Rhett: 0:00

Imagine a world where every conversation feels like a genuine connection with authentic people. A place where you truly feel like you belong and where everyone's got a chair at the table. Friends, welcome to Armchair Authentic. Okay, so first for me today, uh Justin is um I decided to go fill up my gas tank, uh my little Miata at a different gas station. Normally I go to the one like right down to the side of my house down here, about three minutes away. Um, and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna go, it's pretty outside. I'm gonna go a little bit further. So I got on the interstate, went down to Bucky's. I'm not a huge Bucky's fan. I mean, I enjoy it, but I'm like, it's so crowded. I'm like, uh, but uh anyway, so I was like, it's a good space. I didn't go in, I just went and got gas, which is what they don't want you to do. They want you to walk into get sucked into the the Disney world of Buckys. Anyway, uh which is wonderful. Yeah, great space. So the gas was 242. Those listening in different parts of the country, you're probably like, what? You know, could I live in Alabama? Get me some Bucky's gas price. Come on. Was it was like five cents cheaper than where I normally get. I was like, oh, hey, okay, that was worth the drive. I had to drive seven miles that way to get there. So I don't know if you do the math if I'm burning that or whatever. And you say it about seven cents. Yeah, you know, uh well, did I burn it going back and forth just to get it? You know, like I saved money, but then I really, anyways, uh the reason I'm mentioning this is because I'm outside, I just filled up my tank, and then um, as I'm about to get back in the car, this older gentleman um by the name of Joe came up to me. He's like, hey man, like, man, nice car, you know, or whatever. Just started talking. I was like, oh, well, thanks. You know, it's my little my wife won't let me have a motorcycle, so this is my motorcycle kind of thing, you know, little convertible. Yeah. And uh I was like, dude, I got this for just an incredible deal. It wasn't in great shape. And I ended up, you know, that's why I got a deal on it and I fixed it up. We just got the talking. He was like, Well, I'm not from here. I'm like, where are you from? He's like, Man, I'm from Idaho.

Justin: 2:03

No, I was like, What? What is this? I was like, Are you kidding me?

Rhett: 2:08

Yeah, so he was like, Yeah, you know, I was like, bro, I'm in Idaho every month. I live there for like five. Where'd you where'd you live? I was like, Well, Napa, the Caldwell area, the Boise, you know. He's like, Oh, well, I'm I'm I'm I'm closer to Ontario, but I'm in Parma. And I'm like, dude, I know Parma. I know well, and we started talking. Next thing you know, 20 minutes later, I'm still having this conversation with this guy. Anyway, I just thought that was like, wow. Like, what are the chances? What are the odds? What are the odds? And then he's talking to me about Jesus, and I'm thinking, well, are you LDS? And then no, he's not. He's you know, uh believes that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, Savior of the world. And we were just talking and he was down here. And the final, the final revelation. The final revelation. We don't need added, we don't need additional ref you know, revelations from men who Joseph Smith may have been a good guy.

Justin: 2:54

Uh but y'all, he was crazy. Be careful. Malarkey.

Rhett: 2:58

Yeah, a lot of malarkey.

Justin: 2:59

They don't talk it, but that guy was messed up.

Rhett: 3:01

You start looking at the uh, you know, we won't make this a Joseph Smith conversation. The veil of using Jesus' name, but anyway. Let's love Jesus. But this guy, I was thinking, well, surely he's LDS and just really kind, and but he wasn't. And I was like, Well, okay, so we just start talking about Jesus. And anyway, the even the the the fact that I mentioned that and I told him, I said, you know, I wasn't even planning to come to this gas, I never come to this gas station. But it's interesting how I was like, no, I'm gonna go down and how God just ordained this little moment. It was encouraging and just had a chance to catch up with a fellow Idahoa. And he's like, Man, I can't wait. He said, I may never remember your name. I was like, just remember Gone with a When. You're in Alabama, it's the South. Rhett with Gone with, you know. Right, but he's like, Man, but when we're when he was like, you know, when we're in heaven one day, I'll come up to you and go, Oh, you were that guy that we talked about, Jesus in Bucky's parking lot. Anyway, there you go. You're like, well, I don't know about all that. I don't know if we're gonna do all that. I was like, well, he he started talking, well, we were visiting this church, and I'm not a big fan of all the like, you know, the big stuff, the screens and all this stuff with the words on it. I'm kind of old school. I like the himnals, and I was like, man, that's yeah, I said, that's great. There's nothing wrong with that. You're like, you're talking about my church, sir. No, I said, I said, you know, I don't get so caught up in the process on how we uh, you know, I think it's more about a relationship with God and whether we put it on a screen or on a transparency or in a renewal. Yeah, it doesn't really matter, you know, that's right with a smile on my face, and he's like, Yeah, you're right. You know, it's like, well, I'm not trying to be right. I'm just let's just focus on what's most important. Yeah, it's not about it's not the process, it's the heart that connects with God.

Justin: 4:36

Yeah, you know, and then one and then live out life, and then when you see me in heaven, when you come visit me, you'll tell you can tell me then I was right.

Rhett: 4:43

Yeah. Well, I didn't know there's gonna be a digital screen in heaven. Wow. It's a digital screen that that's that's illuminated on our hearts. That's right. Yeah. As I physically give you the chest bump sign, like it's written on our chest, like Superman logo, anyways.

Justin: 5:03

The odds.

Rhett: 5:05

That's just it. Yeah, I'm like, I need to go buy a lottery ticket right now. Like that's I would have never thought like you're just not gonna be the Idaho. And he talked, he was like, Man, I love it, it's beautiful down here, but like all these trees, you know, and can't see anything. I was like, I get it. I said, but there's once you've lived in different places, you've also realized that's the beauty of it. It's it's the green. I said, nowhere in the else in the world are you gonna go. You know, well, I mean, there are plenty of other places you could go. That's very crazy stupid. You're in Tree City, U.S. That's what I'm saying. And he was getting ready. Well, we're about to go up to Huntsville, and I don't really know what's there. I was like, well, let me tell you. He talked about it in the last conversation. Matter of fact, Trump now calls it Rocket City. I told him that.

Justin: 5:44

He's never heard that.

Rhett: 5:45

He said, You're about to go to Rocket City, and by the way, I love Trump, but at the same time, like uh, he didn't name it Rocket City. It was already named that, just so you know, let's make that very clear. And told him about NASA and the Rocket Center. And I said, and now you know space for it. He's like, Oh man, I forgot. That's right.

Justin: 6:00

I was like, Yeah, it's a great city. Well, it's funny because I was sitting um Shout out to John Ross in Huntsville, baby. Come on, John Ross. We'll give you a shout out. We're getting closer. We got to get um one more. We do have to. I did talk with John Ross. We got to get him on one more. He he he did say are we obligated? Because he knows that now that we've announced it, he knows that episode 100. Well, I asked you earlier if anybody said anything to you about that. And you were like, No.

Rhett: 6:25

Well and now you're telling me on the air.

Justin: 6:27

They haven't said it to me. I, because that was announced, kidding, because it was released, I knew he hadn't caught up. He's like four back. I told him. Oh, okay. I said, one thing you're going to hear, and I don't want you to hear it so last minute.

Rhett: 6:40

Wow.

Justin: 6:40

And so I did let him know.

Rhett: 6:42

He's like, Well, but I got I gotta get my second on there. I gotta get on there again.

Justin: 6:45

Yeah, so he wants to arrange the second so he can tie mark.

Rhett: 6:48

Well, hey, J. Ray, I want to say this. If there's anything we need on the the the big ten rocks or or nine at this point moving forward, uh, it has to be starts. Like, you know, um, when my kids get older, they'll be like, My dad knew John Ross outridge. Sorry. Aldridge.

Justin: 7:06

Yeah, it'll be like knowing the edge from you too.

Rhett: 7:08

I know, like he knew the edge from you too in the Christian world. I know. Dad's awesome. Or your granddad at this point, you know. So there you go. Hey, John Ross, a lot of love to you. I hope it puts a smile on your face wherever you're running. He's probably in the middle of a good long run. He's listening to it. Maybe his shins are hurting and he's walking at this point. That's your sign to stop running, brother.

Justin: 7:28

Hey, I was at uh Starbucks today, shocker there, but it wasn't mine, it was yours because today we were gonna do a little bit of a later recording.

Rhett: 7:37

Yeah. And so um because the truth be told the truth be told, let's see the reason why. Yes. It's because we we met this week to record a podcast. We did. And we got to talking, and we didn't hit record, not on purpose, but like we just wanted to talk. Hang on.

Justin: 7:53

On purpose, we didn't hit record. Yeah, our food. Yeah, we weren't at the moment yet. Yeah, right. Exactly. We weren't at the moment yet, but we still have our mics and we're just talking our normal talk, and it was stuff we didn't want to put on yet. It was just our talk. It's our talk that we're gonna look at the future. Yeah, we kept looking saying, okay, we do need to start in a little while. 30 minutes later. We need to start another 30 minutes.

Rhett: 8:16

Okay, well, we're gonna have to find another day to record this week.

Justin: 8:18

We did, and so I brought some of the stuff I'm working on to the moody Starbucks. Yeah.

Rhett: 8:24

And shout out to JC, Ryan, Sarah, all y'all. All the crew.

Justin: 8:29

Yeah, and I get a text from you like, hey, it's a good Starbucks, in it. So I already know you're probably behind me staring through the window, but you're not. I look around, and then by the time I look back towards my computer, I see um JC. Yeah, who I just now realized, I think I called him JT. It's alright. Sorry, sorry, JC. Um JC is like trying to get my attention because I've got my in-ear zone and I have got it on isolation mode, and I'm listening to Christmas cafe music where you got the picture of like a cafe, and I'm in my own little world doing my work, having Christmas stuff.

Rhett: 9:05

And he's literally talking to me over the speaker as I'm in the drive-thru, and he's like, Oh, Justin's here? Let me go get his Justin. I'm like, bro, he's got his in-ears in. I'm talking through the the drive-thru speaker, two or three people behind me.

Justin: 9:16

Everybody's hearing it because if you're at Starbucks, everybody hears through the earphones. So everybody's now looking through the whole cruise. And I'm just not locked in. And I finally feel like I hear something in the back of that Christmas cafe that I'm listening to, and I look up in real life and I can hear JC. Justin. Justin. And so I take it off. He's like, Rhett, Rhett, come, here's Rhett. Yeah, JC's on it. And so he let me have the headphone to uh talk to you. I love that guy. Be clear, Starbucks. He didn't let me put it on my head. No. But I did get to speak into the mic and say hey to my buddy.

Rhett: 9:50

Yeah, I was like, dude, Justin's dream came true. You just literally were like a barista for a moment talking through the door.

Justin: 9:56

They were they just thought it was so funny how we're we're kind of like how we're just like little high school kids, like, hey buddy. Like this 40-year-old men with green hair time, and the and these the girls who are working there were like, Oh man, oh, that's so sweet. Yeah, I'm like, Well, that's my butt my butt. I'm gonna I'm gonna stand here with y'all until he comes to the front. Yeah, and the sun was so bright, I can he's like, Can you see them? I was like, and your Miata is so short. I need to see the top of your head.

Rhett: 10:24

You see the two inches of hair that I have poking up.

Justin: 10:27

Yeah, so that was funny to me.

Rhett: 10:28

I was like, Well, Jay C's at the window going, Hey man, you see them? I'm like, Well, I'm basically sitting on the ground, so I don't see it.

Justin: 10:35

But it is funny we see each other and we're waving at each other like we're little kids. Hey, man, buddy. And everybody who's in the in Starbucks are like, how precious. I mean, these guys probably haven't seen each other in years, and there they are. And I'm like, and I'm telling them, I'm like, he's been my best friend for 40 years, which that probably reveals our age. But have y'all really? I'm like, yeah. And then now we're in the talk of God, that's just so rare. I'm like, yeah, it is. And then one of them says, So you're a musician too. And I said, Yeah. Are you in theater? No, I almost said that, but then she said a joke that I didn't get. She said, she said, Yeah, I'm I'm into music too. I said, Really? She said, Yeah, I'm a musician. I said, Really? What do you play? And she says, tenor. And I'm waiting for her to say, like, tenor sacks, or like, what? That's a vocal part, yeah. Unless it's an instrument. And I'm like, what? She's like, tenor. And then she's like, ten or eleven miles from here, I go to something like tenor. It was a joke. And I didn't get it. I was like, wow. So it was and you're still there in the drive-thru. And I say, What? Like, what do you mean, tenor? And she's trying to give me the punchline, and I'm not getting it. She's like, Okay, tenor, like ten or eleven miles from here.

Rhett: 11:59

Oh, okay.

Justin: 12:00

And I'm like, but I still don't get it. What? And then she was like, you know, I've got a couple more of these. And I said, Oh, you're making a joke. Like, I get it, like tenor, eleven miles. And then I give the charity chuckle.

Rhett: 12:14

You should have done with your hands in the air going, well, that was about six, seven. Six, seven.

Justin: 12:18

It wasn't that good. A little balance. And I said, Oh, that's funny. And you know, I just did the fake laugh. She's like, and then she just walked away.

Rhett: 12:27

She's like, okay. Take the garbage out. And it was, I was like, okay. I wonder which one. I'm I gotta call her out. I don't I don't know who she is. Yeah, I don't you didn't get her name.

Justin: 12:34

So no, I didn't, but it was it was funny once you finally pulled off. I was like, I'm gonna go see him in just a minute. It's like, oh yeah. Yeah, so randomly. Then I went back to my sophisticated work, like, all right, back into theology. Back into my serious mode. Back into your serious mode. Yep. It's funny when people see a different side, because before that, you know, you see you size people up when you're in public. If you see somebody who looks serious, you've already labeled them like probably a serious guy. Yeah. All black, let's say, which I'm not in today, but all black, kind of that artist kind of vibe, very serious. You see the smiley guy. Oh, that's the smiley old guy. Good. You know, they probably had me as this very sophisticated, focused. I'm like locked in. I've got my Bible, I'm pulling out, I'm writing some outlines, da da da.

Rhett: 13:25

Yeah.

Justin: 13:26

Very serious eyebrows are just I'm I'm locked in. And the moment that Jay JC calls, yeah, I turn into that childlike again. Hey, and I'm like the loud guy in the restaurant. And then I go back. And I go back into my serious mood, and it's like I can still hear the reverberation of what we just did in the store. And it's like, well, whatever image I had, yeah, people got to see the real.

Rhett: 13:50

When I was pulling in through the drive-thru lane, I saw your car, and then I was like, Oh yeah, that's right. He's gonna be here earlier. I saw your back because you know, turned. I was like, oh yeah, he's in he's in deep work zone. And then when I pulled up to the drive-thru, I was like, hey, Buenos Dis Amigo is JC. He's a Mexican. He says, Hey, I'm a Mexican, I'm not Hispanic, I'm from California, I'm Mexican. I was like, all right, bro. And uh, and so anyway, um, and I was like, hey man, my buddy's in there. I was like, I was already like, I'm gonna, yeah, I don't know what he's gonna do, but I was like, hey, my buddy's in there working, you know. Yeah, that's when he uh started just shaking everything up. Because you can imagine, like everybody that comes through Starbucks is typically just there, give my drink, get my order, keep moving. And they did a great job, but I'm always like, ew, what's going on? How y'all doing?

Justin: 14:31

I start talking to him. Yeah, well, well, relational connections because the moment they knew I knew you, yeah, there were probably three people in there that gave normal uh Starbuck hospitality, yeah. But they were locked in on the work. I was getting smiles from all of them after that. Yeah, almost like they felt like they knew me more and so now they're talking to me. Yeah relational connection is so funny.

Rhett: 14:55

It's huge, yeah. And that's why I I think that's a I want to live in the moment. You and I talk about this all the time. Leadership lesson is I've lived my life before being the person coming through Starbucks, like, hey, here's my drink. Thanks, have a great day, appreciate you, you know. And I'm always like not in the moment, but I'm always looking to whatever I think is on the calendar that's important, or whatever this meeting is, it's important, and everybody else is just kind of a blur.

Justin: 15:23

Yeah.

Rhett: 15:24

And um meeting Clay Ramirez, you know, he's like, hey, sometimes you just gotta slow down to see the color. And there's something beautiful about like slowing down to the point where you everything's not in black and white, but it's like color.

Justin: 15:38

Yeah.

Rhett: 15:39

And then I started seeing how he lives his life, and how you and I have even journeyed this through this podcast of slowing down and getting to the point to where you see the people that are right there with you because that is the moment. Yeah, it's the process, the destination isn't necessarily the meeting you're going to, but it's the person that's right there in front of you in the drive-thru talking to you at that moment. And so I've been very intentional or trying to be more intentional ever since I've moved back, just slow down, see the color. And by doing that over three years at Starbucks from a simple hello, next thing you know, it's like, I mean, I would consider them friends. You know, I was really concerned for them the other day when I heard that Starbucks, I was in Idaho and I was hearing that Starbucks was closing all these places down. And I like when I came through the drive-thru again, I was like, I'm really glad y'all were still here. I didn't realize, you know, that what was happening, and I wasn't here, and I was like, man, I'm I said, I want y'all to know, and I even told JC that JC this, I said, Man, like y'all are my like, you're not just somebody that serves me coffee. I would consider you a friend. So like, yeah, if anything happens, you know where I am. Whatever I can do to try to help you find something. I mean, I maybe I can't, but like at the end of the day, just you know, I just wanted them to know they're human, you know. Yeah, and so but that was a process and a journey to get there. So it's really cool to hear that. And, you know, over time, if it like, so wherever you go, you know, it is our responsibility to bring the kingdom rule of God into that area. Yeah. What is that kingdom rule? We've talked about it. Galatians 5, right? The love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, uh, self-control, like all the the fruits of the spirit, the evidence that God is alive in you. Yes, through the Holy Spirit, not your gifts, yeah, but the fruit. The fruit that is evidence. That's what you're bearing. And where you go. And I don't get it right all the time. Someone are like, you're all right. I'm like, you know, it's been a long day. I love you guys. So I appreciate you, you know. And uh, but they they can they can tell, like, oh, you know, you're not super smiley happy. And I'm like, well, I am, but I'm like dealing with real life too. Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? Right. And so, but it's just been a journey, and so it warms my heart to hear that that they were having fun in there, even with you and connecting and stuff.

Justin: 17:54

So yeah, it was a direct correlation of you being there is what kind of lifted them up.

Rhett: 17:59

It's the byproduct of just being kind.

Justin: 18:02

Yeah.

Rhett: 18:02

It's and asking questions to understand rather than just respond.

Justin: 18:08

Yeah.

Rhett: 18:08

More than small talk questions.

Justin: 18:10

Yeah, absolutely.

Rhett: 18:11

Man, what are you dreaming about? Ask somebody that question.

Justin: 18:14

Those are great, great questions.

Rhett: 18:15

Hey, I know, I know this is a short interaction, but like, what are you dreaming about right now?

Justin: 18:19

Yeah. Yeah.

Rhett: 18:21

It goes back to the it goes back to the conversation we had a long time ago where you're like, when's the last time you sat down with somebody and just asked them questions? Asked them what they had and listened.

Justin: 18:30

Yeah, man, it's big. And so I almost want the the girl who told the the tenor joke. Yeah, she had just mentioned because I was like, man, we're 47 and 48. And she was, of course, she was being kind, but I never would have thought that. I thought y'all were. So I I was I love those people. Those are fun. Make you feel good. Thank you. But she but she said, Well, I'm 34. And she's just kind of making a point there of just you know, just life.

Rhett: 18:59

Yeah.

Justin: 18:59

You know, you could tell there's dreams, and I almost went there because I love that with people. It was almost like you had just pulled off, and I thought, there's another line of orders they're getting. So I I came close to saying, Well, tell me about that. Like, what's on your heart? Yeah. Like what do you what do you do? Yeah. So she made the music joke. She she teed me up perfect on that.

Rhett: 19:19

Yeah.

Justin: 19:19

And I will admit, I went ahead and exited out of the moment because I did look at my phone and I realized I got about 45 more minutes to knock out this assignment. Yeah.

Rhett: 19:32

I mean, there's times and places for sure.

Justin: 19:33

Yeah. But it's still, it's still very much like that. There's something about that when you're with somebody and you can ask them those questions. It awakens. It does. People want to talk about their life. It's a natural part of it.

Rhett: 19:46

As you're saying that part of me is thinking, yeah, it's easy to be, um, it's easy to have that perspective when you've really never experienced hell. You know, you just don't know what I'm going through. You don't know what I'm dealing with. You don't know how I've been betrayed. You don't know what because there's there are battles that are people are going through that nobody else is aware of. So it's like, okay, Red, I hear what you're saying, but you know, that's really hard to do when you're going through a tough time.

Justin: 20:14

Yeah.

Rhett: 20:14

And uh you were mentioning, you know, asking, what are you dreaming about, right? That with that kind of context, you know, there was a moment in my life, and we kind of teed this up from the past couple of episodes. So I'm kind of transitioning into this so we can tell this story. Yeah. To where you have these dreams, and then life hits you upside the head, and you're thinking, well, that dream is dead. That dream is gone. Yeah. That's true. The hope of whatever it might have been that you hope for, it looks as if it's hopeless. Um, you know, and so yeah, I hear what you are saying, but to walk into that kind of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, like, you know, my circumstances because of my circumstances, I'm not able to live that out. And so, what I would say to that, if that's you, is that you're actually hearing from me personally as well as Justin over these episodes. I don't know if this is your first time to listen as a friend. We're glad you're here. But you're actually listening to people who have also lived this when all hell was against us, too. And I want to so to to cow, I want to share a story personally of my own life in my early 20s that I went through. It's a story I'm not proud of. It's a story there's a lot of shame attached to it in the world, but it's a story of beauty from ashes. Yeah, it's a story of God's word, Romans 8.28, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong, but about how all things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. That's it. Meaning that you know, God can, if you'll allow him to work through hell. And it doesn't say how long it takes, but if you'll trust him in it, he can do miracles, and over time and consistency, you might not be where you want to be, but you're not where you used to be. And then over more time, next thing you know, you're looking back in the rear view mirror of life, you're going, wow, that mountain now looks more like a molehill or a little speed bump where before it looked like Mount Everest in my life.

Justin: 22:26

Yeah.

Rhett: 22:27

And what the enemy meant for evil in my life, because I trusted God, I've seen God's faithfulness and he walked with me through it, and I truly am an overcomer because I actually overcame something, not in my own strength, but in his strength. And so I share this story with you as a friends, as the listening audience who have been with us on this journey or maybe for the first time. But honestly, if I'm I'm thinking much bigger than that, I I share this story because I I want not only my son already knows this story. I told him when he was like eight, nine years old, he might have been ten. I'm so bad at numbers and dates and times. So but so he already knows, and it's something that's not hidden from him. So I'm not saying this as if it's something he's gonna hear and listen back to, but for his kids and any other family members that listen and think, hey, what was your dad like? What was your granddad like? How did they you know? I've heard that he loved God and on his tombstone, Lord willing, right? If Jesus hadn't tarried, like it's I kind of want it to be like Rhett Bardin, a man after God's own heart. Like I just want it to be known that like I live my life in a way that I've always tried to put God first. Didn't get don't get it always right all the time. And so this is the conversation I feel like if I could sit down with my future grandkids, if I'm not here and and just share stories of God's faithfulness. Yeah, so I want to share this verse, Proverbs 3. It literally is my life verse, uh, five through six. So it's not the first time I've shared this, but trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways, submit to him, and he will. Here's the promise make your path straight. A few things here. Trust, lean not on what you see or what you're dealing with in your circumstances, so I'm gonna trust in God, no matter what I'm going through, but in everything, I'm gonna submit. I'm gonna humble myself, I'm gonna seek his presence, I'm gonna seek him first. And the byproduct is if you trust and you seek, despite what you're going through, he will make your path straight. So in my early 20s, and I time frame doesn't really matter at this point, so I'm not gonna date these with dates. Early 2000s, fell in love with a girl who is um if looking back, it was one of those things to where there were a lot of red flags. Yeah. And I and I don't blame anybody, I'm the one that made the choices, but I really wish that I would have had, and I know you were my friend, but you were we were in kind of different seasons and stuff, and even not fully mature enough to even see because our what the the prefrontal cortex, right? Is that the right word in our in our brain? It still isn't fully formed.

Justin: 25:13

Yeah, we had about three more years, four or five more years of that.

Rhett: 25:16

Yeah, and I had I had spiritual people that were older in my life, but nobody really helping kind of develop and lead and guide and go, hey, have you thought through this? So again, I'm like I made the choices I made. So I fell in love um with a girl at an early age, won't mention her name, it's not important. We uh ended up getting married and moved to Dallas Fort Worth to take on a full-time ministry job. Now, let me be very clear. Um, this woman is not my current wife. So I went through divorce with this person, unfortunately. And and this is where a lot of pain entered my life, but God turned it around. So let me be very clear. God has, you know, a lot of people know me from hey, you planted a church. I've literally I've literally been a part of planting six churches, um, one of them as a lead pastor and seen God move, you know, mightily that way. Um, I'm currently in ministry, um, been a part of worship and have had the opportunity to lead thousands in worship, which is great. These none of this is to brag on myself. It's literally just to say um how faithful God has been just by showing up. Um, you know, and so I've been married this April 2026, you know, whenever that comes, Lord willing, would have been 20 years. Yeah. And have a son who's 17 who loves Jesus. And so I'm very blessed and I'm very grateful for where I am today. But most people see me at hello and they're like, oh, here you are. You've never gone through hell. You know, of course you love Jesus. Of course you can come through a drive-thru and be kind and whatever. So I'm telling the story again for all the reasons I just set up earlier. So for those that don't know, you know, got married early age, fell in love, um, really all the wrong reasons. But I I think my intent was was was pure. I always wanted a family, one godly family. And so uh we moved to Dallas Fort Worth to take on a full-time uh ministry position, which is a whole nother story. About a year in, I could tell something wasn't right. I just could, you know, you can just kind of feel things, but you're young and you're still trying to process, you don't know, but I've got my look, look, I got my own issues. Like I there's a lot of insecurities in me and in and trying to be Mr. Peacemaker and not knowing how to deal with conflict and all this stuff, right? But I mean my heart was pure. I loved Jesus, but a lot of self-work I needed to do and a lot of trauma and triggers and stuff that I wasn't aware of. And so I'm not saying I was 100% innocent in all of this, but what I can say is uh, you know, I and knew something was going, something was up with the relationship with a girl that I was married to at the time. And and uh yeah, and so I'm trying to make sure I get this timeline correct because I'm I'm I'm really bad at it sometimes. But I had resigned um from the church in Dallas Fort Worth, and I resigned because it was like number one, the vision and mission, I wasn't tied completely into it, but I also knew there was some stuff happening in the home, but I didn't know what it was.

Justin: 28:14

Yeah.

Rhett: 28:15

And so it was in that time in transition that I went out from making a good amount of money as a young kid in their 20s, I literally making close to $50,000 a year at 20 something, and that was in the early thousands. Yeah. So that's a lot of money. Yeah, you know, you know, you could feel it from that to making $10 an hour to work on my family, yeah, and to just try to figure that out. And so anyway, one day I come home and she's like, hey, um, every time I go back to Alabama, here's what I've been doing. And she basically told me she was sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. And so I to be able to process that, you can't process that. I mean, that is when I heard that, it was one of those things to where I was like, I want to go hurt this guy, you know? That's the righteous anger. And I was so mad and I was so frustrated because here I am, like, God, I love you, and I love this woman, and what? Yeah. And and so I'm so thankful that I had great people in my life, you being one of them. But I called uh I called Joey Sanford. Shout out to Joey. Joey. Joey's always been a dear friend of mine, and we're, you know, we've always been close. Um, not so much ladder days just due to time and distance and all the stuff that happens with the complexity of life. And but I could pick up the phone right now and he'd answer and we'd talk and we go to lunch. But in that season, we were a lot, you know, more proximity. So I called him because he had gone through the same thing in his own life. And I called him and he didn't try to fix anything, he just listened. And um I was like, man. And then God just reminded me, you know, hey, for better or for worse, till death do, you know, sickness and in health, till death do his part. And here I am, I'm loving God. I'm like, well, I can't think of anything worse than this. And this is the this is the worst. And so through a series of events, I I basically said, look, you know, I told her, I said, hey, I hate that this has happened. Um, it breaks my heart. And but for better or for worse, I literally I was like, I made a covenant with God and a covenant with you.

Justin: 30:34

I remember me and you having that conversation.

Rhett: 30:36

And I'm willing, I know, and literally, I know God can heal us, He can heal you, He can heal me, and we can work through this. And this can be a testament of God's faithfulness in our life of how He's brought healing. So I I said, I forgive you. Yeah. Literally, I'm like, if God's word says, then I'm gonna do. I've always tried to live my life that way. That's right. I I don't argue with it. Who am I to argue with with God and in his perfect design? I'm not saying he didn't cause it. You know, marriage is a beautiful thing in that it takes two people to make decisions, right? Yeah, and the healthy marriage is two whole people make a whole, not a half and a half, and you complete me. No, you don't complete me. I'm sorry. Like I'm a whole, but at that time, I would, I, I didn't know that revelation. I wasn't living that. I was thinking, wow, we well, I need her, she needs me, right? And so, you know, I had some unhealth in that that type of way, but I never cheated on her.

Justin: 31:35

Yeah.

Rhett: 31:36

Um, and so I forgave her, and then we tried to work through it. And then, you know, it was just one of those things to where it was like the more I tried to fight for it, the more it got out of my grip, and the more I realized that she doesn't want to fight for this. So I come home from work one day, and we had, you know, it was kind of like that American dream. I lived in Dallas Fort Worth. We were about 20 minutes north of the airport, if you know where Flower Mound is. It was this just beautiful little 1700 square foot home, two-story. I don't know what was up with white carpet. Why, why did why was white carpet a thing? It's a big deal, man. Hey, friends, if you're enjoying today's conversation, could you do us a huge favor? Would you share the link of this episode with a friend, with a coworker, with a buddy? I email it, airdrop it, text it, comment on Facebook, however, you would like to share it. Man, it would mean so much to us to help us get the word out to have more friends join us in on this journey. Thank you. All right, now back to the conversation. Um, clean and smooth, and and everything was together. And, you know, had all the little toys, motorcycle, dirt bike, four-wheeler, you know, truck, all the stuff, furniture in every room. And, you know, it was none of it was paid for. It was all on credit, and you know, that's another story. Um, I had always lived my life debt-free until until that experience. Um, but you know, you do what you have to do to, you know, try to, you know, make peace. And so yeah, but I came home one day after work, and it's like a scripted Hollywood movie. Husband comes home, rainy, dreary day. Like it's so rainy and dreary that the that the grass is just you step on it, you sink into it, you know. And Texas doesn't get a ton of rain, but it was that kind of day.

Justin: 33:23

Yeah.

Rhett: 33:23

So open the garage door, the first thing I noticed was like, where are my motorcycles? Where's this? Where's that? Where you know, what it's empty. Yeah. Going then through the side, you know, the garage door goes into the kitchen. We walk into the kitchen, and all the cabinets are swung open. And it was just like somebody went in and put their hand on a shelf and just like started just scraping it all into containers and just, you know, and then I see water and mud all over the floor. And so the the kitchen itself was just completely ramsacked as if somebody had come in and stolen everything.

Justin: 33:58

Yeah.

Rhett: 33:58

And then I look into the living room and there's mud uh footprints on all the white carpet. Couch is gone, chair is gone, entertainment center's gone, TV's gone, all that stuff. Oh god.

Justin: 34:12

Yeah.

Rhett: 34:13

Look in the dining room, everything's gone. Um the washer and dryer were still there. I couldn't believe that. Okay. I go upstairs, and I I at this point I'm like, okay, I didn't just get blindly robbed. You know, I'm putting two and two together. I walk upstairs, everything's gone. The only thing that was left in that house outside of the mud and the muck and all the you know destruction that was happening to the home was my bed, my dresser, mirror, and the clothes in my closet, along with my guns. Right? Yeah. And at this point, it was like a um you know, the old cartoons where you have like an angel on one shoulder and the devil on another. It's like, you know, that's the best way that I could describe it. And I felt like the enemy was on one shoulder going, Hey, you remember um your mom? You know, she committed suicide because she obviously was in a hole that she couldn't get out of. So that same demonic spirit that haunted my mom at some point and you know, led her to make a decision that was definitely not in character for who she was in a moment of weakness. Um, was that same demonic spirit? You know, saying, hey, you ought to take those guns and in your life, there's no way you're getting out of this. And I forgot to mention that at this point, before that conversation is really happening, this is before digital, you could just go online. You like you had to call phone numbers to get check your banking account and checking account and savings account, all that stuff, right? Um, and so I started calling all the credit card companies and I started calling um checking my accounts. All of them have been cash advanced. Now, if anybody knows anything about cash advanced, it's like 30% interest. Every credit card was in my name. And money just sucked out of the accounts. Cash advances. Later, I find out that there were even manipulation of um using my social security to take out loans. Yeah. Big financial mess. But I knew enough in that moment. I'm making $10 an hour. This house payment is like $1,700 a month. Yeah. Yeah. It's impossible. Impossible, but God. And so here I am going, you hear the enemy on one shoulder going, there's no way you're getting out of this. Where is your God now? You might as well go ahead and end it. That was the voice. I walked into the closet, I kind of took a look at it, but then there was something in me going, you know, I've seen God on the mountaintop. I've been through my share of many hells of loss leading up to this, but not nothing like this. And so here I am, alone, second story, at the foot of my bed, in the dresser there, and I hit my knees, and I do the only thing that I knew how to do, and that was worship. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't know I so here I am. I'm not physically thinking, well, I'm ought to make a choice just to worship God in this moment because I really feel like doing this. No, I just was desperate, and I just started calling out to God and I just started worshiping, and I had tears, and I and my eyes were closed. But I'll tell you in that moment, you know, scripture tells us I think it's Psalm 34, 17, like God is close to the brokenhearted.

Justin: 37:35

Yeah.

Rhett: 37:36

I never felt his presence like I did that day.

Justin: 37:39

Yeah.

Rhett: 37:39

It's wonderful. Even to this moment. Yeah. It was almost as if if I opened my eyes, I would almost be staring at him face to face. Yeah, he was standing right there. It's hard to explain, but that's the warmth, that's the grace, that's the comfort, that's the you know, weep with those who weep moment, you know. It's like Jesus weeping with Martha, you know. Um, and here I am. And just as if I've had the devil on one shoulder, I, you know, I felt like the Lord was just leaning into me. And I had a choice in that moment. Of course, I'm worshiping, but then I just got really, really angry. It was a righteous anger because I've realized what has happened. Like it's it's over, it's done. Put a fork in me. There's no coming out of this kind of mindset as far as outside of God miracle, but as far as the marriage was concerned.

Justin: 38:31

Yeah.

Rhett: 38:31

And I got righteously anger, angry, angry, and I remember almost verbatim saying these words. I was like, devil, you can take my family, which you did. You can take my finances, which you did. You can take my ministry, which arguably he did. I always remained faithful to the local church, even through this. Never missed a Sunday, never missed a tithe. Yeah. Because it was always out of putting God first and trusting him. So you can take my family, my finances, and my ministry, but there's one thing you will never take from me, and that is my relationship with God. He is my father and I'm his child, and you've done mess with the wrong kid. Amen. Everything you've tried to take from me and have taken from me, you will repay 100fold. Starting with my family, my finances, and my ministry.

Justin: 39:23

Amen.

Rhett: 39:23

And I do not care how long it takes, but you will. And again, just starting to worship and begin to praise God in that moment after, you know, making that not just a confession, but the deep wellness of all that God has been in my life, you know. I'm like, I know who my father is. And I told God, I said, God, I know you did not cause this, you've allowed it, and I don't know why. I understand that she's made her choice, and I forgive her, and I can't get out of this without you. And so, in all the darkness that was there, in the in the the way I've always tried to explain this, it was like, you know, those old movies where like people might be walking through a train tunnel and it's so dark, but then you know, you can almost see like a pinhole of light really, really, really, really, really far away. And you know that each step that I take on this train track, that whole pin light gets a little bigger, get a little bigger, get a little bigger until eventually I get out of this cave and then I'm out in the open. That's kind of how it felt. It was like I can see this little pinhole of light, really far. And I'm not a vision guy. Like that, that doesn't happen to me, but that was just the imagery I had in my mind was like, I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus, and I have to do this every day of this idea of keeping community in my life, the right people, you, Joey, others, right? Which was huge, worshiping while I'm weeping and grieving, right? And then continuing to Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. And the reason I read it earlier is because here's the verse that came to my mind as I'm giving you this imagery, which is really what I walked through. It was like Proverbs 3. There's all I could think of. I turned to the Bible. It says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge him, submit to him, and he will direct your path. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And I began to read this and I began to call out. I was like, God, I trust you. I've always trusted you. I have nowhere else to go but you. Like, there's no way I can get out of this, but you. I'm trusting you. I'm leaning not on what I'm seeing in my circumstances, in my situation, and it sucks and it hurts and it's painful, and I have no idea, God, how you're gonna help me get out of this. But I know one thing, you've never left me, you've never forsaken me, you are with me, and I trust you. If I can trust you on the mountaintop, this is the deepest, this is the valley of the shadow of death in my life right now. Yeah. And I know what Psalm 23 says. So, Lord, you're gonna get me through it. And I don't know how long it's gonna take, but Lord, you're gonna get me through it. And and I just begin just to proclaim God's word in my life because I knew God's word, but now I'm having to actually apply the things that aren't all the joy, happy, happy, joy, joy kind of verses. Yeah, you know. Um, and so here I am just just proclaiming this truth. And Lord, you know, you're gonna get me through this. And it was like one step forward, two steps back. And it wasn't until the other day you mentioned something, you know, one step forward with God is like a thousand steps more than ours. And so your little two steps back really aren't really back compared to how that one step forward is. And I was like, that was my life. And so I'll just remember eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. I remember eating hot dogs with cheese every day. I remember going to the Wendy's 99 cent value mill, ordering a small water because it was free, a small 99 cent French fry with a 99 cent little cheeseburger. Yep. Um, I remember continuing to be faithful in a local church. Um, you know, I remember never missing a tithe or offering. I remember always, I always had what I needed at $10 an hour working at Haverty's Customer Service Center. I can take you right now where it is in Dallas, Fort Worth. And then the Lord opened an opportunity for me to lead worship at a church that was part-time, and and they came to me and I said, Hey, uh, here's what I'm going through. If you're willing to deal with it, you know, but and they're like, Yes, because they were desperate. And I stayed faithful through all of it. So, you know, you begin to fast forward, and here we are. And by the way, the amount of debt that I was in was well over $200,000. That included a $150,000 house, but that might as well have been two $2.5 million for me. Absolutely. Um so here's what I say. I when you talk to me, when you listen and you hear who I am and you experience, you know, who I am and who God's created to me, created me to be, you're experiencing God's faithfulness through a man who's not perfect, but who's seen God. I'm just saying, I just didn't sit around and wait for God. I actually continued to take steps. And then here's the key ingredients his word. It was worship. Yes. Um, despite what I see, it was trusting in him and understanding that I believe what your word says.

Justin: 44:18

Yeah.

Rhett: 44:18

And he made my path straight.

Justin: 44:20

Yeah.

Rhett: 44:21

And and I stayed faithful to the local church. I always continued to give. It wasn't legalistic, it was a heart of worship going God. Like, I like I need this hundred bucks or whatever it was at the time, you know. But Lord, like you can do more with this than I can, and I'm gonna trust you with it. And every time I gave, it was out of a heart of rejoicing and worshiping. And I never missed a tithe, I never missed giving offering. I never missed continuing to serve, had the right people in my life. I continued to worship in my grief and my mourning. Um, and I trusted God every day, and I surrendered my heart to God every day. And three or four years later, it was I met Linda. Um, God restored the family peace, had Max. I was still in debt. 17 years later, we were 100% debt-free at that point.

Justin: 45:07

Yeah.

Rhett: 45:08

And I stayed faithful in the local church using my gifts, despite my pain. And what God opened up was eventually a restoration of ministry. So here I am on the other side of this. Yeah, 2028, five years or however so long later, it almost feels like God, that Mount Everest in my life of hell looks like a little, I don't even think about it anymore. I forget about it. Like it's like, was that a dream? Was that even real?

Justin: 45:36

Yeah.

Rhett: 45:37

Right. And so what I want to tell my grandkids and my kids is God is faithful. He'll never leave you, he'll never forsake you. If you want to be an overcomer, it means you're gonna have stuff that you're gonna have to overcome. God doesn't cause pain, he allows pain. But if you'll trust him in it and lean not on what you see in your circumstance or your situation, but truly trust him in faith, believing that he is who he says he is, and his word is true, and there's promises attached to that. If you'll walk that out faithfully, not perfect, but be be real and like here's my pain, here's my hurt, but God, I need you, and I'm trusting you, and I'm worshiping with you. Um, and that worship looks different for everybody. Mine's always singing and leading, you know, those kind of things. If you'll be faithful in that and you you'll stay committed to life-giving friends in your life, you'll stay committed to what he loves, which is the bride of Christ, um, his church, which isn't perfect, unfortunately. Nope. You know, but like still his bride until but it is. It's his heart and he loves it. If you'll stay faithful to that and stay faithful in your finances, I can't express this enough, but with your finances, I didn't have the money to give, but I still gave it because I'm trusting God's word and his promises. And I was like, I want to live with that open heaven. And that doesn't mean financial blessing. It can be, and it has been, but I never missed a mill, even though it was a Wendy's 99 cent value mill.

Justin: 47:03

Yeah.

Rhett: 47:04

I I I some of them I could only imagine them going, oh my God, you lived in a day when it was 99 cents. I already feel that way now. But like imagine 25, 30, 40 years from now. That's right. Hey, friends, Rhett here. Just want to take a moment to speak to those who may be joining us for the first time. We want to say welcome, friends. However, you found us, we are so glad that you did, and we believe it wasn't by accident. We're so glad that you joined us in on this conversation today. In fact, if you haven't already done so, could we encourage you to follow us on social media? You can find us on Facebook or Instagram at ArmchairAuthentic or over on X at ArmchairOff Pod. That's ArmchairOff A-U-T-H-P-O-D. All right. Thanks for taking the time to do that. Now let's get back to our conversation. And so, all that to say, like, if you'll make all of that a priority, yeah, I'm telling you, and ultimately live the word of God. Because his word of God is alive, it's living, it's active, it's sharper than a double-edged sword, it penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, and it judges the thoughts and the attitudes of your heart. When you know his word, which is alive, and it becomes alive in you, moving from your head into your heart, and you begin to trust him. And trust means faith. It means that I don't see it, but I still believe it. And it's like being able to prophetically look into the future and go, I know in this moment is hell, but I know on the other side of this, with God getting me through it as the anchor of my soul, Christ Jesus, and the foundation of the rock, I'm gonna get through this on the other side. And you're willing to go, I don't care how long it takes. I'm telling you, I am living proof. And it doesn't mean I'm still not gonna go through hard times because I could, but I'm here as a testament to God to say his faithfulness. So that marriage, unfortunately, did not end in reconciliation, but it ended in restoration.

Justin: 48:55

Yeah.

Rhett: 48:55

And I'll tell everybody this if anybody thinks that I've lived in bitterness regarding this, I haven't. I haven't looked back. Not only did I forgive this person in the midst of the marriage, up to the point of signing documents of divorce stuff. I looked at her in her eyes and I can take you to the point where we're sitting out front of this little Mexican restaurant, and and I said, Look, I said, I want to say this, and I know you may not want to hear this, but this is the truth. I said, Hey, I forgive you. And I want you to know that moving point past this, I know you want what you want, you're making your decisions, and that's that's you, but I forgive you. And I honestly, truly believe that God can bring healing into your heart. And my hope for you is that despite your current situation and the and your decisions that you're making right now, I told her this, is that at some point you'll have a fresh revelation of who God is, and that he loves you and he cares for you, and and he's gifted you, and he has a plan and purpose and a calling for your life. And I pray that you walk into that blessing. It just won't be with me from this point forward.

Justin: 50:03

Yeah.

Rhett: 50:04

Because I have to move on from this point of this signature. Yeah. But I forgive you.

Justin: 50:09

Yeah.

Rhett: 50:10

And some people look at me, how in the world could you do that? Well, it's not me, it's God, because that's right. I can truly say, Scripture says, you know, forgive others as you have been forgiven. Christ in you, you we all talk about the Lord's prayer, right? And I know we need to go due to time, but I there's something very important there that a lot of people don't preach because it goes on to say, Jesus says, hey, you know, if you forgive others, God forgives you. But if you don't forgive others, well, his word says God doesn't forgive you. And I'm like, I take that literally because that's literally Jesus talking. Yep. And I'm like, I don't want a root of bitterness in me. I don't want any part of unforgiveness in me. It doesn't mean people can walk all over me because I have boundaries and I've grown in that. And I in forgiveness, I'll end with this. Forgiveness doesn't mean reconciliation. It doesn't mean I have to do life with that person anymore. Forgiveness doesn't mean that, oh, I'm what you did wasn't wrong or wasn't bad, and that's okay. No, that's not where forgiveness is. No, no, forgiveness just simply says this is not my burden to carry. This is God's burden. Yeah. I'm gonna give it to him. And I'm gonna live free and I will move forward with his blessing in my life, and I'm not gonna allow anything to come up in my life. So, with that said, powerful. That's how I've lived my life. And if I could give anybody any encouragement, is if you will apply that, you can't do that in your own strength. It's not willpower. It is the Spirit of the living God breathing in you through the Holy Spirit, which is the power and presence of God on this earth today. It's God the Father in heaven, sent Jesus to die, death, burial, resurrection, completed work of the cross to reconcile us to God. Jesus is the right hand of the Father. He sent the power of the Holy Spirit to live within us, to give us what we need to get through the brokenness of humanity, which I've lived and we're currently living. And I'm telling you, if if you will walk with God faithfully and invite his Holy Spirit into your life, I'm not talking about gifts. I'm talking about the presence of God in your life. Love, joy, peace, pay. If you allow him to do that work in you and to transform your mind according to his word, I'm telling you, man, there's life on the other side. You're going to get through it, and you'll be able to go to your Starbucks barista and smile and laugh and have a good time and make friends and bring the presence of God no matter what you're going through. And so this story is not to pat me on the back. Oh, look at what Red did. No, look at what God did. I hope you hear the story of God in this, that if you'll trust him and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and submit to him, he'll direct your path. And I hope that encourages our friends listening, but I also hope it encourages, by the grace of God, my son, my family, my grandkids, and anybody else who finds this.

Justin: 52:46

Bradshaw's hey, boys, my future daughter-in-laws, yeah, my future sons, sons and daughters. Yeah. You heard Uncle Rhett. This is powerful stuff, and it can only be made possible by grace. There's no other explanation for it. And what it man, it's such a we don't even have time to give the true um credit and time to even respond to this. But the story is out there, and this is the true story. I remember walking with you through it and everything you're saying. I testify to say it happened exactly what you're saying. Yeah. And I was moved watching the forgiveness in your life happen. Because I think I was the one over, you know, I was I was probably reacting on behalf of you, and I was moved by your um the forgiveness and the faith that you walked in. And just such a powerful story and testimony. This is a story that no matter what you're facing right now, there is hope for you. And I love the example. You're looking down the tunnel, and it might be the smallest amount of hope, but there is hope for you. Yeah. And just who the one who called you, his divine power is giving you everything you need for life and godliness through the knowledge, the power that we have through Jesus Christ. Yeah. And we're able to do all things, and it's not just quoting scripture, it does take putting some feet to it.

Rhett: 54:21

Yeah.

Justin: 54:22

And what a powerful testimony, too, because there are people who are listening, and maybe you've gone through something and you cannot imagine ever forgiving that person who wronged you. And I love how you said it. It doesn't make it right.

Rhett: 54:36

No.

Justin: 54:37

Nothing about this is right. No. It's selfishness, it's arrogance, it's living paganistic ways of fulfilling every lust and desire of the flesh that you have, wanting to go pursue your life, live your best life, and it goes against everything that we would face. And someone could be the victim of something too and say, I can never forgive. But don't ever mistake, don't, don't ever mistake, as Rhett said, forgiveness.

Rhett: 55:08

Yeah.

Justin: 55:08

For saying it's okay. That's not what it is. But it is actually handing it over to God and say, You did tell me to forgive.

Rhett: 55:16

Yeah.

Justin: 55:17

And what you're doing is you're creating that light to get even bigger. And I'm convinced that's why you've been able to have the testimony you've had. Yeah. Because I have not seen an ounce of bitterness in you going through this process. And I know you've had your dark nights, all those things happen. But the consistency in Rhett Barden has been you have chosen to trust God in this even when it looked hopeless.

Rhett: 55:42

Yeah.

Justin: 55:43

And thank you for just taking the time to share that story. And of course, now what people know of you, they would never have a clue that you walk through that. And as Rhett said, it's not a pat on his back. It is to show you how God can transform a situation that was hell, and it really can become his kingdom coming here on earth as it is in heaven.

Rhett: 56:10

Yeah.

Justin: 56:10

And so I praise God every time I walk in this house and see you, see Linda, see Max, see the part of ministry that you're a part of, see what financially you're able to do and even the aspirations you have. Yeah. It's just cool to watch it unfold every day. Yeah. And it's all really built on the testimony that you have and what you had to walk out to step into this. So I'm honored to be your friend and thank you for sharing that story.

Rhett: 56:36

Honored to be your friend too, man. And I appreciate that. Uh obviously, some of the big rocks we want to share is how did I meet Linda and how you know that whole story. And that's fun too. We'll get into those things. But uh God, if you'll allow him, he can take your pain and turn it into purpose.

Justin: 56:51

Yep.

Rhett: 56:51

And it's not a story I share often because I don't like sharing it. Um, but some people are like, I wish you would share that more because um it really, it's a blessing, you know, to people, not because of your pain. I hate that you've gone through it, but it does give hope. And that is my that is my hope is that it offers hope and a light to say, hey, it's a journey and it's a it's a it may be a long road in front of you, but if you'll trust in me, I just want to keep saying I want to say it one more time. Proverbs 3, 5 through 6, and we can end on this verse. God is saying, if you'll trust me, and you'll lean not on what you see and what you're experiencing, not on what you're understanding in your mind, but if you'll be able to look beyond that with faith and trust me in this, submit to me. Just just come to me, humble yourself, sit in my presence. Allow me to bring comfort to you in the ways that I only I can only do that. If you'll do that and seek me every day, well, I'm gonna the long the road might be long, but I will direct your path and I will make it straight. Where it seems crooked and even backwards and maybe looping back, I'm gonna make that straight. And it's gonna be a highway toward healing and a highway toward freedom, a highway toward joy, and ultimately a highway filled with my presence to walk you through anything and everything to get you on the over other side of this. God bless. Have a great day. Can't wait for next episode, everybody. Amen. Love you guys. Hey friends, thank you so much for joining us on today's conversation. We're really looking forward to next week's. But until then, we hope you have a great week. Stay safe. We wish God's blessing on all of you. And we look forward to seeing you right here next Monday on Armchair Authentic.