{"id":303595,"date":"2015-07-30T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/comedy-with-a-purpose\/"},"modified":"2015-07-30T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T15:00:00","slug":"comedy-with-a-purpose","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/comedy-with-a-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedy With a Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comedian Michael Jr. has a strict discipline to his comedy routine.  It must be clean enough to say behind a pulpit, and yet it must be funny enough for a club. Michael shares how he came to Christ.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-07-30.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"22.81M","filesize_raw":"23917649","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2906,2821],"tags":[5780,4767,4574,5777,5779,5778,5781,5782],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[8855],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-303595","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-becoming-a-christian","category-reaching-out","tag-black-comedy","tag-comedians","tag-comedy","tag-comedy-club","tag-comedy-show","tag-comedy-tours","tag-laugh","tag-laugh-out-loud","cwp_profile-michael-jr","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/303595\/comedy-with-a-purpose","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/303595\/comedy-with-a-purpose","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"2hCL3mMUkk\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/comedy-with-a-purpose\/\">Comedy With a Purpose<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/comedy-with-a-purpose\/embed\/#?secret=2hCL3mMUkk\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Comedy With a Purpose&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"2hCL3mMUkk\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Comedian Michael Jr. has a strict discipline to his comedy routine. It must be clean enough to say behind a pulpit, and yet it must be funny enough for a club. Michael shares how he came to Christ.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-07-30.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Comedian Michael Jr. says he runs into a lot of people who are doing life, but they don\u2019t understand <em>why<\/em> they\u2019re doing life.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0There are a lot of people walking around who have a lot of money, or a big house, or feel like they have a really great town; but they know that something\u2019s missing. I was the same person walking around but something was missing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, no matter if I\u2019m doing a <em>The Tonight Show<\/em> with Jay Leno again or if I\u2019m doing a homeless shelter, I know I\u2019m supposed to be there because God has a purpose for me to be there; whereas before, I was all about just getting laughs from people because, before, I didn\u2019t even know that something was missing until I received something.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Thursday, July 30<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We\u2019ll talk to Michael Jr. today about comedy with a purpose. Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us on the Thursday edition. You know, it was back, I guess almost four years ago now, you and I were on the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> marriage cruise in February. On this particular cruise\u2014I just remember it had been a long day \/ I was tired. I was not sure that I was up for staying up for some of the late-night stuff onboard the cruise because we have stuff that goes on at 10:00 or 11:00 at night.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I know exactly what happened.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Then, before I could make the decision, we were in the main room. They said, \u201cLet\u2019s bring out one of the guys who is going to be doing one of these late-night things\u2014his name\u2019s Michael Jr.\u201d They bring him out\u2014there\u2019s a little comedy\u2014about two minutes of comedy. Do you remember what he said?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes; well, I remember he walked by a room\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Let him tell the story! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes, we should do that. Michael Jr.\u2014do you have a last name, by the way?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes. [Laughter] So, what happened in the boat was\u2014[Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We\u2019ll just go right past the last name. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Michael Jr.\u2019s married. He and his wife have five children, live in Southern California.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I do. Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. It\u2019s all working; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0It is.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>But you\u2019re a comedian\u2014so you kind of look at life through a little different lens.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I do, constantly and consistently.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So you\u2019re on the boat, you\u2019re walking around the boat, and you ended up performing. Go ahead and tell the story.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019m on a boat\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Two thousand of us on\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Two thousand of us; and just for radio purposes, I\u2019m a black man.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Just in case somebody was wondering. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes, just to get that out there. I\u2019m on a boat. I\u2019m already a little like, \u201cI don\u2019t know if I should be on this boat.\u201d Then they had a room on the boat called \u201cThe Plantation Room.\u201d I remember you making that announcement\u2014I was like, \u201cI don\u2019t know if this is the right boat for me.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You weren\u2019t real fond, I remember, of that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, what was going on in the Plantation Room?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes; there was an auction going on in the Plantation Room\u2014so I was comfortable. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So he gets up in front of the crowd and says: \u201cI\u2019m not sure\u2014I\u2019m on a boat. I\u2019m a black man on a boat, and there\u2019s an auction in the Plantation Room,\u201d\u2014and the whole crowd\u2014I said, \u201cI have got to stay up late and see what this guy has to say.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Barbara and I found our way down to the spot where he was performing\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014was packed!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh my goodness! It was impossible to move through the boat in the mid-section where he was performing. But you performed all three nights to a standing-room only crowd. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0It was awesome.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> And we want to welcome you to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Thank you very much. This is fun. I mean, really\u2014I\u2019m glad to be here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Tell us where you came from\u2014I mean, I\u2019ve been wondering about this ever since I heard you perform\u2014I mean, your family. Did you have a lot of humor, as a kid, growing up? Were you practicing?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was a black kid when I grew up, [Laughter] and it was nice; and now here I am. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>That\u2019s a real good answer to the question. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>No, no, no, no, no\u2014no, no, no.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Next thing you know\u2014[Laughter]\u2014I\u2019m in a studio.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Was there anything going on, spiritually, in the family? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI mean, would you go to church?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes, I did go to church. My mom\u2019s family were Jehovah Witnesses, and my dad\u2019s family were\u2014how do you say?\u2014seven-hour evangelists\u2014I mean, when I say seven hours, I don\u2019t mean seven days. I mean, they were there for seven hours a day\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Oh really?!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0\u2014in church. So, when they got together, my dad was always forced to go to church. He said: \u201cI\u2019m not going to force my kids to go to church. I\u2019m going to teach what I can teach them, but I\u2019ll never force them,\u201d because he had such a horrible upbringing in the church. So, I really didn\u2019t even go to church, as a child.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Now, you did tell about one time\u2014was it your grandmother who took you to church?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0My grandmother would force me to go to church, and my grandmother\u2019s church was this\u2014I didn\u2019t understand. I remember being seven years old; and I walk into this church, and nobody was teaching. This guy\u2019s up on stage, and he\u2019s yelling and screaming at everybody. I\u2019m like, \u201cWhy is he so mad?\u201d So it was just a miserable, miserable place. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe walked in one time, and there\u2019s a dead body in the front. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI remember asking my grandmother: \u201cGrandmother, what happened to the man in the box? Why is there a man in a box?\u201d Her whole explanation was, \u201cHe in a better place.\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cWhat kind of box did he live in before?\u201d [Laughter] There was no detailed explanation. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, when I turned 14, she gave me the option to go to church\u2014she said, \u201cWould you like to go to church?\u201d Instead of forcing me to go, she gave me the option. I was taller than her, at this point; okay? You know\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0So she said, \u201cDo you want to go?\u201d I was like, \u201cLet me think this over for a second\u2014No!\u201d\u2014because the place was <em>miserable<\/em> \/ it was just a really bad experience. So, I wouldn\u2019t go to church.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You checked out of anything spiritual at that time; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I don\u2019t know if that was spiritual\u2014I think it was ritual.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Really, it was just a bunch of people doing the same thing over and over.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, how did God get your attention, then?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0At 15 years old, me and a friend made a pact that we wouldn\u2019t curse anymore because we used to actually\u2014I mean, you\u2019re 15 years old \/ you know nothing about God\u2014so that\u2019s what you do. We made a pact that we wouldn\u2019t. In retrospect, I can clearly see it was God setting me up to do what I do now.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat happened was\u2014I was in New York, as an adult \/ a grown man in New York. I moved to New York.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You\u2019re how old?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Twenty-seven.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>We did fast-forward.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0We did. I\u2019m getting ready to do this show at The Comic Strip Live. Now, The Comic Strip Live is this comedy club that\u2019s <em>really<\/em> hard to get into. Comedians have an open mike on Tuesday nights. Comedians start lining up at six a.m. in the morning for a seven p.m. show, in hopes that the owner will pull their name out of a hat so the manager can take a look at them for <em>three minutes<\/em> of comedy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Wow!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0So it\u2019s a really hard club to get into. It\u2019s finally my turn to perform at The Comic Strip Live.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So your name got drawn; huh?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes, absolutely. I was able to\u2014I actually kind of bypassed that process. I got blessed somehow. I didn\u2019t know, but I bypassed that process. I just showed up and they\u2019re like: \u201cOkay, we\u2019ve seen you around. We\u2019re going to give you a shot.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe gave me my shot, and this comedian named George Wallace walks in. Now, if you don\u2019t know who George Wallace is\u2014my favorite George Wallace joke\u2014he says he was in China, and he bought a pair of shoes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe looked at the bottom of them; and they said, \u201cMade right around the corner.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Laughter] So George Wallace is <em>hilarious<\/em> and very respected in the comedy community. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s the problem\u2014whenever someone like that walks into the club, whoever\u2019s next automatically gets bumped\u2014I was next.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Oh.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I knew I\u2019m about to get bumped. The manager walks over to me; and he says, \u201cMichael, listen. George Wallace is here.\u201d This is where God shows up for the first time in my life\u2014well, this is where I notice Him.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0He was always there!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>He\u2019s been around.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well-said.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0So, the manager walks over to me; and he says, \u201cGeorge Wallace is here, Michael. Would you like to go before him or after him?\u201d I was like [deep breath], \u201cLet me go before him.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey actually gave me the option of going before George Wallace; and then he comes in the show, and he sees me doing comedy, and making the people laugh. Afterwards, there are a bunch of comedians all around him; and they\u2019re talking to him. He leaves them and comes over to me\u2014he says: \u201cYou\u2019re really funny. Let me ask you a question.\u201d He was like, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you curse?\u201d I was like: \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2014what if my grandmother walked in or something?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMy grandmother\u2019s in Michigan\u2014she wasn\u2019t walking in there. I didn\u2019t know what else to say. I didn\u2019t have any reason not to be cursing\u2014I just hadn\u2019t cursed since I was 15. It just wasn\u2019t in me anymore.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe said, \u201cI\u2019d like you to do a show with me and my best friend in a couple of nights.\u201d I was like, \u201cReally?!\u201d So I\u2019m all excited\u2014I don\u2019t even know who his best friend is\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter! They sent a limousine to pick me up. Two nights later, I\u2019m doing a show with George Wallace, myself, and Jerry Seinfeld.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Oh my goodness!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0After the show, my manager says to me: \u201cMichael\u2014would you like to go to church with me tomorrow?\u201d I was like: \u201cChurch?! Why would I want to go to church?! I just got two standing ovations. Am I sick or something? Why go to church?\u201d because every time I saw a church on TV, it would be some story where somebody almost died and they found Jesus. Somebody said, \u201cI was on drugs, and I found Jesus.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s not my story\u2014I\u2019ve never done drugs, I\u2019ve never smoked, I stopped cursing when I was 15, and I wasn\u2019t mean to women\u2014so none of that stuff applied. I wasn\u2019t trying to hear Jesus stuff: \u201cHe\u2019s for people who are hurting. He\u2019s not for me.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen his fianc\u00e9 asked me to go\u2014she was beautiful! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI didn\u2019t even know pretty people went to church. She was like, \u201cMichael Jr., would you like to go to church?\u201d I was like\u2014I nodded my head, \u201cYes\u201d; but I said, \u201cNo.\u201d I was like, \u201cThis is confusing!\u201d [Laughter] So I went to this church; and this guy\u2019s on stage, talking about Jesus. He\u2019s not screaming \/ he\u2019s not yelling\u2014he\u2019s got no perm\u2014[Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Perm! What kind of churches had you gone to before?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>A lot of perm churches. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0It was really bad.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0So I walk into this church\u2014Christian Culture Center\u2014Brooklyn, New York. This guy\u2019s on stage, talking about Jesus. He\u2019s just talking about Jesus\u2014he\u2019s just talking! And I understand what he\u2019s saying!\u2014it\u2019s like amazing. All these people are\u2014then he said\u2014I remember him saying this\u2014he said, \u201cCan I get a hallelujah?\u201d It was almost like 5,000 people in this church; and 4,999 people said, \u201cHallelujah.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI said: \u201cI\u2019m not saying that. I don\u2019t know what it means.\u201d Then he says, \u201cIn case there\u2019s someone in the room that doesn\u2019t know what hallelujah means\u2026\u201d I was like [whispering], \u201cWhat is this place? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s creepy! How does he know I\u2019m thinking this?\u201d So he told us it was the highest praise you can give. I was like, \u201cWow, this is so awesome!\u201d And then I went on ahead and I didn\u2019t say hallelujah. Then he did an altar call. He said, \u201cIf you want Jesus in your life, come on down.\u201d I wanted to do it, but I thought there was some sort of catch \/ I was still skeptical. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI told myself I\u2019d read the whole Bible before I went down to the altar. I didn\u2019t even have a Bible, and I wasn\u2019t a very good reader\u2014like my reading was really, really slow. So, some lady I don\u2019t even know hands me a Bible. So, I started reading the Bible\u2014I read the <em>whole<\/em> Bible. I read the little giblets at the bottom that tell you about the top, and I\u2019m going to church. I\u2019m reading \/ I\u2019m going to church. I remember getting to the part of Matthew, where it said that Jesus died for me. Twenty-seven years old, at this point; I didn\u2019t even know Jesus died for me\u2014so I read it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You had not heard the story of Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0I had not heard the story. People may have said it in some sort of crazy way or screaming\u2014or the church I went to before\u2014the <em>assumption <\/em>was everyone knew, but nobody taught it to me. I saw the cross\u2014I didn\u2019t know what it meant. I just thought it was something cool for rappers to wear around their neck. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI didn\u2019t know what\u2014nobody ever explained it to me.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, when I read it right there, I was like, \u201cI didn\u2019t even know that Jesus died for me.\u201d Then I turned to Mark, and remember thinking: \u201cHe died again!\u2014what is going on?!\u201d Then in Luke and John\u2014I\u2019m thinking: \u201cWhy do they keep killing Him? I don\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on.\u201d Literally\u2014that\u2019s <em>literally<\/em> what I thought.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Wow!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0So then I keep reading the Bible. It took me like two-and-a-half months to finish the whole Bible because, at this point, I really want to go to the altar\u2014but I told myself I\u2019d finish the whole Bible first. I\u2019m digging into the Word, and I\u2019m putting in probably 12 hours a day, just reading the Bible. I\u2019m digging in as much as I can. I get to Revelation and get all scared. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis is my theory: \u201cReading the Bible is like paying bills.\u201d Hear me out\u2014you\u2019re supposed to pay attention to everything; but when they show it with some red ink, you have to do something\u2014right?\u2014before your lights get cut out or something. Anyway, [Laughter]\u2014I finished up reading the Bible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen I remember going to the altar, like during the announcements at church. I was like: \u201cHey, look. I want to do this earlier instead of later. I\u2019m ready.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFrom that point on, after receiving Jesus, I understand that I\u2019m not just funny\u2014like I\u2019m funny for a <em>reason<\/em>. There\u2019s purpose behind this funny. It feels phenomenal just to know that\u2014to be able to walk in purpose and be funny\u2014to go on <em>The Tonight Show<\/em> or a <em>Comedy Central<\/em> and know that there\u2019s a reason why I\u2019m there\u2014as opposed to\u2014just because I\u2019m funny, I make people laugh.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Talk about that reason. What is it that God has set you apart for?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0He\u2019s clearly called me to comedically inspire people to walk in purpose. I mean, He just absolutely has, without a doubt. I\u2019m all about that\u2014I\u2019m all about His business and what He wants me to do. It\u2019s kind of like\u2014this is kind of how I say it sometimes: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGod is like a navigation device in a car. If you\u2019ve never been in a car with a navigation device, you need to find a friend who has a car with a navigation device. [Laughter] If you punch in the coordinates to where you want to go, and it says, \u201cGo ten blocks and turn left,\u201d then you go ten blocks and turn right\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014it doesn\u2019t abandon what you\u2019re supposed to do. It recalculates what you need to do to get to where you\u2019re supposed to be, based upon where you are. The problem is\u2014sometimes, we make the wrong turns, and the road conditions can be different, and we\u2019re running out of time. So we need to be sensitive to listen to that <em>voice<\/em> so we can make the right choice about where we need to go. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI refer to it\u2014I\u2019ll tell my friends all the time\u2014I\u2019ll be in green rooms with some celebrities. I\u2019ll explain to them that God has a lot of names. I\u2019ll say some of the names, and a lot of times that stuff sounds creepy to people who don\u2019t know God. I\u2019ll say, \u201cJehovah,\u201d and whatever; and they\u2019re like, \u201cWhat is that about?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen I say another name God has\u2014is Something\u2014S-O-M-E-T-H-I-N-G\u2014Something. They always look at me like, \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d I say: \u201cWe always get a choice in life. We can choose \u2018A,\u2019 which is the right thing to do; or we could choose \u2018B,\u2019 which looks like fun. Sometimes we choose \u2018B\u2019 and then we have to deal with the consequences from choosing \u2018B.\u2019 One of the first things that comes out of your mouth, when you didn\u2019t want the consequences\u2014is: \u2018Man! Something told me not to do this!\u2019 It\u2019s clearly God trying to tell you the right thing to do\u2014you just can\u2019t hear Him.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. Your life radically began to change, at that point, when you met Jesus Christ. You were aware of what He wanted \/ what He expected of your life.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Wow! Are you narrating, right now, my life?\u2014that\u2019s amazing!\u2014 [Laughter]\u2014seriously.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>But that\u2019s what happened; isn\u2019t it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely\u2014yes\u2014because before, I didn\u2019t even know that something was missing until I received something. There are a lot of people walking around who have a lot of money, or a big house, or they feel like they have a really great town, but they know that something\u2019s missing. I was the same person, walking around, and something was missing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, no matter, if I\u2019m doing <em>The<\/em> <em>Tonight Show<\/em> again or if I\u2019m doing a homeless shelter, I know I\u2019m supposed to be there because God has a purpose for me to be there; whereas before, I was all about just getting laughs from people.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, to that person, who\u2019s listening right now, who\u2019s said, \u201cThat\u2019s me\u2014something is missing.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>What would you say to him? Introduce him to the One who changed your life.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0If you know something\u2019s missing\u2014you can always tell when something is missing. This is how I kind of refer to God. This is how I kind of tell [about] God: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s kind of like we\u2019re all a house. (God literally gave this to me, and I talk about it on stage.\u201d It\u2019s like everyone\u2019s a house. (Just bear with me for a second.) Outside of the house is Jesus Christ, and He wants to come in. Now, He\u2019ll never force His way in\u2014He wants you to invite Him in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tA lot of times, people are okay with just having Jesus outside the house because, that way, we can open the door, talk to Him when we need to, and then we just go back in our house; but He really wants to be invited in. The reason some people won\u2019t invite Him in is because their house is a mess, and they think they need to clean it up first; but you can\u2019t clean it up. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJesus <em>knew<\/em> it was going to be a mess before you messed it up. The only way to clean it is to allow Him in so He can clean it, but sometimes we just won\u2019t do that. While your house is a mess, He\u2019s standing at the door, wearing an apron, with a bucket in His hand, because He\u2019s the <em>only<\/em> One who can clean it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen there are people who used to have Jesus in the entire house, but we just moved Him to one room in the house. Have you ever been in a house with a good room? It is like you have that one clean room that looks all nice. A lot of times, that room is the one right up front, with the big picture window, so when people walk by, they\u2019ll be like: \u201cWow! That\u2019s a clean house! That\u2019s nice! They have Jesus!\u201d but Jesus doesn\u2019t have him. He doesn\u2019t have access to the entire house. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, He <em>wants <\/em>full access. Sometimes, maybe, Jesus is in the house but He can\u2019t even sit down. You won\u2019t let Him do the dishes, you won\u2019t let Him make your bed, and you feel like you have to do a lot of work because He\u2019s there\u2014but because He\u2019s there, it\u2019s just the opposite\u2014there\u2019s no work for you to do. You just need to release and let Him do it, simply by saying: \u201cJesus, I need You in my life. Forgive me for my sins. Please be my Lord.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014and open the door\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014and <em>let<\/em> the King of kings and Lord of lords come in, and let Him do what He does best. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe has been doing this for years. My life was transformed by a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, and it sounds like yours was as well.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely! If you would just open the door, and in case\u2014there are always two people who are not quite getting it\u2014the house is your heart\u2014they both begin with \u201cH\u201d\u2014I was hoping you would make the jump. So, you just open your heart and say: \u201cGod, come in. I need You.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s where everything changed for me in a ridiculously large way. I\u2019m a better <em>everything<\/em> as a result of having a relationship with Jesus. I\u2019m a better father, a better husband, and I\u2019m a better comedian <em>for sure<\/em>\u2014<em>for sure<\/em>. Like me and God will be writing jokes together. I\u2019ll be writing a joke\u2014and He\u2019ll be like, \u201cMmm\u2026\u2014the joke will be a <em>little<\/em> on the edge. Then, sometimes, God will be like, \u201cDude, that\u2019s not even on the edge!\u201d\u2014I mean, He might not say \u201cDude\u201d to you\u2014but anyway\u2014[Laughter]\u2014like, \u201cThat\u2019s not even on the edge.\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cUhh.\u201d And then some other ones that look <em>perfectly<\/em> clean\u2014absolutely!\u2014and God\u2019s like, \u201cNo, not that one.\u201d I just feel, in my spirit, that\u2019s not the one to do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI don\u2019t even know <em>why<\/em>, but I love throwing them away because, when I do, something better comes along.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>There\u2019s one last question I wanted to ask you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0You wanted to know what my website was\u2014is that what it was? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>How did you read my mind?!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Oh, it is so amazing! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It\u2019s amazing!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes, well; it\u2019s \u201cMichaelJr.com,\u201d as a matter of fact.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Okay. That will take care of that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou were on the cruise with us, and you heard the messages that were given there. You came up to me at the end and you said, \u201cDennis, God has used this in a strategic way in my life to re-direct me around family.\u201d Do you remember that conversation?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely; yes, because He was already showing me that what I\u2019m doing comedically is really, really about family. So any comedy that I\u2019m doing\u2014whether it be on <em>The<\/em> <em>Tonight Show<\/em>, whether it be Jimmy Kimmel, whatever I\u2019m doing\u2014it should be used in a way where it\u2019s healing and building the family. If it\u2019s not, then I\u2019m off tilt\u2014I\u2019m not doing what I\u2019m supposed to do.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt should heal and build families in some way, no matter what it is \/ no matter what. That\u2019s really what I\u2019m about. In doing so, I am to comedically inspire people to walk in purpose because, once people start walking in purpose, then they\u2019ll understand the family\u2014they\u2019ll understand their role, as a dad\/the father. They\u2019ll understand their role\u2014as a mom or as a son\u2014they\u2019ll understand their role better. So <em>I\u2019m all<\/em> completing and entirely about family.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And, you believe that comedy is a gift from God for us in the journey of life because life is a challenge \/ life is tough; and He does give us the ability to laugh in the journey.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely. The Bible, as you know, it says in Proverbs 17:22, \u201cA merry heart is good like a medicine.\u201d Well, sometimes, we get a little under the weather; and we need some medicine. I\u2019m just glad that God has given me a doctor\u2019s degree to administer the medicine He\u2019s given me\u2014so absolutely, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>What I would encourage our listeners to do\u2014pray for Michael Jr.\u2014that he\u2019ll be a good steward of the gifts God has given him, and stay linked up to get the right humor in tandem with God leading him, and use that for God\u2019s purposes in the settings and the venues where He places him.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You\u2019ll take those prayers; won\u2019t you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely. This is the thing\u2014this is <em>huge<\/em>\u2014if you guys see that on performance somewhere at a church or wherever it may be, bring some people that think that you\u2019re crazy for loving God because what is going to happen is this\u2014comedy, not just the comedy God\u2019s given me\u2014but comedy opens up the soul and it allows for penetration. I\u2019ll go do a comedy show and people will just open up in a way that I can\u2019t even explain it because they\u2019re laughing \/ their guards are down. So, I feel like what God is using me for is to catch them with the comedy, and keep them with the truth. So, if you see me at a church \/ if you see me anywhere, you need to bring some friends who don\u2019t know.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I watched it happen on the cruise.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Standing room only\u2014three nights in a row\u2014people needed to laugh. It was a ministry of laughter in their lives, and it was done purposively.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You know, it occurs to me that we have not yet let our listeners know that Michael is, not only a comedian, but he\u2019s a movie star. You\u2019re going to be in the movie that is coming out next month, called <em>War Room<\/em>\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u00a0<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michael: <\/strong>\u00a0Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014that\u2019s going to be in theaters, starting August 28<sup>th<\/sup>\u2014the latest movie from Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the guys who did <em>Courageous <\/em>and<em> Fireproof<\/em>. This is a movie about marriage. It\u2019s about fighting for your marriage on your knees, praying for God to do a work in your marriage. I just have to say\u2014you did a <em>great job<\/em> in your role in the movie, <em>War Room. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to encourage our listeners to plan to go see you opening weekend, August 28<sup>th<\/sup>, 29<sup>th<\/sup>, and 30<sup>th<\/sup>. The movie\u2019s called <em>War Room<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMichael Jr. is one of the actors who is going to be in it. If you\u2019d like to see the trailer for the movie, <em>War Room<\/em>, we have a link on our website at FamilyLifeToday.com. If you go there and click in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, where it says, \u201cGO DEEPER,\u201d you will see a link to the trailer for the movie, <em>War Room<\/em>. You can get an idea what it\u2019s all about. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, Priscilla Shirer, Tony Evans\u2019 daughter, is also in the movie. T.C. Stallings, who was one of the gangsters \/ one of the thug guys in <em>Courageous<\/em>\u2014he has the male lead. It\u2019s really a fun movie. Again, see the trailer\u2014go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper left-hand corner of the screen that says, \u201cGO DEEPER.\u201d The trailer is available right there.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI should mention\u2014folks got a chance to see <em>War Room<\/em> on the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> marriage cruise last year. Michael was onboard with us. Folks really responded well to this film\u2014at the sneak preview we were able to do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s always one of the fun things we get to do onboard the cruise\u2014is do a sneak preview of an upcoming movie. I know next year\u2019s cruise is\u2014I\u2019m pretty sure it\u2019s sold out. I think they have a waiting list for the cruise, at this point; you might want to get on the waiting list or find out about the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise in February of 2017. Again, look for the link for the <em>Love Like You Mean It<\/em> marriage cruise when you go to our website, FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link that says, \u201cGO DEEPER.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, a quick word of thanks to those of you who make <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> possible; and you know who you are. <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a listener-supported ministry. We could not be here every day if it weren\u2019t for friends in your neighborhood who pitch in and help cover the cost of producing and syndicating this daily radio program. So, \u201cThanks,\u201d to those of you who are regular Legacy Partners, giving each month in support of this ministry, and to those of you who will pitch in on occasion and say, \u201cThis is an important ministry, and we want to help support your work.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou can make a donation, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make a donation. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOr you can mail us a donation at <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, at PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; and our zip code is 72223.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, tomorrow, John Freeman is going to join us. We\u2019re going to talk about his experience, growing up\u2014experiencing sexual brokenness in his life. He has a compelling story, and I hope you can tune in to hear what he has to share. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/303595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303595"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=303595"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=303595"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=303595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}