1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,719 S1: Welcome to A gathering of the heart. It's a radio destination, 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,560 S1: I know, but it is also a place of hope 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,040 S1: and joy and laughter mixed with sorrow and grief at times. 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,560 S1: It's a place where the broken and wounded come with 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,800 S1: hurts and struggles and problems. Those who have experienced experienced 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,400 S1: a victory can detail it here as well, and those 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,080 S1: who have been through a loss can be free to share. 8 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,920 S1: It's a place where you don't just find answers to questions. 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,720 S1: I hope you do find answers here, but not just answers. 10 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,680 S1: In fact, you may find more questions to add to 11 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,040 S1: the pile that you already have. I got a bunch 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,440 S1: of them. How about you? Life is filled with questions 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,520 S1: and questions beg an answer and there is only one 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,920 S1: capital a answer in the world. And I believe his 15 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,000 S1: name is Jesus. Today at the radio backyard fence called 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,240 S1: Chris Fabry Live, I want you to meet Tyrone and 17 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:05,729 S1: Lorraine And Natalie and Dale and Jesus and the deacon. Well, 18 00:01:05,730 --> 00:01:08,890 S1: at least the person who portrays Jesus. Let's put it 19 00:01:08,890 --> 00:01:12,210 S1: that way. And and the conundrum that all of these 20 00:01:12,209 --> 00:01:17,250 S1: people faced together at Christmas. If you are a person 21 00:01:17,250 --> 00:01:20,490 S1: who has ever planned something and you worked hard at 22 00:01:20,490 --> 00:01:22,490 S1: the thing you had planned, and then you had that 23 00:01:22,490 --> 00:01:26,649 S1: thing kind of fall apart in some way because of 24 00:01:26,650 --> 00:01:30,610 S1: something that went wrong, or someone who made the thing 25 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:35,690 S1: go wrong. Join us and tell me your story. What 26 00:01:35,690 --> 00:01:39,370 S1: happened that you didn't expect was the thing that happened. 27 00:01:39,410 --> 00:01:44,569 S1: Actually better? Well, that's how we began a program in 2016. 28 00:01:44,569 --> 00:01:48,170 S1: And today on Chris Fabry live on Christmas Day. God 29 00:01:48,170 --> 00:01:51,250 S1: bless us, everyone. You are going to enjoy it again. 30 00:01:51,250 --> 00:01:53,690 S1: Or if you've never heard it for the very first time, 31 00:01:53,690 --> 00:01:57,210 S1: Merry Christmas! Welcome to our celebration of the good thing 32 00:01:57,210 --> 00:02:00,580 S1: God did for us that we found in a manger 33 00:02:00,580 --> 00:02:04,740 S1: that the angels sang about. And that led to a 34 00:02:04,740 --> 00:02:07,620 S1: cross on Calvary. What you're about to hear is a 35 00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:10,299 S1: story program. I wrote a story that was published in 36 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:12,660 S1: a magazine. I read it on the air, and then 37 00:02:12,660 --> 00:02:16,100 S1: we opened the phone lines for response. We never know 38 00:02:16,139 --> 00:02:18,339 S1: what's going to happen with one of these, but every 39 00:02:18,340 --> 00:02:21,380 S1: time we do it, something good happens. And that's what 40 00:02:21,419 --> 00:02:24,820 S1: happened this day. One of the main questions addressed in 41 00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:26,940 S1: this story is, do you have the courage to go 42 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:31,660 S1: with God in something you had not planned for your life? 43 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:35,060 S1: Do you have the faith to believe that something you're 44 00:02:35,060 --> 00:02:38,739 S1: walking through right now is part of God's plan, and 45 00:02:38,740 --> 00:02:43,540 S1: that you can go with him through it? I hope 46 00:02:43,540 --> 00:02:45,740 S1: if you're going through something today that you don't want 47 00:02:45,740 --> 00:02:49,660 S1: in your life, that you'll listen up. The other thing 48 00:02:49,660 --> 00:02:51,540 S1: I'd love for you to do is to go to 49 00:02:51,580 --> 00:02:54,859 S1: the website. Today, amidst all of the tinsel and the 50 00:02:55,020 --> 00:02:57,840 S1: the toys and the wrapping paper and all of that 51 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,280 S1: that's going on in your house and and maybe a 52 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,720 S1: little bit of noise, or maybe there's some silence in 53 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,000 S1: your house today and you're having a hard time with that. 54 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,480 S1: Go to Chris Fabry live. We have some great resources 55 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,280 S1: there for you, but there's a way for you to 56 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,720 S1: support us. And for one more week, we are offering 57 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,560 S1: the Lehman's book, Hosanna in Excelsis Hymns and Devotions for 58 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,040 S1: the Christmas Season. This will be for the next Christmas season. 59 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:30,640 S1: Go to that website. Chris. Chris. Org and thanks for 60 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:35,240 S1: your support at the Radio Backyard fence. Earlier this year, 61 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,680 S1: I was asked to write some short stories for LifeWay 62 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,120 S1: and their Mature Living magazine. I've gone from writing for 63 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,480 S1: Adventures in Odyssey to Mature Living, and I'm proud of it. 64 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,920 S1: And one of the first questions I had was, well, okay, 65 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,200 S1: so you want me to write some fictional stories? And 66 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,130 S1: I looked at what some of the other writers had 67 00:03:56,130 --> 00:03:59,370 S1: done before and what they focused on. And I asked, what, 68 00:03:59,530 --> 00:04:00,970 S1: what is it that you want? And they said, well, 69 00:04:01,010 --> 00:04:02,610 S1: first of all, we want a good story. We want 70 00:04:02,650 --> 00:04:05,450 S1: a story that people can get into. You know, this 71 00:04:05,450 --> 00:04:10,650 S1: is just 1300 words, 1500 words, something that has people 72 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:14,610 S1: of varying ages involved in it, preferably mature adults with 73 00:04:14,610 --> 00:04:18,450 S1: some younger children or younger adults or children. They could 74 00:04:18,450 --> 00:04:21,210 S1: be in there. And I wrote one story about an 75 00:04:21,210 --> 00:04:24,450 S1: old guy selling a car to a young woman and 76 00:04:24,450 --> 00:04:27,810 S1: teaching her how to dicker with him over the price. 77 00:04:27,970 --> 00:04:31,650 S1: And most of these come from real experience. Uh, we 78 00:04:31,690 --> 00:04:36,050 S1: were selling a car once. My daughter was driving around, and, um. 79 00:04:36,410 --> 00:04:39,089 S1: And a teenage girl came with her dad to look 80 00:04:39,089 --> 00:04:42,730 S1: at this Ford that, uh, that we were we were selling. 81 00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:46,770 S1: And they drove it together, and she liked it, and 82 00:04:46,770 --> 00:04:49,290 S1: it was her money. And so the dad let her 83 00:04:49,330 --> 00:04:51,970 S1: just kind of talk about everything, and she said, okay, 84 00:04:52,010 --> 00:04:53,770 S1: I like it, I'll take it. And I said, well, 85 00:04:53,810 --> 00:04:57,659 S1: wait a minute. You got somebody like me, you got 86 00:04:57,660 --> 00:05:00,100 S1: to negotiate, you got to dicker with me. And she said, well, 87 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:02,620 S1: what do you mean? I said, well, okay, come over here. 88 00:05:02,620 --> 00:05:04,700 S1: Look at this. Ding right here. This happened when my 89 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:08,740 S1: daughter backed into, so here's this cosmetic thing that happened. 90 00:05:08,740 --> 00:05:11,460 S1: And you can say, now you have the price on 91 00:05:11,460 --> 00:05:16,539 S1: this as excellent or, or good. And this ding here, 92 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:19,220 S1: you know, and the dad kind of smiled and she 93 00:05:19,220 --> 00:05:21,060 S1: didn't have to pay as much. And I felt better 94 00:05:21,060 --> 00:05:24,140 S1: about the whole thing. So I, I wrote a story 95 00:05:24,140 --> 00:05:28,980 S1: about that, um, the the conversation, the writer and the devil, 96 00:05:29,020 --> 00:05:32,340 S1: you know, the devil talking with the writer. Uh, that 97 00:05:32,339 --> 00:05:35,500 S1: was a part of this, you know, the short stories 98 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:38,140 S1: that they put in the magazine and somebody wrote and said, 99 00:05:38,180 --> 00:05:40,100 S1: I want to perform that as a drama in our 100 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:42,340 S1: church service. And I thought, well, that's a good use 101 00:05:42,339 --> 00:05:46,580 S1: of that material. And then the other day, I wrote 102 00:05:46,580 --> 00:05:49,620 S1: this story of a couple of it came out a 103 00:05:49,620 --> 00:05:51,820 S1: couple of months ago about a young pastor and an 104 00:05:51,820 --> 00:05:55,350 S1: older pastor, And they're sitting at a diner and they're 105 00:05:55,350 --> 00:05:58,229 S1: talking about, you know, the struggles of being a pastor 106 00:05:58,589 --> 00:06:02,670 S1: and how a simple note card, a three by three 107 00:06:02,710 --> 00:06:05,510 S1: by five card. And what you write on this three 108 00:06:05,550 --> 00:06:09,230 S1: by five card could change your life if you look 109 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:11,790 S1: at it differently. If you look more from a perspective 110 00:06:11,790 --> 00:06:14,790 S1: of thankfulness about the things that God is allowing in 111 00:06:14,790 --> 00:06:19,270 S1: your life. And a reader wrote me, emailed me and 112 00:06:19,270 --> 00:06:22,549 S1: basically said, I read that article. This is what I'm 113 00:06:22,550 --> 00:06:25,630 S1: going through. How do you fill out a card? How 114 00:06:25,630 --> 00:06:29,029 S1: do you fill out a card like this? Which I'm 115 00:06:29,029 --> 00:06:30,710 S1: not sure I had that good of an answer, but 116 00:06:30,710 --> 00:06:34,270 S1: I sure tried. And it points out, I think, the 117 00:06:34,270 --> 00:06:37,790 S1: power of what we do here each day, because really 118 00:06:37,790 --> 00:06:41,830 S1: what we're doing, we're asking questions and we've got special guests, 119 00:06:41,870 --> 00:06:43,670 S1: you know, experts at this, that and the other thing. 120 00:06:43,670 --> 00:06:46,990 S1: But really, what we're doing is telling our story, and 121 00:06:46,990 --> 00:06:50,710 S1: the power of the vulnerability that we have comes out 122 00:06:50,710 --> 00:06:54,450 S1: in those stories, and often it relates to the struggles 123 00:06:54,450 --> 00:06:58,089 S1: that we have that bring us together, that that make 124 00:06:58,089 --> 00:07:01,729 S1: us feel a little less alone or less isolated, that 125 00:07:01,770 --> 00:07:04,450 S1: connect us to what's true about you and about me 126 00:07:04,490 --> 00:07:08,650 S1: and about what we're all going through. A couple of 127 00:07:08,650 --> 00:07:11,970 S1: days ago, we had this conversation about hallmark movies. I've 128 00:07:11,970 --> 00:07:15,610 S1: gotten so many responses to that program. You can hear 129 00:07:15,610 --> 00:07:19,890 S1: it online if you didn't. Chris Fabry lives. And I 130 00:07:19,890 --> 00:07:22,290 S1: was shocked that day to learn that Nate had seen 131 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:25,250 S1: one of the movies we were talking about. Uh, but 132 00:07:25,290 --> 00:07:29,370 S1: the the knock against some of those movies is the 133 00:07:29,410 --> 00:07:34,530 S1: hallmark movies. They don't portray reality. I got an email 134 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:38,050 S1: just before the program saying I heard the the hallmark thing. 135 00:07:38,090 --> 00:07:40,570 S1: I sit down and I cry every time I watch 136 00:07:40,570 --> 00:07:43,250 S1: one of those movies, and I hear my husband sniffling 137 00:07:43,290 --> 00:07:48,410 S1: about second half, too. So I'm not knocking it with 138 00:07:48,410 --> 00:07:52,500 S1: that program. But most people say, yeah, you're right, it's 139 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:57,420 S1: not really reality. They can at times present life as 140 00:07:57,420 --> 00:08:01,900 S1: happily ever after. An equation that's built on. You do this, 141 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:04,260 S1: you do this, you do this, and then you bump 142 00:08:04,260 --> 00:08:07,380 S1: into this person and then boom! Voila. And if you're 143 00:08:07,380 --> 00:08:09,740 S1: not careful, you begin to measure your life by that 144 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:14,700 S1: construct rather than living what you and I have. And 145 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:18,220 S1: that is reality. And after that program, I thought, you know, 146 00:08:18,220 --> 00:08:20,260 S1: some of the the stories that have meant so much 147 00:08:20,260 --> 00:08:22,620 S1: to me. What if I put those in a happily 148 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:24,940 S1: ever after construct? The first one I thought of was 149 00:08:24,940 --> 00:08:29,020 S1: To Kill a mockingbird, and the happily ever after approach 150 00:08:29,020 --> 00:08:32,660 S1: would have Atticus and Maudie marrying or some other eligible 151 00:08:32,660 --> 00:08:36,300 S1: person in makam. So Jem and Scout would have a 152 00:08:36,300 --> 00:08:39,020 S1: mom again, and Mayela would marry one of the Cunninghams 153 00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:42,220 S1: and get out from under her abusive father, and Tom 154 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:46,300 S1: Robinson would be released on appeal very, very quickly and 155 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:48,660 S1: go back to his family. And Boo Radley would get 156 00:08:48,660 --> 00:08:52,390 S1: a prize for having saved the day, and the clan 157 00:08:52,390 --> 00:08:56,750 S1: would be disbanded. Disbanded and all of that. But that's 158 00:08:56,750 --> 00:09:00,550 S1: not how the story ended. And it's because the story 159 00:09:00,550 --> 00:09:05,630 S1: stayed true to real life, or what was experienced at 160 00:09:05,670 --> 00:09:08,350 S1: that time in the South. And that's why it has 161 00:09:08,350 --> 00:09:11,630 S1: so much power and meaning, at least to me today, 162 00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:15,150 S1: because it reflected that reality and it allowed you to 163 00:09:15,190 --> 00:09:19,550 S1: walk through it with this character. Now, I said all 164 00:09:19,550 --> 00:09:22,030 S1: this because I don't have time to tell you all 165 00:09:22,030 --> 00:09:23,949 S1: the story here in this first segment. So I'm going 166 00:09:23,990 --> 00:09:26,190 S1: to take a break. I'm going to come back and 167 00:09:26,190 --> 00:09:28,190 S1: I'm going to read you this story. And I want 168 00:09:28,190 --> 00:09:30,710 S1: you to do this, I want you. The title of 169 00:09:30,710 --> 00:09:35,350 S1: the story is this The Passion of Tyrone Baily. And 170 00:09:35,350 --> 00:09:39,599 S1: I want you to fit your life into 1 or 171 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,030 S1: 2 things. I want you to think about the characters 172 00:09:42,030 --> 00:09:44,550 S1: and see if you fit any of them. If you 173 00:09:45,150 --> 00:09:47,390 S1: if you identify with any of them. And I'll tell 174 00:09:47,390 --> 00:09:54,160 S1: you the four main characters Tyrone, Lorraine, listen for Lorraine, 175 00:09:55,040 --> 00:10:01,800 S1: the Deacon and Natalie and Dale, Tyrone, Lorraine the deacon, 176 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:07,280 S1: Natalie and Dale or or maybe this story will bring 177 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,600 S1: to the surface something that happened to you, where you'd 178 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,080 S1: planned everything out and you had this idea of this 179 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,559 S1: is how it's going to turn out. And it didn't. 180 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,200 S1: It didn't turn out the way you wanted. But what 181 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:26,760 S1: did happen was perhaps redemptive. So think about that as 182 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,880 S1: you hear this story read in our next segment. Remember 183 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,800 S1: today's broadcast is prerecorded. If you hear a phone number, 184 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,240 S1: disregard it. But I want you to hear the response, 185 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,160 S1: not just a story, but hear the response that comes 186 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:54,540 S1: from Tyrone's story. Straight ahead on Moody Radio. Merry Christmas, 187 00:10:54,540 --> 00:10:56,620 S1: and thank you for joining us today at the Radio 188 00:10:56,620 --> 00:10:59,700 S1: Backyard Fence. Chris Fabry here not live with you. This 189 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:03,300 S1: is a pre-recorded broadcast. We're rewinding the tape. We found 190 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:06,860 S1: it in the archives all the way from 2016. I 191 00:11:06,860 --> 00:11:09,220 S1: think it fits right here. And I think this may 192 00:11:09,260 --> 00:11:12,380 S1: be a divine appointment for you today. I hope it is. 193 00:11:12,380 --> 00:11:15,099 S1: I hope you get a lot out of this dramatic 194 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:18,860 S1: reading of a story called The Passion of Tyrone Bailey. 195 00:11:25,820 --> 00:11:28,300 S1: Tyrone Bailey sat on the front pew of Grace Bible 196 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:32,580 S1: Church because that was his assigned seat. He usually sat 197 00:11:32,620 --> 00:11:35,660 S1: with his foster parents, but they were both in the 198 00:11:35,660 --> 00:11:38,980 S1: Christmas pageant, and Tyrone was instructed to be on his 199 00:11:38,980 --> 00:11:42,980 S1: best behavior. Or the deacon who sat behind him would 200 00:11:42,980 --> 00:11:47,750 S1: set him straight. Tyrone had spent four years in foster care, 201 00:11:48,230 --> 00:11:51,030 S1: bouncing from one home to the next, wondering if this 202 00:11:51,030 --> 00:11:55,870 S1: was his lot in life. Natalie and Dale Wright had 203 00:11:55,910 --> 00:11:59,230 S1: taken him in and had daily dealt with the fallout 204 00:11:59,270 --> 00:12:05,150 S1: of his behavior. The play was an elaborate church outreach 205 00:12:05,150 --> 00:12:08,350 S1: that had been in the works for a year. It 206 00:12:08,350 --> 00:12:11,790 S1: was different because it didn't end with the angels singing 207 00:12:11,790 --> 00:12:14,590 S1: at the birth of the baby Jesus. It was a 208 00:12:14,590 --> 00:12:18,390 S1: sweeping view of his life, from cradle to grave and beyond. 209 00:12:19,429 --> 00:12:23,910 S1: Tyrone gasped when real animals were led toward the manger. 210 00:12:24,390 --> 00:12:28,109 S1: He'd never heard of a sheep and goat inside a church. 211 00:12:29,990 --> 00:12:32,670 S1: Of course, before he came to the Wright's, he had 212 00:12:32,670 --> 00:12:35,750 S1: been to church about as much as any barnyard animal. 213 00:12:36,510 --> 00:12:39,030 S1: The Bible stories the Wrights read him each night were 214 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:42,750 S1: as familiar as having his own room and his own bed. 215 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:46,240 S1: He felt a hand on his shoulder, and the deacon 216 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:51,320 S1: behind him squeezed tightly and frowned. Tyrone realized he'd been 217 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,800 S1: swinging his legs and fidgeting through the sermon on the Mount. 218 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,600 S1: He tried to sit still, but a life that bounces 219 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,960 S1: is hard to settle. Tyrone had heard whispers about him. 220 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:08,280 S1: In Sunday school. Teachers used words like troubled and foster 221 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:12,760 S1: child and at risk. He supposed it was because he 222 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:19,000 S1: sometimes bounced into others, sometimes his fists balled before he bounced. 223 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,640 S1: Anger bubbled up and out, and he had a hard 224 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:28,120 S1: time controlling the outbursts on stage. The story moved from 225 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:33,200 S1: peaceful scenes of Jesus teaching and healing to a darkened garden. 226 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,800 S1: Jesus seemed distressed and wiped red from his sweating forehead. 227 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,210 S1: The story got confusing to Tyrone because soldiers arrived and 228 00:13:45,210 --> 00:13:48,329 S1: there was a kiss from one of Jesus friends, and 229 00:13:48,330 --> 00:13:53,370 S1: then a trial that seemed unfair. Then came jeering and 230 00:13:53,370 --> 00:14:00,570 S1: soldiers whipping Jesus. Something stirred inside and Tyrone clenched his fists. 231 00:14:01,690 --> 00:14:04,969 S1: Why would anyone hurt someone who had never done anything wrong? 232 00:14:05,610 --> 00:14:08,970 S1: Jesus had done only good things. He did turn over 233 00:14:08,970 --> 00:14:12,730 S1: some tables, but even that seemed like Jesus was sticking 234 00:14:12,730 --> 00:14:18,290 S1: up for someone. Though Tyrone wasn't sure whom. Another squeeze 235 00:14:18,290 --> 00:14:22,210 S1: from the man behind him. They mashed a crown of 236 00:14:22,210 --> 00:14:27,370 S1: thorns on Jesus head. Tyrone dutifully sat back and watched 237 00:14:27,890 --> 00:14:31,810 S1: as people yelled terrible things and they brought out a cross. 238 00:14:32,850 --> 00:14:37,170 S1: Tyrone brushed away something wet on his cheek. Jesus was 239 00:14:37,170 --> 00:14:40,890 S1: bounced around by the crowd and soldiers and religious people 240 00:14:40,890 --> 00:14:44,940 S1: and their fancy robes. When they laid the cross down 241 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:47,620 S1: and put Jesus on it, and one man picked up 242 00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:51,300 S1: a wooden mallet and a long nail, it was more 243 00:14:51,300 --> 00:14:58,100 S1: than Tyrone could take. Lorraine Hegstrom watched the unfolding drama 244 00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:02,820 S1: on stage with a smile. All the work, all the 245 00:15:02,820 --> 00:15:07,780 S1: coordination of costumes and actors, it was truly happening. Every 246 00:15:07,820 --> 00:15:11,420 S1: pew was full. There were visitors who hadn't attended since 247 00:15:11,420 --> 00:15:15,540 S1: Easter and they were seeing the gospel. There were flaws, 248 00:15:15,580 --> 00:15:17,780 S1: of course, like the sheep who had a mind of 249 00:15:17,780 --> 00:15:20,500 S1: his own, and one of the wise men who stepped 250 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:23,580 S1: on another's robe and revealed a t shirt and tennis 251 00:15:23,580 --> 00:15:27,820 S1: shoes underneath. But on the whole, everything was going well 252 00:15:28,940 --> 00:15:36,620 S1: until Tyrone Bailey ruined the entire production. Tyrone was difficult 253 00:15:37,180 --> 00:15:40,920 S1: and Lorraine hoped the rights would see reality and release 254 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:45,880 S1: him to the system. He disrupted everything. Why couldn't the 255 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,640 S1: rights be content? Having raised their own kids, why did 256 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,520 S1: they need to fill the empty nest? When Natalie Wright 257 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,080 S1: had suggested they include Tyrone as a shepherd or Townsperson 258 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,080 S1: number 17, Lorraine drew the line if you want to 259 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,880 S1: mess up your lives with the Tasmanian devil, that's your business. 260 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,040 S1: But I will not have him ruin our Christmas passion play. 261 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,960 S1: Natalie and Dale had said they understood, but they acted 262 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,200 S1: as if Lorraine had pulled a rug out from under 263 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:21,080 S1: them and now they needed hip replacements. I just don't understand, 264 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,479 S1: Lorraine had told her husband. That boy is nothing but trouble. 265 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,200 S1: They're just giving him a chance, her husband had said. 266 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:34,800 S1: Let him have a chance somewhere else. The church hushed 267 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:41,690 S1: as Jesus trudged toward Golgotha. Lorraine noticed Tyrone swaying and 268 00:16:41,690 --> 00:16:43,690 S1: then a man in the second row reached out to 269 00:16:43,730 --> 00:16:48,930 S1: still him. Ethereal music began a recurring string pad on 270 00:16:48,930 --> 00:16:53,210 S1: the synth played in A minor. Things looked under control 271 00:16:53,210 --> 00:16:56,770 S1: until a centurion raised his wooden mallet to drive a 272 00:16:56,770 --> 00:17:01,690 S1: nail into Jesus hand. Tyrone leapt from the pew and 273 00:17:01,690 --> 00:17:05,649 S1: raced on stage. Lorraine had never seen a human being 274 00:17:05,650 --> 00:17:10,290 S1: move as fast and with such purpose. Stop! Tyrone yelled, 275 00:17:10,609 --> 00:17:14,850 S1: and everything did. The music, the people on stage. The 276 00:17:14,850 --> 00:17:21,210 S1: congregation sat stunned. He didn't do anything wrong. The centurion 277 00:17:21,210 --> 00:17:26,530 S1: looked at the child. His mallet held high. Tyrone knelt, 278 00:17:26,890 --> 00:17:29,570 S1: holding up a hand to keep the centurion at bay. 279 00:17:30,730 --> 00:17:34,210 S1: Are you okay? Tyrone said to Jesus. Come on, I'll 280 00:17:34,210 --> 00:17:39,060 S1: help you up. Jesus looked as bewildered as everyone else. 281 00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:43,820 S1: The rain shook her head and closed her eyes. When 282 00:17:43,820 --> 00:17:47,180 S1: she could look again, Dale Wright, dressed in a shepherd's 283 00:17:47,180 --> 00:17:51,620 S1: robe and sandals, reached for the boy's hand. Tyrone would 284 00:17:51,619 --> 00:17:56,420 S1: not be deterred in his quest to save Jesus. An 285 00:17:56,420 --> 00:17:59,500 S1: angel appeared with gold wings and stood before the boy. 286 00:17:59,859 --> 00:18:04,820 S1: Natalie Wright whispered something that the microphones didn't catch. I'm 287 00:18:04,820 --> 00:18:08,900 S1: not leaving till he's okay, Tyrone shouted. This ain't right. 288 00:18:09,900 --> 00:18:13,180 S1: He looked at the audience. You shouldn't treat people this 289 00:18:13,180 --> 00:18:17,500 S1: way or let them be treated like this. It was 290 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:21,300 S1: just a play. It was just a representation of what 291 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:26,300 S1: had happened to Jesus. But to Tyrone, it was real. 292 00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:31,540 S1: How many times had Lorraine read this story? Heard this story, 293 00:18:31,580 --> 00:18:36,020 S1: seen this story depicted without it touching her? She had 294 00:18:36,109 --> 00:18:39,070 S1: been through it a thousand times and had never once 295 00:18:39,109 --> 00:18:43,630 S1: thought to respond this way. No one knew what to do. 296 00:18:44,590 --> 00:18:47,750 S1: They couldn't continue with a little boy standing there threatening 297 00:18:47,750 --> 00:18:53,990 S1: the Romans. Finally, Jesus sat up. He had fake blood 298 00:18:53,990 --> 00:18:59,310 S1: all over. Breaking character. He gathered the boy in and 299 00:18:59,350 --> 00:19:04,310 S1: hugged him. Thank you. Tyrone stepped back and took his 300 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:07,190 S1: hand to help him up. Come on. I won't let 301 00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:13,990 S1: them hurt you anymore. I can't son. Why not? Because 302 00:19:13,990 --> 00:19:17,149 S1: I need to do this. He pointed at the cross 303 00:19:17,150 --> 00:19:22,030 S1: on the stage. Tyrone squinted and cocked his head as 304 00:19:22,030 --> 00:19:26,310 S1: if the words made no sense. I'm doing this for you. 305 00:19:26,590 --> 00:19:30,630 S1: Jesus said. I never asked you to do nothing for me. 306 00:19:31,109 --> 00:19:37,010 S1: This is not fair. I know. Please sit down. Watch 307 00:19:37,010 --> 00:19:42,810 S1: what happens next. The words seemed to calm Tyrone, and 308 00:19:42,810 --> 00:19:47,489 S1: for a moment Lorraine thought everything would be okay. The 309 00:19:47,490 --> 00:19:51,410 S1: boy turned and looked at the steps and then shook 310 00:19:51,410 --> 00:19:55,810 S1: his head and balled his fists and turned back. I 311 00:19:55,810 --> 00:20:01,930 S1: don't want to see nobody else get killed. Jesus looked 312 00:20:01,930 --> 00:20:09,810 S1: at the centurion. The centurion put down his mallet. An 313 00:20:09,810 --> 00:20:16,369 S1: angel's wings jiggled with emotion. A shepherd sat on the 314 00:20:16,369 --> 00:20:18,409 S1: first step of the stage and put his head in 315 00:20:18,410 --> 00:20:23,490 S1: his hands. The congregation watched as if this were planned, 316 00:20:23,490 --> 00:20:26,290 S1: as if this were some, or there were some deeper 317 00:20:26,290 --> 00:20:32,330 S1: meaning to the passion on display. Lorraine stepped out from 318 00:20:32,330 --> 00:20:36,660 S1: behind the sound booth and walked forward. Each step felt 319 00:20:36,660 --> 00:20:41,660 S1: like another cobblestone from the Via Dolorosa. She took the 320 00:20:41,660 --> 00:20:44,340 S1: stairs one at a time to the stage and knelt 321 00:20:44,340 --> 00:20:49,340 S1: beside Tyrone and looked into his eyes. It was then 322 00:20:49,340 --> 00:20:54,379 S1: that she understood. She looked at Natalie and Dale, who 323 00:20:54,380 --> 00:21:00,140 S1: were both in puddles. I'm so sorry, Natalie mouthed, wiping 324 00:21:00,140 --> 00:21:04,939 S1: at the streaked makeup. Lorraine shook her head. Don't be. 325 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:11,620 S1: Lorraine looked at Tyrone and hugged him tightly. She was 326 00:21:11,619 --> 00:21:14,460 S1: glad his assigned seat was in the front with better 327 00:21:14,460 --> 00:21:20,220 S1: access to the Savior. She whispered into his ear. Thank you. 328 00:21:21,740 --> 00:21:25,940 S1: It felt like a prayer or an answer to one. 329 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:27,400 S1: There's probably a Tyrone in your life, or maybe your Tyrone. 330 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,419 S1: There's probably a Lorraine in your life. Or maybe you 331 00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:35,700 S1: are the one who is trying to get everything all right, 332 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:39,300 S1: everything in its place. And then something like this happens 333 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,100 S1: and you realize it's not about this at all. It's 334 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:47,780 S1: about him or her or the deacon trying so hard 335 00:23:48,340 --> 00:23:52,500 S1: to keep this fidgeting little boy in place. And he 336 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:57,060 S1: won't be, because something up there touched something in here 337 00:23:57,060 --> 00:24:00,060 S1: and he wouldn't be held back. And a little bit 338 00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:03,580 S1: of the pain of his own life comes leaking out 339 00:24:03,580 --> 00:24:10,420 S1: with that. Maybe you're Natalie and Dale, the Wrights. Maybe 340 00:24:10,420 --> 00:24:14,020 S1: you have made a sacrifice and done something. And you, 341 00:24:15,100 --> 00:24:18,859 S1: you haven't been necessarily lifted up by those around you 342 00:24:18,859 --> 00:24:22,980 S1: that you thought would encourage you, that you thought would say, hey, 343 00:24:22,980 --> 00:24:25,140 S1: you're doing a good thing here. How can we come 344 00:24:25,140 --> 00:24:30,750 S1: alongside you and help you? Are you anybody in that story? 345 00:24:31,670 --> 00:24:35,390 S1: Or maybe there's something that you have done that, uh, 346 00:24:35,390 --> 00:24:38,030 S1: that you thought, oh, if we just if I do this, this, 347 00:24:38,030 --> 00:24:41,070 S1: this and this, then it's going to be great and everything. 348 00:24:41,869 --> 00:24:44,869 S1: Courier and I, it's going to, it's going to touch 349 00:24:44,869 --> 00:24:48,230 S1: the heart chord and then we can go have dinner. 350 00:24:50,230 --> 00:24:54,710 S1: Or maybe it's dinner itself and something went wrong. It's 351 00:24:54,710 --> 00:24:59,390 S1: just it was just a total disaster, quote unquote. But 352 00:24:59,390 --> 00:25:04,030 S1: in the disaster, something beautiful happened. I saw something the 353 00:25:04,030 --> 00:25:07,670 S1: other day on Facebook. It was of a little boy 354 00:25:07,670 --> 00:25:09,790 S1: who ran onto the mat to, I think it was 355 00:25:09,790 --> 00:25:13,030 S1: his sister who was who was wrestling, and he saw 356 00:25:13,030 --> 00:25:16,270 S1: what was going on. He ran onto the mat to 357 00:25:16,310 --> 00:25:20,590 S1: take up for her. It's the same story. It's the 358 00:25:20,590 --> 00:25:24,110 S1: same idea. We're going to take a quick break here, 359 00:25:24,109 --> 00:25:26,830 S1: and when we come back, I want you to hear 360 00:25:26,830 --> 00:25:30,240 S1: the response that we got to that reading of that 361 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:34,280 S1: story on a Christmas Day edition of Chris Fabry Live. 362 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,760 S1: Merry Christmas from all of us behind the scenes here. 363 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,360 S1: Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for listening. Wherever 364 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,960 S1: you are today, whatever your celebration, maybe you're driving to 365 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,720 S1: somebody's house. I hope this story will move you again 366 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:52,440 S1: this year here on Christmas Day. More straight ahead on 367 00:25:52,480 --> 00:26:05,880 S1: Moody Radio. Merry Christmas from all of us at Chris 368 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,560 S1: Fabry live and Moody radio all. I hope this is 369 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,880 S1: helping in your celebration. This story about Tyrone. We'll get 370 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,920 S1: right back to the response to that here, but I 371 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,960 S1: want to reiterate, I mentioned a little earlier that we 372 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,800 S1: need your help in December. And I know on Christmas Day, 373 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,640 S1: you know, you're not thinking about the ministry that you're 374 00:26:25,770 --> 00:26:28,330 S1: going to support. But if you're listening to this program 375 00:26:28,770 --> 00:26:31,570 S1: and you say, boy, this is this is touching something 376 00:26:31,570 --> 00:26:34,930 S1: deep inside, maybe this is something that you can get 377 00:26:34,930 --> 00:26:40,050 S1: behind and help us out as we end 2025. If 378 00:26:40,090 --> 00:26:42,530 S1: you give a gift of any size each month, you 379 00:26:42,530 --> 00:26:46,770 S1: get my back fence post every Thursday. We're taking Christmas 380 00:26:46,770 --> 00:26:49,489 S1: and New Year's off with that. For those of you 381 00:26:49,490 --> 00:26:51,770 S1: who are back, fence partners with us. But if you 382 00:26:51,770 --> 00:26:54,689 S1: go to Chris. Org scroll down. You'll see how you 383 00:26:54,690 --> 00:26:57,609 S1: can be a friend or partner with this today. Chris 384 00:26:57,650 --> 00:27:03,290 S1: Fabry live and thank you for your support. We start 385 00:27:03,290 --> 00:27:05,530 S1: the response with Ron in Iowa. 386 00:27:06,369 --> 00:27:08,450 S2: Well, that reminded me of a time when I was 387 00:27:08,450 --> 00:27:14,130 S2: a kid in 1959 when they released Ben-Hur in the theaters. 388 00:27:14,290 --> 00:27:18,210 S2: I was like ten. And, uh, at the crucifixion scene, 389 00:27:18,210 --> 00:27:20,890 S2: I mean, the whole thing was, uh, an interesting story, 390 00:27:20,930 --> 00:27:23,889 S2: Ben-Hur and all of that. What happened? But at the 391 00:27:24,060 --> 00:27:27,420 S2: crucifixion scene, something really happened inside me. I sat there 392 00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:32,060 S2: in the theater seat and I said, I cried tears, 393 00:27:32,660 --> 00:27:35,220 S2: and then I cried out. I said, they can't do 394 00:27:35,220 --> 00:27:38,459 S2: that to him. And I just I didn't understand it. 395 00:27:38,460 --> 00:27:41,500 S2: I don't know where that came from in my heart. Obviously, 396 00:27:41,540 --> 00:27:43,980 S2: I have an idea. Now, looking back on it, being 397 00:27:43,980 --> 00:27:47,340 S2: a follower of Jesus for many years, that's always stuck 398 00:27:47,340 --> 00:27:50,379 S2: with me. How that responded resonated in me. 399 00:27:51,980 --> 00:27:55,300 S1: Isn't that something Ron and the innocence of children and 400 00:27:55,300 --> 00:27:57,740 S1: how they can look at that. Look at things that 401 00:27:57,740 --> 00:28:00,620 S1: you and I look at and you know, to us, well, 402 00:28:00,619 --> 00:28:02,500 S1: this is, you know, we've seen this story or this 403 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:04,580 S1: is the way the world works. You know, we kind 404 00:28:04,619 --> 00:28:08,500 S1: of fit it into whatever it is that we've lived through. 405 00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:10,860 S1: And we, you know, we can kind of compartmentalize. Well, 406 00:28:10,859 --> 00:28:13,700 S1: this goes over here and that's politics. And that's the 407 00:28:13,700 --> 00:28:16,100 S1: Roman governor. And that's the you know, they were doing 408 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:17,740 S1: their job and this, that and the other thing. And 409 00:28:17,740 --> 00:28:21,940 S1: to a little kid like you were it's it's no, no, 410 00:28:22,380 --> 00:28:24,880 S1: there's injustice here, right? 411 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,479 S2: Well, there's more to it than that. I guess I 412 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,080 S2: missed the most important part of it. I was with 413 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:34,960 S2: my foster family, the Melvilles at the time. I'm not 414 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,560 S2: a Melville now, but I was in and out of 415 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,840 S2: foster care for a bit and finally got adopted by 416 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:44,200 S2: a wonderful family. The story itself is remarkable, but that's 417 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:45,640 S2: for another time. 418 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:51,960 S1: Yeah. Wow. No, you didn't say that. Yeah. So? So 419 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:55,480 S1: it does the being bounced around you. You kind of 420 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:56,640 S1: experience that. 421 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,840 S2: Yeah I was, I was I lived with a family 422 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,080 S2: in McPherson somehow or other that figured into the story 423 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:07,360 S2: at one point because of something you described in the story, 424 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,600 S2: it became a reality in my memory. As I look 425 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,440 S2: back on the bedroom where I was living with the 426 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,800 S2: McPherson at that time. I don't know how it worked out, 427 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,959 S2: but you're the storyteller. I'm not. 428 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,330 S1: Well, you know what? I thought of that. That's to me, 429 00:29:22,330 --> 00:29:26,690 S1: that is the most striking part of The Blind Side, 430 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:30,210 S1: that story. And then the movie that they made when 431 00:29:30,210 --> 00:29:32,770 S1: he comes in, the football player, you know, who doesn't 432 00:29:32,770 --> 00:29:36,770 S1: have a home, basically, he comes in and he looks 433 00:29:36,770 --> 00:29:40,170 S1: at the room and says, I've never had one of 434 00:29:40,170 --> 00:29:42,650 S1: these before. And she thinks, you know, she thinks he's 435 00:29:42,650 --> 00:29:45,530 S1: talking about the room. And he said, no bed. I've 436 00:29:45,530 --> 00:29:50,730 S1: never had a bed of my own before. Um, and that, 437 00:29:50,770 --> 00:29:53,730 S1: you know, all that kind of stuff just kind of 438 00:29:53,770 --> 00:29:56,570 S1: leaks out. I'm so glad that you heard that, Ron. 439 00:29:56,570 --> 00:30:02,290 S1: And that you called about Ben-Hur. Tiffany is in Illinois. Tiffany, 440 00:30:02,330 --> 00:30:03,490 S1: what did you want to say today? 441 00:30:03,970 --> 00:30:08,170 S3: Hi. It just brought to my mind, uh, a situation 442 00:30:08,170 --> 00:30:10,090 S3: that happened to me when I was in college. I 443 00:30:10,090 --> 00:30:14,410 S3: was on a drama team, and we would visit various churches. 444 00:30:14,730 --> 00:30:17,330 S3: And our presentation was kind of a mixture of a 445 00:30:17,330 --> 00:30:21,060 S3: written script by a drama coach as well as Scripture, 446 00:30:21,580 --> 00:30:24,620 S3: and we would just present kind of as the sermon, 447 00:30:24,660 --> 00:30:28,700 S3: the presentation. And we had made the mistake during one 448 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:31,700 S3: of the practice of laughing over a small part of 449 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:35,140 S3: one of the lines, something struck us funny, and we 450 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:38,900 S3: laughed during practice in our coach, I remember being very 451 00:30:38,900 --> 00:30:42,580 S3: firm with us, telling us, you know, don't laugh in 452 00:30:42,580 --> 00:30:46,620 S3: practice or you'll laugh in performance was her thing. And 453 00:30:46,620 --> 00:30:50,100 S3: so it happened. We were at a church and we 454 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:54,340 S3: were giving this presentation, and the guy said the line 455 00:30:54,340 --> 00:30:58,140 S3: that had kind of gotten us tickled, and I could 456 00:30:58,140 --> 00:31:01,100 S3: feel my shoulders start to shake. I could feel the 457 00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:04,380 S3: giggles coming on, and I thought, oh no, no, no, no. 458 00:31:04,420 --> 00:31:07,060 S3: And I could see some of the other people on 459 00:31:07,060 --> 00:31:11,980 S3: the team starting to shake. And then we just it all. 460 00:31:12,020 --> 00:31:15,420 S3: We lost control. Everybody was kind of giggling and crying, 461 00:31:15,460 --> 00:31:18,780 S3: and then the crowd was giggling and crying and it 462 00:31:18,870 --> 00:31:21,750 S3: just except for our drama coach. I could see her 463 00:31:21,750 --> 00:31:25,270 S3: and she was not giggling and crying and I thought, oh, 464 00:31:25,350 --> 00:31:29,510 S3: my lands. And so at the end of the presentation 465 00:31:29,510 --> 00:31:33,070 S3: or drama, coach was really getting onto us. But a 466 00:31:33,070 --> 00:31:36,790 S3: lady from the crowd came up and she said, thank you, 467 00:31:37,430 --> 00:31:40,190 S3: and we didn't know what she meant. And she said 468 00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:44,230 S3: her husband had died earlier that year and she just 469 00:31:44,230 --> 00:31:47,670 S3: hadn't had an opportunity to laugh anymore. And she felt 470 00:31:47,670 --> 00:31:51,470 S3: like God had provided that for her. And we were 471 00:31:51,470 --> 00:31:57,310 S3: just blown away by that, that it was our mistake. 472 00:31:57,310 --> 00:32:01,110 S3: We felt, you know, and our drama coach definitely felt. 473 00:32:01,470 --> 00:32:06,750 S3: But God used that to encourage someone, you know, and 474 00:32:06,750 --> 00:32:10,230 S3: we we had planned everything to go just according to script. 475 00:32:10,550 --> 00:32:11,390 S1: Right? Right. 476 00:32:11,430 --> 00:32:14,470 S3: But it didn't. And now I think, you know, we 477 00:32:14,470 --> 00:32:16,350 S3: were all thankful that it didn't. 478 00:32:17,850 --> 00:32:21,130 S1: You know, I think Tiffany, that is that's so much 479 00:32:21,130 --> 00:32:25,690 S1: like life. And and if you had, if you had 480 00:32:25,730 --> 00:32:31,290 S1: beaten yourself up for laughing and, you know, stayed there, 481 00:32:31,410 --> 00:32:35,450 S1: you would have missed what happened in her heart and 482 00:32:35,930 --> 00:32:38,970 S1: her the release of just being. And that's a real gift, 483 00:32:39,010 --> 00:32:41,210 S1: you know, to be able to go through a time 484 00:32:41,210 --> 00:32:44,810 S1: of grief or loss or struggle when you just you 485 00:32:44,850 --> 00:32:48,970 S1: can't feel any emotion but that and then to be 486 00:32:49,010 --> 00:32:53,290 S1: able to just let loose and laugh with other people 487 00:32:53,290 --> 00:32:55,930 S1: as well as laugh yourself. Usually what that kind of 488 00:32:55,930 --> 00:33:00,050 S1: laughter happens, uh, at unguarded moments, and it winds up 489 00:33:00,050 --> 00:33:04,170 S1: in you having tears. Not tears of sadness, but just 490 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:07,850 S1: tears of this release of all the stuff that's underneath 491 00:33:08,130 --> 00:33:09,450 S1: that needs to come out. 492 00:33:09,930 --> 00:33:14,610 S3: Yeah. Yeah, that's that's what happens, I think. 493 00:33:14,650 --> 00:33:16,180 S4: Yeah. Uh. 494 00:33:16,580 --> 00:33:19,500 S1: Tiffany, I'm so glad you shared that story. And you know, 495 00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:23,260 S1: I agree with your drama teacher. No, you can't laugh there. 496 00:33:23,260 --> 00:33:27,900 S1: But God can use even that. Even that. Uh, let 497 00:33:27,900 --> 00:33:31,020 S1: me go to Akron, Ohio. Charlene, what do you want 498 00:33:31,020 --> 00:33:31,700 S1: to say today? 499 00:33:32,340 --> 00:33:36,540 S5: Hi, Chris Fabry. I have been listening to this radio 500 00:33:36,540 --> 00:33:40,180 S5: station for years and I have never, ever called in. 501 00:33:40,420 --> 00:33:43,820 S5: But I love this station. But I really love you. 502 00:33:43,820 --> 00:33:48,060 S5: I love your spirit, your personality, your laugh. You just 503 00:33:48,060 --> 00:33:53,380 S5: you just you come across so genuine and I appreciate it. 504 00:33:53,820 --> 00:33:54,700 S5: I was listening to. 505 00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:55,260 S4: Tell me more. 506 00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:56,180 S1: Charlene. Tell me. 507 00:33:56,180 --> 00:33:56,500 S4: More. 508 00:33:58,220 --> 00:34:02,020 S5: I know I was listening to that Tyrone story. And Chris, 509 00:34:02,020 --> 00:34:04,940 S5: I'm telling you, I was I was in the kitchen 510 00:34:04,940 --> 00:34:07,380 S5: and I'm making dinner, you know, so for my husband 511 00:34:07,380 --> 00:34:11,100 S5: when he comes home and I just backed up against 512 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:14,060 S5: the counter and the cupboard and just listen, and I 513 00:34:14,060 --> 00:34:17,109 S5: just started crying because I had my eyes closed and 514 00:34:17,110 --> 00:34:21,069 S5: I could see Tyrone. I could see the the people, 515 00:34:21,110 --> 00:34:24,030 S5: you know, the teachers or whoever it was. And I 516 00:34:24,070 --> 00:34:28,230 S5: felt his heart. I felt, you know, when the different 517 00:34:28,270 --> 00:34:31,790 S5: tags that they put on him, um, you know, troubled 518 00:34:31,790 --> 00:34:35,350 S5: and foster home, you know, all those different tags that 519 00:34:35,350 --> 00:34:38,190 S5: they put on this child and they didn't know who 520 00:34:38,190 --> 00:34:41,190 S5: he was, just like they did. Jesus. You know, and 521 00:34:41,190 --> 00:34:44,270 S5: but this baby, he felt that he felt it was 522 00:34:44,270 --> 00:34:46,310 S5: real to him. And when you said that, he said 523 00:34:46,310 --> 00:34:49,029 S5: you said he was. It was real to Tyrone. Yes, 524 00:34:49,030 --> 00:34:52,350 S5: it was a production, but it was real to Tyrone. 525 00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:55,630 S5: And when people tried to the Bible, that's why the 526 00:34:55,630 --> 00:34:59,469 S5: Bible says, come to unto God. As a child, he 527 00:34:59,469 --> 00:35:03,430 S5: was just so innocent and and and genuine and and 528 00:35:03,670 --> 00:35:06,070 S5: he he felt it and he meant it was serious 529 00:35:06,070 --> 00:35:08,550 S5: to him. You know, we grow up and we lose that. 530 00:35:08,910 --> 00:35:12,950 S5: But I loved that story. I was crying, Chris, I'm 531 00:35:12,950 --> 00:35:16,839 S5: telling you, just boo hoo crying, just thinking about the 532 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:20,160 S5: story and knowing how this baby said this. He didn't. 533 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,480 S5: He didn't do nothing. No, I'm not going to let 534 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:26,359 S5: you kill. I don't want to see nobody else die. Oh, 535 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,000 S5: it was. And he wasn't backing up. I mean, no 536 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,320 S5: matter what anybody, I loved it. That was the best 537 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,840 S5: way I've ever heard that story told, and I just 538 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,719 S5: I thank you. I appreciate you so much. You are 539 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:41,239 S5: one of the reasons. Just one of the reasons that 540 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:43,799 S5: I listen to this station. I'm telling you. 541 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,920 S4: You, Charlene, I'm good, I'm good. 542 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:51,200 S1: I like that, Charlene. Here's here's the thing about Tyrone, though. 543 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:54,560 S1: They say in, uh, when you're there is a character, 544 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:58,239 S1: usually character in a short story or a novel that 545 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:02,680 S1: is a force of nature, and it's the characters in stories. 546 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,799 S1: Usually you look at them at the beginning and you 547 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,080 S1: look at the end and you see what changes here. 548 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:12,399 S1: And for Tyrone, really, Tyrone is the only one in 549 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:17,530 S1: the story that doesn't change because he is the genuine. 550 00:36:17,570 --> 00:36:20,969 S1: He's the authentic. He's the real deal, and he's not 551 00:36:20,969 --> 00:36:24,930 S1: going to take them doing that to him because he's 552 00:36:24,930 --> 00:36:26,730 S1: seen it before and he's, you know, he's tired of it. 553 00:36:26,730 --> 00:36:30,650 S1: But look at look at Lorraine. Lorraine was all in 554 00:36:30,690 --> 00:36:33,170 S1: reining him in. You know, it is all is keeping 555 00:36:33,170 --> 00:36:35,530 S1: him in the and the deacon to just keep him in. 556 00:36:35,570 --> 00:36:36,810 S1: Keep him contained. 557 00:36:37,010 --> 00:36:40,049 S4: You want to keep Tyrone contained? But. 558 00:36:40,050 --> 00:36:44,370 S1: But when this force of nature is unleashed, he's the 559 00:36:44,370 --> 00:36:47,610 S1: one who changes everybody else. That's what I love about 560 00:36:47,610 --> 00:36:48,569 S1: his character. 561 00:36:48,610 --> 00:36:52,170 S5: Yes, yes, yes, I love it. You, you you just 562 00:36:52,170 --> 00:36:54,930 S5: summed it all up. Oh, man. I mean, it was 563 00:36:54,930 --> 00:36:58,050 S5: just beautiful. It really. And a child shall lead. 564 00:36:58,290 --> 00:37:00,850 S4: Yes, yes it was. What's your husband's name? 565 00:37:00,850 --> 00:37:01,529 S1: Charlene. 566 00:37:01,570 --> 00:37:02,529 S4: What's your husband's name? 567 00:37:02,570 --> 00:37:03,090 S5: Robert. 568 00:37:03,410 --> 00:37:05,969 S1: Robert. Robert and Charlene. How long have you been married? 569 00:37:06,650 --> 00:37:07,730 S5: 16 years. 570 00:37:08,050 --> 00:37:12,510 S1: 16 years? Yeah. And, uh, you got anything special planned 571 00:37:12,510 --> 00:37:13,390 S1: for the weekend? 572 00:37:14,390 --> 00:37:18,110 S5: Uh. Not really. We just kind of do what we do, 573 00:37:18,430 --> 00:37:19,990 S5: you know? Or don't do what we don't. 574 00:37:20,230 --> 00:37:20,630 S1: Yeah. 575 00:37:21,230 --> 00:37:23,509 S5: So, you know, we just kind of like hanging out, 576 00:37:23,510 --> 00:37:27,350 S5: and we're sporadic. And, you know, that seems to work. 577 00:37:27,390 --> 00:37:30,790 S5: Usually we have plans. I don't I'm tired of plans, 578 00:37:30,830 --> 00:37:31,350 S5: you know. 579 00:37:31,469 --> 00:37:32,029 S1: Yeah. 580 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:36,270 S5: Me too. So so I like sporadic, so I don't know. 581 00:37:36,350 --> 00:37:38,150 S5: He may have something planned. I don't know. 582 00:37:38,190 --> 00:37:40,390 S1: Why. Why I'm tired of plans. Is that every time 583 00:37:40,390 --> 00:37:42,750 S1: I make plans, they start. They keep changing, you know? 584 00:37:42,790 --> 00:37:46,149 S1: So it's like it. Don't even make plan. Charlene. God 585 00:37:46,150 --> 00:37:48,270 S1: bless you. Thanks for your encouragement. Today. I want to 586 00:37:48,270 --> 00:37:51,270 S1: take some more calls and your response and maybe something 587 00:37:51,270 --> 00:37:53,910 S1: that was in the story. You've seen that happen in 588 00:37:53,910 --> 00:37:57,509 S1: your own life, and you'll hear more response to Tyrone's 589 00:37:57,510 --> 00:38:00,590 S1: story on this Christmas Day edition of Chris Fabry Live 590 00:38:00,870 --> 00:38:15,040 S1: Straight Ahead on Moody Radio. Oh, I hope you're having 591 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:18,120 S1: the best Christmas afternoon or whatever time of day you're 592 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:22,240 S1: listening to this program in the whole wide world. Chris Fabry. 593 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:26,120 S1: Hear of Chris Fabry live. Our continuation of the response 594 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,960 S1: of The Passion of Tyrone Bailey, a story I wrote 595 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:33,080 S1: and performed, and then people called afterward. This was in 2016. 596 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:36,439 S1: Next up in Indiana is a man named Shane. 597 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:44,000 S6: Hi, I'm a 38 year old Catholic Christian, and I 598 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:46,879 S6: am also a former teacher. And I've had students like 599 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:51,800 S6: that in my class from a seventh grader who was 600 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:56,880 S6: kind of more, um, advanced and thought he was smarter 601 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:01,160 S6: than the curriculum to a first grade that had a 602 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:05,200 S6: couple of, uh, autistic children who wanted to speak out 603 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:09,930 S6: whenever they wanted to. And I think I would kind 604 00:39:09,969 --> 00:39:15,890 S6: of be. I like everything lined up and organized. And 605 00:39:15,890 --> 00:39:19,250 S6: so when that happens, you know, you gotta keep the 606 00:39:19,450 --> 00:39:24,850 S6: class contained and you know, everything going smoothly. But I'd 607 00:39:24,890 --> 00:39:28,250 S6: be a mixture of the stage manager or the deacon 608 00:39:28,250 --> 00:39:33,570 S6: keeping everything in line, but I'd probably be a mixture 609 00:39:33,570 --> 00:39:38,930 S6: of having a little bit of that child in me too, saying, stop. Um, 610 00:39:39,290 --> 00:39:40,730 S6: this shouldn't be happening. 611 00:39:41,170 --> 00:39:44,330 S1: Yes. I hope that would be true. Shane, for both 612 00:39:44,330 --> 00:39:46,730 S1: you and me, that we would. That there would be 613 00:39:46,730 --> 00:39:50,290 S1: something even this Christmas, as we move toward it, that 614 00:39:50,290 --> 00:39:53,770 S1: there would be something that we see, something that we experience, 615 00:39:54,050 --> 00:40:00,089 S1: that we'd again see in a, in a new way. Uh, no, 616 00:40:00,130 --> 00:40:02,330 S1: that that wasn't it wasn't right that he was born 617 00:40:02,330 --> 00:40:04,250 S1: in a stable. You know, it wasn't right that he 618 00:40:04,250 --> 00:40:08,580 S1: was born of such humble birth. And yet that's how 619 00:40:08,780 --> 00:40:13,460 S1: Jesus chose. That's how God chose to come into this world. 620 00:40:13,460 --> 00:40:16,420 S1: And and for to walk. 621 00:40:16,420 --> 00:40:19,620 S6: Through this born into royalty. He thought to be born 622 00:40:19,660 --> 00:40:22,859 S6: humble and into poverty would be the best way to 623 00:40:22,900 --> 00:40:24,500 S6: set an example for us. 624 00:40:25,060 --> 00:40:28,219 S1: Yeah. Yeah. I've often thought about that. You know, if 625 00:40:28,219 --> 00:40:31,580 S1: anybody in the universe that that had. They say you 626 00:40:31,580 --> 00:40:35,340 S1: can't pick your parents, well, Jesus could. You know, Jesus 627 00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:38,580 S1: picked his parents and and all of the lineage that 628 00:40:38,580 --> 00:40:42,460 S1: you see that was sovereignly put there by God. And 629 00:40:42,460 --> 00:40:45,180 S1: there was some pretty, you know, despicable people, people that 630 00:40:45,180 --> 00:40:48,380 S1: did some bad stuff in his line. And yet that's 631 00:40:48,380 --> 00:40:52,700 S1: who God chose to put there. And what, you know. 632 00:40:53,380 --> 00:40:56,220 S6: The way it went and told the life of Jesus. 633 00:40:56,260 --> 00:40:59,620 S6: You know, they've never told that in movies. They've had 634 00:40:59,660 --> 00:41:02,339 S6: one that told about the nativity and one that told 635 00:41:02,340 --> 00:41:06,320 S6: about the passion, but they've never told the entire life 636 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:09,439 S6: of Jesus. And if they had, even with some kind 637 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:13,760 S6: of clever title from Christmas to Easter or something like that, 638 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:18,800 S6: and really told a really touching life of Jesus, I'm 639 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,800 S6: sure that would really touch somebody's heart, just like your 640 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:27,600 S6: play did, where something really grabs them, you know. 641 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:31,440 S1: Mhm. That's. Shaina I'm glad that you called today. And 642 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:35,239 S1: it's something I hadn't thought about the I'm, I see 643 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,840 S1: myself in different characters. You know sometimes I'm the deacon 644 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:44,960 S1: I'm sick still sit quiet sometimes I'm, I'm Lorraine and 645 00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:48,400 S1: sometimes I'm the little boy. Thanks for your work, Shane. 646 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:53,120 S1: And for calling in today. Here's Andre in Spokane, Washington. Hi, Andre. 647 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:55,360 S2: Hello. 648 00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:59,759 S1: Oh, I can just barely hear you. The. The phone 649 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:01,840 S1: is clicking on and off. Try it again, Andre. 650 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:04,890 S7: Okay. Uh, can you hear me now, sir? 651 00:42:04,969 --> 00:42:06,490 S1: I sure can. Yeah. Go ahead. 652 00:42:07,250 --> 00:42:11,170 S7: Awesome. Um, as I was listening to the story, I 653 00:42:11,210 --> 00:42:13,690 S7: kind of started to relate to what's going on in 654 00:42:13,690 --> 00:42:18,090 S7: our lives right now. Um, my wife and I, we 655 00:42:18,170 --> 00:42:21,130 S7: started going through a transition of getting closer to God 656 00:42:21,170 --> 00:42:24,170 S7: a couple of years ago. And, um, I had a 657 00:42:24,170 --> 00:42:27,250 S7: very good career in the military, and I was a 658 00:42:27,250 --> 00:42:30,890 S7: few years away from retiring when I started to be 659 00:42:30,930 --> 00:42:34,129 S7: prompted to leave the service, and I had five years 660 00:42:34,130 --> 00:42:40,690 S7: left with my service to retire. Um, I started to 661 00:42:40,690 --> 00:42:44,290 S7: argue with God, if this is him telling me to 662 00:42:44,290 --> 00:42:49,049 S7: leave the service, uh, or if it's just my thinking, 663 00:42:49,210 --> 00:42:53,130 S7: I made it to an area in my career where 664 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:59,130 S7: I was getting the promotion I wanted, the positions I wanted, and, um. 665 00:43:01,290 --> 00:43:03,370 S7: He finally confirmed to me that he wants me out 666 00:43:03,500 --> 00:43:06,459 S7: of the service, and he wants me to go back 667 00:43:06,460 --> 00:43:09,739 S7: to my hometown and serve him. And when we came 668 00:43:09,739 --> 00:43:14,020 S7: back here, um, we kind of became the Tyrone. And 669 00:43:14,020 --> 00:43:16,220 S7: at the same time, we kind of became the family 670 00:43:16,219 --> 00:43:24,260 S7: that took him in. Uh, not understood. Uh, labels were given. Uh, 671 00:43:24,300 --> 00:43:29,460 S7: some people didn't understand us. Our family, my relatives, they 672 00:43:29,460 --> 00:43:35,180 S7: were not understanding specifically. Why would I leave the service 673 00:43:35,300 --> 00:43:39,780 S7: five years from retirement and having a successful retirement? So 674 00:43:40,219 --> 00:43:42,980 S7: I decided to share this story. I've never used an 675 00:43:42,980 --> 00:43:46,819 S7: opportunity to call a radio station. I listened to a couple, uh, 676 00:43:46,820 --> 00:43:50,420 S7: this is my first time calling. Uh, but I figured 677 00:43:50,420 --> 00:43:55,140 S7: if there's anyone right now going through transitions in their 678 00:43:55,140 --> 00:43:58,260 S7: life where they're learning to have more faith in God, 679 00:43:58,820 --> 00:44:02,950 S7: listening to his voice because he said, my sheep can 680 00:44:02,950 --> 00:44:07,509 S7: hear my voice. Maybe it may hold them up and 681 00:44:07,510 --> 00:44:11,630 S7: they can understand that they're not alone. There are others 682 00:44:11,630 --> 00:44:14,310 S7: out there who are going through transitions in their life, 683 00:44:14,310 --> 00:44:16,550 S7: where they learn to hear the voice of the Lord, 684 00:44:17,150 --> 00:44:19,910 S7: and to walk by faith that it could be considered 685 00:44:19,910 --> 00:44:23,549 S7: very radical faith. But this is just for some of 686 00:44:23,550 --> 00:44:31,430 S7: the people out there who can relate and, um, get hope. Because, uh, 687 00:44:31,710 --> 00:44:35,750 S7: the hope that we have is the hope of salvation. And, uh. 688 00:44:35,910 --> 00:44:39,350 S1: I'm so glad you reached out, Andre. I'm so glad 689 00:44:39,350 --> 00:44:42,069 S1: you reached out. I'm so glad you reached out. Because 690 00:44:42,350 --> 00:44:44,390 S1: the other thing that I take away from what you're 691 00:44:44,390 --> 00:44:47,149 S1: saying is how often we can label other people, and 692 00:44:47,150 --> 00:44:50,950 S1: we put them into some category that, you know, and 693 00:44:50,950 --> 00:44:53,629 S1: we able to keep them at arm's distance or sit 694 00:44:53,630 --> 00:44:57,109 S1: and still because we put that label on them. But 695 00:44:57,110 --> 00:45:00,550 S1: I'm heartened by what you said, too, about being drawn 696 00:45:00,690 --> 00:45:04,410 S1: back to God and being willing to say, you know, 697 00:45:04,450 --> 00:45:08,210 S1: I need him in my life and I want your direction, Lord, 698 00:45:08,210 --> 00:45:11,009 S1: and I want you to to move me where you 699 00:45:11,010 --> 00:45:14,089 S1: want me to go. And being willing to obey that, 700 00:45:14,090 --> 00:45:16,610 S1: that is that's something that we all need to hear 701 00:45:16,610 --> 00:45:21,170 S1: as well. God bless you. Thank you. Um, Lisa called 702 00:45:21,170 --> 00:45:24,250 S1: from on the road. I can really relate to Tyrone. 703 00:45:24,250 --> 00:45:27,970 S1: We need to be more childlike. Yes, Michelle in Alabama. 704 00:45:28,010 --> 00:45:30,570 S1: I think Tyrone might be like the Holy Spirit. He's 705 00:45:30,570 --> 00:45:37,529 S1: messy and not always on others timetables. He's more spontaneous. 706 00:45:37,930 --> 00:45:41,330 S1: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it like that. Um, 707 00:45:41,570 --> 00:45:44,489 S1: dawn in in Springdale, Washington. I'm sorry we didn't get 708 00:45:44,489 --> 00:45:47,009 S1: to your your call here today. And, Jane, thanks for 709 00:45:47,010 --> 00:45:51,049 S1: your work with those kids teaching at that school and 710 00:45:51,050 --> 00:45:53,970 S1: for those who reached out here today, I want to 711 00:45:54,130 --> 00:45:57,410 S1: go back to on what Andre said. When you draw 712 00:45:57,410 --> 00:45:59,819 S1: near to God, he'll draw near to you and your 713 00:45:59,820 --> 00:46:03,700 S1: life won't necessarily get just a whole lot better. It 714 00:46:03,700 --> 00:46:06,780 S1: might be a little messy, but aren't you glad that 715 00:46:06,780 --> 00:46:11,980 S1: Lorraine had the change? Aren't you glad that when she 716 00:46:11,980 --> 00:46:16,860 S1: walked up there, she walked up, realizing that Tyrone, instead 717 00:46:16,860 --> 00:46:21,620 S1: of her teaching him something or keeping him in place, 718 00:46:22,340 --> 00:46:26,500 S1: her job was to respond to the truth that this 719 00:46:26,500 --> 00:46:32,020 S1: little innocent boy was showing her about the Savior and 720 00:46:32,020 --> 00:46:36,260 S1: about her need of that Savior. I hope that story 721 00:46:36,260 --> 00:46:39,540 S1: touched your heart today. Merry Christmas from all of us 722 00:46:39,540 --> 00:46:42,100 S1: here at Moody Radio and Chris Fabry live. Come on 723 00:46:42,100 --> 00:46:44,780 S1: back the rest of the week we have some best 724 00:46:44,780 --> 00:46:47,819 S1: of broadcasts. I think you'll enjoy. Chris Fabry Lives, a 725 00:46:47,820 --> 00:46:51,780 S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.