Why GX3?

GX3 is a Christian men's ministry built on God, Guns, and Game. In this first episode, Pastor Shaun Thomas shares the heart, vision, and people behind GX3 - what it is, why it was founded, and how the outdoors becomes the platform for reaching men with the Gospel. Wake up, lean in, and let's pursue Christ together!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

You're listening to the GXtory High Time Podcast. We believe the time is now. Romans 13, 11 says, now it is high time to wake up. So wake up, lean in, and let's pursue Christ together. This is the GX Story High Time Podcast.

SPEAKER_04 0:37

Alright, welcome to the GX3 High Time Podcast. This is our first episode. Everybody here in the room? Ready to kick it off? What do you think?

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Alright, guys. We got John and Bubba and uh Pastor Sean. And uh this is um this is something we've been looking forward to for a really long time. I know not everybody else has expected it maybe, uh, but this has been something on our hearts and in prayer, uh just bathed in prayer for some time as we go after God and all that GX3 is is and is going to become. And I know a lot of you are probably wondering, I know a lot of people are wondering, why GX3? You know, what what does it matter? I mean, what it's all about. You know, there's so many questions, I'm sure, surrounding it. And obviously some are already learning what it's all about because they've experienced what GX3 is. Uh, but I wanted to go into a little bit and I want to start out with the verse and then kind of uh kind of go from there because that's kind of where all this was was birthed on my heart. And we're gonna we're gonna go around and share with all of you uh what how this was birthed in everybody's heart. And I can tell you that it's no accident that we're all sitting here to get, Bubba, no accident, we're all sitting here together. John, uh it's amazing how God has put all this together in a way that we could have never imagined, or at least a way I never could have imagined. And uh it's absolutely beautiful to see what the Lord is doing and and how he's blessing and the lives that are being touched. So I want to share the the the burden, I guess you could call it the burden verse or the or the the burden um passage of scripture, and it comes out of Romans chapter number 13. Uh guys, and let me just remind it on our hearts, you know, picking up in verse number 11, this is what the Bible says, and and Paul so strongly in saying this, I mean, just to really grab attention, even in that day, and think about in this day and how and how this uh means so much. Verse number 11, and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed, that the night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. And and that that passage was has has just settled my heart. Now, I'll be honest, for years, uh in the la in these last few years, so very strong. And I I'll be honest, I was just kind of wondering, I've shared this with you guys and sharing this with everybody else. Wondered how how like how is God going to use this? Now we know it's applicable in it's applicable in my life and in your life, but I just felt like God was gonna do something bigger with it, not knowing what was coming down the road. And you know what I love about all this? None of us saw ultimately all this coming together like it has.

SPEAKER_04 3:48

Yeah, yeah, I think it was on all our hearts. It's amazing to see the timing of it. I mean, I could have been ready for it five years ago, the timing wouldn't have been right. You could have been you know, you said it was birthed in your heart that long ago, and it's just the timing of all the pieces were put into place right for this time. Yeah. The people that we are around right now, so that's that's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_03 4:08

Yeah, I mean, I was the guy who who wouldn't get caught dead in camo, right? Or duck pattern or anything else for that matter. And so just having no clue what was about to come my way. But it's amazing that when you pray, because and I want to go kind of into this, guys, and not to start uh, you know, the high time podcast uh off in a sad way, but the truth is that much of what God births in us comes through hardship and and labor and and and things that we never expected that showed up in life, and how real. I mean, all of this is so life applicable that we've been through uh with all of this. But um, for those that know, um, you know, my my dad uh he went home to glory uh now coming up on three years, and um that was honestly the hardest year of my life. Um and I know everybody's relationships with their fathers is different. I realize it's not the same for everybody, uh, but my dad was my best friend and somebody I talk to every day. And and certainly let me say this I'm not the only one that's been through this. The beauty is that we're able to help each other. Uh we're able to get through this together, you know. And I prayed that that God would give me, you know, something to not take the place, because no one can ever take the place of that in that relationship. Uh, but for my mind and my heart, I wanted to be productive for the Lord. I didn't want to sit around sad. That wouldn't have been my dad's heart, it wasn't that I'd sit around sad and miserable and all those things. I mean, he was praying big prayers for me to go after God and uh and to do great things for God, not for my glory, but for God's glory, you know, finish this thing well. And uh, and so I prayed, and um lo and behold, and John, I'm gonna ask you to come in and kind of and share the the story. Uh, we were kind of reminiscent earlier today about this and and uh share how this all got started.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

Yeah, so I would like to start off by saying, uh, first of all, five years ago, I wouldn't even be here. I wouldn't be sitting at this table, definitely would not be having this discussion because five years ago I was not saved, and it's just amazing how God put us all together, this whole thing together. But yeah, so thinking back how it all happened, I remember one afternoon you and some other people was out at the house, and we were just standing around talking, and somehow another got talking about deer hunting, turkey hunting. And if I recall right, I think you made a comment and you're like, Man, I've never killed a turkey. I've never hunted at all. And I was like, Well, all you gotta do is come out here, and you're like, Would you do that for me? I said, Absolutely, man. And you you asked me, and I was like, Yeah, that's never gonna happen. I was like, Yeah, I think he's just doing that to make conversation, but you know, you know, it's crazy how the Lord works, you know, and it got closer and closer and kept asking questions, and then next thing I know, the first morning of turkey season, there you come. There I come all decked out, ready to go. And not been not been the same since. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Camo'd out, man. Bubba was there the first morning, yeah. That's right. That's right. John walks up and he looks like he's straight out of a hunting video. Yeah, it was.

SPEAKER_03 7:32

Oh man. Yeah, that comment was made for sure. That was definitely a comment made. And, you know, and John, you know, we did, we got out there that morning, and uh I remember, and you know, and you know what I'm finding is is a lot of people, you know, a lot of people a lot of times are unsuccessful in hunts. Like nobody goes out and is successful, just nobody talks about not being successful, right? Everybody talks about the successful part. But the truth is um I missed, I missed my first bird.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Um, yeah, you did. So we were sitting there and bird come in and old heart started pounding a little bit, and next thing I know, I look over there and you done you shot and it started taking off, and you you you shot again and you shot again, and you were still trying to shoot, and I had to tell you, hey brother, you out of ammo, man. Just yeah, you was completely out of your chair on the floor, on your knees, steady trying to still shoot the turkey. But yeah, it was awesome.

SPEAKER_03 8:33

Yeah, it really it was, it was really cool. And just to show that picture of you know how good God is. I remember going back out that afternoon because you're like, come on back out, you know, the afternoon they'll come back through. And I'll be honest with you, I'm thinking, like, man, I've done ruined this. Like out of the gate, right off the bat, I've done mess this up, right? And here it is, God gave me an opportunity, and you know, you're you know, because the devil, you know, he plays in all that stuff. You know, he he loves when failures happen in our life and when there's struggles. He loves that stuff. But got out there that afternoon, and and John, what happened?

SPEAKER_01 9:09

Well, we were sitting out there, and next thing I know, I looked down the field, and here comes the bird, and I said, All right, Sean, now you got to be ready this time. And um looked over there, and sure enough, he's he's a little bit calmer than what he was that morning. And um bird come on in, and you can tell the rest of the story, brother. I don't want to take that from you.

SPEAKER_03 9:28

It was absolutely awesome. I will say this after you fired the gun three or four times, you get those jitters out, right? The jitters were gone and uh had a good shot, clean shot on the bird, and got him. And what a beautiful bird. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful bird for your first turkey. And even though John was like trying to take a kid on a first hunt, you know, that's really what it was like, you know. And I'll be honest, like I never I I battled even going out there because I thought of my age. And I thought, you know, it's too late to do this. Like, what's the point? You know, you really missed out. You should have done that when you're in your teen years, uh, you should have done that a long time before now, you know. But I, you know, I'd encourage everybody, you know, the devil will do that to you and tell you it's too late. Uh it's never too late if God puts it on your heart. And God did put it on my heart because as we were driving back, I'll never forget, John. I I thought we were gonna like tumble out of the box blind. Uh, you know, when when I took that shot and that turkey went down, you know, it took me like 10 seconds to realize what actually just happened, you know. Like I'm in shock. Bird, bird drops, and we about tackle each other, or I about tackle you. And uh it was amazing. It was amazing. And then we, you know, we obviously, you know, we get out there, get the bird, and load up and headed back to the house, and you know, I'll never forget this as long as I live, the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. And that's a God thing. You know, God will some people won't understand that, but God is in every detail of our lives.

unknown 11:12

No.

SPEAKER_03 11:13

And that sunset I know was God given. I know it. And I remember we were riding on that buggy, and I would just become overwhelmed, I mean, just with emotion and just, and I'll be honest, just being filled up in the Lord. Because something I had asked for, I was literally watching God do it, not even realizing when I was asking God to do it, what that was actually going to look like. I hope that makes sense, you know. And and I'm like, and it all came to fruition. It was like God just said, here it is, son, here it is, you know, I've given you this. And I looked at John and I, I mean, we were talking about this is bigger, like this is bigger than this, you know, tears rolling down my face. And yes, you know, real men, uh, men of God can cry, you know. It's not shameful to cry, it's not shameful to shed a tear. You know, it was a it was a God moment. I have no doubt that uh it was a divine appointment that day. And uh God birthed that that day and tied all that hunting in. And again, uh with this Romans chapter 13, verses 11 through 14, it came right back to my heart right then because I was like, God, this is big. Like you're about to use this in a big way. And I knew that. And um, John, you had shared, and I want both of y'all, if y'all would, uh, you know, just thinking um you y'all's heart, you know, and and how you're really right here at the table with GX3 and the moment that we had on that, you know.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Yeah. So for me, I mean, my burden is I've always loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and all that, um all my life. But as I gotten older, and especially since um I've gotten saved, is my burden is to take people, whether it be kids that's never hunted, or even grown-ups like you, people that's never hunted before, and give them the experience, you know. It's not for everybody. Not everybody, but you know, I think everybody should get the opportunity to experience that and to see what it did in your life and how it's turned. I mean, it's just confirmation in my life that that burden was true and it was from the Lord, right? I mean, a lot of times we do stuff and sometimes we like to say, oh, well, you know, I think this is what the Lord burdened me for, but nothing compares to when you follow the Lord and He gives you that confirmation. I mean, what He's done through hunting in your life and in my and all of our lives, really, it's just it's it's amazing. It blows my mind. But um, yeah, that's why I'm all behind GX3 because I believe that it's just a tool to use to bring people, lost people to the Lord and show them, even save people, that hey, you can still hunt, you can still fish without all the drinking and the cussing and all the other stuff. You can still have fun in the Lord. And that and that's really my burden on it.

SPEAKER_03 14:12

And it's beautiful, it really is. And Bubba, I want you to share your heart because like we discussed, I mean, God was putting all this together kind of individually, and then we saw God just put it all together.

SPEAKER_04 14:26

You know, I think that's what uh what exactly what John said also when you were telling the story about Turkey. What's been so special about all this is the confirmation that's come to each one of us. Like you said, it's all been put on our hearts individually. And then when you see it all come together, like I think that's a common thing that we've seen, or a common uh thing that we've seen happen over and over is a confirmation through the trips that we've taken, things that have happened, just things that you couldn't explain any other way, other than just a confirmation of this is exactly what God wants us to be doing, and that's exactly how I feel. There's I don't think I've ever felt so strongly that I'm doing exactly what God has called me to do by doing this.

SPEAKER_03 15:08

Amen.

SPEAKER_04 15:08

You know, I've been doing video. We somebody asked me the other day how long I've been doing this, the pictures and video, and I think my daughter's thirteen, and I've been doing it since before she was alive, so right at 15 years. It's crazy to think. And the whole time, like you wonder, like, why do you have certain things that God lets you do, or you know, the abilities or whatever. And my thought has always been like if it doesn't create eternal value, then what's the point of even doing it? So throughout the whole journey of learning the video and learning the pictures, you know, always asking myself, how can I use this to glorify God or create eternal value, or you know, always longing for that, trying to find a an avenue to do that. And I remember talking to you. We had a meeting one day, and um I was like, I don't know how God's ever gonna use this. I said, I'm but I'm a candidate. I'm willing to whatever he wants to use, I'm willing to give to him and use it. And then we see this come full circle to now, yeah, where it all just all the pieces come together, and you know, my burden is to tell people's story. It has been for a while. I want to tell people's uh testimony, people's stories of of whatever they've been through, you know, and this that's one of the legs of what we're doing here is um telling people stories. Because there's there's another John, there's another Sean, there's another Bubba, there's another Kermit, there's another Steph, they're they're all out there.

SPEAKER_02 16:29

That's right.

SPEAKER_04 16:30

So if we can tell those stories and encourage people through that, through the outdoors, through the hunting, that's just the avenue that we use for it, you know. That's that's right, that's the ultimate goal.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

So that's right. Praise God. And that's you know, when we're talking Y GX3, uh, it's it's to reach men and to reach our boys, you know, and to reach the next generation. And to be honest with you, this generation, there there's there's brokenness in this generation right now, you know, and we're seeing that as men have come alive for God, you know, through the prayer retreats and through the events, and uh there's not been one single thing, and and I and I believe, you know, wholeheartedly, uh, just sitting here right now in this moment, I don't think there's one thing uh that GX3's done where somebody hasn't been touched in some form or fashion and been brought closer to the Lord. And and that's what this is all about. It's all about the Lord. This is not uh this is not a business. Um this is uh this is a ministry, and it's to it's to reach men uh with the word of God. Uh that Romans 11, uh 13, 11 through 14 is so real that the time is now. The time is really past, to be honest. We need we we're asking God to give back time. Yeah, you know, and uh and God is doing that. I mean, he's he's restoring relationships, he's saving people, and there's light bulbs coming on where guys are saying, you know what, I want to get in. And that's what this is all about. And I want to encourage anybody, if you're sitting on the sideline, don't sit on the sideline, get in. I mean, you've got a place with GX3. We want you and uh we want you to be a part because God is doing a great work, and man, the just the the bond, the band of brothers, you know, and there's a lot we could we could talk about. I wanted to hit the Y GX3, but as Bubba, you were talking about on the real story, uh how incredible that is, and there's already stories you're putting together that we've been able to go into film. You want to you want to talk just a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_04 18:32

Yeah, so I mean we've sat down with three or four people now, three people now, and just going into it, knowing that we're about to sit down with somebody and tell their story, you already know kind of what it's gonna be. But everybody that we've sat down with as they're speaking, like I don't know, for me, it's just blowing me away every time. Yeah. Just hearing their story right there, you know, just touches your heart. Hearing where they've come from and how God's changed their life. Yeah, exactly. So it's just another confirmation when you're in that moment and I mean it's priceless.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

It is, it is. You know, and then I'll speak to you know, prayer retreats, you know. Our you know, we took a Tennessee prayer retreat last year, and uh I'm sure on here we'll announce real soon on episodes um where we're going for this year, and uh, but you know, the Tennessee trip was absolutely amazing. Deer camp 26 uh coming up, and we you know, we we you kind of coined that that term deer camp, and I love it. I absolutely love it. I like it. Uh but you know the hunting was just was just a piece of it, just a slice of the pie. The the big picture was was the the Bible study time and the prayer time as as men got to really open up their hearts, and and I don't know, I mean I I know y'all can speak to it, but I got help. You know, I got encouraged, I got strengthened.

SPEAKER_04 19:59

So many different levels of help, like individually, but also for this ministry too. I can remember sitting in that cabin, I forget what night it was, but we were calling out giants and slaying them. Yeah. And like right then it hit my heart. This is why. Like, this is why we struggled so hard. Even going back to like the Tennessee trip, the the turkey hunt we went on. Yeah, the turkey. The struggle trying to get up there and then all the walls that we faced, you know, sitting there in that moment, it's like, this is it. This is why. Because this is like we're taking ground back from the devil and he don't like that. He knew this moment was coming, so he was fighting us then, trying to to stop it. And if we would have gave up right there, man, the people that's already been affected and and changed by that would have never happened. Not by not by this.

SPEAKER_02 20:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_04 20:49

Maybe some other way.

SPEAKER_02 20:50

But that's right.

SPEAKER_03 20:52

Yeah. John, if you would um, like, you know, we were talking about, you know, Y'all's burden out there on the land and stuff, and and what a blessing that is, because that's a big part too of of of GX3 and uh the the the things that we've seen take place, uh some of it's happened right there on your land, you know, out there. And uh if you don't mind, you know, uh the burden there.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Yeah, so um so yeah, so it's funny how the Lord works. So me and my wife, I mean, we've been together, I don't know, 12 years, but a lot of this God put together and didn't even realize the even the bigger picture. So the burden on me and my wife is, you know, God's blessed us with a little bit of land. I mean, it's nothing huge, but we want to take and turn that into blessings and glory for the Lord, right? So when I went to her about all this, it was just crazy because the Lord had already burdened her about it. There again, confirmation again. And then to go even a little deeper, you know, talking to Her mom, you know, one day, and she just I've telling her everything that, you know, on our heart and what we're wanting to do with GX3 and stuff like that, and she just pretty much starts breaking down and crying. I'm like, Lord, you know, what's going on? And then she reveals that, you know, her husband, which Leslie's dead, that was always his desire of his heart, and I had no clue, but you know, you think about the full picture, you know, none of us knew this. God put me with Leslie. Yeah. And it's it's just amazing how it all comes together. It's just like, you know, how God put the three of us together. Right. Unreal. If you'd have told me anybody in the church that I had got close to, I mean, because Bubba's a lot like me.

unknown 22:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

I mean, I stay to myself, I'm pretty quiet and stuff like that. So for me to, but it it just blows my mind. But yeah, we just we really want to do something other. So, you know, because the way I look at it, I was 50 years old when I got saved. I so for 50 years I didn't do anything for the Lord. But whatever the Lord blesses me with, I want to make sure that I'm doing, I'm living for the Lord, and I want to do the very best that I can.

SPEAKER_02 23:11

Praise God.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

And, you know, it's just amazing how God just lines it up, you know, just not for me to feel that way, but for my wife and my mother-in-law too. I mean, that I mean, how can how can that not be God, you know? I mean, yeah, it's it's mind-blowing. It really is.

SPEAKER_03 23:27

And that's what's so awesome, is that we've seen that step by step by step of God just put all those pieces together. And uh, and it is, it's absolutely amazing. Um you know, and then to take that step because it isn't easy, you know, and we're gonna get into that, you know, as we go uh further along with episodes, but because there's real battles in this thing, you know, and um and nothing nothing is birthed without labor, without, you know, those pains, you know. But that's also the beautiful part because now we can look back and appreciate even at this stage, we can already appreciate what we know God has done. Not even question it, but we know God has done. And uh, you know, I wanted to share that that verse um out of 2 Peter here real quick, and you guys just share your heart as as this is our you know, YGX3, you know, episode, you know, why? Why does this exist? And it exists because God said so. Because God said so. He birthed it. And of all people, I I have wondered, Lord, I didn't know what I was doing. I just asked God that you'd put something in my heart that that would help me. And and in turn, it's been a blessing not only to get help myself, but to see other men get help. Glory to God for that. It's uh it's absolutely amazing. And uh so why GX3? Because God ordained it, God spoke it uh on every one of our hearts, and he is speaking it on the hearts and lives of other men already. Uh, but I want to read 2 Peter uh chapter 1 and verse 19. The word of God says, We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. And I uh you know, I think about that shining in darkness, you know. Well, we know obviously the the great the the greatest light there is is the light of Jesus Christ and the word of God. And so uh GX3 is all about taking the word of God to these men and and ultimately to our families and to our marriages and relationships on the job. I mean, we've seen God literally answer prayers across the board on all of these things, you know, and uh that's why GX3, that's why this moment, you know, it's it's high time. Now is the time. Now is the place, you know, now is the season. And uh I look, men, I look forward to what God is gonna do. Uh it's this really is just the beginning of it. And uh we get we get to shine the light of Jesus Christ. We get to shine his word and go after him. And I want to encourage, I want to encourage every man that that may uh tune into the podcast, may check it out, just look, there's a place for you at GX3. We want you to get in and come on board uh and to go along with us because it really is. It is the time. Um it really is the time. Guys, what else is on your heart?

SPEAKER_01 26:41

For me, you know, that last passage you read for me is like that's basically what we're we're doing with the GX3 ministry is bringing light into the darkness, into the world. I mean, because our whole thing we want to do here, I mean, it's great not saying that we don't want to fellowship and stuff like that with um saved guys, but also reach out to the lost guys out there, you know, the the young guys, the old guys, you know, all ages, you know, that's not in church, you know, we'd be able to reach people that you would never get to come to church and hear the word of God. I mean, they go on one of these trips with us, they're not leaving them without knowing. Knowing about the Lord, that's for sure. And to me, that's what I take out of it. You know, GX3 is being used as like a light to go out there and witness and bring these guys in. I mean, that that's why I think I know it's all it's all about God. That's right. It ain't about none of us, it ain't it ain't about what we do, and like I said, the fishing, the hunting, whatever we do, is just a means of getting people drawed into it to get them in the word of God. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

That's and we've all had that question, why us? You know, why would God, you know, of all people again, you know, here I am, never really hunted, never really taken to it, yet God does that. And and that's just like God to do that, you know, just as John, you were talking about how you normally, you know, are the quiet one. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:09

You know, here you are on a podcast.

SPEAKER_01 28:11

I mean, here you are behind the mic, you know. Hey, nothing's impossible with God, that's for sure. That's exactly right.

SPEAKER_04 28:17

I'm supposed to be behind the camera, not in front of it, in front of the microphone.

SPEAKER_03 28:22

But here we are, and you know, being able, you know, when I think about those two passages of scripture too, guys, I think what's so amazing is man, we don't have to live in darkness. We'll have to. We don't have to be, we don't have to compromise, we don't have to live in sin. Uh man, we get to enjoy the joy of the Lord, and we get to enjoy that joy together, you know, because iron truly does sharpen iron. And when you get around somebody that you know has spent time with the Lord, you know it. Oh, yeah. You know it. Uh they encourage you, they strengthen you. We're all gonna have bad days, and thank God we can lift each other up. But glory to God, you know, that light is that his light is real, it's real and it's alive, you know, and uh, and I just thank God for it. I agree. Praise the Lord. Well, with that being said, that's YGX3, and uh, we want to thank everybody for tuning in on this episode, and we want you to uh stay with us and uh join the journey. You know, it's an incredible journey what God's doing, GX3. As we go further, uh, you know, we're gonna get into the word a little bit more and how it applies um on situations and trips we've taken and so forth. Uh, but we really want to we really want to kick this first episode off with why GX3 and answer that question. And uh be checking out YouTube, be be checking it out. This is gonna be on Spotify and Apple. And we want you to join the platforms and and listen, I want to say this, you know, um God put it on your heart and and you want to help sponsor or or you know jump in and and do something. I mean, come on, you know. Um we we welcome it, you know, and uh we want you to be a part and whatever God's gifted you with that you want to use, let's go after it. Let's go after it together. So um, but you uh you watch out for the the upcoming podcasts, the YouTube page, the videos, the real stories, the prayer retreats that'll come, uh the deer camps, praise God, and uh and all that God is putting together and the special events in between. We'll be traveling uh July will be um we'll be in north of Atlanta at the uh outdoor show there. Our show Georgia, outdoor blast, that's right. Yeah. That's gonna be great. And so um maybe some folks in that area and listen as well, and and it's just gonna be great. We're doing all of this in the Lord. It's all his. He uh is for him and by him. That's right. And without him, it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist. So we we love you guys. Uh we thank God for you, and uh join us in on the next episode of the High Time Podcast presented by GX3.