My Friend the Friar

Fashion, Faith, and Resilience with Anthony Alexander

John Lee and Fr. Stephen Sanchez, O.C.D. Season 3 Episode 22

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In this episode, John and Anthony discuss the importance of open, respectful conversations in a world increasingly divided by differing beliefs. Anthony shares the inspiration behind his innovative clothing brand aimed at making the elegant sport of croquet appealing to a younger audience while fostering memorable moments with loved ones.

In a deeply reflective segment, they discuss personal experiences with loss and how faith serves as a foundation for resilience. From the emotional impact of miscarriages to the therapeutic nature of creative outlets like poetry and visual storytelling, they explore various ways of coping with grief. They also address the dual nature of social media, recognizing both its potential for harm, especially for the younger generation, and its ability to offer support. Wrapping up, they highlight the importance of hope and faith, confident that these elements provide the strength needed to overcome adversity. Join us for a heartfelt conversation filled with diverse perspectives and exciting future discussions.

Anthony's Clothing Brand
Croquet by Anthony Alexander

Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the my Friend the Friar podcast and thanks for listening. If you like my Friend the Friar and want to support us, please consider subscribing or following us if you haven't already done so, and if you found us on YouTube then, don't forget to click the notification bell when you subscribe, so you'll be notified of new episodes when they release. Thanks again and God bless.

Speaker 2:

Bonus episode yeah, cough I don't know what this is. Thanks again and God bless it's like super chocolate.

Speaker 1:

Whatever this thing is, I'm gonna be wired for the rest of the day for real. Yeah, that will wire you for the rest of the day. Probably all the sugar, oh, got you combination of it, man, so what's?

Speaker 2:

going on with the, with the clothing brand man and what?

Speaker 1:

and what's the name of it?

Speaker 2:

it's croquet anthony alexander all right, uh, I mean.

Speaker 2:

So, right now I'm just in the process of, like I told you before, not trying to rebrand, but definitely trying to uh figure out the next move, as, in reaching, um, the individuals that I'm trying to reach, which is the croquet association, right, um, they have a thing to where they're really trying to promote the sport more to a younger audience, and my thing is like yo, what other way to do it better than through clothing, which is not the reason why I started it, but I believe that my concept would definitely help um generate, uh, more young people to kind of like cross over into the sport because of fashion or clothing yeah, right, well, and I think you were saying the other day um, it's about because it's not like the most intense sport ever right, no, no, so it's about spending time with the people that you care about and making those memories and stuff like that and that speaks back to your son.

Speaker 2:

Yeah exactly, Creating memories lasts for eternity. That's kind of like the slogan, right? So for me, when me and Heidi played for the first time, I enjoyed it and I'm like you know what this for?

Speaker 1:

the first time I enjoyed it and I'm like you know what.

Speaker 2:

This would be kind of exciting if we were able to play with the children and then that can be like our favorite pastime, like we can grow up.

Speaker 1:

Let's go to the lake, let's play croquet.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you know I mean. So I'm kind of taking it and kind of putting it in my own image, outside of what everyone is used to seeing. A lot of people still, to this day, don't even know what croquet is. When I ask him, like croquet, oh yeah, uh, crockett, crockett, oh, crochet, crochet. I know croquet. Oh, nah, what is that? And I'm like you know what. This is a way for me to again introduce it in in the creative way that I see the sport, you know I mean. So I thought about one day having you yeah me and like two of my other friends.

Speaker 2:

As you know, males go down to the lake. Let's just chill, talk. Let's male bond and play croquet. You know I mean let's eat how do you?

Speaker 1:

how do you set up the, the, the field, how do you set it? I?

Speaker 2:

mean well it's.

Speaker 1:

I mean I couldn't, I couldn't tell you, I could show you yeah, you feel me like you pull a picture up and show you exactly how it is, but it's just are there like rules to how it's supposed to be set up properly?

Speaker 2:

definitely it's multiple rules, but they have multiple ways you can play croquet. You have non-wicked uh, which is like more of the professional competitive style croquet. Then you have backyard croquet, which is what everyone is kind of used to yeah you know I mean so. Depending on which one you're playing will determine the rule set um that you'll use. You know I mean so. If we're playing like just recreational purpose, it's super easy. You know, I mean like you can't get lost in it, you can't suck, I don't think yeah, I just have fun, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I was just kind of cool because that's like the worst when you're, when you're uh bowling, as an example, if I try to bowl, I'm terrible yeah, if I just go have fun like I might be all right. I'm still not gonna be any good but, there's something that when I'm trying it all falls apart.

Speaker 2:

It's like me playing tennis I I don't. I can't play tennis. I can, I can bowl, I can basketball, football, but tennis nah golf, I'm not.

Speaker 1:

I'm not golfing either, yeah, yeah I don't see myself doing that that's funny. So what kind of? So you started it for your son. Yeah, is there a specific like is it? Are you moving it more towards athletic-y kind of gear, or is it more like comfy cozy around the house, like hoodies, sweaters, as of?

Speaker 2:

right now it's more lounge wear, I would say, things you can wear around the house to the grocery store, but eventually I do have multiple lines within it that will kind of transition into different areas of life. So, yeah, you will have the athletic wear if you want to play croquet the way that the professionals play. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

So it won't be like a Nike, like you know, a sweat resistant you know what I mean, but it will be based on yeah, how you and drip, you know, I mean, but it will be based on, yeah, how you know, the croquet world needs athletic gear. Uh, then you will have the corporate, you know, the oxford shirts, um, the chinos and stuff like that, as time progresses. I mean, that's the plan and the vision, um, but I've already created, man, so many sub lines already to where, whenever everything takes to where it needs to be, it's a done deal like everything is just out of there.

Speaker 1:

That's cool. You got an online store yet. Yes, I do, we'll put links in the show notes and all that stuff so people can go check it out and stuff like that. Yeah, appreciate it. What else has been going on, man?

Speaker 2:

Honestly, you've inspired me a little bit to do a podcast. What? Yeah, yeah, yeah, but not in the podcast traditional way. Yeah, um, one thing I'm always trying to do is, you know, create new avenues to brand croquet uh, and in doing it it's more like um a group of men sitting down, not in the atmosphere of microphones and a tv.

Speaker 2:

You know how most podcasts are seen but it's more like let's just sit down at a table, let's eat, let's have conversations about topics that kind of mean something to us in the world that we're in, but not in the podcast type way like I can't really put a finger on it exactly something that's still brewing but there's something like it's going to be film mixed in with the podcast foundation, right. So it's something that's different.

Speaker 2:

It's called perspective because, everyone has perspectives on different levels, and my thing is, when we speak our perspective, sometimes it can cause an argument because some people are more like yo. Well, I believe this. Okay, well, I believe this and it becomes more about, about.

Speaker 1:

Well, I have more facts to back up what I'm saying. Yeah, I man, that's something that like I, I, I enjoy sometimes listening to uh like in christian debates apologetics, but only as far as I enjoy learning facts no but to me it's just like they're arguing yeah and I would so much rather. I, I think and it would be so much more fruitful if, instead of having a debate, which I think, the debate is more for the audience than it is for the two people.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I think it would probably be more fruitful if somebody with different opinions, if you just walked together for the rest of your life.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And let one another shape each other right. There's a Bible verse I can't remember where it is, but iron sharpens iron right. So like let's just walk together instead of arguing and I think a lot of people too, especially when you have these really deep fundamental beliefs like this is the only way.

Speaker 1:

That's the A to B to C like this is what it is something comes in and rocks that you don't know what to do with it no, and so I I think that's that's a great idea is just having the ability to talk to people and hear where they're at, because you might you never know you might say something.

Speaker 2:

It just opens up their mind a little bit and I think that's the thing and the whole concept behind it is giving you know, people a platform um to discuss perspective in a healthy way. First, let's listen, let's think, let's respond. Don't cut the person off, let them get it out and don't be argumentative. Out of 10 things I say, seven may be true to you and you could take those seven things and you know what. That was interesting. I can see that.

Speaker 2:

You know what I mean and other three things, yo toss them out, but that, yeah, you know I mean. Another three things, yo toss them out, but there's no need to. Well, you know what? That's a lie. I disagree with that. I'm watching a show called jubilee that my homie put me on and I don't know if you've seen it before. Yeah, check it out. And they have one about christians and, um, it's christians versus atheists, right? And as they're discussing it, everyone is like mocking each other. Like you know, they said Jesus was hair of wool and black.

Speaker 2:

Hold on. Is it LeBron James?

Speaker 1:

I'm like yo, like you know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

Like when you talk to someone like that about their belief, it kind of closed them down Like yo, why are you mocking?

Speaker 1:

what I believe. Yeah, and there's definitely something to listen more than you speak. Exactly, you know what I mean. So, when, and there's definitely something to listen more than you speak, exactly, you know what I mean so when I saw that it's more like yo.

Speaker 2:

how can we get in the space to where we're able to really, you know, express how we feel, but on a level to where it's like yo, kind of like me and you, how we talk, like if I person getting in their emotions and hating me when they walk away he'll be talking about he's full of crap, you know what I'm saying like no, let's just learn from one another.

Speaker 1:

You know I mean so that's, really my whole idea. There was this. There was a when I was back, when I was a coach. Um, there was this poster in one of the hallways in the school that said disagreeing doesn't make you disagreeable. Yeah, I was like yeah, and those little kids need to hear it too, because they're all everything's like you know when, when they're little, uh, yeah, man, that's that's, that's, that's good, that's, I think something and while doing it everyone will be wearing croquet attire.

Speaker 2:

So that's the whole point of kind of branding it.

Speaker 1:

It's kind of you know, yeah, you know there's a little secret so there's something that's something that man, I don't want to necessarily say I have no. No, I do want to say I have no interest in Nah, Okay, so what do I mean? So there are proven ways to grow a brand or whatever it is you're doing right. And social media nowadays, social media is a big part I don't know how to say it like cross-branding right Like having a podcast in a clothing line, right.

Speaker 1:

They're kind of like cross-pollinating each other kind of thing. So there's all that kind of stuff that these are proven ways to grow stuff, and, man, I wish I had the money to hire somebody to do it instead you know what I mean, because I would love for things like the podcast to to just be huge and not so like. So for for me, my big drive is is um. I wouldn't be where I'm at in my life if it was not for father steven yeah and so I want something that's going to he.

Speaker 1:

He was so influential in my life that I want there to be something that exists so that he himself and his fellow uh, his brothers, his fellow Carmelites, can, can, can, shape the world. Yeah, um, it can continue, right, it can keep doing stuff, and so, like our podcast has been downloaded in 44 countries at this point in time, right, so it's just cool. Like some, so little old friar from Dallas, texas, has been heard around the world.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's peace.

Speaker 1:

So those kinds of things are really cool, but it could be bigger. And again, for me, I want them to transform the world, but I would love, if it's God's will, for people to make donations because they they they don't get money from, like the church as a whole. They have to go beg or work for all the money they have.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And so they have this vow of poverty and you know, sometimes it's hard to keep the bills paid.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

You know what I'm saying and so like the podcast seems like a great way for people like have a little donate button or something yeah click, give five bucks a month you know just help keep the lights on, kind of thing.

Speaker 1:

But there's a way to grow it and I have. I have no interest in that you know what I'm saying so that would be something cool. Um, I just don't know what to do with it. You know what I'm saying. But that's smart. I like I see where you're going with it. I. I think that would be great.

Speaker 2:

I think my thing is when my son first passed. I've always been a fan of music film and fashion.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So growing up I already knew that I wanted to be involved in one of those areas, but period just didn't know which one. You know I mean. So my first company that I would say I had was alexander incorporated, where we did film, fashion and music. And, um, I'm a good writer, as, in words, I have a unique way of of writing poetry so of course I thought it was only natural if I rapped you know.

Speaker 1:

So everyone was like yeah, you can you?

Speaker 2:

yeah, you can do it, man, it's dope. It's dope. I'm like yo, but this is really not me. So across the years I've kind of dabbled in each area to learn, like, what it's like to really be behind the scenes in each one, and the two that I've done the most in that I love is film and and fashion. I created my own short film. Um, for the first time, I mean with no experience, I, just me and my my homie, just say yo, we're going to do it, let's get some cameras, I'll write the story, I'll edit it, you get the actors and we put everything together. Casting call, got the cameras, locations and it came out. Yo, great.

Speaker 2:

So my thing now is you know what, if I have these talents, how can I put film together with clothing? Thing now is you know what, if I have these talents, how can I put film together with clothing? If you look at Polo Nautica, they have those elements to where they tell stories through short films or just videos or whatever, and that's how they get their advertisement across. For me, it's not so much as trying to entice people into the lifestyle, it's more of sharing my lifestyle, sharing who I am as a person, and I think that's what people well, I would say a lot of people, if you would believe it kind of buy more into you as a person. You know, I'm like you know what. I support you because I love what you're doing, and it goes back to the whole donation thing.

Speaker 2:

I think those are kind of the same thing so you know, when I do things like that's more like more like yo, how can I, you know, I wouldn't say give wisdom, but how am I able to show how me and my friends interact with each other to where it's like yo? You too can learn, not how to get down when we get down, but you know what? That's kind of neat, how they can sit there and talk with each other.

Speaker 1:

Let me see if I can try that. You know, I'm saying like yeah, there's um, it's like, uh, it makes me think you buy an artist uh, like their album.

Speaker 2:

I was gonna say their cd. I don't know if anyone buys cds anymore, but you get there.

Speaker 1:

You don't have to like every song, yeah but you're getting it because you like the artist exactly right, and I'm sure paintings and stuff were like that once upon a time too like, like it didn't even have to be the best paint, but I had one of their paintings Right, so it's almost like I had a piece of that person.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Because that's what they're buying into. Yeah, right, yeah.

Speaker 2:

They're buying into. Just I mean, it could be the wisdom that you're giving, to the point where you know what I respect this man so much. I would want to bless this ministry Because, when you think about it, I believe that anything that we do is ministry in the aspect of it's trying to get you to the most high it's trying to get you toward God.

Speaker 2:

Now, rap could be a form of ministry, but the way that they depict it and the things they talk about, yeah, but it could be because you have some Christian rappers like D1.

Speaker 1:

I don't know if you ever heard of d1 if you haven't, I've heard some christian rap, but I I it was in passing, so I have no idea who it was look up d1.

Speaker 2:

I'm telling you, this dude right now is not afraid to push god's message through um hip-hop and he's calling out some of the rappers, like big names, rick ross and meek mills, by saying, hey, you know, you're glorifying all the the the streets and the guns and the drugs, but you're not really giving the people something positive. You know what I mean. Let's talk about this and talk about that. Like he's really shaping the culture as in trying to get them to stand like yo, this is God's thing got going on. I'm not afraid to push this message and I'm I'll stand for what I believe in. You know what I mean. So he's real good at I wouldn't say real good at his purpose, I would say is dead on to where it shows that anything nowadays can be a ministry if you are trying to promote the good within it. And I think with me, my thing is again creating memories for eternity.

Speaker 2:

When I talk about the loss of my son, I mean one thing's always attached to it Definitely is God. How I cursed God in the beginning. I didn't understand it. I was mad you took my little man, but yet you allow these other people to have their children and they're out here, neglecting, leaving the kids at home, and cars, and it's hot outside. They're passing out and dying. And here I am trying to you know, understand how to become a father, and you take them from me. Forget it. I hate you.

Speaker 1:

You know what I'm saying, and I think there's one of the and God is. So I was going to say merciful. I heard this nun talking the other day I think I just said this the other day to somebody I was talking to, to somebody I was talking to, but I heard this nun speaking about how and don't worry about the situation, but she was saying how. We like to say God is loving or God is merciful and all that kind of stuff she's like. But that's wrong. God, he is not loving, he is love. Yeah, he's not merciful, he is mercy. Yeah, right, and so in his mercy and his goodness and his love, he allows us to experience these things and be angry yeah, with him, right.

Speaker 1:

Um, it took me a long time to process when my dad passed away, uh, in the ways that I was angry, that I didn't even comprehend that I was angry about it, right. And then, um, thankfully, later in life, um, so, yeah, like Betty and I, we've been pregnant twice and we lost both babies Right the when, when I was little, cause I had a good dad, that's all I wanted to. I wanted to be a dad when I grew up.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. That was dad when I grew up.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that was like my dream, yeah, and so to be so close and then it doesn't happen, yeah, right, and so, thankfully, though, I think, through processing and the healing that came with the loss of my father, when, when we lost the babies, it was um, and lost the babies, I guess, is the wrong word, um. It's funny how our language, the language we use, but when that happened, to be able to find some kind of joy or peace or love in it.

Speaker 2:

Definitely.

Speaker 1:

Like I am still a father. I still have two children.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And, man, I got something to look forward to when I die.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Like, I've had a dream, when I don't remember what it was a couple, you know, four or five years ago, something like that. But I had this dream that I was sitting on the couch and I was holding Zoe, the little girl.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I was holding her, just like look, and you can smell her. You know, baby smell, yeah Right. And I in the dream I could, just I was like breathing her in just the scent, and she was just, you know, fussing and being a little baby and looking all cute. But next to me on the couch was my son, edgar, and he was maybe like three or something, he's just kind of bouncing on the couch and kind of holding on to my shoulders and he's just looking at his little sister, and it was just like the most beautiful dream and like that's that's it.

Speaker 1:

And then I woke up.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

But like, what a blessing. Like I can still in my brain, I can remember her scent in my dream. So it's like that peace and that love and that joy, like I have to look forward to.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, most definitely, man. I think for one it made me. It definitely made me once I got past the moment of anger and again the life I was living at that time. Because of that, I got tired of it and it was kind of like yo, something got to change, like I have to let go of whatever I'm feeling, which I didn't even know until I went to counseling and they set me down and kind of picked my brain apart, which I hated in the beginning, but it kind of helped and I'm like you know what I don't hate God, like you know what I don't hate God, what was I thinking? Like he actually, you know, is dealing with me right now, in this moment, by letting me know that yo, like you said, I allowed you to feel this way, but I also brought this child to you for a reason, and it's up to you to figure out what that reason is, because everything belongs to God, nothing belongs to us.

Speaker 2:

My child is my child, but yo, this is yours and if you want, hey, you know I'm as hard as it may be, but there is a purpose behind the death and I think that becomes for me like when I said there was a positive and every negative. So how am I able to now to take this and tell a story, my story, that will help people around the world going through the same thing that I experienced? Because it never stops. There are people right now losing their children that don't know how to deal with it Because it never stops. There are people right now losing their children that don't know how to deal with it. That may be cursing God as well, not understanding. Hey, even though you feel like this right now, joy comes in the morning and you have to figure out the reasoning for it and in doing it.

Speaker 2:

It draws you closer to God. You feel me. So you know what I mean. That's peace, which you went through. Nah, yo, I'm sorry to hear that. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

I can only imagine two, you know what I mean miscarriages, like I said, the one I had enough. I had the same thing. When he passed, I had a dream. I was in the hospital for five months straight from the time he was born and when he passed, I think that, and to me, I didn't feel it in the moment, I didn't cry, I had no emotion. I just packed my bags and went back, or came back to Texas from Tennessee and got here, had a dream I was holding him and he was alive, him, and it's a a pile of bones, you know, I mean, and that moment is kind of like yo, that triggered me, like you know what. Again, I hate everything about this situation and I mean, I think, the more that we feed into that emotion or that, you know, the devil then is able to use that and to keep you yeah, in that going the wrong way right, yeah, yeah he'll play on the things that are your strengths or your greatest desires, the beautiful things that are deep down in your soul.

Speaker 1:

He'll take them and he'll twist them.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that fear becomes no. I don't want any more children. I don't want to try again. You know, what I mean, so forget it, I'm done.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I don't want this.

Speaker 2:

I don't want you. That's uh. Yeah, I'm sorry to hear it again. Man, that's crazy. I never knew that you know, yeah, have you ever? Thought about writing a book. Nah, you feel me. I mean, I'm not really a a book writing person, um, but I do, again, love writing poetry and I think a lot of things that I go through I I put inside of my, my, my words. Now, film definitely is one thing. Will I write a book? I don't know yo. I mean, maybe when I'm like 60, like nothing to do.

Speaker 2:

It's like y'all sitting there, like you know, bring me that pen and paper, let me start writing down I mean maybe then, but I think that I mean for me, I think that it definitely is a way to tell a story, um, but I think mine is more visual and just speaking it, uh, more I think I enjoy that more than anything.

Speaker 1:

Maybe some short films or something like working with a graphic artist, maybe it's even animated or something, so you can really dig into some kind of concepts that are hard to put when it's film.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, definitely, man. I mean because I feel like that. To me personally, social media is a negative thing, but it's also positive If you know how to navigate it and use it in the aspect of helping people. I mean because, again, anything can be bad, I don't care what it is, but in your hands it can be a powerful tool for the kingdom of God If you use it how you know you need to use it. You know what I mean. So media, to me, is still one of those things where it's like it's crucial in reaching people. We didn't have this when we were growing up. If we would have had Facebook or Instagram when we were in high school, yo could you fan them. Yeah, I think about that kind of stuff all the time.

Speaker 1:

I'm like oh, you kids are so screwed up nowadays and then I'm like I know how screwed up I am. Can I only imagine how I would have turned out if I had to deal with all this stuff they have to deal with?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and that's why I told Heidi because you know, anthony is like 18. And I'm like yo. You got to understand. These kids are going through something that we didn't experience.

Speaker 1:

And, with that being said, we have to be understanding of how it's affecting them on a daily basis. I mean, just, they don't even have to the stuff they deal with. It's like. I don't know what percentage of it is ai generated now. Yeah, so like these young girls comparing themselves to younger. It's not even a real girl. Yeah, right like. But when we were kids it was a girl who was photoshopped. Yeah, that girl ain't even real. You know, know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

And so it's like, of course she's going to be some kind of ideal for some kind of audience, because the computer's smart enough to put together. Same thing for dudes, yeah Right. So I can't imagine what it must be like to have to deal with that on a daily basis.

Speaker 2:

And it's going to get worse, and I think that's the thing that scares, you know. When I tell how, I don't say that it's like that's the truth. It's gonna get worse as time progresses. It's gonna be something else that comes out, way worse than facebook or social media that's gonna take the place of it. And I mean one thing about you know, I guess being a parent or being a believer in god is that you understand that, in the days and as it approaches, things are going to shape in a form that's like yo, this is getting harder and crazier. How do we deal with this? You know what I mean, and my thing is the word hope. Everything that we do, I feel like, needs to bring people some type of hope in that, you know what, even though we are in this situation, better days are upon us. You know what I mean. We never lose the hope of yo, we're good, we're God's people, so we're going to push through it and pull through it and we'll get through this.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's not some kind of blind like, oh it'll get better, Like optimistic.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Right, it's not like that. It's this confidence in knowing that Christ already won. Yeah, like we're fighting the fight that he already won. Yeah, so we can have that confidence. Yeah, it's man, yeah, that is something Just thinking about that. And the what did you say? End of days, yeah, with you know, it's real easy to want to kind of like in a bubble, like pull yourself back in and say like no, no, no, I'm not going to engage with any of that stuff.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

But we're called to be like the church is like a missionary. We're people who don't belong here, so to speak. Right, we are missionaries in the world. We're made to go engage with the world where they are.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And so it almost encourages people and the more messed up it gets to go engage in it, even more. Yeah, but not in the messed up part, but to go engage with those people even more, like you're saying in your ministry, the more screwed up and crazy everything gets the more. We need to come talk. Yes, we have to get together and we have to understand that you, having an AI chat bot on your phone, is not a real person to have a relationship with.

Speaker 1:

But you can come and talk to me and we have different opinions and we'll get through this together.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I think I told Heidi that yesterday we had to talk and I think she kind of got offended a little bit when I was there. But I said I wish more churches would engage in the streets more.

Speaker 1:

You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

Because, again, I grew up in the streets and I know that a lot of street folks we're not looking to walk in off the street into a church Because for one, the perspective of the church from a street guy point of view is more like man, you just want to control me, how I live and this, and that they really don't understand the significance of the love of God and what it really means to have it right.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So it's kind of like how are they able to get that if you guys are so focused on each other in the church, like every Sunday, you're in the church?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I'm like Jesus was in the street. You know what I mean? He's out there thugging it. Yeah, no, he was literally, literally, and that's so. At the end of every mass, um, the, the priest will give a blessing, and then the the deacon will say something, and, um, um, sometimes it'll say the mass has ended. Um, go in peace to love and and serve the lord right so basically like go out and transform the world now, right, and so it's really cool.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I agree, it's really easy to go like oh, those poor kids are starving in another country or they don't have houses. Let's go build what about your neighbor? You feel me. Yeah, what about this?

Speaker 2:

little lady who lives across the street have you mowed her lawn yeah right like why, don't you go, take care.

Speaker 2:

So like, start with your family, start with your home, no, and then creep outward right, and so maybe you only get so far, but imagine the good that if you just focused on your neighborhood, the good you would do right there, exactly, and I think it's kind of like the school system, how people say all these kids are this, these kids are that, but it's like no one is really taking upon themselves to shape this beast that you guys continue to complain about. Well, it's not us, it's the district. Well, it's not the district, it's the okay. Yeah, that's cool.

Speaker 2:

You know what I mean, but quit blaming and just stand up for what's right. End of the day, you know what I mean. And it's like, oh, I feel the same way about people in church. You know what, for the people that are not able to be here with you today sitting down, like, how are you again going to reach them? And I think that's the unique thing about me is that I have that heart and I have that balance within myself to communicate with the other side, but also have a conversation with this side as well.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, well, because you know where you came from.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you know what I mean, right? So I'm like the middle, the middle ground ground, and, like I tell, heidi ministry is like yo, full of everything. My ministry may be different than what god has called you to be right and while he's still transforming me. Maybe he is going to use some of the creativity that I have to be able to, you know, get people to kind of like you know, oh, this is what is. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, well, and it's like, says like, we're all part of the or. I think Paul writes that we're all part of the same. We're all different parts of the same body. Yeah, right, so we all have different gifts, we all have different talents, we're all different body parts, right, and it's like you, in every building downtown that he could find. And then he comes to Jesus and now, like he's, his graffiti art makes people stop and look. Word, right, like, so it could be anything, as long as it's for the greater glory.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, you know what I mean. So no, that's word, man, yeah.

Speaker 1:

That's cool, this is fun. Man Battery's getting ready to die, so Take your time. Yeah, we'll just go ahead and wrap this up, but yeah, we'll have to. Man, I have to have you come back and we'll talk about something else. Maybe we'll find something else. We're like we're just polar opposites about stuff and just I don't know, dig in see what happens. Nah, that's peace I got you all right cool well, man, thanks for joining us. No worry, thank you for having me. Yep, we'll see y'all next time.

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