1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody is Bill Courtney with an army and normal folks. 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: And we continue now with part two of our feature 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: on Bob Lupton. Right after these brief messages from our 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: general sponsors. 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: It becomes then the responsibility of those of us who 6 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: are stewards and resources to find those ways that our 7 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 2: neighbors can contribute to the betterment of the community. And 8 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 2: and for some folks it's it's harder to find what 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 2: those ways are. Like Like the home bound seniors in 10 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: our community, You know what, what are they the meals 11 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: on wheels? What do they have to contribute? Well, they're 12 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: the ones that are looking out through the Venetian blinds, 13 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,199 Speaker 2: watching everything that's going on in the street, and they're 14 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: talking to their neighbors up and down the street. They're 15 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: waking each other up in the morning, they're checking in 16 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: with each other. That's your crime watch. Those are very 17 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 2: valuable people. If they're organized, if they're affirmed, if they're encouraged, 18 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: they can become significant contributors to the life and health 19 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: and safety of the community. What about about those darned 20 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: teenagers that are sprayed peyton graffiti all over everything? You know, 21 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: what do they have to contribute, they mess up the community. 22 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: All of our staff guys was talking to a couple 23 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: of these taggers, they call them taggers. They rate their 24 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: tag on the bridge and the walls, and he said, 25 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: do you think one of the things that he noticed 26 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: was that they're some of these kids seemed to have 27 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: some significant talent. You could see in their graffiti. There's 28 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: some there's some artfulness in this. And so he started 29 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: talking with a couple of those taggers and he said, 30 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: you guys think you could you could do something like 31 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: a mural, something that would make the community feel good 32 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: about itself. And they got to thinking about that. Right 33 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: down through the middle of our neighborhood, three blocks long 34 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: is a eight foot tall corrugated metal fence. It hides 35 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: the junkyard. It's it's dead ugly, and it's covered with graffiti. 36 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: He said, you guys, you guys think you could draw 37 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: something on that wall that would that would look nice 38 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: and maybe even help some of the neighbors teach them 39 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: how to do this. Well, those kids were interested, and 40 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: so over the next several saturdays they were out there 41 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: leading little crews. We said, well, we'll provide all the 42 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: spray cands. You need, and so they started working on art. 43 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 2: That's one section of that fence. That's that's talent there. 44 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: And we said, you know the kid that was leading 45 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: this charge, we said, would you be willing, could we 46 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: commission you to do a mural on the side of 47 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: our ministry center. We'll pay you for that, We'll provide 48 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: the spray cans. Would you be willing? He was. He 49 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: was excited about that. And so when you come around 50 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: the corner into the gateway of our city or into 51 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 2: our neighborhood, that's what greets the eye. On the side. 52 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 2: It was a plain old concrete block wall. That's a 53 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: work of art. Everybody has something to contribute. You know, 54 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: that's been three years now. There's not a mark of 55 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: graffiti anywhere on that wall. And now those young people 56 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: are protecting this, they're honoring that everybody has something of 57 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: value to contribute. 58 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: When your passion and your ability meets an area need, 59 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,239 Speaker 1: amazing things can happen. And that's what grows the army. 60 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: That it doesn't matter if you're an eighty three year 61 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: old home bound person or a teenager who's attager. I 62 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: love what his examples are here, how everybody's talents can 63 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: be morphed into positives. It's a great approach. It's brilliant. 64 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 3: I forget whether he's about to get into it, but 65 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: he has a great point from like the negative perspective, 66 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 3: like if you don't do this, you are basically saying 67 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 3: that these people have nothing to contribute. You know, we 68 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 3: just give to you endlessly and you have nothing to contribute, 69 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 3: so there's no dignified I mean you may remember like 70 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 3: the community example, the community cafe that we featured right, like, 71 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 3: rather than just giving people food, they can't contribute, just 72 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: like a you know, normal restaurant worker would or or 73 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 3: whether you're paying, you know, as a patron, Like, everyone 74 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: has something to contribute, and it's really tearing apart somebody's 75 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: dignity to say they have nothing to contribute, So we're 76 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 3: just going to keep giving you stuff. 77 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: I love it, Okay, here we go. 78 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: And then we adopted what we've come to call the 79 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: golden rule of effective service, and that's this, never do 80 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 2: for others what they have the capacity to do for themselves. 81 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: When you do for others what they can do, you 82 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 2: disempower them. You take a load from them that was 83 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: never intended for you to carry. You weaken people. And 84 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: so we adopted as our golden rule, will not do 85 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 2: for others what they have a capacity to do for themselves. 86 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: Armed with those new ideas, we went through every one 87 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: of our programs, the adoptive Adoptive Family program. The next Christmas, 88 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: as folks started to call in to get their adopted child, 89 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,559 Speaker 2: we asked them if they would give an extra gift 90 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: this year, and they said, yeah, what's that said? Would 91 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: you give the gift of dignity to the dad's And 92 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: here's how you do it. Go shopping, buy the toys, 93 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: don't wrap them, bring them down. We'll set up in 94 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: a little section of our store, a little storefront. We'll 95 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: call it the old toy shop, and we'll put somewhere 96 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 2: between a wholesale and a garage sale price on those toys, 97 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: and we'll invite parents to come in and go shopping. 98 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: And if they don't have any money, well, we're creating 99 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: cash flow here. That means we can hire some of 100 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: those parents so that they can work and earn money 101 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: to purchase that toy that they knew would delight their children. 102 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: So that the parents in our neighborhood have the same 103 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: joy as most parents in our culture have of seeing 104 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: their kids open the gifts that they have selected and 105 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: purchased through the efforts of their own hands, and there 106 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: will be dignity in the process of exchange. Well, that's 107 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: a quantum leak leap asking folk to let us sell 108 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: those toys that they're used to giving to those children. 109 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: But when we explain to them, you know what a 110 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: kid really needs more than a toy for Christmas, an 111 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 2: effective parent. We're going to use that money through the 112 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 2: sale of those toys, that will start an employment training 113 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: program so that those parents who are unemployed we can 114 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: train and move out into the economic mainstream so that 115 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: this time next Christmas they'll be fully supporting of their 116 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 2: own families. The extra gift, it's the gift of dignity 117 00:08:52,480 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 2: to those dads. Well, that system worked pretty well. We 118 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: found out some very interesting things. That first Christmas we 119 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 2: changed the name to Pride for Parents, and that first 120 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: Christmas we learned a couple important things. One is that 121 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: parents in our community would much rather work to earn 122 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: to purchase those toys they knew would delight their kids. 123 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: Then they would stand in the free toy line with 124 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 2: their proof of poverty and accept a gift that someone 125 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 2: else has purchased for their kids. We learned that. We 126 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: also learned a universal truth. Universal that means for all people, 127 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: of all times, universal truth. It's this, everyone loves to 128 00:09:54,880 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: find a bargain Universal. So Peggy went out Christmas shop, 129 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: and this last Christmas, and a grueling day of shopping. 130 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: And she brought in all of her packages and spread 131 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: out her treasures all around the living room for me 132 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: to admire. And she said, and you know what she said, 133 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: I saved more than I spent. Well, I'm not schooled 134 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: in economics, so it takes somebody understands how I financed 135 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 2: explain the economics of that. But what I do know 136 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 2: is that she was excited about finding bargains. So why 137 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: do we think it would be such a blessing to 138 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 2: the poor to set up a system that deprived them 139 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 2: of the joy of finding and purchasing bargains. Why do 140 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 2: we think that would be a blessing the clothes closet. 141 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: I didn't know what to do about that adversary relationship. 142 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,079 Speaker 2: There was a group of it was a Methodist men's 143 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: group that helped us collect a lot of toys. And 144 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: so I've talked with them. I was explaining to them 145 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 2: this adversarial dynamic and they said, well, there's a simple 146 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 2: answer to that. Now, Methodist men are particularly smart. I 147 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 2: don't know if you none in this room. They know 148 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 2: the solutions to problems. They don't even have to be there. 149 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 2: And they said, yeah, there's a simple answer to that. 150 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 2: It's called the market. They said, you put a fair 151 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 2: rate of exchange on a desired commodity. It cuts all 152 00:11:55,200 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 2: that out. Really, I said, oh yeah. They said, would 153 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: you help us set that up? Well, they had a 154 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 2: meeting and they said, yeah, we'll take this on his 155 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 2: our men's missions project this year. And so those guys 156 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: said about doing what they can't help doing even in 157 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 2: their sleep. Got to have a business plan, traffic flow patterns, 158 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 2: real estate research, got to be on a bus line, 159 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 2: shop the competition. We got to bring this in right 160 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 2: below the goodwill industry's thrift store. They said, if we 161 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 2: do it right, we'll be able to employ folks from 162 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,959 Speaker 2: the community, train them in retail merchandising, move them out 163 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 2: into the main thrift of the main stores. They said, 164 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 2: take about two years a small startup to break even. 165 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 2: And they were they're really pretty accurate. Eighteen months later, 166 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 2: that little store or thrift store moved into the black economically, 167 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 2: and it's been a bright spot in the community ever since. 168 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: We learned something very important about economics. Everyone loves to 169 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 2: find a bargain, but nobody likes to be somebody's charity case. Now, 170 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: it was at first when folks said, you're going to 171 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 2: charge us for this, we were given it away. You're 172 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 2: going to charge us now not a little a little 173 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: bit of resistance there. But when they saw that it 174 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: was their neighbors that were at work in the store 175 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: creating jobs for them, well then that was a little 176 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 2: easier to swallow. And our four trainees figured out very 177 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 2: quickly that in order for them to get a paycheck, 178 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 2: they had to keep customers coming back. It's basic economics 179 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: business guys. They know that you got to have sales 180 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 2: to keep the lights on, make payroll. Our training is 181 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 2: figured out real quick, and so there's a lot of 182 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 2: discussion about how how do we make folks want to 183 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: come in here. Well, I said, at least we ought 184 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: to get everybody's name down, write that down, and if 185 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 2: if we can find out something about them, we should 186 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: write that down too. So Miss Jones comes into the 187 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 2: store on Tuesday morning and we say, good morning, miss Jones, 188 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 2: how are you with her name? How's your mother doing? 189 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 2: It's everybody likes to go where everybody knows their name, right, 190 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: do a sitcom on that. So they jumped in the van. 191 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 2: They said, well, how do we keep folks coming back in? 192 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 2: Let's find out how the real stores do it. So 193 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 2: we jumped in the van out the shopping malls and 194 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: they were taking notes, and the debrief was really fascinating. 195 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 2: They said, well, everybody's very, very friendly. And we noticed 196 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 2: when you walk into those stores, they have the for 197 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 2: sale racks right out there and the big signs on them, 198 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 2: and the clothes are all sized, and some hangars are 199 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: all going the same way. They said they had the 200 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 2: latest fashion arrivals, a big sign on that. And so 201 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 2: one of the women said, yeah, you know, and those 202 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: stores smell nice too, you know, and you're dealing with 203 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: use clothing. Sometimes it can be a little stale. You 204 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 2: can't afford to dry clean everything. So they started talking about, okay, 205 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: how could we make our store smell nicer. Well, one 206 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 2: of the women said, we could have a pot of 207 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: fresh brewed coffee going in the morning that helped. The 208 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 2: other said, yeah, we could do some microwave cookies that help. 209 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: And so you can walk in in the store. The 210 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 2: aroma for coffee and pastries greets your nostril. That's about 211 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 2: making folks feel valued, feel wanted, feel appreciated. Change that 212 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: dynamic totally. The dynamic between giver and recipient where the 213 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 2: giver has to guard against the recipient getting too much, 214 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 2: and the dynamic between merchant and customer where the merchant 215 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 2: needs the customer to purchase all that they can possibly 216 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 2: purchase because he needs that customer. And I want to 217 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 2: tell you, folks figured out very quickly that they were 218 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 2: valued and wanted and they were appreciated as customers. 219 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 220 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 2: The economic lessons that came out of this, it was 221 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: it was like one of God's magical special gifts to 222 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:34,719 Speaker 2: humanity called the economy, and it functions in every culture, uh, 223 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 2: tribal cultures up to international cultures. And it's real simple. 224 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: Uh. 225 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 2: Larry has been growing tomatoes this year and he's got 226 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 2: a bumper crobb. It's more than his family needs. And 227 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: he's been he's been growing corn and he's got more 228 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: than his family needs. And so they bring their surplus 229 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 2: to the bargaining table and they work out an exchange 230 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: of so many tomatoes for so many ears of corn. 231 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: And if the deal has gone well, if it's a 232 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 2: good exchange, they both go away. And here's the magic. 233 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: They both go away feeling like they got more value 234 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 2: than they brought. That's magic. That's why Peggy was so excited. 235 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: She got more value then she gave in her way. 236 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 2: I think it's called the balance of exchange. It's called 237 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 2: that's how wealth is created. That discussion has going on 238 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 2: politically right now, are we better off doing trade deals 239 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 2: or doing it all to ourselves. In every culture, trade 240 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: and exchange benefits the participants, and it's how wealth is created. 241 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 2: So why do we think that it would be a 242 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 2: benefit to the poor to set up a system that 243 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: did not enable them to participate in the exchange. 244 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: I can't believe I just heard what I heard in 245 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: this speech, But I hope every one of our listeners 246 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: pays very close attention to what Brother Lupton just said. 247 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: That trade benefits everybody in trade and creates wealth. Which 248 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: is also that when you pull back from trade, you 249 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: diminish wealth, and you diminish the growth of people. It's 250 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: just absolutely true. And it's interesting that that very macro 251 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: economic principle, which is ned and the first reader candidly 252 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:15,360 Speaker 1: he's been able to boil down into community development and 253 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: serving the poor. It is why economics is everywhere in 254 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 1: our world. And I just I find that phenomenal that 255 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: he just said what he said, because it's absolutely I 256 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: could not agree more with him, both in a macro 257 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: and a microeconomic sense. 258 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 3: I know it also me and probably a lot of 259 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 3: our listeners know what's going on in your brain too. 260 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 3: There's there's some trade things going on in. 261 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: The I mean that the trade wars right now are 262 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: slowing the world economy down by fifty sixty seventy percent 263 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: and diminishing wealth because when the economy slows, there's not 264 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: as much money or goods or services traded, and therefore 265 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: there's not as much money made and wealth slows. This 266 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: is not high finance. It is also why I remain 267 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: incredulous at our current approach to macroeconomics of what's going 268 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: on in the world. That's a discussion for a different time. 269 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: But what Bob just said is absolutely true, and I 270 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: think it's vastly interesting that the very thing is crippling 271 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: the world economy right now is the exact same thing 272 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 1: that was grippling his neighbors, and that he figured out 273 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: that that principle when applied in his neighborhood was just 274 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: as effective as when that principle over the last thirty 275 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: years has been applied to the world to grow wealth. 276 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: It can grow wealth on a macro sense for nations 277 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,239 Speaker 1: and people in nations, and it can grow wealth in 278 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: a community sense for your neighbors. It's just absolutely true. 279 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: Find it really interesting? 280 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 4: Well, they got it back on the charitable front. 281 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: Two. 282 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 3: Like some people have a line of like, if you 283 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 3: really care about people you're trying to help, you should 284 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 3: trade with them. You should hire you know, hire them, 285 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 3: you should invest in them, just not treat them as 286 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 3: your charitable recipients. Like actually do this economic stuff with them. 287 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 3: That's actually the most caring thing you could do. 288 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: It's it really is. You can give a man offici 289 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: and elite for a day, you can teach a man 290 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: officially for a lifetime. It's all the same stuff. So okay, yeah, onward. 291 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: I think it's a steward's responsibility, those who are stewards 292 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 2: of resources to establish those methods whereby everyone has something 293 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 2: of value to bring to the exchange. It's a sign 294 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 2: of a healthy community. Our food pantry, well, it was 295 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,959 Speaker 2: one to try to figure out. One of our staff 296 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: guys had heard about this idea of a food co 297 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 2: op and he said, anybody here interested in a part 298 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 2: of a food co op? And a couple of women 299 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 2: said what is that? And he said, well, you put 300 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 2: in five dollars and we go over to the Atlanta 301 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 2: Community Food Bank. As a nonprofit, we can get food 302 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 2: over there surplus food for just a processing fee and 303 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: get a lot of food for that five dollars. And 304 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 2: so there were a handful of women and said, yeah, 305 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 2: we'd be interested in that. And so he took the 306 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: run to the food bank and came back with a 307 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 2: lot of food and the women were just delighted. Well, 308 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 2: the word got out. Now everybody wanted to be part 309 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: of the food co op. The first issue that came 310 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:01,479 Speaker 2: up was our staff guy, I wasn't bringing home the 311 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 2: right assortment of food. So there's a little bit of 312 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: grumbling about this. They said, well, why don't you elect 313 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 2: a buyer. Somebody takes your grocery list, does the run 314 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:16,199 Speaker 2: for you. So they did. That solved that problem. The 315 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 2: next issue was credit. What if somebody doesn't have their 316 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 2: five dollars this week, do we extend them credit. Well, 317 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 2: that's not our decision to make. That's the decision of 318 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 2: those that have skin in the game. That's it's their 319 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 2: five dollars that are being put at risk. So it 320 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 2: is their decisions. So they went into a lengthy discussion 321 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 2: about who is credit worthy and what do you do 322 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 2: if they don't pay back and you kick them out? 323 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 2: And in the midst of that discussion, somebody said, we 324 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 2: need to be taking some notes here. We're making some 325 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 2: decisions of the elected secretary take notes. And then they 326 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 2: needed somebody who could bill as a checkbook and keep 327 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: track of who's who paid and who hasn't and how 328 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 2: long it's taken them to pay. Well, they needed a treasure, 329 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 2: and so they elected a treasure. You see, what's happening 330 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 2: is that out of this group of formerly prideless food 331 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: recipients standing in our line waiting for their handout, the 332 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 2: talents and the gifts that were there all along are 333 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 2: finding a way to surface a sense of ownership, a 334 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 2: sense of pride using God given talents that we just 335 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 2: never saw before. They are always food who's are in 336 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:44,360 Speaker 2: folks minds? And one of the women said, have y'all 337 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 2: They said, y'all done that? He said, y'all tasted Emma's 338 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: sweet potato pie and nobody had, And they said, Emma, 339 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 2: why don't you bring one of your pies in? And 340 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 2: so they prevailed upon her, and she came in the 341 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 2: next the next food day, and everybody sampled her sweet 342 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 2: potato pie, and ood and odd and that gave rise 343 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 2: to other folks bringing in their culinary treats. A couple 344 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 2: of women came to us some weeks later and said, 345 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 2: would if you all right if we use a church 346 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 2: kitchen here to fix some of the food that we're 347 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 2: getting from the food bank, make a meal for our 348 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 2: co op members. He said, it's a great idea, and 349 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 2: so they started using their culinary abilities to fix some 350 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 2: really good meals for the members of their co op, 351 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 2: which over time eliminated the need for the suburban churches 352 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 2: that came into our community with hot meals to feed 353 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 2: the poor. They're doing it themselves. It's their own talents 354 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: and their own abilities. The food co op gave rise 355 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 2: to ownership the dignity to the to the expression of 356 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:12,159 Speaker 2: gifts that were there all along service project. So I 357 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 2: said to Virgil, I said, should we just not do them? 358 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: Is it just too hard on the recipients? He said no, No, 359 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 2: he said, they do good. He said, I'll tell you 360 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: what would be helpful. He said, be a lot better 361 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 2: if we were the ones here in the community that 362 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 2: we're telling folks what we what our priorities were, and 363 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 2: what we needed help with. Oh. I wrote that one 364 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: down community initiated, What are our priorities? He said, I'll 365 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 2: tell you another thing. He said, if we were, if 366 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 2: we were organizing it and and we supervised the work 367 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 2: and had things all lined up, he said, that just 368 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 2: be a whole lot better than outsiders coming in telling 369 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 2: us what to do. I wrote that one down community led. 370 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 2: He said, I'll tell you another thing. He said, some 371 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 2: of those some of those church folk, they don't think 372 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:37,719 Speaker 2: that we are Christians at all. They treat us like pagans. 373 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: He said, I think they're the ones that don't have 374 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 2: any faith. He said, I don't know any of those 375 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 2: folks that have ever run out of money and run 376 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 2: out of food and they only had God to cling to. 377 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 2: And they prayed and held on to God, and God 378 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 2: did miracles for him. He said, I don't no, I 379 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 2: don't know if any of them have that kind of faith. 380 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: He said, it should be a whole lot better if 381 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 2: we had a chance to sit down together and we 382 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 2: could share with them how God is at work in 383 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 2: our lives and our community. I wrote that one down, 384 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: mutual evangelism. We all have something to bring out of 385 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 2: our spiritual journeys. 386 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 387 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 2: Well back, about three hundred and fifty years before the 388 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 2: time of Christ, there was a physician by the name 389 00:29:55,760 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 2: of Hippocrates, and he grew learned about the medical profession 390 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 2: because they didn't really have any code of conduct. Physicians 391 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 2: were making life and death decisions every day and kind 392 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 2: of kind of winging it. He said, it would be 393 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,239 Speaker 2: great if we had a kind of a code of 394 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: conduct to follow, and so he drew up what has 395 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: become known as the Hippocratic oath, and physicians to this 396 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 2: day take the Hippocratic Oath. I thought, would it be 397 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 2: good if those of us that are in the service 398 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 2: end of things had had an oath to take? And 399 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 2: so I gave it a shot, and the first tenant 400 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 2: of that oath is already on the board. Our golden rule. 401 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 2: I'll never do for others, but they have the capacity 402 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 2: to do for themselves. Number two, I'll limit my one 403 00:30:56,680 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 2: way giving to crises and seek always to find ways 404 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 2: for legitimate exchange. Number three, I'll empower the poor through hiring, lending, 405 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 2: and investing hiring. That's when Michael comes to my door 406 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: and says he doesn't ask for money anymore. He asks 407 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 2: if he can wash the ministry van, and usually it 408 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 2: needs it. And I am very happy to give Michael 409 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 2: twenty five dollars he does a good job on the van. Now, 410 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 2: there are some in our staff that say you're just 411 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 2: enabling him. He's going to take that money out and 412 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 2: he's going to get high on it. And I said, no, no, 413 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 2: that is an honorable exchange. Michael has put forth good effort, 414 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 2: done a good job, and fair compensation is a just 415 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 2: reward for that. So that when Michael leaves this transaction, 416 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 2: he leaves a free man. He is free to do 417 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 2: whatever he chooses to do, for good or ill, whatever 418 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 2: he chooses to do with that money, because in fact, 419 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: he has earned it. Now that's very different if I 420 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 2: gave him twenty five dollars. Now I would have a 421 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 2: sense of responsibility. Okay, how's he going to use it? 422 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 2: But not in hiring. Hiring is an honorable exchange. Lending, well, 423 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 2: we heard a lot about micro lending small loans to 424 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 2: help folk build her small businesses. Lending lending implies a 425 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 2: certain amount of trust and a certain amount of accountability. 426 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 2: So when Janis comes to my door and asks for 427 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:59,960 Speaker 2: twenty dollars until Saturday, I'd give it to her without 428 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 2: not even asking what she needs it for. You know, 429 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 2: folks struggle with cash flow issues fact to life, and 430 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 2: it's more of a fact of life in a low 431 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 2: income community. I give it to her without even asking why, 432 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 2: because I know on Saturday she'll be back and she'll 433 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 2: have my twenty dollars. There's accountability there. But when Ethel 434 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 2: comes to my door and asks for twenty dollars, I say, 435 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 2: let's talk about the last twenty dollars that I lent 436 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 2: you that you haven't paid back. Let's get that straightened 437 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 2: out first before we talk about any more lending. There's 438 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 2: accountability there. Lending assumes that there's trust in a relationship. 439 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 2: It's it's relationship building investing. That's when Eddie sits down 440 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 2: with me and says, Eddie, he's been paytent houses, worked 441 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 2: for a company's pretty good, and he'd like to start 442 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 2: his own painting business, but he doesn't have the capital. 443 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 2: He's got the talent, but not the capital. So if 444 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 2: I invest in his business, that makes me kind of 445 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 2: gives me an ownership share in that I'm believing enough 446 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 2: in him that he will do an honorable job. He'll 447 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:33,240 Speaker 2: make money for himself, but also enough money to pay 448 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 2: me back, and I should have some some return in that. 449 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:43,359 Speaker 2: If I'm investing with him, I am. I am investing 450 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:47,440 Speaker 2: in his success. I need for him to succeed because 451 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 2: I've got skin in the game, and so I'll connect 452 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 2: him with people that I know that need painting. I'll 453 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: help market his business. I'll bring some guys around are 454 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 2: good at bookkeeping and other areas of business so that 455 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 2: he can have he surrounded by good advisors. I'm invested. 456 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 2: That means I am also vested in his business. 457 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: Something here to think about is it's honestly just a 458 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 1: lot easier to give somebody twenty bucks that wants twenty 459 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:31,759 Speaker 1: bucks than it is to hold them accountable, lend it 460 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 1: or hire them. If somebody that you semi no says, man, 461 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 1: I really need twenty bucks, it requires effort to come 462 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: up with a job for them and to hold them 463 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,799 Speaker 1: accountable to it. It requires effort to remember who you 464 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:52,719 Speaker 1: loan twenty dollars to and hold them accountable when you 465 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: don't really feel like asking for your money back. It's 466 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,240 Speaker 1: really a lot easier just to give somebody twenty bucks. 467 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: But the point is the way out it's usually the 468 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: wrong one. And what he's saying is by giving them 469 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: to twenty bucks, you're making them dependent. You're a paternalist. 470 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,960 Speaker 1: But by taking the effort to actually do the things 471 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:20,200 Speaker 1: he's saying to do, you end up empowering the very 472 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:23,919 Speaker 1: people who need to help that hopefully over time, leads 473 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: them to be able to care for themselves and not 474 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:27,880 Speaker 1: having to comfort you for twenty bucks in the first place. 475 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: But that requires effort. So the oath for helpers sounds good, 476 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:36,799 Speaker 1: but you also have to be really to put in 477 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: the work to do it properly. 478 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,560 Speaker 3: That's a number a really good point, Bill. I think 479 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 3: it also speaks to the need for an army in 480 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 3: normal folks like that is hard to do on a 481 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 3: mass scale, Right, we're trying to solve this massive problem 482 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 3: in our city or our state, or the country or 483 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 3: the world, right, and like, you can't possibly do that 484 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:56,920 Speaker 3: in such a large area. And he spoke with that 485 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 3: with his own personal experience. If they're trying to address 486 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 3: all this out Atlanta, and they eventually decided, let's just 487 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 3: do it in our neighborhood. Yeah, So it's it's easier 488 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 3: to do if you just do it one person, right, 489 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 3: and then you can do with five people, Then you 490 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:09,759 Speaker 3: can do with ten, and then you can do it 491 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 3: in a neighborhood. Like start small. That if there's an 492 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 3: army of normal folks doing this on such a microscopic scale, together, 493 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,479 Speaker 3: we can address all the problems. 494 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:21,319 Speaker 1: So good, okay, keep going. 495 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 2: But gifts, that's a dangerous proposition. The safest way to 496 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 2: do giving is as incentives for achievement, a reward. The 497 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:42,040 Speaker 2: safest way. Four. I'll put the interests of the poor 498 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:46,239 Speaker 2: above my own interest or that of my church or organization, 499 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 2: even when it means setting aside in my own agenda. 500 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:55,960 Speaker 2: I was in Cuba, not it's been a couple of 501 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 2: years ago. Now, I was visiting a little Semon Semon 502 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:06,319 Speaker 2: Airy seminary right that had been operating kind of under 503 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:11,360 Speaker 2: the radar screen for a lot of years, and classes 504 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:15,240 Speaker 2: were out, the faculty and staff are all busy getting 505 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:19,719 Speaker 2: ready for something, cooking food, lining up transportation. And so 506 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 2: I said to the President's what's happening here? And she said, oh, 507 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 2: we're getting ready for a group from the States, a 508 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 2: mission trip that's coming down here. And I said, well 509 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:31,799 Speaker 2: that's good, but what are you going to have him doing? 510 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 2: And she said, well, we we need some floor tile 511 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:40,360 Speaker 2: laid on this little dormitory that we're building. And I said, oh, 512 00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:42,279 Speaker 2: that's a great idea. I said, well they got some 513 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,920 Speaker 2: they got some skills in that area. Huh. And she said, 514 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 2: well it couldn't be that hard. I said, oh, she said, 515 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:54,319 Speaker 2: looks like a lot of work. She said, oh it is, 516 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:59,880 Speaker 2: you know, preparing American food, lining up transportation, lining up lodging. 517 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:06,960 Speaker 2: I said, is it worth it? She said, oh, they'll 518 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 2: they'll help out a little hesitant there, She's got to 519 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:14,719 Speaker 2: be careful who she's talking to. You know, what's this 520 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:19,480 Speaker 2: American going to do with it? I said, why do 521 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:25,800 Speaker 2: you do it? She said, well, we're in their missions budget. 522 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:31,319 Speaker 2: And if we want their three thousand dollars to come 523 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:35,839 Speaker 2: in continue to come in, we need it badly, then 524 00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 2: we need to create a rewarding, a fulfilling mission experience 525 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 2: for them. And so for that three thousand dollars, that 526 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 2: group will come in and spend thirty five thousand dollars 527 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:55,520 Speaker 2: just in airfare to do a job that will have 528 00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:58,400 Speaker 2: to be torn up after they leave, so that Cuban 529 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 2: Tyler's can come in and do it right. You have 530 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:15,760 Speaker 2: to ask the question, whose self interest is it? Five. 531 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:20,400 Speaker 2: I'll listen carefully for the both the spoken and unspoken 532 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:26,120 Speaker 2: needs of those I serve, knowing that many clues may 533 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:29,200 Speaker 2: be hidden. We had a group come back recently from Haiti, 534 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:32,840 Speaker 2: and they were telling me that in this one little 535 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:36,279 Speaker 2: remote village, as they were coming through the village, they 536 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:41,440 Speaker 2: saw women sitting outside their little shacks with infants in 537 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:47,360 Speaker 2: their arms, wrapped in newspaper and soiled rags, and it 538 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:52,799 Speaker 2: just broke their hearts. And so they went into the 539 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:56,359 Speaker 2: city and bought up a bunch of baby blankets and 540 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:59,680 Speaker 2: passed those out to those women so that they would 541 00:40:59,719 --> 00:41:04,600 Speaker 2: have something clean and warm and soft for their infants. 542 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:10,239 Speaker 2: The following day, when they came through the village, they 543 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:14,440 Speaker 2: saw those same blankets in the shops along the street. 544 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:19,920 Speaker 2: Those women had sold those blankets, and our volunteers were 545 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:26,000 Speaker 2: incensed until a staff person on the ground said they 546 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:30,319 Speaker 2: sold them for food for their babies. Their real need 547 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 2: is to feed their babies. How do you know that? 548 00:41:36,320 --> 00:41:38,720 Speaker 2: How do you know what the real needs are unless 549 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:43,800 Speaker 2: unless you're sitting with people over time, unless you're building 550 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,960 Speaker 2: relationships over time where they're willing to they're willing to 551 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:52,120 Speaker 2: trust you with the truth. There's lots of reasons why 552 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 2: the recipients of our charity don't give us straight answers. 553 00:41:56,680 --> 00:41:59,880 Speaker 2: We're the source of resources and they could lose that. 554 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 2: You know how long it was before Virgil told me 555 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:14,359 Speaker 2: about his concerns about the way we were doing our 556 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:18,920 Speaker 2: service projects. You know how long that was? Five years? 557 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 2: Five years of building relationships, of being neighbors, until Virgil 558 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:33,200 Speaker 2: had the personal courage as well as enough trust in 559 00:42:33,239 --> 00:42:41,200 Speaker 2: our relationship to speak honestly about the toxicity in our missions. 560 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 2: Five years. It implies relationships over time. And then number six, 561 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:56,960 Speaker 2: that is the same word for word as the final 562 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:02,920 Speaker 2: tenet of the Hippocratic oath. Above all to the best 563 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:07,720 Speaker 2: of my ability. I will do no harm. Amen. 564 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 1: Amen, we'll be right back. 565 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:30,520 Speaker 2: We got a little time left and uh so, if 566 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:36,239 Speaker 2: you have a comment, question, something that you want to 567 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 2: take on, now's the time. Yes, ma'am, talk real loud, 568 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:40,560 Speaker 2: will you? 569 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:49,239 Speaker 1: What do you share? Thanks? Yeah? What is what? 570 00:43:49,719 --> 00:43:51,760 Speaker 4: How doing you saw when as a child? 571 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:56,840 Speaker 2: Oh? That's a tough one, isn't it. That's the toughest 572 00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:00,799 Speaker 2: of all dilemmas as far as I'm concerned. You see, 573 00:44:01,120 --> 00:44:06,800 Speaker 2: you see a kid that is being neglected or even worse, 574 00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:10,680 Speaker 2: abused in a home, and you're trying to work with 575 00:44:10,719 --> 00:44:15,880 Speaker 2: those parents, but you know that kid is really hurting. 576 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:22,399 Speaker 2: The best thing I know to do is when you're 577 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:26,839 Speaker 2: a neighbor, be a place of refuge for that kid. 578 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:30,120 Speaker 2: That's the best thing that I know, which doesn't mean 579 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:34,919 Speaker 2: you step in into a parenting role. It does mean 580 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:39,440 Speaker 2: that that kid has a safe place to play with 581 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 2: your kids, and that when he's feeling neglected or abused, 582 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:49,600 Speaker 2: there is a place where he can come and somebody's 583 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:54,799 Speaker 2: somebody's listening. It gets real dangerous when you say I'm 584 00:44:54,840 --> 00:45:00,400 Speaker 2: going to intervene and call Family and Children's Service and 585 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:09,360 Speaker 2: report them. That becomes real dangerous because it probably isn't 586 00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:14,680 Speaker 2: your choice to make Let me give you another, let 587 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:18,760 Speaker 2: me give you another. Come at that from another direction. 588 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 2: You know. One of the things that's really popular these 589 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:25,960 Speaker 2: days is this call them different things book bag buddies. 590 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:31,840 Speaker 2: The weekend, we hand out book bags full of foods 591 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:34,520 Speaker 2: so that the kids have something to eat over the weekend. 592 00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:42,319 Speaker 2: That sort of thing. I'm going to tell you that 593 00:45:42,320 --> 00:45:49,920 Speaker 2: that is mostly toxic. It's motivated by very good hearts, 594 00:45:51,320 --> 00:45:57,719 Speaker 2: but it's almost totally unaccountable. It's based on anecdotal stories 595 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:01,839 Speaker 2: about kids that teacher said, how can we teach him 596 00:46:01,880 --> 00:46:07,320 Speaker 2: when he had anything to eat all weekend? And certainly 597 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:11,319 Speaker 2: there are those kind of situations, no question about that. 598 00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:17,440 Speaker 2: Those are real situation that need intervention. But it's a 599 00:46:17,560 --> 00:46:22,240 Speaker 2: huge leap from there to say all of the kids 600 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 2: that are in this urban school are in that situation, 601 00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:30,840 Speaker 2: So we'll make sure everybody has food over the weekend 602 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:36,239 Speaker 2: that they can carry home. You have no idea what 603 00:46:36,239 --> 00:46:45,279 Speaker 2: what's happening with that food and hunger? Hunger in our culture, Well, 604 00:46:45,320 --> 00:46:50,000 Speaker 2: there are folks that miss meals, and there there are 605 00:46:50,080 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 2: some chronic situations, but hunger is not the same starvation 606 00:46:55,400 --> 00:47:02,120 Speaker 2: servation is a that's a crisis. That's like when a 607 00:47:02,320 --> 00:47:07,360 Speaker 2: famine sweeps through Sub Saharan Africa and people are dying. 608 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:14,040 Speaker 2: That's a crisis. But in our culture, you don't see that. 609 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:18,480 Speaker 2: You know, forty five years now of living and serving 610 00:47:18,719 --> 00:47:22,280 Speaker 2: in inner city, I have yet to see the first 611 00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:28,919 Speaker 2: starving person, not one. I've seen folks miss meals. I've 612 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:31,719 Speaker 2: seen mom have to feed their kids peanut butter sandwiches 613 00:47:31,760 --> 00:47:35,600 Speaker 2: the last three days of the month. I've seen food 614 00:47:35,640 --> 00:47:42,040 Speaker 2: in security. I've seen homeless guys dumpster dive. I've seen 615 00:47:42,080 --> 00:47:50,319 Speaker 2: lots of bad nutrition. But starvation, no, not once, not 616 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:55,960 Speaker 2: in our culture. And yet our food pantries and our 617 00:47:56,040 --> 00:48:01,560 Speaker 2: weekend supplies of food, those are emergency risks, responses to 618 00:48:01,719 --> 00:48:06,960 Speaker 2: what is clearly a chronic poverty deed. You know that. 619 00:48:07,080 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 2: John Perkins gave the example this morning, the old adage 620 00:48:12,640 --> 00:48:15,720 Speaker 2: feed a man of fish eats for day, teaching fish 621 00:48:15,719 --> 00:48:18,520 Speaker 2: eats for lifetime. John says, yeah, but who owns the pond? 622 00:48:18,600 --> 00:48:21,839 Speaker 2: That's a very good that's a very good question there. 623 00:48:26,120 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 2: But we have set up fish feeding stations that keep 624 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:36,680 Speaker 2: out giving fish, giving fish when we should be teaching 625 00:48:36,719 --> 00:48:41,920 Speaker 2: folk how to catch their fish, and so in that 626 00:48:42,040 --> 00:48:48,040 Speaker 2: whole food distribution initiative in our country, it's based on 627 00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:57,280 Speaker 2: false assumptions. Ah, it's it's harming people through giving emergency 628 00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:03,960 Speaker 2: assistance through what is clearly chronic poverty issues. Is that 629 00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:04,520 Speaker 2: too harsh? 630 00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:10,600 Speaker 1: Crazy good? I think one for everybody listing we will 631 00:49:10,600 --> 00:49:14,160 Speaker 1: put up on all our social media has six points 632 00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:17,239 Speaker 1: of both. And I don't know, Alex, I gotta I 633 00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:21,319 Speaker 1: gotta review those and start thinking about even some of 634 00:49:21,320 --> 00:49:24,640 Speaker 1: the work I do. It makes me think that I 635 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:30,080 Speaker 1: could be inadvertently which is how he opens and advertly 636 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:36,920 Speaker 1: doing some things that could be toxic really makes you think. 637 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 3: I don't know if you're open to talking about it, 638 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:41,160 Speaker 3: but how how could that be the case. I mean, 639 00:49:41,239 --> 00:49:42,919 Speaker 3: maybe maybe you are with some of your giving. 640 00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:44,080 Speaker 4: I don't know all your giving, but. 641 00:49:44,200 --> 00:49:47,759 Speaker 3: I mean, well, you've most people know you for you know, 642 00:49:47,840 --> 00:49:50,640 Speaker 3: coaching and living in community and relationship. 643 00:49:50,200 --> 00:49:52,480 Speaker 4: With these kids. That certainly is it. So the meat 644 00:49:52,520 --> 00:49:53,120 Speaker 4: of what you've. 645 00:49:52,920 --> 00:49:56,839 Speaker 1: Done is come to me and says coach, I need 646 00:49:56,840 --> 00:49:58,920 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars for something, and I just give it 647 00:49:58,960 --> 00:49:59,400 Speaker 1: to him. 648 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:07,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm I'm not hearing him. His talents to be 649 00:50:07,560 --> 00:50:11,319 Speaker 3: proud of what he earned. I'm just being paternalistic and 650 00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:14,040 Speaker 3: giving it to him and moving on because it's easier. 651 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:19,520 Speaker 3: And I think that's that's really an important point because 652 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:24,600 Speaker 3: at the very beginning I have experience the very thing 653 00:50:24,640 --> 00:50:27,440 Speaker 3: he said, which is you give somebody something. 654 00:50:27,480 --> 00:50:31,680 Speaker 1: Once they're appreciative, you give it to him again. They think, well, 655 00:50:31,719 --> 00:50:34,680 Speaker 1: maybe this is the way it works, and then fundamentally 656 00:50:34,719 --> 00:50:38,160 Speaker 1: it ends up being that they hold you in contempt 657 00:50:38,239 --> 00:50:42,560 Speaker 1: because of their expectation of your gift, and by giving 658 00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:47,160 Speaker 1: too much and requiring nothing for the gift, you ultimately 659 00:50:47,239 --> 00:50:54,680 Speaker 1: create a contemptuous relationship where you created dependency. And that 660 00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:56,719 Speaker 1: is the exact opposite of what we got to do. 661 00:50:57,400 --> 00:51:01,720 Speaker 1: I think it's very very, very very valuable and something 662 00:51:01,760 --> 00:51:03,480 Speaker 1: we need to be really careful to think about. 663 00:51:04,640 --> 00:51:06,840 Speaker 3: We've not really talked about this before, but you know, 664 00:51:06,880 --> 00:51:09,480 Speaker 3: I've read one of his books, maybe a decade ago, 665 00:51:09,600 --> 00:51:12,120 Speaker 3: called Charity Detox. It's kind of his follow up to 666 00:51:12,120 --> 00:51:14,120 Speaker 3: Toxic Charity, and it is more focused on like, how 667 00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:16,920 Speaker 3: can we do charity well? And so always after that, 668 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,040 Speaker 3: I kind of viewed everything through that lenses. I think 669 00:51:19,080 --> 00:51:22,239 Speaker 3: you're experiencing now after listen to Bob's so frankly, like 670 00:51:22,280 --> 00:51:24,560 Speaker 3: all of our guests that we've had on have been 671 00:51:24,600 --> 00:51:27,400 Speaker 3: people in alignment with you know Bob's oh for you know, 672 00:51:27,440 --> 00:51:30,600 Speaker 3: compassionate helpers, and even people like Darren Babcock with Bonton 673 00:51:30,680 --> 00:51:33,400 Speaker 3: Farms have actually met you know Bob several times, and 674 00:51:33,440 --> 00:51:35,000 Speaker 3: a lot of our guests have really been you know, 675 00:51:35,040 --> 00:51:37,839 Speaker 3: inspired by you know him. It is kind of one 676 00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:39,840 Speaker 3: of these things. Once you see it, you can on 677 00:51:39,920 --> 00:51:41,640 Speaker 3: see it. It really does change everything. 678 00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:44,920 Speaker 1: It really does. And as we've talked about building this 679 00:51:45,120 --> 00:51:48,440 Speaker 1: army of normal folks, I think it would only be 680 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:56,600 Speaker 1: appropriate to use his six points as as callings for 681 00:51:56,640 --> 00:51:57,320 Speaker 1: the chapters. 682 00:51:58,160 --> 00:52:01,360 Speaker 3: So I've actually drafted in our Chain After handbook something 683 00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:03,440 Speaker 3: that's largely based on Bob. 684 00:52:03,680 --> 00:52:06,680 Speaker 1: That's awesome, I think, I mean, I think it's important. 685 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:12,759 Speaker 1: I think Bob is I think not learning from this 686 00:52:12,880 --> 00:52:16,200 Speaker 1: man's life work and the lessons he's giving us about 687 00:52:16,360 --> 00:52:20,680 Speaker 1: how to do philanthropic work, well, I think we would 688 00:52:20,719 --> 00:52:24,239 Speaker 1: be stupid to listen to this and not apply this 689 00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:27,880 Speaker 1: blow pointed outline of how to be successful and not 690 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:31,960 Speaker 1: be toxic. I think it's Yeah, I learned a lot. 691 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:34,400 Speaker 1: It was great to look through. Thanks for making me 692 00:52:34,440 --> 00:52:36,320 Speaker 1: do it, Alex, You're welcome. 693 00:52:36,680 --> 00:52:38,560 Speaker 3: I know what's outside the box. It's not as same. 694 00:52:38,640 --> 00:52:40,960 Speaker 3: Why am I doing this? We're not meeting a guested person. 695 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:43,920 Speaker 3: I know it's a little different and you're probably feeling that, but. 696 00:52:44,880 --> 00:52:47,520 Speaker 1: Well no, at first I was. But I've really hope 697 00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:50,640 Speaker 1: all of the members of the Army, people that will 698 00:52:50,680 --> 00:52:54,719 Speaker 1: be in our chapters and our listeners today take to 699 00:52:54,760 --> 00:52:58,000 Speaker 1: heart what this man said, because this is this good content. 700 00:52:58,040 --> 00:53:00,200 Speaker 1: It's good stuff. It's a lot to think about. As 701 00:53:00,200 --> 00:53:02,760 Speaker 1: you can tell, I'm still thinking about it and probably 702 00:53:02,800 --> 00:53:06,120 Speaker 1: will for a while. I think I'm going to take 703 00:53:06,160 --> 00:53:08,160 Speaker 1: an apprize all the work I do and make sure 704 00:53:08,239 --> 00:53:10,560 Speaker 1: I'm not doing it the wrong way. 705 00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:12,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, and if people want to dive deeper, you can 706 00:53:12,600 --> 00:53:16,600 Speaker 3: read Bob's books Toxic Charity, Charity Detox. One thing I'll 707 00:53:16,640 --> 00:53:19,560 Speaker 3: just flag and then we could wrap is I mean, 708 00:53:19,600 --> 00:53:21,600 Speaker 3: this can be tough, like even in the chapters, I've 709 00:53:21,640 --> 00:53:24,239 Speaker 3: felt through this a little bit like some people will 710 00:53:24,280 --> 00:53:27,239 Speaker 3: really push back, Like you know, in Oxford, we want 711 00:53:27,239 --> 00:53:29,440 Speaker 3: to have one of these backpack programs where kids. 712 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:31,040 Speaker 4: Take away you know, food on the weekends. 713 00:53:31,640 --> 00:53:34,440 Speaker 3: And I've always not you know, loved it after you know, 714 00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:36,600 Speaker 3: being familiar with Bob's work, because it's like they send 715 00:53:36,640 --> 00:53:38,480 Speaker 3: the food home with the kids every weekend, and we're 716 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:40,640 Speaker 3: talking about like hundreds or thousands of kids whatever it is, 717 00:53:40,680 --> 00:53:44,040 Speaker 3: and you know, Oxford La Fayette, and they have like 718 00:53:44,080 --> 00:53:45,359 Speaker 3: no relationship. 719 00:53:44,800 --> 00:53:45,560 Speaker 4: With these families. 720 00:53:46,040 --> 00:53:51,440 Speaker 3: You're basically just enabling the parents to spend it on alcohol, vape, whatever, TVs, 721 00:53:51,480 --> 00:53:53,920 Speaker 3: you know, all the other stuff. You know, You're just 722 00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:56,160 Speaker 3: continuing to do it every single week. Is not helping 723 00:53:56,160 --> 00:53:59,120 Speaker 3: their situation getting better. You have no relationship with these people. 724 00:53:59,480 --> 00:54:02,279 Speaker 3: It's just can completely you know, anonymous. So it's I mean, 725 00:54:02,320 --> 00:54:04,440 Speaker 3: it's frankly kind of controversial. So I'm just giving the 726 00:54:04,520 --> 00:54:07,640 Speaker 3: Army members notice of that. Of like, if you actually 727 00:54:07,640 --> 00:54:10,040 Speaker 3: try to implement this in your live in your local community, 728 00:54:10,080 --> 00:54:12,640 Speaker 3: you probably will get some pushback, you know, because there's 729 00:54:12,680 --> 00:54:15,000 Speaker 3: a lot of popular programs like this and most of 730 00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:16,480 Speaker 3: our talents that people are supporting. 731 00:54:16,520 --> 00:54:17,560 Speaker 1: And obviously we. 732 00:54:17,600 --> 00:54:19,319 Speaker 4: Got to do it in a charitable, loving way. 733 00:54:19,360 --> 00:54:21,239 Speaker 3: And that's something I'm trying to work on as a 734 00:54:21,239 --> 00:54:25,239 Speaker 3: person too, of really having full humility, you know, with 735 00:54:25,280 --> 00:54:27,879 Speaker 3: all these things, and we shouldn't be fearful of having 736 00:54:27,880 --> 00:54:31,480 Speaker 3: those conversations if we are, you know, truly leading humble lives. 737 00:54:31,480 --> 00:54:36,440 Speaker 1: But it's tough, it is true. And look in business 738 00:54:36,719 --> 00:54:40,960 Speaker 1: and a and coaching football and just all walks of life, 739 00:54:41,000 --> 00:54:47,560 Speaker 1: there's often times well intentioned, well meaning initiatives that have 740 00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:52,840 Speaker 1: unintended consequences you didn't anticipate. But if you're so vested 741 00:54:52,880 --> 00:54:55,480 Speaker 1: in the idea that you're unwilling to be open minded 742 00:54:55,640 --> 00:54:59,320 Speaker 1: enough to address the unintended consequences when you become aware 743 00:54:59,360 --> 00:55:02,280 Speaker 1: of them, well then you're just being a closed minded idiot. 744 00:55:02,880 --> 00:55:08,400 Speaker 1: So we have to be aware that unintended consequences can happen, 745 00:55:08,440 --> 00:55:11,840 Speaker 1: and when they do happen, address them. And Bob just 746 00:55:11,840 --> 00:55:15,640 Speaker 1: spent an hour teaching us how he learned of his 747 00:55:15,920 --> 00:55:19,920 Speaker 1: unintended consequences, but his willingness to change and adapt to 748 00:55:20,600 --> 00:55:23,239 Speaker 1: do things in a better way. Why wouldn't we want 749 00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:26,560 Speaker 1: to learn from that? Yeah, I think that's ultimately what 750 00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:30,960 Speaker 1: his speech and his lessons and his book are. And 751 00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:34,360 Speaker 1: for one, I'm got to think more about it and 752 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:37,040 Speaker 1: see if there's ways I can do better. 753 00:55:38,200 --> 00:55:40,040 Speaker 3: One final thing I already said. I know I said 754 00:55:40,080 --> 00:55:43,040 Speaker 3: the final thing a minute ago, but we haven't stressed 755 00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:45,520 Speaker 3: it enough. I mean Bob literally moved into that neighborhood, 756 00:55:45,800 --> 00:55:49,560 Speaker 3: you know, South Atlanta too, versus a ritzy suburb. There's 757 00:55:49,560 --> 00:55:51,120 Speaker 3: actually a whole part of the story we didn't include 758 00:55:51,160 --> 00:55:52,919 Speaker 3: or his wife. They're planning on mind, like their dream 759 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:55,239 Speaker 3: house in the suburbs, and then he felt called by 760 00:55:55,239 --> 00:55:55,719 Speaker 3: God to. 761 00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:57,600 Speaker 4: Move into the inner city and do this. 762 00:55:57,680 --> 00:55:59,440 Speaker 3: And I know not everybody's going to be called to 763 00:55:59,440 --> 00:56:02,200 Speaker 3: do that, but whether it's you know, Bob's example, or 764 00:56:02,239 --> 00:56:04,799 Speaker 3: Bob moz a Cowsk in Chicago, or Darren Babcock doing 765 00:56:04,920 --> 00:56:07,880 Speaker 3: a Dallas I do hope our storytelling inspires more people, 766 00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:10,719 Speaker 3: you know, to consider that in their lives. And that 767 00:56:10,800 --> 00:56:13,120 Speaker 3: truly does make this work easier too. If you're actually 768 00:56:13,280 --> 00:56:14,920 Speaker 3: living in a relationship with these people and in the 769 00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:16,239 Speaker 3: same neighborhood. 770 00:56:16,719 --> 00:56:20,480 Speaker 1: That's it. That's it. He moved in and went to work. 771 00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:24,680 Speaker 1: So all right, I think that's a raight Alex, good stuff. 772 00:56:25,680 --> 00:56:27,000 Speaker 4: Thanks Bill, thanks for doing it. 773 00:56:27,800 --> 00:56:30,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, Bob, thanks for joining us today. I'm talking to 774 00:56:30,960 --> 00:56:33,719 Speaker 1: Peter Screen. That's very weird, Alex. Good to do this 775 00:56:33,800 --> 00:56:36,839 Speaker 1: with you. I appreciate it. Well, Uh, we'll see you, Uh, 776 00:56:36,920 --> 00:56:37,640 Speaker 1: we'll see soon. 777 00:56:38,000 --> 00:56:39,960 Speaker 3: And if somehow this gets to Bob Lovedon, We still 778 00:56:39,960 --> 00:56:42,600 Speaker 3: love to interview you. Bob you were we will change 779 00:56:42,640 --> 00:56:45,520 Speaker 3: your rule. We would love to do it. That's right, Bob, 780 00:56:46,400 --> 00:56:49,840 Speaker 3: you can. You could do one more where we're all game. 781 00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:50,360 Speaker 3: We would have. 782 00:56:50,560 --> 00:56:52,680 Speaker 1: We would love to hash this out with you in 783 00:56:52,719 --> 00:56:59,600 Speaker 1: person if you ever want to, and thank you for 784 00:56:59,719 --> 00:57:03,600 Speaker 1: joining us this week. If Bob Lovedon has inspired you 785 00:57:03,640 --> 00:57:08,040 Speaker 1: in general, or better yet, to take action by detoxifying 786 00:57:08,080 --> 00:57:13,320 Speaker 1: your charity, buying his book Toxic Charity, taking the oath 787 00:57:13,920 --> 00:57:19,000 Speaker 1: for Compassionate Helpers, or something else entirely, please let me know. 788 00:57:19,280 --> 00:57:21,000 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear about it. You can write me 789 00:57:21,120 --> 00:57:25,080 Speaker 1: anytime at Bill at normal folks dot us and I 790 00:57:25,120 --> 00:57:28,680 Speaker 1: will respond. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it 791 00:57:28,720 --> 00:57:32,400 Speaker 1: with friends and on social subscribe to the podcast, rate 792 00:57:32,440 --> 00:57:35,160 Speaker 1: and review it. Join the Army at normal folks dot 793 00:57:35,240 --> 00:57:38,000 Speaker 1: us any and all of these things that will help 794 00:57:38,080 --> 00:57:41,800 Speaker 1: us grow an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney. 795 00:57:42,120 --> 00:57:47,640 Speaker 1: Until next time, do what you can do,