In a world quick to label people, it's easy to form opinions without ever knowing someone's story.

In this episode, Vona Johnson reflects on the subtle ways we categorize others — and invites us to pause. What if we trusted Jesus with what we don't understand, and chose to see people, not categories? Drawing on the transformation of Saul into Paul, she explores how faith can change the way we see others — and ourselves.

A gentle call to slow down, question the narratives we absorb, and choose love over labels in a divided world.

Because we never know when the person in front of us might be the next Saul… waiting for the moment God uses to change everything.

Keep living your MORE with courage—your best season may just be beginning.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Retirement doesn’t mean our purpose is behind us. In fact, it may be the season when our influence becomes the most meaningful.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona reflects on wisdom from a 92-year-old woman who shared advice she wished she had received decades earlier. Her reflections spark a deeper conversation about purpose, grace, and the limited time we have to make a difference.

Vona also explores the idea of “cheap grace,” a phrase coined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and what it means for those of us seeking to live faithfully in the years ahead.

If you’ve ever wondered what God might still have in store for you in retirement, this conversation will encourage you to live intentionally and step into the MORE He may be calling you toward.

Reflection Questions

⭐ What are you retiring to in this season of life?

⭐ Who in your life might benefit from your wisdom, presence, and thoughtful questions?

⭐ How are you preparing your body, mind, and spirit for the opportunities God may place before you?

Because retirement isn’t the end…
It may be the beginning of your most meaningful season yet.

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend who is navigating retirement or the next chapter of life.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Many of us carry more than we realize.

Over time responsibilities, commitments, possessions, and expectations slowly fill our “backpack” until one day the weight begins to feel heavier than it should.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona shares a recent personal experience simplifying her website—and the surprising freedom that came from letting go of something that had quietly become too heavy.

Through this simple change, she discovered a deeper lesson about life, retirement, and the invitation Jesus offers in Matthew 11:

"Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Rest doesn’t mean giving up on the dreams God has placed on our hearts. It means releasing the stress of carrying what was never meant to be ours or was never meant to be a burden forever.

If you're entering your best season of life, this episode may inspire you to take a look inside your own backpack and ask a simple question:

What might God be inviting you to simplify?

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Many people love the quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

But what if, in our search for that “why,” we’ve been looking in the wrong direction?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona explores the tension between chasing purpose the world’s way and following God’s calling. It’s easy to get caught up pursuing bigger numbers, more recognition, or the next opportunity that promises influence or success. But those pursuits can quietly pull us away from the people and callings God has already placed in our lives.

Vona shares a personal story about stepping back from the pressure to strive for more clients and more listeners—and what that experience revealed about the difference between chasing and trusting God.

If you’ve ever wondered what your purpose looks like in retirement, this episode invites you to pause and ask a deeper question:

Are you chasing the world’s definition of purpose…
or are you faithfully following Jesus?

Because finishing well may not be about doing more.
It may be about finally learning to live your MORE.

Questions for Reflection:

1. When you think about purpose in this season of life, do you feel more like you are chasing something or following where God is leading?
2. Where in your life might you be measuring success by numbers, recognition, or productivity instead of faithfulness?
3. Is there an area where striving or chasing has begun to crowd out the people or callings God has already placed in front of you?
4. What might it look like for you to listen more intentionally for God’s voice in this season of retirement?
5. What is one simple step of obedience you sense God inviting you to take right now?
6. If you stepped back from striving for a moment, where might you already see signs that God is inviting you to live your MORE?

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

What if the most important part of retirement planning has nothing to do with money?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona sits down with certified financial planner and consultant Kevin Berwald to explore a different starting point for retirement: putting Christ first.

Kevin shares why retirement is about far more than financial security, travel plans, or lifestyle goals. Instead, he encourages listeners to consider a deeper question: What is God’s purpose for this season of life?

Together they talk about the foundation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the importance of being “born again,” and how life’s challenges often become the very places where God builds trust, faith, and lasting peace.

Kevin also introduces his book Mission Retirement, which helps individuals create a personal retirement vision and mission statement focused on what truly matters—faith, relationships, health, stewardship, service, and legacy.

This thoughtful conversation invites you to step back, seek God’s direction, and rethink what a truly courageous, purpose-filled retirement could look like.

Quotes from Kevin:

"God will take you to the point where you can't handle it, so you have to turn to him."

"It's all about, it's always, always has been, always will be about God's will."

"Our courageous retirement is being courageous enough to let God do His thing and realize it's not about us. That's where the courage comes from sometimes is letting go."

Verses referenced:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelations 3:20

"Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Purchase the book, Mission Retirement

Email Kevin: kevin@catalyst4growth.org

Timestamp:

00:00 – Rethinking retirement: starting with purpose
01:05 – Why putting God first changes everything
02:44 – The foundation of being “born again”
04:28 – The question that matters most: Who is Jesus to you?
06:17 – When worldly success still feels empty
09:43 – A mother’s prayers and a journey back to faith
12:59 – How surrender often comes through life’s trials
16:09 – The Milky Way perspective: trusting God’s bigger plan
19:02 – Prayer as a relationship with God
21:13 – An Israel trip and learning to trust God more deeply
25:23 – Faith and perspective during global uncertainty
26:00 – Surprising church growth in Iran
27:50 – The idea of a purposeful retirement legacy
28:25 – “Did God really say?” and spiritual discernment
29:14 – Why being born again matters for understanding God’s will

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire? Faith, Finances, and Courageous Retirement (with Mike Perez)

How much is enough to retire?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with Mike Perez, author of Faith and Finances, to tackle one of the most common fears facing retirement-age believers: What if I don’t have enough money saved?

Together, they explore how retirement may require less than we assume—and how financial decisions become clearer when filtered through prayer, calling, and kingdom purpose. Mike shares his practical cash-flow framework, including his five-part “financial pie” (covering giving, taxes, debt, lifestyle, and investing), and introduces the concept of creating a personal financial “finish line.”

This conversation goes beyond numbers. Vona and Mike talk about releasing the need to strive, trusting God with outcomes, and shifting from accumulation to impact. Mike shares the story of selling a second home after bathing the decision in prayer—gaining margin, increasing generosity, and expanding meaningful travel as a result.

They also discuss:

• Viewing ROI through a kingdom lens
• Living as faithful “seed planters” in everyday conversations
• The courage to step away from distractions (including social media during Lent)
• The power of community encouragement
• Approaching second-half-of-life transitions with flexibility and trust

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re financially ready—or spiritually ready—for retirement, this episode will help you rethink “enough” through the lens of faith.

Connect with Mike at MikePerezSpeaks.com for his book, workshops, speaking, and personal consultations.

00:00 When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire?
01:35 Letting Go of Striving in the Second Half
03:40 Understanding the Five-Part Financial “Pie”
05:45 Aligning Lifestyle Choices with God’s Calling
07:30 Selling the Lake House: A Prayerful Decision
09:40 Margin, Generosity, and New Freedom
11:55 Kingdom ROI vs. Performance-Based Thinking
14:30 Living as Faithful “Seed Planters”
16:45 Lent, Social Media, and Creating Margin
19:25 Small Acts of Faithful Impact
21:35 Presence Over Distraction
23:50 Taking Bold Steps (Including an Israel Trip Without Fear)
25:35 How to Connect with Mike Perez
27:35 Final Encouragement: Money, Faith, and Courageous Retirement

Scriptures Referenced

"And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Romans 8:28 NLT

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Lately, I’ve sensed God inviting me into a shift — from striving to faithfulness. From doing more to loving more deliberately.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, I share how retirement created space for Scripture to speak more deeply into my life — and how Romans 10 and 1 Corinthians 13 reshaped the way I see this season.

Retirement isn’t a winding down. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to steward our time with eternity in mind.
An invitation to reflect God’s love more intentionally.
An invitation to finish well.

As we approach Lent and consider what it means to quiet the noise, I also share a personal decision I’m prayerfully considering — and a gentle invitation for you, if you’ve been feeling that same nudge.

If you’ve sensed God calling you to simplify, refocus, or live this season with deeper purpose, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes, the most powerful shift is discovering that less truly is more.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Check out my YouTube Channel where I post the videos of my interview shows.

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Living Your Best Life in Retirement: Lessons from Legos and Faith

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares an unexpected lesson learned while building Legos with her grandson—and how it beautifully mirrors the opportunity retirement offers us.

By watching her grandson playing with legos, Vona reflects on what it means to “dump everything on the table,” reassess what we’ve built so far, and intentionally rebuild for the season ahead. Retirement, she reminds us, isn’t an ending—it’s an invitation to start fresh with purpose.

Vona encourages listeners to thoughtfully use their God-given gifts and talents, while gently challenging the belief that our value is tied to income or productivity. With faith woven throughout, she invites retirees to trust God’s provision, seek His plan, and embrace retirement as their best season yet.

This episode offers practical encouragement, faith-filled perspective, and a genuine call to live fully and courageously in retirement.

Episode Timeline

00:00 – Introduction: The Joys of Retirement
00:16 – Life Lessons Learned from Grandchildren
00:50 – The Lego Lesson: Building, Dumping, and Rebuilding
03:47 – Embracing Retirement with Purpose
04:17 – Financial Freedom and Trusting God’s Provision
05:54 – Avoiding the Trap of Equating Worth with Money
08:02 – Exploring New Opportunities in Retirement
09:12 – Conclusion: Stepping into Your Best Season

Schedule a call with Vona: https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more

Email me: courageousretirement@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!

Check out my YouTube Channel!

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!