Unashamed with the Robertson Family - Ep 752 | Mia Robertson Makes Her ‘Unashamed’ Debut & What Did Jase Do for His Bachelor Party??

Episode Date: September 14, 2023

Mia Robertson updates the guys about her recovery from surgery and her foundation, Mia Moo, which benefits families of children with craniofacial difficulties. Her brave and positive spirit shines through as she talks about college and her dreams for the future. Also, Jase’s lifetime best friend, Blake Gaston, tells some tales of young Jase and the impact the Robertsons have had on his life and family.  In this episode: Hebrews 10, verse 14 — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am unashamed. What about you? So welcome back to Unashame. We are super excited. We have Mia in the house. This is your first time on Unashamed, Mia? This is my first time. That's awesome. And your dad was just talking about you a little bit on a previous podcast. And so there's so many folks on here that have been praying for you that love you. So just know this is Unashamed Nation is your audience, Mia. Thank you for the first. That means a lot. Yeah. And you're doing amazing. She is.

I was just talking about her. Of course, in our time, yesterday was when we film, you know, the podcast where I was talking about you. And so now you're, are you two weeks after the surgery? Two weeks and two days. Two weeks and two days. And you have a lot of contraptions in your mouth. I know. So, well, I'm saying.

I was just saying. Thank you for letting her know. She sounds a little different. So you have a new jaw brace, I guess. It's kind of like when you break another bone, like an arm, they give me a splint. Yeah. So I have that in my mouth, and it's plastic.

And then I have metal in my mouth. And that's permanent. And no, it's more like little mini braces called buttons. Yeah. And I have rubber bands in my mouth, and then that kind of holds the split together, the buttons, and then I have some wires I can feel. I don't really know what they do, and it just holds a splint to my teeth. Yeah.

And then up here, when I'm still swollen, is I have my whole metal contraption. And that's what stays in. It's like a plate. So I'm a really big one. It goes all the way up here. So that's why I'm swollen, and I have a little bit of a black. It used to me a lot worse. It looked like I got being up.

It did. But now it looks better. Well, I saw you yesterday, which precipitated you've been on the podcast today because I just ran into you at the mailbox. And you look great. I mean, I was, you know, your dad has a tendency. Not that when we're talking about your situation, you know, we're always serious about it and obviously amazed. I said it on the podcast, Mia, that you're a testament to your generation because everybody calls people behind them snowflakes and they're not tough and they can't deal with stuff.

But you are a testament to your generation because you're so tough. And so when I saw it, I was like, and you said, yeah, I'd love to come on the podcast because I said, well, I'd rather, because we never can tell with Jay's. He's, he tells stories and I never know how much of it is accurate. I'm interrupting you. Like two days ago, or maybe three, two or three days ago, you weren't able to do what you are. I mean, you're getting so much better, so quicker. after.

Am I right? You're right, but I will agree when I went on that because I feel like you cannot see me in pain. It's so hard for him. I don't even know

if you realize that. But usually in my surgeries, he cannot even hang it so it's like kind of sweet looking back. Because reading Cole when you talk about

they're like, yeah, dad does not do that to us. But I think it's a spot for me. Yeah. Because when I had a big surgery, my junior of high school, I don't even know if you're going to remember this, but it's just an example. You took me to go in a snow cone.

That's like pretty much one of the only things that I could eat for a while. And you looked at me and you said, you know what? You just look so much better than you did before. And you're like, well, I mean, not that you looked bad before, but I mean, I'm just saying, I don't know. You got so nervous because you didn't want to hurt my feelings. So this is the first time we had hung out after my surgery. Yeah.

And I was like, no, it's okay. You're saying. Well, he is obviously, he talks about you quite a bit on here. And not just about all the stuff you've been through, but just, you know, you growing as a young woman. And, you know, you're growing up, you know. And look, having daughters myself, dad has a daughter now, there's a difference. and I think the way you as tour your girl. What about you, Zad?

You got a house full of hairy-legged boys, but you also have that daughter. We have two daughters now. That's right. I forgot about really. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the boys are really annoying, if I'm being honest with you. They're too much like me. Yeah, your daughters are special.

There's no question about it. So you and Layla, Zagzo's daughter, were roommates for a while, So tell us about your college experience because we haven't had your own before. I know that's kind of currently where you are. And so tell us a little bit about that. How it has been different not being here in Westmanoe and all that? I'm a sophomore at Lipscomb University in Nashville. And it honestly feels like summer camp.

The school is so small and you know everyone. And it really does. It's so fun. Like, yes, we have work. And my major is psychology. So it's kind of like science and I'm a lot of homework, but I love it so much. And I found my group of friends the first week of school, and we were still all best friends. And they're awesome.

I love them so much. And it's just, I didn't think those people were out there. I just, like, really struggled with making good friends all my life. So I found them the first day of school, and I'm just, we've always just stuck together. So I love them a lot. But it's been a really good first year. Layla, Knox's daughter transferred in the spring. And we became roommates.

And it was really chaotic because we had the smallest dorm room in the entire building. They only had left was a single. And there were two of us. But it was so fun. And I think if we weren't related, it would have been different. But we got really, really close and personal with each other sharing that small room. but it was so fun. She's probably really clean, right?

Layla, I'm sure she was real clean and organized. Let's just have an intervention here. No, I would like clean. She would go to work. She worked at a restaurant and I would clean her stuff. And I would call her me like, I hope you're not mad at me, but I literally just went through your entire closet,

color coordinated it. She was like, why would I be mad? And because I couldn't handle it, I'm very clean and very organized. So. Okay. Where do you get? get that from, I wonder.

I think that's what she means. It would have been different if they weren't related. I think she means it would have, it would have been an oil and water, but they love each other. They're family, right? Yeah, it's weird. How different y'all are, but you made it work because you're family. And y'all both love to sing.

And you're in the choir. Of course, we've suspended that, I guess, for a little while. We're both in the choir. We're in gospel choir together. So we sing like really fun songs and we perform at churches and at our school. But we're actually pretty good. I shared with that a video on the way here actually. Oh, I was stunned.

It was really, really, really good. You know, both have talented singers, which is a great blessing in both families, you know. It's kind of our wing, our worship wing is what I call it. So a couple of points. Yes, I do have a soft spot for you. And it all happened the first day you had a procedure. You were 11 days old. And they were trying to make a mold for a pallet in your mouth.

And I realized in that moment after it was a very graphic thing for me to watch, you know, especially when it's to your daughter. And the guy, like after he made the mold, they were shoving this stuff down your throat. You were gagging. And I was just becoming angry. And then he said, oh, it didn't work. We're going to have to do it again. And Missy looked at me and I said, I got to go.

She said, why? I said, because I'm fixing to hit this guy right between the eyes. And so I realized then, yeah, I'll possibly have a problem watching you suffer. So we've kind of worked it out. And your mom is such a bulldog. We kind of have our compartments to manage your recoveries. And, you know, Missy has been awesome. I don't know how long y'all slept on the couch together, but about a week, I guess.

We slept. The first time I slept alone was when you got back from North Carolina, which was like three days ago. So it was like day 10 or whatever? Day 10, we slept right beside each other. And when down and out of town, we slept in our bed. Yeah. Because you just became really weak and you couldn't do much on your own. But the other thing I was going to say is she thought she was going to take the semester off,

but you met with your college, what are they? The assistant dean. Yeah. He heard him out, I guess he was a fan. And he emailed my mom and me. He just told us that he was praying for us and if we needed anything. And I really didn't have a plan for school. I just, I kind of did, but people weren't emailing me.

back. It was just a lot of different people weren't working with me. And I think some people thought it was handled and it wasn't. And then I had surgery until I couldn't respond to my emails. But I was thinking I wasn't going to be in school until October because normal classes just won't let you not do school for three weeks in college. And one of my Bible teacher who I had for chapel last semester, he was like, no, I'll work with you. We can catch up and you can work at your own pace and do all this.

Like, he was awesome. So now I'm able to go to school and I'll have one class in person. So I start that next week. Awesome. Yeah. I get to go back to school next week. And you're excited about it. I'm so excited.

I'm going to have one class Monday, Wednesday, Friday. But it's going to be the highlight of my day. I'm so excited. I miss school so much. So. When you're also going to be on your dad's college pace, because his is, attempt at college many years ago, he took health and golf. Yeah, and I didn't pass. And he didn't finish. I didn't finish. I went there to share Jesus. And so once I started meeting people,

I just kind of chunk the school classes. Right. So it's just, it's a humorous story now with his educated children. Best couple thousand dollars I ever spent. That's exactly right. But he obviously God had a plan for him because he's, his kids are all great. and in school. So I want you to, Mia talk a little bit about, we talk a lot about Mia Moo on the podcast. We have a lot of folks that have supported it. And again, we thank you guys,

Unashamed Nation, for what you do. Just tell a little bit about, you know, what, why you set it up, what you guys are trying to accomplish through Mia Mu. So the Mimi Fun was starting when I was around like 10. And obviously I couldn't run my own charity. that age. So my mom and my great-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-t, Aunt Bonnie pretty much ran the whole, like the whole charity and like all of the work. And when I got to high school, we all talked and we wanted to

be something more than just money. We wanted to get to know the family thing that was dad's idea of wanting to be more than a charity and just wanting to know the people that were helping and what this money is going, like who it's going to. And kind of develop in a community, yeah, I guess. Rather than just like a name or another family, we can put on a list. It was like who they are as a family, what they're going through and how we can relate to them and how can we help them, like, just with our stories. I didn't know anyone that had a clufflet palate.

And I think if I did when I was younger, if I had those friendships, that wouldn't have just helped so much because I thought it was alone. And I feel like Satan, like, war. works so well in that, just like vulnerability. So I think it's just working well, like, spiritually, mentally and physically. So we decided to start a fun day. It's like, basically, like summer camp. Yeah, turn into a weekend.

Yeah, it's like a weekend, but basically all the families that we've helped, we reach out to them, and we have around 30 families every year. It seems to be like the magic number in the past couple years has been exactly 30. And then come down to Western Rail, we knew it at Camp Sioka. We started that last year, two years ago. And basically, we just get to meet all the families. And a lot of them are returners. And we have 10 new families this year.

And it's in October every year. And what's the theme this year? It is Shine Like Star. So it's Philippians 2.14. And it starts out, they just says, do everything without grumbling or arguing. so that you may become blameless and pure. Children of God without fault and a warmth and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

So I just really like that verse. I had a camper this past summer that just had a really hard life, but she would just start dancing randomly. She was in middle school. She would just start dancing and just started singing out loud. And I just thought she was such like a star in the dark. And so I related that with other club kids Just they just shine

Like I just love them so much And so we're having like a talent show this year And that's going to be new And like so they can have their moment to shine So it's just Just like an opportunity for kids To know they're not alone And they can see other kids

That are going through the same thing as them And the older families We'll give advice to the younger ones And the younger families will share their struggles and what they're going through. That's awesome. Let's take a break. So what I was going to say, what we learned is, you know,

and the parents kind of meet. And Mia, she runs the pretty much the fun day. It's her idea. I love the adding on of things, you know, how you kind of keep expanding that. And, of course, all your camp years and all that give you so many good ideas to be able to do that. Well, we realized that, you know,

when Mia's talking about loneliness and all the surgeries that she, that she's been through and just the fact, I always say this step, but it gives you perspective that, you know, for the first 18 years over life, you didn't go six weeks without having some kind of medical visit, which is just incredible. Yeah.

I mean, you're either getting ready for surgery or you're recovering after surgery, and there's sometimes months at a time where you can't go to school, you're just by yourself. And so what we learned when she became a teenager is that it's the equivalent to what soldiers go through with PTSD. And when we kind of started going at it from that angle, it really helped her out.

Because you think about the trauma, that's what is post-traumatic. You're going through all this trauma and going through so much pain, and there's a lot of blood involved, and you're seeing other kids in the hospital with you for days at a time that are just heartbreaking stories. and so it's just something that you need a community for to deal with, to talk about, to have counsel. So she's right, the older families, counsel the younger family, especially on the parent's side. And then, of course, we as people of faith, we have the greatest counselor in the cosmos with the Holy Spirit.

So we tend to try to focus people on Jesus and the fruits of the Spirit as. healing and hope as we go together, you know. So that's really what we do. We do help financially, but that's just kind of the seed that brings us in there. Yeah. Because most of these people are going to be in death the rest of their life. I mean, you couldn't pay off all their debts. Right.

But you're giving them hope, and you're giving them a community, and you're helping kids like Mia. That's why she was looking for this friend group, and I believe the Lord led her to Lipscomb, and these are really high character. young college age people that are that really helped you so but you know you think about it jays it's really no difference than any season that someone goes through something uh it could be a sinful situation it could be some physical deal like you've dealt with your whole live mea but we all need

community for that you know we have to have people to rely on to help us and people that are new to that season and are struggling with it for the first time when someone else has learned how to deal with it then they always have something to offer. And so I think that's, that became your ministry the day you were born. And you didn't even know it yet. And now that's what you're doing. But it's so much more than that. It's not like you base everything on a flaw.

You're basing everything on overcoming because that's the part of the family. Yeah. That Romans 5 has always been a verse that, because I've seen it in our life. You know, I think Paul's context was talking about people who suffer for Jesus. But even in a physical suffering way, it leads to perseverance and perseverance leads to character and character leads to hope and hope leads us to Jesus.

I mean, that's kind of the way it's gone in her life and we're super proud of her. Even volunteering to be on here, I was like, wait, what? I guess you got all this stuff in your mouth. But even understanding her today is way better than three days ago. Wow. And the theme this year is so perfect, me, because I feel that. that way about you. Now, so we record a few days out. So by the time this releases, you will have had a birthday. So happy birthday. It's coming up a few days. And you'll be held

20. 20. Wow. Teen. No longer. I don't even, I'm sound about it. I really am. Because your teenage years will be gone, right? I know. And I feel like when it, like, I always say this when people ask me, like, well, what do you want to do with your life? Like, what's your future? I'm like, oh, I'm just a teenager. Like, I don't know. Like, in your 20s, you know, hopefully, like, by the end of my 20s, I'm married or have a family. So it's just kind of like saying goodbye to all of the usefulness. Yeah.

So I'm kind of sad about it. But it's okay. You got a few more years. That's right. Yeah, I love it. Every time of me it comes in town, she cooks for us, and she has a famous dish. You don't know what I'm talking about? I do.

Vaca chicken. That was called vodka chicken? It's like my vodka pasta and then you can add chicken in it. You know, mom, mom asked me to cook that for her like a lot. Yeah. So she brought us that last time. Oh, and you also brought us another great gift, COVID-19. You remember that?

You remember that? Yeah. No super spreader. So, Mia, I got to ask you before you go. So you saw the movie, the blind. Seen it twice. Seen it twice. Oh, really?

Yeah. And so you have, you said a double the time I have. So what's your thought on that? I mean, it's your grandparents. It's kind of where it all began. I would love to know because now that you're about to be a 20-year-old, what's your perspective on the movie? What did you think about it?

I'm glad I saw it twice because the first time I was sitting my mom, and I went ask her, is this story that I've heard growing up or is this, this part? I was trying to remember. Yeah. Like, it's just so accurate what I've heard growing up. And then the second time I was able to see it again as like an actual movie. And it, it is one, like, I would see it again and again because, and I think everyone in my age should see it because I look up to MLK so much because I think that, would be really hard. I think I'm talking about the same thing.

To date someone that's not a Christian at the time or just not acting right. Even if that comes later, now you'll have such a great marriage. But I think I'm just like, I'm already dealt with so much, like, I don't want to deal with this. And with divorce now, it's just so common. And a couple of my friends are already married or getting

married. And it's just, I hope they never have to deal with that and if they do deal with something it's probably going to be of a lesser extreme and they should watch that so they can see okay if they can make it through and have all of these kids all these grandkids and i can make it through so it really just gave me a perspective of what not to look for a husband but also if that happens how to get through it's a great point so it just like got me Tarion. I mean, I'm sure it got everyone to be right now. Just like what

you all went through. But also just how the Lord was moving behind the scenes and then he always had a plan. So, because I get like that sometimes I wasn't supposed to have the surgery. I didn't know how the Lord is moving. But I can see it now.

It's just kind of like the light of the end of the tunnel. But yeah, just want everyone my age to see that. Or if you're having marital problems, be like... It's really a movie, I hope. Zach, do you want to add anything since we're talking about the movie about anything folks can do? Because we're getting really close. We're like two weeks away.

Yeah. If you haven't bought your tickets, yeah, buy them because, I mean, the thing is, you know, the more tickets we sell early than the more theaters and screens we can open up for other people to see the projects. We don't have the, we've said this over and over again. We don't have the, you know, big network deals where we are guaranteed spots. I mean, it really is based on do people want to see it. And it is an incredible movie. And the premiere, we're not even doing a premiere, which I love. You know, we talked about doing a premiere out in L.A.

And we just say, you know, we're just going to take this premiere to the people who have supported us. So we're going to do three different premieres. I'm not sure we'll announce those really, really soon about where we're going to do those at. And we'll have some of the family members are going to have volunteered to go and introduce to film and watch it with folks. So if you want to find out what cities, that's,

going to be in. You can go, you can join our ambassador group. We have like a, the blind ambassador Facebook group and just go to Facebook.com slash groups slash the blind movie team. I know that's long, but it's Facebook.com slash groups slash the blind movie team. And you can find out where we're going to be at. But yeah, I mean, buy tickets now. I think it is an incredible story Mia too. I mean, I love hearing you say that it's accurate. to what you heard growing up. Because I heard these stories, too, from my mom and from Phil. And from, so I think that, you know, I think if people ask us, is this really accurate?

And I'm like, it's pretty accurate. And the second question we get is, should kids, should you take teenagers to go see us? I'm glad you said that too because I'm like, yeah. I mean, I want all of my kids to see this film because it's, it's a powerful story of what God can do when you submit your life to him. I mean, Phil, your testimony is, I mean, It's incredible to see the man you are now and to think about what you came from and what Jesus delivered you from is. And just the whole family, I know Kay's in the room. I think I heard her back there in the background and, you know, her testimony and just the legacy that you guys are leaving.

It's just inspiring. So, yep. It really is. And so anyway, check it out. Mia, what a joy to have you on the podcast. Thank you for being willing to do that. Thank you for having me. Yeah, we're going to have you back.

Yeah. And here's some more stories. This is awesome. And just know that you are our family bright light, shining like a star. Oh, thank you. So we love that. 100%. All right.

So we're going to take a break. When we come back, we got another special guest in the house. And I'll wait and introduce him after the break. All right. So welcome back to Unashamed. We got another guest in the house. And, you know, I love it, Blake. This is Blake Gaston's here with us.

So we've talked about you a lot on this podcast over the course of 750 episodes, and mainly because you were Jace's first convert. Well, I mean, the Lord, the Lord. Well, no, no, right. We're not giving you the credit to, but, but, Jayce, you were the first person he led to Christ. Right. I think you were the first person that responded. You might have been the first person I ever shared with.

The first person you studied with. Yeah. Because we were about 17. And you invited me to Wednesday night. And I actually lied. Well, you took me up the stairway there. I said, do you want to play, I think I told you we were going to play basketball. That's how I remember this story.

Either that or, hey, there's a lot of cute girls in our church. Something got me there. I remember saying something about basketball and there was some girls going to be there. And when we got there, I think we headed up the stairway where the children's church is now. I'm like, where are we going? You asked me, so where's the gym? I was like, we don't have a gym. And we went to the third.

Started with the last. We got to the third floor. I think we just sat down on the steps. I was nervous. I was nervous. I was really nervous. I think you tore your Bible. He was looking through there.

The Biles get torn quite a bit. Well, I had made a list of the people that I wanted to share Jesus with. I basically was motivated of just people. I would like to see in heaven. And we were best friends for a few years in there. And we kind of went our separate ways from a lifestyle. But I wasn't, you know, I was shy. See, I were best friends like in school, in grade school or whatever.

Yeah, I remember the first day you came to school. That was out at Pinecrest. It was like towards the end of sixth grade. Yeah, you come running out on the football field the first time I saw it, which is weird. The one of the things I can't remember. Everybody just as I could play football at Woodlawn, and I knew a couple of people from town where I came from that played at Woodlawn. So I started there, and then my old man was just like, son, you don't do that,

you play for your school. Yeah. And my first day of practice, I was scrawny, whatever, 130 pounds, and I forgot my cleats. So practice had started, so I'm waiting. Mama brings my cleats, so I run out there. And everybody's out for me because of the Woodlawn deal. Yeah. And I remember Scott Owens, we lined me up against Scott Owen, big old cornbread fed.

And we went, I remember just being upside down. I was thinking, this can't be left. Shot me on my head. They beat the snobler. One of our wrestling moves. Yeah, he did the same. When I was in third grade, first day of pine. There were some rivalries going on out here in our area.

When you go to a school. Redneck rivalries. Out in the woods and you're new. And especially if the girls think you're cute. and all. And let's face it, me and Blake were just,

you know, born with our looks. John Briley wanted to whip me the first day. Well, I got whooped the first day. That's where I was going with this. What you said about?

I said, man, I don't know who's your girlfriend. James and I was only, he was with distant cousin. He's the only person I knew. Yeah. Here come,

Briley. He was an eighth grader. But luckily, Kevin Patrick, his old man, and my old man were buddies. Right, yeah. And he told,

hey, there's a boy starting school out there you watch out for him. So I was, I was squared off of John and then Patrick came up though and said this ain't happening. Yeah, I was always leery with my kids about moving schools because I just remember, I was like, you go to a new school, you're going to get work in the first day. But, you know, I don't think it's as bad now.

It was bad for me too. Yeah, and of course, then I was awarded Mr. Pinecrest, which is the only title I've ever had in my life. So I guess it's a peak. That's a big one, though. Well, as good as you feel about that, the next time when you're not doing anything, drive out to the school and look around. James, my grandkids went there. It's embarrassing now.

A lot smaller than it did when I was there. When I went back. You could fit the whole school in this layer. Yeah. So I thought, I was kind of a big deal with Pinecrest, and then I went back and looked at the school and thought, oh, boy. Class of 20, you were the big deal, dude. Smaller than I realized.

We were always friends. I don't know. We just kind of hit it off. And I had had this moment that I've shared in the podcast before. I mean, technically, the first person I shared Jesus with was a prank caller in the middle of the night. Over many sessions. Yeah, they never said a word. I don't know if you ever heard this story.

And so that kind of led me to realize, number one, I got to get this being shy and timid. I've got to get over that. But it also just somehow convicted me of how powerful Jesus is and his message, because I thought, why would this person who I didn't know, never said a word, just sit here and listen for hours and hours? And that's when I made a list, and Blake was number one on the list, because I just thought, I mean, he's got to make it to heaven. I couldn't imagine heaven without you being there. So, you know, here we are years later, I look back at that moment. I mean, that's what led me to even lie and be deceit. Because I didn't think you would listen, you know, because I knew your life, you know,

and I was like, and really you didn't respond that favorably. No, I remember telling you, man, I believe everything you just said and I know I need to do it. Yeah. But I had just gotten into the drinking and all that comes with. with that. I said, man, I need to do it, but I don't think I can stick to it right now. If I'm not going to halfway do it, and you said, drive slow. Yeah. And so then I've, you know, I had, because I, the women in my family, my mother and grandmother and great-grandmother, very devout, God-fearing, faithful women. Yes. The men,

not so much. So I grew up in Cyprus Baptist Church, you know, went first Baptist before that and baptized at eight years old for I don't know what my big sin problem was at eight I needed to be baptized for but you know Blake it's let's take so Sunday I preached and I talked to a generational curses and you just mentioned it I mean it's exactly what happened when you said it yeah and uh and then someone has to break that curse and say you know what I'm going to be different yeah I'm not going to follow a pattern you know and I had to do the same thing for me because I was following the same path of dad even though we've now we had changed dad had broke the curse but i was going to follow right back into it so until you all right well then we'll follow up so i shared with you and then we kind of went

our own separate ways after that i went my own way for sure yeah yeah you left yeah and uh went experimented you know yeah and i don't know if you remember it but you uh you came down one night but you had been drinking you came came to phil's house we were supposed to go frog hunting but you couldn't go till nine And I got in with Danny Ellis and Marty's suite. Yeah. We lived up at the Luna Fire Tower. Yeah. And yeah, and I was...

You came down and I was like, you've been drinking? Yeah, you're like, yeah. And I just, I remember that didn't go well. I think you wind up leaving. I was like, hey, you know, come back here when you're sober. And then I don't know how long... Your wedding is what... Well, right, but you call me, I think it's somewhere in there.

And you asked me to go fishing. I remember that somewhere in there. Yeah, yeah, definitely. But I'm thinking because the wedding is what got me back with you. Exactly. And then so for. Because you were the best man. No, I wasn't quite.

I don't know what I was. I had a tucks on. I think you were the best man. Yeah, we were in it, but I think you were the best man. That much. Yeah, you are. Okay. These 30-year-old stories.

Yeah. I've been married 33 years. It was a really meaningful moment there, guys. That was your best man? We're men here. Now, you were the best man. I mean, but you had, I had like six, what do they call them? Groomsman.

And your brothers, where up, we were all in it. Yeah. And, uh, but, yeah, Blake was the best man. So for rehearsal and all that and your bachelor party was frog hunting. Yeah. But I was around Bill Phillips and Curley, Donnie Foster. I probably had one of the few bachelor parties. There was no drinking and we went frog.

Right. Frog hunt. But, you know, being around y'all, shot a little basket. You know, and I was like, man, these guys really have a good life that have fun. Y'all had joy. Yeah, I did not have. So then I think just a little after that, then I called and I said, hey, let's go fishing. Yeah, and I thought.

And you went, all right, we might catch some fish, but you're the one that's going to get caught. Yeah. You're going in a net. This was a Jesus and Peter in the boat, mom. Yeah, that's what I wanted to go fishing, but I was like that. And you studied a few days, remember? You stayed, spent the night at my house. I just remember on a Friday, I said, man, I'm ready.

And it's actually August 31st, 1990, so just a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, you just, you tell me it's 33rd birthday. Yeah. Boy, that time. It goes fast, isn't it? But because I remember I brought Rich Nadler. Well, I remember you said you had been here for a few days, and because we're still down at the same place we were then, currently here.

Yeah. And you said, I want to go get a friend, but I thought about that verse in the Bible that says, you know, no one who puts his hand to the plow. Because I was thinking, I don't, I was wondering whether that meant you were coming back or not. And, but it wasn't a couple hours. And you brought you. Yeah, because I told Rich, I said, man, you got to hear this, you know. Was Rich your cousin or? No, he was my future brother-in-law.

Oh, future brother-in-law. So then we met with Phil. and Phil studied with me and Rich. And about 9.30 that night, we hit Cypress Creek. Yeah. Life change. And what's amazing is, you know, your life then, Blake, went from, you know, Jay's getting you there to hear what dad had to offer. And then that life change.

And then literally as a young man, we were all part of that community together. You wind up renting a room from us. We rented out three rooms in our house for a while. And Willie was in one at one time. You were McIntosh, different ones after you. And it just, our house became central for this new Christians. And we have Bible studies. But we played cards and just got together.

And there was always something going on, which is what young people need. Yeah, that was the hub. That was the big house. The big house. That's where I brought Shannon, my wife now, 31 years. Blake is the first, Blake and Shannon, the first couple I ever married. and performed the ceremony. And they did, you just had 30 years, right?

Yeah. 30 year anniversary? Yeah, which made me feel like really old because I was thinking, man, but I was young and green and there were a few issues going on with you guys and families. And yet we just did, we were living life together. And it was so important. I mean, because, you know, then we, it was a little ground swell with running into Philip Macmillan.

Philip's coming on. And he coming on. He's coming on in a couple of podcasts. We hadn't had him on. He's going to come on and tell a little bit about those early days, too. Blake and I were, which is just tell you, Philip, you know, he's, his claim to fame was he was the Phil McVill, the villain in Duck Dynasty. He was a character.

McMillan the villain. That made multiple. And now he's on our new show as size assistant, which he really is. People are like, oh, he really is size. And he's on the duck car room. And he's on the duck car room podcast. But Blake and I, I don't know if you remember that. Your memory is bad as mine.

I mean, but we were going to another fellow's house. And he was parked, Philip was parked on the side of the road. I'd never met Philip. And you said, hey, that's Philip McMillan's car because he had a little sports car. He was into those little sports cars back then. And we pulled over and said, well, I asked him, Blake said, oh, we got a party going on over here. And he's like, hey, I'm going.

man, he pulled out some money and he was, I thought, who is this clam? Phila was one of those guys that was like, because he's kind of short, and he just had that little chip on his shoulder. So that's the way he did. He was a breakdance. Yeah, everything. I thought, oh, my goodness. And so he's like, well, as long as y'all don't single me out or try to embarrass me.

And you were like, oh, no, there's nothing like that. As soon as we got over, I said, come over here and sit down. He was in the middle of the group, and I went through the gospel. And it was just only a few days later, I think, he responded. Yeah, and then his girlfriend at the time. His girlfriend was an incredible story. Philip and Alicia, the second couple that I married, and it was really interesting because Lisa and I got to kind of walk through that

because you didn't missy, you just got married. And so we got to walk through those early days. And to now get to have all these 30 years ago by, it's amazing because now we get to, I married your daughter, performed her. ceremony, which is my, so you guys are my first, and then she was the first next generation. Right. Yeah. Marriage.

And it's just, it just shows you about this idea about forever, family. And not everybody stays in their own community, but when you do, you know, we're doing that together, you know, which is very powerful. And dad, it made me think about the movie. Let's take her last break. It made me think about the movie, because if someone doesn't make the right call at some point in their life, you never know the doorways that it opens as you go forward. You know, I was sitting next to Philip at the premiere and he was crying like a baby and I was like,

man, Philip, this movie's impacting you know, I thought it was just because it was some of what he was watching. He said, I'm just sitting here thinking if they hadn't got it right. That didn't happen. And that didn't happen, then I may never know Christ. Yeah. And be with my wife and all that. And so I think when we look back at our spiritual like beginnings and how that works, it's powerful. No, it's a good story. I mean, Blake, uh, response. really validated, you know, the gospel message for me. Because it was tough on me in high school trying to live a Christian life. I mean, I just had no friends.

I was with the wrong crowd, obviously, you know, because they were all kind of cutting up. And I was going along with them. I just wasn't doing what they were doing. And Blake can testify for that. But I finally realized this is not going to work. At some point, because they were kind of ragging me for, you know, know the different, you know, goody-gutty or Bible thumper or whatever. And I finally just realized, you know what, I'm just going to bow up.

I mean, it's really what this podcast is about. I'm going to have to be unashamed to who I am and draw the line in the sand. And even though it didn't short term with Blake work out real well, it was something that he came back to. And I just always remember through the years being fascinated because we had many Bible studies. And even in the parking lot, you'd say, hey, I was studying my Bible other day. and we'd have these kind of conversations.

And I just thought, man, I can't believe God has done this. I mean, this is, this just seems to be too incredible for me to believe. Because I knew Blake's story and his family and when he talked about the men. He just really broke that legacy. And I just was always encouraged by that. So even when we didn't even talk at church, I'd see him across the way. And I was like, there he is. He just, he just really.

the Lord worked it out in his life. It really is a validation, though, like you say, because I came in off the tail end of some of that, but Blake, we were in a band for a short minute. You remember the band we were in together? Y'all were in a band together? Yeah, four-foot evangelist, man. That's what it was called.

Yeah. Macintosh. I didn't know. I mean, I remember the band, Tack. I didn't know you were in there, too. I was like the fifth. I was a fifth beetle, you know. I was in for a minute,

then I had to go back to college. Did you play the cowbell or what did you do in the band? They recruited me to be the lead singer. I was the guy for a moment there. Well, Blankton seemed pretty well. Zach's really good. Yeah. But it was funny, though, because I was thinking, you know,

we talk a whole lot about the kingdom of God on this podcast, but man, that time period, and it was a run for many years, it was the embodiment of 1 Peter 2 about that we are being made into a priesthood, a holy priesthood of believers. And it was like everybody, everybody was doing life together and sharing their faith. And it was just like a grassfire. You know what I mean? And it was, I mean, it was a run of, really, I think it was a revival that we got to be in.

I pray God, you know, gives us that again. but, man, that downleg or downstream or downline ministry that came out of that decision that Phil and Kay made is, I mean, you can't even put a, you can't, you can't capture that. You know what I mean? It's huge. Which is such a moment of hope. And Mia talked about that too. I love the idea that sometimes it's about an opportunity.

The gospel is an opportunity cause. It's giving up the possibility of something else to go all in. on Christ. And so when that happens, you just don't know where that's going to lead you. So it's difficult for people to understand that when you're in a bad place or in a bad moment that one day you may be having a conversation 30 years later like we're having here today where some people, a multitude of people's lives were changed for the better because you made a decision. And you can't even imagine that. You're just trying to get out of your own way. But that's what God does. He takes the littlest things and turns them into the decision. And you can't even

to the biggest things. And it's, I went on our annual fishing trip, and I rode with Michael Lindsay. And, well, we, it's just he and me and him in the truck. But, and just him bringing that up with, like I said, just that groundswell. And like we started it all off with it's all about Jesus. Yeah, exactly. But, you know, we have, well, I have to admit, you know, the part that everybody played in it. So if you sit there and McIntosh, and then like Philip with the three kids that he's raising.

Where's that going to end up? Right. You know, and then, and Lindsay, he's, he's just a, he's a soldier. He really is. He really is. And Jimbo too. And these were all guys that we met, I mean, McIntosh, we've told his story many times. He was the accidental convert.

He was the overhearer. Yeah, we were. The directional dialogue. We were studying with someone else. And he just, because at that time, I think that was Rich's place and that was kind of the hangout. But they didn't know, they didn't get the memo that he. He had turned his life over to Jesus, so these guys were showing up. And McIntosh, I asked him if he wanted to sit down.

He said, no, I'm Catholic. Yeah, that's what he said. He said, no, I'm Catholic and I'm good. So he went into the other room and started playing video games. Overheard the message of Jesus. And then literally, when it was over, I was walking to my truck. And he said, hey, I'm ready. And I was like, ready for what?

We thought he's ready for, where's going to play softball? Yeah, and I thought, we got another 30 minutes. He said, no, I'm ready to be baptized. Yeah, that's what he said. So I was like, I didn't believe him. I thought, well, tell me why you want to be baptized. And boy, he gave, basically, he regurgitated what we had just gone over. And he said, no, I've never heard that for him alive.

And I want to give my life to Jesus. I was like, well, let's go. And, you know, he never looked back from that. It was incredible. which shows you we say this all the time that the power's in the gospel it's in the message it's in jesus because sometimes just in the overhearing y'all were talking here i just kind of stuck in my my crow i've been thinking about this the last few months when this priest jesus had offered for all time his death on the cross one sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of

God. Didn't stay but 40 days after he was resurrected and then just gone. Since that time, he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. He wins and so does his people. Because by one sacrifice, Jesus is talking about the Hebrew writers telling him about the death of Jesus. He has made, and most people just miss this and they're not, they're walking. around scared all the time why by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy so as you get a little better and a little better with holiness the the death nail has already gotten rid of and you're not in out in that when you make a mistake just to peel to the blood and keep on moving But to me, that's a good one.

That's Hebrews. 10, 14. Yeah. Right now, it's just stuck in my head here lately. By one sacrifice, he has made perfect. Perfect now. Think about it. Forever.

Those who are being made holy. Being holy, it's a process. But the initial act of getting in on the blood of Jesus, Jesus is Lord. I mean, it gets you there without fail. 43. years of definitely some up and down. I remember the night. Look, none of that was counted against you.

Right, yes, sir. Because I remember I was probably a month or two in the faith, you know. Yeah. And something had at White's Ferry Road. I don't think. If I did, could remember, I wouldn't even bring the name up. But a leader in the church, there was a little scandal, you know, and my secretary might have been involved.

But I remember you calling me and, hey, man, I don't know if you heard about so-and-so. And, yeah, I heard. like man you all right you know what i said i remember because i said dude i said i don't care if bill smith and jim moran ran ran off with prostitutes i said i'll see you son you know what i mean it's just like that has nothing to do with me yeah and i could understand your concern with like yeah you're young in the faith and it because because the biggest really back then when with young people that's a pretty good way of looking at it but well i remember with young people it's always and and i think you had said this in the pre your pre-conversion you know oh it's a bunch of hypocrites up there and you know they

want their money you know want everybody's money so it's like after he's converted two months it's like yeah we got a bunch of hypocrites up here and which you know at that time I was probably not given the process and I had a had a old mechanic he told me he said it's a pretty good line he said to hide behind the hypocrite you have to be smaller than hypocrite yeah because people run to that That's a good line. And I was like, yeah, if you got 7,800 people meeting, there's some hypocrites up there, no doubt. What's that got to do with you? If Jesus sat with it, so will we.

So we. So we're out of time. Blake, I want you to stay over a minute, if you will, in our overtime segment, because you've got an interesting life going on now. You and Shannon have done some interesting things I want to talk about in the overtime. Yeah, I was going to say that before we go to overtime that Blake really has a heart for, you know, kids and tough situations. and families that are busted up. And we kind of share that also. And him and his wife have done a lot of good things. Yeah, so I want to talk about that in the overtime.

So if you want to follow us over, blaisTV.com slash unashamed to hear a little more from Blake about what's going on as a lot. 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, that you won't get anywhere else.

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