1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Your real talk. Religion still trips me out dead as 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: dead as I can agree. Um, but part of me wonders, 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: is it really just all about the religion aspect of 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: things or is it about that personal connection that you 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: have with a good Look. Hey, I'm Cadine and we're 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: the Ellises. You may know us from posting funny videos 7 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: with our boys and reading each other publicly as a 8 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: form of therapy. Wait, I'll make you need therapy most days. Wow. 9 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: And one more important thing to mention, we're married. We are. 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: We created this podcast to open dialogue about some of 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: life's most taboo topics, things most folks don't want to 12 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: talk about through the lens of a millennium married couple. 13 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: Dead ass is the term that we say every day. 14 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: So when we say dead ass, we're actually saying facts, 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 16 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: Were about to think, Bill talk to a whole new level. 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: Dead ad starts right now. This story time is gonna 18 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: take me back Tooklyn circa Wow. I remember saying my prayers. 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: I was no a matter of fact, Circle Circle nineteen ninety. 20 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: I was saying my prayers and I remember thinking to myself, now, 21 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: I laid me down to sleep, I pray the Lord 22 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, 23 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: I pray the Lord my soul to take. And I 24 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: remember thinking that's some scary ship like at six, and 25 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: I remember thinking like, am I going to die in 26 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: my sleep? And then I remember going to church and 27 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: just having like a whole bunch of questions and nobody 28 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:09,399 Speaker 1: ever answering any of my questions and being offended if 29 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: I ever asked questions. And then I just remember being 30 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: very fearful every time I went into church or every 31 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: time I had to like think about God or Jesus. 32 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: It just seemed like this lumin presence over me that 33 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: just had me like in so much fear. And the 34 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: fear was always death, like you know, you do something 35 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: wrong that you just might die out of nowhere and 36 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: go to Hell. And that's that's how I grew up 37 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: thinking about my relationship with God. It's tough karaoke. This 38 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: is gonna take us back to Jefferson City, Tennessee. Circa 39 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: people follow on Instagram and in YouTube, you'll know this song. 40 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: It's one of the kids favor Oh, I think I 41 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: know what it is. Might I've been singing this last night. 42 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: We are love me Jacob Let, We are clamby Jacob Letter, 43 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: We are clamby Jacob Letter, Soldier Oh the ro Yo 44 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: Martha Davis Baptist Church. They used to sing that song. 45 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: Was that like a staple? Was one of my favorite 46 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: songs to sing. Miss Agnes would be on the piano, 47 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: the deacons to be singing. They have their deep voice. 48 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: It was like one of my favorite songs of I 49 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: just want to know real quick, are there any other 50 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: lyrics the song? Or is that just I don't know. 51 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: I just know that they kept saying that part of 52 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: the song and we would just be singing along with 53 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: the And I know your Path will be proud to 54 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: know that this song has been sung to his great grandson, 55 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: Edward Ellis Path. I miss him. He was he had 56 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: Christen cast for us. That was such a special religion 57 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: and family, family and faith. Yes, he was the patriarch 58 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 1: that I grew up watching my entire lifetile passed and 59 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: not my father. What a good man. Yes, all right, 60 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: let's say a quick break, handle some ads and then 61 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: we'll be right back. Alright, we have a special guest today, 62 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: someone who is a new author, and I'm super proud 63 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: of UM. And when talking about you know, topics for 64 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: this season and what we wanted to kind of encompass 65 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: coming out of our whole pregnancy stint and stuff we 66 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: wanted to touch on a pull different things, UM. And 67 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: when we think about faith and religion, that's always a 68 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: topic that I feel like we can always learn more 69 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: about UM learning from other people's experiences and see how 70 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 1: God shows up in this podcast for us and for 71 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: everyone else. So today we have with us Christina Price, 72 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: who happens to be a dear friend of ours UM. 73 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: And I think it'll be better if Christina introduces herself, 74 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: because I don't want to leave any of her you 75 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: know hats out, because you wear many hats, Christina, But 76 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: first and foremost a dear friend of ours, and you 77 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: can take it away and just tell everybody a little 78 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: bit about who you are. Yeah, Hey, guys, First of all, 79 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: thank you for having me on. I am so honored 80 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: and blessed to be a part of your podcast today. 81 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: But I am Christina Price. I am a believer of 82 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. I'm a mom, I'm a career woman working 83 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: in corporate America for the past over sixteen years in 84 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: HR operations. UM, I'm a sister, I'm a friend, and 85 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: just as you said, the latest title that I could 86 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: add to my array of things is an author. I 87 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: just published first book, thank you, UM, this past year 88 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: and it's it's been good. That's good. Devout and I 89 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: have embarked in our book Journey as well too, and 90 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: that's no easy test. It's no easy test. And I 91 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: remember when you reached out to me and you said, 92 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: you know what, I think that I'm being called to 93 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: document this process and to share it with people in 94 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: some capacity. So you were talking to me about like 95 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: a book, and I was just really admired by your 96 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: drive and like you really saying this is something I 97 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: want to do and finding your own way to do it. 98 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 1: And before I knew it, you had a book, then 99 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: you had an audible, and I was likely way to 100 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: say it, what is this person? And it's never doubt. 101 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: It was just that, you know, sometimes people talk about 102 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: things they want to do, throw it out there, but 103 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: I'm happy to see it come into fruish And so 104 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: I have a copy here of course. UM. Saved by choice. UM, 105 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: so yeah, Christina, mother, career woman, sister, friend author. Her 106 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: book Saved by Choice is a devotional memoir detailing her 107 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: experience in developing a relationship with Christ. She grew up 108 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: in a Hindu household and was introduced to Christianity as 109 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: a teenager, and after falling off or away from faith 110 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: for a while, she wrote Saved by Choice to reconnect 111 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: to God, or as she reconnected to God. So Christina's 112 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: faith is empowered by her freedom of choice, which she 113 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: encourages other exercise as well on a day to day basis. 114 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: And that's what we're going to talk about today. Um 115 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: So Christina, let's dive right in. Did you have any 116 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: questions you wanted to start out with, babe or should 117 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: we just have or tell us about this journey she 118 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,119 Speaker 1: was on. Now, I do have a question what made 119 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: you go from Hinduism to Christianity? Um? I think the 120 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: probably the overarching factor had to be relationship. So growing 121 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: up Hindu, so I'm from a Caribbean family. Um, there 122 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: was a lot of rituals and a lot of traditions 123 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: and a total language that I didn't understand. So it 124 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: was a huge disconnect to follow something that I didn't understand. 125 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: You know, I feel like the generation. You know, we're millennials, 126 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: We're Americans. We have a lot of questions. We want 127 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: to understand the why and the how and and to 128 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: make a connection to things. And when I would ask, 129 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: you know, I would get ostracized just for asking a question. 130 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: And sometimes my parents are the people around me didn't 131 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: even know the answer. It was just such tradition that 132 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: was passed on from generation to generation, and it's just 133 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: this is how our parents did it, so we continue 134 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: to do it. And I couldn't find up to that, 135 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: like I needed to understand what I was praying to 136 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: how I was praying, what I was saying, and what 137 00:08:55,640 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: it meant. Ultimately, so Hinduism that disc connected also understanding 138 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: them the idols that they would worship too. It was 139 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: a bit um off putting to me. It just didn't 140 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: look anything that was safe or you know, something that 141 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: I would even want to um worship too. So so 142 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: for me when I was introduced to Christianity actually by 143 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: my mom who was Hindu and she converted to Christianity, UM, 144 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: it was understanding who Jesus was and building that relationship. 145 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: So it was more so taking away from the rituals 146 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: of doing this to be blessed versus you know, making 147 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: a connection with someone to understand what love is for 148 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: myself to then be able to transcend that to others. 149 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: So I would definitely say it's the relationship MCOs we 150 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: can all relate in that sense that we had some 151 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: sort of uh disconnect or just kind of fear or 152 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: an uneasy feeling about the traditions of religions. I know, 153 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: for me, growing up seven day Adventist, I was always wondering, 154 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, why I couldn't wear pants to church? Like 155 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: that was just something to me that was just so 156 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: in the time miniscule, and I'm starting like, okay, so 157 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: God is going to feel a way if I came 158 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: to church wearing this pants suit, you know, like is 159 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: it really something that I should be cast out for? 160 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: Or wearing earrings? You know, it was something we're in 161 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: the morning. If I'm coming downstairs, my grandmother's like, take 162 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: off your earrings. You can't wear those to church? And 163 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, why can't I show up as I am? What? 164 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: You know, it was more about um, the other human 165 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: beings in the building versus what God was really thinking 166 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: of me showing up. And they would say come as 167 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: you are. But if you did come as you were, 168 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: then you were prepared to be looked at sideways? You know, 169 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: did you have that experienced pa, Oh hell yeah, well 170 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 1: I'm nean not say that this episode. Yeah, there was 171 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: a connection with church and me. That connection was fear. 172 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: You know, like everything through church just seemed painful. We 173 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: went to Bethlehem Baptist Academy. They used to eat us there, 174 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, like it just seemed like everything was very controlling. Um, 175 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: they didn't appreciate or like free thinkers, people who asked 176 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: questions or people who bucked against the system. For example, 177 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: even at our Churchurre we grew up, Salele Missionary Baptist Church, 178 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: we sung come as you are every time we asked 179 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: people to come to the altar. But women were not 180 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: allowed to wear pants. You know church as well too. 181 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: Year they well they would say they preferred, it was 182 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: never not allowed, but women that wore pants. There was 183 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: always that undertone if there were women wearing pants. When 184 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: when the pastor got up to speak, he would make 185 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: mentions of women wearing pants, or if they cut their hair, 186 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: it's a women's hair as her crown and um. Even 187 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: with men, you know, if you didn't wear a jacket 188 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: to church, if you just wore a sweater and you 189 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, or just wore a shirt with a tie. 190 00:11:58,040 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: You know, it was always spoke about like men should 191 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: a jackets or it wasn't even just the rules on women, 192 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: it was just rules on the tire in general. And 193 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: I was just like, yeah, I'm not feeling this. Did 194 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 1: your mom take you to Hindu I guess where is 195 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: it as a temple or what did that look like 196 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: for you? Yeah, it's called him Mander And she totally did. 197 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: And it's the same thing, you know. I felt like 198 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: it was a fashion show you kind of walk in 199 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: to see who had the latest stories or who had 200 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: the latest outfits. Um, And I felt it was hypocritical 201 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 1: because it's the same thing you're walking in, people are 202 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: looking at what you're wearing, probably judging you for what 203 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: you're doing, who you are in your life, and totally 204 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: taking the attention off of God and putting it on 205 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: other people, which is not where the focus should be. 206 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: So I do think that that deters I know that 207 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: that deters people from religion because we're a judgmental society, 208 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: Like we just look at people and want to judge 209 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: based on their actions or their appearances, and not look 210 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 1: on the inner man, which is what we should be doing. 211 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 1: And it's unfortunate because that, I do believe it causes 212 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: that church hurt that make people just shy away from 213 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: the whole religion and God in general. What what trips 214 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: me out is that. And I've heard one pastor say 215 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: to me, you know, you shouldn't judge people who come 216 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: to church because if you go to a hospital to 217 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: get fixed, everybody in the hospital is broken, right, so 218 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: everyone is sick. So when you go to church, don't 219 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: go to church looking for perfect people, because then you're 220 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: just as guilty as the people who are doing the judging. 221 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: My head, I was gonna say something similar, it's about 222 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: the gym, to like, oh, don't make people in the 223 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: gym trying to get their body back in order. But 224 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: my thing is when the leaders of the church are 225 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: the ones responsible for shaming people who are sick for 226 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: coming into the church, that to me is a problem. 227 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: You know, every church is about leadership, and even the 228 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: Bible Ist says three fourths of the churches are going 229 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: to do it wrong when they try to do you know, church, 230 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's going to be done wrong, which means 231 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: the vast majority of the churches we see are messed up. 232 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: So how do you know you at the right church? 233 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: You know? And not only is it being controlling, but 234 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: it's also a huge business. Church is a huge business 235 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: in America. All these mega churches with a bunch of 236 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: money and private jets and big arenas just seemed like 237 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: a huge show, you know. And and the connection is 238 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: the most important part. But it's hard to practice your 239 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: religion when the religion is encompasses everything else outside that 240 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: so worldly for sure. Do you know what influenced your 241 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: mom to go from Hinduism to Koeni Christianity? Did she 242 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: ever tell you why? That is a great question, you know, 243 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: I don't know. I would I would. I would think 244 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: it's her friends, because I know that she had a 245 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: lot of friends that were around her that probably that 246 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: definitely introduced it. But I don't know what that turning 247 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: factor was because she converted maybe about three or four 248 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: years right before she passed away, so it was like 249 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: I feel like it was like a pretty quick timeline 250 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: of it all. Mm hmm. What was that experience like 251 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: for you transitioning from Hindu to Christianity, And did you 252 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: ever feel any kind of guilt or can fusion or 253 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: that you were maybe intern shaming some of your family 254 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: for stepping out, because I know you did mention in 255 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: your book, Um that you were on this, uh, this 256 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: path or this journey, and you said most of your 257 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: family and friends were just like, oh no, Christina just 258 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: drank this proverbial kool aid. As you put it's like 259 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: they're just like, they're not understanding what went on here. Honestly, 260 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: they still don't know what to do with me or 261 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: where to put me. Um, And I know where you 262 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: stay right, but it's it's it's okay because well the 263 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: first part of that question, that I feel any guilt, No, 264 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: I've never felt any guilt because I felt once I 265 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: made this choice and it felt it gave me peace. 266 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: I knew it was the right thing to do. Um. Now, 267 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: operating in a in an environment that hasn't changed, but 268 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: you've changed, is very unique because I know that they're 269 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: now looking to me to see how I represent I 270 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: felt as a Christian. And I also know what prejudice 271 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: feels like. I know what it feels like to be judged, 272 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: and I'm not trying to portray that on them because 273 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: their views are different from me. So I'm not more 274 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: focused on them. I'm focused on myself, Like, how do 275 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: I represent myself to represent Christ in a way that 276 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: is appealing to them, because at the end of the day, 277 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: I want them all to be saved as well. But 278 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: if I'm over here calling them, you know, just throw 279 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: in the Bible at their faces every day and judging 280 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: them for all of that they're doing, it's not going 281 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: to encourage them or show them a different path. So 282 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: it's it's pretty hard, um to operate in this space 283 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: of just being the only Christian because they're they're still Hindu. Um. 284 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: But I don't I don't judge, I don't make them 285 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: feel any different, and I just try to love them 286 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: in the best way that I can. That again, shows 287 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: Christ through my behavior and my actions. M that's a 288 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: good that's a good strategy. How do you work to 289 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: or not work too? But how do you, I guess, 290 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: encourage them to maybe seek God in their own way 291 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: or their own path, Like do you have things that 292 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: you do or you try to include them somehow, maybe 293 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,959 Speaker 1: inviting them to churn. Oh yeah, I think I invite 294 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: them every week to come to church. It's now to 295 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: a point where they don't even respond to me. They're 296 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,239 Speaker 1: not they're not going to a Christian as much as 297 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: they love me, they're they're just not going to do it. 298 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: And look, I get it, because everybody has to come 299 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: at everything at their own time. Like, I can't force 300 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: you to want something in the time that I want. 301 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: But I'm not gonna stop. It's not gonna stop me 302 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: from inviting you. It's not going to stop me from 303 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 1: praying for you. It's not going to stop me from 304 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: from loving you in a way that I can do 305 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: so with the piece that I have to give. So 306 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: it's I guess what I'm trying to say. I just 307 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: don't stop, and I don't take it personal if they 308 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: don't want to come either, Like I know, it's not 309 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: a luck. I have a question. This is my belief, 310 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: all right. I believe that God exists, but I also 311 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: believe that God shows himself in many forms. So I 312 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 1: do also believe that you can find God through Hinduism, 313 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: through Christianity, through Islam, through Judaism. I feel like you 314 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: can find God in different types of religions. You know what, 315 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: I'm saying, I don't think that you have to choose one, 316 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: because if you think about it, if you have to 317 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: choose one, whichever one you choose, you feel like every 318 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: other religion is going to hell. That to me does 319 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: not seem very godlike. You know what I'm saying, What 320 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on that? Well? As a Christian, to 321 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: get to heaven, it is believing that Jesus Christ is 322 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: the Son of God. And I agree that everyone has 323 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: their different truths and they believe that their truth is 324 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: the right truth. Um, but it's it's it's hard to 325 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: it would be blasphemous for me to say as a 326 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: as a Christian to say that the views of of 327 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: Islam or Hinduism is right, because that's not my truth. 328 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: So I just feel it's going to be dependent on 329 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: what you choose to learn and what you choose to accept. 330 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: So the same thing with the you know, with the book, 331 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: it's like, although we're saved by grace, like I really 332 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: highlight your choices in every aspect of the matter, because 333 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: your choices is what leads to your behaviors and ultimately 334 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: leads to where you're going to be. So it's it's 335 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: really going to be a personal choice for you as 336 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: to what you believe your truth is and how you 337 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: will get there and how you see God. So as 338 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: a Christian again, for me, it's through Jesus, that's how 339 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: we get to Heaven. That's how we're saved. And this 340 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: is the reason why I asked that is because I 341 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: feel like through the practices of Christianity or Hinduism, it's 342 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: how you make the right choices in life. Right, if 343 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: you practice discipline, if you practice being a cheerful giver. 344 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: These are things that religion tries to teach people how 345 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:58,239 Speaker 1: to constantly make good, conscious choices with God and mind. Right. Um, 346 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: we had a cousin that told us God to him 347 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: just meant good orderly direction, which means that you didn't 348 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: necessarily have to pick with religion. But if you use 349 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: the direction passed down through profits from God, you'll always 350 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: be on the right path. And not for nothing. That 351 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: made me feel the most comfortable, because I personally don't 352 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: want to have to feel like I have to condemn 353 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: other people in order for me to go to heaven, 354 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: you know, Like that was one of the biggest questions 355 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: I had as a young man because my godmother was 356 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: Puerto Rican, she was Catholic, we grew a Baptist. There's 357 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: completely different traditional beliefs in Catholicism and then Baptist Baptist religion. 358 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 1: And I felt like, so realistically, if I'm Baptist, I 359 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: would have to believe that Catholics are going to Hell, 360 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: or if I was Catholic, I would have to believe 361 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: that Baptist are going to Hell because we don't do confession, 362 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: which to me just seemed like a practice created by man. 363 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: And also thinking that I know so many amazing people 364 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: who are Jews or are we not amazing Muslim people? 365 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,439 Speaker 1: So like those people who are as we know to 366 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:16,719 Speaker 1: be really raising good human beings, I don't being lost 367 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: because they were introduced to God a certain way, you 368 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: know what, Like for example, what if you were introduced 369 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: to God through Hinduism your whole life and you just 370 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: practiced every single thing to be the best Hindu person 371 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: that you could be. I just can't first see God 372 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: saying you go to hell because you didn't find Jesus, 373 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. And the same thing for Christianity. 374 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: I can't see someone who follows Christianity the best they 375 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: can and follow us the practices and really lived with good, 376 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: orderly direction being told now you're going to hell because 377 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: you didn't do it to that point, but do you 378 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: also think it can be based on their exposure because 379 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: we're raised and we're grown to absolutely yeah, to adapt 380 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: to know what we know. So and and of course 381 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: to your point earlier about you know, a lot of 382 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: these traditions are man made. They definitely are, and they 383 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: kind of get away from from what who God is, 384 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: which is just being of love and sharing love and 385 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: loving one another. Um. But that that exposure, I think 386 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: it also leads to people's train of thoughts. So just 387 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:22,959 Speaker 1: kind of tying it back to what you said, it's like, 388 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: do you think that although we know of all these 389 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: good jew people, all these good Islam people, all everything, 390 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: it's just based on everyone's exposure at their time of 391 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 1: their life and where they are in the world. So 392 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: it's just it's just it's just so hard to kind 393 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 1: of say. I guess what I'm trying to say. It's 394 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: it's not that it's not my place to condemn anyone 395 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: because my belief is different from there. That's that's not 396 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 1: where I'm coming at. And that's not where I where 397 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 1: my religion where I see God to be. So I 398 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: I totally hear your aspect of it, but I just 399 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: kind of want to put that spin on the exposure 400 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: part of it too, because depending on where people aren't 401 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: who they are in their lives, it's things now. And 402 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: I agree with you on that, because the exposure is 403 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: is how you practice your walk with God. You know, 404 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: if you find God in a certain way or a 405 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: certain region of the world, you may not be introduced 406 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: to different religions. You're introduced to that particular religion. But um, 407 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: that goes to what our theme for this season has 408 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: been so far, and the theme has been to not 409 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: shame people who live differently than you, regardless of what 410 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: they're sexual orientation is, their religious beliefs, their financial uh 411 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: decisions are. How about we learn to listen to people 412 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: who think differently from us, try to understand their perspective. 413 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: And you don't even have to agree, but let's agree 414 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: not to shame them, you know, and for me, that 415 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: would help a lot of people when it comes to religion, 416 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: because religion, not so much spirituality, because there is a difference, 417 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: but religion is big on shaming you know, and when 418 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: I was growing up, it was a lot of finger 419 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: pointing don't, don't, don't. You know. It was always just don't, don't, 420 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: or you better do this, or you're going to hell. 421 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: You know. That was just that's what turned me off 422 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: to religion. And a lot of people when they write 423 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: in they asked us about the kids, and this is 424 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: what I want to ask you. Um. They said, what 425 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: are you going to introduce to your children? Because you 426 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: grew up seven day inventors, I grew up Baptists. How 427 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: are we going to introduce to them? And under what circumstance? 428 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: And a lot of times I'm like, shoot, I don't 429 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: I don't even really know. I'm afraid we still struggle 430 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: with um, I think, and you know, we have the 431 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: children saying grace over their food, and we have them 432 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: saying their prayers at night and things like that. Um. 433 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: But I remember talking to Cairo and we were saying 434 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: grace and he was like, you know, why why do 435 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: we saying grace? Because you know, our five year old 436 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: Cairo is very intuitive and he'd been here before us, 437 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 1: so he was to know exactly why we're doing what 438 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: we're doing. Because I don't if it coincides with his 439 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 1: past life. But anyway, he was literally like, so, so 440 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: why are we assize that, well, we're thanking God for 441 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: the food that we have, because some people don't have food. Um, 442 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: they don't have a restaurant to go to. Because this 443 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: is actually when we were on our date together, um 444 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,719 Speaker 1: and everything. And he was like kind of processing it, 445 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 1: and I could see the little wheels in his head turning, 446 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: And in that moment, I was wondering, am I doing 447 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: him a disservice by not having a better answer or 448 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: you know, being able to give him a little bit 449 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: more direction or should he be in Sunday School or 450 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: stab at school? You know? So, uh, in piggybacking off 451 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,479 Speaker 1: of a devous question, what do you think about that? Chris? Yeah, 452 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: So my kids, I think have seen the transformation in me, 453 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: probably more closely than anybody. Um. So they're teenagers now too. Well, 454 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: I guess when I when I've recommitted and I really 455 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: started to submit myself to God, they were early teens. 456 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: So it's to an age where they're a little bit 457 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 1: older than Cairo, where they can, you know, they can 458 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 1: practice things a little bit more. And then they're also 459 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: coming into their own wanting to make their own decisions. 460 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: So I realized that I couldn't just again just shove 461 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: the Bible down their throat and make them, you know, 462 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 1: want to believe into something that I say is okay, 463 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: even though I'm their mom, this has to be a 464 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: personal decision for themselves because ultimately it's it's it's how 465 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: they're going to choose to live their life. So you know, 466 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: I'm under the accord that I don't want the world 467 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 1: to teach them how to live. Like I feel like 468 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 1: they should be grounded, they should have a foundation before 469 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: they head out into the world because they're gonna they're 470 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: gonna be hit with so many different you know, societal pressures, opinions, 471 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: all of these different things. So I just wanted to 472 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: have a foundation that they can always come back to. 473 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: That's my hope. You know, the Bible says raise up 474 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: a child in the way that you want some when 475 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: he's older, he won't depart. So that's that's my That 476 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: was my goal. And I knew again I couldn't do 477 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: it by just like sit down like and I tried. 478 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: I was like, every day, we're gonna sit down and 479 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 1: we're gonna read the chapter of the Bible, and it 480 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: was like talking to the wall, like nobody's nobody's listening 481 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: to me. Like it was just painful. So I kind 482 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: of had to just take a step back and just say, 483 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:09,719 Speaker 1: you know what, they're going to see it through me, 484 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: like they're going to see it through my actions. They're 485 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: gonna see how I how you know, if I'm gonna 486 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: speak it, I have to live it. So how am 487 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: I interacting with other people? How am I interacting with 488 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: their father who you know, he and I had a 489 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 1: really contentious relationship, so they could see like God working 490 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: through me to try to show more love. How am 491 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: I helping my community? How am I how am I 492 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: being to them, you know, like you know, between my 493 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: my stress and my patience level and let them make 494 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 1: their own decision. And sure enough, you know, of course 495 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: I prayed for it to like I pray for everything, 496 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: so just praying on that, I think. But I know 497 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: that they saw the difference and it was something that 498 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,679 Speaker 1: day they decided to kind of also follow. So they chose, 499 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: they chose God, and you know, last year they were baptized, 500 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: and it just wants my heart because again it's just 501 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 1: always something for them to fall back on and as 502 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: they go through life. Like it's not saying that because 503 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: you're a Christian you're not going to go through any 504 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: hard times. No, not at all. It's just knowing that 505 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: you have something to always fall back on and someone 506 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: who is always with you. So that was my goal 507 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: with them. Mhm. You mentioned or you touched on their 508 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: relations or your relationship rather with their dad who you're 509 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: now divorced. Um. And I know that in that there 510 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,360 Speaker 1: was you know, you trying to also find yourself now Christina, 511 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: single woman again, divorced and all that, and that was 512 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: a process in itself. So would you say that that 513 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: was one of the major turning points in your life 514 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: that made you feel like you wanted to now change 515 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: or seek christ I noticed that a lot of people 516 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: go through some sort of um, either trauma or events 517 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: or some sort of um experience where they feel like 518 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: they need to fall back on something or lean on something. 519 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: And was the main driving voice for you to really 520 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: um strengthen this relationship or find this relationship? Yeah, yeah, totally. Um. 521 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: Right before this, I was listening to a sermon by 522 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: Tony Ovens and he said, your greatest ministries are through 523 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: your greatest miseries, And I like, I thought of my 524 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: divorce immediately because that was something so aside from my 525 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: mom dying, like that, my divorce was the second biggest 526 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: death in my life. Like it was something that of 527 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: course I didn't want, but it just impacted me in 528 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: ways that I didn't respect the weight at that time, 529 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: because life happens and you kind of just keep moving. 530 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: You gotta you gotta just survived, so you don't really 531 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: take time to heal or take time to understand the 532 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: feelings that you're going through. So around the time where 533 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: I really resubmitted was after the divorce, where I just 534 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: kind of hit rock bottoms, Like anxiety was just like 535 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: gripping me. I was depressed. I was blaming everybody like 536 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: I was a vic him. Everybody makes a problem, not me, 537 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: everybody else was everybody else was a problem, and I 538 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 1: just couldn't keep running like that. Um and now becoming 539 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: a newly single mom having a co parent with someone 540 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: I just didn't like, It's like, how do I even 541 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: operate in the space where you know, it's just so 542 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: new to me, my my peers, no one else is 543 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: going through this situation so I feel like I'm kind 544 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,640 Speaker 1: of spearheading all of this, nowhere to run or turn to. 545 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: So it did lead me back to God to kind 546 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 1: of say, you know what, I can't do this by myself, 547 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: Like I can't do this on my own. Just help me, 548 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: show me how to maneuver, how to guy, and just 549 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: how to guide through all of this. So yeah, I 550 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: would definitely say that. You know, it's funny to hear 551 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: you talk about that. I you, spirituality is my way 552 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: to understand that I'm not going to understand or be 553 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: able to control everything. You know, some people go to 554 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: therapy because like I need to fix all my problems 555 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: and figure around all the everything in my life. Spirituality 556 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 1: taught me that you don't even have the capability to 557 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: understand or fix everything in your life, and that's okay. 558 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes it's okay to close your eyes, meditate, 559 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: let things go, and let God handle it. You know, 560 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 1: he'll give you the strength to control the things you 561 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: can but the things you can't control, you need to 562 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: let that go and let God handle that. Spirituality taught 563 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: me how to handle that because before I found my 564 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: place of peace, I was trying to control every aspect 565 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: of my life and I felt a lot like you. 566 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: I felt like I can't control this. My kids don't 567 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: listen to me, and my wife always arguing me, and 568 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: my friends don't get along. I'm not where I want 569 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: to be in my career right now, and I was 570 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: just like, why I'm doing everything that I'm supposed to do. 571 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: And it almost hit me like a light bulb. You know, 572 00:31:56,120 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 1: you can't control every aspect of your life takes. And 573 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: the more you try, yeah, the more loss you are. 574 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: And that pressure you put on yourself to control it, 575 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: it starts to mount and you can't get from underneath 576 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:11,840 Speaker 1: that pressure, and that's where the depression comes from. So 577 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 1: that's how spirituality helped me. So I could definitely relate 578 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: to what Chris talked about this for sure. So tell 579 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 1: us about the book, Christina, say my choice, Um, what 580 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: is that choice that you believe we all have to make? 581 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 1: And how can we dive into your book and learn 582 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 1: a little bit more about that? Yeah? So you know, 583 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: the book is really a guide again. It it centers 584 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 1: around Christianity, so it shows, um, it talks about God's love, 585 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: it talks about worship, it talks about understanding your identity. UM. 586 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: And the choice behind that is that you you have 587 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: to make the choice to want to accept these things. 588 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: You have to make the choice to want to accept 589 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ into your heart. You have to make the 590 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: choice to want to accept God's love into your heart. 591 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of time times we UM, 592 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: we underestimate the power of choice because we kind of 593 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: just let life happen to us and we just like 594 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: to take things as they come, UM, but don't realize 595 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 1: that we have that power to choose right or wrong. UM. 596 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: So I really wanted to reinforce that, even through all 597 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: the fundamentals of understanding who God is, understanding who Jesus is, 598 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: and using my experiences to to share UM so that 599 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 1: people can relate to it. I wanted to highlight the 600 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: choice and that to put it back to the reader 601 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: to say, Okay, well, today, as you hear this information, 602 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: what will the choice be for you to do to 603 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 1: better yourself? Um? And its action plan? No, And it's 604 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 1: like you guys talk about this all the time. It's 605 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: just like we can't be lazy, Like we can't. We 606 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: have to put the work to want to better ourselves 607 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: to then better the people around us, and not allowing 608 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 1: ourselves to be that victim. And I'm not saying that 609 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: traumatic things don't happen in life. They absolutely do. Um, 610 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 1: but at some point we all have to want to 611 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: just be an active participant in our life and just 612 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: not allow things to happen to us. So that is 613 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 1: really just what I wanted to drive home in the book, 614 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: and just you know, again sharing my experiences about God, 615 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 1: talking about him, but then really turning it back to 616 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: the reader to say, Okay, what you gonna do, like, 617 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: what your choice is going to be in all of 618 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:27,399 Speaker 1: these matters. M hm. That's interesting because at no point 619 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 1: when I was growing up, or maybe I was just 620 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 1: too young to understand, because I ain't gonna lie. You're 621 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 1: sitting a Baptist church and then the preachers of it 622 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 1: to talk for an hour. It's just words in the 623 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 1: Adventage church is two hours of words flying over your head. 624 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: But the idea that the choice is yours and you 625 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: have to be deliberate about choosing God doesn't sound like fear. 626 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: But growing up, all I ever heard or thought about 627 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 1: was fear as opposed to a choice, you know, and 628 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 1: then they preach to us that God is love, God 629 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: is love. God is love. But if you don't listen, 630 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,320 Speaker 1: you go to die or hell. Mean you know what 631 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: I'm saying. Okay, I think the title of the book 632 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 1: is so appropriate. Say by choice, that this is a 633 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 1: deliberate choice that you have to make. And then, like 634 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,840 Speaker 1: you said in the book, Christina, being obedient to the 635 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:20,920 Speaker 1: word in your practice and how you you move through life. 636 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,600 Speaker 1: You know. But yeah, I can't agree. I can't agree 637 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 1: with that, baby right, But it sounds like a good 638 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 1: a good way to even introduce it to your teenagers, 639 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:36,279 Speaker 1: you know. Um, I personally, I feel like kids may 640 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 1: be too young to ever understand the power of God 641 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,800 Speaker 1: or even the power of choice. So trying to explain 642 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 1: the principles associated with religion to a five or six 643 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,759 Speaker 1: year old is going to lead any five or six 644 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 1: year old to feel like fear is the only thing 645 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: I'm getting here. I remars, looked at me, looked at 646 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 1: me confused, like I'm gonna listen to you because your 647 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 1: mom right, food, But I still don't know why I'm 648 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,600 Speaker 1: doing it. Start to traditions and just rituals and just 649 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,719 Speaker 1: things that you do, It's like, damn, kids just really 650 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: hit you with stuff as a parent where you're just like, 651 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:13,239 Speaker 1: why am I doing this? You know, and then you 652 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: have to find a way to break it down and 653 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:18,440 Speaker 1: you know, make it a lesson. Um, so yeah, I 654 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,319 Speaker 1: still learn. It's a learning process for us. No, But 655 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: I think with Jackson, though he's yeah, I could see 656 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: him opening up a book, reading a scripture and then saying, 657 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:33,800 Speaker 1: how does this apply to my life? For sure? Attend 658 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:37,960 Speaker 1: he can definitely do that. That seems like a more 659 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: mature way to introduce religion. Not that you want to 660 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,920 Speaker 1: wait till their tend, but we wait for certain ages 661 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:45,480 Speaker 1: to talk to our kids about stuff. We talk to 662 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 1: our kids about drugs, alcohol, sex, life at a certain age. Yeah. 663 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: The level of comprehension always grows as the older. Yeah, 664 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: so I feel like that pre teenage is a good age. 665 00:36:56,480 --> 00:37:02,520 Speaker 1: Just start saying, listen, your spirituality, your choice. You have 666 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: to figure out how are you gonna make that choice, 667 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: as opposed to pressuring them in here are the tools. 668 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,000 Speaker 1: So god Mother, Christina, how appropriate? Jeez, Jackson's god mother, 669 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 1: Maybe you can find an age appropriate book for him 670 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: that we can start to maybe do little devotionals with him, 671 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:21,760 Speaker 1: so that way he can just at least be introduced 672 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: to it to see this is something age appropriate. He 673 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,919 Speaker 1: can comprehend this homework. You got listen up. I take 674 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,919 Speaker 1: I take it gladly. But you know what, I also 675 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,360 Speaker 1: don't want to put the pressure around books, especially the Bible. 676 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 1: Bible can be very over overwhelming, and it's like you 677 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 1: can you can pick a chapter and it's talking about death, 678 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: but then you can pick another chapter just talking about love, 679 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 1: and it's just talking about all the good things. So 680 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,359 Speaker 1: it's it's I feel like it's very hard to kind 681 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 1: of just say go into the Bible and and just 682 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,880 Speaker 1: find your way. I really believe it's going to be 683 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 1: through action. It's going to be how how we treat others, 684 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 1: and then how we relate that back to God. That's 685 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:58,400 Speaker 1: that's going to be the powerful thing. Because they're looking 686 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:00,239 Speaker 1: at us and they they want to be like us 687 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:02,320 Speaker 1: at the end of the day. So if we're and 688 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 1: we could tell them to do all of these things 689 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,239 Speaker 1: but then act the complete opposite, which will confuse them 690 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: as well too. So and so what do you have 691 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 1: to say about people who don't go to church? They say, 692 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: I don't go to church, but I have my own 693 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:20,880 Speaker 1: relationship with God and I live a good life and 694 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm good to people. Can that be true for you 695 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:27,920 Speaker 1: to have a relationship with God and not be in church? Like, 696 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: is that feasible? And is it? Um? Does that impact 697 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 1: your connection? I guess or the strength of your connection. 698 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,440 Speaker 1: I go to church really for the community aspect of 699 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 1: it all. Um, I go to be a part of 700 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 1: the body of Christ. Um. You don't have to go 701 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 1: to church to be a good Christian. I don't even 702 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:52,880 Speaker 1: know what this good Christian title is that. Um. I 703 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,840 Speaker 1: feel church is one day a week. I mean, what 704 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,200 Speaker 1: you go in there and you retain is not going 705 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:02,920 Speaker 1: to last you through seven days of just different trials 706 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,799 Speaker 1: and tribulations that you may go through. So I feel 707 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: like the churches is it's just a building. It's just 708 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:11,440 Speaker 1: a place where we can commune. It's really what you 709 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:13,560 Speaker 1: do every day of your life. It's how are you 710 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,759 Speaker 1: connecting to God and strengthening your relationship? Just as how 711 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,240 Speaker 1: you guys are married, you work every day to strengthen 712 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:22,399 Speaker 1: your relationship. How are you strengthening your relationship with God 713 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,360 Speaker 1: every day? Minus the building? The building is just a 714 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:27,880 Speaker 1: plot to me. It's just like it's this thing that 715 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: I can go and congregate and be with other people 716 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: and be part of the community and be in the 717 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 1: body of Christ. But it's it's not the end all 718 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,239 Speaker 1: be all, too where I need to go there to 719 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 1: feel connected to God. One of the men that he 720 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:42,879 Speaker 1: used to go to the gym, I was an older man. 721 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:46,719 Speaker 1: He was Islamic. That kind of made me really think 722 00:39:46,719 --> 00:39:51,279 Speaker 1: about spirituality. He said to me, even about church or 723 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:56,000 Speaker 1: going to mosque. He said, he carries his church with 724 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 1: him every day and how he presents himself to people. 725 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:03,160 Speaker 1: And that was like very interesting to me because he 726 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 1: was just like, I could invite you to my church 727 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:09,799 Speaker 1: or my mass or my synagogue, but you may or 728 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 1: may not come. But when you're in my presence in 729 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,880 Speaker 1: that moment, you're in the presence of my church and 730 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:20,440 Speaker 1: my God, and it's my responsibility to share my church 731 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 1: experience with you every time I come across people. That 732 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: goes back to what you said, you see in your behavior, 733 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:30,759 Speaker 1: your interaction, your interaction, And what he was saying to 734 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 1: me was you don't have to try to convert people 735 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 1: if you carry God with you all the time. God 736 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:36,920 Speaker 1: exists in all of us at all times, and it 737 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:41,839 Speaker 1: resonated with me. But he's not Christian, He's Islamic. So 738 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: to me it was like, wow, why did these words 739 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,040 Speaker 1: resonate with me so much? And he does not practice 740 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 1: what I grew up practicing, but what he's saying sounds 741 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 1: like what I thought church was gonna be. You see 742 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:58,600 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. So um as far as taking people 743 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:00,959 Speaker 1: to church or going to church, he says he goes 744 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 1: when he can, but he doesn't go quote unquote religiously 745 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,839 Speaker 1: because it hasn't become a tradition. But he carries it 746 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:12,120 Speaker 1: and he doesn't mind talking to people or answering questions. 747 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 1: I even asked myself, you a pastor like and he's 748 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:18,480 Speaker 1: just like, no, I'm just a man of God. And 749 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:22,279 Speaker 1: I was like, man, even the humbleness reminded me of 750 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 1: like Jesus, you know, because they said Jesus was amongst 751 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:30,719 Speaker 1: the thieves, you know, the thieves and the horses. He 752 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 1: was around everyone. He didn't hide in some little mosque 753 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:37,920 Speaker 1: with synagogue a church and say come seek me. He 754 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:41,200 Speaker 1: was out. So I was like, man, that's it's interesting 755 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:44,280 Speaker 1: how much of all these different religions kind of cross paths. 756 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:46,279 Speaker 1: And that's what made me feel like God can present 757 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:48,200 Speaker 1: himself to so many things. Oh yeah, and just thinking 758 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 1: about different ways that God shows himself or just sends 759 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:53,400 Speaker 1: out confirmation. Think about we have a quick story about 760 00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:56,520 Speaker 1: be going out to your rap dinner. Oh man, that 761 00:41:56,640 --> 00:42:00,600 Speaker 1: was this moment, Christina, and I've did mean to tell 762 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 1: you about it. We and at the wrap dinner for 763 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 1: we had an impromptu rap dinner because you know, because 764 00:42:13,719 --> 00:42:16,799 Speaker 1: of COVID, there was nothing planned. So a couple of 765 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:18,640 Speaker 1: the casts mats that were still here we got together 766 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:23,520 Speaker 1: and Pastor John Gray ran into Crystal at the basketball game, 767 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:26,040 Speaker 1: so him and his wife came. So we had no 768 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 1: plans for you know, anyone or any clergy to be there. 769 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,120 Speaker 1: The dinner was supposed to go from a dinner downstairs 770 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,520 Speaker 1: to the cigar bar, which was advocate party all this 771 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:41,600 Speaker 1: other stuff. It ended up becoming like a devotion because, uh, 772 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 1: John Gray prayed over us and pretty much spoke what 773 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:48,759 Speaker 1: he saw happening for all of us. Right, But that's 774 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 1: not even the best part. We were there until about 775 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:56,520 Speaker 1: three in the morning. They kept the restaurant open for us. 776 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:58,319 Speaker 1: They didn't push us out. It was almost like we 777 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: were having church in the restaurant. We leave everybody's gone. 778 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:05,400 Speaker 1: Our driver was a little bit late. So we're sitting 779 00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:10,040 Speaker 1: there waiting and a homeless guy walks over to us. 780 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:12,520 Speaker 1: And if I was about to leave to go back 781 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:15,400 Speaker 1: inside to the bathroom, and I laughed and I was like, 782 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:17,880 Speaker 1: don't leave me. This homeless guy's coming over here, Like, 783 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:20,520 Speaker 1: don't leave me. I can't by myself. So first of all, 784 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:23,279 Speaker 1: I wasn't going to leave the homeless. She told that 785 00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:25,600 Speaker 1: story as if I saw the homeless guy coming and 786 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:29,160 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm going back. Both of us were 787 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 1: still there, But let me get back to my story. 788 00:43:32,040 --> 00:43:35,200 Speaker 1: Thomas guys coming over to us, and he just walks 789 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:37,759 Speaker 1: over to us and he says something told me to 790 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:43,160 Speaker 1: pray over you guys. Yes, completely well spoken, you know, 791 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:45,880 Speaker 1: he just seemed like a man that maybe just was 792 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:51,000 Speaker 1: on hard times, but it was just like f off. 793 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:53,960 Speaker 1: He started the conversation by saying, hey, y'all look nice, 794 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:56,239 Speaker 1: and we were just like, oh, thank you. He was 795 00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:58,960 Speaker 1: just like, yeah, I got kids. I was like yeah, 796 00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:02,399 Speaker 1: four boys, and he's man, four boys. Wow. Wow. Then 797 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:06,720 Speaker 1: he leaves across the street and turns around and comes 798 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 1: back and he was like, can I have like another 799 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:12,080 Speaker 1: minute or two of your time? Something told me to 800 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:17,960 Speaker 1: pray over y'all and Christina as if we weren't crying 801 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:21,560 Speaker 1: inside that restaurant, Like my eyes are literally tearing up 802 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:26,240 Speaker 1: thinking about it again. Right, He literally prayed over our lives, 803 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: our kids. He prayed for protection, protection, and abundance. Abundance, yes, 804 00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:38,719 Speaker 1: like God what. So we were blown away by the 805 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,239 Speaker 1: whole thing because I was prepared to just say, oh, 806 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 1: I was gonna give him a couple of dollars or 807 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:45,480 Speaker 1: something like that, but he blessed us more then we 808 00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:48,239 Speaker 1: could have ever blessed him. Then he walked away, and 809 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:49,520 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't want to cheap in a 810 00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:52,480 Speaker 1: moment by giving him something, but I feel like I should. 811 00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:54,359 Speaker 1: So we called him back and we ended up giving 812 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:57,759 Speaker 1: him a gift, and he didn't even really seem that 813 00:44:57,840 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 1: interested in it, to be honest. He just came back 814 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:05,160 Speaker 1: and he's like, oh, thanks, No, we appreciate you, brother. 815 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 1: Because if you just know the church we had in there, 816 00:45:07,320 --> 00:45:09,319 Speaker 1: and then we had the after service out here, I 817 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:11,440 Speaker 1: was just like, oh my god, what a night that was. 818 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:15,719 Speaker 1: It was almost like further confirmation for us that everything 819 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:19,280 Speaker 1: that we were doing, the path that we're on, um 820 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:21,680 Speaker 1: the plans that we have to continue to help people 821 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:26,120 Speaker 1: around us. It was just that much more confirmation for us. 822 00:45:26,640 --> 00:45:29,080 Speaker 1: It was just crazy that moment. And I think that's 823 00:45:29,480 --> 00:45:32,319 Speaker 1: that's how God shows up, right and and you know, 824 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:34,360 Speaker 1: just you saying that story like I have stories on 825 00:45:34,400 --> 00:45:36,680 Speaker 1: top of stories like that that where God has shown 826 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:38,840 Speaker 1: his face like that to me for me not to 827 00:45:39,719 --> 00:45:43,279 Speaker 1: I can't believe anything otherwise. So that's how that's how 828 00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:46,840 Speaker 1: it happens for me, and I think for us to 829 00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:48,719 Speaker 1: get away from the religion of it and look at 830 00:45:48,719 --> 00:45:51,400 Speaker 1: the relationship aspect of it. You're only going to be 831 00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:53,520 Speaker 1: in a a relationship with someone that you truly love in 832 00:45:53,560 --> 00:45:55,640 Speaker 1: a door. You're not gonna want to be in a 833 00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:58,239 Speaker 1: relationship with someone that you fear and that it just 834 00:45:58,320 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 1: makes you feel judgmental and just like not your best. 835 00:46:02,120 --> 00:46:04,960 Speaker 1: So hearing that outpouring that God is finding all of 836 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,480 Speaker 1: these different channels to talk to you guys and just 837 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,400 Speaker 1: show you so much love. For me, that's what I 838 00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:13,840 Speaker 1: connect to to say, that's what I want more of. 839 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:15,719 Speaker 1: I want more of that guy that's going to tell 840 00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:17,560 Speaker 1: me I'm doing it, and not to say that he 841 00:46:17,560 --> 00:46:19,279 Speaker 1: doesn't tell me what I'm on the wrong path, but 842 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:21,920 Speaker 1: It's never in a judgmental way to tell me like Christina, 843 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:24,400 Speaker 1: like you're going to hell. No, it's just like a 844 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:27,640 Speaker 1: course correction. Get on, there's grace on that, and like 845 00:46:27,719 --> 00:46:29,600 Speaker 1: let's let's fix it and let's move forward. But I 846 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:32,120 Speaker 1: still love you, and that's what I'm a practice to. 847 00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:39,320 Speaker 1: And we love you, Christina Saved by choice, a journey 848 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:43,080 Speaker 1: out of religion and into a relationship with Jesus. So 849 00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:46,240 Speaker 1: where can we find you, Christina? Where can we find 850 00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:48,920 Speaker 1: the book? Tell everybody all your handles and all that 851 00:46:48,960 --> 00:46:52,520 Speaker 1: good stuff. Yep. I am on Instagram and Facebook at 852 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:55,560 Speaker 1: Christina Price. And the book is available on Amazon. So 853 00:46:55,600 --> 00:46:59,759 Speaker 1: it's available on paperback, audible which I actually narrated, and 854 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:02,680 Speaker 1: book form so I can listen to your voice all 855 00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:06,680 Speaker 1: a day to be to this audible version too. Well, 856 00:47:06,680 --> 00:47:10,640 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your time. We appreciate you, 857 00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:14,040 Speaker 1: appreciate your story, and we're hoping that someone found a 858 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:16,640 Speaker 1: takeaway in this. I know I always do every time 859 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:19,600 Speaker 1: we talk, because we have our talks um. But we 860 00:47:19,640 --> 00:47:21,560 Speaker 1: love you, we appreciate you, and thank you so much 861 00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:24,000 Speaker 1: for joining us today. All Right, we're gonna take a 862 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:27,040 Speaker 1: quick break and get into some ads. And then get 863 00:47:27,040 --> 00:47:41,520 Speaker 1: into these listeners letters. We'll be right back. All right, 864 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:46,680 Speaker 1: So we're back. We're bad, are going to be They're 865 00:47:46,680 --> 00:47:49,120 Speaker 1: gonna be a little bit more religious religious or saved 866 00:47:50,719 --> 00:47:55,359 Speaker 1: because let's need to listen letters to save or not. Yeah, yeah, 867 00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:57,440 Speaker 1: I'll be wiling. I'll be having these stories. But I 868 00:47:57,480 --> 00:47:59,279 Speaker 1: love it. Though you want to go first, let me 869 00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:02,400 Speaker 1: go first. I go. My older sister just got engaged 870 00:48:02,440 --> 00:48:04,399 Speaker 1: to her bull of five years. I've been more than 871 00:48:04,440 --> 00:48:07,160 Speaker 1: happy for them and their union. I'm one of four girls, 872 00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 1: so when they started dating, I was super excited to 873 00:48:09,640 --> 00:48:12,120 Speaker 1: have a quote unquote brother in the family and potentially 874 00:48:12,160 --> 00:48:15,080 Speaker 1: a close relationship. I soon realized that that will not 875 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:21,160 Speaker 1: be the case. Drama plot twist um. Although I think 876 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:23,000 Speaker 1: he's a great person for her and they make a 877 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:25,520 Speaker 1: great team, I do wish he valued having a genuine 878 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 1: relationship with myself and my sisters. Another part of this 879 00:48:28,680 --> 00:48:31,600 Speaker 1: dynamic is that I live with them. When I graduated 880 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:33,760 Speaker 1: from nursing school, they just bought a house and asked 881 00:48:33,760 --> 00:48:36,360 Speaker 1: me to move in as one of their tenants. I agreed, 882 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:39,080 Speaker 1: although my gut told me that it was time for 883 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:42,319 Speaker 1: me to have my own space. Living with them has 884 00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:45,560 Speaker 1: been an extreme reminder that my gut was absolutely right. 885 00:48:45,800 --> 00:48:47,680 Speaker 1: It has gotten to the point where he does not 886 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:50,960 Speaker 1: even reply when being spoken to by myself or by 887 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:54,080 Speaker 1: my other sisters. I've thought about telling my sister, who's 888 00:48:54,080 --> 00:48:56,680 Speaker 1: engaged to him, and how he lacks respect for his 889 00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:01,400 Speaker 1: siblings but always asks my always talked yourself out of it. 890 00:49:01,400 --> 00:49:03,279 Speaker 1: It's sad to say, but I don't think that she 891 00:49:03,360 --> 00:49:06,279 Speaker 1: would take my feelings about She would think that these 892 00:49:06,280 --> 00:49:09,719 Speaker 1: oh my god, sorry y'all sling and struggled times this 893 00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:13,439 Speaker 1: time around sleep deparation is real. Um. It's sad to say, 894 00:49:13,480 --> 00:49:15,840 Speaker 1: but I don't think that she would think my feelings 895 00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:18,400 Speaker 1: about this are valid and would find some way to 896 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:22,040 Speaker 1: wholeheartedly defend his actions. Have either of you dealt with 897 00:49:22,120 --> 00:49:25,480 Speaker 1: conflict with your other spouses siblings? If so, how do 898 00:49:25,560 --> 00:49:27,920 Speaker 1: you resolve it and how do you wish and do 899 00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:30,200 Speaker 1: you wish that you were closer to your spouse's siblings. 900 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:33,440 Speaker 1: I don't know if we can get much closer to 901 00:49:33,440 --> 00:49:36,640 Speaker 1: our bosses siblings because we've all been pretty close. But 902 00:49:38,480 --> 00:49:41,600 Speaker 1: I mean, do you like everything that your siblings or 903 00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:44,480 Speaker 1: your spouses siblings do all the time? No, because they're 904 00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:47,360 Speaker 1: human beings, UM, And there's conversations that I have to 905 00:49:47,400 --> 00:49:49,839 Speaker 1: have with my siblings that I don't necessarily want to have, 906 00:49:50,440 --> 00:49:53,080 Speaker 1: and the same thing with you. I'm just being honest though, 907 00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:56,280 Speaker 1: Like her story is like, you know, I just moved 908 00:49:56,280 --> 00:49:58,080 Speaker 1: in there and he just stopped talking to me. I'm 909 00:49:58,080 --> 00:50:00,680 Speaker 1: pretty sure there's that happens. It happening mean that she's 910 00:50:00,719 --> 00:50:03,040 Speaker 1: not sharing, so it's hard for me to even give 911 00:50:03,080 --> 00:50:07,040 Speaker 1: her specific advice. I don't know what sparked him not 912 00:50:07,080 --> 00:50:10,319 Speaker 1: talking to her. I doubt which could be the case. 913 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:11,759 Speaker 1: It could be wrong with someone says, hey, don't you 914 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:14,040 Speaker 1: move into be our tenant? So I can't ignore you, 915 00:50:14,360 --> 00:50:16,600 Speaker 1: But I doubt that that's what happened. I'm pretty sure 916 00:50:16,600 --> 00:50:19,360 Speaker 1: there were other things, for example, and it's for sisters. 917 00:50:19,440 --> 00:50:22,239 Speaker 1: It's like I'm pretty sure, I'm pretty sure they know 918 00:50:22,480 --> 00:50:24,880 Speaker 1: and probably be in their business, and he probably like, 919 00:50:24,920 --> 00:50:28,040 Speaker 1: I don't got time to be dealing with what your 920 00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:30,200 Speaker 1: sisters think about our marriage because a lot of times 921 00:50:30,239 --> 00:50:33,520 Speaker 1: it happens. That's true, that's true, and maybe he's ignoring 922 00:50:33,520 --> 00:50:36,319 Speaker 1: her because you need to just The further question can 923 00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:39,759 Speaker 1: be are you at what capacity are you involved in 924 00:50:39,920 --> 00:50:44,120 Speaker 1: their marriage? Potentially? UM, you know, what does that look like? 925 00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:47,160 Speaker 1: Because he really didn't like her, he wouldn't asked her 926 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:48,879 Speaker 1: to have been a tenant like they about a house. 927 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:51,160 Speaker 1: He could have got a tempted somebody. And sometimes just 928 00:50:51,239 --> 00:50:55,520 Speaker 1: living with people in close quarters, baby girl, that can 929 00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:59,719 Speaker 1: totally make things. Harry, I wish she would have just 930 00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:02,920 Speaker 1: gave it's a little bit more context. Did you have 931 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:06,400 Speaker 1: any kind of you know, not altercations, but any miscommunication 932 00:51:06,560 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 1: and debates and arguments? You you have issues, right Like 933 00:51:12,080 --> 00:51:15,439 Speaker 1: me and Kay's brother don't always get along. We don't 934 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:18,279 Speaker 1: agree on philosophies of life all the time. So what 935 00:51:18,320 --> 00:51:20,120 Speaker 1: do we do? We sit down and talk about it. 936 00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:24,799 Speaker 1: We've known each other since I was eighteen, he was fifteen, 937 00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:30,080 Speaker 1: so he's like my little brother. So you know, we 938 00:51:30,320 --> 00:51:32,799 Speaker 1: there's sometimes when we you know, getting the fights and 939 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:34,960 Speaker 1: arguments and you do was talk about it and caves 940 00:51:35,160 --> 00:51:38,239 Speaker 1: like listen, y'all men, Yes, y'all deal with that. The 941 00:51:38,320 --> 00:51:41,400 Speaker 1: dynamic is different because we're both men. Would be different. 942 00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:44,399 Speaker 1: But even with Sakari, Sakari and I have had our 943 00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:47,800 Speaker 1: differences and we've sat down and just talked about our differences. 944 00:51:47,840 --> 00:51:49,640 Speaker 1: Like I didn't like when you did this I don't 945 00:51:49,680 --> 00:51:51,239 Speaker 1: like when you did that. It's like, all right, well, 946 00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:54,239 Speaker 1: and there's definitely like a level of respect that my 947 00:51:54,320 --> 00:51:57,400 Speaker 1: sister has for you. So when you do talk to 948 00:51:57,440 --> 00:52:00,880 Speaker 1: her like brother and sister, I think she listens and 949 00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:02,880 Speaker 1: she takes into account the way you feel or what 950 00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:06,719 Speaker 1: you may be saying. Um, so yeah, we need more context. 951 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:10,160 Speaker 1: Is but they've been together for five years. It's a 952 00:52:10,160 --> 00:52:12,080 Speaker 1: little bit different with us. We've been together for almost 953 00:52:12,120 --> 00:52:14,400 Speaker 1: twenty years. So I've watched your brother. It's just to 954 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:18,040 Speaker 1: actually grow up into be people like Kari with seven 955 00:52:18,080 --> 00:52:21,480 Speaker 1: when I came wrong. So at this point, the vast 956 00:52:21,520 --> 00:52:24,640 Speaker 1: majority for life she's known me. You know, five years 957 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:26,720 Speaker 1: in the course of a relationship or life is really 958 00:52:26,719 --> 00:52:28,920 Speaker 1: not that long. It seems long because I go a 959 00:52:28,960 --> 00:52:30,839 Speaker 1: half a decade, but when you think about how long 960 00:52:30,880 --> 00:52:33,160 Speaker 1: life is, five years is not that long, right. And 961 00:52:33,280 --> 00:52:35,279 Speaker 1: I am just not a proponent for being uncomfortable in 962 00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:37,080 Speaker 1: your living space. So if that's not working out for you, 963 00:52:37,080 --> 00:52:39,040 Speaker 1: maybe you need to move and go and find your 964 00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:41,000 Speaker 1: own space, you know what I'm saying. You know, you 965 00:52:41,000 --> 00:52:42,719 Speaker 1: may be helping them out by being a tendant, so 966 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:45,799 Speaker 1: it's helping with that, but nothing's really holding you there. 967 00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:47,680 Speaker 1: I think that's the best, to be honest, I really 968 00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:49,800 Speaker 1: do think that's the best. Sometimes that space is needed 969 00:52:49,840 --> 00:52:53,120 Speaker 1: to then salvage because your brother lived with us, and 970 00:52:53,160 --> 00:52:54,520 Speaker 1: he used to get on your nerves more than he 971 00:52:54,560 --> 00:52:56,880 Speaker 1: got on my nerves. But I guess that's also us 972 00:52:56,920 --> 00:52:59,120 Speaker 1: being men. You know, we have our own way of 973 00:52:59,120 --> 00:53:02,600 Speaker 1: doing things that could sue. Yeah, but you know, cleaning 974 00:53:02,800 --> 00:53:08,280 Speaker 1: after man and whatnot. I'm like you, sometimes space, sometimes 975 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:10,960 Speaker 1: space is the best thing for a relationship. You know, 976 00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:14,840 Speaker 1: they're they're not intimate partners. You know. First of all, 977 00:53:14,840 --> 00:53:18,839 Speaker 1: a tenant landlord relationship can be contentious for any two 978 00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:22,239 Speaker 1: paper strangers. Yeah, let alone be your sister in law 979 00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:24,040 Speaker 1: or your brother in law. So that's a tough one. 980 00:53:24,040 --> 00:53:25,960 Speaker 1: So I think I think maybe you should get your 981 00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:28,799 Speaker 1: own space and maybe trying to have that conversation. Just 982 00:53:28,800 --> 00:53:32,040 Speaker 1: sit down and have an open, honest conversation maybe with him. 983 00:53:32,080 --> 00:53:34,320 Speaker 1: If he does not want to talk to you by himself, 984 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:37,279 Speaker 1: talk to your sister about it and talk to him. 985 00:53:37,320 --> 00:53:40,719 Speaker 1: But um, your your feelings are valid. There's one thing 986 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:43,560 Speaker 1: Kadina and I talked about yesterday. No one can tell 987 00:53:43,640 --> 00:53:46,560 Speaker 1: you the way you feel is not valid. If someone 988 00:53:46,600 --> 00:53:48,480 Speaker 1: has done something to you to make you feel a 989 00:53:48,480 --> 00:53:51,359 Speaker 1: way you didn't ask to feel this way. You feel 990 00:53:51,360 --> 00:53:54,480 Speaker 1: this way, so talk about it. Talk about now. Why 991 00:53:54,560 --> 00:53:56,440 Speaker 1: you feel this way may have little to do with 992 00:53:56,480 --> 00:53:58,239 Speaker 1: that person. It could be some other triggers or some 993 00:53:58,239 --> 00:54:00,680 Speaker 1: past trauma, but the fact that you feel that way, 994 00:54:00,680 --> 00:54:02,520 Speaker 1: he's always valid. So never let anyone tell you that 995 00:54:02,560 --> 00:54:05,600 Speaker 1: you're not valid for feeling that way. And one more thing, 996 00:54:05,920 --> 00:54:08,200 Speaker 1: the relationship you have with your sister. If y'all are closed, 997 00:54:08,360 --> 00:54:10,160 Speaker 1: you should be able to have that conversation with your 998 00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:14,320 Speaker 1: sister without necessarily her just running to his defense, especially 999 00:54:14,360 --> 00:54:16,880 Speaker 1: if your argument is valid. So let's hope that she's 1000 00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:20,080 Speaker 1: of level mind to see both sides and you guys 1001 00:54:20,080 --> 00:54:21,680 Speaker 1: take it from there. So good luck to you on 1002 00:54:21,719 --> 00:54:25,320 Speaker 1: that one. Number two, Hey, Condinian DeVoe, My boyfriend and 1003 00:54:25,400 --> 00:54:27,400 Speaker 1: I have been together for almost four years. We just 1004 00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:30,920 Speaker 1: started doing long distance. That's tough. He just graduated undergrad 1005 00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:34,520 Speaker 1: and I'm now and it's now a chiropractor is now 1006 00:54:34,560 --> 00:54:37,880 Speaker 1: in chiropractic school, while I'm still finishing my undergraduate degree. 1007 00:54:38,120 --> 00:54:40,759 Speaker 1: Up until last month, we would call every night or 1008 00:54:40,800 --> 00:54:43,600 Speaker 1: every other night and text occasionally. He should surprise me 1009 00:54:43,640 --> 00:54:46,960 Speaker 1: with weekend trips down here, and if I didn't have games, 1010 00:54:47,440 --> 00:54:50,400 Speaker 1: I would visit him as well. Recently, he started flaking 1011 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:52,799 Speaker 1: on promises when coming to visit me and has now 1012 00:54:52,880 --> 00:54:56,239 Speaker 1: asked for some space. He says he still wants to 1013 00:54:56,280 --> 00:54:58,399 Speaker 1: be with me and doesn't see himself on anyone else, 1014 00:54:58,840 --> 00:55:01,040 Speaker 1: but he just wants to be able to focus on 1015 00:55:01,080 --> 00:55:05,120 Speaker 1: school in his job. Part of me believes him and 1016 00:55:05,160 --> 00:55:08,720 Speaker 1: wants to be supportive, supportive of his asking for space, 1017 00:55:08,719 --> 00:55:11,799 Speaker 1: while the other part of me is crumbling, thinking he's 1018 00:55:11,840 --> 00:55:15,440 Speaker 1: just going to leave. I don't know what to do. Yeah, 1019 00:55:16,080 --> 00:55:18,279 Speaker 1: So it's like you, you already got distance, but now 1020 00:55:18,320 --> 00:55:22,359 Speaker 1: you want more space on the distance. Yeah, you're talking 1021 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:25,319 Speaker 1: about red flags? That sound like it? Do sound like 1022 00:55:25,320 --> 00:55:27,280 Speaker 1: a red flag? Listen? That sound like a red flag. 1023 00:55:27,320 --> 00:55:29,879 Speaker 1: I ain't even gonna lie to you, Okay, I ain't 1024 00:55:29,880 --> 00:55:34,360 Speaker 1: gonna lie to you. If someone is far away asking 1025 00:55:34,440 --> 00:55:40,439 Speaker 1: for space, that's like the prequel to a breakup? Am 1026 00:55:40,440 --> 00:55:43,720 Speaker 1: I wrong for that? How you far away asking for space? 1027 00:55:44,160 --> 00:55:47,520 Speaker 1: So you can't we can't call text FaceTime regularly? I mean, 1028 00:55:48,719 --> 00:55:53,120 Speaker 1: baby girl, I think he's either I'm not trying to judge, 1029 00:55:53,400 --> 00:56:00,320 Speaker 1: found somebody else, or Yeah, ex options or he isn't 1030 00:56:00,360 --> 00:56:02,359 Speaker 1: like the fact that you already have space and it's 1031 00:56:02,360 --> 00:56:04,719 Speaker 1: making him uncomfortable, so he has to find something that 1032 00:56:04,800 --> 00:56:07,319 Speaker 1: works for him. I honestly feel like that's what it is. 1033 00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:09,480 Speaker 1: I wouldn't you know, don't you gotta listen to us? 1034 00:56:10,160 --> 00:56:12,239 Speaker 1: But I would say be directed asking him, Hey, what's 1035 00:56:12,239 --> 00:56:15,200 Speaker 1: going on here? We already have distance? How could you 1036 00:56:15,239 --> 00:56:18,080 Speaker 1: want more space from distance? You know what I'm saying. 1037 00:56:18,200 --> 00:56:25,840 Speaker 1: That's the part that has me a little ah ker plunked, flabberga, 1038 00:56:26,239 --> 00:56:29,560 Speaker 1: flabber gaid. Yeah, because I know, like, for example, when 1039 00:56:29,560 --> 00:56:34,000 Speaker 1: we did the long distance thing that every other week 1040 00:56:34,480 --> 00:56:36,759 Speaker 1: seven Yes, he was in Detroit. I was in New York, 1041 00:56:36,800 --> 00:56:40,680 Speaker 1: and any chance I got to be able to be 1042 00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:43,719 Speaker 1: in Detroit, I was there. And there was no FaceTime. 1043 00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:46,839 Speaker 1: So we was on the phone every day every day. 1044 00:56:46,880 --> 00:56:49,200 Speaker 1: There was no maybe something every end of the day, 1045 00:56:50,320 --> 00:56:52,719 Speaker 1: every day. And if I didn't get that phone call 1046 00:56:52,800 --> 00:56:55,760 Speaker 1: from her when I got out of practice at six thirty, 1047 00:56:55,920 --> 00:56:57,960 Speaker 1: if my phone didn't ring, or I didn't have a 1048 00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:00,719 Speaker 1: mis call or a text from her, I was like, yo, yo, yo, 1049 00:57:01,160 --> 00:57:03,600 Speaker 1: at what's happening here? What he used to also made 1050 00:57:03,600 --> 00:57:04,960 Speaker 1: me do is like, Yo, I want to see you, 1051 00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:06,560 Speaker 1: want to see you? I'm like, how can you see me? 1052 00:57:06,880 --> 00:57:10,200 Speaker 1: I used to have my little actual digital camera to 1053 00:57:10,360 --> 00:57:13,560 Speaker 1: take pictures on my camera. Then I used to have 1054 00:57:13,640 --> 00:57:17,160 Speaker 1: to put the memory card in my laptop, upload the 1055 00:57:17,200 --> 00:57:20,520 Speaker 1: photos to my laptop, then attached them joints in an 1056 00:57:20,560 --> 00:57:23,360 Speaker 1: email and email his ass pictures in me. So I 1057 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:29,480 Speaker 1: got like a whole bunch of pennies. And Lord, don't 1058 00:57:29,520 --> 00:57:32,560 Speaker 1: have to scrub our devices because the ship floating around 1059 00:57:32,640 --> 00:57:35,200 Speaker 1: the abyss that facts. You know, you had a bunch 1060 00:57:35,200 --> 00:57:39,920 Speaker 1: of boudoir shoots like every day while I was practicing, 1061 00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:42,000 Speaker 1: while he was at practice. But I had to do 1062 00:57:42,080 --> 00:57:43,600 Speaker 1: what I had to do because that's what he was 1063 00:57:43,640 --> 00:57:47,320 Speaker 1: asking for, and we missed each other. Like so that 1064 00:57:47,560 --> 00:57:52,880 Speaker 1: distance with additional distance, that sounds like a flag. Baby. 1065 00:57:53,080 --> 00:57:54,920 Speaker 1: All y'all, if you want to be featured as a 1066 00:57:54,960 --> 00:57:58,600 Speaker 1: listener letter, be sure to email us. Don't be damning us, 1067 00:57:58,640 --> 00:58:01,960 Speaker 1: don't be putting in the comments. Email us at dead 1068 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:05,400 Speaker 1: as Advice at gmail dot com. That's d E A 1069 00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:10,760 Speaker 1: d A d v I c E at gmail dot com. 1070 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:12,919 Speaker 1: All right, time for the moment the truth you want? 1071 00:58:13,920 --> 00:58:17,200 Speaker 1: First moment of truth? Um, I think based on our conversation, 1072 00:58:17,280 --> 00:58:19,760 Speaker 1: because sometimes a listener letters get me all out of 1073 00:58:19,800 --> 00:58:23,040 Speaker 1: what we were talking about. UM, but the task in hand, 1074 00:58:23,080 --> 00:58:25,800 Speaker 1: going back to our conversation with Christina and UM, the 1075 00:58:25,840 --> 00:58:29,680 Speaker 1: means saved by choice and her whole journey. UM, it 1076 00:58:29,800 --> 00:58:33,640 Speaker 1: just further lets me know that I sometimes look for 1077 00:58:35,640 --> 00:58:40,680 Speaker 1: reasons to talk myself out of getting in the Bible 1078 00:58:40,960 --> 00:58:44,280 Speaker 1: or finding my relationship and or deeper connection with God. 1079 00:58:44,720 --> 00:58:47,800 Speaker 1: But I feel like He sends me messages and people 1080 00:58:47,880 --> 00:58:50,720 Speaker 1: just throughout life that I need to be more in 1081 00:58:50,800 --> 00:58:55,200 Speaker 1: tune with and instead of me searching for something more tangible, 1082 00:58:56,560 --> 00:58:59,760 Speaker 1: realizing that He may be sending me those messages through 1083 00:58:59,800 --> 00:59:05,160 Speaker 1: people and through instances and through circumstances where in that sense, 1084 00:59:05,200 --> 00:59:07,960 Speaker 1: I need to be more obedient in that moment and 1085 00:59:08,040 --> 00:59:12,920 Speaker 1: build a stronger relationship with him, if that makes sense, 1086 00:59:13,200 --> 00:59:16,200 Speaker 1: Because that's something that I noticed that I do. UM, 1087 00:59:16,200 --> 00:59:18,720 Speaker 1: that I have the resources and I have those moments 1088 00:59:18,720 --> 00:59:22,760 Speaker 1: where I'm like from and it's not even running from them, 1089 00:59:22,800 --> 00:59:27,080 Speaker 1: but it's more so investing the time to do that 1090 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:28,680 Speaker 1: because then I feel like I can be a greater 1091 00:59:28,720 --> 00:59:31,040 Speaker 1: resource to my family and to my children if I 1092 00:59:31,080 --> 00:59:35,840 Speaker 1: do strengthen my own connection God. Absolutely, that's my moment 1093 00:59:35,840 --> 00:59:37,920 Speaker 1: of truth. That's a good one. You know what I 1094 00:59:38,600 --> 00:59:42,959 Speaker 1: got today? Two is that you don't do story time 1095 00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:45,440 Speaker 1: because if you did story time, you would add homeless 1096 00:59:45,480 --> 00:59:48,200 Speaker 1: people chasing after us and I would be running away. 1097 00:59:50,120 --> 00:59:57,840 Speaker 1: This is what yo. I'm I am a grown protective man. Husband. 1098 00:59:58,320 --> 01:00:02,240 Speaker 1: You've got people here thinking that. So this homeless guy 1099 01:00:02,240 --> 01:00:03,560 Speaker 1: and he was gonna go back his side and I 1100 01:00:03,560 --> 01:00:06,680 Speaker 1: was like, don't leave me. I was giving detail, and 1101 01:00:06,720 --> 01:00:10,160 Speaker 1: I think everyone who knows us knows that that is 1102 01:00:10,200 --> 01:00:12,240 Speaker 1: not something that you would ever do. I saw the 1103 01:00:12,240 --> 01:00:15,960 Speaker 1: homeless guy before you did. Definitely fair to say fair 1104 01:00:16,000 --> 01:00:18,520 Speaker 1: to say so just to let you'all know when your 1105 01:00:18,520 --> 01:00:20,400 Speaker 1: wife tells the stories you're gonna have you look in 1106 01:00:20,440 --> 01:00:25,240 Speaker 1: a loof out here like you in streets. Now, let 1107 01:00:25,240 --> 01:00:28,360 Speaker 1: me get to my moment of truth. But my moment 1108 01:00:28,400 --> 01:00:30,920 Speaker 1: of truth is about this homeless man. It is about 1109 01:00:31,520 --> 01:00:33,080 Speaker 1: the older gentleman at work at the gym. I don't 1110 01:00:33,120 --> 01:00:37,560 Speaker 1: know why. His name is oh Raphael Raf. Yes, yes, yes, 1111 01:00:37,720 --> 01:00:43,479 Speaker 1: m church is a building, but you carry your church 1112 01:00:43,600 --> 01:00:45,840 Speaker 1: with you, or your mosque with you, or your syning 1113 01:00:45,840 --> 01:00:48,560 Speaker 1: God with you, and how you approach people every single 1114 01:00:48,640 --> 01:00:51,400 Speaker 1: day and you have a responsibility as a man or 1115 01:00:51,480 --> 01:00:55,360 Speaker 1: woman of God to continuously represent what your religious beliefs 1116 01:00:55,400 --> 01:00:58,000 Speaker 1: mean to you and how you interact with people. That's 1117 01:00:58,040 --> 01:01:01,040 Speaker 1: the best way to be an event angelist is to 1118 01:01:01,200 --> 01:01:05,880 Speaker 1: just live and exist in that space continuously and hold 1119 01:01:05,880 --> 01:01:08,840 Speaker 1: yourself accountable with how you treat people, because how you 1120 01:01:08,840 --> 01:01:12,840 Speaker 1: treat people will reflect on your beliefs and your spirituality. 1121 01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:15,640 Speaker 1: I love that because that circles back to my moment 1122 01:01:15,640 --> 01:01:18,040 Speaker 1: of truth, where if you are encountering people like a 1123 01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:21,520 Speaker 1: Raphael or like a Christina on a day to day basis, 1124 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:24,160 Speaker 1: that may be the message that you need that God 1125 01:01:24,240 --> 01:01:29,800 Speaker 1: sending you absolutely absolutely seeking, absolutely seek me right now, 1126 01:01:29,800 --> 01:01:33,600 Speaker 1: absolutely by now, and be sure to follow us guys 1127 01:01:33,640 --> 01:01:37,000 Speaker 1: on social media. The podcast page, of course is dead 1128 01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:40,240 Speaker 1: Ass the podcast on Instagram and you can find me 1129 01:01:40,280 --> 01:01:42,520 Speaker 1: Cadina I Am and I Am devouting. If you're listening 1130 01:01:42,520 --> 01:01:48,720 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts, be sure to rate, review and subscribe 1131 01:01:47,680 --> 01:01:51,880 Speaker 1: as ya as. Dead Ass is a production of I 1132 01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:55,560 Speaker 1: Heart Media podcast network and is produced by Dinorapinia and 1133 01:01:55,640 --> 01:01:58,760 Speaker 1: Triple Follow the podcast on social media at dead As 1134 01:01:58,800 --> 01:02:00,440 Speaker 1: to podcasts and never is a Thing