HOTLCAST
HOTLCAST
What do Coffee Makers and Being Faithful Have in Common?
In this heartfelt episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Mark, and Matt reflect on recent events, the growth and transformation happening within their church community, and the importance of responding to the needs of others in times of uncertainty. The hosts share personal stories, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing people of faith today, and encourage listeners to be present and responsive to those around them—especially when the world feels chaotic.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith grows in times of uncertainty.
- Small acts of care can change lives.
- Be present and responsive to others’ needs.
- Don’t miss opportunities to help or share your faith.
- Invite others to explore faith with you.
Tune in for encouragement, practical wisdom, and a reminder that small acts of care can have a lasting impact.
Hello. Welcome back to the HOTL cast. Uh, if you listened last week's, it, it, we had technical issues.
Well, I didn't upload it 'cause it was technical issues. I, so if they listen to it, that'd be surprising.
Yeah. If you listened to it. Wow. That's indication. You heard some things we didn't say so, um, no, it was, it was really good last week.
It was a very powerful, pivotal moment in our podcast history. It was,
I felt bad.
We did, we did talk about what was going on in the world at the time. We were talking about Charlie Kirk and assassination and just people's views of, of that. And we kinda discussed that. So maybe we'll revisit that. We're not gonna revisit that today 'cause we, we kinda did that last week.
But, um, we, we may come back to that. What do you think Mark?
I think it'd be good 'cause it's probably gonna be relevant for a minute. I think it's gonna be relevant
for quite a while. Yeah. But today let's talk about, um. I'm here with Matt. Last week it was Cody. But you don't know that 'cause he wasn't, didn't, that audio did not work, that there was a problem with the glitch and the audio didn't come through.
Right. Um, but Matt and I are here and so we are talking about just exciting things, Matt. We're really excited about where our church is going.
Yeah.
As, as one church across two campuses, three services currently in those locations. Um, I think God's, god's doing some pretty cool things at the Jackson campus, which you've been spending a lot of time at.
Sure.
God's been doing a lot of great things at the Brooklyn campus, and I think God's been doing a lot of great things in people's lives. I think that's, that's the most fun, like, yeah, it's great when the church is doing well and growing. That's, that's wonderful, but that's not really why we do it. Um, what what gets me excited is like the texts I get randomly for people saying, Hey, this has happened, or I just had this conversation, or This person's not interested in talking to me about faith and never have before.
Like those are my favorite moments of the week because sometimes you just get stuck like doing the job of ministry and that's what makes you realize, hey, what we're doing matters like at a deeper level.
Yep. And I mean, even in something as simple as my men's Bible study, like when I first started it, we had I think five people.
And then two weeks ago, I think we had like 13, 14. Whenever you see growth like that, it's amazing. Yeah. To be able to see people who are coming in, getting plugged in, getting connected. And I've even got one guy in the group who he regularly will say, you know, people can't believe that I'm coming to a Bible study.
You know? And he's like, but I love coming here. Yeah. He's like, I make this Pastor Cody. A priority
is not normal. Not always then that wasn't Cody.
But yeah, I mean it's been great. It's been able to see that kind of growth, see that kind of change. And the same thing's. True. At Jackson, we had what, mark 54 people?
Yeah. 53 on Sunday. 53. That's awesome. That's awesome. That's within the margin of error. That was plus or minus one. You're, you're, you're, but you might
have a lot this Sunday, 'cause Ryan is gonna be over there. Ryan Crow's gonna be over there and if you heard his testimony, you know, this spring. Um, you would, you would've for sure been mood about what God's done in his life and his wife's life as they've come to church and really just gotten really serious about their faith.
It's been awesome to watch Grow Ryan Grow, but Ryan's in a process of like. Becoming a pastor. Yep. Which is amazing. And so part of that we're like, by the way, you're in this process, so now go preach. So yeah. And so he's gonna be preaching at the Jackson campus on Sunday morning, which I'm just thrilled.
Ryan's in my Bible study now. He's in your Bible study too.
Yep.
Uh, growing like crazy. So we're just excited to see. Like Lifechanging, it was fun. I was talking to Ryan today at, uh, men's Bible study at 6:00 AM so we get chat a little bit afterwards and he is just like, man, it just, with all the crazy in the world right now, he is like, it's just amazing how like, I used to like let that rock my world basically is what he is saying.
He is like, and now I'm just, I'm calm and I'm able to process it with a different perspective. Mm-hmm. You know, as I'm, as I'm walking through things with the Lord, it's just, it's just neat to hear people. Be transformed and just like to recognize the transformation that Christ has been doing in their life.
And we just can be part of watching God change people and shape people. And, um, sometimes we get to be, oftentimes we get to watch God prune people too. I mean, that's a big thing. It is. And uh, that's not always easy for people, but it's fun to be part of the journey I shared with, with the staff this morning, like, I got a text from somebody yesterday.
It's like, listen, my, my fiance wants to read the Bible for the first time. Like, this is awesome. And, um, those are just moments I think I cherish and I think that. Show you like God is moving in the world and we need to be responsive to it. And I even made this challenge today, Matt, that I, I encourage my, my guys at my Bible study, like people are seeking right now in the chaos of the world, the chaos, chaos of our politics and assassination from last week.
Yeah. Like people are seeking faith, they're trying to figure it out. They're, they're getting off the fence. One way or another and go have the hard go, have the hard conversation. Go ask people, are you okay? Like, how are you doing? And you know, ask them like, how are you doing? Like faith, are you been, have you ever been thinking about like God in the midst of all this stuff that's happened in the world?
And you might find that people are saying, yeah, like for the first time ever, I actually am. And 'cause I'm, we're hearing that a lot. Cody's hearing that a lot in the school district that he is talking to families. I'm hearing that a lot from people in our congregation. I think this is a real exciting time to share the gospel because people are seeking.
Yeah. And you know, you hate that the world has to be falling apart for that opportunity, but people are turning to Christ in chaos and that's the great thing about it. Christ does provide the answer, uh, which is peace.
I mean, he is always working and we just, sometimes it's harder for us to see, depending on the circumstances, but when people need to run to him.
Then they're able to actually perceive what he's doing and walking through. Like the cool thing is we're growing at Jackson. I'm finding people that are hungry in their faith and are really curious, that are trying to understand, learn more, dig in, really figure out what it means to follow Christ. And like those conversations are the ones I have the most fun with,
right?
Where they're trying to figure it out, trying to figure out what they can do and how they can trust God and be more faithful. And yeah, like it, those are, those are the exciting moments. Like for me, I love seeing that. 'cause I'm like, you're, you're working in the direction you need to be going. And that is so thrilling to me.
And part of that too, with, and, and I hate to kind of put, you know, tragedy versus tragedy with. You know, this comparative, but I think back to September 11th and all of the things that had happened as the aftermath of that huge thing that had impacted so many people. Mm-hmm. There was, there was definitely a time period right after that where people stepped up and they're like.
I don't even know what to do. I don't even understand what's next or where to go from here, and I kind of feel a little bit of that. Yeah. With this too. Very similar. Yeah. Yeah. Where people are responding and saying, man, life is short. You know, I don't know what's gonna happen next. It is such a time of uncertainty and there's starting to grasp toward the things that actually matter, which.
In, in the wake of tragedy. That is a good thing, but it's just a shame that we have to have the tragedy to get there. And I think, I
mean, I, that's a, that's like a really good comparison to nine 11. I mean, churches were full after nine 11. Oh yeah. For a while. And it kind of like anything, people got back to their normal within a few weeks, few months, and it didn't.
It didn't have a long-term lasting effect. And the one difference to between that and now is like that brought unity across political boundaries and divides.
Yeah.
Whereas now the division in our country is, is palpable and so people are seeking the Lord in, in droves. But there's also, we see the opposite.
So true. And so like, that's just, we see a divide that's happening. And so the key is how do you navigate this as a father of Christ? And does it matter what your, your political perspective is? What matters is, what do you think about Jesus Christ as a living savior, the creator of everything? And so. Um, and, and, and how does that change you?
How does that shape your conversations? How does it shape your love for people? How does it shape your love for your enemies? How does it shape your love, um, for people who are, are not like you? Who, people who are foreign to you? And I mean, that's, that's something I've been really wrestling with and thinking through, like, how am I loving people in the season that we're in?
And really taking that challenge to, I think the most lovable thing that I can do for people is tell them about Jesus in a loving, kind, honoring way that meets them where they're at. And as I think about who we, we are as a church, we're gonna talk about our, our church's vision in, in the next few weeks, pretty heavily as we talk about the future.
Um, the big thing about our, our vision, you know, in our vision 25, is introduce people to Jesus Christ. That's like our number one thing we try to do. Is introduce people to Jesus. Yeah. There is no better time right now, probably since you know, 2001 to introduce people to Jesus Christ than right now. I mean, that's.
That's something we have to be aware of, like people are seeking. So give people opportunity, tell people praying for 'em. Ask 'em how they're doing. Ask 'em if you can pray for them. Uh, I just said Rob Freeman, who's a chairman of our board, he is also our drummer on Sundays. He just told me yesterday, like he had, he had a friend, long-term friend, coworker, uh, that was going through a, a, a horrible situation.
And he is like, I just said, Hey, can I, can I come and pray with you guys? And he is like, they normally would be like a No, not at all.
Yeah.
But they were like, yeah. And he was just, he's like, I was just like. Okay, I'm gonna come to the hospital now. And so he like drove an hour and a half to the hospital.
Super inconvenient, but like, that's what you do. Yes. Um, that's what you do to say, Hey, I meet you where you're at. Like, God loves you, Jesus loves you. And so I wasn't, it was, I was, I was profound. Just like, yeah. All right. Wow, Rob. Like, you're gonna go, like, just drop it and go. Yeah. I mean, what do you do when people say, I wanna know about Jesus?
I'm, I'm open to it for the first time. And I think that's transformative. Are you doing that in your life for people? Exactly. Like if someone says, yeah, man, I really wanna know more. Are you like, well, let's talk about it now. Let's get together as SP. Or like, oh yeah, one day, we'll, we'll get together and talk about that.
And then you forget about it. Like, do you care enough about people to stop what you're doing, to meet them where they're at as they're searching? And that's, that's been sticking with me. Like, am am I willing to do that at all times? Yeah. My pastor, that's my job. Mm-hmm. It's easier for me. But if it wasn't my job, would I be as, as prone to do that?
I, I'm really trying to, you know, thankfully I don't have to think of that, but I probably, if you're listening to this, you're probably on your way to or from a job statistically. And so are you taking the time in your busyness to say, yeah, that matters more than anything else. I'll make that, I'll make that fit my life, that conversation, um, to meet you where you're at and you're questioning and you're searching because that's what matters more than anything.
And I think we all have to have a hard gut check right now about. Are we willing to sacrifice our personal time, our personal talents, our personal treasure to meet people who are seeking and searching right now where they're at?
I heard one time a pastor had said something to the effect of if you were on your way to work and you stopped to get a cup of coffee and you noticed that the barista was having a really bad day, looked just emotionally wrecked, kind of torn up, and you knew that if you were late to work.
It's gonna cost you something, it might cost you that next promotion. It might cost you that next raise. Right. Would you still be willing to stop what you're doing right there and say, can I pray with you? Can I, it looks like you've been having a bad day. Can I step up and do this? Mm-hmm. Would you be willing to do that at Great.
Expense to yourself, right? More than just, I'm gonna be a little bit late to work something that genuinely matters, you know, to, to be able to help them out. And I think that a lot of times we look at our situations and our circumstances and we see situations like that. And we don't necessarily step up when we really should.
Right. Right. And this is not me coming down on any of you that are not asking your barista how they're doing. It's not like that at all. It's just there are times that, I mean, who has a barista? Well, yeah, but I mean, you know, I don't even drink coffee, so I don't know how it works. Yeah, it's like a random,
like you.
Yeah.
You
know, but it's how many people do we pass in our everyday lives that we just kind of see them, we notice that there's something maybe even a little bit off and we are onto our next thing, and we don't even give 'em a second thought.
Right? 'cause we make excuses. Well, God, God will want me to lose my job over this.
I mean, yeah, I kind of think he probably would. Yeah. Like that's the problem, right? Yep. We find a way to like, that's like, that's kind of where like the enemy speaks into our minds like, oh yeah, God would want you to do this. But, but I'm pretty sure he would. Kingdom of God comes first. Yep. Above your own job.
Your own whatever. Finances, your own security. I mean, there's been times that I, I haven't stopped when someone's broken down the side of the road. And maybe I felt I should, well, maybe I should, but like, oh, I'm late. I got so and so's gonna be so mad I don't go, or I'm gonna get in trouble. Like, yep. And like we, we find ways to, ah, that's all right.
Someone else will take care of it. Somebody else will take care of it. And I mean, I've had moments where my kids are like, dad, you shouldn't stop for that person. I'm like. I mean, I am not a, obviously I have every car issue under the sun. I am not the person to fix cars. So like, um, you're pretty good at breaking 'em.
Yeah, I'm pretty good at breaking them. But like we find and that, but that's, that's again, excuse. Well, I'm not the person that should stop. Maybe they don't, maybe that's not the issue. May maybe. And so. Maybe I just stop and can be an encouragement to them. Uh, I had somebody stop that I knew couldn't help me the other day, and it was just nice they stopped somebody from church like I was broken down again on the side of the road.
That's a normal thing. So stop when you see me hang out. Um, I already had help coming. I, I just appreciate you coming. Thanks for coming. I appreciate it. I got help coming. But, um, you know, we, we needed to take more time and slow down and, um, I mean, I've, I've had people share with me in the last year or two here that.
They've missed those moments where the Holy Spirit's telling them to say something or to go somewhere and be with somebody and they've regretted it because horrible things happened. Yeah. On the outskirts of those people. And they can't, they can't walk that back. And I don't wanna be guilty of that. I wanna be guilty of doing the right thing when God calls me to do it without worry about the consequences because.
I am sure my God is bigger than any earthly consequences. I know that if I'm in the place I need to be with my God, he'll take care of me. Mm-hmm. He will never let me fall. He never let me fail. Um, and so that's what I need to do, and I think that, that in the midst of everything else we're talking about, like we need to just make, make more time for people, make that matter more than all the other things in the world.
Yeah. John Hills tells a story, and I, some of you have probably heard it, most of us have probably heard it at one point or another where he said there was this guy who had come in while he was sitting in an Arby's eating a sandwich, and the guy went from table to table to table trying to sell this coffee maker that he had in his arms.
And John's like, you know, I don't need a coffee maker. I don't need that at home. I'm good to go. He said, and the longer I sat there and I watched him continue to go from table to table, I started to think, you know, maybe this guy really needs the money for something. Maybe, maybe I am supposed to buy that coffee maker.
He said the guy walked out the door and it was finally enough time that had passed that he's like. I need to be the one to go do this. I need to be the one to go buy this from him. Or at least see if he's trying to use that money to get his sandwich. I could give him some money for food, whatever. And so he picks up his tray, drops it off, goes out the door, and he starts looking for this guy and he's just gone.
Like he got in his car, he drove around the building, he. This guy was carrying a big coffee maker. He is not just gonna, you know, vanish. And he said, I still feel today that that was an opportunity that I had to step up and do something to help somebody. That God gave me the moment, right? He gave me the clarity, he gave me the directive, and I responded.
But I didn't do it quickly enough. Yeah,
that's tough.
And there's, there's moments like that I think, for all of us where we know what the, the right. This was a long
time ago, so I've heard this story from John years ago. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Because my response was John, Hey John, I wanna tell you this story.
One time when someone stole my coffee maker. I mean, truthfully, I mean, this has probably been eight years ago that I heard this story from John. Yeah. It was soon after I got here. So, but that's, it stuck with him because he feel, I mean, his thing is, I, I feel like I missed an opportunity that God had for me.
Exactly.
And I think we all have those and do we wanna litter our past with, with these moments where we failed? To follow the call of the spirit in our life to go and do or say something specific or to give that time to somebody, or do we wanna be responsible, um, for the calling of the Holy Spirit, the pool and tug on our heart to be there for someone to say something, to make the phone call, to ask them how they're doing.
I think that's, that's who we need to be as people in the church. Now, um, whether or not we feel like we're gonna politically align with everybody, just ask you how are you doing? Yeah. Can, how can I pray for you? Can I pray for you? Uh, you wanna talk about things, you know, when. You know, God's, God's getting me through this.
How are you getting through this? Well, I wish I had peace, you know, God in my life. Well, can we talk about that? Can I share? I mean, can I share with you my faith and how I'm getting through this? I mean, I, those peop people are open to the conversation now. I mean, they are. We've got people walking in Sundays telling us they're here because they're questioning right now.
Mm-hmm. Like, and it's a lot of people, so. That's happening in your life. I mean, Cody's, Cody went to school one day this week to coach and had three questions from families that have never asked him anything about faith. He is, how, how are you not even pastor part of the church? Church, not even part of the church just asking.
'cause they know he is a pastor. People are questioning Go, go be the answer. Just say, I don't know everything, but like, I'm just telling you how I'm getting through this. And you could say, I'm not okay either. Like, I'm not doing okay. But this is how I'm processing through. I'm gonna, my church, I'm be around people that are helping me figure this out.
Why don't you come with me and let's figure this out together. I mean, how profound would that be?
Yeah.
To just say, I don't know, but like, let's figure this out together. Just come alongside of me and we'll journey it together. That could transform someone's whole eternity if you really think about it.
And it only takes just a moment of your time. That's really all that it takes is time enough to talk and say, Hey, I'm here. I'm listening. I care. I wanna be there for you.
Yep. And so that's the challenge. If you listen to this, you know, our, our encouragement is really think about what has God asked me to do in moments and then do it.
And, and don't worry about the consequences. Don't worry about what you have to sacrifice to just do it and then see what God does in you and in the people when you take that chance. We help you listen to this and, and go and apply that in your life, and we'll catch you on the next episode of the HOTL Cast.
Take care.