Relentless Love

This is the Truth Network. Kingdom pursuits, where you hear from ordinary people instilled with an extraordinary passion. Together we explore the stories of men and women who take what they love and let God turn their passion into kingdom pursuits.

Now live from the Truth Booth, your host Robbie Dillmore. How fun today is actually the last. Kingdom pursuits I get to do before Thanksgiving, and so you know I'm really excited to have with me today somebody that's full of Thanksgiving. I can assure you, based on the book he authored called Relentless Love, and so after many attempts, Dave Gaston is relentless. I can tell you that he finally.

We we finally have him on Kingdom Pursuit.

So great to have you get, Dave. Thanks for having me, Robbie. You know it's just a constant reminder, as you know, that it's all God's timing and not ours, right? Oh man, clearly that's the case. Is is I have to tell you that, unfortunately, I had to cancel the first time I'd I'd booked Dave, and then the second time, somehow or another, it.

Didn't make my new calendar or whatever, and so we missed our other opportunity. But he was relentless, and so was his publicist, and we we got it together today.

So I've been waiting on this for a long time.

So share a little bit of you know I know there's got to be a story behind a title of a book called Relentless Love, right? Yes, sir. I. There's so many hours that we could spend talking about God's relentless love, but yeah, I'm I'm a pastor's kid and I grew up in the church and having kind of like the normal PK version of my walk with God when I was younger. I went to church, you know, three or four times a week, and it was kind of something that I felt responsible to do as a as a pastor's kid and I.

Later on, I walked away, kinda, and pursued my own thing, and and the world, and all those awesome things that we think will fulfill us, but really don't. And but I had that good Christian upbringing. I had awesome parents. And I knew what God offered, and I knew what He expected of me, and He never quit pursuing me when I was running the other way as fast as I could, pursuing everything that was a higher priority in my life than Him.

So, yeah, the relentless term is definitely something that is it's it's relevant in in every portion of my life, honestly. Yeah, in all of our lives, right? If you knew it. Absolutely, yes, sir. And and actually, in every day, right?

Yes, that you know, there's there's never a moment that he isn't pursuing. It's it's more than phenomenal as you come to understand that. And and so, how did he put it on your heart to write this book? You know. I've always been a very protective person in my personal life, and even though I've done some high-profile things in public, it doesn't mean that I like to share how I personally feel even with my parents and my close friends, and the things that I struggle with, and the things where my priorities truly lie.

And I put my priorities, and my hopes, and my dreams. On people and of the worldly things like trying to be popular and trying to feel fulfilled with things that only God can fulfill, and I spent all my forty-plus years trying to do those things, and the cost of doing those things basically cost me everything. That I thought was important to me. You know, our choices become our chains, our control becomes our destruction, and that's what happened to me. And you know, it got to the point to where I didn't see any way out.

The only thing I feared in my entire life was failure. And sometimes God will allow you to be your own worst enemy. And you will have to face your biggest fear. And with some people, it's different things than than what mine is. But he allowed me to have it my way.

And by doing so, I failed myself. I didn't fail God. God still believed in me. But I failed myself. And he was there, waiting to pick me up.

And yeah, I I got as far as even trying to kill myself. I literally tried to pick up the gun and shoot myself. It was it was to that point. I was so desperate to get away from the pain that losing everything in the world had caused me. And you know, you would think having a Christian upbringing, I'd be like, oh, let me let me turn to God, right?

And he'll save me from these things. But I I chose something else and. And he was gracious in giving me another opportunity to live, and and by doing so, he called me to write Relentless Love, and he's calling me to write a second book that I'm in the middle of right now. And it's not something that I would have ever chosen to do on my own. It's still not something that I choose to do on my own for the second book.

It's just I'm finally. To the point to where I know that following him, surrendering to him completely, I can actually fulfill my purpose, and I can actually fill that void in my life that I was searching to fill all those years previously. Wow! And so, where was your dad and all that? My my dad is a pastor in Indiana still, and he is an amazing man.

He has been one of my true heroes in my entire life, and he's done more for me than words will ever explain. And I kept him, and my mom, and everybody else at arm's reach during these times. They tried to reach out. There's a there's a text message screenshot in the book of. The morning before I tried to kill myself, a discussion with him, and what did he?

What did he say that in that text? He reminded me the the scripture from Jeremiah. You know that that I have a purpose, and it's it's coming to fruition, and it will come to fruition. Yeah, I know. I have the plans I've made for you.

Scripture, yeah, yeah. But at that point, you know, I had shut off in my brain and already made a decision on what I wanted to do. And he was doing everything he could, speaking the truth, and and praying for me, just like everybody else was. But you know, sometimes the the the voice of silence is louder than anybody else's voice, and that that's that's what the issue was in my life at that time. You know the the reason I bring that out is a dear friend of mine, a dear dear friend of mine.

In fact, he has a radio show right after this one called Encouraging Prayer. His name's James Banks, and he's he's a pastor of Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina, and his son, um. Was a prodigal and a half. I mean, very serious drug addict. A lot of things went on with that.

Almost cost him his ministry. You can imagine, as the distraction of dealing with a son that is that, and plus, you know, whatever else is going on in his life. And he ended up writing a book called Prayers for Prodigals, and that book. Was picked up by the people who who published our daily bread and has become an unbelievable book. As again is Second Corinthians chapter one, just like your own book, you know God had comforted him through those prayers for his son.

Well, his son, right? Not unlike you, God finally, after many, many, many different ways that. God came after him, you know, and he all sorts of resources. But he, at one point, he finally realized he was a new creation, and God helped him through the the addictions. And today's a youth pastor, a really large church in Wilmington, and so they they co wrote a book together after that.

I am trying to think of the title of it, but nonetheless, in that book. What became so glaringly obvious is, of course, like all parents, we think we're some way responsible for our prodigals making the choices that they made, and the prodigals when they go to explaining it, well, you know, it wasn't. I was keeping my parents at arm's length or whatever because, like, you know, I had other things I wanted to pursue than what I wanted to hear from them, right? Absolutely, and so I find it. You know, really helpful for me as a parent to think at times where you know, man, I wish—not saying that any of my kids are prodigals or not—but at any time that you begin to think that it's you're something you're doing, it's not necessarily that case.

It could well be, you know, God's working on them. To have a faith that's just a beautiful thing when they come on the other side.

So we'll be right back with a whole lot more of Dave Gass, Dave Gaston. Of course, we got to play some shenanigans. We'll be back. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Welcome back to Kingdom Pursuits, where we hear how God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom.

Today, we are so blessed to have with us Dave Gaston. His book, Relentless Love. If you go to KingdomPursuits dot com, you'll see it there. You know what a great Thanksgiving gift, or maybe a Christmas gift, give somebody this book. It's right there at KingdomBrewsuits dot com.

But again, it is almost Thanksgiving. It's my last Thanksgiving show, so you know this is my chance to play a little Thanksgiving shenanigans. And so, with that in mind, oh yes, it is, Dave. You've never played shenanigans with me before, so this is I haven't, but I have heard it, so I'm you're familiar with the process. Oh, good.

And so Nick certainly has played it, and John has played it, and so we got a little Thanksgiving shenanigans here.

So, what did the turkey say to the computer? What did the turkey? Say to the computer, any idea, Dave? He got me on that one. I am curious, though.

Me too. Loading. What now? Loading. Loading.

Yeah, I am sure that that some turkeys that have already been processed, they were loading. Yeah, I understand. But actually, you know what? They're still alive.

Sometimes they go gobble, gobble, google, google, google. Yeah, you know. And this one really tickles me. It does. Why did the mashed potatoes cross the road?

You can get this one, Nick. I know you can. You know, it's right up your alley. Why did the mashed potatoes cross the road? I mean a Thanksgiving birthday boy himself.

What now? Not drown in gravy? No.

Well, probably, but you know, not not. What do you think, John? I'm stumped. They're already. I really thought this one was easy, Dave.

You got me on this one too. Yeah, to get to the other sides. Ah. Yeah. There you go.

Yeah, this is what this one gets me too. But again, you have to be of my generation. I don't know if Nickle even know this, or the reference. But anyway, what did the Three Stooges pilgrim say when he first spotted Plymouth Rock? That one you're definitely stumping me on.

I'll tell you, it might well have been Curly just based on his comment. You got it, Dave. I don't. I need the cheat sheet. No, you do.

So for you three Stooges fans out there, which I am one of them, he yelled out, "Landmo." Oh yes, and one last little. Groner to get you going for Thanksgiving. You can feel free to share these with anybody.

So, what do you call a golfing turkey? Golfing turkey. A golfing turkey. I don't know. Just you have to picture it, right?

Fork. Yeah, there you go. Fork. Fork. Oh, I like that.

That's pretty good. He's actually a putter ball. Oh, yeah. All right. With all those done, we knew at the end of those shenanigans, you, the listening audience, would have a chance to call in and win.

And so, yeah, that's the right music.

So, if you can answer this one, we've got a. A wonderful prize for you. All you got to do is tell us what do you call a nanny who uses her magical powers on Black Friday? What do you call a nanny who uses her magical powers on Black Friday? If you know the answer to that, John, tell them what they'll win.

Absolutely, yes. You will be winning a prize from. The Kingdom Pursuits Prize Vault. Yeah, there you go. Yes, we will be winning a prize from the Kingdom Pursuits Prize Vault.

If you know the answer to Robbie's riddles, give us call at eight six six three four seven eight four. You have a chance to win our action bibles, Narcan, and of course, we have our amazing gospel back scratcher. Yes, indeed. It's your chance to win. You're just gonna call us eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four and tell us what are you calling Nanny, who uses her magical powers on Black Friday?

All right, eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four. But getting back to something a lot better, relentless love. And and I you know I love the title and I think clearly. You know, even God was involved in that, wasn't He, Dave? Absolutely, He's involved in every part of it.

Like I said, I can't explain half of where it came from. It's just He was He was just speaking, you know, and He just it's just something He wanted shared, and I. It's not up to me to reason why. It's just up to me to be, you know. Right to obey and and do what he asks.

And so I find your chapter titles are fascinating.

So, interestingly, I'm just going to jump to the end because of all the titles, I was like, "What? Where's?" You know, I see a lot of the other ones, but all the chapter titles are named "Relentless," something, "Relentless Forgiveness," etc. But here, the last chapter. Is relentless in greatness. Yeah, probably the most challenging, right?

Absolutely, yeah. God has a. He doesn't wish for us to be mundane or okay at something. He he created created us perfectly for whatever our purpose is, and there's a call to greatness in that, and. It's up to us to accept that, and to pursue it, and to follow God's guidance during that process in order to be great in His eyes, not in the world's eyes.

Yeah, and fascinatingly, you know, greatness is almost always found in when heaven touches earth. Right, yeah, and so even if you're having that amazing conversation with somebody today or tomorrow, and all of a sudden it turns to God, and some truth becomes evident to you, and all of a sudden, or maybe you're in a community in your church tomorrow or something, and all of a sudden, heaven touches earth. And you can reach out and touch greatness, right? Absolutely, he gives us that opportunity so many times in our life, and we just don't take advantage of it. And he's got so many things planned for us, and so many blessings ahead of us.

And you know, we we just got we just got to let him reveal himself to us, and we got to we got to seek him. You know how we how are we expecting to find? Him and our purpose, if we don't seek it, you know. Yeah, I, I'm, I'm with you. And the fascinating thing about that title is fascinating.

Is if, if you think in any way whatsoever, you're great, and you know things are great. It's too easy to forget about God. Right. Oh yeah. That.

I mean, that was my problem. I was. I was so prideful and arrogant in my own successes, and that's what got me in trouble.

So, absolutely. Yeah, it's kind of like the the opposite of Thanksgiving. But, you know, when things are just hunky dory and this, that, and the other, we often lose sight of um, our our need, and so that's what I love about. Your third chapter title, which is relentless desire. Yeah.

So what about that one? That's that's a very interesting point that you bring up about that particular chapter. I've told this to a handful of people, and it's the honest goodness truth. I remember the morning that I wrote that chapter, or that I thought I wrote that chapter. I was supposed to be at work at about noon, and I sat down at my computer at eight thirty in the morning with my green tea, and I started working on it from my outline.

And I had a page or two done, and that was it. Before I had to leave for work, and I came home that night. It was about ten o'clock at night. In the whole drive home, I was like, "I need to, I need to get." That chapter done before I kind of lose my train of thought or my focus. I got home and before I even ate or took a shower, I sat down at the computer.

You know, you tap the bars so it refreshes right because your screen goes dark or whatever while you're gone. And the chapter was finished. I don't remember writing it after that second or third page. To this day, I don't. Seriously.

The miraculous title. I mean, the miraculous chapter.

Now, if that doesn't want you to read the book, I don't. That's a great. That's a like man. I read it now, and I don't. I don't remember writing it.

Like after the second or third page, and I mean, I learn something new from it all the time because. Honestly, like it's it's it's odd that you ask about that specific chapter.

So, again, God, there's no there's nothing wasted with God. You know, He uses our pain to, not only reach and identify with other people, but to reach deeper into us past our surface layers or walls or whatever that we've built up that would otherwise. You know, never be broken down. You know, with with pain comes humbleness. With pain comes like a renewed dependence on Him.

And with pain, you know, we comes perseverance. With pain comes a renewed focus and opportunity to grow with God. And With God, we are not really broken, even though we feel like we are. We we're actually finally in the perfect place for Him to mold us into the new creation that He desires us to be. Oh man, that'll wet your wet your appetite.

The divine chapter when you get the book Relentless Love, right? The chapter on desire, relentless desire. Again, I am so grateful. If you know who happened to be the nanny who used your magical plowers on Black Friday, you can call us eight six six three four eight. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork dot com.

Welcome back to Kingdom Pursuits, where we hear how God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom. So blessed to have with us today, Dave Gaston, in his book *Relentless Love*. If You got inspired to get it based on this divine chapter on desire. We're just saying, you just go to Kingdom Pursuits dot com, and you can click on that right there. You can order it right from the website at Kingdom Pursuits dot com, or you can find it on Amazon.

Dave Gaston, relentless love. By all means, if you purchase, you know, be sure and. You know, send him a rating or you know review it for him. Like, man, you know what that would mean to an author in his first book to get something like that. It's an opportunity for you to take part in what God is doing with this, and I think it's absolutely amazing where God's taken Dave.

And you know, I'm now I'm even more intrigued than ever. Based on this divine chapter, because I have to tell you, Dave, that oh, before I move on, I got to remind you that I'm shocked that no one has called to tell me who the nanny was with the magical powers on Black Friday. You know, I'm you know, to give you a bit of a hint, since nobody's calling at eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four, she used a spoonful of sugar regularly. Just saying. But you have to do a little twist on it.

Eight six six three four eight seven eight eight four eight six six three four. Truth and so getting back to this divine chapter, I have to tell you, Dave, that as I think about what you described there, that if you didn't hear it in the last segment, you just came in from Walmart or something, and you're going, "What is he talking about?" Well, Dave. Thought he wrote three pages of this chapter when he came back from work that day. His chapter was finished in his computer. He doesn't remember writing it, but there it is, clear enough.

And plus, he still had the thought in his mind, which I thought was fascinating. But it it it illustrates a gigantic point. I hope nobody misses. I hope nobody misses it. That when God calls you to do something, He loves to do it with you.

Absolutely, he is on the adventure, right? And so, God called me to do the Christian Car Guy show, but He also taught me, and I give Him full credit for this. I never do a Christian Car Guy show without spending hours asking God, "What do you want me to talk about today?" It's just, and then I let Him lead. I don't decide. I just like he wrote that chapter.

He gives me he gives me the stuff that he wants, and then the beauty of that is, it's like that divine chapter. It's like once it's out there, I don't have you know. I know he did it. I know it was his idea. It's like how fun to partner with you, God, and whatever the results are, what you want, right, God?

Absolutely. Just like the people in the Bible, you know, they're not extraordinary people; they're ordinary people. Right. That God did extraordinary things with because they were willing to let God lead their life, and He still does it today, all the time. And I cannot tell you, and I'm sure you've experienced the same thing, Dave.

When you do go on an adventure with God, He will blow your mind. You the things will happen that you're like what, like I did not see that coming. Like oh my goodness, how could I be here? How could I end up doing that? Because again, he, as my friend Stu said years ago, and I you know still quote it all the time.

He doesn't want you to do things for him. He wants you to do things with him. Absolutely. And so, like. As soon as you said that, that that's just so inspiring.

That that God helped you, however that worked with your with your train of thought, and and then just the, you know, I I think it's really cool. As I was just listening to you, that on your way home, you recalled the project and you recalled your, you know, like you said, I don't want I want to write this before I eat. Because right this minute I want to don't lose this train of thought. Because you you realize that how quickly Satan will steal that stuff away from you. Yeah, I thought about it all day at work.

Yeah, absolutely. And so I and I love that it's on desire because blessed are those who hunger and thirst. If you don't have that one, you know it's it's it's pretty dry.

So, so I absolutely think that's cool.

So, relentless in prayer—what does that look like for you, Dave? I pray about everything, and I pray relentlessly. I do really mean that. The Bible says to pray about everything, and I pray about everything, and not only does it give me peace back in my life, it helps direct my my purpose and my steps, and it keeps me humble because when you pray, praying is also listening. Should be listening more than you should be speaking.

And that's one thing I really learned during this process: is how to listen. God was always trying to speak to me in different ways and show me things, but I wasn't willing to listen. I'd rather listen to myself, and I've missed out on a lot of things because of that. But praying for me is I I pray anywhere and everywhere about everything. There's people that I pray for every day that I have for years, constantly.

And I saw one of those answers to prayer this summer when somebody in my family got baptized. And it was a long time coming. And there's another situation in my life that I'm still praying for every day.

Some people, and I've prayed every day for them for five years, literally every day, and I will not stop. God didn't tell me to stop. My friend who wrote. Prayers for prodigals told me this morning, or when we recorded this week, he said, "You know, every prayer has just a little element of doubt in it." And here's here's my example.

So this week. I had this horrible backache that had happened as a result of me sitting down building something on the ground for a long time. When I got up, there it was, my back was messed up or whatever had gone on, and that was just it was unbelievable pain and had gone on actually for about two or three weeks. But one morning I got up last week, and it hurt so bad that I couldn't really even concentrate. To pray, I was just like, man, this hurts really, really bad.

And so as I'm praying or trying to pray, it's like two or three o'clock in the morning in the scene, and Jesus just casually reminds me, he said, "You know, you could pray about that, Robbie." Yeah, there's no prayer too small, no prayer too small. And I went, "Oh, well, Jesus, would you help me with my back?" And in my soul, you know, it's the only way I can describe this. In my soul, he picked me up in sort of a fireman's carry. I am talking about my body. He picked it up.

Now, I am not saying I got up off the bed. I am just saying I felt him with his arms around me, lifting me like that, and he held me for some time and just loved on me. And it was an amazing experience. I just. I I I just relish it.

I relish their memory. Yeah. Well, after that, he he laid me down gently, and he said, "Now, I want you to go back to sleep for a little while, and I want you to sleep on the other side that you never sleep on." I said, "Okay," and I went back to sleep. And when I woke up, guess what? The pain was gone, and I was like, "Whoa!" I didn't think you could do that, but no, he could.

Just like the Peter, you know, it's amazing, relentless prayer. And I know it's been fun to have you on, Dave. I want to remind people to go get your book. It's at KingdomPursuits dot com. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork dot com.

Welcome back to Kingdom Pursuits, where we hear how God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom. And if you're thinking, "Gee, Robbie, I thought you were ending the show," no, well, sometimes Robbie loses his place, and I'm really glad it's not over because I wanted to hear more from Dave rather than hearing from me. But nonetheless, Jesus did heal my back, and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. And you know, it's a never-ending process of our relationship that that that we learn. Wow, He really cares about us in so many different ways.

So, Dave, this is the last segment, so I just want to make sure you what was is there something you wanted to get said on today's show that you have not had a chance to say? You know, something God has been speaking to me about since the last couple of weeks. Since we were trying to get together the first time, I think we need to start as Christians with our walk before we really focus on trying to help the lost. And what I mean by that is. How are we supposed to be the example for those if we're not right with God ourselves in some way?

And I just really feel like God's been putting that on my heart lately. There are so many things that we hold on to as people. Like I said, our control will become our our distraction or our destruction or both, and just. Give yourself some time to allow God to evaluate your life, like the Bible says. Like search inside you, inside your relationship with Him, for things that are not of Him, and get those things right.

Get those things straight. You know, today the decisions we make today will determine our legacy going forward. As Christians, as spouses, as parents, and so the opportunities today are not guaranteed tomorrow.

So I just want to, you know, just kind of put that out there. Like, evaluate where you are and listen to God. Let Him evaluate. Like sometimes, if we evaluate ourselves, we give ourselves a really good grade, right? We might overlook some things that he does not.

We might justify some things that he does not.

So, I would encourage you to take some time. Yeah, that opens up the door for a lot of discussion because yeah, you know, it's called letting him take the lead, letting him be on the throne. Absolutely, but also quite often, right? As you're in his word. You know, you got to find ways that you hear from him, right?

And as you talk about listening, you know, one of the most amazing ways is to read his word with him, right? Absolutely. Like, show show me what you want to teach me in this passage, and all of a sudden, often it's like, oh, like Rutro, I'm not missing the mark there, and and that's an opportunity. Really, because he's so kind and so loving, to have that discussion. How do we get that alignment in our life?

I mean, that's it's absolutely beautiful. One other question I have: your relationship with your dad today. What's that like? Yeah, I saw him the other day. Honestly, I just I love him so.

And and so the the good news is he's is he still a active pastor? Is he retired? Oh yeah, no he's active. He's an active pastor in in the Evansville, Indiana area, and he's got him a small congregation down there of of people that God has given him the opportunity to serve, and he he serves them with all his heart, and it's a it's very inspiring to to me to. To see that heart in him, and to see that servant's attitude.

Is your mom still with you? Yes, she she's right beside him the whole way. Yeah, because having the background or being a pastor, I understand a pastor's wife is our secret weapon. Hundred percent. Oh my goodness, here absolutely.

That, oh my, calling in itself, absolutely. Oh, it's such a calling, and and such a a beautiful thing. Um, that I know was definitely that it wasn't only your dad praying. No, no, it was as many people, and God hears every one of those prayers, and He sees the hearts of the people that are praying those prayers. Isn't that neat?

It it it and and actually, you know, I've thought about it for me because I I I was certainly since my dad was not a pastor, but I couldn't have been further from God in my youth, that's for sure. But you know, I generations of Christians that were praying for their ancestors, right? Were praying for me. Oh yeah, and they were they were making deposits into an account that you know was way down the road, and yes, I love that. They are now rejoicing as I am, Dave, in what God's doing in your life, and the chance that you have to comfort others as you were comforted.

Remind everybody that the book is called Relentless Love. If you go to KingdomPursuits dot com, you can find it there. You can order it. Or you can get it on Amazon again. Be sure and go back and give him a review.

That kind of thing, Dave. It's been such a pleasure to have you on today. Finally, you are relentless. It's been a blessing, and I pray that everybody out there has a season of both things. Oh, there you go.

And her name was Mary Shopkins. If you were wondering who the nanny was with the magical powers on Black Friday, Mary Shopkins. There you go. And now you got encouraging prayer coming up with James Banks. Stay tuned.

So much truth coming at you on the Truth Network. Thanks for listening.