PointTaken: Recent Episodes
Tom Hufty
This is PointTaken, the show where we talk about the four areas of your life where you can have the greatest impact on the world: your marriage, your family, your leadership and your spiritual development.
Today we're bringing you part two of our series "How to Make Decisions and Never Look Back."
After the show, check out our new video content on the FBMMedia YouTube Channel.
Happy New Year, PointTaken family! We have several updates in today's show. There are a lot of new things we're planning for 2022.
Check out the new FBMMedia YouTube Channel. We'll be posting video from the past few months there on an ongoing basis.
Merry Christmas, PointTaken family! Today, Tom share's a short excerpt from Max Lucado's book, "God Came Near."
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Today Tom and Matt discuss the most influential characters of Christmas and the impact they've had upon their spiritual development.
Christmas is about God becoming a man to rescue us from our sin and rebellion.
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." —Isaiah 9:2 ESV
For some, the Christmas season can be full of stress and pain. Today Tom disucsses how to naviagte suffering during the holidays in order to reach a place of hope.
In this week's episode, Tom provides some practical ways we can further lean into gratitude this Thanksgiving holiday.
This week, Tom discusses the important things leaders must do to gain credibility with the teams they lead.
We tend to lead scattered lives burdened by many urgent things that clamor for our attention to our day to day commitments. Today, Tom gives us direction on how to lift our heads above the chaos to regain our perspective on one thing.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Today Tom discusses the reality of faith in our lives and shows how it permeates every aspect of our living.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Is there a way to redeem the observance of Halloween? As Christians, we should constantly strive to bring the culture of God's Kingdom to every platform we're given. Halloween is no different, and there are practical things you can do on this holiday to communicate the sweetness of Jesus to your neighbors.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Where do you turn when the stressers of life press in from every side? Today, Tom encourages us to find comfort in God's word. He has asked us to take on His yoke, and in return He promises rest.
How you do anything is how you do everything. Today, Tom and Matt sit down to talk about how to pursue excellence in all areas of life.
This week, Tom and Matt discuss two important stages of parenthood. Every parent should embrace each stage, but it's important they come in the correct order.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review
Today, Tom and Matt review Skye Jethani's book on the Sermon on the Mount called, "What if Jesus was Serious?"
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Today we end our 3-part series on emotions by discussing the often hidden emotion of jealousy.
After the show, please consider leaving us a rating and review on the podcasting platform of your choice.
Check out the video from today's show on the FBMMedia YouTube Channel.
Last week we started a new series called Emotions by discussing the unhealthy role fear plays in our decision making. This week we turn our attention to anger and look at how destructive this emotion can be when expressed outside the bounds of Godly wisdom.
Check out the video of this episode on the FBMMedia YouTube Channel.
This week Tom and Matt start at 3-part series on emotions by discussing the emotion of fear.
After the show, please consider leaving us a rating and review on the podcasting platform of your choice.
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Leave a review on Stitcher
Today, Tom provides 4 facts that should shape our perspective on work:
- Your work is to be viewed as a gift.
- Your work and your worth are not the same.
- Your work is a platform to honor God.
- Your relationships are more important than your work.
In today's show, we're discussing the topic of fatherhood. Throughout our conversation, Tom provides three ways fathers can make a legacy-sized impact in the lives of their kids.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Within our current context, marriage has been downgraded to the realm of subjective, personal indulgence. However, when we start to search out the scriptures we find that the biblical authors had something much more robust and concrete when they communicate God's design for marriage.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Today's episode is all about friendship and Tom has a great framework to help us identify the quality of friends we currently have.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, Tom explores the idea that our lives are shaped by what we say 'yes' and 'no' to. Throughout the conversation, he provides two things to which we should always say yes, and two things to which we should always say no.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, Tom talks about the importance of remembering, and highlights the tools God has given us to do so.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
This week we turn our focus to the subject of success. The culture around us tells us to pursue our ideal selves at the expense of everything else. Scripture, as it always does, flips the status quo on its head and says to pursue God at the expense of ourselves. As we do, we'll start to see three things that will be required as we pursue life His way.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
If you've listened to the show for a while now, you've picked up on the importance of clear communication, affirmation, and shared values when it comes to general effectiveness in life. Today, Tom will frame all of these attributes within the context of the family.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we continue part two of our series on Grace. If you missed part one, you can listen here: https://pointtaken.libsyn.com/episode-143-grace-part-1
You might also be interested in listening to our episode called "The Grace Test" from November 2018: https://pointtaken.libsyn.com/episode-11-the-grace-test
Grace allows you to experience a reality that you have no ability to create on your own. We talk about this in-depth in today's episode and discuss how to be cheerful distributers of underserved merit to others.
After the show, head over to the podcasting platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
The past few weeks we've been discussing the power that lies within our words. In the last episode, we talked about how life can flow from our words. They have the potential to draw out hope and inspiration from other people. Today, we examine the other hand and discover how destructive unbridled words can truly be. Gossip destroys relationships. Consequently, God's word has a lot of warning we should heed as we reflect on the words we allow ourselves to use.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
In this week's episode, we continue the discussion on "words" by turning our attention to life-giving words. Tom provides three types of life-giving words every person needs to hear.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
It's interesting, as you read through scripture, it doesn't take long to discover that God has a lot to say about our words. And He should, because our words are a clear indicator of what is in our hearts. Since we have a good Father who is concerned about what is taking root in our hearts, it shouldn't surprise us that He gives clear guidance on how to deal with the fruit of our hearts, which is our words. Today Tom discusses the importance of our words and gives some clear guidance on how to tame our tongues.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we turn our attention the topic of comfort. As modern people living in a developed and increasingly automated world, we are quite familiar with the concept of comfort. Our physical surroundings are saturated with tools and tech that facilitate our comfort. And it’s a rich blessing. However, as familiar as we are with comfort in our physical surroundings, we’re often distant from the presence of comfort within our souls. We walk around empty and broken because we don’t tap into the source of Christ and draw abundantly from the soul-comfort He offers. Today, Tom’s going to give us three ways we can reverse this course and find lasting comfort in God’s presence.
After the show, be sure to head over to the listening platform of your choice and leave us a rating and review.
Christians believe in the power of prayer, but too few engage in the discipline to ever see the Lord's guidance in their day-to-day circumstances. Today, we discuss an Old Testament character whose prayer habit put his life in danger. Through his example, we can learn to have a more consistent and engaging prayer life.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and a review on the podcast.
Having a healthy, life-giving family culture is essential to long-term effectiveness in leadership. Today, Tom walks through several tips on how to invest in one of the most important components of leadership—our family life.
Our minds are maleable; much more than we tend to assume. And they will often take the shape of the molds (or influences) to which we expose them. Knowing that, one of the best things we can do to promote spiritual health is to take care of the things that shape our minds. Today, Tom discusses the supreme mind shaper—memorizing scripture—and discusses strategies for locking away more of God's word into your long-term membory.
Today we bring you an episode from Mother's Day 2019 when we sat down with Rhonda and Mackenzie to discuss the joys and challenges of motherhood.
Approach your relationships like this and you're destined for failure. Tom discusses this doomed approach today, and gives us direciton on how we can avoid some major relational pitfalls.
Last week we discussed some of the important markers of healthy relationships. Today, we dive into one of the most important tools for ensuring long-term relational health—tough love. It's not pleasant. In fact, most people avoide it at all cost. However, the distance between superficiality and intimacy is often only bridged by tough love.
Is your love growing, plateaued or dying? Today, Tom gives us several characteristics to consider when evaluating the state of our love.
Today's show is all about leadership! There are four key competencies all leaders must possess to be effective. Using the world real, R.E.A.L., Tom walks us through each competency and gives us a few pointers on how to grow.
Few things are more valuable than your character. Today, Tom provides direction on how to build godly character in a culture intent on destroying it.
What would be possible if you were able to connect more deeply in your relationships? What would happen at home? How about at the office? Today, Tom gives us 5 ways to understand people better that can open the door to deeper and richer relationships.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, we continue part two of our mini-series on grief. At the end of the show, Tom and Rhonda provide some helpful resources to navigate the turbulent emotions surrounding the grieving process.
Grief is an unavoidable reality of life. And it affects everyone differently. The next two episodes we'll dive deeper into the subject and talk about how to walk through grief in a way that is healthy.
In the final episode of the "Asking the Right Questions" series, Tom discusses how to choose wise counselors when making big decisions.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we continue with part two of the series "Asking the Right Questions." Intuition is a good skill to possess; however, when it comes to making life-altering decisions, it shouldn't be the only source of guidance.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
How do you react to tough decisions? Are you impulsive, trying to hurry through, or indecisive, delaying necessary action? Today, Tom challenges us to navigate big decisions by asking the right questions.
What does an Old Testament, minor prophet have to say about leadership? Well, quite a lot. And today Tom is going to walk us through how to shape our hearts, as leaders, around Micah's exhortation to the nation of Israel.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
We're ending out our 12 Cries series by discussing the need for advice. Your kids are crying for your counsel. While how you give advice will evolve as your kids grow up, the truth is they never outgrow the need for your support and encouragement.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Your kids want to change the culture. To do so they’re going to need an arsenal of spiritual disciplines that will equip them to make disciples within their most important contexts—their communities, industries, and homes.
Have you ever considered choosing one word to define the focus of your attention for an entire year? This is a practice Tom has encouraged for years, and today he's going to talk about the benefits that await those who take on the challenge.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Our children eventually come to an age when they desire to press against the structures that have supported and nurtured them through childhood and break forth into adulthood. This is a natural and good desire; however, parents must be proactive in preparing for this stage so they're able to help their children launch successfully from the nest.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, in the 12 Cries series, Tom discusses the ninth cry—Accountability. Your kids need your continual support. Whether they'll admit it or not, they need you to hold them accountable to the high standards of your family's values and behaviors.
The new year is fast approaching! With it comes new opportunities, new challenges, and the possibility of wiping the slate clean. Today Tom instructs us on how to reconcile what has happened in the past, offer forgiveness to those who need it, and move confidently into all the Lord has for us in 2021.
Merry Christmas from your PointTaken family! We wish you all the best as you celebrate the birth of Jesus this holiday season.
Today, we continue in our 12 Cries series by discussing the cry of attitude. Our kids desire for their character to be shaped. And they'll latch on to whoever takes on the task of shaping it. If parents want to be in the shaping role, they'll have to start when their children are young, and bring influential others along to help with the process as they grow.
We're on to part 7 this week in our 12 Cries series, discussing the need for action. Our kids need to feel they're making a meaningful contribution to our households. Their level of contribution will be contingent upon their age and stage; however, attentive parents will find creative ways to integrate their children into the work and productivity of the home.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcast or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we pick up our 12 cries series again by talking about the sixth need children have-access. They want to be on your calendar. And they want to be in a priority spot on your calendar. Gaining perspective on the short amount of time you have to be influential in their lives will give you the needed motivation to make sure your children have the access to you they require.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, we take a short break from our 12 cries series to bring you Tom's Thanksgiving message from 2019.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Whether they'll admit it or not, your kids want you to establish boundaries for them. They need to know when they're off base, and out of bounds. In part 5 of the "12 Cries" series, Tom talks about the cry of authority and how parents should appropriately exercise it within their homes.
Today, on the podcast we’re continuing our series 12 Cries of a Child’s Heart by talking about the need of assimilation. Our kids want to be connected to the world around them. They want to belong. It’s this belonging that helps them discover who they are and how God has wired them. Ultimately, connecting to those around them sets them up for a productive and meaningful life. Parents must provide wisdom so kids know how and with whom to connect.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
We continue our 12-part series on the 12 cries of a child's heart by discussing the cry of attention.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Last week we started our 12-part series on the 12 cries of a child's heart by talking about the cry of acceptance. Today, we turn our attention to affirmation. We live in a negative world. A place waiting to tear you down. So, it's crucial your children are built up and affirmed within the four walls of your home.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
The moment a child is born, he or she starts to cry. They have a long list of physical needs that require immediate attention. While the cries of their physical needs eventually cease, the cries of their souls are constant and unending. Over the next 12 weeks, we're going to explore the 12 most dominant cries of a child's heart. Today, in part one, we discuss the cry of acceptance. Not only acceptance based on good behavior but acceptance (period). Deal with the behavior or misbehavior separate from your baseline commitment to accept them as an individual.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
The mind is the site of the most vicious battles that are waged in our lives. If we get control of our thoughts, we get control of our lives. Today, Tom discusses the importance of taking up the helmet of salvation daily.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
We all have this innate tendency to label things. It's part of what makes us human. One of the first jobs given to man in the Garden of Eden was that of labeling all the creatures he found around himself. This desire to identify and classify the world around us is good; however, sin, as it always does, twists this good instinct into a powerful tool of destruction. Today, Tom and Matt discuss the breakdown of public discourse and the proliferation of destructive labels within our culture.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
If we're honest, we all find ourselves hopeless at some point or another. Some experience it every so often during a difficult season. Others are consumed by an overwhelming wave of hopelessness in their day-to-day lives. Today, Tom gives us three principles to follow on the path back to hope.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Do you struggle to balance all the responsibilities competing for your time and attention? If so, you're not alone. In fact, this might be one of the most common struggles of life in the modern world. But it doesn't have to be chronic; it doesn't have to rob your joy. Today, Tom discusses how to regain equilibrium by focusing on the One from whom all order and harmony originate.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Do you have what it takes to be a great mentor? Today, Tom gives us six characteristics of great mentorship.
What comes to mind when you hear the word hope? Wishful thinking? Hand-wringing anticipation? What if hope were something more secure? Something more eternal? Today, Tom looks at the theme of hope in the scriptures and gives reasons why Christians should have firm, eternal hope.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
In today's show, we wrap up our 3-part worldview series by discussing spiritism and Post-modernism.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, Tom introduces the biblical worldview framework and helps us recognize where our lenses have been skewed by our culture.
Today, Zac Hufty joins us again to talk about the three most important characteristics of healthy company culture.
Your words matter. They impact your life and the lives of those around you in deep and profound ways. Today, Tom discusses how to get control of your words and bring them in alignment with God's vision for your speech.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
It's hard to accomplish almost anything without high levels of relational equity. Today, Tom talks about how to relate to people in a way that builds trust and loyalty for the long haul.
How are you at making decisions? Are you impulsive and reckless, or do you need a bit of a push? Today, Tom discusses four areas to consider when faced with big decisions.
Do you and your spouse have a plan for how your relationship will continue to grow and thrive in the empty nest season? Today, Tom and Rhonda give some principles to follow when planning to be empty nesters.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we're joined by Al Edney to discuss racial reconciliation in the cultural moment.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
How are you doing with rest? Do you feel deeply connected to God and His calling on your life, or are you stressed out, burned out and a day from falling apart? Today's guest, Zac Hufty, talks about how to reconnect to rest and discusses the importance of rediscovering the ancient spiritual discipline of the sabbath.
After the show head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
On today's episode, Tom shares more thoughts on how to navigate the Covid-19 quarantine. We discuss Paul's command to be anxious for nothing and walk through how to practically work this out during the current global crisis.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Making wise decisions is a multifaceted process. It requires looking beyond the haze of emotion and objectively considering the alternatives. Often, you need time to gain further education or experience. The part we sometimes look over is that of seeking wise counsel. Today, Tom walks us through how to seek wise counsel, and how to evaluate the counsel we receive.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
How are you doing spiritually during this time? When you examine yourself against the fruit of the spirit, what do you discover? If there are areas where you sense you could grow, today's episode will be a source of encouragement for you.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
How do you lead your family in the midst of a crisis? Today, Tom walks through last week's 6-step plan for leading through the fog of a crisis and talks about how to apply these same principles to leading at home.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
How do you lead in the midst of a crisis? Today, Tom gives us a 6-step plan for leading through the fog of a crisis.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Self-esteem can be a mysterious subject to explore. Many of us struggle to have a balanced approach to our self-esteem, often leaning too far one direction on the positive/negative spectrum. Yet, building healthy, positive self-esteem isn't the mystery we assume it to be. Today's guest, Cam Meers, shows us the simple, though sometimes difficult, path forward.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of you are working from home for the first time in your career. Today, Tom gives some practical tips to follow to make that transition as effective as possible.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcast or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, Tom talks about Covid-19 and how to view this crisis from God's perspective.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
With our schedules and world currently turned upside down by Covid-19, there's no better time to talk about personal development. Today, Tom provides practical guidance and resources on continually developing yourself.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today we continue our series with special guest, Dan Meers. Dan has been the mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs-KC Wolf-for the past 30 years. Today's episode is an interview Tom and Matt did with Dan during Friends weekend at FBMaryville in February 2020.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
As the Covid-19 news cycle continues to develop minute-by-minute, the level of fear and anxiety continues to grow in our culture. In today's special edition of the show, Tom encourages us in our source of hope and refuge in the midst of uncertainty.
If today's show is encourages you, share it with a family member or friend who could use strength during this time.
The next two weeks we're joined by special guest, Dan Meers. Dan has been the mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs-KC Wolf-for the past 30 years. Today's episode is from our Leadership Luncheon on February 24, 2020.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
This week we're continuing our discussion on the ABCs of a growing marriage. Tom and Rhonda give us four more principles to follow in building healthy, life-long marriages.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
The next two weeks we'll be joined by Rhonda Hufty to talk about the ABCs of a growing marriage.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, we're talking about prayer. This habit, when practiced intentionally, has a significant impact on the life of a believer. However, most of us struggle to be consistent in the pursuit of this discipline. In this episode, Tom is going to offer practical advice on developing a robust life of prayer. He also has a new resource designed to help us in the effort, so stick around to the end to check it out!
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Love isn't static. It's in a constant state of evolving, and as a result, it's either growing, declining or dead. Today, Tom's going to help us identify ways our love can be attacked, and provide steps we can take to ensure it grows.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review on the podcast.
Today, we're joined again by our guest from Episode 35, Brad Kerr. He's going to talk about his experience leading from the second chair and give insight into how first-chair and second-chair leaders can work together to serve their people at a high-level.
After the show, head over to Apple Podcasts or Stitcher and leave us a rating and review.