Rob Nelson and I share more than dashing good looks, southern charm, quick wit and a Great Grandfather. We've both faced our fair share of up and downs (he wins) and disappointed faith. Even then, as Rob explains it, Jesus is there to carry us through. Join us as we begin the unboxing phase of digging into our darkness and shedding light on the wounds.
[00:00:00] It's two Nelson's how appealing will this be? Oh man, they're getting a double whammy
[00:00:05] All right guys welcome back into the Modern Christian Men show
[00:00:12] I'm your host Caleb Nelson real excited to be here with you
[00:00:16] This this is a this is a double dose for you guys
[00:00:19] So we're going to be speaking with my cousin Rob Nelson who you may remember from a previous episode when we were audio only and
[00:00:28] Rob is a
[00:00:30] Just a well a depth a depth a well of
[00:00:35] Information and understanding that I don't know where it comes from
[00:00:38] I didn't get that end of it in our family, but Rob man
[00:00:41] We just want to welcome you in and tell you thanks for being here with us
[00:00:46] Thank you. It's good to be back with you on this platform. I'm really glad to be on it
[00:00:52] Absolutely. Well when I was making a list of guys who I knew had been there
[00:00:59] And like Kevin Stout said we don't want to talk about the a word too often or give it too much credit or too much credits in our lives
[00:01:06] But it's a very anxiety depression oppression
[00:01:09] Things like that are real. There's a there's a load of guys that are going through this or having gone
[00:01:14] And I was completely unaware because I had never faced any of that stuff
[00:01:18] But you just said just a moment ago that I mean from where you're at and what you're doing
[00:01:22] And you can tell us a little bit about that if you want to but where you're at
[00:01:26] You're seeing this is like it's like epidemic pandemic
[00:01:29] I mean there are people all over that are suffering maybe like you've never seen them before
[00:01:36] Absolutely and again, it's not anything
[00:01:39] Excuse me new
[00:01:41] It's been around for forever
[00:01:44] but because I believe because of the past three years and
[00:01:51] the unrest on so many different levels that
[00:01:55] It has
[00:01:57] It's just brought it to the surface and it's it's
[00:02:01] fed into a lot of root issues and things that
[00:02:06] a
[00:02:08] Lot of people don't even realize that this is what they're dealing with their things going on
[00:02:15] It's a holistic reality there's physical mental emotional as well as spiritual realities going on here and
[00:02:24] We're having a hard time putting our finger on it. We don't know how to identify it. So
[00:02:31] Again, I don't think it's necessarily anything new, but I think what the past
[00:02:35] The circumstances of the past few years
[00:02:38] Have shaken the foundations of the things that we have confidence in that we put our trust in that
[00:02:45] The routines the things that we've been comfortable in have been shaken to the degree that it's it's really shaking the
[00:02:53] Foundations of our belief system. So that goes on a very deep core level
[00:02:58] And then you've got all kinds of symptoms that flow out of that. So
[00:03:04] I
[00:03:06] think it's a
[00:03:08] It's a spiritual problem with the spiritual solution
[00:03:11] But I would consider spiritual to be holistic and him we live and move and have our very being I think it's
[00:03:18] We in the church if you will believers
[00:03:22] We need to learn more about this so that we can
[00:03:27] Language in a practical way and help people connect with the realities of what they're
[00:03:32] What they're dealing with it's easy to say just trust God just pray more
[00:03:38] but but when your body is doing things and you you don't
[00:03:43] Not under your direction and you fill out a control
[00:03:48] Down to the very core of your activity and your ability to sleep and eat and those kind of things then
[00:03:55] Then it gets serious
[00:03:57] Well, you know I read somewhere and I'm I like numbers but all that I don't remember all of them
[00:04:02] But it was a vast number that I read of pastors dealing with anxiety depression oppression
[00:04:07] And that's probably like a whole week's worth of shows right there
[00:04:11] But surely we you've got men behind the pulpit dealing in facing these things
[00:04:18] They're gonna have a hard time necessarily teaching or talking about it because I mean, let's just be honest
[00:04:23] We we place our pastors in a place where they're kind of stuck to a certain extent
[00:04:29] And if they start talking about their vulnerabilities from the pulpit
[00:04:34] Then they're afraid that that kid, you know cost them their job or cost them their place in standing
[00:04:41] So it's everywhere. It's not just guys at home or guys who work eight to five
[00:04:45] It's not just moms single moms. It's not just grandparents
[00:04:50] It's it's everywhere is pervasive
[00:04:52] Yeah, well, and I think that uh says a couple of things there one
[00:04:58] I think I we're seeing a lot of progress here, but we
[00:05:04] Need to learn how to integrate
[00:05:07] What we know is true spiritually and biblically
[00:05:10] And we know on us on a deep level
[00:05:14] But so many times we have not known how
[00:05:19] Ourselves let alone to lead others
[00:05:22] To how to how to apply those truths
[00:05:25] Again into the the realities of our daily life, you know our our challenges or struggles our financials are
[00:05:33] our
[00:05:34] traumas that come into place
[00:05:37] And again, we have been programmed to just push through
[00:05:42] And I mean think about all the things of the past three years
[00:05:46] so
[00:05:47] when you just when you
[00:05:49] Don't learn how to process in a healthy way have a lifestyle of processing
[00:05:55] The realities of living in a fallen world
[00:06:00] Then eventually all of that
[00:06:03] Information those recordings everything is going to be logged in the brain because this recording everything
[00:06:11] That we're experiencing
[00:06:13] And eventually it can gain power and overtake what our conscious mind is telling us and we know to do
[00:06:19] I mean that's that's a reality of what what I would define it trauma is not just
[00:06:27] You know a major car wreck or some
[00:06:29] Trauma is anything that comes against our beliefs values
[00:06:34] Images this is the way life is supposed to look our expectations that you know, I did this and this is what should come out of that
[00:06:41] I mean when you go through the things we've been going through lately
[00:06:44] They don't match up
[00:06:47] And and and we feel more and more out of control
[00:06:51] and
[00:06:52] And so again our faith I've said this many times for so many years of my life
[00:06:58] My faith was a form of denial of those realities rather than me knowing how to
[00:07:04] Actually apply those truths into those realities and situations
[00:07:09] And that calls you into all the aspects of faith and trust and
[00:07:14] That um, I'm I'm afraid I was my goodness. I was in my 40s and 50s before I even began to
[00:07:21] To discover
[00:07:23] I guess to realize and recognize some of the things that were working against me and I think that's important here
[00:07:31] When you think about anxiety
[00:07:34] Depression fear those are things that keep us
[00:07:40] unsettled
[00:07:42] disturbed
[00:07:45] Restless
[00:07:47] confused
[00:07:49] If you think of what is not anxiety you and you look biblically
[00:07:55] God is a god of peace
[00:07:59] Alignment agreement
[00:08:03] Synchronicity
[00:08:05] And so anxiety is absolutely
[00:08:10] A tool of the enemy or right
[00:08:13] It's it's it's the play
[00:08:16] The strategy to come against that which allows us to live and walk in a healthy way
[00:08:24] with christ at the center
[00:08:26] so yeah
[00:08:28] You know it was like you keep you've gone back to a couple times the last three years
[00:08:32] I remember very explicitly the news, you know coming on and telling us
[00:08:38] One in seven people are going to die, you know this this pandemic is going to kill
[00:08:44] Millions and billions of people and I'm thinking well, I've got seven people in my house
[00:08:48] which one of us, you know
[00:08:50] And of course I didn't receive that but at the same time
[00:08:54] You had this news as constant flow and we were already at a news addicted
[00:08:59] And I don't even like to call it news because it's just garbage and and fear pornography is really what the majority of it is
[00:09:06] But you had all this coming out
[00:09:08] And we were feeding on it 24 7 because we were so
[00:09:12] Just work like you said everything has been shaken everything has been
[00:09:17] Been manipulated against us and and I guess
[00:09:21] Just for me that may have played something in from the background kind of working its way forward
[00:09:26] I even told carlo one time
[00:09:30] You know back during the the covid scare that
[00:09:33] One day I felt like I was sitting at my office back when I was at roots gleaning and I was sitting there
[00:09:39] In the office and I thought to myself I feel like it's chasing me
[00:09:43] You know and that was a spiritual thing to granted there was there was sickness
[00:09:46] I understand that but I could feel that spirit kind of encroaching or trying to
[00:09:51] To get on me or trying to get there that fear that went with it
[00:09:55] And uh, you know, it's it's no place to be
[00:09:58] But but I get what you're saying and it was a trauma
[00:10:01] And you know like you said we think trauma car wrecks are you know falling off a building roof or something
[00:10:07] But there's a whole lot that plays into that
[00:10:11] Yeah, and it's and this has been different. I mean
[00:10:15] Again it really
[00:10:17] On a deep level reveal reveals what our faith and trust really is in
[00:10:23] And and again, I don't want to
[00:10:26] To suggest that
[00:10:29] That our faith is not valid and that it's not real and true and strong these things coexist
[00:10:38] You can be
[00:10:39] Again, I think this what we're learning here in in the body of believers is
[00:10:45] Your faith can be absent and your identity could be found in christ
[00:10:49] But you're still dealing with these holistic realities that that our our body has not been perfected yet
[00:10:55] Our right our world is certainly not been we still live in an
[00:11:00] In a a foreign world
[00:11:02] And we're and so we're dealing with those realities. So some of the things that we
[00:11:07] I mean my at my age, you know, I look back and
[00:11:11] If you
[00:11:12] Manage your money well then and you keep you know, you try to be wise and a good steward of that
[00:11:19] Then everything's going to be okay
[00:11:21] right
[00:11:22] if you
[00:11:23] Take care of your health and you you know, you're wise in your diet and how you you care for yourself
[00:11:30] Then you can expect your health to be good
[00:11:34] They're think it really it's a sense of control
[00:11:38] Right, I do all the things
[00:11:41] Then I can expect this so so when we come into situations and and job security
[00:11:49] again
[00:11:52] Raising your children and taking them to church and and and planning you know
[00:11:59] We expect certain outcomes when we do the right things
[00:12:05] Right, I got you. You think spiritually you really hear in this
[00:12:10] again
[00:12:11] there
[00:12:12] We we we would not say it but we're really doing to get
[00:12:18] I got you and so when we don't get
[00:12:21] It throws our whole system out of whack
[00:12:25] Right because something's not measuring up
[00:12:28] The beauty of that is it drives us to the father
[00:12:33] And and and we begin to ask him to reveal
[00:12:37] What's in our heart?
[00:12:39] because
[00:12:41] In intimacy with him and a and a healthy walk with him
[00:12:46] We will experience the fruit of peace
[00:12:50] And I mean it's the centerpiece
[00:12:53] I mean there's there's scriptures. I just uh, I glanced at a few scriptures as we were
[00:12:59] When you told me we're going to be talking today
[00:13:01] and it's
[00:13:04] Very familiar scriptures that we've heard
[00:13:07] All our lives. I mean the ones that come to our mind when we think about anxiety
[00:13:12] Be anxious for nothing, you know and all things in prayer and supplication
[00:13:17] Oh
[00:13:18] The that scripture and amplifies this be anxious or worried about anything but in everything every circumstance and situation
[00:13:27] I mean there's a lot of language here, but Psalm 139 David got this
[00:13:34] And and and here's a translation. I love god. I invite you searching gaze into my heart
[00:13:41] Examine me through and through find out everything that may be hidden within me
[00:13:47] Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares
[00:13:52] See if there's any path of pain
[00:13:54] I'm walking on and lead me back to glorious everlasting way the path that brings me back to you
[00:14:01] It is difficult and as hard as this is
[00:14:04] It can be a gateway to walking intimately with him like never before so
[00:14:11] Well, we got a big gap here that we we're trying to
[00:14:15] To language and learn how to communicate how to encourage one another
[00:14:21] But meet us where we are
[00:14:24] because if my
[00:14:26] heart rate is going sky high
[00:14:29] And and I'm can't even bring up my own name. I mean there are things that are happening in panic attacks and anxiety
[00:14:38] I mean that are really having effect on the way we function
[00:14:43] But they're also affecting our physical health and everything else
[00:14:47] Yeah, and you know one of the things that that we found here in our house
[00:14:51] Uh, and my wife carla, you know, you know carla for years
[00:14:55] Before carla and I got married she dealt with anxiety and right after we were married
[00:14:59] I don't know if that has anything to do with me
[00:15:01] But she dealt with anxiety as well
[00:15:03] And I had never ever hadn't seen it in my family had never experienced it personally
[00:15:09] And and I remember not even knowing how to
[00:15:12] Like talk to her about what she was feeling where she was at and I was like, uh, it's just you know
[00:15:17] Maybe she's the weaker vessel kind, you know all these things that you just don't know so you're you're applying ignorance
[00:15:23] But that what you read from david is fantastic, you know because there's guys at every stage in this
[00:15:30] And I think what I found in my journey here is that
[00:15:35] We have to we don't want to in the process
[00:15:39] Until you're extremely totally desperate and there's nothing left
[00:15:41] But as you're walking into this potentially or you're you're just getting getting into this this uh,
[00:15:48] Understanding or maybe you're you're just realizing what's going on with you
[00:15:52] Um, you don't really want to go to the scripture. You don't really want to
[00:15:56] You don't really want to dig in with jesus at least I knew to do that but I felt
[00:16:02] my feelings
[00:16:04] Got in the way of that and I was like I feel this I feel that my body's doing this my body's doing that and
[00:16:13] When you kind of you're kind of just stuck on those thoughts in your head
[00:16:18] Man all the fiery darts are getting in then and you don't want to go to the father
[00:16:23] And you're you're saying that's where we and we know this but that's where we have to start
[00:16:27] No matter where we're at in the process. We have to go back to the father
[00:16:31] Right, and I think uh, that is kind of the course of my ministry is
[00:16:38] Is to
[00:16:40] Not be
[00:16:41] Even distracted if you will and focused on symptoms
[00:16:45] What if we go to the root so of course ultimately that's going to be the spiritual foundation there
[00:16:52] But what that does again is not denial
[00:16:55] Of those realities
[00:16:57] If we have that proper order
[00:17:01] Then I believe that brings us into an intimacy with him and a lifestyle with him
[00:17:06] To the degree that we are receptive
[00:17:09] To the leadership of the spirit
[00:17:11] To as david is saying in the scripture search me and know me there are things going on in me that I don't I don't understand
[00:17:19] And and I and plus on top of that. I want to fix it
[00:17:23] Yeah
[00:17:24] But I understand there may be possibly it may be possible that you have a purpose in allowing this
[00:17:30] And there's something much greater you want to give me than just to fix this symptom
[00:17:34] Right
[00:17:35] It is to draw us into him, but he will bring us into a place that to be receptive, you know this
[00:17:42] I've used this word holistic and and it's been
[00:17:47] Misrepresented and and kind of given a bad rap
[00:17:50] But but we are holistic creations
[00:17:54] Right and the spiritual we have everything for life and god only sin christ there
[00:17:59] It's he still he is the center
[00:18:02] And so that can even be practically in terms of helping us understand
[00:18:08] Our physical needs
[00:18:10] Our mental and emotional, you know what what's what kind of what thought processes?
[00:18:16] What files are we pulling out of that have been programmed from early in our lives?
[00:18:22] That are still have power and effect. It's
[00:18:25] Hebrews 4 the word
[00:18:28] Sharper than a two-edged sword dividing body soul
[00:18:33] Spirit soul and bone and mera. It's it's the application of those truths. So now because it is true
[00:18:43] Some anxiety different levels of depression different things
[00:18:48] There's chemical imbalances going on there
[00:18:52] Just like in the physical body things can get I mean we're we're born into
[00:18:57] In a fallen condition before christ
[00:19:00] And when christ comes in and makes us whole and new
[00:19:05] A new creation in him
[00:19:07] The mind still has to be renewed the body still has to be brought under the power and authority of that word
[00:19:15] But he's still the one who produces it right? We're simply coming into agreement with that
[00:19:21] So again anxiety and depression those kind of things they shake those things that we have relied on
[00:19:28] The scripture says he everything's being shaken that can be shaken until there's nothing else that can be shaken
[00:19:35] So the all the more importance is to go to him and that foundation
[00:19:40] But then to be open and receptive
[00:19:43] To to what he reveals
[00:19:46] And the and the resources we don't know how he even wants to meet us in that need
[00:19:53] You know when you all went through some of your situations
[00:19:55] You had to be led step by step and let him use whoever whatever he wanted to use
[00:20:02] To bring about the confession of your faith
[00:20:06] And him as the source
[00:20:08] In the solution right yeah, absolutely. That's a lot there but
[00:20:13] Well, it's the truth and we try to camouflage this stuff or we try to wallpaper over the cracks in the wall or
[00:20:22] You know
[00:20:23] Men thinking we have to have it all figured out like you said earlier
[00:20:26] We have to fix it and that was where I was at man. I was like, I haven't got to fix this
[00:20:31] I have got to fix it. We had eight or ten things happening at one time and I'm thinking I could fix all of them
[00:20:36] I can't even hardly get out of bed in the morning
[00:20:39] and
[00:20:40] There's no fixing when you can't even like stand on your own which
[00:20:44] Why are we trying to do things in our own power anyway?
[00:20:47] Yeah, it'll definitely drive you to trying to control and manipulate because we want to I mean right now
[00:20:53] We want to we want a solution. We want to understand what the problem is
[00:20:57] So we can make application and fix it
[00:21:00] Right that comes straight out of being born in adam
[00:21:04] And we have died that old man is died and we are now
[00:21:10] In union with the spirit of god to lead and direct that
[00:21:14] And to follow
[00:21:16] In agreement with that truth, right? And so
[00:21:21] Yeah, it's um
[00:21:26] It's
[00:21:29] So you've you've been around a while rob and you're a little bit older than me
[00:21:33] But you guys you and rose
[00:21:36] Y'all I've seen stuff. I hope no one here ever has to walk through
[00:21:40] And just challenge
[00:21:43] And I know that you've been through some of these things
[00:21:46] Could you just could you give us just one?
[00:21:49] positive or one thing
[00:21:52] That's worked when you are faced with these types of situations
[00:21:56] Can you give us just one thing for guys who are listening who might be
[00:22:00] Going there in there trying to figure out trying to fix
[00:22:04] Just one solid thing for for guys to kind of get a hold of and utilize
[00:22:10] You're not going to like my answer
[00:22:13] There's me let me go back to you and again
[00:22:15] It's so difficult to language this because I say things I've said my whole life and they mean something totally different now
[00:22:22] So I hope based on what I've I've shared just in the last few minutes
[00:22:27] That you don't hear me
[00:22:30] minimize or
[00:22:32] Or
[00:22:35] It comes back to surrender and letting go
[00:22:37] Of that control there is no other place. I mean when
[00:22:43] Circumstances and situations are out of control
[00:22:48] And we think this is passive and this is just giving up
[00:22:52] But but hear me out here
[00:22:55] for me
[00:22:56] Coming to these deep dark places
[00:23:00] Based on circumstances and situations as well as my own mind trying to
[00:23:06] To master and stay in control
[00:23:10] Of everything
[00:23:11] to manage to try to
[00:23:14] Maintain some level of peace
[00:23:17] That only he can provide
[00:23:20] He had to let that be completely extinguished
[00:23:24] To the degree that I began to dare by faith is and he even has had to supply the faith to say i'm
[00:23:32] I hear over and over will you trust me will you trust me?
[00:23:38] And so as we've gone through
[00:23:41] deaths and
[00:23:43] Terrible accidents and all these disappointments and losses
[00:23:49] It's it's coming back
[00:23:52] And and i'll say again. I can take absolutely no credit
[00:23:57] personally
[00:23:58] For any victory that we've experienced he has supplied it. He is he has so immersed us in the revelation of his love and grace
[00:24:10] And and as we just simply have fallen it on our face before him
[00:24:15] And began to see just how good and faithful he is to watch him
[00:24:22] Do incredible things
[00:24:25] Time after time in the darkest of situations
[00:24:30] Finally
[00:24:31] We say okay. I don't get this
[00:24:34] Well, we our son died three and a half years ago when I got the word that day
[00:24:41] There was a little less panic that happened immediately
[00:24:45] Not that it wasn't there my body and everything's doing but but there was this sense by that point to say
[00:24:53] Okay, this doesn't change who you are
[00:24:56] It doesn't change who you have shown me. I am in you
[00:25:01] My union with you
[00:25:04] And I know you're asking me to trust you with this and I know you're not going to give me the whole picture
[00:25:10] You just are gonna you just asking me to trust you. So will you show me where to put the next foot?
[00:25:16] It's been the development of a lifestyle like that
[00:25:20] Um because more traumas have followed
[00:25:24] But but I really think this is this is the drawing us into
[00:25:30] What it means to walk in the spirit
[00:25:34] And abide there there is rest
[00:25:38] It is a place of peace
[00:25:40] Uh
[00:25:41] In returning and rest is our salvation and quietness and confidence
[00:25:47] Is our strength
[00:25:49] So so I still deal with some panic attack related things in the past few years
[00:25:56] I some of that's crept back up because it's been in my background. See again, remember there are remnants in the brain
[00:26:03] even of things we
[00:26:06] We might have moved past if you will
[00:26:09] And I found in trauma there god is such a god of
[00:26:13] Of he's so faithful and he wants to bring wholeness
[00:26:17] That way he will allow remnants
[00:26:20] Residue that may still be there to come up from time to time so that he can do a deeper work in that
[00:26:26] Wow
[00:26:27] Wow, so so
[00:26:29] Anxiety can can just be an indicator
[00:26:34] Of something uh, it is an indicator that that something's not
[00:26:41] Well in sync
[00:26:43] But don't go try to fix it take it to the father like david did and ask him to identify it
[00:26:50] And then to give direction. So so when I say let him go and following
[00:26:56] It's very important that we know and have confidence in whom we're following
[00:27:01] Right that's coming to just trust in the absolute goodness and faithfulness of god
[00:27:08] If if it's not good, he's not done
[00:27:11] And he is a god of redemption and whether I see it on this side or the other side
[00:27:18] He's he has to fulfill it. He's already committed it to us
[00:27:23] So I'm having to walk in that truth by faith
[00:27:27] When it doesn't match up to my circumstance and situations. I mean, that's the journey
[00:27:31] So you see this element of anxiety and depression and fear
[00:27:36] Is the enemy's playground
[00:27:39] Because and even technology and things is to keep our attention to keep us distracted
[00:27:47] So again when I say keep your eyes fixed on jesus, that's not if you just keep your eyes on him
[00:27:52] Maybe this will go away
[00:27:55] But it's fixed on him to the degree
[00:27:58] In in the context of in the reality of all these things i'm experiencing
[00:28:05] This is who you are you're my anchor
[00:28:08] That holds fast and I will hold fast to you
[00:28:12] So again not to over spiritualize that but that's the foundation
[00:28:18] Then from that place
[00:28:21] My ears become attentive
[00:28:23] And my eyes become attentive my senses
[00:28:26] to
[00:28:28] Him shepherding my path to this this in this journey of healing and wholeness, which is he's he's in it
[00:28:37] He was in it begin before we even knew we had a problem and he's going to be in it long afterwards
[00:28:44] He
[00:28:46] He is not abandoning us
[00:28:48] But it sure feel like you said we don't even want to the time that we need him most
[00:28:54] Even the chemicals in our body are saying no, I don't want to be with anybody
[00:28:59] Right, then we isolate and then we just make ourselves more prey for the enemy
[00:29:03] Wow, that's some good stuff, Rob
[00:29:05] That's a revelation that
[00:29:07] That was not easily found with you and rose. I mean that y'all earned that one
[00:29:12] And I don't mean to say it that way, but I mean it didn't just show up one day
[00:29:16] I like oh, well, we got this great revelation from the lord here. We are look how smart we are how we can help folks
[00:29:21] Where they're at? I mean, I mean paul said it's not that I've attained anything and I tell
[00:29:28] I work with ministry leaders and I tell them every day
[00:29:32] And I really think
[00:29:34] I really see purpose in this god has not all of a sudden delivered us from all trial and tribulation
[00:29:42] And we as you know in this season of ministry is when we've experienced the loss of a child
[00:29:47] We've been through a number of different things and I really believe
[00:29:53] I don't believe the god has inflicted that I believe that's from the enemy
[00:29:56] But I know god's had a plan in it all alone and what he's done is he's kept us authentic
[00:30:03] So when I sit down with somebody I'm sharing with you today not because this is what I did if you do this
[00:30:08] Then you'll be okay like me
[00:30:11] No way in heaven or hell
[00:30:13] Right because I'm challenged every day to get up and I have waves of depression and anxiety that want to come over me
[00:30:21] My mentor of 30 years says reposter and breathe
[00:30:28] Reset
[00:30:30] And when I sit in this spiritual healthy place
[00:30:35] Then I can take the steps
[00:30:37] Moment by moment day by day
[00:30:40] In terms of who I need to see
[00:30:42] What I need to eat today if I need to get exercise to burn some of that
[00:30:48] Excess energy and nervousness, you know, whatever it is
[00:30:52] I'm operating from a foundation of who he is
[00:30:57] And the fruit of the spirit abides there
[00:31:00] And I begin to experience that and it changes me and it changes my course
[00:31:06] And it changes every encounter I have with another person
[00:31:09] Yeah, and so
[00:31:12] If guys are listening they're not there. They don't they're like these guys are nuts. These are losers
[00:31:16] They're just weak. That's a false humility. It's coming bro. Get ready and I'm not speaking that on some
[00:31:23] I don't I don't want to clear that over somebody
[00:31:25] But you know, you don't see these things like you said we're we're taught to go to school
[00:31:29] Get a diploma buy house raise kids save money eat well
[00:31:34] And everything's going to end up okay
[00:31:36] And then you see that every day not being the case
[00:31:40] So when the bible tells us to put on
[00:31:44] Our full armor of god, I mean he's not kidding because
[00:31:48] The battle is coming the war is coming to us
[00:31:51] And we have to be in an offensive posture so that we're not constantly fighting from the defensive end of things
[00:31:57] And that goes back well, we could have a show on this one that goes back to abiding with the father
[00:32:02] Any can you can you speak for just a few minutes on the abiding of with the father?
[00:32:08] Yeah, and I definitely want to
[00:32:10] I
[00:32:13] The the things I'm talking about sound passive
[00:32:19] And they and just to say just trust god just like
[00:32:23] I mean, especially as men we're not we're not wired that way. We're wired
[00:32:30] To to fight to stand to
[00:32:33] uh to lead
[00:32:35] Uh, not not that women aren't don't have those same callings but
[00:32:40] this
[00:32:42] Again, this aligns us in such a way that we
[00:32:47] Know the voice of god and we're walking in that that that's what this abiding is
[00:32:54] Is I'm no longer living for him. I'm living from him
[00:32:59] And with him as that source
[00:33:02] And and when when I know his voice I have relationship with him
[00:33:08] Then
[00:33:10] The passion only increases
[00:33:14] I mean now what I find out and I kind of get to be a part of this
[00:33:19] In leaders lives
[00:33:21] I'm pulling back the reins because once you start touching this kind of life
[00:33:26] You want to go get them
[00:33:29] So now
[00:33:30] Now the lord said to hold on son. We're not we're not ready for that yet, you know, right stay right here with me
[00:33:36] Mm-hmm, but now you're with me
[00:33:39] Right your your heart is in it. Your passion is in it. You don't care about these other things anymore
[00:33:46] Because you know i'm good and you know my way is going to lead you to the everlasting way
[00:33:53] And you're you you hear the oneness
[00:33:57] That breaks down this sense of separation and out of control and what and we so that trust is very powerful
[00:34:06] And active he is in us to will and his do and do his good print pleasure
[00:34:13] so
[00:34:14] So if he's if it's the second chronicles 20 and he's saying wait a minute position yourself and stand
[00:34:20] See the salvation lord. I'll fight this fight
[00:34:23] Then we say okay dad i'm i don't want to do that
[00:34:27] But that's what you said do and then the other time he says take that mountain
[00:34:32] right
[00:34:33] you know so
[00:34:36] That's what he's that's what he's after he wants that kind of intimacy
[00:34:41] And that's not weak
[00:34:43] right jesus was
[00:34:45] meek
[00:34:46] I've heard that was power under under control
[00:34:50] You know, I don't know if that's accurate
[00:34:52] Right, but we walk in the power of the living god
[00:34:56] Yeah, but it is his
[00:34:59] And I get to be a vessel I get the privilege of of being a benefactor of that
[00:35:06] An inheritance
[00:35:09] Is mine
[00:35:11] It does change things
[00:35:14] Because even that in a moment of anxiety or a panic attack
[00:35:19] Will help you stop
[00:35:21] Whether it's breathing exercises a lot of grounding things and there's so many things again holistically
[00:35:28] Resources and tools that can help us walk through this right, but I can authentically
[00:35:34] Bring my will into that into the activity. I'm not resisting that which he may want to use
[00:35:43] To bring me to that place of peace and to reveal himself more and more to me so that that confidence only grows
[00:35:52] No matter the circumstance or situation that is grace
[00:35:56] That is the favor and the power and the life of and the perfect love of
[00:36:03] The father received by his creation as he purposed in christ
[00:36:11] And that's where we have to walk from live from breathe from exist from
[00:36:16] Is right there
[00:36:18] Like you say we're men. We're supposed to go out kill it drag it home so she can cook it for supper
[00:36:23] And that's great. That's a that's a picture of the father, but it's not the only picture of the father
[00:36:30] And he wants us like you said to abide in him
[00:36:33] Trust not with this false humility that oh, well, you know, I'm doing okay with jesus. This is good
[00:36:38] And you know, he's empowered me to go out and you know stomp on everything. Yes indeed
[00:36:43] But at the same time we have to have that
[00:36:46] You use the word grounding and I know what that was in regards to but literally we have to be grounded in christ
[00:36:52] Right as we're going to move forward in this man
[00:36:55] Well, and this for another time this one of the key pieces to this walk
[00:37:02] Is uh
[00:37:04] Again, we've got this expectation on us, especially as men to be strong and to push through and
[00:37:11] But to be honest with our own challenges our own brokenness our own struggles
[00:37:17] And to and to learn how to grieve that
[00:37:21] Right, David is the perfect example of that through scripture
[00:37:25] And there are certainly
[00:37:27] many others
[00:37:28] But grieving and lamenting we live in a fallen world
[00:37:32] We daily experience some level of loss and disappointment and pain
[00:37:38] And that's where we get in trouble because we're notorious for stuffing all that back in the brain and thinking we're okay
[00:37:46] And we push through and and that's where addictions and all these different
[00:37:53] symptomatic things that follow are a result of what's what's not been
[00:37:59] A lifestyle of healthy processing with the father and with the holy spirit
[00:38:06] So it's all very practical. It meets us physically mentally emotionally as well as spiritually
[00:38:12] But we have to know who the source of that is
[00:38:15] It's not a secular resource. It does not recognize or acknowledge
[00:38:20] The very core of our created being
[00:38:23] Right, right
[00:38:25] Can can we now?
[00:38:27] Uh, maybe not put the date on the calendar. Can we have you come back and delve into that with us?
[00:38:32] If you dare I will be glad to
[00:38:37] Let me be still so you can see the resemblance
[00:38:39] When I look at rob it's so funny
[00:38:42] He looks more like my grandfather than he looks like his dad to me. So
[00:38:47] Rob's dad and my dad are first cousins
[00:38:50] their granddaddies were brothers and
[00:38:53] Man, I just appreciate you being here Rob. It always so deep and it sometimes it's scary
[00:38:58] It's so deep, but we appreciate you being with us
[00:39:01] Well, I'm not a I'm a shallow person, but I've dared to trust in the deep
[00:39:05] So, um, I hope God can use it for something
[00:39:09] But I don't see anything. I'm not having to walk out and live out even today. So, uh, I appreciate you letting me share
[00:39:16] Absolutely
[00:39:17] Well, like he said, he is walking it out. He has walked it out. We are
[00:39:22] Participants we've watched we've been there with them and uh, it's a he's it's the real deal
[00:39:27] He's the real deal and the truth of the matter is it all goes back to Jesus. That's the reason we're here
[00:39:33] That's the reason we're doing this and it's not just
[00:39:36] It's Sunday night
[00:39:38] The song is playing just as I am. I got to get saved again this week
[00:39:42] We're talking to you about where you are and what you're facing and
[00:39:47] Potentially going through fighting through whatever you want to describe it as but we're we're here for you and again
[00:39:53] I can't close the show without reminding you
[00:39:55] to find a brother to find someone that you can be truthful with share where you're at with
[00:40:01] and
[00:40:02] Begin to abide in and through christ and get out of the spot here and jesus didn't make you for this
[00:40:08] But he can use this to grow you like rob said all right. Thank you so much for listening to the modern christian men show
[00:40:14] We'll be back next time to carry the conversation on god bless