Unashamed with the Robertson Family - Ep 247 | An Update on Mia Robertson's Extensive Surgery and the Difficult Recovery Ahead

Episode Date: March 24, 2021

Jase is back with an update on how his daughter, Mia, is doing after her longest, most extensive craniofacial surgery yet. He describes many of the challenges ahead, including swelling that will last 12 months. Phil marvels that he's never heard a word of complaint from Mia. Jase is nearly defeated by NASCAR-like driving conditions in Dallas and has to play the "I have a gun" card at his hotel, but an encounter with a young couple at the hospital fills him with encouragement. And Phil opens it up with a story about netting a big (and nasty) surprise. Thanks for your prayers and support! Mia Moo: http://miamoo.org/ -- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am unashamed. What about you? I don't think I have any notes. Yeah, we were, so Dad is doing media today for his book. And he was also, went on the last podcast, I forgot to mention that uncanceled is that, which we'll talk more about that later. But Dad has been, he's been all over the place on the, I mean, he's been, of course, you know, it's funny because we used to have to go to New York, or Washington or wherever to do media and you have to go and stay two or three days you remember

I have to do like a book run and oh yeah it's this is I feel weird though I mean I'm usually yeah I'm in field chair but I don't feel philosophical because I'm I'm looking the wrong way I don't know I feel weird no wonder he doesn't say much well just at some point just make sure you go and read Titus you know that all the what was all the the good, good works. Phil's just like, just do good. Hey America, that's the next book. Just do good.

Just do good. That actually might work. It might work. It is, it is noteworthy that Titus, that he does say that over and over and over. Just do. But you know what's funny is, Jay? So, like, some of the people that dad's been, I've been, I've gone back and listened to some of his interviews.

And some of them are like this, their podcast style. so they're kind of long. But he, they're really intrigued because like, the subject matter is about cancel culture because his book is calling cancel. So, you know,

they're like angry about it. So, you know, they keep wanting to make him angry. And I guess maybe old dad would have been angry, you know, because that was pretty, you know,

he got pretty fired up about things. But he's been very non-angry. Like, he's like, oh, no, you got to love them. You got to love people. And they're like,

well, yeah, I know, Phil, but, you know, and then they give another example. He said,

yeah, Yeah, love them. You know, we're just trying to do good here. And he just keeps resetting back to that, kind of like it does on the podcast. Yeah. And, but I think they're intrigued by that because nobody's really pushing that out in the old cancel culture discussion is, you know what? Why don't we just let it go, you know? I think after a while, I mean, you, because I'm shocked at how much we were attacked just for doing a reality show.

Right. That was PG, family friendly, realistic, authentic. we were ourselves on the show and there, you know, all the, I guess, hate mail, which was a very small percentage. But if you start reading that stuff, it would affect you for a couple weeks. And then you finally realize, I guess I've been in the Lord 30-something years. I just, that's the way I look at people. Right. They're people.

We're one race, human race. Well, I think that frustrates people because it seems like the society is wanting to find the differences. and then somehow promote the differences so that we can promote unity. Yeah. It seems like the cart before the horse. Well, and I have to say the sad truth is really and truly in the world of Christianity, and I put that in air quotes, just Christendom at large, we were much more divisive before our country was divisive.

I mean, which is sad. I mean, you mentioned this a couple of podcasts back, and I didn't get a chance to jump in on it. but you were talking about how that people will go out of their way. I think we were talking about when you preach Jesus, you know, it's easy to have that foundation. But, you know, there are people. We took a class when we were in school. You may not remember it because you slept through a lot of our seminary classes. Speak for yourself, yeah.

But the class was about learning every world religion. I remember that. You remember that? It was like it called world culture. Yeah. And it was my- I'm just like, Matthew 28.

That's right. He's like, what? Go into the world, preach the gospel to all nations. So I don't care where you're from. We spent, we spent a semester, so that was four months, once or twice a week,

however much that class was meeting, studying all the tenants of everywhere religion and what to say to come. And I was like, at the time I even thought, well, I guess we were just in the grind here, trying to get through,

I slept through the last nine-tenths of that class. Because that's basically one class. If we preach Jesus, we're kind of not worried about, you know, what to say? What do you find the similarities in? I mean, we're all created. We don't choose life. I mean, you're given. Life's given.

You look up and you're here one day. And then we're all different technically. I mean, there's a few twins. I guess that are physically look a lot of light, but even that there's always subtle differences. So I tend to look at things like, well, we're all sinners. We're all given life where we all, our life is going to end. We all have something that is a talent or something that we like to do,

whether you suppress it or not. But these are the things, you know, you find common ground in. I'm not, there's no one like you on the planet. Right. So it's just a terrible thing. thing to try to find physical differences and then or even political differences who you vote for because it comes back to these same issues about life and I'm like let's focus on the spiritual character qualities and then go down that road instead of making note of everyone's differences

and then having a list of things to say that is non-offensive Well, right. Or, you know, I mean, it's like, what, what do we do? You're, you're going to, if you, if that's the way you approach every person, we're all different. Right. Yet we have similar qualities that we can unite on that are weightier. Right. Then what color you are or, you know.

Well, the, the solutions are the same solution. You know, I get a lot of emails from our unashamed audience and it's like, well, tell me, help me, what do I tell a Muslim? I'm like, First Corinthians 15, 1 through 4. or, you know, Romans 1, 16, 17. I mean, like, you just, if Jesus is the answer, no matter what group you're talking to, you're not going to debate somebody over Islam or over Hinduism or Buddhism or, you know, look, those things, if you may be into interesting, finding out about other groups, that's fine. But I'm telling you, Jesus is still the only answer.

Well, exactly. Just think about. Think about all the studies you've had. I've shared Jesus with highly people with master's degrees, highly educated people. More educated than you? Oh, well, that doesn't. That's not hard. And also, you know, someone who dropped out of high school.

When you say, well, is the message the same? Identical. Yeah. There's no difference. That's what's crazy about all this is because God came up with a plan through Jesus that literally identified. with all people. Right.

By the matter of your education, your background, your creed, your race. So when he said in Matthew 5, when he went through the B attitudes, when you think about what he did here,

he's like, blessed are the poor and spirit, for there's the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they'll be comfort, blessed are the meat, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure and heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Well, guess what? We can all, all human beings can pursue those qualities. That's why he's so appealing. Well, then it says verse 10, which is what we started this conversation.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Well, there's your counsel culture. I mean, this was written 2,000 years ago. Rejoice and be glad. Great is your reward. Lord in heaven for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So, I mean, you have to take it with a grain of salt. And, I mean, the big picture things, which is what Jesus dealt with, characteristics of the heart. I mean, that's what I'm concerned about. When I told you, the biggest illustration I've seen lately of that very thing was when we went to the march, you know, I mean, every conceivable kind of Christian, different groups were there. And it was really a beautiful thing for me to see because it was like we were united

in a common cause. It was pro-life. It was like, you know, we want to change that about our country and our culture. And so it didn't matter. I mean, we could have gotten into philosophical and doctrinal debates all day long, but what good would that have done? We were there together. And so I think that's kind of what we've kind of lost culture-wise, for sure.

and because, you know, division sells. And look, the evil one, there's no doubt. I mean, that's, when you see something that's having the impact on a culture like ours right now, so much division, so much vitriol, the whole council idea, you know where it comes from. It has to be from the evil one. It's too, the plan is too foolproof. It's too, it's working too well. It's causing too many problems.

It has to be him, you know, when you see something. Well, I think that's what God's plan is, look, there's a time and place to defend things. We defend the innocent and life. but you also he also said love your enemy so there's a point you reach where you're just like yep okay i get it i love you and and i think phil you know you brought him up he he's really the lord is really put that on his heart and uh i commend him for that because it is difficult i can't tell you how many people i mean everywhere i go they're like your dad i mean you know and they just go into all the glowing things they love about him.

And I realize it's just because of his consistency, you know, because... Well, he's blunt. And look, he's, to his credit, he has said, you know, I've said a lot of things that I probably could have said better. But when you talk a lot, that's going to come up. But if you're growing and you realize where this is coming from, it is coming from the fruits of the spirit, you know, we do try to say things in love. I mean, that, what's that Ephesians?

passage, we speak the truth in love. And sometimes that's hard because it makes us mad at some of the things that are going on in our country. So I'm speaking this week, I'm going up to Illinois, and I'm speaking to a group of church leaders. And I think he told me there's like a hundred and eight churches. And, but they're, they're kind of a loosely connected group of people. There's farm towns. I mean, this is up in Illinois, Missouri area. And he was telling me, because he said, I just, I just want you to encourage the leaders. I'm speaking of the men's thing that night, which is a big, you know, draw for the community. But he said, would you speak to our leaders like elders and people in these churches around?

Some of them. And he mentioned that only about 30 out of the 100 plus churches have a preacher, you know, because they're small and their farm communities. And they just really can't afford that preach. So a lot of people just kind of stepping up. And I was like, yeah, I'd love to, you know. And so then I got to thinking, what am I going to tell them? Because he was like, we're in these communities, you know, nothing's really happening that people aren't moving here.

You know, people have moved away from here. And it's just kind of like the same people, week in and week out. And so it seems to kind of get depressed because you don't have a lot of people to work on, you know. And so I got the thing about I said, you know, what am I going to, how would I encourage them? And but then it hit me, I thought, well, no matter what your circumstance is, you're in the city or in the country or wherever. I mean, the same things we talk about that impact you and lift you up work. And so then I just, that started me down in the rabbit hole saying, you know, they just got a center on the gospel, grace, Jesus, what he's done for you. I mean, every family has impacted that.

And look, then I got to thinking, you know, that's probably going to change because these cities, at some point, these people get tired of living what's going on. So I thought they're probably, if the Lord doesn't come back, they're going to come move out here. And then all of a sudden, if you've got it on straight, they're going to come to you. And so that's kind of what I'm going to encourage them with. Well, you think about it. I mean, I think a lot of people. Let's take a breath. A lot of people, they're like, well, I don't know what to say.

The reason I don't share Jesus, and they don't view Matthew 28 is something that is directed toward them because they're like, well, number one, I'm a sinner. But we're all sinners. Right. And all these men who wrote these letters, they were sinners. that God is sanctified and saved. So if we go by that basis, nobody would ever say a word. Or they say,

I don't know what to say because I'm not that educated. I think that's coming from the council culture as far as, because the underlying premise of it is to stop the proclamation of who the Lord is because they don't want to change the way they live or behave. They're like, because if there is a God, and he did write this, and he does have a standard and character that is our moral compass, well, if you embrace that, then you've got to change the way you live. Well, people don't want to change the way they live, so they attack saying, well, there's no God.

You made it up. I mean, it's a fantasy that you've created, despite all the historical evidence, you know, of the Bible and the fulfilled prophecy and all the things we talk about and creation itself, the evidences of that. But still, I think it always comes back to that. point because I've thought that when I started speaking I was like well who am I I I mean especially if it's a bunch of leaders I spoke not too long ago I think there was 500 pastors and their wives and I was asked to speak so at first you're like well what am I going say well it's the same concept of what Paul wrote in this letter to the caravians it's the most simplistic foundation that you could come up with.

I mean, he basically started off saying, look, I'm not going to preach anything besides Jesus and him crucified. And that didn't mean like, oh, well, the resurrection is not important because he got to 1st, Corinthians 15, and he gets into that. But it's like, you know, I think people, they look at religion as like some kind of puzzle that you've got to try to fit all the pieces to knowledge, education, or hard work and inspiration to make everything fit. So then you can figure out your own life.

Right. And it's not that way at all. God is a person. You're introduced to him. You get to know him. All this is written letters that happen throughout our history that leads you to the ultimate writer, which is a being God. These men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

And then you introduce him to other people. That doesn't mean you're perfect. You got everything figured out. You're just introducing a person who's full of grace and can transform your life. And that's so much different than trying to put all these pieces like you brought up the world culture. I mean, we didn't need a 10-week class on world culture. I mean, just give me the high points. But the same Jesus is going to be appealing to all cultures.

Right. Because we all make mistakes. We all have brevity of life. It ends. We all need these characteristics. That's what we have on our side is these characteristics of God, truth and character and integrity and perseverance and all these things, the plan of God. It's appealing to all cultures and we'll make them dynamic. Right.

And you have to have a foundation to know that. Because we talk about the culture. You know, you're talking about populism or pop culture, popular culture. So much of what's driven now, the same with the social media, is everybody wants to poll to see what we think about something. In other words, if we're going to lead, we need some polls. We need another. We need to know what people are thinking out there, which at its base sounds like a good idea. We did a poll on this podcast.

Would you watch a show if we did a show about Treasure Hut? And you really base your decision on whether we're going to be. move forward the project what they say. So that's a good thing, get information. But if we said, okay, we're going to do a poll to see if Jace should stay married to Missy. Yeah. Because obviously every time we're on the podcast, you've got these classes, we have fun with it.

Yeah. But would that poll matter to you, Jay? So if 80% of Unashamedous and I said, Jace, I think you need to cut or lose, is that going to affect? It wouldn't affect you at all. So what I'm saying is when you look at popular culture, And the way things are driven, if you don't have a standard, if you don't have something, we're going to do a poll whether Al's going to keep following Christ or not.

I wouldn't care what to. Or should you. Or should I, yeah, exactly. So I wouldn't care what the person. I think that's the way our culture is, though. They base their decisions on where the herd is headed. And if you get enough people, there's power in that. And you said before the whole stop market thing, right?

All of the herd. All of the herd. You can have a great company. And if the herd says, no, you can stay with it and it'll eventually, probably, if it is a great company, come back. But guess what? You're going to lose a lot of money on the way once the herd turns on it. And they do the same thing with now through advertising and support. And if enough people start challenging something, that's how they yield their power.

If they find something objectionable, whether it is or not, whether it's not, if enough of the big company say, we're out, then all of a sudden you have controversy because the herd has turned on you. That's why it's so difficult to be public about your faith in Jesus because a lot of people and a lot of major corporations and a lot of political branches do not support a God-led society. Right. So you're going to be a fact. Exactly. So here's what I'm going to do, Jay. So this just came to me. I'm going to try my, so it's the top 10 list. My presentation is the top 10 list. So I'm going to try it out on you and our audience because by the time this podcast comes out, I would have already been to Illinois and back home. So this is top 10 things I wish I knew when I started. Because these are ministry people. So when you started your ministry? Started in ministry. When did that? When would you say?

So that was. I mean, technically your ministry starts. I guess when you come out of the water. It does when I was 18. But when I was trained and then decided that I was going to, you know, spend my life basically, ministering to other people. That was, I was 23. We graduated from school and I was an intern at the church. But I was already like thinking, okay, I guess this is what I'm going to be doing.

Even though I wasn't real sure about it, you know, it took me a few years. You know, what's weird at the same time, I tried, I was recruited by the same people that were kicking you to go into ministry. And what I mean by ministry is like pay for a pay ministry, which I think I tried it six months maybe or was it longer? You were a little longer. Maybe a year or two. Because we interned for two years together. Long enough to realize I'm not doing this. You were less than a year once we actually got hired on. Because there were no windows. Right. And they gave me an office. There was no windows. They had a dress code somewhat. I mean, it wasn't written on piece of paper. Well, we were interns. There were four of us in one office.

But I was constantly being called in about the way my attire. And I was like, look, I wear camouflage. I have no money. Well, you remember back then, Jay's, they even kind of, there was kind of even an expectation, especially for some things where you're like a tie, like a suit and tie guy. I don't really own a suit I put together. But it wasn't just that.

And then I shared a couple podcasts ago, you know, I had a study with a guy. and he's like, the only reason you're sharing this with me is because you're paid to do it. I'm like, you know what? I'm out on this. But what's before your top 10 list is, you know, I went in a different direction, but I realized something that, you know,

even this whole letter started in to Corinth. I mean, it was three tent makers. They went around, they built tents, and they obviously used that as a platform for sharing Jesus, which is, I went down that run. I was like, if I can figure out doing what I love to do, if I can figure out how to make a living doing that, that's what I want to do.

And I like to fish and I like to hunt. Phil had the duck called business. I think I was the first paid employee. Probably so. But I had a prayer to God that I said, you know what, if you'll bless me in this endeavor just to provide for my family, which is kind of a terrible way to pray, but I was immature. I remember saying when I do duck call seminars, I will always bring up Jesus. I mean, I literally made a vow to do that. And to this day, I've done that in every time I've ever spoke, which took the pressure

off me because I was a shy guy and I didn't want to get up to speak. Which was kind of funny, Jay, because you say that now. And I mean, not that it's not true, but I mean, do you feel that way about yourself? But when we were in school, like, you seemed much more natural than me. Oh, they would say that, but I felt horrible. When you were doing chapel, because the way it works is your fellow students is who you cut your teeth on and your instructors. But when Jace would do a lesson, I mean, he was funny and, I mean, really good insights. And I felt like mine was just kind of like, whatever.

I mean, it was just kind of ironic to me that I wound up doing this my whole life and that you were better at it than I was starting out in the beginning because it was just natural. But that's what they kept saying. And I remember having a debate with one of the, what do you call them, the instructors or whatever. He was like, well, you just got some natural build. I was like, I thought this was supposed to be spiritual. And he was like, well, that's not my point. But I was like, you're an instructor. But they kept saying that.

Because I was like, I'm not good at putting together a lesson. And I'm still not. I can't remember anything. So then I just started studying, praying, trying to get myself out of the way. Right. And just like, I'm just, this is not about me. I'm going to get up. So even in school, that was my attitude.

I was like, I'm just going to share the power of God. And really, because they're teaching you all these homilette, what they call homiletics. And I think that's the right way. Yeah, that's right. Homeletics. Yeah. And just like how, which, looking back on it. Let's take a break.

Looking back on it, it did help me organize thoughts. But because I realized some of their principles was true at the time, I thought, boy, this is a complete waste of time, you know, point one, point two, point three. I'm like, I got one point. And that's kind of the way I always look at it. But your style and personality, because now we have the benefit of we're both getting older, but now me looking back, your style and personality. is such that you weren't good in the grind.

Ministry is a grind. I'm no good at that. I'm claustrophobic. You like to take something and noodle it and work it out into the way you want to do it and let that, however long that takes is how long it takes if you're assigned something. That's what you do. But when you're full-time working it and you've got to go on Sunday, back of the day, twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday, I mean, you're talking about a grind.

If you don't have a, it's like doing a show. You know, if you don't have a procedure of how the show's going to go, I mean, if you just got to keep coming up with it on the fly every time you go out there, I mean, it's hard to make a TV show. If I was working for a church, they would have fired me. Because look, you know what I would do? Because here would be my style. I lasted 25 years in the same place, but I'm built for it. You're good at that. And that's why God uses us with their different talents.

Because you know what I would do? If I had to preach every week, I'd say once a month, I would get up and say one sentence. And look, and people, I get up and say, it's not about you. And I go and everybody look around and be awkward. Do good. See y'all next one. That's what I'm saying. It's like, because I don't like the routine.

I think it's hard for people to go do the same thing every week. And it's too hard on the guy. A lot of these churches have one guy who's getting up. and it's like, man, it's killing him because half the people are asleep. And it's like it's just, it's hard to have one central theme being that you're trying to represent and introduce. But you're doing so much of it from this material

and looking at the trees that the forest is missing. People get bored. And then it just kind of turns into a, I would have to break that up. Yeah. And you're right. It's very hard in that, in the structure. of, you know, any model, but especially the American church model.

It's very difficult to do anything different or creative because you're just, you're built into that, you know, here's the way we're going to do it. My point was, for you read your top 10, but my point was, so I realized I need, I want to go out there to the world and do this. And, and it heat, I mean, God is the one that made that happen in the duck call world and the things that I do. And even now, I got into a hobby, you know, metal detecting.

But I'm doing the same. I had the same idea. I was like, maybe God can use this since he spent so much time, way more time talking about finding treasure than he did about shooting ducks in the Bible. I mean, there's a couple of passages

that I've used many times in my seminars, you know, Genesis 9, Act 17. So, all right, but I was just going to show the fact that we're that different. I mean, we're brothers, we came the same place, went to the same school, and we went in two totally, opposite direction for the same calls of Christ.

I think it's pretty interesting. And I'm like you now. I mean, like, I still preach here just because of circumstance because Trent, our good friend, was here and then left. And so it's kind of temporary, but, you know, we've been doing it now a couple of years. But I enjoy preaching. But I'm like, you know, that feel of going out and just being in all these different settings, like where I'm going to be in Illinois, there's a men's thing that night.

The reason I can't tell you where it didn't tell you where it was before is because it's already sold out the place. But it's exciting, you know, it's 1500 men are going to be there. Yeah, that's what I like to do. I mean, that's exciting. But I can't, when I speak at the local church, and y'all have asked me a few times, it's so awkward to me. It's like the worst crowd in the world.

I'm like, what is wrong with these people? And what's funny is they love it and they love you. It was kind of like with Bowles when he was there. I mean, he got a big reaction, which he, you know, did awesome he was so good but like even when he was doing it there wasn't much reaction I mean I told him when we were in Greece together I said look when they asked you to speak there I want you to lower your expectation this crowd it seems like they're either asleep or dead I was like but I actually think they like it no they do just not and I can

read them better because I've been up in front of a lot more well you seem fine with it right to me I'm like man where's the energy because I'm doing all these things But you know what helped me a lot with Jason, which is funny about that. When we went through when the pandemic first started, we were just up there in a room with TV cameras and about six people. Because this was when it all started back in 2020, because everybody's worried about everything. So we weren't meeting. And so there was just a camera.

And I'm standing there with my notes. And there's six people in the room. But I'm trying to like be energetic because I know that hundreds or thousands are watching. And so, but I learned a little bit about. that idea that as much as a crowd helps you, you can't depend on them because you still got something you got to do. You know, something you got to say. Yeah, and ultimately it's not about us.

It is about God's power speaking through us. All right. So here's my top 10 list. All right. So top 10 things I wish I knew when I started. The first one is to be creative and aware of your culture around you. Because I think, as we just said, one of the things that when you're just locked into the weekend, week out routine is you don't.

don't tend to look and see what's going on much outside of just that. And so I think people lose creativity because they're not aware of what else is going on. You've got to get out of your little pen that you're in. I spent so many years in the same place. So all my illustrations and everything were just coming out of just right here instead of out there. Well, I think you're right. Even when we took the world culture class, although I thought, I mean, they could have just done one class, which said, be aware that there's some different cultures out there.

Yeah. That's all I needed. That's right. I didn't need 10 weeks of it. No. But I do think that's important. But it's going to be the same message and the same Jesus. But to your point, me getting out of my local town and going all over the world, sharing Jesus,

I just found that most churches have way more in common than what you're led to believe. That's right. When you go to a specific one, your whole lot. And you've talked about before your love for worship. I mean, think about the experiences you've been able to have because you've been in other places and you've been able to experience that. It's one of the greatest things that I've discovered late. But when you talk about the top 10 things I wish I knew, I wish I knew that there were a lot of people out there who are excited and passionate about singing together and being together in a worshipful setting. I mean, I realize that true worship is Romans 12, you know, offering your bodies

and sacrifice and transforming, you know, your mind and to know what God's will is. But there's just something unique and powerful and soothing and really inspiring. And Paul even gives you that, remember back when we were First Corinthians, too, about there is something special about when we come together, you know, for that purpose. the spirit of God moves in a different sort of way among the group. So there's no. Well, it's like that passage. Take a break.

Yeah, let's take a break. It's like that passage that when God Jesus said love the Lord of God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. A lot of churches are really good on the mind. Yep. And maybe the strength, they work hard or they're study hard. They have a bunch of intellectual. But you think heart, soul, mind, strength,

somewhere in there, emotions are involved and passions. And it's okay. We need this. We're being persecuted. You know, it's interesting. So that's one of the things I learned out of many from when Bowles was here. When he did that presentation about the three parts of the heart, what you just described is actually all the same concept.

It's all of your heart, you know. It's every aspect of who you are. Well, it's like before you do, number two, it's like when. I always go to this Hebrew's passage, speaking of Jesus, where he said, where is that? In Hebrews 5, it says, during the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death. And he was heard because of his reverent submission. And you've heard me do that bit before. Most people, when they think of reverent submission,

they think of you sitting stoically, not making a peep trying to do things in what they call decency and in order. And here it's Jesus. He says he was heard because of his loud cries and tears. His reverent submission was passionate and emotional at times. I even think of that song that they sang, You know, in the Gospels, before he went out to be betrayed and crucified, it said when they got together they sung a hymn in the garden in the garden.

And I've been there. And I just imagine him and his disciples out under these trees singing a song. You're not telling me they weren't moved? Oh, my goodness. And him especially knowing what he was about to do. And then looking back on that, what do you think happened? post-resurrection the next time his disciples sang that song. Exactly right.

It's kind of like me, you know, when you go to a funeral, I remember going to Jan's funeral and singing the songs that she used to love when she was here with us on the earth. It was emotional, wasn't it? You just couldn't help him. And it was one of the most powerful worship-filled experiences that I've ever participated in, and it was the death of my aunt. Yeah. Remember that?

I was like, oh, my goodness, because we all know her. operation. Yeah, for God. And we're like, this is bigger than us and bigger than our time on earth. But then when I experienced that, then I started going back and reading all these passages that I neglected. Even Jesus walking on the water, it says they fell down and worshipped in that moment. Right.

I mean, it wasn't a Sunday morning sitting around looking, just singing the same songs. And so I think if you look at it more of that, this journey that we're experiencing in Jesus on a daily basis and sharing him, when you get together with these people and you see lives being transformed and even in the difficulty and, you know, people die and bad things happen and we gather together and we pray and we have these worship-filled experiences that are directed toward God. There's just something powerful and moving about that. Yeah, and once you're affected, then you can affect other people. So number nine, if you're, you're doing that true top 10 list was God, which is the father, son, the Holy Spirit is the star.

The Bible is the script. And you, as a minister, are merely the narrator. You know, because it's easy sometimes in our world of ministry, especially if you're the main pastor, they call it, that it becomes about you. You know, this is my church. This is my this. But you got to realize you're just a narrator. I mean, this is, you're doing VO work, voiceover work. You need to bring this up because the people in the audience sitting there with the notebook saying,

I don't agree with what he said there. It's like, what are we doing here? Right. And even you've got to remember as a pastor, you're a flawed human being. What if you get it wrong on a small pointer? It just, that's a good one. Yeah, I do think that that should be said. Then I've got a picture of the pulpit that Mack Owen, my good friend, built.

He's a master carpenter. He built this big pulpit. And it looks like a cross when you're looking at the audience. But it's got a thing where the middle part of the cross where you can lay your stuff on. And behind that cross, facing only me, he rode in there. He burned it in there. It's not about you. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I remember saying the first time I spoke. But I think that's a very important point. All right. So number, number 10, number eight is that, and this goes along with the same thing, is that praise and criticism are vastly overrated. So both. I mean, like, you know, somebody doesn't like your style, doesn't like you preaching, whatever. You know, this guy's the worst.

But you're really not the worst. There's somebody out there worse than you. Oh, yeah. And, but if they say this guy is the best, well, not really, because there's somebody better than you, too. So the thing about it is, in the large scheme of things, you have to realize that when people are praising you or criticizing you, you know, it's overrated. But really, look, Al, the ministry, if you're there, and whether you're paid or not, I mean, because I figure wherever I'm at, I'm being a part of the body of Christ. I'm trying to lift up Jesus in a world that needs him. I keep going to Matthew 28.

but the bigger the message becomes and everybody likes a dynamic growing church right and if it takes off then there's always going to be a temptation to say well we're doing this because we got this preacher oh you got to come listen to this preacher oh he's awesome we got a good one well if that's the cattle let anybody hire him guess what that's not going to work long because it's not about him That's right. What I was going to say is the more, when things get rolling, I think as the pastures got to remember, is the bigger the ministry becomes, the smaller you become. Yep. In any project.

Right. I mean, even what we did from with our little duck show to even stuff that you see out there, like things that are successful, like I think about the chosen, the bigger that thing gets, the less it'll be about. who's in charge of that. But you even told Dallas out. Let's take her last break. I did tell him that. You had to tell him that because he was taking too much of it personally. Well, he just, well, he asked me, you know, what do you do about all this, this criticism?

I'm like, nothing. Because you know it's great. That's right. And people are like, what? Well, I got the idea from John the Baptist. Yeah. I mean, when he was running around and he made that statement. And he was having all these problems.

And he said, you know what? I have to become less. and he has to become more. Exactly. Because he was pointing people to Jesus, and the bigger it got, well, the less he became, and in fact, was beheaded.

Well, if it were all dependent on John the Baptist, the whole thing would have ended right there. I'm about how humble that was, because he said that about himself, which is true. And then Jesus said about him, I tell you what, there's nobody walking around on the earth

that's any better than that guy. Yeah. He was like, among men, he's the best. Then he said, but the least in the key, it was greater than you. So it was like, yeah, he's great, but at the same time.

We're all members of the body, and some of us are pinky toes, and some of us are biceps, you know. Exactly. So my verse with that, Jay, because I hadn't read all the verses, but the Jeremiah 20 in verse 9, which was our theme verse when we were in preaching school, the idea about praise and criticism, because Jeremiah was the, he was the worst, in terms of effectiveness, the worst preacher in the history of preachers, because nobody was ever converted or, you know, turned it around. but he said, if I say I will not mention his word or speak any more to his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.

I'm weary of holding it in. Indeed, I cannot. Yeah, 40 years without a convert. No convert. 40 years. And he said, but you know what? I'm not shutting up. It's in there. The next one was nervous is good. And this is obviously for those that speak, because you get a lot of opportunities to do that. And a lot of people say, well, I'm just too nervous.

Kind of like what you said before. It's just, it's hard to do it. But that's really, you think about it, a good thing because you're speaking on behalf of the Almighty God. Yeah, you should be nervous. I mean, like, if you ever just get to where, like, I'm flipping, I don't care about that. You know, I can speak anywhere. I think you see that in some speakers. You do?

You know, they get too comfortable. I mean, these are like people's eternal destinies are changing. And you got to remember a lot of people come out there. I mean, I try to use a lot of humor, which most of the stuff people laugh out. I didn't think was funny. but since they laughed, I keep using it because I thought they thought that was funny. Somehow they knew it.

But at the same time, I'm cautious about that. That's because I come from a show where they edit most of what we do, so it's funny. And so they're expecting that and I give it to them. But at the same time, I'm nervous about their spiritual eternity. Right. I mean, I don't want them to miss this. There's a seriousness in there that,

And I have to constantly remind myself. I don't want to be just, you know, there's somebody here that just lost one of their kids or a loved one or whatever. There's people hurting and in pain. So there is a balance there. When somewhere along the way it changed for me, I was, like most people, I was fearful about being in front of an audience because I was afraid I would not run out of stuff to say or say something wrong. Now it's not that. But I still have, I call it a nervous energy. when I get in front of an audience, like I'm like, God has something to say here today.

Oh, I agree. All my nerves were about that. Because I was like, who am I? I'm unworthy. A lot of the same things Paul said. And I'm like, don't screw this up, yes. But, you know, after a while, you just got to realize this is what it is. And even if I get involved and make a mistake or whatever, God's specialty is grace.

Yeah, exactly. The next one was testimonies can be more powerful. than sermons. And of course, I used the Revelation 12-11, which was they triumphed over the evil one by the blood of the lamb, the word of their testimony, and they did not love lives so much as to shrink from death. And the main reason I say that is because a lot of times people in churches, they don't leave room to hear stories about people that have overcome. And what did Jesus do in the Gospels? Half of it is testimonies.

Right. And you notice every time one of the apostles starts a letter, those that wrote letters, it's always like, this is the word of our testimony. You know, we saw Jesus, we were with them. Here's what we saw. I mean, Paul towed his conversion three times in the book of Acts. The same thing. Right. I mean, you think, well, they're just wasting ink here.

Right. Why is he doing that? Because that, the transformation power of knowing God and him calling us, that is what we're after. Yep. And if he can do that for them, he can do it for you. And in the modern era, we have the benefit. We do this a lot at WFR of, of,

You know, you say, well, you know, I know how people think, well, you know, we get somebody up. They're not used to doing this. What if it goes wrong? What if they'd say the wrong thing? But, you know, one is you can't worry about all that. But two is now you have video. Yeah, right. And so we use a lot of video testimony.

That way you can keep it condensed down to, you know, five, ten minutes, whatever. I mean, the only caveat I have on that is a lot of people, it becomes their testimony. Yeah, you got to watch it. It's God's testimony in you. I mean, it's his transforming power. I do think that's important. And I think it's important to be able to say that. I mean, you know, most people are humble enough to where they're like, you know, they realize that.

But most time when I've asked people to share what God has done in their life, I mean, they're like, you think, you know, I mean, really? They're not like, oh, yeah, I've been waiting for you to say that. I mean, they're reluctant. And I'm like, but I like that they're reluctant because that way it's not about you. It's about what God has done in you. Yeah, exactly. All right. The next one, I can tell right now we're going to have to go to overtime with some of these, but this one is really important because it's what I call the four pillars of character.

And so this has got four sub points. And here's what I say. If person is going to be a leader of other people in the kingdom of God, they need to have these four things. They need to have humility. James four, submit yourself into God, humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. dad always talks about how that, you know, he said, I don't even stand up on the stage. You know, I sit down on the table. He's trying to give a visual that he's not above people, which I admire that. I like it. I do, too.

Because he's saying, I want to be humble. And that's one of the characters of what I call pastoral character, one of the pillars. Second one is integrity. And First Timothy four says, command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you're young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and impurity. And this was a young man who was just about, you know, kind of at the beginning block of ministry.

And that's what Paul told him. He said, well, look, but even as a young man, don't let anybody look down any for that. I mean, you need to have integrity. And if you have it as young man, you'll probably carry it all the way through your life, which is good. Third pillar is boldness.

You're never going to be able to lead in or outside the church. you have some boldness. I mean, and like you said, boldness helps you overcome even like, can I really do this? I mean, you know,

my own fears and my own words about it. And then the fourth one, which people really miss, I feel like, is empathy because I feel like that was Jesus's greatest strength is you can't, you're not going to have,

be able to be a very good pastor if you don't have empathy towards other people. In other words, if they're just people that, you know, you have to go preach to or just people

that have problems, if you can't empathize with their situations and what they're into, whether it's a sinful situation or obviously a illness, death, whatever, then you're not being able to pastor them very well. Yeah, but it's difficult because people tend to put people in classes of people. They're like, oh, if they got a bunch of money, they could be some big contributors and they got to go out and they're successful. And you see some old boy, you know, they used to, I've heard them labeled, you know, EGRs, grace required, you know.

I'm embarrassed. I'm upset at many times. But you know, what I realize is I look at our family, I mean, at one point, our parents, before they came to the Lord, they could have been known as EGRs. I mean, my dad's a raging alcoholic. We were E. Yeah. I mean, it's like, we were E, E.

We needed an extra, extra. And my parents, you know, have been involved with bringing thousands of people to the Lord. Which I think that's why. I think that mom and dad are as good a picture of empathy as anybody I know. All right, so we're out of time. I've only gotten halfway through my list. So in overtime, of those of you that subscribed to blazedv. I'll give you the back half of these.

But so far I'm off to a good start. So we'll see you there. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by rating us on iTunes. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click that little bell to get notified about new episodes. And for even more content, that you won't get anywhere else,

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