web01.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:38:59 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/tags/control Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0400 Let's face it...life sometimes is hard and can just suck. When we are faced with life's challenges we can be discouraged, get tired, and become weary. What we need is motivation, encouragement, and a helping hand that keeps us going. That's the idea of GRINDIT! We find our strength to endure when we focus on Jesus. God's own Son wasn't exempt from life's challenges and He didn't do anything to deserve what he went through! And yet He did...willingly, therefore we find our hope in Him. en-us episodic We at GRINDIT want to encourage people to keep going, to keep grinding, when life gets hard. Quitting is not an option! Randall Tucker Let's face it...life sometimes is hard and can just suck. When we are faced with life's challenges we can be discouraged, get tired, and become weary. What we need is motivation, encouragement, and a helping hand that keeps us going. That's the idea of GRINDIT! We find our strength to endure when we focus on Jesus. God's own Son wasn't exempt from life's challenges and He didn't do anything to deserve what he went through! And yet He did...willingly, therefore we find our hope in Him. no Jesus, Christ, endure, grind, keep going, quit, death, life, heaven, throw in the towel Randall Tucker thegrinditpodcast@gmail.com https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/438 b7a0cb22-0fa3-4a76-839b-a3deb221b6a1 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0400 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker As small as Barney Fife was, he was still strong and powerful because the badge he wore and who it represented! 47:16 no When you want to confront someone about an issue, you better have some authority or you’ll get laughed at to your face! In the episode of Andy Griffith where Barney confronts the two men for selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road without a permit, they threaten to beat him up. Barney leaves because of fear but comes back to confront them pointing out that his badge represents a higher authority and they better obey it or pay the consequences. Paul tells the church at Galatia, “My authority doesn’t come from any man but from Jesus himself and it is in your best interest to obey the gospel I preached to you and not some false gospel some slick talking person is speaking. If not, you’ll pay the consequences.” This message we carry and share, the gospel, has our back because Jesus is our authority! authority, badge, power, control, Andy Griffith, Barney Fife, bully, bullies, obey, disobey, consequences, cop When you want to confront someone about an issue, you better have some authority or you’ll get laughed at to your face! In the episode of Andy Griffith where Barney confronts the two men for selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road without a permit, they threaten to beat him up. Barney leaves because of fear but comes back to confront them pointing out that his badge represents a higher authority and they better obey it or pay the consequences. Paul tells the church at Galatia, “My authority doesn’t come from any man but from Jesus himself and it is in your best interest to obey the gospel I preached to you and not some false gospel some slick talking person is speaking. If not, you’ll pay the consequences.” This message we carry and share, the gospel, has our back because Jesus is our authority!

]]> When you want to confront someone about an issue, you better have some authority or you’ll get laughed at to your face! In the episode of Andy Griffith where Barney confronts the two men for selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road without a permit, they threaten to beat him up. Barney leaves because of fear but comes back to confront them pointing out that his badge represents a higher authority and they better obey it or pay the consequences. Paul tells the church at Galatia, “My authority doesn’t come from any man but from Jesus himself and it is in your best interest to obey the gospel I preached to you and not some false gospel some slick talking person is speaking. If not, you’ll pay the consequences.” This message we carry and share, the gospel, has our back because Jesus is our authority!

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/401 c9bfe783-13cd-4d86-b56a-27da98876dcd Mon, 04 Nov 2024 22:00:00 -0500 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker We can't do anything without Jesus...nothing! 20:47 no Paul tells the church at Philippi, "God started the work and God will finish the work." Paul, who is arguably the greatest missionary in the history of the church, traveled all around the world at that time starting churches, going back around and revisiting those churches, and led many people to the Lord. He knew exactly who he was and his role and who God was...that Paul didn't do anything because of himself and his abilities. Paul always kept in mind that he couldn't do anything without Jesus. It's a great lesson for us today. Jesus tells his disciples, and us, we can't do anything without him, no matter how talented we think we are! talent, talented, start, finish, begin, end, control Paul tells the church at Philippi, "God started the work and God will finish the work." Paul, who is arguably the greatest missionary in the history of the church, traveled all around the world at that time starting churches, going back around and revisiting those churches, and led many people to the Lord. He knew exactly who he was and his role and who God was...that Paul didn't do anything because of himself and his abilities. Paul always kept in mind that he couldn't do anything without Jesus. It's a great lesson for us today. Jesus tells his disciples, and us, we can't do anything without him, no matter how talented we think we are!

]]> Paul tells the church at Philippi, "God started the work and God will finish the work." Paul, who is arguably the greatest missionary in the history of the church, traveled all around the world at that time starting churches, going back around and revisiting those churches, and led many people to the Lord. He knew exactly who he was and his role and who God was...that Paul didn't do anything because of himself and his abilities. Paul always kept in mind that he couldn't do anything without Jesus. It's a great lesson for us today. Jesus tells his disciples, and us, we can't do anything without him, no matter how talented we think we are!

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/369 fd926710-f758-49ef-9cd1-42c55e3ea31e Thu, 04 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker James ends his letter with this message...unity. 39:38 no James has been hammering the rich and addressing the poor but at the end of his letter he is pulling them all together and saying, “We are one and it’s time to act like it.” Then he goes through a series of “You” questions... If any of you...then...and he gives a solution to each one. He had just said we should be patient waiting for the Lord’s return and now he says while we wait, act like this. One thing James mentions specifically is the sick should call for the elders of the church to pray for them and they will be healed by their prayer in faith because the Lord will heal them! We either believe that or we don’t and the way most churches operate today, we don’t! God hasn’t changed at all so what’s the problem? We are. We want to be in control and as long as we are in control, God cannot work. It’s been James’ message from the beginning...Seek God and His wisdom, and let Him have control. unity, unify, one, pray, sick, elders, righteous, fervent, control, healing, wisdom James has been hammering the rich and addressing the poor but at the end of his letter he is pulling them all together and saying, “We are one and it’s time to act like it.” Then he goes through a series of “You” questions... If any of you...then...and he gives a solution to each one. He had just said we should be patient waiting for the Lord’s return and now he says while we wait, act like this. One thing James mentions specifically is the sick should call for the elders of the church to pray for them and they will be healed by their prayer in faith because the Lord will heal them! We either believe that or we don’t and the way most churches operate today, we don’t! God hasn’t changed at all so what’s the problem? We are. We want to be in control and as long as we are in control, God cannot work. It’s been James’ message from the beginning...Seek God and His wisdom, and let Him have control.

]]> James has been hammering the rich and addressing the poor but at the end of his letter he is pulling them all together and saying, “We are one and it’s time to act like it.” Then he goes through a series of “You” questions... If any of you...then...and he gives a solution to each one. He had just said we should be patient waiting for the Lord’s return and now he says while we wait, act like this. One thing James mentions specifically is the sick should call for the elders of the church to pray for them and they will be healed by their prayer in faith because the Lord will heal them! We either believe that or we don’t and the way most churches operate today, we don’t! God hasn’t changed at all so what’s the problem? We are. We want to be in control and as long as we are in control, God cannot work. It’s been James’ message from the beginning...Seek God and His wisdom, and let Him have control.

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/367 71e6e9bf-3d77-46ae-97ac-8aa9c4870704 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:00:00 -0400 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker It's not wrong to have money but it is wrong for money to have you! 34:33 no James calls out the rich people in the congregation and absolutely hammers them because their money is controlling their thoughts and actions. Remember, he is writing this letter to those who have made the choice to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, not people in the world. James tells them that their money they have hoarded up over time is corroding, wasting away, and come Judgment Day it will testify against them. The problem is not the money because we need it to live, the problem is how the people have put their trust in their money, their riches, to take care of them instead of God. They believe they are in control of their lives, they make plans to acquire more money, and the way they get it is by being dishonest. They aren’t being the example of Jesus, the one they follow and James says, “Get with the program or you’re going to pay the price because that money won’t get you into heaven!” money, bank, account, cha Ching, rich, riches, u haul, control, corrode, corrosion James calls out the rich people in the congregation and absolutely hammers them because their money is controlling their thoughts and actions. Remember, he is writing this letter to those who have made the choice to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, not people in the world. James tells them that their money they have hoarded up over time is corroding, wasting away, and come Judgment Day it will testify against them. The problem is not the money because we need it to live, the problem is how the people have put their trust in their money, their riches, to take care of them instead of God. They believe they are in control of their lives, they make plans to acquire more money, and the way they get it is by being dishonest. They aren’t being the example of Jesus, the one they follow and James says, “Get with the program or you’re going to pay the price because that money won’t get you into heaven!”

]]> James calls out the rich people in the congregation and absolutely hammers them because their money is controlling their thoughts and actions. Remember, he is writing this letter to those who have made the choice to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, not people in the world. James tells them that their money they have hoarded up over time is corroding, wasting away, and come Judgment Day it will testify against them. The problem is not the money because we need it to live, the problem is how the people have put their trust in their money, their riches, to take care of them instead of God. They believe they are in control of their lives, they make plans to acquire more money, and the way they get it is by being dishonest. They aren’t being the example of Jesus, the one they follow and James says, “Get with the program or you’re going to pay the price because that money won’t get you into heaven!”

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/366 b143791d-363b-4e78-a52f-5c3287cef9ca Sun, 23 Jun 2024 22:00:00 -0400 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker It is good to make plans but the bottom line is, if God didn’t allow to carry out those plans, we couldn’t. 42:33 no Many people take what James says out of context and say we shouldn’t make plans and set goals but that is not what James is saying at all! The context of this passage is how people think they are in control, they have stepped in God’s role thinking they have power to control people and situations when we actually have nothing. It is good to make plans but the bottom line is, if God didn’t allow to carry out those plans, we couldn’t. Therefore, it is God who is in control, not us; He sees the heart and the true motives of a person, not us, therefore God is the only One qualified to be Judge...not us. What we can control is how we respond to the law, or how God wants us to live. We can only control us, what we listen to, what we allow in, how we respond to people and things. So, worry about what you can control and that is YOU! Allow God to take care of everything else. control, sovereign, sovereignty, free will, choice, choices, goals, plans, plan Many people take what James says out of context and say we shouldn’t make plans and set goals but that is not what James is saying at all! The context of this passage is how people think they are in control, they have stepped in God’s role thinking they have power to control people and situations when we actually have nothing. It is good to make plans but the bottom line is, if God didn’t allow to carry out those plans, we couldn’t. Therefore, it is God who is in control, not us; He sees the heart and the true motives of a person, not us, therefore God is the only One qualified to be Judge...not us. What we can control is how we respond to the law, or how God wants us to live. We can only control us, what we listen to, what we allow in, how we respond to people and things. So, worry about what you can control and that is YOU! Allow God to take care of everything else.

]]> Many people take what James says out of context and say we shouldn’t make plans and set goals but that is not what James is saying at all! The context of this passage is how people think they are in control, they have stepped in God’s role thinking they have power to control people and situations when we actually have nothing. It is good to make plans but the bottom line is, if God didn’t allow to carry out those plans, we couldn’t. Therefore, it is God who is in control, not us; He sees the heart and the true motives of a person, not us, therefore God is the only One qualified to be Judge...not us. What we can control is how we respond to the law, or how God wants us to live. We can only control us, what we listen to, what we allow in, how we respond to people and things. So, worry about what you can control and that is YOU! Allow God to take care of everything else.

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/287 506a4acb-0894-4280-92a7-10799ec07051 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker Who is our guiding your life? Sin or the Holy Spirit? 44:46 no Imagine your mind having a steering wheel and there is a fork in the road ahead. The road to the left leads to hell and the road to the right leads to heaven. If the power of sin has control of your thoughts, then you will automatically steer in the direction to the left. You will take the road that leads you farther away from God when you choose sin. If the Holy Spirit is dominating your thoughts, then you will steer to the right because you will take the road that leads you closer to God…Every…Time…In fact, Paul says if we don’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, controlling our thoughts, then we cannot please God! sin, guide, Spirit, control, controlling, steer, wheel, thoughts, direction Imagine your mind having a steering wheel and there is a fork in the road ahead. The road to the left leads to hell and the road to the right leads to heaven. If the power of sin has control of your thoughts, then you will automatically steer in the direction to the left. You will take the road that leads you farther away from God when you choose sin. If the Holy Spirit is dominating your thoughts, then you will steer to the right because you will take the road that leads you closer to God…Every…Time…In fact, Paul says if we don’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, controlling our thoughts, then we cannot please God!

]]> Imagine your mind having a steering wheel and there is a fork in the road ahead. The road to the left leads to hell and the road to the right leads to heaven. If the power of sin has control of your thoughts, then you will automatically steer in the direction to the left. You will take the road that leads you farther away from God when you choose sin. If the Holy Spirit is dominating your thoughts, then you will steer to the right because you will take the road that leads you closer to God…Every…Time…In fact, Paul says if we don’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, controlling our thoughts, then we cannot please God!

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/216 bb82d63f-544f-4ec0-8267-132ad4431c7a Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:00:00 -0500 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker How desperate do you have to be before you turn to Jesus? 39:35 no The disciples have listened to Jesus’ teachings while he was on the mountainside, they have watched him touch a leper and heal him as he was coming down the mountain, they have watched him have a conversation with a roman soldier and heal his servant, they saw Jesus heal Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever, they saw him cast out demons and heal people from all kinds of sickness, but they had never experienced Jesus for themselves…that is until they couldn’t control the boat in the storm and they woke Jesus up from his nap and he calmed the storm immediately. Several of these men were experienced on the water, they had been on this lake fishing their whole lives, but they were full of fear because this was out of their control and they thought they were about to die. Out of fear and desperation, they turn to Jesus and ask him to save them. For some people, no matter how much they have seen and heard about Jesus, it will take a storm. It will take them losing control of their situation and a moment of desperation before they will turn to Jesus. desperate, help, plea, fear, scared, control, nap, storm The disciples have listened to Jesus’ teachings while he was on the mountainside, they have watched him touch a leper and heal him as he was coming down the mountain, they have watched him have a conversation with a roman soldier and heal his servant, they saw Jesus heal Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever, they saw him cast out demons and heal people from all kinds of sickness, but they had never experienced Jesus for themselves…that is until they couldn’t control the boat in the storm and they woke Jesus up from his nap and he calmed the storm immediately. Several of these men were experienced on the water, they had been on this lake fishing their whole lives, but they were full of fear because this was out of their control and they thought they were about to die. Out of fear and desperation, they turn to Jesus and ask him to save them. For some people, no matter how much they have seen and heard about Jesus, it will take a storm. It will take them losing control of their situation and a moment of desperation before they will turn to Jesus.

]]> The disciples have listened to Jesus’ teachings while he was on the mountainside, they have watched him touch a leper and heal him as he was coming down the mountain, they have watched him have a conversation with a roman soldier and heal his servant, they saw Jesus heal Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever, they saw him cast out demons and heal people from all kinds of sickness, but they had never experienced Jesus for themselves…that is until they couldn’t control the boat in the storm and they woke Jesus up from his nap and he calmed the storm immediately. Several of these men were experienced on the water, they had been on this lake fishing their whole lives, but they were full of fear because this was out of their control and they thought they were about to die. Out of fear and desperation, they turn to Jesus and ask him to save them. For some people, no matter how much they have seen and heard about Jesus, it will take a storm. It will take them losing control of their situation and a moment of desperation before they will turn to Jesus.

]]> https://grinditpodcast.fireside.fm/127 89277917-4575-422e-b10d-261c5d404f11 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:00:00 -0500 Randall Tucker full Randall Tucker Who is in control of your life? You or God? 31:46 no Do you trust God? Seriously…do you fully rely on God? That was the message Jesus was trying to get his disciples to focus on. He knew he was going to die soon leaving them in charge so he was trying to get them to rely on God and not themselves. He even told them that he was going to die but what was they concerned with? Who is the greatest among them…Then Jesus has this mountain top experience in the Transfiguration while Peter, James, and John slept. After they come down from the mountain there is a ginormous crowd waiting and Jesus wants to feed them. He tells the disciples to feed the people but they say it can’t be done…wrong! Jesus takes two fish and five loaves of bread and feeds thousands of people which again shows that they should rely on God and not themselves. Then he turns to the crowd and says, “If you want to follow me, then you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” Our natural instinct is “I must be in control” but God says, “I want control…” Who is in control of your life? You or God? control, life, God, yourself, Transfiguration, feed, five, thousand, fed Do you trust God? Seriously…do you fully rely on God? That was the message Jesus was trying to get his disciples to focus on. He knew he was going to die soon leaving them in charge so he was trying to get them to rely on God and not themselves. He even told them that he was going to die but what was they concerned with? Who is the greatest among them…Then Jesus has this mountain top experience in the Transfiguration while Peter, James, and John slept. After they come down from the mountain there is a ginormous crowd waiting and Jesus wants to feed them. He tells the disciples to feed the people but they say it can’t be done…wrong! Jesus takes two fish and five loaves of bread and feeds thousands of people which again shows that they should rely on God and not themselves. Then he turns to the crowd and says, “If you want to follow me, then you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” Our natural instinct is “I must be in control” but God says, “I want control…” Who is in control of your life? You or God?

]]> Do you trust God? Seriously…do you fully rely on God? That was the message Jesus was trying to get his disciples to focus on. He knew he was going to die soon leaving them in charge so he was trying to get them to rely on God and not themselves. He even told them that he was going to die but what was they concerned with? Who is the greatest among them…Then Jesus has this mountain top experience in the Transfiguration while Peter, James, and John slept. After they come down from the mountain there is a ginormous crowd waiting and Jesus wants to feed them. He tells the disciples to feed the people but they say it can’t be done…wrong! Jesus takes two fish and five loaves of bread and feeds thousands of people which again shows that they should rely on God and not themselves. Then he turns to the crowd and says, “If you want to follow me, then you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” Our natural instinct is “I must be in control” but God says, “I want control…” Who is in control of your life? You or God?

]]>