The Smoke Trail: Season 1, Episode 13 – Finding Christ, Facing Evil With Love with Chris Clements
Season 1: Episode 13
The Smoke Trail: Season 1, Episode 13 – Finding Christ, Facing Evil With Love with Chris Clements
Guest Bio:
Chris Clements is a former CEO and third-generation leader of a major Arizona beverage distribution business, now a partner at STS Capital, where he guides entrepreneurs through mergers and acquisitions. Raised in a spiritually diverse family—blending Armenian Anglican, Southern Baptist, and Episcopalian influences—Chris’s faith journey was shaped by his grandmother’s devotion to Jesus and his father’s legacy of stewardship and charity. After a rock-climbing accident, a traumatic brain injury, and the sudden loss of his father at 25, Chris faced darkness, battling anger and addiction. A transformative deliverance session in 2015, guided by his wife Sasha’s compassion, led him to reclaim his sovereignty through Christ, embracing a mission to “know Him and make Him known.” Today, he lives in Arizona, integrating faith, freedom, and love into his leadership and community work.
Setting:
Recorded in the vibrant famous resort The Arizona Biltmore, this conversation unfolds as a raw, heartfelt exchange between two friends. The sacred energy of the desert mirrors the episode’s themes of surrender, forgiveness, and divine connection, inviting listeners to reflect on their own path to the “river” of divinity.
Summary:
In this intimate episode, I sit down with my friend Chris Clements to explore his journey from inherited faith to personal transformation through Christ. Chris shares his upbringing in Arizona, steeped in diverse religious traditions, and the profound influence of his grandmother Pat, a Southern Baptist who introduced him to Jesus, and his father, a charitable leader who modeled stewardship. At 25, tragedy struck when his father died of a brain tumor, thrusting Chris into leadership of the family’s beverage distribution business. Struggling with a traumatic brain injury from a rock-climbing accident, anger at God, and addiction, Chris’s life spiraled until his wife Sasha’s compassionate ultimatum in Key West prompted a turning point. A powerful deliverance session in Charlottesville, Virginia, revealed past wounds and dark energies, leading Chris to proclaim his sovereignty through Jesus, cleansing his spirit and renewing his purpose. We dive into how Chris integrates this faith into his work at STS Capital, balancing material success with spiritual surrender, and discuss the nature of evil—not as a force to fight, but to overwhelm with love. From the Armenian genocide’s generational trauma to personal forgiveness, Chris’s story is a testament to reclaiming divinity and living as love in a complex world.
Learnings:
Surrender is Freedom: Chris’s deliverance session taught him to release control, trusting the universe’s “zigzag path” to divinity, a lesson reinforced by his father’s death and his own healing.
Forgiveness is for the Forgiver: Forgiving his father, God, and himself freed Chris from anger, echoing the Armenian community’s need to release generational grudges for healing.
Evil Flees Love: Rather than battling dark energies, Chris learned to offer love, disarming fear and negativity, as seen in his post-deliverance clarity.
Faith Anchors Leadership: Integrating spirituality into business, like through the Wings Like Eagles Foundation, empowers purposeful leadership without fear of judgment.
Consciousness Drives Action: Raising personal consciousness, as Chris did through faith, naturally leads to loving actions, not as a checklist but as grace’s overflow.
Universal Truths:
The River Runs Through Us All: Divinity is within everyone, accessible at any moment, whether through Christ, plant medicine, or quiet reflection, as Chris’s deliverance and the “river” analogy from Jim Finley illustrate.
Evil is Intentional Harm: Evil arises when someone knowingly harms another, but love—embodied as grace or compassion—dissolves its power.
Sovereignty is Proclaimed: We reclaim our divine nature by consciously choosing light over darkness, as Chris did by accepting Christ’s grace.
Judgment Blocks Vision: Releasing judgment, as Chris learned post-deliverance, reveals truth and fosters connection, aligning with divine love.
Grace is Sufficient: Salvation isn’t earned through works but flows from accepting divine love, as seen in the thief on the cross and Chris’s renewed faith.
Examples:
Deliverance Session: Chris’s 2015 prayer session in Charlottesville, guided by Dr. David Appleby, cleansed dark energies, with his friend John noting his grandmother Pat’s pride, symbolizing spiritual rebirth.
Sasha’s Compassion: In Key West, Sasha’s non-judgmental call for Chris to heal—not for their marriage, but for his son’s trust—sparked his pivot toward sobriety and faith.
Wings Like Eagles Foundation: Chris’s family business channeled Isaiah 40’s spirit, funding charities aligned with faith, showing how spirituality can shape corporate culture.
Forgiving the Past: Chris’s release of anger toward his father and God mirrors the broader need for communities, like Armenians, to forgive historical traumas for collective healing.
The Thief on the Cross: The biblical story of the repentant thief, who found paradise through a single proclamation, underscores that grace is always available, as Chris experienced.
Smoke Trail Threads:
Forgiveness (Episode 7): Chris’s journey of forgiving his father and himself echoes Episode 7’s focus on forgiveness as liberation, extending to generational healing.
Presence (Episode 8): Like Liv Fisch’s emphasis on self-kindness, Chris’s daily proclamation of sovereignty requires staying present to avoid unconscious slips into darkness.
Consciousness (Episode 9): Steve Hershberger’s consciousness map aligns with Chris’s belief that higher consciousness prevents harm, as love reveals our oneness.
Heart-Mind Coherence (Episode 10): Dani Brooks’ mirror work parallels Chris’s heart-led faith, where his guardian angel speaks through intuition, guiding right action.
Surrender (Episode 11): Ivan Rados’ “allow, accept, let go” formula resonates with Chris’s surrender to God’s grace, trusting the universe’s path.
Optimism in Action (Episode 12): Elizabeth Funk’s solutions-driven approach to homelessness reflects Chris’s focus on positive action over dwelling on evil, uplifting the least advantaged.
The Smoke Trail: Episode 13 Q&A with Chris Clements
In Episode 13 of The Smoke Trail, I sit down with my friend Chris Clements, former CEO of Golden Eagle Distributors and now a partner at SCS Capital, to explore his transformative journey from loss and addiction to finding Christ and facing evil with love. Recorded in Sedona’s sacred energy, this conversation uncovers Chris’s path through grief, spiritual deliverance, and enlightened leadership, offering tools for navigating life’s challenges with faith and surrender. Below, Chris shares his pre-show reflections, diving deeper into his story and inviting you to ponder your own journey to the “river” of divinity. Listen to the episode, then reflect on these insights and share your thoughts with #TheSmokeTrail.
A Pivotal Moment That Shaped What Truly Matters
“Please share a pivotal moment or experience in your life that shaped your understanding of what truly matters. When you realized what truly mattered to you, did it challenge or conflict with how you were living at the time? How did you reconcile that?”
The deaths of my father, Bill Clements, in 1995, and his best friend, Dave Sitton, who became like a second father, in 2013, were my most pivotal moments. My father’s passing forced me to grow up and lead our family business at 25, but it left me bitter and jaded, carrying resentment for years. Dave’s sudden death unraveled me further, despite my outward success. These losses clashed with my life’s focus on material achievements, revealing that faith and family matter most. Reconciling this meant embracing Jesus in 2015, shifting from anger to surrender, and realigning my leadership with humility and purpose.
Overcoming Internal Fears and Shadows
“What internal challenges or fears have you faced, and how did overcoming them shape your personal philosophy or leadership style? What’s one shadow or fear that still lingers for you today? How do you confront it, and what does it teach you about yourself?”
My biggest fear, rooted in losing my father and mentor young, is harm coming to my family. The Bible says to pray without ceasing, and I lean on this to confront this fear, wondering if my faith—despite new tools—would hold strong again. Overcoming earlier shadows, like addiction and anger, through a 2015 deliverance session, shaped my philosophy: lead with faith, not force. This lingering fear teaches me to stay vigilant in prayer, trusting God’s protection while recognizing my human vulnerability.
The Evolution of Spirituality
“How has your understanding of spirituality evolved? How have you integrated this understanding into your life? Have you ever faced skepticism or criticism for incorporating spirituality into your leadership? How did you stay true to yourself in the face of that?”
I grew up in a “Heinz 57” mix of Christian denominations—baptized Armenian Anglican, raised Episcopalian, confirmed in that church, and taught about Jesus by my Southern Baptist grandmother. My first marriage introduced me to Catholicism, but I became a Jesus follower in 2015 after a deliverance session. I’ve unapologetically woven faith into leadership, naming our company’s foundation Wings Like Eagles from Isaiah 40. When selling our business, some called me a “Jesus freak” for officing at an evangelical church, serving humbly after years in a CEO’s suite. Criticism didn’t faze me—I stayed true by prioritizing faith over ego, knowing trials brought me closer to Jesus.
Balancing Material and Spiritual Life
“How do you navigate the tension between pursuing material success and staying aligned with your spiritual or personal values? Was there a time when you felt trapped by the pursuit of material success? What did it take to break free, and what advice would you give others in the same position?”
Bob Buford’s mantra of “success to significance” includes a third element: surrender. Everything—career, possessions—is a gift from God. Free will means choosing to pursue or reject Him. I was trapped by material success early on, chasing status after my father’s death. Breaking free required surrendering to God, especially during our company’s sale, recognizing I’m not in control. My advice, inspired by U2’s “Surrender,” is to hold blessings loosely. Pursue God, not possessions, and count material gains as gifts, not idols.
Enlightened Leadership in Practice
“What does enlightened leadership mean to you, and can you share an example of how you’ve practiced it in your work? Have you ever made a leadership decision that, in hindsight, went against your personal values? What did you learn from that moment?”
Enlightened leadership, modeled by my father, means serving with humility, viewing all as God’s. He never said “no” to anyone, leading with love. After his death, I veered off, acting tougher and more demanding to prove myself, unlike his grace. This was the Rich Young Ruler’s error—clinging to riches over Jesus. Those decisions taught me to shed idols and lead with acceptance. Now, at SCS Capital, I strive to guide entrepreneurs with humility, though I’m still growing into this ideal.
Lessons from Adversity
“What is the most significant lesson you’ve learned from a failure or challenging period, and how has it influenced your approach to life and leadership? During your darkest moments, what thought or belief kept you going? If you could speak to yourself in that moment now, what would you say?”
The darkest period was when my mother, fed up with my sister and me fighting, pushed to sell our company. Initially combative, I learned surrender through an accountability group, embracing Jesus, quitting drinking, and losing 30 pounds. This spiritual shift freed me from toxicity and generational curses. The belief that God had a plan kept me going. I’d tell my past self, “Trust God’s path—it’s pulling you to freedom.” This shapes my leadership: surrender to divine purpose, not control.
A Supernatural Experience
“Can or will you share an unusual or supernatural experience you’ve never shared publicly before? Or would you elaborate on one you have shared?”
I don’t believe in coincidences, only Divine Appointments—moments when God walks into the room. My 2015 spiritual deliverance, before our company’s sale, was profound. Sequestered with pastors and my best friend for 6-7 hours of deep prayer, I faced revelations about my past, family, and generational curses. This cleansing opened my eyes and ears to evil’s reality and God’s power, fueling my ongoing pursuit of spiritual clarity and strength.
The Most Profound Influence
“Who or what has had the most profound influence on your journey, and how has it shaped your understanding of life and leadership?”
Jesus is the ultimate influence—CS Lewis’s “liar, lunatic, or Lord” framed my choice to follow Him. Earthly influences include my father, Bill, and mentor Dave Sitton, whose humility and engagement I emulate in leadership and podcasting. My uncle’s bombastic style adds flair to my public speaking. Bono’s U2, with biblical undertones in every song, inspires me to weave faith subtly into work, shaping a leadership style that honors these men and seeks to make them proud.
Practices for Inner Peace
“What practices or habits keep you grounded and aligned with your purpose amidst the pressures of leadership? When life feels chaotic, what’s the one non-negotiable practice or belief that brings you back to clarity? Why does it work for you?”
I’m up at 4:30 AM daily, at the gym by 5:15-5:30 for a 45-minute to one-hour workout—non-negotiable, even on Easter. Started when my first child was born, taking 3 AM feedings, it clears my head. I listen to pastoral and political podcasts, not music, to prepare for the day. With just 3-4 hours of sleep, I still go. It works because it resets my mind, aligning me with purpose despite chaos.
Mentorship and Guidance
“Who do you turn to for advice or mentorship, and how have they helped you navigate personal and professional growth? Have you ever had to let go of a mentor or influence that no longer aligned with your growth? What did that process teach you about evolving relationships?”
During our company’s sale, my wife’s uncle, Tommy Walker, became like a third father, mentoring me with wisdom and support. Robert Vera from Grand Canyon University, a collaborator on projects, is another key mentor. I’ve never had to part with a mentor, as these relationships align with my growth, teaching me that true mentorship fosters mutual purpose and evolves naturally.
Wisdom for the Next Generation
“What wisdom or advice would you pass on to the next generation of leaders about integrating life’s deeper lessons with leadership? What’s a decision or action you’re most proud of, and how do you hope it will shape your legacy or impact the lives of others?”
My CF3 platform—Faith, Freedom, Free Enterprise—guides leadership. Faith is the cornerstone of family and friendship; freedom is the Lord’s liberty gained through faith; free enterprise is building entrepreneurially in your community. I’m proudest of embracing Jesus during our company’s sale, leading to sobriety and a renewed legacy. I hope to be remembered as a faithful husband, father, and friend, inspiring leaders to prioritize faith-driven purpose.
Bonus Reflections: Free Will, Evil, Divine Appointments, Intuition, Death, True Happiness
“Comment or share your understanding on ‘free-will,’ ‘evil,’ ‘synchronistic occurrences,’ ‘intuition,’ ‘death,’ ‘true happiness.’”
Free Will: A divine gift to pursue or reject God. As Rush’s song says, choosing not to decide is still a choice. We exercise it daily as sentient beings made in God’s image.
Evil: Real and dark, the enemy wreaks havoc if unchecked. I’ve seen and felt it, but faith equips us to confront it with open eyes and spirit.
Divine Appointments: God’s unsubtle presence in moments that demand discernment. I believe in these, not coincidences, especially post-deliverance.
Intuition: God tapping your shoulder, guiding through your gut. It’s divine direction for those who listen.
Death: Not an end, but a derailment if you’re unprepared. My father’s and Dave’s deaths fueled anger, but God revealed miracles over time.
True Happiness: Knowing God and making Him known, the core of a purposeful life.
