Space for Life Tommy Thompson

In this episode, Tommy Thompson interviews David Ask, diving into David's entrepreneurial journey, involvement in mastermind groups, and the importance of finding one's true north. David shares insights from his background in music to starting a business with his brother-in-law and developing StatGuard Plus. The conversation explores the significance of mastermind groups in personal and professional growth, with David highlighting the support and accountability they provide.
David emphasizes the significance of creating space for deep introspection to discover and affirm one's unique strengths and values. The episode also touches on the transformative effect of recognizing and pursuing what truly matters, encouraging listeners to engage in self-reflection and embrace their authentic selves.
 
Episode Highlights:
01:24 David Ask: A Man of Many Talents and Passions
08:19 The Entrepreneurial Journey of David Ask
21:50 True North and the Guardians of Grit: Defining Resilience and Purpose
26:03 The Importance of Core Values and Guiding Principles
34:44 Redefining Identity and Embracing True Self
37:40 Challenges of Parenting and Legacy Building
39:08 Discovering Purpose and Core Values
44:40 The Importance of Community and Relationships
56:50 Action Steps Towards Personal Fulfillment
Connect with David:
 https://www.davidask.com/ or email hello@davidask.com
https://statguardplus.com/
Connect with Tommy:
https://tommythompson.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-thompson-teacher/ 
https://twitter.com/tommypthompson
https://www.instagram.com/author_tommythompson/

In this final episode of the marriage series, Tommy Thompson and Tom Barila, express gratitude for their insightful discussions and recap key points from previous episodes, focusing on self-care, managing expectations, and maintaining intentionality in marriage. They highlight characteristics of thriving marriages, such as effective conflict resolution, enjoying each other's company, and managing finances. Exploring the concept of love languages and the significance of marriage as a covenant, they offer practical insights to help listeners prioritize communication and connection in their relationships, emphasizing the importance of creating emotional and physical space for growth and intimacy.
The “Marriage for Life” series reaffirms the commitment to marriage despite challenges, advocating for perseverance and the prioritization of the relationship to experience a deep, lasting connection.
Episode Highlights:
01:46 Celebrating the Masters Golf Tournament: A Metaphor for Life
03:14 Recapping the Marriage Series: Insights and Foundations
15:50 Deep Dive into Love Languages: Enhancing Marital Affection
21:20 Covenant, Compatibility, and Communication: Key Pillars of Marriage
31:40 Creating Space for Personal Growth and Support
35:40 Prioritizing Communication and Quality Time
39:30 Investing in Fun and Vacations for Relationship Health
42:52 Financial Space: A Key to Relieving Marital Stress
44:30 Kronos and Kairos: Balancing Time for a Fulfilling Marriage
49:47 The Hard Work and Beauty of Marriage

Tom’s story at engagement – The commitment for life
o   Open up to the possibility of getting help – coaching, counseling, friends
The value of training!
o   Minefields:
Self-Care deficit – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual – uneven growth Managing expectationsLack of Intentionality – lose the priority of marriage – career, and childrenBusynessThe Storms of LifeLack of Affection
o   Thriving:
Handle Conflict well – Practice Win/WinEnjoy each other – friends!Manage finances in a compatible wayAttentiveness to one another – delight in each other

In this episode, Tommy Thompson and Lisa Ould dive into the complexities of modern marriage, addressing the challenges couples encounter in today's society. With a focus on fostering meaningful connections, Tommy and Lisa offer insightful perspectives and actionable advice drawn from their own experiences. They underscore the importance of intentional communication, highlighting the need for couples to create space for open and honest conversations where both partners feel heard and understood. By emphasizing the role of observation and empathy in understanding each other's love languages and preferences, they provide practical strategies for cultivating thriving relationships built on mutual respect and appreciation.
They continue their exploration of marriage dynamics, discussing the nuanced interplay between gender roles and relationship dynamics. They advocate for breaking free from traditional stereotypes and embracing curiosity as a pathway to deeper understanding and connection. 
00:21 Introducing Lisa Old: A New Perspective on Marriage
06:13 Addressing Loneliness in Marriage and Beyond
11:32 Creating Space and Time for Meaningful Conversations
20:27 Navigating the Complexities of Marriage Together
25:24 Exploring Deeper Connections in Relationships
28:07 Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Conversations
28:39 The Importance of Listening and Encouragement
45:01 Practical Takeaway: Enhancing Conversational Skills

Links:


https://www.barnabasrva.org/ 
https://www.facebook.com/barnabasrva 

In this episode, Tommy Thompson is joined by David Dwight from HOPE Church, David delves into the profound concept of covenantal love in marriage. Dwight highlights the unilateral nature of covenantal promises, drawing parallels to God's unconditional love for humanity. He emphasizes that Christian marriage is founded on this unconditional commitment to love each other until death, distinguishing it from mere contractual agreements. They also discussed the significance of covenantal love, highlighting its transformative power in fostering enduring and meaningful relationships. Additionally, David and Tommy explore the influence of parental marriages on individuals' own relationships, discussing the importance of reflection and intentionality in shaping marital dynamics. Through insightful anecdotes and practical advice, they underscore the importance of humility, grace, and commitment in nurturing healthy and vibrant marriages, leaving listeners with valuable insights to apply in their own relationships.
David Dwight is the senior pastor of HOPE Church, one of the fastest growing churches in Richmond, Virginia. David's spiritual journey began during his college years, following a period marked by skepticism and uncertainty throughout his teenage years. Despite venturing into a career in business post-graduation, He harbored a profound conviction that his path would ultimately lead him to ministry. Over time, he has served in various roles, including missions pastor and church planter, and now holds the position of senior pastor at HOPE. Together with his wife Elisabeth, they are blessed with two children.
 
00:00 Embracing Love in Marriage
00:58 Introducing David Dwight: A Journey Through Marriage Insights
02:34 The Essence of Marriage: Covenant, Compatibility, and Commitment
18:13 The Transformative Power of Covenant in Marriage
34:25 The Journey from Compatibility to Covenant: A Deep Dive
50:38 The Impact of Parental Influence on Marriage
53:47 Navigating the Seasons of Marriage: Challenges and Growth
57:20 Cultivating a Marriage-Centered Family
01:05:06 The Art of Communication: The Key to a Thriving Marriage
01:06:14 Creating Space for Listening and Understanding
01:16:58 The Evolution of Intimacy in Marriage
01:33:07 Closing Thoughts: The Beauty and Hard Work of Marriage

This episode of 'Space for Life' podcast, co-hosted by Tommy Thompson and Tom Barila, delves into the concept of love languages in the context of marriage, emphasizing its application in understanding and nurturing relationships. As part of a five-part series on marriage, the discussion highlights the importance of recognizing and applying the five love languages—Gifts, Acts of Service, Words of Encouragement, Quality Time, and Physical Touch—as identified by Gary Chapman. The hosts share personal anecdotes, reflect on the implications of love languages in various types of relationships including parental and romantic, and discuss the importance of intentionality and recognizing each other's unique expressions of love. They also touch upon the potential need to unlearn certain behaviors learned from one's family of origin and stress the value of clear communication and mutual understanding in loving well. Additionally, the episode offers practical advice on taking the love languages assessment and applying its insights to strengthen connections.
www.5lovelanguages.com 

In this episode of 'Space for Life,' Tommy embarks on the first of a series dedicated to the multifaceted aspects of marriage, emphasizing its impact on personal growth and the long-term journey of loving well. Joined by guest Tom Barila, who has 41 years of marriage experience, they explore the importance of self-care, managing expectations, intentionality, and affection in fostering healthy relationships. Highlighting both the minefields and characteristics of thriving marriages, they delve into practical strategies for improvement, such as building a support team, enhancing communication, and establishing healthy rhythms. The episode underscores the universal relevance of these insights, applicable to various relationships beyond marriage, and sets the stage for future discussions on enriching the marriage relationship.
Tom Barila is a compassionate and skilled coach with over 41 years of experience in the Marriage and Relationship field. He specializes in Marriage coaching (Pre-Engaged; Engaged; and Married) as well as life coaching. Tom utilizes a combination of the Prepare-Enrich methodology along with other coaching principles to provide clients with life-changing principles.
He loves working with couples to help them set a firm foundation, sort out issues, seek unity, and to thrive. Tom endeavors to work with each couple (or individual) according to their areas of unique needs to help them invoke curiosity, achieve clarity, and a more balanced and fruitful life.  
 Tom has served in the government, business, and non-profit sectors. He served in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Signal Corps. In business, Tom managed Information Technology projects and led teams for major regional banking institutions. In the non-profit sector, Tom served as a Director of Education and Chief Technology Officer. 
Tom has earned a BBA degree, a Master's of Arts in Spiritual Formation, is a certified Christian Educator, a certified BALM Family Recovery Life Coach, and a certified Prepare-Enrich Facilitator.  
Currently, Tom serves as the “Head Coach” and owner of the Marriage and Relationship Coaching Center, LLC, Richmond, VA. Tom has been married for over 41 years and has 2 adult children and 2 grandsons. He enjoys collaborating with people, the outdoors, coaching sports, and playing tennis and golf.
Tom can be reached at marriageRVA@gmail.com.