Joe White Drive Time Podcast

Once upon a time, we were, the team I played on, we were playing really the National Championship College football team, and we were playing in front of 80,000 fans and millions more on television. Well, during that game, I made any embarrassing mistake. In fact, I made several that day, and literally, I wanted to hide my number under the dog pile of players so that no one could recognize me.

Family Discussions:

1. How is sin a failure?
2. How can a man named Jesus erase the DVD?
3. How can you erase the video?
4. Should we sin freely since he's erasing our errors?
5. How did Jesus pay for our sins?
6. How did he erase the film?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 Hey, today I'm smiling because I'm going to tell you about one of the most embarrassing days in my life. But first I want to read to you from John chapter five, verse 22 through 24. And scripture says this, "For not even the Father judges anyone, but he has given all judgement to the Son so that all who honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father because the Father sent him. Truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

00:55 Well, once upon a time, we were, the team I played on, we were playing really the National Championship College football team, and we were playing in front of 80,000 fans and millions more on television. Well, during that game, I made any embarrassing mistake. In fact, I made several that day, and literally, I wanted to hide my number under the dog pile of players so that no one could recognize me. I was incredibly embarrassed. Fortunately, the play went by quickly and our coach couldn't see it well from the sidelines, and he didn't take me out. But when he saw the film of the game, he played it over and over again, and he corrected me, staunchly from my error. You know what? I felt so small in my film room, you know, that day with my teammates as we watch that replay over and over again on the screen. Man, what would I have given to be able to erase the film before the coach saw it.

01:54 You know, man, God is like a coach in that he sees it all. I mean, he knows it all. He's filmed every good thing, and he's filmed every sin, every mistake, every failure. You know, God is no fool. He will not be mocked. And when you and I meet him face to face, the film of our sins, the video, the DVD, you know, will start the play. But a very amazing thing, according to scripture, will happen. A man named Jesus will step forward on my behalf, on your behalf, and he will say to God, in so many words, that film has been erased. That one is one of my children. I live in his heart. His film has become perfect. I died for the bad places in that person's heart. I don't know about you, but I will fall at his feet in praise. I have made so many mistakes. The video of my life is a mess, but by the grace of God as I've given life to him and continue every day to do that, he erases the video. He erases the DVD. I couldn't be more grateful. How about you?

03:09 Here's the question. How is sin a failure? And then, how can a man named Jesus erase the DVD? How can you erase the video? And then here's a big question that Christians really need to ask: should we sin freely since he's erasing our errors? You know, Romans 6 says, "Should we continue to sin that grace might increase?" Paul says, absolutely not. Why not? And then, the last one is how did Jesus pay for our sins? How did he erase the film? Here's the verse with the thought for the day. Let's help each other make good life films with no disappointing, instant replays. That's what the family, a good family, is for.

Your will is your heart. It's the driver's seat of your life. It's the quarterback where you make decisions in the huddle.

Family Discussions:

1. When do you need to do something that's right that's hard to do?
2. Why is saying "I'll try" a cop out?
3. What's the difference between wishing to do something and deciding to do something?
4. When Jesus owns your will, what does that mean?
5. How can we help each other in a family walk away from sinful habits and will to get well?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 Today, I want to tell you an exciting story, and I want to tell you about an exciting place that I've actually seen in Jerusalem. It's been excavated 30 feet down, and it's just like it's described in John chapter five. Here it goes. This is awesome. "Now there was in Jerusalem, by the sheep gate, a pool, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda having five porticos." And those five porticos are still there in that excavation, by the way. "Now in these," the story says, "lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame and withered, waiting for a moving of the waters for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and would stir up the waters." Scripture says, "Whoever then first after the stirring up of the water stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which that person was afflicted." In verse five it says, "A man was there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition. He said to him, 'Do you wish to get well?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. But while I am coming another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, 'Get up. Pick up your pallet and walk.' And immediately that man became well. He picked up his pallet, and he began to walk. That was the Sabbath on that day."

01:48 Do you wish to get well? I'll never forget the day. I guess Beth was probably a precious little college sophomore at Texas Tech University when she came to an interview, a staff interview, and she was confused, and the interview turned into counseling. As I traveled, you know, through Texas that year to hire staff for our sports camp, this story stands out from all the rest. She said, "I feel so badly these days." And she had big old tears in her huge brown eyes. She said, "My relationship with God is going nowhere right now." You know, we talked for awhile, and she sobbed as she shared her boyfriend problems. You know, it wasn't a good relationship, but she held on to it for the feelings of security it gave her. You know, I said, "Beth, you've got to give up your will." She looked up at me in wonder. She said, "How did you know his name?" And I said, "What are you talking about?" She said, "My boyfriend's name is Will."

02:47 You see your will is your heart. It's the driver's seat of your life. It's the quarterback where you make decisions in the huddle. You know, when God gives you your will and you step out on your will, you can stop anything that is wrong and you can do anything that is right. Literally, when Jesus asked his man, "Do you wish to get well?" In the Greek, what he really said to the man was, "Do you will to get well? Your will is the strongest muscle in your body.

03:18 So here's the questions for the day: when do you need to do something that's right that's hard to do it, and why is saying "I'll try" a cop out? And then the second question is what's the difference between wishing to do something and deciding to do something? And the third question is this: when Jesus owns your will, what does that mean? And here's the thought for the day. The paralytic willed to get well. He took up his pallet and walked. How can we help each other in a family walk away from sinful habits and will to get well?

It is toughest at home, whether you're a dad or you're a mom or a wife or a husband or a child, but home is where Christian living needs to be its best.

Family Discussions:

1. Why did Jesus' family misunderstand him?
2. What did he tell them that threw them for a loop?
3. Why is it the hardest to live your faith out at home?
4. Why is it essential not to pretend to be a Christian away from home if you're not living it in the home?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 Hey, today I want to look at a key, a key to your home, a key to your house, and sometimes it's the toughest key of all to open. Sometimes, it's the greatest one to open. Today we're going to look at John chapter four, verses 41 through 45, and scripture says this, "Many more believed because of his word, and they were saying to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe for we have heard ourselves and know that this one is indeed the Savior of the world.' After two days, he went forth from there into Galilee for Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans received him having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast for they themselves also went to the feast."

01:07 Sometimes it's toughest at home. You know, there was a great golfer named Payne Stewart, and, you know, Payne had two kids, two great friends of mine, Aaron and Chelsea. They came to our sports camps. They received Christ as Savior, and they went home and led Payne to Christ, and because of those two kids and their testimony for Christ when that man died, he Went to heaven. We also had a camper named Brett Posten, who was a great soccer player. You know, he could dribble and kick. He could defend the goal better than anyone, but Brett also like Chelsea and Aaron accepted Christ at camp one evening. He went home a different person. After becoming a Christian, his prayer was that his mom and dad would see a change and accept Jesus into their hearts, too. His mom was into New Age. I have permission to share this. His Dad went to church, but he didn't know a personal Savior. Brett smiled. He served. He loved. He obeyed, and he honored his parents like never before. You know what? They couldn't resist. One by one, his mom and his dad and his sister accepted Christ, and today that family stands united. You know what? It's the toughest to live your faith at home. Even Jesus was misunderstood at first. Another neat camper named Brooke was 16 when she and her father lost their friendship. At camp, you know, we counseled and talked, and she decided she was wrong, and that girl went back to her cabin and she made a list of 36 specific ways to go home and serve her dad like cleaning his office and packing his lunch and saying, "I love you," every day and taping Bible verses to the steering wheel of his car. It was amazing. In September, she called me to say it was working. In January, she'd call me back to tell me her dad was her best friend. You know what? Man, it is toughest at home whether you're a dad or you're a mom or a wife or a husband or a child, but home is where Christian living needs to be its best.

03:08 Here's the questions for today. Why did Jesus' family misunderstand him? And the second question is what did he tell them that threw them for a loop? And then the next question is why is it the hardest to live your faith out at home? And then lastly, why is it essential not to pretend to be a Christian away from home if you're not living it in the home? Here's the thought for the day: since it's the toughest at home, make it easier on each other by the way we live and we serve and we sacrifice. Watch your home change.

Since the beginning of the Bible, the Old Testament saints longed for and wrote details about the long-awaited Messiah. He would be the Anointed One of God.

Family Discussions:

1. What does Messiah mean to you?
2. Compare Messiah to other great names you know. How is Jesus unique?
3. Why is Jesus known as the lamb?
4. Why is He known as the lion?

Episode Transcription:

00:23 Today's devotional from John chapter four, verse 21 through 26, I'm going to take you to the Super Bowl. In fact, I'm going to take you to the Super Bowl of Super Bowls. Here's the verses from the Bible. It says this in verse 21, "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me. An hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the father. You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know for salvation is for the Jews, from the Jews, but an hour is coming and now is when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and in truth for such people the father seeks to be his worshipers. God is spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.' The woman said to him, 'I know the Messiah is coming, and that's the one who's called the Christ. When that one comes, he will declare all things to us.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'"

01:23 I was with a Super Bowl team last year, and boy it was awesome. They had big rings on their fingers, and we had a great time sharing together. I was talking to a guy yesterday who has these three Nascars. The greatest Nascar drivers in the world. You know, in football, it's the MVP. Man, watching the Super Bowl and eating the chips and the dip off all those things. It's awesome. In the PGA, it's called, you know, the medalist of the greatest tour, you know, in golf. In the Indy 500, the drivers in the race car driving, the one that wins the trophy. In the Olympics, it's the gold medalist in ice skating, I guess. It's the best of the best.

02:05 But in this case, it's more than that. Oh, it is so much more than that. Since the beginning of the Bible, the Old Testament saints longed for and wrote details about the long-awaited Messiah. He would be the Anointed One of God. He'd be the Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The Old Testament said he'd be a lamb. He'd be a sacrifice for man's sins for all time. He'd be soft. He'd be gentle. He'd be kind. He'd be a friend. And then he'd returned as a lion, as a leader, a conqueror, and everlasting king. You see, Messiah means the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, all of this, and so much more. All of that is wrapped up in one man, and that day Jesus said, "I am that man." His name is Jesus. To reject him is to lose your soul. To accept him and to follow him is to gain eternal salvation. When the Super Bowl rings have rusted and deteriorated and fallen off our fingers, Christ is all that will remain. Here's the questions for today. What does Messiah mean to you? And then the second one question is this, compare Messiah to other great names you know. How is Jesus unique? Why is Jesus known as the lamb? And then, eventually, why is he known as the lion? And the thought for the day is this, make our life in this home, in the home you live, such that you'll be glad he came.

All drinks of all kinds have incredible value because of two things. One: people get thirsty. And two: drinks don't permanently quench a thirst.

Family Discussions:

1. What authority did Jesus have when he told the woman that he was living water?
2. Why did Jesus called himself living water?
3. Why does a sincere follower of Christ never thirst for another drink spiritually?
4. How can someone get a drink of living water?
5. How do you make your home an oasis?

Episode Transcription:

00:11 Today we're going to look at an awesome story from John chapter four, verses six through 10, and it says this, "And Jacob's well was there, so Jesus being wearied from his journey was sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink,' for his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore, the Samaritan woman said to him, 'How is it that you being a Jew ask me for a drink since I'm a Samaritan woman?' For Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it was who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'"

01:04 Living water. What a thought. You know water, Coke and Gatorade, Dr Pepper, you name it. You know thirst quenching drinks are on the market. I heard one time that Gatorade paid Michael Jordan double-digit millions just to call him Mike. What an offer! You know, then I heard that Pepsi paid him double-digit millions to drink Pepsi in front of a TV camera. Who knows? But I know from my mission experience that is some starving countries, people will walk over 20 miles for a pitcher of water. It's amazing. You know, all drinks of all kinds have incredible value because of two things. One: people get thirsty. And two: drinks don't permanently quench a thirst, but Jesus said that he quenches your thirst for meaning and purpose in life, and you'll never thirst again as you continue to thirst in and live in him and his word.

03:02 And here's the questions for today. What authority did Jesus have when he told the woman that he was living water? And then why did Jesus called himself living water? And then the third question is this: why does a sincere follower of Christ never thirst for another drink? Not physically, but spiritually. And then the last question is this: how can someone get a drink of living water? And the thought for the day if you're with your family is this: how do you make your home an oasis? Give each other a drink today.

In upstate New York, the story goes, there was a man who was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses. He owned land. He owned antiques. He owned cattle. But on the outside he had it all, but he was very unhappy on the inside.

Family Discussions:

1. How is the auction like God's offer to us?
2. What exactly is God's offer in the greatest auction of all?
3. Who will be disappointed and will walk away when the auction is over?
4. Will we value each other in our home as much as the rich man values his son?
5. What would happen if we did that with each other in the house?

Episode Transcription:

00:15 Today I want to share with you one of the greatest stories I've ever heard in my life. The scripture today comes from John Chapter three, verses 33-36, and it says this, "He who has received his testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true for he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides in him."

00:56 In upstate New York, the story goes, there was a man who was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses. He owned land. He owned antiques. He owned cattle. But on the outside he had it all, but he was very unhappy on the inside. You see, his wife was growing older and the couple was childless and he had always wanted a little boy to have and to carry on the family legacy. Seemingly miraculously, the wife became pregnant in her later years. and she gave birth to a little boy. Even though the boy was severely handicapped in many ways, the man loved that boy with his whole heart. But as the boy turned five, his mama died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects and the things he suffered in childbirth cost the boy his life, and the father died shortly thereafter from, literally, a broken heart. The estate was auctioned before hundreds of rich bidders. The first item up for bid, as the auctioneer stood on the balcony of that magnificent home, the first item he offered was the painting of the boy. It was an 11 by 14 color portrait and not one person bid. You know, they wanted all the big stuff. They were saving their money for the riches. But finally from the front row, this, precious, poor little housemaid who had helped raise the boy bid $5 for the picture, and she easily took the bid. No one bid anything else. Then to everyone's shock, the auctioneer ripped a handwritten will from the back of the picture on which the man had willed...this was said, "To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate." Auction - over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay.

02:52 "To the person who thinks enough of my son to give them everything they've got to that person, I give my entire inheritance." Isn't that the message of scripture? Isn't that the message of God in Christ? Here's the questions for the day. How is the auction like God's offer to us? And then secondly, what exactly is God's offer in the greatest auction of all? And then lastly, who will be disappointed and will walk away when the auction is over? And here's the thought for the day - will we value each other in our home as much as the rich man values his son? What would happen if we did that with each other in the house?

It's been called the greatest verse, and it is the heart of this symbol that's the most well-known symbol in the whole wide world. And here's something I read about that verse one day.

Family Discussions:

1. Why is John 3:16 called by some, and probably my many, the greatest verse in the Bible?
2. After today, what does that verse mean to you?
3. What does the word "whatsoever" or "whosoever" mean?
4. What does "whosoever believes in him" mean?
5. What does the word "believe" in this verse mean?
6. What does it mean to believe in him?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 There is one fantastic Bible verse that you see on t-shirts. You see it on billboards. There's certain great athletes who even place it on the little patches under their eyes, and you could almost just take this verse for granted. You see it so much, but it is just packed with meaning, and it's John 3:16, and here's the heart of that great verse. It says this, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

00:46 It's been called the greatest verse, and it is the heart of this symbol that's the most well-known symbol in the whole wide world. And here's something I read about that verse one day. For God (the greatest lover) so loved (the greatest love) the world (the greatest need) that he gave (the greatest gift) his only son (the greatest life) that whosoever (the greatest offer) believes in him (the greatest faith) should not perish (the greatest death), but have everlasting life (the greatest place). John 3:16. There is no doubt that all that's in that verse has to make that the greatest Bible verse of all.

01:40 Here's the questions for today. Why is John 3:16 called by some, and probably my many, the greatest verse in the Bible, and then after today, what does that verse mean to you? You want to discuss that with your friends or family. You wanna think about that. And then the third one is what does the word "whatsoever" mean or "whosoever"? Whosoever believes in him. What does that mean? And then lastly, what does the word "believe" in this verse mean? What does it mean to believe in him? And here's the lifeline for the day - let's memorize this verse and repeat it to the person you're with right now, tomorrow, and then repeat it everyday of your life.

I have this soft-hearted, oldest daughter named Jamie, and when she was growing up, we raised, literally, we raised geese. We raised rabbits. We raised squirrels. We raised raccoons. We raised dogs. We raised baby deer. We even raised an opossum, and any other strange animal that found its way to our door.

Family Discussions:

1. What does it mean to be born again?
2. Why did Nicodemus, who was a very religious man, need to be born again?
3. Why do we need to depend on God's timing for someone to be born again?
4. How can we try to open the shell too soon?
5. Who do we know that we need to pray for that they'll be born again as a Christian?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 Today we want to look at a verse that probably everybody, you know, in the name of Christ knows, but it comes from the story in John 3, verses one through three, and it says this, "Now, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you've come from God as a teacher, for no one can do these things that you do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

00:51 "Unless one is born again." That's the term that everybody has heard. Well, I got to tell you this. You know, I have this soft-hearted, oldest daughter named Jamie, and when she was growing up, we raised, literally, we raised geese. We raised rabbits. We raised squirrels. We raised raccoons. We raised dogs. We raised baby deer. We even raised an opossum, and any other strange animal that found its way to our door. Well, while incubating some duck eggs one time, I made a drastic mistake. You see, it takes a baby duck 28 days to hatch out of a duck egg, and the last two or three days, that little duckling is busy pecking his way out of the shell, and the pecking time is a great struggle, but it makes the duckling strong enough to survive once he's out in the world. I felt so sorry for one of these struggling little ducklings one time that I helped him out of his shell on the second day after he pecked a little bitty hole in the egg. Tragically, that little duckling died that night.

01:59 You see, God's timing included one more day of struggling for the little guy inside that shell. The other ducklings struggled on their own, and they became free of their egg shells in God's timing, and they all survived happily. Here's the question for today - What does it mean to be born again? To start off as this and to come out as something else? What does it mean to be born again? And then why did Nicodemus, who was a very religious man, need to be born again? And then thirdly, why do we need to depend on God's timing for someone to be born again? And then, lastly, how can we try to open the shell too soon? And here's the thought for the day, who do we know that we need to pray for that they'll be born again as a Christian?

I am telling you when a movie or television show takes God's name in vain, it makes me madder than a hornet. And you know, it's just unbelievable that some PGs and almost all PG13 movies, and probably almost all, if not all R-rated movies do it repeatedly.

Family Discussions:

1. When is it wrong to get mad?
2. Why was Jesus righteously angry? 
3. How can you stop those who take advantage of God or put him down?
4. Why is it so wrong to take God's name in vain?

Episode Transcription:

00:14 You know in Hebrews it says, "The word of God is like a two-edged sword." And the scripture today from John 2, 13 through 17 is going to be the two-edged sword, so hang on tight. It says this in John 2, it says, "The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and he found in the temple, those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers who were seated at the tables. And he made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the coins of the money changers, and he overturned their tables. And to those who were selling the doves, He said, 'Take these things away. Stop making my Father's house a place of business.' His disciples remembered that it was written. 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'"

01:06 Boy, there is such a thing as righteous anger, and righteous anger is proper if it's used properly. I tell you, I honestly am so mad at Hollywood, at the movie industry and the television industry, and again, I come from a background of working with kids. And I come from a background of counseling and taking people through hurts and pains, and I am telling you when a movie or television show takes God's name in vain, it makes me madder than a hornet. And you know, it's just unbelievable that some PGs and almost all PG13 movies, and probably almost all, if not all R-rated movies do it repeatedly. Can you believe that, you know, my God, your God, has been so good. He's been so faithful. He's been so giving that I cannot support the industry that cuts him down with a penny.

02:02 I get so mad at the television set and that's why we've got a remote control to change the channel to, you know, a television set that repeatedly curses God and make Christians out to be wimps over and over again. You know, one time Ted Turner, who you know well developed CNN and Turner Network, he said, "Christianity is for losers." You know, we went through phases where as we're raising our kids with the whole TV thing, and they agreed to watch only one or two carefully selected shows a week on television and just took a brainwash vacation from the television. Well, anger in some ways is a sin, but when God's reputation is at stake, it's not. And today, God's reputation is being put at stake every single day. In business, people take his name in vain. In locker rooms, people take his name in vain. In conversations,

02:59 this whole "my God" or "Oh my God" or "Jesus Christ" or "God Almighty." It's taking God's name empty. It's taking God's name in vain and that stuff made Jesus mad. It makes anyone who loves God mad. You know, the money changers of the temple are everywhere. Some use the church or the TV. You know, church to get, you know, wealthy. Some curse God to sound cool or to fit into the crowd and some really don't care. The Bible says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." And it says, "Don't reward anger for anger." But loving God means living for God and his reputation so that you'll do anything to protect it.

03:44 And here's the questions for today. When is it wrong to get mad? And the second question is, why was Jesus righteously angry? And then practically speaking, how can you stop those who take advantage of God or put him down? A friend of mine would hear a guy say, "Jesus Christ!," and he would say, "Do you know Him?" And then he began to engage in conversation with that man. Lastly, why is it so wrong to take God's name in vain? And here's the a lifeline for the day: home, the home, the house is a refuge for God.

Are you a disciple of Christ? You know, a disciple is a follower. It's like a little train car that follows the engine. It's hooked onto the engine, and it follows it every where it goes.

Family Discussions:

1. Are you a disciple of Christ?
2. What do the words disciple and discipline have in common? 
3. Why is it easier to be a Judas sometimes?
4. What do you think Jesus was looking for when he picked 11 good men?
5. What kind of a disciple does God find in you and me today?
6. How can we be more like the 11 and less like Judas?

Episode Transcription:

00:09 Today we have a great passage in and a great thought you're going to love. We're looking at John 1, verses 40 through 43, and here's what it says. This is awesome. It says, "One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew that was Simon Peter's brother. It says that he found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah,' which of course translated means Christ. He brought him to Jesus, and Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon, son of John, You shall be called Cephas,' which translated Peter. The next day, he purposed to go to Galilee, and he found Philip, and Jesus said to him, 'Follow me.'"

01:01 Two of the most powerful words in the Bible. Follow me. Here's a question today. Are you a disciple of Christ? You know, a disciple is a follower. It's like a little train car that follows the engine. It's hooked onto the engine, and it follows it every where it goes. You know, over the years, man, and I've loved it, I've counseled literally thousands of hurting adults and teenagers and college students. And I've found that almost all people who get caught up in sin and get badly hurt have made a decision not to follow anyone or maybe even to follow Satan or to follow themselves. But, you know, every time you go through these stories and counseling and you find out that this person who is hurting so bad rebelled and, once upon a time, quit following their parents. And then, you know, while even some calling themselves Christians, they quit following God. But I promise you, the most fulfilled people I know and truly the happiest people I know way down deep inside are true followers of Christ and his teachings, and they've got a good solid role model that they follow on the earth. Just like that train car follows the engine.

02:15 And so the question today is are you a disciple of Christ? A disciple is a disciplined learner. A follower keeps learning from the one he's following. You know, 12 men followed Jesus for three years. And, of course, one disciple, Judas Iscariot, he had no self control. His ears were plugged up. His heart was hard. But eleven learned from him every thing he taught, and those eleven eventually change the world. And here's the questions to talk about or think about for today. What are the words disciple and the word discipline have in common? And the second question is this, it may sound bad, but in reality it's easier to be a Judas sometimes. Why? And the third question is, what do you think Jesus was looking for when he picked 11 good men, and what kind of a disciple does God find in you and me today? And here's the lifeline for today, something to think about. How can we be more like the 11 and less like Judas?