1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast. Did you know you can watch 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: our weekend services live online each week? 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 2: Of course, we'd love to have you in person if 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 2: you're ever in the Houston. 6 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Area, but the next best thing is our online services. 7 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: Thanks for downloading the podcast today and we hope you 8 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: enjoy the message. Well, God bless you for joy to 9 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: come into your home and we love you. You're ever 10 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: in the Houstern area, I hope you'll stop buy and 11 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: see us. I promise you will make you feel right 12 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: at home. But thanks for tuning in today. I'd like 13 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: to start with something funny each week, and as I 14 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: often say, don't take these things too seriously. Just laugh 15 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: with me, all right. A ninety two year old man 16 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: went to the doctor to get a physical. A few 17 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: days later, the doctor saw the man walking down the 18 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: street with a beautiful young lady on his arm. The 19 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: doctor stopped him and said, you sure are doing good, 20 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: aren't you. The man replied, I'm just following your orders. 21 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: You said get a hot mama and stay cheerful. The 22 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: doctor said, I didn't say that. I said you've got. 23 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: A heart murmur. Be careful. 24 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: All right, hold up your Bible, say it like you 25 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: men ready, this is my Bible. I am what it 26 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: says I am. I have what it says I have. 27 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 28 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 29 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 30 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 31 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about the importance 32 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: of having a teachable spirit. We should always be willing 33 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: to learn, and we need to stay open to new 34 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: ideas and new ways of doing things, and we need 35 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: to especially be open to correction. The mark of a 36 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: mature person is that they can receive correction without getting 37 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: their feelings hurt. So many people today are so insecure, 38 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: they get defensive. They can't be told what to do, 39 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: and if you do have to correct them in any way, 40 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: they get all bent out of shape. And really the 41 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: root cause of that is pride. Pride is not just 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: being conceited. It's not just thinking that you're better than 43 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: somebody else. When you won't take advice, that's pride, or 44 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: when you want to do things always your way, that's pride, 45 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: Or when you think that your group is the only 46 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: one that's right, and so you look down on others 47 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: because they're not exactly like you. That's the spirit of pride, 48 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: and the scripture says that pride. 49 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: Comes before destruction. 50 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: But humility always precedes honor. And humility doesn't mean we 51 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: have a low opinion of ourselves. 52 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 2: We think everybody else is so much better now. 53 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: God wants us to have a healthy self image, and 54 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: true humility takes a lot of courage. 55 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: You're secure in who you are. You don't have to 56 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: have your way all the time. 57 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: You're not always giving your opinion and telling everybody what 58 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: you would do. When you walk in humility, you are 59 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: open for correction. You have a teachable spirit. You're always 60 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: willing to learn. But some people today they're in no all. 61 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: They've got an opinion about everything. They're always telling you 62 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: what they would do. They dominate every conversation. You can't 63 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: get a word in edgewise. If you tell them something 64 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: you did, they'll tell you three things they did better. 65 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: If you caught a six pound bass, they'll tell you 66 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: how they caught. 67 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: An eight pound bass. 68 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: They're always looking for some way to one up you, 69 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: and really that's the spirit of pride. Pride breeds insecurity, 70 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: and when we're insecure, we're gonna brag, We're gonna exaggerate. 71 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: When we're insecure, we're gonna compare ourselves to others. And 72 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: that's when we get judgmental. Insecurity causes us to not 73 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: handle correction in the right way. We need to have 74 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: a teachable spirit when somebody corrects, you do not get defensive. 75 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: Don't have that old attitude. Well, who are you to. 76 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: Tell me that I'm just as good as you are? 77 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: Now that's that insecurity coming out. And as I said, 78 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: the mark of a secure person is that they can 79 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: be corrected without feeling rejected. 80 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: In other words, they. 81 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: Don't get their feelings hurt, they don't throw a fit, 82 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: they don't go around sour for two weeks. Well, nobody 83 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: appreciates me around here. All I do is work for 84 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: this company, and all they do is tell me what 85 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: I'm doing wrong. 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: Now, be more secure about it than that. 87 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 1: Just swallow your pride and learn to keep a good attitude. Say, 88 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 1: for instance, you turn a project in there at the 89 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: office and they don't like the colors you've chosen, or 90 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: they don't like your layout. And they ask you to 91 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: do it another way, Well, you cannot take that personal. 92 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: Recognize your idea may be a great idea, it's just 93 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: not what that company wanted. And more than correction, you 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: ought to see that as direction. This is simply what 95 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: they want. And a mature person, a person walking in humility, 96 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: will say, hey, no big deal. 97 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: Let's just do it. 98 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: You're a wife, and I'll be the first to admit 99 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: I don't know everything, and I'm open to suggestions. 100 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 2: One thing I learned from my father. 101 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: Was to stay teachable, to be open, to be willing 102 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: to learn from others. In fact, a report or ask 103 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: me the other day how I handle criticism. 104 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 2: We don't get a lot. 105 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: But you know, anybody that's in the public has people 106 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: that don't agree in, people that criticize. And I think 107 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: I surprised this reporter. He thought I'd be very defensive, 108 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: but I said, no. The first thing I do is 109 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: see if the criticism is valid. The first thing I 110 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: do is search my own heart. I try to stay 111 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: open and to see if what they're saying is true. 112 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: And the fact is more than once I've read a 113 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: criticism or some kind of suggestion about something that I've said, 114 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: and I've thought to myself, Man, I would have never 115 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: taken it like that. But I can see exactly what 116 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: they're saying. I can see they've got a good point, 117 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: and I've made the necessary adjustments. 118 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: You can learn from your critics. 119 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: Don't be such a big shot and so high minded 120 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,239 Speaker 1: and so arrogant you just blow off everybody that doesn't 121 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: agree with you. 122 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 2: Listen to what they're saying. 123 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: I'm not too proud to say, you know what, they 124 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: were right and I was wrong. And the scripture says 125 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: here in Proverbs fifteen, verse thirty two, if you reject criticism, 126 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: you are only harming yourself. But if you will listen 127 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: to correction, you will grow in understanding. There have been 128 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: times driving home from our Saturday night service, Victoria said 129 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: to me, Joel, I know what you meant by that point, 130 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: but it didn't come out like you think. You need 131 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: to rephrase it, You need to change how you said it. Well, 132 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: I welcome that. I'm open to suggestions. I'm even open 133 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: to criticism. Let me tell you, you can learn a whole 134 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: lot from your critics. And I'm not saying to be 135 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: a people pleaser and to change with every opinion you get, 136 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: But you should stay open, don't. 137 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 2: Be a know at all, be willing to be corrected. 138 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: Proverbs fifteen twelve says conceited people don't like correction. 139 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: They never ask for advice. 140 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: Well, you said, Joel, how do I know if I 141 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: have a problem in this area? Well, good way to 142 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: tell is how do you respond to correction? How do 143 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: you handle it when you don't get your way? Do 144 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: you get all puffy and all upset? Well that's the 145 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: insecurity coming out. Well, don't tell me what to do. 146 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: My business is bigger than yours, or my child makes 147 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: better grade than your child does, or my church has 148 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: more people coming. No, swallow your pride, stay open, and 149 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: always be willing to learn. In fact, I believe that 150 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: we should try to learn something new every single day. 151 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: Learn from the situations you find yourself in. Learn from 152 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: the people God has put in your life, your family, 153 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: your friends, your coworkers. Study their habits, pick up on 154 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: their good traits. See if there are areas they have that. 155 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 2: Can inspire you to come up. Hire in. But you 156 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: have to have a mind to learn. Let me tell 157 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: you this. If you're not learning, you're not growing, and. 158 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: You're never too old to learn. You're never too young 159 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: to learn. You may think this is kind of strange, 160 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: but about a year ago we bought a new dog, 161 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: and I've learned a whole lot from this dog. I've 162 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: learned about unconditional love. Every time we come home, she 163 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: stays in the inside. She's there at the back door. 164 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: She's got her paws up on the glass, and she's 165 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: just scratching as fast as she can. She cannot wait 166 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: to see us. 167 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: She's so excited. She loves us unconditionally. 168 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: I go outside the lift waists in my garage, she's 169 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: always right there at my feet, and she's always in 170 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: a good mood. 171 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: She's never complaining. She's consistent. I mean, she's happy day 172 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 2: in and day out. 173 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: I thought many times, if we could just have an 174 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,119 Speaker 1: attitude like this dog. If you think I like my dog, 175 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: you should see Victoria, so you would think that dog 176 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: is her own child. She's always petting her and playing 177 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: with her. I came home the other day and she 178 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: had the dog in her lap, and she was brushing 179 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: her and putting all these bows in her hair. And 180 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: I said, Victoria, I think you love this dog more 181 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: than you love me. She said, yeah, this dog doesn't 182 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: talk back. We have some friends that bought a dog 183 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 1: about the same time we did, and this lady was 184 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: telling me the exact same thing, how much she loved 185 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: her dog, and all she had learned from this dog. 186 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: She said, in fact, I'm gonna write a book and 187 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: I'm gonna call it this dog can preach. But my 188 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: point is we need to stay open and always be 189 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: willing to learn. 190 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 2: We need to look for opportunities to grow. 191 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: I learn from my family, I learn from other ministers. 192 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: I learned from Victoria Man. She's always trying to teach 193 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: me something. So you know, the other day she was 194 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: about to do something kind of funny and she stopped 195 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: right before she did it, and she said, I better 196 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: not do this. You may use this in one of 197 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: your sermons. I thought she's learning. But I learned from 198 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: my children. I remember when Jonathan was about seven years old. 199 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: One time he came home from the Sunday service and 200 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: he said, Daddy, I was listening to your sermon today 201 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: and I heard you pronounce a word wrong. 202 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: Seven years old. 203 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 1: My first thought was, I'm the dad, you're the child, 204 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: and you may have heard something wrong, but I did 205 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: not say it. 206 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: Wrong. I know how to talk. 207 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: Of course, I just kept that to myself and I said, oh, really, Jonathan, 208 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,359 Speaker 1: what was it. He said, well, Daddy, you keep saying often, 209 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: and the tea is supposed to be more silent. It 210 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: should just be often. I said, well, Jonathan, I have 211 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: said that word my whole life. 212 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 2: That is not right. 213 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: It's often. He said, no, it's not, Daddy, and I said, yes, 214 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: it is. 215 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: He said no, it's not. 216 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: He said, well, Dad, let's go look it up in 217 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 1: the dictionary. 218 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 2: And I thought, oh, no, you know. 219 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: Sure enough, we went and looked it up, and you know, 220 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: the tea is shown to be more silent. He told 221 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: me later, Daddy, for a small fee, I'll proofread all 222 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: your sermons. But I'm not too proud to tell you 223 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: I learned something from my seven year old. Well, Joel, 224 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: I sure wouldn't admit that. No, listen, I'm secure in 225 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: who I am. I know that my worth and my value. 226 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: My value doesn't come from what I do and how 227 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: good I speak. My value comes from knowing that I'm 228 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: a child of the Most High God. 229 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 2: And until you really understand that, you'll all being secure. 230 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: You'll always be trying to prove something but we need 231 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: to keep growing. And you may have a successful business today, 232 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: but it's not going to continue to grow if you 233 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: don't grow. You need to stay open to new ideas, 234 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: don't get stagnant, don't think you know it all you 235 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: know and have that attitude, Well I've arrived, I'm at 236 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: the top, I'm successful. 237 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: No things are always changing. I saw a. 238 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: Report last week on Walmart, the world's largest company, and 239 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: you would think that they would be pretty satisfied. You'd 240 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: think they'd just be kicking back and kind of saying, man, 241 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: we're the best, nobody's bigger than us, we're the hot shots. 242 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: But no, this report talked about all the changes they 243 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: were making because of what they had. 244 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 2: Learned from their competitors. 245 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: They'd studied all the different areas of the market where 246 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: they weren't having as much success in, and now they're 247 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: about to implement all these new items and new clothing lines, 248 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: new procedures just so they could continue growing. See, they're 249 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: the quote big shots, but they're not too proud to 250 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: learn others. They have a teachable spirit, and no matter 251 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: where you are in life, you need to make sure 252 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: that you're learning something, you're growing every single day. If 253 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: you're not open to new suggestions, if you're not looking 254 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: for new ideas and ways that you. 255 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 2: Can improve, then you're only hurting yourself. 256 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 1: And if you get defensive every time somebody corrects you 257 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: and you just blow off all the criticism, you won't 258 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: listen to any of that, well, that's going to keep 259 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: you in that rough. You're going to stay right where 260 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: you are. As I said, your critics can be your 261 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: best friends. You may not agree with them every time, 262 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: and I certainly don't, but it's amazing how much you 263 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: can learn about yourself when you see yourself through somebody 264 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: else's eyes. 265 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 2: See pride causes us to be blinded. 266 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: Well, Joel, I know I'm right. I've been doing this 267 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: a long time. No, I can't tell you how many 268 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: times in my life I've been one hundred percent sure 269 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: that I was right, only to find out a few 270 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: years later I wasn't right at all. And if I 271 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: just stayed a little more open, if I just paid 272 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: attention to what people were telling me, if I would 273 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: have just taken their advice, could have saved me a 274 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: whole lot of heartache and pain. If every time somebody 275 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: tries to correct you or somebody tries to give you 276 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 1: some advice, you get defensive and you debate it with them. 277 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: Then after a while they're gonna say, what's the use, 278 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: It's not worth it. 279 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 2: He's just gonna argue and fight. 280 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: If I try to correct him, he's gonna get all 281 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: bent out of shape, or she's gonna get offended and 282 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: go around sour for two weeks time. Let's just leave 283 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: it alone now, don't be that insecure about it. We 284 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: need to recognize nobody knows everything about every single subject. 285 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: You know things that I don't know. I probably know 286 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: a few things that you don't know. We can all 287 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: learn from each other, and a humble person is always 288 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: growing because they're open to new ideas, they're open to correction, 289 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: they recognize they don't know it all. A few months back, 290 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: I was down at the Compact Center watching the construction 291 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: workers build our new five story building, and then I 292 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: stood there in amazement. 293 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: It looked like a massive amount of work going on. 294 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 2: There must have. 295 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: Been several hundred men working and maybe one hundred different 296 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: individual projects going on, all at the same time, and 297 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: to me, it looked like, you know, just total chaos. 298 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: They were pouring some foundation over here and building something 299 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: else over here. And I thought to myself, these guys 300 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: must be geniuses. How could they possibly know where everything goes? 301 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: But it's because they are experts in their field. It's 302 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: because they are very knowledgeable in that line of work. 303 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: That's the gifting God has given them. And do you 304 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: know what I can learn from their gift. They may 305 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: look at me one day and say, man, Joel, I 306 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: don't know how you can get up there and speak 307 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: for thirty minutes and have it all make sense at. 308 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 2: Least most of the time. 309 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: See, they're looking at me in amazement at what I do, 310 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: and I'm looking at them in amazement of what they do. 311 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 2: God has given us all different gifts. 312 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: And the good news is we don't have to learn 313 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: everything from personal experiences. I can learn from other people's 314 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: successes as well as other people pople's failures. And when 315 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: somebody has been where I'm trying to go, I'm gonna 316 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: listen to their advice. I'm gonna try not to make 317 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: the same mistakes. I'm gonna humble myself and say, hey, 318 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: tell me how you got there, Give me some advice, 319 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: give me some of your wisdom. 320 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 2: But see a proud person won't do that. 321 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: Well. That may make me look kind of weak. They 322 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: might not think I'm very smart. But you have to 323 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: ask yourself, do you want people to think you're smart or. 324 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: Do you really want to be smart? 325 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: Do you want people to just think you're real wise 326 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: because you you know, never ask, or do you really 327 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: want to be wise? A proud person will be so 328 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: insecure that they will never admit they need any help. 329 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 2: They'll never ask for any advice. 330 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: But I really believe that God specifically puts people in 331 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: our lives to help us grow, to help. 332 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 2: Us be all that He's called us to be. 333 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: You don't know, somebody sitting around you may give you 334 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: one idea that could take you to the next level 335 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: if you just ask, if you just be open, or 336 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: maybe they could give you a little advice that could 337 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: keep your marriage together, a little wisdom that could help 338 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: you break a bad habit. Stay open, don't be too 339 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: proud to say, hey, I need your help. 340 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 2: I need some advice. 341 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: I found we learn a whole lot more if we 342 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: will listen more most of the time. In general, we 343 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: are not going to be learning as long as we're 344 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: doing all the talking. And when I get in a meeting, 345 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: our staff will tell you. 346 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 2: My favorite line is what do you think? 347 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: I'll go down and ask each person give me your advice, 348 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: give me your wisdom. 349 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 2: See I already know what I think. 350 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: And a lot of times we do all the talking 351 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: just to make sure everybody else will know how smart 352 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: we are. But as I said, that's just insecurity. A 353 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: secure person knows who they are. They don't have to 354 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: dominate every conversation just to let people think that they're 355 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: the hot shot. I think we could all learn to 356 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: listen more and talk less. Ask for advice, ask questions, 357 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: listen to other opinions, stay open, and don't think your 358 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: way is the only right way the time. Maybe not 359 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: every time, but most of the time. There are several 360 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: different ways you can accomplish the same project. But it's 361 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: pride that says my way is the only right way. 362 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: I was thinking about how Victoria and I we have 363 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: very different personalities. I'm very structured and very routine, and 364 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: Victoria she's just the opposite. She doesn't like routine, she 365 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: likes variety. She doesn't go to just one mall, she 366 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: goes to all the malls. And the way she does 367 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: things is not necessarily the way that I would always 368 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: do things. But I've learned I cannot be so proud 369 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 1: and so stuck on myself that I can't take her 370 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: opinion and do it her way. A while back, we 371 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 1: had to move this mirror that was hanging in my office, 372 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: and my personality is to just get in there and 373 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: get it done as quickly as possible. And so we 374 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 1: went into my office and I just jumped on top 375 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: of my desk and I took the mirror off the wall. 376 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: And I was expecting to hand it down to Victoria 377 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 1: so we could put it on the ground and see 378 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: where we were going to re hanging. But as I'm 379 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: standing there struggling with this mirror, weighs like sixty pounds 380 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: and it's got horns all the way around it, and 381 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: so it's very awkward and my back's kind of hurting. 382 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 2: Well, I noticed Victoria. 383 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: She just kind of nonchalant me walking through the room 384 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: thinking about where she wants to hang the picture. And 385 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: I'm as polite as I could be, I said, Victoria, 386 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: I hate to interrupt your artistic thinking, but if you'd 387 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: be so kind to help me set the mirror down, 388 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: as this sweat poured. 389 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: Off of my face, and she said, no, Joe. 390 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 1: If you'll hold it just a minute, then we won't 391 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: have to move it two times. 392 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: I want to hang it right over here. 393 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 1: I said, Victoria, I cannot hold this mirror while you 394 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: go get the hammer and the nails. She said, no, Joel, 395 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to use the nails from the old picture. 396 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 2: Right behind you. 397 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: And just as I was about to tell her that 398 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: there is no way this desk is going to hold 399 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: both of us, she jumps up on top of the 400 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: desk and now I'm going like this with this mirror. 401 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: I forgot all about my back hurt. Now I'm fearing 402 00:18:56,119 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: for my life. I said, Victoria, you are going to 403 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: get the nails out of the wall without a hammer. 404 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,120 Speaker 1: Would you just do it my way? About that time 405 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 1: she showed me the two nails. I said, still, Victoria, 406 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: I cannot sit around here and wait for you to 407 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: go get that hammer. Please have mercy on me. I'm 408 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: the father of your children. Will you do it my way? 409 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: She just kind of laughed. She said, Joel, who needs 410 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: a hammer? And she got one of my shoes. She 411 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: hammered those nails perfectly into the wall. We hung that mirror, 412 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: and we did it her way. Now, I can tell 413 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: you God is a god of miracles. I've seen it 414 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: with my own eyes. But my point is, don't be 415 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,959 Speaker 1: too proud that you can't do it somebody else's way. 416 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: There is a slight possibility that their way may be 417 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: better than your way, and God help us to not 418 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: become know it all. That's a sure sign we're not 419 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: going to be promoted. And even if you do know 420 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: a lot in a certain subject, or maybe you're very 421 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: successful in a certain area, you have to use wisdom 422 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: in how you share that. I have some good friends 423 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: at pastor churches in other cities, and I'm very careful 424 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: when I talk to them to not just bring up 425 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: all we're doing, how big our church is, how many 426 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: people we've got coming. I've learned most people are not 427 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: as interested in my plans as I am. They're interested 428 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: in what they're doing, and nobody wants to hear all 429 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: the time about how great your life is and how 430 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: many home runs your childhead and all the victories you're having. 431 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,719 Speaker 1: There's a balance be interested in other people. 432 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 3: Now. 433 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: Of course, there are times when that's appropriate, But what 434 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: I'm saying is, don't always have yourself on your mind. 435 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 2: I have a pastor friend. 436 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: They're remodeling this old kmart to use as they're sanctuary. 437 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 2: He is so excited about it. 438 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: They're doing it all themselves to save money, and so 439 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: at night he's got his members and different friends coming 440 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: up to help him and they're just giving it all 441 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: they've got. Well, when I talk to him, it's not 442 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: wise for me to say, well, your place is great, 443 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: but you should see the compact center. 444 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 2: Man, it's where the rockets used to play. We got 445 00:20:58,240 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: this and that. 446 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: Although it may be true, we need to be a 447 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: lot more sensitive than that. Do you know Sometimes your 448 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: good report can be very discouraging to somebody else. 449 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 2: And it's not wise. 450 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: If you have a friend over there at work and 451 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: he's at his desk and you can see he's coming 452 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: down with the flu and he's coughing and sneezing his 453 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: eyes or running, well, it's not very wise for you 454 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: to go up and say, well, God bless you brother. 455 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: You know that tried to come on me last week, 456 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: but I just. 457 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: Prayed it away. Good luck to you. Maybe you'll do 458 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 2: better next time. 459 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 3: Now. 460 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 2: We need to be a lot more sensitive than that. 461 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: Learn to walk in humility, always have a teachable spirit. 462 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 1: Thinking about my mother, since my father went to be 463 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: with the Lord, this has been a very big transition 464 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: for my mother. Not only did she lose somebody she 465 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: had been married to for more than fifty years, but 466 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: my personality is not exactly the same as my father's, 467 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: and so we naturally made some changes and some adjustments. 468 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: And had she not stayed open and had a spirit 469 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: of humility, she could have got her feelings hurt. 470 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: Well, John's gone. Now they're just doing it their own way. Now. 471 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: She's been totally open to all the changes we've made. 472 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: Back in two thousand, when I mentioned to her that 473 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: we were about to start a second Sunday morning service, 474 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: she kind of kiddingly complained to me about it all. 475 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: Now we're going to have to get up real early, 476 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: just kidding, you know. A couple months later, though, after 477 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: all the people were coming. It is real exciting me 478 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: and you'd have thought it was her own idea. I 479 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: mentioned about how we're going down to the compact. She said, Joel, 480 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: I'm all for it. I'm totally on board. See she 481 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 1: stays open. That's a mark of a mature person. 482 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 2: Another important thing. 483 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: Don't make the mistake of thinking that only your little 484 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: group is right, and especially when it comes to different 485 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: denominations and even people of different faiths. We may not 486 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: agree and believe everything they do, but that doesn't give 487 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: us the. 488 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 2: Right to look down on them. 489 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: I've spent a lot of time in India. Of course, 490 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 1: they come from a different faith than we do. But 491 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: I can tell you I respect most of those people. 492 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: I've seen them pray four or five times a day. 493 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: I've seen their sincerity. I can learn from their discipline. 494 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: In fact, a lot of them are more serious about 495 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: their faith than the people I know today. Don't get 496 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: me wrong, I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 497 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: But again, that doesn't give me or us the right 498 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: to look down on people of other faiths, treat them 499 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: like their second class. Jesus himself said, by this, shall 500 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: all men know that you're my disciples. 501 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 2: Here's the key. When you love one another. 502 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 1: It's not gonna be by our faith. It's not gonna 503 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: be by how many miracles we do. It's not gonna 504 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 1: be by how many scriptures we can quote. It's not 505 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: gonna be whether or not we all baptize the same way. 506 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 2: It's gonna be by our love. 507 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: Why don't you swallow your pride and start loving and 508 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: respecting people, even people from other denominations, people from other faiths. 509 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: And as I said, we may not agree and believe 510 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: everything they do, but we still should love the person 511 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: the Bible called Jesus a friend of sinners. Do you 512 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: know who Jesus got the most upset with? 513 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 2: The religious people? 514 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 1: That's because religious pride is the worst kind of pride 515 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 1: we can have. Well, I'm better than you because I 516 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,679 Speaker 1: go to this church, or I pray more, or we 517 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,199 Speaker 1: believe more of this and less of that. 518 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 2: No, that's the very worst. 519 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: Some people they don't realize when we get to heaven, 520 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: there's not gonna be a Baptist section, a Catholic section, a. 521 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,959 Speaker 2: Methodist section, a Charismatic section. 522 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: There's not even gonna be a black section, a white section, 523 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: a yellow section, a red section. We're gonna be all 524 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: up there together as one big, happy family. We might 525 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: as well learn to get along down here. I think 526 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: it's kind of interesting. The biggest criticism we get is 527 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: from religious people. You would think they would be for us. 528 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: You would think we'd all be on the same team. 529 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: I mean, after all, we're all trying to share the love, the. 530 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 2: Mercy, the goodness of God. 531 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: And what a shame when we destroy each other because 532 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: we don't come from the same little group. Listen, I 533 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 1: know I'm not perfect. I know my doctrine's probably not 534 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: one hundred percent right, but I also know that my 535 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: heart is right. And I see other people sometimes I 536 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: don't necessarily agree with their approach, but I realize I'm 537 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: not the judge. It's not my place to say, look 538 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: how terrible they are, let's just cut them down. 539 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 2: No, our place is to pray for them. 540 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,439 Speaker 1: Our place is to say, God help them, give them wisdom, 541 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: give them insight, give them understanding. And I'm determined in 542 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: my heart I'm gonna give people the benefit of the doubt. 543 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: I may not understand everything, but that doesn't necessarily mean 544 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: they're wrong and I'm right. 545 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 2: We're just different. God likes variety. 546 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: If every minister was exactly like me and had my 547 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: same personality, this world wouldn't be what God wanted it 548 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: to be. And a humble person says, you know what, 549 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 1: I don't agree with you, but you need to know 550 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: I am for you now. 551 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 2: I like what my father used to say. 552 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: He said, if you draw a circle and shut me out, 553 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna draw a bigger circle and shut you in. 554 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: And the bottom line is, we're not here to judge 555 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: and condemn. We are here to present the good news. 556 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,479 Speaker 1: We're here to present a message of hope. Just because 557 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: Lakewood may be a little bigger, or maybe somebody doesn't 558 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: do it exactly. 559 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 2: Like us, please don't look down on them. 560 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,199 Speaker 1: Let's concentrate on what we do agree with instead of 561 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: what we don't agree with. If we do that, we'll 562 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: get a lot further down the road. So let me 563 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: challenge again, stay open, have a teachable spirit, don't be 564 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: a know at all. Try to learn something new every 565 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: single day. Remember, if you're. 566 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 2: Not learning, you're not growing. 567 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: And a real mark of maturity is when you can 568 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: receive correction with a good attitude without ever getting your 569 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: feelings hurt. Don't be too proud to ask for advice. 570 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: Just humble yourself and learn to do more listening than 571 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: you do talking. The scripture says humility always precedes honor. 572 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: If you will just have a teachable spirit and be 573 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: open to correction, then God will honor you. 574 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 2: He'll pour out his blessings. 575 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: He'll promote you and you'll experience the victories he has 576 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: in store. 577 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 2: Amen, how many of you receive it today? What I 578 00:26:59,280 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 2: know you do. 579 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 1: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 580 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: an opportunity to make. 581 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 2: Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 582 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 583 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: into my heart. 584 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 2: I make you my Lord and savior. 585 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe he 586 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 1: got born again. 587 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 2: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 588 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 589 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,199 Speaker 3: Sometimes life can make you feel like you are just 590 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 3: living in the dark. Even your prayers don't feel like 591 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 3: they are making it to heaven. But God is listening 592 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,479 Speaker 3: and his light is about to shine. 593 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: We know God is all powerful that he can answer 594 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: any prayer, but sometimes we don't know what to pray. 595 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 2: We don't think we deserve God's goodness. 596 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: Maybe we're inconveniencing him, or he has more important things 597 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: to deal with. But God is concerned about every detail 598 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: of your life. He's waiting to hear your prayers. I 599 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: have a new resource called Praying with Confidence guided prayers 600 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: for life's moments. When you face challenges or obstacles that 601 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,719 Speaker 1: seem too big, you'll find prayers that will build your faith, 602 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: prayers that will move the hands of God. There are 603 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,959 Speaker 1: prayers you can pray for peace and comfort, prayers for 604 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: your family and hell, prayers for your dreams and goals. 605 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,719 Speaker 1: As you make these prayers your own, pray with confidence, 606 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: that's when you'll see the creator of. 607 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 2: The universe go to work. I hope you'll bequest your copy. 608 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 3: Today with a gift of any amount. This month, we 609 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,719 Speaker 3: would like to immediately send you a copy of Praying 610 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 3: with Confidence Guided Prayers for Life's Moments. In this new resource, 611 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 3: Joel shares how to pray when you need a breakthrough, 612 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 3: when you need strength. Yes, when life's moments happen and 613 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 3: you're not sure how to pray, Praying confident prayers will 614 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 3: put you on the right path. You'll enter new seasons 615 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 3: in your prayer life that will turn chilling to victory's 616 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 3: heartache to hope, frustration. 617 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 2: To newfound favor. 618 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Praying with Confidence 619 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 3: Guided Prayers for Life's Moments today. Visit Joelouistin dot com 620 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 3: or call eighty eight five six seven. 621 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 2: Joel