Opening Question: Are You Called More

Announcer 0:01

It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire, and empower you to face life's challenges with a full confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, Ron Myers, the promoter.

Ron Meyers 0:22

Hello, my friends. It is so good to be with you today. I want to begin with a thought-provoking question. Does God have you where he wants you to be? Now think about that for a minute. Are you doing what God created you to do? Are you using the gifts, talents, and abilities he's placed inside of you? Or do you feel like there's something more to life? If your answer is no or even, I'm not sure, Ron, then today's episode is a must listen. Now, if you're new to this show, let me tell you what I do. I chase God stories. I love hearing the stories of ordinary people who discover that God has an extraordinary purpose for their lives. Today's story found me after church last Sunday. A friend of mine, Greg, walked up to me and told me about a blues rock musician coming to Biloxi on June 20th to perform at the music venue called The Sanctuary. As he shared a little bit about this man's journey, I knew then that God had set up an appointment for me with another story that my listeners needed to hear. Now I warn you, I have been accused of being an instigator. Not because I caused trouble, but because this show has a way of stirring up gifts, dreams, and callings that have been lying dormant inside of people for years. You know those gifts God placed inside of you? The ones that keep whispering there's more. The ones that won't leave you alone. The gifts that are screaming, let me out. Well, today's conversation may do exactly that. My guest is Andy Watley, a blues rock musician who spent years raising a family, coaching football, running businesses, and doing all the things responsible people do. He had a dream. Music. The music never left him. The gift never left him, the calling never left him. After our conversation, I'll share a few practical action steps that you can begin immediately to help you move closer to the place God wants you to be. And before we're done, you're going to hear a little of Andy's music and learn how you can see him live if you're on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. So let's get right to

Andy’s Roots: Music And Sports

Ron Meyers 2:43

it. Andy, what's your story?

Andy Whatley 2:45

Wow, which which rabbit trail are we going to go on today? Brought up in an incredible Christian family in Montgomery, Alabama, and had me in a Christian school, but there were two things relevant growing up. One's music constantly, the other was sports. That's it. Music and sports, sports and music, which is a little bit of a sometimes contradictory, you know, but it's it's what we were. And so my dad, you know, was teaching me how to play guitar, and we're constantly having instruments around the house. And so that kind of was, I guess, the feeder for what was gonna eventually become. The reason I even bring the sports and the music up is because you're gonna see that interwoven as as I'm just dealing with with what God brings me and and what I run away from and what he brings me back to. So left that school, ended up playing college football up in Wisconsin, probably because that's the furthest way I could get away from my folks at that time when you're 18 and ready to think you can do it on your own. And that lasted good. I had fun up there, but it just wasn't for me. If you wanted to be a good preacher, you would go to that school at that time. I wasn't wanting to be a preacher, so that only lasted about a year. As I floated on back, I started getting to bands, playing everywhere I could. We called ourselves Christian Rock at that time, but we pretty much played anywhere the door was open and we could play, whether it be a Christian coffee house here, a bar there. We actually had a, I think it was a label called Word out of Nashville wanted to sign us because they were looking for no, this didn't work out, but they were looking for a Christian band to go into bars and they're just they had an idea that didn't that didn't really come to fruition for us, but that also explains to you where we were at, you know, trying to do that. And when I say we, it a lot of that is my brother. Um his name is Chris, and uh, so me and him are constantly just trying to do stuff like that. Along comes, I go back to my high school sweetheart, married her, and I think I met her, she was in ninth grade, I was 11th.

Putting The Guitar Down For Family

Andy Whatley 5:02

So after a few years, well, we we team up, we get married, we have our second child, and that's the time I was like, ooh, if I keep doing these bars and I keep this lifestyle, I'm going to lose that woman and those two boys. So I kind of put up the guitar at that point and went into the business of my own, uh, the meat business of all things. It was fun. Did that for about seven years and kept having kids. We ended up having five kids during all that, four boys and a girl. And so that led us to the back to sports. I actually went back, got my degree, got my master's, and started coaching football in Alabama, definitely about three or four different schools. You know, you travel around. What led me back to music was sitting around a coaches meeting.

One Song On Stage Changes Everything

Andy Whatley 5:54

We always had ours on Sunday in between churches. And my dad calls me and he says, Hey, come down here to this benefit, and uh they want us to sing Seven Bridges Road. And what what it was was there's a friend, there's a mutual friend in our family, and he's a big country star. His name is Jamie Johnson. So he was having a local benefit, and he had it for a few years there. So I it was raising money for I think pancreatic cancer. And so I kind of knew about it, but again, you know, I'm I'm not in music. I'm I'm only in, you know, like sports at this point. My sons, they're killing at music, they're learning their instrument, they're getting very good on their instruments, you know. So I got to listen to them and throughout all these all these years, but I'm not. So my dad calls me, hey, you know, come come sing the song. You know, literally just come to we'll we'll put you on a little cart, they'll take you to the stage, we'll get up there. I'm like, dad, I can't, you know, I've got a meeting right here, you know. We're trying to go over this defense here, and you know, and so then he texts me, hey, uh, hey, hey, you think you can come up, you know? And so I actually I remember looking down, literally thinking, you know, I kind of wore some black jeans and a black shirt. Other words, I was like, this would work on stage, you know, because it was what I wore to church that day. I just went straight over to the school after that. I'm like, all right, so I go, and literally, it was, you know, he probably had a couple thousand people out there, and they pulled me up and it they handed me a acoustic guitar. There's my dad, there's my brother, and I believe Jamie's dad, he always sings bass with us. And so uh so we jump up on stage, did one song, and right there I went, oof. Even on the way home, I was going, no, no, no, no, no, don't, don't, don't, Andy, don't, don't, you know. And I'm really talking to what I felt like God's saying, yeah, I've got some new plans for you. And so that took an extreme, you know, turn. I really wasn't telling anybody, like, hey, I might give up all this to start this. I really didn't want to really tell anybody, especially my wife. Well, at the same time, my sons, who are getting very good at their instruments, they come to me and they say, Dad, why don't you sing for us and let's book a few shows?

From Sons’ Band To Going Solo

Andy Whatley 8:09

Let's have some fun. And I'm like, oof, that's good timing. So I literally said, Okay, let's do that, and started booking shows mostly out of town. Jump in the truck, trailer, go set up, play a bar scene. And it was all it was a lot of fun. But I wasn't doing it for fun. I knew I was supposed to go this direction. We kicked along for about two years, and that was called Watley and Company. And we started at that time, Jamie uh Johnson, he he started saying, Hey man, why don't you why don't you uh get on my record label and start releasing music under it's called Big Gass Records? And I said, Okay, let's do that. And but all of a sudden, that firstborn, he's the drummer, Kyle. He he had his second baby. And the uh second born, my bass player, Carson, he had his, I think he got he had his first baby, and and then the my guitarist who does other stuff like keyboards and everything else, Kirkland, he was getting married. So you can see where I'm going with this. Now they're doing the same thing I did when I had my second kid. Dad, I can't go, I can't do this traveling. We were starting to travel a lot more under Watley and Company, and so I kind of saw that and I'm like, hmm. And so we were playing a show in Tennessee, I'll never forget it. And I'm I love history. And so uh I was uh after the show in Tennessee, we were opening up actually for I think it was Jamie, it was a it was a big artist. Well, my sons, they took the truck and trailer, went that way. I actually have my wife on that trip trip, and we're gonna go to Shiloh Battlefield. On the way there, I literally heard in my in my head, Andy Watley and Company. Instead of, you know, it was Watley and Co. Wally and Company. And I'm like, oh no, I'd never put my name. You know, I like a band. Come on, give us a band name. You know, I don't ever want to put just, you know, Billy Bob Johnson here, boom, you know. And so I was like, I wrestled, no, no, and but I I was like, wow, my sons are with me. And and then he said, Yeah, they're leaving. You know, I heard I felt God say, They're leaving. This is you. This is you, I got you to where I need you to be. And so I officially made it Andy Watley and company or and went back to my brother and said, Bubba, will you travel with me? He's a bass player. And I went back to you. Remember, I told you I was playing when I was younger? That exact that drummer there. I went back to him and got those two guys to start touring with me. Now, since my brother has gotten off the road, too much interstate for him, he plays and sings locally. So I have a younger bass player now, you know, that does these shows with me. So that right there is leading me up to just keep releasing, keep playing music. And we, I guess, management has kind of looked at the direction I'm going and says, you know what, let's get you, let's wean you off these bars and start implementing some of these small theaters, and so we could start working those for a couple of years and build that that clientele up. And you just got to hear the story.

Handling Naysayers And Marriage Honesty

Ron Meyers 11:11

So you knew since you were little that you had a talent with singing, and you know, life threw things at you, wife, marriage, you know, kids, and all that kind of stuff, and it kind of took a detour, but there was always something pulling you back. You said God, I believe it was God, because I think God wants us to all, you know, follow our talents and the gifts He's given us. Did you have people telling you, well, you not want to think twice about that? Did you have people or did you have support from everybody?

Andy Whatley 11:42

People thought I lost my my mind on this last one. Just because I was so established in what I did for a living and and in that in that whole circle of deals, you know, coaching and athletic director and a baseball coach. Just that was what I was wrapped up in. Now, while all that was going on, that was 17 years I did that. I'd always had these little like I could pick a guitar up, not tell anybody and just write a song, you know, just put it down, you know, and just kind of you know, keep keep a record of it. I was doing that the whole time thinking, eh, that would have been fun if I'd if I'd got to do that. In fact, I've got to do it so much now. If he says, okay, I'm ready for you to go do this, uh, you know, I would love and cherish everything I've done up to this point.

Ron Meyers 12:30

Amen. Amen. You know, one of the things that I like to talk about in my show a lot with the guests is that a lot of people feel like they're missing something in life, but they they don't want to take away from their responsibilities or their full one 401k. But I always say there's a time in life that you do have to make a decision if you want to go and pursue your dreams. And so somebody out there that is listening to your story and say, Man, I can relate to that guy. What encouragement would you give them about following their dreams and not listening to the negative things in the world?

Andy Whatley 13:08

Yeah, and we're me and you are talking about the belief in in Jesus. Amen. And so it's so what so me and you, our conversation is always, always going to be based on listening and hearing from him. And so, you know, because you take a look at what I do, and if you don't know me, you're gonna go, there's another stoned-out rock and roller playing late at midnight at, you know. And I I when I went into this, I was like, wow, that that in fact, that's another thing you don't see a lot of is somebody who has 13 grandchildren literally out there playing bar and theater and bar and theater and opened up the, you know, I got to go do a run with Blackberry Smoke, you know. I got to open up for Charlie Daniels before he passed away, you know. Um, I shared a stage and backed up Kid Rock literally while he was doing a tribute to Eddie Money. So all these things, and all I it wasn't like nobody came to me and said, Hey, you get to do all this if you make this decision.

Ron Meyers 14:05

It just happened.

Andy Whatley 14:06

I just don't know. So it yeah, and but it was that you know this is where I messed up. So this is where I messed up, and I didn't, I wasn't upfront with my wife. I could not look at her and say, hey, you know that master's degree I have in sports management, and and you know that I I'm gonna walk away from that. I I I should have done that and I didn't, and we're okay. We made amends, and it was a rough a couple years for her to finally go, oh, you're doing this now, you know. So uh yeah, you know you we're gonna make mistakes along this whole journey, anyhow, but that's definitely one of them. But anyhow, when you know it back to hearing from God, and when you know it in your heart, you know, you gotta go. You gotta go. And you know there's gonna be naysayers. That's just part of it.

Ron Meyers 14:50

That's exactly right. And you have to go do that. I tell people now, they say, well, what's the difference when you were listening to Jesus, Ron, and when you were doing it and weren't were doing it for yourself? And I said, Well, this might sound strange, but everything I thought I was gonna do, I'm not doing. And everything I never knew I could do, I'm doing. So that has to be God. I'm having a life now that just it's fun, it's exciting, it touches people's lives, but I get to be myself. And I think that's really what it comes down to, Andy. A lot of times God wants us to be ourselves, to be ourselves and not be somebody else that people want us to be, but he's given us those talents. And I see your videos, I see your website, and you seem like you have a connection. You have a connection because the songs, in fact, I was reading, you write the songs like basically half the lives of those people sitting in your audience, and so there's the connection with them.

Andy Whatley 15:50

I was I was really hoping someone would pick up on that because uh sometimes I write a song, and especially my, you know, my my closest human is my wife, she's like, Yeah, you you don't deal with that. I said, I know, but I've met a guy who deals with this. I'm singing like he wrote the song, you know, and he's my muse, you know. I don't even know his name, but I I remember him sitting at the bar.

Ron Meyers 16:09

Amen.

Andy Whatley 16:09

And uh and so I'm glad you picked up on that. Thank you.

Ron Meyers 16:12

Well, I think it's so important because there's so much that we can share with people, with you know, none of us are gonna make perfect decisions in life. That's why we need Jesus. You know, he's he's giving us forgiveness and we have that grace, but he wants us to share our struggles and our troubles with other people and how we got through them. So if somebody came up to you at the end of your show and said, you know, Andy, you you're so talented and enjoy it, but you know, I have such a crummy, rotten life. I don't even know why I came here tonight. I my life, I can't do anything like you're doing. I know you'd probably give him a pep talk, wouldn't you? What would you tell that person?

Andy Whatley 16:52

First, I was I started writing a song just then about this dude. I I was at I had the opportunity to uh play at the Grand Ole Opry last July, and that was with uh the same guy, uh Jamie, he's a member. So he invited my dad and my brother and me to come and sing because it was his birthday. And anyhow, there was this young kid there who got to play and he he had his guitar, I can't even remember his name, but he had his guitar muted. So you finally get out there on stage on one of the biggest country music stages, and they didn't unmute his guitar. And and and it's just like when he came off the stage, I don't know why I went straight into coaching mode. Like that that kid just you know, just threw a uh hung a curveball and the guy hit another fit. And and and so that vibes came down now. I'm answering your question about anybody that comes up to me. I can't tell you what I would say to anybody until that happens and the Holy Spirit starts speaking through me. Because do you ever do that after after you kind of give some advice, you go, wow, that wasn't me at all?

Ron Meyers 17:54

Like, amen. Where did I say I didn't know I was that smart? Where'd that come from? Right.

Andy Whatley 17:59

And so the answer is I'm not that smart. I really ain't. And uh so I just have to hope hope that he starts speaking through if that's a good divine moment, you know.

Ron Meyers 18:09

Amen. So, what's life like now for Andy Watley and what's God doing through you and all your

Life Now And The Live Show

Ron Meyers 18:16

travels?

Andy Whatley 18:16

I got you. Well, here's a typical first of all, I'm finally empty nester. All five kids are married. Four of them has given us 13 kids. The other, the young one, he's only been married a couple years, so we're gonna give him another few more years. So empty nesters and my my Monday is what I'm doing usually with the music, trying to uh settle down from the weekend and then kind of do some production. And this is what I love this part. So while I was coaching, you know, the whole football coach needs to teach history thing. It is usually a joke class. Though while I was opposite, I love history. That's what I don't miss coaching at all. Miss teaching history. Then you start gearing up for the weekend. You know, you're I'm always chasing a dollar, making sure me and the wife can eat, you know. So if I'm not playing, I'm doing something like that, you know. If I'm not playing, usually weekends start Thursday, but you know, we travel back Sunday, usually is what how it usually works out.

Ron Meyers 19:11

What can people expect if they say, Wow, I've never even heard of this man? I think I want to come come listen to him. What can they expect a night of listening to you and your songs?

Andy Whatley 19:22

Well, it it's gonna be loud. We are very loud. It's a three-piece band. And when I'm I'm not gonna sit there and play an hour and 40 minutes of Andy Wiley music because I want to give everybody something. So you'll hear a mixture of songs I like to hear that are covers, and you'll hear uh my originals. But the covers now, they don't I don't think I do one cover the way it's supposed to be done. I do it all my own versions. And so, and that for some reason is one of the best compliments we get is hey, I like that you did that, and I like the way you did it. You know, because nobody else is gonna do it the way I do it. And so that's usually, you know, kind of a I don't know what people kind of look forward to, what am I gonna do now, you know. I just put somebody just posted on my Facebook me doing a slide lead with a beer bottle, and so somebody literally texts me and said, You got to bring one to Biloxi. So I'll I'll be doing a slide blues lead on the own with a beer bottle.

Ron Meyers 20:22

That's awesome. Well, listen, we're about out of time. I know you're busy. There's a couple things that I

Focus On The Cross And Pray

Ron Meyers 20:28

want to ask you. One is the title of this show is called Get the Hell Out of Your Life. So, Andy, how do you get the hell out of your life?

Andy Whatley 20:36

Man, you you you focus your your view on the cross, even if it looks like you're an idiot and you just go. You just and yeah. And so I think naturally the hell will get out of your life at that point. It has to, because you just staying on the right path.

Ron Meyers 20:51

Amen, brother. And before we go, will you close us out and pray for our listeners?

Andy Whatley 20:59

I sure will. Father God, thank you so much for uh the show and uh what what he does and how you uh I guess you work through him to affect people, Lord. We just ask for blessings for everybody listening, and we also ask for blessings for the show tonight, and uh just uh may your will be done in all this. Thank you so much in Jesus' name, amen.

Ron’s Steps Toward Your Purpose

Ron Meyers 21:22

Did you pick up on the fact that God never wasted a single chapter of Andy's life? The football coaching wasn't wasted, the years raising a family were not wasted, the business years weren't wasted, even the years when that guitar sat in the corner weren't wasted. You see, God was preparing him. I also love something else, Andy said. He did not pursue music because it was safe, he pursued it because he believed God was leading him there. Today Andy is playing blues rock music in theaters, festivals, and everything. Every time he steps on stage, he has an opportunity to reflect the love, grace, and character of Christ. Now, here are some action steps if you're ready to move towards your purpose. Number one, pray about the dream you've buried. Number two, identify the gifts God has already given you. Number three, stop waiting for the perfect conditions. Number four, take one small step this week. Number five, use your gifts to serve others, not just yourself. And number six, trust God with the outcome. You see, my friend, you don't have to become someone else. You simply need to become who God created you to be. When I return, I will close out the show, say a prayer for you, and let you listen to a bit of Andy's music.

Sponsor Message: Christmas City Gift Show

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You're listening to Get the Hell Out of Your Life with your host, Ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles, and real hope.

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Prayer For Dreams And A Donation

Ron Meyers 24:47

Dear Jesus, no more wasting time and doubting you. Today, encourage, inspire, and empower me to follow the dreams you have placed inside of me. Remove the doubt, the fear, and ignite a passion to pursue my purpose. Jesus, I give you my life. I want to follow you and share my gifts with the world. Thank you for your forgiveness, love, and awesome grace that reminds me daily how much you love me. I am yours and thank you for Andy sharing his story today. Lord, I want a life with no regrets. Amen. I will be back next week with another grace-filled episode of Get the Hell Out of Your Life available wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next week, this is Ron Myers reminding you when you give Jesus your heart, you not only get the hell out of your life, but you are giving Jesus permission to transform you into the person he created you to be. And if you're in the Gulf Coast area Saturday evening, June 20th, why not make plans to come see Andy perform at the sanctuary in Biloxi? The show starts at 7 30 p.m. Look for me, I'll be there and say hi. And now I want to close out today's show with a taste of Andy Watley's music.

Announcer 26:17

See you next week.org. And would you prayerfully consider making a tax deductible donation so that we may continue to share stories of God's amazing grace with the world? And join us next week for another broadcast of Get the Hell Out of Your Life. Real people, sharing real struggles, and offering real hope.