September 8, 2024 • 35 mins
Can comfort be a spiritual stumbling block? As we get older, it's easy to slow down and settle into patterns that prioritize ease over growth. Join us in this episode of Foxhole Symphony as we challenge ourselves and our listeners to examine what it truly means to follow Jesus daily, sharing personal stories from the golf course and the football field that highlight how our physical and spiritual journeys often mirror each other. We explore the idea that we might be too comfortable in our faith, especially when compared to the fervor with which we follow social media influencers and our own appetites.
In our discussion, we shift towards the idea of living a life where faith is not a separate compartment but integrated into every moment. Drawing inspiration from John 12:26, we talk about the importance of acknowledging God's presence in all our actions, thoughts, and words, and how this impacts our daily lives. We reflect on the teachings from Chris Bruno's book "Sage," emphasizing the pursuit of wisdom and the joy found in God's creation. This segment underscores the necessity of community and the pitfalls of moralism, successism, and individualism that we must avoid to stay true to our spiritual journey.
As the episode progresses, we delve into a lesson in nature, using the image of a perfectly shaped oak tree to discuss the beauty of surrendering to God's plans. We talk about the constant struggle between personal desires and spiritual priorities, and how putting God first provides structure and purpose. Ending on a hopeful note, we offer a prayer for healing and encourage listeners to engage with our community by sharing the podcast and providing feedback. Prepare to be inspired to embrace discomfort and live an authentic, faith-driven life.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the
transformational value of men inauthentic community.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
In our foxhole.
Men are equipped to buildrelationships that foster
belonging, accountability andgrowth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in
isolation and instead join us onthe journey from broken to
whole.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hello everyone.
They call me the maestro and weare back in the foxhole where
we actively pursue belonging,accountability and growth
through authentic relationships.
No masks, no agendas, just ironsharpening iron.
Mark and Steve are back in thefoxhole and they are talking
about who they follow.
You know, with technology today, that has a potential of being
(00:50):
a very long list.
It's time to open our ears, ourminds and our favorite notes
app.
Let's get started.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Hey, welcome back to Foxhole Symphony Podcast.
I'm Sart here with my goodfriend Mark.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Hey bro, how are you?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
today.
Good, I'm, good, I'm my tailswagging a little bit slower
today, it's just a little bitslower.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, you've got this important birthday staring you
in the face and, yes, you knowthis multi day celebration.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yes, I'm tired, I'm tired, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I'm tired of having fun.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I am, as I turn the corner, 50,.
I'm like I don't know if Ineeded all this.
I really just like an afternoonnap would have been perfect.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That's good for me, right I'm good, I know, and
isn't it great?
I even do that.
I'm not joking like golf aboutwhole 14.
I'm like okay.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, well, that's so funny.
You say that Cause I, nick andI, are playing golf today, so we
get.
He did, yes, last night.
He's like, hey, dad, let's getout, let's get out on the course
.
I and, and honestly, yes, right, like, get get out with your
boy and play this beautifulcourse.
So that's, that's what we'regoing to do today.
(02:06):
Awesome, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, giants games.
You know things are going.
I'm not just not kidding, I'm I.
You know how much I lovefootball, but I'm sitting there
at the end of the third quartermight be freezing, my took is
off and I'm like enough, pillow,right, right.
There's so many times in life.
Sometimes people come to thehouse and I'm like two hours,
three hours, having a blast.
But yeah at hour four.
(02:28):
I'm like OK.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Well, hey, listen, you know what it's a?
It's a great metaphor and segueinto our topic of conversation
today.
To be honest, I mean it's justperfect, right, because we we
get to a place where we like tobe comfortable right In our
younger years, we're a littlebit more willing to take risks
(02:51):
and be uncomfortable and webounce back quicker, right, and
I don't know, something happens.
And we get to a point where weget a little closer to
retirement and a little justslowing down.
Talk to me a little closer toretirement and a little, you
know, just slowing down.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Talk to me.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
I'd like to be in my bed.
I'd rather be, you know, athome with my pillow.
Oh right, all those things.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Oh good, I get it.
And it also, just for a moment,makes me think.
The fact that you're turning 50actually makes me realize how
much older I am than you.
I don't think about thatgenerally.
I feel like we're peers and weare in so many ways, but I'm 65.
You're 50 years old.
That 15 really sticks out rightnow.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
And I'm just trying to catch up to you as fast as I
run.
I just can't seem to get there.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Don't um bro this, this verse in John 12, 12, when
he was talking to his disciplesabout leaving them and going to
heaven and what was to come, andthat you've seen me make that
confused face which is what Iwear very often, but that what
his disciples felt and lookedlike when he started talking
(04:03):
about leaving, like I've got togo, and the the John 12, 26, and
I don't have it right in frontof me, but it speaks to um that
if you, my servants, follow me,they need to be where I am,
because God will honor anyonewho serves and follows me.
Right, right, and I can't tellyou exactly why, but as God
(04:27):
would have it in my life, Ithought of that and I said how
am I doing that today?
How does that, how doesfollowing God manifest itself in
my life?
Speaker 4 (04:37):
What's that look?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
like, and I'm.
I've only been on this for anhour in processing and praying,
but I have a feeling I'm prettycomfortable.
I've only been on this for anhour in processing and praying,
but I have a feeling I'm prettycomfortable.
I've gotten comfortable in this.
Yeah, just yeah, like.
See, see my badge, my FollowJesus badge.
You can see it right, it'sright there.
(05:00):
I pin it on my chest everymorning and then I go live my
life.
So, look, let's talk about whatit means to follow something
else.
Here's a great juxtaposition.
Take God out of it.
What else do you follow?
Because don't you think ofsocial media, right?
I follow this group and Ifollow that, and I follow this
(05:21):
writer, this reader, this actor,this movie, this genre, this IP
, whatever.
Think of something that youfollow.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, sure, follow people, I mean, you know, follow
people, right.
Follow other leaders, you know.
Look for, I mean, in today'sworld of influencers, right, ooh
, my goodness, you knoweverybody wants to be followed.
You know I follow my ownappetite, uh, not just my, you
(05:50):
know, uh, physical appetite, butemotional appetite and, and you
know, sexual appetite andpsychological appetite.
And you know whatever I hungerfor, right, idols, um, following
after, looking for, looking for, you know, whatever it is that
you know might fill a void atany given moment of any day, um,
(06:12):
so, yeah, um, that's, that'sthose are.
There's a million things rightand what?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
okay, so what do you do?
So pick something you know,anything you like I mean um off
the top of my head.
I'm so enjoying watchingdifferent foods be made, like if
you jump on YouTube or anyplace else like that, I see
recipes.
You know, I send them to youwhen the guy's making that
Italian sandwich.
Right oh yeah, right, and that'sexactly how he talks.
(06:39):
He goes hey, the sandwich,right.
I got to go super sad and therehe is, he's making this thing
and I'm sitting there with mymouth watering going it's
harmless, right?
I don't think there's.
There's no sin in it.
I'm watching some guy makesomething I would eat 10 of like
it's a big.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
It's a big gluttonous .
It isn't like a 12 foot sub youknow?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
oh, I wasn't say that .
Did you see me hold my handsapart?
But right, so he puts aboutseven pounds of cabal goal on
the sandwich.
But when I follow that, myheart I get.
There's a passion.
Right, there's a um.
I don't um, I'm not the guyclicking.
(07:21):
I think there's a button youcan click and say, ah, I want to
see all of his recipes.
I don't do that.
Sure, they're like little candy, they're the little surprises,
little chocolate-covered mintson the pillow in my day.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It's a distraction.
It's a little distraction,right, it's a little sweet, but
yeah, it's interesting.
You're talking about food,because I was thinking about
that too, and my wife's anutrition health coach, and so
you know we talk all the timeabout mindless eating.
It's one of the biggest issues,you know, when it?
(07:53):
When it comes to what we put inour mouths, right, we were
unkind as Mark holds his hand,guilty as charged.
Yeah, you know, as we go aboutour day, right, If it's there, I
grab it, I pop it in my mouth.
I don't even know, I did it,right until it's until it's over
, and they still not even thinkabout it.
It's the mindlessness of ourday, and it's not just food,
it's whatever we consume, it'swhatever.
(08:14):
Whatever we look at, it'swhatever we, it's an
undisciplined life, and sothat's what I think of, and you
know.
And then, on the other side ofthat is mindfulness.
Now, it's a dirty word to some,you know it's like oh, wait a
minute, okay, hang on.
Like that's not a you knowthat's not a biblical principle.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I agree, and I think if you take the ness off of that
then it's not as icky, right,you're just being mindful, right
, sure and focused.
By the way, this just occurredto me, I can't believe it didn't
before, but I proudly say I'm afollower of Jesus.
Not often enough, but I do.
(08:50):
Yet if someone said to me, isSarge a follower or a leader,
I'd say he's a leader,absolutely positively.
We wear the.
I wear I don't want to speakfor you I wear my leadership
badge, my front of the housebadge, proudly.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
It's interesting.
I have been interviewed forleadership positions in
Christian ministry before andit's so funny because I've
approached and this is manyyears ago, I mean this is
probably I mean it's more than10 years, I don't know, maybe
even more than that and Iremember talking about you, know
my ability to lead in certainareas in that interview and I
(09:33):
remember the interviewer sayingto me Sarge, there's no question
that you are a leader.
The question I have for you iscan you follow?
And it was like a sledgehammerin the forehead.
I was like whoa.
(09:54):
I need to think about that oneand get back to you Exactly
which you can't say in aninterview.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So I'm sorry that's a tiny tangent, but really key,
really key is acknowledging ouridentity as followers of Christ.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Absolutely what is required of us to actually
follow.
It means we're not in the lead.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
At all and without the Holy Spirit leading us,
showing us the path I'm going tograb.
Leading us showing us the path.
I'm going to grab wow ourbrother, Richard, every day
tells us the journey continues.
He does.
And I'm here to ask you does it?
(10:35):
Once you decide to follow Jesus, do you get your?
Can you rest?
Can you say I follow Jesus?
Can you check the follow boxand say that journey, that I'm,
there's no decision anymore.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Well, it's like the old song.
It's like the right.
It's like the old song.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
I have it right here in my notes.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
You made a decision, you stepped over the line of
faith.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
No, turning back.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
No turning back.
That's when the journey starts.
That's just the beginning ofthe journey.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
How about that?
That's exactly what I wasthinking, that in order to be
saved, to be rescued, theevangelicals, right, we would
have you believe.
There's two or three things yougot to say, and one of them is
that I believe, I believe Jesusdied.
He's my savior, he died for mysins, right, right, and I'm
(11:33):
going to follow him.
So you do, you the the.
The first step towards thatrescue mission of your heart and
soul is to say put your hand up.
Yeah, I believe I will followyou.
Right, that journey's over Nowyou go to heaven, right, am I
(11:55):
right?
Yep, okay, check, I'm going toheaven Now.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
It obviously doesn't mean I can take a hard left and
start, you know, doing all Iwill say it does take more it
obviously doesn't mean I cantake a hard left and start, you
know, doing all I will say.
It does take more than sayingthat there's a belief in the
heart and a, you know, romans 10, 9, 10.
I mean just you know, but Idon't want to detract the
conversation.
But there's a little bit morethan that.
For listeners that that's mightbe new too.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And I well interesting, you say that
because I can sit here in frontof you and say my son asked me
at some time in the last 10years so, dad, the son of Sam,
if he gave his heart to Jesuswould he go to heaven.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
And I'm like yes, absolutely, we have a hard time
with that.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
We're still talking about it, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah, I mean really.
It's just one of those moments.
So sorry for that tangent, butshout out to Brother Richard
Slaughter and thank you forsaying the journey continues,
because I agree with youcompletely.
I'm coming all the way backaround to.
The journey really begins therethe acknowledgement of God,
first, of the fact that he gavehis son to save us, the fact
(13:04):
that he wants a loverelationship with us.
Now you're following God.
What has got me today is whatdoes this mean?
Have I adjusted how I act andtalk and walk as a follower?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Well, yes, there's some things to talk about there
that you know, even from thismorning's devotional from our
Victorious Together group, whichI think we should get to.
But before we do, the otherthing that comes to mind is, you
know, playing off of themindful nature, right, the being
mindful of who we are in himand the fact that we have chosen
(13:47):
to follow him day in and dayout, and what that means, and
and uh, prayerfully andmindfully being, um, focused on
that, seeing our world throughthat lens, is living an
integrated life, and this is oneof the main challenges that I
see, particularly men, but allpeople, many people struggle
(14:09):
with.
So, yeah, my God life is overhere, and then I go off to my
job, off to work, or wherever itis that I go, or whatever I do
with my day, day and, distractedor not, you know, my God life
is over there.
That's for church on Sunday, oryou know Bible study on
Wednesday night or whatever,right, and it's, it's.
(14:31):
It's it's separate and distinctand my other parts of my life.
It really doesn't matter whatthat looks like, because my God
life is over there and that'spart of the journey is pulling
that.
It doesn't work like that Godin us, the spirit of God in us,
(14:53):
goes with us and he is in us andwe are in him and we're called
to live a fully integrated life.
And that's where I love whatyou said at the end of that
scripture.
You know, in John, where hesays you know, you're called to
be with me at all times, likeI'm going and you're called to
(15:14):
be with me at all times.
And so that's that's theintegrated life.
It's wherever we go, we arewith him and he is with us and
we need to be mindful of that sothat we are bringing him into
every area of our lives.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
John 12, 26 says in the NLT anyone who wants to
serve me must follow me, becausemy servants must be where I am
and the Father will honor anyonewho serves me.
So I want to make sure I get itright.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah.
So what does it mean, my gosh?
I mean to do that.
It requires discipline.
It means doing the hard things.
It means you know being patientand suffering.
It means you know being joyfulin hard times.
It means persevering.
It means you know you startedto go down this path.
I thought, and it reminded meof the devotional this morning,
(16:17):
of our behaviors, of what do,how we act, and and it's it's
yes, like our behaviors matter,our words matter.
All of these things, you know,matter, but we also need to be
careful.
We need to be careful that wedon't fall into the trap of
moralism um that's rightsuccessism, individualism, yeah,
(16:56):
the success is in.
What does a successful life looklike when we've arrived?
Right as I turn the corner here, you're 65, I'm 50, toes in the
warm sand, going, golfing withmy son today, traveling, doing
all these wonderful things thatthere's nothing wrong with?
God wants us to enjoy Hiscreation, of course, but what
(17:20):
are we called to?
What are we called to?
What are we called to?
What does it look like tofollow him, especially in the
later years of our life?
Right, chris, bruno?
And the sage?
You know, sage book, sagehood,what does sagehood look like?
We can't lose sight of that,you know.
And then individualism, right,is it just?
Is it just me?
Is it just me and God?
So what does it look like tofollow him?
(17:40):
Is it just me following him, oram I supposed to be bringing
others?
Am I supposed to be incommunity with?
Of course I am.
It's not just about me and God.
It's being in rightrelationship with others.
It's bringing others along.
And so, yeah, these are likefine lines that are easy to get
blurred.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
You're right, there's definitely 12 episodes In just
the last three minutes of youtalking, I think there's 12.
First of all, to show you howaligned we are, continue to be
and how God works in us.
At about three minutes before Iwas going to contact you to do
this together, I thought, oh,let me get prepared.
And then I thought, no, let mejust relax.
(18:21):
And then I thought, no, let mejust relax.
And I looked over and the sagebook is right here to my left,
as you know.
So I just picked it up and Iwent and opened it and there was
wisdom right there in front ofme, two minutes, three minutes,
before we started talking thismorning.
So you just referencing thesage book makes me realize that,
look, I don't know what theSage book and shout out to Chris
(18:43):
Bruno says specifically aboutfollowing God, but I know
there's something good in there.
Because that book we can'trecommend the book Sage enough.
Anyone who's listening.
Shout out to Brother Chris andthe Sage.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
And we get nothing for that.
This is not some kind ofshameless promotion.
We just we've been both beendeeply impacted by that book,
and Chris and his ministry Ibelieve I follow is by
acknowledging creation.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I thought of what's one thing I do and I've you know
that I've really tried to focuson that in the last few years
(19:27):
is just enjoying the beautywherever I am.
I, I I have suffered from themalady of I need to go to Italy
to see something beautiful inTuscany, or I need to go to
Alaska to see a glacier, or Ineed to go see the whales, as
I'm heading, you know, on theferry up to Maine, and it's all
(19:49):
true, it's beautiful.
There's also beauty on the wayto the store here in town.
There's beauty all around me.
So one of the ways I know I'min sync and on the correct path
on that journey we're talkingabout is that I am slowing down
enough to acknowledge the beautyof creation on a cloudy day.
(20:09):
It's the best way I can explainit.
Does that make sense?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Yeah, it makes totally sense.
It totally makes sense.
The, you know, reminds me ofpracticing the presence, which
is practicing the presence ofGod wherever we are, in every
circumstance, in the mundaneRight, you know, I think that's
that's, that's a huge part offollowing him, that's part of
that mindful nature that, youknow, we are with him and in all
(20:37):
things, and he is with us inall things.
And you know, I think thecreation piece is, is, it is a
big one, um, you know, having agrateful heart and appreciating
the beauty of creation, um,wherever we are is, uh, man,
what an incredible.
I could think of some horrificplaces that I've been many, many
(21:01):
, many years ago, and I rememberraising my eyes up, lifting my
eyes up above the circumstances,so that all I could see was the
mountaintops and the sunsetting.
I remember it vividly and I wasin utter despair, utter despair
, vividly, and I was in utterdespair, utter despair, and I
(21:26):
remember sitting there, justcrying out to God, looking up at
the mountains and my heart justchanging from this, this heart
of fear and despair, to one ofutter gratitude and joy and
peace.
And wouldn't you know, shortlyafter that, and wouldn't you
know shortly after that, godfreed me from these
circumstances that I wasseemingly stuck in, and so again
(21:49):
, god's in it all.
God's in it all.
Maybe it's coincidental.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Look at you.
You're moonwalking out of this.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, exactly, but probably not.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Listen, he's in it all, who knows.
But I think there's a lot to besaid.
But you get it and I'll giveyou my example.
This says to me and I'm notdislocating my shoulder to pat
myself on the back, I'm sayingmy eyes are open.
God has opened my eyes.
To pat myself on the back, I'msaying my eyes are open.
God has opened my eyes.
On my way from here to town,3.1 miles, there's a tree,
there's an oak tree, and it isone of those oak trees, sarge.
(22:28):
That's perfectly shaped.
It's got to be 50, 60, 70 yearold tree.
It's a super mature tree and itlooks like somebody took fine
scissors and trimmed it right.
Yeah, when it's leafed out andin the fall, when it turns
yellow.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
It is breathtaking.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I learned to love that tree in the winter because
without a leaf on it it's stillperfect.
And it's got that.
You see the branches and justhow things are shaped and you're
thinking that's such a goodlife metaphor because underneath
those beautiful dying leaves isthis tree.
(23:09):
Structure is the word that'scoming to mind, but I know it's
the wrong one, but there it is.
The infrastructure of that treeis gorgeous in those crappy
February days in New Jersey andit's a little thing, but I love
that tree 12 months, 365.
(23:32):
And I'd really be sad if thattree died now that I think about
it.
But I've been here 20 odd yearsand that tree has been there as
long and we watched it grow tofull.
I mean, it's not getting anytaller.
Right Tree grows to exact size.
So, yes, acknowledging creationis one.
Let me go to another one thatresonates with me and that is
the putting God first andrecognizing his sovereignty
(23:57):
Another way.
I know I'm on track and you'veheard my prayer life.
No one more than you has heardmy prayer life out loud.
I don't think in my life andyou hear me.
You know believing in God,trusting in God, keeping God out
front and acknowledging Ifollow the one true God that's
(24:18):
so important in my walk.
Now that I leave, I don't leaveany opportunity.
The enemy cannot take thatground.
I will not relinquish thatspace, that spot In my head and
heart.
My God is first, and it's asmall.
(24:40):
It's one of the steps, but it'sa small step that I've taken to
inwardly and outwardly address.
Am I following him this day?
I try to start every day withthat and don't get me wrong, I
go off and do some hystericallystupid things and say terrible
(25:02):
things.
But yeah, so following God andacknowledging, recognizing that
he is sovereign, that he's, he'sgot it and I don't need to have
it, how's that?
How's that feel for you?
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Oh my gosh, I mean it's just.
You know how's it feel.
It feels filled with giant bagsof fear.
I mean you know it's like.
I mean really you know sayingliving, that are two completely
different things.
You know, living our lives asthough you know we fully believe
in, you know, god's sovereigntyover our little individual,
(25:37):
personal lives and that he isfaithful and trustworthy and,
with all of it, right With our,our entire lives and those we
love, and um all of ourcircumstances and right, I mean
that's tough, tough.
So yes, I mean that is, that isthe journey, continues my
brother.
I mean that's tough, tough, itis.
So yes, I mean that is thejourney, continues my brother.
(25:59):
I mean that's, you know,challenging stuff, but yes,
that's part of following him forsure.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And it's.
I want to be clear, saying thatI don't feel small or smaller.
And saying that I don't feelsmall or smaller, right,
realizing what a speck I am inGod's creation and my tiny
little bit of time that I'm hereon the planet to breathe this
out, to honor him.
(26:28):
Right, I realize very smallparts, mark.
I don't have any visions ofgrandeur about my role in the
overall plan, but there's acomfort, a settledness in
putting him first for me.
That just it helps my day,that's all.
I hope it helps somebody else'stoo.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Because look, if you just go out and do it and act
like it, great I.
I find that saying it out loudright.
Yeah, Lord, I believe in you, Itrust in you over everything
man-made.
How many times you're hearingme say that?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting, as you're talking
about that, it's, it's, you know, it makes me think of the fact
that it's both moment by momentas well as, like, long-term.
Like you know, I'm a planner,I'm a visionary, and so I, I, I
plan my life.
Right, I'm, I'm, I'm planning.
There's, there's, there's a,there's a trap there too, not to
(27:24):
always be planning, but to tobe present, right To to just be.
Uh, you know, living just fortoday, Uh, but during those
seasons of planning, what am Iplanning?
And you know, living just fortoday, but during those seasons
of planning.
What am I planning?
And you know it goes back tothe successism and individualism
, right?
Like am I.
(27:45):
Am I planning for my comfort?
Yes, most of the time I am.
I'm not planning for discomfort, right, and so, like you know,
is God first.
You know to your point, am Iputting God first in my planning
, in my financial planning?
in my retirement planning, in myyou know my recreational
planning, in my family planning.
You know my career planning.
All of this Like is thatthrough the lens of God?
(28:10):
First, you know, or am Ilooking at that through what I
really want or think I need?
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Ouch that, that's two episodes.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Yeah, that's a whole life.
I mean listen, come on.
There's you know, I, I look atpeople I meet very few people,
and you probably do too who livethat out.
You know beautifully andfaithfully where it's just.
It's just never about them ortheir knee or their plant.
They're like like they areliving a radically sold out life
(28:47):
, short and long term, for Jesus, yeah.
And whenever I see them, I'malways in awe and I'm like, wow,
like I want to be more likethat.
Yes, there's more.
There's more dying the selfthat needs to happen.
There's more taking up thecross that needs to happen.
There's more.
You know.
(29:07):
You know longing forirrelevance rather than
relevance, right For being lessimportant rather than more
important.
I mean all of these things inthe world all fuzzled up on a
silver platter.
It says don't you want it,don't you want this.
I mean again, whole new episodethere.
We've talked about that andwe'll have one, maybe the next
(29:28):
one.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Right, we'll talk a little bit about that, but these
are all big, big parts offollowing God.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Really, what I just heard you say was surrender,
surrender, surrender, surrender,surrender.
There's so much surrendering inthis journey, relinquishing all
the things in front of us andthat part I guess, that part I
guess.
(29:56):
So, surrendering the things ofthe world and loving our God and
one another, the greatcommandment, I think these are
the key ingredients in theformula.
Although I'm not formulaic bymy nature, I'm happy to see when
(30:17):
something adds up like a recipe, right.
Oh, if you put the rightingredients in, you get a good
cake.
Well, I think we can agreewithout question that
surrendering our hearts andlearning to love better make
this journey that much morefruitful.
We tend to you know how I livethat out day to day is a whole
(30:43):
nother story and episode.
But I think we can agree.
We absolutely are in surrendermode.
We know what needs to besurrendered.
The key is the execution.
You said you're a planner and Iquickly think, like you, plan,
plan, plan.
You got to execute at somepoint.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
And then because with execution comes pass or fail,
yeah, and execution when itcomes to following God is
dropping to our knees.
Yeah, and execution when itcomes to following God is
dropping to our knees.
Right Hands open, taking up ourcross Surrender that's what it
looks like, right.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
It's actually doing less right it's being with him
and doing less right, beinghuman beings rather than human
doings.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Ooh, that's a bumper sticker.
Absolutely To your point.
There's fruit, there's fruit.
So we talked about moralism, wetalked about behavior and all
of that.
This isn't about behaviormodification, but the fruit of
our lives should be evident.
It doesn't mean that, um, we,we've got these beautifully, you
know, are perfectly beautifulor beautifully perfect lives.
(31:59):
You know that.
That, just, you know um, youdon't.
It's, it's messy and painful,but the fruit, the fruit of the
spirit, you know um, our spiritsand and our words and our, our,
our actions, actions modelingand reflecting His love and His
(32:19):
grace, become more and more andmore a part of the fabric of our
lives and are the fruit offollowing after Him.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I couldn't agree more , and I think a good closing for
me here is.
I want to acknowledge I believeyou are a good disciple.
I believe that I watch you.
You're in the word, you'regiving time.
You're carving out part of yourday with your long list of
things to do.
(32:50):
You're making sure early thatyou're starting with God.
You're in the foxhole with yourbrothers right, supporting and
loving your brothers.
You're out front, serving.
So and although I don't knowspecifically, I know you're
giving.
You're giving in lots of waysin your time, talents and
treasures.
So so thank you for being agood example for all of us of
(33:12):
what a disciple looks like.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Oh, you as well, man.
It's been quite a journey, yepRight, we've sharpened each
other, been through many valleys, celebrated many mountaintops
and we'll continue because, asRichard says, the journey
continues.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Peace.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Well, the obvious question of the day who am I
following and who are youfollowing?
How do we balance our lives,the technology, the
relationships, the time For me?
I am prayerfully focused onseeking God's help with
glorifying him in all that I do.
Prayerfully focused on seekingGod's help with glorifying Him
(33:55):
in all that I do.
In fact, I speak those verywords each morning when I pray
with my family before I leavefor work.
I fully understand I'm nevergoing to be perfect, but
striving toward a deepersanctification, a sovereign
refinement that can only comefrom God, it's like stepping out
of the cold shadows and feelingthe warm sun on your face.
(34:19):
So I ask who do you follow andhow is that working out for you?
As we drive down the road, onour journey, we have to ask
these questions pretty muchevery day who's behind the wheel
, who's in the passenger seat,the back seat and who's in the
passenger seat, the backseat andwho's in the trunk?
(34:39):
Lord, please continue to usethis podcast to impact the lives
of all who listen.
I ask that you would bring hopeand healing to each and every
one of them, Lord.
Meet them right where they areand reveal yourself to them like
only you can do In Jesus' name,amen.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it
and invite others to them, likeonly you can do.
In Jesus' name, amen.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please share it and invite
others to the Foxhole.
You can find us wherever youdownload your favorite podcasts.
Be sure to subscribe so youknow when new episodes drop, and
please rate us and commentthere too, as it'll help us get
found by others who couldbenefit.
Find, follow and like us onyour go-to social media networks
by searching Foxhole Symphonyor visit foxholesymphonycom to
(35:17):
make it super easy to find us.
Drop us a line with feedback,questions, topic requests.
Who knows, maybe you'll be aguest on a future episode.
In the meantime, prepare tomove, embrace discomfort and
just be you.
Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the
transformational value of men inauthentic community.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
In our foxhole.
Men are equipped to buildrelationships that foster
belonging, accountability andgrowth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in
isolation and instead join us onthe journey from broken to
whole.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hello everyone.
They call me the maestro and weare back in the foxhole where
we actively pursue belonging,accountability and growth
through authentic relationships.
No masks, no agendas, just ironsharpening iron.
Mark and Steve are back in thefoxhole and they are talking
about who they follow.
You know, with technology today, that has a potential of being
(00:50):
a very long list.
It's time to open our ears, ourminds and our favorite notes
app.
Let's get started.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Hey, welcome back to Foxhole Symphony Podcast.
I'm Sart here with my goodfriend Mark.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Hey bro, how are you?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
today.
Good, I'm, good, I'm my tailswagging a little bit slower
today, it's just a little bitslower.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, you've got this important birthday staring you
in the face and, yes, you knowthis multi day celebration.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yes, I'm tired, I'm tired, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I'm tired of having fun.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I am, as I turn the corner, 50,.
I'm like I don't know if Ineeded all this.
I really just like an afternoonnap would have been perfect.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
That's good for me, right I'm good, I know, and
isn't it great?
I even do that.
I'm not joking like golf aboutwhole 14.
I'm like okay.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, well, that's so funny.
You say that Cause I, nick andI, are playing golf today, so we
get.
He did, yes, last night.
He's like, hey, dad, let's getout, let's get out on the course
.
I and, and honestly, yes, right, like, get get out with your
boy and play this beautifulcourse.
So that's, that's what we'regoing to do today.
(02:06):
Awesome, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, giants games.
You know things are going.
I'm not just not kidding, I'm I.
You know how much I lovefootball, but I'm sitting there
at the end of the third quartermight be freezing, my took is
off and I'm like enough, pillow,right, right.
There's so many times in life.
Sometimes people come to thehouse and I'm like two hours,
three hours, having a blast.
But yeah at hour four.
(02:28):
I'm like OK.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Well, hey, listen, you know what it's a?
It's a great metaphor and segueinto our topic of conversation
today.
To be honest, I mean it's justperfect, right, because we we
get to a place where we like tobe comfortable right In our
younger years, we're a littlebit more willing to take risks
(02:51):
and be uncomfortable and webounce back quicker, right, and
I don't know, something happens.
And we get to a point where weget a little closer to
retirement and a little justslowing down.
Talk to me a little closer toretirement and a little, you
know, just slowing down.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Talk to me.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
I'd like to be in my bed.
I'd rather be, you know, athome with my pillow.
Oh right, all those things.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Oh good, I get it.
And it also, just for a moment,makes me think.
The fact that you're turning 50actually makes me realize how
much older I am than you.
I don't think about thatgenerally.
I feel like we're peers and weare in so many ways, but I'm 65.
You're 50 years old.
That 15 really sticks out rightnow.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
And I'm just trying to catch up to you as fast as I
run.
I just can't seem to get there.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Don't um bro this, this verse in John 12, 12, when
he was talking to his disciplesabout leaving them and going to
heaven and what was to come, andthat you've seen me make that
confused face which is what Iwear very often, but that what
his disciples felt and lookedlike when he started talking
(04:03):
about leaving, like I've got togo, and the the John 12, 26, and
I don't have it right in frontof me, but it speaks to um that
if you, my servants, follow me,they need to be where I am,
because God will honor anyonewho serves and follows me.
Right, right, and I can't tellyou exactly why, but as God
(04:27):
would have it in my life, Ithought of that and I said how
am I doing that today?
How does that, how doesfollowing God manifest itself in
my life?
Speaker 4 (04:37):
What's that look?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
like, and I'm.
I've only been on this for anhour in processing and praying,
but I have a feeling I'm prettycomfortable.
I've only been on this for anhour in processing and praying,
but I have a feeling I'm prettycomfortable.
I've gotten comfortable in this.
Yeah, just yeah, like.
See, see my badge, my FollowJesus badge.
You can see it right, it'sright there.
(05:00):
I pin it on my chest everymorning and then I go live my
life.
So, look, let's talk about whatit means to follow something
else.
Here's a great juxtaposition.
Take God out of it.
What else do you follow?
Because don't you think ofsocial media, right?
I follow this group and Ifollow that, and I follow this
(05:21):
writer, this reader, this actor,this movie, this genre, this IP
, whatever.
Think of something that youfollow.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, sure, follow people, I mean, you know, follow
people, right.
Follow other leaders, you know.
Look for, I mean, in today'sworld of influencers, right, ooh
, my goodness, you knoweverybody wants to be followed.
You know I follow my ownappetite, uh, not just my, you
(05:50):
know, uh, physical appetite, butemotional appetite and, and you
know, sexual appetite andpsychological appetite.
And you know whatever I hungerfor, right, idols, um, following
after, looking for, looking for, you know, whatever it is that
you know might fill a void atany given moment of any day, um,
(06:12):
so, yeah, um, that's, that'sthose are.
There's a million things rightand what?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
okay, so what do you do?
So pick something you know,anything you like I mean um off
the top of my head.
I'm so enjoying watchingdifferent foods be made, like if
you jump on YouTube or anyplace else like that, I see
recipes.
You know, I send them to youwhen the guy's making that
Italian sandwich.
Right oh yeah, right, and that'sexactly how he talks.
(06:39):
He goes hey, the sandwich,right.
I got to go super sad and therehe is, he's making this thing
and I'm sitting there with mymouth watering going it's
harmless, right?
I don't think there's.
There's no sin in it.
I'm watching some guy makesomething I would eat 10 of like
it's a big.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
It's a big gluttonous .
It isn't like a 12 foot sub youknow?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
oh, I wasn't say that .
Did you see me hold my handsapart?
But right, so he puts aboutseven pounds of cabal goal on
the sandwich.
But when I follow that, myheart I get.
There's a passion.
Right, there's a um.
I don't um, I'm not the guyclicking.
(07:21):
I think there's a button youcan click and say, ah, I want to
see all of his recipes.
I don't do that.
Sure, they're like little candy, they're the little surprises,
little chocolate-covered mintson the pillow in my day.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It's a distraction.
It's a little distraction,right, it's a little sweet, but
yeah, it's interesting.
You're talking about food,because I was thinking about
that too, and my wife's anutrition health coach, and so
you know we talk all the timeabout mindless eating.
It's one of the biggest issues,you know, when it?
(07:53):
When it comes to what we put inour mouths, right, we were
unkind as Mark holds his hand,guilty as charged.
Yeah, you know, as we go aboutour day, right, If it's there, I
grab it, I pop it in my mouth.
I don't even know, I did it,right until it's until it's over
, and they still not even thinkabout it.
It's the mindlessness of ourday, and it's not just food,
it's whatever we consume, it'swhatever.
(08:14):
Whatever we look at, it'swhatever we, it's an
undisciplined life, and sothat's what I think of, and you
know.
And then, on the other side ofthat is mindfulness.
Now, it's a dirty word to some,you know it's like oh, wait a
minute, okay, hang on.
Like that's not a you knowthat's not a biblical principle.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I agree, and I think if you take the ness off of that
then it's not as icky, right,you're just being mindful, right
, sure and focused.
By the way, this just occurredto me, I can't believe it didn't
before, but I proudly say I'm afollower of Jesus.
Not often enough, but I do.
(08:50):
Yet if someone said to me, isSarge a follower or a leader,
I'd say he's a leader,absolutely positively.
We wear the.
I wear I don't want to speakfor you I wear my leadership
badge, my front of the housebadge, proudly.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
It's interesting.
I have been interviewed forleadership positions in
Christian ministry before andit's so funny because I've
approached and this is manyyears ago, I mean this is
probably I mean it's more than10 years, I don't know, maybe
even more than that and Iremember talking about you, know
my ability to lead in certainareas in that interview and I
(09:33):
remember the interviewer sayingto me Sarge, there's no question
that you are a leader.
The question I have for you iscan you follow?
And it was like a sledgehammerin the forehead.
I was like whoa.
(09:54):
I need to think about that oneand get back to you Exactly
which you can't say in aninterview.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So I'm sorry that's a tiny tangent, but really key,
really key is acknowledging ouridentity as followers of Christ.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Absolutely what is required of us to actually
follow.
It means we're not in the lead.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
At all and without the Holy Spirit leading us,
showing us the path I'm going tograb.
Leading us showing us the path.
I'm going to grab wow ourbrother, Richard, every day
tells us the journey continues.
He does.
And I'm here to ask you does it?
(10:35):
Once you decide to follow Jesus, do you get your?
Can you rest?
Can you say I follow Jesus?
Can you check the follow boxand say that journey, that I'm,
there's no decision anymore.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Well, it's like the old song.
It's like the right.
It's like the old song.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
I have it right here in my notes.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
You made a decision, you stepped over the line of
faith.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
No, turning back.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
No turning back.
That's when the journey starts.
That's just the beginning ofthe journey.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
How about that?
That's exactly what I wasthinking, that in order to be
saved, to be rescued, theevangelicals, right, we would
have you believe.
There's two or three things yougot to say, and one of them is
that I believe, I believe Jesusdied.
He's my savior, he died for mysins, right, right, and I'm
(11:33):
going to follow him.
So you do, you the the.
The first step towards thatrescue mission of your heart and
soul is to say put your hand up.
Yeah, I believe I will followyou.
Right, that journey's over Nowyou go to heaven, right, am I
(11:55):
right?
Yep, okay, check, I'm going toheaven Now.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
It obviously doesn't mean I can take a hard left and
start, you know, doing all Iwill say it does take more it
obviously doesn't mean I cantake a hard left and start, you
know, doing all I will say.
It does take more than sayingthat there's a belief in the
heart and a, you know, romans 10, 9, 10.
I mean just you know, but Idon't want to detract the
conversation.
But there's a little bit morethan that.
For listeners that that's mightbe new too.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And I well interesting, you say that
because I can sit here in frontof you and say my son asked me
at some time in the last 10years so, dad, the son of Sam,
if he gave his heart to Jesuswould he go to heaven.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
And I'm like yes, absolutely, we have a hard time
with that.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
We're still talking about it, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah, I mean really.
It's just one of those moments.
So sorry for that tangent, butshout out to Brother Richard
Slaughter and thank you forsaying the journey continues,
because I agree with youcompletely.
I'm coming all the way backaround to.
The journey really begins therethe acknowledgement of God,
first, of the fact that he gavehis son to save us, the fact
(13:04):
that he wants a loverelationship with us.
Now you're following God.
What has got me today is whatdoes this mean?
Have I adjusted how I act andtalk and walk as a follower?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Well, yes, there's some things to talk about there
that you know, even from thismorning's devotional from our
Victorious Together group, whichI think we should get to.
But before we do, the otherthing that comes to mind is, you
know, playing off of themindful nature, right, the being
mindful of who we are in himand the fact that we have chosen
(13:47):
to follow him day in and dayout, and what that means, and
and uh, prayerfully andmindfully being, um, focused on
that, seeing our world throughthat lens, is living an
integrated life, and this is oneof the main challenges that I
see, particularly men, but allpeople, many people struggle
(14:09):
with.
So, yeah, my God life is overhere, and then I go off to my
job, off to work, or wherever itis that I go, or whatever I do
with my day, day and, distractedor not, you know, my God life
is over there.
That's for church on Sunday, oryou know Bible study on
Wednesday night or whatever,right, and it's, it's.
(14:31):
It's it's separate and distinctand my other parts of my life.
It really doesn't matter whatthat looks like, because my God
life is over there and that'spart of the journey is pulling
that.
It doesn't work like that Godin us, the spirit of God in us,
(14:53):
goes with us and he is in us andwe are in him and we're called
to live a fully integrated life.
And that's where I love whatyou said at the end of that
scripture.
You know, in John, where hesays you know, you're called to
be with me at all times, likeI'm going and you're called to
(15:14):
be with me at all times.
And so that's that's theintegrated life.
It's wherever we go, we arewith him and he is with us and
we need to be mindful of that sothat we are bringing him into
every area of our lives.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
John 12, 26 says in the NLT anyone who wants to
serve me must follow me, becausemy servants must be where I am
and the Father will honor anyonewho serves me.
So I want to make sure I get itright.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah.
So what does it mean, my gosh?
I mean to do that.
It requires discipline.
It means doing the hard things.
It means you know being patientand suffering.
It means you know being joyfulin hard times.
It means persevering.
It means you know you startedto go down this path.
I thought, and it reminded meof the devotional this morning,
(16:17):
of our behaviors, of what do,how we act, and and it's it's
yes, like our behaviors matter,our words matter.
All of these things, you know,matter, but we also need to be
careful.
We need to be careful that wedon't fall into the trap of
moralism um that's rightsuccessism, individualism, yeah,
(16:56):
the success is in.
What does a successful life looklike when we've arrived?
Right as I turn the corner here, you're 65, I'm 50, toes in the
warm sand, going, golfing withmy son today, traveling, doing
all these wonderful things thatthere's nothing wrong with?
God wants us to enjoy Hiscreation, of course, but what
(17:20):
are we called to?
What are we called to?
What are we called to?
What does it look like tofollow him, especially in the
later years of our life?
Right, chris, bruno?
And the sage?
You know, sage book, sagehood,what does sagehood look like?
We can't lose sight of that,you know.
And then individualism, right,is it just?
Is it just me?
Is it just me and God?
So what does it look like tofollow him?
(17:40):
Is it just me following him, oram I supposed to be bringing
others?
Am I supposed to be incommunity with?
Of course I am.
It's not just about me and God.
It's being in rightrelationship with others.
It's bringing others along.
And so, yeah, these are likefine lines that are easy to get
blurred.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
You're right, there's definitely 12 episodes In just
the last three minutes of youtalking, I think there's 12.
First of all, to show you howaligned we are, continue to be
and how God works in us.
At about three minutes before Iwas going to contact you to do
this together, I thought, oh,let me get prepared.
And then I thought, no, let mejust relax.
(18:21):
And then I thought, no, let mejust relax.
And I looked over and the sagebook is right here to my left,
as you know.
So I just picked it up and Iwent and opened it and there was
wisdom right there in front ofme, two minutes, three minutes,
before we started talking thismorning.
So you just referencing thesage book makes me realize that,
look, I don't know what theSage book and shout out to Chris
(18:43):
Bruno says specifically aboutfollowing God, but I know
there's something good in there.
Because that book we can'trecommend the book Sage enough.
Anyone who's listening.
Shout out to Brother Chris andthe Sage.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
And we get nothing for that.
This is not some kind ofshameless promotion.
We just we've been both beendeeply impacted by that book,
and Chris and his ministry Ibelieve I follow is by
acknowledging creation.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I thought of what's one thing I do and I've you know
that I've really tried to focuson that in the last few years
(19:27):
is just enjoying the beautywherever I am.
I, I I have suffered from themalady of I need to go to Italy
to see something beautiful inTuscany, or I need to go to
Alaska to see a glacier, or Ineed to go see the whales, as
I'm heading, you know, on theferry up to Maine, and it's all
(19:49):
true, it's beautiful.
There's also beauty on the wayto the store here in town.
There's beauty all around me.
So one of the ways I know I'min sync and on the correct path
on that journey we're talkingabout is that I am slowing down
enough to acknowledge the beautyof creation on a cloudy day.
(20:09):
It's the best way I can explainit.
Does that make sense?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Yeah, it makes totally sense.
It totally makes sense.
The, you know, reminds me ofpracticing the presence, which
is practicing the presence ofGod wherever we are, in every
circumstance, in the mundaneRight, you know, I think that's
that's, that's a huge part offollowing him, that's part of
that mindful nature that, youknow, we are with him and in all
(20:37):
things, and he is with us inall things.
And you know, I think thecreation piece is, is, it is a
big one, um, you know, having agrateful heart and appreciating
the beauty of creation, um,wherever we are is, uh, man,
what an incredible.
I could think of some horrificplaces that I've been many, many
(21:01):
, many years ago, and I rememberraising my eyes up, lifting my
eyes up above the circumstances,so that all I could see was the
mountaintops and the sunsetting.
I remember it vividly and I wasin utter despair, utter despair
, vividly, and I was in utterdespair, utter despair, and I
(21:26):
remember sitting there, justcrying out to God, looking up at
the mountains and my heart justchanging from this, this heart
of fear and despair, to one ofutter gratitude and joy and
peace.
And wouldn't you know, shortlyafter that, and wouldn't you
know shortly after that, godfreed me from these
circumstances that I wasseemingly stuck in, and so again
(21:49):
, god's in it all.
God's in it all.
Maybe it's coincidental.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Look at you.
You're moonwalking out of this.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, exactly, but probably not.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Listen, he's in it all, who knows.
But I think there's a lot to besaid.
But you get it and I'll giveyou my example.
This says to me and I'm notdislocating my shoulder to pat
myself on the back, I'm sayingmy eyes are open.
God has opened my eyes.
To pat myself on the back, I'msaying my eyes are open.
God has opened my eyes.
On my way from here to town,3.1 miles, there's a tree,
there's an oak tree, and it isone of those oak trees, sarge.
(22:28):
That's perfectly shaped.
It's got to be 50, 60, 70 yearold tree.
It's a super mature tree and itlooks like somebody took fine
scissors and trimmed it right.
Yeah, when it's leafed out andin the fall, when it turns
yellow.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
It is breathtaking.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I learned to love that tree in the winter because
without a leaf on it it's stillperfect.
And it's got that.
You see the branches and justhow things are shaped and you're
thinking that's such a goodlife metaphor because underneath
those beautiful dying leaves isthis tree.
(23:09):
Structure is the word that'scoming to mind, but I know it's
the wrong one, but there it is.
The infrastructure of that treeis gorgeous in those crappy
February days in New Jersey andit's a little thing, but I love
that tree 12 months, 365.
(23:32):
And I'd really be sad if thattree died now that I think about
it.
But I've been here 20 odd yearsand that tree has been there as
long and we watched it grow tofull.
I mean, it's not getting anytaller.
Right Tree grows to exact size.
So, yes, acknowledging creationis one.
Let me go to another one thatresonates with me and that is
the putting God first andrecognizing his sovereignty
(23:57):
Another way.
I know I'm on track and you'veheard my prayer life.
No one more than you has heardmy prayer life out loud.
I don't think in my life andyou hear me.
You know believing in God,trusting in God, keeping God out
front and acknowledging Ifollow the one true God that's
(24:18):
so important in my walk.
Now that I leave, I don't leaveany opportunity.
The enemy cannot take thatground.
I will not relinquish thatspace, that spot In my head and
heart.
My God is first, and it's asmall.
(24:40):
It's one of the steps, but it'sa small step that I've taken to
inwardly and outwardly address.
Am I following him this day?
I try to start every day withthat and don't get me wrong, I
go off and do some hystericallystupid things and say terrible
(25:02):
things.
But yeah, so following God andacknowledging, recognizing that
he is sovereign, that he's, he'sgot it and I don't need to have
it, how's that?
How's that feel for you?
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Oh my gosh, I mean it's just.
You know how's it feel.
It feels filled with giant bagsof fear.
I mean you know it's like.
I mean really you know sayingliving, that are two completely
different things.
You know, living our lives asthough you know we fully believe
in, you know, god's sovereigntyover our little individual,
(25:37):
personal lives and that he isfaithful and trustworthy and,
with all of it, right With our,our entire lives and those we
love, and um all of ourcircumstances and right, I mean
that's tough, tough.
So yes, I mean that is, that isthe journey, continues my
brother.
I mean that's tough, tough, itis.
So yes, I mean that is thejourney, continues my brother.
(25:59):
I mean that's, you know,challenging stuff, but yes,
that's part of following him forsure.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And it's.
I want to be clear, saying thatI don't feel small or smaller.
And saying that I don't feelsmall or smaller, right,
realizing what a speck I am inGod's creation and my tiny
little bit of time that I'm hereon the planet to breathe this
out, to honor him.
(26:28):
Right, I realize very smallparts, mark.
I don't have any visions ofgrandeur about my role in the
overall plan, but there's acomfort, a settledness in
putting him first for me.
That just it helps my day,that's all.
I hope it helps somebody else'stoo.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Because look, if you just go out and do it and act
like it, great I.
I find that saying it out loudright.
Yeah, Lord, I believe in you, Itrust in you over everything
man-made.
How many times you're hearingme say that?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting, as you're talking
about that, it's, it's, you know, it makes me think of the fact
that it's both moment by momentas well as, like, long-term.
Like you know, I'm a planner,I'm a visionary, and so I, I, I
plan my life.
Right, I'm, I'm, I'm planning.
There's, there's, there's a,there's a trap there too, not to
(27:24):
always be planning, but to tobe present, right To to just be.
Uh, you know, living just fortoday, Uh, but during those
seasons of planning, what am Iplanning?
And you know, living just fortoday, but during those seasons
of planning.
What am I planning?
And you know it goes back tothe successism and individualism
, right?
Like am I.
(27:45):
Am I planning for my comfort?
Yes, most of the time I am.
I'm not planning for discomfort, right, and so, like you know,
is God first.
You know to your point, am Iputting God first in my planning
, in my financial planning?
in my retirement planning, in myyou know my recreational
planning, in my family planning.
You know my career planning.
All of this Like is thatthrough the lens of God?
(28:10):
First, you know, or am Ilooking at that through what I
really want or think I need?
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Ouch that, that's two episodes.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Yeah, that's a whole life.
I mean listen, come on.
There's you know, I, I look atpeople I meet very few people,
and you probably do too who livethat out.
You know beautifully andfaithfully where it's just.
It's just never about them ortheir knee or their plant.
They're like like they areliving a radically sold out life
(28:47):
, short and long term, for Jesus, yeah.
And whenever I see them, I'malways in awe and I'm like, wow,
like I want to be more likethat.
Yes, there's more.
There's more dying the selfthat needs to happen.
There's more taking up thecross that needs to happen.
There's more.
You know.
(29:07):
You know longing forirrelevance rather than
relevance, right For being lessimportant rather than more
important.
I mean all of these things inthe world all fuzzled up on a
silver platter.
It says don't you want it,don't you want this.
I mean again, whole new episodethere.
We've talked about that andwe'll have one, maybe the next
(29:28):
one.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Right, we'll talk a little bit about that, but these
are all big, big parts offollowing God.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Really, what I just heard you say was surrender,
surrender, surrender, surrender,surrender.
There's so much surrendering inthis journey, relinquishing all
the things in front of us andthat part I guess, that part I
guess.
(29:56):
So, surrendering the things ofthe world and loving our God and
one another, the greatcommandment, I think these are
the key ingredients in theformula.
Although I'm not formulaic bymy nature, I'm happy to see when
(30:17):
something adds up like a recipe, right.
Oh, if you put the rightingredients in, you get a good
cake.
Well, I think we can agreewithout question that
surrendering our hearts andlearning to love better make
this journey that much morefruitful.
We tend to you know how I livethat out day to day is a whole
(30:43):
nother story and episode.
But I think we can agree.
We absolutely are in surrendermode.
We know what needs to besurrendered.
The key is the execution.
You said you're a planner and Iquickly think, like you, plan,
plan, plan.
You got to execute at somepoint.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
And then because with execution comes pass or fail,
yeah, and execution when itcomes to following God is
dropping to our knees.
Yeah, and execution when itcomes to following God is
dropping to our knees.
Right Hands open, taking up ourcross Surrender that's what it
looks like, right.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
It's actually doing less right it's being with him
and doing less right, beinghuman beings rather than human
doings.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Ooh, that's a bumper sticker.
Absolutely To your point.
There's fruit, there's fruit.
So we talked about moralism, wetalked about behavior and all
of that.
This isn't about behaviormodification, but the fruit of
our lives should be evident.
It doesn't mean that, um, we,we've got these beautifully, you
know, are perfectly beautifulor beautifully perfect lives.
(31:59):
You know that.
That, just, you know um, youdon't.
It's, it's messy and painful,but the fruit, the fruit of the
spirit, you know um, our spiritsand and our words and our, our,
our actions, actions modelingand reflecting His love and His
(32:19):
grace, become more and more andmore a part of the fabric of our
lives and are the fruit offollowing after Him.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I couldn't agree more , and I think a good closing for
me here is.
I want to acknowledge I believeyou are a good disciple.
I believe that I watch you.
You're in the word, you'regiving time.
You're carving out part of yourday with your long list of
things to do.
(32:50):
You're making sure early thatyou're starting with God.
You're in the foxhole with yourbrothers right, supporting and
loving your brothers.
You're out front, serving.
So and although I don't knowspecifically, I know you're
giving.
You're giving in lots of waysin your time, talents and
treasures.
So so thank you for being agood example for all of us of
(33:12):
what a disciple looks like.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
Oh, you as well, man.
It's been quite a journey, yepRight, we've sharpened each
other, been through many valleys, celebrated many mountaintops
and we'll continue because, asRichard says, the journey
continues.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Peace.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Well, the obvious question of the day who am I
following and who are youfollowing?
How do we balance our lives,the technology, the
relationships, the time For me?
I am prayerfully focused onseeking God's help with
glorifying him in all that I do.
Prayerfully focused on seekingGod's help with glorifying Him
(33:55):
in all that I do.
In fact, I speak those verywords each morning when I pray
with my family before I leavefor work.
I fully understand I'm nevergoing to be perfect, but
striving toward a deepersanctification, a sovereign
refinement that can only comefrom God, it's like stepping out
of the cold shadows and feelingthe warm sun on your face.
(34:19):
So I ask who do you follow andhow is that working out for you?
As we drive down the road, onour journey, we have to ask
these questions pretty muchevery day who's behind the wheel
, who's in the passenger seat,the back seat and who's in the
passenger seat, the backseat andwho's in the trunk?
(34:39):
Lord, please continue to usethis podcast to impact the lives
of all who listen.
I ask that you would bring hopeand healing to each and every
one of them, Lord.
Meet them right where they areand reveal yourself to them like
only you can do In Jesus' name,amen.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it
and invite others to them, likeonly you can do.
In Jesus' name, amen.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please share it and invite
others to the Foxhole.
You can find us wherever youdownload your favorite podcasts.
Be sure to subscribe so youknow when new episodes drop, and
please rate us and commentthere too, as it'll help us get
found by others who couldbenefit.
Find, follow and like us onyour go-to social media networks
by searching Foxhole Symphonyor visit foxholesymphonycom to
(35:17):
make it super easy to find us.
Drop us a line with feedback,questions, topic requests.
Who knows, maybe you'll be aguest on a future episode.
In the meantime, prepare tomove, embrace discomfort and
just be you.
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