Full Transcript for Your Testimony Was Never Meant to Stay in the House | Thompson Talks with Tony and Christina

00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:42.240 Yep. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:46.319 And then also want to tell you about our Thompson Talks Insiders. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:50.080 So if you text to our podcast to one. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.759 Oh, there's no one. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:52.080 No. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:03:03.599 Just if you text the podcaster 833 933 2728 to become a Thompson Talks Insider, all of our giveaways happen by being an insider. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:08.000 It's free to you, and you can win money and prizes. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:09.680 So we just did a hundred dollar giveaway. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:10.319 Yeah, we did. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:12.800 Shout out to uh to Rachel, to Rachel Moore. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.080 Just won a hundred dollars. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:14.479 Yes. 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:26.080 With that being said, we wanna we wanna be a little controversial here with this, with this episode, and bring in uh what just happened not too long ago with Keith Lee. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:40.560 Some of you guys heard recently Keith Lee uh posted a video where he was sharing his excitement of how God had um kept him or saved his life. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.400 Protected him and his family. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:43.919 Protected him and his family. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:45.439 But he said saved his life. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:45.840 Okay. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:46.400 Okay. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:52.240 And a lot of people felt that it was tone deaf, which I can see that angle. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:54.080 I I I can see the angle. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:01.439 I empathize to an extent with the angle because there was there were people who did not did not make it. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.479 And so I empathize with that angle. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:08.479 And just like he said, condolences go out to that family. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:12.719 But I I want to bring light to this piece because this is so important. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:18.399 Okay, when he shared it, he mentioned God. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:22.399 He mentioned that God had protected him and his family. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:26.160 And that's the part I want to, I wanna, I want to tackle. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:33.279 Because there are too many people that have negative views about God. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:46.639 And part of the reason why there are people who have negative views about God is because people who have a relationship with God aren't doing enough testimony sharing. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:49.600 I'm gonna say that again. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:58.879 There are some people who look at God as this bad guy, look at God as, you know, this guy who does bad things to good people. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:13.839 And I believe part of the problem is that people who have a relationship with God, Christina, are not bold enough in telling people about what God has done for them. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:14.720 Yeah. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:27.839 And so while I empathize with certain people and perspectives in that Keith Lee video, I do understand also where he was coming from in that he was excited about the fact that, oh my gosh, look what God has done for me. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:28.319 Right. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.720 Look what God has done for my family. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:32.879 Yes, maybe timing could have been better. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:34.639 Yes, maybe slightly tone definitely. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:38.800 But look at the focal point is look at what God has done for me. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.680 Yeah, look at what God did for my family, look at what God has done me, done for me. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:52.720 And so what we want to do is invoke a boldness or courage in you watching this, saved or unsaved. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:06:08.240 So we can start, you can start bragging more on God boldly, courageously, so that people know how good he is, how faithful he is, how loving he is, how just he is. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:11.120 Because it's a lot of people bashing him. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:13.839 It's a lot of people bashing him. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:18.800 And I'll put it to you like this for those who are watching that think, you know, Tony, you're taking it overboard. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.600 If it was your mama that they were bashing. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:31.839 If it was somebody you, you know, in the flesh that you care about, if it was your mama, you be ready to fight. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.959 I'll I'll fight for God every single time. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:42.639 With that being said, four steps to effective effectively sharing your testimony. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.319 Christina's already said it. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.839 These are our opinions. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.639 Uh, these are things we're sharing from our perspective. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:53.120 We welcome disagreements, put them in the comments, um, and and let's rock and roll. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.600 I want to start here because I think Christina, you and I come from very similar homes. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:04.560 Um, we grew up in homes where, you know, it was more or less what goes in the house kind of stays in the house. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:07.519 Would you say you came from that similar background? 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:08.000 Yes. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:09.199 Are you okay? 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.399 You you you tracking? 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:10.800 You good? 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:11.199 Yeah. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:11.519 Okay. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:16.480 No, I'm I'm just thinking, if I really heard that phrase. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.399 What goes on in the house stays in the house? 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:19.519 Yeah, I know the phrase. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.000 Yeah. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.439 So maybe not for you. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.040 Okay, so not for Christina. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:24.000 So they was different.

00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:25.519 You know, she she was a little different. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:27.920 So she grew up in a house where I guess they could talk about more things. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.800 No, I think since I was the youngest, I just didn't know anything. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:31.839 I just play it. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.199 Nobody really told me. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:33.920 Nobody told me. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:39.920 She was just running in the walls, playing with Barbie Dows, jumping off pool tables and hurting herself. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:41.839 We'll talk about that story another day. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.240 But I grew up in a house, I grew up in a house where it was like, yo, what goes in the house stays in the house. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:47.439 Good, bad, and ugly. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.600 Especially the ugly, especially the bad. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:54.959 What goes on in this house on, stays in this house. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.759 And I lived by that code for most of my life. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:02.000 Most people, most of my uh upbringing, I should say, most people can relate to that. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:17.600 When I got older, though, and became an adult and I started speaking, Christina, and I started getting off the stages in high schools, in middle schools, and in colleges and universities. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:33.279 I would have these seventh graders, these 12th graders, these 20-year-olds come up to me and share unbelievable stories about what they were dealing with at home. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:44.879 What they were crying about at home, what they were depressed about because of home, what they were anxious about because of home, because of mom, because of dad, because of sibling. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.919 And they would always say, I feel like I don't have anybody to talk to. 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:50.480 Yeah. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.720 I feel like my parents are ignoring me. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:55.440 Yeah. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.320 And this is something that we probably need to talk about. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:13.440 This is not just an episode just for me advocating for youth and young adults, but but for parents out there, if you're not creating an environment for your kid to feel comfortable expressing themselves to you, you re you need to revisit your parenting. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:15.759 Person say, Tony, you can't tell me nothing. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:17.279 You got little babies, little tilers. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:19.360 You why just just watch. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.360 Just watch. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:27.840 If it's not comfortable with me, it'll definitely be that a Johnny and an Oakley are comfortable talking to her. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:30.080 And whatever they tell her, she'll relay to me. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:39.759 But as for me and my house, we're gonna create an environment where our kids feel free to share what they're going through. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:40.320 Yeah. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:42.879 And I had that at home too. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:44.240 I had that with my parents. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:47.919 It was just that what goes on in this house stays in this house. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:10:06.559 Well, what I've come to do today is connect this bridge, if you will, to the thought that the reason why some people struggle with sharing their testimony, Christina, yeah, is because they've been taught and still live by as an adult. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:16.559 What goes on in this house, what goes on in my heart, what goes on in my personal life stays in my personal life, even if I've overcome it. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.360 Yeah. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:25.360 And when you live by that for your entire life, what it does is it hinders you from being able to be used by God in a mighty way. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:30.320 And it stops you from being able to help other people, which is what God has called everybody to do. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.120 Yeah. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:32.879 He's called us to do it. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:35.440 Because the testimonies help you relate. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.480 Uh others relate to you and know they're not in it alone. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:42.240 And it encourages them if ever they're in that situation. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:42.720 Yes. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.559 They can remember what God did. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:49.679 It's like what we're talking about in Goliath when we said remember what God has done. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:57.679 Well, sometimes you in that situation, God hasn't done that specific, but you can remember what God's done in someone else's life, right? 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:01.200 And just really making sure that you share. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:01.600 Yeah. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:08.240 And I'm sure we'll talk about, you know, um, even if it's with one person, we'll get to that. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:08.720 Sure. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:08.960 Yeah. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.159 So I'll say next. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:17.120 Yeah, I just was I just was gonna say, sometimes it could be, yeah, God did this, but I don't really know anyone. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.480 I'm just not gonna tell anyone. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:19.120 There you go. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.240 It could be that one person. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.519 One person that you can do. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.399 It could be one person. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:22.960 Yeah. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:24.720 And you don't know who then they will tell. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.279 That's good. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:34.720 Or if they need it in a moment, if they need it the next day, or down the road, whatever the case may be, everybody thinks, oh, I don't have this platform. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:34.879 Yeah. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.799 I can't get up on the mic and tell. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.159

No, just share. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:42.240 Share with someone what God has done for you. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.759 What he's done, and it highlights him. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.320 Yeah. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.279 It points to him. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:53.679 And the second thing it does, Christina, is it gives that person encouragement, which is what you just said. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.559 Yep, when they need it. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:54.879 Yep. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.279 Right? 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:55.519 Yeah. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:59.440 So so let's hit, let's hit real quick why it matters. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.639 You want to, you want to touch that. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:03.679 And we kind of already touched it, but just highlight it really quick. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:09.039 Yeah, because there's people that only you can reach with your testimony. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:09.919 That's it. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.919 God is strategic. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:12.320 Yeah. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:18.639 So what he's doing in your life, he knows who's in your realm, who you can, who you can reach, who you can share it with. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:23.519 And then again, you never who know who then will tell, right? 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:29.840 I've seen people's testimony on social media and shared it with people I know who would never have even come in contact with them. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.399 That's real. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:37.679 So just sharing it verbally, written form on social media, whatever the case may be. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.080 Yeah. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:42.559 And because ultimately you, God did it in your life. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.720 So you need to open up your mouth and share about his goodness. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.320 So that's why it matters. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.360 And the thing is, God won't force you, right? 00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:04.159 God doesn't say, hey, Christina, I'm about to do this in your life, do this and this, but I want you to sign on this dotted line and tell me that if I do it, then you'll share. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.519 Like that's not how it works. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:13.360 There was some there's some stuff I went through in my life that I use in my presentations and speeches with kids. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:31.360 If I never shared that and never shared the stories and the testimony of what I've come out of and how God brought me out of, there's some kids, I swear to you, I got stories where kids, after hearing me, shared some suicidal type stuff with me. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.039 Suicide. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.000 Yes, suicidal. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:37.200 Your testimony could literally save a life. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:37.759 Yeah. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:39.440 I'm gonna say that again. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.799 Your testimony can literally save a life. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:50.399 There are some people I believe that if they would have heard your testimony or if they would have heard another person's testimony, they might still be here. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.919 I'm a sole believer of that. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.720 Yeah. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:57.200 It was because I believe we're all called to reach, Christina just said it. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:01.440 We it's some it's some people that God has put aside for us to reach. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.720 There's some people that Christina's gonna reach that I'm not gonna be able to reach. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.039 Yeah. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.159 And vice versa. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:13.200 Some people, they're in the such in the thick of what they're going through in all of the different categories, right? 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.240 That you people tell them, oh, just it's it's light at the end of the tunnel. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.039 Keep going. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.279 Yeah. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:24.960 But they can they can't even see their their next step, their foot right in front of them. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:33.840 And the only way that they'll keep going, that they'll get that encouragement to be able to keep going, is by you sharing your testimony. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.039 It's powerful. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.600 That's it. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.559 It's powerful. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:36.879 Yeah. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:45.919 And when you share it, again, I don't know if you have if you're gonna hit this, Tony, but when you share, you're not sharing it so you could get the praise. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.720 And I want to just throw- No, no, wait, wait, we gotta get to that. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.679 You you're skipping ahead. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.399 We're gonna get to that. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.360 That's the that's in there. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.320 She's skipping ahead. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.360 So we're skipping ahead. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.120 Let me let me say this so we can get to it. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.480 She, because I'm gonna let her go. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.120 Remember that point. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.159 You're gonna take that point. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.600 That's that's number two. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.960 That's number two down there. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:06.559 So watch this before we get to that, because I'm we're gonna give you four steps to effectively sharing your testimony, all right? 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:06.799 Yeah. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.200 Before we get to that, let me let me share this story with you. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.080 True story. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:16.720 I went, I was invited to speak or uh uh book to speak uh at a at a group home here in St. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.919 Louis, okay? 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.200 And so this was a smaller engagement. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:26.080 It was probably, I don't know, 20, 20 kids.

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:43.519 And after I got done sharing my story, sharing my testimony, giving God the glory, even in that, um, a kid, a boy walks up to me who looks to be, he looked to be maybe in, maybe in middle school. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.000 And he said, Thank you so much, Mr. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.960 Thompson, for sharing your story. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:52.799 And I'm looking at him and I'm kind of like, no, no, no problem. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.399 You know, it was it was my pleasure. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.240 I gave him that Chick-fil-A answer. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.720 And he said, No, you don't understand. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.000 I'm really grateful. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.840 You you you just gave me exactly what I needed. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.279 And so he it really got my attention. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:14.639 He had my attention, but you know, when someone says something, yeah, it it you really straighten up and you're like, wait a minute, let me pay more attention. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:14.960 Yeah. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:25.919 And he began, Christina, to tell me how he shared this with me, how his um mom's boyfriend used to beat him and his mom. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:30.720 Yeah, I remember this kid is maybe in middle school. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.000 Yeah, that's sad. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.200 And he said, again, I'm gonna go back. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:39.759 He said, hearing your story is exactly what I needed. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.120 It encouraged me. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.240 It inspired me. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.919 He's in a group home. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:53.919 And what I shared with him about what I had been through, to be honest, if we're comparing, I I take my route over his. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.080 And that's the thing. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:01.200 Your testimony doesn't mean isn't, oh, the person has to have the identical. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:09.359 But they can pull bits and pieces and insert themselves and and and see it's it's comparable maybe in the same bucket. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:09.759 Maybe not. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:14.799 Maybe, like you said, you you put yours here, well, you've gone through here, what they've gone through here. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:15.279 That's good. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:19.200 But he can still see the light and and find a similarity. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:19.519 Yeah. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.000 So it may not be identical, but it could be that's uh just something from it. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:29.759 The encouragement of just how you even if it's just, well, what I pulled from is Tony went through something hard. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.599 Yeah, and he came out. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.160 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.039 And then so I'm going, you know, so it doesn't have to be identical. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:40.960 Because the purpose, we've said this, the purpose is one, giving God glory, and two, showing a person there's hope. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:41.519 Yep. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:49.759 You can hope for the solution, you can hope for the light, you can hope for the exit, you can hope for the victory until you see it. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.079 Yep. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:18:02.079 And if I see that Christina did it, if I see that Christina was able to work through grief and come out with a piece that was more or better than what she had before, that means that I can do the exact same thing. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.400 Yeah. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.599 Even if I don't see it. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:03.839 Yeah. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.000 So that's powerful what you just shared. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.720 And so people need your testimony, your story. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:15.279 Before we give you the four steps to effectively sharing your testimony, we want to give you the top reason why. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.480 Christine, I want you to do this. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:25.279 Top reason why people don't share their testimony, testimony, or are hesitant to share their testimony or their story. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.680 Go ahead. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.079 Yeah. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:32.720 Similar to in the beginning, when you were talking about the um Keith Lee. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.119 Yeah. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:39.519 So the number one reason why people don't share their testimony is fair, fear of judgment and rejection. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.000 Yeah. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:44.319 So a person may be like, golly, Keith Lee shared and look at what happened, right? 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.400 So He got all this backlash. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:46.799 Yeah. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.200 He had to take the, he took the video down. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.880 It probably hurt his brand. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:56.319 So, so, so that that's more, you know, the judgment, rejection, and different things. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:02.079 But now I I get with his, you know, it was because of the the situation and everything. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.720 But your testimony may also be similar to that. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:12.720 Or it could be very like, I've shared uh things that I've gone through with being cheated on and different things. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:24.000 And there's definitely God's hand and giving him glory and giving him praise and thanking him for getting me through things, right? 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.920 And initially, I didn't want to talk about it. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.559 Right? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:40.240 Um, not on the podcast, I had been talking about it, but like when we first started working, um, I started doing workshops with you and stuff because I was like, oh gosh, even though I'm talking to kids, I'm like, ooh, judgment. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.519 I don't want them looking at me, right? 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.680 They see

me as Tony's wife, and I don't want them knowing. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.599 So there could be this feeling of shame. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.240 Shame. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:54.799 And even in the Christian space, especially, like, golly, I was, ooh, I had sex, I had this and that, and oh, should can I really, you know, share that? 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:58.400 And I mean, just different things, but and who am I? 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.680 And oh, I'm not perfect, and oh, you know, different. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:14.480 So you could have this fear of rejection, fear of judgment, but at the end of the day, it's not about you, it's not about me, it's not about Tony. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:22.240 So I need to set aside, and oftentimes sharing your testimony involves being uncomfortable. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.720 Yeah. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.079 Being vulnerable. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.359 Being vulnerable. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:29.039 That's what we do on our podcast, and that's what we always promise to do. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.640 There, I'll be honest with you guys. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:35.200 There are some things where Tony said, Hey, I want you to share this because he knows everything. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.720 He says, I want you to share this. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.960 I said, Tony, I'm not ready to share that just yet. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.319 But I'll share it with you guys. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:45.440 But, you know, so but it it takes it takes time, but ultimately. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.559 Can I say this real quick? 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.519 I'm gonna cut you off. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:47.839 Okay. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:50.160 Because I got something, I got a connecting metaphor. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:50.559 Okay. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:54.400 We just went to San Diego and we went to these beaches. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:54.960 Yeah. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.880 I'm gonna say this real quick, man. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.319 Oh my gosh. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.960 Aiden, close your ears, man. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.880 Tony, can you not say no crazy? 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.480 I'm not gonna say no crazy. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:09.119 Some some some of these people at the beach were a little bit too confident. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.000 Let me just say that. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.400 All right. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:14.319 Let me let me just say, let me say, Aiden, cover your ears, bro. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:14.880 Listen. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.079 Listen, listen, hold on. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.680 I'm connecting it to what you're saying about being vulnerable, and you'll see where I'm going. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:24.400 Some of the people in these at these beaches we went to in San Diego a little bit too comfortable. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.839 A little bit too confident. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.359 Was I a little too confident? 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:34.079 No, you were you were just right, but you just you were not a lie, you're just right. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.440 Here's here's where I'm getting at. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.079 Watch this. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:39.039 I saw some some some bathing suits. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.799 You know what I'm saying? 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.359 I can't say too much. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:59.759 Let me just say, let me just say that I feel Christians, especially who are followers of Christ in the body, need to get beach body confidence. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.440 And sharing their testimony. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.559 I like that. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:09.039 Because I saw some stuff on those beaches that will stick with me for the rest of my life. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:16.079 I saw some designs and suits and certain types. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.200 I wasn't even gonna be able to do that. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.079 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.200 And listen to me, this is no judgment to anybody, man. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.440 I don't have, I listen to me, I'm skinny. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.279 I ain't trying to talk about nobody body. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:34.000 I'm just saying it was a lot of confidence in the types of suits that were being uh worn or worn by people at these beaches. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:36.880 And so when I'm saying, Christina, you talk about being vulnerable. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.119 Yeah. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:40.000 You talk about being transparent and uncomfortable. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.599 Those people were confident. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:41.920 Yeah. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.200 They was they were pulling up in some stuff I had never seen before. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:48.240 And I'm thinking in my head, you yeah, you confident. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:52.160 Why can't we get the beach body confidence and sharing our testimony? 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.480 Yeah. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.119 Why can't we talk about God with that level of confidence? 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:59.519 Why do we gotta hide and keep everything covered up? 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:01.680 They weren't keeping it covered up, covered up. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.680 And know that you have God's back end. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.240 Come on. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.640 You have God's backend, right? 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:11.519 And ultimately, He your testimony is there, right? 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:15.359 He'll He wants us to share our testimony. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.000 Come on, right? 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:20.640 So just gonna take you feeling naked. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:20.960 Yeah. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:26.400 It's gonna take you, he people wanna see all of the skin in every testimony. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:30.720 Hold on, the skin and the love hang handles that that was being shown up. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.920 No, and the belly. 00:23:33.759 -->

00:23:42.720 You were just grabbing extra shirt and what I'm saying is I do my can we get that same beach body confidence in testimony sharing, please? 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.839 I'm speaking to the people that that are hiding. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.720 Yeah. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:54.960 Or or what they're doing is you're you're sharing the the the safe testimonies. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.599 Yeah. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.279 Because let's be honest. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:02.079 We got God has done multiple things in our life, and if I had a group them, this one is like, whoa. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:05.759 This one is like, oh, okay, it's cute. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.359 You know, you holding back. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.039 It's cute, but yeah, and God wants you to share all your testimony. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.920 So that's good. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:16.000 Okay, so let's get into the four steps to effectively sharing your testimony. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:20.720 And we're pulling this from Mark 5 verse 19. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.200 Yeah. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:26.160 I'm gonna read it, I'm gonna read it really, really uh, really, really quick. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:30.160 Um Mark 5 verse 19. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.440 Okay, here we go. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.599 No, I saw an email. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.200 I was making sure we was good. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:40.160 I saw an email from a Johnny's teacher, so I was making sure it said a Johnny in there, so I was making sure he was good. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.720 It's nothing. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.119 Okay. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.079 All right, here we go. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.920 Uh, Mark 5, 19. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:54.480 And this is the story of um Jesus casting out the demons of the demon-possessed man, unclean spirit, if you will. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:59.599 He cast him into the pigs, and you know, the demons, the man walks up to him. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:02.880 It's really the demons talking to Jesus pretty much the whole time. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:09.839 And he cast, again, Jesus cast the demons out of him, and now you're now Jesus is talking to the man. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.200 He's a clean man now. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.759 He's been set free by Jesus. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:29.680 And he did not permit him, but said to him, Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has mer how He has had mercy on you. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.720 Verse 20. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:39.759 And the man went away and began to proclaim in the decapitus how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:47.119 Okay, four ways or four steps to effectively sharing your testimony, pulling from this scripture. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:49.599 Let's go with number one, Christina. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:56.480 He told Jesus told the man, go home to your friends. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:06.640 Let's start there because I think the reason why I think this is powerful is because for some of us, we have homes. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:10.559 You know, I mentioned that I came from a home, you know, goes in a home, stays in a home. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:13.519 But I but I had a safe space in my house. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:20.640 And so I had a home where I could practice sharing my testimony. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:26.400 I could tell my mom and my dad what I was going through and what I'm trying to work on. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.680 I could tell my mom and dad I was struggling with certain things. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.240 Okay. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.119 That's number one. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:46.240 Number two about going home and telling your friends is the fact that your friends and your family can potentially be impacted the most by your testimony because they have been the most intimate with you. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:46.799 Yep. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:52.240 They probably have seen you going through what you were going through right there along. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:58.720 You were complaining to them, telling them, Well, am I gonna do my back's against the wall, whatever the case may be. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:00.079 So they've they know. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.480 Yeah. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:04.480 So they're like, they've they've seen it every so now it's like, wow. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.000 So yeah, that's powerful. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:08.319 That's powerful to be able to tell them. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.079 And ultimately, they know you. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.640 Yep. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:13.759 So it sometimes you share your testimony independent with strangers. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:17.200 I mean like, mm, did I really, you know, but your friends, they should know you. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:20.480 So they know, like, oh yeah, it had to be God. 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.039 That's good. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:24.319 Because it wasn't Christina, it wasn't totally, it had to be God. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:24.960 That's good. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:27.200 My mom, shout out to my mom, she'll watch this episode. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.079 Shout out, shout out. 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.599 She watches all of our episodes. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:40.319 She does a great job of this because she shares a testimony of how she lost, like, I always miss the count of so many three or four babies before me. 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:40.880 Yeah. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.839 And Gabby. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.240 Yeah. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:45.359 And she'll share, she she always shares. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:49.359 I remember when I was a kid, she would share her testimony with family and friends all the time. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.599 Yeah. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:55.200 And talk about how grateful she was to have me and Gabby after she lost all those children.

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:55.680 Yeah. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:58.480 Through the miscarriages and I think steelbirths. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.559 And so, so that that's an example of it. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.240 Starting with the home. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.640 Yep. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:06.640 You know, and not overlooking the people that, you know, family and friends. 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:08.960 Uh, number two, which let me say this too. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:12.960 Some people are gonna feel like, well, Tony, I got I got family and friends who are haters. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.440 Yeah. 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.079 Right? 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.279 Share it with them anyway. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:15.599 Yeah. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:19.440 See, sometimes people don't say the testimony because they think it's a brag. 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:22.799 Again, it's how you say your testimony. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.200 That's it. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.960 It's not about you, it's about God. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.519 That's it. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:29.839 So if you're doing it to brag on yourself, and that's not testimony. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.480 That's good. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.039 That's good. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:34.480 We're talking about the testimony, and I'm not saying you didn't have any part, right? 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:39.279 God partners with us, and we have to, you know, um, faith without works is dead. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.839 That's good. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:45.440 But who are as your word and things and different, like, who are you pointing to? 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.759 So brag on God more than you're bragging on yourself. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.319 That's good. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.200 Good word. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.559 Number two, number two. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:54.960 This is the one Christina was skipping ahead in a um early on. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.279 Go ahead. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:55.680 When? 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.240 I don't even know what to do. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.079 Tell them how much the Lord has done for you. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.359 Is that what I just said? 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:01.759 Yeah. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.880 But about bragging how much you're gonna do it. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.119 Yeah, so tell them. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.519 But but but this is what we want to get to. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:16.720 You just made it clear, but overstress that a story, and it we'll make this distinction, distinction. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.079 I think both are important. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:25.920 A story, your sharing your story involves you being the central, central figure. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:31.599 I overcame this, I defeated this giant. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.200 I, I, I. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:37.519 That has an importance and a relatability factor. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.240 Yeah. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:46.480 But a testimony, yeah, is God gave me the strength to do fill in a blank. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:49.759 Yeah, God gave me the wisdom to do fill in the blank. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:55.279 God elevated my finances, God got me through grief. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.759 God, God, God, God. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:04.000 The Lord protected me and protected my wife when we were spinning on that highway. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:04.799 Yeah. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:12.640 The Lord kept my family, kept my children uh uh healthy, right? 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:15.839 The Lord, that's the that's the testimony piece. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.160 Yeah. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:23.279 So that's what I want you to overstress is this is tell them how much the Lord, not Christina, yeah, not Tony. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:25.599 Yeah, because people, again, this goes back to people. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.559 You killing it. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.519 You you take it away. 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:32.079 Look, people have this view, have their views of God. 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:40.079 The question that seems to come up when people struggle with Christianity is the whole, why do bad things happen to good people? 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:46.640 Your God that you talk about, why didn't he uh stop this from happening and stop that from happening? 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.279 Yeah. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:31:00.240 And so when that question comes, the first thought that comes up in my brain is but how many good things has he done for individuals and for this universe? 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.720 Yeah. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.440 Yeah. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:11.920 And if you really sit down and you compare, you compare what you perceive to be him doing evil, which we can disagree on that, but if you we we'll just use your argument. 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:18.640 What you perceive for him perceived to be evil, him doing evil, again, I don't subscribe to that, but you might. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:26.240 I still would ask, is it comp like what is the comparison in terms of quantity when we look at the good though? 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:34.480 Yeah, because we have to count you waking up every single day and we have to give him that for every single person that wakes up that day. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:37.200 Yeah, we have to give him that breath. 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:42.799 We have God, that was that was God. 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:44.480 I know I'm being dramatic, but that was God. 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:47.440 Those three four, that was God. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:52.400 Yeah, borrowed breath. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.079 Right? 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:58.799 So, so what I'm saying is tell them how much the Lord has done. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:00.480 Put it all on God, okay? 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.680 That's number two. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:05.119 Uh uh uh you do number four. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:10.240 Number three, and how he has had mercy

on you. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.359 This one is important. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:14.319 Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:16.319 Yeah, and so I'll liken it to this. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:23.200 He told the guy about mercy, and what he's relaying to him is you couldn't save yourself, man. 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:28.160 You couldn't free yourself, you couldn't get the demons out of you. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:32.880 Yeah, this dude, if you read the story, this man was cutting himself. 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:37.680 He was yelling out, they had they had isolated him from the community. 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:40.160 Has anybody ever been isolated before? 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.599 You watching this? 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:46.960 Your family has given up on you, friends have given up on you, people have overlooked you. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:52.400 Yeah, people have treated you like less than because of what you're dealing with and what you're going through. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.240 Have you ever been in that place? 00:32:54.319 --> 00:33:09.200 And then all of a sudden, God does the impossible, God does some amazing things, Jesus sets you free from all of the stuff that was keeping you isolated, and now you're walking in a victory. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:16.480 Walking, walking, you're walking in a new divine revelation, you're walking in a new freedom, chains completely broken. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:16.960 Yeah. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:20.559 Depression, you used to be depressed, you're not depressed anymore. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.960 You used to be anxious, you're not anxious anymore. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.200 You used to be lonely, you're not lonely. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.119 Jesus did some stuff in your heart. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.079 Yeah, amen. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:34.319 And what's crazy is he's telling the dude, I have mercy on you, because it's nothing you could have done. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:39.279 You were so broken that they gave up on you. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.880 People gave up on you. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.599 His own family gave up on him. 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.079 Yeah. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.880 That's what it says. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.559 That's why I said go home on the first one. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.440 Tell your friend. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.119 Friends and family gave up on him. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.519 Yeah. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:55.680 So he said, There's nothing your parents did, there's nothing that your friends did, there's nothing your community did. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.720 I did it. 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:11.920 So when you share your testimony, make sure you tell people that it was not only that, look at what the Lord has done, but express that it was only Him. 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:22.239 Express that if He would not have shown up, I would have been in a dark, dark, much darker place. 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.800 That's okay. 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.719 He's had mercy on me. 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.840 And that's powerful. 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.039 Take us home, Christina. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.599 Number four. 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:33.440 The fourth step to effectively sharing your testimony. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.079 Take us home. 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.480 Yep. 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.599 Proclaiming. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.559 Proclaim. 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:38.079 And the capitalist. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:39.280 The decapitalist, yeah. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.679 Okay, the entire community or city. 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.880 That's what he told him. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:48.320 Because when you do that, then as the scripture says, everyone will marvel. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:48.880 Right. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.079 And then everyone will point and everyone will know what God has done. 00:34:52.320 --> 00:35:01.679 Because again, it kind of goes with one as far as go home and tell your friends, but then when you go and tell the entire community or city, it just broadens the reach. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.639 It broadens the reach. 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:05.119 It broadens the reach, and that's what it's about. 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:12.320 And when you tell people like, just don't, you know, the Bible tells us don't be ashamed of the gospel, right? 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:16.880 And don't be ashamed of what God is doing in your life because He's doing something. 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:18.800 And I know we're at time. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.960 Um, I could save it. 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:24.800 I was gonna share testimony, but you want me to save it? 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.800 Um, no, go ahead. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.360 Hmm? 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.239 No, go ahead. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.360 Okay, you know what I'm talking about. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.079 Yeah, go ahead. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:30.559 Okay. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:34.719 So testimony that I wanted to share. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:37.039 Uh, shout out to my dad. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:42.079 Um, he also watches all of our episodes, which I didn't even know he was like secretly watching. 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:46.880 So don't secretly watch like my dad comment on the video and like it. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.880 I didn't even know he watched every episode. 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:50.400 So, okay. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:53.760 So um my dad's actually in the next room watching Oakley. 00:35:55.119 --> 00:36:00.239 So my dad, he was diagnosed. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:07.519 Well, his PSA, so prostate, um, the prostate test came back and it was very high and elevated. 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:15.119 And this was within that first year, hadn't even been a year after my mom had passed away, that that happened. 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:25.360 And just to speed the testimony up, he um went to the doctor, he had to get a scan and a

test, and this and this and this, you know, that takes months and all of that. 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:32.639 Found out it was cancer, found out it was uh more aggressive of the level. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:38.719 Um the doctor described it as like the pit bull of the prostate cancer, if you will, when he, you know. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:50.400 So he found this out, and he when that happened, immediately, like in my mind, I thought about my mom. 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:52.400 Because my mom passed from cancer. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:56.079 And when I tell you how many months? 00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:58.400 It hadn't even been a year. 00:36:58.719 --> 00:37:04.320 My mom my mom passed in February, and we found this out, was it like September? 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:07.039 Okay, um, September, October. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:10.159 And it was like, wow. 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.719 Yeah. 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:16.079 I mean, we could talk about that, but it was like, wow, is this really happening? 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:25.599 You know, but grabbed hold of that negative thought of like, could this be the same outcome as my mom and really turn to God. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.000 Yeah. 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:36.400 And when when my dad, I'm telling you, when my dad, and I'm saying this from my dad's perspective, because he he's told his friends and so forth, this is him telling the community. 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:38.400 I'm helping, I asked him, can I share? 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.920 And he said, absolutely. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:46.960 So um, shout out to you, dad, for letting your testimony be, be heard and letting um us say it on our platform. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:53.039 So, but he was my dad, he, again, his wife passed. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:38:02.800 And he, yes, was kind of down, but then he told me, he said, I called him one day, I said, I was calling him every day, Dad, you are you okay? 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.239 Like, you know, this, this, and this. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:05.599 And he said, you know what? 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:08.079 I'm staying, I'm staying prayerful. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:14.000 I'm praying, I'm listening sermon, like I'm gonna beat this. 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:14.320 Yeah. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.000 And I was like, wow. 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:16.719 Yeah. 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:30.960 He had every reason to be down and so forth, but he was encouraged and and went down at church, you know, went down for prayer and just was really believing and so forth. 00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:40.480 And through that, um, after, so he ended up, um, they told him that he would need surgery or radiation, and he decided to get the surgery. 00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:49.280 And they said, you know, it's a chance that it may not, we may not get all because it his um cancer was like right on the edge. 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:52.559 So they didn't know like if it spread or anything. 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:56.880 So, long story short,

came back. 00:38:57.039 --> 00:39:04.960 They said the surgery was successful, but he had to wait six weeks to see if the PSA value went down, took the test, value went down. 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.280 Yeah. 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:05.760 Right. 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:09.920 And this, so he had the surgery in January, so um six weeks. 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:12.239 This was like sometime in February, yeah. 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:14.400 Right around the time of my mom's one year. 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:16.159 And we're like, wow. 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:24.800 And just two weeks, a week ago from us recording this, my dad had to go get another lab test done. 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:28.079 And again, the PSA was low before. 00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:29.840 This time it's undetectable. 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.639 Praise God. 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:33.119 Undetectable, like gone. 00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:33.599 Yeah. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.320 Gone. 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.199 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.960 And it's all God. 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:37.920 All God. 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.639 Nothing. 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:41.199 And this is a testimony where you know it's all God. 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:44.400 It was nothing my dad could have done in the natural, right? 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:49.039 My dad, you know, he trusted doctors, but he trusted God more. 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.320 He got the surgery, right? 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:54.960 And a person say, oh, well, um, and I'm just speaking to those who may be thinking, oh, it was a surgery. 00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:55.519 It wasn't God. 00:39:55.599 --> 00:40:02.159 It was God because at the end of the day, it could have, it could have been where all of the cancer wasn't gone. 00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:05.840 It could have been the surgery wasn't successful, you know, different things. 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:09.280 My dad, a couple of underlying health conditions, all of that. 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:09.760 Yeah. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:27.280 So not only is a testimony that my dad is cancer free, but the testimony is that my dad was not shaken by the negative news, even though what happened when my mom happened and he still was faith strong, going to church, praying, believing and worshiping. 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.719 That's the part of the testimony, too, that's powerful. 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.360 Yeah. 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:35.679 He had every excuse, every right to turn his back on God, and he didn't. 00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.239 Yeah. 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:42.000 And when that happened, he said, Hey, I I know the God I serve. 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.400 Yeah. 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:46.000 And he was prayerful, and it was all God. 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:47.440 And then flip it, you too. 00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.000 Yeah. 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:48.559 Yeah. 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:51.599 Well, I just I just wanted I just wanted to highlight my dad on that. 00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:57.519 But I'm saying you could have very much been thinking my mom just slipped into eternity from cancer. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:57.840 Yeah. 00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:00.000 And now months later, my dad. 00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:00.320 Yeah. 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:03.280 And you could have gone into a place of like got real low. 00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.880 And so God got ahead, man. 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:05.920 Yeah. 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.960 I don't have none, nothing. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:07.440 Yeah. 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:09.360 You hit the my mom got cancer. 00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:10.559 Now my dad has cancer. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.440 Like, what's what's going on? 00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:12.480 You could have done one of those. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:13.119 I could have. 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:13.519 I could have. 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:15.039 And that's a testimony too. 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:17.199 Uh a double testimony from it. 00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.079 Praise God. 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.039 Because yes, I could have got even darker. 00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:21.360 Yeah. 00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:23.360 Um, slipped into depression. 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:23.679 Yeah. 00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.559 All of this stuff. 00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:27.199 I could have turned my, I could have said, God, are you serious? 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:28.400 It hasn't even been a year. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:28.960 There you go. 00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:31.280 I got this baby, this and this and this. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:33.920 And you're gonna do this and add something else to my plate. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:34.400 Yep. 00:41:34.880 --> 00:41:35.199 Right? 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:36.079 But I didn't. 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:43.280 It's your mindset when you're going through it, like it's your mindset and your reliance on God in that faith aspect. 00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:43.840 It's good. 00:41:44.079 --> 00:41:45.039 That faith aspect. 00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:46.559 So praise God. 00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.920 Um, just sharing. 00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:56.320 Um, um put in the comment, praise God, hashtag praise God, and share your testimonies with us too in the comments. 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.960 We'll love to see. 00:41:57.199 --> 00:41:57.440 That's good. 00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.159 That's actually what you're doing. 00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.280 Like, that'd be really good. 00:41:59.440 --> 00:41:59.840 Share it. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:08.800 Either share it in the comments or you can share this video on your uh Facebook or um Instagram and such, and then put it and then but relate it to this. 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:12.719 Um, but yeah, that's the testimony I had to share because it's like, wow. 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:16.159 Here's what we'll do on the spot, and then we're getting ready to pray. 00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:16.559 Yeah. 00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:26.159 Uh share your testimony, become an insider by texting the

word podcast to the number 833-933-2728. 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:33.519 And what we'll do is we'll read the comments, we'll read the testimonies, and we'll make that a part of the next next giveaway. 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:34.000 Okay. 00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:39.679 Rewarding you for the for the boldness of sharing your testimony, but also being a Thompson Talks insider. 00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.719 Gotta be an insider. 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:40.880 Yeah. 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:44.639 Text the word podcast to 833-933-2728. 00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:49.119 Leave your con leave your pod uh leave your testimony in the uh in the in the comments. 00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:49.519 Yeah. 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:52.960 With that being said, thank you so much for watching this episode. 00:42:53.119 --> 00:43:02.480 Before we get out of here, we want to make sure that everyone watching and everyone listening uh has an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as the personal Lord and Savior. 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:16.960 Uh God wrapped himself in human flesh, walked this earth uh in a sinless manner, did not sin, and and died a gruesome death, and then rose. 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:20.559 And he did it because he loves you and me. 00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:27.199 Me and Christina, you watching this, and he wants you to choose him. 00:43:28.239 --> 00:43:31.199 He's not gonna make you, but he wants you to choose him. 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:39.039 And so he won, he did something that is gonna take care of your past, present, and future sin. 00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:44.719 Not that you can keep on sinning, but it will cleanse you, what he did if you accept it. 00:43:44.800 --> 00:44:00.559 And so, right now, if that is you, all you have to do, if you want that that that that shame, that guilt gone, that relationship with God right now, sins wiped, all you got to do is repeat this prayer after me, mean it, and this will begin your journey with with God. 00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:03.519 Heavenly Father, I thank you for saving me. 00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:19.039 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came to this earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for my sins, was buried for me, and rose again on the third day. 00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:31.119 Because I believe that, I ask you, Jesus, to come into my heart, wash me in your blood, cleanse me, forgive me of my sins, give me a clean heart. 00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:33.679 In Jesus' name. 00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:34.960 Amen. 00:44:35.760 --> 00:44:38.320 If you said that prayer, welcome to the family of God. 00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:44.400 Uh, number one, number two, uh, send us a DM, send us an email, let us know that you made that decision. 00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:45.679 We are hyped for you. 00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:47.760 We are really excited for you. 00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:51.840 Uh let us know so that we can send you some resources and help you in this walk. 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:57.519 And with all of that being said, this has been another episode of Thompson Talks with Tony. 00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:59.119 And Christina, thanks. 00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.079 Go ahead. 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:01.039 Thanks for watching. 00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:02.960 Like, share, comment, subscribe. 00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:04.079 See you next time. 00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:04.800 Bye.