Do you get away to pray?  Pray for more than an hour straight?  Deep Hike?  Or prayer walk?  Run?  The MonDudes are going through Matthew right now.  We read Matt 15 and Jesus getting away caught my eye.  When times get tough, how often do you get away to pray and reflect?  Get away as an adventure, whether that be in a boat or out into the desert, mountains, etc.?  Confession:  as for me, definitely not enough.  I'm better at SnapChat prayers (at least that's what I call them).  I'm in contact throughout the day in bite size pieces.  Lifting prayer requests and praises in the moment.  Very rare for me to go even an hour in prayer.  Even more rare to get away alone somewhere.  Yet on a Saturday in May, I was up early, very early with excitement to get on the trail to something called Bear Creek Oasis (La Quinta, CA).  Normally, I'm pumping tunes or podcasts through my headphones.  Not this round.  About 4+ hours of praying and listening and singing to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit..  Yes, even singing out loud.  Not normally my vibe.  Fortunately, I was alone.The result.  One of my most rewarding hikes ever!  Physically, it was a tougher hike.  Oh and my first rattle snake encounter!  Safe and sound for both of us thanks be to God.  9.1 miles and about 1/2 of it a decent climb (about 2300 feet)...https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bear-creek-oasis-trailSpiritually, one of the coolest things I've done.  4 hours allows you to lift a lot of people by name.  Think family and friends and all the Dude prayer requests.  Phil 4: 6-8 while in motion.  Eyes to see and ears to hear.  Surrounded by some of God's masterpieces of beauty.    Here are a few pictures and observations...https://www.fridudes.com/post/deep-hikes

Yes!  You are in!  As promised, more shares, testimonies and interviews.  ThursDudesPM Troy is back and telling his deeper story of hopeless to Hope.  Is that you?  Giving God thanks for this Dude and his courage to share and your willingness to listen.  Here you go...

As hate and cancellation roil over U.S. campuses, there are others that shine love and peace.  At the end of the day, isn't that what most of us hope for Peace and Love?  Respect, dignity?The Tale of Two Campuses.  In the Phoenix area of Arizona you can find two of America's largest campuses.  Arizona State University (145k+, around 80,000 across campuses) and Grand Canyon University (118k+, 25k+ on campus).Over the weekend of April 26-28 of 2024, one campus (Arizona State) was in turmoil. 72 arrests.  The other (GCU) in peace, no arrests.Source:  https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/asu-pro-palestine-protest-timeline/At GCU, no hate raging.  In fact, peace and harmony during 5 graduation ceremonies and aptly playing during some of it, "Amazing Grace".

Yes!  You are in!  Confession, I've been dragging my heels on this one.  Why?  An atheist is back for the play of the day.  Yet, once again, it points to Biblical Truth.  Here you go...Bill Maher, two weeks in a row?!  The Pharisees and religious hypocrites are outraged.  Yet I greatly appreciate people who tackle tough subjects.  For your ratings can also be adversely affected as the masses don't like seeing the error of their ways.  Ways of the world.For those versed, you heard the beauty of that.  You have ears to hear and eyes to see.  And you are seeing some Truth reflected from perhaps a surprising voice. Ways of the world say love money, money, money!  Confession, I like getting paid.  I don't know many that don't.  Which unearths this timeless lesson, money is not evil.  It can be used for evil.  It can also be used to do a lot of good.  Just check out Overflowshowers.org and climbing to 1,000 showers of Hope and clean clothes, tackling homelessness.  Countless nonprofits using money to do major good.  Churches need money and many do amazing work.  There's a purpose for tithing.  A test to you and me from God.  Do we put money in front of God?  Confession, I have.  You?1 Timothy 6:6-7 New Living Translation (NLT)Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.ShareRead 1 Timothy 61 Timothy 6:10 New Living Translation (NLT)For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.Hey, I read that one out loud!  Newer listener, sometimes I'll just give you the verse reference for example Rom 3:23, Rom 8:1, Matt 22: 36-40.  Because I want you to get into the Word and read it with your own eyes.   Going full circle, Ways of the World says love money!  Look at me!  Look at what I got.  Most get jealous and covet.  The Bible is clear, don't get jealous, don't covent, don't love money.  Confession, easier said than done.

Yes!  You are in!  Ready to get uncomfortable.  I didn't think so.  This play of the day is a doozy.  I'll let it speak for itself and then we'll break it down.  Here you go...Whoa!  Dang!  Some of you are thinking, what are you doing playing an atheist on the play of the say.  First, not the first time we've had an atheist on as the play of the day.  Why?  If it points to the Truth.  We'll use it.  Think jiu jitsu.  If you are not sure what that is, then look it up.  Bottom line the enemy all the time twists what was meant for good and turns it to bad.  Or flat out will just use someone's bad where they should be good, think hypocrite and say, you see!

Yes!  You are in!  I used to complain about the homeless.  What's wrong with them?  Why don't they get a job?  Do you wonder the same thing?  How did we get here?  Here you go...Greetings from Encino, CA.  That's where one of my daughters calls home.  About 15 miles away is Beverly Hills where my wife was getting some testing done at Cedars Sinai.  If you have ever been to L.A. then you'll see the homeless.  What used to be the home of glitz and fame has turned into the capital of homelessness.  It wasn't always like that.  Well, there has always been the poor and the rich.  Even Jesus says we will always have the poor.  See Matt 26:11.We didn't always have tents all over the place.  Despite that.  The California government has spent $17B in the last few years to solve homelessness.  $17B!  And it got worse.  How is that possible?

Yes!  You are in!  The news is full of sucky news.  For we live on a broken planet.  So how do we possibly have Hope?  Here you go...

Yes!  You are in!  Work.  Most of us complain about it.  Yet very interesting play of the day.  The correlation of free time and depression.  Make sense, if you are living life and feel like you are not fulfilling a purpose, that can be depressing and empty.  Here's the good news.  You do have a purpose.  You are here for a reason.  Here you go...Thank you Pastor Rick Warren, a mainstay on our play of the days.  If you would like to hear more of that play, check out Daily Hope, that one is entitled "The Purpose of Work, Part 2", published on the 11th of March 2024.You have a purpose.  You do.  How do I know that?  Jer 29:11.  You don't believe that?  Well, that's on you.  Your choice.  For those that believe, that is an epic verse and promise.  A few years back, the FriDudes tackled a book called "Halftime" by Bob Shank.  Epic read.  Life changing for some of us.  Further back, we also read "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.  Yes, that Rick.  Game changing for some of us.  Why just some of us?  Your choice.  Your choice to read and your choice to implement.So game changing that we have a FriDudes named Greg.  He's been featured before.  He was so moved by especially Half Time that he created something that we call Gcrosssurf.org.  In the midst of a rebrand.  Things in the works.  Stay tuned.  Bottom line, Greg set out to better identify, goal/life plan/God's plan, write it down make it happen.  Identify strength and confess weaknesses.  Super bold.  Not for the faint of heart.  Back to the HalfTime book, tracked a bunch of guys that made a bunch of money.  In particular some Exxon retired execs.  Worked hard, retired, comfy, played, golf and on average died 10 years too early on average.  Many depressed, lost their purpose.  Their former jobs were their identity.  No longer needed.  Again, lost.  Some of you are now way, you are saying I never have to worry about money and I can be depressed and empty?  Yep, have you read David or King Solomon?  Then, yes!  Ever wonder why the rich and famous overdose and die...repeatedly?  There you go.  “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.Ecclesiastes 1:2-9 NLT - Bible.comHang in there.  Full circle.  Yet if you tune in.  Ask God why and keep pursuing, match your gifts into service and your heart will overflow...Jeremiah 29:11New International Version11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Romans 8:28New International Version28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Yes!  You are in!  Some of you are oh wow Bill!  And some of you are who's Bill?  Either way, you are going to be blessed.  Bill is one of my favorite teachers and speakers.  We believe the Lord led you here, to this message, here you go...Thank you Bill Bohline, what a gift!  Thank you Nancy and family, founding members and all contributors to the ongoing Hosanna story.  Sacrifices, yes.   What a legacy.  Wherever you are.  What is your legacy?  Why did God put you here?  Just like Bill.  It is your job to tune in and ask.  You are all not destined to be pastors of large churches.  I do believe you are destined to be a blessing to someone each day.  If you digged that one, have a question for Bill?  If there will be a part 2, what would you like to know?  Let us know at FriDudes.com.  Now go, love God, love others, Matt 22:  36-40.  Everything else you are trying to do correctly hangs on those two.  I love you.  Share love, be a blessing to someone today and each going forward...

Thank you Dr. Lorrits!  That is getting real and pursuing Truth.  How do you handle when things don't go your way?  Prayers not answered?  That is key part of the test of life and Faith.  If you would like to hear more of that play of the day, check out the Bryan Lorrits Podcast, that episode is entitled, "Jesus, Bread of Life...John 6", published on the 11th of March, 2024.What is blessed?  Perhaps you have everything perfect in your life right now.  How about that person who lost a child?  Or battling cancer?  Are they not blessed?  Before you answer that, for you that are versed in the Word, did the best go through the best or the worst?  Job, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Joshua, Ruth, Joseph, David, Jesus, almost all his disciples.  They all went through brutal and unfairness. Show me a person going to church and treating God like a genie in a bottle and I'll say that's human.  Show me still going to church and praying and keeping the Faith despite hardship and unanswered prayers and I'll say that is a strong, true follower of Christ.  My wife has been battling cancer for years.  She could have stayed angry and asked why her.  She has only gotten closer to the Lord during her trials.  That is the test.  She inspires me. When tragedy strikes, there are those that will run from God...angry.  And there are those that get closer to God.  I can't blame the former.  For that is human.  You and I really don't know what we would do until we are in that situation.  You say no way.  And that reminds of someone, Peter.  Peter said no way.  Then he got tested and failed, 3x.  Check Matt 26.My wife has been tested many times.  And she has responded.  People that are closest to Lori yet maybe not the Lord, notice her Faith.  Her strength.  As for me, if you have listened long enough, you know my trials and tribulations.  Finances have been a wrestling match.  Once upon a time, money used to come easy.  Too easy.  Now, for about 15 years it has been a struggle.  Don't get me wrong.  There are others in worse situations.  I'm just trying to say vs. most of my peers, my path has been challenging.  Easy to pay bills when it flows strong. When it doesn't, ok Lord, what are you going to do in this struggle?  I look forward to Rom 8:28.  This is going to be solved one way or the other.  I'm still hoping to hit the jackpot and make it all right.  I keep working and digging for wells.  We'll see if Brother MikeC's words come true as he tells me to keep working/digging and I'll hit the wellspring.  If/when I do, I'll think I'll be more appreciative than the one that takes it for granted.  Perhaps that is part of the refinement.   What's your story?  Wrestling match?  Are you closer or further from God, let us know at FriDudes.comNow go, lift your struggles, know they are part of the test.  Know the best go through the worst.  Those going through the worst, loving God with all your heart, soul and mind is amazing.  For those going through better times, recognize the season and give thanks for what is worthy.  Love others.  Matt 22: 36-40.  Everything else you are trying to do or pray about hangs on those two.  I love you. Keep going.  Get stronger.

Yes!  You are in!  Noe works his way to the play of the day and he talks about the dangers of the prosperity gospel.  Why do you get sick?  Tough times?  Here you go...Thank you Pastor Noe Garcia, you can find more of that play of the day at the NPHX podcast, entitled "Faith in the Storm" published on the 2nd of March 2024For the avid listeners, you know this.  Yet even the most avid listener needs reminders.  It is why we best keep going to the Word and memorize certain verses for certain situations.  Don't need to know all of it.  Best equip yourself with key pieces of armor along with the sword aka The Word.  Eph 6: 10-18Jesus makes it clear, you follow Him, you will have tough times.  You will have storms.  Matt 7:  24-27Not a follower of Jesus and still having tough times?  Rom 3:23We live on a broken planet.  This life is a test.  You will get experiences of heaven and hell.  Then you will choose where you want to go for eternity.  I view it that simply.  Your choice.  God gives us a choice.  While we are on this broken planet, we also have a choice.  Some choose Hope, some don't.  Some choose not to be anxious about anything, Phil 4: 6-7.  Some of us have to work at it harder.  Some of us choose to be content in all circumstances.  Not happy, big difference.  Content that we know there is a purpose for our pain.  Content knowing there is an amazing promise in Rom 8:28.  Confession, I don't like pain.  Yet the strongest people that I know have gone through the most pain.  Put that in your comfort pipe and smoke it and ponder for awhile.  You want to be weak or strong?Confession, 20 years of business ups and downs.  Pain on striving to keep up with bills.  Owing, paying taxes.  You can get the rest of that dirt in the summer of 2020 in this podcast series. At times, I question whether I should put a pause on all this?  I turned down an offer to be an elder for my church because of this.  Why do I struggle with this when it comes so easy to you?  I'm not sure, why do you struggle with ______________?  Rom 3:23.  So if you are a newer listener, please know I'm not perfect.  Don't even pretend to be.  I need this.  If/when this stops you'll know why...it will most likely either be that or death.  For now, I keep going.  Keep praying.  I fall down yet keep getting up to run, to finish the race.  Acts 20:24, 2 Tim 4:7, Gal 6:9.  I'll humbly ask for prayers there.  How can we best pray for you?  Let us know at the 'Contact Us' page at FriDudes.comNow, go, love God with all your heart, soul and mind.  Next, love others.  Everything else you are trying to do correctly, hangs on those two.  Matt 22: 36-40

Yes!  You are in!  Casey, CK is back!  The Jogging Jesus!  No, he's not Jesus, just looks like we may think Jesus looks like and loves Jesus more than most people that I know.  And this message is definitely Deeper into Truth.  Audio is a bit challenging in the beginning yet please stick with it.  An amazing ending of Hope...If you would like to see Casey for yourself...here is the actual video, yet you will feed Facebook to view...only option at this time...oh and a special thank you to Creative Love Church for giving our dear Brother Casey an opportunity to speak.  Quite amazing that a boy from Thief River Falls, MN, that could hardly read ends up becoming an engineer and now delivers this message without a PhD in Theology.  Anything is truly possible with God.https://www.facebook.com/creativelovechurch/videos/deeper-into-truth/695444576059077/

Yes!  You are in!  You busy?!  Odds are that you are.  Here you go, your play of the day...Mic drop!  Thank you Dr. Lorrits!  Back in the Play of the Day.  After an amazing run of interviews, and more of those on the way, thank you for all your positive feedback.  More of those interviews and case studies are on the horizon.  You can hear more of that message on the Bryan Lorrits podcast.  That message is entitled, "The Discipleship Ride - 2 Timothy 2" published on the 19th of February 2024.Several key things jumped out at me.  FriDudes is in the discipling business.  Yes, we are still in the Hope and Encouragement business.  Yes, we get real and pursue Truth.  We also have a crazy goal of 1 million disciples.  Sure, we have a ways to go yet we are multiplying.  Jesus started with a small group.  How about you?  I'm with Dr. Lorrrits' father.  I've been part of mega churches for over 20 years.  My greatest growth has come from small groups.  I still attend larger churches.  I also will attend smaller churches.  I average once per week in a bigger church.  Yet, I average 3-4 times per week in small groups.  Dr. Lorrits says 8 peeps.  Awesome!  Yet I have also had some of my best experiences with groups of 2-3.  A cool promise with small groups of 2-3.  Matt 18:20.  Check it.  A pastor that has spoken to an arena of 80,000+ plus and he says give me 8 hungry dudes at 5:30AM!  The FriDudes and other early morning Dudes will get that one.  Why so early?!  Because it is really hard for you to be so 'busy' that early.  The only excuse most of you can give is you want to sleep in more.  Trust me, we run groups at lunch time, later in the afternoon and evenings.  Early mornings are very hard for most to find an excuse for why not to go.Relationships.  Very hard to build relationships in a large group with one speaker.  Very hard to really get to know someone.  8 people, easier.  2-3 much, much easier.  Why do this at all?  Let me go back to some of my favorite rhetorical questions.  Do we need more love or hate in this world?  More hope or hopelessness?  The Bible, the Owner's Manual for Life is full of Hope and Love.  It says love is the greatest of all.  Can you imagine if everyone practiced that?  That is why we create disciples.  Well, that and it is exactly what Jesus told us to do.  If you truly love Jesus, you will want to be discipled and make disciples.  Check Matt 28: 19-20Back to the song of the day, Lauren Daigle, this song raises my mood, I hope it does for you too, if you dig, add it, buy it, here is a little taste...

Yes, you are in!  You either have been lost or you know someone that is.  In a funk.  Spinning wheels and flat out stuck.  I've seen part of Gen Z paralyzed.  I've seen part of Gen Z absolutely thriving.  Why?  Brothers and sisters, meet Z, my brother from another mother.Thank you Z!  Thank you Spirit Filled Church, Indio, CA, for being that good tree producing good fruit!  Thank you for hosting Overflowshowers.org.  Loving on many and sharing more Hope and Matt 25:40.  Special shout out to Pastor Jose, Linda, Mike C, Z, Remmy and you all.  Extra special thanks to Z bringing it and shining some Light, Matt 5:!6.So back to you.  Will you share what works?  This episode with someone that needs some Hope.  And if you are on the receiving end of this, we all can get down.  Just read David in the Psalms, holy roller coaster.  You are not alone.  You are simply loved.  Big pharma just wants to give you a pill or someone wants to sell you something.  Temporary hits and temporary relief.  Hey, sometimes we need medicine.  Yet how many of us go to the ultimate source.  That's what Z did.  That's what Gerald did.  That's what Brother James did.  That's what Kenny did.  You see a theme here?  Real case studies. Real results.  Share what works.  Build up and encourage others, 1 Thes 5:11.  Oh and if you have the guts to share your testimony, let us know at FriDudes.com

Yes!  You are in!  I love stories of beating monsters.  As I've wrestled with a few.  Odds are so have you.  Brothers and sisters meet Kenny, my brother from another mother, fellow MonDude making his debut on FriDudes and talking about his path to stronger and sobriety, easy to debate God, very hard to argue with His results, here you go...Thank you Kenny!  Epic.  So intriguing to me that one's biggest wrestling match can become a mighty platform of triumph and to help many with their wrestling matches.  Rom 8:28 right there.If you have follow up questions for Kenny or perhaps have your own testimony to share, hit us up at the 'Contact Us' page at FriDudes.com.Ending on an encouraging song note, this is one of Kenny's favorites.  His words, "Awesome man, I know it's predictable, but this version in particular has been my theme song for a long time, thru the trial and relapses and repentances.  My chains are gone, I've been set free, my God my savior has ransomed me.  And like a flood His mercy reigns.  Unending love, Amazing Grace.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah indeed.  Okay Kenny bro, here you go and I have a feeling someone else needed to hear this as well.  If you dig, this is Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace.  About 10 seconds to respect the rights and the artist.  If you like, please support the music industry and buy and/or subscribe to this song and add it to your daily inspirational playlist.

On this dark, frustrating, broken planet, I love bright Lights.  Listener, you are in for a treat!  Meet Gerald.  Was homeless, down and out and one of the most content people that I have ever met in my life!  Why do content?  Well, here you go...Thank you again Brother Gerald!  As we often say on this podcast, we are in the Hope and Encouragement business.  Getting Real.  Pursuing Truth.  Case in point, 1 Thes 5:11.  Avid listener, you know my favorite rhetorical questions.  Does this world need more Hope or hopelessness?  More Love or hate?  Jesus says Love is greatest of all.  Jesus speaks very highly of the poor and that for those that can to take care of them Matt 25:40.  So those that slam on Jesus, that is what you slam on.  And I know, some of you have been burned by hypocrites.  Many people that call themselves Christians aren't or they are not doing a very good job at the loving part...see Matt 22:36-40.  Cathy, Jade, Gerald, Jose, Linda, Matthew, Mike C, Z, Remmy, Gilbert, Gary, Jackie, Ryan, Kaite, Lori, Matthew, Patty and so many more that I could name.  The countless donors behind Overflowshowers.org, Spirit Filled Church Indio, Victory in Christ Church Indio, Templo Hermosa Coachella, Red Door La Quinta, Southwest Church Indian Wells, Martha's Kitchen Indio, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Our Lady of Gualdalupe Palm Springs, Ramona Tire Palm Desert, Dr. Vines, Nurse Peggy...and I'm just scratching the surface of Faithful servants and businesses striving to share Jesus and Hope and Love in the Coachella Valley of California.  As for you, if you complain about homelessness or California, speaking from personal experience that most likely means that is where God wants you to serve.  Too far?  Ok, how about then at least pick one of those organizations mentioned and donate.  Put your resources in motion that God has blessed you with to help address what concerns you the most.I love you.  God loves you way more. Just listen to Gerald.  He feels loved and shines Love...meanwhile others sit in their giant homes and contemplate their lives and wrestle depression.  Ironic indeed.  Ending on a song note, My Tribe by Blessing Offor, Gerald, Spirit Filled, Southwest and all those mentioned above our part of my tribe, your tribe too, if you so choose...give Blessing Offor some love, buy it, subscribe it, get KLove to play it!

Yes!  You are in!  Hello new one!  And welcome back versed one.  If you would like to see less homeless, less drugs/addiction on the streets, then you need to meet and or support Pastor Joe and Spirit Filled, share what works, here you go...

Yes!  You are in!  Hello new one!  Welcome back faithful one.  If you ever scratch your head about California and if you are hoping for some encouraging news, well, you are in the correct place, here you go, your play of the day...

Yes!  You are in!  Hello new one.  And hey old one, you are back.  As we get real and pursue Truth.  Let's face it.  Truth isn't always popular.  In fact, quite the contrary.  Your Play of the Day, here you go...

Everyone has holes in their theology.  I agree.  How dare you says you?  Here is your play of the day...let us know what you think at FriDudes.com, here you go...Special thanks to Young Buck Matt and G-EZRick Warren vs. Todd White.  Lorrits vs. Keller.  Chan vs. Michael.  Osteen vs. Ricky Jenkins.  My church vs. yours.  Versed ones.  We do this.  Which simply shows we do have holes in our theology.