The Calm before the Mission Trip | City Post Pod w/ Hector

City Post. Howdy.

We back and I'm here with. Pastor Ricky, what's up

everybody? Hope you guys are doing great,

enjoying your summer getting that tan for.

Real. You know, I'm trying to get my

skin brown again like you bring that brown is back.

You know I need that caramel so. Well, welcome back to another

episode of Build Equips In. Not only is it the title of the

podcast, but most importantly, it's the mission of the church.

That's right, man. And I just got to start with

saying Bro Sunday. Yeah, took me back.

Like I love the way you set it up with take it back to the

water hose. I don't remember the last.

Like to be completely. Real I don't remember the last

time I did that, but something that really took me back as I

was sitting there and it's like it kind of just it was wild to

to like what I was hearing. It took me back to us at Nash.

But the CA here in the building, bro yeah, it's just like man,

bro. It was one of those were.

I'm just going to be honest, I think that's where Eric's voice

really shines. Yeah, he has a his voice is

strong. Like you don't really need much

of a mic, you know, And then the way that the building is set up,

it echoes like it carries. You don't need too much.

So, yeah, man, I don't know. There was something special

about Sunday. I know that that the Lord is

involved in all things. He's in charge of all things.

For you guys that don't know, man, like Saturday, something

happened with electronically man, I, I don't even know some

of these explanations, but you know, I was here at Sunday

morning about by 8 at Spectrum here trying to figure out these

wires running around. Had everybody give me like their

$0.18 and I was like, y'all ain't professionals, leave me

alone. Like, you know, I'm just joking.

People just wanted to help out man.

And but it was cool man. Our worship team just really

came through. They, they, they were flexible.

I said, hey man, let's just work on Plan B.

And Kayla got on that piano. You know, I think she was low

key. I think she might have been the

one to Jack it all up because she wanted to play that piano

because she played that thing, man.

It was, it was great. Raul man on the Cajon and I sent

a text to Alondra afterward and I was like the violin just

sounded wonderful, like it just it was different.

Everything, man, even the guitar with Joseph and the way that

everybody came around, came together, made it happen.

It was like it was planned the whole time and and the Lord was,

was glorified through it all, which was important, which was

the purpose. So yeah, it was, I don't know,

man. It was a special Sunday.

Yeah, man, into what you're saying, like the Lord being in

control and it being his plan. I was talking with Eric a little

bit after the service. He's like, man, that was a God

thing, bro, 'cause we practice that all week.

Like in the new space they practice that's right on what

they were doing all week. So this is like the Lord is just

so intentional. Bro, no, it's, it's crazy.

And yeah, we, we wanted to create like a, like a practice

space. And really the purpose is in the

summer, you don't want to save a little bit on our electricity

bill because a lot of people don't realize how high things

get in the summer. But I think that creating an

environment like that, just you have more space to be creative

and and try new things and people could learn and you're

not hiding behind the stage and the in ears and like, you could

actually hear each other a lot better.

And yeah, like Eric said, man, it was like, we've been

practicing like this all week. So it all, it all played out

Incredible. So it was good.

Yeah. My only thing was, man, I

haven't held a microphone to preach in a long time.

And I was, I was lost. No, but it, it still worked out,

man, it was good. But yeah, you get used to it.

Yeah, it's definitely one of those things where where like

I'm saying, it was a throwback all the way around from the

manga reference. That's right, I didn't.

Even think about that, yeah. To the City Post going back to

his roots, like unplugged worship to to you back there

with a corded mic, bro, Like, yeah, definitely kind of a

throwback, which was dope to experience.

That's right. Especially in the new space.

Yeah, man. I agree.

I agree. But how much of that do you

think is like spiritual? Warfare.

You know what's coming up when city.

Post about to go. Listen across the world to

spread the gospel, bro. We're leaving on a mission trip

and today is 13 days like it's it's here man.

So man, I'll be honest, man, like I, I was up here Thursday

and Friday we were working on some things.

Everything worked perfectly. Saturday I came up here, so I

was like, man, I think something Wi-Fi is up, something's up to

Wi-Fi. And that's when I noticed like

stuff was down, but everything else still worked.

Sunday morning I turned it all on and it's all sorts of noises.

Like I think like our, our board had evil spirits in it.

Like, I mean, it was just making all sorts of sounds and noises.

Like I was like, what is going on?

But I, I think sometimes you have to understand spiritual

warfare, it's not always about, I want to make the person

stumble. I want to make the person fall.

I want to, I'm attacking somebody.

I think spiritual warfare also is Satan trying to stop the move

of God. And the way you stop the move of

God is by going after the people of God.

So it's like if God's up to something, something is coming,

something is going to be like, like the Lord is working.

So anything to stop that morale, you know, that that move and get

people discouraged, it's going to happen.

So we got to get prayed up, our hearts got to be right.

We got to have our armor on and, and recognize like when

something like this happens, I think #1 God is all sovereign.

And God knows this ain't taking God by surprise.

And remember, like in our Live in our Suffer Well series, Satan

has to ask the Lord permission to do anything to us.

So, so God knows what's going on at all times, but I do.

Sunday morning when all this went down, I was like, Yep, we

going on a mission trip. So this, this is not catching me

off guard, which is kind of scary.

But for me, I was, I was just like, we should roll with it.

Yeah. But I, I just think man, like,

and, and remember, we learned about like how God sometimes

uses Satan to humble us. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, man, that's another conversation.

Yeah, man. But even like you're saying in

that aspect is he's going to get the glory on the other side of

it even through US stumbling, even through US being humbled,

even through the board tripping, even through the Wi-Fi tripping,

even through, you know, everything.

Like he's just so sovereign in that man.

And I've just learned, I mean, even OK, so the live stream is

down, We'll put it up in a few hours, you know what I mean?

Like, there's always a solution. It's just we just take things

worst common scenario or you know, and it's like, Nah, dude,

it'll be fine. The word's still going to get

out. Important.

Yeah, man, the the mission doesn't change.

No, it doesn't. And I, and I think say, like

when we talk about spiritual warfare, a lot of times we think

of like sex, drugs, rock'n'roll, you know, like alcoholism,

addictions, like we think of the worst.

But I think sometimes Satan uses something as small as busyness

to, to come at us all of a sudden.

That's like your workload double S.

I'm trying to go on a mission trip in, in a week.

And we, we have to look at that and be like, OK, Lord, I got to

stay focused. We got to stay focused.

We got to stay focused. My day, my my schedule might

change. I might have to work a little

bit more. I might have to sleep a little

bit less. But we got to stay focused.

So, man, yeah. That's good bro.

Yeah, but I'll be be honest man, especially with the mission

coming, this being my first time going out the country, I don't

really count Mexico out the country because like.

They're down the street. That's like South Side, yeah.

For real. Like just the South s s, South

side, the South side of the South side.

But my first time going overseas, my first time, like

using my passport, my first time on this long of a flight, like

right, my first time going and sharing the gospel.

Yeah, and I'm just like, bro, like why me?

I'm not nowhere near qualified for this.

Like, yeah, man. And kind of like some imposter

syndrome kind of kicks in. This is like we're doubt, we're

fear, we're worry. We're things like that starts to

creep in, man. But like you're saying, even

through, you know, the the board trip and the Wi-Fi trip and

like, God still don't get the glory on the other side of it

because the mission still doesn't change.

Like, it's got to go through it, you know?

Yeah. And I think can you explain like

imposter syndrome for people that don't really understand

like in layman's terms? And for me specifically,

imposter syndrome. As far as going to India for

spreading of the gospel with City Post Church, I ain't got no

business, bro. Like, by Hector's will, by

Hector's flaws, by all the capabilities that I possess as a

human being, by no means am I qualified to do this.

Yeah. So it's like, Nah, like I'm, I'm

not qualified to do it. That's to me.

That's what imposter syndrome. Feels like to me, no.

Yeah. But I love that because the the

attitude that you have is the right attitude.

I think that the Lord can use somebody like that and their

humbleness instead of somebody that's like, oh, I can't wait to

go. I'm going to save the whole

world. People don't love me or wait

till they hear me preach, Wait till they hear me sing like

dude, these photos that I'm about to post on Instagram fire

like they're going to see me with all these kids.

I'm going to be a hero. It's going to go on my like

people like that. I think the Lord, the Lord

humbles the proud. We saw that scripture.

But when we get to a place where like, man, Lord, I don't know

how, I don't know why, but I know you called me.

And I think God uses that like the Holy Spirit uses that

vessel. Yeah.

And, and I think also like we talked about imposter syndrome.

We, we tend because of social media, you know, like there's

some things that we see and we're like, oh, that's what

missions looks like, you know, like, oh, that's what preaching

looks like. And we try to mimic what we see

because we think that's successful.

And God's not calling you to be that person.

He's calling you to be you and, and that might work in that

season and in that area and and the Holy Spirit's working there,

but it's not going to work here. And I think, bro, I'm just be

real, man. Like that's ministry.

I think, I think everybody in ministry goes through that.

So it's like, man, what should I sing?

Hmm, let me learn some songs from tick.

What? What's hot right now?

And and that's not the right attitude.

The right attitude is like, Lord, what are you showing me

that part? Yeah, what am I like, Lord, what

songs are you putting in my heart?

Same thing with preaching. It's like I I don't get on

YouTube and be like, hmm, who has some good examples?

You know, like, Nah, it's first of all, I learned that the hard

way early on, right? You know, that was not doesn't

work well, right. But it's like Lord, like

spending time in the word meditating and you just being

you, right? You know, I think that's

important. So, but yeah, dude, I think

it's, I think it's a good place for you to be.

Yeah, man, it's it's taken a while to get here and that

that's part of like my, I guess, hesitation with going and just

to be I'm just going to be honest, bro.

We're finally being obedient bro because since I first heard

about city post going to India and Charles Nash Elementary like

gym I remember. That, yeah.

Like the Lord is like I'm calling you there, I'm calling

you there, I'm calling you there and I'm just like, Nah, I'm I'm

scared Nah for. Me, I don't want.

To go over there. Nah.

And finally, finally in this season, for whatever reason,

like, yeah, the Lord's like, you finally gonna be obedient or no,

Yeah, you know, so, so finally being obedient to that is just

like, bro, it's been so humbling in so many ways.

Man, I love like Proverbs 16 three, commit yourself, commit

your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.

You know, like there's all these you look at the book of

Proverbs, man, there's all these passages about trusting God,

about making sure that you you submit your plans to him and

he's going to direct your paths and he's going to take care of

you. Proverbs 1620.

You know, whoever gives thought to the word will discover good

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

You know, so it's this whole thing about trusting.

And then when we look at Scripture like Abraham, like go

old school, go back to the, you know, like, yeah, man, we didn't

even have the Bible. Like they just had a word and

that was it. He said, I want you to go like,

where? Don't worry about it.

Just go like, what? Yeah.

But you know, we, I've had people like, just to be honest,

I've had people look at me and be like, why India?

And then they'll look at me like, you know what would be

better, Rick, if you took all the money that you used to get

people over there and just send them a check.

But, you know, money doesn't buy relationships.

It doesn't buy, like, impact. Impact.

Yeah. Like there needs to be human

interaction. Like, these are people.

They're not robots, not projects.

Like, these are human beings, you know, that need the Lord and

that God loves them. And I think they're worthy of us

travelling 20 some hours to go give them a hug, you know, Like,

that sounds insane, but that's the truth.

It's like we have to have that mentality of like, Lord, I trust

you. I'll throw one more out there,

man. Isaiah 12 Two, behold God, my

salvation. I will Trust and will not be

afraid. And for the Lord God is my

strength and my song. And something I always see in

Scripture, whenever the authors write about trust, it's always

followed with and don't be afraid 'cause they know it's

scary to walk in faith, but there's always this, this like

encouragement of don't be afraid, just trust God.

I know it's scary, but don't be afraid, yeah?

Yeah, man, I think that's, that is a perfect example of how when

people, you know, a few months ago were like heard that I was

going, yeah, like, how do you feel about it?

Was like bro like nervously excited.

That's right, like. Just so nervous like 1 like man,

I don't know how we'll raise all this money to go.

I don't know, like how I'm going to make it through this trip.

I don't know how people are going to put up with my snoring

on this plane. I don't know, like just straight

up bro. Like, I just like, I don't know

how this is going to work, but I'm excited to, to again, like

to go back to finally be being obedient to where the Lord is

calling me, bro, because he's been calling me there for years.

And I've just been too scared to go.

I've been too scared to go, too scared because of who we're

going to serve and the kids. And, you know, just the stigma

that that comes with HIV, with going to the other side of the

planet. Like I'm a kid from the South

side that until a couple years ago was never on a plane, you

know what I mean? Like, yeah, like that just, it's

scary, bro. It's been scary.

But I think through my experience and here as of late

and God just showing me how faithful he is.

It's like bro, like I've gotten to a point where I'm just

excited. Yes.

I'm just excited to go. I'm excited to to see what the

Lord's going to do. I don't know what he's going to

do, but I know he's up to something.

That's true. You know what I mean?

So. I agree with you on that one.

This has been like, bro, yeah, stop tripping.

Get out your own way. That's that's been the

conversation with myself lately. Yes, I think that's great, dude.

And talking about like, spiritual warfare, like

something I always tell people I've seen it just through my

years of experience, The most dangerous part of the trip is

coming home. You know, if you think about

Mount Everest, what's the most dangerous part of Mount Everest

is the descent. It's it's when when you you've

made it to the top, you're like celebrate right now coming.

You can get disease, You can get like your bones are

deteriorating, like there's not enough oxygen.

You most people that go to Everest die on the way back.

And in my experience, I've seen most people that decide not to

go back on missions is on the trip back home because it's like

you're exhausted. You are tired.

You could have a bad travel experience on the way home and

forget about everything that you saw the whole week just because

you didn't like the food or just because like somebody was asleep

on your shoulder or like just a few hours of discomfort will

throw the whole trip away. I've seen it and and that's why

we got to stay prayed up and also have the right heart all

the way to the time we get back home.

You ready to go home and your bags are delayed.

That happened to us two years like last year, like we're all

there waiting and and dude, I don't know if they were just

searching, but it was like Mike's bag and somebody else's

bag took so and people were like, I want to go home.

There's the door. And I was like, Nah, like we got

to we, we're going to leave as a team.

Like we started together. Let's end together.

But man, that temptation of like all right y'all, let's just go.

Good luck guys, hope your bags come in.

I remember you sharing that in a sermon.

Too. Yeah it was bad dude, but you

have to like little things like that bro.

Could could just stop you and really, if you let it affect

affect you, I think Satan uses that little tiny stuff man, to

ruin your whole experience and cause you to forget the goodness

of God. So we got to stay prayed up,

man, got to. Right.

I mean, I'll be honest with my perspective and my struggle,

bro. Like I haven't really been

praying as much as I have previously.

Like I haven't been in the scriptures as much as I have

previously. And that kind of ties into the

imposter syndrome from earlier. It's just like broadband.

I don't know if it's distracted. I don't know if it's frustrated.

I don't know if it what like a mix of all of them.

If it's been terrible decision making, like I don't know bro,

but man, when you say we got to stay prayed up like that, just

that just reminded me that's like, bro, you've been tripping

low key. Like you're not fitting to go to

war in this spirit. On the world, Yeah.

And I think, I mean, you're making a perfect cocktail of a

disaster. Like it's like.

Like, like you said, like, and it happens with me too.

Like all these things start hitting like busyness and

schedules and then there's like conflicts in the church and

drama with people. And, and then you then you

sprinkle a little bit like 2 ounces of busyness, then put

that bad boy in a shaker, you know, and then serve it up cold

and you just drink it up like it, it's and it impacts you.

So like we just got to be aware and we got to pay attention, you

know, and I think that's where is impactful.

But also like other people praying for you, like that's to

remind people, man, just keep praying for us.

Like, you know, something I do on these mission trips is I'll

update the church on our days. Like I'll post pictures.

I'll be like, hey, day one, we did this.

And it's not just a show. A lot of it, too, is just to

encourage the church to keep praying for us.

Like, look at all that God's doing, man.

We, we just love for you to just keep us in your mind, you know,

and in your hearts. So that that's a good way to do

that. Yeah.

That's awesome, bro. Yeah, man.

So how? How can our city post family

here hold it down while we on the other side of the planet?

Bro that's a great. Great segue because I was

thinking about that like what you talked about like OK, so we

talked about trust, you know trusting out the finances and by

the way you raised all the money in like 3 months almost there

almost the vast majority of. We still.

Got Chuck E Cheese like I feel like Chuck E Cheese going to

hook it up. I think so too.

You know we got E JS birthday going to be there like the kids

are excited about it. I'm hoping people just drop a

bunch of cash and you get a percentage, right?

But you know, like that trust with the finances, trust with

the travel. You're going to India.

Like you started out late, so you got to give yourself some

grace here. Fundraising late and it wasn't

your fault. All these things.

And on top of that, bro, there was a terrorist attack of

Pakistan going to Kashmir. Like there's, there's, there's

global conflict. And I was just thinking like

man, like God is big enough right to move global.

Conflict. Economic, whatever it is, it's

just like, man, that's the God we serve.

So that way a group of six people from Fort Worth, TX, you

know, can, can go and love on these kids, man.

And yeah, like God is just so big.

And then we haven't even talked about the food.

Like, bro, you're you're going to experience new sights, new

smells. You know, the food might smell

good, but do it smell like Bo, you know, like you're going to

experience some things. That's thanks.

I think. Yeah, your stomach might too.

Yeah. But like, not letting that

hinder you. So like, you're trusting, you

know? But I think the two ways I think

that our church could be in support number one is through

prayer. Like keep praying for us.

Pray for us individually, pray for us while we're there, like

just just pray for us all the time that the Lord keep us from

the evil one, that he protects us, that that we're impactful

for the gospel. But yeah, but #2 is man hold

down the Fort at home. Like we're gone, but like God's

work keeps going and and knowing that the that things are good at

home brings a peace overseas. You know, like like.

Knowing that your family's taken care of, you're able to focus

better on what's happening. Yeah.

So hold it down. That's all.

I got bro. I don't know if you got any

closing thoughts, prayers, anything else you want to no

man. Honestly, I'm pumped for the

trip, man. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm excited to see how you guys react to the environment and all

these kids. Like it's, it's a beautiful

chaos, man. Like for you to hang out Uma and

his kids, like, you know, his younger son is going to go to

Aaron's going to be there. Like, it's just, I don't know,

man. I, I just think it's going to be

a special time. And then culturally too, like

there's going to be stuff you experience that's never seen or

done before. Things you're going to eat.

You never eat before. Boom, say this.

Is fork this is yeah. Spoon, fork, eat your hands.

Like it's all. I love it.

I'm all for it. I want all the smoke.

Yeah, like even, I tell people even walking like through an

airport where you see like stuff on TV, like the women covered

head to toe, you know, people walk in and like like outfits,

turbans, like it don't look like Fort Worth, you know, So it's

just like the environment, like just seeing what the world looks

like. Like Dubai is like the whole

world goes through Dubai. So you see people from all over

the world in like 1 place. But I also think it's it's going

to make you uncomfortable, like your personal space is going to

disappear and there's a lot of hurry up and wait, hurry up.

And wait is crazy. Yeah, man.

So, but I think the Lord's going to use all of these pieces, man,

and he's going to do some incredible work in your life.

It's going to be good. Yeah, man, I'm excited.

Yeah, so AM. I yeah, yeah.

And like I said, you're either going to be like, I can't wait

to go back or like, I'm good. Like, I got it.

I'm done, right? Nah, man, those kids, you're

going to want to adopt those kids.

But that's all I got too, man. Sure.

Sweet. We let y'all we out.

Peace.