1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 2: Hey, everybody, welcome back into the build different podcast. I'll 3 00:00:06,780 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 2: be your host today, Dr. Zach Clinton. And I just 4 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:10,900 Speaker 2: want to begin by thanking you so much for taking 5 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: the time and making us a part of your day. 6 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:14,580 Speaker 2: If you like what you hear today, make sure you 7 00:00:14,620 --> 00:00:17,140 Speaker 2: hit that subscribe button. It means a lot as we 8 00:00:17,180 --> 00:00:19,700 Speaker 2: continue building a real community here at build different and 9 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:20,430 Speaker 2: leave us a review. 10 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:21,250 Speaker 3: I read them. 11 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:22,650 Speaker 1: I appreciate your feedback. 12 00:00:22,829 --> 00:00:25,790 Speaker 2: And I always love hearing how these conversations are impacting 13 00:00:25,810 --> 00:00:32,270 Speaker 2: your life. Built Different is proudly sponsored by Liberty University. 14 00:00:32,470 --> 00:00:35,530 Speaker 2: Liberty University has impacted my life greatly. My friend, I'm 15 00:00:35,550 --> 00:00:38,700 Speaker 2: a graduate and a big believer in what Liberty University 16 00:00:38,740 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 2: has to offer you. 17 00:00:40,580 --> 00:00:41,300 Speaker 1: The vision of Dr. 18 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,739 Speaker 2: Jerry Falwell Sr. is alive and well, and I believe 19 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: it's stronger than ever before. Did you know that LU 20 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:50,700 Speaker 2: offers over 600 online programs taught by experts who understand 21 00:00:50,740 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 2: your calling and support you to help you reach it? 22 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,340 Speaker 2: And while the path to higher education has changed over 23 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,620 Speaker 2: the years, one thing is has never changed. That's our 24 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: mission to train champions for Christ, whether on campus, online, 25 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,060 Speaker 2: or around the world. All you have to do is 26 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:12,870 Speaker 2: go to liberty.edu. Again, that's www.liberty.edu forward slash built different 27 00:01:12,990 --> 00:01:17,170 Speaker 2: to start your journey to personal growth and professional fulfillment today. 28 00:01:17,690 --> 00:01:20,670 Speaker 2: All right, my friend, let's dive into today's conversation with 29 00:01:20,709 --> 00:01:21,649 Speaker 2: a very special guest. 30 00:01:24,860 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: Hello, everybody. 31 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,980 Speaker 2: Welcome back into the Built Different podcast. As always, we'll 32 00:01:28,020 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: be your host today, Dr. 33 00:01:28,940 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 3: Zach Clinton. Dr. Tim Clinton. 34 00:01:30,610 --> 00:01:31,660 Speaker 1: We are so excited to. 35 00:01:31,910 --> 00:01:35,650 Speaker 2: Be kicking off our AACC 2026 Faith and Flourishing Mega 36 00:01:35,690 --> 00:01:39,910 Speaker 2: National Christian Counseling Conference this evening at the Lowe's Arlington 37 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:44,350 Speaker 2: Hotel in Dallas, Texas. We have 2,500 counselors and medical 38 00:01:44,390 --> 00:01:47,750 Speaker 2: professionals and ministry leaders, coaches coming from all over the 39 00:01:47,770 --> 00:01:49,809 Speaker 2: world to gather, to grow in a relationship with God, 40 00:01:49,850 --> 00:01:52,340 Speaker 2: but also to commune in fellowship with one another, to 41 00:01:52,380 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: be educated, equipped, empowered, encouraged, to just to continue to 42 00:01:55,860 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: walk in and walk out the calling God has placed 43 00:01:57,820 --> 00:02:00,660 Speaker 2: on their life. That being said, we have some incredible 44 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: partnerships and sponsorships, but we have friends that are here 45 00:02:03,980 --> 00:02:07,420 Speaker 2: at the event presenting alongside of us, ministry leaders from 46 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: around the world. And one of them that is here 47 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:12,940 Speaker 2: with us today to jump on this episode is Rodney Holmstrom. 48 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,019 Speaker 2: He's from Celebrate Recovery. He is actually the global field 49 00:02:16,060 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: director of CR. He's a licensed professional counselor. He served 50 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,750 Speaker 2: the past 18 years as CR pastor of Fellowship Bible 51 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:26,650 Speaker 2: in Northwest Arkansas. And I love this. He's enthusiastic about 52 00:02:26,730 --> 00:02:31,250 Speaker 2: helping families and communities break the cycles of dysfunction to 53 00:02:31,340 --> 00:02:34,340 Speaker 2: help them in finding purpose in their pain from their hurts, 54 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,190 Speaker 2: from their habits. and from their hangups. Rodney, our friend, 55 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:39,530 Speaker 2: thank you so much for joining us today. 56 00:02:39,550 --> 00:02:41,510 Speaker 3: Oh man, so good to be here with you guys. So, 57 00:02:41,590 --> 00:02:42,330 Speaker 3: so appreciate it. 58 00:02:42,470 --> 00:02:44,450 Speaker 2: We look forward, not just to what God has in 59 00:02:44,470 --> 00:02:46,230 Speaker 2: store over the next couple of days, but what God 60 00:02:46,250 --> 00:02:48,010 Speaker 2: has in store over the next couple of moments. You know, 61 00:02:48,290 --> 00:02:50,710 Speaker 2: I'm just thinking, this is National Recovery Month, as of 62 00:02:50,730 --> 00:02:52,990 Speaker 2: this recording, the month of September. I know that you 63 00:02:53,010 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: guys have a lot of initiatives, a lot of advancements 64 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 2: through CR. I just want to ask, when you're in spaces, 65 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 2: like when we walk in tonight to our opening plenary, 66 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,340 Speaker 2: 2,500 leaders in the medical, mental health, and ministry fields, 67 00:03:04,850 --> 00:03:06,529 Speaker 2: I just want to know from a guy like you 68 00:03:06,570 --> 00:03:08,930 Speaker 2: who does so much in that world of addiction and 69 00:03:08,970 --> 00:03:11,990 Speaker 2: mental health, what are just some words that come to 70 00:03:12,030 --> 00:03:13,730 Speaker 2: mind that you would want to share with those people? 71 00:03:14,250 --> 00:03:16,090 Speaker 3: Yeah. First off is excitement. 72 00:03:16,790 --> 00:03:21,470 Speaker 4: Having people that are lifelong learners that want to grow 73 00:03:21,690 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 4: and just understanding how do we meet people in their brokenness. 74 00:03:24,940 --> 00:03:28,540 Speaker 4: And Celebrate Recovery is just one of those incredible tools. 75 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,470 Speaker 4: I mean, you guys know this, the church is and 76 00:03:31,530 --> 00:03:35,910 Speaker 4: should be the greatest resource for the world. And to 77 00:03:35,970 --> 00:03:38,860 Speaker 4: be able to provide a ministry like Celebrate Recovery and 78 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:43,140 Speaker 4: a partner with AACC, it's just exciting to just put 79 00:03:43,260 --> 00:03:46,260 Speaker 4: all this together, to come together, to meet people in 80 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:50,730 Speaker 4: their brokenness, reminding them that they're not alone, that, hey, 81 00:03:51,270 --> 00:03:54,030 Speaker 4: it's okay not to be okay. but let's help you 82 00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:56,650 Speaker 4: get on the right track regardless of what your struggle is, 83 00:03:57,170 --> 00:03:59,970 Speaker 4: regardless of the hurt, the hang up the habit type deal. 84 00:04:00,010 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 4: So I'm excited that we get to have this relationship 85 00:04:04,820 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 4: to help educate so that we can be more informed 86 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 4: to help those people that are coming that God puts 87 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:13,839 Speaker 4: in our lap to say, give me the resources, give 88 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,410 Speaker 4: me the tools, and we get to give them those tools. 89 00:04:16,450 --> 00:04:17,210 Speaker 3: How cool is that? 90 00:04:17,230 --> 00:04:20,469 Speaker 1: It's amazing. Rodney, I like that first side of Isaiah 91 00:04:20,470 --> 00:04:22,670 Speaker 1: 43 where God says, behold, I'm doing a new thing. 92 00:04:23,050 --> 00:04:25,710 Speaker 1: I really believe God is doing something special. I want 93 00:04:25,910 --> 00:04:28,230 Speaker 1: to go back a little bit to the early days 94 00:04:28,310 --> 00:04:29,970 Speaker 1: of CR, Celebrate Recovery. 95 00:04:30,089 --> 00:04:31,089 Speaker 3: Yeah. 96 00:04:31,390 --> 00:04:35,930 Speaker 1: Hurts, habits, hang-ups. Rodney, you know, growing up as a kid, 97 00:04:36,350 --> 00:04:40,229 Speaker 1: if you were messed up or you were struggling with something, 98 00:04:40,930 --> 00:04:42,830 Speaker 1: you and the church didn't really fit together. 99 00:04:42,990 --> 00:04:43,230 Speaker 3: Yeah. 100 00:04:43,589 --> 00:04:47,530 Speaker 1: And the message of CR was counterintuitive. We're going to 101 00:04:47,550 --> 00:04:51,380 Speaker 1: go out and it shouldn't be counterintuitive, but it was. 102 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,460 Speaker 1: In terms of where the church was. 103 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:53,820 Speaker 3: Yeah. 104 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,779 Speaker 1: You know that bringing in people who are struggling with addiction? 105 00:04:56,980 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 4: Yeah. 106 00:04:57,100 --> 00:04:57,700 Speaker 3: Are you kidding me? 107 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:03,890 Speaker 1: They're messed up. Rodney, talk to us about how the 108 00:05:03,930 --> 00:05:05,390 Speaker 1: whole organization was birthed. 109 00:05:05,450 --> 00:05:05,830 Speaker 2: Yeah. 110 00:05:06,230 --> 00:05:10,390 Speaker 1: And why it exploded from your perspective. 111 00:05:10,420 --> 00:05:10,740 Speaker 3: Yeah. 112 00:05:11,130 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 4: Well, it's kind of cool because it didn't start as a, hey, 113 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 4: let's go make this big organization. 114 00:05:16,540 --> 00:05:18,539 Speaker 3: It started out of brokenness. 115 00:05:19,370 --> 00:05:22,730 Speaker 4: And John Baker, just a broken man, struggling in his marriage, 116 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:25,570 Speaker 4: on the brink of probably losing his family because of 117 00:05:25,630 --> 00:05:26,530 Speaker 4: his own addictions. 118 00:05:27,350 --> 00:05:30,830 Speaker 3: He's since passed away. Great. He's one of my spiritual fathers. 119 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: I really like John. 120 00:05:31,750 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, such a great man. But he had this brokenness. 121 00:05:35,820 --> 00:05:38,940 Speaker 4: And the church design, and you're so right, is to 122 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,060 Speaker 4: send you a way to go get help. And then 123 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 4: when you get things together, then we have these great 124 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 4: discipleship tools and all this stuff to help you, not 125 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,710 Speaker 4: realizing that this is a part of discipleship, right? 126 00:05:51,750 --> 00:05:52,910 Speaker 3: We need this. 127 00:05:52,930 --> 00:05:56,109 Speaker 1: It's like, yeah, talk about your conversation, your addiction to 128 00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:59,970 Speaker 1: porn somewhere else, or your addiction to drugs or alcohol 129 00:06:00,010 --> 00:06:02,589 Speaker 1: or whatever. Do that down the street, but don't bring 130 00:06:02,610 --> 00:06:03,270 Speaker 1: it to the church. 131 00:06:03,390 --> 00:06:03,890 Speaker 3: Yeah. 132 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:07,990 Speaker 4: So I love that Pastor John, he was going to 133 00:06:08,070 --> 00:06:10,990 Speaker 4: traditional recovery meetings and he was getting the help, but 134 00:06:11,029 --> 00:06:13,410 Speaker 4: he realized God just, and I think it was God, 135 00:06:13,450 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 4: just placed it on his heart. Why can't we have 136 00:06:16,339 --> 00:06:19,310 Speaker 4: this in the church? So His whole heart was, I'm 137 00:06:19,330 --> 00:06:22,950 Speaker 4: going to write this strategy and say, what if you 138 00:06:22,990 --> 00:06:27,190 Speaker 4: guys did this and provide a safe space for people 139 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,190 Speaker 4: in recovery? And his pastor said, I love this. Why 140 00:06:31,210 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 4: don't you do it, John Baker? And totally caught him 141 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 4: off guard. And his wife, Cheryl Baker, they were kind 142 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:41,700 Speaker 4: of in this posture of, we're in a big church. 143 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,220 Speaker 4: We just kind of want to hide out and do 144 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 4: our thing and let the church go do this. 145 00:06:47,089 --> 00:06:48,490 Speaker 3: But God had other plans. 146 00:06:49,330 --> 00:06:54,020 Speaker 4: And so they started this there in California and started producing, 147 00:06:54,860 --> 00:06:59,060 Speaker 4: literally writing the curriculum as they went. People are asking, hey, 148 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:01,900 Speaker 4: what about step four? Can you do something on spiritual, 149 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 4: moral inventory and all that stuff? So they began writing this, 150 00:07:05,339 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 4: and God just birthed this amazing movement. 151 00:07:09,900 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: It exploded. 152 00:07:10,940 --> 00:07:13,220 Speaker 3: It exploded. Yeah. It's not just a ministry. It's become 153 00:07:13,260 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 3: this movement. 154 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 4: Close to 50 countries, I think close to 20 different languages. 155 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:21,770 Speaker 4: I mean, they started out in their garage just trying 156 00:07:21,790 --> 00:07:23,430 Speaker 4: to help people around them, and. 157 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:24,730 Speaker 3: It just exploded. 158 00:07:25,370 --> 00:07:29,970 Speaker 4: God will grow healthy things, right? He's in control of 159 00:07:30,190 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 4: kind of the breath. Our responsibility is just to go 160 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,220 Speaker 4: to Him, and I think that's what Pastor John and 161 00:07:36,260 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 4: Cheryl Baker did. They just went to the Lord and said, hey, 162 00:07:39,260 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 4: we're going to start this. We don't know what's going 163 00:07:40,740 --> 00:07:44,020 Speaker 4: to happen with it, And it has just exploded. Now 164 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,220 Speaker 4: we're ministering to people in the military. We call it 165 00:07:48,260 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 4: Welcome Home. You guys know this, the PTSD and the 166 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,460 Speaker 4: mental health struggles with our veterans coming home from combat. 167 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 3: They need a safe space. 168 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,790 Speaker 4: Mental health initiative, Pastor John Baker's heart in that was, 169 00:08:03,250 --> 00:08:06,910 Speaker 4: how do we break the stigma of mental health in 170 00:08:06,930 --> 00:08:09,980 Speaker 4: the church? Yeah. Because it's scary. I think a lot 171 00:08:10,020 --> 00:08:11,780 Speaker 4: of it is just we don't know what to do 172 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:18,670 Speaker 4: with those people. It's interesting because recovery, in general, alcoholics 173 00:08:18,710 --> 00:08:19,750 Speaker 4: were those people. 174 00:08:20,330 --> 00:08:21,870 Speaker 3: And then that became normalized. 175 00:08:21,930 --> 00:08:25,429 Speaker 4: And now mental health, in some ways, has become those 176 00:08:25,510 --> 00:08:29,090 Speaker 4: people with the church. And not intentionally, I don't think. 177 00:08:29,730 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 4: It's just we don't know what to do with it. 178 00:08:31,190 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 4: So what we're scared of, we run away from. And 179 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 4: so that's what I love about Celebrate Recovery is it 180 00:08:37,980 --> 00:08:42,550 Speaker 4: gives this tool to equip our pastors and churches to 181 00:08:42,630 --> 00:08:45,449 Speaker 4: be able to have our door wide open to say, hey, 182 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:48,809 Speaker 4: come on in. It's okay that you're not put together. 183 00:08:48,830 --> 00:08:52,970 Speaker 4: Now let's help you get on track through this discipleship 184 00:08:53,030 --> 00:08:56,850 Speaker 4: model that is Celebrate Recovery. So Pastor John Baker, Cheryl Baker, 185 00:08:56,910 --> 00:08:59,699 Speaker 4: they never dreamed it would become this. They kind of 186 00:08:59,740 --> 00:09:02,300 Speaker 4: sit back and go, This is amazing. This is not 187 00:09:02,340 --> 00:09:04,079 Speaker 4: what we had in mind. We're not that smart. 188 00:09:05,420 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 3: But look what God did. I mean, it's that but 189 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 3: God moment. 190 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:10,550 Speaker 1: I had the privilege of attending a recent event of 191 00:09:10,590 --> 00:09:16,270 Speaker 1: yours in Tennessee. And it was electric. I heard all 192 00:09:16,330 --> 00:09:17,070 Speaker 1: about it, Rod. 193 00:09:17,290 --> 00:09:17,630 Speaker 2: I did. 194 00:09:17,690 --> 00:09:18,350 Speaker 3: No, amazing. 195 00:09:18,730 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: I came. I was in the green room. And I thought, no, 196 00:09:21,340 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: you know what? I want to go out and sit 197 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: in the audience. I want to feel this community. I 198 00:09:26,580 --> 00:09:29,130 Speaker 1: want to see what really is taking place. And the 199 00:09:29,170 --> 00:09:31,730 Speaker 1: church was packed. There were a couple thousand people in there. 200 00:09:33,270 --> 00:09:36,010 Speaker 1: They were worshiping the Lord. But there's something about people 201 00:09:36,510 --> 00:09:37,910 Speaker 1: who have been set free. 202 00:09:38,050 --> 00:09:38,459 Speaker 4: Yeah. 203 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: And in that room, it wasn't that their journeys were over. 204 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:42,220 Speaker 3: You know that? 205 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: Probably still battling. But this freedom in Christ, when they 206 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,059 Speaker 1: have tasted it, and you go back and look at 207 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,350 Speaker 1: all the research in mental health, it all goes back 208 00:09:51,380 --> 00:09:52,870 Speaker 1: to AA and everything. You know that. 209 00:09:52,990 --> 00:09:53,250 Speaker 3: Yeah. 210 00:09:53,330 --> 00:09:55,950 Speaker 1: And the whole faith piece is powerful. As a matter 211 00:09:55,970 --> 00:09:58,190 Speaker 1: of fact, a lot of what we stand on, is 212 00:09:58,210 --> 00:10:00,550 Speaker 1: a lot of that early research that was there that says, hey, 213 00:10:00,650 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: faith matters. And I'm telling you, there's a dynamic that's 214 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:11,689 Speaker 1: different than, quote, just everyday run-of-the-mill people who are trying to... 215 00:10:13,020 --> 00:10:15,780 Speaker 1: I'm not sure I'm communicating it exactly the way, but 216 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 1: there was a spiritual vibrancy That was different. 217 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:19,260 Speaker 3: I love that. 218 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:20,820 Speaker 4: You know, I love that you're picking up on that 219 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,620 Speaker 4: because I think it's, you know, the Celebrate Recovery principles 220 00:10:23,710 --> 00:10:27,390 Speaker 4: are birthed out of the Beatitudes. And Jesus, the very 221 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:30,390 Speaker 4: first thing he says is, you're blessed when you realize 222 00:10:30,410 --> 00:10:34,230 Speaker 4: you're spiritually poor. And that picture of, I just have 223 00:10:34,250 --> 00:10:36,490 Speaker 4: this picture of a poor man on the corner that's 224 00:10:36,530 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 4: not eating for days and he's holding out an empty cup. 225 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 4: The desperation is, if you don't put something in my cup, Lord, 226 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,329 Speaker 4: I'm going to die. And that's the posture, and I 227 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:52,910 Speaker 4: think that's what you're expressing, Dr. Clinton, is this desperation. 228 00:10:52,950 --> 00:10:56,350 Speaker 4: When you have somebody that realizes the only one that 229 00:10:56,370 --> 00:11:01,290 Speaker 4: can fill my cup is Jesus, it changes you. It 230 00:11:02,090 --> 00:11:05,829 Speaker 4: doesn't mean that your circumstances change, but your posture toward 231 00:11:05,850 --> 00:11:10,290 Speaker 4: your circumstances as you work through and trust the process, 232 00:11:10,390 --> 00:11:14,099 Speaker 4: trust Him through the process, is a beautiful thing of, Lord, 233 00:11:15,130 --> 00:11:18,189 Speaker 4: today again, I'm coming to you, fill my cup, because 234 00:11:18,250 --> 00:11:20,290 Speaker 4: if you don't, I'm going to die. 235 00:11:20,630 --> 00:11:22,170 Speaker 3: And that's a game changer, as. 236 00:11:22,750 --> 00:11:26,819 Speaker 4: Opposed to, I've got to figure out ways and strategies 237 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 4: on my own power to fill my cup, which we 238 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 4: know doesn't work. Then it's giving me a pat on 239 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,700 Speaker 4: the back. And then when things don't go right, who's 240 00:11:35,740 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 4: the one that's getting the torture? 241 00:11:38,370 --> 00:11:39,210 Speaker 3: It's me, right? 242 00:11:39,770 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 4: God, you're in control of all things. And I'm going 243 00:11:42,740 --> 00:11:45,179 Speaker 4: to trust you again today, which is a beautiful posture. 244 00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:46,140 Speaker 4: It's a beautiful posture. 245 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,350 Speaker 2: I think of Galatians 5.1, it is for freedom that 246 00:11:49,390 --> 00:11:51,170 Speaker 2: we have been set free, right? And a lot of 247 00:11:51,210 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: people view that through the lens of addiction, not being 248 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: bound again by a yoke of slavery. Really, it's the 249 00:11:55,940 --> 00:12:01,420 Speaker 2: idea of being freed from this legalistic, religious mindset and posture. 250 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,660 Speaker 2: And it's more in relationship with God. And when we 251 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,460 Speaker 2: find freedom in Christ, that it's not about what we 252 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:08,530 Speaker 2: do or don't do. It's about what has been done 253 00:12:08,610 --> 00:12:11,910 Speaker 2: for us. There is a freedom in that relationship because 254 00:12:11,970 --> 00:12:13,670 Speaker 2: then it's like, okay, I don't have to fight and 255 00:12:13,710 --> 00:12:16,150 Speaker 2: scratch and claw for victory. I get to live from 256 00:12:16,210 --> 00:12:18,730 Speaker 2: a place of victory because of what has been done 257 00:12:18,770 --> 00:12:22,140 Speaker 2: for me. And that's why I love Celebrate Recovery. Because 258 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,970 Speaker 2: like you said, it's not just a ministry thing. And really, 259 00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:29,309 Speaker 2: it's not just a movement. It is equipping people everywhere 260 00:12:29,410 --> 00:12:32,589 Speaker 2: with the mental health tools. And that's why the partnership 261 00:12:32,630 --> 00:12:34,469 Speaker 2: that we've been able to launch alongside of you guys 262 00:12:34,530 --> 00:12:37,570 Speaker 2: at Addiction Mental Health Recovery Coaching Program, we're so excited 263 00:12:37,610 --> 00:12:40,650 Speaker 2: because 42 hours of curriculum material to equip the church 264 00:12:40,710 --> 00:12:43,329 Speaker 2: at large, the best of CR, the best of AACC 265 00:12:43,730 --> 00:12:44,390 Speaker 2: coming together. 266 00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:45,449 Speaker 1: I mean, it's an honor. 267 00:12:45,750 --> 00:12:47,729 Speaker 2: It's a privilege for us to sit in a room 268 00:12:47,750 --> 00:12:50,630 Speaker 2: with you and to share these types of moments together. 269 00:12:50,910 --> 00:12:53,429 Speaker 2: But it just makes me think about this isn't just 270 00:12:53,470 --> 00:12:56,709 Speaker 2: coming from a guy. who has lived a polished, pristine life. 271 00:12:57,170 --> 00:13:00,050 Speaker 2: Like I've read your story. I've listened to your testimony. 272 00:13:00,130 --> 00:13:01,890 Speaker 3: I'm a pretty messed up guy. 273 00:13:01,910 --> 00:13:05,450 Speaker 2: But going back some difficult years, your teenage years out 274 00:13:05,490 --> 00:13:08,309 Speaker 2: there in Arizona, a lot going on, probably a lot 275 00:13:08,330 --> 00:13:10,740 Speaker 2: of loneliness, spending a lot of time by yourself. I'm 276 00:13:10,770 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 2: just thinking to myself, if I was listening, I would 277 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,059 Speaker 2: want to hear what maybe were some of the hardships 278 00:13:16,140 --> 00:13:18,500 Speaker 2: and what were some of the habits and the hooks 279 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,449 Speaker 2: and the hangups that Ronnie Holmstrom had to work from 280 00:13:21,470 --> 00:13:21,969 Speaker 2: his own life. 281 00:13:21,990 --> 00:13:25,210 Speaker 4: I love sharing that because I'm one of those satisfied customers, 282 00:13:25,270 --> 00:13:28,650 Speaker 4: I like to say. I did come from a really 283 00:13:28,750 --> 00:13:36,900 Speaker 4: broken home. I had the multiple stepfathers. My mom, at 284 00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:41,380 Speaker 4: that time, it was diagnosed as manic-depressant. They've since changed 285 00:13:41,420 --> 00:13:44,510 Speaker 4: it to bipolar 1 and 2. So she had this 286 00:13:44,630 --> 00:13:47,770 Speaker 4: roller coaster. And so I learned at a young age, 287 00:13:47,809 --> 00:13:51,790 Speaker 4: one of five boys, My oldest brother got adopted out. 288 00:13:51,809 --> 00:13:54,430 Speaker 4: That's a whole other story. My mom was too young 289 00:13:54,470 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 4: to keep him. So I, in essence, became the oldest 290 00:13:58,150 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 4: of four boys in the home. Total chaos. Lots of brokenness. 291 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,100 Speaker 4: And so with that, it was a rough thing. So 292 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 4: I was forced to grow up really fast. And with that, 293 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 4: trying to manage and keep peace, I was a peacekeeper, 294 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 4: not a peacemaker. I was trying to keep everything together. 295 00:14:19,140 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 4: And with that, there was a high cost on that. 296 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 4: And so as a young teenager trying to carry the 297 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 4: weight of the world of keeping my mom happy, my 298 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,190 Speaker 4: brothers together, keeping my stepdad at the time from blowing up, 299 00:14:30,230 --> 00:14:37,550 Speaker 4: the common threat of addictions from my stepfathers, alcohol, drugs, anger, rage, abuse, physical, verbal, emotional, 300 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:40,430 Speaker 4: sexual abuse. So all of that is in my home. 301 00:14:40,990 --> 00:14:44,450 Speaker 4: So imagine a teenager trying to keep all that together 302 00:14:44,470 --> 00:14:46,290 Speaker 4: and can't do it. 303 00:14:46,290 --> 00:14:46,590 Speaker 3: Yeah. 304 00:14:46,890 --> 00:14:50,890 Speaker 4: So I started reaching for things. Multiple times seeing my 305 00:14:50,950 --> 00:14:55,170 Speaker 4: mother attempt suicide. And so this little boy who thinks 306 00:14:55,210 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 4: he's a man inside is trying to deal with this, 307 00:14:58,820 --> 00:15:01,580 Speaker 4: all the while dealing with my own abuse from a 308 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 4: couple of my stepfathers toward me. And so what I 309 00:15:05,220 --> 00:15:08,300 Speaker 4: like to tell people is I was, one of my 310 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,180 Speaker 4: big pain points was at the kitchen table where I 311 00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:15,790 Speaker 4: was abused nightly. And that little boy hid underneath that 312 00:15:15,890 --> 00:15:20,500 Speaker 4: table and I grew into a man, a young man, 313 00:15:20,620 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 4: but I was still a little boy emotionally. And I 314 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,900 Speaker 4: went to drugs and alcohol. I started using it at 10, 315 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:32,150 Speaker 4: 11 years old. I was trying to escape from what 316 00:15:32,190 --> 00:15:36,010 Speaker 4: was broken inside of me, not knowing that I needed 317 00:15:36,050 --> 00:15:39,450 Speaker 4: the Lord in my heart. I'm just trying to survive. 318 00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:41,350 Speaker 4: And we talk about that a lot. A lot of 319 00:15:41,370 --> 00:15:46,140 Speaker 4: these strategies with addictions are... Just my brain's way of 320 00:15:46,260 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 4: creating ways to stay alive. 321 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,250 Speaker 3: They're killing me, but it makes sense. 322 00:15:51,270 --> 00:15:53,030 Speaker 1: But it seems like it's the only thing that brings 323 00:15:53,090 --> 00:15:57,070 Speaker 1: any calm into your life. And what people don't understand 324 00:15:57,130 --> 00:15:59,030 Speaker 1: is the power of it, too. If we're made for 325 00:15:59,050 --> 00:16:03,210 Speaker 1: a relationship and our relationships are broken, this becomes a surrogate, 326 00:16:03,310 --> 00:16:06,660 Speaker 1: if you will, that we think really matters. And the 327 00:16:06,740 --> 00:16:09,420 Speaker 1: old country music song, The More I Drink, what? 328 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 3: The More I Drink. The More I Drink. Yeah. 329 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,220 Speaker 1: You know why? Because, again, it seems like the only 330 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:17,230 Speaker 1: thing that gives me some sense of relief. 331 00:16:17,250 --> 00:16:18,270 Speaker 3: Yeah. It numbs me. 332 00:16:18,270 --> 00:16:20,350 Speaker 1: From this insanity that I'm living in. 333 00:16:20,350 --> 00:16:23,930 Speaker 4: Yeah. So I pretty much, anything I could put in 334 00:16:23,950 --> 00:16:26,430 Speaker 4: my body, I was putting in my body to escape. 335 00:16:27,250 --> 00:16:30,550 Speaker 4: And ended up homeless on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona, 336 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:32,330 Speaker 4: hanging out with some bad people. 337 00:16:32,690 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 3: Too much to go into there. Yeah. 338 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 4: By the grace of God, I didn't end up in 339 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,100 Speaker 4: prison or dead. And that feels like kind of hyperbole, 340 00:16:40,140 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 4: but it's really the reality that that's part of when 341 00:16:42,860 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 4: I wake up today. Now it's like, God, thank you 342 00:16:45,580 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 4: for giving me another day. You woke me up today. 343 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 4: And so now it's, it's, I tell people all the 344 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,650 Speaker 4: time with a newcomer that comes in, it is, it 345 00:16:56,330 --> 00:16:58,479 Speaker 4: is good to be able to help other people, but there. 346 00:16:58,370 --> 00:17:00,270 Speaker 3: Is an element of selfishness too. 347 00:17:00,850 --> 00:17:03,460 Speaker 4: If I don't, If I don't reach for that guy 348 00:17:03,510 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 4: behind me at the door, I'm one choice away from 349 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 4: being back in that hellacious place that I lived before. 350 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 4: So I'm trying to stay and work my own recovery 351 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:15,820 Speaker 4: and living out the mission and call that God's given 352 00:17:15,859 --> 00:17:18,140 Speaker 4: me so that I don't go back and I can 353 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 4: help other people. And part of my mission now is 354 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 4: just trying to help my brothers get on that same road. 355 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 4: They're still kind of in the ditches, seeing some steps 356 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,590 Speaker 4: toward healing and growth. towards Jesus, but some brokenness there. 357 00:17:32,609 --> 00:17:37,410 Speaker 4: So that's, I'm the satisfied customer, right? I want, I've 358 00:17:37,470 --> 00:17:40,810 Speaker 4: experienced it. Now I want to help other people so 359 00:17:40,830 --> 00:17:43,629 Speaker 4: that they can taste and see, as the scripture says, 360 00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 4: what is good as I have. I want them to 361 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 4: experience that. And that's why I get excited about this 362 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 4: because the mental health capacity or situation, the struggles are 363 00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:58,100 Speaker 4: a big part of why people will go to these 364 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,350 Speaker 4: numbing agents. And it just It just compounds the problem. 365 00:18:02,369 --> 00:18:04,390 Speaker 4: As you guys, I'm kind of preaching to the choir here. 366 00:18:04,410 --> 00:18:08,270 Speaker 1: People don't understand how hard it is to break free. 367 00:18:08,609 --> 00:18:08,950 Speaker 3: It is. 368 00:18:09,490 --> 00:18:15,050 Speaker 1: It's because this has become, in essence, the replacement of 369 00:18:15,170 --> 00:18:20,130 Speaker 1: my desperate longing and need for God and for just 370 00:18:20,230 --> 00:18:24,870 Speaker 1: loving relationships to love and be loved. And so I reach, 371 00:18:24,970 --> 00:18:28,780 Speaker 1: as you said earlier, for anything to calm or soothe 372 00:18:28,820 --> 00:18:32,980 Speaker 1: the chaos that's inside. And if it gives me even 373 00:18:33,220 --> 00:18:36,940 Speaker 1: the smallest sense of relief, I run to it. 374 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 3: I race to it. 375 00:18:39,210 --> 00:18:42,909 Speaker 1: And that's where people, when they come back and they say, 376 00:18:42,950 --> 00:18:45,890 Speaker 1: what's the matter with you? Just stop. And it's like, 377 00:18:46,410 --> 00:18:49,899 Speaker 1: you have no idea the insanity of my life. 378 00:18:50,260 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 3: If we could have stopped, we would have already done it. 379 00:18:53,810 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: Hey, my friend, before we jump back into today's conversation, 380 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,619 Speaker 2: I just want to remind you that Built Different is 381 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:02,380 Speaker 2: proudly sponsored by Liberty University. This partnership means a lot 382 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,460 Speaker 2: to me personally. You know, I was born and raised 383 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:07,380 Speaker 2: in Lynchburg, Virginia, and I've watched Liberty grow tremendously over 384 00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:10,940 Speaker 2: the years, but I've also experienced firsthand the impact this 385 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 2: university can have on a life. I graduated from Liberty. 386 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,540 Speaker 2: I played four years of Division I baseball here. I 387 00:19:16,580 --> 00:19:19,540 Speaker 2: met some of my closest friends and most influential mentors here. 388 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:20,870 Speaker 1: I met my wife, Evelyn, here. 389 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,370 Speaker 2: And most importantly, I met my wife, Liberty became part 390 00:19:23,390 --> 00:19:26,210 Speaker 2: of the story God used to deepen my relationship with 391 00:19:26,270 --> 00:19:29,780 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. Today, I have the privilege of continuing that 392 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,700 Speaker 2: story by serving Liberty Athletics and investing in the lives 393 00:19:32,740 --> 00:19:36,100 Speaker 2: and mental health of our student-athletes. That's why I believe 394 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 2: so deeply in Liberty's mission to train champions for Christ. 395 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:44,870 Speaker 2: With more than 16,000 residential students and 600 online programs, 396 00:19:45,450 --> 00:19:48,650 Speaker 2: Liberty gives you the opportunity to pursue your education alongside 397 00:19:48,710 --> 00:19:51,060 Speaker 2: faculty who want to help equip you for your calling 398 00:19:51,540 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 2: on campus, online, and around the world. To learn more 399 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,510 Speaker 2: and to take that next step, all you have to 400 00:19:57,550 --> 00:20:01,889 Speaker 2: do is go to liberty.edu forward slash built different today. 401 00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:08,450 Speaker 2: I want you to really dive in, Ronnie, to a 402 00:20:08,510 --> 00:20:11,710 Speaker 2: lot of people don't understand the epidemiology of addiction. Like 403 00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:14,190 Speaker 2: they just don't get it. They think it's just, you know, 404 00:20:14,270 --> 00:20:16,750 Speaker 2: the choices that we make, but really as we make 405 00:20:16,790 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 2: those choices, like you said, the more I drink, the 406 00:20:18,380 --> 00:20:22,139 Speaker 2: more I drink, that's neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is both for the 407 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,619 Speaker 2: good and for the bad. It literally choices begin to 408 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,609 Speaker 2: rewire brain chemistry to where now it's all of a 409 00:20:28,619 --> 00:20:31,330 Speaker 2: sudden it's beyond just a, Hey, you're an addict type 410 00:20:31,369 --> 00:20:34,750 Speaker 2: of thing. It's like, I feel like I cannot stop. 411 00:20:34,790 --> 00:20:37,740 Speaker 2: I've heard it said this way. motivation is I want 412 00:20:37,780 --> 00:20:40,740 Speaker 2: to do something. Discipline is I will do something. Obsession 413 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 2: is I can't not do something. And a lot of people, 414 00:20:43,740 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 2: when they become obsessed or addicted, it's like they can't 415 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,740 Speaker 2: not do it because it's what they naturally revert to 416 00:20:49,790 --> 00:20:50,570 Speaker 2: in times of need. 417 00:20:50,930 --> 00:20:51,970 Speaker 1: Speak to that if you would. 418 00:20:52,390 --> 00:20:52,710 Speaker 3: Yeah. 419 00:20:52,790 --> 00:20:55,510 Speaker 4: And I think the addiction, and it goes back to 420 00:20:55,550 --> 00:20:58,130 Speaker 4: kind of those things inside of us that we don't 421 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 4: know how to organize. And so, Addiction is I'm going 422 00:21:01,650 --> 00:21:04,980 Speaker 4: back to the same strategies to deal with the things 423 00:21:05,020 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 4: that I'm running from. Yes. So sometimes there is a 424 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:12,139 Speaker 4: physiological response too. I mean, sometimes it can be dangerous 425 00:21:12,180 --> 00:21:15,340 Speaker 4: just to cut cold turkey, right? Because my body's become 426 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:16,909 Speaker 4: so accustomed to it. 427 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,830 Speaker 1: There's a level of toxicity that's in here that we 428 00:21:20,900 --> 00:21:24,250 Speaker 1: often have not looked at or thought about or maybe 429 00:21:24,330 --> 00:21:26,390 Speaker 1: gave full understanding to. 430 00:21:26,730 --> 00:21:26,870 Speaker 3: Yep. 431 00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:30,379 Speaker 1: And we've been chaotic in then how we treat addicts. 432 00:21:30,540 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 433 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: Not trying to give an excuse. Not trying to give, 434 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: you know, runway for people just to do or continue 435 00:21:37,340 --> 00:21:40,660 Speaker 1: in patterns. We want to break those patterns, but we're 436 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:44,210 Speaker 1: talking about some serious rutting that's taking place. 437 00:21:45,050 --> 00:21:46,450 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it takes time, right? 438 00:21:46,490 --> 00:21:50,750 Speaker 4: I mean, this length of time I'm using, you're not 439 00:21:50,790 --> 00:21:52,410 Speaker 4: going to be able to flip the switch and just 440 00:21:52,510 --> 00:21:55,390 Speaker 4: stop it. You know, that's why I think that's why 441 00:21:55,430 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 4: they educating the church is so important because as you 442 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,860 Speaker 4: come in, you think, okay, the old is gone. 443 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 3: The new has come. 444 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,540 Speaker 4: We know that spiritually that is true, but what did 445 00:22:06,619 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 4: I do? What were the habits in the old that 446 00:22:09,660 --> 00:22:12,650 Speaker 4: are still stuck to me that I'm trying to rewire 447 00:22:12,690 --> 00:22:13,550 Speaker 4: the rewire in the. 448 00:22:13,510 --> 00:22:14,310 Speaker 3: Brain that you're talking about? 449 00:22:14,330 --> 00:22:17,150 Speaker 4: That's a beautiful thing is God knows how he knows 450 00:22:17,230 --> 00:22:18,270 Speaker 4: he created this. 451 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:20,470 Speaker 3: He knows how to rewire it and he has the 452 00:22:20,510 --> 00:22:23,169 Speaker 3: power to do that, but it is a process. So 453 00:22:23,210 --> 00:22:25,790 Speaker 3: it's the decision. I trust you, God. 454 00:22:26,460 --> 00:22:29,260 Speaker 4: And then trust the process, can we as a church 455 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:30,580 Speaker 4: be patient with that? 456 00:22:30,619 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: For example, detoxing. 457 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,060 Speaker 3: Yes. Step number one. 458 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:34,900 Speaker 1: That's a journey. 459 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:36,850 Speaker 3: Yep. It takes time. 460 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,230 Speaker 4: Your body's literally saying, if you don't take this, you're 461 00:22:40,270 --> 00:22:43,590 Speaker 4: going to die. That's what it feels like. That's why 462 00:22:43,750 --> 00:22:47,970 Speaker 4: opioids are such a big thing. It literally feels coming 463 00:22:48,109 --> 00:22:50,450 Speaker 4: off of it. Your body's saying, if you don't keep 464 00:22:50,510 --> 00:22:53,929 Speaker 4: this in your body, you're going to die, Rodney. And 465 00:22:53,950 --> 00:22:55,690 Speaker 4: so why wouldn't you keep putting it in your body? 466 00:22:55,710 --> 00:22:57,250 Speaker 4: And then you have someone, what are you doing that? 467 00:22:57,290 --> 00:22:57,830 Speaker 3: Just stop it. 468 00:22:57,830 --> 00:23:01,190 Speaker 4: And it's like, well, but my body is saying this. 469 00:23:01,470 --> 00:23:03,700 Speaker 4: So how do we bring it all together to say, hey, 470 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 4: it makes sense. It makes sense why you go to that. 471 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,020 Speaker 4: And it's going to take time to move you in 472 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:10,899 Speaker 4: this different direction. 473 00:23:10,940 --> 00:23:14,020 Speaker 1: I know for years in AACC, when it comes to 474 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: mental health, we have, boy, we've come a long way, baby. 475 00:23:18,980 --> 00:23:22,170 Speaker 1: In other words, the earlier lectures that we used to do, 476 00:23:23,250 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: They were great, but we were just scratching the surface 477 00:23:26,820 --> 00:23:31,020 Speaker 1: of something that was monstrous, like this massive iceberg down 478 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: under the water, you know that? And through the years, 479 00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:40,590 Speaker 1: we really have evolved in our awareness, our understanding, our strategies, 480 00:23:40,630 --> 00:23:44,430 Speaker 1: and so much more. We've gotten issue-specific. We've learned that 481 00:23:44,770 --> 00:23:48,229 Speaker 1: there are different ways to treat different disorders, et cetera, 482 00:23:48,250 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: you know that? And at the same time, we've even 483 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: been pushed— to think even more theologically, critically in this 484 00:23:56,220 --> 00:24:01,540 Speaker 1: whole process. And we never dismiss No, we're pressing more 485 00:24:01,619 --> 00:24:05,220 Speaker 1: now into faith than we ever have. You would think, man, 486 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,540 Speaker 1: are you serious? Yes, I'm serious. You know why? Because 487 00:24:08,619 --> 00:24:13,340 Speaker 1: even the research around faith is exploding. CR, you guys 488 00:24:13,619 --> 00:24:16,060 Speaker 1: are— and I'll use the word evolving, too. A lot of 489 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:19,980 Speaker 1: your understanding, what you were talking about now, is very 490 00:24:20,030 --> 00:24:21,570 Speaker 1: different than we would have talked 20 years ago. 491 00:24:21,590 --> 00:24:22,330 Speaker 3: Oh, for sure. 492 00:24:22,790 --> 00:24:24,850 Speaker 1: Oh, wait a minute, Ron. They had to run us 493 00:24:24,910 --> 00:24:25,630 Speaker 1: out the church. 494 00:24:25,710 --> 00:24:27,270 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. I'm serious. 495 00:24:27,310 --> 00:24:30,370 Speaker 4: You're not allowed to kind of collide these two worlds. 496 00:24:30,770 --> 00:24:32,570 Speaker 4: This is what we do here, and this is what 497 00:24:32,590 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 4: you do out there, which is sad and unfair because 498 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:41,100 Speaker 4: God is the one that created these brains and these hearts, 499 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,850 Speaker 4: and he knows the broken world that so desperately needed 500 00:24:44,930 --> 00:24:47,950 Speaker 4: a Savior in Jesus Christ. So why wouldn't we bring 501 00:24:47,990 --> 00:24:52,250 Speaker 4: these two together and You talk about evolving. There used 502 00:24:52,270 --> 00:24:53,929 Speaker 4: to be something we would say in one of our 503 00:24:53,970 --> 00:24:57,869 Speaker 4: lessons that loneliness is a choice. And with the mental 504 00:24:57,950 --> 00:25:01,850 Speaker 4: health just focus trying to break the stigma, we realize 505 00:25:02,710 --> 00:25:07,730 Speaker 4: loneliness is what I feel. It is an experience maybe 506 00:25:07,790 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 4: as a result of choices. But I'm feeling lonely. And 507 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 4: what is going on around side me or inside of 508 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,859 Speaker 4: me that might be contributing to that? How can I 509 00:25:18,900 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 4: bring the body of Christ? How can I bring Jesus 510 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:23,610 Speaker 4: into that? What are the tools that I can use 511 00:25:23,670 --> 00:25:28,050 Speaker 4: to help combat the loneliness inside of me? Because Jesus 512 00:25:28,070 --> 00:25:30,590 Speaker 4: doesn't want us to feel alone. Come to me, all 513 00:25:30,630 --> 00:25:33,149 Speaker 4: of you and your brokenness, your weariness. I will give 514 00:25:33,190 --> 00:25:36,770 Speaker 4: you rest. Whatever's going on, bring it to me. But loneliness, 515 00:25:36,790 --> 00:25:40,420 Speaker 4: so that's one of those examples of Loneliness is a choice, right? 516 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: It's like, oh, no, maybe that's not a choice. We 517 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 3: need to reframe that. 518 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:48,180 Speaker 4: So we changed our curriculum from 35 years ago. 519 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:49,510 Speaker 3: That's like, oh, that made sense. 520 00:25:49,590 --> 00:25:52,629 Speaker 4: But as we've evolved, to your point, we've realized, oh, 521 00:25:52,670 --> 00:25:55,410 Speaker 4: we need to speak a little bit differently in how 522 00:25:55,470 --> 00:25:57,390 Speaker 4: we communicate that principle. 523 00:25:57,570 --> 00:25:59,709 Speaker 2: Yes, you know, what I'm hearing you say throughout this 524 00:25:59,750 --> 00:26:02,970 Speaker 2: entire conversation, a lot of addiction are secondary issues. There's 525 00:26:03,010 --> 00:26:06,300 Speaker 2: always an underlying issue. There's always something that really feeds 526 00:26:06,380 --> 00:26:10,389 Speaker 2: that need or that desire to numb, to anesthetize, to 527 00:26:10,430 --> 00:26:12,410 Speaker 2: be able to drown out the pain as we seek 528 00:26:12,450 --> 00:26:13,929 Speaker 2: for relief. But at the same time, what I heard 529 00:26:13,950 --> 00:26:17,030 Speaker 2: you say is that recovery, not just a choice, it's 530 00:26:17,050 --> 00:26:17,550 Speaker 2: a journey. 531 00:26:18,070 --> 00:26:18,930 Speaker 3: It's a process. 532 00:26:18,990 --> 00:26:19,990 Speaker 1: It's a daily decision. 533 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 2: I think of dying to self every single day, sometimes 534 00:26:22,580 --> 00:26:25,479 Speaker 2: multiple times a day, or else we will potentially allow 535 00:26:25,540 --> 00:26:28,420 Speaker 2: those footholds to become strongholds again. So we have to 536 00:26:28,980 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 2: lean into community. We have to ask for help. We 537 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 2: have to seek, we have to knock in order to 538 00:26:34,940 --> 00:26:38,660 Speaker 2: receive the help that we so desire. And honestly, we deserve. 539 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:40,700 Speaker 2: And so I just want to share for a moment 540 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,460 Speaker 2: to the person out there, this journey of recovery. Like, 541 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 2: what are some practical steps that people can begin taking? 542 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,100 Speaker 2: I know when it comes to the steps of CR 543 00:26:50,140 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: and all of these things, what are the first places 544 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,060 Speaker 2: that they need to turn to be able to receive 545 00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 2: that help that they desire? 546 00:26:56,220 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's so good. 547 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,420 Speaker 4: The thing that kind of comes to my mind right 548 00:27:00,460 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 4: off the bat is just honesty. When we can acknowledge 549 00:27:05,900 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 4: what is, that's a game changer, right? We say this 550 00:27:10,060 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 4: when we're talking about the amends and forgiveness process, which 551 00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 4: is deep into the process, but it is a part 552 00:27:15,780 --> 00:27:23,190 Speaker 4: of it. Excuses protect my image. Honesty and responsibility protects 553 00:27:23,250 --> 00:27:27,670 Speaker 4: my recovery. So to be honest and take responsibility, like 554 00:27:27,750 --> 00:27:29,850 Speaker 4: even in my case, and my brothers kind of get 555 00:27:29,890 --> 00:27:33,110 Speaker 4: stuck in this still. Yeah, but we had a hard childhood. 556 00:27:33,980 --> 00:27:37,090 Speaker 4: So we excuse a way where we are because of 557 00:27:37,190 --> 00:27:40,690 Speaker 4: our circumstances. It's not my fault or my brother's fault 558 00:27:40,730 --> 00:27:43,010 Speaker 4: for the abuse that happened in our life. It's not 559 00:27:43,070 --> 00:27:46,270 Speaker 4: my fault that my mother was a manic depressant. But 560 00:27:46,310 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 4: I do have to take responsibility for what I do 561 00:27:48,910 --> 00:27:52,220 Speaker 4: with that. And so for me, that would be the 562 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 4: first thing is just acknowledge what is. 563 00:27:56,859 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 3: That I have an empty cup. Maybe I have a 564 00:27:59,820 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 3: polluted cup, right? And God. 565 00:28:03,050 --> 00:28:05,690 Speaker 4: I don't have to clean this up before I bring 566 00:28:05,730 --> 00:28:08,470 Speaker 4: it to you. I just want to acknowledge where I am. 567 00:28:08,490 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 4: This is the state of the condition of my heart, 568 00:28:12,859 --> 00:28:15,580 Speaker 4: my life, and I just need to be honest with that. 569 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:20,580 Speaker 4: That's the beauty of surrender is, Lord, my way, that 570 00:28:20,660 --> 00:28:25,100 Speaker 4: repentance is my way of mending the situation. 571 00:28:24,460 --> 00:28:27,100 Speaker 3: Is not working, and I give it to you, Lord. 572 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 3: That's the spiritual support. 573 00:28:29,020 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: Why is my soul cast down? 574 00:28:30,619 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 3: Yeah. 575 00:28:31,710 --> 00:28:34,619 Speaker 1: Why am I depressed, distressed? Hope thou in God. 576 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,660 Speaker 3: That's what the psalmist said. Go there. Yep. 577 00:28:37,820 --> 00:28:39,900 Speaker 1: Ronnie, I want to stay right there just for one second. 578 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 3: You bet. 579 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,620 Speaker 1: Because as I began to understand addiction, I think I 580 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: struggled early on. I was more hardcore about just change. 581 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:48,060 Speaker 1: Just change. 582 00:28:48,100 --> 00:28:48,660 Speaker 3: Just change. 583 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,530 Speaker 1: And it was the predetermined pattern, like you're going to 584 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:57,930 Speaker 1: be forever like this, versus predisposed to something where, okay, 585 00:28:57,950 --> 00:29:01,310 Speaker 1: there's patterns. and issues that really do make this journey 586 00:29:01,450 --> 00:29:04,750 Speaker 1: difficult to get out. But there's always hope. You know 587 00:29:04,770 --> 00:29:08,230 Speaker 1: what I'm saying? And so just understanding that, hey, you're right. 588 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:13,140 Speaker 1: I'm not to blame, but responsibility for the road forward 589 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,820 Speaker 1: is still right here. If hope isn't looking you in 590 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: the mirror, you're in trouble. 591 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:18,860 Speaker 2: Right? 592 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 3: Exactly. 593 00:29:19,780 --> 00:29:23,020 Speaker 4: And this is kind of a vivid picture, but in 594 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:27,070 Speaker 4: my brain, my mind goes to this. If a sniper 595 00:29:27,190 --> 00:29:31,650 Speaker 4: were to shoot me, from the rooftop and my leg 596 00:29:31,710 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 4: is literally bleeding out and rotting, from infection. If I 597 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:42,690 Speaker 4: focus on the shooter, I'm missing. You're going to die. 598 00:29:42,810 --> 00:29:45,390 Speaker 4: I'm going to die. My leg is going to literally kill. 599 00:29:45,490 --> 00:29:47,530 Speaker 4: It's going to infect the rest of my body. So 600 00:29:47,650 --> 00:29:51,150 Speaker 4: I can't deal with the broken world around me. I 601 00:29:51,190 --> 00:29:54,210 Speaker 4: can't control that. That was, for me, my stepdad. Well, 602 00:29:54,230 --> 00:29:56,250 Speaker 4: if you could just get them to change, maybe I 603 00:29:56,490 --> 00:30:00,190 Speaker 4: will do something. All my attention was on the snipers 604 00:30:00,250 --> 00:30:03,390 Speaker 4: in my life. I had to focus on the wound 605 00:30:03,470 --> 00:30:06,990 Speaker 4: going on inside of me. And trauma, wounds, from a 606 00:30:07,030 --> 00:30:12,020 Speaker 4: biblical sense, that has an effect on how we view today. 607 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 4: If I look through the lens of yesterday and unaddressed wounds, 608 00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:21,010 Speaker 4: which is feeding my addiction, usually there's a wound there 609 00:30:21,070 --> 00:30:27,150 Speaker 4: that's feeding into that, then it will distort my presence. 610 00:30:27,990 --> 00:30:31,670 Speaker 4: And it will completely shape my future. So what we're 611 00:30:31,730 --> 00:30:35,590 Speaker 4: trying to do in Celebrate Recovery is address the brokenness, 612 00:30:35,630 --> 00:30:38,390 Speaker 4: the wounds of the past. How did I learn to 613 00:30:38,450 --> 00:30:40,450 Speaker 4: relate to people? It took me a long time to 614 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:45,340 Speaker 4: trust men because men were my abusers. And to say, oh, 615 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 4: just go into this group and talk about your trauma 616 00:30:48,420 --> 00:30:51,420 Speaker 4: and your wounds and your addiction. It's like, that's the 617 00:30:51,460 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 4: last thing I want to do. But I had to 618 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,650 Speaker 4: take a risk. And so to your point, what do 619 00:30:57,710 --> 00:31:02,090 Speaker 4: I do? Would you even consider the possibility that it's 620 00:31:02,170 --> 00:31:05,190 Speaker 4: worth taking this risk? What do you have to lose, Rodney, 621 00:31:05,450 --> 00:31:08,510 Speaker 4: as I'm talking to my younger self? What do you 622 00:31:08,550 --> 00:31:11,540 Speaker 4: have to lose? Acknowledge what it is and then take 623 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,700 Speaker 4: the risk to take a step forward. Because if we don't, 624 00:31:15,740 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 4: we're always going to look today through the lens of yesterday. 625 00:31:20,110 --> 00:31:22,350 Speaker 4: And it's going to distort what God has in store 626 00:31:22,370 --> 00:31:24,390 Speaker 4: for me today and what he has in store for 627 00:31:24,430 --> 00:31:29,300 Speaker 4: me moving forward. And so I'm trying to address the 628 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,980 Speaker 4: brokenness from the past that is feeding into my coping 629 00:31:34,060 --> 00:31:38,540 Speaker 4: mechanisms to help me escape pain that I don't know 630 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,330 Speaker 4: how to put in words. So the emotional maturity that 631 00:31:41,410 --> 00:31:44,910 Speaker 4: comes through this process, even from the little kids, it's 632 00:31:44,950 --> 00:31:48,430 Speaker 4: a family ministry. Hearing kids talk about their emotions. 633 00:31:48,450 --> 00:31:48,810 Speaker 2: Yes. 634 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 4: We're trying to get ahead of the game so that 635 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:54,430 Speaker 4: they don't become addicts, that they learn how to talk 636 00:31:54,490 --> 00:31:57,170 Speaker 4: about their feelings and their pain. So I don't know 637 00:31:57,190 --> 00:31:59,670 Speaker 4: if that answers your question directly, but yeah. 638 00:32:00,110 --> 00:32:03,370 Speaker 2: I love the idea of taking responsibility because there's no 639 00:32:03,430 --> 00:32:05,470 Speaker 2: accountability without responsibility. 640 00:32:05,990 --> 00:32:06,370 Speaker 3: There's not. 641 00:32:06,690 --> 00:32:09,100 Speaker 2: Because we could go and make all of these decisions 642 00:32:09,150 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 2: and we could tell everybody that we're doing these things, 643 00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 2: but if we're really not behind closed doors, then it 644 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 2: doesn't mean a hill of beans. If somebody's coming into 645 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 2: my life trying to hold me accountable if I'm not 646 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:21,390 Speaker 2: being responsible. While at the same time, we hear in culture, 647 00:32:21,770 --> 00:32:24,890 Speaker 2: nobody's coming to save you, but you need some people 648 00:32:24,930 --> 00:32:25,890 Speaker 2: to help sustain you. 649 00:32:26,130 --> 00:32:26,930 Speaker 3: You know what I mean? 650 00:32:26,970 --> 00:32:28,750 Speaker 1: You need that. You have to, yes. 651 00:32:29,290 --> 00:32:31,390 Speaker 2: Let's get up. Let's make that step. I'm thinking of 652 00:32:31,430 --> 00:32:34,530 Speaker 2: the guy yesterday that we were interviewing, Albany Eugene Jr. 653 00:32:34,570 --> 00:32:38,130 Speaker 2: He wrote a book, 100 Devotions on Momentum. And he 654 00:32:38,170 --> 00:32:41,900 Speaker 2: mentioned that maybe it's not an effort problem. Maybe it's 655 00:32:41,940 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 2: a focus problem. Maybe your focus is just in the 656 00:32:45,660 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 2: wrong place, like what you mentioned, looking at the sniper 657 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:51,380 Speaker 2: rather than the wound. I want to share this story 658 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,750 Speaker 2: with you because this thought came into my mind last night. 659 00:32:54,830 --> 00:32:58,190 Speaker 2: One of my favorite pastors, Preston Morrison, he's out of Glendale, Arizona, 660 00:32:58,650 --> 00:33:01,730 Speaker 2: and he was sharing a message a couple years back 661 00:33:02,170 --> 00:33:06,710 Speaker 2: about why does a fisherman bait a hook? And everybody 662 00:33:06,990 --> 00:33:10,730 Speaker 2: would probably respond to catch a fish. And he said, wrong. 663 00:33:11,570 --> 00:33:15,780 Speaker 2: It's to hide the hook. that's exactly what the enemy 664 00:33:15,820 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 2: does in our lives. What he does is he will 665 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 2: take something. He was really referencing the story of David 666 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 2: and that David, he didn't reveal to David in a 667 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:28,220 Speaker 2: strange dead sun on a battlefield. He doesn't reveal the 668 00:33:28,260 --> 00:33:31,490 Speaker 2: whole chain, but what he does always offer is he 669 00:33:31,550 --> 00:33:34,550 Speaker 2: offers just simply a choice. He hid the hook through 670 00:33:34,570 --> 00:33:36,190 Speaker 2: the beauty of Bathsheba. 671 00:33:36,530 --> 00:33:36,750 Speaker 4: Wow. 672 00:33:36,970 --> 00:33:39,709 Speaker 2: And so that's what he does in our lives is 673 00:33:39,750 --> 00:33:40,630 Speaker 2: that he hides everything. 674 00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:41,460 Speaker 3: The hooks. 675 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:43,700 Speaker 2: And so what he was getting at is don't take 676 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,940 Speaker 2: the bait. Satan is not a creator. 677 00:33:45,980 --> 00:33:46,900 Speaker 3: He is a counterfeiter. 678 00:33:46,940 --> 00:33:50,120 Speaker 2: He takes good God-given desires. A lot of addictions are 679 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:53,940 Speaker 2: God-given desires, wrongly aligned. And so when we realize how 680 00:33:53,980 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 2: we get them back, hijacked, that's the biggest step. Awareness. 681 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,870 Speaker 1: It's asking for help. Being honest. 682 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 2: You're only as free as you're willing to be honest, 683 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,450 Speaker 2: as my friend Joshua Broom always says. But then at 684 00:34:05,490 --> 00:34:07,570 Speaker 2: the same time, Rodney, you're not defined by the worst 685 00:34:07,610 --> 00:34:09,930 Speaker 2: thing you've ever done. You're not defined by the best 686 00:34:09,950 --> 00:34:13,060 Speaker 2: thing you'll ever do. Because as Josh mentioned, you don't 687 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,799 Speaker 2: get to define you. Talk about just to somebody out 688 00:34:17,820 --> 00:34:22,350 Speaker 2: there who's been taking the bait, who has bitten a 689 00:34:22,410 --> 00:34:25,750 Speaker 2: hidden hook in their life. They've been believing the lies, 690 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:28,410 Speaker 2: and that's all the enemy is, the father of lies. 691 00:34:28,890 --> 00:34:31,330 Speaker 2: Help us get back to the truth of our identity 692 00:34:31,410 --> 00:34:32,410 Speaker 2: anchored and rooted in Christ. 693 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:35,140 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I love that. I love that story, by 694 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:35,360 Speaker 3: the way. 695 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 4: I may steal that one later in other circles, but 696 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:43,660 Speaker 4: I love that because that's the enemy strategy, that hijacking, right? 697 00:34:43,700 --> 00:34:46,180 Speaker 3: God created us for connection. Yeah. 698 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:49,509 Speaker 4: And the enemy comes along and says, let me give 699 00:34:49,570 --> 00:34:52,890 Speaker 4: you a different way to connect that will be better, right? 700 00:34:53,310 --> 00:34:56,770 Speaker 4: So are you feeling weak today, Rodney? Here, this will 701 00:34:56,810 --> 00:35:00,140 Speaker 4: make you feel strong. Are you feeling lonely today? Let 702 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:02,980 Speaker 4: me give you a sense of identity, right? So he's 703 00:35:03,020 --> 00:35:07,259 Speaker 4: trying to fill these out of need. The enemy has 704 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:11,800 Speaker 4: hijacked you. He's hijacked the strategies that don't even come 705 00:35:11,890 --> 00:35:16,690 Speaker 4: close to God's strategy. But in your dysfunction, in your 706 00:35:17,330 --> 00:35:21,630 Speaker 4: distorted thinking in the path that you're on, your body, 707 00:35:21,710 --> 00:35:26,620 Speaker 4: your brain has learned some unhealthy ways of living that 708 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:30,299 Speaker 4: aren't even close to what God has for you. So 709 00:35:30,460 --> 00:35:33,440 Speaker 4: I would say this, that if you're there, and it 710 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:36,210 Speaker 4: can jolt people sometimes when I say this, that It 711 00:35:36,310 --> 00:35:39,390 Speaker 4: makes sense why you're there. There's good reasons. It doesn't 712 00:35:39,410 --> 00:35:43,140 Speaker 4: mean they're right, but there's good reasons based on your story, 713 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 4: these markers in your life that you learn this is 714 00:35:46,660 --> 00:35:49,879 Speaker 4: the way I face the pain in my life. This 715 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 4: is the way I deal with my sense of feeling 716 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:58,270 Speaker 4: like I'm worthless or whatever the enemy's lies. It reminds 717 00:35:58,310 --> 00:36:02,170 Speaker 4: me when God is having this conversation with Adam and 718 00:36:02,390 --> 00:36:05,500 Speaker 4: Eve in the garden, right? And he asks those questions 719 00:36:05,540 --> 00:36:08,299 Speaker 4: he already knows the answers to, right? But I love 720 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:12,259 Speaker 4: that because it speaks to this. He says, after they've 721 00:36:12,300 --> 00:36:14,060 Speaker 4: eaten of the apple and they're hiding in the bushes, 722 00:36:14,100 --> 00:36:18,089 Speaker 4: he says, where are you? He knows exactly where they are. 723 00:36:18,110 --> 00:36:21,730 Speaker 4: I think he's talking about their heart. Where's your heart, Rodney? 724 00:36:22,969 --> 00:36:26,230 Speaker 4: I know it's been shattered. I know it's been broken. 725 00:36:26,290 --> 00:36:30,370 Speaker 4: And people have taught you that no one is safe 726 00:36:30,430 --> 00:36:31,260 Speaker 4: on this planet anymore. 727 00:36:32,510 --> 00:36:34,549 Speaker 3: But there is a new way. There is a new way. 728 00:36:34,570 --> 00:36:37,410 Speaker 3: Where is your heart? And then, well, we're in the 729 00:36:37,450 --> 00:36:41,090 Speaker 3: bushes because we ate the apple. We're naked. Second question, 730 00:36:41,140 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 3: who told you that? Which I think speaks to the lies, right? 731 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:44,799 Speaker 3: Nailed it. 732 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:48,420 Speaker 4: What lies are you believing about yourself, Rodney? What do 733 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,239 Speaker 4: you believe in about me, which is kind of the 734 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 4: heart of the first part of this journey in Celebrate Recovery? 735 00:36:55,300 --> 00:36:58,910 Speaker 4: Do you believe I have the power, Rodney? Do you 736 00:36:58,950 --> 00:37:01,230 Speaker 4: believe that you matter to me even in spite of 737 00:37:01,430 --> 00:37:04,330 Speaker 4: everything that you've done? And I've made some horrific choices 738 00:37:04,370 --> 00:37:09,230 Speaker 4: in my life. You still love me, Lord. I'm a failure. 739 00:37:09,250 --> 00:37:12,310 Speaker 4: I used to think I was going to die at 740 00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:15,110 Speaker 4: a very, very young age. I was convinced. I was 741 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:16,960 Speaker 4: just going to live my life and just be reckless, 742 00:37:17,020 --> 00:37:21,100 Speaker 4: and then I would die. Who told you that? Who 743 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:23,719 Speaker 4: told you that I was not going to use you 744 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:28,330 Speaker 4: in spite of the brokenness and all the all the 745 00:37:28,370 --> 00:37:31,130 Speaker 4: stuff that you went through. And then the third question 746 00:37:31,150 --> 00:37:31,870 Speaker 4: is important. 747 00:37:32,969 --> 00:37:33,629 Speaker 3: What did you do? 748 00:37:34,570 --> 00:37:37,470 Speaker 4: And it's not to shame. It's almost like this loving father. 749 00:37:37,489 --> 00:37:38,690 Speaker 4: I think we can get in our head and go, 750 00:37:38,730 --> 00:37:41,810 Speaker 4: what did you do? I think his heart posture is, 751 00:37:41,830 --> 00:37:44,290 Speaker 4: Hey son, Hey daughter. 752 00:37:44,350 --> 00:37:46,630 Speaker 3: What'd you do? It makes sense. 753 00:37:47,010 --> 00:37:50,340 Speaker 4: But if you stay on that path, it's literally going to, 754 00:37:50,430 --> 00:37:53,919 Speaker 4: it makes sense, but it's going to kill you. So 755 00:37:54,540 --> 00:37:57,710 Speaker 4: if I'm talking to someone, it's, Come to this posture 756 00:37:57,989 --> 00:38:01,330 Speaker 4: of maybe just being open-handed to say, hey, the enemy's 757 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:06,129 Speaker 4: hijacked you. But here's the good thing. But God, there 758 00:38:06,430 --> 00:38:10,390 Speaker 4: is a higher power in Jesus Christ. And there are tools. 759 00:38:10,489 --> 00:38:12,860 Speaker 4: And that's why we need these kind of partnerships. To 760 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:17,299 Speaker 4: come together to help people find their purpose again. To 761 00:38:17,340 --> 00:38:21,000 Speaker 4: bring glory to God through the brokenness. Through the brokenness. 762 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 4: Because we're all broken. 763 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 3: And we need it. 764 00:38:23,540 --> 00:38:25,859 Speaker 4: We need a higher power in Jesus Christ. And he's 765 00:38:25,900 --> 00:38:27,719 Speaker 4: not done with you. He's going to actually use what 766 00:38:27,739 --> 00:38:30,700 Speaker 4: you're going through right now to use. 767 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:33,070 Speaker 3: It for his glory. How cool is that? A messed 768 00:38:33,130 --> 00:38:34,989 Speaker 3: up guy like me. Yeah, like us. 769 00:38:35,030 --> 00:38:38,810 Speaker 4: Yeah, that he could use us to help other people. 770 00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:40,149 Speaker 4: Only God could do that. 771 00:38:40,489 --> 00:38:43,390 Speaker 3: How cool is that? Honesty. 772 00:38:44,330 --> 00:38:45,550 Speaker 1: Hard getting honest. 773 00:38:45,989 --> 00:38:46,270 Speaker 4: It is. 774 00:38:46,290 --> 00:38:49,089 Speaker 1: About where I'm at. Because we've been taught to white 775 00:38:49,150 --> 00:38:51,730 Speaker 1: knuckle it our whole life. You just suck it up, buttercup, 776 00:38:52,140 --> 00:38:55,810 Speaker 1: and keep grinding. But the truth is, I don't have 777 00:38:55,850 --> 00:39:01,410 Speaker 1: the power. I'm powerless. I can't make it. I'm going 778 00:39:01,450 --> 00:39:06,940 Speaker 1: to die in this insanity. And I'm dependent, God. I 779 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:10,399 Speaker 1: desperately need. And this is where faith has become so 780 00:39:10,460 --> 00:39:17,220 Speaker 1: powerful in the recovery movement. When I acknowledge my utter, 781 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:25,719 Speaker 1: complete need for God, to do something, the game can 782 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:29,670 Speaker 1: begin to change. Hell, it makes sense then with love. 783 00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: to keep you from believing that God actually loves you 784 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,339 Speaker 1: and cares about you. Virtually every man I've ever met 785 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:40,609 Speaker 1: doesn't really believe God loves him. Boy, if he can 786 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:43,430 Speaker 1: go there, he's an explosion of power. If he can 787 00:39:43,450 --> 00:39:46,270 Speaker 1: believe that God loves him, it's a game changer. So 788 00:39:46,350 --> 00:39:49,440 Speaker 1: it makes sense that isolation or loneliness is going to 789 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:52,220 Speaker 1: be a tool of hell. I want to keep you alone. 790 00:39:52,580 --> 00:39:54,160 Speaker 1: And by the way, I want you to wallow in 791 00:39:54,180 --> 00:39:58,490 Speaker 1: your shame that God doesn't love you, doesn't care about you, 792 00:39:58,530 --> 00:40:02,669 Speaker 1: that you're one nasty stick person. You should never show 793 00:40:02,730 --> 00:40:06,310 Speaker 1: up at church. People don't want you at church. God 794 00:40:06,330 --> 00:40:07,290 Speaker 1: doesn't want you at church. 795 00:40:07,310 --> 00:40:08,430 Speaker 3: God hates you. 796 00:40:08,989 --> 00:40:13,400 Speaker 1: That's the stuff that keeps us locked up in hell. 797 00:40:13,420 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 3: Seriously. Seriously. 798 00:40:14,870 --> 00:40:19,550 Speaker 4: And can we embrace the gospel message, Zephaniah 317, that 799 00:40:19,590 --> 00:40:23,069 Speaker 4: he is singing a new story over you? This is 800 00:40:23,110 --> 00:40:25,790 Speaker 4: your story, but it's not the end of the story. 801 00:40:27,290 --> 00:40:31,830 Speaker 4: It's just information. It's not the prosecution. It's not the 802 00:40:31,950 --> 00:40:34,950 Speaker 4: end of the story. It's just information. Could I look 803 00:40:35,030 --> 00:40:37,970 Speaker 4: at it less as a prosecution and more as a teacher? 804 00:40:37,989 --> 00:40:40,839 Speaker 3: I want to learn from you. so that he can 805 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:41,700 Speaker 3: sing a new story. 806 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:45,060 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of conversations about how these worlds 807 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:50,770 Speaker 1: then come together. What ultimately our fields are about are 808 00:40:50,910 --> 00:40:56,330 Speaker 1: uncovering all this chaos and these patterns that have, quote, 809 00:40:56,790 --> 00:41:00,150 Speaker 1: taken root and gone deep into our lives. And how 810 00:41:00,170 --> 00:41:02,969 Speaker 1: do we interrupt them? How do we rip them out 811 00:41:03,010 --> 00:41:06,070 Speaker 1: from the core and get us back to good soil 812 00:41:06,610 --> 00:41:09,660 Speaker 1: where we can begin to flourish? And the beauty is, Hey, 813 00:41:09,950 --> 00:41:12,110 Speaker 1: I am come, Jesus said, that you might have life 814 00:41:12,570 --> 00:41:15,630 Speaker 1: and have life to its fullest. Oh, God, that we 815 00:41:15,670 --> 00:41:18,430 Speaker 1: could go there. You know that? That's what I think 816 00:41:18,590 --> 00:41:22,450 Speaker 1: I saw and experienced in that event the other day. 817 00:41:22,830 --> 00:41:24,930 Speaker 1: I'm looking around and there was a bond in the 818 00:41:24,969 --> 00:41:28,149 Speaker 1: room that was different. It was like they were all 819 00:41:28,750 --> 00:41:31,690 Speaker 1: one in the sense that God had done something and 820 00:41:31,770 --> 00:41:36,469 Speaker 1: they knew it. And they were celebrating his presence and 821 00:41:36,530 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 1: his power in their life. And as we come together, 822 00:41:40,180 --> 00:41:44,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't it be amazing if we could raise up a generation? 823 00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:45,439 Speaker 3: Oh, my gosh. 824 00:41:45,940 --> 00:41:50,140 Speaker 1: A generation who want to radically alter the outcome of 825 00:41:50,180 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: the game. 826 00:41:50,780 --> 00:41:51,339 Speaker 3: You know that? 827 00:41:51,660 --> 00:41:54,660 Speaker 1: Who want to, quote, blow up all this stuff that's 828 00:41:54,719 --> 00:41:57,900 Speaker 1: around us that keeps pulling us and sucking life from us. 829 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: We think it's giving life to us. It's just destroying us. 830 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 1: We're rotting from the inside out. And take us to 831 00:42:04,180 --> 00:42:06,970 Speaker 1: a freedom that's never been experienced. 832 00:42:07,219 --> 00:42:07,930 Speaker 3: Really. Really. 833 00:42:08,770 --> 00:42:11,830 Speaker 1: By the people who are frantic to know him. 834 00:42:11,910 --> 00:42:13,050 Speaker 3: Oh, man. 835 00:42:13,790 --> 00:42:16,130 Speaker 2: I can't wait to see what God has in store 836 00:42:16,510 --> 00:42:19,410 Speaker 2: just for the journey ahead, for the partnership that we've 837 00:42:19,430 --> 00:42:22,009 Speaker 2: been able to create, for what's going to come of this. 838 00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 2: And I'm just thinking as we wrap up about that 839 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:30,180 Speaker 2: light is not reserved at the end of the tunnel. 840 00:42:30,420 --> 00:42:31,980 Speaker 2: That's a word that I feel like God placed on 841 00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:33,840 Speaker 2: my heart a while ago in a dark season in 842 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:35,870 Speaker 2: my life. Because we hear it all the time, like, 843 00:42:36,010 --> 00:42:38,860 Speaker 2: light's at the end of the tunnel. You'll get through this. 844 00:42:39,590 --> 00:42:41,900 Speaker 2: And I'm like, but I need to experience God in 845 00:42:41,940 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 2: the midst of it. That light and hope and help 846 00:42:45,700 --> 00:42:48,759 Speaker 2: and healing are available wherever people are at in the 847 00:42:48,820 --> 00:42:51,130 Speaker 2: middle of their story today. The story doesn't have to end. 848 00:42:51,140 --> 00:42:54,280 Speaker 2: You're not at the end of your story. And oftentimes 849 00:42:54,300 --> 00:42:56,500 Speaker 2: when we get to the end of our rope, we 850 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:59,460 Speaker 2: experience the very beginning of God's. And so I'm just 851 00:42:59,500 --> 00:43:03,980 Speaker 2: thinking if somebody out there today, Rodney, who's struggling, who 852 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:08,360 Speaker 2: needs a fresh word, who needs to know that, man, 853 00:43:08,500 --> 00:43:15,359 Speaker 2: God is alive, that hope is accessible, that help is 854 00:43:16,010 --> 00:43:19,150 Speaker 2: available in a moment such as this. What's just the 855 00:43:19,370 --> 00:43:21,930 Speaker 2: final word that you want to leave with that person today? 856 00:43:22,489 --> 00:43:23,069 Speaker 3: I love that. 857 00:43:23,090 --> 00:43:26,069 Speaker 4: And then, yeah, I always go back to my mind 858 00:43:26,110 --> 00:43:28,690 Speaker 4: goes to my brothers because it's the most real thing 859 00:43:28,730 --> 00:43:32,770 Speaker 4: because someone listening might be there. Is there just thinking 860 00:43:32,830 --> 00:43:36,029 Speaker 4: about this pile of garbage that's in front of us? 861 00:43:37,090 --> 00:43:40,790 Speaker 4: My mindset back to the church is I've got to 862 00:43:40,989 --> 00:43:43,820 Speaker 4: clean up this garbage so that I can get to Jesus. 863 00:43:45,100 --> 00:43:46,859 Speaker 4: And here's the thing that I learned and I would 864 00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:51,620 Speaker 4: say to you is Jesus wants to be invited into 865 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:57,149 Speaker 4: the process. Invite him around the pile. Come, let's look 866 00:43:57,190 --> 00:43:59,509 Speaker 4: this over. No matter how deep the stain of your 867 00:43:59,550 --> 00:44:03,760 Speaker 4: sin is, There's a lot of trash here. But because 868 00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:05,940 Speaker 4: I died on the cross, we're going to face whatever 869 00:44:05,980 --> 00:44:09,379 Speaker 4: this trash is, whatever has happened to you, whatever you've done, 870 00:44:09,420 --> 00:44:12,240 Speaker 4: whatever you're struggling with, whatever inside of you you don't like, 871 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:16,430 Speaker 4: Jesus loves, and he's going to use it. So let's 872 00:44:17,010 --> 00:44:20,780 Speaker 4: address the trash together. You don't have to do this alone. 873 00:44:21,140 --> 00:44:23,600 Speaker 4: You weren't designed to do it alone, nor should you 874 00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:26,060 Speaker 4: even attempt to do it alone. I did that too 875 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:29,660 Speaker 4: often in my life. It's much better inviting him around 876 00:44:29,680 --> 00:44:31,770 Speaker 4: the pile and let him put his arm around you. 877 00:44:32,150 --> 00:44:35,230 Speaker 4: And through his power, we'll see lots of fruit come 878 00:44:35,390 --> 00:44:36,529 Speaker 4: and healing come through that. 879 00:44:36,750 --> 00:44:36,989 Speaker 2: Amen. 880 00:44:37,170 --> 00:44:41,510 Speaker 1: It's for freedom that Christ has come to set us free. 881 00:44:41,590 --> 00:44:41,890 Speaker 3: Amen. 882 00:44:41,969 --> 00:44:43,590 Speaker 1: Think of Jesus, my peace. 883 00:44:44,510 --> 00:44:45,940 Speaker 3: I want to give to you. Amen. 884 00:44:47,140 --> 00:44:48,060 Speaker 1: There's beauty in that. 885 00:44:48,380 --> 00:44:51,000 Speaker 2: My favorite story in scripture, Daniel chapter 3, what I've 886 00:44:51,060 --> 00:44:53,899 Speaker 2: learned as I've read that over and over and over 887 00:44:53,980 --> 00:44:56,900 Speaker 2: again with that even if mindset is that Shadrach, Meshach, 888 00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:58,980 Speaker 2: and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace, 889 00:44:59,540 --> 00:45:02,640 Speaker 2: they didn't even have to invite Jesus in because he 890 00:45:02,660 --> 00:45:04,960 Speaker 2: already lived there. And I think that's what I would 891 00:45:05,100 --> 00:45:07,239 Speaker 2: want somebody to hear is that you don't even have 892 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:10,219 Speaker 2: to invite God into your mess. He's already living in 893 00:45:10,260 --> 00:45:13,190 Speaker 2: your mess. Would you just pray for a fresh revelation 894 00:45:13,230 --> 00:45:16,169 Speaker 2: for him to open your eyes to his presence right 895 00:45:16,290 --> 00:45:19,870 Speaker 2: where you're Pat, Rodney, our friend, we're grateful again for 896 00:45:19,890 --> 00:45:22,070 Speaker 2: this partnership. We cannot wait to see what God is 897 00:45:22,110 --> 00:45:25,350 Speaker 2: going to continue to do through Light University 42-hour coaching 898 00:45:25,390 --> 00:45:28,450 Speaker 2: course curriculum on addiction and mental health recovery. God has 899 00:45:28,510 --> 00:45:31,450 Speaker 2: special plans in store. But my friend, where can our 900 00:45:31,510 --> 00:45:33,890 Speaker 2: audience go just to find out more about you and 901 00:45:33,930 --> 00:45:36,140 Speaker 2: what God is continuing to do through Celebrate Recovery? 902 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:39,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, celebraterecovery.com is your best starting point. 903 00:45:40,380 --> 00:45:41,219 Speaker 3: Go check that out. 904 00:45:41,260 --> 00:45:42,799 Speaker 4: If you want to find a group near you, go 905 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:48,779 Speaker 4: to crlocator.com. We have thousands of groups out there. And 906 00:45:48,840 --> 00:45:51,460 Speaker 4: my email is on the website. You can email me directly. 907 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:53,300 Speaker 4: I'd love to hear from you, tell you more of 908 00:45:53,340 --> 00:45:57,200 Speaker 4: my story, connect you with this army of warriors that 909 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:00,469 Speaker 4: want to point you to Jesus through healing from our hurts, hang-ups, 910 00:46:00,510 --> 00:46:03,149 Speaker 4: and habits. CelebrateRecovery.com is a great starting point. 911 00:46:03,390 --> 00:46:05,489 Speaker 2: We're grateful for you, Ronnie. Thank you for your time today. 912 00:46:05,530 --> 00:46:06,549 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us here. 913 00:46:06,710 --> 00:46:07,569 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 914 00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:12,860 Speaker 2: To our Built Different audience, as Ronnie mentioned, please visit CelebrateRecovery.com. Also, 915 00:46:12,920 --> 00:46:16,739 Speaker 2: if you're in need of clinically excellent, distinctively Christian care 916 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:19,100 Speaker 2: and counsel today, Christian Care Connect. Just type in your 917 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:21,680 Speaker 2: zip code, type in your city of origin, wherever you're at, 918 00:46:21,989 --> 00:46:25,090 Speaker 2: and you can find a clinician, a coach, a church 919 00:46:25,130 --> 00:46:29,130 Speaker 2: that's offering Celebrate Recovery opportunities in that local area. 920 00:46:28,890 --> 00:46:31,049 Speaker 1: To give you the help, to give you the. 921 00:46:31,010 --> 00:46:34,810 Speaker 2: Hope to start that healing and that recovery journey that 922 00:46:34,850 --> 00:46:38,670 Speaker 2: you so desire today. My friend, you are not alone. Again, 923 00:46:38,790 --> 00:46:44,120 Speaker 2: help is available, healing is accessible, and hope is alive. 924 00:46:44,300 --> 00:46:45,140 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us. 925 00:46:45,340 --> 00:46:46,319 Speaker 3: We love being a part of your life.