Chris Lane: Finding Faith in the Detours & Staying Grounded in the Spotlight

Summary

The Bobby Bones Show

Episode: Chris Lane: Finding Faith in the Detours & Staying Grounded in the Spotlight
Air Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Brooke Taylor (guest-hosting role) with Pastor Mark Evans
Guest: Chris Lane, country music artist

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Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode features country singer Chris Lane, joined by Pastor Mark Evans and host Brooke Taylor, as they dive deep into how faith and family have shaped Chris's life and career. Chris opens up about the challenges and blessings of balancing music industry pressures, fatherhood, and marriage, crediting his journey’s detours—especially his sports injuries and spiritual struggles—for forging a stronger faith. The conversation centers on the importance of staying grounded spiritually, nurturing family faith, and navigating career ambitions without losing sight of one's values.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chris Lane’s Faith Journey

• Church Upbringing
  • Chris was raised in Kernersville, North Carolina, in a devout family, attending church multiple times a week.

    “My parents had us in church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday. So there was lots of church in my life growing up…” — Chris Lane (04:04)

  • Didn’t truly appreciate church until later:

    “At the time, I think when you’re young, you don’t know how to appreciate it until you come to know Jesus and have the relationship…” — Chris (04:15)

• Making Faith Personal
  • Chris admits his faith became real during setbacks: two ACL injuries in high school and repeated injuries in college took him away from sports, his childhood passion.
  • He credits that forced downtime and his prayers during physical and emotional pain as the foundation for a truly personal relationship with God.

    “It caused me to pray a lot. And I think that's when I really formed a strong relationship with the Lord. I feel like I was talking to him all the time…” — Chris (05:28)

Detours & Purpose

• Embracing Unexpected Turns
  • Chris discusses how the “detours” (like career-altering injuries) that seemed like losses at the time were actually divinely orchestrated redirections, nudging him toward music and faith.

    “I think the Lord had a plan for my life that I couldn’t see in those moments. But I am so thankful he allowed those things to happen to me even though I didn’t understand it.” — Chris (08:29)

• Sports to Music Pivot
  • Brooke and Mark point out that losing sports actually opened the path to pick up a guitar—launching Chris’s music career.

Staying Grounded in the Spotlight

• Challenges of Life Balance
  • Touring, parenting, and marriage stretch Chris’s time and attention. He openly shares about seasons when spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading become harder to maintain.

    “I think you definitely go through ebbs and flows where you don’t talk to the Lord as much and you feel a little like, hello, I’m not as close as I used to be. I think everybody kind of goes through that.” — Chris (09:12)

• Spiritual Disciplines Amid Busyness
  • The group normalizes this struggle, even for pastors, stressing that God’s grace covers these lapses.

    “Even pastors, mate. I'll tell you that. I'll be honest.” — Pastor Mark (09:33)

  • Discussion acknowledges the difference between a living, relational faith and mere “checkbox” devotions.

Marriage & Being "Equally Yoked"

• Faith as the Foundation of Marriage
  • Chris emphasizes that sharing belief is vital for a strong marriage, expressing concern over friends considering marrying outside their faith tradition.

    “It just feels like a foundation you got to have…having Jesus at the center of that…is very important.” — Chris (12:43)

• Building Spiritual Foundations
  • He shares about learning Lauren’s faith journey after they met—how these foundations were “non-negotiable” for both.

    “Had she not had a relationship with the Lord, I don’t think we would have ever been able to get married. Because…it’s super important to me.” — Chris (17:52)

Navigating Parenting & Faith

• Raising Kids in Faith
  • The Lanes prioritize church attendance for their children, echoing Chris’s upbringing (20:00). They encourage spiritual conversations even when kids seem too young to understand.
• Fatherhood’s Impact
  • Becoming a dad softened Chris’s heart and deepened his comprehension of God’s love and grace.

    “After having kids, I understand Jesus’s love for us even more…you can be so mad at them one second, but you’re like, I just love you. I can’t be mad at you.” — Chris (11:51)

  • Pastor Mark references “agape love” (22:06)—a new, deeper understanding through parenting.

Industry Pressures & Staying Humble

• Temptations of Praise and "Yes People"
  • Chris admits the music industry can encourage self-centeredness and ego, but says praying for humility is key:

    “I used to pray all the time. I’m like, Lord, if I step out of line, if I change in any way, please humble me… I don’t want to lose the relationship I have with you.” — Chris (24:22)

• Universal Application of Spiritual Humility
  • The hosts remind listeners this applies to everyone—not just celebrities; all believers are stewards of their gifts, no matter their job.

Career Dreams, Comparing, and Gratitude

• Patience in Waiting
  • Chris candidly confesses wanting to reach superstar levels like Morgan Wallen or Luke Combs, but surrenders outcomes to God’s timing and will:

    “I want to be one of the biggest artists in this genre. And I hope that’s his plans for me. If it’s not, that’s okay…everything happens for a reason.” — Chris (33:10)

  • Talks about his song “God Don’t Listen to Me”—celebrating how detoured prayers turn out better than imagined (33:36).
• Comparison Trap
  • The group discusses the dangers of measuring one’s journey against others, particularly prevalent in the competitive music business.

    “Comparison is the killer of joy.” — Pastor Mark (36:41)
    "Gratitude is the antidote to dissatisfaction." — Pastor Mark (38:26)

• Choosing Gratitude
  • Chris emphasizes stopping and recounting past blessings as the way to break dissatisfaction (37:00).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Detours Leading to Purpose

  “I’m so thankful he allowed those things to happen to me, even though I didn’t understand it.” — Chris Lane (08:29)

• On Grace as a Parent

  “Now I understand…Jesus’s love for us even more. You can be so mad at them one second, but you’re like, I just love you…I can’t be mad at you.” — Chris Lane (11:51)

• On Staying Grounded During Busy Seasons

  “Definitely go through ebbs and flows where you don’t talk to the Lord as much…everybody kind of goes through that.” — Chris Lane (09:12)

• On Industry Ego and Humility

  “Everything’s about you, like about the music…the Lord, if you’re walking closely, won’t let it change you. Please humble me. Please bring me back down.” — Chris Lane (24:14–24:22)

• On Parenting & Presence

  “When you are at home, I would just encourage every dad to just be as present as you possibly can… If you’re going to commit to having children, you just have to be willing to be exhausted, put the time in and be there, because your kids need you.” — Chris Lane (31:04)

• On Choosing God's Plan over Our Own

  “I think ultimately, we should be saying, ‘Lord, what do you want from me?’ …just trusting that he will always take care of it, and he obviously knows best.” — Chris Lane (33:36)

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Important Timestamps

• Chris’s Faith Journey & Upbringing: 04:04–06:58
• Career-Ending Injuries and Spiritual Growth: 05:28
• Faith in Daily Life, Parenting & Marriage: 09:12–13:35
• Spiritual Practices Under Pressure: 09:33–11:51
• The Importance of a Shared Faith in Marriage: 12:43–13:35, 16:42–18:04
• Navigating Parenting & Family Faith: 20:00–21:44
• Industry Challenges & Maintaining Humility: 24:14–25:16
• Career Dreams, Waiting & Comparison: 33:02–38:31
• Encouragement for Dads: 31:04
• Wrap-Up Prayer for Chris & Lauren: 40:38

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, candid, faith-filled and often humorous, with Chris Lane disarmingly honest about his shortcomings and victories. The camaraderie with Pastor Mark and host Brooke creates an inviting and relatable tone for listeners at all stages of life and faith. Listeners come away encouraged to see beauty in life’s detours, to stay humble in ambitions, and to seek God’s direction over their own desires.

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Final Takeaways

• Life’s detours often reveal God’s better plan.
• Being grounded in faith is a continual, daily effort—regardless of career or family status.
• Humility and gratitude are antidotes to industry ego and personal dissatisfaction.
• Parenting and marriage are both refining and fulfilling, especially when rooted in shared faith.
• Surrendering outcomes and ambitions to God brings peace—trust the direction, not just the destination.

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Transcript

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[Chris Lane]

I'm so thankful that he allowed those things to happen to me, even though I didn't understand it. I'm like, lord, I was just playing, man. I was just playing. I was fine with being single. I didn't necessarily even want kids. But it wasn't until I met Lauren that changed my mindset. Now if you prayed that prayer with us Church, we believe you got born again.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Lift your hands at the back. Someone will Give you a Bible.

[Brooke Taylor]

Welcome to the upload, y'.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

All.

[Brooke Taylor]

I'm Brooke Taylor. This right here, I want to introduce you to Pastor Mark Evans.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Good day, mate.

[Brooke Taylor]

He is. I'm really great. Thanks for being here. Pastor Mark, he is part of the Believers ministry, which is just a ministry that supports. Is literally an umbrella of all of the music industry. So he's one of our trusted friends, and we just love him so much.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Come on, preacher, let's go.

[Brooke Taylor]

Talk back to me. Okay? And our guest today, y', all, we go back so long. We do, like, over a decade. I feel like he's a husband, a father. He's a man whose faith just continues to shape his life and his music. Y', all welcome. Chris Lane, welcome.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

The crowd goes wild.

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, a lot of people know you from your music, but. But here on this podcast, we want to talk about Jesus, so that's what we're going to do. And I just. I want everybody who doesn't know your upbringing kind of like how you grew up. You grew up in church. Tell us a little bit about that.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I grew up in a little town called Kernersville, North Carolina, and I grew up from the day that I was born, or at least as far back as I can remember. My parents had us in church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday. So there were a lot. There was lots of church. My life growing up and which, you know, at the time, I think when you're young, you don't know how to appreciate it until you come to know Jesus and have the relationship and all that kind of stuff. You're just like, I don't want to go to church this morning. You know what I mean?

[Brooke Taylor]

You're just tired. You want to sleep in.

[Chris Lane]

But I grew up. My dad was our Sunday school teacher. Yeah. I mean, I feel so thankful now that I had the upbringing that I had, because it's obviously given me a relationship with the Lord, so.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah, well, when you talk about, you know, it's not. It's not real until basically you have that mom with Jesus. When was Jesus real for you? When did that happen for you?

[Chris Lane]

I wish I could remember, like, specifically. I think it just kind of over time. Like, I think as a kid, I always, like, believed what the preacher was saying, but did I fully understand what I actually believed? But I think everything kind of changed for me when I got into college and I was away from home. And I don't know what it was. I don't know if it was just everything I learned in my upbringing. Reading The Bible, whatever it may be, just through prayer. I would say my sophomore year of college, I had gotten hurt for a third time actually, maybe it was my junior year. I can't really spend so daggone long ago I can't remember one of those times actually. Let's rewind just a touch. Back in high school, my junior year, I tore my acl, had to miss sports. And sports were my whole life. My twin brother and I, we played sports from the time we came out the dag on womb. And that was just like my love, like I wanted to do it all the time, all day long. And that's basically what we did. So fast forward to or to high school. That junior year I tore my acl, missed the rest of football season, kind of made it back for baseball season, went back my senior year, football again, last game of the year, tore my ACL again. And then I think my relationship with there was just something that happened during the downtime and being so. Just sickened by the fact that I couldn't participate in sports. I think I spent a lot of time in prayer because I couldn't participate. It caused me to pray a lot. And I think that's when I like really, really formed a strong relationship with the Lord. I feel like I was talking to him all the time, like lord, please, you know, maybe it wasn't the right things. I was praying because I'm like, please just let me get back and be able to play sports, all that kind of stuff. But then my junior or sophomore, junior year of college, whatever it was, I think getting hurt again brought me even closer. And again I spent so much time in prayer. I think you just, there's something about that that brings you closer.

[Brooke Taylor]

Those seasons where God literally brings you to your knees. I think it's such a cool thing of how he takes something that is tragic in your life. He takes that tragedy and he just turns it for good.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Totally. It's the defining moments, you know, I think when you don't the things that you love that you hold on to, that you rely on, you know, it's like sports, man, I rely on that. Music, I rely on that. As soon as there's the, you know, the tension there or the tear there in your case, or the just, just the brokenness stuff that happens. I feel like that's when the relationship with God can go from just an awareness of God. Yeah, I know there's something out there. There's got to be that God shaped hole in all of us. But it shifts to this Is now real on a first degree level versus just an external. It's an internal thing of where you become, you understand, a revelation of who he is versus just. Yeah, he's a principle. It's a person that. That's the shift, I think. And so many of us, my story going through high school, hitting rock bottom. Same thing at that kind of time, that teenage years, which is fascinating that about 88% of people who follow Jesus make a decision before they're 18. Really, which is a huge stat. And that makes me feel a certain way about, you know, multiple different things. But I really believe that just, it's so important at a young age. Not just an awakening, but just a real relationship with God is. Is everything so.

[Chris Lane]

For sure, yeah.

[Brooke Taylor]

And how cool was it too that these injuries led you to pick up a guitar which led you to where you are today?

[Chris Lane]

Honestly, it is kind of crazy and I think, I know I find myself all the time, like, I can't believe this happened to me, but I think the Lord had a plan for my life that I couldn't see in those moments. But I am so thankful that he allowed those things to happen to me even though I didn't understand it.

[Brooke Taylor]

It's one of those things that we. It's like a constant thing for all of us. Like, I didn't understand it. And then 10 years from now we're like, oh, remember when. Yeah, yeah, I understand way better than.

[Chris Lane]

The one I had for myself.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

His ways are higher, his thoughts are higher.

[Brooke Taylor]

That's right. So when it comes to, you know, you're in the middle of touring, you're in the middle of being a parent, almost of three being a husband, how do you find yourself just staying grounded in faith and making sure that you're, you know, nurturing that relationship too?

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I think it's honestly, when you, when you have kids and you're not sleeping great and then you. I'm out on the road three or four days a week, I get home on Sunday, my wife needs a break. I think you definitely go through ebbs and flows where you don't talk to the Lord as much and you feel a little like, hello, I'm not as close as totally used to be. I think everybody kind of goes through that.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

I'm not reading my Bible. Even pastors, mate. I'll tell you that. I'll be honest.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure, I'm sure it's like you're not reading your Bible like you used to. And it's like mentally, you're like, how do I get back to this point? Because I feel like my life is just a. From a time perspective is just wrecked right now because I can't catch up on sleep. Somebody always needs their diaper changed. I'm out on the road, you know what I mean? I feel like I should make a better effort then because that's like my downtime. Like during the day I'll get up, I'll go play golf. I need something that will like mentally outside of music, outside of family, something that I'm not only speaking for myself, probably a lot of us. Like, it's easy to kind of get lost in the, in the time and not be on it as you once were, you know?

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, that and I feel like sometimes too. I feel like sometimes my daily devotional is like a cop out. Like, okay, let me just do this really quick and then I'll get through it. And then you're. You're too.

[Chris Lane]

You're to the next thing 100%.

[Brooke Taylor]

But I think it is those sweet moments where like I was driving here and a song came on and like the Holy Spirit was just like moving and it's just like spinning. He's. He's like, I'm here. I'm still here. Even though you're distracted, even though the world is, you know, doing what it needs to do, I'm still here. And I think that it's so kind of him to like have those reminders every single day.

[Chris Lane]

That's like 100.

[Brooke Taylor]

I still see you. It's okay. Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Yeah, Absolutely. Distraction is, man, the thing that takes me away every time and you kind of just do it, either checking the box or, hey, I'm preparing a message or I'm going to this conversation you kind of step in. But man, I just coming back to the whole God desires like an intimate. Like he's a person. Yeah. Not just a thing on the outside. And this whole real relationship I just think is so important, mate. So.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I know. I feel like I find myself when I pray a lot. I'm like, lord, I'm so sorry that I have not spent the time with you. It's the easy thing to kind of. I think a lot of people may pray that same thing.

[Brooke Taylor]

But also how kind is. Is he to be like, it's okay.

[Chris Lane]

Yes.

[Brooke Taylor]

You know what I mean? I just want you here and you're here. So he's just like, it's cool. Grace is just one of those things I feel like, especially as a parent, you understand what that grace feels like, because one of your kids could just tick you off to the point of no end. And then the next breath you're like, I love you so much. You can do no wrong.

[Chris Lane]

It is, it's crazy that thought all the time. Yeah, I'm like, it, it's now I understand. After having kids, I understand. Or Jesus's love for us even more. Because yeah, you go through that. Like you can be so mad at them one second, but you're like, I just love you. Like, I can't be mad at you.

[Brooke Taylor]

You're asleep and I just want you to wake up. Cuz I love you so much. It's the craziest feeling. And I just always think about how God loves us so much more than that, which is like, it's just unreal to think about.

[Chris Lane]

Beautiful.

[Brooke Taylor]

So crazy. Marriage and faith is one of those things that I like to talk about with people who drop by the podcast because I feel like having a relationship with each other and then having a relationship with each other with God is one of those things that is just so indescribable. It's one of the best things. So I'm wondering how you and Lauren kind of how you keep your faith and keep Jesus the center of your home.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I mean, I think it's single handedly the most important thing a before you get married, like, you gotta be on the same page. In fact, we know somebody right now who's thinking about proposing to someone who has no relationship, who has never had a relationship and doesn't really care to have a relationship with God, but they do. It's kind of like the center of everything for them and this other person. I'm like, I don't understand how you could propose to someone like that. I get it. Like, you can kind of help lead somebody to Jesus in hopes that one day they'll have their own personal relationship. But it just feels like a foundation you got to have going into marriage is already hard enough no matter how much you love somebody. Like, it's hard. It's very hard. So having Jesus at the center of that, having God at the center of that is very important.

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[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep on OSA.com this information is provided by Lilly A Medicine company.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, Ed Helms here.

[Chris Lane]

And hi, I'm Kal Penn and we're the hosts of Irsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

[Commercial Announcer]

You know what?

[Brooke Taylor]

I can see you as Mr. Darcy. You got a little Colin Firth.

[Ed Helms]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Here.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Pastor Mark Evans]

Process like with you and Lauren? Just exploring that, Discovering was it you both just like grew up in church together did. How did you kind of build that foundation together.

[Chris Lane]

That's a great question. I think when I originally met Lauren, it was something that she knew about me just because I, I shared online a lot. So I think she knew that I had a relationship with God and that I kind of grew up going to church, all that kind of stuff. I didn't really know that about her. And just a. I didn't really know her. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, which is honestly, I think it's ranked number one in people who don't really go to church as often. At least. That's kind of what data.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

It's like Australia. Yeah, no, it's true. It's really Portland and Australia. Very similar stats in terms of Christianity, church. It's, it's a, it's post Christian for sure. Almost pre Christian. It's almost in that place right now. So.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, so it was, it was one of those things that I kind of learned a lot about her when we first started dating. I'm like, wow, this is huge. I didn't know that, you know, she lived in LA for a while. Like, I just. You don't judge a book by its cover. You just never know. You know what I mean?

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah.

[Chris Lane]

So I'm thankful for that. I mean, that was. Heck, had she not have had a relationship with the Lord, I don't think we would have ever been able to get married. Because, you know, that's something that's super important to me and especially in somebody that I'm gonna marry and.

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, the Bible says you need to be equally yoked.

[Chris Lane]

Yes.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Yeah, that's, that's a real thing. And it's like what a lot of people do when they're dating is they think, oh, you know what, I'll just get married, it's gonna get easier.

[Brooke Taylor]

Oh, you wrong.

[Chris Lane]

And I'm like, oh, my Lord, we've.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Got all these questions. We haven't got this foundation. You know what, it's going to be better once we're married. And I always say do a lot of pre marriage counseling. And I'm always like, hey, let's pause and let's work on it now. This is the best time to be working on these foundations. This is. We dated. This isn't for everyone. But me and my wife were young. We dated for three and a half years to really, really build that foundation.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And I couldn't agree more that to be equally yoked. Our first year of marriage was tough. If we'd have waited till then. We moved to America, man, we were living in my parents basement In a den with a ping pong table with all the boys around. It was not.

[Chris Lane]

Sounds awesome.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

It was not for. And it wasn't the time to build foundation. It was the time to hold on to the same. The center point of our relationship, which was Jesus. And so that she could be like, all right, that's enough. This is our sacred place. And I was like, all right, God, work on my heart. It's not. I'm not a single man anymore. So anyway, yeah, couldn't agree more. Foundations work on them at the beginning. And it sounds like you guys have done a great job and about to have your third child in a crazy, beautiful, solid, faith filled family environment. You know, that's the dream, man.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah. You know, there's every. Every. Every once in a while the. When my kids are acting up that the devil will get a hold of.

[Brooke Taylor]

Me, he'll rear his head.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

I was going to say every once in a while, bro. Wait till you have four kids, mate. It is.

[Chris Lane]

Oh my gosh.

[Brooke Taylor]

I'm curious to know for you and Lauren specifically, I know it's hard traveling, you know, being out on the road, getting home on Sundays. Obviously, like going into church is a hard thing to do as a family, but what are some ways that you guys encourage each other spiritually or some things that you guys do as a family to get that time?

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I mean, we try to make it to church as many Sundays as possible. Sometimes I'm getting home so late from the road, it's just not possible. But Lauren will try to take the kid. I mean, I feel like we want our kids to kind of grow up in the way that we did. Especially for myself, going to church all the time, I feel like that ultimately kind of led me to that relationship. So making sure that they're just there. Obviously they don't understand anything now, but just being around like minded people as well.

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, and they will understand because my oldest turns four and she the other day she was just like walking around, she was like, mommy, I'm gonna be born again soon. And I was just like, what? I was like, are you being prophetic right now? What are you saying? Like, are you about to get saved? Like, you know what I mean? But she goes to church on Sundays and we ask her, you know, what did you learn about today about at church? And she's like, jesus loves me. And so regardless of whether or not it seems like they're taking things in, they are. They're so aware, they're so resilient. It's so cool. Y man. Speaking of kids, fatherhood obviously changes a lot in your life. It changes, like you said, time with your spouse, time with the word, things like that, perspective, priorities, even how you pray. You're like, give me some patience today. How is becoming a dad shaped your walk with God? Or maybe changed it a little bit? Does it feel different to you?

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I feel like it's. It's definitely before I got. I was always the guy who. Who I didn't want to get married. Like, I'd said this for so long, like, I was fine with being single. I didn't necessarily even want kids. But it wasn't until I met Lauren that changed my mindset on all of that in the best kind of way. But, yeah, I think it's made me a more. I have a heart. I've realized I do have a heart. After all.

[Brooke Taylor]

You're a softy. I love it.

[Chris Lane]

And I think kids bring out the softer side of you. And I touched on this earlier, but yeah, I think it's God's love for us is. Is infinite. And I understand his love a lot more now that I've had kids and his mercy and just grace, all of that kind of stuff.

[Brooke Taylor]

What is the. The term in the Bible they use? Agape, right?

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Agape love. Yeah, that's right. The full, complete, multi dimensional, layered love. That. That's everything. And I think that perspective. You think before kids. Yeah, I know. You know, I. I get it. And then you have kids, you're like, oh, yeah, I didn't get it.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And you could never have felt those things unless you feel them. And that's why I always pray for those people who are struggling with kids. I really have such a heart to pray for just a miracle in their life for, to be able to experience that. Because the perspective and the miracle of it, even the whole process, you know, of. Of new life coming into the world, is the closest to heaven I've ever felt. You know, I just being in the room, it's like the veil is so thin and you just feel just like the tangibles. Like, man, how can you not believe in God? When you experience a birth like that and then you see your child and they're dreaming things. I don't know if your kids had this. Your kids had this. But like the dreams early on, when they're kind of like giggling, and I'm like, wait, but you haven't learned to laugh. You haven't experienced, like. But it's like someone, something. Of course it's God teaching them even emotions through dreams, which, you know, psychologists, they don't even understand what is a dream. They still can't figure it out. But you see God in the children. It's like little things like that. As a father, as a mother, you go, oh, this is so much bigger than me. You. I was a lot less selfish, you know, that was something I struggle with.

[Chris Lane]

Same. Yeah, 100%. I was definitely. I learned. I don't think I realized it in the moment, but I was definitely a selfish person, especially with time.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Same.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah, that's just it. God will reveal those things to you, for sure, in the, like, the coolest ways. But I'm curious, too, as about, you know, it's changed your heart as a husband. It's changed your heart as a parent. But your faith when it comes to, like, what you do every day. The music industry, I feel like, can be such a dark place, and it's easy to get sucked into, you know, all of the things, all the qualms of, like, what's happening, and it's all about me. It's all about me. Has it changed you in that way of where you're just like, this isn't about me anymore?

[Chris Lane]

Yeah. I mean, I definitely think as an artist, it's easy to have a lot of. Yes. People around.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah.

[Chris Lane]

And it really is. It turns. Everything kind of is about you, like, about the music, all that kind of stuff. So it can. It can change you a little bit. But I think that's. That's why it's important to have a relationship with the Lord, because he won't. If you're walking closely like you should be, he won't let it change. Like, you won't get an ego. You won't get it. Like, he'll humble you. You know what I mean? Which is one of those things. I actually. When I first moved to Nashville, I used to pray all the time. I'm like, lord, if I step out of line, if I change in any way, please humble me. Please bring me back down, please. Whatever needs to happen. Like, I don't want to lose the relationship that I have with you. Like, that's the most important thing out of anything. Like, of course I want success. I want to be the biggest artist in the entire world. But I don't want any of that if it hurts my relationship with you.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

That's a. That's a amazing prayer to pray, bro. And I just think that that whole idea of God humble me, like, submitting to God disciplines those he loves. The Bible says, hey, it's not Punishment. It's not withholding just because I don't like you. I love you so much. And you understand this as a dad, it's like, man, I ain't given my 2 year old like this yet. He ain't ready for it. He can't handle it. And I think, like, understanding and having that perspective in God, if I get in the way of this, like, my hands are off. If your ways are truly higher than my ways, your thoughts higher than my thoughts, please. I don't want to be the one just strategizing and kind of, you know, making it happen and get, letting my ego get in the way. Because it also says God opposes the proud. And I don't want to put myself in, in opposition to God. There's a level of man, I, I partner with him. I'm, I'm not just sitting back, you know, passively, but I'm actively partnering with him. But man, I, I think for people listening to pray, that prayer is a very important thing, A good thing, but also scary thing. I'm putting myself in place for like, discipline.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Like, God disciplines those he loves. This is part of a love thing.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah. If you're not ready for it, don't ask him to do it because he will.

[Brooke Taylor]

It's so true.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

But it's the pathway, it's the gateway. It really is. And it's the way that we stay, you know, we stay healthy long term.

[Chris Lane]

100. I agree.

[Brooke Taylor]

And I think too, for those who aren't in the music industry, maybe they're, you know, working a 9 to 5 or they're a full time caregiver, whatever their job is. I think they can pray those same prayers too. Because just because you're not on a quote unquote platform doesn't mean that your job isn't important and that God did not give you those gifts for, you know, for no reason and to keep that same mindset where you're just like, God, this isn't for me, this is for you. Help me walk through the doors I'm supposed to walk through and slam the ones shut in my face that I'm not supposed to and just let it. Yeah, you just have so much joy that way too in your life. I feel like not having to, like, have those worries, you know?

[Chris Lane]

For sure. Yeah. You just put all your faith in him. I mean, I feel like that's. I learned that early on, like this was not a career path that I ever thought that I would have. And I think when you just let him do what he does Everything works out for the best.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah, for sure.

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[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, Ed Helms here and hi.

[Chris Lane]

I'm Kal Penn and we're the hosts of Irsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

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You know what?

[Brooke Taylor]

I can see you as Mr. Darcy. You got a little call in Firth.

[Ed Helms]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here. Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Brooke Taylor]

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[Brooke Taylor]

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[Brooke Taylor]

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[Brooke Taylor]

I feel like maybe dad's listening. That could use a little bit of encouragement when things get hard from someone who has a, you know, Christ centered relationship, somebody that you know is walking his best walk. What do you, what kind of encouragement would you give to those dads that feel a little overwhelmed? Because I could give mom's perspective, but I feel like coming from a, a guy, it's different.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, I mean I, I feel, I understand. Like it's, it's having kids, having a busy life is very overwhelming. And I think as moms have a different kind of stress and worry on them than dads do. As dads, we want to make sure we're taking care of our families. You know, it's easy to stress about that. You're like, all right, I've got to go out and I've got to bust it. You know what I mean? But I want to be spending time with my kids. But we're not going to be able to live the life that we want if I'm not out here busting. I think all dads think that way. But when you are at home, I would just encourage every dad to just be as present as you possibly can. Don't come in, check out because you're, you're exhausted. Like we're all kind of in the same, like Mom's exhausted, Dad's exhausted. You know what I mean? You just kind of, if you're going to commit to having children, you just have to be willing to be exhausted, Put the time in, be exhausted and show up because your kids need you.

[Brooke Taylor]

And truly, I don't know how parents do it without the Lord.

[Chris Lane]

Agreed.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

It's the grace thing you mentioned, comes in handy every day, sometimes every hour. My, my amazing wife, my Lauren is on her way right now to Charlotte. Seven hour drive with four of our kids.

[Chris Lane]

Oh my goodness.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And so praying for your sister right now. I'm just, I'm just feeling a bit of guilt because I'm here in, in Nashville and she's in the, in the car. But I, I really think that just the parenting journey and the grace, the relationship, the tether to that grace is hard to explain. And it's tangibly. It doesn't seem like practical. Like, I'm looking for practical things sometimes, but it is. It is everything. So.

[Brooke Taylor]

All right, looking ahead to, I mean, next year, this year. What are some things that God's teaching you right now? And maybe some things that you're, like, believing for.

[Chris Lane]

It's a great question. I think he's always trying to teach me patience.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah. Retweet.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Brooke Taylor]

All of us.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah. You know, I think ultimately for me, career wise, I want to take that next big step in my career. You know, I want to be where Morgan Wallen is. I want to be where Luke Combs is, all these guys. I want to be one of the biggest artists in this genre. And I hope that that's his plans for me. If it's not, that's okay. Because I've been able to see how he's worked in my life. And I'll say it again, like, everything happens for a reason. Everything always works out for the best. So I wrote this song recently called God Don't Listen to Me. And it's. It's all about how I was hurt, how I didn't get to live out the dream of playing football, baseball, all that kind of stuff. But I'm glad that he didn't listen to me because everything's way better than I could have ever imagined. Life would look way different for me if. If he had listened to the prayers that I was praying and. And what I wanted. Like, I think ultimately we always just. We should be saying, lord, what do you want from me? Not. I think it's okay to tell him too. Like, this is what I want. This is how I foresee my life. But just trusting that he will always take care of it, and he obviously knows best, and it's easier to take your hands off the wheel at that point.

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, and I feel like it's. It's hard to, like you said, to give God all of that control and not be like a little like, okay, you know what I mean? It's toug.

[Chris Lane]

Just in our. In our nature as human beings to be like, I'm driving this. You know what I mean? But.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And to be goal orientated. I think we. Me, you know, even destination, like this goal. When I get here, you know, I want to be there. And when you read the Bible, it's a lot about direction over destination. It's like, I'm the way, like, follow my footsteps and I think, lamp unto my feet. Like, it's. It's all like, like Direction way orientated. And I think about the times I've been really disappointed, like, God, you didn't listen to me. Or, you know, what, what the, you know, you didn't co sign on my plan. I've created a lot of disappointment for myself. Yeah. Whereas. And I put on God, but I created the destination. He's just like, hey, just step in my footsteps.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

You know, I. One of the guys, I just went turkey hunting for the first time. This Australian, I've been roo hunting a lot, but I went turkey hunting for the first time. And one of my guys, he was like, hey, like, you know, telling me a story when he used to go hunting with his dad. And it was a swampy kind of area and he's like, just step where I step. Look for my footsteps. And the hard ground is where I'm going to test it. I'm going to step before you go before you. And if you step in my steps, you're good. And I just think it's. That's the, that's the hard thing to do is because I want to. I'm like, got my eyes fixed on the destination.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

I don't really want to. Like, that's boring, Dad. I just like, one step at a time. It's like, like, yeah, I understand the truth of that, but truth, the struggle of that is real because it's like exciting to think about and dream about the destination. But God's like, hey, just follow me.

[Chris Lane]

It's all good. You know, say, watch this, watch this.

[Brooke Taylor]

Well, and I, I also recently just heard a conversation of someone talking about just like, pick your hard right, like, pick your heart. You want to be here. Somebody else might be there, but they might be going through, like, just no joy in their life. They might not have work life, balance and you might not. They might be missing more home life, but like, cool that you get to be home once a week and, you know, get, get those moments and it's just like, we gotta pick our heart. Because everybody thinks that the grass is always greener, but truly the grass is always harder, honestly, you know.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Yeah, the grass is greener where you water it.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

That's the truth.

[Brooke Taylor]

Yes.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And it's. Comparison is the killer of joy.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

And I think it's easy to look left and right, protect our heart. So how do you manage kind of that comparison thing of like, you know, you just brought up the Morgan Wallen, the Luke Combs thing, and it's, it's tough, man.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah. I think just being grateful for everything you've accomplished already. I think it's easy, especially I'm just kind of speaking from an artist perspective because I think we're all kind of in the same. Like, you always want more. Like, when I first moved to town, I was just like, man, if I can just have. Yeah, one hit, like, that would be everything. Like, I wouldn't need anything else. You know what I mean? And then you get that and you're like, oh, my God, I gotta have another one. I need another one right now. And it's. It's easy to kind of fall into that. And it's. I think it's okay. It's. It's healthy to, like, want to progress in the career that you're in or whatever it may be. And it's easy to lose sight of everything that you've accomplished because you're always wanting more. And you're looking around, you're like, this person's excelling. So I think you got to really just stop and focus on all the great things that have already happened throughout your career already. And then it's easier to look at it through, you know what? Maybe one day I will be there, but I'm so thankful for what I've accomplished. When I first moved to town, if I had known that I would be where I'm at in my career right now, 11 or 12 years in, if someone had said, you're going to be 12 years into your career and you're still going to, I would have been like, there's no way. That does not feel possible. Like, this is a hard industry, you know, so you lose sight of that along the way because you're always looking for the next step of success and whatever it is that you're doing.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Gratitude is the antidote to dissatisfaction.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, 100%. I could not agree more.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

But it's not easy when you have the dissatisfaction.

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, you have to, like, really think about it and, like, really focus in and, like, stop. Yeah, I think you just kind of stop and just think about it.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Yeah. And even conversations like this shake you out of the. Just full. That restlessness because it's hard to get out of that base of, you know what? I'm just going to be thankful today. And it's like perspective and conversation and community that I think when you've got your blinders on, when you are frustrated. Yeah, it's important.

[Brooke Taylor]

I just had this conversation with my husband a couple days ago because he was complaining about something like with work, you know, he was overwhelmed, things like that. And I'm like, don't forget this is what you prayed for. Like, thank you that you are where you are because you get to be home with our kids and you're here on the weekends and you're not traveling anymore. Like, you prayed for this. Like, yeah, it's gonna get hard. There's gonna be valleys through, you know, seasons. But I was just like, thank you, Jesus, that this is where you are and that you have the opportunity to be frustrated at home and not on a tour bus. You know what I mean? So it's. It's definitely one of those give and take things that's hard.

[Chris Lane]

You're at home, the kids are screaming, you're having a tough day. I'm like, lord, I was just playing, man. I was just playing.

[Brooke Taylor]

Oh, my goodness. But I think, like, like Mark said, these conversations are such a good, like, little shakeout and just one of those, remember, ways to remember, you know, that God is good.

[Chris Lane]

He's so good.

[Brooke Taylor]

And to wrap things up, I'm gonna pray for you, if that's cool.

[IBM Advertiser]

Thank you.

[Brooke Taylor]

And then we're gonna. We're gonna let you get on your merry way. I know you got a busy. A busy schedule, so.

[Chris Lane]

Oh, yeah.

[Brooke Taylor]

Is there anything specific I can pray for you for?

[Chris Lane]

Yeah, just anything that's on your heart. I mean, nothing in particular. Maybe for Lauren to have a safe. I know she's been stressed out over. She's been so sick this time around compared to the first two, and she just reads too much stuff on the Internet all the time.

[Brooke Taylor]

Girl, I get it. Yeah, same. That was me this last pregnancy, too. It's hard. And going through that as a woman with two kids, she is a superhero.

[Chris Lane]

I agree.

[Brooke Taylor]

All right, I'm going to pray. Dear heavenly Father, Lord, first and foremost, thank you for these microphones. Thank you for the hands that set them up. And we pray for and just are grateful for those behind the camera as well. Lord, thank you for Chris and his heart. Lord, thank you for his availability to just share more about you and to use his microphone for good and his platform to say, this is for you and not for me, God. And we just pray over his career and that you would just continue to not only advance him to where you want him to be, Lord, but give him patience along the way. Patience with his family, patience with Lauren, patience with the kids, patience with family and friends and co workers and people in his crew. God, we just say thank you for all of the blessings that you're going to continue to pour out in his life. And we just we pray over Lauren. We pray over a healthy pregnancy. We pray over her mind as she goes through a third pregnancy, Lord, that you would just give her the, the grace to get through it even on the hard days, Lord. And we just say thank you for the miracle gift of life. Thank you for breathing life into those babies lungs. And we just, we just say thank you for another beautiful gift and another beautiful child of God, Lord. And we just say thank you again for these microphones and this platform and those who are listening to the sounds of our voices right now. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen.

[Chris Lane]

Thank you very much.

[Brooke Taylor]

You're welcome.

[Chris Lane]

Now if you prayed that prayer with us church, we believe you got born again.

[Pastor Mark Evans]

Lift your hands at the back, someone will give you a Bible. Sorry, that's my American accent. That's real bad.

[Brooke Taylor]

Thanks, Chris.

[Chris Lane]

No, thank God.

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[Chris Lane]

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