With Craig Filipponi
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What does following Jesus really cost, and why does it end up being the lightest thing we ever carry?
What does following Jesus really cost, and why does it end up being the lightest thing we ever carry?
Rob has a burning question: why do so many of us who say we follow Jesus go quiet when it comes to the work of following Him? In this conversation, Rob sits down with Craig Filipponi, a tax professional who learned to hand his deadline-season pressure over to Jesus out loud. Together they look at what repentance really means, what it costs to take up our cross daily, and why the work of following turns out to be the work of learning to love.
You'll hear:
Why Jesus' first word, "repent," means changing the way we think
How Craig handed his tax-season results to Jesus, and what changed for his workload and his family
Why Craig's expectations of himself were higher than God's
Why anxiety shuts down our capacity to love, and how denying it opens that capacity up
Why there is no work to receive grace, and why everything after saying yes to Jesus is work
How "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" works as a test of God's will
Why time alone with Jesus, using our imagination and hearing His voice, is oxygen
What the gym teaches us about denying ourselves so we can love someone else
Scriptures mentioned:
Luke 9:23 (deny himself, take up his cross daily)
James 1:2 (joy in trials)
Matthew 11:30 (my yoke is easy, my burden is light)
Matthew 6:10 (your will be done on earth as it is in heaven)
Matthew 7:24-27 (the builder on the sand)
Matthew 25:14-30 (the parable of the talents)
John 10:27 (my sheep hear my voice)
Hebrews 12:2 (for the joy set before him, he endured the cross)
Journal prompt:
Jesus, where is the work that I need to lean into? What's the work of the kingdom that I am not practicing self-denial for, that I'm not sacrificing myself for? What is that work? Show it to me.
About Craig Filipponi:
Craig is a tax professional who credits TMP (The Master's Program) and 100xLife, along with meditation and time in Jesus' word and silence, for dropping his work stress.
Join the next 100xLife Challenge.
The wait list is open and the challenge starts January 2.
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Rob Dayton: Welcome to the 100xLife Podcast, where we activate people who desire to live the words of Jesus and experience the abundant life He promises. I'm your host, Rob Dayton, and I hope this podcast inspires you to put in the work of following Jesus. Hey, 100xLifers, welcome back to the podcast. I've got Craig Filipponi here in the house. You're familiar with him. And man, I put this thing out on the text thread we have the pseudo challenge going on on the new 100xLife life app. man. It's gonna be amazing. And we were on this, and I'm like, I was just feeling the challenge of getting people who say they're Christians to Do the work of following Jesus. And so many of us don't understand that there is work or that it should at least feel hard. And so I put it out on the chat. I'm like, hey, I got this burning thing going on with me. I gotta talk about this on the podcast. Who would like to join me? Craig raised his hand. Craig, good morning. What's going on?
Craig Filipponi: Hey Rob. we just got done with Halloween and the kids had fun last night and plenty of candy and all of that. So it's been a good weekend so far and and excited to be here with you on the podcast to talk about the challenge of following Jesus. and it's it's gonna be a good podcast, I think. Yeah.
Rob Dayton: Come on. Yeah, that's I think it's a needed podcast. In fact, there probably needs to be a lot on this subject. So let's just see where we go and and maybe other people will want to come on and share their stories about what's up. ~
Craig Filipponi: just a quick on the the 100xLife app that your team is making, you know, Tom and Jenna they're doing a a fantastic job. I think, you know, so many people learn in different ways. And this app is gonna really accelerate for people that like and learn well from the use of apps. it's just so easy to f to follow along. It's fun, it's it's interactive. And it's it's just seamless. So it's gonna be an awesome way that people can upgrade their closeness with God and Jesus and Holy Spirit too. So really excited about it.
Rob Dayton: So cool. I appreciate you saying that. And Tom Lebens has been the driver behind that. He's ha has a real heart and passion for 100xLife and he's put in so much time. And then of course Jenna Dee of Jenna Dee services, and then KC Clark out in North Carolina doing the the branding to make it sure it's brand consistent. Yeah, but I am so excited. I'm particularly excited that we will no longer have Telegram. We will be actually in the app. The and the podcast comes on in the app. So it's just very, it's a very cool environment. I'm glad you're stoked for it. And yeah, I'm fired. I can't even believe it. Like it's Jesus is always doing, if we keep our vision as as far out there as we can, he's always going doing more than we could ask for or possibly imagine. And surfing that wave has just been the delight of my life in this season. So cool.
Craig Filipponi: Come on.
Rob Dayton: Thanks for mentioning that. so so let's get into this because ~ my gosh, man, there is such a cost to following Jesus. I'm gonna talk about two things. the first one is that Jesus' first word, we've talked about this a lot in the last month. His first instruction for us is to repent. Which means to change the way we think. And can I just pause there, Craig, and ask you a question? So changing the way you think and repent, they're two different words. repent and repentance has this misnomer, this mis definition that's just permeated our history. And I've been feverishly, every time I say repent, I always say change the way you think. I'm trying to reprogram what that word means in people's Hearts and minds. Is that is that too much of a h uphill battle? Or or should we be finding another word than repentance?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, I I I was kind of thinking upon this a little bit and and I was using words of like obedience versus the abundant life that he promises, you know, like a an a an infinite like possibilities kind of way to to think about things. and I think you know the word repent sounds more like obedience. Like I have to do this job, it's work, it's hard. And when when Jesus talks about an abundant life, it sounds more like freedom, being able to do things easier,
Rob Dayton: Yeah.
Craig Filipponi: you know, the light yoke, like you're not alone, like those types of things where it's it's super freeing, it's it's very you know, you're excited about the future, you're not like down about the future. and yeah, I think it changes your mindset when you're thinking about How am I gonna go about following Jesus today? Am I gonna do it dragging my feet? Or am I gonna do it light and on a cloud and with Jesus?
Rob Dayton: that's so important to even lead with because as we talk about the difficulty of following Jesus, there also is the glory and the reward of following Jesus. So it's really interesting. And when Jesus says, My yoke is easy, my burden is light, he's inviting into into something that's actually really, really good for us.
Craig Filipponi: Right.
Rob Dayton: But the reason he's saying that is, hey, you you're probably gonna be a little shy at the cost of following. Let me tell you my my actually that my yoke is easy, you know, the yoke being the part of an oxen that's pulling a pulling a load. My yoke is easy. My burden, the the ultimate burden is light. yeah, so we we do have to talk about the paradox of that. so let's let's just continue on the thread of repentance. So we got this repentance thing and then the next couple of the commands are a little bit more like, this is gonna cost me. And so
Craig Filipponi: Nein.
Rob Dayton: everyone's familiar with Luke 9. hopefully when Jesus asks his disciples, who do you say I am? And then Peter says you're the Christ. And then and then Peter says, well, you know, Son of Man's gotta suffer. And then Peter's like, No, it may it never be.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: And then and then Jesus is like, Yeah, no, no, no, get behind me, Satan. And then he he says to them all, he says, and this is this is not Luke 9:23 if you want to follow along. if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross, not just once, daily, and follow me. And for for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake. He is the one who will save it. Craig, what what what is that, what has that been meaning to you in your life? And and how do you how do you translate those difficult words to the life you're living?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, I think it matters so much in the little things as well as everything. and what I mean by that is like if you're abiding in Jesus and depending on him in the little things, it it translates to everything. and just some some simple ways. I used to get so stressed out at work because I I do tax work, it's deadlines, there's a pile of work that you just feel like is just a mountain. And
Rob Dayton: Endless.
Craig Filipponi: and you wake up and you pound and you put in a lot of hours and all of that. And it feels like I'm just striving, on my own power. but ever since, TMP and 100xLife really the meditation the the mindfulness meditations and spending time in in jesus word and spending time with him in silence was all super helpful in basically just dropping that and being able to
Rob Dayton: Dropping would you say dropping the thought? Wha wha how would you describe that? how do you drop that?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah. It's it's really handing over the results or the the outcomes.
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: of whatever I'm worried about, you know? It's like actually actively saying saying it out loud, even like Jesus, on this project or this meeting or this day of work, I'm gonna hand over the results to you. I I trust that you'll get me through. I trust that you'll protect me. I trust that through this conversation you I would be able to bring you up in some way. I trust that the outcome is is going to be better than I can do on my own. And I I can't tell you how freeing that is.
Rob Dayton: would you describe that as that sounds to me like repentance, changing the way you think to and would you say you're changing the way you think to really believe that God's working all things together for your good? Really believe that this is whatever I'm in is going to be good? Is was that the basis of that?
Craig Filipponi: Yes. And and I think it you have to reduce or let go of expectations of what
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: you think is good. You what you
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: think is the right outcome. You really have to let that go. which is difficult. It's hard, especially when you've been doing it a long time the wrong way, you know? Ca
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: carrying the heavy burden on your own. It's ~
Rob Dayton: And would you and would you say the work the work in this place, going back to denying yourself or taking up your cross, does it feel like that work of repentance and changing the way you think is is is in an inkling of what Jesus is talking about in terms of self denial? What how would you square that one?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, I think it definitely is. It's I mean that's the that's the work and in the moment it's scary. But I in this example, it wasn't difficult to do once I set my mind
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: on I'm going to do this. so it it is scary though to r to l
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: let go of kind of the expectation of myself, my staff. of what my clients' expectations of me are and and all of those types of things. It is scary.
Rob Dayton: That yeah, that's wild. when I think about that, 'cause I've I've been working on this changing the way I think for quite some time. I I don't think I really had an understanding of Jesus' repentance, you know, change the way you think process, but I did understand that James one two said, consider it pure joy, my brethren, whenever you face trials of many kinds. And so I was thinking, okay, well, this is the word of God. And so this must be true. This must be possible. For me to be feeling joy in the trial. And I think that was the thing that over two decades became me changing and actually transforming and getting into that repentance mode. So going in through James, Jesus' brother. and then what you when I hear you talking about it, it's almost like the shift, the anchor for the shift is something else we've been talking about on 100xLife Podcast is that the whole reason for my day, the whole reason for my existence, all the stuff I'm going through right now is to grow my ability to love. And for me, that's really changed my ability to shift. Tell me, tell me about your story. Is this is that it is is it like a different target that you're you're painting in your day that that removes the anxiety and changes it into something magical or freeing.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, I'd I'd kind of make it similar to like when you're working out. Like as you are consistently working out, it gets easier to work out the next time, you know? it's not as much of like the
Rob Dayton: Because the muscle's bigger and then now now that same amount of load is is doable.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, and you've gotten up early, ten times before. You know you've made that sacrifice of, putting it on your calendar and and not doing the other thing that you were, usually doing at that time. so it it you know, after ~ are, obedient and stick to what you were going to do, it becomes easier. It's it's definitely freeing though.
Rob Dayton: That's really cool. So I think what you're saying is, and I love that you're bringing in the gym analogy, that's so hundred X life of you, is that Jesus is inviting us into repent, deny ourselves, and I want to get into that and what that means, deny yourselves and take up your cross. But but he's inviting us and to change the way I think. And you're saying, okay, well, if I want to change the way, let's just pick your situation in accounting and having the stress of that pile of endless tax applications or whoever you have to help all at once every year and you're changing the way you think about that maybe you could dial us in on the process it felt for you like I'm going to the gym on this thought I'm gonna exercise it a little bit and I'm gonna exercise a different thought when I have these feelings perhaps you could tell us the thought And then because I do that little thing in repetition, my thought process in that direction grows a muscle and that becomes easier. And then that and are you saying that that enables you to go a little further in changing the way you think?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, I it's definitely letting go of it the first thing that you do in the morning. For me, it was super helpful to do it right then.
Rob Dayton: And what does do it mean? Does that mean what are you thinking? what are you learning through your imagination?
Craig Filipponi: Well, when I specifically the spending time with God in the morning, 'cause it was like it was it was a sacrifice to choose to spend an hour with God when I knew I could get an hour of work done. every day. So so I don't know how many hours I lost not working because I was spending time with God. It was insane. Like I you're you're giving up that time, so you're you're letting go of that time. You're releasing it into God's hands. And that in and of itself, like doing something like that, was like, well, if I'm gonna spend this time with you, I can't do it all on my own. So I have to depend on you, you know? And and so that was almost like breaking the chains of like,
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: hey, like I I'm gonna make this choice to do something contradictory to what makes sense because I trust in you, you know?
Rob Dayton: that's interesting because that that has the dichotomy or paradox because
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: you're you're saying initially I'm gonna sacrifice an hour for what could be an hour of work. And if you count that up over the tax season, that that's a significant amount of time that you're not working. that felt like a cost, but you understood at least rationally that that's what Jesus was requiring. Like, hang out with me. Let's think about your whole work differently. Let's spend
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: the time to do that. And then what you found was, here we are fast forward what two, three years of tax cycles. What you're finding is now stress is completely gone and now it's easy. Tell us about that.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, so it it turns into really changing I mean, changing the way you think is is what happened before I realized that God is helping me in this when you're the master and in control of what your expectations of of you are, I I guarantee you those expectations are higher than what God's expectations of you are. you know, I think God, expects us to rest more than we rest. He expects us to, rely on others more than we rely on others. He expects us to be in community, you know, and all of those things. And so part of it was being able to actually do that, rely on other people, let go of my own expectations because they were higher than my clients' expectations and they were higher than God's expectations of me. And it was just leaving me burnt out and and afraid and, you know, yeah, just feeling behind all the time. And then that moves into your life in a in a very powerful way because you can start seeing where you're having expectations over something that really God's not a part of that, So it's definitely a progression, but at the same time you really see the the benefits that come afterwards I remember driving home on the day of the deadline early going I don't know how I did that all like God literally did like eighty percent of that work and I don't know how it it got done. it was mind blowing. it was it was crazy.
Rob Dayton: I love that.
Craig Filipponi: But you you feel God working through you and instead of you just doing the work. So it's like
Rob Dayton: Yeah.
Craig Filipponi: you sh you show up more, you show up, and then God's like in it with you. and just letting go of those expectations of the outcomes. and I I've never had closer relationships with my clients. I've never had, you know, more just you know, all of the the the ways that we think of respect for my coworkers and just you know, having fun at work, it's different.
Rob Dayton: And then how is it affecting your your family life too?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, no, it's it's it's been great. like I think I told you, like this past deadline season, I only worked one Saturday. Usually before it was every weekend, Sunday, Saturday, seven days a week, you know, twelve to fourteen hours a day. And now it's, maybe eight or nine hours on the weekdays and just no weekends. It was just It's just been different and good.
Rob Dayton: And so so your different husband and your different father, tell us about that.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah. Yeah, no, I I and it's needed too, 'cause my kids are very active. They're doing all the sports. So I didn't miss any volleyball games at my daughter's volleyball games. my son had some track meets that were really fun to be at and so yeah, it's been really good for my family too, you know, not missing dinner, not being really, dead at the end of the day. and just not present. So it's it's been really good.
Rob Dayton: That is so amazing. It's that edge, that dichotomy, of that paradox, because you're because then you're what you were denying of yourself was the anxiety. I'm gonna deny the anxiety. It feels as though, and I think people who are listening can really this is real for them, is that it feels like anxiety is the thing I need to do. It feels like the responsible.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: thing to do is to be anxious and to catastrophize and think about this and try to work it out of my mind and really be focused on it, even when I'm present with my family, which is doesn't go over good for relationships. I'm just going to be really focused on this to get this done. I'm responsible to my clients who are paying me lots of money to do this. that feel can feel as though that is the responsible thing to do. And then so that denying yourself and saying, no, let's just try God's, path of rest And making sure that we're indulging in love. I think that that's what that is, in your mornings. Indulging in love, the highest law of the universe would be love because when we're anxious, it's almost like it shuts us off from people and from seeing them and from getting the opportunity to slow down and to love them and care for them and to acknowledge them and to see the beautiful things about them, to see them as image bearers. That anxiety, which we're denying, shuts down love. And then so when you deny that anxiety and move into rest, then you open up the capacity to love your clients. Never you said you never had a better relationship with your clients to love your family that, got their dad back, got husband back during tax season. Is that the way you would describe it?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, definitely. I think it's just amazing when you can actually learn to like sit in that love and just be present in it. and I loved your podcast about three time zones, you know, recently. And, you know, I mean I think in this podcast we're talking mostly about, you know, kind of that future time zone where we're worried about a potential outcome, and we have this imagination of what the future looks like and that brings anxiety. And I think when we do that, we cut off what God's imagination is that can work through
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: us. And how limiting is that to like work through just your own imagination? Like and not be
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: interacting with the Holy Spirit. and so I found when I'm in that flow with the Holy Spirit, I'm able to interact with God's imagination for me
Rob Dayton: Yeah.
Craig Filipponi: rather than just my own limited imagination, which is pretty powerful.
Rob Dayton: And that is changing the way you think because your imagination, one direction, anxiety about the future versus peace about the future and trust about the future, those are two different avenues. Let's get into this because you know, it's so interesting in the church, this thing about works, no works, you know, there's no works to get into heaven. So why are you working? and the the way it occurs to me, and I think that this, I think that this there's no works, I think that that really ripped me off in understanding the gospel. It ripped me off
Craig Filipponi: Mm-hmm.
Rob Dayton: and set me in the wrong direction because people kind of equate to, well, you know, I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. and I think the what might be helpful, and I want to hear your your thoughts too on this for people, for listeners, is truly there's no work to receive the grace of God to be free and live forever. And so that's the that's the no work. But then everything after that saying yes to Jesus is absolutely a hundred percent work. And the and the difference is it's not gonna be I'm gonna work and get to heaven. It's I'm gonna work and experience the kingdom of God here on earth. I'm going
Craig Filipponi: Mm-hmm.
Rob Dayton: to experience what Jesus says. It it occurred to me last night this is this is kind of crazy. Maybe it has in the past, but last night I was thinking about this. Is when Jesus invites us with this prayer. that the that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. He invites us to invite his will be done. And what's really interesting about that statement is that it is a scientific proof for his will on earth. His will on earth is, you know, ~ sometimes say, Well, was that God's will? And you know, well, the answer to the question theologically from that statement is, Well, was it like heaven?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah. Right.
Rob Dayton: It wasn't like heaven because if it's like heaven, that was his will. And if it's not like heaven, that wasn't his will. So like we could just dive all in and say, yeah, God's will would be just like heaven. It is it his will for this person to get healed? Well, are is there any is there any infirmity in heaven? and then that takes work because
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: that mindset is a whole nother. Dimension. We're going to be talking in a future podcast of late. We talked about time zones. We live in three time zones. We actually live in different dimensions too. And we have to live in the heavenly dimension if we're going to pull our imagination into that space. And then that is where the work is. And I'll say one more thing before I let you go is that is that there's there's laws, there's laws of God, like gravity, centrifugal force, like all these laws of God. ~ guide, it doesn't matter if you accept Jesus, you're gonna fall to earth at the same rate as as a pre-Christian falls to earth because gravity is the same law and it works the same for everyone. And I think what Christians miss is the laws of love. Love is the highest law of the universe. If you if you love God and love people, you fulfilled all of the law, just in those two simple things according to Jesus. And so The 100xLife life and living and changing the way you think to actually practice these things he's inviting us into are a part of his laws of love. And just doing the thing is what gives you the different result. How do those things make sense to you or not?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, no, I I love bringing up eternity in this in this conversation in heaven. 'cause this is really why Jesus came to earth. It's like he came to put us on a different path so that we could experience heaven on earth with God if we choose to. And
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: And so this is key. I think, in the confusion of not having to work for you know sanctification in order to just get to heaven. I mean that's that should be such a low bar.
Rob Dayton: Yes.
Craig Filipponi: ~ that you know we should we should expect to achieve. you see some you know bumper stickers of people that profess Christ, they say something like, Christians aren't perfect, they're just saved or they're just forgiven
Rob Dayton: Just forgiven.
Craig Filipponi: And it's like, well if we were in actually doing what Jesus said, a Christian would look v like so much, better, more holy, l just like
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: a more abundant life than all of the the rest of the world. Like if we were
Rob Dayton: At least more happy.
Craig Filipponi: I mean well, I mean and happiness is like okay, people have a confusion about happiness and what that looks like and what that is. But yeah, ~ ~ it should look like an attractive lifestyle. and I think that's what we have s we have trouble with. We was like, I do I really want that lifestyle? Because because of exactly what you're talking about, it sounds like work. and the works versus earning The way that's helped me think about it is, you spell faith R-I-S-K and that that makes me think, well I have to do something. I'm going to do something if I'm going to take a risk and have faith. And so that means that faith means you have to have action in order to experience that life-giving, you know, the mustard seed won't grow if you're you're not starting to do some kind of work. our salvation is not based on earning and earning is an attitude, it's not effort. I think that's where I think you you get this this idea that I can not work, not do works because of this attitude that I have about them. But
Rob Dayton: Yes.
Craig Filipponi: if you drop the attitude that I'm doing this for the purpose of earning it, then it it would be a joyous thing to do the work and put in the effort that it takes to get there. And I think I think you have to start with the vision of what you're going after.
Rob Dayton: Yes.
Craig Filipponi: the vision is not you put the vision of somebody sanctified and somebody, in sin but believing in Jesus. You put their lives together and it's completely different.
Rob Dayton: It's a contrast.
Craig Filipponi: That's not what Jesus you know, Jesus did not preach, okay, just believe in me, don't do anything after that. And he he has so many parables where it's like, if you hear my word and don't do it, you're gonna be like a fool who builds it in the sand and it's gonna be fallen down in this world and in the next, you know, so I you got me started thinking about eternity. I mean really it was TMP, but I mean
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: How good is it to think about the changed life that you have here on earth and be able to take that and bring that into eternity? ~
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: like I love thinking about that and and it it really accelerates the effort that I want to put into following Jesus.
Rob Dayton: Yeah, because you're seeing the results and then you're thinking, there must be more. And of course, with God, there's always more. ~ ~ when you were talking to I was thinking about the parable of the talents and how the guy who buried his talent, he was afraid. The reason he buried it is he was afraid because because the master requires reaping where you didn't sow and sowing where you didn't reap. And so he wasn't willing to take a risk. He wasn't willing to do the work. The other two put it to work. He put the thing that God gave them to work, and created ten times, five times what were it was given to them. You know, what do you think it looks like to to do the work in Christianity and multiply what he's given us?
Craig Filipponi: It's good question. I think, we all have different answers for that, right? ~ ~ it's
Rob Dayton: Yes.
Craig Filipponi: like he's made us each individually so special and and with different skills but I mean you you won't know that until you spend time with him. you won't know
Rob Dayton: Wow.
Craig Filipponi: what is it meant for me what does it look like for me to put in the effort of of you know following with what you've given me, who I am, who I am in you. it takes time and community I would say help is very helpful in understanding, you know, what does it look like
Rob Dayton: Mm.
Craig Filipponi: for me to actually put my talents into use.
Rob Dayton: That's really good because when you say intimacy and being with Jesus, alone, that seems like receiving love. And then you say in community, that seems like expressing love. and I think it's really important for our listeners to do the work of being alone with God. You know, you it's so easy to make the first thing you do is to read scripture or read a commentary or read a book and then do your journaling, which is you there and let me say there's nothing wrong with that. That's totally awesome. And then I would invite you to some more some deeper work, the work of just being still and asking the Trinity a question and use your imagination. Remember, your imagination is your connection with God or your connection with the evil. Our imagination is what gets us emotionally engaged. So if you start
Craig Filipponi: Mm-hmm.
Rob Dayton: imagining the things that God has said are are already true. In other words, the Holy Spirit. Papa God, Jesus, they're right here. They're dwelling in me. If you start imagining that, they're speaking to me all the time. my sheep hear my voice. I can hear his voice. Let's imagine me hearing his voice. Let me imagine love just being doused upon me because I'm so adored. And just let that that that seems to me to be the work of actually being transformed. And it's very interesting because you you brought up the gym earlier. When you initially go to the gym, it's it you're like, I don't know if I want to do this, man. There's a lot of pain in this gym. And I would I would suggest to anyone who's gonna try what I just suggested, that might take some energy. Like that like is something going on? Is he really here? Like you you're gonna have to combat your doubts, which is gonna be hard. And maybe you don't feel it it's as fruitful than just reading the scripture and and trying to interpret it. And then what happens is over time, what we've experienced in the gym, at least I have, is that you start running to the pain because you the pain is going to be so beneficial. For me, I would say those times with Jesus are oxygen. If I do not sit with him and and I miss and I start and then I start longing for it, my body's like, what are you doing? Just be still and commune with God and experiencing him and his love that becomes oxygen. I can't even make it anymore. without that feeling, without that and so it's no longer work. Now it's desperation and ease and beauty because every time I do it, I get this huge benefit. How how does that occur to you? Is that similar to what would you say about that to our listeners?
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, no, I I mean the the work can be daunting and especially when you're not doing the pre work, 'cause there's pre work too to getting
Rob Dayton: There it is.
Craig Filipponi: yourself into a position where you can go do the workout too. It's like not drinking the night before and not eating sweets and not, you know, making the decisions that will put you in a place where you're too tired because we can defeat ourselves before we even have an opportunity to make the choice. and so it's like how are you setting yourself up for the work and then and then making that choice when the time comes. and I think it's just the more you do it the the easier it gets that's really where God's grace comes into play. It's like We originally can't do it on
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: our own strength. And like you're saying, if you're not doing it with God, it's gonna be a lot more difficult. and I think in one of the recent podcasts you were you had I can't remember who it was on your podcast, but he was talking about that where if you include God in your workout, it's driving you beyond what you thought was possible. And I think
Rob Dayton: Come on.
Craig Filipponi: that's just kind of like it's motivating you not just to do the workout for your body, but it's motivating you to do the workout to, experience that feeling that faith muscle growth that's gonna bring you closer to Jesus. And I think that's a that's a huge part of getting your butt off the couch and going to get after it.
Rob Dayton: Yeah, and you're mixing the physical with where we want to show up spiritually. I love this. Cause denying yourself happens in the gym all the time. Your body
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: is saying, No, I don't want to do this. You're referring to John Van Lenten, good friend of mine, going up a hill on his bike, and you know, his body's like, No, we're not doing this. And he and he's got two thoughts going through yes, we're gonna do this so we can be better at it next time. But also, I'm denying you stopping here. To build my muscle for when I'm gonna need it to love someone else when I have to do the same thing when I don't feel like it, when you're
Craig Filipponi: Right.
Rob Dayton: com when you body are complaining about me having to forgive or having to put someone first or having to be gracious to have that is the they're both self-denial, but we get to practice self-denial in the physical, and then we get to take it into the spiritual.
Craig Filipponi: Awesome. Yep. Yeah.
Rob Dayton: Pretty cool. I love it. Well, Craig, I feel like we could probably talk another hour on this particular subject. I mean, we just barely scraped the surface here. I we didn't even get to take up your cross. let's let's let's dance with that for just a couple minutes. Like, what do
Craig Filipponi: Sure.
Rob Dayton: you feel ~ take up your cross daily? Jesus says, Take up your cross daily. He says it at a time where the disciples don't even really understand he's going to a cross.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: And the cross is truly dying to self for the benefit of someone else.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: What what does that hard work look like in Christianity living?
Craig Filipponi: he obviously was talking a lot about, you know, being a servant and going through things for others. I don't think he would just say, go take up a death sentence for no reason. But
Rob Dayton: Right.
Craig Filipponi: it it's always out of love for someone else. and so it's it's being a servant to others, not basically sitting on your own throne and loving others despite, desires and wants. I think in a nutshell what he's talking about. But I think we think of taking up a cross and the suffering that Jesus went through. which I can't I I've tried to imagine it, you know, and it's it's hard to. and it's like would I actually, do something like that if it meant
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: saving the people that I love, or even the people that I don't care for, and that's I think the ultimate sacrifice and he's that's ultimately what he's talking about getting to the point of. ~
Rob Dayton: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Craig Filipponi: but I think taking up your cross has to include some d discomfort, you know, it's otherwise you would
Rob Dayton: It's got to.
Craig Filipponi: otherwise I would be on the throne and, you know, eating and and having a fun time. and experiencing good things, so part of it I think is understanding that suffering with a purpose is so valuable.
Rob Dayton: For for the joy set before him, he endured the cross.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah. Yeah.
Rob Dayton: That's an imagination. It's an
Craig Filipponi: Yeah.
Rob Dayton: imagination about a future possibility because of the pathway of the cross.
Craig Filipponi: Yeah, so there has to be a strong purpose in order for you to undergo suffering voluntarily. And I think we have a mindset of, suffering is so terrible and bad and it's the worst thing and we don't want to feel pain and we don't want to feel discomfort and all of these things. So we're pretty, not used to it. but Jesus is saying, no, you would even choose to go through the worst suffering because you love somebody, which is I think the task of how what to what extent will we be able to get to to really love. So I I think that's
Rob Dayton: Totally. So good. I'm glad we just touched on that a little bit. We probably have to come back and talk about it more. Man,
Craig Filipponi: We'd love to.
Rob Dayton: this is this is the work. This is the work. When there is work, it is you say yes to Jesus, you have signed up for denying yourself, which is work, but also leads to this glorious outcome. You just heard Craig talk about how his whole like I can't even imagine the tax season becoming, you know, light and airy and time for love. I mean, it's really, really rich. Thank you for sharing your story, Craig. And guys, let's let's have an amazing week. Here's your journal prompts. Jesus, where is the work that I need to lean into? What's the work of the kingdom that I am not practicing self-denial, that I'm not sacrificing myself for? What is that work? Show it to me. Guys, do those journal prompts. Sit with God. Do it without any aid, just your imagination, communing with him. It's going to be so rich. And then if you're interested in getting on the wait list for the 100xLife Challenge coming up January 2nd, that's available now on the website. Jenna's included the link in the show notes. And we will see you next week.
