1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,640 S1: Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Moody Radio and 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,399 S1: Chris Fabry live. Oh, I hope today's program is going 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,880 S1: to warm your heart and provide a little companionship if 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,239 S1: you need it. Are you ready for something that'll make 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,919 S1: you smile, make you think? Make you thankful? All of 6 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,760 S1: that is straight ahead from a program that was interactive 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,640 S1: because six years ago, I told a story and then 8 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,760 S1: asked you to respond to it, and the outcome is 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:37,080 S1: what you are about to hear. And you can probably surmise. 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,800 S1: Our conversation at the radio backyard fence today is recorded, 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,239 S1: even though the program is called Chris Fabry Live. We 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,400 S1: are not live with you, so enjoy this visit that 13 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,760 S1: our producer, Tricia McMillan, suggested we re-air. When I went 14 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,320 S1: back and listened to it, I didn't recall having this conversation. 15 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,500 S1: I vaguely remembered writing this short story And then doing 16 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:03,060 S1: something with it here on the air. But the more 17 00:01:03,060 --> 00:01:05,900 S1: I listen, the more I thought, boy, this is new 18 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:08,620 S1: to me. Even if you heard it six years ago, 19 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:11,540 S1: it might be new to you as well. And if 20 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,619 S1: you've never heard it, oh, let's get started. First with 21 00:01:14,620 --> 00:01:17,940 S1: a disclaimer. If you hear a phone number to call 22 00:01:17,940 --> 00:01:23,100 S1: or dated information, disregard that. We're not with you live today. Second, 23 00:01:23,140 --> 00:01:26,140 S1: since it's Thanksgiving, I need to be thankful. I try 24 00:01:26,180 --> 00:01:28,500 S1: to do this every day right at the start of 25 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:30,860 S1: the program, because if I wait to the end, a 26 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:32,700 S1: lot of times I'll run out of time or I'll 27 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:35,100 S1: forget to do it. That's why at the beginning of 28 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:37,380 S1: the program, you hear me say every day, thank you 29 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:41,699 S1: to our Tricia McMillan, producer of Chris Fabry Live. Thank 30 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:47,740 S1: you to Ryan McConaughey, our engineer. He coordinates all things technical, 31 00:01:47,980 --> 00:01:51,380 S1: but I think of him as an engineer. That's what 32 00:01:51,380 --> 00:01:54,780 S1: I call him. Josh is usually here answering your phone calls, 33 00:01:54,780 --> 00:01:58,150 S1: but he's. He's not here today. Since we're not live, Liv. 34 00:01:58,190 --> 00:02:01,110 S1: Lisa helps us out, Tara helps us out, and many 35 00:02:01,110 --> 00:02:04,390 S1: others who get my voice from where I am to 36 00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:07,110 S1: where you can hear it. So thank you. Those of 37 00:02:07,110 --> 00:02:10,110 S1: you behind the scenes, the story I have for you 38 00:02:10,110 --> 00:02:13,470 S1: is about a woman who has a yearly exercise that 39 00:02:13,470 --> 00:02:17,630 S1: she does publicly every November, and she minds her own 40 00:02:17,630 --> 00:02:22,350 S1: heart for reasons to be thankful. It's a good, redemptive, 41 00:02:22,350 --> 00:02:26,910 S1: life giving, perspective changing endeavor, but something happens that throws 42 00:02:26,950 --> 00:02:29,989 S1: a wrench in the social media machine that throws a wrench. 43 00:02:29,990 --> 00:02:34,750 S1: There's conflict. Oh, oh, is there conflict? Maybe somebody has 44 00:02:34,750 --> 00:02:38,310 S1: tossed a wrench or two at you this year. And 45 00:02:38,310 --> 00:02:42,990 S1: six years ago, listeners helped finish this story. That's what's 46 00:02:42,990 --> 00:02:45,190 S1: going to happen from the heart to the heart for 47 00:02:45,190 --> 00:02:48,190 S1: the heart on Chris Fabry live. And my hope in 48 00:02:48,190 --> 00:02:51,429 S1: presenting this was to get people thinking about someone who's 49 00:02:51,430 --> 00:02:54,190 S1: going to push your buttons or strike a nerve at 50 00:02:54,190 --> 00:02:58,290 S1: your Thanksgiving dinner table today or, or sometime in the 51 00:02:58,290 --> 00:03:01,530 S1: coming weeks. Before we get to that, we had Joe 52 00:03:01,530 --> 00:03:03,690 S1: Sutphin on at the beginning of the month, and we 53 00:03:03,690 --> 00:03:07,330 S1: talked about his gift of creating art, of drawing. He 54 00:03:07,330 --> 00:03:09,090 S1: wanted to do that as a little kid, but he 55 00:03:09,090 --> 00:03:11,170 S1: couldn't see, you know, how do I how do I 56 00:03:11,169 --> 00:03:14,290 S1: move forward with that? And when he was on last 57 00:03:14,290 --> 00:03:16,610 S1: year talking about one of the books he illustrated, A 58 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:20,050 S1: Little Christmas Carol, he told the story about him working 59 00:03:20,050 --> 00:03:23,489 S1: in a warehouse, and he drew pictures on the boxes 60 00:03:23,490 --> 00:03:26,889 S1: that were being sent out, and somebody saw it, and 61 00:03:26,889 --> 00:03:29,810 S1: one thing led to another. And now he's done these 62 00:03:29,810 --> 00:03:34,370 S1: fantastic projects with Watership Down and Little Pilgrim's Progress and 63 00:03:34,370 --> 00:03:37,770 S1: the Wingfeather Saga. I have in my hands a copy 64 00:03:37,770 --> 00:03:41,370 S1: of Joe's illustrations that are in The Little Christmas Carol 65 00:03:41,370 --> 00:03:45,450 S1: Coloring and Activity book. It says ages 6 to 10. 66 00:03:45,730 --> 00:03:48,650 S1: I think teenagers or even 60 year olds will get 67 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:50,810 S1: a kick out of it. But here's the thing I 68 00:03:50,810 --> 00:03:54,930 S1: wanted to foster imagine your child or grandchild not looking 69 00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:59,350 S1: at a screen, but using crayons or colored pencils, maybe 70 00:03:59,350 --> 00:04:03,670 S1: listening to a podcast or something on the radio. Something 71 00:04:03,670 --> 00:04:05,990 S1: happens when we slow down and we try to stay 72 00:04:05,990 --> 00:04:08,430 S1: in the lines of a coloring book. Would you let 73 00:04:08,430 --> 00:04:11,110 S1: me send you one? Go to the website. Support this 74 00:04:11,110 --> 00:04:13,950 S1: program with a gift. We'll send you a copy of 75 00:04:13,990 --> 00:04:18,190 S1: Joe's Little Christmas Carol coloring and activity book. Go to 76 00:04:18,230 --> 00:04:22,950 S1: Chris Fabry Live. And since it's Thanksgiving, let me thank 77 00:04:22,950 --> 00:04:25,590 S1: people who gave to this program six years ago. It 78 00:04:25,589 --> 00:04:28,590 S1: was their support that meant we could have this conversation 79 00:04:28,589 --> 00:04:31,150 S1: you're about to hear. So what a good reason to 80 00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:33,589 S1: support us right now as a way of giving thanks 81 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:36,150 S1: for the content that you hear and the people who 82 00:04:36,190 --> 00:04:39,510 S1: make this program possible. You be one of those people today. 83 00:04:40,029 --> 00:04:48,870 S1: Go to Chris. Chris favorite. I process life through stories. 84 00:04:49,710 --> 00:04:52,070 S1: My Toxic Life coach sent me a report that said 85 00:04:52,070 --> 00:04:56,330 S1: The Washington Post published an article addressing the 25% decline 86 00:04:56,330 --> 00:05:00,570 S1: in declared English majors since the end of the Great Recession. 87 00:05:01,010 --> 00:05:04,930 S1: The reaction among economists is not what you might expect. 88 00:05:04,970 --> 00:05:09,250 S1: Rather than encourage an increased interest in Stem. Stem. I 89 00:05:09,250 --> 00:05:13,490 S1: didn't know what that was. Science. Technology. Engineering. Math. Thanks, Google. 90 00:05:14,410 --> 00:05:19,610 S1: Instead of encouraging an increased interest in Stem and business, 91 00:05:19,650 --> 00:05:24,730 S1: economists cite the need for storytellers to help shape and 92 00:05:24,730 --> 00:05:28,450 S1: interpret the world that's to come. And then a book 93 00:05:28,450 --> 00:05:32,850 S1: is mentioned narrative economics, written by a Nobel Prize winner, 94 00:05:32,850 --> 00:05:38,010 S1: Robert Shiller, subtitled How Stories Go Viral and Drive Major 95 00:05:38,010 --> 00:05:43,090 S1: Economic Events. And it says this reminds us a key 96 00:05:43,089 --> 00:05:46,170 S1: aspect of all human endeavor. Stories are at the heart 97 00:05:46,170 --> 00:05:49,770 S1: of everything we do. Whoever can shape the story about 98 00:05:49,770 --> 00:05:53,500 S1: what's happening, even in an objective field Fields such as 99 00:05:53,500 --> 00:06:01,220 S1: economics will drive our shared destiny. So I unapologetically bring 100 00:06:01,220 --> 00:06:04,779 S1: you a story today about Christian Williams. This is called 101 00:06:04,779 --> 00:06:08,860 S1: the post that Stole Thanksgiving. I wrote this and it's 102 00:06:08,860 --> 00:06:12,820 S1: published this month in Mature Living magazine. Go read part 103 00:06:12,820 --> 00:06:14,979 S1: of it, and I'm going to stop and ask you 104 00:06:14,980 --> 00:06:19,219 S1: to help me finish it. Christian Williams was on day 105 00:06:19,220 --> 00:06:22,979 S1: 14 of her month long gratitude list on social media 106 00:06:22,980 --> 00:06:27,500 S1: when things went south. Every year for the past five, 107 00:06:27,940 --> 00:06:31,219 S1: she had done this and the response was greater than 108 00:06:31,220 --> 00:06:34,980 S1: anything else she posted, with the possible exception of the 109 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:38,099 S1: video of her cat jumping on her husband's head while 110 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:43,340 S1: she dangled a feather near his pillow. People loved her list, 111 00:06:43,540 --> 00:06:47,140 S1: mostly because it was positive and stood out from all 112 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:52,200 S1: the political wranglings and online arguments. Her pastor had even 113 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,760 S1: used one of her posts in a Thanksgiving sermon the 114 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,120 S1: year before. She considered that as close to viral as 115 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,720 S1: you could get and more satisfying. On the 14th day, 116 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:08,719 S1: she scanned her previous posts. Most showed gratitude for the small, 117 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:13,640 S1: insignificant things of life that were easily overlooked. Her belief 118 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,200 S1: was that if you remembered the small things, the bigger 119 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:22,080 S1: ones came naturally. But today, she wanted to go deeper. 120 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,560 S1: She wanted to give some soul weight to her post. 121 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:31,160 S1: Grateful today that my security in God is not based 122 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:36,320 S1: on my performance for him, but his performance for me. 123 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:43,000 S1: Ephesians two eight and nine. She posted, and almost immediately 124 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,920 S1: the responses began to flood. Oh, I'd love this. Thank 125 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,360 S1: you for putting it that way. This is so good, Kristen. 126 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,980 S1: I'm thankful for you today. So true. Christianity is not 127 00:07:54,980 --> 00:07:58,300 S1: a religion, it's a relationship. Thanks for keeping it real. 128 00:07:59,220 --> 00:08:05,900 S1: Post after post gushed praise. Friends understood. Friends agreed with 129 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:09,420 S1: her that God is good, that he cares and has 130 00:08:09,420 --> 00:08:13,700 S1: given grace and is worthy of all praise. Salvation is 131 00:08:13,700 --> 00:08:17,700 S1: a gift we can't earn. She felt a spiritual high. 132 00:08:17,740 --> 00:08:23,180 S1: Reading those responses, but Kristen's stomach churned when she saw 133 00:08:23,180 --> 00:08:28,300 S1: the name Janie Bodley. Janie wrote a long response that 134 00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:32,579 S1: Kristen dismissed without even reading it. She didn't have to. 135 00:08:33,179 --> 00:08:36,980 S1: She knew what it would be like. Kristen scrolled through 136 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:42,980 S1: other responses that were effusive with praise. Reluctantly, she returned 137 00:08:42,980 --> 00:08:47,939 S1: to Janie's post. This is what gets me about Christians. 138 00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:52,310 S1: They talk about Jesus loving them no matter what. God's 139 00:08:52,309 --> 00:08:56,270 S1: grace and all that. He's so accepting of us and 140 00:08:56,270 --> 00:09:00,550 S1: doesn't reject us. But Christians feel fine about rejecting people 141 00:09:00,550 --> 00:09:05,910 S1: over their performance. Glad you're happy with yourself today. You 142 00:09:05,910 --> 00:09:12,390 S1: can keep your platitudes. Kristen stared at the words. They 143 00:09:12,390 --> 00:09:16,550 S1: brought an ache to her heart. Why did Janie have 144 00:09:16,550 --> 00:09:19,870 S1: to do that? Why did she have to take a 145 00:09:19,870 --> 00:09:25,990 S1: post meant to encourage people and turn it into an attack? Frustrated, 146 00:09:26,230 --> 00:09:30,750 S1: Kristen walked away from the computer. Her pastor would never 147 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:34,110 S1: use this exchange in a sermon unless he was preaching 148 00:09:34,110 --> 00:09:39,030 S1: on persecution. Kristen was being salt and light, and Janie 149 00:09:39,030 --> 00:09:43,270 S1: was lashing out at true faith in God. Was that 150 00:09:43,309 --> 00:09:48,570 S1: what was going on, or was there something more? She 151 00:09:48,570 --> 00:09:52,250 S1: returned to the screen and saw responses to Janie's post. 152 00:09:52,690 --> 00:09:57,650 S1: Some people just don't get it. Don't let this bother you. Kristen. 153 00:09:57,650 --> 00:10:02,569 S1: Keep praising God. I'm thankful there's a delete button. You 154 00:10:02,570 --> 00:10:08,810 S1: should use it. Kristen. Kristen smiled. She felt better that 155 00:10:08,809 --> 00:10:12,530 S1: others understood what she was saying and commiserated with her. 156 00:10:13,170 --> 00:10:17,610 S1: She hovered her mouse over the delete button near Janie's post. 157 00:10:20,050 --> 00:10:23,570 S1: Let me stop right there. It always frustrated me in 158 00:10:23,570 --> 00:10:27,610 S1: elementary school, when the teacher would stop at some pivotal 159 00:10:27,610 --> 00:10:30,050 S1: point in the story when Charlotte was about to write 160 00:10:30,090 --> 00:10:37,690 S1: a word. What should Christian do now hovering her mouse 161 00:10:37,690 --> 00:10:46,050 S1: over this post? Unfriend. Delete. What would you do? Would 162 00:10:46,050 --> 00:10:48,110 S1: you keep on moving as if it didn't happen? Just 163 00:10:48,110 --> 00:10:50,030 S1: try to put it out of your mind. Or would 164 00:10:50,030 --> 00:10:53,910 S1: you engage? Try to explain what you meant so that 165 00:10:53,910 --> 00:10:58,870 S1: someone wouldn't be upset. Get defensive about it. You don't understand. 166 00:10:59,190 --> 00:11:03,230 S1: What did Kristen do about Janie's words? And do you 167 00:11:03,230 --> 00:11:07,589 S1: identify more with Kristen? If you've been in this situation 168 00:11:07,590 --> 00:11:13,350 S1: or do you identify with Janie today? This is a 169 00:11:13,350 --> 00:11:19,150 S1: conversation we had organically live in 2019, and I want 170 00:11:19,150 --> 00:11:22,270 S1: you to hear the responses that we received. We'll do 171 00:11:22,270 --> 00:11:25,510 S1: that in our next section. And toward the end of 172 00:11:25,510 --> 00:11:28,470 S1: the program, you're going to hear how I would finish 173 00:11:28,470 --> 00:11:32,030 S1: the story or how I did finish the story, but 174 00:11:32,030 --> 00:11:36,189 S1: I want you to hear how listeners responded. And we'll 175 00:11:36,190 --> 00:11:38,550 S1: do that straight ahead. This is Chris Fabry live on 176 00:11:38,590 --> 00:11:41,150 S1: Moody Radio. Go to the website. Find out more about 177 00:11:41,150 --> 00:11:55,010 S1: us right there, Chris. This is Chris Fabry. Live and 178 00:11:55,050 --> 00:11:58,090 S1: happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Moody Radio 179 00:11:58,090 --> 00:12:02,770 S1: and the program and my radio backyard fence. God bless you, friend. Okay, 180 00:12:02,809 --> 00:12:06,050 S1: so you've heard the very beginning of this story about 181 00:12:06,290 --> 00:12:10,490 S1: Kristen and Janie, and now it's time to take some 182 00:12:10,490 --> 00:12:14,050 S1: phone calls from six years ago, those who were tuning 183 00:12:14,050 --> 00:12:18,970 S1: in and listening and responding to that story. What would 184 00:12:18,970 --> 00:12:23,130 S1: you do in that situation? We start with Linda in 185 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:23,890 S1: New Hampshire. 186 00:12:24,890 --> 00:12:26,369 S2: Um, I would not delete. 187 00:12:26,890 --> 00:12:27,330 S1: Why? 188 00:12:27,890 --> 00:12:33,130 S2: Because people respond from a pain, um, to delete the messages. 189 00:12:33,690 --> 00:12:36,970 S2: It's not being there for that person. It's not understanding that, 190 00:12:37,410 --> 00:12:40,130 S2: you know, she's she's hurt, she's responding out of pain. 191 00:12:40,130 --> 00:12:44,340 S2: And if you're here to bring God's message and love 192 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:46,579 S2: his people. You got to love him whether you like 193 00:12:46,620 --> 00:12:47,699 S2: what they're saying or not. 194 00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:50,780 S1: Well, you just end the program right there. That is 195 00:12:50,780 --> 00:12:52,820 S1: really good. Linda, how do you how did you come 196 00:12:52,820 --> 00:12:55,260 S1: across that? Have you come across people have been in 197 00:12:55,260 --> 00:12:56,660 S1: a lot of pain in your life. 198 00:12:57,860 --> 00:13:01,980 S2: I deal with this constantly. Um, you know, with religion 199 00:13:01,980 --> 00:13:04,420 S2: and politics and everything, everybody has a trigger. And if 200 00:13:04,460 --> 00:13:07,780 S2: you dig deep enough or you listen long enough, you 201 00:13:07,820 --> 00:13:11,500 S2: get to the root of the trigger. And it's amazing watching. 202 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:14,860 S2: Once people discover what that trigger is, you're going through 203 00:13:14,860 --> 00:13:19,420 S2: the process. They start healing instantly. And I've seen it 204 00:13:19,420 --> 00:13:21,300 S2: over and over again. It's one of the most beautiful 205 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:24,140 S2: things in the world. It takes putting your ego aside, 206 00:13:24,340 --> 00:13:25,939 S2: and sometimes that's hard. 207 00:13:26,340 --> 00:13:30,140 S1: Yes. Yeah. And it's it really does. You can see 208 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:34,180 S1: this throughout Scripture and the way that Jesus interacts with people. 209 00:13:34,220 --> 00:13:36,980 S1: You know, the defensiveness of them or they're trying to 210 00:13:37,059 --> 00:13:41,180 S1: capture him in some, you know, uh, in some question 211 00:13:41,179 --> 00:13:44,880 S1: that they ask. It's a great response. People respond from 212 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,280 S1: the pain. What's the pain that Janie's going through? There's Linda, 213 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,280 S1: here's Nicole in Tampa, Florida. Hey, Nicole. Thanks for calling. 214 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:53,920 S1: Go right ahead. 215 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,720 S3: Hi. Yeah, this is Nicole, and I think Janie's post, 216 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,160 S3: it really cuts to the heart. It cuts to my 217 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:08,640 S3: heart because I'm guilty of judging others on their performance. 218 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:14,679 S3: And I'm so quick to accept God's grace, but I 219 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,520 S3: never really thought about it that way. How other people are, 220 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:24,080 S3: especially non-Christians, are looking at us and seeing how we're 221 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,160 S3: judging their performance. And that's not at all what we're 222 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,720 S3: supposed to be doing in In love. 223 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,840 S1: Right? And sometimes that can be perception. You know, that 224 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,720 S1: they're perceiving something that really isn't in the other person's heart, 225 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,260 S1: because who knows? You know, who can judge other people's 226 00:14:42,260 --> 00:14:47,020 S1: motives other than God. But that's the assumption of, you know, 227 00:14:47,060 --> 00:14:51,460 S1: here's another person giving platitudes about Jesus loving them. And 228 00:14:51,460 --> 00:14:54,020 S1: they've done, you know, they've made a good thing out 229 00:14:54,020 --> 00:14:57,060 S1: of their life. And so, again, you get back to 230 00:14:57,100 --> 00:15:01,300 S1: that place of hurt and that place of struggle. So. Nicole, 231 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:05,420 S1: thank you for, uh, I like what you said there. However, 232 00:15:05,420 --> 00:15:07,500 S1: you said that I'd never thought about it that way. 233 00:15:07,700 --> 00:15:09,940 S1: That's what a story will do. It will. It's just 234 00:15:09,940 --> 00:15:12,220 S1: the same thing that that, uh. And I'm not comparing 235 00:15:12,220 --> 00:15:14,700 S1: myself with Nathan. But you take a story, you put 236 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:17,380 S1: it in front of you, and it can come around 237 00:15:17,380 --> 00:15:22,460 S1: the back door and knock. In ways that straightforward. You know, 238 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:26,660 S1: here's what I'm trying to tell you today. Uh, can't do. 239 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:29,900 S1: Can is in Fort Lauderdale. I can why did you 240 00:15:29,940 --> 00:15:30,620 S1: call today? 241 00:15:32,380 --> 00:15:35,140 S4: Hi, Chris. I thought this was easy. Uh, there aren't 242 00:15:35,140 --> 00:15:37,500 S4: many that are easy, but, uh, you know, I always 243 00:15:37,540 --> 00:15:40,630 S4: ask myself, at least when I think of it. what 244 00:15:40,630 --> 00:15:45,910 S4: would Jesus do? And Jesus would simply love her. It's so, 245 00:15:46,310 --> 00:15:50,750 S4: so important. I mean, it's the gospel. Uh, those that 246 00:15:50,790 --> 00:15:57,070 S4: you know, that, uh, try our patience to persecutors. Pretty 247 00:15:57,070 --> 00:16:02,030 S4: simple formula. We've got to love them. And, um, you know, 248 00:16:02,070 --> 00:16:04,470 S4: it helps us become more like him. 249 00:16:04,670 --> 00:16:08,590 S1: Online as she's doing this. She's doing this praise thing, 250 00:16:08,630 --> 00:16:12,110 S1: you know, giving thanks every day for every day of November. 251 00:16:12,550 --> 00:16:16,630 S1: And and here's the pushback from Janie, and you say, well, 252 00:16:16,630 --> 00:16:20,150 S1: Jesus would love her. What does that look like? How 253 00:16:20,150 --> 00:16:21,590 S1: should she respond? 254 00:16:22,310 --> 00:16:26,630 S4: Well, you know, she's obviously going to be led on 255 00:16:26,630 --> 00:16:32,470 S4: how to respond if her choice is to love God. 256 00:16:32,510 --> 00:16:34,990 S4: You know, Jesus is going to use that. My gut 257 00:16:34,990 --> 00:16:38,670 S4: is she's going to get her in a conversation. Remember 258 00:16:38,670 --> 00:16:42,810 S4: our ultimate goal is to let his light shine through us. 259 00:16:42,810 --> 00:16:46,850 S4: That we might, that that she might or that or 260 00:16:46,890 --> 00:16:50,610 S4: that Christ might decide to give her a mustard seed 261 00:16:50,610 --> 00:16:53,650 S4: piece of faith like the rest of us. It would 262 00:16:53,650 --> 00:16:57,450 S4: be beautiful if she reaches out and loves her. Yeah. 263 00:16:57,970 --> 00:17:00,730 S1: And and one of the ways to do that, I think, 264 00:17:00,730 --> 00:17:04,810 S1: is an earlier caller said, there's pride and ego and 265 00:17:04,810 --> 00:17:09,050 S1: there's this public perception. Oh, you've been you had something 266 00:17:09,050 --> 00:17:11,290 S1: negative said about you. How are you going to respond 267 00:17:11,290 --> 00:17:14,890 S1: to that? It's like, is that really the most important 268 00:17:14,890 --> 00:17:18,130 S1: thing here? Ken. Thank you. Glad you called today. Sandra 269 00:17:18,130 --> 00:17:20,609 S1: is in Chicago. Sandra, what do you want to say 270 00:17:20,609 --> 00:17:21,930 S1: about this situation? 271 00:17:23,010 --> 00:17:26,410 S5: Hi. I think I would not delete and the first 272 00:17:26,410 --> 00:17:28,250 S5: thing I would do is, uh, do a little prayer, 273 00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:31,050 S5: but I would say I would respond that in the 274 00:17:31,050 --> 00:17:34,810 S5: spirit of Thanksgiving, I would thank Janie for having the 275 00:17:34,810 --> 00:17:38,790 S5: courage to share, thank her. And, all. Um, yeah, because 276 00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:40,270 S5: it takes a lot of courage when you're on the 277 00:17:40,270 --> 00:17:43,110 S5: other side of the of what you perceive as like 278 00:17:43,150 --> 00:17:47,310 S5: God's generosity. So tell someone what you feel and your experience. 279 00:17:47,310 --> 00:17:49,910 S5: I would thank her for that. And then I would, um, 280 00:17:50,670 --> 00:17:54,189 S5: invite her to, uh. Well, I would apologize to her 281 00:17:54,190 --> 00:17:56,950 S5: and say, sorry. That's been your experience with with Christians 282 00:17:56,950 --> 00:17:59,270 S5: and with Christianity. So I would I would thank her 283 00:17:59,270 --> 00:18:02,750 S5: and then I would, uh, thank her and, uh, start 284 00:18:02,750 --> 00:18:05,190 S5: apologize for her experience. And then I would invite her 285 00:18:05,190 --> 00:18:10,430 S5: to continue the exchange in person. Uh, I think I 286 00:18:10,430 --> 00:18:13,990 S5: think the internet is, you know, not the greatest place 287 00:18:13,990 --> 00:18:17,390 S5: to have these sorts of conversations or things are very inflammatory, 288 00:18:17,390 --> 00:18:20,149 S5: and it can get out of control pretty quickly. And 289 00:18:20,190 --> 00:18:23,070 S5: some people are trolling. That's just their purpose is to troll. 290 00:18:23,070 --> 00:18:25,909 S5: So I think I would see if she was interested 291 00:18:25,910 --> 00:18:29,590 S5: in continuing that exchange over coffee or over dinner and, 292 00:18:29,590 --> 00:18:33,470 S5: and then just, you know, profusely just express my sincere 293 00:18:33,510 --> 00:18:36,680 S5: sorrow for, for that, for what she's sharing and thank 294 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,359 S5: her for that. So that's what I would do. 295 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,239 S1: That's really good, Sandra, that you would take the the 296 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,080 S1: reason for thanks, because most people would not be thankful 297 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:49,480 S1: for his response. They would say, you know, this is 298 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,919 S1: a bump in the road. This is something this is 299 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,520 S1: a speed bump in my day of praise. And why 300 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,080 S1: did you do that to me? And you're saying flip 301 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,320 S1: that around. This is an opportunity as much as it 302 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,960 S1: is an opportunity for you to list all these things 303 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:10,159 S1: that you're listing. Janie is an opportunity. And Sandra, thank you. 304 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,680 S1: There's something else that I was thinking about there that 305 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:14,840 S1: escaped me. I'll just have to give thanks for that 306 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,280 S1: and move on. That it escaped. It'll come back. I'm sure. 307 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,160 S1: Leslie is in Indianapolis. Hi, Leslie. What did you want 308 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:22,600 S1: to say? 309 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,639 S6: Hi. What I wanted to say was, um, that I 310 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,639 S6: think that it's obvious that Janie has been hurt. And 311 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,620 S6: so the woman writing the blog should first pray, not delete. 312 00:19:35,619 --> 00:19:38,300 S6: But first pray about it and then, you know, see 313 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:40,380 S6: what the Holy Spirit would have her to respond to 314 00:19:40,420 --> 00:19:44,939 S6: Janie or to be silent, um, because she's writing the 315 00:19:44,940 --> 00:19:48,820 S6: blog to give thanks, but also to show others, um, 316 00:19:48,859 --> 00:19:52,780 S6: the love of Christ and hurting Janie more with an 317 00:19:52,820 --> 00:19:55,980 S6: angry retort or even a deletion will just confirm her 318 00:19:55,980 --> 00:20:00,220 S6: viewpoint of Christians and of Christ. And so reaching out 319 00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:03,100 S6: first to Christ for the right words, and then reaching 320 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:06,459 S6: out in love with a response, and maybe even a 321 00:20:06,460 --> 00:20:09,020 S6: reminder to the other people who have been not so 322 00:20:09,020 --> 00:20:12,460 S6: kind in their response to Janie about, you know, we 323 00:20:12,460 --> 00:20:15,540 S6: all have hurts, and let's be kind in our response 324 00:20:15,540 --> 00:20:19,140 S6: and give an opportunity to show the love of Christ 325 00:20:19,140 --> 00:20:19,740 S6: to her. 326 00:20:20,420 --> 00:20:25,219 S1: So the response then, from Janie in, in one sense 327 00:20:25,220 --> 00:20:29,700 S1: you're saying is a is really a question for Kristen, 328 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:33,260 S1: and that is, how are you going to treat me 329 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,760 S1: and my situation. The way that I feel about what 330 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,320 S1: you said, how are you going to treat me here 331 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,640 S1: in the middle of this frustration that you have, you know, with, 332 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,000 S1: with what I've said, etc. and you have to put 333 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,680 S1: that at the forefront of the conversation. 334 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,959 S6: I'm a pretty straightforward person, so that's usually how I 335 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,479 S6: handle things is pretty straightforwardly and that, you know, a 336 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,320 S6: response of love of I'm sorry that you've been hurt. Um, 337 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,760 S6: that is not what Christ had in mind. Something along 338 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,160 S6: those lines, but definitely looking to Christ to help with 339 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,040 S6: the right words first so that more damage isn't done. 340 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,240 S1: Yes, and I like those who are saying, first of all, 341 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,440 S1: I'd pray because I don't know that the first thing 342 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,960 S1: in my thought process would be, oh Lord, what do 343 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,080 S1: you want me to say here? You know, it's like 344 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,840 S1: I just feel this, uh, because let me read this again. 345 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,260 S1: This is what gets me about Christians. They talk about 346 00:21:33,260 --> 00:21:37,500 S1: Jesus and I'm using my smarmy Janie voice. This is 347 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:39,939 S1: what gets me about Christians. They talk about Jesus loving 348 00:21:39,940 --> 00:21:42,500 S1: them no matter what. God's grace and all that. He's 349 00:21:42,500 --> 00:21:45,580 S1: so accepting of us and doesn't reject us. But Christians 350 00:21:45,580 --> 00:21:49,620 S1: feel fine about rejecting people over their performance. Glad you're 351 00:21:49,619 --> 00:21:53,220 S1: happy with yourself today. You can keep your platitudes. So 352 00:21:53,220 --> 00:21:57,020 S1: there is this passive aggressive thing that's going. I mean, 353 00:21:57,060 --> 00:22:01,100 S1: why couldn't Janie. If I'm going to keep my ego 354 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:04,940 S1: here and my my pride up upon the throne, I'll say, 355 00:22:04,940 --> 00:22:08,940 S1: why didn't Janie just instant message me or text me 356 00:22:08,940 --> 00:22:12,139 S1: or do something private? Why does she have to push 357 00:22:12,140 --> 00:22:16,659 S1: the send button on that publicly? What? What is that? 358 00:22:16,660 --> 00:22:21,820 S1: That's not helping anything. It's not helping me. And if 359 00:22:21,820 --> 00:22:26,540 S1: I continued just to think about me and how I'm 360 00:22:26,540 --> 00:22:31,990 S1: responding to what Janie has said, I'm going to miss something. Leslie, 361 00:22:31,990 --> 00:22:35,230 S1: thanks for your call. Uh, I'm going to read the rest. 362 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:39,230 S1: I'm going to read you what I envisioned happening here 363 00:22:39,590 --> 00:22:41,590 S1: in a minute. But I want you to think about 364 00:22:41,590 --> 00:22:44,510 S1: what Kathy has to say in Des Plaines, Illinois. Hi, Kathy. 365 00:22:44,550 --> 00:22:45,310 S1: Go right ahead. 366 00:22:46,350 --> 00:22:51,470 S7: Hi. I was thinking about. She basically is right about 367 00:22:51,470 --> 00:22:54,469 S7: the fact that we Christians are very judgmental, and we 368 00:22:54,510 --> 00:22:56,910 S7: are very quick to see other people's sins and point 369 00:22:56,910 --> 00:23:00,550 S7: them out in their performances. And so she's been hurt 370 00:23:00,710 --> 00:23:04,070 S7: by her exposure. I mean, in her mind, that's all 371 00:23:04,070 --> 00:23:07,430 S7: she's seen. And so, you know, she needs to be 372 00:23:07,430 --> 00:23:10,150 S7: told that she is right about that. And, you know, 373 00:23:10,190 --> 00:23:13,110 S7: it's not us that saves. It's Jesus that saves. And 374 00:23:13,109 --> 00:23:15,950 S7: we're all sinners. But she's got it right on the. 375 00:23:15,990 --> 00:23:18,470 S7: And the other thing too, every time we do do 376 00:23:18,470 --> 00:23:21,790 S7: anything that is good and everything like that, it makes 377 00:23:21,790 --> 00:23:24,550 S7: us feel good. And maybe we do look puffed up 378 00:23:24,550 --> 00:23:25,190 S7: to them. 379 00:23:25,350 --> 00:23:25,830 S1: Yes. 380 00:23:26,109 --> 00:23:26,590 S7: You know. 381 00:23:26,630 --> 00:23:26,909 S1: And I. 382 00:23:26,910 --> 00:23:29,230 S8: Think a lot of people, Kathy, I think you've you've 383 00:23:29,270 --> 00:23:29,670 S8: put your. 384 00:23:29,730 --> 00:23:32,649 S1: Finger on something that's really, really important. That is, a 385 00:23:32,690 --> 00:23:35,570 S1: lot of people think that Christians are those people who 386 00:23:35,570 --> 00:23:39,129 S1: do everything right, and when they don't do something right, 387 00:23:39,170 --> 00:23:42,810 S1: they say, see, you're not a Christian, but Christians are 388 00:23:42,810 --> 00:23:46,570 S1: not necessarily you don't. We don't do everything right. And, 389 00:23:46,609 --> 00:23:50,010 S1: you know, we want to live well and and engage 390 00:23:50,010 --> 00:23:53,129 S1: people on a heart level and do live as Jesus 391 00:23:53,130 --> 00:23:56,570 S1: would live. But we're still in this veil of flesh, 392 00:23:57,210 --> 00:24:02,850 S1: and we still struggle with that, that nature, that wars inside, 393 00:24:02,890 --> 00:24:05,889 S1: you know, look at Romans seven. Uh, Kathy. Thank you. 394 00:24:05,930 --> 00:24:08,570 S1: Amanda is in Kentucky. Amanda, why did you call today? 395 00:24:09,850 --> 00:24:12,770 S9: Um, I just wanted to point out that, um, in 396 00:24:12,770 --> 00:24:16,690 S9: the post it mentioned maybe people were talking about deleting, um, 397 00:24:17,250 --> 00:24:20,450 S9: the other post or, uh, Janie. And I think that's 398 00:24:20,450 --> 00:24:23,930 S9: the worst possible thing that she could do in response. Um, 399 00:24:23,930 --> 00:24:28,290 S9: you know, whenever we're faced with opposition like this, sometimes 400 00:24:28,290 --> 00:24:30,790 S9: it's our gut reaction to want to just like, you know, 401 00:24:30,830 --> 00:24:33,710 S9: put that person away so that we don't have to 402 00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:37,190 S9: deal with that negativity. But, you know, that's the opposite 403 00:24:37,190 --> 00:24:39,109 S9: of what Jesus wants us to do. He wants us 404 00:24:39,109 --> 00:24:42,030 S9: to reach out to people and in love, you know, 405 00:24:42,070 --> 00:24:45,350 S9: and we shut all those people out. They're never going 406 00:24:45,390 --> 00:24:48,550 S9: to see the good, you know, how can we reach 407 00:24:48,550 --> 00:24:52,470 S9: out to her and and show her the truth? You know, 408 00:24:52,510 --> 00:24:55,190 S9: if we just completely just block her out? Yes. We're 409 00:24:55,190 --> 00:24:57,150 S9: not called to live in a little bubble where we're 410 00:24:57,150 --> 00:24:58,590 S9: just patting each other on the back. 411 00:25:00,310 --> 00:25:02,830 S1: Well, it sure feels a lot better to live in 412 00:25:02,830 --> 00:25:05,430 S1: a little bubble, though, I'll be honest with you. I mean, 413 00:25:05,470 --> 00:25:08,310 S1: it's a lot safer. I don't have to get my 414 00:25:08,310 --> 00:25:12,389 S1: feelings hurt, you know? But. But when you take the 415 00:25:12,510 --> 00:25:17,350 S1: the chance, the opportunity to really live in front of others, 416 00:25:17,670 --> 00:25:21,590 S1: really live what you say you believe, then here's an 417 00:25:21,590 --> 00:25:25,310 S1: opportunity that comes for you and for God to touch 418 00:25:25,310 --> 00:25:27,320 S1: the nerve in your heart and say, do you really 419 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:31,920 S1: believe what I say about forgiveness? What I am doing 420 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,600 S1: in your heart? There is something that's going on in 421 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,040 S1: this best of broadcast from six years ago, and it 422 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,639 S1: may be the best thing, may be what it's doing 423 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:44,080 S1: right now in your own heart. There's more to come 424 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:47,440 S1: straight ahead here on Moody Radio. This is Chris Fabry 425 00:25:47,440 --> 00:26:07,200 S1: live online at Chris Paul. Chris. Happy Thanksgiving and thank 426 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,000 S1: you for joining us today at the Radio Backyard Fence. 427 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,440 S1: I hope this conversation is hitting a nerve somewhere in 428 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,960 S1: your heart will get right back to it after I 429 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,639 S1: mention those at Carenet and how thankful I am for them. 430 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,000 S1: For the last 50 years, they have been walking with 431 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:28,260 S1: women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy, giving them a 432 00:26:28,260 --> 00:26:31,500 S1: different vision than the culture gives. As far as life 433 00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:35,020 S1: is concerned and right now, Carenet wants to help you 434 00:26:35,020 --> 00:26:39,540 S1: and your family consider what God did to provide abundant life. 435 00:26:39,740 --> 00:26:42,820 S1: He sent his one and only son for you and me, 436 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:46,740 S1: and they are celebrating the advent season when we remember 437 00:26:46,740 --> 00:26:52,020 S1: the incarnation with a free devotional, praying through advent. And 438 00:26:52,020 --> 00:26:54,419 S1: as you prepare your heart to rejoice again at the 439 00:26:54,420 --> 00:26:58,460 S1: miracle of the birth of Christ, the word made flesh, 440 00:26:58,460 --> 00:27:01,260 S1: you will be reminded that God meets us right there 441 00:27:01,260 --> 00:27:04,300 S1: in the middle of our doubt, our uncertainty, and he 442 00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:08,780 S1: can write redemption into your story and mine. Go to 443 00:27:08,820 --> 00:27:13,220 S1: Chris org. Click the Green Connect link today to download 444 00:27:13,220 --> 00:27:18,180 S1: praying through advent. Experience the wonder of God's greatest story 445 00:27:18,180 --> 00:27:21,140 S1: and join in praying for life and hope through him. 446 00:27:21,460 --> 00:27:27,480 S1: Click the Green Connect link at Chris favorite. So Kristen 447 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,439 S1: and Janie are wrangling on social media. If this hasn't 448 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,159 S1: happened to you yet, it's gone to over the next 449 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,359 S1: few weeks. And, uh, when we did this program six 450 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,119 S1: years ago, a voicemail came in. Here's that voicemail. 451 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,480 S10: I had a wonderful lady in my Bible study group 452 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:48,560 S10: ask for prayer this morning. And what she prayed was, um, 453 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,280 S10: so amazing. She's having a difficult time with a friend, 454 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,440 S10: and she said she's just a difficult person. And she. 455 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:59,920 S10: Her prayer was that she wanted to be unaffordable. And 456 00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:02,520 S10: I thought, that's a wonderful prayer because we need to 457 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,840 S10: be unaffordable in order to reach people for Christ. 458 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,960 S1: What does that take to be unaffordable? Because I got 459 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:16,600 S1: my rights, I'm entitled to be treated in a certain way. 460 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:20,840 S1: And you encroach on me and I. That offends me. 461 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,300 S1: I mean, we have a whole society of people who 462 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:27,940 S1: can be offended over. You know, so many different things. 463 00:28:27,940 --> 00:28:30,980 S1: It's hard to live. I don't think you can live 464 00:28:31,020 --> 00:28:35,260 S1: unaffordable without the power of God. Uh, maybe. Maybe there's 465 00:28:35,260 --> 00:28:37,740 S1: an atheist who's listening who can say, wait a minute, 466 00:28:38,140 --> 00:28:43,900 S1: that offends me. That's irony. Or an agnostic. You know, 467 00:28:44,180 --> 00:28:47,980 S1: how do you live the unaffordable life? If you're just 468 00:28:47,980 --> 00:28:51,660 S1: joining us, I've. I've read this fictional story about two 469 00:28:51,660 --> 00:28:55,540 S1: women and one who responded in kind of an ugly way. 470 00:28:55,580 --> 00:28:58,260 S1: And what should you do? Delete that. Move on with 471 00:28:58,260 --> 00:29:03,060 S1: your life. Engage that. Defend. Katherine is in Florida. Katherine, 472 00:29:03,060 --> 00:29:04,060 S1: why did you call today? 473 00:29:05,220 --> 00:29:10,980 S11: Hi. Um, what I got from the program today is 474 00:29:11,380 --> 00:29:15,180 S11: maybe examining myself. Because I might have been one of 475 00:29:15,180 --> 00:29:20,340 S11: those people who would be very fast to unfriend or 476 00:29:20,340 --> 00:29:24,910 S11: delete a person who I thought was being negative. So 477 00:29:25,470 --> 00:29:29,270 S11: it has helped me to examine myself and my motives. 478 00:29:29,590 --> 00:29:33,790 S11: And when I get offended. Who is it that's being offended? 479 00:29:33,790 --> 00:29:36,950 S11: Is my flesh being offended? Or is it the gospel 480 00:29:36,950 --> 00:29:40,830 S11: that's they're lashing out at? And if it's the gospel, 481 00:29:41,030 --> 00:29:44,230 S11: if it's my flesh, then you know I shouldn't even 482 00:29:44,270 --> 00:29:48,150 S11: be concerned. Um, because my flesh profits nothing. But if 483 00:29:48,150 --> 00:29:53,229 S11: it's the gospel, then yes, I'm glad everybody's encouraging me 484 00:29:53,230 --> 00:29:56,709 S11: to have a loving response, to search for a loving response. 485 00:29:57,310 --> 00:29:59,710 S11: And that's how the program helped me today. 486 00:29:59,990 --> 00:30:03,190 S1: Great. Catherine. Oh, thank you for calling. I appreciate your 487 00:30:03,350 --> 00:30:07,710 S1: I'm thankful for what you just said. Linda in Chicago. 488 00:30:07,750 --> 00:30:09,150 S1: You're up next. Hi, Linda. 489 00:30:10,070 --> 00:30:15,710 S12: Hi. I sort of finished the story. Her words really hurt. 490 00:30:16,110 --> 00:30:19,270 S12: How could she be so mean and insensitive? I'm going 491 00:30:19,270 --> 00:30:24,250 S12: to unfriend her. No, I think I should pray. I 492 00:30:24,250 --> 00:30:26,890 S12: prayed and asked God to give me wisdom about how 493 00:30:26,890 --> 00:30:30,290 S12: to respond to her. As I prayed, the Holy Spirit 494 00:30:30,290 --> 00:30:35,970 S12: prompted me to respond to her in love. I sent 495 00:30:36,010 --> 00:30:39,930 S12: her this message. I am thankful for your comment because 496 00:30:39,930 --> 00:30:43,610 S12: it helped me to reflect on the reasons I am 497 00:30:43,610 --> 00:30:48,250 S12: thankful to God. I have experienced many hardships and struggles 498 00:30:48,970 --> 00:30:53,290 S12: in life, and I know that God loves me because 499 00:30:53,290 --> 00:30:58,610 S12: he brought me through. And I know he loves you too, 500 00:30:59,250 --> 00:31:03,090 S12: and he will never leave you. In the Bible in 501 00:31:03,090 --> 00:31:06,530 S12: John 316, it says, For God so loved the world 502 00:31:06,530 --> 00:31:09,890 S12: that he gave his only begotten son, so that everyone 503 00:31:09,890 --> 00:31:14,410 S12: who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 504 00:31:15,090 --> 00:31:16,050 S12: And so that's how. 505 00:31:18,290 --> 00:31:19,750 S13: That is really, really the story. 506 00:31:20,030 --> 00:31:23,870 S1: Linda. And and part of that comes through when even 507 00:31:23,870 --> 00:31:29,150 S1: the post that Kristen posted at the beginning. Ephesians two 508 00:31:29,150 --> 00:31:31,990 S1: eight and nine. I'm grateful today that my security in 509 00:31:31,990 --> 00:31:35,710 S1: God is not based on my performance for him, but 510 00:31:35,710 --> 00:31:38,590 S1: his performance for me. That's what you just talked about 511 00:31:38,630 --> 00:31:43,990 S1: the cross. Jesus died, took the penalty for my sin, 512 00:31:44,470 --> 00:31:49,030 S1: gives me his righteousness. In return, I give him my sin. 513 00:31:49,030 --> 00:31:53,470 S1: He gives me his righteousness so that I stand before 514 00:31:53,470 --> 00:31:57,670 S1: God forgiven, not just forgiven. I don't just slide into 515 00:31:57,670 --> 00:32:00,390 S1: the room and make it into the back of the room. 516 00:32:00,750 --> 00:32:04,950 S1: I am there with the full righteousness of Jesus on me, 517 00:32:04,950 --> 00:32:07,469 S1: so that when God looks at me, he sees the 518 00:32:07,670 --> 00:32:10,630 S1: perfection of His Son, the holiness of his son. Now, 519 00:32:10,630 --> 00:32:12,870 S1: I could say that real easy. I don't I know 520 00:32:12,870 --> 00:32:16,390 S1: it's a it's a, uh, an exercise of living through 521 00:32:16,390 --> 00:32:20,440 S1: that every day and God sanctifying you, completing the work. 522 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,880 S1: But that's basically what the gospel is talking about. We 523 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:28,320 S1: are sinners separated from God, and the only hope that 524 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,120 S1: we have is him invading our lives. And he did 525 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,040 S1: it in Bethlehem a couple thousand years ago. He's doing 526 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:39,760 S1: it in hearts and lives today. And so when people then, 527 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,640 S1: as you said, Linda, when, when people push back on 528 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,000 S1: the gospel, when they push back on this. Oh, you 529 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,080 S1: think you're better than I am. It's like, oh, we 530 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:54,880 S1: haven't communicated. We haven't explained it. Or somebody, you know, 531 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:59,240 S1: something is wrong with the communication process here of getting 532 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:02,800 S1: that truth into that heart and, and at at the 533 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:07,600 S1: heart of it. Linda, you know this. It takes God invading. 534 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,600 S1: It takes his spirit at work in the convicting power 535 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:15,040 S1: of the spirit in order to break through, doesn't it? 536 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:16,600 S12: Yes. 537 00:33:18,220 --> 00:33:18,979 S1: And that's why the. 538 00:33:18,980 --> 00:33:19,340 S13: Prayer. 539 00:33:20,060 --> 00:33:23,660 S1: Is so important. I'm glad you called today, Linda. Thank you. 540 00:33:24,020 --> 00:33:27,140 S1: That's why the. That's why the prayer is so important. 541 00:33:27,140 --> 00:33:30,820 S1: It's a part of this process of reaching out to 542 00:33:30,860 --> 00:33:35,860 S1: those who don't. Well, put it this way. Those who 543 00:33:35,860 --> 00:33:39,340 S1: go to church, you know, those who were born into 544 00:33:39,340 --> 00:33:42,340 S1: a Christian family and have always been Christians, because everybody 545 00:33:42,340 --> 00:33:45,780 S1: in my family was a Christian and who who don't 546 00:33:45,820 --> 00:33:49,060 S1: really have that relationship with God, I think that I 547 00:33:49,060 --> 00:33:52,980 S1: think sometimes it's easier to work with someone who is 548 00:33:52,980 --> 00:33:55,700 S1: on the outside, and you can tell that they're on 549 00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:58,700 S1: the outside looking in, rather than somebody who thinks they're 550 00:33:58,740 --> 00:34:03,500 S1: on the inside and they don't have that relationship that 551 00:34:03,780 --> 00:34:06,580 S1: you know that they need. And of course, you and 552 00:34:06,580 --> 00:34:11,980 S1: I can't see their hearts. Only God does. Mary's in Tennessee. Mary, 553 00:34:11,980 --> 00:34:13,140 S1: why did you call today? 554 00:34:14,340 --> 00:34:18,279 S9: Hi. Um, I've been listening, and, uh, this reminds me 555 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,880 S9: of a, um, a story that a pastor friend told 556 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,480 S9: me one time. I was on the bus on the 557 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:27,000 S9: way back from a kids camp, and he. When he 558 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,600 S9: was in college, he went to this restaurant. Him and 559 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,520 S9: a bunch of his friends would meet there and just 560 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:36,200 S9: talk and have a big old time. And, um, so 561 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:39,239 S9: one day, he, uh, was trying to talk to the 562 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:43,560 S9: waitress about Jesus, and she told him I'd rather go 563 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:47,160 S9: straight to hell than be like you Christians. And he 564 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:51,160 S9: was shocked. And he said, why? Why do you say that? 565 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:53,750 S9: And she said, I think there was like 10 or 566 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:57,720 S9: 12 of them. And he didn't pay attention, but apparently 567 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:00,359 S9: nobody else had left a tip, and she got like 568 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:05,520 S9: $5 from this table full of Christians. And, uh, he 569 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:10,600 S9: was devastated. And so he, um, he went he was 570 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:13,280 S9: in college, didn't have a lot of money. So he 571 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,570 S9: saved his money, saved it, saved it, and went back 572 00:35:16,770 --> 00:35:20,330 S9: and got in line and specifically asked for her table 573 00:35:20,969 --> 00:35:24,450 S9: and sat down and he said, do you remember me? 574 00:35:24,450 --> 00:35:27,490 S9: And she said, yes, I do. And so she waited 575 00:35:27,489 --> 00:35:29,570 S9: on him while he left her this I don't remember 576 00:35:29,570 --> 00:35:31,650 S9: how much it was, but it was a very large tip. 577 00:35:32,090 --> 00:35:34,930 S9: And so he did that a few more times while 578 00:35:34,930 --> 00:35:37,690 S9: he was in college, you know, as much as he 579 00:35:37,690 --> 00:35:40,370 S9: could because he didn't have a lot of money. And 580 00:35:40,770 --> 00:35:43,569 S9: she told him, she said, I hate working Sundays because 581 00:35:44,250 --> 00:35:47,529 S9: the Christians are so rude and so cheap, but I'm 582 00:35:47,530 --> 00:35:49,690 S9: a single mom and I don't have any other choice. 583 00:35:49,690 --> 00:35:53,810 S9: And so he kept doing that, kept ministering to her 584 00:35:54,050 --> 00:35:56,930 S9: while he was in college, and he said that she 585 00:35:56,930 --> 00:35:58,890 S9: ended up getting saved through that. 586 00:35:59,250 --> 00:35:59,650 S13: Wow. 587 00:36:00,850 --> 00:36:03,890 S1: And you know what? It wasn't it's not about the money. 588 00:36:03,930 --> 00:36:06,490 S1: I mean, it is in the I've heard that same thing. 589 00:36:06,489 --> 00:36:09,810 S1: We've done programs on this, Mary, about, you know, the 590 00:36:10,010 --> 00:36:13,750 S1: cheap tippers that Christians are, you know, um, but it's 591 00:36:13,750 --> 00:36:17,310 S1: not really about the money. It's about that heart. Her 592 00:36:17,310 --> 00:36:22,029 S1: heart began to be open when she saw that he 593 00:36:22,030 --> 00:36:25,189 S1: was different and that he was trying. We had this 594 00:36:25,190 --> 00:36:28,469 S1: same conversation. Was it a year ago, two years ago, 595 00:36:28,830 --> 00:36:32,430 S1: with the barista who, you know, right across the street 596 00:36:32,430 --> 00:36:34,270 S1: from the church, and she didn't want anything to do 597 00:36:34,270 --> 00:36:37,790 S1: with those people over there. But this guy, this pastor, 598 00:36:37,790 --> 00:36:41,310 S1: would come in and read and they'd interact. Something was 599 00:36:41,310 --> 00:36:46,350 S1: going on there and she couldn't explain it. And finally 600 00:36:46,350 --> 00:36:51,230 S1: she basically she said, I, I want what that person 601 00:36:51,230 --> 00:36:55,030 S1: I want the peace, I want the, the joy. And 602 00:36:55,070 --> 00:36:57,790 S1: and my guess is he was so joyful in being 603 00:36:57,790 --> 00:37:02,109 S1: able to give that money to her as a tip. Now, 604 00:37:02,110 --> 00:37:05,430 S1: that's how we ended segment three of this program from 605 00:37:05,430 --> 00:37:09,150 S1: six years ago. In our final segment, you're going to 606 00:37:09,150 --> 00:37:14,410 S1: hear how I would finish the story between Kristen and Janie, 607 00:37:14,930 --> 00:37:17,649 S1: and I want to see if this does something in 608 00:37:17,650 --> 00:37:22,970 S1: your own heart, or maybe informs your life circumstance right now. 609 00:37:23,250 --> 00:37:38,730 S1: Go to the website. Chris. Chris. Oh, I hope you're 610 00:37:38,730 --> 00:37:42,890 S1: enjoying this conversation at the Radio Backyard Fence from 2019. 611 00:37:43,410 --> 00:37:46,170 S1: It's all coming back to me. And in this segment 612 00:37:46,170 --> 00:37:49,570 S1: we kind of wrap things up. I tell you how 613 00:37:49,570 --> 00:37:53,410 S1: I would finish the story. Uh, I do want to 614 00:37:53,410 --> 00:37:56,490 S1: give you another opportunity though. I mentioned the little Christmas 615 00:37:56,489 --> 00:37:59,169 S1: Carol Coloring and Activity book. If you give a gift 616 00:37:59,170 --> 00:38:02,690 S1: of any size to Chris Fabry, live. Don't forget, uh, 617 00:38:02,690 --> 00:38:04,810 S1: a person who gives a one time gift as a 618 00:38:04,810 --> 00:38:07,930 S1: back fence friend and will send you this, uh, this 619 00:38:07,930 --> 00:38:11,230 S1: resource for a gift of any size back fence partners. 620 00:38:11,230 --> 00:38:13,950 S1: Get my back fence post, which is a video that 621 00:38:13,950 --> 00:38:17,270 S1: I send out every Thursday. And boy howdy, if you 622 00:38:17,270 --> 00:38:21,110 S1: are a back fence partner and you give each month, uh, 623 00:38:21,150 --> 00:38:23,790 S1: open up your email, go there before you have the 624 00:38:23,790 --> 00:38:27,790 S1: turkey and the Thanksgiving meal. Go there and watch the video. 625 00:38:27,830 --> 00:38:29,910 S1: I think it will encourage you. This is just one 626 00:38:29,910 --> 00:38:32,510 S1: of the ways that we reach out and say thank 627 00:38:32,510 --> 00:38:35,230 S1: you for what you're, you're doing to keep the program 628 00:38:35,230 --> 00:38:38,350 S1: going as an encouragement to you. Thank you for your 629 00:38:38,350 --> 00:38:41,310 S1: encouragement to us. If you want to become a back 630 00:38:41,350 --> 00:38:48,790 S1: fence friend or partner, go to Chris. Chris. Fabric. So 631 00:38:48,830 --> 00:38:55,630 S1: Janie wrote Kristen on Facebook said this ugly thing. Kristen 632 00:38:55,750 --> 00:39:00,390 S1: hovered her mouse over the delete button, but instead she 633 00:39:00,390 --> 00:39:03,390 S1: clicked on the picture of Janie and scanned her page. 634 00:39:05,110 --> 00:39:11,320 S1: Memories began to flood. They'd gone to school together. Janey 635 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:15,440 S1: had been a polar opposite of Kristen early on. Kristen 636 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:19,440 S1: was up front and outspoken. Janey was shy, stayed in 637 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:24,040 S1: the background from her online persona. Kristen could tell they 638 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,400 S1: differed on everything from belief in God to social issues. 639 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:32,880 S1: Kristen leaned right. Janey leaned left. Kristen posted positive observations. 640 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:38,080 S1: Janey posted about everything wrong with the world, everything. Kristen celebrated. 641 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:44,760 S1: Janey criticized what Kristen saw as evil. Janey called good. Well, 642 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:48,120 S1: she thought, if nothing else, I have someone to add 643 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:54,439 S1: to my prayer list. But something gnawed at Kristen. Some memory. 644 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:59,800 S1: What was it? She brought up Janey's page in her photos. 645 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:03,960 S1: There were pictures of her family, one of her and 646 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:07,859 S1: her father. And Kristen remembered the man from the neighborhood. 647 00:40:08,340 --> 00:40:11,379 S1: Not the most pleasant person on the planet. And there 648 00:40:11,380 --> 00:40:15,180 S1: were pictures of Janie and her children. They seemed normal. 649 00:40:15,180 --> 00:40:19,300 S1: But Kristin knew that having children brought pain and struggle 650 00:40:19,300 --> 00:40:22,940 S1: and heartache and worry. There was no sign of a husband. 651 00:40:24,180 --> 00:40:28,140 S1: She scrolled through the archive until she saw a familiar shot. 652 00:40:28,180 --> 00:40:31,900 S1: It was a yearbook photo from high school. It showed 653 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:35,259 S1: Kristin and several friends who were popular mugging for the 654 00:40:35,260 --> 00:40:41,420 S1: camera in the background with no expression. Janie stood watching them. 655 00:40:42,140 --> 00:40:47,100 S1: She was an observer to the scene, Janie had captioned 656 00:40:47,140 --> 00:40:54,339 S1: the photo. Outside looking in. Story of my life. And 657 00:40:54,340 --> 00:40:58,180 S1: like a lightning bolt, the memory was there. Fully formed, 658 00:40:58,180 --> 00:41:02,300 S1: fully fleshed. Was it seventh grade? Eighth. It was somewhere 659 00:41:02,300 --> 00:41:07,120 S1: in that general historical vicinity. Someone had suggested an impromptu party. 660 00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:10,000 S1: She and her friends were eating lunch in the cafeteria, 661 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,640 S1: and they made plans about where and when and what 662 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:16,319 S1: to watch and what to eat. Janie was sitting unobserved 663 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:19,239 S1: at the end of the lunch table, leaned forward. Can 664 00:41:19,239 --> 00:41:24,200 S1: I come? All of her friends looked at Kristen. She 665 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:30,120 S1: knew no one wanted Janie there. Kristen didn't either, but 666 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:34,040 S1: she didn't want to be mean. After all, she was 667 00:41:34,040 --> 00:41:40,520 S1: a Christian. Sure, Kristen had said. Janie smiled and finished 668 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:45,440 S1: her lunch. Later, her friends confronted Kristen and told her 669 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:48,799 S1: they needed to lose Janie, that the party would be 670 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:52,120 S1: ruined if Janie showed up, and they convinced her that 671 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,480 S1: it was her responsibility to break the news. Since she 672 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:59,360 S1: had said sure, given the choice of letting her friends 673 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:04,840 S1: down or injuring Janie, Kristen found the girl between classes 674 00:42:04,969 --> 00:42:07,489 S1: and made a lame excuse about why it wouldn't be 675 00:42:07,489 --> 00:42:10,410 S1: good for her to be there, and that she would 676 00:42:10,410 --> 00:42:15,649 S1: be invited to the next party. Janey paused, looked up 677 00:42:15,650 --> 00:42:21,250 S1: at Kristen and said, I understand. Kristen had felt relieved. 678 00:42:22,090 --> 00:42:25,890 S1: The party went as planned that night without Janey. Kristen 679 00:42:25,890 --> 00:42:29,850 S1: hadn't given it much thought in the intervening years. Until today, 680 00:42:30,650 --> 00:42:35,130 S1: until the memory flashed like lightning. She couldn't recall the 681 00:42:35,130 --> 00:42:38,930 S1: movie they'd watched, the food they'd ate, eaten, the boys 682 00:42:38,930 --> 00:42:42,650 S1: they'd talked about, or anything else. All she could remember 683 00:42:42,650 --> 00:42:47,850 S1: was the look on Janey's face. Kristen studied her post 684 00:42:47,850 --> 00:42:55,770 S1: about performance. No. Christianity isn't about following rules and regulations 685 00:42:55,770 --> 00:43:01,690 S1: and getting everything right. It's about receiving forgiveness from God 686 00:43:02,530 --> 00:43:07,069 S1: and being made right by him. Salvation is a gift 687 00:43:07,070 --> 00:43:11,109 S1: you can't earn. All of that's true. All of that 688 00:43:11,110 --> 00:43:16,030 S1: deserves to be gratefully expressed. But the gift isn't supposed 689 00:43:16,030 --> 00:43:20,070 S1: to be hoarded. The gift is to be opened and 690 00:43:20,070 --> 00:43:23,910 S1: shared with others. And the first act of opening it 691 00:43:24,350 --> 00:43:28,390 S1: and unleashing its power is the realization that you need 692 00:43:28,390 --> 00:43:33,629 S1: the gift in the first place. You need grace. And 693 00:43:33,630 --> 00:43:38,069 S1: the way you receive it is to acknowledge your need 694 00:43:38,710 --> 00:43:44,469 S1: for forgiveness. Kristen could have chalked all of the online 695 00:43:44,469 --> 00:43:49,109 S1: hoopla up to persecution. She could have judged Janie for 696 00:43:49,110 --> 00:43:53,750 S1: being a party pooper, a wet blanket on her Thanksgiving parade. Instead, 697 00:43:54,710 --> 00:44:00,830 S1: she breathed a prayer. Father, thank you that you have 698 00:44:00,830 --> 00:44:06,330 S1: forgiven me. And thank you that I can live forgiven 699 00:44:06,330 --> 00:44:11,009 S1: and loved by you. And thank you that you have 700 00:44:11,010 --> 00:44:14,610 S1: given me another chance with someone on the outside looking 701 00:44:14,610 --> 00:44:19,810 S1: in at a relationship with you. Would you help me 702 00:44:20,130 --> 00:44:25,330 S1: respond to Janie in that way? In the way you 703 00:44:25,610 --> 00:44:31,530 S1: would respond? At first, Janie's response felt like an attack 704 00:44:31,530 --> 00:44:37,770 S1: on Kristen's thankful heart. In fact, it opened new possibilities 705 00:44:37,770 --> 00:44:42,770 S1: for gratitude. Kristen searched for Janie's phone number, and when 706 00:44:42,770 --> 00:44:48,489 S1: she found it, she got the courage to call. There 707 00:44:48,489 --> 00:44:52,969 S1: was something she needed to say. A question that burned 708 00:44:52,969 --> 00:45:03,950 S1: in her heart. Janie, will you forgive me? Much of 709 00:45:03,950 --> 00:45:06,270 S1: what we talked about here. Those of you who have 710 00:45:06,270 --> 00:45:11,350 S1: responded to that little story, much of it has been 711 00:45:11,350 --> 00:45:16,870 S1: about that prayer and then overcoming your own ego and 712 00:45:16,870 --> 00:45:19,910 S1: your own pride and getting to the heart of the hurt, 713 00:45:19,950 --> 00:45:24,110 S1: the wound in Janie's heart. And if you are Janie 714 00:45:24,150 --> 00:45:27,310 S1: today and you're listening, and you've had Christians hurt you 715 00:45:27,469 --> 00:45:33,390 S1: and wound you and exclude you in some way, I 716 00:45:33,390 --> 00:45:37,550 S1: pray that you would hear that loudly and clearly. Christians 717 00:45:37,550 --> 00:45:44,030 S1: are not perfect people. We make mistakes. We fall short 718 00:45:44,030 --> 00:45:48,790 S1: of God's glory even while being forgiven. Even when grace 719 00:45:48,790 --> 00:45:54,070 S1: is lavished on us, we can do some pretty bad things. 720 00:45:54,070 --> 00:45:59,549 S1: But every now and then, God's Spirit reaches inside and 721 00:45:59,719 --> 00:46:02,600 S1: touches a nerve in our heart and says, you know what? 722 00:46:02,640 --> 00:46:06,000 S1: There's something bigger here. There's something more important here. And 723 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:07,839 S1: that is the heart of your friend. I hope you 724 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:10,080 S1: hear that coming through. I hope you hear it coming 725 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:13,680 S1: through every program that we do and all day long 726 00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:18,040 S1: on Moody Radio. If you want to know Christ, if 727 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:22,240 S1: you'd like to know how to to make that relationship happen, 728 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:25,640 S1: go to the website we have at Chris. Org. We 729 00:46:25,640 --> 00:46:28,839 S1: have this story linked from Mature Living magazine. You can 730 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:31,200 S1: read the whole thing. But at the top and the 731 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:33,600 S1: bottom of the page is knowing Christ and how to 732 00:46:33,640 --> 00:46:36,680 S1: know Christ. You can find that right there. Just go 733 00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:41,520 S1: to Chris. Thanks a lot for joining us today. Our 734 00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:45,040 S1: programs are production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 735 00:46:45,040 --> 00:46:46,360 S1: Bible Institute.