WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:07.080 You're listening to KFI A M six forty on demand. Skyler, Welcome to 2 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:12.279 the Jesus Christ Show. Hi Jesus, thanks for going my show. I 3 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:18.399 have a special thing that wait, Skyler, Skyler, honey one second, 4 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:22.079 how old are you? Eleven? Eleven? And Skyler, do your parents 5 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:27.280 know that you're calling? Yes? Okay, goohed go ahead. I have 6 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:33.880 a spiritual thing that I'm being bullied in school by a girl and I don't 7 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:38.240 really like it. M And how is she bullying you? Like, she's 8 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:44.880 like making fun of me, She's like following me around. And what does 9 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:49.359 she make fun of? Things you say? Things you do, or she 10 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:56.799 just generally is making fun of she's like doing the things you said, you 11 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:03.200 know, the things that people can make fun of. Like my producer Neil, 12 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:08.400 he went bald when he was like like twenty three years old, so 13 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:14.040 he shaves his head so he's got no hair, and sometimes people will joke 14 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.280 about that, but it also it's also what makes him distinctive. It's also 15 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:23.599 what makes him memorable. And sometimes people point out those things about you because 16 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:26.840 they're memorable and they don't know how to express it, so they do it 17 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:30.120 in a negative way. But ultimately other people see that as one of the 18 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:34.079 things that make you a wonderful human being is that you have these unique the 19 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:38.200 way you say things, or the funny things you say, or the way 20 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:42.040 you walk or the way you talk. And if they're pointing those things out 21 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:46.599 and they're making fun of them, usually that is what makes you different and 22 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:49.840 makes you wonderful and makes you Skylar and not someone else. But as far 23 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:53.719 as what scripture says, scripture says, and you can read this with your 24 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:59.560 folks later on in the Book of Romans, and this is chapter twelve, 25 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:02.760 verse twenty. It says, but if your enemy is hungry, feed him, 26 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:07.760 and if he is thirsty, give him drink, for in so doing 27 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.759 you will keep burning coals upon his head. And it goes which doesn't sound 28 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.039 very pleasant, but listen, it goes on to say, do not be 29 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:20.080 overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. So the scripture asks you 30 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:23.280 to be nice to those people that are mean to you, as long as 31 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.919 they aren't physically trying to hurt you. If they get to the point where 32 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:30.319 they're hitting you, or they're throwing things at you, or they are going 33 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.759 to try and harm you that way, then I want you to let someone 34 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:39.599 know because that's not okay. And if they're using words to say mean things, 35 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:43.759 you want to tell people, but I don't want you to say mean 36 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:49.120 things back to them, okay, because that makes you that lowers you to 37 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:53.240 their level, and I don't want you to do that. So I want 38 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:57.240 you, honey, to read through that scripture with your folks later on. 39 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.800 And I also want you to ask them about this show and let them explain 40 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.680 to you what we do here and all that, because that'll be part of 41 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:07.520 the fun as well. But just know that when people point things out about 42 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.000 you and what you look like, those are the special parts about you. 43 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:14.120 Okay, Okay, all right, my dear, you go and you have 44 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.879 a great day. You rock to you down well, you rock to Skuyler 45 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:24.719 bub bye, honey, My goodness. It's very easy to look at life 46 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:31.039 and to look at what you are and who you are and the things that 47 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:35.120 your physical attributes are, what have you or the way you say things. 48 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:39.000 A bully is someone who just wants to point those things out. But they 49 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:44.879 want to point those things out in how it's not constructive criticism. They're pointing 50 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:49.560 these things out and hopefully in hopes of hurting you. My goodness, we 51 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.319 get email like that all the time, and so please no, I'm not 52 00:03:53.400 --> 00:04:00.719 above it, but you can't let that slow you down. If you watch 53 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:05.639 these shows like they have those wedding series, you know, where they show 54 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:10.759 everything that went wrong at the wedding, I guarantee that's what made the wedding 55 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:15.080 memorable. It's those things that stand out, that are different, that make 56 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:19.040 you memorable. When something doesn't go right, that makes that time memorable. 57 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:23.600 If it's just a day, an average day where everything goes okay, you 58 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:29.399 forget it. It's the days where something exceptional happens, either good or bad, 59 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.720 that you know buries that into your brain. And just like Skyler that 60 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:39.759 there's going to be attributes of Skyler that somebody may think is funny or they 61 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.560 want to make fun of the name and change it a little bit. That's 62 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:46.920 what kids do. And there's some bullying that is is not fun, but 63 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:49.000 it's kind of the healthy part of growing up. And then there's this new 64 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:57.920 breed of bullying that gets very ugly and super mean spirited and and should be 65 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:02.279 defended against, and there is a time for that as well. Never let 66 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.759 anybody put a hand on you. Let never let anybody harm you in any 67 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:13.240 way, shape or form, ever, and that you defend yourself against that, 68 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.240 and you go to the proper authorities if you're at school or at work 69 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.000 or whatever, to let them know if you're being bullied there as well, 70 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:26.079 because it happens at work sometimes as well. But when people start to point 71 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:30.079 out characteristics, the way you talk, or things like that, take pride 72 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:36.639 in that if you were to go and have a cartoon drawn of you at 73 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.480 the fair or you know, Disneyland or disney World or something, and you 74 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:46.279 have a drawing done of you, you'll see that they will accentuate certain parts 75 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:48.560 of you, and you may be offended by that, Oh wow, my 76 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:50.879 body really, that small as my head, that big as my nose, 77 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:56.560 that big army here. No, it's an exaggeration of those things that make 78 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:00.199 you you. And that's what bullying is. Sometimes. It's people trying to 79 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:06.879 exaggerate the wonderful characteristics that make you you and make them a negative. And 80 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:13.920 you want to make them a positive by not succumbing to that, not giving 81 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:19.079 in to those taunts and making you someone ugly like they're being, and you 82 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:25.600 continue to love them through it now. I read verse twenty in addition to 83 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:29.160 twenty one because my producer Neil quite frankly gets a kick out of it every 84 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:32.399 time he reads that being a nice to your enemy leaps you know, heaps 85 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:39.839 coals upon their head. Obviously that is referencing Proverbs twenty five as well there, 86 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:46.800 but that that imagery of that kindness leaping put or keeping coals upon their 87 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:53.000 head is really to show you that that your goodness is what bothers somebody who's 88 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:59.000 being bad, and by being kind to them it really is twofold. It 89 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:03.160 allows you from breaking down and becoming them. And then two it is like 90 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:14.439 you know, across to a vampire. Kindness burns and will hopefully help them 91 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:19.720 see the stupidity of their ways. But always be, you know, take 92 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:29.319 the high road. Stillwell, Welcome to the Jesus Christ Show. Yes, 93 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:34.560 Jesus, I'm calling because my father and I came to the state of Texas 94 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:42.879 from Florida to establish a church following my dad's calling to do that. My 95 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:48.560 dad has had a long success of doing that and anyways became to Texas left 96 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:54.000 everything to help him open up the church. The church has been going on 97 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:58.800 for about four years. It's going well, but he had to move back 98 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:03.959 to Florida for a couple of reasons. But anyways, we have a new 99 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:07.800 pastor, and obviously it's it's hard for me to just I've never had another 100 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:13.399 pastor other than my dad. But at this time, you know, I'm 101 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.800 here and I'm a leader here, I'm the music director, and I have 102 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:22.279 you know, it's my My problem is that I have a hard time identifying 103 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:26.399 with a new pastor, and I feel like I'm just fulfilling my responsibilities, 104 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:33.879 and then myself and my family are not being spiritually fed. And what is 105 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.440 it that's so what is it that's so different in regards to your current pastor? 106 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.240 You know, his his A lot of it has to do with his 107 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.879 preaching style. A lot of it has to be with all the changes that 108 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:54.159 happened so quickly. It just seemed as though the teachings that my father used 109 00:08:54.159 --> 00:09:00.919 to bring were more I don't know, they just kind of it's more people 110 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:05.200 than just myself. But do you have a problem with the pastor himself? 111 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.039 Do you get along with him? Oh? I get along with him great. 112 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:11.399 I think he's a he has good intentions and I feel that the church 113 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:15.759 is going to succeed. I just I don't know if I know. It's 114 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.879 not your taste with me, it's not your cup of tea. I don't 115 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:24.639 feel like I'm I'm learning, and I don't feel like I'm being spiritually fed. 116 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:28.559 And I just don't know if you know I have responsibilities there. So 117 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.840 I don't know if it's it's okay to do that. Do you have a 118 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:37.120 desire to pastor the church yourself? No, I don't not at all. 119 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:41.000 Okay, So you can pick up and you can move to another church, 120 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:43.200 no problem. Yeah, I feel like I could do that, and I 121 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:48.679 feel like it's what my heart wants. And I went to another church the 122 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.559 other day and I felt it was amazing the experience I had, and I 123 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:56.000 felt that that's where I belonged. But I have responsibilities here, So I 124 00:09:56.039 --> 00:10:01.720 understand. My question is other responsibility is more important than you know, my 125 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:05.720 family's spiritual lives and being fed. No, your responsibilities. Your responsibilities are 126 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:11.879 to your family first and then to that that body second, I mean the 127 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:15.720 church body. It's wonderful for you to be a participant, and people should 128 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.879 be a participant in their churches. And you have a commitment. I mean, 129 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.200 if you've signed something or you've said I will be here till this time, 130 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:26.720 then you should fulfill that. But if it's if it's not you know, 131 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:33.240 a contract that you've made with the church, or if you just really 132 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:35.679 if you think that the church is doing anything damaging, if it's just not 133 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:41.440 your cup of tea, then you should you know, you finish and you 134 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:46.759 fulfill. But if if you're if you're saying that you're not being fed and 135 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:52.799 it's not your flavor and all of these things, then you know you're obligated 136 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.320 to pick up and move. You give them proper amount of time to find 137 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:01.440 a replacement, explain your your concerns. Say this is you know where I'm 138 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.279 at. I feel really led. I went to this other church, and 139 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:09.480 I feel very motivated by this church, and that you'd like to take your 140 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.960 family there, and you feel like you're being led there. But you don't 141 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:16.960 want to leave them in the lurch either by not having someone to replace you 142 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.919 or any of those things. So treat it like a job in that sense 143 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:24.279 and give them a proper amount of time to get somebody else. But there's 144 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:28.039 nothing wrong with switching churches as long as it doesn't become you know, musical 145 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:33.600 churches and you just don't you know, didn't, didn't, and you just 146 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.679 keep hopping from one to one and really search yourself. I mean, have 147 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:41.120 you gone to churches that were pastored by your father for a long time? 148 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.679 Yeah, my whole life. Yeah, So it might be that might be 149 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.440 a hard change for you to begin with, to sit under someone else or 150 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:54.200 to hear someone else's teaching and you're you, you've been fed a particular type 151 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:58.720 of food, a particular type of way for a long time, and it 152 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:03.679 may just be discomfort. So just make sure that you search your heart thoroughly 153 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:09.320 and prayerfully on this and make sure that it's not an emotional decision based on 154 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:15.639 normal discomfort. But there's there's nothing wrong with leaving a church, even if 155 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:18.960 you're in leadership, as long as you give them proper amount of time and 156 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:26.919 voice your your concerns or thoughts or wishes or what you feel you're being led 157 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:31.080 to and all those so that the pastor doesn't get, you know, sideswiped 158 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:35.320 and then feels like they're doing something wrong. It just may not be what 159 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:41.159 you're looking for currently. All right, excellent, very good. I hope 160 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:46.360 so and that you move forward prayerfully. I mean, imagine this if and 161 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:52.519 this happens a lot in churches, that if if strangely enough, you went 162 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.080 to a restaurant you didn't like something, you would assume, well, that's 163 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.559 just not to my taste. I mean, some people might go, oh, 164 00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:01.360 that's a horrible restaurant. You know, the the sauce was too watery 165 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.120 or whatever it might be. But really it might just be your taste. 166 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:09.840 And if your taste is not into that, well then you go to another 167 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:16.759 restaurant that suits your palate. Spiritually, a lot of people will jump on 168 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:22.799 the bandwagon of a new church, and then if the pastor is stern on 169 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.600 something or says something they don't like, now all of a sudden that it's 170 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:28.759 not being led by God. And I think that's silly. I think churches, 171 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.679 for the most part, are the pastors are listening to God and the 172 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:39.879 movement of the church and the Holy Spirit to see where God is going and 173 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:43.320 are being attentive that way. And the rest is going to be flavoring and 174 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:48.399 things that you like or that you don't like based on your own particular palate. 175 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.879 But don't put that on. Don't put that on them. That's not 176 00:13:52.039 --> 00:14:00.679 fair to just cram it down their throat. It's not fair. Jane, 177 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:05.240 Welcome to the Jesus Christ Show. Hi did Hi Jane? How can I 178 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:07.360 help you, my dear? I had a frog in my throat? That's 179 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:11.000 okay, get him out. I did, cocked him up, excellent. 180 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:13.960 It could It could be worse. It could be a series of frogs or 181 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:20.320 locusts or frog's not so bad about hoss? Yes, well, how can 182 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:26.279 I help you, my dear. I have a lit cross that hangs on 183 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.440 a gutter on the back side of my house. It was kind of a 184 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:33.039 afterthought with our lit up Christmas decorations, and when we took the Christmas things 185 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.679 down, we decided to leave the cross up and I turn it on every 186 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:43.440 night for about an hour. And a neighbor told my husband yesterday two doors 187 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:46.879 away that he could see it in the reflection of the window of the house 188 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:52.480 across the street, and he found it extremely offensive. Offensive, Yes, 189 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.639 to have a cross shining in the neighbor's window across the street. And I 190 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.000 walked over last night to see if that was it's true, and he had 191 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:03.480 to really crane his neck to be able to see it. But that's beside 192 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.679 the point. At Christmas, he had a great, big peace symbol lit 193 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.519 up in his window, and I didn't go tell him. That offended me, 194 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:13.960 but that's not the point. My first reaction was not a good one, 195 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:16.200 and I thought I'd go up and give him a piece of my mind. 196 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:18.159 But I don't have a lot to spare because I'm getting older, so 197 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:22.519 I decided not to do that. You may not get it back, Yeah, 198 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.080 that's true. And I decided, Well, I looked at some scripture 199 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:33.200 and realized that I needed to take the cross down. If I love because 200 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.799 I'm a follower of yours, the loving thing to do would be to take 201 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:39.600 the cross down. My question for you is should I write him a note 202 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:43.960 and tell him in a very nice way why I'm taking it down. I'm 203 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:50.600 not taking it down because I'm afraid of him, or the only reason I'm 204 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:54.960 taking it down is because I don't want to offend him. I'm more concerned 205 00:15:54.960 --> 00:16:00.159 about loving him, and the loving thing and the peaceful thing to do in 206 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.759 the neighborhood would be to take it down. So should I let him know 207 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.360 or should I just take it down? Well, look, there's a couple 208 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:08.919 of things going on here. And first, is this someone that you have 209 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.639 problems with or if you've never encountered other problems. I actually know him. 210 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.480 He came to our home. We had a Christmas tea and he came and 211 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:21.399 everything was very pleasant. Has he voiced that he has a differing belief than 212 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.399 you? Well, I don't know. We didn't talk about our beliefs. 213 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:29.320 I assume he probably does. With the peace symbol in his window when everybody 214 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:33.759 else had Christmas decorations, but nothing, you know, we didn't bring it 215 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:38.519 up, we didn't tell We were all very pleasant. That wasn't a problem. 216 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:45.480 So during during the Christmas time holiday, he put up just the the 217 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:49.519 crow's foot, the little chicken foot peace symbol, great big eight foot one 218 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:52.159 in his window. But that was his business. He has a freedom to 219 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:56.600 do that. Of course. Have we put up a big lit Nativity scene 220 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.919 in our front yard with the cross in the background? I see, So 221 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.559 this is in the front yard of the backyard that you have. This cross 222 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.279 is hanging on a gutter on the back side of the house, but you 223 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:11.640 can see it from the front of the house. And that's why it's there. 224 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:15.720 I should have left it up because of this business with the cross out 225 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.440 in the desert that people really have to go out of the way to see, 226 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:22.160 and somebody wants it taken down. The memorials to the veterans, and 227 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:26.720 I thought, Okay, this is private property, not a lot of people 228 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:30.799 going to see it. But if everybody that believes put a cross up, 229 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:34.119 people wouldn't have to go to the desert to see one. Well, I 230 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:42.160 understand where you're coming from, and I do completely here that it's frustrating when 231 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:47.519 it's your own property and the like. But if the purpose is to bring 232 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:52.559 peace and understanding to one another via the symbol, that really, I mean 233 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:56.880 is just a symbol. There's you know, there are two guys died next 234 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:00.799 to me on crosses as well. It's more about the direction that brings that 235 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:07.559 piece of hope. And in this particular case, if it's offensive, uh 236 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:11.400 to somebody like that, and it's it doesn't change your house, it's not 237 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.759 you're not superstitious. It means nothing to you as far as superstition. And 238 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:19.599 then I think that it is a beautiful sentiment for you to to take the 239 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:26.400 higher road and to love in quote your enemy or your neighbor through through this, 240 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:30.160 and there's nothing wrong with you writing a note and saying it has come 241 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:36.960 to my attention that that the cross bothers you. It it brings me great 242 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:40.720 peace and joy to see it lit up for that hour each night. But 243 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:44.440 I would never want my piece or joy to infringe on your own. And 244 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:49.160 so I'm taking it down. I hope that this is you know, not 245 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:55.680 to be nasty or anything that. Uh, you know, my my goal 246 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:00.920 is to for us all to live in this neighborhood of being friendly and helping 247 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:04.200 one another, and you know, please always let us know, and if 248 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.119 it's something we can do, we will do. Thank you, you know, 249 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.839 and just have that kind of attitude, not mean or nin or niner 250 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:14.559 or yeah, I took this down because of you, you big jerk, 251 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:19.279 and or anything like that, because that doesn't really it's a hard that then 252 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:26.519 it becomes a pride issue. And and do it that way, I think 253 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:30.240 is the more loving and peaceful way to bring it about. And not hey, 254 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.440 you put up a peace symbol and I put up this or what And 255 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:37.200 don't look for things that he's doing that you can shoot back at or anything 256 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:40.640 like that. Just leave it at that and say, well, I was 257 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:44.480 happy to have it for the time that I did, and it infringed on 258 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:48.279 other people, and I will respect that, knowing that you live in a 259 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:55.000 community that communes with one another, and leave it at that. But I 260 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.519 think you have that the healthy and the proper attitude. Jane, thank you, 261 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.480 You're very welcome. Thank you. I know it's frustrating, and I 262 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:04.000 know that there's going to be some of you that may disagree with that and 263 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:08.079 say no, you stand strong and hold it up. But here's the thing. 264 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:17.039 It's it's this attitude where you're just trying to protect that symbol, and 265 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.920 really what you want to protect is what the symbol stands for, right, 266 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:26.559 which is Christianity, which is the following of Christ, which is the tenets 267 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:30.079 of Scripture and the importance of the beauty and the justice of scripture, and 268 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:36.799 your freedom to express that in the United States. That's what you're trying to 269 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.200 protect. And if that's what you're trying to protect, then it's not about 270 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:44.359 the symbol. It's never about the symbol. I know that that in that 271 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:48.160 context, any more than your marriage is about the wedding ring, that those 272 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:53.200 things are symbols outward symbols, so the world knows, but the world should 273 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:56.440 know that you're a Christian in many different ways that have nothing to do with 274 00:20:56.519 --> 00:21:04.200 jewelry or affectations, you know, accoutrement or things around the house. Your 275 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:08.559 faith should be worn on the very expression of who you are and what you 276 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:14.160 do in life, the way you act. This very act of taking down 277 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:22.039 that cross in this context, the very act of showing that restraint and loving 278 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:27.319 a neighbor and saying goodness gracious, that was never my intent to offend. 279 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:33.599 So take please, take this action of me removing the cross from my lighted 280 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:41.440 cross as a sign of peace and understanding. That becomes a very powerful note 281 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:47.920 because I guarantee if somebody went to someone with that attitude and says, take 282 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:52.000 your peace, simple down off your window, they go, no, forget 283 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:56.839 you, I'm going to do what I'm going to do, and you really 284 00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:00.079 it really shows the nature of a person, not what they say or how 285 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:06.279 they act, but how they react to a situation. That really shows the 286 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:10.640 character of the individual. And I think Jane obviously has an immense amount of 287 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:15.440 character and faith. Her faith isn't wrapped up into a piece of plastic or 288 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.880 a piece of metal or a piece of wood. Her faith is wrapped up 289 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:22.799 in her heart and no one can ask you to take that down. Throughout 290 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:26.960 the existence of the United States, you've seen that this goes back and forth. 291 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:33.720 Jane even cited one herself that there's this kind of war on the symbols 292 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:40.400 of Christianity. Now, you know, you can look at things like other 293 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:45.200 pagan belief systems and it's aokay. The Jack o' lantern, the black cat, 294 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:52.440 which these types of things, even if they're fanciful recreations or representations of 295 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.039 them, that they can you can put those up in a school and there's 296 00:22:56.079 --> 00:23:03.240 no problem. But you have to call a Chris Mystery holiday tree or you 297 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:07.599 can't put any of these symbols up because they represent Christianity. And yes, 298 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:11.119 there's a double standard, get used to it. There are also others that 299 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:15.759 fight for in God, we trust on money, and one nation under God 300 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:18.759 in the Pledge of Allegiance, when that wasn't even originally in the Pledge of 301 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:23.319 Allegiance. And you're not going to tell me that the country was less God 302 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:27.839 focused when it wasn't in the Pledge of Allegiance. So be careful what you 303 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:30.920 fight for it's not that those things aren't worth fighting for at times, and 304 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:37.359 there are opportunities because it really starts to infringe on your freedoms as well as 305 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:41.440 a standpoint of being an American, that you should have that ground. But 306 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:48.119 more importantly than any of the symbols or any of those statements, you know, 307 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:51.400 what would mean more to me than saying in God we trust on your 308 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:56.079 money. What would mean more to me is if you trusted God truly, 309 00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:03.079 honestly and in the depths of your heart. That has more value and means 310 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:04.559 more to me than just saying it or throwing it on a dollar bill. 311 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:11.599 So I think when you look at the actions and your actions, speaking loudly 312 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:15.799 and showing the character of who you are, I think that's more powerful. 313 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:19.440 And now this guy has to go to bed each night not feeling like he 314 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:22.000 had a victory in any way, shape or form, because it's not What 315 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:25.240 does that even mean? If you have it on for an hour or two, 316 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:29.440 it's no big deal. But why fight that and have him further dig 317 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:36.720 his heels into the ground against Christianity and those the practice Christianity and another reason 318 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:42.000 to fuel the fires of his frustration, anger or whatever it might be that 319 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:45.359 make him feel that way, because to be offended by a cross is a 320 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:48.720 bizarre thing. You can drive up and down streets all over the place and 321 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:55.759 see that people have symbols of their Jewish faith on their doorposts. I, 322 00:24:56.119 --> 00:25:00.599 for one, find that beautiful. I smile every time I see one at 323 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:08.160 that symbol of an outward faith that is deep within an individual. And if 324 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:15.400 somebody doesn't feel the same way, then so be it. But people searching 325 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:19.680 and the different beliefs out there and all of that is a thing of beauty. 326 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:26.279 The purpose, the hope is that they obtain truth. And it's not 327 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.759 just for culture, it's not just out of habit or those things, but 328 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:34.720 it's truly truth seeking. And some people that will be a turn off to, 329 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:37.880 and there's others that will appreciate it and understand it for what it is. 330 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:44.160 But my concern foremost, always above everything is going to be what's in 331 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:51.680 your heart, not what's hanging on a wall. Mike, Welcome to the 332 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:55.359 Jesus Christia, Thank you Jesus, thank you for taking my call, my 333 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:59.000 pleasure. How can I help you? Well, I've known many friends over 334 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.920 the years from different religions that all believe in Jesus, and they also believe 335 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:07.640 in God and pray to one God, and they have good families and everything. 336 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:11.680 And they'll tell me that because I believe Jesus is God, that I 337 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:15.880 can't go to helpna. Oh, well, they sound like fine friends but 338 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:25.759 bad theologians. That that's really part of Christianity and essential. And if you 339 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:30.079 remember when I was talking with the disciples, often I would ask them and 340 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:36.680 who do you say that I am? That was a huge importance to their 341 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:40.839 belief because if they had some sort of false notion as to who I was, 342 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:45.759 then they were no longer important to the cause of growing Christianity. So 343 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:51.279 will you find in scripture a place where I say the words I am God? 344 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:59.440 No? Never, But you do find throughout scripture statements that are the 345 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.680 equivalent went, especially two thousand years ago, for instance John ten thirty I 346 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:11.160 say I and the Father are one. That's a major claim. So John 347 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:17.000 ten thirty three. Also, if you remember, they tried to stone me 348 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:22.400 for that very reason, and it's you know, which good work do you 349 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:27.839 stone me? Well, they're not stoning me because they want to. They're 350 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:32.680 stoning me because I'm making a proclamation of deity, and I love to go 351 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:36.759 to John because that is the duty of Christ. I find in John John 352 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:41.960 eight, yes, and including John you know one one which is you know, 353 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:44.160 in the beginning was the Word, and the word is with God, 354 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:47.680 and the word was God. But then one of these religions they have a 355 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:52.359 Bible that says God was a god, a god small g and then it's 356 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:55.160 like my Bible's wrong or something. Okay, well here's the thing. There's 357 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.960 there's a bunch more. John eight fifty eight is a great example. I 358 00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:02.559 tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am that that word 359 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.200 I am is a Hebraic reference that is incredibly power powerful at the time, 360 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:15.079 and so much so that again based on Leviticus levitical law, they wanted to 361 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:19.960 stone me. So the John one one verse gets difficult. And although it's 362 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:22.160 a great verse, in the beginning was the word, the word was with 363 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:25.680 God, and the word was God in the word became flesh later on in 364 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:33.839 fourteen. But the problem with that is that in the Greek there's there, 365 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:37.599 it's a little convoluted. So technically the verse that they're saying, hey, 366 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:42.640 it can be translated this way. They're right, Oh, no, no, 367 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:48.400 they it can be. However, it's not proper translation in the Greek. 368 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:51.759 So I'm not going to get into all the complications because there are many 369 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:56.559 as to why why it can be translated that way. But context, context, 370 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.559 and we're running out of time, so I want to get a few 371 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:03.640 things out. Context does not allow it. So yes, is it grammatically 372 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:07.319 a possibility, yes? Is it a possibility in context of the verse? 373 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:11.799 Absolutely not. So can I go to heaven? Though Jesus is my main 374 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:15.759 question? Can they go to heaven if they pray to God for intercession? 375 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:19.240 And I do believe in Jesus, not the belief I do, no anymore 376 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:25.160 than if you won't find the same place. If you dial a phone number 377 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.799 and you get the last two digits wrong, but everything else was done with 378 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:33.039 good intent, and you really believe in the area code was right and all 379 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:36.799 that, you're not going to get the same person. I would also ask 380 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:41.720 you to go to Acts twenty twenty eight, and a very good one is 381 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:49.599 John twenty twenty eight that talks about Thomas. If you remember, he says 382 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:55.759 ikusmutheyasmu in the Greek, he says the Lord of me, the God of 383 00:29:55.799 --> 00:30:00.839 me, and that would be and I don't correct him. I don't correct 384 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:03.279 him at all. And if that was, if he was wrong, it 385 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:07.720 would be blasphemy. And I would have corrected him because he was calling me 386 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:11.000 God. He wasn't saying, oh my God, which is what that particular 387 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:14.400 group that comes knocking on your door will tell you. But that would have 388 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:17.640 been using God's name in vain, and he would have been reprimanded. I 389 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:22.960 didn't reprimand him. Remember, more importantly than all this nuttiness, these words, 390 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:29.440 I am with you always. KFI AM six forty on demand