Melissa Lapin (00:07.77)
Hello, hello, hello, everybody. Welcome back to another episode of After the Well. I'm Melissa and in the background is my friend Bill and his dogs and maybe wife, which shows you guys that we are unscripted, unscripted, unedited, and we are just here to have a good time and talk and see what happens. So I know Bill.
from our church, which was resurgent Atlanta, here in the North Metro Atlanta area. And then we also attend School of Kingdom. And I know a lot of my guests come from School of Kingdom, but they're just really awesome people and they have really great stories. And I love to give opportunity to people to share their story. I think Bill is hilarious.
He's intelligent. He is funny, funny, funny. I just go back to that. He is funny. And he has a very, very cool way of looking at, I guess, just the Trinity. I think, Bill, that's the one of the things that I love about you so much, but we can get into that. So if you would go ahead and introduce yourself and go back to
birth or however far you want to go back and let's just see what happens.
bill hobbs (01:38.318)
Okay.
Sounds good. Yes. I'm Bill Hobbs and I've known Melissa for a few years now. And yeah, I went to the school kingdom graduation in Texas. That was good to spend some time with you and Scott. Good to know you better and stuff. But the I guess, you know, just I was like when I was on 14 or 15, I became a Christian, but I really wasn't. It was like the Episcopal and Lutheran Church where they teach you all this nonsense.
Melissa Lapin (01:47.67)
Yeah, a couple years.
Melissa Lapin (01:55.318)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (02:10.669)
you know, about God and Jesus and yourself that, you know, you know, God really, you know, is mad at you. And every time you screw up, he's going to punish you. And you better, you know, kind of like Santa Claus. He's kind of like Santa Claus. You better watch out. Yeah. So the reality is like he's what they teach you is he's like Santa Claus, you know, he's making a list, checking it twice, going to find out he's naughty and nice.
Melissa Lapin (02:26.166)
You know, I never thought about that, right? If you don't be good, you ain't gonna get the stuff.
bill hobbs (02:40.75)
And if you're not good, you're going to get cold and he's going to punish you. You know? So, but the reality is, you know.
Melissa Lapin (02:45.974)
That's amazing! I have never thought about that before, but you know you get Hellfire and Brimstone from God and you get coal from Santa Claus too? Genius.
bill hobbs (02:52.846)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And, you know, the reality is he's kind of like even better in Santa Claus because he's already given you anything. He's not going to give you gifts, you know, like he's already given you everything. So he's he's even better than Santa Claus because he's given you whatever you wanted, you know. But, you know, I went to a Lutheran church and my ex wife and I were communion assistants and they had training, which I don't know why you need training looking back, but.
Melissa Lapin (03:05.62)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (03:22.53)
You know, the pastor said, if you know someone's sinning, do not give them communion. And I was like, damn, I'm hiding my shit. You know, oh my goodness, you know, but he's a pastor, so he must be right, you know.
Melissa Lapin (03:22.71)
Hehehe
Melissa Lapin (03:31.614)
It's like, um.
Melissa Lapin (03:38.004)
You know, and that's what a lot of people think. We just blindly believe what's taught from the pulpit. It's sad.
bill hobbs (03:40.27)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (03:44.364)
Mm -hmm. Oh, yeah, and then you know so if you think you're a sinner then you're gonna sin and screw up all the time because that's who you are you know a identity and stuff so I guess maybe Ten years ago when I was maybe probably longer than that 12 or 13 years ago I was Separated and was having a hard time and I met one of my clients gave me Recommended I go see this pastor is like a counselor and he has a ministry
thrown grace ministries and he's written a couple books. One of them is Why Jesus Ain't Can Do Nothing and one's like What If Jesus Told the Truth. So the first book I read was probably like 50 pages and it was almost all scripture and a few paragraphs each page was his thoughts but the rest of it was scripture and then but it was totally opposite of what I was taught. So I'm
Oh, this doesn't make sense. You know, it sounds too good to be true, which is really the gospel. And then I started to meet with him on a regular basis. That kind of changed my life. And then, you know, but when I when I had like the revelation of that God's always happy and like in Luke, it says the angel Gabriel said, I've come to bring good news of great joy for all people and peace on earth. You know, so if it's not that, it's not the gospel.
Melissa Lapin (05:13.332)
Hmm.
bill hobbs (05:13.582)
or I realized who God was and the fact that he was always rejoicing over me, then that kind of like started the, that was kind of the well moment. Because a lot of people they'll hear when you tell them the truth of who God is, they won't believe it. When.
Melissa Lapin (05:24.95)
Hmm.
Melissa Lapin (05:32.306)
So let me ask you this. Because like I said, I mean, you said we've only known each other for a couple years now through church and stuff. So I know this version of you. I know... How tall are you? Like 6 '7"? 6 '6"? Okay, so you're a 6 '6 guy and you bounce around during worship like Tigger. You are always f -
bill hobbs (05:39.366)
Yes.
bill hobbs (05:44.878)
Haha.
bill hobbs (05:48.502)
Ah, 6 '6", yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (05:58.414)
Thank you.
Melissa Lapin (06:01.782)
full of joy and your childlike faith.
Melissa Lapin (06:08.79)
Is that a product of that encounter 10, 12 years ago? Or have you always been full of joy and yet, but the church kinda kept you down? Was that a struggle with you? Does that make sense what I'm asking? Yeah.
bill hobbs (06:23.694)
Yeah, oh, for sure. Yeah. So I was little I was, but then people were like from an early age, like you can't be happy all the time. And they kind of made fun of me and stuff. So then I was kind of what when I was my teenage years and stuff, I'm like, you know, probably the first five, six years I was really happy. And then after that, it was kind of downhill from then. So I was like, you know,
Melissa Lapin (06:32.726)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (06:50.894)
kind of miserable but acted like everything was fine. But then the, you know, and actually had a whole bunch of health stuff in my 30s and 40s and early 50s and stuff. You know, had some health issues and things. But I was actually the opposite of where I am now. Because I was like sick all the time and miserable and, you know, act like, oh, everything's fine. But then inside I'm like, oh, I hate myself. God hates me. Everybody hates me.
You know, things like that. So I actually, um, you know, had was like, there's, uh, there's a picture of me probably from like 15 years ago. And I look, I'm on vacation. I look like I'm half dead, you know, and stuff. And I used to have to wear, you know, I had a type of muscular dystrophy, so I'd have to, you know, I couldn't stand up for more than 30 or 45 minutes. And we went to, my body was always sore and hurting and everything. And then I got healed from that, you know, a long time ago.
Melissa Lapin (07:33.694)
Oh man.
bill hobbs (07:49.902)
But the I was actually the opposite of of a tigger. You know, I was always like, oh, yeah, I was the or yeah. And it really is like it was all about how, you know, God's God's judging and condemning you and everything else. And, you know, the church was like that. And I had some instances where that happened. You know, you know, I had some people like just dessert me because they were judging, condemning what I was doing and things like.
Melissa Lapin (07:55.926)
The Eeyore.
bill hobbs (08:19.342)
You know, but.
Melissa Lapin (08:20.342)
So, so you're, I guess, and y 'all listening, this is not a we're gonna bash the church episode, but we are gonna be real, you know? Sorry, not sorry. I mean, that's what this podcast is about, you know? Because the woman at the well, she showed up with all the judgments that other people put on her.
bill hobbs (08:32.302)
Yes, I mean, yeah.
bill hobbs (08:47.47)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (08:47.574)
There is no proof people say she was a prostitute. She was married five times. That doesn't make you a prostitute. She was legally in a covenant with these men, you know, and she was only living with one guy. You know, so all of these things that were put on her like affected her. And so I kind of see that with you. And I see that with a lot of, and myself included, we all have that. We all have just the
bill hobbs (08:55.118)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (09:14.318)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (09:17.366)
burden of the labels that other people put on us. Like you said, you lost friends because people couldn't handle your happy. You know? And...
bill hobbs (09:23.022)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (09:27.79)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think, too, that comes from people are judging, condemning themselves. So you treat other people the same way you treat yourself. You know, you treat yourself and other people the same way. So if you're constantly judging yourself, then other people you're going to judge as well. You know, and then like even when I got married, my wife wasn't a Christian and people in this group just totally deserted me and stuff. You know.
Melissa Lapin (09:34.902)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (09:46.966)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (09:56.526)
Like you can't marry someone who's not a Christian and they were it was. Yeah. And oh yeah. And it's supposed to be a it was supposed to be like a band of brothers, things like that, you know. But the reality is that the it's not bashing the church like the church is a great place for community and family and things. And that's why that's why I love like resurgence is that, you know, there's been some issues with the church. I didn't go to church. Actually, I met with this pastor every week. He's instead of having a church, he's a personal pastor.
Melissa Lapin (09:56.598)
Wow. Oh, don't be equally yoked.
Melissa Lapin (10:14.71)
Yeah. Can be. Yeah.
bill hobbs (10:26.35)
He meets with people one -on -one and mentors them and stuff. So I'd meet with him. But until I went to a resurgence and the reason I went was because during COVID they were meeting and my other churches weren't. They like, we're afraid of COVID. We're not going to meet because COVID is more powerful than God. You know, I mean, you know, so they were meeting. I'm like, well, I'm going to check this place out. You know, so and it's all about, you know, love on people, you know, just like Jesus, you know, love on people.
Melissa Lapin (10:42.646)
Yeah.
Yeah.
bill hobbs (10:55.214)
and accept them the way they are, you know, that kind of thing. But it is the, you know, when you when you realize like how loved you are, then obviously it's not a free pass to do anything you want. You're going to change. And behavior does matter. But it's the the the the reason the why is what changes. I was not getting in trouble, you know, and stuff.
Melissa Lapin (11:19.862)
So what was your why?
bill hobbs (11:24.91)
Because, you know, but I also felt like I was not lovable. So I did things that push people away and stuff, you know. But now it's more about just like, you know, sharing the truth of who you are and the fact that, you know, like when you read the Bible, especially the words of Jesus, is that it's, you know, like that it says that, you know, his will is for you to be full of joy. I forgot the verse, I think it made John 15, but it says that.
might the that his will is for you to be full of his joy and your joy can be depleted, but his joy can't. And the whole thing about like, you know, asking God to do stuff he's already done, you know, because Jesus said, you know, that at that time you might have to ask for anything. And that's when after he rose from the dead, you know, so when he was on earth, you had to ask.
Melissa Lapin (12:03.734)
Right.
Melissa Lapin (12:10.038)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (12:22.126)
because he hadn't completed his work, but once he finished it, you just, he finished the work, you just celebrate that he's already done it, you know? And then, and then that way, that brings joy because you know that he's, he's, he loves you and accepts you for who you are, and he's already given you everything. So it's us to receive that, you know?
Melissa Lapin (12:43.382)
So let me ask you this and you can, you have the freedom to be as vulnerable or as not as you want.
bill hobbs (12:52.718)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (12:55.638)
What, because you had mentioned that, you know, you had a hard time, you know, like you didn't love yourself and you know, like just your mental state of mind created physical havoc on your body. You know, I mean, science is proving that now how we think totally affects our physiology. So for you, you had the health issues for like 30 years. Um,
bill hobbs (13:03.15)
way.
bill hobbs (13:11.182)
Yeah. Oh yeah.
bill hobbs (13:17.358)
Oh yeah.
bill hobbs (13:23.086)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (13:25.756)
Again, being as vulnerable as you want. Can you share some of your thought process? Like the negative things that you would think with some words, prophetic words, some personal encounters, not just Scripture, which because I love Scripture, Scripture's great. I'm not saying anything about Scripture, but you know, the woman at the well, she met with Jesus.
bill hobbs (13:42.126)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (13:54.358)
and he told her about herself, right? He didn't throw scrolls at her and say, here, read this scroll, you know, go to the synagogue and this is what it says. And I think a lot of people miss out on the depth of a personal relationship because they can't get out of scripture, you know, because God is in all the scripture.
bill hobbs (14:00.334)
Nah, okay. Yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (14:18.862)
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
Melissa Lapin (14:22.806)
but not all of God is in scripture. He's way bigger than the King James, right? So in that, what are some of the things in your journey, your well moments? Like, we have to go every day to get water, you know? The woman at the well, Fatini, she had to go every day to get water, you know? And so what were some of the processes and things that...
bill hobbs (14:27.086)
Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
Melissa Lapin (14:50.326)
Maybe something the Holy Spirit told you that you hang on to still today because it's become a core truth for you.
bill hobbs (14:59.598)
Yeah, a lot of that is more and I totally agree. Like God is always speaking through through nature or through anything, you know. And he also will, you know, like it says, pray, you know, without ceasing. But it's all about just spending time like I'm talking to you now to talk to a friend, just talking to him all day long or listening and stuff. But for me, just the realization that, you know, going from oh,
God accepts me if I'm good versus on my behavior. And then he's punishing me if I don't know. Just to realize that he's always, you know, just like when you have a dog is the best example of God. Like, you know, you can have the worst day and, you know, or if they do something wrong and you spank them, they'll still be wagging their tail and coming back. They always they just want to spend time with you. And just the fact that, you know, he loves me exactly how I am. And he created.
me exactly how I am and that you have a good heart and everything about me, even the parts that I didn't like or don't like or parts that he loves about me. So a lot of it was kind of a process to unlearn a lot of the stuff that I learned from religion in a church. That, hey, you know, this is, you know, I've had people say, oh, you know, if you don't, you know,
Melissa Lapin (16:16.918)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (16:27.822)
The Lord gives and takes away or even like I went to a funeral and they sang that song, you know, but Joe said that not not God and then he repented at the end because they did it, you know.
Melissa Lapin (16:32.918)
Which isn't even scripture.
bill hobbs (16:40.814)
you know, because he was like, oh, I'm wrong. That's not true. You know, but but just about how and in the fact like it was it was a process. I met with this guy, Alan Fleming, every week, and I still do probably for like 12, 13 years. And just the and he's all about, you know, what Jesus said and the fact that God loves you exactly how you are, regardless of.
Melissa Lapin (16:43.816)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (17:06.798)
you know, your behavior, you know, like when he healed so much, he healed somebody. He didn't say, well, did you sin last night? What kind of sin do you have in your life? You know, I mean, you know, but just just the more I got around him and started reading scripture, especially like the Book of John is all about the the love of God, you know, that, you know, that there's no condemnation, no judgment. And then just seeing myself more as
Melissa Lapin (17:16.054)
Right?
bill hobbs (17:36.872)
God sees me which is perfect and holy and without blemish and you know But I was never really so the more I saw that and those lies still come up because we have you know I mean we have a flesh body and the enemy all I can do is lie to you So it's easy to believe that but the more I found the truth the more I was transformed by God's love and his joy and things like that And then I was never really around prophetic until I went to a surgeon so I never been excited
Melissa Lapin (18:05.462)
Okay.
bill hobbs (18:06.672)
been in the Episcopal Lutheran Church which is more, they don't really do any of that stuff.
And then when I went to the third school, I was Scott and Lacey. And it's kind of cool how God, when you're on a journey, like I had this band of brothers, they had retreats where they had lies. You go on a retreat and you'd kind of tell your story and there'd be lies you believe about yourself. So you kind of get rid of, you kind of, you wouldn't even realize you believe certain lies. So you kind of get those lies and say, oh, I believe this, wow, you know, something about.
that I'm only lovable if I do well or whatever it is. And then when you get those and you replace it with the truth, and then that was the group that kicked me out because I was marrying somebody who wanted Christian. And then all my friends disordered me at the wedding and stuff. They were like, you can't do that. The exact...
Melissa Lapin (19:05.686)
That's so crazy. So crazy.
bill hobbs (19:09.038)
Yeah, like Jesus said, there is no condemnation or judgment. Like, you know, for God so loved the world, he gave his own begotten son. The next verse says.
For God did not send his son in the world to condemn or judge the world, but through him they may have life. And how much judgment and condemnation do you get? I mean, it's amazing. But then I went through that and then I was kind of getting ready to let go of that group anyway because of the fact that they kind of...
They had these weekend retreats and stuff. And it was based on John Eldridge, if you know who he is. And he has some great, he has some great stuff, but it's really warfare based, you know, where there's the warfare is done. Like, you know, it's, you know, so it's just a matter of believing or not, you know, the truth or a lie, you know. So, but then if I hadn't gone through that, I wouldn't have gotten more healing. And then I went, when I found Resurgent, that was really powerful, you know, with the, the acceptance there. And then the, I got
Melissa Lapin (19:49.576)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (19:57.682)
Right?
Melissa Lapin (20:03.606)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (20:15.152)
exposed to prophetic ministry and then I went to Surge, which is really good because I never been around that. And that's just that was just a school with prophetic and a lot of inner healing and stuff. But then a lot of the prophetic I was exposed to and here in God and because I used to have an imagination when I was a little kid and then but you're told, oh, that's that's you can't do when you get to a certain age, you're like, oh, no, you can't, you know, pretend. And we like that's how God speaks to you. You know, so.
Melissa Lapin (20:29.686)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (20:38.806)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I love that what you just touched on on hang out there for a second.
Melissa Lapin (20:50.326)
Like, everything we do in life is part of our journey, you know? It doesn't matter. I was talking, I did an interview Monday with Lance Byers from SOK. Yeah. And he was talking about the same thing. And it's not even just about process because like sometimes we get into situations and we're like, oh my God.
bill hobbs (20:55.566)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (21:04.628)
Okay. Yeah, okay. Yeah, man.
Melissa Lapin (21:19.574)
This is so bad. I might have missed God on this. What am I doing here? God, this is horrible. Or even before we know God before, you know, like pre -believers, before we actually acknowledge God, we do the best we can. But every part of our life is a stepping stone, you know, and just like you said, and there's some people in some situations depending on
bill hobbs (21:24.59)
I'm going to go ahead and close the video.
Huh.
bill hobbs (21:31.47)
and then go.
bill hobbs (21:36.59)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (21:48.918)
how we were brought up and what God is choosing to use to get our attention. You were in the Presbyterian churches, you said, and those kind of super denominational, lots of rules, lots of hellfire brimstone. And he just kind of weaned you out of that. And then, you know, kind of...
bill hobbs (21:57.742)
Mm -hmm.
bill hobbs (22:08.206)
Oh yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (22:17.768)
ushered you a little bit into resurgent and then now resurgent is pretty heavy on the prophetic and doing a lot of prophetic things and taking prophetic classes and dream interpretation and you know so I think it's just really beautiful how God has set you up to succeed just as you are just because of who you are and the joy.
bill hobbs (22:44.43)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (22:46.87)
Because no person with the amount of joy that you carry on your life can be in a Hellfire Brimstone church. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's like super religious. But also I think, and not necessarily you in particular, this is just a nebulous statement, very broad statement, that somebody with such
bill hobbs (23:00.782)
I know that. Yeah. First hearing. Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (23:16.502)
passion and energy like you have, if they go from one extreme to the other, they can become super dangerous. You know, because they get all this freedom and now they're just blowing up everything. You know, because they haven't had that mentoring like you had and you know, just just the way God set you up to be nurtured and walked through this process.
bill hobbs (23:26.126)
Oh yeah, that's right. Yeah.
bill hobbs (23:30.734)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (23:46.198)
And I think that's beautiful. That's a beautiful story and a beautiful testimony. And I know that it's the reason that you walk in such freedom and bounce around in such freedom. I mean, it just makes my heart so happy when I see you worship, you know, when I know you're in town and, you know, we say hi and you're going to be there. I'm like, yeah, because there's something that you carry.
bill hobbs (24:03.822)
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (24:14.742)
that is so childlike and pure and innocent in your worship. And I believe, and I'm kind of going off on a little prophetic encouragement here, but it's, you know, I believe it's because of the gratitude that you carry in your heart for what God has done for you. You know, that He's just anointed you.
bill hobbs (24:35.246)
Oh yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (24:39.318)
with that joy because there's a lot of people that I mean joy is hard especially in the church people don't understand that it's righteousness peace and joy is the kingdom right it's for everybody else it's you know don't raise your hands don't laugh and don't dance those are the three things of their religious kingdom you know so thank you for being brave
bill hobbs (24:47.31)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (24:51.918)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (24:59.886)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
And actually before, when I was in like the Episcopal Church and Lutheran Church, I didn't go to church for like eight or nine years before I found Resurgent. But when I was in the other churches, I really, because I, you know, like feared God and was afraid of God and was always felt like he was judging, condemning me and stuff. Then basically I would just stand there and sing or read the Bible. But it didn't really mean anything. I mean, I was a Christian, but there was no,
Melissa Lapin (25:33.718)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (25:36.334)
you know uh... uh...
Melissa Lapin (25:37.11)
There's no life in that.
It was fine. Yeah, go ahead.
bill hobbs (25:53.486)
I know Scott can edit stuff, yeah. But the cool thing about the journey is like, you know, I went to, like, I went when I was.
Melissa Lapin (25:55.734)
Ah, we don't edit. Everybody else is gonna have a pee break.
bill hobbs (26:10.51)
going to, the Premier of Council went to NL, the council was like, yeah, you know, there was an issue with like one of my kids and stuff. And he was like, well, you're like a Pollyanna. I said, everything's gonna be fine. You know what mean? Cause that's the kingdom. Like God, Jesus has already solved your problem. You know, if you say, what do I have to do? You're screwed. Cause you say, what has Jesus done? Then figure it out with him. You know, but he's like, well, you know, you can't always be happy and you can't be like a Pollyanna. I said, what?
Melissa Lapin (26:24.468)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (26:35.222)
Mm -hmm.
bill hobbs (26:40.464)
Why not? You know, I was like, you can't be like, I said, sure. That's how I am. You know, so like, sir, it's kind of cool. Like the because I never when I went to a resurgent, they did prophetic and I got a word or two, but I never had been around that at all. You know, so it was cool how, you know, it was like a permission to be myself, you know, and then just to say, hey, this is and then just being exposed to that and realizing.
Melissa Lapin (26:41.366)
Why not?
Melissa Lapin (26:45.814)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (27:10.384)
that everybody hears from God and stuff. And that's one of the things that was so, you know, in a lot of churches there's like surge and like there's community, but many churches there's not. They could show up Sunday, they leave and stuff, you know. And it's like we're designed to be like to feed off each other and to be in community, you know. And that's...
Melissa Lapin (27:10.39)
So, um.
Melissa Lapin (27:32.598)
Yeah, so go back, stay there with the prophetic for a little bit. Since you were not, since all that was new to you, I mean, because Surge was just three years ago, two and a half years ago, which for those who don't know, it was a ministry school that our church hosted, sponsored, partnered with for a couple years. But how, what impact,
bill hobbs (27:38.254)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (27:45.006)
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (28:02.454)
did learning the prophetic have on you specifically? I mean, cause I get, you know, we all understand that hearing from God is important and it's doable and totally legal. You know, God speaks to us every day, all day. But you personally, again, coming from like, that's not okay. God, you know, God doesn't speak to us anymore. And all of that, like Holy Spirit not being acknowledged even in denominations and that kind of thing.
bill hobbs (28:11.31)
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (28:31.582)
What did that do to your relationship personally? I mean, like, what did you start hearing? What were some of the things that you heard from the Lord?
bill hobbs (28:42.67)
So it was pretty cool because I was like, I had no interest in going and it was like a prophetic school where they had, you know, it all about a whole bunch of different things, but they had different topics and things. But it was a lot of prophetic, heavy on the prophetic and stuff, you know, so I didn't need, cause you know, Chris Miller and.
Stephanie were like, are you gonna do surge? I'm like, nah, I meet with his pastor every week. I have some friends. I don't need to do this, you know, and stuff. And then then like the night before it started, Holy Spirit kept me up all night. And because I was thinking about sponsoring somebody because Scott said you could sponsor somebody. He's like, no, you need to go. I'm like, okay, you know, Scott, when you.
Melissa Lapin (29:19.762)
Sponsor yourself!
bill hobbs (29:23.342)
So I had no idea what to expect, but it was like even like just the first night, like they think Lacey to sit a little bit about her story. And then the next day, like they they gave a word. Scott or Lacey gave a word for each person. And even that was like, holy cow. You know, I'm just like, and I mean, just amazing. And we'd have things where you'd go and like spend 15 minutes to go around and just switch people and get words for each person and stuff, you know. But it was it was amazing. There's a ton.
different like words I got but just the main thing was like because I was at a point where I was hearing from God but didn't really like share with other people.
Melissa Lapin (30:05.622)
Okay.
bill hobbs (30:06.382)
So I, you know, I never like prayed for somebody in a restaurant. Like the first week at Surge, I was in a restaurant and prayed for somebody or something, you know. And then I would, I would go to like the quick trip and God would say, Hey, this guy needs that. You need to tell him this. You know, so I'd start saying stuff to people and things, which I never like, that was, I would never. No, no. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (30:15.286)
Nice.
Melissa Lapin (30:21.218)
Okay. Well, it's scary for one, but also you weren't taught it, you know? So going from this is wrong, we don't do that, which, you know, a lot of denominations just simply don't even acknowledge the prophetic to being challenged, you know? Cause I mean, I went through the school too and it's like, okay, you have to fail 30 times this week. And you're like, um, what?
bill hobbs (30:38.99)
Oh yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (30:48.886)
You mean I have to actually tell 30 people that I hear the voice of God? Okay, how quickly am I going to be arrested?
bill hobbs (30:54.19)
Yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah and then like Donovan I went out to marry the square one time and and I had never done that but went out and like
I walked up this lady and I told her something about being a lioness and she actually had a lion on her shirt. I didn't know until I got up there and stuff, you know, but and then one time I had, I had a fall about a year and a half ago and was finished playing tennis and I fell head first. I fainted on my head. So on concrete, so I could have died easily. That was like a miracle. And I had like no headaches or anything, but like a week later I went to surge and they had this thing where they're like, okay, go at half the
Melissa Lapin (31:29.046)
Oh, dang.
bill hobbs (31:39.6)
class went out of the room and half the class stays in and then you know the they gave you came back they gave you a shoe and they said okay ask God like you know what his favorite color is his favorite place growing up and then like his favorite toy and immediately God just downloaded three things like blue a lake house and you know
Melissa Lapin (31:50.23)
Mm -hmm.
bill hobbs (32:05.71)
the little army of the GI Joe man, GI Joe thing. And that's exactly what it was. And you're like, wow, you know what I mean? But it was just like the thing. Cool thing about surge was that it's just the it was really an expo like the community because it was only about 20 people. You know, she got you. It was three nights a week, you know, so a couple of nights a week. But you spent a lot of time with them. They had a retreat. Did you guys do a retreat, sir?
Melissa Lapin (32:24.254)
Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.
bill hobbs (32:35.664)
or not? Oh, no, no, it during COVID, I think. Yeah, but we just did like a Friday night to Sunday morning retreat. It was like one of the most powerful, and I've been on men's retreats and stuff and different things. It was like one of the most powerful day and a half of my life, like literally.
Melissa Lapin (32:36.054)
Yeah, our year was during COVID, so they didn't.
Melissa Lapin (32:46.89)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (32:54.454)
So what made it so? What were a couple takeaways for you personally? Other than the fellowship, what did it do to your heart to hear God like that?
bill hobbs (32:57.998)
Um, yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (33:10.766)
Yeah, I think a lot of it was like there were times where like you would just like go to different stations and you would have, you know, you'd pick out a card or something, you know.
And then, you know, they they give you a word for that or something. But even, you know, the there was just so much being loved on and things for who you are and stuff and appreciated. And that's one of the things about, you know, unfortunately, the church doesn't do a good job about like loving and accepting people for where they're at, you know, and just say, you know, I mean, because it's all about, oh, you.
Melissa Lapin (33:31.156)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (33:40.886)
Yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (33:45.23)
You know, you need to change this. It's different. It's like if you're an asshole, I mean, then you need to stop, you know, you need to stop being an asshole, but, but you need to like, but there's so much, you know, the thing about surge and that's the only thing about S okay. I miss there's no like community, you know, um, because, but it is, and, and then the, but the weekend was all about, like we did like, you know,
Melissa Lapin (33:47.508)
Mm -hmm.
Right? There's still accountability.
Melissa Lapin (33:55.99)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (34:04.894)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (34:12.75)
We had a little, like we had some fun stuff and some fun games and stuff, you know, but it was more about just having an opportunity to like, to celebrate each person and stuff. And then the SOK has been like on top of that because a lot of the stuff I knew, but a lot of it, you're kind of like, well, you know, Dub and Ryan gave you like, you know, yeah. And documentation on.
Melissa Lapin (34:21.334)
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Melissa Lapin (34:37.781)
just amplified everything.
Yeah.
bill hobbs (34:42.542)
You know, and especially Ryan's like King Builder class was unbelievable. I mean, that was, you know, because it just gave you and like dub talking about different things because there were there was stuff that you knew. Like people were like, well, yeah, you know, Jesus is OK, but you got to, you know, God has wrath and the Old Testament God and stuff, you know. But then and you know, that's not right in your heart, because that's not who God is. But then he didn't have like the way dub goes through it. He gives you like.
Melissa Lapin (34:46.87)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (35:07.798)
brain.
bill hobbs (35:12.344)
backup information and most people you're not going to tell it to them, but just to have that, that, you know, some people are open to it. Most people are, you know, and, and it's kind of like a 10, like I've been on like a 10 or 12 year journey of finding out who God really is. And we never know. Like we know much about a drop in the ocean about God, but, but just his character and his nature and who he really is that, you know,
Melissa Lapin (35:14.262)
bright.
Melissa Lapin (35:21.558)
bright.
Melissa Lapin (35:34.804)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (35:39.094)
So who is God to you?
bill hobbs (35:41.87)
Yeah, he's like my best friend. Like, and then the fact that the thing is so cool is like the Godhead, like people are like, oh, I'm just a sinner, you know, but it says the fullness of the Godhead resides in you. So Father, Son, Holy Spirit is in you. Like, that's insane. Like, how can you not be, you know, in a great, you know, in a great mood? And I'm not always in a great mood, but I try to host that stuff, you know.
Melissa Lapin (35:44.374)
Yeah?
Melissa Lapin (36:07.83)
Yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (36:10.094)
But it's just like to me, but like I spend I'm in the car a lot looking at the billboard business. I look at billboards. So a lot of times I'll drive around and I'll just listen to God or, you know, I listen to some books on audible and stuff, you know, but a lot of times I just say, God, what's on your heart today? You know, and he'll tell me stuff, different things. Well, today I was listening to Miles Monroe Rediscovering the Kingdom.
Melissa Lapin (36:29.494)
What's he telling you? Did you ask him today? What'd he say to you today?
Okay.
bill hobbs (36:38.766)
Because and the cool thing about like not only like the school with Dub is like, you know, you have Ryan and Dub, but also the people that he's like said, hey, you may want to get this book, you know, like a more Christ like God, a more Christ like word. And then I. And then he had this one guy, forgot his name. He had long hair. He's a pastor somewhere like a long beard or something. I get New York.
Melissa Lapin (36:50.036)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (36:54.942)
Mm -hmm. Yeah, Brad's Brad Jerzak stuff. Yeah
Melissa Lapin (37:05.718)
In New York, the guy, the, ugh, yeah, I can't think of his name.
bill hobbs (37:09.806)
Oh, but I got his book. It is so good. Like, you know, I read it and I was like, one part I was running, I started crying because it's just like so, so like it's just like the it's we're kind of on a lifelong journey of like, you know, believing what God believes.
Melissa Lapin (37:13.206)
It is really good.
bill hobbs (37:28.59)
Like Dub says, I don't want to like believe what I want to believe what God says and believe what I forgot about what he what the thing is. But it but it's all about like we have so many thoughts that aren't what God thinks, you know, and usually about ourselves. And then like.
Melissa Lapin (37:34.494)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (37:41.194)
Oh my god, so many. Yeah. Are you familiar with Baxter Kruger? C. Baxter Kruger? Have you listened to his, since you're able to listen to things, have you listened to his teachings called The Three Chairs?
bill hobbs (37:49.868)
Oh yeah. Yeah, but uh...
bill hobbs (37:55.822)
Mm.
bill hobbs (38:00.686)
I'm no, no. It's good. Okay. Okay.
Melissa Lapin (38:02.134)
Bro, listen, it's on YouTube. Literally, I've listened, there's three different teachings and they're all like an hour and a half each, because they were at some conference, but it's called the three chairs. There's a couple guys that have bootlegged it, you know, and kind of started teaching it as well. Like Leif Hetland has a version of it and he actually wrote a book about it too. Yeah, okay, well, Baxter,
bill hobbs (38:13.07)
Okay. Okay. Okay. You're right there.
bill hobbs (38:21.942)
Okay.
bill hobbs (38:27.63)
I actually read the book that serves the one that, yeah, the three.
Melissa Lapin (38:31.926)
Baxter Kruger's is from 10 years ago and it is flipping phenomenal. And I think it's right up your alley. It's just beautiful the way it talks about the Trinity and like how we have such bad theology because we separate Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you know? And even the fact that
bill hobbs (38:35.31)
Okay.
bill hobbs (38:56.43)
Oh yeah.
Melissa Lapin (38:59.254)
Even if we do believe in the Trinity, we still keep them way out here, you know, and we don't get it in our head that they're in us, you know? And we're in them, just like Jesus said, you know, I in you, you in me, and they need to be in us, and you know, we're a thing, you know? But.
bill hobbs (39:10.03)
Oh yeah, and us, yeah.
bill hobbs (39:16.078)
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. The cool thing about that is like knowledge. We're in him, but he's in us. So we have dual citizenship and like your seat at the father's right hand. So if you look to the left, you'll just be blown away and almost get killed by his glory, you know, because that and that's like when Jesus went up to the Mount of Transfiguration and when they were looking for him and he said, I am he and they fell backwards.
Melissa Lapin (39:28.182)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (39:34.088)
Haha.
bill hobbs (39:45.358)
I think they all died and Jesus had to raise them. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, but the the just the cool thing is it's just so easy to live with Jesus. Yeah. And the the he's like my best friend, older brother or whatever. Yeah. But they they make it religion makes it sound like so hard, like you got to take six steps to this.
Melissa Lapin (39:45.398)
Mm -hmm.
resurrect it back. Yeah, just the just the power of his presence. Yeah, and the glory. Yeah.
bill hobbs (40:15.278)
You know, um, you know, just, or even like speaking in tongues is if you just start saying, if he says, he'll give you everything. So if you just want to speak in tongues, you know, my, Alan, the guy I make with every years ago, I didn't speak in tongues. And he was like, well, just start praying, you know, go out to the plane and start praying and say, God, I want to speak in tongues, start praying and just, you know, whatever. And then I started speaking in tongues and stuff, you know, and then, um,
You know, the the cool thing is though, the more we like there's been a lot of like the prophetic stuff. Like one time he was showing me that I had a dream. I was iron a shirt and I was trying to get the wrinkles out and I kept on iron is like, I was like, there's one wrinkle left and I can't get it out. And he's like, no, stop ironing. You don't need to iron. There's no wrinkles at all. You're perfect. You're the shirt. Totally perfect. You know, um.
Melissa Lapin (41:08.308)
Hmm.
bill hobbs (41:12.238)
You know, and then I also the Allen, one of the most impactful things, like some of the thing that pickups for me is like the Jesus is I am he's not I was where I'm going to be is like living in the present moment. Like the two things that for me have been key is like living in the present moment. And then the other thing is a willingness to change. Those two things are huge because like a lot of people, I'll try to like people who knew me before.
I went through this transition like 12 years ago or whatever is when it started. They'd see me like, man, you look so good. You don't even age. You know, it's like, you know, you look great. You know, and I tell him all you got to do is believe Jesus, you know, when he says and I tell him stuff and I'm like,
That's not right. You know, you know, and they wouldn't believe it, even though, you know, your testimony is that. And then the other thing that Alan told me one time, this analogy of the three movie theaters, which was really impactful. So maybe that'll make an impact to you or anybody else listening to this. But he said that there's three movie theaters. So you're walking down the road. And you see three movie theaters.
And the first one they say free popcorn and cokes and beer. So you go in there and then you walk in and you take a seat, you get your popcorn and your beer and you're drinking it. You're eating and it starts playing in the movie is your past. So it's called the Bill's past and it's every mistake you ever made in your entire life. So you're like, man, this is
Melissa Lapin (42:50.358)
Which is why you need the beer. No, she can't.
bill hobbs (42:53.87)
So after a call minutes you're like you get up and you run out there and you miss the second you see the third one and you say Bill story I go in there, you know, so you sit down and this one there's a barker outside before you go in and they say free lobster and champagne and Steak so you go in there and then you're running that one. You're like, oh, I'm get that you get it They bring you a big lobster a steak and champagne and it starts playing and it's called Bill's future. You're like, oh this will be
good movie my future and then it starts playing and it's even worse than the past because it's your future but it's predicated on every mistake you've ever made in your past.
And it's more of the same, but it's even worse. So you're like, oh, shit. So you run out there and your hair's on fire and you say, oh, I missed the second one. And all that is is Jesus is sitting in front of it says, hey, this is this is the present moment. Come in here with me. So you go in the present moment, you sit down and he's sitting down there with you. And all it is is the present moment and you live each. He's like, you can live in the present moment with me. And it's just, you know, the best moments of your life. And it's as your.
Melissa Lapin (43:38.134)
Wow.
Hahaha.
Melissa Lapin (44:02.838)
Hmm.
bill hobbs (44:05.104)
living them and just being grateful and full of joy and just rejoicing through. And that's him with you. And he said, if you stay in this theater, you're going to be it's going to be amazing. It's not always going be perfect, but it's going to be amazing because I'm. Yeah, you get whatever you want. Yeah, but but it's it's it's all about the present, you know, because when you told me that, I'm like, I thought I'm like, I never was in the present moment before I met him, you know, because it was all about.
Melissa Lapin (44:09.48)
Wow.
Melissa Lapin (44:19.478)
But you still get the beer and popcorn though, right?
Melissa Lapin (44:26.71)
Wow.
Melissa Lapin (44:32.854)
Yeah. Well, it's hard because we just live, especially in our society, in the US, and I guess most of the world too, we're always looking for tomorrow. We work for tomorrow. We work because we know bills are coming. We...
bill hobbs (44:35.022)
Yeah, oh yeah. You know, even... Yeah.
bill hobbs (44:48.654)
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (44:53.27)
make connections because we know we're gonna need something in the future. We eat because we wanna be alive tomorrow. Everything we do now is based on the future, like you said, predicated with the past. It's like in The Scrooge when McFar, what's his, not McFarlie.
bill hobbs (45:00.206)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (45:15.406)
Oh yeah.
I forgot his name.
Melissa Lapin (45:20.118)
Yeah, not McFarley, but whatever. Yeah, McFarley comes and he's dragging, you know, eight miles of chain. Like, we feel like we have to drag our past with us. And we, we cannot.
bill hobbs (45:25.998)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (45:32.75)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (45:37.046)
be the ticker that we need to be when we're dragging an Eeyore complex with us. You know? It's like, yeah, shit happen. You cannot, we have got to learn to give ourself grace. You know? In the videos that I was talking about with Baxter Kruger, uh,
bill hobbs (45:40.814)
Hmm.
bill hobbs (45:45.102)
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
bill hobbs (45:56.686)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (46:03.924)
putting all the Trinity and stuff. The one statement that he said, and actually Shana posted it. I think she posted it in the alumni. I don't think she posted it in the other SOK group. But he made the statement that we're not sinners in the hands of an angry God. God is in the hands of angry sinners. Is that not brilliant?
bill hobbs (46:26.254)
Oh, that's really good. Yeah. Well, that is true. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Melissa Lapin (46:30.294)
Because it's exactly true. Like we have such a misconception of who God is and Jesus and Holy Spirit, you know, that we're like, no, you're gonna punish me. And he's like, no, I'm not. And we're like, yes, you are. You can't just let me get away with this. And he's like, I already did, you know? So, oh, good stuff.
bill hobbs (46:38.318)
That's really good. Yeah. Oh yeah.
bill hobbs (46:46.126)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (46:53.102)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (46:59.574)
So as we wind down, I know we just kind of, that was a great analogy. What encouragement or words of wisdom, not from someone else, but from Mr. Bill Hobbs, from your journey over the last couple of years, really getting to know yourself and through the eyes of God.
bill hobbs (47:13.838)
Mm -hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
bill hobbs (47:24.204)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (47:27.658)
in Jesus and Holy Spirit, what would be some words of wisdom or encouragement that you'd like to leave our listeners?
bill hobbs (47:35.054)
Okay. Yeah. The most important thing to me is just the fact that, you know, God is always pleased with you exactly how you are. Like he, he loves you and likes you the way you are, regardless of what you do, you know, and even when you totally blow it, that he's just madly in love with you, you know, kind of like when you had a, um, you know, if you have like your first, um,
Melissa Lapin (47:42.42)
Mmm.
bill hobbs (48:02.094)
you know, crush, you're like almost like a stalker. He's like a stalker in a good way. You know, like, I mean, he just he just is running after you all the time saying, hey, you know, what about this? This is what I think about you, you know. And then the other thing, too, is just the how important like just any negative thought that, you know, is is not our inheritance, like anything negative. We all get negative thoughts that come in. But like the the thoughts.
Melissa Lapin (48:05.366)
Hehehehehe
bill hobbs (48:31.662)
really do create your life. And the more I've learned from, SIRS was just like two and a half years ago, I guess, or something. And then SOK was last year and this year. So just in the last two and a half years, as I've gone through that, I've learned more about who God is, how much I'm loved, and the truth, the more of the truth I heard, the better my life has gotten. The...
Melissa Lapin (48:42.742)
Barely two years, yeah.
bill hobbs (48:58.542)
The more money I've made, I've been able to help other people, be more generous and stuff, things like that. And the more impact I've had just going up to people on the street and saying, God will put something in my heart and then you'll say something or do something or give them a little bit of money and they'll be like, oh, I just needed this. That's just what I needed and stuff. Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (49:20.852)
Mm hmm. Yeah, and the cool thing is, like, we can do those things out of genuineness of seeing someone else through God's eyes versus a religious act of, oh, if I bless that person, God will bless me. You know, like, like a give and take kind of thing. And it's like, no, you do it.
bill hobbs (49:36.11)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
bill hobbs (49:42.734)
Yeah, uh -huh. Yes. How we in?
Melissa Lapin (49:49.43)
out of love, not out of obligation or fear of punishment. You know, it's because we had somebody extremely wealthy, millions times over wealthy people in our lives. And the husband had a revelation because he would give they were very generous. But his aha moment one time, not too long ago was
bill hobbs (49:51.15)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (49:54.926)
Mm -hmm.
Melissa Lapin (50:18.646)
giving, he always just gave out an obligation because it's what you do. And, but he gave because, and his heart was still positioned in a way that it was the right thing to do. Right. So he didn't feel bad about it. He didn't, he wasn't bitter toward God that like, you're making me give this money or whatever. He didn't feel poorer.
bill hobbs (50:22.062)
Okay.
bill hobbs (50:26.734)
Mm -hmm.
bill hobbs (50:33.292)
Mm.
bill hobbs (50:41.838)
Amen.
Melissa Lapin (50:46.102)
after the fact, he just did it because it was an obligation as a Christian to give away money. And then he had this complete encounter with the Lord that he gets to give because he saw this need the way Jesus saw it. And it was the most beautiful thing. And I think, like you're saying, once we understand the goodness of God,
bill hobbs (51:07.342)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (51:14.87)
that he's for us and not against us, that he's good, kind and loving, and that he just wants to hang out with us, we get to do these things with a kingdom heart and passion versus I have to do this out of religious obligation. You know? And I think that's, I think that's beautiful. I think that's really good.
bill hobbs (51:23.502)
Yeah.
bill hobbs (51:38.318)
Yeah. Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah.
bill hobbs (51:43.438)
Yeah.
Melissa Lapin (51:44.246)
So for those of you listening, if you have any questions about anything you heard, contact me and I'll hook you up with Bill and you guys can go have coffee. Um, or I'll have coffee with you, but I think we're gonna, I think we're gonna land the plane there because that's, that's food for thought and some stuff to chew on, you know, just to, just to understand how much God loves you. That's, we could talk on that all day long.
So, but thank you Bill for coming on here, taking time out of your schedule and just to tell a little part of your story and you know, I don't know who's gonna hear it, but somebody will somewhere around the world and I know they're gonna be blessed.
bill hobbs (52:31.798)
Thank you.
Melissa Lapin (52:33.014)
Yeah, yeah. So I want to thank all the listeners for being here with us today. Again, if you have any questions, anything we talked about that you want to address, you can email me. If you're Karen, I will not email you back. But if you want to have an honest dialogue, I'm open with that. I'm cool with that. Thanks for listening and...
Any information for contact will be in the show notes. And if this is your first time, thanks for being here. If it is not your first time, thanks for coming back. And I would appreciate some feedback on any of the platforms that you listen. And that helps me stay in the algorithm of people finding after the well and hearing.
the wonderful stories of my friends. So enjoy life in the present, whatever you're doing.
