Opening And Why People Matter

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 bold confidence and renewed hope now. Let's join our host, Ron Myers, the promoter.

Ron Meyers 0:21

Hello, my friends, and welcome to Get the Hell Out of Your Life. I'm Ron Myers, and today I'm going to introduce you to a good friend of mine. He's a man that I met years ago, but I'm going to introduce him a little differently. Because the first time Chad Lewis and I really talked, he called me Mr. Electric. Now I'm not going to tell you what he meant by that, because I'm going to let Chad explain it himself. Because it's part of our story, and I think you'll enjoy hearing it from him. But here's something that life has taught me. You never know why God puts somebody in your path. Sometimes you meet a person and think, well, it's just another conversation, another introduction, another day. Then years later, you look back and realize there was something much bigger happening. Chad is one of those people for me. As you listen today, don't just listen to Chad's story. Think about your own. Think about the people God has placed in your life, the unexpected connections, and even those moments that didn't seem important at the time. Because sometimes God is working on the next chapter before we even know there's another chapter coming. So from the man once known as Mr. Electric, let me introduce you to my friend Chad Lewis.

Meet "Mr. Electric" Chad Lewis

SPEAKER_01 1:43

I, you know, uh anybody, all our listeners out there know Ron, you know, if you've met him in person, he's the same as he is on the radio. This guy is just electric. And, you know, I was new in new in Jesus and was just blown away of somebody who was expressing himself outside of the four walls of the church. It's the first time I'd ever seen that. A good friend of mine at the time, Mike Mizel, we were there, and we both played music together, and that was just phenomenal. It was just you're a trailblazer, bro, and you still are now, and so exciting to see what God's doing right now.

Ron Meyers 2:14

Let's talk about Chad Lewis. Chad, where are you from here? You grew up here.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

I am. I'm from here. I was born in Memorial Hospital, been here my whole life, pretty much, and just uh was a hellion like you, you know. Uh played uh my dad bought me my first guitar when I was 12 years old from a pawn shop in Long Beach. It's a gun place now. And I no one in my family really played, and I took to it like a fish to water. And so that was kind of like my paintbrush to express whatever I was going through at the moment. And when Jesus impacted me, it changed everything. And then I met you, and then it was just wild just to see how electric we could let the Lord be in our life. Yeah, you were talented.

Ron Meyers 2:53

You did guitar, but didn't you do a fiddle too?

SPEAKER_01 2:55

I play anything with strings.

Ron Meyers 2:57

Yeah, yeah. And so you kind of learned all that naturally?

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Yeah, I was well, if I could hear it, I could play it. If it took a little while, there are many, many more talented people out there than me, but I if I was a weird kid, if I heard it like you're not fully clean unless you're zestfully clean, uh, I would repl I would repeat it on the keyboard or whatever, and my mom would support that, and I would get a new instrument every time I would master or get to know one. She was always helpful in getting me another one.

Ron Meyers 3:24

So you understand when I say that God has given each of us so many awesome talents, skills, and abilities. And would you say that one of your talents and skills and abilities is playing music?

SPEAKER_01 3:38

That's an interesting question. I I'd say that we all have a unique way of expressing what the Spirit is doing in our life. And for me, it just happened to be a guitar. And still to this day, even in just I believe your private worship should be more powerful than your public worship. I heard that a long time ago, and that's the way I've always kept it. And so now that's what I do.

Ron Meyers 3:58

So now you've had your ups and downs, like all of us. There's not anybody that listening that we're riding that mountain of just everything, and then we we fall in a valley. Yes. You went through a valley a few years ago, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 4:12

I sure did.

The Wreck That Led To Addiction

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Yeah. You know, I got in a car accident. I was a passenger in a truck, and it had flipped over, and I was wearing my seatbelt. The seat belt saved my life, but it also shattered my back. And so having to go through all that journey of physical therapy and surgeries and just everything, the doctors would give you something for pain. And then I started to go to these pain management clinics, and it was just a nightmare to where I would never ever feel normal. It passed the point of, well, let's just call it what it is. It was an addiction. And I had to go to homes of grace in 2020, or I got to go to homes of grace in 2020 after realizing I I I have ex, you know, just had a breaking point. And they took me in under a scholarship in in 2020, came back out. Unfortunately, that life led me down a road that I I really regret, but the Lord was is able to use it now. Caught a felony, and whenever I when I got out of Homes of Grace, from being in that lifestyle, having a an arrest record, having to start all over again, all I had was a squeegee. And so I share this story at the Homes of Grace. And as a message of hope to somebody who's been rejected by the world, cast away, that the Lord has a special purpose for you. If you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Somebody told me that, and and and it's led me down this journey. I still have many more questions, but while we have questions, that's that you know, in our curiosity, we'll find our cure, I think, with Jesus. And so at 2020, I getting out of Homes of Grace, just had a squeegee, and I started cleaning squeegeees in ocean springs. I met you over there in YMCA one time. You know, just the Lord had to r renew my character and uh visit me in a brand new way and show me how to be consistent. From there, I went to a Bible study called Gulf Coast Underground with Warren Dido and a few other guys, Chase Taylor, I can name them all, but they're just a a group of local guys who just love Jesus. And out of just being consistent and loving the Lord, I've been able to start a small company, Sweetwater Property Maintenance, where we handle everything from the roots to the roof. From that squeegee, I got a pressure washer, and from there I got a zero turn. From there I got a truck. And now I have seven employees that work for me that are great guys that just love the Lord. And they're out there working now. And, you know, we just try to just work hard and let our feet do more of the preaching than our mouths do.

Starting Over With A Squeegee

Ron Meyers 6:36

Thank you for sharing that. And there's people listening right now that your story resonates with them, but they don't have the optimism and the hope that you did. They're trying to trust Jesus. Chad Lewis, you can talk to them right now.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Yeah, let's uh if you're out there and you're feeling that right now, take a deep breath and just know that you have a purpose. If you have that pulse, you have a purpose. Don't give up. And Jesus is king in the valley just like he's king on the mountain. For me, I had to set aside ego. A lot of us, when we get addicted to things, we we start to live a different identity. And we think that we're normal when we take these painkillers or do whatever. It could be drinking, it could be drugs, it could be anything. But we we begin to create an identity that really just is not for our benefit. And it takes a breaking. So if you're experiencing that right now and you need help, reach out to somebody. Tell them you need help. And I believe the Lord is there to help you, especially those that are listening right now that are struggling, that have addictions that can't kick, reach out. You can't have communion without community.

Ron Meyers 7:43

Yeah, that very well put. How do you keep your faith? How do when you hit a snag or maybe your employees, how do you keep your faith as well? I know God has I might be in a little glitch here, but God has a plan.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Well, yeah, first and foremost, you you can't have any kind of understanding of the Lord unless you have your word in you. I mean, you've uh first and I think if you start your day off is important. How you start your day is very important. So for me, it's just getting out, getting the word, praying for settling, setting that. I like earlier how you said we're all kind of like antennas and different frequencies that we are subject to remind us that we're in a world full of shame. And the Lord doesn't look at us like that. The Lord's not mad at you. The Lord's not, he said, Who who told you you were naked? Who told you, you know? So, and I think right now that we've got to change this dimension of understanding this shame, this shame and rejection world of addicts, that people that are struggling through that, they they feel that shame. They don't remember what you say, they know how you made them feel.

Ron Meyers 8:46

And

Daily Word And Real Community

Ron Meyers 8:47

I did meet Warren Dito a few months ago. I had lunch with him. What a man! He really has a heart, doesn't he, to disciple and to work with people. And you go to Homes of Grace, don't you, once a week or so with him and another folks? Tell us what you do there.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

So, yeah, Warren Dito, I I I he doesn't even know I'm here today. I hope he doesn't mind me just uh throwing him some credit. But I I get the privilege to go out there with him. He teaches every Thursday uh at a class at Homes of Grace, which again I went through this, I didn't get to go through his class, but now I get to go back and help with other guys by sharing my testimony. Give him a little hope, you know. I think the world needs to hear a little hope again. Well, you turn on the news, man, you immediately get depressed. And so stop listening to the news, start listening to the good news.

Ron Meyers 9:33

We have to guard our heart. We got to be careful. Even our friends, you know, sometimes, you know, some of us need to admit we need new friends. Sure. We we can't keep hanging around the same people and get different results.

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Yeah, show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Uh somebody told me that. And I I think that's so what we do is Gulf Coast Underground. We're just a a bunch of crazy local nuts that just take an hour out of our day during the week, Wednesdays and Fridays at our place. And now I lead a group on Saturdays at 8 30. And what we'll do is we just pull up, you know, we'll go through a we're in Genesis on Saturdays and we'll pull out a chapter and we'll read that chapter and we'll leave opinions at home and we'll just see what the Lord is wanting to say to us, exactly what the word says. So you ask me, how do I get the hell out of my life, basically? And that's it, it is 1,000% surrounded around the word. If I'm not echoing what the word says, just like Jesus did when he was tempted in in the wilderness, then buddy, we are in big trouble.

Ron Meyers 10:32

You know, and that brings a point. I need to be around the word or the music or reading the Bible when I'm sitting down, because when I'm around that atmosphere of music and praise and worship, it just helps you focus. And I think God speaks to us a lot when we are really in, as you said, in tune with him, with his word. And how many of us only a divine thought away from the breakthrough we've been praying for in our life? Yes. Just one thought could change our life. But where's that thought gonna come from? We want it to come from God.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I think that those thoughts are very important, especially for people who are struggling with addiction. Your thinking can, it's like you have an enemy that's lying to you constantly. So I think it's it is that correct thinking, that one thought could change everything. Like you you could be listening right now and say, hey, I I've tried this and I don't know how I can do it again, but do it.

Ron Meyers 11:33

And you know, some of the best things for me in life have come out of adversity.

Turning Katrina Scars Into Purpose

SPEAKER_03 11:40

Yeah.

Ron Meyers 11:40

And I know that's true for you too, because if I remember right, Hurricane Katrina came through here, but old Chad Lewis had an idea to create a video. Tell the listeners about this a million-dollar idea you had.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

Oh, I don't know, Ron. Well, uh, yeah, you know, no one cares about our trophies, but they do care about our scars. And so I will glorify the Lord for just a testify if you want to. I I'm that crazy guy that did the Katrina, the aftermath and Katrina in the storm, the two videos that were in the gas stations, just trying to get the word out because a lot of people didn't know how we were doing down here. We had no internet, we had no, you know, and so everybody that didn't live here wanted to know. And so I when I was a kid, the only thing I could watch was a three-minute video on Hurricane, what was the Hurricane Camille? It was black and white, it was at the Harris County Library, it was only two minutes long, and it impacted me as a young eight-year-old kid. I said, Well, they somebody did that. And then after this, uh after Hurricane Katrina came out, I said, Well, I'm gonna get a camera, and it's not a great quality, it's very homegrown, but just got a message from 10 different families across the coast and trying to keep track of them and what was going on, and it it took off.

Ron Meyers 12:53

Yeah, and so the point I'm making is not only did it take off for you, but there are people out there that are praying for a breakthrough. Oh, sure. And I want to encourage them and I want you to don't give up. God is never late, he's never early, but he's always on time. And if God could just have a little more of our time, just that I call a coffee with Jesus every morning.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Sure. Yeah, I think that worship has to be your main focus. You know, I will say this that God was able to reveal to me that my character couldn't handle that, you know, it couldn't handle success, it couldn't handle my container, wasn't able to contain that. And honestly, now the Lord's able to use me through working hard and working with more importantly, being able to work with other people and encourage them that have, you know, that once walked the road that I walked on. And they just need encouragement. And that that really inspires me more than any kind of successes from my past. I is telling you about a guy that works for me that got out of Homes of Grace, who I get to be on the front row seats to the God show in their life. That's what inspires me. I don't care about all that, you know, sure not many know know that, but I'm more excited about what Jesus is doing right now in our community. I think he's up to something.

Ron Meyers 14:12

You and I think alike. I people say, Well, I bet you have fun like with Christmas City and all this stuff. I said, Yes, those are fun because they pay the bill.

SPEAKER_06 14:21

Right.

Ron Meyers 14:21

But I love to chase a Jesus story. I want somebody to tell me what's Jesus done for you.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Yeah.

Ron Meyers 14:28

And if they don't have an answer, then I said, Well, let me tell you what Jesus did for me. And I think that if we did a little more bragging on Jesus, what he's done in our life, we would be surprised how many people need to hear exactly what we just said.

Fishers Of Men And Gulf Coast Underground

Ron Meyers 14:47

And and you have a big fundraiser. Tell us about the fundraiser you have coming up, Fishers of Men.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

Yeah, I'm very excited. You you guys can look see us on Gulfcoastunderground.org or Gulfcoastunderground.com, I believe. And it's gonna be October 29th at the Biloxi Visitor Center. I believe we're gonna get kicked off about 6 30 to 8 30. There's gonna maybe be a silent auction. We're getting more importantly, we're gonna you're gonna hear more testimonies about what Jesus is doing in our community through the through an organic way. Real quick, I want to touch back on people don't you know care about our trophies, they care about our scars. If you can tell them you've gotten out of hell and help them through show that, then you can really understand why you exist. That's your purpose. In saying October 29th, you'll get to hear more about what God's doing, you know, organically, because I only seek the applause of one now. I used to seek the applause of everybody, used to thrive off of Ron. I'm like, man, I'm gonna go up to the radio station. But now I only seek the applause of Jesus, and that changes the atmosphere when you walk into a room because you don't care about the identities of being a fake Christian or going to church. You are the church now. And I think somebody out there needs to hear that. Maybe they're been hurt by people in a building. Well, that's because you're supposed to be the church. You're not supposed to go to church, although I do go to church faithfully. But it's a different mentality, it's a different mindset, it's a different mindset of how to be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Ron Meyers 16:13

Jesus resides in us, and when we go out there in the world, we have the I call it a privilege to represent Jesus through our conversation, through our work, through our efforts. Well, listen, this underground, it sounds like something fascinating. Is this open to other men?

SPEAKER_01 16:30

Yes, and uh it's such a dry season right now for people who are just empty for the Holy Spirit. If you want to, if you are somebody like that and just need some encouragement, you're more than welcome to come and visit us. We're at 1109 Cowan Road behind Woody's, right next to Kudobo. So we meet at 12 o'clock every Wednesday and every Friday, and it's Saturdays at 8:30 in the morning.

Ron Meyers 16:53

I love hearing you talk so much. I want you to share. I want you to preach to someone or you share what's on your heart to somebody out there that has no hope and they do not believe in Jesus. I guess you're elevator pitch, they would call it in business.

SPEAKER_01 17:08

Well, yeah, for me, thank you, Ron. I and for those listening, I had no idea he was going to do this to me, but I would start off with just taking a deep breath. Father God, we just welcome you into our atmospheres, Father. Help us to experience you. So if I was sharing with somebody, I'd say, hey man, there's a better way. You know, let's say if somebody was like me and they were struggling with addictions or used to struggle with addiction, and I would say that it's okay to be broken because miracles happen in broken places. Like you might just not even have anything, you might have just some broken pieces of fish. But Jesus, every time there was a miracle needed, he always said, Give me what you got. And all I had at that time was a squeegee back then. It was in 2020, and I didn't know what to do. Wife, four kids, two grandkids now, married for 30 years, 29 years, I think. So but still having to have that need. I would say that give them your broken pieces. If you can walk, you can talk or just be broken in that moment. Give them those broken pieces and have a moment to speak with somebody and just invite the Holy Spirit into every every conversation that you're having. I I liken it to really just shutting up. Honestly, there is no sh elevator spill for me because you're right, it's an aroma thing. People just seem to say, Hey, you're you're a little odd, what's your deal? And I could say, you know, I get a second, I can tell them well where much is forgiven, much is loved. And a lot of people may not even know that the Lord the Lord wants wants them. He's chasing after you right now. He wants to be in the car with you, he wants to talk with you, he wants to be with you in your struggle, in this valley, or maybe even on top of the mountain. But to he I believe that we serve a Jesus that's so strong that he created everything. He's our creator, but he wants to live individually through everybody. And he doesn't want you to be like Chad, he doesn't want you to be like Ron. He wants you to be just like you, but in a unique way. And so we gotta shatter that out. You know, for me, I did a horrible job of or a great job of messing things up, but I had to get my name out of the way. He wanted to change my name so he could make his name strong in my life. And it's just that story. Something like that was would be something I would share with somebody.

Ron Meyers 19:27

I could listen to you all day. In fact, I'm so glad I went into McDonald's. You know, listen though, I was trying I was going on Interstate 10 and I take Lorraine Cowan North to go home. And it's like the car just was possessed, and I turned, I turned, I wanted some McDonald's french fries. It's so funny. And as soon as I walk in the door, there you are. And you said, I was just thinking about you.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

Oh, it was, it was, it was a divine. I literally, and I'm not a woo-woo kind of guy. I'm sitting there waiting to order my number two that I shouldn't be ordering. And I felt something inside, just you know, how can I let my community know about what we're doing at Gulf Coast Underground? And you had come to my mind, and I I you know how earlier you said, just wait, just be patient, just and I was just breathing. I was doing my little breathing exercise, and lo and behold, you walked right in the door. I said, dude, let me buy that fish sandwich for you, please. I need to talk to you.

Ron Meyers 20:23

Well, I and then, yeah, but it's appropriate because we talked, I had a fish sandwich, and I had uh you're telling me about fishers of men. So there's a confirmation right there, brother. So, how can somebody find some information about Gulf Coast Underground?

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Yeah, and we're on GulfChostUnderground.com, and you know, you're more than welcome to see us on Facebook and my Facebook page. I'll I'll throw Chase Taylor out there. His his Facebook's on there. Chad Lewis is the name of my Facebook. We we're not really our goal at being underground is okay if you haven't heard about us. We're trying to be authentically, organically loving the Lord with people, you know, so getting a thousand people right now isn't my heart. I'm I'm looking for that one dude who's been given up on, who's been rejected, who everybody's been talking trash about, is ready to give up. I hope you hear this and know that you have a purpose and a calling and reach out. There cannot be any communion without community.

Ron Meyers 21:19

And what's the website? Gulfcoastunderground.com.

A Prayer For Struggling Hearts

Ron Meyers 21:23

Before we go, will you pray for our listeners?

SPEAKER_01 21:26

Oh. I'd be honored. Thank you, Ron. Come on, everybody. Just take a breath with me. In the rush, in the hurry, in the frustration. God, you're right there in our whisper. Father, just join us. Be with us, everybody in the sound of my voice. I pray that you go and heal them. Let them experience you. Let them know that they are mightily loved. And it's just like to telestai it is paid for. It's all paid for. He loves you. He wants to be with you. He's not mad at you. And he wants to shine through you. So let's let him do it in the mighty and the matchless name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Announcer 22:16

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

SPEAKER_03 22:26

Jesus, Jesus. What do you think of when you hear that name? Jesus. Jesus. Love. Life. Hope. Joy. Peace. Friend. Companion. Confidant. Savior. The God of the universe lives. And he lives in the form of a man. That man is Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life. Jesus, what will you do with him? He knocks on the door of your heart. When you open that door, your life will change. Forever. He came that the world may have life and may have it more abundantly. Ask Jesus into your heart and discover what living is all about. Call 1888 Need Him.

SPEAKER_06 23:24

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SPEAKER_07 23:31

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SPEAKER_05 23:46

Shop the magic, find the joy. At Ron Meyer's Christmas city.

Sponsor 23:54

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SPEAKER_05 24:16

Shop the magic, find the joy at Ron Meyer's Christmas city.

Ron Meyers 24:25

How do you get the hell out of your life? Get on your knees and cry out to the Lord. He hears you right where you are.

Announcer 24:31

How to get the hell out of your life? Well, you replace it with Jesus. We gotta be born again, born of the Spirit, and that's by trusting Jesus Christ, turning from our sins and trusting Jesus. How do you get the hell out of your life? Oh gosh.

Ron Meyers 24:42

Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Announcer 24:44

Turn to Jesus.

Fingerprints, Conversations, And Next Steps

Ron Meyers 24:47

I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Chad Lewis. You know, when Chad reminded me about Mystery Electric, it made me smile, but it also reminded me of something much bigger. We leave fingerprints on people's lives without even realizing it. A conversation, an encouraging word, showing up at the right time, believing in somebody when they maybe have trouble believing in themselves. Life has taught me that God uses ordinary people and ordinary moments to accomplish some pretty extraordinary things. And maybe that's your next step this way. Pay attention to the people God puts in front of you. Instead of asking what can this person do for me, maybe ask Jesus, why did you put this person in my path? And how can I encourage them? You never know what one conversation can do. And before you start tomorrow morning, have another one of those conversations with Jesus. You know, the one where I tell you to just be honest and transparent. You don't need fancy words. Just talk to him. He's your heavenly father. Ask him to guide your steps, your attitude, and the people you encounter that day. Because, my friend, your life matters, your story matters, and somebody may need what God has already placed inside of you. I'll be back next week with another Graceville episode of Get the Hell Out of Your Life available wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next time, this is Ron Myers reminding you, you were created on purpose, for a purpose, by a God who loves you more than you can imagine. Now go live like you believe it.

SPEAKER_07 26:33

Give the hell out! Give the hell out!

unknown 26:38

Give the hell out.

How To Support The Ministry

Announcer 26:42

Today's show was produced by Ron Myers Ministries, a listener-supported ministry. For a copy of today's broadcast, please visit our website, thepromoter.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.

SPEAKER_06 27:09

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SPEAKER_07 27:16

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SPEAKER_04 27:25

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SPEAKER_05 27:32

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SPEAKER_04 27:39

Visit Christmas City Gift Show.com for more.