Matthew 5 with Player Mike

Sir Brian had a special guest come into The Gathering. Upon hearing his testimony we invited him to join us in a special scripture in his redemption. So please go check out Player Mike. A local boy who found his way waking up in the middle of the street. God always gives us a chance to come home. No matter how far we have wondered.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:39

We're going to do uh something a little different today. We got a guest speaker. Um again, this is uh Sir Brian, Captain Sir Brian. So many that we have now for you at this point. Uh and our special guest is Player Mike. Player Mike. Um he's gonna be uh discussing some uh stuff with us, and um he's a bit of an artist, so we're gonna let him play some of his music and introduce those things. Um so if you want to go ahead and give us a little kind of background on you, Mike.

SPEAKER_04 1:11

Um, yes, I'm from Middletown, Ohio. Um I grew up here. My my mom's a pastor. Um my dad chose the other path, and and as a you know, as young boys growing up, we was, you know, we followed kind of followed his lead and made um some bad decisions, been in and out of um the penitentiary. Um I have a passion for music, and I was blessed to be able to, you know, write with understanding about you know the decisions we made in trying to make a transition forward. And that's why I feel like I was supposed to build to lead by example. I had stuff I had started this uh a gang in Middletown in the 90s, and then you know, like I was telling my guys when I came home in uh 2006, you know, it we posted we I feel like we was chosen to do, you know, other I feel like my mom's obedience to God was blessing the offsprings with understanding to do this. Like I feel like this was predestined to do. That's why I never I haven't got gave it up because I I got faith and got faith in it. That's why I wanted to do this the um the Matthew chapter um five, verses 14 through 16 about the letting the light shine within you because uh um this is like the path we've been on, like going through these spiritual battles and still trying to make this right sacrifices so they can see what you're saying without you saying it, you know. But love, like I said, like God is like love, is like, you know, truth is like understanding. They can see these things without you, you know, saying this. If you, you know, like you love God first. Like that that I remember once we get into that verse, that did test me, you know. And then and then the song, I feel like the song it goes right along with that uh what we um test, we're gonna test base on tonight uh today.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

So yeah, it it's it's uh it's it's it's no coincidence. We don't believe in coincidences anymore around here. Um it is Father's Day today. Absolutely Father's Day. Yeah, thank you, G2. Um, so happy Father's Day to all the fathers that are out there. I know it might not be on Father's Day when you hear this. They certainly won't, but that that that's okay. You know, you we're here in spirit. Um I was actually blessed to be able to go to um the uh five-star comic-con yesterday with uh some of our members, and uh they had a a little section outside, and it was about fatherhoods and you know, trying to get people you know back on the path, you know, getting the fathers to be the fathers that they meant to be, need to be, to stand up and be that that role again, you know. Um so it again, this is all no coincidence, in my opinion. Um I was a I wasn't able to be at the gathering yesterday, and I think all this kind of came about yesterday, didn't it? Is that when you first met Mike? Was it yesterday or was it before?

SPEAKER_07 3:57

Before we've we've known each other each other for a while. You because you we had you come in to the gathering and you delivered your testimony, and it was it was amazing.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Okay, see that's the bad thing about me only being in our Saturdays. I miss a lot of stuff during the week. So but that's fantastic that you found us. I mean, it's no coincidence again. Uh anybody that comes into the gathering, it's never a coincidence.

SPEAKER_04 4:18

I appreciate the opportunity, you know, to be honest, you know. Yes, because I like I said, I you know, when you when you battle in um, you know, your spiritual battles, you can you can distract yourself, you can fall in then making justifications and thinking that you're doing the right thing and saying stuff on deaf ears. And you say, you know, you continue to do that, the word won't live. You know what I mean? Like absolutely, so I appreciate this.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

That's the one thing that I I like when Jesus sent them out two by two. Uh huh. He said that if they don't accept the message, dust your feet off and dust. Absolutely. I thought that was pretty profound at the time. And we see it today too. Um, some of the people that I went to yesterday to the Comic-Con, uh, they've come from homelessness and addiction and all those things. Uh and when we see those people again in a different city, our heart reaches out to them. We want to be able to do something for them. But we all have learned over the course of these years that you can do all you can, but until the person is ready to make the change themselves.

SPEAKER_07 5:22

Uh oh. No, I and I and I kind of agree with you, but I think it it really evolves into uh uh with man it's impossible. Oh yes, but with God, all things are possible. So that is that is I I'd like it resonates there.

SPEAKER_01 5:41

Yeah, and we've seen that so much at the gathering. Um sounds like you've got an experience with that as well. Um it's just all things are possible, but it's when you go to the cross and you lay it down and give it to him. Yes, and that's what he wants. I mean, as as a dad myself, you know, I'll watch my kids struggle so that they kind of learn and understand. And I don't go to them right away because I want them to come to me. I want them to feel safe and comfortable to come to me. We talked about it with uh Jesus on the water, walking past him. He was going to walk past them. And we were like, well, why did he do that? Well, because he wanted them to understand that without him, there was nothing. And in that and in that scenario, what happens? Peter walks out, takes his eyes off Jesus, he starts to sing. And that's kind of how our life is now. When you take your eye off Jesus and try to do things on your own understanding, they don't work out. Yeah. And people get hurt, or people get lost, or and when I say people get hurt, it could just be just an emotional hurt. Um we've had to deal with a lot of those things. Um go ahead.

SPEAKER_07 6:51

Brother, you want to talk from experience about that? So um far as from your experience. Focusing on the storm, eyes on Jesus, those kind of things, brother.

SPEAKER_04 7:00

Absolutely. Um that's what I was saying, like, even with this um this last situation, like 2022. Uh I spent some time with my mom for the first time like in life. We was and you know, and that's when it got revealed to me. He was like, get your mind, you know, body and spirit ready for the spiritual battle, like, because of the demonstration, like what's uh but what's already been wrote. Like I had wrote that song 2020 and wasn't even all the way ready for it, like but it I was just like I told my daughter said I was thankful because I know how powerful it can be if I'm taking responsibility and accepting it. You know what I'm saying? That you know, thanking being thankful to be there. But how can you be there if you're not gonna be on full demonstration on mind, body, and spirit? Your light can't shine. Like I tell my mom said, Mom, you gotta stay in the gym too. Because you you at the pulpit, and they gotta see that you love yourself too, and you ain't taking care of yourself at the pulpit, it it it can kind of look you know, at the end of the day, like because the people are watching you, you know, and and and and with your light shining at the end of the day, like like this, I feel like this is big because coming from from you know where from where I'm from, and then to be able to hear, to be here to speak with y'all, to be able to expose it. I feel like just with that, making them steps alone, people can follow without it being said. Like y'all should come this way because they seen the initial steps because that light is being shown. You know what I mean? Like, that's how, you know, um, like my I did take um, I did fall off focus, like you said, take my eye off. You know, I was in Vegas, and I, you know, I'm out there doing shows and stuff like that, and then I don't know what made me just get scared, you know? Because I'm out there by myself, whatever, but I usually don't be on that, you know. You know what I mean? It could have been like I was more in like a sinful, I don't want to use no excuses or nothing like that, but like in a sinful environment, you know what I'm saying? It could be major distractions, but I I it did something hit my spirit tell me to come back. And when I walked back, you know what I mean, like I didn't take, you know what I'm saying, my my health situation is because I let that discouraged me. And that's how I feel like I lost the tone. I've taken responsibility on that. But you know, I like I'll be having my talks with God. It was just like when I remove you from something, you know what I mean? Like, you know, you showing gratitude and that because it's his glory, taking your mess and making it his glory. And that's being exposed to, you know.

SPEAKER_01 9:16

I actually said that today in kind of in a way, um, in communion. It was, you know, we see a mess and God makes lemonade. You know, it's like I see a struggle, but then Jesus makes lemonade. Um and it's interesting that you brought up Vegas because I it's it you so um I'm gonna go ahead and play a little bit of this track that Mike has done for us, we thought that's a good idea. Give you guys a little taste of what he's doing here. So the track's called Light, I heard? Yeah, that that's I can't wait to listen to it on my truck. I got a much better speaker system in my truck than I do on my little tablet here. So I can't wait to listen to it on the way home today.

SPEAKER_07 10:52

So and he loves himself some Christian hip hop.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

He loves it. Oh, that's I do. I mean, one of my favorite songs is uh Boys in the Church.

SPEAKER_04 10:59

Boys in the Cray?

SPEAKER_01 11:00

Uh I'm not sure who it is, but it goes like Boys in the Hood. It's just like that. But if the boys in the church will always pray. Oh yeah. I love it, man. And it shakes the windows, it's it's really good stuff. Um, but it it's nice to have those options out there. There's so many. Um I have a real good, well, I have a friend, she's super into the metal music. And I know that Sir Brian likes Demon Hunter, he's into the metal, me too, for that matter. But we have options. Yes, thank you. That's that's why you're the brains of the operations. I'm not real sure what I am yet. But yeah, it it's it's nice to have options and be able to kind of uh be able to have something a little more upbeat or something that is more uh up to date, you know, and it gives you it gives space for um I think a different generation.

SPEAKER_07 11:46

No, no, not to lose the point of what we just heard. Uh can you elaborate on your experience for those lyrics, brother?

SPEAKER_04 11:54

Oh.

SPEAKER_07 11:56

Can I let um yeah, like that's like I was saying, like some of that song was uh uh like like But you said you said the diabetes, you said losing the toll, you said uh you said the drunkenness. Absolutely is there truth to that, brother? Yes, sir. Cool.

SPEAKER_04 12:13

So we uh I had a show in Columbus, and um and I stopped drinking at this time, but I made it um, you know, weak decision was like we did well at the show, and it was uh one of the promoters was like uh just have a drink, and one turned into uh three other. And then I woke up in Middletown, uh, I was in the middle of the street. I went to the windshield in my affinity. Um and I'm just you know what though, can I say, I mean, please I I went when you go into weak point state uh state of mind, you get the blaming. And I'm like I'm like, God, why are you doing? I'm trying to take care of the family, I'm doing this and see. I ain't do this. He said, I kept you alive. You said you gotta sit in jail now, though, but he said, I kept you alive. You did that to you. You know what I mean? Like you gotta take accountability, like you know, so sitting there like, whoa, pity me, like, but no, like, and that that I came home and made a clothing line called Chosen Few. You know how they say uh meaning to be caught upon if you chosen? I agree. Yeah, so uh, but just saying everything no help there because of like in your town, and he did that to Jesus, like he didn't really get no love when he went back to his town. And he said something about no um man is uh honoring their own hometown, no prophet is not so it's hard for people to see this side of you when they all they know is the other side of you.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

I talk about it a lot. My mom, I I love her to death, but she still remembers me as a teenager, so she's got that mindset of me as a teenager, and your point is Jesus goes back to Nazareth and you're like, this is just this is just it's it's very son. What do you talk about? He fell down doing this, and I remember when he bumped his knee and cried or whatever, you know. But it and it it's it's so important that we realize that that just because people have a certain look upon you or aspect upon you, realize that it's just they're not open to you being changed. Like one of the biggest things I had, um I lost a bunch of weight. And I've also been through cancer. So when I started losing weight, people were like, Are you okay? Are you sick again? And there's like, Oh, you look sick, you look sick. And I'm like, No, it's not that I look sick, I'm just not fat anymore, and you don't know what to you don't know how to process me as a skinny person compared to a fat person. So it it's just that perspective, it's it's an unfortunate thing. We're in love with avatars, we're in love with the selfies and the profile pictures and all those things. We don't know the heart of the person anymore. We we get that surface fleshly, oh, that looks like a nice guy or a bad guy or whatever it is.

SPEAKER_07 14:43

Right. Uh I I I think uh brother, if if we focused on the two commandments that we were given, mm-hmm. So out of the ten, uh Jesus simplified it to two. Uh uh one is is again love and honor God with all your heart, mind, and soul. And uh if you do that, you realize that when you look across, you see the image of God. So image bearer, that's who we are, man, all of us. And two, it's love your neighbor as yourself. And again, if you're doing those things, you're not doing the other uh all the requirements, you're not coveting, you're not, you're not gonna be able to do it.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Yeah, the Ten Commandments are taken care of in those two things. If you can do those two things, and I think Scott talked about it a little bit today, and I plan on doing a sermon on about two, is there's a lot of us that have not figured out how to love ourselves yet. We are our hardest judge. Ah, but I remind you the pride. The first one. Yeah. The first one, agreed, agreed. And again, you go into it by saying being image bearers. When you look at yourself as an image bearer, now all of a sudden you're thinking, wait a minute, I'm an image bearer. You're an image bearer, you're an image bearer. You know, everybody you've ever looked at, Jesus died for, and God created them, and God loves them, so you need to do the same, regardless of if it's somebody you've never met, somebody you've known for years, no matter if you knew them when they were a teenager and you knew all the bad stuff about them.

SPEAKER_07 16:20

Well, but what I what I've been saying is, is if you can't find yourself doing the second, refer to the first. That's it, man. Go back to number one. Yeah. It's like if you're not loving and honoring God with all your heart, mind, and soul, then when you look in the mirror, you will see something other than the image bearer of God.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I agree with that too. I uh I I went through a spell where it's like, how do I love somebody else if I don't love myself? And I spent most of my life trying to earn people's acceptance and love and be the uh what they call is a people pleaser. And once I let go of that stuff and realize that God made me who I am for a reason, maybe I should follow that instead of what everybody else thinks. Is that reason to be so unlikely? That's right. Hence, if you don't like my haircut, that's too bad. God told me to get it this way. Well, God didn't tell me to make this haircut. But anyway, let's go ahead and get started. Um I think we're gonna start with well, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 17:22

I'm just we the important message uh uh brother Mike is is trying to do right now is uh sorry, you said 14 to 17 is what you were 14 to 16, yeah. 14 through 16, my apologies, brother. But 14 through 16. But I, if that's fine, I'm gonna write uh I'm gonna start with uh we're in Matthew 5, and I'm going to read uh 1 through 20, and uh we'll go back and encapsulate uh 14 through 16. Now, when Jesus saw the crowd, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him, and he opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets, who will be feared before you. It cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket. Put on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

SPEAKER_01 21:30

Man, I love scripture. I mean, I just yeah, I just I just love it, man. It's just to read it like this and to break it down and to have like minded all.

SPEAKER_07 21:42

Thank you, brother. Did you want to okay, so you were focusing on sixteen through sixteen? Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 21:50

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_07 21:51

Okay. Did you wanna read from uh your King James do you got that or n No, that was that was okay right there.

SPEAKER_04 21:57

I like how that was broken down in

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And hearing him read is just fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 22:05

Yeah, that it is.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

He got an applause the first time he read scripture here. No one's ever gotten an applause. It was the funniest thing. Um but yeah, that's uh again the song you were talking about is called Light, and I definitely see where the connection is there. So let's go ahead and let you take the wheel there on 14 through 16.

SPEAKER_07 22:24

Yeah. Um did you want to look at it? So you can reference it. Please, please, brother. Uh sorry, I was trying to mark 14. It should be something lights here, so you'll just look for 14.

SPEAKER_04 22:38

Okay. It says you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Now does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a very in such a way that they may see you, they say may see your good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven. I could barely see. See, that's broke that's that's that's broken down better than the one I was reading from last night. Yeah. But it's I feel like it's very relevant to what's going on. You know, like I feel like I'll be on like on Facebook and stuff like that. I've I've been calling it like fourth quarter for a couple years now. I say, yeah, we in the fourth quarter, you know, it's time to, and these are things like how we were just talking, we touched base on, you know, like um, and I'm just giving them from my perspective on what I'm going through, my understanding. Like I told some guys the other day, I'm like, if we was sitting around and we have an understanding, now we would know what to stand on and talk about instead of, you know what I mean, like, and put to it to the point where eventually it won't leave be nothing to be talked about because even you in a good mindset of loving yourself like wholeheartedly, or and I wouldn't talk that way, you know, we come up dysfunctional, but it's just being self-taught now. Like, I feel like you you you ain't you ain't in the you don't have a space, you don't have no hate in your heart, mind for so it's it's it seems like it's as easy to to love thy neighbor as I love thyself. You know what I'm saying? Like, because like that's where you at, you know what I mean? Like you want to see people do good. Agreed, you know, but when you got you fighting with yourself and everything, that's when it's it's like subconscious, hey, whatever, like you just start exposing that. You wake up, it's chaotic, it's it's no peace, it's no serenity.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Like and we we talk about the book uh Crash the Chatterbox a lot, and we've done it in the support group. And um that's one of the things, like as soon as you wake up in the morning, the world or the chatter box is screaming at you. You know, you first of all it's like, well, what do I gotta do today? Oh, that stupid light's still flickering, or the garage needs painted, or you know, I gotta get gas on my way to work. Just it's the any any in any of the smallest things, but it could start you down a path of not focusing on being grateful. First of all, grateful that I got woke up this morning. Uh grateful that I have a job to go to. Grateful that I have a roof to change a light bulb in. Um that song I was talking about earlier, Lemonade or something like that. It was uh I got some groceries so I can stay fed. Like the little things that we take for granted, and it's it's crazy here in America how we see it a lot. Like we see things so much that we just like it's just no big deal. But I think with this whole World Cup thing going on, we're seeing a lot of the the visitors, and they're just amazed by things that we take for granted.

SPEAKER_07 25:51

Right. There is a bit of grandeur, especially coming from where a lot of these folks are coming from.

SPEAKER_01 25:56

Yeah, and and I and I want I want us to see that and be more grateful for the things that we have. You know, not everybody can just go to a gas station and get a sp a pizza or and and and and it's and it's amazing how simple we forget that we are given breath.

SPEAKER_07 26:19

Uh that is God given. So uh the Hebrews had it to where uh it it's uh it's Yahweh. We say that a lot. Yeah, yeah. And it is it is they say that it's it it it's the breath we draw, Yahweh.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

Yeah, the first thing you say is God's name, and the last thing you say is God's name.

SPEAKER_07 26:42

Oh, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

And and even the Satanists and the anti-Christian type people and anybody you want to talk about, they're breathing God's name every moment of the day and they don't even realize it.

SPEAKER_07 26:54

Right. But we can take we can take that uh for granted. Oh, actually, and it's a silly, silly thing. But when you wake up and you are thankful for little things like that, and you let them know, brother. He just tries, like like he'll he'll show you uh I even things to brighten more things to brighten your day, brother.

SPEAKER_01 27:19

And he will, he will. And it's the silly things that we've we've talked about here too. It's like uh I was at work and I was gonna go this way, but then the last minute I decided I want to go this way, and then when I looked, that way that I was gonna go, there was a train. Or the way that I end up going, there was no train. Right. I mean, it's just the simplest little things, you know. I'll say, hey, God, thanks for putting that on my mind or my heart or me to see that or to be aware of that.

SPEAKER_07 27:46

To me, too, it'll I'm constantly reminded. Uh I think I even told you in the car, uh, or the the the bus. We were um my wife and I, we were away in the Smoky Mountains, and I am just awestruck by every view. Just the mountains and the trees and and just everything looks so picturesque. Uh so she would have us doing tasks on our vacation, right? We're gonna go, we're gonna go, oh look at that thing, we're gonna go do that thing, and then whatever. And and it's just me awestruck, just walking out of the building like, it's so pretty, it's so beautiful. Every scene. Every scene. And then and then she laughed at me looking at the mountains. She goes, you know, there are there are uh locals here who are just like, ah, get out of the way, tourists, get out of the way. Yeah, they're mountains, get over it. Right. And it's like, how often do we get over the spectacular views that we are given every day? And um and I and I just think it's crazy, man. I uh I'm I'm very thankful for a lot of the things we get to see.

SPEAKER_04 28:58

So you know what I was interested in, like what's interesting to me was like like going through like a lot of these states, I met some people with a lot of money and evil, I seen more love from the people who have nothing in these streets, live in these woods and everything like that. You know, when when it's one of the verses talking about inheriting. Yeah, you know what I mean, like it's crazy. You know what I mean? Like, okay, true enough, people may be uh, you know, damaging their bodies but you know, but they vices going through their pains, but they still share and have more love than some people out there I met that got money. That just blew me. You know, that just blew my mind. Like, but that's what I'm just saying. Um that's what I was saying, like with the the love and the understanding, but you know what I'm saying? Like now they got it with social media, like it's it should be easier to win this love versus hate spiritual battle. It should, you know what I'm saying? But it would take the proper understanding for that to happen. You know what I mean? Like, that's to keep us to keep like demonstrating. Because a lot of these people need they need to see for them to believe. It's not the way it's not like with faith. It's like they got to see something first. For them to believe it. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like, it's crazy. It's getting like I feel like it's just getting seriously dark. Like a person would rather trust somebody's sound than to see the truth, to see love, you know what I'm saying? They would rather hurt this, you know what I mean? Like, yes, it's like it's my shoes, I'm ready to for that demo, you know. I'm trying to stay, you know, stay in um what's been exposed to me, like being in physical fit, because without the health, you know, and they're gonna be there, and then being in a position to spread that light and explain to what you know what they being seen. Because like I say, a lot of them they do. You gotta be right there, almost articulated, emphasize the songs, everything, instead of them just sitting down and then want to know about what they've been seen. If they don't want to understand that, is how can they how can the change come? It's you know what I'm saying, like I've been seeing arthood, just you know, kids than killed the, you know what I'm saying, each other, you know what I'm saying? Like at the end of the day, like neighbors cousins or whatever like that, because there's no understanding. So, like, if you're living a lie, how can you put how far are you gonna take this fight if you're living a lie? You know, how we if you're living a lie, you live in a dark, how you can't even see really where you're trying to go to. So you're just leading people in the blind with that, you know? And it's more, no, I ain't gonna say it's more than, you know what I'm saying? Excuse me, I'm gonna say it's more them than us. It's just wanting to not just understanding who we are, you know what I'm saying? That with that combined, you know what I'm saying, to make that love. Like, because we we are still fighting with our own personal flaws and whatever, like that. Some people wear a better mask out there. You know what I mean? Like, it is kind of hard, like he said, to to trust them, trust somebody about how they love, you know what I'm saying? I think they because some people do wear better masks, you know what I mean? Like, it ain't genuine, you know, you can walk into that trap.

SPEAKER_01 31:47

You know, I it's a sad state that we're in where usually it's all about me, me, me. Absolutely. What can you do for me? What can you give to me? What can I get from you? But we're doing our best to show people that love that you're talking about. And we've seen transformation from that in our little town. Like, if you don't see God moving in this town, you're not paying attention, you've got to get your eyes open.

SPEAKER_07 32:14

For me, I used to when I was a when I was uh secularist, I uh I would speak some pretty foolish things. Brother, I would. And I wonder if uh that plays in to what the Lord says when he says uh my people perish for a lack of knowledge. You know? Because when I be when I when I come to Christ uh I was surrounded by so much family. And and that was that was beautiful to me. Is is uh those those people that I used to see as obstacles, those people that uh uh I could I could so easily throw away their life because it wasn't as important as mine. Uh just a lot of silly silly notions. And uh coming to Christ, I it's just it's just that's my brother. That's my sister. Absolutely. And and and it's an amazing, amazing thing, brother. I I think I think uh uh sorry, I just I kind of made a correlation between the uh perishing for lack of knowledge, especially knowing those things, would somebody in that position think differently of doing those things? Because that is your brother. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 33:51

So when you look at them that way, it's a lot harder to do some of the evil wickedness stuff.

SPEAKER_07 33:56

Oh agreed.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

And then we talked about that with the commandments. If you love your father, if you love God, then do you're not seeing it. You're not seeing who you need to see, what you need to see. And you're not gonna do any of those terrible things, you're not gonna lie or steal or cheat or do wickedness, you know. That's one of the things that I've never understood. I I've known plenty of people that could look you dead in the face and lie to you, and and not even break a sweat, still be able to sleep at night. It's like how how does I I don't understand that.

SPEAKER_07 34:28

Because it doesn't matter. The we are conditioned for personal gain, absolutely. That's that's that's what it that's what this society is about. Yeah. Uh uh you're going out and and you're you're you're earning the money and you have to be, you know, the best and and and again uh good nice. Uh the catchphrases that businesses used to uh use, like it's not bus sorry, it's not personal, it's business. Yeah. That's a silly notion. Because again, I I guarantee it's personal to the people whose family you're putting out on the street. That's that's like that's that's not uh so could we do things with more compassion if we knew that that was our brother and sister? Would we do things with more compassion?

SPEAKER_04 35:17

I feel like we had a I don't know. I mean, like we were talking at the gallery when I first started over there, like I was like they had that Manchester building right there, like um that would it that would have been a beautiful thing if getting with the right people and being able to show love, like you said, and and and God working and then helping these people change their life, because it's it means people we we we watching them day by day, and then eventually they perish, you know what I'm saying, like not really get a chance. Like, who do we to somebody because I would talk, you know what I'm saying? Like I've been trying to find a way out myself too. Like, who do you talk to to help try to make a change so people can, you know what I'm saying? Better like we don't we never know. You never who do you talk to?

SPEAKER_01 35:57

I'm gonna bring the scripture to that. It says, let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven. And and I think that is one of the biggest changes in this community that we've been doing.

SPEAKER_07 36:10

And and we are, but as far as as people willing to listen, a lot of it falls on deaf ears, right? Absolutely, absolutely, exactly. And and and and they have their own ideologies and methods, and again, I point back to that those secularist views that I used to have as well. Uh before Christ. Rather, uh again, it's a personal game. It's uh it it's a that's that's what we hear a lot of, and and we try to find it. We've uh we've been present for uh city hall uh meetings and stuff like that, and and we're not represented kindly. We're not. So um but it's not to say that that's always gonna be the case. Because what Tommy just read with us being a light and and uh and us showing that, uh eventually it's gonna catch on. It's gonna catch on, and we need to keep showing the light as if we are the city on top of the hill. And that'll be seen. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

I mean we're seeing changes in the uh in the not only our community but in the world too, with uh some of the things that are going on in the uh the the sporting industry. Um things are changing there, people are actually standing up for things, even though they're getting in trouble or getting fined, but they're still standing up for it, you know, which is something that we need more of. But the problem is is some of these hills that people are willing to die on are not this hill that the city should be on. And like we went to that conference and it talked about, you know, um a hill to die on. What ill what is there a hill to die on? And and a lot of the things are theology. Like people have theologies and thoughts, and you know, I I have some of my own that are silly for me even, you know, but at the same time, I'm not gonna die on that hill. I'm not gonna I'm not going to try to stand so firm that I am foolish, that I do lead somebody astray. You know, it's one of the things I do in prayer. I say, you know, God, please help me and show me if I'm wrong, correct me. Don't let me lead anybody astray. You know, I don't want to do that, you know. So and that's what happens with I think church hurt is there's been things that happen in the church, and they just get like I grew up in a hellfire and damnation. And and Brian heard it when he first came to Christianity. You know, you're gonna go to hell anyway, so there's nothing you can do. Right, you know, and God's mad at you because you're a sinner and he's just dangling. That's how I felt growing up was like they're just dangling me over hell and drop me in. And that's not the God that created everything at all. It never was, never has been. But I blame it on we were feral, man. We were wild. You know, and the our parents didn't knew that them threatening us wasn't good enough, you know. Them saying that they're gonna whoop us or ground us or whatever wasn't good enough. So they took it a step up to God's gonna punish you if you're not good.

SPEAKER_07 39:18

As as may be, but then the thing is, is what I'd heard is that same mentality given to somebody who didn't know the scripture, didn't know uh the beatitudes, I didn't I didn't I didn't know the gospel, brother. And uh I was asking questions, and the gentleman who was asking didn't know the answers to the question. So that was his that was his defense. That was a defense mechanism just like, oh well you're just going you're you're just going to hell, that's all there is for you. And uh but that's okay. I came anyways. So uh but um I I think it's important again in those instances, and we may have said this before, but um that if you don't know the answer to a question when somebody's asking about your faith, it is okay to say I don't know. If the spirit isn't providing you with an answer, go and read one and and ask the person to come back. Yes. Because then that establishes a second contact with you with your new answers, and if you can't answer a question from that engagement, then you establish a third contact, all right, but you at least try and answer the questions from the first the first contact. That's that's being a brother, that's that's being that's being that's being Christ-like.

SPEAKER_01 40:54

So it really is. And and that's the thing that I always had a problem with, is I didn't know I I wanted to know the answer. I didn't want to be stumped by an answer. I didn't want somebody to ask me something and me not be able to say this is this this is this. So it took me a while to realize that it's okay, like you said, to say, I don't know. You know, I have my thoughts, my my theories, those kind of things. Um, but I want to give you scripture. I try to go to scripture as much as possible because I don't want to, again, mislead anybody. And I fully, I fully, with all of my being, believe that the answer is there. It's just a matter of you finding it and being able to do it. Uh, we had a gentleman uh part of our Monday group. Uh there's another gentleman part of the group that he's in. He was like that. He was like a Rolodex. Like he would sit there and wait for the right scripture to pop into his mind to bring to the conversation. But that wasn't being led by the Spirit. That was being led by his own understanding and memorization of the word. And he realized that and he said, you know what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna listen to whatever the person has to say, and I'm gonna let the Holy Spirit take over. And that's when things started changing a lot. And I've I've found that in my own walk. You know, it's like I've had conversations where I leave the conversation and come back, go, where did that come from?

SPEAKER_06 42:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

And it's getting out of your own way. The biggest problem is what is it?

SPEAKER_04 42:24

I mean, like, no, my mom says, she said the word is in you automatically. I mean, uh automatically. It's on you to be obedient with it, like at the end of the day. And like like I Jesus, I like how he walked with with them people, with the um the prostitutes, the robbers, through these streets. But it exposed to people, to the masses, that God is real. You know, at the end of the day, there's some people that to come to church every Sunday in the morning, you know what I'm saying? And you couldn't see them just because they because the church could be a hospital too, for the sick and shut in too, right? I'm saying, um and so, but with them changes, with them drastic changes with him walking with, could that same message been uh taught if he would have been in church every day, just church, or could it have been taught the way how he went with people who was just from the bottom and then made a drastic change of what's been exposed. That was a great impact, and that's why we live, because the disciple has witnessed this from what his miraculous moves to this day, that's why we even know about it. You know what I mean? Like, but what that same story would have been like that if it if that didn't happen. You see what I'm saying? Like, yeah, so some people they may not, some people might not know this verse for verse, but you they got it at the end of the day, it's some people that's calling and chosen that all of it, but it's all about being obedient. You know what I'm saying? Without the obedience, there's it's nothing happening. You know what I mean? And that comes from having a lack of love and at the same time, like like I said, we came from dysfunctional. If you come up, your mother and father fighting chaos, and this is all you really know. You're not really being taught, because they maybe not have been taught that.

SPEAKER_06 43:57

A lot of toxic relationships, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 43:59

You know what I mean? So you know, the beauty of it, like I I I I respect it now, like because now I got up on uh Facebook one time I said mysteriously, all of a sudden the right became wrong, the wrong became right. You know what I'm saying? Like it is coming to that. Like who you know what I mean? Like at the end of the day, so like you're right. If it's genuinely in somebody, like, and that light shine and shine like that, at the end of the day, you know what's following because you following your heart, though. God put who He wants you to be in your heart. And at the end of the day, whatever your your craft, your passion is, at the end of the day, you end up you following that, you end up loving whatever you're doing at the end of the day, you know what I mean? That's a good point. And I'm glad you said that. I thought plenty of times I was in love. My heart was trying to tell me I wasn't. You see what I'm saying? Like, yes, absolutely. You got to follow the heart.

SPEAKER_01 44:47

Have you heard that statement where they said that people are gonna miss heaven by about 12 inches, which is the space between your brain and your heart? Is that right? Yeah, yeah. And it's true, you know, it's like you you gotta take your thoughts captive, the tongue, especially. We talk about that in James. Um but when we talk about this at lunch, when you fill your heart with love and with the Holy Spirit, and with and you say obedience, and I love that you're saying that. But how many people hate that word?

SPEAKER_07 45:18

How many people hear that word and get oh, but they they love the fact that they have a savior, but they they neglect that he's Lord. Yeah, so yeah, that's that's it. Yeah. I think I think we're coming to a close on this one. Um did you have anything you did you want to finish up?

SPEAKER_01 45:40

You know me, I can talk all night long on this stuff. I'm sure anytime we get into this, we usually run over, and then we end up running over after we stop recording.

SPEAKER_07 45:49

I was hoping to play a bit more of your song on the on the on the way out as our as our outro. Um but where can uh is there a place where the individual can go if they like the song and they want the album?

SPEAKER_03 46:03

I haven't said this video yet, but um I like I I wanted to get into it, like it's not like on YouTube or on Hydro or on how the music is, but that's from you know I'm giving my whole my whole life as long as like open book, like making these first decisions all the way up to this.

SPEAKER_01 46:24

Uh YouTube would be the channel name. Uh Player Mike. Okay. Alright. So definitely check out Player Mike. I think he might be probably involved a little more now that he's here with us and coming to the gathering. We always love having good volunteers, and and we have learned through the gathering how important our testimonies really are. Yes, sir. And how our testimonies can be that light on the hill and show people that there is another way, that they don't have to rely on their own understanding anymore. That there is a Father in heaven that loves them, that is on their side, it's just a matter of getting out of the way and letting God have it.

SPEAKER_07 47:06

I agree. Getting out of your own way. Getting out of your own way, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:10

And it's like that whole saying, Jesus take the wheel, say it and mean it and do it. Oh bless.

SPEAKER_07 47:16

And then also the the fact that uh Noah's Ark, no steering wheel.

SPEAKER_01 47:22

Never had a helm, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 47:22

I mean, Noah's Ark.

SPEAKER_01 47:24

Never button. You know what I'm saying? Like it was crazy. Like people don't think about that. That was God's design. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_07 47:32

And Noah followed it to the T.

SPEAKER_01 47:34

Absolutely. So and the same thing with Moses is another example. Um I love the example of how Abraham was told to get up and go, and he just got up and went. I mean, that idea of today, oh my goodness. I couldn't even imagine what that would look like today. You know? Um so yeah, it's just it's just an amazing thing when you let Jesus take the wheel. And I told you my story how that happened with me, right? My foot was broke. My right foot was broke, so I couldn't drive. So I had to be driven around everywhere instead of me driving everywhere all the time. So that was God's way of preparing me to let him have the wheel. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. So now I'm perfectly fine as a passenger. I used to hate being a passenger. Oh my goodness, I couldn't stand it. I mean, I I I just could not stand it. I I same thing was like flying. I don't like flying because I'm not flying a plane. Absolutely. You know? But now that it's Jesus has got it, I know he's got it, nothing can take me away from him, and I let him have it. Hey, brother. It was uh it was a pleasure having you.

SPEAKER_07 48:42

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I appreciate you so much, man. Um would you mind praying a song? Is that okay? No, no, no, no. I don't know. Like we said, brother. Yeah, I don't know is a good answer. Okay. Please, please, tell me. You want me to sell? Yeah, come on.

SPEAKER_01 49:01

Holy Father, you are so awesome and so good, and it's just so amazing to be able to be a part of what you're doing in the world and in this little town, Father. And we thank you for all the new people that are coming around and and seeing your light and seeing your your love and coming to you, Father. We see it every day, and it's and we're just so grateful that we can be a part of it. And it's just such an uh awesome thing to be able to talk about your word. I'm glad you left it for us to do that. We thank you for Jesus and everything that He did, and it's in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Amen. I'll play a little bit of a song.

SPEAKER_02 50:00

That's what you do with the ones that can stand up and tell you that it's real. I'm just a guy that got drunk and went through his windshield. It ain't a miracle, I'm still here without a wheelchair. Come listen, get the music coming, get your listeners. I'ma stay with me, but fake and a man asked the question. Everything is documented, plus anything connected. I ain't got a problem with it. And otherwise, I gotta get it. I'ma probably took me off against the winning. Then he told me it was written. I must be kidding, especially if he can't be fishing. I used to do some silly stuff like living how you live it. Cause that is the spirit. I mean how you being real when you bring it somewhere else. I never thought you had gone stuff for infinity. How you think your friends is actually one of your enemies? When you prove your life's gone, that's when you know it's true. Step by step show and proof, you respect when they know it's true. That's the hide and can't be explained. Better can you fight? Cause then I can take your life, the other high can you life. This is my colour, I'm just the water, he is the offer. If my time is in my size, now I gotta continue working proof. Well, all I know is going down, I'll make it different case. I got it in my cow. I got a time and know it all. You can't go to a church, but you can go to a pub.

SPEAKER_05 51:54

This is nice. This is nice.

SPEAKER_00 52:13

If you call his settlement, Jesus said he loved us all.