October 20, 2023 • 54 mins
Ever found yourself stuck in the dreaded 'password jail'? You're not alone! Join us as we laugh about these all-too-relatable scenarios and discuss our grandparents’ frugal ways with coffee. But the fun doesn't stop there. We kick things up a notch with a hilarious game of “To Have, To Hold, To Heck With It”, leading to some surprising choices. We bet you can't guess Nate's unexpected knowledge about Taylor Swift's lyrics!
From the lighthearted to the heartfelt, our conversation takes a turn to the topic of hope amidst despair. Drawing strength from Philippians 4 and the inspiring story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who found hope in the most hopeless of situations, we explore the importance of faith, resilience and the power of God's promises.
Concluding our rollercoaster of an episode, we delve into the importance of seeking help, having grace for ourselves and holding onto faith in the face of adversity.
From chuckles over password woes to introspection over life's trials, this episode is a journey you don't want to miss. Tune in and let's walk this path together.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome back everyone .
Hello, great to see you all.
How are you guys doing today?
Good, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I feel low energy.
I know I do too.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
We don't have coffee here with us.
That was a main difference.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Whose job was that?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The intern Nate, that's me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Nate's not the intern , but I could be.
You got the coffee last time.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I did, I did.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I was just assuming that it would happen again.
I let you down.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I almost texted this morning and offered, but then I
was like, oh, it's going to becold by the time we start.
There was a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Cold coffee is still good.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Cold coffee is still coffee, is that?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
what you're saying.
Yeah, it's still coffee.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Wait really though yeah, it's still good.
Would you microwave it?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Oh, yeah, oh yeah, I had to microwave it oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So my grandpa was kind of like known for you make
a pot of coffee, he'd have likea cup.
That pot might last him thewhole week.
That is gross, oh my gosh,that's disgusting.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah, so he would just like the next cup.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah, so he would just like the next day pour a
cup, heat it up in the microwaveand just keep on going until
that pot was gone.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I mean maybe the day.
Maybe the day, like Nate is.
He'll make a whole pot and thenby the end of the day, if
there's some left, he'll heat itup.
But I can't.
I can't go past couple hours.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
But Nate's like ooh, I've had a lot of bad like gas
station coffee in my life, soI've built up a tolerance.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, yeah, an iron stomach over there, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Man, I feel like where I spend a lot of money on
coffee is not because I need thecaffeine or because I like,
love, love, love coffee.
Yeah, it's when I'm driving andI just want to drink something
warm.
Yeah.
And I just end up buying thecoffee.
I get it.
I have an opening thought today.
It's not necessarily positiveor fun, but it's maybe relatable
.
Okay, have you ever found your?
(01:42):
Have you ever found yourself inpassword jail all the time I
cannot stand what is going onright now.
So you know, the Salvation Armyasks you, like every couple
months to change your password.
But that password is to yourcomputer, it goes to your.
(02:02):
The internet usage, the youremail, but also your share
drives.
And then that stuff isconnected to your phones.
But then the passwords aredifferent to your banks and to
all your internet accounts andlike, oh my goodness, yeah, it's
bad.
But when you try to use those,like someone listening, I'd be
like, well, why don't you justuse your phone?
I'd be like, well, why don'tyou just use like a password
vault or like one of those appsLike so passwords get saved on
(02:23):
Chrome, passwords get saved onSafari.
I use the website called lastpass.
And it's like you can either useit on a mobile or you can use
it on a desktop, but you can'tdo both.
And so when all these I know so, when all these passwords
change, I just like either thecertain browser is not like up
to date or my I am just like I'mover it.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I did you know.
Have you used keychain in Mac?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yes, and that's like another.
But that's another thing, yeah,so like if I save something, my
best guess, like still it's notvery helpful.
I am just like I'm done.
I'm about ready to open thewindow, throw my computer right
out and just call it a day.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
The worst is when you get a new phone and you have to
sign in all over to Facebookand Instagram, or your calendars
, your contacts like everything.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I'm the king of .
Just add one number to thepassword, so I think I'm up to
like password 38 right now.
Oh my good.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, every time I know he's either password 38 or
I asked recently I'm like hey,what's your password for this?
And it was Nate, and then hisfull social security number.
And I was like I'm not kidding,no this is rule 101.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Here's the problem.
Here's the problem they wouldnot let me set the password with
any of my previous passwords,and so I need to pick something
I'm going to remember.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Jackson, loretta, brooklyn anything?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yes, all taken, all taken.
Can't do it again.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
So when you read stories online that say like
someone's entire life savingswent taken, and you're like how
could this person be that that'sNate Well.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I have nothing social security number.
I have nothing for them to take, so jokes on you.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think it was Nate full social security exclamation
Like it was something wild Icouldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Sorry, wow, this always turns into like a Nate
shame.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I don't think so.
That's not true.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Well, just kidding.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So that's my opening thought.
We're going to launch rightinto our first game.
Yep, all right.
So there's a very crude termfor this game and I think a lot
of people have played it, butpeople might know it as Mary
kill.
And then there's a third word.
But so we're going to thirdword.
Yeah, yeah.
So, we're going to play a gamecalled to have to hold to heck
(04:34):
with it.
I like it, I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
That's good, so fun is this Disney version.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So I'm going to start with Nate.
Yeah, I'm going to give you acategory and you're going to get
three options.
So if you have to select eachone of these, so to have means
you get to choose that thing onetime, right, never again Got it
To hold.
Means that you're choosing thatthing for the rest of your life
, over and over and over andover, something you're never,
(05:00):
ever going to get tired of.
And then to heck with it meansyou're never going to experience
that again.
You don't want any part of it.
It's out.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Okay, cut off, got it .
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, so here's the first category.
Nate, I have prepared this foryou.
The first category is clothing.
Oh, wow, I know, you know, natethe fashion aficionado.
All right Clothing.
Here are your three optionsNate, okay, first one.
Your Salvation Army uniformOkay, second option.
Second option we're going to goall of fall clothing.
(05:31):
We're going to include hoodies,jeans, sneakers, like fall
clothing yeah Big option.
Your third option PittsburghSteelers Jersey.
Wow, so you have to have tohold, to heck with it.
Salvation Army uniform, fallclothing and Steelers Jersey.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Well, what do you got ?
I mean, if I'm thinking, I'mthinking too much into this, but
that's what this is about.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, that's what this is about.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, no, if I was thinking from a professional
point of view.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I would.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I wouldn't get rid of the uniform because it's it's
my identity and I don't think Iwould have a job if I got rid of
that.
So I would have to.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So to hold is the uniform I'd have to hold it.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You wear the uniform every.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I think everyone listening might have a different
answer.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
But okay so.
Nate is picking to hold I thinkothers around this table might
have a different answer.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I know, I mean like it's with it's not with my heart
, it's with my head, right.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All right.
So then, of the, the remainingtwo, which ones are you wearing
one time and never again for therest of your life?
Steelers, jersey or fallclothing?
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Well, probably fall clothing, I guess.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And then, so to heck with it.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
So you're saying you wouldnever wear a Steelers.
Jersey ever again, for the restof your life.
It's over.
It's over.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Gotta burn them all, I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I could still wear it like a Steelers, like hoodie,
right, no, no no, I'm saying.
Oh, any Steelers?
Okay, okay, then, never mind,reverse, reverse the two okay,
so you get to.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So he's gonna pick one day for the rest of his life
to wear Steelers, everything,and then never again.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, but he's gonna say a good day every single day.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
He's okay wearing a salvage arm uniform and then to
heck with it with fall clothing.
No more hoodies, wow.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
No more jeans, yeah he's gonna be in uniform.
It's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
It's gonna be great.
Okay, nate, I have one morecategory for you, but you can
pick the category Okay.
So I'm gonna give you a choice.
You can either pick Vacations,okay, or NFL quarterbacks.
Oh, nfl quarterbacks, let's go,of course.
Of course.
He chose NFL quarterbacks.
All right to have to hold toheck with it.
Okay, you got Mack Jones, newEngland Patriots.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Okay, zack Wilson knew this was coming.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
You're jets, I knew it, and Kenny pick it.
Pittsburgh Steelers, oh, comeon.
All right.
So why don't we start withwho's the quarterback?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
for the rest of your days, the rest of my days out of
those three Yep I have to see.
I have to say that the samplesize is smaller on Kenny pick it
than it is Mack Jones and ZackWilson.
Okay and so, just out of purehopefully, ceiling that hasn't
been realized yet, I'd have togo Kenny, pick it to keep
forever, of course.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
He's loyal.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, of course, even though he only wore his
Pittsburgh stuff for one day andthen throw it all away.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
No, it's gonna be a good day.
It's gonna be when we win thebig one, get the quarterback of
your life.
Yeah, okay, now lose thequarterback for one.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Let's say you're in the playoffs, kenny pick, it
gets injured.
This is the Super Bowl.
Okay, you have to have aquarterback for one game.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Mack Jones.
Wow Sorry.
I mean we've seen the way theseason is going.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I don't know if I don't, I don't, I honestly,
thought it was, I was gonna beZack, and then you're just gonna
be, you know no, this is it aloyal hater of the past.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Mack Jones is not.
Mack Jones is not it.
He is not a franchisequarterback.
But you cannot blame All of thefailure Around the Patriots
this year on Mack Jones like youcan the receivers get no
separation.
The offensive line is trash.
If you put him on a on a SuperBowl team, you put him on a
Super Bowl team.
I have to think that he canmanage the game better than Zach
Wilson.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All right, all right, nate.
Well, good job.
So he has to to have once isMack Jones to hold.
Kenny, pick it.
Wow, to heck with it, zachWilson.
There we go.
All right, loretta, your turn.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Okay, I chose for Matt, so this we joked about
this one in our little planningmeeting, but I need to know okay
.
This is just like a life.
The category is life hobbies.
Hobbies, aquariums, fish tanks,okay.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Golf.
I don't think we've ever talkedabout my aquarium on the
podcast, but go ahead, have wenot?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
so aquarium, golf and lawn care, lawn care, good Lord
which one to have to hold toheck with the three like most
like middle-aged dad Categoriesyou've ever heard of you can
only do these things when youhave new balances and like high
white socks.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
But Okay, to heck with it.
I'm saying the aquarium.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Wow, okay.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Yeah, I'll take your fish.
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That's fine, all right to heck with.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
It is the aquarium.
I think that's kind of an easyone to have into hold.
Let's see, I Think to holdForever.
I got to go with golf, reallyyeah, I'm sticking with golf and
then long care.
I would do like one day, likeif they're really good.
One day I made me thegroundskeeper for the World
Series and I like was like, likemowing stripes into the
(10:13):
outfield one day, give me oneday, but that's awesome yeah
well, for those who don't know,there is a top golf that is
opening up literally like ahundred yards away.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
From where we're seated right now.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
So I may never work again.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, Matt might be there every lunch break.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Every lunch break.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
We'll be doing this via like teams.
Matt will be over at lunchbreak.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah we're gonna do the podcast via teams.
I'll just be on my phone.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
All right, so that was hobbies, okay, food mm.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Okay wings Chili oh coffee oh man, that is rough,
right is hard.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Like I don't hold to heck with it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I don't know if I could function without coffee
right.
Yeah, I think chili I couldlive without.
I'm gonna say to heck with itwith chili.
I do love chili.
It's very seasonal, though forme, that's true, I would never
don't want chili in the summer.
Oh yeah, like chili, dogs aregood.
You're processing all of thethings you're getting rid of
processing in real time.
Okay, chili, to heck with it.
(11:15):
What we say wings and coffee.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
That is a tough one yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I think I could learn to live Without coffee, Wow.
I'm gonna take wings to hold,okay, cuz that is like when we
have mass brass Mondays.
Like I know, the invitation isout to everyone in the band.
Yeah we have to go out forwings afterwards, but wings is
like man, that's my, it's mylove life, I love language.
So all right, those are goodcategories.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Yeah, thank you.
Yeah, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Then Nate, you prepared for your wife I did.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
My first category is shopping.
Okay, so to hold to hold or toheck with it.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
All right target Amazon oh or Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Oh, that's a twist.
It is a twist.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Huh, I think I could do without Starbucks Okay so I
mean, you can get coffee otherplaces exactly I'm gonna say,
I'm gonna say target To have,that's the one day right.
Yeah so I'd stock up for lifeIn one shopping in a warehouse.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Just rent out a warehouse.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
She goes $50,000 in debt to stock up for life.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, Nate, you told me I had to have or to hold, but
I say to hold Amazon.
Amazon has so many things.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It's so, so convenient, so convenient to
leave your house.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I just ordered, like print cartridges that will be
there between 5 and 10 pm.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
It is prime day, yeah , prime day.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
So, those are.
That would be where I go withthat.
It's a good one, I like it.
Yep, all right, so my next oneis hygiene.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Oh, wow, okay, Careful here, nate, would you.
Mate is always on the verge oflike marital fights, like in the
pod.
I know I've all of it between.
Does the Rita use soap?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
go Between already just saying Zach Wilson, like we
know that he's.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I'm holding in all I'm smiles for the camera and
saying that I'm gonna wear myuniform every single day.
Okay, there we go All right, soNever shower again.
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
This is stupid never cut your hair again, wow, or
never clip your nails.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Wow, these are disgusting Wow.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Those are good right.
Yeah, that's perfect, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Or this one requires more thought than the shopping
one.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah wait.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
So what it's?
Never cut your hair, Never cutyour nails or never shower.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
That is rough.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I'm I just like going to live in a commune by myself.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Hey, there are people that don't do this.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say Wow.
I'll cut my hair once.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Okay, I'll shave it bald and then I'm good for a bit
.
I'm like I don't even I'd haveto shower, to hold to shower and
then clip, clip my nails never,never bite them, bite them.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I don't think I count .
Speaker 2 (14:29):
No, we're talking about like you know your old
days.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
They are curled in circles.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I will never shower.
Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Like curls, they drag on the floor.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, drag on the floor, so I'm gonna have really
long hair.
Freddy Krueger nails, you'll bepopular you will.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
You have lots of friends, but you'll be.
You will smell nice, so youwill have showered like lucky me
.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Good job to have a hold to heck with it.
Oh dear goodness.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
I don't know how to transition out of that, but we
have a ministry, we have aministry tip.
We're gonna try to incorporatethis in some of our podcasts and
won't.
It won't Be a super longsegment, but I think every once
while we want to give ministrytips out in the fields that we
are in.
So today's topic is music, andwhen I'm out in the core
(15:20):
teaching or we're teachingduring the summer, a lot of
times we're doing brass lessonsfor beginner brass players.
So I just want to take fiveminutes because I know a lot of
people say like oh, I couldnever even make a sound On an
instrument.
It's so intimidating I could notplay.
I don't know how to do that.
It's actually much more simplethan you thought, especially to
start beginners.
So the things I want to listoff before I kind of go through
(15:43):
Maybe a first lesson here arethe things that you should keep
in mind when you are starting abeginner on a brass instrument.
So first tip is you have tohave a plan as a teacher and you
have to give very clearinstructions.
So always stay one step aheadof the kids.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
So if the kids have never buzzed before.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Make sure you know how to buzz before.
So, have a plan, and by plan Imean, you know, come in and say
like, okay, if this lesson is 15minutes long.
For five minutes we're gonnatalk about the names of the
parts of the instrument.
For five minutes we're gonnalearn how to hold the instrument
and place our fingers, and thelast five minutes we're actually
going to make a sound.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
You know I have a plan.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
The kids that you're working with.
They really will feed off ofpositive Encouragement and
reinforcement.
So find a way to communicatethem that builds them up.
So if I'm working with Johnnyand he can't buzz and he can't
make a sound and he can't gethis lips to make you know the
right shape, then my like wordsto Johnny are like Johnny, your
(16:49):
posture is excellent right therest of the group.
Can we all?
look we all sit up like Johnny.
He looks like a professional,like you know.
So then, all of a sudden,johnny wants to try harder
because he feels really good.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That can I interrupt?
Yeah, absolutely.
That was me when I tried toplay basketball in high school.
I could not do anything, Icould not shoot.
I'm obviously five foot threeand everyone else was really
tall and the man you have justgreat hustle, nate.
Great hustle oh yeah basicallywhat you're saying is just just
no, yeah, find something, butNate, you're basketball player
(17:22):
now you play, I don't play it'sjust, you found your way well
the problem is now I'm 35 andI've I can still move, and so
that puts me ahead of somepeople that are 35, I guess.
So going out with diminishingtip, go ahead, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Repetition is really, really important.
Once they think their teethinto what they need to do, they
have to do it over and over, andif they succeed once, I'll
constantly say do it again, doit again, make sure your muscle
memory starts to get locked inright from the beginning.
Yeah, and then, lastly, youhave to move quick.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Find the success that they are, you know, dwelling in
and then move quick, because welive in an age of TikTok and
YouTube and just the shows onNetflix and all the kids shows
are moving so fast, they're soloud, and I'm not saying we have
to compete with those things,but we need to move at a pace
(18:14):
where their attention is there.
So, really quickly, I'm goingto go through with you guys.
I know you don't havemouthpieces, but I did bring my
mouthpiece today.
Sorry, I didn't bring mine.
And so for some of the youngadults that have seen me teach
lessons and have worked with me,they know that I do the exact
same thing every single time.
There's like a basic set ofstarter moves that I do to get
(18:36):
the kids into it.
But if you're listening and youwant to start a kid on a brass
instrument, the first step isgoing to be can they buzz on the
mouthpiece?
So that's what we're going todo really quick.
So the first step when I talkto the kids is there's a letter
that we all say together andthey're like what letter?
And so I'll say you have tothink of the letter M.
So I'll say okay, everybody sayM.
(18:56):
Go ahead, guys, oh, m, oh yeah,and you don't have to match
pitch.
But as long as they say M, thatforms their lips in the shape
of what we call an embouchureand that's the shape to play a
brass instrument.
So you want to look for, whenthey're saying M, make sure
they're not doing anythingabnormal.
Some kids will push their lipsout and be like M.
(19:17):
Some kids will suck their lipsin like fish face, and you just
want to make sure that you sayto them like now, does it look
like I'm trying very hard ordoes it look like I'm really
relaxed?
So I'll say M and it's really,really boring.
Have them do that five times ina row, look at all of their
faces and make sure that there'sthis really flat kind of
surface.
(19:38):
Next thing I talk to them aboutis you have to find the target.
So in the middle of your lips,directly in the center
vertically and directly in thecenter horizontally, is going to
be a target or a bullseye.
They like those names, likefind the target, find the
bullseye.
I'll have them take themouthpiece and I'll have them
say the letter M and then placethe mouthpiece.
So if you're watching onYouTube, you'll go M and then
(20:00):
simply place the mouthpiece onthe lips in the target and then
I'll say do it again.
Now they know exactly how toshape their lips and now they
know exactly where to put themouthpiece.
If you're watching on YouTube,sometimes the mouthpiece will be
off to the side, and if you letthem develop their muscles with
the mouthpiece off to the side,it will be a hindrance forever.
So you have to catch it reallyquick, make sure the mouthpiece
(20:21):
is in the center.
They're saying the letter M Now, where you include humor and as
you're moving quickly, I alwayssay to them okay, after the
letter M, I'm going to saysomething funny, but you have to
promise not to laugh at me.
Promise not to laugh, and theyget all curious.
And they're like okay, Ipromise.
And then I make them say M poo,M poo.
Jackson, look at this, you thelaughter so they're all saying
(20:44):
poo together and it's a lot offun, but essentially you're
finding the next step in thatmouthpiece formation being able
to buzz.
Is that P syllable?
And after we laugh and sayingpoo.
I have them replace that wordwith literally air.
So without the mouthpiece, I'llhave them say can you guys say
(21:05):
M?
And then they get used toblowing air.
So I'm moving really quicklythrough this, but we'll be now.
Let's blow air for four counts.
Now you've involved time andI'll be snapping my fingers.
So now they're involved withpulse, rhythm, time, embouchure
formation using your air.
Without them knowing it, you'vejust built this whole
(21:26):
foundation of what they're doingso once they blow the air.
The last step is what actuallymakes a mouthpiece buzz?
And they have different answersand it's fun to listen to them.
Try to understand what's goingon.
Yeah, science, science is whenyour air moves fast enough
through your lips, it causesyour lips to vibrate.
That vibration goes through thetubing of the instrument and
(21:48):
comes out as the sound.
But if I blow the air fastenough with my lips together in
that formation, you start to geta buzz.
So some kids will struggle withthat right off the top.
But repetition, repetitionrepetition.
And what they love doing is theylove competition and right now,
in this age of like TikTok,they actually love doing solos.
(22:11):
So when I'm teaching my kidsI'll say okay, we're going to
buzz for four counts, and theyall buzz together, and then it's
okay, who can buzz for eightcounts?
Who can buzz for 16?
And then next thing you know,they're taking these huge
breaths like who can go for 20counts?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
and they're like they want to win.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
But then I'll go down the road and say, okay, who can
play a solo Like this personalbuzz, this personal buzz?
And then, as you go through,you can start to identify, like,
okay, don't puff your cheeks,Right?
Okay, you're trying too hard,Relax a little bit.
Yeah, let's go back to sayingthe letter M.
So, anyways, that's theroundabout way of your very
first breath.
Lesson has to do with playingthe mouthpiece and once they get
(22:50):
that buzz, the transition is sosimple you put the mouthpiece
in the instrument, you do theexact same thing and they're
going to get their first sound.
And once they get that firstsound, you have to celebrate
that success, no matter what itsounds like and it news flash.
It's not going to sound good,like the first notes are not
going to sound good, but youhave to celebrate what they're
doing really, really well, andmaking a sound on the first day
(23:11):
is a great accomplishment.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Oh, it's huge.
Absolutely, that's so awesome.
Jackson is loves grabbingNate's alto horn and playing
into it and we're doing the like.
You know not puff your cheeksand things like that.
He's also trying to sing intothe instrument.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And he's like oh really into greatest showman
right now Nice.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Well, he loves trains , so he thinks that he's making
like a train whistle when hemakes some noise go through it.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
But it is when they make that first little buzz.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
It's like oh it's huge, it's awesome.
So that is our ministry tip ofthe.
I was going to say a month, Idon't, but we're releasing every
two weeks.
So it's our ministry tip fortoday For today, today is
October 20th, episode number 11of the plugged in podcast.
We are going to take a shortbreak and then, after our break,
we have more great stuff foryou.
Yeah, nate, give us a littlebit of a teaser where, when we
(24:03):
come back from the break, we gotone more game, but a devotional
thought.
Can you give us a teaser intothe devotions for today?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Yeah, we're going to be focusing on Philippians,
chapter four, which says thatthe Lord is ever present with us
.
Don't be anxious about things.
Instead, pray.
Pray about everything, becausehe longs to hear your requests.
So talk to God about your needsand be thankful for what has
come, and know that the peace ofGod, a peace that is beyond all
our human understanding, willstand watch over your hearts and
(24:29):
minds in Jesus, the anointedone.
And so really focusing today onthe fact that God is good even
when life is not very good.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Perfect, All right.
Thank you, Nate.
We'll be back at that in just asecond.
So here we go.
We're going to take a break.
Next we will be right back.
(24:59):
Welcome back to the Plugged InPodcasts.
We are in season number two,episode number 11.
What you got for us, Larita.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
All right.
So I know I know everyone isjust as excited as I am that
there's a potential relationshipbrewing between T-Swift and
T-Kelsey.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
T-Kelsey.
Is it potential or is it forreal?
No, it's confirmed?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I don't know.
Is it confirmed?
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Facebook official.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I don't know.
I found myself like she'shanging out with Donna Kelsey in
the box.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
man, you don't hang out with the mom unless it's for
real.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yeah, that's true, I mean, I'm hoping for it.
I'm being also made fun ofrelentlessly by Bethany and
other people that are like it'sjust the publicity sun.
Anyway, what other perfect timeto do a game revolving around
Taylor Swift than right now?
Okay, interesting.
And here we go.
So here's.
This game is called TaylorSwift, or Lamentations.
The message translation.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
What.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yes, so the words that I'm going to read are
either from Scripture or they'refrom.
No, they're from a T-Swift song, and you need to tell me what
it is.
I don't want a T-Swift song orthe book of Lamentations it's
fantastic that you're going todo great You're doing swimming,
I'm lost.
Disclaimer this is the messagetranslation, so it is a little
(26:15):
bit more, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Matt and I can work together on this right.
Oh yeah, yeah, you can worktogether.
It's a collaborative effort.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, you can work together.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Wait, which one do you know more?
You know Lamentations?
I don't know.
Okay, all right, let's go forit.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
All right, here we go .
Did you have to do this?
I was thinking that you couldbe trusted.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
That sounds like Taylor Swift, right.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Are you a Swiftie?
Do you know the song?
Speaker 3 (26:41):
I'm not a Swiftie.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I know the mainstream stuff.
Yeah, I barely know that, maybe.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I'm going to say I'm guessing.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Lamentations.
Okay, you're guessingLamentations.
Okay, I'm going to break fromthat.
I'm going to guess Taylor Swift, so much for working together.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
It's Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift, bad Blood.
All right, here's another one.
Like shadows in a faded light,were invisible.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Taylor Swift yeah, I'm going to say Taylor Swift,
yes, I knew that one, I knowthat song.
You were just playing that one,right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Yeah, before we came in.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
What song is that?
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, that matters.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Yeah, later I'll tell you off air.
Okay, I'll tell you off airNate.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Here's another one.
I remember it all.
Oh, how I remember that feelingof hitting the bottom.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Lamentations Taylor Swift.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Lamentations Lamentations 319.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
These are tough, though they could be
interchangeable.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Okay, let's see, I got another one.
Oh, here's one.
This is a oh wait, let me do adifferent one first.
Okay, long were the nights whenmy days once revolved around
you, oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Taylor Swift.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Lamentations Are you just kind of playing devil's
advocate here.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Do you really think I have no idea?
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Taylor Swift, oh my God, taylor Swift, what song
Nate?
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I have no idea.
Oh, so you're just guessing.
No, I just what sounds likeit'd be Taylor Swift.
There are.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Swifties out there that are just cringing.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I know they're at me and Nate right now.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
I apologize, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
They're angered.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Okay, have you ever seen anything like this?
Ever seen any pain like my pain?
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Lamentations.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
That's just your standard answer.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Lamentations I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I'm going to say Lamentations as well.
You're right, lamentations.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
That was hard.
Yeah, I studied up for that one.
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the goodlife is like.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Lamentations Taylor Swift oh my goodness, all right.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Okay, I'm going to say Lamentations.
I remember it all.
Oh, we did that one already.
Here it is.
You'll find out what it's liketo get drunk and wake up with
nothing.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Wow Lamentations.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You'll find out what it's like to get drunk and wake
up with nothing.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
What'd you say?
I said lamentations.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Are you second guessing?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I'm going with lamentations as well.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Oh, you're both right .
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Finally.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Finally, okay, here we go.
These walls that they put up tohold us back will fall down.
The time will come for us tofinally win and we'll sing
hallelujah.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Taylor.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Swift, taylor Swift, yes.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
What gave?
Speaker 2 (29:26):
it away.
You guys were so confident.
Was it too long above the?
Speaker 1 (29:29):
line.
I don't know why you're shockedanymore.
I'm literally guessing there'sno knowledge.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
There's no rhyme or reason.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
There's no knowledge based to any of my guesses,
there's no science to what pointwhy you're guessing what you're
guessing.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I feel like I've luckily gotten them all correct
so far.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
All of them roll the tape back.
I don't think you have Bring itback.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
It rains when you're here and it rains when you're
gone.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Taylor Swift Lamentations T-Swift Nate.
Nate is a Swiftie, he's justplaying it up there.
I am.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
All right here.
Last one, Ready Yep.
See the vultures circling darkclouds.
Love is a fragile little flameand it could burn out.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Taylor Swift.
Yeah, that's Taylor Swift, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Taylor.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Swift Wow Nice.
No, not me.
No, we'll say good job, nateGood attempt.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Good job, nate.
It is crazy, though, just howsimilar I don't know if the
wording is.
I don't know.
I was going through it and Iwas like, wow, this is wild.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Very similar themes.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah, Thank you the message version of Lamentations.
And T-Swift herself.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
T-Swift herself.
Nice job.
Thank you All.
Right, that was awful.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
That'll transition right to what Nate has prepared
for us.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Yeah.
So I've been thinking a lot,and I'm not sure where you are
today, but I've been veryconvicted this week as I've
turned on the news, as I'vescrolled on my phone and just
seen some of the devastation,some of the bloodshed and just
the pure heartache that'sunraveling in the Middle East.
And so, as I was puttingJackson to bed the other night
(30:56):
and I was just spending thismoment just watching him there
sleep, and just these thoughtsjust flooded my mind.
I was overwhelmed by the terror.
I was overwhelmed by the fearthat our brothers and sisters in
Israel and Palestine areexperiencing, the unknown that,
as they sleep, with the sound ofguns and explosions in the
(31:17):
background, in the distance,that fear wondering if they'll
even wake up the next day iftheir children will be sleep
will be safe.
And as I was originallypreparing this thought I was
thinking of Philippians 4 andwhere it says rejoice in all
things.
And I think it's sometimes veryhard to approach passages of
(31:42):
scripture like that when we'resuffering, to talk about joy and
to talk about hope and not feellike we're being dismissive of
the pain and the trauma ofeveryday life.
And so, as we look at the wordtoday, I want to start by saying
that Jesus doesn't tell us toignore our pain.
We shouldn't avoid our grief,but what we can know and what we
(32:06):
can cling to is that it'stemporary and that Jesus
promises that our stories willend in an enduring, unbreakable
joy.
And so, as we looked toPhilippians 4, as it was
referenced earlier that one linethat keeps coming back to me
know that the peace of God, apeace that is beyond any and all
of our human understanding,will stand watch over our hearts
(32:27):
and minds in Christ Jesus.
And so, as I was thinking aboutmy situation and comparing it
to, kind of the situations thatare breaking out around the
world in this very moment, Iknow that my own worries, my
frustrations, my disappointmentsare so trivial compared to what
so many others are facing, andso I really did struggle.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
We started preparing for this episode, or at least we
talked about it, before thisfighting broke out.
So I mean, when we tease thelast episode, we were like one
life sucks.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
How do we?
Speaker 1 (32:59):
keep the good vibes rolling.
That sounds so trivial now.
You almost feel guilty rollingit back and hearing that,
because anything that I wouldhave added about the
frustrations of my day are not.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
There's pale in comparison, yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
I think life sucks when I get my order wrong at
Duncan, but it's like look atwhat's happening around our
world and the very real horrorsand traumas that people face
every single day.
So, as always, when my wordsfail, God's word speaks and
never fails to tend to my heart.
And so I was drawn to theGospel.
Was drawn to the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 33, where
(33:38):
Jesus speaking to his disciples,telling them of what's to come,
that he would soon be away fromthem, that he'd soon go to the
cross and that they would facehardships and difficulty and
they would be driven out of thesynagogues.
And they're questioning andthey're worrying and they're
saying, Lord, what's going tohappen?
Jesus says to his discipleshere on earth, you'll have many
trials and sorrows, but takeheart because I have overcome
(34:00):
the world.
And it reminded me of a story,an illustration that I heard a
while ago, about a Dutch womanby the name of Corey Ted Boom.
Corey Ted Boom, if you don'tknow, she lived during the
Holocaust, and she and hersister, betsy, were imprisoned
(34:20):
in Ravensbrook, which was one ofthe largest concentration camps
built strictly for women duringthe Holocaust.
Between 1939 and 1945, nearly130,000 women were imprisoned at
this location Ravensbrook innorthern Germany where they were
tortured, where they werestarved, where they were
(34:41):
subjected to abuse and rape anda whole bunch of terrible
physical and emotional traumas.
And so if there was any placeon earth to question the
goodness of God, I think thatthat would be it.
That would be when we talkabout literal hell on earth.
That's what that was.
(35:01):
Well, when Corey and her sisterwere in prison there, what they
quickly noticed in the barracksthat they were staying in was
the overwhelming amount of fleasthat infested their living
space they were doing everything.
That just caused purefrustration and just added an
extra insult to the chaos ofwhat they're experiencing the
itchiness, the dirtiness, thenonstop reminder that they are
(35:26):
in the pit of despair.
And so I tried to think of justhow overwhelming that must have
been, and as I continue to readabout this story, one day Corey
stumbled across 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 18, which
says this and everything, givethanks for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus, concerningyou, and I don't know how I
(35:48):
would receive that so difficult,so difficult to hear that.
Yeah, it's one thing to readthat when life is going well,
when you have money in the bank,when you're on vacation, when
your relationships around youare flourishing, when your job
is going well, when you'regetting great grades on all your
assignments, it's really easyto say, oh yeah, give thanks.
(36:08):
In all those situations that areeasy to give thanks in Right,
and that's probably at thelowest of the low in the pit of
despair, when you have hit rockbottom, to read a reminder and
everything, give thanks, forthis is the will of God in
Christ Jesus.
Do we really have the resolveand the assurance and the
(36:29):
confidence to do that?
Well, right there in thatmoment thankfully, corey did she
made a commitment that she wasno longer going to complain
about the fleas that were in thebarracks it's probably the
least to worry about while she'sthere, right, but an everyday
reminder.
And she said In fact, I'm goingto make it a reminder to myself
that every day I'm going to setaside time to thank God for the
(36:53):
fleas.
It's wild, yeah, thank God forthese fleas.
And you know what?
God actually used those fleasto perform a miracle in the most
like, least likely place onEarth.
Because the fleas were so bad.
Where her and her sister werestaying, the prison guards
refused to come anywhere neartheir bunk, and so not only were
(37:13):
Cori and her prison matesshielded from some of the more
horrific abuses that were takingplace all over the camp, but
because the watchful eyes andthe listening ears of the guards
were not closed by, the womenwere also free to talk about
Jesus, to read their Bibles andto share the love of God with
the other women who were inthere with them, and so through
(37:36):
that, through that little prayerof thanking God and just
allowing him to change theperspective of their situation
and their circumstance, god usedit to perform a miracle where
dozens of women came to know whoJesus is and to receive his
power, and so it's just areminder that only God can
orchestrate something like this.
(37:57):
Only God can reach into theheart of despair and remind us
that we are fully seen, that weare fully known and that we are
fully loved.
And later, in her writingsbefore her death, cori,
reminiscing on this experience,she wrote this there's no pit so
deep that God's love is notdeeper still.
And so here's the test and thechallenge.
(38:18):
And, to be completelytransparent, I can't even begin
to count the number of timesI've already failed this test.
But ask yourself the questiontoday, when life gets hard, do I
have the faith to pray God?
Thank you for the fleas,Whatever those fleas are in your
life.
Do I have the confidence toplant my feet and ground my
(38:39):
heart in God's goodness?
while torment, torment anddisaster and chaos closes in on
every side.
And there's just a starkreminder on my heart this
morning, not a dismissing of thetraumas in our world, but just
a reminder that who is the Godwho holds us in the midst of the
trauma, who is the God whogrounds our hearts, who as we
(39:03):
read in Philippians 4, whoguards our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus, as we place ourtrust and our confidence in Him.
And so, as we continue togrieve and be just shocked and
dismayed by what's happening inIsrael and Palestine in these
days, my personal prayer is thatI would have that confidence,
(39:24):
that my heart and mind wouldcontinue to trust in Him.
And I pray that for those whoare experiencing the darkness of
this world in a real, present,powerful way, whether it's
external or just the everydaypersonal darkness that we live
in, experience in our lives.
And so here's the reminderyou're not alone.
(39:45):
God is present with you, helongs to hear your requests, he
always comes to your rescue andoften he comes to your rescue in
ways that you never would havechosen or anticipated.
And so, as it says inPhilippians, chapter 4, present
your requests to God, talk toHim about your needs and be
thankful for what has come,because he longs to hear your
(40:07):
requests.
And so what a just, powerfulreminder today that there is
nothing that God does not see,there is nothing that God does
not care about, and there isnothing that he's unable to
impart His peace into, even whenit seems hopeless.
And do I have the willingnessand the confidence to say God,
(40:28):
guard my heart and mind in you.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Perspective man.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Yeah, it's such a.
I personally hate this topicbecause it's so hard.
Even the verse that says youknow the peace of God that's
beyond human understanding.
It's like before you even tryto understand it, know that it's
not understandable.
I have very rarely publiclytalked about this, but I mean I
(40:57):
won't really dive into this, butthe worst thing that's happened
to me in my life personally isthe injury that I've gone
through.
That happened to my face and Ican't play the trombone anymore.
I can't play.
That was the one thing Ithought I was born to do, and it
(41:19):
ended my performance career andI had to withdraw and resign
from every ensemble I've everplayed in.
So much joy and happiness andlove and adventure and
excitement.
All of that.
My entire identity was strippedaway from me and it's been more
than five years now.
I still think about it everysingle day in some fashion, big
(41:43):
and small.
I can't listen to music, thesame, I can't be around.
It's just.
My whole life is different.
The things that I'm left with,where I just again, beyond
understanding, you know, I can'tunderstand why it happened, or
you ask, you're left with thequestions, you know, is this a
(42:03):
punishment?
Am I, you know it's gotstriking me down, or you know?
But the things that I've beenleft with to think about in the
aftermath of it are, you knowwhat Opportunities has God given
me to do something different,at a very high level now whether
I've taken those opportunitiesto, not the level of performing
(42:26):
I was doing, and the travelingand the touring, like you know.
Hopefully I'm a better husbandnow Because I have More time.
Yeah, you know, if I kept upwith that performance career,
like I don't know if I could bethe father that I am today and
I'll you know, you never know.
It's just a, it's a questiongame, but I just when terrible
(42:51):
things happen and again even aninjury or a career-ending injury
, like even that sounds trivialcompared to what is happening
overseas, but again, it's just,it's such a tough topic.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I know for me personally, that's what kind of
I've been left with to talk withGod about, like this happened,
and I don't even know if it'sworth asking why it happened.
But what is left?
What new opportunities arethere?
You know, I don't that's justme personally, but I know people
listening Can identify withthis topic.
(43:25):
Yeah, because I think I've saidthis before publicly but pain
and suffering Is Part of thehuman experience.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Yeah, it's universal.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
It's a, it's actually like a defining quality of
humanity.
In some form we have all Takenpart and some sort of suffering,
yeah, and a big, small, trivialor not.
We can all identify with that.
Yeah, and so I'm not sure howto wrap that up.
I'll, I don't.
I don't have a good rap to it.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
I'll say it's.
I had a couple conversationseven today on my ride.
In this morning I was talkingto a friend about some of the
things that she's dealing withand some of the frustration
she's feeling.
And it's hard in the moments,especially when you are the one
that's going through it, to Viewthe truth of this Reality.
(44:19):
But I said to her I'm like,listen you just, you need to.
You know breathe, number onebreathe, you know, breathe
through it.
But also there is nothing toosmall that the Lord doesn't want
to hear from us about.
You know what I mean, like our,our struggles, our frustrations
, our anxieties, when we scalethem to what's happening around
(44:42):
the world, feel so, it looks sominuscule, but they still feel
so real.
And so, just, there is comfortin knowing that the Lord cares
just as much about your injury.
The Lord cares just as muchabout the things that she's
going through, that I'm goingthrough, that we were, you're
going through, and his heartbreaks for those things as much
(45:02):
as it breaks for what'shappening.
Yeah you know, to our brothersand sisters.
And so there's just, there'snothing too small that the Lord
can't, that he doesn't care forright, you know what I mean, and
it's hard, it's hard to fathom,but I mean, what would you say
I, what would I don't?
Speaker 1 (45:21):
I always think about like first steps, like if you
are at rock bottom and you knowwhat's, what's, what's the first
way out of this feeling,because I think a lot of times
the thought process Is not torejoice in these things but to
be angry with God, yeah why didthis happen to me?
Right, yeah, and so I don'tknow if, if there's a practical
(45:45):
you know, spiritual applicationhere.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Well, I think, I think we need to have grace for
ourselves and recognize that.
We all need space to grieve andthat it's okay to be angry.
Yeah it's okay to be upset, andI think that when we I think so
many times we try to Just suckit up, Yep and go through our
everyday life as if life is isgreat, and the traumas and the
(46:09):
pains that are eating at us aresuppressed and so I think that
there's real.
There's real freedom and healingand and peace that is found in
Lamenting those things and andyelling those things out to the
Lord, but also Finding aconfidant who can be trusted,
(46:30):
who will just be a listening ear, to recognize that we all have
our own traumas, we all have ourown pains, we all have our own
struggles, and so, while we maynot have the same experience, we
share the same feelings aboutright, about when life doesn't
go the way that we'd like it togo.
(46:50):
And so finding somebody who canbe a listening ear and then, if
it requires more than that,seeking, seeking professional
help for some of the things thatthat may be pervasive or or
debilitating to our everydaylives and there shouldn't be any
shame or stigma about Reachingout for professional help and
counseling and and things ofthat nature and so finding
(47:13):
somebody, but also Not just notjust a Sunday school answer, but
clinging to the promises ofGod's word, because he speaks
his promises over us and I.
I wanted to reference Psalm 46,which says this God is our
refuge and our strength and everpresent help in times of
trouble.
Therefore, we will not fearthat the earth gives away if the
(47:35):
mountains fall into the heartof the sea.
Though it's waters roar andfoam.
In the mountains quake with sir, with surging, there is a river
who streams make glad, the cityof God, the holy place where he
dwells.
God is within her.
She will not fall.
God will help her.
At break of day, though, nationsare an uproar and kingdoms fall
, he lifts his voice.
The earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us.
(47:57):
The God of Jacob is ourfortress, and so there's such
promise and power in clinging towho God is, knowing that the
world around us.
We may not be able to controlthe situations that we face
around us, but that doesn'tchange the fact that God is good
.
And so finding space to, tojournal, to write out, to write
(48:17):
out your lament, to yell it toWhatever you need to do, to
symbolically release that intothe hands of God, to burn that,
whatever it is, doesn't erasethe pain.
It doesn't erase what'shappened, but it allows us to
redirect the focus of our heartsand minds, the one who truly
can Carry us and sustain usthrough it.
And so I'd say I'd say grieve,yeah.
(48:39):
Find somebody you can trust,seek professional help if that's
something that you need, andDon't forget the promises of God
be in his word, be in hisprayer.
As we read in Philippians 4present your request to God.
He, he longs to hear from you,and so.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Nate, would you pray over our listeners?
Speaker 3 (48:58):
today?
Yeah, of course, father, god,we.
We come before you today, God,in so many different places and
spaces, and and the great thingabout who you are is that you
know each one of us Intimately,inside it out.
You know when we are, you knowthe things that hurt us.
Lord, you know Us in spite ofour weakness, and, god, you love
(49:22):
us through it all.
And so, lord, we pray thismorning, lord, that we would be
able to rest On the promise ofwho you are, that you are a God
who is perfectly good, even in aworld, lord, that is perfectly
chaotic and tumultuous.
God, we recognize that this wasnever your design for
(49:44):
brokenness, this was never yourdesign for destruction and
bloodshed and evil.
And, god, we also recognizethat you are in the process of
making all things new.
You are a redemptive God, andso there is nothing that you
cannot heal, there's nothingthat you cannot restore.
Lord, we pray specifically rightnow for our brothers and
sisters around the world, god,for the parents, the children,
(50:06):
the innocent victims of aviolence and bloodshed and and
war.
And, god, we pray, lord, thatjust the peace of Christ would
cover those situations.
Lord, we pray for us, yourchurch, that we would be a
people, god, who are Dailyliving out what it means To be
(50:29):
your hands and feet, god, to beagents of peace in a world of
division and conflict.
And, lord, I pray that youwould, just, by the power of
your Holy Spirit, surround uswith your love, comfort us in
the midst of our own longing andpain and, god, remind us that
we are seen by you.
Lord, I pray that we would havea desire, god, to know your
(50:54):
word, to allow its promises towash over us and, lord, to Come
to you in our times of need,knowing that you're always
available.
We thank you, lord, just foryour responsiveness to us, your
grace that covers a multitude ofour sin, and, lord, just the
assurance that you can guard ourhearts and minds, lord, when we
plant them fully in you.
(51:15):
Bless us this day.
We pray Amen.
Speaker 1 (51:19):
Amen.
Thank you, nate.
Speaker 3 (51:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (51:22):
Thank you, loretta, thank you.
Speaker 2 (51:23):
Matt.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (51:26):
I can't wait to make you guys a Taylor Swift playlist
.
Speaker 3 (51:29):
Oh, can you make me a mixtape?
Wow, old school.
Speaker 1 (51:33):
Yeah, can you?
Speaker 3 (51:34):
burn me a CD that.
Still.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Man.
Well, another fun episode ofthe plug-in podcast.
I know I don't want to like.
I feel like I Want to trivial,trivialize the devotional.
You know it's, it's a different, yeah, it's a different vibe.
Yep, but recording the plug-inpodcast said it before it's
probably the most fun I have allweek.
So it was a fun time today withour devotions, with our games.
(52:03):
What do we got coming up?
Can we think of it off the topof our head?
I know today is October 20th,tomorrow, october 21st, youth
arts ministry Kickoff of a brandnew season.
We've got mass brass on Monday.
Yeah, whole bunch of stuffcoming up.
Speaker 2 (52:21):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Sunday, december.
I'm gonna plug this real quick.
Is it second or third?
I should really know this butthird.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
Right now it's the third.
Speaker 1 (52:28):
Sunday, december.
Third is the sounds ofChristmas, one of my favorite
programs.
Speaker 2 (52:33):
Yeah, how is it almost Christmas.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Right, it's coming.
Speaker 2 (52:35):
What is going on?
Speaker 1 (52:37):
Sunday, december third at the Boston Croc Center
is the sounds of Christmas.
It's always a great program sixo'clock, yep.
I'll see you guys there.
Yeah hopefully our listenerswill flood the auditorium.
Speaker 3 (52:50):
And and support a wonderful try to remember to
bring my music folder.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
Yeah, cuz I'm not making copies this time.
I got one other announcement,yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
October 26.
Okay, wait, now you got me.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
Questioning is it the 27th.
I mean, I made the graphics andI you know she's right, luritas
, always right.
Speaker 3 (53:12):
October 27, October 27, friday night fellowship.
Yep, that is a just afellowship opportunity for young
people here in theMassachusetts division.
If you want to come out, we arehaving a night of bowling and
food and fun at North Bowl lanesin North Attleboro.
If you want to sign up for that, make sure you get signed up by
(53:33):
today.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
Yeah, today today.
Speaker 2 (53:36):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (53:37):
Make sure you get signed up.
Speaker 3 (53:38):
Not bad, make sure you get signed up today we keep
pretending like we're recordingit's.
Speaker 2 (53:47):
Yeah, we're spinning ourselves in circles today.
Speaker 3 (53:50):
Yeah, today, the 20th by today, so that they know how
many bowling lanes we need allright guys.
Speaker 1 (53:56):
This was season number two, episode number 11 of
the plugged in podcast.
This was a great time, yep.
Like I say every time, we willsee you next time.
Welcome back everyone .
Hello, great to see you all.
How are you guys doing today?
Good, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I feel low energy.
I know I do too.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
We don't have coffee here with us.
That was a main difference.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Whose job was that?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The intern Nate, that's me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Nate's not the intern , but I could be.
You got the coffee last time.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I did, I did.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I was just assuming that it would happen again.
I let you down.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I almost texted this morning and offered, but then I
was like, oh, it's going to becold by the time we start.
There was a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Cold coffee is still good.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Cold coffee is still coffee, is that?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
what you're saying.
Yeah, it's still coffee.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Wait really though yeah, it's still good.
Would you microwave it?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Oh, yeah, oh yeah, I had to microwave it oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So my grandpa was kind of like known for you make
a pot of coffee, he'd have likea cup.
That pot might last him thewhole week.
That is gross, oh my gosh,that's disgusting.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah, so he would just like the next cup.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah, so he would just like the next day pour a
cup, heat it up in the microwaveand just keep on going until
that pot was gone.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I mean maybe the day.
Maybe the day, like Nate is.
He'll make a whole pot and thenby the end of the day, if
there's some left, he'll heat itup.
But I can't.
I can't go past couple hours.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
But Nate's like ooh, I've had a lot of bad like gas
station coffee in my life, soI've built up a tolerance.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, yeah, an iron stomach over there, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Man, I feel like where I spend a lot of money on
coffee is not because I need thecaffeine or because I like,
love, love, love coffee.
Yeah, it's when I'm driving andI just want to drink something
warm.
Yeah.
And I just end up buying thecoffee.
I get it.
I have an opening thought today.
It's not necessarily positiveor fun, but it's maybe relatable
.
Okay, have you ever found your?
(01:42):
Have you ever found yourself inpassword jail all the time I
cannot stand what is going onright now.
So you know, the Salvation Armyasks you, like every couple
months to change your password.
But that password is to yourcomputer, it goes to your.
(02:02):
The internet usage, the youremail, but also your share
drives.
And then that stuff isconnected to your phones.
But then the passwords aredifferent to your banks and to
all your internet accounts andlike, oh my goodness, yeah, it's
bad.
But when you try to use those,like someone listening, I'd be
like, well, why don't you justuse your phone?
I'd be like, well, why don'tyou just use like a password
vault or like one of those appsLike so passwords get saved on
(02:23):
Chrome, passwords get saved onSafari.
I use the website called lastpass.
And it's like you can either useit on a mobile or you can use
it on a desktop, but you can'tdo both.
And so when all these I know so, when all these passwords
change, I just like either thecertain browser is not like up
to date or my I am just like I'mover it.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I did you know.
Have you used keychain in Mac?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yes, and that's like another.
But that's another thing, yeah,so like if I save something, my
best guess, like still it's notvery helpful.
I am just like I'm done.
I'm about ready to open thewindow, throw my computer right
out and just call it a day.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
The worst is when you get a new phone and you have to
sign in all over to Facebookand Instagram, or your calendars
, your contacts like everything.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I'm the king of .
Just add one number to thepassword, so I think I'm up to
like password 38 right now.
Oh my good.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, every time I know he's either password 38 or
I asked recently I'm like hey,what's your password for this?
And it was Nate, and then hisfull social security number.
And I was like I'm not kidding,no this is rule 101.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Here's the problem.
Here's the problem they wouldnot let me set the password with
any of my previous passwords,and so I need to pick something
I'm going to remember.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Jackson, loretta, brooklyn anything?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yes, all taken, all taken.
Can't do it again.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
So when you read stories online that say like
someone's entire life savingswent taken, and you're like how
could this person be that that'sNate Well.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I have nothing social security number.
I have nothing for them to take, so jokes on you.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think it was Nate full social security exclamation
Like it was something wild Icouldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Sorry, wow, this always turns into like a Nate
shame.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I don't think so.
That's not true.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Well, just kidding.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So that's my opening thought.
We're going to launch rightinto our first game.
Yep, all right.
So there's a very crude termfor this game and I think a lot
of people have played it, butpeople might know it as Mary
kill.
And then there's a third word.
But so we're going to thirdword.
Yeah, yeah.
So, we're going to play a gamecalled to have to hold to heck
(04:34):
with it.
I like it, I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
That's good, so fun is this Disney version.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So I'm going to start with Nate.
Yeah, I'm going to give you acategory and you're going to get
three options.
So if you have to select eachone of these, so to have means
you get to choose that thing onetime, right, never again Got it
To hold.
Means that you're choosing thatthing for the rest of your life
, over and over and over andover, something you're never,
(05:00):
ever going to get tired of.
And then to heck with it meansyou're never going to experience
that again.
You don't want any part of it.
It's out.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Okay, cut off, got it .
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Okay, so here's the first category.
Nate, I have prepared this foryou.
The first category is clothing.
Oh, wow, I know, you know, natethe fashion aficionado.
All right Clothing.
Here are your three optionsNate, okay, first one.
Your Salvation Army uniformOkay, second option.
Second option we're going to goall of fall clothing.
(05:31):
We're going to include hoodies,jeans, sneakers, like fall
clothing yeah Big option.
Your third option PittsburghSteelers Jersey.
Wow, so you have to have tohold, to heck with it.
Salvation Army uniform, fallclothing and Steelers Jersey.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Well, what do you got ?
I mean, if I'm thinking, I'mthinking too much into this, but
that's what this is about.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, that's what this is about.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, no, if I was thinking from a professional
point of view.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I would.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I wouldn't get rid of the uniform because it's it's
my identity and I don't think Iwould have a job if I got rid of
that.
So I would have to.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So to hold is the uniform I'd have to hold it.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You wear the uniform every.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I think everyone listening might have a different
answer.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
But okay so.
Nate is picking to hold I thinkothers around this table might
have a different answer.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I know, I mean like it's with it's not with my heart
, it's with my head, right.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All right.
So then, of the, the remainingtwo, which ones are you wearing
one time and never again for therest of your life?
Steelers, jersey or fallclothing?
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Well, probably fall clothing, I guess.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And then, so to heck with it.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
So you're saying you wouldnever wear a Steelers.
Jersey ever again, for the restof your life.
It's over.
It's over.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Gotta burn them all, I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I could still wear it like a Steelers, like hoodie,
right, no, no no, I'm saying.
Oh, any Steelers?
Okay, okay, then, never mind,reverse, reverse the two okay,
so you get to.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So he's gonna pick one day for the rest of his life
to wear Steelers, everything,and then never again.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, but he's gonna say a good day every single day.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
He's okay wearing a salvage arm uniform and then to
heck with it with fall clothing.
No more hoodies, wow.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
No more jeans, yeah he's gonna be in uniform.
It's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
It's gonna be great.
Okay, nate, I have one morecategory for you, but you can
pick the category Okay.
So I'm gonna give you a choice.
You can either pick Vacations,okay, or NFL quarterbacks.
Oh, nfl quarterbacks, let's go,of course.
Of course.
He chose NFL quarterbacks.
All right to have to hold toheck with it.
Okay, you got Mack Jones, newEngland Patriots.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Okay, zack Wilson knew this was coming.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
You're jets, I knew it, and Kenny pick it.
Pittsburgh Steelers, oh, comeon.
All right.
So why don't we start withwho's the quarterback?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
for the rest of your days, the rest of my days out of
those three Yep I have to see.
I have to say that the samplesize is smaller on Kenny pick it
than it is Mack Jones and ZackWilson.
Okay and so, just out of purehopefully, ceiling that hasn't
been realized yet, I'd have togo Kenny, pick it to keep
forever, of course.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
He's loyal.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, of course, even though he only wore his
Pittsburgh stuff for one day andthen throw it all away.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
No, it's gonna be a good day.
It's gonna be when we win thebig one, get the quarterback of
your life.
Yeah, okay, now lose thequarterback for one.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Let's say you're in the playoffs, kenny pick, it
gets injured.
This is the Super Bowl.
Okay, you have to have aquarterback for one game.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Mack Jones.
Wow Sorry.
I mean we've seen the way theseason is going.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I don't know if I don't, I don't, I honestly,
thought it was, I was gonna beZack, and then you're just gonna
be, you know no, this is it aloyal hater of the past.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Mack Jones is not.
Mack Jones is not it.
He is not a franchisequarterback.
But you cannot blame All of thefailure Around the Patriots
this year on Mack Jones like youcan the receivers get no
separation.
The offensive line is trash.
If you put him on a on a SuperBowl team, you put him on a
Super Bowl team.
I have to think that he canmanage the game better than Zach
Wilson.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All right, all right, nate.
Well, good job.
So he has to to have once isMack Jones to hold.
Kenny, pick it.
Wow, to heck with it, zachWilson.
There we go.
All right, loretta, your turn.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Okay, I chose for Matt, so this we joked about
this one in our little planningmeeting, but I need to know okay
.
This is just like a life.
The category is life hobbies.
Hobbies, aquariums, fish tanks,okay.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Golf.
I don't think we've ever talkedabout my aquarium on the
podcast, but go ahead, have wenot?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
so aquarium, golf and lawn care, lawn care, good Lord
which one to have to hold toheck with the three like most
like middle-aged dad Categoriesyou've ever heard of you can
only do these things when youhave new balances and like high
white socks.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
But Okay, to heck with it.
I'm saying the aquarium.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Wow, okay.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Yeah, I'll take your fish.
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
That's fine, all right to heck with.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
It is the aquarium.
I think that's kind of an easyone to have into hold.
Let's see, I Think to holdForever.
I got to go with golf, reallyyeah, I'm sticking with golf and
then long care.
I would do like one day, likeif they're really good.
One day I made me thegroundskeeper for the World
Series and I like was like, likemowing stripes into the
(10:13):
outfield one day, give me oneday, but that's awesome yeah
well, for those who don't know,there is a top golf that is
opening up literally like ahundred yards away.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
From where we're seated right now.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
So I may never work again.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, Matt might be there every lunch break.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Every lunch break.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
We'll be doing this via like teams.
Matt will be over at lunchbreak.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah we're gonna do the podcast via teams.
I'll just be on my phone.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
All right, so that was hobbies, okay, food mm.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Okay wings Chili oh coffee oh man, that is rough,
right is hard.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Like I don't hold to heck with it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I don't know if I could function without coffee
right.
Yeah, I think chili I couldlive without.
I'm gonna say to heck with itwith chili.
I do love chili.
It's very seasonal, though forme, that's true, I would never
don't want chili in the summer.
Oh yeah, like chili, dogs aregood.
You're processing all of thethings you're getting rid of
processing in real time.
Okay, chili, to heck with it.
(11:15):
What we say wings and coffee.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
That is a tough one yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I think I could learn to live Without coffee, Wow.
I'm gonna take wings to hold,okay, cuz that is like when we
have mass brass Mondays.
Like I know, the invitation isout to everyone in the band.
Yeah we have to go out forwings afterwards, but wings is
like man, that's my, it's mylove life, I love language.
So all right, those are goodcategories.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Yeah, thank you.
Yeah, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Then Nate, you prepared for your wife I did.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
My first category is shopping.
Okay, so to hold to hold or toheck with it.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
All right target Amazon oh or Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Oh, that's a twist.
It is a twist.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Huh, I think I could do without Starbucks Okay so I
mean, you can get coffee otherplaces exactly I'm gonna say,
I'm gonna say target To have,that's the one day right.
Yeah so I'd stock up for lifeIn one shopping in a warehouse.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Just rent out a warehouse.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
She goes $50,000 in debt to stock up for life.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, Nate, you told me I had to have or to hold, but
I say to hold Amazon.
Amazon has so many things.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It's so, so convenient, so convenient to
leave your house.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I just ordered, like print cartridges that will be
there between 5 and 10 pm.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
It is prime day, yeah , prime day.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
So, those are.
That would be where I go withthat.
It's a good one, I like it.
Yep, all right, so my next oneis hygiene.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Oh, wow, okay, Careful here, nate, would you.
Mate is always on the verge oflike marital fights, like in the
pod.
I know I've all of it between.
Does the Rita use soap?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
go Between already just saying Zach Wilson, like we
know that he's.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I'm holding in all I'm smiles for the camera and
saying that I'm gonna wear myuniform every single day.
Okay, there we go All right, soNever shower again.
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
This is stupid never cut your hair again, wow, or
never clip your nails.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Wow, these are disgusting Wow.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Those are good right.
Yeah, that's perfect, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Or this one requires more thought than the shopping
one.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah wait.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
So what it's?
Never cut your hair, Never cutyour nails or never shower.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
That is rough.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I'm I just like going to live in a commune by myself.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Hey, there are people that don't do this.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say Wow.
I'll cut my hair once.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Okay, I'll shave it bald and then I'm good for a bit
.
I'm like I don't even I'd haveto shower, to hold to shower and
then clip, clip my nails never,never bite them, bite them.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I don't think I count .
Speaker 2 (14:29):
No, we're talking about like you know your old
days.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
They are curled in circles.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I will never shower.
Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Like curls, they drag on the floor.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, drag on the floor, so I'm gonna have really
long hair.
Freddy Krueger nails, you'll bepopular you will.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
You have lots of friends, but you'll be.
You will smell nice, so youwill have showered like lucky me
.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Good job to have a hold to heck with it.
Oh dear goodness.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
I don't know how to transition out of that, but we
have a ministry, we have aministry tip.
We're gonna try to incorporatethis in some of our podcasts and
won't.
It won't Be a super longsegment, but I think every once
while we want to give ministrytips out in the fields that we
are in.
So today's topic is music, andwhen I'm out in the core
(15:20):
teaching or we're teachingduring the summer, a lot of
times we're doing brass lessonsfor beginner brass players.
So I just want to take fiveminutes because I know a lot of
people say like oh, I couldnever even make a sound On an
instrument.
It's so intimidating I could notplay.
I don't know how to do that.
It's actually much more simplethan you thought, especially to
start beginners.
So the things I want to listoff before I kind of go through
(15:43):
Maybe a first lesson here arethe things that you should keep
in mind when you are starting abeginner on a brass instrument.
So first tip is you have tohave a plan as a teacher and you
have to give very clearinstructions.
So always stay one step aheadof the kids.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
So if the kids have never buzzed before.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Make sure you know how to buzz before.
So, have a plan, and by plan Imean, you know, come in and say
like, okay, if this lesson is 15minutes long.
For five minutes we're gonnatalk about the names of the
parts of the instrument.
For five minutes we're gonnalearn how to hold the instrument
and place our fingers, and thelast five minutes we're actually
going to make a sound.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
You know I have a plan.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
The kids that you're working with.
They really will feed off ofpositive Encouragement and
reinforcement.
So find a way to communicatethem that builds them up.
So if I'm working with Johnnyand he can't buzz and he can't
make a sound and he can't gethis lips to make you know the
right shape, then my like wordsto Johnny are like Johnny, your
(16:49):
posture is excellent right therest of the group.
Can we all?
look we all sit up like Johnny.
He looks like a professional,like you know.
So then, all of a sudden,johnny wants to try harder
because he feels really good.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That can I interrupt?
Yeah, absolutely.
That was me when I tried toplay basketball in high school.
I could not do anything, Icould not shoot.
I'm obviously five foot threeand everyone else was really
tall and the man you have justgreat hustle, nate.
Great hustle oh yeah basicallywhat you're saying is just just
no, yeah, find something, butNate, you're basketball player
(17:22):
now you play, I don't play it'sjust, you found your way well
the problem is now I'm 35 andI've I can still move, and so
that puts me ahead of somepeople that are 35, I guess.
So going out with diminishingtip, go ahead, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Repetition is really, really important.
Once they think their teethinto what they need to do, they
have to do it over and over, andif they succeed once, I'll
constantly say do it again, doit again, make sure your muscle
memory starts to get locked inright from the beginning.
Yeah, and then, lastly, youhave to move quick.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Find the success that they are, you know, dwelling in
and then move quick, because welive in an age of TikTok and
YouTube and just the shows onNetflix and all the kids shows
are moving so fast, they're soloud, and I'm not saying we have
to compete with those things,but we need to move at a pace
(18:14):
where their attention is there.
So, really quickly, I'm goingto go through with you guys.
I know you don't havemouthpieces, but I did bring my
mouthpiece today.
Sorry, I didn't bring mine.
And so for some of the youngadults that have seen me teach
lessons and have worked with me,they know that I do the exact
same thing every single time.
There's like a basic set ofstarter moves that I do to get
(18:36):
the kids into it.
But if you're listening and youwant to start a kid on a brass
instrument, the first step isgoing to be can they buzz on the
mouthpiece?
So that's what we're going todo really quick.
So the first step when I talkto the kids is there's a letter
that we all say together andthey're like what letter?
And so I'll say you have tothink of the letter M.
So I'll say okay, everybody sayM.
(18:56):
Go ahead, guys, oh, m, oh yeah,and you don't have to match
pitch.
But as long as they say M, thatforms their lips in the shape
of what we call an embouchureand that's the shape to play a
brass instrument.
So you want to look for, whenthey're saying M, make sure
they're not doing anythingabnormal.
Some kids will push their lipsout and be like M.
(19:17):
Some kids will suck their lipsin like fish face, and you just
want to make sure that you sayto them like now, does it look
like I'm trying very hard ordoes it look like I'm really
relaxed?
So I'll say M and it's really,really boring.
Have them do that five times ina row, look at all of their
faces and make sure that there'sthis really flat kind of
surface.
(19:38):
Next thing I talk to them aboutis you have to find the target.
So in the middle of your lips,directly in the center
vertically and directly in thecenter horizontally, is going to
be a target or a bullseye.
They like those names, likefind the target, find the
bullseye.
I'll have them take themouthpiece and I'll have them
say the letter M and then placethe mouthpiece.
So if you're watching onYouTube, you'll go M and then
(20:00):
simply place the mouthpiece onthe lips in the target and then
I'll say do it again.
Now they know exactly how toshape their lips and now they
know exactly where to put themouthpiece.
If you're watching on YouTube,sometimes the mouthpiece will be
off to the side, and if you letthem develop their muscles with
the mouthpiece off to the side,it will be a hindrance forever.
So you have to catch it reallyquick, make sure the mouthpiece
(20:21):
is in the center.
They're saying the letter M Now, where you include humor and as
you're moving quickly, I alwayssay to them okay, after the
letter M, I'm going to saysomething funny, but you have to
promise not to laugh at me.
Promise not to laugh, and theyget all curious.
And they're like okay, Ipromise.
And then I make them say M poo,M poo.
Jackson, look at this, you thelaughter so they're all saying
(20:44):
poo together and it's a lot offun, but essentially you're
finding the next step in thatmouthpiece formation being able
to buzz.
Is that P syllable?
And after we laugh and sayingpoo.
I have them replace that wordwith literally air.
So without the mouthpiece, I'llhave them say can you guys say
(21:05):
M?
And then they get used toblowing air.
So I'm moving really quicklythrough this, but we'll be now.
Let's blow air for four counts.
Now you've involved time andI'll be snapping my fingers.
So now they're involved withpulse, rhythm, time, embouchure
formation using your air.
Without them knowing it, you'vejust built this whole
(21:26):
foundation of what they're doingso once they blow the air.
The last step is what actuallymakes a mouthpiece buzz?
And they have different answersand it's fun to listen to them.
Try to understand what's goingon.
Yeah, science, science is whenyour air moves fast enough
through your lips, it causesyour lips to vibrate.
That vibration goes through thetubing of the instrument and
(21:48):
comes out as the sound.
But if I blow the air fastenough with my lips together in
that formation, you start to geta buzz.
So some kids will struggle withthat right off the top.
But repetition, repetitionrepetition.
And what they love doing is theylove competition and right now,
in this age of like TikTok,they actually love doing solos.
(22:11):
So when I'm teaching my kidsI'll say okay, we're going to
buzz for four counts, and theyall buzz together, and then it's
okay, who can buzz for eightcounts?
Who can buzz for 16?
And then next thing you know,they're taking these huge
breaths like who can go for 20counts?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
and they're like they want to win.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
But then I'll go down the road and say, okay, who can
play a solo Like this personalbuzz, this personal buzz?
And then, as you go through,you can start to identify, like,
okay, don't puff your cheeks,Right?
Okay, you're trying too hard,Relax a little bit.
Yeah, let's go back to sayingthe letter M.
So, anyways, that's theroundabout way of your very
first breath.
Lesson has to do with playingthe mouthpiece and once they get
(22:50):
that buzz, the transition is sosimple you put the mouthpiece
in the instrument, you do theexact same thing and they're
going to get their first sound.
And once they get that firstsound, you have to celebrate
that success, no matter what itsounds like and it news flash.
It's not going to sound good,like the first notes are not
going to sound good, but youhave to celebrate what they're
doing really, really well, andmaking a sound on the first day
(23:11):
is a great accomplishment.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Oh, it's huge.
Absolutely, that's so awesome.
Jackson is loves grabbingNate's alto horn and playing
into it and we're doing the like.
You know not puff your cheeksand things like that.
He's also trying to sing intothe instrument.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And he's like oh really into greatest showman
right now Nice.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Well, he loves trains , so he thinks that he's making
like a train whistle when hemakes some noise go through it.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
But it is when they make that first little buzz.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
It's like oh it's huge, it's awesome.
So that is our ministry tip ofthe.
I was going to say a month, Idon't, but we're releasing every
two weeks.
So it's our ministry tip fortoday For today, today is
October 20th, episode number 11of the plugged in podcast.
We are going to take a shortbreak and then, after our break,
we have more great stuff foryou.
Yeah, nate, give us a littlebit of a teaser where, when we
(24:03):
come back from the break, we gotone more game, but a devotional
thought.
Can you give us a teaser intothe devotions for today?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Yeah, we're going to be focusing on Philippians,
chapter four, which says thatthe Lord is ever present with us
.
Don't be anxious about things.
Instead, pray.
Pray about everything, becausehe longs to hear your requests.
So talk to God about your needsand be thankful for what has
come, and know that the peace ofGod, a peace that is beyond all
our human understanding, willstand watch over your hearts and
(24:29):
minds in Jesus, the anointedone.
And so really focusing today onthe fact that God is good even
when life is not very good.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Perfect, All right.
Thank you, Nate.
We'll be back at that in just asecond.
So here we go.
We're going to take a break.
Next we will be right back.
(24:59):
Welcome back to the Plugged InPodcasts.
We are in season number two,episode number 11.
What you got for us, Larita.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
All right.
So I know I know everyone isjust as excited as I am that
there's a potential relationshipbrewing between T-Swift and
T-Kelsey.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
T-Kelsey.
Is it potential or is it forreal?
No, it's confirmed?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I don't know.
Is it confirmed?
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Facebook official.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I don't know.
I found myself like she'shanging out with Donna Kelsey in
the box.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
man, you don't hang out with the mom unless it's for
real.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yeah, that's true, I mean, I'm hoping for it.
I'm being also made fun ofrelentlessly by Bethany and
other people that are like it'sjust the publicity sun.
Anyway, what other perfect timeto do a game revolving around
Taylor Swift than right now?
Okay, interesting.
And here we go.
So here's.
This game is called TaylorSwift, or Lamentations.
The message translation.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
What.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yes, so the words that I'm going to read are
either from Scripture or they'refrom.
No, they're from a T-Swift song, and you need to tell me what
it is.
I don't want a T-Swift song orthe book of Lamentations it's
fantastic that you're going todo great You're doing swimming,
I'm lost.
Disclaimer this is the messagetranslation, so it is a little
(26:15):
bit more, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Matt and I can work together on this right.
Oh yeah, yeah, you can worktogether.
It's a collaborative effort.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, you can work together.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Wait, which one do you know more?
You know Lamentations?
I don't know.
Okay, all right, let's go forit.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
All right, here we go .
Did you have to do this?
I was thinking that you couldbe trusted.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
That sounds like Taylor Swift, right.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Are you a Swiftie?
Do you know the song?
Speaker 3 (26:41):
I'm not a Swiftie.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I know the mainstream stuff.
Yeah, I barely know that, maybe.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I'm going to say I'm guessing.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Lamentations.
Okay, you're guessingLamentations.
Okay, I'm going to break fromthat.
I'm going to guess Taylor Swift, so much for working together.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
It's Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift, bad Blood.
All right, here's another one.
Like shadows in a faded light,were invisible.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Taylor Swift yeah, I'm going to say Taylor Swift,
yes, I knew that one, I knowthat song.
You were just playing that one,right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Yeah, before we came in.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
What song is that?
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, that matters.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Yeah, later I'll tell you off air.
Okay, I'll tell you off airNate.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Here's another one.
I remember it all.
Oh, how I remember that feelingof hitting the bottom.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Lamentations Taylor Swift.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Lamentations Lamentations 319.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
These are tough, though they could be
interchangeable.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Okay, let's see, I got another one.
Oh, here's one.
This is a oh wait, let me do adifferent one first.
Okay, long were the nights whenmy days once revolved around
you, oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Taylor Swift.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Lamentations Are you just kind of playing devil's
advocate here.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Do you really think I have no idea?
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Taylor Swift, oh my God, taylor Swift, what song
Nate?
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I have no idea.
Oh, so you're just guessing.
No, I just what sounds likeit'd be Taylor Swift.
There are.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Swifties out there that are just cringing.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I know they're at me and Nate right now.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
I apologize, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
They're angered.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Okay, have you ever seen anything like this?
Ever seen any pain like my pain?
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Lamentations.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
That's just your standard answer.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Lamentations I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I'm going to say Lamentations as well.
You're right, lamentations.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
That was hard.
Yeah, I studied up for that one.
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I gave up on life altogether.
I've forgotten what the goodlife is like.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Lamentations Taylor Swift oh my goodness, all right.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Okay, I'm going to say Lamentations.
I remember it all.
Oh, we did that one already.
Here it is.
You'll find out what it's liketo get drunk and wake up with
nothing.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Wow Lamentations.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You'll find out what it's like to get drunk and wake
up with nothing.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
What'd you say?
I said lamentations.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Are you second guessing?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I'm going with lamentations as well.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Oh, you're both right .
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Finally.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Finally, okay, here we go.
These walls that they put up tohold us back will fall down.
The time will come for us tofinally win and we'll sing
hallelujah.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Taylor.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Swift, taylor Swift, yes.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
What gave?
Speaker 2 (29:26):
it away.
You guys were so confident.
Was it too long above the?
Speaker 1 (29:29):
line.
I don't know why you're shockedanymore.
I'm literally guessing there'sno knowledge.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
There's no rhyme or reason.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
There's no knowledge based to any of my guesses,
there's no science to what pointwhy you're guessing what you're
guessing.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I feel like I've luckily gotten them all correct
so far.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
All of them roll the tape back.
I don't think you have Bring itback.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
It rains when you're here and it rains when you're
gone.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Taylor Swift Lamentations T-Swift Nate.
Nate is a Swiftie, he's justplaying it up there.
I am.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
All right here.
Last one, Ready Yep.
See the vultures circling darkclouds.
Love is a fragile little flameand it could burn out.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Taylor Swift.
Yeah, that's Taylor Swift, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Taylor.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Swift Wow Nice.
No, not me.
No, we'll say good job, nateGood attempt.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Good job, nate.
It is crazy, though, just howsimilar I don't know if the
wording is.
I don't know.
I was going through it and Iwas like, wow, this is wild.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Very similar themes.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah, Thank you the message version of Lamentations.
And T-Swift herself.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
T-Swift herself.
Nice job.
Thank you All.
Right, that was awful.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
That'll transition right to what Nate has prepared
for us.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Yeah.
So I've been thinking a lot,and I'm not sure where you are
today, but I've been veryconvicted this week as I've
turned on the news, as I'vescrolled on my phone and just
seen some of the devastation,some of the bloodshed and just
the pure heartache that'sunraveling in the Middle East.
And so, as I was puttingJackson to bed the other night
(30:56):
and I was just spending thismoment just watching him there
sleep, and just these thoughtsjust flooded my mind.
I was overwhelmed by the terror.
I was overwhelmed by the fearthat our brothers and sisters in
Israel and Palestine areexperiencing, the unknown that,
as they sleep, with the sound ofguns and explosions in the
(31:17):
background, in the distance,that fear wondering if they'll
even wake up the next day iftheir children will be sleep
will be safe.
And as I was originallypreparing this thought I was
thinking of Philippians 4 andwhere it says rejoice in all
things.
And I think it's sometimes veryhard to approach passages of
(31:42):
scripture like that when we'resuffering, to talk about joy and
to talk about hope and not feellike we're being dismissive of
the pain and the trauma ofeveryday life.
And so, as we look at the wordtoday, I want to start by saying
that Jesus doesn't tell us toignore our pain.
We shouldn't avoid our grief,but what we can know and what we
(32:06):
can cling to is that it'stemporary and that Jesus
promises that our stories willend in an enduring, unbreakable
joy.
And so, as we looked toPhilippians 4, as it was
referenced earlier that one linethat keeps coming back to me
know that the peace of God, apeace that is beyond any and all
of our human understanding,will stand watch over our hearts
(32:27):
and minds in Christ Jesus.
And so, as I was thinking aboutmy situation and comparing it
to, kind of the situations thatare breaking out around the
world in this very moment, Iknow that my own worries, my
frustrations, my disappointmentsare so trivial compared to what
so many others are facing, andso I really did struggle.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
We started preparing for this episode, or at least we
talked about it, before thisfighting broke out.
So I mean, when we tease thelast episode, we were like one
life sucks.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
How do we?
Speaker 1 (32:59):
keep the good vibes rolling.
That sounds so trivial now.
You almost feel guilty rollingit back and hearing that,
because anything that I wouldhave added about the
frustrations of my day are not.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
There's pale in comparison, yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
I think life sucks when I get my order wrong at
Duncan, but it's like look atwhat's happening around our
world and the very real horrorsand traumas that people face
every single day.
So, as always, when my wordsfail, God's word speaks and
never fails to tend to my heart.
And so I was drawn to theGospel.
Was drawn to the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 33, where
(33:38):
Jesus speaking to his disciples,telling them of what's to come,
that he would soon be away fromthem, that he'd soon go to the
cross and that they would facehardships and difficulty and
they would be driven out of thesynagogues.
And they're questioning andthey're worrying and they're
saying, Lord, what's going tohappen?
Jesus says to his discipleshere on earth, you'll have many
trials and sorrows, but takeheart because I have overcome
(34:00):
the world.
And it reminded me of a story,an illustration that I heard a
while ago, about a Dutch womanby the name of Corey Ted Boom.
Corey Ted Boom, if you don'tknow, she lived during the
Holocaust, and she and hersister, betsy, were imprisoned
(34:20):
in Ravensbrook, which was one ofthe largest concentration camps
built strictly for women duringthe Holocaust.
Between 1939 and 1945, nearly130,000 women were imprisoned at
this location Ravensbrook innorthern Germany where they were
tortured, where they werestarved, where they were
(34:41):
subjected to abuse and rape anda whole bunch of terrible
physical and emotional traumas.
And so if there was any placeon earth to question the
goodness of God, I think thatthat would be it.
That would be when we talkabout literal hell on earth.
That's what that was.
(35:01):
Well, when Corey and her sisterwere in prison there, what they
quickly noticed in the barracksthat they were staying in was
the overwhelming amount of fleasthat infested their living
space they were doing everything.
That just caused purefrustration and just added an
extra insult to the chaos ofwhat they're experiencing the
itchiness, the dirtiness, thenonstop reminder that they are
(35:26):
in the pit of despair.
And so I tried to think of justhow overwhelming that must have
been, and as I continue to readabout this story, one day Corey
stumbled across 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 18, which
says this and everything, givethanks for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus, concerningyou, and I don't know how I
(35:48):
would receive that so difficult,so difficult to hear that.
Yeah, it's one thing to readthat when life is going well,
when you have money in the bank,when you're on vacation, when
your relationships around youare flourishing, when your job
is going well, when you'regetting great grades on all your
assignments, it's really easyto say, oh yeah, give thanks.
(36:08):
In all those situations that areeasy to give thanks in Right,
and that's probably at thelowest of the low in the pit of
despair, when you have hit rockbottom, to read a reminder and
everything, give thanks, forthis is the will of God in
Christ Jesus.
Do we really have the resolveand the assurance and the
(36:29):
confidence to do that?
Well, right there in thatmoment thankfully, corey did she
made a commitment that she wasno longer going to complain
about the fleas that were in thebarracks it's probably the
least to worry about while she'sthere, right, but an everyday
reminder.
And she said In fact, I'm goingto make it a reminder to myself
that every day I'm going to setaside time to thank God for the
(36:53):
fleas.
It's wild, yeah, thank God forthese fleas.
And you know what?
God actually used those fleasto perform a miracle in the most
like, least likely place onEarth.
Because the fleas were so bad.
Where her and her sister werestaying, the prison guards
refused to come anywhere neartheir bunk, and so not only were
(37:13):
Cori and her prison matesshielded from some of the more
horrific abuses that were takingplace all over the camp, but
because the watchful eyes andthe listening ears of the guards
were not closed by, the womenwere also free to talk about
Jesus, to read their Bibles andto share the love of God with
the other women who were inthere with them, and so through
(37:36):
that, through that little prayerof thanking God and just
allowing him to change theperspective of their situation
and their circumstance, god usedit to perform a miracle where
dozens of women came to know whoJesus is and to receive his
power, and so it's just areminder that only God can
orchestrate something like this.
(37:57):
Only God can reach into theheart of despair and remind us
that we are fully seen, that weare fully known and that we are
fully loved.
And later, in her writingsbefore her death, cori,
reminiscing on this experience,she wrote this there's no pit so
deep that God's love is notdeeper still.
And so here's the test and thechallenge.
(38:18):
And, to be completelytransparent, I can't even begin
to count the number of timesI've already failed this test.
But ask yourself the questiontoday, when life gets hard, do I
have the faith to pray God?
Thank you for the fleas,Whatever those fleas are in your
life.
Do I have the confidence toplant my feet and ground my
(38:39):
heart in God's goodness?
while torment, torment anddisaster and chaos closes in on
every side.
And there's just a starkreminder on my heart this
morning, not a dismissing of thetraumas in our world, but just
a reminder that who is the Godwho holds us in the midst of the
trauma, who is the God whogrounds our hearts, who as we
(39:03):
read in Philippians 4, whoguards our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus, as we place ourtrust and our confidence in Him.
And so, as we continue togrieve and be just shocked and
dismayed by what's happening inIsrael and Palestine in these
days, my personal prayer is thatI would have that confidence,
(39:24):
that my heart and mind wouldcontinue to trust in Him.
And I pray that for those whoare experiencing the darkness of
this world in a real, present,powerful way, whether it's
external or just the everydaypersonal darkness that we live
in, experience in our lives.
And so here's the reminderyou're not alone.
(39:45):
God is present with you, helongs to hear your requests, he
always comes to your rescue andoften he comes to your rescue in
ways that you never would havechosen or anticipated.
And so, as it says inPhilippians, chapter 4, present
your requests to God, talk toHim about your needs and be
thankful for what has come,because he longs to hear your
(40:07):
requests.
And so what a just, powerfulreminder today that there is
nothing that God does not see,there is nothing that God does
not care about, and there isnothing that he's unable to
impart His peace into, even whenit seems hopeless.
And do I have the willingnessand the confidence to say God,
(40:28):
guard my heart and mind in you.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Perspective man.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Yeah, it's such a.
I personally hate this topicbecause it's so hard.
Even the verse that says youknow the peace of God that's
beyond human understanding.
It's like before you even tryto understand it, know that it's
not understandable.
I have very rarely publiclytalked about this, but I mean I
(40:57):
won't really dive into this, butthe worst thing that's happened
to me in my life personally isthe injury that I've gone
through.
That happened to my face and Ican't play the trombone anymore.
I can't play.
That was the one thing Ithought I was born to do, and it
(41:19):
ended my performance career andI had to withdraw and resign
from every ensemble I've everplayed in.
So much joy and happiness andlove and adventure and
excitement.
All of that.
My entire identity was strippedaway from me and it's been more
than five years now.
I still think about it everysingle day in some fashion, big
(41:43):
and small.
I can't listen to music, thesame, I can't be around.
It's just.
My whole life is different.
The things that I'm left with,where I just again, beyond
understanding, you know, I can'tunderstand why it happened, or
you ask, you're left with thequestions, you know, is this a
(42:03):
punishment?
Am I, you know it's gotstriking me down, or you know?
But the things that I've beenleft with to think about in the
aftermath of it are, you knowwhat Opportunities has God given
me to do something different,at a very high level now whether
I've taken those opportunitiesto, not the level of performing
(42:26):
I was doing, and the travelingand the touring, like you know.
Hopefully I'm a better husbandnow Because I have More time.
Yeah, you know, if I kept upwith that performance career,
like I don't know if I could bethe father that I am today and
I'll you know, you never know.
It's just a, it's a questiongame, but I just when terrible
(42:51):
things happen and again even aninjury or a career-ending injury
, like even that sounds trivialcompared to what is happening
overseas, but again, it's just,it's such a tough topic.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I know for me personally, that's what kind of
I've been left with to talk withGod about, like this happened,
and I don't even know if it'sworth asking why it happened.
But what is left?
What new opportunities arethere?
You know, I don't that's justme personally, but I know people
listening Can identify withthis topic.
(43:25):
Yeah, because I think I've saidthis before publicly but pain
and suffering Is Part of thehuman experience.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Yeah, it's universal.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
It's a, it's actually like a defining quality of
humanity.
In some form we have all Takenpart and some sort of suffering,
yeah, and a big, small, trivialor not.
We can all identify with that.
Yeah, and so I'm not sure howto wrap that up.
I'll, I don't.
I don't have a good rap to it.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
I'll say it's.
I had a couple conversationseven today on my ride.
In this morning I was talkingto a friend about some of the
things that she's dealing withand some of the frustration
she's feeling.
And it's hard in the moments,especially when you are the one
that's going through it, to Viewthe truth of this Reality.
(44:19):
But I said to her I'm like,listen you just, you need to.
You know breathe, number onebreathe, you know, breathe
through it.
But also there is nothing toosmall that the Lord doesn't want
to hear from us about.
You know what I mean, like our,our struggles, our frustrations
, our anxieties, when we scalethem to what's happening around
(44:42):
the world, feel so, it looks sominuscule, but they still feel
so real.
And so, just, there is comfortin knowing that the Lord cares
just as much about your injury.
The Lord cares just as muchabout the things that she's
going through, that I'm goingthrough, that we were, you're
going through, and his heartbreaks for those things as much
(45:02):
as it breaks for what'shappening.
Yeah you know, to our brothersand sisters.
And so there's just, there'snothing too small that the Lord
can't, that he doesn't care forright, you know what I mean, and
it's hard, it's hard to fathom,but I mean, what would you say
I, what would I don't?
Speaker 1 (45:21):
I always think about like first steps, like if you
are at rock bottom and you knowwhat's, what's, what's the first
way out of this feeling,because I think a lot of times
the thought process Is not torejoice in these things but to
be angry with God, yeah why didthis happen to me?
Right, yeah, and so I don'tknow if, if there's a practical
(45:45):
you know, spiritual applicationhere.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Well, I think, I think we need to have grace for
ourselves and recognize that.
We all need space to grieve andthat it's okay to be angry.
Yeah it's okay to be upset, andI think that when we I think so
many times we try to Just suckit up, Yep and go through our
everyday life as if life is isgreat, and the traumas and the
(46:09):
pains that are eating at us aresuppressed and so I think that
there's real.
There's real freedom and healingand and peace that is found in
Lamenting those things and andyelling those things out to the
Lord, but also Finding aconfidant who can be trusted,
(46:30):
who will just be a listening ear, to recognize that we all have
our own traumas, we all have ourown pains, we all have our own
struggles, and so, while we maynot have the same experience, we
share the same feelings aboutright, about when life doesn't
go the way that we'd like it togo.
(46:50):
And so finding somebody who canbe a listening ear and then, if
it requires more than that,seeking, seeking professional
help for some of the things thatthat may be pervasive or or
debilitating to our everydaylives and there shouldn't be any
shame or stigma about Reachingout for professional help and
counseling and and things ofthat nature and so finding
(47:13):
somebody, but also Not just notjust a Sunday school answer, but
clinging to the promises ofGod's word, because he speaks
his promises over us and I.
I wanted to reference Psalm 46,which says this God is our
refuge and our strength and everpresent help in times of
trouble.
Therefore, we will not fearthat the earth gives away if the
(47:35):
mountains fall into the heartof the sea.
Though it's waters roar andfoam.
In the mountains quake with sir, with surging, there is a river
who streams make glad, the cityof God, the holy place where he
dwells.
God is within her.
She will not fall.
God will help her.
At break of day, though, nationsare an uproar and kingdoms fall
, he lifts his voice.
The earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us.
(47:57):
The God of Jacob is ourfortress, and so there's such
promise and power in clinging towho God is, knowing that the
world around us.
We may not be able to controlthe situations that we face
around us, but that doesn'tchange the fact that God is good
.
And so finding space to, tojournal, to write out, to write
(48:17):
out your lament, to yell it toWhatever you need to do, to
symbolically release that intothe hands of God, to burn that,
whatever it is, doesn't erasethe pain.
It doesn't erase what'shappened, but it allows us to
redirect the focus of our heartsand minds, the one who truly
can Carry us and sustain usthrough it.
And so I'd say I'd say grieve,yeah.
(48:39):
Find somebody you can trust,seek professional help if that's
something that you need, andDon't forget the promises of God
be in his word, be in hisprayer.
As we read in Philippians 4present your request to God.
He, he longs to hear from you,and so.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Nate, would you pray over our listeners?
Speaker 3 (48:58):
today?
Yeah, of course, father, god,we.
We come before you today, God,in so many different places and
spaces, and and the great thingabout who you are is that you
know each one of us Intimately,inside it out.
You know when we are, you knowthe things that hurt us.
Lord, you know Us in spite ofour weakness, and, god, you love
(49:22):
us through it all.
And so, lord, we pray thismorning, lord, that we would be
able to rest On the promise ofwho you are, that you are a God
who is perfectly good, even in aworld, lord, that is perfectly
chaotic and tumultuous.
God, we recognize that this wasnever your design for
(49:44):
brokenness, this was never yourdesign for destruction and
bloodshed and evil.
And, god, we also recognizethat you are in the process of
making all things new.
You are a redemptive God, andso there is nothing that you
cannot heal, there's nothingthat you cannot restore.
Lord, we pray specifically rightnow for our brothers and
sisters around the world, god,for the parents, the children,
(50:06):
the innocent victims of aviolence and bloodshed and and
war.
And, god, we pray, lord, thatjust the peace of Christ would
cover those situations.
Lord, we pray for us, yourchurch, that we would be a
people, god, who are Dailyliving out what it means To be
(50:29):
your hands and feet, god, to beagents of peace in a world of
division and conflict.
And, lord, I pray that youwould, just, by the power of
your Holy Spirit, surround uswith your love, comfort us in
the midst of our own longing andpain and, god, remind us that
we are seen by you.
Lord, I pray that we would havea desire, god, to know your
(50:54):
word, to allow its promises towash over us and, lord, to Come
to you in our times of need,knowing that you're always
available.
We thank you, lord, just foryour responsiveness to us, your
grace that covers a multitude ofour sin, and, lord, just the
assurance that you can guard ourhearts and minds, lord, when we
plant them fully in you.
(51:15):
Bless us this day.
We pray Amen.
Speaker 1 (51:19):
Amen.
Thank you, nate.
Speaker 3 (51:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (51:22):
Thank you, loretta, thank you.
Speaker 2 (51:23):
Matt.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (51:26):
I can't wait to make you guys a Taylor Swift playlist
.
Speaker 3 (51:29):
Oh, can you make me a mixtape?
Wow, old school.
Speaker 1 (51:33):
Yeah, can you?
Speaker 3 (51:34):
burn me a CD that.
Still.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Man.
Well, another fun episode ofthe plug-in podcast.
I know I don't want to like.
I feel like I Want to trivial,trivialize the devotional.
You know it's, it's a different, yeah, it's a different vibe.
Yep, but recording the plug-inpodcast said it before it's
probably the most fun I have allweek.
So it was a fun time today withour devotions, with our games.
(52:03):
What do we got coming up?
Can we think of it off the topof our head?
I know today is October 20th,tomorrow, october 21st, youth
arts ministry Kickoff of a brandnew season.
We've got mass brass on Monday.
Yeah, whole bunch of stuffcoming up.
Speaker 2 (52:21):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Sunday, december.
I'm gonna plug this real quick.
Is it second or third?
I should really know this butthird.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
Right now it's the third.
Speaker 1 (52:28):
Sunday, december.
Third is the sounds ofChristmas, one of my favorite
programs.
Speaker 2 (52:33):
Yeah, how is it almost Christmas.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Right, it's coming.
Speaker 2 (52:35):
What is going on?
Speaker 1 (52:37):
Sunday, december third at the Boston Croc Center
is the sounds of Christmas.
It's always a great program sixo'clock, yep.
I'll see you guys there.
Yeah hopefully our listenerswill flood the auditorium.
Speaker 3 (52:50):
And and support a wonderful try to remember to
bring my music folder.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
Yeah, cuz I'm not making copies this time.
I got one other announcement,yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
October 26.
Okay, wait, now you got me.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
Questioning is it the 27th.
I mean, I made the graphics andI you know she's right, luritas
, always right.
Speaker 3 (53:12):
October 27, October 27, friday night fellowship.
Yep, that is a just afellowship opportunity for young
people here in theMassachusetts division.
If you want to come out, we arehaving a night of bowling and
food and fun at North Bowl lanesin North Attleboro.
If you want to sign up for that, make sure you get signed up by
(53:33):
today.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
Yeah, today today.
Speaker 2 (53:36):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (53:37):
Make sure you get signed up.
Speaker 3 (53:38):
Not bad, make sure you get signed up today we keep
pretending like we're recordingit's.
Speaker 2 (53:47):
Yeah, we're spinning ourselves in circles today.
Speaker 3 (53:50):
Yeah, today, the 20th by today, so that they know how
many bowling lanes we need allright guys.
Speaker 1 (53:56):
This was season number two, episode number 11 of
the plugged in podcast.
This was a great time, yep.
Like I say every time, we willsee you next time.
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