Hey man, Galatians chapter 6. So the last chapter in the book of Galatians, so I really like this chapter It really kind of wraps up the whole The whole situation that Paul is Discussing in the book of Galatians kind of tells us kind of gives us some more detail at the end of what actually was going on And for what reason but he then he throws in a lot of other different things and It's just a really good bow on on the on the book of Galatians. So let's go ahead and and take a look at it I mean there's a lot of different subjects here It probably could have been a a couple different sermons, but I didn't want to lose the whole Idea of the conclusion of Galatians. So Galatians chapter 6 There is some different things that Paul talks about some different advice and we'll we'll apply that as well But I really want to get up across the the point of the chapter and the point of the chapter summing up The book of Galatians and you know, there's some things there that he tells us on why this happened and why it was going on and What people were actually doing for what reasons that we can really apply and see happening to churches today You know, we can see the reasons and I'll get into that Towards the end of the sermon, but look down at verse number one The Bible says in Galatians chapter 6 and verse number one The Bible says brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault you which are spiritual Restore such in one of in the spirit of meekness considering thyself lest thou also be tempted now look that I mean That's I mean that's a that's a sermon right there. Okay, so first of all, what does he say? So first of all Paul's Paul's modus operandi. Okay, Paul if you've read, you know his other letters You know kind of the way he goes at things is he comes at people really harsh and then you know Like in second Corinthians chapter 10 he says but you know when I come to you I speak mildly, you know So he comes at people really hard and letters and then in many times in other letters You know, he's kind of like well, I was hard on you at first But you know now that they've gotten right, you know in first first Corinthians second Corinthians We see some of that but again he's sitting here and he's saying look, you know And I believe that he may be talking about here about the people who got caught up in this folly of this false doctrine He's saying if a man be overtaken in a fault you which are spiritual restore such in one in the spirit of meekness So there's a lot there where he basically says, you know, if you're spiritual if you're a spiritual person, you know You're gonna you're gonna give people a chance to get right is what he's saying Okay, and he's like saying look in general. He's like, you know, give people an out or maybe an in is a better As a better word, you know, but if you want it I mean in general in your life if you want to make peace you need to allow an opportunity for people to get right is What Paul is saying look and it's and he says here in verse number one. It's the spiritual people That are meek that will do this. Okay, so it's the spiritual people that are meek that will do this It's not, you know That will give people a chance to come back a chance to what he calls restored Okay, we talked about, you know, how he said in in previous chapters and we really went off on that in In Galatians in previous weeks on how you know these people if you have somebody in the in the church That's changing the gospel perverting the gospel, you know, you're supposed to put them out put them away from you But here he's saying hey, you got to you know leave people an opportunity to be restored is What he's saying, you know, so look and and then he says look what he says here. He says considering thyself Considering thyself and this is really the focus of of Galatians chapter 6 right here And I hope I get this across so don't go off on too many rabbit trails and I get this across to you here He says considering thyself Meaning you should allow people you should be meek and you should allow people that have even done wrong a chance at restoration for your own sake Because what could happen? Well, he says that let's that also be tempted tempted for what well attempted to become the opposite of meek To become the opposite of spiritual. What is that a proud? Unspiritual person is what he's saying. So I mean consider, you know yourself You know somebody who's just ultra ultra judgmental on somebody that did something wrong and just leaves You know, no, I mean the Bible says blessed are the peacemakers Blessed are the peacemakers for they show they they should be called the children of God look in life leave a door open for people is What Paul is saying here look I mean if you just if you have I mean just in general just for life advice if you want just all out war with somebody fine You don't have to leave a door open But I mean the Bible is not saying that you should go to all out war with people even look even Even your own enemies turn to Proverbs chapter 25 even your own personal enemies Look at Proverbs chapter 25 even your own personal enemies Look at verse 21 of Proverbs chapter 25 the Bible says If thine enemy be hungry give him bread to eat and if he be thirsty give him water to drink For thou shall heat coals of fire on his head and the Lord shall reward thee so look even your own personal Enemies and look, let me let me just give you some personal advice. Let me tell you I'll tell you a personal story I'll tell you a personal story. Look in general personally in your life.  Let me give you an example. Just a secular example of this Okay, look there was a there was a boss that I had out of my first job out of college I was I was in the semiconductor design industry It was a really fast-paced industry where people hundreds of people would get laid off from different Networks were very important Networks were super important in case you know your your department got cut You needed to know people so you could go work at a different company or whatever That's how people got jobs through networks not through you know online whatever. Okay, but I had this boss and This boss was probably 30 at the time he seemed old But I you know I was 21 at the time or whatever and my boss I had it was a really competitive environment too So people were always leaving and going to other companies and one of my friends that I worked with he left and went to another company Well, my boss didn't like that my friend left so my boss called me into his office and he said tell me where John went and John didn't tell them where he went because he didn't want to cause trouble and he just decided to keep it confidential And where he went to work, and I said I'm not telling you and my boss at the time said tell me or you're fired And I said I'm not telling you fire me So, you know it turned into this thing and I was he kind of haha laughed it off Like it wasn't you know as soon as he knew that he wasn't going to be able to scare me into telling me He laughed it off, but I went to that company like two weeks later I just left because I was upset over the situation. I was upset that he put me in that situation I left and look I told him why I left I Told him why I left I told him that he was wrong, and I wasn't quiet about it to anybody else either I Strap dynamite to the piers of those bridges, and I blew that thing sky-high And look I mean this guy was in the wrong clearly This manager was in the wrong with what he did But I blew up that bridge from embankment to embankment and Years went by because guess what that guy and I knew Mutual people across companies industries Years went by and I saw that guy and we saw each other at conferences and different things and There was just this tension all the time and Five six years after this happened and look that I know that there were situations where people that I knew didn't get jobs and Because of this this tension between myself and this guy. He's like it's his fault. Yeah, it was his fault But I blew up that bridge All right, and this guy came up to me like five or six years after this at a conference We were at and he just he came up to me and he said and he said you know He's like you know, I was a young manager and I was wrong He's like I was wrong and I'm sorry I did that and at that moment there was like this there was restoration You look we're not best friends We never were best friends but that restoration happened like five or six years later But there's tension for five or six years for no reason I Could have just I could have left quietly He would have known why I left he him and I alone the restoration would have happened a lot faster Look blown up the bridge did nothing but damage people that we knew It did nothing but damage People that he knew that I knew and people that I knew that he knew I Mean it's look it's just never a good thing and I'm not talking about like you know I'm talking about your personal enemies as Proverbs 25 would say and the reason that Paul says it in Galatians chapter 6 in verse number 1 that it's a spiritual person with meekness that recognizes this because look if I take all my personal enemies and I make them God's enemies. That's a pretty arrogant thing to do I'm making myself, you know at the level of God at that point So that's why you know it takes a meek person to leave a door open For people and Paul says you don't leave it. I mean look was this a small thing that was going on in Galatians This was a big deal I mean Paul was ripping some ripping some face in previous chapters here You know, but he says look leave leave a door open let people have a chance to be restored And what we'll talk about in coming verses on what actually people why they did it? Why do these people do it? Were they you know devil worshipers or whatever? I mean, why did they do it? But anyway, that's just the first point That's just that verse 1 20 minutes in but look the thing is just leave a door open for people Restoration should always be there if you're gonna blow up bridges guys You're gonna you're gonna work at different places.  I mean that guy was wrong the guy was wrong in what he did But you know, I could have I could have I could have been the peacemaker there You know, I could have been the peacemaker. He made a mistake.  So Don't burn bridges in your life verse number two Bear you one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ and not Paul starts giving some some interpersonal some more interpersonal Advice between Christians is really what he's focusing on look at verse three for if a man Think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself But let every man prove his own work and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another not brawl a bracket around verse two verse three and verse four because Those three things always go together for whatever reason Those three things and if you say well, I don't I don't understand what you mean Let's look at the opposites of verse two verse three and verse four So Paul is talking about certain things that we should be doing but what do you think of the opposite? Let's think of someone who is the opposite of verse two verse three and verse four and for some reason these three things always go together Verse two, let's think of the opposite The opposite is of this is someone who in verse two. They won't do anything for anyone but themselves verse three they think they're great and Verse four they're super critical of others Those three things always come in the same package for whatever reason in verse four. They're super critical of others But they never focus on themselves And it's funny how all these things go together look at verse number five Paul continues For every man shall bear his own burden Because look what verse number six let him that is is taught in the word communicate unto him that teach it in all Good things be not deceived God is not mocked for whoso whatsoever a man saw it That shall he always reap so when he says use your bear his own burden.  You have to worry about others a lot less than you think because they're gonna reap what they so and So are you is what Paul is saying? You know Jose 8-7 very famous verse in the Bible, you know for they have sown to the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind So Paul is saying look Don't worry about other people because they're gonna reap what they so and so are you you should be worrying about yourself because of that fact Look at turn to 1st Corinthians chapter 3 As a matter of fact you say how am I gonna you know reap what I so because you're gonna be rewarded That's one way One way is you're gonna be rewarded for your work. That's how that's one good way that you could reap What you so you could be rewarded for your good work 1st Corinthians chapter 3 look at verse 13 1st Corinthians chapter 3 in verse 13 The Bible says every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is If any man's work abide which he had built there upon he shall receive a reward and if any man's work shall be burned He shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved yet So as by fire so the Bible here is saying that you you know you and your life as a saved person in Eternity you are going to either you know get great reward.  We can will be rewarded In eternity. I don't think about this a lot personally Because I mean I'm just happy to be saved. I'm happy. I'm not going to hell You know, I'm just gonna do what I can here on this earth, you know just cuz I don't have to go to hell That's good enough for me personally But we will be rewarded the Bible says for the good works that we do but if we don't do anything with our lives Which is a lot of Christians by the way If we don't do anything well, we'll suffer that loss those people will feel that loss in heaven look at verse number nine of Galatians chapter 6 Then Paul says and let us not be weary in well-doing like you know Don't don't get tired in in the work that you're doing for in due season We shall reap if we faint not if you keep going it's like you'll be rewarded as We have therefore opportunity. Let us do good unto all men Especially unto them who are of the household of faith turn to Proverbs chapter 3 So he's saying here. He's like just don't you know, he's like don't get tired keep going You're gonna get weary, but just keep going don't faint. Don't stop He's like especially I'm focusing especially on You with your brothers and sisters in Christ Proverbs chapter 3 look at verse 28 The Bible says say not unto thy neighbor go and come again and tomorrow I will give When thou hast it by thee devise not evil against thy neighbor seeing he dwelleth securely by thee So he's ain't look just do good to those around you, especially Your saved brothers and sisters in Christ even when you get tired look at verse number 11 Verse number 11 now if this is the best part He's gonna now explain to us how he ties this in to you say what does this have to do with Galatians? He's been tearing into people for preaching false doctrine and he comes out and he says hey You know leave leave room for restoration for people. I get that but then he goes into this hey do good Just worry about yourself all these things now he ties it together right here You see how large a letter I've written unto you with my own hand And as many as desire to make a fair show on the flesh they constrain you to be Circumcised only less they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ There's the first reason right there that these people did this In Galatians there's the first cause of the book of Galatians right there in Galatians 6 12 number You know just just quite cause number one right there these people they just don't want to be persecuted They don't want to be persecuted. They don't want to be part of a church You know they just wanted to take the Gentiles and just make them Jews They just wanted to just make them like everybody else, you know, they don't want to suffer persecution and look at verse number 13 Here's the second one and this kind of ties up what he's been talking about when he says worry about yourself Because you're gonna reap what you sow. They're gonna reap what they sow. Why are you worried about other people? Because of this this is why he's saying this verse 13 neither they themselves who are for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law But desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh They're doing exact. He says they're doing exactly what I just preached against their glorying in other people So they were they you know, they should have been they should have been worrying about themselves Paul said because you know, they're sitting there and they've added this to salvation and they're not look They're not even keeping the law themselves. He says look at verse 14 But God forbid that I should glory Save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision available with anything nor uncircumcision But a new creature and as many as walk according to this rule peace beyond them and mercy upon the Israel of God From henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus I mean right there. It's like hey if anybody could glory in the flesh It would be me If anybody could take you know glory in what's going on in the flesh It would be me brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen So for what does he do? He comes out Paul comes out in chapter 6 and he says look He's like worry about yourselves these people were too worried about others Because they were actually wanting to glory in the fact that they were changing the Gentiles That they were changing, you know, maybe here's the thing. Here's the thing Here's how we can apply it to us today and what we see out there today with what people are doing to even baptize churches It came it came from a good place. I'm sure Maybe you get somebody saved Think about this. Maybe you get somebody saved. Maybe they come from such a backwards culture Like they bring dead raccoons to the potluck Right well, we grew up in Tennessee and this is what we eat at potlucks dead raccoons Roadkill they're bringing all this stuff in and they come from they look they just wanted to get them circumcised They just wanted them. It was a custom. It was something that the Jews were just it was part of their culture So they were trying to control the actions of the people here in their minds for the better This is how things creep in This is how things creep in like this because look there's an easy way look. There's an easy way and a hard way To get people to change Okay, now follow me here. This is exactly what's going on with Baptist churches today There's an easy way. See it'd be hard for me. It'd be hard for me to preach a sermon You know teaching it'd be hard for me to preach Sermon after sermon after sermon on what the Bible teaches about on just about every subject It would be hard for me to I mean, that's a lot of work I mean writing all these sermons and then you know studying out the Bible and then you know just preaching these sermons I mean you have to write the sermon you have to study the sermon you have to write the sermon They have to preach the sermon and then you know some people don't listen You know some people just don't change Some people you can just sit here and you can just preach at them all day long and they're not going to change They're going to keep bringing dead raccoons to the potluck They're going to keep dragging, you know, whatever they find out on the highway and thrown it on the table at the potluck And you preach and you preach and you preach and you know, but look here's another thing Here's another way. I could do it. I could say look if you don't do these things You're not saved You follow me You follow what these people are doing Look they wanted them to be circumcised they wanted them to stop being this other culture and start looking like them They started they wanted them to start joining their culture, so they wouldn't have to go through all this persecution So they just added it to salvation I mean if you don't turn from these things And I make my little pet list Are you even saved? It's a control play It's very simple And it's the easy way See it's hard look. It's hard to try to persuade you to follow the Bible Well, it's harder. It's easier just to threaten you with your salvation It's easier to threaten you with your salvation if you don't do Whatever my pet list is in this case it was circumcision. I mean look I mean in and then in this case And I'm sure all other cases that are like this. They got to glory in what they had done in In the other see look at we took these there, you know now they're bringing You know pot roast instead of roadkill to the pot walk They got them to change they were glorying in that but what they had really done was led others astray and perverted the gospel That's what they had really done And look I mean Paul says that they're going to reap what they've sown I Mean verses 12 and 13 really wraps up the entire book of Galatians right there I mean less they they didn't want to suffer persecution and They wanted to glory that they had changed these people those two things right there. That's why they did it That's why they that was the motive You say why would somebody just come in and just do that but that was the motive right there You know we we know why they you know there's the motive for the crime The Jews at that time were so critical of the Christians. They were persecuting the church You know later the Romans took over the persecution, but they didn't want to go through that So they were just going to change the Gentiles in whatever way that they could that's exactly what's going on with all this Repentance your sins adding works Lordship salvation pick one Anything that's grace plus works, you know, I mean it's the Catholic Church the entire Catholic Church is just a big control play That's it I mean, you know, it's a scam Give me your money And I'll do this you will get your kids in heaven.  I mean whatever You know, I mean, it's just a big control play but these people did it by changing the gospel and Paul calls them out for it So Paul finally gives some parting advice in Galatians chapter 6. He says worry about yourself Because what we so we will read look what we so folks We'll reap in this life and the next the good rewards, you know the good rewards in heaven and the bad You know punishment on earth and loss in heaven That's what we'll reap for the unsaved. They're gonna.  It's good parting advice. There's a lot of problems here He really tore into these people and he's kind of like trying to he's given them the motive of it from that You know at the end there and then he's trying to kind of patch them up a little bit He's like restore these people if they get right Here's why they did it Restore them if they get right. He's like, hey, you know Burry each other's burdens do good to all men especially your brothers and sisters in Christ Especially unto them who are of the household of faith So what do we see here? We see restore worry about yourselves and do good to the brethren That's what we see here turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 I really want to focus for the conclusion here this evening on this idea that he I mean he's just like really pushing this self of burying each other's burdens and You know, especially to your brothers and sisters in Christ. We heard a sermon a couple weeks ago About this about investing in your brothers and sisters and all this but I want to give you a I want to give you another perspective on This I want to give you another perspective on this because we hear a lot about this We hear a lot about this when you get preached at about how you're supposed to love each other And you're supposed to do good to one another and if you get weary it says here you just keep going Keep going in this and that's all true. Let me give you another Biblical perspective on this look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 Look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 and since we've you know, you've heard a lot about this But 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 is something we can never forget look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 in verse number 10 Look at Paul says he says and herein I give my advice For this is expedient for you who have begun before not only to do But also to be forward a year ago now perform the doing of it That as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also out of that which you have He's like you're gonna actually do it, please For if there first be a willing mind it is accepted according to that man hath and not according to that He hath not for I mean not that other men be eased and ye be burdened You see that He's saying look. I'm not just saying that you should just be burdened and Other men should just have it easy He's like that's not what I'm saying and then look what you're like. What do you what in the world? What are you talking about? He's like, what do you mean? Am I not supposed to bear? Someone else's burdens doesn't that mean I'm gonna be burdened If I if I am just helping brother Trevor out and I'm just like I got to take time off of work And I got to go and I got to help him on his farm because he doesn't know how to fix anything. I'm just kidding Church mechanic. That's a little church mechanic joke there. Anyway, but just say you're helping one of your brothers out I mean obviously if you're burying his burden, he's eased and you're you're burned But Paul says it means I mean not that other men be eased and ye be burdened but by any quality That now at this time your abundance you see what it says right there It says at this time at this moment It says your abundance may be supply for their want So it says in that moment You are I'm burying brother Trevor's burdens at that moment. I'm burdened and he's eased it says but That their abundance may also be supply for your want that there may be what equality It's supposed to work both ways Is what the Bible is saying here as it's written he that gathered much have nothing over and he that had gathered little Had no lack. You see that's how it's supposed to work Right there What he's saying is you know, there's gonna be a time when you know Somebody needs to be eased and you should be there to be able to ease them and you can be burdened but then There should be a time when I need to be eased and Then I should be helped out and somebody else should be burdened And then it says in verse 15 and then it will work like this This is how it will look is in verse 15. It's so it'll the church the church that acts like this will look like verse 15 So you write next to verse 15. This is how the church should act should should function He that gathereth much have nothing over and he that gathereth little heth no lack So when I'm down somebody else picks me up and when you know, somebody's up they can they can help me out Look, we're not talking about communism here. This is voluntary Helping out your brothers and sisters in Christ But it's saying look it's when and it works like this. It's just this ebb and flow is how it goes That's second Corinthians 8 10. It's an ebb and flow. Look, here's what I know.  You're gonna have ups and downs in your just your life in general Your spiritual life is gonna have ups and downs and you're to year to bury each other's burdens and all these things Now here's that here's the pragmatic problem in a church Here's a pragmatic. It's a snowball effect. Okay, because people here preaching and Some people look some people here and they don't do that's just That's just what they do They hear and they don't do other people hear and do So when you hear all this this sermons on on helping out your brothers and sisters and bearing each other's burdens You get some people who are just like oh man. I need to start investing in people I need to start like setting goals and start helping people out. I've been blessed in my life I need to start doing this and you have other people and these people just grow and they just grow because they're doing what They're supposed to do You know, but then you have the other people that hear and they don't do and then all sudden second Corinthians chapter 8 It just that equality just diverges very quickly because they have some people that is rampant it up and some people doing nothing and You know, but and the other stand still we get verse 14 again But by inequality that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance Also, maybe a supply for your want. It's both ways. You see look. This is this is really an American problem right here This is an American problem That's getting worse every single year because you know what you have this and you know what here's what I think I think it just has to do with how you're raised. I Think it has to do with how you're raised You know, some people You have to ask yourself some people are just really just really comfortable with just taking other people's abundance. That's it just all the time and They're never going to bear anybody else's burdens So you have to ask yourself is your abundance ever a supply for anyone else's want Whereas everybody else's abundance only a supply for your want no matter the time Because it says it says that this there's a time aspect to this now at this time it says There may be a moment You know, I personally don't like people helping me. I've needed help. I'm not saying I've never needed help I'm so strong. I've never been down. No, but when I've needed help it kind of makes me feel uncomfortable That's kind of how you should be It should kind of make you uncomfortable, but you know what you should really want to help other people I mean our people are people constantly doing things for you Are people constantly paying for things for you providing things for you? I mean people like this match the description of verse 3 in Galatians 6 For a man thinks it's himself to be something he is nothing he deceived with himself many times people like this They think well my mere presence Now I'm serious My mere presence is payment enough for everything that you have done for me But that that's that's exactly what verse 2 3 and 4 is talking about in Galatians chapter 6 I mean look you have buried each other's burdens, but it this thing should ebb and flow Let me give you an example. Let me give you an example and as an example. I just thought of There's no indication that there's any problem here And if there is a problem, it's a small one, but this is an example the guys are taking a lot of trips This is an example of something that reminded me of when I was younger the single guys are taking a lot of trips Somebody's driving on the trip. Are you often to pay for gas?  His payment it will run this car It's a small thing and maybe everyone does I have no idea if anyone does or doesn't But that's that's just a small thing look, I mean This kind of mentality is Is a disease in our country right now? That just everyone should just do things for me for nothing. It is a sickness That is wrecking our society and second Corinthians chapter 8 is preaching against it At least in the church anyway, it shouldn't happen here You should strive look you should strive for this equality look an equality is not a bad word in this sense You hear some politicians saying equality and you're like, ah, you know, this isn't going anywhere good But this is talking about equality in helping each other Equality and burying each other's burdens and I mean actually, you know if you think about it I mean imagine a church that actually operated this way. You're gonna be down. I'm gonna be down Imagine a church that actually operated this way. We're like really no one ever had anyone ever was had want for anything and Really no one, you know really had abundance for anything because you know, we're just kind of you know When you're down, I'm helping you out and when I'm down you're helping me out and this and that but look It's talking it look it's actually talking about worldly needs to by the way It's not you know, it's talking about worldly needs like a supply, you know Just just hunger, you know clothing food resources. Look you need to take an accounting in your lives On what people have provided you your wants and do they equal their wants that that's what I'm asking you to do tonight It's taking accounting. Is it equal? Is it even close? Because some people they're just gonna look some people and this is never gonna change because people and I'm thankful that this is never gonna change Some people are just gonna give and give and give and give And I'm thankful that that's never gonna change because that means that you're actually listening to what I'm saying That you're actually listening to the Bible and you know what it's in their blood They were raised that way They were raised that way and others and I'm sorry this comes from how you were raised that's been my experience in my life It comes from how you were raised others were just raised with people just doing everything for them in Their life That's why you know what don't do everything for your kids Don't just raise these kids who are just constantly just you know, you just do everything for them. You make every excuse for them You do everything for them you give them everything you're gonna raise one of these people They come into a church or come into you know relationships and just want everything done for them. There's no equality there Look and here's the thing you're like well, I was raised that way.  That's the answer Like I just you know, my parents just never taught me this or whatever. Whatever you're being taught now Just listen to what the Bible says like that's with everything.  I get it But you have to get yourself to a point if you want to grow or go or move anywhere You just got to be like, you know what I know I was raised this way. I know I grew up wearing this stuff I know this was my culture. You just got to be like the Bible says this.   Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer


Hello everybody HoodedCobraCommander788 here and this is a quick look at the 1988 Mean Dog and the Driver Wild Card. This is not a full review but I was very excited to get this vehicle and figure so I just wanted to give you guys a quick preview of it. This was in the box of goodies given to me by Kyle Johnson. Thank you again Kyle. I'm not sure exactly when I will get to a full review on this. Looking at my schedule I don't have any open slots in the next few months but I will get to it as soon as I can. Let's take a look at the Wild Card action figure. This is a very interesting figure, interesting color choices. He has a couple accessories, really three accessories. He has this very large helmet which is actually kind of difficult to remove so I'm not going to take it off right now. Then he has his machete with a sheath that slings over his back so that's pretty cool and I'm happy to have it. A Wild Card does have an interesting character trait which we will talk about in the full review. If you have read this character in the comic book you already know what that is but anyway not a bad figure for the driver of the mean dog. The mean dog has an incredible number of features. This front section has a machine gun turret. It has a pop open canopy and you can fit three figures in the cab. It looks like this is where the driver goes. It is articulated here at the center and there's another feature there that we'll look at in just a minute. We have six wheels, three on each side. This back section is really well armed. We have five missiles on each side and then we have the main gun turret and that gun turret is removable and it has legs so it can be used as a standalone anti-aircraft emplacement. You can have one figure manning the machine gun turret and then in this back section you have another seat for a figure here so that's five figures that it can carry not counting any foot pegs and as if that wasn't enough it does this. If you slide the top half of the back section back you can then pull out this wheel and it is kind of tight but then you have two vehicles in one. It splits apart into two vehicles. The front of the back half of this vehicle can operate independently and you also have the machine gun. Really it splits apart into three sections. It's really cool. It is loaded with features. This is one of my favorite vehicles of this era so I can't wait to give it a full review. I hope I can get to it soon. That was my quick look at the 1988 Mean Dog and the Driver Wildcard. Thank you again Kyle for this generous gift. I promise it will be put to good use just as quickly as humanly possible. Thank you everyone for watching. We have a full review this Sunday. I hope you'll stick around for that. I'll see you next time.


President Mohammad Buhari will meet with security chiefs on Thursday to review the state of security in Nigeria. A press release from the presidency states that Buhari will be brought up to speed on developments while he was away in the United Kingdom. A strategy to bring an end to insecurity will also be formulated. The meeting is coming as tens of Boko Haram members come out to denounce the group and ask for forgiveness. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.


I get up I get on the phone. I said, what's up? He said, listen to this You know he's trying to play some music that he playing in this room. Yeah, and I can hear I hear my name I didn't really hear it. Yeah. Yeah. He's gonna worry about a nigga. I'm on the slab on my way to you He said just left the studio doing his song. Wow. We walked out. We're on my way to you So he came here in Leroy. Yeah, they drove all the way down the Dallas Just to let me hear the song Went to my apartment and met me in my apartment. We played that song probably 80 times They slept on the floor And on the couch and got up the very next day and went back to Houston All he came here for to show you was to let me hear that song stuff like that got me through it Come on. Did you cry when the first time you're here? Oh, yeah. Come on, man I can imagine. Yeah, it was a trip. What he said was so dope The way he said it was so real Yeah, we on boss talk one-on-one one-on-one. Yeah, we gonna talk I came back to Dallas. It was uh, my little boy birthdays and it was in october Okay, so I celebrated that five-year birthday with him and you know two months later december the fifth That's when that happened. Yeah, it was what he was with his mother or something bro. He was at He was at his at his mom's house. Okay, and which was his grandparents.  They were his probably cousins and those were his cousins Yes, those were his cousins. Did they ever find out what happened? Yeah, they it was electrical. See the the father Was a um Contractor, okay a damn good one a good one. He had added on to the house. Yeah in the electrical Yeah, you know and they had been there for a long time You know, you know when it was all on the news and everything they were trying to blame it on christmas lights And all kind of yeah, but it it ended up being faulty wiring faulty wire. So the adults weren't there. Was there any adults now? Yeah, but at the other part of the house and where this how this house was It was like, you know ideas when you add on to your houses You come out the back door and boom, you're in another room the other room and they had built an upstairs part So they in that other part of the room upstairs And then when the fire broke out in that section of the house this probably this side of the house Don't even know what's on fire. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. I'm just I'm trying to play my mind. Yeah, so You know Once I got the car. It was already over. Yeah, it was over when I just sat down From work when I got that phone call. Wow, and it was a probably about a 10 minute drive. I drove there and Yeah, it was it was the mom there at a time when it happened. Yeah, but uh All I remember them telling me was that The mom's dad Was was trying to get him. He was trying to get to a meeting. He got hurt trying to get trying to get to him Yeah, the flames prevented him from reaching him. So yeah, he you know, he had scaled You know some outside. Yeah, trying to get to him. Yeah, which is which is quite natural. That's what you would do It's nothing. It's nothing like seeing a four smile. No, no, ain't nobody trying to see it It changed you for life. It changed you and I know that had to hit you and how did how did you affect him? The father because if he was trying to get it's different like You weren't there, but this person him was there trying to get to the kids and let me let me explain something to you about this guy This guy it's kind of like same situation with my wife. There was a age difference between he and his wife Yeah, you know I'm saying so he was an older man But he was still working.  I'm pretty sure it affected him. Oh, yeah I never talked to him. I never talked to him about that. That's a good question. Yeah When you're there and you're trying to help somebody especially with kids, yes, you know that They have to affect you. That's all that you and you know back in nobody was talking about mental No, they wouldn't nobody's talking about mental health, but they were going through it. Oh, yeah Especially for a man, you know, man's supposed to be tough. Yeah, you know, we kids.  It was And so Fast forward, you know, Reynolds over, you know, we're trying to live our life And I can remember being on Greenville Avenue At Good Eats. Okay.  I get up I get on the phone I said, what's up?  Yeah, and I can hear I hear my name I couldn't even hear it. Yeah. Yeah. He's don't worry about a nigga. I'm on the slab on my way to you He said just left the studio doing this song. Wow. We walked out. We're on my way to you So he came here in uh, Leroy. Yeah, they drove all the way down the Dallas Just to let me hear the song We went to my apartment. They met me in my apartment. We played that song probably 80 times They slept on the floor and on the couch and got up the very next day and went back to the extra All he came here for was to let me hear that song stuff like that got me through it Come on. I went the first time you hear. Oh, yeah. Come on, man. Oh, yeah I can imagine. Yeah, it was a trip. The what he said was so dope The way he said it, it was so real And let me tell you what kind of vision he has Leaving the studio In the car on the phone first thing out is my this the first song on the album That's how it go And the album was nowhere near to being completed. He said this will be the first song on the album


Welcome to Sister to Sister. This is really gonna be a good show. We have a question about the desire to get revenge. And when does the hurt of losing someone stop and does God give us too much to handle? I never give you too much to handle. You kind of do, stay tuned. Welcome to Sister to Sister. You're gonna be glad you're with us today. We're glad you're with us today. We are a show of five women, Godly women, and we bring the questions and problems of the world. We bring answers from the Bible to you. So glad you're here. This is really gonna be a good show today. This first question, hmm, hmm, is desiring revenge wrong? Don't forget, you're watching a Christian station. Yeah, Corey, it's not wrong. Okay, I don't know. I have like different perspectives on this. First of all, causing another person harm never undoes the harm that was done to us. Okay, so that's first of all the thing. But in the Psalms, we see often the Psalmist expressing prayers to the Lord that they want the Lord to carry out vengeance, okay? So I mean, we know vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord that's in the Bible. So the Lord is the one that carries out, is the one that will carry out ultimate justice and vengeance. And he tells us that many, many scriptures that tell us that we're not the ones to carry out revenge or vengeance. But the question is not about carrying out vengeance. The question is, is it wrong to desire revenge? And so I look at that. I'm trying to look at this from a biblical view. It's what we're supposed to do. And I'm like, there's all these Psalms where the Psalmist is like praying for vengeance. Right? But David was being chased all through the mountains indeed. Okay, but is it based on your circumstances? Like is it like, okay, well, David had really bad circumstances, so he was okay. So my perspective on it, and I want to hear what the sisters have to say is where to take that desire for revenge to the Lord in prayer and give it to the Lord and say Lord, because I think that's what the Psalmist is doing. Like there's revenge in the Psalmist's heart and he's taking it to the Lord and he's saying, bring this to my enemies and bring it, like Lord, this is what's in my heart and I need you to take it. And I need, so for me it's like that's what's in my heart. I need to take it to the Lord and I need to like say Lord, you take it because ultimate justice is yours. And I need you to take away and pray that there's not a root of bitterness that grows up into me. Yeah, but Jesus said, here Corey, slap this side of my face. No, and that's about taking out revenge. That's right, that's about taking out revenge. What do you think? I think you can be angry and sin not. I mean, some things are just wrong and they're not right, but here is what I've learned, okay? Cause I mean, I've had to drive people, buy people's houses that I'm thinking, oh Jesus, help me, you know, cause it brings up, it triggers it, all those emotions and feelings in the situation and it was wrong and you can't publicly express yourself and it's confidential and you've really got to give it to God. So what I have to do, cause it takes me a while, but now that I've got my system, I can bounce back pretty quick. And I'll just say, I'll drive by and say, I forgive you.  Then that turns into, I'm gonna pray, I'm gonna pray for you. God, I pray for them and their families and then sometimes it turns into God bless them. I ask you to bless, and it doesn't necessarily, it's not necessarily for them, but it's a lot for me and my heart. For you listening, did you get that? It's not for them, it's for your heart. What do you have? Revenge. He, the scripture says that I desire truth in my most inward parts. And so I have to ask God to sanctify my desires. Now, if this question, and this isn't what the question said, but if the question said, Flo, do you ever desire revenge? I would have to be real honest and say, in my Medea boy, sometimes folks just need to be God. And Jesus, you taking a little too long, but the real, the biblical answer is what I gave you. Now, how do we get from that part of, Jesus, you taking too long? And they need dealt with, and I am purposely being loving to them so them colds cannot them out. Keeping colds on them, okay? I have to give God my desires. Yield your members to righteousness. And my desires are part of the members of the makeup of my soul. And I have to allow the Lord to work. Do you have a scripture for this though? I bet, I hope. Well, I have a thought. My sisters were speaking and Corey began. Remember when Peter drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane? Yeah. Because he knew they were taking Jesus, so he wanted to fight. His intent was good. His intent was good, but he did it the wrong way.  Right, that's right. It's like Peter was, I'm sure, thinking I'm defending you and you're doing this. And it says that God's vengeance is much better than ours. Peter took a sword and hurt one man. God, a vengeance, is greater than anything we can do. So if we leave it to him, and like Medea, Flo said, it is so hard to do. But once we hold back, as the sisters said, we wait on God. But remember this also, we don't fight flesh and blood. That's right. That's what Jesus was trying to tell Peter. We fight the principalities and powers of the air that sometimes lead people to do the wrong things. And then as Amy said, we gotta pray for them that they come back. Isn't it terribly hard? So I hope you got from everybody about this revenge and vengeance question. It's really good. I like the New Testament answer, which is Jesus said if they want your shirt, give them your coat too. I'm gonna go to the next question. I recognize I tend to hold myself back from people trying to get close to me. How do I put myself out there and build relationships but protect myself from getting hurt? And this person was hurt more than once. She wrote to us, sometimes it doesn't seem worth it. Is it worth it, Amy, to put yourself out there? Yeah, well, Jesus needed friends and friendship. And if he needed it, how much more do we need friends and friendships? Will you get hurt? Yes. Will it be terrible at times? Yes. Will it be beautiful at times? Yes. But a suggestion that I would make is some people try to put all of their friendship needs into one person or into two people. And I read a great book and this girl was just saying develop circles of friends.  I have a little friendship with my sister-in-laws that we're texting and I have a prayer circle of friends and peers that are in ministry friends and mentors a little circle of friends and the soccer mom friends, we're texting, right? You know what I mean? It's not like it's all in one person and if they hurt me, my whole life is crushed because you've taken the time to develop many circles of friendships. The lady asked, is the effort worth it to develop friends? Yeah, I mean, I'm just reminded that to have a friend, you need to be a friend too. And I think people forget that.  And it's just like, no, yes, there are efforts in relationships. Whatever the relationship is, there is going to be effort. And the other thing you have to remember is that we're human beings. We're imperfect human beings. And I think sometimes we expect perfection in our friendships and it's just not gonna happen. We're imperfect people and imperfect relationships. And so I think you need grace and boundaries. Grace and boundaries. And so whatever those may be, you need to set those and that you're setting yourself up for success in your friendships. What do you have? I think anytime that you get ready to protect yourself, you are making yourself your own God. So this is where you have to, this is what you're working. What's gone on inside of me? What is that triggering inside of me? Something probably happened that I need inner healing from that won't allow me to get close. That breaks that connection. You know, when you deal with children or people that maybe have the different lines of like maybe Asperger's or autism and they can't connect. And that may not be your diagnosis, but I'm saying inside of me, you don't know what has happened in my life that now I have kind of vowed. Let me just give you this example. I was like super, super close to my grandmother. And when she passed away, I vowed, I made an inner vow that I would not love like that again. Because that kind of love when I lost her, the pain was so deep. You see? So then I began to, until I married and had children, I did not love like that, you know? So what all did I miss out? You understand what I'm saying? It's a trauma. Right, it's a trauma. Do you have a scripture on this friendship thing? We're just like on the same wavelength here. I have to tell that person, don't despise the day of small beginnings in Zachariah. It's not about you and your hurt. You're right. Reach out to the other person. You don't have to open up about your own life first. Ask them questions. What are you doing? How was your day? And actually wanna know what's going on? How are your kids? You don't have to start with your own feelings and what you're doing. It's not about you. It's about him and what he wants to do through that other person, through you, to reach out to bring out that other person that flows as might be hurt, might be harm. And remember, Amy said in the beginning, Jesus had friends, so we have friends, I like it. But speaking of friends, this another person wrote something and she said, I was sure he was the one. I was expecting a proposal, but he broke up with me. I'm so sorry. How could I have been so wrong? Now I have to see him every Sunday at church. Well, what do I do? Roxanne, help her. Oh man, this is a good question. Something's going on really wrong here. Either he's defrauding, misleading her, or she's dreaming. Right. You know, some of us dream and everything's in our mind. Hey, don't knock the dreamers. He says one word and you wrap your life around the one word. Yes. Cut it out, think realistically. Wasn't that the plot of Legally Blonde? Yeah. It's my favorite movie.  I'm a fake brunette, but anyway, it's all great. But second Corinthians pulses, we didn't wrong you. We didn't mislead you. We didn't corrupt you. We got to think about that in every relationship. What are we doing in our relationships that do we like ourselves and want everybody to like us that we mislead them? Was he misleading her? You know, the Bible says for young men to treat older women like their mother and younger women like their sister. So cut it out if you want flirting and you don't mean it. And then if you're the woman or the man that's dreaming and hanging on a word, look at yourself in the mirror and look realistically, what did he really say and why am I thinking all these thoughts? Well, I wanted to add this so good because one of the things that I think about is the somebody versus the someone. And there are some people that are body collectors. You know, I just want somebody. Just give me somebody, you know. I want a companion. I want somebody to go to the show where I, you know, I just want somebody. But that doesn't mean that he or she is the someone. That someone I believe is handcrafted by God and there should be something in you. If it's a man, something in your side ought to feel fulfilled when that one comes along because you understand what I'm saying, you're helping me. If I'm a woman, I ought to feel safe that the alpha male should not make me feel intimidated. It should excite me because it ushers me into a place of safety. What I wanted to ask about is the last part of the question that says, I have to see him every Sunday at church. So what do you say? Because you've got people. I know. They like each other, then they're not together and you're like, I don't know what to do. I mean, here's the thing.  He's taking you out to there. He's telling you, I love you, right?  I mean, that's like deceiving and wrong. But what I would say to this particular girl, not knowing the whole situation, thank God it's now before you're engaged rather than you're married to El Flaco Waco who's going to diss you before you get married or why you're married. Like, I would say, thank you Jesus for saving my life. And I don't care. I hope he sees me at church cause I look good. I don't necessarily think he's deceiving or a Waco like sometimes you're just dating and like one person's on one wavelength and the other person is just like seeing things that aren't there. Like, you know, sometimes someone's just like, oh, they want to be married so badly. And the other person's like, you're too close to something. Like if you stand super close to a television, you are not seeing the whole picture.  And so that maybe the girl is too close to it and she is not seeing that there are cracks here. There are problems. She's so wants it so badly. She's not seeing that they're not compatible, that they're not right for each other. And he's like, oh my gosh, this is not the right relationship. And you know what? This is the right thing for them to break up, okay? And you're right, it's going to be super painful. And the farther, you know, time heals all wounds type thing, the farther away you get from it, the more you're going to be like, oh my gosh, that was the right decision. It doesn't mean that it's not painful and it doesn't hurt. But you know what is painful? That I have to stop talking. Yes! Yes! Nobody! We don't want to stop! You stay right there. We will be right back and we will talk more. We will be right back and we will talk more. We will be right back and we will talk more. We will be right back and we will talk more. Welcome back to sister to sister. The conversation continues with great questions that you send us and we answer from our hearts, as you can see. This question is really good and it's sad in a way. And it says, when will the hurt of losing someone stop? So I'm going to come to you. You know, I don't know that it ever does. That's right. I really don't.  I buried my mother and my father. I buried two siblings and recently my husband. And my sister that we, you know, put to rest was her birthday is December 13th and I found myself crying and it's been several years. My grandmother has been over 40 years, you know. And it, it just, it just goes on. So I think, but what I have learned is grief is a sign that you've loved. And so if you will just allow yourself to go through the process and it grief doesn't necessarily mean death of a person could be a death of a dream of a, you know, relationship or even of a job, whatever. But what I have learned is when I allow the hurt my pain as I yield it to the Lord it actually becomes a seed of grain. And then God can take it and sew it into the soil of the brokenness of what happened in me what happened with the brokenness of my own soul, you know. And in some plants, some water, but God gives the increase, right? And so the love of people that God has put around me, some that have walked through this already. They are seasoned, they speak into my life. They get it when I'm not getting it. I don't have to explain myself to them. It gets very old when you have to keep explaining to someone how you feel. They don't get it. You might commit to lunch with them and, and maybe we said we're gonna go do lunch in a movie but I might do lunch and it feel like I can't handle the movie, you know. So I think the key thing for me is learning to allow Holy Spirit to take that hurt and do something with it without me denying that it's there because denial does not bring deliverance. Do either of you have something for the, when will the hurt stop? You know, the scripture says as Flo was speaking that precious in the sight of God is the death of his saints. It's something that's precious to our Lord because he knows it grieves him as well. It grieves us as well. And you know, when she was talking about the seed, the scripture says unless a seed goes into the ground and dies, it can't bear fruit. And they were, he was talking about Jesus. Unless Jesus, there's a purpose even in death and that's hard to understand. When my dad died, the Lord gave me a scripture in Revelation that the deeds of the righteous will follow them. I was meeting people I never knew that loved him. You know, and that was comforting. There was comfort in those words in his actions. So, you know, realize to look for, it says be thankful in everything, not for everything. So when I became thankful for the works of my dad, when my nephew died, I became thankful for his 27 years. Something released in me that yes, God, you gave this precious gift for this time. I didn't want it to go yet, wasn't ready to let it go. You had to teach me, but I'm thankful that it was there. And like Flo says it's the best, that it doesn't ever go away, but being thankful in it is a beautiful thing. These questions are so perfect for you too. And this is a perfect question too. And someone wrote, I feel like God has given me too much to handle. Does God do that? Amy, does God do that? You know, I remember going through a season and it was one traumatic thing after another. And it just felt like, you just don't know what to do because it was just, it was like all around. Sometimes it's like one thing here, one thing there. And then other times it's just raining, you know, on the just and the unjust. And then when I'm watching other people go through the same thing and you just see it coming, you just wanna rescue them and take them up. But sometimes you just gotta find that peace in the middle of the storm and you've gotta just know who God is, know who you are, know that he's faithful. Know that this is not the end of this book and the end of your story. This is a part of it.  Something is going to shift and change to help you. Because that was a thing our parents used to say, God will never give you more than you can handle, right? Yeah, I mean, I don't know when this became like this Christian saying and why people think it's like comforting. Well, my mom, so it's been a while. Yeah, I mean, I just, I don't get it at all. Like it's not a scripture verse. And so it's just, I don't know where it came from and I don't believe it's truth because yes, sometimes we do have more than we can handle. And guess what? That's why we need to lean on the Lord. He is, he gives us the strength. We on our own can't handle it. We need the Lord. We need to realize we can't lean on our own understanding. We need to lean on the Lord's strength. And that's why it says, blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall inherit the kingdom, I'm sorry, what is it? The kingdom of heaven. Because being poor in spirit means you're relying on the spirit of the Lord to sustain you. So yeah, you know what? He does give us more than we can handle so we can rely on him. He says take my yoke, my yoke is light. What do you have? Yes, yes. The other issue here is when you were saying about where did that come from? I think it's first Corinthians where it says God doesn't give us more temptation to not have burdens than we can handle, but he provides a way of escape, in temptation, not in burdens. Why do we need God if we don't get more than we can handle? But it's not always God that's doing it. It could be our flesh. It could be bad decisions. It can be influences or evil influences, but if God permits it, yes, he is there as a rescuer. And he says his burden is light. His yoke is easy, but Jesus also said, and that's the balance of the scripture, in the world you will have tribulation. You're gonna have trouble, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Jesus says I overcame that. Like Amy says, you are going to get through it, but by his grace. All right, and don't forget he says right in the word of God, and it's in there. It's in Matthew. Matthew recorded it, and he says, I am gentle and humble. You shall find rest for your souls, for I give you only light burdens. So trust him with your troubles. We'll be right back. What a great show we had today. Talked about a lot of really great things, a lot of heavy things, but we always end with the word of God and today's scripture can be found in the Psalms, Psalm 70, verse five. But I am afflicted and needy. Hurry to me, God. You are my help and my savior. Lord, do not delay. We talked about vengeance. We talked about loss. We talked about sorrow and just so many heavy and sad things, but we have a God who cares about even the sparrows outside. How much more he cares about you and I? He knows the number of grains of sand on the shore. He knows the number of hairs on your head.  If there's something today that you need prayer for, or you just want to know this God that knows all those details, call the number on the screen today. Oh my gosh, I loved that. And I loved this show because we touched on lots of things, heavy and light. And we end sister to sister with this scripture that goes like this, as iron sharpens iron, so does the countenance of a man or a woman. And in my case, these girls, these sisters, you see, they always make me a much better Kathy. We'll see you next time we are sister to sister.


Welcome, welcome, everyone, to Know Before You Go, a broadcast briefing powered by JSA and telegeography. I'm your host, Jamie Scott-Okitaya, CEO and founder of JSA. Know Before You Go is the show that covers everything attendees should have on their radar from insider talking points to conference logistics and everything in between. While we're attending that very next big event, talking big events guys, there's none other than the PTC24 that we're talking about today. Of course, taking place January 21st of the 24th in the fabulous Honolulu. And by the way, there is going to be a constant QR code over my shoulder pointing to the registration link for PTC, so scan away while we're chatting. All right, bringing in, we are so happy to be joined by telegeography principal analyst, Eric Kreithelt and Steve Legg, CEO, president, net number of global data services, also one of the featured speakers at this year's PTC conference. Eric, Steve, we're gonna talk through the conversations that attendees can expect in and around conference sessions. Welcome, welcome. Thanks for having me. Yeah, great, thank you for having me, hi, Eric. All right, let's go and go ahead and get right to it. This is Trends to Know Before You Go. Okay, Steve, we're gonna kick this off with you, my friend. You are, of course, a featured speaker on the second day of the conference speaking on a panel entitled For Mobile Concerns, Privacy, Security, Trust and Fraud. You'll be joined, of course, by John Brunner, EGIS Mobile, and Stefan Heller, the campaign registry. So great, all-star panel there. Can you give us a little peek? Share us about an overview of the topic and key takeaways that you hope the audience is going to walk away with. Sure, yeah, thanks for having me again. Excited to be here and really looking forward to the panel in January and being back in Hawaii. So as we know, spam, scam, fraud, continues to plague all of our communications channels, email, messaging, and voice all around the world. And so clearly a priority topic for the industry. In the US market, net number, EGIS Mobile and TCR partner to protect the A to P messaging channel. And we've done that now for quite a number of years. So we'll be discussing how our combined end-to-end solution works and its applicability to other markets in the region. So we really want the audience to come away with an understanding of our respective roles in the ecosystem, how we fit together to provide an end-to-end identity verification and control solution. So really excited to be able to talk about that in Hawaii. And we should mention too that this is the first time that our annual PTC conference is offering a mobile-inspired stream at the event in collaboration with Mobile Ecosystem Forum. So really underscoring the importance of these topics, especially to that Pacific market, actually globally, really. So can you elaborate on this market from a mobile-first and growth perspective? Sure, so, look, there's no doubt that PTC is the premier event in the region and it's always a great way to start the year. So it's great and I've been going to PTC for probably longer than I want to talk about here. But the show has really evolved or the event has really evolved and adapted with the industry over the years. So it's really terrific to see PTC and MEF coming together for this collaboration. So these topics and there's a whole basket of them, they're all top of mind for the industry globally and a focus discussion is both welcome and I think really essential for the market. So very much I think it'll be a great series of sessions. Yeah, and you know, end of year, new year coming quickly. So as we approach PTC 24 and 2024, what are some of your thoughts and predictions on how this mobile ecosystem can really mitigate sophisticated acts of messaging fraud such as brand impersonation scams? Yeah, so certainly as I said, top of mind. So in the U.S., we in that number provide several registry based solutions for industry that prevent number spoofing and also stop number types or ranges from being fraudulently text enabled. So the management and control of number inventory is really fundamental and really stopping and preventing misuse of these really critical assets. So we'll be talking a lot more about that and certainly discussing that at PTC, but throughout early 2024, as fraud becomes more sophisticated, the techniques that we employ and our solutions really become table stakes. And I think that discussion will continue and we'll see a number of announcements both from ourselves and our close partners around this topic early on in the new year. That's a great tease, great tease.  Thank you for sharing your great insights, your previews and good luck on that panel. And I'm so excited again about these trends within the mobile ecosystem that you keep us up to date on. Thank you. Right, thanks, Jamie. All right, we're going to go ahead and turn over this hot seat to Eric Cryfeld with Chela Geography. Hey, Eric. Hey, Jim. It is a pleasure to have you as always. And we're going to go ahead and shift focus here. We're going to talk one of my favorite topics, submarine cables, which are always, again, a prime topic for PTC. Chela Geography chronicled the impact of supply chain disruptions last year. You can actually get a peek at that right if you scan the QR code below us as well as get some insight for the annual workshop that Chela Geography hosts every year at PTC. So, OK, let's talk this year. What's the status? Yeah, so as you mentioned, having submarine cables, I mean, it's a topic that's near and dear to our hearts, but they provide the network backbone globally. But in the Asia-Pacific region, they're particularly dependent on them for international connectivity. So those supply chain disruptions were disproportionately affected countries in the Asia-Pacific. And we chronicled that last year, as you said. So this year, and a little reveal, I mean, a lot of those supply chain issues have been sort of mitigated and have sorted themselves out. But we're looking at, so what's the return to normal and what is the new normal? It's kind of what we're looking at this year. That's an excellent way of putting it. What is the new normal? And particularly, what else can we look forward to in the bandwidth market? So even though some of the supply chain issues have been resolved, you still have other forces, like geopolitical forces in the region. You have the most notable, I suppose, are rival regulatory challenges and economic incentives from between the China and the US have delayed projects and changed plans. So as if the supply chain issues weren't enough, now we have that to contend with, which obviously has a big impact on this region. And even with all those forces bearing down on the industry, I guess some good news is we would expect this year to hear news about submarine cables that have been in development for a while and delayed for being ready for service. And we expect to hear some good news on those and that should be hearing about that at PTC this year. Oh, interesting little preview there. Okay, I'm listening. I'm going to keep my ears open there. And okay, maybe I can ask this question. What are all these cables connecting? I am very curious what's going on and the rest of the market. Yeah, right. They all have to connect there. They're all there for a reason connecting something, right? And that too has become a bit complicated. Again, using the Asia Pacific as a model, although this is also a global phenomenon that some of the global hubs for traffic exchange that we take for granted are maybe no longer the default options anymore. We have for developing data centers, for example, that some jurisdictions have moratoria on that or just sort of running out of space. Some places are easier than others to source cost-effective power. And when you're looking at all these criteria, you're trying to resolve all these criteria and optimize all these criteria, you also have AI looming in the background, putting a lot of demand pressure on that. So there's a lot going on. And we would expect to kind of unpack that. And again, in Asia Pacific, specifically I mentioned the geopolitical transient, you have Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan might not be the default options and maybe Malaysia or Indonesia or the Philippines kind of step up to take on some of that global traffic exchange. And so we're taking a deeper look at optimizing some of those criteria where the new markets might be. That's so interesting, this shift that's happening. I guess it's, you know, time keeps happening, whether or not we want it to. And things change as a result. But one thing that does not change is telegeography being deployed at PTC several analysts I'm told from your amazing analyst firm are also on the agenda to speak on telegeography's annual workshop. Can you share a bit of what to expect from your colleagues? Yeah, it certainly is a year beginning tradition for us to rule out a lot of our latest industry view and different research findings. And it's no coincidence that what I've already talked about is going to be reflected in the workshop this year, but specifically, I guess we can start with John Yembo, our subject matter experts on data centers. He's going to take a closer look at them with the moratoria on power availability and AI. On the data center market, Brianna Boudreau will be back and she'll be talking about pricing and she'll be taking a close look at what the new normal is in that regard and the supply chain issues. We were able to detect that in pricing. Where is that now? What's the new normal on price erosion? And then our VP of research, our top guy, Tim Strom, will be back in speaking on, again, those criteria for global venues for traffic exchange. What are they and what are some of the leading indicators for where the next venues might be? As always, you and your amazing team, just all stars in our space and keeping us on trend knowing where those shifts are happening. So thank you so much for your hard, hard work and to share your insights so generously here and of course at PTC and throughout the year with us. So thank you. We really do appreciate you. Have a great one and we'll see you at the end. Thanks. And let's finish out this very powerful briefing, I must say, with some insider tips for making the most of our time at PTC. All right, guys. I am joined by no other Brian Moon, CEO of PTC to share some tips on how attendees can make the most of this year's fabulous PTC. Welcome, Brian. Thanks, Jamie. Great to see you. And Aloha from Honolulu. Aloha. Aloha. Brian, there are just so many new elements that you guys have incorporated this year at PTC. It is mind blowing. It's amazing. It's exciting. But for those who might not know, can you share some highlights? Absolutely. We're thrilled about how this event is shipping up this year. And first, I will say that after the PTC 23 event, which was actually our biggest event in record breaking, we went back and looked at different feedback from our attendees and our members on what they wanted to see in terms of improvements, enhancements that we can incorporate. And what we really wanted to focus on was how do we continue to support our members, the industry, and registered attendees at the conference. And so while you'll start to see a PTC 24, several of those things come into play and action. First and foremost, we're excited that we are actually moving the membership lounge to closer to Toppa Bar down at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. If folks don't know what Toppa Bar is, I think many of the community knows, but the membership lounge being very close to Toppa Bar, I think will help improve the networking and the meetings that take place. The other exciting news is speaking of Toppa Bar, PTC is actually going to be managing the Toppa Bar for the very first time officially on Monday and Tuesday of the conference. So that was from feedback as well from our members and attendees. And the third piece that I'm really excited about is we're actually also offering a closing room. So our members and attendees who need private space to sign those deals, LOIs, the agreements, we have a private space. And actually we have a photo opportunity as well. We want to make that public that we can capture for them on photo and video to capture that this deal was done at PTC 24. So those types of benefits are what we're really excited about and what we're rolling out at PTC 24. I mean, you can tell you guys have been speaking to your members, your attendees really leaning in and delivering. It's incredible and so exciting. I don't know if I mentioned that. And we should also say what an incredible lineup of speakers you have. I mean, we already had a little bit of a preview from Steve earlier, one of your Toppa speakers at the conference. But can you give us a little bit more sneak peek of what attendees can expect from the education portion of your conference? Absolutely. So it was so good to see Eric and Steve friends at PTC from telegeography and that number prior to this and your conversation. So the conference will kick off with the ever popular submarine cable workshop, which our friends at telegeography are part of. And then as you mentioned in your conversation with Steve, we are thrilled to be partnering with the mobile ecosystem forum. We'll be producing an entire full day track on Sunday as well. And Steve will be one of the featured speakers. As you noted, the really exciting part, Jamie, this year in terms of the program is that we've completely revamped center stage and the topical sessions. And you can see that on our website and you download the mobile app. We've started to highlight many of the featured speakers and the executive speakers that are there. And I would say arguably it is the strongest lineup that PTC annual conference has ever had, or at least in recent years. And maybe just in the industry calendar this year.  So you have some really, really heavy hitters coming to Honolulu this year. And they're not only speaking, but we've intentionally put them together in very focused strategic panels. And that's what we're talking about when we speak about revamping center stage. And so they're going to be focusing on what is the CEO of tomorrow thinking about, right? We're in this new day and age, like you said, what's the new normal now? And what's on the minds of these CEOs is they're planning out the next five, 10, 15 years of their strategic plans. They're going to be talking about the new opportunities in Asia, right, as we look elsewhere. And then there's infrastructure builders. So, you know, we're really excited about this lineup and we keep adding speakers and more will be added over the next month, but it's a really, really dynamic lineup that we have this year in terms of speakers. And then in terms of topical sessions as well, those are all going to be programmed in the afternoon. And we're focusing on topics that are relevant to the industry right now that people have asked us for our members and attendees have asked us for. So we'll be focusing on AI, legal and regulatory, satellite, fiber, energy, finance, and the list goes on. So we're going to try and cover it all during the week. I mean, it's mind blown. I got to say, you guys have completely just redefined PTC. I mean, you guys have been amazing always, but this is a whole new atmosphere of amazingness if that's a thing, but we'll make it a thing. All right. In talking about growing these incredible reputation that you have over the many years, you guys are also so known for networking opportunities. How can attendees have really the best networking experience during PTC, any special events? You mentioned a meeting app. What else do we need to keep? Yeah. So networking is really important as you noted. So the members who are ever popular members who are able to be returning. So that is Saturday evening. If you're not a member of PTC and you're watching, please join us. We're here to support you and we have a great event that takes place to kick off the week. The opening reception. We'll be back on the great long on Sunday evening as well. Here's a really, really exciting program. I'm excited about. So if anyone out there is a fan of the program, TV program Shark Tank. I'm telling you now. So we are going to have the first time ever the big kahoonas at PTC. Oh, I love it. So I mentioned PTC is managing the top of bar this year on Monday and Tuesday. The big kahoonas will be taking place at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, both Monday and Tuesday. And so we have a terrific lineup of contestants. But obviously these are real companies in the industry. Startups, companies looking for feedback.  Maybe a little bit of ribbing, but some advice. And we want them to succeed, right? So again, if you're a fan of the TV program Shark Tank, we have the big kahoonas happening Monday, Tuesday evening at 4 o'clock both days at the top of bar. The other big event that I'm excited to share with the audience is the PTC awards ceremony. It's actually changing from an evening event to a Wednesday morning breakfast ceremony. So it's open to all registered attendees. Free food. Free breakfast is in the morning Wednesday. But it's really an opportunity to celebrate the industry. So the PTC 24 awards will be handed out. Emerging scholars. There's our research. Our researchers, PTC Beyond. And so we're just bringing everyone together to finish off the week and really celebrate it the way. So that is open to all registered attendees Wednesday morning of the conference on the last. So I knew about the very, very strategic compelling move with the award ceremony. And I was like, okay, I pushed that fight back, ladies and gents, because we could all celebrate first. And you have so much to celebrate. It's been a crazy 23, but 24 is definitely a rear-end to go. I feel it. But you blew my mind with the big cahoonas. Save me a little my time. That is incredible. So creative. And yes, what our industry needs. Again, it kind of underscores what you guys do as a member-based organization. And where it's about collaboration and support and community. Both reach each other out. So love all of that. All right. So can you share with us your top three tips for getting the most out of this year's conference? So we PTC has made a significant investment in the mobile app. And this is strictly based on listening to, again, our members and the attendees from last year on what worked, what could be tweaked a little bit. So we've made an investment in the mobile app. And so it is live now. And the Apple and Android store. PTC 24 is the key word to search on. And it's going to have all the most up to date information. And we've enhanced all the features that our participants have asked for. So scheduling the calendar, how to network with other folks, the attendee directory. So it's all there in the mobile app. So number one, I would say download the mobile app. We're pushing everyone to it. And it'll have all the most up to date information throughout the week of PTC 24. Attend center stage and the topical sessions. As you and I chatted about a minute ago, we've revamped that entire program. We're really, really excited about it. And I mean, the entire week is incredible. It's incredible. Again, the lineup of speakers that we have from C-suite, from the C-suite and other executive levels. So it's a great opportunity to see these industry Titans and these industry celebrities all in one place. And then finally, I just open to networking, right? What makes PTC's annual conference so great is the serendipitous moments of who you're going to meet. Top of bar, as I mentioned, PTC is managing it for the first time officially. We have the opening reception, the members for A, the big kahunas. And so there's just a plethora of opportunities to meet new people when you least expect it. So just be open to that. Because again, the serendipity is what has made PTC so special. Oh my goodness. So okay, I'm going to go through your list. First, the mobile app. Second, your speakers, which I thought your industry celebrities, I loved that. And third, networking, networking, networking, what you are known for, but you guys, again, over-delivering in 24. All right. So if I am an attendee and I am getting ready to have the best show leading up to my arrival, what's the best way to keep up to date? The app? The mobile app. After you register, we are over-communicating everything as well. So we want to make sure everyone understands what's happening that week, all the exciting updates and updates to the agenda and speakers. And so all registrants will receive emails from us as well. So the mobile app emails, our LinkedIn is very active. And so if you don't follow our PTC LinkedIn page, please do that. We have industry news as well as updates to PTC 24. So those would be the top three things. Mobile app emails that you'll receive after registering and LinkedIn. Yeah. Hashtag PTC 24. It is going to happen in a really big way this year as always. But I mean, you're taking it to a whole other layer. Yeah. Thank you so much, Brian, for joining us for your insight. So I appreciate you and such a pleasure catching up. And thank you also, telegeographies, Eric, CryFelt, net numbers, Steve Legg for giving us again such great insights on the latest trends that we will expect to hear about at PTC 24. And guys, go ahead and register. That's that registration link over my shoulder. And of course use hashtag PTC 24 when sharing it on LinkedIn. X used to be Twitter anywhere on social. Use it. All right, guys. Also, we should mention be sure to tune in the week of PTC. JSA is so excited to be a PTC media partner. And we will be broadcasting live from the expo floor with interviews with again, these top thought leaders, these industry celebrities that will be in the midst of PTC in Honolulu. In the meantime, go ahead and follow both JSA and telegeography on LinkedIn as well as PTC. And find out more about us on jsa.net, telegeography.com and PTC.org. Thank you again for tuning in to Know Before You Go. And as always, happy networking. See you in sunny Honolulu very soon.