Faith & Purpose

Cailin: Welcome everyone to
Faith and Purpose podcast.

Each episode of this podcast contains the
personal testimony of an ordinary person

transformed by an extraordinary God.

My name is Caitlin and I'm
here to introduce this podcast

for my friend Jesse Duke.

Jesse is a husband, father, author,
life recovery guide, lay counselor,

and small group leader, but his
most important role is disciple.

As a disciple of Jesus.

Jesse created this podcast to help other
believers tell their faith stories.

We'll be hearing the personal
testimonies of all sorts of people

who have one thing in common,
Jesus has transformed their lives.

Jesus used parables because he created
us to learn best through story.

And as we listen to how God has worked
in others lives, we find encouragement

and inspiration for our own faith walk.

Whether you are already a believer, or
just a curious seeker, we believe that

as you listen to these stories, you will
be encouraged on your own faith journey.

We are sure that God can speak to you
through one of these episodes, and that

you will see that our Heavenly Father
truly works all things together for

our good, When we simply love and trust
him if you are currently going through

a trial We believe that you will come
to see that your troubles Heartbreaks

and failures are not gravestones, but
stepping stones into new life in Christ.

Here's Jesse with today's guest

Jesse: Welcome to the very first
episode of Faith and Purpose Podcast.

My name is Jesse Duke and I'm
normally going to be your host

interviewing other people.

So this isn't going to be a typical
episode because I've asked my friend

Lauren to be the guest host today so
she can interview me so that I can

tell you what the podcast is all about.

I've known Lauren for over 30
years and she's been a really

big blessing in my life.

Lauren is a wife and mother, a Jesus
lover, and a strong Christian leader.

Everybody that knows Lauren loves and
admires her, and I'm really honored to

have you as my guest host today, Lauren.

Thank you for being here.

Lauren: Hi, Jesse.

I am happy to be here.

And I think it's very fun that
you're taking this on and who

knows what God has planned.

So I think that's going to
be fun to watch and see.

Jesse has been a good friend for a
long time, and he's put together this

podcast and my job is to help figure
out what it's about, so, Jesse, this

is what we're gonna unpack today.

So tell me what it's all about.

Why do you wanna make this happen?

What inspired you,

Jesse: Well, the short version is that
I believe the Holy Spirit inspired me.

I've always loved audio and
I'm kind of an audio learner.

I like to tell people
that I read with my ears.

I like listening to audio books and radio
and podcasts and that sort of things and

I've I've really gotten educated over
the years just as I work and travel and

do chores and stuff like that I can,
I can get educated at the same time

so that's been a big blessing to me.

Plus I seem to retain things
better that I hear than if I just

watch a video or read a book.

So, I spent a whole lot of time listening
to good preaching and teaching, and

I do it every day, just about, so I
consider it my continuing education.

So I wanted to create a podcast that
would be a blessing to other people.

The full title of the podcast is Faith
and Purpose, ordinary people who've

been transformed by an extraordinary
God tell their stories of what happened

and what their lives are like now.

the podcast really has four purposes
that I'm aware of, maybe there's more,

but the first one is to provide a
space where the Holy Spirit can work

through the speakers and the listeners.

The second is to give those that
tell their stories an opportunity

to grow in their faith by being
obedient to Jesus command to go into

all the world and tell about Him.

Third is to give the listeners a
diverse range of true stories of

regular people coming to faith
in Christ and walking with Him.

And fourth, just to have
fun, because stories are fun.

So this podcast is really
all about the power of story.

We're all attracted to stories.

Stories have a lot of power to
influence, entertain, and teach us in

a way that goes deep into our memory.

And I think non believers are more
likely to listen to ordinary people tell

their stories rather than the polished
professional speakers that are out there.

So I just wanted to make this platform
available to bliss, both the listeners and

the speakers, and just have fun doing it.

So I hope everybody else has fun with it.

I didn't want to create a podcast
where I had to do a lot of talking,

because as you can tell, I really
don't have a voice for that.

I've never been called
an eloquent speaker.

and I'm also hoping that other
believers who may be hesitant about

speaking will hear my raspy old
voice and get the idea that it's okay

not to sound slick and polished and
they'll be inspired to go ahead and

sign up to give their testimonies.

So anyway, I'm working on it.

I'm working on the technology of how
to do a podcast, how to edit and all

that stuff so I'm hoping people will.

Be tolerant and trust me that
I'm, I'm working on this and

that it'll get better and better.

So, thank you.

Lauren: You mentioned the power
of story earlier, so can you

expand on that a little bit?

Jesse: Well, yeah, we all have
a life story and we're all

drawn to stories, you know.

Jesus told stories.

we're still telling Jesus
parables 2, 000 years later.

So, story has a powerful effect on us
because he created us that way, You know,

churches used to have a testimony night
where people would get up in front of the

congregation and give their testimonies.

matter of fact, that's how
this super secret society of

recovering alcoholics got started.

They got it from the church.

Because back in the 30's
there was a Christian movement

called the Oxford Group.

And they had four guiding
principles for their members.

What they called the four absolutes,
honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.

And the way they implemented these
principles was through four steps.

surrender, sharing,
restitution, and continuance.

In other words, they would
surrender their entire lives to God.

They would share what happened
in their lives with other people.

And then they would make amends.

For wrongs they had done And then
they would continue in that lifestyle

for the rest of their lives.

Well, the alcoholics who were part of that
bunch decided they needed to break out on

their own and just work with alcoholics.

So they took those four steps, and
like good alcoholics, they figured

that if four steps worked good, then
twelve ought to work even better.

So they started their own thing.

That was around 1935.

So, that whole program got started,
because they stole the biblical

principles from the church.

and the church of course
got them from Jesus.

over the years as the church has
gotten more and more institutionalized.

They got away from these
old time testimony meetings.

Now, it's just a small number of educated
clergy that does most of the talking.

And the rest of us are just
consumers and listeners.

And I think that's, one reason why,
alcoholics get so much more out of

going to these super secret meetings
than they do going to a church because

they get to be heard and, they become
participants rather than just consumers.

And, the church could
learn something from that.

Anyway,

I don't really have any expectations that
the guest on this podcast, they're all

going to have the same kind of doctrine,
but what I do expect is a wide range

of perspectives and experiences to be
shared from people from all sorts of

denominations and no denomination at all.

So, I do think that we all just
need to come with a Berean attitude.

And be prepared to just check the
scriptures and, uh, take everything

with a grain of salt, so to speak.

I'm hoping people will come to
the understanding that giving your

testimony in this kind of public
way, really benefits you, not just

everybody out there listening,
And I think four things actually

happen when we give our testimonies.

One, we learn where we actually are in
our faith walk, because the Holy Spirit

uses the process to guide us and teach us.

Two, we experience His presence,
because no matter how much we

plan to say, He shows up, says
what He wants to, through us.

Three, we defeat the enemy.

Over in Revelation, John says, and they
they overcame the accuser by the blood of

the lamb and the word of the testimony.

So when we give our testimony,
we're telling Satan that he's

no longer has power over us.

we start to learn what we have in
Christ, Paul told Philemon that

the sharing of your faith becomes
effective by the acknowledgement of

every good thing, which is in you.

in Christ Jesus.

So as we acknowledge what we have in
Christ by sharing it with others, we

overcome that nagging condemnation that
Satan's constantly attacking us with.

And we become assured that we actually
do have what Jesus says we have in Him.

Love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, and self control among
all the other gifts and fruits.

of abiding in Him.

And another thing that happens, number
four, is that Jesus gets blessed.

When we give our testimonies and
we brag on Him, He's honored and

glorified, and I think that pleases Him.

I once overheard my daughter
Bragging on me to a friend.

Oh man, what a blessing that was.

It really lifted me.

Made me want to do even more with her.

it really blessed me.

And I know the Lord must feel the same
way when He hears us honor Him So, We have

a great opportunity to bless the Lord.

And other people when we can
share what he's done in our lives.

It's just as simple as
telling what happened.

I hope people will understand
that that's what it's all about.

Lauren: Right.

Understand,

Jesse: I suppose the most important
thing that comes out of this whole

process of telling our stories is the
discovery that our stories are just that.

They're just stories.

They're not who we are.

We can quit seeing them as our
identity and start seeing who we are

in Christ when we just tell our story.

You know, we all tend to go through
life thinking that the things we've been

through are achieved or lost, and all the
good and the bad stuff that happens, is

our identity, you know, that's who we are.

But That's not you,
that's just your story.

Everybody has one.

But the whole reason for Jesus
death and resurrection is to set

us free from who we think we are.

You know, back in Genesis, God told
Adam not to eat from the tree of the

knowledge of good and evil, because
if he did, he would surely die.

So when Adam did, he did die spiritually.

He forgot who he was.

He forgot he was a friend of God.

And he died to that
fellowship that they shared.

So, as descendants of Adam, we're
stuck with this same constant, ongoing

narrative about ourselves, our good
and our evil, and we just live by this

story of how bad we are, and we struggle
to be good, and it never lasts because

we can't be good in our own strength.

So in order to make ourselves feel good.

We see other people as worse than
us, but Jesus, He's the second Adam.

He came along to set us free from
ourselves, to restore the fellowship we

had in the garden and to change our story.

I believe that most Christians
don't understand that they

are not their past sin.

You know, a lot of people say, I'm
just an old sinner saved by grace.

Well, they're just hanging on
to that old identity, and that's

not what God wants for us.

When Jesus died for our sin, it
was to remove that from our story.

As long as we don't accept
that, we're stuck with that.

And that's why God called Satan
the accuser of the brethren.

Because he's constantly telling
us who we are in him, in Satan.

So we can't hear who we are in Christ.

Everybody struggles with this
schizophrenia until we simply believe

who God says we are in his word.

You know, when Abraham simply
believed God, God reckoned

his belief as righteousness.

In other words, when we believe what God
says about us and let go of our own good

and evil narrative, then we actually
take possession of the identity that the

new Adam, Jesus, died to provide for us.

So, if we're not willing to let go
of our own understanding, our old

story, then we're not being righteous.

You know, over in, uh, 21, it says that
Jesus, became sin for us so that we might

become the righteousness of God in Christ.

And uh, what us believers
have to do is start believing.

So what we find when, by getting honest
and actually telling our earthly stories

is we start understanding that it's
not really our story, it's His story.

He's the one who was with us all
along, bringing us to Himself.

And not only that, it brings us
to a place where we can actually

see that we are in Christ.

We are not who we thought we were.

That's what it means to be a new creature.

That's our true identity.

We're in Him.

We're not all the experiences that
we think make up our identity.

Remember, you know, Paul says, It's no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

And over in John 15, Jesus
tells His disciples to abide

in Him and He will abide in us.

So our real work on this earth
is just to rest in Him, to listen

for His voice and follow Him.

You know, I heard about a survey
that was taken a couple years

ago that said something like 80
percent of young people don't feel

like they have a purpose in life.

that life is meaningless.

I'm sure this is why the suicide
rate is rising among young people.

But if they only knew the truth,
the way, the truth, and the

life, things will be different.

And that's what Faith and
Purpose Podcast is all about.

I'm hoping it's an instrument that God
can use to Get the word out there in

a way that people can relate to and
maybe start thinking about turning to

God and Jesus before They do pull that
trigger so to speak Anyway, I'm hoping

that people that are listening to this
podcast will get something that will

inspire them to seek God in a deeper
way and to get free from that accuser

of the brethren in their own head

Lauren: That is powerful I
recently, I heard a quote that,

and the quote was, Light a candle
rather than curse the darkness.

And this podcast is lighting a
candle and describes exactly what

I think you're trying to do, Jesse.

Jesse: Yeah, thank you.

That's wonderful.

There are a lot of good people
out there lighting candles.

I mean, I hear them all the time, and
I'm grateful for them, because, you

know, when we see all this insanity
going on in the world, in our culture,

and even in our government, it just
seems like darkness has taken over.

Seems like Satan is winning.

But you know, over in the book of
John, in the very first chapter,

John says, And Jesus was life.

And the life was the light of men,
and the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not overcome it.

And in that same book, Jesus
said, I am the light of the world.

And then over in Matthew, he says,
you are the light of the world,

speaking of us as disciples.

And then he goes on to say, let
your light so shine before men.

So this podcast is another way
for believers to let their light

shine so that God may be glorified.

And that's how we overcome evil with good.

Thanks for that quote.

It's better to light a candle
than curse the darkness.

There's already plenty of
cursing going on out there.

But we want to be lights
and overcome the darkness.

Lauren: Mm hmm.

What about finding people?

How are you going to
find people to interview?

Jesse: Well, so far I've just prayed
and eight very brave souls have come

forth and given their testimonies
even before this podcast was a thing.

So I'm really grateful for that.

I do plan on having a new
guest each week, Lord willing.

So I'm counting on some more
brave believers out there who

might be listening to this.

In the outro to each episode, there's an
invitation for believers who want to share

their testimonies to go to my website and
download the guest speaker instructions.

They can also invite other
people who might be interested

by sending them a link.

I figured that if someone gets as
far as reading the instructions and

contacting me about it, then they're
probably motivated enough to set aside

an hour and a half for an interview

So I'm just counting on the Holy Spirit
to send whoever He wants to hear from.

Lauren: Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, what about challenges?

What do you feel like the biggest
challenges that you have getting started?

Jesse: Well, besides technology, just
learning how to communicate my vision to

other believers seems to be a challenge.

I've never been a great communicator,
so I've got a lot to learn about how to

explain the value of testimony to people.

It just seems that, us modern Christians
are reluctant to be publicly transparent

about something, you know, so personal.

but, we all know that Jesus
gave us the Great Commission

over in Mark 16 and Matthew 28.

But we kind of think of it sort of
in a general way as like mission

trips and ministries and evangelistic
meetings and things like that.

You know, we don't really think of
it as just as us telling our stories.

I think another The challenge is a
lack of trust in the Holy Spirit.

You know, I just think of the early
disciples, after Jesus resurrection,

before He ascended to heaven, He told
them to wait for the Holy Spirit.

And then they did.

And then they just went out
and started telling crowds

and individuals about Jesus.

And God confirmed them
through signs and wonders.

And I think the same thing
can happen with us today.

But we have to trust Holy Spirit.

We can't just, you know,
head out on our own.

So that's why I tell people to pray
and, trust Him to do the talking.

So, it's not something that
we have to get perfect.

Because He's the one
that makes it perfect.

Because He knows who's out there
listening and who needs to hear our story.

It might even be one word that
you say, or one, or the way

you say one word, you know.

So anyway, when we simply tell what
our lives were like before Jesus,

what happened, and what they're
like now, that's our witness.

that's what we saw.

That's what we witnessed.

It's not theology.

It's just real life.

So, you know, if you witness an accident,
all you can do is tell what you saw.

You just tell what happened
from your perspective.

The cop or the judge isn't going to
allow you to speculate or expand or

try to tell somebody else's experience.

All you know is what you witnessed.

And you've only got your own viewpoint.

They'll go find somebody
else to get a different one.

So I'm definitely not looking
for people to preach or teach.

Although scripture does come out
naturally when we just, when we're telling

what happened, you can't avoid that.

But I'm just saying I want true life
stories, not evangelistic sermons.

there's plenty of those out there.

This is a podcast about true stories.

I truly believe that the Holy
Spirit comes on board for this.

And it's just all about being honest and
transparent for the sake of other people.

That's what touches people.

Authenticity and heart.

So that's been a challenge,
getting people to understand that.

But I think as I get better at
communicating, as people listen to other

episodes, I think it'll get better.

Another challenge I've
run into is comparison.

You know, we've all heard dramatic
testimonies and been inspired by them.

You know, I used to listen to,
uh, Unshackled, the radio program.

they were all dramatic testimonies.

So, we all tend to think that, that since
we don't have an addiction, or a crisis,

or a trauma, or we hadn't been to jail.

You know, dramatic stuff like that.

We think that our story isn't
interesting enough to people.

So that's, that's been one big problem.

So, uh, I think it was Teddy Roosevelt.

He said that comparison
is the thief of joy.

And I agree with that, but it's
also a tool of Satan to keep us from

knowing who we really are in Christ.

Because As we tell what He's done
for us, we discover ourselves

who we really are in Christ.

You know, Paul told Philemon that the
sharing of your faith may become effective

by the acknowledgement of every good
thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

So as we tell our stories as they
really happen, we're acknowledging

what we are aware of up to that moment.

But simultaneously, we're opening
the door to a deeper understanding

of what God's up to in our lives.

And we get a whole new perspective on
what He's already done in our lives.

Paul told the Corinthians, Now we
have received, not the Spirit of the

world, but the Spirit who is from God,
that we might know the things that

have been freely given to us by God.

So, I truly think that most believers
either don't know who they are in

Christ or they just don't believe
what God says they have in Christ.

Kind of makes you wonder why
we call ourselves believers.

Another challenge is that some people have
told me they don't think they can share

because they can't come up with a specific
date when they gave their lives to Christ.

They just grew up in church
and believed in it all along.

they think something's wrong with
them because they don't have a date.

Well, I don't know.

I don't have a date either.

My whole life has been
one date after another.

It's been an educational process.

I just grew up in faith and
I keep growing every day.

You know, every day ought
to be our date, so to speak.

I used to think I was an imposter
because I couldn't come up with that

specific date or Dramatic experience.

Anyway, I'm willing to bet that there
are more believers out there Who've

just grown into a relationship with
Christ and those who've just had an

encounter that was so dramatic that
it caused them to remember the date.

That's not to minimize all those
who have had that and have that

wonderful date etched in their memory.

Not at all.

I'm thinking about what Jesus told Thomas
over in the book of John, you know,

where Thomas had said he wasn't going
to believe unless he put his fingers

in the holes in his hands and all that.

But Jesus showed up and he
said, Thomas, because you have

seen me, you have believed.

Blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed.

So it's our faith that pleases
God, not our experiences.

I mean, experience is great,
but real spiritual maturity is

walking by faith, not by sight.

Not because we have a dramatic
encounter that lights our fire.

Besides, I think we all know some old
saints who got stuck on a salvation date

50 years earlier and never moved on.

Lauren: Mm hmm

Jesse: Anyway, I like to tell
people that if you truly want to

know where you are on the spiritual
path, check what you're counting on.

Are you trusting in a date?

Or in memorized verses, or
something that happened in the past.

Or are you trusting the living
Jesus behind those things?

Anyway, just something to think about.

So, having said all that, I do have some
guidelines for people to use, to help them

prepare their stories over at my website.

It gives some of the topics
that people can include in

their story if they want to.

But I really make it clear that I want
each person to tell their story the way

they feel most comfortable, you know,
the way the Holy Spirit leads them.

People can answer my questions if they
want, but I'd rather they just use

mine as a kind of a guideline to come
up with a structure for their talk.

as you can tell I'm doing some reading
because there's some information

I wanted to get across so I want
to make sure I didn't forget.

But I'm not telling my story, I'm trying
to pass along some important information.

So I am doing some reading, but I suggest
that people not do that when they tell

their story, just tell it from the heart.

So here's some things to think about that
I have on the guidelines, and I'll just

go ahead and mention them here just for
the purpose of this introductory episode.

1.

What was your life like before Jesus?

2.

When and where were you born?

3.

What was it like growing up?

4.

What was your childhood like?

Parents, grandparents, siblings, school,
church, friends, activities, etc.

5.

6.

Significant events and people.

6.

What happened to bring
you to faith in Christ?

7.

When and how did you
first hear about Jesus?

8.

What sort of discipleship
did you receive, if any?

9.

How did your life change
after you came to believe?

10.

What were some of the trials
and challenges you've had

to overcome in your life?

That's a real important one
because that's what people are

listening for to get hope.

11.

Why do you think that thing happened?

12.

What did you learn from it?

13.

What is your life like now
and how do you experience your

relationship with God today?

14.

How have your relationships
with other people changed?

15.

What do you think your
ministry to the world is today?

In other words, what is your purpose?

16.

How do you experience your
daily walk with the Lord?

So towards the end of the time, I
ask people to pass along one bit

of wisdom that they've learned from
the Lord that they want to share.

Then I ask them to pray for the
listeners, and we wrap it up.

So these are just ideas for preparation.

It's not a formula.

Besides, I know that no matter how much we
plan, Holy Spirit's gonna do what He wants

to do and say what He wants said because
He knows who's out there listening.

And He knows who needs to hear what.

So we just make a plan because
that's being a good steward.

We take notes, we pray about it, and
we just trust Him for the outcome.

So, all these guidelines are
on my website, which I link to

in the show notes, not only in
this episode, but every episode.

Lauren: I gotcha.

Now that we know a little
bit about why you started

the podcast how about
a little bit about you?

Because a lot of people might be
listening and have never met you before

and would like to know about you.

Jesse: Sure.

I'll take a few minutes to tell about
myself just so people will know that I'm

a real person and what I'm all about.

But, at some point, I'll get somebody
else to interview me for a whole episode.

just like I'm doing with other people.

But for right now, I'll just say that
I'm just a good old boy from the South.

I make a living with my hands.

Except for six years in the Marine Corps
in the 70s and a few other odd jobs,

I've been self employed all my life.

Building, fixing, painting, doing
all sorts of physical labor.

I just enjoy that and I like moving.

I'm not much of an
inside guy or a desk guy.

as far as my personal life goes,
the most important part of my

life besides Jesus is my family.

I've been really blessed to
have been married to my lovely

and gorgeous wife, Becky.

For over 40 years now.

And I'm so grateful that she
stuck with me as long as she has.

Most days I'm just in awe.

Of her.

I look at her and I think
how blessed I am to have her.

She is probably the most authentic and
loving person that I've ever known.

And I'm definitely a better
human being because of her.

I tell people that I want to
be like her when I grew up.

She's my daily living proof of God's.

Grace in my life.

And I'm so grateful.

Also, I am the very proud father
of an absolutely amazing strong,

beautiful and independent 29
year old daughter named Hannah.

She is my pride and joy.

And has definitely been
my greatest teacher.

The best part of my life.

Has been being her dad.

I wouldn't have the relationship
with God that I have today.

If it wasn't for her.

I know other dads understand this,
but it's such a powerful thing for me.

I never really understood what it
meant that God is a father or that

God is love, or God loves you.

But now being a father myself.

Knowing this deep love
that I have for HANA.

The kind of love where I know
that without a second test.

Station I would die for her.

That has shown me what God is like.

Because he did die for me.

And he does give me all the
things that are good for me.

He does listen to me.

And what he wants most
is just to be with me.

And that's the way I
feel about my daughter.

So I understand God today because
of my relationship with her.

It doesn't matter.

What she does or doesn't do.

I'm still her dad.

And I can't imagine a
deeper or stronger love.

So I'm so grateful to be Hannah's dad,
not just a dad, but her dad specifically.

And I'm so proud of her.

Jesse: Anyway, I was raised going to
church and Sunday school and all that.

Had good parents.

Taught me the right things.

Disciplined me well.

But around the time I was 16 I took
matters into my own hands and I

spent a whole decade just chasing
the world and all it had to offer.

And everything that comes
with that lifestyle.

So, after about 10 years, I ended up
suicidal, because the world is just plain

empty and meaningless apart from God.

So, when I was 26 years old, I just
got down on my knees and I said one

little three word prayer, God help me.

Of course, it was a lot more
intense than that, but from that

moment on, my life began to change.

It wasn't an instant conversion,
but it was definitely a turnaround.

In my mind, God was the Christian God, the
one I'd been brought up with, but I didn't

really get into the Bible at that time.

He led me into, this
super secret fellowship.

And, I had some major life issues
to deal with along the way.

And, I've had a lot worse things
happen in my life than my alcoholism.

Fortunately, I've had enough sense to take
advantage of counselors along the way.

There's a proverb that says, in a
multitude of counselors, there's safety.

So I've never missed a chance to admit
when I can't handle something on my own.

And another proverb says, correct a
wise man and he will be wiser still.

So, my basic attitude is that God
is speaking to me all the time.

And he uses circumstances and
people, nature, Our dog, Splash,

was one of my best teachers.

She died a couple years ago.

I mean, if God can speak through a donkey
like he did to Balaam, he can speak

through our dogs, and I believe he does.

Anyway, I trust God to bring me all
the wisdom I need in any way He can.

And, I can use that wisdom to
help myself and others, you know.

One major thing that I learned
about God is that He does not

want us to waste our pain.

Over in 2 Corinthians, Paul says, God
comforts us in all our affliction so that

we may be able to comfort those who are
in any affliction with the comfort with

which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Now that's kind of a tongue twister,
but I think it's the only way to

make sense of this world and all
the senseless things that happen.

But, God doesn't let anything go to waste.

Nothing in His kingdom goes to waste.

But we have to be willing to face our
sin and our pain and our trauma head

on so that we can turn them to good.

And that's the way we
overcome evil in this world.

We use the pain and the trouble and our
sin and our heartbreak to help others.

And that way, we overcome the evil.

That's what gives meaning.

Anyway, after thirty something years,
I went back to, school and got a

master's, in biblical counseling.

And I got certified as
a life recovery coach.

I call myself a life recovery
guide because I think guide is

just more descriptive of what I do.

I just guide people.

So, when I'm listening to somebody else's
problem, I'm listening to the true guide.

You know, Jesus said that the Holy
Spirit would guide us into all truth.

So I just listen to Him as I'm listening
to people tell me their problems.

And I just suggest what the Bible
says about their situation, if

they really want to hear it.

So I don't try to force it,
I just listen and, and pray

and do what he leads me to do.

there's all kinds of people out
there who need all kinds of help.

But, there's a big difference between
needing help and wanting help.

a lot of people really don't want to
know what God says about their situation.

You know, it takes a whole lot
of suffering to get to the point

where you're willing to truly,
absolutely let go and let God,

So if I feel I can't help somebody,
I do the best I can to steer

them toward professional help.

So I try to help whoever God puts in
front of me to the best of my ability.

I mostly just listen.

You know, listening is just So powerful.

That's really what people need the most.

They just need to know
they're being heard.

And, they also need to know that
they're being heard in confidence that

nothing they say will ever be repeated.

And that's super sacred to me.

So I make myself available as a
completely confidential listener

for anybody with problems.

You know, all sorts of problems,
not just addictions, but depression,

suicidal thoughts, identity crises,
uh, parents of prodigals, grief, loss.

There's all kind of grief
and loss going on out there.

We all have grief and
loss and it never stops.

And I've been honored to come
alongside a few people as they have

gone through their dying process.

That's always humbling and it's a
great honor to be invited into that.

And I love working with small groups.

I've been honored to lead many small
groups in my life and I really enjoy that.

I don't pretend to have all
the answers, but I do know

that God's Word doesn't fail.

And it, never returns void.

As it says over in Isaiah.

Lauren: Yes,

I I couldn't agree more.

Well, This has been a really interesting
process just to learn a little bit

about what you're up to and, I'm
excited about what comes next So,

anything else you want people to know?

Jesse: Well, I think that's about it.

There's a lot more I could say, but
I think people can get the picture

now what this podcast is all about.

And I appreciate you being here.

I haven't given you much chance to talk,
so, hopefully I'll be getting you to

tell your testimony at some point in
the future, and I look forward to that.

Lauren: okay.

I'm in, I'm in.

I'm, I'm totally sold.

Well, I think we've answered
a lot of questions that people

might be having before they
start to listen to the podcast.

one of my questions was.

How can people get in touch with you?

Jesse: My ministry website, the
way to reach me is jessieduke.

net.

There's a link at the end of this
episode and every other episode.

I don't participate in any kind of
social media, and probably never will.

I just use old fashioned email, so
a little patience may be required.

And I do have a day job, but I try
to respond to emails within 24 hours.

Or less.

So at the end of each episode I
asked the guest who just told their

stories to pray for the listeners.

But in this case, I want to reverse that.

I'm asking everyone who's listening to
this initial episode to pray for people

out there who don't know about the
purpose and plans that God has for them.

Please pray that everyone will get
exactly what they need from the

Lord and that the podcast will be an
instrument of God's peace to everyone.

So thank you so much for those prayers.

And thanks again, Lauren.

And thank you all for listening.

Cailin: We hope you've been
blessed by today's story.

In case you haven't noticed, there
are no advertisements on this podcast,

and we hope to keep it that way.

So if you've heard something that you
think could help someone you know, please

share it using the link in the show notes.

Also, if you will give Faith and Purpose a
positive review on your podcast platform,

you could help more people find it.

You will probably never know how
that small effort can make a big

difference in someone's life,
but our Heavenly Father knows.

Speaking of sharing, if you know a Jesus
follower with a story to tell, please send

them a link to Faith and Purpose Podcast.

It may encourage them to tell their story.

That person may even be you.

Our only criteria is
that Jesus be glorified.

Most Christians don't share their faith
because they mistakenly think their

story It's not interesting enough,
or that it's self centered to talk

about themselves, or that they are not
competent to explain the gospel correctly.

But none of that is relevant.

If Jesus has changed your
life, you have a story to tell.

All of our stories are completely unique.

No one has a story like yours, and you
may be the only one who can reach someone

else through telling your experience.

So don't be intimidated.

A story is just that, a true account
of your own experience, and no one

can disagree with your experience.

When we tell what Jesus has done in
our lives, we are being obedient to his

command to go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.

It's not about theology, and it's not
about how interesting or special you are.

It's all about Jesus.

So when you're ready to tell how Jesus
has impacted your life, you can let Jesse

know at his ministry website, jesseduke.

net.

There you can download guidelines
that will make it easy to

prepare to tell your story.

Thank you for listening today and Shalom.