Episode 13 - Thanksgiving DRAFT

Ever been late to a church service and had to play the drums without practicing? If so, you'll relate to Matt's story in the latest episode of the Plugged In podcast. Join us, your hosts Matt, Nate, and Loreita, as we share personal anecdotes of faith, frustration, and the unexpected joy found in our day-to-day challenges. We explore how life’s stumbles and fumbles can be transformed into something positive when placed in God's hands.

We promise laughter and riveting conversation as we put a fun spin on the traditional Thanksgiving picks in our holiday draft. You'll be curious to know why mashed potatoes, football time with family, and Thanksgiving leftovers made it to our top picks. And you'll be inspired by the heartwarming stories of extraordinary individuals like Jayson DeLong, a full-time college student and Youth Ministry Coordinator at Lowell Citadel, who has been pivotal in reviving youth music programs.

In a unique twist, we also delve into the concept of leftovers. Drawing from the biblical story of Jesus feeding 5000 people, we discuss the power of repurposing and transforming our day-to-day 'leftovers' into blessings. This episode is designed to inspire gratitude, a sense of abundance, and the recognition that even our disappointments have a purpose when given to God. So, prep your favorite Thanksgiving dish, pull up a chair, and get ready to join us in this uplifting conversation.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hey everyone, welcome to the Plugged In podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello, happy, almost Thanksgiving.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
Yummy, yummy.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
You know we haven't done this in a while, but let's
introduce ourselves.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Oh, that's a good idea.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Here in the Massachusetts division, I'm the
music director.
My name is Matt, happy to beone of the hosts here in the
Plugged In podcast.
What about you guys?

Speaker 3 (00:28):
My name is Captain Nate, but you can call me Nate
Nathaniel.
Yeah, my wife Larita and I, weare the divisional youth and
candidate secretaries here forthe Massachusetts division,
which just means that we loveyoung people.
We love to see them grow intheir experience of Christ and
live out their calling as whoGod created them to be.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah sounds rehearsed but true, it is true.
We were in a meeting today andsomeone said, captain, and I was
like, oh no, no, no, it'sLarita.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah, I'm gonna call my name Larita and Nate, in that
order.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yes, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Alphabetical and, yes , superiority and spirit.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
All right, I've got an opening rant.
You ready, I'm ready for it.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
I look forward to these.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Well, first of all, before we get into the rant,
maybe I'll be the first personto say happy Thanksgiving, happy
Thanksgiving.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
We're like one week away from Thanksgiving, I know.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
How?
How is that possible?
How are we in November?

Speaker 1 (01:27):
So you ever sat in church before and you just get
like hit with a thunderbolt ofguilt or a conviction.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, holy conviction .
Does that happen to you ever?
Oh yeah, no, your officers, ohplease.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
And all right.
So I'm sitting in church acouple of weeks ago and we're
just like rolling to the serviceand I mean like everything that
could annoy me annoyed me.
So me and my family arrivedlike later than I wanted to be
there and so I play in the bandand I more or less have to
abandon my wife and be like goodluck.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
I'm going up on stage I think I've heard you say that
before too.
Thoughts and prayers, yeah,yeah, have a good time.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
So my wife sits there and my kids are, like you know,
being more unruly than I wantthem to be I get up on stage the
pieces that we're playing I'mplaying percussion in the Quincy
band and two of the pieces thatwe're playing that tonight, two
of the four are not in myfolder, are not in my binder.
So I'm like, but because we gotthere too late, there's no time

(02:27):
to find them.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
So it's just like.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Well, I guess I'm making up my part this week.
How'd it go?
Oh, I mean, it was fine.
Oh, I'm a pro.

Speaker 3 (02:34):
It was fine.
It was fine.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Not advisable, but it was fine.
What else happened?
The band, for whatever reason,struggled on the opening hymn
tune, like it was just.
It was kind of a calamity and Iwas like getting.
I was finding myself annoyedthroughout every part of the
whole service and it was likecombining on top of itself yeah.
And here comes the sermon.
The sermon is about complainers, and the core officer was like

(03:02):
replace your attitude withgratitude.
That's a good line.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
And that's where I I just kind of found myself.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
I was just like oh man I am like a serial
complainer today, and here weare staring Thanksgiving in the
face, and so that's what I'llsay to the listeners today Place
your attitude with gratitude.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
I feel like you can snap at the end of that.
Oh yeah, the neck movement.
Oh yeah, that's happening.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
When I do my warm-ups with a singing company, just to
get them moving into laugh likewe'll be doing our warm-ups.
But I'd be like, okay, put yourhands on your hips.
Yeah, okay, now wag that finger.
And they're like they just tosee me try to do those movements
.
It's, it's entertaining.

Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
To say the least, yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
They love it.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
But then then usually the adults in the room who are
sitting like in the back rows.
I see the phones come out andpress record and that's when the
warm-ups end.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yes, no more of that.
Yes.
Note to the adults in the backrow just sneak here, please Be
sneakier.
Yeah, but capture the yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
It'll end up online soon enough the toad.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
All right.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
So we have a great show lined up for everyone today
.
Things coming up, we have adevotional about Nate, oh, okay,
yes, our devotional today isabout leftovers using our
leftovers for God's glory.
Nice.
And before we get to that,obviously we have some fun
segments, as usual.
The one that I'm maybe mostexcited about is we are doing a

(04:25):
Thanksgiving draft.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
This is like one of my first drafts.

Speaker 3 (04:30):
I've been up scouting my list all night long.
Oh wait for it.
It's going to be awesome.
There we go.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
Now I feel as official now, Now.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
I'm really ready.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (04:40):
Now I feel the pressure.
Oh man, this is where I think Isaid this before.
So I can't say that ourproduction budget is low.
It's not because we have somecool lights.
We have some nice cameras, somemicrophones, Like our production
budget is not low, but we don'thave like a producer who's
sitting here.
So if we want that in the show,I gotta be like okay, I'm
pulling up my okay With thefirst draft or the first pick,

(05:03):
it was so that will be, thatwill be drafting or picking
whatever and running the uh.
I will try it.
I should actually audioprobably turn off my
notifications, right, so that?
Uh, should I do and get someding dongs in here.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah, we got mine.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Okay, we got that all worked out.
Well, I shouldn't even say that.
But uh, before we get to thedraft, we're gonna uh a little
throwback.
We're gonna bring back asegment from last season, uh,
that we haven't done yet thisseason, but cue the music Bam so
stinking proud of.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Do you want to start or me to start?
I can start.
Yeah, start us off, and thenI'll I have one after you.

Speaker 1 (05:38):
All right.
So last segment, we uh talkedabout people around the
Massachusetts division that weare so stinking proud of, and we
want to shout out all over theairwaves for everyone to hear my
choice today drum roll.

Speaker 3 (05:51):
You're welcome.

Speaker 1 (05:51):
Shout out to Jason DeLong and the Lowell.

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Citadel core.
Yeah, good pick, good pick.

Speaker 1 (05:59):
So Jason DeLong, uh, I don't, he's not new to this
division anymore, but he's beenaround a couple of years.
Yeah, relatively new, uh, butlast year, uh, he was in
Framingham, is that correct?
Yeah, yeah, he was working forme in the spring as a part time
music instructor.
I forgot that he was working atLowell and he's working in Fall
River and, uh, really helpedthose cores get ready for star

(06:20):
search.
Uh, jason was also able to workfor me over the summer at camp
wonderland helping out withmusic conservatory and music
camp.
He did a great job as acounselor, a music instructor,
uh, doing all this sort of stuff.
So this year he's a full timecollege student at UMass, lowell
.
Yeah, yeah, in addition, rightand this is crazy, I don't know

(06:40):
how he does this he is doing afull time job as the youth
ministry's coordinator.
Is that the correct?
I don't think that's correct.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, that's right, that's it.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
The youth ministry's coordinator at the Lowell core.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Amazing.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
So, uh, jason is taking, uh, some music skills
and stuff that he does well andhe's applying it to the ministry
at the Lowell core and, uh,just observing from afar, uh it,
it looks really great, causetheir uh, youth music programs
are having a bit of a resurgence.
Yeah, and he's also found outsome of the, the kids that are
participating that we are alwaysproud of.
Yep, uh, we've talked beforeabout Cadence and Naomi.

Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yep, uh, Teague is coming around the.

Speaker 2 (07:18):
Lowell core yeah, he's also good to see Teague
Teague had an excellent summer.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
We sent him to Chicago as part of an exchange
program, yeah, and then he cameback to our conservatory, our
music camp, then he went to StarLake yeah, uh, teague is doing
a phenomenal job.
Yeah, I kept coming across someof the programs that we're
making, so we'd like to have thebest students in the world
right now at Star Lake.
And there's also Debra andLewis Lily from Worcester is now
coming and playing secondcornet.
I don't want to forget anyone.
I know Nate, you were justthere.
You run through that list.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, you got a pretty good, you're pretty
comprehensive in that approach.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
Yeah.
So I just want to say, from thestuff that we're seeing online
and the conversations we'rehaving with people on the ground
, jason's doing a really nicejob with the youth there.
So it's a two pronged approach.
I'm really proud of Jason forthe work that he is doing, but
we're also really, really proudof those young people, because I
believe, as recent as just aSunday or two ago, that youth

(08:07):
band, which as of a couple ofyears ago did not exist, was
playing a selection on Sundaymorning.

Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, we were there that Sunday and it was awesome
to see them playing and to seethem involved and there was,
like you said, it felt likethere was new life breathed into
the core.
It was lovely.

Speaker 3 (08:27):
Earlier in the week I got the opportunity to go up on
a Tuesday and kind of see theirjunior band as well, their
beginner band, the beginner band, the youth band.
They also have a youth chorushappening and so, coming up
December 17th, I believe,they're having a Youth Music and
Arts Sunday.
So they're going to becontinuing to just minister to

(08:50):
us through the gifts that Godhas given to them and so, yeah,
amazing.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
I think, when maybe this is for another ministry tip
the month or whatever, but youalways think about when you're
starting a brand new program,whether it's music or youth,
it's probably easiest to getthat beginner level going and
then, if you have adults around,you could pop up a band or a
songster choir.
That can happen relativelyquickly.

(09:14):
It's that middle level.
How do you get people past thebeginner?
They're not quite an adult.
But that youth band, they'renot really that intermediate
level.
That's so, so important in thechain, but achieving it is a
different thing.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
So who you got, larita I've got and she's going
to get mad at me for calling herout but one of our young adults
who in the past probably in thepast year, six to eight months
she has really taken on someleadership roles and plugged
herself into different areas ofcore life, and that's Angelina.

(09:49):
Probably in the past year webecame pretty close with her and
we've seen her get moreinvolved in the worship band at
her core and she is the one thatshe will live in the shadows
for forever and never want to beshouted out.

Speaker 1 (10:05):
Out front.
Yeah, yeah, up front.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
But we were at Quincy a couple of weeks ago and saw
her playing in the band.
She's helping teach at Yam.
Yeah, she's been coming toYoung Adult Small Group Bible
Studies and so just I've been soproud of her, especially with
some of the things that she'sgot going on in her personal
life and she's working hard andshe's out on her own and things

(10:29):
have been stacked up against herbut she just keeps pushing
forward and I've just been superproud of her for the ways that
she's prioritizing and reallystriving to prioritize the right
things in her life.
Sure, and so I'm so proud ofher and she probably will not,

(10:50):
she'll probably get so mad at mefor calling her out on the show
, but I'm very proud of Angelina.

Speaker 1 (10:55):
She, angelina, has been part of our divisional
worship teams for quite a fewyears now, whether it's family
camp or youth councils or back,and I really have a tickle in my
throat today, so I'm trying towork through it.
Back when we more regularly hadyouth praises, angelina was
playing guitar for a long timebut so proud of Angelina.
She's come a long ways in hermusical ability and musical

(11:17):
capability but to see herteaching now and helping teach
at Yam is just.
It does my heart good.
That's great.

Speaker 2 (11:25):
We're just talking about that kind of not full
circle, but that coming fromstudent to yeah, yeah, the
progression, yeah, theprogression.

Speaker 1 (11:34):
I'm sorry, the progression.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yes, I'm so sink and proud of.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Angelina yeah, all right, nate, what about you?

Speaker 3 (11:42):
All right, we want to recognize our newest hired
youth ministry coordinator inthe division, mahayla Nelson,
down in Plymouth.
Yeah, yeah, if you know Mahayla, she is such a sweet, kind
hearted individual.
We are really excited thatshe's gonna be teaming up with
the ministry team there inPlymouth pouring into those
young people.
She's also very musical as well.

Speaker 1 (12:04):
Definitely.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
Wonderful voice and she's also going to be
representing the divisionalongside our very own Kristen
Castillo, at the upcoming OrangeConference in Atlanta in April.
So we're just really excitedabout her opportunities to pour
into young people there inPlymouth.

Speaker 1 (12:22):
Just really quickly, can you tell our listeners what
Orange is, in case they'reunfamiliar?
Sure.

Speaker 3 (12:26):
Now Orange is our territorial partner when it
comes to curriculum for childrenand youth, so Sunday School
materials, they also develop VBSmaterials and a whole bunch of
cool remote learning type things.
Orange is an amazing partnerand every year they have a
conference down in Atlanta,georgia, where they bring in

(12:47):
phenomenal speakers andpresenters and teachers from all
around the youth ministrysphere, and so we have the
opportunity to send someindividuals down to that so that
they can be resourced, so thatthey can sit under the training
and teaching of some fantasticworkshops and come back inspired
with some fresh vision,creativity and just ways that
they can pour into the kids intheir own local ministry context

(13:10):
.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, I love that segment, so Stinking Proud.
I know that's good, I do too.
We needed, you know, we neededa little break, yeah, and we
went away from it, but it's goodto bring it back.

Speaker 2 (13:22):
I love it All right.

Speaker 1 (13:23):
So in just a second we're going to take a break on
the Plugged In podcast, but I'mjust going to tease you with
what is coming up, ok, so I justpulled out this piece of paper
in front of me, this elaboratepiece of paper.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
Wow, if you're watching on YouTube, this is
comprehensive.

Speaker 1 (13:36):
Yeah, I just printed it off like an hour ago.

Speaker 3 (13:38):
So Fresh off the press.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
So I think this is a popular thing that happens on
other podcasts, so we're goingto roll with this, but we're
calling this the 2023 Plugged Inpodcast Thanksgiving Draft.
Now there's a list here ofabout maybe 26 items.
Yeah, 26.

Speaker 2 (13:58):
That's very specific, I know.

Speaker 1 (13:59):
Maybe 26.
Maybe I counted them earlier.
I had that number in my brain,but we're going to take turns
drafting the items and then thatitem is no longer available to
the other two of us.
Yeah, so we'll do a snake draft.
So how this will happen isLoretta is going to have the
first overall pick.
Yes, nate will have the secondpick and then I will have the
third pick, but I will also havethe fourth pick.

(14:21):
It snakes back that way.

Speaker 2 (14:22):
Oh, I did not understand what that meant.

Speaker 1 (14:25):
Ok, so then and then, once we make selections, we're
going to scratch them off ourdraft board.
They cannot be drafted again.
Ok, does that make sense?
Makes sense?
Ok, so just to tease thelisteners, so that you can start
to think of your ownThanksgiving drafts.
Here are the things on today'slist that are draftable.
I'm just going to fire them offhere Turkey stuffing, mashed
potatoes, mac and cheese, greenbean casserole, dinner rolls,

(14:48):
cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes,apple pie or apple crisp you
know same thing.
Pumpkin pie, gravy, ham,chicken or wings we're going to
say that's the same thing.
Football time spent with family, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
, the community dinner at thecore had to make it.

(15:08):
Yeah, cornbread, pecan pietaking a nap, chocolate chip
cookies, cheesecake, carrot cake, toe Ferkey, yeah, Toe food.
Turkey man, ok, toe Ferkey, allright.
Black Friday shopping andChristmas decorations putting up
the tree?
Ok, so, and I will.
Here's one little caveat, ifyou guys think that we missed

(15:31):
something on the list and youwant to draft that.

Speaker 3 (15:34):
More wildfire.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
We'll go with that.
I like that.
All right, so we're going totake a quick break on the
Plugged In podcast and then,when we come back, we'll have

(15:56):
our 2023 Thanksgiving draft.
All right, welcome back to thePlugged In podcast.
Our Thanksgiving special theThanksgiving episode.

Speaker 3 (16:06):
This is great.

Speaker 1 (16:07):
I love it.
Thanksgiving is next week, sowe are doing a Thanksgiving
draft.
We just told you about it, soJust told you about it In our
huge long commercial break.
All right?
Well, it is that time, larita,you have the first pick in the
draft.
So no pressure, the pick is in.

Speaker 2 (16:28):
I feel so much pressure.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
What do you got?
What do you got Larita?

Speaker 2 (16:30):
I'm starting off with mashed potatoes.

Speaker 3 (16:34):
Wow, sleeper right there.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, I like that the number one overall pick mashed
potatoes, I don't know.

Speaker 3 (16:40):
What's your rationale behind that pick?

Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, let's hear it.

Speaker 2 (16:42):
Oh, I thought we were doing that later.
I just love.
I'm not like a turkey person.
Give me all the sides, but Ilove mashed potatoes.

Speaker 1 (16:49):
My abbreviation that I just wrote down says mashed
pot.

Speaker 3 (16:53):
So might need to edit that oh OK.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
All right, mashed potatoes goes number one overall
.
I'm a little bit surprised atthat.
Now I feel like I did it wrong.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
No, no, no, there's no wrong, there is no wrong
drafting.

Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's subjective.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
All right, with the second pick.
This is going to happen all thetime.
Oh yeah, every pick I'm ready.
So here's my strategy.
I was going to go.
Here we go, Just tell us no, no, go ahead.

Speaker 3 (17:15):
I was going to go strictly food.

Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (17:17):
Right.
Then I was like there's a lotof good food options here, so
I'm going to branch out of thefood category and go with one of
the greatest things aboutThanksgiving which is football
football hours and hours offootball.

Speaker 2 (17:29):
I thought about taking it from him.

Speaker 3 (17:31):
I mean, unfortunately , it's always the cowboys and
the lions, but it's footballnonetheless.

Speaker 1 (17:35):
That should be better this year.
By the way, it should be.
Yeah, you know the lions have abetter team, so it's not going
to be just a demolition of theDetroit Lions, like Thanksgiving
normally is.
You basically could not watchthat first game and just know
that lions lost by threetouchdowns.

Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yeah, no, it's true.
Um, it was always a familyevent in our house where we
would have to stop everythingthe moment that it was the uh,
national kettle kickoff at halftime of the cowboys game, and we
would all have to stop, justgather around and watch Yep.
And so this year, Dolly Parton,we're looking at you.

Speaker 1 (18:06):
Dolly Parton Salvation Army, here we go, get
that plug in there.

Speaker 2 (18:09):
I always think about it together.
All right, matt's turn Okay.

Speaker 1 (18:13):
Oh wait, oh there we go With the third pick in the
first round.
Okay, so here's the strategy.
With the snake draft, should Iget two picks in a row?
So here's the advantage.
Here's what I'm looking at theboard, because this pairs so
well.
I think I'm either going turkeyand gravy or stuffing and gravy
and I think that's really tough, but man that's great.

(18:39):
I'm going with Turkey for mypick.
Okay, so that is my first roundpick is Turkey.
How can you possibly haveThanksgiving without Turkey?
I know that some people do,some people do not say you're
wrong.

Speaker 3 (18:51):
No judgment.
No judgment here.
So are you.
Is your preference white meator dark meat?

Speaker 1 (18:57):
Oh, that's tough.
Depends on what time of the dayit is.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
No, I've never heard anyone respond with that.
I don't know if I have a darkmeat.

Speaker 1 (19:06):
I love the dark meat Me too.
Yeah, it feels juicier, right,it does A little more flavor.

Speaker 3 (19:11):
I'm not, I do not like dry, like dry turkey.
Yeah, and though I feel likelight meat is dry, all right.

Speaker 1 (19:19):
So I can either.
So on the snake trap.
Oh wait, hold on, here we go,can't forget it's not official.

Speaker 3 (19:25):
to the music.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
The pick is in.
All right, I'm throwing a curveball to my own strategy.
I'm not going with gravy.

Speaker 2 (19:31):
Whoa, I already wrote it in.

Speaker 1 (19:32):
Yeah, well, I didn't I, it's not official.
So the music time is theofficial thing.
Larita, come on, I'm going withstuffing.
Oh, I think that my list likerules.
Here.
I got turkey and stuffing inthe top two picks.
I'm just going straight carb,that's my.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Oh yeah, that's my.

Speaker 1 (19:48):
So the holidays are about right, stuffing, all right
.
So first round recap Laritatakes mashed potatoes, number
one overall.
Nate is taking football, I taketurkey, and then, to kick off
round two, I am selectingstuffing.
Let me take that off my draftboard.
And so we roll back to Nate.
I'm not going to get over this.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
If anyone, if only everyone, knew how much time was
put into finding this music, toget it already.
Okay, okay.

Speaker 3 (20:19):
Since the two heavy hitters of the food categories
are now on the board, I feellike I need to again branch out
to another category.
Okay, and so I'm just going togo with the all-encompassing
pick here of family Time withfamily.

Speaker 1 (20:32):
Oh, so Nate's got family and football.
That's, that's pretty strong.
I'm not going to lie.

Speaker 3 (20:37):
That is solid.

Speaker 1 (20:39):
I keep panicking that .
So I'm writing like over mylaptop and I keep panicking that
I'm going to press the stoprecord button.
I'm going to try to make thathappen.

Speaker 2 (20:47):
The icing on the cake , if it did happen.

Speaker 1 (20:49):
No one listening would ever know.
No, anyways, all right.
So family football off.
Off the list.
Larita, with the third pick inround two, what do you got?

Speaker 2 (21:01):
Um, I'm going with, I was gonna.
My strategy was just straightcarp, just go, all carps.
But I?
Our family tradition is alwaysto watch the Thanksgiving Day
parade.

Speaker 1 (21:14):
So I'm throwing that in there, because that is a
staple for our family.

Speaker 2 (21:17):
I love that that went over mashed potatoes for me.
But whatever, I'm finding astrategy now, so we'll go with
that.

Speaker 1 (21:22):
All right.
So and we're talkinguniversally the Macy's
Thanksgiving parade in.
Oh, stop See, when I said ourproduction budget is low.

Speaker 3 (21:32):
That's.
That's what I mean.
We timed out.

Speaker 1 (21:35):
Yeah, okay, um, all right, but let's uh, but you've
been in New York, you ever, youever, gone to it.

Speaker 2 (21:40):
No, I've never gone to it.
It is.
It is on the bucket list, butit's also one of those like if I
don't get to it I'll be fine,because I'm also not about being
like crammed in with a millionother people a million like four
million other people but Iwould like to eventually go one
day.

Speaker 1 (21:54):
Every time I watch it on TV, I it's like it seems
like it's one or the other.
It's either like 30 degrees andraining and everyone there is
like looking miserable and allthe dancers have fake smiles on,
but they're like freezinginside.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
Like the floats are being weighed down by the rain.
That's like hitting the top ofthem.
Or it's vice versa, wherepeople are like it's 75 degrees
today because it's globalwarming.

Speaker 3 (22:15):
Like the, the whole planet is heated up for this
parade For this one parade butthink of how early you need to
get there and get your seat onLike the night before it's like
it's too much of a nordeal Allright.

Speaker 1 (22:26):
So after two rounds, loretta has mashed potatoes and
the Macy's Thanksgiving parade,nate has football and family and
I have turkey and stuffing.
So we're snaking back Loretta,your third pick.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
Oh wow, so I had to wait for it to finish.
Um, I'm going back to myoriginal plan.
Um, and we're going, sweetpotato Ooh.
Caster wool Sweet potato my mommakes a, and it doesn't say
casserole on our glass, but mymom makes a ball or sweet potato
casserole, marshmallows, right.

Speaker 3 (22:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (22:57):
The rest no, I think it's like a crisp on top.

Speaker 1 (23:00):
but so I'm my.
I have mashed pot, and sweetpot is what you're looking at
here.
All right, sweet potatocasserole made by um, I almost
said mama Heinzman, but that'snot right, that's not your
mother's name, Mothers.

Speaker 2 (23:16):
my mother's name Mama .

Speaker 1 (23:18):
Vaughn, mama, vaughn, okay.

Speaker 3 (23:19):
Very good, All right, Nate.
What do you got?
All right, as true to form as Ican be.
Oh wait, shh Talk right overthe channel.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
I was late on that one, I'm sorry, it's okay, it's
okay, okay.

Speaker 3 (23:28):
Uh, continuing this comprehensive approach, right?
So now that I've done football,I've done family, I'm going to
go for, in my opinion, the bestdessert on the list pumpkin pie.
Nice, I don't really eatpumpkin pie any other time of
the year besides Thanksgivingday, but it's two people.
I don't know.
I I don't know.
I think, because it's soexclusive and uniquely

(23:51):
Thanksgiving, it's always goodwhen I do eat it.

Speaker 1 (23:54):
I wouldn't crave it any other time, though you know
all right, Nate's got football,family and pumpkin pie.
I like that selection.
Yeah, Thank you?

Speaker 2 (24:02):
You didn't say that about mine.
You got all the potatoes, man.

Speaker 1 (24:05):
You have a strong list.
You do, you do.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
I need affirmation.

Speaker 1 (24:08):
Okay, mash potatoes.
You have two kinds of potatoesand a parade.
It's a strong list.
I'm sure lots of people willvote for your draft.

Speaker 3 (24:17):
That's what we're doing, by the way.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
So, Larita is going to put.
Larita is like the brilliantgenius she is at creating
graphics and social media posts,so she will put each of our
drafts on social media and thenyou can chime in with who won.
Who won the draft?
Just vote for Larita.
If you like potatoes, vote forLarita.

Speaker 2 (24:38):
If you go the carb approach, vote for Larita.

Speaker 3 (24:40):
Yes, okay, go ahead.

Speaker 1 (24:40):
Okay, I've got Right on the money, thank you.
I'm going with my absolutefavorite side dish on this list,
so mac and cheese.

Speaker 2 (24:53):
Oh, that was awesome.
That's good.
And I'm assuming that this islike, not just like Kraft, but
this is like someone's made likea baked mac and cheese, like
casserole In, like the big, likealuminum, you know pan thing
I'll say about my wife's family.

Speaker 1 (25:13):
First of all, they're all fantastic cooks and they're
all like almost annoyinglyhumble.
I'll be like, oh I, you know, Ijust found this recipe.
No, no, this passed down likefour generations.
Right, Like this is a good cook, you just own it.
This recipe.
It's important to all of us.
And it's, it's necessary, butthe thing is like you could have

(25:34):
like eight people coming overfor Thanksgiving and they have
cooked for 800.

Speaker 2 (25:37):
Oh yeah.
Like you cook for the leftovers?

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, oh, we don't have leftovers on this list, Bro
.
That was my sleeper.

Speaker 3 (25:47):
Oh, come on, Come on Okay.

Speaker 1 (25:48):
So I have the snake here.
It's turning around.
Um, I just made the chime likethe pick is in, but I haven't
really decided on the pick, so Icould see the panic in your
face?
I didn't.
My strategy was not to go allfood but right now have turkey
stuffing and mac and cheese.

Speaker 3 (26:04):
You have a solid plate, man, I know.

Speaker 1 (26:07):
I have to go gravy.
Okay, because now my list isturkey stuffing, mac and cheese
and gravy Like this is.
I'm really feeling good aboutThanksgiving now.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
You are assembling the infinity gauntlet of
Thanksgiving food.
I love it, geez.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
For the what, the infinity gauntlet.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
All right, so now we're back to Nate.

Speaker 3 (26:32):
Yes, it was alluded to.

Speaker 2 (26:34):
The way you wait.
Okay, go ahead.
Sorry, and my my sleeper.

Speaker 1 (26:40):
I can't.
I'm really not good at this.

Speaker 3 (26:42):
I love this it's okay , my sleeper as I wrote down
here boom, boom, boom by handleftovers.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (26:51):
Because I have not yet picked a real dish besides
pumpkin pie.

Speaker 2 (26:55):
So you have no leftovers.

Speaker 3 (26:56):
Leftovers encompasses everything Interesting.

Speaker 1 (26:59):
Although according to your pick although if you have
nothing on your plate, you havenothing on the plate to be left
over.
No, I just don't eat when it'sserved.

Speaker 3 (27:07):
I just wait till it's done All right.

Speaker 1 (27:08):
So Nate right now has , he gets the scraps.
He's like the hungry dog afterthe meal.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
He just waits for it to burn down Nate has football,
family, pumpkin pie andThanksgiving leftovers.

Speaker 1 (27:20):
Yeah, okay, all right , that's good.
All right, larita.

Speaker 2 (27:23):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (27:26):
Okay, I'll actually press pause this time, so okay,
oh well, could have worked.

Speaker 2 (27:31):
Shut up, I'm going with.
I don't know if I should gowith like completing my plate,
or if I should go with like asweet oh my goodness, I know
you're thinking community dinnerat the core, that's on the list
.
That was what I wascontemplating.

Speaker 1 (27:49):
It was like my whole life since I was born.
Yes, yeah.

Speaker 2 (27:51):
Okay, go ahead.
So that should be wrapping itup for Matt.
I'm going to go with all right,I'm going to go with green bean
casserole.

Speaker 3 (28:02):
Yeah, that's a good choice.
I do like that.

Speaker 2 (28:06):
I'm trying to write.

Speaker 3 (28:07):
Those crispy onions on top, though, like they are
the best.

Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, yeah, it's solid, yeah Is this another Mama
Vaughn specialty.
Yes, yeah, she's one of theones that's like oh, I just
follow the instructions on theback.
I'm like mom, just own it.
You rock at food and you're soskinny.

Speaker 1 (28:24):
How do you do it?
You're not followinginstructions You've memorized it
Right it's in your soul.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
Exactly.

Speaker 1 (28:28):
All right, and then Larita, this is going to be your
last pick.

Speaker 2 (28:31):
I'm ready.
I have a wild card.
Oh, wow, that wild.

Speaker 1 (28:40):
I'm resigning from Dumbbell Pick.
I'm resigning as the productionperson.

Speaker 2 (28:46):
Effective immediately .
My last pick is appetizers Inour fam.
Listen.

Speaker 1 (28:54):
A little shrimp, a little shrimp cocktail we do
like.

Speaker 2 (28:57):
The problem is, you have to yeah, like a charcuterie
board or like the pre the thing.
You don't eat all day, right,you just snack and you graze on
cheese and crackers and likelittle snack foods.
I live for that.
I'm like a, I'm a grazer I'm aprofessional grazer, but I love
a good appetizer cheese board.
Listen, that's the only one I'mactually confident about in

(29:18):
this whole lineup.

Speaker 1 (29:19):
All right, so, larita , you're draft board right now,
so you have lots of potatoes.
I wasn't going to laugh.

Speaker 2 (29:25):
You started the laugh .
I'm laughing as you laugh.

Speaker 1 (29:27):
I was going to read them professionally.
Oh you have mashed potatoes.
Why are you laughing?

Speaker 2 (29:33):
Sorry, I'm just keep going, keep going.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Sweet potato casserole Yep.
Green bean casserole what'scasserole?
And then appetizers Yep.
Oh man, I like it.

Speaker 3 (29:44):
Confident, I like it and you have mashed potatoes
without the gravy.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
Just load it up with butter, it's good.
All right, nate.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
All right, so I think I've done a great job
diversifying my portfolio.
That's nuts.
Football, family, pumpkin pieand leftovers, and so again
leftovers.
That's my catch.
All for food, so I'm not goingfood anywhere else.
Okay, all right, taking a nap.
Wow, it's closing it out, andnot even it doesn't strictly

(30:13):
have to be taking a nap, butjust knowing that you can just
veg out on the couch when you'redone eating Can you, you have a
child.

Speaker 1 (30:19):
Can you do that?
No, can you do that withJackson?

Speaker 3 (30:22):
If he's entertained, if he's with his cousins and
they're running around the housejust being wild.

Speaker 2 (30:26):
You have zero care about the condition of the house
, the kitchen you do have familyon your list.

Speaker 1 (30:31):
So yeah, you know Jackson's taken care of.
Nate just falls asleep on thecouch.
The jets are losing big Wow,wow, wow.

Speaker 2 (30:40):
You hate my draft list and your mess of my jets.

Speaker 1 (30:42):
No, nobody said that.
Nobody said that.
You heard it here you don'thate it, wait, all right Taking
a nap.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
No hate, just love I'm going to write that down.

Speaker 1 (30:50):
Did you actually write it down yeah.
Okay, I'm writing it at a weirdangle because I'm trying not to
play this chime anymore than ithas to be played.

Speaker 2 (31:02):
Or the theme music.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
Okay, so I'll recap for our listeners with the.
So for the last pick, here'swhat I'm looking over.
That's that's left on the list.
Dinner rolls, cranberry sauce,apple pie, apple crisp, ham,
chicken or chicken wings thecommunity dinner at the core,
don't sleep on that.
One Cornbread, pecan pie,chocolate chip cookies, cheese
and the other Now, chocolatechip cookies, cheesecake, carrot

(31:25):
cake, toe, furky Take it, takeit, take it.
Black Friday shopping andChristmas decorations or putting
up the tree.
So I have all food so far.
So do I stay with food?
I think, what I think, what Idon't have on.
So I'm really leaning towardseither dinner rolls or chocolate

(31:46):
chip cookies, because I don'thave a dessert.

Speaker 2 (31:49):
No, that was my.
I've got a main course.

Speaker 1 (31:51):
I've got side dishes.
I've got flavor with the gravyGuys.
I'm feeling really strong aboutmy Thanksgiving list.
I'm going to go.
This is for my dad.
Okay, Shout out to my dad.
My dad claims that he makes thebest chocolate chip cookies in
all of humankind.
It is like the recipe on theNestle's like chocolate chip the

(32:12):
toe house.
Yeah, the back of the bag.

Speaker 2 (32:15):
But they they had a good.

Speaker 1 (32:16):
They are made with love, yeah, and they're always
delicious.
My mom makes these incredible.
She calls them no bakes, isthat?

Speaker 3 (32:22):
a real thing.
They're so good.
They're like.
You know you're going to get mea chocolate.

Speaker 1 (32:24):
When I was a kid growing up we called them poop
balls, but then I learnedthey're called no bakes.
I didn't know if that was justsomething my mom said, or if
that's a real name.
So I've heard no bakes overpoop balls, so yeah, so I'm
going to take with my final pick.
Hold on, there it is.
I am taking to finish out thedraft.
Chocolate chip cookies.

Speaker 3 (32:45):
Nice, nice.
Now are you guys like crunchyor crispy chocolate chip cookie
guys, or are you more chewy?

Speaker 1 (32:52):
We're talking, like you hear the oven beep Dad says
the cookies are done, go getthem.
He doesn't take them by himself, it's like go get them and you
take them out.
You're waiting like theappropriate, like 90 seconds to
not like scald your mouth andfold it on itself.
That's right but then it's soft, warm, gooey chocolate chip

(33:14):
cookie.
Yeah, exactly Love it.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
Yeah, I should have added like a glass of milk here.

Speaker 1 (33:18):
But okay, so here's my list.
All right, so, listeners, youcan debate who won the
Thanksgiving draft here on thePlugged In podcast and maybe you
can make up your own draft.
My list I have turkey stuffing,mac and cheese gravy and
chocolate chip cookies.
Nate's list you want to sayyour's, nate Sure.

Speaker 3 (33:39):
I have football family, pumpkin pie leftovers
and taking a nap Well done.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
And I have mashed potatoes.
The Macy's Thanksgiving DayParade sweet potato casserole
green make casserole.

Speaker 1 (33:53):
Don't laugh.
You don't have to laugh.
No, I can hear him laughing.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
No, I can feel the like.
Oh, this newbie I mean, I likeit.

Speaker 3 (34:01):
I also sounds good to me, I like it too.

Speaker 2 (34:03):
I mean I want to stick with the fact that Nate
has leftovers but no food on hisplate, so I'm just going to.

Speaker 1 (34:07):
It seems like a technicality.
If you had to pick oneappetizer, which one is it?

Speaker 2 (34:13):
I don't know Like seriously I could eat cheese and
crackers all day long, justlike good.
What's that?
What's that cheese that we gotfor friends giving?
I don't know?
Just give me cheese andcrackers with like pepperoni and
salami.

Speaker 1 (34:26):
I feel like I've for a couple years here at the
divisional headquarters whenthey have Thanksgiving people
like make different dishes.
There is like a cheese andsausage dip that my wife's mom
makes.

Speaker 2 (34:40):
Again, it's like a family recipe and it's just like
that's so good, Just cheese oncheese.

Speaker 1 (34:45):
That would be my app of choice.
That's good, all right.
So that concludes ourThanksgiving Day draft here on
the Plugged In podcast.
Look for those graphics onsocial media.
They'll probably pop up firston Mass Youth and then they'll
hit SA Mass Music.
If you have your own list, sendit in, but also vote on who won
the draft, because we certainlywant to win, and then I'm sure

(35:07):
Loretta will make a graphic ofthe winner.
I will.
All right, we're going to takeone more break on the Plugged In
podcast and then, when we comeback, we're going to talk about
replacing that attitude withgratitude.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
All right, we'll be right back.
Welcome back.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
We're here, guys, people are going to be like?

Speaker 2 (35:34):
what are they on this episode?

Speaker 1 (35:37):
No, that's what we're doing.
We're in, okay, we're live.

Speaker 3 (35:40):
Okay, cool, throwing it to you, nate, all right.
So it was kind of alluded to inthe beginning.

Speaker 1 (35:45):
Kind of.

Speaker 3 (35:46):
Yeah, we're going to be talking a little bit about
leftovers.
Matt, I don't know if yourfamily is anything like ours,
but one of the things that Ilook forward to the most, as
evidenced by my draft boardafter a huge Thanksgiving feast
is the leftovers that last foran entire week maybe even beyond
, and they also shape shift.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
You have straight leftovers, but all of a sudden
leftover, turkey becomes turkeysoup.

Speaker 2 (36:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (36:10):
And then it's like turkey stew, but then it's
turkey sandwiches.
Sandwiches oh yeah, and thenturkey cass.
I mean they like shape shift,totally repurposed, right,
absolutely.

Speaker 3 (36:18):
So every meal becomes a reheat of those leftovers in
the week to follow, at least inour house.
And some of those things likegreen bean casserole and mashed
potatoes and gravy.
I think it actually gets better.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
Some things get better Second time in a row.

Speaker 3 (36:32):
It's crazy right, like it just gets better.
I don't know.
It's science, I guess we'regoing to science this up, and I
just have these fond memories ofjust once the food had been
served everyone's eaten.
We're sitting on the couchwatching football.
I just remember, like my auntsand uncles and my parents, just
grabbing those gallon ziplocbags and just shoveling food

(36:54):
into them, knowing that we weregoing to take this precious
cargo home with us to avoid therest of the week.

Speaker 1 (36:59):
Oh my goodness.

Speaker 3 (37:01):
Because you know, nothing is wasted.

Speaker 1 (37:02):
If you go to a guest house for Thanksgiving and don't
come home with a little bit offood, are you disappointed?

Speaker 3 (37:07):
Yes, I feel like you didn't give your best effort.
That's inexcusable.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
They're for sure been times where, like my mom is
giving my sister more of onething and I'm like, oh no, no,
no, yeah.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
You can be like absolutely stuffed, but the
hosts are like, oh my gosh, likeif you don't take something, oh
, I'm just going to throw itaway, Like and it's true, and
it's like, okay, all right, ifyou insist.
I'll take one little plate Next.
Thing, you know you have fourtrips to the car.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
Exactly yeah, and those images in my mind that are
etched in my brain forever,those fond memories, really is
what became the catalyst for mythought today about nothing
being wasted.

Speaker 1 (37:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
Right.
So chapter six, beginning inverse four it's a familiar story
it talks about.
It was near the Passover time.
Jesus saw a huge crowd ofpeople coming to him and he
turned to Philip, his disciple,and he asked him where can we
buy bread to feed all thesepeople?
And then scripture goes on toprovide a kind of little sub
note.
It says he was testing Philip,for Jesus already knew what he

(38:07):
was going to do.
I love when the Bible does thatright, where it gives you a
little context into what Jesusis thinking, following a
question or an action that heperforms.
And Philip replies even if weworked for months, we would not
have enough money to feed allthese people.
Then Andrew, simon, peter'sbrother, spoke up and he said
this there's a young boy herewith five barley loaves and two
fish.

(38:27):
But what good is that with thishuge crowd?
Tell everyone to sit down.
Jesus said so.
They all sat down on the grassyslopes, and it says that the
men numbered about 5,000 just inthemselves.
Then Jesus took the loaves, hegave thanks to God and he
distributed them to the people.
Afterward he did the same thingwith the fish and they all ate

(38:48):
as much as they wanted.
And then it says this in verse12, after everyone was full,
jesus told his disciples nowgather the leftovers so that
nothing is wasted.
So they picked up the piecesfilled 12 baskets with scraps
left behind by the people whohad eaten from those five barley
loaves.

Speaker 1 (39:06):
Isn't that crazy.
So I feel like sometimes youskip over that.
I know I do, because you focuson the miracle Like, oh my
goodness, they fed 5,000 plusleftovers.
There was more food than 5,000.
Let's put 5,000 into context alittle bit.
So you're talking about, ifyou've been to Massachusetts
family camp, think of, like that, times 10.
Man, that's wild 500 people atfamily camp.

(39:29):
Think of 10 family camps in arow, or times 10.
Maybe you ever been to a BostonCeltics game.
I bet, like the lower bowlmight be 5,000 people because I
think TD Gardens capacity 17,000, something like that.

Speaker 2 (39:41):
And what's even crazy beyond that is, this isn't even
taking into consideration ifthere were any women or children
there.

Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, it's just 5,000 men, right.

Speaker 2 (39:52):
And so if there were wives associated with even half
those, you know what I mean,that's 2,500 extra people.
Everyone appreciate that fastmath.
That's great.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
But thank you very much.
I'm just shaking my head likeyeah.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
But seriously, if there were, beyond the men, the
women and the children therethis is a massive, massive group
of people that I can't evenfathom.

Speaker 1 (40:11):
Yeah, I'm trying to think of the largest scenario
I've ever eaten with people.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
My wedding maybe.

Speaker 1 (40:17):
Yeah, or maybe like Weddings can be expensive.

Speaker 2 (40:22):
Oh man.

Speaker 1 (40:22):
I mean, that's maybe the most expensive part.

Speaker 3 (40:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
Because if you do catering at the reception hall
just feeding your guests, thatcan be the priciest.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
Oh yeah, and it's like I mean not to be this guy,
but sometimes you get theresponses back and it's like no,
and it's like you have 70 buckshere, or you get the responses
back and they say yes, and thenthey don't show up and you're
like aggravated in a differentway.

Speaker 1 (40:43):
For everyone out there that thinks it's no big
deal to RSVP yes to a weddingand then you just don't go.
Yeah, I mean, come on.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Don't be that guy.

Speaker 1 (40:54):
I'm only saying that because I've been that guy,
because I thought it was not abig deal, because I was invited
like.
I mean, we started this aboutconvictions when I was like a
college or high school person, Iwas like oh yeah, don't be that
, I just can't make it today.
What a terrible human I am,yeah.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
Anyways, sorry anyways, continuing.

Speaker 1 (41:09):
No, no, no Real side-tracks there.
I do like the sidebars, theyallow me to refocus.
But tune us out and refocus.

Speaker 3 (41:18):
I really just wanted to zero in on that part where
Jesus commands them to go gatherso that nothing is wasted.
And we see all the leftoversthat are there and I was
thinking about this concept ofleftovers, not just because
Thanksgiving is upon us andThanksgiving leftovers are
incredible, but I was thinkingof leftovers in a spiritual
sense, the leftovers of oureveryday life, the reminders,

(41:42):
those simple reminders, thosescraps, as it says in scripture,
those simple, maybeinsignificant reminders of God's
provision and abundance.
On an everyday basis, Whether itbe our resources, whether it be
our time whether it be ourexperiences.
All of these things are areminder of God's goodness, of

(42:03):
his abundance, of his blessings,and so when I read a story like
this in Mark, chapter 8, I'mencouraged to remember that,
even as we stand in awe of God'sgoodness and his miracles, like
this miraculous feeding,they're only a small glimpse of
what God is capable of.
God doesn't always show up inthe miraculous, the incredible,

(42:29):
the amazing, incredible, hugedisplays of his glory and power,
but God often shows up in theseemingly insignificant, or
maybe even just in the aftereffects of the miracles.
He's consistent and he'ssustaining, and his presence and
his power are real andavailable to us.
And so, for me, the leftoversin this story is kind of like

(42:51):
being on the receiving end of anamazing gift or surprise, and
just as you're trying to wrapyour mind around that gift, a
voice calls out wait, there'smore, it's not over yet.
And so what remains in thisstory actually ends up becoming
a blessing as the disciplesgather it up.
It becomes a blessing asthey're able to go and continue

(43:13):
to feed others with it, but it'salso a blessing, a spiritual
blessing to them, becausethey're reminded, they have a
visual, tangible reminder ofGod's blessing and his abundance
and his provision.
And so what remains?
The leftovers in our lives fromthe situations that God allows
us to experience?
They are a blessing, but howoften do we fail to see the

(43:34):
blessing?
Have you ever caught yourselfthinking if only I had time for
that, or if only I was good atthat, if only I could sing like
that person or play myinstrument like that person or
man, if only I had enough moneyto do that, then I could support
that, or I could pursue this,or I could do all these amazing
things.
And that's kind of what Philipdoes in verse seven when he says

(43:58):
even if we worked for months,we would not have the money to
feed these people.
Right, we are good at makingexcuses, we're good at
justifying, we are good atgiving reasons why what we have
to offer is impossible, not goodenough or not even worth
pursuing.

Speaker 1 (44:17):
Let's give a little bit of credit to him though.
Like put yourself in thatscenario.
Someone walks into a room andsays like Matt, here's a couple
of fish and bread.
Like go do this.

Speaker 2 (44:29):
I would at least be like are you sure Is?

Speaker 3 (44:32):
this a joke yeah are you?

Speaker 1 (44:34):
what's going on, lord ?

Speaker 2 (44:37):
No, can't happen.
I was a family camp 2023, whenwe ran out of chicken sandwiches
and I was like panicked and wehad.

Speaker 1 (44:45):
thankfully, we made it work.
Don't panic, the Lord provides.

Speaker 2 (44:48):
Oh, thank you.
Thank you, Matt.

Speaker 1 (44:50):
Yeah, no, but I mean so I don't want to totally
dismiss his question.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
No, it's true.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
You know let's not call him like an idiot for being
like you know, because if weput this in the modern day, I'd
be like, mm.
I don't.
Okay, I'll try, yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:06):
No, there's definitely two sides to this
story, right Cause there's theinitial doubt of is this
miraculous thing even possible?
And then God shows up and doesit.
And then there's what do we dowith the leftovers?

Speaker 1 (45:17):
Do we?

Speaker 3 (45:17):
just discard them, Do we throw them away, or do we
recognize them as anotheropportunity to be a blessing to
somebody else?
Right, and so, as I wasthinking about this and I was
thinking about what remains,like God can use whatever
remains, or whatever leftoversare in our lives to do something
amazing and incredible.
And do we seize those moments?

(45:38):
Do we take them for granted?
Do we even see that God iscapable of using it?
Do we cherish thoseopportunities?
And so which led me to anotherthought that nothing is ever
wasted when we place it in God'shands.
That's a powerful thought.
Nothing is ever wasted when weplace it in God's hands.

(46:00):
I love this story because it's areminder to me that those
leftovers the Gospel writerdidn't have to include that, but
I think there's a reason why hedid, and I think that the
reason is this the presence ofleftovers is a promise that God
is not done with us yet, thatGod still has more to do.
The miracle already happened,right, and so they could have

(46:22):
been like, okay, cool, all thesepeople are gone, they're fed,
time's up, let's move on.
But it's a visual reminder andit's a powerful imprint on their
lives that hey, wait, there'smore to come.

Speaker 1 (46:34):
All I can think of is your list and how the next
thing would be taking a nap andI'm like no Nate.
There's more to do.

Speaker 3 (46:42):
There's more leftovers to hoard in my
ziplocks.

Speaker 1 (46:44):
Sorry, Nate's asleep.
Sorry, the house is gone tochaos.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
But I also love and this can be so easily glossed
over, but I love that there were12 baskets Like that's.
So there's purpose, even that,like 12 disciples 12 baskets
right.
It's like even in the leftoversthere was purpose, like there
was a purpose to all of it andit was all the plan, like all
the way through to the amount ofleftovers right.

Speaker 3 (47:12):
And so what Jesus is communicating to his disciples
there is that God is not donewith you.
It's a testament to my ongoingcare and provision in your lives
.
And in Mark's gospel, as I read, it was also an assurance that
there's something left foranother day.
Simply knowing that there'ssomething left for another day,

(47:34):
that should inspire confidence.
It should build anticipation ofwhat God is ready and available
to do in our lives and readyand available to equip us to do
in the lives of others.
And I think another powerfulside of nothing being wasted is
the truth that even our failuresand our setbacks and our
disappointments can be used forgood when we place it in God's

(47:57):
hands, Just as leftovers can berepurposed, as you talked about,
changing shape, changingflavors, changing textures.
And it just hits all the rightplaces when you heat that up and
eat it again right, yes yes,I'm smiling.
Yeah, you affirm that right.
See, just as those leftoverscan be repurposed and used again

(48:19):
, so can the various aspects ofour lives be transformed by
God's abundance Can.

Speaker 1 (48:25):
I jump in real quick.
Yes, of course.
So while you're talking, I justthis song is coming to my mind.
It's one that I love and Ithink it's relatable here.
But the second verse of thissong you may know this song as
the he Giveth More Grace, butjust in the idea of God
supplying in abundance, thissong came to my heart.
The second verse is when wehave exhausted our store of

(48:46):
endurance, when our strength hasfailed, ere the day is half
done, when we reach the end ofour hoarded resources, our
father's full giving is onlybegun.
So I just like as you werespeaking, I was just thinking
the abundance of his giving isnot just the exact amount or
even the leftovers, but his fullgiving Once we're done.

(49:10):
His full giving has only begun,but sorry to interrupt.

Speaker 3 (49:14):
I just that was like just popping in my brain.
Yeah, no, that's great, and Ithink it really helps connect
everything that we're talkingabout here, because maybe you're
sitting here today and you feellike, hey, I don't really have
much to offer, but you're likethat little boy who faithfully
just hand over his lunch and Godtook something meager and
turned it into somethingmiraculous.
So cool.

(49:36):
it's such a cool story, yeah andmaybe you find yourself in a
different place, a differentseason of life, where you're
giving and giving and giving andyou're tired, and that's fine,
that's okay, you're humans.
But maybe the call is makingsure that you aren't attempting
to feed others without firstbeing fed yourself.
And that's a powerful lesson tolearn, right that it's not out

(49:57):
of the storehouses of who we are, in our flesh that we give, but
it's out of the abundance ofwhat God has given us that we
have the opportunity to give andto feed and to restore and
build.
And or maybe maybe you're inthis place where you've given
and maybe you've held back alittle bit for yourself.
There's something left over andGod wants to use it again your

(50:19):
time, your talents, yourresources, whatever that is that
you might be holding back.
Maybe God wants to use thatagain or repurpose it in a
completely different way for acompletely different person that
he's appointing you to speak to, or a situation that he wants
you to step into, or leadershipopportunity that he wants you to
use your gifts and talents andabilities in.
And so I don't know where youare, but I think that this story

(50:42):
, wherever you are, cancommunicate and meet you in that
place, and so the prayer Ithink for us during this season
is God, make me thankful for howyou've supplied in such
abundance.
and, god, make me willing.
Make me willing, don't justmake me thankful, but make me
willing to act on thatthankfulness and just an

(51:04):
affirmation of how good you areand how good you have been in my
life.

Speaker 1 (51:10):
I think another thing we can pray for too.
As you were listening off thosethings, you were going through
different scenarios of wherepeople can be at and I just kept
thinking that takes a certainamount of self-awareness too.
Like sometimes you gotta takethe temperature of your own.
Like where are you at?
Are you holding something back?
Are you overspent?
Are you like, is what you'reneeding is rest or some sort of

(51:32):
peace?
But I think that's something wecan pray for too.
God help me realize what I need, what I can give, kind of where
I'm at in that process.
Right, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (51:44):
And I think there's also that truth, that all
encompassing truth, that Godcares for the entire dimension
of who we are.
And so when we say nothing iswasted in the context of the
bread, like nothing is wasted inour lives as well, if we're
willing to place it in God'shands.
Like he will use your past, hewill use your present

(52:04):
opportunities and experiences,he will use your future and
he'll use everything if youallow him to, if you invite him
to, and so nothing is wasted,nothing is too insignificant
that can be used by God if we'rewilling to place it in his
hands.

Speaker 1 (52:23):
Thank you, Nate.
I appreciate your thoughts today.
You know I'll let our listenersin on a little secret.
You know we start most of theseepisodes and sometimes Nate
says, oh I just the devotionalis not gonna be a home run today
, like Yep, I'll just say it onair what I say privately.
But Nate is such an incrediblecommunicator of the word of God
and it not just speaks to myheart, live in the moment, but I

(52:46):
know that so many people canconnect with what you're saying
in the relatable way that youdeliver it.
Okay, so stopped outingyourself, because every time you
open the Bible, I'm ready tolisten and, honestly, I'm ready
to learn.
That's where I like find myself.
And he attend, you speak, I'mlearning.
So I appreciate what you had tosay today.

Speaker 3 (53:09):
Yeah, thank you.
I am a walking testament to thefact that God works often in
spite of ourselves.
So, keeping that in mind, justgrateful for this opportunity.

Speaker 1 (53:19):
Yeah, loretta, would you close us in prayer today?
Would love to.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
Let's pray.
Let's pray, father.
We just thank you for who youare in our lives.
Father, we thank you for theseason of abundance that we
celebrate, just the abundance ofblessing, thanksgiving, this
idea of leftovers.
We just thank you, god, for theseason that we're in, also

(53:44):
recognizing that this could be adifficult season for many as
well.
God, we just thank you becauseyour hand of blessing is upon us
and there's nothing that youcannot use, that is a part of
our story.
There's nothing that is outsidethe realm of healing and your

(54:06):
grace to move us into a betterplace, to be used for you, for
your kingdom, for your glory.
So I just pray for eachindividual listening in this
moment, lord, that you wouldjust remind them of the hand of
blessing that is upon them, thatyour blessings are new, your

(54:27):
grace, your mercies are newEvery day and you are for us,
god, you are for us.
Help us to be able to lookinwardly and figure out where we
are on that spectrum.
Help us to find that placewhere we are and, lord, just
help us from that place movingforward.
We thank you for the ways thatyou continue to show up in our

(54:50):
lives, the ways you continue topoint the way forward, the ways
you continue to forgive andredeem the situation.
Even the worst things that wecan think of, you put your
redeeming hand upon it.
So, father, we just thank youfor who you are.
We thank you for the manyblessings that we celebrate this
season and we pray, lord, thatyou would just continue to bless

(55:13):
us.
You'd continue to speak over us.
You continue to remind us thatthere is nothing, there's
nothing wasted in your hand.
In your name, we pray amen.

Speaker 1 (55:23):
Amen, amen.
Well, for everyone out therelistening, thank you for joining
us.
The Plugged In podcast this hasbeen our we're calling it.
I don't think we came up withthis until the end of the
episode, but this is ourThanksgiving special and we hope
everyone out there listeninghas an amazing Thanksgiving
holiday.
We got a lot of stuff coming upin the division.
I think just off the top of myhead in the month of December.

(55:45):
We had the Sounds of Christmason December 3rd, pretty soon
after that, we'll have a lot ofpeople are involved in the
annual luncheon fundraiser inBoston the Patriots Party.
Yeah, always a great time.
It's a good time, so that'scoming up as well as, obviously,
kettles are kicking off acrossthe division and so just lots of
stuff going on.

(56:05):
We're gonna take a little breakwith the podcast and then we
will have I believe it's threeepisodes in December.
We're gonna have two episodesleading up to Christmas and then
we'll have an episode for youto turn over the new year.
And this may be just us gettingold, but I literally cannot
believe that.
I just said, like we're at the,an episode for the end of the

(56:28):
year.
That's insane.
We're talking aboutThanksgiving, Christmas and
happy new year.

Speaker 2 (56:33):
And like happy birthday to the Plugs and
Podcast, because it was lastJanuary, wasn't it?

Speaker 1 (56:37):
Last.

Speaker 2 (56:37):
January oh, that's wild.
They're coming on a year.

Speaker 3 (56:39):
This is when we started man, we need some first
anniversary merch.

Speaker 1 (56:44):
First anniversary merch.
Okay, well, if you can find thebudget for that, you go ahead.

Speaker 3 (56:48):
Nate, I'm sure Larita will design it Out of the
abundance of God Once we fireour production crew.

Speaker 1 (56:55):
Love abundance Come on now, I'm kidding, I kid, hold
on.
Let me put this up one moretime.
How about a first?

Speaker 3 (56:59):
anniversary sticker.
Okay, that's a good way tostart and have some stickers.

Speaker 1 (57:03):
I thought you were playing something.
I tried, but then I realized myvolume was off so I should be
fired, resign whatever it is.
But hey, sometimes like I feellike, oh, that was a mediocre
episode.
This was fun, this was fun.
This was fun.
Today felt like a really goodepisode.
So maybe our listeners would belike no, no, this one sucked.

(57:24):
Yeah, I have to hold back alittle bit, get rid of this one.
Anyways, thanksgiving specialhere on the Plugged In podcast.
We will see you all next time.