The Bryce Crawford Podcast - Episode 4: Intimacy with Christ w/ David Latting

Episode Date: December 16, 2021

In this episode, Bryce invites David Latting to talk about his testimony and how intimacy with Christ impacted his personal walk with God.

All right, what's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the Heaven on Earth podcast. My name is Bryce Crawford. And I'm here with my brother and friend, David Ladding. What? And I'm so excited that he's coming on. First guest ever on the podcast. I'm excited. He's the best. And I'm excited to just have him come on here and talk about intimacy with Christ. Tell him a little bit about his story. And the impact and powerfulness of intimacy with Christ. Before we get into it, we're just going to start this off with prayer. So, David, would you like to open us in prayer? I would like to, but I'd love to. Beautiful.

All right. Let us pray, friend. Dear Holy Father, God, thank you for this day. Thank you for this day, Jesus. Guide us, you know what to say. Help us recall revelation you have given us. And let us give it to others. In Jesus name, amen.

Amen. Man, I'm excited for you to be on here. I just think it's really weird that we became friends in February, and you've lived like 15, 20 minutes for me the entire time. I had no idea. I had no idea either. I just thought I was thinking about that this morning. And as I was just, I was looking back at some old stuff,

just trying to like research a little bit more about your life like pre you coming to Christ because that's I mean that's all I've known you as it's just as just this Jesus loving guy but you you were atheist before before you became Christian is that correct I was confused I was a little bit more about it yes I was a skeptic I was cynical I still struggle with it Christ is killing it, but I'm a very cynical person. I'm hard to believe. Not when I say something, but when other people tell me something. So Christ, Jesus, God, he was always talked about my life.

I mean, I knew about God before I knew how to count the four. Like, I was raised in a private school, went to church, went to a youth group, I went to Wednesday, and I went to everything. But around fifth grade, I was like, I've got to know if this is real. Because to me, at first, it kind of sounded like some baloney. A magical man in the sky who I can't see conveniently, controls everything conveniently. And if you don't believe him, you go to hell. So good luck.

You know, and so I was like, oh, gosh, what? And so I did a lot of research starting in fifth grade. I would watch debates. I would do research why kids were playing Call of Duty. I was like strange. I was so desperate to find out if God was real. I remember being in the hall of my middle school, scooting back on my chair.

You know, like, it wasn't a roly chair, but I was like, we were moving classrooms. And I remember all sitting on my chair and like pushing, like running backwards like this on my chair. but I was so angry. I was like, devil, if you're real, proof to yourself, prove to me that you're real. Make this a worse year of my life.

And I was exposed to pornography that year. Wanted to kill myself. I suicidal thoughts, just all these nuts things. Like for a fifth grader, you know? And, you know, God. protected me from 99% of the devil's attacks. He gave me like 1%, you know, because I'm a little fifth grader who was in ignorance. Um, but man, that, that killed me. Um, and from sixth grade to

eighth grade, I kind of went numb. I didn't really care. Um, just was living in middle school life. Then went to ninth grade. I had to survive in high school from going to 26 people in my class to going to almost 300, 400. I had to survive the social hierarchy. And so I was mean. I left my old friends from middle school because I had a couple guys who went to my high school from a middle school, totally ditched them. Every place I went to, I remember J.R. to D.C., I did my best to excel at that. Like to become as good as possible at everything. I had this really obsessive personality.

I had. Thank God. So if I got into something, I would go full force. So JRTC, I went full force. I went so full force. I buzzed my head. It was bad. And then I got to soccer.

It made the soccer team. And as soon as I made the soccer team, I said, see ya to RTC. Ditched all those guys. And we went full on soccer. I grinded and grinding and grind in. And by this point, I'm still watching porn like you're grinding and grinding and grinding.

Then I made this like elite soccer team called SCCL. It was like the new league. And it was legit. It was my sophomore year. And I was like, I got accepted on varsity. I lettered. I, oh, man.

I grinded. Then my knee came out. My pletella shifted out of place. I remember I was juggling with my friend, which means kicking the ball up and down with the soccer ball, whatever. I was just messing around and my knee came out. Like it snapped like celery.

And I tried to stand up and I couldn't. And I remember that moment. I was like, what do I do? So for six months, I was alone. And because of that incidence, I was reminded of God once more. Because what do lukeworms do when they need Jesus?

Only when they have a problem that go to him. And so I had a problem. And I was lukewarm. So I was like, you know what? Oh, wait, sorry. I missed a big part of my testimony. I hate telling my testimony. But it's okay.

I do it for you, Bryce. So before my knee injury, when I was in eighth grade going to nine. Yeah, this is like the biggest part. Whoops. I went to this fall retreat. Yeah, backtrack time travel.

Multiverse. I went to this retreat in the mountains. Sorry, this is my eighth grade year, going to my ninth grade year. So I forgot all the soccer stuff. That doesn't happen yet. Wink, wink. So my eighth grade year to my ninth grade year,

I was so wanting to know God. And like I said, and I went to this fall retreat. And I think I experienced the word on top of a mountain. He encountered me. I remember after I encountered Lord, I accepted that he was real. Because remember I was struggling, God's not real. But then at that moment, I accepted, all right, Lord, you're real. through this crazy Holy Spirit encounter.

And I got obsessed with the Lord for like three, four months and I forgot about him again. So now we're back on soccer. My leg busts out. This is my sophomore year in high school. And I'm like, wow, like God's real. I forgot about him. So I just, you know, started researching the Lord again. going to church a little bit more paying attention.

I remember I got a journal to write stuff down. I thought it was so awesome. And then I got healed after like six months of therapy, physical therapy. And I forgot about God once more. I started playing again. I started playing. And, you know, I put on a good front. Everyone thought I was a Christian because I would even talk about Jesus.

I remember I led two two kids to Christ in my Spanish class and I wasn't even saved. That was my junior year. So my junior rolls around playing soccer going crazy and I'll be so vulnerable. Bro, I was the worst kid in high school. I was super manipulative. I didn't even know it, but I was. And I was so selfish. Oh, man.

I remember there's these two really pretty girls, bro. And, oh, geez, I'm going to expose myself. There's these two really pretty girls. And this is my junior high school. And I was like, man, like, I really like both of them. And so I started talking to one. And she was super nice, super sweet. But it was like really hard.

to get to her. I was like, man, this is really annoying. Like, I have to, I have to keep on a conversation. And so I went to the other pretty girl. And we talked and we just clicked like that. And so I just ghosted the other one. And in two weeks, I started dating this other girl. And I became, I was just a messed up kid. I didn't even know. I was just stupid. And I started dating this girl. And she becomes my obsession. You know, we never did anything bad. She's a freaking great girl, too. But, like, I don't know, she just became my idol.

And then I broke up with her. This is my junior year. I broke up with her just because, you know, it's a little high school relationship. We are both kind of like immature, you know, thought it was like the biggest thing in the world. broke up with her and I had this TikTok account with her. So me and her did this TikTok account.

Is this making sense? I'm kind of trying to piece this together. Yeah, you're good. It's making sense, I promise. I have to write down with Tesla, because I don't know what worse it done in the story. Because my story, some people are like, I was smoking meth, which I don't think you can do that.

Then I came to Christ. Mine's like, yeah, over a period of eight years, I came to Jesus. So it's kind of harder to tell. But so this girl and I, I broke up with her. And I was like, I had this TikTok account. It was me and her. And obviously, I like, I don't want to like keep that account that I broke up with

this girl, you know? Like, I don't want to keep on like, I don't know. That's weird, right? So I delete this account basically, like all the videos, but I still have like 17,000 followers. I was like, what can I do? I'll talk about God. And so I made a video.

I remember, I was like, today, guys, I'm switching my content, and I'm going to be talking about Jesus. I had no other motive. Like, I wanted people to know about Jesus, you know? Like, I wasn't like, this would give me followers. No, like, I was like, you know, Jesus is awesome. You know, I'll talk about him. in that video got like popped off they got like 300,000 views and like two days i was like whoa you know people like this and so i was like well you know i guess i have to fulfill my promise you know

so i just kept making videos about jesus and they were really cringy like god loves you oh do this water you know these dude you only there's only like four ticotkers like it was like Elijah Lamb, Amen, Alex, and Grayson Beard. Like that, bearded, like, that was it. No joke. And then this guy named Jacob Coin. And that was it. I'm not joking.

Like, there was no other Christian TikTokers, bro. Like, it was just us. Beginning of 2020. Like, COVID just hit. Like, oh, like school just went out. And so I started making Christian TikToks. And, dude, this is. where my testimony gets nuts.

Because again, like I said, I was safe. I do not think if I died, I would not be going to heaven. Wow. So my question is, because it'll continue on in your testimony, my question is, was that moment of, you know, because everyone's inside, your genuine heart is for people wanting to know God. So we know, we know your heart is like, I want people to know about God.

people are all on their phones and you're sitting there like was this the moment where you were like I have to equip myself to be able to teach others about it not even I'm telling my story is insane so basically it gets foggy bro like I remember making videos about Jesus and because I mean I broke up with this girl, but it's still hard for me because I was like, did I make the right decision? And this also shows you where my heart was at. A human relationship ended my mental state. That's how weak I was. That's honestly how pathetic my life was, that a human relationship ended my entire thinking, my emotional state, my soul. It crushed me. I'm the one who broke up with this girl, you know?

That's how weak I was. And that's not a bad thing, but it just shows you where my heart was at. Like, I didn't know Jesus. Like, I really didn't. And I'm not saying, oh, if you go through heartbreak, you don't know God. Not saying that. It's complicated. But I'll explain that later.

So to answer, because I know this podcast is it's not just David's testimony. It's my intimacy. So definitely get on it. Is there a time limit for this? I'm so sorry. No, no, not at all. Some kids are going to be under for like three hours. Buckle up, Joe.

I'm kidding. Okay. Okay, too. No. So I wouldn't make TikToks. I wasn't even thinking about equipping other people. I was literally just using the one-liners I've heard in my mega church. like the ones that aren't even biblical like

I would make some cool little looking video and be like God gives the strongest battles to the his strongest soldiers like the quotes like that you know that aren't even in the Bible they just sound cool or like the teacher's silent during the test yeah that stuff like that talk about yeah yeah yeah

which I do agree with that one that one's biblical But it happens to the old time. But, dude, this guy named Connor Hughes, he's my young life leader. I'll never forget this man. He changed my life. He said he, because I would never speak in my TikToks. Like, dude, I didn't speak. I would only use the texts.

And I had like 200,000 followers from like the text. So I'm two months into making TikToks. two months in from making tic-toks. That's it. Oh, this is so funny. And he goes, David, you should speak in your TikTok, like actually talk. I was like, that's a stupid idea. But then after two days, I was like, you know what?

I'll talk. I'll speak. And, bro, that changed the course of my life. I'm a testimony of God's grace. I'm just one tall loser who did TikToks and God's like, here's a career. By speaking, that's when it got complicated. Because I'm like, okay, I don't know what to say.

Like, I don't want to say something wrong. And that's when I really started saying, okay, this is real. And I saw like a comment or something on my phone. And one of my videos it says, go watch the passion of the Christ. I was like, bro, I'll watch that. And so one night, again, I'm starting to realize like my words have weight. And I watched the passion of the Christ this one night. And when they started beating Jesus,

I have never cried so hard. Have you ever seen Lord of the Rings and Smeagle? Yeah. I imagine myself now looking back, I felt like Smeagle. I remember backing in the corner of the room, literally like pushing against the wall. I wasn't going anywhere, but my feet were moving. And I was crying, saying, no, no,

because I'm the one but Jesus did. Wow. And they would whip the flesh off his back. Like, that's the most I've cried. And I have felt sad in my entire life. Like, I thought I cried and was saddened because the breakup I had. Bro, that ended me. And afterwards, bro, the whippings, they put Jesus in the tomb.

I thought that was the end of the movie. And I walk in my kitchen just, like, just drenched in, like, tears and sweat. and just anguish. And then they hear birds chirping, and I look back at the TV. This is so dumb. No, it's not. It's not dumb.

This is awesome. Jesus, love you. You're amazing. The tomb rolls back, and it starts playing the song, the resurrection, and the drums go, dv,

and like, Jesus, you just see him walk out of the grave, and it's like this glorious light and this choir, just seeing, you know. And at that moment, bro, I'm in my kitchen. I fall to my knees and I

started bowing. Bro, Jesus was in front of me. Like, my eyes were closed. But I was, I was babbling at his feet in full repentance, but absolute victory. Wow. Like I walked away in that movie born again.

Wow. Like that's when I was born again. And I made Elijah Land, like, for the first time, like, two days later. And I tell that story. And at this time, I had, like, 400,000 followers on TikTok. And Elijah Land looks at me. He's like, you've been preaching to 400,000 people not even being saved, bro what the heck

literally dude and um from then on my life I have so many moments and memories of just insane encounters with Jesus so yeah but I want to ask me

hit me with another question what's another core question I can answer to say how actually help people no absolutely no I genuinely think this is going to help a lot of people because I'm going to be honest um like you have you have such a voice in the Christian community, especially on social media, and now branching out, we know you do ministry and have been speaking and traveling, praise God. But people get to see,

like, at least this online presence of you, you know, like even outside of Christian TikTok, as they call it, right? It's like people only get to see an online version of a lot of people that are just in the public eye. But you're like telling them the raw, like this is what my life actually looked like. So I think people are going to look at you and go, man, like even, even every human being that we interact with is broken, but has potential for the kingdom. Bro, every person. There's a secret of being the top person in the kingdom of God.

But we'll get that to the end. It'll be the last nugget. So, so, all right. So then after this moment, right, you, so you meet Elijah and then, and then is this where, because I know you, every time I talk to you or ask you a question, you're like, bro, go watch this YouTube video. Or like, bro, go. You're like, bro, go read this. Or like, and you will literally send me a video that is two and a half hours long. I remember you go, we got done eating dinner. And you were like, bro, go watch this series. I'm like, all right. Dan Mueller,

School of Kingdom Living. 200 plus episodes and every episode is two and a half hour as long. And I'm like, this is a David thing. And so I listen to him all the time. I love it. But I'm saying like you spent so much time watching these videos and researching

and the analogies that the Lord just uses through you and like shines through you are incredible. So I want to talk about that because you, like you said, you said you left this movie born again. again, it's like now, so this point on, you're encouraged to seek intimacy with Christ. At what point were you encouraged to seek intimacy with him? And what did that look like? Because I think one of the first times we met, I asked you, I was like, bro, like, you know, you have a lot of wisdom. And you were like, I locked myself in my room and just like, just like study.

and sought after it. So I want to know more about that. Like, tell us about that. I'm actually, it's so funny because during COVID, I would spend three to six, two to four hours a day walking in this field. And Marietta, Georgia, called the Meadows, I would walk there for, like I said, hours and just listen to Francis Chan and Paul washer, David Platt, mainly Francis, like 95% of Francis. That's why I always make jokes about Francis Chan. It's because like, oh,

the Francis is because, like, he literally disciple me for a year and a half. But I would go to this field. And yeah, bro, I would listen to sermons from 2010 and 2008 and 2006. and Francis Janette Hare. And just I'm just kidding. And I would listen to his sermons and then I would encounter the Lord.

So I walked there for probably 150 days. I feel like, like estimate. I encountered the Lord there probably eight times. So out of 150 days, days I encountered Lord eight times.

That's one way of intimacy, is listening to videos for hours. But here, it's funny, it's amazing that you want me to talk about intimacy because I'm learning so much about it right now. Intimacy is not what we think with Jesus. Intimacy is not listening to a video for two and a half hour long time. Intimacy is not walking in a field. for two and a half hours listening to different preachers.

Because not a lot of people, like, that's, that doesn't appeal to them. At the time, that's the only thing that got me through the day was the Lord, walking with the Lord. But now, bro, the Lord shifted my intimacy. I'm actually going to my closet with no lights, no music, and sitting there. And it's hard for me because I'm used to walking in a field, being dramatic, listening to Hans and her, like, Lord, you know. But now I'm in my room, and I'm like, okay, what's up, God?

you have a good day today you know but do intimacy is this there's a man who is searching for god every day he would say lord where are you i seek you with my full heart he looks for god in books doesn't find him he looks for god in a cathedral doesn't find him he looks for god on top of a mountain, 10-mile hike, doesn't find him. This man has discouraged. He's tired. He's done all this tedious work to find the Lord, and there's no answer. And so he was walking down the mountain, and he sees a lake. He's like, I'll rest there. The sun's setting. It's a nice, warm but cool day. and he grabs this smooth, cold rock

and he flings it across the water. He skips the rock. He breathes out. He grabs another rock. Tosses it in hand, and he catches it again. Right before he's about to throw it, he hears him a small voice.

He says, hey, can I skip a rock with you? Can I skip rocks with you? I was like, what? What in the world? ignores it. He lets another rock, rock, rock, skip. He picks up another rock

and he hears the voice again. Hey, let me skip rocks with you. What the? And he just throws one more rock. And right before he picks up another rock, he hears the voice, let me skip rocks with you. And so Dan

said, okay, Lord, I'll skip rocks with you. He grabbed another rock. and skipped it. That last throw was intimacy with the Lord. It's that simple. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Intimacy with God is not a formula.

There's no microwaves plan to it. There's nothing that you can do to desire. There's no form. There's no technique. It's a relationship. it's you and the Lord. Man, you love to go run. Go run with the Lord.

You love to draw, draw with the Lord. Like, talk to him continually. I don't go more than, I don't pray for more than 20 minutes. I don't. But I never go 20 minutes without praying. That's a quote from either Ravenhill. or Smith Wigglesworth? Smith Wigglesworth, yes.

I don't pray for more than 20 minutes but I never go 20 minutes without praying. Wow. I'm finding intimacy with the Lord is not, why don't we think there's no formula? It's just simply skipping rocks with Jesus. Wow. Does that make sense?

That makes absolutely perfect sense. And also, it's understanding your identity because so many people think they have to get right with the Lord and then they'll spend, then he'll spend it like okay you know chris he did all this for me now i'll spend time no like you have been washed by the blood of jesus like the mention of his name jesus he's here the mention at the mention of his name he's here yeah even now and end the podcast and go spend time but I won't do that.

I'll stay here, friend. That's encouraging. That's encouraging, Jim. That's good. Can't answer your question? Yeah, that gets me excited. Like, I've got, I've got, like, chills right now. It gets me excited.

I was actually really encouraged by that, because that story I heard when you told me to go watch another hour-long video about Dan. And his- That's a real story. Wow, he's an incredible, incredible. Oh yeah, dude. I love the way he speaks. It's so funny. He's so funny. So intimacy. So that's what you're learning now. So I want to time travel back to what we were

talking about earlier with after you met Elijah, right? Because I feel like a lot of times, a lot of times, and I could be wrong. But when it comes to intimacy, people are like I got to know everything about God. Like I just have to understand everything. And so it's more on this intellectual relationship. You know, they're just like knowledge, knowledge, knowledge, knowledge, like facts, facts, facts. Oh, that's good. Right.

You focus on this like, man, just skipping rocks with the Lord. Like just dwelling with the Lord. But, but, you know, going back after you meet Elijah, you said, you know, you were appreciating 400,000 people without being safe. Now you're born again. You're meeting Elijah. I know you're encouraged right now. So what's next?

What happens after that moment, right? You meet Elijah and you're like, okay, what happens after that moment? What happens after that moment? I don't know. Like, just different. I want to know what happened after that moment? intimacy I begin to know my dad

in every moment intimacy I have been offered to speak at stadiums no joke conferences I've spoken at conferences with people from four states

you know like from groups across the U.S. offered to be flown. out to different countries to preach. Organizations reach out to me. It was so awesome, right? Had a million followers. I'm an influencer on social media.

I've met all of my heroes, Francis Chan, Nick Voyage it, Ed Newton. yeah Annie Bird like all these guys are just rock stars in the face in front of meet Lou Engel like what

you know and none of that matters all of that is absolute garbage when it comes to spending time with dad with the Lord

like all of its garbage. I met Nick Voygett. She's the reason why I'm an evangelist. He changed my life and I met him. And not only did I meet him, he called me on stage. And I spoke with him, my hero on stage.

And I got to pray with him. I got on my knees on stage at his event. Like how does that happen? I don't know. And after that happened, I was in the car. And I'm sharing this with a select few who are listening because I believe it is beneficial. Like I don't openly talk about all this stuff because it's cringe. But I'm saying it because it will help you. Like after I had that moment, I remember it's in my car and realizing how garbage it all this if God isn't here. Like if God's not with me, like the only thing that matter.

is being a friend of God. Like, you know who the greatest leaders are in Gen Z? Seriously, I don't know who they are. I don't know their names. But it's not Elijah Lamb. It's not David the Latin. Because we are not the greatest servers. Like, the only thing that matters is intimacy with the Lord.

and being a servant to everyone. Like, the only thing that matters is being a servant, is having intimacy. Again, I want to repeat this. The only thing that matters in your walk with Jesus is being a friend of God. And that's not something you have to earn. It's simply something you have to recognize

that's already been given to. like intimacy is the only thing that matters in the Christian walk I've said that like eight times but it's the only thing that matters but maybe people don't know how to be intimate but how do you be intimate with a friend like if something's on my mind

I tell the Lord like God like these thoughts are killing me like God I wanted to kill myself like I don't want that God like these people hate me and I'm tired

like you tell him everything and when you have nothing to tell him you think him God thank you for making me know thank you for saving me thank you Lord thank you thank you and it's throughout the day thank you

for safe and I'm even realizing right now that's why like the internet and TikTok and video games they're just so deadly to your walk and it's they're not a bad thing but they just rip away the intimacy the devil's biggest distraction is entertainment and he switches entertainment for intimacy like bro

I've wasted so many hours on pointless stuff for a boost of steroid is that what it's called? The happy emotion chemical bro it's all found in Jesus yes so

yeah does that answer your question no absolutely so you hinted on something that I kind of want to shift into as like a last surrounding topic before we close out is like that people hating you. We talked about it. I've talked about it with you. That, you know, that persecution, that online hatred, you know, the threats and everything. Because I know when you started when you started really talking and obeying the Lord, like you were getting sought after.

Even when I was doing like trying to scroll back, find more videos and just like find out a little bit more about who you were pre you. Like just the comments that people were taught literally from a week ago. Like a week ago, people are going that far down just to mess with you. You know? And it's like how did the persecution affect your intimacy in a good way? How did the persecution? How did the persecution? How did the persecution, encourage you to seek the feet of Jesus. Matthew 5. Let's read it. Oh, baby. I know exactly what you're about to say. That's all my favorite verses because you encourage me with this. Yeah.

Matthew 5.3 through 10. Blessed are those poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I was poor in spirit. And I believe the word of God. So I have the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are to those who mourned, for they shall be comforted. I mourned and I always comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

I am learning to be meek and I will never arrive perfectly in that area. But what does inherit the earth mean? In this life for the next, who knows? Just kidding, it's the next slide. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. That's, oh, that we could all go into a massive thing about that.

Blessed of the pure and heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. blessed those who persecute you and revile you, say all kinds of evil falsely from my name say, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven. For they who persecute you, the prophets. They're persecuted before you.

Prophets were persecuted before you, just like that. Boom bump. Ming-man. Dude, what? Like, that's nuts. So basically when people comment, I just get more XP in heaven. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. No, it's really about like, I had this weird, like, whenever I became a Christian,

like I've always loved the thought of like getting hated on. It just like flames me, man. Like, I'm weird like that. Like literally before I had a platform. from before like I like start preaching heavily about Jesus. I never, I like, I've always wanted people to like hate me for Jesus. And it sounds so weird. But it doesn't bother me one bit.

Like it's honestly, it's honestly an honor. Like what? Like, because it's not them, it's demons who hate you. So demons recognize who you are. Like for me personally, I don't want to be. no name in the kingdom of God. Does that mean like no name in the fact of being like, I never did anything? Like demons are afraid of me.

Does that make sense? Yeah. Like the fact that demons, it's because it's demons that are like hate me because it's manifestations. Because those people, if they knew Jesus, they want to be talking like that, you know? So it's not them. It's something else. So these demons, these things that hate me, like there's that.

thousands of them who comments and who hate me. And like, bro, that's so lit, in my opinion, in my opinion. That's like not everybody. I've met some people who like get hyped about that. But bro, like, for me, it's never been a problem. I've cried once. And because it was one of my closest friends was like, you need to stop. And even then, it wasn't even that big deal.

I was just searching for drama. dude god is so insane thank you jesus but yeah so i don't really know i've always liked persecution like i remember you called me and you got like your face like hit i was like i wish that was me i'm like what you know like that's so sick like i want to be shoved bro i want to be pushed i maybe spit on there's a video of that guy like baptizing in the lake and like the LGBT can use like throwing stuff and spray paint like hey like that's like I want to do that like how sick is that glory um yeah thank you say this and I'll be done with this but this can encourage a lot of people the stoning of stephen stephen's getting stoned and he looks up and he sees jesus

and he is behold the son of man i see standing standing at the right hand of god every like basically every other account of jesus in heaven jesus is sitting do you understand that Jesus is standing. So I almost picture Jesus standing, looking at Stephen saying, that's my kid. He's mine. I'm proud. My end goal is to make Jesus stand.

Wow. Not just say, well done, but like stand up and say, well done. And so when I get persecuted, it's like, they're only fulfilling my dreams. I don't know. I don't know. I don't really care. I really don't care.

So I love it. Yeah. Yeah. That's all the God. I want to make Jesus stand. Yay. I love that. I remember you telling me that even back in April when everything was

going down. I just remember you being with me. And even before, before everything happened, I remember you saying that. And every time I talk to you, you're just like, man, read Axe, read Stephen. Like, that's encouraging. And I love that. I love you. I love you. I can't wait to see you. Dude, to close us out, I feel like this is the closer for everyone. Like, every podcast I listen to. This is like a very common closer. I normally would never do this, but I really cherish your words and your words have weight. So I'm going to ask this common question, but if there's one thing that you can leave everyone right now, it doesn't have to be about intimacy. if there's one thing whether it's encouragement or an analogy or one thing

what would you leave these people go skip rocks with Jesus I don't know God is going to get a rock and skip on Jesus that's like I do I love that yes Hey, you better love it.

I'm just kidding. Dang. Well, David, thanks for coming on here. Thanks for inviting. And sharing a piece of your testimony and just telling these people your walk with intimacy with the Lord and how it's affected your walk

and what it should look like with others. So, guys, thank you so much. This is episode four of the Heaven on Earth podcast. I'm Bryce Crawford. This is David Ladder. You can check out. We'll look up David Ladding on Instagram or on TikTok. And our Instagram account is Heaven on Earth quad.

So follow it to stay updated with new episodes. But thank you guys for listening or watching this. Thank you. Guys next time.