Ep. 7 - Flee: As a disciple, resist the devil and he will flee. As a leader, ask, “Is it worth it?”

Discussion on avoiding temptation in the workplace, personal accountability, and how to handle criticism w/Isaac Cudzilo, an East Tennessee area, young adult logistics professional. 

Questions and lessons explored in this episode: 

• Have you ever thought about the consequences of sin? What are your “Is it worth it?” questions? 
• What specific steps do you need to take to improve your success in handling testing and temptation? When will you take these steps? 
• How do you practice accountability in your life? Whom could you ask to partner with if you don’t currently have a regular accountability practice? 
• How well do you handle criticism? How can you improve? 
• When did you last lose your composure? What happened? What role does self-control play in leadership and why is it important? 
• How will these discipleship and leadership principles help you transform your workplace through your pursuit of Christ? 

Discipled Leader is a show that provides struggling, stuck, or merely surviving Christian Business leaders with a framework to grow their influence through becoming a redemptive (i.e., change for the better), Christlike presence in the workplace, and living a more fulfilling personal and professional life. www.prestonpoore.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Hi, Preston 4. Welcome to the Disciple Leader Podcast. Along with my young, professional co-host and adult children, Caroline Bennett, and a special guest, we'll explore a life-changing framework designed to help struggling, stun, or merely surviving Christian business leaders grow their influence by becoming a redemptive, Christ-like presence in the workplace, and living a more fulfilling life. Buckle up and get ready to be transformed. Hi, I'm Preston 4. Welcome to the Disciple Leader Podcast. I'm joined by my co-host and adult children, Caroline and Benton. And today we're going to chat with a special guest and their insights on Disciple Leaders sixth chapter titled Flee, F-L-E-E, Flee, and discuss how to apply your faith in the workplace. Caroline's going to facilitate today's discussion. And then be sure to stick around for Ben's Hot Seek, where we'll get to know our guests through a series of rapid-fire fun questions. Now, each chapter begins with a dual principle. And what I mean by dual principles is this is one is related to discipleship and the other is related to leadership. So chapter six, title flee. This principle is this. As a disciple, resist the devil and he will flee. As a leader, ask, is it worth it? And I wrote a summary for each chapter. And here it goes. It says, temptations abound for leaders likely because of our disability and influence. Everyone knows when a leader fails. In your personal life, shun and run from temptations. Giving in means that you're likely to give in to temptations at work as well. And the risk of doing so never, never outweighs eternal rewards. And the anchor scripture for chapter six is out of Corinthians 10.13, it says this No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and He'll not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation, he'll also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure. So today we're going to talk about some tough topics, temptation and handling criticism. Caroline, who's our special guest?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Yeah, so today we have Isaac Cazillo, a longtime friend of the Four Families, Knoxville Roots. So I'm really glad to have him. Isaac has been in a couple of different areas in business with international logistics experience and then has spent the last uh several years in sourcing and procurement. And he's also a fellow volunteer, as well as a big family man who is the youngest of five boys. So big Godzilla clan. We love them all, but we're really glad to have Isaac on today. I'm actually really impressed, Isaac. I'll start it off with the fact that you um preferred to the interview on Flea, which I thought us as a podcast group were going to have to ask someone to talk about temptation. So I'm excited for what you're about to share.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Yeah, well, thanks for having me. And I think uh I wanted to talk about Flea because temptation is really easy to talk about because it happens all the time. So I've got tons of experience with it.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

Well, good. I mean, that's a good perspective right off the bat. Um, in this chapter, I love the personal story from my dad of just receiving criticism. Um, and feedback is something that we're often given in the workplace. Um, but just right off the bat, like, how do you think that you receive criticism today? And maybe how have you grown in your um how you respond to criticism?

SPEAKER_02 3:44

Sure. Um, well, I I'll answer it kind of twofold. Um I have actually struggled in many, many, uh, with many managers to, you know, get positive reinforcement or positive uh critical feedback. Um so I'll be in my year-end review or something, and I'll kind of ask the question hey, what can I do better? Um, and it's interesting because I I think a lot of leaders um kind of lack that confidence to provide that critical feedback that can be so beneficial. Um probably because you know, many people um are uncomfortable with it. You know, they're uncomfortable receiving it and they're uncomfortable giving it. Um, so when I have gotten critical feedback, I think it's actually been super beneficial. Um obviously it kind of depends where it's coming from. So um I'll share kind of just a brief story. When I moved from Chattanooga back to Knoxville, um, I had a mentor at work, and and kind of one of the things that I asked him was, Hey, what can I be working on? Um and and he gave me some feedback that that kind of took me back and caught me off guard that was turned out to be really helpful for me. Um, he was kind of like, Hey Isaac, you know, I was really excited for you to to move back to Knoxville. I had heard a lot about you, I was excited to get to know you. And then you got to Knoxville and you kind of just walked around with your head down and you were super shy and quiet and didn't go up and introduce yourself or anything like that. Um and so it was just basically saying, Hey, you know, people people want to interact with you, people want to engage with you. Um, and it's really hard to do when you're kind of walking around with your head down. So that that was hard. Um, that was hard to do. Um, and then the other feedback I think I've gotten um has just been, which I think ties into this other guy's feedback, but just in confidence of um, you know, in in business, it's it's important to hold your head up high and talk about yourself. Um not be conceited necessarily, but be confident in who you are. Um, and especially as as Christians, be confident in, you know, who God made you to be and being made in his image and whatnot.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

So yeah, no, I love that. I think, you know, your heart position or your intention could have been to be humble and, you know, not come in and be, you know, this cocky new kid on the block. Um, but then the way that was received was different. So I love that he encouraged you in that way. Like, hey, you know, we want to engage you. Um, but it kind of came in the backwards comment saying, hey, you're walking around with your head down. Um, like do something about it. I love that that that made a change. Um, I think you also have kind of spoken to just managing emotions. I mean, showing emotion, right? Like when you came in and you might have seemed a little bit more gloomy or even humble, you know, and not trying to be too much. Um, how you how you pivoted that and you took the feedback. So on the flip side of that, when you've been more confident, kind of what's the what's been the difference you've seen?

SPEAKER_06 6:51

Yeah, so uh that's a great, I guess, uh, follow-up question.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

Um I think when I'm I'm more engaged and more confident, um, you know, people tend to, you know, they're attracted to people that are confident and um smiling and asking them about themselves and their lives and stuff. So when I'm not scared to go up and talk to someone, um, you know, when I'm taking that leap, people love that. You know, they're they're um honestly they're honored by it because someone would take the time out of their day to go out and and you know, ask them about themselves and and questions, getting to know them better, um, which I feel like is kind of a lost art these days.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Yeah, it definitely is. But I love that you kind of spoke to wooing people, you know, like when you you've taken this feedback, you've made the change, and then you now have this new relationship with folks to engage them. Right. So that's so good. That's so good. Um along the lines of temptation, um, and maybe not in this specific scenario you just uh talked us through, but in another one, have you ever had to just take a step back and and really examine your emotions and reel them in?

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Yes, uh, absolutely. Um, so I I think you know, emotions and controlling those are one of the biggest temptations that I deal with, especially in the workplace setting. Um, you know, just the other day, um I was talking to a guy on the phone from work, and um this guy, for some reason, I had never talked to him before, but he was extremely angry with me. Um and I felt uh Preston, I kind of related to to how you felt with and it's different, but just you were taken back by um this feedback that you got from your boss. Um, but this guy, you know, called me and was raising his voice at me, being extremely rude. And um, here's the thing, I I did stop. I was able to ultimately control my emotions. Um, but you know what I did afterwards is I called my boss and complained about this guy and badmouthed him and um did not respond to that temptation. Well, I did initially, and then you know, the more I stewed on it, pressing kind of like what you were saying with you wanted to pick up the phone. Um, I didn't do that to that guy, I did it to my boss. And I I just, you know, I badmouthed this guy. I I wanted the world to know how this guy had mistreated me, kind of thing, um, which is unfortunate.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

Well, I mean, I think that's a thought process a lot of us have. So that's very honest. Um, and you're not alone in that. I think the thing that's challenged me in this chapter is the is it worth it? Which kind of positions another question of what do you want the outcome to be? You know, when you react a certain way, or if we fly off the handle or we pick up the phone, like what's the end goal there? And then it kind of goes back to the question, is it worth it? Um, so I think it's giving us or ourselves a little bit more time, you know, before we pick up the phone. I think sleeping on it is always a good thing to do. Um, and it doesn't necessarily hurt. So I I thank you for that honest story. That's really good.

SPEAKER_02 10:08

Yeah. And I'll just say, you know, as far as is it worth it? Um, I think as Christians, the Holy Spirit oftentimes convicts you um a lot uh after, you know, if you do fall into temptation. Um and that's never fun. Um so that that's kind of one of those things that I ask myself, um, or try to stop. And if I can control my emotions enough to stop, like you said, sleep on it or whatever. Generally, those strong emotions that I can't control are gone. Um, but if I do give in that temptation and I go and badmouth you know, someone or respond in a uh negative way, then you know, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, and that doesn't feel good. Um and as a non-Christian, you know, even not speaking spiritually, um, that's not a good look as a business professional to be, you know, talking behind someone's back or you know, not confronting the situation head on and and whatnot. But yeah, um, so it's kind of twofold, you know, it's it's there's a spiritual aspect of it, and then there's also just like a business professional uh aspect of it as well.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Totally, just a right and wrong way to handle situations.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

I like it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:18

Hey Isaac, just a curious follow-up question for you. How do you recover from that? Sure. How do you recover? And what did you learn from that situation?

SPEAKER_06 11:26

Well, that's a great question, Preston.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Um I learned that I needed I needed someone to hear me. I needed someone to feel bad for me and to be on my side and and realize, you know, quote unquote how ridiculous this guy was to me. Um and that a sin. You know, it's it was um it's it's pride. He hurt my pride, and I needed someone to like, you know, restore me in that. Instead of going to to you know, God and praying and stopping and and you know, looking at the grand scheme of things, um I needed someone to reassure me and and you know, that this guy talked down to me and and you know, that he's in the wrong kind of thing.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Yeah, so changing kind of your source of truth, I guess. Um, I guess when you've when you've faced that. So that's really good. And again, something I think all of us can relate to. It kind of begs another question, like when you pick up the phone and you appropriately do so to share an experience with someone, um, like an accountability partner. Um what is that like, or what's the difference in your mind um in kind of venting to someone or considering them an accountability partner?

SPEAKER_02 12:47

So so I think it's it's how you talk about that situation. Um, I think it's the intent behind, you know, in some ways there's there's it's okay to say, you know, hey, boss, this person talked about me. I thought this was extremely unprofessional. Um, and you know, I don't appreciate it. He's not listening to what I have to say. You know, we need to escalate that. I think there there is an element to that that's okay. Um, it's when I um am really, really angry and it's coming out of a place of of anger that leads, you know, the heart to say wicked things. Um, I think that's when it's not okay. Um so I I don't know, in some ways there's there's venting, and that venting can very quickly lead to um, you know, anger that comes from an unhealthy place.

SPEAKER_00 13:35

Yeah, I think unhealthy place is a great way to put it. I mean, again, kind of what's the end solution? Is it to solve the problem between you and said customer, or is it to restore my ego and you know how I feel about the situation? So I think that's a good delineation. Um, who are those people in your life? Who are your accountability buddies? Um, whether they're you know co-workers or even personal, you can share as well.

SPEAKER_02 14:00

Yeah, so I would say that most of my accountability um comes from personal relationships. So, first of all, my wife Sydney is is wonderful, and um, I can be honest and open with her, and and she holds me to a higher standard in so many ways. Um, the the term the better half is is so true, especially with her. Um then also I would say um having like for myself, uh having a group of guys, um, Christian men that you know face very similar things, whether in the workplace or not, um, that we can, you know, meet weekly and and either discuss scripture and life events um or just hang out and talk that and and those conversations lead ultimately to kind of what's going on. But you know, it is it is crucial to have, I think specifically people of the same sex um that are of the same age um that you you can be accountable uh to. And then I'd also say um I've got a couple older friends that are you know seven, eight years older than me. Um I don't have kids yet, but they they do. They've been married, you know, several years longer than I have. And just having those guys that I can rely on that are more mature in their faith and their walk and and just their life in general, um, that is such a blessing. Um, because they've seen it all for the most part. They've seen what you're going through and and they can kind of um in many cases talk about the other side of it.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

Yeah. Well, and I think it's the it's utmost wisdom when we can learn from other people's mistakes. Um having an open heart and ear towards mentors, um, if I'm hearing you correctly, is you know, key to wisdom and even resisting temptation because you've seen how it's played out for other people. Absolutely. So that's really good. Um, is there a kind of a lesson even from those mentors that's top of mind right now, just around how someone's taught you to resist temptation or maybe someone who's set an example of just living kind of a righteous life in the professional setting?

SPEAKER_02 16:07

So I guess I'll share an example of a former mentor of mine that I'm kind of keeping up with via social media that's going through some really, really hard stuff. Um, and and this person was um in in the hospital dealing with you know extreme sickness, and um he would make social media updates and instead of you know asking for um you know items for himself, he would, he would ask for cards and encouragement for the nurses. Um so you know, one of my uh most I guess big prayers that I I pray very frequently is, you know, Lord, when this trials and tribulations come, would I respond in a manner that is righteous and holy and um of of the Lord? And this person has definitely done that, and it's been so um difficult to to see this walk, but also so encouraging um to see how they've they've gone about it and how they've loved others through that, um, and been truthfully a light um to me, you know, from afar, and then also to the nursing staff and the doctors, and and so much so that actually, you know, I shared that with my work team. So it kind of um, you know, was kind of twofold of my mentor now turned into you know application in the business world.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

Yeah, and just a testimony. I mean, that's incredible that while he could look inward and feel sorry for himself or even feel angry that he's um having totally a righteous response and looking outward and being an example for others. That's incredible. Um, and what an opportunity for you to share that work. Um Right. It's a great, great story. So, with all this, I mean, you've talked about accountability, you've talked about managing your emotions, um, you talked about learning from others and having wisdom there and kind of asking yourself what's worth it. So I feel like you are a great example of just really examining that. So understanding when you're feeling tempted, you say it's always. Um, but I I think you've set yourself up well and are exercising disciplines to really um stop and ask that question. Is it worth it? Um, what's the key thing that really helps you ask that question or helps you to pause and consider the outcome?

SPEAKER_02 18:35

So I I think it's um it's both a deeper understanding of God's love and a deeper understanding of sin. Um and not not that I understand those things fully or perfectly by any means, but um just kind of understanding what sin is and how it is personal. And um, you know, when when you do decide to you know fall into temptation into temptation, excuse me, um, you know, that that's sin against God. And um Jesus didn't just save us from our sins, he paid for each individual one. Um so when you make that that choice, I mean, you are sinning against God and ultimately choosing your own way over his. Um and then flip side of that is thankfully there's grace, and Preston you mentioned this, that there's always grace, grace always covers sin, and I'm so thankful for that. But um, you know, when you understand God's love and God's grace, you know, that should drive you to um strive not to fall in temptation, to stop and pray and pause um and flee. You know, ultimately um there's times when you need to flee, and there's times when you need to stand up and the devil will flee.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

Yeah. Well, I think bringing it back to the word flee just reminds me that there's a way out. Um that we're talking about sin and we're talking about resisting temptation, and it sounds like a ton of work. Um, but we live a victorious life through Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit enabling us to flee and find life on the other side. I think it's important to note uh in everything we've said, like walking away from sin is choosing life. Um so that's that's a definite upside that I just think is important for listeners to hear. Um, so maybe on that note, can you talk about a time where you've, you know, the benefits of walking away from sin? Maybe that's peace or happiness. Um, what has that led to for you?

SPEAKER_06 20:41

Sure.

SPEAKER_02 20:42

Um I think I I guess I'll share a very recent example as in last night, um, where I'm dealing with with something at work and um it's extremely stressful and you know it it causes this anger in into me. And um, you know, it's okay, now we're post-work and this anger is still within me, and I'm I'm kind of rambling on to my wife about it, and you know, not talking kindly about the situation or different people, and um honestly pressing your words of just stop and pray kind of entered into my my mind. And I was on my way to my parents' house, and it's like, hey, I don't want to go over to my parents' house, I haven't gotten to see them in a month, and be in this really sour, um, upset mood because of some ultimately minuscule thing at work that that will be okay. Um, so that's what I did. And and that's not something I've always done in the past, and it's something that I won't always do in the future. But you know, truthfully, it worked. It's I stopped and I had to pray for a while because it would the anger would, you know, rear its head again. And and ultimately, you know, the Lord gave me peace um about it, and I was able to enjoy the rest of the night and not, you know, let it ruin it.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

That's uh that's a good antidote. Hey, Isaac. I want to jump in real quick and maybe ask a couple of questions and pivot for just a second. In your own words, what's the difference between temptation and trials after reading the chapter and experiencing? What's the difference between the two?

SPEAKER_06 22:15

So I think temptation is specifically regarding sin.

SPEAKER_02 22:22

And I think trials are things that happen in your life, like a sickness or a loss of a parent or something like that, you know, difficult things that happen in your life that still revoke a response from you. But I think temptation is is to me specifically regarding sin and a choice, you know, that you're presented with of doing right or wrong. And trials are are, you know, just difficult things that you're dealing with. That you still have that, you know, obviously you could fall into the temptation to um respond to those trials poorly. Um that that's what I would say.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

And one other quick question I want to ask your perspective on a lot of Christians struggle with uh thinking that temptation is also sin. Can you talk to that for just a second? Maybe talk to that from your own experience as well.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

Well, I think uh there's a passage maybe in Hebrews, and then um uh speaking of Jesus was tempted, and then obviously, you know, we learned about that in the gospels. Um so the fact that Jesus was tempted, you know, means that it's not a sin. But I think um it's it's to me temptation is that that tipping point. You either um decide to be obedient or you decide to ultimately go against God's will and and that that fall into sin. Um so I don't think that temptation is itself um a sin because you could be driving down the road and see you know a billboard or or something like that that um causes you to be tempted, and it's kind of what you do with those those thoughts afterwards that to me is is kind of the result. Cool.

SPEAKER_01 24:06

That's uh I I try to make the point with people that uh temptations as well. Temptations are meant to bring out the worst in you, and trials are meant to bring out the best in you. And so as you develop your character around all that, you see that recognizing the temptation is a negative experience. Trials can be tough, challenging, but if you rise above those and learn from them, you can learn from both, certainly. But I've always looked at it that way and the delineation between the two. But love to your your perspective on it and uh how you think about that.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

Yeah, that's so good that I haven't thought about um trials bringing out the best, but I think we do oftentimes see that, especially out of Christians. Um, they rise above. I mean, with the Holy Spirit, like Isaac's mentor choosing to care for others around him. Um, just a really incredible response. Yeah. Yeah. So Isaac, this has been incredible. Um, again, thank you for talking about flea. Thank you for talking about um temptation and being our brave uh podcast guest. It's been so good to hear you talk about just receiving feedback and how you took it, you made a change, you saw benefit from it. Um, although you you saw that through kind of a truth check of, hey, how am I acting? How could it benefit me to make a change? And then um saw life on the other side. We also talked about life on the other side of walking away from temptation, which I think is incredible and putting at those uh just boundaries or checks and balances of accountability partners and um in Sydney and in your friends, um, it's awesome to see you walking out this Christian life and um choosing life for yourself and choosing our God above all else. So thank you for being on this podcast.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

Yeah, thanks for having me. Do you feel like one person in your personal life and another your professional life? Are you driven by your faith and yet you feel like that you can't bring it to your workplace? Does this disconnect make you feel like that you're not honoring God and everything that He's called you to do? Do you feel like that you're merely surviving day-to-day at work without purpose or meaning? Do you want to grow your influence and positively shape your work environment, but you're not sure how? Hi, I'm Preston Poor, author of Disciple Leader, inspiration from a Fortune 500 executive for transforming your workplace by pursuing Christ. You know, honestly, it took me a long time to figure out that it's not about changing your leadership style. Well, learning to be a better leader certainly is necessary, and many excellent books have been written to that end. Changing your style will not change who you are. Listen to this. Who you are needs to change before what you do changes. Becoming who you're meant to be as a Christian leader does not begin with focusing on leadership. Your calling toward better leadership is a calling toward deeper discipleship. My new book, Disciple Leader, provides struggling, stagnant, or merely surviving Christian business leaders with a framework to grow their influence through becoming a redemptive, Christ-like presence in the workplace and living a more fulfilling personal professional life. Through the book's 10 dual discipleship and leadership principles, stories and application, you'll experience personal professional transformation. For example, you'll change from struggling to live out your faith in the workplace to being empowered to positively shape your environment. You'll move from a stagnant, stale, dormant faith to one that's growing, active, and fulfilling. You'll shift from merely surviving day-to-day to thriving and living a life of purpose and meaning. If you're struggling to live out your faith in the workplace, worry that you're missing the opportunity to make a positive difference, or fear that you're living an unfulfilled life, it all stops here. Visit my website, PrestonPore.com, and order your copy of Disciple Leader Today and begin to experience personal and professional transformation.

SPEAKER_03 27:52

All right. So, Isaac, as we're getting here towards the end, uh we have a little segment that I like to call hot seat. Uh where we got a few fun and easy questions uh for ourselves and the listeners just to get to know you a little bit better.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

All right.

SPEAKER_03 28:04

So are you ready?

SPEAKER_02 28:05

I'm ready.

SPEAKER_03 28:06

All right, let's go. Um, what's something you could eat for a week straight?

SPEAKER_02 28:12

Ooh, Thai food.

SPEAKER_03 28:14

Thai food, good call. Would you rather wake up to an air horn blowing in your ear every day or wake up and have to run four miles?

SPEAKER_02 28:22

Wake up and have to run four miles.

SPEAKER_03 28:27

Interesting. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 28:28

I I'd get, you know, healthy from it, at least.

SPEAKER_03 28:33

Yeah, you probably might wake up in a better mood too.

SPEAKER_06 28:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

Um is Jimmy Kimmel funny.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

Uh I'm gonna say no because I couldn't name I I couldn't tell you who Jimmy Kimmel is.

SPEAKER_03 28:46

I love it. Night show host. Okay. There you go. That's okay. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

SPEAKER_06 28:53

Milk chocolate, 100%.

SPEAKER_03 28:55

Say something cool. Uh ice? There you go. Okay, that's what I would that's probably what I would say too. Uh polka dots or stripes? Stripes. Would you go to a movie alone?

SPEAKER_06 29:11

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 29:14

What's a country that you'd be okay with never visiting in your life?

SPEAKER_05 29:20

Oh man.

SPEAKER_06 29:24

Russia?

unknown 29:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 29:27

I mean Russia's kind of cool though. That's a difficult question.

SPEAKER_05 29:30

Yeah, Russia is kind of cool.

SPEAKER_06 29:33

Probably not in this current environment, at least.

SPEAKER_03 29:36

That's fair. Would you r rather eat some smoky gnocchi or some delish fish?

SPEAKER_06 29:44

Delish fish.

SPEAKER_03 29:46

Okay. If you were given the opportunity to fly into space given today's technology, would you take it?

SPEAKER_02 29:51

Not a chance.

SPEAKER_03 29:52

Why? Wow. Why not?

SPEAKER_02 29:55

It scares it scares me so much.

SPEAKER_01 29:59

You wouldn't pay twenty right, yeah, but right now you wouldn't pay twenty-eight million dollars to go into space?

SPEAKER_02 30:05

No. No. Maybe twenty-six million, but not twenty-eight. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:10

It's all about the uh cost rate off.

SPEAKER_02 30:12

Right.

SPEAKER_03 30:12

Um for a journal, paper, or computer?

SPEAKER_06 30:16

Computer.

SPEAKER_03 30:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 30:18

What's the most embarrassing store you might be seen shopping in? Oh gosh. I haven't gotten new clothes in I don't know how long. Um I don't even I don't even shop in stores. That's that's a problem for me. Amazon guy? Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:41

Or just like get random stuff at Christmas for my birthday, honestly.

SPEAKER_01 30:46

Oh, good. All right. Isaac, thank you. Thanks for playing along. You're a lot of fun. Go through all those questions and thanks, Ben. Nice job on that. Just a fun way for our listeners to get to know uh you just a little bit. Hey, before we close, Isaac, uh, what's one takeaway uh that you would want to share with the audience? One takeaway from either the chapter or today's conversation that if you walked away and say there's just one thing I think you need to know about uh temptation and fleeing and uh handling criticism, anything around that, what what's that one thing?

SPEAKER_06 31:16

Yeah, thanks. Um I think I think it's super important to realize, Preston, how we talked about that temptation itself is not the sin.

SPEAKER_02 31:29

Um, and then on top of that, you know, I don't I don't know if this is uh from you. I think it's from scripture that you you drew upon, but you know, God will not um tempt you beyond what you can handle, and that he'll always find he'll always give you a way out. And whether we take that way out is kind of up to us.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

I'm tempted to take credit for that, but I didn't write that. That's from a first so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:54

Um so I so just that, you know, I think we've all been um very, very tempted at times and kind of had this moment of like you're almost sweating, you know, thinking like I really my flesh is is dying to do this thing, whatever it is, um, or dying to respond to the this email this way, or you know, whatever. Um, but but you know, the Lord gives you a way out. Um, and a lot of times that's just stopping and praying. And I think that ultimately, you know, the Holy Spirit takes it from you.

SPEAKER_01 32:27

All right, great thanks for the takeaway, and thanks for being part of our Disciple Leader podcast. Take care. Well, that's all for today's episode, and thanks for listening. Join us again next time when we explore another life-changing principle from Disciple Leader. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or other streaming platforms so you'll never miss an episode. Plus, if you don't have a copy of Disciple Leader, stop by my website at PrestonPore.com and order yours today. I'll end with this transformed lives, transformed cultures. I encourage you to allow God to work in you and through you to change your world.