Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Wisdom with Time | Episode 48
28 Plays8 days ago
In this episode Danny and Shane discuss how we spend our time from a biblical perspective. They discuss struggles with managing time, distractions, and ways that we can turn our time over to God.
Scripture References: Philippians 4:8 Psalm 119:105
Shane's Questions to ask if something is becoming an Idol:
1. Do I run to this for comfort before I run to God?
2. Do I sin to get it, keep it, or protect it?
3. Am I angry, anxious, or crushed when I lose it?
4. Has it become a part of my identity?
Recommended
Transcript
Intro
Introduction and Apologies
00:00:31
Speaker
Hey Really quick, this is editor Danity coming in afterwards post-production. Two things, sorry, really quick. First thing is number one, so sorry about last week episode. We talked about that in this current episode about what's going on, why why we missed. And then in this episode, I had a recording issue.
00:00:47
Speaker
Just apologize for it. It was not a internet thing. It was actually hardware. For some reason, my microphone just disconnected and it stopped the recording automatically. The software does that, I guess, to prevent you from thinking you're recording when you're really not. which is kind of nice, except that for me, it stopped and shorted out, and I had about 20 minutes to fix it, where we were right in the middle of the episode. This was like question four, it just completely cut out. So there's a little bit of a blip you'll notice around question four, where it just doesn't seem like it's made. It might not make sense. It's like, wait, hold on, what happened? And that's because I had to patch two recordings together. So we had to restart the recording again. it was a whole thing. And I'm recovering all these backups from like a download that are internet quality. So some there might be some, you know, staticky stuff that you might hear. So
00:01:30
Speaker
apologize for that. We'll jump into the episode here in a second. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up. Thanks for your patience. I know that, you know, we're not a very high level recording studio. So there's a there's always stuff like this that happens. So apologize for that. And we'll get into the episode. Thanks, guys. Bye.
Personal Updates and Episode Confusion
00:01:44
Speaker
everyone, welcome to Tip of Talk Discussions podcast. This is, um it's episode 48, but it's actually episode 49. It's kind of confusing. So last week, I didn't realize this until today, but I thought I posted last week's podcast and it did not post and I lost the recording.
00:02:01
Speaker
Um, I don't know what happened to it, but we recorded the episode last week. So it wasn't like an intentional miss. Um, I am just realizing that right now that we didn't, didn't go live. And then I can't, like it says the file's corrupted, so I can't actually re upload it.
00:02:16
Speaker
Um, but this last week's been crazy for me cause we had our baby. So congratulations. Yeah. I mean, I did a whole lot. It was a lot more work for me. So just kidding. Not really, not at all. Um,
00:02:31
Speaker
But anyway, so I didn't catch that because of all that. Usually I'll go back and check and see how the episode's doing and see if people are listening you know and how it's doing. But I haven't this week until today. And then I went looked. I was like, oh, that's weird. It's not even up. So good sorry about that, guys.
00:02:45
Speaker
Yeah, it is weird because I thought I listened to it. I don't think so. unless um'm Unless on my end something went wrong and it did go up. I don't think so. Yeah, well, I'll look. but Anyways, um so we are...
00:03:02
Speaker
and record what is really episode 49, but it might show up as episode 48 unless I'm pretty sure no one no one should be able to see that. So anyways, still in our wisdom
Discussing Sermons and Listener Questions
00:03:11
Speaker
series. So if you're just tuning in for the first time, what we try to do is we try to uses podcasts to go over the sermon, um, that Shane usually change teaching. So usually it's when Shane's teaching and we'll go over all the questions that I have, and then people can send questions in. So it's kind of just a hodgepodge and it gives Shane a chance just to go over anything that he felt like he didn't hit hard or missed, or, you know, just wanted to reinforce from the week. Um, yeah. So if you're tuning in, I, know, ideally you'd listen to the sermon first,
00:03:44
Speaker
just so you get some context. I don't think it's necessary, but it just helps. And then, yeah, you can do know this. Hopefully this is ah enjoyable for you guys. So we're going to just hit it right off. First question for you.
Sermon Series on Rest
00:03:54
Speaker
ah Just of the classic question. Is there anything that you didn't make it into the sermon? Anything that you want to add? sermon Yeah. um You know, interesting. um This week there was so much on the idea of rest,
00:04:10
Speaker
that I actually didn't do. i i Literally, that was gonna be one of the um, points and I took it out and instead decided we're going to do a two week series on rest, um, basically on the Sabbath and the rhythm of rest in our lives and how important that is.
Planning Series on Rest
00:04:34
Speaker
um that's not, but that's not part of the wisdom series or it is. No, no. and during So during the summer we're doing some little two or three week series, Um, and so I'm gonna two weeks on, on the Sabbath and rest because there was just so much that I was like, i was like, yeah, this is turning out to be a sermon on rest. Yeah.
00:04:55
Speaker
So, yeah. Well, I was curious about that. Cause I actually have some questions about that. And actually one of them is kind of hand is like, you're, me and her were talking together and yeah, I was surprised you didn't go and into it more and now it makes sense. So,
00:05:06
Speaker
Yeah. um Right on. Cool. So, so really that was a shit just the rest part of the rest that didn't really make it in. And you kind of felt like you covered everything else. Cool. Yeah. This was enjoyable.
00:05:18
Speaker
I like this. I like the sermon a lot. I think there's, there's a lot to talk about. So I'm, you know, I always say I'm excited to do this episode, but I actually am excited about this episode. um Yeah. It's funny. This one, uh,
Work and Spiritual Focus
00:05:30
Speaker
You know, I, one thing Tanya can never be key accused of is being lazy. I mean, she's just always doing something, always moving. But she even said, she was like, yeah, this one really hit me. Like, cause just, you know, she has a tendency to like, just get busy with what's in front of her and not thinking, you know, and like planning out well. And so. Yeah, so we had some good good discussion on it a little bit.
00:05:58
Speaker
Yeah, that's good. um Cool, so some just some questions that I had. Some of these actually Hannah and I talked about, so like we kind of I kind of merged her question and my question together because she kind of sent me what she was interested in, and it actually kind of overlooked what I was saying, so it's perfect. um First question I had was, if you're easily distracted and don't take time to order your steps, how do you begin? What does Scripture say? Yeah.
00:06:21
Speaker
Yeah. um well for up So there's a few Proverbs and, you know, they talk about that and as well as other scriptures, Proverbs 16, three says, commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. We talked about that one, but um Psalm 37, 23 says the steps of a man are established by the Lord. And, um you know, I think,
00:06:47
Speaker
to me that kind of hits back to the idea of surrendering to God so that, you know, you're putting your heart in a position to, to have God establish your steps.
00:07:01
Speaker
Um, so I, I would say start with, Not, ah you know, like, I've got to be better at sitting down and working a calendar, but kind of almost maybe sitting down with a calendar and and literally just praying before you write anything in it, before you do anything, like submitting that to God um and saying, hey, you know, i don't I don't want to get distracted. Lord, help me to look at what's important in life. And, yeah you know, like, and't know if anyone's ever...
00:07:34
Speaker
how many people think about that? But you know, that's definitely something I've, I've practiced every now and then. um I wish I practiced regularly that um from other people, seminars and things I've listened to or sermons of, of surrendering your calendar to God. And so, you know, sometimes I do that before I sit down and plan out the week.
00:07:56
Speaker
I surrender the week, you know, and ask God to kind of give me diligence and and not being distracted by all the things that come my way, but but by staying focused on the things that he he has planned out for me.
00:08:10
Speaker
So, yeah, that's definitely where I start. Yeah. I, I think, I mean, I don't don't know how everyone is. I'm, I think I'm a little bit more of that ADD. I don't know if I'm, I might say I'm diagnosed or anything. I just, I feel that I resonate with that. um I feel like I often start off on a good path and I'm like, I'm i i'm in the zone, ah yeah whether, whatever that is. And you know, it could be my, I'm just reading my Bible and I feel like, man, God's really just speaking to me through his word and I'm just really just like loving it. And then all of a sudden,
00:08:44
Speaker
you know i go I do that for like a couple months and all of a sudden I start losing that habit or I start getting distracted with other things or work starts to pick up. what do you What do you say to that person who knows knows the right things to do and is in the right mindset?
Struggles with Faith Practices
00:08:58
Speaker
and isn't They don't need to be like slapped around and because they're totally off track. they're're They're on track or they know how to get on track. They're just distracted.
00:09:06
Speaker
yeah how do you How do you stop from being just distracted? Man, I'll tell you that that one is probably my biggest thing. i In fact, i think i I think in all services I hit on that that that I said this is my biggest struggle. i I feel like I work really hard at not doing And just like you said, we're ah you know I'll be in the zone.
00:09:26
Speaker
I'll be doing my Bible time. I'll be doing my journaling. I'll be doing my workouts. um I'll be planning my weeks out. And then all of a sudden, um summer hits and I'm working in the yard more. We go on a couple of little trips or yeah know something happens and I'm just like, I'm thrown off. And then all of a sudden I'm like,
00:09:45
Speaker
man, it's been like five weeks and I'm like barely picking up my Bible here and there. And, you know, and I'm, I'm not, you know, and I'm praying as I go. I'm, you know, I'm not focused on my goals, any, any of that. And um so I think, I think it one is just admitting that we fall into that, you know, we got to admit it that we, we struggle with it and, and then confessing it, you know, and then from there, you For me, I wish I could tell you there's a magic, you know,
00:10:19
Speaker
silver bullet kind of thing for
Consistency in Faith and Avoiding Quick Fixes
00:10:21
Speaker
this. But I think it's a matter of just saying, God, I, I really feel like I, ah believe you you're calling me to get back into this and be focused and, and taking each day and not letting yourself get upset or beat yourself up. Like said, if you know, you miss, but just keep, get back right on the, right on it and, and building the habit back, you know, um,
00:10:47
Speaker
you know I'm envious of those people. like you know You read these things where it's like, oh, 28 days in a row and you've built a habit for the rest of your life. you'll never I don't buy it. I think that works for some people. i know It doesn't work for me. I'll do 28 days in a row of stuff. I'll do 80, 100 sometimes. And then all of a sudden I get sidetracked and I'm off. again yeah so So just got to get back on At least that's that's the way I i work.
00:11:14
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree. I do think there is something to like habits helping, you know, like in doing something repetitively does help make habits, but it's not like a foolproof. I've heard the same thing and that's why they do. What's that challenge? at Like 75 hard.
00:11:27
Speaker
You heard about that where you do something hard for 75 think it's 75 days.
00:11:32
Speaker
Someone's going to to correct me on that if I'm wrong. um But you have to do like, it's like this this crazy stringent, whatever it is. And it's supposed to help form habits because 75 days is, you know, whatever the magic number that they've come up with. Oh, yeah.
00:11:44
Speaker
And then, I mean, you know, it's just the way it is. Like, it's a daily battle. All those people are not, you know, that had completed that 75 hard or not. You know, they're not keeping that. Or at least a lot of them aren't. Some of them might be, but it's... There's no there's no shortcut to yeah hardware in your brain. It helps. There's things that help, but it's definitely not a shortcut. Yeah, no, and obviously the long the more you create the habit, i'm I'm big into books like Atomic Habits and you know sure um yeah these books that that talk about creating habits. They definitely help, but if you're the wrong kind of person, it can you can still get sidetracked from those habits and you have to push yourself back.
00:12:24
Speaker
Yeah. um I guess a little bit back to the question, just thinking about ordering ordering your steps and what God wants for you. um this isn't um This isn't the question, but it kind of goes back to what we were talking about a little bit last week, which didn't even air, so it's kind of perfect. I'm trying to think of how to say this succinctly.
00:12:50
Speaker
When it comes to ordering your steps, how do you know what you're supposed to be doing? um Is there like a cheat code to Christianity or like ah like a quick guide of like, hey, you do these three things, do do these 10 steps and you'll be a Christian? How do you know if you're even on the right path?
00:13:06
Speaker
um Because I just talked about like, I kind of, you know, in my mind, I think I know what I'm supposed to be doing. I just get getting distracted. But then now I'm thinking a totally different person, someone who maybe is not distracted. They just don't even know how to order their life and have their time honor God. They don't even know what they're supposed to be doing. what are what do What do they do? Is there a way where do they go to find out what they should do?
Grounding in Scripture and Faith Practices
00:13:25
Speaker
Um, well, I, I definitely would say go to the scripture, um, and focus. Um, but, but Bible wise, like specifically for reading, I i definitely, um, love, uh, Ephesians because it has a lot in there about kind of how we're to operate as, as Christians. Um, and then, um, you know, uh,
00:13:54
Speaker
the the epistles in general, I feel like are a little bit more focused on how as believers we're, we're supposed to live. So, you know, I definitely would say, start by reading the epistles and and be in that and maybe write down the insights to that. But I look at and say, if a believer is consistent in being in the word prayer some a level of fellowship in the body, um, yeah and, and worshiping and, and participating in in faith conversations, like being, being discipled at some level, you know, like really being, if if you're doing those five things, um,
00:14:47
Speaker
at some level, the you're giving this Holy Spirit room to convict you. You're giving the Holy Spirit space and a place to to move in your life. Now, you can choose.
00:14:58
Speaker
you You can do all those things and just walk through the steps and not let this and and still keep the Holy Spirit out and not grow. But if you're doing those things with a sincere heart and you just keep asking for sincerity in them, I have never...
00:15:14
Speaker
seen someone not like not grow. I've, every time I've seen someone seek it through those five things, I've seen them grow and, and turn, you see them turn more and more of their life over to God and let him order their steps versus them doing everything themselves.
00:15:32
Speaker
Okay. Yeah, that was sorry. That was like a totally, that ah that was a good, that was a good answer. That was totally ah just a last minute question. I didn't give you any chance to think about that prepare for that. That's good.
00:15:42
Speaker
I would totally agree. Yeah, no, I would, I would agree with that. Like, you know, if you claim Jesus, if you claim to be a believer, um I think, you know, yeah, like, like you said, like reading your Bible is just, especially the ah the epistles. And then, i mean, even Proverbs has like, like what we've been going through has a lot of wisdom of like things to do and things not to do. I do think it's hard.
00:16:02
Speaker
man, how do I say this? I think it's hard to give someone an exhaustive list of things. um Like a Christian, if you're going a Christian, just do these 10 things and you'll be, and you'll be fine. Cause I think the the starting premise, and so maybe I set you up for failure from that. So sorry about that. But the premise is that like, all you have to do is these things and then you're good and you're covered. And I think if you're coming into that,
00:16:24
Speaker
If you're coming into your faith with what do I just need to do to kind of like kind of meet the the minimum requirements to get into heaven? I think you're going to struggle or what are the minimum requirements? Like, what do I need to do just to be, you know, somewhat Christian or mostly Christian so that people I'm a Christian? I think so. That's a bad premise for me. But as I think about my question, I'm like, maybe that wasn't the best way it. No, but you didn't, you didn't word it that way. You were, you more worded as the way you asked me. And this is way I was looking at You talked about this, the person who wants to order their steps, the person who wants to, to submit those things, to submit their life before God and say, God, I want you to guide and direct my steps. I, you know, um,
00:17:03
Speaker
what it's It's Psalm that says, the Psalms that says, you know, your your light is a lamp unto my feet. and um Your word is a lamp unto my feet. Yeah, yeah, and a light to path. I can't get the whole thing. But, you know, that idea that you're you're you're desiring that. So you you didn't word it to me. I didn't read it. Okay, good. I didn't hear you as someone like, oh, what'll all ah'll just tell me all I have to do. yeah, yeah. But I'm looking at the person that's like, hey, man, if you want it,
00:17:33
Speaker
You should
Essentials for Spiritual Growth
00:17:34
Speaker
do these five. If you're doing these five things, because here's the thing. If you're doing those five things, then I believe God will convict you to be someone who serves. God will convict you to be someone who, because here's the deal. If you do those five things and you're doing those five things for 10 years and you don't change anything about your life, then you're not doing them with the right heart.
00:17:53
Speaker
yeah But if you're doing them with the right heart, god you will get conviction and you will move in service and giving and evangelism and all the things are marks of believers.
00:18:06
Speaker
Okay, good. I was hoping I didn't come off that way, just and for people people listening. I never know like the way I'm saying it. I think in my mind, I'm very clear about what I'm what i'm trying to say, but it doesn't always come off that way. Well, you do it's hard to know how people are going to hear it. That's the hard thing.
00:18:20
Speaker
Yeah. um Okay, cool. Well, that that was perfect. Next question I had, just a little background to this question. So you talked about having idols and worshiping other things. And you used an example of like things that you have to do, like work, for example. And this is where this got that that kind of got my...
00:18:38
Speaker
my questioning thoughts just kind of going is how do I know when I'm worshiping or idolizing something?
Recognizing Idol Worship
00:18:45
Speaker
Like when does that, when do, what are the warning signs? When do I know and go, okay I need to identify this. I'm clearly worshiping this versus i I just have this as part of my life because I i kind of have to. like like I need to sleep. I need to eat. I need to go to work. I need to whatever.
00:19:01
Speaker
where Where do I start? like What are the warning signs? where do i How do I identify the difference between stuff I have to do and it makes up a big part of my life versus stuff that I'm worshiping and idolizing? um yeah It's interesting. I did a little research on this, and I found a list that I like, so I'll read you the list. But it's funny because as I read the list, and you'll like this, Danny, it – It ah all reminded me of Gollum with his precious. Oh, sure. Which really, right? I mean, that's the whole thing is that does represent that the idol worship and how we, you know, but it's, do I run to this for comfort before I run to God?
00:19:41
Speaker
um Do I sin in order to to get it or protect it or keep it? Okay. um Am I angry, anxious, or crushed when I don't get to do it or when I lose it?
00:19:55
Speaker
And has it become a part of my identity? And um so anyway, in my mind, I was like, all those, I was like, yeah that's like totally gone. Oh, no, totally. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's perfect. But yeah.
00:20:08
Speaker
You know, i just thought it was a pretty good list of like, hey, are are these these are things they ask yourself, am I am I looking for this versus looking for God in my, you know, as the main source of my life? Yeah.
00:20:26
Speaker
You know, and and it's really easy for great things to become idols. You know, I mean, work can become an idol. I'm not, you know, there are times that ministry has been an idol for me. um You know, little points in time where I'm like, I have to go, yeah, no, I'm kind of more focused on my ministry than I am my walk with God. Or I i have too much...
00:20:49
Speaker
emphasis on how well the ministry is going versus, know, and that's my identity. And there's times where my grandkids and my kids and my family are my, and my idol, you know? And yeah um so, yeah, we, we gotta be, we have to be careful with, with all those things. And I think it's a matter of watching our heart and, and submitting those things, you know? I mean, think about how many perches based on that list,
00:21:15
Speaker
think on how Think about how many purchases that we make are idols. um You know, do I run to it for comfort? How many people purchase something... just because they're feeling down and they want to feel better or whatever. yeah Yeah. Do I sin in order to get it? How many people choose not to be generous givers to God's kingdom in order to have more stuff?
00:21:39
Speaker
um Am I angry, anxious, or crushed when I don't get it or lose it? Like how many times do we get envious or upset or angry when, when someone else gets something that we can't get, or, you know, or when we're looking forward to getting something, and something happens where we can't afford to get it then. um And then has it become part of my identity? I mean, I i know a lot of material possessions that become parts of people's identity. So anyway, i um I... have a question about one of those things and I was just thinking about this and I don't know.
00:22:11
Speaker
I'm just like, this is just verbal processing. yeah how do you How do you figure out the whole run to it for comfort? Because for example... would you say run to comfort first or run to comfort?
Finding Comfort in God vs. Others
00:22:23
Speaker
Cause like, for example, if I've had a really rough day, I'll go to Hannah and tell her about my bad day and explain like, Hey babe, this is like, I'm just really struggling. This is a, I had a rough day.
00:22:32
Speaker
I like work was not, you know, this and that happened, whatever it is. And I'm like, and looked to her for comfort, but I wouldn't say I'm like, I'm only looking to her for comfort. Cause I still am praying about those things. Is it wrong to look to comfort for, from some things or does that make sense? Yeah.
00:22:47
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think we know that God put our put things in our and people in our life for comfort. First of all, the thing and maybe i didn't read the whole thing, but it, and there again, this is just a list. This isn't out of the Bible. No, yeah, right. yeah yeah But it says, do I run to comfort before I run to God?
00:23:02
Speaker
So i think you did say that. I think I just said, okay. You know, am I doing it first? And then even then there are healthy things and unhealthy things, right? Like I'll be honest, there's times in my life where I will run to food for comfort. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I just, I've had a hard day, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, I'll just eat really good.
00:23:23
Speaker
What's that? Cafe Rio would just hit so hard right now. I would just say, Oh, you know, for me, it's, yeah, for me, it's a crappy burger, you know? yeah yeah Like, no like just like the really worst kind, you know? And, and and not like it's something I feel like, Oh, I've been, you know, I'm out celebrating or something. It's just no, no, me in a corner eating a burger, yeah you know? Um, so, um,
00:23:47
Speaker
thing and Things like that. So, yeah, I mean, there's unhealthy things and then there's healthy things, right? I mean, um yeah i no, I don't think there's, a I mean, God gave you your spouse to be a comfort, you know? yeah um and And even serving, you know, going and serving and being, you know, keep keeping your mind busy on things that are bigger than you sometimes is a, that's a positive thing when you're going through dumb stuff. But yeah. But there again, are you going and serving and not at all –
00:24:19
Speaker
seeking God. They're just going and doing the thing, you know? So, yeah. Okay. No, that's, that's helpful. I like that list. I might have you text me that so I can put it in the description at least for people. Cause I mean, I just forgot like part of the, you know, I think you did say run to God first and I totally forgot that. So I know other people will be like, what was that again? So maybe, maybe send me that in the text and I'll put that in the description so people can go down. I'm putting in the message right now.
00:24:44
Speaker
Okay, perfect. um How do we discern in our life what is worth spending our time on?
Valuable Activities vs. Distractions
00:24:52
Speaker
or what's not and what's just fluff and it's not worth spending our time on. Because some of these things that I listed, um you know like politics, for example, like I think it might be beneficial for some people to be you know yeah up to date on current events. Or even conspiracy theories. like It's fun to like just like, oh, what if Bigfoot is real? Whatever. you know It's fun. And it's not like a waste of time you know per se because it's like it's you know it's fun for you and it's whatever.
00:25:15
Speaker
At what point do you start to tip over the edge and you need to go, Hey, I'm, I'm spending things that I'm spending my time on things that are not important that are starting to cause me an issue versus, you know, I i need to focus on things that are more important for me. And yeah this is, this is like, this is like a bad thing to focus on. Does that make sense?
00:25:34
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely does. You know, and I, I might've talked about this on here and if I have, sorry, from retelling, but I, I, um, I used to teach on teen to teens about their entertainment choices and how they focus their entertainment. and One of the scriptures I use is Philippians 4.8, which says, think on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.
00:26:00
Speaker
And my point on it was, look, you know, we're we live in the world and we're definitely going to fill our heads with some stuff of the world.
00:26:13
Speaker
But scripture does call us to focus on things that are God honoring God, uh, you know, that, that are actually going to lift us up, encourage us, encourage others, that kind of thing. And, you know, so like I, I made the decision when I was young, I, I was way, way, everyone knows I'm a, you know, eighties metal guy. at Um,
00:26:37
Speaker
And I was way, way into it um to a point where I made the decision to I was one of those guys who I literally got rid of all my music. I mean, hundreds of records. I threw a dumpster and it wasn't because of a pastor. It wasn't some youth group I was involved in. I was in college at the time. um It was just out of a conviction that i had, I dug so much into it, you know, that it had become destructive for me and it had become an idol and it become, um, not a positive thing for my life. And, you know, it wasn't leading me closer to Jesus. If anything, it was battling my desire to be closer to Jesus. And so I made a, I had the conviction to to get rid of it. Now I still listen to that music sometimes now, but I do it in a much, I do it in a different way. And I use that as the example to just go, look,
00:27:31
Speaker
You know, some people want to know sports stats, you know, and for some reason, they just love to know sports stats and they, you know, yeah and I don't think there's anything wrong with digging into sports stats and having some knowledge of that. But, but if it becomes a compulsive, obsessive thing for you and it's, it's taking, you can tell it's becoming, you, you know more about that and you're focused more on that than you are.
00:27:57
Speaker
God's word or, you know, walking with God and that kind thing, then it, and then it probably is something you need to discern that is, is debt obstructive, maybe not even destructive yet, but at least obstructive in your walk with Christ. um You know, but, and then definitely like politics, I would say politics is a big one, especially for even more right-leaning Christians,
00:28:25
Speaker
um They get very focused in it. And now there's positives to that. Like, right, Charlie Kirk is a great example of someone who used politics in a way to meld with his faith, and and it became a platform for him to reach people for Christ. So there's positives. There's ways that that can happen. But if you're not that person, if you're not the person that that's what you're doing with it, if you're just using it as a way, if it if you notice it's just causing you to...
00:28:54
Speaker
instead of love people who disagree with you, it's causing you to hate them. Um, or it's causing you to, um be angry all the time or frustrated, then it's, then it's negative. It's a bad thing. You should, you should not be putting it
Limiting News Consumption
00:29:08
Speaker
in your life. Um, so yeah, I think the discerning for me, it comes down to,
00:29:15
Speaker
is it drawing me closer to what God has for me? Or is at least at the very least becoming obstructive? It might not even be destructive yet, but it's obstructing that walk. Um,
00:29:28
Speaker
You know, where there's other things, you know, like for me, I i pay attention to the news. I spend about 10 minutes in the morning scrolling through like the key things, national and national and international level. And that's it.
00:29:44
Speaker
And yeah, I don't do it. Now, I'm not saying that's the right way, you know, but it that keeps it from being obstructive to me. So I don't know if that helps. I'm just kind of giving. No, it does. Yeah. And that's, that's kind of where i was going with that. Cause I think that there's a lot of things where people will say, oh well it's, I spend a lot of my time here again, you know, going back to this is all about this. This sermon was all about time. I spent a lot of my time here and it's fine. Cause it helps me really get a big picture of what the world is like, or maybe it's philosophy. And like, you know what? Now I know all these, you know, different ways that people have coping mechanisms. I don't know. That's an example, but stuff like that where it's like,
00:30:19
Speaker
I guess you could even say like education for just for education's sake, cause i think that people who really love to learn and love to spend time like absorbing things. Yeah. will justify it to themselves because it's like, well, no, it's good that I know these things. And then they're not even stopping. Like you said, like, I love that you brought up Philippians 4.8. That was a great, that's a great verse for that. They're not even stopping to say like, is this really worth my time? Like I'm spending ah enough time on this. Like I could, I could get a master's degree in whatever that topic is.
00:30:46
Speaker
um And is that wise? Like, is that a good use of your time? So that was good. i like I like that. I think, yeah. And I agree. Paul, I think politics is a big one for most people. I think there's other things too that, know,
00:30:57
Speaker
um, are kind of like fringe things, you know, like not everyone is, you know, and a nerd and a bookworm and just wants to read, you know, whatever, you know, philosophy book or whatever. But I think there are some people that do that. And I think they would justify it as no, it's totally okay. Cause this is, it's worth my time.
00:31:13
Speaker
Because I'm learning something and not even realizing like, what am I learning? And is it really, is this spurring me on towards the Lord or is this just totally a distraction? so Yeah, no, because you're right. I mean, like philosophy is a great example. It can be really good to know some philosophy and and learn philosophy. And, um you know, like there's... You know, our, our my brother-in-law, your, whatever that is, um Ted, you know, he loves philosophy. I mean, and there's times where I know just enough where I'm like interested because I know some, but then he leaves me, you know, and I'm like, dang it. I, and so then I, I wish I did know a little bit more because I could. Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:50
Speaker
conversation longer with him. Um, but I also, at there's times where I'm like, yeah would it too much of it? It also can just kind of confuse your mind away from what I would call God's truth. So, yeah. Right.
00:32:05
Speaker
Yeah. Things that are not Christian, like all these things that I picked are, they're not, they're not Christian. They're like worldly or secular things that maybe it's not wrong to know about politics, but yet to, to dive into it and to that be your entire personality.
00:32:18
Speaker
um I don't know. That's tough. That's tough. I guess there's people that are in political office are Christians and for them that's a little different. If it's your field, like I said, Charlie Kirk, he used it as a tool, as a platform. Or you want to be a politician. I think that's really important to know. Then that's a whole other thing.
00:32:39
Speaker
Yeah, okay. Yeah, no, and I'm such a stickler for this when it comes to politics, but I think it's fine to be up to date on current events. For the average person, to again, this is not like if it's part of your job.
00:32:50
Speaker
i just I think most people know way more about the national news than they do even about like what their local government is doing. And I'm like, you real you for most people, this might be a hot take, but I think for most people, they don't realize...
00:33:03
Speaker
their your Your local government and your your state government is going affect your life way more than way more whatever whatever the president is doing or whatever. you know there is There is some big ripple effects of some of those big decisions. But in general in general, a lot of those things that happen closer to home are going to make a bigger deal on your life. One of my favorite things to do with someone who really loves knowing everything about the news is just asking him why and just continuing to do like, ah like asking him why it matters. Cause a lot of people get bugged at me. I, a lot of people, my age, especially get kind of bugged at me that I don't watch the news more.
00:33:39
Speaker
Um, And they'll be like, well, why why don't you watch it more? I'm like, i just, it it doesn't benefit me. It doesn't bless me or encourage me. And like, well, yeah, but then you don't know what's going on. And my favorite thing to do is go, yeah, why does that matter?
00:33:51
Speaker
And then they'll say something and I go, and why does that matter? And then they'll talk about Well, because i then you don't know that even that this is going on in the war. but And why does that matter? And you know my point is just to kind of go like, how is that actually affecting you? And how can you affect it? like But you're right. Like on a local level, there are things you can affect. you know yeah It's staggering to see.
00:34:13
Speaker
um I actually just saw a whole thing on – this is off topic, but ben this is just interesting to me. um it was a Christian panel and a guy was talking about local politics and how Christians need to be more focused on local politics than national politics. And his whole point was he talked about a school board in Texas um that was the first school board to open up all this transgender like stuff within schools. um
00:34:45
Speaker
And, and he said, when you look at the vote, no more than 1,200 people were voted. It was 1,200 votes. ah It was the most amount of votes that even got turned in for any one of these people. And it was like in Houston. and And his point was, there are 20 churches in Houston that...
00:35:06
Speaker
could easily have just outvoted, could have voted the right person in if they just shown up to vote. Instead, now they're dealing with this huge thing on a local level because Christians did not show up to vote at these local, at these local things. Yeah, no, I'm,
00:35:24
Speaker
The local stuff matters. The local stuff and then his point was, he's like, and in these local things, what happens is more and more it starts taking over, and then it becomes national. So anyway, I just thought it was really interesting because I'm honestly, I'm guilty of being like, oh, who cares? It's just this, or who cares? it's just that, you know?
00:35:40
Speaker
so Yeah. No, and yeah and and I know that's a hot take. Some people might fight me on that and say, no, the national stuff matters more. and i can I'll hear you there, and I'll just i'll try to lick listen, but I really do think people...
00:35:52
Speaker
the human brain is I don't think humans are meant to carry the weight of all these major political and major, like, you know, all this philosophy, all this conspiracy stuff, all these like extra biblical, like knowledge, like you could really overload your, your head with stuff to the point where you almost like get like an anxiety attack because you're like, I just know so much. And I'm aware of so much and how terrible the world is and how terrible, like the things that sin has done in the world. And I'm like, man, if you're,
00:36:18
Speaker
like we were not meant to hold that. Like if you're looking at history, most people weren't that aware of all these things going back for the last, you know, a couple hundred years. And I don't think it's any coincidence that we have a lot more anxiety, a lot more depression, a lot more struggles with just like reality that we've like now than we've ever had before, because we have all this information of everything. And if you want, you know, we live in the age where you can get educated on what, whatever you want and you can, there's an endless supply if you, if that's your thing. So anyways, well, good. That was helpful about discerning, especially, um, especially that verse. Um,
00:36:56
Speaker
next Next two questions, then then then I'm done. um This next question is one that Hannah and I had kind of discussed together.
Prioritizing Faith and Life Balance
00:37:02
Speaker
What is the proper balance of life, in your opinion, in terms of where you spend your time? Like if you were to make a pie chart, and in that pie chart you have work, family, faith, hobbies, service, sleep, you know, whatever. What what do you think life should look like?
00:37:17
Speaker
And is there any biblical evidence for... you know, any of this, I did, I'm asking your opinion, but maybe you can use some, you know, some verses or just like some biblical insight of just why you're saying, you know, whatever it is. What do you think is a breakdown? What's a, what's a healthy breakdown?
00:37:32
Speaker
Yeah, that's that been a lot lot of open discussion on this, but I will say, i think yeah, sorry. There's, there's definitely, um, I think most people would agree, I guess that I'll just say it this way. Most people would agree that there are some keys, right. Um, and, uh,
00:37:50
Speaker
I think, you know, when you look at scripture, there's definitely nothing that's going to be like this. This is your order of of how you should do these things. um I just look at, you know, like Jesus says in Matthew six, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All these things will be added to you. So it's the idea of seeking.
00:38:12
Speaker
Seeking God above all things, but also to have God in all things um that, you know, I think a lot of people will draw like a pie chart and kind of be like, and to put God in the pie chart, right? Or faith in the pie chart. And I'm like, no, God is the pie.
00:38:28
Speaker
you know, yeah he's the whole pie. And then God calls you to different areas of life. And so then that's when you prioritize now, you know, family, work, um community, church, which also could kind of, you know, maybe fit in how you handle community here and, you know, hobbies, friends, that kind thing. And yeah You know, and I would say probably kind of the order I mentioned, I think family is first, you know, um and and, you know, there's stages in life and times and weeks and everything where you can't give as many hours your family as you have to to work, you know. yeah um you know You know, you have a job where i think, you know, a lot like and any other ministry job where, you know, i mean, I have weeks and at times where and don't see my family for the week and then I've had –
00:39:23
Speaker
yeah Especially when I was doing youth ministry and stuff. And then now we're, you know, I might have one week where I like, I barely see Angie except for maybe one evening a week, because by the time I get home, she's in bed and then, you know, whatever. So, um,
00:39:39
Speaker
There's times like that, but then, but the, but it's still my first priority. And so I always make sure like, okay, if I've had two weeks like that, man, I gotta, I gotta pull back and find time for my family. I gotta make, I gotta make that the priority. Um,
00:39:54
Speaker
So family, I would say. um And then, you know, obviously we got to spend a lot of time at work. I mean, I'm i'm a big believer in, ah you know, I think the 40 hour work week should kind of be the standard, you know, maybe, maybe 50. And if you're not, you know, I mean, obviously if you can do less awesome, but I think especially for certain years of your life,
00:40:22
Speaker
you should be finding something productive to do if you're not necessarily working a job. um But, you know, that I'm sure a lot of people could argue with me on that, you know, um but something productive that's benefiting society and others, your family, that kind of stuff. Right. And then I, for me, I would put my third priority is my, my,
00:40:44
Speaker
my church family and community, you know, and, and, you know, i would say my church, I would say church to me would be the number one place of that, but then we should also have some other places we have community. I think, you know, I think that's a good, good thing. Good idea. Whether it be some work community or a club community or sport community, that, that kind of thing. I think even as Christians were called to have some relationships that, know,
00:41:09
Speaker
that we can affect, um you know, um and then obviously rest and sleep. um Yeah. And, and maybe some personal time hobbies. Yeah. No, I like that. I like that. but It's such a hard, note it's such a hard question. No, I, yeah I know. I don't think you can give a percentage. I think, you know, to me, i guess for me, I would say work, family, and church somewhere in there should probably make up not counting your sleep hours, you know, should probably make up about 85% of your, your waking hours between those three, you know, and then the rest.
00:41:48
Speaker
Yeah. No, that makes sense. Yeah. I don't think there's a one size fits all to all these things, but no, I agree with you. um and i And again, like like this is a hard question because it's such a... I mean, there's biblical... like like any You pointed out things like that. There's biblical wisdom. It's just it's hard because when you attach a firm number to something and you say, well, no, you need seven hours of sleep and any more is bad or any less is bad. And then it's like, okay, what what happens if I didn't do that or if I can't do that because of my situation? And then all of a sudden, you're into... you know There's just a thousand different answers. i like how you yeah like how you said I like how you said it, though, with the whole pie chart. Like,
00:42:25
Speaker
God is the pie chart. Faith is not something you squeeze in when you can. Like your your relationship with God is everything and everything kind of stems from that. So, yeah, no, that was good. um I don't have a whole lot to add to that, honestly. And the next one, I'll talk more about this one because it kind of flows. that Anything that I would say about this kind of flows into this next question, oh um which is awesome.
Importance of Sabbath and Rest
00:42:46
Speaker
One that me and Hannah talked about. What are your thoughts on margin and Sabbath? Not margarine, by the way.
00:42:51
Speaker
um Everyone should hate margarine. Everyone should hate margarine. What is the goal for a believer when it comes to managing your time? How do we avoid filling our lives up so full that there's no space for anything that might come up?
00:43:05
Speaker
Man, that's that's a great question. um You know, i we need margins. um I'm sure, well, maybe not everyone. I know you've probably heard this, but a lot of people don't know why there's margins in a book.
00:43:19
Speaker
um But the reason there's margins in a book is because without the margins, you would lose your space. You'd lose where you are. It's hard. You need margins to have context of where you are in the book.
00:43:30
Speaker
Interesting. And so it fits for life as well. You need margins in your life so that it doesn't all just blend into each other and then you lose track of what in the world's going on.
00:43:42
Speaker
Yeah. And God created the Sabbath for that that purpose as well. And one thing I love about that is, you know, Jesus said, got this Sabbath is for man man, not man for the Sabbath. And so it's, I don't believe God calls us to some rigidity rigidity ah in the Sabbath, but I believe he still calls us to the Sabbath. um Like my Sabbath is not, you know, i work Sunday morning. I mean, right. I'm at church, but I'm,
00:44:16
Speaker
i'm I'm more tired on when I go home on Sunday than I am any day because you know an hour and 45 minutes of public speaking or you know two hours of public speaking is is a lot. you know it's like Yeah, it's more now with three servers. It's like two two hours and 10 minutes, 20 minutes. So it's a lot. And then plus, I'm just i'm on, right? I'm like... I'm yeah looking for people. I'm praying for people. I'm, you know, so, so my Sabbath isn't Sunday, but I still take a Sabbath. My, so my Sabbath generally, what I try to do is go home Sunday from about one 30, um,
00:44:52
Speaker
till then now by on monday till about 11 so it's almost full day and i i try to rest you know whether it be spending you know like i'll take a nap sometimes but then i spend time with you guys and the kid the grandkids and do i do things i enjoy that encourage me um now with that sometimes i'll mow the lawn but guess what i love mowing my lawn Yeah. Like, like I have a tractor mower. It's, it's relaxing for me. I'm not stressed about I don't do any of my projects that stress me out. Um,
00:45:27
Speaker
You know, I take time to rest and I think God calls us to take time to rest. So, so definitely the, you know, I believe in the Sabbath. I think we should look at for ways to have it. It might not be a full 24 hours, that kind of thing, but you should find some way that you're managing, you know, and I, it's funny because I i told Sid, you can't manage your time. So some way that you're spending your time,
00:45:52
Speaker
to rest. Um, and how, you know, you asked the question, how do we avoid filling our lives up so that there's no space for anything that may come up? Um, that's a discipline.
00:46:03
Speaker
I really do believe for a lot of people, there are some people that they, they are masters at protecting their calendars, you know, and they hardly do anything extra, but if you're a busy person, yeah,
00:46:17
Speaker
It's I believe it's a discipline. um Like for me, every week i write I sit down and I fill my calendar up. And when even going ahead, like I work out ahead where Tanya and I know, hey, we have two evenings a week.
00:46:34
Speaker
We're for sure we don't have meetings. we don't We don't plan anything except for if we want to, like maybe if we want to invite a couple out to dinner or something, but that's because we want to do it. It's not a meeting. It's not work. It's not ministry. it's It's that. We have two evenings a week, and then we plan one day off.
00:46:57
Speaker
you know, um, and make sure we have a day on, like on my day off, I try to make sure at least five hours I'm doing something. I, that's fun for me and enjoyable for me to do.
00:47:10
Speaker
Um, that's going to replenish me, you know? And yeah. So, and that's, and then we have, I have my Sunday afternoon. So. No, that's good. Yeah. I was just thinking about this as you were talking, because you mentioned people get into those competitions of like the the busy the busy competitions, the busy Olympics. We were like, oh, well, I've been this busy. You're like, oh, really? I've been. And it's interesting because I don't know why we do that, but it's, you know, I think we turn everything into a competition, honestly. Yeah.
00:47:38
Speaker
I mean, some people do at least, but I don't know why. Cause like you said, like it shouldn't be something that you like are excited about. i guess people want to be productive and want their lives to mean something. So they, yeah. Bizziness with whatever, you know, product productivity value.
00:47:55
Speaker
But I'm like, man, it, it's, it's really tough. And I think this, this one, especially like the last part of that question, um, think about all the times where you, you know, and in your life, if you're listening, where you,
00:48:09
Speaker
maybe you felt a prompt the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or maybe you were feeling a little bit of conviction on something like, hey I need to spend more time with my kids or with my wife, or maybe invite this couple that's struggling over to our house for dinner or go talk to that person.
Scheduling for Spontaneity
00:48:25
Speaker
How many times have you been like, you know what? I need to get to that next thing. I need to do this. I can't. like Even if I wanted to, like I have enough obligation in my life. I just can't. and I'm like, I think a lot of times,
00:48:38
Speaker
our lives are so busy that we need to look at taking things out. And seriously, it's like scheduling time of like, I don't have anything scheduled for that time. Like I can just... I can just go find something to do. And if, yeah, sure. Like I'm not saying that that means you to sit on the couch and stare into oblivion during that time. But what if we took, what, like, what if we took time in our lives to say, Hey, you know what?
00:49:01
Speaker
I'm going to leave this open and we'll see if anything comes up during the weekend. And if it does, then I can address it. And then like, how much more mindful would you be of relationships that you maybe you're lacking in?
00:49:11
Speaker
And then you call that friend up and say, Hey man, I haven't talked to you and months. Would you like to go grab grab dinner or whatever during that so during that time? And it allows you to do that. So I'm just, it got me, got me thinking of like, man, I I'm so guilty of this. I'll be like, man, I wish I could do more of whatever it is. ah take Hannah out on more dates or pour into more people or, you know,
00:49:31
Speaker
whatever it is. And I, i'm like, I just can't. Cause I, I seriously can't like, cause I have this thing going on that night and I have this thing going on that night and I have this thing going on during this time of the day. And it's like, I wish I was better at saying no.
00:49:44
Speaker
um so that I could say yes to better things. Um, say no to less, less good things. Yeah. Say no, no is a discipline as well. Yeah. Um, I will say this for me, the whole, like, oh I'm going have some time that,
00:49:57
Speaker
Maybe, you know, i'm just going to leave that available. That does, i it has not worked for me. So what I do when I plan out, when I'm taking time to plan out my week at the beginning of the week, one thing I do is write down those things, those things you're talking about. Like I try to take like 10 minutes and think about like, man, who do I know that God's put on my heart to encourage? Or, you know, who do I know that I haven't spent time with that? I'm like, man, I wish. And so then what I will do is try to schedule like, okay,
00:50:29
Speaker
I'm going schedule calling that person and setting a time, you know, and or I'm going schedule 15 minutes or, you know, to to just send some texts to people that I just care about and want to encourage or to call. I'm going to make two phone calls to people. So for me, I do kind of have to schedule it, but I do then also have to sit quietly kind of have to sit in a moment of peace and and let God like kind of reveal to me
00:51:05
Speaker
these people that I need to reach out to
Saying No to Less Important Commitments
00:51:07
Speaker
or things that, you know, I, I, I ways I can minister to people or, or, or just, you know, like said, family members that I feel like, man, I, I haven't really poured into that person at all in a few weeks or, you know, well, I would say that's you taking margin. um You're just doing it a little bit more proactively. You're still finding time within your day to be able to,
00:51:31
Speaker
like deal with the extras, deal with the that the special stuff. um Yeah, no, I think that's good. i I know my boss, he's talked about this, but like he he read a book. i can't remember what book it was or... um He read something and it was basically like, it really rocked him because he realized like he had just been pushing himself to the limit for so long and never like taking a break or letting himself not have a single moment that it, it was just really unhealthy for him. And he realized like, man, I, I'm even if something, even if I wanted to, I couldn't but and with anything that would come up. Like there's just no way, like even if I wanted to, and like someone said, Hey, I, my,
00:52:06
Speaker
you know, I really could just use someone to to talk to. And this is just like an example because he's not, he wouldn't say that necessarily, but like but like that, like something that happened and something came up in his life. He just wouldn't even have the ability to move things around and to to do that because, you know, everything was just so busy and there was always like a need to be at work or a need to do this or a need to do that.
00:52:24
Speaker
And i I definitely resonate with that. So that's where I was just, that's where this question kind of came from. it was like, how do how do you, How do you do that? How do you get space in your life? We are not just filling it, filling it, filling it up. Yeah.
00:52:37
Speaker
especially in a culture that is just celebrating it when you fill it up your schedule, like a, like a booked schedule. Everyone's like, Oh, that's awesome. You really know how to manage your time and not really realizing that sometimes it is managing you to at a certain degree. Like you have no say in some of that stuff. Um, cause you've said yes, you've said yes to so many things.
00:52:53
Speaker
So, yeah, that that's so true. And I'll tell you, that's something like as our church has been growing, that's something I continually have to kind of reevaluate. Um, you know, cause I used to just,
00:53:05
Speaker
Anytime someone said, can we meet? I was always like, yeah, let's, let's figure it out. And then yeah let's do it, you know? and And then I just noticed like, like even to a point where our staff was like, dude, Shane, you just literally go from one appointment to the next appointment to the next appointment to the next appointment. And that like, how do you get anything done? And I wasn't, I'd have to get, I'd have to find other times to get things done. And so, you know, I constantly, so yeah I just say that to say that,
00:53:31
Speaker
You know, even sometimes when you get a system, sometimes you got to sit back and reevaluate. Okay, God, this isn't, this isn't working anymore. Yeah. And come up with something new and then you got to do things to protect your sin. And that's, that can be hard. Like i I'll just, you know, that's hard for me. It's really hard for me to tell someone that wants to meet with me that I can't.
00:53:54
Speaker
You know? Yeah. So yeah, no, yeah, no, than the that is, that is tough. Sometimes you gotta do the those hard things if you're going to last for the long haul for whatever you're doing. So yeah, that's good. But yeah, no, just encouragement for you guys to be able to learn how to say no. Um, not, not obviously the the things that you have to say yes to, you but when you say no worse to bad things, it leaves you the opportunity to say yes to better things. Yep.
00:54:20
Speaker
Anyways, awesome. All right, that's that's it for the episode. And then sorry that again, that it's, the episode's in the middle is a little chopped up just because we had some issues with recording, but hopefully you guys don't have to notice that too much.
00:54:33
Speaker
Anyways, I think that's it. Anything else you want to add at the end? now um next this coming sunday though we're talking this is our last sort of our last sunday in the series um we're talking it's wisdom in our finances and uh so kind of ah a big one this this will be you know i'm sure we'll have a couple people leave the church when we're done with this one people don't like it when pastors talk about money. um finances Even though the Bible talks about over and over and over again. and then um ah But then after that, going to be kind of cool for our family Sunday. Pastor Tony is going to be preaching on, um and he's going to kind of be wrapping it up and kind of butm talking about how true godly wisdom isn't something you can just go out and like, okay, I'm just going to do these things. You've you've got to let God move in it.
00:55:22
Speaker
So Should be good. That's exciting. Cool. Awesome. We appreciate you guys. Thanks for listening. Thanks for making it to the end. If you made it all the way here, we will see you guys next week. And you again, I apologize about this previous week of just losing that recording. And with all the the baby chaos, it's been hard. So we'll talk to you guys week. She's adorable though.
00:55:42
Speaker
Yeah, she is. She's great. All right. Thanks guys. We'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.