Ep 1137 | How ‘Duck Dynasty’ Brought a Broken Soldier Back to Life

Summary

Podcast Summary: Unashamed with the Robertson Family
Episode: Ep 1137 | How ‘Duck Dynasty’ Brought a Broken Soldier Back to Life
Release Date: August 1, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 1137 of "Unashamed with the Robertson Family," the Robertson family welcomes a special guest, Blake Cook, whose transformative journey from a broken soldier to a redeemed individual is deeply intertwined with the influence of the popular TV show "Duck Dynasty." Hosted by Phil, Al, Jase, Zach, and Willie Robertson, the episode delves into themes of faith, redemption, and the profound impact of spiritual guidance.

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Guest Introduction and Background ([09:04])

Willie Robertson introduces Blake Cook, highlighting his background in law enforcement and military service. Blake's journey is further explored as he shares his experiences:

• Blake Cook: "My trauma is growing up with my nose being shoved in Willie's armpit. And I can tell you, he probably learned those tactics from you, Al. Is that true?" ([07:22]-[07:32])

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Impact of ‘Duck Dynasty’ on Blake’s Life ([14:20]-[15:03])

Blake recounts how "Duck Dynasty" played a pivotal role during his rehabilitation after sustaining severe injuries in the military:

• Blake Cook: "There’s no cussing. People are talking about Jesus on a public, massive platform... It really brought me back down and evoked my curiosity... it really grounded me." ([14:46]-[15:03])

He emphasizes how the show's portrayal of unwavering faith and family values resonated with him, providing much-needed stability during his physical and emotional recovery.

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Struggles and Redemption ([19:35]-[21:15])

Blake opens up about the intense challenges he faced as a police officer in a high-stress environment:

• Blake Cook: "It was Fayetteville, North Carolina, extremely dangerous, high gang activity... It really makes you, if you're not truly understanding who Jesus is and God, it's really hard to stay on path." ([16:19]-[16:23])

He shares a pivotal moment of surrender:

• Blake Cook: "I was going to take my life... I put my head on the steering wheel and I said, God, I'm sorry. Please don't send me to hell." ([32:14]-[32:30])

This moment of vulnerability led to his spiritual awakening and commitment to faith.

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Faith and Scripture Discussions ([40:45]-[43:57])

The family engages in a profound discussion on the role of faith in personal transformation, referencing key biblical passages:

• Phil Robertson: "Colossians describes Jesus as God becoming human... In verse 13 of chapter 2, it says, 'When you were dead in your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.'" ([43:30]-[43:57])

They emphasize the concept of "Weaponize, Worship," highlighting the power of worship as a spiritual weapon against life's battles.

• Willie Robertson: "I came up with a new phrase for you, Jason. Weaponize, worship." ([41:57]-[42:01])

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Personal Stories and Familial Faith ([05:00]-[07:10])

The Robertsons share anecdotes illustrating their steadfast faith amidst crises:

• Willie Robertson: Recounts a Christmas Eve incident where their father courageously extinguished a fire, demonstrating unwavering faith and responsibility.
  • "We're trying to do the right thing... Sarah was picking up her presents... Dad put out the fire before 911 could arrive." ([05:49]-[07:02])

These stories underscore the family's commitment to living out their Christian values in everyday situations.

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Blake’s Transformation and Testimony ([36:10]-[54:55])

Blake delves deeper into his personal transformation:

• Blake Cook: "I quit drinking... I've been on this journey for the last two years to try to do what you guys did on Duck Dynasty... I've been reading scripture every morning." ([35:45]-[36:36])

He shares a pivotal encounter with his estranged father, leading to reconciliation and mutual healing:

• Blake Cook: "When my phone rang, and I saw a three or four area code number, I answered and said, 'Dad, Jesus loves you. I forgive you because he forgave me.'" ([53:57]-[54:35])

This moment marked a significant step in his healing process, reinforcing the power of forgiveness and faith.

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Scriptural Insights and Encouragement ([40:46]-[51:22])

The conversation weaves in scriptural teachings that resonate with Blake's story:

• Phil Robertson: Reads Colossians and 2 Corinthians, connecting biblical principles to Blake's experiences of surrender and redemption.

  • "You're really sensing that in order for me to live, I need to die." ([43:30]-[44:02])

• Jase Robertson: Emphasizes the importance of God's presence as a guiding force.

  • "Until God's presence is your most prized possession, you will fail to fully experience it." ([50:14]-[50:43])

These discussions highlight the transformative power of scripture in overcoming personal struggles.

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Conclusion and Prayer ([55:00]-[57:15])

The episode concludes with heartfelt prayers and blessings for Blake:

• Willie Robertson: Prays for Blake's continued strength and health, thanking God for the intersection of their lives.
  • "So we are out of time. But, man, thank you for coming on... Thank you, Jesus, for everything you've done for our lives." ([56:05]-[57:12])

The family expresses their gratitude and reinforces the message of unwavering faith and support for one another.

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Notable Quotes

• Phil Robertson ([02:14]): "If the Holy Spirit has moved me this morning... you need to sell everything and follow Jesus."

• Blake Cook ([32:14]): "I put my head on the steering wheel and I said, God, I'm sorry. Please don't send me to hell."

• Phil Robertson ([41:07]): "We don't fight with the weapons of the world."

• Jase Robertson ([50:14]): "Until God's presence is your most prized possession, you will fail to fully experience it."

• Blake Cook ([53:57]): "I forgive you because he forgave me."

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Final Thoughts

Episode 1137 of "Unashamed with the Robertson Family" is a powerful testament to the enduring impact of faith and the role of divine intervention in personal transformation. Blake Cook's story, interwoven with the Robertson family's unwavering support and scriptural insights, offers listeners a compelling narrative of redemption, forgiveness, and the profound influence of living a faith-centered life.

Transcript

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[Phil Robertson]

I am unashamed.

[Jase Robertson]

What about you?

[Willie Robertson]

Welcome back to Unashamed. You ever feel like you're drinking out of a fire hose?

[Zach Dasher]

Walk in this morning, it was like.

[Willie Robertson]

I mean, what is. What is happening here? Yeah, I felt like as I come in, our pets heads are falling off. I mean, it's just. What?

[Al Robertson]

What?

[Zach Dasher]

It's. It's when I come in town, I try to stack it all in into one.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, you're responsible.

[Willie Robertson]

I mean, so I. I mean, I'm in the other room. I hear side going wide open, which means the duck call room is fully engaged. We got.

[Zach Dasher]

We got high in second out here.

[Willie Robertson]

Sadie's going. Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And I walked right by Zach and thought he worked here. And it was a new employee I did not recognize.

[Zach Dasher]

Totally ignored me.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, I didn't know you were coming, and I just didn't.

[Zach Dasher]

I didn't expect and expect anything, though, because like we said, you know, you come to town, drive through my hometown, Black Mountain doesn't stop. So why would you. For me in the warehouse?

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. And you had camouflage on, camo on.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, since he's been here. This is my second day with Zach. He's only worn duck commander merchandise, so I guess now he just doesn't bring a bag. Cheap, free merch. While I'm here, while I'm in town, dress me.

[Zach Dasher]

But to be fair, this is free product placement. You know what I mean? So I think Willie and Corey, they're getting there. They're getting the. The affair.

[Willie Robertson]

End of the deal. I think we heard Jay's. That two days ago, he was grapp about his vacation, about how everything. How costly everything was the last time we did a podcast. Today comes up, he's just like, feed me and dress me. I mean, that's Zach.

[Phil Robertson]

I feel like we've come to a point in our relationship. I'm gonna have to tell you. I'm gonna give you some advice.

[Zach Dasher]

Yes, sir.

[Phil Robertson]

If I. Not that I'm smarter or no more. I just feel like in this situation, I'm. I'm I'm gonna say it's the Holy Spirit.

[Zach Dasher]

For the Holy Spirit.

[Phil Robertson]

The Holy Spirit has moved me this morning and I'm going to say, I think what you need to do.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Is go sell everything you have and follow Jesus.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, it's, it's not too hard for him to sell everything he has, cuz he does that about every five years.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

We, we total sellout. Move to a new place, flips it up. You've been longer at this house you're at now than you have been.

[Zach Dasher]

It's the longest.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Zach Dasher]

We've live, we've lived in this house longer than we've ever lived in any house that we've ever lived in.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

And I just keep saying God bless your wife. She's. She's, she's the bomb.

[Zach Dasher]

What are you talking about? God bless my wife? She's the one that sees, the one that wants the turnover.

[Willie Robertson]

She's the rock of y' all's job.

[Zach Dasher]

I'm a creature of habit.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

So, okay. I think Zach got nervous when I told him. So where are we at?

[Zach Dasher]

We doing well. We gotta, we have a guest in the studio today.

[Willie Robertson]

We're super excited about our guest. And it made me think about, which I'll tease a little bit, that this man is, has background in law enforcement, military as well. And it made me think, driving in today, about the impact, you know, when you see, when you're driving. So I spent a lot of time in Mississippi, driving back and forth to Alabama.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

And when I see one of the Mississippi's finest, you know, sitting on the top of a hill, perched, you know, ready to catch some speeder. I always think about our reaction to first responders, police officers, and most of the time we're kind of like head on a swivel, making sure we're trying to do the right thing. But you know, there are circumstances, situations we find ourselves in where one of those folks, man or woman, could be a game changer for you. And in my case, that's exactly what happened. I told the story for on the podcast, but when I was a prodigal wandering, it was a police officer that like he, you know that verses is make the most of every opportunity.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

He saw an 18 year old lost person, literally lost not only in Christ, but lost like living in New Orleans. Shouldn't have been there. And he just like spoke words of truth into the moment. And what's weird is, is that I, I don't know his name, I don't know anything about him. Like he had that moment with me then and like, I got things lined out. I finally got my life going the right direction and so now I've got to like, find him in heaven.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

You know, just to say, hey, it turned out, you know.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. No, I think it's a. It's the bedrock of our society. So we've taken in a daughter from a third world country who was an orphan girl. And I remember having a conversation with her about, you know, we just take for granted, when there's a problem, you call 91 1. And she said, in my country there's no one to call. I mean, that was her quick response. And I just. They were going through a civil war and all this and I just thought, man, I mean, that is a.

[Willie Robertson]

That is a massive statement to live in a place where there's no one to call. I mean, that's. That's scary.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. I mean, we experienced it to a very, very lesser degree where we were raised because, you know, my dad, people thought it was a joke, but he said, where I live, I am 91 1. And there was a lot of truth in that because any kind of domestic disturbance or whatever, that's going on out there where we were raised, by the time somebody got down there, it's over.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And so my dad just took it upon himself to be the dispute seller.

[Willie Robertson]

We had that happen one time when I was out there. We were. I was. We were spending the night on Christmas Eve because we were hunting on Christmas Day because most of the rest of the family used. Had decided years ago you'd spend that with your kids. Well, my kids were bigger. And so we stayed out at mom and Dad's and. And they had just put a new fireplace in and they didn't do it properly. And so underneath caught on fire, the floor joists and zone Dad's house. And he woke up smelling it like at three in the morning. And we're in there with sledgehammers, busting, pouring water, running around. Anna was over there picking out her presence, taking them outside in case there was a. She wasn't getting everybody's present. She was just picking through to get her.

[Zach Dasher]

She was a Robertson.

[Willie Robertson]

But it was funny. We did all this and basically dad, me and dad, but mostly dad put this fire out. We had called 911, but by the time they got there, we had it done or other. Otherwise the whole house was.

[Phil Robertson]

I remember I showed up because it was duck season.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And I walked in and it was. I was like, what's going on?

[Willie Robertson]

So when the fire department got there, they come in, they put more water on all that. And dad's like, all right, we're out of here. We're heading to the blind.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, I know. I was shocked. I was like, oh, you're going hunting today. And he's like, what are you talking about?

[Willie Robertson]

There's just this man.

[Zach Dasher]

What kind of question is that?

[Willie Robertson]

Which is kind of crazy. So. All right, we all ready to bring the guest on Mr. Blake Cook. Yeah, Blake Cook. So we'll. We'll introduce our guests on the other side. Let's take a break.

[Zach Dasher]

You know, we all have our trauma. My trauma is growing up with my nose being shoved in Willie's armpit. And I can tell you, he probably learned those tactics from you, Al. Is that true?

[Willie Robertson]

Well, I may have taught him a few things like that.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, I wish that he would have used Mando.

[Willie Robertson]

I have used it from the beginning. I am a Mando fan. In fact, I started even back when they were first just making it for the ladies. Then they came out with Mando, and I was like, yes, Mando.

[Zach Dasher]

Well, s been a fan of Mando for ages. He keeps recommending Mando's sweat control deodorant stick. And I finally tried it. And Mando's 4 in 1 acidified cleansing bar is literally a shampoo, face wash, body wash, and deodorant all in one. It's also a shaving lather. So it really is a five in one.

[Willie Robertson]

So one of the things I love about it, obviously summertime, you need something like Mando, but it's. It's the amount of time that's the blessing for me. I mean, this is up to 72 hours. So you're not always worried. Most deodorants don't even last through the day. This lasts up to three days, which is fantastic.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Willie Robertson]

So welcome back to Unashamed. Welcome Blake Cook to the Unashamed podcast.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, thanks for having me. I'm super excited.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

So our old friend Chad Robichaux, because I didn't know who you were, and like most people, when I hear a new name, of course I Google it and say, so you had. So I listened to some of your interviews you've done. You have quite the story. But our friend Chad Robichaux sends me out of the blue. He says, oh, you guys are having Blake on your podcast. He's awesome. And we love us some Chad Rover show.

[Jase Robertson]

Appreciate that, Chad.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, There you go. So. So how do you. How do you know Chad? What's the connection there?

[Jase Robertson]

The veteran community and the LE community is a pretty small community in general. So, yeah, just, you know, obviously I went on the Sean Ron show, and, yeah, it's a massive platform and.

[Willie Robertson]

And a marathon interview.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah. Five and a half hours filming.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, wow.

[Willie Robertson]

This will seem like nothing compared to.

[Phil Robertson]

Sean Ryan Blake, you may need a. Need an agent kind of arrangement, because you can always say, no, I'll make it, too.

[Jase Robertson]

It was, you know, I. We got there and, you know, I was all jacked up on caffeine and, oh, yeah, I was, like, super nervous, super excited, but by the end of it, I was like, I'm over this. I probably cried like 20 times in that interview. And we got into some really deep stuff, and that's. That's something. You kind of got a promise, Sean, is like, when you go on, like.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, you're going to go.

[Jase Robertson]

I want it all. Like, we're not hiding nothing. And that's just one of those things that, you know, if I promise you that, and I'm gonna give you everything. And, you know, I come from old school country, so a man's word is. Is all he has. Yeah, truly. So I went on there and I just got heavy. It got deep.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And. But it was good, man. And a lot of people watched it. I think it's got like 2 million views in six months just on YouTube. So it's been good. It was. It was good to. The first time in my life I've ever done something in my adult life that I was able to truly start my healing process.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Right.

[Jase Robertson]

Because I've always, you know, we keep it in and we move on.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

You know, we'll just keep pushing. You know, what, am I going to trauma dump on her or trump it up on my family?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Am I going to tell my friends about it? Like, they're going to think that I'm too weak. Maybe I'm not operational enough to. To keep pushing, so we're going to bottle it up and move on. But, man, to be able to just get all of that out was. Was great. And the moment that I left that studio, I left a different person.

[Willie Robertson]

It was almost like a big counseling session to go along with this podcast. Right.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was.

[Willie Robertson]

Sometimes that's cathartic, you know, to have those moments.

[Jase Robertson]

It was a good therapy session, I always think. Sean, thank you. You're the best therapist I've ever had. And. But, you know, when I. When I walked in there, I was a different person. When I left, I was on the process of being healed.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Which has really started my journey to my walk with Jesus.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

I've always been religious. Right. I've always been to church, but I never understood the expectations.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Of how I needed to perform.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Right.

[Jase Robertson]

And. And all Jesus wants is. Is your love and faith.

[Al Robertson]

That's right.

[Willie Robertson]

Now, it's so good and so much what we talk about in this podcast. So I want to get into that, because I know our show had had some to process, but you mentioned her dump on her, and you kind of glanced over. Your wife is here off. Off camera watching today, and we've discovered after five minutes with her that she fits right in with our wives because she's very feisty and she knows how to deal with her, man. Right.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. She's my biggest supporter. She's. She's literally carried me in times where I couldn't even stand and kept me pushing. And she dusted me off when the world beat me down.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And said, hey, like, get back up. You know, Job's not. Job's not finished.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

And without her, I won't even know if I'd even be here.

[Willie Robertson]

So you read that text in Genesis 2 when it talks about man being incomplete and needing more because it's not good for him to be alone. Those of us that walk through hard times, we know what a wife can do. That's part of the blessing. So we were talking before you came home about the show impacted you. Duck. The Little Duck show, we call it now. Oh, yeah, yeah. The Duck Dynasty had an impact on you at a sort of a crucial moment. Tell the audience about that, how it impacted him.

[Jase Robertson]

Man, I would. I don't even know the word. Impact's not even a powerful enough word for that. I joined the army when I was 21. I got deployed when I was 22. Four months into that deployment vehicle in front of me, and the vehicle that I was in. We both ran over an ID, which at the time I was told was approximately 500 pounds. And then, you know, basically I finished, I did physical, speech, memory and physical therapy for two years at Walmac Army Medical center in their traumatic brain injury pipeline. And I think because you have computer access and stuff over there a little bit. So I would see clips of Duck Dynasty because it just came out like I think the spring of 2012.

[Willie Robertson]

That's right.

[Jase Robertson]

And you know, so I always, I kept seeing it and stuff, but then when I started my physical therapy, my physical therapist's name was Sheila and she was all about Doug Dynasty. And so one morning we were doing some, some walking stuff and I looked up, it was on the tv and I just sitting there was watching it. And it was funny. It's. There's no cussing. People are talking about Jesus on a public, massive platform, which is like back.

[Zach Dasher]

Then, nobody's doing that.

[Jase Robertson]

Nobody's doing that. And then at the end when you guys are sitting around the table and I hear Phil pray, man, it was like as a kid, as a 22 year old kid who he's now having to restart things.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

You know, it's because, you know, it's natural to be upset. Right. When you grow up as a kid in church, Southern Baptist. And you know, my dad always pushed us to go to church, took us to church, took us to church camp. And so I'm just like, man, how you let this happen to me. Like, I'm 22, I'm just going over here trying to serve my country, like. But I mean, ultimately I was grateful. Lost six friends on that deployment. At least I was able to come home.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so every day I did speech, memory and physical therapy four days a week, three times a day. It was a, it was a long, long road. And every time I was there, it was Duck Dynasty. Whether it was the same episode playing over and over. But you know, I kept hearing no cussing, no praying men talking about Jesus.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, right.

[Jase Robertson]

And, and to be honest with you, listen, we watched that for two years and that really brought me back down and evoked my curiosity. You know, we started going to church and things like that and it really grounded me. And then when I became a law enforcement officer, it was, you know, people don't call 911 when they're having the greatest day of their life.

[Al Robertson]

That's right.

[Jase Robertson]

They call 911 when they're having. They're in their worst moment of their life.

[Willie Robertson]

Exactly.

[Jase Robertson]

So, you know, I became a police officer in 2014. Medically retired in the beginning of 2021. But, you know, my first call ever, day one, I was a rookie. Mother's child was called in a missing kid. Couldn't find her kid. Kid didn't go to school. She didn't check the basement. She knew, I think. So we walked down in the basement. Day one, kid had hung himself with an extension cord. And I had to. I had to be the one as a rookie to go tell the mom this happened. So. And then it was just like things just, you know, Fayetteville, North Carolina, is an extremely dangerous high. Gang riddled. All 595.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Drug trafficking, human trafficking, gangs, cartel. Like, you know, so it just, it was every day, it was like it was dead people and violence and stabbings and just evil and that. And that really makes you. If you're not truly understanding who Jesus is and God, like, it's really hard to stay on path. So what all war fighters do, which I've been preaching like crazy not to do, is you started drinking. Yeah, you know, you know, that's why I tell people all the time, you know, we drink to run from something. You know, I really think that we could stop suicide. If you put the bottle down and pick the book up.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

When you pick the bottle up, you're running from something. When you pick the Bible up, you're running to something.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

That's Jesus. And I wish, I wish I'd have had that in, in, in my law enforcement career. But I'll tell you something that I did have. And the reason why I'm sitting here is I had you guys on tv.

[Al Robertson]

Okay.

[Jase Robertson]

I had you guys during some of the most crucial time of my life in those seven years.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. I was drinking. Yeah. I wasn't acting right. But you guys still kept me somewhat grounded. Still kept me somewhat curious. You still evoked in my curiosity. You still made me want to be like you.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

The world was beating me down.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

The devil was beating me down, forcing me to achieve those goals.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

And the man, I still maintain curiosity. I still went to church when I could. I just wasn't walking the right way.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

I couldn't figure that out. But this. That, man, Doug Dynasty, just. I don't know if I would be here.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

If I wasn't constantly reminded of Jesus, the prayers at the end of the shows and how you guys just talk about God and who you are as men, bold in your faith. Man. It just does something to somebody. And I know I'm not the only one out There that has been through this. So it has felt this way. But, you know, my time as a police officer had to go away. My mental health was hitting rock bottoms. I eventually made a gang unit. It was high stress to keep producing, get guns, putting people in jail, get written up. You know, I started becoming angry. And during this time where I'm hunting all these drug dealers, me and my brother in 2018, had heard that my father was separated from my mother. My whole life was addicted to drugs. So we went down to see it with our own eyes. And, man, you talk about something hard to see. You're talking about a man that kept us in church camp, kept us in church, knows the Bible, can repeat scripture off the top of his head. I'm looking at a man that's addicted to drugs. And that's when I became so angry at God. How can such a godly man. With a snap of your finger. Again, I didn't know what I know now. Yeah, but with a snap of your finger, like, come on, like helium, like, do something. This is. And then it just got worse and worse and worse. And then my anger towards drug dealers got worse and worse, and then it was. Everything was personal.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And then cussing, Like, I started, like, I was cussing a lot towards these people and not treating them. Not treating them with audacity, respect, like. Like. As I should.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

So I medically retired in. In 2021. I actually fought a guy for a gun in my department. Wanted. I told him I was going to use some bad language and told him I was going to kill him. I had the. These scars on my finger are from his front sight post where he was ripping his gun out of my hand to try to shoot me with it. And they wanted to suspend me because they didn't. They said it would have sounded bad on the Internet.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

So I met. I went to the bathroom, I cried, and I medically tired out, and I moved to the beach. I was like, all right, cool, you know, Now.

[Zach Dasher]

Now you're talking house language.

[Willie Robertson]

No wonder I like you so much.

[Zach Dasher]

How many times has somebody told you, if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

[Willie Robertson]

At least 47 times in my life I've heard that, Zach.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Jase Robertson]

I can't even go to Best Buy without running into some gang member that I've dealt with. They all know who I am. They have a very distinct look. I got my hands tattooed when I was in the gang unit, like the whole nine yards.

[Phil Robertson]

And I'm glad you said that because when I first met you, I knew I didn't want to mess with you. But then I thought, I don't know if I should read him or talk to him.

[Willie Robertson]

That was my first impression because I introduced that.

[Phil Robertson]

It was like, I didn't know because they don't tell me anything. Blake, I didn't know you were going to be here. And. And I don't Google stuff.

[Al Robertson]

So.

[Willie Robertson]

Alyssa, a Bible character.

[Phil Robertson]

And so it was fascinating. But then you started telling your story and I was like, oh, wow. I mean, this is. This is incredible.

[Jase Robertson]

My son tells me I look like a Chipotle bag. You ever seen a Chipotle bag?

[Willie Robertson]

How old is your son?

[Jase Robertson]

17.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, he's got a good sense of humor.

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, he does.

[Willie Robertson]

He would fit in good.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, he's man, he watches all shows. It's because truly, it's what stays on our tv.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Because we have Roku or whatever.

[Willie Robertson]

It's just.

[Jase Robertson]

I mean, it just. It doesn't cost. It talks about God and.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, you were talking about, though, like, it just. It's so humbling for us to hear your story. And you're right, we've heard others because like, you know, we never knew, like, we kind of went into that, you know, we, our family is a hunting family.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

We had filmed our exploits and hunting and you know, dad was never, he never shied away from like putting it out there. And so we, we did. We were building a brand. We didn't even know what that meant because we were just. Everybody's being themselves. Yeah, that was the brand.

[Phil Robertson]

We didn't know we were, we didn't.

[Willie Robertson]

Know we were building a brand. And so when this whole thing came along, dad famously was like, well this, this won't work. Like you. Because. Because Willie was the one that really wanted to take it like national, you know, And Dad's like, this won't work. Nobody cares about the goings on of our lives and all this stuff. You know, we're just trying to kill ducks, you know, that's all people care about when they look at our family. And he said, but he had a caveat. He said, but if the Almighty is behind it, then it'll go gangbuster. It'll be everywhere and it'll be an impact. So he left that probability and possibility that God was going to do something with this whole thing. And so what you just described was exactly what we had been praying for that through, you know, cameras being around and us just kind of telling our stories and, you know, funny ways and yet showing the spiritual side of who we are, which really wasn't very popular back in that time at all. It was new. Like Z said, it wasn't, wasn't really going on. So to get that opportunity and to know that beyond what you could ever ask or imagine, that God was doing something in the hearts and lives of people. You heard me before you came on describing a police officer that saw an opportunity in me. Because you're right, it was my worst day of my life up until that point. I was 18. But he saw an opportunity and he spoke just a little into me, which sent me back home to that same dad that impacted you. So, you know, that's how God works this thing out, you know.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. And you just had a near death experience.

[Willie Robertson]

Exactly. I mean, you know, some guy tried to kill me because I deserved it, you know, the way I was living. But in that moment, someone saw the opportunity. And so that's the beauty of paying it forward. Which sounds a lot like what you do now just by telling your story. Because look, I know from we've had Chad on, we've had Chad right on. And some amazing vets that have told amazing stories, but all of their lives are about helping guys to understand some things. We can't even understand about what you guys go through. But at the same time, Jesus becomes the ultimate thing that pulls us all together because that we can all see.

[Phil Robertson]

And go, well, I was just going to bring up, you know, Colossians is one of my favorite books because it describes Jesus, you know, in a way that's shocking to a lot of people, in that here's God becoming a human. And I mean, if you'd have had Jesus and Peter standing side by side and you could see that visual, you would say, well, Peter's a human. And then you look at Jesus, you'd say, well, it's a human. The difference is it's God becoming a human. And that famous passage that says, he's the image of the invisible God. By him all things were created on heaven and earth. He's before all things. In him, all things hold together. So it's this picture of Jesus. And when he gets to chapter two, he says, in Christ, in Jesus, all the fullness of the Godhead or deity lives in bodily form, which is what I'm saying. Then it says, and you've been given fullness in Christ. And I'm just going through. To get to the point, I want to say here, in verse 13 of chapter 2, it says, when you were dead in your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. And so then when he gets to chapter three, and this is what I wanted to say in response to you even watching Duck Dynasty saying, what's this all about? When he gets to chapter three, he says, since then, you have been raised with Christ. But he's saying that to people that haven't participated in the bodily resurrection. God has made you alive on the planet now, now in Jesus. So he says, since then, you've been raised with Christ. Set your heart, hearts on things above where Christ is seated. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. And here's the verse I wanted to read to you, for you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. And so what was hidden about you watching Duck Dynasty? And I tell people this all the time when they say, oh, man, your show, I'm like, the draw was not us. It was hidden. It was Christ in us, was the appeal. And so I think that was the draw for you. And that's what we came to realize. We didn't realize God was going to use that, but we were unapologetic for our faith in Jesus. And that's the way he used it. But you're in the same boat. I think your journey. Because God uses those situations to show Christ in people despite our flaws and our past. And it is kind of hidden. It's an invisible. That we come to realize that it's our faith. Faith being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah, but sometimes you're not certain. Like I love, like at the beginning of your journey, it was like God came in with a. A curiosity through a TV show.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Phil Robertson]

Just.

[Zach Dasher]

Just to foster an imagination for.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, just invoked in my curiosity just a little bit. Yeah, just a tiny bit.

[Zach Dasher]

Cuz you were in a dark spot there in that whole. During that whole. Like when you're the window that you're talking about right now. And it was like God gave you a nugget of just, hey, we're going to. I'm going to throw this out there and this is going to create in you a curiosity for the kingdom.

[Willie Robertson]

Plus, I love the way you framed it like that. Even in the moment you first get the nugget, sometimes it takes some time and living and not getting it right for a while before you finally clearly see what you need to see. And I love that you describe that because a lot of people listen and they think, well, I love what you guys are saying, man, I love the word of God, but I'm just not there. I mean, I'm still having this internal battle that goes on. And so it's hard to talk patience to folks that are going through that because you're like, look, the nugget is real and the nugget is right. It has to then reveal itself to you where then you can totally grasp it, which obviously you've done.

[Jase Robertson]

I think I truly believe that to have a testimony to give out to people, you have to be put through a test. And you know, when we moved to the beach, I thought that was gonna be peaceful, but it wasn't peaceful because I was running from something. I was running from leaving the job that I loved so much and I was so good at.

[Zach Dasher]

Are you still drinking at this point?

[Jase Robertson]

Oh man. So one of my good buddies owns a bar at the beach and man, you know, Wilmington fishing tail and drinking problem. Now we always laughed about that. I didn't understand what that was, but you know, I had no purpose. Yeah, I had no job. I was, I was, you know, at the time I was still pretty big on social media, so. But they only liked me because I was posting tactical stuff I didn't know anything about. Me.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

So I didn't have anything else to post. I was drinking and, you know, I gave the world a front row seat to me destroying myself. And so I did that for about a year and a half, about two years actually. Drinking, about to lose my family. It's just, I was like, you know, it's just I'm not an alcoholic. It's just a culture here.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Like, and, you know, I didn't really have any support because everybody that was around was drinking. And then I got a phone call from my Aunt Judy that my dad was dying. And so I was like, all right, this is my opportunity. I'm not a cop anymore. I can go down there and help him. So I spent about three months trying to help him, got him in the hospital, and ultimately didn't work out. The last phone call that I had with him at that time, he called. He was getting arrested and he called me and thought I had this magical power not to free him to go to jail or something. He pretty much said, I'll be okay in jail. You know, you were, you weren't even worthy to save me. And I went into self destruction mode. And. And then ultimately, to be honest, a couple months later, I sat in a vehicle and rolled my windows down, was going to take my life. And as I went to pick a gun up to do it, my good friend Kyle calls and the phone range. So I picked the phone up instead of the gun. Well, right before I did all this, I put my head on the steering wheel and I said, God, I'm sorry. I'm tired. Please don't send me to hell. Please don't send me to hell. And in that moment when I finished that prayer, I didn't know it at the time, but I know it now. I fully surrendered to his will. And that's why my phone rang.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, I agree.

[Willie Robertson]

That was a divine appointment.

[Zach Dasher]

So Jill and I were getting ready for our camping trip and we got sucked into the vortex known as online shopping. And of course, I couldn't find my wallet. I was about to abandon my shopping cart when I saw that purple shop pay button. That's the Shopify button, and it has all my payment and shipping information saved, which saves me a lot of time. You know, there's a reason so many businesses love to sell with it, because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run a business, and that means more full transparency.

[Phil Robertson]

I actually own shares in Shopify.

[Zach Dasher]

We use Shopify for that commander of the blind and the unashamed merch.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, Missy uses Shopify for Logtown Estate.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Jase Robertson]

No, he got a divorce. My stepmom that we had for a long time and yeah, got with a new lady who was cancer survivor on, on all kinds of stuff and got addicted to it and just went straight downhill and. And you know, I quit drinking. Last time I had a drink alcohol was May of 2023. I have no need for it. It doesn't serve me at all.

[Willie Robertson]

Praise the Lord.

[Jase Robertson]

When you drink, I think you invite the devil in. And so I try not to. I don't even want to put myself in that predicament. And really, man, I've been on this journey for the last two years to try to do what you guys did on Duck Dynasty was just be so bold, you know, on Sean Ryan's show I was the only person to ever open it up with a prayer.

[Al Robertson]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

And I was nervous. But man, I wanted to be bold.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Because I wanted to just help one person. And then I'll tell you what really, truly started. This journey has only been the last like seven months where I've had the expectation of what Jesus wanted from me. I never knew until six months ago. I listened to Yalls podcasts every morning and I was driving to Spring Lake, North Carolina for a hostage rescue training event we had or an active shooter training event. And I listened to the episode where Jason went down with Missy to I think Texas for the premiere of season five of the Chosen.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

I never knew what the Chosen was. He was talking about it and I was laughing about the nun and all that.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh yeah. I took a picture with that was awesome.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so we finished that training event. I came home and started. I was like, I'm a watch. It started the chosen now. I started reading in the book of Matthew. I've never read a chapter in any book in my life.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And you know, I've read four books so far and I finished that season or that that all of season four just finished season five this week. But I finished four seasons in a week. I was just non stop. I was so addicted to it.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And that showed me the expectation. It showed me what Jesus truly wants.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

He doesn't want my perfection.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

He wants me for me.

[Al Robertson]

That's it.

[Jase Robertson]

And that's it. That's my goal is to really just get it out there to as many people as I can. I don't care about people liking me. I don't, I don't care if anybody likes me. I don't care if anybody wants to hear it, I'm going to say it. If you don't like it, unfollow me. If you don't want to hear it, don't listen to me.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Well you've kind of concluded because it's very difficult for military guys to realize that victory comes to surrender.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Because you're taught. Hey.

[Zach Dasher]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

So you know, I use this illustration a lot but I love it because for me, you know, I was pretty self righteous as a kid just because of our situation. And it's, it's weird. Al and I have shared this many times.

[Willie Robertson]

He was, I'm the older brother but was the younger brother from the Luke 15.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. I was the prodigal son and Jason the older brother. I was the older brother just because I thought I had looked at my dad. I mean we were raised in a bar and I was like, this is stupid. I mean I just kept thinking this is all bad. It promoted fear and, and, and I was scared, but I just, I was like that's not for me. But you, you think that sounds great, but it's kind of terrible because then you feel like, well, I'm better than everybody. That that was kind of my catalyst, you know. And so I just alienated everybody and was basically lonely, shy and afraid and bitter. But I tell you that because it was very hard for me to surrender and kind of like what you did watching the Chosen. When I read the Book of John, all of a sudden I thought I'm not that great. I'm Terrible.

[Willie Robertson]

What was I thinking?

[Phil Robertson]

Because I thought, I'm not better than him.

[Jase Robertson]

Him.

[Phil Robertson]

Just literally the words.

[Zach Dasher]

Not even close.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. I just thought, this is the guy. And it humbled me, which is what I needed. And I think a lot of times just the degree of our sinful life humbles you, but ultimately you get led to Jesus. And here we are with two different paths, but we reach the same conclusion. And I wanted to read this. I don't know why these verses are popping in my head. I mean, I thought about the one earlier in Corinthians where it says, the weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of the world. So I wanted to mention that.

[Al Robertson]

Which.

[Phil Robertson]

Where is that?

[Al Robertson]

Al?

[Phil Robertson]

2 Corinthians. We'll find it. But I wanted to read this because when you were talking about this struggle in Romans 7, Paul's talking about this, struggling with. Because these are people who have surrendered to Jesus, and it's still a struggle.

[Willie Robertson]

2Nd Corinthians 10:3.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. 2 Corinthians 10:3. That we don't fight with the weapons of the world, which is very dangerous. Because when you talked about being nervous, here's a shy kid. I mean, deep down at heart, I'm a shy kid. Like, I've always struggled with that. I don't want to ever speak publicly or confront people. But these conversations get so awkward when you're sharing Jesus with people and you get a little nervous because you feel like even when your life is threatened, which we've had happen, and to put our faith to the test, it's very difficult because I'm not armed with the weapons of the world. And so for somebody like you, with your past is very difficult. But you're relying on God through faith and saying, this is the weapon that I'm fighting. I'm going to love you, and I'm going to show you the greatest person the world has ever experienced.

[Willie Robertson]

I came up with a new phrase for you, Jason. Weaponize, worship.

[Phil Robertson]

Weaponize, worship. So I want to read this. He said, so I find this law at work. When I want to do good, evil's right there with me. Well, just think about everything you've shared. You're looking at something. You see an idea of doing good, but when you want to, evil's always right around you. And in your case, oh, it was swarming you. Everything, especially in law enforcement, you're seeing the worst of the worst. And it says, for in my inner being, I delight in God, but I see another law at work in the members of my body. Waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my body. What a wretched man I am. You almost feel the emotion there. He's like, what a scoundrel I am. Because you just can't get it right. And then it says, who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And I think that's. I see. When I read that, I see this battlefield, you know, and there's bullets flying, and all of a sudden there's a surrender that. That happens, and that is the way to victory. That's why when you said, you know, being in your car, thinking about suicide, I've always said this, which is tricky to say. You're really sensing that in order for me to live, I need to die.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

There's a thin line between you being that vulnerable. Because while ago, when I read Colossians 3, he said, for you died, and your life is now hidden in Christ. We didn't really die physically. What's he talking about? You surrendered.

[Zach Dasher]

The old man's got to go down.

[Phil Robertson]

The Bible uses death.

[Zach Dasher]

You knew that in that car.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

You see what I mean? To claim Jesus as Lord. He's the one providing the victory, not you. You're just surrendering to it. I think if you get that in your head, it will never leave you. You will never unsee that.

[Willie Robertson]

Because it's like the famous line from the movie, which is really sad. I mean, it just. You reflected. Is that when the people showed up for dad to go carousing one more time, and he looked at him and said, the guy you're looking for is dead.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

He doesn't exist anymore. And in that moment, that was a defense. That was a weaponized worship. Because at this point, he's like, I'm not. That guy's not here anymore. And everybody walks away scratching their head. Like, what does that even mean? But dad knew what he meant in the moment. You know what it means. You know, in the.

[Phil Robertson]

I know what it meant the first time I got up to give a speech because I had the same conclusion. I thought, okay, I got to get past this. Being shy and scared, running because I want to. I want to talk about Jesus. I was so nervous that every time I would turn a page of my Bible, I'd rip it out. Which was very embarrassing.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And I was like.

[Willie Robertson]

And he's been missing pages ever since.

[Phil Robertson]

And you know what? At some point in that speech, I finally stopped in my mind and it was a long pause, which was also nerve wracking. And I thought to myself that that shy, scared coward died. I mean, I got to get over this. It was like a pep talk mid speech in my mind because I thought I died. My life's end in Christ.

[Zach Dasher]

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[Phil Robertson]

So I feel like anytime somebody's new in the faith and new in this venture, you know, I'm reading these scriptures because that's where I got my confidence. It's like trying to make sense of everything. But, you know, when I read something like that, oh, I'm dead, it's Christ living in me. It makes me just want to run out of ability and say, God came to the earth. His name was Jesus. He died because he loved us. He rose so we don't have to die. And it goes back to that. In that moment, I feel confident because I think it's God working in me.

[Al Robertson]

Good question.

[Zach Dasher]

I was going to ask you a question, Blake. So you kind of made this pretty large transition in your life. How has the people that followed you because you said you had a front row seat to your demise? Well, now they're having a front row.

[Willie Robertson]

Seat to the resurrection, to this new.

[Zach Dasher]

Guy, new man, and Jesus. How. What's. How are people responding to that?

[Jase Robertson]

You know, obviously a lot of positive. Positive to it. People are. I'm being. I'm like one. I'm like the face of elite community. So it's kind of. It's like people are finally able to go public with their faith also. So, yeah. For instance, my Instagram used to be full of, you know, girls holding guns just by tactical pages, right? Not me following them, just tactical pages posting. It used to be people drinking, partying. Now my Instagram page is full of the chosen, people getting saved, people making posts about Jesus. We're seeing a massive shift in the community because we've been so bold, and now others are being so bold. We do a fellowship every Friday night on our. On our blueberry Patreon. And. And I let it one night. And one of the things that I wrote down is when you're new to this, right, you're going to lose people who love the broken version of you but won't walk with the healed one. And that's okay.

[Zach Dasher]

Boy, that's a good word for somebody coming on Jesus out of the world.

[Jase Robertson]

And you know something else that I tell people that are new to this because I'm still new to it too, right? What I tell people is I'm here to. To help invoke your curiosity. I'm still in my own journey. I'm still learning scripture. I'm still reading my Bible every morning. I'm still doing the things that I can, but I can connect you with people who are maybe a little bit more well versed in. In this. But I'm going to lead you there. I'm going to walk with you.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

I'm not just going to tell you that's where you need to go. We're in this together.

[Willie Robertson]

That's good.

[Jase Robertson]

And something else I wrote this morning sitting on the porch at the farm thinking about this podcast is. And this is what I'm going to push out probably on a fellowship is until God's presence is your most prized possession, you will fail to fully experience it. And, man, it's amazing to have conversations with people who've been searching.

[Al Robertson]

That's good.

[Jase Robertson]

So that's, you know, that's kind of like where I'm at, is I'm just here to have the conversation with the people who are curious.

[Willie Robertson]

So Chad told me that one of your favorite parables was the One in Matthew 18 where the guy has the hundred sheep, one wanders off.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah. So which is cool, because I have it as a reminder. I have the. The Luke 15:47 version.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And that's so powerful for me because, you know, I was the one that he left the 99 others for.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

He didn't forget about me.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

You know, he didn't let the devil take control of me. He didn't let me die. He literally came for me.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And brought me back in heaven. Heaven wasn't mad. Heaven rejoice.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. No.

[Jase Robertson]

And, man, every time I hear that, I get emotional because, man, like, I just love Jesus.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

Because that sort of love. And I thought it was really neat that, you know, all these years later, you were young, 22 year old buck, you know, healing and trying to figure stuff out. And now all these years later, how old are you now?

[Jase Robertson]

36.

[Willie Robertson]

36. And here you sit in the same warehouse where you were watching episodes being filmed all those years. Isn't that crazy how God brings things around? And here we are talking about the journey. You know, I mean, that's, that's the cool thing about how God works, which is powerful.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. I mean, I was talking to the, you know, I did the podcast with the blurry creature guys back in June.

[Al Robertson]

Oh, yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And I was talking to them and they were just asking about my journey. And I, I told him the same thing, man, was the biggest influential thing I've ever had in my life. And they were like, oh, well, we know those guys. It's like, oh, that's cool. I was like, you know, now some.

[Phil Robertson]

Of them are probably thinking, what a weirdo.

[Willie Robertson]

We're all blurry creatures in our own way.

[Phil Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

I was like, I was like, man, you know, the journey that, you know, my buddy asked me to go on there to do it with him, and I did it. Which that led me to here, which led me to sitting here with you guys. And I mean, honestly, we prayed with. Our third guy on our team is in ministry, and he works with us part time. His name's Stephen. You know, I called him last night and I was so nervous. I said, man, I don't know if I'm even worthy enough to sit at tables with these guys. Come on. And. And he prayed. He prayed with us before we got here. And it's just a man. It's just. It's so crazy that if you just believe in him and give him what he wants, which is your faith, without ever even seeing a miracle. You know, I tell you what, I don't know if we got time for it real quick, but, you know, June 13th is my birthday. This past June 13th. You know, I've been on the super walk with Jesus. Right. And you know, I'm driving back home from training. It's my birthday. I don't have my dad's number saved at all. And I haven't talked to him since the last phone conversation I had. And, you know, some. I'm scrolling through Brandon Lake's songs to get. To get music. That's one thing I quit doing. I quit listening to rap music and music that just, you know, messes with you. It's all Christian music. And. And then Brandon Lakes did a. A song with Jelly Roll.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so as I go to. To hit that song, my phone rings at the same time and I accidentally hit the green button and I saw there was a three or four area code number, and it answered, is it hey, son? And my heart dropped. The only thing that came to me is I said, dad, Jesus loves you.

[Al Robertson]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

I forgive you because he forgave me.

[Al Robertson]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

And it would be foolish of me not to forgive you.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

When he forgave me.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

And all you have to do is just tell him you're sorry.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

That's all he wants, so. Man, Jesus works in crazy ways.

[Al Robertson]

He does.

[Zach Dasher]

How did he respond to that?

[Jase Robertson]

Told me he loved me. And he's. He's. He's been sober, he's doing good.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

He says, you know, he's started watching the Chosen and he's back reading his Bible and.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

I mean, you know, obviously you got to prove yourself.

[Willie Robertson]

Sure.

[Jase Robertson]

Right. But just to be able to tell him to be. To be as healed as I can be.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

To answer a phone call and I could have hung up. He said not to call me, but the first thing that just came out of my mouth was dad, Jesus loves you.

[Phil Robertson]

Jesus is the one that changed us all. So I think I wanted to read this. I know we're out of time, but you remind me of Saul, his conversion, when he was struck down on the road, and he's like, who are you? And the voice said, I am Jesus, whom you're persecuting. Which I'm sure he never thought about it quite like that, but he eventually goes on to say, because this is what your story reminds me of. He says, I am sending you to the people to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are saved by faith in me. That's what we're all doing here.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

You know, we have that moment where we're like, who are you? And then he has a mission for us and there is rejoicing on earth.

[Willie Robertson]

So we are out of time. But, man, thank you for coming on since you opened Sean's with a prayer. Can I close this with a prayer, please? And pray a blessing for you, Father? I just want to come to you. And I'm so grateful for Blake, his story. That is your story that continues to be lived out every single day. He's still a young man with a lot left to do for your kingdom and for you. So I pray you bless him with strength and health. I pray you continue to use him mightily as he speaks your presence into the lives of so many people. I'm thankful for Kyle, the man he mentioned who made that call by your divine appointment that allowed him to realize his surrender to you means forever. I pray a blessing on he and his wife and his son and their family. Just help him, Father, and guide him wherever he goes. We have the blessing of the intersection of lives here on this podcast, and we're very grateful for that opportunity. Thank you, Jesus, for everything you've done for our lives.

[Al Robertson]

In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[Phil Robertson]

Dude, I just met, but I love you, man.

[Willie Robertson]

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.