1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: To think that a sickness from a personal perspective, it's 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: all about me, is a problem. If you want to 3 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: catch me speaking, I have some engagements coming up, and 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: that is starting February second at hoax Bluff, Alabama. I'm 5 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: going to be in Starkville, Mississippi, on March the eighth, Florence, 6 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: Alabama on March the ninth, Colorado Springs, Colorado on March 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: the twenty third, Carthage, Texas on April first, Orange County, 8 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: California on April twenty ninth, Bismarkin, North Dakota, May third, 9 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: and Franklin, Tennessee on May ninth. And then there'll be 10 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: some more to get added to that. Lord Willing, So 11 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 1: I wanted to welcome everybody to the podcast that hasn't 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: been here, hasn't listened to it yet. What I do 13 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: is I answer your questions and you email me podcast 14 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: at grangersmith dot com and I just walk through it. 15 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: I don't have any notes in front of me. In fact, 16 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: I haven't even seen these questions yet. So it's a 17 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: little bit scary because I could just fall into anything. 18 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: I have no idea what I'm getting into. But I'm 19 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: just gonna answer it as if we're just friends and 20 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: we're walking through life together again. The email is podcast 21 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: at grangersmith dot com. The first question comes from Tommy. 22 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: It says, Hey, Granger, how did friends and family react 23 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: to your decision to start preaching? Did you have to 24 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: cut ties with anyone? If so, do you have any 25 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: advice to others on how to deal with that separation? 26 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: I enjoy listening to your podcast, Thanks Tommy, Yeah, man, 27 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: thank thank you for emailing Tommy. Then thanks for listening 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: to other episodes as well. And you know, the reaction, 29 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: as you could probably imagine, was all over the map. 30 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: There were people that said, man, are so encouraged, you know, 31 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: this is amazing. Then we have the other people that said, 32 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: I'm so sad you're not going to be playing music anymore. 33 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: What will we do? I lived for your music. We 34 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: had people that said, don't care, never liked you anyway, 35 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: And then we had another group that was pretty interesting 36 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: to me, the group that said, hey, Granger, if you 37 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: ever need to talk, you ever need someone to just 38 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: talk with, I just want to let you know I'm here. 39 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: And I thought to myself, Oh, those are the people 40 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: that think I've gone crazy, so so those are the 41 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: different kinds of groups and a lot of different reactions. 42 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: But it's all expected, right, you expect all these different 43 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: kinds of reactions. The next part of your question said, 44 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: did you have to cut ties with anyone? No, I 45 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: definitely didn't cut ties with anyone. But there are people 46 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: that I don't don't hear from anymore that maybe I 47 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: used to hear from a lot, and I actually have 48 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: a list. Maybe to help you answer your question, you said, 49 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: give any advice on how to deal with that separation. 50 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: I have a list on my phone. I have an iPhone, 51 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: and I have on my notes. I just have a 52 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: long running list and it just keeps growing of people 53 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: that I need to reach out to. And I'm a 54 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: big voice texture. I like the voice text, which shouldn't 55 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: be as surprised as I sit here in this chair 56 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: and talking to your microphone. But I have a running list, 57 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of people that I'll just reach 58 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: out and just be like, hey man, this is a 59 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: voice text. I'll just say hey, thinking about you. No 60 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: need to reply, but just thinking about you, man, and 61 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: hope you get to connect soon. Right now, that's an 62 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: open invitation. That message is open invitation to anyone that 63 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: wants to come back, and you actually, yeah, man, I've 64 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: been wanting to grab lunch or coffee or when's the 65 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: next time you're through this town. And then for some 66 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: of those, they don't reply at all, you know. And 67 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: so it's interesting because as I've gone from country music 68 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: into the guy that gives advice on a podcast and 69 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: has a radio show and travels around and preaches, I 70 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: don't ever want it to come across as man, I 71 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: haven't heard from Granger in a while. I wonder if 72 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: that means that I'm just too far gone for him 73 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: or I'm just not I'm not good enough for Granger. 74 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: I don't ever want that to be to be a 75 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: conversation that has had. So that's why that's what motivated 76 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: me to start this list, Like, man, I better get 77 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: this list going, and I do it. And I usually 78 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: spend time every morning going down that list and hitting 79 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: somebody up and I don't always hear back. So yeah, 80 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: it's just it's interesting. I appreciate you, Tommy. And let's 81 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: go to the next question from Clayton says, Hey Granger, 82 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: my name is Clayton. I'm twenty one years old. Question 83 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: on the Apocrypha and its reliability and why it is 84 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: excluded from the Bible. I was wondering if you knew 85 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: or had any books that would help with this sort 86 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: of topic. I want to be better understanding about how 87 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: we got the Bible and why things were excluded or included, 88 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: and I'm just now getting into apologetics and I absolutely 89 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: love it. Please recommend any books on or videos as well. 90 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Hey, Clayton, appreciate the question. Man, 91 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: I love this for anyone that's wondering. Apologetics is the 92 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: It is the way that we well. I don't want 93 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: to say this wrong way, because what it really means 94 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: is defending the faith, but it doesn't mean it in 95 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: like a military or aggressive type way. It's giving people 96 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: the reason for the hope that is within us. Right, 97 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: So be ready with a defense, which is in Greek apologia, 98 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: So that's where that word apologetics comes from. So be 99 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: ready with a defense for anyone that asked you about 100 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: the hope that's in you. That's the gist of where 101 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: that idea comes from. And then that defense, which comes 102 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:33,119 Speaker 1: with patience and love and salt and light, it comes 103 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: from it could defend any any piece of our faith, 104 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: including his question, which is I had questions about the Apocrypha, 105 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: which is the extra books that are in the Catholic Bible. 106 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: I think that's the best, the easiest way for me 107 00:06:53,960 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: to say it. These books were added in the sixteenth century, 108 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: so it's not an ancient thing. It's not really old. 109 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: It didn't start that way, and then Protestants took books 110 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: out of the Bible. In fact, the Apocryphy was added 111 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: as a response to the Protestant Reformation. So the Protestant said, hey, 112 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: we're going to go back to the Bible because we 113 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: think that things are things aren't being taught from the 114 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: Bible itself, from Scripture itself, and so they broke That 115 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: was essentially a big reason why they broke They broke off, 116 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: and then Catholic leadership came back and said, well, in 117 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: response to you leaving saying you're just going to go 118 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,239 Speaker 1: to scripture alone, because we want to we we believe 119 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: in the authority of the Church that is equal to 120 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: the authority of Scripture. So if you're going to go 121 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: do that, we're gonna go ahead and just tell you 122 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: that we're going to add some more books to this, 123 00:07:54,320 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: I'm making it sound worse. I'm making it I'm not 124 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: telling the full spectrum of the story because I'm trying 125 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: to make it quick. Here's the thing about the apocrypha. 126 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: You said, is it reliable? Yeah, the apocrypha is actually 127 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: not false. It's not like false doctrine or bad truth 128 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: or fake history. It's not that at all. In fact, 129 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: the apocrypha, I would say, is reliable, Yes, that's your question. 130 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: And it is historical and a lot of it fills 131 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: in the gaps between that, that four hundred year gap 132 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: between Malachi and the New Testament. Matthew. So you have 133 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: stories of books ancient text that fill in that gap 134 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: that are historically reliable, but they are not considered scripture, 135 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: which means they're not considered divinely inspired. They are not 136 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: considered the word of God, which makes it different. That's 137 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: the difference between being reliable is a historical document where 138 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: you can go, yeah, yeah, we could, we could see this, 139 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: we could, we could trace this back, and then saying 140 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: not only is it reliable historical document, but it's also 141 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: the word of God. There's a big difference, and that's 142 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: the cutoff there, because scripture is an errant meaning it 143 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: is it is the truth. The apocryphy is stories, real stories, 144 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: but not in ERRt okay, does that make any sense? 145 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: I'm trying to use the best, my best choice of words. 146 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: That makes make this a very difficult conversation easier to 147 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: digest the the canon itself, which is a cold We 148 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: can do an entire podcast on this is when you say, well, 149 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: if that's reliable and the Bible is reliable, where did 150 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: the canon come from? Why were why were those books 151 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: excluded in the first place. Well, the best and easiest 152 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: way to just explain that is that we look back 153 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: not because of the Council of Nicea, where it's like 154 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: a bunch of men got together and decided, of all 155 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: the books in the world, let's choose these and this 156 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: will be the canon. That's a false representation of the 157 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: Council of Nicia. Instead, it was a group of men 158 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: that got together and said, we know what the books 159 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: are because they've been passed down through the church through 160 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: We know these books, and so we need to fence 161 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: this off and put it in stone, put it in 162 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: writing that these are the books, in order to defend 163 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: it against heresy that's coming in saying this is what 164 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: about this book? What about this book? What about this book? 165 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: You see, so there's a big difference between men coming 166 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: in and going, let's get all the books on the 167 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: table and see which one we should pick for the canon, 168 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: and a group of men that said, we know the canon, 169 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: but we need to actually put it in writing that 170 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: this is the canon. Let's officially do that and close 171 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: it so that no more of these people could say 172 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: what about this Book of Thomas? Here there's a bunch 173 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: of reasons why we wouldn't include the Book of Thomas 174 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: and the cannon. Great conversation and so so exciting, and 175 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: so finally some straight up Indiana Jones stuff. When you 176 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: really get into that kind of the scripture and narrancy, 177 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: Apologetic is really really fun in a deep rabbit hole, 178 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: and like I said, could take an entire podcast to 179 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: go through. Where should you go? If I was going 180 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: to suggest a few things quickly here? That's a great question. 181 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: And there is a quick little book by Greg Gilbert 182 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: called Why Trust the Bible? Very short book, easy to understand. 183 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: Why Trust the Bible? You can find it on Amazon. 184 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: There's a great YouTube page called Apologia Studios could also 185 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: say it. Apologia. That's how it looks. Apologia Studios, great 186 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: YouTube page and there's a great video on that YouTube 187 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: page about the that's deconstructing the idea that Constantine decided 188 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: the canon. Like there's a lot of people when I've 189 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: heard this heresy many times and it came from the 190 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: I believe it came from the movie Da Vinci Code 191 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: that Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, got together, he became 192 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: a Christian and he's the one that decided the canon. 193 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: And it's completely false. It never happened. So look up 194 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: on YouTube Apologia Studios Constantine. Just type in that and 195 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: there's a there's there's a two part series. It's a 196 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: great historical two part series. It's going to just guide 197 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: you through facts and not not hearsay and not fiction. 198 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: So dude, email back. This is like I said, this 199 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: is there's so much in this email, but email back 200 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: and I'd be happy to walk through this again with 201 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: you if you haven't done it in a while. Go 202 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: to eeye dot com. That's her apparel company. Me and 203 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: my two brothers, Tyler and Parker, and I'd love for 204 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 1: you to see the new stuff we have. We have 205 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: the winter launch come out a few weeks ago and 206 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: we're gearing up for the spring launch, so we're right 207 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: in between it. I want to make sure that you're 208 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: staying up to date with what we have going on 209 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: with your favorite outdoor apparel company, yee Ye. We're also 210 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: trying to give away a bunch of stickers right now. 211 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: So if you got a cool truck, hey, message us 212 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: dm us or comment on the latest post on our 213 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: Instagram page ee Y Apparel and tell us you got 214 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: a cool truck and we need to send you a 215 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: free sticker. That's what we're gonna do. Also, if you 216 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: want a message from me, if you want a video 217 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: message from my phone, go to cameo dot com slash 218 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: Granger Smith and you could request anything you want. You 219 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: just type in, Hey Granger, it's my brother's birthday. Can 220 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: can you give him a video saying yeee and I 221 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: saw you at the concert a few years ago and 222 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: he loves EARLD Dibbles Junior. Can you give him a 223 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: shout out? Whatever you want me to say, I'll say 224 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: it for you and I'll shoot you that video message again. 225 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: That's at cameo dot com slash Granger Smith. Next question 226 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: comes from Anonymous. Hey Granger, I'm a big fan of 227 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: yours since the country music days. The podcast is amazing 228 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: and it's been great to see how God is using you. 229 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: I have been in a six year long relationship with 230 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: a guy who ultimately knew it wasn't who I ultimately 231 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: knew wasn't God's best. I think I know what that means. Unfortunately, 232 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: I was hurt, blindsided, ultimately heartbroken, but I let fear insecurity, etc. 233 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: Keep me from moving on. After tons of back and forth, 234 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: I just realized we needed to end, and most importantly 235 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: for me to let go. Although it's been a difficult process, 236 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: it has helped me reprioritize my relationship with God. What 237 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: would you advise me to do moving forward to heal 238 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: from this and gain back my confidence slash trust in God? 239 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: Lots of love, Anonymous. Let me recap so I understand 240 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: what you're saying here. Six year relationship that was probably bad. 241 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: I'm assuming you were blindsided, you were hurt, heartbroken, but 242 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: after that you couldn't move on. Then it probably broke up. 243 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: You broke up, I'm assuming, and then you just kind 244 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: of like it lingered and you got back together and 245 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: you broke up again. That that happens, and then you 246 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: realized in the end that you needed to completely cut 247 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: it off cold turkey. I'm recapping for my own brain, 248 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: and it's helped you now re prioritize your relationship with God. 249 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: So your question, I'm trying to get your question. Your 250 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: question is how do you move forward to heal from 251 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: this and gain back your confidence slash trust in God. 252 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: So you're implying that you lost trust in God through 253 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: this relationship. I think that, like, that's that's what I 254 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: would question. If we were riding in the truck together 255 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: and you brought this up, I would say, you're trying 256 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: to gain back confidence in God because you lost it 257 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: in that relationship. Or were you just so into that 258 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: relationship that you moved away and you feel that distance, 259 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: Because look, a relationship with God is like this. It's like, 260 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: imagine God is an island, and you are the canoe 261 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: and you roll around and you use your oars and 262 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: you drift with a tide, and you go up and 263 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: down with the storms, and you feel distant from the island. 264 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: Sometimes the island seems so small. Sometimes it seems unreachable. 265 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: Sometimes the island is hazy and hard to see it all, 266 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: and then sometimes it's very present and you're right up 267 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: against it. But in reality, the island never moves, only 268 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: you do as you drift. So we could think of 269 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: that as our relationship with God. God is not going anywhere. 270 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: He is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 271 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: He is unmovable. It is us that drift and bounce 272 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: with the tide constantly. So there's your first step in 273 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: regaining this confidence. He didn't go anywhere. In fact, he 274 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: was always there in the same place. It was you 275 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: that drifted. Okay, totally happens. I totally get it right. 276 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: And then you're wondering how to move forward. One just 277 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: piece of practical advice in this is stay out of 278 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: relationships for a bit. It's time to take a break. 279 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: The worst thing you could do, my counsel, would be 280 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: the worst thing you could do, is go back into 281 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: another relationship with someone else, because you have your vulnerable 282 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: right now to be open to Prince Charming to come 283 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: in and say the right things and he's a man 284 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: of God, or whatever might happen, or you meet them 285 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: at church, or your family introduces you, and that is 286 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: possible to happen, but most likely that's a vulnerability because 287 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: you're open. Now, You've got an open wound that has 288 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: not healed right, So be very careful with that. Pump 289 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: the brakes. Don't give your heart away. Do not give 290 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: your heart away soon, keep it guarded. Be careful with that. 291 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: And through time as you how do you rekindle a 292 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: relationship with God? Or if you think of that island scenario, 293 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: or he doesn't go anywhere, but you're going to try 294 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: to find anchors to that island. So in your canoe, 295 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: you got to get your ropes out, You got to 296 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: get your anchor out, you got to get your hooks out, 297 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: and you got to do everything. You get your oars 298 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: and you stick them in the sand. And those come 299 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 1: in all the kinds of ways. It comes with a 300 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: spiritual discipline of prayer, of reading your Bible consistently, make 301 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 1: it a daily habit, take notes. It comes with planting 302 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: yourself with your feet in the sand right at the 303 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: shore of the island, in a local church, showing up 304 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: on a Sunday. I don't care if you sit in 305 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: the back. I don't care if you don't know anybody there. 306 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: I don't care if you show up a little bit late. 307 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: But as long as you're showing up, it's kind of 308 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: like trying to run a marathon. How do you run 309 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: a marathon? Granger? Will you start by putting your shoes 310 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: on and going outside and going some distance. It doesn't 311 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: have to be it shouldn't be really a marathon the 312 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: first day, but any kind of distance, you just become 313 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: a creature of a habit of moving towards that goal. 314 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: And the goal is the marathon. The goal is knowing God, 315 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: and that's a journey we're all going to be on 316 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: for a lifetime. But it's really going to start with 317 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: putting your running shoes on and getting out there and 318 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: hitting the pavement. And a big piece of that is 319 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: showing up in church right, consistently being poured over with 320 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: good leadership, joining a small grip or a Bible study, 321 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: doing having lunches or coffees coffee with fellow sisters in 322 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: the faith. These are things that will ground you. These 323 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: are your ropes and your hooks and your oars and 324 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: your heels in the sand of the island. And this 325 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 1: is something I would encourage you to do to to 326 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: keep you accountable and to keep you away from that 327 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 1: probably selfish desire to jump into another relationship quick, to 328 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: try to heal something that needs to be healed by 329 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: God and consistent time with him. Next question comes from 330 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: Kyle says, Hey Granger, I'm thirty two years old and 331 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. My question 332 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: to you is how, in difficult times do you handle 333 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: the fleshly desire of self, pity, selfishness, and pride. I 334 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: know this is a broad question, but any advice that 335 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: you have I would appreciate it. Oh, Kyle, I'm so sorry, buddy, 336 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry, And you know what I want to 337 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: say right off the bat. First of all, I don't 338 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 1: I don't know what it's like in your shoes. And 339 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: because I don't know what it's like in your shoes, 340 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: I don't know how to appropriately answer that question. But 341 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: I will walk with you as though we're having this 342 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: conversation around a campfire. And what's difficult about that, and 343 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: the essence of this podcast is me answering your questions casually. 344 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: But what's difficult in this kind of scenario is that 345 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: I would listen to you way more than I talk 346 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: and Unfortunately, in this kind of setting, it's just me 347 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: in a microphone. So my first thought that comes to 348 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 1: my mind is if you're asking the question, how do 349 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: you handle the fleshly desire of self pity, selfishness, and 350 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: pride being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. First 351 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: I just hear I say, brother. The fact that you 352 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: even label it as a fleshley desire, the fact that 353 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: you even bring it up as an enemy that you 354 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: need to eradicate, gives me so much hope and encouragement 355 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: that you're on a really good path because I think 356 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: recognizing that that that could be an enemy, self pity, selfishness, pride. 357 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: The fact that you could recognize that that's an enemy, 358 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 1: I think is a huge mountain that most people don't 359 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: get to. We see so many people that just just 360 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: wallow in their self pity, they wallow in their selfishness. 361 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: This is why it's difficult for me to answer this 362 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: question with you, because I haven't been in your shoes. 363 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: But so please forgive me when I speak of selfishness 364 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: on your behalf, because I don't know you and I 365 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: don't want to unfairly label you as someone that's selfish, 366 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,959 Speaker 1: But I'm just going by what you told me. And 367 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: to think that it's all to think that a sickness, okay, 368 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: stepping out on a limb, to think that a sickness 369 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: from a personal perspective, it's all about me, is a problem, right, 370 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 1: And to say anything, say I get this, I get 371 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: a stomach bug. And my tendency, my human tendency, is 372 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:54,239 Speaker 1: to think, oh poor me, my day is ruined. I 373 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 1: have lost all this time of the last I've lost 374 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: the last two days because I've got the stum bug. 375 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: Oh poor me. Right, And that's a very light example 376 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: of how we could turn everything inward on ourselves and 377 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: be so selfish and just think it's all about me. 378 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: I look, I see this when couples are fighting and 379 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: they're on the brink of divorce, and so many times 380 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: when these couples are at each other, they're at each 381 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: other's throat and they're fighting through something. I just think 382 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: in my mind and I try to tell him in 383 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: the nicest way I can. I try to tell him, 384 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: both of you are just making everything all about you. 385 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: I have been dealing with this relationship for so long, 386 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: and I have put up with his crap for so long. 387 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,679 Speaker 1: And his narcissism. And he doesn't do this or I 388 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: ask him to do he doesn't recognize this and this 389 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: and this, and then the guys over here going. She 390 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: just nags and nags and nags. She doesn't understand my 391 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: sensitivity towards her nagging. And she doesn't even know that 392 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: I'm actually going through this and work, and I come 393 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: on from work and she nags me at this and 394 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: she has no sensitivity towards us. And I'm going, both 395 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: of y'all are just being selfish. Look. Look another example. 396 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: I tell my kids Lincoln in London, when they start 397 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: fighting and they do this, he said this, she said this, 398 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: he said, And I go, who's gonna quit first? Quit? What? 399 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: Quit the selfishness? Who's gonna stop first? Who's gonna break 400 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: the selfishness? And go? You know, what's not all about me? 401 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: It's not all about me. How many times do we 402 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: need to hear that in our own lives? How many 403 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: times do we need to tell ourselves that it's not 404 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: all about me? Oh? Man? Can you imagine a world 405 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 1: if everyone looked at themselves and said that? So my 406 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: point with this, Kyle, is that the fact that you 407 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: even recognize it as the enemy is so huge. In 408 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: order to fight self pity and selfishness, we serve and 409 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: we give, because you can't with a full heart of 410 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: gratitude serve someone else and simultaneously have self pity for ourselves. 411 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: You can't wholeheartedly give and pour out to someone else 412 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: with gratitude and be full of selfishness and pride simultaneously. 413 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: Those things cannot coexist. And so you go, well, cool, 414 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: that's nice for a postcard stranger. But I've got cancer. 415 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: How could I possibly serve others? I'm not even capable 416 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: of serving myself right now? Right, Kyle, you know that's 417 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: not right, because I've been to those cancer wards and hospitals, 418 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 1: and I've seen how valuable, how valuable empathy is in 419 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: those cancer wards. Someone that understands when we lost River 420 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: my son and we went back to visit people in 421 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: the nick you people that were had just lost a 422 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: child or had a child that was battling for their life. 423 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: When we go there, when we speak to those people 424 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: even today, they will listen to us more than they 425 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: listen to someone that hasn't been through it. That's our 426 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: human nature. That's the power of empathy, right, And so you, 427 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: with this rare form of cancer being diagnosed, can serve 428 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: others with a similar diagnosis, and it will be more 429 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: powerful and more meaningful to everyone else, way more than 430 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 1: the people that have never been through it like you. 431 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: And when you do that, when you serve others, when 432 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: you say what could I do for you? How could 433 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: I help you? How could I be there for you? 434 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: Just even just just a talk. Can I come over 435 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: tonight and we'll just talk? By you doing that, You're 436 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 1: not capable of being selfish. You're not capable of drowning 437 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: and self pity. You're not capable of being puffed up 438 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: with pride. Brother, I don't know what you're going through, 439 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: and I don't want to pretend like I am. But 440 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: from the outside looking in, this is your roadmap to 441 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: overcoming these what you call fleshly desires. If you want 442 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: to get a hold of me some way, maybe get 443 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: a video message from me. You could do that at 444 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: cameo dot com slash granger Smith. I will see your message. 445 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: You send me a message and say what you want 446 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: me to say in a video, and I'll make a 447 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: quick video on my phone and say exactly that. Happy Birthday, 448 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: Happy anniversary, word of encouragement, word of prayer, something, anything 449 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: that you want me to send to someone else or yourself. 450 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: You could do that with a video message from me 451 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: from cameo dot com slash Granger Smith. Next question comes 452 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: from Anonymous here and it says, Hey Granger. First, I'd 453 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: like to say that your sermons have strengthened my relationship 454 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: with Christ and brought me closer to him. Thank you 455 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 1: for your ministry. My question is for what reasons should 456 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: you leave a local church. I have been prayerfully considering 457 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,479 Speaker 1: leaving my current church for deeper scripture teaching, among other things. 458 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: I have attended this church for a long time and 459 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: have close friendships within the congregation. Thus I feel very 460 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: torn about leaving. Ultimately, I want to do whatever God 461 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: is asking me to do. Any advice that you have, 462 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: even tough love, would be appreciated. God blessed Anonymous. The 463 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: first thing I would say in response to this question 464 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: is I would be careful with saying I want to 465 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: do whatever God is asking me to do, because when 466 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: you say that, you're implying that God spoke to you 467 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: and told you to leave this church, and that's not 468 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: That's not what happened. Okay, so let's let's be careful 469 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: with the language. I'm trying to do what God is 470 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: asking me to do. Look, look, I get it, I 471 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: get what you're saying, but I just want to be 472 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: crystal clear as we're talking to everyone else here. Instead, 473 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: let's change it to something like I want to be 474 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: faithful to God's word or I want to be obedient 475 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: to my savior. Right, So let's say things like that 476 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: instead of I want to do what he's asking me 477 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: to do. Right. Secondly, you said what reasons should you 478 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: leave a local church? And then the next sentence you 479 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: gave really good reasons. You said, I have been perfectly 480 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: considering leaving, and here's your reason for deeper scripture teaching, 481 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: among other things. And I go, oh, amen, that's a 482 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: good reason. Maybe you emailed because you just needed me 483 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: to hear that and cheer you on a little bit. 484 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: You need my approval. Maybe because you literally asked a 485 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: question and then gave a really good answer to your 486 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: own question. Maybe it just takes me to just tell 487 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: you that you did that. So leaving your church for 488 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: because you crave deeper scripture teaching is valid. It wouldn't 489 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: be valid to say the pastor's not feeding me, you know, 490 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: or like I just I feel like I'm not growing. 491 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: That's not the pastor's responsibility to make you grow or 492 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: to feed you necessarily kind of. But he would do 493 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: that through deeper scripture teaching. So that's the answer. If 494 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 1: that's the way he should feed you, that's the way 495 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: you should grow with that. So there's a difference between 496 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: I don't feel like I'm growing and the pastor's not 497 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:25,479 Speaker 1: teaching deep scripture. Okay, he's not teaching the full Bible, 498 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: he's not expositionally walking through different books, which is really 499 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: the recommended way to answer all of these questions instead 500 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: of topical series throughout the year. Here's what I think 501 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: you need from me. I think you're looking to just 502 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: get validated in this decision, and I think what you 503 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: need to hear is that you need to not sneak 504 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: out the exit quietly. You need to schedule lunches or 505 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: dinner with the leadership that brought you into the church 506 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:14,160 Speaker 1: or that has counseled you through your time there. You 507 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: said you've been there a long time, and in that 508 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: dinner or lunch or coffee, just be very honest and 509 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 1: completely transparent and just go look, I love you guys, 510 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,959 Speaker 1: I love the people, and I'm so torn. This is 511 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 1: so difficult for me. But I'm seeking deeper scripture teaching 512 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: and I'm going to go somewhere else. I don't know 513 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: exactly where yet, but I'm going to start my search. 514 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: But I just want to tell you that it hurts me. 515 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: It's not easy to do this, and I wanted you 516 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: to hear it from me instead of you just stop 517 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: seeing me show up and you wonder what happened to me. 518 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: I wanted to tell you that. Now, that does a 519 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: couple of things. One, it's just that's just a nice, generous, 520 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: respectable thing to do. It's it's it's the it's the 521 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: way to have integrity and leave a church. But the 522 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: second thing it does is it also sounds a little 523 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 1: bit of an alarm that says we're losing people because 524 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 1: we're not teaching deep scripture. Right. That's important too, and 525 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:32,800 Speaker 1: so you need to be honest with that. The the 526 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 1: third thing that I would say that this is going 527 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: to do, it's it's going to make this church. If 528 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: they just saw you disappear, they would continue on the 529 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: same path. It's going to make them rethink in leadership 530 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: the way that they are presenting sermons on a Sunday morning. 531 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 1: Next question comes from Jason. It says, Hey, Graynard, there's 532 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:08,280 Speaker 1: this girl who I have liked for about over a year, 533 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,840 Speaker 1: and she is my boss's daughter. We make eye contact 534 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: whenever I see her, and she either smiles or quickly 535 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 1: looks away. However, she has been with her current current 536 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,479 Speaker 1: boyfriend for about nine months and they've been doing long 537 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 1: distance and he won't be living here for a year. 538 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,239 Speaker 1: I've been to my boss's house multiple times to help remodel, 539 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 1: and I've talked to the girl there. She's really sweet. 540 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 1: We're both twenty. What do you recommend I do? Let 541 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: me get let me hang on, say, let me get 542 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 1: a grip on this. Jason, there's a girl you like her. 543 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:48,840 Speaker 1: She's your boss's daughter. Got it. You guys make eye contact, 544 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:54,280 Speaker 1: which is interesting, and she smiles and say you're getting 545 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: these like this body language reading from her that she's 546 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: into you, right, recapping for my own mind. And she's 547 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 1: been with her current boyfriend for almost a year and 548 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: long distance. But the thing I'm missing, Jason, the thing 549 00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm missing is that you don't you don't say how 550 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:19,279 Speaker 1: she's doing with him. That would be the first thing 551 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: I'd ask, as well, is she happy with this guy? 552 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: Because what if I was kind of expecting you to say, 553 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: she's she's got a wondering eye because he treats her 554 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: horrible and he never takes her to dinner, or or 555 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:37,880 Speaker 1: she's very unhappy, or he's got all these different girlfriends 556 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 1: in different towns, and I thought that that's where this 557 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:46,759 Speaker 1: was going. But you didn't say anything about that. All 558 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:50,360 Speaker 1: you said is you've been to her house multiple times 559 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:55,399 Speaker 1: and talk to her there, and she's really sweet. This 560 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: is something man, that you have to be really careful 561 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: with because you come in, you come in at this 562 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: at this juncture, when she is twenty years old and 563 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 1: she's dating this guy for nine months, you're you're in 564 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: the position where you can get in a lot of trouble. Basically, 565 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 1: that's what I'm saying. For instance, you go to her 566 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: and say, look, I like you, just want to be honest. 567 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: I like you. If you're into me, let me know. 568 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:33,160 Speaker 1: Then she's like, oh my goodness, no I don't. I've 569 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: got a serious boyfriend. And then she goes back and 570 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:38,640 Speaker 1: if if that's true, then she's gonna tell the serious 571 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 1: boyfriend and he's gonna be like, wait what, your dad 572 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 1: has hired this guy and now he's hitting on you 573 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:49,239 Speaker 1: while I'm out of town, and it it creates a 574 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,520 Speaker 1: really tough situation, So you gotta be really careful. I 575 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: would say the best thing to do. And there is 576 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:00,200 Speaker 1: no right or wrong to this, for sure, But if 577 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,080 Speaker 1: I was talking to you in the cap of a truck, 578 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:04,920 Speaker 1: I would say, do not bring it up that you 579 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: like her. It's a dangerous thing to do. Instead, And 580 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: even though you probably want me to say that in 581 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:14,360 Speaker 1: this podcast, and that's what your impulse probably wants me 582 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 1: to say, but I would just be super sweet to her, 583 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: try not to be too flirty. You're not going to 584 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 1: go on any dates or anything, and watch her. Look 585 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:29,879 Speaker 1: this happened with me and Amber when I first met her. 586 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 1: I really really really liked her, and just like you, 587 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 1: she was really sweet and she had a boyfriend. And 588 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:44,879 Speaker 1: I didn't come to her as some homewrecker and say, look, 589 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:47,160 Speaker 1: not that that's the right term with a boyfriend. But 590 00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:50,480 Speaker 1: I didn't come to her and say, hey, I like you, 591 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 1: will you break up with this guy? You know? Let's 592 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 1: date instead. I was just as sweet as I could be. 593 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: I tried to be beckful for the situation, and Amber 594 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 1: reached out to me and she said, look, I just 595 00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:11,000 Speaker 1: I was wondering if the way you feel, if the 596 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: way you feel about me is the same I feel 597 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,240 Speaker 1: about you, because I think there's more to us than friends. 598 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,359 Speaker 1: That's what she said. And then guess what I did. 599 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:22,640 Speaker 1: I pumped the brakes again. I still didn't say, yes, 600 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:26,839 Speaker 1: I like you, I said, and I promise she could 601 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 1: tell you. She could back this up. I said, regardless 602 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:35,880 Speaker 1: of how I feel, if you have this kind of 603 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:38,879 Speaker 1: wondering eye, you don't need to be dating this guy. 604 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:46,560 Speaker 1: So break up with him and then we'll talk. That 605 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:49,040 Speaker 1: was my way of saying, look, I don't want I 606 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:51,759 Speaker 1: don't want any part of being the bad guy here 607 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:54,799 Speaker 1: in this situation because it wasn't my place. I didn't 608 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: have any claim on Amber at all. I didn't have 609 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,600 Speaker 1: any right to move into that relationship and break it 610 00:40:01,719 --> 00:40:05,680 Speaker 1: up right. So I said, look, you'll show me something 611 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:09,120 Speaker 1: huge if you break up with this guy. And she did. 612 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:13,040 Speaker 1: She was like, okay, she broke up with a guy. 613 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:16,400 Speaker 1: And she called me and said, I broke up with him, 614 00:40:16,719 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: and then guess what I did. Then I said okay, 615 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: and I let about a month go by, and then 616 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 1: we lived in two different towns. And then after about 617 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:29,680 Speaker 1: a month, I said, hey, I'm playing this little acoustic 618 00:40:29,719 --> 00:40:32,600 Speaker 1: gig and walks a hatch. He's kind of close to you. 619 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 1: Do you want to go grab some coffee after my gig? 620 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,080 Speaker 1: And she said yes. Then after my gig, which she 621 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 1: didn't go to, I didn't even tell her where it was, 622 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,600 Speaker 1: went to the gig and I said, I'm finished. There's 623 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:48,640 Speaker 1: a Starbucks ten miles from me, and it looks like 624 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: it's close to you, and she said great. We went there. 625 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,759 Speaker 1: We got two coffees, probably nine thirty at night, and 626 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:59,160 Speaker 1: we drank the coffee. We talked, and we stayed there 627 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:02,160 Speaker 1: and talked until they started putting the chairs up are 628 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:08,200 Speaker 1: the stools up onto the tables, and they said we're closing. 629 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:11,799 Speaker 1: So I said, okay, we got to go, and I 630 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 1: got in my truck, she got in her car, she 631 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:17,680 Speaker 1: went home. I went home, and we talked on the 632 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 1: phone on the way home, so we couldn't we couldn't 633 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:24,239 Speaker 1: talk enough. It's Starbucks. We talked all the way home 634 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:27,480 Speaker 1: and from then on we were messaging and talking back 635 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,919 Speaker 1: and forth and we became best friends. So look, that's 636 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 1: not necessarily the right roadmap for you. But I'm partly 637 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:40,919 Speaker 1: telling you that I don't think going in and telling her, hey, 638 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:43,480 Speaker 1: I really like you, like you want to break up 639 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: with this guy's long distance anyway, I don't really think 640 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:48,200 Speaker 1: that's the right way, or at least I could say that, 641 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:51,040 Speaker 1: that wouldn't be what I would do. I wouldn't. I 642 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:56,680 Speaker 1: would instead be courteous, be respectful, be sweet, be a 643 00:41:56,680 --> 00:42:00,759 Speaker 1: man of integrity, work hard for her dad, trust with 644 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:06,920 Speaker 1: her dad, don't let the sun go down on you 645 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:10,319 Speaker 1: and her in the same room, be respectful in that 646 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:14,920 Speaker 1: aspect as well. Treat her like a lady. And then 647 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,640 Speaker 1: I believe this will pan out in your favor if 648 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:21,920 Speaker 1: it's the right thing, and if it's not, then she 649 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,799 Speaker 1: might actually really like the other guy, and good for 650 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:28,400 Speaker 1: him and good for her, And if you truly cared 651 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:31,840 Speaker 1: about her, then that's what you would want anyway. Okay, 652 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:34,560 Speaker 1: So I think that's my answer, and that's a long 653 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 1: way of just saying i'd be careful with this. You look. 654 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 1: An alternative to me saying that is you go in 655 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,000 Speaker 1: you go, hey, I really like you. I know you're 656 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:47,719 Speaker 1: dating this guy, but you want to come with me, 657 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:50,960 Speaker 1: and she goes, yeah, I do. In the back of 658 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:55,319 Speaker 1: your mind from then on, you might be thinking, if 659 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: a better guy comes along, he could easily come in 660 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:00,200 Speaker 1: and just have the same conversation with her, and she 661 00:43:00,239 --> 00:43:01,719 Speaker 1: just moves on to the better guy. And that's just 662 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:06,000 Speaker 1: what she does. She just upgrades constantly. Who's to say 663 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: that she wouldn't do that if she did it with you? 664 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,719 Speaker 1: Just my thought. Love you guys, Thanks for being here. 665 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:16,000 Speaker 1: We will see you next Monday. Thanks for joining me 666 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:19,320 Speaker 1: on the Grangersmith podcast. I appreciate all of you guys. 667 00:43:19,320 --> 00:43:22,279 Speaker 1: You could help me out by rating this podcast on iTunes. 668 00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:25,640 Speaker 1: If you're on YouTube, subscribe to this channel, hit that 669 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:29,080 Speaker 1: little like button and notification spell so that you never 670 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:32,560 Speaker 1: miss anytime I upload a video. Yigi