1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,680 Welcome to the Ocean Water podcast. 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:09,120 I have with me today my good friend Ryan Latham. 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:18,520 I wore my Raiders jersey today to remind you of California. 4 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:29,440 1984 Marcus Allen Super Bowl MVP Raiders jersey, the last time the Raiders won the Super Bowl. 5 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:31,840 From the streets to the beach bro. 6 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:37,560 Alright, we get that out of the way. 7 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:43,440 So I've known you, all joking aside, I've known you since 1995. 8 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,520 You were a freshman in, I'm sorry, you were a senior at Listerine High School. 9 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,760 And I remember when Chris Legan first brought you to youth group. 10 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,000 So I've known you a really long time. 11 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,100 I did your and Sarah's wedding. 12 00:00:59,100 --> 00:01:02,240 And so it's just an honor to be your friend all these years, man. 13 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,040 Here we are still kicking. 14 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:10,400 And you have been in Oklahoma for 10 years now? 15 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:11,400 Nine. 16 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,240 Nine, sorry, I knew it was close. 17 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,080 And you've been raising your family out there, loving life, just got a new house. 18 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,880 And been a pastor for a really long time. 19 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,280 And just a great 20 short years, 20 short years. 20 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,800 So you've learned some lessons from the school of hard knocks, the good, the bad, the ugly. 21 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,800 So we'll talk a little bit about that in a minute. 22 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:39,800 So when you're at home, and you can go out and eat, where do you go and what do you get? 23 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:45,240 Alright so if I could choose, it would be 100% no doubt in and out for sure. 24 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,840 But I'm not in the region of in and out. 25 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,840 The closest internet to me is about two, about three hours. 26 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,220 So it's a little bit too far out of my reach. 27 00:01:56,220 --> 00:01:59,360 But here, there's two places. 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:09,100 One would be Fuzzy's Tacos, Killer Nachos, and then second would be Ted's Mexican Cantina. 29 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:12,520 So those would be the two spots that I'm jamming. 30 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,880 Or if it's just like a quick lunch, I go to this place called El Pollo Chulo. 31 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:23,800 It's like grilled chicken, some rice, killer spot, man, killer. 32 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,200 Three Mexican food places. 33 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,760 I love it, dude. 34 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,040 I stick with what I like, man. 35 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:31,040 I know. 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,560 Me and you both, dude. 37 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,160 Maria made this chili last night. 38 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,700 It's just out of this world, dude. 39 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:41,000 So that's good. 40 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:46,440 So what are you doing these days? 41 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,240 And how did you get into it? 42 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:49,240 What are you doing right now? 43 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:50,280 Yeah, that's great. 44 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:55,600 So right now, we're doing a lot of staffing and resourcing and coaching churches around 45 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:56,600 the nation. 46 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,240 So we do that in a couple of different ways. 47 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:05,240 One is staffing through the Slingshot Group, so just helping churches in time of transition, 48 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,960 and then doing coaching and resourcing through a nonprofit that we started to call Renewed 49 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,040 Leadership. 50 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,960 So for example, we just put out a new resource. 51 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,420 It's called How to Keep Your Job and Help Your Pastor During COVID-19. 52 00:03:18,420 --> 00:03:22,320 So just 10 tips on how pastors can help their church. 53 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:27,840 It's even for even business owner or employees, how they can, in the marketplace, kind of 54 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:32,160 think differently in this season, how they can make some small sacrifices that would 55 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:33,960 have a big impact. 56 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:39,840 Podcasts, blogs, all that stuff, and then staff development through workshops, conferences, 57 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:40,840 things like that. 58 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,040 So yeah, man, just working with the local church. 59 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:50,400 How I got into it is, man, I've been a local church pastor for 20 years, but I've been 60 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,800 a leadership guy that whole time. 61 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:58,800 So even how I ran my youth ministry was always leadership-focused. 62 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,000 John Maxwell coach, whole deal. 63 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,080 And so leadership's just my passion. 64 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:09,160 And so I wanted to help the 98% of churches that are under 1,000 be resourced without 65 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,280 the financial strain. 66 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:16,280 And so we started a nonprofit, and I love networking and helping people connect dots. 67 00:04:16,280 --> 00:04:22,000 And so Slingshot was a rad opportunity for me to just help people find jobs in time of 68 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,000 transition. 69 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,480 So I love what I do. 70 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,200 I get to work with lots of churches around the nation and partner. 71 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,560 So it's pretty awesome, man. 72 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,840 Well, it certainly runs in your blood, man. 73 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:36,840 A lot of people may not know this about you, but your dad was actually the mayor of Santa 74 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:38,320 Fe Springs, Fred. 75 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:39,320 Yeah, man. 76 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:44,520 City manager, chief, run the police department, all kinds of stuff, man. 77 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,560 So leadership's been a part of what we do for a long time, man. 78 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:49,560 So it's been awesome. 79 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,200 Yeah, it's been part of your DNA. 80 00:04:54,200 --> 00:05:00,480 And that's been cool to see how God's used like, and your mom has had a counseling practice 81 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:05,120 for, at least since I've known your family, she's amazing as well. 82 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,120 So it's really cool. 83 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:11,880 When I was in junior high, my mom went back, got her master's degree, and opened up counseling. 84 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:17,280 And now she teaches at University of Phoenix. 85 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:25,520 And so just teaching, leadership, development, all that stuff has been a big part of my growing 86 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,200 up. 87 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:33,200 Just that public service and teaching has been all I've known. 88 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,200 Well, you know, I've always gotten along great with you and your family. 89 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:43,600 Part of it is because our two football teams shared the same stadium for a while, the Trojans 90 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:44,600 and the Raiders. 91 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,200 I just want to sneak in there for my guys. 92 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,960 You got to fight on, man. 93 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:50,960 Fight on. 94 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:51,960 Fight on. 95 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:57,920 You know that I'm a real fan because we're in some serious drought days, and I'm still 96 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:58,920 fighting on. 97 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,680 So I'm a true fan, man. 98 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,680 Yeah, it's never too late to hope that they'll bring Pete Carroll back. 99 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:07,640 But we know that's not going to happen. 100 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:08,640 That's okay. 101 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:13,480 So, so you've been at this for two decades. 102 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:18,560 So one of the reasons why I'm starting to have these conversations is so that people 103 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,080 can start to get advice and wisdom from people that have learned a lot from the school of 104 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,080 hard knocks. 105 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:28,560 You have two decades in the bank, leadership experience, pastoral experience. 106 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:35,800 So what are a couple things you wish you knew like when you started out that you like if 107 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,840 if current Ryan could talk to younger Ryan, what would you say right now? 108 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:42,400 I would say, you know, I mean, we all know it. 109 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,240 I mean, it's it's it's not anything new. 110 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,600 But you know, show me your friends and I'll show you your future. 111 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:56,160 I would just say, man, we've got to be very intentional about who we are around, because 112 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,640 they shape how we think, they shape where we're going. 113 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,640 They just shape our life in so so many ways. 114 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:10,120 And so I would just say that I would remind myself, encourage myself to really keep your 115 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,160 friends close and choose them wisely. 116 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,560 I mean, that's why I've fought so hard to be friends with you for so many years and 117 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,000 where we lived in different states. 118 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,420 And I mean, like, you just got to be intentional about who you choose to be around. 119 00:07:24,420 --> 00:07:27,720 Another thing I would say is slow and steady, man. 120 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,720 It's a marathon and not a sprint. 121 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,200 You know, pick a pace that's sustainable. 122 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:42,360 Over 20 years, I've seen so many friends and leaders rise to the top, you know, blow it 123 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,240 and just fall. 124 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:50,760 And so I would say choose a pace that you can sustain that's sustainable for you. 125 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:51,840 And that pace is different. 126 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:57,240 You know, like when I run a marathon, my pace is not going to be in the front page of the 127 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:58,240 newspaper. 128 00:07:58,240 --> 00:07:59,240 Right. 129 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,240 Like that's not my marathon pace. 130 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,280 My marathon pace is I finished the crop, you know, the line. 131 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:05,280 Right. 132 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:10,120 And so that's the goal for me is to hear well done, good and faithful servant. 133 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:11,800 You did what you were asked. 134 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,480 And that's what we've been called to do. 135 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:18,800 The Bible talks about like being obedient to the calling in which you've been given, 136 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,280 not to the calling at which that you wish you had or the calling that somebody else 137 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:28,240 has, but to be obedient with the calling that God has given you. 138 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:34,320 And so if that's in the local marketplace, then be obedient, be the best boss, leader, 139 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,600 whatever it is. 140 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:40,640 If it's a pastor, be the best pastor, best like be the best of what you've been called 141 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,760 to do, your family, your kids, whatever it is. 142 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:50,440 And so I would just say to myself back then is man, choose a pace that's sustainable. 143 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,840 Stay in this for the long haul. 144 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:57,840 Choose who your running partners are, you know, that's helping you set that pace. 145 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,340 Don't pick someone's running too fast. 146 00:08:59,340 --> 00:09:03,880 Don't pick someone's running too slow because you got to run your pace with the people that 147 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,600 are going to get you across the finish line. 148 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:10,060 And so my goal in life is to hear well done, good and faithful servant. 149 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:16,520 And while I'm here on earth, the plant, good roots and seeds that take fruit, you know, 150 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:17,520 that make fruit. 151 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:22,040 And so I want to be able to do things here that remain. 152 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,400 And so leaving things that have a legacy, it's not just about me, it's about leaving 153 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,400 a legacy. 154 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:28,080 So those probably be the three things. 155 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,520 Pick your friends wisely, pick a pace and leave a legacy behind. 156 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,520 So that'd be the three things I'd probably tell myself. 157 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:40,800 I love what you said there about like, you know, it's your race and also your pace. 158 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:46,280 And I think, you know, a lot of the stress that you can create for yourself after you've 159 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:55,280 been a leader for a while is you get tempted to not run your race and not run your pace. 160 00:09:55,280 --> 00:10:01,740 And that could be a whole message in and of itself about your race, your pace. 161 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:02,880 And it's absolutely true. 162 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:10,080 I'm coming up on I'm at day 363 of ocean water. 163 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:14,560 And the startup year is always it just is what it is. 164 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:17,240 You know, it's it's a lot. 165 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:24,160 And now that this COVID-19 hit it, kind of the last month of our first year, I've done 166 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:29,200 a lot of reevaluating and and now I've never been happier. 167 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:37,120 But now just settling into a pace that's going to be workable for for myself and my family 168 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:42,000 and making sure we're really just happy and connected doing all of this. 169 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000 Totally. 170 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,880 And that's so much so much wisdom there. 171 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:54,560 You know, how many times have we seen guys just, you know, not burn out, man. 172 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:55,560 Yeah. 173 00:10:55,560 --> 00:11:00,800 So those are some really wise words there. 174 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,200 So what are you what are you curious about now? 175 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,000 I mean, you've been a leader for 20 years, been a pastor for 20 years. 176 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,520 I know you run all the time. 177 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,240 And what are you just interested in? 178 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,120 Like what are you interested in these days? 179 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:16,120 What are you? 180 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,260 So I'm I mean, I'm a dad of four. 181 00:11:19,260 --> 00:11:24,280 So a lot of my interests revolve around my kids interest, you know, so but some things 182 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:31,360 I'm curious about right now, I mean, obviously, like right now, I'm just really curious about 183 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:38,600 how COVID-19 is going to impact our new normal because normal is dead. 184 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,800 Normal was a blivler, you know, like destroyed. 185 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:42,800 Right. 186 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,480 So what is the new normal look like? 187 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:50,160 And so I think just I'm really just kind of thinking through dreaming through what is 188 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,560 what does this look like in the church, you know, in my context, mainly in the church, 189 00:11:54,560 --> 00:12:01,900 but even for families, you know, my hope is that people don't just go back to over scheduled 190 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:07,840 and over programmed and over, over, over, over, over, but that we have found some pace, 191 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:08,840 right. 192 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,640 That's a little bit more sustainable. 193 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:11,640 I can't talk to you. 194 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:18,000 I have friends I've talked to said, oh, my God, I didn't realize that I was so over scheduled 195 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,000 until I had to had to leave it all go. 196 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,200 And so I'm just kind of dreaming about that. 197 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:27,120 I'm also, you know, every once in a while, you know, Craig Rochelle talks about just 198 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,720 dreaming about the future, about random things that help stretch your imagination. 199 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:36,560 So I mean, like, what is what is the future of auto driving, you know, self driving cars 200 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:37,560 look like? 201 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:38,560 You know what I mean? 202 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:39,560 Like, what will we know? 203 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:40,560 What does that look like? 204 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:47,920 So once I just dream about things that are random like that, just kind of helps my imagination. 205 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:48,920 I love it. 206 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:53,320 I just one of my favorite questions to ask people is what are they curious about? 207 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:54,640 What are they interested in? 208 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:55,640 There's no right answer. 209 00:12:55,640 --> 00:13:01,920 Just it's but it's important to have things that you're curious about things that interest 210 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:02,920 you. 211 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:03,920 It's part of staying sharp. 212 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,360 It's part of growing. 213 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:10,560 It's part of, you know, curiosity is a wonderful gift to have. 214 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:13,080 Yeah, it's important that we don't die before we die. 215 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:20,160 So staying curious, staying innovative is the key to that, man, that's for sure. 216 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,160 Yeah. 217 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:22,160 Yeah. 218 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,960 So what is what are a few things you have failed at? 219 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,480 Oh, gosh, a lot. 220 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,720 The list is mighty, man. 221 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,560 Yeah, I would say this. 222 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:38,960 I mean, it's cliche, but like, I don't really regret. 223 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,840 I wish I would do things differently, but I don't regret them because they've made me 224 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,920 who I am. 225 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,600 But I think a couple of things when I've looked back at some of the churches that I've been 226 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:57,260 a part of, I feel like I failed a couple of times at being fully in line with the mission 227 00:13:57,260 --> 00:14:00,480 and vision and value of my my leadership. 228 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:06,520 I feel like when I especially when I was younger in my leadership, I really felt like I knew 229 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:16,680 what was best for my ministry, and I really held on to like my things and felt like I 230 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:18,120 knew what was best. 231 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:22,600 And so I think the older I've gotten and the more I've looked back, I've said, man, like, 232 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:29,600 I think I failed at really coming in alignment with with those values of the bigger organization. 233 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:36,180 And I kind of I kind of created my own path, you know, at times, not intentionally necessarily, 234 00:14:36,180 --> 00:14:39,480 but just kind of say, man, I'm just gonna go, I'm really passionate about this. 235 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:44,080 And it's not necessarily a passion of my of my senior leadership, but it's passionate 236 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,080 of mine. 237 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,840 And so I would kind of go in that direction. 238 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,560 And so I'd say that's something I failed in. 239 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:58,560 Gosh, I mean, I've failed a lot of times in just trying things that are just, you know, 240 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,800 I've tried things and then I just taint. 241 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:01,800 Right. 242 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,160 I think some of it's been good because I think that, you know, like we talked about in the 243 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,360 previous thing is you got to be creative. 244 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,920 You got to be trying things. 245 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,920 But I mean, I've I've failed in some things. 246 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:19,760 You know, I mean, even like in the stock market, I've definitely failed a few times, you know, 247 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,800 taking some risk in the stock market and and failed there a few times. 248 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,640 But you know, we're believing we'll recover. 249 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:34,400 So yeah, I mean, even like cycling, you know, so for example, I was doing triathlons. 250 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,640 And I remember, you know, everyone was like, man, you got to be clipped in. 251 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,200 I'm sure Dellamator, you'd even say I got to be clipped in. 252 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,200 Right. 253 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:46,080 But when you like go sideways, completely sideways and you can't get out and then you're 254 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:52,100 laying in the middle of the street and you're clamped into your bike, you do that once or 255 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:57,080 twice and you kind of start thinking maybe clamped in isn't quite for me yet. 256 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,000 Maybe I'm not losing your pedals, bro. 257 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Maybe I'm not. 258 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,720 Maybe I'm not quite that level of cycling yet. 259 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,560 So yeah. 260 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,480 So I've also failed at surfing quite a few times. 261 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,480 I mean, gosh, I'm just getting tanked and just hitting coral, all kinds of stuff. 262 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,080 So yeah, that's some real things and some funny things. 263 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:16,080 I've failed that. 264 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:25,120 I like what you said about, you know, when when you choose to work for someone, there's 265 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,440 the responsibility you have to God, you want to do a great job for God. 266 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,960 But then there's also the responsibility that you have to the person that has given you 267 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,320 a job. 268 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:40,320 And it's always important that we do a good job for both. 269 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,480 And a lot of people don't like to hear that. 270 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:48,240 A lot of people like to hear, well, a, I'm not going to do a good job for God and B, 271 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:52,360 I'm not going to do a good job for the person either. 272 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:59,160 But it's very important that you learn to do to do a good job for both. 273 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:05,120 Even if you don't like it, then you can just go out and step up and start your own thing. 274 00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:06,120 Yeah. 275 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:14,400 So I'm a really big fan of you commit 100 percent to the place that you're at and you 276 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:20,840 let your success at the last place that you work be defined by the people that used to 277 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,080 supervise you. 278 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:27,800 Because everybody goes out and says, oh, yeah, I am the greatest thing that ever happened 279 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,840 to this place. 280 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:30,840 Ignore all that. 281 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:37,720 Just go, go talk to the people that used to manage you and used to. 282 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:44,880 And it's really important that we learn how to to to follow well, because when you learn 283 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:52,560 how to follow well, you then then that's those are the lessons that you actually need to 284 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:54,320 lead. 285 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,820 You don't you don't learn much. 286 00:17:56,820 --> 00:18:00,800 You learn a lot about leading when you're leading, but you learn a lot about maybe more 287 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,480 about leading when you're following. 288 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:08,920 Yeah, I think it's just important to realize that you're only stewarding this one area, 289 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:13,160 but you're a part of something that's much bigger than just your one area. 290 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,040 And we're stewarding somebody else's vision. 291 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:23,440 And so if that's your boss in the marketplace, if that's your lead pastor at a church, you're 292 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,400 just stewarding this one area. 293 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,520 So we're a part of something that's bigger. 294 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,300 And we should be coming in alignment with that, because, you know, when you've got three 295 00:18:32,300 --> 00:18:34,160 or four streams going, that's good. 296 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:38,000 But when those three or four streams come together, you have a whole river. 297 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,440 And the river is much more powerful than streams. 298 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,080 And so I would just say if we can bring all of our streams together, we're going to create 299 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,880 a big river, which will create much more power and influence than just a bunch of streams 300 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:49,880 by themselves. 301 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:50,880 Yeah, absolutely, man. 302 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:51,880 I love hearing you talk. 303 00:18:51,880 --> 00:19:00,080 I know you're so passionate about leadership and finding people, like, in their sweet spot, 304 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,080 finding people. 305 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,400 Because, you know, we all have a culture. 306 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,920 It's something that people don't talk much about these days. 307 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,800 But we all have a culture. 308 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,240 And we all have cultural preferences. 309 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,860 And those are all very beautiful things. 310 00:19:17,860 --> 00:19:24,520 You know, I don't really enjoy big cities. 311 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:28,560 I don't really enjoy the suburbs. 312 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,800 I really like small beach towns. 313 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,400 That's why. 314 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,520 And that's not right or wrong. 315 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:40,240 Those are just my cultural preferences. 316 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:48,160 That's why ocean water is such a good fit for me, because I just eat, drink and sleep, 317 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,600 you know, small beach towns. 318 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,960 And I love missions and I love church planting. 319 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,140 And of course, I have a background in public health. 320 00:19:56,140 --> 00:19:59,200 And so now I have been able to put these things together. 321 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:07,400 And that's why it's such a such a fun time in my life that I get to that I get to pursue 322 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:12,280 the kind of the passions that I have, you know, in order to in order to make a difference, 323 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,360 which is really what what we all want. 324 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:15,560 For sure. 325 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:20,640 We all just want to use the things that that we really care about to help people. 326 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,780 So make a little bit of a right turn here. 327 00:20:22,780 --> 00:20:30,080 So what's kind of like your your understanding of like the water situation in the world these 328 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:31,080 days? 329 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:37,520 I mean, I mean, you've you've been a huge part of my education on that, but even just my own 330 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,520 travel missions and around the world. 331 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:47,560 I mean, water is just such a big, big thing that that we take for granted, and especially 332 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:48,960 clean water, obviously. 333 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:57,040 But I think my understanding of it is really that it's it's obviously one of the primary 334 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:01,200 human needs that we've got to have and we have to have water consistently, otherwise 335 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:02,960 we're not going to live. 336 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,400 And I know that it's tough. 337 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,720 I mean, in a lot of countries, they don't have it. 338 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:14,920 And even in America, we spend so much money purifying, pumping water in and creating water 339 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,280 wells and so not waters, but water lines. 340 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,440 And so I just know that it's extremely important. 341 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:26,160 And it's something that we don't talk about because we in America, we take it for so granted 342 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,320 that we just you know, we've got our water bottle of choice. 343 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:35,440 You know, we've got water in every area of our house. 344 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:36,920 And so I know that's huge need. 345 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:41,120 I mean, even, you know, we've talked about doing stuff, you know, in Fiji. 346 00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:44,120 I've done stuff in Mexico. 347 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,560 And so water water is important. 348 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,800 Yeah, you know, human beings have to have water to live. 349 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:59,240 I'm sitting in my home in San Clemente today because 100 years ago, William Mulholland 350 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,960 worked for the city of Los Angeles and understood that the growth of Los Angeles was going to 351 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:10,280 be contingent upon its abilities to secure its sourcing for water. 352 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:16,400 And so he underwent at that time, 100 years ago, the largest public works project and 353 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:22,200 at up into that time in US history, and went up to the foothills in the Sierra Nevadas 354 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:29,960 and sort of hoodwinked the locals into securing the their source of water and then built a 355 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:38,600 227 mile aqueduct, which to this day, still helps transport water to the to this area 356 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:43,360 that the history of water and the state I'm a water nerd, so I can talk about. 357 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:49,520 Yeah, my my grandfather was a part of bringing, you know, a lot of the water plants and water 358 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,800 out in the Palm Desert, Indio area. 359 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,760 And so I don't know if we ever talked about that, but we've got I got a little little 360 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,240 history of water in my family, too, man. 361 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:06,000 Yeah, the the the history of water and the study of water is fascinating. 362 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:11,860 And one of the things that I'm just so, you know, passionate about now is, you know, so 363 00:23:11,860 --> 00:23:19,120 like in in Palmecito, there's 38 families that that we help get access to to to water 364 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:20,560 for. 365 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:30,800 And and so what is kind of your your understanding of what ocean water does? 366 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:37,320 My understanding is one, you know, it's it's providing two of the greatest needs that humans 367 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:38,560 need. 368 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,920 One is water for for our physical life and then water for our spiritual life. 369 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:48,160 So I mean, those are like two probably the primary biggest things you could ever put 370 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:49,160 together. 371 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,280 You've put them together, which is really unique. 372 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:58,960 And so for me, it's what I know when I look at what you guys are doing, it's really providing 373 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:05,960 intimate community around two of the biggest needs that anyone needs. 374 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:11,920 It's pretty awesome to be able to say, hey, we're providing living water and living water, 375 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:18,840 you know, and, you know, the never ending water and then the water from from the guy 376 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:19,840 created. 377 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:26,440 And so pretty awesome to watch just even the ability to like transform water from the ocean 378 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:31,720 into drinking water and then putting a community of faith around that, too. 379 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,720 And so but the other thing I love about it is just the fact that what you guys are doing 380 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:41,440 is so it's so organic. 381 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,200 It's so friendly. 382 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,160 It's not like we're going to give you this if you do this. 383 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,800 It's like we want to just provide this for you. 384 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,560 And we're a faith community that is supporting this. 385 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,360 And so I think it's pretty awesome what you guys are doing. 386 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:05,520 Yeah, for a long time, I sort of wondered how God would use just my love for for surfing 387 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:16,080 and my love for the beach and and and now looking forward, I can see that that the church, 388 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:22,360 I think the church is on a really good job sort of reaching into some of the obviously 389 00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:25,880 this I would say the cities in the suburbs. 390 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:32,120 We have a lot of we have a strong presence in the in the cities in the suburbs globally. 391 00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:39,520 And I just feel like that the terrain that I'm excited about is the beach and the beach 392 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,400 is different than the cities in the suburbs. 393 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:43,400 It's different culturally. 394 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,520 The people are different. 395 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:57,800 And so God's kind of been then using my understanding of small coastal beach towns to as a little 396 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:06,000 cultural way to relate and understand the people in that context. 397 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:11,120 And then also, you know, using that cultural understanding to help solve a practical problem 398 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:15,520 because practically there's there's a billion person problem. 399 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,440 When we when we talk about water, it's hard to believe. 400 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:23,600 And the people that actually need the the access and the quality are sort of these little 401 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,640 forgotten groups. 402 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,640 And there are there are all over the world, there's thousands of these little forgotten 403 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,840 groups of people that exist at the coast. 404 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:39,720 And they're they're 20, 40, 50, 100 families in these areas. 405 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:45,240 And so it's exciting to be able to see how God can use just a love for the beach and 406 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:51,240 the ocean and seeing help people get their water from the ocean and and then also helping 407 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,620 us to plant churches where they don't have any churches. 408 00:26:54,620 --> 00:26:58,960 So it's an exciting time and it's exciting time to to be friends with you. 409 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,080 We've been friends since 1996. 410 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:02,080 Our friendship continues. 411 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,120 And and it's you know, change happens. 412 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:07,080 People ask how to change happens. 413 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:08,080 How does change happen? 414 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,160 Well, it's just one conversation at a time. 415 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,000 It's one friendship at a time. 416 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,480 It's one relationship at a time. 417 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:20,640 And as we keep as we keep talking, as we keep having relationships, as we keep having conversations, 418 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:25,440 God uses that to stir our hearts and then God starts whispering to people and calling 419 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,800 people and then and then we can start to see God do amazing things. 420 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:34,080 But I do want to thank you for taking time out of your day to talk with me today, brother. 421 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:41,840 I look forward at some point for us to begin to to find one of these hundred and eight 422 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:49,520 countries of the world that have a coastline that is on the ocean and praying with you 423 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:55,400 and talking with you and planning with you at some point to go and to go help start a 424 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:56,720 church in one of these places. 425 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,880 So I know we're going to do that together at some point. 426 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:02,880 And I hope it's with I hope it's with our kids. 427 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:03,880 That would be awesome. 428 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:04,880 Yeah, that'd be awesome. 429 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,200 So, man, you got any last words for us? 430 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:14,080 No, I mean, I just say fight on and keep keep it real, man. 431 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,880 But no, thanks for the opportunity to come on and just share. 432 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,160 I just encourage you guys. 433 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,680 And we are in great days. 434 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:30,520 And God has put you in this place of influence for such a time as this. 435 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,120 If you wanted somebody else to lead your family, if you wanted somebody else to lead your business, 436 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:37,520 if you wanted somebody else to lead your church, you would have chosen somebody else. 437 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,120 He's chosen you. 438 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,000 And so God will equip you. 439 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:43,000 God will give you the strength. 440 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:44,840 He'll give you the wisdom. 441 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:50,280 And you know, the Bible is very clear that we will have times of suffering. 442 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:51,920 But in the end, it's going to be good. 443 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,520 And so I just want to encourage you guys to keep going. 444 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:55,680 Keep fighting. 445 00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,680 And man, I'm excited for the future. 446 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:01,680 Thanks brother. 447 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:02,680 Have a great day, Ryan. 448 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:03,680 You too, man. 449 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:04,680 OK, thanks so much. 450 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:23,500 Thanks.