EP 13 // Pastor Tymarcus Ragland

[00:00:14] Speaker A: What's up, you guys? Michael from the Proper form podcast just kicked off season two. We've got the second episode of season two. This is actually episode number 13 total of the Proper form podcast. Super excited for a good friend. Buddy from our church serves at our church on staff at our church. We'll dive deeper into that. But to Marcus Ragland. What's up? [00:00:35] Speaker B: You doing all right, man? I'm doing well. Glad to be here. [00:00:37] Speaker A: Yeah, you blacked out today, dude. [00:00:39] Speaker B: And you know, every now and then you just gotta. Just gotta murder out. [00:00:42] Speaker A: Yeah, I just. I don't have a lot of color in my wardrobe. Like, it's neutrals, blacks, whites, tans, grays. [00:00:49] Speaker B: Yes. It's either black or it's neutrals. Today was one of those. It's like, I ain't want to think about it. And so it's just. You just put on all black and it matches nice. [00:00:57] Speaker A: Heck, yeah. Or you just got dressed in the dark and luckily it all came out. [00:01:00] Speaker B: Luckily it all came out. I wasn't going to tell nobody that, but, yeah, maybe you got me. [00:01:04] Speaker A: What time did you wake up today? [00:01:06] Speaker B: Today? Six. [00:01:08] Speaker A: Nice. [00:01:09] Speaker B: Six o'clock. [00:01:09] Speaker A: Yep. [00:01:10] Speaker B: Get the kids ready. [00:01:11] Speaker A: Yep. [00:01:12] Speaker B: Pray a little bit, read a little bit. [00:01:14] Speaker A: There you go. Awesome, dude. I'm excited to dive into this episode with you and for you to be here with us and learn more about you, what you do, where you've been, all of that. So a few things that describe to Marcus here. He's an apprentice of Jesus. Love that. Married high school sweetheart. The bride, two awesome little kiddos. Minister slash teacher. I think those go hand in hand if I say this right. Lyricist. Yep. Did I say that right? [00:01:42] Speaker B: You said it right. [00:01:43] Speaker A: Yes. Okay. Coffee roaster and professional hobbyist. [00:01:47] Speaker B: That's it. [00:01:48] Speaker A: So, man, if we just kind of go line by line, first couple, apprentice of Jesus. Married high school sweetheart. Two kiddos. Shine a little bit more light there. [00:01:56] Speaker B: For sure. Apprentice of Jesus. I know. Maybe some like. Oh, that's an interesting way of saying it. You know, shout out to John, Mark, Homer. That language comes from him, but I think it captures the desire of like, he modeled and embodied a way of living that is meant to be replicated. And so we're constantly. I'm constantly trying to learn how to live and walk and love people and represent him in a way that he carried himself. And so, yeah, it's like an apprenticeship. [00:02:33] Speaker A: Yep. An ongoing, lifelong apprenticeship. [00:02:37] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, you don't. You never. You never reach the peak. You're always climbing. So, yeah, gotta stay hungry with that. [00:02:45] Speaker A: That's so cool. So then, did you always know you wanted to be in ministry? Did it. Did it move around? Did your pursuits of your wife kind of navigate that through high school and into college? Like, I'm sure, obviously she was very encouraging of it, but what did that look like? [00:03:04] Speaker B: Yeah, man. Excuse me. You cut that out. Yeah, no, I. Man, I knew pretty. Pretty early in, you know, in reference to others I've spoken to. It was my junior year of high school. I had a weird, honestly, like, kind of crisis of faith moment where I had this teacher. I was doing a dual credit program at the time. I was at Richland College, so they had like a collegiate high school program. And I had this teacher, she was just like, straight up atheist, didn't want nothing to do with Christianity. Was super weird. Like, the class was supposed to be like, college prep, and all we did was, like, watch videos of people debunking Christianity. And then she knew that I was a Christian in the class. So it was like we watched this dude, like, wax eloquently about why God is impossible. And then she'd be like, so, Tamarcus, what do you gotta say about that? And here I am, junior in high school, barely know my Bible, and I'm like, I don't know. Like, maybe he's right. Yeah. And I just remember being real discouraged and kind of fast forward a bit. I had this. We had this, like, event, this youth event at our church. And I was there. And really kind of at that point, I was deep in my, like, skepticism. It was like, I don't know, man. Maybe this is just all weird. And there's like God met me there in this really weird way. And I remember just being confused. I was talking with my leaders about it and kind of had this moment of just praying and crying out, like, you know, God, if you are real, like, this is the. This is the moment. Like, this is the moment to, like, get me and not lose me. And it was like as clear as I've ever, you know, been able to discern. I ain't saying I heard an audible voice from heaven or nothing, but there was like, you know, the best way I could describe it. You know, you watch movies and they do, like, a flashback and it's like you're like going through, like, a person's memories and you see all these different scenes. It was like one of those moments, like, in the middle of me praying and it just. All these moments of me, like, encouraging, you know, classmates or talking with somebody about the scriptures and just like, the joy and the, like, purpose and the meaning that I felt in all those moments. And it was like, boom. All right, let's. Like, that is. That's what I want you to keep doing. And I remember. I think it was like, the next week, I came up to the church in the middle of the day and met with my youth pastor. And I was like, so what do you. How does somebody do what you do? He was like, what are you talking about? I was like, do you work at the church? Like, do you get paid to do this? And he was like, yeah, what kind of question is this? And I was like, I don't know how this works. And I was like, do you go to school for it? And he was like, yes, Bible college. And I was like, how you do that? I was confused. I didn't know nothing. But I was like, I feel dead on. Like, this is what God wants me to do with my life. And so that was before I even met her. That was something that I knew God had on my heart. We talked about that. Like, you said she was on board, and it was just. I don't know, it was just this interesting thing. I think all the way up until then, I thought I was gonna be, like, an electrical engineer or something. That was kind of where I was. I was planning on applying to MIT and UT Austin and all this stuff and didn't do none of that. I applied to Bible college. I worked at, like, a summer camp all summer. You know, what you want to call it. Ministering to, like, inner city kids and stuff, and got done with that. Got home on a Friday, washed my clothes on a Saturday, got on a plane on a Sunday, went to the school, never visited it. Didn't know what it was like. Just. [00:06:57] Speaker A: What made you go all the way out there? Like, I mean, obviously, there's some schools here in Texas that you could have maybe gone to, right? Like, you just freaking flew far away. [00:07:05] Speaker B: I did. Well, I know more about them now. At the time, I didn't. So my youth pastor, at first, he told me, he said, you should go to Criswell. And at the time, I think there it was something about, like, they weren't. They didn't have something where you could get. You could use fafsa. And we didn't have. We ain't had bread like that growing up. So it was like, that ain't gonna work. So I was like, what's the next option? And he was like, you should go to Moody Bible Institute. And I was like, bet. So I applied there Got accepted. The main campus is in Chicago. And then. But they were full, so they were like, so we're gonna send you to our sister campus in Spokane, Washington. I wasn't great at geography, still, not at the time. And so I thought I was going to Washington, D.C. and I was like, bet, whatever. [00:07:52] Speaker A: Sounds cool. [00:07:53] Speaker B: Cool. So we signed off. The whole time I get there, I get off the plane, and I asked somebody, I was like, so how do you get to the White House from here? And they was like, you gotta get back on the plane. And I was like, it's that far? And he was like, yeah, you in Washington State. And I was like. He was like, Washington, D.C. is on the other side of the country. And I was like, bet. All right, well, we here. [00:08:20] Speaker A: No going back. [00:08:22] Speaker B: My parents were like, you sure you want to stay? I was like, listen, man, I ain't switching up now. Like, we just going to do. Yeah. So it was weird at first, but. [00:08:30] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, man, if you went, like, to go from, you know, that teacher, that professor you had at that time, and kind of the discouragement to then just like a radical 180, 360, 720, you know, like, how. What do you. I mean, obviously that was. That was God, his plan. And he could have, you know, everything he does is his plan and what he wants for us. I mean, he. But he could have, you know, not kind of brought himself to you through that time that you had. But how could you encourage someone or anyone that's kind of just in a phase of life or just a discouraged place where they just. They want to feel the Lord's presence. They're not feeling it. They don't know where to go to to try to feel it or find it. I mean, that's a. It's a heavy thought or question, but, man, like that. That was obviously a significant moment of your life that's really tracked you to where you are and the impact you've had and continue to have through ministry through your friends, your family. Yeah. How could you encourage someone in a space like that? [00:09:33] Speaker B: And that's a great question. Probably two things. One is knowing that God isn't afraid of our doubts. I think there's a way in which we can feel like. I don't know, like, the doubt itself or the. Yeah. The unsuredness itself, like, counts us out. And I'm like, you read through the Psalms. It doesn't take very long for you to start hearing people, that's. Whose words and prayers are recorded in the Bible, who are doubting and unsure and don't know why God is doing this. And you know, are you like, where are you? Like how long? Like what's, what's happening? And so I think knowing that is like, so then you can, you can one, you could talk, you could talk to God about the doubt, but then also being able to open up and talk with those around you and just let them know how you feel. And obviously some trusted individuals that you know. And I think the second thing, something that was really encouraging to me, at least in that time because I think part of the, part of the doubt wasn't just like, you know, is God actually like real? The other part was like, is he really for me, like, is it like, is that something that it seems like everybody else is closer to him than I am? Like, I don't know, I just feel like God's kind of enduring me. And I remember in the, what's the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus says, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall find it. And it's like, if you want it, you'll get it. He talks about those who knock, like the door will be open, that there is this accessibility and this God's eagerness to be with us. And so I think about it in that moment where I cried out and was just like, lord, like, reveal yourself to me. And it's like he answered me. And it may not be in a way that it happened for me, but I trust his word. Like for anybody who's in that space, just knowing that he's, he's been in the business of dealing with doubting human beings for a long time. [00:11:54] Speaker A: Yeah, he can take it, he can understand it. [00:11:56] Speaker B: Yeah, he's not like, oh no, you don't know if I'm like, he's not that fragile. He can endure it and he'll meet you. [00:12:03] Speaker A: Yeah, I like what you said too, of just kind of going back to surrounding yourself with like minded people and even it's, there's so much darkness of course in our world and shame that we all have and you know, if you want to say maybe categories or compartments of our lives that we don't want to share, we're shameful to share, we were embarrassed to share. But also there's, there's so much fruit and getting it out, speaking to people that you know like and trust that you know, care for you, that are for you and even you relate it to like, you know, we're just talking about, I haven't fished, gone fishing and I'm 30. Going to be 32, probably like 15 years. But now my little boy. Boys or fishing? Guess what? I'm picking up more fishing because I want to spend time with them. I want to have quality time with them. And I. But I don't know. There's so much I don't even know. Like, I don't even know which lures to use, what type of fish are out there, and what I should tie up to attract those fish. But I'm also like, have had different conversations with you because I know you fish with. With your little guy. And our boys played soccer together. And so it's like, now it's a cool opportunity to. For me to connect with you on a different level and for our boys to connect on a different level, which I hope we can continue to do that. But I'm now surrounding myself with people that go fishy. [00:13:25] Speaker B: Exactly. Before you know it, you. All those things that seemed unsure and I don't know that it's like, oh, now I got it. It was the same for me. It was like, I didn't know at one point. [00:13:34] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think people can mistake a lot of, like that verse you had shared, Dev, knocking and the door will open. They can mistake that sometimes or starts to get into the manifestation space. But then also people can do the opposite where they just want to sit back and wait, like, well, when's it going to come to me? When am I going to get my chance? It's like, well, man, God also calls us to get up and move and draw closer to him and go find him. And so, yeah, I know there's a lot there, but it's, it's. It's kind of obviously different for everyone in their journey and their story, but it's pretty cool just how you kind of made that radical shift from like, man, where's God? Is he real? To like, all in, you know, it's. [00:14:21] Speaker B: It. I don't realize how even as I was recounting it just now, it's like, man, like you one of the few people who kind of pointed that out, like, just that stark change of like, I don't even know to. I'll go wherever you tell me to go. Which again, I just think is an evidence of him. But I think I wanted to add one more thing to what you just. You just said was maybe you're like a, I don't know, parent or a leader, influence, mentor in somebody's life who's going through something like that. And I think similarly, like, giving them this, giving them the space to kind of, like, work through that and not. Yeah, but I think about my mentors at the time where I'm, like, having those conversations, and they were never like, what do you. Oh, no, we got. Like, you can't. You can't say that. Like, there was a. There was a space for me to process. [00:15:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:15:15] Speaker B: And like, a trust that, like, you know, God's going. He's going to help bring this out. Obviously, we give guidance and we want to speak life and. [00:15:24] Speaker A: Of course. [00:15:25] Speaker B: But giving people space to. I don't know, not making them feel like, no, you can't. Like, you can't think that. You can't ask those questions. That's not. They don't help people move along. [00:15:38] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, I think there's this kind of subconscious trust and belief that obviously, being a mentor or having a mentor, they've gone. They've got grayer hair. More grayer hair than you. They've been through the trenches. They've been through similar life phases and trials and tribulations and successes and failures. So there. Yeah, I mean, I had a conversation with my mentor yesterday on a drive back from Rockwall and just sharing some light on, you know, some places that Sophie and I are at. And he now, I think about, like, he didn't really add a lot of, you know, insight into it. It was just. It was opportunity for me to share and give updates on kind of where we're at, and then for him to kind of chime in and add some guidance or light or like, hey, man, keep doing that. Keep doing that thing that you said that's really working for you guys, because it's a place. It's coming from a place in rootedness and Christ and, you know, discernment of wisdom that adds value and points me and points Sophie and I back to the Lord. And so much of mentoring is just creating space and opportunity for that processing to just kind of come out and then to be able to add the light and the value on some things. So that's good. Well, man, going into a little bit of that, like, how has your ministry journey and teacher journey been as a father and as a guy that works in the church? [00:17:12] Speaker B: You know, I'm gonna take that and swing it in the realm of man. One of the things for me, and maybe it's just. It's the season God has me in, and where my kids are is I. And I know, like, a lot of people say it and. And I'm trying my best to say it and mean it, but I see My family, like my ministry to my wife and to my kids is like top priority. And that means for anybody that's in a, I would say a helping profession, have a calling in that way. My wife's a nurse and I tell her all the time, I'm like, she's a minister, just like I am. It's just mine's primarily to the soul, hers primarily to the body. But it's just as taxing and involved. And I'm like, there's a way in which the responsibility to family can feel like. You often can feel like, well, if I'm doing the job good over here, I'm robbing this side, or if I'm doing a job good over here, I'm robbing this side. And I feel like what the Lord has been kind of showing me lately is like, man, the ministry first to my wife and to my kids doesn't actually rob my ministry to the church and to those around me. It's like that is the place from which I'm actually, as I'm forming them, they're forming me and I'm actually being made better and better equipped for the ministry that he has me to do elsewhere. I think that's why one of the requirements for elders that they like, they rightly like, order and lead their home. He's like, if you can't even run your home, how are you gonna shepherd and lead God's people? It's like there's something about what happens there that not just makes you approve for it, but shapes you so that you're the kind of leader in the church that is, that knows how to be gentle and patient and self sacrificing and all the things that it takes to, as, you know, to be a man in a home, like, it's, it's not easy work. And so, yeah, that's been interesting navigating. [00:19:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, usually in our world and as a business owner, entrepreneurs hustle, it can be the opposite where it's like, we give so much to our business, to our employees, our people, and you know, we create these systems and communicative platforms to be encouraging and on the same page with our, you know, employees and our team to create a successful space in business and then we don't have any energy and we have disorganization, you know, conflict, tension in the home. [00:20:10] Speaker B: Yeah. And that's, and I would argue even in that space, man, it's like, it's the same thing as, like, as you're able to champion and lead. Like I imagine some of your co workers hearing, they're like, oh, so like, what you got going doing this weekend? Like, you running? You're like, nah, I'm taking my boys fishing. And it's like, okay, like there's something teaching and training them. Maybe it's just even in you mentioning that. Then they're like, man, like, when the last time I should take my boys or do this or whatever. And it's the things that can feel like and hate, put it that way. But like, it can feel like wasted time. And it's like, no, this is just like, just as valuable as it is. Cause it's not saying that we gonna slack, right? It's like, you gotta work hard, you gotta get your stuff done. But it's like just as important as it is for me to knock out those things on my schedule is just as important for me to have, you know, the family time on the schedule and that I'm giving those the same energy. It's like, rather I'm tired or feeling annoyed when I walk into that business meeting and I gotta close the deal. It's like game face, right? And it's like, same thing. It's when I get get home and I'm tired and I'm annoyed or whatever, it's like, bro, I tell people all the time, it's like, you know, at the church, it's like, man, there's tons of ministers here. If I fall off, you can find another one. I was like, my kids got one dad. And so it's like, I gotta give them like, they get game face every single time. And they're like, does that mean I'm perfect in knocking it out? The. No. But it's like I need to approach it with that same, same vigor. And I think that's the. I think that's the key in it is like, yeah. Am I running after both of those spaces with the same zeal? [00:21:56] Speaker A: That's good. Yeah. I've found, you know, internal tension with myself on, you know, like, we've had some crazy weekends back to back. I actually went to College station this past weekend with my twin sister and her boyfriend. And we took. I only took Jeremiah. We went to the A and M football game. Like we woke up on Saturday, went to jiu jitsu and then left and got to A and m around like four. Like, it was literally like a 24 hour trip. It was, you know, Megan and I don't get to do a lot of stuff like that together. She asked and I was like, I need to do this. This Would be fun. And so took me to the football game, stayed there that night. And then Megan played soccer for Texas A and M. So we went over and saw the team. She saw our coaches and got to talk to the athletes a little bit. But then these next couple weekends, we got some chill time. And it's like I have this internal subconscious conflict of, like, okay, now I need to work on these DIY projects. I need to fix some stuff up at the house that Sylvie's been wanting me to do, the honey do list. But then also the conflict of, like, well, I also want to be present and spend time with the boys. And, you know, as I've worked on some projects in our house, we've redone a lot of our house. It's. I feel like more recently, I've come to kind of this, like, realization and kind of then step back when I'm feeling that stress of God. Tell me, well, why don't you just invite your boys to do that stuff with you? [00:23:17] Speaker B: I was just about to ask you. I like, do you ever invite them to do rather than. [00:23:20] Speaker A: Yeah, because, I mean, of course, we're not perfect. Like, there's moments where I'm like, jeremiah, y'all just go play. Like, go find treasure. Yeah, like, let me get this done. But also, like, man, there's opportunities where I can teach these boys how to use tools, how to be safe and effective. And in moments when we're working with certain tools and utensils on proper education, on how to point those and use them and really, like, add value to the steps and the processes of things that they can look back and remember. Because I think now it's crazy. As Jeremiah has started to ride his bike, Josiah's getting pretty close. They're at ages where I kind of had this epiphany when Jeremiah rode his bike a few months back. Like, man, that is right around four, three. Four years old is really when I start having. I have vivid memory of, like, of things, you know, and it's like, wow. Not to say that the past three years, four years haven't mattered with newborn to now, but it's like, man, they're really. They're going to start holding on to a lot of these memories, and when they're 15, 16, going to be like that. I remember when we went fishing, you know, or whatever it might be. So it's like, that adds a little bit more, like, truth and reality of, like, man, I need to really start making memories and being intentional and inviting them into this stuff that we're doing? [00:24:36] Speaker B: Yep. Nah, dude, that's so huge. I'm right there with you. Like, I'm thinking about the same things. Cause I'm like, bro, those are times where I remember. And it's not just that that's like the first memories, but it's like so much of that is like core memories. Like, I tell people all the time, I'm like, when I think about my dad and somebody's like, if you could describe, like, moments with your dad and like, one experience, it's like, man, I remember when I was in kindergarten, he picked me up early from school and he took me fishing. I think I like fishing, but just because of that one day. And it's like, we fished in a whole bunch of times. But it was something about. It was like, oh, you took off of work. And like, I didn't have those words as a kid. But as I think back, I'm like, you took off of work. You took me out of school. Something that's really important, like, I need to go to school. Education matters and all that just so you could spend. It was just me and you, just so we could spend time together, dude. And like, you know, like, I'm sure you'll probably think with your boys, like, you could just went CNN by yourself and it would have been dope. But it's like, nah, like, you came with me. [00:25:39] Speaker A: Yeah. I think a word that I think of that really sums up a lot of just my dad and so many things he did for me and my sisters is just present. And it's just like, oh. And it's, you know, going, I missed picking up Jeremiah from school yesterday. I did, but then I was late, didn't get home till late Tuesday. So we put him down. And I came home Wednesday morning and luckily had an opportunity, which I usually don't. Wednesday morning, I think that was from the Lord. Got to do breakfast with them. And then I took Jeremiah to school intentionally. And I intentionally then told him, hey, man, I don't get to pick you up today. Mommy's going to get you. Or I think my. My sister did, because her little girl is there. But it's like those little moments really starts to hit a little bit harder that you miss because of a work thing. And you start to then realize, like, man, I'm not going to do that again next time. That work thing, or whatever it might have been, wasn't worth it. And not to say that I was choosing a work thing over it. So then just ended up working out. I was finishing up a Gym build and just had to do it at that time. And. But it makes me kind of step back a little bit and be like, okay, I'm going to be even more intentional with the way that I purposely block out my calendar and make sure I don't miss these days that I'm gonna pick him up or whatever it might be. So I hope one day he can look back and say, yeah, my dad was present, too. [00:26:57] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. It's when they start saying it back to you. Cause I remember there was a day, you know, I'm like, I'm roasting coffee or something. And Taj was like, I hate when you roast coffee. Dang. I was like, why? He was just like, you are like, you always in here. And like, I want to play. And I like. I remember being like, man, like, so do I just need to stop? And I'm like, I can't just stop. Like, we gotta figure out something. But it's like you said, being intentional with the time that I do have. It's like, then when I tell them, like, hey, buddy, dad's gotta. Like, I gotta roast some coffee. But it's like, afterwards, we can do this. It's like, all right. It's almost like if the. If the. If you've got been putting coins in a cup, like, it's not. Yeah, just give an image to it. But it's like you've been putting coins in the cup. It's like in those moments where you do gotta draw out, it's something there, but it's like, if I ain't even been putting nothing in. And then I'm also missing those moments. It feels doubly like, yeah, you ain't there. [00:27:58] Speaker A: And it's like Sylvie humbles me many times on my moments of, like, frustration or something with the boys. And I just. I just talk at them rather than, like, getting down on their level and explaining to them. And I had a moment the other day where Jeremiah did something, and I felt myself wanting to just react. And I stopped and I got down and explained to him why. And he was like, oh, okay. Yeah, Dad. I was like, is that easy, right? Really, Like, I gotta get. But I think as men, we can just sometimes be very reactional and don't do that or. And take. It takes more time. It takes more effort. Going back to what you said of showing up and putting in that work of explaining getting on their level. And so I've definitely been working on that. I do want to touch on these next three things that you shared. You did just kind of give us a little bit of a teaser. You got lyricist, coffee roaster, professional hobbyist. I feel like those all kind of maybe work together, intertwined cross. You're probably pounding down an awesome coffee that you roasted while you're doing their CIS work. Or maybe why you're doing something hobby related. Thinking about a lyricist work that came from a hobby, like, quite literally, you just. [00:29:09] Speaker B: You nailed it. It's like I'm in my garage roasting coffee with my laptop open, fiddling with logic and writing raps. It's happening, you know, I'll start from the bottom. My wife jokes and calls me a professional hobbyist all the time. She's like, he's always getting into something and I don't know what. I don't know if it's a, like, what it is, but I think I'm fascinated with the like, process of like learning how to. Even if I never get really good at it, but like learning how like the ins and outs of something to the point to where I can appreciate somebody that's really good at it. So like, I've always loved music, for example. And so as I've been kind of getting into that more lately, it's like learning exactly what it takes to get like a, like, well produced, you know, track. Like from the instrumentation to the lyrics and like how you cut the lyrics on the beat and all the little intricacies. And then like for that to go get to the level to where you're on a billboard or your chart, like, it's like, yeah, like, man, it takes some craft. It takes to some extent. I think it takes timing too. Like you could make just the right song at the right time. That resonates with people. I don't know. So like, that kind of thing is like. [00:30:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:28] Speaker B: Fascinates me. So I'm often like, I'll do that with something and then I'll bounce to the other thing and then I'll bounce to the other thing. But coffee and music have seemed to. Stuck. [00:30:38] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:38] Speaker B: Seem to stick over the past. [00:30:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:41] Speaker B: Past bit. [00:30:42] Speaker A: I'm sure there's even maybe kind of like a. A rhythm, a habitual kind of like just mindset. Whoops. Like just mindset and kind of processes. I mean, you can maybe talk through it if I'm wrong here. But like roasting the coffee, the smell getting your mind right. I mean, the tensionality, the thought process. Somebody told emotion that you're feeling can take. [00:31:05] Speaker B: Somebody told me before they were like, typically if you work with your hands, then you Rest with your mind. If you work with your mind, you tend to rest with your hands. And I think where a lot of my. A lot of my work is so, like, mentally and emotionally taxing, you know, like this, like, Saturday morning, I got a roast coffee, and it's like, I'll get up by 5:30 in the morning and cut music on. I'm in the garage. I can see the sunrise out in the front. And it's just. It's just. I mean, at this point, like, I've got all the science down, so it's just repetition. And almost, in some ways, it becomes mindless. But it's. It's a space where I get to, like, I don't. My brain can cut off almost. And that is. I mean, selfishly, like, I like the coffee, so I get to, you know, I'm. Obviously, I get to sell it, but then some of it's for me. And I love coffee. But then also just like, that piece of it is like, most of my enjoyment in getting to do it, of just having that time. And then kind of like we talked about before, like, I've started to invite Taj into the space a little bit. [00:32:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:21] Speaker B: I'm excited for the days where he can, like, legitimately, like, help me get it done. [00:32:25] Speaker A: Like, you wake up and, like, he's already in the garage cranking, like, where you been, dad? [00:32:30] Speaker B: The day he figures that out is like, he only, like, he gonna be so excited at first. Cause he gonna be like, I'll do a day. And I'm like, yeah, but now you got responsibilities, so I'm gonna need you. That's your new Saturday morning chore. [00:32:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:42] Speaker B: Helping dad. [00:32:43] Speaker A: That's cool. And I love that that you said, like, the mind and the hands, vice versa. I'm sure I maybe have heard that before. Why I just hit. But, like, I think that's in a kind of cool way, why I enjoy putting gym equipment together, doing gym builds. Not at all to plug that. But I look back, I. My mom, I was obsessed with, like, doing Legos and Bionicles and all that stuff. Young at Christmas, I would get it, and I would sit there for hours on Christmas day just putting Legos together. But I loved just the process and, like, being in the zone of seeing it come to life and knowing exactly what it needed to look like at the end and then just, like, putting the pieces together. And a joke I say with, like, a lot of these gym builds is like, man, I get to just do, like, adult Legos. Like, it's heavier Pieces and sketchier, I could lose a finger. But when I'm just, like. I'm just present in that moment and knowing what the end product needs to look like, yes, I can do it. And then there's so much, like, satisfaction and kind of joy along the way, you know, doing install. The other day, we and my other buddies that were with me, we ordered some pizzas and having some cool conversation and chatting into the night to try to get this done before these clients got home to surprise them. And it's like, man, that's a cool memory. I'm not going to forget that. [00:33:51] Speaker B: Yeah. And there's something, I bet. Tell me if you feel this, because I think something, especially in our culture today that you don't, because I. You know, work can be so divided up, but it's like getting to see the process of, like, you see an empty room to, like, here's a picture of what we want to make. Like, doing the work, getting it made, then looking at it and being like, all right, it's done. But then getting to see somebody else enjoy it. So, like, you watch the person walk into the space and they're like, dang. Like, yeah, like, oh, it's just how I wanted it. And it's like that satisfaction of. I feel the same way of, like, roasting coffee. And like, literally, the process from it's just a green bean to now it's actually something that you can digest to selling it to a shop and the barista's making a drink and somebody drinking it and being like, man, your coffee's so good. [00:34:44] Speaker A: Yeah. And the conversation that's around that coffee and the impact. Yeah. [00:34:49] Speaker B: Yeah. I feel like there's a few things. You get to see the full kind of swing of that because, I mean, similarly, it's like, even with training, it's like, there's a longevity with that. Maybe somebody. They fall off or come back, whatever. It's like, you don't always get to see the fruit of it on the other side, but with that, it's like every time you finish a build, you're like, yeah. Oh, it's done for sure. [00:35:11] Speaker A: Yeah. I think going back to what you said with the longevity with the training side, I think maybe that's why I've landed into the niche and the clientele base for our training businesses. Even go back to my. My athletic background. Like, there was always an end, and then you were prepping for the next thing, and it was like, just always that hustle, which isn't. People need that. We need things to look forward to. I'm not at all discrediting that. But for me, in regards to like the training space and wanting to create longevity, this pain free approach, the deeper root is I want to build sustainable, long relationships with people. Like, I think that's what God's really revealed to me over these past few years is I'm trying to build this training business is. Yes, I don't want it all. Use that as a crutch to be lazy in the sense of like, oh well, people just aren't reaching goals. But I want to work with a clientele base that realizes like man, goals are great, but longevity of life, not having pain, being present and active with my family and my grandkids, that's more important than hitting this 300 pound bench press. And that goal, that's the goal is a life longevity approach to the training. And that's where that gives me more peace and kind of takes off that pressure of feeling like I need to get these clients to reach all these crazy goals so keep them satisfied and keep coming back for more and spending money. It's like, man, we're building deep relationships that are adding value and we respect each other's time and money and appreciate the conversations we have. And you know, going back to like what you said with around the coffee, it's just like the location, the geographical place and the equipment is what allows that to kind of happen, you know, for sure. Super cool. Well, man, touch a little bit more on some of the lyricist stuff, professional hobbies, like if you, if you could have a goal for even the coffee roasting, like is there a goal? Do you want it to go further? Is it just kind of that continued joy that you get out of it? [00:37:11] Speaker B: Yeah, there is a, I think with the coffee there's a continued joy there. Part of why I've shifted with my view there is I am in a place where I get to do business and partner with people that I know. And like, I believe in the vision of what they're doing too. [00:37:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:36] Speaker B: And that some of that was intentional, some of that like was happenstance. But since it's happened, I've like, man, I wanna, like, I wanna keep doing that and I'm in a position where I can do that. And particularly because I'm, I don't know, I'm pretty like a. I don't know, I'm a big, big, big fan of creating culture. Shout out culture matters. [00:38:01] Speaker A: There you go. [00:38:03] Speaker B: But this opportunity to be able to point people towards things that I think are intentionally building Culture, in a way. So I got a buddy. He opened up a bookstore in downtown McKinney neighborhood. [00:38:18] Speaker A: Yeah, what is it again? [00:38:19] Speaker B: Neighbor Books. [00:38:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:21] Speaker B: And so, like, my coffee's in there. [00:38:24] Speaker A: Sweet. [00:38:25] Speaker B: And just the opportunity to be able to point people. One of my favorite things about coffee is it connects people. And so, you know, as a barista, it was like, the connections that I was able to make with customers and things was. Was huge. And so now I feel like with the platform that the coffee roasting has created, it's like, that's almost the way of, like, connecting people. Of, like, oh, like, you enjoy my. You can enjoy my coffee at Neighbor Books. This is a great place. They're trying to facilitate, you know, analog, which I'm big at. So it's like, they don't have, like, wi fi for custom. Like, you come in and it's like, to read, and they'll do story times, and they want people interacting with each other face to face. And I'm just like, that's dope. More people should know about that. [00:39:11] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:13] Speaker B: In terms of the lyricist piece, man, that's. It's a whole nother bag. It's like, it's therapeutic for me in a lot of ways. I've always been fascinated with music and lyrics and even literature. Like, reading books, when people are able to articulate something that you felt like you ever. Like, it's like you hear a lyric or a line in a song or you read something in a book, and you're like, man, I never knew how to say that, but that's it. That's how I felt, or that's how I see the situation. Or, like, oh, that's the perfect way to describe whatever the thing. And, like, I just feel like music has a very powerful way of doing that. And so much of what that process has been for me over the course of my life, and it's always been very private, was like, just being almost like a journal for me of the way I kind of communicate with God, process life and kind of a turn earlier. Earlier this year, I lost a family member to suicide. And it was, you know, come to find out, like, he'd just been wrestling with a lot of depression and anxiety and all kinds of stuff. And, like, those are things that are part of my story as well. And another one of my cousins kind of in the midst of that, kind of challenged me of. He's like, man, I think some of the stuff that you create that God has been giving you, like, you could. [00:40:46] Speaker A: You. [00:40:47] Speaker B: You could share that with people. And it would be a blessing. [00:40:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:40:51] Speaker B: So that's kind of spun me on this new route now of trying to figure out how to share what has always been kind of close to the chest. Not really something that I promoted to, like, how do I share that with the world if it. If I can do that for somebody else? [00:41:07] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:09] Speaker B: And it's like, yeah, it's worth the investment. [00:41:11] Speaker A: And it's crazy to think, like, how many internal gifts, therapeutic things, do we all do that God's kind of knocking, like, hey, other people need this. Share it, do it, get it out there. And it doesn't have to be in this, like, look at me type of way. It's just a, you know, an offering to others to connect to, vibe with, to understand, to put context in words. Kind of like you described to, you know, a feeling, an emotion, or a situation they're going through that adds context and value of, like, I'm not alone. Other people have gone through this, you know, and God's near. Yeah. [00:41:49] Speaker B: And it's like, even if it's one man, I had somebody, a couple, tell me it was a song I made. And they were like. The wife was like, man, I've been married for. [00:41:58] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:59] Speaker B: This person for 20 years. And they've been trying to explain this thing. We're in counseling and all this stuff. And they was like, I listened to that song and, like, they love it. My husband loves it. And I feel like I. Like, I finally can. Like, I get where he's coming from. And he's like, yeah, he's like. The way, like, you put. You put this line in the song. And I was like, that's it. Like, that's it. Like, that's what I'm. That's what I'm trying to get after. And I was like, if that's all that did, then I'm like, that's enough. That's amazing. [00:42:30] Speaker A: Thank you. [00:42:33] Speaker B: Like you said, we all. We all have that. And maybe you don't. I think something to. Maybe for people listening, because I had to fight through some of this is especially if you're, you know, we all in the business and striving for excellence and, you know, want to be top tier. What we do is, like, being excellent doesn't always mean you have to be, like, at the cutting edge or the forefront of. So, like, I might never. I might never make a song that charts. I would. That'd be cool. [00:43:04] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:43:04] Speaker B: I ain't gonna say I ain't gonna try, but it's like, that doesn't mean that it's not worth sharing. And I'm a big fan of, like, start with. Start where you are with what you have. And so, like, maybe to your point, it's like God has pressed something on you. It's like, man, you need to share that. And you're like, oh, I don't know. Like, I ain't that good. There's other people better than me. It's like he gave you something to share that as good as other people are, they don't got what you got. And so you just be faithful to do with what he gave you, with what you can, and see what he's able to do with it. [00:43:38] Speaker A: Yeah, I love that. Well, man, I think that kind of wraps us. Brings us up to kind of a conclusion. Last question I always ask is, you've been through a lot, but where you've been, where you're going and who you are, what's some additional value, one or two things that you think could add some value to the listeners, to the audience that they could take away and walk away with. [00:44:02] Speaker B: Man, he's actually. From a line from one of the songs. It's like, be stingy about your peace. Here's what I mean by that. Because that can get muddied in our culture. I feel like there's a selfish way that we can approach that. Life is about me, and I just remove myself from everything negative and kind of bunker in. And it's not that, but what it is more so, like modeling, like, Jesus is like. I think it's a picture in Mark 1 where Jesus is ministering and helping a whole bunch of people. And then at one point he dips out. He goes to be alone with the Father to pray. And it's like people still are in need, but he gets away for a little bit to be with the Father. And then he comes back and he reenters into ministry. And I think some of us, we retreat to run away and we stay away and we try to, but not to the fault. We distract and all that. It's like, that's not what I'm talking about. But some of us also had a problem where we just. We see a need, so we just stay to, like, the decay of ourself. [00:45:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:09] Speaker B: And it's like, man, you gotta take care of you so that you can take care of those around you. [00:45:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:15] Speaker B: It's like, you. You're only going to be so good for your business, so good for your family if you're not in a healthy space. [00:45:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:23] Speaker B: And so it's like, you got to. You got to check your own, you know, Is my health in order? Is my mind in order? Is my spirit in order? [00:45:30] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:30] Speaker B: So that I'm able to feed people from a healthy tree. Right? Yeah, that would be one. And then the second thing is it's okay to try new things and fail. Yeah, I've. I've tried to do a lot of businessy things before Crown coffee ever actually worked, but all those times that I tried and it didn't work, I learned something about why it didn't work. And so I think that's part of. I think that's part of life. That's part of any business venture is like, man, being able to give it a go. I think that's part of parenting is like, giving our kids the space to try stuff and fail and then being able to coach through that of, like, get some resilience. We need that. They need that. And so I think just kind of creating a culture where we in our homes and in our own lives, that it's like, man, it's okay to set big goals. Try something. Maybe it doesn't work. Learn from it. Try something else. [00:46:32] Speaker A: Of course. Heck, yeah. [00:46:35] Speaker B: Yeah, man. [00:46:36] Speaker A: I love it, dude. Oh, man. Episode number 13, Tamarka Shrag 13. [00:46:40] Speaker B: Born on January 13. It's my episode. [00:46:43] Speaker A: That's what's up, dude. There's. It's insane. Like, almost every episode, there's been some sort of, like, cool correlation like that. Like, episode number seven was with my buddy from high school, Taylor Samank, and he was number seven on our football team. And just. There's some cool stuff. Yeah. [00:47:00] Speaker B: Means you're doing something right. [00:47:01] Speaker A: Yeah. And then you just said vigor, and I've. No one's ever said that word. And our guest we just had before, this owns Vigor Active. It's a gym in Fort Worth. I'm dead serious. And, like, there's. I need to tell you some more stuff on, like, that maybe there could be some connection there with you guys. So I was like, whoa, that's pretty cool, man. I appreciate you coming on. Thanks so much. Thank you for having you, your family, our friendship, and honestly, just look forward to the growth of it, man. We're grateful for citizens, church and the impact it's had on our family, our marriage, and we don't plan on going anywhere else. Like, we're just. We just feel so loved and cared for there and just in a similar phase and chapter of life with other people, and not in a rude way at all, but that. That's not our family, that's not friends that we grew up with. And it's just like we're grateful and excited for the growing chapter in relationships that we're continuing to grow, that are continuing to grow and flourish at citizens. And you guys are a big part of that. So appreciate it. [00:47:55] Speaker B: Appreciate you, man. [00:47:57] Speaker A: Thanks again, guys. Episode number 13 to Marcus Ragland. Check it out. Apple podcast, Spotify, YouTube. Thank you guys for listening at the Proper form podcast. We'll see you on the next one. [00:48:07] Speaker B: Peace.