March 18, 2025 • 38 mins
In this episode of Our Community, Our Mission, Mike Schoettle, Director of Spiritual Wellness and Discipleship, shares a powerful message: What if drawing closer to God were simpler than we make it? During this Lenten season, we unpack the profound simplicity of spiritual connection—one that transcends denominational boundaries and religious complexity. While Lent is often associated with Catholicism, it is observed by many Protestant traditions as a 40-day journey of spiritual formation, echoing the biblical significance of the number 40 as a period of testing and transformation.
Rather than focusing solely on giving something up, this conversation explores meaningful ways to create space for God—whether through intentional kindness, quiet reflection, or simply being present in the moment. Inspired by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk known for finding God in ordinary tasks, we are reminded that spiritual connection doesn’t require grand gestures, only a willingness to turn our hearts toward Him. No matter the challenges we face, this discussion offers practical wisdom on sustaining a meaningful relationship with God, not just during Lent, but throughout our daily lives.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions.
God, thank you for this time.
Lord, to record this podcast,and Lord, just to celebrate.
God, this special time of year,and, lord, we just pray that we
would honor you with it.
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, amen.
Well, hello and welcome toepisode 260 of Our Community,
(00:24):
our Mission.
I'm joined today.
I'm Josh Turley, director ofStrategic Development for the
Topeka Rescue Mission, joined byMiriam Crable, as always.
Deputy Director of SupportiveServices.
Hi, josh, I nailed that Barryalways stumbles.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I know he does.
He has a really hard timesaying my name and my title all
in one breath.
Yeah, it's a little crazy, butit's okay.
It's okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
He's retired?
Yeah, he's.
You know that's great, yeah,anyway.
Well, you're probably wonderingwhy I'm hosting this morning.
And well, it's because Barry'sout on assignment, lamanda's out
on assignment, so you get the Dsquad today.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Oh, actually, I think you have the pros now.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
The rest of the people have to do it often, to
practice.
There you go.
We're the ones who come in whenthey need.
That Exactly, I like that.
That's a lot better.
Okay, well, in honor of ofBarry, we still got to talk
about our special days.
It's your favorite part, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Oh, you know, Josh, there's so many things to.
This was not one of them.
It's like we could have justskidded right by that, but no,
no, but I know it's because yourdepartment comes up with all
this right.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
At this point it's tradition.
At this point it's tradition.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, we cannot break .
We've always done it like thatright.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yeah, yeah, you can't break tradition and you'll hear
the voice of Mike Schottel.
We're joined by Mike Schotteltoday.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
What's up, can you tell?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
us your title.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
I am the Director of Spiritual Wellness and
Discipleship.
Yeah, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So we've got Mike on today and he's going to share a
special message with us, sowe'll get to that.
But before that, yeah, we gotto get to today.
So today's March 18th, yes, itis say, our R&D team spent tons
of time about 10 minutes lookingthese up, see what we had.
So do you want to announce ourfirst special day today?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
You know, I could just really throw kink into it
and we'll go to the one that isyour favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Which is National Sloppy Joe Day.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So why do you love Sloppy Joe's so much?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Sloppy Joe's.
Just the name invokes such awonderful.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
No, I don't like Sloppy Joes.
I know you don't and I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have made you talkabout it.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
It's funny though I put it on here.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, and you know, Mike and I like Sloppy Joes as
long as they don't have greenpeppers Right For Mike's safety.
Well and have to be homemade.
Yes, they need a mother's love.
Yes, and that requires homemadefrom start to finish, not no
other than you know.
You can use ketchup that'salready made or barbecue sauce
(02:53):
that's already made.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Use it with ketchup that's already made, like I make
, that we make like take thetomatoes gotta fresh squeeze
that tomato.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Gotta make it fresh squeezed tomatoes.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Think about that.
Oh is, is ketchup like asmoothie, because it's
technically a fruit, if youthink about it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Oh, you know, now, there you have it.
You could yeah, I think youcould call it that.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That's worse than a sloppy joe.
That's worse than a sloppy joe,that's exactly right, it needs
to be homemade.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And what really cracks me up is like when I was
a kid, too, I had family membersthat would pair Sloppy Joe's
with salt and vinegar chips andI always thought, oh, that is
disgusting, salt and vinegarchips, get out of here.
And then I grew up and thepairing is just perfect because
you have the vinegariness fromthe chips and then just the
(03:44):
subtle vinegary, but sweetnessfrom the Sloppy Joe.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's a beautiful thing.
It is a beautiful thing.
I think, Mike, maybe you and Ineed to make Sloppy Joes for
Josh.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
We should do like a Sloppy Joe carry-in dinner thing
for the children's palace.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I think that would be a great idea.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
And Josh is the head judge.
Exactly, these Sloppy joes aregood.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
These ones are bad.
You know what?
I think I can make that happen.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, you know the person that could set that up.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I do, we could definitely make that happen.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
All right, moving on Speaking of awkward moments,
Today is awkward moments day,Okay, okay, but I guess you know
it's.
Some things are just better outin the open.
So you know what, rather thanhide that, I don't like sloppy
Joes and you bring them and youknow, accidentally, be like oh,
Josh doesn't like sloppy, I'm sosorry.
(04:38):
Be like now, you know so, true,true.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Now, nobody can awkwardly bring them, but I'm
not sure who would be moreawkward you is, you have to eat
them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
That's true, it's you , that's, that's how I was
raised.
You, you just do you eat what'sset in front of you.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
That's right.
So are you?
How I am with like beans andstuff with sloppy jams?
No, I'm not that bad Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I'll eat it, it's just not it's just not what
you'd ever ask.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah, I'd never ask for it so yeah, but uh, but yeah
, I mean no well, and you know,and it could, it could create an
awkward moment.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It absolutely could.
But there are bigger awkwardmoments than that.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
So do you guys like think back about times?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
why are you looking at me and just automatically
laughing?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
because, because, because I don't know it's, it's,
it's funny because like andmaybe this is just my brain, but
I'll think about like awkwardtimes in my life where I, like
you know, waved at somebody andthat I thought was waving at me,
and then they're waving atsomebody behind me and I'm like
those those moments like stickin your brain and you think
about them randomly like 10years later, like, oh, I feel so
(05:43):
dumb.
I do understand that okay, okay,I'm glad I'm not.
Yes, anyway, honoring awkwardmoments, days, uh.
So we have one more day that wewant to recognize, and I feel
like this is actually a prettygood one national ag day.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
National agriculture day that is such an important
thing to recognize the farmersand ranchers that provide us
with all our food.
It really is.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Ag Day to me is a very cool day so, and I saw my
youngest brother this weekendand we were just talking about
you know farmers are the biggestgamblers of anybody in this
(06:30):
entire world.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
None of us need to go to Vegas at once.
You're a farmer becauseeverything you do is a gamble,
you know.
Will your, will your livestockbe okay?
Will they grow well?
Will you have enough food tofeed them?
Gamble Planting wheat, plantingsoybeans, planting corn it's a
gamble.
Will there be enough sun?
Will it be too wet?
Will it be too dry?
(06:51):
And when I think about how.
That is so ingrained in me thatwhen I see weather, when I see
what's happening with theweather, my mind goes straight
to gosh.
I wonder how this is going toimpact the farmers.
The weather my mind goesstraight to gosh.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I wonder how this is going to impact the farmers.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You know, oh yeah, so it's something you grow up with
constantly and realize, yeah,the farm life is an interesting
time.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, and you know, as with gambling, except this is
livelihood, like you know.
It's not just some extra cashor whatever.
This is food, so anyway, but,yes, we want to celebrate the
agriculture and all of theincredible farmers and all the
work that they do.
So thank you Absolutely,absolutely.
All right Now that we've gottenthat out of the way, thank
(07:32):
goodness.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Let's move on.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's always so stressful, right, I know, I know
.
Well, at least I didn't quizyou on it.
Barry likes to quiz you on it,so I just, you know, said here
it is.
Anyway, mike Schottel, wereached out to you and asked you
to share a little bit with usabout the season we're in and
the season of Lent.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
What do you have for us today?
You said Lent, yeah, lent.
I thought you said Lent, likeclean out your dryers every six
months, oh.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Well, this is awkward .
Now what Talk?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
about an awkward moment.
Well, folks, make sure youclean out your lint traps on
your dryers.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
But more than every six months.
Yeah, I mean always, unless youwant to start a fire.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
The tubing that goes to the.
I do every six months.
That's what I do.
Yeah, but the lint trap.
Here's the deal the lint trap.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So here's the deal, do you?
Yeah, but the trap here's thedeal.
So here's the deal.
Do you know?
Uh, really, you do that yeahokay, we'll talk after this.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Okay, I mean, yeah, I just got to make sure that the
airflow is going all right Inever have okay, let's talk
moving on okay, so awkwardmoment we're going to talk about
lent, yeah, um.
so just a brief overview.
I know that we've got a lot oflisteners that listen, come from
all different backgrounds ofChristianity, even some that are
(08:52):
not believers.
But when you hear the word Lentnine times out of 10, you're
going to think, oh, they'reCatholic.
If you are observing Lent,you're Catholic Catholic.
If you are observing Lent,you're Catholic.
Yes, the Catholic church doesoversee or does observe Lent,
but you got Protestant churchesthat do it too.
I mean, you got the Methodistsyou have, Lutherans you have-.
(09:15):
We do the Mennonites do Correct?
And I mean I grew up basic.
I mean it's the missionarychurch denomination, but it's
basically Wesleyan, yeah, and weobserved it, of course.
So Lent is the 40 days betweenEaster, between Ash Wednesday,
excuse me, and Easter.
It does not oversee the Sundaysthat are in that period of time
(09:39):
, but Lent begins Ash Wednesdayall the way until the Saturday
before Easter, ends AshWednesday all the way until the
Saturday before Easter.
That is a time to engage inprayer, time to engage in
fasting, but most importantly,it's spiritual disciplines.
Um, so it matters because Easter, even bigger than Christmas,
(10:01):
easter is the reason why we arehere.
Christ came, he lived, he diedand he came back to life,
conquered death, so that thosewho believe in him can have
eternal life.
So Easter, it's kind of a bigdeal.
So what kind of?
Put me down the rabbit trail.
Easter rabbit, just kidding.
(10:22):
Just want to look up like whatthe word lent actually, where
that comes from, which actuallyit is an old English word that
means spring, or the lengthening, lengthening of days.
So really has nothing to do.
There's no Greek in it, there'sno nothing.
It's literally just spring.
So looked into it a little bitmore.
(10:44):
Like what does the Latin sayabout it?
Because you have Catholicismand all the other denominations
of churches and Christians thatfollow Lent.
It's quadrigesima, which means40.
Okay 40 day fast, okay, yeah.
So with Lent you hear peoplethat'll say, well, what are you
(11:10):
giving up for Lent?
What was really funny isgrowing up.
My sister would always give upchocolate during Lent and what's
the one thing that you can see?
And there's children, littlegirls, that are going door to
door right now, this time of day, this time of year, Selling
what?
Girl Scout cookies?
Girl Scout cookies, yes, everysingle solitary year.
(11:33):
And it's like Sarah just hadlike a reset, like, oh man, I'm
giving up chocolate and I can'thave Thin Mints, I can't have
the peanut butter patties.
What is this?
And we're like, hey, you'redoing it to yourself.
You know, some people give upchocolate.
Some people even will try togive up smoking.
They'll give up social media.
Me, every year, I give up thedifficult sacrifice of
(11:55):
watermelon.
It's not a seasonal fruit.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Oh well, you know, so it's tough.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
And then also scuba diving.
You know, living in Kansassometimes you've got to make the
commitment.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
You do, you have to go all in.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
No.
So one of the things, insteadof like giving up stuff, what I
try to focus on is doing more toseek the Lord.
It's a 40-day period, notincluding the Sunday, so some
people would believe, okay,let's break the fast.
On a Sunday, we can do whatever, because you're observing the
(12:30):
Sabbath.
Those 40 days you are observingthe time to draw nearer to the
Lord.
Those 40 days you are observingthe time to draw nearer to the
Lord, but 40 is the number ofthe fast and that can represent
judgment.
It could represent spiritualtesting.
You can see that all throughoutScripture, genesis chapter 7,
(12:57):
with Noah and the ark, the 40days and 40 nights.
It's going to rain.
And then they were on the ark.
Jesus was in the wilderness for40 days being tempted by Satan
and overcome the temptation withthe use of scripture, with the
use of his authority as God,right Um, and this discipline
(13:30):
and I honestly think that theCatholic church is just so great
at doing it um, for the 40 daysof imitating Christ's suffering
um, through the process ofgrowing more in their spiritual
disciplines, growing closer toGod, to do.
And, josh, I'm gonna, I'm gonnapick on you real quick because,
uh, probably about two monthsago or whatever, we were out
with with uh, with anotherfriend, and we were having
dinner and somehow we got on thebasis of fasting um, and I'm
pretty sure that was most of theconversation for the night, as
(14:07):
we're eating chicken wings,that's, we're eating dinner.
Your, your focus needs to be onRight Um.
So you shared, like the, themost that I'd ever fasted was
like 48 hours, but around like30 hour 36,.
I mean, little Mike gets, hegets hangry and hunger gets what
hunger wants.
Um, but you shared somethingreally cool about your parents.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Yeah, so, um, I was, I had shared with Mike that I
remember seasons as a kid whenmy parents would, it was a
couple of times they would do a40 day fast.
They did a 40 day fast andthere was, and you know, I was
trying to reflect on.
I don't really rememberspecifics, but I remember there
was like kind of big thingsgoing on.
There was kind of like and itwas a time of seeking for them
(14:52):
and they use that time of, youknow, to pray, read the Bible,
and it was really a disciplineand so, um, but yeah, I remember
that happening a couple oftimes.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, that's, that's amazing, and you know so
I've been talking to differentfriends in our women's Bible
study and stuff, just about howthey are observing Lent, not
necessarily about what they'regiving up.
So one person is spending thetime these 40 days lamenting,
right, so kind of thinking aboutthose things that are worrisome
(15:28):
or bothersome and really justlamenting to the Lord about it,
which I thought was reallyinteresting.
So things that she considereddifficult or things going on in
the world, to really just lay itall at the Lord's feet but not
just giving it up, but beingagonized about it, right, being
(15:52):
just lamenting.
You know the whole principle oflamentation and that.
And then someone else has chosento say I am going to be
intentionally kind, so I'm goingto try to do the things that
Christ did.
I'm going to be focused on Him,his life, not just this period
(16:14):
in his life but his life, andjust be very intentionally kind,
particularly to people that,not that this person would ever
not be kind because she is akind person, but just
intentionally kind to peoplethat might not expect it, right,
and that kind of thing.
So I've been kind of intrigued,so I've always observed Lent
(16:39):
from a perspective ofrecognizing this time frame, you
know, and trying to dodifferent devotionals or Bible
study or something that reallyfocuses on this time up to
Jesus' death and resurrection.
But I've never, really ever,given up something.
That's never been in mypractice, but so I was very
interested to hear how theseother people were observing Lent
(17:03):
in a different way than justgiving up something.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Well, I think that's like a big part of it.
I think when you focus solelyon the impact of just giving
something up, I think you canpretty easily like miss the
point of it.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Correct.
Um, so when you give up andtalking about fasting food, the
what you're supposed to do whenyou're not eating is you take
that time you'd be eating topray, right?
It's kind of supplementing forthose spiritual disciplines.
And so when we just fast tofast and just kind of talk about
what we've given up, I thinkyou missed the point.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Because it's replacing one for the other.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, I agree with you.
It is a time for spiritualformation, it is a time to draw
closer to God.
And there's one quote, there's acouple quotes actually, from
Brother Lawrence which if you'vespent any time talking with me,
discussing with me as part ofmy job.
There are some staff members,even guests, that are like okay,
(18:07):
how do I draw closer to God?
Well, first and foremost, yougot to be in the word.
You have to be in the word.
James, chapter four, verseeight, is draw near to God and
what's the promise he will drawnear to you.
So be in his word, Practice hisword, Practice his presence.
Which brings me up to the nextone.
Brother Lawrence was a 17thcentury monk in France.
(18:32):
He worked on a monastery.
He, I believe, was in thekitchen.
I've read the book like four orfive times and let me tell you
it's not an easy read because itwas translated from 17th
century French to now.
But this individual, of anybodythat was at this monastery.
(18:53):
There were priests, there werenuns, there were people who,
like, had the greatest accolades.
And if anybody you could askthem on the premises, like who
is the most spiritual of all,who is the most in tune with the
Lord, they would all say it'sBrother Lawrence, the guy that
(19:16):
works in the kitchen.
You're kidding me.
And these letters that he wroteto the Holy Mother, to his
coworkers, to whoever like.
Somebody got these after he hadpassed and made them into this
book, fantastic book.
But here's a couple quotes thatBrother Lawrence said about
drawing closer to God.
Speaking as speaking, this isof God.
(19:39):
He does not ask much of us,merely a thought of him from
time to time, a little act ofadoration, sometimes to ask for
his grace, sometimes to offerhim your sufferings, at other
times to thank him for thegraces, past and present, that
he has bestowed on you In themidst of your troubles.
(20:00):
To take solace in him as oftenas you can, lift up your heart
to him during your meals and incompany.
The least little remembrancewill always be the most pleasing
to him.
One not need cry out very loud.
He is nearer to us than wethink.
Mm-hmm wow, I mean, he is soclose to us.
(20:24):
We just got to reach out andjust say something, just as
something as small as just beinglike god, thank you for this
and that that.
For me, when I first startedworking at the mission of almost
seven years ago seven years,holy cow, seven years, boy,
howdy.
But every single day like thisis and I will say it, this is
(20:48):
the best job like I thought whenI was at the dc, that was the
best job that I'd had out ofcollege.
No, the job that I'm in nowit's like.
This is fantastic.
And I've I know I've texted you,miriam and lamanda, uh multiple
times, just being like thankyou for this opportunity.
You know, I'm almost done withmy schooling, with my master's
and just being able to basicallybe.
(21:09):
My career is to draw closer toGod, so that I can shepherd
everybody at the mission to drawcloser to there's nothing like
it.
I love it, but I remember whenI first started at the DCC,
every day it was like God, thankyou that I'm finally in my
niche.
Thank you.
(21:30):
And then there was like twoweeks that I went without
thanking and it was like and Icall it the Holy Spirit, with a
two-by form Whack right upsidethe head.
It's like, michael, you haven'tthanked me, like you are so
close to me and you're notthanking me.
Just take that small, teeny,tiny moment and lift up your
(21:51):
hearts to him.
The least little remembrancewill always be the most pleasing
to him.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Just thank him, just conversationally, right?
Yes, you know, and that'ssomething and, josh, it kind of,
I think, harkens back to alittle bit of what you were
saying too.
We can make Lent seem socomplicated, right, and make it
about the acts versus about thewhy.
I think you're really spot onwith that and it's that same
(22:22):
thing.
Just even the recognition ofwhat Christ was facing during
these 40 days.
You know just what that musthave been like for him.
You know and we know how closeGod is.
And then I think about Christon the cross and feeling
forsaken, the son of God, godincarnate, feeling forsaken by
(22:45):
the Father, and what that musthave felt like, and then that we
miss the opportunities just tobe in communion with him in the
small, everyday kind of moment.
That's really beautiful andthat's very convicting for me to
think about, to just go aheadand embrace the fact that the
Lord is so close.
(23:05):
I just need to.
I just need to intentionally,like I would any friend you know
, like I would.
Yeah, that's, that's reallypowerful.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I've heard something similar to that too, of like how
would like you know if you havea really good friend or family
member that you're in contactwith all the time and you just
stop talking to them?
Yeah, what would happen to thatrelationship?
Yeah, right.
Like so there's investment inthere and it's intentional
investment and it's worth itRight.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
To put in that time.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
So Right.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Um, so, with the end, with the intention this is
another quote from brotherLawrence, from practicing the
presence of God.
He says we must know before wecan love.
In order to know God, we mustoften think of him and when we
(23:59):
come to love him we shall thenalso think of him often, for our
heart will be with our treasure, and that just rings true to me
because it feels like itmirrors Matthew 6, verse 33.
But seek first the kingdom of.
God and his righteousness andall of these will be provided
for you.
Seek him, love him, and nomatter even how hard life's
going to be, you got the love.
(24:20):
Just fall into that.
Yeah, it's.
It is about drawing closer tohim, but there is, there is the
importance of the fasting, thecutting things out to see what
(24:42):
Might be thwarting yourrelationship with him, to grow
closer to him.
You know, it's just like how,you know, some people are trying
to figure out what they'reallergic to for food, so they
completely change theirlifestyle and for like three
weeks.
Well, it's just kind of goingoff of what Daniel does,
daniel's fast in Daniel, chapter10.
For three weeks he stoppedeating this food nothing rich,
(25:04):
nothing, uh, you know.
No, no wine, nothing rich, togive him the sustenance.
Because who is the one that issustaining?
God, the father.
Um, so, slowly, adding thosethings back in, you know, will
show.
Okay, what is it that's causingme to slip up?
Yeah, um, so abstaining issomething that gives us the idea
(25:27):
to focus, just like, josh, whatyou were saying, like when your
parents did the 40-day fast.
It shifts our focus on what issustaining us.
And it kind of cracks me up,because one of my uncles, my
godfather actually he isCatholic and he absolutely hates
(25:49):
fish.
If it slithers or crawls orswims, don't put it in front of
him, he's going to eat it.
So during the Lent season,Fridays are the worst days for
him.
And that's when you'll see whenyou're going past my office,
whatever the day is that I'mwriting on the dry erase board
below it, on the Fridays duringLent.
So this Friday it's going to beonly four more days of fish for
(26:12):
for fish hating Catholics, butthe whole thing about fish and I
might be wrong in this, butthis is just some of the stuff
that I was gathering for it is,why is it fish on Fridays?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So what I found is that fish is a symbol of Christ,
which it makes 100% sense,because early Christians used
the Greek acronym Ichthus, soIchthus was spelt Iota, chi Th
sigma, okay, iota.
(26:50):
That starts with jesus, he asue and it's just kind of like
uh indiana jones in the uh uhlast crusade, you know, at the
very end when he's trying tosave his dad sorry if I'm
ruining this for you, but thisis a 35 year old movie 36 year
old movie, uh, 1989.
(27:10):
But yeah, uh.
Jesus in the greek and in thelatin starts with an I.
So when indy's like trying totake the steps of god, the name
of god, uh, it zooms in on seanconnor and he goes, oh.
But jehovah starts with an eyeand he goes jay, and he steps in
(27:31):
and he almost dies, no.
So jesus in the greek, in thelatin, starts with an eye.
So yesu cristo chi feu.
God huyas, that's the epsilon,and then so tear savior, eu, god
Huyas, that's the Upsilon, andthen Soter Savior.
(27:51):
Ichthus is the acronym forJesus Christ, son of God Savior.
Wow.
So Ichthus, greek for fish.
You can't say Jikthus, I mean,let's be honest, that wouldn't
have caught on.
But Ichthus is Greek for fish.
So symbol of Christ, fish.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Kind of cool little video.
That is really cool.
Yeah, so could that be why theyjust eat fish?
Because it's a symbol of Christ?
Sure, I don't know.
I have no idea.
I thoroughly enjoy fish.
My Uncle Chip I do Hard passfor my Uncle Chip, I mean no.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
He must have had a sloppy joe, experience Must have
had some bad fish, really bad.
That is very interesting,because I've never known why the
fish represents Christ.
Huh, interesting.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I didn't know, I'm just not like maybe fishers of
men or like there's lots of fishsymbolism kind of within within
that too.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
But also just because fish fries are delicious.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
They're just fun Boy that's exactly right For those
of us who don't have to do it ordon't feel compelled to do it
on Friday.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
We just enjoy tagging along.
That's exactly right.
Anybody knows where a good fishfry is.
Hit your boy up.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
All right.
Well, since we've, I have aquestion for you, if you were to
help our listeners out, what'ssome very practical tips on
drawing closer to God, andobviously that's going to be
different per person, but what'ssome things that work for you.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So things that work for me, or you know, pot's
calling kettle black on this one.
Um, you know, if I'm going into, because I'm going to be honest
, I go to counseling.
It's a wonderful thing, it's a,it's a spiritual formation, uh,
opportunity for me, becausethere's a lot of stuff that we
deal with, whether, whether itis here at work, whether it is
personally, whether it is stuffthat we just deal with by
(29:50):
watching the news.
Anxiety is a real thing.
People should definitely begoing to counseling a lot more
often than they think theyshould be or shouldn't be the
stigma.
Just, first and foremost, go tocounseling.
It's great.
But if I've had just anincredibly difficult week, the
first thing that my counselorsays to me is well, have you
(30:12):
been in the word I'm like well,no, no, I haven't well, there's
your problem, but that could notring any more true.
(30:41):
Last week, for instance, likejust dealing with a whole bunch
of doubts, my past, not reallyfeeling like I'm worthy to be in
the position that I'm in.
You know, just finished twoclasses.
Talk about getting kicked inthe head and kicked in the hind
end at the same time.
I mean two classes, master'slevel, classes on top of work,
and then being a husband, beinga father, being a friend it's a
lot.
And reading through psalms 40,when the lord heard my cry and
(31:04):
he picked me out of the pit ofdespair, of desolation, and then
out of the miry clay and placedmy feet firm on the rock.
That's what we should be justreading that the word is living
and it is breathing.
Draw near to God and he willdraw near to you.
(31:28):
That's the first thing that Iwould say to any listener.
If you are a believer and thingsjust aren't right, things don't
feel like they're going right,I'm, first and foremost, I'm
sorry that it doesn't feel likethings are going right, but get,
get in the word.
And if you're not in the word,just start in Psalms.
(31:49):
Do one a day, whatever the dateis.
So today's the 18th read, psalm18.
Tomorrow's the 19th.
Read Psalm 19.
Start small, aim small, misssmall.
For those of you who are in theword every day and it just
doesn't feel like things aregoing right, I'm sorry.
(32:10):
Life's not supposed to be easy,but what we are supposed to do
is remain faithful to the Lord,remain steadfast in him,
continue to seek him.
Steadfast in him, continue toseek him.
There is darkness and this partof life, there will be
(32:41):
suffering, but remainingsteadfast in him and practicing
to just draw closer to him, mm,hmm, that's probably one of the
most important things that Iwould say, yeah, and I think and
you know, during this season,obviously you know it is that
focus, but I think of everythingthat's going on in the United
States and in the world and allthe uncertainty.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
I'm not sure that there's any more important
message than to draw closerright.
When everyone is feeling likelife is chaotic and they don't
know what tomorrow is going tohold, and prices are going up
and this, and that People arestruggling to hang on to their
housing or they're livingoutside already, is there any
(33:23):
message more important than drawcloser Then draw closer First,
get to know him, than drawcloser then?
Draw closer first, get to knowhim, but draw closer?
Um, and what a responsibilitythat, then, that we all have to
share that kind of good news.
Um, that we don't have to beafraid of what the future holds
or what the present holds.
Frankly, um, we can just sit inhim.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Yeah, whether it's lent or not lent, and I think
that's a good point too.
Right, it doesn't have to justbe lent, no, sometimes you're
going through difficult timesand you just may need to pause
and maybe reflect on what you,what you talked about, mike, and
things that are taking you awayfrom that, and take a break
from those.
Fasting from different thingsIsn't just about lent, right,
(34:12):
it's.
It's just a state of mind thatwe go into to kind of help
combat those difficult times.
So it's right now, but it's, itcan be done anytime, right,
it's?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
it's the time I mean you got.
You have valentine's day.
Oh, it's a day for me to loveon my wife, hopefully that's not
going to do it any other day ofthe year.
Or Christmas, like ooh, it's atime of great cheer and
jubilation and you know beingcharitable, but I'm only going
to do it around December, rightafter Thanksgiving, and, you
know, after December 31st.
(34:42):
Nope, no more, no more, no.
Practice it every singlesolitary day, yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Well, that's great, man.
I super appreciate yourthoughts.
Is there any final thoughts youwant to share with our
listeners?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
I mean, I had Daniel, chapter 9, verses 3 through 4,
written down right here and it's.
You know if you, if you gothrough the book of daniel, it
is a minor prophet.
Uh, he was a minor prophet andhe's in chapter nine.
It's almost like the the ahamoment for him, like holy cow
(35:21):
jeremiah, what he's saying forthe 70 years, like we're in it
yeah and he it clicks for him ofwe're in this captivity, and
verses three and four, it saysso.
I turned my attention to theLord.
And this is Daniel saying Iturned my attention to the Lord
to seek him by prayer andpetitions, with fasting
(35:42):
sackcloth which is morningclothes and ashes.
I prayed to the Lord, my God,and confessed ah, lord, the
great and awe-inspiring God, whokeeps his gracious covenant
with those who love him and keephis commands.
We have sinned, done wrong,acted wickedly, rebelled and
(36:04):
turned away from your commandsand ordinances.
Rebelled and turned away fromyour commands and ordinances.
We have not listened to yourservants, the prophets who spoke
in your name to our kings,leaders, ancestors and all the
people of the land.
He just goes on saying like wemessed up, we have been wicked
(36:25):
God forgive me.
That's the first step, becausethen, once you know him, then
you get to love him.
Yeah, so yeah, whatever thenation is seeing, whatever we're
seeing in our community,whatever we're seeing at our
work, whatever we're seeing inour homes, whatever we're seeing
(36:52):
just in ourselves, that we'renot telling our community,
whatever we're seeing in ourwork, whatever we're seeing in
our homes, whatever we're seeingjust in ourselves, that we're
not telling our friends, thatwe're not telling our spouses,
our kids, whoever it startsinside with us, it's never too
late to just cry out to God andsay we've messed up, I have
messed up, but you are a Godfull of mercy, you are a God
(37:13):
full of grace, you are a Godthat is filled with awe.
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
That's where it starts.
And just like Forrest Gump says, that's all I got to say about
that.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
What a great message, man.
Thank you for sharing that andjust thank you for listening
today.
If you're listening today andheard this message and maybe
you're going through a roughtime maybe you're celebrating
Lent right now, maybe you're not, maybe you don't even really
know what this time is about.
Ask a friend, se you're not,maybe you don't even really know
what this time is about.
Ask a friend, seek the Lord.
(37:51):
That's the standing messagetoday.
Lean into the Lord, whetheryou're giving up something or
not, know that he loves you,know that he cares for you and
know that he's there for you.
Thank you for listening today.
If you'd like more informationon the Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can visit trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
Thanks for listening.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions.
God, thank you for this time.
Lord, to record this podcast,and Lord, just to celebrate.
God, this special time of year,and, lord, we just pray that we
would honor you with it.
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, amen.
Well, hello and welcome toepisode 260 of Our Community,
(00:24):
our Mission.
I'm joined today.
I'm Josh Turley, director ofStrategic Development for the
Topeka Rescue Mission, joined byMiriam Crable, as always.
Deputy Director of SupportiveServices.
Hi, josh, I nailed that Barryalways stumbles.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I know he does.
He has a really hard timesaying my name and my title all
in one breath.
Yeah, it's a little crazy, butit's okay.
It's okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
He's retired?
Yeah, he's.
You know that's great, yeah,anyway.
Well, you're probably wonderingwhy I'm hosting this morning.
And well, it's because Barry'sout on assignment, lamanda's out
on assignment, so you get the Dsquad today.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Oh, actually, I think you have the pros now.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
The rest of the people have to do it often, to
practice.
There you go.
We're the ones who come in whenthey need.
That Exactly, I like that.
That's a lot better.
Okay, well, in honor of ofBarry, we still got to talk
about our special days.
It's your favorite part, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Oh, you know, Josh, there's so many things to.
This was not one of them.
It's like we could have justskidded right by that, but no,
no, but I know it's because yourdepartment comes up with all
this right.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
At this point it's tradition.
At this point it's tradition.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, we cannot break .
We've always done it like thatright.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yeah, yeah, you can't break tradition and you'll hear
the voice of Mike Schottel.
We're joined by Mike Schotteltoday.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
What's up, can you tell?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
us your title.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
I am the Director of Spiritual Wellness and
Discipleship.
Yeah, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So we've got Mike on today and he's going to share a
special message with us, sowe'll get to that.
But before that, yeah, we gotto get to today.
So today's March 18th, yes, itis say, our R&D team spent tons
of time about 10 minutes lookingthese up, see what we had.
So do you want to announce ourfirst special day today?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
You know, I could just really throw kink into it
and we'll go to the one that isyour favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Which is National Sloppy Joe Day.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So why do you love Sloppy Joe's so much?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Sloppy Joe's.
Just the name invokes such awonderful.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
No, I don't like Sloppy Joes.
I know you don't and I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have made you talkabout it.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
It's funny though I put it on here.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, and you know, Mike and I like Sloppy Joes as
long as they don't have greenpeppers Right For Mike's safety.
Well and have to be homemade.
Yes, they need a mother's love.
Yes, and that requires homemadefrom start to finish, not no
other than you know.
You can use ketchup that'salready made or barbecue sauce
(02:53):
that's already made.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Use it with ketchup that's already made, like I make
, that we make like take thetomatoes gotta fresh squeeze
that tomato.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Gotta make it fresh squeezed tomatoes.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Think about that.
Oh is, is ketchup like asmoothie, because it's
technically a fruit, if youthink about it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Oh, you know, now, there you have it.
You could yeah, I think youcould call it that.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That's disgusting.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That's worse than a sloppy joe.
That's worse than a sloppy joe,that's exactly right, it needs
to be homemade.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And what really cracks me up is like when I was
a kid, too, I had family membersthat would pair Sloppy Joe's
with salt and vinegar chips andI always thought, oh, that is
disgusting, salt and vinegarchips, get out of here.
And then I grew up and thepairing is just perfect because
you have the vinegariness fromthe chips and then just the
(03:44):
subtle vinegary, but sweetnessfrom the Sloppy Joe.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's a beautiful thing.
It is a beautiful thing.
I think, Mike, maybe you and Ineed to make Sloppy Joes for
Josh.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
We should do like a Sloppy Joe carry-in dinner thing
for the children's palace.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I think that would be a great idea.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
And Josh is the head judge.
Exactly, these Sloppy joes aregood.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
These ones are bad.
You know what?
I think I can make that happen.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, you know the person that could set that up.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I do, we could definitely make that happen.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
All right, moving on Speaking of awkward moments,
Today is awkward moments day,Okay, okay, but I guess you know
it's.
Some things are just better outin the open.
So you know what, rather thanhide that, I don't like sloppy
Joes and you bring them and youknow, accidentally, be like oh,
Josh doesn't like sloppy, I'm sosorry.
(04:38):
Be like now, you know so, true,true.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Now, nobody can awkwardly bring them, but I'm
not sure who would be moreawkward you is, you have to eat
them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
That's true, it's you , that's, that's how I was
raised.
You, you just do you eat what'sset in front of you.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
That's right.
So are you?
How I am with like beans andstuff with sloppy jams?
No, I'm not that bad Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I'll eat it, it's just not it's just not what
you'd ever ask.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah, I'd never ask for it so yeah, but uh, but yeah
, I mean no well, and you know,and it could, it could create an
awkward moment.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It absolutely could.
But there are bigger awkwardmoments than that.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
So do you guys like think back about times?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
why are you looking at me and just automatically
laughing?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
because, because, because I don't know it's, it's,
it's funny because like andmaybe this is just my brain, but
I'll think about like awkwardtimes in my life where I, like
you know, waved at somebody andthat I thought was waving at me,
and then they're waving atsomebody behind me and I'm like
those those moments like stickin your brain and you think
about them randomly like 10years later, like, oh, I feel so
(05:43):
dumb.
I do understand that okay, okay,I'm glad I'm not.
Yes, anyway, honoring awkwardmoments, days, uh.
So we have one more day that wewant to recognize, and I feel
like this is actually a prettygood one national ag day.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
National agriculture day that is such an important
thing to recognize the farmersand ranchers that provide us
with all our food.
It really is.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Ag Day to me is a very cool day so, and I saw my
youngest brother this weekendand we were just talking about
you know farmers are the biggestgamblers of anybody in this
(06:30):
entire world.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
None of us need to go to Vegas at once.
You're a farmer becauseeverything you do is a gamble,
you know.
Will your, will your livestockbe okay?
Will they grow well?
Will you have enough food tofeed them?
Gamble Planting wheat, plantingsoybeans, planting corn it's a
gamble.
Will there be enough sun?
Will it be too wet?
Will it be too dry?
(06:51):
And when I think about how.
That is so ingrained in me thatwhen I see weather, when I see
what's happening with theweather, my mind goes straight
to gosh.
I wonder how this is going toimpact the farmers.
The weather my mind goesstraight to gosh.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I wonder how this is going to impact the farmers.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You know, oh yeah, so it's something you grow up with
constantly and realize, yeah,the farm life is an interesting
time.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, and you know, as with gambling, except this is
livelihood, like you know.
It's not just some extra cashor whatever.
This is food, so anyway, but,yes, we want to celebrate the
agriculture and all of theincredible farmers and all the
work that they do.
So thank you Absolutely,absolutely.
All right Now that we've gottenthat out of the way, thank
(07:32):
goodness.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Let's move on.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
It's always so stressful, right, I know, I know
.
Well, at least I didn't quizyou on it.
Barry likes to quiz you on it,so I just, you know, said here
it is.
Anyway, mike Schottel, wereached out to you and asked you
to share a little bit with usabout the season we're in and
the season of Lent.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
What do you have for us today?
You said Lent, yeah, lent.
I thought you said Lent, likeclean out your dryers every six
months, oh.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Well, this is awkward .
Now what Talk?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
about an awkward moment.
Well, folks, make sure youclean out your lint traps on
your dryers.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
But more than every six months.
Yeah, I mean always, unless youwant to start a fire.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
The tubing that goes to the.
I do every six months.
That's what I do.
Yeah, but the lint trap.
Here's the deal the lint trap.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So here's the deal, do you?
Yeah, but the trap here's thedeal.
So here's the deal.
Do you know?
Uh, really, you do that yeahokay, we'll talk after this.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Okay, I mean, yeah, I just got to make sure that the
airflow is going all right Inever have okay, let's talk
moving on okay, so awkwardmoment we're going to talk about
lent, yeah, um.
so just a brief overview.
I know that we've got a lot oflisteners that listen, come from
all different backgrounds ofChristianity, even some that are
(08:52):
not believers.
But when you hear the word Lentnine times out of 10, you're
going to think, oh, they'reCatholic.
If you are observing Lent,you're Catholic Catholic.
If you are observing Lent,you're Catholic.
Yes, the Catholic church doesoversee or does observe Lent,
but you got Protestant churchesthat do it too.
I mean, you got the Methodistsyou have, Lutherans you have-.
(09:15):
We do the Mennonites do Correct?
And I mean I grew up basic.
I mean it's the missionarychurch denomination, but it's
basically Wesleyan, yeah, and weobserved it, of course.
So Lent is the 40 days betweenEaster, between Ash Wednesday,
excuse me, and Easter.
It does not oversee the Sundaysthat are in that period of time
(09:39):
, but Lent begins Ash Wednesdayall the way until the Saturday
before Easter, ends AshWednesday all the way until the
Saturday before Easter.
That is a time to engage inprayer, time to engage in
fasting, but most importantly,it's spiritual disciplines.
Um, so it matters because Easter, even bigger than Christmas,
(10:01):
easter is the reason why we arehere.
Christ came, he lived, he diedand he came back to life,
conquered death, so that thosewho believe in him can have
eternal life.
So Easter, it's kind of a bigdeal.
So what kind of?
Put me down the rabbit trail.
Easter rabbit, just kidding.
(10:22):
Just want to look up like whatthe word lent actually, where
that comes from, which actuallyit is an old English word that
means spring, or the lengthening, lengthening of days.
So really has nothing to do.
There's no Greek in it, there'sno nothing.
It's literally just spring.
So looked into it a little bitmore.
(10:44):
Like what does the Latin sayabout it?
Because you have Catholicismand all the other denominations
of churches and Christians thatfollow Lent.
It's quadrigesima, which means40.
Okay 40 day fast, okay, yeah.
So with Lent you hear peoplethat'll say, well, what are you
(11:10):
giving up for Lent?
What was really funny isgrowing up.
My sister would always give upchocolate during Lent and what's
the one thing that you can see?
And there's children, littlegirls, that are going door to
door right now, this time of day, this time of year, Selling
what?
Girl Scout cookies?
Girl Scout cookies, yes, everysingle solitary year.
(11:33):
And it's like Sarah just hadlike a reset, like, oh man, I'm
giving up chocolate and I can'thave Thin Mints, I can't have
the peanut butter patties.
What is this?
And we're like, hey, you'redoing it to yourself.
You know, some people give upchocolate.
Some people even will try togive up smoking.
They'll give up social media.
Me, every year, I give up thedifficult sacrifice of
(11:55):
watermelon.
It's not a seasonal fruit.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Oh well, you know, so it's tough.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
And then also scuba diving.
You know, living in Kansassometimes you've got to make the
commitment.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
You do, you have to go all in.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
No.
So one of the things, insteadof like giving up stuff, what I
try to focus on is doing more toseek the Lord.
It's a 40-day period, notincluding the Sunday, so some
people would believe, okay,let's break the fast.
On a Sunday, we can do whatever, because you're observing the
(12:30):
Sabbath.
Those 40 days you are observingthe time to draw nearer to the
Lord.
Those 40 days you are observingthe time to draw nearer to the
Lord, but 40 is the number ofthe fast and that can represent
judgment.
It could represent spiritualtesting.
You can see that all throughoutScripture, genesis chapter 7,
(12:57):
with Noah and the ark, the 40days and 40 nights.
It's going to rain.
And then they were on the ark.
Jesus was in the wilderness for40 days being tempted by Satan
and overcome the temptation withthe use of scripture, with the
use of his authority as God,right Um, and this discipline
(13:30):
and I honestly think that theCatholic church is just so great
at doing it um, for the 40 daysof imitating Christ's suffering
um, through the process ofgrowing more in their spiritual
disciplines, growing closer toGod, to do.
And, josh, I'm gonna, I'm gonnapick on you real quick because,
uh, probably about two monthsago or whatever, we were out
with with uh, with anotherfriend, and we were having
dinner and somehow we got on thebasis of fasting um, and I'm
pretty sure that was most of theconversation for the night, as
(14:07):
we're eating chicken wings,that's, we're eating dinner.
Your, your focus needs to be onRight Um.
So you shared, like the, themost that I'd ever fasted was
like 48 hours, but around like30 hour 36,.
I mean, little Mike gets, hegets hangry and hunger gets what
hunger wants.
Um, but you shared somethingreally cool about your parents.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Yeah, so, um, I was, I had shared with Mike that I
remember seasons as a kid whenmy parents would, it was a
couple of times they would do a40 day fast.
They did a 40 day fast andthere was, and you know, I was
trying to reflect on.
I don't really rememberspecifics, but I remember there
was like kind of big thingsgoing on.
There was kind of like and itwas a time of seeking for them
(14:52):
and they use that time of, youknow, to pray, read the Bible,
and it was really a disciplineand so, um, but yeah, I remember
that happening a couple oftimes.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, that's, that's amazing, and you know so
I've been talking to differentfriends in our women's Bible
study and stuff, just about howthey are observing Lent, not
necessarily about what they'regiving up.
So one person is spending thetime these 40 days lamenting,
right, so kind of thinking aboutthose things that are worrisome
(15:28):
or bothersome and really justlamenting to the Lord about it,
which I thought was reallyinteresting.
So things that she considereddifficult or things going on in
the world, to really just lay itall at the Lord's feet but not
just giving it up, but beingagonized about it, right, being
(15:52):
just lamenting.
You know the whole principle oflamentation and that.
And then someone else has chosento say I am going to be
intentionally kind, so I'm goingto try to do the things that
Christ did.
I'm going to be focused on Him,his life, not just this period
(16:14):
in his life but his life, andjust be very intentionally kind,
particularly to people that,not that this person would ever
not be kind because she is akind person, but just
intentionally kind to peoplethat might not expect it, right,
and that kind of thing.
So I've been kind of intrigued,so I've always observed Lent
(16:39):
from a perspective ofrecognizing this time frame, you
know, and trying to dodifferent devotionals or Bible
study or something that reallyfocuses on this time up to
Jesus' death and resurrection.
But I've never, really ever,given up something.
That's never been in mypractice, but so I was very
interested to hear how theseother people were observing Lent
(17:03):
in a different way than justgiving up something.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Well, I think that's like a big part of it.
I think when you focus solelyon the impact of just giving
something up, I think you canpretty easily like miss the
point of it.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Correct.
Um, so when you give up andtalking about fasting food, the
what you're supposed to do whenyou're not eating is you take
that time you'd be eating topray, right?
It's kind of supplementing forthose spiritual disciplines.
And so when we just fast tofast and just kind of talk about
what we've given up, I thinkyou missed the point.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Because it's replacing one for the other.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, I agree with you.
It is a time for spiritualformation, it is a time to draw
closer to God.
And there's one quote, there's acouple quotes actually, from
Brother Lawrence which if you'vespent any time talking with me,
discussing with me as part ofmy job.
There are some staff members,even guests, that are like okay,
(18:07):
how do I draw closer to God?
Well, first and foremost, yougot to be in the word.
You have to be in the word.
James, chapter four, verseeight, is draw near to God and
what's the promise he will drawnear to you.
So be in his word, Practice hisword, Practice his presence.
Which brings me up to the nextone.
Brother Lawrence was a 17thcentury monk in France.
(18:32):
He worked on a monastery.
He, I believe, was in thekitchen.
I've read the book like four orfive times and let me tell you
it's not an easy read because itwas translated from 17th
century French to now.
But this individual, of anybodythat was at this monastery.
(18:53):
There were priests, there werenuns, there were people who,
like, had the greatest accolades.
And if anybody you could askthem on the premises, like who
is the most spiritual of all,who is the most in tune with the
Lord, they would all say it'sBrother Lawrence, the guy that
(19:16):
works in the kitchen.
You're kidding me.
And these letters that he wroteto the Holy Mother, to his
coworkers, to whoever like.
Somebody got these after he hadpassed and made them into this
book, fantastic book.
But here's a couple quotes thatBrother Lawrence said about
drawing closer to God.
Speaking as speaking, this isof God.
(19:39):
He does not ask much of us,merely a thought of him from
time to time, a little act ofadoration, sometimes to ask for
his grace, sometimes to offerhim your sufferings, at other
times to thank him for thegraces, past and present, that
he has bestowed on you In themidst of your troubles.
(20:00):
To take solace in him as oftenas you can, lift up your heart
to him during your meals and incompany.
The least little remembrancewill always be the most pleasing
to him.
One not need cry out very loud.
He is nearer to us than wethink.
Mm-hmm wow, I mean, he is soclose to us.
(20:24):
We just got to reach out andjust say something, just as
something as small as just beinglike god, thank you for this
and that that.
For me, when I first startedworking at the mission of almost
seven years ago seven years,holy cow, seven years, boy,
howdy.
But every single day like thisis and I will say it, this is
(20:48):
the best job like I thought whenI was at the dc, that was the
best job that I'd had out ofcollege.
No, the job that I'm in nowit's like.
This is fantastic.
And I've I know I've texted you,miriam and lamanda, uh multiple
times, just being like thankyou for this opportunity.
You know, I'm almost done withmy schooling, with my master's
and just being able to basicallybe.
(21:09):
My career is to draw closer toGod, so that I can shepherd
everybody at the mission to drawcloser to there's nothing like
it.
I love it, but I remember whenI first started at the DCC,
every day it was like God, thankyou that I'm finally in my
niche.
Thank you.
(21:30):
And then there was like twoweeks that I went without
thanking and it was like and Icall it the Holy Spirit, with a
two-by form Whack right upsidethe head.
It's like, michael, you haven'tthanked me, like you are so
close to me and you're notthanking me.
Just take that small, teeny,tiny moment and lift up your
(21:51):
hearts to him.
The least little remembrancewill always be the most pleasing
to him.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Just thank him, just conversationally, right?
Yes, you know, and that'ssomething and, josh, it kind of,
I think, harkens back to alittle bit of what you were
saying too.
We can make Lent seem socomplicated, right, and make it
about the acts versus about thewhy.
I think you're really spot onwith that and it's that same
(22:22):
thing.
Just even the recognition ofwhat Christ was facing during
these 40 days.
You know just what that musthave been like for him.
You know and we know how closeGod is.
And then I think about Christon the cross and feeling
forsaken, the son of God, godincarnate, feeling forsaken by
(22:45):
the Father, and what that musthave felt like, and then that we
miss the opportunities just tobe in communion with him in the
small, everyday kind of moment.
That's really beautiful andthat's very convicting for me to
think about, to just go aheadand embrace the fact that the
Lord is so close.
(23:05):
I just need to.
I just need to intentionally,like I would any friend you know
, like I would.
Yeah, that's, that's reallypowerful.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I've heard something similar to that too, of like how
would like you know if you havea really good friend or family
member that you're in contactwith all the time and you just
stop talking to them?
Yeah, what would happen to thatrelationship?
Yeah, right.
Like so there's investment inthere and it's intentional
investment and it's worth itRight.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
To put in that time.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
So Right.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Um, so, with the end, with the intention this is
another quote from brotherLawrence, from practicing the
presence of God.
He says we must know before wecan love.
In order to know God, we mustoften think of him and when we
(23:59):
come to love him we shall thenalso think of him often, for our
heart will be with our treasure, and that just rings true to me
because it feels like itmirrors Matthew 6, verse 33.
But seek first the kingdom of.
God and his righteousness andall of these will be provided
for you.
Seek him, love him, and nomatter even how hard life's
going to be, you got the love.
(24:20):
Just fall into that.
Yeah, it's.
It is about drawing closer tohim, but there is, there is the
importance of the fasting, thecutting things out to see what
(24:42):
Might be thwarting yourrelationship with him, to grow
closer to him.
You know, it's just like how,you know, some people are trying
to figure out what they'reallergic to for food, so they
completely change theirlifestyle and for like three
weeks.
Well, it's just kind of goingoff of what Daniel does,
daniel's fast in Daniel, chapter10.
For three weeks he stoppedeating this food nothing rich,
(25:04):
nothing, uh, you know.
No, no wine, nothing rich, togive him the sustenance.
Because who is the one that issustaining?
God, the father.
Um, so, slowly, adding thosethings back in, you know, will
show.
Okay, what is it that's causingme to slip up?
Yeah, um, so abstaining issomething that gives us the idea
(25:27):
to focus, just like, josh, whatyou were saying, like when your
parents did the 40-day fast.
It shifts our focus on what issustaining us.
And it kind of cracks me up,because one of my uncles, my
godfather actually he isCatholic and he absolutely hates
(25:49):
fish.
If it slithers or crawls orswims, don't put it in front of
him, he's going to eat it.
So during the Lent season,Fridays are the worst days for
him.
And that's when you'll see whenyou're going past my office,
whatever the day is that I'mwriting on the dry erase board
below it, on the Fridays duringLent.
So this Friday it's going to beonly four more days of fish for
(26:12):
for fish hating Catholics, butthe whole thing about fish and I
might be wrong in this, butthis is just some of the stuff
that I was gathering for it is,why is it fish on Fridays?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
So what I found is that fish is a symbol of Christ,
which it makes 100% sense,because early Christians used
the Greek acronym Ichthus, soIchthus was spelt Iota, chi Th
sigma, okay, iota.
(26:50):
That starts with jesus, he asue and it's just kind of like
uh indiana jones in the uh uhlast crusade, you know, at the
very end when he's trying tosave his dad sorry if I'm
ruining this for you, but thisis a 35 year old movie 36 year
old movie, uh, 1989.
(27:10):
But yeah, uh.
Jesus in the greek and in thelatin starts with an I.
So when indy's like trying totake the steps of god, the name
of god, uh, it zooms in on seanconnor and he goes, oh.
But jehovah starts with an eyeand he goes jay, and he steps in
(27:31):
and he almost dies, no.
So jesus in the greek, in thelatin, starts with an eye.
So yesu cristo chi feu.
God huyas, that's the epsilon,and then so tear savior, eu, god
Huyas, that's the Upsilon, andthen Soter Savior.
(27:51):
Ichthus is the acronym forJesus Christ, son of God Savior.
Wow.
So Ichthus, greek for fish.
You can't say Jikthus, I mean,let's be honest, that wouldn't
have caught on.
But Ichthus is Greek for fish.
So symbol of Christ, fish.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Kind of cool little video.
That is really cool.
Yeah, so could that be why theyjust eat fish?
Because it's a symbol of Christ?
Sure, I don't know.
I have no idea.
I thoroughly enjoy fish.
My Uncle Chip I do Hard passfor my Uncle Chip, I mean no.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
He must have had a sloppy joe, experience Must have
had some bad fish, really bad.
That is very interesting,because I've never known why the
fish represents Christ.
Huh, interesting.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I didn't know, I'm just not like maybe fishers of
men or like there's lots of fishsymbolism kind of within within
that too.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
But also just because fish fries are delicious.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
They're just fun Boy that's exactly right For those
of us who don't have to do it ordon't feel compelled to do it
on Friday.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
We just enjoy tagging along.
That's exactly right.
Anybody knows where a good fishfry is.
Hit your boy up.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
All right.
Well, since we've, I have aquestion for you, if you were to
help our listeners out, what'ssome very practical tips on
drawing closer to God, andobviously that's going to be
different per person, but what'ssome things that work for you.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So things that work for me, or you know, pot's
calling kettle black on this one.
Um, you know, if I'm going into, because I'm going to be honest
, I go to counseling.
It's a wonderful thing, it's a,it's a spiritual formation, uh,
opportunity for me, becausethere's a lot of stuff that we
deal with, whether, whether itis here at work, whether it is
personally, whether it is stuffthat we just deal with by
(29:50):
watching the news.
Anxiety is a real thing.
People should definitely begoing to counseling a lot more
often than they think theyshould be or shouldn't be the
stigma.
Just, first and foremost, go tocounseling.
It's great.
But if I've had just anincredibly difficult week, the
first thing that my counselorsays to me is well, have you
(30:12):
been in the word I'm like well,no, no, I haven't well, there's
your problem, but that could notring any more true.
(30:41):
Last week, for instance, likejust dealing with a whole bunch
of doubts, my past, not reallyfeeling like I'm worthy to be in
the position that I'm in.
You know, just finished twoclasses.
Talk about getting kicked inthe head and kicked in the hind
end at the same time.
I mean two classes, master'slevel, classes on top of work,
and then being a husband, beinga father, being a friend it's a
lot.
And reading through psalms 40,when the lord heard my cry and
(31:04):
he picked me out of the pit ofdespair, of desolation, and then
out of the miry clay and placedmy feet firm on the rock.
That's what we should be justreading that the word is living
and it is breathing.
Draw near to God and he willdraw near to you.
(31:28):
That's the first thing that Iwould say to any listener.
If you are a believer and thingsjust aren't right, things don't
feel like they're going right,I'm, first and foremost, I'm
sorry that it doesn't feel likethings are going right, but get,
get in the word.
And if you're not in the word,just start in Psalms.
(31:49):
Do one a day, whatever the dateis.
So today's the 18th read, psalm18.
Tomorrow's the 19th.
Read Psalm 19.
Start small, aim small, misssmall.
For those of you who are in theword every day and it just
doesn't feel like things aregoing right, I'm sorry.
(32:10):
Life's not supposed to be easy,but what we are supposed to do
is remain faithful to the Lord,remain steadfast in him,
continue to seek him.
Steadfast in him, continue toseek him.
There is darkness and this partof life, there will be
(32:41):
suffering, but remainingsteadfast in him and practicing
to just draw closer to him, mm,hmm, that's probably one of the
most important things that Iwould say, yeah, and I think and
you know, during this season,obviously you know it is that
focus, but I think of everythingthat's going on in the United
States and in the world and allthe uncertainty.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
I'm not sure that there's any more important
message than to draw closerright.
When everyone is feeling likelife is chaotic and they don't
know what tomorrow is going tohold, and prices are going up
and this, and that People arestruggling to hang on to their
housing or they're livingoutside already, is there any
(33:23):
message more important than drawcloser Then draw closer First,
get to know him, than drawcloser then?
Draw closer first, get to knowhim, but draw closer?
Um, and what a responsibilitythat, then, that we all have to
share that kind of good news.
Um, that we don't have to beafraid of what the future holds
or what the present holds.
Frankly, um, we can just sit inhim.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Yeah, whether it's lent or not lent, and I think
that's a good point too.
Right, it doesn't have to justbe lent, no, sometimes you're
going through difficult timesand you just may need to pause
and maybe reflect on what you,what you talked about, mike, and
things that are taking you awayfrom that, and take a break
from those.
Fasting from different thingsIsn't just about lent, right,
(34:12):
it's.
It's just a state of mind thatwe go into to kind of help
combat those difficult times.
So it's right now, but it's, itcan be done anytime, right,
it's?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
it's the time I mean you got.
You have valentine's day.
Oh, it's a day for me to loveon my wife, hopefully that's not
going to do it any other day ofthe year.
Or Christmas, like ooh, it's atime of great cheer and
jubilation and you know beingcharitable, but I'm only going
to do it around December, rightafter Thanksgiving, and, you
know, after December 31st.
(34:42):
Nope, no more, no more, no.
Practice it every singlesolitary day, yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Well, that's great, man.
I super appreciate yourthoughts.
Is there any final thoughts youwant to share with our
listeners?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
I mean, I had Daniel, chapter 9, verses 3 through 4,
written down right here and it's.
You know if you, if you gothrough the book of daniel, it
is a minor prophet.
Uh, he was a minor prophet andhe's in chapter nine.
It's almost like the the ahamoment for him, like holy cow
(35:21):
jeremiah, what he's saying forthe 70 years, like we're in it
yeah and he it clicks for him ofwe're in this captivity, and
verses three and four, it saysso.
I turned my attention to theLord.
And this is Daniel saying Iturned my attention to the Lord
to seek him by prayer andpetitions, with fasting
(35:42):
sackcloth which is morningclothes and ashes.
I prayed to the Lord, my God,and confessed ah, lord, the
great and awe-inspiring God, whokeeps his gracious covenant
with those who love him and keephis commands.
We have sinned, done wrong,acted wickedly, rebelled and
(36:04):
turned away from your commandsand ordinances.
Rebelled and turned away fromyour commands and ordinances.
We have not listened to yourservants, the prophets who spoke
in your name to our kings,leaders, ancestors and all the
people of the land.
He just goes on saying like wemessed up, we have been wicked
(36:25):
God forgive me.
That's the first step, becausethen, once you know him, then
you get to love him.
Yeah, so yeah, whatever thenation is seeing, whatever we're
seeing in our community,whatever we're seeing at our
work, whatever we're seeing inour homes, whatever we're seeing
(36:52):
just in ourselves, that we'renot telling our community,
whatever we're seeing in ourwork, whatever we're seeing in
our homes, whatever we're seeingjust in ourselves, that we're
not telling our friends, thatwe're not telling our spouses,
our kids, whoever it startsinside with us, it's never too
late to just cry out to God andsay we've messed up, I have
messed up, but you are a Godfull of mercy, you are a God
(37:13):
full of grace, you are a Godthat is filled with awe.
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
That's where it starts.
And just like Forrest Gump says, that's all I got to say about
that.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
What a great message, man.
Thank you for sharing that andjust thank you for listening
today.
If you're listening today andheard this message and maybe
you're going through a roughtime maybe you're celebrating
Lent right now, maybe you're not, maybe you don't even really
know what this time is about.
Ask a friend, se you're not,maybe you don't even really know
what this time is about.
Ask a friend, seek the Lord.
(37:51):
That's the standing messagetoday.
Lean into the Lord, whetheryou're giving up something or
not, know that he loves you,know that he cares for you and
know that he's there for you.
Thank you for listening today.
If you'd like more informationon the Topeka Rescue Mission,
you can visit trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg.
Thanks for listening.
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