Welcome back to the Gospel Truth Podcast. I'm
your host Dylan with my co -host. I'm Jason.
That's right. Well, if you haven't noticed, we
haven't been around too much. Life has been a
little crazy. There's been a lot of changes,
ups and downs. Just a lot of trying to figure
out times that we can make this work. And I like
how last podcast I was listening to it and we
said, Yeah, don't worry. We're sorry we missed
a couple weeks. We're going to be more consistent,
and then we are just gone. Jason did a couple
solo episodes. We're going to talk a little bit
about why, what happened over the past year,
and kind of what we've been up to. It's kind
of like a little reunion catch -up episode to
get back into it. Yep. Yeah. So, Jason, I mean,
you want to go ahead first? I mean... Yeah, sure.
I mean last time I mean sure I could do a little
bit and then you do a little bit when you come
back and forth That's great. Actually Yeah, I
decided to do obviously if you've been following
us still like I did two solo episodes to 2024
to just kind of keep something going I don't
want to think people just thought that we abandoned
it completely or anything like that like we both
forgot like i yeah right i i told you i was doing
these things and i wanted to base it off of the
blog post that we already had going the blog
actually stayed active pretty active throughout
2024 while we were not recording so if you don't
know go to gospel project i was like wow i'm
like i should probably talk to jason we should
probably try to record some more Right. So it
was just like, yeah, it's been good because I
think personally, in my opinion, over the last
year, I mean, it's been since 2023, end of 2023,
since we recorded an episode together. But you
and me have been talking little bits here and
there since then. And I think. Over the last
year, year and a half, I feel like there's been
a lot of learning from my part and a lot of studying
and a lot of reading. I started kind of digging
into like the founding church fathers from the
apostles and who they taught, like Ignatius of
Antioch, Clement of Rome, Tertullian, Polycarp.
I started reading a lot of the original writings
from the early first 300 years of the church
history. Because I started realizing history
is really important to understand where our foundations
come from, especially when you read the Bible
as your core foundation. You can see those who
were taught by the disciples and were second
generation of Christianity and what they were
helping spread the gospel and what they talked
about and how they interacted with a lot of different
viewpoints and a lot of different governance.
government authorities and police states and
stuff like that during the time. So it was really
cool to, it's really cool. I recommend going
back and reading some of the, um, earlier texts
like that just to kind of get a broader perspective.
So I've been learning a lot. So it's been good.
Yeah. Yeah. Learning has been, I think the, uh,
key this past year, there's been a lot of learning,
um, me. Well, last time we talked, I mean, I
was listening to it. I, you could hear, I was,
I sounded so, I was very discouraged. Um, for
those who don't know, I know my wife doesn't
like, we don't really talk about it too much.
We're kind of like, Oh yeah, it happened. Not
a big deal anymore. Um, but last time we recorded,
uh, we had had a missed carriage and, uh, that
was like really hitting me hard. And we had just,
you know, gotten married and, Knowing that we
lost our kid was really rough. But a month later,
we actually had a rainbow baby. So during that
whole time, and if you just know what a rainbow
baby is, it's when you have a miscarriage and
then you get pregnant right after. So we had
that happen. And then we were pregnant. I shouldn't
say we, because I had the easy part. My wife
is the one who carried our beautiful baby girl.
little past nine months uh so yeah we completely
just yeah i went from that to uh my wife being
pregnant and me studying that new job and it
just got crazy from that point on um but i've
learned a lot about god's love because i already
had that with my son and experiencing god's love
and how much i love but like there's something
different when having a daughter um oh yeah And
the first time seeing him hold his sister, I
was like, whoa, there's so much of my love. The
cool thing is, not to get too graphic, but I
asked the doctor because I heard it online. I'm
like, hey, so I heard you can help pull the baby
out. She's like, do you want to do that? I was
like, yeah, let's go. Rock and roll, man. So
I was there. And my wife, she's such a champ.
So our son was three days of labor, active labor,
and our daughter was also three days of active
labor. So that is a total of almost a week in
labor. That's just, you know, and the funny thing
is when we were doing this too, I felt a pop
in my wrist. I was like, oh no, that's not good.
Like I did something to my wrist, but the whole
time I was just like. second day i'm like i can't
say anything what do i say hey you know i kind
of hurt my wrist it's like no you need to be
quiet all right your wife is literally delivering
the baby right now you just gotta that's when
someone's you just kind of suck it up and be
a big boy um and then now i mean gosh it's almost
gonna be a year now um it's totally crazy um
yeah but like that's what god's been doing just
kind of teaching me the uh The love and the patience
with things. And yeah, it's been awesome. And
I'm excited to kind of get back into this now.
I mean, I, you know, trying to figure out sleep
schedule. It has been the biggest. Oh, yeah.
You know, Jason's like, oh, can we record? I'm
like, I'm like, what time is it? I'm like, 730.
And I'm ready to go into bed. But now, you know,
you know, more sleep throughout the night. So
I'm able to actually function somewhat. So I
don't know if I have the fully function, but
I'm getting there. Um, so that's basically where
I've been at and just, uh, you know, still being
pretty much a newlywed and, uh, yeah. And just
having a new, a new baby. So nothing too exciting.
That's definitely exciting. And there's a lot
to it to where it's like you, it's a lot of growing
moments for you. especially for your family in
general. So it's, I like it. I think that's,
it's been really healthy over what we've talked
about so far. And yeah, I'm really, I'm just
really excited to get back into the groove of
it and try to get some more episodes out and
talk some more and kind of just help grow and
together and just speak on that. Yeah, I mean,
I'm excited to see what God's going to do in
this new season. So, I mean, that's, yeah. It's
just awesome. Like, I freaking, I love doing
this so much. And, like, what we were talking
about last night, like, just talking and teaching
and talking about and spreading the word. Like,
that's, like, the coolest. I don't know. There's
something about it that just brings that joy.
And I'm excited. Like, you know. It's just, it's
one of those things, like, it doesn't matter
what's going on in life. Like, he's like, oh,
you want to talk about the Bible? It's the same
thing I get when I talk about basketball or,
you know, anything. I'm like, oh, you want to
talk about, like, you know, the, you know, 1990s,
1980s, like, you know, the Bill Russell and basketball.
I'm like, oh, you want to talk about Jesus? oh
we got to talk about you know Saul and David
and and you know and go to Moses and and and
you got Joshua and you know I go reading through
um Josh right now when uh for uh night my nighttime
readings I do with my son and uh I did not realize
sorry maybe I glanced over but one of the cities
that helped out with Jericho like a little like
I don't know what he wants, like a little city
that was close by where they could kind of group
up. I'm reading it, and the city's name is Shittim.
So, you know, having an eight -year -old, he's
like, what did you say? I'm like, Shittim? He's
like, I'm like, oh, great. So that's, you know,
it's still funny now that I'm, you know, 31.
You know, it's things like that were just fun.
And like all things like that, like, you know,
who knew that? Like I told him about Yehud, the
left -handed prophet, and how there's a king
called Egalon. And the Bible called him fat.
I'm like, and you know you're fat if the Bible
calls you fat. And God says he was fat. And then
the sword that went in was 1 .2 cubits, which
is, like, I'm, like, that's, like, the size of
my arm. And it's fat went over it. And he's,
like, oh, he's really fat. I'm, like, yeah. I'm,
like, you know you're fat if God says you're
fat. And not P -H -F -A -T. Like, you know. Oh.
But, yeah, like, I'm, like, you know, and then
we just got done with Easter, which, oh, it was,
you know, nothing beats Easter. It's so good.
I don't know what you did. I mean, we had the
sunrise service and then the regular service.
And then, oh, man, but it's fun. And, you know,
everybody's, like, looking all tired out there.
I'm like, it's just 6 o 'clock, guys. It's just
6 o 'clock. I'm a mailman. I do it all the time.
And Jason is muted. His mic's not working. That
makes sense why you weren't responding to me.
But a Sunday cut. There you go. And the fact
is that in that clip too, that's, you know, when
I said it's Sunday, but a Friday's coming, you
get rid of the background. And of course he's
going to say like, you know, like he's in some
black Baptist church. It's like, it's a Sunday.
Friday's are coming. I'm like, you know, I can't
be like, whose kid is that? I'm like, I know
whose kid that is. I know who. That's, that's
the Lord's, that's the Lord's job right there.
Oh my gosh. But yes, I, yeah, all your comments
are probably very, you know, I would interact
with them and it would have been perfect. Yeah.
No, you reminded me, like when you mentioned
that you reminded me of the idea of spreading
the gospel because you were wanting to do that
through the podcast, like Matthew 28, 19 to 20,
it says, go therefore make disciples of all the
nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
Son, and the Holy Spirit. teaching them to deserve
all I've commanded you, and behold, I am with
you always to the end of age. I mean, you see
that multiple times, Titus 2 .11, Acts 2 .38.
You see it multiple times, everybody. It must
be important. Right. I like how there's a warning
and revelations about it, saying like, look,
you're going to suffer. You're going to be thrown
into prison. You're going to be tested. There's
going to be tribulations through it. but just
be faithful unto death. Oh my gosh. That's so
great. Like we were talking about that, having
a, like, you know, the church is always saying,
pray, pray, pray, but you also need to listen
for an answer. Cause like, look at their praying,
like, okay, Lord, we need Peter. Peter, we need
him. You know, he's in prison. He's in the third,
the inner most, you know, prison we eat them
we set them free lord when peter goes and knocks
on the front door of the church and the girl
opens oh it's peter shuts the door on them and
they're going like oh wait let them in they're
like well what are you guys doing it's like we're
praying for you to get out you can't be there
we're praying for him right now right it's a
great like analogy for like life like there's
times where we're like god i really want this
god i really want this it's like i was like hey
uh don't check the front door again it's like
it's right there like that's i think that's like
one of my favorite things like i just heard recently
i was like yeah that's good i'm like it's so
true because god sometimes has the answers right
in front of us and we just be like no god you
don't understand it's like you don't get it no
and it's like Parenting, 100%. It's like, well,
why can't I do this? Just listen. You don't know.
No. You don't. You don't. You don't need to have
an answer. Just listen to me. Why not? And I
get that because that's how I was as a kid. Well,
where are we going? Where are we going? You don't
even know, Dylan. We're fine. Just enjoy the
ride. No, but I like to know where we're going.
Right. It's like in that sense of control that
we feel we need. It's very, you know, like I
said before, we're stupid and we feel we need
that sense of control. But also we need to be,
you know, allow ourselves to be free and is to
go with what God's plan is because he knows what
it is. We have no idea. Right. And that's like.
You know, trusting God, it's not always easy,
especially when life feels out of control. But
like from a biblical perspective, we know trust
isn't based on how we feel in the moment. It's
rooted in who God is. I mean, the Bible says
he's faithful. He's good. He's never changes.
That means even when things get tough, we can
still lean on him knowing he's working behind
the scenes for our good to better. his good and
his path right and even if we can't see it yet
and trusting god doesn't mean we ignore the pain
or pretend everything's fine but it means we
choose faith over fear it's like saying god i
don't get it right now but i know you do and
i believe you're with me and i believe you'll
you've got this and that's kind of what you know
the will trust looks like it's just showing up
every day and saying your will not mine it's
not easy but it's it's worth it yeah i just think
of all those little you know Reels and stuff
you see on Instagram and stuff. And it's like,
you know, trusting God. And there's like that
kid that has like the fish. Like, but I want
to keep it. But I want the fish. It's like, you
got to put them, you know, let the fish go. You
know, it's a good analogy of how we are in our
walk. Like, no, no, no. I like this. Like, I
like the church I'm at. I like, you know, this.
You know, I like the box that I'm in right now.
Let me be in that box. and god you know it's
like no i have better things for you and you
know it's not always promised to be easier things
it might be more difficult things that are to
come and that's just yeah you know like the lack
of sleep because you have a baby that wakes up
right your picture is that is that you know i
have my daughter you know um And it's just, it's
stuff like that. You know, it's, I don't, I mean,
I actually did a clip on our Tik TOK regarding
that because I was talking about how life isn't
always easy. And there's sometimes that we are,
our life will be beyond what we can strengthen,
get through beyond what we can handle. And that's
where God. looks to us to lean on him. Not in
the sense that, like the one scripture people
usually pull out of their butts that's out of
context is where it says that he will not allow
temptation beyond what we can handle, but that
is regarding temptation. But when it comes to
strength, we can see that it is for the strength
purposes on the lives. difficulties we will deal
with stuff that's beyond our strength and it
is for us to rely on him and to lean on him and
not do our own way through that easy to break
yeah and see right there when you said that and
i saw that when you posted it i was thinking
i remember i've never been told this i don't
know that's along the same lines or it's completely
wrong but being told When you know you're going
to sin or when you're about to be in the act
of sinning or whatever it is, God gives you an
out. Like, because, you know, God knows your
heart. God, you know, he allows you to go. He
kind of has like that, you know, that Jiminy
Cricket moment of you're conscious, but the Holy
Spirit tugging on you going like, hey, you know,
you shouldn't do that. I mean, you know, you
don't have to say this little white lie. You
know, and I think that's, you know, God gives
you the opportunity to, you know, to get out
of that situation. I think a lot of times we
forget to die to our flesh. Because, you know,
sin has made me seem so more fun. It's like,
well, I can tell this lie. I can manipulate this
way. Or, you know, I can do this. I can do that.
And that's, I mean, it's so true. Like, you know,
it's like, I was talking and I'm like, You know
like to the boy I'm like, well, why did you say
that? You know, that wasn't true. It's like I
know like just be honest, right? I was like,
I don't know like it's not that's just how stupid
it is. Like why did you do that? I don't know.
I just thought why not? It's like, you know,
we have that opportunity though That's the verse
I was talking about. It's two parts. It's 1 Corinthians
10, 13. And those who don't know, it's no temptation
is overtaking you. That's not common to man.
God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability. But with the temptation,
he will also provide the way of escape. So you
may be able to endure it. With the Greek word
here, what temptation is our desire to sin in
this instance. that can sometimes feel more powerful
than our desire to do what is right before God.
So this whole thing is like, what if we can't
resist? What if we can't? This is saying that
there's nothing new. Temptation in itself, there's
nothing new under the sun that's not common to
man. Every single temptation out there that we've
ever had to deal with in this sense, temptation
to sin is common. It is something that's been
done. It's nothing new. And so in this instance,
you will not. be allowed temptation beyond your
ability to walk away from it. So if you think,
oh, it was too much for me, you're just telling
yourself that to feel yourself better or feel
like you had no choice. But when it comes down
to following God, following what's right and
following what he's called you to be, which is,
you know, in a relationship with him, that looks
like us being able to see the situation and say,
hmm. that's not of God. I'm walking. And a lot
of times we don't walk. I had a friend, I'm not
going to say their name, but I had a friend come
up to me saying that they were struggling with
porn addiction. I said, okay, what happens? When
does this happen the most? And they were saying,
well, I have a tablet and I'll take it into my
room or I'll take it into the bathroom when I
go to shower or something like that. And I said,
okay, so that tablet? I said, don't. have that
tablet anywhere near those places that you have
it. I'm like, or just get rid of it. But main
thing is going to be, I want to go to my bedroom.
I'm going to leave my tablet in the living room.
I'm going to go through the bathroom. I'm going
to leave my tablet in the living room. You have
to set up, you have to set up things for, you
know, for you to succeed. And have accountability
with yourself. Anybody who decides, you know,
like you were saying, to like, oh, it's too hard.
You know, no, I'm sorry. You have to take some
accountability for your actions. Not to say that,
you know, I'm not. Nobody here is perfect. I'm
not saying I'm perfect. I have my own sins I
deal with. Everybody has their own sins. But
I'm saying, like, to act like, oh, it's too hard.
I couldn't do it. I'm sorry. That's a weak excuse.
You have to have ownership and you have to be
able to go like, you know what? Yeah. I know
what my issues are. I need to set things in place.
So I don't have those issues like for your buddy.
Okay. That's where it happens. Set the boundary.
Like it can just stay in a common area, a common
space where multiple people can be. So the temptation
there are, you know, if you, you know, it doesn't
say, you know, with anything like that. You know,
and that's something like, you know, if you are
struggling with, you need to reach out and have
accountability with one another. Because that's,
you know, that's just a mess right there all
itself. And not to say, you know, all sin's messy.
Not singling out anybody who deals with that
or has dealt with that. You know, the blood of
Jesus Christ, we're all saved. We're good. And
there's redemption through all of it. It doesn't
matter what you struggle with or what you are
struggling with. But we can't act like we're
helpless. We have God. He gives us weapons that
we need to succeed, just whether we have the
willpower and the want. Right. I mean, look at
Galatians 6, 1 through 5, right? Brothers, if
anyone is caught in any sin or wrongdoing, you
who are spiritual should restore him in the spirit
of gentleness. Keep watching yourself, lest you
be tempted. Bear one another's burdens. So you
see that in that Galatians 6 where it talks about
Seeing that work with each other, encourage each
other. You see in James 5, 16, where it says,
Proverbs 27, 17, everybody talks about this one.
Iron sharpens iron. One man sharpens another.
Super easy stuff where it's like, I think a lot
of times in our sin, it's the same thing with
Adam and Eve. If you go back to Genesis. where
they were ashamed and they hid themselves, right?
And we have a tendency, if we feel shame or we
feel burdened, we tend to consolidate or hide
ourselves, to remove ourselves from other people
and hide and put it aside and not show anybody.
But then you get to scripture and you clearly
see... all the founding fathers of the apostles
and stuff like that, as well as Jesus even, Matthew
12, 36, 37, you see this consistently as a message.
Confess to each other, work with each other,
carry each other's burdens in the sense that
you are helping each other, strengthen each other,
encourage each other, and speak life into each
other, 1 Thessalonians 5, 11. So you have a consistency
of... talk to each other be open with each other
which men don't like to be open with anybody
that's an issue but it's like consistent because
you know me i i can meet a stranger and be like
i we know we just met but this is my life story
and now you're part of it and i love you right
yep it's it's all you know on each person but
it is you know as a as a guy you're told You
have to be strong. You have to be independent.
You can't show weakness. And I think that's not
what God tells us to do. God tells us to love
one another and to be open. And when you seek
help, that's why a lot of the... problems that
are with like with that porn addiction and all
that stuff is it's made to feel like taboo you
can't talk about it you know you know figure
that on your own I think I've seen you that said
that something you've heard people say that I
think I've heard it too where you know they talk
like oh yeah we like to talk about it like you
know but we're not going to talk about it you
know in like during the announcements or and
I get that there is some things like where you
know it doesn't need to be broadcasted but it
should be talked about as just like everybody
else we talk about sin you know like on sunday
talk about oh you know and lying and and this
is wrong and stealing is wrong murder then it's
like oh well let's not talk about that out loud
because that might make people feel uncomfortable
you know right And, you know, I've been to places
where they've talked about it and said, you know,
this is an issue and if any man is dealing with
it or has dealt with it, you know, we'll do an
altar call. And I'm like, that's, see, that's
like, yeah. The lessons that I have a fear, I
guess, of the taboo of it. Don't talk about it.
Yeah. And also, I'd like to mention, I don't
know what the time mark is, but you mentioned
James. within the first... No, I'm just joking.
I knew it was coming. First 25 minutes, baby,
I'm back. There it is. I almost wanted to be
like, you know, in Romans, I don't know what,
just mention Romans because I felt like, you
know. I can mention Romans for you. Romans 14,
12, so that each of us would give an account
to God himself. It's accountability. I know every
week River gets a Bible verse for school. And
I'm like, one of these weeks, I don't know when
it's going to happen, but it's going to be my
verse. And I'm going to be so freaking happy
when he gets Romans 116. Every time I open up
that binder, I'm like, I checked the email from
the school. I'm like, okay, what is it? What
is it? I'm like, dang it. Galatians 8. I don't
need Galatians 8. Where's my Romans? You know.
Right. Yeah. See, nothing wrong with Galatians
8. You know, whatever that is. You know. You
know. I just got to correct you real quick, just
to make sure no one knows that we're joking.
There's no such thing as Galatians 8. So just
making sure everyone knows that we know there's
no such thing. We're just joking. It's only six
chapters in Galatians. Oh, there is, huh? Yeah.
Galatians 6. 636. I don't know. 636. That's like
18 verses. I'm pretty sure it ends with brothers,
sisters, grace, your Lord Jesus Christ be with
you in spirit. Amen. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. I want
someone jumping in on. I just don't want someone
jumping in on. Jumping down on the recording,
we're like, what did he just say? What did he
say? First time back over in a year and they're
already misquoting the Bible. Can you believe
him? I thought they grew. It was just a joke.
I just threw out a book and a verse. I know you
did. I was like, I just want to make it clear
before we move on. We're fine. Or maybe there
is somewhere there's no there's no loss. No,
it's not Second galatians continues now But no,
you know Oh my gosh, that's funny No, see i'm
just i'm too busy trying to find the last chapter
of galatians I need to focus ADHD is a little
Okay, I'll go back then. I'll go back to the
whole thing of leaning on each other. Yes, leaning
on. See, look at what we did right there. I was
messing around with Galatians 8, and then my
brother had to come and be like, listen here.
Brother Jason had to be like, listen, Dylan,
I know it was a joke, but we got to keep ourselves
accountable. And that's it. Look, you take correction.
That's the biggest thing. I think as other Christians,
it's taking correction and being able to give
correction in a loving way. also receive it without
being defensive true because as a guy i mean
not saying when we can't be like this if you're
married maybe you have an idea um you know you
direction they may know is that you're gonna
be like excuse me like what do you mean no i'm
don't don't question me what do you mean i need
to do the dishes i did the dishes oh, oh, oh,
so sorry. No, I cooked. Or, you know, I was like,
hey, what do you mean there's no Galatians? Hey,
don't be stupid. Like, you know, like, it really
is. We've talked about this before a couple of
times. The way, oh, no, that goes to my camera.
Oh, well, you need to see my face anyways. Isn't
it the Baryons in Acts 17 that corrected Paul?
And Paul was like one of the first to spread
the gospel. I mean, he was like, imagine being
someone that spreads the gospel and being the
first generation and you go into people the barians
and they're like uh i'm pretty sure this is what
the scripture said here and what did paul do
thank you he was like hey thanks thank you for
that you know so it's like um it was cool to
see like they were just like hey that this is
this is good because now it's like kind of pointing
to the right way of doing things which is correcting
each other with accountability in a loving manner
yeah that's yeah it's like uh yeah it's not always
easy to no i forget what what happened but i
had i had i had my boy correct me and i was like
whoa Whoa I was like first off. I was like I
was thinking I was like, oh wait, hold up. He's
right. Oh, I Think you're going over the books
of the Bible. He has to do it for I was like,
no, no, no, no, no it goes this and that he's
like No, it doesn't He's like it's Esther not
Ruth dad. I'm like, no Like oh dang I'm like,
why did I get Esther and Ruth mixed up? I'm like,
it's the two women, old, you know. I flip -flopped
them, and they're positioning. And he called
me out. He's like, no, you're wrong, because
we're doing a song, and the song goes like this.
And he had a little attitude with it, which is,
you know. Yeah, understandable for his age. And
I was going like, oh, I'm like, you know, I'm
pulling my Bible, but when I'm looking at my
Bible, I'm going, oh, I'm like, oh, that little
turd. 100%. He's right. He's right. And I told
him, like, hey, you're right. Thank you. Thank
you for correcting me on that. You know what?
I got it mixed up. Like, see, even dad messes
things up. And then he looked at me. He's like,
and you're supposed to teach the Bible? I was
like, okay, okay. A little far. I got to teach
you something else real quick. You know what
I mean? No, I'm just joking. Proverbs, that's
a Proverbs 12 .1 situation right there. What
was it? Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but who hates reproof is stupid. You know, I
think we can be smarter than, you know, I'm taking
correction more. Yeah, exactly. Interesting thing
I heard. I don't know if there's any truth to
it. I like to think there is truth to it, but
every time that you have a child or even adopt
a child or anything like that. Apparently it's
the only other time that the human brain gets
smarter. I'm sitting there like, so you're telling
me I'm slightly smarter now? I told Mara, we
need another kid. I said, we need another kid
because I need to get smarter here. I still act
so stupid, you say all the time. You know, you're
like, what were you thinking? I'm like, I really
wasn't. I'm like, see, that's how we do it. Like,
okay, you do the labor thing and see how you
feel. I'm like, no, that's fine. That's fine.
Good. What a bitch. I mean, Job 12 .12 says wisdom
is with the aged and understanding length of
days. You get experience with learning and being
in new situations. And that experience you either
grow from or you fail in, but you don't learn
from. But you're going to learn something. You
showed me this and people back you to what I
just said. I like that. I got you. My wife, we're
smarter now. You're welcome. Yeah, it's good
stuff. I agree with you on that. It's just that
I thought I'd take both. Intelligent boost. I
mean, look, just do pull a James 1 .5. Again,
bringing up James says, if any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask God who gives it generously to all
without reproach and will be given to him. Some
people are like, I don't understand this. Exactly,
but you know, I was just thinking about why you
said that. Solomon was wise. He had 700 and something
wives. He had a lot of kids. The Bible does not
condone that. I would just say that. That's not
how he got his wisdom either. I'm sorry. You've
got that many wives. I think you'd be smarter.
If you were so smart, you'd think we wouldn't
have so many. Oh, goodness. And he still, he
ignored the premise of scripture. It's interesting.
It's like, excuse me? I'm like, it took me forever
just to find one. How did you find one? Yeah,
it's, yeah, this is, I will say one way God obviously
reveals, yeah, obviously, but I will say one
way God reveals this wisdom to us is obviously
His word, the Bible, and the written word is
not the only way God supplies us with wisdom,
but other scripture encourages us to seek God's
wisdom and wise and godly counselors, which Proverbs
11, 14. And through observing his creation, which
you see in Psalms 19, 1, for example, but the
ultimate source of all wisdom is God himself.
That's good. That's good, I love me you just
drop those verses down it's just like I'll do
it Yeah in this case Yeah, I will I will kind
of like read recall because I was going to make
a point with the whole With leaning on each other.
I think that's really important because that's
something that a lot of times we overlook and
That's something that, like, what I've learned
more about reading, like, the founding apostles
and the second generation of apostles, the third
generation apostles, is that the early church
really did thrive on this deep connection that
they shared meals, they supported each other,
they grew together. Even in Acts 2, 42 to 47,
you can see that happening. And that kind of
church is... is where we're called to be. It's
not just a place to attend, to go look dolled
up or be mask on and try to look godly or be
righteous, but it's a place to be a real community
that we can honestly choose to unhide and take
the mask off and work together to help us grow
and be strong together, support each other. And
that's something that I think is happening a
lot more and more nowadays inside of church.
And I'm sure you've seen it too, is where people
mask a lot. They think they have to get right
first before going to God. And that is the exact
opposite message of what grace teaches. Grace
says, you come to me, Christ, as you are. But
the beauty of grace is that the Holy Spirit transforms
you. Ezekiel 36, right? Talks about placing a
new heart in you. So it's just one of them. Yeah.
But yeah, it's just, it's just, you see it a
lot. You do see that a lot where people, you
know, they don't feel like, oh, well, you know,
I'm not, I'm not, I can't go to church. I have
so many things wrong with me or they need to
get, you know, the thing of being dressed up
and everything. The Lord even says, come as you
are. Come to me. You don't need to be anywhere,
any financial status, social standing or anything.
You just need to be in his house. Be in the Lord's
house and be with him. That's all he asks is
that you come. Like this Sunday, sunrise service,
I didn't sleep a lot. You know how to get the
boy up to go to the Sunday service. Mm -hmm.
I wore my robe and my sweats and my slippers
Yeah And my slippers if you guys are following
us on social media, you can see me. I got the
beanie I got the robe on I was comfy out there
in the net and our native gardens we have here
and I was I was like, no, God doesn't say you
need to dress in a nice suit. No God, you know?
And yes, I do think there are, you know, if you're
in leadership, you're in set, maybe, yes, maybe,
you know, you want to look presentable, you know,
look appropriate. Like I'm not saying, you know,
I'm not going to wear some muscle, muscle T,
you know, and my, my, you know, my, what are
they called? Chubbies. My short shorts, like,
do my short shorts. Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, yes,
I've got the legs for it, but it doesn't, it
is a time and place. You know, yard wide. I'm
not going to go there, go to church and be like,
yes, look at my nice long leg. I should be in
the cover of Vogue. Like, you know, like, I'm
joking. If anybody knows me, that's not the case.
My wife would argue with me, but that's fine.
But, well, there's a lot of things like that
where, I feel people feel like they've been hurt
for the church and that they have to feel like
they have to be like, Oh, a lot of women. I feel
like that too. They feel like, Oh, I feel like
I have to judge a certain way. I have to look,
you know, I can't wear this. I have to like,
make sure I like this. And like, I've had issues
with that. with past churches where she's been
told you know that's inappropriate and it's like
well somebody else wore that same outfit because
certain body types are different or she's been
like but so and so wore something way worse than
me and yet she's being called out for it like
in youth group that's like you know and that's
like where it gives bad taste to and there's
you know unfortunately that's just people are
always going to have issues with certain things
and cause issues. Right. Well, I mean, just really
just be comfortable, but be appropriate. You
know, I'm not saying, you know, wear a bikini
top to church or wear a speedo to church and
you need to accept me. You know? Well, the idea
of modesty was within a cultural definition.
I mean, just, but he's like, yeah, because Jesus
has called us to live in truth, right? Jesus
said, the truth will set you free. That's John
8, 32. But that includes being honest about where
we're at. And when we try to impress others or
hide our struggles, we miss out on the freedom
that comes from authenticity. uh first samuel
16 7 for example god reminds us people look at
the outward appearance but the lord looks at
the heart he's not fooled by the mask he doesn't
want us to wear one and honestly other people
aren't helped by our perfection act and they're
encouraged when we are real with others so a
suggestion for everyone listening drop the mask
be vulnerable and that's where the real connection
happens and that's when god meets us with his
grace And that's when, you know, when you have
that shell, that mask on you, God can't really
work on you because you're not, you know, falling
basically onto your knees and opening up everything.
Once you become clay, you know, if you're not
moldable, you're like, this is my mold. I have
a mask. This is the mask I'm wearing. This is
the shape I'm taking. You have to be willing
to be moldable and be flexible and be that. I
have that mask, but to be, you know, willing
to do what God wants you to do and to be open
and to change, you know, sleep, be water, my
friend. Yeah. Water. Glass. Like, yeah. One of
the most incredible things about following Jesus
is that he doesn't just save us and then leave
us to figure it out. He gives us the Holy Spirit
to live in and transform us from the inside out.
Bible says, he who began a good work in you will
carry it out to completion until the days of
Christ Jesus. That's Philippians 1 .6. I actually
did the TikTok on that because that means the
work isn't finished the moment we believe. It's
just getting started because the Holy Spirit
convicts us, encourages us, strengthens us, and
slowly shapes us to look more like Christ. It's
not always a flashy process. It's often slow,
daily, and personal. but it's real. Um, no. Yeah.
Sometimes. I mean, it can be. Yeah, it can be.
I mean, the second Corinthians, it says the Lord
is the spirit. And when the spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom and we are being transformed
into his image with ever increasing glory. Um,
that's second Corinthians three, 17, 18. But,
um, but yeah, if you give your life to Jesus
and you're still struggling, don't beat yourself
up. God's still working. You're not who you used
to be, and he's not done with you yet. That's
where accountability comes into play. That's
where relying on others to grow. That's where
trusting in the Holy Spirit. Everything we talked
about so far kind of all plays into one beautiful
message. Wow. Crazy. I know, right? Combine everything
we just talked about into one. It is so true.
Nobody's perfect. That's the, you know, that's
the whole point of like, we're just having Easter.
Is that because we are not, because we fall short,
we have Jesus. You know, it's like, you know
how many, how many times we fall down, he'll
pick us up. That's how it is. Like right now,
baby's starting to learn how to walk. Stands,
he falls on her butt. Pick her back up. Do it
again. You know? And there's times where we get
frustrated and she starts whining and looks at
me and, that's not, that's not. Are you upset
at me? Cause you jerk. I want to be walking.
Why are you not? Why can I not walk? Right. You
know? And then she just said, she's going to
crawl down the hallway and she's yelling at her
brother. It's, you know, and it's like, and there's
the frustration, and I feel like that's the analogy
to us being babies. Mm -hmm. You know, in our
walks, it's true, it's like, we have to be fed.
Mm -hmm. Sometimes we gotta change our attitude,
we gotta be changed. Yeah. You know? Because
I just changed you. Quit pooping your pants every
time I change you. just you know keep the diaper
on man okay you know you know and when we start
developing and growing sometimes you know you're
gonna you're thinking oh look i can walk i'm
doing it yeah i'm gonna fall on your butt right
get back up you're working on it and it's just
you know it's the whole process like you're gonna
go through highs and lows like just within the
past couple months we, you know, my family, my,
you know, we're, you know, young family, we moved.
Yep. You were in the process of moving and I'm
stressed out. Like, I'm like, I don't have the
time with work and everything. The baby, my wife
had to pack pretty much the whole house, but
you know, luckily we have to move across the
street from my mom and dad. Just crazy. Awesome.
But during that too, my mother -in -law was in
the hospital and eventually she passed away from
her, you know, her battle with cancer. So we
were dealing with fat and there's times where
it's like, you know, like we're just sitting
in their pack and it's like, dude, like, I don't
want to, you just don't have the energy to do
anymore. Like the baby's keeping us up, you know,
we're driving down the center of Barbara, you
know, every other, you know, like, you know,
once or twice a week. You know, I got the boy,
got to take him to school, got to do this. We're
going to pack the house. We got to move things
over to my parents' house to get things ready.
And it's just take it. It took a lot, you know,
and the church where we were at, you know, we
weren't able to really, we weren't really going
to church for like that months because of, you
know, we are going down to Santa Barbara and
being down there. There was an opportunity to
even go be with community. Which is, like, for
me, you know, affects me because I'm a social
person. I need to go talk to people. My wife
is fine. She's like, okay, turn on a sermon.
We're good. I'm introverted. I don't need it.
For me, I'm going, like, I need people. I need
to talk to people. You know, and I just think
there's, you know, but now, you know, we're.
You know, we're getting called to go somewhere
else for church, which is totally weird because
I had been where I was at for years since, you
know, early 20s, I think, maybe mid. And now
it's like, oh, you know, God's like, no, we need
to get you to church for your, you know, not
for you, but for your family. Like, oh, that's
a lot of stress because that's like, you know,
responsibility. And that's, you know, a little
bit of, you know. being open with you you as
a listener you know the listeners that like you
know even being in a leadership role there's
still things that i have to deal with and and
you know being a you know you get as being a
husband responsibility of taking care of your
wife and being that the spiritual leader of the
family And we both have, you know, our wives
are strong Latinas, put it that way. You know,
so it's not always, you know, it's like we've
got to lead, do it as God wants us to, but also
be respectful. And it's super fun. It's totally
different than just being a single individual.
It's, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's a good point because
the Bible does talk a lot about our mindset.
Philippians, it says, do everything without grumbling
or arguing so that you may become blameless and
pure. Philippians 2, 14, 15. But obviously, there's
a tough one. It's obviously tough. But it's cool
because our attitude reflects what's going on
in our hearts. Paul actually tells us to rejoice
always, pray continually, and give thanks in
all circumstances. That's 1 Thessalonians 5,
16, 18. That kind of posture doesn't come naturally.
It comes from walking closely with God. Even
Jesus facing the cross showed a heart of surrender,
humility. He said, not my will, but yours be
done. It's Luke 22, 42. So if we want to live
with joy, peace, and purpose, it starts with
letting the Holy Spirit shape our attitude. It's
not about being fake happy. It's about trusting
God enough to respond with grace even when life
gets messy. That's good. That's true. I feel
like a lot of the time, too, there are the fake
happy. you put it that fake happiness you know
and there's people who are you know wear the
emotions on their sleeve and you know they feel
and the bible talks about that too about you
know i don't know you said i think you told me
to me once or twice or it's like don't you know
like or your anger or something like you know
because i wear my emotions on my sleeve i know
i also need to maintain them If I'm upset, I
can't just be like, I don't want to walk around
just being a grumpy, angry person. But also at
the same time, it's okay. There is a time for
mourning too. There's a time to be sad. There's
a time for mourning. But we need to rejoice in
the Lord. That's the key. I think of, why am
I thinking of this song? The lyrics came from
one of my pilots. I think of the name of the
song. It talks about, like, I enter into rooms
of depression. I think of that. Or, you know,
that happens. And that's just part of the human
nature. There are times where there are sad things
going on when you enter into rooms of depression.
But, you know, you're not in that room alone.
Right. That Jesus is over there. there whether
you're happy said or not but that's why we have
that like you're saying different choice like
i feel like i feel like i might always come off
as people probably see me hopefully they do i
hope they do see me as someone who's not as an
intelligent person at all because i'm always
i'm happy and a lot of that joy i have it comes
from the lord right you know and people that
most have seen as happy it's like oh they're
just stupid because they don't know any better
it's like no that's Like, I just have a reason
to be happy. Like, my joy is from the Lord. You
know, and I have that. I've had people, like,
you know, my favorite thing is sometimes you
get people that are like, I don't like that you're
happy. Like, it makes people, something makes
people upset. And in my head, I'm going like,
man, you know what? I'm like, you could use some
Jesus. Yeah, that. Like, you don't say that because
you don't want to, you know, upset them. But
it's like, I'm like. If me being happy pisses
you off, it sounds like you've got a lot more
that you need to deal with. I love to be happy.
It reflects what's going on in our hearts. I
can have a lot going on. There's a lot going
on right now. You know what, though? God is bigger.
God is bigger than the rock that was on the top
of the tomb. Or not on the top, but you know,
he was bigger than the tomb. He was bigger than
the cross. And that's why nothing, you know,
he's so much bigger than anything. And like you
said earlier too, there's nothing that God isn't
seeing or most, anything, nothing that we haven't
gone through that he hasn't dealt with or didn't
deal with or that somebody hasn't dealt with
in our life. God knows what's going to happen.
He knows the whole plan. And all we need to do
is rely on God. Yep, lean on him. I mean, to
give you an idea, like last year, there was some
stuff that I dealt with that I was really struggling
with. And I was really having a really, really
hard time. It was more than I can handle. I was
just like, I don't even know what to do in this
instance. And I don't know what this is going
to lead to. And the funniest thing happened because
I was praying about it a lot. And I was like,
I don't know what to do. I literally don't know
what to do. Usually I have some sort of idea,
but I just didn't. And, um, he has an idea for
almost everything. For everything. He has an
idea. He's like, I can do this. And then he's
like, he's got three more backups. So for him
saying this is like, this is like legit. Just
give me a context. Nada. I was, I was completely
out. of ideas anything i could do i just was
out and i was praying about it i was like i don't
even know what to do like i just need to rely
on you lean on you and i really focused on bible
i really focused on on god and it was really
funny because After a while I had a song stuck
on my head and it was stuck on my head for four
weeks Every single day and it's not just the
whole song. It was one line in the song and it's
from VeggieTales No VeggieTales and it was Lily
God is bigger than the boogeyman. He's bigger
than Godzilla where the monsters on TV Yeah,
and that section that section was stuck in my
head on repeat for four weeks. And I would be
driving to work, just singing it in my head as
I drive to work, just like God's bigger than
anything I can, I can think of anything that
I can deal with. God's bigger. And he's going
to show me the way out of this one way or another.
He's going to be the one to get me out of this.
Cause I can't see a way out. And, um, it was
consistent and it was really cool. And it was,
um, It wasn't me doing something wrong per se.
It was just, I, I tried to help somebody and
it didn't work out. And I came back, it backlashed
on me. And I was like, what do I do? Like, I'm
trying to do the right thing here consistently.
And I just didn't know how to get out. Um, and
you know, God got me out and I came out the other
side refreshed and it just always reminds me,
God is bigger than the boogie man. He's bigger
than Godzilla or the monsters on TV. Yeah. It's
something as simple as that. You know, peace
angel, harbor manatee, you know, personally,
but you know, the newer stuff. Oh yeah. Yeah.
It was good, though. It was really good. It was
pretty good stuff. I think it was really funny
because God had humor in it. I know that he had
humor in it. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
That's something very good to remind myself.
Philippians 4 even comes out and says I can do
all things through him who strengthens me. Colossians
3 .12 came out in my head a lot where it's like
put on God's chosen one, holding beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
So I just had to wait on God to help me through
it. And yeah, it was good. It helped me through.
Got through it. I survived. Are you a survivor?
I am. Look at that. It's not much details though.
No, no. See, this is good. This is good. This
is what we needed. We need to get back into the
recording studio. They can't hear our computers.
Yes. Yes. Oh, once again, see, there goes my,
my camera. I think it's letting me know that
I think we should be close. Yeah, I think so.
We did it. This is a decent welcome back. I'll
call this GP GTP, the reunion or something. Return.
The return of the GTP. GTP returns. The galaxy
in the Milky Way. The GTP strikes back. Oh my
gosh. Return of the GTP. The last GTP. Revenge
of the GTP. Research coming soon. Rise of the
GTP. Before we go, I actually have... Is it Return
of the Lord? It's a glow -in -the -dark Jesus
shirt. I should say I had it, but my wife has
now hijacked it. That is now a sleepy shirt.
Same. The Star Wars one with all the stars that
glow, right? Yeah. My wife, Jackson, that's not
her sleepy shirt. If I'm going to bed late, I'm
like, oh, there she is. You can see the glow.
We were eating out. We were eating out. I see
Marco and Gabby and the guys. And there's this
old man who walks into the restaurant and wearing
that shirt. And first thing that comes out of
my wife's mouth is like, oh, it's my sleepy shirt.
I'm like, you shouldn't wear this same shirt
at home. And she's like, no. But no, I just love
those. I love those tacky shirts. I remember
like Call of Duty and the guy Ross. I love those
shirts. Those are the best. Yeah, come back.
I'm just saying, um, true. Like, like, you know,
they're going to come back. Um, yeah. Well, I
mean, I think we should probably pray out. That's
probably the best way we can do this. I think
you want to pray. You want me to pray? Go for
it. Okay. Uh, well, dear heavenly father, I just
thank you for this day, Lord. Thank you for the
opportunity that we have to record and just spend
time with one another, uh, in, communion and
in community and just talking about your word
and representing you as we speak and just that
we can reach people who don't know you lord let's
pray this would not fall on deaf ears whoever
listens this has a blessed day a blessed week
blessed month or you know whatever season they're
going through just bless that lord And help them
be changed by this. Help them hopefully get a
nugget out of this that will help them on their
walk. Let them know that they are not alone,
Lord. That they have brothers and sisters in
Christ who are right here with them. That there's
never any sin that is too big to keep away from
the kingdom of heaven. That there's nothing,
no sin new underneath the sun. I just thank you
for all this. And we pray this in your name.
Amen. Amen. Yeah. I like it. All right. Yeah.
Okay. This has been the GTP show. I'm Dylan.
I'll see you on the property. I'm Jason. I'll
see you on the next one. Bye. Bye.