Ep 1072 | Jase & Al Intervene After Zach’s Solo Vacation Sparks A Marriage Meltdown

Summary

Unashamed with the Robertson Family: Episode 1072 Summary

Episode Title: Jase & Al Intervene After Zach’s Solo Vacation Sparks A Marriage Meltdown
Release Date: April 10, 2025
Host: Tread Lively

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1. Reunion and Setting the Stage (00:00 - 02:00)

The episode kicks off with the Robertson family reassembling for the podcast. Phil welcomes listeners back, highlighting that Zach Dasher has flown in specifically for this episode. The family humorously discusses logistics, emphasizing Al's dedication as a "family chauffeur" who drove 11 hours to pick up Zach from the airport. This light-hearted banter sets a warm and familial tone for the episode.

Jase Robertson (00:01): "I am unashamed. What about you?"

2. Zach's Solo Vacation and Initial Tensions (02:00 - 10:00)

Zach shares his recent experience of taking his son, Fred, on a solo trip to San Antonio, Texas, coinciding with the Final Four tournament. Phil and Al tease Zach about his travel arrangements, particularly his choice of accommodations and transportation, highlighting his frugal nature.

The conversation takes a turn as Al and Jase hint at underlying marital tensions sparked by Zach's solo vacation. Zach admits that his pride led to an argument over a hotel room at Motel 6, where he felt misled by the room's conditions. This incident serves as a catalyst for the family's intervention into Zach's marriage issues.

Zach Dasher (05:17): "Well, I'm a lot more susceptible to be pegged as a villain."

3. Intervention and Biblical Counseling (10:00 - 25:00)

Phil leads the conversation into a counseling session, addressing the marital strains between Zach and his spouse. The family emphasizes the importance of transparency and unity in marriage, referencing the biblical principle that "one plus one is one."

Jase introduces a profound biblical discussion, focusing on the questions Jesus asked in the Gospel of John. He reflects on how these questions are not merely rhetorical but carry deep spiritual significance, prompting listeners to seek a deeper relationship with God.

Jase Robertson (07:11): "One plus one is one in the Bible."

4. Exploring John Chapter 6: The Bread of Life (25:00 - 43:00)

The Robertson family delves into an in-depth study of John Chapter 6, where Jesus discusses the "bread of life." They analyze the multiple questions Jesus poses and their implications for believers.

• Biblical Insights:
  Jase highlights that Jesus asked 307 questions in the Gospel of John, intending to provoke deeper thought and understanding. The family discusses the metaphor of Jesus as the "bread of life" and contrasts it with the physical bread provided by manna in the Old Testament.

• Spiritual Application:
  Al emphasizes the present-tense usage of "give" in the scripture, indicating the ongoing and active role of God's provision in believers' lives. Zach connects this to the concept of the Kingdom of God being "not yet here, but it is here now," illustrating the immediate impact of God's presence.

Phil Robertson (27:14): "It's a better translation because it's the same word. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all."

5. Life, Suffering, and Redemption (43:00 - 54:00)

The discussion transitions to the nature of suffering and evil in the world. The Robertson family grapples with the age-old question: "Why is there so much suffering if God is good?" They explore how Christianity addresses these challenges through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

• Personal Reflections:
  Zach shares his personal struggles with pain and loss, illustrating how faith provides solace beyond intellectual understanding. The conversation touches on the transformative power of witnessing God's presence even amidst hardship.

• Theological Perspectives:
  Jase and Al elaborate on the idea that God's redemption is an ongoing process, actively redeeming the present world rather than offering an escape to heaven. This perspective underscores the significance of believers' lives in bringing heaven to earth.

Al Robertson (46:20): "It's not just a guarantee in one moment. It is a moment by moment by moment."

6. Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes (54:00 - End)

As the episode nears its end, the Robertson family reflects on the discussions, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's will and understanding the depth of His provisions. They hint at future topics, including the significance of physical existence in God's redemptive plan and the ongoing nature of spiritual growth.

Phil shares an anecdote about a doctoral student's lack of appreciation for art, paralleling it to missing the essence of Jesus. This serves as a metaphor for how believers might overlook the profound aspects of their faith.

Phil Robertson (51:10): "He didn't appreciate the art of what these people did... when you miss Jesus, you miss the art of who he is and what he does."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jase Robertson (00:01): "I am unashamed. What about you?"
• Phil Robertson (07:03): "That's what this has turned into."
• Jase Robertson (07:11): "One plus one is one in the Bible."
• Phil Robertson (27:14): "It's a better translation because it's the same word. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all."
• Al Robertson (46:20): "It's not just a guarantee in one moment. It is a moment by moment by moment."
• Phil Robertson (51:10): "He didn't appreciate the art of what these people did... when you miss Jesus, you miss the art of who he is and what he does."

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Key Takeaways

1. Importance of Unity in Marriage: Zach's solo vacation highlighted underlying tensions, emphasizing the need for transparency and shared experiences in marital relationships.

2. Deep Biblical Understanding: The episode offers an insightful exploration of John Chapter 6, revealing the profound nature of Jesus' teachings and questions.

3. Redemption in the Present: Contrary to the notion of escaping to heaven, the Robertson family underscores God's active role in redeeming the current world, making believers instrumental in this transformation.

4. Faith Amidst Suffering: Personal anecdotes illustrate how faith provides comfort and purpose even in the face of pain and loss, aligning with the broader theological discussion on life and suffering.

5. Engagement with the Divine: The recurring theme is a call for listeners to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, moving beyond intellectual beliefs to experiential faith.

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This episode of Unashamed with the Robertson Family intertwines personal stories with deep theological discussions, offering listeners both relatable content and profound spiritual insights. By addressing real-life marital challenges and delving into the complexities of Scripture, the Robertson family provides a comprehensive and engaging experience for both new believers and long-time followers of Jesus.

Transcript

[Jase Robertson]

I am unashamed. What about you?

[Phil Robertson]

Welcome back to Unashamed. We got the band back together.

[Zach Dasher]

We did.

[Phil Robertson]

Zach, you were here. You flew in. Just for today.

[Zach Dasher]

Jill picked me up at the airport, drove in and I flew in.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Is that.

[Phil Robertson]

Is there.

[Al Robertson]

Does that seem weird that I drove 11 hours to pick him up at the airport?

[Jase Robertson]

That was the plan.

[Phil Robertson]

That was the plan.

[Al Robertson]

Family chauffeur.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah. People.

[Phil Robertson]

You're his survey team.

[Zach Dasher]

You know how you said you had people? I got people now, Jill. Just my people.

[Jase Robertson]

You just now realizing that, Jill.

[Phil Robertson]

So I pull in and. And 10 o'clock last night, coming in from a flight myself and there's this giant van. I'm talking about. Giant. It's like one of those big party bus limo vans.

[Zach Dasher]

Oh yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And it's blocking half the driveway.

[Zach Dasher]

It's a 14 seater. Is. Well, because it was converted first I thought.

[Phil Robertson]

Did Meals on Wheels come to my house on accident?

[Zach Dasher]

It's like a church bus. It's huge. That's what we drive.

[Jase Robertson]

And you own it or you rent it?

[Al Robertson]

No, I own it. It's my everyday car. It's what I take breathe to school in.

[Phil Robertson]

Along with 12 other children.

[Zach Dasher]

It's been reduced to a nine seater that holds nine people right as it sits in the park.

[Phil Robertson]

Y'all needed as many kids as y'all?

[Zach Dasher]

We did.

[Jase Robertson]

How many kids do you have?

[Al Robertson]

We have five, last I counted. Well, six if you count my son in law. He's. We do have one man, we have to count them.

[Jase Robertson]

It gets complicated at this stage of life.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. So. But we can all go on a trip together. That's why I got it. We can all fit. We can go somewhere together. All the kids that still live at home always have an extra kid, so.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, she picked me up because I actually did a father and son trip. I was being a good dad, so.

[Phil Robertson]

I took Fred, did some camping out.

[Zach Dasher]

In the woods, not camping. I took Fred to a little place we'd like to call San Antonio, Texas.

[Jase Robertson]

You've been in San Antonio for a.

[Zach Dasher]

Little four tournament they call the final four. You guys may have heard about that.

[Jase Robertson]

So I watched the last 10 seconds.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, you saw.

[Phil Robertson]

That was the best part.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Now it kind of nothing happened. Yeah, he adopted.

[Al Robertson]

It was anti climatic.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Dropped the ball, scramble around. I was like. I didn't even know who was ahead.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, Florida was ahead.

[Jase Robertson]

They won.

[Zach Dasher]

They won. Gators.

[Phil Robertson]

Congratulations, Zach. I mean, you come in excited. Fred's here too. Somewhere. Fred's excited.

[Zach Dasher]

I upgraded my seats. It was. I mean the whole thing was kind of a. I asked him how much.

[Al Robertson]

You spent on the tickets? And he said, oh, I don't remember. I said, oh, you remember downstairs?

[Zach Dasher]

Oh, he knows.

[Al Robertson]

Trust me, and I'm going to find that number.

[Zach Dasher]

I said, no. I said, I don't remember exactly how much I spent.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, I'm so. I got a question, Jill. So, Alabama. You're an Alabama fan? We're LSU fans. Jack. Zach's Florida fan. So they were right there. They were, like, in the elite. So when the plans were being made for this trip, were. Was there any talk about it being a family trip instead of just a father and son trip?

[Al Robertson]

That's interesting that you bring that up.

[Zach Dasher]

I was just curious because I feel like y'all been gossiping about me while I was gone.

[Phil Robertson]

I'm just asking the questions here.

[Al Robertson]

Well, so Zach made it sound like he took his son on a father son trip.

[Phil Robertson]

That's how he opened, right?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, but what he didn't say is that. No, his brother went as well with his entire family.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. Wife, kids.

[Al Robertson]

Brought his kids. Wife.

[Zach Dasher]

You know, they're all Florida fans.

[Al Robertson]

Nah, nah, nah. Okay. That's questionable. But, yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

So Zach comes along as, like, the creepy uncle without his family.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, it's kind of weird. He was like, I'm gonna go have a vacation with not my family, but I love you guys. No, the plan started. We're going as a family. You know, Alabama could have very well been in it.

[Phil Robertson]

They were right there. They were beat.

[Jase Robertson]

Alabama, Duke. Okay, well, that was a quality loss.

[Al Robertson]

It was. It was a tough loss, but it was this, you know, family trip. It's going to be awesome. It's going to be the second we lost. I mean, it wasn't. I mean, he was like, on that computer just like, oh, that's two less tickets I got to buy. I'm going to knock this. I'm going to. I'm going to nail it down right now.

[Phil Robertson]

That's why he upgraded, because he. He bumped you off the docke flying first class.

[Al Robertson]

I mean, Fred gets off the flight, he's like, man, that was.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, to be fair, the first class was an overall.

[Al Robertson]

To be fair, there's no fair in this situation at all. No fairness. And I'll be honest, I've. I've been hot about it ever since.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, but I knew we had a hot day.

[Zach Dasher]

She told me two. Two days ago. She was over it, though. But apparently there's some unresolved.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, you know me. I'm just trying to dig in there. And help your relationships.

[Zach Dasher]

You know what they say about resentments. No expectations. I'm sorry. Sometimes expectations are premeditated resentment. So we are. We're dealing with the marital problem.

[Phil Robertson]

So did you stay at a first class hotel as well?

[Zach Dasher]

No, that was a. That was a whole nother.

[Phil Robertson]

So you. So you chased on the hotel to have the nice.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, when I bought the hotel, the last everything was booked, I got Motel 6, but it was $350 a night, which is. I was like, whoa, that. This is like. But it looked nice. I said, well, it looks clean. Looks. I mean, It's a Motel 6 too.

[Jase Robertson]

So you kind of 350AMotel 6.

[Zach Dasher]

That's what I said. I thought. Well, I thought maybe they've redone the whole thing down. I mean, who knows? I get down there. I mean, this thing.

[Jase Robertson]

They did it because people needed a room.

[Zach Dasher]

They did. Yeah. So if you look around the perimeter of the hotel, it looked like skid row. I mean, it was just like. I mean, you were there. I mean, it was.

[Jase Robertson]

Luckily you had your orange hat on.

[Zach Dasher]

Had my orange hat on.

[Phil Robertson]

Because if the shooting broke out. Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

We figured out that he has a deep dark.

[Phil Robertson]

He thinks people are always shooting at him, so he wears orange hats.

[Al Robertson]

You know what's funny? That's how I spotted him last night on the game Final Four. No joke. We're watching the game. He's paid. No telling how much to have. No, this is good. This is real good to have his seat upgraded. Okay. This dude is sitting like six rows up. I mean, he's in it.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Al Robertson]

The camera spans. Okay. And all of a sudden I'm like, stop. Because I see the hat. Yeah, I see the hat. And it zooms in on him. And I kid you not. I kid you not. I have a picture. We can attach it. He's looking at his phone. Oh, no, you have paid.

[Zach Dasher]

Because. Because she was.

[Jase Robertson]

There's no.

[Zach Dasher]

This is. There is. I'd gotten a text from our producer Cole on our other podcast. Another shameless plug. Not yet now. And she did not do her job, which was to come up with the.

[Al Robertson]

Title description because I was taking care of your kids. Somebody had to pull the slack.

[Jase Robertson]

Somebody had to drive 11 hours, had.

[Al Robertson]

To take care of the kids.

[Zach Dasher]

I feel like we need to. To speed this thing along because I.

[Phil Robertson]

Think we're right where we need to be.

[Zach Dasher]

We're working through. You've done a lot of counseling with couples. I mean, I feel like you're.

[Jase Robertson]

That's what this has turned into.

[Phil Robertson]

That's What? This has turned into a counsel.

[Al Robertson]

I don't take any advice.

[Jase Robertson]

One plus one is one in the Bible.

[Phil Robertson]

And so unless you're going to the final four.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And then one plus one means you get left out. Pick me up at the airport in West Monroe.

[Jase Robertson]

That's where it went wrong.

[Zach Dasher]

What part they lost.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, no. When you're going to San Antonio, a little place called San Antonio, that little part of the speech, one plus one means one. She's in.

[Zach Dasher]

Okay.

[Jase Robertson]

I just assume my wife.

[Al Robertson]

She's always in.

[Jase Robertson]

I assume my wife is in on all trips and all functions until anybody.

[Phil Robertson]

Else is a plus one. Right.

[Al Robertson]

Notify you follow that advice, too. You and Lisa do not travel for years.

[Phil Robertson]

I've said we never, always have to travel to get some.

[Jase Robertson]

That's why these people will come to me and they'll say, I'm going to tell you this, but don't tell anybody, you know, including your wife. And I, I, I draw a line there. I said, no, one plus one is one. And they're like, what do you mean? Like, if you tell me, you told her, so deal with it.

[Zach Dasher]

I don't disagree with that, but you have to.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, I hope not. That's a biblical concept.

[Phil Robertson]

What I'm saying, though, is you're fighting God now.

[Jase Robertson]

This is why.

[Zach Dasher]

This is. This is what I feel like. I'm on the flashback when me and Jill first got married. We talked about this on our other podcast just last. Last week.

[Jase Robertson]

So this is an ongoing.

[Zach Dasher]

No, not. This is intervention. No, something separate. We went to. We did premarital counseling after we got married because we were apart during our engagement.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, that explains everything. You waited too late to get it worked out.

[Zach Dasher]

I knew when I walked in there, I got the same feeling with you guys as you sit down with Jill, and she's more charming than me. And I'm a lot.

[Phil Robertson]

That's true.

[Zach Dasher]

I'm a lot more susceptible to be pegged as a villain.

[Al Robertson]

Well, you've got on a bright orange.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Al Robertson]

Target. Target.

[Jase Robertson]

No, but that's some kind of emotional. Don't hurt me.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, I've been, I've been wounded.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, I know that.

[Zach Dasher]

I mean, you think about being raised in the family I was raised in, all the older.

[Jase Robertson]

All goes back to when he was 12 or 13.

[Zach Dasher]

He would come over.

[Phil Robertson]

He would come over here during Christmas.

[Jase Robertson]

I was mean to your husband when he was a kid. I'm admitting it. But he deserved it. Everybody has to learn. Either grow up or get out of the way. The train's moving on anyways, so.

[Phil Robertson]

Welcome back, Zach. It's good to have you back as.

[Zach Dasher]

It's good to be back. I did, I did leave that hotel though. I. I told the guy, this is not what you advertised. And he's like, well, it's. It's what, it's what it is.

[Jase Robertson]

No, I'm gonna have to side with Motel 6.

[Zach Dasher]

Me too.

[Jase Robertson]

For anybody, the best thing they can.

[Phil Robertson]

Say is we left a light on. Then basically they're saying, you get what you get.

[Jase Robertson]

They've written songs about it. There's jingle. You knew what you were getting into.

[Zach Dasher]

They would not, would not refund my money.

[Phil Robertson]

No, no.

[Jase Robertson]

I would have never refunded your money.

[Zach Dasher]

But I said, I can't stay here.

[Jase Robertson]

In a court of law, who would have won Me.

[Zach Dasher]

No, it's a non smoking room. I said, this smells like smoke. He said, no, it doesn't. I said, yes, it does.

[Jase Robertson]

You went to a Motel 6. They all smell like smoke.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, don't do it to advertise the room is a smoking room.

[Jase Robertson]

I've noticed being around Zach more and more that he's pretty tight when it comes to money. He has rich young ruler tendencies.

[Phil Robertson]

I always say he's so tight, he squeaks when he walks.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Phil Robertson]

Yep, that's what happened.

[Zach Dasher]

So it was. The stay was. That's where I got my. You got your justice.

[Al Robertson]

It's gone. Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

But it's good to be in West Monroe.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. It's always good to have you.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, I'm itching.

[Zach Dasher]

I'm looking. That's only been 10 minutes. Wow. That felt like an hour.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

I mentioned to get into question number six. It just applies. I'm not going to do it. But I can tell you what it is. You know, how we're going through John. I had this idea. I didn't read this in a book.

[Phil Robertson]

This is an original.

[Jase Robertson]

I've just. Well, I saw this stat somewhere that Jesus asked 307 questions. I thought, that's a lot.

[Al Robertson]

Wow. Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And he was only asked. It was a hundred and something, which I thought, don't we have this backwards? If you had the creator of the universe on the planet, shouldn't we be asking more questions than he's asking? So it kind of got me going down that rabbit hole. But then it's like. So I just started reading the questions in the Gospel. Every time he asks a question. And they're so profound, if you just take them as a bumper sticker. I mean, the first one is in John. What do you seek? I mean, that's just a good question. What do you as a human being?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

So we've been. As we go along, we've been pointing out the questions. I love that Al's keeping up with them.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I gotta run the town.

[Jase Robertson]

So it's interesting because in the fifth question, which is where we're at, John six, he asked a question, but he did it as kind of a trap because I'm getting to number six because it fits in with Zach's Motel 6 story. The fifth question was, where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? But then it kind of explains why he asked that. He asked that, you know, for a reason. So it's. It's kind of a part one question.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Because then his second question. Do you know what it is? You would never know this. That's why I asked you, what do you. The first one, I Got to find the verse. I actually discovered this last night.

[Phil Robertson]

Is it 67?

[Jase Robertson]

Read it, Al.

[Phil Robertson]

You do not want to leave, too, do you?

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, no, that's number seven. There's one in between.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, I came down from heaven.

[Jase Robertson]

No, it's a question, Al.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, that was a question.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, you have to look really hard. I like the silence, Maddie, because we're looking. I know what it says. It says, does this offend you? Right after he told him he was the bread of life. And he's like, whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood. Which is a really profound statement. And the disciples became a little. I think the word.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, it's in verse 61.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. I knew. I knew we'd find.

[Phil Robertson]

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, does this offend you?

[Jase Robertson]

Just think about that question the creator of the universe is asking his disciples. Does this offend what I just said, does this offend you? So it made me think of that because you. You were offended by what they were saying.

[Phil Robertson]

He was offended by what they were charging.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, it was more the charge, but yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, that's what I mean. That's the point. You're like, it's false advertising.

[Zach Dasher]

False advertisement.

[Jase Robertson]

No, the problem was that $350.

[Zach Dasher]

I paid $79. I.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, if you go there tonight, It'll cost you $79.

[Zach Dasher]

Oh, yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

But last night, it was going to be.

[Zach Dasher]

They got me. They scalded me.

[Jase Robertson]

But my. My point is proven. It was. They. They were giving you a difficult concept to wrap your head around. They wanted you to pay $350 for this room.

[Zach Dasher]

And I was completely powerless.

[Jase Robertson]

So you were offended. So my point was. And this was a little weightier matter because he was saying. To go back to that first question, it's like, where are we going to buy bread? Then he. Because he's eventually going to say, I am the bread from heaven. And they. They didn't. They didn't like that. They had trouble. And people still today, they're like, oh, I don't know what. That's. That this is getting weird. I mean, why would he say something like that? Which he later explains it. He was like, the flesh counts for nothing. Spirit gives life. And what I've told you is filled with the spirit and life abundantly. Yeah. Because I think it comes down to whatever you're hungry and thirsty for in life. And so he depicts bread that you buy at the store as something that will spoil, because even. Even though you eat it, you're like, well, I gotta eat to live, but we're gonna die anyway. He's like, but if you. You get in on this bread. Yep, me.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, you will live. And what's unique about it's the same basic conversation he had with the woman at the well. And there it was about water, Remember the living water?

[Zach Dasher]

And you drink this drink, right?

[Phil Robertson]

And she's like, oh, tell me where to get this water. So I want to come down here every day. And he's like, nah.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, well, he says the same line he said in there, you'll never thirst. And here he says, you'll never be hungry.

[Al Robertson]

And it's beautiful because she gets it. She does get it, because she ends up leaving the physical water. What she came to get. She came to draw the physical water.

[Phil Robertson]

Left the jar there.

[Al Robertson]

Left the jar there. That became. That was not important.

[Phil Robertson]

That's right.

[Al Robertson]

Ran back to the town.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, that's exactly right.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, the whole deal I brought up these questions is because I can never go. If I ever hear Missy say, oh, we got some people coming over. We got to go, because we're always doing that. It's like, oh, we forgot the bread. Go get the bread. But I think this makes me always remember that no matter. We may give our guests bread, but we better give them Jesus. Based on John, chapter six.

[Phil Robertson]

That's good.

[Jase Robertson]

I mean, I think that's what his point is.

[Al Robertson]

And I don't think you understand that scripture and what he's saying. Until you taste that bread, until you taste Jesus, until you experience. You have that moment where you feel full maybe for the first time. And no one can explain that to you until you.

[Jase Robertson]

And I think it helps in things. I mean, throughout my Christian life, I've read things, especially early in my Christian life, where I'm like, I really answered that question. I didn't like what I was reading. It was. I found it offensive because, you know, it basically meant, I'm going to make some changes here if this is real. So I think it's a very profound question.

[Phil Robertson]

So we were. We were in Nebraska this weekend in O'Neill, Nebraska, which is right in the middle of the state. And the guy that I first met there, when I got to this event, told me that the county O'Neill was the county seat, and there were a hundred thousand plus cows, but only a little over 10,000 people. So there's 10 cows for every person in O'Neill, Nebraska, which I didn't know. But. But I figured that when I was driving up there because I saw a lot of Cows. And I get there and the place is packed. But I knew because there wasn't a lot of people around. So I'm meeting people where they've come for an hour, two hours away, to this event, which we were doing a pregnancy center fundraiser. But. But there were three different young men that all came up to me and said, you know, not together, totally separate. Throughout the night. We're meeting people at the end that they had been listening to the podcast and all three had a unique sin problem in their life that they shared with me, you know, at least. And I just shared. So I guess they felt, you know, open it up. And they said, we've been listening to the podcast and it's been the biggest thing that's helped my life. And every one of them had a. Well, one of them had two daughters with him and then the other two had a wife there, and the wife was like, oh, it's changed his life. And so it really inspired me because I thought. And then I told all three of them, I said, well, you know, when you have that hole that you're trying to fill and you're doing it, whether it's an addiction, whatever the situation is, you're trying to fill that thing with, you know, you're just, you're not filling it with the right thing. I mean, Jesus feels that. And that's the reason you connected to us is because everything we talk about, we point back to Jesus and who he is and how he feels that. So it's just what you're talking about with that hunger and thirst. It's the same with any desire that's earthly, that's worldly. If Jesus is greater, and once you know that, then everything else pales in comparison. So what used to be irresistible now is like, why would I even want that?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, but.

[Phil Robertson]

But only once. Only until you've experienced that, you can never really know.

[Jase Robertson]

We have an expert in saving money.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, I'm getting a reputation here, but it's because when I got my bid back on doing my landscaping in my yard, I was like, this is insane how expensive it is. But I was thankful that we had a relationship with fast growingtrees.com which, by the way, is the biggest online nursery in the country with thousands of different plants and over 2 million happy customers. With fast growing trees, you can save 90% of what you would spend on hiring a landscaper. Trust me. I'm telling you because I'm actually using it. Al, what about you? You got a few things too.

[Phil Robertson]

Got a palm tree, got a little lime tree down at the southern layer. Love both of them.

[Zach Dasher]

I love it well, Fast Growing Trees offers a wide variety of plants, including fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees and shrubs, all tailored to your climate and space with an easy online ordering process and quick delivery straight to your door. Plus, with their Alive and Thrive guarantee and expert support, your plants will arrive healthy and you'll receive guidance on choosing the right plants and learn how to care for them properly. Big Yard Small Yard Bass Growing trees has over 6,000 plants to fit any space from indoor plants to fruit trees to full size privacy trees and more. Whether you're looking to add privacy, shade or natural beauty to your yard, you can talk to a plant expert about your soil type, landscape design and how to take care of your plants and everything else you need. No green thumb required. This spring they have the best deals for your yard, up to half off selected plants and other deals and listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using the code Unashamed at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fast growingtrees.com using the code unashamed at checkout fast growingtrees.com code unashamed now's the perfect time to plant use Unashamed to save. Today offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Well, it's offensive because Christ is offensive. And the gospel is offensive because if you don't have an imagination for what this bread would taste like, then whatever you've been eating. CS Lewis called it mud pies in the slum. He said, we can't fathom a holiday by the sea because we're settling for these mud pies in the slum. That you can't have an imagination for what God's offered. And actually Paul says that too. I think in 1 Corinthians, what is it? What no eye has seen or no ear has heard or the heart of man has not imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. So we can't even imagine what that is. So it's offensive because what essentially at the core of the gospel, there's this thread that runs through it, which is this, that there is a God and I'm not Him. And I think at some point in every person's life, if you're going to walk with Jesus, you're going to have to get to that realization that there's a God, I'm not Him, and I'm going to submit to him, no matter whatever it says about my sexuality, whatever it says about how I Conduct myself sexually with my money, with my time, with my effort. It's all coming up under His Lordship. And that's offensive because I don't want to release my own autonomy. I think I know how to construct my life in a way in a manner that's going to be pleasurable for me. But the truth is, is that when I've taken that own sovereignty for myself and said, I'm going to run this, like I want to run it, that's never actually worked out well.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. And how many people do we all know that seem like they have worldly success and look like they're on the top of their game, but are miserable? Miserable with their family, miserable with their wife, miserable with their relationship? I mean, something there's just. Because, again, you can't find enough stuff in this world to fill that hole.

[Zach Dasher]

Which is funny, because the text Here in John 6, the correlation in the Old Testament is pretty obvious, right, that there's manna coming down from.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, they get into this discussion.

[Zach Dasher]

It's interesting how what they did, though. I think we mentioned this on a previous podcast that they. I mean, you think about if you're in the. If you're in. You're part of the Israelites and you've witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, for crying out loud. I mean, you've witnessed these. All the 10 plagues that happened in Egypt. I mean, I would think that for me, I would be like, I'm going with this God, Yahweh, I'm in. He provides. And then whenever you're hungry, bread literally falls out of the sky. But they were so afraid of turning over their lives to trust in him, that they would hoard up the bread for themselves. And so I think when you see the picture here is Christ is saying, like, I'm that bread. Like, I'm going to provide. I'm the one who sustains all of this. But for whatever reason, we humans, we think that we somehow gotta. Yes, I got you. But I'm gonna have a little stash over here, whatever your stash may be.

[Al Robertson]

Well, because it's earthly, I think it's because we think we know what we want to seek. I keep going back to that first question. What do you seek?

[Jase Robertson]

I mean, what a question.

[Al Robertson]

And I can't tell you how many times in my life I have thought, okay, this is what I want. This is what I want. This is what I seek for my life.

[Zach Dasher]

And you thought you wanted to go.

[Al Robertson]

To that's what I want. No, no, you don't. Get to interrupt this.

[Jase Robertson]

Hey, this is progress.

[Al Robertson]

It's a profound thought.

[Jase Robertson]

This is progress.

[Zach Dasher]

I wish Missy was here.

[Jase Robertson]

Embrace.

[Zach Dasher]

I don't see you sweat for the little bit.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, then it would be a kind of a tag team thing. That'd get weird.

[Phil Robertson]

You know, that would be my dream podcast.

[Jase Robertson]

The title would be tag team.

[Al Robertson]

But I was thinking, you know, the Israelites, per your example, they were seeking food, they were starving. He provides the food. Then all of a sudden, that's not what they want anymore. They want something better. We're always shifting, and we're shifting based on what the culture is showing us is the next best thing or, well, now I need a husband. Now I need kids. Now I need the house and the white picket fence and all this list of things. And we shift what we seek so often, but if we just stop and think to ourself, maybe I don't know what I need or want. Maybe I need to let the Lord show me.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, that's good.

[Al Robertson]

And when I do that, usually what I thought I wanted, that's not even.

[Jase Robertson]

It's almost like a light switch comes on.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Because that's exactly what they did. They got the man. And it's like, well, manna's great, but if we had some meat, we need some meat. I mean, we would really have a meal, then eat this. So much quail. It said it was just in their teeth. It was so much. And they were like, well, what. What good is it without water to wash it down? I mean, it was always more.

[Al Robertson]

Always.

[Jase Robertson]

I think I figured it out. I mean, y'all can tell me if I'm wrong, but I read. I've been reading this for about a week. Seems like it's a week since I've seen you. Has it been a week?

[Phil Robertson]

It's been a week, Dan.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I've been doing this every week.

[Jase Robertson]

I've been reading this for a week. You know, you think you know these passages, and you read them and you read them, and all of a sudden you. You've a light switch comes on. So they brought up your point. I want to read what you mentioned. Because he does this miracle and he takes. What was it? Two fish and five loaves.

[Phil Robertson]

Two fish, five loaves. Basically, a happy meal for their.

[Jase Robertson]

So then you have the walking on the water, which. The story of that should have come out. Remember, they were doing, like, an investigation into how they saw the boat leave with the disciples. But they're like, well, Jesus wasn't with.

[Phil Robertson]

Them, and how did he. And then they show up around the lake. And then they're like, how are you here?

[Jase Robertson]

The whole thing is like an interrogation. It's like a.

[Phil Robertson]

That was one of their questions, by the way.

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, they have so many. They ask. It's the first time I was going to talk about that when we get in this detail, because you have three questions in here that Jesus asked, but you have way more in this instance that they're asking. And they asked the dumbest, the most horrible question. And the reason we haven't read it, because if you just are looking for this, they are the most missed the point question. It basically illustrates what you said. What they're seeking by their questions is obvious and it's obviously terrible. They're missing his point. At every turn. He makes a statement and they ask a dumb question. He makes a statement, they ask two dumb questions. Then they'll give a little, you know, a little detail, like, justification for why they ask the questions. Now that's stupid.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, they're playing checkers and Jesus is playing 4D chess.

[Jase Robertson]

So I think I figured this out, and you're going to like this. What's the name of your podcast again?

[Zach Dasher]

Not yet.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, I knew that. I just wanted you to say it.

[Al Robertson]

Subscribe if you want.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, that's three shameless plugs. And I ate it and abetted that one. But watch. Watch what they say. They bring up this, you know, after they confront him. And just to give you a little bit of the history there, you know, they. In verse 25, they found him on the other side of the lake. They said, when did you get here? Jesus answered. He didn't answer their question. He says, I tell you the truth, you're looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Well, the question was, when did you get here? He's like, the reason you're looking for me is, you want some of that bread and fish?

[Phil Robertson]

So he actually answered a question that they didn't ask. Is what happened.

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, no. That goes to your point, Jill. He's thinking at a little deeper level. So then he says, do not work for food that spoils. Of course, I'm sure their minds were reeling because I'm sure that bread was good since it was made from heaven.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, the ultimate baker. The one who created everything that went into the bread. Yeah, exactly.

[Jase Robertson]

And had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life. We set the precedent right there for what he was going to talk about. Him Being the bread which the Son of Man will give you. That's a key phrase. I'm going to give this to you on Him Himself. God the Father has placed his seal of approval. So he's like, you know, I'm with the Father. Well, then they asked, well, look at the dumb question here. Well, what must we do to do the work God requires? So you say, where are they getting that question? Well, they got the question when he said, 27. Do not work for food that spoils. So he said, work for food that endures to eternal life. But watch. Watch what? He. They missed this part. Which the Son of Man will give you. I'm going to give this to you. You need to work for that. So they're like, well, what must we do to do the work God requires? Jesus answered, the work of God Is this to believe in the one he sent, the one who's going to give it to you? That is the work. They're like, well, that's not work.

[Al Robertson]

I can't check that off. I can't make myself feel good about. I need a work.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. So this gets worse. Because they're like, well, he didn't answer the question.

[Zach Dasher]

What are you talking about?

[Jase Robertson]

Belief. Believe in you. You're just a man. And that's. It goes to the next stage, which Al already talked about. So they asked him, well, what miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? Terrible question.

[Phil Robertson]

As if what he's already been doing is not enough.

[Jase Robertson]

We just had two pretty major signs.

[Phil Robertson]

He fed 10,000 people with a Happy Meal. Come on.

[Jase Robertson]

And he actually walked across the sea when everybody else was in a boat. And you're confused with how the hookup happened, because I'm sure somebody said, yeah, he just walked. No, I'll. You know how he's like, come on, ride with us. No, I'll walk, kind of. What happened to you? You know, come fly with me. No, I'll tell you what, I'll just drive.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, boys, you know what's coming right around the corner. Does anybody know?

[Phil Robertson]

I know.

[Zach Dasher]

What is it?

[Phil Robertson]

April 15th.

[Zach Dasher]

April 15th.

[Phil Robertson]

It's tax day.

[Zach Dasher]

Not your birthday, Jase. It's tax day.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

Do you have unfiled tax returns? Or maybe you can't pay the irs? The irs? I'm gonna tell you right now, they're aggressive, and the longer you wait, the worse it gets. Wage garnishments, bank levies, even property seizures are all on the table. I would encourage our audience to get ahead of this while you can. I'VE had my own issues with the irs. It's very difficult getting in touch with the right agent. That's where our friends at Tax Network USA come into play. Going up against the IRS alone, it's a big mistake. Take my advice. Call the experts at Tax Network usa. They know the system and they have an edge. A preferred direct line to the irs. They know which agents to deal with and which ones to avoid. Tax Network USA's attorneys and negotiators have already resolved over $1 billion in tax debt. They can help you, too, but you need to move fast. April 15th is almost here. Talk with one of their strategists. Today it's free. Stop looking over your shoulder and put this behind you. Call Tax Network USA at 1-800-958-1000. That's 1-800-958-10000 or visit tnusa.com unashamed t? N usa.com unashamed.

[Al Robertson]

Just drive. You just drive.

[Phil Robertson]

I'll drive the bus.

[Jase Robertson]

11 hours. I mean, what exact, like, walked on.

[Al Robertson]

Water to get here?

[Jase Robertson]

Exactly.

[Al Robertson]

I drove the party bus.

[Zach Dasher]

Wow. We got. We gotta move on. We really do. Jesus paid for it, y'all.

[Al Robertson]

Come on.

[Jase Robertson]

So then they look. Then another question. What will you do? Not only did they say, you know, what kind of sign. Well, what will it be? We want a specific sign now. Then they throw this in. Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert. As it is written, he gave them bread from heaven to eat. So now, why would they just bring this up? Because obviously they know what happened back here on the grass.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Why are you bringing this up? Right, so they must just think it's a trick. It was some sort of trick. How did they get that much? How did he pull that off? Right, so show us another trick to validate the one that you just.

[Phil Robertson]

And I love that they're dropping a little book, chapter and verse, on Jesus.

[Zach Dasher]

But think about what Paul says about. He says the Jews demand miraculous signs and the gentiles demand. Demand wisdom or intellectual argument. But we preach Christ, him crucified. So Paul's acknowledging kind of this spirit of what you're reading right now.

[Jase Robertson]

I agree. Now, look what his answer was. I tell you the truth. It is not Moses who has given you. Look, this word give keeps coming up in this whole chapter over and over and over. Who has given you the bread from heaven? But it is my Father who. See, I told you. It keeps coming up. Who gives you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God? Is he who comes down from heaven. Here it is again. And gives life to the world. Now, I wanted to read that because he then picks up the thing with the manna later on. But do you know what I found fascinating, which I said? I. I think I kind of figured this out is there's a phrase also mentioned now, give is in here a lot from heaven is mentioned 10 times in this chapter. This came from heaven.

[Al Robertson]

And give, when give is used, I do want to note this. It's present tense. It's like happening. I think that's important.

[Jase Robertson]

So I just thought most of the time, when you hear the word heaven, it's in a context of I can't wait to go. And we have a phrase 10 times in one chapter, in one conversation. You're like, surely it can't be 10, 10 times. This came from heaven. The man, remember the manna that came from God's argument was Jesus through Jesus here. Wasn't Moses who gave you that. It was my father, the same one who's given you this current bread of life. What just happened? And then he's eventually going to say, I am the bread of life from heaven. But it goes back, look to the same theme in John 3. But you remember when John the Baptist, he figured this out, Same concept in 3, 27. Remember when they were having the argument about who was baptizing more John or Jesus disciples that just happened to come up after this conversation about being born again and the conversation with Nicodemus. Remember when he said in verse 12 of chapter 3, I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe. How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? This heaven and earth seems to have a theme here. Beginning in Genesis, one said in the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth. And now here's Jesus bringing it together. Revelation, what, 21.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

So watch what John says. He uses the same argument Jesus made, which I think is fascinating. Verse 27. To this, John replied, a man can receive only what is. Here's that word again. Given him from heaven. I think we've stumbled upon a theme. In the Book of John, you yourselves can testify that I'm not the Christ, but I'm sin ahead of him. So he's like, whatever my role was, it came from heaven and I did my job. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy. When he hears the bridegroom's voice. Look, that joy is mine. And it's now Complete. He must become greater, I must become less. And then he gets into the same speech, the one who comes from above. So it doesn't say heaven, but I think that's what it was talking about.

[Al Robertson]

Mine says heaven. He who comes from heaven is above all.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, it's a better translation because it's the same word. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. So three chapters later, you're seeing this being lived out. Here's Jesus from heaven. Which is interesting when they're like, well, how'd you. You know, how'd you get here? It would have been a perfect opportunity to say, well, you know, here's how I got here. I actually came through a virgin. Yeah, of course they're going to be like, they're not even believing what they're seeing here. So I think it's a fascinating phrase that's used over and over that puts what he's going to say in the proper perspective.

[Zach Dasher]

It's more than fascinating. I would say that it is core central truth to understanding the kingdom. If you think about what this podcast, our podcast is called Not yet now, because it's about the kingdom of God being not yet here. But it is here now. It's here now, but not fully here. But why does it matter? Everything Jace just said, because I do want to sit in this for a minute because I think this is so good. This is the key.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, it's 10 times. I mean, just think about how many times.

[Zach Dasher]

But it flies in the face of how most Christians have grown up thinking about heaven. We're directionally challenged when we think about heaven. We think it's us going there. And this world is not my home as we used to sing. I'm just passing through my treasures they're laid up somewhere beyond the blue. They're way out there. It's way out there. But what the scripture says here is for the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven. So the direction is actually the opposite. We're not going to heaven. Heaven's coming to us and gives life to the world, not death. Christ comes and brings life to the world. This is not an escape hatch plan. This is not how we're going to get off Planet Earth. Planet Earth is going to be redeemed. This will change the way you see everything, because now everything has more significance. It's not the world's going to hell in a handbasket. It's that God's going to redeem the world. He's going to the whole physical universe that he is. He is redeeming the world.

[Al Robertson]

He is redeeming present tense. And there will be a moment when we're like, Elijah, he opens like when he opened Elijah's eyes and he sees the angel arm. He's just going at it. You know, why do we think that that stopped? Why do we think that that was just for that moment in time?

[Jase Robertson]

It's crazy.

[Phil Robertson]

And we talk about him being the latter. You read a verse earlier, Jay, in 27, when he said, on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. It's interesting because on my deep dive, looking at this word seal, it's the same word used in Greek word used in Matthew 27 when the seal was put on the. The tomb by the Romans. In other words, you can't crack this. But listen to this. It's the same word here where you were just reading in John 3, in verse 33, the man who has accepted him, Tom Jesus, it has certified. That's the same word, the seal that God is truthful for the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God gives his spirit without limit. And so the same idea comes because a lot of us say, well, how does. How does heaven come to earth? What? Jesus came and brought heaven to earth. Look, then he went back, but he sent his spirit to live in us. So that's why when you get over to Ephesians one that says, we have the spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. The. The deal is you're living that now. You're just awaiting the final step.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, think about, think about this. It's not yet now it's the people who would have a con like bad understanding of this might say something like, I heard a preacher one time say, I can't wait to get out of this meat suit. Talking about his own body like he's a meat suit. Just like, you know, I'm like, but Jesus incarnates into a body. Like that means something. God became king in a body. He was in a body. So this physical bread matters. The physical universe matters. God is coming in, he's breaking into our world, and he's making all things right. To me, that is a gospel that we'll preach. Because I grew up hearing only the gospel of death, meaning Jesus died to save me from my sin, and that was it. And what. And he gave himself for the life of the world. Yes. Died for my sins so that I may live and have life and life abundantly. Al you came to Christ, one of the key moments was my mom inviting you somewhere. Do you remember where it was?

[Phil Robertson]

Camp Chioka.

[Zach Dasher]

Camp Chioka. So for us, our family camp's always been a big part. Christian camps, working with kids.

[Phil Robertson]

What I loved about your mom was she was willing to invest into me. She knew as a kid my future, what I was going to need, especially in the circumstances I was in. So I love that about your mom.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah. That's why we love our partners at the Tomorrow Clubs because they focus on discipling and teaching young children about the love of Jesus Christ. They started back in Ukraine in 1997, and they've grown to become the country's largest children's ministry in Ukraine. That's incredible. Three years ago, war in Ukraine turned everything upside down. But in the midst of it all, God opened doors. And as families are forced to flee their homes, Tomorrow Clubs offered hope to kids who are facing unimaginable hardship. And today, against all odds, the ministry in Ukraine is growing. I love this. This blows me away that there are nearly 14,000 kids that now gather each week to learn what it means to follow Jesus, all because of Tomorrow Clubs.

[Phil Robertson]

Awesome.

[Zach Dasher]

This is exactly what we stand for in this podcast. It's long discipleship relationships, partnering with local churches. We're inviting our unashamed listeners to become Tomorrow Club's ministry partners by sponsoring 30 or more kids with a monthly donation of just $1 per child. Just $1 per child per month to bring the life changing hope of the gospel to young people in places like the war torn country of Ukraine. Go to TomorrowClubs.org UnashamedToday to learn more and become a Tomorrow Club's ministry partner. That's TomorrowClubs.org Unashamed. We've left off the life part. We just left it off. And we wonder why so many young people are just like, we sat there.

[Al Robertson]

I think we leave off the life part a lot of times because life is hard. There are things that happen here, sicknesses, death, all of that, that is hard. So sometimes I feel we fear speaking so much life because, yes, there is so much hur. There is hurt happening. But there will be a point in time when that is no more.

[Zach Dasher]

And that's the not yet.

[Al Robertson]

That's the not yet. And talking about the seal, I couldn't help but think of, you know, we adopted Ruth and she has this whole powerful adoption story. But I'll never forget the Day those adoption papers came in the mail with that seal, that state seal that was like, this is, this is official, this is official, this is permanent. And I remember just being just so, just like thank you Lord. But, but I kept thinking about that seal of the Spirit in my life. It's like a live and active seal, like the Spirit that's in us, a.

[Zach Dasher]

Guarantee of the power.

[Al Robertson]

It's not just a guarantee in one moment. It is a moment by moment by moment. I mean I can always tap into that. And that's when God shows me more of what shows me what I seek and leads me to seek what he wants me to seek. And to the degree that I believe him, I'm experiencing life abundantly even through difficult stuff. That's why you see people that go through terrible things and you hear them talk about the peace God gave them through that and I'm just like, I can't comprehend that. But that's the Spirit.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, it's the. Dealing with death is hard. When you talk about our particular eschatology. It's hard to talk about it. It. Because there is pain and suffering on one side. You've got. I remember sitting in front of these college kids when we were doing college ministry here at Ulm and I thought if I have to sit, my thought was I'm sitting here looking at 18 year old kids and at the time I'm like, I'm going to tell them come to Jesus, grind out a pretty miserable life, don't do anything fun for about 60 years, 60 more years.

[Jase Robertson]

You probably lost them when you said eschatology. Because if I'd have been 17, heard.

[Zach Dasher]

That, I wouldn't have said that.

[Al Robertson]

He didn't have that word.

[Jase Robertson]

But does he use that just in yalls private conversations?

[Al Robertson]

Yes.

[Jase Robertson]

Does he? You ever just say, no, did I just hear crickets? Yeah, we did that on purpose.

[Phil Robertson]

Cuz every.

[Zach Dasher]

Jill doesn't know about the, the roast she got. I should have, I should have told you before you came on Jill.

[Phil Robertson]

See when he says things like that.

[Al Robertson]

Crickets just appear they times where we're having. I mean the coffee in the morning, no one's around. It's just me and him having coffee and he'll throw some word out and I'm. What is that?

[Zach Dasher]

Can you say we need to get.

[Phil Robertson]

You one of these.

[Zach Dasher]

We got one of the biggest, we got one of the biggest like arguments we got into. When I used the phrase all of that discourse and oh, it was like you would have thought people are gonna.

[Al Robertson]

Think we have a really Bad marriage. Every time I'm on here, we're talking about a fight.

[Zach Dasher]

We love each other. We love it.

[Jase Robertson]

It's fine.

[Phil Robertson]

I mean, we have to. To the masses, Jill. This is the way other people talk.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, what I was going to say before we get sidetracked there is that you tell a college kid, 60 years, grind it out, and then you get to go to heaven. I mean, that's a tough sell. That's when I began to really start thinking about man. Is there more. Is there more to the gospel than just, hey, man, grind it out for 60 years? And then. And what we learned in college ministry is that by the time these kids came to us, I mean, they had tried everything under the sun. I mean, it's like a different world now than what we grew up in. They had tried everything and they were miserable and they were searching and they needed a reference, they needed connection, they needed intimacy. They had no context for what life could be like now in Christ. So that was the one side of it. But the other side of it is then you preach that. And people who are going through a tough time are like, man, my life's man. I'm dealing with the death of my life. Mom. Or something. And that's difficult to deal with. But there's actually a book, one of my favorite books talks about this. It's actually written on this verse. It's about this verse. For the life of the world, Jesus gave him his flesh for the life of the world. The whole book is written on that topic. And he says that death, the way we deal with death as Christians, we don't. We don't say death doesn't matter. We mourn at the grave, we cry at the grave, we weep. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. Why? Because what we're saying is. We're saying that this is not the way that the world should be, and it's not the way the world will be. Christ is going to redeem. And all the things that you feel in your mourning and in your sorrow and in your pain, that's actually a testimony of the way that God wants to bring heaven to earth. And one day that will be gone.

[Phil Robertson]

In this section, N.T. wright used an illustration that Jay's probably skipped over that was really, really.

[Jase Robertson]

I don't read.

[Phil Robertson]

He doesn't read the illustration. But it was so good because he talked about this doctoral student that was working on his dissertation, and at the very last chapter he was writing for the dissertation, he said he had to go to these art. Art galleries and comment on these artists. And so he was just running through and getting their names and information on each one. And he never appreciated the art of what these people did. And he mentioned that in the context of these people that when you miss Jesus, you miss the art of who he is and what he does, which I thought was so good. It reminded me of when I was up at a gallery in Alaska, this guy that had donated some money to One Kingdom. And so we went up to visit him, him. And I was just, man, I was looking at all this beautiful, like stuff he had painted From Alaska, just Mount McKinley and the northern lights and all this beautiful stuff. And I came across this painting that looked like it was Alaska if it was in hell. It was just like on fire. And it was the same land pieces, but it was like. And I thought, what is this? And I'm looking around and nothing else was like it. And looked down at the bottom and the name of the painting was through the Fires of Pain.

[Al Robertson]

Wow.

[Phil Robertson]

And he told me later, when I asked him, I said, what about that one that looked like Alaska and hell? He said, that was one of the roughest times of my life. He said, but that's where I saw God the most. Not as much in the beauty of everything I see every day. But he said, I saw him through the fires of pain. And I thought that's the beauty of what you miss if you miss Jesus.

[Jase Robertson]

I think that's the point of the whole Bible, because everybody, I would say the number one question on why there's no God is how come there's so much suffering and evil in the world world. And that's what, that's what this is about. That's why he sent Jesus. That's why he sent those who surrender Jesus, his spirit. That's why you see the church of the living God move into these bad situations, health wise or demonic wise or sin wise. And we're offering peace.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah. Because if you think about that pain, I haven't had that. Like I've had objections with God like before my life. And I was probably.

[Jase Robertson]

You were offended at God.

[Zach Dasher]

I have been offended at God, yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

That's why I asked you the question, does this offend you?

[Zach Dasher]

And I've also felt like I've had a lot of questions. Is he real? I mean, that's why I got into honestly, all the big words, you know, because I needed. I studied a lot of philosophy and apologetics. For me, that was very helpful. But I'll say this, that I never really struggled with the problem of evil. Is what that term is. Because when I think about, like, more when I. When I really think about the pain of losing someone you love, like my mom, or like, even like watching Phil, you know, and Kay, that hurts. You know what I mean? And when I think about that, like, I'm like, why does that. Why does that hurt? Like, what is that? Like, what is that pain like? I mean, what is that pain? Why would you care if there is no God? Why would I even care? I wouldn't care. I wouldn't care. It's just. We're all just. Just propagating one's DNA, as Richard Dawkins says, you know, that's all. That's the sole purpose of life is.

[Phil Robertson]

Pitiless evolution, strong and survive.

[Zach Dasher]

But. But I know in my soul that that's not true. Even if I believe that intellectually, even if I. Which I don't, but even if I did believe that intellectually, guess what? In my soul, there is something in me that's testifying. Nope, that's not true. And I can't explain it. I can't defend it. There's no apologetic for it. I'm just telling you, you something. Something in me. And when I say in me, I mean deep in me, at the very core and the center of my being says, nope, there's more. Yeah, there's more. And they matter, you know, I mean, that's a testament to that.

[Phil Robertson]

That means heaven has come to earth. And that also means we're out of time and went fast.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, that was just an introduction.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, that was the intro. So we may see if we can talk. You understand?

[Al Robertson]

Well, I was going to talk about the reverse is also true, that life, when you see a baby come into the world, the same thing, just like, we'll talk.

[Zach Dasher]

I've seen them. I've seen. I've seen a few babies coming to the world.

[Phil Robertson]

Let's pick that up next time on Unashamed. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.