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Yes!  You are in!  Theo Vonn is back!  I love that guy and his interview style.  I also love finding salt and light in unlikely places.  An here is another nugget.  Check out this mic drop from Theo with former/legencary coach Nick Saban...Boom!  That is epic.  Thank you Theo Vonn.  Thank you Nick Saban.  If you would like to listen to the rest of the interview, please find the YouTube link here in the show description...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apvbONX_tMcAvid listener, if you go back through all the 8 episodes of this rag, tag, flawed crew, you will hear Matt 22: 36-40 probs more than any other verse.  Ok, Rom 3:23 too.  There you go, see I worked it in again.  Going back to Matt 22.  Some of you are not sure on your Purpose and Plan.  Key parts are literally written out fo ryou.  Matt 22: 36-40, is a key part of your Purpose and Plan.  And I hear Coach Saban share that nugget.  I also hear Theo living out his Purpose.  He is really good on focusing on others.  That is what makes him a great interviewer.  36“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”Do you pray like Nick?  You should.  Jesus words are clear as day.  Love God.  Love Others.  How can I be a blessing to God and others?  For most of us, our defauilt prayer setting is bless me, protect me, heal this, heal that, can I have this job, like a to do list.  God already knows what you need.  In fact, God knows better what you need vs. what you think you need.  Side note, it's ok to pray that.  God loves hearing from you.  The mature believe and follower of Christ will realize the bigger picture.  Matt 22: 36-40.  God how can I serve you today?  How can I bless you?  What do you want me to do today?  Do my goals today line up with yours?  Do you want me to take that job?  Do you want me to date this person?  Do you want me to view this on my phone?Next step, who you do you want me to love and encourage today?  Who can I bless in your name?  Who can I serve?Next step, actually pause, at least for a minute and just wait and listen.  You'll often get names and direction.  Write them down.  More importantly, put the Word into Action.  Ok, thank you again Theo and Nick, that was epic.  Coach, I'm guilty of judging you and thinking you were smug.  That was a great share.  Special shout out to Two Tall on the opening hook.  Extra thanks to Penn State Blake on the previous episode.  If you have not heard that one, please check that one out.  Great feedback on that episode thus far.Ending on a prayer note.

Yes!  You are in!  Meet Penn State Blake!  His 180 is stunning.  God put him on my path up at Man Camp up by Big Bear CA.  Forest Hills to be exact.  Special shout out to the Maverick River Collective and Tim and his team for running that.  A handful of churches from Orange County and one from Indian Wells, CA called Wellspring.  Bonus shout out to Pastor Josh, DeLaw and Brother Ralph for being part of Blake's journey from hopeless to hope.  In a span of 4 weeks of being down and out was this interview...and there is a lot more of Blake's story.  We'll see if he has the courage to share more.  I bet he does.  Until then, here is part 1 of hopefully more.  Giving God thanks for Penn State Blake, here you go...

Yes!  You are in!  What is a prophet?  Versed ones you know the Word warns us about false prophets.  We all know liars.  That's what we tackle today.  Here you go...Special love and shout out to Two Tall for that opening hook.  I love you young brother.  If you would like to hear more of him, check out Spotify.What is a prophet?Simplest definition is one who has/had a direct connection with God and what is shared comes true.  Pastor Derek, cat watching story.  God told me...Today, we are going to give some love to Zechariah.  Of course, I"m going to encourage you to read his words after.  Hey, read them before I even finish this.  Versed listener, you have heard me say.  I am not a prophet.  I don't get direct downloads where God says tell the world __________.  I simply love my Heavenly Father, his son and my Lord and Savior and his gift of the Holy Spirit guide.  Your choice to accept and embrace that power as well.  So my heart overlflows and I'm simply called to encourage hearts.  When I have my A game, I'm and encourager.  What about you?  1 Thes 5:11Zechariah was a Jewish prophet around the years of ______________.  And as the definition reflects true, all his words came to fruition.  Special thanks to Suave of my MonDudesPM group.  He is the one that got us on the prophet path.  Reading books that many don't read.  Giving honor where God gifted direct connects.  Why Suave has a soft spot in his heart is discovering in adulthood the direct connect of prophets like Isaiah and Zechariah to predicting Jesus Christ.  Tying the Old to the New.  It is a precious connection.

Reflection with a dude that wrote a book about 2700 years ago and how it applies to you and today.

Yes!  You are in!  There's a battle around your mind.  Doubt me?  Lots of companies tracking, monitoring and feeding you.  You talk about cruised and hey, there's a pop ad for a cruise line.  Coincidence?  I think not.  How do we counter that?  Stick around, we'll tackle it, here you go...Thanks again for clicking in.  For podcasts also can shape minds.  That's a good test.  Look at your podcast line up.  How many strengthen you?  Encourage your heart?  On the flip, how many whip you up?  Get you agitated?  Hint:  news will most likely agitate.  So how about some Good News?What % of your time is in the Good News?  The Word?  I bet you and I have room for improvement.  As my Brother John Paul of the MonDudes says, "You got to get in the Word, man!"  He's right, Pretty simple truth.  So let me ask in a different way, what % of your time is in the Word vs. Ways of the World?  You know the difference.  The Word has 66 books.  Confession, I mainly leverage the screen version, YouVersion Bible App.  More convenient.  My phone is almost always with me.  So instead of hitting the news app or social media apps first.  The Word gets first.  Ideally, it gets more screen time too.  All that leading to this verse that my TuesDudesPM is tackling and marinating in...1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.Source:  Bible.com, NLT VersionEnding on a prayer note...

Yes!  You are in!  This is TommyP aka Tom aka Tomas aka Loco, and today we will be discussing Al Capone, Scarface.  Odds are you are too young to fully know that name.  Heck, he was before my time and I'm Gen X.  Yet, he does have a lesson for me.  Yes, that notorious dude has a lesson for you and me.  Here is Dr. Loritts, one of our greatest teachers of this generation, I declare, here you go...For more of that message from Dr. Loritts, please click here...https://youtu.be/OZMdyWLcef4?si=D0cRspPNrMFk-0k_Did you waste your life?  I know CEO's and government leaders who are now retired.  I know celebrities that are now dead.  They don't matter anymore.  Not really.  Ok, to a few they do yet that will fade in more time.  So you were a big deal in 2009?  Who cares.  Ecclesiastes vibes for any of the versed ones out there Wait a minute Tom, you are Mr. Positive.  Mr. 1 Thes 5:11.  I am.  I'm stil here.  Just a wake up call for some of you or someone you know.  There is a bigger picture I declare.  I'm simply echoing Dr. Bryan Loritts who is echoing Paul who wrote that letter to the Church of Philippi over 2,000 years ago.  Are you still breathing?  Well, you are not done yet.  You have room for improvement.  Confession, so do I.  I've done some dumb things.  I dug crazy holes of debt chasing things.  Avid listener, that will not be news to you.  All of that is going to pass, one way or another.  For now, I owe so off to work I go.  There's a bigger picture.  This world isn't just it.  So have you learned to be content in all circumstances?  Not happy.  Content.  Big difference.  Despite your mistakes, are people going to know you for encouraging others in Jesus Christ?  How well do you know Jesus Christ?  If your prayer and share log presented like your phone or social media, how often do you two talk?  Odds are you are a believer and empowered follower of Jesus Christ if you are listening to this.  If not, welcome.  Better is ahead.  Your choice.  Back up and you'll here episode after episode of legacy and transformed hearts:  Kenny, John of Mecca, James of Compton, Casey, The Jogging Jesus, Gary, Scooter and on and on.  Learn from them.Get in the Word everyday.  Philippians is a great book.  Empowering!  Isn't it interesting that when we think of a great life, even atheists will mention Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr (both followers of Christ, living a life of heart impact).  Not Marilyn Monroe or Elvis or Rockeller, as talented as they were, those are tragic endings.What's your legacy, working, retiring, golf or maj, consuming?  If you think it's too late, check the vineyard workers story.  Matt 20.  It's not too late.  Ending on a prayer note...when you die, will people say you were on fire for the Lord?  Will they say you shared the Lord?  Will they say you went beyond words and shared and helped like the Lord?

What is a narcissist? How not to be a narcissist.

This episode tackles anxiety.  You either deal with it or you know someone that does.  So we best share what works to minimize or eliminate anxiety. https://thetrek.co/pacific-crest-trail/five-ways-hiking-reduces-anxiety/

Yes!  You are in!  For those listeners in the United States, most of us will celebrate 4th of July (our freedom).  250 years.  Is the United States the greatest country in the world?  Let's tackle it...I'll be back...Thanks for tuning in.  When worthy, thank you for sharing.  Is the United States the greatest country in the world?  Let's do a survey.  Avid listener, you know we love math, science and logic in this dojo.Are we free?  Do we have freedom of speech?Do we have freedom to protest?Do we have freedom of religion?Have millions of migrants recently entered this country?Why would you encourage anyone to come to a country that is systemically racist?Why would they want to come here?For resident of the United States, you stay here.  Do we have the greatest GDP in the world?Do we have a king?Hint:  Dictators and Kings don't allow you to do above.  Who has dictators today?  Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, others (far left).  Iran, Saudi Arabia, Hamas, etc, (far right).  Gallup.com, whom I trust and have quoted on this podcat before, say we are are at a 20 year low in morale.  Why?  Definitely the Negative News is in full effect.  Yet, thanks for brining patient with me as I bring the Word finally in...Phil 4: 6-8, NIV... 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.So ending on a grateful prayer note...Thank you Lord for...Freedom.  Those that have sacrificed, served and died for us and our freedoms.That we choose/elect all races, creeds, women and men.  Is there a more diverse government on this earth?  Your Heaven is absolutely diverse and you teach us to love all.  Matt 22: 36-40.Thank you for our economy and the generosity of so many that live here.Thank you that the opportuities are so many here that migrants from all over the world are here and striivng to get here for these freedoms.Thank you for our Democrats, Republicans, Inddependents and others that get this and support our freedoms.Thank you that we can elect our leaders and they will come and they go.  That we don't have a dictator or a king.  And that we still have checks and balances for that....designed so long ago.Thank you for freedom of religion.  That you give us a choice of what to believe so why should we do the same.  Human tendency is to want to force feed what we believe.  Your design is better.  Our founding fathers understood that and why freedom of religion is in the constituion.  Thank you that we abolished slavery so long ago.  One of the first countries to do that.  If we truly follow Matt 22: 36-40, there is no slavery.  There is no racism.  For Love is greatest of all.  In this world, there are Negative Ned's and Nancy's and Positive Paul's and Paisley's.  Speaking of Paul.  He once was Saul.  You transformed his heart to Paul.  Who is next?  Who is that Saul in our life that needs encouragement?  As for Paul, he gives us a great formula in Phil 4: 6-8.  So we give thanks to you dear Lord for what is worthy and I ask for your wisdom over this land and both are Democrats and Republicans, Independents.  For we are certainly flawed.  We need you.  I love you and thank you Lord.  Amen.

Yes, you are in!  Where did God come from?  An excellent Deeper question for your next date night or small group ice breaker or family time.  Inspired by a comment i made on the previous Algorithms episode.  We'll tackle it.  Here you go...Thank you sincerely for clicking in.  When worthy, thank you for sharing.  Avid listener, you know my odd fixation to share Rom 3:23.  For we are all flawed.  I am a flawed dude.  Not everything that comes out of my mouth is correct.  I will make mistakes.  If you believe in God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, then let the Word be your ultimate guide.  Use that Owner's Manual for Life to quality control check any book or sermon or episode you hear or watch.  Of course, make sure to take the whole Bible in consideration.  Isolating on just one verse not in context can be equally dangerous.  So considering all that.  Where did God come from?  In the previous episode you hear me hypothesize about what preceded us.  We spoke about Algorithms and that AI can finally get through are thick skeptical heads that there can be and is something much more smarter and powerful than us.  Up til the latest tech, atheists that they were the smartest.  I hypothesized what if there was a previous civilization.  Hypothesis is the key word.  To be clearly, it was merely an attempt to help that skeptic find that mustard seed of faith.  That existed before you, me, and humanity alone.  To be clear, I do believe in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  That is my Faith.  Something absolutely started this.  That a code (your DNA code and mine) cannot exist without a coder.  So where did God come from?  Where did our coder come from?  How did our coder become the coder?  Short answer, I don't know.  What I do know is something can't come from nothing.  Even an atheist scientist has to grapple with that statement.  As for believers, where in the Bible does it explain where God comes from?  If you see something that I don't, please let us know at the Contact Us page at fridudes.com.  What I do know is that we have an explanation of a Creator.  An all knowing Creator that designed and created us.  And as I just confess, that sounds a bit crazy until GenAI came along.  Now an all knowing creator is more understandable.  Yet great is your Faith that believed in this possibility before we had ChatGPT and Gemini and Claude, etc.

Yes!  You are in!  Ask anyone if they are religious and the odds are they will say no.  Ask them to see their phone/screen and the algorithms will definitely tells us where each person is religious.  Big data knows exactly where you are religious.  Intrigued, stick around as we dive deeper on algorithms... Thank you again for clicking and listening, reflecting and sharing when worthy.  Ironically, we may be part of your algorithm.  Odds are you are listnting to this because you are open minded, like to get real, pursue truth...what works in life and what doesn't.  Either that or someone that fits that profile shared this with you.  Regardless, thanks again for listening in.Avid listener, you know I like finding inspiration from unlikely spots.  I love it when secular points to spiritual and deeper thinking.  And the unlikely source this round is NPR.  Yep, they get full credit.  Link to the article that inspired this in the show description.  Shout out to reporter/author Scott Neuman.  Excellent job!https://www.npr.org/2026/06/11/nx-s1-5848013/algorithm-word-week-etymologyAn algorithm is a set of instructions.  So maybe a better way to look at it is Big Data has algorithms on how to measure you vs. Big Data having it's own algorthithm for you.  Does that make sense?  In other words, they use the same algorithm to measure all of us.  It's the data report that tell them who you are.  For example, if Casey clicks on Francis Chan, the algorithm says feed more Francis Chan and others like him.  Part of the algorithm also says x% also like this or buy that if they like _________.  Side note, I'm working on a video that we are all religious.  All of us.  Even atheists.  That can be a common question.  Are you religious?  We all are. Show me your phone and I'll show you where your religious.  For some of you, your church is your screen.  Matt 22: 36-40Is that the outcome of the algorithms that track you?  AI, finally, some can finally comprehend that there is something much smarter than you.  That can track you.  Ending on a prayer note:  Thank you God for math.

Overview of the shortest book in the Old Testament and how a prophecy over 2800 years ago still very much applies to today.

Yes!  You are in!  Thank you for joining and when worthy, thank you very much for sharing.  Extra thanks for Two Tall for that opening hook.  Extra thanks to ThursDudesPM for bringing it last week.  As for this round, why do you work?  Why are we designed to work and contribute?  Here's your mic drop, your hammer coming from a letter written to Thesselonica... We talked about the importance of the Living Word last week.  You read it and it reads you.  This hit me like hammer this week.  Side note, not my first time reading it.  I've ready it countless times.  Yet that's the Living Word, it can impact you differently at different times in your life.  Hence, it's Living.  A reading from 2 Thes 3...Have you ever noticed that depression and idleness are closely related?How about addiction and idleness?Col 3:23I always feel good after a hard day's work, work out...ministry outreach.  It feels good and overflows the heart to serve.  To be of value to others.  To be careful, we are not to be workaholics either.  Some of us are bad at that too.  Resting.  We are commanded to Sabbath for balance.Have you seen a divide in the USA?  Do we encourage idleness?  Do we give people what they want for our power and votes?  Do we encourage their addiction?  Last week's reading warned us about helping people stumble.  Think about that.On the flip side, I serve the homeless.  Jesus encourages us to serve the poor, Matt 25:40.  To take care of orphans and widows.  Yet I don't shower and clothe my neighbors on the streets to keep them there.  I don't give them pipes nor syringes.  I serve to give them Hope.  To get them off the streets and into a life of Purpose.  2 Thes 3 is really one of the mic drops for that.  An idle society is a miserable society.  For those in the States, you enjoy the fruits of that country by those who worked their butts off and sacrificed.  If you think I'm trying to play a particular political angle, I also witness immigrants here in the Coachella Valley working their butts off in the hottest of days.  Their work ethic blows me away.  Did you know that retirement is not in the Bible?  A warning about being a glutton is.  God did not just put you on earth to golf, eat and drink.  If by chance you are able to retire, good job on your hard work and stewardship.  Now you have more time to serve the Lord, his Kingdom and your neighbors.  Clearly, I'm not retired.  If I could, I would still love and serve others.  Whether you are 20 or 70, this may be your wake up call.  The Idle Check Engine light may be on.Ending on a prayer note...

Yes you are in!  Meet the ThursDudesPM!  A bunch of flawed dudes getting real and pursuing Truth.  If you are in a Bible Study or looking to start one, check out how Brother Ish masterfully initiates and facilitates it.  Note the 'No Forced Agenda/Set of Questions'.  Going with the flow with the Holy Spirit Guide and letting the group breath and reflect.   I notice too many groups forcing a set amount of questons.  Not these Dudes.  You'll observe how they get washed in the Word.

Yes!  You are in!  I love finding Hope in unlikely places.  Like an ultra racer's documentary.  Meet Max Joliffe and and Cameron Hanes.  Both of these guys have won the Cocodona 250 among other extreme races.  The Cocodona is 250 miles.  Up mountains and over deserts.  So imagine running 10+ marathons with thousands of feet of elevation gain.  Imagine the physical pain.  Here is what they have to say and perhaps not what you are expecting...Thank you Max and Cameron.  You can watch that entire YouTube at this link..."A Day with Max Jolliffe" by Cameron Hanes...https://youtu.be/d6jSdsH7GKU?si=06cVU9pQWYIdCBV9Odds are you are not an ultra racer but I bet some of you have and are running ultra races in life.  Like brutal tests.  Loss of a loved one.  Terminal diseases.  Betrayal.  Depression.  Violation.  You are not alone.  I testify the strongest people I know have gone thought the hardest things.  Thee strongest people did it with the Ultimate Power Source aka God aka the Heavenly Father who also offers up His Son, Savior, Lord and Holy Spirit Guide.  The greatest stories of resilience I have ever heard of all those in common.  Some of you are living it right now.  When times get tough, you don't get mad at God, you draw near.  That is part of the test.  Who wouldn't love someone when things are perfect?  That isn't a test.  My wife Lori, she's been battling Stage 4 cancer for years now.  Do you hear me angry?  She didn't run away.  She drew closer to the Lord.  Just like Max and Cameron.  Different pain and yes you can argue self inlficted for some.  Yet there is Truth in the saying no pain, no gain.  Truth God's best went through the worst.  How would you like your son tortured and nailed to a cross?  The comfort zone = the fade zone.  So why do we crave the comfort zone?  The flesh.  Rom 3:23.  Counterpoint, yes, we would rest.  That is why God gave us the Sabbath.  How are you doing with that BTW?  I always tell my Dudes that we are fooling ourselves if we don't get into the Word.  So here are some verses to bless you...2Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  James 1: 2-3, NLT).1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Heb 12: 1-2, NLTEnding on a prayer note...