Pastor Podcast - Acts 4:1:31 - Believer's Boldness

Each week Pastor Mark takes time to go deeper and talk about the week's message!  If you have questions you'd like him to answer or hear more about please send those in by texting us at the link in the show notes!

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Boldness gets talked about a lot, but Acts 4 forces the real question: what do you do when someone tells you to stop speaking about Jesus? Pastor Mark and Aaron Powell pick up the Sunday message and walk straight into the tension Peter and John faced with the Sanhedrin and the courage that followed. What stands out is what they do next: they don’t pray for an easier path. They pray for boldness, and the church keeps speaking the Word of God with confidence.

We connect that biblical boldness to everyday life in the United States, where many believers aren’t facing prison but still feel heavy pressure to keep faith private. We talk about fear of being labeled, overlooked, canceled, or even losing opportunities at work or in the community. Along the way, we pull lessons from faithful believers across history, ask what we would do if the cost got higher, and keep coming back to one anchor: we can’t manufacture courage on our own, but the Holy Spirit can fill and strengthen us.

We also get practical about “strategic boldness” that speaks truth in love without being rude or looking for a fight. Prayer, corporate community, and staying in step with the Spirit shape when to speak, how to speak, and how to endure when the gospel offends. If you want spiritual courage that lasts past Sunday, this conversation will help you take the next faithful step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review with the boldest moment you’ve faced lately.

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Transcript

Welcome, VBS, And Father’s Day

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Oh, hey, Life House family. Welcome back to our weekly time with Pastor Mark. Mondays. Yes, we do it on Monday. We don't know when you listen. Hopefully it's on Monday. Everybody's like tuning in to hear it. But uh just time to dig into God's Word, what we looked at on Sunday, this week Father's Day, getting into Acts 4 and when we gather, but then we scatter, and how can we continue to allow God's Word to work and what we're hearing? So we appreciate everybody joining us. And any thoughts on Father's Day? Any reflections?

SPEAKER_01 0:46

You know, yeah, I mean, not only is it Monday after Sunday, but it's Monday after VBS. So we are dragging a little bit extra, you know, today, but what a wonderful week of ministry and fruit and connections and just serving the Lord. So just excited to see how things will even continue in regards to the seeds that were planted and the fruit that is coming forth from that. So just so thankful for our church and all the efforts and sacrifices and giving that made VBS happen. But Father Day is a special day. And really, yeah, in thinking about the sermon in Acts chapter four, and one word that just kind of keeps coming up, and we just did the first 31 verses, but is this boldness. You know, Peter and John were bold in having been commanded, trying to be intimidated by the Sanhedrin to not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. They said, we cannot help but speak of that which we have seen and heard, and basically told them up front, we're not going to stop, we're going to keep doing what God has commanded us to do. But then, even just beyond that, for them going from that, they prayed and they didn't pray for the persecution to go away. They didn't pray for God to strike that Sanhedrin with lightning. They prayed that God would give them all boldness. And then it says they continue to speak the word of God with all boldness, all of them. And so, boldness. I we need to be bold, you

Acts 4 And Real Boldness

SPEAKER_01 2:05

know, and it's not, you know, an obligation. Oh, I have to be bold. It's an it's this is who God has created us to be. We're to be bold, not ashamed, right? But bold. And that doesn't necessarily mean belligerent or arrogant or rude, but it means to be confident, to be courageous, and to do what God has created you to do, called you to do, without making excuses. Or you don't justify, just simply be. And he gives us what we need to be bold. He's faithful in that regard. And so boldness is beautiful, right? It is a beautiful thing. It's worshipful. We are to not be ashamed. God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. I don't know. What about you? What do you think about boldness?

SPEAKER_00 2:50

Yeah, I think if our foundation is firm, you know, I always kind of consider if I'm standing on something solid, I feel confident. You know, I don't have to. Whereas if you're on a shaky ground. So yeah, we've been given the firm foundation, Christ says. You build your life on my word, on your faith in me, and then you're going to have a firm foundation. And if your foundation's solid, why would you not be born? You know where you know what your faith is built on. So it should give you confidence. And again, that heart to see others have that same, you know, I'm always just burdened. I see people just building their lives on sand.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

And it's like, you know, that stuff that we want to speak into. Yeah, you know, one thing I think about in just regards to boldness, and again, yeah, you cannot deny the boldness that we see Peter and John demonstrate. And again, we can't forget the testimonies throughout the gospel. I mean, this is a different Peter and John. This is a filled Peter and John, right? They're equipped, filled with the Holy Spirit. And that's really the point, too, right? They weren't digging or finding something within themselves, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. That's made clear in the scripture, and then responded, and then, you know, spoke the word of God and the gospel. I often think about when I hear of these amazing testimonies throughout the ages. I mean, one book to read is Fox's Book of Martyrs. Classic, where just throughout the ages and history, where it really testifies of men and women who stood firm, who were bold in their faith despite persecution and even having died, many of them. I think most of them in Fox's Book of Martyrs, all of them died, but were successful and faithful to the Lord and glorified God in speaking the gospel. But I think about these, I think about Peter and John. Like, what would I do if I was in that situation? All my heart is to be faithful. And I'm so inspired and motivated by Peter and John's example and the examples of John Bunyan, who I mentioned on Sunday morning, and

Martyrs, Bunyan, And Costly Faith

SPEAKER_01 4:50

Richard Wormbrand in Romania, more recent times, and who were faithful. What would I do? You know, John Bunyan was in prison for 12 years, and they told him, We will let you go if you stop preaching. Like all you have to do is stop preaching. And his response was, if you let me go today, I will preach tomorrow. You know, and I'm thinking, man, could I do that? Would I do that? You know, and and I can tell you one thing, if I were to be faithful in that regard, it would only be by the power of the Holy Spirit. And that's what I would have to trust, that the Holy Spirit that filled John Bunyan fills me. And the Holy Spirit that filled Peter and John fills me. And and God is faithful, right? And he gives us what we need so that we don't have to make excuses and justify, so we can simply be obedient. And it doesn't necessarily mean that we'll uh escape unscathed. I mean, Fox's book of martyrs is about people who died, you know. And even in scripture, we see, and the expectation that God has for his children is faithfulness even unto death. And again, I think about that. Could I be? Would I be faithful unto death? I mean, only my hope is that I would be. I mean, I think about, and I mentioned Philippians 1.20, where Paul said, when faced with the possibility of death, in Philippians 1.20, it is my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but so now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be magnified in my body. You know, and and that is my that's why that's my life's my life verse. That's my desire too. But my hope is that and trust is that God would give me what I needed in that moment should I be faced or or in those situations. And so I'm thankful that God is faithful.

SPEAKER_00 6:43

So I think unpacking, you know, we talked about the persecution in that situation. Yeah. You you gave great examples, you know, around the globe that's still happening. Today, Nigeria, North America, many, many places. Christians' lives are on the line. You know, praise God here in the Euro States. I think most watching, you know, that's not our situation, but how should we look at it? I think we are in a society where, I loved the word you use, we are pressured, you know, so we're not outright persecuted. But there is this pressure to just keep your faith to yourself. Yeah. Don't be bold, you know, because maybe you won't get thrown in jail, but you'll be what's the canceled or cut off or overlooked things.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Discriminated against in some way. And I think that what we need to fight against is discouragement or despair or depression, or again, like because of those things, well, oh, we gotta I gotta lay low so that I don't get overlooked or, you know, no, we're to be bold, we're to stand firm. Like, like everyone should know our neighbors, our co-workers, our schoolmates or whatever, what it is that we believe. Like we're to be a people that are to be marked by love as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ. One of the things that it was mentioned in Peter is Peter and John, the Sanhedrin said, or they recognize them as men who had been with Jesus. That should be us. Like, like we we should speak of that which we have seen and heard and testify of him and proclaim the gospel everywhere we go. And and what it says in the scriptures is that to some will be a fragrance of life in that regard, and to some a fragrance of death. Like a lot of people are not going to like that. Jesus said to his followers, they hated me. You can count on them hating you. They persecuted me. Like a servant is not greater than his master, like they're going to persecute you. In this world, you will have tribulation. So, believers, brothers, sisters, don't be caught off guard. Be blessed. Like Peter and John were blessed, like to, you know, to be counted worthy, the the believers, to be counted worthy and to be filled with the spirit and equipped to endure and persevere. And we have to trust that God will fight for us. We can know that nothing will separate us from his love. The world may hate us, but God loves us, and really all that that's what matters. And so, who are we trying to please? You know, we need to think about that. But pressure, you know, I can I can think of situations where, you know, athletes were not maybe given opportunities to play because they were the crazy Christian on the team. I can think of people who were overlooked for job promotions because they were the crazy Christians. I know people who have literally lost their jobs. In recent times, a great friend of mine who was very bold, I'm not going to say his name or the situation, but literally within this year, I know, and now again, people, I think the laws, a lot of times employers don't tell you why they fired you, you know, for legal reasons. But I know that this person was filed because he was a bold witness for Christ. He was just too over the top for this organization, and so they released him. That's that's a form of persecution. I know of families who are not given opportunities, you know.

Pressure In America And Quiet Fear

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Again, I I think of I don't know if this is too close to home, but you know, people overlooked for foster home potential. Oh, those people are crazy Christians, you know. Those are some of real life examples that I hear about, you know, in our world today in America, and it's unfortunate. But we're called to remain faithful, to trust the Lord, that he sees that our situations and circumstances are not overlooked. And so in those situations, we don't shake our fist at God, you know, where are you, God? You've forsaken me or forgotten me. I should have got that promotion, or I should have gotten, you know, the A-team or the you know the starting lineup. No, God sees and he fights for us, and nothing can separate us from his love. And so we just have to trust and lean in and lean on him to continue.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

When our identity is in Christ, all of those other things we now view as opportunities to glorify God, to speak, to be bold, and hey, if we're persecuted for it, great. You know, as even think Jeremy Elrich gave a Forge talk. You know, it's not about results, it's about being faithful. Right. I know there's examples now, there's baseball players who you know wrote Bible verses on their caps and they're being told not to do that. You know, there's an NBA player who was cut from his team because he spoke out against, you know, LGBTQ and things. So it's happening, you know, again, not being put to death, but are you willing to be uncomfortable for your faith is kind of where we're at. And unfortunately, that's that if we're lukewarm, you know, then those things become more important than being bold. And and we're willing to sit down and shut up rather than stand up and speak.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

And so I do think that we can be, in being bold, be strategic. Yes. You know, I don't think that being bold is necessarily standing on the street corner at every opportunity with a sign or, you know, wearing that in-your face t-shirt or hat, like, you know, whatever. You know, again, uh, it's not black and white. I think every situation and circumstance is different, but what we want to make sure that we're doing is not in fear being hindered. You know, what what they prayed for was that they prayed for all boldness. In essence, like they didn't want to be hindered in any way or distracted or whatever. Like they wanted to be confident, and when the opportunity presented itself, speak without reservation. And so I think that we can, as believers in our day-to-day, be really strategic. Like we want to, in being bold, we could potentially burn a bridge when really we want to build bridges and look for opportunity, not by conceding or or cowering in any way, but we want to build bridges. And so I think that there are ways that we can be strategic with our boldness, you know. And I again, that's not a cop-out. Like, I don't want to say, well, you know, people say, well, I'm not gonna speak the gospel in this situation because I'm being strategic and I don't want to burn the bridge. You know, I'm not saying that. I just think we really have to consider our motives and why we are, why we aren't, you know. But ultimately, at the end of the day, in general, we're to be bold. And bold is beautiful, bold is worshipful. And again, regardless of the results that play out, we want to honor God, and that's why it's beautiful. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

I think reiterating what you said yesterday, boldness is not belligerence, right? So we're not out to, you know, condemn in a way or break relationships, but we're out to speak the truth, you know, the truth in love, because we want something for people. We want to share the same gospel that we have. So I want you to, you know, if you're caught in sin, if you're believing lies of the world, I want to share the truth with you, but in a way that seeks you changing and sharing the change that has come through us, I would say. Absolutely is an important way. So that's the strategic way of how we're doing it in a loving way. You know, so Jesus would confront the Pharisees and the Sadducees. So Jesus was always bold, but he was doing it in a way that was offering the hope, you know, that was within him.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Aaron Powell Absolutely. And I think about like those examples, I I we hear about North Korea and China and the secret church. Like, are those people in worshiping in secret not being bold? No. They're being strategic, you know, and they so that they can continue sharing the gospel, they're looking for opportunities. And then when those opportunities present themselves, they without reservation take the opportunity to share the gospel. They're using their brains and their minds. And so, yeah, like that's a way that that we can do it. Now, I I also want to, again, it's not just being bold for bold sake. So I think I know many people who are very bold politically, you know, in the garb that they wear, in the social media posts that they post. I mean, they're bold in regards to their allegiance or alliance to a specific sports team. I mean, everybody knows who this person or that person follows in regards to their team or who that person or the way that person votes because of what they post on social media. Really in the same way, like again, and the goal is not to offend. It may offend, but but our goal is to be obedient in making it clear what we believe, who we serve, who we love, you know, and again, being strategic in ways to take the opportunity to share the gospel in that regard.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

Aaron Powell The gospel's going to be offensive to people who haven't recognized their sin, but we need to be bold in sharing the truth. But it's not a condemning way, it's a hopeful way. So it's going to offend. It just is.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Aaron Powell The truth is the truth, regardless of how it makes us feel. I mean, even as believers, I mean, sometimes God's word is a hard pill to swallow. And sometimes it's a

Strategic Courage Without Being Rude

SPEAKER_01 15:40

double-edged, you know, it's the double-edged sword. It pierces to the division of heart and soul and spirit, you know, a Hebrews chapter 4. And but it's still God's word, and it's good and it's profitable. And so we need it, everyone needs it, you know, so that we can endure, so that we can persevere.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

So I think the important part, boldness and persecution requires the prevailing power you were alluding to, you know, the Holy Spirit and why we need to be that. So if people feel, you know, again, we look at Acts as you know, describing how the early church, you know, we don't necessarily see all of the miraculous signs today, but how can we have access to the same power? You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

I mean, what so what we see, yeah, we see the boldness clearly, which is really the fruit of the spirit, connected to this boldness played out. It's all they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and then we see them be bold in incredible ways. But leading up to those times, often what we see them do is praying. You know, so what can you do? I mean, clearly, what they did, and again, one of the things that's kind of a unique dynamic. So, so the book of Acts is descriptive. There are books of the Bible that are prescriptive that they say, like, you need to do this and don't do this, and it's prescriptive, but this is descriptive. It's just a narrative that's telling us what happened. And so we can still learn from that, even though it's not prescriptive and descriptive. We we can still learn and and and understand truth. These people, their example, their testimony was that they prayed. And not only did they pray, we see what they prayed for. They prayed for boldness. And they didn't just pray alone, isolated in their prayer closets, they prayed corporately together. Like they acknowledged and declared the sovereignty of God in Acts chapter 4. We see that prayer. And they didn't prayer for the pre-pray for the persecution to go away, right? Because what we see in the book of Acts and throughout history is that persecution's profitable. God uses persecution. Tertullian said that persecution is the seed of, or the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. And so God uses believers who endure and persevere boldly through persecution and hard times to expand his church, to build his church. But believers prayed. And so, yeah, like if you want to be filled with power, there's always a connection there with prayer and with power. Like it, there, there, you it's undeniable, it's unmistakable. And so, if I want to be bold, one thing that I'm gonna need to do is pray, to lean into and lean on, to acknowledge the Lord, knowing that apart from him I can do, I can be nothing. Just as I spoke of earlier, you know, it's very would I, could I respond in the way that these faithful saints through the ages and Peter and John responded in the face of persecution? Not of my own strength. I mean, I think that that awareness is key. My dependence is upon the Lord. So praying and Lord, asking the Lord to give me strength, asking the Lord to give me wisdom, asking the Lord to give me faith, if ever faced with those things, to continue honoring Him and not quitting.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

The idea is boldness isn't just going to happen. Right. Boldness is comes from that devotion. Like next, we see the people to prayer, too. The apostles' teaching, to fellowship, all of those kind of things. That's what leads to the boldness and to proclaim in a tangible way. So being that passive, you know, waiting back, you know, kind of thing. Because I think that was kind of the last, you know, kind of question, you know, in our points of the prayerful perseverance. How do we balance prayer and action? You know, do we just sit back? How do we, you know, make sure we're kind of considering both as we walk in our day-to-day way?

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Well, so this is part of what it means to be filled with the spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. He's our helper, he's our guide. And I think that the Holy Spirit leads, like we're to keep in step with the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, not according to the flesh. And what that means is this that the Spirit leads, guides, directs, compels. I mean, I think about Paul when he was talking about how he was the love of Christ compels him, like draws him, and that spirit kind of directs that. The same spirit that indwells our hearts and lives. And so I think that that's part of prayer is seeking wisdom from the spirit of God. Like, how should I not only respond, but where should I go? What should I do? Should I speak? Should I be silent? You know, I mean, I think that those are things that that we can ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Very important to you. That's always my constant prayer. I don't want to get ahead, but I don't want to get behind. So when we're keeping with the spirit, God will show you, you know, like I'm always reminded experiencing God. Like the Holy Spirit will be working, and when you're prayerful, you'll know when to be bold. And right now you'll see somebody who's who needs to hear when they're struggling. And this is an opportunity to behold, to share, or the

Prayer And Spirit-Filled Confidence

SPEAKER_00 20:45

pressure is coming. But I know this is an opportunity to step up and how to do it faithfully, because it's not about me, but I see this coming, and where I can confront that in the power of the spirit rather than somehow thinking I'm doing something for God rather than knowing that opportunity. So I think it's keeping that very important. You know, it's not well just you know, sit in your prayer closet all day long and don't come out, right? But at the same time, you know, don't get ahead and do things apart from prayer, right? The steering wheel, and it's up to us.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

Yeah, like I this is very much tied to the Great Commission, right? Which we often you know, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me, Jesus says, Go therefore, make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I've commanded you. That's not the end of it, though. What's the last part? Baptizing, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. And that tag is not just like a little tag, it's meant to encourage us. Yeah, like how am I gonna know who to make disciples or or how who to baptize? Like, what am I how am I gonna know what to teach? I think that that is a tag that I'm with you, like I'm gonna help you. Right. And this is what Jesus said when he said leading up to his crucifixion and his departure. It's to your advantage that I go. Right. Because I'm going to send the Holy Spirit, the helper. Like he's going to help you, like guide you, show you, reveal to you, direct you. So take advantage of that. Right. You're not on your own. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. You know, so we have that. It sounds kind of trite and maybe diminishing to say resource, because he's so much more than that. But but we're not left to our own vices. We're not left to figure it out on our own. He gave us a command, I have to do it. No, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in the pursuits and the plans and purposes of God that he sets before us.

SPEAKER_00 22:49

Empowered and equipped, you know, his authority and his presence, you know, goes with us. It's not a good luck, you know. So, but we need to be praying in that dependent mode rather than wanting to, you know, think that we're we're God's man or woman, you know, like he needs us. Like, no, we stay in that dependent, but then we have the authority, then we have the presence that goes with us to make huge impacts in our community, in our family. If you want to see change in yourself and your family, and you're then be devoted, be fully follower, following after Christ. You know, that's when the Holy Spirit will start to work when we're submitted and obedient, I think.

SPEAKER_01 23:31

But it is so in the eyes of God, I would say boldness is beautiful. But yeah, kind of back to to your initial point about pressure in our it's very faux pas, right? Is that a word? I think faux pas. I think you guys know what I'm talking about. It's very counter-culture to be bold in our faith. But yet we are commanded it to boldness spiritually in regards to the gospel is faithfulness. It may be faux pas in the eyes of the world, but it is faithful in the eyes of God, and we want to be faithful, right? Faithfully different, despite what culture says, it's faux pas. Like it's counterculture to be bold, sit down, like shut up. No, rise up and speak the truth. It's beautiful in the eyes of God. So we want to we want to be bold for the glory of God. I I think about go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 24:25

I was gonna say secularity, the whole principle of secularity is to push faith to the fringe, you know, like it's not in the public square, it's not something we're talking about. And so that's where I think boldness for us being bringing that back to the forefront. Like if we truly believe what we say, we believe it's one of the important, the most important things in our lives. It shouldn't be a fringe, like, oh yeah, I go to church or whatever. But truly, if we have salvation through Christ and we have the gospel, then that should be the center of something we want to talk about, something that just comes out of us rather than. And then if I have to, I'll talk about it. So I think that's an important thing. And like you said, not a force to or legalistic, but it just should naturally be something we want to have conversations about.

SPEAKER_01 25:09

I remember speaking to my grandmother who has been past many years ago, but I remember her talking about her faith and specifically her expressing that her faith was something very private. And I just don't think that that's what I see in scripture at all. And I love her, and I don't want to disparage her memory. I'm very thankful for her legacy. She was a born-again Christian, and I believe she's in heaven. But that was her understanding and her perception. That's what she had been taught growing up. That's not faith, is not a is not private, right? I mean, we are right, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who would believe it, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Like, like, why I'm not ashamed. I'm going to be bold about the gospel because of what it means. It means salvation for people, salvation from eternal condemnation. I'm not ashamed of the gospel. And so, yeah, we have boldness is who we're to be, who we're called to be, despite our personality types. Some are introverts, some are extroverts. But God knows how he's wired us. And again, it doesn't, it's not going to look the same with everybody. Not everyone's going to be a bold preacher, you know, but we can be bold, generous, you know, with giving. We can be bold and showing hospitality, you know. There's just so many ways to allow that to play out in our life. We just don't want to be reserved or hindered. And again, not belligerent, not brash, not arrogant, not rude, but bold.

SPEAKER_00 26:54

You know, and that's beautiful. The word for the day is boldness. Boldness. Let's be bold, though, church. If you are not e bold, pray. You know, this is one of those things like our personal walks with the Lord. Don't just show up Sunday, sit in a seat, but when it is an all-week continual walk with the Lord, walking by the Spirit, boldness will come. You know, so if you want that boldness, work on your prayer life, work on in community. We see the believers were praying together for this, for each other. So something that's very important to all of us be continually working on.

SPEAKER_01 27:27

Yeah. So I don't, I cannot think, and maybe you can tell me, I cannot think of a passage of scripture where believers are commanded to be bold directly or exhorted to be bold. But there is a passage of scripture that we are exhorted, Ephesians 5.8, to be filled with the spirit. And I do think, just like you were just saying, that the boldness is a byproduct, a sense, of being filled with the spirit. We're to be

Weekly Challenge And Closing Invite

SPEAKER_01 27:55

filled with the spirit. Now, when we're saved, we're born again. But what Ephesians is saying, like, don't be drunk with wine, don't be filled with wine or food or anything else, be filled with the spirit. Like position yourself, pray, read the word of scripture, you know, be filled with the spirit. And then that boldness, I believe, will absolutely come.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Right. It's the what do you say, the byproduct. That's how God builds his kingdom through fully devoted followers. Again, Jesus said, pick up your cross, follow, deny yourself daily, you know, follow Christ, and you'll see yourself changed, and you'll start to see the boldness have absolutely so. Well, Life House family, thanks so much for joining us on this time. As always, if you got questions, we want to help answer those and anything you're going through in your walk. But we do hope this encourages you during the week to be bold, to uh pray without ceasing, uh, to be in community, all of those opportunities you know in the world. This is a great way for us to connect. So we appreciate you taking the time, but definitely reach out with comments, questions, and we will look forward to seeing you next week.