Sidewalk Conversations
"Let the one who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall..." (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Standing strong and remaining true to your calling is no easy task. No one sets out to crash and burn. In fact, it's actually the opposite, most people want to stand strong, remain effective, and be true to their values all the way through to the end. But, it is really hard to do.
In these interviews, Piet Van Waarde (a 40 year veteran of pastoral ministry) has heart-to-heart conversations with ordinary people about what it takes to stay faithful and effective in the things that matter most.
Sidewalk Conversations
Holy Hearts, Not Holy Hideouts with Candy Coburn
Candy Coburn returns to Sidewalk Conversations to explore the tension between isolation and integration as Christians seek to authentically represent Christ in the world. Her journey as both a worship leader and bar performer offers powerful insights into maintaining spiritual authenticity while engaging with secular culture.
• The false dichotomy between isolation from culture versus integration with culture
• How holiness refers to heart separation rather than physical distance from the world
• Candy's dual ministry leading worship at "the Barn" while performing in bars and clubs
• Managing sobriety (10+ years) while performing in venues where alcohol flows freely
• Approaching every performance with prayer and the intention to be a "funnel of God's love"
• The liberating nature of sharing our messy stories and overcoming shame
• Finding your unique voice and calling without trying to be someone else
• The importance of taking time to heal from past mistakes before jumping back into ministry
• Excitement for creative, boundary-crossing ministry happening in Austin
Check out this episode from the Above the Treeline featuring Candy Coburn.
Hey, welcome to Sidewalk Conversations. My name is Pete Van Ward and we every week have a different conversation. We like to say we're talking to interesting people doing interesting things, and that is going to be especially the case today. Now, before we get into the conversation and I introduce my guest, I would like to set up the conversation by talking about a tension that I think exists within the Christian community about what it means to authentically represent Christ in the world. Now, you might suspect that that's a pretty straightforward answer, that everyone would agree what that looks like. But if you start to do a deep dive into what various Christian thought leaders and influencers are saying about this, you find that there's a pretty divergent set of opinions about what to do. A deep dive into what various Christian thought leaders and influencers are saying about this, you find that there's a pretty divergent set of opinions about what to do. In fact, we might even say that there are things that seem like on the polar opposite ends of the spectrum. Let me give you a couple examples. On one end of the spectrum, you might have what we would call the isolation camp. These are the people who believe that when you think about the culture and engaging it. It is so broken and so messy that the only way you survive is by isolating yourself from it. And they can even quote a Bible verse by saying from the Old Testament, where the Lord says to the people of Israel come out from among them and be ye separate. And they can say it with lots of enthusiasm. In fact, perhaps one of their favorite illustrations is to say hey, you know what, when you put a white glove in the mud, the mud doesn't get glovey, the glove gets muddy. And I get it. It is risky, it is dangerous. But there is another group that is equally passionate about their position, and I will call them the folks that are integrated in the culture. In other words, they would say it's impossible to influence the culture from afar, and there's no denying the fact that one of the great commandments that we've been given is to be salt and light in the world. And so if you want to have impact, you want to have influence, you have to be a part of the culture. And they will, too, reference the statement of Jesus, one of his last go into all the world and make disciples.
Piet Van Waarde:Now, it might seem right on the surface that these two positions are irreconcilable. How do the isolationists and the folks who are integrated have any common ground? Now, my thought is that those two ideas are actually two sides of the same coin. In fact, let me dive into that a little bit.
Piet Van Waarde:When you look at the statement of the Old Testament where God calls his people to come out and be separate, the reason that he had such a stern call to them was he was calling them out of the moral and cultural decay that the people of God were buying into. So it was not a matter of physical proximity as much as it was a matter of heart disposition. They were compromising their beliefs by joining the values of the culture. So the coming out and being separate was a matter of heart, not of space. In fact, the word holy that we find often in Scripture at its root is this calling out to be separate, not in space but in heart. That's what it means to be holy to separate yourself unto the Lord in your heart and mind and values and beliefs. And then, when you think about being integrated, if you have that foundation, then for all intensive purposes you can be that light and salt in the world.
Piet Van Waarde:In fact, I think every Christian has to come to grips with the statements of Jesus, where he calls us into the world to make a difference. Certainly, that was the example that he set for us, calling us to be fishers of men and women. To go out into the world to communicate his truth in a world that desperately needs it. To go out into the world to communicate his truth in a world that desperately needs it. In fact, I think any Christian message that does not include this two-fold mission-minded approach of both being holy, separated to God in your heart and engaged with the culture as much as you can is an incomplete gospel. In fact, it reminds me of the old adage where we are told that the only thing that evil needs to succeed is for good men and women to do nothing, and today's guest is a person who lives that out every day and I'm very excited about having her back with me.
Piet Van Waarde:She was with us in season one and I am glad to introduce her to you here in a moment.
Piet Van Waarde:I think you're going to really enjoy this conversation. Before I introduce Candy to you, I want to say a thank you to our sponsor today, the Van Ward Foundation. There are so many people who are very generous in their support of the foundation. You might wonder well, how does Pete do all these things with the pocket prayers and this podcast and the newsletters and cancer pastor? Well, it's because I have, first of all, a great team around me that helps support the work I do, and then there are generous contributors to the foundation who regularly, through Patreon and personal gifts, make a contribution to the Van Ward Foundation, and that funds all of this good work, and so, if you're helped by it, I encourage you to take a moment and perhaps explore that for yourself and be a part of the team that makes all of this possible. So, thank you for all of you who do so. Now let me bring you bring your attention to my guest today, a good friend, candy Coburn.
Candy Coburn:Hi, pete, good to be back with you. It's so good to see you Love the studio. I love being here.
Piet Van Waarde:Oh, thank you for coming back. Yeah, I know you're so busy and we have this really great conversation we're going to have. But before we dive into the deep end of the pool, for those who may not know you or may not remember some of the things that we talked about the last time, just give us a little thumbnail sketch about the things that you do, what kind of keeps you busy, and that kind of thing.
Candy Coburn:Oh, my goodness, okay, how much time we got. So you know I've done music most all my life. That was the thing that I kind of leaned toward because it was not that great in school you knew that part. So been singing, been writing songs toured for most of my life, and then now it's more of like a both, and so I get to do that. I get to lead worship at a beautiful place every Wednesday night, the barn. You've been there, love it. What a privilege. It's such a. I call it the roadhouse for Jesus.
Candy Coburn:So that's super fun and we have different artists and musicians and painters all kinds of people.
Piet Van Waarde:It Super fun and we have different artists and musicians and painters, all kinds of people. It is the best kept secret in Austin. It is the best kept secret, it's so fun.
Candy Coburn:We had like 70 people there last night, so it was a great night.
Piet Van Waarde:I love it.
Candy Coburn:And it's really an example of like the whole big C church of Austin, because people are all a part of it from all over Austin, not just one church. So that's a beautiful privilege. And then I also sell and buy, help people buy houses, so that's kind of my outside the church wall call and it was new.
Piet Van Waarde:So the Lord's kind of you just started that right.
Candy Coburn:Well, I did it back in the past, but it was kind of like I was kind of doing it on the side and then people were like and I talked to your sweet wife and I was like what do you think about this? You know, and I think it was a really Jehovah sneaky way he was like hey, I need you out here, like loving on people over here. So I'm like, all right, lord. So I'm doing a lot of different things, but it's kind of always been how I'm wired, kind of how you're wired, that I always say we have supernatural batteries God gave us to go like let's go until we go to heaven and then we can chill out there.
Piet Van Waarde:There you go, all right. So now let's have this conversation and first of all, when we were talking about this beforehand, I'm so grateful that you're willing to have the conversation, because it is messy, it is complex and especially given some of your story which I really want to dive into. I want to focus particularly on this music side of the equation, because I think that's such a great example of how you kind of straddle the fence, if you will, where you have this one part of your life, where you're this absolutely amazing, beautiful worship leader at the barn and in other places as well, and then you also have these gigs that you do out in the bars and the community. You do both.
Candy Coburn:Yes.
Piet Van Waarde:And there would be some people who would say how can you do that, like, how can you on one hand, be with one quote, unquote foot in the church and one foot in the world? Don't you put yourself in a position where you find yourself endorsing what happens out there? So just start with your own philosophic, theological way of doing that.
Candy Coburn:When you brought it up I was like this is such a great topic because I don't think it's talked about so much.
Piet Van Waarde:Not enough, I don't think Not at all.
Candy Coburn:And it's so interesting and it's super messy I think that's my middle name so great place for me to be. But I was thinking about it when you asked me about this and I thought the reason it is doable now. It probably wouldn't have been doable, especially when I got sober. You know I've been in recovery for over 10 years. That would have been really hard at the beginning, but God was so kind because, you know, even getting into worship and learning how to really worship him and not like perform, that was a big process he walked me through. And then, you know, I took a little break from touring and I really wanted to get my feet on the ground solidly, like who I am as a child of God, and I don't do it perfect every day, like you said.
Candy Coburn:That was so nice, that intro, but I mess it up all the time and sometimes I'm not very much looking like Jesus some places. That is true every day. But what's cool is now it's no different if I'm in the barn or a venue, because I'm there for the same reason and that is to love, love people, big, so big through music, through a conversation like this. That might be at the end of the night or the middle of the night or whatever. I've had the most wonderful God conversations with people in bars, sometimes even more than a church setting. I can imagine that. It's so amazing and touches my heart, because people all just want to be seen and known and loved in the world and that's, I think, what our job is here.
Piet Van Waarde:Are they surprised when they find out that you're also in this other world? I?
Candy Coburn:like singing about some Jesus on the side.
Candy Coburn:Well, I think the thing is is like I'm really open and vulnerable about my story because it is so messy and you know, it's such a miracle I'm here because I really don't deserve to be, but God's so gracious and wonderful and has mercy and crazy mercy for me. So every time that I get to do any kind of music now it's literally like something like I can't even believe I get to do this because I really shouldn't have been able to. You know, I did a million things wrong, made huge mistakes, hurt people for years of my life, you know. So I think every time I get ready to go do anything, like I pray before every single show if it's at a bar, anywhere, it is, whatever, it is a worship night, whatever that we always start with prayer. We always start about like with praising and like saying thank you, god for whatever you know to get in the right intention for why we're there. Whatever it is, I don't care what venue it is.
Candy Coburn:I had one last weekend that was a great example of just like new place, hadn't been there, don't know, but, like you know, stopping everything and going. You know, I just want to be, I just want to be like a funnel for what you got to say tonight. I want to be a funnel of your love. I want to be able to notice every heart you want me to connect to tonight, and when that happens, it's no different than a church setting or a bar setting or any other setting, because it's still. I can feel it in my heart, like oh, I can see, I can feel it in my heart Like oh, I can see.
Candy Coburn:I can see them connecting to this song and they'll come up after it and they'll be like hey, I don't know why I'm crying and I don't know why I was like, cause God loves you, you know.
Candy Coburn:And so it's so cool to see how he hand crafts that. Now, Pete, because I had no intention to care about what the Lord was doing when I was touring. It was about like does everybody know who I am? Is everybody coming to my show? How many seats were filled? That was about me, and some days I still probably am a little selfishy on things, but I just really want people to feel loved and I'm so glad I still can get to do any of these things.
Piet Van Waarde:So I don't know if that answers your question. Yeah, no, that's great. Now I'm going to play the devil's advocate a little bit. So let's say there's somebody who comes up to you and they're maybe new in their journey and they're coming out of some crap, and let's say they're at the barn and they love what you do at the barn. They're like, oh, I finally found a safe place. And then they see something on Facebook where you're at some club and they're like oh, what is that about? How can she go there? That's the world I came out of. How can she be authentic on the stage here? And isn't she endorsing what's happening there? What is your response to that?
Candy Coburn:I think my response is always like awesome.
Piet Van Waarde:That's my answer. It's like awesome.
Candy Coburn:Because everybody's on their journey and their walk with the Lord.
Piet Van Waarde:But if they're being critical of you, like they're saying how can you do that girl?
Candy Coburn:Yeah, I really don't get offended by that at all now, because I know I used to be them. I was that guy. I'd be like you know, when I was super like you know you have to be, you have to be one thing or the other thing. And until I knew that God just loves people everywhere and I could feel that myself. You don't get it for others yet you know.
Candy Coburn:So I think they're just on their journey and I'm always like Lord, bless their heart, bless their heart, because that is a journey you work For me. It was a long time to get that so. I don't ever really get offended by that, because I'm just like okay, I feel that's.
Piet Van Waarde:But have you developed a little theology around it, like why you do it, why you feel free?
Candy Coburn:I mean, I think it's so interesting because I think Jesus is the example, I mean like the original example, right. So he was everywhere, the nastiest places, all the time. And every time I think, and I think there's sometimes like, I even feel like there's like angels placed in these places, because it's the only places people feel comfortable, or they've been hurt by the church, or they've been hurt by a person in the church, right, it's not God necessarily.
Candy Coburn:And none of us are perfect. We're just made up of people, so churches are always going to be messy, but they don't feel comfortable going there, much less hearing something. But if they're in another setting that they feel comfortable in, it's kind of like we all expect, I think sometimes in the church like hey, come over here, be like us, talk like us, understand all their language you've never heard, and then we're going to be peeps you know like we're friends, but really Jesus went out to every area and made them feel comfortable because it's their setting.
Candy Coburn:So I think that's the difference too is like you know, when any of these settings, that's where they're comfortable. And I mean, I was such a mess for so long. And now I remember and this is a I was thinking this other day when you also sent me the message there was a lady that was so kind to me about two years before I got sober and I will never forget her talking to me now. But back then I was just like, well, you know why, is she doing?
Candy Coburn:you know, I was like so offended by her, and now I saw her two years after I got sober. I was like oh my gosh, let me hug your neck. Oh my gosh, I can't believe you're so right. But I couldn't hear it or see it or understand it yet. So I've been this person and I think that's probably why I'm not, so you get it I get it, yeah, and everybody's on their journey.
Piet Van Waarde:And maybe my way is not right for everybody, so I'm not saying I got it figured out yeah. When you're talking I'm reminded of you know the story and it's it's such a common story. We hear it talked about all the time, but you know Jesus talks about leaving the 99 and going after the one.
Piet Van Waarde:And what that? I had a kind of unique insight on that recently, and that is that somebody who's going to be offended is by what we do. You're never going to avoid offense and Jesus in that they certainly were by him.
Candy Coburn:you know all day that's what I'm saying In that setting.
Piet Van Waarde:Jesus was willing to offend the 99 in order to go after the one, and I think that's kind of where I've always landed when people are like I can't believe you wear Harley stuff and you'll cuss occasionally or you do that, you know, and I'm like, well, I'm trying to communicate, I'm trying to connect and not to say that I get it right either all the time.
Piet Van Waarde:And I have crossed boundaries and done all kinds of stupid things, but I feel like part of why God has been so gracious to me is that my heart, for the most part, was in the right place, is that my heart, for the most part, was in the right place.
Piet Van Waarde:I was wanting to go after the one that would not necessarily, like you just said, come to a church or would relate to a pastor who was just nice and clean and did everything right and nice. I just feel like that's the decision we often have to make is who are you willing to offend? And if you've got to choose, then maybe sometimes it's okay to offend the 99.
Candy Coburn:Yeah, because they're all in the club.
Piet Van Waarde:I always say they're the fat sheep, they're eating.
Candy Coburn:they know the deal they're in, but that one skinny sheep that's out there is about to get picked off. So it takes people that I think God strategically puts that maybe have been from a mess. Maybe we're the ones that like, oh gosh, like I can't even believe. For me it's like I can't even believe I get to do any of the things I get to do, certainly for the Lord, because I have messed his name up, obviously a ton, and still probably do in some days. But it's such a privilege and maybe that's why I'm like, oh, I want to just love on them so hard. You can't stop my love. I say that all the time, like can't stop my love. I'm coming with you, I'm coming at you with my love Because I needed it so bad during that time and people kept coming at me with it and I was like you know, I was just not loving it at first and then they just kept loving on me so gently, so kindly.
Candy Coburn:And one friend I remember in Springfield Missouri. I'll never forget it. She just told me the truth in love so kindly didn't judge me when I was such a mess and she was my safe place to go to, and that was outside the church. You know she loves Jesus more than anything in the world, but she's very misunderstood because she does it very radically different, and so I will never forget these people in my life. So I hope we all can get a piece of that.
Piet Van Waarde:And it is a calling too right. I mean, I feel like there's some who are called, maybe primarily, to be encouraging to the sheep and watch, make sure that everybody's oh yeah, and go to seminary.
Candy Coburn:I would have never cut that. I would have never made it through seminary, I'm pretty sure.
Piet Van Waarde:And then there are those that I have to go up All right Now, if you're willing. I'd like to go a little more personal, Sure, Because part of your story. I heard you on another podcast this week which was beautiful. You did such a great job and, in fact, I they did a good job.
Candy Coburn:I think I probably said a lot of words really fast, so hopefully it made sense. No, you did great.
Piet Van Waarde:You did great and in fact I'm going to post the interview in our notes here on the bottom. But part of your story is a recovery story, so you dealt with alcoholism for a period in your life I don't remember exactly how long, but it was a good, I would think.
Candy Coburn:Really it's been kind of like it was just kind of a not great thing most of my life, but then it was definitely all consuming for probably a good eight years of my life before I got sober.
Piet Van Waarde:Okay. So the risk then for you, I would suspect, is that you go back into this world where that is always in front of you. How do you make sure that you're not adversely influenced by that environment?
Candy Coburn:I think it's number one. It's all about my spiritual condition with the Lord, 100%. I think that things could bother me, I could be restless and irritable and all those things, but it is literally a way of life for me. It's a lifestyle. I'm heavily involved with 12-step program. I have a community around me all the time to always be accountable to, and I think that's something God created. You know like there's lots of different versions, whatever you want to pick, but I have to have people in my life that have done and been where I've been to remind me all the time. Like hey and I have to call him a lot like hey, I just did this blah blah, blah.
Candy Coburn:You know and have to come clean, and that's how I keep my life in order and with the Lord and I have to start every day with him and all day talk to him and end my day with him and not be so hard on myself. You know, but all of that is kind of like a lifestyle I had to build and spend time learning how to live, going in those places. Now I don't think about it at all.
Candy Coburn:I remember when I first got sober and I will never forget because I had this residency in Austin. You play every single week at this one place. You know it's this thing and I would literally be like I was just like shaking, I felt terrible, I just felt so miserable and I would watch everybody's drinks and I knew how many they drank and it's such an obsession and crazy thing that's happening to your mind during that time.
Candy Coburn:Certainly getting sober. And I just remember feeling so uncomfortable and thinking like, should I do this, should I be here? But some of that community would show up and they would sit there with their Topo Chico's and be like, yeah, come on, you know what I was like. Okay, I can do it. I can do it, you know, I just kept doing it and, um, the more time you know invested.
Piet Van Waarde:I feel like.
Candy Coburn:I would say, like you just get more and more insurance of like okay, I'm cool with this now, you know, but I have to maintain it. Or I could very easily get into my head and my ego and be like I'm doing good because I did stay not drinking for a while in my life and then it just all came back with a vengeance because I didn't have really a program in my life that showed me how to live without having a crutch. So, yeah, it's a day in one day at a time, as you know that saying sometimes a minute at a time, but I don't really ever feel that urge at all, you know. Thank, thank the Lord.
Piet Van Waarde:How long have you been sober?
Candy Coburn:I've been sober over 10 years. Now. My birthday is 10, 13, 2014. That's the day I finally was like oh, go, help me, Jesus. But I certainly thought I was like I'll try this, I'll try that for many years before that you know, and it just failed.
Piet Van Waarde:Okay, because God, a full surrender to God, is just that is the only ticket out. So on my monologue before we got together here, I talked about this idea of two things kind of being able to live together. So, if I'm hearing you correct, that part of being able to be in the world as an authentic follower of Jesus is contingent on that first part, a hundred percent. Yes, I need all the Jesus every day, isolated to the Lord All the day.
Candy Coburn:Yes, and I need a both end. You know, chris, that's his favorite line to say is like my life is a full both end of both now. Now I couldn't always do that, you know, now I couldn't always do that, but that is the Lord's blessing on just being faithful and really just trying to seek His will and His wisdom this whole time. I'm still learning every day. Sometimes I'm like, why do I keep wanting to do this? Because I always say it can kind of jump. I'll think, oh, I'm doing good over here, but then I'll be real controlling of my kids or something else.
Candy Coburn:So I have to look at my heart every day, and many days I don't have it fully 100%, but that's the best thing about how Holy Spirit's with us and for us, and just all I have to do is go Lord, help me right now. And then it's like he does, but sometimes I forget. You do. I know I need a new tattoo, remember that would be my next one Because, like I forget, so good you know it's crazy how every time he will come through and be there.
Candy Coburn:But sometimes I'm like, nah, I just want to struggle, evidently because I won't do that, you know, I know better.
Piet Van Waarde:I'm like nah, I just want to struggle, evidently because I won't do that, I know better. So if you were to give advice, let's say there's somebody who's listening to your story and let's say they have some skill or talent in any area. Let's say it's speaking or music, like what you do, and they tanked, they went down the wrong path, blew up their life, and the enemy loves to use that, as you and I both know. He loves to use our failures as disqualifiers.
Candy Coburn:Check out, you got nothing.
Piet Van Waarde:You can never do anything, ever again. You're a hopeless cause. See, you messed it up and there's part of that that feels very real, like I need to face the consequences of poor choices. I need to just suck it up and say, hey, I disqualified myself, but what was some of the things that helped you kind of move past all of that, to say, okay, I think I still may have a calling, I may still be able to fulfill what God has for me and speak to the person who's kind of wrestling with that right now.
Candy Coburn:Yeah, for one, take your time, Because I think that was the key. When I got to Austin, I was getting sober there was this wonderful person who knew that I had toured, and as soon as they found out, they're like hey, you want to be on the worship team? I was like I can't.
Piet Van Waarde:I can't.
Candy Coburn:And she was so kind to me. She said, okay, just let me know. And I think I stood in the back of that church for two years just sobbing, learning how to worship On your own Back there in the back like Alice Cooper looking.
Candy Coburn:It was so ugly, but they gave me the time, they encouraged the time and that was one of the biggest gifts I ever got from anyone, because I didn't really know how to do that. I didn't know how to be vulnerable. I didn't think, oh, everybody's looking at me, I'm not going to cry when I'm worshiping All this stupid stuff. Who made that up? I don't know Me, I guess. But then I did that so slowly and I wasn't really in that scene immediately getting out in bars and clubs and things like that. And then God was so, like I said, super kind and sneaky how he got me into worship on a way I could do it. I mean, it was just so handcrafted to get me into that so subtly. So even when and my biggest loudest things were you're not Kerry Jobe, you're not this, I mean that's all I heard in my mind and even some big worship people that I admired, they kind of were like, ah, they didn't get what I did either.
Candy Coburn:So that was even a tougher beat because I'm like oh my gosh, I admire these people, but I was looking at them instead of the Lord for what he had me do, because nobody is built but you like you, and God needs just your stamp and your flavor and your way to do it. So I would say for sure, yeah, stay true to who you are. Ask God who am I.
Piet Van Waarde:What do?
Candy Coburn:you want me to do with this, what you gave me, because you don't need to modify it for anyone, you don't need to dumb it down or pump it up, but it's just exactly what he will use and he will use it. And the big thing I was going to say is that when you're talking, I was thinking the word shame, because shame is the beast of all this, and getting it out and having that community and talking and you know, getting counseling, whatever you need to do to work through, because shame is what keeps you down, I think the most and it's the biggest lie. But once you start getting into like really finding out who you are but it was so slow for me. So I just want to encourage everybody to take your time. You're not in a hurry, you're not in a race. Ask God, he will tell you so clearly.
Candy Coburn:If you just spend quality time with him, journal your face off pray your face off, but he just started showing me slowly and then he just walked me into it so gently. So now I don't have any fear anymore. Finally Now this is recent of just being me. I don't need to change it. I'm not Kerry Jobe, I will never be Kerry Jobe. And those people all the and they're wonderful at what they do, but I was made to be me and I need to do it like me and not apologize for that, because God did not make a mistake how he made me, and so just you roll with him the way he made you.
Piet Van Waarde:One of the things I think works for you too and for the person who may be listening who's in that position.
Piet Van Waarde:You are so authentic about where you've been and and your own like vulnerability and brokenness and I think one of the scary things for some people is that if they're in that place where they've disappointed people and been, you know, foolish with some things, they are afraid that if they come totally clean about all that, that, they will be disrespected. People go well, who do you think you are? Come back and and there are people, of course, who do that but by and large, what you find, especially with the genuine follower of Jesus because I think this is the Jesus disposition is, you know what? We're all broken.
Candy Coburn:Yes.
Piet Van Waarde:We've all made our mistakes. If you're truly repentant and you're kind of working on what it is that made you vulnerable and you know, do the work and take however much time you need to, then God loves redeeming.
Candy Coburn:Yeah, it's never too late, you're never too old, you're never too fill in the blank, right? And I think that's another big lie that the enemy does Like oh yeah, yeah, your time's passed, you missed it all. Like, oh, actually, these people, they don't want anything to do with you anymore. There's an amazing story about one of my friends and the story was basically like something horrifying happened when he was drinking, ended up sending him to prison, and he gets out of prison and like the job that it was his dream job, like nobody would give this man this job again. Right, what do they do? Give him that job? And it's all because of his full surrender for what God did.
Candy Coburn:And he just made this beautiful testimony out of the mess-demony, right Out of the mess. It's so good, but his story I remember I heard it really early on when I was getting sober. I was like wait a minute, what? What happened here? And he tells a story openly. And I do have the luxury to get to tell my story openly. I'm not in a career path that you can't tell that you were an alcoholic or whatever.
Candy Coburn:Or maybe I just don't care and I do tell I don't know whatever, but I think some people that's tough and there's some fields of work that that's really hard to be able to be vulnerable and get help and then be in those settings again with some of those people.
Piet Van Waarde:Yeah, all right, so looking forward. What do you see ahead for Candy Coburn? What?
Candy Coburn:are you?
Piet Van Waarde:excited about? What are you thinking about?
Candy Coburn:Well, I think one of your questions was like well, for me personally, I just, you know, I want to keep creating. I just want to be like you know, I just want to keep creating, dreaming with the Lord. What's next? I've got to do so many amazing adventures with the Lord I can't even believe it, and I know there's much more to come.
Candy Coburn:And I think the city of Austin, it's no mistake I'm here, it's no mistake the timing you're here too, it's so cool and I think he's just brought people here, at least for my life, that I love being kind of what I would call. I just love to mother and love on. And you know these younger people coming up here that really are chasing after God and chasing after, like, loving on the community outside the walls, all of the new creative like circus of this place. I can't wait to see what God's going to do with it, because he's just continuing to cultivate it and it's growing and it excites me so much what the younger generation is doing, and so all kinds of things I just want to keep, you know, encouraging so many young people that are coming up as worship leaders or artists in the secular world that love Jesus, or, you know painters and all spoken word artists. I could keep going, but that really excites me because I think that's really where we're going to reach people is in creative ways, and I know it's going to be beautiful.
Piet Van Waarde:Lord help us. Yeah, I think that's so true, so excited.
Candy Coburn:And then you know, I think that's a legacy of like what, how, how different everything in Austin can even look. So I'm so excited to even see the change already, since I've been here to see people going into new uh, they've churches at a tequila place now. I mean, all these things are going on. That's exciting because it's just outside of the box thinking, and I think you know, we got to go and love people big and this is the shot you know we're going to give it all we got and uh, and then I think, for the church of Austin, I get really excited too, because this is the best city I've ever lived in, where all the churches really seem to really work together better than anywhere I've lived, um, and it's a great community. Lots of really cool things are happening. So I can't wait to see what's going to happen. Next Pete and ride my motorcycle.
Piet Van Waarde:Yeah, I'm going to keep riding my Harley I should have worn my shirt today.
Candy Coburn:I'm not giving up my Harley. Mark Coburn, that's my husband. Y'all I know we love you guys.
Piet Van Waarde:Yeah exactly Well. Thank you so much, candy.
Candy Coburn:This has been so fun. It's always fun.
Piet Van Waarde:I really appreciate it I love you man, I know you got a lot going on, so for you to take some time here means a lot. I appreciate it.
Candy Coburn:Thank you.
Piet Van Waarde:All right, and thank you for joining us. We're so glad that you came and join us again next week for another Sidewalk Conversation.
