Reasoning Through the Bible
Taking a cue from Paul, Reasoning Through the Bible is an expository style walk through the Scriptures that tells you what the Bible says. Reviewing both Old and New Testament books, as well as topical subjects, the hosts methodically show how Scripture is one cohesive story. Critical Thinking with a little bit of theology and apologetics and you have what this podcast is about. Just like Paul on Mars Hill, Christianity today must address woke, deconstruction, and progressive Christianity, all topics that are addressed if we go purposefully through the Bible. Join Glenn and Steve weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as they reason with you through the Bible.
Reasoning Through the Bible
From Success to Fulfillment, Part 1: Faith || An RTTB Interview with Teresa Lopez
What happens when an exercise addiction and food disorder result from a relentless drive for success? Teresa Lopez joins us to share her powerful story of grappling with career expectations and personal setbacks, all while on a journey toward spiritual fulfillment. Teresa's life seemed picture-perfect with her degree in mechanical engineering from Baylor University and a career at Exxon Mobil. Yet, behind closed doors, she battled exercise addiction, eating disorder, and body image issues. Contributing to this is a divorce and the sting of job loss. Her candid revelations show that sometimes, the road to self-discovery takes an unexpected turn toward faith.
As Teresa unpacks her experiences, it becomes clear that the constant pursuit of external validation can often lead to personal discontent. Her story is a poignant reminder of the emotional cost of success when it is not aligned with personal happiness. Through heartbreak and professional challenges, Teresa ultimately found a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ that reshaped her perspective on life. Join us in Part One of Teresa's story, as we explore themes of addiction, faith, and resilience, shedding light on the potential for spiritual awakening to lead to a more fulfilling and joyful existence.
Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.
You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible
Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible
May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
Hello and welcome to Reasoning Through the Bible. If you're listening to us for any length of time, you know that we normally do a verse-by-verse Bible study through the Word of God. But today we're going to do something a little different. We have in our ministry probably 75-80% of the time we do verse-by-verse Bible studies, but we do topical things and we occasionally do things that are related to Christ, but not exactly Bible study. So today we're going to have an interview, we're actually going to have a talk with somebody. It has a wonderful story that I think you're going to want to hear and, of course, it always leads to Jesus Christ. So I'd like to introduce today somebody. Welcome, teresa Lopez to Reasoning Through the Bible.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much, Uncle Glenn. This is my uncle, so thank you so much for having me and Steve, I'm very grateful to be here and very grateful to share what Christ has done in my life.
Speaker 1:We can get that out of the bag first. I guess you are my niece and so, but you have a story to tell I do, and you have quite an interesting story from where you started out and where you got to. So that leads to several things not only you coming to Christ, but you also have had some personal things around exercise addiction. So we would like to talk about both of those today. So let's just go and start at the beginning. What was life like when you were young and what was it like growing up?
Speaker 2:I come from a very high performing and high achieving family and I'm very grateful for that work ethic that they've instilled in me. But what that means is I've always been attuned to performing and competing and trying to achieve the best. I've always been wanting and seeking approval from others to do well and to perform. And growing up that was the way of life. You know, you go to school and you do well. I never wanted to disappoint my family, my parents, with grades, so I would always try to achieve more, and just always I think internally as well trying to perform and achieve. So that was always, always my MO, I guess.
Speaker 1:Now, you mentioned your family being somewhat high performing. I know that going back all the way to your great grandfather was an ambassador, a well-known writer, in his day, and the generation since then have generally been very successful, business-wise, and very, very successful people. Did that lead you having this multi-generation family that was very successful. Did that make you feel a lot of pressure to perform growing up?
Speaker 2:You know, I think it was innate. I don't know if I recognize that from multiple generations, but it had been instilled in me to succeed and I think it came from from my family, my parents, to do so.
Speaker 1:And generally, success is better than failure. Right Agreed?
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm grateful for that. I'm very grateful for the work ethic and the I guess guidance to perform and to succeed. I wouldn't be where I am today without that guidance. So I'm very, very blessed and grateful to have had that influence in my life.
Speaker 1:So then, going into, say, your teenage years and into the college years, what was life like? What was going through your mind in those days?
Speaker 2:I think I always just wanted to be validated and acknowledged and approved that I'm a hard worker or I'm fit enough or I'm the top student. I always wanted to get that validation.
Speaker 1:And then you. So you go to college and your major was what?
Speaker 2:Mechanical engineering at Baylor University, so sick and bears, which is a pretty, I guess, intense major, particularly for women. But I've always had, I guess, a passion for math and I think that's also where my family wanted me to go or to do as engineering. Honestly though, I don't think I would have chosen otherwise. I don't think I knew any better, but I'm very glad that I did do engineering, but within college. Again, it was about success and achievement and doing very well and competing against others. It was very much an inward focus as well, about me and how to compete and achieve.
Speaker 1:So engineering degree quite difficult, right, Because there's a lot of people aren't able. I know I would not be able to get an engineering degree, so very difficult performance level that was put on you. But you achieve that. And so tell me what life was like, say, immediately after college you go out and you get a job. What's life like at that point?
Speaker 2:Well. So I did well at Baylor University. I was one of the top students in my graduating class and I actually was hired on by Exxon Mobil, which is a very elite oil company, if you've heard of it so right even before I graduated. So I felt I felt validated for that and particularly, I think what I love the most is that I made my dad happy and I made him proud. So I remember achieving that and starting work, you know, with that high esteem as well, and just learning who I am without school, right, because whenever you're in school, from kindergarten all the way to college, you're just, you're just told what to do. The next steps Right, you go to the next grade and you do well. But once you get a job you have more. I guess it's more open and you don't really have a set path, can have to figure it out yourself. So that's what happened when I graduated was just learning how to be a career woman.
Speaker 1:And in the career? Am I right that it's not just all downhill on greased grooves and roses in the difficult job? And am I right? In the company was comparing people to another. You're in a position where you're like competing against your peers, Am I correct?
Speaker 2:A hundred percent, yes, and particularly with the culture that I was in. It's all about who can get to the top, and you know that I think that's a great culture for high achievers. You want to perform, but it also can be very toxic and very obsessive as well. So it's there's. There's two sides to every story there.
Speaker 1:So at this point, career wise, you're successful. You have a great degree, you've got a great job, but a lot of pressure to perform. What's going on inside your head at this point? You're successful at your job, but what's going on in the personal life?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I think I was searching for something else. I achieved the goal of getting to you need it to be with the career, right that that that was the goal to to get where I was, but I wasn't fulfilled, um at work. And so, uh, I was searching for another source of fulfillment, um, in in myself, and um, that came through exercise and control, with eating. That was, I think, what I turned to as my idol, my way to find fulfillment and control.
Speaker 1:What was your social life, personal life like? Did you have a lot of friends or any fun things due to outside of work?
Speaker 2:or any fun things due to outside of work. No, I've always kind of isolated myself quite a bit and I think that comes with performance right, it's always been about me and they'll get in the way, you know, and I have a goal and I need to go, and so I would have friends and I don't want to give the impression that I'm unkind, because I love having companions and friends, but particularly in that early part of my life I didn't have as many close friends because, again, it was about trying to achieve and succeed and so I didn't do a lot of fun things. However, when I found fitness, I started teaching fitness classes and that was my source of fun and also my source of obsessions outside of work. So I guess I consider that fun and, of course, with teaching fitness, you are with others. So those were my, my friends, and so I I would get to spend time with them, but again, it was mostly about me and how I could perform and teach. And um, they were, they were just there.
Speaker 1:You used the word obsession. Is that a proper word? Do you think, for what you had? Help us out, what was really driving you at this point in your life? A?
Speaker 2:sense of again, I'm going to use this word often validation. From teaching a good class, from getting a good workout, from seeing weight loss, from seeing muscle mass, from seeing those metrics that you've earned, you get that sense of euphoria and you want to continue to achieve more. Right, there's always oh, I can, I can keep it and I can make it better. And just like we all know the, in a Christian life, there's nothing here on earth that you can ever achieve right. There's always more. There's no, there's no peak here in the world. But the illusion is, and particularly with fitness and food, and there's always the, the sense or the illusion that you can achieve more. So it became an obsession to continue to seek and search and find that sense of fulfillment from that exercise. So just more, more drive.
Speaker 1:You've said that the exercise gave you a sense of control. Well, what was it exactly that you felt you needed to control?
Speaker 2:Controlling who I am and what I needed, which was approval, and I think that's what I wanted. Also, I think, my appearance and my reputation I think maybe that was a sense of control my reputation I think maybe that was a sense of control. Again, if I look this way I work out hard I'm seen as this epitome, this person. I'm seen as successful and maybe that's what I was trying to control.
Speaker 1:So at this point in life, you have an engineering degree, You've got a job as an engineer. The world tells us that a successful person boy, you should be at the top of your game should be quite happy. Engineers get paid quite well and you're in a very successful company, and so life should be just all a bed of roses at this point. Right, I mean, that's what the world tells us. But do those things really bring happiness?
Speaker 2:Isn't that funny how you would think that would be the case, right, you know you have everything. You have the job, you have the money, you have the fitness, but no, you're not fulfilled. There's always more and there's never. There's never a peak, there's never something that you can say I've done it and so no, you're always unfulfilled. There's always a nagging and longing feeling to get more.
Speaker 1:Did romance come into play at this point?
Speaker 2:So that was another sense or source of validation. Yes, I actually went on a dating website and met my ex-husband through that and that was another way to seek a validation and approval through this man. But, just as I learned, I couldn't make him happy and it was a very miserable um marriage. I learned a lot about myself and um a lot about um who I want to be with uh next. But yeah, it was a very similar type of experience with exercise. You're you're just trying to seek um a sense of approval, but you can't, and I think I didn't. I wasn't mature enough or I didn't understand, my eyes weren't open to know that that's not a relationship either.
Speaker 1:You used the word miserable. There's, I'm sure, many other people out there that could identify with that. As far as a marriage, how long did your marriage last?
Speaker 2:So we were together for three years before we got married and we were only married a year and I'm very, very grateful that God gave me this timeline. I guess you could say Again, it was a hard time, but it was short, I guess, in the scheme of things, and I'm very fortunate enough that I didn't have any children with this man. So once we were divorced, or determined to divorce, it was a clean and amicable break, um, which, again, um, thanks to God, um, I'm, I'm grateful that I could leave that behind. How painful was divorce at XL mobile and then teach a class in the evening at five, 30. And I do that seven days a week.
Speaker 2:And, um, yeah, I just I didn't even want to think about what had happened.
Speaker 2:Uh, so it was very pain, it was, it was very numbing, very distracting, um, but once, um, I think, I realized, um, what had happened several years later, to be honest, um, it was very, very painful and there was a time in my life that I did want to get back with with him to re, I guess, ignite the relationship, and I had realized at that time that that's how, that's how hurting or how painful it was, how, and I didn't allow myself to feel those feelings until years later. Um, but one keynote that I do remember um about when I started to actually feel the pain as and wanting to get back with with him, as God telling me in my mind. Even though I didn't know God very well at this time, I remember him speaking to me one time very clearly. He said, teresa, I'm not going to allow you to get back with him. And I fought that. I'm like that's just my mind talking, but I remember that and I'm very grateful that he's done that.
Speaker 1:So at this point you're divorced. That's a major life event. That's quite emotional and quite painful. There was yet another major life event that came into your path, was there not?
Speaker 2:Exactly yes. So COVID happened and unfortunately, a lot of companies were laying off, and my company, exxonmobil, was the same. So I was impacted by the layoffs. I do want to make a note that my relationship with my ex-husband as well had impacted my performance at work. I wasn't a underperformer, but I definitely had allowed the need to make him happy and interfere with my performance at work. When times came for layoffs and they were looking at employees to let go, I was probably fresh meat, I guess you could say Not that I was severely underperformed, but definitely not the top of the top any longer, and so I was impacted by the layoffs. And again, that was Exxon was the source of validation, right. So I now had to go and find another way to feel good about myself after that.
Speaker 1:So, again, coming from this background of wanting to be successful and being told from the time you're young that you need to be successful, but now you're in a failed marriage and now you're out of work and you sort of feel isolated, there was this pressure to succeed, and so now you've had at least two major life events that have kind of thrown you for a curve. What's going on inside your mind at this point?
Speaker 2:You know, I think it's disappointment right, and you know, again a need to feel good about myself and seeking for more distraction to avoid that feeling. So that's when fitness competing came into play.
Speaker 1:And you got a severance from when you were laid off right. So now you didn't, you had enough money to at least buy food. And so what did you do during that time when you were laid off right? So now you didn't, you had enough money to to at least buy food. And so what did you do during that time when you were off?
Speaker 2:So when I was laid off, I actually decided to compete in in fitness. So bikini competition and that those types of competitions really show, you know, a sense of discipline and uh, severe, um work ethic and and uh, so that was my next step. That's how I was going to feel good about myself, I was going to achieve success, and so I fully immersed myself in this realm of fitness competing, where you lose a significant amount of weight and you work out and you achieve this, this a body, uh, which you compete with others on. And so that was my next step and that's what I used my money that I got from some of the money that I got from my severance and um, use my time to, to dive into that.
Speaker 1:So you're, you're off work. What was your daily schedule like and how much were you actually exercising at this point?
Speaker 2:You know, there were days that I was teaching six classes a day. There were. I was in the gym every day. There were no rest days and my life was consumed with, with working out, with food and the way I looked with food and the way I looked, it just seems so.
Speaker 1:All consuming, would you say at this point.
Speaker 2:That exercise was controlling you A hundred percent, Right? Yes, it was definitely controlling me, but there's also a sense of pride as well. Look what I'm doing and look what I'm achieving. Well, look what I'm doing and look what I'm achieving. So I think that's how it kept me, enslaved me. Would you describe this as hiding emotional pain? Do you think? Probably?
Speaker 1:yes, although I didn't think at the time, but sure, it's a distraction. And these were. This was a competition right. What exactly was the competition you were in?
Speaker 2:So, fitness competing, you actually compete with other women roughly your same height and weight on your body. You wear swimsuit, barrel bikinis and you walk on stage and show your muscles and in front of judges and they compare you with other women to see who looks the best.
Speaker 1:Again, all day, every day, and a lot of exercising and very kind of self-focused. What would you describe as your emotional state at this point? Would you describe yourself as happy, depressed? Where exactly is your head at this point?
Speaker 2:Well, I think when I was competing, I think I was busy, so distracted, so maybe happy isn't the word, but I think I was proud of myself for what I was doing. But once I achieved the competition I realized I was tired and it's hard work, it's a full-time job, so after that I had lost. It was interesting. There was no more goal or purpose per se to compete for a certain date or competition, but I still wanted to maintain this epitome of fitness and image. And that's when exercise and food obsession really took control, and that was all I thought about and all I did.
Speaker 1:You used the word epitome, and I think what you're describing is that you're chasing some sort of idealistic perfection. Right, that could never really be achieved, right, exactly so you have this mental image of how your fitness should be and how your body should be, but are you ever able to reach perfection?
Speaker 2:No, you're exactly right. I was chasing something that is never going to be achieved here on earth.
Speaker 1:So at this point, you're laid off, you're being pressured, need to go back to work. In your words, fitness took over. So what happens at this point in life?
Speaker 2:Exactly. So there was pressure to get back and make money, because unless you have, you know, a gym, or you own a gym, or you don't make significant amount of money in fitness, especially comparing a salary to, say, an engineer's salary. So there was pressure to go back to work, um, particularly for my family, um, and so I started applying for jobs and, um, I was hired on by another oil company, phillips 66. And when that happened, I was grateful, but I was also, um, I would think, a little bit bitter and sad because I realized that I wouldn't be able to place so much emphasis and fitness on fitness, emphasis and control on fitness, um, like I had done when I, when it was my full-time job. So there was a bit of sadness and bitterness of letting it go per se.
Speaker 1:And just a little bit of personal perspective from my end at this point. As a Christian, I could see a lot of this happen from a distance and I think the Holy Spirit was drawing me towards you because at one point, if you remember, I called you up and said, hey, let's have lunch. And again, I really feel it was the draw of the Holy Spirit. So part of the lesson here of doing this interview is when we see people around us and our loved ones and the Holy Spirit does give us a, a, a, a tinge, you know, give us a, a bit of a draw. We need to kind of pay attention, cause at one point I called you up and say, hey, let's have lunch, and I really just hey, let's have lunch. Cause I thought, hey, just be friendly and have lunch.
Speaker 1:But I remember I must have caught you at a time when you let your guard down and the defenses were down, because you spent the entire lunch just sort of doing a deep pressure. You were just telling me all these really personal things, one after the other, and I was a little surprised because I knew there was some emotional pain, obviously from the divorce and the layoff. Anybody would, but I didn't quite grasp the degree of the emotional pain until that one lunch that day when you were. You were really just sort of doing a dump, wouldn't you say?
Speaker 2:I agree. Yeah, I remember I actually prepared for that lunch and some notes that I took before I went to go speak with you, but that was, that was a hard time and I remember it also being very dreary outside and cold and it wasn't a very good day, was it?
Speaker 1:But then, afterwards I would see you again in different things and it seemed like the defenses were back up and the shield was in front. Yeah, you weren't very open after that, so I could tell there's there's something going on here to where Teresa might need some help.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's, that's very true. I yeah, you're right, I can feel. I remember feeling that feeling of putting defenses up and not letting anyone in, but then also, when you're severely hurting as well, I remember being. I think I was seeking you as the solution. Tell me what to do, tell me how to make this better.
Speaker 1:And I think that's when my defenses were down. But life did get better, and so tell us what happened.
Speaker 2:So after I started working at Phillips 66, first again I was sad and bitter, but I started, started to really connect with colleagues there and started to be put on work that was fulfilling Again, I was still immersed in fitness, I was still teaching and still working out a lot, but I was starting to find fulfillment in fitness. I was still teaching and still working out a lot, but I was starting to find fulfillment in work. And so I had started just opening up and wanting to connect more with my colleagues and just more enjoying what I'm doing at work besides just working out.
Speaker 1:So tell us about your conversion experience.
Speaker 2:I was still searching for something. You know there's, there's still this longing of I'm still not fulfilled, even though I'm feeling better at work and I'm feeling better about myself. So, still seeking for something. And it was actually you all you, uncle Glenn and Steve when you guys started your podcast. Uh, I was intrigued and I just started listening to it and and um, just started wanting to know more. And it was actually on a family vacation that you were there at, uncle glenn.
Speaker 2:We went to, um, one of my, my other uncle's uh, lake houses and and uh, we, you and I, were just sitting and talking about your podcast and you had actually, um, brought up the subject of, of of Christ and baptism, and, um, you asked me if I would like to get baptized, just point blank. And, and I remembered, there's no hesitation to, you know, I just remember saying yes, um, let's do it. You know, I think in my mind, you know I just remember saying yes, let's do it. I think in my mind I had nothing left to lose. And so I was baptized that day in Lake Palestine and it was amazing, although, you know you don't, you would think you know in the movies. Oh, you know, you think you're, you'd see the glowing light and things and you'd feel immediately changed. And I didn't feel that after that day. But things did start to change after that day and it was pretty amazing.
Speaker 1:What I saw was a fairly dramatic shift in your attitude. I remember you and I had some phone calls once a week or so after that, and I remember the first couple of phone calls first couple of weeks you were just seemed like very overjoyed on the phone to the point you were. You were giggling a lot, Just just seemed to be quite happy. And so what? From a distance, it seemed like this very dramatic shift in your attitude and your outlook on life.
Speaker 2:You know, I agree, I think I had a new purpose and it was gone. It was a new purpose. I remember just and still. To this day I just can't get enough. I can't get enough of learning about him and speaking about him. But I had a new found purpose and I think that gave me joy.
Speaker 1:So we're speaking to people in all types of walks of life, as far as Christian experience does, and different denominations and different Christian experiences view salvation and conversion in a different way. Some people grew up in church and lived their life in church, and even some churches sort of look down upon this idea of a conversion experience, and other churches have just the opposite. Some churches have, okay, you must have a dramatic experience, and I know in my case, when I came to Christ at the age of 25, it was a fairly radical shift in attitude. Again didn't necessarily see fireworks and a light from heaven going off, but my motivation changed 180 degrees and I think I saw that in you. Right, what I remember really connecting with you and correct me if I'm wrong, but again going back to your childhood and your upbringing was all around performance and all around trying to prove yourself successful.
Speaker 1:But Christianity is not that. Christianity is not doing things. In order to be right with God and that's one of the messages that I've always tried to get across to people both inside the church and outside the church is that Christianity is not a performance thing. It's not doing things. It's not measuring how many times we went to church or how many candles we lit or how many prayers we said. It's not a performance thing in order to be right with God. No, it's a love relationship where we just trust him right, and I think that's what connected with you. Am I right?
Speaker 2:I think so. I think you're exactly right. Yeah, I didn't have to prove anything anymore, although I do admit that there still is that illusion and that need. I think I'll always have that here on earth. But yeah, I think that was. The draw to God is that you don't have to prove yourself. You can just be and learn and be loved, and it's just so peaceful.
Speaker 1:Ask one of my favorite questions Is God good?
Speaker 2:God is good all the time, all the time.
Speaker 1:God is good. So tell us in the audience what's happened since you were. You were in this, this life, before that was had all the stress and pressure and you were, as you said was was really focused on trying to reach this unreachable ideal of body image and performance. What's happened since your conversion?
Speaker 2:A lot of transformation. So every day now my day is focused on God, from when I wake up, throughout the day to the evening. I have the best time with God in the mornings daily devotions with him and prayer, and I wouldn't trade that time for anything. It's my favorite time. I also joined a church, which I'm very, very grateful for, and I've met some really dear friends and community in that church. I've gotten involved in a Bible study there and I've served at the church. Also, I've had a career change at work. So from engineering and operations, god has shown me this passion for serving and community outreach and philanthropy, and so I have. God has given me the opportunity to join or to be now what's called social impact advisor, where my job is to oversee volunteerism programs and also to work with my colleagues to to serve others and to get out into the community, and so it's been a complete shift from my performance, operation and driving career that I've had in the past.
Speaker 1:Your description of your life before didn't seem very peaceful. Do you have peace in Christ now?
Speaker 2:I have a lot more peace in Christ now? I certainly do. But I will not lie that there are still days and still times that you know I do think about performing and achieving, and that's when you have to renew your mind. You have to allow Christ to transform your thoughts to his ways, because here on earth again, there's never going to be a peak, just like Solomon, you're never going to find it here. But the illusion is always there, and especially in this day and age, this postmodern day and age. Everybody's all about themselves, but there's so much more peace and contentment with Christ. But you have to allow him to show that to you.
Speaker 1:I'm always fascinated with this idea of people thinking that we have to work our way to God, and that's really not it. And especially, your story caught my attention simply because that's what you were trying to do. Story caught my attention simply because that's what you were trying to do not necessarily working to God, but you were trying to work through life, literally and figuratively, to do all this work in order to reach some state of perfection, and it was unachievable. All you got was tired, and yet God says just rest and trust me. So the question often then falls to well, what do we do with sin? How do we react with sin?
Speaker 1:And I want to read a quote that you wrote. That I think was actually a real good way of phrasing this. The way you put it was this the idea of now that we're Christians, how do we view sin? Because if we're not careful, we'll fall back into this. Okay, and now I want to be perfect again by never sinning, and it's another non-achievable goal. So your perspective, I thought, was good on this. Here's what you said. I look at sin so differently now, not as a failure to me, but a failure to God. How can I sin and be so defiant to someone who loves me so dearly, who only wants the best for me. So help us out with that. We, as Christians, can rest in Christ, but we also know we sin and it bothers us. But it's not a performance game, right? The reason we don't sin is because we don't want to offend the one we love.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly. Yeah, I don't want to displease him, right, because he loves you so much. Why do you want to do that? And there's such a horrible feeling when you do so. The consequences are so severe mentally for me when I do sin and I realize it's not worth it. It's not worth that separation from God and that separation from peace and that separation from peace. So that's what keeps me from sinning. But, as you say, uncle Glenn, in this life we are always going to deal with sin. That's just the way it is here. But recognizing it and repenting from it is the key. And God will always take you back, which is also so amazing, right, so not that you need to be licensing where oh God saved me so I can do whatever I want, but he will always take you back. But you have to be willing to repent and you have to be willing to come back and he'll give you the peace back. But it's a choice.
Speaker 1:Somewhere out there there's somebody listening to us that is in a state where they're uncomfortable with their life, they're not satisfied and they're just now getting to the point where they're becoming interested in this person of Jesus, or they're just hearing about Christianity. What would you say to that person? They're not been fully into Christ and now they're being interested in it. Now, what would you say to that person?
Speaker 2:I would say educate yourself on Christ. Read the Bible, read devotions, read sermons and just allow yourself to get immersed and understand who he is and what's been told about him, what's been shown about him, and that will intrigue you to get to know him more, because he is unlike anybody that's ever been here on earth.
Speaker 2:And I think, one thing that I really love about Christ that you've also said, uncle Glenn- is that he gives you rest, you know, and it's not peace that the world gives, it's peace that he gives, and there's no comparison. It's indescribable peace and it's so different than anything you'd ever feel here on earth. So my advice is just learn and you'll see he'll grab ahold of you.
Speaker 1:But I would say that Well, at this point I want to make a transition. Probably a good time to stop for today because of time, but I want to come back next time and have another conversation about the exercise, because I think there's a lot more there for you to tell about exercise and addiction around that, and really talking about addiction in general, because I think people with other types of addictions can learn from you, because there's there's really, I think, more to tell with your story there. So would you be willing to come back for a part two?
Speaker 2:Sure, I'd love to. I think this is the best part of my time is talking about God, so I'd love to.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we're going to stop here for now. This is again Reasoning Through the Bible. If you want to hear more about what we do on a normal basis, go to our website ReasoningThroughTheBiblecom, and there you'll find resources for Bible study and you'll find free helps to help your church. But for now, tune in again for part two, where we'll get into more with Teresa Lopez.
