October 21, 2024 • 32 mins
Nate Williams and the Dangerous Life Team are on a Kanye Quest do their Kanye Best to explain the Kanye Mess left by Kanye West. No, I will not apologize for writing that. Also, how should we think about celebrity conversions?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
That's our intro.
Can we please do Think of it?
I'll even sing it From thescreen to the ring to the pain,
to the gain.
Where's my crown?
There you go.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I think that is a phenomenal way of starting our
episode Dangerous Faith, NateWilliams with Blake and Mariah
Small crew today, but that'll bejust fine.
So, Blake, you started us offwith a classic of a song.
Do you want to tell ouraudience more about it?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Thick of it.
I don't want to give him creditthough, because he's already
got Prime.
Everybody knows Thick.
If you've been online, you knowthe song Thick of it by KSI.
It's trash.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's so bad, but you were crushing the chorus.
Do you want to do that again?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, because it's one of those songs where it's
like you just get stuck in yourhead whenever you listen to it.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I mean it's catchy, but it's just so cringy.
There's so many songs that arecatchy.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, like any of Taylor Swift's songs.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It seems like oftentimes the worse the song,
the catchier it is For real.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
What's the science behind that?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Whereas let's take a symphony you go and and you
listen to an orchestra amazing,the most talented people you'll
ever just get the joy of beingable to listen to.
But when you come away, therearen't these basic, simple
melodies to latch on tonecessarily.
(01:22):
So it's an experience, it'sbeautiful, but compared to to
Blake's favorite artist, ksiwho's a YouTuber, by the way
came out with a new song that isnot good at all, but it just
gets stuck in your head, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I think it's because humans like simplicity.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It's simple, it's repetitive and it's easy to
remember.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, You're not going to remember an orchestra,
but you'll remember I'm in thepick of it.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Pop music has latched onto that psychology and
there's almost a science behindmelodies, yeah, certain notes,
certain chord progressions, butanyways, all right, we are
getting off topic just a littlebit I'm not this off topic,
because Kanye produces music.
Oh, hey, I like that.
The actual topic for today andthe Dangerous Life team with me
(02:04):
again, blake and Mariah they'regoing to help me talk about is
Kanye West.
For those of you who, let's say, haven't kept up with him, I
don't blame you, but we have ourKanye expert Mariah with us,
who loves all things Kanye,including every single thing he
(02:25):
said.
Right, mariah?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I don't know about every single thing.
Those are questionable.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
And then afterwards we're going to talk about
Christianity and celebrity.
What do we do with celebrityconversions?
What do we do with theirstories?
Do we support them?
Do we weigh, are we cautious?
How do we respond when reallyfamous people become Christians,
or at least they say they are?
We'll get to that in a moment,but, mariah, paint a broad
(02:53):
picture for us, your favoriteperson in the universe, kanye
West.
All right, tell us a little bitmore.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So Kanye, he's a writer, producer now, I guess,
adult filmmaker in some aspects,oh my gosh.
So he has a wide variety ofthings he's into and he's been
doing it since the late 90s, buthe's probably one of the most
controversial rappers whilebeing the most influential
(03:21):
rappers of this like era, I'dsay, and most people in the rap
community would probably agreefavorite kanye song easy, do you
have, okay, blake?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
gold digger, gold digger, all right, mariah.
Any thoughts there?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
that's a classic.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I'll say that mine would probably be um I kind of
put you on the spot, didn't I?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
yeah, I love so many of his.
Um I wonder is one of my.
I like that one.
It's called I wonder, uh by him.
I really like um.
I'll say my favorite album is Ihate being bipolar.
It's awesome.
That's his like one of his bigalbums.
That's one of my favorite.
Probably.
That's his real like, uh,lyrical, like deeper album I
(04:05):
guess doesn't he have a songcalled black skinhead?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
am I wrong?
You might be right yeah that'sone of my favorite ones too.
I really like that one.
I have no idea I would justhope that is a song that it's
it's, it's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, it's fat.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Check it, yeah black skinhead fact checker right here
, or what was it actually called?
I know, I know that I know thesong, but I don't know what the
it's called black skinhead.
Yeah, it's really good.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I like that song I think for me, I have to say
heartless one of his.
Uh, you listen to kanyeclassics.
I don't listen to him much, butjust a couple songs why, why,
because you're asian.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
He hates Asians.
What?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So, he's also um.
He's come out as anti-Semiticas well.
Yeah.
But anyway, double whammyAnyways there was a Kanye before
the craziness Right, so I thinkthat was my favorite song.
But I'm just kidding toeveryone.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
I don't think he actually hates Asians.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Bound to in ghost town.
Those are my two favorites.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Mariah.
All right, he married someonepretty famous, didn't he?
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Uh, the first wife, yeah, do we talk about Kim Kim K
, kimmy K Kim, cutie K Kim, fullof plastic Kardashian.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
All right.
So yes, he married KimKardashian.
Yeah, he got divorced and thenhe married a Kim lookalike and
then he's divorcing her.
Do you know if that divorce isfinal yet or if he's in the
process?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I don't know.
Last stories I was lookingmaybe still ongoing.
I really don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And then also Hang on .
Wasn't she the?
She had something to do withYeezys, right?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Wasn't she the Like a brand or like a model?
Maybe?
I know she was like I thoughtshe created them.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I don't know well, obviously I mean kanye, it's
kanye's brand he created, but Ithought she was like the one
over the main which always,which I always thought was like
was there something ongoingbefore?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, and then he has said he wants to start now an
adult film company, roll Tideand no.
Okay don't Roll Tide on thatone.
We do not Roll Tide on that one, Mariah.
Any thoughts?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, that's just interesting because a few years
ago he came out with a gospelalbum and like Follow Jesus,
Father, Stretch my Hands.
All those songs.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Mariah, yeah, I was going to circle back to that.
So you might be thinking, inthe midst of all this creating
music, various relationshipissues and then future career
paths he is interested in takingyou might be surprised to learn
that at one point he identifiedas a Christian.
He came out with a Christianalbum.
I thought it was pretty good.
(06:45):
Did you listen to his Christianalbum?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I'm not into Christian rap, so but it's not
really Christian rap.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
There's some gospel elements.
I would say, give a couple ofthe songs a listen.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
I'll give a couple of songs.
I remember when he did come outwith that I didn't even believe
that Kanye was actuallyChristian.
I thought he was more socapitalizing on the
marketability of it, so I wasn'teven going to give it a listen.
But I'll give it a listen.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Listen to a couple songs.
Some of them are pretty decent.
I'm not going to say all ofthem are great, but several of
them I actually kind of like andthey're catchy and decent.
He went on a tour where I guessthey would visit different
venues or different churches andthey had this Sunday
performance kind of deal,sharing the gospel.
But eventually I guess hebecame disillusioned and he left
(07:31):
the faith, if he ever was aChristian.
And he said the reason why washe prayed to Jesus, and he said
Jesus didn't answer his prayersand he kind of had to make
things happen on his own.
And so now he's moved into thewhole realm of he is his own God
, blah, blah, blah.
The rest of it, all that stuff.
So all this is to say when wethink of celebrities becoming
(07:56):
Christians, how should werespond to that?
Think of?
There's also Russell Brand,he's become a Christian, and
there are others.
They're famous conversions.
What do we do?
How do we respond?
What do y'all think?
Kanye, Russell Brand, where dowe go from here?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
I think it depends on , kind of like, the actions that
follow that.
So that's a claim made and wedon't know these people
personally, but maybe by theiractions.
Like Russell Brand I know hasbeen on some, I think maybe
Christian Commentary podcast,definitely he's been speaking
pretty prevalent about his faithnow and stuff and although he
(08:40):
has had definitely a shaking,controversial past also Although
he has had a definitely ashaking controversial past also.
But then you have people likeKanye who the actions kind of
now is not really portrayinglike there's no fruits, I guess
you could say it's notportraying what a Christian
should be like, but also it'slike where are we to tell what
(09:04):
they're really like?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I guess Gotcha so kind of see what happens, but
also recognize that we don'tknow them personally.
Okay, Blake, what are yourthoughts?
A famous celebrity says I amnow a Christian.
What is your response?
Speaker 1 (09:20):
It's kind of like Mariah I just watch and wait and
see what they do with it.
It's kind of like Mariah I justwatch and wait and see what
they do with it, because my hopeis, if they actually have
converted, they'll actuallyshare more about Jesus They'll
use their money to because theyhave a lot of money and I hope
they would use that moneyinstead of hoarding more of it
up, that they would begin toshelve it out to certain
(09:42):
charities or whatever.
Not even charity work.
They just they would begin toimpact the world as a Christian
should.
And mostly what I look for ishow often do they spread the
gospel at this point?
Because they are an influencer,they're claiming Christianity,
so I want to see how muchthey're going to talk about
Jesus.
And then I also look at whatchurches do they go to, because
(10:03):
the church you go to canactually tell a lot about your
belief in a way, in my opinion.
Like, for instance, justinBieber, he was one of those that
famously converted, but he wentto Elevation with Stephen
Furtick, yeah.
And so I was like, ok, if he'slistening to Stephen Furtick,
not saying Stephen Furtick, weall know who, how Stephen
Furtick can be.
(10:23):
I'm not going to.
I don't want to speak tooharshly on him, but you just
have to.
You know, you have to be awareof just like what are they doing
as they claim to be Christians.
It's something that I guess, asChristians, we have to be
careful not to lift them uphigher, not to put them in the
same spot as Jesus, because nowthey believe in Jesus, now we
(10:45):
have to cling to every word thatthey say.
Because Donald Trump claims tobe a Christian and I've heard
some of the stuff that's comeout of his mouth and I'm like
that is so against the Bible,like that is so against the
gospel.
Not to make anybody mad ifyou're a Republican, but it's
just we put people, when we hearChristian and we have Christian
values, and then we hear acelebrity that's converted, we
put them on a pedestal, likewith Jesus, and I'm like we have
(11:08):
to be careful about thatbecause they're growing in their
faith as well.
I understand they're notperfect.
They're going to make mistakes,just like we do, but we
shouldn't be so quick to justassociate them as like this is
the cream of the crop,christianity.
Like we have this famousChristian and then everybody
flocks to them and then, justlike with Kanye.
Everybody was like hey, youknow, kanye, he's Christian.
(11:29):
And now look at him.
And now it's like everybody'snow.
Now everybody was like this isso great, kanye is so great, and
now he's back to doing that.
Now it gives fuel for the otherside to be like well see,
christians are crazy and bipolar.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So and that, yeah, speaks to just different With
specifically Kanye.
With specifically Kanye, you dorecognize there are some mental
issues there.
He's just done and said certainthings that you're like a
normal person in their rightmind would not do or say, and so
, in addition to everythingwe've talked about that, we hope
(12:06):
that eventually he gets theproper help that he needs as he
continues on doing Kanye things.
But anyways, I think you bothbring up great points.
I go for cautious optimism,cautious.
I don't fully embrace someonebecause you don't know if there
(12:26):
are ulterior motives.
What if they're trying to sellsomething?
What if, whether it's movies ormusic, there are millions of
Christians in the country and ifyou can tap into that market,
you can make a lot of money?
Oh yeah, and so there's a partof me that's like all right,
let's be cautious.
However, then there's theoptimistic side that I also want
(12:49):
to take people at their wordthat they found something Right,
that hopefully Jesus ischanging their life, and so,
until they give me reason to notbelieve them, I am cautiously
optimistic that celebrityconversion, whoever it is, is
real, and then we start to waitfor the fruit.
One thing that frustrates me iswhen new celebrity Christian
(13:16):
converts immediately want tobecome leaders.
This can happen with anyone,because charismatic people get
put to the front of the line.
If you have money, if you'refamous, if you look attractive
in front of a camera, they wantto put you forward.
But I think what I would hope,whether it's Kanye or Russell
(13:39):
Brand, what happened todiscipleship mentorship through
the years?
Instead of Kanye right awaybeing seen as this Christian
public figure, what aboutmeeting privately with a good
pastor over coffee talking aboutthe basics?
(13:59):
What about?
I always use this as theexample behind the scenes,
sweeping floors, folding chairs,helping out with events where
nobody knows you or just you're.
You're away, because for somepeople they have a very
recognizable face.
But you know what I mean awayfrom the spotlight.
(14:20):
What frustrates me sometimes ispeople convert and they want to
automatically lead.
They'll start a ministry or doall these other things.
I'm like hold on now.
You barely know the basics.
Just chill, learn and grow.
(14:44):
I have an example of a goodfriend who he was a newer
believer and just verycharismatic, very smart.
He immediately enteredleadership positions and he
quickly got burnt out becausethe spiritual development wasn't
there.
He was good with people and hewas very gifted, but the
theology, the Bible, theapologetics, the basics were not
planted yet and he got burnedout and eventually he left the
(15:07):
faith, which was very hard tohear, and walking with him
through different aspects ofthat.
But I guess, on y'all's end, ifyou were talking to a Kanye
Russell Brand, whoever andthey're just new believers,
they've given their life toChrist what advice would you
(15:29):
give them entering this new life?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's the same advice that you told me is to be
patient and to grow in it.
I remember when I first reallystarted taking my faith
seriously and I don't know ifanybody on the podcast or any of
your listeners know, but I wentfrom not being involved in
church to now two years.
Two years jump forward to nowpresent day.
(15:56):
I'm now one-third of a youthpastor, because we have three
youth pastors on the third ofthe youth pastors.
So kind of a little bitconfusing for those, but it
works at our church.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
He serves on a team of three people over our youth
group.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah, best way to explain it, but I didn't when I
first started, I didn't justjump directly in to serving what
me and Nate kind of walkedthrough, and it's good that
would be.
My advice is to one, findsomeone who is, when you're a
new believer, who has been apart of the faith for I'd say
(16:32):
maybe two or three years plus.
Yes, I wouldn't necessarily sayone year, I'd really say three
years plus.
Find someone who's been in thefaith for a while and go under
their wing and don't justanybody Trust them.
Build a relationship first andif you can trust them, let them
mentor you and then just beobedient to God from that point
(16:55):
forward.
Just wherever he has you sayyes.
Like I went from attendingchurch every Sunday to then
working in the kitchen, to thendoing things outside of the
kitchen, to an internship andnow I'm here, and that all
didn't happen at once.
It was a lot of slow growing alot of you know, a lot of
grinding through things and justleaning on Nate to mentor me
through all that.
So I'd say find a mentor ofsomeone who's been in the faith
(17:18):
three plus years.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Mariah, what about you If you were talking to
Russell Brand and you were likeall right, here's some wisdom.
What would you say?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I'd say, along with a mentor.
I think that's great.
That's what I was going tomention.
But since you already mentionedthat, I think the first thing
really you should get like havea Bible, have a physical Bible,
you know on your phone,whichever, but have and be
studying in that and you knowusing commentary, using other
versions, multiple ways of howyou're understanding and getting
(17:50):
the word, because that's themain thing that you should be
following.
I think so.
I think that should be thefoundation of first step that
you should do and look for as anew believer.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Get in the word.
I think that's good.
What I'd also advise this isfor anyone find a good, healthy
church.
No church is going to beperfect, but don't let perfect
be the enemy of good.
Sometimes I've talked withpeople.
They're looking for the perfectchurch that gets all the
doctrine right, that serves inevery way.
(18:23):
It just checks off all theboxes.
You're not going to find itbecause the local church is full
of people like you which areimperfect, and so when you have
a gathering of imperfect people,they will do things imperfectly
, and so just find a good church, one that's in the word, where
you can serve, get active, getinvolved, helping out church
(18:45):
members yes, then also servingin the community, and so a good
church will try to do both ofthose things, and I guess, with
celebrity.
One other thing I would say isonline gets really nasty, and so
you're going to have,unfortunately, a lot of people
that call themselves Christfollowers that will get really
(19:07):
mean towards you.
The Christians online will saythe rudest things, just deeply
disappointing, and so what I tryto tell people about online
stuff is that is not the realworld.
Get to know salt of the earth,down to earth, good people, and
(19:30):
they're not going to be likethat.
They're not going to be rude,mean, nasty and the rest of it.
So just maybe get off linewould be best, get off the
internet, get off the apps andall that.
But anyways, looking to, I guess, celebrity conversions, we
mentioned Kanye West.
As he leaves the faith, he'salready left it.
(19:51):
We're not going to get into theanswer of was he ever a
Christian Deep down?
We have no way of knowing hecould come back, we don't know.
But we're not going to get intothe answer of was he ever a
Christian Right Deep down?
We have no way of knowing hecould come back.
We don't know, maybe he wasnever there Again, we don't know
.
So we're not going to get intothat question.
But if people want to point toKanye and to say see, you know,
(20:27):
look at him, look at his life,all of that's fake.
Why would I want to do that?
Look at how he's living now andit's really ugly.
That's just how Christians are.
Because he made a big splashwhen he joined the faith.
How would you respond to that?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I would point to Jesus and I would say would you
respond to that?
I would point to Jesus and Iwould say I don't worship Kanye,
I don't worship KennethCopeland, I don't worship Mike
Winger, I don't worship any ofthese.
Whatever you think a Christianis, I worship Jesus and I point
to Jesus every single time,because Jesus lived the life
that I couldn't live.
Kanye can't live the life thathe can't save me, mike Winger
(20:58):
can't save me, kenneth Copelandcan't save me, donald Trump
can't save me.
Mike Winger can't save me,kenneth Copeland can't save me,
donald Trump can't save me.
None of these people can saveme.
I point directly to Jesusbecause he is ultimately why I'm
a Christian.
Now, does that mean I'm goingto be perfect in everything that
I do?
Absolutely not.
But my love for Jesus trumpsany kind of love that I have for
any earthly figure.
(21:18):
Jesus trumps any kind of lovethat I have for any earthly
figure.
And because I love Jesus somuch, I focus every day on
living the best that Iabsolutely can for Jesus.
And so my favorite quote is aFrank Turek quote.
It's like nobody gets mad atMozart when they play Mozart
wrong, but everybody wants toget mad at Jesus, whenever we
(21:38):
play Jesus wrong.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Oh, I've Jesus wrong.
Oh, I've heard that.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, that's a good one that is a good one.
Uh, frank Turk has a lot ofgood um points like that.
I think that's a that is agreat thing to point out that
whenever people point to thehypocrisy of Christians, I
always say exactly that's why weneed Jesus Right.
And you do the same thing withSatan.
(22:00):
When Satan wants to bring upyour past, when he wants to
bring up your failures, yourflaws, your habits, the rest of
it, the things that you'retrying to change, you point him
to Jesus and you say I know I'mimperfect, I know I'm not going
to get it right, but thank Godour salvation does not depend on
us, because if it did, we wouldlose on immediately.
(22:23):
Yeah, we're done, we're done,we're fried, we're cooked, we
are cooked, stick a fork in it,and so we go to Jesus because
ultimately we rest in hisrighteousness and his perfection
and not our own.
And so another thing I alsowant to point out about
(22:44):
celebrity conversions we need itbecause celebrities can reach
celebrities.
As much as I would like anaudience with certain famous
people, and much as I'd like tomeet certain famous people, it's
just not going to happen.
I'm a normal, regular person.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Don't ever say never.
You are pretty famous here inColeman.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
No, I'm not, and you're pretty hip with the young
audience.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
No, I'm not I think Nate Williams in about five
years.
I'm going to be like I was on apodcast with that guy and he's
like touring the world.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
And he's pretty famous the world and pretty
famous I know man.
We used to have chats with himand talk.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
I know I used to be able to call him.
Now it just goes to voicemail.
He blocked me.
You used to call me on my cellphone.
Hey, now, when you need my love.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Anyways, drake is a whole other topic, but what I'm
saying is I want Christians atevery level of society because
they can reach people where theyare better than I can.
Right, we need Christians inthe warehouses and the
restaurants and the schools andthe businesses and the
(23:56):
government, and rich Christians,poor Christians, middle-class
Christians.
We need Christians everywherein order to evangelize where
they are.
So, kanye and Russell Brand andothers you think of other
famous Christians or formerChristians they can reach people
that we can't.
So don't look down on celebrityconversions.
(24:19):
I know some of them are fake,some of them are foolish, sure,
but ultimately we trust that Godis moving and that he is
reaching people that you and Ican't reach.
But anyways, those are justsome thoughts that I had about
celebrity conversions and how toview them, how to respond to
them.
Mariah Blake, any otherthoughts before we head off for
today?
Speaker 1 (24:38):
How would we, how would you deal with the idea
that most or how our world islike kind of marketing Jesus and
like that celebrity atmosphere,Like it feels like a lot?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
of.
I think the opposite.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
I think it's becoming like a fad a little bit again,
like I've been hearing a lot ofpeople just talking about Jesus,
and maybe that's because, likeyou people just talking about
Jesus, and maybe that's because,like you know, I don't know if
that's like another sign thatyou know he's coming.
Yeah, but I know he's coming.
So you're saying Jesus isbecoming a little like a fad,
like a like a fashion, like it'svery marketable now, like and
(25:11):
especially because a lot ofpeople I guess because our world
is so crooked right now and soJesus is kind of becoming it's
good.
I feel I'm really optimisticabout it.
Like there's a lot ofdiscussion about Jesus,
especially in news and withcelebrities and stuff like that.
But at the same time I'm likeis this going to just turn into
a marketability thing?
Like, how do we handle asChristians, how do we handle
(25:32):
that Jesus being used as amarketing scheme?
Should we be grateful?
Should we uplift that Becausehis name is being talked about
in these places?
Mariah, what do you think?
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I don't know, I think it's one of those things like
it could be helping people andeven though we don't see it as
that, just as like thecelebrities reaching other
celebrities, and like there hasbeen some many positive things,
like I't know if you've seen atI forget which university, but
mass like baptisms and like itwas a revival at like it's
(26:05):
several universities yeah.
So a lot of good things likethat are happening where, yeah,
maybe Jesus is the fad now, butmaybe it is real to them, like I
guess we could use Kanye whenhe released his gospel track.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I'm sure I haven't listened to it, but if it's true
, to doctrine and theology.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Even though Kanye went off the rails, I'm sure
there's a lot of people thathelped and it grew their faith
in some way.
Yeah, and the goal is anytimethere's a movement you also see
this in the book of Acts.
In Sunday school earlier today,we went over Acts, chapter 8,
and talking about Simon and thesorcerer Anytime there's a
(26:46):
genuine movement, you're goingto have fakes, you're going to
have frauds, you're going tohave people that will try to
capitalize off of it, but whatyou're hoping is that there is a
core of changed lives that lastbeyond the moment, because we
all know we've been to concertsand maybe you've been to
Christian conferences and you'vehad these spiritual high
(27:09):
moments.
Those are fine and good.
Nothing's wrong with that.
But in order for it to trulymatter, the next morning when
you wake up, is anythingdifferent?
Right?
Are you a changed person?
So, yes, I think you both makegood points.
There will be fakes and frauds,but hopefully there are people
(27:30):
who are now different because ofJesus.
But that is a good point.
Maybe there are some fadaspects of it, as well.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
I hope I said fad F-A-D yeah, I was fixing to say
you probably need an unsaved guy, did it say?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
fat aspects.
I love fat Jesus anyways.
So any other thoughts before wehead off?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Blake, do you want to take us home?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
tomorrow.
You want to take us home.
I always take us home it's yourthing though.
What can we talk about?
Who's not here?
Justin's not here to defendhimself.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So how would we finish the episode?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
We could do Chloe's beep boop, beep, boop, beep.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Because it's a robot, we could do beep boop, beep,
beep bop.
We'll have to translate thisfor Chloe, yeah, yes, or still
translate this for Chloe, yeah,yes.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Or she'll translate it for us.
You mean, that's true?
Beep boop, beep, beep bop.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think we just got it there.
Justin, you're beautiful.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I miss you it was a popular gift.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
I say you love he was , he was a, he was, I was very
popular he was I washomeschooled.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Oh my gosh.
I forgot about that, but youplayed sports.
I had a phenomenal time Iplayed sports, so he had some
high school experience, so youwere involved.
I was very involved with theprivate school.
I played sports for you wereinvolved with private.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Pause.
You seem like a Pause.
You seem like a homeschooler.
That you seem like ahomeschooler.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
That's why I'm like you have homeschool energy.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So it was enjoyable.
So I played sports and veryinvolved in church and stuff,
and so I had a great social lifethat a lot of homeschoolers
don't have for various reasons,so I enjoyed it.
I felt like I got the best ofschool without going why.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
So I got a lot of school without going.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
What so?
I got a lot of public school,private school friends, yeah,
and I got to do the thing.
So, for instance, I had prom, Ihad just different parties and
stuff, and obviously the sports,the games, the practices, yeah,
and then active in church, youhad youth group and Sundaysays
and so between all of that greattimes, a lot of good memories,
(30:23):
but the, the nonsense thathappened during the day I wasn't
there oh, true and so I couldskip all the class stuff and
then when people were having fun, I could jump in and so yeah,
so it was nice.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Why is it that some homeschool kids are like so
incredibly awkward?
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I think because their parents don't like let them do
things right.
You think that's?
Speaker 2 (30:48):
it.
Yeah, I've known homeschoolerswho they have no social life, so
they do their classes, theirsubjects, and then they're done
and that's it.
That's rough, interesting, andso I blame the parents in those
scenarios.
Get your kid active in sports,music, theater, church.
(31:08):
If you do those kind of thingscommunity engagement, you're
good.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Yeah, that's what I think too.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Yeah, Cause we have like I'm not going to say their
names, but we got some kids inyouth that are homeschooled.
They're awesome, Like youwouldn't even think they were
homeschooled.
And then I've met somehomeschooled kids that come and
do theater with us and it's likedude, have you ever seen a
YouTube video before?
Have you ever talked tosomebody?
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And then it does matter the level of how
sheltered they are.
So just different variations.
But I would also argue, you gotsome awkward public schoolers.
Oh dude, a hundred percent, ahundred.
Is it homeschooling or is itjust?
There are odd people everywhere.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Maybe there's just odd people everywhere.
I don't know.
With homeschooling, I don'tknow we need to take a poll
because Justin was one of thoseawkward kids.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
I think it's definitely the parents fault
that.
I know some homeschoolers.
They're like I literallylearned to read on my own.
My mom didn't do anything, myparents didn't teach me anything
, like I literally just had todo it all on my own and I'm like
I say cap, but we we have aterm for those.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
um they're called?
Uh well, we call them asunschoolers, un unschoolers
where they're not.
Their parents took them out ofpublic school but put no effort
into homeschooling, so basicallythey're home all day, do what
they want, wow.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
What a life I wish that was me.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Initially it sounds great.
You grow up and you don't knowanything.
Yeah, you don't know how toread no, no exposure no basic
skills reading and writing.
And math rough knowledge of theworld, and so I don't, in my
brain, I don't count them yeah Idon't count them as
homeschoolers, right, because II know the right way of doing
(32:56):
things.
That's our intro.
Can we please do Think of it?
I'll even sing it From thescreen to the ring to the pain,
to the gain.
Where's my crown?
There you go.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I think that is a phenomenal way of starting our
episode Dangerous Faith, NateWilliams with Blake and Mariah
Small crew today, but that'll bejust fine.
So, Blake, you started us offwith a classic of a song.
Do you want to tell ouraudience more about it?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Thick of it.
I don't want to give him creditthough, because he's already
got Prime.
Everybody knows Thick.
If you've been online, you knowthe song Thick of it by KSI.
It's trash.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's so bad, but you were crushing the chorus.
Do you want to do that again?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, because it's one of those songs where it's
like you just get stuck in yourhead whenever you listen to it.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I mean it's catchy, but it's just so cringy.
There's so many songs that arecatchy.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, like any of Taylor Swift's songs.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It seems like oftentimes the worse the song,
the catchier it is For real.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
What's the science behind that?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Whereas let's take a symphony you go and and you
listen to an orchestra amazing,the most talented people you'll
ever just get the joy of beingable to listen to.
But when you come away, therearen't these basic, simple
melodies to latch on tonecessarily.
(01:22):
So it's an experience, it'sbeautiful, but compared to to
Blake's favorite artist, ksiwho's a YouTuber, by the way
came out with a new song that isnot good at all, but it just
gets stuck in your head, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I think it's because humans like simplicity.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It's simple, it's repetitive and it's easy to
remember.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, You're not going to remember an orchestra,
but you'll remember I'm in thepick of it.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Pop music has latched onto that psychology and
there's almost a science behindmelodies, yeah, certain notes,
certain chord progressions, butanyways, all right, we are
getting off topic just a littlebit I'm not this off topic,
because Kanye produces music.
Oh, hey, I like that.
The actual topic for today andthe Dangerous Life team with me
(02:04):
again, blake and Mariah they'regoing to help me talk about is
Kanye West.
For those of you who, let's say, haven't kept up with him, I
don't blame you, but we have ourKanye expert Mariah with us,
who loves all things Kanye,including every single thing he
(02:25):
said.
Right, mariah?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I don't know about every single thing.
Those are questionable.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
And then afterwards we're going to talk about
Christianity and celebrity.
What do we do with celebrityconversions?
What do we do with theirstories?
Do we support them?
Do we weigh, are we cautious?
How do we respond when reallyfamous people become Christians,
or at least they say they are?
We'll get to that in a moment,but, mariah, paint a broad
(02:53):
picture for us, your favoriteperson in the universe, kanye
West.
All right, tell us a little bitmore.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So Kanye, he's a writer, producer now, I guess,
adult filmmaker in some aspects,oh my gosh.
So he has a wide variety ofthings he's into and he's been
doing it since the late 90s, buthe's probably one of the most
controversial rappers whilebeing the most influential
(03:21):
rappers of this like era, I'dsay, and most people in the rap
community would probably agreefavorite kanye song easy, do you
have, okay, blake?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
gold digger, gold digger, all right, mariah.
Any thoughts there?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
that's a classic.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I'll say that mine would probably be um I kind of
put you on the spot, didn't I?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
yeah, I love so many of his.
Um I wonder is one of my.
I like that one.
It's called I wonder, uh by him.
I really like um.
I'll say my favorite album is Ihate being bipolar.
It's awesome.
That's his like one of his bigalbums.
That's one of my favorite.
Probably.
That's his real like, uh,lyrical, like deeper album I
(04:05):
guess doesn't he have a songcalled black skinhead?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
am I wrong?
You might be right yeah that'sone of my favorite ones too.
I really like that one.
I have no idea I would justhope that is a song that it's
it's, it's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, it's fat.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Check it, yeah black skinhead fact checker right here
, or what was it actually called?
I know, I know that I know thesong, but I don't know what the
it's called black skinhead.
Yeah, it's really good.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I like that song I think for me, I have to say
heartless one of his.
Uh, you listen to kanyeclassics.
I don't listen to him much, butjust a couple songs why, why,
because you're asian.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
He hates Asians.
What?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So, he's also um.
He's come out as anti-Semiticas well.
Yeah.
But anyway, double whammyAnyways there was a Kanye before
the craziness Right, so I thinkthat was my favorite song.
But I'm just kidding toeveryone.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
I don't think he actually hates Asians.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Bound to in ghost town.
Those are my two favorites.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Mariah.
All right, he married someonepretty famous, didn't he?
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Uh, the first wife, yeah, do we talk about Kim Kim K
, kimmy K Kim, cutie K Kim, fullof plastic Kardashian.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
All right.
So yes, he married KimKardashian.
Yeah, he got divorced and thenhe married a Kim lookalike and
then he's divorcing her.
Do you know if that divorce isfinal yet or if he's in the
process?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I don't know.
Last stories I was lookingmaybe still ongoing.
I really don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And then also Hang on .
Wasn't she the?
She had something to do withYeezys, right?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Wasn't she the Like a brand or like a model?
Maybe?
I know she was like I thoughtshe created them.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I don't know well, obviously I mean kanye, it's
kanye's brand he created, but Ithought she was like the one
over the main which always,which I always thought was like
was there something ongoingbefore?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, and then he has said he wants to start now an
adult film company, roll Tideand no.
Okay don't Roll Tide on thatone.
We do not Roll Tide on that one, Mariah.
Any thoughts?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yeah, that's just interesting because a few years
ago he came out with a gospelalbum and like Follow Jesus,
Father, Stretch my Hands.
All those songs.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Mariah, yeah, I was going to circle back to that.
So you might be thinking, inthe midst of all this creating
music, various relationshipissues and then future career
paths he is interested in takingyou might be surprised to learn
that at one point he identifiedas a Christian.
He came out with a Christianalbum.
I thought it was pretty good.
(06:45):
Did you listen to his Christianalbum?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I'm not into Christian rap, so but it's not
really Christian rap.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
There's some gospel elements.
I would say, give a couple ofthe songs a listen.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
I'll give a couple of songs.
I remember when he did come outwith that I didn't even believe
that Kanye was actuallyChristian.
I thought he was more socapitalizing on the
marketability of it, so I wasn'teven going to give it a listen.
But I'll give it a listen.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Listen to a couple songs.
Some of them are pretty decent.
I'm not going to say all ofthem are great, but several of
them I actually kind of like andthey're catchy and decent.
He went on a tour where I guessthey would visit different
venues or different churches andthey had this Sunday
performance kind of deal,sharing the gospel.
But eventually I guess hebecame disillusioned and he left
(07:31):
the faith, if he ever was aChristian.
And he said the reason why washe prayed to Jesus, and he said
Jesus didn't answer his prayersand he kind of had to make
things happen on his own.
And so now he's moved into thewhole realm of he is his own God
, blah, blah, blah.
The rest of it, all that stuff.
So all this is to say when wethink of celebrities becoming
(07:56):
Christians, how should werespond to that?
Think of?
There's also Russell Brand,he's become a Christian, and
there are others.
They're famous conversions.
What do we do?
How do we respond?
What do y'all think?
Kanye, Russell Brand, where dowe go from here?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
I think it depends on , kind of like, the actions that
follow that.
So that's a claim made and wedon't know these people
personally, but maybe by theiractions.
Like Russell Brand I know hasbeen on some, I think maybe
Christian Commentary podcast,definitely he's been speaking
pretty prevalent about his faithnow and stuff and although he
(08:40):
has had definitely a shaking,controversial past also Although
he has had a definitely ashaking controversial past also.
But then you have people likeKanye who the actions kind of
now is not really portrayinglike there's no fruits, I guess
you could say it's notportraying what a Christian
should be like, but also it'slike where are we to tell what
(09:04):
they're really like?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I guess Gotcha so kind of see what happens, but
also recognize that we don'tknow them personally.
Okay, Blake, what are yourthoughts?
A famous celebrity says I amnow a Christian.
What is your response?
Speaker 1 (09:20):
It's kind of like Mariah I just watch and wait and
see what they do with it.
It's kind of like Mariah I justwatch and wait and see what
they do with it, because my hopeis, if they actually have
converted, they'll actuallyshare more about Jesus They'll
use their money to because theyhave a lot of money and I hope
they would use that moneyinstead of hoarding more of it
up, that they would begin toshelve it out to certain
(09:42):
charities or whatever.
Not even charity work.
They just they would begin toimpact the world as a Christian
should.
And mostly what I look for ishow often do they spread the
gospel at this point?
Because they are an influencer,they're claiming Christianity,
so I want to see how muchthey're going to talk about
Jesus.
And then I also look at whatchurches do they go to, because
(10:03):
the church you go to canactually tell a lot about your
belief in a way, in my opinion.
Like, for instance, justinBieber, he was one of those that
famously converted, but he wentto Elevation with Stephen
Furtick, yeah.
And so I was like, ok, if he'slistening to Stephen Furtick,
not saying Stephen Furtick, weall know who, how Stephen
Furtick can be.
(10:23):
I'm not going to.
I don't want to speak tooharshly on him, but you just
have to.
You know, you have to be awareof just like what are they doing
as they claim to be Christians.
It's something that I guess, asChristians, we have to be
careful not to lift them uphigher, not to put them in the
same spot as Jesus, because nowthey believe in Jesus, now we
(10:45):
have to cling to every word thatthey say.
Because Donald Trump claims tobe a Christian and I've heard
some of the stuff that's comeout of his mouth and I'm like
that is so against the Bible,like that is so against the
gospel.
Not to make anybody mad ifyou're a Republican, but it's
just we put people, when we hearChristian and we have Christian
values, and then we hear acelebrity that's converted, we
put them on a pedestal, likewith Jesus, and I'm like we have
(11:08):
to be careful about thatbecause they're growing in their
faith as well.
I understand they're notperfect.
They're going to make mistakes,just like we do, but we
shouldn't be so quick to justassociate them as like this is
the cream of the crop,christianity.
Like we have this famousChristian and then everybody
flocks to them and then, justlike with Kanye.
Everybody was like hey, youknow, kanye, he's Christian.
(11:29):
And now look at him.
And now it's like everybody'snow.
Now everybody was like this isso great, kanye is so great, and
now he's back to doing that.
Now it gives fuel for the otherside to be like well see,
christians are crazy and bipolar.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So and that, yeah, speaks to just different With
specifically Kanye.
With specifically Kanye, you dorecognize there are some mental
issues there.
He's just done and said certainthings that you're like a
normal person in their rightmind would not do or say, and so
, in addition to everythingwe've talked about that, we hope
(12:06):
that eventually he gets theproper help that he needs as he
continues on doing Kanye things.
But anyways, I think you bothbring up great points.
I go for cautious optimism,cautious.
I don't fully embrace someonebecause you don't know if there
(12:26):
are ulterior motives.
What if they're trying to sellsomething?
What if, whether it's movies ormusic, there are millions of
Christians in the country and ifyou can tap into that market,
you can make a lot of money?
Oh yeah, and so there's a partof me that's like all right,
let's be cautious.
However, then there's theoptimistic side that I also want
(12:49):
to take people at their wordthat they found something Right,
that hopefully Jesus ischanging their life, and so,
until they give me reason to notbelieve them, I am cautiously
optimistic that celebrityconversion, whoever it is, is
real, and then we start to waitfor the fruit.
One thing that frustrates me iswhen new celebrity Christian
(13:16):
converts immediately want tobecome leaders.
This can happen with anyone,because charismatic people get
put to the front of the line.
If you have money, if you'refamous, if you look attractive
in front of a camera, they wantto put you forward.
But I think what I would hope,whether it's Kanye or Russell
(13:39):
Brand, what happened todiscipleship mentorship through
the years?
Instead of Kanye right awaybeing seen as this Christian
public figure, what aboutmeeting privately with a good
pastor over coffee talking aboutthe basics?
(13:59):
What about?
I always use this as theexample behind the scenes,
sweeping floors, folding chairs,helping out with events where
nobody knows you or just you're.
You're away, because for somepeople they have a very
recognizable face.
But you know what I mean awayfrom the spotlight.
(14:20):
What frustrates me sometimes ispeople convert and they want to
automatically lead.
They'll start a ministry or doall these other things.
I'm like hold on now.
You barely know the basics.
Just chill, learn and grow.
(14:44):
I have an example of a goodfriend who he was a newer
believer and just verycharismatic, very smart.
He immediately enteredleadership positions and he
quickly got burnt out becausethe spiritual development wasn't
there.
He was good with people and hewas very gifted, but the
theology, the Bible, theapologetics, the basics were not
planted yet and he got burnedout and eventually he left the
(15:07):
faith, which was very hard tohear, and walking with him
through different aspects ofthat.
But I guess, on y'all's end, ifyou were talking to a Kanye
Russell Brand, whoever andthey're just new believers,
they've given their life toChrist what advice would you
(15:29):
give them entering this new life?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's the same advice that you told me is to be
patient and to grow in it.
I remember when I first reallystarted taking my faith
seriously and I don't know ifanybody on the podcast or any of
your listeners know, but I wentfrom not being involved in
church to now two years.
Two years jump forward to nowpresent day.
(15:56):
I'm now one-third of a youthpastor, because we have three
youth pastors on the third ofthe youth pastors.
So kind of a little bitconfusing for those, but it
works at our church.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
He serves on a team of three people over our youth
group.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Yeah, best way to explain it, but I didn't when I
first started, I didn't justjump directly in to serving what
me and Nate kind of walkedthrough, and it's good that
would be.
My advice is to one, findsomeone who is, when you're a
new believer, who has been apart of the faith for I'd say
(16:32):
maybe two or three years plus.
Yes, I wouldn't necessarily sayone year, I'd really say three
years plus.
Find someone who's been in thefaith for a while and go under
their wing and don't justanybody Trust them.
Build a relationship first andif you can trust them, let them
mentor you and then just beobedient to God from that point
(16:55):
forward.
Just wherever he has you sayyes.
Like I went from attendingchurch every Sunday to then
working in the kitchen, to thendoing things outside of the
kitchen, to an internship andnow I'm here, and that all
didn't happen at once.
It was a lot of slow growing alot of you know, a lot of
grinding through things and justleaning on Nate to mentor me
through all that.
So I'd say find a mentor ofsomeone who's been in the faith
(17:18):
three plus years.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Mariah, what about you If you were talking to
Russell Brand and you were likeall right, here's some wisdom.
What would you say?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I'd say, along with a mentor.
I think that's great.
That's what I was going tomention.
But since you already mentionedthat, I think the first thing
really you should get like havea Bible, have a physical Bible,
you know on your phone,whichever, but have and be
studying in that and you knowusing commentary, using other
versions, multiple ways of howyou're understanding and getting
(17:50):
the word, because that's themain thing that you should be
following.
I think so.
I think that should be thefoundation of first step that
you should do and look for as anew believer.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Get in the word.
I think that's good.
What I'd also advise this isfor anyone find a good, healthy
church.
No church is going to beperfect, but don't let perfect
be the enemy of good.
Sometimes I've talked withpeople.
They're looking for the perfectchurch that gets all the
doctrine right, that serves inevery way.
(18:23):
It just checks off all theboxes.
You're not going to find itbecause the local church is full
of people like you which areimperfect, and so when you have
a gathering of imperfect people,they will do things imperfectly
, and so just find a good church, one that's in the word, where
you can serve, get active, getinvolved, helping out church
(18:45):
members yes, then also servingin the community, and so a good
church will try to do both ofthose things, and I guess, with
celebrity.
One other thing I would say isonline gets really nasty, and so
you're going to have,unfortunately, a lot of people
that call themselves Christfollowers that will get really
(19:07):
mean towards you.
The Christians online will saythe rudest things, just deeply
disappointing, and so what I tryto tell people about online
stuff is that is not the realworld.
Get to know salt of the earth,down to earth, good people, and
(19:30):
they're not going to be likethat.
They're not going to be rude,mean, nasty and the rest of it.
So just maybe get off linewould be best, get off the
internet, get off the apps andall that.
But anyways, looking to, I guess, celebrity conversions, we
mentioned Kanye West.
As he leaves the faith, he'salready left it.
(19:51):
We're not going to get into theanswer of was he ever a
Christian Deep down?
We have no way of knowing hecould come back, we don't know.
But we're not going to get intothe answer of was he ever a
Christian Right Deep down?
We have no way of knowing hecould come back.
We don't know, maybe he wasnever there Again, we don't know
.
So we're not going to get intothat question.
But if people want to point toKanye and to say see, you know,
(20:27):
look at him, look at his life,all of that's fake.
Why would I want to do that?
Look at how he's living now andit's really ugly.
That's just how Christians are.
Because he made a big splashwhen he joined the faith.
How would you respond to that?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I would point to Jesus and I would say would you
respond to that?
I would point to Jesus and Iwould say I don't worship Kanye,
I don't worship KennethCopeland, I don't worship Mike
Winger, I don't worship any ofthese.
Whatever you think a Christianis, I worship Jesus and I point
to Jesus every single time,because Jesus lived the life
that I couldn't live.
Kanye can't live the life thathe can't save me, mike Winger
(20:58):
can't save me, kenneth Copelandcan't save me, donald Trump
can't save me.
Mike Winger can't save me,kenneth Copeland can't save me,
donald Trump can't save me.
None of these people can saveme.
I point directly to Jesusbecause he is ultimately why I'm
a Christian.
Now, does that mean I'm goingto be perfect in everything that
I do?
Absolutely not.
But my love for Jesus trumpsany kind of love that I have for
any earthly figure.
(21:18):
Jesus trumps any kind of lovethat I have for any earthly
figure.
And because I love Jesus somuch, I focus every day on
living the best that Iabsolutely can for Jesus.
And so my favorite quote is aFrank Turek quote.
It's like nobody gets mad atMozart when they play Mozart
wrong, but everybody wants toget mad at Jesus, whenever we
(21:38):
play Jesus wrong.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Oh, I've Jesus wrong.
Oh, I've heard that.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, that's a good one that is a good one.
Uh, frank Turk has a lot ofgood um points like that.
I think that's a that is agreat thing to point out that
whenever people point to thehypocrisy of Christians, I
always say exactly that's why weneed Jesus Right.
And you do the same thing withSatan.
(22:00):
When Satan wants to bring upyour past, when he wants to
bring up your failures, yourflaws, your habits, the rest of
it, the things that you'retrying to change, you point him
to Jesus and you say I know I'mimperfect, I know I'm not going
to get it right, but thank Godour salvation does not depend on
us, because if it did, we wouldlose on immediately.
(22:23):
Yeah, we're done, we're done,we're fried, we're cooked, we
are cooked, stick a fork in it,and so we go to Jesus because
ultimately we rest in hisrighteousness and his perfection
and not our own.
And so another thing I alsowant to point out about
(22:44):
celebrity conversions we need itbecause celebrities can reach
celebrities.
As much as I would like anaudience with certain famous
people, and much as I'd like tomeet certain famous people, it's
just not going to happen.
I'm a normal, regular person.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Don't ever say never.
You are pretty famous here inColeman.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
No, I'm not, and you're pretty hip with the young
audience.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
No, I'm not I think Nate Williams in about five
years.
I'm going to be like I was on apodcast with that guy and he's
like touring the world.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
And he's pretty famous the world and pretty
famous I know man.
We used to have chats with himand talk.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
I know I used to be able to call him.
Now it just goes to voicemail.
He blocked me.
You used to call me on my cellphone.
Hey, now, when you need my love.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Anyways, drake is a whole other topic, but what I'm
saying is I want Christians atevery level of society because
they can reach people where theyare better than I can.
Right, we need Christians inthe warehouses and the
restaurants and the schools andthe businesses and the
(23:56):
government, and rich Christians,poor Christians, middle-class
Christians.
We need Christians everywherein order to evangelize where
they are.
So, kanye and Russell Brand andothers you think of other
famous Christians or formerChristians they can reach people
that we can't.
So don't look down on celebrityconversions.
(24:19):
I know some of them are fake,some of them are foolish, sure,
but ultimately we trust that Godis moving and that he is
reaching people that you and Ican't reach.
But anyways, those are justsome thoughts that I had about
celebrity conversions and how toview them, how to respond to
them.
Mariah Blake, any otherthoughts before we head off for
today?
Speaker 1 (24:38):
How would we, how would you deal with the idea
that most or how our world islike kind of marketing Jesus and
like that celebrity atmosphere,Like it feels like a lot?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
of.
I think the opposite.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
I think it's becoming like a fad a little bit again,
like I've been hearing a lot ofpeople just talking about Jesus,
and maybe that's because, likeyou people just talking about
Jesus, and maybe that's because,like you know, I don't know if
that's like another sign thatyou know he's coming.
Yeah, but I know he's coming.
So you're saying Jesus isbecoming a little like a fad,
like a like a fashion, like it'svery marketable now, like and
(25:11):
especially because a lot ofpeople I guess because our world
is so crooked right now and soJesus is kind of becoming it's
good.
I feel I'm really optimisticabout it.
Like there's a lot ofdiscussion about Jesus,
especially in news and withcelebrities and stuff like that.
But at the same time I'm likeis this going to just turn into
a marketability thing?
Like, how do we handle asChristians, how do we handle
(25:32):
that Jesus being used as amarketing scheme?
Should we be grateful?
Should we uplift that Becausehis name is being talked about
in these places?
Mariah, what do you think?
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I don't know, I think it's one of those things like
it could be helping people andeven though we don't see it as
that, just as like thecelebrities reaching other
celebrities, and like there hasbeen some many positive things,
like I't know if you've seen atI forget which university, but
mass like baptisms and like itwas a revival at like it's
(26:05):
several universities yeah.
So a lot of good things likethat are happening where, yeah,
maybe Jesus is the fad now, butmaybe it is real to them, like I
guess we could use Kanye whenhe released his gospel track.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I'm sure I haven't listened to it, but if it's true
, to doctrine and theology.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Even though Kanye went off the rails, I'm sure
there's a lot of people thathelped and it grew their faith
in some way.
Yeah, and the goal is anytimethere's a movement you also see
this in the book of Acts.
In Sunday school earlier today,we went over Acts, chapter 8,
and talking about Simon and thesorcerer Anytime there's a
(26:46):
genuine movement, you're goingto have fakes, you're going to
have frauds, you're going tohave people that will try to
capitalize off of it, but whatyou're hoping is that there is a
core of changed lives that lastbeyond the moment, because we
all know we've been to concertsand maybe you've been to
Christian conferences and you'vehad these spiritual high
(27:09):
moments.
Those are fine and good.
Nothing's wrong with that.
But in order for it to trulymatter, the next morning when
you wake up, is anythingdifferent?
Right?
Are you a changed person?
So, yes, I think you both makegood points.
There will be fakes and frauds,but hopefully there are people
(27:30):
who are now different because ofJesus.
But that is a good point.
Maybe there are some fadaspects of it, as well.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
I hope I said fad F-A-D yeah, I was fixing to say
you probably need an unsaved guy, did it say?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
fat aspects.
I love fat Jesus anyways.
So any other thoughts before wehead off?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Blake, do you want to take us home?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
tomorrow.
You want to take us home.
I always take us home it's yourthing though.
What can we talk about?
Who's not here?
Justin's not here to defendhimself.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So how would we finish the episode?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
We could do Chloe's beep boop, beep, boop, beep.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Because it's a robot, we could do beep boop, beep,
beep bop.
We'll have to translate thisfor Chloe, yeah, yes, or still
translate this for Chloe, yeah,yes.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Or she'll translate it for us.
You mean, that's true?
Beep boop, beep, beep bop.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think we just got it there.
Justin, you're beautiful.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I miss you it was a popular gift.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
I say you love he was , he was a, he was, I was very
popular he was I washomeschooled.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Oh my gosh.
I forgot about that, but youplayed sports.
I had a phenomenal time Iplayed sports, so he had some
high school experience, so youwere involved.
I was very involved with theprivate school.
I played sports for you wereinvolved with private.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Pause.
You seem like a Pause.
You seem like a homeschooler.
That you seem like ahomeschooler.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
That's why I'm like you have homeschool energy.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So it was enjoyable.
So I played sports and veryinvolved in church and stuff,
and so I had a great social lifethat a lot of homeschoolers
don't have for various reasons,so I enjoyed it.
I felt like I got the best ofschool without going why.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
So I got a lot of school without going.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
What so?
I got a lot of public school,private school friends, yeah,
and I got to do the thing.
So, for instance, I had prom, Ihad just different parties and
stuff, and obviously the sports,the games, the practices, yeah,
and then active in church, youhad youth group and Sundaysays
and so between all of that greattimes, a lot of good memories,
(30:23):
but the, the nonsense thathappened during the day I wasn't
there oh, true and so I couldskip all the class stuff and
then when people were having fun, I could jump in and so yeah,
so it was nice.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Why is it that some homeschool kids are like so
incredibly awkward?
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I think because their parents don't like let them do
things right.
You think that's?
Speaker 2 (30:48):
it.
Yeah, I've known homeschoolerswho they have no social life, so
they do their classes, theirsubjects, and then they're done
and that's it.
That's rough, interesting, andso I blame the parents in those
scenarios.
Get your kid active in sports,music, theater, church.
(31:08):
If you do those kind of thingscommunity engagement, you're
good.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Yeah, that's what I think too.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Yeah, Cause we have like I'm not going to say their
names, but we got some kids inyouth that are homeschooled.
They're awesome, Like youwouldn't even think they were
homeschooled.
And then I've met somehomeschooled kids that come and
do theater with us and it's likedude, have you ever seen a
YouTube video before?
Have you ever talked tosomebody?
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And then it does matter the level of how
sheltered they are.
So just different variations.
But I would also argue, you gotsome awkward public schoolers.
Oh dude, a hundred percent, ahundred.
Is it homeschooling or is itjust?
There are odd people everywhere.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Maybe there's just odd people everywhere.
I don't know.
With homeschooling, I don'tknow we need to take a poll
because Justin was one of thoseawkward kids.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
I think it's definitely the parents fault
that.
I know some homeschoolers.
They're like I literallylearned to read on my own.
My mom didn't do anything, myparents didn't teach me anything
, like I literally just had todo it all on my own and I'm like
I say cap, but we we have aterm for those.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
um they're called?
Uh well, we call them asunschoolers, un unschoolers
where they're not.
Their parents took them out ofpublic school but put no effort
into homeschooling, so basicallythey're home all day, do what
they want, wow.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
What a life I wish that was me.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Initially it sounds great.
You grow up and you don't knowanything.
Yeah, you don't know how toread no, no exposure no basic
skills reading and writing.
And math rough knowledge of theworld, and so I don't, in my
brain, I don't count them yeah Idon't count them as
homeschoolers, right, because II know the right way of doing
(32:56):
things.
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