In this episode, on The Construction Cowboy Show, Dr. T shares his inspiring journey from a small town upbringing to becoming a faith leader and author. He discusses the importance of faith, purpose, and standing firm against cultural deception, offering practical advice for living with integrity and spiritual clarity.
In this episode, on The Construction Cowboy Show, Dr. T shares his inspiring journey from a small town upbringing to becoming a faith leader and author. He discusses the importance of faith, purpose, and standing firm against cultural deception, offering practical advice for living with integrity and spiritual clarity.
Jeff Williams welcomes Dr. T, a seasoned clinical psychologist author, speaker, coach and community faith leader for a deep dive into the themes of faith, purpose, and finding one’s voice amidst life’s pressures. Dr. T shares his remarkable journey, infused with personal anecdotes and profound insights that resonate with anyone seeking clarity in a chaotic world.
Dr. T, whose full name is Dr. James Torkildson, recounts his early life in Moorhead, Minnesota, marked by challenges and a broken home. He reflects on a pivotal moment at age ten, where a supernatural experience filled him with warmth and hope, setting him on a path toward a life dedicated to helping others.
"I began singing and praying and crying out to God. And then that led to my first supernatural encounter."
Dr. T describes how his military service and subsequent education in psychology were not just career choices but callings influenced by his faith. His experiences have shaped his understanding of human behavior and the purpose behind his life's work.
His latest book, Awaken: Exposing the Web of Deception Threatening Our Faith, Family, and Freedom, addresses the current ideological battles facing society. Dr. T discusses how traditional values are under attack and how believers can navigate through the confusion of modern ethics and societal expectations.
"What we are seeing is a dramatic attack on all traditional values, Judeo-Christian traditions, and the very foundation of this country."
He emphasizes the importance of recognizing these challenges not just as societal issues, but as spiritual warfare requiring active resistance and engagement from believers.
A significant theme in their discussion revolves around the nature of truth in a world where opinions often masquerade as facts. Dr. T highlights that while truth remains constant, societal narratives shift, creating confusion and division.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. And he never changes."
As he urges listeners to find their voice and purpose, Dr. T offers encouragement to stand firm in one’s beliefs and to engage with love and truth.
This conversation is not merely about the struggles of faith in today’s world but also a reminder of the importance of individual journeys and the power of community. Dr. T invites us to awaken to the truth and take a stand for our values, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own paths and the roles they can play in fostering a healthier society.
For a deeper exploration of these topics, listen to the full episode.
Key Topics:
Keywords:
faith, purpose, biblical truth, deception, cultural war, spiritual growth, integrity, leadership, Christian values, awakening
Sound Bites:
Chapters:
Introduction to Dr. T and the show's focus
Dr. T's background and journey to faith
A supernatural encounter at age 10
The birth of the book 'Awaken'
The web of deception and cultural attack
Standing firm in biblical truth
Living out divine purpose in everyday life
The call to awaken and resist deception
The importance of standing up for biblical values
Secular humanism versus biblical truth
How to respond to disagreement with love
Building a faith-filled home for children
Addressing young people's questions about faith
Finding divine purpose in everyday work
Three actions to strengthen faith and purpose
Listening to God's guidance through prayer
A prayer for faith, purpose, and protection
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Jeff Williams (00:00)
Good afternoon, folks. here again. Welcome back
to the Construction Cowboy Show. I'm Jeff Williams, your host. you know, we talked with people who bring useful perspectives and challenges we face in our work and our lives every day. And so today the topic is faith, purpose, and finding a voice with my special friend and guest, Dr. T. I'll call him Dr. T, and he's a clinical psychologist, speaker, author, professional.
professor and faith leader of over forty years experience and he has a message centering on helping believers discover their purpose and find their voice. And Dr T, I'm gonna let you introduce your name because I don't want to misstate your last name and how to pronounce that and and I I'll butcher it if I don't watch myself so
Dr. T (00:46)
No, actually you did quite well, Jeff. Thank you for that intro and for having me on your show today. I'm very much looking forward to it. And you covered most of my hats. I'm also a podcast host of the Dr. T show. So I have that going as well. And it's an interesting journey how that developed. but yeah, it is pronounced Torkildson, James Torkildson, aka Dr. T. That started.
years ago as I've you know provided clinical services for four decades that kids couldn't say Torkildson and I was a a child specialist and so Dr. T it came and it stayed and and that's just kind of the handle now that most people refer me refer to me as. But but thank you for that introduction. I'm glad to be here today.
Jeff Williams (01:25)
glad to have you here and trust me, Dr. T fits you just to a T, I'm telling you right now.
Dr. T (01:29)
Ha ha ha.
Jeff Williams (01:32)
so yeah, it's great to have you here. And so stand steady and when pressure around you and keeps you know, keeps getting louder, the world just gets louder, right? And so sometimes it's a business decision, family concerns or question about your life ahead is where it's headed.
And so today we're just going to talk about the foundation underneath whose decisions, what you believe, why you believe it, and how you live it. And so Dr. T, I know that you've written a book and it's called Awaken. And before we jump right into that, give a little bit more background on you, you know, maybe where you were born and raised and kind of where you're where you've come from and your little bit of a your journey to your current life now.
And then I want you to dive right into your book and share the folks and the listeners and followers to with regards to your book and just the great stuff that's there.
Dr. T (02:19)
sure.
Yeah, thank you, Jeff. yeah, my journey, and some of it's actually included in in the first chapter of my book. It's called My Story. but I was born and raised in a small town, Moorhead, Minnesota, right across the river from Fargo, North Dakota. And many have seen the movie or the series. They've put it out in both, Fargo. and yes, people still talk that way up there.
and and I can go up there
Jeff Williams (02:40)
I love it.
Dr. T (02:41)
and come back saying you betcha then there and all of that kind of stuff.
Jeff Williams (02:44)
Yeah.
Dr. T (02:45)
but that's where I was born and raised. But I grew up in a broken home and and we were quite poor and and we have quite a I have quite a story from that whole journey. but my book starts out a ten year old boy heard angels sing. And that comes from an experience I had @ 10 where I was in the back of a vehicle in the wintertime in Minnesota.
And my dad was in the bar before parents went their way. And it was it was becoming late and quite cold and I was freezing and I began singing and praying and crying out to God. And then that led to my first supernatural encounter. I was visited with singing and lights and warmth, and I was no longer afraid or crying or scared, and my body warmed up, the numbness went away, and I was singing with angels and
That's all I remember from that experience. And then ten years went by of living a rebellious teenage life, joined the military because us brothers all had to do that. we all started working @ twelve, thirteen, fourteen years old to help mom put bread on the table. And I was working six basically five or six in the evening to five, six the next morning @ sixteen years old. So obviously you know where school went. but all of us joined the military.
So that we would have a chance to maybe go to college and go on the GI Bill and and my two brothers and I all did. And one went in in 68, 70, 72, and we all did our two year RA and our terms during the NAM era. two brothers disabled from NAM. but God put me on a journey and a path to go into psychology and and the purpose was to try to help others because just prior to my starting my education journey, academic journey,
I had my second miraculous encounter with Creator God. I was twenty years old, actually a couple months shy. But walking back and forth from Viermheim and various towns back to the barracks, I'd go by this Army Chapel. And that Army Chapel resembled that experience I had as a 10-year-old boy. It was lit up, it was shining, it was singing, it was pretty glorious. And one particular night on my path back, my body stopped and froze and it turned towards that chapel.
And my legs, without my permission, began to walk across the street and up the steps of that chapel. And a brother, his name was Tom Askew. I didn't know he was a brother @ the time, but he opened the doors and he looks @ me and he asks me one question. He says, Do you know Jesus? And I said, No, but I want to. That changed my life. I won't go into the transformation, but it was miraculous and all the stuff that came off my life.
And that's not to say there weren't challenges and tribulations and still aren't today. There always are. That's
Jeff Williams (05:08)
But right.
Dr. T (05:10)
life, right? But it put me on a path with Creator God and established a relationship that is still dear to my heart today and continues to grow in warmth and affection and reality. but then as a result of that, I began to seek the Lord. All right, Father, I've been through this past, this history. What do I do with it? And he said, use it.
And
and I thought initially of going into medicine, but taking an anatomy class, they rolled out the cadaver, my stomach couldn't handle it. I said, okay, I've got to go do something different where it can help people, and thus I went into behavioral health. So I spent 40 years working in that field, also serving in churches and faith-based stuff. And in my clinical work, I've been director of inpatient, outpatient, hospital, residential care, you name it.
built a number of different Christian clinical opportunities and churches and things like that. I've done about everything, specialized with kids. and then continued to serve the Lord. I retired in 2020 and kind of fast forwarding now from behavioral health and thought, okay, now I can finally learn the game of golf. And I did, and I got pretty decent. But pretty quickly I realized that that wasn't all I was supposed to do. That God had put gifts within me and
and call had a call on my life. And though we can retire from a career, you know, a career path, we don't retire from him. The word tells us that his gifts and his call is irrevocable and that we're to use those for his kingdom's purposes until the day he takes us home. So who he put me back on a journey of now full time ministry instead of just part-time and woke me up in February 20th 3 a.m. 2025
stirred my heart and spirit, woke me up. I woke up alert and sat up and began to feel and hear all this stuff coming within my spirit. And he said, get up and write. So seven weeks later, Awaken was birthed. And I say birth because it felt like I gave birth once I got it out. but it's called Awaken, Exposing the Web of Deception, Threatening Our Faith, Family, and Freedom. And through the months and the years and the decades, it
Continued
to stir in my heart, as it does yours and others out there that are of a conservative nature, just this dramatic attack we're seeing on all traditional values, Judeo-Christian traditions and the, you know, in our very foundation of this country. Our governments being attacked, our families are being attacked, women are being attacked, children are being attacked.
All of these ideologies that are extreme and it and and want to transform the country and its culture are attacking us everywhere we look. And I could just see this, especially in behavioral health, that what used to be wrong was flipping to right, what used to be right was flipping to wrong. Everything was upside down. And this whole woke DEI, situational ethics, humanistic psychology, all of this stuff was trying to convert man into something that God didn't intend or create.
It now became a manufactured human being. They want to be able to produce anything from multiple sexes to multiple genders to multiple this. This isn't the way God created us. But here's the thing. If we go back to the garden, Jeff, what was it that was presented in the very beginning? An apple, right? Eat this apple and you'll know this. You'll eat from the tree of good and evil and you'll be, you know, there was a pretty package presented, and it was put in the red fruitful delight of an apple.
And all of this was given and presented in attempt to sabotage the real motive of what this offering was. And the offering wasn't necessarily about fruit or an apple, it was about deceit. And it was about getting somebody, giving them something wrapped pretty, presented nicely, and deceive them into this web of deception to pull them away from Creator God, his path, and his purpose. And that's what I've been seeing today all around about us.
when we see the gender care or we see you know, the woke movement in regards to all of these things that are being permitted and promoted, and we see it wrapped pretty and it's disguised. And how are they disguising it? Okay, if we don't accept this, what are we? Uncaring, we're not inclusive, you know, we're we're not loving. So it's being disguised as an inclusive kind of thing that good people who care will accept anything and everything, but they don't unwrap what they're giving.
And what they're giving is something that does not lead to health, does not lead to psychological, emotional, or physical or marital or family health. It leads to destruction. What's being offered is actually destroying families, destroying genders, destroying our kids. And it's taken us away from our Judeo-Christian ethics and principles that we've adopted in this country that formed and created this country. And the whole purpose is to transform it into something that they want it to be.
something that it is no longer what we are
but they want to transform it into something that they see in terms of compromising what we stood for so many years.
Okay. So the attack that we're seeing from extreme ideologies, radicalism, and all of these kinds of things that are being promoted as right are nothing but that apple seeking to deceive, and it's a web of deception. And we've got to resist it. So my book talks a lot about that. I address what's really going on between situational ethics and DEI and woke and all these kinds of things. And actually some of the results and some of the outcomes are talked about. But
What we are seeing and facing today is now coming from all fronts. And we're getting it from family members, we're getting it from academic institutions, we're certainly getting it from the news media. And our our our contemporary news, our primary news media outlets, are now owned and operated by this extreme ideology. They won't represent conservatism, they'll represent everything but. And here's the reality. Here is one of the lies and what they have to say.
They claim that we as conservatives are not inclusive. We are more inclusive than those that claim we're not inclusive. They are not inclusive of the conservative. We are called everything from deplorables to domestic terrorists. You name it. They are calling the conservative everything they can. Where's the inclusiveness there? So their definition of inclusiveness is extreme ideology of the left.
is only for those that agree with them. Now we on the conservative side, we don't agree with them, but I will include them. I will introduce them to the kingdom of God. I will include them and introduce them to the biblical truth. I don't agree with what they have to say, but I won't exclude them. And I won't, you know, call them something they're not. I will definitely call out what they're standing for. I will call out their narrative. But they as individuals
are just as good or just as worthwhile or just as valuable as you or I. God wants each one of us to be able to come into his kingdom. I am no better than they are. Just my narrative is more accurate because it's based on a biblical truth that's been with us forever and it doesn't change. And by definition of truth, it's reliable over time. What we have today from the ideology is a different narrative than was presented 20 years ago and 40 years ago.
Their narrative and their so-called truth continues to change. Therefore, it's not truth, it's opinion. My truth, your truth, based on biblical principle, has been the same over 2,000 years from the original documentation. And what we see, it doesn't change. That narrative and that truth that we claim to be able to walk in and hold to has not changed. And Jesus said, What? I am the way, the truth, and the life. And he never changes.
He doesn't change. So that's what this book's
Jeff Williams (12:25)
Well I heard
Dr. T (12:26)
about. It's really calling all of that out. And so it calls it out, presents a pathway, it equips believers, and it talks about what's going to be taking place in the future, but it actually then invites people to find their voice, find their call, and be able to then stand up, put on the armor of God, as we talked about off mic here, and be able to represent this kingdom of God in his truth.
Jeff Williams (12:47)
I you I heard a saying one time that truth doesn't bend. And so true it is. Truth doesn't bend, or you can't bend truth. so let me ask you this question. what's one of the what's the one thing that you hope the listeners kind of walk away with today from all of this? And we've got several different I'm got some more questions for you, but just
Again, what do you want to walk away with today?
Dr. T (13:11)
Yeah,
the simple message that they don't have to drink the Kool-Aid because of the pressure put on them. Okay. So the serpent in the garden put pressure on Adam, put pressure on Eve, said, you know, if if you really want to be wise, if you want to be smart, if you want to know this, if you want to know truth, you know, God's trying to hide this from you. Eat this apple, eat this app. They were pressured. They were coerced. That's what the narrative is trying to do today and those that representative coerce and pressure believers. That's why they attack us with the things like, you don't really care.
You don't really love. If you cared, you would be open, you would be accepting, you would tolerate. Many churches have drank that Kool-Aid, Jeff. And so they have things coming into the church, and they're actually supporting and endorsing things that are not biblical. Okay. Because of that pressure. They don't want to be accused of not loving or accepting. But here's the thing: Jesus himself, who is our example, was not accepting of everything. He was loving. So we are the how we're to do is to love.
But he didn't accept everything. Rather, when he forgave people and people lived in sin, he said things like, Now go and sin no more. And he said, Change your ways, leave this @ the door, be conformed, change, follow me. And and so Jesus expected us to change. He did not accept all behaviors. And here's here's a very important principle. If all accepted, if all behaviors were accepted by God, there would be no need to send Jesus.
That needed to die for our sin or our mistakes or or bad lifestyles. He sent him to forgive us because we're sinners and we all need that. And so, no, all behavior is not accepted by God or by Christ. All people are accepted, but he expects us all to conform to his word and his message that we need forgiveness, love, and grace. So that's all we as conservatives are standing up for. And we're we're going to be accused of not being accepting.
But I just encourage you out there then, stand up for that. You accept the person, but not the behavior. And the reason we don't accept the behavior is because the Bible lays out that that behavior needs to be laid @ the cross and needs to be given to the Lord. And if he accepted all behaviors, there'd be no need for Christ, period.
Jeff Williams (15:17)
Absolutely. Correct, correct. So many people are listening today I'll speak a little bit more about they carry responsibilities such as for employees, customers, their family. they may look successful on the outside while privately wondering
Dr. T (15:32)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (15:33)
what they're really here to do.
Dr. T (15:36)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (15:36)
And I'll say that again, what they're really here to do. How do you start that conversation with someone like that in
Dr. T (15:42)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (15:42)
in
the realm of deception. Because,
you know
Dr. T (15:44)
Yeah, that that
that that's a good question, Jeff. And and I'll put on my my psychology hat just a little bit too. because the reality is we all have those challenges and we all we all are faced with doubt. We're all faced with you know regrets and would have's and should've and could have's. And any of those mistakes that that we have from our past and any of those would've and should've we have our past, the enemy wants to use as roadblocks and barriers to keep us from moving forward.
Okay. And so just know, first of all, we all have them. Secondly, know that is the primary purpose of Christ is to come and be our mediator, to be our savior, to be that stands in the gap for the things we did not do well. So we have forgiveness, we have grace. So that word grace is important. And grace is that free gift of God. Another word for Christ is grace. Okay. And so practice that self-grace and realize that.
Whether we blew it to whatever extent, and we all will have blown it to some extent on the continuum or on the bell curve from a little to a lot, perhaps two standard deviations even above or below the mean, where we really blew it. And that's okay. We've all done it. It doesn't matter. There's no obstacle too big, no regret too big, no mistake too big that can stop us from moving forward if we put it @ the feet of the cross. If we accept that the Lord says, Okay, I am the Lord of new beginnings, I am the Lord of second chances.
And we don't have to live in that mistake or that guilt. And so psychologically we get wound up in that because we get reminders continuously about the things that hold you know that we've done or that we should have done or should not have done. But we need to know that that's the norm. It isn't the exception. That all of us as human beings, you Jeff, I have, and I'll raise my hand about the many flaws and mistakes I've made. But the th the secret sauce is I've learned about the grace of the Lord, the love of the Lord, and the forgiveness. And then I
Deliberately and intentionally work to do better. I don't always pull it all off. I don't always perform the way I want, but I do try sincerely and heartfully. So that is one thing, you know, that we do need to bring to the table if we want to change our path is a heart that says, I want to do it different. I want to do it better. And I am going to try to do it God's way. We can know we're not going to do it. We're going to have mishaps and we're going to fall short, but as long as we're on that path of continuance.
And that path of continuance is a reality. It's a growth path. We don't do it all overnight.
Jeff Williams (18:01)
Fantastic. Amen to that. I'm gonna take it just a second and give it a real good plug right here. again, the book is Awaken. And Dr T, could you just share with how somebody can get their book in their hand today? and how they can get a hold of you or anything else real quick and then we'll go on.
Dr. T (18:18)
Okay,
sure. Yeah, you know, it's everywhere, Awaken, it Barnes and Noble, Amazon. you can go to my website, DRTconsulting.org. You can order it from there. and also if you send me an email, James @ DRTconsulting.org, I will sign a copy for you and send it out with a personalized note. So, you know, it's that's my heart is to get it out to the many because it either is for you.
or someone you know. And that's what the Lord put on my heart. And He's opening doors for me to get this out. You know, and I'll just throw this in real quick. I th it was interesting, Jeff, because I thought after I wrote this and I said it felt like I gave birth, I thought I was done. But the Lord said, no, this is just the beginning. And that's where then followed was teaching. I'm a professor of graduate studies at Liberty. I'm podcast host. I'm speaking at many different venues and, you know, both keynote and
Jeff Williams (19:09)
Outstanding.
Dr. T (19:10)
breakouts and I'm
offering professional coaching because I built a whole asset for you, listeners and for people out there. I'm becoming known as the stress buster coach. I understand the stats on it. I'm actually a certified clinical professional in trauma and everything else, but I I've built this whole now delivery system for Peacepace. And Jeff touched on that initially, so I'll throw that out. The awaken is just the beginning, but we have to learn how to walk in that.
And God desires for us, and you know, business leaders, CEOs, leaders of any type, we are exposed to potential, and I use the word potential, stressors every day, but they don't have to be stressors. There is a foundation, a formula, a secret sauce, if you will, on how we can walk in a peace pace through our faith walk, regardless of what we're facing, because it isn't our path.
Or what we're dealing with that brings us peace. We bring peace to our path. But that is done through a divine intervention, implementing supernatural realities and scriptural truths, where something changes within us, where we can now face the day to day stress-free.
Jeff Williams (20:15)
So why did you choose the title Awaken? What did God speak to you? Did you know sometimes it's people wanna know how did you come up just with the title?
Dr. T (20:25)
Yeah,
that's a good question, Jeff. the Lord put that on my heart. Initially it was kind of wake up America, wake up people, wake up. But that word waken, there were two words that were real clear or two parts. Awaken was the one part, a wake up something. The other was web of deception. And so as I talked to my editor and had was already writing and got a producer, I mean a publisher lined up and was working with my editor, we played with the title conversation.
And I said, well, I know that, you know, I started with Wake Up America and I I want the web of deception in there. And I knew that was supposed to be in there. And so through collaboration and intentional prayer and discussion and conversation, we ended up simply awaken, the web of deception threatening our faith, family, and freedom. So the faith, family, and freedom kind of addresses the America part, you know, and all the people.
And awaken is still the call that we need to awaken to what's going on in our country, in our environment, in our culture. And it's global. It's not just here. And then we need to know how to equip ourselves to walk in that successfully and not be deceived by the web of deception that's trying to grab us and pull us in and basically radicalize us and pull us into this thing that will not lead to health, but will lead to destruction.
Jeff Williams (21:36)
Yeah, that's great. you know, it was funny. There was a leading question to this and I think you already answered it right there, but it's kinda funny that it's what do you believe people need to wake up to? And you just nailed
Dr. T (21:46)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (21:46)
it right there and so if you'd repeat that one
more time,
Dr. T (21:48)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (21:49)
I'd appreciate that. So they really, you know, it sinks in.
Dr. T (21:52)
Yeah, we need to wake up to this this deceived, well covered, presented, wrapped, pretty wrapped deception that's being presented through the narratives, the news media, our universities, academic events. Everywhere we turn, it's being presented, and it's a web of deception trying to pull us in to drinking their Kool-Aid. Okay. And we have to resist that. So we need to awake to their tactics, awake to the reality of it, but also then.
You know, we need to awaken to the need that we need to equip. We need to become equipped to be able to walk in this victoriously. But it doesn't just quite stop there. And in the book, I do call out and basically do an action call to everyone that everyone is part of the solution. When we sit back and do nothing, what happens is exactly what we're seeing. And if we say, Well, how did we get this radicalization this far advanced in this country where we have mayors of cities
that are totally opposed to the country and wish death to the country and on and on and on. How did we get radicalized? We did it by sitting back and doing nothing. And we did it by buying their lie that, hey, if you're loving, you will let us do this. Well, what happened is that became a doorway for them to advance an agenda and a narrative that now is overwhelming as trying to take over. People are pushing back, but we all need to stand up. Not the way you are, Jeff, or the way I am.
But we all need to stand up and do this and say, Father, what is my gift? What is my call? What is my voice? Where do you want my feet to go? Where do you want my labor to go for your kingdom? And it will look different. Some people simply need to put together a brochure, some need to support somebody that's doing it, some need to get involved in politics, some need to get, you know, whatever it is supposed to be, we need to know that today's the day that we cannot sit idle.
You've heard it said, what is needed for evil to advance? Good people to sit by and do nothing. That's kind of what's happened. And it's time that we all speak up, stand up, and do what we're supposed to do. And it looks different for everyone. And you know, just like your little finger does less work than your arm, but it has a function and a purpose. Okay. We have a lot of little fingers in the body of Christ, and we have a lot of arms and a lot of everything. So what's important is not that you try to resemble or look like anyone.
but you find what you're supposed to do. And then you bring that to the table. And that doesn't stop your professional responsibilities. I worked in behavioral health for 40 years, just been in construction and still is. We still go to the table with the work ethic we need, using all the resources we have, but what's going on around us is that spiritual war that we need to be equipped and ready for. And we need to bring that armor on us and with us when we go to the workplace as well.
Jeff Williams (24:24)
Great, yep, absolutely. So you discuss humanism, situational ethics and secular ideologies. Those terms mean different things to different listeners. How do you define them in the book and where do you believe they conflict with biblical teachings?
Dr. T (24:42)
Yeah,
humanism is basically, you know, it's self descriptive. it basically is that humans have taken up the form to say that, okay, we know better. We don't need God. We can be our own God. We can create our own right and wrong.
Jeff Williams (24:55)
Yeah.
Dr. T (24:56)
That's humanism. And and secular humanism then is basically the same thing. Secular based on rather than spiritual or religious or doctrine stuff, it's based on a carnal or a world viewpoint. So that's secular humanism.
And the whole postulate of secular humanism actually has a postulate center point that they say good without God. That's their belief system. So they don't recognize that. And they believe that goodness can be self-made and self-endorsed. Well, there's contrary to the word, because the Bible says what? There are none good but God. Okay. And so when we accept Christ, Christ becomes our righteousness, our goodness, because we are flawed. Now that doesn't mean we can't do good things.
And
that's another thing that they'll use. Well, we do good things, so we're good. All right. But then I would propose to them, all right, so if somebody does a bad thing, are they bad? No. They did a bad thing. Someone does a good thing, they did a good thing. That still doesn't define them as good or bad. We're defined as not good biblically because there are none good but God. In other words, we are now flawed. When Adam and Eve fell in the garden, we now adopted and inherited a sinful nature. And we are that and needed a Christ to forgive us.
So we will do good things even as Christians and bad things as Christians. Okay. But I'm only good in the righteousness of Christ. Now, as I move more into practicing biblical truth, I present better things, but I still won't claim to be good because I have Christ's righteousness allowing me to do those good things. In me, there isn't those things. And so, you know, secular humanism, though, believes it's self-contained that they can be good without God.
And that is flawed biblically, and it's not a biblical truth. and so, but as a result of that, then they can go from there to continue, as we talked about earlier, developing, building, and presenting their own truth. And the truth changes, what they call truth. And it's really formulated opinion, wrapped pretty to try to deceive people and attack those that are holding to conservative values and traditions biblically based.
Jeff Williams (26:50)
Fantastic. just great stuff. Thank you so much. you encourage people to stand firm in believe of biblical truth without fear. What does that look like in
Dr. T (26:59)
Yes.
Jeff Williams (26:59)
a conversation with a friend, a customer, or a coworker who disagrees?
Dr. T (27:05)
Yeah, in everything it's not the what, it's the how. Okay. And I talk about that in my book and elsewhere. And what I mean by that is that we we can very clearly find out the what. So the Bible says, for example, speak the truth in love. So the what is truth. We need to speak truth. The how is where we struggle. We can capture the what in business. We can capture it biblically, because we know in business we need to hold people accountable, we need to have be on time, we need to have a fair a good product at a fair value.
You know, we knew all the what's, but the how is the part the human being and we as people struggle with. And so let's take that to your example. But if you have a customer that's difficult or someone that doesn't agree, I still need to do the what. I need to say, well, Jeff, you know, I'm really sorry about that. We did all we could on presenting this product and da-da-da-da-da. And and this happened, and here's what we can do. So we deal with the what. We're pretty good @ that. But where people get stuck is the how.
That's where we see tempers, we see resentment, we see anger, we see you know, jealousy, we see strife, we see, you know, lack of peace, we see stress. The how needs to be that we walk in those same kinds of principles that Christ did. And so as we look @ how he walked, look at him on the planet, look at his faith walk. You can just see him walking, and when we see all the representations, there is a pace and there is a walk.
That was stress-free, that was calm, that was confident, but wasn't rushed. You know, even Lazarus, all right. So every his disciples are panicking, hey, you know, he's died, and you know, we got to go, he's died. And he just kept his path and went how many days later? Three? He wasn't rushed. He knew Father God was in control and it would be
So his how is the part that we learn from. So yeah, he was faithful and we can all do the right things, but we need to do it in that same spirit.
where there's calmness, there's peace, and there's relaxation. And when I bring a mind to the table to address controversy, to address conflict, to address something that didn't go well, and I do that peacefully, my how is going to allow me to work through that what in a much more productive, effective manner.
Jeff Williams (29:08)
outstanding. So me being a grandparent and you being a grandparent and and having even more responsibility as we as we grow in wisdom and age and things, your message includes protecting faith and family. For a parent or grandparent, how do you build a home where a young people can ask hard questions and still feel heard?
Dr. T (29:29)
Yeah. i all questions
Jeff Williams (29:30)
again
Dr. T (29:31)
are good. Go ahead.
Jeff Williams (29:32)
Well, you know, in my little world right now I've got the little ones and they're maturing and
Dr. T (29:36)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (29:36)
growing and you know, they're the four and the two and the three year olds and even the seven year olds and so they're constantly sponging and and learning and growing but and to keep faith and to keep things and and the little one, she's four years old and she's asking why people are shooting people, you know, and it's just you know, it really brought out a question
that popped out in your book and I just want to ask.
Dr. T (29:57)
Yeah. No, that's good. And all questions are good and they're all they're all authentic and they need to be addressed. but the answer for that is that, you know, we're living in a man made world, that we've chosen not to follow the Bible. And man and actually if you look @ the manifestation out there in terms of outcomes, that in and of itself should prove that what that not doing it God's way is not the right way. I've given people a challenge and I've said, okay.
Let's put together a hundred people and let's have those hundred people all live by biblical principle for ninety days. And let's look at the outcomes. Let's measure it. Let's do a study. If we live by, I won't steal, I won't commit adultery, I won't envy, I won't strife, I will forgive, I'll return good for evil, I'll turn the other cheek, I will, you know, love one another as myself.
You know, I'll practice the Good Samaritan strategies. I'll pray for one another without ceasing. I'll honor God. If we live by biblical principle, a hundred people for a hundred days, and we looked at the outcomes. There would be no death, there would be no murder, there'd be no theft, there would be no hatred, there would be no violence, there would be peace, love, and joy. Okay. So my proposal to you is biblical principle has positive outcomes and results. Healthy outcomes generally
demonstrates and proves healthy truth or real truth. Unhealthy outcomes generally proves flawed basis, flawed foundation, flawed principles. And you look at the outcomes now, the drug addiction, the murder, the death, the this, the that, and that, we have flawed systems being presented as right, and they're leading to these negative outcomes. Okay? So back to your child question. And I've had these with my grandkids
You know, it is sad and it shouldn't be that way, I'll say. But we're not necessarily following. Too many people aren't following the Bible. They want to do it their way. And and unfortunately there are there's good and evil in the world. And there's a lot of people that aren't necessarily good that are pushing their ways into things, whether they're stealing or causing harm or doing this. And so when we see these things happen, it's a result of man made living principles. We're not living by the by the word of God.
But even if we live by the word of God, we're still gonna have death because you know we're gonna have we have a limited time, we're gonna be on the planet. We'll still have some, you know, suffering, we'll have this, we'll have that. But it won't necessarily be man-made. It'll be a natural consequence of just aging and living on the planet. And so we can talk about those conversations, but evil comes from evil and good comes from God. And there's no differentiation or no other way to explain it. you know.
Good in, good out, evil in, evil out. And and we're seeing that supernatural battle of good against evil. And it's being both are being manifested in our very presence.
Jeff Williams (32:35)
absolutely true. And it's a battle and war every day,
Dr. T (32:39)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (32:39)
to stay focused on it. But so, you know, young people, right? they get all kinds of things, philosophies and things thrown at and psychological things that every day that they that impacts their growth, right? Their beliefs. And so if a young person says, Hey, I don't believe what you believe, what would you encourage an adult to say first?
And how would they just you know, keep it simple, but how would they address a person that's just pushing back on all kinds of belief? Or if any or none?
Dr. T (33:05)
Okay. I
so you were you were saying
Jeff Williams (33:07)
Yeah it.
Dr. T (33:08)
that the kids get stuff thrown at every day.
Jeff Williams (33:10)
Yeah, they just know where they get thrown at them every day, but then you know, they'll say, I don't believe what you believe. That's a statement, you know, from say a teenager. And, you know, what do you encourage an adult that is sort of you know, just someone close or friend to that would say first to and how they would respond to that. If they don't believe what you believe, which I understand that you don't have to believe what I believe, but you said it earlier in the show. I just want to kind of repeat that. It's pretty strong. But
Point it more towards the youth than the adult in a sense.
Dr. T (33:42)
And so are you referring to an adult interacting with a youth? Yeah. Yeah.
Jeff Williams (33:45)
Yes, yes, absolutely, yeah.
Dr. T (33:47)
And again, it's that how. And the how needs to be accepting of that person. Accepting of, you know, it isn't necessarily endorsing their view or belief, but it's accepting of them and accepting of their voice. Because everything they say and do is representative of where they're at that time. And you've heard the saying, you can lead a horse to the water, you can't make him drink. We can't force anything on anyone. We can't force change. The Lord will do that.
But we can plant seed, okay? And so seed planted is it will come from a couple of things. It'll come from us listening, it'll come from what we have to say, but it'll also come from our presentation. Okay. So if we're given off, and know about communication and verbal and nonverbal, ninety-three percent of the impact of our communication is nonverbal. Only seven percent of the impact comes from the words I say.
So with that in mind, I need to be aware of how I'm communicating nonverbally to that young person. So when they're saying, I don't agree or I don't buy that, and we're trying to share something, we need to empathetically and understandably knowing that they're in a season, they're in a place where right now they're not seeing it, and we need to be okay with that. So our nonverbal will be accepting and caring. Our words will say one thing, probably not get through, but that's okay. But then they will at least have to walk away with what?
Knowing that I was an accepting and understanding person, I wasn't judgmental or critical, and so there's my how. But two, we had planted some seeds. And the reason we planted seed is because the word of God does not return void. So even if I say, well, God loves you and has a plan for you, if I did not wash that away by being aggressively, aggressive nonverbally, I didn't just null and void that by a bad nonverbal presentation, but I let that seed kind of be there.
And was accepting, growth is going to happen. Through the days, through the weeks, through the months, through the years, something will happen. And that will be there because it was planted in truth and it was planted in heart. So just be in that, be in that care and accepting and not and realizing that we don't have to see immediate response, impact, or change. That's not what we're called to do. We are called to do one thing in our call to be faithful, to do our part. God is the master of all outcomes.
He will arrange that in his timetable. And it won't always be in the immediate. It may be down the road. And in some cases in the eternal timetable. We're only responsible to deliver and do and be what we're supposed to deliver, do and be.
Jeff Williams (36:12)
Outstanding. So good. Thank you so much. So I want to do a little shift here and kind of address my contractor, business folks,
Dr. T (36:21)
Okay.
Jeff Williams (36:21)
because they're always faced with some of these challenges, especially in the construction world. And and yet so let's use a situation where a contractor or business owner might recognize a job is behind schedule, money is tight, and someone suggests cutting a corner or keeping a customer in the dark.
How does a person's faith guide the next decision? And so again, here's the question. How can a person's faith guide the next decision with those kind of conditions right now?
Dr. T (36:49)
That's a good question, Jeff. And and obviously those are real temptations. And the way we approach it needs to be based on truth, based on integrity. And so no, we can cut cost without cutting corners. We can be more efficient without, you know, sparing on quality. So we examine that. Okay, so I'm not going to cut corners. I'm going to hold to the integrity of my business and I'm going to do that. And then I know God is going to honor that.
And so we look at ways that we can maybe cut some cost. And are there some efficient ways that we can do some things? So we examine all that. But let's say we examined all that, and I still am in a dilemma, and I'm still faced with kind of a financial critical moment. And the only way I can resolve that is either take a loss, take a hit, lose some business, or something that I wouldn't necessarily want as an outcome if I do it right, if I do it honest, if I do it with high integrity. Then we need to say this, then so be it.
That's okay. God will honor that. I would rather go into the kingdom having something not succeed than make something succeed and risk not going into the kingdom. Jesus said, What about an eye, you know, or an ear or this? I mean, you know, cast it out. I mean, we cannot risk our faith walk by compromising God's principle. But God will be faithful and will honor you holding to truth.
Hold to integrity. And it may not be in the immediate. Like it look at Job. Okay, what happened to Job? He lost everything, right? And he continued to let the enemy take things away from Job to test Job. And Job continued to say, regardless of what I lost, regardless of what's been taken, I know whom I believe, I know who I will say as God, and I know who will I trust. And then God, when due time came, was faithful and just and restored tenfold. Okay.
So we need to hold to that. There will be times on the planet where we have those kinds of challenges. But that whole challenge, much of it's coming from the enemy to try to get us to compromise our values, our faith walk, our commitment. We got to resist that. And even know and conclude, even if I lose something, that's better than losing my integrity. That's better than losing my name. That's better than cheating someone. That's better than doing things wrong. Because God will honor that. And where are we to really store up our riches?
Is it on the planet? No. It's in the kingdom of God. And every time I
Jeff Williams (39:05)
So
Dr. T (39:05)
do something right, every time I do something biblical, I'm storing up my riches in heaven. And the things that we have on the earth are temporary anyway. They're only here for a brief season, and a very brief season is that.
Jeff Williams (39:18)
Great, thank you. do a little bit of a shift, not much, but you talk about discovering divine purpose. and what would you say to a person who wonders? And I'll use this kind of analogy similar to what my my analogy would be is can my calling really be in building homes and selling materials and taking care of my family? Is that you know, it's always kind of funny, we get caught up in the day to day every day.
And
Dr. T (39:41)
Yeah.
Jeff Williams (39:42)
the question is always asked, God, is this really my calling? And sometimes people wonder about that. And so I know you talk about the divine purpose and so just share with what you would think that someone does a common job. What does that mean represent as a divine purpose?
Dr. T (39:57)
Yeah, absolutely it can, and it is. you know, because God gives us a call and he equips us to walk in that call. He's equipped you with talent and skills and construction and negotiation and deliberation and contracting and all these things you do, Jeff, are divinely you are divinely equipped to do that well. So it isn't even so much the very deed that we're doing, it's the using that platform then to be able to testify as to why we're doing what we're doing.
Okay, because we see in Revelations we overcome the enemy how? By the blood of the Lamb, which was the sacrifice of Christ, and the word of our testimony. So it isn't whether I'm preaching, it isn't whether I'm evangelizing as an evangelist, it isn't whether I'm podcasting as a Christian podcaster. It's only about am I using the equipment, the gifts God gave me, then and walking that out and then using the testimony of that, both in my actions and in my words.
To give glory where it's due. That's what's going to demonstrate then the reality of God. You're being faithful in that call, and that is your call. And just like I said, we're all different parts of the body, our call's going to look different. Yours might be in and mine was really behavioral health for a long time, and now it's shifted to just this in this season. But yours is still in your construction business and all that. But that is a divine call, and you're using your voice to give credit where credit is due.
And advance the kingdom.
Jeff Williams (41:19)
I think also too through the journey of a walk with God, without God, but more so with God is that over time and age and experience there's things that shift and change that purpose. And so you have to be listening and paying attention to hear what that purpose is. And so my purpose
Dr. T (41:34)
Yeah. Yeah.
Jeff Williams (41:37)
now is dip completely different was when it was in the forties. But
Dr. T (41:40)
Absolutely.
Jeff Williams (41:41)
very good point with all of that and thank you. So let's make a
Let's make this useful for the coming week. What are three manageable actions a listener can take to examine their beliefs, strengthen their relationship, and act with more purpose?
Dr. T (41:57)
Great question. what came to mind right away was something I've just been talking about on my podcast and developing and hardwire and a peace space for your faith walk. And one of the tools that I promote and teach in that is what's called SBL. Stop, breathe, and listen. And so those of you out there that are listening today, we've said a lot of words and I've said a lot of words, too many words, and I forgive you if I've repeated some things, but take this away. Find a moment.
Now after this show or in the very new future and then just find a place to sit and then just say to yourself, stop.
Take a deep breath.
And you might have to do a couple of breaths. But when you do those exhales, then you re-shift your focus. You take it off the things of the day, you take it off the moment, off your surroundings, off everything. And you attempt to focus on Creator God. Just look to the Father. And then the L is listen. So stop, breathe, and listen, SBL. Now just take moments, whatever it needs to be, one minute, two minutes, three moments, and listen.
And this is where Father God can help either give you an initial call or clarify your call or activate your call or redefine your call, whatever he wants to do. But this is where your purpose, your direction, your guidance will come from. So listen. And what is the Lord saying to you? And just sit there quietly, take a few breaths and listen, focusing on the Lord. And the Lord may say, I love you. He may say, I have a plan for you.
He may say, seek me. He may say, I forgive you. He may say, worry not. He may say, I am with you. Whatever he's saying. He may say, call someone, connect with someone, forgive someone. But it is in that moment that we begin to walk then in what God wants us to walk in. We begin to hear that. And in that moment, in though that silence, he can clarify your call, your purpose, begin to provide you a plan, guidance, and direction.
Begin to speak to you, encourage you, assure you, forgive you. Whatever it is you need can be met in the presence of waiting on the Lord. Okay? And it may be to reach out to someone. Reach out to Jeff, reach out to me, reach out to someone. Because there is one thing, one primary thing God and Satan have in common. They both use people to do their bidding. And just as this evil we're seeing come upon our planet and our culture, people are being used to do that.
We who are God believers of God are used to do his bidding. So you may have people in your sphere of influence that God wants you to reach out to to help you with that journey, to help establish that, redefine that call, get started on your call, or to help you get through the hurdles, the would have's and should've that are holding you back from walking in that call. But that would be my encouragement, and I would pray that would come to be in Jesus' name.
Jeff Williams (44:36)
Dr. T, you've done a great job. you know, you've answered all my questions all the way through and even many, many more that I've got listed here. So I won't go back and repeat and ask the questions over again, but you did just a phenomenal job and you know your walk and your faith is just tremendous and strength and strong and just so appreciated. And so again, just real quick plug
where can they get the book, which they can get it anywhere and everything, and then we'll make sure we get this on the transcript and the information online and everything that they can get when we post it all and get back with you on it.
Dr. T (45:10)
Okay. Thank you, Jeff, and thank you for having me on the show. And and I continue to pray for you, brother. And I don't know how many people know, but everybody out there just needs to pray for Jeff for health and healing and continuance of him, his walking in his great call and he's a tremendous
a follower of Christ and a very, very good businessman and just needs our prayers and support. So I just encourage everybody to keep you in prayer as well. Barnes books everywhere. you know, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, you could email me, James @ DRT consulting . org. I'll mail you a signed copy. or just to converse and connect.
you'll also can find information on for coaching and coaching packages I offer on my website, drtconsulting.org. and then much of the work I'm doing with PSpace and most of my coaching and all those kinds of packages or
opportunities I've developed have to do around with walking in, establishing a walking in and hardware in a P space for your for your faith walk. my podcast, DRT it's called the Dr. T Show. It's on YouTube and everywhere else you can find podcasts. So feel free to catch some of those. subscribe and follow and appreciate that and look forward to hearing from you.
Jeff Williams (46:20)
Dr. T., thank you for spending time with us and sharing and thinking behind you know, the book and you know, the value that you bring from your profession and all those things. i I'm gonna ask something kind of unusual and but it's my belief also and strong and I'd like for you just to you know share a prayer with our listeners and then I'll close it out real quick after the prayer.
Dr. T (46:42)
Sure. Okay. All right. Our Father God, we thank you for this tremendous time and opportunity you've provided for Jeff and I to be able to have conversation and deliberately be able to share your word.
We recognize that there are many listeners that maybe aren't seeing things or where we're at or how we're approaching this today. And I and I would just say to those listeners, that's okay. It is okay. We are all on a path, and that path looks different, and we're at different places on that path. But I would encourage, Lord, that folks would come to realize that amongst that path, the common link that you would desire there to be is faith in the Father and faith in you. So Lord bring
Bring the reality of yourself to those that don't know you. Lord, we pray that there would be seeds planted and that those would take root and people could come to realize that you are real and that there's a relationship to be held with you, and that there's a plan and there's a hope and there's a purpose that you have designed for them that you've had since the beginning. And then I pray, Father, for those believers and for those followers that you would encourage them, provide for them.
May clear their path, make straight their path, and continue to expand their sphere of influence so they can be effective for your kingdom. Lord, give them insight, give them wisdom. Thank you for this opportunity today. May your words go out and not return void, and may we make sure that we give all honor and glory to you, for you are the Father of all and the Savior of many. And we thank you, Father, that you've given this time and this opportunity to represent you on this planet for your kingdom in Christ's name.
Jeff Williams (48:12)
Thank you, Dr. T. again, folks, reach out to Dr. T, work through him to get to God's heaven and glory and let him be the conduit to get that done and the foundation and and build your own foundation. And so again, just live and believe a little bit more clearly today and maybe start in with being a little bit more honest with yourself and having that conversation and
Promise yourself that you're gonna change and do better and be more productive in your life and be solid. So again, today's conversation gave you something to think about.
Share this episode with someone else you'd like to talk with.
I'm Jeff Williams, The Construction Cowboy Show. And until next time, keep your word, lend a hand, and build something strong, worth standing behind.
And happy trails to you and bye for now.