'It's Your Time'

" All great to meet you view I I don't know where to start with your success in the business of ministries or whether to start. -- with religion and your book that this is book number. Three years that you told me number three number three and I did not know this about you -- you guts over you reach over seven. Million people. You weekly. The television shows that you do. And here in also over 100 nations around the world. Bestselling author and again years the senior pastor of Lakewood church in Houston Texas. And what I did not know about you is that your thought this was your father's. Church and your father passed away in 1999. And prior to that you did you would never given a sermon rather than the week before he passed on I know what happened how -- how did that happen."

" You know it's amazing come I never had the desire to be a minister I liked being behind the scenes he with the sun out. The son of an hour work they're doing their production and things like getting to church and that's what I felt like you know I'll I'll I -- that I didn't like being up front of people but. You know is that god works in amazing ways when my dad dad I just all of us and had the desired that I was supposed to step up and pastor of the church. And now I've never been to send an area I've never -- any formal training up in the pulpit that he knew what. -- I took that step of faith in an ever dreamed he'd -- that was ten years ago and you know what I discovered I had something in me that I -- hand."

" It's amazing how already at the time has 3636. And all of a sudden you discover something about you. -- did not know."

" Is this is -- the right now I think that's why it's easy for me to encourage people and that sort of."

" You know that's the basis of my ministry is to let people know that they can rise higher."

" That they have seeds gifts talents on the inside that they don't they've been denied --"

" Tapped into to -- Did it it's it's a great message is called the -- called it's your time activate your faith activate your dreams and increase in God's favor and how do you how do you describe yourself because of the fact that. You really don't meet you got you got a lot of quotes in here from songs but you really don't do a lot of this I call a Bible thumping I mean you view. You are and then just mr. motivational and you tie it back to the fact that god is the one. Who's gonna give you all this stuff he's got to all lined up free all you gotta do is keep your eyes and ears open."

" Nothing so I just feel like my gift. And what my father who wore the traditional pastor would go through May be -- sections of the Bible but. I feel like my gift is -- to talk about every day life. And you know it's the principles from the Bible but I tigers back to the the scriptures but. He annoyed I've always been it's been natural for me Ito to win motivate that's my personality to encourage incident like this before end result isn't. You know no was even before it was administered even play a played a lot of sports and I was always the one that was -- in the -- hey we can beat these guys into for the underdog and so. It just naturally comes out of me too. You know to -- motivate people to be better to be better husbands and overcome challenges."

" Well the other you have so you inherited if you will a fairly large congregation gets 6000 people. That's a big church has a lot of ministers would love to have 6000 people so you took that 6000. And turned it into seven million. And you you had you were looking around for her when you're stories in here as you -- when your wife for looking around for a larger. Church buildings yeah and along came who was at Hewlett-Packard bought. Compact. Something like that and Compaq did this name on the stadium and somebody had for sale and he's -- let's -- a stadium."

" Yeah he was an amazing thing in what what's funny Thomas what led up to that is we tried to buy two pieces of property hundred acres each. In both of those were sold out from undress you know we found out -- there's not any place to put our new facility what are we gonna do we do we that ran out of room but. You know just that you know that you know god always has a plane and I really believe those doors closed -- calls six months later the -- where the rockets played basketball. They were building a new arena in it was coming available until we made a deal with the city and we took that over many people hold the old sixteen count."

" And sixteen. It's filled to the rafters. It's that we get we have good crowds yes. Why is I mean it's it because it's not just view there's something going on. What's religion and American have done the show elected told you before we start the program jewel. I don't -- a theological training -- of the talk about religion and what fascinates me. Is that and I'll talk to the audience about this about. The mega churches -- I remember Coretta Scott King's funeral she was not buried where Martin Luther King. Preached in downtown Memphis but was -- Atlanta what was out in. Her daughter's. Church was out in the suburbs of Atlanta which was a mega church and I was talked about them -- They're common by thousands to these mega churches and meantime you got. You know couple who -- here's down at the local church downtown. And they seemed to be dying and yourself you see these old buildings are used to be churches that are now turned into something else. People are going for these mega churches and people would call me and say. That's not church and -- best Niger to people watch it and there there jeans and T shirts and that's not Turkey got to have good music and now what do you say to."

" Well you know it Hamas believe there's a from a place for for all different types but you know it's do you have to change with the times."

" And -- no it's just to reach this generation I think the church has to be very practical."

" I myself and many of the minister we try to give people something they can use that afternoon that next morning. Not just the theology behind it but how can have a good attitude when the economy's bad perhaps and a forgive somebody when they did me wrong. I think it's that practical side of it."

" Plus the you know then the music has changed in death the methods since -- have to have changed I think."

" In order -- for I think it's gotta be practical and relevant we gotta change with the times."

" Rick Warren one time was saying something and Samari says though there is no such thing is Christian music there're there are Christian lyrics to songs but the music can be. Country rock and roll -- church -- yeah it doesn't matter there's -- in the Bible where is as you will play the organ."

" Where exactly right you know I think I'll always think of this thought when people -- give us a hard time on you know wisely changed but really Jesus were here today. He wouldn't be taken a donkey into Jerusalem he would be. Taken again -- you know taken a modern means what's the same thing today is just different ways to reach people. You know we have lights and sound and it sounds like a con certain you know the music is upbeat and we try to mix it up for all different groups that -- system. You know I I look it over in Europe and you know unfortunately. -- noted that we did church never really changed and in their church attendance is getting better now but it went down to nothing in a distinct camps. Goodness that in in America."

" You know we've been willing to change and to -- you know when I grew up in on a thousand people in a church was a huge deal going to be to prejudge it but."

" You know -- said today their churches all over America with thousands and thousands."

" Yeah in the very popular and they're getting people and it SI do on this program its its you gotta entertain and inform you gotta entertain them to get him in the tenth. And you got them when she got him an attack you conform rumba to they never arrive in the -- you're never gonna. You're never gonna connect with them and anyway. First chapter of your book -- time to believer part one you're closer than you think. And I'm reading this and I'm thinking of myself like to think somebody different situations better. We can all relate to his seat just about -- just about and you give up on something you see people all the time. Give up on a dream. On a goal. On something that they want. And an item and and then that they don't yet know what what that they would just."

" Keep pursuit he really years you know and that's just. You know it's it's still important like key cities it's easy to think well to do this for a week or a year teen years spent. No ma my goal one of the goals there in the book is to let people know you don't know tomorrow you can get the -- you need tomorrow you can see a mayor's turn around and you know faith is all about believing it's expecting to god he's gonna disintegrating your life and it's it's believing that he's working even right now so. You know I destructive to encourage people to -- and motivate him that path. You know you just never know what could happen if you -- stay in fact a great story about a woman named Marie. Yeah Marie Callender volume pretty -- yet in an amazing just she started how many would seek out how close I can get have been the digestive disease she started. -- The store manager ask -- little restaurant we stay overtime and make -- passion that she could have complained she could have -- you -- working hard enough that. She did it she Spanish hit a great gift and you know now -- don't."

" They're the only thing about this so. People sit there and say all right I'm I'm I want this I want that I want this -- to succeed I won this business to succeed I want this. Goal in life to to be achieved. And you say you don't stop because she viewed just about their you're just about there. The only thing about that message -- jewel is is it's about me in the I always take this turnaround in fuel line about. You want them make god laugh tell me your plan. And I'm going but he's. And he's got a plan that's right. It's not my plants I may think I want this promotion nor I want this -- and rather but it may not be would he want."

" I think you're exactly how -- you know. Well I think I believe that god puts desires in your heart. For instance we go back to the compacts and we knew we needed a bigger facility but those doors closed."

" Now honestly if you know the two time that happened I thought I mean we're never gonna have a place in you know has discouraged had to give myself out of it that."

" And I really believe did you have to do the best that you can do to your own ability but you have to put your life and your your goals and dreams in God's hands."

" And realize that sometimes."

" Always he knows what's best -- sometimes he doesn't take you from page to be to see you may go through some of these two hours and I think so much of faith is about trusting do you."

" Believe that he likes you know. Kind of linger out there are so that when he does bless you that you know it was from him. And not your own doing and I believe that's true I believe that's true I mean you you just you see it through the scripture in that them."

" You know all all the on many times you see. How often -- you know even Joseph went through. A difficult -- spent thirteen years in prison for something he didn't do it look like his dream was over I'm sure he was sitting in that prison cell at times and think god. I thought you in recent decent in great in my life. But you know just have kept an attitude of faith he believed even when his planes didn't work out Indian you know when he was promoted -- second in charge of all of Egypt. You know it's like you should be you know it's gonna knock yourself."

" Yeah and then see but that's the thing I I don't want I don't wanna go down the wrong path of thinking well this is where I'm supposed to be. And you know I -- my prayers -- you know shall we don't worry America's idol I think I know the way idea but you definitely know the way. I don't wanna go waste my time. Trying to do something for me that that's not his plan."

" Well that's exactly grandma always teach people to come. You don't have to be doors down you gotta be your best you go to the person of excellent to be be full of integrity. And -- I believe if you give it a 100% do what you -- in your heart is the right thing for you to god we'll get you to where you're supposed to be. So you have to make something happen you want to get frustrated -- have confessed enough. In you know if the door closes or if you don't get the promotion you wanted. You have to come back to that place of peace and say god I trust you that you know what's best for me maybe that was a -- in May be something better -- or protected me absolutely."

" And something bad. Right now of course were so you're watching these huge unemployment numbers -- there there there are unbelievable on the gonna go higher. Each week 500000. Of our fellow citizens or are losing their jobs. And is that he used to be in the day one. Somebody was the slacker. They lost their job and everybody new rule that the person didn't -- eight. This isn't about whether you're good or bad your job for you can be doing your very best duke duke you know tightening. Working hard doing everything right. And you get the peaks form and you know it's got it's it's awfully easy to be discouraged and economic downtown."

" It really is it's it's a difficult day you know we've have been in Michigan with some of the people just like you said it's not. Sometimes like the old days when you say good when you see good middle class people that -- work hard that have lost their job and so."

" It is difficult I cannot go back to the scriptures is you know Jesus had in life few have challenges difficulties -- be of good cheer."

" Some encouragement to people in my you know the thrust probably now more than ever. This encouraged people to."

" You know not get bitter."

" Todd you know do their best not to get this what are some human nature to blame somebody it is it is a lot of people you know I know people that blame god you know I know that aren't allowed my child die like this happened so. It really is but I think that's what you know again so much of faith is about trusting."

" Take god I don't understand why this happened to me but I'm not gonna live this stay negative and sour and depressed. And of this day is a gift you've given me in you know it may not be perfect animal finds something to be grateful for."

" I think one of the keys that I tell myself this I don't tell anybody else except things that I do myself is."

" He got to get -- the morning. It may be lost your job and I hope not but if you did you get a --"

" He gets a UN have a job I have my health I have my family I have some brand he got to find something to be grateful for."

" And I think too Tom you've got to do it's not just all about god do it we have to do the natural then god can do this supernatural we do we can genre do."

" I'll pull values under a uniter you've listened in to conversations between myself and my wife and I clash. She's pieces to be all the time she's you know she says you don't just have to have to have some faith absolute faith. -- go what it can't sit on your pink though does it around god expect you to do a little look to yourself you know. We do we have this fun conversation back and forth about you get to sit around and hope you gotta do something."

" It really is true that's what I try to emphasize 'cause you know our messages about how open believing that."

" No god expects you to do what she -- and so you know which you -- is."

" Are you being your best each day you're at work on time are you over producing and producing more than you have to. Or if he lost a job you can't sit around to -- can be bitter and take -- can't wait for you to do something. You can get to resonate got a call you friends he got to knock on every door you came."

" I believe that's we you know this you probably know descriptive more than me the -- his faith without actions behind it is -- in south it would just -- god go."

" do we can't."

" Now I. I I'd look at this first of how the economy affecting your ministry."

" We you know what we've been blessed and it's it's it's -- you John I know she's God's blessings that our income is about the same as it was last year."

" And we're projected this year to be the same visual turn more to gun during tough times they did they turn our attendance is up. Are are -- offerings are not necessarily -- sign yes Vanessa that's good Andy you know."

" You know it's it's difficult on people but we've been blessed in to see about that about the same incomes last year."

" Kind of like Knoll. When God's telling me. The term right to -- or turn left orders stop here or do this is that I keep waiting for this this voice you hear people civil god talk to me. Jewel I'm I'm I'm waiting for the the James Earl Jones voice -- bomb I want you to do you know gas. I don't hear of the."

" Voice you know its its most people X you know I think over complicate god believe."

" He you know if you listen on the inside -- on such a hit bit with -- with your hard at least. The way god talks to me I feel like god speaks to me is through this feeling right down here on point more to my heart not my head."

" So."

" You know I may just you know just in a simple thing and you know what to do something one day I just don't feel good about why should not go do that interview why should not go be with that person and it's. It's not allowed it to it's a feeling it's it's almost like the the unconscious that the sub conscious. And so I think if you if you follow that still small voice that's -- speaking to him speak like in the movies I mean they do does but that's not typical."

" Still seeing the book is called it's your time activate your faith activate your dreams and increasing God's favor. God bless you thanks so much -- thanks -- my pleasure will be right back. A lot to say."

" Tom Sullivan radio at foxnews.com."

" Yeah."