# 15 joe testimony part 2

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Body of Christ. Today we have a follow-up interview. Yep, you guessed it. Joe is back on the mic, and we're gonna take a deep dive into some more meaningful transformation, if you would call it. What kind of is like different, and how like let's be honest, life is improved with God. So, Joe, real quick, I just kind of want to just kind of get a feel, man. Like, how are you doing? Like, what has changed in this past year?

SPEAKER_00 0:36

A lot has changed. Like just everything, like mentally feeling better, my body's feeling better, just my mindset's changed completely from where I was and to now from beginning of 2025 till now. Yeah, just working on a grind, I guess, in my head where I'm just always focused on God and just bigger things with that, and even coaching wrestling, you know, it's been like a quite a change, like what's been going on in the past year for me.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

Amazing, amazing. Now, you mentioned like a lot of like mental change, physical change. Would you say that like maybe your motivation is like different from what it was like maybe two years ago? Like you kind of want to expand on that a little bit?

SPEAKER_00 1:26

Yeah, my motivations change, just keeping building on a relationship with God, coming to Bible studies with friends. Just yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 1:42

No, amen, amen, yeah, absolutely. What overall though, so you mentioned like there's been a lot of change, you kind of hit a lot of great points in that change. What makes this different? Because I'm sure I mean, as we've all experienced mental struggles, physical struggles, challenges, trials, right? And we try to find different avenues to try to like relieve it, make it something work, or find an answer, right? What makes this different? Like, why was there such a clear direct? I was once this way, now I'm another with a relationship with God.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

My mindset has changed with just working out more or less like 25 pounds in a month. It's crazy. Yeah, dude, that's impressive. That's that's a change. Just more focus, more I don't know. It's just like with with like the religion itself, it's just you have to have discipline, and that's kind of the thing I have with like working out lately. It's just the discipline, the consistency that you bring to it, it would get you the better results that you need out of it. And that's why I feel like I get that love from God. But but yeah, even like training. I I when I was started at the gym, I never thought I could do a murph. And I end up doing one and a half murph. So kind of crazy that, you know, I'm amazing.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

What what is a murf real quick? Just to kind of get the viewers to understand like the the challenge. I mean, it's not easy.

SPEAKER_00 3:11

Yeah, yeah. So a murf is you start with a one mile run, and then you do wait, it's it's a hundred pull-ups, then it's two hundred push-ups, and then you end it with three hundred squats, and then the very, very end, you just run one more mile, which everyone's after the squats, your legs are so fatigue, you just hate yourself guy. But you just like, yeah, you just push through it, and yeah, it's it's kind of fun. I mean, I guess in a way like the RX or whatever of the whole thing would be that you're also using a 20-pound vest, which I didn't do, but I I that's kind of a goal of mine in the future for sure, it would be using a 20-pound vest for sure. Uh wouldn't doing all that.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

I mean, going from you know, probably not working out much to getting back in the gym 25 pounds down. I mean, to to be able to do the challenge like that, like a murph like that, I mean, that is impressive. That's impressive. And I mean, there that's just so much transformation of like what God can do when you incorporate him in your life and like just turn to him. I mean, wow. Did I mean did you ever think this was possible? Like, let's say five years ago, did you think like being able to like just have that relationship with the Lord, talk to the Lord, receive like visions from the Lord and like just complete mindset physical attribute change, you think this was possible?

SPEAKER_00 4:43

No, I'll be honest, no. I've never knew or heard about it really, if I'm being honest. And now that I got into it and just kind of understanding what God when you listen, when you try to really listen for God, He will give you answers. And it's so true. It's so true. He does so much and just just yeah, the mental and just oh sorry.

SPEAKER_03 5:12

Yeah, I mean, just it just helps like the mental focus, the the mental relief of like, I don't gotta figure it all out. Yeah, no, 100%. I 100% agree with that. Um I'm actually gonna jump ahead a little bit because like when you you mentioned when you actually listen and turn to the Lord, He will answer you. And it could be in the smallest moments, it could be in some big moments. What are some questions you've had about life, like just in general, that you've kind of found answered by God?

SPEAKER_00 5:46

I guess uh my purpose in this world would be one of them. The visions I get, just the stories, the dreams, everything I kind of get, it just uh it just all makes sense in a way where, like I said, with my dream previously, that I just kind of figure out like no matter what gets in your way, you'll always find the light, you'll always find God. Just something like that where it's just like it just feels like it makes sense every time a voice comes into my head about like a certain thing and that vision or any kind of word that kind of pops to mind that the next thing that goes on makes sense and just adds to the story of whether it's my life or your life or Rob's, it just kind of speaks to me and speaks to everyone that everything makes sense and just how I guess just even mentioning like recently with Matt texted me and hopefully could join us or whatever one of these times, hopefully on the mic. That'd be awesome. Amen. So kind of excited.

SPEAKER_03 6:52

Yeah, and I'm I'm gonna double down on like when you kind of like receive things like words or or with you know vision and everything when that is shared, and especially when you set us for other people, I mean, it is sometimes like such a profound answer for us or that person too, where it's like, whoa, I didn't realize it actually was that impactful in your life. And like you mentioned that purpose, right? And it's like, isn't that what we all really should be? Is to be here to help each other spread that love of God and build each other up, encourage each other, like edify each other. And who knows how to do that better than God? Yeah, like let's let's be real. So, like when something was received, like that you mentioned, I mean, that I mean, some purpose right there, you know, like that is that is absolutely spot on. Kind of want to build off of something that was talked about the first time we kind of had you on here, that softball story. I mean, a pivotal, pivotal moment of how we even ended up getting to all know each other, really, right? And kind of want to share a little bit of my point of view, kind of like cross-reference what you were kind of uh experiencing in the moment. Yeah, so we play uh summer league softball uh together. We've been on the team last year and this year. But last year, I was just walking on the way to the game, just praising the Lord, just worshiping God, like just keeping them on my mind and like wow, like all these amazing things that you do, like it's even in nature, as we've had a topic of that recently. And I just get like a very loud, like in my head, like just very loud, talk to Joe. And I was like, Oh, okay. And I'm like halfway to the the softball game at the time, and I'm like kind of like just thinking, like, okay, so I got all these questions around like, what do I talk to him about? What does he need to hear? You know, like what what's going on? You know, nothing. I'm just getting nothing. So I'm like, okay, well, maybe I don't know. I'm just I'm just kind of blowing it off at that point because I'm not getting anything after that. All of a sudden, right as I'm stepping out of the field, talk to Joe, like loudly, again, same thing. And I'm like, okay, have no idea what to talk about, no idea why. And at this, at this point, we went to high school together and everything like that, but like we never like really had like a deep conversation. You know, played some sports together, but you know, if that's all it really amounted to. So I'm like, okay, all right. Well, and I kind of like made an agreement and had his like, listen, if I got an opportunity, if it just comes up organically, I'll do it. I don't know what about, I don't know why, I don't know how, but if there's an opportunity, I'll do it. Like, I'm in. So we play the softball game, you know, we're having a good time. I can't even remember if we won or not. And I was like, you know what? Okay, I'll hang out after the game. Why not? I'll I we'll see what happens. And I know we kind of got some of your point of view too, whereas like normally you you mentioned you kind of leave after the games or something like that. Honestly, sometimes I did too. And I'm like playing it all out. I'm like, we're both conveniently not leaving. So I'm like, okay. Uh and we're around like a group of teammates, like six people at the time. And uh I'm like, okay, this is cool, you know. Small talk. Then two people leave. Like, okay, there's four of us. Game's over, next game's playing. Okay, interesting. He's not leaving yet. I don't really got anywhere to go. So next thing you know, two people leave again. Now it's just us two. It's like two minutes. And I'm like, do I say something? You don't do it. Like, we're small talking still. Yeah. And I like, I know the small talk isn't it. So I'm like, how do okay, God, like help me out here? Like, I don't really know what to talk about.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

It also didn't help that it was raining as well. Oh, yeah, it's supposed to rain.

SPEAKER_03 11:01

Like we finally get this moment of by ourselves. You're spot on. Supposed to rain. Yeah, so I'm like, okay, like, do I continue the small talk? Because it's raining. Is he gonna leave? Should I leave? Like, so then two people come back and then they leave again. It's raining. The game's half over. And I'm like, okay, I just gotta go in. I'm like, I don't know what to talk about, but my go-to is a testimony. So and then I I kind of like, you know, was asking, like, hey, how you doing? You're like, you're doing good. I'm like, and then you asked me how I was doing. And I'm like, okay, God, uh, he's asking how I'm doing. I'm gonna just be honest. And I just started talking about my testimony. I'm sure all you guys have heard it, beginning of the podcast here and everything. It was about a 15-minute version, and I could just tell it was like, yes, that was what God wanted me to share. And I whoever's listening, if you're ever unsure how to icebreak a conversation, testimony's a go-to. I know you've had great examples of this. Talking to people, Joe, as well, just like dreams, testimonies, things like that. Now I want to ask you, is I'm uh telling this 15-minute testimony in the rain, no one is around, the game's over. What was kind of going through like your mind? Like, what was kind of processing like hearing that?

SPEAKER_00 12:24

It's just something I needed to hear. Like, I don't know, like I've always been like lukewarm in the whole religion thing. Like, yeah, I always believed, you know, but but have I ever built that relationship with God, you know? You know, I was just kind of going through the emotions, but I've never had an actual relationship with God than I do now, honestly.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

Yeah, amen. What was the most like interesting thing that when we left that day, what was like the most interesting thing like you were personally interested to get to know more?

SPEAKER_01 13:09

Man.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

I guess uh learn the things I never learned before, because being part of the church and CCD and stuff, I learned certain stories, certain things, like okay, you know. And it's just the same stories you hear all the time. It's like the same, I don't know. Like in my head, I think I only remember like five different things. I was like, okay, David Goliath, okay, and just some of these basic stories as a kid that I remember listening to, or we talked about before, but then you kind of really dive deep into like the Bible and actually how some churches they don't even really like have you really read the Bible yourself in your free time, you know, just like, oh yeah, just come to church every Sunday, you'd be fine, you know, but just having an opportunity to just kind of build onto the Bible and just kind of read it yourself and just kind of learn so much more and just being part of the stu the study as well as mindset of like the visions, the dreams, just everything that I never even th heard of or thought of before that you know, or just your quiet place where you could just kind of just really speak to God and just have your opportunity to just kind of feel it out and just kind of like okay, that's what you really want. All right, I can do that for you. And it just everything just makes sense in like all the visions and all the voices you hear. It just that's so cool.

SPEAKER_03 14:46

Amen. Yeah, absolutely. And that's such a key aspect of this walk, right? Is to read the Bible. Yeah. I mean, the meeting with a group of believers and reading the word. I mean, it is such a not talked about enough aspect. So I'm so glad you hit that point. And for whatever reason, it just really seems like that's not a main priority, to put it the least, with with like some denominations and and such. And I really encourage, just as Joe just had, read that word. Building off of that point, now that you've really grown in this walk and are getting closer with God every day, what Bible verse or passage really kind of speaks to you now? Because of course, God, God speaks through through active word now and envision. But let's be honest, He also speaks through his written word. You know, so yeah, just lay it out on us.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

So the verse I always brought to my mind was the Jeremiah 29, 11, the verse of, For I know I have plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope in the future. And so with that verse, I've had it basically. I actually had when I I think I was had my first confirmation, I believe it was, or communion, first communion, I'm sorry. That basically I got like a necklace from some family member that said that whole quote, and I was just like, huh. And it just kind of stuck with me a little bit in that younger years where I just kind of throughout the years, just kind of build on it and just kind of was like like he always has something going on for me, even you know, even the times where I'm down or whatever, that there's gonna be something that really is gonna build me up from here. It's just so it's just a step to get to where I need to be, honestly. It's not it's not necessarily just a setback in your life that you're just done, you know, but but I will say, yeah, and then I also have a little tattoo of it on me, but it's pretty cool that it's just been kind of a part of my life, my whole life. And like I said, it's weird because like that's like the first verse, and then it's just like after that, never read the Bible in those younger years, so you just kind of I only knew that verse, and I didn't really like dig into any other verses and other like meanings they have in the Bible that could even be maybe even more deeper than that one. But you know, I feel like that one just kind of stuck with me when I was really young and just kind of built me up to where I am today.

SPEAKER_03 17:28

Such a great point there, man. I mean, it really seems like all those years God has been really planting that verse in you, like speaking to you, even before you really have developed that meaning as to what it is now, which makes it that much more impactful. Because it shows, and we've talked about this many times in this podcast, God is with you even before you realize. Even before you realize, He's always in your life, he's always trying to help you, he's always trying to guide you, he's always trying to more or less kind of help transform you to his image. And when we really just kind of finally slow down and just kind of like turn to it and accept it and like accept that repentance. And wow, I mean, look what it does. Look what it does. And just kind of like cultivating to this moment. I mean, you've shared even some stories last time you were on of honestly spreading the word, spreading the word. I mean, it's it the the goodness of God's love and character cannot be contained. And I I just want to kind of really highlight in this short segment here, it all starts with that just small act of like obedience. And it just that's how it kind of spreads. I mean, here we are a year later, talking on this podcast together, sharing some amazing, incredible transformation stories, verses that are hitting you. I mean, all this stuff. You shared all the times you've just felt the boldness to spread the gospel and just have those seeds planted. It it just starts with that, like, you know what? I'm not really sure if this is you know, me thinking this or not, give it a shot anyway. Let's see what happens. Because you just don't know what God is gonna do with that, right? Just take that leap. Take that leap. And the more often that happens, the more often that boldness and confidence does increase. And I'm sure you felt this. You know, because when it hits, it's like, all right, got a new, I didn't know, but you know, you knew. And I also want to double back now, though, on uh you kind of mentioned last podcast you were on, just kind of that like beginning 2025 year, about a year and a half ago now. I mean, just life, man, just hitting every angle. I mean, this is kind of how it is sometimes, you know. With what you were going through in that beginning stretch of 2025 to what you know now, a year and a half later, what would if you had 10 minutes with yourself, like in general, just summarize or go in as deep as much depth as possible what you would say to yourself right now, back a year and a half ago.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

I would tell myself, don't change, but go to God. Cause everything is as as much I feel like I've always been kind of the way I am even now, just the way with like my demeanor and how I am and an encourager and with coaching and stuff. I just I feel like it's a big part of my life to be part of the wrestling team as a coach. But it's just everything has just been kind of flowing together. It all makes sense. It's just when you had God, you add God to it now. It just makes your life so much easier. Just I feel better every day just praying, just reading the word, and just any opportunity to get it out there too with anybody. It's just it's just a best feeling. Even at work sometimes, I get that word out sometimes. And whether whether it clicks or not with them, it's you know, it is what it is, but I feel so relieved, like so much weight came off my shoulders, and just just something that I had to like, I gotta say this, you know. And it just like I guess that's what you say. Uh like I got that boldness because it's just like I just gotta get this off my shoulders, I gotta say what I really feel. And you know, I guess I'm determined to just get that right, you know, of just saying the right things and hopefully it clicks with somebody. But yeah. Yeah, amen.

SPEAKER_03 21:53

Um, I I do want to say, I mean, I know a lot of you probably have heard this part one interview with Joe, and I mean, we really went kind of the depth of like what was really going on in the beginning of that year, and I don't know who's going through that right now. But maybe what Joe just said to himself a year and a half ago, maybe he's saying that to you. We're just saying, hey, I know it's tough. I know you might be going through some loss right now. I know you may not see the light of the tunnel. Trying to figure everything out on your own. Figure out why this is happening to you. Hey, I'm telling you right now that message Joe just said, just go to God. Maybe this is your time, maybe this is your sign. Maybe God's speaking to you right now. Just go to him. Go to him, and everything is just as Joe said. It makes sense. He guides you, he talks to you, he heals you, he transforms you. And what better way to have a purpose than to also share others to that same message? I mean, again, I don't know who needed to hear that. I think that's definitely for a reason. Because I don't know where I'd be without God. I think all of us you can say the same. But it's it's been an amazing ride, and I look forward to many more. But yeah, that's all I really have. Questions for you, Joe, if you want to add anything else, or I mean I just want to say that Jesus loves all you.

SPEAKER_00 23:26

Keep praying, keep reading the word. God's always by your side.

SPEAKER_03 23:31

Amen. All right. Well, thanks for tuning in today. Make sure you stick forward for another uh episode next week as we'll continue to bring more stories, topics, and testimonies. All right, have a good weekend.