Episode 36 - Big Boy's Don't Cry (or do they?) My Banana Bender (Queenslander) brother from another mother talks "Men and Tears..."

First up, on my Australian trip of the April May Gems Radio Show / Podcast, from the sunny location of Townsville QLD, I got to have a good old Aussie chin-wag with a true blue Australian male about men and tears, on this Episode I titled, “Big Boys Don’t Cry." - (Episode 36)

I guess I really wanted to ask the questions – Do big boys cry? Do we as a society, let them? I mean, is it really allowed or is it taboo, even frowned upon? Do we suddenly consider, “Oh my goodness my big strong man is actually a weakling,” if he admits he “got a bit of dust in his eye” while watching the notebook?! (That's a true story by the way!)

On this Podcast episode, I talk about one great man who cried, even in public. Now, I don’t mean great as in a ‘big strong man’ but a man who was all powerful, highly esteemed and called a King, the King of all Kings actually. A man with unlimited authority, that even broke the laws of the natural world and yet was also called ‘a man of sorrows.’ I want to reassure you in this episode that whatever gender you are, your tears matter. Actually, each one is treasured and ‘bottled’ so you don’t have to ‘bottle’ them yourself.

I also played a couple of beautiful (tear jerking) songs too. One in particular by Elliot Park called Bottle of Tears that I highly recommend sharing with anyone who really does need some comfort because they cry a lot. It's a great song to let them know that their tears truly matter and are precious to God.

I'm truly thankful to my special guest, a banana-bender ‘brother from another mother,’ for sharing his thoughts / his story.

I hope you are blessed by this heartfelt interview. 

Episode 37. From the Wide Road of Destruction, to Walking by Faith.

A boy named Troy shares his story...

While still in the midst of the tall palm trees on the sunny location of Townsville QLD (and sadly, not swimming due to the stingers and the croc they caught on the shore the week before) I chat to a boy named Troy In Episode 37 who proposes some interesting questions.

"Was Michael Jackson even real? How do you know? Were there witnesses?" in an attempt to get people who are wondering if 'God exists' or 'if Jesus is real' to not just write this pondering off but to do some research, academically as well as spiritually.

Troy is a sandgroper (a West Aussie) who came from a crazy, dysfunctional, abusive childhood and by age 14 had attended 13 schools, felt neglected, rejected, friendless and angry and was diagnosed with a neurological condition which led him on to a life of drugs and crime. By age 16 he was jailed for serious, violent crimes. Troy lived on the streets and was a drug addict for 11 years, burying four of his best mates by age 30.

Troy says “I just wanted to die.” 

Troy says he decided to go to a church “to look for hot chicks” but God had a different plan for him. He ended up jamming with Christian musos as a drummer. Troy’s ‘walking by faith’ journey, has been long and deep and he speaks openly on this episode of the depths of understanding, deep revelations, personal supernatural encounters and experiences and a relevance from God that he says “changed him as a person,” including the simple art of gratitude that changed his perception of his circumstances, his behaviour and his thoughts.

Be encouraged as you listen to Troy’s story and know this –

Michael Jackson was a real person!

Episode 38. Everyone needs a Mentor. What About One who Witnessed a Miracle?

Meet my mentor - Sherlie, from a town way down, in the deep south-west of Australia (though ‘home’ is always New Zealand!)

In this Radio Show / Podcast Episode, Sherlie shares that once upon a time, she had “no goals, no thought of God, ample money, a couple of properties, was indulging in all sorts of adventures, parties and world travel and ticked all the ‘happy, fun’ boxes but, she shares, there was a void, an empty feeling inside of her that even new age meetings, that were full of people of all ages, searching for that missing piece, couldn’t help. 

Could a friend with a book about Creation really lead her to a simple A, B, C of enlightenment? Sounds easy right?

Well, her deep longing met with her stubbornness and Sherlie says she went through choking and screaming before she surrendered to the love and acceptance that was on offer for her. Her very powerful spiritual encounter came with “a warm bright light and…peace!”

It’s a remarkable, encouraging and powerful testimony. You can listen to it here on Episode 38.

Sherlie also shares of the incredible story that followed, of her Dad, in his 70’s, given 3 months to live due to emphysema, caused by decades of smoking. He experienced a true miracle in his trackies and slippers and even in his grumpy state, ‘with his feet like cement’ his surrender to Jesus came with the gift of freedom from medication, freedom from the nicotine addiction and 7 more years of life - and at the end of it all, ultimate peace.

Sherlie has been a great mentor to me and a pleasure to interview. My favourite quote of hers in this episode is this:

“God wants His children back!”

Be inspired. Believe. Contact me here if you would like to know how or where to look for a good Mentor.

Happy listening and God bless you all

April May x