My name is Arthur Nowlin
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and welcome to "Making It Work."
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Hi, I'm, Arthur Nowlin
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and as you can see
I'm without Kim today.
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Well, we have a special
guest and our special guest--
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his name is Leon Jones.
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And, Leon,
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we are so happy to have
you here on Making It Work.
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It's my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
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Well, today what we want to do
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is just talk
about who Leon Jones is
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and can you help us by
giving us some insight.
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Well, you've
already said I'm Leon Jones.
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I'm from Detroit, Michigan,
grew up in Detroit area
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but lot of people don't know
I was south in formal of years.
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Meaning from birth to
may be seven or eight--
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What part of the south?
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My parents are
from a little town
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that is not even on the
map any more Alma, Georgia
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surrounded that not
too far from Waycross--
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I can remember vividly we
had animals, we had a farm.
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Really?
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You know, I've
always been adventurous
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into the falling and hopping.
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When I come home one
day and I was full of mud
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but yeah we-- I
mean, we had chickens
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and it was just so
very, very small town.
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I was telling my
wife that this morning
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that I want to
take her down there.
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She may not want to
come back, you know.
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I beg my people wanting
that town, that's so small.
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But you feeling a heart
pain and that's significant
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because you still remember that
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after all these years, you know.
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We falling in
heart pain of life,
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you know, but
thank God for our Savior.
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He can clean us
up. Oh, that's great.
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That's good, good segue. Yeah.
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Well, you know,
what is it that--
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what are some of the
things that you do right now?
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Well, most people
know me for musically.
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A lot of people
don't know me personally.
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They I guess, the music
they think they know the person
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but I'm a family
man, I love my children,
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I love my wife
and I love people.
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I've had a second chance in life
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and so I relish the fact
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that the Creator has
offered me the opportunity
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to use the ability,
that He has entrusted to me
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to have impact... music
and I'm just a strong believer
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that whatever ability one has
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when you connect
with the Creator,
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Creator He expects you to use it
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to be impactful where
ever you find yourself.
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And so...
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I love to travel, I'm a
runner, I love staying in shape,
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I love reading and
I love the philosophy
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that, "He who reads
the most leads the most."
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All right, that's
great. So I enjoy reading.
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Tell us about the second chance.
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What did you really mean?
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What I mean was...
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as most children sometime
when they are over there,
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as they grow up
they see role models
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that are real role models
and I wasn't any different.
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I was in a big
city, in this case Detroit
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and what I deem success was
guys hustling on the street,
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that type thing.
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Although I was, you
know, singing in the...
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you know, music
world I found myself
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venturing off into some
things and ended up in trouble
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that landed me in prison
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at a very, very
early age for arm robbery
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and was sentenced
to 10 to 15 years.
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And upon arriving there
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I've realized
quickly that in my mind
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I didn't belong there
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but I took advantage of
that opportunity to find out
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as you asked me
earlier earlier who am I,
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and I think most people
are afraid of themselves.
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And so I began to
delve inside myself
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with the help of God to find out
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that when I was in His image
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so that's saying a lot
until He gave me dominion.
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And I began to
weigh those things
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and to say to myself
what are my controls are.
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Where am I going?
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Where am I heading,
existing in and of itself
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and so when
answering those questions
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I was able to
take responsibility,
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ownership of that
wrongs that I've done
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and build on that
and say to myself,
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once I was
released I would have impact
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and God has
afforded me to do that.
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It must have been
pretty devastating though
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when you first entered
into prison during that time,
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you know, as a young man
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and that was kind
of a harsh sentence
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that you would-- you
were facing at that point.
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How long did you stay there?
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Five years.
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I was released
on a special parole.
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Excellent.
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They over turned my
case against on good behavior
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and at that time they had
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what they call
the parole time track.
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I had to go through a job rehab,
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I had to learn a
trade with my hands
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and that trade is welding.
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I learned MIG,
TIG and Arc. Me too.
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Yes, and...
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then I went to
some other program
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and there I went back to
school and so they realize
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and counselor, he says,
man, you don't belong here.
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I want to transfer you.
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And so a thought to
transfer not knowing
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that God hand was there
and as soon as I arrived in
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Muskegon the gentlemen said
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that we're gonna
submit a proposal
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to get you out of here.
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And so it went
through, I was released
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and I have been
back now in a charge.
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I've gone back to encourage
men and women across country--
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A prison ministry? Yes.
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Okay.
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You know, well,
how did your family
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handle this
situation while you were gone?
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Of course, they were
devastated and I think
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when I look back
over it my dad and I--
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we had a
tumultuous relationship...
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and I think that drew
us closer to one and other.
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I mean, I didn't realize it
but, you know, he visited me,
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he didn't-- I mean,
he told that he love me,
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that I was a son and,
you know, all those things
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and that that counts
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when you are in a
situation like that.
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And so I have very
good support on both sides.
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Excellent.
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It's really a
specialty when you have
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the support of your dad,
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you know, especially
after making a few mistakes
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and then to have him
come in and say, I love you.
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That must have
really meant a lot to you?
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Right.
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And he-- they got me
one of the best lawyers
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who is now deceased and...
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in line one of my call
they did what they could do
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and, you know, those things
go a long way for a young man
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that was in my situation.
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So you indicated that
you at different times
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will go back to the
prisons but to minister
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to some of the
people that are there now.
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You know, how do you feel
when you do something like that?
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I mean, you can put
yourself in that situation.
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Well, initially, you
know, it brought joy to me
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because I-- I
was in that situation
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but then as you
continue do it over years
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for me it became to depressing
because when I was seeing guys
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repeat offenders I mean,
when I say repeat offenders
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I'm talking about men,
you know, 40 some 50-years-old
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and has made a career out of,
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you know, they
become institutionalize.
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Some people
can't break their cycle
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so, I feel fortunate
that I was not able to go back
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and they say, man, I
really appreciate what you did
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and how you continue
to reach out to us so
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and we've done
this all over country.
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There was a gentleman
by the name of Chuck Colson
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who was involved in
Watergate and he started
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what we know now
as Prison Fellowship
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and he started
the program Angel Tree
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where they bring
gifts to the men's children,
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men and women
children who are incarcerated.
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And so-- I mean, we
go all over the world
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with this type thing
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and what I like
about Chuck Colson is
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he will bring in high profile
entertainers and athletes,
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Michael Jordon,
people don't know that
00:09:05.44\00:09:06.78
about Michael Jordon
but he will go to prisons.
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Mike Singletary,
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some of the San Francisco
49ers and Dallas Cowboys
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and we would play basketball
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against some of
the inmates there
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and he had all, I mean,
high level entertainers.
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I mean, we had a, we
would have a great time.
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So it was like a
learning experience.
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You also talked about...
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the trade of
learning particular trade,
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how to be a welder and
going to back to school.
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Now that seems to
be something right now
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that's diminishing with
the many of our prisons--
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at this point.
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That for longer,
viable as it was then.
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I mean, they allowed
you to go to college.
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I know who is a
friend of mine he is out now,
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he is returning citizens.
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I mean, he had, he obtained
his masters degree there
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and he has his own
business, runs a floor shop.
00:10:03.83\00:10:08.17
So...
00:10:08.20\00:10:10.01
yes, to answer you
question that's no longer there.
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And so if a
person doesn't understand
00:10:13.44\00:10:18.08
one, who they are in God,
00:10:18.11\00:10:20.45
two, they don't get
some sort of education
00:10:20.48\00:10:24.45
and when I say
education I'm talking about...
00:10:24.49\00:10:27.82
understanding who you are
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because there is
two kinds of education
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right kind and wrong kind.
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And so I, you
know, I encourage people
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to first of all,
understand who you are
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and that's when you understand
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that nothing in this world
can stop you, put yourself.
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Absolutely.
00:10:47.78\00:10:49.11
Because I've
heard of, when you said
00:10:49.14\00:10:50.48
it's two types
kinds of education,
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I had a gentlemen that
informed that he didn't know
00:10:53.18\00:10:55.88
how to steal a car
until he went to prison.
00:10:55.92\00:10:57.95
They sure taught him how
to do those things, you know.
00:10:57.99\00:11:01.86
But your mindset that
was a really excellent point.
00:11:01.89\00:11:04.66
You have to really be prepared
to have the right frame of mind
00:11:04.69\00:11:08.46
and apparently you did,
00:11:08.50\00:11:09.96
you know, and went
to support your family
00:11:10.00\00:11:11.90
that was really meaningful.
00:11:11.93\00:11:14.54
Tell me about the music career,
you know, what happened there?
00:11:14.57\00:11:18.34
Well, I think the music
career and that was just segue.
00:11:18.37\00:11:20.68
Music career is like in an
angle you have to be focused.
00:11:20.71\00:11:23.61
I mean, there are a lot
of people that didn't attain,
00:11:23.65\00:11:25.31
well they are not focused.
00:11:25.35\00:11:27.35
And in the music
world like sports...
00:11:27.38\00:11:31.65
you are pampered
from the time you get in
00:11:31.69\00:11:35.86
until the time you are
out and so you, I mean,
00:11:35.89\00:11:38.96
you have lawyers to protect
you even if you get in trouble.
00:11:38.99\00:11:44.27
They make those things go away
00:11:44.30\00:11:46.74
because they have
an investment in you
00:11:46.77\00:11:49.20
and I don't know if you remember
00:11:49.24\00:11:50.57
the act of Robert Downey Jr.
00:11:50.61\00:11:52.74
and I have to tell their story.
00:11:52.77\00:11:54.88
I mean, he was on drugs
00:11:54.91\00:11:56.98
but because of the
amount of investment
00:11:57.01\00:12:00.02
that they had in him.
00:12:00.05\00:12:01.62
I mean, they cleaned him
up and the rest is history.
00:12:01.65\00:12:04.65
And so, I mean,
that's what happened to me,
00:12:04.69\00:12:08.02
that's what
happened to most people
00:12:08.06\00:12:09.39
in the entertainment.
00:12:09.42\00:12:10.76
You-- but you have to be focused
00:12:10.79\00:12:14.23
because you have
so much coming at you,
00:12:14.26\00:12:17.23
all kinds of people hang on us
00:12:17.27\00:12:20.50
and you don't know the
difference between the two
00:12:20.54\00:12:23.54
because your focus is that
hour or that 30 minute say,
00:12:23.57\00:12:31.01
you know, and people drive
the entertainment as meaning,
00:12:31.05\00:12:35.72
you know, the
people saying this,
00:12:35.75\00:12:38.05
you know, so you
don't-- in my case
00:12:38.09\00:12:41.06
I will never turn to people
the way you stand and sign on
00:12:41.09\00:12:43.56
you talk to people.
00:12:43.59\00:12:46.29
And people by that
thinking that they know you,
00:12:46.33\00:12:48.93
so there you will be
in a city or in a town,
00:12:48.96\00:12:52.60
they will show up at hotel,
00:12:52.63\00:12:54.40
they find out where
you are in the parties
00:12:54.44\00:12:57.07
and so there is and
if you are not focused
00:12:57.11\00:12:59.87
you get sucked in to the
things that you see on TV
00:12:59.91\00:13:03.78
happening to a
lot of entertainers.
00:13:03.81\00:13:05.35
Because you know, when--
00:13:05.38\00:13:06.72
as you were talking
about that one of the things
00:13:06.75\00:13:08.88
I was thinking is that
it would be easy for you
00:13:08.92\00:13:11.99
to relapse, you know,
and to that environment
00:13:12.02\00:13:15.26
even though, you know,
it's not say breaking the law
00:13:15.29\00:13:19.49
but you attract
people that do break the law
00:13:19.53\00:13:22.43
and you attract
a certain I guess,
00:13:22.46\00:13:25.27
following that could
easily lead you astray
00:13:25.30\00:13:29.34
especially
someone that's and trying
00:13:29.37\00:13:31.87
to straighten their lives up.
00:13:31.91\00:13:34.01
You see, first of all,
00:13:34.04\00:13:36.54
and that's why I
say, it's imperative.
00:13:36.58\00:13:38.31
You know, this in
our-- during our interview
00:13:38.35\00:13:40.52
first thing I said was
understanding who you are.
00:13:40.55\00:13:44.85
When I'm
understanding I'm in God's image
00:13:44.89\00:13:48.16
that right there tells me
00:13:48.19\00:13:50.59
there are certain
lines I can't cross.
00:13:50.63\00:13:53.70
And so with that in my
there are certain things
00:13:53.73\00:13:57.47
you are not gonna do,
not that they are wrong in
00:13:57.50\00:13:59.17
and of themselves but
the appearance of them.
00:13:59.20\00:14:02.34
And so you have to be careful
00:14:02.37\00:14:06.21
that you don't get
pulled into everything
00:14:06.24\00:14:10.65
that comes with that.
00:14:10.68\00:14:12.31
You know, because people,
whether it's gospel music
00:14:12.35\00:14:14.58
or secular
music people are there
00:14:14.62\00:14:18.15
and they catering to
you and let's face it out
00:14:18.19\00:14:20.66
and now the most people...
00:14:20.69\00:14:23.29
if you never had
that happened to you,
00:14:23.32\00:14:26.56
I mean, you like
that, you like going places
00:14:26.59\00:14:29.70
where you step off a
plane there is a sign saying,
00:14:29.73\00:14:32.47
Arthur Nowlin,
well, I'm transportation.
00:14:32.50\00:14:34.84
You like when you
walk into a dressing room,
00:14:34.87\00:14:37.21
people putting your shoes on.
00:14:37.24\00:14:39.54
I mean, but who wouldn't--
but if you are not careful
00:14:39.57\00:14:42.68
you begin to believe
that that's who you are.
00:14:42.71\00:14:45.68
Well, definitely
no doubt about it.
00:14:45.71\00:14:48.02
Right, and so you
get sucked into it.
00:14:48.05\00:14:50.45
You know, and as you
say to be grounded in Lord,
00:14:50.49\00:14:54.92
you know, is really
significant to avoid that trap
00:14:54.96\00:15:00.03
that Satan has for you.
00:15:00.06\00:15:01.46
You know, trying
to pull you back in.
00:15:01.50\00:15:04.70
Another thing, one
of the things that I see
00:15:04.73\00:15:08.34
is the different
John was-- John was using.
00:15:08.37\00:15:12.17
You know, and use
it, you know, so I mean,
00:15:12.21\00:15:15.34
you seen a transition,
you know, how do you compare
00:15:15.38\00:15:19.71
the gospel music today well,
00:15:19.75\00:15:21.98
say the gospel music
that you grew up with?
00:15:22.02\00:15:25.75
Well, you know,
that's a argument,
00:15:25.79\00:15:28.72
that's age old and here again
you have to know who you are
00:15:28.76\00:15:33.90
because at the end of the day
00:15:33.93\00:15:35.93
I see chorus made
up of same three notes.
00:15:35.96\00:15:39.07
If you play at a church,
00:15:39.10\00:15:41.04
you know, if you
play it in a club.
00:15:41.07\00:15:43.77
So my point is, is
what I do with the gift
00:15:43.81\00:15:48.54
that God gave me-- you
know, how do I take that
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.71
and be
impactful in the audience.
00:15:51.75\00:15:54.28
Like the audience is
that we play the last 25 years
00:15:54.32\00:15:59.65
well,
predominately one white two...
00:15:59.69\00:16:04.09
there were people who
00:16:04.13\00:16:06.76
church was not a
regular thing for them
00:16:06.80\00:16:10.97
and so we find
ourselves, in some cases
00:16:11.00\00:16:14.64
we stood in front of
80,000 people at the Silverdome,
00:16:14.67\00:16:19.17
then in other cases where
you stood in front of 800.
00:16:19.21\00:16:22.21
So...
00:16:22.24\00:16:25.01
you have to be kind
of say, of your calling.
00:16:25.05\00:16:29.85
And so I avoid, you
know, this argument about
00:16:29.88\00:16:33.15
well, that's not gospel music,
you are not doing God's will
00:16:33.19\00:16:36.96
because one, I was not there
00:16:36.99\00:16:40.26
when God told
this person what to do.
00:16:40.30\00:16:44.13
Because you can sing
00:16:44.17\00:16:45.90
what you hear
people arguing about.
00:16:45.93\00:16:48.40
You can sing
"Amazing Grace" all day
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.34
and be so far from God.
00:16:50.37\00:16:52.37
So what's the difference?
00:16:52.41\00:16:54.28
On the other hand you
will stand out there and sing,
00:16:54.31\00:16:56.81
"What's going on, my
brother" and attract people
00:16:56.85\00:17:00.65
and once you
attract them and you say
00:17:00.68\00:17:02.38
it was the Creator
who gave me this idea.
00:17:02.42\00:17:05.85
Well, I've seen that
way, I mean, with your music
00:17:05.89\00:17:10.53
it seems to be
upbeat a little Marvin Gaye,
00:17:10.56\00:17:14.76
you know, or Temptations,
you know, and I'm sure
00:17:14.80\00:17:17.60
you must have experienced
a lot of different ridicule,
00:17:17.63\00:17:21.00
you know, from different people.
00:17:21.04\00:17:22.90
Yeah, I just at an
interview the other day
00:17:22.94\00:17:24.47
and the guy and Mason was
there well, interviewing me
00:17:24.51\00:17:28.81
and this whole
crew is like, man...
00:17:28.84\00:17:31.98
and it was a guy that I
had been trying to touch base
00:17:32.01\00:17:34.92
with just to
invest in what I was doing
00:17:34.95\00:17:39.12
and he stopped the
interview, he said,
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.62
look, this guy has
been chasing me ten years
00:17:40.66\00:17:42.86
and I never knew that
his music was like this.
00:17:42.89\00:17:47.03
He says, man, here is my
cell phone number, call me.
00:17:47.06\00:17:49.36
We need to talk.
00:17:49.40\00:17:50.80
He said, man,
this is straight R&B.
00:17:50.83\00:17:54.27
He says, I know, you
catching flight from the church,
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.37
I say, we are
from the black church.
00:17:56.40\00:17:59.01
He said, man,
this stuff is good.
00:17:59.04\00:18:01.64
So from the time
that we started singing
00:18:01.68\00:18:06.78
we were catching that kind
of flag but I knew in my heart
00:18:06.82\00:18:11.52
that God had
given us His ministry
00:18:11.55\00:18:14.06
and so we
continue to deal with it.
00:18:14.09\00:18:16.99
Was it painful?
00:18:17.03\00:18:18.79
yes, it was because
we've been playing and singing
00:18:18.83\00:18:21.30
and people take
the microphone from me.
00:18:21.33\00:18:23.13
Took the mike from you. Yeah.
00:18:23.16\00:18:25.13
And say, you know,
this is the devil's music
00:18:25.17\00:18:28.54
but they didn't
realize they did more damage
00:18:28.57\00:18:31.51
to o the people in the
audience than they did to us
00:18:31.54\00:18:33.74
because I mean, we
later went to the next stage.
00:18:33.78\00:18:36.95
That's what I was about to say.
00:18:36.98\00:18:38.31
It didn't stop
you, you kept going.
00:18:38.35\00:18:41.12
And so, and I think
it's, I think to say...
00:18:41.15\00:18:46.65
person's upbringing because
you and I can't put that,
00:18:46.69\00:18:53.36
you know, and
that's what we try to do.
00:18:53.40\00:18:55.46
Well, God is much
bigger than we can ever imagine
00:18:55.50\00:18:58.37
and so we...
00:18:58.40\00:18:59.83
And so you keep
going and you keep going.
00:18:59.87\00:19:02.20
You know, this
brings us to the point now
00:19:02.24\00:19:05.94
where are you with your music?
00:19:05.97\00:19:07.98
But well, actually
before we even ask that question
00:19:08.01\00:19:11.41
25 years of resurrection
what happened to, you know?
00:19:11.45\00:19:14.82
Well...
00:19:14.85\00:19:17.59
that was a good time,
00:19:17.62\00:19:18.95
you know, that was a
foundation point for me,
00:19:18.99\00:19:21.69
meaning God used that for
me to establish relationships
00:19:21.72\00:19:25.36
all over the world
because He had a plan
00:19:25.39\00:19:28.03
beyond resurrection with me.
00:19:28.06\00:19:32.27
And so I heard behind the music
00:19:32.30\00:19:35.87
25 years ducking
the call of preaching.
00:19:35.90\00:19:40.44
And so...
00:19:40.48\00:19:44.31
situations occur
where I found myself,
00:19:44.35\00:19:48.82
it was me and I was
burned out from touring,
00:19:48.85\00:19:53.22
you know,
frustrated from other things
00:19:53.25\00:19:55.96
that was going on
and my dad kept saying,
00:19:55.99\00:19:59.46
God is waiting on you,
Leon, but you don't do.
00:19:59.49\00:20:02.66
And so I really
didn't know what to do
00:20:02.70\00:20:05.07
and I just started
writing and recording songs,
00:20:05.10\00:20:08.40
different stuff,
and a friend of mine,
00:20:08.44\00:20:10.51
she just started
playing the songs, recorded.
00:20:10.54\00:20:14.18
And people was
like, who is that?
00:20:14.21\00:20:16.95
So they started
buying the record and I,
00:20:16.98\00:20:18.58
you know, God
say, Leon, this is it.
00:20:18.61\00:20:20.52
And so I picked
that up and started,
00:20:20.98\00:20:25.69
you know, just doing
the solo act and speaking
00:20:25.72\00:20:30.29
and it's working, man.
00:20:30.33\00:20:32.13
Yeah, it really is.
00:20:32.16\00:20:34.06
So that's what I'm seeking with,
00:20:34.10\00:20:36.46
you know, and so that's where--
00:20:36.50\00:20:37.83
But it must have
been hard for you?
00:20:37.87\00:20:39.27
Oh, man, it was
like a marriage, man.
00:20:39.30\00:20:43.24
Let's clear for us something
00:20:43.27\00:20:44.61
Resurrection was
the singing group
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.21
that you was involved with.
00:20:46.24\00:20:47.58
Did you start
that group or? Yeah.
00:20:47.61\00:20:49.04
Yeah, I had-- you know, I
was the visionary for the group.
00:20:49.64\00:20:52.48
Okay.
00:20:52.51\00:20:53.85
And it started with
men who were incarcerated
00:20:53.88\00:20:57.52
and ex-drug abusers
00:20:57.55\00:20:58.89
that's how we came
over the name, Resurrection.
00:20:58.92\00:21:00.82
Excellent. Excellent.
00:21:00.86\00:21:02.19
Then we worked with
Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond,
00:21:02.22\00:21:06.90
Steven Curtis
Chapman, Kathy Troccoli,
00:21:06.93\00:21:09.96
East To West, I mean, everybody.
00:21:10.00\00:21:12.60
So it really, it took
you all over United States
00:21:12.63\00:21:15.54
and outside of
United States as well.
00:21:15.57\00:21:17.47
Yeah. Yeah. That was powerful.
00:21:17.51\00:21:18.84
Brought me some great
opportunity and relationships
00:21:18.87\00:21:24.05
that I'm
utilizing right now today.
00:21:24.08\00:21:26.48
Okay.
00:21:26.51\00:21:27.95
So back to the
question, cry to death,
00:21:27.98\00:21:31.92
tell us about where
your ministry is now
00:21:31.95\00:21:34.12
because, because I was
driving down the Boulevard,
00:21:34.16\00:21:37.89
it must have been
coming from Belle Isle,
00:21:37.93\00:21:40.03
you know, in Detroit
00:21:40.06\00:21:41.40
and at one point
Kim and I we were--
00:21:41.43\00:21:43.13
as we were driving by
00:21:43.16\00:21:44.50
we passed this church
and I heard your voice
00:21:44.53\00:21:47.24
and I said, wait a
minute, I know that voice
00:21:47.27\00:21:49.80
and you were
preaching and singing.
00:21:49.84\00:21:51.77
At that point you were singing
and we pulled over and stopped
00:21:51.81\00:21:54.44
then we came in
and we came to see
00:21:54.48\00:21:58.01
what you were doing
and it was powerful.
00:21:58.05\00:21:59.88
Man, you had this
group of people out there
00:21:59.91\00:22:02.18
right on the steps, I mean.
00:22:02.22\00:22:04.42
And that's, that's my passion.
00:22:04.45\00:22:06.62
See I was...
00:22:06.65\00:22:09.76
I was on the way I
was but I was backstage
00:22:09.79\00:22:12.13
with being the
secular entertainers
00:22:12.16\00:22:15.00
and this guy, there is a
group, a very prominent band
00:22:15.03\00:22:19.53
he walked that isles
just beside and says,
00:22:19.57\00:22:21.30
man...
00:22:21.34\00:22:23.54
you must be an entertainer.
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.67
I said, how do you know?
00:22:25.71\00:22:27.04
He said, man,
you still vibe, man.
00:22:27.08\00:22:29.18
He said, in your
spirit you got it.
00:22:29.21\00:22:32.31
I'm saying how do you know?
00:22:32.35\00:22:33.68
He said, man, you still
vibe, you know, catching that.
00:22:33.72\00:22:36.99
And so...
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.92
you know, I like people,
I like to see people happy.
00:22:39.95\00:22:44.56
And so I try to use
what has entrusted to me
00:22:44.59\00:22:48.76
to bring that out and
everybody loves music.
00:22:48.80\00:22:51.30
Everybody.
00:22:51.33\00:22:52.67
And so I try to sing
about current events,
00:22:52.70\00:22:56.94
you know, what's
going on that's why--
00:22:56.97\00:22:58.57
I mean, that's what Marvin Gaye,
00:22:58.61\00:23:00.68
that's what our
records still bought.
00:23:00.71\00:23:02.98
You know, I mean,
he took current events
00:23:03.01\00:23:06.61
and set music through it
that everybody relate to it.
00:23:06.65\00:23:11.09
And it sound good, as
well as you, you know.
00:23:11.12\00:23:13.59
And so that's what I
do, I try to be observant
00:23:13.62\00:23:17.86
and Kirk say is by observation,
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.90
you know, you just
write Bible is happening.
00:23:20.93\00:23:24.07
And people want to hear a story,
00:23:24.10\00:23:25.93
you know, and they enjoy
00:23:25.97\00:23:27.74
hearing a story of what somebody
00:23:27.77\00:23:29.47
it was down on the
ground count it out
00:23:29.50\00:23:32.51
and then all of a sudden here
you come right back up again
00:23:32.54\00:23:35.78
resurrected, you know.
00:23:35.81\00:23:37.48
That's powerful.
00:23:37.51\00:23:38.85
What about
relationships along the way?
00:23:38.88\00:23:40.75
Oh, man, you make
all kind of relationships
00:23:40.78\00:23:43.65
as we said earlier that people--
00:23:43.69\00:23:45.55
One on one relationships.
00:23:45.59\00:23:46.92
Yeah, one on one relationship.
00:23:46.96\00:23:49.69
I'm currently man, I have--
00:23:49.72\00:23:51.43
I think I have a best
marriage in the world.
00:23:51.46\00:23:53.29
Excellent.
00:23:53.33\00:23:55.00
And God knows as
better, you know, I said,
00:23:55.03\00:23:59.43
my dad when he first
saw my wife he told me,
00:23:59.47\00:24:02.90
son, look, I've never
been in your, like that.
00:24:02.94\00:24:07.64
He says, but...
00:24:07.68\00:24:10.71
that's the one
when God has chosen you
00:24:10.75\00:24:13.78
and, you know,
we think our parents
00:24:13.82\00:24:16.38
though mostly tell
us but and he was right.
00:24:16.42\00:24:20.69
Even my mom,
everybody that saw, and so...
00:24:20.72\00:24:25.63
I couldn't be,
you know, happier.
00:24:25.66\00:24:28.06
And her name? Deborah.
00:24:28.10\00:24:30.10
We have two
beautiful children, boys,
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.74
and God has who we say He is.
00:24:33.77\00:24:37.34
I mean, that I
have come to know that
00:24:37.57\00:24:40.28
in a very, very significant
way just in the past few months.
00:24:40.31\00:24:45.81
I mean, things
are not going down.
00:24:45.85\00:24:48.72
You know, you know that's God.
00:24:48.75\00:24:50.49
So--
00:24:50.52\00:24:51.85
Well, one of the
things that I was thinking by
00:24:51.89\00:24:53.79
is you were talking
about your marriage is,
00:24:53.82\00:24:57.79
what happens when
Leon is down and you just,
00:24:57.83\00:25:00.56
you pull on that relationship
between you and Deborah
00:25:00.60\00:25:03.87
or, you know, as it was going
to, your knees and praying.
00:25:03.90\00:25:07.70
You know, but
what motivates you?
00:25:07.74\00:25:11.01
When things are going
down, when they are down for me
00:25:11.04\00:25:15.31
I try not to
transmit it on to my family
00:25:15.34\00:25:20.55
but of course,
she and I we can talk,
00:25:20.58\00:25:24.39
you know, and of
course she listens, I listen
00:25:24.42\00:25:29.22
and you know, things begin
to turn around and I think,
00:25:29.26\00:25:35.26
you know, when we talk
about one on one relationships
00:25:35.30\00:25:37.13
people don't do enough of that.
00:25:37.17\00:25:39.13
We live in a
world where we are busy,
00:25:39.17\00:25:41.70
we all have smartphones
00:25:41.74\00:25:44.41
and that we really
don't communicate, you know.
00:25:44.44\00:25:48.81
It's easier to
text somebody something
00:25:48.84\00:25:52.51
than they say it to their face.
00:25:52.55\00:25:54.18
You know, so and that's
what people are into now
00:25:54.22\00:25:58.55
and so I like the, you
know, the old school way.
00:25:58.59\00:26:02.62
You know, we
say, honey, I love you
00:26:02.66\00:26:04.66
although I can text you
00:26:04.69\00:26:06.29
but I think people
like that one on one.
00:26:06.33\00:26:09.13
And so that
relationships are difficult.
00:26:09.83\00:26:11.97
I mean, you and your wife
00:26:12.00\00:26:13.34
you all are
experts in that field.
00:26:13.37\00:26:15.14
I mean, that's why you see
so many damage relationships,
00:26:15.17\00:26:18.31
people don't
want to work that way.
00:26:18.34\00:26:19.77
Wow. It's work.
00:26:19.81\00:26:21.14
It's constant work,
you know, and I can't put--
00:26:21.18\00:26:25.35
I don't even want to go
there so much where, you know.
00:26:25.38\00:26:27.72
You did, and I'm
saying is the things
00:26:27.75\00:26:30.25
you never really think about.
00:26:30.29\00:26:32.02
You come in and
you may squeeze it--
00:26:32.05\00:26:34.42
There you go.
00:26:34.46\00:26:35.79
They may not do it that way.
00:26:35.82\00:26:37.66
I mean, you all get
to going back and forth.
00:26:37.69\00:26:40.00
When you think about it then,
00:26:40.03\00:26:41.36
you know, why
did I waste that in.
00:26:41.40\00:26:43.63
It was just toothpaste.
00:26:43.67\00:26:45.80
And so when
people learn how to...
00:26:45.83\00:26:50.64
work on...
00:26:50.67\00:26:53.78
being the best
person you could be
00:26:53.81\00:26:57.68
in out loving your slivering
and other it works, man.
00:26:57.71\00:27:03.52
Let me ask you
one final question
00:27:03.55\00:27:06.19
in a short time that we have.
00:27:06.22\00:27:07.56
We have about a minute.
00:27:07.59\00:27:10.06
What would you like to
leave our listening audience
00:27:10.09\00:27:14.16
which to inspire
them or to give them
00:27:14.20\00:27:18.97
a touch of who
Leon really relies on?
00:27:19.00\00:27:23.34
Well, this one
thing, this one caller
00:27:23.37\00:27:25.81
I ever professed in
callers told me this,
00:27:25.84\00:27:29.14
God...
00:27:29.18\00:27:31.48
has forwarded man and
woman a gift of salvation
00:27:31.51\00:27:35.42
so we can
understand our limitations.
00:27:35.45\00:27:37.59
Amen. Say that again.
00:27:37.62\00:27:39.82
God has given man and
woman the gift of salvation
00:27:39.85\00:27:44.09
so we could truly
understand our own limitations.
00:27:44.13\00:27:47.10
Man, you are a preacher.
00:27:47.13\00:27:49.00
You are truly a preacher.
00:27:49.03\00:27:50.97
It's a blessing that
Leon is here with us.
00:27:51.00\00:27:54.70
Leon, I want to
thank you for being here.
00:27:54.74\00:27:57.11
You've been a truly a
blessing for all of us
00:27:57.14\00:27:59.67
and I just want to encourage you
00:27:59.71\00:28:01.34
as you continue
on in your ministry.
00:28:01.38\00:28:03.68
And I want to thank
you the listening audience
00:28:03.71\00:28:06.05
for watching "Making It Work."
00:28:06.08\00:28:07.72