September 20, 2023 • 54 mins
Join the delightful journey as Al Robertson from Duck Dynasty and the Unashamed podcast unpacks the emotionally charged movie 'The Blind.' Through our candid discussion, we shed light on Phil's life before he embraced Christ and how this film serves as a lighthouse guiding viewers towards the gospel. We also relive the exhilarating victory of LSU in the college World Series and discuss Al's unique way of celebrating it from afar.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Grainger (00:03):
Welcome to the Lion with Dennis, a podcast
serving Christian men who arehungry to be their leaders God
intends you to be.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
All right, fellas.
So this is a meat episode thisweek, but before we get too far,
let's dig into our scripture,okay?
So when we look at the book of2 Corinthians, chapter 4, verse
4, just one verse it says theGod of this age has blinded the
(00:24):
minds of unbelievers so thatthey cannot see the light of the
gospel that displays the gloryof Christ, who is the image of
God.
What a powerful verse, guys.
Go back and check out thespiritual kickoff.
We spent some time unpackingthat to try to give you some
insight on how you can simplifyand apply that to your walk.
So for this episode, I'mexcited to have back with my
(00:46):
friend Al Robertson from DougDynasty, the Unashamed podcast,
and we're going to be talkingabout something, guys, that is
going to make an impact in yourlife.
This new movie called the Blindit's out.
It really recounts the days ofPhil before he came to Christ.
So it's definitely not an easyfilm or story to tell, for sure,
(01:07):
but it's an important one, guys, because maybe you know people
out there right now who arewalking in darkness.
Al reveals how this filmfocuses on that dark time and
points people to the good newsof the gospel.
We were able to recap.
You know my time being able togo down to Louisiana and hang
out with those guys just howincredibly genuine and sincere
(01:29):
they are.
It's just good to catch back upwith Al he's turned into a
friend now and just be able toreach out and know that I got a
brother in Christ out therethat's doing work like he's
doing.
It's just phenomenal.
So I'm so excited to share thisepisode with you all.
I would encourage you, if youlisten to this when it drops.
The movie is going to be comingout very soon, so make sure you
(01:50):
get your tickets.
Go to your church, as Almentions it at the end of this
conversation.
If you don't find a movietheater around you that has this
movie, go to theblindmoviecomand check out, because you
actually can put in a requestand have this movie brought to
your local church, and thesetypes of faith-based movies need
(02:13):
to be seen in our church guys.
So go there and take someaction on that, okay, so
hopefully you're going to enjoythis conversation with my friend
Al Robertson.
So sit back and let's just diginto this together and
definitely take action here.
Go see the movie the Blind.
So, al, welcome back to theLion with us.
(02:33):
How are you doing today?
Al Robertson (02:35):
Doing great bud.
Glad to be with you again.
Chris Grainger (02:37):
It is.
It's good to be here.
I mean, I have to say, man,congratulations on the
championship.
I see you got the LSU shirt onright there.
So I mean, when I was up therethey were in the middle of the
tournament, so how'd you guyscelebrate?
Al Robertson (02:52):
You know it was.
It was interesting because wewere doing a screening for the
movie and so I had a lot offamily in town and it just so
happened that of course Zach,who's on our podcast, is a huge
Florida fan and so was his dad,who was actually staying with me
, so I couldn't escape it.
(03:13):
So, like you know, it was alldown to the line like the night
that Florida beat us bad 20 runs.
That was the night of the moviepremiere.
So I was glad to leave early tonot have to witness the end of
that.
But of course they got a littlebit cocky and by the time we
got into that next night it wasit was time for everybody to
(03:33):
head home, sadly, to NorthCarolina.
So we celebrated by gloating.
I just have to just go aheadand be honest and tell you that
Chris is a bunch of hate, toadmit it.
I mean it wouldn't have beennear as bad, but when they're
right there in your midst, youknow I didn't, I didn't ask for
that, but there they were.
Chris Grainger (03:49):
So I was a little worried.
I mean, the first game was sotight, but in the second game I
don't know what happened, but Imean the entire World Series was
amazing until it got to that.
Al Robertson (03:59):
So what happens is a lot of times in the college
game you know you have yourfrontline pictures for everybody
.
You got one or two guys thatjust are almost unstoppable.
But then you know when you getinto a three game series, that
late in the game we were intoour dregs and so was Florida.
So that's why you saw twolopsided games.
I'm just glad that we savedenough bullets to finish it off.
(04:22):
It was exciting because we loveLSU baseball, jason and I in
particular.
Normally we would have beenthere, but we had this stuff
going on with the movie and someother stuff going on, so we
couldn't make the trip up toOmaha.
But to be able to celebrate ittogether was a lot of fun.
Chris Grainger (04:37):
Well, the guy who had saw the dingers, fred
LSU he was actually an NC Stateguy, which is right down the
road from where I'm at.
So I mean, yeah, he came from.
Carol went for the Wolfpackdown to the Tigers man.
Al Robertson (04:49):
And you know what was amazing about that, chris,
was that?
So I didn't know this.
So so in the game, the WakeForest game was over, which is
another North Carolina team, andwhen the game was over, so so
on the 11 inning home run to winit just one of the most amazing
games probably in the historyof college will see.
So he goes, I see him go overand hug the pitcher and I was so
(05:12):
stunned by it I was like,because I didn't know any back
history and so the next day I'mtrying to find out if anybody
talks about it when there was astory about it, that they, those
two guys, had grown up togetherin Florida, played against each
other and little league playedagainst each other in the ACC
because he was an NC State, theother guy was at Wake, so
they've been like lifelongfriends.
(05:33):
And he comes in on one pitch,gives up this home or to end
this epic game, and he saidthat's him.
After his wife hugged him, hesaid you know, I was just
worried about him because it wassuch a big game and such a big
loss, yeah, and I just thought,man, what a cool thing, yeah,
for him to think of.
And when you were watching it,not knowing the history, I just
thought this is the mostselfless person I've ever seen
(05:54):
in my life.
He just had a game when at homerunning goes and hugs the guy.
Yeah, but it actually was.
They knew each other.
I thought that was a reallyinteresting bit of history to it
is.
Chris Grainger (06:03):
I mean, sport sometimes can bring out the best
of us.
It definitely can bring out theworst too, but it's cool to see
when it brings out the best ofpeople in moments like that.
Absolutely Amen.
And I tell you how.
So since coming on unashamed,it's been incredible the
feedback.
People are asking questions.
I just we had a whole episodethat dropped, talking about our
(06:24):
trips.
So just want to say thank youagain for that opportunity to
sit down with your dad.
Okay, but what are they like?
My answer is always the samethey're just genuine.
They're just genuine, sincerepeople.
And so, man, it was so much funworking with you and just want
to say thank you again for thatopportunity.
Al Robertson (06:40):
Oh, you're welcome , but and you know it was
interesting because I've been onyour podcast and then your
church had me up to speak and soyou and I, you know, kind of
became friends outside of yougetting to come down.
And so when we got theopportunity to make it happen
because I don't get guestsanymore I used to get guests for
the podcast, but now otherpeople do that and so I was like
you got to get this guy.
He's great.
So they worked it out and itwas great to have him.
(07:02):
Glad you got to be on set andalso meet Jason dad and of
course you I'll ask you on yourpodcast.
Yeah, most people have no ideaof the place we film and you've
probably talked about thisbefore, but I'd like to hear
myself what did you think whenyou went into the lair, because
the outer part of the lair isnot at all what people I think
(07:23):
would expect.
Chris Grainger (07:24):
No, not at all.
And some and several peoplehave asked me, you know since,
like what?
What was the biggest thing?
I said, well, I'll tell youthis I can't get back there.
So don't worry, I can't.
I'll never be able to get backto unless I'm riding with Al.
I can't get back to the lair,so but it's just for one.
I thought it was actually prettycool because the cross from the
, from the lair, is thatbeautiful field and it's just
(07:45):
kind of open.
So I was, I was expecting to bemore back in the woods.
So it jumped out.
I said, but other than that man, I thought it was awesome and
this is, this is me channelingmy inner redneck when I walk in
and you got all your toys outthere for for going into the
woods with four willows andgators and stuff.
I thought it was incredible.
I just thought it was a littlehumorous.
The thing I remember most isthe, the note, the handwritten
(08:08):
note you guys have outside thedoor that basically says like
podcast room, keep it quiet andkeep it clean, or something like
that.
I just thought that's classic,right there, man, but it's a
little.
Al Robertson (08:19):
We're still in the handwritten notes and the mom
still puts notes up around herhouse and kitchen and telling
people not to blow duck callsand you know to be sure and
don't get in a refrigerator.
It's really funny Kind of howit is.
So it's kind of old school forsure.
Chris Grainger (08:33):
Well, I mean, I thought it was amazing and it
was just your setup is isphenomenal.
I told your producers I'mjealous of this, of the studio.
That's an incredible studio,but now you guys do such
phenomenal work.
People have hit me up from allover the country just from that
one episode and it's justamazing to reach that you guys
have with the gospel and that'sthe beautiful part of it.
(08:54):
It is just love what you'redoing and how many people is
influenced, and so keep up thegood work there.
Al Robertson (09:00):
You know it really , and it was one of those things
, chris, when you know it's aGod thing because, like you know
, we didn't really have astrategy or plan coming out of
doing you know the honesty wejust, you know, we were speaking
and writing books and you knowI wasn't really wanting to go
back into full time ministry,even though, obviously, if
that's where God wanted me,that's where I'll go, but he was
(09:21):
going to have to force mebecause I wasn't going to step
in there on my own.
And so, you know, we starteddoing this show with Dad, which
was the, in the woods, with Philfor Blaze, and so, ironically,
out of everybody in our family,that is the first one to have
his own show, even though it wasa digital show on the, on the
digital network, and so we justkind of got into that, never
(09:44):
thinking about anything else.
And so, from that to thepodcast has just opened up this
opportunity To have thesespiritual, you know, encounters
with people, and we invite thatboth directly as well as
indirectly.
Obviously, not everybody canget to West Monroe, but
sometimes they do come.
We just had a big event back inthe On July 2nd last week, and,
(10:05):
man, there were people that camefrom all over the country and
Packed in our church and then wehad a big event out at Jason
and Missy's house.
I was down here at the southernlayer so I missed the event,
but it was amazing.
I mean, a lot of peoplerededicated their lives.
I think over 50 people werebaptized and it was just a neat
Celebration of both independencefrom England but dependence on
(10:28):
Jesus.
So it was, it was fun and again, the, the podcast is what
opened that door to be able todo that.
Chris Grainger (10:33):
Amen to that.
And I do remember one thingthat stood out was watching your
dad, and you know I got to ridein a truck with him but just
sitting there with him at thetable and watching him record I
think five episodes.
But the way his Bible it feelslike to me his Bible is its most
prized possession and just theway he can just flips through
(10:53):
that.
And when he started speaking,you know we were recording.
You know that that sincerity,that that genuine care and love
for others.
I saw he put a little thing outon July 4th about he loves
people and he genuinely does.
He loves people and that justyou can't fake that and I think
that's why it is so successful.
That's got why you guys won theK level award.
I mean, it's just that thesincerity is coming through
(11:15):
their ways and I think peopleare just craving that Realness
and those more that we live intoday, because it's so dark, as
you know, it's just so dark outthere and when you have some
light, some good people, justthey just cling to it.
Al Robertson (11:27):
Yeah, and I think when, when we had a show you
know, a national TV show I thinkyou talk a lot about, even we
refer to it this way as a fanbase, you know, because they're
Fans of the show, their fans ofthe family.
But now, as we've moved deeperinto our spiritual roots, I
don't call people that in ashame nation.
It's not a fan base, it's.
(11:48):
It's a group of listeners whowant to be discipled, who want
to be Led to Christ, who want abetter family, a better dad, a
better mom, right, and so it'sexpanded the idea and it's also
deepened it, and so, you know, Ithink you're right.
I think that's exactly whypeople respond the way that they
do.
And look, you know we're doing adeep Bible study for years now.
(12:10):
So you know we're laying thingsout that you know this is what
we think about.
This Texas is what we thinkabout.
You know the, the word of God,and not everybody's gonna agree
with everything.
You know it's gonna go againstpeople's denominations, you know
they're sometimes even theirown tradition, but that's okay.
I mean, the beauty of it iswe're talking about things that
matter, right, and we'redeepening people's understanding
(12:31):
of their relationship with God,and that's why we don't venture
too far off into, you know,controversial stuff, because
we're not interested in that.
We're just trying to deepenrelationship.
So that's kind of where we tryto stay.
But if we find something oftext we're not afraid to talk
about, because we've beenteaching for a long time.
Chris Grainger (12:48):
Amen to that.
Well again, guys, if you aren'tlistening to, under shame, what
are you waiting on?
It's the number one on my list.
I listen to every time anddropping four times a week, you
get plenty of opportunities togrow.
So, al, let's jump into what wekind of we want to talk about
today with the movie the blind.
So this is gonna be coming outright before the movie releases.
But, man, just curious, howlong Was this process, how long
(13:10):
has it been in the works, justto get up to now?
Al Robertson (13:13):
Well, you know, I think there'd always been like
One of those things is like abook idea or something.
You know.
There's kind of always beenthis thing.
If we ever did a movie, itwould need to be about mom and
dad's young life and so rightthat that kind of thought thread
of a thought had kind of beenout there.
Dad was lukewarm, you know, tothe idea and he's been real
(13:34):
Honest that it's.
It's hard for him to have towatch the worst part of his life
, and it would be for any of us.
So I feel for him in that sensethat it's embarrassing to, you
know, have your worst moments ona movie screen.
But, that being said, probablybe probably about a year and a
couple of months ago With Zach,got deeper into like really
(13:58):
putting together like ascreenplay of a story and
Started doing some interviewsWith mom and dad, obviously with
me.
He did some with J.
So although once you get beyondme you don't really have the
memory, because they're, youknow, my brothers were too young
, right, right.
So we started interviewing,they started interviewing on
camera and then putting astoryline together Sive course,
(14:21):
who was there in every step ofthe way, and then, of course,
zach's mom, you know, had a hugerole in both the film and in
mom and dad's life because shewas a super strong Christian and
she really just had a prophetic, you know word over dad saying,
you know, we need to get him inthe Lord because, you know, she
(14:43):
knew, even though he was aprodigal from their family and
from God, that the potential wasthere for what is he's done for
the last 50 years, and so, youknow, her faith plays a big role
in that and I thought they dida great job in the film.
So Zach was more motivated thanjust you know, because he has a
lot of our business and putsthings together.
I mean his mom, who's now on,we've gone on to be with the
(15:05):
Lord, she was a huge part ofthis you know story, okay, so I
think that made it reallyspecial, made it really neat,
and so it's been over a year andthey filmed it several now it's
been Completed rap maybe sevenor eight months ago, and so it
takes a long time to put a filmtogether right, get the music,
get it cut right and get, youknow, add this scene, take that
(15:28):
scene out, and so we finally gotinto the almost final cut,
which is what we watched acouple weeks ago.
It's fantastic.
I mean all of it.
The cinematography is beautiful, right.
It's a.
It's a really great visualLouisiana, kind of the best our
state has to offer, with thevalues and the swamps, and we,
you know, that's where dad grewup, that's where we grew up,
(15:50):
right, and so that it to me,that was one of the things that
surprised me about the film whenI watched it, because I didn't
have any Anything prior otherthan what everybody else's
watched, just a couple trailersand a couple of clips, and so
the beauty of it Really made meappreciate it.
Of course, the idea was isthat's what appealed to dad so
(16:12):
much?
And I thought they did a nicejob of showing his young life,
of being a provider and reallybeing one with nature and with
what God has created, and so Ithink that really comes through
wonderfully in the film, andjust that alone, to me, was a
good reason to buy a ticket.
But of course, the story ispretty compelling too.
(16:32):
Amen.
Chris Grainger (16:34):
Amen, hey, we'll be right back.
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So I'm curious.
(17:39):
You know that you mentionedthat you and your dad, your
family, were able to watch it.
What was, if you can share withus, feels reaction when, when
he saw it for the first time,that made it sure it was
probably not something easy forhim to watch, but what, what?
What did he share with you all?
Al Robertson (17:55):
Well, it was really interesting because we,
we they rented a theater there,you know, in our local movie
place there in West Monroe, okay, ten, our local Tencel town, so
you know, and it was one of thebigger ones.
So it held, I don't, I thinkthey hold about 200 plus people,
okay, and it was packed.
There was a lot of family there, a lot of folks from our church
(18:18):
, a lot of folks that wereinvolved in the film, and Then
you obviously had just, you know, a lot of people that really
connected in our lives and so,right, we, they kind of had us
set up there in the middle.
No, I think they filmed some ofour reactions.
I'm sure there was a cameracrew there.
So it's hardly anything we dothese days without being filmed.
But, um, you know, mama, dadwere sitting in front of me and
(18:40):
so I would look down every oncein a while, just to kind of,
because I was curious, and I'msure a lot of other people were,
although they were kind of downfront, so most of the people
were behind them so theywouldn't be able to see them
anyway.
But you know, I didn't get alot of when I checked, looked at
mom and dad, I didn't get a lotof reaction out of them.
(19:01):
Dad was more just kind ofreally gripped, I think, in
watching it and mom from time totime would say, when something
wasn't quite right, you know,it's like, oh, I would never do
that.
There's a scene where she'sreading a time magazine, I think
or maybe it was a life magazine, and in this scene and she said
(19:22):
, oh, I would never read that,you know.
So it was kind of funny.
I was laughing at her becauseshe was saying it loud enough
that you could hear two or threerows away, which is why I never
liked to go to the move withmom.
By the way, it's just acommentary, so she was kind of
comical almost.
But you know, once the film,once you get into it, and
especially the part, there was alot of really hard scenes about
(19:43):
my grandmother, whose dad's mom, who was bipolar at the time
they called it Manic, depressive, but she would have these
episodes and they started whendad was just a kid and then it
came through because they livednext to us for 15 years.
So it happened through a lot ofmy childhood and teenage years
as well and you know it was hard.
(20:03):
It was hard to watch because itbrought that back about and we
kind of just had almost likegallows humor about it, like
when we lived it.
Because you have somethingwrong in your family, you just
find a way to deal with it.
But watching it on the screenand watching the actress really
captured that and also, just youknow, I didn't really think
about my whole life as an adultwhat it would have been like for
(20:27):
kids to have to go through that.
So the idea of how thataffected them which is one of
the reasons I think they wantedthat in the film was it really
kind of shaped some of whypeople made decisions they made,
including dad.
So I think that was a big partof it.
Afterwards dad was pretty kindof stoic at first but then the
(20:48):
next day we did some a series ofI guess you'd call them
podcasts, but they're gonna bethings that'll be released, I'm
sure, around the movie releaseand in those sessions and we
were just talking about it andof course part of it was classic
Robert's somewhere laughing andmaking fun of each other.
But there were some emotionalmoments from dad.
I mean he broke down a coupleof times in the ones I was in
(21:11):
and I was in everything.
And just because I think it,you know it's a heavy weight on
him to look at that and to seehow he was, even though
obviously we're all rejoicing 50years of grace and what God has
done since then.
It was cathartic, I think, forall of us, and Jason's mentioned
openly he seems to have alittle more problems than maybe
(21:33):
I do about just kind of thatperiod of time with dad, you
know, just because of the way hewas so he's talked about that
how it brought a lot of that upfor him.
For me it wasn't so much any ofthat, as much as it was, my
tears were more tears ofappreciation, right, because
when I watched it, you know, Ithought about so there's a scene
(21:55):
in there where the church takesus in because dad has kicked us
out and we're just little kidsand we don't know what's gonna
happen next.
And in those moments is when Iwas crying because, you know, I
just thought, man, this was ourchurch, I mean, look what they
did for us.
And so they took us in and gaveus opportunity, and so those
(22:16):
kind of moments took me back tomore feeling of relief during a
difficult time.
So it was really cool.
And then another thing I'llmention is the.
You know there's a at the end,there's kind of a Christmas Eve
theme Okay, when dad kind ofmakes the turnaround.
And that was really emotionalfor me as well, because
(22:37):
Christmas was the only time whenI was young when dad was not a
Christian that he really feltlike he wanted to spend time
with us.
Okay, because he lovesChristmas, he always has, and so
, like on Christmas Eve he wouldalways be home, he wouldn't be
out running around.
Usually he'd take us out to themovie and we didn't have any
money or anything.
But you know, it was just wewere together as a family and
(22:59):
the next day he typically didn'thunt in those early years.
And so just how they recreatedthat scene and it being a
Christmas theme really, you know, touched me because it took me
back to sort of the bright spot.
So I guess it's probablypersonalities.
My personality tends to beoptimistic and I tend to look
(23:20):
for the best.
So those kind of thingsprobably touched me more than
the negative stuff in the movie,when you know, he was just not
a very good person and thosetype of things.
Obviously they all affected me,but I tend to look for the
positive.
So I think that's what touchedme the most.
Chris Grainger (23:34):
Man, thank you for sharing that.
I'm far listeners who may notbe familiar with the movie.
What exactly is the timeline?
Where does it start when they,when feeling this, can meet, or
does it go back further and giveus an idea of the timeline, of
what they can expect when theywatch it?
Al Robertson (23:48):
Yeah, it's, and what's interesting I will say
this it's called the blind andit's obviously kind of a double
on Trynday because the idea isthat dad was blind and then he
could see, but then you also hadobviously duck hunting, which
was a big part of our lives.
And so the film actually opensin a duck line, okay, the dad
(24:08):
talking to one of his old pals,and it's set in the future from.
It's set like in 1985.
And that's how the film starts.
And so then dad, throughnarration, the actor playing dad
goes back, okay, and he'shaving a conversation with this
guy in the duck line.
So it's really kind ofinteresting because it goes back
, and they go back to when dadwas probably about nine or 10
(24:32):
years old is when it starts andshows a lot of that home life
size.
You know in there just a littleguy, at the time he was maybe
seven years old and right jamwas about five, and so it just
shows you kind of how they grewup, what that was like, for a
few scenes.
And then it moves along intohim meeting mom high school
(24:53):
years, then into college andthey show some of all that from
the football days and those typethings.
And then basically the filmspends most of its time in that
period of time from when dad'sout of college and it kind of
starts into his lifestyle untilhe comes out of it.
So it's that kind of 10 yearperiod is where most of the film
(25:15):
is and it's you know, that'skind of.
But they show all the way backto when they were kids.
So there were three differentactors Okay, the mom three
different actors that played dad, child, teenager and then young
adult and they were allfantastic.
I mean I can't really speak morehighly of the crew, of the
(25:37):
acting.
I mean this movie is well doneand I think it's another tribute
to faith films.
Now, because you wouldn't even.
I mean I guess you call it afaith film because you know us
and you know how it ends.
But you know, if you were justwatching it, if you didn't know
who we were and you were justwatching this movie about these
people and this guy who had thisidea about you know some
(25:58):
business idea, it would be justas gripping, it would be knowing
us and kind of knowing the faceout of it.
So but I think that's atestament to films now, because
we don't have to make it cheesyor like preachy or religiousy,
you know, or whatever.
I mean, if you just tell thestory the way it happened and
(26:18):
that's kind of what happens inthe film.
Right, it's gritty, you know,it's not necessarily an easy
film to watch, but it's, youknow, you know how it ends and
so it turns out pretty well.
So I think it was going to havea big impact on people.
It was.
The production of it wasfantastic and the acting is
really solid.
Chris Grainger (26:37):
That's great.
Some of you is there kind oflike a quasi-gospel present
Gospel presentation in the movie, so the people sitting there
will hear that.
Al Robertson (26:47):
No doubt you know and I don't want to give it all
away, but it's, I'll tell youthis it's a watch it all the way
through, even when the creditsstart, because this is really
interesting, kind of how theytied all that together, okay,
from the story to then thepresent, and so they did a
really really good job with that.
(27:07):
So I think people are going tobe I think I'll put it this way
if your listeners are thinking,you know, I'll go to enjoy it
myself, but is it a great filmto take somebody I've kind of
been working on or talking to?
Yes, Right.
The answer is yes, because thepurpose of the film is to reach
people Right.
So by telling our story, ourfamily story, mainly dad's story
(27:31):
, we're able to do that, butalso do it in the modern, where
you actually get to a pointwhere, man, it makes me think
about my own fate.
Chris Grainger (27:39):
Well, I know for you with your personal story.
You said many times along theshame in the past too that you
know you were raised by collegekids and I'm sure I'm for you
watching that part.
Maybe just share a little bitabout that.
What do you mean by that whenpeople hear that?
I mean, were you literallyraised by college kids on the
college campus?
Al Robertson (27:57):
I literally was.
It's kind of a miracle that I'mstill here, because, when you
think about it, I mean mom was16 when she found out she was
pregnant with me and dad was 18and it just, you know, decided
to play football at Tech, and sothey were together.
They never really got married.
They kind of in the film shows,they kind of had a little
(28:20):
private mom calls at a pioneerwedding where they committed to
each other, but it wasn'tanything legal or whatever.
And so you got two collegestudents and by the time mom had
me, she had just turned 17.
And so she still had to go backto school, even to get her high
school diploma, after she hadme, you know, because she had me
in what would have been hersenior year of high school.
(28:41):
And so, you know, basically Iwas left by aunt and uncle were
out.
My uncle also played footballTommy, who's not in the film,
but he played football there atTech with dad because he's only
a couple of years older.
And so they, you know, they,they help watch me along with,
you know, other college friendsand football players, and so I
(29:04):
meet people, you know after, andthe film didn't have time to go
into all that.
But I met people after thatsaid, you know, we used to bring
extra milk from the commissary.
You know these football players, so that you know for you.
And I'm talking to these olderguys now, their dad's age and
their seventies, and they'retelling me these stories and it
really just impacted me becauseI thought, man, god's hand of
(29:26):
Providence was on me even as ababy because, you know, I mean,
obviously God was going to useme one day to do what he's done
through me.
But he, you know, he looked outfor me during that time because
it was two college kids, notmarried, on a college campus in
North Louisiana raising a baby.
You know, and if you just had a, if that was just a story, that
(29:49):
would be a pretty amazing story, right, that that happened and
they didn't get married untilofficially until 1968, which by
that time I was three years old,and when they moved to Junction
City ironically, that's thebiggest part of the film is
during that era, okay, andthat's when dad was probably at
his worst, is once they got alittle more stable and had jobs
(30:11):
and all that.
That's kind of when the evilone took over and then Jace came
along in 69.
So you know it's.
The storyline is really prettypowerful to show both God's
providence but also the evil onewas was at work big time on her
family.
Chris Grainger (30:26):
Absolutely no doubt about it.
And I know one thing you knowyou mentioned Zach a few times,
but I didn't.
I'm not really too familiarwith.
She said so.
His mom is Phil's sister, right, correct?
Okay, and when did she pass?
Al Robertson (30:40):
So she passed about.
It's almost been four years ago.
Okay, she was only 68 and ourdad's family, his siblings, I
think there's there's seven ofthem total, only dad and sire
still with us, right, so fivehave already gone, crossed over.
And so dad is third from thebottom, then size second and
(31:02):
then Jan was the youngest, okay,and so that's why it hit us all
pretty hard, because obviouslyyou would expect her to still be
alive but she got dementia,really bad Alzheimer's, you know
, and so but I think four otherthree other plus her siblings,
everybody said my oldest unclewho died of a heart attack, but
(31:24):
all the rest of them had prettysevere dementia and so obviously
that's been a part of ourfamily.
I don't know if it goes back.
That's why I'm glad to filmthat with the mental illness,
because I don't know if it linksback to that right, possibly
that you know there's somethingthere, but obviously that's a
strong thing in the family.
And so Jan got that pretty earlyand it was hard on all of us
because jam was like a familycheerleader, you know.
(31:46):
I mean she, her enthusiasm forGod, for family, was infectious
and she, other than my dad, sheprobably knew as much Bible as
anybody I've ever been around,right, super sharp in the word,
always discipling people, alwaysteaching to where there's kids,
women's classes, whatever.
And so she just had thatability and of course, she had a
(32:10):
big impact on me because whenshe was trying to reach dad,
she's also trying to reach forus because you know, she loved
me.
I was a second oldest cousin inour family and she made sure I
got to summer camp and a lot ofthings, so she had a big
influence on my life and so whenI spoke at her funeral about
four years ago, it was acomplete honor I mean it's
always sad Right At the sametime, and I've spoken at most of
(32:33):
my aunts and uncles funeralsand to get that opportunity to
talk about childhood memories,to talk about what they did for
me, both spiritually andphysically, it's been a great
honor.
So she was a big.
I think that's why we're soclose to the dashers.
I mean I love her husbandGordon is, you know, one of our
best friends and he writes forus, he helps, writes our blogs
(32:56):
and do different things for usand it's just really neat to
have that ongoing relationshipwith their family, zach and our
business partner.
So it's really kind of been anext generation legacy for us.
Chris Grainger (33:07):
Amen to that.
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So I mean just speaking to Zachand Gordon.
You mentioned him.
I heard him on a recent episodeof Unashamed, so it sounds like
he and your dad are workingtogether on on his next book as
well, so I'm looking forward tothat one coming out, but it just
(34:34):
I thought it was really neatlistening to them talk back and
forth of just you could youcould feel the synergy there and
definitely of theirrelationship Seems like it's an
extremely strong tie Betweenthose two.
You know, it's kind of funny,chris, because you know how it
is with family.
Al Robertson (34:49):
You have different ways of coming into a family.
And so, gordon, when he marriedJan, obviously Jan was such a
favorite Obviously everybody inthe family so you were kind of
going to be under the microscopeor whoever came in with her.
You just like the favorite inthe family and the person that
measures her.
So, gordon, who's from you knowthe family, you know the family
(35:10):
, you know the person thatmeasures her.
So, gordon, who's from you know, because she was the baby too
right.
She was the baby, correct?
So everybody else is alreadymarried, yeah.
And so Gordon is kind of goofy.
I mean just, let's just behonest, if he were here I would
be sad even more.
But he's kind of goofy, he'sreally funny, but he's kind of
(35:30):
almost inappropriately funny,like he doesn't know when to
like put the governor on Right,and so when he first came into
the family it was a love him orhating scenario, I mean it was.
And so in my, in mygrandparents, especially Jan's
parents, didn't think much ofhim.
In my granny, who you knowagain, she had mental illness,
(35:51):
so she didn't have a governoreither.
But she would just say, flatout, you know, you should have
married Stan Williams and her.
You know different people.
So obviously Gordon had a kindof a chip on his shoulder Right
Coming into our family, and sothey moved back to Florida, he
and Jan, which is where he wasfrom, and of course she became a
huge Gator fan, which I wasappalling to us as well.
(36:14):
I know that sounds crazy, but Imean in our family it comes from
a big deal Right and so like itwas like you stole our hat and
turned her into this you knowmonster.
But so they would only comeover and visit a couple of times
a year and so we weren't thatclose, I think, to Gordon and
Jan, but it was.
It was always reallyinteresting because we would
still have a lot of biblicaldiscussion and sometimes
(36:36):
arguments and debates with myuncles and aunts and we were
kind of younger so we would justlisten to this and it's led to
some of what we do in anothershape.
But so we weren't as close.
I think growing up and mycousins don't really have a
super favorable relationship andmemories of my grandparents and
(36:57):
so it's just a different.
We were very different, and sothis bond that you mentioned
that we share now has beeninteresting because it really
happened.
More later in our lives, gordonand Jan moved back to West
Monroe because they'd been thereyears ago, right, and when they
did that, you know, gordonbecame an elder at our church
and Jan obviously was involved,like she is, and my cousins a
(37:19):
couple of them drifted backthere as well for a period of
time and we're involved with usin ministry.
So that's when we really bonded.
Oh good, and you know we wantto impact the world because they
have the same heart forministry.
We did Right, and even thoughwe don't have this commonality
of shared, you know the thingswe love about our childhood they
don't have that.
What we share now as adults isreally close.
(37:40):
And so Gordon is a really giftedwriter and, like I say, he's
doing some work for Lisa and Iand helping us with our blogs.
But then also, as you mentioned, he was a ghost writer for
dad's last book, uncancelled,and he also just did the new one
, which we haven't got a titleyet, but the working title is I
could be wrong, but I doubt itright which dad loves to say
(38:01):
that I love and and so it's.
It's really interesting book,but it's really really well done
.
So we're super excited that'sgonna be out next March For
people to look for.
That too, once we kind of getthe movie behind this, we'll
talk about that, but it's, it'sa great spiritual bond, right.
And so I talked to Gordonprobably every other day about
something, either somethingworking on or Some project, and
(38:24):
then Zach and I talk most, mostevery day, just, you know,
working together trying to dostuff, and he's partnered in
with willing Corey as well In acompany called tread lively.
They're the ones that producedthe movie.
Oh, so they've had a lot ofother cool projects down the
pike, not necessarily with theirfamily, but with other people,
so a lot of Biblical spiritualstories to tell hey, man, that
(38:45):
is he, that is that get his bigvocabulary from his dad.
Well, he's pretty smart, yeah,he's.
You know Zach by because he wasa doubter.
I think he kind of leans towardthe apologetic side of
Christianity, right, and sothat's the stuff he likes to
read and that obviously led himto some of his yeah, his big
(39:07):
words.
But we keep him humble.
Chris Grainger (39:11):
I Get to go on each other.
I always used to be a laugh atthat stuff.
Al Robertson (39:15):
Well, and Jace is always gonna have something to
say.
So and you know my role is,even when I was young is a great
instigator.
I can stir the pot, or I can bea peacemaker with equal
enthusiasm.
So when the pot needs to bestirred, I'm pretty good at that
too, so I like to get themgoing.
I love having Jason Missyfighting on the podcast.
(39:36):
That's probably some of mybetter moments.
Chris Grainger (39:38):
Oh yeah, that's yeah.
It's always fun to see himsquirm, that's for sure.
Yeah, exactly Now.
How about you know, al, for theguy there's listening right now
, maybe he's struggling withsome areas of his life and maybe
he's where Phil was, you knowwhat.
Where this movie takes placeand he gets a chance to go see
the blind, what's the messagethat you hope that's this film
(39:59):
brings that guy?
Al Robertson (40:01):
You know, I think the central theme of the movie
Chris is is hope.
There are times when any of usgo through a dry patch, go
through a difficult stretch.
Maybe we're, you know, in somelifestyle Situation that's not
good for us and we know it's not.
Maybe it's sin, maybe it's just, you know, not doing what we
(40:22):
know we need to be doing, and Ithink anybody that struggles
during that season Needs to knowthere's hope for something
better, and I would say the filmspeaks to that more than
anything else.
And you know, one of theinteresting things that hit me
about the film that I didn'texpect Was the actress who
played mom as an adult, as ayoung adult, had a really.
(40:44):
She captured mom's Hope andOptimism.
Okay, really, really well.
My mom has always been superoptimistic.
She obviously stuck with dadthrough 10 tough years and so
you know that came across to me,that you know she until until
later in the film, to righttoward the end, mom never lost
(41:05):
hope that dad was going to comearound and then she finally did
and it was crushing for to dothat.
You know to dash that optimismand so.
But it just reminded me thateven the strongest people at
some point, feel hopeless, yeah,about some situations, some
difficulties, some tragedies,some disease, anything.
We're all gonna face that, andso I think the film Really
(41:28):
speaks to that opportunity thatif we can just hold out right
and we can just allow God to dowhat he does best, that
Something good can happen in ourlives.
And so that's what happenedwith us, and I think that's what
can happen in anyone's life.
So, no matter what you'restruggling with, no matter what
you in this season see is no wayaround.
Help us, help us always thereand so is available.
Chris Grainger (41:52):
Amen of that.
I mean it sounds like theseactors absolutely knocked out
the park that I am curious ifthey spend any time with with
Phil or miss K just trying toget to know them or asking
questions or all that kind of inthe scripting of it.
Al Robertson (42:04):
You know it's kind of funny, kind of the sausage
making.
Part of movie making,unfortunately, is.
You know, these are all youngactors, they're trying to make
their way into this genre, inthis world, which is not easy,
and so really they just come in.
I mean, they obviously get ascript, they agree to do a movie
and they probably do a littlebit of research on their own,
(42:25):
their own, but they just come inand get after it and so in this
case they did have a couple oftimes when Zach got them
together, right, especially theadult ones, and to meet mom and
dad and know a little bit aboutthem.
But but that's it, okay, mostof it they just did it on their
own and and did a really goodjob.
I mean, their accents are notquite there, I mean you know
(42:47):
they're, they're.
You know, when you try to dosouthern accents, as you know
you're from the South, butthey're different.
I mean, in North Carolina,georgia and Alabama, louisiana
are all different, and so thatwe recognize it because you know
we speak it and we can hear thedifferences.
But to these people that played, mom and dad were both Brits
and so you know it's.
(43:08):
They didn't quite get it spoton, but it's.
It's good enough.
It's not distracting right tous and and probably to other
people in the South, they maynot even notice.
But yeah, it was.
It was interesting to see themkind of try to figure all that
stuff out.
And I had a conversation about a30-minute video chat with the
little young actor that playedme.
Okay, he's 10 years old, fromthe Houston area, and so he and
(43:32):
his dad we zoomed in one day andyou know he just asked me
questions and you know aboutwhat I was thinking and you know
Stuff like that and he's a 10year old kid, so the dad would
ask a lot of questions too.
But and I thought he was greatI mean, you know it's not like
he's, you know, had a lot oflines, but he he captured my
quizzical, sort of alwayswanting to be a part of
(43:54):
everything on the movie.
So I thought he did a nice jobwith that is awesome.
Chris Grainger (43:58):
Yeah, the accent stuff's big.
I have to remind people all thetime I am not from New Jersey,
it is North Carolina, butEverybody's a little bit
different.
Wow, man, I'm so excited forthis, this movie, to come out.
Where can people like go tofind more information on it?
Al Robertson (44:15):
And what makes so the best place to go is the
blind movie dot com.
Okay, the blind movie dot com,because there you can find that
what's going on.
You can also sign up or theycan send you Information as
things develop.
Right now you can actually buyyour tickets early, which we're
encouraging people to do.
Find out if it's in your localarea so you can go ahead and get
(44:37):
the tickets, because the moretickets that are bought early,
the more theaters we get into,right, and so it helps us, helps
the distribution of the movie.
If you happen to be in an area,you know, if you're listening to
this and you look on the listand it's not near you, there's
also opportunities to have it inyour church.
So if there's any pastors outthere that listen that they have
those opportunities you cancheck out from the website.
(44:59):
So, okay, we're trying to getit in front of as many eyeballs
as possible.
Obviously, this is somethingthat's gonna help advance the
gospel, so it is something wecan get behind as Christians and
we just encourage people tosupport it.
You know, and try to get it infront of as many eyeballs as
possible.
Chris Grainger (45:15):
Amen, we'll make sure all that stuff's in the
show notes.
And I know you did our standardlightning round on your first
episode with us.
I had, I didn't.
I have one more.
I did some more fun.
I guess easy type of lightninground questions if you're
willing to play one morelightning round with this for a
week.
Al Robertson (45:31):
Absolutely.
I'm always ready for lighting.
I just not have my satellitedown here, so.
Chris Grainger (45:36):
I'm all about.
Al Robertson (45:38):
Lightning.
Chris Grainger (45:38):
All right, I will.
I do a little bunch of these.
I thought man Al may get it tokick out of some of them.
So anyway, let's just, let'sjust play.
You play a little, have alittle fun here at the end.
So if you can have anysuperpower, what would it be?
Al Robertson (45:52):
Oh man flying, it had to be flying.
Chris Grainger (45:55):
Right yeah.
Al Robertson (45:55):
Yeah, who doesn't want?
Who would love it if you didn'thave to get on an airplane?
That's right.
That's right.
That's what I'm looking forwardto at the resurrection.
We're going to jet pack out ofhere without a jet pack, that's
right.
That's right.
I would take flying for sure.
Chris Grainger (46:09):
What's the weirdest food combination you've
ever tried, and you actuallyenjoyed it.
Al Robertson (46:14):
Weirdest food combination.
Chris Grainger (46:17):
I was curious for you, for being a Louisiana
man, I didn't know if there wassomething of combination that
stood out.
Al Robertson (46:23):
You know, probably and I don't like it might be a
stretch, but I want to missiontrip one time to Mexico and I
had already made up my mind thatI was going to eat whatever,
because we're a little bitpersnickly about food and they
had a goat stew and you know, Ilooked at the pod and I looked
(46:45):
at the surroundings and Ireminded myself that I was here
on behalf of the almighty and soI was very trepidatious about
this goat stew, but I have tosay when I ate it it was not bad
, Okay.
Okay, I don't know if I wassaying I would love it or order
it again, but it was not bad.
It was an odd combinationbecause I'm not a big goat guy,
so I've been around too many ofthem in the wild.
(47:07):
So now, how about?
Chris Grainger (47:10):
how about this one?
If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?
Al Robertson (47:16):
I would have to be Pepe Lapue.
Okay, he's a very underrated.
He's French, so automatically,kind of like I don't know what
this guy right, but I was alwaysconsidered myself, and
especially my younger years, asa lover, not a fighter Right.
And so I can appreciate PepeLapue trying to connect with
(47:37):
that cat, you know, and so whenI was a kid, everybody wanted to
be all the other guys, but Iwas like you know, pepe, he's
got something going on, so maybethat's.
The one thing I like about theFrench is commitment to love.
Chris Grainger (47:49):
You definitely call me off guard with that one.
I was expecting Pepe Lapue,pepe Lapue.
All right, so now what's yourgo to karaoke song out?
Al Robertson (48:01):
You know I'm not really a karaoke person, but the
one time that I participated wehad a big thing.
Willie and Corey love karaoke,and so the one idea that I
really had a lot of fun with wasLove Shack.
Okay, I can't remember whosings it I think it's a girls
group but the song Love Shack Iactually did with Lisa and we
(48:24):
had a blast.
So since it's the only timeI've ever done it, I guess
that's my go to.
Chris Grainger (48:28):
So do you want to give us a sample today or
pass?
Al Robertson (48:31):
I'll pass on that.
I don't think you want it.
I don't think your listenerswant to hear that screeching
noise, so I can make a joyfulnoise in the Lord.
But that's about it.
Chris Grainger (48:42):
That's it.
That's it.
That's what I always say.
That's not my spiritual gift,so let's do a suit about two
more.
So, if you're a desert island,you only get three things to
take with you.
What do you bring it?
Al Robertson (48:53):
Well, I will the two things that I was trained to
do.
For sure, I want my Bible andmy woman, and then I would
probably need something to helpcultivate some food, because you
know, I'm not getting anythinner these days.
So I need some seeds, some game, I need something with me that
(49:13):
I can eat.
As long as I got my woman, myBible, something to eat, I'm
pretty much good to go.
Chris Grainger (49:19):
Amen, Amen.
So our last one out.
So this is.
This is what makes you think alittle bit more.
Would you rather have a rewindbutton for your life or a pause
button for the world around you?
Al Robertson (49:30):
You know I really don't want a rewind button
because I feel like at thispoint in my life that everything
that's happened in my life hasgot me here to make an impact
for a reason.
So it took me a long time tonot want to go back and redo,
especially my mistakes.
But I realize now the mistakesof and the overcoming and the
(49:51):
healing from them have helped meshape it.
So I guess I'd have to go forthe pause every once in a while
that I would like, especially ifI could pause the world and go
to a beach somewhere and just bewith my bride.
Then that would be the ultimate.
Chris Grainger (50:04):
Amen, amen.
Well, anything else you'd liketo share with us today, on the
line with us.
Al Robertson (50:09):
No only that, I appreciate you, Chris.
I appreciate your audience.
It's been fun to be able tocross that and to have you on an
unashamed, and so I'm proud ofthe work that you're doing there
and just pray you keep it upand invite all your listeners to
keep reaching out to otherpeople and bringing that line up
.
Chris Grainger (50:27):
Amen, sir.
Well, thank you so much.
And Beth praying for the blindpraying, it's going to blow up.
It's been some great Christianmovies coming out lately.
It's really encouraging to seethe faith films that are making
a big impact, and this is goingto be one that's just gone.
I can't wait, I'm so excited.
Al Robertson (50:42):
The fun era to be around, because we're finally
getting and we're making ourmark into this world.
The new freedom movie that JimCavizos is another example that
we're doing a lot of greatthings to make an impact in this
culture.
So let's keep it up.
Chris Grainger (50:58):
Amen, brother, we have a great day.
Thank you, chris.
We have a resource that allowsyou to test how strong of a
Christian leader you are.
We designed a short quiz so youcan see for yourself how
prepared you are for the battle.
Don't worry, it's multiplechoice and it's a lot of fun.
(51:18):
So, to access this freeresource, visit the lion within
dot us slash quiz that's thelion within dot us slash quiz
and see if you are ready tounleash the lion within.
Yes, and I was a phone with Al.
He is just an amazing guy,loved his story, loved how he
(51:41):
recapped so many areas of themovie.
He gave you some, some behindthe scenes insight of what it
took to make the sausage.
Now you need to take action.
Go out and see this movie andthen share with others.
Okay, this is not something youjust have to go out with with
your brothers in Christ.
Maybe you need to take that onethat you've been praying for,
but hey, let's go see this coolmovie called the blind.
(52:02):
Just go watch it and let theHoly Spirit do the rest.
The question for you this week Iwant you to think about what is
blinding you from experiencinghis grace.
Okay, what's blinding you fromexperiencing his grace.
There are so many things inthis world that are pulling at
us, guys.
I know they are because they'repulling at me and they're
(52:24):
pulling at you, but look, youhave to just cut through all
that and understand his grace isenough.
That's all you need.
It's so sufficient and it's sofulfilling and it will leave you
satisfied.
So I pray that you get you cutout that stuff that's pulling
you in the darkness and you walkinto the light, alright, guys?
(52:46):
So if you're enjoying thisepisode, I encourage you to
share that with others.
I definitely leave a serenityand review head over to the lion
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we're building to serve you, tohelp you guys continue to grow,
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community.
Check out the Daily SpiritualKickoff, our Leadership
(53:06):
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Guys, we have ways to serve you, no matter where you are.
I am telling you we are readyto help.
We're ready to help you grow.
We know you want to be a leader.
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We can do this together.
We can lean on the good news ofthe gospel.
We can simplify and apply God'sword, like we do each and every
(53:28):
week here at the Lion Within us, and we can help you be the
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life within.
Welcome to the Lion with Dennis, a podcast
serving Christian men who arehungry to be their leaders God
intends you to be.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
All right, fellas.
So this is a meat episode thisweek, but before we get too far,
let's dig into our scripture,okay?
So when we look at the book of2 Corinthians, chapter 4, verse
4, just one verse it says theGod of this age has blinded the
(00:24):
minds of unbelievers so thatthey cannot see the light of the
gospel that displays the gloryof Christ, who is the image of
God.
What a powerful verse, guys.
Go back and check out thespiritual kickoff.
We spent some time unpackingthat to try to give you some
insight on how you can simplifyand apply that to your walk.
So for this episode, I'mexcited to have back with my
(00:46):
friend Al Robertson from DougDynasty, the Unashamed podcast,
and we're going to be talkingabout something, guys, that is
going to make an impact in yourlife.
This new movie called the Blindit's out.
It really recounts the days ofPhil before he came to Christ.
So it's definitely not an easyfilm or story to tell, for sure,
(01:07):
but it's an important one, guys, because maybe you know people
out there right now who arewalking in darkness.
Al reveals how this filmfocuses on that dark time and
points people to the good newsof the gospel.
We were able to recap.
You know my time being able togo down to Louisiana and hang
out with those guys just howincredibly genuine and sincere
(01:29):
they are.
It's just good to catch back upwith Al he's turned into a
friend now and just be able toreach out and know that I got a
brother in Christ out therethat's doing work like he's
doing.
It's just phenomenal.
So I'm so excited to share thisepisode with you all.
I would encourage you, if youlisten to this when it drops.
The movie is going to be comingout very soon, so make sure you
(01:50):
get your tickets.
Go to your church, as Almentions it at the end of this
conversation.
If you don't find a movietheater around you that has this
movie, go to theblindmoviecomand check out, because you
actually can put in a requestand have this movie brought to
your local church, and thesetypes of faith-based movies need
(02:13):
to be seen in our church guys.
So go there and take someaction on that, okay, so
hopefully you're going to enjoythis conversation with my friend
Al Robertson.
So sit back and let's just diginto this together and
definitely take action here.
Go see the movie the Blind.
So, al, welcome back to theLion with us.
(02:33):
How are you doing today?
Al Robertson (02:35):
Doing great bud.
Glad to be with you again.
Chris Grainger (02:37):
It is.
It's good to be here.
I mean, I have to say, man,congratulations on the
championship.
I see you got the LSU shirt onright there.
So I mean, when I was up therethey were in the middle of the
tournament, so how'd you guyscelebrate?
Al Robertson (02:52):
You know it was.
It was interesting because wewere doing a screening for the
movie and so I had a lot offamily in town and it just so
happened that of course Zach,who's on our podcast, is a huge
Florida fan and so was his dad,who was actually staying with me
, so I couldn't escape it.
(03:13):
So, like you know, it was alldown to the line like the night
that Florida beat us bad 20 runs.
That was the night of the moviepremiere.
So I was glad to leave early tonot have to witness the end of
that.
But of course they got a littlebit cocky and by the time we
got into that next night it wasit was time for everybody to
(03:33):
head home, sadly, to NorthCarolina.
So we celebrated by gloating.
I just have to just go aheadand be honest and tell you that
Chris is a bunch of hate, toadmit it.
I mean it wouldn't have beennear as bad, but when they're
right there in your midst, youknow I didn't, I didn't ask for
that, but there they were.
Chris Grainger (03:49):
So I was a little worried.
I mean, the first game was sotight, but in the second game I
don't know what happened, but Imean the entire World Series was
amazing until it got to that.
Al Robertson (03:59):
So what happens is a lot of times in the college
game you know you have yourfrontline pictures for everybody
.
You got one or two guys thatjust are almost unstoppable.
But then you know when you getinto a three game series, that
late in the game we were intoour dregs and so was Florida.
So that's why you saw twolopsided games.
I'm just glad that we savedenough bullets to finish it off.
(04:22):
It was exciting because we loveLSU baseball, jason and I in
particular.
Normally we would have beenthere, but we had this stuff
going on with the movie and someother stuff going on, so we
couldn't make the trip up toOmaha.
But to be able to celebrate ittogether was a lot of fun.
Chris Grainger (04:37):
Well, the guy who had saw the dingers, fred
LSU he was actually an NC Stateguy, which is right down the
road from where I'm at.
So I mean, yeah, he came from.
Carol went for the Wolfpackdown to the Tigers man.
Al Robertson (04:49):
And you know what was amazing about that, chris,
was that?
So I didn't know this.
So so in the game, the WakeForest game was over, which is
another North Carolina team, andwhen the game was over, so so
on the 11 inning home run to winit just one of the most amazing
games probably in the historyof college will see.
So he goes, I see him go overand hug the pitcher and I was so
(05:12):
stunned by it I was like,because I didn't know any back
history and so the next day I'mtrying to find out if anybody
talks about it when there was astory about it, that they, those
two guys, had grown up togetherin Florida, played against each
other and little league playedagainst each other in the ACC
because he was an NC State, theother guy was at Wake, so
they've been like lifelongfriends.
(05:33):
And he comes in on one pitch,gives up this home or to end
this epic game, and he saidthat's him.
After his wife hugged him, hesaid you know, I was just
worried about him because it wassuch a big game and such a big
loss, yeah, and I just thought,man, what a cool thing, yeah,
for him to think of.
And when you were watching it,not knowing the history, I just
thought this is the mostselfless person I've ever seen
(05:54):
in my life.
He just had a game when at homerunning goes and hugs the guy.
Yeah, but it actually was.
They knew each other.
I thought that was a reallyinteresting bit of history to it
is.
Chris Grainger (06:03):
I mean, sport sometimes can bring out the best
of us.
It definitely can bring out theworst too, but it's cool to see
when it brings out the best ofpeople in moments like that.
Absolutely Amen.
And I tell you how.
So since coming on unashamed,it's been incredible the
feedback.
People are asking questions.
I just we had a whole episodethat dropped, talking about our
(06:24):
trips.
So just want to say thank youagain for that opportunity to
sit down with your dad.
Okay, but what are they like?
My answer is always the samethey're just genuine.
They're just genuine, sincerepeople.
And so, man, it was so much funworking with you and just want
to say thank you again for thatopportunity.
Al Robertson (06:40):
Oh, you're welcome , but and you know it was
interesting because I've been onyour podcast and then your
church had me up to speak and soyou and I, you know, kind of
became friends outside of yougetting to come down.
And so when we got theopportunity to make it happen
because I don't get guestsanymore I used to get guests for
the podcast, but now otherpeople do that and so I was like
you got to get this guy.
He's great.
So they worked it out and itwas great to have him.
(07:02):
Glad you got to be on set andalso meet Jason dad and of
course you I'll ask you on yourpodcast.
Yeah, most people have no ideaof the place we film and you've
probably talked about thisbefore, but I'd like to hear
myself what did you think whenyou went into the lair, because
the outer part of the lair isnot at all what people I think
(07:23):
would expect.
Chris Grainger (07:24):
No, not at all.
And some and several peoplehave asked me, you know since,
like what?
What was the biggest thing?
I said, well, I'll tell youthis I can't get back there.
So don't worry, I can't.
I'll never be able to get backto unless I'm riding with Al.
I can't get back to the lair,so but it's just for one.
I thought it was actually prettycool because the cross from the
, from the lair, is thatbeautiful field and it's just
(07:45):
kind of open.
So I was, I was expecting to bemore back in the woods.
So it jumped out.
I said, but other than that man, I thought it was awesome and
this is, this is me channelingmy inner redneck when I walk in
and you got all your toys outthere for for going into the
woods with four willows andgators and stuff.
I thought it was incredible.
I just thought it was a littlehumorous.
The thing I remember most isthe, the note, the handwritten
(08:08):
note you guys have outside thedoor that basically says like
podcast room, keep it quiet andkeep it clean, or something like
that.
I just thought that's classic,right there, man, but it's a
little.
Al Robertson (08:19):
We're still in the handwritten notes and the mom
still puts notes up around herhouse and kitchen and telling
people not to blow duck callsand you know to be sure and
don't get in a refrigerator.
It's really funny Kind of howit is.
So it's kind of old school forsure.
Chris Grainger (08:33):
Well, I mean, I thought it was amazing and it
was just your setup is isphenomenal.
I told your producers I'mjealous of this, of the studio.
That's an incredible studio,but now you guys do such
phenomenal work.
People have hit me up from allover the country just from that
one episode and it's justamazing to reach that you guys
have with the gospel and that'sthe beautiful part of it.
(08:54):
It is just love what you'redoing and how many people is
influenced, and so keep up thegood work there.
Al Robertson (09:00):
You know it really , and it was one of those things
, chris, when you know it's aGod thing because, like you know
, we didn't really have astrategy or plan coming out of
doing you know the honesty wejust, you know, we were speaking
and writing books and you knowI wasn't really wanting to go
back into full time ministry,even though, obviously, if
that's where God wanted me,that's where I'll go, but he was
(09:21):
going to have to force mebecause I wasn't going to step
in there on my own.
And so, you know, we starteddoing this show with Dad, which
was the, in the woods, with Philfor Blaze, and so, ironically,
out of everybody in our family,that is the first one to have
his own show, even though it wasa digital show on the, on the
digital network, and so we justkind of got into that, never
(09:44):
thinking about anything else.
And so, from that to thepodcast has just opened up this
opportunity To have thesespiritual, you know, encounters
with people, and we invite thatboth directly as well as
indirectly.
Obviously, not everybody canget to West Monroe, but
sometimes they do come.
We just had a big event back inthe On July 2nd last week, and,
(10:05):
man, there were people that camefrom all over the country and
Packed in our church and then wehad a big event out at Jason
and Missy's house.
I was down here at the southernlayer so I missed the event,
but it was amazing.
I mean, a lot of peoplerededicated their lives.
I think over 50 people werebaptized and it was just a neat
Celebration of both independencefrom England but dependence on
(10:28):
Jesus.
So it was, it was fun and again, the, the podcast is what
opened that door to be able todo that.
Chris Grainger (10:33):
Amen to that.
And I do remember one thingthat stood out was watching your
dad, and you know I got to ridein a truck with him but just
sitting there with him at thetable and watching him record I
think five episodes.
But the way his Bible it feelslike to me his Bible is its most
prized possession and just theway he can just flips through
(10:53):
that.
And when he started speaking,you know we were recording.
You know that that sincerity,that that genuine care and love
for others.
I saw he put a little thing outon July 4th about he loves
people and he genuinely does.
He loves people and that justyou can't fake that and I think
that's why it is so successful.
That's got why you guys won theK level award.
I mean, it's just that thesincerity is coming through
(11:15):
their ways and I think peopleare just craving that Realness
and those more that we live intoday, because it's so dark, as
you know, it's just so dark outthere and when you have some
light, some good people, justthey just cling to it.
Al Robertson (11:27):
Yeah, and I think when, when we had a show you
know, a national TV show I thinkyou talk a lot about, even we
refer to it this way as a fanbase, you know, because they're
Fans of the show, their fans ofthe family.
But now, as we've moved deeperinto our spiritual roots, I
don't call people that in ashame nation.
It's not a fan base, it's.
(11:48):
It's a group of listeners whowant to be discipled, who want
to be Led to Christ, who want abetter family, a better dad, a
better mom, right, and so it'sexpanded the idea and it's also
deepened it, and so, you know, Ithink you're right.
I think that's exactly whypeople respond the way that they
do.
And look, you know we're doing adeep Bible study for years now.
(12:10):
So you know we're laying thingsout that you know this is what
we think about.
This Texas is what we thinkabout.
You know the, the word of God,and not everybody's gonna agree
with everything.
You know it's gonna go againstpeople's denominations, you know
they're sometimes even theirown tradition, but that's okay.
I mean, the beauty of it iswe're talking about things that
matter, right, and we'redeepening people's understanding
(12:31):
of their relationship with God,and that's why we don't venture
too far off into, you know,controversial stuff, because
we're not interested in that.
We're just trying to deepenrelationship.
So that's kind of where we tryto stay.
But if we find something oftext we're not afraid to talk
about, because we've beenteaching for a long time.
Chris Grainger (12:48):
Amen to that.
Well again, guys, if you aren'tlistening to, under shame, what
are you waiting on?
It's the number one on my list.
I listen to every time anddropping four times a week, you
get plenty of opportunities togrow.
So, al, let's jump into what wekind of we want to talk about
today with the movie the blind.
So this is gonna be coming outright before the movie releases.
But, man, just curious, howlong Was this process, how long
(13:10):
has it been in the works, justto get up to now?
Al Robertson (13:13):
Well, you know, I think there'd always been like
One of those things is like abook idea or something.
You know.
There's kind of always beenthis thing.
If we ever did a movie, itwould need to be about mom and
dad's young life and so rightthat that kind of thought thread
of a thought had kind of beenout there.
Dad was lukewarm, you know, tothe idea and he's been real
(13:34):
Honest that it's.
It's hard for him to have towatch the worst part of his life
, and it would be for any of us.
So I feel for him in that sensethat it's embarrassing to, you
know, have your worst moments ona movie screen.
But, that being said, probablybe probably about a year and a
couple of months ago With Zach,got deeper into like really
(13:58):
putting together like ascreenplay of a story and
Started doing some interviewsWith mom and dad, obviously with
me.
He did some with J.
So although once you get beyondme you don't really have the
memory, because they're, youknow, my brothers were too young
, right, right.
So we started interviewing,they started interviewing on
camera and then putting astoryline together Sive course,
(14:21):
who was there in every step ofthe way, and then, of course,
zach's mom, you know, had a hugerole in both the film and in
mom and dad's life because shewas a super strong Christian and
she really just had a prophetic, you know word over dad saying,
you know, we need to get him inthe Lord because, you know, she
(14:43):
knew, even though he was aprodigal from their family and
from God, that the potential wasthere for what is he's done for
the last 50 years, and so, youknow, her faith plays a big role
in that and I thought they dida great job in the film.
So Zach was more motivated thanjust you know, because he has a
lot of our business and putsthings together.
I mean his mom, who's now on,we've gone on to be with the
(15:05):
Lord, she was a huge part ofthis you know story, okay, so I
think that made it reallyspecial, made it really neat,
and so it's been over a year andthey filmed it several now it's
been Completed rap maybe sevenor eight months ago, and so it
takes a long time to put a filmtogether right, get the music,
get it cut right and get, youknow, add this scene, take that
(15:28):
scene out, and so we finally gotinto the almost final cut,
which is what we watched acouple weeks ago.
It's fantastic.
I mean all of it.
The cinematography is beautiful, right.
It's a.
It's a really great visualLouisiana, kind of the best our
state has to offer, with thevalues and the swamps, and we,
you know, that's where dad grewup, that's where we grew up,
(15:50):
right, and so that it to me,that was one of the things that
surprised me about the film whenI watched it, because I didn't
have any Anything prior otherthan what everybody else's
watched, just a couple trailersand a couple of clips, and so
the beauty of it Really made meappreciate it.
Of course, the idea was isthat's what appealed to dad so
(16:12):
much?
And I thought they did a nicejob of showing his young life,
of being a provider and reallybeing one with nature and with
what God has created, and so Ithink that really comes through
wonderfully in the film, andjust that alone, to me, was a
good reason to buy a ticket.
But of course, the story ispretty compelling too.
(16:32):
Amen.
Chris Grainger (16:34):
Amen, hey, we'll be right back.
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So I'm curious.
(17:39):
You know that you mentionedthat you and your dad, your
family, were able to watch it.
What was, if you can share withus, feels reaction when, when
he saw it for the first time,that made it sure it was
probably not something easy forhim to watch, but what, what?
What did he share with you all?
Al Robertson (17:55):
Well, it was really interesting because we,
we they rented a theater there,you know, in our local movie
place there in West Monroe, okay, ten, our local Tencel town, so
you know, and it was one of thebigger ones.
So it held, I don't, I thinkthey hold about 200 plus people,
okay, and it was packed.
There was a lot of family there, a lot of folks from our church
(18:18):
, a lot of folks that wereinvolved in the film, and Then
you obviously had just, you know, a lot of people that really
connected in our lives and so,right, we, they kind of had us
set up there in the middle.
No, I think they filmed some ofour reactions.
I'm sure there was a cameracrew there.
So it's hardly anything we dothese days without being filmed.
But, um, you know, mama, dadwere sitting in front of me and
(18:40):
so I would look down every oncein a while, just to kind of,
because I was curious, and I'msure a lot of other people were,
although they were kind of downfront, so most of the people
were behind them so theywouldn't be able to see them
anyway.
But you know, I didn't get alot of when I checked, looked at
mom and dad, I didn't get a lotof reaction out of them.
(19:01):
Dad was more just kind ofreally gripped, I think, in
watching it and mom from time totime would say, when something
wasn't quite right, you know,it's like, oh, I would never do
that.
There's a scene where she'sreading a time magazine, I think
or maybe it was a life magazine, and in this scene and she said
(19:22):
, oh, I would never read that,you know.
So it was kind of funny.
I was laughing at her becauseshe was saying it loud enough
that you could hear two or threerows away, which is why I never
liked to go to the move withmom.
By the way, it's just acommentary, so she was kind of
comical almost.
But you know, once the film,once you get into it, and
especially the part, there was alot of really hard scenes about
(19:43):
my grandmother, whose dad's mom, who was bipolar at the time
they called it Manic, depressive, but she would have these
episodes and they started whendad was just a kid and then it
came through because they livednext to us for 15 years.
So it happened through a lot ofmy childhood and teenage years
as well and you know it was hard.
(20:03):
It was hard to watch because itbrought that back about and we
kind of just had almost likegallows humor about it, like
when we lived it.
Because you have somethingwrong in your family, you just
find a way to deal with it.
But watching it on the screenand watching the actress really
captured that and also, just youknow, I didn't really think
about my whole life as an adultwhat it would have been like for
(20:27):
kids to have to go through that.
So the idea of how thataffected them which is one of
the reasons I think they wantedthat in the film was it really
kind of shaped some of whypeople made decisions they made,
including dad.
So I think that was a big partof it.
Afterwards dad was pretty kindof stoic at first but then the
(20:48):
next day we did some a series ofI guess you'd call them
podcasts, but they're gonna bethings that'll be released, I'm
sure, around the movie releaseand in those sessions and we
were just talking about it andof course part of it was classic
Robert's somewhere laughing andmaking fun of each other.
But there were some emotionalmoments from dad.
I mean he broke down a coupleof times in the ones I was in
(21:11):
and I was in everything.
And just because I think it,you know it's a heavy weight on
him to look at that and to seehow he was, even though
obviously we're all rejoicing 50years of grace and what God has
done since then.
It was cathartic, I think, forall of us, and Jason's mentioned
openly he seems to have alittle more problems than maybe
(21:33):
I do about just kind of thatperiod of time with dad, you
know, just because of the way hewas so he's talked about that
how it brought a lot of that upfor him.
For me it wasn't so much any ofthat, as much as it was, my
tears were more tears ofappreciation, right, because
when I watched it, you know, Ithought about so there's a scene
(21:55):
in there where the church takesus in because dad has kicked us
out and we're just little kidsand we don't know what's gonna
happen next.
And in those moments is when Iwas crying because, you know, I
just thought, man, this was ourchurch, I mean, look what they
did for us.
And so they took us in and gaveus opportunity, and so those
(22:16):
kind of moments took me back tomore feeling of relief during a
difficult time.
So it was really cool.
And then another thing I'llmention is the.
You know there's a at the end,there's kind of a Christmas Eve
theme Okay, when dad kind ofmakes the turnaround.
And that was really emotionalfor me as well, because
(22:37):
Christmas was the only time whenI was young when dad was not a
Christian that he really feltlike he wanted to spend time
with us.
Okay, because he lovesChristmas, he always has, and so
, like on Christmas Eve he wouldalways be home, he wouldn't be
out running around.
Usually he'd take us out to themovie and we didn't have any
money or anything.
But you know, it was just wewere together as a family and
(22:59):
the next day he typically didn'thunt in those early years.
And so just how they recreatedthat scene and it being a
Christmas theme really, you know, touched me because it took me
back to sort of the bright spot.
So I guess it's probablypersonalities.
My personality tends to beoptimistic and I tend to look
(23:20):
for the best.
So those kind of thingsprobably touched me more than
the negative stuff in the movie,when you know, he was just not
a very good person and thosetype of things.
Obviously they all affected me,but I tend to look for the
positive.
So I think that's what touchedme the most.
Chris Grainger (23:34):
Man, thank you for sharing that.
I'm far listeners who may notbe familiar with the movie.
What exactly is the timeline?
Where does it start when they,when feeling this, can meet, or
does it go back further and giveus an idea of the timeline, of
what they can expect when theywatch it?
Al Robertson (23:48):
Yeah, it's, and what's interesting I will say
this it's called the blind andit's obviously kind of a double
on Trynday because the idea isthat dad was blind and then he
could see, but then you also hadobviously duck hunting, which
was a big part of our lives.
And so the film actually opensin a duck line, okay, the dad
(24:08):
talking to one of his old pals,and it's set in the future from.
It's set like in 1985.
And that's how the film starts.
And so then dad, throughnarration, the actor playing dad
goes back, okay, and he'shaving a conversation with this
guy in the duck line.
So it's really kind ofinteresting because it goes back
, and they go back to when dadwas probably about nine or 10
(24:32):
years old is when it starts andshows a lot of that home life
size.
You know in there just a littleguy, at the time he was maybe
seven years old and right jamwas about five, and so it just
shows you kind of how they grewup, what that was like, for a
few scenes.
And then it moves along intohim meeting mom high school
(24:53):
years, then into college andthey show some of all that from
the football days and those typethings.
And then basically the filmspends most of its time in that
period of time from when dad'sout of college and it kind of
starts into his lifestyle untilhe comes out of it.
So it's that kind of 10 yearperiod is where most of the film
(25:15):
is and it's you know, that'skind of.
But they show all the way backto when they were kids.
So there were three differentactors Okay, the mom three
different actors that played dad, child, teenager and then young
adult and they were allfantastic.
I mean I can't really speak morehighly of the crew, of the
(25:37):
acting.
I mean this movie is well doneand I think it's another tribute
to faith films.
Now, because you wouldn't even.
I mean I guess you call it afaith film because you know us
and you know how it ends.
But you know, if you were justwatching it, if you didn't know
who we were and you were justwatching this movie about these
people and this guy who had thisidea about you know some
(25:58):
business idea, it would be justas gripping, it would be knowing
us and kind of knowing the faceout of it.
So but I think that's atestament to films now, because
we don't have to make it cheesyor like preachy or religiousy,
you know, or whatever.
I mean, if you just tell thestory the way it happened and
(26:18):
that's kind of what happens inthe film.
Right, it's gritty, you know,it's not necessarily an easy
film to watch, but it's, youknow, you know how it ends and
so it turns out pretty well.
So I think it was going to havea big impact on people.
It was.
The production of it wasfantastic and the acting is
really solid.
Chris Grainger (26:37):
That's great.
Some of you is there kind oflike a quasi-gospel present
Gospel presentation in the movie, so the people sitting there
will hear that.
Al Robertson (26:47):
No doubt you know and I don't want to give it all
away, but it's, I'll tell youthis it's a watch it all the way
through, even when the creditsstart, because this is really
interesting, kind of how theytied all that together, okay,
from the story to then thepresent, and so they did a
really really good job with that.
(27:07):
So I think people are going tobe I think I'll put it this way
if your listeners are thinking,you know, I'll go to enjoy it
myself, but is it a great filmto take somebody I've kind of
been working on or talking to?
Yes, Right.
The answer is yes, because thepurpose of the film is to reach
people Right.
So by telling our story, ourfamily story, mainly dad's story
(27:31):
, we're able to do that, butalso do it in the modern, where
you actually get to a pointwhere, man, it makes me think
about my own fate.
Chris Grainger (27:39):
Well, I know for you with your personal story.
You said many times along theshame in the past too that you
know you were raised by collegekids and I'm sure I'm for you
watching that part.
Maybe just share a little bitabout that.
What do you mean by that whenpeople hear that?
I mean, were you literallyraised by college kids on the
college campus?
Al Robertson (27:57):
I literally was.
It's kind of a miracle that I'mstill here, because, when you
think about it, I mean mom was16 when she found out she was
pregnant with me and dad was 18and it just, you know, decided
to play football at Tech, and sothey were together.
They never really got married.
They kind of in the film shows,they kind of had a little
(28:20):
private mom calls at a pioneerwedding where they committed to
each other, but it wasn'tanything legal or whatever.
And so you got two collegestudents and by the time mom had
me, she had just turned 17.
And so she still had to go backto school, even to get her high
school diploma, after she hadme, you know, because she had me
in what would have been hersenior year of high school.
(28:41):
And so, you know, basically Iwas left by aunt and uncle were
out.
My uncle also played footballTommy, who's not in the film,
but he played football there atTech with dad because he's only
a couple of years older.
And so they, you know, they,they help watch me along with,
you know, other college friendsand football players, and so I
(29:04):
meet people, you know after, andthe film didn't have time to go
into all that.
But I met people after thatsaid, you know, we used to bring
extra milk from the commissary.
You know these football players, so that you know for you.
And I'm talking to these olderguys now, their dad's age and
their seventies, and they'retelling me these stories and it
really just impacted me becauseI thought, man, god's hand of
(29:26):
Providence was on me even as ababy because, you know, I mean,
obviously God was going to useme one day to do what he's done
through me.
But he, you know, he looked outfor me during that time because
it was two college kids, notmarried, on a college campus in
North Louisiana raising a baby.
You know, and if you just had a, if that was just a story, that
(29:49):
would be a pretty amazing story, right, that that happened and
they didn't get married untilofficially until 1968, which by
that time I was three years old,and when they moved to Junction
City ironically, that's thebiggest part of the film is
during that era, okay, andthat's when dad was probably at
his worst, is once they got alittle more stable and had jobs
(30:11):
and all that.
That's kind of when the evilone took over and then Jace came
along in 69.
So you know it's.
The storyline is really prettypowerful to show both God's
providence but also the evil onewas was at work big time on her
family.
Chris Grainger (30:26):
Absolutely no doubt about it.
And I know one thing you knowyou mentioned Zach a few times,
but I didn't.
I'm not really too familiarwith.
She said so.
His mom is Phil's sister, right, correct?
Okay, and when did she pass?
Al Robertson (30:40):
So she passed about.
It's almost been four years ago.
Okay, she was only 68 and ourdad's family, his siblings, I
think there's there's seven ofthem total, only dad and sire
still with us, right, so fivehave already gone, crossed over.
And so dad is third from thebottom, then size second and
(31:02):
then Jan was the youngest, okay,and so that's why it hit us all
pretty hard, because obviouslyyou would expect her to still be
alive but she got dementia,really bad Alzheimer's, you know
, and so but I think four otherthree other plus her siblings,
everybody said my oldest unclewho died of a heart attack, but
(31:24):
all the rest of them had prettysevere dementia and so obviously
that's been a part of ourfamily.
I don't know if it goes back.
That's why I'm glad to filmthat with the mental illness,
because I don't know if it linksback to that right, possibly
that you know there's somethingthere, but obviously that's a
strong thing in the family.
And so Jan got that pretty earlyand it was hard on all of us
because jam was like a familycheerleader, you know.
(31:46):
I mean she, her enthusiasm forGod, for family, was infectious
and she, other than my dad, sheprobably knew as much Bible as
anybody I've ever been around,right, super sharp in the word,
always discipling people, alwaysteaching to where there's kids,
women's classes, whatever.
And so she just had thatability and of course, she had a
(32:10):
big impact on me because whenshe was trying to reach dad,
she's also trying to reach forus because you know, she loved
me.
I was a second oldest cousin inour family and she made sure I
got to summer camp and a lot ofthings, so she had a big
influence on my life and so whenI spoke at her funeral about
four years ago, it was acomplete honor I mean it's
always sad Right At the sametime, and I've spoken at most of
(32:33):
my aunts and uncles funeralsand to get that opportunity to
talk about childhood memories,to talk about what they did for
me, both spiritually andphysically, it's been a great
honor.
So she was a big.
I think that's why we're soclose to the dashers.
I mean I love her husbandGordon is, you know, one of our
best friends and he writes forus, he helps, writes our blogs
(32:56):
and do different things for usand it's just really neat to
have that ongoing relationshipwith their family, zach and our
business partner.
So it's really kind of been anext generation legacy for us.
Chris Grainger (33:07):
Amen to that.
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So I mean just speaking to Zachand Gordon.
You mentioned him.
I heard him on a recent episodeof Unashamed, so it sounds like
he and your dad are workingtogether on on his next book as
well, so I'm looking forward tothat one coming out, but it just
(34:34):
I thought it was really neatlistening to them talk back and
forth of just you could youcould feel the synergy there and
definitely of theirrelationship Seems like it's an
extremely strong tie Betweenthose two.
You know, it's kind of funny,chris, because you know how it
is with family.
Al Robertson (34:49):
You have different ways of coming into a family.
And so, gordon, when he marriedJan, obviously Jan was such a
favorite Obviously everybody inthe family so you were kind of
going to be under the microscopeor whoever came in with her.
You just like the favorite inthe family and the person that
measures her.
So, gordon, who's from you knowthe family, you know the family
(35:10):
, you know the person thatmeasures her.
So, gordon, who's from you know, because she was the baby too
right.
She was the baby, correct?
So everybody else is alreadymarried, yeah.
And so Gordon is kind of goofy.
I mean just, let's just behonest, if he were here I would
be sad even more.
But he's kind of goofy, he'sreally funny, but he's kind of
(35:30):
almost inappropriately funny,like he doesn't know when to
like put the governor on Right,and so when he first came into
the family it was a love him orhating scenario, I mean it was.
And so in my, in mygrandparents, especially Jan's
parents, didn't think much ofhim.
In my granny, who you knowagain, she had mental illness,
(35:51):
so she didn't have a governoreither.
But she would just say, flatout, you know, you should have
married Stan Williams and her.
You know different people.
So obviously Gordon had a kindof a chip on his shoulder Right
Coming into our family, and sothey moved back to Florida, he
and Jan, which is where he wasfrom, and of course she became a
huge Gator fan, which I wasappalling to us as well.
(36:14):
I know that sounds crazy, but Imean in our family it comes from
a big deal Right and so like itwas like you stole our hat and
turned her into this you knowmonster.
But so they would only comeover and visit a couple of times
a year and so we weren't thatclose, I think, to Gordon and
Jan, but it was.
It was always reallyinteresting because we would
still have a lot of biblicaldiscussion and sometimes
(36:36):
arguments and debates with myuncles and aunts and we were
kind of younger so we would justlisten to this and it's led to
some of what we do in anothershape.
But so we weren't as close.
I think growing up and mycousins don't really have a
super favorable relationship andmemories of my grandparents and
(36:57):
so it's just a different.
We were very different, and sothis bond that you mentioned
that we share now has beeninteresting because it really
happened.
More later in our lives, gordonand Jan moved back to West
Monroe because they'd been thereyears ago, right, and when they
did that, you know, gordonbecame an elder at our church
and Jan obviously was involved,like she is, and my cousins a
(37:19):
couple of them drifted backthere as well for a period of
time and we're involved with usin ministry.
So that's when we really bonded.
Oh good, and you know we wantto impact the world because they
have the same heart forministry.
We did Right, and even thoughwe don't have this commonality
of shared, you know the thingswe love about our childhood they
don't have that.
What we share now as adults isreally close.
(37:40):
And so Gordon is a really giftedwriter and, like I say, he's
doing some work for Lisa and Iand helping us with our blogs.
But then also, as you mentioned, he was a ghost writer for
dad's last book, uncancelled,and he also just did the new one
, which we haven't got a titleyet, but the working title is I
could be wrong, but I doubt itright which dad loves to say
(38:01):
that I love and and so it's.
It's really interesting book,but it's really really well done
.
So we're super excited that'sgonna be out next March For
people to look for.
That too, once we kind of getthe movie behind this, we'll
talk about that, but it's, it'sa great spiritual bond, right.
And so I talked to Gordonprobably every other day about
something, either somethingworking on or Some project, and
(38:24):
then Zach and I talk most, mostevery day, just, you know,
working together trying to dostuff, and he's partnered in
with willing Corey as well In acompany called tread lively.
They're the ones that producedthe movie.
Oh, so they've had a lot ofother cool projects down the
pike, not necessarily with theirfamily, but with other people,
so a lot of Biblical spiritualstories to tell hey, man, that
(38:45):
is he, that is that get his bigvocabulary from his dad.
Well, he's pretty smart, yeah,he's.
You know Zach by because he wasa doubter.
I think he kind of leans towardthe apologetic side of
Christianity, right, and sothat's the stuff he likes to
read and that obviously led himto some of his yeah, his big
(39:07):
words.
But we keep him humble.
Chris Grainger (39:11):
I Get to go on each other.
I always used to be a laugh atthat stuff.
Al Robertson (39:15):
Well, and Jace is always gonna have something to
say.
So and you know my role is,even when I was young is a great
instigator.
I can stir the pot, or I can bea peacemaker with equal
enthusiasm.
So when the pot needs to bestirred, I'm pretty good at that
too, so I like to get themgoing.
I love having Jason Missyfighting on the podcast.
(39:36):
That's probably some of mybetter moments.
Chris Grainger (39:38):
Oh yeah, that's yeah.
It's always fun to see himsquirm, that's for sure.
Yeah, exactly Now.
How about you know, al, for theguy there's listening right now
, maybe he's struggling withsome areas of his life and maybe
he's where Phil was, you knowwhat.
Where this movie takes placeand he gets a chance to go see
the blind, what's the messagethat you hope that's this film
(39:59):
brings that guy?
Al Robertson (40:01):
You know, I think the central theme of the movie
Chris is is hope.
There are times when any of usgo through a dry patch, go
through a difficult stretch.
Maybe we're, you know, in somelifestyle Situation that's not
good for us and we know it's not.
Maybe it's sin, maybe it's just, you know, not doing what we
(40:22):
know we need to be doing, and Ithink anybody that struggles
during that season Needs to knowthere's hope for something
better, and I would say the filmspeaks to that more than
anything else.
And you know, one of theinteresting things that hit me
about the film that I didn'texpect Was the actress who
played mom as an adult, as ayoung adult, had a really.
(40:44):
She captured mom's Hope andOptimism.
Okay, really, really well.
My mom has always been superoptimistic.
She obviously stuck with dadthrough 10 tough years and so
you know that came across to me,that you know she until until
later in the film, to righttoward the end, mom never lost
(41:05):
hope that dad was going to comearound and then she finally did
and it was crushing for to dothat.
You know to dash that optimismand so.
But it just reminded me thateven the strongest people at
some point, feel hopeless, yeah,about some situations, some
difficulties, some tragedies,some disease, anything.
We're all gonna face that, andso I think the film Really
(41:28):
speaks to that opportunity thatif we can just hold out right
and we can just allow God to dowhat he does best, that
Something good can happen in ourlives.
And so that's what happenedwith us, and I think that's what
can happen in anyone's life.
So, no matter what you'restruggling with, no matter what
you in this season see is no wayaround.
Help us, help us always thereand so is available.
Chris Grainger (41:52):
Amen of that.
I mean it sounds like theseactors absolutely knocked out
the park that I am curious ifthey spend any time with with
Phil or miss K just trying toget to know them or asking
questions or all that kind of inthe scripting of it.
Al Robertson (42:04):
You know it's kind of funny, kind of the sausage
making.
Part of movie making,unfortunately, is.
You know, these are all youngactors, they're trying to make
their way into this genre, inthis world, which is not easy,
and so really they just come in.
I mean, they obviously get ascript, they agree to do a movie
and they probably do a littlebit of research on their own,
(42:25):
their own, but they just come inand get after it and so in this
case they did have a couple oftimes when Zach got them
together, right, especially theadult ones, and to meet mom and
dad and know a little bit aboutthem.
But but that's it, okay, mostof it they just did it on their
own and and did a really goodjob.
I mean, their accents are notquite there, I mean you know
(42:47):
they're, they're.
You know, when you try to dosouthern accents, as you know
you're from the South, butthey're different.
I mean, in North Carolina,georgia and Alabama, louisiana
are all different, and so thatwe recognize it because you know
we speak it and we can hear thedifferences.
But to these people that played, mom and dad were both Brits
and so you know it's.
(43:08):
They didn't quite get it spoton, but it's.
It's good enough.
It's not distracting right tous and and probably to other
people in the South, they maynot even notice.
But yeah, it was.
It was interesting to see themkind of try to figure all that
stuff out.
And I had a conversation about a30-minute video chat with the
little young actor that playedme.
Okay, he's 10 years old, fromthe Houston area, and so he and
(43:32):
his dad we zoomed in one day andyou know he just asked me
questions and you know aboutwhat I was thinking and you know
Stuff like that and he's a 10year old kid, so the dad would
ask a lot of questions too.
But and I thought he was greatI mean, you know it's not like
he's, you know, had a lot oflines, but he he captured my
quizzical, sort of alwayswanting to be a part of
(43:54):
everything on the movie.
So I thought he did a nice jobwith that is awesome.
Chris Grainger (43:58):
Yeah, the accent stuff's big.
I have to remind people all thetime I am not from New Jersey,
it is North Carolina, butEverybody's a little bit
different.
Wow, man, I'm so excited forthis, this movie, to come out.
Where can people like go tofind more information on it?
Al Robertson (44:15):
And what makes so the best place to go is the
blind movie dot com.
Okay, the blind movie dot com,because there you can find that
what's going on.
You can also sign up or theycan send you Information as
things develop.
Right now you can actually buyyour tickets early, which we're
encouraging people to do.
Find out if it's in your localarea so you can go ahead and get
(44:37):
the tickets, because the moretickets that are bought early,
the more theaters we get into,right, and so it helps us, helps
the distribution of the movie.
If you happen to be in an area,you know, if you're listening to
this and you look on the listand it's not near you, there's
also opportunities to have it inyour church.
So if there's any pastors outthere that listen that they have
those opportunities you cancheck out from the website.
(44:59):
So, okay, we're trying to getit in front of as many eyeballs
as possible.
Obviously, this is somethingthat's gonna help advance the
gospel, so it is something wecan get behind as Christians and
we just encourage people tosupport it.
You know, and try to get it infront of as many eyeballs as
possible.
Chris Grainger (45:15):
Amen, we'll make sure all that stuff's in the
show notes.
And I know you did our standardlightning round on your first
episode with us.
I had, I didn't.
I have one more.
I did some more fun.
I guess easy type of lightninground questions if you're
willing to play one morelightning round with this for a
week.
Al Robertson (45:31):
Absolutely.
I'm always ready for lighting.
I just not have my satellitedown here, so.
Chris Grainger (45:36):
I'm all about.
Al Robertson (45:38):
Lightning.
Chris Grainger (45:38):
All right, I will.
I do a little bunch of these.
I thought man Al may get it tokick out of some of them.
So anyway, let's just, let'sjust play.
You play a little, have alittle fun here at the end.
So if you can have anysuperpower, what would it be?
Al Robertson (45:52):
Oh man flying, it had to be flying.
Chris Grainger (45:55):
Right yeah.
Al Robertson (45:55):
Yeah, who doesn't want?
Who would love it if you didn'thave to get on an airplane?
That's right.
That's right.
That's what I'm looking forwardto at the resurrection.
We're going to jet pack out ofhere without a jet pack, that's
right.
That's right.
I would take flying for sure.
Chris Grainger (46:09):
What's the weirdest food combination you've
ever tried, and you actuallyenjoyed it.
Al Robertson (46:14):
Weirdest food combination.
Chris Grainger (46:17):
I was curious for you, for being a Louisiana
man, I didn't know if there wassomething of combination that
stood out.
Al Robertson (46:23):
You know, probably and I don't like it might be a
stretch, but I want to missiontrip one time to Mexico and I
had already made up my mind thatI was going to eat whatever,
because we're a little bitpersnickly about food and they
had a goat stew and you know, Ilooked at the pod and I looked
(46:45):
at the surroundings and Ireminded myself that I was here
on behalf of the almighty and soI was very trepidatious about
this goat stew, but I have tosay when I ate it it was not bad
, Okay.
Okay, I don't know if I wassaying I would love it or order
it again, but it was not bad.
It was an odd combinationbecause I'm not a big goat guy,
so I've been around too many ofthem in the wild.
(47:07):
So now, how about?
Chris Grainger (47:10):
how about this one?
If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?
Al Robertson (47:16):
I would have to be Pepe Lapue.
Okay, he's a very underrated.
He's French, so automatically,kind of like I don't know what
this guy right, but I was alwaysconsidered myself, and
especially my younger years, asa lover, not a fighter Right.
And so I can appreciate PepeLapue trying to connect with
(47:37):
that cat, you know, and so whenI was a kid, everybody wanted to
be all the other guys, but Iwas like you know, pepe, he's
got something going on, so maybethat's.
The one thing I like about theFrench is commitment to love.
Chris Grainger (47:49):
You definitely call me off guard with that one.
I was expecting Pepe Lapue,pepe Lapue.
All right, so now what's yourgo to karaoke song out?
Al Robertson (48:01):
You know I'm not really a karaoke person, but the
one time that I participated wehad a big thing.
Willie and Corey love karaoke,and so the one idea that I
really had a lot of fun with wasLove Shack.
Okay, I can't remember whosings it I think it's a girls
group but the song Love Shack Iactually did with Lisa and we
(48:24):
had a blast.
So since it's the only timeI've ever done it, I guess
that's my go to.
Chris Grainger (48:28):
So do you want to give us a sample today or
pass?
Al Robertson (48:31):
I'll pass on that.
I don't think you want it.
I don't think your listenerswant to hear that screeching
noise, so I can make a joyfulnoise in the Lord.
But that's about it.
Chris Grainger (48:42):
That's it.
That's it.
That's what I always say.
That's not my spiritual gift,so let's do a suit about two
more.
So, if you're a desert island,you only get three things to
take with you.
What do you bring it?
Al Robertson (48:53):
Well, I will the two things that I was trained to
do.
For sure, I want my Bible andmy woman, and then I would
probably need something to helpcultivate some food, because you
know, I'm not getting anythinner these days.
So I need some seeds, some game, I need something with me that
(49:13):
I can eat.
As long as I got my woman, myBible, something to eat, I'm
pretty much good to go.
Chris Grainger (49:19):
Amen, Amen.
So our last one out.
So this is.
This is what makes you think alittle bit more.
Would you rather have a rewindbutton for your life or a pause
button for the world around you?
Al Robertson (49:30):
You know I really don't want a rewind button
because I feel like at thispoint in my life that everything
that's happened in my life hasgot me here to make an impact
for a reason.
So it took me a long time tonot want to go back and redo,
especially my mistakes.
But I realize now the mistakesof and the overcoming and the
(49:51):
healing from them have helped meshape it.
So I guess I'd have to go forthe pause every once in a while
that I would like, especially ifI could pause the world and go
to a beach somewhere and just bewith my bride.
Then that would be the ultimate.
Chris Grainger (50:04):
Amen, amen.
Well, anything else you'd liketo share with us today, on the
line with us.
Al Robertson (50:09):
No only that, I appreciate you, Chris.
I appreciate your audience.
It's been fun to be able tocross that and to have you on an
unashamed, and so I'm proud ofthe work that you're doing there
and just pray you keep it upand invite all your listeners to
keep reaching out to otherpeople and bringing that line up
.
Chris Grainger (50:27):
Amen, sir.
Well, thank you so much.
And Beth praying for the blindpraying, it's going to blow up.
It's been some great Christianmovies coming out lately.
It's really encouraging to seethe faith films that are making
a big impact, and this is goingto be one that's just gone.
I can't wait, I'm so excited.
Al Robertson (50:42):
The fun era to be around, because we're finally
getting and we're making ourmark into this world.
The new freedom movie that JimCavizos is another example that
we're doing a lot of greatthings to make an impact in this
culture.
So let's keep it up.
Chris Grainger (50:58):
Amen, brother, we have a great day.
Thank you, chris.
We have a resource that allowsyou to test how strong of a
Christian leader you are.
We designed a short quiz so youcan see for yourself how
prepared you are for the battle.
Don't worry, it's multiplechoice and it's a lot of fun.
(51:18):
So, to access this freeresource, visit the lion within
dot us slash quiz that's thelion within dot us slash quiz
and see if you are ready tounleash the lion within.
Yes, and I was a phone with Al.
He is just an amazing guy,loved his story, loved how he
(51:41):
recapped so many areas of themovie.
He gave you some, some behindthe scenes insight of what it
took to make the sausage.
Now you need to take action.
Go out and see this movie andthen share with others.
Okay, this is not something youjust have to go out with with
your brothers in Christ.
Maybe you need to take that onethat you've been praying for,
but hey, let's go see this coolmovie called the blind.
(52:02):
Just go watch it and let theHoly Spirit do the rest.
The question for you this week Iwant you to think about what is
blinding you from experiencinghis grace.
Okay, what's blinding you fromexperiencing his grace.
There are so many things inthis world that are pulling at
us, guys.
I know they are because they'repulling at me and they're
(52:24):
pulling at you, but look, youhave to just cut through all
that and understand his grace isenough.
That's all you need.
It's so sufficient and it's sofulfilling and it will leave you
satisfied.
So I pray that you get you cutout that stuff that's pulling
you in the darkness and you walkinto the light, alright, guys?
(52:46):
So if you're enjoying thisepisode, I encourage you to
share that with others.
I definitely leave a serenityand review head over to the lion
with that US, to get all ourresources, all of the stuff that
we're building to serve you, tohelp you guys continue to grow,
to be the leaders and Godintends you to be, join our
community.
Check out the Daily SpiritualKickoff, our Leadership
(53:06):
Coalition program, ourMastermind program.
Guys, we have ways to serve you, no matter where you are.
I am telling you we are readyto help.
We're ready to help you grow.
We know you want to be a leader.
We know that Satan's pushingback.
We know that you have questions, but guess what?
We can do this together.
We can lean on the good news ofthe gospel.
We can simplify and apply God'sword, like we do each and every
(53:28):
week here at the Lion Within us, and we can help you be the
leader God intends you to beLike get out and unleash the
life within.
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