New Year, New You: "Godspeed!"

Happy New Year!!!

It's a new year, and a new season! We're kickin' things off aggressively by way of a cliche "New Year, New You" format. In this episode we get rather transparent about the ways we want to do life in 2024. Listen as we discuss focusing outward, prioritizing relationships and stewardship, and just not allowing ourselves to be rendered ineffective.

Transcript

New Year, New You: “Godspeed!"

Happy New Year!!!
 
 It's a new year, and a new season! We're kickin' things off aggressively by way of a cliche "New Year, New You" format. In this episode we get rather transparent about the ways we want to do life in 2024. Listen as we discuss focusing outward, prioritizing relationships and stewardship, and just not allowing ourselves to be rendered ineffective.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

[Music]

[Music]

What's up everybody?

Welcome back to another episode of the Churchosity podcast.

If you're looking for the place to have a conversation about church culture through the lens of a Gen X or well guess what you have landed in the right place.

My name is Heath Brady. And I'm Andrea Brady. And we? Back for another year. Yes. Another season. Yes. Yes, they called us back Andy. That's good. We're still the faithful Churchosity podcast personnel.

Come and that show. Come and that show. In 2024. Oh, right. Hey Andy. Yes. It's a new year. I know. Happy new year. Happy new year. Can you believe it? No, I can hardly believe it. Our country had another birthday. We're still standing. Yeah.

Barely. Yeah. Well, let's hope that this is a good year for everyone. Amen. I could use a I could use a good year. It's right. Yeah. 2023. It's in the past. I'm so done. Ancient history. Ancient history. Yes ladies and gentlemen. If you are listening to this episode on its first day of launch then happy new year.

It is January 1st, 2024. If you are listening to it on January 2nd or beyond, well, the New Year is in a past. Right. What else can we say? Seriously, that's what we're up to good start. We are off to a good start because why are we off to a good start?

Because we're recording on the end of episode dropping on the very first day of year. I know. I know. We're on a roll. We're doing pretty good here. Yeah. I'm kind of impressed with us. I'm proud of us Andy. I'm proud of us too. And I'm excited for the things that we have planned coming up. I know. Hey, you know, before we get into the things we have planned. Yeah. I wanted to just drop a little bit of information here for our listeners.

I mean, I know that I know that we have a lot of different formats or forms of media that you can listen to our podcasts on. Right. Apple podcasts. Spotify and you know, Google podcasts and all of the. I can't even there's like 87 different.

Yeah. So you can download it. There are. You can also listen to our episodes on our website on www.Churchosity.com. And now just a little shout out plug for those who want to go the extra mile and become Patreon supporters. Yeah.

I'll drop a little info about that in a second. We can listen to our episodes on Patreon. But a lot of people don't know that you know, there's a lot of people who are opposed to apps. There's a lot of people who are opposed to downloading apps. There's a lot of people who.

Don't want another reason to pick up their phone and we appreciate that we really really do. And so we have another form of media for folks to listen to our podcasts.

Should they want to put their phone down, but let's say have to sit in front of a computer. Well, you can find us on YouTube as well. Nice.

And we've been picking up a little bit more traction lately on YouTube with our podcast. That's exciting. Yeah. That's pretty cool. So like we're trying to reach the masses. Right. Like we're probably about, I don't know, five to seven years behind the technology.

And all of the things that are available to broadcast this quality content that you and I put together. But we want to try to appeal to the masses. We want to serve the masses. We want to be available to as many people as possible.

So I'm pretty excited about that that the YouTube channels been picking up a little bit of traction and getting some attention and some listen. So that's pretty cool. That is all of it.

So yeah, other than all of that nonsense. How in the heck are you doing? How am I doing? Well, I got the whole week off from work. So it's been very nice. And just relaxing.

Enjoying the new puppy. Oh, Oscar is just the best. Yeah, he is. He's a grown boy. Yep. We haven't weighed him recently yet. But I swear you think he's probably like 20 pounds now. At least. Yeah, little chonkers. He is. He's a chonkers. He's my baby dog.

I love him so much. He's so cuddly and sweet. Yep. And I love it. How like in the morning, he just licks my face off. Oh, I know. He's so happy to see us in the morning. It's so cute.

Dogs are amazing animals. They really are. I love them so much. Yep. It's like having a living breathing creature who just loves you unconditionally. Yeah. Doesn't take you for granted.

No, doesn't try to take advantage of you. Well, I wouldn't say that. Especially when I have snacks or treats or food. Yeah, bribery is your best weapon. Man, he's always trying to be sneaky. But he never lies. No, no, he's always faithful. And so in a lot of ways, dogs are better than people.

Yeah, it's a frozen reference. It is a frozen reference. It's supposed to be reindeer, isn't it? Yes.

Reindeer are better than people. Correct. Yeah. It's the Christoph song. Oh, that's right. That's great. Yes. But you know, I don't want to talk about frozen. We need to just let it go.

Okay. Anyways, so we're going to have some fun on this episode. I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, we got some clever and cunning things in store for you all out there and listen or land.

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Give us a rating. We need ratings and reviews because the ratings and reviews not only help popularize church, honesty, podcast, but they make us a lot easier for other people to find us as well.

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There are a couple of the coolest gen Xers we've ever heard. You're going to love them just as much as we do. And lastly, you can follow us on the socials, which would be Facebook or Instagram.

Look for us at the tag @churchositypod.

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That is a big word. I want to seminary.

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Look for us at patreon.com/churchositypod. Do it.

All right, well, it is a new year, ladies and gentlemen. New year, new you. New year, new you. How about that? New year, new episode, new season.

Welcome to season five of Churchosity podcast. Can you believe it?

I am so excited. You know, one thing that I'm really excited about. What about season five? We are coming up on our 100th episode. I know.

And that 100th episode is going to happen during season five. I know. That's incredible. You know, in Biblical numerology. Number five is symbolic of grace.

Wow. How apropos that God has graced us with soon to be 100 episodes. The internet hasn't crashed. The electricity grid is still on. That's pretty awesome. Pretty awesome.

So Andy, it is 2024. And we've got a new topic of discussion. Don't we? We do. And what is that wonderful topic of discussion? New year, new you.

How original. Right. I wanted to be super cliche. Well, last, you can't really get much more cliche than that. Last year, you know, way back then. Actually, it was our last episode when we did our hey to be fair. That was last year.

We did our grown up Christmas list. Right. It just kind of made me think, what are we going to do about that? What do you mean? What are we going to do about what?

Well, just because some things are wish list doesn't mean that we don't have any control over it.

Oh, you mean we can't just like flail our request up to the heavens and sit back and, you know, let God just do his handiwork?

Well, yeah, I mean, I mean, I don't expect God to give me $20 million, right? Well, I mean, I think I would have it by now.

I mean, the new year is coming. God, I don't think that ship is sailed. Let's put it this way. God is always blessed us and is provided for us.

That's right. I mean, I don't have anything to complain about.

And we always like to say that all of life is grace. That's right. Every single thing that we have, including the very next breath, is grace.

I started thinking about it. Like some of these things that I wish for, I do have some control over that. There are changes that I could make. There are things that I can do to make some of this stuff happen.

Like, play some scratches. Yeah, exactly.

Just kidding. Set aside a dollar a week. We do not advocate gamblers. You can't win if you don't play. That's right. You got to break a few waves to make an omelette.

But, you know, some of the other things that I had on my list, I think we can talk about it. Sure. Let's do it.

All right. My tie offer a few platitudes to get the conversation cooking. What's that? Have you ever seen the movie Evan Almighty?

Oh my, yes, but it's been a while. Yes. Well, it's so don't confuse it with Bruce Almighty, the Jim Carrey version.

Evan Almighty was like basically the sequel. It's the one with the actor who plays Michael Scott on the office. Steve Carrell. Yeah.

We're basically God wants Evan to be the new Noah, if you will. And to be fair, I found that the second movie, Evan Almighty was a lot more, quote, family friendly, if you will.

But there's this one scene in the movie that really kind of rocked my world. And I've only seen this movie a couple of times. It's been a long time since I saw it.

But I do specifically remember this scene. And it's where God who's played by Morgan Freeman, which just as a side note, if God had an audible voice, Morgan Freeman's voice would just be perfect. I'm just saying either him or James Earl Jones, James Earl Jones.

Anyway, so Morgan Freeman who plays God is having a conversation with Evan's wife. Because Evan is just like discouraged. Can't figure out this gift that God has given him and why God hasn't answered their prayers.

And so God, quote unquote, Morgan Freeman says to Evan's wife, when when people pray for courage, does God grant them courage or does God grant them opportunities to show courage?

Or when when people ask God for wisdom, does God grant people wisdom or does he create opportunities for people to become wiser?

See, that's why I don't pray for patience.

That was my next one.

So moving along, when people pray for peace, does God grant peace or does God create opportunities for people to be peaceful or peaceable?

And you can you can play that game all day long, right?

But along those lines of what you're getting at, honey, there's a difference between making your requests known to God and sitting back on your hands and doing nothing.

Yeah, exactly.

This is looking for God to answer by way of opportunities to obtain those very things that you're praying for or that you're wishing for.

Right. So I just I kind of wanted to, you know, rack them up and break so we speak with with those thoughts.

That's awesome, honey. Yeah, it's exactly what I was thinking along those lines, except your way more articulate.

Well, I don't know.

The first thing I have on my list is to lay a good foundation.

And that means making sure that I devote time to prayer and reading the Bible every single day.

Because if I'm not being filled with the words of the Lord and I don't have his words in my mind and in my heart, like every day.

And, you know, if I'm not thinking about God and I'm not thinking about the things of God, then I feel like I'm going to just fail no matter what.

I mean, that's the foundation of all things as Christians.

That is the, I mean, Jesus is the cornerstone, right?

Amen. So as a Christian, I just really think that I have to make that more of a priority and spend, you know, more time in prayer and reading my Bible and studying it every day.

 Yeah.

Yeah. That's a really good point because, you know, we live in a culture of deconstructionism.

Yeah. And I feel like the majority of people who are, quote, unquote, deconstructing are not really deconstructing their demolishing.

Because deconstructing involves going back to your foundation.

It's like going back to your roots, right?

Because, you know, you want to remodel something while you still have the original bones.

You still have the original foundation, but maybe you want to change things or you want to strengthen something or you want to remove something or you want to add something.

Well, you do all of that on top of the foundation, right?

Yeah.

If we, as a culture, are condoning and encouraging this whole deconstructionism, you know, and I've said before that deconstructing is not necessarily a bad thing because it's important to have proper theology, it's important to have proper doctrine.

And the deconstruction process is a way of achieving those things.

But Christianity is more than just head knowledge.

Like, we can know, we can know and believe so many cool and fantastical things about God.

But that distance of 18 inches from our head to our heart can, for some of us, take a lifetime to travel.

And yet, we talk a lot about that sanctification process, that process of moment by moment, day by day becoming more like Christ.

It takes time, it takes watering, it takes cultivating, it takes work.

Yeah, we were just talking about the fruit of the Spirit.

Yeah.

And how that takes time to come to fruition.

Exactly.

That, you know, you have to work on it.

So, but if you have that foundation of Christ and His Word, at least you've always got that.

You know what I'm saying?

Right.

Like, when all else fails, you have the truth and undeniable reliability of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures.

Period.

So I love that.

Thank you.

I love that as a starting point because that is the starting point.

That is, yeah. And in light of our recent series on the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruits?

Yeah.

No fruit.

Here we go.

That leads me into number two.

To be more intentional, you know, practicing acts of kindness and generosity.

Just giving.

I want to think about how I can just be thinking about helping others and how, you know, just being open to the Holy Spirit and how He wants to lead me and not be so wrapped up in myself.

To be thinking about how God wants to use me so that I can demonstrate, you know, the fruit of the Spirit.

Give me opportunities to do this, to do things for Him, to glorify Him.

That's so cool.

So, that would be number two.

I think that's pretty important because it does take the focus off of ourselves.

And with Christ as the foundation causes us to think and move outward.

And focus outward.

Yeah.

And serving others.

Jesus Himself said that the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.

Exactly.

And if the Savior of mankind would humble Himself as a lowly servant, even to the point of death, even death on a cross, for us, man.

Yeah.

I know.

It just kind of brings everything into a really eternal perspective, I think.

Exactly.

Yeah.

And then we go on to number three and I want to look back to my, one of my Christmas list items from last time.

Where it talks about, I wish all my family members would get along.

Let's just say I wish everyone could get along.

And so I think in light of Romans 12, 18, I want to do all that I can to live in peace with everyone.

Yes.

And I want to focus on unity and reconciliation.

Why?

Why?

Because there's war.

There's so much fun being mad at people.

No, it's no fun at all.

I hate it so much.

Don't you like the whole grudges?

No.

I'm good.

I don't like it, but it happens.

Yeah.

So I want to let, let it go and move forward and just focus on unity, reconciliation, peace.

I want to contribute to healthier relationships.

You know, make sure everyone around me, those that I love feel valued and I want to take anybody for granted.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I have a question for you though.

What?

I'm sure that many of our listeners are probably thinking this.

So I'm speaking on behalf of them.

We did just come through, you know, the holiday season Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Yes.

This tends to be the time of year when those heated family or friendship relationships are strained.

Okay.

What do you do if you have a relative or a friend that you just, you know, they just, you just can't seem to find a way to get along with that person.

Even if you feel like you've done everything you possibly can to make things right, to make the relationship at least cordial.

But that individual just, like all, like I jokingly mentioned, you know, holding grudges, but you know, they hold grudges.

They treat you like due to, if you will.

Well, what would you say in your infinite wisdom to an individual who's really going through that?

Because that's a real thing that we all deal with, right?

I mean, are we talking about a family member?

Are we talking about just a family member close friend, the people who are close to us, the people who are close to us.

Yeah.

Because those are the relationships that come first, right?

Family and our closest friends.

Right.

And if there's a split for whatever reason or for however long.

I mean, every situation is unique.

So I think depending on the circumstance, if you've needed to go through a Matthew 18 scenario, I think if you can agree to disagree, that would be good.

But limit your access or their access to you if you need to.

Like boundaries.

Yeah, set boundaries.

I don't know. The other day I was watching something and someone was talking about the difference between sabotaging a relationship and setting healthy boundaries.

Now, sabotaging a relationship is what a lot of people like to do when they just decide they're going to cut you out and walk away.

Exactly.

It's just because they call you toxic or they think that you guys will never be able to have a healthy relationship.

But really what needs to happen is to set healthy boundaries, which is kind of like giving people a road map on how to navigate a relationship with you.

Because if you haven't set any boundaries, they don't know what's off limits.

You have to set healthy boundaries.

Explain what's acceptable and what's not.

Right.

I think along those lines too, it's not only important to say what those boundaries are, but it's important to enforce them too.

Because let's be honest.

And especially if you're a person who has tried setting boundaries with these individuals.

Yeah.

And they don't respect those boundaries.

Well, a person pretty wise once said to me that what you permit, you also promote.

So if you permit someone to violate your boundary, then you're essentially promoting them violating your boundary.

And we're supposed to love others.

We talk about that a lot.

Yeah.

That we're supposed to love others.

A branch of that love is also what's called tough love.

And it's called tough love for a reason because it's tough to love in the midst of the situation.

And love does not equal tolerance.

They're not the same thing.

You know, we've talked in the past about the difference between a heart of forgiveness and the act of forgiveness.

We should always have love in our hearts.

We should always have unconditional love in our hearts for others.

But there is no requirement to be somebody's scratching post.

No.

There is no requirement to be somebody's door mat.

And if somebody is authentically hurting you,

you don't need permission. You don't need to beg from the heavens for permission to get away from that.

Like literally, as you mentioned, Matthew 18, if that individual is a believer,

which makes it even worse, in my opinion, because if that person is a believer and they're sabotaging a relationship

or they're a toxic person for the relationship, that's just gross to me.

Because that's not Christ like at all.

But let's say the person isn't a believer, but there's someone in your family or someone close to you and you just cannot seem to get along.

To the point where you're going to fall in the trap of not being loving towards the individual,

I think that that verse in Romans 12 that you read is really apropos for that.

Because we should be, especially as Christians, we should be doing all it is within us to be at peace with everybody.

You know, to keep our hands clean, so to speak.

Like we should always be mindful of the route to peace making.

Exactly.

Or keeping the peace.

Even if that means keeping somebody away, because they're not healthy to have around.

Does that make sense?

Another way of putting this is in like in Matthew chapter 5 in the Beatitudes.

Jesus says, "Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God."

The children of God are people who seek a way to make peace all of the time.

Exactly.

The blessed happy, fortunate, lucky individual is a person who seeks peace all of the time.

Whose priority is peace with others all the time.

Whose priority, whose goal in mind, is to do everything that they possibly can to make sure that peace is pursued.

Even if that means you have to take a break.

Even if that means you have to say, "You know what?

This isn't healthy for me."

You know, and you just deal with it that way.

Or it's not healthy for the relationship because if you guys can't come to some sort of agreement on how you're going to treat each other, then it could be even more detrimental.

Sometimes you might need a break just so you can think about it.

Yeah.

Like a timeout.

But I also think about how the way that everybody treated Jesus, like all the way through his arrest and his trials, and all the way up the hill of the skull to the point of death, like he uttered not a word.

Like he just took it.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah.

And while he hung on that cross, Jesus said, "Father forgive them. They don't know what they're doing."

And think about that from the eternal perspective.

That when people are hurting us, they're not really aware of what they're doing because they're hurting the relationship.

Right.

They don't have the eternal perspective.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I like that.

I like that in 2024 that you want to think outwardly more.

I think that's really good counsel and advice for all of us.

Thank you, honey.

We have a couple more.

Go for it.

I want to make sure that I'm prioritizing the relationships that are most important to me.

And making sure that I'm giving quality time and that I'm nurturing and that I'm supportive.

Things like that.

Does that mean that you haven't been up to this point?

No, I have.

I have.

I just, you know, could be that I just, I feel sometimes that in this last year I've been a lot inwardly focused and want to make sure that I'm reaching out to everybody that I love and making my relationship with them in a priority.

Yeah.

That's cool.

Thank you.

You never, you never quite know if or when somebody just randomly needs to hear from you.

Right.

You know, maybe they're going through it and that moment that the Lord brings them to your mind and you drop them just a simple little text.

Hey, just want to say hello.

Put a, put a card in the mail, send an email.

You know, whatever.

You never really know just how encouraging that is.

Except when you have been the one that's received it.

Isn't that true?

And I can speak from experience, especially this last year.

There were so many times of doubt and confusion and just being, I don't know, not so optimistic.

Right.

And then I get an email or I get a text or I get a letter or I get a card or a phone call just out of the blue.

Yeah.

From someone and it's just like Lord.

You know, those are those are those ways that the Lord just confirms how much he cares about the details.

How much he actually cares about our well-being, our mental health.

The encouragement is just such a huge thing and the Lord uses people to do that in the most spontaneous ways.

Yeah, it's such a blessing.

I love it.

Yeah.

And so I think what I hear you saying is that you would like the Lord to create more opportunities for you to be that person in other people's lives.

Yeah, exactly.

That's awesome.

Thank you, honey.

So text me more.

[Laughter]

Read my texts.

Ooh.

[Laughter]

Ouch.

[Laughter]

The final item on my list.

You're not going to like it, George.

[Laughter]

Stewardship.

[Laughter]

Ouch.

That is an S word that we do not like.

[Laughter]

Okay.

So I'm not the best when it comes to that sometimes.

Well, when you say stewardship, I immediately think of money.

Well.

But I know stewardship is a lot more than money.

It's everything that we have.

Right.

I think of it like the three T's, time, talent, and treasure.

Hmm.

So how can I be more wise with the things that God has given me?

So God has already given me these things that I have.

Am I being smart with it?

He's given me time.

Am I being smart with my time?

Am I being smart with my talent?

The things that I'm good at?

The things that I know that I could be doing for the Lord, but I'm not.

And my treasure.

Am I being smart with my money?

Hmm.

So I need to evaluate myself and what I've been doing with my time, my talent, and my treasure.

And I want to make sure that I'm not being wasteful.

I want to make sure that I'm being smart with it and being just showing my appreciation to the Lord for these things that he's given to me.

Hmm.

You know, because I'm thankful to him.

Right.

And I feel like, I mean, we just had Christmas and we give gifts.

How would you feel if you gave someone a gift and they didn't do anything with it?

Hmm.

Just sat there collecting dust.

I mean, imagine you have a little child and you've given them this awesome gift that you think is beautiful and awesome and they don't ever play with it or ever use it.

And that's how I feel sometimes.

Yeah.

I know that I have a lot of talent and a lot of things that God has equipped me to do for his kingdom, but I'm not using it all the time like I should be.

Right.

I think you bring up a really good point because stewardship isn't just, stewardship doesn't just mean or involve being responsible with the things that God has blessed us with.

Right.

It's actually doing something rather than sitting on it.

That's, I mean, that's such a really good point because there's two sides to that coin of stewardship, right?

There's the side of being responsible, like being wise with what you do with your time, talent and treasure.

But then there's the actual being in action with your time, talent and treasure.

Right.

I think a lot of times we kind of sit on our time, talent and treasure and yet wonder how come God's not using me?

Or I wonder what my, I wonder how I'm gifted or I wonder how I can serve.

And yet it's, you know, it's kind of like that person who's drowning, the life raft comes by, the ship comes by, the helicopter comes by, and the guy that's in the water is like, nope, I'm waiting for God to save me.

We have this time, talent and treasure that the Lord has blessed us with and like we're waiting for the heavens to crack open and a big booming voice to say, this is what you should be doing.

And yet God in His faithfulness and in His sovereign grace is constantly creating opportunities for us to use responsibly our time, talent and treasure for His glory and the benefit of others.

And I think it's really important to remember and understand how those two aspects of stewardship go together to be wise and responsible and to actually be in action.

Right.

Because it's not one or the other, it's both.

That's the way I see it.

You know, like, you know, scripture says that faith without works is dead. Well, that implies that we're supposed to do something because of our faith.

Yeah, that's true.

Right.

Yeah.

So yeah, that's really, that's a really good one.

I really like that one a lot.

Thank you.

So I mean, that's all I got.

That's enough.

That's a lot.

Well, it's I'm happy to know that we're going to be spending more time in the word.

Yeah, we're going to be spending more time cultivating our relationships and nurturing them.

We're going to be focusing on being in responsible action with all of our things that the Lord has blessed us with.

Yeah, that's awesome.

I like that.

I'm on board.

Put me in coach.

All right.

For me in 2024.

Yeah.

I just don't want to put up with people's crap anymore.

Oh, no.

I'm being fully transparent and honest here, folks.

Like, you have to set some boundaries.

Yeah, I need to set better boundaries.

Okay.

Yeah, that's 100% right.

The first thing that I need to remember.

And it's funny how this ties into like pretty much everything on your list, all in one, you know.

I know the things that God has called me to do.

I know the ways that God has gifted me.

I know the things that God has made me passionate about.

And so along those lines.

Ultimately, I need to be in action about those things.

I have found myself, especially in the last six months or so, maybe even longer.

Guilty of sitting back and waiting for it to just land in my lap.

Rather than being in action and doing the things that I know that I'm good at.

Being responsible with my time and just going for it, you know.

Exactly.

And I don't mean like coming off all half cock like a crazy cowboy or something.

But, you know, it's just abundantly clear to me the things that I should be doing.

And I mean, I kind of do them.

But I'm not really doing them.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, I know what you mean.

But then the other thing.

And I think that this might be something for all of our listeners, especially.

Is that I really need to get out of my own way.

Hmm.

I really need to get out of my own way.

What do you mean by that?

Listening to those voices in your head that tell you that you're ridiculous.

Oh.

Or that you're not good enough.

Yeah.

Or that you'd rather just lay in bed and write on a first wheel made out of pizza.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah.

All of those thoughts and those voices that we hear.

That we listen to.

Right?

Right.

And how often we think that those voices and those thoughts are accurate or right.

And yet God has called us to be an action.

To use our gifts, to use our abilities, to use all of the ways that He has blessed us for the benefit of others and the glory of Him and His kingdom.

Sounds like all those voices are rendering people ineffective.

Ooh.

And I would echo the words of the Apostle Paul that I am the chief of those folks.

Oh, man.

So let me say it one more time again for the people in the back of the room.

I need to learn to get out of my own way.

Because I'll be honest with you, Andy.

It's probably the largest obstacle in my life.

It's my self and how I view myself in the eyes of God versus focusing on how God actually views me.

Right.

And that's a word for all of us that, you know, we are bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.

There wasn't anything that any single one of us ever did to merit the favor of God, to earn His grace and win salvation.

He gave it to us.

Because He already values us.

And when you think about how in the vast expanse of the entire universe, God chose to save us.

Ladies and gentlemen, God chose to save you and me for His own good pleasure.

I know.

It's amazing.

That means that we're valuable.

Not that we're necessary.

Don't misunderstand.

But we're valuable.

And we have jobs to do.

And we have salvation to work out with fear and trembling.

And we have ministry to fulfill.

And so in 2024, I want to fulfill my ministry.

Nice.

And so I'm, you know, I'm taking a huge risk being that transparent on our podcast and...

Well, Godspeed!

Wow.

Thanks for the vote of encouragement, Jeremy.

So I just kind of wanted to wrap things up with a pretty cool verse.

And it's misconstrued as being so cliche, but it's such an important principle of the quality of being the church, the quality of being a Christian, the quality of living a life that is sold out to Jesus Christ.

It's in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 17.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.

The old things have passed away.

Behold, new things have come.

And what makes that cliche is that it's a brand new year.

And this verse talks about the old things passed away, the new things have come.

But I want you to hear this, all right?

If we name the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He has made us new creatures.

Right.

And the old man, the old thought process, the old behaviors have all passed away.

They've been put to death. They are gone, just like 2023.

Right.

Now, unfortunately, we can still remember them.

But those things need to stay in the past because new things have now come, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a new year.

It is an opportunity at the risk of sounding cliche.

It is an opportunity for every single one of us to be that new creation in Christ this year.

To do those things that we know we ought to do, or that we know we should have been doing,

or as one of my old football coaches that I used to coach with used to say, to figure out the things that we do good and do them good or...

[laughter]

It's a beautiful opportunity this time of year to think about where we would like to see our lives end up by the end of 2024.

By the end of this new year.

The sad part is that we come to the end of 2023, and all we can think about in the context of this conversation,

is all of the things that, all of the resolutions we made that we failed.

All of the things that, oh, I'll put that off until next Tuesday.

Oh, I'm going to wait until I'm comfortable.

I'm going to wait. I'm going to wait. I'm going to wait. I'm going to wait. And now, guess what? It's another new year.

So, my prayer, my hope, my motivational speech for all of you, if you will.

Let's get out of our own way this year.

Let's let Christ be in control. Let Him pull us in the direction we're supposed to go.

Let His Word give us the wisdom to be good stewards with what we have.

And let's really rock and roll in 2024. Amen.

And that's all we have to say about that.

Thank you for tuning into another episode of The Churchosity Podcast, the show where we try to give you the Gen X take on church culture.

And thank you once again, as always, to my amazing co-host and phenomenal wife.

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Yeah, let them be a part of the conversation too.

But always remember that the goal of our instruction is love.

From a pure heart.

And from a good conscience.

And a sincere faith.

We thank each and every one of you again for listening and we look forward to catching you all on the next episode of Churchosity Podcast.

Peace!

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