Chris Grainger
Host
00:03
Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I’m your host, chris Granger. Let’s jump in. All right, guys, meet up a so time. This is going to be a go one. Before we go too far, though, let’s get into our scripture this week. So we got one verse this week in the book of Romans, chapter eight, verse 18. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that would be revealed in us. So, guys, if you missed the spiritual kickoff, go back, check that out. It’s been a lot of time unpacking that one verse. Okay.
00:35
Now today’s episode is going to be a little different. Okay, I was able to connect with Sergeant Ike Brown and had a wonderful conversation with him. I’ll tell you what he is just a just a warm soul. Guys, I’m telling you his story is going to shock you. It’s going to be one of the stories that you’re just not going to believe, and I’m telling you, saying that here in him, tell it, and the way that he has just full of joy, even when he gets through the dark parts of the story. There’s no words to put around it. I mean, ike is a man in law enforcement. For 38 years, guys. He has been out there on the streets of Jacksonville doing his thing, keeping people safe, and what he went through I pray no one ever has to walk through that losing a child, in particular the way that Ike lost his child.
01:18
So, fellas, sit back, because it’s not just the way he lost his child but how he responded in that loss that really makes an impact. We have a choice. So you may be going through a dark season of life right now, or going through some serious trials, or recently had some losses. This is going to be a conversation that should encourage you. This should actually give you some hope. That should be able to lift you up. Is it going to answer all your questions? No, it’s not, but at least it will show you how one individual chose to follow God and to listen and be obedient to the Holy Spirit and how that has led to taking from that point of loss to so much joy in his life. So enjoy this conversation with Sergeant Ike, all right. So, ike, welcome to the Lion with them is how you doing today. I am fantastic, fantastic. That is a good day. It is a good day.
Isaac Brown
Guest
02:14
there in Florida it is just about 95 degrees right about now, so it’s wonderful.
Chris Grainger
Host
02:21
It’s wonderful I hear you, I hear you. I have been looking forward to having a conversation with you, ike, and just your story. It moved me greatly. When I met with Pastor Joby, we talked about it a lot and before we get into all that the heavy stuff, maybe give us a fun fact about you that not many people know, ike. So what’s something that you enjoy doing or a fun fact that’s getting?
Isaac Brown
Guest
02:43
our list started. I’ll tell you, yesterday was our 31st wedding anniversary and we love Orlando, me and my wife. So we spent the weekend, and daughter and some friends, in Orlando at the water park. Now, I can’t swim, but I love that water, and so I’m the only guy in this big old pool and wave with this big vest on. But, man, I’m having a blast and they get a kick out of it every time they see me with that vest on. But I can’t swim, but I love the water.
Chris Grainger
Host
03:21
And something like you got a good wife too.
Isaac Brown
Guest
03:22
31 years, that’s a good milestone 31 years together and I’m like who would have imagined? You know, we’ve been together for 33, married for 31, and it’s just been a joy, absolute joy, that is wonderful, that is absolutely wonderful.
Chris Grainger
Host
03:39
Well, you know, I know we’re going to get into a lot of things here with your testimony, but maybe even before you get into everything that Pastor Joby wrote about in the book, give us a little bit about your personal testimony how you came to find the Lord and what did that look like for you growing up.
Isaac Brown
Guest
03:55
Well, you know, growing up, my mother always made sure we was in church. I mean, before she was born again. She made us go. You know she would drop us off and tell us we’ve been that, come out until the third was over. So I grew up in church. You know pretty much, you know all my life. Then, thank God, my mom, you know, accepted Christ and she was born again.
04:21
And you know, I grew up in a, in a Pentecostal church. You know, we got there early in the morning and we stayed till late in the evening and then we had night service. So we’d come back at seven at night and, man, sometimes we were in there till midnight. You know, I mean all day, every day we’d fall asleep. But man, we just, we just grew up in church, you know, loving and praising God. And so I accepted Christ at an early age. And I tell people I’ve been born again just about all my life, but I really got born again. I would, I would say in 2000,. You know that, that I really found my way, you know, and really established a relationship with God. You know, I knew, I knew who he was and and but I just didn’t have that relationship, like so many of us I would. I would call on him when I needed him, when I was in a little trouble and then when things were going good. Well, you know he was, I knew he was there, you know, but a lot of times it’s it’s it’s when we’re in trouble or we need something, and we, we called. And it didn’t dawn on me, until I really established a relationship, that every time I went to the God, it was give me, lord. I need you know, lord, I need this Lord, I need that Lord, I need finances, lord, you know, and I was just sitting one day and I’m like man, every time I go to God I’m begging for something, you know, begging for something. Not once have I said thank you for what you’ve already done, thank you for what you’re doing. You know it was. It was like he was like the God of, of give me, you know, and. And once I really I found myself in a Bible based church and really got to listen and hear that word, and and I tell you, it was like the words were jumping off the pages and and I realized that man, you know, I just and and you know, I grew up. You know my pastor, you know he was as we say, he was old school and you know they mainly preached fine brimstone and, and they really preach you know that word of. You know how to live and never really taught it. You know they would. We would jump and scream and shout and run and and, and somebody would say, man, how was service? And I was like man, pastor killed it. Today, you know what do you preach on man? I don’t know, but it was good, you know. You know it was, you know it was, it was real good, you know, you know. But we jumped and ran and shout all day, you know, but nothing was really settling in the heart. You know the really listening. And early 2000,.
07:00
My former pastor, michael T Smith. He started a church here in Jacksonville and a friend of mine. Every time I would talk with him on the phone he was, I could hear the CD playing and I and I’m like man, you listening to this, this Michael T again. And he said, yeah, man, he said you got to come and visit. This is how he described it. He said he is the baddest white boy in town. He’s 27 years old and and I said, okay, I’ll come and visit.
07:30
And I walked in one Sunday in the church, was about three months old and they still had sheet rock on the wall, we had beach chairs to sit in, we had a boombox for the, for the praise team. And here comes this young guy out there and the first thing he says is I love good preacher and I love the jumping shot, but if I don’t share something that’s going to change in here, you saw a failure as a pastor that, right there, blew my, blew my mind, you know. And then he opened that word and he taught the word and I’m telling you, chris, I heard it. I mean, the words jumped off and I was blown away from that moment. You know, he didn’t. He didn’t yell and scream, he didn’t jump on the pews, he didn’t go to his knees and put his hand behind his ear like we like to do.
08:22
He taught that word and I was blown away and I couldn’t wait to get home and my wife was out of town and when she come back I’m like hey, you got to go to this, this church, with me and we went with the kids. She was ready to join the first day. You know. She said let’s join. I said, well, let’s come a couple more times and make sure you know this is it. And I tell you, after about a month we went up to join, you know, and for 13 years we served under Pastor Mike. We grew, I just learned so much. He was there for me, even with my son and stuff going on, when the trial and stuff started he was there and it was just wonderful.
09:09
And we were there one Sunday and he was preaching and he said and Paul was, was here for a short period of time and then he moved somewhere else. And then he preached here for six months and he moved somewhere else. And I looked at my wife and I said I said Pastor Mike, for the leave us. She’s like what are you talking about? I’m like he’s from the leave us. I say I hear it, you know.
09:32
And after the end of that sermon here now, as they were moving back to Atlanta, and I tell you I was crushed, I’m like what am I going to do? You know where can I go? I know I’m getting this word and I’m asking God and I kind of would just look at the DVDs or past sermons. You know, nobody could just do it like him and I would see church 1122 everywhere. I’d see it on the stickers on the back of cars and I’m like, what is? What is this 1122? And I’m like, what is this 1122? And, lord and behold, on the same street I live on, they started a church there. It was a it was an empty building there.
10:14
It looked like it used to be a school or something, and I saw the sign said 1122. And I’m like, well, I not only put it right here on my street, I’m talking two minutes if I drive, six minutes if I walk. And I tell you, I stepped in there and I heard Pastor Jobe and he reminded me so much of Pastor Mike where he taught, he teaches that word. And I mean you, you understand it and I’m like you got it, he got it. You know, he got it, he got it. It was, it was fantastic and I was. I was hooked from then on, you know, and so it’s been an absolute joy, it’s been amazing.
Chris Grainger
Host
10:55
Absolutely. And I tell you what, as a as a fellow Pastor Jobe follower, I think I was hooked. After about five minutes of the first sermon I ever heard improved I mean, it’s just now I listen on an average of probably two to three sermons per week of his. I’m back in 2016 in the archives, you know so you. I am curious. I’m curious for you. You mentioned 2000. Something changed with your relationship. So what, what was it? And around 2000, it changed for you.
Isaac Brown
Guest
11:25
Well, you know, I think that was when the Pastor Mike started the church of Jacksonville my former pastor, okay, and it was. It was the day I I walked in there and I really began to to hear that word and I realized that, you know, I knew God, but I don’t know if he knew me. You know, I knew about him, you know, I knew he, I could call on him. I knew certain things in the word, like you know, he said he’d never leave us and he’d never forsake us and I knew that when I was in trouble, you know as bad as I was, he loved me and he always bailed me out, you know. And then I would feel guilty, you know, I’m like man, you know I haven’t prayed all week and little trouble come and I mean I’m laid out like David, you know, I’m God, I’m screaming, I’m, you know, and I could only imagine him sitting there shaking his head like let me help this boy out again. You know, maybe he’ll get it sooner or later, you know, and he just always sold me mercy and that’s when I began to really have a relationship, to really call on him, and I think one of my finest moments I was praying and I said, lord, today, I’m not asking you for anything. I said today, I’m just saying thank you, you know, for your goodness and your grace. And I tell you that that really just touched me.
12:58
You know I was so excited Just to say God, I thank you. You know, I was. You know, instead of asking. You know my prayer. You know it’s saying enter into the courts with thanksgiving and you know just praise and the gates of praise and the courts. And you know, and I always enter with Lord, I need something. Lord, give me this, Lord. You know this. You know, lord, you know I need rent money. And Lord, you know what. I was always asking for something. I never started with praise and thanksgiving. I was praying wrong, you know, and you know I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t follow in that, that scripture. You know, I just jump head in with I need this, I need that.
13:39
You know, and I was so excited when I say to the day, lord, I just want to say thank you, you know, for all you did. And I tell you, from that day to this one, he has really been with me. We have a relationship. I could talk to him while I’m cutting the grass. I can talk to him while I’m on a run. I can talk to him when I’m walking, even when I’m at work. You know, I didn’t. I don’t have to go in and hide a minute, I can be conducting my business and I just take a moment to remember him and let him know. I thank him and I tell you that’s when I really begin to grow in Christ.
Chris Grainger
Host
14:17
That’s a beautiful story and it speaks to the importance of having that relationship, I mean, and it also speaks to the importance guys out there that are listening If you don’t have a church body that you’re connected with, you can’t do this alone. I mean, why do you keep trying to be disconnected from the body? You know, if you need to have a local group of men and a local church that are helpful and you closer to God and I’m just blessed by what you’re sharing here because so many of us treat God as that vending machine. We want to pop that prayer up when we need something and we’re going to roll on with it because we got this, the rest of them, we got this right and he is not vending machine.
Isaac Brown
Guest
14:52
I heard the pastor say he ran into a member in church and he said you know, hey, I haven’t seen you in a while. And the member said yeah, I’m going through something right now, but when I get it together I’m going to come back. And he said well, see, that’s where you’re wrong. You ain’t never going to get it together. That’s right. You come on back in this church and together we’ll get it together. But so many times we try to fix it and I never forgot that he said when I get it together, I’m coming right back. But realizing that the answer is back in that fold Because, like you just said, we can’t do it alone. You need help along the way in this journey.
Chris Grainger
Host
15:35
Whenever I hear people say that, I always point them to the first word in their sentence, because you said, the guy says I got to get it together, but then you started to send us with I. You missed it, it ain’t by us. That’s right, it’s by him. So stop trying to figure your stuff out, because you ain’t never going to get this thing together called life while you’re here.
Isaac Brown
Guest
15:54
So you got that right. I’m like God, you don’t understand. I got to do this, that’s right, that’s right. Now. I just laugh at myself and I’m like, oh my God, it’s a wonder I got anything answered.
Chris Grainger
Host
16:07
I know, I know he got to yell at me sometimes I get death it seems like but I know you have a powerful story. We’re going to take a quick break and we’re going to get in. Guys, you’re not going to believe this story. So I mean, this is not to get you to come back, because you should be hanging out anyway, but seriously, hang out from this break and we’ll be right back with Ike and it’s going to really get real. So be right back. Fellas.
16:32
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17:31
Thank you for sharing about your testimony. It was great to hear that. I totally get where you’re at now. I can see the spirit and it speaks to importance of a Bible teaching and preaching church and pastor. So you got to make sure you prioritize that. But, if you don’t mind, you have a powerful story of testimony that I know that you share with a lot of people. I just wanna get out the way personally and just to give you the platform you share with how the spirit leads you and I’m just thankful for you taking the time to do this with us.
Isaac Brown
Guest
18:02
Oh, absolutely. Let me say in the beginning and I tell people before I talk if I get the opportunity to speak or share with that trust me, I’m not special, I’m like everybody else. I’ve been in law enforcement. Last month was 38 years and I’m still in law enforcement. I’m a police sergeant and I always said if you hurt one of my children, it didn’t matter that I was the police, it didn’t matter that I was born again, I was gonna get you. I convinced myself that’s what God wanted. I’m gonna pay you back. And so I’m pretty much, I imagine, just like everybody else. They say the same thing man, you hurt one of mine.
18:52
And, being an officer, I’ve been on scene after scene where a young man or a young woman have lost their life. I don’t care if we’re in the middle of the city or the middle of the woods. People show up and usually the word is gonna get to the family and the family is gonna show up and of course we have a perimeter and we have to keep them back. And you see that family there and my job is to try to preserve the scene and collect evidence or talk to witnesses. And that mother is looking at her child laying in the middle of the road and I could hear her saying why is he laying there? And we can’t cover him up, we can’t move him on a mattress or spread, he has to lay there. And I could hear them saying that asphalt is hot. It’s hot, although he’s no longer and it’s heartbreaking. And I’ve heard some say he don’t even care, he’s just doing his job, he don’t care, and it’s heartbreaking. So I’ve seen that time and time again.
20:02
And when I lost my son, I learned that I don’t care if your son was killed robbing the convenience store, that’s still somebody’s child, that’s their baby. No, he wasn’t raised like that, but that’s still your baby and you love him just like I love mine. So, but I never thought that knock would come at my door. This is stuff that happens to other people, it happens in other cities, but I was exempt. I just never even imagined it. And my son me and his mother was a previous relationship and the first one he was to go off in college and I’ll never forget, before he left, me and him played a game of Madden on the video game, madden football and he beat me 100 to nothing and I could still right now hear him laugh. And I mean he laughed and I looked at him with a straight, stern face and I said, son, as long as you live you would never beat me like that again.
21:09
So he goes back to college, I go buy me a video game and I’m practicing. You know, I’m getting it together, you know, and you know when he would come home, you know, and he’d love to get together and go visit some of his friends in high school buddies. And I said, you know, hey, when you come back you wake me up. I don’t care if it’s 3 am, I don’t care, whatever I say, we got a game to play and he would laugh and he’s like you act, like you know how to play. And he didn’t know I had bought me a video game and I was practicing. You know, and Lord of the Holes, you know, we never got to finish that game, we never got to play it again. But hopefully, you know, maybe they got a old video game sitting in the corner of heaven that maybe we can go at it one more time. You know, but that’s right.
21:55
But sure enough, you know early one Wednesday morning, may 27th, that that knock was on my door. You know, you kind of halfway waking up, because I’d get up around about that time to go to work, you know, and I’m like, who is? Who is at the door, you know? And I open the door and I see my sergeant, and I see my lieutenant and I see my chief and I’m telling you, nothing really dawned on me. But behind my chief I saw our chaplain, the police chaplain, and when I saw the chaplain, the first thing I said was hey, chaplain, why are you here?
22:30
And I remember going through the academy. They had a block in there where the chaplain would come out and he would speak. And I’m talking 20 years had passed, but I remember him coming out speaking to us in the academy and he talked about death notices. You know, I’ve made a thousand death notices in my career and when you see me come, you know I’m the messenger of death. And even when he retired they wrote a big story on him. You know, a great, great man, but it was called the messenger of death. And so when I saw him, that was the first thing, you know, popped in my mind. You know, the messenger of death, you know. And that’s when I said why are you here? Why are you here, chaplain? And then my sergeant, you know, spoke and he told me you know, my son was killed.
23:21
And you know, when I tell you, you’re kind of standing there like what did you just say, yeah, you know, my son was killed, no, he just went. You know he doesn’t have his friends, you know he’s with his mom and you know he’s a good boy. You know what do you mean. He’s killed, you know. And of course you know, I get my wife and you know I wake her up and tell her and we’re just in unbelief. You know that this could happen. You know, it’s like it’s not supposed to happen to us. So I’m kind of like in shock and I’m kind of like staring off in space. And of course, you know, we’re overcome with emotions and tears and you know, and I’m like, oh, my God, you know, what are we going to do?
24:05
And I thought about his mother, you know, you know that was. That was her only son, you know. And my sergeant said, you know, they hadn’t notified her. So they took me to notify her and she was at work and you know we would communicate. But she knew, when she saw me at work, you know, I mean the minute she saw me. She said you know, is it easy? You know, and I think just to look on my face I couldn’t even probably get the words out and she collapsed and it was just so heartbreaking.
24:41
You know to when you’re telling a mother that her child has been killed, you know, and I tell people, you know, if it was a car accident it’s more understandable. If it was a sickness, you know you could kind of deal with it a little better. You know. But to be shot, you know my son never, you know, messed with guns and I’d never been in trouble and you know I never thought gun violence, you know, to die such a terrible way.
25:11
Visiting a friend playing a video game, you know when he passed, you know he died immediately and still sitting in a chair and the remote is still in his hand. You know, and that’s how quick you know it was over, you know. So you get this news and I tell you man, it is just, it is a mess and I don’t know what to expect. I do know in law enforcement nothing happens in a hurry. You know you’re charged with a crime and they have a lot of hearings and the hearing can be five minutes. You come out, they put it all for too much, you know, and that’s it. You know, two months later you show back up. They ask for a continuance. You know another two months.
26:01
So literally this went on. Most of the time he didn’t even. You know, he stayed in the cell. His attorney would stand in for him because it was gonna be quick. They wasn’t discussing anything. You know and I know the process. But the other families, you know, they don’t know. You know they want justice, they want it right now. You know, but it took, you know, over three years before it actually went to trial.
26:27
You know, and so I’m sitting there. You know, I was there for every hearing and because I’m in law enforcement, you know, every time I would come to the courthouse, you know all the guys, the supervisors, they all love me, but they would have to pull me aside, they would have to pat me down. You know, make sure I didn’t have any weapons and I understood that and you know, then we’d go into the courtroom. You know, and I tell you I was set on revenge. I was thinking about okay, how am I gonna jump across this counter? Can I get to him? You know, before they get me, you know, I know I’m gonna end up getting arrested. I mean all kind of stuff just running through your mind.
27:11
And I’m telling you, chris, I’m sitting in that courtroom and he walks out and you know he’s 19 years old. He is now at the time of the trial. He was 19 when it started. He’s now 22, 23 years old and he’s clean-shaven. You know, when this happened he had, you know, long, long dreads. You know, not a bad kid, not a bad kid, never really been in any trouble. He graduated high school. He was running back in high school. He had football. You know scholarship offers. You know football didn’t have a father in his life. Great mother, you know, didn’t have to be out doing anything wrong. You know, just overall good kid. But I’m telling you, he walks out and I look at him and I loved him. I loved him immediately. It was no years later. I loved him, it was immediate. I could not explain it. I still can’t explain it. You know, in the beginning they were talking. You know death penalty and different things they were gonna do and.
28:24
I didn’t want that. I remember talking to the state and I said you know, I don’t want him to die. And they said we love you, we’re gonna get him. And I said, well, he’s already got, you know. But you know, if he had a family, you know they could come visit him, you know. And so I didn’t want that. What I wasn’t thinking about was three other families in that courtroom, you know, it was not just me. There was Jeffrey, one of my son’s, you know, best friend Jeffrey, jeffrey Hicks, you know, and Jeffrey was an only child, you know, so his family’s in there. And then Gavin, gavin Barry, that was the one they were visiting, and you know so his family in that courtroom. And of course there’s DeCoria, so his family’s in there. So that’s three families plus mine. So you got four families.
29:18
You got a lot of emotions, you got all kinds of stuff going on in your head. So it was tough and everything I did, you know, from forgiveness, I was hurting somebody, you know, I was hurting my family and I didn’t realize it, you know, and they were angry and I was asking God, you know what’s wrong with me. You know what kind of father am I. You know, how can I love him? You know he killed my son, you know, and what do I mean? I forgive him. What do I mean? I love him and I could not help what was happening in here. But the hurt part was I was hurting my family, you know. My children were upset, you know, my wife was upset, you know, and I would literally go sit by myself and I’m asking God. You know, god, I’m hurting everybody. You know, if I ask not to get the death penalty, I’m hurting these other families. You know, and I’m like you know, everything I do is wrong.
30:31
You know what is going on, you know, and I would literally, you know, and I tell people I never asked why, I never, you know, blame God. I never said God, why did you allow it to happen? The only why I had was why have I forgiven him? Why do I feel the way I feel? Why do I love him? Why do I wanna let him live? Why do I wanna go up and hug him? You know, that was my only why. You know, god, I’m hurting all the people I love, you know, and I don’t even, I can’t even explain it. You know, and you know, as time went on, and I would go visit, you know, and my wife would say you just honor our son, you just honor him. You know he doesn’t deserve to breathe the air and it broke my heart.
31:25
You know, because you know, I’m going to visit him and I know it’s hurting her, you know, and she’s a step mom, you know, I can only imagine how his mother felt, you know, and all I could say was I’m sorry, you know, and I would go visit and we would have, you know, a great relationship. But before we got to that part, you know, he’s found guilty two counts of first degree murder, one count of a tipped first degree murder, the third boy, the one they were visiting, he lived, and so they let the families get up and speak.
32:07
You know, one after the other you know, I’m sitting there and, and you know, you know Gavin’s family get up and speak, and Jeffery’s family, and one after the other. You know I hate you. You know I, you know I want you dead, I want you to burn in hell. You know I want to kill you and and and you have a young, a young man sitting there on that stand and and everybody getting up hate you. You know, they scream it out and he’s sitting there with tears in his eyes and I’m telling you, the more I, the more I looked at him, the more I loved him, the more they said I, I hate you, the more I loved him, the more they said I want you to die, the more I wanted to, to hug him.
32:49
It was like I wanted to shield him, you know, from all of this, and I couldn’t. I couldn’t even explain it. You know, I couldn’t even explain it. You know when I’m sitting there and and you know some of the headlines, you know, as a, you know a police officer’s son was, was killed. So there’s cameras in the in the courtroom, and then you know I get up to to speak.
Chris Grainger
Host
33:10
Mr, hold on before you. Before you get this far, let’s take a quick break and be right back. Guys, are you ready to unlock your true potential? Introducing 30 days to unleash the lion with them, a revolutionary series that will transform you into the leader God intends you to be. In just 30 days, you’ll embark on a journey of self discovery and growth.
33:34
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Isaac Brown
Guest
34:34
I get up to the mic to speak and I tell him. I said, first of all, I want you to know that forgiveness was not even an issue that’s dark, you know. I said, unfortunately, man, it’ll be a long time, you know. But I say, as long as you make it right with God, you’re all right. You know, you ask forgiveness of him. He’s going to forgive you. You do it from a sincere heart and you’re good to go. You know, I said, but, but your choice landed us in the courtroom. Choices have consequences. What a good or bad. So you know, we. That’s why we’re here today, you know. But I wanted him to know that, that I loved him. I wanted him to know that I would always be mindful and praying for him. And you know, I wished him well and the judge let me hug him, and that pretty much was, was it, you know? And then then he goes off to prison.
Chris Grainger
Host
35:32
Okay.
Isaac Brown
Guest
35:32
And I’m not even sure where he he went. You know he goes off to prison and you know I think about him. And you know, a year passed, you know I would write letters and I’m like, do I? Do I mail it? You know, do he want to hear from me? You know what do I really say? Right, you know, and it took around about about three years before I finally got the courage.
35:57
And you know I wrote a letter and I tried to encourage him with some scripture about Joseph and and even in prison, how God, you know, blessed him and took care of him and, you know, promoted him and and, you know, blessed him with favor. So I shared those scripture with him to let him know that it doesn’t matter where you at, you know, god is with you, you know. And a lot of people say, yeah, well, they all get, get saved in prison, you know, but I don’t care, as long as you get it, I don’t care where you at, you know. And so that was all I wanted, you know. And so I I’m writing this letter and at the end of the letter I said I need a favor from you. I said I really miss my son, ike Jr, and I say but I’d like you to fill in for him till we all get to heaven, you know, and I say if not, I understand. So I mailed the letter right quick, before I chicken out again. You know, I mailed the letter and and it takes about three weeks to a month I get a response.
36:55
And I’m literally at work in my police car. I’m sitting on the corner of Kings Road and Bertle Avenue. It’s a auto park store there and I’m sitting in there and and I’m looking at the letter on the seat and I’m scared to open it because I don’t know what it’s going to say. You know email on. You know, kershmiah, I don’t, I don’t know what to expect, but I, I sit there and I opened that letter and that letter said dear Mr Brown, I now know that God is real. He said I told God that if you meant what you said in the courtroom, if you really forgave me, if you really loved me.
37:32
I told God, I wanted to hear from you and I told God that if I heard from you I would give my life to him. Well, that, right there, just took my breath away. You know, now I’m, I’m sitting in the car and you know, tears are running down and and I’m trying to peep around to make sure nobody’s looking at me. You know I supposed to be the. You know I’m the cop, you know. And here I’m sitting in the car just bawling, you know, and it just was such a blessing, you know, to hear that. You know, and I was like man, I should have mailed that first letter years ago. You know, I should have, I should have did this, I should have did that, you know. And, and he writes the most beautiful letter, he has the best handwriting in it. At the end of the letter he says Mr Brown, you asked me for a favor. I said you asked me if I could fill in. I joined you. He said in no way am I qualified for what I’ve done, but if you have me, from this point on, you’re my dad and I’m your son. And I tell you, chris man, that that did it. When I tell you, I mean ugly, ugly, crying. You know I’m bawling, but they were all tears of joy. You know, I’m so great for the God, I’m praising God in that car and it was just beautiful and that was the. That was the first letter, you know. And when I wrote again this one, you can see the sincerity in it. You know, when I wrote the second letter and I said, hey, do you need anything? You know I don’t know. You know, can I send something? And do you need money? Or what do I do? What can I do? And when he responded back, I was so excited to get a letter back. If he said, he said I don’t need anything. He said I don’t need money, I just need you to not stop loving me. And I tell you that that did it. You know, now I’m bawling again. I don’t know what is going on in my life, but, man, I’m crying over on commercials. Now I don’t even know what’s happening. You know it is anything. Get me all the motion. I’m like what is going on with me? You know, but I’m bawling again. You know, and you know most people, especially the prison. You know, yes, send me some money, send me some money, you know. And he’s like right, all I needed you to not stop loving me. And you know, from that day to this one, I’ve not stopped loving him.
39:51
You know, we, we communicate, we visit we, you know, we fellowship. He’s big, like I say, football fan. Unfortunately, you know, he’s a cowboy fan, you know, and so we have a good time with that. You know, with the sports, and of course I’m here at Jacksonville, so I’m a Jaguar. I want to lose, you know we, we, we go and for it, you know, so we have a good time, you know, talking sports and and we talk of God’s love and his blessing. You know, and it’s just been, it’s just been a beautiful, beautiful relationship.
40:25
And I tell people, the miracle is not with me, the miracle is my wife. You know, my wife, you know that that first video we did I don’t know how it made it way to Kansas City, but a man in Kansas City saw that video and they were having a weekend of forgiveness and remembrance in Kansas City and he found me here in Jacksonville and invited me and the wife up to speak for that weekend. And, man, we went to Kansas City I’d never been to Kansas City and we stepped off of that plane and they were waiting and our first stop was the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball Park. We pull up to the park and and the president, the team and they’re all standing there and they got all you know duffel bags of Kansas City. You know, you know sweatshirts, baseball, you had, you name it. They welcomed us there. We enjoyed a game in Kansas City. If you would have told me I’d have been standing at about five that evening on the on the mound of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, I never would have believed it, you know. But there I was, you know, I have, I tell people, I have the pitch of the proven. You know, I was there, we, we enjoyed that game. It was, it was just wonderful, you know.
41:50
And that whole weekend I spoke at a couple of different venues and one of the venues when I finished speaking, and a lot of the mothers, they were gathered, a lot of people. They had lost the love one, the violence, or lost the child to the violence, and I saw my wife In the corner holding hands with a group of mothers Leading them in prayer. And I’m kind of standing there and I’m looking and I’m like wow, look, what God did. That was, that was the. The woman who said you just honored your son. That was the woman who said he don’t deserve the breeze of the air would breathe.
42:29
You know that was the woman who said you know you’re an embarrassment. You know what’s wrong with you. You know how could you hurt us like this. You know, and I’m looking at what God did and I was just so blown away Away because I never, I never, preached to her. You know you have to heal in your own way, in your own time. You know, when you’ve lost the love one, you know so I never, you know, like, preach forgiveness to her.
42:55
The Bible says this that you, you have to Deal with that, you and God, you know, and and I like them, the Bible say his word or never come back, boy, it’s gonna do, but it’s sent out to do. You know, right, and over time, you know, over the years, he slowly, you know, touched the heart and he changed that heart, you know, and I saw it. You know, I saw it. You know, and now you know, if I go to visit it, it’s telling him hello, you know. You know, do we need anything that you do? Put a little something in the account. You know it is. It’s just funny now, you know. You know what I you to myself, you know, I just smile and I’m like, wow, you know, look what, look what God did. Now that was the, that was the miracle cuz.
43:42
For a while there, I thought I Didn’t think we would celebrate yesterday which was our 31st wedding anniversary. You know that was it was. It was ugly, you know it was. It was ugly there, you know. But I thank God that that I stayed in his word and I thank God that he was doing something in me that I didn’t even know what’s going on, and I thank God that the word is the word, you know, and I see how it it changed the heart. You know the word. So he has the heart of the king in his hand, you know, and and he has our heart in his hand and if you just allow him, you know he will, he would, he will work it out, you know. Yeah, and I tell you it’s kind of an awesome blessing, awesome blessing.
Chris Grainger
Host
44:32
Well, I mean just that. That story, that testimony I Don’t have words for. I am curious, just to make sure I get the facts right. You were, it was three years. So what what? He killed your son. He was 19. Was it three years before you saw him?
Isaac Brown
Guest
44:50
Well, I would. I saw a couple of three minute. You know, if he came to the courtroom, you know he never spoke, he literally would walk outside in front of the podium, they’d pass it and they’d take him right back. I mean, he never, he was never there. You know, no more. Five, five minutes.
45:09
You know it was just hearings, and a lot of those hearings the attorney would show up, yeah, and he would just, he would just stand in. You know, just, we’d like a continuance. You know I need more, more time, and so it was a lot of that. And you know, but when I looked at him, you know, it was like he was like, look like my boy. You know, he was bigger, he was, he was a bigger version. You know, he just, and you know, I just, I Just loved him. You know, I never had those feelings, I never, you know.
45:39
And I’m, you know, I’m like I’m supposed to, I’m supposed to Hurt him, I supposed to want to hurt him. You know, and and I would talk to you know, different ones and and you know they like damn, which, you know, you know, I don’t, I don’t know how you can do that and and I would joke with him, you know, as the years went on and I said, well, I say the truth is, I say I’m about five, three, five, four if I wear my boots. I say he’s about six feet two hundred sixty five pounds worth solid muscle. I say I don’t know if I could have took him. I say I don’t know if he didn’t felt me around his neck. You know we, you know we laugh about, about that, you know, but he’s always just been a humble kid and and you know I Done my, our conversation, and I reach out and visit you know, I say, hey, you know I’m, I’m talking to the Football team at this high school or that high school, I’m speaking somewhere. And I say, hey, what, what do you want me to tell him? You know, and he would, he would, you know, Write letters, or he would tell me, you know what, what to tell him? You know that, that, that, what prison is really like, you know? And and I tell you what, it’s one thing to hear me, but when you hear his words, you know, and I would speak to the, the varsity football team, and and he would tell him, you know, if you decide you no longer want to obey your parents, if you decide you no longer want to obey the law.
47:07
He says if you insist on coming in here with me? He said I want you to know every day. I’m told when to eat, I’m told when to sleep, I’m told if I could go outside. He said imagine Listening to officers younger than me. Tell me what to do, right? He said using the bathroom and needing tissue. If the officers in a bad mood, you don’t get no tissue, you know, right? He said this is what it’s really like.
47:31
He said you know I’ll never get to drive that car again. I’ll never get to. You know, walk down that aisle and and you know, those are the things that that I don’t. I don’t get anymore. You know. And and so he. They hear him. You know when he speak, you know those, those words, you know.
47:50
And he says I know you think you’re, you’re down with the boys and you you’re keeping it real. He said because it was two more boys with him, they stayed outside. Yeah, he said I want you to know. None of my boys have ever come to see me yeah, we’re in the letter or sent me a dollar for a snack. He said my boys testified against me and they did. You know they were locked up until the trial. Yeah, when they got on that stand there was like, yeah, he did it. And you know he ran back to the car. We didn’t know he had a gun and you know he told us what he did. I could see him sitting there listening to his boys you know my ride or die, you know and they’re like, and I tell you they they gave their testimony and they walked right out that front door with me.
48:34
Yeah, you know and he tells them. You know he says you know, when you’re in that courtroom it’s no longer ride or die together for life, it’s everybody for their self. You know, right, he lets him know. So he said be mindful of who you call your friend, be mindful of who you you’re hanging around with. You know if you got a friend and you know he’s doing something wrong, you know separate from him. You know, cut that relationship off. You know, I mean he, he gives a powerful, powerful message. You know, and just just recently, the last Video we did, and we have a section where I just asked some questions If you he would share, and and one of the last things he said, he said when I, when I first arrived here, my name was to core your criner, and he said now I’m only known as inmate J5892,.
49:22
You know you lose your identity in here. I’m known as a number. You know I have no name, I’m inmate. You know, and those are a very powerful words. You know he let them know that, that this is real and even with Christ and even as big as he is, everyday your back is against the wall. I mean him and his cellmates. You know they have been jumped, he has been stabbed, he has been and you don’t get the Treatment like you would get. You know at home and you know the. You know. He said you have a guards are coming but they’re not running, you know, to save you. You know this is this is kind of like what you get for being in here. You know this is, this is real life. So you know.
50:05
And he said if I can just reach one, you know I’m coming in here. He said I’m so tired of seeing young man under the age of 20 Coming in here with me with life sentences, you know, and and a lot of them are not half his size, so he know what the outcome is gonna be. You know he’s seen him take their life. He’s held some of them up After they wrap the sheet around in there. Can he screaming for the guards to come get them? So he’s holding them up. So they don’t, you know, take their life. You know.
50:37
But he says sometime in the middle of the night, you’re him screen. I guess it hits him that. You know this is it? Yeah, he says. You know he. He says I have a release date. My release date is is 999, 9999. He said this is where I’ll be when I take my last breath, you know, and so he, he, he tells it like it is. He hit home. He tells him you know about their decision-making, you know about who you’re you’re hanging out with and that’s really, you know, my message, that’s what I want them to know.
51:13
So I’ve had the opportunity to speak to some of our High schools around here I hope I have get some more, but just to speak to the youth, to let them hear from him.
51:22
You know, if the video system is is working, you know they could actually see him. Yeah, you know, and he was from him live and in prison, you know, and so his, his message is, is a powerful one, and just the the end of last year he is now an ordained minister. You know that Leads praise, you know, into prison and then ministers to others and encourage. You know, and I Tell people, you know the Bible say they would have known what they were doing, they never would have crucified our Lord. Yeah, and I tell people, if Satan would have known what really was gonna happen, he would have left those boys alone. You know, if he would have, if he would have known how God was gonna bring us together. He would have known how we would be able to you know, touch lives. He would have known that that the Coru would become an ordained minister you know, he would have.
52:18
He would have went mess with somebody else. You know he would have. He would have messed those boys left, left them alone. You know, and I thank God that you know my son was. You know he was born again. I know I’ll see him again and I find peace in knowing that.
52:33
You know, I believe that word and I know in the resurrection, you know, and you know, mary told Jesus yeah, yeah, we’ll see him again. You know, in the resurrection, you know, but if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died, you know, and right, and he said I am the resurrection. So I hold on to that. I know, I believe in it and, man, I know I’m gonna, I’m gonna see him again, I’m looking, I’m looking forward to it. I said right now, you know he’s up there with mom and and my sister and just lost my dad in in January, this past January, and so you know, I know, you know they’re, they’re all together and I know it’s gonna be a great family reunion, you know when I get there. So I look forward to that.
Chris Grainger
Host
53:13
Amen, amen. Guys, we will take a quick break here. We’ll be right back with Ike. We have a resource that allows you to test how strong of a Christian leader you are. We designed a short quiz so you can see for yourself how prepared you are for the battle. Don’t worry, it’s multiple choice and it’s a lot of fun. So, to access this free resource, visit the lion within dot us slash quiz that’s, the lion within dot us slash quiz and see if you are ready to unleash the lion within Ike.
53:52
I wanted to ask you something. You know it’s again Powerful, testing only powerful what the core is doing and and how he’s sharing the good news of the gospel with others, even from oh yeah, inside the prison. I’m just. I want to go back to one thing, because I think a lot of guys out there you know We’ve all got some types of trials or things that we’re dealing with in life and you know, prayerfully we’re not dealing with, you know, losing a son the way you do, the way that you did, rather, but it all comes down to choices and and, and you mentioned, you know, you told, you told him in that courtroom. You know choices have consequences and then, but you also had a choice.
54:27
You know you could. You had a choice. You could have followed right in suit with everyone who’s going up to that microphone and, just, you know, just been rebuking him and just and just pouring out hate on him. But your choice was love, and I can’t help but think that was a spirit led choice. So what message would you give them? The men that are listening right now, who maybe struggling with something that you know somebody’s taking something from them? Maybe they’ve lost a child, maybe they’ve lost jobs, been even been hurting their career, maybe they’ve lost finance. You know, business deals go wrong. Right, you get stabbed in the back and you have choices in all these situations, what, just what would you? What would you offer? What would your advice? Be there because you had an ultimate choice to make and you were obedient to the spirits.
Isaac Brown
Guest
55:09
You know I would. I would say you know, I said you know, one of my, my favorite scriptures is you know, the Bible tells us, jesus told us that in this life we were gonna have trouble. He told us, he told us we were gonna be some bad days. You know, he let us know that straight up and that that came from, you know, being in that word, getting in that word. So I’m telling y’all this now. So when it happened, you won’t, you won’t be surprised, you know. You know he tells us that in the word.
55:40
And so you know I had that in me. I didn’t know it was in me, but it was. It was, it was in me and I don’t know if I had much of a choice, because it was like instant. Right, you know it was, it was instant for me, but I did know that I couldn’t live my life and Unforgiveness, I couldn’t live my life being angry with you for something you’ve done. I refuse to live like that and and I made up my mind from the beginning I’m not going to live like that. I know the others are angry, I know they’re hurting, I know I’m hurting them, but I knew what was in here and so you know the choice was.
56:28
The choice was immediate, the choice was instant that I’m going to do my best to Live according to the word and to trust God. And I would say to the anybody out there that that’s struggling with anything to To trust God, no matter what. I know it looks bad, you know. I know you messed up, you know I know the marriage Didn’t work out. You know right, but it’s all right. You know you can, you can take it to God. So I encouraged them to think, as we say to the youth, before you act. You know, a lot of times you know it’s like that, it’s like that email once you hit send, it’s gone.
57:09
You know you can’t you can’t reach back and undo it. So, you know, I encourage others, before they make that choice, to just take a minute, breathe and really Talk to God and trust him. And and the best thing was when I Really establish a relationship. You know, because I was, I was broken. You know, the Bible Says the Holy Spirit sometime and we don’t know what to say. You know, in a fill in, for us that’s in, you know, and there were some days I Didn’t know how to pray.
57:45
Yeah, I didn’t know what really to Say to God, but I would just sit there and meditate and I knew the Holy Spirit was Communicating for me on my behalf and I could, I could feel it in here, you know, it’s like I felt his presence, I knew he was, he was there, you know, and I would have a calmness, you know, because Sometime we act real fast and and I learned even even being in law enforcement, you know you, you have to decide, you know I’m, I’m the police, but I still have to make the right choice, you know, and so you have to, you have to think before you act, you know, and so I would courage those as that struggle into to really get in that word and to really trust God, like I said him again, is one thing. You know we say we trust him and you know we, we talk good, but when trouble come, how do you, how do you respond? And so the only thing I could say to others out there, it all came down and all comes down to to do you really believe the word of God? Do you really believe that it would do what it say? Do you really believe that that Holy Spirit is there for us? It’s a gift, it’s free that it will comfort you, it will guide you. You know I pray for wisdom.
59:09
I Tell people I don’t speak, I don’t speak good English, I don’t have a fancy prayer, I don’t use big words. That’s the beauty of going to God. It’s just simply me and him. You know, sometimes it’s God help me. You know Peter cried out Lord save me. That was, that was prayer. You know it was then fancy about it. It was Lord save me. You know, as he began to, as he began to sing, you know Jesus, you know, called Lazarus, our Lazarus, come forth. That was prayer. You know it was it.
59:43
So it’s simple, you know it’s. But you have to believe that, that he will do what he said he would do, you know. So, when it comes down to choices, consequences, you know, think a minute. Sometimes you have to walk away. Yeah, don’t think it today is is good for me. Don’t think, you know, after 31 years, it’s been a better roses most of them have, but, but there have been days.
01:00:08
But I’ve learned to go sit in my garage, to go sit in my garage, right, it just kind of peddle around a little bit out there. I love yard work. I’ll go outside and start peddling in the yard or planting flowers or something you know, and, and I tell you, a calmness on a peaceful will come over you as I begin to. You know, talk to God and, yeah, you know, really, really trust his word, you know. So, in in that sense, I just encourage others that are that are struggling that area to to really Trust God, to really talk to him.
01:00:46
It’s a simple prayer. Is that relationship, you know? Yes, it’s a conversation, you know. Just have a conversation with him, you know, and you can be by yourself and you can say it within yourself or if in the yard you could, you could talk out loud. It’s just you and him and and that’s, that’s the beauty of Prayer. I can pray it out loud, I can pray it within myself. You cannot, no matter what you do, stop me from from praying, you know, and that that’s just the beauty of God.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:01:15
I love it. And I think one thing too, just for you guys listening out there Don’t forget the timing. You know it’s God’s timing, it’s not ours. If you look at you know, like your story, there was that three-year period in the trial and then there was an additional three years, you know, getting that letter and sending that. So there time. Sometimes we try to force forgiveness or we try to force these things, and you know what God’s timing is perfect. He’s just never early. So we just need to make sure that we understand God’s timing in this. And and if you’re struggling with something right now, you know what? Just keep praying your way through it, because I mean, it’s not like. You know, your son died the night before the next day. You, you were loving him and it took some time and I think it’s just.
01:01:56
We don’t want to glaze over that portion of this either, mm-hmm.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:01:59
Yeah, it took. It took time for my wife, you know, uh, and the, the first video. My daughter, ebony, is in it, but prior to that I hadn’t spoken to her in in years, I hadn’t seen the, the grandkids. That relationship was so broken that it wasn’t even a prayer. I didn’t even ask God to, you know, I just figured that’s, that’s done. You know I’ve hurt them, I messed up, uh, I was never gonna hear from her again, I was never going to see those grandkids and I would say, maybe a month before we did that first video, I received the text from her. It said hello, sir, your grandkids would like to meet you. They’ve only seen pictures. And I tell you that did it, man, I was, I was blown away. I was so excited. And the man told my wife and she said well, have you invited over? And I said not, yet I wanted to show you the text. So we, we invited her over. She’s only a few miles from me. Uh, got to see the, the grandkids, and I tell you it was just a daughter, they called me grandpa and uh, man, I tell you we, we had pizza and and drinks and and we just laughed and talked and we Took pictures and and from that day to this one, it’s been an absolute Blessing.
01:03:23
She recently moved to Atlanta, but I I told her we were doing a video and I said, you know, if you would like to be in it, you know you could. And I said, but I want you to be you. If you’re angry, be angry. You know, if you’re mad, be mad. I want, I want you in there, I want the real you. And she said, she said I’m not angry, dad, and and I forgive him, I just want to know why. And I said, well, I never asked why. I said never, it never mattered to me, uh, it was nothing I needed to know. Uh, what had happened had happened, and, and I was able to Move past that, you know immediately. And she said, well, if you don’t need to know why, then I don’t need to know why. You know, and it was absolutely Beautiful, you know, she was able to be in the video. She’s, you know, spoke about her brother, with just those two, and uh, it’s just been absolutely Absolutely amazing, you know. And and uh, you know, to see my wife. You know she would go and pick the kids up sometime from school and we would do stuff.
01:04:31
And when I look at it, you know, if I’m at the house and they come, I’ll walk in and you know they run and greet me with a hug and and all I do is I look toward heaven and I don’t even have words, you know, to see what, see what God has has done. You know, and you know if you just allow him to To be God. You know because, like I said, that wasn’t even a prayer I figured. You know I blew that. You know, and and and I just let it, let it go. I, like I said, I never even prayed for God to fix it. But you know, not only do he give us our needs, he he gives us. I want some time he gives. You know things sometimes, you know, to bless us, and that truly Was one of the highlights. You know, to have my daughter come and see the kids and and uh, just been a joy. You know I hate to move to Atlanta. You know, because I don’t get to see them as much now.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:05:26
Well, I understand what I mean. Like you said God, he wants us to have that life and have it abundantly. That john 10, 10 life. So what an incredible story. Before I let you go, I love to do a lightning round with you. I have a couple questions. It’s like a quick fire. We call it feeding time at the lion with Dennis. Are you willing to to play along with us here? Let’s go for it, all right, let’s have a little fun here at the end. So what’s what’s your, what’s your favorite hobby? I?
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:05:53
A favorite hobby? Uh, I’m telling you, uh, I like to run and work out.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:05:58
Okay, I love it, love it. I’m gonna have to come. When I come to Jacksonville, we’re gonna have to hit a run together and have some, have some, have to do that.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:06:05
We gotta do it. I have a running group of men and it is Fantastic.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:06:09
Love it, love it. So after you finish that run, what’s your favorite food?
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:06:15
My favorite food is my wife’s macaroni and cheese.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:06:19
Oh man All right, so I can’t be touched Two things on the list. We’re gonna we’re gonna do a run and then we gotta hit some mac and cheese ashwards Okay.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:06:26
So you got it.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:06:27
You got it. That sounds good. So, and when you think about God I know we talked a lot about God and his sovereignty in their conversation today what’s your? What’s your favorite thing? What jumps out is your favorite thing about it?
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:06:38
My favorite thing about him is he never leaves me. He is always there and I really believe that now. I believe I can call on him, I believe he hears me, I believe he’s, he’s ever present. You know, I love it. I believe that nobody can make me doubt it.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:07:00
Amen. Now let’s flip it. What’s your least favorite thing about Satan?
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:07:08
man, I tell you, he just always messing with you. You know, I can’t, I can’t stand him, you know. But I read the end of the book and I tell you, uh, he’s gonna get his reward, you know, but that’s it. He’s just. You know, I hate the fact he’s he’s. He’s always roaming around to see who he can mess with. You know, that’s why we have to keep our guard up. I know it, I know it.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:07:36
Now, how about any new habits that you’ve started? Anything you started recently or new habit, or something that you think would you’ve enjoyed, could be a health habit or eating habit, or just anything in general.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:07:49
Well, I haven’t started anything, but I’ve been thinking about starting a thing. And you know I need to eat a little better. But I’m a I’m a sweet tea Coke zero guy. Okay, I love me some sugar and health wise, I know I kind of need to change that a little bit. So, uh, that’s that. That’s my next challenge, right there, okay, that’s gonna be it, but I never do a New Year’s resolution.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:08:18
That’s right. That’s right. Well, the last question for you in our in our feeding time real night, you know the guys that are listening right now. You know we have a lot of listeners who I’m sure they’re dealing with with some struggles in life. You know what’s one thing you hope they remember from our conversation today.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:08:36
Remember that whatever you’re going through, it will pass. Don’t let it consume you. Uh, remember the word. You know we’re not exempt. You know the suffering we’re going through is nothing compared to what, you know, christ suffered, you know, for us. Uh, he’s given us this gift of, of salvation, he’s given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. I’m telling you, ask him into your life, believe and receive that Holy Spirit. I’m telling you it is a confeder, it, it will be there. You know Christ is our mediator. You know he goes straight to the father. You know, on our behalf, you know, and I trust that, I tell you to really trust the word and to study that word and study it, and can just be by starting to read.
01:09:30
You know, read, get in that word and read that word. Of course, you know my pastor, pastor Jovi, I encourage you to go on the, the 1122 website, catch some of those sermons, you know, get some of those past sermons, look through the, look through all the, the box, and and you’ll find the one that you need for that moment. You know, and I tell you he really delivers that word. You know that you can understand it. I promise you it will be a blessing to you and you can also tune him to him live. You know, it’s just just a beautiful thing, and and that’s what keeps me grounded in the word, Amen, I mean, this has been phenomenal.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:10:10
You mentioned the videos and stuff. Is it anywhere you like to point people to learn more about you or your story or your testimony, or the things that you’re doing with your ministry?
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:10:20
Uh, actually you could. You know, on the church website, church 1122, they have both videos that you can actually actually Google. Google my name. Google Ike Brown.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:10:30
Okay.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:10:30
Ike Brown story and quite a bit of stuff of a pop up, you know, to kind of let you know who I am and and where I come from and and how long I’ve been in law enforcement. You know I’ve been very fortunate and, uh, you know, very blessed. Uh, I would like to say my daughter. You know we started the Isaac E Brown Foundation. You know the scholarships for, for for youth. You know we tried to, uh, you know, encourage and help out a little bit with, with a little funds for those going off to college. So, uh, feel free to look at the Isaac E Brown, uh Junior Foundation and and, uh, you know, if you feel led to to to giving that area, you know, do so. But you know, just the, the main thing is to trust, to believe and to live for Christ. You know I live my life now so I can live again. You know, and, uh, it’s definitely gonna be worth it.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:11:24
Amen, and we’ll make sure we get links for for those, the video as well as the foundation for you guys out there listening. So check out the show notes. We’ll try to have links in there for you guys to go straight to that stuff. But I this has been an honor. I’ve been looking forward to this conversation. I knew it was gonna be emotional, but just your, your energy, your, your, your joy for the Lord, it came through. So I just thank you for for being so open, honest and transparent with us here today on the Lion with Dennis.
Isaac Brown
Guest
01:11:50
Ah, it’s been my pleasure. Thank you so much for having me.
Chris Grainger
Host
01:11:56
Every man needs to have a bunch of it is written and their life. When the attacks come, you better be ready to help you get started. I want to give you a free guide to get 10 scriptures that will have you ready to fight like a lion. Along with the guide, there are a series of messages designed to come alongside you during your mission of committing these verses to memory. So get started by visiting the lion within dot US that’s, the lion within dot US and unlock your free guide to fight like a lion. Alright, guys, so hopefully you enjoyed that. Oh, sergeant Ike, he is just a phenomenal man. I, I really, truly enjoyed every minute I got to spend with him.
01:12:42
The question I want you to think about, going into this after this conversation with with Ike, is how do you love your enemies? You know what does that look like for you? Can you? Can you love them the way Ike did? I will tell you straight up this is a hard one for me because if I think through that and think through that, my, my daughters here, my son, somebody were to take them out like that man, I just don’t know because, like I, ike mentioned vengeance and most people want justice and it. It would be hard to get past that and by yourself you can’t. He shows you right there what is possible when you let the Holy Spirit do the guiding, do the directing, and you’re obedient to it. So if you know someone who’s who’s maybe struggling, who’s had a setback or some loss, this is a conversation you probably want to share. You know, not just going to make their, their hurt any less, but they there may be something in the words that Ike said that would just be comforting to them. So take that time, take that opportunity, send that out to them.
01:13:42
Okay, if you can give us a rating and review, that helps. If you would just go to our website the lion with them, dot us. We have lots of resources there for you guys, lots of resources. Check out the 30 days to unleash the lion with them. That’s a great way to get started. Maybe you want to join our community. We have tons of way to help you guys.
01:13:59
But I’m telling you, if you’re dealing with with something and you’re struggling with forgiveness, conversations like this matter. They’re important. You know someone needs to sweep them under a rug. You need to listen and see how, how the Holy Spirit can, what he’s going to say to you and your situation as you move forward Alright, fellas, so get after. Come back for our fun. Friday we’re going to have a lot of good tips for you that you can hopefully start applying and make that big impact on your leadership skills. Learn that you just keep being obedient to the spirit, you keep listening to Romans 8, 8, 18 and what that promise that we have right there, and that fellas, keep unleashing the lion with them.