Speaker 1: 0:16

Welcome and thanks for joining us on the Blue Chair Podcast, brought to you by a Fresh Wind Church. Each month, we discuss the latest sermons from the perspective of the Blue Chairs. Hello and welcome to the Blue Chair Podcast. I am Pastor Jared and, as always, I'm here with Charles. Say what's up, Charles. What's up, Charles? I?

Speaker 2: 0:34

can't stand you.

Speaker 1: 0:36

But we have a special guest today and a fun fact for anybody who didn't know. Our special guest is Mr Scott Pexey, but he was also, in case you didn't know, my seventh grade math teacher.

Speaker 2: 0:49

I did not know that. That is actually awesome.

Speaker 1: 0:51

So back in the day he was the one who failed me every time I didn't study for my math tests. Say hi, scott.

Speaker 3: 0:59

Hello.

Speaker 1: 1:00

Which I will say, the first dozen times that I talked to him here at church I called him Mr Pexey. Still, it took him saying just call me Scott Jared, for me to actually do it. I was like I'm not sure exactly how I address him, but I'm going to call him Mr Pexey forever, probably.

Speaker 2: 1:18

I mean, that's fair.

Speaker 1: 1:19

Yeah, all good. So this is going to be an interesting podcast today. So we are going to recap the last sermons. We were leading up into Easter, we had Good Friday service, we had Easter service, we had the Come to the Mountain series leading into that, but we also had a super interesting and amazing event that just happened at the church on May 3rd. It is the Faith, gratitude and Hope event that Scott and Ravonda put on and we were discussing the podcast, what we were going to talk about, and we really feel like these Come to the Mountain sermons and the Faith, gratitude and Hope event all work together really nicely. And so, for those of you who didn't attend, we're going to go ahead and discuss what this event was, where it came from, what was the genesis of it, and kind of get a sense of that as we go into it, because it was an event about you know what. I'm not even going to try to explain, I'm going to let you do it, scott. What was the genesis of this?

Speaker 3: 2:25

Well, it came from a couple places. So very early on after the diagnosis I was sitting down with Ryan talking to Ravonda back and forth and kind of the idea right from the get-go was what can we do because of our story? How can we help people? What can we do with this? What's the message that we want to get out to people? That sort of thing.

Speaker 1: 2:50

So for those who don't know what is the story, Like what happened.

Speaker 3: 2:54

Well, so Ravonda, my beloved, was diagnosed with breast cancer last February. It was a very rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, so we were kind of freaking out about what you know what was really going to happen.

Speaker 1: 3:11

Understandably.

Speaker 3: 3:11

How's this going to go? But anyway, and then, as you know, some crazy stuff happened at the beginning, you know, a little appendectomy along the way it held us back. And then with the aggressive cancer, we wanted to make sure we got going right away and we had these little roadblocks and things. But anyway, so along that way there's a few stories that kind of will tie in later. But we were kind of talking with Ryan, trying to figure out what we could do to help people, that sort of stuff, and trying to get the focus on what we could do through her story.

Speaker 3: 3:48

And as time went on, we went through the process and things ended up very favorably with God's help. But it was getting towards the end of the journey and we were trying to figure out how we could thank people. So that's the gratitude part. Through this whole process everybody came to our aid, which was a little weird too, because we're typically givers and now all of a sudden we're receiving all this help. But there's a lot of gratitude there and trying to figure out how to help everybody. And then Ravonda was thinking about ringing a bell at Fairview Hospital in this room that holds about five people and her list was up to 50 or 60 people that she wanted to come watch her do that. So we needed a bigger venue. So it kind of originally started with kind of thanking those who helped us along the way family, friends, people here at the church and then it became okay, well, we got this message. Other people have a similar story, so let's get that story out and help people and inspire people.

Speaker 1: 4:56

That is awesome and we talk about it all the time, Charles how sometimes life is going to hit you with something. Life is going to be difficult. Life is going to hit you with something right. Life is going to be difficult, Life is going to be hard. We talked about it in our life group yesterday that as Christians, we have a target on our back and we have an adversary, but in the middle of that, you were saying how can we serve God through this? And you don't see that often, and so that's super commendable. That is awesome. Do you have anything you want to throw in there, Charles?

Speaker 2: 5:31

I mean it's a lot.

Speaker 2: 5:32

It is so like, reading through your speech, like it's really good to hear this from other people, because you know we've all had things, things go wrong and a lot of us don't talk about it, um, and to hear your guys's story and to kind of share that experience with you, um, you know, through your words, I think, the the big list of where you went on about, um, learning to pivot in your walk and to be able to adjust based on those things that are given to you, and I feel like that's a lot.

Speaker 2: 6:07

That's a place where a lot of people struggle and it kind of ties in with some of the stuff they were talking about in the you know the episodes that we're going to go through. Is, you know, wanting a fixer Well, it's not always going to be a fixer Like there's things that we're going to have to do and learn to adjust with him and to do it ourselves as well. So, reading through that story and trying to tie it in with all these sermons that you know we're also here to talk about, like it all goes really well in your guys' story, Like as heartbreaking it is to hear that kind of stuff. It's also very inspirational to see you know the struggle that you guys went through and how you were able to pull out of it and you know all through the grace of God.

Speaker 3: 6:40

I appreciate that very much, God, I appreciate that very much. The story of the pivot it's basically just standing where you're at dealing with what you're dealing with, seeing everything around you, and just pivoting one direction or another. Just standing where you're at going to go this direction, going to go that direction, and then every step you take in that direction brings you further and further away from where you would have been had you not pivoted. Yeah, and you know, the pivot itself is very easy. Sometimes that might be a little conversation with the spirit kind of thing, but just kind of knowing where you know, knowing it's time, knowing something's got to change, and you know that something's got to change and that can be applied to everything. But just making a small little pivot and away you go.

Speaker 1: 7:34

The fact you are right that it can be applied to everything and the fact that you've applied it to this.

Speaker 1: 7:46

But if we're, I was going to pick Lilo from school today, right, and the Turnpike is doing a million different bridges right now, and so every bridge that I was trying to cross, from going the south side of Lorain to Opendoor, I tried to like go one way and there was a train blocking on Oberlin Road and all kinds of things, and so we're pivoting all these different ways.

Speaker 1: 8:05

But if we're pivoting all these different ways, but if we're struggling with something and we're trying to in our walk with Christ, and something happens and we have this plan that we're going to do that we're going to, we have this five year plan and we're going to buy this house and we're going to do this to the house and we're going to have all of these things something as insignificant as that but can feel like it's such a big thing because our plans aren't going the way we want.

Speaker 1: 8:24

If we're just willing to pivot to let God say hey, you're not going to buy this house, I'm going to move you in this area so you're closer to this community and you can reach them, because that's where I need you. If we sit there and we try to force our way into one thing and we're hitting a brick wall because that's not where God wants us to go, or there's something there that is fighting against us, something there that is fighting against us, if we could just pivot and go the way God wants us to, or the way God's leading us, or the way that's available at the moment, and allow God to do the rest. That's a lesson that I think a lot of us need to learn and walk away with.

Speaker 2: 8:56

I agree.

Speaker 3: 8:56

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 8:59

So let's get into a little bit more of some talking points and throw anything. Anybody throw anything out from either previous sermons or from the event. I didn't give us a good segue there, did I?

Speaker 2: 9:20

Oh, I mean I guess I can start it off. So one of the ones that I really liked was the fixer thing. When Ryan's talking about you know, there's a lot of people that are looking at Christ to be a fixer and I can't say that I've never done that. I mean, obviously, as you're going through life, you're going to run into issues and I think one of the examples that he brought up was like finances. You know that kind of stuff Like you're just saying you know I want you to fix this for me, I want you to make this better, I want this or whatever the case may be.

Speaker 2: 9:52

But, like in listening to him talk about that, it brought up some verses in my mind that I went back to, like Matthew 11, 28, the you know his righteousness and all things will be added to you.

Speaker 2: 10:12

So I take those verses and what Ryan said and also pair it with Tim and if we did these things, like it's telling us to do, he's not going to let us go without. You know, when it's talking about the birds of the air and the flowers in the field, like he knows the things that we need, but he knows when we need them. So a lot of times when I sit there and I think about these things and I think about, you know, him talking about the fixer. It's the answer that we want right now, but not necessarily when we need it. Um, so I think, like even for myself, this is something I need to work on just being able to rest in the idea that he knows what I need and when I need it, and letting him guide me through that process. But, yeah, that's one of the things that I was. It kind of hit me a little bit when I was hearing him talk about that.

Speaker 3: 11:00

Now I agree completely and our situation over the last few years kind of ties into that too. The verse that comes to my mind, and that one is John 16, 33. It says I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace In the world. You will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world. And kind of put that together with just kind of generally general life.

Speaker 3: 11:27

You know things are going to happen to you, things, you know that's unavoidable. But through his power and through what he has overcome, through the resurrection and crucifixion and all that, he will, you know, bring you through. But you know there has to be a degree of trust there. And then you know somewhere in your story that trust is going to kick in. You know, for us it was kind of in the waiting of to get things started and kind of dealing with all the things that came with treatments and everything. But you know you see all that and you're thinking that all these horrible things are happening. But if you just trust that this is all part of his plan, it kind of puts everything in perspective for you and it's definitely going to be on his time. And the other kind of point that stuck with us. It's not necessarily what's going to be best for you in the long run, but more about what's going to be better for his people, people in general.

Speaker 2: 12:32

Yeah, I like that point.

Speaker 1: 12:34

And we know to bring back to my sermon which, in my opinion, is the best one we could have recapped in this.

Speaker 2: 12:39

I'm just going to agree with you, because you're sitting right here, I control your microphone. Yeah, that's true too.

Speaker 1: 12:45

It points back to the God keeping his promises. God's raw near to us, but God keeps his promises and it may not turn out the exact way you wanted it. Moses didn't get to go into the promised land, but God was faithful that he led his people to the promised land and he let Moses see that. And there's so much truth in that that when you're in the heat of the moment and you have to trust in those moments where it's it's difficult, but you're going to trust, God's plan is going to be the best plan for you, even if you don't see the outcome. Having that faith that God will keep his promises is pivotal in the walk of a Christian.

Speaker 3: 13:24

Yeah, I think there's a couple of good connections there too that you know. Again, getting to the betterment of the people, you know the Israelites are the ones who benefited there and not Moses. So you know he was doing what needed to be done for the betterment of the people. Also, you can make a connection to Moses's calling. He followed through on his calling, recognized his calling and, even though it may not have been the best thing for him, he was going to do what God asked him to do for the betterment of others.

Speaker 2: 13:58

Yeah and I like that you brought that up too, because we talked about that in life group the other night too about everyone, we all have our callings for something, um, and the way we discussed it was that some people are afraid, I think, to accept that calling because they don't know what it means for them. Yep, um, so I mean it's I. I just like that you brought that up because there's a. I feel like there's a lot of times that we are called to do something and I agree 100 with what you're saying, that it's not always to the benefit of us but to everyone.

Speaker 1: 14:29

Like there's a calling for you for a reason, and it's not just to benefit yourself but to benefit those around you and the thing is we have to remember that that that's okay, like as servants to God, if we surrender to Jesus and whatever he is calling us to do, we have to be okay to take one for the team my thought just ran out. We were talking about that life group. There we go. If all Jesus does for us is die on the cross to give us salvation and we spend eternity with God, if that's the only thing that Jesus does for us, that is enough. If everything else we do in our life is work hard for him, and it's.

Speaker 1: 15:13

We don't have the nicest house and we don't have everything we want and we don't have these things that would be great and that other people have. But we have done everything we can for him and he has already forgiven us of our sins and accepted us as sons and daughters of God. That's enough. And it's hard to reconcile with sometimes because we want these things and we see other people having these things. But trusting God is going to keep his promises and trusting that in God's plan and being willing to take that hit it's, it's a big thing.

Speaker 2: 15:47

Yeah, and I think, um, on that point too, one of the things you were talking about was, you know when he was, when Moses was up there getting the commandments and they started building the calf and everything. Um, I get something that sits in my mind, Cause you know he's up there, obviously a long time.

Speaker 2: 16:03

You know they're sitting down there waiting. Know he's up there, obviously a long time. Yep, you know they're sitting down there waiting. He's up there, you know, chiseling away in a stone.

Speaker 2: 16:07

And my thing is is that within those, like all the things and I know you said that everyone's like, oh, I could never do that. But when I think about it, I'm like all these things that he showed them leading up to this point, they know he is god, he, he is our almighty God, but it took 40 days for them to be like I'm going to go ahead and make this calf, but with saying all that you know you got. They wanted the signs and wonders to almost, like, never cease. They wanted proof all the time.

Speaker 2: 16:41

And my thing is, I feel like we still have that today, like you mentioned in the service, but a lot of times all it takes is for you to just slow down and look around you without using the lens of the world and just look at everything that we've been gifted, the fact that we have air to breathe in and we have a there's miracles and wonders that he does for us. We're still alive, everything that he gave us is still here. So for me it's. I may not see these great signs and wonders, like I don't see a you know a cloud coming down and resting on a mountain or some giant burning fire, but I can see the miracles that he's gifted us with every day, and sometimes it just takes that slowing down and just recognizing that we have that, and sometimes it just takes that slowing down and just recognizing that we have that.

Speaker 1: 17:28

I actually had somebody question me on Christianity and say, like, if God's real, why isn't he just writing it in the clouds constantly? Like why isn't it just like big sign in the sky, come to me, I'm God, do what I tell you. And I actually, like I was had once they asked me this question and I was like I don't know and like I really I felt stumped and I eventually went to my youth pastor at the time and I ran it past him and he's like God had a pillar of fire to guide the Israelites and they they walked away from him regularly. He's like it doesn't matter if God put it in, like woke you up every single day and told you like hey, I'm here, come on, come to me, I want to draw near to you, I want to know you. I like come to the mountain, we're going to just choose something else.

Speaker 1: 18:18

Like we're people, we're broken, we are. That's what people do. And you just made me think of that when I said it. But another thing you were making me think of was the 41st day. That was a big part of your what do we call that speech Speech?

Speaker 2: 18:35

Yeah, I actually really liked that whole concept, the number 41.

Speaker 1: 18:40

Break it down for us. What is that?

Speaker 3: 18:42

Well, it does tie into some of these stories a little bit, because some of the 40s are Moses' 40 days and 40 nights up there and then the 40 years of the Israelites trying to find the promised land. But this actually came from Ravonda and it's out there more than you'd think. But the general idea is in the Bible lots of things happen for 40 days. The number 40 is in the Bible over 140 times. I think I saw 148. But you know, things happen in the Bible like you know Moses wandering the Israelites, noah with the flood, jesus' temptation before he began his ministry, and another one I kind of tied in later was Goliath taunting David for 40 days before he challenged him.

Speaker 3: 19:33

There's a couple other. You know there's lots of other stories Jonah comes to mind. But all of those stories, as negative as they are and as challenging as they are, they come to an end and on the 41st day or year or whatever, things get better. So, going through just about anything you could possibly be going through, that's going to happen. But there's going to be a way to turn that around and use that for good and see the good things coming from it, and that's going to happen on day 41. 41 has kind of been a little mantra of ours and I think it really ties into one's biblical journey getting to know the Bible and getting to know the stories. I think that's a big part of it and just kind of understanding that these stories are happening and just by trusting in him and letting him do what he's going to do in his time, things are going to get better.

Speaker 1: 20:41

On day 41 and keeping track of those 41's of like what God has done for you is kind of what you were pointing to.

Speaker 1: 20:51

Like if we look back to see what everything God has done for us to get us to this point, if we look back at every time that we were suffering for 40 days or struggling or working through it for 40 days and the 41st day came and we saw what God did for us, all of this walk as Christians would be significantly easier. And then we can apply that even to our friendships, our marriages, our situations with kids. Like right, so every time I tell Jamie to do something, it's four or five times before he finally gets around to doing it and I'm like I'm going to fight you if you don't figure out how to listen, kid. But like, how often is that actually true? Because should I be keeping a track of the times that like, wow, Jamie, you listened really quick or you did this without even me asking, and how often would that change our perspective going through life? How often are we kind of so focused on the negative because we're not keeping track of the positive? I agree.

Speaker 3: 21:48

I like that.

Speaker 1: 21:52

Let's see.

Speaker 2: 21:53

I did like Tim's too. I think it was tim right, the god who reigns. Um, there were some, some key notes. That I put down is it was kind of like the signifying aspect of christ riding in on the donkey and how you know, everyone at that time was expecting, like you know, someone to come in and start this great war, riding a chariot with these giant horses.

Speaker 1: 22:19

Which would be kind of cool.

Speaker 2: 22:22

I mean it would make for an action story. Yes, for sure. I really like the way that Tim presented it, though, because the whole story of him coming in the flesh and experiencing these things to ultimately die for us on the cross, like just seeing that story and seeing our king riding a donkey, humbling himself enough to not come in on this glorious chariot but to come in on a donkey and just showing, like I'm here with you.

Speaker 2: 22:53

Like that whole story and I try to point that out with Charlie too Like when we read this Past Christmas, when I was reading it to him it's like that story alone to me is I guess it's more heartwarming than anything to see the man who is going to sacrifice himself, our God, humbling himself enough to ride in on a donkey and the way that Tim explained it is obviously way better than I'm going to sacrifice himself. Our God humbling himself enough to ride in on a donkey, and the way that Tim explained it is obviously way better than I'm going to explain it. No.

Speaker 1: 23:19

I think you were better.

Speaker 2: 23:21

It really is a good story, but I don't know what your guys' thoughts are on that.

Speaker 1: 23:27

There is a when you hear God and you look at any other God that people worship, you expect that that hero, you expect that Hercules coming in and being able to whoop anybody the biggest guy on the block but it is so one of the stories that, like Lila, gets hung up on when we go through the Bible together. There's a little Bible app it's the Bible app for kids and it does these illustrated little all of the Bible stories. There's a little Bible app it's the Bible app for kids and it does these illustrated little all of the Bible stories and it's a really good tool and the kids love it because they have to find, like little diamonds where they get little things and it's all tied into scripture. But one of the stories that she's always like why would God want that? Is when, who was it Abraham takes sacrifice? What? Who brought the kid up to sacrifice him? What were the names? I'm terrible with bible names. For some reason I can never remember you're talking about the, the traveling companions?

Speaker 1: 24:22

no, or abraham and isaac and isaac, yeah okay, I was right, I was going there, but I, I never trust myself with names.

Speaker 2: 24:28

I'm gonna.

Speaker 1: 24:29

I might fight you right now no, you're aware of how bad I am with names. It reflects into this. I have to like make flash cards, so I remember names sometimes, um, but anywho, I'll probably cut 90 of that out. If it's not in, well then I'm sorry. Um, but she gets caught up on abraham taking isaac to sacrifice and she's like why did god want that to happen? A little five-old asking.

Speaker 2: 24:51

I still get caught up on that, so but that's what God did for us.

Speaker 1: 24:57

God, god, brought his son out on a donkey, lowered him down, said you are going to humble yourself. You are going to come in as the sacrifice, as the servant, not what you deserve. You deserve that chariot, you deserve all of the glory, but you're going to come in as Isaac did, humbly. And I'm never going to ask you to sacrifice your child, but I will sacrifice my child for you and for all of humanity. And it's such a like deep thing when you can connect that old testament to the new testament and see what god was doing for so long and how he has worked to show these, um, these little like almost easter eggs in real life where it's like I'll never ask you to do that, I will provide the sacrifice. And then later on he provides his sacrifice, which is his son, and and it's just goosebumps, goosebumps.

Speaker 3: 25:57

That is good, absolutely. My thoughts go a little different direction with that story. But you know, getting back to the donkey and making the connection to the Old Testament, that was, you know, prophesied back in Zechariah I'm sure another bunch of other places too, but that he would come in on a donkey and he would come in in peace and be this savior and the messiah and all. And even though it was prophesied that way, people at the time were still kind of looking for this powerful king, military kind of guy who was going to come save him from the roman empire, as tim was talking about. And uh, tim mentioned that he actually did that eventually, just 300 years later. Um, thanks to uh diocletian and uh constantine.

Speaker 1: 26:49

But anyway, um, I'm gonna keep you around all the time. Just for the names, just for the name recognition.

Speaker 3: 26:56

Tying it into the history. But you know he came in and he was, you know he had the humility on the donkey and that's kind of the symbolism there. But he was coming in and he was kind of praised as a king and you got the palms and you got the coats and all that kind of stuff. But you know little, did anybody else know that he was going to suffer in a very major way very, very soon. And you know, if we can kind of tie that into our lives and coming into situations with humility and when it's, you know, when you're going through some suffering, kind of remember that story and just kind of go into it with humility, go into it being willing to listen, being willing to accept help, that sort of thing, if you could use his example of humility, I think that would go a long way.

Speaker 2: 27:52

That's good and I think that humility because something that I think it was in that same sermon the thing about the sheep that keeps going astray and he was talking about what makes a good shepherd, and he's willing to break that lamb's leg in order to keep it with the flock, kind of thing and it made me laugh when he asked the question. He's like my leg's still hurting.

Speaker 2: 28:13

But, it is like a humility thing, because I feel like at some point in everyone's walk with God, we're going to get humbled, and I think mine came a little, I don't know, maybe a year or so ago, but it's one of those things where it's like you can, he's not going to stop you from being rebellious, but he is going to stop you from being rebellious, but he is gonna humble you one day.

Speaker 2: 28:36

Um, and I was one that not that I was like rebellious and out doing a bunch of stuff, but it was one of those things where it's like you know me and you've had this talk, um about where I was in my faith, but at a certain point I feel like he did need to humble me, to let me know like no, this is it and I need you to listen, um, so I I liked that he talked about that because it's not I. I don't want everyone to think that it's always just sunshine and rainbows, like there's going to be times that he's going to have to humble you and you have to be willing to accept the good with the bad, I guess you could say, because it's not always the answer you want, and I know that everyone's looking for the answer that they want, but it's not always going to be his answer.

Speaker 1: 29:18

True, even as parents, we have to smack our kids sometimes. We have to put them in timeout, we have to take their favorite toy away. Obviously, it's probably at a different level, but God has to teach us. It takes a bit. Sometimes you've got to fail a test with Mr Paxi to learn, you need to study.

Speaker 3: 29:41

I would point out that you mentioned that you didn't study.

Speaker 2: 29:45

I could see it.

Speaker 1: 29:47

I don't remember which teacher it was, but I remember a math teacher specifically was like do you guys know you can study math? And I was like what? And I was genuinely confused for a minute. I was way too old for that point.

Speaker 2: 30:01

I also like the point that you brought up too, about the going into that sermon with laying the cloaks down in front of him, because I think, like listening to what Tim was saying about that, I think that was one of the hardest parts for me. I think that's where that humility part comes in, because it's so easy for me to say that it's I'm going to, I'm gonna do this for my life, but being able to lay that coat down in front of him and say, okay, I'm surrendering it all to you and I trust that you can protect me and and that kind of thing, not saying that there's probably not things I'm gonna do in my walk to uh, listen to the spirit and pivot, like you were saying, um, but being conscious enough to know that I need to lay my coat down and surrender it all to him. I think that's the scary part. Um, in the beginning is just acknowledging that I do need to surrender down. So that was a another good talking point, I think. What are some?

Speaker 1: 30:57

valuable things for us that can be our coats. So we talk about laying our coat down and for those who maybe didn't hear this sermon, like, what is the significance of the coat, I guess I'll answer. I don't need to quiz you, I'm sorry. I put you on the spot there. What Tim was connecting with the coat was that, in this time, laying down your coat, your coat was your bed, your pillow, your what kept you warm, what kept you safe, did all kinds of things for you to keep you capable of existing. It was your shelter, like it was so much and so important to you. Um, but nowadays we're not walking around with cloaks or coats or things like that.

Speaker 2: 31:44

That's why I generalized it in terms of, like surrendering my life, kind of thing, yeah, no.

Speaker 1: 31:48

I'm not disagreeing with you at all, not disagreeing with you at all. I'm saying to kind of drive this point home because it is such an important point, because, right for me at one point I've talked about it before. I play Xbox way too much and it's a small, simple thing. It wasn't, it wasn't like the end of the world, but I identified that that was becoming an idol and I'm like all right, we're done with this, it's going to god and I'm getting rid of it and we're done playing it. For a while, um, I ended up selling it and a year or two later, or something like that, I bought a PS5 and I play that occasionally.

Speaker 1: 32:26

But in our life we have these things that we use as crutches. That could be as simple as an Xbox, as something that we use to just not think about anything for a little bit. Or it could be something incredibly serious where it's our finances. Tithing is such a big one. We want to keep that money to keep us safe and we're not willing always to tithe what God is calling us to tithe. Ryan says give until it stops hurting. Where it's like giving money is like I could buy so much with this and when you stop feeling that pain when you hand over your money to God. That's when you're good, when you've learned that lesson. That's a way that we can lay down our coat. Hopefully I helped out rather than making you think that I wasn't bad.

Speaker 2: 33:15

No, I didn't think I was just reiterating because I saw where you were going with it, because I think for me like me telling you how I was applying for that new job because the money is not, it's not everything to me anymore. So and that's one of the conversations that me and Eric have had a lot is a big majority of our finances have always been paid off my paycheck. So it was always extremely scary for us to think about me taking another job because we're looking at less pay. But I told her I was like between the kids, my faith, everything else, I was like it's not worth it to me anymore. I was like the amount of stress I'm under the fact that I can't come to church every Sunday, the fact that I'm missing out on life groups and all these. I was like it's not.

Speaker 1: 33:59

Which I do keep note for. By the way, I will hold you accountable.

Speaker 2: 34:02

I kept note that you didn't come to Dad's and Desserts Just keep telling that ad. It's like a big thing for me now that I can see where it's pulling me away from parts of my life that are way more important Now. It's not something that I can just quit and be okay but I'm looking for alternatives to bring me closer to God in that aspect, cause I feel like it does take up too much of my time.

Speaker 1: 34:29

This is Charles putting out his resume for anybody who wants to hire anybody. And he's not telling you what he's good at, he's just telling you he's willing to.

Speaker 2: 34:35

Yeah, I'll work for food, so that's all.

Speaker 3: 34:39

You just said you know taking your time, taking up your time, and I I think the things that people need to think about putting down are the things that that take time away from what god is calling you to do and what you know, drawing you near to, to god, as as jared was talking about.

Speaker 3: 34:58

But you know it, it's it. Maybe it is the job that takes too much time, maybe it's spending too much time on on a hobby or whatever, but just kind of keeping everything, everything in perspective and everything in its place, and you know it's, it's kind of a product of of the parts, the parts that make a whole. But you need to have a proper focus and balance and things like that to make sure that you can get everything in there that you need, and faith needs to be a big part of that.

Speaker 2: 35:30

I agree. What else do you got Jared? There's been a lot from this side of the table. Not so much from this side of the table I like throwing in.

Speaker 1: 35:43

So come to the the God who saves. Talk on that sermon. One of the application points that I walked away from having was the urge or the calling to forgive somebody. Forgiveness is such a difficult thing. Sometimes People have wronged us, people have hurt us in ways that are big and small. I think one we can work on as people forgiving instantly for the small things.

Speaker 1: 36:20

Realistically, how many of us get home from work angry because someone cut us off on the way home from work and we're angry for way too long about that? We, we think, when it comes to, like, our humility as Christians, we should be living a life that like, oh, they cut us off, cool, moving on with my day, like it's, it's, it's. You have this expectation that people need to treat you a certain way, especially like when we're driving. And I know that's a small thing, but taking it even a step further, where Tim was calling it, there are big things that we as Christians need to work through and forgive people for Things that, frankly, they don't deserve forgiveness for. But because we were forgiven for everything we've done, we have that same calling.

Speaker 1: 37:05

Forgiveness has been a massive part of my walk as a christian. Um, and getting to that point where it's things happened, we moved past them, and reconciling that with the person, but then also with yourself, that you aren't walking around with all of that baggage and all of that expectation of more pain coming. I've already explained I'm sure I've said it on here I'm a pessimist, or more often than not, I'm like you're going to do something bad and I'm getting ready for it. That is like a defense mechanism, and we as Christians, we like we as people, not even just christians we feel like we need to protect ourselves from that all the time, and I think that's a hindrance in our forgiveness sometimes. And so, um, one of the things I just wanted to point out just to like even reiterate it and just give an amen to what um was talked about in the sermon is forgiveness being crucial.

Speaker 2: 38:10

Yeah, I could see where you're coming from with the preparing for someone to do something against you, and I'm not even saying, obviously I'm not saying that that's the right way to go about it, but I feel like just society in a whole has gotten to a point where you almost have to feel that way because no one I shouldn't say to no one because there's people out there, but a lot of people out there are extremely bitter, angry people. I mean, it's hard to go to a grocery store and go into a checkout line without the cashier just you know the way they talk to you or anything. There's just a lot of bitter people out there. So, and there's a lot of hurt out there. So it's hard to get into a relationship with anyone friend, friend or not and not expect a bad outcome.

Speaker 2: 38:52

Um, so I would agree with you that I think you know that's a big area in my life that I had to work on too. Um, not necessarily letting well, I guess you could just say letting my guard down to a certain degree, in the sense of I need to work on allowing people in, because a lot of times I did push people away and that's because of hurt that I experienced in the past. So yeah, I can relate to that anyway.

Speaker 3: 39:18

I mean, this is the Good Friday story with him on the cross. I mean, this is the Good Friday story with him on the cross. And one of the parts of that story that comes to my mind that Tim talked about was you know, he's hanging on the cross and all these people are, you know, shouting insults and that sort of stuff, and he yelled out you know, do not weep for me, father, forgive them. They do not know what they do. And I kind of look at that as the ultimate what would Jesus do story and, in terms of forgiving, he's looking at and talking to the people who put him on a cross and are poking him and throwing stuff at him and whatever else, and he's still willing to forgive them, whatever else, and he's still willing to forgive them.

Speaker 3: 40:05

Um, and I, you know, I kind of think that's a that was kind of predestined in some way, um, kind of to to be an example for us. You know, um, they talk about that some of that was prophesied and all, but just in general, that this story itself was kind of put in place just to teach us that lesson. You know, our forgiveness is never going to be hopefully never going to be as extreme as what he was dealing with, but he still found a way to forgive and also reached out to the big man to make sure that he forgave them too.

Speaker 2: 40:41

Yeah, that's good.

Speaker 1: 40:43

And we can, that's good and we can. That same concept of forgiving someone because they don't understand what they're doing. How often are we running into that? Like parents parent how their parents parented. People treat people how they get treated more often than not, and so they may like when it's to them, they may understand that it's not great and it hurts. But if they don't know how to treat other people or how to handle a situation any other way than a negative way, it's going to happen.

Speaker 1: 41:17

Like for years, all of my how I showed hurt was through anger and it took a lot for me and Allison to like sit down and like figure that out. Like, hey, when you're, when something happens and you get super angry out of like, way more angry than you should be over a subject, is it hurting? Like is that? Are you emotionally feeling something and you don't know how to like express that thing, something? And you don't know how to like express that thing. Um, and so, as we walk through life keeping that in mind, like you said that that example that we get from that of forgive them they don't know what they're doing, they don't know any better. They're broken people just like we are. It's uh, his example wasn't just like we are, but from our perspective it is just like we are. But that's my two cents on that, charles, sorry, making sure I'm coming in enough. What else we got? We got, we can. We can touch on one or two more things real quick um, I had, um, I mean, we kind of talked.

Speaker 2: 42:19

We talked about a little bit in life group the other day but and I can't remember what I was tying it into in this sermon but I think they were talking about somewhat of like a conflating the message kind of thing based on feelings.

Speaker 2: 42:36

It was in the God of Victory one and I can't remember exactly what they were talking about and I should have made a better note on that. But you know, we talked about it in Life Group in terms of when we're reading Scripture and we're trying to grow closer to God. A lot of times you hear people talk about these stories, but they're not talking it in Scripture, they're talking it through their feelings. So a lot of times you start getting people who interject their feelings into scripture, which then ends up conflating the scripture to match what they want it to be versus what it actually is. Um, so for me, like what we were talking about in life group is taking a step back and realizing that the scripture is his word and it's already finished, like we should not be interjecting our feelings into it. Um, I don't know, I don't know exactly where I'm going with this.

Speaker 2: 43:29

It was kind of just a half note, but hey, that's good too it was something that I know they were touching on and I can't remember exactly what they were tying into it, but I do think it's important because, like I said, we were talking the fact that we brought it up in life group because of what we were um think it's important because, like I said, we were talking the fact that we brought it up in Life Group because of what we were watching. It's dangerous, more now so than I feel like it has been in the past, only because of the fact that social media is so big right now, and I know that, in terms of Scripture and our faith, we do need to leave our personal feelings out of the Scripture itself and let the scripture speak to you the way that it should be I think that's entirely true.

Speaker 1: 44:10

Um, not that we can't have emotion when it comes to scripture, uh, but to manipulate scripture in any way is obviously bad. And there is a there is somebody who's listening to this right now who you just completed the other half of their thought. I'm sure that they were halfway there and you got it to them and they're like okay, this is all clicking now.

Speaker 2: 44:33

They're probably yelling at it and being like this is the word you're looking for.

Speaker 1: 44:42

Scott, you got any final thoughts?

Speaker 3: 44:43

yeah, I got a couple things on that the Easter service, the God of victory but when he was kind of setting that up, he was talking about the mountain and what that looked like and you know he was making some references to some of the mountains he had been on. But the one point that he made is that one of the cool things about being at the top of a mountain is that you can see, and you can see a long way and you can see everything in a variety of directions. So being able to see all of that, you know I think is a you know, just in life in general, is a point that we should all be aware of. And he was talking about how God is a promise keeper. He made promises to us in his word and in his own way, in his own time. He will fulfill that. He will fulfill that.

Speaker 3: 45:41

And then he went on to talk about doubt and how that kind of affected some of the stories, and he was talking about how John the Baptist doubted and Peter doubted and Thomas doubted and the Israelites doubted and ultimately, in the doubt, it provides an opportunity for one's faith to become even stronger. You know, in our own walk, you know we've always been faithful people and you know, been involved in church and all. But you know when all of this happened to us and if you talk to other people, talk to Amy, who was also a very important part of our our event the other day along with steve. But anyway, we kind of talked about that moment when, when the you know the journey you're going through and what you're seeing kind of changed into, into trust and you know, seeing that moment and making kind of I think it was described by Ryan is that doubt is the pathway to a deeper faith and you explore those doubts and use them in your story and use them in your path and along your journey in faith and just in life in general.

Speaker 1: 47:02

That's so true. Any like. If we remove this subject from it, religion from it. If you have a question about anything, you have an opportunity to test it and prove it right. Like. Is it like basic ninth grade science of the doing a test, or the scientific theory or whatever the scientific method? There we go. Thank you the teachers here. Scientific method and having the hypothesis and working it out like there is always an opportunity within doubt to come away knowing more.

Speaker 1: 47:43

We have to have that trust or that. I don't want to say trust because you might be growing in trust. You have to have reverence and willingness to see where God is taking it. I think I always talk about doubt when I talk with the youth, that it can be like a ladder, like every doubt you have, every question you have about your faith is a rung. That could be the last rung you go up. You can allow that to be like I'm going back down, I'm not dealing with any of that, or that could just be one more rung where it ends up strengthening your faith, because you went and asked God for the answer and you trusted him to provide that answer and you're using that as your next step as you draw closer to christ. Um, I love that doubt. Doubt is always thought to be a bad thing. It's not necessarily one not at all um, I'll close with this.

Speaker 1: 48:33

One thing that I've picked up on all of these sermons and stories and experiences that we've talked about today is that we, as Christians, have one a community and two a shared mission. We're called to make disciples and draw people closer to Christ, and, as a church, our mission is to have 30,000 gospel conversations. Our purpose is to help others discover more in Christ, and so maybe you're listening to this podcast and you're in the camp of I don't need to go to church, I practice my faith alone, and you listen to podcasts and things like that. I just want to urge you like come to a community. It doesn't need to be Freshwind it's probably the best church ever, though but find a community of believers and have church with them and see where you could be a giver for your whole life, and then you're going to be an opportunity where you're going to be a receiver, and it's going to help you and it's going to benefit you, and you wouldn't have that unless you had a community of believers around you. Um, and with all of these, we have that opportunity to have community and have a shared mission, and that's it's amazing, and so, if you're ever on the fence about it.

Speaker 1: 49:55

My vote is go find a community and find that mission and live for Christ. And we all have one-ass Christian and it's the Great Commission. But see what the churches are doing around you and see how you can help out. And even if you come to Fresh Wind and you're like I want to help out more, maybe there's a ministry here you can help out with. Or Val Val does stuff with. Again, names, they're the worst Crisis Pregnancy Center. What's it called? Anybody got it? Anybody got it?

Speaker 2: 50:25

The one in Elyria, yeah, it looks even worse for me because I volunteered for a little bit and I still can't remember the name.

Speaker 1: 50:31

So everyone, keep in mind that he can't remember the name either. I can't. It's going to come with me as soon as I hit the record button and stop the recording. But she found she's connecting us in there and I'm gonna stop talking now because I've stuck on it. But, anywho, find a community that you can help out with a shared mission, and it's super beneficial and it's amazing, and that's that's my point on that one. But um, we're, we're five minutes longer than we usually go, and so this was a good one good, that means you can cut out the last five minutes.

Speaker 2: 51:03

Yep, it'll work.

Speaker 1: 51:05

All right. Thanks for joining us this month, scott. We appreciate it and we loved hearing about your journey and your story and everything that's been going on, and we're so happy it's all good news right now.

Speaker 2: 51:15

I would have to agree. It's inspirational. At least for anybody that is going through a fight Like your guys' story really is inspirational.

Speaker 3: 51:25

Yeah, I appreciate that and everybody has a similar story. You know, in some capacity you were talking about being part of a community. When you move into that community and become a part of that community, your story might be an inspiration to somebody else. So you know you can be giving at the same time you're receiving in that.

Speaker 1: 51:47

I love it. All right, guys, as always, if anything in this podcast piqued your interest and you want to share something maybe it's a story of something you're struggling with and you want to let Scott know that, hey, he's, he's encouraged you, so you can send that to the Blue Chair Podcast and I'll forward it along to him. But we're in the doubt series right now as a church, and so if you have any thoughts or comments on the sermons, as always, email them to the Blue Chair Podcast. We'd love to hear from you, but that's all we've got this month. We will talk to you next month. Thanks for listening, thank you.