This is Jim Ann Annette coming to you from the Hill Country.
We believe it or not aren't episode 46. So close to a year we've been doing this.
52 will be one year. We had one break. One break. One week. The other week that we
traveled when we went to General sabbatical. We took it with us. We took it with us. Not
gonna do that again if I can get out of it because that was a big deal. Well going
through TSA is always a big deal. Oh yeah. Yeah. They're always like what is this? It's a
microphone dude. Well you know full body cavity search. That's true. Great. Okay thanks. So
welcome to the show. We are Jimmy and Annette and we are living up in a down world. Oh wait and
Mr. Chevy. We've got a little dilemma. We do. A dilemma. Well we're moving our office. Our studio.
Well our office slash studio to the church. We originally were building a green room. And why
are we doing this? Well because when we originally said let's build a green room, the longer it took
to build it, the more I saw you needed an office because we don't have office space. I saw that as
well because my office is a backpack. Mine too. I bring it every day. We all sit in a room together
and we don't get anything down. Why do we have no offices at the church? Because we're growing so much. We had to
make room for children. Right and we did that during COVID when everything was shut down. We had guys at
the church working that we contracted and man they took out all of our offices. All of our offices. We made more
room for students. Only two employees will have an office. Well now three because you will and I can
office with you. But then after I was I had this brainstorm. It's maybe this is more than an office
because it's soundproof. There's no window. What great sound you could get out of that room. Why
not turn it into our studio? So now it's going to be our studio. So it'll be a studio for our YouTube
channel which is Meet Pray Love. We have one video up on that. You can look us up on YouTube.
We'll get another one up. We've just not ready yet. Yeah just getting started with that because I mean that was my first one.
I really wanted to wait till next week when we're actually in our studio. Me too. We'll wait. It's not a big
deal. Not a rush on that. But it's our carnival world stuff. Yeah. Yes we're getting some new gear.
I'm getting some consult from Adam Lacey specifically. He kind of gave me his rig
run down and then you know we're investigating other things and seeing what we really need.
So part one side of the office slash studio will be a studio literally with lighting.
You know a table where you and I can sit and talk to each other conversationally. And we can interview
you other pastors. Other people in our community. Exactly. Yeah exactly. Some interesting people
live in our community that I know I can pull in. That would be really fun to have on a show. You could be
the Joe Rogan to Adam Curry. You could have Adam Curry come to your studio and you could interview him.
It would be an interesting interview. I'm sorry I'm trying to get the visual image of me being Joe
Rogan out of my mind for a second. You are kind of buff. Not that buff. Of course I'm three feet
taller than he is. Exactly. There you go. No. That's funny. You and he have some really fascinating
conversations. Me and Adam? Yes. No you and Joe. I don't know Joe yet. Yeah when Adam and I get together
I mean it's God the world and other things. And I mean everything. Everything. We talk about what's
going on in the socio-political world. Sociology. Even paleontology. Sometimes we cover such a wide
range of topics because he and I even though I'm a pastor in a church and he is a podcaster to you
know the world. A million people. We sort of do similar things. We unpack culture. We dissect
culture. We exegete culture. And then we bring application of life. And so he does it from a
deconstruction standpoint. Deconstructing media. I do it from a reconstruction. So why not you and
he do something together. Oh we could have some fun. I mean I know all four of us are going to
be doing something but I could just see the way y'all's conversations you know. It's pretty wild.
It's pretty wild. I could see it being a very interesting show. God often shows up in the middle
of our...no every time we get in these conversations God's in the middle of it. We both get insights.
It's an iron sharpens iron kind of relationship. So yeah that could be a lot of fun. And then also
you and Tina talking about you know what do we call you? The something twins. Oh I've totally
spaced it. Oh my gosh I forgot. Well when we're being snarky it's the terror twins. Right but when
we're not I don't remember. Anyway whatever I can't remember. So y'all we want you girls. You're
calling it what two girls and one God? Two girls and a God. Well kind of like two guys and what was
that movie in a baby or something? Tom Sillick. Three men and a baby. It'd be two girls and a God.
Not a God. I don't know it's weird. Two girls and God or something. We haven't talked about it at
length but I am going out of town with her this week. We're kicking things around because we're
gonna do some fun stuff. Yeah so what are you gonna do with Tina this week? Well we're gonna go see
Phil Wickham in concert. He is a really really good Christian artist. We sing a lot of his worship
songs and so we're gonna go and make a night of it. Spend the night in Austin. So we're not driving
back late at night and do a little bit of shopping. Well you know it is Christmas. Oh there's always
something. Right although I give Amazon cards to all my kids because they all want. It's easier.
I know that's not very fun but I actually enjoy getting that and then I can go get what I need
and want. Right same. Yeah but anyway I just told them what they were getting. As if they already
know. They don't even listen to our podcast. Well that's true they don't. They're like we're the rents.
You can just tell us in a sentence what you talked about. I'm like you know they've got a they they
probably have this attitude I can't believe my parents do a podcast. Right well now Chris said
a few months ago that's the only way I know what's going on with you but we talk more now so. That's
funny. So now we probably didn't listen. Yeah now that we talk more. Yeah I'm gonna quit talking to
my kids. Why? So they'll listen. Hey you want to know what's going on in your parents life listen
to the podcast. Oh my gosh. I know it's not gonna work. So we were talking about we were gonna talk
about Mr. Chevy the dilemma we have with Mr. Chevy. Right because if we move if we move our office.
No excuse me when we move our office next week. A couple weeks. Carpet comes in Monday. Yay me
I'm excited about this. So once that's in and he can start the tram we can move in. Well what are
we gonna do without Chevy? We can't have a show without Chevy. So I thought about let's just put
him on a leash and bring him with us on Tuesdays to the office. Faith used to bring her dog. So
we'll do our staff meeting in the morning and then we'll do a quick lunch. Where's Mr. Chevy
gonna be? Like in her lap? My lap? Your lap? Where he always is in a lap. Yeah somebody's lap.
We'll bring his cage. Okay so it's not a cage. Oh sorry hits his bed. It's a crate. It's his crate
but we'll bring it so that he'll feel comfortable there and then he can do the show with us.
He can do the show. We're gonna have to try it. We'll try it. We'll see how that rolls.
It'll be funny. Who knows right. He'll be excited. He will. So but I'm excited. Yeah I actually had
somebody at church I was telling them about what we're doing on the build out and I said yeah we're
gonna move the studio there and get it out of the house so I can have my office back and got all the
wires and microphones and stuff. This office is a wreck right now. Don't look around and it won't be
for long and anyway they were saying well what I mean it's so funny well what about Mr. Chevy?
I know what are you gonna do? I mean she was worried about like what are you gonna do with Mr.
Chevy? I don't know yet. It's a good question. So now we have a solution. We do. We'll take him with
us to work on Tuesday. Bring your puppy to work on Tuesday. If everybody does that we'll have a zoo.
It would be wild. Yeah this would be fun. This would be a fun experiment right. It will be.
So speaking of social experiments well we took a trip. In fact that's why we had to do the podcast
early. Right because we went to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. You know it is beautiful. It really is.
And you know what you know last week I said you can't go to Colorado and not have snow and we
woke up our first night there. We woke up the next day snow covered ground. It was beautiful. It was.
Now I didn't. I'd seen the weather report and said there's a chance. Right and I knew there was too
and I also knew that it would burn off or whatever because it's. Which is fun because I still wanted
it to be beautiful enough for us to to drive and and not be freezing. Literally the weather was
wonderful. It was beautiful. Perfect for no wind. Yeah and the nights were in the teens. Yes it was.
Doesn't feel that cold when there's no wind. So we had the window open at night. Two nights we did that.
The window open and no heat on. And we were still hot in our bedroom. I know.
Because they put flannel sheets on the bed. Yeah oh my gosh like sleeping in sweats. I guess people
in Colorado like that. I guess so. We sleep with 64 degrees at night even in the winter at our house.
We were on our air conditioner year-round at night. Because you're kind of hot. Well you are really hot.
Thank you. Really hot. I love you too. With Chevy in the middle of us it's like. He's a heater. He's a heater.
He's little but he's a heater. But it but the weather was beautiful there. The scenery going
up Wolf Creek Pass. And then just driving from Durango. We flew into Durango. Then the drive from
Durango what about an hour 10 minutes. Just beautiful. You're in San Juan National Forest. Well and the closer we got
to Pagosa. Yeah. The prettier it became. Yeah felt like you're going up in elevation. Yes. It's just
it brought back a lot of memories for me. It's very nostalgic because that's where we went a lot on
vacations. Not Pagosa but we go through Pagosa. Or we do Durango and Ure and Silverton. Right.
Silverton. Yeah. Silverton. All that. We did all those mountains and it's all more rural back there
than it is like in Denver and Colorado Springs. And so you know we just we did all that growing
up. Because we lived in Lubbock. So going from Lubbock the panhandle Texas to Colorado was not that far.
So it was a nice and I loved it. So it was very nostalgic for me. Feeling like I get to drive the same
roads my dad drove. And my dad and my stepmom lived in Pagosa Springs. Which you've never been. For a number of years.
So I knew you know this felt good. Kind of felt neat. And so we had some great experiences. Well and you decided to do an
experiment. I did. So tell us about that experiment. I think I might don't know if I mentioned it last week or not on the
show. But I had started it right before we left. I got this idea. I had to be the Holy Spirit because I didn't just
I'm not that smart to think up these things. So I thought I love talking to people. Everywhere you know that.
Everywhere we go I'm that guy who's going to say hey how's it going you know. I hope you're having a great day. How's your day really going?
You know that kind of stuff to clerks and waiters and waitresses. Or I'll ask their name. Or I'll call their name on their name tag.
That always gets people's attention. So I came with this idea. Holy Spirit I'm sure. Ask people this simple question. Say something
like this. So it's Thanksgiving week. So what are you thankful for? And I started doing that on the way. I mean to.
Every restaurant. Yeah. Host. Waiter waitress. TSA. Yeah TSA agent. That was cool. And then also to people who are checking
you out at the store. Just wherever people are doing service things and you've got that moment and the results are mind blowing.
What I find interesting about this is as the clerks it was obvious a lot of the clerks did not enjoy their job.
And you could tell they were tired and just worn out. You could tell they were just maybe needed an attitude adjustment.
And you've got a long line of people waiting and you're probably going oh if I could just get off. And then you come up and they're
asking you for your order. You and I. And we're giving it to them. And they're just rude. Almost rude. And just matter of fact you know
just trying to get it done so they can get to the next person. And then the moment you ask the question it was like they were arrested.
And they just looked up and their countenance changed. Their whole look changed. They began to share with you.
And then forget they forgot. Yeah several times. The people that were waiting in line because they couldn't wait to continue their conversation.
Yeah like Cameron for example. Remember Cameron. Oh my goodness. So I asked Cameron you know how was your Thanksgiving. This was right after Thanksgiving.
We were back and I said so how was your Thanksgiving. Oh it was wonderful. I got to be with my family.
And I said oh I've asked a lot of people this question over this last week. And almost everybody almost everyone the first thought
that comes to their mind is their family. I said that's beautiful. And she said yeah because I lived in Japan for a year.
I said Japan we're actually thinking about going to Japan. Which is funny because we've been talking about going with the Curry's.
Right. And then next year the day before you said I don't know if I really want to go. I don't know if I want to do a big travel.
And I was like well we've already committed and we're going to go. We haven't paid for anything.
But I was like Jimmy please don't change your mind on this. And then the clerk at HEB says what she's thankful for.
She said she lived in Japan for a year and when I said well we're actually thinking about going to Japan.
She. It was like she forgot everybody else that was in line. She literally did. And just said you have to go. And I turned to.
God sent you because he was changing his mind and she was like don't change your mind.
Actually when you mentioned it in church yesterday Sunday I turned to Tina and told her and she said you aren't going to go.
I said well he just balked. Why did he balk? I said just because it's a long travel. It's long travel.
We're tired. We're tired. And so I said don't worry don't worry he's still going to go. And I think that sealed it for you.
It did. Yeah it made me go OK because Cameron said we should. She lived there a year and she was just.
I mean it was wild. And so this happened over and over. Remember Riley. So we met Riley. Riley's 20 years old.
Of course we found out age where people live. There were tears. There were stories. There was tragedy and trauma.
But also joy. I mean we. Hope. And hope. So here's the number one answer.
And I actually shared this with off. I'm trying to remember her name.
Fabrina Fabriana Fabriana Fabriana. From where? From Hildes today. Fabriana. Fabriana.
Anyway beautiful. And she's Italian. And I said you look Italian. She goes thank you.
I said oh it is a compliment. You've got that look. And so anyway I told her today I said you know I've done this with you know I don't know 20 30 40 people.
I've lost count because I did for today. Talked to four people. Asked those same questions.
By far 99 point something percent. The first answer is always family. It was hers too.
And I said I said but the second answer is interesting too because it's God.
And then I told the guy at I told the lady at the where I was getting the inspection sticker done on the car.
I said hey how was your Thanksgiving? She goes well great. Thanks for asking. How was yours? I said great.
I said all right. So I'm shifting a little bit. I go all right what's your number one top one answer only.
What are you most thankful for? And I mean I've been doing it like that after Thanksgiving.
Sorry Chevy. I clicked my fingers. You snapped your fingers and he jumped up. It's a signal.
Sorry buddy. What are you thankful for Mr. Chevy? So anyway I did that. I said I said number one don't think about it.
What's number family? I mean just so I was telling Fabriana that and she said oh that is so cool.
And I said number two is God. I said a lot of people. She goes oh yeah. So the lady at where was she?
H-E-B the gas station. You know the lieutenant there. She was out and I said hey how's your day going?
She said it's going great. How's yours? I said good. How was your Thanksgiving? She's wonderful.
I said well tell me the top thing you're thankful for this Thanksgiving season.
She goes my daughter after 28 years is sober for the first time. Can't even imagine.
I mean the the weight of that. The fact that she felt so joyful. Safe enough to even just say that.
I know people were telling us things about their lives like Riley. Yes. There in Pagosa. She was the first person we sort of met.
We pulled into a restaurant. We were having a hard time finding a place to eat because it was a Monday.
It's just like Fredericksburg. Where there's like nothing open on Mondays because it's a resort community.
So they're open on weekends and they close on Monday and Tuesday. Same thing. We could not find a place.
We were hungry. Finally found this place and Riley waited us. She said hey this is my fourth day working here.
So please be patient. We're oh it's no problem. 20 years old little girl.
And I said she came to our table. I said hey I have a question for you.
What are you thankful for? You know it's the Thanksgiving season. So what are you thankful for?
And she said thankful for the people that are surrounding me and that love me in my life.
And the people I get to love. She didn't say family. That was like one of the only people that.
Because she shared that her mother passed away five years ago. And her dad's non-existent.
And he's not really in the picture. She's on her own. But she did say she's taking care of her brother.
That's her goal. Yeah right. To get her brother who was adopted from Asia. Somewhere in Asia.
He's four years younger than her and she's living for to take care of him. Which is family.
Oh my gosh. And as she was sharing her story she didn't have a car so she has to walk everywhere.
She's working two jobs and one of them's at a sketchy bar and grill there in Pagosa.
And you were like Annette take me out of here before I adopt her and pay for all of her college.
And I said oh yeah let's go right now. And so when we left you know we do this on occasion.
We don't do it all the time. But sometimes you know you leave a tip for somebody right.
But there are moments when the Holy Spirit says leave an offering. And we left her an offering.
Yeah. We wanted to bless her. And I mean I literally I came I started tearing up when
she was telling us her life story. That two minute elevator pitch moment where she was saying this is
what I've been going through. But that's what I found. Oh my I just was pretty remarkable that
so many people that we met were just willing to share their story to a perfect stranger
because you were kind enough to ask a beautiful question. I know that was the Holy Spirit that
gave us that. And so today I did four people because I had to run some errands and did
staffing and then I ran and got us something to eat. And then I had to go get your car inspected
because it was almost due. You know and it's hard to find a place to do that here. So I've got this
one place and the guy came up to me I said hey how's it going. I said how was your Thanksgiving.
Man that's another way to get people's attention. How was your Thanksgiving and really mean it. And
man they will people will tell you. He said actually it was really good. I said man me too.
He said how was yours? Me great. I said what I said don't think about it. I said what's the
number one thing you're thankful for. He goes oh my wife. She's getting her doctorate degree and
right now she's doing her pre-med classes and she's doing good and that's why I'm working here.
So I've been a registered nurse for 10 years but I'm working at this oil change place. Is he doing
both? I don't know. I couldn't tell if he had let go of one to do the other and I didn't pry.
I don't go where I'm not invited but he was just sharing that way. He just gushed all that out
with him and he said oh and you can't get your car inspected because our computer's down. So
he said but come back later which I did. And so I saw him. I said hey I'm back. He goes oh I'm glad
you came back. He said it came up right after you left. I said that figures. So we just had this
conversation and then I could go on all day because I've had so many amazing encounters with people
who are hurting and broken and you need help. Because I think about all the people that have
been that have crossed our path over the years that are in men we're in ministry or are in ministry
that say I just don't like people. Oh no I've heard that. Yes and I'm thinking why are you even
in ministry right? If you can't if you don't even want to step out and have a conversation because
what you did is what we as Christians not just pastors but as Christians. No no this is not Pastor
Jimmy. This is the dude Jimmy. But what you did is what Christians should be doing everywhere. We should
be constantly in a loving conversation where we actually care about that person and what they care
about. You know what I mean? And not just avoid people because we don't want to. Because we're in
the people business. Yes. No to me okay so every year we do a word it's called my one word instead
of doing a new year's list. Resolution yeah. We do a one word. I never did good with like 10 resolutions
that I lost because we forget a bible or stuck in a book. You may remember one it's always to lose
weight probably at least for females it is. I would say it was mine mine's more to gain weight
back in the day. But I never did well with resolutions so I heard about this come up doing
one word and this organization actually called my one word. They may still be online. I'd spent years
because I've done this for years. So I started doing it and then you started doing it and then
of course I introduced it to the churches we've been a part of when the year rolls around. Hey
instead of doing a list this year that you're probably going to forget why don't you just pick
one word that is a theme that covers kind of what you want to lean into. Why don't you pray and ask
the Lord to give you a word for the year. And I've done we've done this for years. Gosh at least eight
years here. I remember last year about November you know usually around Thanksgiving I started
thinking about it and last year I had a hard time coming up with one for some reason and so I just
picked love kind of randomly because I thought well that covers everything but I for whatever reason
I it didn't really resonate. Not that love doesn't resonate but you know as my one word
in fact there's a couple times this year I had to go you know what was my word. I had to think about
it. Never have had to do that. No. This year I mean as I started doing this little social slash
theological experiment of just asking people about what they're thankful for it just blew up inside
of me and the word engage. Which we've had that. I had that word back when we were in Tennessee
actually. I think we've had it here and the reason why I say that is because for several years
we had a plaque made or we found a plaque with a word that was our word and we remember we we made
a wall of words. Wall of words yeah. Which we don't have anymore. We kind of outgrew it. It was
getting too much. It's too much. Trying to scale down. After 20 years it starts to get. But I'm
pretty sure we've had that. We had that word. I remember having it in Tennessee because I was
it was when we were starting to look at getting back into ministry while I was working for Dave
Ramsey. I was really feeling called back to the pulpit back to the ministry church ministry and
it was like this is the year of engagement. So that's that was like 20 what 16. So it would
have been probably 2015 when I was going through that. Maybe 16. So yeah that sounds about right.
But anyway that this blew up in me this last week as as I was having fun engaging people
and asking I really want to know what they're thankful for. And now you mentioned it. Well how
are you turning that towards Jesus. And I have it now and it worked with the lady when I made the
comment. I said no this was the guy at the car wash. They had a free car wash today. They got a
brand new car wash here in the city. Big news in Fredericksburg. New car wash. So we're gonna give
you a free car wash which is amazing. Which I did. So because I was in your car. Your car needed it
as bad as mine. So I ran it through big long line. Guy comes to me he's trying to sell me you know
subscriptions and stuff. I said hey I got a question for you. I said first of all how was
your Thanksgiving. He goes I mean man just asking that question people just shift. And he said sorry
and he said uh it was great actually. I said how was your without Phil everybody asked me back.
I said oh it was amazing. I said so real quick one answer top question or top answer. What are
you thankful for. And he he's man it just like arrested him. He goes I'm thankful for my newborn
baby. My family. I have a I have an infant. A newborn. I said bro I'm so happy for you.
And he said yeah I'm new at this job. Now didn't they start telling you stuff. Yeah I'm new at
this job and this is I'm I actually live in Tyler Texas. And they sent me here to train and do this
because you know they're training me to do this. And I said man that is so often. I said you know
what the number one answer is. This is my angle now. You know what the number one answer is. He
said what I said family. I said you know what number two is. He said what I said God. He goes
oh that's cool. And I said you know what number three is. He said what. And I said it could be
anything. I said it could be any. You know my job. I get to work here. My doggy whatever Mr. Chevy.
Whatever it could because we got a lot of answers. But the top two first was family
and the second was God. Only one said God first. But most people it was just an immediate. Because
that's a reaction. Almost like Melva. She's an American Indian who was working at the Durango
airport in the little coffee bar. And so I said how's your day going. There were people. It was
jammed. People were waiting in line. And I just said you know it's a week of Thanksgiving. What
are you thankful for Melva. I called her by name because I saw her name tag. And she said I'm
thankful for my family. And she said and of course God. I said me too girl. You know it's just fun.
And it engages people on a personal level instead of just you know I'm checking you out. Get your
groceries and go. You know I'm tired. How's your day going. It'll be good in 15 minutes because
that's when I get off. So I've had fun doing this. I mean it's engagement. And I'm sure the Holy
Spirit will give me more creative ideas as things go along. You know but the gratitude thing is a
big one. It is. And you can do that year-round. It doesn't matter if it's Thanksgiving. You can do that
any day. What do you think for it? I've been asking people that. Do you want to know what the top
answers are? You know it's interesting because that is a question that people are quick to answer.
It's an easy answer. But they're not going to say well I don't know. Or I really don't care.
Sometimes it'll stump them just because they're not used to a customer or some random stranger
asking them that. But for the most part you've had such great success with that because for one
I think you're not a creepy guy. Thank you. I mean think about it. No I'm a creepy guy asking.
And let me caveat this in case somebody wants to go do this themselves. Which I would encourage
you to do. But be wise about who you're talking to. You know I'm always discerning a person. You know
there's some that you know you just don't go there. You know just the Holy Spirit will tell you. Right.
He won't tell you in words but you'll sense. Is this someone? There have been a couple that I was
on the border of asking and I did it anyway and it turned out to be a beautiful experience. So
so far I've not had a negative person one. The only person that made me lift my eyebrow a little
bit was a TSA officer. Not just the typical TSA workers but I mean like the guy who's got a gun
and a badge. Because I thought man all they do is sit behind that little glass shield
and you know get check people's you know. It's just how redundant is that. And so I said hey
do you have a good. Now this was before Thanksgiving. It was. I said hey it's Thanksgiving week. I said
you're gonna have a good Thanksgiving. He goes yeah I think I am. I said good. But he was still a
little stern. I said I have a question for you. He goes okay. And you know just real strange you
know. Like okay this dude's sketchy. You know and I said so what are you most thankful for? You know
moving into and thanks again. What are you grateful for? He goes I'm grateful for short lines today.
Any minute. I said brother me too. Trust me on my side of things. It was the day before
thanksgiving. Yeah because you can imagine. But anyway he was and then we laughed about it. He was
super cool. He's the only one that made me go oh I hope I shouldn't have gone there. But he was cool.
He was actually cool with it. So anyway I would I would invite you to take a chance. Take a what's
the worst thing that can happen? Somebody go I don't know. Okay well have a great day. I mean
have a good day and move on. But so far I don't know how many I've asked. You know it's adding up.
I think it's just about slowing down and preferring people over yourself. And not just
whatever you're you know doing at that establishment where you meet that person
taking that extra second to prefer that other person by asking a question like that to me
is special. I think I just see God pleased with us when we when we treat people like that instead of
you know just serve me take care of me. You know you're I'm here to give you money so you can
you know give me service. And instead wait staff like a servant instead of like a human being with
great value and dignity. And that's why it shouldn't be just at Thanksgiving. Although it was good for
you to start it because obviously gratitude was on your mind. But it's a good experiment to continue
as the Holy Spirit shows you the people to do that. As it goes along I can I can even like I did today
I say I've been asking a lot of people this question. What are you most grateful for? What
comes to your mind first? That way they know it's not a long conversation. You know like oh family
or oh this job you know. And I you can do that year round. Anybody's gonna go wow thanks. I'm
just telling you it it breaks the ice. It opens hearts. And several have shared deep stuff with
us in a very short amount of time. I mean just you're standing there going I can't believe this
person just opened their heart to a total stranger. But here's why. Because when you really truly
connect with another human being there's something spiritual that happens. Jesus in you is reaching
out to maybe Jesus in them if they're if they're Christians. But if they're not he's reaching out
to them through you. And connection is protection. I've said this for years. Connection is protection.
People feel safe when there's a when they can you can tell there's a healthy connection with somebody
else. Right. And that's that's living a gospel life. Good news kind of life. The gospel of Jesus
Christ. When we're living up in a down world and that's really what we're about. People can pick
up on that. They hear your positivity. They hear there's you've got something going on. You've got
the it factor. What is the it factor? It's Jesus. The x factor. It's Jesus. That's what's going on.
It's not it's not a self-confidence. It's a Christ confidence. And people feel safe with that. I'm
just finding just when you connect with another person and you're asking them excuse me that was
me hitting the microphone. You're asking them an honest question. Man it just cracks their heart
open. And so I'm super excited. I just I was fascinated again by the countenance of people.
How much it changed them. It was I've never seen anything like that where it was just as if
they did you know a total I was like you were talking to a totally different person. Yeah. It
was it was really beautiful. Yeah. It was. Well so I would encourage you to try that. Again what's
the worst thing can happen? I don't know. You know that's it. No one's going to be mad at you for
caring. And if they are then shake the dust off your feet and find the next person. And I don't
just spend the whole day looking for people. Just these these opportunities present themselves just
as you're going about your business. Today I happen to be running some errands out in town. So
just happen to be talking to a lot of people. That it's not every day. But I I'm making this
a commitment to engage. That's that's my word for the year. So on another note what is your word for
the year? Well we usually stay with the same word because it. Yeah. You and I together. We we end up
merging. Right. We had separate words and then in the last three or four years. But you know
it was funny because I didn't know your word was engaged until you told the church. Yeah. Well it
just been percolating. You didn't even tell me first. I'm sorry baby. I heard it last. I failed
you. So now I have to. No you didn't hear it last. You heard it with everybody. Right. Well that's
true. Technically not last. So yeah I'm I like the word. I think it's a great word. So I'll have to
incorporate that into my thought processes. So hey do us a favor as you're listening to the show. If
you like what you hear go to our website livingupandadownworld.com and hit the subscribe
button. You can also fill in your email address and that gets you on a mailing list. We send out
one email a week. That's it. And as a short one I throw a lot of pictures in there. I'm a picture
guy. Right. Thirty two thousand pictures on my phone. I know it's crazy. I'm the I'm the family
doc you know historian. But I document everything with pictures. So I always throw a lot of pictures.
But we also just let you know kind of what's happening what's going what's coming super short
to the point. But that is a gentle reminder that we're having a podcast the next day. So I usually
send that out on Mondays. And so we record on Tuesday afternoon unless we're traveling or
something like we did last week. So go to our website livingupandadownworld.com. Also we're
pastors of Bridge Church in Fredericksburg Texas. An amazing amazing church where God is doing
amazing amazing things. We're actually experiencing in a very real sense reformation which is a
back to the Word of God which leads to repentance which leads to revival the presence of God. And so
we're in an amazing season of growth and there's energy and man this it's a good season right now.
It is very so you can check us out online at bridge fbg.com. We'd love to have you come. You
can see our hope with fact we do include the worship we have the whole service on the front
page. All you have to do is scroll down. So bridge fbg.com or just google Bridge Church
Fredericksburg Texas and you'll find us and we'll talk a lot about this stuff. Right.
You did you did talk about this before you blasted the church.
I didn't. I don't blast our church. No but you were very strong so this was kind of like the
how how do you put this it's kind of a coming out like a capsule that went down real well and then
you manned then you felt it. I mean because you were so let me tell you let me just say why I came
off very strong you did which was needed is needed in our culture. You know anyone who's
got a screen in their hand that would be everybody or a screen on their desk or their laptop
knows that this world's in chaos right now. Our world is a major crisis. I've talked to people
we have a historian in our church a legit professor historian who's genius he's retired now but still
he's forgotten more and I'll ever learn probably about our history. I've talked to him I've talked
to other elderly people in our church who will say these same things that they have never in
their lifetime witnessed the chaos and the division and the sense of imminent threat that our world
poses right now and nation rising up against nation wars and rumors of wars. Well it sounds
biblical doesn't it. Yeah I mean we're living in I don't know if it's the last day it is the last
days technically. I don't know if it's the last of the last days but there are so many signs.
We read the seasons and the signs we won't know the day or the hour even Jesus said he didn't know
that but we can read the seasons so we may not know the hour the day any of that but we know
seasons and we discern that and there's a reference to the sons of Issachar in the Old Testament says
the sons of Issachar who discerned the times and knew what to do. Oh that's what I want to be is
the son of Issachar who discerns the times and knows what to do and so all of that's percolating
in my heart right now and what I'm realizing and this is not to put down churches I'm a church guy
I love the bride of Christ but there are a lot of churches in the world right now that are not
addressing the relevant issues because they won't talk about abortion they're afraid they're going
to lose people transgender and all the they're going to lose finances they're going to lose
their popularity and you and I've made us a decision that we're going to please God before
we're going to please people that's right so you have to address the things that God addresses
in His word and you chose to do that this Sunday. Well what has really hit me is I have to ask an
honest question because I tend to be a people pleaser because I do love and adore people
so it's hard when people come against you and they do yeah I have a very tender heart yes so
it hurts me deeply but I power through it because I know what I'm called to do and so my tendency
in the past has been to keep my cards close to my chest play my cards close you've always been that
way so I want to be the nice guy I want to be the guy you want to be everyone likes I do because I
like everyone so I think everybody should like me and as I'm growing up here finally at 61 years
of age I'm realizing that's not reality especially in the world now especially if you're a follower
of Jesus if you're a committed Christian now if you're you're just play the game Christian yeah
you can play both sides of the aisle both both sides of the fence but if you're all in with Jesus
Jesus told us you will be persecuted you will be hated on my account on my for my sake you will be
persecuted you will be brought before judges you will I mean there's some scary stuff in the Bible
for those of us who have made a commitment to be all in with Jesus and I heard a pastor say this
this week and I feel the same way he was talking to his congregation as a large congregation
and he said I I feel like I need to apologize to you and he has a church of thousands of people
he had very transparent he said I feel like I need to apologize to you because I have not
prepared you to be hated by the world and that went off on both you and I like what oh my goodness
thunder in my soul where it's like we've got to prepare our people that there is coming a day and
a time in an hour and it could be and it is in other parts of the world it is where if you are
a Christian you are hated for your faith you're already happening here people already hate
Christians the the thing is so many people who say they're Christians are not acting like
Christians they're acting like the world so they're not playing it's hated yes so that's kind of what
for me I've tried to be Mr. Nice Guy I've tried to be be that guy who everyone is going to be
everybody likes I've tried to be the pastor that everybody likes I want I want peace I do not like
conflict I'm allergic to negativity and I'm very allergic to negative people and yet and yet God
calls us to engage the fight you decided to engage the fight well here's what I had to come to the
realization I have two choices do I want I have to answer this question and it is do I want to be
liked or do I want to be respected and I have chosen to be respected instead of liked now
obviously I still want to be liked don't get me wrong it sounds really dramatic but the truth is
as a pastor and one who's called to be a herald a clarion a trumpet so to speak of of calling out
and holding up the standard of God in the world through a biblical world lens then I have a
responsibility to speak the truth in love but definitely speak the truth both love and truth
at the same time the Bible says that Jesus was full of grace and truth and grace in in terms of
Jesus isn't isn't just unmerited favor that's it's power power power strength ability and favor to
do what you cannot end up yourself do so Jesus is full of that so that's the that's the call and I
just shared that with my church I said you know well you read a scripture that was really interesting
yeah it's in timothy and and it talks about what you as a pastor are called to do this was Paul
talking to timothy who was a young who was a young pastor and I believe that that was put in the
Bible for a reason because pastors need to heed that verse that verse is for every single person
claiming to be a teacher of the word of God but most people we we kind of look over that verse
yeah well here's the verse it's second timothy four says in the presence of god this is apostle
paul talking to young timothy the pastor in the presence of god of Jesus Christ who will judge
the living and the dead and in view of his appearing in his kingdom I give you this charge
man that's get anybody's attention preach the word be prepared in season and out of season correct
rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction he says here's why for the
time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine we're there now instead to suit
their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching
ears want to hear see if somebody doesn't like what what I say is a pastor they go down the street
and then the first time that pastor says something like they go down the street exactly and you see
this in communities and cultures where people at church hop they go they go until what because they
have that honeymoon period when you're in a new place it's discovery and everything's new and fresh
and then the first you know time someone says something to you that doesn't scratch your itching
ears you go down the road and we see that a lot in american churches right now and it says this time
will come people not put up a sound doctrine they'll suit their own desires they'll gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear they will
turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths or fables and he says but you
timothy keep your jimmy keep your head in all situations endure hardship do the work of an
evangelist discharge all the duties of your ministry i shared that i unpacked that with the church i
thought that would be the introduction to the message that became the message it did become
the message because i had to let my church know that i love them so much that i have to be okay
with being respected over being liked and that they're not going to speak the truth and they
might not enjoy what you're saying because it's not going to tickle their ears i will say they
enjoyed sunday because there was a lot of hooting and harlaring going on because they do because
there are people that they want to strong what needs to be said yes they want a strong leader
and um a lot of people too they don't even know what they want until they hear it and then they're
like it resonates it goes off in yes yes and i i could feel that in the room and it was it was
it was quite an unbelievable what the the sounds i heard from behind me the the chatter the the
voices it was just it was unbelievable it was really beautiful resonate with it and that's what
i love about our church you can tell our church is ready for reformation they're ready for
repentance they're ready for revival they're ready for outpouring and renewal so they're there and
that's what's exciting about being a part of a church that's kind of got that momentum and that
energy and um the thing that i'm calling us to which which will land i'm going to talk about
nehemiah this next week and the rebuilding of the wall and all that's part of reformation and revival
but then i've got to go to to joshua chapter 1 verse 9 when young joshua was serving moses
all his life all he thought was i'm gonna i'm gonna serve moses and then i'm gonna be moses
servant i'm gonna follow him over the over into the promised land he had no idea that he was
actually would be the one to take them into the promised land right and so when moses basically
fouls out of the game because out of anger and striking the rock that's a whole other thing but
and so god said you're not going to take them over joshua is so joshua finds that out and all of a
sudden it's like what me i thought i was just his assistant now i'm the man and god speaks to joshua
as this baton this gets gets you know passed on to the next generation of joshua god says this to
joshua have i not commanded you listen to these words be strong and courageous do not be terrified
do not be discouraged for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go why would god say
have i not commanded you it's because he had to remind him of what he had said before because
apparently joshua was terrified he was nervous he's probably thinking i'm not qualified for this
we all feel that moses felt that way remember he had a stutter he had a speech impediment his brother
erin had to had to help him out you know and speak for him at times and so none of us are
are qualified god doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called so if god calls you to do
something then the qualifying comes right and so this is what i see here he must have been scared
because god says have i not he's like i'm reminding you to be these things strong and courageous
and don't be terrified he wouldn't have said be courageous if he was courageous that's right he
had to be scared yeah yeah and i feel like that's a call to our generation i feel like god is saying
have i not commanded you be strong and courageous do not be terrified don't be discouraged time to
stand up for what you believe but stand up you know when we stand up for god's word we're standing
up for god when we when we know what his word says and we let it be known god is pleased with
that that's all he wants is us to to get his word out and instead what what's happening is we're
allowing the world so many of us are allowing the world's word to come through and then we're
acquiescing to that and we're ditching what we knew and saying oh well it's not relevant right
our world's so different we're we're we have so progressed since the bible came out we're so
we're so civilized now and so progressive we've progressed so far we've we've left god behind
i'm telling you that happened in in the book of genesis in the early part of the scripture
mankind decided to ditch god and they began to build this tower called babel and the tower of
babel the goal of that you have origin and you have telos telos means it's the end it's what they're
going for so the origin was we started with god the end telos is we're gonna we're gonna do it on
our own without god we don't need god and that's what culture is saying today and you would think
well they just imply it no they're saying it now i mean it's literally like we don't need god hates
god and the world economic forum the world health i mean organization all these different entities
and organizations they're like no we're smarter than anybody they're trying to cut god out of
everything which means they're trying to build their own tower of babel and that is to build
a utopian culture without god right leaving god out because we are gods unto ourselves
we we are in innately good we we've got it all again we don't need god and the old god is dead
kind of thing and and nitchie said god is dead but here's the deal as land is on the move god
is not dead god will have the last word he had the first he'll have the last and we it's time for us
to be reminded by god that we are to be strong and we're to be courageous what bothers me about
christianity in america this season is that we've we've left evangelism which is the the ability to
share your faith with other people because we don't want to offend anyone why because we want to be
liked more than we want to be respected and i have found that if i will speak the truth in love
they may not like me but they'll respect me and someone will listen to somebody they respect
more even than sometimes somebody they just like because they're a nice guy or a nice girl and so
i would rather be respected than liked what means i'm taking this literally for my life god is
reminding me to be strong and to be courageous and not to be terrified or discouraged why because
the lord your god will be with you wherever you go i want god to be with me which means i need to
step into this call and i'm challenging anybody in my orbit it's time for you to be strong and
courageous it might be learning ways to talk to people and engage like saying hey what do you
think before oh family that's awesome let me tell you what the top three were number one family
number two god there you go you've brought god into the conversation because when i did that today
we perked up and said that's cool and then the third it could be anything but you know finding
creative ways to engage people why we need to be strong and courageous we also need to be that
strong and courageous in our spheres of influence the water cooler conversations at the office that
get weird that somebody tells a really off-camber joke or really and we need to be able to stand up
and say you know what i didn't really appreciate that yeah speak the truth in love yes but say you
know that's yeah no i don't watch those kind of movies right no i'm not into that or no i'm not
going to go have drinks with all the all the girls after work because it's not good for me then
i like you but i love working with you but no i can't go do that it's not not good for me
and we've got to begin to be bold and strong and courageous again and not back down just because
you may not be accepted or you may even be hated but you know what i'd rather be hated and respected
than liked and not given the time of day well and our ultimate goal is to please god not man period
period period yeah well said wow covered some territory today we did we hope you're encouraged
that's our heart and we're talking bold and big but only because god's bolder and bigger than
anything we want to we want to be in alignment with him and with his heart especially in this time in
this season of history in the world we need brothers and sisters followers of jesus to stand
up and be counted and to not back down not acquiesce not sit back and wait for somebody else to speak
up god is calling you to speak up in your sphere of influence that doesn't mean you have all the
answers it just means you know the person who does and his name is jesus christ so we wouldn't
encourage you to do that hey if you like what you're hearing do go to our website livingupinadownworld.com
click subscribe sign up for our newsletter we'll get that out to you and if this is helpful for you
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you can add value to us and so anyway i've got some thanks i want to give just just a couple
few things here i'm tiling it up as i speak here it is um we had a beautiful review left on our
website this one came through um apple um podcasts you know apple um this was beautiful uh it's from
um who's a guy that's become a dear friend of mine adam lacy yes uh he has a carnivore channel our
channel on youtube called carnivore today his name is adam lacy he interviewed me he's one of the
sweetest dispositions i've ever seen in a man he's a great guy really beautiful man a good brother
in the lord too and he and i have been having some great conversations and he says this as a
review he says uplift your spirit with living up in a down world jimmy and net's living up in a
down world is a beacon of positivity each episode is a master class in turning challenges into
opportunities to grow your faith he's a good writer they're insightful conversations and
genuine warmth to make you feel like you're a part of their family subscribe for inspiration
and to be a part of a journey that is full of joy inspiration and strengthens your faith a must
listen for anyone living in a down world that is so beautiful fantastic thank you adam lacy we love
you brother excited about doing some stuff by the way we got invited to do something share that real
quick well we got invited to be part of a carnivore documentary that's gonna be airing they're hoping
on netflix in the next year and so they're gonna come out here and film us yeah next may june be
fun and uh they're gonna be they're gonna have some episodes as well and so they want us to be
part of the episodes yeah so we have to stay strong in carnivore over the holidays and this
is when people have a hard time but we killed about 24 ounces of steak this evening yes we're
doing we're doing well i'm feeling good i'm feeling like a lion that just ate a water buffalo and i
feel amazing so but anyway yeah i mean we're doing the carnival we've talked about that we'll go into
it now just for time's sake but it'll always be a part of our show because it's a part of our life
mind body spirit total life wellness and being carnivores is part of that for us so um here's
oh man i love adam curry adam curry gave us a stropper boost which he is all about so
at 77,777 sats thank you my brother my dear brother and friend he says the crossover
meetup was wonderful yeah we did the meetup that was so cool we talked about in the last show
so many living up and down world listeners connection is protection it is my brother love
you and then also from someone they didn't put a name in them but it's tof4471 they gave us some
sats boost for christ i love that i have no idea how i made it all the way from adam's first joe
rogan experience appearance to no agenda to curry and the keeper to here wow he says it could only
it could only be one reason and that's all part of the plan so tof brother thank you that our sister
thank you for sharing that and i'm glad that you did find your way to living up in a down world and
so we love you guys hey it's been fun today and we hope that you're having an amazing week hey by
the way what do you think before what comes first to your mind get out there and share that good
news and start living up in a down world god bless you bye bye
you