July 11, 2023 • 47 mins
Ever wondered what it's like to walk where Jesus walked or to personally witness how faith can unite people from different cultures? Prepare to have your curiosity sated and your faith renewed as we take you on a journey through our life-changing trip to Israel.
Today I'm joined by my friends, Annie and Trevor Balman, who embarked on this journey with us in Israel. We went on an adventure, exploring tunnels under the city of David, witnessing fervent worshippers from Africa and Asia, and experiencing God's presence in profound and unique ways.
Later in the episode, I'm also joined by my dear friends Mat and Stephanie Frentress! This amazing couple shares their transformative experiences from this trip and a major highlight is Mat's triumphant battle with anxiety, teaching us all a lesson in courage and faith.
On this life-changing trip, we crossed the Sea of Galilee, visited synagogues and walked the same paths Jesus did. Feeling the power and impact of these experiences was truly life changing. We also had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the unity God is fostering between the Jewish people and Christians, and how we can partake in this divine purpose.
From the city of Capernaum, where miracles unfolded, to the realization of how God's story has traveled over 2000 years and many miles to unite us, this journey was not only about the physical terrain covered but also the spiritual depths explored.
Join me and my wonderful friends as we reflect on our trials, expectations, and the humor that peppered our journey and discover how you too can embrace the transformative power of faith and unity.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, what's up everybody?
Today we are going to reminiscea little bit about our trip to
Israel.
Have a few of my dear friendsthat were able to go with me.
You're going to see a lot ofcool things of how God was
speaking to us through thatbeautiful area I pray that you
(00:21):
will just receive a blessingfrom this conversation and how
the same God from some 2000 plusyears is still revealing
himself through the things leftbehind in history there.
It's just a powerful, powerfulconversation with some very dear
(00:42):
friends of ours.
So just grab you a cup ofcoffee or whatever your favorite
drink is and just sit back andreminisce with us as we talk
about all things Israel and even, maybe even, our alliance.
You'll have to stick around tofind out what that is.
All that more happening rightafter this.
(01:18):
Welcome back to the when wordsdon't come easy podcast.
I am your host, andy Howard,and today is going to be fun,
you guys, it's going to be somuch fun.
The last three weeks have justbeen life changing for me and my
family.
We got to go just experienceIsrael.
It was so special.
And then the last week we justgot back from Lusaka, which is
(01:41):
in Zambia, which is also inAfrica, if you don't know all
that, and I had the best timeworking at just this amazing
camp and with some amazingkiddos, and they just touched my
heart.
But we're going to recap on alot of this And in fact, today
we're talking mainly on theIsrael stuff, but over the next
(02:01):
few weeks we will touch on allof this.
So, with that said, though, ihave some very dear friends of
mine who went with us.
This is Annie and Trevorballman.
Please welcome them to thepodcast.
What's up you guys?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Hey, we're excited to be here, buddy.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
This is going to be fun And I am so glad, annie, i
am so glad you let Trevor comeon with you.
They just really touched it Tosee this dude.
What's up, trevor?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I tried to hold him back, but he was so excited
about Israel He wanted to comein.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Oh yeah, Well, i got to stage with Annie as a
privilege, for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Dude, i know the feeling because me and you were
kind of cut from the same cloth,trevor.
And Tiffany is a powerhouse aswell, just like Annie, and
sometimes with me and you justbeing the eye candy and we can
get lost in the background.
I get that, bro, but I'm soglad you're here.
We had so much fun together.
(02:56):
Let's start off with just somefun.
I remember, and I don't knowexactly where, in fact, i
couldn't even tell you, becausethis is what was so special
about this trip.
Right, we saw some amazingthings, but most of all, we had
just the best group And what Ilove about friends, and really
good friends, who get you andunderstand you is.
(03:17):
You can be silly and have funand still learn a lot and still
be touched by the Lord, and allthat too.
But at the same time, there wassome funny moments, and so,
just to bring the rest of ourgroup I don't even know that
they're aware of this, you guys,i don't know why I'm whispering
either.
I feel like I'm telling asecret but the rest of the group
was not aware of what went down.
(03:39):
At one point during the trip,during the tour, we had an
alliance form, and so we wereunderground in some form of a
tunnel, and I'll let you take itfrom there, amy.
So what happened at that point?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's so true And it's so good, because I want to tell
you about this experience.
Which was amazing is that Ilearned so many things and I
felt like I got closer to Christ.
I know that we felt closer toGod, but we also had a blast And
I laughed nonstop.
We were under the city of David, correct?
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
We were under the city of David, back in the
streets that the Romans built.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
See, he was paying attention to all that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
This was awesome about having Trevor is he kept
us online and when we forgotsomething he knew.
Thank you, trevor.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So yes, so yeah, we were under the city of David and
I made a joke to one of thealliance partners.
Okay, i made a joke that I'mlike wow, you know, this is
beautiful, this is amazing.
But they talk about earthquakesthat hit this area every once
in a while And I'm like, ifearthquake comes right now, we
are toast.
We are toast.
And Matt says something likewell, i'm not really worried
(04:43):
about the you know it kind ofcaving in, this is built pretty
well.
I'm worried about losing oxygen, and so I'm like okay, well, if
we're going to lose oxygen, wecan't have this many people down
here, so you might have tostart getting rid of folks.
So we need to create the line.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
So this is where I come in.
So, amy, you come to me out ofthe goodness of your heart.
I don't know why you were sosweet about it, but you're,
you're, you're looking aroundand saying listen, here's the
deal.
And we talked it over.
We looked at the numbers, wesaw the room size.
We had 12 in our group or 13,13 in our group, i think,
counting, counting Ellie, ellieoff.
(05:20):
So our guide, anyways, we'relike that's way too many people.
So, just like on any smartperson or survivor series would
have been, we started having tocheck people off.
So you said you generous, sogenerously invited Tiff and I
into the alliance.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And you guys are the ones that invite us to Israel.
I felt like but this is goodleadership, Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
This is great.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You know, as Trevor's like learning about God and
like really like understandingthe deep meaning behind all of
this.
I'm thinking this is goodleadership.
We just started making somedecisions now, just in case
something goes ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Always think ahead, so you invite me in on the
situation, and what you didn'trealize, though, is I soon
turned and say well, now that meand Tiff are in, i think we got
to get rid of.
The French is, and I don't knowif you saw that coming.
Did you see that coming?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I didn't see that coming, but I'm like, whatever I
need to do to make sure Istabilize my position, I'm
willing to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So seriously, it's all fun and games.
Everybody survived and we'reall good.
I guess we'll never know, causewe were not put to the test, to
what we would have done, but itwas good.
Friends like you Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You and the team were , no matter what, right.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I don't know what they're going to say later, but
we know what the real allianceis here The French is, are
coming on right after you guys,so they will get the last word,
but for now, you guys are backin the alliance.
I just want that out there.
Actually, you never left.
So but on a serious note, and Ihope that no one's already
jumped ship after the first fiveminutes of this podcast.
(06:48):
But on a serious note, i wouldjust love to hear from both of
you What was your favorite?
just your favorite thing we sawover the course of that 10 days
there in Israel.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Yeah, beginning of the trip, we were kind of in the
outlying areas around Jerusalemand we were in the city of
Capernaum and that's the, thetemple that Jesus stood in and
read Isaiah and said today, thishas been fulfilled.
In your hearing, we actuallystood in that temple.
(07:21):
Now, that temple had has beenthe one we stood in was one
layer above that becausesomebody came in and built over
it, but it was the actual templewhere Jesus said that And we're
just an awe thinking Jesusstood right there.
He told the world that he wasfulfilling scripture right there
(07:42):
.
That's when he and that was inthe city of Capernaum And it was
right by the Sea of Galilee.
I mean, it was probably, youknow, a two minute walk from the
, from that building, to the Seaof Galilee, where all the
things happened in the sea,where he walked on water, where
they caught the fish And in thesea.
(08:03):
You could see the other side ofit from where we were.
So it wasn't, it was big, butit wasn't so big that you know
it was like an ocean where youcouldn't see across.
So, wow, that was one of themost amazing.
It was all amazing, but thatreally stood out in my mind.
So good, we did go out in a boaton the Sea of Galilee and we
(08:24):
all wanted to jump into thewater and try it for ourselves
to see if we could walk on water.
The boat did have a sign thatsays don't jump in the water.
Don't jump in the water.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So somebody has tried that before is why that sign is
there.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I'm pretty sure a lot of people have tried that.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
So yeah, Yeah And thank you, thank you for sharing
that.
And it does.
it makes a gosh.
you look around that whole arealike you saw Peter's home, and
you saw, and it doesn't sayexactly where, but you're,
you're, you're looking at, wow.
this is where Jesus probablyhad the conversations with Peter
(08:59):
and Andrew saying, hey, idropped your nets, why don't you
come follow me and I'll makeyou a fish in him?
And I mean, all this stuff isright there And it is, i don't
know.
it just does something for yourfaith.
seeing it, seeing all theplaces and even walking into it,
you see the sign that says thetown where Jesus lived.
(09:19):
I mean it's like, oh, my gosh,it's so cool.
How about you, annie?
What was?
is there a favorite moment foryou?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I feel like it was all so good And we didn't talk
about this before the podcastbecause I just want him to go in
freedom and he wants me to bein freedom and share.
But the two things that hebrought up were the exact two
things that I was going to breakup, but I'll just share with
you like the meaning behind it.
Like one of my favorite thingsabout Capernaum is that temple
that you were talking about,that synagogue.
You know we were able to be,you know nearby, and all of a
(09:47):
sudden you just kind of hearthis, this music of people
singing, and I kind of venturedaway from the group because I
kind of tend to do that.
But anyway, i ventured in thegroup and I go in there and I
got to meet some of them andthere was this group from Africa
and they were worshiping Godand just like just worshiping
and somewhere on their knees andthey were emotional And some of
them were just shaking, justwith the presence of God and
just being in that place.
(10:08):
And then, it wasn't much longerafter they left, i heard
another group going in there andsinging.
I go back over and there's agroup from Asia and I got to
kind of talk with one of them alittle bit, but they were
worshiping and they wereclaiming the good news And I'm
like it doesn't matter whereyou're from.
This is what's going to hit menow.
It's like, you know, we're fromTexas, one group was from
Africa, one group was from Asia,and they're all worshiping the
(10:30):
same God and they're in thatpresence and then they're in
that place and it can't help buttouch you And I'm, like you
know, we're all one, really likewe're all just one in Christ
and they're my brothers andsisters, even though they're
from a different continent.
And like, talking about the seaof Galilee, that was one of my
favorite things too, just beingon a boat and just thinking
about, okay, this is where Jesuswalked on water, not only to
(10:53):
walk on water, but he walkedabove the storm, the storm that
was raging all around He had nofear about, he had no concern
about, and he was just walkingabove that storm.
And ever since then, I keepthinking about, okay, like, even
like how personally that can be, the storms of our own lives,
their own pain and the ownhardship, like you guys have had
(11:13):
, you know, with the kiddo thathas special needs.
That's what the kiddo hasspecial needs, or a kid that
might struggle with anxiety, oreven in my own life, hard things
that have come against merecently, hard things that
you've been struggling with.
It's like I will never forgetbeing on that boat and being on
that water and knowing that mysavior was right there, walking
above the storm, and how it justcontinues to remind me and
(11:36):
reminds us that it is beneath usand that we have authority in
him, and it just it all comes tolife.
When you're there, it is allcomes to life.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
It's so good taking it full circle.
We are all in his alliance,right We?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
have Jesus.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
We have Jesus.
So no matter what's wild isfrom our group, i think.
looking back, i think it was 15total.
It's been a minute and I'mstill very jet lagged.
We just got him.
But I would say of that group,every single person had some
form of trial that came towardsthem in some way or another.
(12:15):
I know you were suffering fromvertigo and just many times just
had to sit back for a minute to, I guess, get your balance or
get everything under control.
I do feel like with all myheart that the enemy was
attacking us.
He did not want us to receivewhat we received.
It was just a special, such aspecial trip.
(12:35):
And so, looking back, for bothof you this question is for both
of you looking back on the way,like what was your viewpoint
going before we went?
Like what did you think wasgoing to happen or what were you
expecting to have happen?
And then, after it was done,did it change?
Did it meet your expectations?
Was it even above yourexpectations?
(12:56):
What was your takeaway once thetrip was over?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I didn't really know what to expect.
I mean, i've heard people goingto Israel for many years and
that they loved it, and I thinkone of the things I was looking
forward to was the Dead Sea,because I've heard a lot of
people talk about that floatingin it without sinking.
Kind of interesting how that.
You know, peter walked on,water didn't sink.
(13:24):
But in the Dead Sea you can go,you can't stand on the water,
but you can sit in the water andnot sink, so I was looking
forward to that And that was fun.
But from a spiritual standpoint,there are so many things that I
can visualize now because I'vebeen there, been to walk the
streets of Jerusalem, been to alot of the famous places where
(13:48):
things are believed to havehappened.
You know picture Jesus carryingthe cross down the Via Del Rosa
.
So when I read, just readingsome scriptures since we've been
back, things are different Andthey're I see I have a different
visual of what happened, andthen just so many other things
(14:11):
that other scriptures from theOld Testament are coming alive.
You know from David's time.
I love the story of David andSolomon And we visited a place
where Solomon had a storagehouse that was like a stronghold
(14:33):
above the Valley of Armageddon.
Yes, And just picturing.
okay, the horses were here andthis and that.
So it was really exciting, andso I'm looking forward to my
faith changing and growing waybecause of going there and also
with people.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, and I feel like we didn't really know what to
expect, though, too, because wetalked about it a couple of
times and Anita said on a Zoom,this is not going to be a
vacation.
I'm like, wait a minute,because you know like I want to
experience, you know, israel,but I want to do it like an air
conditioned pod with some likedecorative pillows and such.
But I really do.
But I do want to like get toknow God and I want to know
(15:15):
where he was and all thosethings.
But I feel like we didn'treally know what to expect a lot
, but then, when we got there,we're like wow, and it just came
.
I think too.
I think so much of it is myheart for Israel, like I've
always had a heart for Israel,i've always had a heart for the
Jewish people and for people offaith in general and all of it,
but like it reminds me to prayfor that place And how can we
(15:39):
align with God in new ways Andhow can we share Christ with
everyone?
And I don't know.
I guess I didn't know what toexpect, but once I was there,
there was so much to take in.
I'm like, how do I even takethis in?
How do you even take in thefact that you're?
you know you're underneathwhere the Holy of Holies was.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And you're standing at the Western Wall And even in
that picture I think back to theWestern Wall.
I'm like, god, thank you somuch.
Thank you so much that, like Ihonor them and their belief that
way.
But it's like thank you, god somuch that we can be in your
presence all the time, like evenif you're underneath the Holy
of Holies again, you get toexperience God's presence all
the time.
(16:15):
But I feel like we just want togo back now.
We want to encourage and,honestly, we probably would not
have gone if it wasn't for yourencouragement and other friends
who have been there and they'relike.
You need to experience that.
And we just believe them, and Ithink we just want to say to
everyone like, if you can makeit possible, you will want to
experience this, because itcan't help but touch you in ways
(16:37):
that I don't think anyone canreally put into words.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It is.
It's hard to put into words Andeven I feel like I and I'm 44,
I read the Bible my whole life.
I mean it's as far back as Ican remember.
But after so it was six monthsago I went for the first time,
just on accident that I gotinvited with a group at the last
minute because of acancellation And from that point
(17:02):
on I mean it just wrecked me.
It's just so much of it was justfor me.
I just seeing it broughteverything into order, Like you
could see, like you mentionedthe Sea of Galilee and all the
little communities around theSea of Galilee, So you could see
so much how Jesus' ministryworked, Like he was here and
(17:23):
then he'd go across to the otherside.
You'd see, Mary Magdalene wasfrom this area and Peter and
Andrew from here and then othersthroughout.
So it was just so cool seeinghow, for the most parts, was all
within walking distance of allthe, even the sermon on the
mountain and the Beatitudessermon there, All those things
(17:48):
so close.
And then Jerusalem was the onlypart that was a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You know would have been somewhat travel for him A
little bit of a way And theyshot us when we walked, like
from the city.
Yeah, we're like, that's whereJesus walked that valley.
Right there He could split themountains and make sense, just
walking right through it.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
So it was so cool all of it, but just, it just
brought for me, being a visualperson, it just brought
everything into order for me andit's changed, like you said,
the way I read the word now.
So, yeah, i would highlyrecommend it for anyone.
If you get a chance, if you geta chance to do it in closing.
for this part, do you guys haveanything just on your heart
that you would love to share inclosing?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I was just thinking how we went to the wailing wall
and I was standing there and,just like the, i know the Holy
Spirit's with me wherever I go.
I don't have to go there tofeel him and to pray, but the
passion and the prayer of allthe Jewish people.
They're just like when theypray, they get their body
involved and they speak veryloudly, like they pray louder
(18:51):
and maybe more passionately thanI do.
When I'm at home and one of theJewish rabbis came over to me
and said, are you Jewish?
And I said no, i'm sorry.
And he said, well, i was gonna.
I have a blessing for you ifyou're Jewish.
And I said, well, thank you.
And then he kind of was walkingaway and I said God bless you
too.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
I just felt like there's a place where we can
bless each other and that God'sbringing the Jewish people and
Christians together And it's forhis greater purpose that we can
live in peace together.
There's so much history betweenChristians and Jews that where
they don't like us or they'resuspicious of Christians, and so
(19:36):
I think God's changing that andmaking that different, and for
his own purposes And for thekingdom of God.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
And many of them are open.
But there's small groups wherethere's just, you know, tension
and different things.
But, yeah, to be able to lovethem and bless them, that is so
good.
And I feel like if the onlything that's on my heart right
now is an encouragement and evenas we're talking about, if you
have a chance to go to Israel,go.
One thing I want to encourageanyone who's listening to this
is, if there's any part of youthat feels drawn or even says
(20:04):
man, i would love that.
I would encourage you to askGod, like God, how can I?
How can I, and even for Trevorand I.
You know, when Tiffany and Andyfirst reached out and invited
us in, in that moment we werelike you know what, i'm not sure
if we can do thisinvestment-wise, i'm not sure if
we can do this time-wise withour kids.
But there was something in myspirit where I'm like I've
always we've talked about going,i want to go and you're like I
(20:26):
want to go, and so in thatmoment we said two things.
Well, first of all, we said God, we said you know, we want to
do this, dad, we would love todo this.
Can you make a way?
Can you make a way for us?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And we decided together.
We were going to say how can we, how can this be possible?
And then we went before ourfather, we made a way And within
a week or so we found out thatwe were going to get a tax
return back that we were notexpecting, come on, because we
were going to pay it on taxesAnd that's the money that we
used to go.
And so I believe that can beanyone's story Just going before
the father and asking andlooking and being open for a way
(21:01):
, because I believe God wants toget his kids over there.
I really do.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Oh, he does, and he is such a good, good father And
I don't want to use that termlightly We talk about, we sing
that song, we talk about it, buthe is.
He is a good father.
That's who he is And he caresfor us And if that's a desire of
your heart, he will make a wayfor you.
He will, And so I'm believingit as well.
If it's something that you'vewanted to do, I'm going to.
(21:27):
I'll be praying for you that itworks out.
I will, Because it do.
You have to go, and will youmake heaven if you do not attend
?
Yes, yes, You don't it's not arequirement, but it's just
something that is a for me.
I can speak for me.
It was so huge from from myfaith, getting to see it and
getting to see so many what theywould call like triple A.
(21:50):
Sites Like these are like the100% positive that Jesus would
have walked right here whereyou're at was just so, so cool
for me.
But the coolest thing, and it'sprobably everybody's coolest
thing, but there's so much totalk about.
I was just walking through thetomb and guess what?
everybody?
it's still empty.
It is still empty and it'sbecause he's alive and well and
(22:15):
he's alive for you.
So, if you're listening to thisright now, if you've stumbled on
this podcast for whateverreason you thought it was just
about vacations or not going toIsrael or whatever reason I want
you to know that we serve asavior who not only took our
place, right, he came and helived a blameless life when, in
(22:37):
all fairness, we all deserveddeath.
We all deserve to die.
That's what Roman says, right,we all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God.
We all had sinned, but he came,he lived a blameless life, took
our place.
I always compare it to going toa restaurant right And you're
ordering everything off the menu.
You're just having a great time.
(22:58):
But then it comes time to paythe bill and you don't have
enough money.
You do not.
What do I do?
I don't have enough.
He walks up to the counter andhe's like bam, it's paid for,
it's done.
So the wages of our sin isdeath.
That's what the Bible says.
The wages are payday for.
Our sin is death.
Jesus died for you, but itdidn't end there.
(23:21):
As I've already kind of spoiledit, the tomb is empty.
He not only died, but he roseagain so that you can have life,
and you can have eternal lifeby believing in him.
So I hope you take away if youtake anything from this away,
take away the fact that you havehope in our living Savior,
(23:41):
jesus Christ.
So, guys, thank you so much forjumping on board with me today
with the podcast and justsharing a few thoughts that
you've enjoyed.
How can anyone who wants maybethey have more questions or they
want to follow you or contactyou, for whatever reason how can
they follow up with you, guys?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, anyone can follow up with me Like.
I'm on Facebook Instagram,annie Balman.
You can find me.
Trevor is on Facebook, trevorBalman.
And yeah, we'd love to share orpray for you, like, we would
love to pray for you if youdidn't pray for anything, but
yeah, anytime.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Well, it has been just.
I've known you guys now for afew years and I feel like our
relationship keeps gettingstronger and stronger.
but getting to spend 10 dayswith you in Israel was
definitely a highlight of mylife, And I feel like our
friendship grew even more, Andso I thank you guys for jumping
on board with me today and justsharing your thoughts.
(24:40):
But we'll catch up soon.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
All right, bless you.
Alliance strong.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Yeah, we're good.
We're good.
I don't care what the Frencherssay.
Now, however, you know me andmy ADD.
I could be easily persuadedhere in a few minutes, But
hopefully I stay strong with youguys, my friends.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Thanks Andy.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Thanks, Andy.
Bye guys.
All right, you guys.
So, without further ado, nowI'm going to welcome my dear
friends Matt and StephanieFrenches, who you just heard a
little bit about.
They are in the Alliance.
We did touch on that lastsegment, So they are in the
Alliance.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
And so.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
I know the rest of the group is just now hearing
about this, or some of them forthe first time, so I don't know
how they will respond to this.
But first of all, matt andStephanie, welcome to the When
Words Don't Come Easy podcast.
It's so good to have you guys.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
So good to be here with you Love it And the
Alliance is strong.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
The Alliance is strong.
I'm not going to say what Anniesaid about you guys.
You'll have to wait till Annie.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
I'm totally kidding.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
I like to poke the bear.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
So that's probably my fault.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
So, but anyways, guys , we had a blast, absolutely
blast, in Israel, and I'll justask you, guys, the same thing as
Trevor and Annie What was yourbiggest takeaway, what was the
one thing that jumped out to youabout the trip?
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Let me go first.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
You mean to Yeah, i'll go first.
So, man, there were so manythings about that trip.
It seemed like every day it wasjust something new and it was
multiple things than a day Andit just it just kept hitting you
in the face every day becauseit was just so good every time.
(26:26):
And I think the day I think itwas day two or day three when we
were in Capernaum And thatreally messed with me up And I
was having tears in my eyespretty much that entire day It
(26:49):
really hit home when we cameupon the city of Capernaum and
really were talking about thatwas where Jesus lived, that was
where Jesus did all of hismiracles, that's where he chose
his disciples, the first fewdisciples, and I mean there were
(27:09):
miracles and miracles, tons ofthem, being done there healing
the lame, they lowered thecripple God through the roof.
They said the 5,000.
They told I think it was Peterand then did castor nets on the
other side of the boat, and Imean there was just so many
things that happened there.
When we were standing at one ofthe synagogues, i think it was,
(27:33):
and kind of kind of overlookingthe, the city there, and seeing
all these different homes inthere, you're just wondering,
like which one did Jesus live in?
Did he walk these streets, didhe?
you know, did he walk rightwhere I'm standing at this
moment?
And, man, that hit home justreally hard at me and just
(27:53):
really touched my heart.
And you know, that was one ofthe places where, from what I
understood like that's where alot of the the everybody was
talking about all the thingsthat he was doing, all the
parables that he was teaching,all the things he was talking
(28:13):
about teaching these people andthen healing people And then
from there just spread likecrazy.
And it was just so awesome andhumbling just to be there where
he was at and really just feellike I could be literally
standing where he was standingat that moment And in a curfew,
(28:35):
if you don't know, kind of he'son the edge of the Sea of
Galilee, which is justabsolutely beautiful.
It's just a really beautifulplace And that was just an
awesome experience to standwhere a lot of those miracles
were happening.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, man, and it's so good.
This was wild, so I put thistogether today.
This particular episode didn'ttalk to any of you about what
you were talking about, and sofar you've all mentioned the
same place.
No pressure stuff.
I mean, y'all mentioned theexact same place, all three, and
it's true, though there's somuch to it.
And, matt dude, you're a fellowfisherman So I know that
(29:13):
probably drew through your heartthere as well.
But, stephanie, just topiggyback off that real quick,
what Matt just mentioned, what Ithought was cool, not only were
you standing in the same place,but this has traveled, like
when it's traveled 2000 years intime.
But then how many, miles aftermiles after miles, has this
(29:36):
story just kept going and keepsspreading?
What was your big takeaway,stephanie?
I know everyone has a differentthing, that's kind of jumped
out and got them, but for you,what was your big takeaway from
the trip?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Yeah, i think the biggest moment that sticks out
to me and it's hard, it's likepicking between your children,
and so it's so hard to do topick your favorite moment,
because every day, like you said, was just jam-packed full of
these amazing experiences.
And but if I think back, thefirst one that hits me is when
we were on the boat ride at theSea of Galilee And we are going
(30:10):
I mean, i'm going to take us allback there for a minute, but
we're going on the Sea ofGalilee.
It's this beautiful day Andthey start playing over the
loudspeakers on this boat.
Spirit lead me where my trustis, without borders, and we're
all just staring off at this sea.
And if you haven't been there,maybe you think like I did.
I thought it was this huge seaAnd so I didn't realize.
(30:31):
You can see all the board.
It's like a large lake And soas we're on there, you look
around And I'm just thanking Godfor just all the things he did,
right there Like I said rightwhere he was.
And you see, over there is wherehe, you know, preached to the
5000, and over here is where hecast out the demon And they went
into the pigs.
And then, over here, somethingelse And you, just so many
(30:55):
things are just surrounding youas we're out on this water and
the humbling and the humblingexperience of it's like where my
faith and reality just collidedin that moment And it's just
absolutely overwhelming whatI've believed in, of course, my
whole life, but it's been unseenAnd then, all of a sudden, for
all those places to just be seenand me to experience them in
(31:16):
real time.
I was just weeping and I lookover and everybody else on the
boat is pretty much just weepingas well, And that moment to me
is just I'll never forget it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It was powerful And I want to be the first to say I'm
the only one that was notweeping.
No, i'm kidding, i was cryingas well.
You can't hide it.
It was a little dusty Eventhough I was outside.
It was a little dusty on theboat for some reason.
But it was just a powerfulmoment And it is something it's
(31:47):
hard to explain until you'vebeen there.
That's what I was trying to saywith Trevor and Annie last time
as well.
You don't have to go to Israelto have this experience.
The Holy Spirit's alive andwell.
He'll help meet you anywhereyou're at.
Jesus will meet you anywhere,any place.
(32:08):
But there's something specialwhen you've grown up reading
story after story and then allof a sudden you can visualize,
actually see the place whereJesus was.
It's just so cool.
Another thing I asked them andI'd love your takeaways but kind
of, what were your thoughtsheading into the trip?
(32:30):
Like, what were your ownexpectations?
And then afterwards, did itchange?
Was it totally different thanwhat you had anticipated?
Kind of, what's your viewpointson those two thoughts?
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Let me go first.
So when we first find out aboutthis trip, i was scared to
death.
I do not like flying.
Every time we talked about it's10 hours and 14 hours and all
these different hours.
(33:04):
I was sitting there going.
I can barely fly for workpurposes And it's usually like a
two hour flight.
It's miserable for me.
So I was just thinking like howare we going to get out of this
?
How do I?
And I realized like I'm tryingto get out of going to one of
the most amazing places on theplanet because of fear, and I
(33:28):
really felt like the devil wasreally just jacking with me,
like my anxiety was just so highabout this trip.
It was really jacking me up AndI just kept praying about it.
I had her praying for me, justlike you know, don't let myself
(33:50):
in my own stuff I'm dealing withkeep me from.
experiencing was probably oneof the most life changing things
that I've ever been on.
Like it, literally, it's justkind of opened my mind And I'm a
very visual person in seeingthese places And then reading
(34:10):
about it.
Just, i mean it's like, it'slike going from a black and
white movie to now full color.
I mean it, just it, and I wouldhave completely regretted if I
let myself, you know, panic andnot get on that.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Let's just keep this straight.
I would have gone with orwithout it.
Okay, I was like nothing'skeeping me Stephanie was going.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
We just didn't know who your plus one was going to
be.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Yeah, Who was my plus one?
That's right.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Wow, well, i love that and I'll let Stephanie give
her her version and her answerto that, but I do want to
challenge you.
So, now that you overcame theany experience, if there's
someone here because anxiety,man, it's, it's something that's
going rampant across not justus, it's across the world If
someone just stumbled upon thispodcast for whatever reason, and
(35:03):
and then I'm like wow, matt,thanks for sharing.
I struggle with anxiety, youknow, just in my day to day
living.
What kind of gosh, i don't knowwhat.
What kind of tips or what wouldyou just share with them about
doing something that may bescary at first?
What would you say to them?
You?
Speaker 5 (35:20):
know, I haven't really thought of it like that,
but I think you are talkingspecifically about this trip
specifically.
I'm just talking about anxietyand generalize.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Oh, now that you you overcame an obstacle of your
anxiety and we've talked before,so I know a little bit more of
your history than the rest ofthe viewers may, but I would
just love to hear your yourtakeaway on anxiety and general
and what happens when youovercome it and you push through
.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
I feel like this past year would work and changes in
life and stuff that we've hadgoing on.
I have been stretched a ton.
There's been a lot of thingsthat's been asked of me work
wise and different things.
that has just stretched me.
And you know, i think a lot ofthat was in preparation for this
(36:15):
trip.
I really do, and it's kind ofweird how God kind of worked
that out.
You know, i was flying morethan I've ever had to fly for
work, which had helped a lot.
But I think deep down inside,like I think you know, the devil
really uses anxiety a lotbecause there's so many things
(36:35):
that you could be missing out on.
you know, or or God has a planfor someone and he wants you to
be a part of it, and there'sthat trust issue with it and
trusting God that he's going totake care of you.
I mean there was when we wereover there and there's where
there's, time after time aftertime, that he was just showing
(36:57):
that people, the people that hadfaith, he took care of whatever
it was.
He healed me, calm storms, hedid all kinds of stuff And
having that ability to fully putyour trust in him that he's
going to take care of you ashumans and especially maybe.
God we just like we want thatcontrols.
(37:18):
Yeah, hard to let that go.
And I think, as you startgiving up a little bit and he
shows, shows that he's faithfulto taking care of you, i think
you'd give a little bit more anda little bit more.
And it's getting easier andeasier, But by all means I am
not a hundred percent cured fromthis.
But yeah, I have seen a hugechange in myself over the last
(37:40):
year, and especially since thistrip.
it has just definitely helpedme a lot.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Oh man, i've seen it too, bro, I have.
And there's so many things, andI wrote about it in the book.
I talk about all the coolthings that happen on the other
side of fear, and I do believe,without a shadow of a doubt,
that the there is an enemyThey're the devil would love
nothing more than to rob you ofeverything.
I mean John 10, 10 says it all.
(38:05):
You know he's come to steal,kill and destroy you, and that's
his goal, right.
It's to keep you fromexperiencing true beauty and
true life, life to the fullest,as Stephanie as well.
So that same answer what wereyour expectations?
Sounds like you were going, nomatter what you were excited
about the trip.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
I'm all in kind of person.
That's why we need each other.
Yeah, yeah, we need each other.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
What was your big takeaway?
Was it did your expectations me?
Was it even greater than whatyou plan?
What was the takeaway after itwas done versus on the way over?
Speaker 4 (38:38):
Yeah, i think my expectations were high but
exceeded anything that I couldhave ever imagined.
I already knew was going to beincredible, but there were just
a few things that that reallyshocked me.
And I think the biggest thingthat has shocked me is not even
the experience while we werethere as much as how much it has
(39:03):
made the Bible and myrelationship with the Lord just
up a huge notch since I'vegotten home, because now I go
into my normal prayer time or Igo into a Bible study and
normally I'm just reading thesewords and now they're jumping
off the pages.
Every time I see these locations, it's oh my gosh, we were there
(39:23):
, I really know what that waslike.
And you just don't know untilyou see, and just how they lived
.
So all these parables and theseyou know stories that he uses,
they all come alive.
It's like I have seen exactlyhow they lived and so it just
makes a lot more sense.
So I think the revelation,since we've been home, of when
(39:44):
I'm in the word has blown mymind, and then just the
experience as a whole beingthere was far above what I could
have ever experienced.
And now I come home andeverybody I see I'm like get to
Israel, get Israel, get toIsrael, give up what you got to
give up, give up other tripswith your family.
I'm telling you, especially youguys taking your children.
(40:05):
That's my next goal, likethat's what.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
I want to do.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
Let's save up the kids, because how amazing for
them.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Our girls are still talking about it and they
absolutely loved it.
I didn't know, and both are 10.
Course, peyton stayed back, butthe twins went and they I mean
I didn't know how they would doit.
So it's a very hard.
For those who have never beento Israel, it's not a, it's not
a vacation, it's not a loungeand relax.
(40:34):
I mean it's very tough 10 days.
We had early starts and westayed out late, trying to get
just as much in as we could, andso by the end of those 10 days
I there were some days where Iwas tired and I looked up my
girls were still going strong.
So I'm so proud of them.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
They were incredible.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Incredible.
Well, in closing, is anythingon your heart that, uh, whether
it's a about the trip or not,but just anything that you would
love to share.
Uh, maybe it is about the trip,maybe it's just something God's
putting on your heart right now.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
I, if I can go first this time, i'm just kidding Um,
i feel like, and when we went tothe the welling wall and the,
the Jewish people and, um, youjust see them all out there just
praying, i mean at 24 hours aday.
I mean there are people therejust just praying and, um, you
(41:29):
see the customs and thetraditions and and the religion
and then us as Christians, um,you see how easy we have it as
in like, we're not, as you know,works based and things like
that, and I think that we getlacks in our, in our
(41:52):
relationship, and I think, wow,look at these people and how
much they pray and how much theygive in there.
It's trying to get to God,trying to get to God, trying to
get to God, and I was just sobroken as in I have access to
him in 2017.
I don't have to get me and goto a wall where I think, in a no
disrespect, i, i'm just sayingI don't.
(42:12):
I don't have to go to aspecific place for him to be
right here.
Like you were saying, andy, theHoly Spirit's accessible to us
24 seven, but how often do we goto him?
and we, um, you know, it justchallenged me.
In my own prayer life and in mytime with him, i think that
since it's so easy for us, wetake it for granted.
(42:33):
Yeah, it challenged me on myjust passion for him and knowing
him more and just myrelationship with him.
because, wow, if they can doall these things like and I have
free access 24 seven, why am Inot going to that more often?
Speaker 1 (42:50):
so Love it.
How about you Matt anything onyour heart?
Speaker 5 (42:54):
Um, i think so.
I was just thinking about thisright now, so I see how rough
this comes out.
But, man, i go back to thepernium, yeah, and I really just
how that, how the things aboutJesus was spread so fast, and I
(43:16):
just feel like it's a challenge.
You know, when's the last timethat we've told someone in a
grocery store or at the moviesor at the gas station about the
Lord, what he's done good inyour life?
and to me just seeing how thatspread.
If the people today asChristians, if we're not doing
(43:39):
it like the people that haveseen because we've experienced
Lord, yeah, i know so many of us, we, us personally have, you
have, and a lot of our friends,you know that we went on the
trip with and if we're nottalking about did not
necessarily, did not necessarilytrip, just the stuff the Lord
has done for us, yeah, that thatstory that's lasted thousands
(44:01):
and thousands of years.
If, if we aren't the ones thatare keeping that story going,
it's just gonna slowly dissipate.
And so it challenged me to nottake opportunities for granted
and ask the Lord to give meopportunities to really small
things.
It could be saying small thingsto someone that could make a
difference in them going to hellor heaven, and it just
(44:24):
challenges me to seize anymoments or opportunities that I
get.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
That's so good.
I do often think of of that.
What if?
what if we were the ones, thedisciples, the originals, right,
um, what a what an opportunitythey had, but they delivered.
I mean, there's so many timeswhere they failed and we I
relate to Peter so much.
You know he lost his, he hadanger issues, all the things.
(44:50):
He was the first one to jumpout of the boat and then then he
, you know, started sinking, somany different things.
But then you look 2000 yearslater and the story is still
going strong.
And what if it was us there?
what would people now know thestory?
or what I know, god would haveused whoever he had to use to
get the story out.
(45:10):
I know, but what a huge dealthat was, and so I'm grateful.
Now.
Now we're talking about thenext generation, our kids, our
kids kids.
Well, they know the story andit comes down to all of us
living that out.
That's very good, man.
Well, dudes, dudes, guys, dudesand dudes, and guys and gals.
(45:33):
Matt and Steph, i've enjoyedhaving you on and you know what
I I need to.
Both of you have tremendousstories, but we need to just
share your story sometime on ona just a regular note.
Both have overcome so much inyour lives.
If there's anybody, who's uh,who's listening, and how can
they connect or follow you?
I know you're both on socialmedia.
(45:55):
Matt is I made a joke about itearlier but is a big time
fisherman, so for all youfishermen out there, you can
follow his, his adventures.
But also, stephanie, how can?
if there's any ladies or peoplewho want to hear more from you
and have questions, how can theyfollow you guys?
Speaker 5 (46:15):
yeah, matt, you go first um, i have Instagram as
well as Facebook and uhdefinitely can follow along
there or reach out to me.
Uh slide in my dms or it's thatuh, matt I just go for interest
.
Speaker 4 (46:33):
And then, and it's with one team, one team, one
team at yes, yeah yeah, and I'mjust but Stephanie frindress
just yeah, easy to find you well, that's the.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
I just want to go on record and say that's the first
time in the history of thepodcast that someone has said
slide into my dms.
So, so well played, man ofcourse it's that.
Speaker 5 (46:59):
I love it anyways yeah, i love you guys so much.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
This has been fun and , uh, we will do it again, but
thanks so much for jumping onand we'll connect soon thank you
for having us all right thankyou all.
Right bye, guys.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me if you would leave areview and share it with
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time you.
Hey, what's up everybody?
Today we are going to reminiscea little bit about our trip to
Israel.
Have a few of my dear friendsthat were able to go with me.
You're going to see a lot ofcool things of how God was
speaking to us through thatbeautiful area I pray that you
(00:21):
will just receive a blessingfrom this conversation and how
the same God from some 2000 plusyears is still revealing
himself through the things leftbehind in history there.
It's just a powerful, powerfulconversation with some very dear
(00:42):
friends of ours.
So just grab you a cup ofcoffee or whatever your favorite
drink is and just sit back andreminisce with us as we talk
about all things Israel and even, maybe even, our alliance.
You'll have to stick around tofind out what that is.
All that more happening rightafter this.
(01:18):
Welcome back to the when wordsdon't come easy podcast.
I am your host, andy Howard,and today is going to be fun,
you guys, it's going to be somuch fun.
The last three weeks have justbeen life changing for me and my
family.
We got to go just experienceIsrael.
It was so special.
And then the last week we justgot back from Lusaka, which is
(01:41):
in Zambia, which is also inAfrica, if you don't know all
that, and I had the best timeworking at just this amazing
camp and with some amazingkiddos, and they just touched my
heart.
But we're going to recap on alot of this And in fact, today
we're talking mainly on theIsrael stuff, but over the next
(02:01):
few weeks we will touch on allof this.
So, with that said, though, ihave some very dear friends of
mine who went with us.
This is Annie and Trevorballman.
Please welcome them to thepodcast.
What's up you guys?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Hey, we're excited to be here, buddy.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
This is going to be fun And I am so glad, annie, i
am so glad you let Trevor comeon with you.
They just really touched it Tosee this dude.
What's up, trevor?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I tried to hold him back, but he was so excited
about Israel He wanted to comein.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Oh yeah, Well, i got to stage with Annie as a
privilege, for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Dude, i know the feeling because me and you were
kind of cut from the same cloth,trevor.
And Tiffany is a powerhouse aswell, just like Annie, and
sometimes with me and you justbeing the eye candy and we can
get lost in the background.
I get that, bro, but I'm soglad you're here.
We had so much fun together.
(02:56):
Let's start off with just somefun.
I remember, and I don't knowexactly where, in fact, i
couldn't even tell you, becausethis is what was so special
about this trip.
Right, we saw some amazingthings, but most of all, we had
just the best group And what Ilove about friends, and really
good friends, who get you andunderstand you is.
(03:17):
You can be silly and have funand still learn a lot and still
be touched by the Lord, and allthat too.
But at the same time, there wassome funny moments, and so,
just to bring the rest of ourgroup I don't even know that
they're aware of this, you guys,i don't know why I'm whispering
either.
I feel like I'm telling asecret but the rest of the group
was not aware of what went down.
(03:39):
At one point during the trip,during the tour, we had an
alliance form, and so we wereunderground in some form of a
tunnel, and I'll let you take itfrom there, amy.
So what happened at that point?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's so true And it's so good, because I want to tell
you about this experience.
Which was amazing is that Ilearned so many things and I
felt like I got closer to Christ.
I know that we felt closer toGod, but we also had a blast And
I laughed nonstop.
We were under the city of David, correct?
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
We were under the city of David, back in the
streets that the Romans built.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
See, he was paying attention to all that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
This was awesome about having Trevor is he kept
us online and when we forgotsomething he knew.
Thank you, trevor.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So yes, so yeah, we were under the city of David and
I made a joke to one of thealliance partners.
Okay, i made a joke that I'mlike wow, you know, this is
beautiful, this is amazing.
But they talk about earthquakesthat hit this area every once
in a while And I'm like, ifearthquake comes right now, we
are toast.
We are toast.
And Matt says something likewell, i'm not really worried
(04:43):
about the you know it kind ofcaving in, this is built pretty
well.
I'm worried about losing oxygen, and so I'm like okay, well, if
we're going to lose oxygen, wecan't have this many people down
here, so you might have tostart getting rid of folks.
So we need to create the line.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
So this is where I come in.
So, amy, you come to me out ofthe goodness of your heart.
I don't know why you were sosweet about it, but you're,
you're, you're looking aroundand saying listen, here's the
deal.
And we talked it over.
We looked at the numbers, wesaw the room size.
We had 12 in our group or 13,13 in our group, i think,
counting, counting Ellie, ellieoff.
(05:20):
So our guide, anyways, we'relike that's way too many people.
So, just like on any smartperson or survivor series would
have been, we started having tocheck people off.
So you said you generous, sogenerously invited Tiff and I
into the alliance.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And you guys are the ones that invite us to Israel.
I felt like but this is goodleadership, Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
This is great.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You know, as Trevor's like learning about God and
like really like understandingthe deep meaning behind all of
this.
I'm thinking this is goodleadership.
We just started making somedecisions now, just in case
something goes ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Always think ahead, so you invite me in on the
situation, and what you didn'trealize, though, is I soon
turned and say well, now that meand Tiff are in, i think we got
to get rid of.
The French is, and I don't knowif you saw that coming.
Did you see that coming?
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I didn't see that coming, but I'm like, whatever I
need to do to make sure Istabilize my position, I'm
willing to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So seriously, it's all fun and games.
Everybody survived and we'reall good.
I guess we'll never know, causewe were not put to the test, to
what we would have done, but itwas good.
Friends like you Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You and the team were , no matter what, right.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I don't know what they're going to say later, but
we know what the real allianceis here The French is, are
coming on right after you guys,so they will get the last word,
but for now, you guys are backin the alliance.
I just want that out there.
Actually, you never left.
So but on a serious note, and Ihope that no one's already
jumped ship after the first fiveminutes of this podcast.
(06:48):
But on a serious note, i wouldjust love to hear from both of
you What was your favorite?
just your favorite thing we sawover the course of that 10 days
there in Israel.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Yeah, beginning of the trip, we were kind of in the
outlying areas around Jerusalemand we were in the city of
Capernaum and that's the, thetemple that Jesus stood in and
read Isaiah and said today, thishas been fulfilled.
In your hearing, we actuallystood in that temple.
(07:21):
Now, that temple had has beenthe one we stood in was one
layer above that becausesomebody came in and built over
it, but it was the actual templewhere Jesus said that And we're
just an awe thinking Jesusstood right there.
He told the world that he wasfulfilling scripture right there
(07:42):
.
That's when he and that was inthe city of Capernaum And it was
right by the Sea of Galilee.
I mean, it was probably, youknow, a two minute walk from the
, from that building, to the Seaof Galilee, where all the
things happened in the sea,where he walked on water, where
they caught the fish And in thesea.
(08:03):
You could see the other side ofit from where we were.
So it wasn't, it was big, butit wasn't so big that you know
it was like an ocean where youcouldn't see across.
So, wow, that was one of themost amazing.
It was all amazing, but thatreally stood out in my mind.
So good, we did go out in a boaton the Sea of Galilee and we
(08:24):
all wanted to jump into thewater and try it for ourselves
to see if we could walk on water.
The boat did have a sign thatsays don't jump in the water.
Don't jump in the water.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So somebody has tried that before is why that sign is
there.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I'm pretty sure a lot of people have tried that.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
So yeah, Yeah And thank you, thank you for sharing
that.
And it does.
it makes a gosh.
you look around that whole arealike you saw Peter's home, and
you saw, and it doesn't sayexactly where, but you're,
you're, you're looking at, wow.
this is where Jesus probablyhad the conversations with Peter
(08:59):
and Andrew saying, hey, idropped your nets, why don't you
come follow me and I'll makeyou a fish in him?
And I mean, all this stuff isright there And it is, i don't
know.
it just does something for yourfaith.
seeing it, seeing all theplaces and even walking into it,
you see the sign that says thetown where Jesus lived.
(09:19):
I mean it's like, oh, my gosh,it's so cool.
How about you, annie?
What was?
is there a favorite moment foryou?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I feel like it was all so good And we didn't talk
about this before the podcastbecause I just want him to go in
freedom and he wants me to bein freedom and share.
But the two things that hebrought up were the exact two
things that I was going to breakup, but I'll just share with
you like the meaning behind it.
Like one of my favorite thingsabout Capernaum is that temple
that you were talking about,that synagogue.
You know we were able to be,you know nearby, and all of a
(09:47):
sudden you just kind of hearthis, this music of people
singing, and I kind of venturedaway from the group because I
kind of tend to do that.
But anyway, i ventured in thegroup and I go in there and I
got to meet some of them andthere was this group from Africa
and they were worshiping Godand just like just worshiping
and somewhere on their knees andthey were emotional And some of
them were just shaking, justwith the presence of God and
just being in that place.
(10:08):
And then, it wasn't much longerafter they left, i heard
another group going in there andsinging.
I go back over and there's agroup from Asia and I got to
kind of talk with one of them alittle bit, but they were
worshiping and they wereclaiming the good news And I'm
like it doesn't matter whereyou're from.
This is what's going to hit menow.
It's like, you know, we're fromTexas, one group was from
Africa, one group was from Asia,and they're all worshiping the
(10:30):
same God and they're in thatpresence and then they're in
that place and it can't help buttouch you And I'm, like you
know, we're all one, really likewe're all just one in Christ
and they're my brothers andsisters, even though they're
from a different continent.
And like, talking about the seaof Galilee, that was one of my
favorite things too, just beingon a boat and just thinking
about, okay, this is where Jesuswalked on water, not only to
(10:53):
walk on water, but he walkedabove the storm, the storm that
was raging all around He had nofear about, he had no concern
about, and he was just walkingabove that storm.
And ever since then, I keepthinking about, okay, like, even
like how personally that can be, the storms of our own lives,
their own pain and the ownhardship, like you guys have had
(11:13):
, you know, with the kiddo thathas special needs.
That's what the kiddo hasspecial needs, or a kid that
might struggle with anxiety, oreven in my own life, hard things
that have come against merecently, hard things that
you've been struggling with.
It's like I will never forgetbeing on that boat and being on
that water and knowing that mysavior was right there, walking
above the storm, and how it justcontinues to remind me and
(11:36):
reminds us that it is beneath usand that we have authority in
him, and it just it all comes tolife.
When you're there, it is allcomes to life.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
It's so good taking it full circle.
We are all in his alliance,right We?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
have Jesus.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
We have Jesus.
So no matter what's wild isfrom our group, i think.
looking back, i think it was 15total.
It's been a minute and I'mstill very jet lagged.
We just got him.
But I would say of that group,every single person had some
form of trial that came towardsthem in some way or another.
(12:15):
I know you were suffering fromvertigo and just many times just
had to sit back for a minute to, I guess, get your balance or
get everything under control.
I do feel like with all myheart that the enemy was
attacking us.
He did not want us to receivewhat we received.
It was just a special, such aspecial trip.
(12:35):
And so, looking back, for bothof you this question is for both
of you looking back on the way,like what was your viewpoint
going before we went?
Like what did you think wasgoing to happen or what were you
expecting to have happen?
And then, after it was done,did it change?
Did it meet your expectations?
Was it even above yourexpectations?
(12:56):
What was your takeaway once thetrip was over?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I didn't really know what to expect.
I mean, i've heard people goingto Israel for many years and
that they loved it, and I thinkone of the things I was looking
forward to was the Dead Sea,because I've heard a lot of
people talk about that floatingin it without sinking.
Kind of interesting how that.
You know, peter walked on,water didn't sink.
(13:24):
But in the Dead Sea you can go,you can't stand on the water,
but you can sit in the water andnot sink, so I was looking
forward to that And that was fun.
But from a spiritual standpoint,there are so many things that I
can visualize now because I'vebeen there, been to walk the
streets of Jerusalem, been to alot of the famous places where
(13:48):
things are believed to havehappened.
You know picture Jesus carryingthe cross down the Via Del Rosa
.
So when I read, just readingsome scriptures since we've been
back, things are different Andthey're I see I have a different
visual of what happened, andthen just so many other things
(14:11):
that other scriptures from theOld Testament are coming alive.
You know from David's time.
I love the story of David andSolomon And we visited a place
where Solomon had a storagehouse that was like a stronghold
(14:33):
above the Valley of Armageddon.
Yes, And just picturing.
okay, the horses were here andthis and that.
So it was really exciting, andso I'm looking forward to my
faith changing and growing waybecause of going there and also
with people.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, and I feel like we didn't really know what to
expect, though, too, because wetalked about it a couple of
times and Anita said on a Zoom,this is not going to be a
vacation.
I'm like, wait a minute,because you know like I want to
experience, you know, israel,but I want to do it like an air
conditioned pod with some likedecorative pillows and such.
But I really do.
But I do want to like get toknow God and I want to know
(15:15):
where he was and all thosethings.
But I feel like we didn'treally know what to expect a lot
, but then, when we got there,we're like wow, and it just came
.
I think too.
I think so much of it is myheart for Israel, like I've
always had a heart for Israel,i've always had a heart for the
Jewish people and for people offaith in general and all of it,
but like it reminds me to prayfor that place And how can we
(15:39):
align with God in new ways Andhow can we share Christ with
everyone?
And I don't know.
I guess I didn't know what toexpect, but once I was there,
there was so much to take in.
I'm like, how do I even takethis in?
How do you even take in thefact that you're?
you know you're underneathwhere the Holy of Holies was.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And you're standing at the Western Wall And even in
that picture I think back to theWestern Wall.
I'm like, god, thank you somuch.
Thank you so much that, like Ihonor them and their belief that
way.
But it's like thank you, god somuch that we can be in your
presence all the time, like evenif you're underneath the Holy
of Holies again, you get toexperience God's presence all
the time.
(16:15):
But I feel like we just want togo back now.
We want to encourage and,honestly, we probably would not
have gone if it wasn't for yourencouragement and other friends
who have been there and they'relike.
You need to experience that.
And we just believe them, and Ithink we just want to say to
everyone like, if you can makeit possible, you will want to
experience this, because itcan't help but touch you in ways
(16:37):
that I don't think anyone canreally put into words.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It is.
It's hard to put into words Andeven I feel like I and I'm 44,
I read the Bible my whole life.
I mean it's as far back as Ican remember.
But after so it was six monthsago I went for the first time,
just on accident that I gotinvited with a group at the last
minute because of acancellation And from that point
(17:02):
on I mean it just wrecked me.
It's just so much of it was justfor me.
I just seeing it broughteverything into order, Like you
could see, like you mentionedthe Sea of Galilee and all the
little communities around theSea of Galilee, So you could see
so much how Jesus' ministryworked, Like he was here and
(17:23):
then he'd go across to the otherside.
You'd see, Mary Magdalene wasfrom this area and Peter and
Andrew from here and then othersthroughout.
So it was just so cool seeinghow, for the most parts, was all
within walking distance of allthe, even the sermon on the
mountain and the Beatitudessermon there, All those things
(17:48):
so close.
And then Jerusalem was the onlypart that was a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You know would have been somewhat travel for him A
little bit of a way And theyshot us when we walked, like
from the city.
Yeah, we're like, that's whereJesus walked that valley.
Right there He could split themountains and make sense, just
walking right through it.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
So it was so cool all of it, but just, it just
brought for me, being a visualperson, it just brought
everything into order for me andit's changed, like you said,
the way I read the word now.
So, yeah, i would highlyrecommend it for anyone.
If you get a chance, if you geta chance to do it in closing.
for this part, do you guys haveanything just on your heart
that you would love to share inclosing?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I was just thinking how we went to the wailing wall
and I was standing there and,just like the, i know the Holy
Spirit's with me wherever I go.
I don't have to go there tofeel him and to pray, but the
passion and the prayer of allthe Jewish people.
They're just like when theypray, they get their body
involved and they speak veryloudly, like they pray louder
(18:51):
and maybe more passionately thanI do.
When I'm at home and one of theJewish rabbis came over to me
and said, are you Jewish?
And I said no, i'm sorry.
And he said, well, i was gonna.
I have a blessing for you ifyou're Jewish.
And I said, well, thank you.
And then he kind of was walkingaway and I said God bless you
too.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
I just felt like there's a place where we can
bless each other and that God'sbringing the Jewish people and
Christians together And it's forhis greater purpose that we can
live in peace together.
There's so much history betweenChristians and Jews that where
they don't like us or they'resuspicious of Christians, and so
(19:36):
I think God's changing that andmaking that different, and for
his own purposes And for thekingdom of God.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
And many of them are open.
But there's small groups wherethere's just, you know, tension
and different things.
But, yeah, to be able to lovethem and bless them, that is so
good.
And I feel like if the onlything that's on my heart right
now is an encouragement and evenas we're talking about, if you
have a chance to go to Israel,go.
One thing I want to encourageanyone who's listening to this
is, if there's any part of youthat feels drawn or even says
(20:04):
man, i would love that.
I would encourage you to askGod, like God, how can I?
How can I, and even for Trevorand I.
You know, when Tiffany and Andyfirst reached out and invited
us in, in that moment we werelike you know what, i'm not sure
if we can do thisinvestment-wise, i'm not sure if
we can do this time-wise withour kids.
But there was something in myspirit where I'm like I've
always we've talked about going,i want to go and you're like I
(20:26):
want to go, and so in thatmoment we said two things.
Well, first of all, we said God, we said you know, we want to
do this, dad, we would love todo this.
Can you make a way?
Can you make a way for us?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And we decided together.
We were going to say how can we, how can this be possible?
And then we went before ourfather, we made a way And within
a week or so we found out thatwe were going to get a tax
return back that we were notexpecting, come on, because we
were going to pay it on taxesAnd that's the money that we
used to go.
And so I believe that can beanyone's story Just going before
the father and asking andlooking and being open for a way
(21:01):
, because I believe God wants toget his kids over there.
I really do.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Oh, he does, and he is such a good, good father And
I don't want to use that termlightly We talk about, we sing
that song, we talk about it, buthe is.
He is a good father.
That's who he is And he caresfor us And if that's a desire of
your heart, he will make a wayfor you.
He will, And so I'm believingit as well.
If it's something that you'vewanted to do, I'm going to.
(21:27):
I'll be praying for you that itworks out.
I will, Because it do.
You have to go, and will youmake heaven if you do not attend
?
Yes, yes, You don't it's not arequirement, but it's just
something that is a for me.
I can speak for me.
It was so huge from from myfaith, getting to see it and
getting to see so many what theywould call like triple A.
(21:50):
Sites Like these are like the100% positive that Jesus would
have walked right here whereyou're at was just so, so cool
for me.
But the coolest thing, and it'sprobably everybody's coolest
thing, but there's so much totalk about.
I was just walking through thetomb and guess what?
everybody?
it's still empty.
It is still empty and it'sbecause he's alive and well and
(22:15):
he's alive for you.
So, if you're listening to thisright now, if you've stumbled on
this podcast for whateverreason you thought it was just
about vacations or not going toIsrael or whatever reason I want
you to know that we serve asavior who not only took our
place, right, he came and helived a blameless life when, in
(22:37):
all fairness, we all deserveddeath.
We all deserve to die.
That's what Roman says, right,we all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God.
We all had sinned, but he came,he lived a blameless life, took
our place.
I always compare it to going toa restaurant right And you're
ordering everything off the menu.
You're just having a great time.
(22:58):
But then it comes time to paythe bill and you don't have
enough money.
You do not.
What do I do?
I don't have enough.
He walks up to the counter andhe's like bam, it's paid for,
it's done.
So the wages of our sin isdeath.
That's what the Bible says.
The wages are payday for.
Our sin is death.
Jesus died for you, but itdidn't end there.
(23:21):
As I've already kind of spoiledit, the tomb is empty.
He not only died, but he roseagain so that you can have life,
and you can have eternal lifeby believing in him.
So I hope you take away if youtake anything from this away,
take away the fact that you havehope in our living Savior,
(23:41):
jesus Christ.
So, guys, thank you so much forjumping on board with me today
with the podcast and justsharing a few thoughts that
you've enjoyed.
How can anyone who wants maybethey have more questions or they
want to follow you or contactyou, for whatever reason how can
they follow up with you, guys?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, anyone can follow up with me Like.
I'm on Facebook Instagram,annie Balman.
You can find me.
Trevor is on Facebook, trevorBalman.
And yeah, we'd love to share orpray for you, like, we would
love to pray for you if youdidn't pray for anything, but
yeah, anytime.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Well, it has been just.
I've known you guys now for afew years and I feel like our
relationship keeps gettingstronger and stronger.
but getting to spend 10 dayswith you in Israel was
definitely a highlight of mylife, And I feel like our
friendship grew even more, Andso I thank you guys for jumping
on board with me today and justsharing your thoughts.
(24:40):
But we'll catch up soon.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
All right, bless you.
Alliance strong.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Yeah, we're good.
We're good.
I don't care what the Frencherssay.
Now, however, you know me andmy ADD.
I could be easily persuadedhere in a few minutes, But
hopefully I stay strong with youguys, my friends.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Thanks Andy.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Thanks, Andy.
Bye guys.
All right, you guys.
So, without further ado, nowI'm going to welcome my dear
friends Matt and StephanieFrenches, who you just heard a
little bit about.
They are in the Alliance.
We did touch on that lastsegment, So they are in the
Alliance.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
And so.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
I know the rest of the group is just now hearing
about this, or some of them forthe first time, so I don't know
how they will respond to this.
But first of all, matt andStephanie, welcome to the When
Words Don't Come Easy podcast.
It's so good to have you guys.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
So good to be here with you Love it And the
Alliance is strong.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
The Alliance is strong.
I'm not going to say what Anniesaid about you guys.
You'll have to wait till Annie.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
I'm totally kidding.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
I like to poke the bear.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
So that's probably my fault.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
So, but anyways, guys , we had a blast, absolutely
blast, in Israel, and I'll justask you, guys, the same thing as
Trevor and Annie What was yourbiggest takeaway, what was the
one thing that jumped out to youabout the trip?
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Let me go first.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
You mean to Yeah, i'll go first.
So, man, there were so manythings about that trip.
It seemed like every day it wasjust something new and it was
multiple things than a day Andit just it just kept hitting you
in the face every day becauseit was just so good every time.
(26:26):
And I think the day I think itwas day two or day three when we
were in Capernaum And thatreally messed with me up And I
was having tears in my eyespretty much that entire day It
(26:49):
really hit home when we cameupon the city of Capernaum and
really were talking about thatwas where Jesus lived, that was
where Jesus did all of hismiracles, that's where he chose
his disciples, the first fewdisciples, and I mean there were
(27:09):
miracles and miracles, tons ofthem, being done there healing
the lame, they lowered thecripple God through the roof.
They said the 5,000.
They told I think it was Peterand then did castor nets on the
other side of the boat, and Imean there was just so many
things that happened there.
When we were standing at one ofthe synagogues, i think it was,
(27:33):
and kind of kind of overlookingthe, the city there, and seeing
all these different homes inthere, you're just wondering,
like which one did Jesus live in?
Did he walk these streets, didhe?
you know, did he walk rightwhere I'm standing at this
moment?
And, man, that hit home justreally hard at me and just
(27:53):
really touched my heart.
And you know, that was one ofthe places where, from what I
understood like that's where alot of the the everybody was
talking about all the thingsthat he was doing, all the
parables that he was teaching,all the things he was talking
(28:13):
about teaching these people andthen healing people And then
from there just spread likecrazy.
And it was just so awesome andhumbling just to be there where
he was at and really just feellike I could be literally
standing where he was standingat that moment And in a curfew,
(28:35):
if you don't know, kind of he'son the edge of the Sea of
Galilee, which is justabsolutely beautiful.
It's just a really beautifulplace And that was just an
awesome experience to standwhere a lot of those miracles
were happening.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, man, and it's so good.
This was wild, so I put thistogether today.
This particular episode didn'ttalk to any of you about what
you were talking about, and sofar you've all mentioned the
same place.
No pressure stuff.
I mean, y'all mentioned theexact same place, all three, and
it's true, though there's somuch to it.
And, matt dude, you're a fellowfisherman So I know that
(29:13):
probably drew through your heartthere as well.
But, stephanie, just topiggyback off that real quick,
what Matt just mentioned, what Ithought was cool, not only were
you standing in the same place,but this has traveled, like
when it's traveled 2000 years intime.
But then how many, miles aftermiles after miles, has this
(29:36):
story just kept going and keepsspreading?
What was your big takeaway,stephanie?
I know everyone has a differentthing, that's kind of jumped
out and got them, but for you,what was your big takeaway from
the trip?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Yeah, i think the biggest moment that sticks out
to me and it's hard, it's likepicking between your children,
and so it's so hard to do topick your favorite moment,
because every day, like you said, was just jam-packed full of
these amazing experiences.
And but if I think back, thefirst one that hits me is when
we were on the boat ride at theSea of Galilee And we are going
(30:10):
I mean, i'm going to take us allback there for a minute, but
we're going on the Sea ofGalilee.
It's this beautiful day Andthey start playing over the
loudspeakers on this boat.
Spirit lead me where my trustis, without borders, and we're
all just staring off at this sea.
And if you haven't been there,maybe you think like I did.
I thought it was this huge seaAnd so I didn't realize.
(30:31):
You can see all the board.
It's like a large lake And soas we're on there, you look
around And I'm just thanking Godfor just all the things he did,
right there Like I said rightwhere he was.
And you see, over there is wherehe, you know, preached to the
5000, and over here is where hecast out the demon And they went
into the pigs.
And then, over here, somethingelse And you, just so many
(30:55):
things are just surrounding youas we're out on this water and
the humbling and the humblingexperience of it's like where my
faith and reality just collidedin that moment And it's just
absolutely overwhelming whatI've believed in, of course, my
whole life, but it's been unseenAnd then, all of a sudden, for
all those places to just be seenand me to experience them in
(31:16):
real time.
I was just weeping and I lookover and everybody else on the
boat is pretty much just weepingas well, And that moment to me
is just I'll never forget it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
It was powerful And I want to be the first to say I'm
the only one that was notweeping.
No, i'm kidding, i was cryingas well.
You can't hide it.
It was a little dusty Eventhough I was outside.
It was a little dusty on theboat for some reason.
But it was just a powerfulmoment And it is something it's
(31:47):
hard to explain until you'vebeen there.
That's what I was trying to saywith Trevor and Annie last time
as well.
You don't have to go to Israelto have this experience.
The Holy Spirit's alive andwell.
He'll help meet you anywhereyou're at.
Jesus will meet you anywhere,any place.
(32:08):
But there's something specialwhen you've grown up reading
story after story and then allof a sudden you can visualize,
actually see the place whereJesus was.
It's just so cool.
Another thing I asked them andI'd love your takeaways but kind
of, what were your thoughtsheading into the trip?
(32:30):
Like, what were your ownexpectations?
And then afterwards, did itchange?
Was it totally different thanwhat you had anticipated?
Kind of, what's your viewpointson those two thoughts?
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Let me go first.
So when we first find out aboutthis trip, i was scared to
death.
I do not like flying.
Every time we talked about it's10 hours and 14 hours and all
these different hours.
(33:04):
I was sitting there going.
I can barely fly for workpurposes And it's usually like a
two hour flight.
It's miserable for me.
So I was just thinking like howare we going to get out of this
?
How do I?
And I realized like I'm tryingto get out of going to one of
the most amazing places on theplanet because of fear, and I
(33:28):
really felt like the devil wasreally just jacking with me,
like my anxiety was just so highabout this trip.
It was really jacking me up AndI just kept praying about it.
I had her praying for me, justlike you know, don't let myself
(33:50):
in my own stuff I'm dealing withkeep me from.
experiencing was probably oneof the most life changing things
that I've ever been on.
Like it, literally, it's justkind of opened my mind And I'm a
very visual person in seeingthese places And then reading
(34:10):
about it.
Just, i mean it's like, it'slike going from a black and
white movie to now full color.
I mean it, just it, and I wouldhave completely regretted if I
let myself, you know, panic andnot get on that.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Let's just keep this straight.
I would have gone with orwithout it.
Okay, I was like nothing'skeeping me Stephanie was going.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
We just didn't know who your plus one was going to
be.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Yeah, Who was my plus one?
That's right.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Wow, well, i love that and I'll let Stephanie give
her her version and her answerto that, but I do want to
challenge you.
So, now that you overcame theany experience, if there's
someone here because anxiety,man, it's, it's something that's
going rampant across not justus, it's across the world If
someone just stumbled upon thispodcast for whatever reason, and
(35:03):
and then I'm like wow, matt,thanks for sharing.
I struggle with anxiety, youknow, just in my day to day
living.
What kind of gosh, i don't knowwhat.
What kind of tips or what wouldyou just share with them about
doing something that may bescary at first?
What would you say to them?
You?
Speaker 5 (35:20):
know, I haven't really thought of it like that,
but I think you are talkingspecifically about this trip
specifically.
I'm just talking about anxietyand generalize.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Oh, now that you you overcame an obstacle of your
anxiety and we've talked before,so I know a little bit more of
your history than the rest ofthe viewers may, but I would
just love to hear your yourtakeaway on anxiety and general
and what happens when youovercome it and you push through
.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
I feel like this past year would work and changes in
life and stuff that we've hadgoing on.
I have been stretched a ton.
There's been a lot of thingsthat's been asked of me work
wise and different things.
that has just stretched me.
And you know, i think a lot ofthat was in preparation for this
(36:15):
trip.
I really do, and it's kind ofweird how God kind of worked
that out.
You know, i was flying morethan I've ever had to fly for
work, which had helped a lot.
But I think deep down inside,like I think you know, the devil
really uses anxiety a lotbecause there's so many things
(36:35):
that you could be missing out on.
you know, or or God has a planfor someone and he wants you to
be a part of it, and there'sthat trust issue with it and
trusting God that he's going totake care of you.
I mean there was when we wereover there and there's where
there's, time after time aftertime, that he was just showing
(36:57):
that people, the people that hadfaith, he took care of whatever
it was.
He healed me, calm storms, hedid all kinds of stuff And
having that ability to fully putyour trust in him that he's
going to take care of you ashumans and especially maybe.
God we just like we want thatcontrols.
(37:18):
Yeah, hard to let that go.
And I think, as you startgiving up a little bit and he
shows, shows that he's faithfulto taking care of you, i think
you'd give a little bit more anda little bit more.
And it's getting easier andeasier, But by all means I am
not a hundred percent cured fromthis.
But yeah, I have seen a hugechange in myself over the last
(37:40):
year, and especially since thistrip.
it has just definitely helpedme a lot.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Oh man, i've seen it too, bro, I have.
And there's so many things, andI wrote about it in the book.
I talk about all the coolthings that happen on the other
side of fear, and I do believe,without a shadow of a doubt,
that the there is an enemyThey're the devil would love
nothing more than to rob you ofeverything.
I mean John 10, 10 says it all.
(38:05):
You know he's come to steal,kill and destroy you, and that's
his goal, right.
It's to keep you fromexperiencing true beauty and
true life, life to the fullest,as Stephanie as well.
So that same answer what wereyour expectations?
Sounds like you were going, nomatter what you were excited
about the trip.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
I'm all in kind of person.
That's why we need each other.
Yeah, yeah, we need each other.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
What was your big takeaway?
Was it did your expectations me?
Was it even greater than whatyou plan?
What was the takeaway after itwas done versus on the way over?
Speaker 4 (38:38):
Yeah, i think my expectations were high but
exceeded anything that I couldhave ever imagined.
I already knew was going to beincredible, but there were just
a few things that that reallyshocked me.
And I think the biggest thingthat has shocked me is not even
the experience while we werethere as much as how much it has
(39:03):
made the Bible and myrelationship with the Lord just
up a huge notch since I'vegotten home, because now I go
into my normal prayer time or Igo into a Bible study and
normally I'm just reading thesewords and now they're jumping
off the pages.
Every time I see these locations, it's oh my gosh, we were there
(39:23):
, I really know what that waslike.
And you just don't know untilyou see, and just how they lived
.
So all these parables and theseyou know stories that he uses,
they all come alive.
It's like I have seen exactlyhow they lived and so it just
makes a lot more sense.
So I think the revelation,since we've been home, of when
(39:44):
I'm in the word has blown mymind, and then just the
experience as a whole beingthere was far above what I could
have ever experienced.
And now I come home andeverybody I see I'm like get to
Israel, get Israel, get toIsrael, give up what you got to
give up, give up other tripswith your family.
I'm telling you, especially youguys taking your children.
(40:05):
That's my next goal, likethat's what.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
I want to do.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
Let's save up the kids, because how amazing for
them.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Our girls are still talking about it and they
absolutely loved it.
I didn't know, and both are 10.
Course, peyton stayed back, butthe twins went and they I mean
I didn't know how they would doit.
So it's a very hard.
For those who have never beento Israel, it's not a, it's not
a vacation, it's not a loungeand relax.
(40:34):
I mean it's very tough 10 days.
We had early starts and westayed out late, trying to get
just as much in as we could, andso by the end of those 10 days
I there were some days where Iwas tired and I looked up my
girls were still going strong.
So I'm so proud of them.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
They were incredible.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Incredible.
Well, in closing, is anythingon your heart that, uh, whether
it's a about the trip or not,but just anything that you would
love to share.
Uh, maybe it is about the trip,maybe it's just something God's
putting on your heart right now.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
I, if I can go first this time, i'm just kidding Um,
i feel like, and when we went tothe the welling wall and the,
the Jewish people and, um, youjust see them all out there just
praying, i mean at 24 hours aday.
I mean there are people therejust just praying and, um, you
(41:29):
see the customs and thetraditions and and the religion
and then us as Christians, um,you see how easy we have it as
in like, we're not, as you know,works based and things like
that, and I think that we getlacks in our, in our
(41:52):
relationship, and I think, wow,look at these people and how
much they pray and how much theygive in there.
It's trying to get to God,trying to get to God, trying to
get to God, and I was just sobroken as in I have access to
him in 2017.
I don't have to get me and goto a wall where I think, in a no
disrespect, i, i'm just sayingI don't.
(42:12):
I don't have to go to aspecific place for him to be
right here.
Like you were saying, andy, theHoly Spirit's accessible to us
24 seven, but how often do we goto him?
and we, um, you know, it justchallenged me.
In my own prayer life and in mytime with him, i think that
since it's so easy for us, wetake it for granted.
(42:33):
Yeah, it challenged me on myjust passion for him and knowing
him more and just myrelationship with him.
because, wow, if they can doall these things like and I have
free access 24 seven, why am Inot going to that more often?
Speaker 1 (42:50):
so Love it.
How about you Matt anything onyour heart?
Speaker 5 (42:54):
Um, i think so.
I was just thinking about thisright now, so I see how rough
this comes out.
But, man, i go back to thepernium, yeah, and I really just
how that, how the things aboutJesus was spread so fast, and I
(43:16):
just feel like it's a challenge.
You know, when's the last timethat we've told someone in a
grocery store or at the moviesor at the gas station about the
Lord, what he's done good inyour life?
and to me just seeing how thatspread.
If the people today asChristians, if we're not doing
(43:39):
it like the people that haveseen because we've experienced
Lord, yeah, i know so many of us, we, us personally have, you
have, and a lot of our friends,you know that we went on the
trip with and if we're nottalking about did not
necessarily, did not necessarilytrip, just the stuff the Lord
has done for us, yeah, that thatstory that's lasted thousands
(44:01):
and thousands of years.
If, if we aren't the ones thatare keeping that story going,
it's just gonna slowly dissipate.
And so it challenged me to nottake opportunities for granted
and ask the Lord to give meopportunities to really small
things.
It could be saying small thingsto someone that could make a
difference in them going to hellor heaven, and it just
(44:24):
challenges me to seize anymoments or opportunities that I
get.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
That's so good.
I do often think of of that.
What if?
what if we were the ones, thedisciples, the originals, right,
um, what a what an opportunitythey had, but they delivered.
I mean, there's so many timeswhere they failed and we I
relate to Peter so much.
You know he lost his, he hadanger issues, all the things.
(44:50):
He was the first one to jumpout of the boat and then then he
, you know, started sinking, somany different things.
But then you look 2000 yearslater and the story is still
going strong.
And what if it was us there?
what would people now know thestory?
or what I know, god would haveused whoever he had to use to
get the story out.
(45:10):
I know, but what a huge dealthat was, and so I'm grateful.
Now.
Now we're talking about thenext generation, our kids, our
kids kids.
Well, they know the story andit comes down to all of us
living that out.
That's very good, man.
Well, dudes, dudes, guys, dudesand dudes, and guys and gals.
(45:33):
Matt and Steph, i've enjoyedhaving you on and you know what
I I need to.
Both of you have tremendousstories, but we need to just
share your story sometime on ona just a regular note.
Both have overcome so much inyour lives.
If there's anybody, who's uh,who's listening, and how can
they connect or follow you?
I know you're both on socialmedia.
(45:55):
Matt is I made a joke about itearlier but is a big time
fisherman, so for all youfishermen out there, you can
follow his, his adventures.
But also, stephanie, how can?
if there's any ladies or peoplewho want to hear more from you
and have questions, how can theyfollow you guys?
Speaker 5 (46:15):
yeah, matt, you go first um, i have Instagram as
well as Facebook and uhdefinitely can follow along
there or reach out to me.
Uh slide in my dms or it's thatuh, matt I just go for interest
.
Speaker 4 (46:33):
And then, and it's with one team, one team, one
team at yes, yeah yeah, and I'mjust but Stephanie frindress
just yeah, easy to find you well, that's the.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
I just want to go on record and say that's the first
time in the history of thepodcast that someone has said
slide into my dms.
So, so well played, man ofcourse it's that.
Speaker 5 (46:59):
I love it anyways yeah, i love you guys so much.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
This has been fun and , uh, we will do it again, but
thanks so much for jumping onand we'll connect soon thank you
for having us all right thankyou all.
Right bye, guys.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me if you would leave areview and share it with
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time you.
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