Scientology Speedruns? | CRNRSTN Collective - Episode 33

In this episode, the host J, along with co-hosts, Angus, Gage, and Javan discuss the discovery of a giant finger in Egyptian remains during an archaeological excavation in 1988 as well as what it could mean for affirming scriptural tellings of an older Earth. Additionally, the four of them look at the rising trend of speedrunning scientology buildings and all of the strange historical connections behind the cult's membership and professional connections. They also look at countries such as Israel and China and their support of sodomite agendas and persecution of Christian influence. The squad also spends some time talking about the really cool testimonies of some people such as Theo Von currently walking in infancy in his faith in God as well as Jordyn Tyson's declaration of faith during the NFL Draft. Finally, the four of them close it out by looking at some developments in technology as well as the importance of life groups in strengthening a community of faith.

#podcast #opinion #scientology #tomcruise #shannon #giantfinger #conspiracytheory #usa #israel #china #pakistan #iran #politics #bible #christian #theovon #nfldraft #viral #trending

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Cornerstone Collective. I'm your host, Jay Brown. With me today is Gage Lee.

SPEAKER_03 0:04

What's up?

SPEAKER_04 0:05

Angus McLeod. Hey, hey. And Javen Brown. Hello, hello. We're talking about the intersection of Christ and culture, and we do so by using these seven cultural C statements. Those are commitment, community, communication, competence, creativity, compassion, and celebration. I want to start today with the scripture. I'm asking Angus to read it for us.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

If this be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King, or uh O King. Or if our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and out of your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3, 17 and 18.

SPEAKER_04 0:53

Come on, come on. That's uh Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo is speaking to the king out of Daniel. We just recently talked about that in our series, Moxie. We've been talking about what it means to have the strength and courage to stand up to what it live for God, to the tenacity to hold on to him and to follow him at all costs. Um, we have been talking about these three things of face the fear, praise the Lord, and stand for the Lord, not bow down and worship, but stand for the things of God. Um, Gage, what do you think, man? What's been something out of this series that spoke to you?

SPEAKER_03 1:24

Man, this last Sunday, uh, after we had talked about Shadrach, Nishek, and a bit ago, I man, I got up out of my seat at the end of service and I was ready to go start crusading. Like I was I was all about standing for the Lord, man, get jumping in the gap for people and just being somebody who's not ashamed, not afraid, and who has the moxie to stand up against what's wrong and be the person that the Lord has called us to be.

SPEAKER_04 1:50

So good, man. I like that encouragement. Uh Angus, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Yeah, uh well, standing for the Lord, I think that's a great um it's obviously something that we should be doing, but I think that it's so closely tied to our identity that once once you make it a part of your identity, because I know that uh for me early on in my Christian walk, I was really timid about sharing my faith and what God was doing in my life because I didn't feel like I had the answers to be able to give people if should they take it past you know what I was willing to show. Uh but what I found out is that uh having that identity in Christ and knowing that we're not going to be perfect, we don't have to have all the answers. We just need to know the one who does. Correct. Right? So um once you make that a part of your identity, not that you're coming from a place of lack, but a place of, hey, look, I'm just like everybody else, but I've got this hope that others don't. Um and I think that that's where standing for the Lord gets easier is once you understand who you are in Christ, uh, then it's just sharing who you are and and what God's done in your life. And I think that's what makes it easier to stand for the Lord. But I mean it there are times where it's tough, you know. Um one of the things I used to love to do is drink, you know, and so being around that, uh, when I'm around family and things like that, it's it's hard not to. Uh or it's hard to not want to take a drink or whatever. But you know, it's far more important for my testimony, for for my walk that I don't, you know, I don't fall back into those old ways that I do stand for what God's done in my life.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

So good, man. It's a good example. Javen, what do you think, man? Moxie. Yeah, I mean, it's so important. Like, I especially with what we've been talking about this last week, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Amednigo, it's so incredible to see like them physically take a stand against the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar while everybody else is falling down. And I think especially like as a young person in today's world, I see so much of that. Like it's really easy to get in line with what everybody else is doing because it just feels like you're going with the flow. But to be rooted in scripture is so important as a believer, and that's exactly what they were doing, is they were rooted and they knew exactly what the Lord had set apart for them and for their people, and they were to stick to it no matter what. They realized that no matter what principalities and rulers of this earth that they were fighting against, that the Lord was was better than all of them. And that is the truth that we understand. Um, so I mean, yeah, it's it's such an encouragement to me as a young person, especially in in talking with a lot of um of friends that I have that are like Muslim and things like that, and explaining the differences that we have across Christianity and that narrative is understanding the word and understanding why we live the way that we do and why it differs from so many of what what the other world would say.

SPEAKER_04 4:31

That's good. I like that as a as a perspective. Uh, you know, we talked about how our identity is their their identity was tied to God, and so that's very much Tengis' point about how they were living for that effect, what you're talking about and living that example to friends. It was good to see some of your buddies that were part of part of Sunday and getting a chance to hear some of that challenge, and that was pretty cool. I love that. Um, one of the things that I think it resonates with all of us is that you have to have the courage to do it. You know, they were already in an elevated place, they had a lot to lose. They they already had, you know, they're already in an important place and kind of taken out of being subjugated as as those people and not to re-preach it. But the idea is that we would be those that were willing to put it on the line for Christ and hold the way. The Lord be praised.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

Well, I think that as the world starts to move to that one world religion, um, we may end up being in those kind of shadracking the boys scenarios where you know we're s we're standing up against that uh that one world religion and saying, no, I won't bow down. So that's right. If it's not our generation, it's it's in one of the one of the soon coming generations, I think, you know, because we're just seeing it progress more and more. So like that story needs to be in us because we have to know that that God will save us from those things and uh and he'll use it for his his glory, but we have to be willing to stand, you know, and if if we don't have that already packed down and have it settled in us, when that when they start enacting these things to to make people go that way, um, you know, you you need to know where you stand. Or or you'll you'll just go right along with the crowd. Yep, man. Yep. Great example.

SPEAKER_03 6:05

And even yeah, dude, it even says, like, even if he doesn't save me, yeah, I will not, I will not worship any other God but mine.

SPEAKER_04 6:12

So good, man. So good. You know that Jesus is with us in the middle of the fire. You know, we talked about a little bit of this thing too. It's funny because we have so many people that are expecting right now at church, and we have like uh some people on staff, some other friends of ours that are close to us. Uh, one of the young families we met actually had a party with the pastors where we connect with some of the newer people in our church. One of the younger couples, they're expecting, and uh, they're expecting a son. And I had joked in the sermon talking about, you know, Daniel, his actual Persian name was Beltashazzar, and how he it's not in the scripture that we never call him that, where we call them Shadrach, Meshach, Abendigo, which are Persian names, uh, Babylonian names, uh, you know, versus you know, Hanani or other things like that. It's so it's really funny. I've had friends named Shadrach, named Abendigo, you know, and he sees even Mishel, like not Meshach, but Michelle on the on the on the other side. But I was like, man, somebody's got to go with Belt of Shazzar as a name for a kid and one of the young moms. She's like, Pastor I'm just gonna tell you we're not going with Beltashazzar.

SPEAKER_05 7:09

I thought it was so funny. I was like, that's awesome. You know, I was like, it's great. I was like, are you sure? Because you know, Shazzy is a fire big belt or czar. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 7:20

I was like, yeah, big belt. Exactly. Yeah, man, good stuff. One of the people that uh is kind of popular in the media, especially on the right side, is Tucker Carlson, even someone who's popular on Fox News and kind of went independent and doing his own thing. He recently, on a podcast interview, is very uh forthright with some of his interaction that he's talked to a lot of different leaders around the world, including Putin and other people that he's interviewed and talked to presidents and different ones, and he said that he he says that all the world leaders that he's interacted with, all of the world leaders understand that there is supernatural power, and many of them are worshiping that power, not God. I thought that was very insightful. What do you think?

SPEAKER_03 7:59

I think it's profound, man, that that people are starting on to a much larger scale recognize that there is far more to the actions that are being taken by people in leadership positions, especially politically, that are biased in the sense of pushing in a narrative that is not based in the scriptures. Right, motivated by another supernatural entity. Yes, and for the vast majority, like he had said, it's not it's not our father, right? Which means it comes from son if it's not one, it's gotta be the other. Correct. You know, and a lot of what's going on, I think, is proof that what they're worshiping, what they're doing, is a sacrificial type worship to one and not the other. That's true. No, it's really good.

SPEAKER_01 8:47

J what do you think, man? I mean, yeah, it's like I definitely I feel like this has been going on for a while, especially with even with things like the Epstein files, it like is kind of revealed that there is a lot of worship of things like that. And we call them by different names, like uh Ball Moloch, I think uh even in the scripture, uh dude, there's like uh there's like a really funny name of a demon that sounds really weird, but it's also like one of those entities that people would worship in that way. Um, and I mean it's just it it kind of reaffirms the fact that throughout human history we've had all these different civilizations that have understood supernaturally and identified their politics very closely with something related to mythology, whether that be some of the greatest empires we've ever known, like the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire, things like that.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

And then to think that the continuation would stop and that we've suddenly learned or advanced so far enough that none of this is real, it's just blatant ignorance of the actual fact. And um, yeah, I mean it it is interesting. I think that Tucker Carlson is one of the people saying this, considering like how tied in he's been with some of these people and arguably like who he supports and things like that. So it yeah, I yeah, but I think it it coming to light regardless of who the messenger is, is definitely that being made way for people to understand.

SPEAKER_04 9:58

Yeah, you know, it you're you're right. I mean, I think about even like popular move movies and culture with that idea. You think of something like Gladiator, which is kind of like the height of the Roman Empire, kind of a movie, and in that, you know, the the main person, Maximus, he he obviously is mad at what's going on and is cutting off the Roman mark off himself, and one of the people is like, won't that make your gods angry? And he's like, nodding his head, like, yes, it will. So, like it even then there was an alignment, even modern day, it makes sense that they would understand that and need to keep it cloaked as not to reveal their hand to Gage's point. But Angus, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 10:31

I I think that people of power understand power, you know, and so there they know that there's a spiritual you know, force, there's spiritual power. Um and one side is easier to manipulate, you know, and and try and get what you think you want and and all of that. Um I know that just from some of the pastors' things that we've gone to, there have been people who've been to the White House and and all of that stuff with um they've been to the White House and um there are previous administrations that don't allow the name of Jesus Christ. Yeah, you know, and so that obviously says something. And um and but the also the implications of what happens when a leader is is worshiping and going, what happens to the culture. You know, uh we see under under this president it's it's totally safe to to talk about Jesus and and things like that, whereas in previous administrations it hasn't been. That's true, you know, and so similarly around the world you see uh people who are hostile to the gospel. Um and uh it's you know there's there's real power there, and so we know it as Christians, um, and the other side knows it as well.

SPEAKER_04 11:42

Yeah, that's right. And I think that's exactly what he's trying to unveil is that to your point, power understands power, and that you know we we shouldn't be under the guise that they that they they don't realize this. So they're in alignment with something that is not from the Father, which is why it's so important that we pray for our leaders. That's exactly right, that they would be guided and come into relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. One of the things that we've seen, so put on your tinfull hats, kids, is a giant finger. Um, is actually a finger from a giant. So it is both a giant finger, meaning it is large, it's like the size of an arm, um, as well as there were pictures of it coming from Egypt, stemming back to the 1960s, where uh Gregor Spori, who's uh I think Italian, he took these pictures and paid for the access to to be able to do it. They had it versus Egyptian notes. We know Egyptian notes because we live in Egypt, so we know what that looks like, and the size of it was massive. I was surprised by the size of it. They said it was x-rayed in the 1960s to show there is actually the bone inside and those other things. I send it to you guys. What was your take?

SPEAKER_01 12:42

What do you think, Jebo? Uh, I mean, it's just further confirmation confirmation of something like the Nephilim, and especially around that part of the world. I mean, even like with what we talked about related to the CIA incidents of like the dude with the really giant red beard. What was his name again?

SPEAKER_04 12:55

Yeah, no, I know you're talking about the biggest.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

No, but yeah, but the giant in I think it was like Iran or Iraq or Afghanistan, whatever that part of the world. But yeah, I mean, definitely within the Middle East, there's a lot of sightings like that. Like, I just saw, I think, a YouTube short about like this really weird noise. It was like a chanting almost that was like definitely not human, because there's no way this could have been produced, it was like way too deep and resonant um by the Euphrates River. And uh the myth around like the people that live there is that it's a fallen angel, which is really interesting. Like if it would be kept captive underneath the actual physical earth. So I mean, the more that we continue to see uh like actual physical sightings of stuff like this, and whatever people have claimed to see in Mexico and things like that, by the um by the pyramids and things like that, it's like, dude, I mean, this is just further confirmation that there definitely is something bigger than humans that exists within the grand scope of the supernatural order of things.

SPEAKER_04 13:50

So by the you Freddy's River. I'm sorry. This is what happens whenever your kids learn uh all of the you know navigation of the ancient rivers by soldier boy. That's crazy, which just happened in my house, and that's how I know that song, and there are whole lyrics about that as well. So by the you Freddy's River, anyway. That's funny. Angus, what's your take, man? Um, giant finger, it's said to be petrified, so it's said to be like dried up, but thick and all the other things. What do you think about it?

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Yeah, the um I think just like Javen said, it's confirmation. Um, you know, again, from from our worldview, we know that there were giants, you know. I mean, it talks about it in the Bible.

SPEAKER_02 14:25

For sure.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

Uh, and uh, I mean, David beat Goliath, that that whole thing. And so brothers. Yeah, exactly. And so we know that uh biblically there's that, and uh, you know, there's a lot of stories about the Smithsonian coming in and and hiding these giants findings that are i that have happened in America.

SPEAKER_04 14:44

Right. You know, and so uh the big burial mounds that we see across the different places and things.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Yeah, exactly. And so um so I mean I think that it's it's good or or cool to to be able to see that uh and see that yeah, there there is something that's that's under the surface that's been hidden and and all that. And um, you know, I I think that God's gonna use all of that to to um be lifted up.

SPEAKER_04 15:08

I agree. Obviously, it does align with our perspective, and um, you know, not to just be duped because it's our perspective, but it's interesting to see where it's like, well, this is really interesting that they would uncover this and that it would be public in this way. Obviously, in modern day it's really easy to fake things. This did not seem like that. It seemed very much like like an older uh rendition of what we would see, even the older style notes, things like that. So very interesting. Gage, what do you think? Giants?

SPEAKER_03 15:31

A giant's giant finger. Yes, sir. That's pretty cool. It's pretty cool. It's interesting. I mean, I got a lot of questions, and um, you know, I'm not too sure how to navigate the the concept of giants still being around because the thought of the floods and what the floods were meant to get rid of, and why would they still be here if the floods had come, and yeah, it's my my mind goes in a lot of different directions with it. I'm not too positive on how I feel on the concept of Nephilim still being around. You mean today? Today.

SPEAKER_02 16:03

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:04

Today. Because there's still like like J Vod said, there's you know, potential sightings in Mexico and in the Middle East. Um I I think there's no arguing the existence in the past. Um, whether they're around today, I don't know. Um but I think also when I look at the um the building of all these giant and like grandeur uh sites like uh even the pyramids, correct. You know, I I think there has to have been some kind of giant's hand involved in that, um, especially with like the size of that finger, just to think. This isn't like a Yao Ming or you know, some like eight, nine foot tall person. This is I mean, I could I could bear hug that finger, right? Yeah, and like barely get around it. So the concept of that just somebody's finger, and we don't know if that was his pinky, we don't know if that was his index finger, for sure, yeah you know, but the thought of the size of these people, and then I think about like it man, if these giants had the dexterity that we have as like an average mobile person, whereas you know, like people like Yao Ming and these other really, really tall people, you know, a lot of the times their bodies will deteriorate a lot faster because of the way that their body grows. I wonder if it's the same concept with the giants or giant, yeah, right. But if they were able to live like we do with the dexterity, but their lifespan being longer, I don't know how it all works, but it's a very, very interesting concept. The more you talk about it being authentic, right and like the the confirmation that because like I know Angus has talked about it in the past too of science proving the word of God, right, and how interesting it is to see the world starting to catch up with what the Bible's been telling everybody. Yeah, but you know, the confirmation that there were giants, and then like it starts opening more doors to like really thinking about that idea. Like, okay, well, if they were here, which we see that they were, yeah, what would that have looked like? What did it look like?

SPEAKER_04 18:11

Well, and I think the proliferation of what we see in evil is you know, the story and narrative of Noah would be one that judgment came in that season, which definitely would have wiped out some of the Nephilim in that regard, does not mean that that wouldn't have been more that happened, i.e., Goliath later on, which we see much later in scripture in the timeline. So I think it's an and both, not an either or. And I feel like that could even be to modern day. Should should that have been the thing and the Lord allow that to happen, or whatever that would look like. Um, but interesting. I mean, obviously, we see people like in these old photos that are 12 feet tall, like some massive people, they're huge, and you're like, wow, that's gigantic. I mean, the tallest people we see around are more like eight foot, you know, but you see these massive people that literally people are walking around at their waist level. I mean, and this is in the 1920s. So, I mean, it was a lot more before they put everything under wraps, and so you could see if that person's that big, what does a real big person look like? Right. So it's really interesting to think about. So ten foil hats off, but you can understand actually we might need to keep them on. We're gonna talk about Scientology. So we have Scientology. People are uh obviously it's a very popular uh thing within Hollywood, which says something in itself, but um, Scientology took off from the writings uh of a of a science fiction writer and saying that these alignment about uh ununderstanding became a religion. There are a lot of people that pay into it, has a lot of money, there are billions of dollars within it. Tom Cruise is the most famous Scientologist that's kind of known. There are a lot of bunch of other people that are in that sphere as well, but they have these centers in major cities around the world. So one of the major ones you see, like in New York or LA or different places where they have a Scientology center, and it's supposed to be a place worth welcoming, and people do these um kind of in like an in-doc kind of indoctrination kind of a thing where they give you a reading and they do all this stuff to kind of help you so that you can become a better person. Well, the a lot of the Scientology buildings are very like um uh kept under wrap. So, unlike our church, where people can walk in and be a part of the the you know, it's open. You know, people come in, they do what they're doing, they get to be a part of the spaces. You know, obviously for our kids and stuff like that are gonna be more restricted. Parents with kids go in and stuff like that, but you know, people can see what's going on. Whereas these places are very clandestine, TikTokers they took exception to this, and so TikTokers are now speedrunning Scientology buildings, which is wild. JV, what do you think about what do you think about this? It's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

It's so far, like we get a new video and a new update every single day from practically the same group of people that just keep going back in. Um, and it's hilarious, dude. There's this woman named Shannon who's like supposed to be, I think, a manager or like somebody important over there that's always telling the same group of kids to get out, and then she's basically become like TikTok famous because of how many videos that they've made at this point. The Scientology character. Yeah, exactly. And it's like everybody's joking about how Tom Cruise is waiting, like as like the final boss just black door. Yeah, exactly. Which I think is hilarious. Um, but it is interesting. I mean, like so far with what they've seen, there's not really a whole lot. Like, there was one really strange room that was like had a bunch of decorum and things like that, and it looked like almost a movie set scene, but like a very miniature version. Like, if you're in a a queue at Disneyland and you go past like a corner and you see like it's thematic, that's essentially what it looked like. And then it was normal rooms all past that. So it does raise some questions as to like what they're doing, but I think uh I hope they continue to do more of it because it's really funny, and I want to see how far they can go before they get caught or like the information is like just completely inaccessible on the internet.

SPEAKER_04 21:32

Interesting. Uh, you know, I've seen people doing fake speedruns since this has gone so popular with their fake speedrunning like palanty or something. It's not clearly all guys in their 20s, so it's like they have their own office building, and guys are in there with like shooting like the you know, the supreme money gun in the air and all this stuff.

SPEAKER_05 21:47

It's so it's like they like you know, plans to take over the world and they're like trying to cover it up.

SPEAKER_04 21:51

It's like very fake, but funny, like hilarious. So I don't know, man. It's interesting. A guy's at work at a church and have facilities. How do you feel? About random strangers running through your facility. Uh don't like it at all. Me neither.

SPEAKER_00 22:04

Um but you know, it is kind of it while it is funny on one side, right? Um, you know, I I've watched a lot of the documentaries and and stuff on Scientology. And uh it's it's really sad what uh what some of these people kind of get trapped into. It really is a cult and um and the way they divide the family so intentionally uh and they separate people and ostracize, and there's just so many things that are are really nefarious about it. Um and so uh aside from the entertaining part of it, uh I hope that some of this uh the stuff is exposed more, and you know, um they're really more of a real estate company. You know, they've got millions millions, billions of dollars of real estate around the world, and that's kind of what they they do everything off of, and that's really the the motivation. But there are people who are working in like slave-like slave-like conditions um for these things, and um, and I think it needs to be exposed uh because um as somebody who's in the church space, it's very offensive to to know what they're getting away with, you know. I mean, especially with there already being um so many eyes on the church, you know, um, it's really important that that that's not abused because there are protections here in America that that we have that are uh incredible for churches to be able to operate, but abuse of those those privileges is what's gonna get them taken away. And so people who aren't associated with them at all are gonna suffer as a result of them doing you know their nefarious things.

SPEAKER_04 23:42

That's a good point. You know, Scientology in itself is nothing like we believe at all. So as Christ followers, we don't align with them. But you know, even other places that are kind of said to be a little bit more clandestine and kind of have some secrecy to them. I'm thinking of some friends of ours that are LDS in the Mormon church, they do not believe like we believe either. But even then, they'll have, you know, before they go and they consecrate their temples and stuff, they let the public come in. Like you can go and tour it as a tourist and see like what it's like and see what their their big baptism thing with the bulls is about. They have it all built up and it looks ceremonial, it's a big massive thing, but people walk in there, you know what I mean? Like they're not keeping it like that. So it is interesting. I it is the enticement, especially with these younger generation, to be like, oh, hey, we're gonna speedrun this thing, we're gonna get a map of this thing, and they're trying to do it with their phones and try to use the AI to get the map and all this other stuff, and people are drawing it by hand. So it's kind of crazy. Gage, what do you think, man? Speedrun the Scientologist? I don't think I'm fast enough, bro. I think I've I think I've put on a few too many pounds.

SPEAKER_03 24:38

I'm not saying we should do it. I know exactly what Shannon you're talking about, too. I've been seeing videos of this lady for years, man. Uh, this is the LA one, right? Yes, yeah. She's a gatekeeper at the front. Yeah, she's almost like a uh a highfalutin receptionist.

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:55

You know what I mean? So it's it's been really funny because there's people in the past who would walk by and be like, hey Shannon, and she'd look and like immediately turn around, shut the door, and lock it. Yeah, and and that to me is just so strange. It's so strange. Like if anyways, you know.

SPEAKER_04 25:10

I'm I I mean from our side, we do have people, we have unhoused people that come come alongside of our property. We have obviously kids here for for because we have a daycare and in a preschool, we have a lot of things going on. So we talk to people, we ask them what's going on with them, if they need food or water or something, we provide that for them, then we ask them to move on, and we explain why. We have children here, you cannot be on property for that reason, all these other things. But if they have a real reason, they can come in. We have no problem with that. So that's a real thing. But I could see, like, man, if had like 15 teenagers or early 20s something run through my building, I'd be like, taser, taser, taser. Like, I would be like, I ain't playing with you, cuz like you know what I mean. Like, it would have been one of those. So I wondered this whole thing. I see them recently. They have these other young kids also that are in Scientology, they're all locking arms and locked up, like they're warriors for the thing. Similarly, to like the women in Mexico protecting the buildings. So it was like very interesting. I'm like, man, this is so crazy how much it's escalated in like a TikTok space. Yeah, yeah. Like this is wild. So, friends, don't speedrun the Scientologists, let them be. Go map something else out, you know. Like uh, don't speed run the Scientologists. Go map out Area 51, see how that goes. Anyway, the Lord be praised. Dying. Yeah. Uh, interesting development in Israel in that they're talking about setting aside a peace near the Dead Sea uh and calling it Pride Land. Now, beyond besides America, actually, Israel has the second largest um LGBTQ plus um parades and things like that that happened in Tel Aviv and other places. So it's actually surprising to most people that that's the case, but it is the case. So they're saying that they want to set aside and actually have this big space. That space historically is dump dum dum, Sodom and Gomorrah. So interesting from a biblical perspective. A lot of the kind of Christian space and Christian leaders, especially in Israel, are very much like vocal against this concept. The you know, the Orthodox and Hasidic Jews are against the concept, but you have a very big big fight within their government between these different sections of people. So wow, very, very insightful. Cage me think, man.

SPEAKER_03 27:16

Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy. I think there's a lot to be said about what's going on over there right now and the decisions that they're making. I am not knowledgeable enough to step out and make any other kind of statements on the course.

SPEAKER_04 27:29

Yeah, and all these people have value, all of them are made in the image of God. We don't agree with the lifestyle choice, but the idea is that all these people have value. Very strange though that they would make this be the agenda. Yes. The other thing that I don't think they're thinking about, I think they're thinking that they're gonna go out there and have this place that's dedicated to them. To me, that means we're gonna get you in one spot and then you're a target. Anyway, Angus, what do you think, man? Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 27:53

You know, I think it's it's an affront to God. Um, you know, um he destroyed the place once. Yeah. And you know, in my experience, when God says something, he means it.

SPEAKER_02 28:03

True.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

And um to to go and uh and rebuild, essentially, uh something similar or the same, or you know, our new version of it is kind of like giving God the middle finger and and just saying, what what you gonna do? Yeah, you know, and that's a real dangerous spot. And so it my heart breaks for those people because they're so deceived that they think that this is this is right, but you know, again, based on our worldview, we you know, we have an understanding of what uh what the Lord says about it, yeah. And so um, you know, I'm just I'm praying for Israel right now because they seem very confused. Absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:41

Between military action, between this and other things that don't align. Yeah, absolutely. Really scary. Jane, what do you think, man? This is a really wild one.

SPEAKER_01 28:49

I mean, it just makes you take a step back, right? Like the historically Israel has built itself upon the foundation that both ethnically and religiously they're Jewish. If in the Tanakh we have not only the Torah, so the first five books of the Bible, but also the words of the prophets are comprised of the beginning half and then later some will add the Talmud and things like that. If you historically can go back and look at Sodom and Gomorrah and understand and still claim today that you follow that same God, and yet you, as not only religious leaders, but political leaders of the state that's supposed to represent the Jewish people at large, sure, are claiming that by follow that you're following the same God and also doing this because it's for the benefit of the people, then there's a lot of questions asked about what God you follow.

SPEAKER_04 29:31

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 29:32

And I'm just gonna leave it at that.

SPEAKER_04 29:33

Well, and I think to that end, I mean, most people would say that the you know the the political leaders are not m the moral leaders, meaning they're not connected or or worshippers in a true sense. And so that's an interesting um dichotomy of argument to your point about the two the major factions within their own political system of disagreeing with itself, uh, much like our own government and our own society. So uh heaven help us, and I pray that each one of those people has a revelation of who Christ says to them.

SPEAKER_03 29:59

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Amen. Earth as it is in heaven.

SPEAKER_04 30:02

Amen to that. You know, China recently has been said reported to be deploying SWAT teams to take down house churches. Um, that's been something that has historically happened more on a case-by-case basis, but in a more demonstrative way lately. You know, it's something that we know, brothers and sisters in Christ that are across the world, that that has happened to them. Many of them would not become a pastor unless they have already been incarcerated for their faith. That's how how how regimented it was in the past because that's how serious it was. You know, they could tell whether or not you were fake by whether or not you did time for Jesus. And so that's how people vow that's how you got vetted to be a house church pastor in the past. Um, there are lots of books written from the Christian space and the mysiological space that way. We have lots of friends who have been missionaries in those places, including people within our own community of faith here. And so they could speak to it a lot with a lot more certainty than we can here that are postuating. But uh it is one of those things that our hearts are with them as you know, they're they're actually paying for their faith um and disagreeing. Obviously, it comes back to alignment, and that's not something that their culture from a political standpoint agrees with, though we know there are millions of Christians inside China and we value them, and and so they're they're having these things happen where these guys are getting taken away for their faith. Um, man, such a big price to pay. Moxie, man. Yeah, a lot of moxie in living for Jesus. Javen, what do you think, man? You I mean, you've had a chance to be in Asia and see some of these things.

SPEAKER_01 31:23

Yeah, I mean, it's wild. Like I I even think about some of the personal friends that we knew, even when we were out in the field that got kicked out of China for that exact same reason or were in prison there, and AG really had no way to get them out because they legally they couldn't fight it in any way. Correct. Um, so definitely like for us for a lot of these people living in places like China or uh places that are under really like heavy rule and like really authoritarian rule, where if you come in and preach the gospel, they will just shut you down immediately. Whether that means kicking you out of the country or placing you in prison, it definitely feels and the call of God upon their life feels a lot more like what we would see in the beginning of the New Testament, where people were dying, not even for what they believe because they read it in something, but for their eyewitness accounts of something and them just telling it how it happened. Right. But people said, No, you didn't see that, and still they killed all of the of all of the original apostles, and that includes Paul and people like that who still went to the grave for their faith. And it's incredible. And to see that culture die in Western society because of the comfort that we live, is so I I think people become so desensitized to what the gospel actually means. But if you're willing to go go out like that in Asia, not only is that a true testament to your faith, but it's an honor because you get to live and die in the exact same ways that apostles before you did because you truly had that sense of belief within that regard. And it's a true testament as to who not only Christ has called you to be, but truthfully that decision that you made in your heart and the life that is is reflected around that.

SPEAKER_04 32:52

We're praying joy and persecution for our brothers and sisters in Christ that are living in these places of the Lord, the joy of the Lord with their strength, that they would have tenacity, that they have the mocky to live for God, and that um they would know the peace of God even in the circumstances where they are today. One of the things that we've seen that's been an interesting deal is um the very popular uh comedian Theo Vaughn. He recently came out on his podcast, which is um this last weekend, and he started sharing, man, from a kind of a tearful, heartfelt area, he starts sharing the story, and he says that he's asking God for a new story in his life. And I thought that was profound. So very, very insightful. He's been someone who's kind of both been encouraging and critical of it. He talks about of like, you know, like like fighting the dark arts and doing these other stuff has been like his his tour names and stuff like that. And so it's really interesting to hear him in his own personal struggle. He's talked about having some kind of connection to faith in the past, but also very much like against control and other stuff like that. So it's very interesting to hear both sides of that come out of his mouth. You guys had a chance to see some of this from Theo?

SPEAKER_03 33:52

Yeah, man, I love it. I I love the the vulnerability he has, and it especially in his personal struggles, just being so open about it and letting it be a point for conversation, yeah. And it honestly, like a a cry for help, yeah, you know, and it's somebody at that level um who has that kind of influence. Uh I mean, where he he he literally on his podcast, he'll receive calls from people who are seeking help, right? And he's sharing this with the world. Like, look, I'm I'm just as much in need of help. Yeah, and this is kind of where I'm starting to look. Yeah, and he's a top 10 podcast in the US.

SPEAKER_04 34:28

I mean, mega popular. Huge, yeah. So there's a lot of influence. Super funny, very, very genuine, very authentic.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

Yeah, yeah. I I I love the guy, honestly. He's always been so quick-witted in his humor and his responses being so left field. Absolutely. It's it's been it's a joy to watch him just because you don't know what's coming for sure. But it is gonna be something funny, and it's not gonna be clean either. Oh, yeah, right. But in in the same hand, you know, I come from a very not clean place. No, right, and he doesn't, he's not walking with Christ, but right knowing that he's in a place right now where he's vulnerable enough, not only with his with the public, but with himself, yeah, and reaching out for help and seeking the word of God in that in that cry. I mean, it's the Lord be praised, dude. It's such an awesome opportunity because now the world is looking like, okay, as he's going down this hole, what's gonna come from it? Yeah, right, and it's gonna be a testimony to the glory of God. That's true. A hundred percent. And I know that watching this play out, and I'm just so excited to see it happen, and it's a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_04 35:31

Yeah, it is you know, you've seen some of those highlights with him talking with different ones, even Kat Williams, different ones, he's had on, and even Kat will bring that up or bring about faith or stuff like that. So it's interesting to see that's always been somewhat in the conversation, but him to have a real, I mean, a lot of the Christian podcast uh, you know, sphere is talking about this right now. Even Relative Magazine, other places like that are talking about it too. Angus, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 35:51

Uh what I liked about it was kind of how it started. You know, he's talking about wanting a new story, but uh but it starts off with, you know, are you are you are you willing to receive healing and and change and all of that? You know, because we we ask God for things, but and you know, as a pastor, we've we've experienced this where people have these struggles, they're bound up in something, and you show them the door, you say, here's the answer, this is the key to your lock, and they're too scared to to take it because they know they know the safety of of their current situation. You know, they've been able to survive thus far. And so um, so that freedom is actually because they've become institutionalized in their own situation, their their own sin or whatever, that when the cage door swings open, they they don't know that they can walk out and and lead a new life.

SPEAKER_02 36:41

Right.

SPEAKER_00 36:41

You know, and so that's what I what I really took away from it too was you know, if you're gonna pray for a new story, understand that that's gonna that's gonna mean something really big. Yeah, you know. Um it's uh to to have God do something like that in your life and and change your story, write a new one, um, that it's gonna mean some things in your life are gonna have to die, things are gonna have to change. Um you can't you can't read the the two books at the same time. You can't read the right page from one and then the left page from another book and and have the same story. That's right. You know, you've got to you've got to decide.

SPEAKER_04 37:15

That's a good point, man. And you know, praying for Theo for that reason, you know, like I I agree. The guy's quick-witted, very, very smart, you know, did some time here in A Z and down in Tucson, and you know, has a an interesting narrative of who he is as a person. So praying for him, man, that he embraces the work of Christ in his life and is something transformative for him. JBo, you've got a chance to see uh some of his comedy, things like that. What do you think about Theo's story?

SPEAKER_01 37:36

I mean, it's wild, and I think honestly, a lot of what's reinforcing that is people around him that he's talking to. He's hearing of all like these crazy things happening in the world, and he's just looking for clarity and for direction within that matter. Like, um, a really popular clip that just popped off in recent weeks was uh a conversation that he had with Joe Rogan, yeah, talking about how crazy the world was, and then it's like um, and he was like, and we're supposed to trust all these people. And then Rogan was like, dude, you've been you what I forget what he said exactly. You need to get off that medication. You need to get off the med, yeah. He was like, you need to come chill with us. Like, what is that supposed to mean?

SPEAKER_04 38:09

Yeah, I think I think what it meant really was that he's saying, Listen, you have isolated yourself because he's living kind of in his own city, kind of away from the other guys. But I think he's saying, Listen, dude, come and be in community is what I got from it. I know people have said one way or the other way, like other things. I didn't get that. I I think I listened to the greater narrative of it in the greater style within the context, and I got he was saying, dude, like come back and be in community with people. Like you can be around people that are normal, have their heads screwed on. Like, don't be taking a bunch of other stuff on top of it, and you get off that stuff. So I didn't take it in a way like, oh, come take, you know, take the pill with us and be a part of what we're believed. I know I took it the other way, like, hey, come be in community. You have a place where we we love you, we respect you, we can talk about this. So I thought there was something that even within non-Christian circles, they value community and the idea of really being genuine and and not just medicating to that point. So, man, shout out to Theo praying for you, bro. Want you to want you to thrive. One of the things that we saw recently was the NFL draft. Are the Cardinals finally gonna win?

SPEAKER_01 39:05

No, no, no, we are not.

SPEAKER_03 39:08

No way, man.

SPEAKER_04 39:09

You're gonna just crush my hopes and dreams just like that.

SPEAKER_03 39:12

Don't worry, I don't have any evidence to support the no. I'm just saying no. Just based on the track record of us never winning ever. That's it.

SPEAKER_04 39:21

Um, you gotta see JVO, and you and I are of the four of us are the more of the sports fans. Yes, you got to see the NFL draft man so many new recruits giving love to God.

SPEAKER_01 39:32

Bunch of people, it was awesome. I know like uh even Jordan Tyson right out of ASU. It was super cool because when he got drafted to the Saints, which is kind of symbolic in and of itself, was a Sun Devil, and then now he's going to the Saints. Um, okay, cool. It's pretty cool. But um, just immediately after being drafted, they have like this walkout tunnel with these really cool LED panels, but he just gets on the floor and starts like crossing himself and praying, and it was super powerful while like um this gospel music is playing in the background. Yeah, his walk out with gospel. It's awesome, yeah. It's super cool. And I know he's been extremely vocal about his faith, especially within the last few years, and it's just been awesome. Like every time that they ask him what he attributes it to, he gives his testimony and then attributes everything to the to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is awesome in that regard. And I think because of that attitude and the consistency of him paying homage to the source that he gets everything from, it'll just carry him that far in life versus these other people that are like, that's right, I'm here, I did it, and then in four years nobody remembers your name.

SPEAKER_04 40:29

Yeah, watch me shine. And instead, these guys are reflecting the glory back to God who they should be. Which is incredible, yeah. Angus, I know you're a you're a Carnels fan theoretically, as a dude from Arizona. Uh what do you think, man, about get guys giving a shout out to the Lord?

SPEAKER_00 40:41

I I think that there's a very clear line being drawn in the sand um between believers and non-believers. Uh there's there's definitely a sifting going on in our culture right now and across the world. You know, we're seeing it in so many different areas, and so it's just becoming more apparent, you know, in in the Hollywood space, in the in the sports space, uh, in the creator space, all of that, uh you're seeing the line being drawn. And we're we're all being called to make a choice one way or the other. And so um I think it's really cool that that people are um are willing to uh say what they're what they believe, you know. Um, but it is one of those things where we're gonna have to choose. Yeah, you know, back to what we were talking before earlier.

SPEAKER_04 41:26

That's a good point, man. I love that. Uh Gage, I know you're not much of a football football guy, but if you were to go pro and do the 360 flip, you know, flip across the the gap, there we go. Get a shout out, Lord and Saver Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_03 41:37

Amen. Amen. I love it. Yeah, it's so cool. It's so cool. There's uh there's one kid in particular, and I wish I could remember his name. He's a high school wrestling champion, and I think he just went on to win the fourth uh turn. So there's a big tournament where like they take the top 10% of like the highest caliber wrestlers in high school and they send them to this one competition. And so like the top 10% are duking it out throughout the nationals, but some of them.

SPEAKER_04 42:05

Kind of, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:06

Um, and so he's won this thing consecutively for like three or four years. And every time, man, he gets up at the end and he goes, all praise and glory to Jesus Christ. And it's it's you know, I'm not super plugged into everything else, right? But like MMA and jujitsu and like wrestling, I bits and pieces, right? I'll take little bites at a time just because if I get into it, it consumes me. Yeah, it's like I try to keep it at arm's length. Um but man, it's so cool to watch these people like that the stage is theirs, right? They the the glory is for them, and they turn right around and give it back to Christ and say, This isn't for me. I wouldn't have gotten here on my own volition. None of this is me. It's all praise and glory to Christ. I love it.

SPEAKER_04 42:49

Praise the Lord, man. Praise the Lord, I love that. Yeah, that's amazing. That's amazing. One of the things we talk about here is creativity, it's one of our C's. Uh, and looking to that, we've talked about AI and faith. We recently talked about that on a podcast as well. One of the questions we talk about was in building your own client, so your own AI client. So let's say you have something that you're trying to build to make, you know, to process information for you. What should Christians use for AI? What do you think that you should put into your client that would be something that would help guide it in this direction? What do you think, Angus?

SPEAKER_00 43:18

Uh, I think that Christians should use it for making money. Okay. And um for uh oh, I had two things and I can't remember the second one. Uh but making money is is one of the things because you know what they say is over the next few years, AI is gonna generate X amount of millionaires and and all of that stuff. And so if the money's gonna be going somewhere, um kingdom use, yeah, I would love to see people um be brought along and steward over that uh in the Christian space um to to build the kingdom and and all of that, because uh the money's gonna be made somewhere.

SPEAKER_04 43:55

Yeah, that's a good point. I like that. That's interesting. Your second one was not lifestyle choice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

Oh, that was that was content creation and things like that. You know, uh like we've used, I think that it's good for that. Um because it what it does is it gives like I can't draw to s I couldn't draw myself out of a paper bag or anything like that. And so um so it's really neat that some of the videos that Jeremy has made for the the church, it it really helps you to picture um biblical themes and and things like that. And uh again, it's it's using technology to just present it in a different way that's able to be received a bit easier.

SPEAKER_04 44:33

That's a good point. I really like that. That's a good point. Jamie, what do you think, man? If you're going to uh build a an AI client, what would you want it to include?

SPEAKER_01 44:41

I I mean like I honestly, there's not a lot of things I wouldn't really include in the AI client. Like I think even pulling from things in the world is good because at least it has knowledge of what else is going on. It's not like you're it you're just feeding it the Bible and then telling it, okay, now look at the world around you and go apply this to whatever like facet that you're doing it in. Right. But um I think the kind of line where you should draw it is whenever you start feeding and accepting information from AI that talks about things like morality or a greater concept of like what spirituality would be, because it's learning from a lot of different voices, which means at some point it's gonna be mixed in what it and what it thinks. Right. So I think like whenever you incorporate things in a ministry within that regard, like with what Angus is talking about, it's good to use it essentially in partnership with your own vision of what you're looking for. But the minute that you start taking ideas from it about like, oh yeah, maybe you should make a video about like this or this, or if you ask it for scripture, sometimes it'll just like make scripture up, right? Which is something that has happened to a lot of pastors or like um people that have tried to speak at different conferences and things like that, is like, oh, they're actually not citing real scripture, it's something that AI made up. So or pulp fiction, yeah. Right.

SPEAKER_04 45:50

It's like one of those things it's like we where we jokingly be like, oh, from the book of hesitations. Yeah, exactly. Right. Like I was telling, you know, people at our leader meeting, I was like, listen, guys, we we use the thing called Planning Center to help uh organize our our services and we send out things to volunteers and we ask them to volunteer. It gives a concept of green or red, and we yes or no, but you can leave it on yellow, which means you haven't answered. And so my point was I was like, guys, I'm pretty sure the Lord would say in the book of hesitations, thou shalt not leave it on yellow, but make a decision hot or cold. And I was joking, obviously, you're making we're making a big dip thought about it. But if people didn't have the context, it'd be like, mmm, book of hesitations. Yeah, it's really good. You know, you're like, wait a minute, what? No, yeah, that's not a real snap. Stop exactly so.

SPEAKER_03 46:32

That's great. That's great. Uh what do you think, Gage? I don't know. I don't really I I haven't really put much thought into what I would use it for, other than like a database of um like hard factual information, right? Like um that's good.

SPEAKER_04 46:46

So if you were to use that idea, what would you want to include in hard factual information? What would be sources you would put in it?

SPEAKER_03 46:53

Um so resources, yep, right? Like uh different places that you can find reading material that you want to start getting into, or um you know, uh communities that do certain kinds of things, uh just making more things accessible without it being as opinionated, right? I don't want uh if I were to utilize AI, I wouldn't want the AI to be giving opinions on things, but rather just a source to find facts of does that make sense? Yeah, totally.

SPEAKER_04 47:28

The question that we were coming back to, I was talking about this with some other thought leaders in Christian space was okay, so we want to historically go back and do it with scripture clearly. So you do want to do, you know, Bible from a certain perspective, a readability, things like that, go back to source materials. So talking about going all the way back to what we see as far as you know what's what's there within the scrolls that we find, original sourcing of those things, so it's a true translation. So all those kind of things, but also when you go in back to history books, history books are written by the people that won. So the thing is like, is this the actual thing, how it worked, etc. etc. From an American perspective, we're definitely gonna have a slant to bias and nationalism versus a book that you read in China or a book that you read in another country. And so it's gonna have a different perspective, different names of things. So we're talking about that as like, okay, so how do you get back to that? Yeah, how do you get back to the source source of things and how does it go? What is true? You know, I was just listening to a guy who's out of the UK and he was making the same thing. They were asking quick fire questions in a podcast, and a very famous actor, um, uh also gay and some other things, and he's like, No, but there's absolute truth. And I was like, Oh, that's interesting. And so he's like, No, the fact is true or it's not true. And I was like, ooh, that's a very old school perspective on that. And so it's very interesting to see like how he, you know, he's someone who's written a lot of books about historical things and all sorts of stuff, including like uh Greek gods and Roman gods and all sorts of stuff like that, talking about Steve Fry. And so you're like, wow, it's really interesting to see like how even you know, someone that you would be like, oh, he's gonna be like hyper-liberal, hyper this. He was like, No, these are actual facts are not facts. I was like, okay. I like that though. So yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. But I mean, the question is then when you're building an AI, when you're building your client, what do you include?

SPEAKER_03 49:12

Yeah, how do you filter that?

SPEAKER_04 49:13

And then talking about it systemically, like let's say for our collaboration of our partnership of churches, so within the assemblies of God, what is it so if we're gonna build a client, how would that be used? And what does it look like? What does it include? Sixteen fundamentals of doctrine? But what about this other stuff? What about thoughts of Augustine? What about this one? And we start to put these things together, though they might conflict with us how does it work? And though it might be problematic because some of the anti-Semitic things that they said from back in the day, or what about this person, and so on and so forth. And so you start to kind of try to figure that out and weigh it in. It starts to ask more questions than answers. So the Lord help us as we navigate this space going forward.

SPEAKER_00 49:51

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 49:52

Tricky, tricky. Hey, one of the things that I saw was very interesting. We're talking about the Strait of Uh Hormuz earlier, with the there's a there's a war currently happening between the US and Iran and other partners around the world. They're shooting, you know, missiles across each other, flying drones into each other, and they've shut down the shipping route for all the fuel that comes out of Iran, which is a significant amount of fuel. They have a lot of asset there. Um, one of the things that they're doing, because they shut it down, there is a sea of motorbikes that are that are taking petrol gallon by gallon across the desert, across the mountains. You guys had a chance to see this?

SPEAKER_00 50:25

Yeah, it's it's wild to see. It it literally looks like a sea of people. And it's just motorbikes and gas tanks and plastic barrels and jugs and all that stuff. Uh, and it was talking about, you know, this is the reality of border towns and and things like that. And I was like, well, America, we traditionally haven't been too good on borders, so it's not it's not very surprising that uh uh that this is going on. You close one route, another one opens.

SPEAKER_04 50:52

I I I was shocked. I thought at first it was like the Dakar race or like you know, the Baha or something like some crazy. I'm like, oh, they gotta get the fuel out to them. No, no, no. This is between Iran and Pakistan. This is where they're going. J.

SPEAKER_05 51:03

But what do you think, man?

SPEAKER_01 51:03

I mean, yeah, dude, it's wild. It's kind of crazy to think that you gotta waste more fuel in order to get the fuel somewhere. Like you would think, oh yeah, we could just do it by ship. Even then, like, yeah, it uses fuel, but it's like a a decent amount less than it would be to like just have motorbikes keep running. You think so? I mean, to some degree, but it's because the amount of fuel that you sorry that you would transport on a ship, like in terms of losing that fuel and then the amount of fuel that you can carry on the ship versus the amount of like fuel you can carry in one barrel, right? And then what you have in a tank of your motorbike is like uh that's a pretty substantial loss. I mean, like when when you're racing across sand, I think it's a little bit maybe, maybe it depends on horsepower.

SPEAKER_03 51:44

You're right.

SPEAKER_04 51:44

I mean, obviously a ship would be better, but in this case, they can't put a ship because the US will blow up their ship or Iran will blow up a not a US related ship. So there's no ships, so it's only by bike. Yeah. So I think they're they're willing to risk it for the biscuit, I think. A little bit. You're a dude that's run a bike in the desert a lot. What do you think, man? Would you be willing?

SPEAKER_03 52:03

Oh, 100%. I I think I think it just looks so like mad max badlands. Super mad maxi. Is that a term? Mad Maxi. It's not mad moxie. Okay. But yeah, no, I do I do like I do like the fact that like in you see it so much throughout history, right? Like desperate times.

SPEAKER_04 52:20

Yeah, I totally. You know what I mean? That's how the Silk Road happened. I mean, they went across the desert, went across the mountains.

SPEAKER_03 52:25

There, if there's a way, they're gonna find it, right? And we've built so much of this modern civilization on fuel, yeah, and the the creature comforts that come from it, yeah, like the ability to start a fire that sustains itself over time when you don't have a lot of trees or burning material around you, correct. And all the different things that go with it. So, yeah, I think like they've created this lifestyle, they've created this sufficient way of living, and if they're gonna continue to live that life and not have to like start from scratch, you're gonna take your motorbike and you're gonna drive it across the desert with a couple 50-gallon drums attached to it and haul it back.

SPEAKER_04 53:03

I was pretty wild to watch it, man. It's definitely creative. I give them all the all the credit on that. I was like, this is wild, but very Mad Mask-esque for sure. Oh in how that was happening. I was like, dude, I know this. I'm not signing up to do that job. That job looks terrifying. You know what I mean? So I was like, there are, I mean, it's a sea of people, like literally thousands of people that are like riding in every direction. Some are riding back, some are riding forward, they're going everywhere crazy.

SPEAKER_03 53:28

Yeah, no matter where you're going, you're eating a sand sandwich. Exactly.

SPEAKER_04 53:32

Correct oh. That's right. Hey, one of the things that we saw about creativity is paintings and their their actual meaning. I did not know this. I love this painting. Um, it's a painting uh that's there by Van Gogh. It's called Terrace at Night. And actually, um uh there's a lot of Parisian paintings, they're very similar style, this impressionist style. It's very vibrant, even at night, it's pulling a lot of colors from the streetlights and things like that. But very cool to see the the message that's actually behind it. I never knew it about what it was. You guys have seen this piece of art, I send it to you guys. You got a chance to see it. Jay, what you saw as far as the the meaning behind it as Jesus serving his disciples.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

I mean, it's pretty crazy because like you you look at the piece and initially you're like, oh yeah, it's just a nice scene like at a Parisian or a French cafe where like people are just there to eat. But I mean, you do understand it to some degree because like the there is one figure that's just like standing up and is actually actively serving people as everybody else. Yeah, as everybody else kind of sits down like in a row, albeit they may be at like different tables or it doesn't look like completely unified, they're still sitting in a row to one another. So that does echo what we would see from like um like Da Vinci's Last Supper, or yeah, minority's Last Supper, yeah, where everybody's kind of in a row and and Christ, though he's still seated, it's like definitely raised up as far as in comparison to everybody else to make that the center the centerpiece, and then it being at night is also very much like a tie to that actual thing.

SPEAKER_04 54:55

So and in this one, be it like a European scene, a Dutch scene, a French scene, whatever it be, uh you know, he's standing and serving. It's it's deliberate that he's there different, and it showed even a character kind of disappearing in the darkness, like i.e. Judas get a chance to see this as well.

SPEAKER_00 55:10

Yeah, I did. Um I'm really thankful for people who understand art and the history of it to be able to explain it uh to me because I'm I mean, I'll enjoy looking at a painting. Uh I've never been to the Louvre or anything like that. But you know, not yet. Yeah, yeah, not yet. But I mean, you know, I've been to the Phoenix Art Museum and things like that, and so I can appreciate it for the talent that it took and all that, but I I may not understand the deeper meaning, uh, especially, you know, something like that. I would have never guessed that it was it was the the last supper uh in this picture. Yeah, and so again, I'm really thankful for these people who are who are explaining these things. And it's it's really cool to to know this story, and I think that really helps you to appreciate it a whole lot more.

SPEAKER_04 55:52

Yeah, I did not know this. I thought it was really cool. I've sat in front of that painting. I've seen it. I don't remember if it was in the Louvre or it was in it was in the Netherlands, but and being in somebody's places or even in London, wherever it would have been. But I was like, man, it's so crazy. And we've seen a lot of work by impressionists like Van Gogh, like Monet and other play people, so pretty amazing to see it. Gay, do you get a chance to see some of this painting? I did see some of the painting.

SPEAKER_03 56:15

And I I I have to jump right in with Angus in in agreement of like I'm so grateful for people that have not only the time but the talent to sit and really digest what it is and process through it, and then give good, accurate um descriptions or like uh you know breakdowns of the potential that the painting has. Because I also think it just it really does um illuminate the creativity that these people have to have and like where that comes from is it ain't AI, you know what I'm saying? But no, like I think it's beautiful. I think it's beautiful, and I'm so grateful, just like Angus was saying, because I'm so much of this, dude. If I'm walking through, I'm like, oh, that's really cool. Yeah, oh man, that is that is so slick. Shw. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All the deeper stuff, like I mean, even Da Vinci's Last Supper, all the different breakdowns where if you go from left to right through this painting, there's so many different like um symbolic breakdowns that happen throughout the painting in the same way that this one is. Although very um, what's the word I'm looking for? Very vague, right? It's still so clear when you put it into that light of the you know, the 12 disciples in Christ, and yeah, everything just starts to become a lot more clear in the in the representation of it. Yeah, and I love that people are able to take the time and process through it because I would not.

SPEAKER_04 57:36

Yeah, no, it's good. I'll I'll say is this far. I didn't know this. I have a shirt with that on it. That's not know the meaning. Makes that shirt a little more special. I just thought it was awesome, and I was like, oh, this is so cool. Like, I love this. I, you know, obviously, having lived in in Europe for some years and running around a lot at night taking photos and all that. I mean, I'm like, I have great appreciation for this. I think it's super cool, it's a vibe. I was like, I just like this shirt, I think it's dope. And so I was like, I bought that, and then later to be like, oh, this is actually a Jesus shirt. Yeah, that was spiritual discernment, my boy.

SPEAKER_05 58:05

Pretty good, man. Bonus points. No, I'm just joking. No, no, it was it was really good. So I was like, cool. That's sick. One of the creative things we've been talking about is humanoid robots, and we have friends that both like them and hate them. They're sitting in the panel, so I think it's an interesting thing, but they're teaching humanoid robots how to function and how to move.

SPEAKER_04 58:23

One of the best clips that I kept re-watching over and over as at the internet in the last whatever couple months is a guy in a motion capture suit, a mocap suit, and he's doing all these robot kick, he's doing kicks and he's doing all this tai chi and this these other karate moves, and inadvertently kicks himself in the groin.

SPEAKER_05 58:41

You boys seen this?

SPEAKER_00 58:43

Yes, it's so funny. I I watched it several times as well. Uh the the first time I watched it, I watched the human, and then after that, I think the even funnier thing is watching the correct after he gets kicked in the groin watching the robot collapse. That was the fun part was just watching that robot as it collapsed.

SPEAKER_05 59:03

So funny. J-Bo, do you get a chance to see this one? I actually have not seen this video particularly. It's it's a new building of the things that you're doing. It's in there in the mix. I'm gonna do that. That's super funny, though. He's he's got the thing on and the thing's got the thing on, so he can't see that it's coming towards him, dude. And it it's a foot, he does a hard kick and it just he's extended and it extends right into it.

SPEAKER_01 59:24

I mean, I'm I'm assuming he has to like well, he's looking from the perspective of the robot, right? I assume because there's no way that he would not have the depth perception to realize that the robot is like right by and then it's gonna kick it.

SPEAKER_04 59:36

He's moving around a bit and he's kind of refocusing and the thing starts to take steps, and he's doing it in a way where he can kind of double back to himself. Well, the other the robot's not as nimble as him. So it gets a little bit upsetting.

SPEAKER_03 59:48

Yeah, I mean, you think of the same way that people put on these virtual reality goggles, and then like they actually think they're falling off of a building. Yeah, jump into their TV. You get so distracted from what's going on in the small scope that you forget what's happening around you. And I think that's kind of how that happened. But I think it's a great representation of my thought process behind AI and robots, right? Like we man, how cool is that? Wait a minute, that sucks. That probably wasn't a good idea, was it, buddy? I think that that just personifies how I feel about it so well.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:20

When Gage finally runs for Congress in the future and he's running on an anti an anti-AI slash robot platform, you're just gonna have this play as a run.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:29

You wanna kick yourself in the groin? It's gonna be some kind of come on, come on.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:34

That's gonna be my campaign. It's gonna be that dude like this, and the robot right there is gonna have big sizes. Clankers will kick you behind him as he's running for office. There you go. I'm saying. I'm saying, dude.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:49

Crazy. One of the things that we talk about is community. We've been talking about life groups as we're starting a new semester of life groups and the connection on that. Dage, you were talking about last time on the podcast about grow groups and how that's been a benefit for you. What's it been like? We started a young adult's life group um some years ago, but it's kind of taken different forms. You're a part of it right now, and they've been doing some gatherings. You get to speak at the last gathering, man.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:12

That was a really good word. I appreciate it. Really enjoyed seeing you do that.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:15

What was that like uh sharing uh in the gathering and being a part of that?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:18

Well, after I stopped like focusing on all the poop that was in my pants from the nerves, it was really fun. But no, it was it was really, really cool. Um, it allowed me to start reflecting on some of the things that I felt like the Lord was wanting to share. And it I said it during the message and to friends afterwards, but I really do think a lot of the message was for me. Um and the season that I've been walking through and the things that the Lord wants me to focus on. And you know, the prayer was just that the Lord would speak to whoever he wanted to speak to on the message that it was. But as far as like the growing side of the group, it's been such an opportunity to really get different perspectives on the word and how it affects other people's lives, um, the the seasons that they're walking through, and being in that community, it's it's a connect and a grow group all in one because we get the opportunity to like empathize with one another and the seasons that we're going through, to give aid to one another, um, to just be there while also growing in our understanding of the word of God and starting to like peel back the layers of these different scriptures the same way we do on Sundays, whenever we dig deeper and start to really question what it means and not just the big picture, right? But like the message within the small things and how deep that goes. And it's just been such a blessing. It's a hundred percent been a blessing, and I don't think I can say it any better. It's just a blessing.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:50

Ah man, I love that. That's powerful. I think it's a real motivator to encourage people to be a part of a life group, but grow groups. It's worth it. Yeah, so worth it. Is it be a challenge and to be in community with others? I think it's that's right on Angus. You've led a lot of life groups and been a part of a lot of life groups. What do you think on the grow side of life groups, what do you think that challenges people beyond a Sunday morning?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:08

Um, I think what what grow groups have done for me is really showed me how to excuse me, is how to live a Christian life. You know, because it's one thing to read the Bible and initially when I when I was first in church and and things like that, you know, the the scriptures I just kind of blank out. It's like okay, because I I had no real life application.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:30

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:31

Um and and what I love about the grow groups is that's the opportunity where you really sharpen the iron. Yeah, you know, um, because in on Sunday it's great, but it's it's very one-sided. You know, it's it's from the from the platform or the the pulpit uh to the um to the congregation. But in grow groups, that's where you can discuss and and say that well, this is how I see it, and and things like that. And so um, you know, uh during our grow groups, one of the time or one of the first groups that we were in, what it taught me was that a group of adults could get together and have fun without alcohol. Oh, right. I mean, that was one of the first lessons I learned about um because we we hosted a a meeting over at our house, and I was like, I don't know how we're gonna like whenever groups of adults got together in in my life courage, it was a hundred percent that. And so it was really neat to see that you know, this is how life can be lived.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:31

That's good, man. I like that as an example. I think it's right on and encourages all of us to participate and be a part of life groups, so that can be something that challenges us. Uh, I know they've spoken to my life in a big way, even as someone who wrote material for life groups and all sorts of other things, uh, participating in it is so good because of the interaction with others. So it's a really great thing. I'm very thankful for that. Yeah. One of the other C's we talk about here is competence, as we were about to talk about. Uh, there's a book by Pastor Rob Ketterling. Uh, he's out of great church in Minnesota, and it's called Keep the Change. And he's talking about changing and keeping the change that we want to change in our life, especially in stepping towards God. Uh, one of the things that he starts out with a book is called as promising starts, the idea that we don't give up on the idea of change, but instead we take this the start that's promising and we start walking through with that, understanding that we can't change our past, but we can change the future. So we have a commitment to change that we have to stay with. Java, what do you think about that commitment to change?

SPEAKER_01 1:05:26

I mean, it it's so important because like um even Paul within his letters to the church in the New Testament talks about this very thing specifically is that we are dead to sin and we're born again in Christ within that regard. But it's so easy once you go back into some of these circles to cling on to habits of your old life before you found Christ in that regard or before you made some breakthrough in some way like that. And it's it's so easy, especially when you're young and dealing with a lot of degener degenerates all the time. It's like, hey, I mean, it's the truth, it's the truth that it's very easy to fall into the trap of doing things like that very consistently because. At some point it just becomes the norm. And if everybody else is finding enjoyment in doing that, then you're just like, okay, yeah, I'll go along with it. But then when you become so far, it's so far away from what you know in your heart you're actually supposed to do, that's when not only is there attention within your soul, but you really feel called to do something else. And so many people, the reason why, whenever they initially walk away from God, they're afraid to step back through those church doors is because they think there's condemnation for their old life. They think that that they are defined by their past mistakes and things like that. But Christ doesn't call us to a life like that whatsoever. But instead, we are born again and we are now alive in Him. We're dead to our past life. That's literally what the slogan live dead is for all of for all the Arab world that we're connected through for AG. So it's incredible, man. It's like it it truly is a testament that as you continue to live and continue to look towards the future and imagine or fulfill the dream of what Christ has placed within your heart and life and within the life of your family, and within the life of your congregation, then seeking after that and not looking back is the best plan of action that you can do.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:01

So yeah, I love our baptism shirts. They say no turning back. Yeah. Uh so when it's whenever they get wet, that's what it says on the shirt. It's so cool, man. So shout out, you know, the guys that make those shirts. What's that? What's the guys? Uh Sunday cool. Sunday cool. And the guys on the butt the ninjas or butterflies podcast that make those shirts. I think that's pretty awesome. Uh so JB, what you're saying is to all your fellow Sun Devils that they don't have to have uh ASU HPV, but they can live for Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:26

Uh yeah, very, very true in that regard. Praise the Lord.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:30

That's funny. That's so funny. All right. Hey, uh, we're gonna wrap it up here. One word to leave the podcast, Gage Lee. Um Love. I like that. Angus. Family. Discernment. I'm gonna say giant finger. Thanks so much for being a part of the collective. We love you. Much love to you, wherever you are. Amen.