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Speaker 1: Life Audio. Now, what was interesting during that season was

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Speaker 1: that you're trying to communicate Christianity is true. This is

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Speaker 1: how we know it's true. Today, the emphasis is, does

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Speaker 1: it work?

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Speaker 2: Well, it's great to be with you, Jay John. I

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Speaker 2: our connection is so good. You're over in England, right

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Speaker 2: outside of London, and our connection is so good. I

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Speaker 2: thought you might be in the room next to me.

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Speaker 2: So it's great to see you again.

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Speaker 1: Oh, Pastor Greg, it's great to see you as well.

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Speaker 1: And how amazing. I know the reception is just remarkable.

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Speaker 1: You're right. It feels like we're in the same room.

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Speaker 2: And for people that don't know who you are. You

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Speaker 2: are an evangelist, and you have preached to thousands and

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Speaker 2: thousands of people all around the world. In fact, I

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Speaker 2: read recently how many countries you've actually preached in. It's

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Speaker 2: an incredible amount. It's over 60.

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Speaker 1: Well, it's 69. 69 so far.

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Speaker 2: It's amazing. And, you know, you are an evangelist, and

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Speaker 2: And J. John, I don't know that there are many

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Speaker 2: evangelists out there today. And when I meet one, I'm

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Speaker 2: always kind of excited because I too am called to

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Speaker 2: be an evangelist. And it's a unique gift that God

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Speaker 2: has given you. How would you define the word evangelist?

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Speaker 2: What is an evangelist? And before you answer, Jesus told

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Speaker 2: all of us as Christians to go into all the

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Speaker 2: world and preach the gospel. So we all are called

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Speaker 2: to evangelize. However, there is a gift identified in the

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Speaker 2: Bible of evangelists. God gave evangelists, pastor, teachers, etc. in

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Speaker 2: Ephesians 4. What is an evangelist and what does he

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Speaker 2: or she do? Okay.

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Speaker 1: Well, first of all, Greg, look, if we love Jesus

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Speaker 1: and we're followers of Jesus, then we are a witness.

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Speaker 1: And that's very important to state today. There are two

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Speaker 1: reasons today, Greg, why people are not yet Christians. One,

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Speaker 1: they've never met a Christian. Two, they have met a Christian.

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Speaker 1: So we can either help someone in their journey of

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Speaker 1: faith or hinder them in their journey of faith. Now,

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Speaker 1: in a court of law, you have the witness. The

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Speaker 1: witness gets up and says, look, let me just tell

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Speaker 1: you what I know. This is what happened to me.

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Speaker 1: This is what I experience. Now, every Christian is like

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Speaker 1: that witness. But then also in the court of law,

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Speaker 1: you have got the attorney, you've got the lawyer, you've

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Speaker 1: got the barrister. They get up and present the facts

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Speaker 1: in such a convincing manner as to get the jury

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Speaker 1: to make a decision. So the way I see it, Greg,

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Speaker 1: is that every one of us who's a, a follower

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Speaker 1: of Jesus is a Christian, is a witness, including you

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Speaker 1: and me. But then people like you and I, we're

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Speaker 1: like that lawyer that can present the truth of Jesus

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Speaker 1: to enable people to encounter Jesus. Right.

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Speaker 2: Now, when you share the gospel, do you wear that

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Speaker 2: weird little white wig that the barristers in England wear?

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Speaker 2: Because we don't do that in America anymore.

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Speaker 1: No, we don't. No, I'm just myself, and I'm chilled

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Speaker 1: and relaxed.

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Speaker 2: And that's, I think, a big insight into what you

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Speaker 2: do so beautifully, J. John, is you are chill and relaxed.

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Speaker 2: You're funny. You're personable. You're easy to understand, but yet

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Speaker 2: you have deep theology. Your content is biblical, a great combination.

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Speaker 2: And I think those are some features of an evangelist because,

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Speaker 2: you know, Philip was an evangelist. He's the only one

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Speaker 2: identified specifically as an evangelist in the New Testament. And

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Speaker 2: what do we find him doing? We see this man

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Speaker 2: from Ethiopia that went to Jerusalem searching for God. He

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Speaker 2: came back with a scroll of Isaiah, which he was

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Speaker 2: reading out loud in his chariot. And Philip, who had

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Speaker 2: been directed by the Lord to go to the desert

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Speaker 2: and just wait, sees this man and he starts by saying,

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Speaker 2: do you understand what you're reading? You know, he doesn't

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Speaker 2: start immediately with preaching. He's building a bridge. And the

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Speaker 2: man from Ethiopia says, how can I unless someone shows

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Speaker 2: me the way? Seems to me most of the people

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Speaker 2: I know who are evangelists are great bridge builders, you know,

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Speaker 2: instead of bridge burners. They connect with their audience. They

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Speaker 2: connect with their listener one-on-one. Do you think that's Baked

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Speaker 2: into the gift or, you know, what is that all about?

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Speaker 1: Well, if we look at the master at work.

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Speaker 2: Yes.

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Speaker 1: Our Lord Jesus. And one of my favorite encounters is

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Speaker 1: him and the Samaritan woman in John chapter four. And

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Speaker 1: what I let's just do a very quick Bible study.

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Speaker 1: Jesus is at one place. He wants to go to

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Speaker 1: another place. OK, if you were any other Jew, you

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Speaker 1: would have walked around Samaria. Right. But the first thing

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Speaker 1: you read is. He walked into Samaria. So Jesus broke

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Speaker 1: longstanding traditions. Now, some of our traditions, Greg, they're good,

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Speaker 1: they're positive. But I think sometimes our traditions can hinder people.

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Speaker 1: So in this case, Jesus broke longstanding traditions and entered in.

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Speaker 1: He goes to a well. A woman comes. What's the

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Speaker 1: difference between the woman and Jesus? Well, she's living in adultery.

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Speaker 1: He's the high priest. So you've got a moral barrier.

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Speaker 1: She's a woman. He's a man. You've got a social barrier.

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Speaker 1: She's a Samaritan. He's Jewish. You've got a racial barrier.

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Speaker 1: She's a Samaritan.

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Speaker 2: He's Jewish.

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Speaker 1: You've got a religious barrier. Moral, social, racial, religious. And

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Speaker 1: that's so true, Greg, for us. Sometimes our neighbors, our colleagues...

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Speaker 1: Other people we know, there's a moral barrier, there's a

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Speaker 1: social barrier, there's a racial barrier, there's a religious barrier.

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Speaker 1: What does Jesus do? He focuses on what they have

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Speaker 1: in common, H2O. And from talking about H2O, he talks

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Speaker 1: about this other kind of water, that if you drink

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Speaker 1: this other water, you won't go thirsty. Now, what's amazing

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Speaker 1: about the conversation is how she addresses Jesus. She addresses

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Speaker 1: him four times. The first time she calls him Jew.

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Speaker 1: The second time she says, sir. The third time she

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Speaker 1: says prophet. And the fourth time she says Messiah. She

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Speaker 1: then drops her pot. She goes and gets the entire village.

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Speaker 2: Right.

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Speaker 1: Jesus went out of his way. He stopped at a well.

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Speaker 1: He spoke to one woman. And as a consequence, the

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Speaker 1: Samaritan revival started.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great outline of that conversation. And she

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Speaker 2: went in town and told everyone what he had said

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Speaker 2: to her. Come see a man that's told me all

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Speaker 2: these things about myself. And many believed as a result

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Speaker 2: of her testimony. And I think, you know, you alluded

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Speaker 2: to this earlier. We're all called to be a witness.

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Speaker 2: I think one of the best bridge building stories. techniques

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Speaker 2: we can use, tools we can use as our personal story,

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Speaker 2: because every Christian has a testimony. Now, granted, some are

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Speaker 2: more dramatic than others. I have a friend who used

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Speaker 2: to be in the mafia, and his name is Michael Franzese.

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Speaker 2: They were grooming him to be the head of the

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Speaker 2: Colombo crime family. And then Alice Cooper, I've interviewed, and

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Speaker 2: he was a rock star, a drug addict. Well, we

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Speaker 2: weren't all mafioso and we weren't all drug addicts. Maybe

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Speaker 2: the extent of your testimony is I was a good

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Speaker 2: moral person and I tried to do the right thing,

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Speaker 2: but I realized I was separated from God by my sin.

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Speaker 2: That's a testimony too.

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Speaker 1: Greg, and I always want to encourage people. and reaffirm

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Speaker 1: that they all have a story. You know, I was

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Speaker 1: in darkness, but I saw some light. I didn't know

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Speaker 1: which way to go, but God guided me. I had

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Speaker 1: a need, but God provided for me. They're all testimonies,

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Speaker 1: stories of God's goodness, of God's kindness, of God's grace.

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Speaker 1: When I'm encouraging people, again, back to the word evangelist,

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Speaker 1: of course, evangelist is a proclaimer. but we're also an equipper.

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Speaker 1: And one of the things we do is to equip

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Speaker 1: people in order to share the good news with others.

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Speaker 1: And honestly, Greg, I've studied this. I've lectured on it.

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Speaker 1: I've written about it. My conclusion is very simple. And

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Speaker 1: I think I came up with this like 30 years ago.

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Speaker 1: This is what we need to do. Be more intentional

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Speaker 1: in praying, caring, sharing. That's it. That's it. Praying, praying,

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Speaker 1: praying for our neighbours, friends, family and colleagues. This morning,

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Speaker 1: Kelly and I, we wake up around 5.30 in the morning.

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Speaker 1: We pray the Lord's Prayer. We pray for each other.

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Speaker 1: We pray for our family. And then we pray for

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Speaker 1: all the people we, who we personally know, who don't

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Speaker 1: yet know jesus so this morning we pray for 42

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Speaker 1: people wow we do that every day nice every day

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Speaker 1: we pray for them we bring them to the lord

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Speaker 1: we're praying lord open their eyes open the eyes of

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Speaker 1: their hearts lord how can we sow some seed into

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Speaker 1: their lives is there anything we can do And then caring,

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Speaker 1: you know that beautiful phrase, people don't care how much

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Speaker 1: we know until they know how much we care. There's

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Speaker 1: a truth there. So we're trying to care for some

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Speaker 1: of them. And then how can we share the good news?

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Speaker 2: You mentioned killing your wonderful wife. How many years have

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Speaker 2: you guys been married?

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Speaker 1: 43 years.

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Speaker 2: 43 years. See, you guys are a beautiful couple. And

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Speaker 2: so many times I've seen you, you're together. And she's

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Speaker 2: such a great support for you. I think she's in

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Speaker 2: your studio there right now, isn't she?

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Speaker 1: Yes.

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Speaker 2: Yes.

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Speaker 1: So now, I.

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Speaker 2: Was going to ask you, you say, telling your story.

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Speaker 2: So what's your story, J. John, starting with what is

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Speaker 2: with your name, J. John? All right. Okay.

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Speaker 1: So, Greg, as you know, I'm Greek Cypriot. So I

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Speaker 1: lived in Cyprus as a child. I grew up in London.

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Speaker 1: And when you're Greek, you are Greek Orthodox. Now, Greek

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Speaker 1: Orthodoxy is an expression of Christianity.

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Speaker 2: It is. Right.

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Speaker 1: But there's also a cultural element to it. So your

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Speaker 1: whole culture, faith, are intertwined. twined together so what i'm

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Speaker 1: saying there is it's a bit like you're jewish yes

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Speaker 1: you're an atheist but you're still jewish yeah sure it's

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Speaker 1: that kind of thing and we were not religious as

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Speaker 1: a family we went at christmas day easter day yeah

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Speaker 1: i didn't really know anything i i didn't go around

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Speaker 1: saying i'm an agnostic but i was probably an agnostic

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Speaker 1: but when i went to college in london And interestingly,

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Speaker 1: my first day of college, this guy comes up to me.

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Speaker 1: He introduces himself as a Christian. I don't think I'd

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Speaker 1: ever met one before or I'd never met one that

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Speaker 1: actually told me. And in my first year, Greg, he

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Speaker 1: bought me a Bible. He basically helped me come and

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Speaker 1: understand and encounter Jesus. When I got baptized, I remember

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Speaker 1: this is what I said. My friend Andy built a

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Speaker 1: bridge from him to me. And when he did, Christ

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Speaker 1: Jesus walked over it.

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Speaker 2: I love that.

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Speaker 1: And that's, Greg, what happened. I was transformed.

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Speaker 2: What age were you? 16, was it?

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Speaker 1: I was 17.

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Speaker 2: Same age I was when I came to Christ. Yeah.

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Speaker 1: And you know where it says in Romans about the

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Speaker 1: transformation and the renewing of the mind? It's very interesting

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Speaker 1: that the Greek word for the renewing of the mind

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Speaker 1: is metamorphosis.

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Speaker 2: Yes.

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Speaker 1: Yeah. That's what I wish they kept the word metamorphosis in.

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Speaker 2: Yeah.

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Speaker 1: You know, because that's what happened to you. That's what

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Speaker 1: happened to me. I was born again.

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Speaker 2: Yes.

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Speaker 1: But then there was this cultural poof with my family.

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Speaker 1: because they thought I joined a cult. And so it

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Speaker 1: was difficult and it was hard. And there were battles

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Speaker 1: to try and be faithful to the Lord when, you know,

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Speaker 1: my family opposed it.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. So, you know, what Andy did for you, I

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Speaker 2: know you've done for many others. I know that you

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Speaker 2: have relationships with people that are well-known, that you have

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Speaker 2: influenced privately, doing everything you can to encourage them in

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Speaker 2: their faith. You know, sometimes preachers will meet celebrities and

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Speaker 2: they'll kind of name drop them a lot and talk

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Speaker 2: about them all the time. But I think what you're

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Speaker 2: trying to do is work behind the scenes and actually

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Speaker 2: help these people. And one person that you played a

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Speaker 2: key role in them coming to Christ, I just interviewed her,

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Speaker 2: was Christine Kane.

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Speaker 1: Oh, I love Christine.

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Speaker 2: And what an amazing story, because she, too, is Greek.

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Speaker 2: And you took an— I mean, she's a nonbeliever. Nobody of

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Speaker 2: any— I mean, she had the most insane childhood and upbringing,

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Speaker 2: very tragic. But yet you took a personal interest in

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Speaker 2: her and built a bridge to her, and it resulted

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Speaker 2: in her coming to Christ. And now Christine influences people

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Speaker 2: around the world.

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Speaker 1: It's amazing. Well, you know, I'll tell you my I

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Speaker 1: don't know how she told you the story, but let

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Speaker 1: me tell you my version. So I was leading this mission, Greg,

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Speaker 1: at Sydney University. Yes. And the auditorium was not big enough.

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Speaker 1: So we had to move the meetings to the outdoors. Now,

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Speaker 1: you know. I know you're like me, Greg. We're very

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Speaker 1: reluctant to kind of say it's a revival. You know,

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Speaker 1: we're very cautious. But there were like 4,000 students at

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Speaker 1: the meetings. And I was preaching every day. Anyway, I

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Speaker 1: finished preaching. I got off the stage and stepped down.

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Speaker 1: Students were talking to me. And this girl comes. She

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Speaker 1: interrupts everyone. And she says, I hated what you said.

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Speaker 1: I said, oh, I'm very, very sorry. And she says, well,

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Speaker 1: I can tell you that church ruins people's lives. And

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Speaker 1: I said, I'm very sorry that you feel that. And

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Speaker 1: I said, well, look, have you got a few minutes?

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Speaker 1: And she's like, why? I said, well, if you've got

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Speaker 1: a few minutes, how about you and I just go

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Speaker 1: to the university cafeteria and we'll just have a coffee together.

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Speaker 1: And so she agreed. And we literally just strolled, went

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Speaker 1: into the university cafeteria, just got a coffee. By the way, Greg,

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Speaker 1: can I reassure you, I don't do that with everyone

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Speaker 1: that I meet. It was one of those moments where

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Speaker 1: I felt the prompting of the spirit. And I sat

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Speaker 1: with her. I said, why are you so angry? And,

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Speaker 1: you know, all this stuff came out. And I didn't

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Speaker 1: try and defend her. I didn't try and argue. I listened.

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Speaker 1: And then I gave her a few pointers. And I said, look,

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Speaker 1: I'm speaking tomorrow. That was a Monday. I said, come Tuesday,

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Speaker 1: hear me preach, and we'll have a coffee. We did.

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Speaker 1: I said, come and hear me Wednesday, and then we'll

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Speaker 1: have a coffee.

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Speaker 2: She did.

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Speaker 1: Come and hear me Thursday, and we'll have a coffee.

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Speaker 1: She did. I said, there's one meeting left, Friday. Come

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Speaker 1: and hear me Friday, and we'll have a coffee. Friday.

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Speaker 1: She's ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven. That is Christine Cain. And

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Speaker 1: I sometimes say, Greg, you know, I preach five times.

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Speaker 1: I think it was the five coffees. It's the five

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Speaker 1: coffees that did it.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, the personal interaction and involvement in her life. And,

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Speaker 2: you know, she was under the conviction of the Spirit.

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Speaker 2: Sometimes we think when someone argues with us, that's a

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Speaker 2: bad thing. They may be closer to the kingdom of

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Speaker 2: God than the pleasant, passive person who says, well, I

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Speaker 2: liked your speech. Thank you. But there's an expression when

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Speaker 2: you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the

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Speaker 2: one that barks the loudest is the one that got hit.

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Speaker 2: And it reminds us of Saul of Tarsus prior to

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Speaker 2: becoming Paul the Apostle. What was he doing? He was

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Speaker 2: going out of his way to persecute Christians, starting with

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Speaker 2: the martyrdom of Stephen. So Obviously, the Lord directed you

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Speaker 2: in that.

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Speaker 1: I know you told a great story.

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Speaker 2: Go ahead, please.

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Speaker 1: Do you know what was so amazing, Greg? It just

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Speaker 1: warmed my heart that you remember the dates of the

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Speaker 1: little cassettes, those little cassettes. She got the cassettes of

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Speaker 1: those five talks. She transcribed them. Now, you know how

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Speaker 1: we used to transcribe those cassettes? You'd have to press play,

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Speaker 1: then you rewind, and then you play, then you rewind,

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Speaker 1: then you play. She transcribed them, she memorized them, memorized them,

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Speaker 1: and she went all over Australia with Youth Alive preaching them.

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Speaker 2: Unbelievable.

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Speaker 1: Until she created her own talks.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. Well, when you're getting started in ministry, you

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Speaker 2: often will emulate people. Paul even said, follow me as

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Speaker 2: I follow Christ. That's okay. But then you begin to

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Speaker 2: develop and cultivate your own unique gifting. But it's trying

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Speaker 2: to describe what we do. It's like we both travel

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Speaker 2: a lot, and you'll talk with people next to you,

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Speaker 2: sitting next to you on the plane, and they'll ask,

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Speaker 2: what do you do? And the moment you reveal to

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Speaker 2: them that you're some kind of a preacher— Oh, you know,

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Speaker 2: that can stop a lot of conversations, right? But you

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Speaker 2: tell a story about a conversation you had. I think

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Speaker 2: you were flying, as I recall. And someone asked you

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Speaker 2: what you did for a living.

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Speaker 1: Yes.

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Speaker 2: Tell me what happened.

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Speaker 1: Yes. Well, I sat next to this woman at Heathrow

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Speaker 1: Airport in London. And I, you know, I'm very, hello.

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Speaker 1: You know, she's like, oh, hello. I said, where are

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Speaker 1: you going? She says, I'm going to Singapore. Then she

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Speaker 1: said to me, where are you going? I said, I'm

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Speaker 1: going to Australia.

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Speaker 2: I said, what?

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Speaker 1: Do you do? She told me, she said, what do

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Speaker 1: you do? And I said, well, I work for a

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Speaker 1: global enterprise. And she said, do you? I said, yes,

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Speaker 1: I do. I said, we've got outlets in nearly every

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Speaker 1: country of the world. She said, have you? I said, yes,

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Speaker 1: we have. I said, we've got hostels. We've got orphanages.

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Speaker 1: We've got hospitals. We've got hospices. We've got schools, colleges.

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Speaker 1: We've got food banks. I said, we do justice work,

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Speaker 1: reconciliation work, marriage work. I said, basically, we look after

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Speaker 1: people from birth to death. and we deal in the

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Speaker 1: area of behavioral alteration. And she went, wow. I mean,

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Speaker 1: like a really loud wow. People turned around and looked

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Speaker 1: at us. And then she said, well, what is it called?

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Speaker 1: I said, it's called the church. Have you heard of it?

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Speaker 2: That's brilliant.

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Speaker 1: And that began a conversation.

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Speaker 2: You know, you make it sound so easy, but most

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Speaker 2: Christians are really intimidated about sharing their faith. I read

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Speaker 2: that 31% of Christians initiate conversations about Christ. Why is

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Speaker 2: it so hard for believers? And are there any tips

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Speaker 2: you could give them as an evangelist on how to

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Speaker 2: get a conversation started? What you just shared is a

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Speaker 2: perfect illustration.

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Speaker 1: Well, Greg, well, you know it, don't you? I mean,

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Speaker 1: people lack confidence. So you have to say, well, why

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Speaker 1: do you lack Because if you experience Jesus and you

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Speaker 1: have his peace, you have his presence, and, you know,

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Speaker 1: his Holy Spirit comes into our lives when we become

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Speaker 1: his followers. Right. And we are empowered. I like that word, empowered.

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Speaker 1: That's true. And, you know, I always like, what was

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Speaker 1: it the Apostle Paul said? The love of Christ compels me. Yes.

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Speaker 1: You know, that's it, Greg. The love of Christ compels me.

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Speaker 1: So if you've experienced the love of Christ, it's almost

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Speaker 1: irrational for us not to be wanting to speak about Jesus,

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Speaker 1: to share about Jesus. You know, and I think what

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Speaker 1: it is, is with some people, they probably encountered some

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Speaker 1: bad models of it. Yeah. which has kind of put

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Speaker 1: them off and set them back. And I think we

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Speaker 1: need to help them rediscover. You know, last year, Greg,

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Speaker 1: Kelly and I, we were in America and we had

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Speaker 1: this day off and we thought, oh, let's go to

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Speaker 1: a shopping mall. And the church said, oh, you know,

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Speaker 1: we'll provide you with a car. And we said, no, no, no, no, no.

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Speaker 1: I didn't want to bother them on our day off.

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Speaker 1: So we thought, oh, let's get an Uber. So we

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Speaker 1: picked up an Uber. We got in the Uber and

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Speaker 1: every time I get into an Uber or I go

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Speaker 1: into a hotel room, the first thing I do is pray. Lord,

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Speaker 1: cleanse this car. Cleanse this hotel room. I don't know

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Speaker 1: what's gone on in here before, but I don't want

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Speaker 1: any darkness in here. And I welcome his presence. And

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Speaker 1: I do that with the car.

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Speaker 2: Got in.

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Speaker 1: I said to the Uber driver, how long will it

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Speaker 1: take us to get there? He said, oh, it'll take

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Speaker 1: 20 minutes. So I said, well. As we're traveling, I said,

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Speaker 1: is there anything we can pray for you? That's what

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Speaker 1: I said. That was my opening line, Greg. I didn't

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Speaker 1: say I was a Christian. I didn't say I'm a reverend.

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Speaker 1: I didn't say nothing. My opening line is, is there

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Speaker 1: anything we can pray for? He said, would you pray

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Speaker 1: for my mother? She's got Alzheimer's. I said, yes, of course.

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Speaker 1: I said, would you mind if my wife and I

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Speaker 1: prayed out loud for your mother? He said, no, of course.

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Speaker 1: So we pray out loud for his mother. As we're

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Speaker 1: praying out loud, he starts weeping. And he's driving and

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Speaker 1: he's weeping, like uncontrollably weeping. He's touched by the presence

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Speaker 1: of Jesus. We get to the shopping mall. I always

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Speaker 1: carry resources with me. I gave him some resources. I

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Speaker 1: always carry a cross with me. I've got one. Let

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Speaker 1: me see. Yeah, I've got one in my pocket. I

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Speaker 1: gave him a little cross. I explained a little bit

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Speaker 1: about the cross. I said to him, where do you live?

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Speaker 1: I tried to tell him about a course called Alpha

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Speaker 1: or something like that. And I said, look, you need

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Speaker 1: to do something like this. So and I sowed a

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Speaker 1: bit of seed into his life. Yeah. Now, on the

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Speaker 1: way back, let me tell you the story on the

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Speaker 1: way back. It was getting dark and we said, oh,

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Speaker 1: we've got to go back. Our app on our phone,

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Speaker 1: Uber app, wasn't working. And like, what are we going

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Speaker 1: to do? It doesn't work. And you know your shopping mouths,

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Speaker 1: they're huge. It's like, well, what are we going to do?

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Speaker 1: We're stuck. I said to Killy, I've asked Ask that

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Speaker 1: lady if she knows about Uber apps. So she goes

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Speaker 1: up to this lady, says, you don't know anything about

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Speaker 1: Uber apps and why our app isn't working. Oh, she said, no,

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Speaker 1: I don't know. I know nothing about that. And she says,

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Speaker 1: where have you got to go? And Keeley said, well,

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Speaker 1: we're staying at this hotel. And she says, oh, I

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Speaker 1: know where that hotel is. She says, I'll take you.

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Speaker 2: Oh, my.

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Speaker 1: Now, it's getting dark. And I'm thinking, who does that?

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Speaker 1: So we're walking with her now to the car park.

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Speaker 1: I said to Kelly, you sit in the front and

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Speaker 1: I'll sit in the back so I can keep an

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Speaker 1: eye on her. And we get in the car. She

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Speaker 1: starts driving. And this is my opening line. What's been

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Speaker 1: going on in your life? And she said, well, my

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Speaker 1: whole world has collapsed. My son overdosed and died four

426
00:26:17,014 --> 00:26:22,394
Speaker 1: weeks ago. We spent 20 minutes ministering to her in

427
00:26:22,435 --> 00:26:26,144
Speaker 1: the car. We got there. We went up to the

428
00:26:26,205 --> 00:26:30,804
Speaker 1: hotel room, brought some resources, gave her a cross, prayed

429
00:26:30,844 --> 00:26:35,625
Speaker 1: with her, suggested a church that she might like to visit.

430
00:26:36,865 --> 00:26:39,145
Speaker 1: And then our Uber app started working.

431
00:26:40,375 --> 00:26:42,414
Speaker 2: You know, I think people often say, I want to

432
00:26:42,814 --> 00:26:45,174
Speaker 2: be used by God. I want to go into the ministry.

433
00:26:45,734 --> 00:26:49,315
Speaker 2: I want to cross the sea for Christ as a missionary. Hey,

434
00:26:49,395 --> 00:26:53,004
Speaker 2: try crossing the street and talking to a neighbor. Try

435
00:26:53,175 --> 00:26:56,744
Speaker 2: initiating a conversation with an Uber driver like you do.

436
00:26:56,784 --> 00:27:00,225
Speaker 2: Because as Jesus said, lift up your eyes and look,

437
00:27:00,645 --> 00:27:03,825
Speaker 2: the fields are white unto harvest. And J. John, you've

438
00:27:03,865 --> 00:27:06,325
Speaker 2: been preaching the gospel for how many years now?

439
00:27:06,324 --> 00:27:12,875
Speaker 1: 48 years. Wow. Can I say this? Can I say this, Greg?

440
00:27:12,994 --> 00:27:18,675
Speaker 1: I'm not growing old. I'm older, but growing. Isn't that true?

441
00:27:18,994 --> 00:27:21,834
Speaker 1: I want to keep learning. I want to keep growing.

442
00:27:21,854 --> 00:27:26,094
Speaker 1: I want to keep shaping and sharpening. So anyway, sorry.

443
00:27:26,655 --> 00:27:30,074
Speaker 2: Well, so you've been preaching the gospel around the world,

444
00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:34,215
Speaker 2: but especially in Europe and the UK specifically, have things

445
00:27:34,455 --> 00:27:38,055
Speaker 2: changed like the kinds of Like we talked about Christine

446
00:27:38,094 --> 00:27:41,824
Speaker 2: Kane years ago, her challenges to you. Would you face

447
00:27:41,965 --> 00:27:45,744
Speaker 2: different challenges today, especially from young people, or is it

448
00:27:45,804 --> 00:27:48,064
Speaker 2: the same kind of response?

449
00:27:48,264 --> 00:27:52,145
Speaker 1: Well, what I've noticed is this, Greg. When I first

450
00:27:52,185 --> 00:27:56,625
Speaker 1: started out as an evangelist, I was doing obviously youth weekends,

451
00:27:56,754 --> 00:28:01,044
Speaker 1: youth missions, and then I started doing universities and colleges. Yes.

452
00:28:01,725 --> 00:28:05,365
Speaker 1: And I did a lot about, I did 102 universities

453
00:28:05,425 --> 00:28:09,965
Speaker 1: around the world. Now, what was interesting during that season

454
00:28:10,425 --> 00:28:17,055
Speaker 1: was that you're trying to communicate Christianity is true. This

455
00:28:17,155 --> 00:28:23,215
Speaker 1: is how we know it's true. Today, the emphasis is,

456
00:28:23,695 --> 00:28:24,655
Speaker 1: does it work?

457
00:28:25,175 --> 00:28:25,355
Speaker 2: Wow.

458
00:28:26,354 --> 00:28:29,835
Speaker 1: People, when I did youth missions, they were receptive. When

459
00:28:29,895 --> 00:28:34,414
Speaker 1: I did university missions, they were receptive. Today, Greg, I

460
00:28:34,475 --> 00:28:39,815
Speaker 1: think there's more receptivity than I have ever seen in

461
00:28:39,815 --> 00:28:44,884
Speaker 1: 48 years. There are, again, you know, we don't want

462
00:28:44,925 --> 00:28:49,965
Speaker 1: to say, oh, there's revival, but I think we're seeing

463
00:28:50,365 --> 00:28:57,594
Speaker 1: signs of revival, signs, because everywhere we go, It's packed,

464
00:28:58,415 --> 00:29:02,614
Speaker 1: irrespective of the size of the arenas or the cathedrals

465
00:29:02,755 --> 00:29:06,525
Speaker 1: or the churches. It's packed. And we're seeing more people

466
00:29:06,825 --> 00:29:09,265
Speaker 1: respond than we've ever seen.

467
00:29:09,285 --> 00:29:13,344
Speaker 2: That's fantastic. What has been the effect in the UK?

468
00:29:14,205 --> 00:29:16,105
Speaker 2: We see it in Paris. We see it in other

469
00:29:16,165 --> 00:29:20,825
Speaker 2: countries in Europe, the influence of Islam. And when you

470
00:29:20,985 --> 00:29:24,875
Speaker 2: encounter people who are Muslims, how do you engage them

471
00:29:24,915 --> 00:29:25,855
Speaker 2: in a conversation?

472
00:29:26,695 --> 00:29:31,175
Speaker 1: Well, you know, what's very interesting is that I've noticed

473
00:29:31,455 --> 00:29:37,265
Speaker 1: how the press obviously are only interested in bad news. Yeah.

474
00:29:37,485 --> 00:29:42,625
Speaker 1: They're only interested in negative things. And the way it's

475
00:29:42,785 --> 00:29:49,305
Speaker 1: presented is incorrect. And a lot of it is being fabricated.

476
00:29:50,305 --> 00:29:53,295
Speaker 1: And they don't report on the good news. They don't

477
00:29:53,475 --> 00:29:58,374
Speaker 1: report on the growing churches. They don't report, you know,

478
00:29:58,594 --> 00:30:01,935
Speaker 1: however many churches got planted this month and the growth

479
00:30:01,955 --> 00:30:05,864
Speaker 1: of the churches. I mean, I read this morning that

480
00:30:05,865 --> 00:30:12,025
Speaker 1: 600 people got baptized by the sea just up in Yorkshire.

481
00:30:12,365 --> 00:30:15,705
Speaker 1: You know what I mean? That won't get reported in

482
00:30:15,865 --> 00:30:22,555
Speaker 1: the secular press. Now, London, of course, is very cosmopolitan.

483
00:30:23,354 --> 00:30:27,575
Speaker 1: And the way we would approach it is we never,

484
00:30:27,955 --> 00:30:33,104
Speaker 1: ever put anyone else down. We just lift Jesus up.

485
00:30:33,265 --> 00:30:37,224
Speaker 1: He is the way, the truth, and the life. So

486
00:30:37,245 --> 00:30:43,584
Speaker 1: we're always presenting Jesus. And there's a wonderful ministry in

487
00:30:43,844 --> 00:30:51,445
Speaker 1: Oxford called OCCA, Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. And they

488
00:30:51,604 --> 00:30:57,985
Speaker 1: have some of the finest apologists who dialogue with people

489
00:30:58,045 --> 00:31:01,965
Speaker 1: of any faith Or no faith. Right. And so that's

490
00:31:02,025 --> 00:31:02,545
Speaker 1: going on.

491
00:31:03,185 --> 00:31:08,364
Speaker 2: That's fantastic. Now, are you still doing stadium type events? Yes.

492
00:31:08,825 --> 00:31:13,525
Speaker 1: Yes. We, we're, we're committed. I mean, I, Jesus spoke

493
00:31:13,565 --> 00:31:18,835
Speaker 1: to 5,000 families. So that's 20, 25,000 people.

494
00:31:18,915 --> 00:31:19,175
Speaker 2: Sure.

495
00:31:19,675 --> 00:31:21,674
Speaker 1: But he also went to Levi's home.

496
00:31:21,975 --> 00:31:22,255
Speaker 2: That's right.

497
00:31:22,275 --> 00:31:23,955
Speaker 1: And spoke to his colleagues. Yeah.

498
00:31:24,275 --> 00:31:24,634
Speaker 2: Okay.

499
00:31:24,655 --> 00:31:27,135
Speaker 1: So that, you know, could have been 20. But then

500
00:31:27,175 --> 00:31:29,525
Speaker 1: he also stopped at a well and spoke to one.

501
00:31:30,125 --> 00:31:34,084
Speaker 1: And we've always tried, Greg, you know, let's stop and

502
00:31:34,125 --> 00:31:38,165
Speaker 1: speak to the ones. Let's do the little events like

503
00:31:38,185 --> 00:31:43,385
Speaker 1: Levi's Home. And if God gives us bigger opportunities, we'll

504
00:31:43,445 --> 00:31:49,625
Speaker 1: take them. And we did the Emirates Football Stadium in London,

505
00:31:50,125 --> 00:31:54,155
Speaker 1: which was the home of Arsenal Football Club. And we

506
00:31:54,195 --> 00:31:58,195
Speaker 1: were about to do a whole load more and then

507
00:31:58,354 --> 00:32:03,795
Speaker 1: COVID hit. And that kind of pulled us back. But

508
00:32:04,115 --> 00:32:07,755
Speaker 1: I feel the Lord has said, it's like a bow

509
00:32:07,795 --> 00:32:11,485
Speaker 1: and arrow. You have to pull the arrow back for

510
00:32:11,525 --> 00:32:17,025
Speaker 1: it to go further forward. And we're now becoming more

511
00:32:17,084 --> 00:32:21,625
Speaker 1: intentional in doing more stadiums around the United Kingdom.

512
00:32:22,084 --> 00:32:25,395
Speaker 2: I love that. Now, you've written a new book with

513
00:32:25,435 --> 00:32:29,025
Speaker 2: an interesting title that I personally relate to, Will I

514
00:32:29,084 --> 00:32:35,245
Speaker 2: Be Bald in Heaven? And other curious questions. Yes. So

515
00:32:35,565 --> 00:32:42,165
Speaker 2: let's start with that question. Will, maybe I should say we, will, J. John,

516
00:32:42,245 --> 00:32:46,865
Speaker 2: will we be bald in heaven or will we have hair?

517
00:32:48,604 --> 00:32:49,865
Speaker 1: Well, listen, you know.

518
00:32:50,084 --> 00:32:53,825
Speaker 2: No, I'm bolder than you. You still have something going

519
00:32:53,905 --> 00:32:54,565
Speaker 2: on up there.

520
00:32:54,584 --> 00:32:54,885
Speaker 1: I do.

521
00:32:54,905 --> 00:32:56,025
Speaker 2: I have nothing. I do.

522
00:32:56,825 --> 00:33:01,565
Speaker 1: No, but you know, what's really interesting, that's an apologetic book, Greg.

523
00:33:02,645 --> 00:33:06,165
Speaker 1: And when you give it to somebody who's an unchurched person,

524
00:33:06,665 --> 00:33:13,344
Speaker 1: it's incredible the curiosity that the cover, the title produces. Yes.

525
00:33:14,025 --> 00:33:16,864
Speaker 1: So I'm trying to come at a different angle to

526
00:33:17,165 --> 00:33:21,344
Speaker 1: engage with people. And of course, that's one of many,

527
00:33:21,385 --> 00:33:25,485
Speaker 1: many different questions. But of course, the question raises, you know,

528
00:33:25,604 --> 00:33:30,104
Speaker 1: what are we going to look like in the presence

529
00:33:30,535 --> 00:33:34,375
Speaker 1: of the Lord God Almighty? And I think the thing

530
00:33:34,435 --> 00:33:39,015
Speaker 1: is this, you know, today, so many people, they think, oh,

531
00:33:39,055 --> 00:33:41,834
Speaker 1: the grass is greener over that side of the fence.

532
00:33:42,475 --> 00:33:45,164
Speaker 1: or the grass is greener over this side of the fence.

533
00:33:45,625 --> 00:33:48,865
Speaker 1: But the reality is the grass is not greener over

534
00:33:48,905 --> 00:33:50,925
Speaker 1: that side of the fence, and it's not greener over

535
00:33:50,985 --> 00:33:54,684
Speaker 1: this side of the fence. It's greener when you water it.

536
00:33:54,705 --> 00:33:59,725
Speaker 1: And it's about learning contentment. And the one thing we

537
00:33:59,865 --> 00:34:03,985
Speaker 1: will have when we're with the Lord, we will be

538
00:34:04,885 --> 00:34:09,205
Speaker 1: absolutely and utterly content with who we are.

539
00:34:09,485 --> 00:34:12,035
Speaker 2: One thing I like to say is, you know, Why

540
00:34:12,075 --> 00:34:15,605
Speaker 2: would you assume that you would have hair? What if

541
00:34:16,065 --> 00:34:18,165
Speaker 2: hair is a part of the curse? What if in

542
00:34:18,265 --> 00:34:21,925
Speaker 2: our new body we're all bald? And that was the

543
00:34:22,005 --> 00:34:26,055
Speaker 2: original plan. Maybe. No bad hair days, right?

544
00:34:26,235 --> 00:34:27,455
Speaker 1: No bad hair days.

545
00:34:27,595 --> 00:34:27,995
Speaker 2: I know.

546
00:34:28,395 --> 00:34:29,094
Speaker 1: Absolutely.

547
00:34:29,115 --> 00:34:34,265
Speaker 2: There's a lot of confusion about heaven. like what heaven

548
00:34:34,365 --> 00:34:36,865
Speaker 2: is like. You know, I like the way C.S. Lewis

549
00:34:36,945 --> 00:34:40,095
Speaker 2: wrote about heaven. You know, he called our life on

550
00:34:40,195 --> 00:34:41,755
Speaker 2: earth the shadow lands.

551
00:34:42,055 --> 00:34:42,355
Speaker 1: Yes.

552
00:34:42,515 --> 00:34:46,295
Speaker 2: And he was the one, and I'm loosely paraphrasing, who said,

553
00:34:46,875 --> 00:34:50,315
Speaker 2: you know, heaven is not a watered-down version of earth.

554
00:34:50,495 --> 00:34:54,215
Speaker 2: Earth at its very best is a glimpse of greater

555
00:34:54,335 --> 00:34:57,675
Speaker 2: things to come, right? Yes. And in heaven, you know,

556
00:34:57,695 --> 00:34:59,915
Speaker 2: the Bible tells us in heaven that we'll eat water,

557
00:35:00,435 --> 00:35:02,805
Speaker 2: the wedding supper of the Lamb. It tells us that

558
00:35:02,845 --> 00:35:07,545
Speaker 2: we will work, we will serve, we will recognize one another,

559
00:35:08,105 --> 00:35:11,065
Speaker 2: we'll be reunited with loved ones who have died in faith,

560
00:35:11,105 --> 00:35:15,405
Speaker 2: who have preceded us. We'll have new adventures together. And

561
00:35:15,425 --> 00:35:20,865
Speaker 2: there's so many false ideas about heaven, and the Bible

562
00:35:20,925 --> 00:35:26,435
Speaker 2: speaks about heaven quite and gives us certain details and

563
00:35:26,495 --> 00:35:28,895
Speaker 2: other things we don't know. But give us a few

564
00:35:28,955 --> 00:35:32,955
Speaker 2: thoughts about heaven, maybe some things people wouldn't know.

565
00:35:33,815 --> 00:35:39,785
Speaker 1: Well, interestingly, one thing, how the Bible says that the

566
00:35:39,845 --> 00:35:44,345
Speaker 1: length of a good life is three score years and ten. Yes. Okay,

567
00:35:44,365 --> 00:35:50,625
Speaker 1: so that's 70 years. Okay, so if we allocated 10

568
00:35:50,625 --> 00:35:53,125
Speaker 1: years per day of the week, You know, 10 years

569
00:35:53,145 --> 00:35:57,805
Speaker 1: for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. OK, you and I, Greg,

570
00:35:58,125 --> 00:36:04,285
Speaker 1: where are we? Where we've walked through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,

571
00:36:04,685 --> 00:36:10,975
Speaker 1: Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon. Yeah. How's your weekend looking?

572
00:36:11,115 --> 00:36:11,315
Speaker 2: Yeah.

573
00:36:11,415 --> 00:36:14,395
Speaker 1: Yeah. And now some of us have been given an

574
00:36:14,495 --> 00:36:19,355
Speaker 1: extra Monday. Some have been given an extra Tuesday. Very,

575
00:36:19,495 --> 00:36:24,635
Speaker 1: very few people. ever get given an extra Wednesday. But

576
00:36:25,055 --> 00:36:29,055
Speaker 1: even if we were given three score years and 10

577
00:36:29,055 --> 00:36:31,915
Speaker 1: and three extra days and live till we're a hundred,

578
00:36:32,475 --> 00:36:37,165
Speaker 1: that is just the blip. Yes. On the eternal screen. Right.

579
00:36:37,905 --> 00:36:41,925
Speaker 1: And that's something I know you've done this having listened

580
00:36:41,965 --> 00:36:47,025
Speaker 1: to you, Greg, we're trying to help people realize that

581
00:36:47,125 --> 00:36:50,844
Speaker 1: their lives here on earth is a blip. Yeah. on

582
00:36:50,905 --> 00:36:57,375
Speaker 1: the eternal screen. My favorite verse has to be John 3, 16.

583
00:36:57,375 --> 00:36:58,015
Speaker 2: Yes, of course.

584
00:36:58,055 --> 00:37:00,335
Speaker 1: For God so loved the world, he gave his only son,

585
00:37:00,395 --> 00:37:05,435
Speaker 1: so whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have

586
00:37:06,655 --> 00:37:10,185
Speaker 1: everlasting life.

587
00:37:10,535 --> 00:37:10,845
Speaker 2: Yes.

588
00:37:11,005 --> 00:37:15,285
Speaker 1: He doesn't want us to perish, hence his coming, his death,

589
00:37:15,625 --> 00:37:19,585
Speaker 1: his resurrection. And I know this, Greg, and I'm convinced

590
00:37:19,705 --> 00:37:25,565
Speaker 1: by this, that without Christ, we have a hopeless end.

591
00:37:26,585 --> 00:37:31,145
Speaker 1: But with Christ, we have an endless hope.

592
00:37:31,245 --> 00:37:31,585
Speaker 2: That's right.

593
00:37:32,365 --> 00:37:36,305
Speaker 1: And I'm convinced by that. And if I preach at

594
00:37:36,345 --> 00:37:40,435
Speaker 1: a funeral of someone who loved Jesus, I can preach

595
00:37:40,475 --> 00:37:46,515
Speaker 1: that with utter confidence. We have an endless hope in

596
00:37:46,555 --> 00:37:53,205
Speaker 1: the presence of in the purity of Jesus, when I

597
00:37:53,245 --> 00:37:55,425
Speaker 1: think about that, it just warms my heart.

598
00:37:55,445 --> 00:37:58,595
Speaker 2: Amen. And speaking of hope, you know, the Bible refers

599
00:37:58,675 --> 00:38:02,175
Speaker 2: to the return of Christ as the blessed hope.

600
00:38:02,695 --> 00:38:03,135
Speaker 1: Yes.

601
00:38:03,255 --> 00:38:05,535
Speaker 2: Do you believe Jesus is coming again?

602
00:38:06,835 --> 00:38:11,495
Speaker 1: Oh, I absolutely do believe that. He is coming again.

603
00:38:11,515 --> 00:38:15,835
Speaker 1: I believe that. And I know every century, you know,

604
00:38:16,275 --> 00:38:17,535
Speaker 1: it's going to be soon.

605
00:38:17,725 --> 00:38:18,495
Speaker 2: It's going to be soon.

606
00:38:18,555 --> 00:38:21,344
Speaker 1: It's going to be soon. Greg, I believe it's going

607
00:38:21,365 --> 00:38:21,945
Speaker 1: to be soon.

608
00:38:23,265 --> 00:38:23,645
Speaker 2: I do.

609
00:38:25,005 --> 00:38:29,065
Speaker 1: And, you know, the Lord has given us this incredible

610
00:38:29,405 --> 00:38:36,655
Speaker 1: technological opportunity to now engage with people all over the world.

611
00:38:36,675 --> 00:38:41,795
Speaker 1: I was stunned when I was in Kenya and we

612
00:38:41,835 --> 00:38:46,665
Speaker 1: went to meet the Maasai uh tribe leaders we we

613
00:38:46,705 --> 00:38:50,625
Speaker 1: were on this uh in this car it wasn't four-wheel

614
00:38:50,665 --> 00:38:54,925
Speaker 1: drive and we're like shaking like this on on a

615
00:38:55,025 --> 00:38:57,665
Speaker 1: road but it wasn't really a road for four hours

616
00:38:57,685 --> 00:39:00,625
Speaker 1: to go and meet the Maasai leaders and we got

617
00:39:00,665 --> 00:39:03,835
Speaker 1: into the middle of nowhere sitting there with the Maasai

618
00:39:03,875 --> 00:39:07,635
Speaker 1: leaders and then the phone goes and the Maasai leader

619
00:39:07,695 --> 00:39:10,135
Speaker 1: says oh I'm sorry I've got to take this call

620
00:39:11,295 --> 00:39:16,245
Speaker 1: he was on his phone everyone's got one yeah everyone's

621
00:39:16,285 --> 00:39:20,485
Speaker 1: got one and now you know we can reach the

622
00:39:20,525 --> 00:39:20,985
Speaker 1: world we.

623
00:39:21,005 --> 00:39:23,765
Speaker 2: Really can i think for the first time maybe in

624
00:39:23,825 --> 00:39:28,115
Speaker 2: human history we literally through the use of technology and

625
00:39:28,495 --> 00:39:33,375
Speaker 2: other uh platforms we could fulfill the great commission it's

626
00:39:33,415 --> 00:39:36,565
Speaker 2: just do we want to will we do it? Will

627
00:39:36,605 --> 00:39:40,585
Speaker 2: we take the initiative? Or will we sit back passively? But,

628
00:39:40,925 --> 00:39:43,075
Speaker 2: you know, and I think this speaks to every Christian

629
00:39:43,095 --> 00:39:46,135
Speaker 2: because … You know, we call them influencers now, a

630
00:39:46,175 --> 00:39:49,975
Speaker 2: whole new category of people. And some of these influencers

631
00:39:50,555 --> 00:39:53,905
Speaker 2: have millions of people that follow them, millions of people.

632
00:39:54,525 --> 00:39:56,884
Speaker 2: But no matter if you have millions or if you

633
00:39:56,905 --> 00:40:02,125
Speaker 2: have five, every Christian can be an influencer. Every Christian

634
00:40:02,305 --> 00:40:06,245
Speaker 2: has a platform. Every Christian has a pulpit. And by

635
00:40:06,285 --> 00:40:09,455
Speaker 2: a pulpit, I mean you have a sphere of influence.

636
00:40:09,495 --> 00:40:12,065
Speaker 2: You have people there. that you can reach. And I'd

637
00:40:12,105 --> 00:40:15,075
Speaker 2: like to personalize the Great Commission. The Great Commission is

638
00:40:15,575 --> 00:40:18,335
Speaker 2: go into all the world and preach the gospel. But

639
00:40:18,375 --> 00:40:20,415
Speaker 2: you can look at it another way. Go into all

640
00:40:20,435 --> 00:40:23,855
Speaker 2: of your world and preach the gospel. I heard one

641
00:40:23,915 --> 00:40:31,305
Speaker 2: preacher sum it up as it's frangelism. F-R-A-N. Friends, relatives, associates,

642
00:40:31,965 --> 00:40:35,665
Speaker 2: and neighbors. You know, go to your world and preach

643
00:40:35,705 --> 00:40:36,225
Speaker 2: the gospel.

644
00:40:36,565 --> 00:40:41,905
Speaker 1: Absolutely. And the Great Commission, Jesus said So the first

645
00:40:41,965 --> 00:40:46,485
Speaker 1: disciples go into Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the

646
00:40:46,525 --> 00:40:49,025
Speaker 1: ends of the earth. So what did Jerusalem represent to

647
00:40:49,085 --> 00:40:52,265
Speaker 1: the first disciples? Well, that was where they denied him.

648
00:40:53,735 --> 00:40:57,735
Speaker 1: So Peter denied him publicly. Where were they at the crucifixion?

649
00:40:57,975 --> 00:41:01,615
Speaker 1: Only John was there. So Jesus was basically inferring, I

650
00:41:01,675 --> 00:41:04,595
Speaker 1: want you to start in the place of your greatest failure.

651
00:41:04,655 --> 00:41:05,355
Speaker 2: Well, that's a good point.

652
00:41:05,375 --> 00:41:08,715
Speaker 1: And where is that for us? It's with our family,

653
00:41:09,375 --> 00:41:12,674
Speaker 1: our friends. our neighbors and our colleagues.

654
00:41:12,815 --> 00:41:13,175
Speaker 2: Yes.

655
00:41:13,475 --> 00:41:16,135
Speaker 1: So if we're going to reach the world, let's reach

656
00:41:16,755 --> 00:41:21,535
Speaker 1: our world by reaching and cultivating the web of relationships

657
00:41:21,935 --> 00:41:25,375
Speaker 1: we have already got. One of the things, like yourself, Greg,

658
00:41:25,415 --> 00:41:31,335
Speaker 1: you know, we're grateful and humbled that we get invitations.

659
00:41:31,775 --> 00:41:35,115
Speaker 1: People want us to go and preach the gospel. But now,

660
00:41:35,595 --> 00:41:37,195
Speaker 1: if they want me to go and preach the gospel,

661
00:41:37,215 --> 00:41:43,055
Speaker 1: I have stipulations now. One, are you going to pray?

662
00:41:44,335 --> 00:41:46,565
Speaker 1: First of all, I need to know that you're going

663
00:41:46,585 --> 00:41:50,785
Speaker 1: to take prayer seriously if I come and if I

664
00:41:50,825 --> 00:41:56,285
Speaker 1: preach the gospel. Two, will you encourage everybody in your

665
00:41:56,365 --> 00:42:01,155
Speaker 1: church to bring a plus one? Now, I'm not demanding it.

666
00:42:01,295 --> 00:42:05,555
Speaker 1: What I'm saying is at least get them to ask somebody.

667
00:42:06,395 --> 00:42:11,025
Speaker 1: So if hypothetically the church has got, you know, 500 members,

668
00:42:11,545 --> 00:42:15,185
Speaker 1: if everybody brought a plus one, that means we've got

669
00:42:15,225 --> 00:42:16,285
Speaker 1: a thousand people.

670
00:42:16,985 --> 00:42:17,165
Speaker 2: Yeah.

671
00:42:17,725 --> 00:42:19,415
Speaker 1: It's not rocket science.

672
00:42:19,825 --> 00:42:19,995
Speaker 2: Yeah.

673
00:42:20,455 --> 00:42:24,295
Speaker 1: And you might have to ask three people to get one. Yeah.

674
00:42:24,835 --> 00:42:28,455
Speaker 1: Ask three people. Thirdly, are you going to help the

675
00:42:28,535 --> 00:42:32,825
Speaker 1: people that want to receive Christ or are curious to

676
00:42:32,885 --> 00:42:36,005
Speaker 1: know more? And are you going to follow them up

677
00:42:36,485 --> 00:42:42,425
Speaker 1: and nurture them? And if they can't guarantee prayer, invitations,

678
00:42:42,805 --> 00:42:47,884
Speaker 1: and follow-up, I say no. I'm not coming. Don't waste

679
00:42:47,925 --> 00:42:48,425
Speaker 1: my time.

680
00:42:48,705 --> 00:42:51,864
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, that's a great commission, isn't it? The great

681
00:42:51,885 --> 00:42:54,505
Speaker 2: commission in Matthew is go into all the world and

682
00:42:54,525 --> 00:42:58,715
Speaker 2: make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name

683
00:42:58,755 --> 00:43:01,395
Speaker 2: of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to

684
00:43:01,455 --> 00:43:04,375
Speaker 2: observe all things that I have commanded you. Then Mark's

685
00:43:04,395 --> 00:43:06,715
Speaker 2: version is go into all the world and preach the gospel.

686
00:43:06,735 --> 00:43:06,805
Speaker 1: Yes.

687
00:43:07,395 --> 00:43:12,545
Speaker 2: Really, gospel proclamation is not just a proclamation moment. It's preparing.

688
00:43:12,945 --> 00:43:18,105
Speaker 2: It's preaching. It's follow-up. It's discipling. You know, teaching them

689
00:43:18,205 --> 00:43:22,725
Speaker 2: to observe all things that I've commanded you. That's discipleship. And,

690
00:43:23,065 --> 00:43:25,884
Speaker 2: you know, you mentioned your friend, I think, was your

691
00:43:26,205 --> 00:43:29,525
Speaker 2: friend Andy that helped you get started? So I had

692
00:43:29,745 --> 00:43:32,395
Speaker 2: an Andy in my life in another part of my conversion.

693
00:43:32,695 --> 00:43:35,695
Speaker 2: No one actually shared the gospel with me, strangely enough.

694
00:43:35,815 --> 00:43:38,625
Speaker 2: I don't know why. I think there was something off-putting

695
00:43:38,685 --> 00:43:44,945
Speaker 2: about my demeanor. But I came across the Christians on

696
00:43:44,985 --> 00:43:47,815
Speaker 2: my high school campus having a meeting. I heard the

697
00:43:47,875 --> 00:43:50,835
Speaker 2: gospel and I responded. But a guy that I'd never

698
00:43:50,935 --> 00:43:53,235
Speaker 2: met came up to me named Mark and he said,

699
00:43:53,695 --> 00:43:57,235
Speaker 2: I saw you make a commitment to Christ. I said, yes,

700
00:43:57,295 --> 00:43:58,725
Speaker 2: I did. He goes, I want you to come to

701
00:43:58,785 --> 00:44:01,625
Speaker 2: church with me. And I said, well, no, no, thank you.

702
00:44:01,665 --> 00:44:03,745
Speaker 2: I don't want to. No, I want you to come

703
00:44:03,805 --> 00:44:07,085
Speaker 2: to church. No, that's okay. No, tell me you're righteous.

704
00:44:07,105 --> 00:44:08,965
Speaker 2: I'm going to pick you up and take you to church.

705
00:44:09,285 --> 00:44:12,495
Speaker 2: I kept turning this guy down. He was persistent in

706
00:44:12,555 --> 00:44:15,595
Speaker 2: the best way possible. And before I knew it, I

707
00:44:15,625 --> 00:44:17,875
Speaker 2: was in his car. I was going to church. And

708
00:44:17,935 --> 00:44:20,215
Speaker 2: once I got there, I loved it, of course. And

709
00:44:20,255 --> 00:44:22,595
Speaker 2: then he took me to his home. which was a

710
00:44:22,635 --> 00:44:25,775
Speaker 2: Christian family, and they prayed before their meal and talked

711
00:44:25,815 --> 00:44:29,515
Speaker 2: about the Bible together. I'd never experienced anything like that.

712
00:44:29,555 --> 00:44:34,035
Speaker 2: So he was effectively discipling me. But boy, if he

713
00:44:34,075 --> 00:44:36,415
Speaker 2: had not stepped in at that point, I could have

714
00:44:36,495 --> 00:44:38,445
Speaker 2: so easily fallen away.

715
00:44:38,825 --> 00:44:42,864
Speaker 1: Yeah. And the Great Commission, you can break it down

716
00:44:42,925 --> 00:44:46,425
Speaker 1: to three words. Make disciples. So that's the first one.

717
00:44:46,565 --> 00:44:49,085
Speaker 1: You've got to make them. Then you baptize them. So

718
00:44:49,125 --> 00:44:52,085
Speaker 1: you make them. Then you have to mark them. You

719
00:44:52,125 --> 00:44:55,805
Speaker 1: have to identify them as believers and then teach them

720
00:44:55,875 --> 00:44:59,415
Speaker 1: all that I've commanded you. You mature them, make them,

721
00:44:59,815 --> 00:45:02,635
Speaker 1: mark them, mature them. And I think the problem we

722
00:45:02,715 --> 00:45:05,955
Speaker 1: have is that sometimes we go to churches where they've

723
00:45:05,995 --> 00:45:08,855
Speaker 1: never been made, but we've marked them and we're trying

724
00:45:08,875 --> 00:45:11,895
Speaker 1: to mature them. Or they have been made, but nobody's

725
00:45:11,955 --> 00:45:14,215
Speaker 1: marked them and we're trying to mature them. Or they

726
00:45:14,255 --> 00:45:17,015
Speaker 1: have been made and marked, but we're not maturing them.

727
00:45:17,195 --> 00:45:20,675
Speaker 1: But that's the goal. Make them, mark them, mature them.

728
00:45:21,215 --> 00:45:27,535
Speaker 1: And today, Greg, I find, I mean, across the pond

729
00:45:27,595 --> 00:45:33,545
Speaker 1: here in England, research is indicating that 18 to 30-year-olds

730
00:45:34,305 --> 00:45:35,685
Speaker 1: are just buying the Bible.

731
00:45:36,425 --> 00:45:36,665
Speaker 2: Yeah.

732
00:45:36,725 --> 00:45:39,685
Speaker 1: They're just buying the Bible, and they're turning up at church.

733
00:45:40,225 --> 00:45:43,965
Speaker 1: They're just turning up at church, uninvited. So that's why

734
00:45:44,505 --> 00:45:48,035
Speaker 1: I said earlier on in our conversation, there are signs

735
00:45:48,435 --> 00:45:54,345
Speaker 1: of revival. God... is doing something. There's a church in

736
00:45:54,385 --> 00:45:59,335
Speaker 1: the north of England, Greg, where there are several hundred

737
00:45:59,795 --> 00:46:06,515
Speaker 1: Iranian Christians. Wow. And all of them testify and say

738
00:46:06,575 --> 00:46:11,645
Speaker 1: they met Jesus in a dream. You know, God's on

739
00:46:11,685 --> 00:46:12,405
Speaker 1: the move.

740
00:46:12,865 --> 00:46:13,425
Speaker 2: Yes.

741
00:46:14,565 --> 00:46:17,205
Speaker 1: God's moving. He's revealing himself.

742
00:46:17,805 --> 00:46:22,185
Speaker 2: Isn't that amazing? Yes, it's really true. So let's shift

743
00:46:22,205 --> 00:46:25,645
Speaker 2: gears for a moment from the sublime to, well, not

744
00:46:25,685 --> 00:46:29,185
Speaker 2: the ridiculous, but just human things. Like, I want to

745
00:46:29,305 --> 00:46:31,225
Speaker 2: ask you a little bit about yourself.

746
00:46:31,745 --> 00:46:31,985
Speaker 1: Yes.

747
00:46:32,045 --> 00:46:35,985
Speaker 2: Like, first of all, I'm mystified by English food.

748
00:46:36,005 --> 00:46:36,975
Speaker 1: Yes.

749
00:46:37,455 --> 00:46:39,855
Speaker 2: Last time I was in London, I was on a

750
00:46:39,935 --> 00:46:42,955
Speaker 2: quest for some good fish and chips. Yes. I went

751
00:46:42,995 --> 00:46:45,155
Speaker 2: to five places. I don't think I ever found the

752
00:46:45,295 --> 00:46:48,335
Speaker 2: ones I was looking for, but I was ordering breakfast

753
00:46:48,375 --> 00:46:51,985
Speaker 2: and there was something on the menu called Bubble and Squeak.

754
00:46:52,485 --> 00:46:52,844
Speaker 1: Oh, my word.

755
00:46:52,865 --> 00:46:54,065
Speaker 2: What on earth is that?

756
00:46:54,845 --> 00:47:00,365
Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, oh, goodness. Yeah, I personally wouldn't have it myself,

757
00:47:00,665 --> 00:47:03,165
Speaker 1: but I know some people like it.

758
00:47:03,375 --> 00:47:04,035
Speaker 2: What is it?

759
00:47:04,055 --> 00:47:08,614
Speaker 1: I think it's a mixture of kind of leftovers from

760
00:47:08,655 --> 00:47:10,835
Speaker 1: a lot of other bits of food.

761
00:47:10,855 --> 00:47:11,055
Speaker 2: Yeah.

762
00:47:11,355 --> 00:47:13,975
Speaker 1: All kind of put together. So instead of saying these

763
00:47:14,035 --> 00:47:17,015
Speaker 1: are the leftovers, let's call it Bubble and Squeak.

764
00:47:17,035 --> 00:47:21,424
Speaker 2: Great thinking. They're saying, these Americans, they want these weird things.

765
00:47:21,645 --> 00:47:24,364
Speaker 2: We'll just call a bubbling squeak and serve it to them.

766
00:47:24,685 --> 00:47:26,985
Speaker 2: That was my English accent. I know.

767
00:47:27,305 --> 00:47:30,105
Speaker 1: It's great. I love it.

768
00:47:30,265 --> 00:47:33,545
Speaker 2: We've talked about the Beatles many times. Yes. You know,

769
00:47:33,585 --> 00:47:35,765
Speaker 2: I'm a big Beatles fan and you were so kind

770
00:47:35,805 --> 00:47:38,745
Speaker 2: to present to me, and I have it right in

771
00:47:38,785 --> 00:47:42,565
Speaker 2: front of my computer screen, a beautiful little yellow submarine,

772
00:47:42,605 --> 00:47:46,205
Speaker 2: but it's vintage. It's probably from the late 60s. And

773
00:47:46,245 --> 00:47:50,575
Speaker 2: you push these little levers and the individual beetles pop up. Right.

774
00:47:51,075 --> 00:47:55,955
Speaker 2: So recently I had the opportunity to meet Ringo Starr. Oh, my.

775
00:47:56,015 --> 00:47:58,735
Speaker 2: It was his birthday party. A friend of mine was

776
00:47:58,795 --> 00:48:01,675
Speaker 2: invited and he said, would you like to come with

777
00:48:01,715 --> 00:48:04,695
Speaker 2: me to Ringo's birthday? Before he could finish the sentence,

778
00:48:04,755 --> 00:48:07,864
Speaker 2: I said, yes, I want to come with you. So

779
00:48:07,955 --> 00:48:10,185
Speaker 2: it was a very brief moment where we were allowed

780
00:48:10,205 --> 00:48:12,825
Speaker 2: to go back into this little tent and shake hands

781
00:48:12,865 --> 00:48:15,575
Speaker 2: with Ringo and get a picture with him. And so

782
00:48:15,645 --> 00:48:18,185
Speaker 2: we waited our turn, and then we walked in. And

783
00:48:18,805 --> 00:48:21,915
Speaker 2: I have to say, Ringo looks fantastic. He's in his 80s.

784
00:48:22,265 --> 00:48:25,425
Speaker 2: He's very trim. He was dressed super cool. He was

785
00:48:25,505 --> 00:48:28,395
Speaker 2: very nice. And it's so funny to meet someone like

786
00:48:28,435 --> 00:48:30,935
Speaker 2: that in person who you've seen on video and in

787
00:48:30,995 --> 00:48:33,735
Speaker 2: movies and hear their voice. And there they are, the

788
00:48:33,815 --> 00:48:38,215
Speaker 2: actual person. But we're talking. We got our picture. And

789
00:48:38,235 --> 00:48:41,525
Speaker 2: when we were done, I just sat down. Everybody probably

790
00:48:41,625 --> 00:48:44,735
Speaker 2: gushes over Ringo and tells him what they love about

791
00:48:44,775 --> 00:48:47,835
Speaker 2: his music. And I thought, has anyone ever shared the

792
00:48:47,895 --> 00:48:49,995
Speaker 2: gospel with him? It wasn't really a moment where I

793
00:48:50,015 --> 00:48:52,555
Speaker 2: could do a full court press, but I thought I

794
00:48:52,575 --> 00:48:55,745
Speaker 2: was just going to sow a seed and see what happens.

795
00:48:55,825 --> 00:48:58,525
Speaker 2: I said, and maybe I shouldn't have done this, Jay John.

796
00:48:58,865 --> 00:49:02,085
Speaker 2: I put my hand on Ringo. Ringo's shoulder, just briefly,

797
00:49:02,205 --> 00:49:04,625
Speaker 2: I said, Ringo, I want to tell you something. He

798
00:49:04,645 --> 00:49:06,725
Speaker 2: looked up at me and I said, I want to

799
00:49:06,785 --> 00:49:11,415
Speaker 2: tell you that Jesus Christ loves you. Yes. And he

800
00:49:11,455 --> 00:49:15,095
Speaker 2: looked at me. He seemed a little surprised. Probably the

801
00:49:15,135 --> 00:49:17,535
Speaker 2: person who took me there was surprised as well. Like,

802
00:49:17,575 --> 00:49:20,235
Speaker 2: why did I bring you here? But hey, I'm an evangelist.

803
00:49:20,275 --> 00:49:23,135
Speaker 2: This is what I do. I can't, you know, I

804
00:49:23,175 --> 00:49:25,355
Speaker 2: thought I got to sow this seed in this guy's life.

805
00:49:25,745 --> 00:49:29,245
Speaker 2: His response was quite amazing, J. John. I said, has

806
00:49:29,375 --> 00:49:33,815
Speaker 2: anyone ever told you that Jesus Christ loves you? Immediately,

807
00:49:33,915 --> 00:49:38,205
Speaker 2: Ringo said, I go straight to God. And I was

808
00:49:38,235 --> 00:49:40,855
Speaker 2: a little taken aback by that, like, wait, what? I mean,

809
00:49:41,415 --> 00:49:44,235
Speaker 2: because when I've said this to other people, usually, even

810
00:49:44,295 --> 00:49:47,695
Speaker 2: if they're non-believers, they'll say, well, thank you, right? But

811
00:49:48,015 --> 00:49:50,685
Speaker 2: I go straight to God. And before I could come

812
00:49:50,745 --> 00:49:53,245
Speaker 2: up with an answer, my wife, who was standing next

813
00:49:53,265 --> 00:49:56,645
Speaker 2: to me, said, well, Jesus is God. And then there

814
00:49:56,685 --> 00:49:59,805
Speaker 2: was this awkward moment of silence. We all kind of

815
00:49:59,825 --> 00:50:02,125
Speaker 2: looked at each other and I said, oh, Ringo, it's

816
00:50:02,145 --> 00:50:04,345
Speaker 2: a pleasure to meet you. And we left. But it

817
00:50:04,385 --> 00:50:07,905
Speaker 2: was an interesting thing, you know, because I've heard that

818
00:50:07,985 --> 00:50:13,175
Speaker 2: Ringo is open to spiritual things. And I've even heard

819
00:50:13,235 --> 00:50:17,125
Speaker 2: some say, oh, Ringo's a Christian now. Well, you know,

820
00:50:17,145 --> 00:50:19,245
Speaker 2: but I just feel like we got to go out

821
00:50:19,305 --> 00:50:23,085
Speaker 2: there and sow the seed because I feel like when

822
00:50:23,145 --> 00:50:25,955
Speaker 2: I have these opportunities to meet someone like that are

823
00:50:25,995 --> 00:50:29,355
Speaker 2: just people in general, like you and your Uber driver,

824
00:50:29,835 --> 00:50:31,835
Speaker 2: like you and the lady that drove you back to

825
00:50:31,855 --> 00:50:35,215
Speaker 2: your hotel. These can be divine moments. So we need

826
00:50:35,235 --> 00:50:37,884
Speaker 2: to keep our spiritual antenna up like the Bible says.

827
00:50:38,945 --> 00:50:41,505
Speaker 2: be instant in season and out of season, or another

828
00:50:41,565 --> 00:50:44,245
Speaker 2: translation says, be on duty at all times.

829
00:50:44,665 --> 00:50:48,105
Speaker 1: Absolutely. It's this intentionality, Greg. I mean, in the morning

830
00:50:48,165 --> 00:50:51,705
Speaker 1: when Kelly and I pray, we say, well, Lord, this

831
00:50:51,785 --> 00:50:55,045
Speaker 1: is what's in our schedule today. But Lord, we pray

832
00:50:55,085 --> 00:50:56,305
Speaker 1: for divine appointments.

833
00:50:56,905 --> 00:50:57,145
Speaker 2: Yeah.

834
00:50:57,245 --> 00:50:59,685
Speaker 1: And help us to be alert to them. Help us

835
00:50:59,745 --> 00:51:02,905
Speaker 1: not to be so full today that we miss any

836
00:51:02,945 --> 00:51:05,585
Speaker 1: other divine appointments. And I think when you pray a

837
00:51:05,625 --> 00:51:10,445
Speaker 1: prayer like that, and you're intentional, It's like your antennae

838
00:51:10,745 --> 00:51:14,065
Speaker 1: can pick up where you need to go, who you

839
00:51:14,105 --> 00:51:15,145
Speaker 1: need to engage with.

840
00:51:15,875 --> 00:51:18,775
Speaker 2: It's a here I am, send me prayer. So, OK,

841
00:51:19,175 --> 00:51:21,395
Speaker 2: I talked about bubble and squeak and you've told us

842
00:51:21,435 --> 00:51:24,675
Speaker 2: you don't like it. It's really the British version of leftovers.

843
00:51:25,175 --> 00:51:28,675
Speaker 2: So what do you like to eat? Maybe back home

844
00:51:28,895 --> 00:51:32,225
Speaker 2: in the UK or maybe when you're in America, like

845
00:51:32,265 --> 00:51:34,225
Speaker 2: when you're in America, is there a certain kind of

846
00:51:34,245 --> 00:51:37,105
Speaker 2: American food that you want to get when you're here?

847
00:51:38,425 --> 00:51:41,904
Speaker 1: Well, so when we're in America, well, the last time

848
00:51:41,945 --> 00:51:44,525
Speaker 1: we were with you, you said to me, where do

849
00:51:44,565 --> 00:51:49,335
Speaker 1: you want to go for lunch on Sunday? And I said, oh,

850
00:51:49,515 --> 00:51:52,895
Speaker 1: I really want a burger. Yes. And you took us

851
00:51:52,955 --> 00:51:54,675
Speaker 1: to a burger restaurant.

852
00:51:54,795 --> 00:51:55,055
Speaker 2: Yes.

853
00:51:55,295 --> 00:51:58,625
Speaker 1: And … And I think the time before, I think

854
00:51:58,685 --> 00:52:01,025
Speaker 1: you said, where do you want to go? And I said, oh,

855
00:52:01,405 --> 00:52:06,695
Speaker 1: a steak. Because here in England, we don't really, we

856
00:52:06,735 --> 00:52:11,915
Speaker 1: don't go to steak restaurants. And we don't often eat

857
00:52:12,035 --> 00:52:18,005
Speaker 1: steak often. And if we do, it's absolutely tiny. You're like,

858
00:52:18,065 --> 00:52:18,765
Speaker 1: where is it?

859
00:52:18,805 --> 00:52:19,585
Speaker 2: Where is it?

860
00:52:20,785 --> 00:52:23,685
Speaker 1: So we try and make that a little bit of

861
00:52:23,725 --> 00:52:26,425
Speaker 1: a tradition when we're in the States. We either have

862
00:52:26,465 --> 00:52:29,045
Speaker 1: a burger or we have a fantastic steak.

863
00:52:29,325 --> 00:52:31,985
Speaker 2: What do you eat back home? What's your favorite go-to food?

864
00:52:32,545 --> 00:52:36,645
Speaker 1: Well, here, obviously, I love Greek food. Love Greek food.

865
00:52:37,185 --> 00:52:41,445
Speaker 1: And when we can, we would do that. either cook

866
00:52:41,465 --> 00:52:46,865
Speaker 1: it ourselves or get it. And I've got a great

867
00:52:47,705 --> 00:52:51,145
Speaker 1: wife who's a brilliant cook as well. But we also,

868
00:52:51,465 --> 00:52:55,415
Speaker 1: on a Friday night, if we are home and we're

869
00:52:55,475 --> 00:52:57,695
Speaker 1: on our own, we'll have fish and chips.

870
00:52:58,815 --> 00:53:02,634
Speaker 2: So you've mastered, what is the key to creating good

871
00:53:02,695 --> 00:53:03,435
Speaker 2: fish and chips?

872
00:53:04,315 --> 00:53:08,345
Speaker 1: Well, I've, Yeah. The thing is, it's about the oil.

873
00:53:08,455 --> 00:53:11,125
Speaker 1: The oil's got to be good and clean oil.

874
00:53:11,365 --> 00:53:11,845
Speaker 2: Yes.

875
00:53:11,905 --> 00:53:13,545
Speaker 1: You want to make it crispy.

876
00:53:13,705 --> 00:53:13,965
Speaker 2: Yes.

877
00:53:14,085 --> 00:53:19,045
Speaker 1: Because if it's not crispy enough, then it's kind of, oh,

878
00:53:19,065 --> 00:53:22,225
Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, that's right. And then, of course, you

879
00:53:22,245 --> 00:53:25,185
Speaker 1: can accompany it with some mushy peas.

880
00:53:25,885 --> 00:53:27,285
Speaker 2: Oh, I wouldn't do that, but yeah.

881
00:53:28,025 --> 00:53:29,845
Speaker 1: And a bit of tomato sauce. Yes.

882
00:53:30,575 --> 00:53:32,674
Speaker 2: Yeah, and your chips, when you say chips, you mean

883
00:53:32,955 --> 00:53:34,614
Speaker 2: what we would call French fries, right?

884
00:53:35,075 --> 00:53:36,575
Speaker 1: Yes, but the thicker ones.

885
00:53:36,975 --> 00:53:37,295
Speaker 2: Yes.

886
00:53:38,095 --> 00:53:40,135
Speaker 1: So they're more crunchy and crispy.

887
00:53:40,435 --> 00:53:43,625
Speaker 2: Nice. Yeah. Now, do you like movies? Do you go

888
00:53:43,665 --> 00:53:44,885
Speaker 2: see movies?

889
00:53:44,925 --> 00:53:49,265
Speaker 1: We love movies, and we particularly love Christmas movies.

890
00:53:49,485 --> 00:53:50,545
Speaker 2: Oh, nice.

891
00:53:50,825 --> 00:53:55,305
Speaker 1: We love Christmas. Absolutely love Christmas. The whole season.

892
00:53:55,885 --> 00:53:58,654
Speaker 2: I've heard more than one person say, you remind them...

893
00:53:59,385 --> 00:54:04,385
Speaker 2: of Rowan Atkinson, best known for his role of Mr. Bean.

894
00:54:05,565 --> 00:54:07,505
Speaker 2: Did you see his Christmas movie?

895
00:54:08,055 --> 00:54:08,535
Speaker 1: I did.

896
00:54:08,705 --> 00:54:09,695
Speaker 2: It was really good.

897
00:54:10,315 --> 00:54:10,995
Speaker 1: It was good.

898
00:54:11,075 --> 00:54:13,195
Speaker 2: And it had kind of a little, there's sort of

899
00:54:13,215 --> 00:54:16,835
Speaker 2: a nativity scene part of it. Sure. And I was

900
00:54:17,015 --> 00:54:19,625
Speaker 2: kind of, I actually think Rowan Atkinson is a really

901
00:54:19,665 --> 00:54:23,145
Speaker 2: good actor. I've seen him in serious roles, but them Mr.

902
00:54:23,205 --> 00:54:25,384
Speaker 2: Bean characters, hilarious.

903
00:54:25,405 --> 00:54:27,915
Speaker 1: I know. I mean, he's a brilliant actor. He's a

904
00:54:28,015 --> 00:54:30,375
Speaker 1: brilliant actor. Yeah, he really is.

905
00:54:30,415 --> 00:54:33,094
Speaker 2: Do you resent it when people say you remind them

906
00:54:33,135 --> 00:54:34,015
Speaker 2: of Mr. B?

907
00:54:34,195 --> 00:54:39,335
Speaker 1: Well, and when, well, when they say that, it's not very,

908
00:54:40,035 --> 00:54:46,705
Speaker 1: it's not very encouraging, is it? But I suppose I love,

909
00:54:47,605 --> 00:54:50,105
Speaker 1: like yourself, I love a bit of humour. I love

910
00:54:50,125 --> 00:54:55,435
Speaker 1: a bit of comedy. It's not, I don't, Greg, you've

911
00:54:55,495 --> 00:54:59,055
Speaker 1: seen me preach several times. It's not like I try

912
00:54:59,095 --> 00:55:03,675
Speaker 1: and make people laugh. I just find things funny. It's

913
00:55:03,695 --> 00:55:06,865
Speaker 1: a bit like you. You just find things funny. And

914
00:55:06,905 --> 00:55:10,725
Speaker 1: I think the thing I've heard you preach many times,

915
00:55:11,245 --> 00:55:14,565
Speaker 1: and I think you and I, all we're trying to

916
00:55:14,625 --> 00:55:15,785
Speaker 1: do is be ourselves.

917
00:55:15,805 --> 00:55:16,285
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's it.

918
00:55:16,605 --> 00:55:19,245
Speaker 1: We're not trying to be anyone. We're not trying to

919
00:55:19,265 --> 00:55:25,065
Speaker 1: put on a persona. You know, we're serious and we're funny. Yeah.

920
00:55:25,585 --> 00:55:29,725
Speaker 2: Because, you know, you have people can sometimes say you

921
00:55:29,745 --> 00:55:31,945
Speaker 2: remind them of Mr. Bean. And I have had a

922
00:55:31,965 --> 00:55:33,975
Speaker 2: lot of people saying I remind them a lot of

923
00:55:34,035 --> 00:55:38,895
Speaker 2: Brad Pitt. And it's a struggle. It's a struggle, J. John, honestly.

924
00:55:38,915 --> 00:55:43,035
Speaker 2: It's a struggle. All the time. Now, OK, so movies.

925
00:55:43,555 --> 00:55:45,895
Speaker 2: Give me your top three movies. Like, I love these

926
00:55:45,955 --> 00:55:47,265
Speaker 2: movies and I could watch them again.

927
00:55:48,475 --> 00:55:53,575
Speaker 1: Well, Christmas movies, I watch every year. It's a Wonderful Life.

928
00:55:53,985 --> 00:55:57,165
Speaker 1: Every year I watch it. I also watch one or

929
00:55:57,245 --> 00:56:00,485
Speaker 1: two different kind of versions of A Christmas Carol.

930
00:56:00,725 --> 00:56:01,085
Speaker 2: Oh, yes.

931
00:56:02,505 --> 00:56:09,435
Speaker 1: There's something so powerful about that story. Past, present, future.

932
00:56:09,495 --> 00:56:13,395
Speaker 1: In fact, I preached on that at Christmas. And, you know,

933
00:56:13,475 --> 00:56:17,295
Speaker 1: I tried to do, you know, Be as creative as

934
00:56:18,295 --> 00:56:22,195
Speaker 1: I can. Last Christmas, Greg, Kelly and I gave a

935
00:56:22,215 --> 00:56:26,975
Speaker 1: Christmas talk together. We sat on two stalls and we said,

936
00:56:27,165 --> 00:56:31,445
Speaker 1: we'd like to speak to you about three wise women.

937
00:56:32,265 --> 00:56:38,305
Speaker 1: And we spoke about Elizabeth, Mary, Anna. One was beginning

938
00:56:38,385 --> 00:56:41,344
Speaker 1: her life. One was midlife. One was at the end

939
00:56:41,405 --> 00:56:41,924
Speaker 1: of her life.

940
00:56:42,005 --> 00:56:42,485
Speaker 2: That's great.

941
00:56:42,505 --> 00:56:46,415
Speaker 1: One was dismayed. One was discouraged. One was disheartened. Let's

942
00:56:46,495 --> 00:56:50,335
Speaker 1: tell you their three stories. And we just told the

943
00:56:50,435 --> 00:56:52,155
Speaker 1: stories of the three wise women.

944
00:56:52,735 --> 00:56:55,674
Speaker 2: That's good. I might steal that idea from you. That's

945
00:56:55,715 --> 00:56:56,115
Speaker 2: a good.

946
00:56:56,055 --> 00:56:59,685
Speaker 1: One for sure. And it's amazing how when you tell

947
00:56:59,725 --> 00:57:05,605
Speaker 1: the stories, you know, who was the first Christian? Mary.

948
00:57:06,525 --> 00:57:13,225
Speaker 1: She literally received Christ. So you can end with Mary

949
00:57:13,265 --> 00:57:17,275
Speaker 1: was the first Christian. She literally received Christ and you

950
00:57:17,315 --> 00:57:18,715
Speaker 1: can receive Christ today.

951
00:57:18,855 --> 00:57:22,575
Speaker 2: That's true. He was in her womb and later he

952
00:57:22,705 --> 00:57:23,725
Speaker 2: came into her heart.

953
00:57:24,505 --> 00:57:25,545
Speaker 1: Absolutely.

954
00:57:25,585 --> 00:57:25,925
Speaker 2: Yes.

955
00:57:26,025 --> 00:57:26,925
Speaker 1: I know. Yeah.

956
00:57:27,265 --> 00:57:31,805
Speaker 2: So let's talk about books. Like apart from the Bible,

957
00:57:32,425 --> 00:57:35,585
Speaker 2: what's one or two or three of your favorite books?

958
00:57:37,985 --> 00:57:41,525
Speaker 1: Over the years, Greg, I'm a reader.

959
00:57:42,005 --> 00:57:42,745
Speaker 2: I love reading.

960
00:57:44,205 --> 00:57:48,385
Speaker 1: Reading, reflecting. I'd have to say, you know, some of

961
00:57:48,425 --> 00:57:53,535
Speaker 1: the books that have probably impacted me the most are

962
00:57:53,765 --> 00:57:59,715
Speaker 1: books to do with spirituality. So a book called Prayer

963
00:58:00,155 --> 00:58:03,955
Speaker 1: by O. Hallisby. It's a really old book. I don't

964
00:58:03,975 --> 00:58:08,175
Speaker 1: know if you can get it now. That impacted my

965
00:58:08,295 --> 00:58:11,635
Speaker 1: prayer life. It just took me to another level. I

966
00:58:11,675 --> 00:58:14,775
Speaker 1: remember when I read a book called A Celebration of

967
00:58:14,915 --> 00:58:20,115
Speaker 1: Discipline by Richard Foster, where in that book he talks

968
00:58:20,195 --> 00:58:27,575
Speaker 1: about prayer, simplicity and fasting. It just introduced me to

969
00:58:28,795 --> 00:58:33,765
Speaker 1: areas of devotion and my own devotional life that kind

970
00:58:33,825 --> 00:58:34,945
Speaker 1: of took me deeper.

971
00:58:35,165 --> 00:58:36,305
Speaker 2: Nice.

972
00:58:36,685 --> 00:58:40,655
Speaker 1: And for me, Those kind of books. Of course, I've

973
00:58:40,695 --> 00:58:46,375
Speaker 1: read books that stimulated my mind, have educated me. But

974
00:58:46,435 --> 00:58:51,245
Speaker 1: in terms of personal impact, I think it's more spiritual

975
00:58:51,285 --> 00:58:55,725
Speaker 1: books like that. And, you know, last year, Greg, I

976
00:58:55,765 --> 00:59:00,685
Speaker 1: decided that I know this might sound funny, but I

977
00:59:00,725 --> 00:59:04,385
Speaker 1: decided not to read any books. I made a decision

978
00:59:04,985 --> 00:59:08,635
Speaker 1: and I made a decision that I would read the Bible. Now,

979
00:59:09,335 --> 00:59:14,335
Speaker 1: I read the Bible anyway, but I felt this kind

980
00:59:14,375 --> 00:59:19,965
Speaker 1: of read it, more, read it more. It was said

981
00:59:19,985 --> 00:59:23,845
Speaker 1: of John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, that if you

982
00:59:24,025 --> 00:59:28,885
Speaker 1: cut John Newton open, the Bible would have fallen out

983
00:59:28,965 --> 00:59:31,145
Speaker 1: of him because his blood was bibling.

984
00:59:31,305 --> 00:59:32,465
Speaker 2: Yeah, I've heard that before, yeah.

985
00:59:33,005 --> 00:59:36,395
Speaker 1: And you know, Greg, Yeah, it just, I've been listening

986
00:59:36,435 --> 00:59:40,015
Speaker 1: to the Bible more. Kelly and I have been listening

987
00:59:40,055 --> 00:59:42,695
Speaker 1: to the Bible more in the car when we travel

988
00:59:42,755 --> 00:59:45,875
Speaker 1: to events and meetings. We just put on the Bible,

989
00:59:46,175 --> 00:59:51,475
Speaker 1: hearing in the Bible. At breakfast, we put on David Suchet.

990
00:59:51,495 --> 00:59:52,425
Speaker 2: I love him.

991
00:59:52,435 --> 00:59:55,855
Speaker 1: And he reads the Bible. And we, I mean, this

992
00:59:55,935 --> 00:59:57,935
Speaker 1: morning we were on Galatians chapter three.

993
00:59:57,955 --> 00:59:58,745
Speaker 2: Yes.

994
00:59:59,225 --> 01:00:02,465
Speaker 1: Some days we might listen to one chapter, other days,

995
01:00:02,685 --> 01:00:07,895
Speaker 1: five chapters. Yes. But I just felt like I was

996
01:00:08,055 --> 01:00:12,555
Speaker 1: reading books about the Bible rather than reading the Bible.

997
01:00:12,575 --> 01:00:14,095
Speaker 2: Very good.

998
01:00:14,575 --> 01:00:19,655
Speaker 1: And I think I'm not legalistic. This year ahead, I'll

999
01:00:19,675 --> 01:00:21,935
Speaker 1: keep reading the Bible and I might pick up a book.

1000
01:00:22,645 --> 01:00:25,245
Speaker 1: But it was just a year to focus.

1001
01:00:25,345 --> 01:00:30,145
Speaker 2: Love that. I'm rereading. I've listened to many books of

1002
01:00:30,165 --> 01:00:34,345
Speaker 2: the Bible read by David Suchet. And I just love

1003
01:00:34,405 --> 01:00:37,365
Speaker 2: the way he reads it, you know. And you can

1004
01:00:37,405 --> 01:00:38,535
Speaker 2: tell he believes it.

1005
01:00:39,035 --> 01:00:39,195
Speaker 1: Yes.

1006
01:00:39,215 --> 01:00:42,175
Speaker 2: But then his voice and everything about the way he

1007
01:00:42,235 --> 01:00:46,595
Speaker 2: presents it with his acting abilities when he's telling a story.

1008
01:00:46,635 --> 01:00:49,215
Speaker 2: It's a narrative. You know, he sort of, he knows

1009
01:00:49,275 --> 01:00:52,165
Speaker 2: how to deliver a line, if you will. You know,

1010
01:00:52,225 --> 01:00:55,665
Speaker 2: and you listen and go, wow, that's how you read

1011
01:00:55,705 --> 01:00:56,465
Speaker 2: the Bible.

1012
01:00:56,725 --> 01:01:01,105
Speaker 1: And I know him, Greg, and I asked him about it.

1013
01:01:01,565 --> 01:01:05,335
Speaker 1: And he said he practiced it before he recorded it.

1014
01:01:05,655 --> 01:01:05,915
Speaker 2: Oh, wow.

1015
01:01:06,455 --> 01:01:08,495
Speaker 1: So you didn't just open the Bible. Oh, what's the

1016
01:01:08,535 --> 01:01:12,635
Speaker 1: next chapter? He really tried. How would it have been

1017
01:01:12,735 --> 01:01:15,785
Speaker 1: read differently? How would, how's the writer?

1018
01:01:15,805 --> 01:01:16,265
Speaker 2: That's right.

1019
01:01:16,305 --> 01:01:18,985
Speaker 1: Which is the words I've got to highlight.

1020
01:01:19,165 --> 01:01:21,785
Speaker 2: That's right. If you could, okay, you've probably been asked

1021
01:01:21,805 --> 01:01:24,595
Speaker 2: something like this before. If you could have dinner with

1022
01:01:24,695 --> 01:01:28,675
Speaker 2: three other people, not Jesus, we would all invite him first,

1023
01:01:28,715 --> 01:01:32,555
Speaker 2: but three people, living or dead, from history, just people

1024
01:01:32,615 --> 01:01:35,995
Speaker 2: you've always admired and would love to talk to, who

1025
01:01:36,015 --> 01:01:38,545
Speaker 2: would be at your dinner party as you sat down

1026
01:01:38,585 --> 01:01:40,145
Speaker 2: to eat bubble and squeak?

1027
01:01:40,875 --> 01:01:46,495
Speaker 1: Well, I'm an evangelist, Greg, and I know you're an evangelist,

1028
01:01:46,555 --> 01:01:49,405
Speaker 1: but you're a church leader and many other things. But

1029
01:01:49,545 --> 01:01:54,005
Speaker 1: as an evangelist, I would want to sit with some evangelists.

1030
01:01:54,485 --> 01:01:59,285
Speaker 1: Of course, if I could sit with someone, a biblical character,

1031
01:02:00,005 --> 01:02:03,185
Speaker 1: I'd love to sit with. Actually, I would love to

1032
01:02:03,225 --> 01:02:06,725
Speaker 1: sit with St. Paul, but I would love to sit

1033
01:02:06,765 --> 01:02:08,845
Speaker 1: with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

1034
01:02:08,885 --> 01:02:09,105
Speaker 2: Yes.

1035
01:02:10,625 --> 01:02:14,995
Speaker 1: Of course, through history, I'd love to sit with George Whitefield.

1036
01:02:15,095 --> 01:02:15,395
Speaker 2: Yes.

1037
01:02:15,895 --> 01:02:18,475
Speaker 1: I'd love to sit with John Wesley. Yes. I'd love

1038
01:02:18,515 --> 01:02:19,855
Speaker 1: to sit with Jonathan Edwards.

1039
01:02:20,515 --> 01:02:23,115
Speaker 2: Yes, good lineup. Did you see that movie called A

1040
01:02:23,175 --> 01:02:24,155
Speaker 2: Great Awakening?

1041
01:02:25,135 --> 01:02:26,235
Speaker 1: Oh, I loved it.

1042
01:02:26,275 --> 01:02:31,785
Speaker 2: Wasn't that fantastic? It was heartwarming. Yeah, very good. A

1043
01:02:31,865 --> 01:02:36,405
Speaker 2: very good telling of the story of Whitefield, a British preacher.

1044
01:02:37,085 --> 01:02:41,005
Speaker 2: who really brought the first spiritual awakening in America before

1045
01:02:41,065 --> 01:02:44,005
Speaker 2: we were America. I know.

1046
01:02:45,125 --> 01:02:49,215
Speaker 1: And Greg, how did they do it without microphones?

1047
01:02:49,375 --> 01:02:53,755
Speaker 2: He had a voice. Benjamin Franklin measured it and said

1048
01:02:53,835 --> 01:02:57,555
Speaker 2: that he heard him speak and you could understand him

1049
01:02:57,635 --> 01:03:00,925
Speaker 2: from a distance to a crowd up to 30,000 people.

1050
01:03:00,985 --> 01:03:03,865
Speaker 2: I mean, I rely on amplification. One year we were

1051
01:03:03,885 --> 01:03:06,115
Speaker 2: having a crusade in the stadium and, and I'm in

1052
01:03:06,145 --> 01:03:08,355
Speaker 2: the middle of my message, and the sound went out.

1053
01:03:08,455 --> 01:03:13,915
Speaker 2: Someone literally had unplugged it. And boy, I literally tried

1054
01:03:13,955 --> 01:03:17,715
Speaker 2: to keep speaking. There's no way my voice could have projected.

1055
01:03:19,295 --> 01:03:22,315
Speaker 2: He was gifted. He started out as an actor, and

1056
01:03:22,355 --> 01:03:25,685
Speaker 2: he had an extraordinary voice that became a tool that

1057
01:03:25,725 --> 01:03:27,425
Speaker 2: was used for God's glory, right?

1058
01:03:27,485 --> 01:03:29,585
Speaker 1: And he was known, Greg, did you know that he

1059
01:03:29,625 --> 01:03:33,985
Speaker 1: was known as the divine dramatist? Yes.

1060
01:03:34,305 --> 01:03:34,625
Speaker 2: Because.

1061
01:03:35,015 --> 01:03:37,245
Speaker 1: The way he presented the gospel.

1062
01:03:37,265 --> 01:03:38,075
Speaker 2: Right.

1063
01:03:38,145 --> 01:03:42,205
Speaker 1: The drama of it was so powerful. And then John Wesley.

1064
01:03:42,825 --> 01:03:46,905
Speaker 1: I mean, he preached five times a day. Yes. Every day.

1065
01:03:48,205 --> 01:03:54,445
Speaker 1: It's remarkable. I've read John Wesley's diaries. And I mean, wow.

1066
01:03:54,605 --> 01:03:58,105
Speaker 1: I mean, well, come back to what you said. You said, oh,

1067
01:03:58,445 --> 01:04:02,975
Speaker 1: which books have impacted you? I think John Wesley's diaries.

1068
01:04:02,995 --> 01:04:03,305
Speaker 2: Yeah.

1069
01:04:03,375 --> 01:04:07,255
Speaker 1: Just reading them. His diaries, amazing.

1070
01:04:07,735 --> 01:04:12,435
Speaker 2: All my favorite authors are British. You know, I always

1071
01:04:12,495 --> 01:04:18,255
Speaker 2: loved C.S. Lewis, of course. Spurgeon, still love Spurgeon. G.

1072
01:04:18,275 --> 01:04:20,885
Speaker 2: Campbell Morgan, Martin Lloyd-Jones.

1073
01:04:21,125 --> 01:04:21,905
Speaker 1: Yes.

1074
01:04:22,145 --> 01:04:24,145
Speaker 2: Just brilliant communicators.

1075
01:04:24,445 --> 01:04:28,445
Speaker 1: Amazing. But you know, isn't it amazing, Greg, about Spurgeon?

1076
01:04:28,665 --> 01:04:32,565
Speaker 1: He was only 19 when they appointed him. I mean,

1077
01:04:32,585 --> 01:04:36,685
Speaker 1: just think, you know, We're almost reluctant today to appoint

1078
01:04:36,765 --> 01:04:42,005
Speaker 1: a 19-year-old to be one of our pastors. We would say, oh, oh,

1079
01:04:42,245 --> 01:04:45,885
Speaker 1: come back in 10 years, wouldn't we? Not 19. But

1080
01:04:45,985 --> 01:04:49,285
Speaker 1: then people would go to, I mean, when he took

1081
01:04:49,325 --> 01:04:53,225
Speaker 1: it over, it was tiny, his church. But then, what,

1082
01:04:53,285 --> 01:04:58,735
Speaker 1: on a Sunday morning, there's 5,000 seated, 1,000 standing. And

1083
01:04:58,775 --> 01:05:02,155
Speaker 1: people would say to him, Spurgeon, what is the secret?

1084
01:05:02,275 --> 01:05:06,275
Speaker 1: What is the secret? And he would reply, it's the

1085
01:05:06,555 --> 01:05:09,295
Speaker 1: engine room. And they'd go, what do you mean the

1086
01:05:09,375 --> 01:05:14,275
Speaker 1: engine room? He goes, it's Monday night. 1,000 people come

1087
01:05:14,315 --> 01:05:17,995
Speaker 1: here to pray. But of course, when he first started,

1088
01:05:18,015 --> 01:05:21,565
Speaker 1: there was only two people and then four, then eight,

1089
01:05:21,865 --> 01:05:26,545
Speaker 1: then 16. But at the height of what was going

1090
01:05:26,725 --> 01:05:31,075
Speaker 1: on with all the thousands coming, Monday night prayer meeting,

1091
01:05:31,075 --> 01:05:34,275
Speaker 1: 1,000 people, Every Monday night.

1092
01:05:34,495 --> 01:05:35,195
Speaker 2: Unbelievable.

1093
01:05:35,775 --> 01:05:36,915
Speaker 1: That's the engine room.

1094
01:05:37,175 --> 01:05:41,495
Speaker 2: Yes. So speaking of sermons, if you were to give

1095
01:05:41,595 --> 01:05:45,005
Speaker 2: one last sermon, what would the topic be and what

1096
01:05:45,025 --> 01:05:45,985
Speaker 2: would the text be?

1097
01:05:46,705 --> 01:05:51,825
Speaker 1: Okay, Mike, right. The text would be John 3, 16.

1098
01:05:51,825 --> 01:05:52,465
Speaker 2: You mentioned that.

1099
01:05:52,525 --> 01:05:55,285
Speaker 1: Which we quoted earlier, but for God so loved the world,

1100
01:05:55,325 --> 01:05:58,215
Speaker 1: he gave his only son. Whoever believes in him shall

1101
01:05:58,255 --> 01:06:03,045
Speaker 1: not perish, but have everlasting life. And my message would

1102
01:06:03,105 --> 01:06:09,925
Speaker 1: be the great invitation. It's an invitation from Jesus, the

1103
01:06:09,985 --> 01:06:13,325
Speaker 1: King of Kings. It is to you and to me.

1104
01:06:13,985 --> 01:06:18,565
Speaker 1: And it's about three things. Forgiveness from the past, new

1105
01:06:18,645 --> 01:06:21,645
Speaker 1: life here today, and a hope for the future.

1106
01:06:22,825 --> 01:06:25,555
Speaker 2: If you were to meet a younger version of you,

1107
01:06:25,575 --> 01:06:29,295
Speaker 2: a young J. John, what advice would an older J.

1108
01:06:29,335 --> 01:06:31,225
Speaker 2: John give to a younger one?

1109
01:06:33,345 --> 01:06:39,485
Speaker 1: I would say, pray more, be still and know that

1110
01:06:39,625 --> 01:06:48,115
Speaker 1: I am God. Be led by the Spirit and keep

1111
01:06:48,215 --> 01:06:54,335
Speaker 1: in step with the Spirit. Don't run ahead. Don't fall behind.

1112
01:06:57,555 --> 01:07:03,795
Speaker 1: This is very interesting, Greg. In Genesis, God walked in

1113
01:07:03,835 --> 01:07:08,265
Speaker 1: the garden. In the New Testament, in the Gospels, the

1114
01:07:08,345 --> 01:07:13,345
Speaker 1: Son of God walked. In the whole Bible, God only

1115
01:07:13,645 --> 01:07:19,025
Speaker 1: ever walks except one place. He only ran once in

1116
01:07:19,065 --> 01:07:23,095
Speaker 1: the whole Bible, and that was towards a prodigal. So

1117
01:07:23,155 --> 01:07:29,595
Speaker 1: the pace of God is walking unless it involves prodigals.

1118
01:07:31,705 --> 01:07:32,185
Speaker 2: I love that.

1119
01:07:32,225 --> 01:07:36,075
Speaker 1: And I think sometimes, Greg, you know, unless the Lord

1120
01:07:36,105 --> 01:07:41,395
Speaker 1: builds the house, the laborers labor in vain. And, you know,

1121
01:07:41,415 --> 01:07:44,675
Speaker 1: I'm always, Lord, is this a good idea or is

1122
01:07:44,715 --> 01:07:49,795
Speaker 1: it a God idea? If I'm building it, it's going

1123
01:07:49,815 --> 01:07:52,715
Speaker 1: to fall down. If you're building it and I can

1124
01:07:52,775 --> 01:07:55,835
Speaker 1: join in the building work, it's going to be great.

1125
01:07:56,805 --> 01:08:00,075
Speaker 2: That's fantastic. Do you have... It's hard to say. You know,

1126
01:08:00,095 --> 01:08:02,955
Speaker 2: people will sometimes say, will you write a verse, sign

1127
01:08:02,995 --> 01:08:05,875
Speaker 2: my Bible, which I always feel a bit uncomfortable doing

1128
01:08:05,995 --> 01:08:09,005
Speaker 2: because I didn't write it. But I understand what they

1129
01:08:09,205 --> 01:08:13,105
Speaker 2: are asking. And they'll say, and put a favorite passage down. Yeah.

1130
01:08:13,565 --> 01:08:16,305
Speaker 2: And I do a favorite. I have many favorite passages.

1131
01:08:16,585 --> 01:08:19,745
Speaker 2: It depends on what I'm dealing with, what I'm facing.

1132
01:08:19,825 --> 01:08:22,535
Speaker 2: And I have certain go-to verses. One I was just

1133
01:08:22,575 --> 01:08:25,055
Speaker 2: thinking about the other day. I've quoted it so many times.

1134
01:08:25,434 --> 01:08:30,555
Speaker 2: But I just... It's just, to me, the most mind-blowing statement.

1135
01:08:31,214 --> 01:08:36,035
Speaker 2: Don't worry about anything. Pray about everything. And the peace

1136
01:08:36,094 --> 01:08:40,455
Speaker 2: of God that passes all human understanding will guard your

1137
01:08:40,514 --> 01:08:43,205
Speaker 2: heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I mean, I can't

1138
01:08:43,245 --> 01:08:46,305
Speaker 2: tell you how many times when facing something that could

1139
01:08:46,344 --> 01:08:49,905
Speaker 2: cause me to worry or panic or whatever else it is,

1140
01:08:50,264 --> 01:08:54,785
Speaker 2: I just remind myself, don't worry about it. Pray about it.

1141
01:08:55,075 --> 01:08:58,085
Speaker 2: Do you have a verse that you go to often?

1142
01:08:58,884 --> 01:08:59,185
Speaker 2: I do.

1143
01:08:59,424 --> 01:09:02,264
Speaker 1: Yeah. I'm a bit like you, Greg. You know, sometimes

1144
01:09:02,295 --> 01:09:04,235
Speaker 1: you feel like you've got to give them a little

1145
01:09:04,335 --> 01:09:08,765
Speaker 1: personal encouragement. and then other times, oh no, give them

1146
01:09:08,785 --> 01:09:13,464
Speaker 1: a bit of a challenge. So yeah, sometimes if it's a,

1147
01:09:14,085 --> 01:09:16,424
Speaker 1: you know, a personal encouragement, I might put them a

1148
01:09:16,525 --> 01:09:20,604
Speaker 1: prayer like 3 John 2, where you're praying for them

1149
01:09:20,665 --> 01:09:25,535
Speaker 1: in body, mind and spirit. And, or I might encourage

1150
01:09:25,554 --> 01:09:28,644
Speaker 1: them be a bit more challenging. Uh, and I might

1151
01:09:28,705 --> 01:09:32,525
Speaker 1: put Micah six verse eight, you know, what does God

1152
01:09:32,585 --> 01:09:36,104
Speaker 1: require of us? Well, he requires three things of us

1153
01:09:36,545 --> 01:09:40,254
Speaker 1: to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with God.

1154
01:09:40,264 --> 01:09:40,494
Speaker 2: Yes.

1155
01:09:41,035 --> 01:09:43,354
Speaker 1: You know, which is interesting, isn't it? When you're asking God,

1156
01:09:43,375 --> 01:09:46,235
Speaker 1: what does he require of us? And that's the answer.

1157
01:09:47,875 --> 01:09:49,934
Speaker 2: If I asked you to sign my Bible, what verse

1158
01:09:49,974 --> 01:09:51,035
Speaker 2: would you put down for me?

1159
01:09:51,054 --> 01:09:57,424
Speaker 1: Um, Well, I would put to my dear, dear friend,

1160
01:09:58,575 --> 01:10:04,534
Speaker 1: Pastor Greg Laurie, who loves the Beatles. I would probably

1161
01:10:04,594 --> 01:10:09,744
Speaker 1: put something that would surprise, that would surprise you.

1162
01:10:10,535 --> 01:10:13,115
Speaker 2: Okay, we'll hold that till I see you and you

1163
01:10:13,134 --> 01:10:14,775
Speaker 2: can write in my Bible.

1164
01:10:16,134 --> 01:10:19,424
Speaker 1: And I think I would put You know, I would

1165
01:10:19,485 --> 01:10:23,525
Speaker 1: put in your Bible, the wording I probably would put is,

1166
01:10:25,344 --> 01:10:33,105
Speaker 1: well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful

1167
01:10:33,945 --> 01:10:37,725
Speaker 1: and you have been fruitful, Greg. You really have. And

1168
01:10:38,644 --> 01:10:41,525
Speaker 1: you've impacted, God has used you to impact more people

1169
01:10:41,564 --> 01:10:46,405
Speaker 1: than you know. I've been inspired just listening to you preach.

1170
01:10:47,625 --> 01:10:50,585
Speaker 1: You've done more than just ministering your own church and

1171
01:10:50,625 --> 01:10:54,384
Speaker 1: in the stadiums that you do. And you've been faithful

1172
01:10:54,844 --> 01:10:58,215
Speaker 1: and you've been fruitful. So I think I would say

1173
01:10:58,275 --> 01:11:01,174
Speaker 1: that and I would find a scripture to kind of

1174
01:11:01,214 --> 01:11:02,155
Speaker 1: back that up for you.

1175
01:11:02,474 --> 01:11:05,434
Speaker 2: I love that. Thank you. Well, next time I see you,

1176
01:11:05,495 --> 01:11:07,375
Speaker 2: I want you to write that on my Bible.

1177
01:11:07,795 --> 01:11:08,235
Speaker 1: I will.

1178
01:11:08,474 --> 01:11:10,555
Speaker 2: And thank you for all that you do, J.

1179
01:11:10,575 --> 01:11:10,814
Speaker 1: John.

1180
01:11:10,854 --> 01:11:14,504
Speaker 2: I mean, what you just said is very kind. And obviously,

1181
01:11:14,554 --> 01:11:17,705
Speaker 2: I would say the same for you. Of course, those

1182
01:11:17,745 --> 01:11:22,155
Speaker 2: are the final words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy.

1183
01:11:22,434 --> 01:11:26,595
Speaker 2: He lived longer after that, of course, but my son

1184
01:11:26,634 --> 01:11:29,735
Speaker 2: went to be with the Lord 18 years ago, and

1185
01:11:30,705 --> 01:11:34,885
Speaker 2: I wrote those words of Paul, I fought the good fight,

1186
01:11:34,924 --> 01:11:37,425
Speaker 2: I kept the faith, I finished the course, and And

1187
01:11:37,474 --> 01:11:40,165
Speaker 2: I pray that as you continue on, that for the

1188
01:11:40,205 --> 01:11:42,884
Speaker 2: many years that God gives you, you know, that he'll

1189
01:11:43,005 --> 01:11:46,504
Speaker 2: use you powerfully, that he'll give you visions of things

1190
01:11:46,545 --> 01:11:50,104
Speaker 2: you've never thought of before, and that you will take

1191
01:11:50,165 --> 01:11:53,635
Speaker 2: ground you've never considered taking before, you know, and that

1192
01:11:53,695 --> 01:11:56,535
Speaker 2: you will be led by the Lord to reach unexpected

1193
01:11:56,615 --> 01:12:01,335
Speaker 2: people in unexpected places with an unexpected message, the message

1194
01:12:01,394 --> 01:12:04,075
Speaker 2: of the gospel. You're a gift to the church, not

1195
01:12:04,115 --> 01:12:07,445
Speaker 2: to the Church of England itself, or the Church of Europe.

1196
01:12:07,485 --> 01:12:09,584
Speaker 2: You're a gift to the worldwide church.

1197
01:12:10,104 --> 01:12:10,544
Speaker 1: Thank you.

1198
01:12:10,585 --> 01:12:13,285
Speaker 2: Thank you for all that you do and your wonderful wife.

1199
01:12:13,445 --> 01:12:15,544
Speaker 2: And thanks for being on my podcast. It's been fun

1200
01:12:15,585 --> 01:12:16,125
Speaker 2: talking to you.

1201
01:12:16,384 --> 01:12:18,874
Speaker 1: Thank you for having me on, Greg. God bless you

1202
01:12:18,924 --> 01:12:21,974
Speaker 1: and love to Kathy and the church. Thank you.

1203
01:12:22,214 --> 01:12:22,535
Speaker 2: Thank you.