FriDudes - Getting Real. Pursuing Truth.

• Yes!  You are in!  Meet Young Buck Andy.  Gen Z and full of Hope!  Why?  On this broken planet full do doom and gloom, depression and anxiety?  Skeptic will scoff.  So we just share what works.  That is exactly what Andy did.  19 years old.  Sorry in advance for the kitchen staff banging around.  they are just doing their jobs.  Yet this convesation is priceless.  Well minus me trying to anticipate his answers too much.  Check out his wisdom and Hope already, here you go...
• Special shout out to Rogelio!  
• Thank you Young Buck!  
• Shout out to Oscar!  Who do you invite?  Who do you encourage in Christ?  Who are you an Oscar to?  Think back to Rudy episode too.  And that dude that wouldn't leave Rudy alone.  The Rudy turns into the father that wouldn't give up.  
• Bullying, we are ALL flawed, Rom 3:23, not matter what race or creed.  
• Depression, anxiety, solution.
• Psychadelics.  
• Andy tried everything.  Nothing would fully satisfy until the Ultimate Power Source.
• Crying out.  Desperate.  Surrender.  Going from wondering to believing to harnessing/following/benefitting.  
• Didn't get an immediate answer.
• Do you encounter Jesus?
• Mind and heart not aligned.  Defeated.  
• Felt useless.  Heavy heart.  
• Ask Grandma to pray for you.  Never asked someone to pray for him before.  You?  1 Thes 5:17
• Feeling, something is going to happen.  Washed.  Good tears.  Cleansing.  He knew it was Jesus.  
• Creation knows creator.  It's in the DNA.  
• 9 months at that time.  Quite a change.  Hope.  
• Andy knew something missing.  He found Hope.  
• Andy prayed on how to reach more people.  1 Peter 3:15.  You?
• Ask for that Higher Power.  Ask.  Pursue.  Take your depression the the Ultimate Power Source.  Surrender, hand it over at the altar.
• Cherry on top

• Yes!  You are in!  How powerful are these brothers from Life Church, Visalia, CA?  Special thanks to Bold Franky, Rubben and now Rudy.  The father of Ruben.  And you want to talk about getting real?  Check out how he comes out swinging, boldly sharing the darkness of where he was.  Here you go...
• Wow!  Thank you Pastor Rudy!  Father of Ruben.  Listener, skeptic, think about where they were (hopeless) and where are they today (Hope/productive).  Encouraging lives for the better.  You know I love my rhetorical questions.  Does this broken planet need more Hope or hopelessness?  Function or dysfunction?  
• We all pay the price for dysfunction to some degree.  Doubt me?  Go to downtown Los Angeles.  It looks like a garbage dump.  
• Ok, most of you don't live in LA.  I bet there is dysfunction even in your own little paradise.  How do I know that?  Rom 3:23.  It is what we flawed humans do really well.
• So what didn't work for Rudy and Ruben?  What did?
• Have you ever given up on yourself?  You are not alone.
• So low,  So lost.  You are not alone.
• Yet there is hope.  Do as Rudy did for the better/stronger.  
• Holy Spirit hovering over you.  Light, Hope.
• Rehab worked.
• Coming to Jesus moment worked.  
• Polite persistence.  
• Holy Ghost Set Up.
• Are you tired?  Are you lost?  Is this real?
• God is real.  The Word is active and alive.  The Holy Spirit is real.  Jesus Christ is real.  Skeptic, there is one way to find out.  Do as Rudy did...what did work.
• Slayed in the Spirit.  
• Spiritual Surgery.
• Acts 16, cleaning house.  
• Loving a child even if they screw up.  Prodigal Son.  

• Yes!  You are in!  You like power stories of redemption?  Of course you do, that's why most of you are here.  For we are in the Hope and encouragement business.  Next up, Ruben.  Bold, courageous Ruben!  He is also part 1 of an amazing father/son story.  Here you go...
• Wow!  Thanks again Brother Ruben!  Thank you for taking a leap of faith with Loco Tomas.  Sorry, third person speaking there.  More of a tongue in cheek nickname that I've earned on the streets of California.  Why?  I'm crazy enough to pray Lord, who do you want me to meet?  Whose story do you want told?  Then I carry my phone and a mic and and not normally ask, can I record you?  
• Ruben, I don't blame you at all with any hesitation with me.  Yet, you went for it.  Now your Light is now shining to help people beyond the Visalia and California area.  
• You boldly share what worked and didn't. 
• You help remind us that even when we accept Christ that doesn't guarantee we will stay on the path.  I can testify to that too.  Following is harder than simply believing.  
• Narrow Door, check Matt 7: 13-14
• Does this broken planet need more Hope or hopelessness?
• Function or dysfunction?
• Government will say give us your money and we'll solve this.  Government has a role, don't get me wrong.  Yet I do see the most powerful and effective results coming from heart transformation via Jesus Christ (churches and non-profits that cost you $0).  That is a fact Jack and the truth Ruth.  
• Ruben refers to 1 Cor 13:11...
• 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
  When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
• Okay versed one, are you ready with your 1 Peter 3:15?  Bonus, share others' stories with your favorite skeptics.  Share Ruben.  
• Easy to debate God, hard to argue results.
• Jer 29:11 
• Pops never gave up!  And he's coming up.  Next episode.
• Ending on a prayer note, staying the course, Lord, you are real.  Walking with us, ups and downs.  

Yes!  You are in!  It's that time of year again.  I went back to the Spirit Filled Mountain Top Men's Camp and God blessed me with some new Hope stories to share.  Wow!  So first up, meet Franky.  He has a power story to share, here you go...

Thanks again Brother Franky!  The first to boldly step up that weekend!  Life Church in Visalia, CA.  You are a good tree producing good fruit.  Sent up 33 brothers this last round.  

Special shout out also to Spirit Filled Church out of Indio, CA.  Pastor Jose, Matthew, Georgie, brothers Mike C, Andy and the rest of a crew.  What a blessing and also another good tree producing good fruit.

Back to Franky.  Could you do that?  Are you ready to share the reason why you have Hope?  1 Peter 3:15?  Absolutely epic.

Some of you are thinking, well, my story isn't as dramatic as Franky's.  Don't think that way.  Also be careful if you say your story is boring, I used to say that.  Then God made my story a lot more interesting...aka in other words challenging.  

Back to Franky.  Think about where he was.  And where he is today.  Back to my favorite rhetorical questions:  Does this Broken Planet need more Hope or Hopelessness?  More Function of dysfuntion?

We have the answers to society's ills. Problem is many of you don't want to accept them.  For the answers are in the Word.  

Of course, skeptics can debate God.  Yet they can't argue Franky's story.  Nor Rogelio's or Paul's or Daniel's or Richard's stories from last year.  Results are results.  Good fruit.

Share what works.  Special thanks for sharing this podcast of Hope when worthy.  

Ending on a prayer note...

• Yes!  You are in!  Thank you for coming back.  Thank you for sharing when worthy.  Thank you new one.  If you listen to the last one with Dr. Loritts, I do have a follow up.  A QC follow up.  I got the pull.  So here you go...
• Play of the Day, link
• https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/devotional/who-will-be-in-heaven-because-of-you-2025/series/daily-hope-tv?view=we-are-members-of-gods-family---part-2
• Ok, short and sweet on that one.  Previous episode 'Buckle Up' is aptly named.  I imagine some of you were whoa that was a bit harsh.  It definitely was tough love.  Here is where I'm getting the pull.  Dr. Loritts talks about the relationship with the church and if you don't have one then how can I have a relationship with you.  First, QC pull, he is talking about Jesus.  Next, I'll just speak for myself.  I definitely have relationships with those that don't go to church.   Heck, I have relationships with those that don't even believe in God.  Why?  I don't give up easy.  I'm called to love (Matt 22: 36-40).  I keep encouraging them with the Lord.  You never know if you have a Saul to Paul.  Mary the prostitute to Mary Magdalene faithful servant to the Lord.  You never know.  So I keep loving.  
• The point I hear Dr. Loritts say that for those of you in a relationship with Jesus Christ...or at least you think you do...how can you if you reject his bride?  At a minimum, it makes the relationship challenging.  Jesus Christ died for the church, you and me.  Here's another way to look at what Dr. Lorrits analogy...think hot coal analogy.  
• Not all churches were created nor serve equally.  Find your church that is based on Jesus' Words. 
• Also, remember if you are frustrated with bad churches and/or religion...so was Jesus.  Look how many times he says hypocrites.  He was showing us the bigger picture...not just wolves and dens of thieves...yet he definitely warned us.  Check Luke 19:46.
• When you go to a bad restaurant, do you give up on ALL restaurants?
• Do as your Lord did.  Practice the Way.  If you claim Jesus then your Lord Jesus went to church aka synagogue.  He also got baptized.  He also had a small group.  Do you?  Do as your Lord did.    

• Yes!  You are in!  You ready for a ride?  Buckle up.  Put your trays in the upright and locked position.  Here you go...
• Thank you Dr. Loritts.  Power teacher.  That's what I call you.  I am so grateful for you.  Listener, if that dude is new to you.  You need to check him out.  You can hear the rest of his message and more at the link below...
• https://www.youtube.com/live/S6QdJlFxw-s?si=Smr1Cy3JA1FepzUu
• Rom 3:23
• Race and religion
• Politics and religion
• If you are a believer, better yet a follower, The Word comes first
• Blue kool aid vs. Red kool aid.  Crips and bloods.  And I'm witnessing my brothers and sisters getting fed certain algorithms.  It's sad, I literally have Christian brothers and sisters that don't want to talk to each other...because they think they are correct.  They are choosing politics over what Jesus says we should do.  That sounds like idolatry to me.  Are you turning the cheek? Check Matt 5:39.  He told us not to judge, are you doing that?   Can you see how the enemy is dividing you?  Check Matt 7: 1-6.
• 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
  
  3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
• Confession, I wrestle with this.  Just ask my wife.  So, I've had to make my own more conscious effort to do less news and social media and more in the Word.  Avid listener, do you remember when I got stood up on my bike.  I was complaining about Gavin Newsome (CA Governor) in my head.  Inner voice that stood me up as if yelled out loud, Thomas, you need to be praying for you leaders, not cursing.  Check 1 Tim 2: 1-2.

• Yes!  You are in!  You ever pray for something and not get it.  Of course.  I always say when you pray your answer will be Yes, No or Not Yet.  An interesting take on that, here you go...
• Thank you Pastor Rick, on a roll, one of my favorite teachers, if you would like to hear more on that one, simply click on his link in the show description...
• https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/series/seeking-god-for-a-breakthrough-2025?view=why-must-i-keep-on-praying-persistently---part-3
• Versed ones, I'm going a different gear on this one.  Think of your prayer life.  Now think of Peter.  You will be tested.  Some of you can talk a great game.  Can you imagine walking with Jesus Christ for 3 years?  Eye witnessing his miracles vs. reading about them and choosing to believe them 2,000+ years later.  Smash cut, being told by your Lord that you will deny Him.  So you even got a heads up.  You say no way.  And when push comes to shove, yes way, you deny him 3x.  
• That's your prayer life.  If you haven't asked Why yet, you haven't been fully tested.  You haven't been pushed enough.  Versed ones, even your Lord and Savior asked his Father why?  Check Matt 27:46
• Faith does NOT exist without doubt.  
• So when you pray, there's a reason you don't get everything you want.  If you did, we call that a spoiled brat.  
• No, Grow, Slow, Go is for your ultimate strength building and refinement.
• Ok, we are going to go Deeper.
• Losing a loved one sucks.  No doubt.  Yet do you love that person more than your Heavenly Father that created you both?  That's a problem.  God did not gift you loved ones for them to become your Gods.  
• Why do we all have to get sick and die?  Why are all miracles temporary?  Rom 6:23
• Do you not have faith in John 3:16 and Rev 21:4?  That's a problem.  
• Ending on a prayer note...

Yes, you are in.  You know that feeling when you lost signal.  It's wild how dependent we've gotten on mobile/internet connection.  When desperate, we have all asked for the WiFi password.  So we tackle something better today.  Your next play of the day.  Here you go...

Thank you Pastor Rick, you can hear more of that play of the day at this link...

https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/series/hearing-the-voice-of-god-2025?view=how-god-talks-to-you---part-2

I'm going to start off with one of my favorite/funny stories about hearing from God.  Once upon a time, when I lived in the Land of 10,000 lakes, my primary church was Hosanna in Lakeville, MN.  At that time was a very funny pastor named Derek Rust.  A witty Englishman that loved the Lord found his way to that church thanks be to God.  The season didn't last long enough for my liking yet that's life and I digress.  He once shared that a lady approached him after one of his sermons and said, "Pastor Derek!  I spoke with God and he said you should watch my cats while I go on vacation."  Pastor Derek replied, "Hmmmm, that's funny because I talked to God and he said I'm not the one to watch your cats."  One of us is listening to the wrong God."

On a lighter note, that is super funny.

On a darker note, we all have seen in the news or maybe even know the person that says "God told me...".  So how do we know they are really hearing from God?  A few key pointers...

It must reflect Matt 22: 36-40.  Loving God and loving others.  If you are using that voice that goes against Jesus Christ's words, your savior and Lord, that can't be the right voice.  

• Yes!  You are in!  Do you have a reputation that you want to change?  Not happy with past mistakes.  Welcome to the Club and here is a case study on how to move forward.  Here you go...
• Yes, thank you, once again, Dr. Lorrits.  You can hear more of him at the Bryan Lorrits podcast.  Simply click on the link in this episode's description...
• https://www.youtube.com/live/qjpCWov6c0Y?si=2ggetogt4YF-59gz
• The Bible as what I like to call the Owner's Manual for Life is full of jaded, flawed characters being redeemed.  Chosen.  
• As stated, if you think you are the least likely and especially if those around you think you are the least likely to do something amazing for/with the Lord, you are prospect A1.  
• Woman at the Well...check John 4.  Checkered past.  Looked down so much by her community that nobody would affiliate with her.  She had to go to the well in the heat of the day to avoid bullying and judging and cruelty. And Jesus Christ chooses her.  She wasn't even Jewish like the other disciples.  She was a Samaritan.  In other words, think of who is your enemy...that person.  
• David, side note, very interesting series on Prime if you have it.  Extra side note, interesting to see MGM inspired by Angel Studios to go for that series.  David was seen as a loser to his family and brothers.  Dad didn't even round him up when Samuel asked to see all his sons.  A literal sheep shepherd is chosen to take down the mightiest warrior the Philistines had.  He rises to power.  He screws up in a massive way.  And rallies himself again.  
• As for your life, anything is possible with God.  Matt 19:26
• Some of you may be thinking, aren't you beating this drum too much?  No.  I think we keep going until everyone has Hope and living their best life that honors/loves God and our neighbors.  In other words, we are not done until Jesus Christ comes back or until we die.  
• BTW, for returning listeners.  How much has happened to fade you from Hope of the last message.  I bet a lot.  That is what the enemy does.  Want to confuse you, make you busy and make yourself think you are a loser and to stay down.  
• As for this podcast, we are in the Hope and encouragement business.  1 Thes 5:11.  Thank you for sharing when worthy.  As for your loved ones, they may seem good.  I bet they are not.  Ask how are you really doing?  
• Ending on a prayer note...Lord, who does this listener reach out to?  Will you put specific names on their hearts?  As for their life, what have you chosen them to do shines your light and Love Matt 5:16?

• Yes!  You are in!  Thank you for sharing when worthy.  We'll see how this one stacks up.  Did you know you are a surfer?  Ok, maybe you've never touched the ocean.  You are absolutely surfing waves called life.  Some waves can be thrills of a lifetime.  Some waves can wreck you, destroy relationships and even you.  Here you go...
• Thank you Pastor Rick Warren, Daily Hope and Saddleback Church.  I start off almost every day with Daily Hope.  How about you?  Do you start your day with something uplifting and strengthening or the news or Fakebook or Instabrag?
• When I have my A game.  I start the day in the Word, prayer and iron sharpens iron listens.  Oh, to hear more on that one, please click below...
• https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/series/a-toolbox-for-life-2025?view=learning-to-be-both-fast-and-slow---part-1
• So I do call SoCal home.  I do surf.  And that's when the vision came to me.  To catch waves you need intention.  You need to train.  You best take some lessons.  Better yet, you go with a pack so you can keep an eye on each other.  
• When it comes to Life Planning, that's how GCrossSurf was born.  My wife still thinks we should rebrand and maybe we do.  What was fun to learn that Pastor Rick and team also use waves for teaching.  I love affirmations.  I had no idea.  First time I ever heard him mention waves.  And I pretty much listen to him 5 out of 7 days per week.  
• Anyway, smarty pants out there will say you can create waves behind a wakesurf boat or wave pool.  Yet that isn't what Pastor Rick was teaching on.  In life, you hop into the ocean called this broken planet.   And you have to ride with what God gifts you and also what this broken planet will serve up.  
• If we could all just create our own destinies then we would all be Michael Jordans or Lebron James or Taylor Swifts or Lord knows what.  
• The woman at the well had waves of failed relationships.  Check John 4.  Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit to die.  Genesis 37.  Daniel was enslaved by Babylonia.  Check the book of Daniel.  Moses thought he was leading his people out of slavery in Egypt and ended up enslaving themselves in the desert. Check Exodus.  
• And we can go on and on.  Some fair, some deserved, some definitely not deserved, all crappy waves that eventually turn into beautiful surf of life...for those that love and seek Him.  Rom 8:28
• Odds are you are in crappy surf right now.  Maybe you are in the best surf of your life.  Ok, enjoy it while it lasts.  Give God thanks.  Yet for those in crappier surf, learning to be content (not happy) content (big difference) shows your might faith and strength.  Knowing that Rom 8:28 waves are going to pay...someday is mighty Faith.
• So if so inspired, hit us up at FriDudes.com and we'll give you a free GCrossSurf workbook.  Planning and riding the most important waves of life.  If you are tech savvy, we'll even give you early access to the beta web app.  For it needs some lovin and shapin.  
• Ending on a prayer note...