1 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,800 This is Lee to serve with Ed Taylor a leadership podcast. 2 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,200 Hey, welcome again to another episode of the lead to serve 3 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,600 podcast. We produce it right here at 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,000 Calvary Church in Aurora, Colorado. 5 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,900 My name is Ed Taylor. I have the privilege of 6 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:30,400 pastoring here at Calvary. Church. 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,900 And the podcast has been designed to have a discussion 8 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:39,600 about servanthood and Leadership talking about easy topics, 9 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,400 difficult topics, and then the conversation will go in a 10 00:00:43,408 --> 00:00:47,800 variety of different ways. Because on this season, we have 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,900 a special guest. So we decided this season for 12 00:00:50,900 --> 00:00:56,500 our time to be a dialogue and our guests with over 50 years of 13 00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:59,500 experience in ministries. Pastor, Bob, Clay Camp, welcome 14 00:00:59,500 --> 00:01:01,000 again. It's great. 15 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,700 Great to be a part of this podcast. 16 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:06,700 It's been good to have a discussion even though we are 17 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,400 one some of it was in the studio, some of its on phone, 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,000 like it is here because of timing and scheduling, but it's 19 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,900 really good to have a dialogue and discussion about Ministry 20 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:20,500 and we purposely and you might as might you guys might even 21 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:23,900 listen as you're listening, we purposely do not script it. 22 00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:26,300 We want to talk about it, so it could go in a variety of 23 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:30,200 different directions. How just as we begin Bob, Bob 24 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:33,400 this being unscripted. What do you think about it? 25 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,200 You like, it don't like it. What are your thoughts about 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,600 that? I really like it actually 27 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,900 because sometimes it can be so formalized and you have to go 28 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:47,100 abcb and that's fine for those who are really into linear 29 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,700 thinking. But there are times, when you're 30 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:56,800 also wanting to be impacted by how the holy spirit is moving in 31 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,600 a particular conversation, because You never know who's 32 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,000 listening and how can you be sufficient to know more than me? 33 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,100 That might be addressed in something like this. 34 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:11,000 I'm one of those linear guys. So preffer, if it was my 35 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,200 preference and I had all the time in the world, I'd probably 36 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,900 outline this. I think of our mutual friend 37 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:20,300 Bill Holdridge. When I was a guest on his poem 38 00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:24,400 and podcast, he sent me of one page or maybe it was two pages 39 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,300 outline of exactly where we were headed and I mean, I loved it. 40 00:02:28,700 --> 00:02:31,100 I loved it personally. I actually pulled it out in the 41 00:02:31,108 --> 00:02:34,400 early days of our podcast to use it as a template and I think I 42 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,500 used it once and I just can't, I can't do it. 43 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,300 I don't have the time to do it, first of all, but I do like this 44 00:02:41,300 --> 00:02:43,700 dialogue because this is what it's like in my office if you 45 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,700 and I are talking this is what it's like if we're talking after 46 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,600 a service, this is what it's like. 47 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,900 If we're striking up a conversation in the sanctuary or 48 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:55,700 were grabbing a burger together and to me that really does 49 00:02:55,700 --> 00:03:00,300 reflect real dialogue in Ministry because you just Know 50 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:02,300 which direction things are going to go. 51 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,800 That's right. Yeah, so last in our last 52 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,900 episode, we had this Rhema word, this real specific prophetic 53 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:13,700 word about the effects of ministry and the topic was 54 00:03:13,700 --> 00:03:17,300 calling, but at the end as we were just looking at, maybe a 55 00:03:17,308 --> 00:03:22,100 couple of insights, there was this sense of hey, you know 56 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:24,900 you're thinking about you're just telling God to take your 57 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:27,800 wife, it's too hard. And I'm like, whoa, that was 58 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,700 that was Heavy, we explained If you missed it, you should go 59 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:34,900 back and listen to last week's episode as we talked about the 60 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:37,800 calling of God, how do you discover the call of God? 61 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,300 How do you live out? What is God use faithfulness? 62 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:44,500 I mean, it was a rich episode and today in our episode today 63 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:47,800 building again on our time last time we want to talk about 64 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:53,600 closed, doors and open doors. And first of all that's that's 65 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,800 Christian speak. That's Church speak. 66 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,400 We use it. We use the phrase all the time. 67 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,500 I'll look for God to open. Hours and look for God to close 68 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:04,100 doors. But Bob, maybe you can give us 69 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:09,000 Insight that you can unpack that Christian phrase for someone who 70 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,600 may not be familiar with it. Yes, open doors is a phrase that 71 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,700 Paul used an Open Door of opportunity. 72 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:21,700 A door of opportunity has been open to me and it has to do with 73 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:28,300 progress of the gospel and in that context and then you use 74 00:04:28,300 --> 00:04:31,500 that principle. And you're going to open door is 75 00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:36,900 a door of opportunity for me to go hear or speak to this person 76 00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:42,200 here, closed, or is when all the sudden, the opportunity shuts 77 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,300 down and you can't go any further. 78 00:04:45,300 --> 00:04:49,400 You might be through a circumstance or a very strong 79 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,700 impression on your heart, to keep your mouth shut and not 80 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:59,000 approach that situation because self-control is one of the 81 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:03,700 fruits of the Holy Spirit and there's a purpose in God saying, 82 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:08,700 no, keep your mouth shut because it it it may get you into more 83 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,900 deep weeds that you need to be in. 84 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:21,000 And so and so as we know, we're so used to christianese and and 85 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,900 yet we have to break it down because we have to understand 86 00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:28,500 that the majority of people we minister to may not be Believers 87 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:33,600 at all, matter of fact. T' Bible Bible believing 88 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:38,700 Christians are in the minority in the great minority and so 89 00:05:38,700 --> 00:05:44,300 just to say can we how can I break this down and bring it 90 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:48,700 down to the bottom shelf, don't know, how can I share this so 91 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:53,100 that it connects maybe use a illustration or a word picture 92 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:55,700 or something because some people are just visual Learners. 93 00:05:55,900 --> 00:05:58,700 I think it's a great picture to it's something that we do all 94 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:02,000 the time a closed. Or like a door in your house. 95 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,300 A closed door means that access has been limited. 96 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:10,900 It means that the the passageway is not open at the present time. 97 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:15,300 And if, if we think of it, let's go to someone else's house. 98 00:06:15,300 --> 00:06:19,800 If I go to your house, Bob, and your door is closed and locked 99 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,100 and I knock on on it, and there is no reply. 100 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:26,300 Then that tells me a few things. That tells me, you're probably 101 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:28,900 not home, or if you are home, you probably don't want to see 102 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:31,300 me or talk to me. Me and you're telling Genie and 103 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:34,600 hide Ed's here, Hide. I see him on the camera and, 104 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:39,200 but, but the closed door says, I don't have access to anything in 105 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:40,900 the house. I don't, you haven't given me a 106 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:43,800 key to your house because if you gave me a key to your house, 107 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,100 then I could put that key in the door with your permission 108 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:48,400 because that's why you gave it to me. 109 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:51,900 I can open the door and then the door. 110 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,500 Now the doorway or access is open. 111 00:06:55,500 --> 00:06:59,600 So we use this all the time and you know, it's too bad that it 112 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,200 became. A Christian cliche because 113 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,600 people ignore Christian cliches. But what I have found is that 114 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,100 the Christian, the popular Christian cliches actually are 115 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:10,300 pregnant and filled with meaning. 116 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:13,300 If we can just get to the bottom line and actually explain them 117 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:18,100 closed doors, can't go in open doors you can go in and when it 118 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:22,100 comes to the call of God, the reality of the call of God, is 119 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:25,700 that one of the ways you will discover where God wants you in 120 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:29,200 the body of Christ where he wants you in the world, what 121 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,500 your ultimate It purpose is how he wants to use you in each 122 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:37,300 season is through opened and closed doors, there will be 123 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:41,200 opportunities that are given and there will be opportunities 124 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,900 taken away. And, you know, I think the open 125 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:47,900 doors are you know opportunities and will you do this and can you 126 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:50,100 do this for me? And would you try this? 127 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:51,600 And can you teach this Bible study? 128 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,100 We all love open doors but we're not big fans of the closed 129 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:58,300 doors. I think I think the thought of 130 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:02,400 God using Cold things in your life is is hard. 131 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,500 Like like, I know we're talking to people right now that have 132 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,900 faced closed doors. Maybe even listening to this, 133 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:09,600 like I can't believe this. I don't know it. 134 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,200 God's ever going to use me again? 135 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:16,400 I thought I was going to do this but now I can't do that because 136 00:08:16,500 --> 00:08:20,900 my leader said no, or I bombed or, you know, I made a big 137 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:24,000 mistake and the the door is closed. 138 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,200 Is there a? Is there a couple things Bob? 139 00:08:29,900 --> 00:08:33,900 Number one. Can you can you elaborate on the 140 00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:36,700 pain of closed doors? And, and secondly, do you have 141 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:40,000 one? I am memory in your life of a 142 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,400 closed door that was hard and God users are, do you have any 143 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,900 feedback on that? Yeah, well first of all, what 144 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:52,000 comes to mind is there is a 100% open door to the throne room of 145 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,200 God. If you're a believer that door 146 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,200 is never closed, you may feel like your prayers are bouncing 147 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,400 off the sale. But I just want to tell you by 148 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,600 the word of God, there is an open door to the throne room and 149 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:12,900 you are never closed out and our feelings, sometimes get paid 150 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:16,500 otherwise and that's where you have to press through and 151 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:19,400 believe by faith, the truth of God's word, instead of your 152 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:26,000 feelings and that he hears everyone hears every single call 153 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:32,600 and plea I think closed. Doors are sometimes it shock 154 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,600 you. It just seemed so obvious. 155 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:40,000 Everything was speeding to a hasty quick blessed end and all 156 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,200 of a sudden slam. And, you know, your nose is 157 00:09:44,300 --> 00:09:47,900 laying on the side of your faith face because you ran into the 158 00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:51,300 wall and you're going, what, what happened here? 159 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,000 I'm dealing with a congregation now up and links or back in 160 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,700 July, their long-term, pastor and wife. and pastor of the 161 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:05,600 church was killed in a tragic car, accident back in July and 162 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,200 all of a sudden the church was thrown into a huge closed-door 163 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:17,500 of having their pastor and Perspective gets rocked, people 164 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:24,500 process lost control closed or can represent loss as well and 165 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:26,800 people process it different sometimes. 166 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,300 They process it quickly, sometimes they process it over 167 00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:34,900 months and months. And some people just use that as 168 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:38,600 an anger against God and they just lose perspective of the 169 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,300 whole thing. I would say, losing your pastor 170 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:44,800 and losing your posture. Sirs wife like suddenly and 171 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:50,200 tragically like that was a sudden closed door for all the 172 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,300 future Ministry that they were talking about all the future 173 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:56,900 goals that God had laid before them through that leadership 174 00:10:56,900 --> 00:11:01,700 there and isn't the isn't one of the first responses to a closed 175 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:04,700 doors to try to slam through it? Yeah, absolutely. 176 00:11:04,700 --> 00:11:07,700 You go, wait a minute, you know, this one statement and and you 177 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:10,100 want to, you want to spiritualize the whole thing and 178 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:12,500 then just pull yourself through it. 179 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,200 And You have to stop when there's a closed door and you 180 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,200 have to think about what is true. 181 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:24,400 And what is true, is that God is Sovereign over all things and 182 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,200 nothing. So surprise to him and that's 183 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,200 where you have to back up and go. 184 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,300 Okay. Lord, I hadn't counted on this. 185 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,300 But now you're looking to do something. 186 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:41,600 I wouldn't have chosen. So I want to I'm asking for your 187 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,600 grace because they're strengthen your grace and I need 188 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:51,300 perspective, the perspective of heaven and see me through while 189 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:54,700 I'm learning in real life is God is in control. 190 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:58,400 That's real life, and he's in control of the good times. 191 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:02,700 He's in control with the bad times and the the key that were 192 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:05,700 learning even through these difficult times is to remain 193 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:09,200 open to the Holy Spirit to follow the Holy Spirit. 194 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:13,200 Wherever he leads us and then to yield ourselves to the Holy 195 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,400 Spirit even as the psalmist cried out in Psalm 31, he says 196 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:22,300 lead me and guide me for your namesake instead of taking 197 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:26,500 things into our own hands, doing our things, our own way and 198 00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:29,200 ultimately it's his will is going to Prevail. 199 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,400 The question is, how will we enjoy it or will we enjoy it? 200 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,200 And yeah, I was thinking of a closed-door. 201 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,600 I asked you to share one but one popped into my mind that I'm 202 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,100 familiar with. So I think those Singing in 203 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,100 especially when we're talking leadership and servanthood in 204 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:46,000 Ministry, I can think of a closed door that you and Jeanie 205 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:51,100 experience and that is you had a very thriving, wonderful 206 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,700 Ministry and Exeter England. And it was, it was going 207 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:58,300 exceptionally. Well you guys loved it there. 208 00:12:58,300 --> 00:13:01,600 We visit you a couple times serving there and it's amazing 209 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:05,100 place to serve you had this. This this was an incredible 210 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:09,100 Ministry, you and Jeanie had to the young people that were 211 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:11,000 attending. Attending University in Exeter, 212 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,000 you are gathering together with them, cooking meals with them 213 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,400 talking Ministry and life with them becoming a mom and dad or 214 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,000 even a grandfather and grandmother Li influence in 215 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,200 their life and then tragedy Struck. 216 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:30,100 It wasn't, it wasn't death, but it was it was tragedy. 217 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:35,700 Why don't you lead us into the tragedy, the closed-door, that 218 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:42,100 eventually had you leave Exeter. Well, what Is back in 2018. 219 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,300 I was having some difficulty with I thought it was acid 220 00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:50,900 reflux and then as time went on it seemed to get worse and then 221 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,000 one morning my wife said you know, you need to go to 222 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,800 emergency. They call it a any accident and 223 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,900 emergency and who wants to go to emergency room for five hours? 224 00:14:02,900 --> 00:14:05,100 Just for a couple of Gaviscon tablets. 225 00:14:05,300 --> 00:14:09,200 So I him hard around. So I drove myself to the 226 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:15,200 Emergency room went to triage and they set me down and said 227 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:19,900 this is not acid reflux you're having a heart attack and I'm 228 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:25,400 going no you don't understand. I just did give me the tablet so 229 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,200 I'm gone. No I'm never taking my shirt 230 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,400 off. You know taping me all up and 231 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:32,900 and shoot me with morphine. I'm going this way. 232 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,700 It's acid reflux. You don't use more of me than 233 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:41,300 acid people like and all the sudden While at the end of the 234 00:14:41,300 --> 00:14:45,900 day, I had a stent put in because my left anterior artery 235 00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:50,100 was almost 100% block, which was the Widowmaker artery. 236 00:14:50,900 --> 00:14:56,300 And it was a game-changer because I had no intention of 237 00:14:56,300 --> 00:15:01,100 leaving Exeter because we had just gotten a residency and all 238 00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:05,200 of a sudden I was so weak. I couldn't even visit with 239 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,900 people without falling asleep for five minutes. 240 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:12,100 Well, and I couldn't go to church for two months because I 241 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:15,800 couldn't be around. People was so weak and the Lord 242 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,900 began to speak to me and say just impress on lot upon my 243 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:22,900 heart. It's time to make a change and 244 00:15:22,900 --> 00:15:26,800 the long term transition plan. We had in place now became a 245 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:31,800 short term transition and I transitioned the church to a 246 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:39,500 British Pastor who was my leader and I mean you can't control 247 00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:45,200 everything and I look back and I think well maybe the Lord had to 248 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:49,600 allow that to happen to get me to change because I can I can 249 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,000 plot along for years. I mean I can just keep on going 250 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,100 and sometimes he says I need to step in Bob and do an 251 00:15:58,100 --> 00:16:03,300 intervention and because we're going to change things up and 252 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:08,000 that was that was a closed door. But I looked back on Out and I 253 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,800 thank the Lord for his sovereignty and control and 254 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:16,600 doing things his way. I just it's Grace, it's absolute 255 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,100 Grace. Was there any pushback from you? 256 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,000 Was it? Emotionally hard? 257 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,200 I mean, we look back now we're five years from that but what 258 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,500 was it like that in the beginning or did you did you 259 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:29,600 fight to stay? Did you try to manipulate this? 260 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:34,000 I can't fight this day and we came back and bought a house to 261 00:16:34,008 --> 00:16:36,300 be a Remnant. So eventually, when we decided 262 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:42,500 to come Back, we have a place to live but upon closing, I was 263 00:16:42,500 --> 00:16:45,800 planning on getting a property management company to find a 264 00:16:45,808 --> 00:16:51,200 renter and man, strong, strong witness from the Holy Spirit, 265 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,300 saying you're not finding a renter. 266 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:58,600 You are moving back to the US and both Jeannie, and I were not 267 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,900 ready for that word and we fought with it. 268 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:09,000 But the blessing of the Lord is so kind, he gave me a scripture 269 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:14,800 out of the end of Acts chapter 14 where Paul and Barnabas came 270 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:21,099 back and the scripture was Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch 271 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:24,300 from where they had been committed to the grace of God to 272 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:28,400 do the work. They had now completed and that 273 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:32,200 last phrase was the holy spirit's witness to me, that I 274 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,800 had done what he had sent me there to do and it was now 275 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:42,300 completed in God's own timing and it was time to come back for 276 00:17:42,300 --> 00:17:47,200 the next season. And I think it's so important to 277 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,000 have scriptural affirmation when door is closed. 278 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,900 You he speaks to you through his word and that was a definite 279 00:17:56,900 --> 00:18:01,600 word from the Lord. Using a text that may be applied 280 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,600 to something else but was lifted out and applied to me and my 281 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:10,900 life situation. I'm in Colorado here in Aurora 282 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:13,000 specifically because of a closed door. 283 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:19,400 We prayed for years about planning a church and we were we 284 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,700 had a couple of couples with us ready on a church planting team. 285 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:29,000 We just needed the location. We were pretty confident, 99.9 286 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,400 percent confident that it wasn't going to be in Southern 287 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,300 California where I grew up, where I was going to church and 288 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:38,700 Downey California with my pastor Jeff Calvary Chapel there. 289 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:43,800 And we had a large growing home Bible study that we could have 290 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:48,000 easily We took and taken that group and Planet a church with 291 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,200 that group and I'm sure if I would have asked Pastor Jeff, he 292 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,500 would have said, yes, but we at the same, I never did ask him 293 00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:57,200 because I never did in that go in that direction because there 294 00:18:57,208 --> 00:19:01,700 was a higher truth, that was guiding my life and that is 295 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:05,200 Paul's admonition not to build on another man's foundation. 296 00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:09,000 And we end up here are headed out of California, we know for 297 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,000 sure and through a series of events, you know, I was looking 298 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:16,100 primarily with my work. Where can I keep my job? 299 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:18,300 Because we were also taught if you're planning a church. 300 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:20,600 You should have a job. And I already had a job in 301 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,800 California that happened to you have offices all around the 302 00:19:23,808 --> 00:19:27,700 country, I started knocking on doors, Georgia was one of the 303 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:34,800 places, but the humidity and the bugs and all of that, wasn't the 304 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,500 Lord close that door. Arizona was another Place 305 00:19:38,500 --> 00:19:40,800 Chandler. I remember in particular outside 306 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:44,900 of Phoenix, because it was the fastest growing city Over 307 00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:51,500 250,000 back in 1998 99 and the Lord close that door too hot. 308 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,000 I didn't want to melt like the asphalt when I first talked to 309 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,700 you. If I the way that's when I first 310 00:19:56,700 --> 00:20:00,800 talked to you on the phone I was I was asking questions when I 311 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,500 was talking to people in Arizona saying, hey, what do you think? 312 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:04,900 What do you think? I remember talking to Scott 313 00:20:04,900 --> 00:20:07,300 Richards and hey, what do you think you're in Arizona, in 314 00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:09,500 Tucson? I he's I want to go to Chandler. 315 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:12,800 He goes well then do it. Go ahead and it's like it was 316 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,400 such an exciting time. I'm I ended up not going to 317 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,800 Arizona but became good friends with Scott. 318 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:23,300 He's a great brother and and then we prayed about this city 319 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:27,700 in Southern Colorado, ended up taking a trip, there left from 320 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:31,200 that trip, back to California, this is the city, resigning. 321 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,500 All my positions, resigned my job because the place there 322 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:36,400 didn't have a job. For me, I had to, I would have 323 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,800 to find one, but I was so excited about Ministry. 324 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,400 I was going to pump gas for Jesus, it didn't matter to me, 325 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:45,500 we'd spend all our savings Things and it didn't matter. 326 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:50,100 We were we were all in and yeah. And so I came back from that 327 00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:53,700 trip told, everybody told my wife and Marie says, well I want 328 00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,700 to see the city, I want to go and so did the other couple they 329 00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:02,300 wanted to see it, we drive in the middle of or in the 330 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,600 Christmas 98 between Christmas and New Year, we drove out to 331 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:12,000 Colorado to rent a house. To I had a couple job 332 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:16,100 interviews. And we were going to get our 333 00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:21,900 life going and the Holy Spirit spoke as we were driving into 334 00:21:21,900 --> 00:21:24,400 the City. And it was strange Bob because 335 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:28,800 the holy spirit's voice sounded a lot like Maurice, my wife. 336 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:35,700 It was a voice in The car said as we're driving into the city 337 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:41,800 there's no way in the world add that I'm moving here and that's 338 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,600 not a Right quote, but it's certainly how I heard it which 339 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,900 began a series of events where that door was not just close. 340 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:54,000 But it was slammed. Yeah, at my face and and and 341 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,500 there's a lot to this story. The podcast isn't long enough 342 00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:00,100 but there's a lot to the story but the summary with is this 343 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,100 even though I didn't know it then what I was filled with 344 00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:09,100 pride and eagerness and Zeal without knowledge perhaps on the 345 00:22:09,100 --> 00:22:12,900 church planting front and I was going to move to Colorado to do 346 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:15,700 a Work for God. And God used that City. 347 00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:18,900 Not only to tell me. He doesn't want me there. 348 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,000 That was clear. But also to tell me at, I don't 349 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,100 need you to do a great work for God, just go home, I don't need 350 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:29,100 you to do a great work for God just go home. 351 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:31,300 Yeah. And I did, I went home and 352 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,700 plugged right back into church I had my job was still available 353 00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:38,400 so I ended up plugging it back into my job and all of that all 354 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,200 worked out and it was, you know, the stories much longer but the 355 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,900 but the ultimate Part of it is seven months later through a 356 00:22:44,908 --> 00:22:48,400 series of events. We moved to Aurora like not only 357 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,000 did we move here but I took a job. 358 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,300 I had a job. I got a raise, they packed our 359 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:56,300 stuff and put it in a truck. They flew us out here. 360 00:22:56,500 --> 00:23:02,300 Rented an apartment for us, it was tremendously open door that 361 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:06,900 came from the devastation. I've only had two deep bouts 362 00:23:06,900 --> 00:23:11,000 with depression in my life. I have a I have a bent toward 363 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,800 that to begin with. I always kind of been Leave for 364 00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:18,700 different seasons and after the death of my son, that some real 365 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:22,200 deep deep depression issues over the last 10 years. 366 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,000 Although it's been a few years since I've had a deep, some 367 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,100 light ones, but not a deep one. That's one. 368 00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:32,000 The other one is after that closed door, I was that was the 369 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,000 most depressed I've ever been. At that point in my life just 370 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,400 thinking, what a loser. I am. 371 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,100 I can't believe it. I can't even pick the right 372 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:41,500 City, man. I almost ruined my fam, I mean, 373 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:43,700 on, and on, and on the list. Went. 374 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,600 And by the time we get to Aurora God was it was like God was 375 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:54,100 saying, I don't need you Ed to do a great work for me, but I'm 376 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:56,800 going to do a great work in Aurora and if you want to be a 377 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:01,600 part of it, then you here's your Open Door, go ahead and move. 378 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,600 Yeah. And I remember part of the, it 379 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,300 was such a devastating thing. Bob is so hurtful for us Marie 380 00:24:07,300 --> 00:24:10,600 and I like we were, we were like Marie, especially her mom had 381 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,700 just gotten saved. It was a very exciting time in 382 00:24:12,708 --> 00:24:15,300 her family. It was just a neat, it was just 383 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:19,600 wonderful. For, when this Open Door, came 384 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,300 this opportunity at work. Came in July, just seven months 385 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:25,700 later. I was, I call Marie and I said, 386 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:28,500 hey, they just offer me a job in Aurora, you know, do you still 387 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:32,800 want to go and I fully expected her to say something like are 388 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,600 you crazy? What are you thinking, Ed? 389 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,600 We just did this. Why are you, what are you out of 390 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,100 your mind? We already know we're not 391 00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:42,200 supposed to be in Colorado, but she didn't, she didn't. 392 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,000 She said, well at put in an application if you get the job. 393 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,800 Let's Go. And I'm like, no, no, no, you 394 00:24:47,808 --> 00:24:50,600 don't understand that. I already know I'm going to get 395 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:52,400 the job. I mean, what I didn't know is 396 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,300 that nobody else wanted the job, ha, ha. 397 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:01,200 I learned that when I got here, but but I was, I was pretty much 398 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,500 a shirt. I was going to get it and but 399 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:06,100 man, nobody else wanted it because our company was taking 400 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:08,100 at the time. And at any rate, it's such a 401 00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:13,600 great story but it started with great pain and yeah closed doors 402 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,500 are just part of the package folks, you're going to have to 403 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:18,200 embrace them and And I'll know, I know you're there a part of 404 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,900 your heart still in Exeter Bob. It is we wind down here. 405 00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:24,500 Could use, can you say? Now, five years later that the 406 00:25:24,500 --> 00:25:27,500 closed door led to some really exciting open doors and what are 407 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:28,800 they? Absolutely. 408 00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:33,700 Sometimes we're we're so locked into our limited perspective of 409 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:37,100 what it looks like for us to be fruitful and active and all. 410 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,800 And we have to remember that God is the Creator. 411 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:44,700 And he's got, he's got things planned for us that he doesn't 412 00:25:44,700 --> 00:25:47,900 want to tell us about it. He doesn't want to shortcutting. 413 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,800 He just wants us to hang in with him and be led by him as the 414 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,500 shepherd. Again, I look back in. 415 00:25:56,500 --> 00:26:01,900 It was the best thing we did. And now it's, I mean, it goes 416 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:05,300 in, with our prayer, Lord, make my latter years, more fruitful, 417 00:26:05,300 --> 00:26:09,000 than our former years, whatever that looks like, I let go of it. 418 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,900 It's none of my business, you just do it your way. 419 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,800 But the only way to have more fruit is to keep close to the 420 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:19,000 shepherd. Keep-keep abiding in the vine is 421 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,300 there. One part of coming back to the 422 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:26,100 states in these last five years? Is there anything maybe early on 423 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:30,300 in that first year that God used as an affirmation that it's 424 00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:32,900 going to be okay? Bob I know you didn't want to 425 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:36,200 leave Exeter but here in the even in these early stages, is 426 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,900 there any kind of thing that you and Jeanie can remember and that 427 00:26:38,900 --> 00:26:42,000 first year being back where God gave you a little bump of 428 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,100 encouragement? Well we had given up everything 429 00:26:45,300 --> 00:26:48,300 to move to England. England and we gave away 430 00:26:48,300 --> 00:26:50,300 everything. When we moved back and we had 431 00:26:50,300 --> 00:26:54,000 nothing, we had some memorabilia from our family. 432 00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:57,800 I had enough money to actually buy a car that was about it. 433 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:01,000 And so we're sitting on the floor in this house that we 434 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:06,400 bought, what time is it? And then the fellowship in 435 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:11,300 Aurora just rose up and all the sudden you know gave us their 436 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,000 this and that and this and that and the Lord peace, our life 437 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,000 back. Gather. 438 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,100 And here we are. Living in a house. 439 00:27:21,100 --> 00:27:25,400 We don't deserve with furniture. That is, you know, it's good for 440 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,100 it your way, but we still don't deserve it. 441 00:27:27,100 --> 00:27:31,200 It it we're in a Grace Place really. 442 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:36,400 Then at this part of our life be turning 72, next month. 443 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:38,800 I don't want to make any more mistakes. 444 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:43,100 I, I don't, I don't have time to recover and so I just want to 445 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:46,300 enjoy him and let him unfold things. 446 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,800 In his time. Yeah, I think the closed-door 447 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,300 represents Brokenness for a lot of you that are listening. 448 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:58,400 And that Brokenness is he essentially Because unless a 449 00:27:58,408 --> 00:28:01,300 corn of wheat falls to the ground and that is it, is it a 450 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:04,400 bit abides alone? But if it dies, it will bear 451 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:08,700 much fruit and we want more fruit, but we don't want to be 452 00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:11,000 cracked open. No, that's painful, isn't it? 453 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,600 That's the painful part will come to an end of another 454 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,300 podcast. That goes by super fast. 455 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:20,300 Fast. I know that the emphasis as we 456 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:23,400 were doing the previous podcast, I toward the end, I was just 457 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:28,200 thinking open doors, and close doors are an important is an 458 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,700 important topic to talk about. So I hope you enjoyed the 459 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:33,500 discussion. We want to hear your feedback as 460 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:35,800 we come to the close of today. Thanks again, Bob for being with 461 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,900 me. Absolutely. 462 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,800 And we truly appreciate this dialog, format of the podcast, a 463 00:28:41,808 --> 00:28:45,700 lot of great feedback even while I'm while I'm here in front of 464 00:28:45,708 --> 00:28:48,300 my computer and email came in feedback for the podcast. 465 00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:52,700 So thank you guys for using an emailing us, Ed Ed Ed Taylor. 466 00:28:52,700 --> 00:28:57,300 Dot-org comes directly to me as well as my website at Taylor. 467 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:02,600 Dot-org is how to contact me through the podcast. 468 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:06,100 We are we produce this lead to serve podcast here as a part of 469 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:10,500 a Pounding, Grace, media, and Outreach of Calvary Church in 470 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:13,000 Aurora, Colorado. A Calvary Chapel that we've been 471 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,800 here for 23 years serving the lord, ministering the gospel. 472 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,700 It's a privilege to do that. I hope that podcast has been 473 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:24,100 encouraging. You uplifting to you 474 00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:27,500 strengthening to you. And I know that the, the enemy 475 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:30,100 of your soul would love to discourage you, especially 476 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:32,700 through closed doors. And then we, then the enemy 477 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:34,800 would love to us for us to take all the credit for the open 478 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,400 doors, and we just like know, God is Sovereign, we're gonna 479 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,400 trust him with our lives. We're not going to take credit 480 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:47,300 for something that isn't ours. And so until next time connect 481 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:50,300 with us, make sure you leave us feedback, wherever you get your 482 00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:53,300 podcast, subscribe. That's a big deal. 483 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,000 I found out in the way that they do. 484 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,600 Think subscriptions are a big deal. 485 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,100 So just click the Subscribe. You get it delivered to you. 486 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,200 Every week. We drop them on Tuesday, 487 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:05,800 Mornings around 6, a.m. every Tuesday, we have try not to do 488 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:07,600 it on Mondays. Because every Mondays are so 489 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:09,800 crowded with everything that's trying to hit you guys on 490 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,000 Monday. So we do it on Tuesdays and we 491 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,400 get quite a few people listening. 492 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,300 Share it with your friends and family. 493 00:30:15,300 --> 00:30:18,900 If you have any questions or any show feedback you can text us 494 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:27,800 directly at 720 60 80 0, 1 2, 7, 2 0, 6, 0 8, 0 0, 1 2 or email, 495 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:31,400 Ed Ed Ed Taylor dot org and it has to be dot-org. 496 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,900 By the way, don't go to Doc cam because a professional Santa 497 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:39,300 Claus owned my But I he's older than me so he had it before me. 498 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,000 So at any rate at Taylor dot-org, God bless you, guys. 499 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,400 Until next time, leave the served podcast with Pastor Bob, 500 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,800 Clay Camp is our guest. Thank you for joining us for 501 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,000 this episode of lead to serve with Pastor Ed, Taylor, a 502 00:30:53,008 --> 00:30:55,600 leadership podcast from Calvary Church in Aurora. 503 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,300 Colorado, if you have a leadership question, you want to 504 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,900 hear answered on a future lead to serve podcast, please email 505 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:05,600 it to Pastor Ed at Calvary Co dot church and if you like our 506 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:09,600 podcasts Please Subscribe, rate or review us on iTunes and share 507 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:11,500 us with your friends on social media. 508 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,600 Thanks again for joining us and we'll see you next time right 509 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:16,800 here on the lead to serve podcast.