He brings real world insight,
quiet strength, and spiritual depth to today's conversation. Whether you're part
of the Ignite community or joining us for the very
first time through pray dot com, we pray this time
(02:01):
helps you draw closer to Jesus and step more boldly
into your calling. We would love your help spreading the
word and leveraging social media for the Kingdom. Let's ignite
Christian business leaders all over the world. Like, comment, share, follow,
and subscribe join the Ignite community today. Ignite Kingdom Talk
is made possible through the generous support of our Ignite
(02:21):
partner Access members. This subscription based community offers christ centered accountability,
encouragement and growth through small groups. Are you looking for
a network of like minded Christian business leaders to uplift
and encourage you when your calling to the marketplace. We'll
learn more and sign up today at ignite dashcb dot com.
And now, in the name of Jesus, may your faith
and hope be ignited afresh and anew.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Hey, guys, we want to welcome you back to Ignite
Kingdom Talk. We are excited about what God's doing and
there is so much to be thankful for. And one
of the things I just it's been on my heart.
It's been in my heart for the past few days.
And I know for so many of our listeners, we
(03:09):
want to pray for Texas. The situation down there, and
so many things are happening down there, and boy, it's
got to be I always say this, I can't imagine.
I can't imagine sending your kid off to camp and
(03:29):
them not coming back, or our grandkids off to off
to camp and des can you just can you just
start us off and praying over Texas?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Absolutely? Father, we love you, Lord, you are good. You're
good Father, and Lord, we just asked that in your
goodness and in your mercy and in your grace, you
would extend the spirit of just comfort over those that
are experiencing lost Lord, that are directly impacted. Lord, that
(04:02):
it's a family, a friend, Lord, a neighbor that has
experienced such loss. And Lord, we know that it doesn't
just impact that neighborhood, that's town, Lord, those around in Texas,
But Lord, it is impacting the entire world. And Lord
that there are those that are just grieving alongside. And Lord,
(04:26):
you say where one is mourning, Lord that we're to
weep with each other, that Lord, we're to be there.
And so Father, we lift them to you, and we
know you're the only one, Oh God, that can comfort.
You are the only one that can bring peace. You
are the only one. So we look to you and
(04:46):
we pray, oh God, that you do what only you
can do. And we thank you in advanced Lord, in Jesus' name,
and God, we just even ask even for a miracle
today that there would be a another person that is
found alive. Lord, God, we just pray that you are
the God of miracles. So Lord, we say, let there
(05:07):
be and we just believe it to be selling.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah, And Lord, we just we lift up our
listeners right now. If they're going through a difficult season,
a difficult time. Lord, there's darkness, but Lord, I pray
that the light would shine in that dark place that
they're at Lord that you are our hope, you are
(05:31):
our salvation, You're the answer. And Lord, I pray. I
pray just for peace and their situation. I pray give
them joy and Lord, we thank you. We give it
all to you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, No, I
just it's just been on my heart and I just
didn't want to start this. I didn't want to start
(05:52):
this off with with without without prayer. And Guys, I'm
always excited to be with our friend Eric Johnson, and
he's no stranger to tough situations, battling through tough situations.
And I know today Eric that that were you know,
(06:14):
I think we need to talk about some of the
things that are happening with in Ignite and and how
God is using this and I believe in such a
mighty way. And I we always say it the best
is yet to come, and I think it's happening. I
see it happening. And being part of these strategic groups,
(06:40):
and not only that, Eric, but you're part of the
Kingdom Board of Advisors, the Mastermind Group level. First of all, welcome,
welcome to the Welcome to the show, the podcast here,
and it's always great to have you on and you
and your wife. We love you guys, But Eric, you
just went through a tough situation. And I know it's
(07:03):
been on past podcast, but man, what was that like
a flood? I don't think it was anything like this
flood that happened, but man, there's difficult. We just stood
in your We just stood in your warehouse just a
few weeks back and stood where the water was in
(07:25):
that warehouse feet deep, not just inches, but feet deep.
What's that like to be on the other side now?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
I can't even express well, I guess, first of all,
thank you for having me. It's great to be here.
But I can't even express how much different this summer
has been from last summer. I mean, the anniversary of
the flood was just over a week ago, so one
year ago. At this time, we were working from sun
(07:57):
up to sundown trying to get up rations back and
it was a really chaotic, trying time. And so it's
really nice to be on the other side of that
here and have some quote unquote normalcy to this summer.
(08:17):
So I'm going the extra mile this summer to try
and get in a little more relaxation that didn't happen
last summer. So yeah, that's been really nice.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Yeah, Eric, tell our folks what you do.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Okay. So I am the president of a company called
Arnold Motor Supply. We are something like the twelfth thirteenth
largest distributor of automotive products in the United States. I
have about one thousand employees spread across five states in
the Upper Midwest. And the flood that we're talking about
impacted our corporate office, our primary distribution center, and our
(08:56):
flagship store here in Spencer. Really a great company, a
good organization, and you know, something like the event that
we went through together, I do think on the other
side of it, we see some benefits. I kind of
hate to use the term benefit associated with the disaster,
(09:17):
but it did bring us closer together as an organization.
And you know, the old adage what doesn't kill you
make you stronger is kind of true. So you know,
we are in a good spot sitting here on the
other side twelve months later. It took us seven months
to rebuild and get back to normal functionality.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
But you know, I'm.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Actually pretty pretty fortunate or pretty happy with the way
we're sitting right now.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, and I've always said this, Eric, you were the
right person for the job you were the right person
to take to take them through this. I think so
many people would just be I think so many businesses
seeing the devastation from just that warehouse alone. Well, I
(10:04):
just I don't you were the right person to get
them through it.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And I know your your your faith in Jesus, you know,
led the way, led the direction gave you that wisdom
and and that boldness to be able to do that.
So I just my, Uh, I think, what a what
a great job that that you've done getting them, getting
(10:30):
them to where they're at today. But guys, Eric is Erict,
like I said, is part of the strategic groups. The
strategic groups were basically designed as accountability groups, groups where
we could share other's burdens to lift up to be
(10:51):
in in the room. Each week, each week we meet
for an hour. The groups are are no more than
eight per group, and we meet for an hour by
just by zoom, just just kind of like what we're
doing right now and just the power of being together.
(11:11):
And I remember a couple of different times, Eric, you
were actually you were actually in in waiters and and
we did one of one of the groups with you
standing in the warehouse as as we uh uh from
all of us from the different locations that we're at,
and we just reached out and we just prayed over
(11:31):
you and and for you and for that situation. I
mean being part of the group and and being part
of the group as long as you have the strategic group, Eric,
what's that like going through the situation that you went through,
knowing that you've got a group of guys, group of
(11:51):
there's seven of us in the group that you're in.
What's what's that feeling? What is that like going through
what you went through?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Well, I think the best way to answer that is
to back up to So I've been in the president
role for roughly five and a half six years at
this point. So if we go back in time too,
when I was really functioning more as executive vice president.
So you know, it had already been identified that I
would be the next president upon my predecessor's retirement, you know,
(12:24):
working with him in terms of you know, preparing me
for that role. One of the really sound pieces of
advice that he gave me was you have to go
find a peer group, you know, with the n Prior
to that, I probably either relied on my co workers
as my peer group or didn't lean on a peer group,
(12:48):
which you know, in both cases could be problematic. So
you know, that was his one of his big pieces
of advice was to go find some some group, somebody
you need. You're going to need a sounding board, You're
going to need need people to talk to, you know,
And so that's really what led me to start looking
for what Ultimately, when I found the group that I'm
(13:09):
still in the timing of it couldn't have been better
because I rolled in, you know, kind of really functioning
much more just at the same time COVID hit, So,
you know, the two most difficult challenges that professionally that
I've had to face or leading the company through COVID
and leading the company through the flood, the flood being
(13:31):
significantly worse than COVID, but both of them, the timing
was very good in the sense that I had just
gotten established in this group, the uh you know, the
weekly group that we're talking about, just right at the
end of nineteen rolling into twenty. So I would say
(13:52):
that is crucial in a situation. You know, whenever you're
going through a situation like this, you have to to
have somebody outside yourself that you can go to that
you can trust that their advice is going to be
sound because it's going to be based on the same
(14:13):
truths that your life is based on. You know, you
can find all kinds of people to give you advice,
and that's sometimes negative more so than positive if they're
not coming from the same worldview, the same pre you know,
pre assumptions that you are. So that really was important,
(14:34):
and you know, I would I don't think it's over
dramatic to say it made the difference between success and
failure in you know, rolling through both COVID and the
flooding situation.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
So the scripture that when you were speaking it came
to my mind was that God loves it when people
do all together in perfect unity. I think the word
actually is brethren. And so when you guys are on
your group together, and I know you know our ladies
group as well, that there is a unity that comes
(15:09):
and when the spirit of God is on it and
breathing on it and speaking through it, that there's wisdom
that we glean from one another. Because obviously God says,
you know, whoever lacks wisdom, ask and He'll give it generously.
And I believe oftentimes he brings it through another brother
or a sister and the Lord. But this scripture, you know,
(15:33):
in John seventeen, it's kind of the scripture of my
heart right now, when Jesus prays for us, you know,
and that we would be protected from the evil one.
But I'm just going to read this. It's a couple
of verses, but it says my prayer is not for
them alone. I pray also for those who will believe
in me through their message, that all of them may
(15:54):
be one. So there again there's the unity of being
in a group together, that we would be one, not
just in a group, but you know, being His children Father.
Just as you and me and I am in you,
may they also be in us. That the world may
believe that you have sent me, I have given them
the glory that you gave me, that they may be
(16:14):
one as we are one. And I think so many
times people have trouble in finding out how do I
become one? How do I come into unity with brethren?
And I mean when I say brethren, it's women or men,
But it's that place because I think so often we
as Christians want to be isolated, pull back. We've been wounded,
(16:38):
we've been hurt by the church, by believers, and so
we tend to just be like, I don't need people.
But on the contrary, God says that we would be
in unity with one another. And then it says, I,
in them and you and me, may they be brought
to complete unity to let And this is crazy awesome.
So he wants us to be in complete unity. Why
(16:59):
to let the Lord the world know that you sent
me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
And then, Father, I want those you've given me to
be with me where I am and to see my glory.
So obviously a big part of that is being in unity.
And anyways, and then at the very end, it says,
(17:22):
I have made you known to them and will continue
to make you known in order that the love you
have for me maybe in them, and I may self
myself may be in them. And I think we when
we pray and we walk in love and we walk
in truth, the spirit of love, the spirit of truth
that can only come from Holy spirit, like true love,
(17:42):
the true truth, and that we begin to love one
another as Christ loves, and that we're there for one another.
And that's when unity, because we really do care about
each other, like I love the ladies in my group,
and you know, you can see one day when maybe
one of them might be a little down, or I
might be down and be able to be vulnerable and
(18:04):
have a group of women just be your cheerleaders and
pray for you, speaking to you or give you a
phone call. And not having that group it is different.
But once you're in the group and you're plugged in,
it's like, Oh, thank you God for these wonderful women.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
You know, that's a great description. And you know, you
use the word earlier when we were starting this podcast,
you use the word accountability, and sometimes I think the
word accountability itself kind of gets a negative connotation to it,
like something back the flooding that we were praying about.
You know, we want to find someone to be to blame.
(18:45):
We want to hold someone accountable, and someone needs to
be responsible. Someone needs to and that's yeah, that's true
about accountability. But to me, there's also so much power
in the positive side of this of accountability. And to me,
the one verse that I always go back to more
(19:07):
than anything else when talking about, you know, the group
specifically or the need for that fellowship with like minded
and people who are coming from the same place, who
have that same worldview. It comes from Hebrews ten. Actually,
Craig and I are in Hebrews right now in our group.
This is just a little farther ahead from where we
(19:29):
were earlier this morning. This is Hebrews ten twenty four
and reading into twenty five. Let us consider how to
stir one another to love and to good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you
see the day drawing near. And to me, that is
(19:51):
the definition of what we do in these groups is
there's you know, we're stirring one another up. And you know,
I look at it. My wife and I we exercise,
so we are some level accountability partners for each other
in the sense that I'm much more likely to go
for the bike ride, or go for the walk, or
(20:12):
go to the gym knowing that she is also relying
on me and I'm relying on her. It's the same
thing with this, you know, we're so much more encouraged.
We're stirring each other up to good works. So I
just love that view or that definition of accountability because
it puts the positive spin on it, and you know
(20:35):
it's not so much just about well making sure that
we don't sin. And that's true, that's part of it.
You know that we if we're struggling with something, we
can go to the group. And but it's so much
more of it is the encouragement part of it and
that you can do it part of it. So to me,
that's that's the best way that that's the definition that
I keep in my head about accountability.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
I was just going to throw in there. So when
you're mentioning about you know, accountability and what you can
glean from one another and stirring one another up, and
you just look and you think that the Lord wants
us to spur one another on that we see Jesus
(21:19):
is the goal. You know, our eyes are fixed upon him.
He's our prize and it's like, you know where to
run the race that's set before us. But how awesome
it is that if you see a brother trip along
the way, that you're there to just say, you know,
get up, get up, come on, I'm here with you,
and to spur one another on instead of like, oh
(21:40):
my word, your competition to me. And because the world
sees that, and it's in the church even a lot
where it's like, oh, you're my competition. I can't help you.
I don't want to help you because you're you're competing.
You might take some of the flock away from me
or whatnot. Instead of going, oh, brother, I am here.
I want your church to grow. I want your church
to be so big, so saickssful, so wonderful, because the
(22:02):
spirit's on there. But I think oftentimes, you know, you
can be in the world, were to be in it,
but not of it. But we can get wisdom, and
if it's not godly wisdom, it's not the wisdom we're
looking for. And godly wisdom often doesn't look even close
to what worldly wisdom. You know, when you give, you receive,
(22:24):
and that's like upside down and the first will be last.
That's upside down, the last will be first. And so
just understanding the kingdom principles and so.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Well, well, guys, I get excited about this simply this
is the heart. This is really the heartbeat of what
Ignite is all about. It. It's I like what you
said Eric about the word accountability. Sometimes it's an ugly word,
but at the same time, I mean, I think everyone
(22:56):
in our group, there's a trust, there's a trust that
that is there. I trust you guys, I can bring
my burden there, and and and you guys can can
can help and encourage and lift up. And and sometimes
we get so you know, dark and in the weeds. Uh,
(23:19):
sometimes we can't see the light that's right in front
of us. And to have a group of men, a
group of believers that are there to say, Craig, look, look,
look just a little bit to your left there, what
is that? And and to help you. I think of
my time in the Marine Corps. We never left anyone
(23:42):
wounded behind you just you just didn't do that. It
was just unheard of. You helped pick them up, You
went back, you stopped what you were doing, went back, uh,
and and treated the wounds, you know, stop the bleeding,
start the breathing, and help pick them up and bring
them back and help restore them and bring them back
(24:06):
to where they were, maybe even stronger than where they were.
And I think we've forgotten about that. We've gotten so
busy with the things that we're doing, whatever it might be.
And there might even be good things. But I think
we have a tendency as believers. Just to someone's falling
into sin or whatever it might be. We just walk
(24:28):
over them. It's easier to walk over them because I've
got my agenda. I've got my business that I'm running,
and I need my own success. And I just I'm
amazed at our groups. And I'll just talk about our group,
Eric for a second. You look about how many times
(24:50):
that I've been on the road traveling. You've been on
the road, everyone within our group, and very seldom do
we still not get on our our meeting on Friday morning.
So many times, even when Des and I will travel,
(25:11):
it's it's an early morning, you know, at six six
thirty to seven thirty am. You know, I'll just go
down in the lobby sometimes and pull up, pull up
our group time. And I don't want to miss it
because there's such it's refreshing, it's encouraging, and I look
(25:33):
forward to meeting with you guys, and we laugh, we
lift up each other. DES's group, I hear him in
the other room on yours is Tuesday mornings, Yeah, at
six o'clock, but they're laughing. And then and then I've
(25:54):
been in situations where I've gone into the room after
the call should be over, and I look over at
the computer and the computers still there, and I look
down at my wife and she's just laid out before
the Lord, and there's just an annointing in the room.
I'm just telling you, I'm not trying to sell anybody
(26:15):
on groups. I'm not trying to sell anybody. I'm just
telling you there's something about being in a group with
like minded believers. And Ignite is full of business owner
Christian business owners, entrepreneurs, business leaders that want to make
a difference. And these groups are what it's all about.
(26:39):
I know Ben's going to have information up for us
to take a deeper dive into it, but there's a
whole other level. There's a whole other level. Eric, and
I know you and your wife are involved with the
Mastermind group, which is called the Kingdom Board of Advisors.
Tell us real quick, what has that Have you been
(27:01):
part of that for? It's been over a year now, right.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yes, yeah, just over a year. I would say life changing.
And again I don't throw out terms like that loosely.
You know, it's not being dramatic or hyperbole to say
life changing because it being in the very first KBA
group I went to was a year ago this past March,
(27:28):
so we've been in it for sixteen months now, whatever
that is. And you know, it completely changed my perception
of what's possible. And you know that that's you. You
have to see something, you have to have you have
to get a vision for something before you can go there.
And you know, we've talked about it before in our group.
(27:50):
The I don't know who said it, and I don't
know the exact quote, but the rough idea of it
is that you tend to move towards becoming the average
of the five people hang around with the most. Those
are the kind of people that you want to hang
around with the most. Is you know, the people that
are in the ABA group. It changes your view of
(28:15):
what's possible. It changes your view of who you are.
You know, your your own identity and God's kingdom, and
it's just you know, people who you want to learn from,
people who have been where you want to go. And
you know you also want to bring something to the group.
(28:36):
You know, I don't want to just show up and
and take from everybody else. I hope that I, you know,
also show up and bring my life experiences, my strengths
and make those available. So yeah, I think the twofold
thing of doing the partner access groups every week and
(28:57):
having that accountability, having those relations ships, and then also
with the Kingdom Board of Advisors and having just access
to bounce ideas off of people. And you know, in
my case, it wasn't so much bouncing ideas off of people,
it was just getting the ideas in the first place,
because you know, there's some really creative you know, people
(29:19):
that think differently than how I think. And that's that's powerful,
because you know, when none of us can be just
an island and to ourselves. So that uh, that that's
a real big, a big thing.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, yeah, no, and it's it's sometimes it's hard to
it's even hard to I would say it's hard to
talk about I love talking about it, but it's hard
to explain sometimes the the the the anointing that is
in the room, the the things that happen, the downloads
that happen. You know, it's one thing to get into
(29:55):
a conversation with with with a group of people, To
get into a conversation with a group of spirit filled
business owners, business leaders that they long for Eric Johnson
to be successful. They want you and your wife to
(30:18):
be successful, but not only in that business, but in
your marriage, in your walk. And I just the importance,
the importance of it, and I didn't have I always
say this, Eric, if I would have had Ignite, if
(30:39):
I would have been part of an Ignite group ten
fifteen years ago, I believe our business, I believe I
as an individual, would be so much further down the road.
And we didn't have that. And I think a lot
of times we go back and we're doing some of
the things now because of some of the things that
(31:01):
we didn't have when we first started. When we first
started a business, we didn't have We didn't have a
place to go, a place to turn, a sounding board.
We didn't have that. And asn't I even tried to
find those people. And even the people that you kind
of did find, they again they were busy, they didn't
(31:22):
get it, they weren't None of us got it. Yeah,
none of us got it. Yeah. It was just you know,
you were go, go go and didn't want to stop,
didn't want to slow down. But it's you think about
the word leadership. Leadership, you know, is about successful leadership
is if you look behind you there's people following, you
must be doing something right. If there's no one following you,
(31:46):
maybe you're not a leader. But at the same time,
it's stepping up and being what God's called us to be.
And He didn't call us to do this as on
our own well.
Speaker 4 (31:58):
And I just wanted to interject when Eric was speaking,
And the scripture that came to my mind is in
Isaiah fifty five, and it says, from my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares
the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
(32:20):
thoughts than your thoughts. And that we would live daily
from a place where we say, you know your kingdom. Come, Lord,
Your will be done on earth, in our businesses, in
our families, in our churches, in every part that is
that we you know your sphere of influence and every
(32:42):
area Lord, that Heaven would come and invade. And that
I think we sometimes oftentimes try to do it without
Heaven interference in a good way, interfering like, hey, you're
not really on the right page here, You're not on
the right you know. Let me bring Heaven and the
spirit of God and then you're going to think differently,
(33:03):
because then you're going to know my ways, you're going
to know my thoughts, because there's so much higher than
how we can think or know. And then it says,
as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return without watering it and making it
butt and flourish. So I believe everything we do, that
there should be the rain of the spear coming down,
(33:23):
and there should be butting and flourishing so that it
yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
and that we need to be sowers and in sewing
and giving and what God blesses us with that there's
food for people. And it says, so is my word
that goes out from my mouth, it will not return void.
(33:44):
And so I think even in these groups, there's so
much focus on the word, and it's like praying the
word over one another. And when we speak forth the word,
and when we declare the word, it cannot return void.
It has to call plush the purpose for what it's
been sent to do. And you know there's a scripture
(34:06):
that says about uh. It says great joy second John
one four, Great joy to find your children walking in
the truth. And I think so many of us have
prodigal children. So many of us have, you know, kids
that are not walking with the Lord or once did
and have turned away, and that we just say, you
(34:27):
know what, I pray that there will be such joy
in your home. I pray for those listeners today that
those that are prodigals, that we begin to speak the word,
it will not return void and your children will come
home and joy is in the house. And so anyways,
I just thought that was.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeh, wow, wow, that's really good.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
There's so much here that there's so much I get excited.
I love what Ignite is all about. There's a whole
other thing, but I'm going to touch on it briefly, Eric,
and that's the mission impact plan. The importance of the
mission impact plan. And guys, this is a piece where
(35:11):
you're putting together your own personal mission statement. You know,
every business has a mission statement, a vision statement, But
when was the last time you ever looked at your
own life and put together a mission statement, a mission
statement for your marriage. We each person does that that's
involved in a group, and the rest of the group
(35:34):
basically becomes your personal advisory board to help you accomplish
those things in your own mission statement, and we present
that to the group once a year at you know,
each person. Eric presents that to the group once a year.
Six months later, he does a recap, a review for
(35:55):
ten minutes at some point, just to make sure that
he is on track to accomplish some of those things
and to be encouraged. These are so important. These are
things that I believe what sets Ignite apart from some
of the other groups that are out there. And again
you said it earlier, We're not in competition with someone
(36:18):
else's group. That's not it at all. We're just a
group of spirit filled believers that know that God's called
us to something greater, that God has called you to
something greater. Because if we don't, if we're not changing
our own self or our families, it's really really difficult
(36:40):
to change a culture, to change a city. Because what
we want to do is change a city. That's going
to change a nation, and you can't do it on
your own. We need other people. We need other people
in the foxhole with you that are going to fight alongside,
that believe in you, that try in you, that encourage you.
(37:03):
This is what it's gonna take for this nation to change.
It's we the people. But even more so, if you're
calling yourself a believer and you're a business owner, uh,
a business leader, entrepreneur, I would encourage you to take
a look at a night DASHCB dot com and see
(37:25):
and pray into and even try out a group UH
get you know, get in touch with us uh and
and and try out one of these groups. It's gonna
change your life. It's gonna change your life. And I
believe that. And Eric I, I just want to thank
you for being part it's it's guys. He was he
(37:46):
was one of the first ones uh to uh to
actually achieve the uh the Keeler Leadership Award at the
last conference. And and to me, that's a big deal. UH.
To me, that is ane of true leadership. What leadership
is all about. God's moving. God's moving in such a
(38:08):
cool way. And as you say it all the time,
let's make the marketplace the miracle place. God's up to something.
And I just want to end with this. Guys, remember this,
your best days are yet to come.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Thank you for joining us on this Sunday Service edition
of Ignite Kingdom Talk. If this episode stirred something in
your heart. If you long for deeper connection, meaningful accountability,
and a circle of leaders walking together in faith, we'd
love to connect with you. Visit ignite dashcb dot com.
Learn more about our strategic partner groups and the Kingdom
Board of Advisors, and don't forget you're invited to our
(38:48):
free Ignite community call, happening on the second Tuesday of
every month at noon Central. Join us as we gather
to pray together and learn from business experts from across
the nation. Sign up for free at a night dashcb
dot com. Now, may you and yours be abundantly blessed
in the name of Jesus, and remember the best is
(39:09):
yet to come.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
You will be like God human unity.
Speaker 5 (39:18):
God was severed and through it all, God's promise remain true.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Follow me, April, and I would make a great to you.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
This is the Chosen People.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Listen to the Chosen People at the Chosen People dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
That's the Chosen People dot com.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans ten eleven.
Thank you for opening my heart and mind to the truth. Lord,
You revealed the beauty of your son and the cost
he paid for me to be with you. All you
(00:22):
asked of me was to believe in that glorious truth
by faith. Faith is what pleases you the most. I
will confess you as my Lord and Savior and believe
God the Father raised you from the dead and will
raise me from death to be with you forever. Your
(00:42):
home is my heart, and you live your life through me.
I am your child, and you have filled me with
the supernatural life of your spirit. You are with me
twenty four hours a day and will never leave me. Amen.
Thank you for listening to today's daily prayer for more
(01:04):
inspiration Manned an incredible message from our feature pastor. Stay
tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday Service.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Welcome. This is Ignite Kingdom Talk. Make the marketplace the
Miracle Place. Welcome to the special Sunday Service edition of
Ignite Kingdom Talk. A space where we highlight the work
of God in the lives and businesses of Kingdom minded
business leaders. Today's guest is Eric Johnson, president of Arnold
(01:40):
Motor Supply and The Merrill Company, a member of the
Ignite Kingdom Board of Advisors, and a recipient of the
twenty twenty five Keeler Leadership Award. He brings real world insight,
quiet strength, and spiritual depth to today's conversation. Whether you're part
of the Ignite community or joining us for the very
first time through pray dot com, we pray this time
(02:01):
helps you draw closer to Jesus and step more boldly
into your calling. We would love your help spreading the
word and leveraging social media for the Kingdom. Let's ignite
Christian business leaders all over the world. Like, comment, share, follow,
and subscribe join the Ignite community today. Ignite Kingdom Talk
is made possible through the generous support of our Ignite
(02:21):
partner Access members. This subscription based community offers christ centered accountability,
encouragement and growth through small groups. Are you looking for
a network of like minded Christian business leaders to uplift
and encourage you when your calling to the marketplace. We'll
learn more and sign up today at ignite dashcb dot com.
And now, in the name of Jesus, may your faith
and hope be ignited afresh and anew.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Hey, guys, we want to welcome you back to Ignite
Kingdom Talk. We are excited about what God's doing and
there is so much to be thankful for. And one
of the things I just it's been on my heart.
It's been in my heart for the past few days.
And I know for so many of our listeners, we
(03:09):
want to pray for Texas. The situation down there, and
so many things are happening down there, and boy, it's
got to be I always say this, I can't imagine.
I can't imagine sending your kid off to camp and
(03:29):
them not coming back, or our grandkids off to off
to camp and des can you just can you just
start us off and praying over Texas?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Absolutely? Father, we love you, Lord, you are good. You're
good Father, and Lord, we just asked that in your
goodness and in your mercy and in your grace, you
would extend the spirit of just comfort over those that
are experiencing lost Lord, that are directly impacted. Lord, that
(04:02):
it's a family, a friend, Lord, a neighbor that has
experienced such loss. And Lord, we know that it doesn't
just impact that neighborhood, that's town, Lord, those around in Texas,
But Lord, it is impacting the entire world. And Lord
that there are those that are just grieving alongside. And Lord,
(04:26):
you say where one is mourning, Lord that we're to
weep with each other, that Lord, we're to be there.
And so Father, we lift them to you, and we
know you're the only one, Oh God, that can comfort.
You are the only one that can bring peace. You
are the only one. So we look to you and
(04:46):
we pray, oh God, that you do what only you
can do. And we thank you in advanced Lord, in Jesus' name,
and God, we just even ask even for a miracle
today that there would be a another person that is
found alive. Lord, God, we just pray that you are
the God of miracles. So Lord, we say, let there
(05:07):
be and we just believe it to be selling.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah, And Lord, we just we lift up our
listeners right now. If they're going through a difficult season,
a difficult time. Lord, there's darkness, but Lord, I pray
that the light would shine in that dark place that
they're at Lord that you are our hope, you are
(05:31):
our salvation, You're the answer. And Lord, I pray. I
pray just for peace and their situation. I pray give
them joy and Lord, we thank you. We give it
all to you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, No, I
just it's just been on my heart and I just
didn't want to start this. I didn't want to start
(05:52):
this off with with without without prayer. And Guys, I'm
always excited to be with our friend Eric Johnson, and
he's no stranger to tough situations, battling through tough situations.
And I know today Eric that that were you know,
(06:14):
I think we need to talk about some of the
things that are happening with in Ignite and and how
God is using this and I believe in such a
mighty way. And I we always say it the best
is yet to come, and I think it's happening. I
see it happening. And being part of these strategic groups,
(06:40):
and not only that, Eric, but you're part of the
Kingdom Board of Advisors, the Mastermind Group level. First of all, welcome,
welcome to the Welcome to the show, the podcast here,
and it's always great to have you on and you
and your wife. We love you guys, But Eric, you
just went through a tough situation. And I know it's
(07:03):
been on past podcast, but man, what was that like
a flood? I don't think it was anything like this
flood that happened, but man, there's difficult. We just stood
in your We just stood in your warehouse just a
few weeks back and stood where the water was in
(07:25):
that warehouse feet deep, not just inches, but feet deep.
What's that like to be on the other side now?
Speaker 5 (07:35):
I can't even express well, I guess, first of all,
thank you for having me. It's great to be here.
But I can't even express how much different this summer
has been from last summer. I mean, the anniversary of
the flood was just over a week ago, so one
year ago. At this time, we were working from sun
(07:57):
up to sundown trying to get up rations back and
it was a really chaotic, trying time. And so it's
really nice to be on the other side of that
here and have some quote unquote normalcy to this summer.
(08:17):
So I'm going the extra mile this summer to try
and get in a little more relaxation that didn't happen
last summer. So yeah, that's been really nice.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Yeah, Eric, tell our folks what you do.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Okay. So I am the president of a company called
Arnold Motor Supply. We are something like the twelfth thirteenth
largest distributor of automotive products in the United States. I
have about one thousand employees spread across five states in
the Upper Midwest. And the flood that we're talking about
impacted our corporate office, our primary distribution center, and our
(08:56):
flagship store here in Spencer. Really a great company, a
good organization, and you know, something like the event that
we went through together, I do think on the other
side of it, we see some benefits. I kind of
hate to use the term benefit associated with the disaster,
(09:17):
but it did bring us closer together as an organization.
And you know, the old adage what doesn't kill you
make you stronger is kind of true. So you know,
we are in a good spot sitting here on the
other side twelve months later. It took us seven months
to rebuild and get back to normal functionality.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
But you know, I'm.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Actually pretty pretty fortunate or pretty happy with the way
we're sitting right now.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, and I've always said this, Eric, you were the
right person for the job you were the right person
to take to take them through this. I think so
many people would just be I think so many businesses
seeing the devastation from just that warehouse alone. Well, I
(10:04):
just I don't you were the right person to get
them through it.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And I know your your your faith in Jesus, you know,
led the way, led the direction gave you that wisdom
and and that boldness to be able to do that.
So I just my, Uh, I think, what a what
a great job that that you've done getting them, getting
(10:30):
them to where they're at today. But guys, Eric is Erict,
like I said, is part of the strategic groups. The
strategic groups were basically designed as accountability groups, groups where
we could share other's burdens to lift up to be
(10:51):
in in the room. Each week, each week we meet
for an hour. The groups are are no more than
eight per group, and we meet for an hour by
just by zoom, just just kind of like what we're
doing right now and just the power of being together.
(11:11):
And I remember a couple of different times, Eric, you
were actually you were actually in in waiters and and
we did one of one of the groups with you
standing in the warehouse as as we uh uh from
all of us from the different locations that we're at,
and we just reached out and we just prayed over
(11:31):
you and and for you and for that situation. I
mean being part of the group and and being part
of the group as long as you have the strategic group, Eric,
what's that like going through the situation that you went through,
knowing that you've got a group of guys, group of
(11:51):
there's seven of us in the group that you're in.
What's what's that feeling? What is that like going through
what you went through?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Well, I think the best way to answer that is
to back up to So I've been in the president
role for roughly five and a half six years at
this point. So if we go back in time too,
when I was really functioning more as executive vice president.
So you know, it had already been identified that I
would be the next president upon my predecessor's retirement, you know,
(12:24):
working with him in terms of you know, preparing me
for that role. One of the really sound pieces of
advice that he gave me was you have to go
find a peer group, you know, with the n Prior
to that, I probably either relied on my co workers
as my peer group or didn't lean on a peer group,
(12:48):
which you know, in both cases could be problematic. So
you know, that was his one of his big pieces
of advice was to go find some some group, somebody
you need. You're going to need a sounding board, You're
going to need need people to talk to, you know,
And so that's really what led me to start looking
for what Ultimately, when I found the group that I'm
(13:09):
still in the timing of it couldn't have been better
because I rolled in, you know, kind of really functioning
much more just at the same time COVID hit, So,
you know, the two most difficult challenges that professionally that
I've had to face or leading the company through COVID
and leading the company through the flood, the flood being
(13:31):
significantly worse than COVID, but both of them, the timing
was very good in the sense that I had just
gotten established in this group, the uh you know, the
weekly group that we're talking about, just right at the
end of nineteen rolling into twenty. So I would say
(13:52):
that is crucial in a situation. You know, whenever you're
going through a situation like this, you have to to
have somebody outside yourself that you can go to that
you can trust that their advice is going to be
sound because it's going to be based on the same
(14:13):
truths that your life is based on. You know, you
can find all kinds of people to give you advice,
and that's sometimes negative more so than positive if they're
not coming from the same worldview, the same pre you know,
pre assumptions that you are. So that really was important,
(14:34):
and you know, I would I don't think it's over
dramatic to say it made the difference between success and
failure in you know, rolling through both COVID and the
flooding situation.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
So the scripture that when you were speaking it came
to my mind was that God loves it when people
do all together in perfect unity. I think the word
actually is brethren. And so when you guys are on
your group together, and I know you know our ladies
group as well, that there is a unity that comes
(15:09):
and when the spirit of God is on it and
breathing on it and speaking through it, that there's wisdom
that we glean from one another. Because obviously God says,
you know, whoever lacks wisdom, ask and He'll give it generously.
And I believe oftentimes he brings it through another brother
or a sister and the Lord. But this scripture, you know,
(15:33):
in John seventeen, it's kind of the scripture of my
heart right now, when Jesus prays for us, you know,
and that we would be protected from the evil one.
But I'm just going to read this. It's a couple
of verses, but it says my prayer is not for
them alone. I pray also for those who will believe
in me through their message, that all of them may
(15:54):
be one. So there again there's the unity of being
in a group together, that we would be one, not
just in a group, but you know, being His children Father.
Just as you and me and I am in you,
may they also be in us. That the world may
believe that you have sent me, I have given them
the glory that you gave me, that they may be
(16:14):
one as we are one. And I think so many
times people have trouble in finding out how do I
become one? How do I come into unity with brethren?
And I mean when I say brethren, it's women or men,
But it's that place because I think so often we
as Christians want to be isolated, pull back. We've been wounded,
(16:38):
we've been hurt by the church, by believers, and so
we tend to just be like, I don't need people.
But on the contrary, God says that we would be
in unity with one another. And then it says, I,
in them and you and me, may they be brought
to complete unity to let And this is crazy awesome.
So he wants us to be in complete unity. Why
(16:59):
to let the Lord the world know that you sent
me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
And then, Father, I want those you've given me to
be with me where I am and to see my glory.
So obviously a big part of that is being in unity.
And anyways, and then at the very end, it says,
(17:22):
I have made you known to them and will continue
to make you known in order that the love you
have for me maybe in them, and I may self
myself may be in them. And I think we when
we pray and we walk in love and we walk
in truth, the spirit of love, the spirit of truth
that can only come from Holy spirit, like true love,
(17:42):
the true truth, and that we begin to love one
another as Christ loves, and that we're there for one another.
And that's when unity, because we really do care about
each other, like I love the ladies in my group,
and you know, you can see one day when maybe
one of them might be a little down, or I
might be down and be able to be vulnerable and
(18:04):
have a group of women just be your cheerleaders and
pray for you, speaking to you or give you a
phone call. And not having that group it is different.
But once you're in the group and you're plugged in,
it's like, Oh, thank you God for these wonderful women.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
You know, that's a great description. And you know, you
use the word earlier when we were starting this podcast,
you use the word accountability, and sometimes I think the
word accountability itself kind of gets a negative connotation to it,
like something back the flooding that we were praying about.
You know, we want to find someone to be to blame.
(18:45):
We want to hold someone accountable, and someone needs to
be responsible. Someone needs to and that's yeah, that's true
about accountability. But to me, there's also so much power
in the positive side of this of accountability. And to me,
the one verse that I always go back to more
(19:07):
than anything else when talking about, you know, the group
specifically or the need for that fellowship with like minded
and people who are coming from the same place, who
have that same worldview. It comes from Hebrews ten. Actually,
Craig and I are in Hebrews right now in our group.
This is just a little farther ahead from where we
(19:29):
were earlier this morning. This is Hebrews ten twenty four
and reading into twenty five. Let us consider how to
stir one another to love and to good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you
see the day drawing near. And to me, that is
(19:51):
the definition of what we do in these groups is
there's you know, we're stirring one another up. And you know,
I look at it. My wife and I we exercise,
so we are some level accountability partners for each other
in the sense that I'm much more likely to go
for the bike ride, or go for the walk, or
(20:12):
go to the gym knowing that she is also relying
on me and I'm relying on her. It's the same
thing with this, you know, we're so much more encouraged.
We're stirring each other up to good works. So I
just love that view or that definition of accountability because
it puts the positive spin on it, and you know
(20:35):
it's not so much just about well making sure that
we don't sin. And that's true, that's part of it.
You know that we if we're struggling with something, we
can go to the group. And but it's so much
more of it is the encouragement part of it and
that you can do it part of it. So to me,
that's that's the best way that that's the definition that
I keep in my head about accountability.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
I was just going to throw in there. So when
you're mentioning about you know, accountability and what you can
glean from one another and stirring one another up, and
you just look and you think that the Lord wants
us to spur one another on that we see Jesus
(21:19):
is the goal. You know, our eyes are fixed upon him.
He's our prize and it's like, you know where to
run the race that's set before us. But how awesome
it is that if you see a brother trip along
the way, that you're there to just say, you know,
get up, get up, come on, I'm here with you,
and to spur one another on instead of like, oh
(21:40):
my word, your competition to me. And because the world
sees that, and it's in the church even a lot
where it's like, oh, you're my competition. I can't help you.
I don't want to help you because you're you're competing.
You might take some of the flock away from me
or whatnot. Instead of going, oh, brother, I am here.
I want your church to grow. I want your church
to be so big, so saickssful, so wonderful, because the
(22:02):
spirit's on there. But I think oftentimes, you know, you
can be in the world, were to be in it,
but not of it. But we can get wisdom, and
if it's not godly wisdom, it's not the wisdom we're
looking for. And godly wisdom often doesn't look even close
to what worldly wisdom. You know, when you give, you receive,
(22:24):
and that's like upside down and the first will be last.
That's upside down, the last will be first. And so
just understanding the kingdom principles and so.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Well, well, guys, I get excited about this simply this
is the heart. This is really the heartbeat of what
Ignite is all about. It. It's I like what you
said Eric about the word accountability. Sometimes it's an ugly word,
but at the same time, I mean, I think everyone
(22:56):
in our group, there's a trust, there's a trust that
that is there. I trust you guys, I can bring
my burden there, and and and you guys can can
can help and encourage and lift up. And and sometimes
we get so you know, dark and in the weeds. Uh,
(23:19):
sometimes we can't see the light that's right in front
of us. And to have a group of men, a
group of believers that are there to say, Craig, look, look,
look just a little bit to your left there, what
is that? And and to help you. I think of
my time in the Marine Corps. We never left anyone
(23:42):
wounded behind you just you just didn't do that. It
was just unheard of. You helped pick them up, You
went back, you stopped what you were doing, went back, uh,
and and treated the wounds, you know, stop the bleeding,
start the breathing, and help pick them up and bring
them back and help restore them and bring them back
(24:06):
to where they were, maybe even stronger than where they were.
And I think we've forgotten about that. We've gotten so
busy with the things that we're doing, whatever it might be.
And there might even be good things. But I think
we have a tendency as believers. Just to someone's falling
into sin or whatever it might be. We just walk
(24:28):
over them. It's easier to walk over them because I've
got my agenda. I've got my business that I'm running,
and I need my own success. And I just I'm
amazed at our groups. And I'll just talk about our group,
Eric for a second. You look about how many times
(24:50):
that I've been on the road traveling. You've been on
the road, everyone within our group, and very seldom do
we still not get on our our meeting on Friday morning.
So many times, even when Des and I will travel,
(25:11):
it's it's an early morning, you know, at six six
thirty to seven thirty am. You know, I'll just go
down in the lobby sometimes and pull up, pull up
our group time. And I don't want to miss it
because there's such it's refreshing, it's encouraging, and I look
(25:33):
forward to meeting with you guys, and we laugh, we
lift up each other. DES's group, I hear him in
the other room on yours is Tuesday mornings, Yeah, at
six o'clock, but they're laughing. And then and then I've
(25:54):
been in situations where I've gone into the room after
the call should be over, and I look over at
the computer and the computers still there, and I look
down at my wife and she's just laid out before
the Lord, and there's just an annointing in the room.
I'm just telling you, I'm not trying to sell anybody
(26:15):
on groups. I'm not trying to sell anybody. I'm just
telling you there's something about being in a group with
like minded believers. And Ignite is full of business owner
Christian business owners, entrepreneurs, business leaders that want to make
a difference. And these groups are what it's all about.
(26:39):
I know Ben's going to have information up for us
to take a deeper dive into it, but there's a
whole other level. There's a whole other level. Eric, and
I know you and your wife are involved with the
Mastermind group, which is called the Kingdom Board of Advisors.
Tell us real quick, what has that Have you been
(27:01):
part of that for? It's been over a year now, right.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yes, yeah, just over a year. I would say life changing.
And again I don't throw out terms like that loosely.
You know, it's not being dramatic or hyperbole to say
life changing because it being in the very first KBA
group I went to was a year ago this past March,
(27:28):
so we've been in it for sixteen months now, whatever
that is. And you know, it completely changed my perception
of what's possible. And you know that that's you. You
have to see something, you have to have you have
to get a vision for something before you can go there.
And you know, we've talked about it before in our group.
(27:50):
The I don't know who said it, and I don't
know the exact quote, but the rough idea of it
is that you tend to move towards becoming the average
of the five people hang around with the most. Those
are the kind of people that you want to hang
around with the most. Is you know, the people that
are in the ABA group. It changes your view of
(28:15):
what's possible. It changes your view of who you are.
You know, your your own identity and God's kingdom, and
it's just you know, people who you want to learn from,
people who have been where you want to go. And
you know you also want to bring something to the group.
(28:36):
You know, I don't want to just show up and
and take from everybody else. I hope that I, you know,
also show up and bring my life experiences, my strengths
and make those available. So yeah, I think the twofold
thing of doing the partner access groups every week and
(28:57):
having that accountability, having those relations ships, and then also
with the Kingdom Board of Advisors and having just access
to bounce ideas off of people. And you know, in
my case, it wasn't so much bouncing ideas off of people,
it was just getting the ideas in the first place,
because you know, there's some really creative you know, people
(29:19):
that think differently than how I think. And that's that's powerful,
because you know, when none of us can be just
an island and to ourselves. So that uh, that that's
a real big, a big thing.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, yeah, no, and it's it's sometimes it's hard to
it's even hard to I would say it's hard to
talk about I love talking about it, but it's hard
to explain sometimes the the the the anointing that is
in the room, the the things that happen, the downloads
that happen. You know, it's one thing to get into
(29:55):
a conversation with with with a group of people, To
get into a conversation with a group of spirit filled
business owners, business leaders that they long for Eric Johnson
to be successful. They want you and your wife to
(30:18):
be successful, but not only in that business, but in
your marriage, in your walk. And I just the importance,
the importance of it, and I didn't have I always
say this, Eric, if I would have had Ignite, if
(30:39):
I would have been part of an Ignite group ten
fifteen years ago, I believe our business, I believe I
as an individual, would be so much further down the road.
And we didn't have that. And I think a lot
of times we go back and we're doing some of
the things now because of some of the things that
(31:01):
we didn't have when we first started. When we first
started a business, we didn't have We didn't have a
place to go, a place to turn, a sounding board.
We didn't have that. And asn't I even tried to
find those people. And even the people that you kind
of did find, they again they were busy, they didn't
(31:22):
get it, they weren't None of us got it. Yeah,
none of us got it. Yeah. It was just you know,
you were go, go go and didn't want to stop,
didn't want to slow down. But it's you think about
the word leadership. Leadership, you know, is about successful leadership
is if you look behind you there's people following, you
must be doing something right. If there's no one following you,
(31:46):
maybe you're not a leader. But at the same time,
it's stepping up and being what God's called us to be.
And He didn't call us to do this as on
our own well.
Speaker 4 (31:58):
And I just wanted to interject when Eric was speaking,
And the scripture that came to my mind is in
Isaiah fifty five, and it says, from my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares
the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
(32:20):
thoughts than your thoughts. And that we would live daily
from a place where we say, you know your kingdom. Come, Lord,
Your will be done on earth, in our businesses, in
our families, in our churches, in every part that is
that we you know your sphere of influence and every
(32:42):
area Lord, that Heaven would come and invade. And that
I think we sometimes oftentimes try to do it without
Heaven interference in a good way, interfering like, hey, you're
not really on the right page here, You're not on
the right you know. Let me bring Heaven and the
spirit of God and then you're going to think differently,
(33:03):
because then you're going to know my ways, you're going
to know my thoughts, because there's so much higher than
how we can think or know. And then it says,
as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return without watering it and making it
butt and flourish. So I believe everything we do, that
there should be the rain of the spear coming down,
(33:23):
and there should be butting and flourishing so that it
yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
and that we need to be sowers and in sewing
and giving and what God blesses us with that there's
food for people. And it says, so is my word
that goes out from my mouth, it will not return void.
(33:44):
And so I think even in these groups, there's so
much focus on the word, and it's like praying the
word over one another. And when we speak forth the word,
and when we declare the word, it cannot return void.
It has to call plush the purpose for what it's
been sent to do. And you know there's a scripture
(34:06):
that says about uh. It says great joy second John
one four, Great joy to find your children walking in
the truth. And I think so many of us have
prodigal children. So many of us have, you know, kids
that are not walking with the Lord or once did
and have turned away, and that we just say, you
(34:27):
know what, I pray that there will be such joy
in your home. I pray for those listeners today that
those that are prodigals, that we begin to speak the word,
it will not return void and your children will come
home and joy is in the house. And so anyways,
I just thought that was.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeh, wow, wow, that's really good.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
There's so much here that there's so much I get excited.
I love what Ignite is all about. There's a whole
other thing, but I'm going to touch on it briefly, Eric,
and that's the mission impact plan. The importance of the
mission impact plan. And guys, this is a piece where
(35:11):
you're putting together your own personal mission statement. You know,
every business has a mission statement, a vision statement, But
when was the last time you ever looked at your
own life and put together a mission statement, a mission
statement for your marriage. We each person does that that's
involved in a group, and the rest of the group
(35:34):
basically becomes your personal advisory board to help you accomplish
those things in your own mission statement, and we present
that to the group once a year at you know,
each person. Eric presents that to the group once a year.
Six months later, he does a recap, a review for
(35:55):
ten minutes at some point, just to make sure that
he is on track to accomplish some of those things
and to be encouraged. These are so important. These are
things that I believe what sets Ignite apart from some
of the other groups that are out there. And again
you said it earlier, We're not in competition with someone
(36:18):
else's group. That's not it at all. We're just a
group of spirit filled believers that know that God's called
us to something greater, that God has called you to
something greater. Because if we don't, if we're not changing
our own self or our families, it's really really difficult
(36:40):
to change a culture, to change a city. Because what
we want to do is change a city. That's going
to change a nation, and you can't do it on
your own. We need other people. We need other people
in the foxhole with you that are going to fight alongside,
that believe in you, that try in you, that encourage you.
(37:03):
This is what it's gonna take for this nation to change.
It's we the people. But even more so, if you're
calling yourself a believer and you're a business owner, uh,
a business leader, entrepreneur, I would encourage you to take
a look at a night DASHCB dot com and see
(37:25):
and pray into and even try out a group UH
get you know, get in touch with us uh and
and and try out one of these groups. It's gonna
change your life. It's gonna change your life. And I
believe that. And Eric I, I just want to thank
you for being part it's it's guys. He was he
(37:46):
was one of the first ones uh to uh to
actually achieve the uh the Keeler Leadership Award at the
last conference. And and to me, that's a big deal. UH.
To me, that is ane of true leadership. What leadership
is all about. God's moving. God's moving in such a
(38:08):
cool way. And as you say it all the time,
let's make the marketplace the miracle place. God's up to something.
And I just want to end with this. Guys, remember this,
your best days are yet to come.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Thank you for joining us on this Sunday Service edition
of Ignite Kingdom Talk. If this episode stirred something in
your heart. If you long for deeper connection, meaningful accountability,
and a circle of leaders walking together in faith, we'd
love to connect with you. Visit ignite dashcb dot com.
Learn more about our strategic partner groups and the Kingdom
Board of Advisors, and don't forget you're invited to our
(38:48):
free Ignite community call, happening on the second Tuesday of
every month at noon Central. Join us as we gather
to pray together and learn from business experts from across
the nation. Sign up for free at a night dashcb
dot com. Now, may you and yours be abundantly blessed
in the name of Jesus, and remember the best is
(39:09):
yet to come.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
You will be like God human unity.
Speaker 5 (39:18):
God was severed and through it all, God's promise remain true.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Follow me, April, and I would make a great to you.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
This is the Chosen People.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Listen to the Chosen People at the Chosen People dot com.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
That's the Chosen People dot com.
Host
Matthew Potter
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