M.A.D. Election Season

Jesse:
Welcome back to Go Mad with Doug and Brad, Season 2. This is Producer Jesse and we are so excited about the season and are looking forward to what lies ahead. On today's episode, we hit the ground running, as Doug recalls getting kicked out of a voting booth, and Brad confesses his go-to political pundits.

Hint, they're actual vegetables. Doug and Brad walk through not who to vote for, but how to go through the election season with an ambassador for Christ type attitude. How can we love others well before and after the vote itself?

Let's find out. And let's go mad.

Brad:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, welcome to season two of Go Mad with Megan Brad.

Doug:
It's here, season two. Season two and all all my favorite shows came into their own. Oh. The A-Team, Knight Rider, the Wiggles, all of, all of them.

Brad:
Did they have the red car in the first season or was it not till season two? I mean

Doug:
Ah, season six is when they introduced the red car. Wow. Um You still watch 'em, don't you? I mean, I don't know that for sure, I swear. Well I gotta tell you And I wasn't watching it this morning.

Brad:
You were. We really are excited to be back. Together.

If you don't, if you're tuning in for the first time, first of all, let's do a couple introductions. My name is Brad. I am the uh dad of three amazing children.

My wife Sarah and I have been married for almost 20 years now And uh yeah, I love donuts. There you go.

Doug:
My name's Doug. I uh let's see, yeah, I've got some amazing kids myself. An amazing wife.

I've been married about 27 years. Brad's my brother and he's awesome. Jesse is my pal.

He's our producer. Hey, hey. And um He's the best man.

Jesse:
Yeah, tell us about it. Tell us about Jesse Callucci. I'm Jesse Calucci.

Uh yeah, I've been married about ten years to my wife, Tara. We have Three girls and uh we've lived in the Ozarks for something like thirteen years. Wow, there you go.

Doug:
The three of us, Lil Trivia, were raised in northern New Jersey, right? Jesse was being raised about twenty minutes from us, not even realizing it until much later in life.

Brad:
We're talking go mad with Doug and Brad. Can you give us Quick summary. What are people listening to when they tune into Gomez?

Doug:
So there is this fascinating and uh sobering verse in 2 Corinthians that says, we as believers are Christ's ambassadors as if he was making his appeal through us. In other words, if people are gonna know that Jesus loves them, and that he can change their life and their eternity, we are responsible for letting them know that. So we just talk about it it's a crazy world, man.

It's Can be angry or there's there's confusing stuff all the time. How can we be Jesus reps without blowing it? We're all in this together.

What are some practical ways that we can live our life in such a way where we will be a Jesus magnet for people who need him. So we try to get practical about that

Brad:
Yeah, that's right. We want to help people just be able to make a practical difference with their life. Now, here's the thing.

We're meeting and talking about, man, season two and brainstorming, and we're going over all these ideas, and we're like, but where do we want to kick off? And so, you know First thought, pumpkin spice latte. Let's just talk about pumpkin spice latte for a while.

And then we're like, no. It's hard to get 30 minutes. It's really latte. So then what we're just like, okay, let's start with something that's

Doug:
What what's something we could start the new season with something fun, something something unifying, something we can all agree on and we said, we know Politics!

Brad:
That's right it baby. That's right. But actually, okay.

Doug:
We're not really talking politics today. We're talking voting. Not who to vote for, but we're talking about voting. There's a difference you'll see.

Brad:
So we're talking today about making a difference through how you vote. But it's not about, as Doug just said, not who you vote for, but the heart behind it, the how you vote. What's going on inside.

So we know that uh it's it's tricky territory here and I let me start off by saying this. We know voting is important. The things we're going to talk about today, we're not going to talk about the political rap sheet of, hey, here's who you should vote for and which political party and everything else.

We know there's a lot of opinions about that, but voting is important. It does have an impact.

Doug:
It does. And uh you can though have a huge impact. With who you vote for, but you can also have a huge impact in the voting season.

Oh my goodness. And be even in this season be a magnet for Christ. Um when I it can be a contentious time.

Okay. You may have noticed if you haven't gotten on Facebook recently, apparently Are you ready for this? People have opinions about politics.

Wait. Hold on. And politicians.

Wait. Yes. Wow.

When I was younger, I thought it would be speaking of contentious, I thought it would be fun to uh I saw my friend at at uh my first voting experience. Okay. I was voting for president.

I was all excited. I saw him across the room. and he was next to the voting booth and I yelled something like, Hey man, who you voting for?

You better get it right. That's when I found out that even small towns can have security guards at voting places.

Brad:
Wait, you got in trouble because that you asked who they're voting for.

Doug:
My first voting experience. I asked that. Who is voting for and security led me out?

Jesse:
Wow. Did you vote or did you not get a chance?

Doug:
I can't even remember. It was it was so it was so scary. It's all a blur. I just got out of therapy 20 years later. I can be contentious.

Brad:
But that and that's the thing is that there is so much I just anger out there and statements that people like. I I love when people on social media and everything are like, look. I don't mean to stir things up.

Yes, yes. That's exactly what we were posting about. And that's what we're talking about today is that there is it is when we talk about how Jesus sees us and how he sees us as his ambassadors.

Mm-hmm. We need to be very careful during a voting season, during politics, talking about politicians, everything else, that we don't trample the people that we are trying to reach. on the way to the ballot box.

Ooh, I like that. Well it's it's just it's so hard because we want to make sure we make our point and are you losing your witness on the way to the ballot box? And I love that even when we look at it's almost like People long ago said, look, we know this is a tough season.

We know there's different opinions. We know this is going to be challenging. So what we're going to do is make this nice and easy.

We're going to put it at the beginning of November and then a couple weeks later ask you to get together with your family around a table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Doug:
Yeah, whoever whoever put the election cycle right before Thanksgiving. Great job. Thanks, Hallmark. That couldn't have been no who did that?

Brad:
I don't know. It's some of those people that you are interacting with around the table. are the people that you don't want to lose your witness with as you're going through this season.

Doug:
Okay, family, let's all bow our heads and give thanks. Okay, I'll go first. I'm thankful I'm not a Democrat.

Oh, okay. I'm thankful I'm not a Republican. If you get caught in a conversation like that this year, there's a trick.

There's something you can do to get out of it. This guy's I'm glad I'm not a Democrat. I'm glad I'm not a Republican.

You ready? Pass the stuffing, please.

Brad:
I like that. Just try it. The and I think that when we're talking about, hey, you're sitting around a table you're sitting around a the ooh virtual table of Facebook um and social media you want to handle things well because Jesus is very clear, the Bible is very clear that how we handle ourselves and our mission to be ambassadors is more important. than these other things that are going on around us.

Doug:
That's ambassadorship. Uh you know, the the thing is Paul says, the Apostle Paul says some pretty hardcore things about what it means to be God's ambassador and not having people get tripped up. on their way to the gospel, on their way to hearing about Jesus.

We're going to talk about that a little bit. Brad, as people are considering things this election season, Some advice. What comes to your mind?

Because I I got one. I got one. Can I start with one?

Go for it. Try to have as balanced a political view as possible. It's all right.

Feel passionately about a political belief or a candidate. That's fine. But only listening to one news source or one station only gets you one viewpoint.

It's okay to to believe what you believe strongly. But if you only are listening to one voice, you're almost never gonna get the whole picture.

Brad:
I actually listen to two voices in the uh when I'm trying to get election. cycle, uh you know, my input from sources and everything, Bob, Larry. Those I mean you get because they really have a balanced perspective.

Doug:
And you're like, so which which do I listen to at a given time?

Brad:
Man, between the two of them.

Doug:
How about this? Okay You said this earlier, Brad. I I really appreciate this, that voting is a privilege.

It's an important responsibility. Lots of men and women have paid the ultimate price. to win and protect our freedom and and our ability to vote.

I got a question for you. You ready? I'm going to start with a hard one.

Is it ever okay not to vote? Oh. Whoa boy.

Jesse:
Jesse? Brad? I make it easy. I can just write in both of your names every year. No, no. And alternate President, vice president.

Brad:
Easy. Someday we're gonna win. We are gonna win with this podcast and the listenership. We're gonna get like at least a dozen votes. All right, all right.

Doug:
I'm almost 51 There has been only one presidential election I chose not to vote for. Tell us when it was a very good thing. No, no. It was a tough decision for me, because I have a conviction to vote, but one time though, one time to my surprise, my conviction to not vote overruled my conviction to vote, but it is an extremely important thing to do and an expensive right.

Brad:
No, I like that, but I I I hear where you're coming from on that. My kind of counterthought to that would be For me, I used to think, man, it's important. I I don't know why I thought this way that I need to vote for the Washington DC folks and everything else.

So There was an election that I did not vote for maybe top candidates, but I still went and I voted for local. I voted for statewide. Because there's a there is a I was talking to uh actually Nick, who was on the podcast this summer with me.

He was just saying, man, I view those races almost as important as the national races because it starts there and it builds up. And you even look at some of the issues that have come up recently. on s issues that have been pushed back down to the state.

And it's important that you are voting for the right leaders locally and statewide. As much as I would say as nationally and everything else. So I would say there are times I haven't voted for a s certain slot on the ballot, but I still go and vote for the ones that I think Hey, there is someone that I think can make a difference.

Doug:
Man, now I wish I had done that. Can you vote retroactively? What are the rules here?

Uh boy, that's good, Brad. I'm gonna I'm gonna I am gonna think about that. I really wish I had done that actually.

Brad:
No, I w something that's come to mind this may seem strange. We don't have I want to be clear. We're not sitting here today saying here are the four steps to vote the best way or whatever.

What we're trying to do is help us think about ways to look at things a little differently. So Doug, you've done that with some of what you just were mentioning. For me, I would say uh this is may seem like a strange challenge, but when I'm talking about how you vote, let me start with uh those that are Around you, your neighbors, your family, your friends, whether it's next door, face-to-face, or online, before they hear who you're voting for, even if you share that or whatever else.

Do they know who you follow? Oh man. Do they know that you are about Jesus?

When they are talking to a friend, are they sitting there and saying, you know what? Yeah. Well, Brad is uh he's about this and about that, or or they say man, he's about this political party, he's about this political issue, or they say man.

That guy, he's loving, he's compassionate, he's caring, he he's he's strong in his faith, he loves Jesus. Is it are they talking about the fruit of the spirit? Or are they talking about the fruit of the world that we see so much around us?

Doug:
Man, so that's some, if you're writing down Some good advice. That's some good advice, Brad. I mean, remember, relationships with friends and family are some of life's most valuable things.

They can be fragile as anyone who has gotten in a bit of a tiff over something political knows. Uh don't let a moment of anger or passion Create a lifetime of relational distance between you and the people you love. Um, as your passions start to well up in your heart, it's a good time to check your priorities.

Brad What you said about do they know who you follow? Where are it this is a really good time and I I really need to do this w as I start to get passionate about politics. As these passions well up in my heart, I'm checking my priorities.

Be honest, man. Am I more passionate about my candidate winning? or about my neighbor hearing the gospel, because they are related in that how you communicate with that neighbor and who you are that's all about ambassadorship are you more passionate get this about the great are you ready for something deep i'm ready hold on Are you more passionate about the Great Commission or the Great Election?

Hold on! Oh wait, are you supposed to Mike dropped There we go. Are you supposed to point out your own points as being good ones?

Brad:
Is that what's what's the podcast rules? But I love that. That is it's really true because the okay Let's go to an issue from we had Huntley Brown on last season.

If you haven't checked out our first season stuff, there's some really good interviews and everything else. Huntley Brown was on with us. So I'm going to Choose an issue because there's no way to choose like a real ballot issue and not have someone listening to us be like, what do they think about that?

So it is what I want to talk about is mushrooms. So you talk about it. So if you were saying, man, there's a ballot issue about whether mushrooms should be illegal or not, all right?

Um and and obviously Yes, they should be but I'm getting fired up right now. So if you And what are your thoughts on pineapple And your social media is filled with that. It is filled with the opinions about it.

Are you re b really bringing up social media? Well well here's the thing but because here's the thing. If you are the voice that is not Focusing on that issue.

But you were saying because guess what? I hate to break this to people. The points you make on social media Really small percentage or change in someone's mind.

So here's the deal. But the hope you share With your family and on social media can change a heart. You may not change a mind, but if you can impact a heart.

So instead of talking about the hot button topic. And I want to be very clear here, because this is something that you see happen all the time. Don't go away from this episode and go post something and say, hey, I really love Jesus and what he's told me is that mushrooms are really good or really bad.

If you all of a sudden start mushroom this season if you start to couch Your political view in who Jesus is, that is a dangerous line that you're walking right there. So be all about Jesus.

Doug:
Man, on social media especially, remember it's it's the things that make us different. It's the things that set us apart from what everyone else is doing that makes us a magnet for Jesus, especially the things where we're not just giving in to our basis desires. um and saying I must yell everything I believe um in in the loudest way possible.

There's certain scripture in the Bible, man, that really stops you in your tracks for a minute. Um, so when your social media ing and it's about politics, man, think about what the word of God says Now some of these ain't gonna be popular, but what the Word of God says about how we deal with our leaders, including and especially the ones we don't agree with first Timothy 2. We pray for them.

Man, an amazing thing happens in your heart when you pray for somebody. It becomes much harder. to hate them.

Um, you show respect to them. Now this is different than having respect. You don't you can't force someone to have have respect.

for a politician. But you can't show respect for the office. Um God's word says bless and do not curse, even if you feel strongly enough about somebody where you would say I feel like they're my enemy.

God's word says pray for them, bless, and do not curse. Can you speak passionately about a political issue or belief? Yes, but be careful not to drag names into it.

So check this out. Um I was uh uh l listening to my sons a few years ago. Uh And and uh they were really young at this point and I overheard them having this conversation.

They were playing a video game And one of them says, that guy is really a bozo. I went, they've never uh bozo is a clown. Like, that's way too old for them.

How do they know? Their their conversation went something like this. What's the bozo?

The other answered, Daddy says it's the president. Oops. Oh So, like I said, younger, I want to raise my kids where they understand the issues and have biblical perspectives on them.

But man, no matter how you cut it, you can't biblically make a case for hating or sounding like you hate a person, even if a candidate you disagree with in a huge way. And and typically calling someone a bozo isn't a great Step to accomplishing that.

Brad:
That's real talk there because the reality is that we all say things at times that we aren't proud of. There are way there we get caught up in the passionate moment and everything else. And what I love about What you do, Doug, with your kids and everything.

I've seen you over and over the teachable moments. And to be able to take that. So, hey, you've said some things.

you regret recently about a leader or about a political party or whatever else. Take that as a teachable moment to sit down with your kids and say, and I know you do this, Doug, and I try to do it with my kids and Jesse with your daughters and everything, to say Look, I need to apologize because I said some things the way I wasn't I shouldn't have. I wasn't living out and to be able to point to the scripture you just did and say, hey, I need to be better with that.

So thank you guys for helping me see that and everything. It's so if you make a mistake in the these weeks ahead and everything and in the season of life, just look then, make the most Of the opportunity.

Doug:
Three powerful words, you ready? When something like that happens? And I've had to say this on a number of occasions to each of my three kids.

Daddy was wrong in how I may have raised my voice when I was around your mom in calling someone a bozo that I shouldn't have. Maybe in being wrong when I made an assumption about you, one of my children, that was wrong. You don't lose respect from your children when you say, I was wrong.

And I need to apologize for this when you show vulnerability like that and honesty like that. That's actually powerful. to them and it sh gives them an example to say, look, when when I've made a mistake, I can admit it.

Um and I actually think it it opens up much deeper lines of communication. I actually had probably the deepest conversation with my daughter when she was one of them, when she was 13 years old after I said that. Something just opened up.

Brad:
So um anyway, yeah, even with politics kids are watching and and that I that's a point I would make is that Kids are watching and what my kids are seeing right now is that they're seeing a world where everyone is angry with each other, where there is just the it's it's more bitter than it's ever been. And so they start to think, well Should I even be involved with this? Should I even vote and everything?

We've had to have conversations about the importance of voting, but the importance of viewing things the right way, of looking at Don't just vote the hot button topic and what you're passionate about, but look, this is really important. What does the word of God have to say about that issue? And I know there's some things where people kind of.

quote verses on both sides of an issue, but that's the importance of having that connection with the Lord, of being able to have that personal daily time with them to say, Lord. What's the peace of Christ guiding me to? Not the antagonistic spirit of someone else that's pushing me a certain direction, but where is the peace of Christ leading on this?

Jesse, I'm curious because Doug just mentioned before that and I think it's important to camp on for just a minute the praying for leaders. Cause I've had people push back to me and be like, oh, I'm not praying for him. It's not my senator, not my president or whatever.

I'm not praying for him. What do you hear when you kind of think of praying for leaders?

Jesse:
Well, you mentioned the antagonism of the season, and I'll admit that my first reaction is I want to bury my head in the sand and let it pass. And not think about it one way or the other because of all the hostility the season causes. But I'm trying to ask myself the question, what for the Christian, what is the voting season for?

What what can it be used for? Why does it exist? How might God use this season that is uncomfortable for me to further his kingdom and to establish relationships or encourage relationships with other people, especially people who don't know Jesus.

I want to do that with seasons, holidays, whatever makes me uncomfortable, whatever I wouldn't have as my first choice on my calendar. I want to approach that time saying, God, what is this for for someone who follows you? Because you're going to use it for something.

How can it be used? best. Uh can't I can't ignore it.

I also can't become submerged in it. It's not the point of my life. It's good.

Yeah. But it is there. And so God, because it's here How can it be used well?

And one of those ways is it's just a reminder to pray for both the people who are voting, maybe people that you don't agree with. And for the leaders themselves, as the Bible tells us too in, I believe First Timothy, to pray for leaders, whether they're good leaders or not, we're called to pray for them. And Jesse, those were Romans, remember.

Doug:
They they when when Paul was saying pray for your leaders, we got it bad. These are like this is like Caesar

Brad:
Uh yeah, yeah, exactly. People like we have it so bad, it's like no matter who the president is, we got it so bad, it's like, no. That's we don't know. Um Jesse, you would I I Uh, wrote down something you said the other day, and I love this because it goes along with what you were saying, that pray for yourself too, that an election is not just something to get through.

but see it as an opportunity to make a difference, like you were just saying there. And I I would say I know we're we're actually, this has gone fast. We're running out of time soon, but I've got a verse here that I and word I want to say about pastors.

Uh, but the verse is a great political season, whenever that is, verse, for people who are ambassadors, as you were pointing out at the beginning, Doug, we are ambassadors. Colossians 4, 5, and 6. Seriously, write this down, folks.

Post it somewhere. Bring it with you to the ballot box, whatever it is. Live wisely among those who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Man, go back to the conversations you've had recently. Go back to those social media posts.

See if there's some you actually need to delete because they were not gracious and attractive. They were not seasoned with salt and light. Because that should guide us through and Matthew 5.

9, blessed are the peacemakers. Now, what I want to say about pastors real quick is uh Uh a friend of mine, uh just I know there's an experience recently where I he was given a great message on just kind of th having the right heart as far as Christians in America and everything else. Great balance message And uh right beforehand, someone came up to him and was just talking to them about their political views and hammering them on stuff.

And literally it gives this great message, really hard talk and challenging people. Oh, yeah. Person goes up right afterwards, starts in on the political talk again.

And and these are my viewpoints and everything. Not even arguing with them, just kind of saying, this is what I believe, this is what I believe. Please know that your pastors are there to help shepherd you, are there to help rightly divide the word of truth.

But they are not there to be your election guide. They are not there. Don't don't try to get them to embrace to tackle and confront every issue from the pulpit.

These are pastors that are trying to say, man, I want my flock here. I want this church. to know what Jesus says about things and for them to talk to Jesus about how they vote and everything.

So let's let's I guess it's just the uh in pastor appreciation month which it is right now Appreciate your pastor and don't go after them with every kind of viewpoint.

Doug:
So that those are uh that is a great point, Brad. Um So to be clear here, there's three of us here, Jesse, Brad, Doug. The three of us, we all believe who we elect as our leaders is important business.

We want to make sure you're hearing this. that it is important, it's fine to be passionate about issues and even and teach your kids about them and knowing what the biblical perspective is. But as you're doing all this, especially in, if I was gonna summarize my heart on all of this during the political season.

During all this, let the Lord examine your heart. And if you find your thoughts are much more about your candidate winning, And people knowing your thoughts about politics versus considering how to win your neighbors, your co-workers, your family to Christ, your priorities are probably a bit out of whack. If you're gonna be that passionate about something about making sure your neighbor knows this or your the people on your social media they must know this about me they must know that this is the way to believe Make ninety percent of that about your savior.

Man, one good way to know if you care more about their salvation and their politics Here we go again, some uh some verses that can disrupt your life a little bit. Paul, do your best to be at peace with everybody so as to win them to Christ. Um if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

In First Corinthians nine he says, I become a servant to everyone, to win as many to Christ as possible, and we put up with anything. Listen to this. We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

Paul isn't saying he doesn't have rights. In fact. In that section of the Bible, he feels strongly and communicates strongly.

I do have rights, but he says, I will not allow myself. To insist on them so much that they're going to harm someone by distracting them from the fact that giving their hearts to Jesus is the most important thing in the world. Man, if we want real change in our land, Get really serious about it and commit to a lifestyle of holy living and prayer and being Christ's ambassador.

Because, man, one thing I'm pretty sure of. That it is not changing a political belief that changes the world. It is a changed heart.

And there's only one person in history our Savior that can change somebody's heart. Presidents don't change hearts. We've heard this scripture before, but Think about this once again in the context of this season.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin. I will heal their land.

That's great Old Testament stuff. That truth remains, though only changed hearts can turn our nation around, and only God changes heart.

Brad:
To paraphrase a song from a long time ago that I don't remember who sang it and I should. Let there be peace in this election cycle and let it begin with me. Uh let it begin with me and what I'm gonna bring to the table.

I think so. Well no, I think it was Chriss Cross. Uh so what Chriss Cross will make you vote, right.

Last thing I'm gonna say, and then I'm gonna end with a dad joke because I have to. If your hope on election night and as the results come in is shattered, your hope is in the wrong place. Your hope needs to be in Christ and Christ alone.

He is where our hope is found. Now you may be disappointed. Yeah But you should not lose all hope because your candidate didn't win.

Vote the way you feel God is leading you to vote. It makes a difference, but just remember where our hope truly is found.

Doug:
Look at everything in this voting season. How can I be Christ's ambassador? This world needs the hope of Jesus.

I've got to deliver it. How can I yes be passionate about who I vote for, be passionate about why I'm voting, but be most passionate about being his representative? In how we communicate all these things.

Brad:
Jesse, I have to tell you that I you're you're um this is a dad joke. You're you're I'm going back. You're the pro-mushroom guy, right?

You like mushrooms? That is correct. So If you here's your uh tagline.

If you ever want to run for office, vote for Jesse. He's a really fun guy. Oh, I knew it.

Jesse:
I knew it.

Doug:
Are you serious? I'm not g he totally got it wrong. We're reading it. I mean like He said he said something like Daddy, how do you know someone is great when when they hate mushrooms?

Brad:
This is gonna be a great season. I've been encouraged by this today, guys, just talking through this. It really is gonna be a great season.

Doug:
We actually decided right before we went on that one of our subjects this year is gonna be Dad Bot. That's right. Oh my goodness.

What is happening here? Several weeks. The seven-part series, Mushrooms and Dad Buds.

Brad:
All right, hey everyone. Thank you for joining us today. Remember Tell a friend about us, uh, share this, like the posts on Facebook, Instagram, uh, go leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, all these different things, but most importantly. .

Brad:
Until next time, please make sure you go mad. Make that difference