Politics-Priorities & Peace!!!

Politics can easily pull us into fear, anger, division, and distraction — but as believers, we’re called to something higher. In this episode of Table Talk, we’re having an honest conversation about protecting your peace, living with eternity in mind, and remembering who we represent in Christ no matter what’s happening in the world around us.

We also talk about the importance of guarding what we consume online, being careful whose opinions shape our thinking, and remembering that our words carry weight. In a culture driven by outrage and reaction, what we post, share, and say matters. Are we reflecting the heart of Jesus or just adding more noise?

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by politics, frustrated by social media, or challenged to respond differently as a Christian, this conversation will encourage you to refocus on faith, wisdom, and eternal perspective.

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who needs encouragement and desires to grow in Christ. New episodes release bi-weekly, and we'd love for you to join us as we pursue freedom and walk by the Spirit together

We would also love to hear from you! Good or bad, let us know your thoughts and how we can improve!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Okay, so you know, my air conditioner's down in my house, and it's been an ongoing thing that we keep saying it's hot as hell in here. And it's not anywhere close. And I know that. But uh, you also know that I like almost habitually am putting on lipstick. Not really lipstick because I don't really care what my lips look like. I just don't like a dry lip. And so I'm always putting on my lipstick. And I just went into your dining room and uh in between recordings, and I'm like, oh, I need to put some lipstick on. My lips are dry. And I got my lipstick out, it is all melted. It was so good in my living room where my first was yesterday. That it's like it is all melted, but it like kind of like redried, and so it comes up as almost like a flat stick of lipstick that it had like melted and rehardened. But it's sideways. Still serves its purpose, right? It still worked. I mean, like it kind of made a mess, and I got a little bit in my mouth and it was gross, but my lips are no longer dry.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

But yeah, no matter what it looks like, it's kind of like an ugly cake.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

I don't care if it's ugly, but if it still tastes good, you know, speaking of ugly cakes, the guys doing the construction in our house, cutting that wall out, he always tells me about his wife makes these delicious, beautiful cakes. Or he said these beautiful cakes. Uh-huh. And I said, But are they delicious? Because I'd rather an ugly cake that tastes good than a beautiful cake that don't, right? Yeah, they're real delicious.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

So, yeah. Well, today we kind of want to talk about. I've been thinking about this for a few weeks. I want to talk about uh politics, which rarely will you ever have a conversation with me about politics because the girl don't even watch the news.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

She don't even know what happens in her neighborhood, much less in our country. You are correct.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

I will say, well, I want to talk about politics priorities and prayer.

SPEAKER_03 1:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

Um, but um, yeah, BJ, you are right. I don't watch the news. I will tell you that a few days ago, I decided, hey, I'm going to turn the news on this morning. I'm gonna see what's happening. It's the first time I have turned the news on since the very first time No, yeah, since the very first time Trump went uh ran for presidency. This time? No, the very first time Trump ever ran for presidency.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

That's eight years. I mean, that's that's a long time. It's more than that. I watched the news then.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yeah. Okay. And then afterwards, like there were so much different opinions and coming across uh the news, and then they were talking about fake news, and then this and then all of this. And then so um, yeah, it was sometime during that or right after that. I remember there was a flood somewhere, and this guy's standing in the news channel, and he's got water, and he's talking about whatever this flood or whatever, and look at the water, how high it is. And so it went viral because someone else is standing over there videoing the news guy with their phone, and he's literally standing in a ditch, and then they show all around where there's it's raining, but you can walk through everywhere, but they make it look like something that it's not. And then my mama was like, Don't watch this channel, watch this channel, they all tell you this, and uh, and so I remember me and Kenneth was watching something and it had something to do with Trump. And look, whether you're a fan of Trump or you're not a fan of Trump, that's not what this podcast is about, okay? Um, but um there was something that was going on, and so me and Kenneth literally sat on our couch and we turned it on one channel and we listened to what they had to say about it. Then we switched it to another channel and we listened to what they had to say about it, and they were both reporting two completely different things. And we both was like, this is so stupid, forget it. Like, it's too much drama, it's all of this stuff. I don't know what to believe and what not to believe. And it just causes a bunch of anxiety, frustration, anger through four people all the time. It doesn't cause any of that for me because I don't watch it.

SPEAKER_00 4:23

Welcome to Table Talk with Denise Bowens and BJ Garrett. Honest conversations, biblical truth, and encouragement for everyday faith.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

And but what I want to talk about today really is not our opinion or your opinion about who should be president, Republic, Democrat, it's not about all that. I want to talk about how the enemy is using politics to pull people away from Christ. That's what I want to talk about.

SPEAKER_02 4:47

And to pull people away from each other, people that they love. You know, and I do, I don't hate politics. I get I like a little bit of politics. I hate uh I hate the drama that comes with politics. I don't think there's hardly any good, true politicians. I think that on either side of the aisle, there is good and bad and extremes. And I think anytime you find extremes in any one thing, it's stupid and extreme. Like it's it's just not healthy. So I think that you have to find some balance. I also think that wherever you land on your political views, whatever you feed into your brain is going to just strengthen those views. And arguing your views to someone who is vastly different isn't gonna help. Like you're gonna believe what you're gonna believe. So I don't uh normally just spew out all of the things that I believe. Um, I do tend to be very conservative. Um, but I also I mean, anyways, I I I just think that there is a healthy response when you listen to some balance of different things. And but it's so hard because you don't know what can be trusted. And you think, you know, you've got this people, this people group that says, well, only this can be trusted, and it's hardcore this, and you're gonna get just only what they believe. And it's and in the end, it's their opinion, sure, right? It's kind of like reading commentaries on scripture, even. Yeah, they're they're helpful, they're you can they can be very beneficial, they can teach you some things, they can break some things down, but it's someone else's opinion.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

You need to go to scripture, and and you have to keep that in your mind when you're reading it. Yeah, this is a person's opinion, right? And they could be spot on, yeah, but it's not the word, it's an opinion.

SPEAKER_02 6:44

So um same thing with with news reporters and you know, correspondents and all the things with with politicians, is they're gonna they're gonna give you what they believe and they're gonna fight hard for it. Right. And and here's the deal is that some people just get so wrapped up in the feelings of the politics. And I'm not saying you shouldn't have passion about it because it is our country, and and like I like I do understand part of it, but at the same time, I just want to say whoa, whoa, whoa, let's take a break, right? Breathe and pray, and let's just be friends, right? Because you really can be friends with people who believe differently. Oh, absolutely. You know, you drink Coke Zero, that is the grossest drink ever. I drink Diet Dr. Pepper. It's the best drink ever. But we can still be, we do ministry together, we do Bible study together, we laugh, we cry, we do all the things, and it's okay. We can just both drink our different drinks.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Right. And it's not, you know, we're talking about different types of soda in comparison to politics that has to do with the world, but at the same time, sometimes it can be just that dumb. Yeah that we can get so caught up in somebody else's opinion uh that it does sever relationships and all that. And and one of the scriptures uh that I had written down was uh Philippians 3.20. It says, but our citizenship is in heaven.

SPEAKER_03 8:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Like we have to remember our citizenship is in heaven. Like this world is just here for a short time. What it what's the scripture say? Like it's just a uh a breath. Yeah, a vaporing of a vaporing of it, it's just a breath. Like for us, it seems like forever. Um, but it's really not in the big picture of things, in the big scheme of things of the world and eternity. Our time here on earth, whether we live to be, even if we live to be a hundred years old, it's a short time in comparison to eternity. And so I think I just want to be known more for what I believe in Jesus than what I believe in the worldly things like politics. Do we need politics? Is it important? Do we need to vote? And and we have certain laws and all, absolutely, it's important, it's very, very important. And and I am a true believer of man, I stand up for America and I believe in our freedom, and I think every American should go to another country and see what it's like not to have that freedom. Um, but at the same time, we can get so caught up in certain things that it just steals our joy. Um, so, anyways, on that note, uh, I don't know where you stand, those of you that are listening, like you may be someone listening that is so caught up in politics that it's still in your joy. Like in the morning when you wake up, what's the first thing you think of? Yeah. You know, is it the Lord? Is it your day, or are you trying to turn on the news to see what Trump did or didn't do, or what your governor did or didn't do, or whatever.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

And it's usually the one you hate that keeps you so riled up. Oh, yeah. Whatever it is, whether it's your your mayor or your you know, county clerk or your president, and everything in between. It's whichever one you hate the most is the one you seem to just keep getting all the information about. And it just can keep you angry. Oh my goodness. My husband will go through seasons of where he will listen to a lot of talk radio and he shot himself in the hand when he was watching TV, so he doesn't ever watch TV when he's working anymore. So then he listens to talk radio or different things because he's not paying attention because you know, shoot yourself in the hand isn't good when you're a gun smith. Not a good thing. Not a good thing. Didn't know he did that. Yeah. You know he shot himself?

SPEAKER_01 10:46

I don't think I remember that show.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

Oh, yeah. It's it I'll fill you in later. But yeah, he yeah, it was a whole thing. But so now he's like he he has banned himself from watching TV while working, but he'll sometimes listen to talk radio and used to our drive, our commute to work was pretty long. And so he would listen talk radio. It was I I'd get into his truck and it was like, oh, I'm like, oh my gosh, turn it on to an FM station, put some worship music on. This is draining your soul. But he would literally like he would just get he was just grumpy all the time. And I'm like, what is going on? And he realized it was constantly hearing just all the negativity of everything going on in our world. Constant. It wasn't always just politics, but just just constant news and just feeding of just negative, negative, negative, some of those politics. And so now he's like, I'm like, no more. You can't, you can't listen to that. You know, I mean, I ain't his mama, but yeah. And he is he's he's happier, he is happier without stuff going in. But that's just in general, too. Whatever's going in, that's what's gonna come out. Absolutely. You got praise coming in, praise is gonna go out. You got junk coming in, junk's gonna come out, and it's the same thing. Right. Uh, but back to the the whole politics thing is that if we could take, and I have I have friends and family, family members with extreme political views, very passionate about what they believe, and go for it. But I'm just telling you, they can get so riled up, and then me who I'm just like, I kind of try to make a joke, and I'm like, I'm trying to lighten the mood. Yeah, it didn't lighten the mood. Shut up, shut up. I can't even talk to you, and I'm like, oh my gosh, it was just funny. It's just being funny, it wasn't real, you know, but it didn't go over well. But you people can get so passionate and so riled up, and then I'm just like, then I of course then I get my own opinion, like we should get so riled up about this, you know, and yeah, other things, you know, because we all whatever you're passionate about, that's what you think other people should be passionate about.

SPEAKER_03 13:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

We have friends fixing to go to Africa, and I'm like, oh, so we were talking last night, and I was sharing all this stuff about Africa, and and I'm like, oh, I would just trade places with you in a heartbeat. Like, I love going to Africa. I love going on mission trips, period, but love Africa. And but whatever you're passionate about, that's gonna come out and you're gonna you're gonna love it. And then my husband is like, he's passionate about Cuba. I'm like, oh yeah, Cuba's okay, you know. Yeah, but like, but again, he's passionate about Cuba. He can be, he can, he can sell you on wanting to go to Cuba, just like I can convince anyone to want to go to Africa. Like it's better.

SPEAKER_01 13:42

Africa's better than Cuba. Yeah, and he can convince you that Cuba's better than Africa.

SPEAKER_02 13:46

Yeah, because that's what you're passionate about what you're passionate about. And there's not wrongness in that. It's okay for for God to use your strengths and your gifts and your personalities and your callings in different areas of life and places and politics. But in the end, you got to come together and be like, it's okay if you like Cuba better than Africa. Right. It's okay if you like this politician over this politician or their views over their views. Um, but don't let it end a friendship. Right. You know, I just can't. I mean, I see I see friends on social media and they'll post stuff, and I'm just like, that is so dumb. And then I just scroll on, yeah, you know? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

And I was thinking about social media right before you were saying that. Like, I will never post anything on social media about politics. I just won't. It's not because I don't have opinion, but it's because I don't want to start a whole thread of argument and disunity and people complaining. I don't want to start that thread. Um, so does it mean that I wouldn't sit and have a conversation with somebody about how I feel if they wanted to? But to put that on social media, yes, will I get a lot of comments? Will it boost me and the social media world? Absolutely, it will. Will I make a few cents, maybe, because I got more posts, you know, or maybe it'll go viral. Maybe. But is it worth it? No, it's not. Because I don't want to start something that I know is going to bring an argument. Because it's a divisive cause. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 15:33

And I don't want to do that. It's just going to bring division because I don't care who your circle of people are, there are people in your circle that are going to believe differently politically than you are. Always. Period.

SPEAKER_03 15:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

And I mean, like, I because I even made a comment one day, I was like, I don't know how someone could vote for someone who is pro this for something that I'm personally passionate about. And then my daughter, who ironically is very different than me politically in her stances, she's like, Well, I can tell you how. And I'm like, Well, let's just not right now, you know. And so, because she's passionate about other things. And you have two strong women who could be very passionate, and we can we can go into, I mean, a full out war on our passions because they're they line up differently. But does that draw us together? Does it help us? Does it does it do anything beneficial? She didn't make me want to vote for her guy, and I I didn't make her want to vote for my guy. All we did was hung up in a huff.

SPEAKER_03 16:35

Right.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

You know? So, you know, and Romans 12, 18 says, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Um, you know, like that's what you're talking about. Yeah. Y'all can have, you could get into a whole war about it. But look, it's not worth it.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

She has her opinion, you have yours. I have my opinion, people have their opinion. Like it doesn't. Um I wanna, if as long as it depends on me, I want to do everything I can to get along with everyone. It doesn't, we sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. Right.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

And you can agree to disagree. Absolutely. I do, like, I can't, I get I do get frustrated when people are like, oh, I just hate politics. I'm not gonna do anything. Like, I just don't care. Well, you should care. This is your country. Yes. Like you should be informed and you should vote your convictions and you should pray for those in leadership and all of those things. So to just be completely vague and irrelevant about it, that's irritating to me. Um, but I have friends that are like that too. They're just like, uh, I don't care. I'm not gonna vote. I don't have nothing to do with it. I don't know who's good, I don't know who's bad, everybody's bad. And there is some truth to that too. And I like I guess that, but in my stance, I'm like, I'm gonna vote very prayerfully with who I believe aligns the most with my personal convictions. And that's how I vote. Right. And scripture that says I think you might have wrote it down.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

Scripture talks about how we're supposed to pray. Um, what is that scripture?

SPEAKER_02 18:07

It is uh 1 Timothy 2, 1 and 2. I urge you then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. Well, there's just a hard stop right there. You know, I mean, that is really just lifting up all people. All people, but then it goes on specifically and it points out for kings and all of those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all goodness and holiness. And like that is that is so key. No matter where you stand in your political stances, are you praying for those that are in the voted positions they're in in the leadership that they're in? Um, whether you can't stand them or you're like, woo-hoo, my guy won. You know, are you are you covering them in prayer? Because even if your guy is the winner, he's still a fallen person, or she, if it's a female, they're still fallen, they're in desperate need of a savior, and just like myself, they're proving it every day. They are going to fail you in some capacity.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

I think it's interesting that scripture because it said pray for all people. Yeah. And then it adds people who are in authority. Yeah. Like to me, when I hear that, I think about that, it's telling me the Lord knew that not only do we pray for all people, but he knew he had to add them specifically. Yeah. Because they're in power and they're in control. And he knew that that we were some we were gonna like and some we didn't. But it's not about whether we like them or not. It's they need prayer because they're in control of our country. Right. They're in control of the things. So whether we like them or not, they need prayer. And who can do the changing? Who can change the heart? Who can change the ways and the way a man thinks or orders their steps, right? Like it is the Father. So whether you like them or not is really irrelevant. It's about that they're in charge of making decisions for our country. Yeah. That affects us and our children and generations to come. And so that's why it's important that we're to pray for them. And the more Christians that would stand up and pray, God, God will answer that prayer. Like He is, He will answer that prayer. Um And so He can, I mean, we can think about things in our life, and we don't have really time to get into all of that, but there's things in our life that we talked about even on our last episode that we think is gonna go a certain way, but someone's prayed or we've prayed or whatever, and now it's going a whole different direction. Yeah. Our lives took a completely different turn because God intervened through prayer. Yeah. So um, I don't know. I just for me, I'm just a simple-minded person. I I just I just think I'm a simple-minded person. And when I look at things, like I just have this visual of the world, and like it's just like all these people are fighting and arguing over decisions that someone else is making, and the Lord is above that someone else. Like, I literally have in my mind, like if y'all are listening, if you could like just visualize with me, it's hard, like just talking about it. But you just got this green grass, this flat world, and well, I mean, you know, it's not flat. It's not flat. But you got all these people down here on this bottom level just going on about life. City, cars moving, work, all this stuff going. And then, like right above it, you have these political powers that are making decisions for us. But here's the thing there is one above them who is a God Almighty who created it all. And we've got to look past the political powers and look straight above to the one in heaven because he is our creator. He is that's where our city. Citizenship is in heaven, and God has created all things. And at the end of the day, He's in control and over all things in this earth. And no matter whether you like a president, a governor, a mayor, a secretary of state, whatever it is, the Lord loves them. That's right. Because He's created them. And whether they're doing things the way they should or they shouldn't, God still loves them and He says, I have created them, and that is my masterpiece. And I am working on them just like I'm working on you, just like He's working on me. And we can point a finger at those in political positions all day long and point out their wrong. But it still also goes back to that scripture about, hey, before you point out they're wrong, look at the plank in your own eye. That's right. And none of us on this earth, like to me, I just think we need to take a step back. And I'm just gonna be so bold to say I might get some some hate, man. Maybe, but like, just shut up. Yeah. Shut up. Yeah. I mean, here's the thing. Talk with kindness. Love people. Make a difference in the world. And quit bashing people on social media.

SPEAKER_02 23:15

Especially on social media. I'm just like, please stop posting everything you feel. Because here's the thing is you're not posting facts, you're posting opinions and feelings.

SPEAKER_01 23:27

And they change with the wind. And you are making people are watching. Uh we have this post, which um this social media thing, which I think every town does, like all things long. Yeah. Yeah, we got all things tolerant. Yes, all things bullard, all things whatever, you know, all these, all things, all the things. And I and never make a comment on there, but I do read on something. Then I'll get caught up in the comments. Oh, yeah. But I see people post something, and it's not even on that, but I see people post something like, oh, can somebody help me? I'm feeling this way today. Do you know this, that, or the other? Or I'm looking for this. And some of it is legit. Like, I'm looking for a good roofer. Awesome. Yeah. Put on there a roofer. But then some people put something on there and they're like, can you just tell me why? I went to this restaurant today and so and so, and this happened, and that. And they start complaining about some waitress and they, whatever. And then some there's some people that jump on the bandwagon, right? And then you got other people that are basically like, Do you have anything else better to do with your time? Then maybe that waitress was having a bad day.

SPEAKER_02 24:38

I like the ones that this pop stuff is like, just here for the comments. Yes. And then somebody goes, Well, we got another Karen.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Yeah. You know, like, but all these opinions, and you can look in those comments and you can just see what happens in them. Yeah. Every time somebody's going to get in a fight on there. Yeah. Some they're just going to be, aren't that over a restaurant. That's over, yeah, something that uh well there was one not too long ago about a restaurant, and the restaurant replied, and it was like, oh, this is awesome. I think it went viral. I don't remember what if it's a I don't remember what the restaurant was. But they basically said they got there and their food was um too hot or whatever. And then too much food. Too much food. Yeah. And they weren't gonna eat all that and all this. And the way the manager like basically came back and said, let me get this straight. You're complaining because the food is too hot, you got too much of it. And it took, you know, whatever. And it's just like people will complain about anything. Yeah, right? And I just, I'm just like, yo, come on. Because at the end of the day, what's most important is our walk. Yeah. It's our walk. And are we representing Christ well?

SPEAKER_02 25:49

I don't think all things long view is a good representation of people following Christ well.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

And here's the question is, you know, is our social media a good representation of Christ? Exactly. Is it like um I don't ever want my page to be something that people go on and there's like if there's a controversy over whether you love the Lord or not, then fine.

SPEAKER_02 26:13

Yeah, you know, and we we actually we love to dabble in controversy. We do like to dabble. Like we like to do the some of the hard topics and you know what what a lot of other people want to like don't talk about that at the church. We're like, no, let's talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

It's the church. Sure, but it's because it's based on biblical truth, right? It's not on our opinion, right? You know, and so my opinion is y'all be quiet. Yeah. That's my opinion, right? That's but we just have to be, I think we just have to be so very careful. Our prayer life is important, yeah. And um, you know, one of the things we was talking about is don't let politics become louder than your prayer life. That's right. We need to be praying for those who are in charge because they deserve to be prayed for. Yeah um, not because of what they've done, but because ever we all deserve to be prayed for because we all need it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:05

Well, and how many people have come to the Lord because of a, you know, grandmother's prayer, you know, you hear the things or because of a mother's prayer.

SPEAKER_01 27:13

I'm here because of my mama's prayer.

SPEAKER_02 27:15

Exactly. So, how many presidents' lives could be changed? You know, is I mean, what is the scripture like if my people will humble themselves and pray? Like, if we would humble ourselves and pray for our leaders, what a difference our world could be. But most of us just spend time complaining and not praying. Right. And complaining does nothing.

SPEAKER_01 27:36

Yeah. Complaining or not doing anything to make it any difference, just complaining. Yeah. Anyway, I don't know where uh you folks are that are listening. You may uh hope that you're kind of on the same page. Um, but if you're not, like you're sitting here going, dang, you know, I I post political stuff all the time. Look, that's your right, it's your page. And we live in a in a world in America, and as far as America is concerned, you have the freedom and the right to speak.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

Uh 1 Corinthians 1023, perfectly way into that, my friend. It says, I have the right to do anything you say, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. It repeats itself in the verse. You can sure you have the right to do it. You are an American. If you live in the United States of America, you're an American. You have the right to post it. Social media is a free platform for the most part. You can post your little heart's content. Right. But I can promise you, not everything you post is beneficial. Right. It's just not.

SPEAKER_01 28:41

That scripture, I have, it has helped me make decisions through life so many times. The version that I'd memorized was um everything is permissible, yeah, but not everything is beneficial. And that has just helped me so much in making decisions so I can think, should I do this or whatever? Just because I can doesn't need, doesn't mean I should. Right. Um, and so that's a good scripture for us. What was it again? It is 1 Corinthians 10 23. That's that's a good good place to to leave it right there. Is um maybe that's a scripture that all of us could memorize, write it down, look at it through the week, think on it when we start to post something, say something, do something, just stop and think, okay, wait, I know I can, but should I? Right.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

Well, and I think that sometimes, like, okay, let's be real. We're not being legalistic in this. We're not saying you can't post a picture of your grandson's graduation. You know, is it beneficial? I mean, it might be. It might encourage someone to be, you know, to graduate. Yeah, you know, who does, but no, I'm just bragging on my grandson. You're just bragging on your grandson. Like, that's okay. You know, it's not causing harm or conflict. Or conflict. And no one is gonna be like, well, I mean, they might, because some people are dumb like, well, I didn't graduate, why wouldn't he post that? She hates people that didn't graduate.

SPEAKER_01 30:00

Or, well, she didn't post a paper when I graduated.

SPEAKER_02 30:04

That would be that would be more like true story. This is how dumb social media is, is there was a a very dear friend of mine, she hates social media, but she had posted actually, no, she hadn't posted some she worked with youth, and one of the youth in her little group was heartbroken because she didn't like the post that her mother had made of her prom or graduation or something like that. And my friend was like, I didn't even see it, you know, like because first off, we don't algorithms on social media, we sometimes see some of the same crap over and over again. Sometimes we don't. But it's like, are you really upset because some so-and-so didn't like your post or react or comment a certain way? And and first off, you know, we're trying to build these ministry platforms and reach people for Jesus, and those things do matter. Like it it is helpful when you like and comment and share. And even if it's just a smiley face, like we do appreciate that. Yeah, but to get your feelings all caught up and butthurt because someone didn't react a certain way to something that someone else posted, you know. Oh my Lanta, I just can't even with social media.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

It's not, it's so dumb. Yeah, it's in the recovery when you um there's a saying, but anyway, when you look at um people being in denial about things, yeah, the E stands for energy lost. We spend so much energy on things that are not necessary. Yeah, so much energy on things that just cause more anxiety or harm or conflict. Yeah. Instead of just taking a step back and just taking a breath and just like, okay, it it really doesn't matter. Yeah, you know. Um, like you said, we us building our ministry, it is important to us for uh those of you that are listening to share our podcast or to make a comment or whatever. Like it's very important because we're trying to build a ministry, right? But at the same time, um everybody that listens, a lot of you don't do that, but that doesn't keep us from still doing it. We're not sitting back going, well, Deborah Miller shared it, but so and so didn't. I mean I can't believe they didn't. I can't believe it. But we never even have a discussion.

SPEAKER_02 32:28

Usually what happens is Dakota called earlier, and you're like, oh, you're listening to our podcast?

SPEAKER_01 32:32

Oh yes, like when somebody does say they listen, especially a family member. Yeah, you know, even like Tammy Whitehurst. Oh, yeah, she listens to our podcast all the time, and we love her and respect her in the ministry, and she's been a big uh influence for both of us in our ministry. And so the fact that she takes time out to listen and then texts us and gives us comments like that, we it humbles us, like we're excited about it. Yeah. So we the here's the thing we celebrate the victories, we don't complain about the things that didn't happen. We're moving forward and we're going and we're doing what God's calling us to do, and that's how we should be in life. And look, you and I don't always get it right in life, right? We know that. And all of you listening knows. We're real good about sharing our own hiccups. But even in this podcast, we both share stories and we have to be careful in how we say things, yeah, or that we don't mention certain people's names, or we don't give certain details because why? We don't want to cause conflict, we don't want to hurt feelings, we don't want to cause division. We're here to bring a community together and just talk about things that maybe we don't always talk about, like just knowing that we are in the same boat and we're not always perfect. But look, I do believe in this day and time, the enemy is using politics like never before to cause division amongst our nation. That's right. And we're a part of that, and we can choose to be a part of the division or the or part of the unity. It's our choice.

SPEAKER_02 34:04

That's right. Hit your knees and pray for our leaders.

SPEAKER_01 34:06

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 34:07

I mean, I think that's the bottom line is please pray for those in authority. And that's authority in your job, authority in your home, those in authority in your church, especially. Oh my gosh, if I can, I mean, and we all everybody complains about things. I'm not innocent in that, you know. I mean, I'm just not. And I I want to be innocent in it. I want to never be one who complains about anything. But try the next time complaints are coming out of your mouth, try to turn it into a prayer. Yeah. You know, I mean, let's be more prayer focused than complain-focused. Right.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

And and it's okay to complain about things, but but we need to choose who we complain to. Yeah. It's important. You know, complain to the Lord, talk to him. Find your friend that you can trust, and they know that when you say stupid stuff and complain, they can look past it and listen to it and know who you really are at heart. But when you complain on social media, there are lots of people that don't even know you. That's right. But they are um, they are uh gathering an opinion about you.

SPEAKER_02 35:12

Oh, absolutely. And I promise you, even if in 15 minutes you're like, that was so dumb, and you delete it, someone does screenshot it and sent it to somebody else. Because I've been one that did that.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

I will screenshot something real quick. I've done the same thing, but yeah, and then we complain in private instead of on social media. So yeah, we all leave this person posted this. Yes, yeah. Or look at these comments. Yeah, we're guilty. We're guilty. So anyway, don't let politics become louder than your prayer life. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 35:41

Unashamedww.com. May you be encouraged, rooted in truth, and unashamed.