Unhinged Christian
Welcome to Unhinged Christian Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories and perspectives that challenge conventional religious thought. Join me, Caleb Parker, your host and fellow seeker, as we embark on a journey to explore spirituality, faith, and humanity from a refreshingly open-minded perspective.
In each episode, I sit down with guests from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. From artists to activists, scientists to philosophers, we engage in candid conversations that transcend the boundaries of traditional Christian discourse. Together, we unravel the complexities of belief, doubt, and the human experience in the context of modern society.
Whether you identify as a devout believer, a skeptic, or something in between, Unhinged Christian offers a space for exploration and discovery. No topic is off-limits as we challenge assumptions, confront taboos, and embrace the richness of our shared humanity.
Join us as we navigate the intersections of faith, doubt, and everything in between. Tune in to Unhinged Christian and open your mind to a new dimension of spiritual inquiry.
Unhinged Christian
015: The Emotional Landscape of Contemporary Christianity. With Stefan Hansen
This conversation takes a turn into the realm of spirituality, where Christianity meets its societal perceptions and misconceptions. It's not every day that we get to hear a candid discussion about why Christianity might be met with resistance, while beliefs like witchcraft and tarot are often approached with intrigue. Stefan opens up about the challenges and emotional toll that differing spiritual paths can have on family dynamics, revealing a personal and powerful narrative on division and the potential for reconciliation.
Navigating the waters of modern faith, we also dissect the evolving face of the American church, separating the wheat from the chaff when it comes to genuine spiritual guidance versus the allure of megachurch prosperity. What does it mean to stand firm in one's convictions, and how does this resolve play out in the broader fabric of our relationships? In a world craving authentic connection, Stefan and I reflect on the transformative power of constructive criticism and honest conversations, both within the church community and our personal lives. Join us for an episode that promises to both challenge and inspire your own journey through faith, identity, and the roads we choose to travel.
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Ew, yeah, I heard, that, can you hear. Yeah, I can hear. Are those the?
Speaker 2:headphones yeah, is it too loud? Is it good? No, it's pretty much perfect, good, okay, welcome back everybody to the podcast. The guest this week is Stephan Hansen. What's up y'all? Why don't you give everybody a little bit about what you do and then, yeah, we'll get started.
Speaker 1:Well, as you can see, I'm on a podcast, so pretty much just hanging out and getting ready for riding season, got a bike last year and enjoying living the two-wheel therapy life, as we bikers call it, and I'm cool like that now but dude, you are cool.
Speaker 2:I can't believe you're actually on my podcast I can't believe we got you.
Speaker 1:I'm honored Yep.
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, You've gone out riding a couple times this year already, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, a couple times we went down Chicago Drive a little bit, and then right now we're planning on Cedar Springs and then Muskegon later this year for Rebel Road. Oh yeah, that one's a fun one because there's a bunch of bikers there and they all show off their bikes with whatever kind of decals they have or souped up stuff they got are they nice bikers or are they going to beat me up?
Speaker 1:no, I mean the ones that aren't drunk are going to be, you know, nice, but I mean other than that they're. They're pretty nice though, but bikers have that stereotype where they're like, yeah, we're tough, like we eat nails for breakfast without any milk, but no, they are nice. Like I was chill last year and I was a new biker too I showed off the Honda Shadow. People really liked it and had a good time. It was nice.
Speaker 2:I didn't drink at all, so I'm just not a drinker you better not, if you're gonna be on this christian podcast, other than arizona tea that's about the only drink out green green tea.
Speaker 1:They made a new, uh, rocket pop, one rocket pop, yeah, like you remember the, like the american flag, one red, topper, white in the middle and blue at the bottom. The rocket pops. You remember those popsicles? Oh, yes, I do yeah they, they make it, they make it, they're making a flavor and it's out at 7-elevens right now for sale and I'm like I kind of want to try it. Is it in arizona?
Speaker 2:yeah, it's arizona, and it's a drink, yeah, drink yeah, it's a liquid drink.
Speaker 1:It's called chill pop. It's I've tried those drinks have been really good lately. Like I know we're going way off. This is the last thing I'll mention. But yeah, no, it's really good. Like I've tried the prime drink of it. It's really good. There's like a ghost I think it's called ghostly or something. It's like an energy drink. I tried that once when I was like opening my store, like last year, and it was like this is good. Like I like the rocket pop stuff it's.
Speaker 2:It's got good flavoring to it and now they're making one that's red, white and blue no, no, they've been red, white and blue, it's just the flavor of it.
Speaker 1:So it's like all three flavors combined into one and they're making them into drinks. So arizona got on the bandwagon with it, and now they have like their own chill pop. So I'm like, oh, and the closest 7-eleven is zealand and I don't know how it's 20 minutes away from like, but I'm not gonna drive there for one yes, you are.
Speaker 2:You're gonna do it. You're gonna like it probably will. Yeah, you can take i-96. It's a nice drive to zealand. Oh yeah, but you were talking earlier about how a youtuber that you know I forgot his name there's a. Well, I mean it's, it's really a trend, not a trend, but it's something that happens.
Speaker 1:But we'll start with him as to why yeah, I, I forget his name, but I used to watch him on Twitch and YouTube, yeah, and he would just basically be playing random games whether it's horror or Fortnite, call of Duty, whatever and he was really good. I liked his content and he brought a lot to the community and people were starting to follow him more. He had like over 2,000 followers or something. But then what happened later on is that he put on his bio that he was a christian like vtuber, content creator, whatever, yeah, and then he announced it on stream and then he like lost a bunch of followers because of that and, and you know it was because of that yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1:What other explanation would there be? Because I was a regular follower and I still check up, but he doesn't upload as much anymore because of all the following he lost just from announcing that he was Christian.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so why do you?
Speaker 1:think that that happened. I think it's just the fact that, if I'm honest with you, I think people just hate Christianity in its own way. I really do In today's world. I'm being honest.
Speaker 2:No, I know, I know.
Speaker 1:But yeah, it's one of those things where people just look at you based on your not only just your physical look, but they also will judge you on your faith too. Yeah, I guarantee you, if he were to say he's Buddhist or he's bi or something like that, people would be fine with that. But the minute you mention Christianity on anything, people would be fine with that. But the minute you mention Christianity on anything, whether it's a TV show, whether it's a video game, whatever it's over pretty much. I've noticed that too.
Speaker 1:Atheists don't know if he got fired from Nickelodeon or if he just left, but either way, he was obviously the creator of Fairly Oddparents and he went his own route. So he actually has a show. It's Christian based, it's like a kid's show and it's like Lionel and something and it's the Garden is what the show is called, the garden and the adventures of lionel and whoever, and it's all like christian based with scripture and whatever, and it actually looks good. It's in the same style as fairly odd parents. Yeah, but I go on his tiktok and youtube that he has it on. He does not have a lot of following on it and I'm like this is the dude that made fairly odd parents and made people's childhood before Fairly Oddparents became crap.
Speaker 2:If you were allowed to watch that show when I was growing up, I had to sneak it because my parents wouldn't let me watch it, because there was magic?
Speaker 1:Yeah, my dad was, when he was very strict with us. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy was banned from the house because there was a skeleton.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, that was in my family too.
Speaker 1:That show was good too, but yeah, I felt bad Cause I'm like I follow Butch Hartman and he's a good dude, he's a great artist.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Does he do more art than just cartoons.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he does more art and stuff like that too. He'll do fan requests of hey, draw peter griffin in the style of fairly odd parents, or danny phantom, and he'll do his own thing and it's. It's really good, like I've seen him he does step by step on how to do it too, if you want to draw it kind of thing, and it's really cool. And then the fact that again now he's going to do his own thing, like creating another show, and people are I mean people like it.
Speaker 1:It's not like people don't like it yeah right, but it's not as a big following compared to fairly odd parents because I, so you think that he too lost a lot of following because of his christian faith yeah, because, because I've seen it, the before and after, because before, when he was just doing fairly odd parents, danny phantom, tough puppy, all the shows that he worked on in nickelodeon, like the different art styles, are talking about. Here's something you didn't know about tough puppy. He would just right then and there just be like all over it. There'd be millions of likes, views, whatever. And then you go to where he announced the video that he announced that he was starting his own new studio of a christian-based cartoon for kids yeah nothing, hardly anything.
Speaker 1:and then, after that announcement, people just stopped watching and there's not as many views, there's not as much traction, and then even on the actual channel for the cartoon, there's not enough action, there's nothing. And so it's like, yeah, in my aspect of things though if that were me, I'd still be proud of what I created, proud of my past, like that where he created childhood memories but then also focusing on the future it's like, yeah, it doesn't have a lot of likes, but this is something I made. I'm proud of.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Regardless of people think like oh, because it's Christian, now this is just dumb Versus, oh, fairly odd parents. Yeah, I'm into that. It's ever since he announced that he was going towards more of the Christian root of things. Now he doesn't have a following as much and it's not as strong and he's losing people. He's gaining but he's losing. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So that's where the aspect of how I think in today's world that Christianity is impactful and it may not necessarily be all negative, but it's also in a positive way too. It's just the world I think. They think Christianity is just like the worst thing on the planet.
Speaker 2:But why do you think that they think Christianity, out of all religions, is the one that they hate?
Speaker 1:That's the thing is because some people with other beliefs that they have is Christianity is wrong. Obviously, my faith is the superior, truthful version compared to Christianity. Jesus was some guy walking around in the desert and created wine and water. Yeah right, that's what they think. But then it comes to like you like. For what is it the Arabic's believe in? Like Muhammad or something?
Speaker 2:Well, it's technically be Muslim.
Speaker 1:Muslim.
Speaker 2:Most, I mean Muslim is. The majority of them are Arab, but not all Arabs are Muslim.
Speaker 1:Okay, I just wasn't sure on the whole terminology thing, so I but yes, they believe in Muhammad. Yeah. So it's like they, they. I think they just said, yeah, jesus existed, but he wasn't the guy that everybody thinks he was and everybody again has. They're entitled to their own beliefs. But it's also, at the same time, like they're also wrong?
Speaker 1:yeah, they are but it's in that aspect of two. Okay, we're not sitting there crapping on your faith. We're not sitting there making fun of your stuff Because, if you remember South Park, way back in the day, they released a cartoon image of Muhammad, of what their version was, or something, and they got death threats.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know, I remember that.
Speaker 1:Christians sit in there. When they make fun of Jesus on any show, whether it's Family Guy or South Park or American Dad, we don't sit there and have death threats out to them. It's still wrong for them to make fun of Jesus and everything Christian-related. But but again, you don't see us acting out on it like that.
Speaker 2:I find it funny too that Muslims and a lot of other religions really don't like homosexuals. Yeah, and in Christianity it is also a sin to be a homosexual, but I wouldn't say we go as far as to hate them like that. And a lot of people voted this woman in who was Muslim and I don't in America. I don't know if it was, if she was a Senator, congress, or who it was, but as soon as she got into office.
Speaker 2:She banned the pride flag, yeah. And it's like why you still hate Christians, even though she did that, right? She's going against all of your ideologies and beliefs and you're not going to say anything about Muslims. You're still going to hate Christianity, right? It makes no sense.
Speaker 1:No, it doesn't at all and I don't know why that's. To be honest with you, I don't know why that is not looked at more with the fact that she's still hating christianity because they're making a bigger deal about the pride, the pride flag and stuff like that, versus another issue that's ongoing. It's like how the government right now is like we're sending billions of dollars to ukraine to fight this war and whatever, but you know it's we're we're focusing on banning tiktok right now. Yeah, that's a big problem in America, absolutely. You know, homeless veterans yeah, screw them, apparently. Yeah, that's basically the premise is like why are you putting? You're focusing on one thing that you know is going to get attention more than another thing. That's also a same problem, right, yeah, I really I heard about that and I was kind of like oh okay, that's a bold move you're doing right there. But again, with the whole Christianity thing, it's like really, why do you have to be still hating?
Speaker 2:I know in the Bible Jesus says that we are going to be persecuted and hated for loving him, but he never says why.
Speaker 1:So I wonder if there is a psychological reason as to why people hate christians, specifically christians yeah, I'll say this I'm I won't say their name out of respect, but it's somebody I know where they were talking to me in like kind of an in-depth conversation, like we were just having a chat like at 2, 3 am, yeah, and we were sitting there talking about different faiths and whatnot and how, um they, they were trying to convince like magic is real and all this other stuff. It's just like how other people may convince like you know, buddhism or whatever, however you pronounce it, buddhism yeah, it's like this is the truth, this is what actually happened versus this, and it's like you can go back and forth on it.
Speaker 1:Okay, and they didn't want to hear anything about Christianity, and so it was like okay, so you wanted me to hear a whole spiel about how chicken bones will tell me the future and how I'm going to win the lotto by the way that they're angled on a table, versus hearing about this guy who could heal people, and he just you know, he wants a following because he is the messiah, he's lord and savior yeah he does good.
Speaker 1:He's not sitting there purposely around going neighbor to neighbor and be like oh, you're not christian banned, like just he's not like that, he's a good dude well, he in a way, in a way yeah, because if you die and deny him, he's not letting you in.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, if you deny him, that's the thing, that's your choice at that point. Yeah, so it's not saying how this guy was also saying too. It's like so you believe, if you don't believe in Jesus, like if people aren't familiar with Christianity, that they're automatically doomed to go to hell, and it's like no, that's not like that at all. It's like what you're saying is if you deny him, yeah, then that's where you're going, unfortunately. But if you accept him later, it's like with toddlers. It says, after a certain age, you know, if you're an infant and something bad happens, unfortunately, like a passing away, you think that baby, just because he didn't know Jesus, is going to go right to hell. No, right, that's not going to be the case.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think if they've had the opportunity to hear and understand the gospel and they deny it at that point, then I would say they'd go to hell, right, that point. Then I would say they'd go to hell, right. But yeah, toddler isn't gonna know, doesn't really have consciousness, doesn't think for him or herself at that point, yeah, doesn't understand anything. So, no, I don't think a baby's going to hell.
Speaker 1:No, and that's the whole thing is like why again, do you not want to listen to? Like, if you want me to listen to you, then my expectation is you got to listen to me. Then too. Yeah, if I'm sitting here talking about the Bible and you're sitting there over there yawning, or on your phone texting blah, blah, blah, then okay, then my time is being wasted. But then if I did the same thing where you're talking about your chicken bones, then Question Did they ever win the lottery?
Speaker 2:No, bones.
Speaker 1:Then Question Did they ever win the lottery? No, that's the dumb part about the whole thing too, is it's just like, okay, you want me to believe, like, if I look at a chicken bone from KFC and I turn it east, I'm going to just win $10,000 and it's going to be in my bank account tomorrow. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, it was that simple.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's. The other thing, too is yeah, christianity may be like. To some people it may be confusing or misleading on certain things.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But it's like you obviously see the good things happening to you if you follow in the path of Christ. Versus, again, chicken bone situation.
Speaker 2:Because again, if magic were real, everybody's problems would be settled, everyone's situation because, again, if magic were real, everybody's problems would be settled, everyone's well. I think witchcraft can be real in some instances. Just god tells us to stay away from it.
Speaker 1:Because it is evil. Oh yeah, it's a hundred percent.
Speaker 2:And I don't know about the chicken bones thing. I don't think that would work with the lottery, but I think in some ways people can actually use witchcraft for certain things yeah, I just.
Speaker 1:To me, the whole thing just is stupid like it really is. Yeah, I'll say this to just be like a little personal. I have a sister named janae and I don't consider her my sister at all because I didn't even know her. She tried to literally hurt me as a child, like yeah, and so she's been basically disowned by everybody, as sad as that sounds. She's into witchcraft and satanic worshiping.
Speaker 2:Oh no.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And so the last time I physically saw her was at my grandma's funeral, like back in 2005. And I got away from her immediately because I didn't know who she was. Because she came over hugging and was like, yeah, I feel bad that grandma passed and I'm like get away from me. I don't want any of that and, plus, I was still a kid when all this happened too.
Speaker 1:But it's like the way that she was trying to communicate with me after years of like basically ignoring because, again, I don't consider her my sister at all ignoring because, again, I don't consider her my sister at all she was like, yeah, you know, if you want to, I can do like a tarot reading or I can do chicken bone stuff and it'll tell you in the path that you want to go, or you know again the lotto or something like that, and it's just like I'm good, I'm good, you know, I'm. The only kind of chicken bone I'm going to hold in my hand is the one at KFC. When I have that chicken leg and I throw it in the trash, I'm not going to sit there and have you shake it in a box and tell me that this direction is this way, this direction is negativity. What sense does that make?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's kind of weird.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's why again, and it's like she hasn't talked to me since because that's all she wanted me to do. And then she'd like she was like shunning about being. She was like shunning about being. She goes. You know, you're Christian, you're following the wrong path, like Lucifer's the way to go and all this other crap. And I'm like, no, that's creepy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's scary when people say that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's why, again, I don't consider her my sister and I don't consider her family at all.
Speaker 2:Well, what if she did get saved at some point?
Speaker 1:If she did good for her, and then at that point, it's not like I'm going to sit there and ignore her at that point. Just because you were satanic and now you claim that you're reformed doesn't mean I'm just going to ignore you now because you did that in the past. That's all about having that new—it's like when you get baptized you're reborn. At that point, so, yeah, if she came back and she was like, yeah, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior when she did all this, this and this and she threw away the witchcraft crap and the satanic crap or whatever she reformed, yeah, then I give her another shot.
Speaker 2:But if she still wants to be down that path, as far as I last knew, of satanic worshiping and witchcraft and blah, blah, blah. You're on your own. What if God has it written in the plan that you're supposed to be the one to preach the gospel to her? I mean?
Speaker 1:that's the thing, right. So he's obviously got a plan for everybody, yeah, and if it be written that I have to go talk to her and teach her scripture, that's what he wrote. I'm going to do it. So that's because he's the only one that knows on how the story begins and how the story ends.
Speaker 2:Well, good for you.
Speaker 1:Yep, it would be challenging. Don't be wrong, I'm not going to sit there and be like okay, but like yeah, no.
Speaker 2:I get it. I get it. Yeah, it's a difficult road. Yeah, but I think the Christian walk in general is just more difficult than because you're always uncomfortable. You always have to do uncomfortable things.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, because it's like some people like I'm fine with announcing, even on my streams. I'm Christian, like you know. Come at me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I might as well start it off early too.
Speaker 1:Right, because if you do it you're just, you don't know what faith he believes in or whatever. And then you just announce it. Then it's like, okay, you just lost everything. Like butch hartman did not saying again, christianity is a popularity based thing, right, but it's like I would rather come out with it first thing and know that I'm not going to have a large following or whatever, than just doing it later on down the road. And then now, all of of a sudden, I'm like man, maybe I shouldn't announce that I'm Christian, but also, if you're Christian, you shouldn't hide it anyway.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly you don't want to be ashamed, right, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. If somebody asked me, like what's your belief? And I'm like, well, I'm Christian, I'm just going to say it. I'm not going to sit there and be like I don't know what you want, you don't. You're sitting at the restaurant, you're looking at the menu, but you don't know what you want. And the waitress has come over several times.
Speaker 2:I usually chalk atheism up to anti-Christian. Yeah, because they don't have a problem with, like I said a few minutes ago, with Buddhism or Islam or anything. They just hate on Christians.
Speaker 1:They would rather believe a spaghetti monster in the sky is, you know, the one that created the Big Bang versus you know Jesus, god, the Holy Trinity, father, son, the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean, yeah.
Speaker 1:They would rather believe that than Christianity.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So that's.
Speaker 2:I think, too, they hate on Christianity because Christians. Well, I think that goes along with why a lot of people hate on Christians is because Christians will always say that Christianity is the only way to get to heaven, whereas there are some other religions that are just like we're the only ones that are right. But most people are just like why don't you just believe your truth and you can get to heaven multiple different ways. You can know God different ways through multiple channels, and it's just weird stuff, whereas Christians are just going to say, no, jesus is the well. Christians don't say that. Jesus himself says he's the only way. He's the light, the way, the truth, the light, the way, the truth. Nobody comes to the Father except through him. Yep, and so I think that's another reason why a lot of people get so mad at Christians is because we are to believe we're the only way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean and don't get me wrong too there are people out there that take advantage of that to a whole nother level. That probably ruins the reputation of Christianity. Joyce Meyers yeah, there's a few other ones that I can think of too, other than Joyce. But Kenneth Copeland yeah, yep, there's him. Yeah, him, yeah, the creepy guy you know, oh yeah, I do not.
Speaker 1:And don't you ever say I did that guy yeah. And then there's people at another church that I used to go to that also do that thing. They literally make it to be where it's.
Speaker 2:But now Are you talking about the one that I played at?
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:With your dad also played at. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that one they, they're a church, that are kind of like that. Yeah, since that one's a little more local, we'll leave them out of the names yes but I see the old head pastor at one of their coffee shops around here meeting at every sunday night. It looks like kind of like a cult.
Speaker 1:It's weird yeah, and that's the part where I'm like okay, yeah, if you're doing anything cult-related, it's just immediately like a red flag to me the old, I think she still leads worship there.
Speaker 2:She asked me why I left, texted me the other day and I said because you guys are going in the same route as other churches, other churches.
Speaker 1:And other churches too. I feel like even nowadays they're not even some churches. I should say I'm sure there are some. Again, it's one of those aspect ratios of there are some that probably actually do preach the word of God in a correct way. They don't care about numbers, they don't care about, they just care about people who they can save. They care about the actual gospel. Yes, versus other churches where I feel like the more churches I have gone to, it's more about money, it's more about views, it's more about smoke machines and you know, they're very worldly yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's almost like a concert, and they do water down the gospel because they just want numbers. That's the American church for the most part.
Speaker 1:And the other thing is too, is they're not touching on topics of today, Like again, like being gay is a sin. You know, obviously, love thy neighbor like you love yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But yeah, being gay is a sin in the Bible and so there's churches that obviously in today's world, if you mention that being gay is wrong or being a drag queen is wrong, whatever that being gay is wrong or being a drag queen is wrong, whatever you're immediately going to get blown up over social media and shunned by all of society and then you can receive death threats or everything like that. But then again I'm sure there are other churches that they will go over that topic, regardless if somebody storms out because they're gay or because they're bi or whatever, regardless if somebody storms out because they're gay or because they're bi or whatever. So that's again one of my aspects on things and that's where, as bad as it sounds, I mean I'm open to going to new churches and stuff like that, giving them a try, but I haven't gone in a minute because of that factor of it just seems every church I've gone to it's not what it used to be at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you've got to go to a small one and they can be intimidating because they're small. They're small and everybody knows each other, but those smaller ones on the outskirts of town are really the only ones that are.
Speaker 1:They're true.
Speaker 2:Preaching the truth for what it is, and they're not afraid to preach about uncomfortable topics yeah, they're not. They're not going to sugarcoat it either yeah, I, because not, I don't think church should be there to always make us feel good yeah, it's gotta, it's gotta make you yeah, make you feel convicted when you leave. Make it so that you want to change. If you're feeling all buttered up and better every time you go to church, that may not be the church for you or for anybody. In that regard, yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean I've had churches in the past where it's like there's been some things that I've done or whatever, and I walk out and I'm like, dang, I really need to focus on fixing that problem. You know what I mean? Yeah, focus on fixing that problem. You know what I mean. As an example, when I was in my not my last relationship, but the one before that there were some things that I needed to work on, and part of it was communication. Like I was good with communication already for some part, but there were other parts of it where it was like I just felt like I was dragging and I knew it deep down.
Speaker 1:But then there was a message at the church that I was going to at the time where they talked about that communication, praying to God about things, or just you know, even if you're in a relationship by talking to that person, and that really hit deep. And so I had to think about it for a while and I mean it's still dragged on for a few days. But then I was able to have better communication at that point. But again, yeah, it's like what you're saying, you don't want to leave there every day all giddy and everything Like, yeah, I'm going to go do this today. No, you've got to feel bad sometimes. That's the other thing too about today is like nobody puts anybody down.
Speaker 2:And if they do, they're immediately shunned. Yeah, you're a jerk Yep, and it's not Because I remember I would volunteer at a church and I volunteered at several, so nobody knows what church I'm talking about. I would volunteer there and I played bass and when I first got there I sucked. I was terrible.
Speaker 1:Better than what I can do on a bass Just nothing.
Speaker 2:Yes, I was better than somebody who's never picked one up, for sure. But I couldn't really keep time I. The fills I did were trash, the melodies I played were trash, everything and nobody told me. They just kept saying, oh, you're sounding good, and so I didn't get better. And then eventually, because I consider myself, I have a brain, I'm a, I consider myself kind of smart, I was. I listened back and was like, okay, I'm really not that good. So then I went and got lessons and I was trying to improve myself. But it's like if I for kids who are growing up in a church, volunteer teams and stuff, if you're not telling them and you don't have to say, hey, man, you straight up suck yep you can tell them hey, you need to work on this a little bit more, you don't do this correctly.
Speaker 2:But they don't do that.
Speaker 1:They just keep saying oh, you're sounding so good, you're doing such a great job the same thing too with my drawings that I do for people, for commissions, like they'll want me to draw, like, okay, let's say it's sonic the hedgehog or whatever. They want me to draw, sonic with their original character. So I draw them like a sketch before I do like the actual outlining and everything to be like, hey, is this good? And I would. I tell them every time they do a commission.
Speaker 1:I said the one rule is let me know if there is anything that you want changed, because yeah, I'm going to be drawing it and doing everything, but even with the finished product once I show you it. If there's anything you want changed or that needs to be done that you don't like, tell me, because I'm not going to sit there and just unless you truly mean it of, yeah, it looks good, you did a great job, like I love it, then I'm not going to know if my art skills need to be improved or maybe I find something new. It's like with you, with your base. If they like, let's say you were like to try something new or they said, hey, try this new, just to give you some feedback, yeah, it could turn out better than what they had.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean yeah, and if they don't have that conversation, I'm just gonna continue being terrible. Yeah, and then every time we go up and play, the music is going to sound real bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then at some point hey, you don't know if God could have it lined up for you even too, where some bigger, I don't know CEO guy of some other church band wants to notice you and he's not going to notice you because you're just playing the same thing, because they're just like oh yeah, you're doing, or he is going to notice you, but it's going to be for the wrong reasons. Right. So it's like that's where constructive criticism at some point comes into play and how it relates to Christianity too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one comfortable or one uncomfortable conversation can go a long way.
Speaker 1:Yup, exactly, and that's the way it should be, I think, for not every conversation, obviously.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But for topics that you know you need to work on that you've been feeling like God will point you in that right direction, if he knows you're struggling with something he's going to let you know yeah.
Speaker 1:Like. This is what the plan is. You're going to get done with it, whether it's a porn addiction or whether it's. You're treating the neighbor like crap, like you're throwing rocks at their windows and breaking them every week and blaming little Timmy across the street for playing baseball. It's one of those things. He's going to point you in the right direction. Whether it's good for you, it's just as simple as you convince yourself to tell the truth and say, hey, I'm really sorry, just having a bad week, whatever blah blah, or if it's bad, if it gets to a point where the cops get called and you get arrested for it.
Speaker 2:Stephanie, is this a story that happened to you? What do you mean? Throwing rocks through people's windows? It's such a random story.
Speaker 1:No, I just say it as an example. No-transcript. Yeah you know, but if you're doing the right thing and you know that you're wanting to work on it, that I'm gonna point you in the right direction and you know, good tidings and everything like that will happen to you and you'll be closer to God at that point and you'll feel a sense of relief after going through that hardship.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Suffering does bring us closer to God. I think, as long as you're going about it in the right way. If you're going through a painful time and you're going towards drugs, alcohol, porn, then that suffering is probably going to amount to nothing.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But if you're in the path of hey, I'm going through a painful time and I'm walking through it through prayer, other godly men or women, yep, I was thinking of a third thing. But basically, if you're following in the path of your Christ, christian walk, then, yes, the suffering can amount to good. Yeah, I was also going to say that if you do have an uncomfortable conversation say they were going to have an uncomfortable conversation with me about how I'm doing something wrong in the band and I leave because I'm so upset.
Speaker 1:It's like I wasn't worth their time anyway yeah, at that point, I mean, same thing would go for work too, if something just wasn't going your way, or their way and they, they're like, hey, you're, you're screwing up here, here's something to do better.
Speaker 2:And I'm like, yeah, and then I walk out and leave and it's just like I wasn't really worth their employment anyway anyway, I was parched, I needed a drink, a little arizona green tea absolutely.
Speaker 1:But yeah, that's where I think on, at least on how today's world is the view ship of being a christian is.
Speaker 1:It's a lot of hardship, but it's also a lot of good that can come out of it too, through that hardship yeah so again with the case going back to butch hartman is, yeah, he did a lot of good for our childhood but he went another direction and, yeah, it may not be as popular as what it used to be like fairly odd parents but now he's doing his own thing. He's enjoying it. I think he probably senses a huge sign of relief too, because I'm probably sure there were restrictions with him of what he could or could not do. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:When he was doing fairly odd parents.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or anything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he probably couldn't put certain things in there that we're going to oh, that's too religious. You can't you can't have that in there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or even too, with like certain directions he go, or just even the sense of like maybe God was telling him at some point again, whether he got fired or whether he quit and he just did his own thing or he retired, whatever. God probably was speaking to him at that point saying, hey, like you've done this long enough and I know deep down inside I have another path for you and I know that you want to do something Christian based. Here's your opportunity. And when he tells you to take that opportunity, you probably should take that opportunity yes, that I mean.
Speaker 2:That's what happened with when we were doing digital fire. Oh, mike's moving sometimes, I'll just hold it. When we were doing digital fire, it was like, yeah, it was fun. For the most part it was, was clean, but it wasn't necessarily Christian.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I just kept having this thought in the back of my mind of you should do a different path than what you're doing with the podcast.
Speaker 1:And now here you are.
Speaker 2:And now here I am, and now not that it was big back, like digital fire wasn't big by any means or popular, but it still wasn't what I really wanted to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and plus. I mean, if you wanted to get into podcasting, that was like a good beginner step.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was because it was easy to read some stories and everybody reacts and laughs and then yeah, now here we are.
Speaker 1:We're talking about, like, the fellowship of being a Christian and what it means to be one, the cost of the cross. The cost of the cross, exactly, which I think it's working out pretty good so far from what I've heard on the Spotify. I don't know why I said the Spotify, the Spotify On Spotify.
Speaker 2:It's on Apple Podcast too. Oh, it is. Yeah, I did not know that. Not on iTunes Apple Podcast. I think is free, but if you already have Spotify, I would just listen to it on there.
Speaker 1:That's what I use. I use Spotify and then I do have access to all the Apple stuff because I'm an iPhone user Huge iPhone, Apple Watch, everything else fancy like that. But yeah, Do you have anything else to say or anything else you want to talk about?
Speaker 2:No, I think that's a good ending to a podcast episode. Cool Sounds good to me, yeah. So everybody thanks for listening and have a blessed week. Bye-bye, bye.