1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,400 What's going on guys? Welcome to this episode of the Pursuit of Calling podcast with me, 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:17,160 your host Thomas Carney. So I have a wedding this weekend, so I didn't have time to record 3 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:23,600 a new episode for you guys. However, I got a backlog of stuff that you guys have heard 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:30,080 in the past. One of the top episodes that you guys really liked was one that Sean and 5 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:39,240 I did with Dave Miller. He talks about his trial of going through alcohol addiction and 6 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:46,480 how he overcame it through community and what really God how God moved in and through his 7 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:51,880 life. So guys, check it out. If you guys haven't heard this one before, it's going to be great. 8 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:57,840 If you have heard it before, give it another listen. I will say I apologize for the audio 9 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:02,600 quality. I didn't have the same setup had a little bit of a janky setup at the time. 10 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:08,480 So forgive that Ian's going to do his best with the editing. We'll see how good it gets. 11 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,280 But before we dive in, I want to ask you to send me a message. If you have any questions 12 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:19,380 or you want me to talk on a particular topic, or you just want to say some encouraging words, 13 00:01:19,380 --> 00:01:24,640 you can do so on Instagram or via the email that is listed in the show notes of this episode. 14 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:33,560 All right, guys, see you in there. 15 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:38,600 We got special guests for you today. You're going to love it. And Thomas, you can take 16 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:39,600 it from here. 17 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,800 All right. Yeah, today we we have special guests like Sean said, we have Dave Miller. 18 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:54,160 Thanks, guys. Thanks for having me. Yeah, I'm honestly really excited for this episode 19 00:01:54,160 --> 00:02:01,800 because we Sean and I aren't the best at reaching out to people sometimes when it comes to getting 20 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:07,560 guests and now we're getting better at it. And whenever you asked to be on, didn't you? 21 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:14,560 Yeah, I said if you ever need someone, I'm happy to do it. Right. And like, I was like, 22 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:21,520 OK, this is up until like the team night the other team night we had the other day at Amplify. 23 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:27,480 I was like, OK, this is happening. And then I was like, OK. And then and then I got the 24 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:32,280 be reminded who you are again by just like your personality and how bright you are. OK, 25 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:41,680 thanks. And like, like it was like I was talking to Ian and Brady, who if people don't know 26 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:49,840 who that is, they work on production and I.T. at Amplify Church. And I said, yeah, I'm actually 27 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,740 really excited for this because like just like how like it because like that reminded 28 00:02:54,740 --> 00:03:03,440 me of like specifically about your servant heart and like that, how you like dove into 29 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:09,680 just production because there was a need. And I will maybe go into that a bit, but like 30 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:15,400 that's not going to be the main topic of the conversation. But yeah, I like spontaneity. 31 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:21,520 Yeah, I don't I don't always like being put in a box. Yeah, I like jumping in where you 32 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,560 know, when you see that there's help needed, I like just kind of that spontaneity of jumping 33 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:33,640 in and just kind of helping out and contributing. Yeah, for sure. And. They kind of get into 34 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:39,960 like talk to them, talk to the audience real quick. So we were trying to figure out like 35 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:47,360 what we were going to do for the episode. And I had an idea of and maybe this is a separate 36 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:55,080 episode, but I had an idea of specifically focusing on the servant heart. And then you, 37 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Sean mentioned what you said and like about wanting to talk more about like habits. Yeah. 38 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:11,160 And diving into like your your own struggles because of like what you've gone through and 39 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,240 like maybe I can help some people with my testimony essentially. Yeah, for sure. And 40 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:29,200 I was like, let's do that. Sounds like because I I wanted to be true to you. I think that 41 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,800 like this, like whatever and whenever we have guests, like it's not always going to be like, 42 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:39,680 oh, what do they want to do? Right. But that whenever you gave that option, I was like, 43 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,640 that actually sounds like that sounds like it just sounds like it would be something 44 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,600 just knowing you're like the little bit I do about you would be something that would 45 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,920 be beneficial to not just trying to deny, but to the people, all the people that listen. 46 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,640 Yeah, for sure. And I, you know, like, you know, I haven't known you guys that long. 47 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,760 And you know, it gives me an opportunity to get to know you guys a little bit better as 48 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:04,840 well. Especially through church. You know, these two guys are amazing. You got it. You 49 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:09,200 got it. You got to subscribe to this channel. These guys are for young people, man. They 50 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:14,680 have a heart for God that is just on fire and they're they're world changers. And I 51 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:20,520 just feel blessed that they're in my life and in my children's lives as well. Thanks, 52 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:28,840 Dave. David's the man. I always love your heart and behind the scenes, the strength 53 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:34,920 that you pull in from the church, like what God's given you is a specific gift. And I'm 54 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:40,720 excited today because we go a little deeper and we get to go a little deeper into who 55 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:47,000 David is. Yeah. And it's gonna be great. Cool. Yeah. With that said, though, like, you said 56 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:54,760 you got a milestone coming up. Yeah, yeah, I do. So October 1st of this year, I will 57 00:05:54,760 --> 00:06:02,200 have 11 years sober from alcohol. So yeah, yeah, it's been a journey for sure. Yeah, 58 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:09,320 definitely been a journey. And what specifically about that journey? Did you kind of where 59 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,120 you think about talking about today? Well, kind of a little bit of background. Yeah. 60 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:20,160 So so growing up, you know, I grew up here in Plumboro. And, you know, I have a younger 61 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:26,920 sister and mom and dad were in the house. My dad was a pretty rough alcoholic when I 62 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:33,320 was growing up. And, you know, it's funny, they say you you become, you tend to become 63 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,200 what you hate. And I always thought to myself, man, I'm never going to be like that. You 64 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:43,480 know, I don't want to be that person. But it's sort of in your DNA, you know, it's 65 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,800 sort of what you know what you're brought up in. And unfortunately, I guess when tough 66 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:55,320 times come, you've kind of fallen that default of that type of behavior. And, you know, it's 67 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:00,520 something that I fell into later in life. Well, probably when I probably started drinking 68 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:08,920 when I was like 15, 15 years old. And yeah, so, you know, like I said, it was around me 69 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:16,840 all the time. I was in that environment a lot. And I guess it got it got its claws on 70 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:26,280 me. So and starting at 15, and then how long did that you said now you've been 10 years, 71 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:35,080 11 years? Yeah, right. I'm 53. So take 11 off of that 42. So about 15 to 42. Okay. And 72 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:41,560 was it like a big problem that whole time? Not the entire time. It's interesting. I wasn't 73 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:49,000 a person who, like I didn't drink every day. Yeah. But when I did, it was all out. Like 74 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:54,000 there, I couldn't once I started, I couldn't stop. So you know, a typical night for me, 75 00:07:54,000 --> 00:08:01,240 you know, going out to the bar might be 15 beers and shots, you know, essentially, pretty 76 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:08,040 much almost a blackout every time. You know, that was I just once I started, I couldn't 77 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:16,280 stop, I couldn't put it down. And, you know, that led to some, some, some issues. So, would 78 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:21,040 you be mind that diamond maybe diving into some of those issues? Yeah, sure. Yeah, sure. 79 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:26,320 So, you know, when when you're younger, you don't have the responsibilities. It didn't 80 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:31,520 seem to be as big of a problem, right? Because I just had me, I didn't have a wife, I didn't 81 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:39,200 have kids, I didn't have a lot of those responsibilities. So the effects of it didn't seem to be as 82 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:47,040 as big back then. Although, you know, there were times, you know, it had cost me a job 83 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:57,320 at one point in my life. It had cost me some relationships and friendships in life. It's 84 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:03,040 just, it's one of those things where you become sort of a slave to it, you know, and believe 85 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:11,800 it or not, you know, growing up, I was very shy, and very, my I had huge self esteem issues, 86 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,600 huge, and I still battle with a lot of self esteem issues today, to be honest with you. 87 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:23,200 But growing up, that was that was really hard for me to talk to anybody to, you know, meet 88 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:30,040 girls, like I just I couldn't. And I think the alcohol that kind of numbed me and kind 89 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:35,880 of brought out this, I don't care about the consequences type of approach, you know, like, 90 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,360 well, if they say, No, who cares? I'm, you know, I'm having a good time anyways. And 91 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:45,320 so, you know, it was really self medicating, you know, some of some of the issues that 92 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:51,760 I was going through, you know, later in life, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and 93 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:59,280 anxiety disorder. So those are things that, you know, I still manage today. But do it 94 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:04,280 in different ways, you know, instead of going to the going to the bottle, you know, I've 95 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:10,580 gone to therapy, I take some medication. And, you know, and obviously, you know, my faith 96 00:10:10,580 --> 00:10:18,320 has really been a key part in, in, in beating it. 97 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:28,760 That is deep. And honestly, I feel like a lot of guys go through the same type of situations 98 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:38,920 in life or like, for me personally, I know that I, I battled on anxiety and depression. 99 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:45,680 And it caused me to do things like drink, smoke, sleep with around, yeah, and do all 100 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:50,560 type of other stuff. So, like, I love that we're going so deep, because I mean, honestly, 101 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:56,440 these are like, this is real talk. Yeah, for sure. You know, and I think, I think if we 102 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,720 look at the issues that we deal with, just anybody in life, it always goes back to your 103 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:06,680 childhood, 100% goes back to your childhood, you know, and again, you know, it wasn't an 104 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:11,960 ideal situation in my house. My dad was pretty rough, he would get pretty rough. You know, 105 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,960 I kind of tried to protect my sister and, you know, get no, you know, kind of take some 106 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:21,960 things there. And I think just going through some of those things, and just the world that 107 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:28,240 we live in today, you know, everybody has some anxiety and some depression. And, you 108 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:33,280 know, those are some things that I think everybody deals with, you know, and I'm so glad that 109 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,960 it's finally getting to be a little more comfortable and a little more acceptable that this stigma 110 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,000 around mental health isn't what it used to be. Right. And I honestly think everybody 111 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,080 should be in therapy today, just the way the world is. And I mean, you know, people go 112 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:52,280 to the gym to work out their body and to stay in shape. Boy, our mind is under attack all 113 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:57,040 the time, you know, from the enemy, from the world. So why wouldn't you go to someone that 114 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:05,040 is an expert in coping and dealing with those things? So I heard before, I feel like it 115 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:13,080 was somebody in person that told me this, that therapists, like, they were given a calling, 116 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:19,600 and God gave them a calling to be able to understand, to want to know and understand 117 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:24,920 more about like, how the human mind works and understand so like they can understand 118 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,240 more about how your mind works than you do. Yep. Just by having like a quick conversation. 119 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,680 Yeah. And there's a reason that a gifted they have and they wouldn't have it if it wasn't 120 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:43,680 meant to be used. And there's like, I'm, I've been in therapy for like over a year, 121 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:47,880 and I was going every week and just this last session that we had to decide to go over other 122 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:54,880 week. And she looked at me, saw a video over the video and she like looked at me and said, 123 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,720 yeah, you're ready. You're making progress. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing, you 124 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:03,760 know, I think a lot of times people might want, you know, might try therapy and you 125 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:08,040 know, if they just think man, they didn't do anything, I don't feel any better. It's 126 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,240 a process, you know, and it might be the person you're with too. Sometimes it's going to a 127 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,400 couple different people to find the one that you kind of gel with, right? Right. And but 128 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,160 you have to, it's a process. I, you know, I've related to the gym again, you know, you're 129 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:24,240 not going to get in great shape going one time, you have to do it consistently. And 130 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:29,880 I think it's the same thing with your mind. Absolutely. I agree. I think like you have 131 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:35,160 something to say? No, no, absolutely. I agree. I feel like if somebody can't get therapy, 132 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:39,120 then you should at least have good counsel where you're able to at least release what's 133 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:44,280 on your mind. Like having a minister or somebody you can just sit there and talk to if you 134 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:49,800 can't afford therapy for whatever reason or situation is, but therapy still needs to happen. 135 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:55,000 There's different types of way of therapy. Well, go to a therapist is good. Go to a pastor, 136 00:13:55,000 --> 00:14:00,320 go to a counselor, go somewhere where you're able to release the mind. I agree. I think 137 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:10,280 even like, I think for trying to figure out which direction I want to go. I, one thing 138 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:16,400 is I really, I think a lot of people don't think they need it because they're not in 139 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:24,400 a really bad situation. And I, like you were saying, like the world is so like messed up 140 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:30,320 nowadays. You might not know you're in a bad situation, but you might think what you're 141 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:35,520 going through, right? It's just like, it's just your life. Yeah. So therefore why would 142 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:40,680 you need to go to therapy for it? And that's just how it always has been. And I feel like 143 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:46,720 you get to the right therapist just for like just one session and wondered like you said, 144 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,480 maybe it takes three or four, but your eyes can be open to so many other things. Like 145 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:56,120 as to like, maybe there are links back to your childhood to what you're going through, 146 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:02,080 how your mind works right now that you weren't thinking of before. Right. And so I don't, 147 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:08,360 I think a lot of like me, I didn't go to therapy until there was like the immediate need for 148 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,760 it. Yeah. And I think if people like you said, like if they went to, if people go to the 149 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:16,600 gym when they're weak and they're, when they're weak and they keep, but they keep going when 150 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:21,440 they're strong, they don't, you can't stop. Right. So like whenever you're going to, whenever 151 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:26,880 you go to therapy, like doesn't there, so you don't just go whenever you're in a bad 152 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:33,640 situation. Right. Like you go, you go whenever you're, you go whenever, like just because 153 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:38,600 you want to grow. Right. I want to know more about myself. Yeah. And I think, you know, 154 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,080 obviously we're different generations, right? So I'm 53, these guys are in their twenties. 155 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:52,480 31. 31. But he looks like he's 22. No doubt. Oh God. Amazing. But like my generation, you 156 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:58,760 know, the way I grew up was, you know, I, I had to grow up and I had to, if I wanted 157 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:04,360 something done, I had to take care of myself. Right. I had to do things for myself. My generation 158 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:10,280 was you don't talk about your feelings. That's weakness. That's a weakness as a man. It's 159 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,440 not something you do. You deal with it. Right. You shove it down, you deal with it. That's 160 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:20,120 what you do. And that's kind of how we were brought up. And I think that's a reason why 161 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,960 a lot of people don't go and why I didn't go for a long time because I thought that 162 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,160 makes me less of a man. You know, if I can't deal with this on my own, you know, just suck 163 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:32,720 it up. Just deal with it. Honestly, I think our generation still got that. Like I think 164 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,800 the newer generations finally getting that released off of them that you can talk about 165 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:43,840 being your feelings. Cause I feel like me and Thomas specifically have heard all our 166 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:48,960 lives, men don't cry, all the rest and other stuff that like men as men, we're not allowed 167 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:54,560 to talk about any type of feeling type thing. And it's just like now, now we're just now 168 00:16:54,560 --> 00:17:00,720 starting to disassociate with the older generation about that. You know? Yeah. I'd say probably 169 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:07,280 in the last 10 years, five years, it's become way more acceptable compared to like the seventies 170 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:14,880 and eighties, way more acceptable in the last 10 years than it was back then for sure. But 171 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:19,640 the other thing I just wanted to touch on is, you know, I know that what I've realized 172 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,720 is that, you know, some of these trials we go through, some of these weaknesses that 173 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:30,600 we have, or some of these defects that we have, if you will, what's amazing is, is how 174 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:38,800 God uses those things to help others. I can't tell you how many times for no reason I've 175 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:44,120 sat on a plane, you know, used to travel a lot for work and I'd sit on a plane out of 176 00:17:44,120 --> 00:17:49,560 all the seats, the person who sat right next to me was dealing with severe anxiety for 177 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:56,720 flying or I run into someone and, you know, they're dealing with alcohol or drugs issues 178 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:05,080 and just way more than it should be naturally, right? So I'm very open about my past. I 179 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,040 talk to strangers about it sometimes, you know, I just love talking to people. Yeah. 180 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:17,240 But it's amazing how what you've gone through, you can use to help others. Yeah. And God 181 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:23,000 really facilitates that and just in a miraculous way. 182 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,760 Man. 183 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:34,680 That makes me think about just my own personal experience with my current situation. I've 184 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:42,600 thought of, like we had a conversation yesterday in our one small group, how it's whenever 185 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:49,840 I feel like it's a lot easier whenever you're in tune with God, to be able to say like, 186 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:56,120 my situation can be a testimony even while I'm in it. It's good. And it's not just 187 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:59,920 like at the end, it's not just at the end of it where like, oh, look at what God brought 188 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:05,200 me through. It is a good thing. Like you get to the, like something you can get to at the 189 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:11,600 end, you get to the end of your like a trial. Yeah. And, but even in the midst of the trial, 190 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:12,600 God's still there. 191 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:17,360 Well, it just gives you so much credibility, right? So, you know, if someone were to talk 192 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:23,400 to me about, you know, battling alcohol or addiction or depression, whatever it might 193 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:29,120 be, if they haven't gone through that, you know, in my mind, I feel like, man, you just 194 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:33,800 don't, you don't understand. Like you don't get it. You know, so while we're going through 195 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:38,040 it, there's other people going through it. And, you know, as they say, iron sharpens 196 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:42,960 iron, right? So if you're in that same place, you know, you can help each other along and 197 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:47,520 encourage each other. So I think that's, I think that's huge. You know, one of the biggest 198 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:54,800 influences on my life is one of my best friends, his name is Pat Barnes. You know, he goes 199 00:19:54,800 --> 00:20:01,680 to church with us and Pat's just an incredible human being. And he has been such an influence 200 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:09,800 on me and maintaining my sobriety. He also, you know, he's had some experience with it, 201 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:15,520 and he shares that. I'm not sharing anything that he doesn't share openly. But he is, he 202 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:20,960 has been my rock through going through this, you know, there have been, I'll tell you what's 203 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,880 interesting is, you know, like I said, I'm coming up on 11 years, but it's still, I don't 204 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:31,000 want to say a daily battle, but it's still a battle even after 11 years, you know, it's 205 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:36,880 funny about once a year, I'll have a conversation with Sarah and she knows it's coming. Sarah's 206 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:43,280 my wife. She'll, she's gotten so, she's amazing. She's gotten so good at it, you know, where 207 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:49,960 I'm a hundred percent serious. And I'll say, you know what, I'm a different person now. 208 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:56,800 I'm older now, I'm more wise, I'm in my faith, you know, it would be fine for me to have 209 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:02,200 a case of beer. I can put one or two in the fridge that way I don't drink a ton. And I'm 210 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:08,480 literally thinking at that time, at that moment, in that moment, that I can do this, like I 211 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:13,400 can do this. And you know, when I first started doing this, she goes, no, you can't, no, you 212 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:19,720 can't. And it's amazing. She's learned that she just listens and I talk through it. And 213 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:25,640 at the end I say, no, you know what, I can't do that. So I get to that place where I'm 214 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,400 like, no, I can't, you know, but it is, it's hard because, you know, you go out with your 215 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:34,040 buddies and they're having a couple beers and the way the world is, you know, it'd be 216 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:39,280 nice just to kind of numb yourself a little bit, just to get that relaxation feeling. 217 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:45,120 You know, I still crave those. I still crave that. I do. But you know, it's about community. 218 00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:50,000 It's about who you surround yourself with, right? And you guys know, I mean, you know, 219 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,040 you surround yourself with good people and people with, you know, similar values, similar 220 00:21:55,040 --> 00:22:01,280 beliefs. And you know, you have that person to kind of lean on their shoulder when you 221 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,240 need it, you know, and you know they have your best interests at heart. You know, one 222 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:11,160 thing Pat and I did is, you know, we kind of at the beginning of our relationship, we 223 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:19,000 kind of had a pact that we said, if we see some, if we see each other stumbling or messing 224 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:24,240 up or doing something, you know, not real godly, we give each other permission to call 225 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:32,800 it out. And I think everybody needs accountability for sure, especially as men. We need accountability. 226 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,800 And you know, and in the moment when you hear it, you know, you might get a little upset, 227 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,520 you know, you know, say I raised my voice to my son and Pat might go, hey, Dave, you 228 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:47,320 got to, you know, the immediate reaction is, don't tell me what to do. That's my kid, right? 229 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,680 That's what you think immediately. That's kind of your reaction. But you know, we made 230 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:56,600 that pact, you know, and I know he's coming out of love. You know, he's not coming to 231 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:00,960 put me down or to embarrass me or humiliate me. He's coming from love. You know, we've 232 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:05,360 done that back and forth with each other over the years where, you know, we need to call 233 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:10,240 each other out every once in a while and say, hey, you know, get back in step. And you know, 234 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:16,240 but we have that relationship that we know that, you know, it's out of love. So. 235 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:22,480 Come on, Billy is huge. Yeah. I also believe what you said was so deep about like people 236 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:27,080 you surround with because the Bible talks about bad companies or bad company corrupts 237 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:32,120 good manners. So like you could be having all the right intentions, but if you're surrounded 238 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:38,880 by the wrong people all the time, their views and they'll get to you like, you know, I mean, 239 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:44,240 if if you're not pulling them up, they're pulling you out. And that's so important to 240 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:51,640 see that like, OK, OK, now this I'm out of this lifestyle. Let me go around people who 241 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:56,640 have the same mindset of I got out. I'm not going back. You know, yeah, so powerful. There's 242 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:05,640 a few good things in that Bible, huh? It's gotta be good. Forty different authors. It's 243 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:06,640 insane. 244 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:14,720 And I think I'm going to kind of pivot us for a second. Yeah, I think what you're talking 245 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:22,840 about is really good. But you also mentioned how you had to establish these new habits. 246 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:29,000 And I wanted I was kind of curious as to what those were and how you went about establishing 247 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,000 them. 248 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:37,560 That's awesome. That's awesome. It's interesting because I remember the day that something 249 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:45,280 kind of clicked in my mind and it was a church and our founding pastor, Pastor Lee, had 250 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:51,460 given a message and it was about guardrails. And he talked about in his life, you know, 251 00:24:51,460 --> 00:24:58,520 he realized that, you know, it's it's a healthy practice to put guardrails up in your life. 252 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:02,800 Like he gave examples of, you know, he used to travel a lot for work. I used to travel 253 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:07,520 a lot for work. He would say, you know, I one of my guardrails was I would never be 254 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:13,680 alone with a female at any point. It's just a good guardrail to put up. Yeah. And he said, 255 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:20,920 I would never drink more than two, two alcoholic beverages within 24 hours. He said, you know, 256 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:25,560 because as you know, you know, once you kind of cross that threshold, you know, your decision 257 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:33,680 making all those things get kind of fuzzy and you lose the ability even more to resist 258 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:39,320 those temptations. And when he said that, it kind of clicked with me. And I said, man, 259 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:44,000 you know what, that makes a lot of sense to me. Putting guardrails up in your life to 260 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:48,600 kind of protect yourself and protect your heart from temptation, right? Because temptation 261 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:53,700 strong and people who are Christians and might be listening to this, you know, once you become 262 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:57,240 a Christian, it's not like the temptations go away. In fact, a lot of times the enemy 263 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:02,720 wants to attack more because you're living the life for Christ now. Right. So by using 264 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:07,760 those guardrails in all kinds of facets of your life, that's kind of where it started. 265 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:12,160 But I knew my guardrail had to be zero drinks. Yeah. I couldn't do two. Right. So it had 266 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:19,360 to be zero. So I decided that day literally to stop. And I did it on my own, which I don't 267 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:24,440 recommend. There's a lot of great support out there like Alcoholics Anonymous. There's 268 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:29,680 different Christian groups and small groups that you can go to about it. But being a hard 269 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:35,960 head that I was, I just said I'm going to do it cold turkey. And it worked for me. It 270 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:41,200 was tough, but it worked. And that was really the thing. So, you know, some of the habits 271 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:48,640 that I got into, you know, I quit going to places where it was just about partying, you 272 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:54,040 know, those I eliminated those. I had to eliminate some friends in my life. Right. That that 273 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:59,280 was kind of their deal was just kind of going out and partying it up. You know, I kind of 274 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:04,880 had to separate myself from that a little bit. Like the other side of community. Yeah. 275 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:11,320 Exactly. Exactly. And, you know, just things like and it's interesting because with habits 276 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:17,920 and with addiction and things, a lot of times you tie them to certain activities. Like if 277 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:23,200 I were to go to a Pirates game, you got to have a beer when you go to the Pirate game. 278 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,800 You hear people say it on TV. You hear your announcer say it on the radio. You know, someone 279 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:32,000 will say, Oh, I didn't drink last night, you know, because I have you went to the game 280 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,640 and you didn't drink a beer. What's wrong with you? It's like, no, those two don't 281 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:42,920 have to go together. You know, they really don't. There's a lot of pressure in society 282 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:48,560 that put those things on you, you know, and I would say alcohol is really tough because 283 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:53,520 it's legal. You get it anywhere. Right. And it's everywhere around us. Anytime you get 284 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:58,480 into the restaurant, anytime you go to a sporting event, anytime you go, it's always there and 285 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,520 you can get it. You don't need to sneak around. You don't need to go to a special dealer. 286 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,480 You know, I mean, you can get whatever you want. Absolutely. There's nothing to prevent 287 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:11,440 you from getting it. So, you know, it is it's a it's a struggle. It's a not a struggle. 288 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:16,080 It's a battle. You know, you got to battle it. And yeah, those are some of the habits 289 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:24,040 that I that I really kind of focused on. Also, you know, going to church every week and and, 290 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:28,160 you know, also just again, that getting that community around you being around the right 291 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:33,320 people. Yeah. And replacing it, you know, replacing it with other things, you know, 292 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:41,400 healthier things. So that's wow. That's so good. Yeah. Like, Lee, he told me about 293 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:46,720 guardrails. When you were talking about it, were you talking about like I remember a message 294 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,560 that was like more recent than three weeks ago when you're or what was the month ago? 295 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,720 Couple months ago. Yeah, I know what you're talking about. When he was driving, he was 296 00:28:53,720 --> 00:29:01,400 talking about that. This was 11 years ago. I was like, he just talked about that recently 297 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:08,880 too. Interesting. Yeah. But that's not so that you remember the like the details, those 298 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:13,560 details after 11 years that speaks to the impact it made. For sure. I mean, it's you 299 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:18,120 know, it's it's a complete change of life. Yeah, it's a complete change of life. You 300 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,320 know, it you know, and then and then you worry about it. You're like, Hey, am I going to 301 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:26,600 be fun or people going to want to be around me? Yeah, because I used to be the jokester 302 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:34,480 and, you know, still learn. My age now, man, I don't do the crazy daredevil stuff I used 303 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:39,920 to do because it hurts way more than Yeah, I used to have no fears, no consequences, 304 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:46,440 you know, all the time. Just just getting out there and getting wild. But yeah, no, 305 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,920 that's good. But yeah, it's a big life change. So it is something that you remember. And 306 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:56,400 it's something that you know, it's a big pivot point in your life for sure. Yeah. I think 307 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:03,320 that's so powerful. I love the Bible always refer to it. But like when the God talks about 308 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:10,720 how we overcome Satan, he says by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. 309 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:16,980 And that's so powerful because your testimony, Dave, is going to help so many people who 310 00:30:16,980 --> 00:30:22,160 are in that struggle now and those people who have overcame that struggle hearing it 311 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:27,280 so they keep staying on the right path. It is so powerful to hear that. Also, it might 312 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:33,440 just help people like maybe they have gone have gone through it and have now overcome it. Be more 313 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:38,920 open about about sharing that sharing own testimony because a lot of the time you might a lot of 314 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:43,080 time people might just think like who's going to listen to me? Yeah, it's going to listen to what 315 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,480 I have to say. Yeah. And it's nothing to be ashamed of. Yeah. You know, fact is something 316 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:53,160 you should be proud of. Right. And especially if you can help someone with that. And you know, 317 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:58,560 I would just say to anyone out there that is struggling or is thinking that maybe this is 318 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:04,840 becoming an issue. Just talk to somebody. Yeah. Reach out to someone. You know, don't don't don't 319 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:09,960 do it on your own. Don't hold it in. Let someone know. You know, check out the Implified Church. 320 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:15,000 Go online. Check out our church, man, because we are a church of broken people. You do not have to 321 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:19,560 be perfect to come into our church because we'd have zero people. And we've all been through things. 322 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:26,120 We've all had life experiences and we're there to help, support and love. So, you know, and again, 323 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:31,040 the church has been such a big part of my life. And that was the other thing, you know, my dad's 324 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:37,600 parents, they were both really bad alcoholics. And he went through a really hard life. And then 325 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:43,720 it kind of carried on to him. Right. And then it carried on to me. And you know, once I had children, 326 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:49,960 I said, you know what? This has to stop. Yeah. Like the chain has to break here. Like I don't 327 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:56,920 want my kids to ever see me wasted or, you know, being a fool. And I don't want them to have to 328 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:03,440 deal with this. So, you know, the one thing about Amplified is, you know, I am so, so thankful for 329 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:09,560 people like you and Sean, and just so many other people that have just poured into my kids' lives. 330 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:15,520 And the fact that they have such a strong relationship with Christ, it was funny because 331 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:20,800 when my younger son got baptized, my older son got baptized a couple years ago, and then my younger 332 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:26,320 son got baptized last year or this year, I can't remember. But once he got baptized, I went to one 333 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:31,040 of our pastors, Brandon, he was there. And I said, Brandon, I can literally die tomorrow. I said, 334 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:37,120 my life is complete. My boys are saved. And I said, you know, I could die tomorrow and it's okay. 335 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:42,320 And because unfortunately, they're going to go through struggles. And they have gone through 336 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:49,080 struggles. But man, but do they have a base, a foundation that I never had? That's the other 337 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:55,800 thing. You know, I only became a Christian at 40. So, you know, I didn't have God in my life, but 338 00:32:55,800 --> 00:33:02,200 boy, they do. And what a difference that makes in life. It's just, it's huge. So I'm just so 339 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:07,320 thankful for, you know, your guys' generation and the way that you guys pour into these younger kids. 340 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:15,040 And just, it's just, you guys are incredible. I can't imagine at your age being where you guys 341 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:23,120 are at, because I was such a, so, so lost at that point, you know, and you guys are just so amazing. 342 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:30,680 And it just gives me hope for the future. So. Yeah, I really appreciate you saying that, David. 343 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:40,320 That is meaningful. I think the same thing when I look at, like we had Andrew on here. And I think 344 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:44,360 the same thing when I look at him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And because whenever I first started coming 345 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:51,720 here and he was 18 when I first started coming and I was like, how much do you know how much about 346 00:33:51,720 --> 00:34:04,120 the Bible? Like I've read like a page. In the beginning. That's what I have. And like, so now I 347 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:10,600 know, I may not, like, of course there's a different time span between us and, but like, but I can't 348 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:15,760 kind of get the testament. And also like, there's one thing that's probably in my mind the whole time 349 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:21,040 you're talking, like while you're talking though, specifically about alcohol, because like, I never 350 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:26,400 really don't know if you would call it a, it was a problem to the extent of whenever I would go out, 351 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:33,880 I drink just get it was a social thing to do. Yeah. And I never got to the point of blackening out. 352 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:41,600 I've got a point where I've lost a couple hours, but like, that is blacking out. Yeah. Losing time. 353 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:46,960 Okay. So it doesn't mean you pass out. Right. Sometimes you do, but blacking out is losing the 354 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:55,040 period of time. And like now I've, I like right now they, I never decided to stop drinking. I just 355 00:34:55,040 --> 00:35:04,640 don't. And like part of it was just like, it was expensive. Like my last beer run, like I remember 356 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:10,640 it was like $70. And I was like, I was drinking IPAs and I get to drink and I was like, like, 357 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:15,600 man, I can't, I can't, I can't do that. I just never went back. And like, I have a cabinet full 358 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:19,440 of like bottles and stuff. And like, I haven't touched it in over a year. Are you trying to tell me? 359 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:25,200 No, sorry. Sorry. We have no bottles. 360 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:40,560 Don't make your brother stumble. But, but, uh, no, I, I, I, I said, I was telling John the other day, 361 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:45,280 I think I told my friend David, um, I was saying like, I tried some whiskey the other day, like a 362 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,200 couple of weeks ago, just like, yeah, you know, I haven't had in a while. It's been there. It's like, 363 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:52,720 I'll try something. And I took a sip and say, and this stuff is gross. 364 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:57,200 And I was like, I was like, how do I, I had half the bottle gone. I was like, how am I drinking this 365 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:03,600 stuff? I was like, I'll just drink it. Cause it was like the manly thing to drink. Right. And I, um, 366 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:08,320 I bought it cause it had a monkey on the bottle. There you go. That's perfect sense. Yeah. I was 367 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:14,000 like, why not? And like, um, and like, I feel like I just lost it. I personally, I feel like I just 368 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,840 lost the taste for it. Like I, I like, I'll go out, I'll still have a beer when I go out and I just, 369 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:24,000 like one casual beer with a friend and like, but like having it at home, like it feels like 370 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:29,920 that was like the old, in my old life. Yeah. It feels like I was thinking, like what I was 371 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:33,520 specifically thinking about while you were talking, it was like whenever I, 372 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:39,440 specifically whenever I became a Christian, I was starting diving more into my faith more 373 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:45,120 because I was, I was just technically a Christian Roman Catholic growing up, but like I fell away 374 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:53,760 from my faith for a while. And I, like that was part of that life was drinking and having always 375 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:59,760 having beer in the fridge and then like going out every other weekend. And, um, and 376 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:07,280 and like, I think about it now, like I do not like who I am whenever, even after a couple drinks. 377 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:12,400 Yeah. So I'm like, I don't know. So it's like, I just don't. It's like, it was, it was like my, 378 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:18,720 I never really, I never actually made that decision. It was just like, it just fell off. 379 00:37:18,720 --> 00:37:25,120 Yeah. And I think like I'm thankful for that. For sure. For sure. Like it just like was never 380 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:31,520 like the temptation was like the temptation was like gone. Like the idea of like drinking, like 381 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:36,960 it like was almost detestable. Yeah. And with that also, you know, when you're in that, 382 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:42,320 you know, especially if you're, you know, in an addiction type level, it comes with a lot of lying, 383 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:50,240 a lot of deceit, a lot of bad things, right? And that weighs on you too. So, you know, it's not 384 00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:55,680 just the physical effects of alcohol that, you know, that make it troubling. And again, 385 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:59,760 I'm not saying for everyone, a lot of people can have a couple of beers and that's awesome. 386 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:04,560 You know, I'm jealous. I wish I could have two beers and stop. That'd be great, but I can't. 387 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:09,680 And I kind of compare it to like, it's almost like an allergic reaction. Like if you were allergic 388 00:38:09,680 --> 00:38:14,160 to penicillin, Sean, and you took penicillin, your body would just react in such a way. 389 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:20,400 If I took it, my body wouldn't react that way, right? I kind of see alcohol the same way for me. 390 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:26,960 It takes a hold of me. Yeah. And it takes me into dark places. It just affects my chemistry 391 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:33,040 differently. So, you know, I'm not saying people can't drink ever or anything like that. You know, 392 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:37,680 if you're sensible and responsible and you can, that's awesome. You know, that's good on you. 393 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:45,200 But, you know, just for me, it just didn't work. I honestly agree. I mean, I feel like 394 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:52,960 when it comes to alcohol specifically, it's like, it's taken me to the very darkest places 395 00:38:52,960 --> 00:39:03,200 of humankind. And the man I was when I'm an alcoholic is awful. Like, literally, I'm a womanizer 396 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:10,400 when I'm drunk. Because I'm trying to do everything the world wants. I think everybody else who's 397 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:15,760 worldly would think I'm fun and exciting because that's the worldly look of things. But like, 398 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:21,920 once I got, like I agree with you, Thomas, when I got into a real, because I was a prodigal son, 399 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:28,080 I've done everything under the sun. But at first I started with a relationship with God from like 400 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:34,320 from zero until like 19. I had a really strong relation with God. 19, I had fallen away when I 401 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:39,040 was in college, first week of college. And because that's when you get your freedom. And then you 402 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:46,000 act stupid with the freedom. Right. Yeah. So that was me. So like, diving deep into that, most of 403 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:50,640 those problems and reason why I didn't finish college was because of alcohol and weed. Yeah. 404 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:57,360 Yeah, literally, those were the things if I was if I wasn't getting weed, I was drinking, you know, 405 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:02,880 those drinks were like, okay, I was drinking because it's the social norm every Friday and 406 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:06,960 Saturday, you got to party hard, boom, boom. Oh, we're having a party Tuesday, this time we had 407 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:12,160 to drink, you know, I mean, like wherever the party was, you had to drink. And those drinks was like, 408 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:19,920 okay, now that you're drunk, you can be crazy fun, Sean. And now that you're crazy fun, Sean, 409 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:24,720 you have to find a hot chick and sleep with her. Yeah. Otherwise, you felt for the night. Yeah. 410 00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:30,000 You know, I mean, and that was like the mindset that was behind it. And that's why like, it's so 411 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:37,520 incredible what God does. Because now, like, if I have a beer, right, it's not the same as when I was 412 00:40:38,080 --> 00:40:43,600 drinking before, because now I can't really enjoy a beer like I used to. I'm not going to hold you. 413 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:49,200 As as a Christian, man, it's not the same as where I was when I was a worldly man drinking a beer, 414 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:53,440 because when I was a worldly man, I was thinking, okay, I drink this beer, and now I can get drunk 415 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:58,880 and I can drink. But now when I drink, I'm just like, bro, this is nasty. Why am I doing this? 416 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:06,000 Like, you know, like the taste is like, why? Like, it's, I tried to do it to be funny. What am I 417 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:12,160 doing? It's like, the after I do it, it's like instant regret. Like, why'd you do it? It's not 418 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:16,720 good. It didn't taste good. There was no good outcome from it. You know, I mean, pros and cons. 419 00:41:16,720 --> 00:41:22,800 Yeah, so not too many pros. A lot of cons. No, like, honestly, that's why I lost my Walmart job, 420 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:30,720 because I was being goofy. My friends were golfing. They came in, work with a beer. And I was like, 421 00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:39,760 oh, shoot, let me pastor drinks beer and be funny. And boom, yeah, wasn't funny consequences, right? 422 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:45,280 And it wasn't like, oh, I was like, buying beer off my friends or like plan to drink that day. 423 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:50,640 The devil just tempted me because I haven't drank in like three years. And he was like, here, just 424 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:57,280 have a sip and boom. Yeah, just like that. I can't believe you said prodigal son, because 425 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:03,600 that is absolutely my very most favorite story in the Bible. And it's the one I relate to the most 426 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:08,960 is prodigal son. So I can't believe you said that. That's incredible. The other thing is one of the 427 00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:18,400 things is when you're consuming, you know, lots of alcohol and getting drunk, you do stupid things. 428 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:24,720 But the next day you can say, I was drunk. I was an excuse. But guess what, when you get sober, 429 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:30,480 you don't have that excuse anymore. So you really got to, you know, it's a whole shift of your 430 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:37,200 mindset. It's like I could still be a crazy dude and sober. But now if I do something really dumb, 431 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:43,840 or, you know, something that's immoral, I can't say, I was drunk, you know, that's me now. That's on 432 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:48,880 me. And, you know, so that's another that's another adjustment that you make, I think. 433 00:42:50,720 --> 00:42:57,680 I want to like speak to a couple of things like the fact we talked about two different sides of 434 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:08,080 community that you brought up of how being in the old community of what was causing you to essentially 435 00:43:08,080 --> 00:43:15,840 go off the cliff and go over your guardrail so you hadn't set yet. You go over the cliff and 436 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:21,760 realizing like part of the guardrail was that they're actually, for you, those people were 437 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:29,600 actually like, the people at least in those activities would put you over the edge. And then 438 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:34,080 realizing that there's a different community that could help you have a healthier life. 439 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:42,080 Not, they don't even have to be like telling, like you have Pat Barnes and like, but even 440 00:43:42,080 --> 00:43:46,560 specifically, you don't even necessarily need to have, like you should, I feel like it's great. 441 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:50,240 And I feel like if you have, you know, if you don't have somebody in your life like that right now, 442 00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:52,960 maybe it's because you don't have the right, like you're not surrounding yourself with the right 443 00:43:52,960 --> 00:44:00,800 people. Like, I have Andrew Regatta and like we talk to each other and like I'll ask him like, 444 00:44:00,800 --> 00:44:05,760 did I, like, was that dumb? I'll ask him like, was that dumb? And I feel like you'd have to ask. 445 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:12,880 But like, just being around people that have like, 446 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:18,320 like I think, specifically speaking from like a Christian standpoint, being around people that 447 00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:25,200 have that like visible wisdom and like have that, have that, had that, whether like peeping around 448 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:31,280 you who has been through something and has been through stuff that you've put yourself, that you 449 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:38,160 put yourself through, but now know what it's like to go through that. Like, just being around before, 450 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:43,840 before knowing that, like I would still, like I still think the same thing of like, 451 00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:50,080 like, oh wow, like he's, he's this light, he's this person who people see and like he, like he has his 452 00:44:50,080 --> 00:44:56,720 heart to serve, he like always seems to be in this bright happy attitude and like now you're telling, 453 00:44:56,720 --> 00:45:04,800 and now you're telling like what happened way before that, what led up to that point. So like, 454 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:10,880 having that one question written down and we're definitely like way over time, this is gonna be 455 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:15,760 a long, this is gonna be a long, this is gonna be our longest episode. I think people will love it. 456 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:23,680 But like, I'm just like, I'll ask one final question. Sure. And then we'll, and then, 457 00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:30,320 is it the beauty and the breaking pretty much? Not specifically, I don't know where you're going 458 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:36,320 with that, but. Because that's what you were leading off with just now. Like, was it? Because 459 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:44,640 you were talking about how they, well, he was all broken and stuff, right? Now that God has refined 460 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:50,800 David into like the man that he is now and he is happy and enjoys from all the broken pieces. 461 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:55,200 So the beauty and the breaking. Okay, well you got that out of what I said. That's not where I was 462 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:02,160 going, but that's where you got out of it. And you guys listening, the dynamic of these two is amazing. 463 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:06,880 You just gotta see it. It's, I love it. I love it. They're amazing together. 464 00:46:09,040 --> 00:46:15,680 What were you going, Thomas? My final question. It's where the people, like, 465 00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:20,560 prefer people who are out listening who don't know what their guard rail should be. 466 00:46:21,600 --> 00:46:27,040 And like, how, like, if they're like, I don't have any, I don't feel like I have any guard rails. 467 00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:32,320 How do you go about identifying what those be are? Yeah, that's a really good question. So I 468 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:36,960 shared, you know, for me, it came through a sermon, right? Yeah. Through Pastor Lee. 469 00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:45,280 You know, if you don't have that, number one, I'd say get into church. Find a church near you. 470 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:52,160 Plug into a community. It's life changing. It's amazing. It'll change your life forever. 471 00:46:52,160 --> 00:46:57,440 But, you know, if you're looking at yourself and deciding, you know, what guard rails can I set up, 472 00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:03,840 I would say take a look at, you know, what is bringing you down? You know, what is causing 473 00:47:03,840 --> 00:47:09,520 stress in your life? What is causing you to argue with your friends or your significant other? 474 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:16,560 What are those things that are constantly negative? What are the effects of what you're seeing? 475 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:24,560 What are the effects of what you're seeing? And then find guard rails to help you keep away from 476 00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:28,480 that, right? That's what guard rails are. Like you said, going over the cliff, right? So what are the 477 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:33,840 things that are sending you over the cliff? You know, if it's drinking, then you put up a guard 478 00:47:33,840 --> 00:47:40,240 rail and you say, listen, I'm not going to drink. If it's pornography, you say, well, you know what, 479 00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:47,440 I'm not going to be alone on my computer, you know, whatever it is. But again, you need to find 480 00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:54,560 someone for accountability. You know, that's huge. Don't keep it to yourself. Share it with someone. 481 00:47:54,560 --> 00:48:01,040 Let them know what you're doing and ask them to hold you accountable. That's so important 482 00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:08,320 because we're not strong enough on our own. We definitely are or not. And that's where God really 483 00:48:08,320 --> 00:48:15,840 comes in because God is strong enough. God can overcome. He can do miraculous things. And, you 484 00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:23,600 know, having that faith and having that relationship with Christ and with God is key, I think, in 485 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:29,360 anything in life. You know, and it's just such a better life, man. I can just tell you that 486 00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:36,240 the other side is so much better. It's hard. And especially at first, it's difficult. But it's so 487 00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:43,520 much better. It's so much better. And if anybody ever wanted to reach out to me, you know, I'm 488 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:48,240 happy to talk to anyone. So, you know, if you see me at church, see me out, whatever, come up, man. 489 00:48:48,240 --> 00:48:58,160 I'm happy to talk to you. So, it's awesome. Yeah. Well, thank you, Dave, for coming and having 490 00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:06,480 that, staying down with us because, yeah, this was, I've been saying it every time we record a new 491 00:49:06,480 --> 00:49:12,400 episode, but this is now my favorite episode. He says that to all the guests now. He tries to butter 492 00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:17,360 them up. I also have to say, you know, they can't see it, we don't have a camera yet, but I really 493 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:24,560 like that watch. Can I tell you a funny story about this watch? We'll ask and we'll end. So, you know, 494 00:49:24,560 --> 00:49:30,320 back in the day before kids and, you know, I was making decent money and had more expendable income. 495 00:49:30,320 --> 00:49:37,920 Yeah. You know, I would buy some really nice watches, you know. You know, I have like Tag Heuer 496 00:49:37,920 --> 00:49:43,760 or Movado, you know, it might be 1100 bucks, 1200 bucks. Nothing super crazy like, you know, 497 00:49:43,760 --> 00:49:50,240 Rolex is 10 grand, but nice, you know, expensive watches. Yeah. And they were nice. This watch that 498 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:59,680 I have on right now, I exponentially get more compliments on this one. Every day, almost people 499 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:07,200 point it out and go, I love that watch. That's amazing. Guess how much this watch costs. It's 500 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:13,440 the cheapest watch in the set, huh? Guess how much? It looks nice though. I'm gonna guess 300 bucks. 501 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:18,560 That's around what I was gonna guess. $30. What? $30. 502 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:27,120 So again, it goes, that's another great thing. It goes to show you, right? Yeah. It's not always 503 00:50:27,120 --> 00:50:33,280 about the brand. It's not always about the clout. It's not always about how much something costs. 504 00:50:33,280 --> 00:50:38,880 Let's go. That's good. Literally, this is the second one I've had of the exact same watch. 505 00:50:38,880 --> 00:50:48,800 So $30. So yeah, you don't have to spend a lot of money, you know, to have nice things, I guess. 506 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:52,400 Yeah, that's wonderful. Yeah. No, but I appreciate you guys having me. Seriously, 507 00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:57,920 this was so much fun, especially for an old man like me to hang out with you guys. And, you know, 508 00:50:57,920 --> 00:51:02,560 this is a different world for me. So I loved it, man. I loved it. I love you guys and just 509 00:51:02,560 --> 00:51:07,200 thanks for having me. Yeah, for sure. We love you, Dave, for real. And the words you spoke 510 00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:11,920 will definitely, definitely help other people. So that's amazing. Awesome. I appreciate it. 511 00:51:11,920 --> 00:51:18,080 All right. All right, guys. Thank you for listening to this whole episode. Really appreciate it. 512 00:51:18,080 --> 00:51:23,600 This is definitely our longest one. But if you don't already, if you're listening on Spotify 513 00:51:23,600 --> 00:51:28,320 or listening on Apple Podcasts or any platform that you can subscribe, definitely give us a 514 00:51:28,320 --> 00:51:34,800 follow, subscribe, five star review and share us on social media if you really like this episode. 515 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:40,720 We honestly really appreciate it. Every single time we see somebody share out one of our episodes 516 00:51:40,720 --> 00:51:49,040 on Instagram or Facebook or whatever platform you're on. So, but yeah, we'll, I'm going to say 517 00:51:49,040 --> 00:52:08,000 I again, thank you. Thank you, Dave, for coming down and we see you guys next time. We love you.