Jake And Friends
Jake And Friends
Episode 51 - I'm Not A Quitter
We're back baby. Parker Sanders is now the official Co-Host of the Jake and Friends Podcast!
We catch up and talk about the importance of the Bible.
I don't know if you can see it, but I have a lot of hair on my face right now.
Track 1:alright, welcome back everybody. Now this is the Jake and Friends podcast, the relaunch. Um, today I've got Parker Sanders here with me. Parker was on the most recent episode we did, uh, with, uh, Tyler Baum. Um, and that was probably a few months ago at this point. And, um, since then, people have asked me if I'm a quitter. And the answer is no. I'm not a quitter, I'm not a quiet quitter. Um, I I just, uh, I've just been busy. Honestly, that's, that's the only excuse I, I have to give
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Wait, you're busy. with three kids. Wouldn't, wouldn't believe that one.
Track 1:Three kids and a job. And, you know, we're, you know, like to, we still like to hang out with friends and be involved with our church. So, um, It just happens man. But, uh, if you're new to the Jake and Friends podcast, I'm Jake and I, you know, long story short is a couple years ago I started this podcast just'cause I wanted to see what people were doing, uh, for the Kingdom of God. And I thought that'd be a really cool thing just to interview people. Uh, it started out very locally, you know, um, and I guess it still is pretty local. I mean, I interviewed people who were, um, just here around town. I live in, uh, Birmingham, Alabama, and it was audio only. So if you're watching this and you're like, Hey, I've never seen Jake's face before then, here you are. I hope it's not like as, as ugly as you anticipated.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:You know, when you listen to podcasts and like, you're like, I wonder, I wonder what it looks like. And then like, you actually see, and you're like, that's not at all what I anticipated.
Track 1:Dude. Um, dude, that's, yeah, I, I think I had that first realization with, uh, Rick and Bubba.'cause back in the day, man, you just, like, the only way you could listen to'em at all was listen to them on the radio. And then whenever like, technology caught up and I saw like, actual pictures of them, I was like, what? I was like, you don't look at anything like you sound. Um, I don't know. I guess in my mind I picture something different, Um, but anyway, yeah. So, yes, so pretty much like if, if you're new to this podcast, like, you know, we're gonna talk about Jesus, that's not gonna change. Um, basically what had happened is I used to do only in-person interviews, um, because it was audio only. And so I would lug around my computer and my equipment to wherever I needed to go and, uh, do interviews that way. But over time, I. Realize, like I can't keep that up long term. Like I don't, I I'm not Joe Rogan to where people can just like, come to me and just like sit in my living room and like we record for however long. Like, I, I have to make it convenient for other people. And two, you know, with like a busy schedule and all that, it's, it's tough to carve out time and,'cause most of the other people I interview have families too, you know, and they're like, well I can't do this time and this time, so it's gonna have to be during this time. So you, it just becomes very difficult to schedule things out. So, uh, I had the thought, actually I didn't have the thought. Parker, you suggested this to me like two years ago. You said, you know, what'd be really cool is if we started a, a podcast together, if we did this together. And I was like, dude, I was like, I want to do, I was like, I don't like Zoom stuff. And Zoom was
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Which I I'd agree with. I mean, I agree with, I'd, I'd much rather be in person, but it's hard with like, when we live in Fairhope and, and you live in Birmingham, like it's kind of hard to do in person.
Track 1:Yeah, it's tough. Um, but I think, you know, honestly what had happened is there's a guest I'd like to get on and I won't, I don't wanna spoil it for anybody in case this person never comes on. But, uh, I thought this person still lived in Birmingham, so I reached out to them on Instagram. Turns out they had moved to another state like way far away. And I was like, well, I'm not going there. And they were like, well, why don't we do like, uh, zoom or something? I was like, I don't do that. And then I was like, wait a second. I was like, am I really like cutting myself off at the, at the feet by like not, you know, open having that option at least. Um,'cause I'm sure there's plenty of other people we could hope potentially find that are, you know, far enough driving distance to where we don't wanna do that either. Um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Right.
Track 1:we're now, and Parker, why don't you just say, why don't you just like, talk about like how this whole thing started with me and you and uh, and just tell people who you are. If they don't, if they don't know if this is your first time watching or listening to this.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah. My name's Parker Sanders. Um, I'm also from Troy. Um, Jake and I grew up together. Um, I currently live, uh, technically in Silver Hill, Alabama. That's where my house is located, but, uh, it's right beside Fairhope, um, Alabama and my wife and I and children go to church in Fairhope, uh, teaching coach at the high school there. Um, and basically I just always had a desire to do something cool like this. Cause I mean, how often can you say. Like you've done a podcast with, you know, your best friend. So, um, but yeah, I, I mean, I enjoy, um, you know, talking about Jesus too. I enjoy talking about sports. I enjoy talking about this, about anything that involves my family and friends and sports, just like any normal dude. Um, and yeah, I remember, I think it was, I mean, it was probably like two years ago, um, when did you officially start this podcast?
Track 1:It is about two years ago, September, late September of 2021, um, I think, or was it
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yes. That sounds about right. Um,
Track 1:I think. 2021.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:yeah.
Track 1:I waited a while. Uh, I had a, uh, yeah, it took me while because I was like, whatever. It's like I'm not doing that. Like I'm not, I'm not lame.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Well, I just remember just mentioning, you know, to you and, and Teal and Pearlstein and Blake, like, Hey, I think it'd be really cool if, you know, we started like a YouTube channel or just did a podcast or something, but I mean, I don't really think that much into it other than that, I just thought it was a cool idea, but I didn't really like explore it out. You're the one that actually took it and was like, yeah, we're going to do this. And so I think I just kind of just, uh, kept like nudging at you being like, Hey, if you ever like, you know, want to, um, do a podcast together, I'm always here. It's not gonna make me butthurt like it is what it is. Um, but I'm here if you are ready. And so, yeah, here we are. I'm, I'm excited. It's going to be really cool.
Track 1:Well, yeah, I'm, I appreciate you wanting to do it. For real. I mean, I, I probably reached out to you about, it's probably been like six or eight months now, honestly.'cause I saw, I had the foresight at least to know, like, I don't know that I,'cause we had our third child March of last year, and he turned a year old in March this past year. And I was just like, I was like, I'm, I know I can't do this, you know, and it was a lot of free time that, um, you know, it takes up a lot of time just editing, scheduling people. But I was like, I was like, I'm, I have some episodes scheduled out and I'm gonna let those run out through the end of May or something. And then I was gonna take the summer off. But what happened is a couple people ended up canceling. And so like, I cut one of'em short and I was like, well, I'm just gonna like fit. I. A few more episodes in to like, get me through to the summer until we can start this up. And then like a couple more people, uh, canceled. So I was like, well, I was like, that's it. I was like, I was like, that's, we're just outta episodes until, until I start. So, um, yeah. I, Just to, I also need to, to preface or backpedal a little bit'cause I have made fun of, you know, Parker and I grew up together and along with a guy who I've made fun of habitually on this podcast. His name is William Teal. Now. He is a great friend and uh, he told me after the most recent episode aired that, uh, somebody's, I think one of their other teammates listened to the podcast or their mom or cousin.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Mom did. Yeah.
Track 1:and she was like, uh, she's like, Hey, is William in trouble? With the law of some, some sorts, and he is like, no. He is like, no, it's just a joke. He's like, I'm pretty sure like none of that's happened. So I need to say that William Till has never stolen anything to my knowledge from anybody. There are no real sponsors to this podcast. Okay.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Oh, man.
Track 1:if you, if you hear this episode and you go back and decide you're gonna listen to all the rest of them, then like, that's awesome. If you decide I don't wanna listen to any of them, that's fine too. But I used to do a bunch of really over the top fake, sometimes subtle, uh, ads that, that I, if I ever ran out of, uh, material, I would just like make fun of William in
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Make fun of William.
Track 1:a fake business.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:You know, what's, what's funny is that he like, he is like, you know, I live with him. Me and him went to community college together and play baseball at Northwest Shoals Community College. Shout out to NWSCC, um, but he, me and him
Track 1:Back up, right?
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:uh, and. Man, I, um, he was, he, and I'm sorry, Steven, for saying this, but he's probably the best roommate I've ever had because we just like the same, like the same mindset, we had the same mindset about everything about being clean about, uh, you know, closing our door and locking it when it was time for us just to go to sleep. And I mean, it was like everything we were on page about everything. So shout out to William. He was a great roommate.
Track 1:8:00 PM on a Thursday. You're like, it's time to eat donuts and just watch like six
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:can't tell you how many times Teal and I went to Walmart, picked up a pack of powdered doughnuts and got him some chocolate milk. And I got some powder doughnuts and we shut the door, we locked it and watched family guy and ate that. And then we went to bed. And it was like nine 30 and it was awesome.
Track 1:I don't know why I remember that. Uh, I didn't even go to Northwest Shoals. I just remember y'all talking about that, but golly, that's so funny. Um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Oh yeah. So shout out to William. And shout out to Preston too.
Track 1:Yeah. So kind of how this will look going forward is, you know, I, the first 50 episodes are, are mainly me, uh, interviewing different people about what they're doing for Jesus, basically. And a lot of them inherently were, uh, people who had started their own nonprofits. Some people had just had some cool stories to tell. Some of them were sort of nothing at all. They were just sort of episodes that really didn't fit. Um, and I would probably say, um, more or less, like that's probably gonna stay the same, um, but probably not rely so heavily on like, needing a guest every time.'cause. I did one where I just talked to myself, or I just like talked by myself and I really thought that was uncomfortable for me. That's not, that's not my thing. Um, some people do it all the time and like, that's like their whole podcast platform, but that's not really what I, that's not really how I can function. Um, you never, you never get any feedback. You're like, is that right? Like, does that sound good or
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:sound okay?
Track 1:uh, but yeah, it, it'll pretty much just be, you know, Parker and I are best friends and you're the best man at my wedding. And that's pretty much how I hope this turns out, is that we're just two friends talking about something we both love and that's Jesus. Um, and so that's really it. There's no agenda. So if you are like, you know what? That's not for me, then that's cool. You don't, you don't have to listen any farther. Um, but anyway, so Parker, why I'd like for you, if you don't mind, to sort of like. Because I want people to like get to know you if, if they've been listening to the show for a while and like don't really know you that well. If you just wanna, I didn't ask you ahead of time if you wanted to share this, but if you wanna share a brief or not so brief version of like your testimony, I think that'd be cool just to sort of see like where you, where you came from
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah. So, um, like I said before, Jake and I grew up together. We even went to preschool together. Uh, I guess it was,
Track 1:Kelly Care.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:no, it was like covenant Christian or something.
Track 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well I went to
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:that preschool is. Yeah. So anyways, went to preschool together. So we grew up together. Um, and I grew up in a Christian home. Uh, both of my parents are Christians. We both, they. Took us to church. We were in church. I was involved in youth group. Um, involved, you know, long story short, even all throughout high school was involved in youth, youth group. Um, I mean, our assistant baseball coach was our youth pastor. Uh, so I was around him all the time around his family. Um, involved in FCA fellowship of Christian athletes, um, was actually a leader in that also. Uh, so all these boxes, just checking off, checking off all these Christian boxes. Um, but I couldn't, I can't even tell you, uh, how many times I actually sat down and read God's word, like on my own by myself, not, not involving like discipleship now weekends or, um, any type of, you know, um, revival weekends for. you know, the youth group or whatever. Um, but just simply sitting down and reading the Bible for myself, um, without being told to do it, um, couldn't tell you that I don't think I ever did in high school. Uh, um, I found my satisfaction and my hope in sports, uh, and friendships. Um, so that probably, you know, that continued on even until. I got to college and high school, I started, uh, partying and, uh, get involved in drinking and, uh, just getting that party scene and, and, you know, scripture was not even. Existence. My relationship with Jesus was not even in existence really other than the surface of, you know, people saying, Oh, he's a good kid. So that continued on even until college when I got a baseball scholarship to play at Shoals. I was like, man, this is the high point in my life. This is what I was been working hard for. I finally got it. It's awesome. Um, I'm going to play baseball and it was great. I love my time there. Um, but when I got there, I was still in that party scene, still trying to seek out, uh, what the world had to offer to satisfy me. So, um, I had some teammates, um, on that team that also claimed to be Christians and Christ followers. And I also claimed to be a Christian and Christ follower and their life was completely different from my life. How they carry themselves was completely different how I carry myself. And so I started thinking, I was like, yeah, something ain't right because if I'm saying this, but I'm living, you know, completely opposite of what. Jesus, uh, you know, calls us to, and then my teammates here are claiming the same thing, but their life looks more like Jesus that something's not lining up. And so I had, um, Caleb Knox was shout out to him. Uh, he spent a lot of time with me. Uh, his dorm room was right beside me. He would have team Bible studies. Um. Once a week and he would just invite the whole team. And sometimes only three guys showed up. Uh, sometimes I didn't show up, uh, but he kept inviting me, kept telling me like, Hey man, why don't you come to this Bible study? And I was like, yeah, I'll come. Then sometimes I wouldn't show up. But then I started going a little bit, um, probably towards like. So in the fall of my freshman year and we just like sat down and just really didn't have really have an agenda except just reading the Bible and then talking about it and how that can apply to our team and things like that. And then I started going. After I started going to a couple of those weekly, he invited me to campus outreach, um, at university of North Alabama, which was really close. We went there for campus outreach and I just started seeing more and more actual believers following Jesus and it looked different from my life. And so him, that's where I got connected to, um. Campus outreach. And then they invited me to New Year's conference for that December. And during all this time, I'm still like, I'm still partying. Uh, at this time I'm getting involved with weeded. Um, I'm dating a, a girl. Uh, and so I'm, I'm doing all this stuff on the side, but like getting more, um, I guess pursued by the Lord. Um, so long story short, go to news conference. And I don't really want to be honest because it's during my Christmas break. I kind of want to be home and chilling and partying, uh, at, you know, with your friends at college. Um, but I decided to go till two also goes, um, so we drive up there to Nashville and we spend a week, um, doing that and, uh, reading God's word, studying it. And it was the last night I got challenged. Uh, well, I guess. It was the night prior to December 31st or December 30th. So the 29th that night Caleb asked me to come sit down and just read scripture with him. I said, okay I mean what else I got to do? Um, and he walks through Ephesians 2 1 through 10 with me and for the first time my whole life I was like, holy cow, like The first, the first three verses talks about how we were dead and how there was no life in us and how we're dead in our trespasses and sins. And we follow the course of this world, following the Prince, the power of the air, all this kind of stuff. And I was like, that's me. Like that's who I am right now. And he just basically challenged me like, Hey man, if that's you like. You need Jesus. And this is how you get, this is how you get Jesus. And so he continued on four through 10 and I didn't really give my life to Christ at that moment, but I could feel like the Lord was like really breaking me. Um, and just showing me need him. So long story short, the next, the next, uh, Next night, um, I was, we were sitting in a, in the big mass session and, um, yeah, they, they did basically, uh, an altar call and I was just like, yeah, that I want Jesus. And, and that was it. And I actually came back to Troy, uh, and I remember coming to, uh, actually a party at your house, um, when you were living, um, I forgot what that street is called. And that house, uh, your very first year. Yeah,
Track 1:Highland Avenue. It's uh, it's a street right next to the, uh, to Troy University's football stadium. And it was like in 2009 that was like the place to be.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:oh, yeah.
Track 1:down all the fraternity houses, so like all the parties were going on, on like around campus. It was, it was a interesting year for sure.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah. So I remember driving back and being like, okay, if this is real, if, if I have really made this commitment, it's going to be a test tonight. Like, I'm going to have to make my decision. Either I'm going to go back to all my friends and they're going to think that I'm just like I was and being super involved in the party and, and encouraging others to party and getting involved with that. Or I'm going to, yeah. Say no to all that I'm following Jesus now. And so I'm, I'm very thankful that God gave me the faith and the strength to say no, because it was hard, but I was just like, I have found something so far more satisfied and so much greater than what this world has to offer. I've tasted and seen, and it's not good compared to what Jesus has given me. The freedom I felt and the forgiveness I felt was unlike anything, uh, that I had experienced before. So. Um, so yeah, that's kind of like a short little testimony, but, um, I remember like it was yesterday. It was awesome. It was still awesome to think about it.
Track 1:I remember pieces of that like it was yesterday. Uh, I remember, I'll awkward segue. I remember the, the reason when you brought up Shoals and living with Teal made me think of like your testimony and I just thought it'd be cool for you to share that. Um, uh, I remember maybe. I guess it would've been a year and a half later or so, um, I guess almost two years later, we rode to Auburn together from Troy and I think I had just turned 21. Um, and I had bought a 12 pack of like, Miller Light probably. And you drove from Troy to Auburn and I just rode with you'cause I was gonna ride up there and spend time with Ella. Um,'cause she went to Auburn and I went to Troy. So I would come hang out with you and Pearlstein in Auburn and get to see Ella. I was like, this is a win-win. Uh, and I, I drank, I drank maybe six beers on the way to Auburn. Uh, and it was the, the trip is like an hour and 15 minutes. Like it's not that long, like six beers, and an hour
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah.
Track 1:minutes is not. Not something I'd recommend, but at the time it was like the life I was living, I was like, this is, this is normal Thursday night. I have nothing else to do. I might as well drink beers. And I remember you even asked me, I think you asked me, uh, I think that's when you first shared your testimony with me. I was like, you're like, dude, we're just here on an hour and 15 minute car ride to, to Auburn. In your mind, you're probably thinking, what else do I have to talk about other than let's talk about Jesus. Not, I remember, like my story was probably similar. I mean, uh, I struggled a lot with thinking like, am I really a Christian or not? But I knew when I got to college, like I had clearly not, I was clearly not living for, for Jesus. And so
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Right.
Track 1:I had come, I had come to terms with, I was like, well, whether or not I, can I call myself a Christian? Like I don't, I don't believe I am. Like, I'm not living like one, so I should stop lying. And so I just stopped. Really trying, stopped going to church for a little while. I guess I, I don't know if I really stopped going as much as I was just like, I'll show up, but I'm not fooling anybody here. Um, and I just remember you, you shared your testimony with me and I remember I was just convicted about it. And then, you know, similar story, honestly, like I got involved with Campus Outreach, a guy named Zev Swindle. I've told, I've told the story on another episode of the podcast where I interview, um, a guy named Clay Fontano and then, uh, Jeff Bulger, who's still at On Staff with Campus Outreach at the University of Alabama. And
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:so, let me take a pause right there. Smitty, if I can mention Jeff Bolger. So Jeff Bolger, he also played at. Northwest Shoals Community College also, he played there two years prior that I deny, um, he became a Christian, uh, while living in the athletic dorms, also playing on the baseball team. And then he, um, the gospel to two other guys. And then they eventually long over time, they gave their life to Christ. And then those two guys. Where one of those was Caleb Knox, who led me to Christ. Other one was Josh Knuth. And then those guys, so Jeff Bolger, he moved on to a four year school. And then Caleb Knox and Josh, they stayed for their sophomore year at Shoals, and then I came up and then Caleb and Josh led me and three other guys. To Christ. And then it just, I mean, literally it was like the picture, perfect discipleship.
Track 1:Multiplication, man. That's, uh,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Multiplication,
Track 1:no, that's. Yeah. And, but similar, similar story. Like g guys like Jeff Bulger and Ty Jordan, who was the director at Troy at at the time. And then, um, Zev Swindle started hanging out with that. They made it a effort to like start hanging out with fraternities. Um, and so they picked s mackay because they, uh, I think, I think they ended up saying like, uh, we were the most lost I, I, I don't think that they said that, but they were like, like we looked at you guys and were like, like if anyone needs Jesus's, these group of guys. And so, um, we went to New Year's conference, sort of the same thing, like almost the exact same thing actually.'cause this is like the, the 10 year, every 10 years they did like a big New Year's conference thing. And so, um, John Piper was there, and I wanna say Matt Chandler was there. I. And Tripoli was there. It was like a, but like some huge names were there. And John Piper starts preaching and he just opens up, or he, he starts preaching and then all of a sudden he just seamlessly goes into quoting verbatim Ephesians two. Like not, not looking at his Bible. Like I recognized it because I'd grown up in the church and like heard that. And I was like, I'm pretty sure this dude's quoting like an entire chapter of scripture. Um, but um, that was, that weekend was where I surrender my life to Christ too. And I just, I just thought it was, I, I remember calling you and I was like, I was like, I did it. I was like, I was like, I'm, I'm free now. And you're like, like, dude was like, that's awesome. But,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:I don't ever forget that too. I remember you called you, I'm sorry. You called, uh,
Track 1:I.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:You call it actually the night before, I think that you gave your life or the day before that you gave your life to Christ. And you're like, dude, this is, this is crazy. Like, what is going on? Like, please help me understand like what you went through and like, I, this, I don't understand what's happening. And I just think, I remember encouraging him, like, just listen and obey whatever the spirit tells you to do, just do it. And because you'll never regret it. And I think I was like, I was doing the. I was in Atlanta for some reason, um, I think for the, for a football game or something. Um, but anyways, yeah, I'll never forget that night too. That was awesome.
Track 1:yeah. One thing you left outta your testimony is that you are Mr. C H H H, Mr. C h H Ss 2009
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Well,
Track 1:Can we get a picture of that? If I can find a picture of that, I'll, I'll, I'll
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:it's in the, it's in our yearbook. There's no doubt it's in the yearbook. Uh, I don't, I don't proclaim that very much, but yes, I was
Track 1:Oh man. Well, um, well, tonight, like what we wanna talk about really just sort of like, I, I, I think that us sharing a little bit about our testimonies and, and like, we'll sort of lead into what we, what I wanted to get into tonight, and that's like kind of what's the point of the Bible or like, what's the point of the gospel? You know, I feel like that's a good jumping off point, um, for this, because like, that's what I want this podcast to be about. Like, I'll, I'll, I'll always wanna have fun and like, you know, entertain people, but like, ultimately, like if we're just doing it in vain, you know, if we're doing it for, if we're doing it for selfish reasons or if we're doing it for nothing at all, like then I feel like it's in vain. And so, um, So I, I was pretty encouraged, honestly, sort of leading into that. Um, well, before we get into that, what's your opinion of, I won't say opinion. What's your, uh, what would you say is the reason for the Bible or the importance of the Bible or of the gospel or both?
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Well, um, it's funny that you mentioned John Piper because, you know, he has, um, DesiringGod. org, which has a ton of articles. Um, and I love, uh, DesiringGod. org because you can literally, like, Pretty much find anything that you need. Like I'm going to do life group, um, at church and I was asking them, this is, I'm not going to get in this rabbit hole, but I was asking him a question about the pledge of allegiance. Should Christians, or should we say the pledge of allegiance? Should we, uh, pledge our allegiance to anything other than Christ? And so we were just talking about that. And so the first thing I did was like, Hmm, well, let me just first try, try to find something in scripture. And so we talked about that for a little bit and then I. Got some extra help and I went to DesiringGod. org and I typed in Pledge of Allegiance and then boom, a bunch of articles popped up. So it's kind of like the Google hub for Christians. All that be said, uh, I found this article that is from DesiringGod. org. It's called a six point summary of the gospel, because you know how, you know how this is written by John Piper, you know, how he is with like, he has his points. Like he likes to have points of, of just about everything he does. Uh, But I really like it. And to me, like, I feel like this summarizes basically what the gospel, what's the point of the gospel? Uh, the first, and I'll just kind of share them just real quickly. The first point is that God God created us for his glory. So that's the only reason why we were created was for his glory and to be made in his own image. And to show that to reflect his character, um, and who he is. The second one is therefore every human should live for God's glory. So because we're created for his glory, we should live for his glory. Uh, thirdly, nevertheless, we have all sinned and fall short of God's glory. And that's Romans 3 23 for all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Um, and none of us has loved or trusted. We're thanked and treasure God as we ought to, or how we were created to be because of our choices of sin. And then fourthly, um, therefore we deserve eternal punishment. So because of all of our sin, every single one of us, we deserve punishment for the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God's eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord, that's Romans 6, 23. And so that. Kind of goes into the fifth point, yet in God's great mercy, he sent his only son, Jesus Christ into the world to provide for sinners the way of eternal life. So because of who he is and because of his namesake and because of how mercy, a full of mercy is Jesus. Provided a way for us to have eternal life through his death, uh, through his life, death and resurrection. And then lastly, the last point he has is therefore eternal life is a free gift to all who trust in Christ as Lord and savior and Supreme treasure of our lives. So, I mean, I, I love how he just kind of summarizes, like, here, here's the point of the gospel. We were created, you were created to live for his glory. We ought to, but nevertheless, we sin. Therefore, we deserve punishment. But in his great mercy, he provided a way for us. And now the free gift is eternal life for those who trust in Jesus. That, I mean, I was like. That's, that's the gospel right there.
Track 1:Hey, that is it. I think you crushed it. Yeah, and the only thing I was gonna
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:I didn't crush it. John Piper crushed it.
Track 1:I, no, I thought you wrote that. I thought this was what you were saying. You wrote it.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Oh, no.
Track 1:Uh, I, I would just add, the only thing I'd add to it kind is like, uh, like if you read the Bible, like if you're, if you're uh, if you're new to reading the Bible or if you're like me and I like to question why a lot of things, you know, like, I'm like, why is it like, why does this work the way it does? Why is this the way it is? Um, I'm like, you just read it all the way through from Genesis to Revelation. You're gonna be like, if you've missed it, you're like, okay, I don't understand. Like why, why have something in here about First Kings? Why I talk about numbers, why I talk about, uh, Ecclesiastes or the Book of Daniel. And then like, you know, like why go through all this whole long journey of, you know, 2,500 pages if you have an e s V study Bible, like of just. Scripture and like, I, I think someone explained it to me one time or maybe I heard it on, uh, another shout out to Phil Robertson. Uh, and, uh, Jace Robertson, they have a podcast called the Unashamed Podcast, and they have probably like 600 episodes. So maybe start, if you're, I'd start with episode 50, somewhere around there. Their audio quality at first is a lot like mine, It's like, it started out a little suss, but then it got better. Um, and so, and I think everything they talk about is like on point. Um, but I think one of them said one time that like, I mean from Genesis to Malachi, Is, uh, he's coming talking about Jesus like we were created and then we've sinned. So now we need a savior. And like you get two chapters in Genesis where you don't need a savior. And then like the third chapter of Genesis throughout Malachi is just talking about painting a picture leading the way for a savior that is Christ. And then Matthew, mark, Luke, and John. And then is, uh, Jesus's here in his ministry, his life, death, resurrection. Um, and then the rest of the New Testament from Acts to Revelation is he's coming back. So like you can really break the Bible down into three different, um, uh, three different sections. Um, and so I always try to think of it that way, especially when I'm reading the Old Testament, like,'cause if you're, I like the Old Testament a lot. Not that I think,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah, I do too.
Track 1:we don't need. Like, I just think it's, it's just, it's just, it's wild. It's a wild time name. Another time in the Bible where a dude's big toes and his thumbs get cut off and he's like, like, I mean, that was in judges like
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Dude, there's some wild stuff in the old Testament. That people that are non believers or have never read it, they'd be like, there ain't no way that's in the Bible,
Track 1:Yeah. I, I see, I see a meme that floats around every now and then of this. Uh, it's, so I'm like, get you a girl who can do both. And then it's talking about like, who can love Jesus, but also like drive a spike through a guy, drive a tent, spike through a guy's temple Like, I don't remember the context of that one, but I was like, dang, when I saw that, I was like, that's wild. But um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah, I agree, man. I, you know, Kayla and uh, Kayla's my wife. Um, we, we've been doing. I guess for the past two years, we, last year we went through reading the Bible in a year, and this year we're doing it also. Not trying to sound super holy or nothing because we're not, uh, but we did it the first, we did it two years, or last year, and we're like, man, this is so good. Like it's, there's so much and, um, and just the stories from the Old Testament, like the people of faith, and then also how God just like chooses people, like, like the lowly of the lowliest, and it's just like,
Track 1:Do.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:It's amazing. It's amazing to see God work and his hand and all this. And it's also, um, crazy to see how the Israelites continue to not listen to God and continue to disobey. And then they wonder why bad things happen. Um, not that when you listen, obey to God, everything works for good, but, um, or it's all perfect. But, um, it's just like, but then at the same time, when you read that, you're like, wait. The Israelites, that's also me, like I'm the same way as them. I'm so prone to wonder. So yeah, I love the Old Testament. It's good stuff.
Track 1:yeah. It's easy. It's easy to look at them and like the disciples pre Holy Spirit and be like, what are you doing? Like, you're an idiot.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah.
Track 1:can't you see this? Jesus? You know? Like, they don't, they're kind like, they, they don't have hindsight on their side. They're like living this as it happens. Uh, and like, I think it's cool when you read, especially the Old Testament, like Joshua, I think, or from, at least in my memory, from what I can remember, is like the only major character in the Old Testament who really didn't like, have, or it wasn't documented that he had like a real big screw up, you know, like Moses, um, Moses, Moses killed a guy and then ran away and then like struck a, struck a rock when God told him to speak to the rock, I think he struck it. And so he disobeyed God, like David, like had an affair, got a, got the husband killed. You know, like Solomon turned, I mean, Solomon did a whole bunch of debauchery. I mean, everyone in scripture is flaw, um, except for Jesus. And I think that's like God just saying, like elevating, like this is how great I am. And like if I can take, if I can take Abraham who had an affair with his servant so that he could have a child, even though God had already promised him one, then like, why, why can't he do anything with you? You know? Um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Right.
Track 1:I wanted to talk to a little bit about, uh, Something that, you know, if we're talking about what's the point of scripture and like what's the point of, uh, the Bible or the gospel, right? And like you've got all this here and you're like, cool. Like what do I do with it? Um, like I think you have already alluded to it when talking about Jeff Bulger and Caleb Knox and your, uh, experience at Northwest Shoals. Um, it's just that there's a evangelism aspect to the gospel. Like if you don't share the gospel, then like, what good, like what good is it doing, you know? Um, and so I heard a, uh, story this past Sunday that, um, our church in, I go to Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. And like, not that, uh, I'm not saying Shades, mountain Baptist Church is the best church in the whole world and that we should all go to Shades Mountain Baptist Church. But I think Shades does a lot of great things and I think they do some things that aren't so great and so that's fine. Um, but they recently sent, uh, five men to Nepal, um, on a week long mission trip. And I'm gonna share my screen. So also we're testing, so Parker and I are testing out video for the first time. So like, if this doesn't work, then it's okay.
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:Yeah. We're gonna, we're gonna figure this stuff out as we go. So be patient with
Track 1:gonna figure this out. So here I'm sharing my screen. So now you're gonna see it just a bunch of me. But if you come over here and if you don't, if you're like me, like I didn't know where Nepal was, so here it is right here. It's. Just northeast of India, just southwest of China. It's considered Southeast Asia as far as the I M B looks at it. Um, and just to give some statistics, this is from 2016, so this is South Asia. Um, there's 1.7 billion people. This is as of 2016 again, so these have probably changed slightly. Um, they're an estimated 1.5% of the total population as of 2016 were evangelical believers. And this stat right here is 237,000 people in South South Asia die without Christ
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:right.
Track 1:single week. And so they went in Nepal. And if you, I mean the statistics are more or less the same. There's 31 million people in Nepal, Buddhists born in Nepal. Here's the major religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, um, As of 2016, it's 0.67% were, uh, estimated to be evangelical. Um, and I looked at, you can go to the I and B's website and like filter down on Nepal and it'll kind of show the same thing. You'll just kind of basically see that, uh, no. Oh, I got it. Oh, no, I didn't get it. Well, I guess it timed out on me, but you'll kind of see that like most of the, uh, stats on Nepal are, come on. There you go. There are 3, 1, 2 or three according to this map. And that basically means that there's less than 2% evangelical with some resources, no active church planting within the past two years, all the way up to, um, some localized planting, uh, and some widespread planting in the last two years. And so I just thought that was, um, I thought it was interesting just leading up to like what, you know, they were, the story they were gonna share. And a guy named Jeremy Horton sat down and shared the story in front of the entire church and was, was talking about how, um, first of all, it's illegal to share the gospel in Nepal. Um, it's not illegal to be a Christian, but it's illegal to spread the gospel. So conventional wisdom tells you, well, how, how are you gonna be a Christian if you haven't hurt? Um, and so they went knowing, knowing the risk, and just to give you a little bit of, uh, a quick highlight, they were at one point they, uh, were followed by some people, uh, from a previous town and they were recording them and videoing them. And so they were like, Hey, I've got to their guide, said, Hey, we gotta go. And so. They hiked for 10 hours that day. Normally they hike a couple hours at a time to the nearest town, but this day they had to hike 10 hours straight. Um, they get to the very top of this like mountain, and there's, if you look at the topography of Nepal, it's very mountainous. It's in the Himalayas. And so they kind of get over this ridge and they come down and they realize that, uh, their, their guide realizes that the trail's been washed out by, uh, rain. And so they can't go that way anymore and they can't go back. So, uh, the story Jeremy tells is the guy, a guy leans over to him, or the, the guy huddles him up and he is like, Hey. He's like, listen, he's like, my two of my guys are gonna cut out a path in the side of the mountain for you to go down and we're all gonna scale down this mountain. And he is like, he's like, and if you. He said, do everything I say or you're gonna die. so like, like the beer washes over and he is like, man, he's like, this is real. And so they get down and they go, um, to the next town and no one finds'em after that. So, uh, but I got Jeremy's brother, Jake Horton, who also went on that trip to, uh, share me the statistics about what, how many people they share the gospel with. And I just thought this was like, I, to me it was like the highlight of the trip, you know? Um, but they the gospel with 292 people and 54 people accepted Jesus. Um, and most of those people had never heard the gospel at all. I think they said only five people rejected it. The rest of them were more or less like, you know, I, I don't know. Um, but I just felt like I, I don't know. I was, I was incredibly convicted by that story. Um, and encouraged at the same time, because I feel like if you talk about scripture and you talk about the gospel, you have to talk about evangelism too. Um, and so I just thought, uh, I think Jeremy kind of closed, uh, with this by saying like, whatever you think about the gospel, just know that it's worth it. You know, the risk is worth sharing. Like, to him hiking for 10 hours to get away from someone who didn't want them there, and scaling inside of a mountain, all for the purpose of sharing the gospel. Now, 54 people, Have heard of the gospel, who would've otherwise could have died and spent an eternity separated from God. Um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:right,
Track 1:and it goes, and I'll close with this and let you, uh, talk, but in, uh, Romans 10 13 through, was it 15, 13 through 15? It says, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And it says, how then will they call on him and whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they're sent? Um, and so that's just a, that's the point. It's like, you know, how, how can someone hear about Jesus if no one's gonna go? Um,
parker_1_09-19-2023_203037:right. Yeah, I that is super, that's super convicting because like, you know, Cale and I have been kind of talking about this a lot recently that, you know, here in America, we're not really persecuted that much. As I said, definitely in the South. There's not really any persecution going on. Uh, the most that we could possibly be persecuted for being a Christian would be to make a decision that we felt like as a family would be Christlike and following the gospel and that somebody would say, well, that's kind of lame. Um, that's pretty much it. I mean, it's not really like, like, you're not being like searched out. You're not being recorded to be sent to the government. You're not being, you know, threatened to be killed. Um, and you know, reading through scripture, I mean, like, you know, we, um, right now, Kayla and I, we are in, let's see, we just got done with Ezekiel and not to go in too much. In detail about Ezekiel, but Ezekiel was like, he was a prophet that had to tell bad news all the time to the Israelites, uh, like, because they were going in exile and he told them like, God's not going to relent, like you have rebelled against him and he had to continually tell the people over and over again, to the point where he was like asking God, like, man, can I like say something good? Like, all I'm doing is I'm, I'm definitely. Paraphrasing this, but Ezekiel was basically like, can I say something good every once in a while? Like I've done nothing but say bad stuff. Uh, quote unquote, bad stuff. And, but in the end, he would also say, I'm going to follow what you tell me to do. So a lot to be said, like, you know, I don't really feel like, you know, here in the South and the, in the United States, It's, it's one, it's always like, Oh, well, evangelism is like, Oh, I'll just invite him to church, um, which is a great thing. Like that's, that's an amazing thing. You should invite people to church. That should never stop. Um, but it has to be, to me, it has to be more than that. Like you can't just invite somebody to church and it'd be just completely done. Cause I was invited to church before I became a Christian. I went to church all the time, but I wasn't a Christian. Um. It wasn't until somebody sat down with me and was like, Hey man, here's the gospel. Here it is right here. This is what's going to save you. This is where you are without Christ and here you are with Christ. And, um, you know, when you were telling that story about them going to Nepal, um, and Revelation chapter 12, uh, it's where Satan is. Is, uh, thrown down to the earth and, uh, and this is chapter 12, verse 10, it says, and I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ has come for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down. He accuses them day and night before our God. And this is the big one about verse 11, I actually have this memorized because it's just so encouraging to me. Um, And they have conquered. So these that have been accused, they have conquered him not by their works, not by anything of themselves, but by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. So by Jesus alone and by the word of their testimony and what they believe. For, and here's the big part, for they loved not their lives even unto death. And so I always ask myself like, Is that true of me? Like, do I love my, I'd love not my life even unto death. Am I willing to give up my life for, for Christ? Am I willing to put my family in a situation that might, the world might think I'm crazy, but maybe God wants to use my family for his glory. Um, you know, we might not immediately face it here in the, in the United States, but, you know, I was thinking when you told me that story, like, am I willing? To put my family in a situation like that for the gospel, like, am I willing to say, yeah, we'll go like, send me, we'll go. And am I willing as a man of the house to say, yeah, we're going to go, um, and tell these people who are unreached about the good news we have. Um, and is it worth it to me? And I would say, yes, it is worth it to me. Uh, However, what are my actions say? So, um, yeah, I mean, it's just that, that, that story is, is wild to think about, like would I be willing in that situation and say, yes, I will go to the ends of the earth and even give up my life and my family's life, which is crazy to say, but. That's what Jesus says. I mean, he says, you have to leave your father, mother, your wife, or children all to fall after me. Um, and am I willing to do that? That's a, that's a question I've asked myself almost daily. Um, because we're not faced with, you know, what the people and the believers in Nepal are faced with. So.
Track 1:Yeah. Uh, one other thing, Jeremy Horton was saying how when they were there, they found out that a, uh, pastor in two, like two villages over from where they were saying got found, he was tied to a. A pole, they threw him in a closet or they painted his face black and threw him in a closet and we're waiting, the waiting for the police to come get him. So he was gonna get arrested. I don't know what would've happened to him after that, but he, Jeremy didn't say, but, um, like, that was, that was real persecution. Like, that's, I, and I'm thinking like, like, man, like what you were saying, like, am I, do I, am I willing to do that? Am I willing to give it up for that? Um, are my friends gonna me, are my gonna invite me to the next function if I say that I love Jesus? You know? Yeah. Um, I, I'll kind of close this and then we'll kind of wrap up, but, uh, Amanda Gilliam was a, uh, also another guest on the podcast. And people, people sometimes ask me like, who's your favorite people on the podcast? I probably have mentioned this several times at this point, but, um, they're like, they're like, who, who, who's been your favorite guest? And I'm, I have two. I mean, or I guess two of the favorites. One, one of'em is Michael O'Neil was a guy who, I mean, I had no expectation for that podcast because I had talked to him and, and I like didn't get a whole lot out of him. You know, like I couldn't gauge him very well. I got referred to him by somebody and I was like, I was like, I called Ally before. I was like, ally, I'm gonna have to talk the entire time. I was like, this may be the worst podcast ever do. And, and we sit down and he's like, uh, he's like, is it cool if I like quote scripture? And I was like, yeah. I was like, it's cool. And he goes, okay. And then he goes, I'm just gonna start. And he just like writes down like Matthew 16, whatever. And he's like, and I like see him scribbling, like actual, like, I'm like, he's about to quote these from Emory. I was like, this is going to, this may be, I was like, this may be good. And like, the moment he started talking, I was like, just listening. I forgot every question I was gonna ask him. And I was just like listening. But he, he, he told a story about, uh, just about how he was just a regular guy, kinda like us. And he was like, I wanted the boat, you know, I wanted this, I wanted that. And he was like, he's like, I've been a Christian my whole life and realized I'd never shared the gospel with anybody. And he is like, that's not, and he's in sales. He is like, if I were a salesman in God's company, he is like, I'd be fired. He is like,'cause I, I shared the gospel once in 30 years. He's like, that's not a good ratio. Um, But I really love that podcast. And Amanda Gilliam is another one.'cause she lives in Tuscaloosa and spends a lot of time with international women who are there primarily because their husbands are going to school at the University of Alabama and a lot of the wives don't have anything to do. So she goes and hangs out with him and just loves on him and, and just shares the gospel with him. But she was saying, there's a guy who wrote a book, I wanna say he was an Islam guy, and wrote a book after he became a Christian. And he was saying like he could, he said, I lived in America like 10 years before anybody ever shared the gospel with me. And he was like, and it, he is like, I couldn't figure out why he is like, either they, he was, he said he came to the conclusion that either they, I. Didn't love me enough to share the gospel with me, or they didn't believe what they actually said they believed because if they did, they would've wanted to share the gospel with me. And I thought that was super. Well, I think that's about all the time we got for tonight, ma'am. Um, I appreciate you hanging out with me. I can't wait to do it again. Um, so, uh, yeah, we, I don't really know how to end this, but, uh, Jake and Friends podcasts on Instagram. Uh, there will be a Facebook page coming soon. I have a Facebook, you can follow me. And it's basically the podcast. Uh, you can follow Parker Sanders at Coach Sanders. Four. Is that it? Coach Sanders four on Instagram. Look at me, look at us. Who would've thought, You be like, uh, be like Nate talking about, uh, uh, Leonardo DiCaprio. He said that guy. He said, I learned something cool about Leonardo DiCaprio. He posts nothing interesting ever. Um, The Leonardo DiCaprio. Yes. YouTube channel. It will be on YouTube. Yes. And this is a work in progress, so you're just gonna have to live with it. There's no sponsors. If you wanna be the first sponsor, just call me like, Hey, it's not gonna take a whole lot,$5 done. You just name, name your price and you're, you're on there anyway, Alright, we'll see you next time.
