Guest - Pastor Dad Stansell

Joy interviews her dad, Pastor Jonathan Stansell

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the Faithfully Heard Podcast. It's Joy, and today this episode is going to be a little different. This whole episode is going to be me asking my dad some questions. I know it feels like we've had so many guests on here lately. I we're probably getting tired of it. So I'm gonna try to slow down on guests, but I'll definitely pick it up sometime. But we'll see, because sometimes I think things and then I totally change my mind. So I'll keep you updated. And before I go and get him, because he's not in here yet. Um he's out there talking to I don't know. Um but this, um I just wanna say that I'm really, really, really sorry that there wasn't an episode last week. Uh and that I forgot to put a post on our Instagram about it too. So very, very sorry about that. Um totally forgot to put a post up, but we were just a little busy last week, so I had no time to do it. But I'm making sure you get one this week. So I'm gonna go get my dad real quick. Okay, so here's my dad. And before we get started with answering questions, just tell us a little bit about yourself before we get started.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

A little bit about myself. My name is Jonathan Stansel, or dad to Joy, and I'm married to Kara for almost 15 years. We have five children. I'm the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, uh Shelby, Ohio. And uh that's a little bit about me.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Okay, and uh I have 10 get to know you questions to do first. So number one, what's your favorite snack you could eat way too much of?

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Oh, chips and salsa, definitely. On the border, cafe style chips, and on the border medium style salsa. I could eat way too much of that.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

What's your favorite fast food order, and you have to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Is Chipotle fast food? Yes. Oh. Well then a double steak bowl with guacamole if I want to spend a lot of money, but normally it'll be like a chicken salad uh with extra salsa from Chipotle.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Okay. What's your favorite excuse to avoid doing something?

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Uh I have more time later. I'm a procrastinator a little bit. It's a it's a fault. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

Okay. What's your favorite thing to do when you're bored?

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Favorite th bored? I don't know. Uh say only boring people get bored. Only that's I do say that a lot. Only boring people get bored. So I guess if I had time and there was nothing pressing, I very much enjoy reading. So read.

unknown 2:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Uh what's your favorite childhood show?

SPEAKER_01 2:53

Childhood show. Uh maybe Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

I was gonna say that.

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

What's your favorite thing to do that wastes time?

SPEAKER_01 3:02

Wastes time.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Um you made that video.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

What video? That you sent to Oh, I don't know, be stupid. Uh oh, don't say stupid kids. Uh my favorite thing to do to waste time. I don't know. I don't know that I really waste a lot of time. I procrastinate a little bit, but I do other important things during the procrastination time. So I don't know. I don't have an answer.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

What's your favorite smell or scent?

SPEAKER_01 3:31

My favorite smell? Uh victory. That's my favorite smell. Success. Uh I have a balsam and cedar scented candle in my office, and it smells like Christmas, and I love that smell. That's my favorite smell.

SPEAKER_00 3:47

And I don't like it. And what's your favorite lazy day activity?

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Lazy day activity. Uh well, I talked about reading, but if it's like where we're snowed in or something, hanging out with the kids, playing with the kids, maybe play a game. I don't know, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

Okay. What's your favorite thing to complain about?

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Favorite thing to complain about. Oh, I I I love to complain. It's something I preach against because it's so real to me, the sin of complaining. Um bad customer service. That is something that is a pet peeve, and I love to complain to my wife about bad customer service.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

You use it in your sermons too.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

I do. I talk about it a lot.

SPEAKER_00 4:32

Okay, well, now I have 14 Christian faith-based questions. So, number one, what's something God has been teaching you lately?

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Something God has been teaching me lately. Our theme at the church this year is worship God. And so just trying to study that subject of worship and what that means when it takes place. It's a Wednesday night right now, we're recording, and I just preached on how to give glory to God. And so I preached on having faith in God no matter what happens, praising God, and um giving God the fruit of our lips of praise and thanksgiving. So just appreciating worship. I've been reading a lot of psalms every day in addition to other parts of the Bible, and just really discovering that that's why we were made to worship God and sensing how fulfilling that is to actively, conscientiously worship God.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Cool. And what's your favorite Bible verse and why?

SPEAKER_01 5:39

Uh well, new the last year or two is Psalm 115.1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake. Just a reminder that it's not about us, it's all about the Lord, and we should draw attention to God, giving him glory in whatever we do.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

What does your quiet time with God look like?

SPEAKER_01 6:05

I have a Bible reading schedule this year that takes me through the Old Testament twice, the New Testament ten times, uh, or no, seven times, rather, Psalms ten times and Proverbs twelve times. So I'm really trying to just be soaked in the Bible right now and just have it be on the tip of my tongue, just my mind always be thinking about it. And I think it's making me a better preacher, give me better perspective and seeing how the whole Bible fits together. Uh so it's a lot of uh reading the Bible, but also a lot of stopping and writing because the Lord teaches you things, you want to write it down, praying, asking the Lord, ask the Lord to help you. If you ever don't understand a Bible verse, just really ask the Lord as you study for understanding because the Holy Spirit illuminates the scripture. And so just a lot of time in the Bible this year so far.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Okay. And how has your faith changed you as a person?

SPEAKER_01 7:06

Uh I don't I I could be a type A freak out type of personality. Joy says, no. Uh but yes, it's true. It's true. Free like if things aren't going correctly or if things aren't going excellently, you're a little bit bothered by that. Me. No, me. I'm saying I thought you were asking me to define what a type A per personality is. Anyways, um, but if you have faith, then you realize that God is in control and his plans are rarely exactly your specific plans for the day. And so when you realize that, when things don't go like you planned, then you just sort of roll with it. And if you do your best, then you're just trusting God with whatever he does, whatever opportunities he sends, and not be too worried. Just trust the Lord. Have faith.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Okay. Uh, what's a distraction that sometimes pulls you away from God?

SPEAKER_01 8:04

A distraction that pulls me away from God. Um There's a lot to do, maybe just busyness, I would say, because even if it's not a bad thing, if you ha if you do enough things and you don't get around to that sincere, serious time with God, then that becomes the good things can become a bad thing if they become a God thing. So I can make a huge to-do list, but if God is not and I if God's not a priority, it's not a good list. I could feel fulfilled for having done a ton of things, but if I've not done the most important thing, walk with God that day, then it's even if it looks on paper like it's been a good day, it's not been a good day.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Uh what's something you've had to grow out of in your faith?

SPEAKER_01 8:59

Something I've had to grow out of in my faith. Yep. Um I don't know. Grow out of. Uh give me an example. What's something you've had to grow out of in your faith? I don't know. Well, I don't know how to answer that. Grow out of.

unknown 9:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Grow out of. Well, I I guess I did preach a lot on Sunday about growth and Christian growth. And if you're not growing, then that's not good because God's will is growth. So I've grown into some things. I guess when you're into some things, you grow out of some things. Um maybe trying to be less self-centered. Uh yeah, not not being as self-centered and worried about my uh preference being a priority. As a I mean, as a pastor, you do implement your preference when things aren't black and white in in the scripture, but but just holding I mean here's a good one. Okay, I thought of one. Holding to preferences as to what they are, preferences and convictions, holding on to them as convictions. Not holding a preference as a conviction, but trying to have grace while I don't change my preference or standard in whatever area, but having grace in uh maybe if other people don't see it the same way, just understanding that they have their own their own master, like I have my own master, we all serve the Lord, and he'll answer to the Lord, I'll answer to the Lord. So maybe in that, maybe holding preferences as as they are with grace.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

What's something you used to think was fine, but changed your mind on?

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Um something I used to think was fine, but I've changed my mind on. Now, see this I don't know. There's some things that could be controversial. Uh things that I thought were fine, but I changed my mind. Like what?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Like before you got saved.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

Oh, before I got saved? Yeah. All right. When I was in pre-kindergarten, before I got saved in kindergarten, I thought it was I don't know. You know, it's that's a good point. I am very blessed, and so is Joy, to have grown up in a Christian home. Joy, more blessed than anybody, the best Christian home ever. The best parents, it's nuts how cool her parents are. Anyways.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

Except for your laugh.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

I I grew up in a Christian home, and the Lord saved me at a very young age, and he gave me grace, uh, abundant grace in allowing that to happen. So I I praise God for the testimonies where people get saved out of drugs and they get saved out of a bad life, and God totally turns their life around. I don't have that story. I was in kindergarten when I got saved, but I do praise God for all the things that I missed out on. I didn't grow up in a home with alcohol, but I had nothing to do with that. That was just what God allowed to happen. So I give him all the glory for that. So uh I was not a a perfect kid or perfect teenager, that's for sure, uh, or a perfect adult today, but the Lord really has has blessed me unbelievably. That wasn't your question, but that was the answer.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

Oh, okay. Uh what's something you wish more? Wait. What's something you wish more people were honest about in Christianity?

SPEAKER_01 12:32

Um what more people were honest about in Christianity. Oh man.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

Yeah, like if they I don't know, never mind. They can't hear me.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Here. Put your mouth to the microphone and explain what you're asking.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

Like they say something's really good, but it never mind. I'm never mind.

unknown 12:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Um I wish people were more honest about interview questions. That's what I wish. Uh what do I I I guess I don't know, being being more honest about I don't know about to others, but to themselves about their love for God and just, you know, if preachers say do this or that, and I'm a pastor, I do say do this or that based on the Bible and the authority of Scripture, but if people would only discover what a joy it is, and you worship God because He's worthy, not because of what you get out of it. But when you discover your purpose in existence is to bring glory to God, and He has made all things, for His pleasure they are and were created. Jesus is by all things, before all things, by Him all things consists, is what I meant to say, uh for His pleasure. So you are fulfilling your created purpose when you find God's will, whatever He wants you to do, and do it. And it might seem like something else is a better idea, or you might have more fun doing something else, but it's a lie. You will be most fulfilled, and it's not the point, but you'll be most happy, most joyful, and find your purpose when you please God and live for God. It's the best life ever.

SPEAKER_00 14:20

Okay. What's something that helps you refocus when you drift?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

Refocus when I drift. Um Well, I this might not be the exact answer to this question, but sometimes I'll be very busy, but I will have to say, here's all the things I need to do. The most important thing on Sunday is that I have heard from God and I preach a Bible message that is biblical and glorifies God and is helpful. And so that refocuses my priority at at church. But of course, somebody was just asking me, they're thinking about going into the ministry full time, and they were worried about their family and I, you know, not getting attention. And I said, your relationship with God is first, and then your family, and then the ministry at church. So sometimes I'll say no in my mind to something that I could have done as a project or something, and make sure I'm home at time for dinner. So yeah, just aligning those priorities. Child of God first, family man second, and then I'm a pastor.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

And then I think there's one more. What's something you've had to be patient with God about?

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Something I've had to be patient with God about. My firstborn. Lord have mercy. I'm just kidding. I'm looking at the time on this episode. Do your episodes normally go over 16 minutes? This seems like a long one.

unknown 15:51

Well, you're giving long answers.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

It's your first preacher you've ever interviewed, huh? Preachers are long-winded. Uh, patient with God about. Um, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

You can just skip it.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Alright, skip.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Okay, we'll skip the other ones and then we can just do these.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

All right.

SPEAKER_00 16:07

I have 10 really funny ones, and you just have to do these quick, okay?

SPEAKER_01 16:10

Alright, here I go. Quick. Did you hear what she said? She's already playing my walk-off music. Do it quick, she said.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Huh?

SPEAKER_01 16:17

Are you gonna Okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

What's the dumbest thing you've ever Googled?

SPEAKER_01 16:23

The dumbest thing. Uh, I don't know. I have no idea.

SPEAKER_00 16:28

The dumbest thing I've ever you just looked at my Oh yeah, I have it on my school computer and I'm gonna watch chats.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Uh I don't know. The dumbest thing I've ever Googled. Um I don't know. I recently used it to prove your mom wrong when she said that I wasn't right about something, like how to spell something or how to pronounce something. That was satisfying. I don't I don't know. I really don't know.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Okay. If animals could talk, which one do you think would be the rudest?

SPEAKER_01 17:00

The rudest animal, definitely a goose. Not a fan of the geese. They hiss at you when you walk around. They don't seem like they're very graceful in their speech. I don't think a goose would be very nice.

SPEAKER_00 17:12

Oh like your laughs.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Wow. What what what's your spirit animal? I choose that as the rudest.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Oh, okay. What what okay. What's your most useless talent?

SPEAKER_01 17:28

Uh I can do this. I can't hear that.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

No, all the boys at school are doing that now because you did it.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Oh, really? Well, see, it's not that useless, huh? I'm making an impact.

unknown 17:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

Uh what's something you're terrible at, but still do it anyway?

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Something I'm terrible at but still do anyways. Uh play the piano. I play the piano for myself singing or for somebody else singing sometime, and it's not a talent I have, but I do it anyways.

SPEAKER_00 18:02

Okay. What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Ooh. Weirdest thing I've ever- I I am up for trying anything. I've never, although I don't think I would try beef tongue. The tongue of a cow.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

Something you already Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

I'm thinking out loud. I don't know the answer.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

Um Wait, you had what?

SPEAKER_01 18:25

Beef No, I've not had beef tongue. But um I I mean octopus? That's kind of weird. You've had it? Yeah, yeah. When? Uh, at a Chinese restaurant, a Mongolian barbecue where they cook it in front of you. It was not it was not good.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

Wouldn't that be at a seafood restaurant?

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Yeah, well that you can sell seafood at non-seafood restaurants.

unknown 18:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

We're learning a lot here, gang. Coming up on 19 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

If you had a warning label, what would it say?

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Uh don't be funny because I will laugh before my brain says you're not supposed to laugh at that. So if you do something that you don't mean to be funny, I will erupt in laughter because there's a there's a little delay. There's a delay between, oh, not the time to laugh, and when my mouth goes, ha ha ha.

SPEAKER_00 19:16

And yeah, it's yeah. Did you just come up with that or did you chat GPT that?

SPEAKER_01 19:22

My answer I just gave?

SPEAKER_00 19:23

Like you're yeah. It sounded really specific.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

I I'm sitting here in front of you with my hands folded. How did I how would I have chat GPT? I didn't know what you were gonna ask me. Did I just chat GPT? Do you know how ChatGPT works? I have to have a device, an access to a screen or the internet or something.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

What's your most embarrassing moment? Did you adjust ChatGPT this? I didn't. I meant before.

SPEAKER_01 19:50

My most embarrassing moment is wherever, whenever I go out in public with joy. Um I don't know. My most embarrassing moment. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 20:04

Maybe when you just laugh hysterically.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

No, I'm over that. No, I what else? What else you got?

SPEAKER_00 20:11

Well, something you thought was cool, but definitely was it? Your bright green shoes that you got.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

Yeah, you know, I don't need anybody to tell me what is or isn't cool because I think if I think it's cool, then it is cool because cool is subjective. So if I say this is cool, kind of like decorating. If somebody says this looks good, well, to them it does. Mine not to everybody. So whatever I think is cool, I'm convinced is actually.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

And what's the weirdest dream you've er, yeah, what's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

SPEAKER_01 20:43

You know what's weird? I don't I will wake up and I don't remember the last time I dreamed. I know you're everybody dreams as everybody dreams, but I do not remember my dreams. I don't know what that says about me, but I think I just go into boring. That well, I don't know, maybe my my brain just stops. I don't know. I don't I don't remember my dreams, whatever that means. I hope that doesn't mean anything terrible about me because I just admitted it on the podcast, but I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 21:08

It's just chat you tea it.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

I just actually did in my head. That was my answer. I chat you t it in my brain.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

It's your I'm never doing that again moment.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

Um I run Spartan races sometimes, and about three-quarters of the way through, I will always say that. I say, why did I pay$200 to run the Spartan race and suffer? Uh, but then I always end up doing it again. So it doesn't stick.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

Okay, well, those are all the questions I have for today.

SPEAKER_01 21:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 21:38

All right.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

Bye, everybody.