WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:05.799 You're listening to kf I am six forty on demand. Skylar, Welcome to 2 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:10.759 Jesus Christ Show. Hi Jesus Um, thanks for tying show. UM, 3 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:17.760 I have a U wait Skylar, Skylar, Honey one second? How old 4 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:20.960 are you? Eleven? Eleven? And Skylar? Do your parents know that 5 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.640 you're calling? Yes? Okay, good, go ahead. UM. I 6 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.879 have a spiritual thing, UM that I'm being boyed in school by a girl 7 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:35.600 and I don't really like it. M. And how is she boying you? 8 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:40.359 Like? She's like making fun of me, She's like falling me around 9 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.560 M. And what does she make fun of? Things you say? Things 10 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:51.320 you do? Or she just generally is making fun of um. She's like, 11 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:56.560 um doing the things you said? MMM, you know the things that 12 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:03.359 people can make fun of, like, UM, my producer Neil he went 13 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:08.200 bald when he was like like twenty three years old, so he shaves his 14 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:12.640 head so he's got no hair and sometimes people will joke about that, but 15 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:18.319 it also it's also what makes him distinctive. It's also what makes him memorable. 16 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:23.719 And sometimes people point out those things about you because they're memorable and they 17 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:26.439 don't know how to express it, so they do it in a negative way, 18 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:30.560 but ultimately other people see that as one of the things that make you 19 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.719 a wonderful human being is that you have these unique the way you say things, 20 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:37.560 or the funny things you say, or the way you walk or the 21 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:41.640 way you talk. And if they're pointing those things out and they're making fun 22 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:46.159 of them, usually that is what makes you different and makes you wonderful and 23 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.680 makes you Skylar and not someone else. But as far as what scripture says, 24 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:53.319 scripture says, and you can read this with your folks later on in 25 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:59.640 the Book of Romans, and this is chapter twelve, verse twenty. It 26 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.280 says, but if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he 27 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:07.000 is thirsty, give him drink, for in so doing you will heap burning 28 00:02:07.039 --> 00:02:10.120 coals upon his head. And it goes which doesn't sound very pleasant, but 29 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:14.800 listen, it goes on to say, do not be overcome by evil, 30 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:19.400 but overcome evil with good. So the scripture asks you to be nice to 31 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.080 those people that are mean to you, as long as they aren't physically trying 32 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.400 to hurt you. If they get to the point where they're hitting you, 33 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:30.120 or they're throwing things at you, or they are gonna try and harm you 34 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:36.280 that way. Then I want you to let someone know because that's not okay. 35 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:38.879 And if they're using words to say mean things, you want to tell 36 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:43.319 people, but I don't want you to say mean things back to them, 37 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.479 okay, because that makes you that lowers you to their level, and I 38 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:52.439 don't want you to do that. So I want you, honey, to 39 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:57.360 read through that scripture with your folks later on. And I also want you 40 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.199 to ask them about this show and let them explain to you what we do 41 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:02.080 here and all that, because that'll be part of the fun as well. 42 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:07.319 But just know that when people point things out about you and what you look 43 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.520 like, those are the special parts about you. Okay, Okay, all 44 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.120 right, my dear, you go and you have a great day. You 45 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:19.599 rock down, well, you rock to Skylar bub bye, honey, My 46 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:25.960 goodness. It's very easy to look at life and to look at what you 47 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:31.080 are and who you are and the things that your physical attributes are, what 48 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:35.919 have you or the way you say things. A bully is someone who just 49 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.840 wants to point those things out. But they want to point those things out 50 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:45.560 and hope it's not constructive criticism. They're pointing these things out and hopefully in 51 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:49.319 hopes of hurting you. My goodness, we get we get email like that 52 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:54.680 all the time, and so please know I'm not above it. But you 53 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:02.199 can't let that slow you down. If you watch these shows like um they 54 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.280 have those wedding series, you know, where they show everything that went want 55 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:10.800 wrong at the wedding, I guarantee that's what made the wedding memorable. It's 56 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:15.800 those things that stand out, that are different that make you memorable. When 57 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.399 something doesn't go right, that makes that time memorable. If it's just a 58 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:24.399 day, an average day, where everything goes okay, you forget it. 59 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:29.519 It's the days where something exceptional happens, either good or bad, that you 60 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:32.680 know, buries that into your brain. And just like Skylar, that that 61 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.959 there's there's going to be attributes of Skylar that somebody may think is funny or 62 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:41.040 they want to make fun of the name and change it a little bit. 63 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:45.639 That's what kids do. And there's some bullying that is not fun, but 64 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:47.639 it's kind of the healthy part of growing up. And then there's this new 65 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:56.560 breed of bullying that gets very ugly and super mean spirited and and should be 66 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:00.920 defended against. And there is a time for the as well. Never let 67 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.439 anybody put a hand on you, Let never let anybody harm you in any 68 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:11.879 way, shape or form, ever, and that you defend yourself against that, 69 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:15.879 and you go to the proper authorities if you're at school or at work 70 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.680 or whatever, to let them know if you're being bullied there as well, 71 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:24.720 because it happens at works sometimes as well. But when people start to point 72 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:29.680 out characteristics, the way you talk, or things like that, take pride 73 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:35.040 in that if you were to go and have a cartoon drawn of you at 74 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.959 the fair or at you know, Disneyland or disney World or something, and 75 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:45.639 you have a drawing done of you, you'll see that they will accentuate certain 76 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.079 parts of you, and you may be offended by that, Oh wow, 77 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:49.519 my body really? That small as my head? That big is my nose? 78 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:54.920 That big? I mean No, it's an exaggeration of those things that 79 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:59.800 make you you. And that's what bullying is sometimes. It's people trying to 80 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:05.439 exaggerate the wonderful characteristics that make you you and make them a negative, and 81 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:12.560 you want to make them a positive by not succumbing to that, not giving 82 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:18.160 in to those taunts and making you someone ugly like they're being and you continue 83 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:24.639 to love them through it. Now I read verse twenty in addition to twenty 84 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:28.040 one because my producer Neil quite frankly gets a kick out of it every time 85 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:31.040 he reads that being an ice to your enemy leaped, you know, heaps 86 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:38.480 coals upon their head. Obviously that is referencing Proverbs twenty five as well there, 87 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:45.639 but that that imagery of that kindness leaping or keeping coals upon their head 88 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:50.920 is really to show you that that your goodness is what bothers somebody who's being 89 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:58.079 bad, and by being kind to them it really is twofold. It allows 90 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:03.439 you from breaking down and becoming them. And then two it is like you 91 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:13.079 know, across to a vampire. Kindness burns and it will hopefully help them 92 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:18.360 see the stupidity of their ways. But always be, you know, take 93 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:27.120 the high road. Stillwell, welcome to the Jesus Christ Show. Yes, 94 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:32.399 Jesus, I'm calling because my father and I came to the state of Texas 95 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:40.720 from Florida to establish the church following my dad's calling to do that. My 96 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.560 dad has had a long success of of doing that and anyways became to Texas. 97 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.680 I left everything to help him open up the church. The church has 98 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.959 been going on for about four years. It's going well, but he had 99 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:01.160 to move back to Florida for a couple of reasons. But anyways, Um, 100 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:05.439 we have a new pastor, and obviously it's it's hard for me to 101 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:09.600 just I've never had another pastor other than my dad. Um, but at 102 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:13.040 this time, you know, I'm here and I'm a leader here, I'm 103 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:18.720 the music director and I have you know, It's my problem is that I 104 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:22.639 have a hard time identifying with the new pastor and I feel like I'm just 105 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:28.639 fulfilling my responsibilities and then myself and my family are not being spiritually fed. 106 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:35.240 And what is it that's so? What is it that's so different in regards 107 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:39.200 to your current pastor? You know his his A lot of it has to 108 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:43.120 do with his preaching style. A lot of it has to do with all 109 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:50.279 the changes, um that happened so quickly. Um, it just seemed as 110 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:56.320 though the teachings that my father used to bring were more I don't know, 111 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:00.840 they just kind of and it's it's more people than just myself. But do 112 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.440 you have a problem with a pastor himself? Do you get along with him? 113 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:05.600 Oh? I get along with him. Great. I think he's a 114 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.480 he has good intentions, and I feel that the church is going to succeed. 115 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.360 Um, I just I don't know if I just not your taste, 116 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:18.200 it's not your cup of tea. I don't feel like I'm I'm learning, 117 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:22.320 and I don't feel like I'm being spiritually fed. And I just don't know 118 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:28.080 if you know I have responsibilities there, So I don't know if it's it's 119 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.440 okay to do that. Do you have a desire to pastor the church yourself? 120 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:37.360 No, I don't not at all. Okay, so you can pick 121 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:39.480 up and you can move to another church, no problem. Yeah, I 122 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.120 feel like I could do that, and I feel like it it's what my 123 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:46.679 heart wants. And I went to another church the other day and I felt 124 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:50.279 it was amazing the experience I had, and I felt that that's where I 125 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.720 belonged. But I have responsibilities here, so I understand my questions. Are 126 00:09:54.720 --> 00:10:01.360 the responsibilities more important than you know, my family, spiritual life and being 127 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:05.159 fed? No, your responsibilities. Your responsibilities are to your family first and 128 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:11.440 then to that that body second, I mean the church body. It's wonderful 129 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:15.039 for you to be a participant and people should be a participant in their churches. 130 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.960 And you have a commitment. I mean, if you've signed something or 131 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:22.440 you've said I will be here till this time, then you should fulfill that. 132 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:26.960 But if it's if it's not you know, a contract that you've made 133 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.159 with the church, or if you just really if you think that the church 134 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:37.399 is doing anything damaging, if it's just not your cup of tea, then 135 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:43.000 you should you know, you finish and you fulfill. But if if you're 136 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:46.399 if you're saying that you're not being fed and it's not your flavor and all 137 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:50.679 of these things, then you know you're obligated to pick up and move. 138 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:56.399 You give them proper amount of time to find a replacement. UM, explain 139 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.919 your your concerns and say this is you know where I'm at. I feel 140 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.399 really lad I went to this other church, and I feel very motivated by 141 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:07.960 this church, and UM that you'd like to take your family there and you 142 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.799 feel like you're being led there. But you don't want to leave them in 143 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:15.679 the lurch either by not having someone to replace you or any of those things. 144 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:18.360 So treat it like a job in that sense, and give them a 145 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:22.159 proper amount of time to get somebody else. But there's nothing wrong with switching 146 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:28.279 churches as long as it doesn't become you know, musical churches and you just 147 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.200 didn't you know, didn't, didn't, didn't and you just keep hopping from 148 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:35.960 one to one um and really search yourself. I mean, have you gone 149 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:41.000 to churches that were pastored by your father for a long time? Yeah, 150 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.960 my whole life. Yeah, So it might be that might be a hard 151 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:46.679 change for you to begin with, to sit under someone else or to hear 152 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:52.440 someone else's teaching and you're you, you've been fed a particular type of food, 153 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.519 a particular type of way for a long time, and it may just 154 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:03.919 be discomfort. So just make sure that you search your heart thoroughly and prayerfully 155 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:09.679 on this and make sure that it's not an emotional decision based on normal discomfort. 156 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:13.679 But there's there's nothing wrong with leaving a church, even if you're in 157 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:18.679 leadership, as long as you give them proper amount of time voice your your 158 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:24.200 concerns or thoughts or wishes or what you feel you're being led to and all 159 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:31.279 those so that the pastor doesn't get, you know, sideswiped and then feels 160 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:33.919 like they're doing something wrong. It just may not be what you're looking for 161 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:39.200 currently. Okay, all right, excellent and good, I hope so, 162 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:45.759 and then you move forward prayerfully. I mean imagine this if and this happens 163 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:50.559 a lot in churches, that if if strangely enough, you went to a 164 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:52.240 restaurant you didn't like something, you would assume, well, that's just not 165 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.600 to my taste. I mean, some people might go, oh, that's 166 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:58.799 a horrible restaurant. You know, the sauce was too watery or whatever it 167 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:05.320 be. But really it might just be your taste. And if your taste 168 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:09.080 is not into that, well then you go to another restaurant that suits your 169 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:15.679 palette. Is Spiritually, a lot of people will jump on the bandwagon of 170 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:22.320 a new church, and then if if the pastors stern on something or says 171 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:24.960 something they don't like, now all of a sudden that it's not being led 172 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.080 by God. And I think that's silly. I think churches, for the 173 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:33.120 most part, are the pastors are listening to God and the movement of the 174 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:39.200 church and the Holy Spirit to see where God is going and are being attentive 175 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.200 that way, and the rest is going to be flavoring and things that you 176 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.120 like or that you don't like based on your own particular palette. But don't 177 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:50.440 put that on. Don't put that on them. That's not fair to just 178 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:58.200 cramp it down their throat. It's not fair. Jane. Welcome to the 179 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:03.720 Jesus Christ Show. Hid Hi Jane. How can I help him? My 180 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.360 dear had a frog in my throat? That's okay, get him out. 181 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.320 I did cost him up, excellent, it could It could be worse. 182 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:15.000 It could be a series of frogs or locusts or frogs. Not so bad 183 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.120 about hoss. Yes, well, how can I help you, my dear. 184 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.679 I have a lit cross that hangs on a gutter on the back side 185 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:28.799 of my house. It was kind of an afterthought with our lit up Christmas 186 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:33.159 decorations, and when we took the Christmas things down, we decided to leave 187 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.759 the cross up and I turned it on every night for about an hour. 188 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:43.360 And a neighbor told my husband yesterday two doors away that he could see it 189 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.519 in the reflection of the window of the house across the street, and he 190 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:54.879 found it extremely offensive offensive to have a cross shining in the neighbor's window across 191 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:58.440 the street. And I walked over last night to see if that was true, 192 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:00.720 and he had to really cran his neck to be able to see it. 193 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:03.600 But that's beside the point. At Christmas, he had a great, 194 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.639 big peace symbol it up in his window, and I didn't go tell him 195 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:11.440 and offended me. But that's not the point. My first reaction was not 196 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:13.840 a good one, and I thought I'd go up and give him a piece 197 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:16.159 of my mind. But I don't have a lot to spare because I'm getting 198 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.480 older, so I decided not to do that. You may not get it 199 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:24.120 back, Yeah, that's true. And I decided, well, I looked 200 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.120 at some scripture and realized that I needed to take the cross down. If 201 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:33.480 I love because I'm a follower of yours, the loving thing to do would 202 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.000 be to take the cross down. My question for you is should I write 203 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:41.960 him a note and tell him in a very nice way why I'm taking it 204 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:48.080 down. I'm not taking it down because I'm afraid of him, or the 205 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:52.519 only reason I'm taking it down is because I don't want to offend him. 206 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.799 I'm more concerned about loving him, and the loving thing, and the peaceful 207 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:00.159 thing to do in the neighborhood would be to take it down. So should 208 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.799 I let him know or should I just take it down. Well, look, 209 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.080 there's a couple of things going on here. And first, is this 210 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:11.480 someone that you have problems with or you've never encountered other problems? Actually know 211 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.879 him? He came to our home. We had a Christmas tea and he 212 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.840 came and everything was very pleasant. Has he voiced that he has a differing 213 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.879 belief than you? Well, I don't know. We didn't talk about our 214 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:26.919 belief I assume he probably does. With the piece symbol in his window when 215 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:30.720 everybody else had Christmas decorations, but nothing, you know, we didn't bring 216 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:34.759 it up, We didn't tell We were all very pleasant. There's been a 217 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:42.399 problem. So during during the Christmas time holiday, he put up just the 218 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:48.440 the crow's foot, the little chicken foot peace symbol, very big eight foot 219 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:51.080 one in his window. But that was his business. He has a freedom 220 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.639 to do that. Of course, we put up a big lit Nativity scene 221 00:16:53.679 --> 00:17:00.080 in our front yard with the cross in the background. I see. So 222 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.559 this is in the front yard of the backyard that you have. This cross 223 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:06.319 is hanging on a gutter on the back side of the house, but you 224 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:08.640 can see it from the front of the house and that's why it's there. 225 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:12.839 I kind of left it up because of this business with the cross out in 226 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:15.559 the desert that people really have to go out of the way to see, 227 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:21.359 and somebody wants it taken down. The memorials to the veterans, and I 228 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.960 thought, Okay, this is private property, not a lot of people going 229 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:30.480 to see it. But if everybody that believes put across up, people wouldn't 230 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:33.839 have to go to the desert to see one. Well, I understand where 231 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:41.079 you're coming from, and I do. I do completely here that it's frustrating 232 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:44.559 when it's your own property and the like. But if the purpose is to 233 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:49.400 bring peace and understanding to one another via this symbol, that really, I 234 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:53.000 mean, it is just a symbol. There's you know, there are two 235 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:57.559 guys died next to me on crosses as well. It's more about the resurrection 236 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:03.720 that brings that piece of hope. And in this particular case, if it's 237 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:08.119 offensive um uh to somebody like that, and it's it doesn't change your house, 238 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:11.279 it's not you're not superstitious. It means nothing to you as far as 239 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:17.400 superstition, and um then I think that it is a beautiful sentiment for you 240 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:22.960 to to take the higher road and to love end quote your enemy or your 241 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.359 neighbor through through this. And there's nothing wrong with you writing a note and 242 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:33.000 saying it has come to my attention that the cross bothers you. Um it. 243 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.839 It brings me great peace and joy to see it lit up for that 244 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:40.599 hour each night. UM. But I would never want my peace or joy 245 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:44.680 to infringe on your own. And so I'm taking it down. UM. 246 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:48.200 I hope that this is you know, not to be nasty or anything. 247 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:53.960 Um uh you know, Uh, My my goal is to for us all 248 00:18:55.000 --> 00:19:00.480 to live in this neighborhood, um, being friendly and helping one another, 249 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:03.799 and you know, please always let us know. And if it's something we 250 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:06.559 can do, we will do. Thank you, you know, and just 251 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:10.000 have that kind of attitude. Not nan or nan or nan or or or 252 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:14.319 yeah I took this down because of you, your big jerk and or anything 253 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:18.759 like that, because that doesn't really it's a hard that then it becomes a 254 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:23.559 pride issue. Uh and uh and and do it that way, I think 255 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:29.279 is the more loving and peaceful way to bring it about. And not hey, 256 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:32.480 you put up a peace symbol and I put up this or what and 257 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.240 don't look for things that he's doing that you can shoot back at or anything 258 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.720 like that. Just leave it at that and say, well, I was 259 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:41.519 happy to have it for the time that I did, and it infringed on 260 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:45.279 other people, and I will respect that, knowing that you live in a 261 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:52.920 community that communes with one another, and and leave it at that. But 262 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.559 I think you have the healthy and the proper attitude. Jane, Thank you, 263 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.519 You're very welcome. Thank you. I know it's frustrating, and I 264 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.960 know that there's it's going to be some of you that may disagree with that 265 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:06.839 and say no, you're stand strong and hold it up. But here's the 266 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:14.680 thing. It's it's this attitude where where you're just trying to protect that symbol, 267 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.680 and really what you want to protect is what the symbol stands for, 268 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.160 right which is Christianity, which is the following of Christ, which is the 269 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:29.039 tenets of Scripture and the importance and the beauty and the justice of scripture and 270 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:33.839 your freedom to express that in the United States. That's what you're trying to 271 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:37.240 protect. And if that's what you're trying to protect, then it's not about 272 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.400 the symbol. It's never about the symbol. I know that that in that 273 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:45.880 context, you're any more than your marriage is about the wedding ring. That 274 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:51.480 those things are symbols, outward symbols. So the world knows, but the 275 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:55.240 world should know that you're a Christian in many different ways that have nothing to 276 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:00.599 do with jewelry or affectations, you know, a koutraman or things around the 277 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:07.119 house. Your faith should be worn on the very expression of who you are 278 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:11.359 and what you do in life, the way you act. This very act 279 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:18.839 of taking down that cross in this context, the very act of showing that 280 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:25.359 restraint and loving a neighbor and saying goodness, gracious. That was never my 281 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:30.799 intent to offend. So please take this action of me removing the cross from 282 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:37.599 my lighted cross as a sign of peace and understanding. That becomes a very 283 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:45.720 powerful note because I guarantee if somebody went to someone with that attitude and says, 284 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:48.079 take your peace symbol down off of your window, they go, no, 285 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:52.880 forget you, I'm going to do what I'm going to do, and 286 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.680 you really it really shows the nature of a person, not what they say 287 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.680 or how they act, but how they react to a situation. That really 288 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:07.839 shows the character of the individual. And I think Jane obviously has on an 289 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:11.680 immense amount of character and faith. Her faith isn't wrapped up in a piece 290 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:15.319 of plastic or a piece of metal or a piece of wood. Her faith 291 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.119 is wrapped up in her heart and no one can ask you to take that 292 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:25.400 down. Throughout the existence of the United States, you've seen that this goes 293 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:30.440 back and forth. Jane even cited one herself that there's this kind of war 294 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:36.839 on the symbols of Christianity. Now you can, you know, you can 295 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:41.160 look at things like other pagan belief systems and it's a okay. The Jack 296 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:47.519 O'Lantern and the black cat, which these types of things, even if they're 297 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:52.680 fanciful recreations or representations of them, that they can you can put those up 298 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:57.319 in a school and there's no problem. But you have to call a Christmas 299 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:03.200 tree holiday tree, or you can't put any of these symbols up because they 300 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:07.559 represent Christianity. And yes, there's a double standard, get used to it. 301 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:11.880 There are also others that fight for in God, we trust on money 302 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:15.799 and one nation under God in the Pledge of Allegiance, when that wasn't even 303 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:19.359 originally in the Pledge of Allegiance. And you're not going to tell me that 304 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:25.480 the country was less God focused when it wasn't in the pledge of allegiance. 305 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.759 So be careful what you fight for. It's not that those things aren't worth 306 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:32.839 fighting for at times, and there are opportunities because it really starts to infringe 307 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:37.920 on your freedoms as well as a standpoint of being an American that you should 308 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:44.480 have that ground. But more importantly than any of the symbols or any of 309 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:48.519 those statements, you know what would mean more to me than it's saying God 310 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:52.200 we trust on your money. What would mean more to me is if you 311 00:23:52.279 --> 00:24:00.200 trusted God truly, honestly and in the depths of your heart. That has 312 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:02.960 more value and means more to me than just saying it or throwing it on 313 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:07.319 a dollar bill. So I think when you look at the actions and your 314 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.759 actions, speaking loudly and showing the character who you are, I think that's 315 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:17.960 more powerful. And now this guy has to go to bed each night not 316 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.559 feeling like he had a victory in any way, shape or form, because 317 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:22.680 it's not What does that even mean? If you have it on for an 318 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:26.319 hour or two, it's no big deal. But why fight that and have 319 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:32.839 him further dig his heels into the ground against Christianity and those the practice Christianity, 320 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:37.640 and another reason to fuel the fires of his frustration, anger, or 321 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:42.400 whatever it might be that make him feel that way, because to be offended 322 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.559 by a cross is a bizarre thing. You can drive up and down streets 323 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:51.160 all over the place and see that people have symbols of their Jewish faith on 324 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:56.759 their doorposts. I for one, find that beautiful. I smile every time 325 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:04.480 I see one at the that symbol of an outward faith that is deep within 326 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:11.319 an individual. And if somebody doesn't feel the same way, then so be 327 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:17.000 it. But people searching and the different beliefs out there and all of that 328 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:22.680 is a thing of beauty. The purpose, the hope is that they obtain 329 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:26.200 truth. And it's not just for culture, it's not just out of habit 330 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:30.880 or those things, but it's truly truth seeking. And some people that will 331 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:36.119 be a turn off to, and there's others that will appreciate it and understand 332 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:41.400 it for what it is. But my concern foremost, always above everything is 333 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:44.200 going to be what's in your heart, not what's hanging on a wall. 334 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.359 Mike, Welcome to the Jesus Christ Show. Thank you, Jesus, thank 335 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.680 you for taking my call, my pleasure. How can I help you? 336 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:57.799 Well, I've known many friends over the years from different religions that all believe 337 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:02.960 in Jesus, and they also believe even God and pray to one God, 338 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:07.160 and they have good families and everything. And they'll tell me that because I 339 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:11.039 believe Jesus is God, that I can't go to Heather. Oh. Well, 340 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:18.359 they're sound like fine friends, but bad theologians. That that's really part 341 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:26.480 of Christianity, an essential And if you remember when I was talking with the 342 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.119 disciples, often I would ask them and who do you say that I am? 343 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:36.079 That that was a huge importance to their belief because if they had some 344 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:40.279 sort of false notion as to who I was, then they were no longer 345 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:45.839 important to the cause of growing Christianity. So will you find in scripture a 346 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:51.000 place where I say the words I am God? No? Never, But 347 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:59.359 you do find throughout scripture statements that are the equivalent, especially two thousand years 348 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:03.799 ago. Uh. For instance John ten thirty I say I and the Father 349 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:08.440 are one. Uh. That's a major claim. So John ten thirty three. 350 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:15.400 Also, um, if you remember, they tried to stone me for 351 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:21.000 that very reason, and it's you know, which good work do you stone 352 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:26.400 me? Well, they're not stoning me because they want to. They're stoning 353 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:30.039 me because I'm making a proclamation of deity. And I love to go to 354 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:33.160 John because that is the deity of Christ. They find in John John eight 355 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:38.079 fifty eight. Yes, and including John you know one one which is you 356 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:41.839 know in the beginning was the word, the word good God, and the 357 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.319 word was God. But then one of these religions they have a Bible that 358 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.759 says God was a god, a god small gee. And then it's like 359 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:52.400 my Bible is wrong or something. Okay, well here's the thing. There's 360 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:55.200 there's a bunch more. John eight fifty eight is a great example. I 361 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:59.759 tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am that that word 362 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:06.440 I am is a Hebraic reference that is incredibly power powerful at the time, 363 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:11.319 and so much so that again based on Leviticus levitical law, they wanted to 364 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:17.640 stone me. So um, the John one one verse gets difficult. And 365 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:19.160 although it's a great verse, in the beginning was the word, the word 366 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:22.440 was with God, and the word was God. And the word became flesh 367 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:26.400 later on in fourteen. But the problem with that is that in the Greek 368 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:34.200 um there's there. It's a little convoluted. So technically the verse that they're 369 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:40.000 saying, hey, it can be translated this way, they're right, Oh 370 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:45.079 no, no, it can be. However, it's not proper translation in 371 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:48.559 the Greek. So I'm not going to get into all the complications because there 372 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:52.279 are many as to why why it can be translated that way. But context, 373 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:55.559 context, and we're running out of time, so I want to get 374 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:59.119 a few things out. Context does not allow it. So yes, is 375 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:04.160 it grabbed grammatically a possibility? Yes? Is it a possibility in context of 376 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:08.039 the verse? Absolutely not. So well can I go to heaven? Though? 377 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:11.400 Jesus as my main question that can they go to heaven if they pray 378 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:15.519 to God for intercession? And I do believe in Jesus, I do know 379 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:21.519 anymore than if you if you won't find the same place. If you dial 380 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:25.440 a phone number and you get the last two digits wrong, but everything else 381 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:29.799 was done with good intent, and you really believe in the area code was 382 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:32.960 right and all that you're you're not going to get the same person. I 383 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:38.039 would also ask you to go to Acts twenty twenty eight and a very good 384 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:47.319 one is John twenty twenty eight that talks about Thomas. If you remember, 385 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:51.680 he says ikusmuthus moon in the Greek. He says the Lord of me, 386 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:56.559 the God of me, and that would be and I don't correct him. 387 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.880 I don't correct him at all. And if that was, if he was 388 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:03.319 wrong, it would be blasphemy. And I would have corrected him because he 389 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:07.480 was calling me God. He wasn't saying oh my God, which is what 390 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:11.240 that particular group that comes knocking on your door will tell you. But that 391 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:14.759 would have been using God's name in vain, and he would have been reprimanded. 392 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:18.480 I didn't reprimand him. Remember, more importantly than all this nuttiness, 393 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:26.119 these words, I Am with you always kf I AIX on demand