If You Could Change Your Past, Would You?

If you could go back and change something in your past, what would you change and why?

Yeah, so there's no doubt, by far, hands down, it would be never experimenting or picking up alcohol or drugs. I came from a family where, you know, partying was, you know, in their— in my family's DNA. I mean, as far as my mother, my father, they were party animals. You know, when I hear the stories, because my parents had me when I was 18, 19 years old. They were kids.

Yeah.

Think about that. Now that we're older, we think about— I think about what I was doing when I was 18 and 19. In high school, we were partying. You know, we were having fun and having house parties and drinking and smoking weed and just being kind of crazy, to be honest with you. And so my parents had me in that stage, in that phase of their life. So when you think about that, I remember my dad telling me stories of him, you know, as I was an infant. He's 19 years old and he's having to tote me around, you know, still doing what they did. So I was just kind of along for the ride. I was this attachment, if you will. Yeah. It didn't change our lives. They still did what they did as young kids out having a good time partying, but now they had one in tow. Mm-hmm. You know, so, you know, seeing that, you know, a lot of times you're gonna kind of be what you see. Coming up in that environment for a long— for quite a while and just being surrounded by that influence in different settings definitely naturally kind of instilled that in me because I thought that was— that's what you do. That's what mom and dad does, what the friends do. all the time, you know, it was a lifestyle. So needless to say, looking back in hindsight, that just naturally kind of bled off on me. But when I look back now at 52 versus being a child and even a young adult, you know, young teenager or, you know, in your 20s and all that, when I see the damage, the consequences, just everything that comes, man, now that we've lived a while, right? Yeah. To see all that, You know, those vices of the devil, man. Alcohol, you know, drugs and everything that— it opens up a portal, if you will. I feel like we've heard the term gateway, gateway drug and all this. You know, if you start smoking a cigarette, the likelihood of you smoking weed or drinking, it all just connects, right? Yeah. And so it's amazing how once you put something in you that alters and changes your— it lowers your inhibitions, it causes you to use poor judgment. you know, and whatever it may be, it's like you're gonna make some bad choices, you know, and our life's all about choices. Our choices is what dictates the trajectory of our lives. You know, what we choose to do every moment, every thought, every decision will determine where we end up hours later, years later, whatever.

Yeah.

And so when you think about how alcohol can be so damaging to us using good sound judgment, to make proper choices, to navigate through life. It's mind-blowing.

Yeah.

How that one thing can alter and change the whole— your whole outcome of your life. And we just— there's billions of stories at this point and tragic stories of how people took— made one choice to engage in this or in this, and bam, their life was just destroyed. And they killed people, they killed themselves. They— it's endless. You know, so when I think back, by the grace of God, clearly and only by His grace and His goodness and His, for whatever reason, deciding to choose and spare my life from being someone who could get snuffed out, who the devil could use these things to basically just wipe me off the planet and get me out of the game, you know, um, man, only by His grace that, that didn't happen to me. And so having to go through it to get to it, to, to get really, um, You know, kind of rescued from the depths of it. You know how it can really grab you and just put you in this terrible place. We were totally ineffective for the kingdom. Not to mention, you you're not really even a great contributor to society either, really, or your family, or or you end up being kind of a you know a victim of yourself.

Yeah.

You know, if you will. You know, so by just letting it kind of begin to to control you because because that's how the devil works, man. You know, you hear the old saying, you know, that because no no alcoholism, no drunkenness. This is obviously a sin. You know, having a drink is not, but getting drunk is. That's what the Bible says. No, do not be drunk, but instead be filled with the Spirit. You know, so that's the whole flip-flop of that. You can't do both. You can't be both. You know, so, you know, you hear stories about people that have these struggles and whatnot, but yet they have, you know, amazing platforms and they're making an amazing impact on the kingdom and doing some great things. But at the end of the day, the question will always be to get set free from that, you know, so that you can truly walk in God's, um, fullness, you know, and be able to really maximize, um, you know, what he's called us to do. I think that's, that's always the, the quest is to, you know, to kick off, to, to, to get rid of those, those, those chains and those, those sins, those, those hang-ups, you know, that so easily entangle us, that just slows down a little bit from being able to walk out. You know, at full speed, you know. And so, um, that's always it, man, just understanding that God's grace is sufficient, but he also expects you to, to understand you don't just take that grace for granted. Yeah, you know, you have to live in a place of always trying to, to grow in his grace. Growing in his grace is the key.

Tell us the moment you got saved and how Jesus impacted your life.

Well, I mean, it goes way back. And I think that's the best part about it is, um, you know, God chose me. Um, I always think about John 15:16 where he says, you know, you didn't choose me, but I chose you and ordained you, appointed you to do what? Go forth and bear much fruit and fruit that will remain, fruit that will continue. And so just the whole concept of he chose me. So at 4 years old, my— I mean, my grandmother is who raised me. And so Her influence was so powerful. So she had me in church at 4, and she was putting pennies in my hand and putting them in the offering plate and just teaching me these principles and concepts as a young child, a baby, really, 4 years old. And so coming up through the church that whole time, at 8 years old, 8 years young, really, after being in through all the Sunday school, learning Scripture, and just in this— at that time, it was almost— being such a young child, it was just like, what you did. It was almost a ritualistic kind of thing of every time the church doors were open, you were there. And, you know, you were in Sunday school, and you just learned to try to walk out what the Bible teaches. So at 8 years old, I was in church, gave the invitation at the end of the service, and I felt compelled. I felt my heart was definitely being pulled to say, you know what, I want that. Even at 8 years old, I said, I want to be saved. I want to be a Christian. I want Jesus to come into my life. And so, yeah, back then we called it, you know, you walk the aisle, you get up and you go, I want this. You go to the altar. Wow. And so what's unique, though, is back then at the church I went to, attended, if you were basically single digits, you were sub-13, you know, young kid, and you decide you want to make this decision, you know, professing your faith in Jesus, you had to actually go and counsel with the head pastor, sit in his office and have a one-on-one with them to kind of almost just kind of quiz you and test you to make sure that you knew what you were getting yourself into, as you were understanding what you were doing with this decision. And so I did that. And, you know, to him, Dr. Jerry Vines at the time was our pastor. He was like, yeah, you got the gist of it. You know what you're doing. But here's the thing. Here's the thing, John. I think back, I was 8. I hadn't been— 8 years young, hadn't been alive very long. I hadn't been really alive long enough to really understand conviction of sin and the need for a Savior from that sin, you know, to be redeemed from that sin, to be saved from hell and damnation because of my sin. Didn't get all that at 8 years old because I hadn't really— I couldn't say that I'd done enough to measure, to compare what that Really meant and what that looked like. So here's the thing, fast forward from 8 to 15, you know, now in that 7-year span, which is still— you're still young at 15, right? But 7 years now have gone by since making this decision. So that's a long time. And a lot can happen in 7 years, you know, especially when you're, you know, developing, coming up, experimenting, new friends, moving around different schools, transitioning from one grade to the next, different levels. So you just experience a lot more. Yeah. And so needless to say, you know, like I said, you know, picking up alcohol and cigarettes and all these different things, these temptations that would come at you as a teenager, you know, try this, try this, we're doing this, we're doing that. So then you begin to do these things and then you find yourself beginning to do things that begin to convict you and begin to work on your conscience and be like, you know, this doesn't feel like what I came up doing. This is kind of contrary to what I was taught and what I said I believe, what I'm doing. My convictions were saying, this doesn't line up with how you were raised, more or less. And so feeling that conviction of sin, that was the difference from 8 years old, just saying, hey, I believe in Jesus, I definitely want to go to heaven, not hell, you know, hearing those kind of messages. But now you've lived and experienced, you know, the reason why you need that. Yeah. You know, so at 15 years old, I went to a church camp one summer, and it was on the last night of that week. It was on Thursday night at our evening chapel, and Pastor Kenny St. John brought a message that was just so powerful, and it met me where I was. You know, I mean, at 15, I had already experienced and experimented so many things that were not of God and definitely wasn't something that a A believer, a faithful Christian should be involved, get involved in engaging. And it wasn't crazy stuff, but it was nothing that I would be proud of with my grandmother, my mother. You know, if they knew, they'd be like, "What are you doing? What are you thinking?" So needs to say, it was nothing that it was something I was ashamed of to to be you know to know that God knew this because He saw it all right. And so that so feeling that that heaviness during that sermon and during that service, that heaviness of I was like, wow, you're messing up, man. You're missing it. And that's where the conviction really came down. And then that's where I really was like, I got to change this. There has to be a transformation. There has to be a turnaround, a repentance of going the other way and leaving that. So at 15 years old, 15 years young even still, that's where the real walk began. Okay. Getting saved, accepting Christ today, but really saying that I'm going to start following Jesus now at 15 and starting that process, you know, going to school, taking your Bible to school, being a witness, getting involved in different ministries to grow and letting God just begin to grow me, grow me, grow me.

Yeah.

And then that— and that's what he's done ever since. It's just, you know, you just grow as you go, you know, that steady upward climb toward him. And wow, it's, it's, um, it's been challenging. You know, he put some things on me that I didn't foresee, would never invite it, you know, but that's part of the journey.

It is. Yeah. It makes it, it makes it colorful.

That's one way to put it. It definitely keeps it interesting. Well, what it really does though, it really makes you have to truly have and exercise faith.

Yeah.

And this trusting God.

Yes.

That's the biggest piece, man. That is the theme of everything that we have right now is, um, truly anything tells us to do just that, is to trust Him with everything. And that's just so huge to me. I mean, I just, when I think about that and everything, what's outside of everything? Nothing. Everything is everything. So learning, which it is, that whole process of just having more experiences, more episodes, more opportunities to test your faith, to test, are you really trusting? He brings them. He brings these, these times in your life where you can see it, like, here we go again, another, another test of my trust, another test of my faith to see if it really is what, um, what it needs to be, you know, to continue on in this, this race and continue on growing and being effective. And not having that doubt that can take you kind of out of the game. You know, when you start second-guessing God, it's like, well, now you're not walking in faith. You have to step out in faith, right? Yes. You know, and that's when he can do what only he can do. But when we're doubting, that puts the kibosh on it, if you will. You know, that shuts it down. That shuts down the blessing, the growth, the progression, his purpose being fulfilled in our lives. He still can get it done. He's God, but we miss out because of our lack of faith and our doubt.

Here's a good question for you. Being a physical trainer, this is going to resonate with you. What's the heaviest thing God has asked you to take care of?

When I think about, you know, just my journey, you mentioned physical, you know, it could be spiritual, physical. Well, you know, the physical and spiritual kind of run parallel. You know, the same principles kind of plug and play. They both require discipline. and work and effort to grow. You know, if you want to get bigger and stronger, you got to be consistent, show up, put the work in, both physical realm and in the spiritual realm. Yeah. You know, there's just different disciplines that apply, but it all comes down to putting the work in and the discipline. And, you know, sometimes that's not always the most comfortable, but it's just necessary to get what you're trying to achieve and accomplish. And so for me, man, When I look back and I think about my life, the heaviest thing that God has put on me is the ability to have to endure physical pain. I've had 22 surgeries over my life. And so I'm 52 now. I've had 22 surgeries, and a lot of them orthopedic. Basically, I learned that I have this physical issue with the genetic issue I got from my mother, congenital, that, you know, orthopedically, it's just kind of our bodies are kind of hyper. They overgrow. And so our bones, in my case, my spine, it fuses together, it grows together over time. Other things deteriorate over time, wear and tear. It's kind of a, you know, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Yeah. I've got great genetics. strong as all, you know, all can get out, if you will, and get after it and all that. But in doing so, it amps up and revs up the body so much until it becomes negative. It breaks it down. It's kind of a catch-22.

Yeah.

You know, so, um, it's been interesting going through my life having all these surgeries where I build up and knock back down, build up, knock back down, as far as, you know, you get strong again and then Something happens or it's just that time again where things grow back together and they got to rebuild you and all this and that. And so it's been a life of chronic pain. Okay. To be honest with you, that's what comes to mind. It's been my life looking back now because I had my first surgery at 15 and then had 10 when I was 18, 19, 20. And so in those young years, you know, when you're just trying to grow up and develop and figure out your life, During those, during that season of trying to figure all that out, I was knocked down. I was in wheelchairs and hospital beds, and like I said, you know, multiple surgeries. I almost lost my leg. And so having that, that challenge of just being in pain physically, which became such an emotional battle, you know, to where I was just like really, you know, dealing with a lot of emotion of depression and Lord, why is this happening? Right? You know, is this really? The plan you have for me, you know. I had an opportunity to play running back Savannah State University. Three months later, my leg breaks in half. That goes totally away. You know, so just a lot of obviously a lot of questions of like, you know, why is this my journey? You know, and it really is this supposed to be my journey? But once again, now looking back in hindsight, man, it's clear. It's all those moments that. slow you down to have to be able to really listen to him when he's trying to get a message across to you, teach you something. But then just all those opportunities to build and grow your faith, your trust in him. And that's what's so awesome now because I've been having all these knockdowns, and that's just the 22 surgeries. There's other things too, obviously, that maybe didn't require surgery, you know, that were like, wow, this is a, you know, kick in the head or kind of a, you know, a 2 steps forward, 5 steps back kind of thing, you know. But in all those episodes, all situations, um, they were, they were growth opportunities of growing my faith, growing my trust in him, my patience, um, you know, waiting, um, and all the while letting the word of God, letting prayer, um, you know, letting other people that God basically, you know, interjects into your life that can come and and minister to you during those times and, and seeing how that works. Intercessory prayer, you know, all these different things. There's so many things that we wouldn't be able to exercise, utilize, um, experience without going through adversity. Yeah. Without going through challenging times, without going through pain, just straight up, you know. And so you go through it, you come out of it, but you, you can come out of it after processing lessons and growth and go, you know what, that really sucked going through it, but I'm kind of glad that I did because I needed it. And then you can all— and we were having it happen over the course of my life, I could always kind of go, there's more to come, you know, because it's these steps, you know. I, I— he— you were saying before, you know, you get to one point, but just because— just to say, you're talking about like, you know, your house and stuff, well, there's, there's another level. Yeah. It's not there yet, but we're growing and building you in this place you are now for whatever comes next. But there's more lessons. This journey is what it is, you know. And so there's more lessons to come. So, but we have to get you to here. We took you from here to here. We're going up here, but you got to kind of be here for a while and feel this a little bit before you get to this next level.

Yeah.

You know, so just seeing that and being okay with that. You know, being like, well, that's just how it works. That's life. You know, but hey, but God's got it. You know, that's just it. He's got the plan. When he says in Jeremiah 29:11, I know the plans I have for you, and it's not to harm us. The plans are good to give us hope in the future. You know, I mean, that promise alone, just despite come what may, his plan is in play. And his plan is good. And so resting in that, trusting and believing that, that's the key.

What's the craziest miracle you've seen or heard but not necessarily told anyone about?

Well, yeah, there's been a lot, but I was thinking about one that I haven't shared a lot, or shared, um, definitely not recently, but it didn't share with a lot of people because it came kind of early in my walk. I was, you know, in my, um, I was probably around 21 years old. Uh-huh. And it was during this time when I was having all these surgeries on my leg, and I was— I had already moved out of the house. And so this happened, like, I just moved out at 18, and then this happened right then. So it was kind of like, that's crazy, you know. It was a major challenge to be, you know, kind of coming up, living on your own, supporting yourself, doing all these things, you know, going to college, you know, working, and I'm in a wheelchair and I couldn't even get out of the bed. Actually, I had to transfer my my bedroom into the living room with me and my roommate because we had a hideaway bed couch, and it just made it all just easier to have everything there. Yeah. It was unique. But here's the thing, so, you know, during that time I'm not able to work, and so I don't really have an income, and I was getting workman's compensation, which then, and probably still now, was 66 2/3% of what your actual know what wage was, which at 18 I worked at the YMCA, so I wasn't making that much money to begin with. Okay, so during this time, man, everything is definitely a trust walk at this point, if you watch, or trust hobble, you know, to be honest with you. But I remember this, man, this is— this was, this was pretty, pretty amazing. Um, each month I lived in this little apartment, and, um, at the time I think the rent was like $550 a month, and it's one of those situations where each month rolled around, had to pay rent, didn't know where it was going to come from. Month to month, it's just like, God, you got to show up. You got to show up. Wow. So in earlier pieces, I remember going back to my old church. I wasn't even going to that church at the time, but I grew up in this church, First Baptist Church. And so they had their benevolence committee. And so based on your situation, they would give you money. to help you wherever you need it. And so I, even though I wasn't a member or I wasn't attending that church at that time, I'd already kind of grown out and grown away, I reached out to them and they were gracious and kind enough to help facilitate some of my rent for a couple months. And then after that, the actual apartment complex themselves Made a concession, and it was like, "Hey, we know what you're dealing with." You know, I mean, talk about God's favor. This isn't normal. I mean, business is business. I get it. You know, it is what it is. You know what? You're good. You don't have to worry about the rent this month. And I think they made them not a couple months. So now we've tapped out a few months of church giving, a couple months of the apartment complex just saying, "You know, we'll eat it. It's all good." So now I'm like, now what, God? So I mean, I was getting a little nervous. I'm like, I'm tapped out of resources. You know, I don't really know nowhere else to go. Parents had helped me all this and that. So I walk out to the mailbox one day. This is a miracle. I walk into the mailbox, hobble on crutches out to the mailbox one day and open the mailbox. And in that mailbox was a check for $550 from a retirement fund. from the YMCA that had fully vested. I worked at the YMCA from 16 to like, you know, 21 or whatever it was. Never knew I had a retirement fund, to be honest with you. I was 18, 19, 20. I mean, come on, right? Retirement? That's not in my mind at all. And then didn't even know it existed. Not to mention, don't recall saying that I wanted to cash it out either. Uh-huh. And that it vested to where they would say, well, we're going to cash you out and send you a check for, you know, for the amount. Didn't have anything to do with that. Didn't know that he even existed, John. You know, but this pops up in my mailbox and it literally was the exact amount of what my rent was for that month. And, um, wow. Yeah. That was, uh, that, that, I mean, I was young, young in my faith, if you will, uh, struggling emotionally, mentally, physically, all of it, you know, in a place of despair, really. And worry and just not knowing how we were going to literally make ends meet. Not to mention, you know, just being in pain all the time. So just a lot going on. And so for God to— you know, I've been showing up each month, you know. For this one though, for Him to hit the mailbox with something I didn't even know existed and for it to be literally dead on what I needed— wow. Yeah. That was, that was, that was a big one. And that took me back to my grandmother. speaking into my life, teach me about tithing and being faithful with your tithes and offerings. Teach me that God will bless you through other people. And, and, and standing on— adopting and standing on her life verse that I stole, which is Philippians 4:19, that, and my God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory through Christ Jesus. And that was a verse I, I took from her because it was just so real, and he was doing just that. He was doing just that in supernatural ways, ways that I had no control, no even thought of, and He was just providing and supplying my needs, you know. And so that, that was definitely a miracle in my book, especially that early in the game of not really knowing what a miracle was in real time, in current time, just basing it off, you know, reading the Bible and seeing what Jesus did and, uh, not experiencing it myself. And so that was definitely by far one of my first experiences with supernatural, just, um, you know, um, move of God, for him to step in and say, I got you. Yeah, I mean, so that— those kind of things that build— no one can tell me that didn't happen because it did. And so your faith goes from here to here just like that. Yeah. You know, now you're like, he really does what he says he's going to do. His, his, his, his promises are yes and amen. Um, so stand on them. That's why they're there, for us to use them. Yeah. And for us to believe them and be empowered and be taken care of and provided for and protect— protected, you know, with these promises that God's given us. There's 8,000, 9,000 promises in the Bible. They, they're there for a reason, you know. And so that, that really, at that young age, really showed me, um, God's power and how he really is sovereign. Yeah, I mean, overall, beyond all supreme, supreme being to where he could be controlling things that didn't even know. I mean, he can create things out of things that don't even exist. Hence the Earth, the planet. But but even like like I said, man, retirement. I mean, really, that's just weird to me. Yeah, I mean, it really is. Um, he's done a lot of those things, man. I mean, he's there's been a lot of those, but that was early. And that was real, and it was very needed at that point. So it was so undeniable.

Looking forward, what does your journey look like with Christ?

Yeah, so this— at this stage, you know, I say at this stage and this age, I'm 52 years old, and, um, God has shown me what my planet purpose is. Um, you know, we always talk about the importance of finding your purpose, um, and your primary purpose. What is your number one, you know, reason being here? What are you here to accomplish and do during your time here on earth? And God showed me years ago and told me that my— what I now call my planet purpose— is to impact as many people as I can in a positive way. Mm-hmm. Um, just very general, very broad, you know. And of course, you know, positive ways could be so many things, right? Um, so it isn't just necessarily about preaching Jesus everywhere you go. Um, but it's simply about bringing his love. And so obviously we know love is positive. Yes. You know, so, so at the end of the day, it's, um, bringing his love everywhere you go, his, his positivity. And, um, and he's like, I'm gonna give you everything you need to do that. I'm gonna provide for you the, the resources, the tools, the talents, you know, um, but you have to, you know, give them back to me. So all that being said, now understanding that for the last 20 years and really being able to walk in that reality of that truth and that promise and that call in my life for my purpose. Now, my vision of the next 20, 30, however long I have left, is to just really refine what that looks like. So basically, you know, okay, yeah, you impact people in a positive way. Well, what's more positive than sharing the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. What's more important? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing's more important than sharing the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and you cannot get to heaven, to get to glory, eternity with him and the Father, but accepting, realizing, believing that, and bringing him into your life, and then following after him. Mm-hmm. So my drive, my just You know, ongoing purpose is to share that as much as possible with everybody that I can and to walk it out and be consistent, but to speak it as well, to speak that consistency. And not just— people think that, you know, your faith is a personal thing and that's between you and the Lord. And to that degree, it is initially.

Yes.

You know, it is initially when you decide to make that choice. It's not about anyone else being involved in that commitment, that decision. But after that, it needs to be as public as public can possibly be.

Yeah.

I mean, shouting it from the rooftops, right? I mean, the Word says, no, no, I will profess and proclaim the goodness of my God at all times. It would be forever on my lips, you know, and no one will shut me down because it's true. It's what he's done for me. So having a testimony of what he's brought me through over my life, there's no way I can't share that. Um, and what he continues— what he continues to do now, um, it just keeps on going. So yeah, man, I am in this like kind of just hustle mode, I call it, of just getting after it, you know, but getting after spreading the gospel of Jesus. Mm-hmm. I mean, that, that is really That is it, man. I, I can't— because I've lived long enough now to experience enough and to have done enough things that really wasn't really designed to bring glory to God. Um, but I've also done a lot of things that were. And, and so walking in that and looking back and going, eliminating all the things that leave me nothing, no rubbish, things that— things are going to burn, things that have no eternal value or no, no eternal worth of any kind. Eliminating that to create more space for more of him, for more of what he wants me to do. You know, I'm saying we have just so much capacity. So when we fill our minds with these distractions of social media, you know, you name it, there's, there's many, many distractions out there that we didn't have to deal with even 15, 20 years ago. So that just shows to me that it's, you know, it's all part of the enemy's ploy and his playbook to you know, bring more things into the game to buy for our attention that takes us off of keeping the main thing the main thing.

Yeah.

You know, which is, which is, you know, just spreading the gospel. And so when there's all these other things vying for our time, our energy, our attention span, it's just one less time that where the gospel's getting out, where we're walking in favor and in power. So my goal is eliminating distractions. Making the conscious effort and choosing to take away things that just don't matter. They're just a waste of time, to be honest.

Yeah.

And and I feel such an urgency right now, especially being later in life. I feel a great urgency that there is no time to waste. Yeah. Um, I mean, for all kinds of reasons, we're seeing prophecies being fulfilled left and right, and so all day long. And so that alone, as a believer. Should stir you to create a stirring and awakening, right, that says, I gotta get more committed, I gotta get all in, um, I gotta really, um, understand and embrace what's happening right now to where it empowers me and at a different level to, to be more bold about my faith and be more active, um, about, about pursuing and chasing after God. You know, so that I can really hear from the Holy Spirit and be guided, as that's one of the main functions of the Holy Spirit, is to lead us and guide us in all truth, to convict us of sin, to counsel us and give us comfort. But, you know, at this point, it's like I need to be directed and, and so I can navigate properly, you know, throughout this time that we have here to maximize all the potential that God's put into me. Yeah. You know, and so growing in that connection and that relationship with the Father and with the Holy Spirit is key. That, that is by far, I think, the, the, the most important thing we should be trying to do each and every day is strengthening our walk, our relationship with Jesus, so that we can be, be most effective for his kingdom and for his glory. It's mind-blowing. It's completely mind-blowing. It is the way you and I connected.

Yeah.

Um, it happens.

Well, talk about that a little bit. Talk about that. That was pretty awesome.

It was extremely awesome. So You know, being a small business owner owning a gym, I've been getting connected. God's just been bringing so many different people into my life. He brought this guy Brad Sykes into my life. And so Brad is the co-founder and president of the Christian Chamber of Commerce here, Northeast chapter. And so he invited me to come and be his guest for one of the meetings, which has now been about a month ago. And when I showed up, that's where I met you and Caitlin. And I was just talking to a couple of the guys. It's such a, you know, just meet-and-greet kind of place. The whole setting is designed to do that, to network. Yeah. And as I was talking to someone else, you just approached me out of my side view, and I was like, you're just kind of standing there. And so we began to strike up conversation. Next thing I know, we're sitting down eating together side by side, and we made the common connection that we both went to Celebration. And I didn't talk to everyone in the room, so I wouldn't know for sure, but It seemed like, I mean, at that point, Lisa, you're the only person that I met, you're the only person I met actually that went to Celebration. I mean, everyone went to their respective churches, obviously, but you're the only person that I met, I met a lot of people that day, that actually went to Celebration. And that alone just kind of broke the ice and connected us, and having common people that we knew, knowing that you were on the Accessory Prayer Team, you know, there. And so we mentioned Andre Sessions and his wife Robin. And so just making those connections. And then just knowing that we're being shepherded at such a powerful time with Pastor Tim, being able to share in that and go, you feel me? You know, we're, we're, we're going to a different place right now. Yeah. And so having that connection was, was powerful. So I guess the point of that is when we connected the way we did, learning what you did, what you've done, what you're doing, your daughter as well, there was no coincidence. There was no, um, surprise that God was once again just being God again, that he ordained these meetings. I mean, divine appointment, if you will, that he had totally orchestrated the timing. Because think about it, man, there's so many things that can change the trajectory, that seemingly small things.

Yeah.

If I simply— if I just don't go to that meeting that day, we're not sitting here right now. Yeah, yes, you know, um, and, and sure, there was— I mean, probably at some point in, in getting there, because I was coming from work, this and that, where I was kind of like, well, maybe I go to the next one next month. This is going to be a little tight having to get there and get back and all this kind of stuff. So the thoughts are going through your mind, and to say they're from the devil, not necessarily, you know, but it's just life, you know. But at the same time, listening to the Holy Spirit to kind of trump All those thoughts, you know where it says where the word says no take every every thought captive, you know to Jesus, you know let him be the one who's telling to who's dictating where you go, you know and and where you don't go, right? And so you know knowing that there was a commitment, there was a plan, don't let other things creep in there to change that plan. We know that plan is of God and what and was of God initially, so don't let Those voices, those outside voices get in there and try to, you know, basically derail, you know, what God's plan is. And so I think that's a big deal, man, is just staying connected. Once again, that connection with the Holy Spirit is hearing his voice and obeying it, you know, and not let— not getting sidetracked with other outside things that really don't matter.

Yeah.

And so that was awesome to, um, to meet you guys that way. And here we are.

Yeah.

You know.

It is pretty cool.

Yeah, it's so real. You can't— like you said, you said a second ago, you can't make these things up. You can't fabricate this. And, um, and so after, you know, walking with him and seeing him do this so consistently for so long now, what it does to your spirit, man, is just ridiculous. I mean, it's so confirming, so validating, so powerful. I mean, powerfully validating, you know? I mean, to where it's like, yeah, that, that's real. Nah, this is crazy real because this is so consistent. Yeah. That's the thing. It's like this isn't the first time to where you can go, oh yeah, that just— that was, that was cool, that happened. Nah, man, this is— this has been how it's been for quite a while.

Yeah.

You know, walking in his favor is basically what it is. When the favor of God is live and active in your life, you can't deny it. It's undeniable. And the best part is Others watching can't deny it either. Believers or non-believers, the word says they will see you and call you blessed. You know, you'd be blessed when you come in, blessed when you go out. You know, um, the world can't even deny that. That's what's so awesome about it. You know, the world, they can just be like, man, I've known you for so long and why is it everything just goes well? You know, God, let's talk about that. Yeah. You know what I mean? I mean, there's your open door right there.

Yes.

You know, let's talk about that.

Yeah.

And see how you can tap into some of that, you know, because it does require, you know, certain things to unlock that, to unleash that power.

Yes.

Yeah, 100%. And so people need to know about that. And that's why we're here to share that good news. Absolutely.

Yeah.

Yeah. It needs to line up. You know, it needs to be consistent what you're doing. In your daily, as you're doing ministry, as you're just pursuing what God's called you to do, has to has to produce fruit. And so the love, the joy, the peace, the patience, kindness, goodness, you know, the faithfulness—that's the fruit of your labor. You're working for the kingdom, but that fruit of your labor is vital because that's what people see. That's the evidence that you are this tree that's rooted and grounded in him. There needs to be some fruit to show that evidence. Yeah, you know. And, and, and that to me is, um, undeniable, especially when you're going through crazy adversity, especially when you're— the world's, you know, the view says, man, if I was going through all that, I, I wouldn't have this joy and this peace and, and still be kind, you know, and, and wouldn't have faith. The faithfulness, being full with— full of faith despite what you're going through.

Yeah.

You know, I mean, that's faithfulness. You're full of faith despite that you're dealing with stuff that you just would rather not have to deal deal with.

Yeah.

You know, um, yeah, man, that, that to me is such a powerful witness within itself. Hence why back when I think about all these surgeries, and I've had 5 back surgeries in the last 10 years, um, with other ones mixed in between there as well. So my people that I train, I've trained a lot of people for 10 and 20 years. Okay, so you see, I walk alongside these families, you know, day in, day out, 2, 3 days a week for, for years. So They've been with me through this journey. They've seen the pain. They've seen the breakdown, the challenges of it. And they haven't— and the best part, by the grace of God and by his power, they haven't seen me really falter as far as renouncing my faith or becoming just this bitter person because of my circumstances. The joy has not been stolen, you know, and the peace has not been taken. And so if anything more, it's been strengthened.

Yeah.

Yeah. And so that to me is such an important and powerful testimony when God allows consistent adversity and challenges to come into your life. I mean, I remember years ago, one of our pastors, it just always resonated with me, it was Pastor Stovall actually. And he just said, he was just expressing the importance of learning to suffer well. Just that phrase, suffer well.

Oh yeah, that's interesting.

You know, and that just always resonated with me because I've gone— it was during a time when I was suffering. I mean, I, every few years, I'm always like, Lord, can I get a 5-year run? Can I just get like 5 years with no like surgeries or no knockdown build-up, you know, no crazy pain where I, you know, really can't function, you know, where you kind of get incapacitated, really, to be honest with you. Um, he's never really answered that. He's never been like, yeah, I'll give you 5 years. He's just— he kind of goes quiet there, like, we'll see, we'll see what happens. So I just keep it moving. But, but honestly though, the suffering well part, that is such a powerful, powerful concept. Um, you know, just to have the ability to Keep it all together, man, you know, and, and, and, and just keep praising God through all the, all the, all the tough stuff you go through.

Yeah, awesome, awesome. So what— where— so let's tell the audience where they can find you.

Well, I got a couple different things going on, y'all. I own my gym in Atlantic Beach. It's called Intensity Personal Training. I'm on Ocean Boulevard up in Atlantic Beach in Jacksonville. Been there for 18 years in December. So by the grace of God, I have a great place upstairs looking out at the ocean. People come to me and, um, you know, we get to, uh, work our mind, body, and our spirit. We get to pray, we, we worship in there even. We got scripture on the wall, got the, you know, good Christian music being piped in. So it's an environment where people get healing, um, beyond just building up their physical temples. They actually can come in there and have their spirit strengthened as well. I mean, because people come in carrying life on them. Yeah, 100%. And so personal training is just that, you know, it's, uh, people training, you know, it's personal, you know. So, and mine's very relationship-based. It's not just one-dimensional by any means. And, um, so yeah, it's, it's a great, great, uh, ministry, and that I get to, uh, that God's allowed me to be a part of and partner with him. Because here's a unique thing, he brings me Who it is that he wants me to train. Yeah, that's the most awesome thing. I don't have the opportunity or the luxury of just calling someone up and say, "Hey, want to come be a client?" You know, it doesn't work that way. Yeah, at all. When someone comes because God is sovereign, he is in charge of everything. He's so far ahead of us, so far ahead of us. And so when someone comes. I know now more as I've grown to, to really understand the importance of stewarding that person well, because God is giving— they're a gift. Yeah, they're bringing finance into me and my family's life, right? But I'm bringing value into their life by letting God use me as a conduit to, to pour into them. Mm-hmm. And so I have to— I've learned and grown to really take it very seriously. The people that God brings me. Because it's not just about a dollar bill or checking the box on another hour that I have, another billable hour. No, it's about eternity.

Yeah.

It's about eternity.

It is.

And there's no price tag on that. You know, so when I really get— now that I've really gotten that true revelation of that, it's really, really crazy exciting. When I get a voicemail or if I get an email response from my website or whatever, because now it's not like, oh, I got another client. No, no, I got another soul that I get to love on and to listen to and give some insight, some wisdom, some understanding, some guidance, you know? And hence they can go do that for their family, walking alongside Young men in their 30s as they're building families, and in this crazy world today with so much just pulling at them, you know, and being able to be a someone in their head, you know, on a regular consistent basis they trust. And and I'm not going the world's way, man. Am I bringing you the stuff, the same stuff you hear from all the other guys on YouTube and social media and their approaches? Am I bringing that approach? Yeah, you know, and so for some people that's very refreshing, and for others it's like oil and water. But God doesn't bring me those people. He brings me the people that are open to truth and, um, and want it.

Yeah.

You know, so yeah, so that's, that's a big deal. And now of course, We're the Way— this is something that God gave me back about a year ago. And then We're the Way is, um, a Christian apparel line that God gave me with the whole purpose of, um, Putting out his his his word, the word of God. You know, Isaiah 55:11 says, you know, when my word goes forth, it shall not return void, and it will always accomplish what it was intended to accomplish. And that's just a great promise. Another great promise where God says, if you do this, I will do this. You know, so he's like, your job is to put my word out there. And once you put my word out there, I will bless it because it's mine. That's my word, and it's my will. for my word to go into all the earth and, um, and, and change this narrative, you know, to, to give people love and peace and joy and, and, and, you know, eternal, eternal, you know, perfection in heaven with him, you know, ultimately. Yeah. But what we need while we're still here though is that ability to, to get through what we go through, but we have to have his word.

Yeah.

You know, and, and the peace and confidence that comes along with believing and standing on his word. And that's what God's really been showing me, um, as of late, um, just through different revelation, is, man, the biggest one right now is take me at my word in the literal sense.

Yeah.

Don't downplay it, don't water it down, don't, you know, you know, oh, that was meant for that time, we're living in a different time. We hear all these different debates, arguments, reasons why not to do what the word of God says. Mm-hmm. That's crazy! And expect that you're gonna get the result you want. Mm-hmm. You're expecting to get this blessing that you want, but yet you want to cut corners, and— or we, not just you, but us as believers, as, you know, broken kids, you know, we want— you know, human nature is to find the least path of resistance.

Yes.

You know, no one runs to the fire. You run from the fire, you know? Yeah. There's a special, you know, population of people that are designed to do that. And they call first responders, right? But honestly, but the general population, the natural normal person doesn't run to the challenge. You try to find the easier way. You know, that's just human nature. If you're in a hot car in summertime and you have the option of turning your air on, you're not gonna not turn your air on. You want to be comfortable. Yeah. That's what it comes down to. So AC is what I'm saying for air conditioning. It stands for automatic comfort. You just hit a button, boom, you know. But that's just human nature.

Yeah.

Um, and so I feel that we're in a time now where we have to quit, especially in the Western church. I mean, we see— we've seen this for so long now because we have so much, you know. We, we, we, we, we, uh, in America for sure, we just have so much that is— that goes against— and the, the kingdom's upside down. We know that, you know. God's ways are not our ways, and they're It's kind of just the opposite in a lot of ways because they're going toward the harder route. I mean, the salmon swimming upstream, you know, but they got better oils, they got better protein, you know, but going against the grain, going against the current.

Yeah.

Obviously it's easier to go with the flow.

Yeah.

You know, it's a lot more work to go against that flow. And that's what God's called us to do, is to go against the way of this world. So yeah, I just think by putting his word out there using this, You know, we're walking, talking billboards. It's amazing when you see a shirt, it's a message board, you know, and our eyes gravitate toward it. So based on what the message we're trying to put out there, it determines how it's going to impact somebody. I mean, there's a lot of— you could put all kinds of weird stuff out there, and people do. And so that leaves an impression on people, you know. Mm-hmm. So what I've learned with Wear the Way and the purpose of Wear the Way, though, honestly, is to basically encourage the body. This isn't— I'm not wearing scripture and words that say trust God and be kind and give grace necessarily to a non-believer, because non-believer isn't going to really readily receive scripture.

Yeah,

you know, um, they're probably gonna be like, no thank you, you know. So what this is really all about, what God has shown me, we've got to get the body, the church prepared, the bride, because he's coming back soon. The urgency is real, and the bride's not dressed. The bride's not ready. The bride's not even cleaned up enough to put the dress on. So, so we, we gotta get cleaned up before we can even get dressed, you know. And so, and yeah, that means repent. That cleaning up— yeah, people say, well, you don't need to get cleaned up before you come to Jesus. Well, yeah, you do. I mean, because— but that just means you gotta turn from your, your sinful ways.

Yeah,

we have to repent, um, so that we can be, you know, redeemed, that he's called us. And so the point is to encourage the body, have them begin to talk, have conversations. If I'm standing in line, and it happens so often, I have this shirt on and all people say is this, I like your shirt. So immediately that opens up conversation for me. So I'll say something like, hey, well, you can get one. This is my Christian apparel line. I have a QR code on my phone, my Bible, and my wallet. Real quick, I'll just tell them the website, whatever. But then they'll just start conversation about what maybe what the verse is, or just simply say, man, need more of that, you know, kindness, you know. I mean, that's universal, Christian or no Christian.

Yes.

Being kind, it's a human, a universally human thing that we all need to be part of. Yes. And, and no one can deny that, you know. So when you see shirts that say be kind, you see people's eyes gravitate. You might see a little smile come up, you know, or they might say, I like your shirt. And so immediately I'm like, you should get one and wear it and share it. And so it just makes it, it's so refreshing to just get people to engage in a positive way, not arguing and fighting about politics and this, that, and another. But no, we're engaging as like-minded, lighthearted people who can agree that God is real and that we are on his team, you know. And so my, my— I'm the hype guy, says let's go.

Yeah.

Bring, bring it in.

Yes.

Let's say let's bring everybody in. Let me motivate everybody and get them, get them ready to go out and carry their torch.

Yeah.

You know, and now let's get out there and make an impact. And that's what it's all about. Yeah, it's an evangelistic pursuit to, to do a Christian apparel line, to get out there to evangelize the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the way we're going about doing it is by impacting the body first, to encourage them to go out and do what we've been called to do in Matthew 28, which is the Great Commission. And so until we get on that track and that mindset, have that mindset shift and that heart of repentance, we're not gonna be able to do it effectively. The world's not gonna be impacted, they're not gonna even hear us, 'cause we're not consistent. You know, they gotta see consistency. I mean, that's really the bottom line. The whole Cuba Gooding thing from, you know, wherever that movie was, show me the money.

Jerry Maguire.

Jerry Maguire, that's it. Yeah, yeah, but show me the money. I mean, that's it. The world's all about show me the money. We've heard it all. You know, we've seen it all. And that's another thing. We see a lot of fall, a lot of fall within the church. And so that makes it harder for us as believers to, you know, carry that flag, carry that torch when, when there's a lot that we're having to kind of, you know, go against that, that was real. But back to what we were saying earlier, come on, man. People say, oh man, Christians are a bunch of hypocrites. We're all hypocrites. I mean, right? I mean, we're all broken, flawed humans that are in need of a Savior and need of forgiveness. And so once we can come to that realization or that conclusion, honestly, and accept the reality of that, it changes how we view— it takes us out of this judgmental place. Because I've all— we've all been there, you know, thinking that we're better than someone else because, well, my sin's not that bad, it's not as bad as their sin, and all this and that. Well, I didn't get caught, you know, whatever, right? Yeah. But honestly, I mean, we've all got to come to this level ground, you know, where it's like we are all standing on the same planet with the same blood going through our bodies, um, and with that same void, with that same void that, that only God can fill, you know. And, and we're all tainted and tarnished and contaminated even with sin. There's no one here that's not.

Yeah,

I don't care who you are, you know. So it's, so it's really a big deal to humble ourselves, I think. Not a thing, I know, because what God's called us to do, you know, is to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, pray. Yeah, then we hear from heaven to heal our land.

Yes,

you know, and heal our lives, you know. So we— I, I'm not— I'm— he's put me on this, on this front line to be that hype guy, to have, to have a little more boldness That what's awesome about that is the practice of the boldness. Doing this, every time I wear a shirt, it puts me in a position to speak about the Lord and to be confident, to be joyful, to be engaging. So every time I do it, it's just another rep, another rep, more practice, more practice. So like anything else, the more you practice, the easier things get and the more natural they become.

Yeah.

You know, so it's not about, you know, we've always heard the cliché, practice makes perfect. Well, not necessarily. You know, practice guarantees progression, but it also makes permanent. And so the key is to practice till it becomes just permanent, where it becomes who you are all the time. You don't have to put on a shirt to be that person, or put on a face, or a mood, or an attitude. Nah, man, I'm this person all the time.

Yeah.

You know, and so the more you practice that, The more apparent that becomes, the more evident that is to people, and then that's where they see the consistency, to be like, wow, he is like that all the time. After years, after adversity, after turmoil, after just undesirable things coming into his life, he's still hanging on to that. He's still got the same story, you know. And so that to me is, is so important.

It is.

It really is. Yeah. Because everyone's going to go through stuff, so when we begin to compare our stuff, what's the difference? What stands out? It's who's got you. Yeah. Who's got you? And where's your focus? Who are you focused on? Right? I mean, that's the difference. And so it's our job, and I believe our duty, our call, to share that message with everyone, to let them know that we have a refuge. His name is Jesus. And he, he can't fail, man.

And where can the audience find you?

Yeah, so wearetheway.com, intensityapproachabletraining.com. Look at those things and check it out. Um, I've recently just added an apparel line to Intensity. And real quick, so what, what God told me with that too, at first, okay, I just had this obviously, um, being just directly about the gospel, clearly, um, prime, and that is it. And then with the Intensity, it was about trying to create a brand for my gym of just fitness wear. Mm-hmm. Um, and my designer, who also has a Christian apparel line of his own and, and, and is a strong man of God himself, that's why he's partnered with me in this. He had put one of, um, when he did my, um, Intensity wear, he put one of the, uh, you know, phrases was, you know, Philippians 4:13, you know, I can do all things through Christ. And, um, And it just hit me. I'm like, well, that's just one shirt. Everything else says, like, you know, keep it moving, or, or, uh, keep moving forward, or, you know, just, just real cool catchy, um, you know, fitness lines, you know. And the Holy Spirit just spoke to me and said— so awesome, man— he just said, nah, this needs to be all about that too. So, you know, you got, you have the Christian Apparel line, well, your gym line needs to be faith-based as well. Mm-hmm. Not just have a couple faith-based you know, styles, if you will. But it needs to be a faith and fitness line. And so then that's where the Lord began to show me verses that I'd already come up with. I came up with over 200-something verses for this, but we haven't been able to put that many out, obviously. So there's a lot of verses that, you know, have the metaphoric parallel to correlate to fitness and working out. Yeah. A lot of them. I mean, everything from be strong and courageous to fight the good fight to And then run your race with perseverance, right? I mean, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. So the whole workout, so these keywords, right? Yeah. So you just put these keywords in there and the reference of the scripture and it goes, and then there's some barbells there or dumbbell or whatever, you know, I mean, that shows the fitness side, but there's that faith component first. So it creates this faith and fitness parallel line. So now when you go to the website and you see personal, you know, Intensity Personal Training, you may be in Montana and would never have a chance to come train at my gym. Um, however, you can click on the navigation and go to the apparel side and still, you know, be a part of that by wearing the Intensity brand, but now it's a faith and fitness brand. So when you just go work out at your own gym, you got workout wear that's promoting the— promoting your faith at the same time as you're working out. Yeah. And so that just made such good sense to me because a lot of us are like, what are we waiting on? I mean, why are we messing around? If we're gonna do this, we gotta get all in.

Yes.

You know, I'm like, because there's definitely a population of people out there, John, that work out and are about their faith as well.

Yes, they are.

So I'm not going to be worried about people going, oh man, I'm not gonna wear that shirt because it's got something about Jesus on it. I, I just want one with just the barbell on it. I'm like, well, there's other brands that have just a barbell. I don't want to compromise And that, and that's basically what the Holy Spirit was saying. Don't compromise or worry about who's going to wear it or not wear it because of what's on it. Yeah. Yeah, that's, that's what matters, what's on it.