Ep. 58 - The Year Ahead 2026

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I'm doing a new thing. And there's something about that that's so beautiful. And it's. You know, it's similar to what Paul says about in Philippians 3. Pressing on, pushing, pushing on, pressing on. And behold, I'm doing something new. And I think that oftentimes I want to resist the unknown. I want to resist like. Like, for those of you who aren't watching, I got my hand in a fist here because it's like I'm holding on to what I want as as opposed to the posture of surrender or yield, where my hands are open to what he wants. And it's. It's. It's just so, so beautiful that it's like, behold, I'm doing a new thing. It's like a promise. It's like a promise. Yeah. 20, 26 is here. God's doing something new. I don't want to resist. I don't want to kick against the ghost. [00:00:48] Speaker B: Hello, welcome to let's Talk Life. Back at It Again. And Happy New Year 2026. 2026 is here. Exciting times. [00:00:57] Speaker A: Yes. [00:00:58] Speaker B: And so I also have to say happy anniversary also to you, Carl. [00:01:03] Speaker A: Ye. [00:01:03] Speaker B: Right. Because it's that time of year, and I was there with you on that incredible day. [00:01:11] Speaker A: Yeah. 22 years ago. [00:01:13] Speaker B: 22 years. I remember being in New York City seeing fireworks for New Year's Eve in New York City. [00:01:21] Speaker A: Wow. And that's awesome. [00:01:24] Speaker B: Times Square and all of it. So. Right. Exciting stuff. So today we're. We're talking the year ahead. And so where would you like to. To start off, Carl, I know you. [00:01:34] Speaker A: Had something in front of you, and last week's podcast, I mentioned how I'm not a big guy that says, oh, I want this word to be my word for the year. [00:01:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:01:44] Speaker A: You know, and. And I'm not saying against people who like that, or God told them this word. That's fine. That's all good. [00:01:50] Speaker B: Right. But what I. [00:01:51] Speaker A: What I do love is how scripture comes alive. I mean, scripture, just God's word, so amazing. It just comes so alive when. When he gives you the eyes to see. Because there's a different way to read scripture. With the. The eye. Through the eyes of shame, through the eyes of legalism. John, chapter five. Jesus said the Pharisees, hey, you search the scriptures thinking that in them you find life, but you don't come to me, the giver of life. So. So people can quote scripture and they can preach sermons and can teach classes, and we all say this and, and it's like a. No, no, no, no. You're missing Jesus. You're missing the heart of Jesus. And so in Isaiah 43, which, by the way, that right there is like a separate. So Isaiah 43, God says, I'm God. I'm. I'm the Lord, I'm. I'm your holy One. I'm the creator of Israel, your king. And he says this. [00:02:44] Speaker B: This. [00:02:45] Speaker A: Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior. Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I'm doing a new thing now. It springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [00:03:07] Speaker B: Wow, it's so beautiful. I'm just in awe of the fact, you know, I love that phrase. Do you not perceive it? It's like jumping right to Paul's words all over. [00:03:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:20] Speaker B: Do you not know? [00:03:22] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:23] Speaker B: Do you not perceive this reality? And what's really wild is that I thought that I did perceive it. [00:03:32] Speaker A: Right. [00:03:32] Speaker B: So even, even that was the deception. Right. It's because I didn't really perceive it, but I believed that I did. [00:03:40] Speaker A: Yeah. Right. [00:03:41] Speaker B: And that. That goes hand in hand with your other message, that, yeah, I can know the scriptures, but I can not be intimately in tune with. With Jesus himself. And that was. That was a bulk of my. Of my life for sure, is saved. But I. But I didn't even know what that really truly meant. So I wasn't living from. [00:04:01] Speaker A: Right. [00:04:01] Speaker B: That, that life. Right. [00:04:03] Speaker A: In the podcast. In the podcast, you and I talk about off air, David Gregory Smith, the author of many books, but co authored a book called Rest of the Gospel, which we've referenced and talked about. And you're going through with some guys, some believers, and he uses this phrase of where he was as a Christian, saying, I don't understand the life. I don't understand Christ in me. And so here's the gospel. Receive Christ as your savior and be miserable like me. Just think about, like, we, we go to church, we read the Bible, we pray, we're preaching and we're teaching, and we're just miserable inside. We're bitter. We resent everyone. We resent God. You know, we're just so bitter. And we're not. We're not partakers of his life. We're not sharers of his life. We're not. We're. We're not understanding union. We're not understanding these things. So, so you and I, back in the old days, right. We would say, well, I get this, I understand. [00:04:59] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:04:59] Speaker A: And meanwhile there's just. Yeah, go ahead. Yeah. [00:05:02] Speaker B: So many people, so many people that I've had conversations with. I mean, I'll just take my sister in law because she would, she would say this, but I feel like this is a journey for so many people because exactly where I was too. [00:05:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:05:16] Speaker B: And just exactly what you're saying. But in and I were, I think even before we were planning on moving down here, we were visiting down here and would always spend time with her family. And we started to begin at that time. We were going through all this stuff, we were learning it ourselves, but we were also just sharing it with her sister and her family. And right away, like her sister's like, oh, yeah, yeah, that's, that's what I believe. And it wasn't until, I don't know how long later, it could have been weeks, it could have been months. I don't know. She reached out to her sister, my wife, and said this, this isn't, this isn't what I've believed. This, this is actually quite different. [00:05:55] Speaker A: Right. [00:05:56] Speaker B: And so as she began to read some of the things that we were reading, as she began to listen to some of the people that we were sending her way, she began to really see clearly what this New Covenant teaching was all about and what the New Covenant truly is and what it really means to be in Christ. [00:06:12] Speaker A: Right. [00:06:13] Speaker B: And it does change everything about your perspective, but it's just so, it's so interesting that that's, that is the deceiver, the devil, he. I think he does his, his most ma. Work within the context of the church. [00:06:27] Speaker A: Wow. [00:06:28] Speaker B: Keeping, Keeping us deceived. Right. Keeping us believing that we get it when we don't really get it. [00:06:35] Speaker A: Right. [00:06:36] Speaker B: Thinking that we see it when we don't really see it. And it's an amazing thing to, to really think about, to process. And everybody's going to process that differently because everybody has different journeys and everybody's at different stages. And so some people would maybe completely different disagree. Other people would be like totally on board with it. Some people are right in the middle of. I don't know which ways. [00:06:56] Speaker A: Sure, sure. You know, and, and I am so thankful that God in his grace brought me to the end of myself when, when the boys were younger as opposed to in their college years or in their 20s or where all of a sudden they start wondering what's real? What's. What was real? [00:07:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:07:17] Speaker A: What was, what was that about, you know, all those sermons that preach and now this is happening. And. And just what often happens, you know, as life beats us up and. [00:07:28] Speaker B: Right. [00:07:29] Speaker A: We. We tap out, you know. [00:07:31] Speaker B: Sure. [00:07:32] Speaker A: Or just say, I'm done, or. And so I'm thankful to God for that. I'm also thankful that, like you said, in his grace, he brings us to the end of ourselves just to find life. Like. Like. Like we think it's over. We think it's nothing else good. And instead it's actually opposite. It's like, no, now I can get started. And the cases in point, like, solitarsis, Peter's rejection, denial of Christ, which was. [00:07:57] Speaker B: Right. [00:07:57] Speaker A: Was like, brutal. Like, I mean, think about this, Zach. Like, think about, like, you and me together for three years, right? And then I say, hey, I don't know, Zach. Like. Like, I mean, that's not. That doesn't even pale to. To Jesus and Peter's relationship of every day for three years, you know. Right. And. And Jesus is on the beach saying, hey, I got something for you. You know. Right. I got some. So, yeah, God. God's grace is amazing and for sure. [00:08:25] Speaker B: And I love even coming off of all that thought, your statement as to what you're doing now and moving forward into this next year, continuing to do is because that. That is the verse, right. Strengthen your brothers. [00:08:39] Speaker A: Yeah. It's like, yeah. After you. [00:08:42] Speaker B: Failure. [00:08:44] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. [00:08:45] Speaker B: As the world would see it as just a total and utter failure and you're disqualified and you should be kicked to the curve. Basically. Yeah. What the world looks at. [00:08:53] Speaker A: Hey, listen, some people are still trying. [00:08:56] Speaker B: Right? Right. And that'll never end. That'll never end. I have a friend. He's a businessman. He's. He's north of me, and he just posted that. The church. Within the church walls or something. I don't know how he phrased exactly, but within the church walls, that's where people are most kicking the. The wounded. Kicking the wounded. And it's like, man, what a sad reality. But that's so true. [00:09:18] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:18] Speaker B: Like within. Within the context of a, you know, supposedly godly people. These are supposed to be godly people, but they're the ones that are kicking the people that are down. And it's such a sad reality. [00:09:29] Speaker A: Yeah. So sorry for the bunny trail. So back to what you're saying, Luke 22, about strengthen your brothers. You were saying something, and I don't even know. [00:09:39] Speaker B: Yep, the train has derailed. It's too heavy. I can't put it back on. No, I just. I just love that that's been the work of God in your life. [00:09:49] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:49] Speaker B: And it's not like, this is not stuff that we can fashion. That's not something that we could put together. It's literally just our story. And that's the power of story. That's the power of talking life and talking about how our life is intermingled with it because we have this union with Christ and it's Christ in me, the hope of glory. And it's just like knowing that it helps us in every way. I think just step into. Right. What's my mission? What am I here for? [00:10:14] Speaker A: Right. [00:10:14] Speaker B: It's like we can, we can, like you said, put a word out there. If we want, we can. Like, but the reality, because, I mean, I have the things that God has equipped in my mind and thinking and moving forward, but is that going to encapsulate my entire next year? I don't know. It doesn't have to. It's. It's what's happening this week, and that's okay. [00:10:31] Speaker A: Right. [00:10:32] Speaker B: But I just, I just love that mentality of how your failure has actually stepped in to become, I don't know, your greatest mission. It's actually stepped you into your greatest. I just, I go back to this idea, the greatest effective ministry. It's like we had ministries before, Right. But what we're doing now is so much more effective. It doesn't look like the package deal. [00:11:00] Speaker A: Right. [00:11:00] Speaker B: It doesn't look like it'd be as effective, but the one on one and the intimate connections with people is far more effective. And that's how you know that it's. It's the work of God. [00:11:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:13] Speaker B: That's just exciting to see. [00:11:14] Speaker A: That's really good. And we've mentioned this so many times that we could have read some of these books years ago and been like, I mean, you had one on your shelf. [00:11:21] Speaker B: We, we did, yeah. [00:11:23] Speaker A: And it just didn't. And so, so, so walking alongside. Because understanding, we don't get grace. Like, we don't get it. We think we do, but it's not until you come to the end of yourself that you find life. And so, so be patient with others. Right. Be being patient with others when, when they resist or, you know, and they, they don't get it or they want to, they want to talk about. And it's like, yeah, it doesn't matter. Yeah. I mean. [00:11:49] Speaker B: Right, Right. Yeah. That's, that's probably been the mind shift for me. Like, when I, when I stepped into this, I was really so excited about bringing this Right. To people that, in the end I realized didn't really want to receive it. [00:12:04] Speaker A: Right. [00:12:05] Speaker B: And I was excited about it, and they weren't sure. [00:12:10] Speaker A: Right. [00:12:11] Speaker B: So that's what it really. It was kind of like deflating the balloon. But it wasn't. You know, in the end, it was like, well, this is still very real and true and exciting for me. And I had to, I had to process all that, though, to recognize. And that's, that's one of the things that God has really taught me throughout this whole season, is you can't make people get this. And, And I think that's kind of where this podcast even was birthed out of, is like, we were just. We're just getting together and talking anyways, you know, on a video call like this, right? And it's like, man, this is such valuable stuff. And. And then you have this confirmation from other people saying, hey, you should do a podcast. And I'm thinking, you know, we should. We should do a podcast. We should. We should just record this stuff. And it's like one. So it's, it's, it is just amazing because it's not like we have all the answers. We're not the. We're not the answer, man. We're not. We're not to fix it. People, like, come to us and we'll help fix you. [00:13:01] Speaker A: Right? [00:13:01] Speaker B: It's like, no, that's. That's not ministry. Yeah, it's not ministry, because that is really what that is, is manipulation. Right? Because. Because what, what can I do to. To change you to be better, you know? And, and, and this is true. It's just like the, the Ten Commandments. If I follow the Ten Commandments, it'll be good for me, but it's not going to bring life. So walk aside alongside of me and let me walk aside alongside of you. And, and I can help fix certain things in your life, and it will be good for you, but it's not going to be the life of Christ. [00:13:32] Speaker A: Right. [00:13:32] Speaker B: And that's the difference. And it's. And it's a huge difference. [00:13:36] Speaker A: Yeah. That might be a future, a future podcast. What do we do with the Ten Commandments? And as a follower with Christ in me, well, don't I need the law to help me? Like, don't I need the law to make sure I don't sin? [00:13:48] Speaker B: That's. That's what it seems like. [00:13:50] Speaker A: Right. So. So what I'd love for to ask is, what are you excited about? You know, when it comes to a new year, when it comes to wow. Like the. [00:13:59] Speaker B: Sure. You know, this. [00:14:00] Speaker A: What's exciting to you? [00:14:02] Speaker B: I mean, there's so much, there's so much that it's almost. You don't know where to go. So I've been sharing this with you and maybe I've shared it, but I have a lot of, a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak. And what's so exciting about it is that every single one of them is exciting. And so, so if, if this one pans out and this one doesn't, I'm still excited. [00:14:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:14:21] Speaker B: You know, and that's, that's a really great place to be. [00:14:24] Speaker A: Right. [00:14:25] Speaker B: And that's, that's where I continue to go back to the Much more of Romans 5. [00:14:31] Speaker A: Right. [00:14:32] Speaker B: And I go back to. I think we quoted a couple weeks ago, or I did out of stunned by grace. Frank Friedman says, yeah, the much more of God is available simply by receiving it. Simply by receiving it. And it's like, wait a minute, I don't, I don't need to work hard. I don't need to become a better person or to, you know, it's like just, just receive. And so what, that's where I land with whatever irons are in the fire. So I mean, I can just give you a list of. Yeah, Like I have this non profit, you know, that I have a counseling office. Okay. What does that look like? Right. Where's that going? I have this coaching ministry. Come alongside of ministry leaders. You know, what does that look like? I have this mentality of really wanting to just come alongside of people and just equip the saints to know who they are in Christ. That's like, I do that with book studies and all these different things. [00:15:21] Speaker A: Right. [00:15:22] Speaker B: Speaking and music engagements. And I've had those opportunities and I'd love to have more. I'm in the process of writing a book and have this partnership with a guy in Pakistan. [00:15:31] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:15:31] Speaker B: I don't know what that looks like. I want to do these online workshops. I have this, another interview today with Chaplains of America to take on a one day a week thing just to be in the context of a business to help just journey with people. [00:15:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:15:44] Speaker B: My wife and I have an llc, you know, Marketplace ministry. [00:15:48] Speaker A: Right, Marketplace ministry. [00:15:49] Speaker B: Marketplace ministry. That's exactly what I, what I'm doing. Even in this office that I'm in. Right. And then on top of it, just an LLC that we have of just, just a home and office, cleaning and handyman services and for further expansion to what that looks like with property services. So I Mean, that's a lot of irons. That's a lot of stuff in the fire. So, I mean, to be at rest in the midst of all of that. [00:16:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:16:15] Speaker B: Is really amazing because I don't think I ever would have been before. [00:16:18] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:16:19] Speaker B: And I do still find myself going, okay, guy, which direction am I supposed go? Like, God, tell me, what am I supposed to do? And it's really easy to get into that mindset, but that's really not where I land most of my days. It's. I really am at rest with knowing that. Okay. I'm. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. And the amazing part is that all these things are happening in one way or another. [00:16:42] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:16:42] Speaker B: And it's just really awesome. So that's what I'm really excited about. And. And I think it. What it leads to. A lot of people is asking this question, how do you sort all this out? How do you have direction in the coming year when you have all these irons in the fire? And I just go back to. Just to rest. And I go back to a very common thing that we talk about is trust. [00:17:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:17:03] Speaker B: And walking in faith. Walking out of trust in God. [00:17:09] Speaker A: Right. [00:17:09] Speaker B: I'm able to just rest and. Okay, yeah, I got all these irons in the fire. But the reality is, if this one just has to be taken out and cools down and is nothing, that's fine. I'm okay with that. Right. And that's. That's where. That's what needs to happen in order for me to step into this other one. And that's. And that's perfectly okay. [00:17:26] Speaker A: And. And you know that God is in control. You know that things are unfolding. Right. The way. The way he has them, the way he wants. He has a purpose. A purpose in this. [00:17:37] Speaker B: Right. [00:17:37] Speaker A: An excitement of. Of discovering, like, it's like kind of like discovery. It's like God's playful that he's. [00:17:47] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:17:47] Speaker A: You know, so. So loving. Yeah. [00:17:51] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Right. Yeah. Amen. What about you, Carl? What are you excited about, man? [00:17:57] Speaker A: Well, I would like to really quick go Back to Isaiah 43. [00:18:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [00:18:02] Speaker A: Which is where we started. [00:18:04] Speaker B: I know we got. Got off track. [00:18:06] Speaker A: This is. This is like, maybe this is the two verses that sort of, you know, really got me here. [00:18:11] Speaker B: Sure. [00:18:11] Speaker A: Remember, not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I'm doing a new thing. And there's something about that that's so beautiful. And it's. You know, it's similar to what Paul says about in Philippians 3, pressing on pushing, pushing on, pressing, on and behold, I'm doing something new. And I think that, that oftentimes I want to resist the unknown. I want to resist. Like, like, for those of you who aren't watching, I got my hand in a fist here because it's like I'm holding on to what I want as opposed to the posture of surrender or yield where my hands are open to what he wants. Fists ever resist. And it's, it's, it's just so, so beautiful that it's like, behold, I'm doing a new thing. It's like a promise. It's like a promise. Yeah. 20, 26 is here. God's doing something new. I don't want to resist. I don't want to kick against the goods. I've been using that phrase a little bit lately. I don't want. I don't, you know, like Peter saying, hey, I don't want you to go to Jerusalem, Jesus, I'm not going to let you die. Like, that was like, like, like we needed that, you know? And so I don't want to resist, God, if you want me to walk through some suffering right now, God, if you want me to walk through some trials, God, if you want to, if there's some hardships that you have for me, because there's something better on the other side of this, I can't see yet, but trusting you on the other side of this. And so there's this promise here of God. You're doing something new and, and it springs forth and I want to perceive it. Like, I want my eyes to be open. And so, like, for 20, 26. Yeah, like. Like there's some. There's some sweet things happening, like you with some pastors, maybe in January, maybe in February, maybe in Virginia, maybe in Florida. I don't know. After that, like, like, it's pretty exciting to say. Yeah, I don't know. [00:19:55] Speaker B: Right. I'm open. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. It's so awesome just to be at rest in all that. [00:20:01] Speaker A: Right. [00:20:02] Speaker B: And it's because there is, like, when I look at my list of things, I'm like, God, I feel like I'm the most passionate and excited about the coaching aspect of stuff in this journeying with other ministry leaders. And I'm most passionate about certain aspects of things that don't bring in a paycheck. So there comes the fear of, okay, what does this look like? And how does this pan out? But in the midst of it all, God has just provided, and that's what's been so beautiful. About the whole thing. And so to be so at rest with even the fact that, well, what if I can't do that full time? [00:20:39] Speaker A: Right. [00:20:40] Speaker B: I still go back to, you know, Wayne Jacobson's one anothering statement. [00:20:46] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:20:47] Speaker B: Or phrase. And I just think, well, so this chaplain thing that I can do once a week, just. It pays half my mortgage every month, you know, and not, I'm not just doing it because of that, but it's also steps me into just one anothering being in like when I first moved to Florida, I was walking around downtown Venice to saying, God, I just want to be in the marketplace. How can I have my ministry, my non profit office right here in the midst of all this just busyness a year to not even two years, a year and a half later, even less than that. Here I am in an office around, surrounded by all these other businesses and I just think, okay, yeah, that's, that's the journey. So if this chaplain thing is really just more of that same. Right, that same thing. And it's really incredible. [00:21:34] Speaker A: And what I hear, like, what I hear, Zach, as you can shared like these irons in the fire. And like you are doing it, you know, like, like you are doing it now. Like, like. And so, so just being present now. Right. Like, right. Instead of saying, well God, I hope you can figure out my plans later because I don't understand, like you're just doing it now. You're just being faithful now. What he brings to you daily. [00:21:56] Speaker B: Yeah. You know, yeah, it's so, it's so true because I mean like the whole counseling office thing, when it's, when it's called a ministry, people are like, oh, so I only need to pay like 20 bucks. So it's not something in a lot of money. [00:22:10] Speaker A: Sure, sure. [00:22:11] Speaker B: So I, I raise some support and I can offer my services for less for people and just pay myself out of that support. And that's basically kind of what I'm doing with it. But if so. So here's just the example of what if God just explodes? That maybe I get licensing by the state and I can collect insurance, whatever. That's just one avenue of okay, that's something that could be an option. [00:22:33] Speaker A: Right. [00:22:33] Speaker B: And it's like, okay, great. So that just explodes. And so that's what I spend maybe most of my time doing. And I'm perfectly comfortable with that. Like that's okay. That's. That's the avenue that God. But still the avenue of connecting with you and traveling to Michigan or me traveling up by you or you coming down by me and we're doing these pastors retreat. That's all still part of what we're doing. And so it is really just beautiful that no matter which one of those irons explodes in the fire, right. It's. It's all beautiful. And that's such a different context of how I lived before. Because it wasn't an operation of trust. It was an operation really of grabbing hold again, those. Those fists clenching and holding on to what I thought was right, my passion or God's best for me, or God's will for me and to realize that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be all the time. [00:23:21] Speaker A: Amen. [00:23:22] Speaker B: Is. It's a whole different way to live. So pretty exciting. Pretty exciting. [00:23:28] Speaker A: Amen. [00:23:28] Speaker B: So behold, behold, I'm doing a new thing. And. Yeah. Do you not perceive it, say God, we trust what you're doing and we're saying we're stepping into this new year with that mentality of, that's right, God, you are doing a new thing. And. And I am that new thing. [00:23:45] Speaker A: Right. [00:23:45] Speaker B: New in Christ. [00:23:48] Speaker A: Yeah. You are a new person, new creation in Christ. [00:23:51] Speaker B: Trust that truth. [00:23:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah. So beautiful. So happy New Year once again. Here we go into 2026. I'm excited.