An interview with Greg in which we talk about life, God, and heaven. And he shared favorite Bible verses with great enthusiasm.
Links for This Episode
Bible Verses mentioned:
John 3:16 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=ESV
Philippians 3:14 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phil+4%3A13&version=ESV
Revelation 21:23 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+21%3A23&version=ESV
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[Intro]
In this episode I spoke with Greg. He’s the brother of a friend of mine. He was visiting from out of town so I snagged the opportunity to interview him. We had a great conversation about his church which has a service specifically for people at the residential place where he lives. We also talked about what heaven will be like, some Bible verses he has memorized and his favorite Bible story. You’ll be intrigued, as I was, to learn about ‘box fishing’–something he invented to help with his job. I started off asking him about himself.
[Beginning]
What do you like to do in your freetime?
Basketball, track and field, bocce and golf
Do you have a job?
Yeah, recycling. I like doing that.
How do you do that? What’s involved in doing that job?
There’s a lot of walking. And I taught myself what they call box fishing because everybody doesn’t break down boxes so i have to go down with gloves and get a long metal pole out and i gotta fish and throw them out. And i gotta break them down and throw them back in.
So you even came up with a name for that: box fishing.
Yeah, box fishing. The stuff you do keep when you’re recycling is plastic. Anything that’s dirty is garbage. Anything that’s wax, that has… anything with creamer. And glass–you throw out too. They don’t take glass
So basically you have to separate what’s recyclable.
Yeah, yeah, separate it.
[Interlude]
Can you tell me what do you believe about God and Jesus?
I believe that he saves us, I believe he glorifies us and keeps us safe.
Great. When did you first go to church?
It was many years ago. I don’t remember now. The first church I went to. The first one I went to was in Burbank. I don’t remember the name of it. Then I went to an evangelical free church after that.
Do you generally like the different churches that you went to?
Yeah, I like them.
What’s the church that you go to now. What is it like?
It’s Rock church. I like that one too.
Ok. What do you like about it?
I like all the sermons. Pastor John’s a really good pastor.
Do you go to a Sunday school class as well?
No. I used to do Sunday school. That was in the evangelical free church. And the one verse that they taught me there is always stuck in my head and I have never forgotten it. The verse that they had taught me is one of my favorites: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Fantastic. So you know that one real well!
Yes I do. I know another really well that I like. Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through him that strengthens me.”
That’s a great one too.
Yes it is. It’s a great one. I like that.
Do you ever feel that you really need God’s strength to help you do something?
Yes. To get me throughout the day, what I need to do.
So at the church that you go to now, do you have friends there?
Yes.
What are they like?
Some are friendly and some annoying people that we have to just ignore ‘em. You know. People act different ways, we have to end up ignoring them and not even saying anything.
That’s true. Sometimes you can’t tell people to change, you have to ignore them if they are bothering you.
Yeah, I know.
At your church do you serve? LIke, do you have sort of a job or responsibility at church?
No
What does it look like when you go to church. What happens first?
We go and sit down. When I have money I put it in the offering.
Do they have musical worship?
Bands don’t play, no. one person plays the piano. It’s actually some kind of–it’s a different kind of piano. It’s like an organy type, it’s not an organ I don’t know what it is. It has keys in it.
The singing is just accompanied by the piano/organ type thing?
Yeah.
What happens after that?
Then he reads the word. He prays and then he reads the verse of the Bible that’s on the screen. It’s on the screen. You can see it in big letters.
After that what happens?
Then it’s the sermon. Then after that it’s what they call the thinking cap. We do the thinking cap.
What’s the thinking cap?
You stand there with the Mexican hat on and you don’t say anything. And so the pastor, he says, “Raise your hand before… don’t blurt it out. I’ll make you jog laps around the church if you do.”
He asks a question and you have to raise your hand?
Yeah. People have blurted it out, but he hasn’t done that. He didn’t make anybody jog around the church. So I’m gonna be wearing it the following sunday. I talked to him about it and he said, “I’m sorry we missed you.” He said, “Next time you’ll be wearing the thinking cap next time.”
So each person has a turn?
So I’ll be wearing it on July 3.
Alright. Is that something you’re looking forward to?
Yes.
Good. That sounds fun. Is the preacher preaching through a certain book of the Bible?
He chooses which ones.
Ok. What has he been preaching on lately?
We’ve done the story of Noah and the ark. He didn’t do the covenant of the ark yet. Oh, on Easter he did the risen–when God was risen from the dead. The anniversary of that. Well, and it was the story of Peter.
Good. What’s your favorite Bible story?
My favorite Bible story is the one where Jesus had risen. That’s my favorite one.
That’s amazing. I love that story too.
That’s my favorite one.
Is there anything you think that people could do better at church to be more friendly or…?
Be quiet during church because there is noises. People don’t be quiet. They try to be quiet and some interrupt.
Do they interrupt by asking questions or just…
No, they make noises.
Make noises.
[Interlude] – Heaven
A question about heaven. What do you think heaven will be like?
A big light. Once you get there, then you’re in a better place with God. ‘Cause with Satan you’re nowhere.
It does say that God–there won’t be any sun because God will be the light. [Revelation 21:23]
Yeah God is the light. And heaven will be the big light too. And none of us are perfect until we get to heaven. Then we’re perfect with God.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to that, to being perfect. What are you looking forward to about heaven?
I’m looking forward to being with our dad–to see him again. Because I know he’s looking down at us every day. ‘Cause he’s in heaven.
Do you remember him?
Yeah, No. He passed away early when I was really young.
That will be great to be reunited with everyone who has passed away before us.
Yeah I know. That’s what I’ll like.
[Interlude]
That’s all the questions I have. Is there anything else you want to say about your experience with church or with Christians?
Well yeah, I’m enjoying my walk with Jesus. I enjoy church a lot. All the sermons.
It seems like you have a good memory too for all the sermons and all of the stories you read.
God shows us how he works in those stories about Jesus.
Thanks so much…
You’re welcome.
…for doing the interview with me.
[Take-aways]
I had a great time talking with Greg. Go to the episode webpage and comment to let me know what your take-aways are. Here are my takeaways from the interview.
- My first takeaway was a huge smile from hearing Greg’s enthusiasm about the verses he has memorized. As I was listening back, I couldn’t help but smile again! I was so uplifted by that.
- Secondly, I noticed that Greg did not have any opportunities to serve at his church. However, at the beginning when I asked him about his recycling job, he lit up about that. This makes me even more convinced that everyone loves being a part of a community by having a job, taking part somehow, or having a say in what happens.
- Lastly, I enjoyed talking with Greg about heaven. I’m also greatly looking forward to seeing my loved ones who have gone on before me. And I can’t wait to be made perfect!
That’s it for this episode. You can go to the episode webpage to let me know what you got from this interview. Until next time!
Credits
Music: “Vivacity” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/