Ricky Dickson (Fmr. CEO of Blue Bell Creameries)

Today's episode will begin in three minutes. But first I want to tell you about something crazy I'm doing for my new book, five Mere Christians. I've never seen an author do this before, but I'm giving a money back.

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Here's the second reason. I'm just confident you're gonna love this book. My friend Mark Batterson said, quote, five Mere Christians proves that biographies can be extremely entertaining, profoundly helpful, and mercifully short. If you're looking for a book that combines the punch of a great sermon with the pace of a great thriller, this is it. Highly recommended.

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Welcome to the Mere Christians Podcast. I'm Jordan Raynor.

How does the Gospel influence the work of mere Christians? Those of us who aren't pastors or religious professionals, but who work as transcriptionists consultants and zoologists. That's the question we explore every week. And today I'm posing it to Ricky Dixon, the former CEO of Bluebell Creameries, where Ricky spent his first 40 plus year career. Ricky and I recently sat down to discuss his spiritual disciplines during the insane.

Listeria crisis at Blue Bell.

We talked about how to accept critical feedback practically and humbly. And how Ricky's paper that he wrote in college landed him his first job.

At BlueBell, which of course turned into a full fledged career.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this conversation with my new friend.

Ricky Dixon. Welcome to the Mere Christians Podcast.

Well, thank you. It is such an honor and so great to be here. Thank you so much.

So my household, we are big bluebell fans. If we're hanging out at Publix and looking for ice cream, Bluebell is usually where we're going. You spent 40 years, more than 40 years at the company.

So I got to ask, is there.

A retired flavor that my kids wouldn't know of that you wish that they could try?

Oh, wow, gosh, that is a great question. Never been asked. Okay, now that you ask, there was a flavor right when I started. It was called caramel turtle fudge and it was those little turtles, you know, the, the candy, not the actual lake venue animal or whatever. But caramel turtle fudge had that gooey caramel. Oh, the pec. Anyway, this goes way back early 80s, but I think that the turtle people were a little, they didn't like the word turtle and so we had to redo it. And you know, it's a flavor I haven't thought of. But that one takes me way back to my, my beginning days. It was one that, yeah, if it could come back, boy, it would be awesome.

Let's Pray gets resurrected on the new earth or recreated by God's people on those dairy farms without the curse. What's your favorite flavor today?

Today I would go to two categories. I have my hall of fame category of homemade vanilla. Because you have to say homemade vanilla. I think it's almost, you know, if you don't include that, then you lose all your credibility. But outside of that, salted caramel brownie, which just probably is at its tail end, they cycle that one in or rotate it in throughout the year. So salted caramel ice cream with that chewy brownie. And that's what amazes me little. It's almost like eating little bits of fudge. Oh, so good.

So I haven't had that one. I've had my fierce share. Blue Bell ice cream But I've never had that.

I gotta look out. It's a good one.

We're going to talk about how your.

Faith has influenced how you worked in your 40 plus years at BlueBell.

But I want to start like more foundationally.

Why do you think ice cream matters to God?

Right.

Like, sure, the people within the business matter to him, but does ice cream.

Itself matter to God?

Well, absolutely. In fact, I think if you look up homemade vanilla in the Greek term, it really means milk and honey. Ok, that's a loose interpretation, so I apologize. But you know the Dixon version. Yeah, that's right. That hasn't been published yet and I.

Don'T look forward to the RDV translation.

Right. I do have my new book out, one scoop at a time, but that is not in the book, so forgive me for that. I would say that the thing that makes, you know, ice cream in itself special is that it truly is something at the end of the day that can either help you celebrate a great day, an anniversary or birthday, or just a great day, or, or also erase a bad day. You know, it can lift you back up. And I think that, you know, God works that way. He does place things in our life that have his fingerprint on it. You know, you take just the pureness of milk from cows and you turn it into the sweet concoction that can be rewarding. And I tell you, in the book, I have a couple different chapters on how ice cream, Bluebell ice cream specifically has related to lives of individuals, to families, how they celebrate around it. It takes you to memories of, and also helps you create memories of the current and for the future. And so I think when I saw that, and I saw the impact of how something so simple as homemade vanilla relates to a grandpa that's come down with dementia. And yet when he eats homemade vanilla, he seems to come to life. That just reminds me of how great our God is. It does sound a little, I don't want to say cliche, but at the same time I think it's. It's really, really honestly powerful because God does love us more than we can compreh, comprehend into something as simple as ice cream. If that could be a special moment in anyone's day, then let's rejoice in that.

That's exactly right. This quote is attributed, I've heard it attributed to Ben Franklin, I've heard it attributed to CS Lewis. But the old quote, the beer is proof that God loves us and wants to be happy. And I think the same is true for ice cream. Right. Joy matters to God. Christ came to give us abundant life. And of course we, we interpret that primarily spiritually, but he is lord of the spiritual and the material. He create in the garden to work with the material world, to take the animals and cattle and extract dairy and make more of it, to create culture. And I. So I think all of that points to the intrinsic good of ice cream. Amen.

Amen. Absolutely.

Hey, you already mentioned the book, which I loved what I read of it. This recently published memoir of your time at bluebell called One Scoop at a.

Time Stories and Lessons from Fear to Faith.

And we talked right before we started record that subtitles caught people off guard.

And I really loved it. I thought that emphasis on from fear.

To faith specifically was really interesting. Why do you feel that that was a dominant theme during your time at BlueBell?

Well, I think that first sitting down to start to write the, the book. I started my career by writing a paper on bluebell back in at Baylor University when I was a student, we got an assignment to follow a company for a whole semester. I called my dad from my apartment, said I've got this project, what do you think? And he said, well, I'm just sat down reading this article at a magazine on this little ice cream company in Brunham, Texas. Let me start it over. And I mean he literally was reading it when I called and I thought, well man, that perfect. And I went down, interviewed the information for my paper, but what I saw was just something special. And so I went back, filled out an application and applied. And like I said, 43 plus years later and now retiring.

So pro tip, if you want a job at a dream employer, just go write a paper in college. Is that.

Yes, that's right.

So why Fear to Faith? Was this a theme throughout your 40 years? Was it just when you took over a CEO like Talk More about this.

Yeah. Yes, and I apologize, I kind of transition back. But to try this great story of faith, I just felt like especially in the latter days of my career and also just in my personal life, I mean the longer anyone lives, you're going to have trials, period. That's just part of it. In fact, you know, I've always loved James one where it says to count it pure joy when you encounter trials. And I've always thought pure joy, trials. I don't. That doesn't add up. At the same time, if it wasn't for the trials, I wouldn't have the faith that I have today. I wouldn't have the relationship with Christ that I Have today. And so on the back end, to start with a paper at the beginning of my career and to write a book at the end of the career, I felt like it was really important to not just talk about Ice Cream and bluebell and what we went through and have gone through as a company, but also what gone through on a personal note, but to take it deeper. When you're in the middle of the trial, how do you ride the storm out? How do you hunker down, be able to have the peace that passes all understanding in the middle of the trial? And so that became the theme in the heart of the book. How do you find peace or how do you find the assurance that God's got this in the middle of a storm and turn that into faith? Because that's the thing that we can give back to God is our faith and trust in him when things aren't going well. And so that pretty much, I won't say every chapter, but most chapters pivot in that direction with scriptures and, you know, just life lessons on, yes, you can have peace in the middle of the storm if you just release. You know, I say look up, don't look within and things will fall into place.

Yeah, it's really good. I love memoirs that are not just here's my story. I love memoirs that are here's my story and here's the theme and here's what I've learned that can help you in a similar situation. And that's definitely what the this book is. So I would love to go deep into just one of those trials that you talk about in the book to unpack a little bit more practically how the gospel shaped your response to those trials. And specifically I'd love to talk about when you took over the reigns as President Bluebell at a pretty fearful time in February 2017.

Can you take our listeners inside of.

The listeria crisis that you kind of inherited and were walking into as you stepped into this leadership role?

Yeah, sure, absolutely. Obviously, we started in 1907 as a little butter company. And so we have been around for, you know, over 100 plus years. But that has to be probably the thing that hit us the hardest of any particular time. Ice cream is supposed to be a safe product. It's a low risk product. It's a minus 20 degree pasteurized product. And so when that event took place, it, it took us to our knees. It was devastating. And yet as we circled around and as we came together both collectively as management teams and independently or individually as on my own, I just Trusted that. Look, God, whatever comes from this, I'm going to give it to you. And all I ask is that you help navigate, give me the words, give me the thoughts, give me the direction on what we need to do as a company. Especially when I took over in 2017, this is a big deal. 3,500 employees. We're trying to get our feedback under us as a company. He was so, so faithful and so gracious to help guide me and direct me. Not to say that every decision I made was the right one, but I knew where my source of strength came from, and that was from God.

Yeah, man, that's really good. And, yeah, I mean, this was a true crisis. You got 3,500 employees. You know, the CDC formally recognized 10 illnesses, three deaths associated with this crisis. So as you're stepping into this role, I got to imagine there's a tension here, right? There is this tension between wanting to honor the leaders that came ahead of you who built this great company. But then there's also a tension of, like, man, but I really want to get to the bottom of what happened here, make sure it doesn't happen again. This kind of loyalty to the customer, how did you wrestle with that?

Yeah, I think that, to be real honest, the amazing thing was it was a very cohesive decision to say, we're going to do it. We're going to do the right thing. From the very beginning, we have a problem, and we can either put a band aid on it or we can fix it. And when you take that second approach, it takes a lot longer and cost a lot more. I just think we started with the passion of ice cream and the passion of the flavors, and we just thought that the consumer deserved that. And so instead of just maybe what I would say, cleaning what we'd say on the surface, we took a deep dive. We did things that were. I mean, we took all the equipment out, we tore up the floors, we took down the walls, we replaced ceilings, we redid all kind of airflow. And then we came back in, refabricated equipment, and then put the most unbelievable, robust testing, environmental testing program in place to where from the time you walk through the very door of the building, everything's being tested. And so that really was embraced before I took over, that was in 2016, that if we're going to survive, and we're not just going to survive for a month or a year, we're going to come back as long as we possibly can, that we have to do the right things. And so when I Stepped in. It was really not just taking that same philosophy, but just not just continuing that, but even taking it to a deeper level if possible. And so we continue to analyze every aspect of the business the way we. From a food safety standpoint. And that included microbiologists coming in from the outside, continued examinations from outside companies that would come in and audit us and just really put us in the fire of what we were doing. And I can tell you, I am so proud of where we are today. It does cost a lot of money. But I can also tell you that I can go to bed at night resting, knowing we've done everything we possibly can to make it as safe as possible.

Yeah, and that's the point. I mean, I think about all of Paul's frequent commands in Scripture to do the right thing for your neighbor, even when nobody's watching. I'm thinking about 2nd Corinthians 8. I think. I believe it's verse 21 where Paul says, we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of man. Right. I mean, you guys probably made some really painful decisions that the general public didn't see, but that was the call of the Lord on your life because you believe your work is a means of ministering to your fellow man.

Right?

That's right. I think that. That you had that responsibility. And it's not that what we were doing. What we were doing was industry standards, which very comfortable. Like I said, we are a low risk on the board. So I think it taught Everybody, not just BlueBell as a company, but I think the industry and even to the FDA and cdc. And I think you constantly are learning. And I think that's what's so key is don't rest. Keep learning. Keep looking for ways to do the right thing in every possible way. When this presented itself, we knew we had that responsibility to do that. And so I love that passage because that's right. Not just for God, but also for fellow man.

Yeah, that's good.

All right.

So you're new to this role in 2017. You've already talked about you. I love the way you put in the book, quote, success starts by looking up and listening. End quote.

Take us inside what that looked like.

Practically when you were running the company day to day. Take us inside your daily prayer habits when you were navigating that crisis.

I think depending upon what the day presented, people ask, what's your normal day look like? And I said, which one? Because they all look different. So. But I Think that that was the beauty of it is to. My day starts around 4:30 in the morning, which came actually naturally now that I've been retired since March, bumped that to about 5:30. So I feel like I'm sleeping in.

Which sounds lazy man. Lazy man.

I know it. It starts with quiet time. And then what I was doing was actually I shifted and started going for walks. And so I would go down to our park in Brenham and walk a couple two to three miles. And in that time I tried to really, this is going to sound different, but I tried to open my walk with just God speak to me today and let me listen to what you're telling me today. What do you want to put on my heart? What do you want to put on my mind that you are trying to get my attention. And as I walked, I just tried to quit talking and listening for a change. As I did that things would come to mind and it could be situations at work, it could be, be whether it be a problem or it could be an event or some strategic plan that we're putting into place. But it allowed me time to just really listen for a change instead of doing all the talking in my prayer life. And so that was probably one of the bigger changes that I did independently is that time of listening. But then as the walk would end, then devote it back into prayer, just that, that plea or request. And Philippians 4, 6 and 7 stills my life. First, don't be anxious about anything. So don't get so excited about the day that already the worries of the day have taken you over before you get in the car to go to work. But don't be anxious about anything. But everything through prayer, praise and stipulation presents your request to the Lord. I'm looking for the peace that passes understanding. It's right, right there in the heart of that passage. And so by the time I'm in the car, man, I'm ready because I've got God on my side. And when I walk through the door, I'm walking in representing him. And I try honestly to do that every day. I won't tell you that I did every day because there were days that were, you know, more demanding and, or more, you know, your mind will drift if you allow it. And that was my goal, that was my, my heart was to really be mindful of what is around me and how can I not necessarily be a boss, but be a leader and be a guider and be a teacher? And that's, that's how I spent the seven years as president, CEO.

I want to go a level deeper there because your predecessor, from what I could tell, was also an outspoken Christian. He left the company. I think there were some. Some legal issues going on with that. I don't know all the details, and I don't think we need to get into them. But coming into a situation like that, like, I think you probably felt an even greater pressure, right, to uphold the integrity of what it means to be a Christian leader of bluebell. So how did you think about that? Like, what steps did you take to be just totally above reproach and be a winsome representative of Christ to those 3,500 employees?

Yeah, I think the biggest thing was to not think of the title as a title, but as a responsibility. And so for the seven years I had someone come up to me, I don't know, maybe second, third year I was present, they said, there's times when we mentioned the word president, you seem a little uncomfortable. And I said, I'm not comfortable in the responsibility, but I am very mindful of not becoming prideful in the position because it is a responsibility. I took it that way. When I step down, I want bluebell to be successful because of the things that we did, not because of anything that I can say, hang my hat on or do. That's a hard battle because we're human, and it's natural to want to put in, you know, when you step in, to do things your way so you can kind of make your name or your legacy. I want my legacy to be that in the middle of it, I was on my knees. That boy, if that got out, I think that that would be the greatest compliment because it was not of me. And so Paul was a great man. I love working underneath him. I love working both for his uncle and his father. And they were the two presidents prior to him being our president. And they all three had different management styles, incredibly different, but you can learn from anybody. And all three, I took their strengths and tried to just kind of compound on those and yet be who I am and who God's made me. And so. But I think the. You can get really caught up in a title. And I have a chapter in my book that actually talks about a real, real pivotal moment in my career where I thought I was getting a promotion and I was actually being called in to get a pretty stern evaluation, let's put it that way.

Oh, my gosh. Ricky, are you reading my notes? This is exactly what I wanted to.

Ask you about, so.

Good. All right, so tell the Story. You're talking about the story with this dinner with Melvin and John, right?

Right.

Yes, yes.

Yeah, tell the story.

Absolutely. Well, you know, I had moved fast in the company. The company itself was growing at a very rapid pace. And so when I started in 1981 in Dallas, the market was exploding. And the next thing I knew, at age of 24, they're asking me to come to San Antonio to become branch manager, which just, you know, I'm green behind the years, but I'm going to take the position because I'm back home. That's where I grew up. In fact, we're two miles from my hometown. I mean, my, my home, we're in. We're right down the street from where I grew up. Up. And so when they came and said, we're going to open up a brand new territory outside of Texas, and with the possibility of this becoming a whole new region, we would like for you to be that person. I had the struggle. Do I stay comfortable and stay in my hometown and stay with my family and brothers and sister and nephews and nieces, or do I walk by faith and step out? But it's interesting when you have that decision because I could have gone either way, and I think either way could have been right. But at the same time, I was really truthfully praying, God, I don't want to go just for the promotion, but this sounds exciting. So I get to Oklahoma City and it gets really, really quiet. And so I'm thinking, okay, did I move for the right reason? Am I here or what? You know, why aren't we talking about this new region? And so when the phone call finally comes and they said after we. We had two meetings a year where all the management got together and we're at this meeting and they said they want to talk to me after the meeting or the dinner's over with. And I said, well, this must be it. So I go into the room thinking, boy, this is exciting. I could tell as soon as I walked in that this was not a celebration room. This was just the opposite. So I sit down and Melvin, who is my immediate supervisor boss, starts in. And he had a page and a half, handwritten, single spaced, the notes of things. Either things I wasn't doing that I used to, or things I should be doing that I wasn't. But the bottom line was I was not where I should have been. And I had somehow drifted from center and got maybe comfortable in the future of being promoted to this position. And wow, you're talking about just a real eye Opening experience. I go back to my hotel, sit down on the bed, and then I'm frustrated. I won't lie. I'm thinking, God, I thought I was. I heard your voice. I thought you said to move here. I thought this is what you wanted me to do. And I'm telling you as clear as day, even though it wasn't audibly, I heard him speak to me. He said, you're here not for your promotion, but for my purpose. Still to this day, the hairs on my arms stand up because I realized I'd gotten caught up in the title, in the position, and I had drifted away from the responsibility of the job that I was asked to do from the. From the start. And I had a decision to make. Am I going to pout and am I going to. Well, they promised me, and I'm going to leave this company and I'm going to go try something different or I'm going to listen to the father's voice. And it was probably the single most impacting moments in my career to where, God, if you have me here for your purpose, then I want to lock into whatever that purpose is. And my only prayer is that whatever the position is that you lead me to, give me a passion to do it for your glory, and I will hit it as hard as I can for your glory. And ironically, it wasn't long after that I find myself not in that position of promotion, but I'm actually now moved over and I'm now running the production facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. So a marketing journalism major asked to run a production facility which was never on my radar. But I knew, okay, if this is God, if this is you and this is what you want, then let's do it. And it just changed my attitude. And from that point and looking back now, those six years running, that plant was the foundation I needed on the. On the other side, I want to say, because sales came natural, production was something I needed to learn. But it set the stage for my ability to run the. Run the company in 2017 because I had full now knowledge of both sides of our operations. And so it's easy to look back, and that's where it's fun to look back and say, okay, God, I see what you're doing. But I go back to that piece during the trial. How do you get it in the middle of it? But I found it there. Okay, if you want me to do this, then this is what I'm going to do, and I'm going to do it with joy.

That's good. So there are a ton of lessons just from this one little story, but one I want to zero in on. I think it's an interesting case study in how to receive critical feedback. Well, because it sounds like when you first saw that, you know, page and a half, single space, you know, document full of notes, from what I could tell in the book, you're pretty angry. You didn't want to receive that feedback. Well, but how did that time alone in the hotel room with your heavenly father and hearing his voice and his feedback make you more receptive in that.

Moment and throughout your career to the.

Critical feedback of other human beings?

I think it's so natural to go defensive. In fact, during the evaluation, I'm ready to argue every single point that, yeah.

Of course, as I would be.

Yeah, it's like, wait a minute, it. No, but I think that so often that I have to pivot. But I'll say, even in my marriage, there are times where I know I'm right and I realize later I know I'm wrong. So your pride at the time, you think, no, this is what it is. It's such an eye opening experience, just stop. I have a thing that I like to do is when I get emotionally into something, whether it be an employee or a situation, once I see and feel and sense that my emotions have taken over, I really need to stop and give it time to get back to a rational way of thinking. Because it's amazing what a good night's sleep will do. And just get your head back where everything settles back down. The fracking of the mind has happened and now everything's kind of back in its place. And I think in this case that's what happened. And I carried that evaluation with me probably for the next 10 years in my briefcase. And if I'm on an airplane and I'm looking to do some work and I'm stumbling through the briefcase and I come across and I'd pull it out and reread that, just keep rereading it to try it again, stay centered. And it's funny because they were right. They weren't wrong. They were right to see that and to see that there was an objective evaluation from someone that actually cared about me and cared about my future, that saw a future in me, because I wouldn't be in that position if I hadn't been asked or if they didn't see something in there. But they also cared enough to be honest with me and say, look, you're not on the same path and if you don't get back on the right path, you're going to be going definitely down the wrong road. And so anytime you get criticism of any kind like that, I think it's important that you listen no matter if you agree or not and give it time and let it marinate. Because there are times that God's trying to use others to teach. Correct in both your spiritual life and as a leader in of just the secular world. Yeah, that's right.

And I love that principle of just like, yeah, resting before you react to that feedback. Specifically sleep. Talk about prior to walking in the room though. Like I want you to imagine you're talking to a listener and she is about to go in for her end of quarter review at, I don't know, the job she has at McKinsey Co. Whatever. Right. What would you encourage her to do as a mere Christian before she walks in the room to be, be prepared to accept that constructive feedback in a winsome way?

It's a great question and I think the, the benefit that I had in this situation or my situation and I kind of just mentioned is I really believe that those that were doing the evaluation had my best interest at heart. It was not something on their, you know, to make them look better. And that's what's bad. Sometimes you have a supervisor or a boss that is trying to keep you down. So that makes them look good. And so I think that go in with an open mind, listen to what they have to say, evaluate it, pray through it, and you may come to the other side to say there was either an ulterior motive behind this or boy, I don't see what they're seeing. And so therefore I think then you have to do the self evaluation even in the right place or, or God, are you trying to show me something even in a situation that it doesn't add up? Because he may still have you there for a reason that doesn't make sense, but yet he's using you for a purpose. And so I have to be careful when I navigate through that. Again, I was blessed because my boss was a believer. We talk scripture all the time. So I truly trusted his heart that he was doing this for my own good. But I've seen even from friends and whatnot, when I listen to their stories, that is not the case that they, they are being put in a position where, you know, whether being exploited or they're being, they're held back because they are exceeding beyond what they should be. And the threat maybe is the best word.

So yeah, yeah, for sure. For Me. So in my context today as a writer and full time content creator, usually this constructive feedback comes from editors, right? Yeah. I'm about to get notes on the next book, whatever, whatever. And I've tried to discipline myself to. Before I read through those notes, first try to imagine how the Master, master Jesus and the parable of the talents would judge my faithfulness in the work. Can I honestly look at this project, this book and say that I gave this my very best, that I invested my talents as wisely as I know how, to his glory and the good of others. And if I can say, yes, this man, it makes receiving that feedback a lot easier because I know that I have the master's pleasure right before I get a verdict that frankly, is fairly inconsequential from some other human being. Now, I still want that feedback. I listen to every single note. I don't necessarily take the prescribed advice, but I listen to every single note because I trust that even if they're not trying to make me look better, even if they don't have my best interest at Hearts, which for the record, my editors do, God does. And God is working every single piece of feedback, even from a terrible boss, for my good and my sanctification and for his glory.

That's right.

Hey, Ricky, you retired from Bluebell in 2023 and I love you said this, I think somewhere in the book that you prefer the, the term refire to retire. Tell us what you mean by that.

Well, and actually it was just this past March, so we actually made it into 24, but barely, I should say, but no problem there. I think that the best way I can explain that is I truly believe that when God placed me in the position of president and CEO that he had a purpose. And so my struggle on the back end as I now 65 years old and in position to retire. Is it what God wants? You know, I didn't want to step out just because I could step out or step off. And so that's where I spent. And the process of retiring actually took a little over two years, both in the decision process and with myself and also with the board. But I did not want to just step away. We did relocate from Brenham, Texas up to Oklahoma city. We have eight beautiful grandchildren, four which are under 12 years old in Oklahoma City. And so we gravitated to those that still are little in love and all those things. But I didn't want to just step away and go to the rocking chair per se. I've got a whole nother season of life that I, you know, someone came up the other day and said, you're entering the fourth quarter, so put those four fingers up in the air like you would in a football game and go in and give it your best. I love that analogy. And so that refiring is just that. And I truly believe that God said, yes, you've done what I've asked, but you're not finished. And so my prayer is, I don't necessarily want to know yet, God, what that is unless you want to show me. But I want to give everything I possibly can to bluebell until the day I do step away. But I'm ready to go back to work, and I'm ready to go back to work for your glory in whatever capacity. And so the book was a great way to segue the last months of last year. In the beginning of this year, we were able not only to write it, but get it published and get it, you know, on the market. I just know that there's some real exciting days ahead, and I know that it'll come with trials, it'll come with all kind of things, but that refire is what you've trained for your whole life. And I go back to the analogy as we hit this fourth quarter order in my life. I'm ready. Put me in, coach. I'm ready to play. So hopefully that makes sense.

I think that's the right perspective. There is zero biblical evidence whatsoever for the American version of retirement that is sold to us right now. God may be calling you to retire from this job that you currently get paid for, but he will never ask you to retire from the work of the Lord. Man, it's. I think about Paul when he talks about working and expending all of the energy he has for the sake of Christ and his gospel.

I love that.

All right, Ricky, four questions we wrap up every episode with.

Okay.

Look ahead to the new earth. Isaiah 65 says, we will long enjoy the work of our hands on the new earth. Even heaven on earth is not a vacation or retirement, but an eternal vocation free from the sin. What job would you love God to give you on the new earth? You want to be milking cows to create redeemed bluebell ice cream? What do you want to be doing?

And to be honest, it's a great question because, you know, my mind went all over. Just as long as there's mountains around me and I can see, you know, God's creation, I'll do, you know, just put me to work and whatever you want.

Put me in coach Wherever you are.

That's right. That's right. I love the question.

I think that's right. And I think, think what will make. What will make it enjoyable.

Right.

Isaiah says, long enjoy the work of our hands is not primarily the work itself, but the fact that we will be intimately with the Lord fully in a way that is we get glimpses of today, but is hard to truly comprehend. All right, Ricky, second of our final four questions. If we opened up your Amazon order history, which book would we see you purchasing the most to give away to your friends?

Another great question I gravitate to now. I'm so blessed to say a good friend and Mark Batterson, who pastors a church out of Washington, D.C. mark's a.

Good friend of mine.

I love Mark. Is that right? Go. Yeah, he's. He's just. I found a book. Well, Chase the Lion is where it started again. I go back to the Holy Bible app. I was looking for a devotional series, found Chase the Lion. I thought that was intriguing. That led me to a story that takes too long to tell. But I love his book if making your what ifs reality instead of if only Regrets. And there's so many nuggets that are found in Mark Matterson's writings that here lately I just, I, whenever I usually have speeches, especially the young kids or college students or adults, dream big, but pray God places the dream within you and then go with enthusiasm and trust. And so that's where I would say it's a great read. It's. It's for anybody, even someone that may not know Christ, but it's a great way to find Christ. But it's a book also that could be a real blessing.

I love that. It's really good. Hey, Ricky, who would you most like to hear on this podcast talking about how the gospel influences the work that mere Christians do in the world?

I would say first name that just jumps in my mind. I have talked to a few times. I've not met him in person, but Tim Tassopoulos, which he just retired as president, CEO of Chick Fil A. Yes, absolutely. I had the opportunity to talk a few different times and I was really intrigued by his career path because it was very similar to mine where he started in his process of going through a company that, you know, just stands on biblical principles, you know, lives it. And so I think he'd be an awesome choice. And then I'll shift gears just a little bit. I am a Scottish shuffler fan from the time he entered the golf tour. I picked a Good one, because he seems to be doing really well. He's human. He's had some great moments and he's also had some fun moments that of course the world will pick apart. But I love his faith. I love where he stands and the fact that even with the masters, he made it very clear if his wife went into labor that he would be heading to the hospital. So those two names popping.

Those are good names. Those are good names. Hey, Ricky, you're talking to this global audience of your Christians who are doing a lot of different things professionally, but what they share is a desire to do everything, including their work, for God's glory and the good of others. What's one thing you want to leave them with before we sign off?

I would say if I'll do this real quick, I would. Two things. One is, I would. As much as we've talked about the gospel and how God works in our life, Paul did such a great job in Romans 12:1 through. Really, I think it's 12. I live in those passages, living, you know, presenting my body as a living sacrifice, looking and seeking God's will, knowing God's will. Love like you love, you know, love your neighbors, yourself, really love. Don't be lazy, be patient, in trouble. Those are just some great nuggets that are wrapped up into that. And so just those. That's one passage I'd love to go back to. And then the other is a kind of a three part principle that I live by is God's got you here for a purpose. He has placed you here. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and you are here for a purpose. Pray for the passion to go with that purpose. But thirdly, and I'll end with this, is be patient. Because he is molding you in a way that only he can do. And if you will allow that, again, peace will come. And knowing that even with the trials, that one day when you stand before his glory, you gave it your very best.

That's really good. And so rare in this day and age to exude that patience. But man, Ricky, it sounds like you're doing that. I want to commend you, brother, for the exceptional work you have done and are doing for the glory of God and the good of others. For the reminder that because the Lord is with us, we've got nothing to fear. And I just loved man. I wrote this down as you were talking. This legacy that you wish those 3,500bluebell employees would remember you as. In the middle of the crisis you were on your kn. Thank you for giving us such a great model of prayer faithfulness and this has just been a joy. Guys, Ricky's book is one scoop at a time. Which by the way, it couldn't have been another title. That was the only possible title that's right for a book from Ricky Dixon. Ricky, thanks for spending time with us today.

Oh no, thank you. And thank you for mentioning the book. It is on Amazon and I'm just letting God use those as seeds and I hope people do enjoy it. But thank you so so much for this opportunity and I continue to I'll be praying for you as well for this ministry. Thank you Ricky. Continue with the journey.

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