From Haircuts To Hope: Small Acts, Big Faith

We follow a thread from a stadium salute to a street-side haircut, where a small act of generosity triggers prayer, conviction, and unexpected hope. Stories of 3:16, ancient gates, and a checkmate painting ask us to see beyond coincidence to purpose.

• record military salute and reflections
• a barber’s dream, free cuts, and a surprise gift
• a sincere prayer for a stranger named Bryce
• 3:16 searches, game stats, and conviction over ambition
• Mount of Olives prophecies, the sealed East Gate, and a fault line
• grace versus works in an interfaith exchange
• a call to reject lesser loves for lasting love
• the checkmate painting and the king’s final move
• a final witness of seeing Jesus

Chapters

• 1:06 Salute To Service And Ceremony
• 1:20 Record Recruitment And Reflections
• 1:41 Barber’s Dreams And Quiet Generosity
• 2:57 A Gift, A Handshake, A Prayer
• 4:12 Spiritual Warfare And Everyday Temptations
• 5:14 John 3:16 And Viral Curiosity
• 5:42 Tebow’s 316 Statistics And Conviction
• 7:05 Mount Of Olives Prophecies And The East Gate
• 8:36 Fault Lines And Fulfillment Imagery
• 11:06 Interfaith Street Debate On Grace And Works
• 14:03 Warning Against Trading Love For Lesser Loves
• 15:05 The Checkmate Painting And One More Move
• 17:29 A Final Witness: I Saw Jesus

Transcript

SPEAKER_03: 0:31

Mr.

SPEAKER_01: 0:31

President, thanks so much for joining us, Kennedy Galbert, Jonathan Vilma, Veterans Day weekend. The NFL salute to service. How meaningful is it for you to be here today? You just took part in the halftime ceremony in honor of the military.

SPEAKER_00: 0:44

Well, we just wore in a tremendous group of young people, and that was an honor, and they are just fantastic, and they love you know our recruitment's been record setting since a year ago. It was a disaster for the country, and now it's record setting. So this was an honor to be here.

SPEAKER_01: 1:05

How much for a cut? I don't have any I don't have any money though. Think I can get a cut? No uh I got for free?

SPEAKER_04: 1:13

Yeah, I got you.

SPEAKER_01: 1:14

You sure?

SPEAKER_04: 1:15

Yeah. Man, just kind of going through it. Wrap it up, man. I was getting old. No luck today myself, man. You got kids? I got two, man. One girl, one boy, uh 13 and 11, man. So I'm single father right now. You don't feel like you got a sisters? No. Well, they cut everybody off of that. What's your dream? Open a mall's barbershop. Take care of my family, man.

SPEAKER_01: 1:43

You ever get free haircut selling people?

SPEAKER_04: 1:45

Yeah. From my neighborhood, I give the food cuts. You know? You just get a barbershop. I don't want to cheat shots for keep kids how to cut. For free? Yeah, I can stuff for free. Why? I might need it one day. I might be that person that needs a haircut or need a plate or need somewhere to stay or not. That's how my drum runs.

SPEAKER_01: 2:12

Hey. No, I know I don't got much, but could I give you like a just like a little tip?

SPEAKER_04: 2:19

I know. I'm tired of here, bro. I'm gonna get less. Man, man.

SPEAKER_01: 2:26

500 bucks.

SPEAKER_03: 2:27

I appreciate that job.

SPEAKER_01: 2:30

That's for you and your family, man.

SPEAKER_03: 2:32

I appreciate that job. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_07: 2:39

What's your name? That's me, I'm Bryce.

SPEAKER_04: 2:43

How are you doing, Bryce? I need some help.

SPEAKER_07: 2:45

What you need help with? Will you shake my hand? Guess what?

SPEAKER_02: 2:50

You're alive.

SPEAKER_07: 2:51

I love you, man. This last time someone told you that. Long time. I love you, bro. I used to have anger filled in my heart. I used to lash out at my friends when things didn't go my way. And it was so hard. But it's been such a long time, man. I just want you to know I love you. And Jesus loves you. I'll pray for you. I can pray for you. Jesus, I thank you for my friend, God. I just bless you. Jesus, would you just fill them with strength, God? Comfort him right now. You're the Prince of Peace. We just rebuke any assignment from the devil coming against his life right now, God. Would you just bless him, keep him safe? Reveal yourself to his dreams and visions, God. We just bless my friend in Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_11: 3:37

And whoever loves the Lord, Satan will hate that person because he loves he hates Jesus Christ. Jesus crushed his head on Calvary. Whoever says Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, Satan will not leave you alone. He'll fight you. Because he knows if he leaves you alone, you'll end up where Jesus has been sitting for over 2,000 years. You'll take Satan's place. He is jealous to the core. Jealousy comes from Satan. Envy comes from Satan. Foul language comes from Satan. He teaches you. It's not people. Those people were taught by Satan. Drugs, Satan, alcohol, Satan, clubs, Satan, Hollywood, Satan. Star City Casino, Satan, Dark Allies, Satan, gambling, Satan, and other things, Satan, pornography, Satan. Shall I state more? Can we open our eyes? My beloved, please, I beg of you, think for a moment. Just look around you, what's happening in the world? Absolute satanic.

SPEAKER_00: 4:36

316.

SPEAKER_06: 4:38

316 painted on your your eye black. Playoff game. When I wore it for the national championship, I don't really think about it. We're having dinner, and Coach Meyer gets a call, and he's he answers it, and it's Steve McLaren, our PR guy. What do you mean? You know this? Really? Okay, bye. So what did he say? He said, Timmy, you just got the numbers back from the game. And he said, during the game, uh, 94 million people Googled John 316. And then I was just sitting there overwhelmed by what a big God we serve. And exactly three years later, to the date I wore it, I was playing for the Denver Broncos and we were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the in the NFL playoffs. It was on January 8th, 2012, exactly three years later. We win in overtime. I still think it's the fastest overtime in NFL history, and we win. It's a real moment, and it's just like it's unbelievable. And the crowd stays for well over an hour after the game, going crazy. And right before I walk in this big room packed full of media, there's all these curtains out front, and I'm standing in front, and Patrick, our PR guy, there steps in front of me. He said, Timmy, do you realize what happened? And I'm like, Yeah. We just beat the Steelers. We're going to play the Patriots. He's like, Yeah, I know what happened, dude. He said, Timmy, no, you don't know what happened. Timmy, it's exactly three years from the night that you wore John 316 under your eyes. And I'm like, oh wow, that's awesome. That's so cool. And he said, no, no, no, you don't realize it. Timmy, during the game, you threw for 316 yards. And I'm like, what? And he said, Timmy, during the game, your yards per rush were 3.16. Your yards per completion were 31.6. The ratings for the night were 31.6. And the time of possession was 31.6. And during the night, over 90 million people have Googled John 316 as the number one trending thing all over. And I was standing in that hallway. And uh I don't think I had the reaction that a lot of people think I did. Because I went from a high and a celebration and a joy to a conviction and a disappointment. Why? Because when he was telling me that, I knew that God was convicting me. Saying, Timmy, you thought tonight was about a game. You thought it was about all of these things. It's never just about a game. I die for a game. I knew the truth, I just wasn't focused on it. I was having all of these selfish ambitions and goals. And it was also this reminder, but I can even use I can even use it when your heart's not right. I can even use you. I can use something that you did three years ago and started three and a half years ago, and you didn't even know that I was doing something. Also think, that's cool, God, but it's done. And he's like, no, you have no idea what I'm doing. And then I go in there and I'm answering questions, and they're like, wow, what a what a big coincidence. Something like that to me. Coincidence? Yeah. That's what they call it? A few of them on like the side, because they don't even ask it. And I said, uh, well, we couldn't believe it. It's a really big coincidence. Or we could believe that we serve a really big God.

SPEAKER_05: 7:32

This legit is maybe the most mind-blowing Bible fact I've ever learned in my entire life. I've been waiting six years to get this out because it never fits in a sermon. Jesus ascended into heaven when he was standing on in Acts chapter one the Mount of Olives. And he specifically said in Acts chapter one, he said, I'm gonna come in the exact same way that I go. And there are other prophecies, I'm gonna read them here in a second, that specifically make it sound like it's clear. When Jesus returns and he descends, he's gonna descend and stand right on top of the Mount of Olives again. Let's go layer deeper. So if you're ever there on the Mount of Olives, the Mount of Olives is east of the Temple Mount. So in Ezekiel 43, it's one of the passages that Jewish people for millennia have been like, that's a messianic prophecy. Listen really close, bro. This is insane. Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing the east, and it was shut. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. And when it says has entered through it, this is prophetic foreshortening, talking about a future event as if it were in the past. This right here is the East Gate, as seen from when you're standing on the Mount of Olives. That's literally what you're looking at right there, East Gate right there. Now, if you look at it, you're like, where's the gate, bro? Because it's all bricked up. The guy's name was Sultan Suleiman. He conquered uh Jerusalem in 1517, the Islamic guy, had fear of the future Messiah coming and this specific prophecy, and he's the dude that bricked up the East Gate because he was going, I'm gonna make sure that prophecy can never get fulfilled. Okay, now check this out. Zechariah 14, 3 and 5, his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west, making a large valley. Half of the mountain shall move to the north and half of it to the south. In 1964, look this up. There's a million news stories about this. These Jewish dudes want to build a hotel on the top of the Mount of Olives. They've got to get a geological survey done before they build on the top of the historic mountain. When they do the geological survey, they discover that there is a fault line that runs right underneath the Mount of Olives. It is an east to west fault line that runs right from the top of the Mount of Olives right to the east. When Jesus returns, he'll descend on that mountain. And I think what's going to happen is the Bible talks about the earth and the heavens being shaken. I think that in fulfillment of this prophecy, that whole valley will just do this. All those stones that that dude put in front of that thing are gonna fall right down. And he's gonna walk right through that thing, stand on that temple mount, and be like, where are you at now?

SPEAKER_02: 10:29

Preaching is just stupidity. I believe.

SPEAKER_05: 10:31

So you're calling me stupid.

SPEAKER_02: 10:33

Basically. Okay. Basically.

SPEAKER_08: 10:34

Did I call you stupid?

SPEAKER_02: 10:35

No, but you're telling me my religious beliefs are wrong.

SPEAKER_08: 10:38

And you're told me mine are wrong.

SPEAKER_02: 10:39

I'm not saying that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_08: 10:40

And look at how we can tolerate one another.

SPEAKER_02: 10:43

Sure you are. Christianity is not wrong. We believe in Jesus and we love Jesus too.

SPEAKER_08: 10:50

Like the difference between you and me and our understanding of Jesus. Okay. Right? You said you're a good person, correct?

SPEAKER_02: 10:57

I'm a good person, yes.

SPEAKER_08: 10:58

Have you kept the laws of Moses?

SPEAKER_02: 11:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_08: 11:01

So you have always honored God completely and totally, never wavering.

SPEAKER_12: 11:06

Yeah, I would like to believe so. Okay. I might have said a couple of times, but that doesn't make me a bad person.

SPEAKER_08: 11:12

Well, what does it make you? Human.

SPEAKER_12: 11:14

A human, exactly.

SPEAKER_08: 11:15

A human who sins.

SPEAKER_02: 11:16

And God given my own.

SPEAKER_08: 11:18

Did you always do ever been angry at somebody because they just annoyed you like me?

unknown: 11:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08: 11:25

Okay, because Jesus said, You've heard it said of old, thou shalt not commit murder. I say, if you ever call your brother a fool, which is basically what you call me, because you said my beliefs are stupid, that you are in danger of the judgment. It is murder of the heart. So I don't need to kill somebody to murder them. I need to think about just being really mad at them, like you are with me.

SPEAKER_12: 11:45

But I don't need to worry about what you think. All I need to do is Okay, so you said you're a good person.

SPEAKER_08: 11:53

Alright, I'm trying to walk you through one point.

SPEAKER_02: 11:56

I I know what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_08: 11:57

So you've broken the laws of Moses.

SPEAKER_12: 11:59

I know what I need to say.

SPEAKER_08: 11:59

As a Muslim, how do you get your sins forgiven?

SPEAKER_12: 12:02

By repenting?

SPEAKER_08: 12:03

What does that mean?

SPEAKER_12: 12:05

By asking for give for forgiveness, never doing the same thing again. And if I could make it up for the person if I hurt someone, then to do that.

SPEAKER_08: 12:14

And so who pays for your debt against God for breaking his laws?

SPEAKER_12: 12:18

I pay for my debt.

SPEAKER_08: 12:19

So you are earning your way to heaven, correct?

SPEAKER_12: 12:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_08: 12:21

Okay, that's the difference between you and me. Right there. You believe you're earning your way to heaven by doing good, saying the Shahada, maybe by taking a trip to Mecca, the giving of alms. You believe that you are doing good to earn your way to heaven. I believe there is none who does good, no, not one, but Jesus Christ, fully God, fully man. He kept all the laws, was beaten and bruised, hung on a cross to take the wrath of God, fulfilling all righteousness, so that you and I might become the righteousness of God. I believe it is by grace through faith alone in Jesus alone. You believe it's by works. Now, clearly we have a completely different worldview and understanding about God in the afterlife. You do not believe that Jesus is God, I do. So here I think are the options. Either you're right, or I'm right, or we're both wrong, but we can't both be right. Fair enough? Sweet, and look at I don't hurt you, I don't try to kill you, I'm not saying nasty things about you.

SPEAKER_11: 13:28

Jesus in the end will say, Do you love me? What am I gonna say? No, Lord, I swapped your love with the Pixfield, I swapped your love with a Star City Casino, I swapped your love with clubbing, I swapped your love with drinking and dancing and nakedness and drunkenness and lustful life. I swapped your love with filth. No, my beloved, for why we cannot afford to swap Jesus with nothing. The moment we lose him, we're finished forever. Jesus is the only way, Jesus is the only truth, and Jesus is the only life. Come back to him. Say sorry. Jesus, forgive me. I am I am not worthy to be your son once again. But make me as a service in your house.

SPEAKER_10: 14:29

There's a picture in the museum in the Louvre. I don't know how many of you ever been there. The picture is called checkmate. The devil's sitting on this side, there's a chess board, and there's a guy sitting on the other side. And the guy sitting on the other side has his hand on his head like this. And he's like in desperation. And as they were taking a tour through the Louvre, there had been a group of athletes, and particularly world champions, that were being given a special tour. And in the tour was the world chess champion. And he comes walking by with a picture, and the guy's explaining to him this is a picture of an artist rendering of somebody who lost a battle with the devil. And so the group moved on to the next picture to see something else. But the world chess champion, he stayed there, and he just kept looking at the picture. And soon they noticed that he was not with the group. And so the tour guide came back and said, We've we've moved on. Are you are you coming? He said, Well, I've been looking at this picture. And the guy said, Yeah, he said, It's uh it's called checkmate. The devil's laughing, the man's lost. And he said, Yeah, he said, I've been noticing that. He said, but while I've been standing here, I've kept looking at the picture. I'm I've I've got I've got a problem. And he said, Well, what do you mean? He said, Well, you know I'm a I'm a world champion chess player, and I spend my life playing chess, and normal people don't always see what a world champion, chess player, sees. He says, But when y'all walked off, I looked at the devil laughing and I looked at the man in desperation, but he said, I noticed something on the chess board. He said, either they're gonna have to change the painting or they're gonna have to change the name. And the guy said, Well, why are they gonna have to do that? He said, Well, you know, I'm a world champion chess player, and he said, When I observed the board, I found out the king still has one more move. I come to tell somebody today, you believe you've been cornered, you believe everything is gone and nothing has got any hope, but the king still has a one more move.

SPEAKER_09: 17:03

I saw Jesus. I saw Jesus. It was right there. He said it was Jesus.