1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,137 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,137 --> 00:00:14,377 Speaker 2: Join us in celebrating and incredible milestone as the beloved 3 00:00:14,457 --> 00:00:18,457 Speaker 2: Jesus Calling brand reaches fifty million lives impacted. As we 4 00:00:18,497 --> 00:00:21,576 Speaker 2: honor the legacy of author Sarah Young, we reflect on 5 00:00:21,616 --> 00:00:26,816 Speaker 2: the stories from celebrities, pastors, authors, actors, singers, athletes, scholars, 6 00:00:26,857 --> 00:00:30,377 Speaker 2: and everyday people who have been inspired by her devotional writings. 7 00:00:30,657 --> 00:00:32,857 Speaker 2: To join in the celebration and to hear some of 8 00:00:32,897 --> 00:00:35,336 Speaker 2: the stories of people whose faith journeys have been impacted 9 00:00:35,337 --> 00:00:37,816 Speaker 2: by all the writings of Sarah Young, head over to 10 00:00:37,897 --> 00:00:41,617 Speaker 2: Jesus Calling dot com. 11 00:00:42,417 --> 00:00:46,696 Speaker 3: I was about eighteen years in to doing comedy. I 12 00:00:46,937 --> 00:00:49,617 Speaker 3: kind of hit the wall, and what happens is if 13 00:00:49,656 --> 00:00:53,497 Speaker 3: you're not home physically and mentally. I realized my family 14 00:00:53,577 --> 00:00:56,697 Speaker 3: was kind of getting the scraps, and I just did 15 00:00:56,737 --> 00:00:58,697 Speaker 3: the best that I could with comedy, but it just 16 00:00:58,737 --> 00:01:01,937 Speaker 3: took so much away from personal life that it was 17 00:01:01,977 --> 00:01:03,417 Speaker 3: starting to show. 18 00:01:04,257 --> 00:01:07,377 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Jesus Calling. This week we hear from 19 00:01:07,417 --> 00:01:10,217 Speaker 2: comedian Tim Hawkins, who shares what it took to build 20 00:01:10,257 --> 00:01:13,617 Speaker 2: a career on clean, relatable comedy and the surprising lesson 21 00:01:13,657 --> 00:01:16,337 Speaker 2: you learned when nearly two decades of constant road life 22 00:01:16,537 --> 00:01:19,697 Speaker 2: led to complete burnout. Later in the episode, we'll hear 23 00:01:19,737 --> 00:01:23,737 Speaker 2: from singer, songwriter and pastor Michael Charles Olsen, who shares 24 00:01:23,777 --> 00:01:26,817 Speaker 2: a life influenced by both worship and wounds. Raised in 25 00:01:26,817 --> 00:01:29,817 Speaker 2: a church where music and faith were woven into everyday life, 26 00:01:29,937 --> 00:01:32,897 Speaker 2: Michael reflects on how that early sense of sanctuary was 27 00:01:32,977 --> 00:01:35,937 Speaker 2: later shaken to its core by a church fire that 28 00:01:36,057 --> 00:01:40,456 Speaker 2: damaged more than just its walls. Let's begin with Tim's story. 29 00:01:43,457 --> 00:01:45,457 Speaker 3: I am as Tim Hawkins as far as I know. 30 00:01:45,977 --> 00:01:49,257 Speaker 3: That's what it says from the birth certificate, and I 31 00:01:49,297 --> 00:01:53,377 Speaker 3: am a comedian depending on who you ask. I just 32 00:01:53,417 --> 00:01:57,697 Speaker 3: grew up normal, Midwestern Saint Louis area, normal childhood, a 33 00:01:57,697 --> 00:02:00,297 Speaker 3: lot of outside time. It wasn't that I'd wanted to 34 00:02:00,537 --> 00:02:02,897 Speaker 3: said our parents that in the day. They kicked us 35 00:02:02,897 --> 00:02:05,457 Speaker 3: out and they said come back when the street light 36 00:02:05,657 --> 00:02:08,857 Speaker 3: goes on. I grew up in a very fun family. 37 00:02:08,897 --> 00:02:11,656 Speaker 3: We laughed a lot. We enjoyed comedy. I didn't know 38 00:02:11,697 --> 00:02:13,337 Speaker 3: what it was. I just know it made me feel 39 00:02:13,377 --> 00:02:15,936 Speaker 3: good and it was fun to create it and make 40 00:02:15,977 --> 00:02:19,297 Speaker 3: people laugh. It's always been an icebreaker for me with people, 41 00:02:19,737 --> 00:02:22,377 Speaker 3: so I just gladly I found a career doing it. 42 00:02:22,537 --> 00:02:24,977 Speaker 1: I remember in Christmas they had the chipmunks. 43 00:02:25,097 --> 00:02:27,337 Speaker 3: They would sing Christmas songs for me and my brother 44 00:02:27,377 --> 00:02:28,977 Speaker 3: and my cousins would lift sink them in front of 45 00:02:29,017 --> 00:02:31,457 Speaker 3: the family and make them laugh, and then they would 46 00:02:31,497 --> 00:02:34,857 Speaker 3: give us quarters and so like, yeah, so maybe there's 47 00:02:34,897 --> 00:02:38,697 Speaker 3: a future in this. Early on in comedy, you're just 48 00:02:38,697 --> 00:02:42,257 Speaker 3: trying to find audiences and throw it out there and 49 00:02:42,417 --> 00:02:45,057 Speaker 3: figure it out. There's no real manual for it. You 50 00:02:45,177 --> 00:02:48,417 Speaker 3: have to just go and trial and error see what works. 51 00:02:48,457 --> 00:02:50,777 Speaker 3: And like a youth group would say, hey, can you 52 00:02:50,777 --> 00:02:53,617 Speaker 3: come be funny for ten minutes for our youth group? 53 00:02:54,257 --> 00:02:57,577 Speaker 3: And sure, yeah, sure I'll try. Of course, I didn't 54 00:02:57,617 --> 00:03:00,497 Speaker 3: have any material. I didn't know, but I could be 55 00:03:00,617 --> 00:03:02,936 Speaker 3: weird and goofy and throw a few ideas out there. 56 00:03:02,937 --> 00:03:04,617 Speaker 1: And my job is to be funny. 57 00:03:04,777 --> 00:03:06,977 Speaker 3: People call me Chris comedian, but I'm a Christian who 58 00:03:07,057 --> 00:03:10,137 Speaker 3: is a comedian, And like if you're a Christian plumber, 59 00:03:10,217 --> 00:03:13,617 Speaker 3: you need to know how to clean pipes and fix 60 00:03:13,657 --> 00:03:15,937 Speaker 3: stuff and do it well. So my job is to 61 00:03:15,977 --> 00:03:18,777 Speaker 3: be funny and just be who I am, and I'm 62 00:03:18,817 --> 00:03:19,217 Speaker 3: good with that. 63 00:03:19,977 --> 00:03:20,577 Speaker 1: You'll be a. 64 00:03:20,537 --> 00:03:25,097 Speaker 3: Lot more successful and funny if you're relatable, If people relate. 65 00:03:25,217 --> 00:03:27,897 Speaker 3: That's where most of my big laughs come from, is 66 00:03:27,937 --> 00:03:28,897 Speaker 3: the relatability. 67 00:03:29,257 --> 00:03:32,097 Speaker 1: It goes to a different level when you're relatable. If 68 00:03:32,097 --> 00:03:34,017 Speaker 1: you're telling me something you went through, or you're like, oh, 69 00:03:34,137 --> 00:03:35,737 Speaker 1: you know the same thing happened to me. 70 00:03:35,897 --> 00:03:38,177 Speaker 3: Oh, that makes you feel a little better, like Okay, 71 00:03:38,497 --> 00:03:42,497 Speaker 3: somebody can commiserate or can take joy in the same things. 72 00:03:42,697 --> 00:03:45,657 Speaker 3: It's all about connection. Connection is something that we need 73 00:03:46,297 --> 00:03:53,777 Speaker 3: and lack. It's a need that fulfills something in us. 74 00:03:55,537 --> 00:03:57,937 Speaker 3: Road life is hard. Travel is the job part of it. 75 00:03:57,977 --> 00:04:00,817 Speaker 3: That's what really wears at you. I've been doing it 76 00:04:00,857 --> 00:04:04,337 Speaker 3: for about twenty five or so years full time. I 77 00:04:04,537 --> 00:04:09,337 Speaker 3: was about eighteen years in to doing comedy and I 78 00:04:09,497 --> 00:04:13,377 Speaker 3: kind of hit the wall the travel and the nature 79 00:04:13,417 --> 00:04:15,937 Speaker 3: of what I do. When you're building any business, a 80 00:04:15,977 --> 00:04:17,936 Speaker 3: lot of your brain power has to go toward that, 81 00:04:18,337 --> 00:04:22,097 Speaker 3: and what happens is if you're not home physically and mentally. 82 00:04:22,577 --> 00:04:24,816 Speaker 3: I realized my family was kind of getting the scraps 83 00:04:25,457 --> 00:04:28,296 Speaker 3: and I just did the best that I could with comedy, 84 00:04:28,337 --> 00:04:31,176 Speaker 3: but it just took so much away from personal life 85 00:04:31,697 --> 00:04:35,296 Speaker 3: that it was starting to show, and mentally it was draining. 86 00:04:35,616 --> 00:04:38,296 Speaker 3: I had no endorphins left I got checked. I had 87 00:04:37,936 --> 00:04:41,337 Speaker 3: no endorphins, no, none of those feel good chemicals anymore. 88 00:04:41,376 --> 00:04:43,976 Speaker 3: I was just drained and stepped away and got in 89 00:04:44,097 --> 00:04:47,137 Speaker 3: his grace. It happened to be right when you know, 90 00:04:47,337 --> 00:04:50,657 Speaker 3: COVID came about. And so for like a year, year 91 00:04:50,657 --> 00:04:52,217 Speaker 3: and a half, I didn't pick up a guitar. I 92 00:04:52,217 --> 00:04:54,217 Speaker 3: didn't write a joke. I didn't want anything to do 93 00:04:54,257 --> 00:04:56,256 Speaker 3: with it. I had to kind of I call it 94 00:04:56,296 --> 00:04:58,416 Speaker 3: emptying the creative cup. I just had to empty it 95 00:04:58,457 --> 00:05:01,097 Speaker 3: out because there's nowhere to put any creativity. 96 00:05:01,176 --> 00:05:03,257 Speaker 1: Or I was done for a while. I just needed 97 00:05:03,257 --> 00:05:05,897 Speaker 1: a break. And then there were telltale. 98 00:05:05,736 --> 00:05:07,856 Speaker 3: Signs that like I was in Denver and I forgot 99 00:05:07,936 --> 00:05:10,056 Speaker 3: my act. I was on stage and my mind just 100 00:05:10,097 --> 00:05:13,137 Speaker 3: went blank and I couldn't I couldn't think, and I 101 00:05:13,176 --> 00:05:15,056 Speaker 3: didn't know what was going on. I mean, I was 102 00:05:15,056 --> 00:05:17,736 Speaker 3: five minutes into it and I just took a drink 103 00:05:17,777 --> 00:05:18,017 Speaker 3: of water. 104 00:05:18,056 --> 00:05:18,576 Speaker 1: I turned around. 105 00:05:18,577 --> 00:05:20,736 Speaker 3: I was like there was nothing in my head. It 106 00:05:20,816 --> 00:05:23,096 Speaker 3: was like my body was saying, you're done. 107 00:05:23,137 --> 00:05:25,256 Speaker 1: I'm done. I don't know about you, but I'm done. 108 00:05:25,496 --> 00:05:28,056 Speaker 3: I can't do this anymore. It was kind of signs 109 00:05:28,097 --> 00:05:31,216 Speaker 3: like that that like you got to take care of yourself. 110 00:05:31,257 --> 00:05:35,017 Speaker 3: You got to reprioritize and. 111 00:05:34,257 --> 00:05:36,617 Speaker 1: Find the why are you doing this? What's going on? 112 00:05:37,537 --> 00:05:40,417 Speaker 3: You know, because it's not really worth it when when 113 00:05:40,416 --> 00:05:42,736 Speaker 3: things aren't into proper place and then you have all 114 00:05:42,777 --> 00:05:45,736 Speaker 3: these dates lined up and then you're like okay, like 115 00:05:45,856 --> 00:05:48,777 Speaker 3: set in Stone, and you realize that that was what 116 00:05:48,976 --> 00:05:51,816 Speaker 3: was that was kind of controlling things. 117 00:05:51,856 --> 00:05:54,057 Speaker 1: It's like, okay, I got to get back and control here. 118 00:05:54,097 --> 00:05:55,097 Speaker 1: How does that happen? 119 00:05:55,657 --> 00:05:57,856 Speaker 3: So thankfully I had people around me to kind of 120 00:05:58,296 --> 00:06:01,616 Speaker 3: support me to a place where I could step away 121 00:06:01,736 --> 00:06:09,217 Speaker 3: and get better, get well. When you do something like 122 00:06:09,217 --> 00:06:11,577 Speaker 3: this all the time for year after year after year, 123 00:06:12,657 --> 00:06:15,777 Speaker 3: then you think of retooling it, like what does that 124 00:06:15,856 --> 00:06:18,136 Speaker 3: even look like? So what it looked like for me 125 00:06:18,496 --> 00:06:21,777 Speaker 3: was I just kind of I owned two tour buses, 126 00:06:21,897 --> 00:06:25,616 Speaker 3: I had thirteen employees, we had two offices. 127 00:06:25,616 --> 00:06:26,416 Speaker 1: I just built. 128 00:06:26,777 --> 00:06:29,976 Speaker 3: I just found a manager, and I just rent everything. 129 00:06:30,017 --> 00:06:32,537 Speaker 3: Now I don't own anything, and I just have a 130 00:06:32,577 --> 00:06:34,537 Speaker 3: guy that says, you go here and here and here, 131 00:06:34,577 --> 00:06:36,736 Speaker 3: and he tells me my job is to show up 132 00:06:36,777 --> 00:06:37,376 Speaker 3: and be charming. 133 00:06:37,816 --> 00:06:38,497 Speaker 1: And I like it. 134 00:06:38,337 --> 00:06:42,856 Speaker 3: It's a good speed and I do still enjoy creating comedy. 135 00:06:42,936 --> 00:06:45,017 Speaker 1: I love my son as my producer. 136 00:06:45,137 --> 00:06:47,896 Speaker 3: Now we're working on a new album, so we're about 137 00:06:47,897 --> 00:06:50,297 Speaker 3: twelve songs in. I'm just putt out some music here 138 00:06:50,337 --> 00:06:54,017 Speaker 3: in the next several months. I really enjoy music. I 139 00:06:54,056 --> 00:06:56,177 Speaker 3: love writing it. And on this one there'll be some 140 00:06:56,777 --> 00:06:59,537 Speaker 3: not comedy, a couple of instrumentals, a couple of a 141 00:06:59,537 --> 00:07:02,337 Speaker 3: song for my wife, a song for my granddaughter. Just 142 00:07:02,376 --> 00:07:04,777 Speaker 3: doing what I want to do, just doing what makes 143 00:07:04,777 --> 00:07:09,857 Speaker 3: me happy. A thing that I needed to learn was 144 00:07:09,857 --> 00:07:13,217 Speaker 3: to control my brain, to just shut it down. 145 00:07:14,177 --> 00:07:16,937 Speaker 1: Our thoughts aren't us. Our thoughts are just the brain. 146 00:07:17,097 --> 00:07:19,737 Speaker 1: Just hey, hey, think about this and think about that. Hey, 147 00:07:19,816 --> 00:07:21,576 Speaker 1: think about this over and over and over again while 148 00:07:21,577 --> 00:07:22,417 Speaker 1: you're laying in bed, you. 149 00:07:22,337 --> 00:07:26,576 Speaker 3: Know, and being able to just stop that and be 150 00:07:26,697 --> 00:07:27,537 Speaker 3: quiet and present. 151 00:07:27,937 --> 00:07:28,136 Speaker 1: You know. 152 00:07:28,177 --> 00:07:31,577 Speaker 3: God says he's the I am, He's present, He's right now. 153 00:07:31,777 --> 00:07:33,697 Speaker 3: He says, don't worry about the past, and don't worry 154 00:07:33,697 --> 00:07:36,177 Speaker 3: about the future, you know, or don't regret the past. 155 00:07:36,177 --> 00:07:38,257 Speaker 1: Don't worry about the future. He's got that in control. 156 00:07:40,617 --> 00:07:45,057 Speaker 3: This is some Jesus listens June first, Jesus, my faithful guide. 157 00:07:45,057 --> 00:07:48,977 Speaker 3: I delight in spending time with you, meditating on your unfailing. 158 00:07:48,497 --> 00:07:50,417 Speaker 1: Love, for you are my God forever and ever. 159 00:07:50,857 --> 00:07:53,097 Speaker 3: Please help me through your spirit to bring my mind 160 00:07:53,137 --> 00:07:56,737 Speaker 3: back to you whenever it wanders. I find great encouragement 161 00:07:56,737 --> 00:07:59,657 Speaker 3: in the words of Jacob. Surely the Lord is in 162 00:07:59,697 --> 00:08:02,177 Speaker 3: this place. No matter where I am, You're with me. 163 00:08:02,457 --> 00:08:06,336 Speaker 3: I'm so grateful that you are my God forevermore, today, tomorrow, 164 00:08:06,337 --> 00:08:07,777 Speaker 3: and throughout all eternity. 165 00:08:08,257 --> 00:08:09,256 Speaker 1: You're also my guide. 166 00:08:09,377 --> 00:08:11,537 Speaker 3: It's easy for me to be spooked by the future 167 00:08:11,857 --> 00:08:15,097 Speaker 3: when I forget that you're leading me each step along 168 00:08:15,177 --> 00:08:19,337 Speaker 3: my life path. Yet your guiding presence has been available 169 00:08:19,337 --> 00:08:21,777 Speaker 3: to me ever since I trusted you as my savior. 170 00:08:22,057 --> 00:08:24,417 Speaker 3: You've been training me to be increasingly aware of you 171 00:08:24,937 --> 00:08:28,097 Speaker 3: as I go about my daily activities. One way I'm 172 00:08:28,137 --> 00:08:31,456 Speaker 3: learning to draw near you is by whispering your name. 173 00:08:31,816 --> 00:08:34,817 Speaker 3: This reminds me that you are close beside me. Instead 174 00:08:34,857 --> 00:08:37,377 Speaker 3: of worrying about anything, I can bring you my requests 175 00:08:37,577 --> 00:08:40,817 Speaker 3: from prayer and petition with thanksgiving. How I rejoice in 176 00:08:40,857 --> 00:08:43,817 Speaker 3: the wondrous assurance that you will be my guide even 177 00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:47,177 Speaker 3: to the end, and your blessed eternal name Amen. 178 00:08:49,897 --> 00:08:52,697 Speaker 2: To learn more about Tim Hawkins, visit Tim Hawkins dot 179 00:08:52,777 --> 00:08:54,777 Speaker 2: net and be sure to check out his new stand 180 00:08:54,857 --> 00:08:59,897 Speaker 2: up comedy special fist Bump. Wherever you stream television, stay 181 00:08:59,897 --> 00:09:10,257 Speaker 2: tuned to Michael Charles Olsen's story after a brief message, 182 00:09:11,257 --> 00:09:14,937 Speaker 2: These uncertain times bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus Listens 183 00:09:14,977 --> 00:09:17,937 Speaker 2: Prayers for Every Season gives you daily prayers of comfort 184 00:09:18,737 --> 00:09:23,017 Speaker 2: with seasonally inspired illustrations. This beautiful book includes prayers that 185 00:09:23,097 --> 00:09:26,297 Speaker 2: speak to your situation, whether it's a time of stress 186 00:09:26,457 --> 00:09:30,417 Speaker 2: or strength. Look for Jesus Listens Prayers for Every Season 187 00:09:30,617 --> 00:09:40,537 Speaker 2: wherever you buy books. Our next guest is singer, songwriter 188 00:09:40,617 --> 00:09:44,377 Speaker 2: and pastor Michael Charles Olson. Michael shares the story of 189 00:09:44,377 --> 00:09:46,977 Speaker 2: his upbringing in the church under the tutelage of his father, 190 00:09:47,217 --> 00:09:50,337 Speaker 2: the church's organ player, and the unfortunate incident that ended 191 00:09:50,417 --> 00:09:51,537 Speaker 2: up burning their church down. 192 00:09:53,257 --> 00:09:57,457 Speaker 4: My name is Michael Charles Olsen and I am a singer, songwriter, 193 00:09:57,977 --> 00:10:00,977 Speaker 4: pastor and a new author. And I've been in the 194 00:10:01,017 --> 00:10:05,137 Speaker 4: ministry for about twenty six years, made a bunch of records, 195 00:10:05,577 --> 00:10:08,177 Speaker 4: and have served as a pastor in local churches for 196 00:10:08,177 --> 00:10:16,897 Speaker 4: the last sixteen seventeen years. I was raised in the 197 00:10:16,937 --> 00:10:20,137 Speaker 4: suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Northwest Assembly of God on the 198 00:10:20,137 --> 00:10:23,217 Speaker 4: corner of Wolf and Kensington Road. It's just a really 199 00:10:23,257 --> 00:10:27,217 Speaker 4: formative place for me as a kid. My folks were 200 00:10:27,257 --> 00:10:30,097 Speaker 4: both very very involved in worshiped there in music. My 201 00:10:30,177 --> 00:10:32,297 Speaker 4: dad was a church organist and my mom was assistant 202 00:10:32,337 --> 00:10:34,817 Speaker 4: choir director. And so I was sort of the punk 203 00:10:34,897 --> 00:10:38,417 Speaker 4: kid that was at all the rehearsals and stealing drumsticks 204 00:10:38,457 --> 00:10:41,937 Speaker 4: and making everybody mad because I was just always hanging 205 00:10:41,977 --> 00:10:44,017 Speaker 4: around and that kind of led to some dreams that 206 00:10:44,057 --> 00:10:46,377 Speaker 4: developed really early in me. In fact, I think if 207 00:10:46,377 --> 00:10:48,257 Speaker 4: you had asked me, like when I was probably eleven 208 00:10:48,297 --> 00:10:49,697 Speaker 4: twelve years old, what do you want to do? I 209 00:10:49,697 --> 00:10:51,417 Speaker 4: would have told you that I wanted to be an artist, 210 00:10:51,617 --> 00:10:54,697 Speaker 4: like a recording artist. And I actually would have told 211 00:10:54,737 --> 00:10:56,337 Speaker 4: you that I wanted to sign a record deal. This 212 00:10:56,377 --> 00:10:58,857 Speaker 4: is crazy with rocket Town Records, which is a record 213 00:10:58,937 --> 00:11:00,097 Speaker 4: lagel that was owned by Michael W. 214 00:11:00,217 --> 00:11:00,537 Speaker 1: Smith. 215 00:11:00,617 --> 00:11:04,897 Speaker 4: And what's crazy about it is that actually happened. When 216 00:11:04,937 --> 00:11:09,337 Speaker 4: I think back on my childhood, there's both very very 217 00:11:09,417 --> 00:11:12,737 Speaker 4: positive memories that I have that shape me for how 218 00:11:12,777 --> 00:11:15,457 Speaker 4: I think about fathers and sons now, and then there's 219 00:11:15,497 --> 00:11:18,217 Speaker 4: also some things that are pretty painful. I think some 220 00:11:18,257 --> 00:11:20,737 Speaker 4: of the most formative memories I had or my dad 221 00:11:21,297 --> 00:11:25,417 Speaker 4: playing music from his heart, both in our home and 222 00:11:25,457 --> 00:11:27,457 Speaker 4: in the church in which we were raised. My dad 223 00:11:28,137 --> 00:11:33,057 Speaker 4: he played this very uncool, giant three manual Allen Church 224 00:11:33,177 --> 00:11:35,697 Speaker 4: organ with the pedal systems, you know, looked like a 225 00:11:35,737 --> 00:11:38,657 Speaker 4: cockpit of a seven forty seven. And he'd take his 226 00:11:38,697 --> 00:11:41,057 Speaker 4: shoes off and place him on the left hand side 227 00:11:41,057 --> 00:11:42,977 Speaker 4: of the organ bench. And that's where he met the Lord. 228 00:11:43,817 --> 00:11:47,457 Speaker 4: That's where my dad played, and it's also where he prayed, 229 00:11:48,537 --> 00:11:50,777 Speaker 4: and that was stamped on me from the time I 230 00:11:50,857 --> 00:11:53,497 Speaker 4: was a young kid. You know, my dad was a 231 00:11:53,497 --> 00:11:59,537 Speaker 4: brilliant man. He was an award winning architect, designed crazy 232 00:11:59,617 --> 00:12:02,857 Speaker 4: high end custom homes in the city of Chicago for 233 00:12:02,897 --> 00:12:05,257 Speaker 4: the wealthiest of the wealthiest. I grew up walking through 234 00:12:05,257 --> 00:12:08,577 Speaker 4: twenty five thousand square foot homes for families of four 235 00:12:08,657 --> 00:12:11,137 Speaker 4: that came out of his brilliant mind. He won all 236 00:12:11,217 --> 00:12:13,057 Speaker 4: kinds of awards for architecture in the city. And he 237 00:12:13,097 --> 00:12:16,417 Speaker 4: was obviously a brilliant musician too. I grew up in 238 00:12:16,457 --> 00:12:21,417 Speaker 4: this quirky Pentecostal church and on a Wednesday night in 239 00:12:21,537 --> 00:12:26,857 Speaker 4: nineteen eighty nine, my best friend, the pastor's son, Jimmy Nichols, 240 00:12:27,177 --> 00:12:29,537 Speaker 4: he was out doing his math homework after a Wednesday 241 00:12:29,577 --> 00:12:33,017 Speaker 4: night prayer service late into the evening while his dad 242 00:12:33,057 --> 00:12:36,697 Speaker 4: was in a meeting, and he looked up and saw 243 00:12:36,857 --> 00:12:39,217 Speaker 4: smoke coming out of the doors of the sanctuary of 244 00:12:39,257 --> 00:12:41,737 Speaker 4: the Pentecostal Church, and he thought, this is it, you know, 245 00:12:41,777 --> 00:12:45,177 Speaker 4: the glory of God is in the temple. And he 246 00:12:45,617 --> 00:12:47,657 Speaker 4: snuck up to the door and pushed the door open 247 00:12:47,697 --> 00:12:52,177 Speaker 4: a crack, and sure enough, the entire front of the 248 00:12:52,297 --> 00:12:57,057 Speaker 4: church was engulfed in flames. And he went in and 249 00:12:57,457 --> 00:13:01,577 Speaker 4: obviously disrupted the meeting with his dad. And in my 250 00:13:01,697 --> 00:13:04,497 Speaker 4: mind there's an anecdote that sort of plays out. It's 251 00:13:04,497 --> 00:13:07,256 Speaker 4: probably fictional, but I like to think it happened. And 252 00:13:07,577 --> 00:13:11,657 Speaker 4: Jimmy Nichols walked into his dad's meeting and interrupted and said, Hey, 253 00:13:12,017 --> 00:13:12,617 Speaker 4: everyone in the. 254 00:13:12,577 --> 00:13:13,377 Speaker 1: Church is on fire. 255 00:13:13,497 --> 00:13:16,937 Speaker 4: And all the board members said, amen, Amen, the church 256 00:13:17,017 --> 00:13:21,617 Speaker 4: is on fire. Well, it turns out that the fire 257 00:13:21,657 --> 00:13:24,497 Speaker 4: marshall discovered that my dad left the organ on and 258 00:13:24,697 --> 00:13:27,737 Speaker 4: it shortened out, and that night, in nineteen eighty nine, 259 00:13:27,977 --> 00:13:30,577 Speaker 4: my dad burnt the sanctuary of our home church to 260 00:13:30,657 --> 00:13:33,497 Speaker 4: the ground with the organ that he played every week. 261 00:13:34,537 --> 00:13:38,177 Speaker 4: It's darkly humorous, you know, darkly humorous. But it's also 262 00:13:38,217 --> 00:13:41,057 Speaker 4: an allegory because in the years that followed, really in 263 00:13:41,097 --> 00:13:44,257 Speaker 4: my formative years, this would have been like junior high, 264 00:13:44,697 --> 00:13:47,177 Speaker 4: some things arose in our family that were really really painful, 265 00:13:47,577 --> 00:13:51,137 Speaker 4: and just like that organ was a really really intricate 266 00:13:52,417 --> 00:13:56,817 Speaker 4: instrument of praise. My dad was a beautiful soul, deep soul, 267 00:13:56,937 --> 00:14:00,097 Speaker 4: and through the power of unforgiveness, our home fell apart. 268 00:14:03,937 --> 00:14:07,697 Speaker 4: My mom and dad's marriage dissolved and they both separated, 269 00:14:07,737 --> 00:14:12,497 Speaker 4: and my dad drifted off away and he started to 270 00:14:12,537 --> 00:14:16,137 Speaker 4: paint an alternate reality for himself that was just easier 271 00:14:16,177 --> 00:14:18,737 Speaker 4: to deal with, and it turned out to be a 272 00:14:18,737 --> 00:14:23,217 Speaker 4: total mirage. And when that let him down, some really 273 00:14:23,217 --> 00:14:26,737 Speaker 4: really painful things happened to him. When he realized that 274 00:14:26,777 --> 00:14:29,257 Speaker 4: what he was pursuing in his mind, this alternate reality 275 00:14:29,257 --> 00:14:32,417 Speaker 4: that he pursued in his mind, wasn't really real, he 276 00:14:32,457 --> 00:14:35,897 Speaker 4: bought himed out, and ultimately his cause of death was 277 00:14:36,737 --> 00:14:40,177 Speaker 4: accidental overdose to prescription medication. We lost him ten years ago. 278 00:14:40,937 --> 00:14:44,337 Speaker 4: It was very, very difficult, but looking back on it, 279 00:14:44,377 --> 00:14:47,377 Speaker 4: the thing that really really got my dad was just 280 00:14:47,457 --> 00:14:50,217 Speaker 4: the seed of unforgiveness that just grew and grew and 281 00:14:50,257 --> 00:14:53,097 Speaker 4: grew and grew and isolated him down and shrunk his life. 282 00:14:54,177 --> 00:15:01,017 Speaker 4: And so those were hard days and still hard to process. 283 00:15:01,817 --> 00:15:06,017 Speaker 4: But I have a new perspective. The reality is and 284 00:15:06,057 --> 00:15:10,457 Speaker 4: this is confounding. This is really paradoxical, is that in 285 00:15:10,497 --> 00:15:13,497 Speaker 4: the midst of all of this brokenness, my dad knew 286 00:15:13,537 --> 00:15:19,577 Speaker 4: the Lord. And I operate in this awareness that he's 287 00:15:19,617 --> 00:15:23,457 Speaker 4: with the Lord now. And listen, I'm a worship pastor, 288 00:15:23,497 --> 00:15:26,337 Speaker 4: and so I'm doing the same thing I saw my 289 00:15:26,457 --> 00:15:29,937 Speaker 4: dad do every week. Every week, my dad would get 290 00:15:30,017 --> 00:15:32,617 Speaker 4: up and play the organ at church behind the preacher, 291 00:15:32,937 --> 00:15:36,737 Speaker 4: and for the last ten years, every week, you know 292 00:15:36,777 --> 00:15:39,457 Speaker 4: what I do. I get up and do the exact 293 00:15:39,497 --> 00:15:43,457 Speaker 4: same thing. And my dad taught me that, And so 294 00:15:43,617 --> 00:15:46,297 Speaker 4: I operate with this awareness even in all the brokenness, 295 00:15:46,337 --> 00:15:49,857 Speaker 4: that he's with Christ and he's well, and he's looking 296 00:15:49,897 --> 00:15:52,097 Speaker 4: down and saying, hey, I taught you how to do that, 297 00:15:52,537 --> 00:15:56,097 Speaker 4: And it means the world to me. You know. The 298 00:15:56,137 --> 00:16:00,777 Speaker 4: sanctuary is a place where two things are simultaneously true 299 00:16:00,977 --> 00:16:03,737 Speaker 4: in our lives. One, we're in the presence of the 300 00:16:03,777 --> 00:16:08,457 Speaker 4: Almighty God. We are fully known and he is holy. 301 00:16:09,057 --> 00:16:14,177 Speaker 4: And it is a very very reverent place, and it's very, 302 00:16:14,297 --> 00:16:19,457 Speaker 4: very safe. That's what sanctuary is. These two things go together. 303 00:16:19,497 --> 00:16:22,337 Speaker 4: So what happens in your life when you're sanctuary burns down? 304 00:16:23,857 --> 00:16:27,297 Speaker 4: What happens when the place that you were safe takes 305 00:16:27,297 --> 00:16:31,017 Speaker 4: a turn and isn't that way anymore. I would imagine 306 00:16:31,057 --> 00:16:33,097 Speaker 4: that some of the people that are listening to this 307 00:16:33,137 --> 00:16:36,137 Speaker 4: podcast have had this happen in their lives. You know, 308 00:16:36,177 --> 00:16:39,897 Speaker 4: whether that was through a damaging relationship with a parental 309 00:16:39,897 --> 00:16:42,097 Speaker 4: figure or a close friend, or you know, all the 310 00:16:42,097 --> 00:16:46,097 Speaker 4: way through abusive situations and things like this. We end 311 00:16:46,177 --> 00:16:49,137 Speaker 4: up with a wound and we don't know what to 312 00:16:49,177 --> 00:16:52,857 Speaker 4: do with that wound. We lost the sanctuary. It was very, 313 00:16:52,977 --> 00:16:56,057 Speaker 4: very sad. And then also when the culture of my 314 00:16:56,097 --> 00:16:59,457 Speaker 4: home change, I didn't know what to do because when 315 00:16:59,457 --> 00:17:02,977 Speaker 4: the heart of the Father turns inward on itself through pain, 316 00:17:04,017 --> 00:17:07,417 Speaker 4: the child is kind of left not knowing what to do. 317 00:17:07,537 --> 00:17:10,857 Speaker 4: Because we're hardwired in the way that we were created 318 00:17:10,897 --> 00:17:14,057 Speaker 4: in our relationship with God for this openness and vulnerability, 319 00:17:14,257 --> 00:17:18,976 Speaker 4: and when in the brokenness Postgenesis three takes place, it 320 00:17:19,017 --> 00:17:22,017 Speaker 4: really leaves us in a wounded state. And so the 321 00:17:22,097 --> 00:17:28,016 Speaker 4: story of Christianity, the story of Jesus, includes the wound, 322 00:17:28,777 --> 00:17:31,936 Speaker 4: but doesn't ultimately stay there. At the end of it, 323 00:17:32,097 --> 00:17:35,216 Speaker 4: cross to bear and being buried in a borrowed tomb, 324 00:17:35,737 --> 00:17:39,057 Speaker 4: there's a resurrection and this is what we believe fundamentally 325 00:17:39,057 --> 00:17:42,936 Speaker 4: about what's real in the world. I really feel like 326 00:17:43,017 --> 00:17:48,177 Speaker 4: my role as a worship leader is to create environments 327 00:17:48,217 --> 00:17:51,657 Speaker 4: where the fire of God is experienced in the church. 328 00:17:52,657 --> 00:17:56,496 Speaker 4: So I flip it on its head and I say, 329 00:17:56,697 --> 00:18:01,216 Speaker 4: sometimes I think about the way my kids will describe me. 330 00:18:02,337 --> 00:18:03,257 Speaker 1: What was your dad like? 331 00:18:04,297 --> 00:18:08,417 Speaker 4: And I hope they say, well, you know, he loved 332 00:18:08,457 --> 00:18:12,177 Speaker 4: mom a lot, and he washed dishes at home and 333 00:18:12,977 --> 00:18:17,897 Speaker 4: cooked this amazing lasagna, came to our games and it 334 00:18:17,937 --> 00:18:20,977 Speaker 4: was loud. And then they might ask, like, what would 335 00:18:20,977 --> 00:18:23,857 Speaker 4: your dad do for a living? Well, my dad sang 336 00:18:23,897 --> 00:18:27,537 Speaker 4: songs at church, and it's crazy what would happen when 337 00:18:27,537 --> 00:18:31,297 Speaker 4: he did that. People would sing loud, and there was 338 00:18:31,337 --> 00:18:35,617 Speaker 4: this beautiful presence that would come of the Lord. You know, 339 00:18:35,737 --> 00:18:38,457 Speaker 4: his people gathered together and sang together. And if you 340 00:18:38,537 --> 00:18:41,817 Speaker 4: really really pressed him, would your dad do? What was 341 00:18:41,857 --> 00:18:44,097 Speaker 4: he like? They might say, Daddy said the church on fire. 342 00:18:44,577 --> 00:18:48,777 Speaker 4: And that's really the legacy that I feel like, by 343 00:18:48,897 --> 00:18:52,297 Speaker 4: God's grace, I want to leave for my boys. Now, 344 00:18:52,617 --> 00:18:54,577 Speaker 4: the question is, what would you do if you burned 345 00:18:54,577 --> 00:18:59,057 Speaker 4: it to the ground. Well, we all go through seasons 346 00:18:59,057 --> 00:19:03,696 Speaker 4: of brokenness. We all go through seasons where we feel 347 00:19:03,697 --> 00:19:06,497 Speaker 4: like we've let God down, we feel like we've let 348 00:19:06,497 --> 00:19:11,537 Speaker 4: ourselves down. I think I would just say that I've 349 00:19:11,577 --> 00:19:18,137 Speaker 4: had those seasons, and it's very, very important to hear 350 00:19:18,217 --> 00:19:21,417 Speaker 4: the voice of the Good Shepherd speaking to you in 351 00:19:21,457 --> 00:19:25,937 Speaker 4: the midst of your brokenness, when you're wounded in the sanctuary, 352 00:19:26,097 --> 00:19:28,537 Speaker 4: when the thing that you hold most dear burns to 353 00:19:28,577 --> 00:19:31,497 Speaker 4: the ground, God meets you in restorative place. 354 00:19:34,137 --> 00:19:37,697 Speaker 2: To learn more about Michael Charles Olsen, visit Michael Charles 355 00:19:37,737 --> 00:19:40,137 Speaker 2: Olsen dot com and be sure to check out his 356 00:19:40,217 --> 00:19:43,017 Speaker 2: new book, Daddy Set the Church on Fire, A Journey 357 00:19:43,057 --> 00:19:46,577 Speaker 2: toward Restoration at your favorite retailer. If you'd like to 358 00:19:46,617 --> 00:19:49,657 Speaker 2: hear more stories about restoration, check out our interview with 359 00:19:49,697 --> 00:19:57,537 Speaker 2: Becky Thompson. Next time on the Jesus Calling podcast, we'll 360 00:19:57,577 --> 00:20:00,777 Speaker 2: hear from pastor, coach and consultant Jeff Hamilton, who has 361 00:20:00,817 --> 00:20:03,537 Speaker 2: spent decades helping dads become more intentional parents. 362 00:20:04,857 --> 00:20:11,337 Speaker 5: Fatherhood isn't about perfection, It's about being present and about 363 00:20:11,537 --> 00:20:15,617 Speaker 5: partnering with what God is doing in the lives of 364 00:20:15,657 --> 00:20:18,097 Speaker 5: those that He has entrusted to you. 365 00:20:26,857 --> 00:20:29,377 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 366 00:20:29,457 --> 00:20:33,297 Speaker 2: podcast on the Live Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring 367 00:20:33,337 --> 00:20:35,897 Speaker 2: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 368 00:20:36,257 --> 00:20:39,936 Speaker 2: and how prayer and a relationship with God transform their lives. 369 00:20:40,737 --> 00:20:44,097 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 370 00:20:44,137 --> 00:20:47,417 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 371 00:20:47,537 --> 00:20:51,697 Speaker 2: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 372 00:20:52,017 --> 00:20:55,537 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 373 00:20:55,537 --> 00:20:58,417 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com.