The Eric Metaxas Show - Benjamin Thomas

Episode Date: February 24, 2024

Eric is joined by Benjamin Thomas and Rocky Malloy at NRB ...

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Folks, welcome to the Eric Metaxus show, sponsored by Legacy Precious Metals. There's never been a better time to invest in precious metals. Visit legacy p.m. Investments.com. That's legacy p.m. Investments.com. Welcome to the Eric Metaxus show. Would you consider yourself smart, insightful, precocious, astute, clever, wise beyond your years, and good at checking a thesaurus for synonyms? Well, then you've come to the right place. Here now is the handsome, attractive, striking, gorgeous and quite frankly, breathtaking Eric Mat, Texas. Folks, I'm at NRB, and I get to talk to all kinds of people. Most of them end up being friends of mine.
Starting point is 00:00:53 For example, Benjamin Thomas, welcome back. Hey, good to be here, Eric. Last time I talked to you, my reputation was destroyed amongst Calvary Chapel pastors in America, because you were saying some stuff, and I was agreeing with it, kind of over-enthusiastically, and I misspoke and all these people, they were mad as wet hands. And actually, some of them were wet hands. They were actual wet hands. But I talked to you about your book Revelation Riddle.
Starting point is 00:01:22 You have a new book coming out called Revelation Riddle Blast of Fire. And I'm laughing already because I'm looking at the cover of it. Revelation Riddle, Blast of Fire. You have a silhouette. It looks like Donald Trump. It is President Trump. Do we... Can we talk about that?
Starting point is 00:01:43 Yes. Let's talk about... What is this book, Revelation Riddle, Blast the Fire? What is this? So this book is a continuation of the first book, except that it focuses on President Trump in the Bible. And it is... What do you mean by that, President Trump in the Bible?
Starting point is 00:02:01 We know President Trump is mentioned in the Bible. So are you saying that the Bible speaks prophetically about a figure that you think is done? Donald Trump? Is that with the thesis? Yes. There is a portion of the Bible where the fourth beast, which I've mentioned in our last The fourth beast? The fourth beast. The Rome-rooted cesspool that rules this world is judged by Jesus. And then it says this man out of the sea comes on the scene. He's this new character in the Bible. And I believe that's Donald Trump.
Starting point is 00:02:33 Where is that in the scripture? Sure. So that passage is out of the book of Two Ezra. And Two Ezra was a book that was in, for instance, the Geneva Bible, that the Pilgrims brought over on the Mayflower. But it's not typically considered canonical. Not typically. But you're saying that it is canonical. By evangelicals. Yeah. By Orthodox churches, by, and it's in the Catholic Bible, it's in a lot of Bibles. It was in the Bible. It was in the King James. It was in the new revised game. It was in the King James? Yes, it was.
Starting point is 00:03:09 We could talk for days just about this. Like the idea that a book of the Bible got, how did it get dropped? I mean, that's kind of freaky to me. It's a good question. If you pick up a modern Catholic Bible, for instance, it might be in the appendix. But I believe it got dropped from the King James that, for instance, the evangelicals read maybe 150 years ago, something like that. But it was actually in the Bible. What was interesting is actually in the Geneva Bible, and that was the copy that William Brewster brought over on the Mayflower. And it was fascinating
Starting point is 00:03:46 to me because as I studied this book, I saw their passage also into Azra. So in other words, the Bible that they held in their hands actually described some of their voyage. And so I think it's quite fascinating. And after I finished the last book and, you know, it started to get out there. I really felt led to go study to Ezra. And I found passages that I just believe are undeniably President Trump. Prophesying a figure who ends up being Donald Trump. This is, this is a big deal thing, Benjamin Thomas. So what does it say? You said it's a man from the sea? What does that mean? Well, in the Bible, the sea is kind of a cesspool. It's nations, tongues.
Starting point is 00:04:32 It says that's where the whore of Babylon resides. I mean, the sea is, you know, Jesus taught his disciples to be fishers of men out of the sea. So the sea is not a good place in the Bible. The sea is a cesspool. And so when it says the man out of the sea, it's talking about a man that comes from the world. He comes out of the cesspool, and then God uses him in a very unique role. The cesspool of, in the original Greek, it refers to New York real estate developers. I was thinking more of the casinos.
Starting point is 00:05:06 Now, why do you think that that's referring to somebody in the future who ends up being Donald Trump, besides that he comes out of this cesspool? Well, part of it's the timing. So Jesus into Ezra judges the fourth beast system. And then the next chapter, this man of the sea appears. And when the man O'C appears, it says the whole world is stacked against them. It says the four winds of heaven attack him. And in the Bible, the four winds is kind of like an unusual attack.
Starting point is 00:05:37 It's something that's very dramatic. And it says he defeats them with words of, they're like a tongue of fire. He has this fiery tongue. He's really, you know, his tongue talks about his tongue like three different ways, how it's this blast, this tongue of fire. And then it goes on to say that he is a civilian. He doesn't carry weapons of war. He is actually a civilian leader.
Starting point is 00:06:06 So there's just a lot of things that sort of point to this mysterious figure in the Bible that I believe could be President Trump. And if it is, it's quite exciting that the Lord laid that out for us. Well, we only have a few minutes today. I want to have you back to talk more about this. But what does it say in effect? So this is prophecy, this is prophetic, at least that's how you're reading it. So what is your reading in the book Revelation riddle of where things are going?
Starting point is 00:06:36 Do you think Trump will be reelected? Well, I think Trump's coming back in a big role. Certainly president, perhaps even a larger role. What could be larger than that? Well, I think we'll have to find that out. But somehow you think that's implied in the... There's something special about this man out of the sea in the Bible, and it definitely is somebody very important to us into the kingdom age of the saints.
Starting point is 00:07:08 Somebody to usher usher us into the kingdom age of the saints. So you think he'll play a central role even beyond a four-year term as president, but you believe he will be re-elected? Yes. And actually, if you look at his original speech, If you look at the very last bullet point of his speech in 2017, he said in that speech, I'm going to usher in a new millennium. And it wasn't like this was 1999.
Starting point is 00:07:35 This was, you know, you can imagine a speechwriter in 1999 saying, oh, it's the next millennium, we're going to throw that in the speech. This was 2016 or 2017. So he was talking about this new age back then, and I think people were questioning, well, what does that mean exactly? Right. Now I see this man of the sea in the Bible, and I'm like, whoa, actually this person does usher in the next part of the next age. So if it is the man of the sea, if he is the man of the sea, then we're going to see a lot more of President Trump.
Starting point is 00:08:08 What do you think is going to happen this year? I don't know if that's something that you cover in the book, but what is this year? Because you talked about Jesus comes to, and people have to have listened to my previous show with you to even understand what we're talking about. but you say Jesus judges the fourth beast, this Roman system. It sounds like that's already happened. You're saying that's already happened. It's happening. I believe that's already happened.
Starting point is 00:08:32 But I also, in this next book, I do talk about timing a little bit more. Okay. There's something significant about the third day of the church. And Jesus was 33 when he died. So 2033 minus 4, which is when he was born. 4 BC would be 2029. And I think there's something very significant about that year because it's the third day of the church. It's the seventh day of humanity.
Starting point is 00:08:59 It also happens to be a year that we have one of the largest asteroids on record coming very close to Earth. I didn't think you were going to bring up asteroids. This is starting to get very wiggie, even for me. And yet, I am tracking Benjamin Thomas. So you think that there's going to be some kind of a cosmic event? I think 2029 is significant because Jesus kept saying on the third day, my body will rise. And that starts the third day of humanity, biblical day. The Bible says a day with the Lord is a thousand years.
Starting point is 00:09:35 That is the third, the end of the second biblical day and the beginning of the third biblical day since Jesus rose from the grave. So there's something significant about the third day. And so in the book, I just talk about all the places in the scripture. it talks about the third day and why that is so substantial for our time. Now, that's five years from now, Eric. Yeah. So a lot can happen in five years. I'm going to have you back on the program if the asteroid doesn't hit.
Starting point is 00:09:59 I just want you to know that. Okay. I know you're a 2% chance. I know you're, I know how to find you. Benjamin Thomas, I'm sorry we're out of time. The new book is Revelation Riddle Blast of Fire. Thank you, my friend. Absolutely.
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Starting point is 00:12:39 Tell us what is this idea of chaplains in school? What is this? Eric, we have over 30,000 schools with chaplains that we've certified in 23 countries. Yes. And the state of Texas took this data up to 80% reduction in teen pregnancies. 37% increase of graduation, zero suicides in the last 14 years reported to any school that has one of our chaplains. State of Texas took this data. They wrote a bill, Senate Bill 763, it passed.
Starting point is 00:13:08 Governor Abbott signed it, and it became a phenomena because it funded school chaplains, and now 17 states have this legislation in process. This is amazing when I hear about things like this, because I feel like, you know, the mainstream media, the conservative media, and nobody covers this stuff. This is exciting to me. Where did you come up? What were you doing in your life
Starting point is 00:13:30 that you came up with this idea and decided to implement this? Well, Eric, I was a wayward youth, and I had made a lot of bad decisions when I was a young man, and when I was arrested by the Lord, it just became my life's passion to help other young people
Starting point is 00:13:47 make quality life decisions based on a relationship with Jesus, and that's how we got to, when we serve 27 million people in these different countries now. And the results are phenomenal. And that's why these states now are looking at this legislation and they're passing it. Well, and so what is the legislation? In other words, this is something, clearly this has a beneficial effect,
Starting point is 00:14:11 but you've got a lot of secular people in school systems, in government, who would be hostile to this, I assume. So this is something that you have to convince. them that this is legal, that this is a good idea. I mean, that's been a process, I guess. Well, they kind of lost a fight before we got there because there's 10,000 federal chaplains. There's thousands of chaplains hired by states.
Starting point is 00:14:40 Like, DFW Airport is 35 chaplains paid forward by the government to be there to help anxious travelers. School teachers are the only government employees that regularly, you know, test with PTSD's equal to first responders that do not have access to spiritual care. School teachers. School teachers. There was a million felony assaults last year against teachers from students. They're in a hostile environment.
Starting point is 00:15:07 Wait a minute. Wow. A million felony assaults, students on teachers? Just two weeks ago, a third grader was asked to sit down and quit talking. He charged the teacher, picking up a fire extinguisher on the way. and would have killed her unless a passer by would have heard the commotion in a classroom. So we need chaplains to kind of step in, and you are, how do you implement this? You know, how is this working out?
Starting point is 00:15:41 I mean, give it to me again, how many people, how many chaplains are there and how many states and how many schools, districts, I mean, where are we in terms of fulfilling this idea? Well, Governor Abbott signed this in the law on June 18th in 2023, and the law said that school districts would have to vote in favor or against. Currently, approximately 56% of school districts have voted in favor, which represents a little over 3 million students that will be receiving chaplain's care. And the state of Texas is paying for that to happen. So this is only in the state of Texas at this point? At this moment, but several states have advanced it like it's come out of the committee, for the House or the Senate.
Starting point is 00:16:23 And just yesterday, Idaho passed it out of the Senate. It's moving forward because it's very popular appearance because schools with chaplains have proven to be safer campuses. Who doesn't want a safer campus? Well, I mean, the statistics that you have been citing, again, you know, once people hear about this, but they have to hear about it, right? The things that you just said, it's amazing to me.
Starting point is 00:16:47 So if somebody is interested in this idea, how do they get involved, how do they find out about it? What is the best website for folks to go to? Because this sounds like a magnificent solution. Campuschaplains.org. Campuschaplains.org, that's it. Yes, sir. Campuschaplains.org.
Starting point is 00:17:10 And so say it to me again. You said this is in 23 countries? 23 countries over 30, actually 30,531 schools. and 27 million people serve 30,000 plus schools. So this is catching on in other countries, but on this country. It has been going on in every industrialized nation in the world almost has school chaplains. Australia has a national school chaplain program, UK, Holland. It's common.
Starting point is 00:17:39 The idea that somehow teachers and students are void of spiritual need is almost only in the United States. Right. That's kind of shocking because on some level, were the most Christian nation of all these Western nations, and yet in some pockets were the most secular. And this were the most secular. I mean, it's a stunning thing. So, you know, if somebody is listening to my program,
Starting point is 00:18:02 they're not in, whether than the state of Texas or another state, let's say they're in another state, they said they're interested in this idea. How would they bring this, you know, into their school district? First of all, any school in the United States can hire a chaplain. These bills do not make it legal. It funds it. It funds it. So they don't need to pay for it. It's already funded. Well, I mean that the legislation pays for these chaplains, but the idea of a school district hiring a chaplain, that's never been illegal.
Starting point is 00:18:35 But a broad-based movement, what's happening right now, that's what's unique. Well, so say it again, you were referring to, you know, zero suicides. Give me those statistics again that schools that have chaplains, what are the statistics that you just said that schools that have chaplains, how dramatic of a difference it makes? Up to 80% reduction in teen pregnancies. That influences graduation rates, which are moved up to about 37% because way more young ladies are graduating because they're not getting pregnant. But the ones that shock people is zero. You're thinking about a database of 30,000 schools, not one. suicide reported in 14 years.
Starting point is 00:19:21 That's almost unbelievable. That's really astonishing. People push back and they said, you know, that's maybe too far out there. People won't believe it. But if there was four or five, I would say it. What happens is there's a confidential source on campus that young people can speak to without any fear that it's going to go on their transcript or their friends are going to be gossip.
Starting point is 00:19:42 And that person has been very successful at eliminating suicides because, of the confidentiality. I mean, it's absolutely unbelievable. We're at a time, or actually, we probably have a couple of minutes before we have to go, because I want to just make sure that everybody hears about this. You've given me a brochure that I assume most of this stuff is on the website. Yes, sir. All right. So you can become a school chaplain, you can get involved, you can hire a chaplain for your school, or you can advocate for the idea of of a school chaplain. As I look at this, it says, I mean, it's just amazing. It's so common-sensical what you're talking about. I mean, the idea that there's somebody where you can go, how does this
Starting point is 00:20:29 different from, you know, there's counselors in school? How is this different from that? Because I think the last school says, well, we have counselors. Well, you know, the U.S. military has every kind of mental health profession you can imagine, and they have significantly increased chaplain involvement. The last few years have called Strategic Readiness Initiative. They decided that a soldier, airmen, or Marine is not prepared for combat unless they are spiritually ready. They've changed the culture of the military chaplains have in those last few years. So there's this really, and corporate chaplains have exploded. People need to have a relationship with the Lord, and chaplains are unique because they're trained to serve in a secular environment.
Starting point is 00:21:11 That's why it doesn't breach the First Amendment. So tell me again the website where people can find out about this. Campuschaplains.org. Campus chaplains.org. Campus chaplains.org. If you have kids in a school and there is no chaplain there, which the odds are that that's the case, you need to check this out. Campus chaplains. dot org and i've been talking to rocky maloy uh i got to say this is good news campus chaplains dot orgie thank you so much thank you eric mike lindell and my pillow employees want to thank
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Starting point is 00:25:27 If you hear chattering in the background, that's actual chattering. It's real chattering, real people. I'm in Nashville. And I get to interview all kinds of people, for example. Right now, I'm sitting here with Mark James, who is with something called MediShare. I think you have heard of MediShare on this program before, but I'm going to play dumb. Mark James, welcome. Hey, Eric.
Starting point is 00:25:49 And what is your position with MediShare? You've been there with them for four years now? I have. I'm the CMO. The CMO, Chief. Marketing officer. Marketing officer. Okay.
Starting point is 00:26:00 So for people listening who do not know what Medeshire is, give it to me from the beginning so people can understand what it is. Yeah, happy to. And thanks for having us on the show. Absolutely. So MediShare is. You guys are doing good work. That much I know. So I just want the details.
Starting point is 00:26:18 Yes, you bet. And glad to have that conversation. We are a alternative to traditional health care. And really simply... I'm in. Good, good. We'll stop here. We'll sign you up.
Starting point is 00:26:32 Seriously. No, keep going. So we are a group of Christians that come together to share resources to pay medical bills. It's that simple. And the model seems revolutionary to some people. In fact, sometimes go, oh, wow, you're crowdfunded health care. That is really cool. And I'm like, well, if you think what the early church did,
Starting point is 00:26:57 in acts of Christians coming together to share resources, share burdens, that's all we're doing. All we did was took technology and made it more effective and efficient. And that's what we do at Medashare. Bills come in. We pay the bills. And our community is sharing their resources so that Christians all across the country can do medical insurance. We're not medical insurance. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:27:23 They can do health care differently. And what are some of the questions, the typical questions that people would ask? Like, how does this work? I don't quite understand, you know, how can you afford to do this? How does it, Matt, is it, how do you prevent people kind of from, you know, taking advantage of what y'all are doing? Yeah, no, you asked one of the questions. How does it work? Can I trust it?
Starting point is 00:27:47 And we get those questions all the time. We love those questions. We were founded in 1993. We've been around for three decades. We have 400,000 members, and we've paid every eligible bill that has come through our doors since we opened. How it works is you sign up for Medashare, you sign a statement of faith, a lifestyle agreement. You agree to the biblical community. Right.
Starting point is 00:28:14 You come in, you break your arm, you go to the doctor, show your card, they take care of you. The bill comes to us. We pay the hospital. that's how it works. It's kind of simple. It's pretty simple. But it works. But it works.
Starting point is 00:28:30 And who came up with this idea? Because it's kind of an amazing idea because of the simplicity of it. Who envisioned this in the 90s? Yeah. Our late founder, Mr. Reinhold, was in sort of the water of health-sharing ministries. We were one of the first that got into it. There was another organization that was doing something like it. And he said, you know what?
Starting point is 00:29:00 I think we can do it differently and better. And so he came up with the model that I've just shared with you. Started in his garage, just like Amazon. We're just not as big as Amazon. Well, and how many people then are you a member of MediShare? How does that work? How many people are involved, I guess is my question? Yeah, yeah, we have 400,000 members across the country.
Starting point is 00:29:26 Four hundred? This is very big. It is. I knew it was big. I didn't know it was that big. Yeah, yeah. We're in all 50 states, 400,000. And Eric, one of the things that, you know, is really resonating, especially today. We're in a post-pandemic society. I know from things you talk about, we talk about, you know, we look at life-way statistic. only 39% of people view their pastors as honest. The Little House on the Prairie model of the pastor being an esteemed member of the community is gone. And the confidence in the church as an institution has dropped to 37%. So with that as a backdrop, we at Medashear are getting a lot of people saying,
Starting point is 00:30:12 you know what, I see what's going on in culture. I'm not going to keep trying to push back. I need to do something about it personally. And so how do I align my values and my dollars? And so they're starting to look at health care sharing as, wow, I can meet a basic need, this thing called health care that we all desperately need. And I can also align up my values in biblical community with millions of other Americans that are practicing the same thing.
Starting point is 00:30:42 This is a very big issue for me. I've talked about on the program before about how we use our dollars. You know, because people say, well, you need to vote. Like, yes, you need to vote. That's basic. Yeah. But how you spend your money where you invest. Yes. With whom you spend your money. Where do I spend my money? What companies matters gigantically. And when you think of the power. that Americans have the money in this country that gets spent with companies that not only don't share our values,
Starting point is 00:31:21 but that are using their money to oppose, aggressively oppose what we believe in. That's right. One of the ways we change things, we have the power to change things, is by where and how we spend our money. And so anytime I hear about an alternative, you know, to be spending my money, with folks who share my values, I say I'm all in. And so it seems to me like that alone is a reason for people to think about MetaShare. But when we come back, I want to ask you more about that.
Starting point is 00:31:55 Folks, I'm at the NRB, and we'll be right back. Mike Lindell and My Pillow employees want to thank my listeners for all your continued support. To thank you, they're having an overstock clearance sale right now for the best prices ever when you use promo code Eric and. You get free shipping for the entire order. Get 50% off the MyPillow 2.0 and the brand new flannel sheets that just arrived and won't last long. Get six-pack towel sets for only 2998 and take advantage of the free shipping on larger items like mattresses and mattress toppers. 100% made in the USA on sale for as $99.99.
Starting point is 00:32:45 Everything is on sale from the brand new kitchen towels that have the same technology as the bath towels that actually absorb. Dog beds, blankets, couch pillows and so much more to get the best specials ever go to MyPillow. com. Use promo code Eric. Again, mypillow.com. Use promo code Eric. Remember, you get free shipping on your entire order. You can call 800-9783057. 800-9783057. Use promo code Eric. Welcome back talking to Mark James, who's with Medi-Share. Now, what's the website? I always want to give people the website up front so they can check it out. Metashare.com. That's pretty simple. medishare.com. We were just talking about, you know, the culture wars, right?
Starting point is 00:33:38 We're talking about people living in America and oftentimes don't have a lot of choices. Oftentimes you have to, you know, people say, well, I got a shop at Target or I got a this or that. And I always say to people, if there is any way for you to spend your money with companies that share your values and to avoid companies, I would never spend a dime with Disney. I don't care what it is. It's a moral principle. Anheiser, Bush, and Bud Light, not a dime, target stores, not a dime. There are many companies that have really stuck their necks out to show their contempt for Middle America, for American values, for biblical values. And I think you have to make a decision that you will not give them your money.
Starting point is 00:34:28 Sometimes it's complicated. you don't know where a company stands. So when it comes to health care, how does going with MediShare help people use their money in a way that is not going to a place that will misuse it? Let's put it that way. Yeah, yeah, no, it's great. And I appreciate the question. We're passionate about the same thing. When you come into MediShare, you're part of a biblical community.
Starting point is 00:35:00 biblical community is member-driven. So our guidelines are all voted on and member-driven. It's not us at Medi-Share, the administrators, but it is member-driven. So in that member-driven, guidelines, for example, a hot issue today is abortion. You know, our members have said, hey, we do not want our dollars that we're putting into this thing called Medishare to cover abortion. I was just going to say this is, I mean, a lot of hospitals, medical centers are involved in abortion. They're involved in transgender surgery. I mean, on and on and on and on.
Starting point is 00:35:39 And Christians are somehow participating in that. Yes. And they don't even know it. Yes. And, well, that's why we're having this conversation because I want them to know, yes, you are, folks. Yes, you are. You ought to think about that.
Starting point is 00:35:53 And that's why we're talking about it. But that's the reality. Yeah, that is the reality. And there's other things that, you know, our community says, hey, we're just not going to share in those items. You know, another thing that I like to say, Eric, on this values-driven spending and really putting the thought into it, like you just said, you have to look beyond the obvious. As Americans, we are consumer-driven, and I love a phrase from the power forward for the
Starting point is 00:36:22 Orlando Magic, Jonathan Isaac. He founded a company called Unitas. You might be familiar with it. Yeah. And he says on his website, greatness is defined by performance. But what about who we are and how we live? And so we are in line with what he talks about because so many times as Americans, we're looking only at performance. And performance can be convenience. It can be comfort. Yeah. And so we're saying, hey, look beyond the obvious because Medasher not only takes care of your health care and meets that need, but your dollars are going to a Christian credit union. And then the Christian Credit Union is a big deal is building churches and funding faith-based entrepreneurs.
Starting point is 00:37:04 No, this is a big deal. And Jonathan Isaacs, I think he's the one that, you know, he refused to get the vaccine, refused to kneel for the National Anthem. That's right. That is heroic. And we need more people doing that. But then again, the question is, how do we participate? Where can we go?
Starting point is 00:37:22 And when I think about, you know, I was just, I joked with you when you came on the air. I'm so exhausted because I'm doing so many interviews and said, man, you know, can you have any cocaine? Like, you know, that's my joke, right? And you just said, you know, even if I did, if I gave it to you, you couldn't join Medashear. And I thought, that is an amazing thing that you're asking people to be honest. And if you live this way, we will work with you. But if you don't want to, we can't work with you because we can't have people doing drugs or we can't have, you know, That's right.
Starting point is 00:37:57 And I thought, what an amazing and simple idea. It's like, you want to join the club? Okay, these are the rules. Like, you don't do drugs, you don't do that. And then, you know, you get great health care. You know, you want to do that. And maybe some people don't. It's like, okay, well, then you can, you know, partner with whoever's out there who's willing to help you out.
Starting point is 00:38:16 But this is an honor system. It is. And there's something, you know, wonderful about that. It's voluntary. It's not a coerced. No. It's voluntary. And so what else do you ask, you know, for when people are going to be involved in MediShare,
Starting point is 00:38:31 what do they need to, you know, it's kind of like if I want to get insurance and I've never gotten a traffic ticket, I'm not a speeder, I'm a safe driver, whatever, they'll give you a better rate because they say, well, we can work with somebody who is, you know, not reckless. So people can be reckless with their bodies. So what is MediShare, you know, when people want to do it? What do you say, what are the deal breakers? Yeah. So a statement of faith.
Starting point is 00:38:55 That's on them. that's between them and God. Like you said, it's an honor system. Yeah. They sign a statement of face. There's a lifestyle agreement. Yeah. You know, there are certain things.
Starting point is 00:39:04 We talked about abortion. We talked about drugs. Yeah. Abuse of those types of things. You're going to sign off that you will adhere to what the community has said is important. Yeah. And a requirement to come into membership. I just love that idea.
Starting point is 00:39:21 So you can't be a booze hound. It really is interesting because you don't. don't think about that, that when you're involved in, you know, with medical insurance or something like that, you're subsidizing people who are living, you know, in reckless ways. Yeah. Yeah. And alcohol, you know, people are going to, they're going to drink alcohol here and there going out to dinner. What we're focused on is the abuse of it. Of course, yeah. Because that creates issues. Yeah. It creates problems. There's no doubt about that, but it's just amazing.
Starting point is 00:40:00 I assume smoking is part of that. Smoking is part of that. Yeah. Non-smoking. Yeah. But that's interesting because it kind of, it makes sense in terms of the dollars and cents, right? I thought, well, if I was going to start a business and whatever, it's like, well, we've got this whole group of people, all these Christians that they believe smoking and, and, you know, and. And drinking, you know, is not a good idea.
Starting point is 00:40:27 So they're going to be healthier, and that's going to be good for the business model. Yeah. And so, like, let's, you know, let's work with those folks because it's voluntary, right? They're not, nobody's forcing them not to do this, but they're not doing it already. They believe that they don't want to abuse their bodies. And so it makes sense. So metashare.com is the website. We're going to be right back to conclude our conversation with Mark James, M-A-R-Q, James, who's
Starting point is 00:40:55 with Medashear. Don't go away. Welcome back, folks. I'm in Nashville, and most of you are not, but I'm here, and I'm interviewing Mark James, who's with Medasher. He is also, as it happens, in Nashville, and so we can sit here face to face and have a conversation. So tell me more about Medishare, what's going on? Yeah. So, Eric, we've had a good conversation about who we are, what we do, and we're excited to continue doing that. But God's really put on our heart just, for the moment in time that we find ourselves in what can sometimes feel like a dark world to really go back to what the Bible says about the early church.
Starting point is 00:42:04 And I mentioned that earlier, how, you know, people came together. They were Christians. They shared resources to meet needs. We can't do this alone, but we believe God's gifted us with a model based on the early church that really works. And we've had a lot of success. And so our call to ministries and leaders across the country is, is, hey, what if Christians once again come together and begin to share resources?
Starting point is 00:42:31 You mentioned businesses and organizations. What if Christians began to take small steps in banking and finance and insurance and investments? And, you know, retail and consumer choices, you mentioned some of those. If we began to do that as a body collectively and make small steps, we believe it really truly can change hearts and minds. in America and change the world, and that's just not a tagline. No, I am very excited about that idea. Again, I've talked about that on this program. Anytime I get an opportunity to talk about something like that,
Starting point is 00:43:07 because I think that is the future, and it's happening in some small ways. It needs to happen more. People of faith need to get more engaged with this stuff. Patriot Mobile is one of the sponsors of this program. You know, give your money to Patriot Mobile instead of to AT&T or Verizon, or whatever it is. anytime you get to make a choice like that, you're voting with your dollars, you're voting with your heart and your mind to do the right thing.
Starting point is 00:43:33 So when I hear about, you know, people going into banking or, you know, my friend Mike Lindell has my store.com. And my books are available at my store.com. You got to use the code Eric, get a discount. But when you go to my store.com and use the code Eric, you're not going to, you're not going to, you name it, Amazon, or whatever it is, it's an alternative. And we need more and more and more of those kinds of options. And then, you know, people of faith need to get serious about sometimes even self-sacrificially saying, I'm going to choose to go there and not there.
Starting point is 00:44:11 Because it's the right thing to do. And you're changing the culture with how you spend your money. It's amazing to me. That's exactly right. And to your point, the other side of this ball is no longer can we just say, because you're Christian, I should do business with you. We think that's extremely important. Back to the performance conversation, we as Christians have got to up the game across the kingdom economy.
Starting point is 00:44:36 Amen. And the kingdom economy will win out if we all rise to the occasion. And so we feel very, very heartfelt and driven as a ministry. We feel a call to move forward into what we've talked about here. And I'm excited that you and your listeners also have that same. Oh, listen, I wish I could do way, way more along these lines. When I hear about anything like this, my heart soars because I know this is the way out of this mess that we're in in this nation. It is.
Starting point is 00:45:04 And so anytime there's an option, as I say, to choose to work with people that share your values, they're aligned with your values, they're not using your money to destroy the things that you believe in. That's big news. And the fact that we do have some of these options, Metashare is the one we're talking about right now. But it really makes me realize that this is our future. This is the way out. It is. Mark, thank you for being my guest.
Starting point is 00:45:36 Folks, if you want to know more, you can go to MediShare.com. Metashare.com. Mark, thank you. Eric, thank you.

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