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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome if it's your first time.

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Welcome back if it's not your first time.

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This is The Way UK Podcast.

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My name is Solomon.

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Today, we have a dear friend of the way, a dear, dear friend, Ben.

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Ben, welcome.

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Thanks, man.

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Welcome back, I should say.

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Thanks, mate.

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Because for those of you that don't know,

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Ben has been on this podcast before he shared his testimony with us.

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So I highly recommend you go check that out.

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It's somewhere in the depths.

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But for those of you who haven't seen it yet, Ben, do you want to just introduce yourself a little bit?

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Tell us about yourself.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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So my name is Ben.

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I'm 26 years old.

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I gave my life to Jesus when I was 18.

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And so the last eight or so years of my life has been an up and down journey, walking with God and figuring out what it looks like to be a man of God through making mistakes, through getting things right.

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And so a few things I've learned along the way I'm excited to share and talk about today.

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Today, we have a very exciting topic.

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We're going to be talking about identity and masculinity, Ben, is what we're doing.

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So it's very exciting.

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Really cool.

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We'd love to invite you on this journey with us.

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And yeah, with that said, let's roll the credits.

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Sorry for the interruption, we have news.

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Zoe, would you like to share?

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Yes, I would.

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Friends, this September we're heading to Malawi.

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We've heard incredible stories of faith and resilience and we have the opportunity to go and meet the people behind those stories.

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Yes, and we'll be doing that with World Vision, a Christian-led humanitarian charity who work alongside local communities to bring support to children and families and to basically help tackle poverty.

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They do amazing work and we're so excited to be partnering with them.

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Over the course of the trip, we'll be meeting people, shaking hands, hearing stories and seeing the work that's already happening on the ground.

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And we would like to invite you to be a part of it.

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One of the initiatives World Vision runs is called Chosen Sponsorship.

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Now, Chosen basically flips the typical idea of child sponsorship on its head.

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Instead of you choosing a child to sponsor, Chosen returns agency back to the kids and a child chooses you.

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Yes, and so we'll be going to Malawi and be seeing Chosen in action.

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And if you want to get involved, follow the link below and sign up.

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Okay, so we do have some questions that have been sent in.

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We've spent some time talking about them, thinking about them, and we want to share them with you.

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So, Ben, are you ready for the first question?

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Yeah, mate, hit me.

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Lovely, lovely.

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All right, Ben.

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Here's the first question.

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What do you think biblical masculinity is?

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And there's a question 1A here.

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How is it different from the messages men receive from culture today?

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Good question.

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Masculinacy.

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So I think when most people, including myself, think about what is masculinity, what does it look like, the kind of typical traits will come to mind.

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Strength, you know, being a leader, being a provider.

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being capable and, you know, those kind of other, I'd say, traits associated with masculinity, which I think are all good things.

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But I would say in terms of what the world has that look like compared to the Bible, they walk in a very different spirit.

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So 1 Corinthians 13 says that if I have a faith that can move mountains, but I don't have love, then I've got nothing.

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And it also says that love is not self-seeking.

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And I think a worldly version of masculinity looks like aiming to be strong, capable and outgoing from a completely self-centered standpoint, which says the more I have, the more I am and the more I'm above others.

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So the more cars I have, the more women I attract, the more masculine.

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mansions i own a very andrew tate style of um masculinity um it's very self-elevating but christ is the message the spirit of self-denial it's not self-elevation so it's walking in a different spirit um one is totally self-centered and self-serving and the biblical version of masculinity is about self-denial it's about love which is not self-seeking and

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And so what that looks like is saying I'm strong enough to hang on a cross for a family of believers that don't deserve this because they're sinners.

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That's the message of Christ.

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And he's a way stronger masculine example than the worldly ones, I think.

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That's a good answer.

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Yeah.

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Thank you for sharing.

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What do you think, mate?

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You know, like before asking what makes a godly man, I think it's worth questioning, are there any virtues in scripture that,

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are demanded of men that aren't also required of women?

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You know?

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Like, is there a moral ideal that's explicitly just for men?

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Because I don't know if I see it.

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I'd love to hear other people's perspectives.

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But I think, all right, if someone says to me,

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biblical masculinity is, uh, a man needs to be strong, needs to be courageous, needs to be a leader, whatever you might say.

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I don't see where that isn't also required of women.

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And at the same time, likewise, uh, it's the same with sort of traditional feminine virtues.

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You know, it's tenderness, kindness, gentleness.

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These things are required of men also.

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So I, and then who is, who is the sort of, um,

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archetype for these, Christ, right?

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So he is all of these things all at once.

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And so for me, when I look at biblical masculinity, what I think that is, is it is me trying to be Christ-like, is me pursuing Christ as a man.

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To me, that's what it kind of looks like.

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And please, comments, please talk to, I'd love to hear what you have to say, but that's what I think it is, is just...

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being Christ-like as a man, you know?

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And how is that different from the world?

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This one was interesting to me.

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This one was really interesting to me because I thought, like you said, that the questions of the world, right, is sort of like...

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there's a criteria almost of how successful am I?

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You're looking around, how successful am I?

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How desirable am I?

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How powerful am I?

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I think there's a danger sometimes that we simply change the criteria without changing the existential register of it.

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And what I mean by that is that we, instead of asking how successful, how powerful, we're asking, okay, how faithful am I in comparison to everyone else?

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How hopeful am I?

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How kind am I?

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In comparison to everyone else.

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So you're still comparing.

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It's still an external process.

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Rather, I think that it should be an individual before God.

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It's an internal singular thing.

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To me, that's what I think it is.

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So that's why I found it is that for one to differ from the world, it's a two-step movement of, yes, changing the criteria, but then also changing the existential register of it from external to internal before God, the individual rather than the crowd, as it were.

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um and that's that's what i that's that's what i've been thinking about but yeah i know that's quite a a long-winded answer not as um no it's really well explained yours is very well explained question number two sent in was which biblical passage or character has influenced your view of masculinity the most

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We were talking about this for a while, but we said, obviously, Jesus.

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So we took him out of the equation.

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We're excluding Jesus, who is someone?

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Because that's the obvious answer.

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That's the one that I would highly recommend to everyone studying this or joining this.

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Just look at Jesus.

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But if we couldn't do Jesus, for me, I would look at Stephen.

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I'm always talking about Stephen.

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I think he's an excellent example of a man that is...

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who doesn't villainize those who villainize him, who is kind and gentle and patient, right?

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And gracious.

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And he, to me, the virtues that we- Deathly brave as well.

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Exactly.

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So brave, so strong.

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The bravery in that man.

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Great communicator, you know?

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I just think- Very shiny.

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Exactly.

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He, to me, embodies the virtues that we-

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we go for, we look for in Christ.

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I think he has, he has so many Christ-like sort of movements in, in that small section of acts that he's in relatively small section of acts that I would say he is a great example of what not only a man, but all people should be.

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He is a perfect example of what we should be as Christians.

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That's what I would say.

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Yeah.

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What would you say?

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Yeah, I love that.

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I mean, I think it's so interesting to think about as Christians, men following Jesus and that feeling of like, can I really attain to that?

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Like he lived without sin.

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It's like, well,

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Stephen did a pretty good job and he's the same as you he's only man and not God so if he did that then we can as well yeah and I love that there's examples like Stephen to look to in our faith I think although I know we've said exclude Christ but I do want to draw it just for a moment to Christ because I think

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what's so interesting about him is how much he suffered, like how much of a human experience he had as a man on earth.

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So when I'm looking to a man that I'm like, I want to be like you and I want my life to look like yours.

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Like,

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With Christ, he came as a savior to a people that completely rejected him.

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And then all of his closest friends betrayed him.

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And then he was handed over to the Romans and Pilate couldn't find a single fault in him.

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So then they crucified him.

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But then even death couldn't hold him.

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And I'm like...

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all right now there's a man i can follow there's a man i can follow someone that will go through all of that and still say father forgive them yeah i'm like okay now that's a strong man i can look to that which we also see in steven who says the exact same thing he says the exact same thing

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I go, I've seen that before.

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Yeah.

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A few books back.

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Yeah.

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And Paul as well talks about imitate me as I imitate Christ.

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I'm like, yeah, I'll imitate you and I'll imitate Stephen.

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I've tried my best.

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Oh gosh, yeah.

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The third question that we were sent, Ben, was this.

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What is the difference between confidence rooted in God and confidence driven by ego and or insecurities?

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Yeah, I mean, just to be completely honest, like the journey through struggling with insecurities is one of the biggest things that I've faced in my walk with Jesus.

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And what I've noticed about insecurity and pride is that, or ego, is that they look like opposites, but they're actually at their core exactly the same thing.

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They're two sides of the same coin.

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And what they both are is looking at myself myself,

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and identifying through my self-assessment.

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So insecurity.

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I'm looking at myself thinking, that looks really bad, and finding an identity through that.

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Ego and pride is I'm looking at myself thinking, that looks really good, and I'm finding an identity through that.

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So in both ways, I'm identifying through myself, my feelings, my thoughts about myself, and my behavior.

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And the incredible invitation of the gospel is to find my identity, not through myself, but through someone else.

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And what did that someone else do?

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He hung on a cross and he took all my sin away.

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He washed me whiter than snow and made me a new creation.

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So I'm like, all right, who am I?

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Like when I'm wrestling with insecurity or pride, I'm like, okay, I'm seeing that that is an identity looking at the wrong man.

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I'm looking at the wrong man.

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I need to not look at me.

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I need to look at him.

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And like, who do you say I am?

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You say I'm made in your image.

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And that's quite remarkable because you were the most loving man on earth.

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So I'm like, okay, if that's what I'm supposed to be, then.

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i'll enjoy that and i'll i'll try and follow that and i'll pray in that way and yeah that's really informed i think how i have learned to deal with insecurity is to see myself through the lens of christ which is as a new creation yeah and not through my past and my old ways but as an opportunity to walk in some newness of faith newness of life and um

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Yeah.

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What about you?

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Have you wrestled with these things too?

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He's so fast, isn't he?

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Look at that answer.

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That was a great answer.

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Mine is less well thought out.

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Mine was when it said, what is the difference?

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I thought it's confidence rooted in God can survive failure and ego cannot.

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Right?

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I think that if we're building ourselves on...

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Once again, how successful we are on our wins.

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If we define ourselves by our wins, our losses will kill us, will destroy us.

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And without our wins, who are we?

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It's such a fragile thing to build ourselves on.

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And so I agree with you.

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It's so much wiser to build on a firm foundation, to build on rock, to build on Christ.

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So I agree with you completely.

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You kind of covered all the bases there.

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So good job, Ben.

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Yeah.

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Great answer.

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Moving on.

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Moving on.

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Question four.

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Can you share a specific moment when God taught you to place your identity in him rather than in success, strength, relationships or other people's approval?

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Yes.

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So I am covered in these things.

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These, whichever camera is on me, both.

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This guy.

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Yeah.

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I am covered in tattoos.

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Now, before I say this, I want to preface that this is not a theological statement on it.

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tattoos are right or wrong for all christians i'm just talking about myself i mean i like i think your tattoos look pretty cool thanks mate but just for myself and my own journey i think um i've been getting tattoos for years just because like for fun because i think they're cool

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And I think that what I've noticed as I grow closer and closer in my relationship with Jesus and pursue him more in the secret place through fasting and prayer is that my desire to get tattoos has gradually become less and less and faded away.

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And I'm like, that is crazy.

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that is so odd like what is that about that doesn't make any sense to me and so I sat with that thought for a while and and what I realized if I'm being really honest with myself is that I think I actually got a lot of my tattoos out of a place of insecurity um out of a place of feeling like I want to look good I want to look cool and I want to feel

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feel good about myself and if i think i look good that will be a way to fulfill that to make me feel worth something maybe to others or to myself and to feel valuable and so um started trying to heal an inward issue with an outward solution and an irony is that i have um one samuel 16 7 tattooed on my arm do you know what that verse is tell me

219
00:15:22.464 --> 00:15:47.563
um man looks at the outward appearance but the lord that's so good man looks at the outward appearance but the lord looks at the heart so when did you get this realization this was more recent like in the past few months yeah yeah and i actually made a bunch of videos of like my christian tattoos and i've taken them all down um coming off that realization do you think you would get more tattoos and if so yeah

220
00:15:49.367 --> 00:16:13.888
is it what place would that be from was it because you enjoy it well yeah good question so i guess in terms of what we're talking about earlier like what is the driving spirit behind an action to do something because i think you could go and get a tattoo as a christian with very good motives and intentions like like a christian not something about a bible verse to evangelize or outwardly share your faith but i think um i i recognized i really know i think god revealed to me

221
00:16:14.332 --> 00:16:23.421
that the place, not all of them, but that I got some of them was out of a place of insecurity and trying to find worth, validation and identity through outward appearance.

222
00:16:23.521 --> 00:16:32.490
And as I say, as I've got closer to Christ, like I'm spending time in prayer and I'm looking up at this man hanging on this cross for me.

223
00:16:32.990 --> 00:16:35.573
And he's saying, Ben, you're worth dying for.

224
00:16:36.414 --> 00:16:51.552
I'm like am I really worth that like am I really worth everything you paid for me and he's like each time I question that or doubt that I look back and he's still hanging on the same cross it just doesn't change it's a firm foundation like okay

225
00:16:52.132 --> 00:16:54.715
If that's not changing, then I'm really worth dying for.

226
00:16:54.775 --> 00:17:11.670
So the more I've pursued that identity, that value and worth through looking at what price was paid for my life by Christ, the less need I have to find worth, value, and identity through my outward appearance.

227
00:17:11.890 --> 00:17:13.411
God has been healing my heart.

228
00:17:13.491 --> 00:17:18.195
So, yeah, I think that tattoos aren't necessarily bad or I don't have a...

229
00:17:18.936 --> 00:17:44.847
theological hardline ritual versus moral law leviticus passage um theology to share with you right now i'm still thinking about it to be honest with you i'm still going over the different theological ideas debating it in my head but i know through my heart of hearts that i won't have any desire to get any tattoos again in the future out of that same place because i'm really really sure that

230
00:17:45.827 --> 00:17:49.010
I am loved by God and my value and worth is in him.

231
00:17:49.070 --> 00:17:51.552
So why on earth would I need to find it anywhere else?

232
00:17:51.812 --> 00:17:52.393
That's a great nuance.

233
00:17:52.453 --> 00:17:52.813
Yeah.

234
00:17:53.133 --> 00:17:54.134
That's a really good nuance.

235
00:17:54.214 --> 00:17:55.956
I like the way you explained that.

236
00:17:56.536 --> 00:17:57.157
Thank you for sharing.

237
00:17:57.577 --> 00:17:58.698
Yeah, mate, my pleasure.

238
00:17:58.838 --> 00:18:01.801
It's a vulnerable one, but I think, you know, I'm just being honest and,

239
00:18:02.271 --> 00:18:03.352
now I'm covered in the things.

240
00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:04.313
I can't get rid of them.

241
00:18:05.113 --> 00:18:07.335
I mean, I know I said they're really cool.

242
00:18:07.355 --> 00:18:10.997
I don't know if you guys... Mate, I'm a walking testimony.

243
00:18:11.117 --> 00:18:11.518
I know.

244
00:18:12.959 --> 00:18:15.621
I'm sorry from the place in which you got them.

245
00:18:15.781 --> 00:18:17.702
Well, thankfully, I actually like them.

246
00:18:17.722 --> 00:18:19.043
Thankfully, I really like them.

247
00:18:19.083 --> 00:18:20.304
The art is very beautiful.

248
00:18:20.844 --> 00:18:23.186
The artists that did these were, you know, very talented.

249
00:18:23.226 --> 00:18:24.287
So I'm grateful for that.

250
00:18:25.027 --> 00:18:27.208
And some of them are about really biblical themes.

251
00:18:27.228 --> 00:18:28.028
So that's awesome.

252
00:18:28.108 --> 00:18:28.669
That's cool.

253
00:18:29.229 --> 00:18:29.509
Yeah.

254
00:18:29.569 --> 00:18:34.071
This one's a dinosaur surfing in space.

255
00:18:34.091 --> 00:18:34.471
That one.

256
00:18:34.831 --> 00:18:37.813
So deeply biblical idea.

257
00:18:38.013 --> 00:18:39.133
His name's George as well.

258
00:18:39.693 --> 00:18:40.314
Shout out, George.

259
00:18:40.494 --> 00:18:41.134
Yeah.

260
00:18:41.294 --> 00:18:41.874
Come on.

261
00:18:42.555 --> 00:18:44.095
Drop a dinosaur in the comments.

262
00:18:44.595 --> 00:18:45.316
Dinosaur emoji.

263
00:18:45.456 --> 00:18:46.876
Dinosaur emoji in the comments.

264
00:18:47.597 --> 00:18:47.997
There it is.

265
00:18:48.017 --> 00:18:49.538
Should we move on?

266
00:18:49.578 --> 00:18:50.118
Moving on.

267
00:18:50.138 --> 00:18:50.578
Moving on.

268
00:18:50.978 --> 00:18:52.179
I'll ask you the next question.

269
00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:52.679
Yeah.

270
00:18:53.943 --> 00:18:54.283
Ooh.

271
00:18:54.984 --> 00:18:57.585
How do you handle negative thoughts about yourself?

272
00:18:59.507 --> 00:19:00.407
Such a swell guy.

273
00:19:00.427 --> 00:19:01.448
I can't imagine you'd have any.

274
00:19:01.528 --> 00:19:02.709
Oh, stop it.

275
00:19:03.469 --> 00:19:05.550
I, this is an interesting one as well.

276
00:19:05.630 --> 00:19:09.293
I think there is a misconception, maybe not a misconception.

277
00:19:09.453 --> 00:19:12.114
I'm going to talk from my perspective rather than generally.

278
00:19:12.134 --> 00:19:17.438
I have, I have negative comments, thoughts about myself and I,

279
00:19:19.430 --> 00:19:22.592
very often don't just stick a Bible verse on them.

280
00:19:23.252 --> 00:19:25.213
You know, I think, I think sometimes that's what people do.

281
00:19:25.233 --> 00:19:25.774
And that's awesome.

282
00:19:25.794 --> 00:19:28.415
If that works for you, it doesn't necessarily work for me that way.

283
00:19:28.495 --> 00:19:30.436
I actually do think a few things.

284
00:19:30.576 --> 00:19:32.698
I think our faith allows for self-awareness.

285
00:19:32.738 --> 00:19:34.199
Our faith encourages self-awareness.

286
00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:40.502
And with that self-awareness, it's important to differentiate the difference between things we can change and things we can't, right?

287
00:19:40.862 --> 00:19:44.965
It's, it's the difference between, I don't like the way I snapped there in that conversation.

288
00:19:44.985 --> 00:19:47.906
Uh, I don't like the, I don't like what I said to that person.

289
00:19:48.347 --> 00:19:48.487
And,

290
00:19:49.708 --> 00:19:50.428
things I can't change.

291
00:19:50.548 --> 00:19:51.269
I don't know what that might be.

292
00:19:51.289 --> 00:19:53.210
Like the way I look, right?

293
00:19:53.330 --> 00:19:54.131
It's that sort of thing.

294
00:19:54.631 --> 00:19:57.954
And then I think from there, there are different options on how we deal with that.

295
00:19:57.974 --> 00:20:02.137
And I think it's very individualistic, but I think it always goes back to the cross personally.

296
00:20:02.417 --> 00:20:06.000
Once again, what we said earlier about placing our identity in the cross, I think that's super important.

297
00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:07.101
But anyway, what do you think?

298
00:20:07.784 --> 00:20:09.084
No, mate, it's so interesting.

299
00:20:09.144 --> 00:20:19.047
I mean, before I get onto my thoughts, just to reflect on what you said, I think to me what it feels like you're talking about is the difference between a feeling and a belief.

300
00:20:19.587 --> 00:20:23.568
And that I might have, I might feel something.

301
00:20:23.768 --> 00:20:30.770
And if I try and just slap a plaster of scripture over a deep wound of a belief,

302
00:20:31.410 --> 00:20:53.682
that's that that feeling is rooted in it doesn't do anything like the wound remains and you can see the plaster but it will just fall off and the wound remains and i think that for me something i've had to really learn is um the recognition that it's okay to feel whatever i'm feeling because it's not my choice like i didn't choose to feel

303
00:20:54.262 --> 00:20:58.689
that insecurity or that thought about myself or that annoyance with that other person.

304
00:20:58.969 --> 00:21:01.372
And I do feel like, Oh God, I recognize I feel this way.

305
00:21:01.472 --> 00:21:04.437
I don't want to feel this, but actually I do.

306
00:21:04.597 --> 00:21:05.198
And you know what?

307
00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.640
It's okay.

308
00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.341
Why?

309
00:21:07.481 --> 00:21:09.604
Because Jesus has grace for me and God,

310
00:21:10.004 --> 00:21:19.666
if this is rooted in a belief that needs to change, like Holy Spirit, I just invite you to show me what that belief is because I know the truth sets you free.

311
00:21:20.026 --> 00:21:20.826
Why do I know that?

312
00:21:20.846 --> 00:21:23.347
Because Jesus said that and I trust him.

313
00:21:24.167 --> 00:21:34.809
And so I think there is nothing wrong with feeling, a kind of feeling like even on temptation, like it says Jesus was tempted in all ways yet without sin.

314
00:21:34.829 --> 00:21:36.230
So he felt all kinds of things.

315
00:21:36.370 --> 00:21:37.930
It doesn't mean he did anything wrong.

316
00:21:38.630 --> 00:21:40.731
But I think his beliefs were solid.

317
00:21:40.771 --> 00:21:41.911
He knew who he was.

318
00:21:42.132 --> 00:21:43.912
Like he was a beloved son.

319
00:21:43.992 --> 00:21:47.034
He had those words spoken over him by Father God.

320
00:21:47.074 --> 00:21:54.356
And so I think that declaring those truth, which makes you free, like we don't challenge feelings because we can't control them.

321
00:21:54.396 --> 00:21:56.577
We don't decide them, but we can challenge a belief.

322
00:21:57.298 --> 00:22:05.001
And beliefs about ourselves should be rooted in truth because if they're not rooted in truth, the fruit won't be freedom.

323
00:22:05.301 --> 00:22:07.822
But if they are rooted in truth, then the fruit will be freedom.

324
00:22:08.403 --> 00:22:08.583
Yeah.

325
00:22:09.004 --> 00:22:10.246
I like what you said that it's okay.

326
00:22:10.867 --> 00:22:11.207
Yeah.

327
00:22:11.247 --> 00:22:13.430
I think we can sometimes isolate ourselves.

328
00:22:13.671 --> 00:22:14.933
We're the only people that think like this.

329
00:22:14.993 --> 00:22:15.714
That's not the case.

330
00:22:15.854 --> 00:22:21.482
I think men, we put so much pressure on ourselves to like get this thing right to be the right man.

331
00:22:21.502 --> 00:22:23.325
And it's like, God, I can't.

332
00:22:24.126 --> 00:22:39.357
this is hard and i'm trying my best but i'm just failing and i feel like i'm fighting a losing battle and jesus is looking back at me from the cross saying son the weight of perfection was never on your shoulders i carried that for you

333
00:22:41.020 --> 00:22:59.508
grace grace i've got to know your grace i have to know it and i'm walking it daily and the fruit is so good there's so much freedom the whole idea of that statement is i'm looking at myself and i'm thinking about myself and sometimes i just need to take a moment to be like let me just for a

334
00:23:04.050 --> 00:23:10.412
rather than looking at me and being like, right, I've got to figure out, self-identify all these issues, and then I can hand them over to God.

335
00:23:10.452 --> 00:23:12.333
It's like, what if I just look at him?

336
00:23:12.373 --> 00:23:14.674
If I just like, Jesus, you're beautiful.

337
00:23:14.714 --> 00:23:18.615
You are an incredible man, and you love me, and that's enough.

338
00:23:18.695 --> 00:23:29.139
And I just look at him, and quickly I find when I do that, the thoughts, negative thoughts of myself, just kind of get dissolved in the ocean of the love of God, honestly.

339
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:32.660
Like, yeah, looking at Christ rather than myself is...

340
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:36.343
One of the biggest revelations in my whole faith journey, I think.

341
00:23:38.144 --> 00:23:38.424
Yeah.

342
00:23:38.925 --> 00:23:40.025
Shall we shuffle onwards?

343
00:23:40.266 --> 00:23:40.706
Let's move.

344
00:23:40.866 --> 00:23:41.767
Final question, this one.

345
00:23:41.787 --> 00:23:42.107
Yeah.

346
00:23:42.127 --> 00:23:43.928
Do you want me to... Oh, you can go for it.

347
00:23:44.049 --> 00:23:45.069
Yeah, you can ask this one.

348
00:23:45.089 --> 00:23:45.990
I'll give you a crack.

349
00:23:46.511 --> 00:23:56.538
So, what practical habits or boundaries have helped you build healthy confidence without depending on appearance, achievement, or other people's approval?

350
00:23:58.060 --> 00:23:58.400
My...

351
00:24:00.707 --> 00:24:02.209
Boundary is more of a practice.

352
00:24:02.229 --> 00:24:04.052
Well, it's a habit, like it says there.

353
00:24:04.392 --> 00:24:06.275
Yeah, it's a practice of...

354
00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:11.963
I don't think everything we do needs to be a testimony.

355
00:24:13.224 --> 00:24:19.510
You know, I think it's great that we share, we tell stories and we, we, we encourage others with these stories of things that have happened.

356
00:24:19.530 --> 00:24:22.233
But I also think we need to think of our intention behind those.

357
00:24:22.513 --> 00:24:29.419
What we, when we say that, you know, I think it can so easily become a pride thing or a competition.

358
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.440
You know what I mean?

359
00:24:30.941 --> 00:24:32.422
And for me, this is just for me.

360
00:24:33.023 --> 00:24:34.144
What I've found is that I,

361
00:24:36.045 --> 00:24:58.179
don't do that really as in like i don't i don't share that much i think it can so quickly become prideful or a competition rather than it just being a lifestyle you know of to to help those around us and be kind you know what i mean it stops being these cool oh you don't do oh this is great story no it's just a nice thing to do a kind thing to do a christ-like thing to do

362
00:24:59.401 --> 00:25:06.291
To me, that is awesome, and it's really helped me change my intention behind action.

363
00:25:06.791 --> 00:25:09.836
Yeah, it's just kind of...

364
00:25:11.663 --> 00:25:13.164
not sharing it as much.

365
00:25:13.764 --> 00:25:14.465
You know what I mean?

366
00:25:15.565 --> 00:25:15.846
Yeah.

367
00:25:16.306 --> 00:25:16.726
Love that.

368
00:25:17.066 --> 00:25:17.387
Yeah.

369
00:25:18.087 --> 00:25:18.367
Yeah.

370
00:25:18.467 --> 00:25:19.748
It's definitely a temptation, right?

371
00:25:20.368 --> 00:25:20.628
Yeah.

372
00:25:20.929 --> 00:25:22.089
It's self glory, isn't it?

373
00:25:22.129 --> 00:25:22.289
Yeah.

374
00:25:22.349 --> 00:25:25.351
It's like, wow, I blessed this, this person with the gospel.

375
00:25:25.411 --> 00:25:26.792
Now let me go tell them my friends.

376
00:25:26.812 --> 00:25:28.273
So they know how amazing I am.

377
00:25:28.493 --> 00:25:30.835
Or even if I just bless them and I don't tell anyone.

378
00:25:30.855 --> 00:25:31.115
Totally.

379
00:25:31.175 --> 00:25:34.116
Or even something as simple as like, I just bought food for somebody.

380
00:25:35.257 --> 00:25:38.079
And that, like that simple, you know what I mean?

381
00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.119
That kind of thing.

382
00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:39.920
I'm like,

383
00:25:41.429 --> 00:25:45.492
even to like, there's always a temptation where people like drop it in conversation.

384
00:25:45.952 --> 00:25:51.255
I just think, wow, how do we get to a mode of life where that is just normality for everybody?

385
00:25:51.695 --> 00:25:53.817
And it's actually not impressive.

386
00:25:54.517 --> 00:25:54.977
You know what I mean?

387
00:25:54.997 --> 00:25:59.660
Especially in the Christian world, it can be like people talk about stuff like this a lot.

388
00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:05.804
I've found, yeah, I'm totally not saying like, don't share stories of encouragement or faith.

389
00:26:06.264 --> 00:26:09.286
I just think what are our intentions behind the sharing?

390
00:26:10.796 --> 00:26:12.477
You know, is it, is it self glory?

391
00:26:13.778 --> 00:26:14.278
You know what I mean?

392
00:26:14.398 --> 00:26:16.059
That, that is something that I would be aware of.

393
00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.560
Hopefully to encourage others.

394
00:26:18.040 --> 00:26:18.721
That's what I'm saying.

395
00:26:19.121 --> 00:26:19.581
Definitely.

396
00:26:19.741 --> 00:26:20.141
What about you?

397
00:26:20.642 --> 00:26:20.862
Yeah.

398
00:26:20.882 --> 00:26:24.424
I think just to finish just on, I'll just do a really simple practical one.

399
00:26:24.584 --> 00:26:26.945
I just start my day with the Lord.

400
00:26:27.266 --> 00:26:29.607
So, and it's, it's so funny.

401
00:26:29.627 --> 00:26:31.828
You read, you read Paul's letters everywhere.

402
00:26:31.848 --> 00:26:32.669
He's like, blah, blah, blah.

403
00:26:32.689 --> 00:26:34.189
Do this in Thanksgiving.

404
00:26:34.270 --> 00:26:36.131
Do this with thankfulness.

405
00:26:36.171 --> 00:26:37.131
Like it's everywhere.

406
00:26:37.171 --> 00:26:37.892
It's constant.

407
00:26:37.932 --> 00:26:38.352
And so, yeah.

408
00:26:39.613 --> 00:26:43.855
I think starting my day, just a moment to be still and thank God.

409
00:26:44.015 --> 00:26:53.980
So it literally looks like getting a coffee, sitting on my sofa, even if it's just two minutes before I run out the door to the way studios or whatever, catch my train at 7am to the way studio.

410
00:26:55.200 --> 00:27:19.610
um it will be on the sofa all right lord just thank you for this day and i just want to take a moment to be still and to know that you are god and thank you for loving me thank you for fathering me help me to love people well today like just a moment to just recognize him to see him put my mind to him and just thank him for the day and start like and then all that comes after that it's like

411
00:27:20.550 --> 00:27:25.944
The day may unfold terribly or really well, but I've started with the Lord, and that's such a good one.

412
00:27:26.165 --> 00:27:27.408
You also finish it the same way?

413
00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:30.780
I just roll into bed.

414
00:27:32.641 --> 00:27:36.601
And I guess not, not so consciously or not so much as a, as a set routine.

415
00:27:36.621 --> 00:27:36.722
Yeah.

416
00:27:36.742 --> 00:27:37.842
It's not like a ritual thing.

417
00:27:37.882 --> 00:27:38.202
Yeah.

418
00:27:38.242 --> 00:27:38.482
Yeah.

419
00:27:38.502 --> 00:27:38.722
Yeah.

420
00:27:39.402 --> 00:27:42.303
Um, but to me to start my, I mean, it's probably a good idea.

421
00:27:42.403 --> 00:27:48.644
Maybe I should do that, but be honestly, you know, I just, uh, watch a bit of avatar, the last airbender.

422
00:27:49.204 --> 00:27:50.984
Oh, that's so good.

423
00:27:51.444 --> 00:27:52.965
Everybody stop this podcast.

424
00:27:53.005 --> 00:27:54.465
Go watch last airbender right now.

425
00:27:55.586 --> 00:27:57.369
It's actually so good.

426
00:27:57.389 --> 00:27:58.110
It's a great show.

427
00:27:58.130 --> 00:27:59.191
The character development.

428
00:27:59.231 --> 00:27:59.792
Love that show.

429
00:27:59.872 --> 00:28:00.914
It's unbelievable.

430
00:28:01.114 --> 00:28:01.635
Great show.

431
00:28:01.815 --> 00:28:03.978
But yeah, so that's my evenings right now.

432
00:28:03.998 --> 00:28:05.120
Yes, come on.

433
00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:06.662
What a call.

434
00:28:06.702 --> 00:28:07.343
I love that.

435
00:28:07.904 --> 00:28:08.365
Love that.

436
00:28:08.385 --> 00:28:09.727
But my mornings is for the little...

437
00:28:10.207 --> 00:28:13.009
Yeah, evenings are for Avatar.

438
00:28:13.249 --> 00:28:15.710
And on that note, thanks for watching.

439
00:28:15.750 --> 00:28:17.791
That is all of our questions that we were given.

440
00:28:18.131 --> 00:28:19.792
Ben, thank you for coming.

441
00:28:19.832 --> 00:28:20.392
Thank you for having me.

442
00:28:20.412 --> 00:28:21.273
You have so much wisdom.

443
00:28:21.393 --> 00:28:23.654
We are so encouraged by what you have to share.

444
00:28:23.694 --> 00:28:24.554
Thanks, mate.

445
00:28:24.574 --> 00:28:25.215
I certainly am.

446
00:28:25.555 --> 00:28:28.496
I know that everyone else that's sitting in this room are as well.

447
00:28:28.717 --> 00:28:29.777
I'm saying it like there's loads of people.

448
00:28:29.817 --> 00:28:30.678
There's one other guy.

449
00:28:30.938 --> 00:28:31.578
There's one other guy.

450
00:28:31.598 --> 00:28:52.196
on the street but he's been nodding along but if you are if you are listening on spotify or apple or youtube go ahead and give us a five star go ahead and give ben a five star comment something dinosaur emoji comment the dinosaur i would love to see more dinosaurs in that i've seen very few so or i'll put one in or comment your favorite last airbender episode

451
00:28:53.718 --> 00:29:07.796
too many good ones no mine's the the boiling rock i love that one boiling rock you know when they escaped it wait have you seen how far in any i've watched the whole series like four times we'll talk about that off camera thank you guys we'll see you later god bye guys