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 gathered here at the table. Friends, welcome to Armchair Authentic. Okay, Justin, I'm learning how to use Instagram and Facebook more than I've ever wanted to learn how to use it. And here's why. We're gearing up for MacDis 2026 race season. We're gearing up to putting him on social media. We're gearing up to really, honestly, and as as vain as it sounds, market him in a way to gain some traction. Because the world we live in, the more eyeballs equals um sponsors will look at that and go, oh, well, there's if we were to sponsor this young man, right? He's already got quote eyeballs, right?

Justin: 0:55

Yeah.

Rhett: 0:56

So uh just full disclosure, I wasn't planning on saying this, but I will say this like if you're a Facebook friend or you're an Instagram follower or you're on Twitter, whatever, we're we're probably just gonna do Instagram and Facebook for Max. But starting in the new year of 2026, as a dad, and rightfully so, I want to leverage the influence and the friends and the friendships that I have in a way to help try to support and help bring some quick you know follows to my son. So I want to thank every single person in advance for when I when I personally reach out with yes, an agenda. The agenda is to serve the dream of my son becoming the man of God that he is and and pursuing a platform in motorsports that is a marketplace ministry where Jesus needs to be present and show up in these families' lives. Amen. So God God is so all that to say, I will be requesting every single one of you, including the armchair authentic family, even though the podcast won't be happening in 2026. But it is the Christmas season right now. So go ahead and give the gift of following. Yeah, so I'm I might even before we end this, not this conversation, but already kind of pre-have his handle on everything and kind of maybe ask people to follow. Um, and if not, do everything I can to incentivize a like and a comment, even if you're not commenting, like just follow him. If I can get him up to a thousand as quick as we can. Okay, anyway.

Justin: 2:21

As we celebrate episode one 100 and we take and we maybe throw out what are some next steps for our lives. For our life, yeah. You're gonna be able to see all these angles.

Rhett: 2:31

So I'm I'm I'm trying my best to learn the ever-changing environment that is reels, stories. So some of you may have noticed, I've been posting some random stuff, you know. That's on purpose. I want you to see my son and us having a good time for sure, and the memories we're making. That's a lot of fun. Um, but outside of that, I'm I'm doing it to try to learn the art of how quickly can I record and get something online and tell a story. And so, all of this to say, I'm in my garage the other day. And if you see my social, you probably already know what I'm gonna say. So I posted this real and I didn't literally I'm putting drinks in the refrigerator. That's all I'm doing. Yeah. Drinks being uh sodas, cokes, diet cokes, and sprites, which um somebody, uh longtime friend from Oklahoma, was like, What are you doing with that crap in your fridge, man? You should only be drinking water. I'm like, okay, thanks for the love, bro. By the way, I do only drink water. This is for family and friends because it's not about me. I want to serve people well. Yeah, there you go. Take that. Uh so but I I label everything with the labels out. And and it's just a, you know, and I kind of kid, I was like, I I I'm just gonna record this. It's so random. This is not something Rhett normally does. So I had everything labeled out. So I recorded myself opening the refrigerator door and going, I'm curious, does anybody else have this sickness where you have to have the labels pointing out? And you know, I show the refrigerator and even down to the drawers, even the water, like even the waters in the drawers have the label facing up or out the best way I can do it. Yeah, and bro, like I'm it I don't know what this reveals. And I know this is not much in the grand scheme of what social has become, but for this little boy, you know, this man who doesn't do this as much, to see within an hour or two for that video to get 2300 views. Yeah, I I I was at Grant's Mill Sunday morning and I looked around. I was like, this is what 2300 people look like in a room. This is how many views that this stupid video got in a matter of a couple hours. And I'm like, I I don't think any of our armchair authentic stuff or or other stuff that have a refrigerator opening and showing label out is it different colors, different drinks.

Justin: 4:51

I mean people are naturally curious. They we like that stuff.

Rhett: 4:54

How does that like? I'm like, are there there's an algorithm for this? A refrigerator and somebody asking the question and going, and you know, is this is this uh I think I I think I said something like, is this just uh oh, I don't know, is it a sickness or is it stewardship? I choose the latter, is what I said. Like, because it is stewardship in my mind and it brings peace to me to know that everything's labeled and yeah, you know, and I had so many random comments from even friends from you know Idaho were like, yeah, unfortunately, or not unfortunately, they're like, Yeah, because of you, my you know, and and being a part of One Life Church, yeah, in the way that I, you know, was so detailed like that, even in in what we were doing to serve people and serve people well. It was just a part of who I am, so this is what we're gonna do, right? Right. Undo things well, steward everything well. And uh why? Because it adds value to people, or at least it had value to me, it makes me feel good. Yeah. And so they were like, Yeah, my my whole cupboard is labels out and it feels great. And I would have never done this basically, had it not been for you know you in your sickness, which you call stewardship. You know, you're making a difference one refrigerator, one pantry in a table. Influencing people through, yes. And all that to say, I just think it's I think it's insanely crazy, the world we live in, that people are interested in other people's refrigerators. They are more more than life talk about here, here's how you can grow your family and do things well. No, I don't care about all that. I just want to tell me how you do your refrigerator.

Justin: 6:22

Well, think about it. We we have a friend who has let us know how they make side income.

Rhett: 6:27

Yeah.

Justin: 6:28

Just by going through their house and highlighting some of their products. Yeah.

Rhett: 6:31

Friend of mine made close to like 20 grand off of basically TikTok. Uh, I don't even talk about this toaster.

Justin: 6:39

Yeah. Look at the toast. Look at that. Look at the brown, the brownness of this.

Rhett: 6:45

15-second toaster video. He said, you know what I it's my favorite part about this toaster. Like he lifts, he lifts up the the little the okay. So you push the little slider down, the toast goes down, right? Yeah, and then when it pops up, it pops up. Right. But every single toaster in America, you can take that little slider and push it up. Yes, and it lifts the toast up a little bit more. Burn yourself. Yeah. So he's like, here's my favorite thing about this toaster. It's got this feature. And he pushes it up and the toast comes up a little bit more, and then the video ends. 20 grand.

Justin: 7:15

I mean, I mean, what? That's over a year, you know. But the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people who watch that. I'm like, yeah. But you know, do you know how many people watch that and did not know that you can lift the toaster just a little bit more?

Rhett: 7:31

Yeah. Oh, I get when I when I watched that, and I started getting random videos about toasters. I'm like, I really am not that interested in toasters.

Justin: 7:37

Yeah. When when I heard about that, I told my boy we were looking around our house. What can we highlight?

Rhett: 7:44

Yeah. I mean, anything. This lamp is amazing. Look, it plugs in the wall, it's got electricity. Click the button, it turns on. Oh, you can adjust it this way or this way. Love this lamp. You ought to get one today. Well, and in in one of our previous episodes, I talked about how I I got the black stone griddle.

Justin: 7:59

Yeah. And I have been able to make some meals for the family. Yeah. And it it did hit my mind right. So it's funny we're talking about this. That yeah, I had made my first breakfast, which by the way. Was it amazing? Oh, yeah. And I don't know, I'm still learning how to use it. Did you do this yesterday today? When did you make it? Oh no, this would have been at the time of this recording. This would have been a couple of weeks ago. Okay. Um, but yeah, but I put pan, like I I learned the order. I did bacon, sausage, pancakes, and then eggs. There's a certain order to learn.

Rhett: 8:30

Yeah, well, because you want the flavor of that in your pancakes.

Justin: 8:33

And you and the time, like you throw those eggs down there ready immediately. Yeah, they're cold after 30 seconds. And and I just thought I was it's funny we're talking about this because I thought about the friend who made all that money. And I I was just thinking, I need to record this. Yeah. Say, here's the order. Because I should have, you know, the order, you know how I learned the order to do it? How? I went and looked at someone else's reel.

Rhett: 8:53

Yeah, there you go.

Justin: 8:54

And it's a guy saying, Here's what you want to do. And he's got like a million views just to show me how to make a breakfast on the griddle. I know. It's the simple. It's so fun. And and what an outlet that has to be. Oh, yeah. Like when you're creative, like that's an outlet for that guy. It's like, hey, this is fun. All right, here's how I can make some tatters. And I'm like, this brother has not ever talked to a million people, and yet he has views. I like them when they're crispy. My wife doesn't like them as crispy. So if you put them to the left of the burner, they don't cook as much. But I like mine crispy. So I scoot it to the middle. And I just wanted to keep watching it.

Rhett: 9:33

Oh, yeah. It's entertaining. Next thing you know, like if you like this video, or lock or subscribe, wherever that button is.

Justin: 9:40

Or they try, they try to use the latest term like the kids will use. So like, if you do, just smash that subscribe button. Or smash it, baby. Smash it. Just smash that subscribe button. I like the way you said taters. That's funny. Yeah, I like my taters crispy. My wife doesn't like them as crispy, so I scoot them off the burner. I mean, so I'm over here listening and I'm learning that you turn the heat down if you don't like them as crispy, and then put the ones in the middle, keep it hot. I mean, and bro, those eggs, by the way. I didn't realize that. I mean, because you got like the grease from the bacon. Oh, yeah. You make those eggs. They were the best tasting eggs, but they were they had all kinds of dark color to them. Oh, yeah. You know what I mean? So my nine-year-old, no one cares. Yeah. But the nine-year-old saw it and he was like, What are these?

Rhett: 10:31

Touching that.

Justin: 10:32

Said, buddy, just put those things in your mouth. Goodness made in it, buddy. Put that in your mouth. You love bacon. Put that in your mouth. You're gonna love these eggs. Boy, put it in your mouth. And he did, and he loved it. Oh, yeah.

Rhett: 10:43

That's so funny.

Justin: 10:44

Yeah, so all that to say, it's a simple thing. We need to come over to the house and we need to make a video about here's how me and here, try some of Justin and Rhett's Smash Burgers.

Rhett: 10:54

Well, we we could do a little quick little snippet to where you you've got the, I don't know what order you just said in. You just slap down the sausage, and you got a half a second clip of that, and then next is to this, and next this is that, and that we like to record it and then clip up. Like if there's five things you put it, it's five seconds of boom, boom, boom, boom, and then all of a sudden then it shows the speed, shows it all on a plate and how good it is. We got our apron zone called Grit Griddle Authentic. Doesn't get gooder than the griddle. That's gooder stuff right there. That's what it needs to say. I like them taters. That should be the name, man. I like them taters.

Justin: 11:35

Yeah, that'll be like the little thing you wear. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just said it, and I've got to go.

Rhett: 11:38

And then you'd be like, Tater one, tater two. Yeah.

Justin: 11:41

Taters.

Rhett: 11:42

My name's Tater One, and I like them taters. And then you're like, you're Tater Two. Armchair taters. A lot of authentic taters around here. Authentic taters. Oh, that's so funny. Anyway, so all that to say, it's the simple things that honestly intrigue me that people are intrigued with. If I could use intrigue and two cents, you know, it wasn't redundant at all. No, because I'm intrigued by how intriguing the intrigue is that people are intrigued by the intrigue of simple things. Yes. Yeah, you like that? Intrinsical. I think I need the ickle on the you're a moron. Yeah, I'm not moron, I'm a moronical. Moronical. That we dude, even listening back to that conversation, I was like, I was losing it. A lot of big smiles happening. I don't, yeah. I don't know if anybody else enjoys the fun we have, but I'm self-indulgent in it because it's like, oh, it's so funny. Yeah.

Justin: 12:42

So shout out to Max. I'm ready to see the like the social handles he gets. And yeah, I I'm ready to see that first race. I'm ready to see you give the clips of that first race. Yeah, me too. This is gonna be awesome.

Rhett: 12:55

Well, what's interesting is as a dad, I'm I'm like his videographer, I'm his mechanic, I'm all this stuff, and I'm like, I'm I really want to enjoy the moment without being behind the lens, but at the same time, I'm like, what's a friend that really loves social media that I can bring over here and hang out with us? And you just do all the camera stuff and make it great, you know?

Justin: 13:14

Well, I thought about it when I was walking through the the living room to come in here. You were still talking with Max today, and you used a word, and I thought, I've never had a friend that uses that word. Great. What it what was and I walk through and you're and you're you and Max are having a conversation as you're trying to, as we're nearing the end of the year, getting closer. Yeah, y'all have got your goals for the first quarter of 26, and you're having to finalize putting this car together. I mean, I know you're building it from the ground up, which is amazing, but I walk by and y'all are talking details of what's needed still, what's ordered, what's on its way, what needs to be ordered, what needs to be on its way. And I hear you say, uh, but I did come across the thermocoupler. Yeah. And I just kept on walking, like, and I thought the only time I've ever heard that word is an elf. Yeah. I think when uh Papa Elf or Santa's like, the thermocoupler should be over there, right over there in the central part. Thermocoupler.

Rhett: 14:13

Or maybe his papa elf is in it, but I thought I don't even know if it's I don't even know if I called it the right thing.

Justin: 14:17

It's something like Muddy just said thermocoupler, and and his son responded like he knew what he's talking about. Yeah, I was like, This is not my world. Yeah, I I might not even call it the right thing, but that's the word that came to me.

Rhett: 14:29

He and I knew exactly what we were talking about. It's this yeah, it's the it's the temperature gauge that goes into the back of the exhaust that comes out that reads to your data that tells you if you're running too hot or too lean, too rich or too lean. Yeah, thermocoupler. Yeah, thermocoupler. Yeah, the thermocoupler.

Justin: 14:44

Anyway, it's good. I mean, it's big, big words. I was impressed. I walked away impressed. Well, thinking, like, man, wow. He's learned a lot about this.

Rhett: 14:51

Well, you're talking about YouTube, like you, I mean YouTube university, right? I mean, that's you're learning how to cook on your griddle or your blackstone, sorry. I don't want to offend it.

Justin: 15:00

Right, yeah.

Rhett: 15:01

Um, and we're learning a whole lot about carding. Now, whether or not we're doing it the right way or the wrong way, we don't know. We'll learn, you know, because just because you've created some videos on YouTube and got a ton of followers, does that mean that you're giving me the right information? Because your truth might not be my truth or their truth. And what I'm learning about truth and carding and erasing is everybody has their way of doing things and they're all different. So good luck and go just figure it out, whatever works best for you.

Justin: 15:28

So once you get the car put to the cart put together, you'll know if it was done right or not. Right. Exactly. Pray that it works for you.

Rhett: 15:35

Well, we're not doing it alone. We've got people in relationships that are man, here's the thing about the carding community that I love. Everybody's willing to help everybody because everybody started at some point, and this could be a spiritual significant, you know, deeper conversation if we want to take it there. But what's interesting, that this isn't these are just good people who love their elevated hobby of racing. And every single person, it's like they remember when they started and they knew nothing, and how somebody else helped them along the way. Because I haven't met one person, not one person that when you're out there at the track that's not friendly, hey man, if you need something, let me know. Like, or if you're missing a tool, oh you can, yeah, man, borrow that. Or you hey, I'm going through turn one and and the cars reacting this way. What kind of adjustment would you suggest? Oh man, you ought to try this, right? And then they come over and like, hey, how was it? Did it work? Did it change it? Oh man, well, you know what? That's okay. How are you approaching? Like it everybody's just like, How can I help? Yeah, it's nice. They're not now uh granted, we haven't been on race day, you know. I'm sure people are still that way, but you're probably your your attention's more toward like you know, you accomplishing what you need to accomplish. So but with practicing and out there generally having a good time and learning and growing, everybody's that way. Yeah, you know, and it's like everybody talks about this in racing, it's like, oh, we're good friends in the paddock, but when we're on the track, we're enemies, right? Because we all want to be the best, right? But all that to say, I think there's something just that is drawing and alluring to be in the community that is very supportive around a common interest. And it even though it's a competitive sport, when you're not on the track, it's like, hey, how can we help each other? Yeah, I think it's kind of cool.

Justin: 17:26

Yeah, I think it's what we had growing up when you think about that. I think people are naturally kind. And when you have from this the the race world to the different interests you have with driving down a parking lot, and people have their their group of cars that are alike and they're parked out just to literally look at each other's car, but it's really the community, and it reminds me of it's not about the car, it's not about the car. It's like us growing up musically, like some of our best friends to this day. Yeah, we have this common thread of music, even if we do other things. Meaning you, I mean, we we were on a text thread, me, you, and Micah. But it was it it was music as far as a trait that brought us together. Ryan has been on the podcast. We have our our text going through and he's playing, he's an amazing pianist, yeah, and he's playing piano for us. Here, listen to this. Yeah, and flaws and all. It was just so fun. But it's like our little community that you naturally dive into. And you I would say that if someone can if someone came to me who's younger, I'm naturally gonna remember what it was like being 15 and not knowing anything about the guitar, and learning how to play a G and a C and a D and a B burner without moving. Yeah, because some chord book by Mel Bay is teaching me these chords, yeah. But if I had someone who knew it, I would have been all ears. So when someone young comes to me, really anybody for that matter, I go back into that that old self and realize this I would be happy to pour into somebody because I would have loved this.

Rhett: 19:04

I love like when you I forget who says it, but it's like friendship is born at the moment of oh, you too? I thought I was the only one. Oh, you love racing? Me too, you know, or you know, we a lot of times that's fraying through, oh, you got issues, I got issues too. Oh wow, I'm not broken, or maybe I am, but there's other broken people too. And I mean, it's a lot more comforting. I I you know, it's just not me. I'm not alone, and how in the right group with the life-giving context for sure, how much you can flourish in those environments, and so yeah, man, but here's what I love, honestly and genuinely, is that I've I have been in the workforce, and so have you for so many years before you know, we use the let me let me let me rephrase. We use the term full-time ministry oftentimes, and that's seen through the lens of you're getting paid from a church full-time or you're getting paid from a nonprofit that glorifies and honors God full-time. Right, right. But you and I have been in full-time ministry, meaning in the local church, using gifts for the Lord to bring people into his presence or into a relationship with him, um, and just producing fruit that is what it looks like to remain and abide in Christ, yeah, and to share that with other people so that they can experience the fruit of abiding in Christ. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kind of self-control, gentleness. Let it be evident to all. And so now while I have been in full-time ministry, serving the Lord through the local church since 16, right? Yeah, 32. I haven't always been in full-time ministry regarding being paid for it. Right. In fact, I I was early on and then went through the hell I went through in my 20s, took a season off, but then just loved working in the workforce and being a part of a local church that I loved, that had vision, that was actually accomplishing things, that was actually doing great things for the Lord. But I was in the marketplace, yeah, but still using my gift in that local church and and finding a lot of fulfillment, honestly. A lot. Not getting paid from the church, if you will. Yeah. But being in the marketplace, learning a whole lot of stuff. Big deal. You know, from moving furniture to being a supervisor, from moving company to logistics and I don't know what moving and sells and market, all the stuff, right? Manufacturing, uh, customer service, down to uh, you know, managing a warehouse, inventory, all just a plethora. Yeah, there's the word um of things. And if you're kind of lost me there, go back and listen to a hundred episodes later, whatever. We talk about that. You'll find it. So where I'm going with this or where I think I'm trying to go with this, is that I know what it's like to be in the marketplace, right? And to produce fruit of what God's doing in my life to really bring ministry into the marketplace.

Justin: 22:06

Yeah.

Rhett: 22:07

As well as being look to see what it looks like to do ministry where ministry lives, too, you know, in the local church. And that's to be arguable. We are the church that's just the building we just gather and do around common unity, and God does something special when we gather so that we can go back into the marketplace. And my heart just I love being in the marketplace. So what I'm really trying to instill in my son is while ministry in the four walls of the church has its place, and there's a gifting and a grace there. Um Levites, for instance, right, right, calling to specifically lead people into the presence of God, worship, you know, all the time and full time. There are people who are called to that for sure. But there is something very special about taking what God is doing in you to get it through you in places and with people who would not normally walk through the doors of a church that we call the church. Right. So if you and I together, two or more gathered in his name, Jesus is in our presence, if if we are the church, right, well then that means when my son and I are together, we're the church. And if it's a race weekend, which is a Saturday Sunday, and that's a Sunday that I've happened to take off from what the four walls of the church to get to do what? To be the church in the marketplace around a common unity of interest of racing with people who may or may not ever walk through the doors of a church because their church is racing, right? Yeah, how cool. I'm just that to me, that's the most exciting thing on the planet. And it doesn't have to be racing, it can be anything else, but that's a world that I've never been in. Yeah, and I love new things and fresh things, and it gives me vision, and what I'm really trying to instill in my son, and what the principle here is we are the church, and what happens where we're together in this is like this is so impact, this is so it has the ability to be so influential for the kingdom with how you respond to not doing well, how you respond when things aren't going your way, how you respond, and people are watching the attitude, the things that are coming out of your mouth that aren't coming out of your mouth. You know, when you hit your hand on a hand, uh you hit your hand with a hammer, you know, like with the words that you choose to come out of your mouth, yeah, and then your next door neighbor who's on the paddock with you hits their hand with a hammer, yeah, and you hear their words coming out, they're like, Why, why don't you say the same thing that I do? Because that's different. You're over here going, hallelujah, whatever, Jesus, ha, woo, praise the Lord, you know, and I'm over here going, you know, I'm not gonna say it on this G-rated podcast, but what a great way to go, huh? There's something different about them over there. Oh, yeah. I like them. I don't know why they like them. Yeah, something different. Yeah, I'm attracted to that. That's I don't know, marketplace. It could be a coffee house, you name it. I mean it's racing for my son, but I that's what I'm trying to empower. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to speak to. God wants to platform you in those areas so you can make a difference for him. It doesn't have to just be in the four walls of a church. That's right. And I think that's where I've grown up so much over the years to expand my mind and my thinking to realize they all have their place, they're all important, and they all come together, right? Because there is something powerful about that. But man, it's like being an evangelist.

Justin: 25:22

Yeah.

Rhett: 25:23

It's tent making.

Justin: 25:24

Yeah.

Rhett: 25:24

You know, it's that's exactly.

Justin: 25:26

They ain't coming to us, so let's go to them. Yeah, it was. It was a tent making. Yeah, we get to see that in scripture and even Old Testament. We can see how God He gave the gift to men and women to have these skill sets that they did that operated in their civilization.

Rhett: 25:43

And to be a part of a very secure leader in church that actually empowers and not condemns somebody to be away from what's happening in the four walls of the church on a Sunday to actually be empowered to go, no, no, you know, it's more important that you're there. Yeah. Because those people, they're not in here.

Justin: 26:03

That's right.

Rhett: 26:04

And what you know, and I'm not saying that you need to do away with a gathering. No, no, no. You need your gathering. That's very important. But to to have that type of support from a leader, and by the way, leader, pastor, if you're listening, huge. I I don't know, arguably. I just think there's more ministry to be done outside the church than there is uh inside the four walls. That's just me. Maybe I'll have the grace to get better. Something powerful happens when we gather, yes, for sure. But whatever you do, don't lead from the place of insecurity to try to really gather what that is that's more important and put unrealistic weight on a young person or somebody that might even be older. To pull them away from something really when we're called to empower them for the work of the ministry, yeah, and maybe their work of the ministry is evangelism in places that you, pastor, will never be. Yeah. Right? And so I don't know, there's balance for sure, but it's coming together. I mean, I grew up, man, going, well, I said no to some opportunities that might have been some yeses just because I knew I thought, no, I can't not miss church on Sunday. Right. And I did that in the in the legalistic sense, yeah. Of thinking I'm making a holier decision. I'm not saying I did or didn't and make the right, you know, I am who I am today because of what I've done, but I think having the wisdom to filter it through, like, okay, but if you go that wet route, you could still go there, be a part of that company and business, nothing wrong with that. They are requiring you to work on a Sunday, so we're just gonna have to get creative with what your gathering looks like and how to empower you in that moment so you can be successful there's right and still be a part of the body of Christ and the gathering that happens. Yeah.

Justin: 27:45

Yeah. I think ideologically too, just even going from you know, you and I have had this conversation before, not on the podcast, but right there is there's three things. There's the construction, right? We grew up, it was construction. It I mean, we've had it since we have been in the church 32 years ago. The framework of faith. Our framework of faith. It's yeah, we what we were constructed in, and then you go through this process, and it's not to be mixed up with this word that's out there now that almost means a walking away from the faith. I don't mean this, but the words deconstruction, I think people can take that into such a negative way, right? But there can be a healthy part of deconstruction. I agree. Where even how you're framing that now, there were certain legalistic mindsets that you had that at one moment you thought that was tied to faith. Yeah. And as you dug deeper into your faith with the Lord, and I would have so many stories for myself as well, you began to deconstruct certain parts of that construction. You didn't do away with the main foundation and framing, which is our faith. Yeah, but you did deconstruct some stuff, and sometimes that may even mean that you deconstruct some essentials that need to be added back. But that's that third phase, it would be reconstruction. So yeah.

Rhett: 29:06

So you have construction, you have construction, deconstruction with the framework we're building that's been built, and then deconstruction, kind of breaking some of that down that could have been toxic, could have been a healthy.

Justin: 29:17

And some you might get rid of out of hurt, and it was something you shouldn't have got rid of. Shouldn't have torn down that wall.

Rhett: 29:22

That was actually a good wall, but I didn't know it was a good wall until I tore it down. Right. And now I'm realizing it needs to come back.

Justin: 29:26

Of the third is reconstruction, yeah. Where you reconstruct something brand new as you're beginning to see it, but you're still doing it on the framing of Christ, of a relationship with the cornerstone back things that maybe oh I was hurt, I was wounded, I got rid of that. That is a needed component. And so the the whole part of that is it's we've said it before, it's the wrestling that you go through. To me, if you just persevere, and I've heard theologians say this before, it's the perseverance which is key. That's why you can someone can be frustrated and come into church. And as long as they don't give up, they can wrestle through this and they're gonna wrestle their way back into understanding the love of Christ. As long as you're not giving up on him, he'll never give up on us. Yeah. But as long as you're not giving up on, you're giving your chance, you're giving yourself a chance for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. So when we're talking about um the that middle one, which was deconstruction, that's I just wanted to put some emphasis on that. When you said when you were talking about um missing church, potentially, yeah, I can remember under an early construction. I loved our Bible that we were taught early in our first seven years of the church we were at. Right. There's so much that will that will always be a part of me from where I came. It'll never change. We've talked about Scott Ray before. We've interviewed Pastor Randy, and you know, our goal is to have Pastor Scott on here. You know, the goal is you'll be hearing from him in a couple of episodes. Um, uh very much a pastor to me and Rhett, but there are things that I learned that I'll never trade. They are part of who I am. And every time I get closer to the Lord and study a scripture, it points back to that to say, hey, that was good. Right. But there are the things that go along the way, and this can happen in so many areas of life where I would have shut certain things down back then. Right. But as I've wrestled and experienced hardship, experienced growth, whatever it is, I've begun, I've begun to see there are certain dogmas that aren't meant to stay dogma forever. Like it's made to shift in dogma. You know, most people know that, but it's where you're just you're unwilling to bend. And you do have to define what those big rocks are for you. And the big rock really is it's your faith in Jesus.

Rhett: 31:59

Christ crucified, death, burial, resurrection, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen.

Justin: 32:05

And and and the church, ecclesia, the church that he created. Yeah. The bride of Christ. The bride of Christ. And it is important. The reason we gather, yeah, it's a place where a pastor, just like the apostles, they're dedicated, they have dedicated their time to the preaching and teaching of scriptures. And the goal is hopefully they're going to be bringing a word for you that people who've not heard of Christ, it will be proclaimed. But also those who belong to the the fellowship of of Christ, yeah, can also, you're, you're, you're learning the scripture, it's uh it's alive, it's living and active, but also we're in community with one another. Yeah. And that's the big part. It's the whole, it's the commune, yeah, community. And so if where you're at takes you to a different place, that is where there's a temptation to have a dogmatic thought to say, well, I can't do that because it would take me away. Right. I think each person has to assess their life and the doors potentially that God has put them in so that they can truly steward where they're gonna be.

Rhett: 33:13

Yeah.

Justin: 33:13

And then you find out, okay, how can we make how how can we, as you said a while ago, how do we bring the church into that?

Rhett: 33:22

Yeah.

Justin: 33:22

It would be like NASCAR. Yeah. I mean, NASCAR racing. I'm I'm sure Formula One, maybe they do it too. But I just knew this because we have friends who are on that circuit and the go to it. Sundays are their day. That's that's their career. That is them tent making. That's what they do. That's like NBA playing on Christmas Day. Oh, yeah, or football on Thanksgiving. It's gonna happen. It's like us being full-time in ministry. We're not sipping hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. We're at Christmas Eve services, at least at Church of the Highlands, we are. Right. There's just part of it. Yeah. But it that's the career mindset. It is a ministry extension, but that's because it is also it's a it's it's where I'm at. Yeah. So there's a mix of both. I'm serving my church, but it is a job too.

Rhett: 34:09

Right.

Justin: 34:09

Just like so with NASCAR, they're gonna miss Sundays from February until when? October, November. Yeah, exactly. But they have they have pastors, right? They have chaplains. Every Sunday, there's a service that's offered. Yeah, and there are many of these NASCAR guys who are they're small groups, they are believers. Oh, yeah, and they gather and they function just as there's NASCAR drivers who exactly they are running from God. Yeah, totally. But the church is happening within that grouping of people.

Rhett: 34:42

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. I think that's where you just have to be careful as a leader, speaking to pastors specifically, not to put the weight or conviction or of even the calling you have on your life on other people. Meaning, yeah, if I'm a leader and I've never missed a Sunday in my life, to say, well, that's the reason I'm living this blessed life, well, okay, great. But you you gotta be careful not to put that type of expectation on people where that's not a reality based off career choice or giftings that have put them in places where they can't.

Justin: 35:38

Yeah.

Rhett: 35:38

So when you got to be careful not to make a blank statement like that for, and I've heard a lot of people, a lot of pastors say those kind of things. And I I can't say that because I've missed a lot of Sundays in my life, and and yet I'm still, you know, yeah, blessed and highly favored, not because of what I do, but because of who I am through Christ and his blood, and that's it, it's a gift. Yeah. And and so, but you also have to be careful because now they're like, well, if you if you say that, now you're giving people a license never to come to church. I'm like, no, that's not what I'm doing. I I'm saying you can- Sounds very controlling. Right, right. No, what I what I'm what I'm trying to say is, you know, be free in the grace gift that God's given you and understand the wisdom of the gathering of believers and the power that God speaks of in that gathering. Now, that gathering doesn't have to happen at the four walls down the church from your house back home when you're on the road. That gathering can happen at the track. That gathering can happen wherever. You know, think, take the traveling musician and the artist, uh, those who have the gifting to lead people into the presence of God through their artwork, you know, and musicians specifically, they're they're on the road, they're on the tour. They can't be at their local home church. They desire to be. Um, so they got to get creative. Well, we're we're gonna gather. We're two or more. Hey, you know what? There's 12 of us, 20 of us. We're gonna, we're gonna read God's word, we're gonna pray for each other, right? Oh, yeah. We're gonna read scripture, we're gonna let it speak to us. We're gonna, how is that speaking? How can we apply it? Uh, we're gonna pray, we're gonna sing some songs of worship, we're gonna encourage each other. I mean, that's the gathering.

Justin: 37:10

So I'm just saying You took the church and you just shifted it. You created a a new spiritual building that that church went with you. Exactly.

Rhett: 37:20

And so all I'm saying is we got to be careful with what we say in in in ways understanding the balance that yes, it's important for the gathering, but that gathering doesn't have to be in those four walls within that community down the street from your house every single weekend. Yeah, right. It can be on the racetrack, you know, if that's your career choice, right? Because there's nothing wrong with that. So don't bring guilt or shame to that. Yeah. Let's learn, let's get very creative and empower people to that. But let's understand the balance, though. There's there's also a lot of power. And if you are and have the ability and you are down the block from your home on the weekend, you need to be in that church with your family. Yeah, you don't need to be a house watching online. You you you really there's a lot more, you know what I'm saying?

Justin: 38:08

Like, so you're with people. Yes. It's community.

Rhett: 38:12

You're with people in in all their imperfectness, in all their issues.

Justin: 38:16

It should be messy. Think about yes, it should be it should be messy.

Rhett: 38:20

So I hope you're hearing the heart of both ends and you're not going, well, now I don't like red anymore because he thinks I'm saying, you know, it's not it's okay not to be in church every Sunday. That's not what I'm saying. I'm like, when you have the opportunity, you should you should take it, but you also shouldn't put the guilt and blame on somebody else unintentionally or even intentionally for sure, for people who that's not possible. For the waiter or waitress who's working a job to try to take care of three kids and they're single. That's right. Right. And the only time they can do it is work on a Sunday. The tips are horrible, but they still have to make money, right? So it's like we we we've got to learn. And I think, especially in the South, we and I think we've grown a lot. And I say we collectively as the church, I think we've come a long way in the fact of trying to figure out okay, there are there are ways that we can still create gathering moments for people that are in these scenarios.

Justin: 39:08

Yeah.

Rhett: 39:09

And and I think that's all I'm trying to say. And I wanted to go, there was another direction I was gonna take with that, and I kind of kind of lost my train of thought. So maybe it's not that important. But I I hope this is a good a train of thought there. Um, yeah. So, anyways, that's my soapbox for a minute when it comes to to men. I just I don't know. It's good. I but I'm wired in a way. I'm wired for the local church, but I'm also wired for evangelism. This is part of me. Yeah. And it and I think it's something initially in us, if we're thinking about our stories, a lot of our stories have dealt with in times where we were 16, 17, going on vacation, you taking your guitar. I didn't really know how to play anything but a bass guitar, and that doesn't, that's not really cool looking on the beach, you know. You can't even hear it, right? Exactly. And so just you know, and just being who we are with our gifting around other people, and we didn't really care what they thought. We're just happy with who we are, and that joy spread to like us reaching whoever was around us at the time who would be willing to want to have a conversation.

Justin: 40:12

And we did have a heart. Yeah, I do, I do remember having a passion that they would know Christ.

Rhett: 40:17

100%.

Justin: 40:18

Like we wanted it, we didn't want to force it down their throat, but man, we want like we would we would our spirit would almost be an angst for them to want or to them experience that Jesus can set them free. Yeah. Because we had just experienced it.

Rhett: 40:36

Well, what I thought, yeah, we had just experienced it. We wanted everybody else to experience the same type of peace and that same type of freedom, that same type of joy without having to turn to the world's way, is that it doesn't last. Um, it's short-lived, it's fun for a season. I heard a pastor say one time, you know, if sin wasn't fun for you, you were just doing it wrong. Because sin is fun for a season. And then it and then it's bitter, and then it bites, and then it kills and destroys. Yeah. But what I thought was interesting is a part of me, I'm wired by the Lord to love being around sinners.

Justin: 41:10

Yeah.

Rhett: 41:11

I love being around people who don't know God. I love being around people who are broken. I really do. Yeah. And just and and not to preach by what I say. Well, like just get in conversations and they start talking to you, and and it's like they just already know you're different by the based off the words you choose to use and how you even connect with them relationally.

Justin: 41:35

Yeah.

Rhett: 41:36

And we do it, yes, in the hope that there will be fruit from it, but we're doing it to plant seeds, not to reap a harvest in the moment.

Justin: 41:42

Yeah.

Rhett: 41:43

It's not this idea, oh, I just planted a corn seed. I expect a stalk and corn to give you in the next 30 seconds. Where's my corn?

Justin: 41:48

Well, that's an example of where you you deconstructed and reconstructed something. We went during our construction, we were the the message out there was close the deal. Yeah, because they could die in a car accident on their way home. And if you didn't do that, the blood is on your hands. Yeah. And when that's how you're constructed, yeah, you begin to look and say, either that's true, and I'm gonna live stressed because I do not have that kind of control. Yeah. But you began to deconstruct that idea to realize that no, like I'm here to plant seeds, yeah, not close the deal. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can close this deal. Yeah. So it actually requires more faith in the Lord because you're you're you're letting your faith do the walking and letting the Holy Spirit actually do what he does best. And then you reconstruct that thought, which is now why you can hang with a lost person without the pressure of thinking, okay, when do I now get in the agenda thought?

Rhett: 42:51

Yeah. How many times, and I I haven't heard this phrase in a long time, and I'm grateful for it. But when in our generation, when we grew up in church specifically, specifically, how many times did we hear the phrase, hey, when you're reaching somebody, you can almost need to go to the extreme. Hey, man, I got a gun up to your head right now. If I pull the trigger and you die right now, where are you going? Heaven or hell, tell me.

Justin: 43:09

Right.

Rhett: 43:10

I mean, that's you remember that? Uh yeah. It was like literally, because if I don't tell you and you don't answer this right, my your blood is on my hands as if it is my responsibility. And I can't live with that judgment from the Lord-ish. Right. This is, I'm not saying this is true. This is what we grew up in, right? Uh I can't live with your blood on my hands. So every moment, every opportunity, I've got to be like heaven or hell, heaven or hell, heaven or hell, heaven or hell, heaven or hell. And it's like that like planting a seed and watering a seed takes time for it to grow. Now, you might reap a harvest where there's been seeds that have already been planted. Yeah. And you might have that opportunity. But yeah, but even though we heard that a lot, we live that way, but yet we still found ourselves like who can we just like, I don't know, befriend and have a good time and just naturally see them be drawn to God. Yeah. Not because we're preaching, but because we're just being who we are.

Justin: 44:05

Well, I think that's probably why I would look over my shoulder because when I didn't go try to close a deal or put a gun to someone's head and say, what would happen if you didn't accept him? And we actually just talk to someone, yeah, like they're valuable and they're humans, yeah, and not devaluing them until they've converted. Right. And you're looking over your shoulder, making sure that the the ministry police that that really exist, the inner critic in your head, that's right where it really is. You know, and then you just lock in with the person and let them just be let them be a human as you talk to them. I mean, that's the only way it is is for you to have that encounter. And then when the moment comes up, you can express yourself as much of what you've encountered. 100%. You can speak the truth when they're here. So when we look at the book of Acts, these people are coming to hear, like they're coming with a heart to listen.

Rhett: 45:01

Yeah.

Justin: 45:02

Like, what is going on in here? And Peter's like, hey, by the way, yeah, they're not as drunk as you suppose. Yeah, I know. It looks a little interesting what's going on. I have a lot of joy in this house. That's right. There's a lot of laughter.

Rhett: 45:14

The only joy that you know comes from alcohol.

Justin: 45:17

Yeah. There's a whole nother joy on the other side. That's right. You're seeing a community, like a party, probably what you would see into the wee hours of the night when the wine is it's locked in. Yeah. And now here you are at this time. You're seeing the same, it's a party because they are in the deepest community, yeah. Probably feeling the biggest sense of purpose. Yeah. And people are curious because now they're hearing people speak in a language that is theirs, and they know these people do not speak their language. Yeah, they're being gifted by the Holy Spirit to speak in these tongues, proclaiming the gospel to their language. In their language, and they're curious. So now Paul goes through the story of from Old Testament to what led to the Messiah, Jesus coming to his death, his burial, his resurrection, and that the power of the Holy Spirit from Joel back in the book of Joel.

Rhett: 46:08

In the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. All flesh, all flesh.

Justin: 46:13

Sons and daughters. We'll prophesy. Yeah. No daughters is in there, women and men. That's right. Boom, right away. It's like Jesus is He's doing He's doing a new thing, all things new. Yeah. But there was a curiosity.

Rhett: 46:26

Yeah.

Justin: 46:27

And that's the big point is when you can actually engage with someone and they're seeing something in you. Yeah, they're going to be curious. Yeah. And it is okay to tell them what that thing in you is. Yeah. And you don't have to like make it cool. Because that's another deal. Things are constructed, they deconstruct, they're reconstructed. So we go through our fads of now make Jesus cool. That's why we got the shirts back in the 90s. Jesus is my homeboy. Those people finally woke up to the thought that I can have a relationship with Jesus. And of course, they're gonna, is that too far? Who knows? But they're gonna now make a shirt that seems like the most casual relationship that he is. Yeah. Because there's always new ways to try to express, but we can't really judge that in the year of 2025 going into 26, what happened in the 90s, because once again, culturally, yeah, there was something going on, but there are eyes that we can have and look back and realize there was some really good things that happened. And I want to, when I reconstruct, I want to bring that with me. But man, some of this stuff where you come down from the rafters with machine guns and you act like you're attacking a chair. I love that. And it's and it's not real, it's just kind of a it's just a put on to let people see what it could have been like. It's like, well, yeah. I mean, I guess that I mean, we're that's definitely happened in some parts of the world. What did Paul say? People are wanting to convert them, I guess.

Rhett: 48:00

What did Paul say? Uh uh Christ is being preached. So at the end of the day, whether this person's doing it and they're doing it out of false motives or wrong motives, uh, I mean or ignorance. Jesus is my homeboy. Look, the word Jesus there means the Christ, the savior, and his name, even in out of in that context that you agree or disagree, you want to get theologically, he's not my homeboy, he's my holy, sovereign, righteous God. Yeah, he is. But he also said, I I no longer call you servants. Those who follow me, you're my friends.

Justin: 48:34

Yeah.

Rhett: 48:35

And in that day and age, homeboy was just, hey man, you're my friend. And yeah, he is, but he's also my savior, he's also your God, he's also holy, he's also righteous. So there's a constant balancing.

Justin: 48:47

That's why it's it's never ending so it's never ending wrestling.

Rhett: 48:50

Yeah, so for me, I guess the reason we even went down this road is the I love the local church. I love the gathering, I love the power that comes from that. Not so much for what's preached on a Sunday, although I'm grateful. But it's really the moment in worship where you're with hundreds, 20, thousands, yeah, and you're you're in common unity, community, worshiping God in spirit, and truth. Spirit means my my my soul is connecting with a holy God, you know, like my spirit is connecting with him, but in truth, and this is the truth. This is this is real. This is in God, there's this holy exchange that happens that's deposited in a special way with the masses. Yeah, it just is. I love that. Yeah, but I'm also wired and designed to love being with lost people so that I can see them experience something that's actually happening in the church. Yeah, that they don't know what's happening in the church, but because I am the church and I'm in the world, but not of this world, I get an opportunity for them to experience something through what God's doing in me, not because I'm putting on. But then and then like, yeah, like I'm telling you, like who I am is like really who the church is always, you know, what it is. And dude, you ought to experience it wherever you go. Like it's in in and not every restaurant you go to in this world is going to be good food and great service, but I guarantee you, wherever you live, there is a great restaurant in that town somewhere. Find that restaurant. And I'm not talking about I'm talking spiritual food now.

Justin: 50:23

Yeah, but you know what, even if you went to the spiritual huddle house, the food, even if it's not awesome, it might not be Blackstone Bradshaw. That's right, that's right. Don't forget it. The griddle. But if you go there, but think about the table. If you're with your friends, yeah, that's the memory that you have. Exactly. So there's still you're eating, yeah, it's it's not Ruth's Chris. Yeah. But at the same time, you're with community, you're being built up in the faith because it's us coming together, which is the church.

Rhett: 50:55

Exactly. And that's just the that that's just the beauty of the body of Christ in action, no matter where you are. That's right. Christ is with you. And if I'm leaving some rocks, you know, or even some pebbles for my family and friends, my hope is that you hear that wherever you are, you are the church of the living God through a relationship with Christ Jesus. And there is power in the gathering. There's something special that happens there, but there's also something really special that happens when you take that and you walk in that with confidence and courageousness and strength that doesn't come from you, but comes from the Lord and really comes from the identity of who you are in Christ, to where it's like, I'm not afraid, man. I don't get out here and just be confident who I am. I'm unoffendable, I'm unembarrassable, I'm unirritable because I'm a dead man. I've learned to die to myself and let Christ come alive in me. And man, when you can live that type of life in with wherever you are, man, there's just so much. The world needs it, is what I'm trying to say. They need to see the real, they need to see that, they need to see the hope. And it doesn't come from really what you say, but how you live your life. And what I would say that's made our friendship so special, and I'm grateful for, and we call it the hot tub moments.

Justin: 52:11

Yeah.

Rhett: 52:11

Um, and we say that because we used to go on vacations together, and for some reason, all the teenagers and young adults would hang out at the pool together around the around the hot tub. And you'd bring your guitar and we'd hang out and be like, Who are y'all? Oh, yeah, well, this is who we are. And they got alcohol and cigarettes and smell like the world, and we just hang out and they're like, Why aren't you drinking? Oh man, you know, I don't like it's good. Like, I'm not better. It wasn't this like idea of we're better than you, and we never came across that way, you know. But next thing you know, they they find themselves like, man, we're just I don't know. There's something powerful about every time bringing bringing the presence of God, the kingdom rule, the love, the joy, the peace, the patience, the goodness, the kindness, the self-control, the gentleness, bringing that into every situation wherever you go is just it breathes life into people. It does. And I just want to empower my son into that to keep walking that road, empower our friends in that. It's like you said, it's it's not really about you having a share and be the smart. It's not about being the smartest person. It's just going, hey, here's my story. Hey, friends, Red 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.

Justin: 54:01

I will say for me and you, we grew up, we we had a use use this word at the beginning of the episode, we had a Levitical. If you use the Old Testament, the Levites were the ones in the temple and all the other tribes. Yeah. You know, they they owned land, they worked, and they got portions of the land, they could build certain wealth, all this stuff. And the Levites, yeah, they really their ministry was they did not go grow in all these other areas like finances, they were given a portion. Yeah. And they were very set apart. And, you know, and speaking into our day and age now, you're not set apart if you're on a church staff. It's not like that. But there is a sense of we're all full-time ministry. You know, are you vocational? Meaning are you part of like a parachurch or a church or a nonprofit type staff where it exists for the got the glory of God? Or are you working your nine to five, which would be your marketplace ministry? They're all the same. I would say the way we've grown up though, we have had a call to local church. So at least the you know, at 47 now, and I would anticipate that will continue, that I that's a that's a specific calling for me. And so when when I train or when I teach, unless I'm teaching that specific group who feels the same call, yeah, it wouldn't be fair for me to put the same expectation on you who might not be called to that. Exactly. Because my calling takes a different commitment level in certain atmospheres. Your calling is going to look different than mine, but we still can have unity and community when we come together. Yes. And that really is for me just that big rock that if our sons, if our grandkids are listening to this one day, there's not one more way that would make me say, I'm more proud of you.

Rhett: 56:05

Yeah.

Justin: 56:06

I'm proud of you if you're following Christ with all your heart and that you are staying true to the man and the woman of God that he created you to be specifically, but always be in love with the bride of Christ. You are part of it. Be in love with the church. I like how Rhett said it earlier. Embrace the mess. Don't walk into somewhere looking for perfection. Yeah. Everybody's got their own idea of how it should be. Yeah. That's all a part of the wrestling. Yeah. What matters is Christ being glorified. And maybe he might not be in certain areas, whether it's a certain area of a church or it's a certain area of your own personal soul. But are you in the wrestling where you're willing to, if it's exposed, you'll surrender and lay that down so that you can continue the wrestling of being closer to Christ and closer to his body.

Rhett: 57:06

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.