"Fighting for My Life" — A Chicago Story of Redemption ft. Anthony Spaulding

Inside the Ring: One Man’s Spiritual Fight After 27 Years Behind Bars 

In this episode of From Wrong to Strong, host Omar Calvillo welcomes Anthony AM Spaulding. Anthony shares his inspiring journey of transformation from 27 years behind bars to becoming a barbershop owner and playwright. Tune in to hear about his upcoming play 'Fighting for My Life,' which uses a boxing ring setup to allegorically depict the battle between good and evil. Anthony discusses his struggles, his faith, and his ongoing mission to inspire others, including those still incarcerated. Don't miss this compelling story of redemption and resilience.

Transcript

0:15

From the city of Chicago, a city most recently known for its crime and violence from this podcast. We will be sharing stories of redemption from individuals raised in the tough streets of Chicago and from around the country. Some of them were gang members, drug dealers, incarcerated victims, and perpetrators of violence. Listen to my guests as they share their experiences, struggles, trauma, but also the strength, hope, faith, and perseverance these have developed in them to keep pushing and moving forward in life. Tune in to hear how their lives have gone, from darkness to light, and from wrong to strong.

Omar: 0:59

Hello everyone, and welcome to another, uh, episode of From Wrong to Strong. I'm your host. My name's Omar Calvillo And tonight I got my brother Anthony a m Spalding. I actually did an interview with his brother. It's almost gonna be a full year that, that we did an interview. Uh, I, I released his, his podcast interview, uh, back on November 4th, 2024. Uh, and then this brother came, came out here to, to my house and, uh, shared his story. Uh, so for those of you who wanna hear the full testimony, definitely go, go on Spotify. Apple Podcast, YouTube, and you could definitely hear his story. I, I, I believe the, the title of his, uh, story. From violence to vi visionary. Uh, so I, I'd like to welcome my brother, uh, Anthony Am Spaulding to, to the show. Peace, peace. Peace and love. Yes, sir. Brothers, it is been a while, man. Like earlier when you sent me that data text, I'm like, man, how, how long has it been since we talked the man? It's gonna be a full year. It is been a minute, bro. I didn't know it was that long. No. Scene talk. Time flies for real. Yes, sir. So you've been, uh, busy. Uh, so yeah, but I, I went back and I listened to your whole story, and I remember, uh, uh, back then, you, you, you came here, you shared your testimony. Uh, you, you were, uh, uh, behind bars 27 years. And, and at that time when we talked, I believe you had been out for about two and a half. So now it's been three and a half years. So how, how is life for you right now?

Anthony: 2:15

Oh, bro, I'm blessed, man. You know, um. God bless me so many ways, man. Um. Of course I was, um, blessed with the stability, man. That was the last I was talking about my last show to cut a barber's hands and, uh, did end up getting my barber's license was a blessing. Um, I was working at that shop for a minute, grinding, grinding, grinding. And now I'm in a position where I got my own barbershop, man, you know, so it's a blessing, man. Anthony's Barbershop, 63 West North Avenue. Rock with me. Rock with Me. Book with me, book with me right now. For sure, man. Hey, hey, do, do you have a site for that? For, for, for, for, yeah. It's, it's, it's Anthony's ww dot anthony's barbershop.net. It's in Old Town, uh, it's free parking in the back. You got the red line brow line right there. So you know, there's no excuse. Just come, you know, you want a haircut, you know you talking to the best in town.

Omar: 3:05

Gotcha. Gotcha. So, you're on the, uh, road right now. And I believe you mentioned there, there's somebody in the car with you. You wanna mention who he is and what exactly is it that, that you guys are, are putting, to together?

Anthony: 3:16

Yeah, I mean I just dropped the brother off'cause he gotta go to work, but Okay. His name is Onyeh Davenport. He called him Brother Word. He was also a brother that was incarcerated and now he out working in the community. He worked with community, uh, activism and he does a great job in the community, but he was an actor and writer also in his own right. So, um, I decided to link up with him for this resilience festival and um, I had wrote a play called Fighting for My Life, and it's the boxing analogy. So the set is a boxing ring and he plays the devil and I play myself in just a, um. All out battle of a battle of tests. You know, it's the, it is the ultimate test, good versus evil. You know what I mean? And, um, I'm just encouraging and inspiring people to do they best and not settle, you know, chase your dreams. Um, you know, don't, don't just don thrive. Don't just survive but thrive. You know? Yeah. Um, you know, go for it. You know, live, live it to the fullest man. Don't, don't just settle. So, um. So that's what I'm telling people. And that's, um, you know, it got some entertaining features in this, in this play, man, where it's got the text, but that's the overall theme. And I just take people through a whole storyline, uh, that leads into the, you know, to the ultimate battle of, of your faith. You know what I mean? So I'm telling people, fight for it, man. Stay strong, stay diligent. Um, stay hopeful, stay prayerful. You know what I mean? And it's entertaining, man. There's so many different features in it, but. It is just so many deep dives to when you look at it, you know, you'll be sitting back thinking like, man, how you come up with that? You know what I mean? So the people that's been viewing it, the, you know, the people that previewed it. You know, they loving it. So, um, I just got a feeling, man, it's gonna take off even, you know, better than the first one did, man. Gotcha. For real.

Omar: 5:04

Where, where, where exactly is this gonna be at and what's the date and

Anthony: 5:08

times and, you know? Absolutely. The, uh, the, the, the location is at the Definition Theater and the Hyde Park. The tickets are free, you know. Um, so the first a hundred people get in free, man. So I advise people to just go ahead and, and, and, you know, and list. Now it's at seven o'clock, October 24th. That's a Friday night, man. And, um, yeah, it's, it's a blessing man. If, you know, if you believe, you'll believer you'll be blessed by it. If you somebody that just wanna see a good show, you know, I got original music in here. I got some original features that nobody has ever seen or thought to do. And, um. You know, just trying to get it, you know, get that word out about it for real, man.

Omar: 5:50

Got it. No, no. And, and, uh, when, when did you write this?'cause I remember when you came here and did your interview, you were talking about when, when you were, uh, uh, behind bars, you even learned how to play the piano on a, on a piece of cardboard. You didn't, obviously you didn't have no instruments in your cell. And you, and at the end of the interview we played some of your music. Uh, I, I believe the, I, I forget the name of the song, but we actually played it. We recorded and put it out there. So when exactly did you come up with this?

Anthony: 6:16

That was type that was entitled. I'm called, that's that song actually Get, um, got top 10 on Spotify. Spotify replay that, um, AM Spaulding,"I'm Called.". So that was a blessing. So. Um, I wrote three, three new original songs. Hmm. I'm gonna send you the song, one of'em called Champions. It's a, uh, it's a theme song for this show because this is a boxing, you know, a boxing analogy where we actually fighting and get it to, uh. Know, some, some combat, but we also know that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but we might in battle, man. So I deploy the angels on this sucker, man. I, I, man, I whooped this devil, bro. You know what I mean?

Omar: 6:54

Hey, don't, hey, don't, don't, don't tell us a whole story, man. That way. Yeah, yeah. People can Go in there and watch it for themselves. You know? You gotta keep the, the audience suspense, man. But, uh,

Anthony: 7:02

absolutely, bro. No doubt.

Omar: 7:04

So, so this play, is it just you and him in the ring, or how. How is

Anthony: 7:10

it's myself, it is, it is Onye Um, and then I have the ring announcer who's played by, uh, Yoel Davis. Um, he has a small, small role where he, you know, he introduces the fighters. So I'm having to set up like a real boxing match. But not only is a real box boxing match's, just to set the theme, the tone of the atmosphere, you know what I mean? Because we know we on a, we on a battlefield every day. We gotta fight every day, man. We gotta pick up our cross every day. So, um. That's the tone I wanted. The stage, the set is actually a boxing ring. So when you come in the theater, it's set up like you coming to see a fight and you are, but you know, I just, I'm bringing a theatrics like that for real. You know what I mean? Oh yeah, yeah. The might, the sound effects, the lighting, everything. You know what I mean? So,

Omar: 7:55

amen. You know what I think you're gonna put on display something that is taking place behind the scenes, you know, like, oh yeah. Like in this world, we we're seeing a lot of destruction, a lot of chaos. Wherever you look. Behind the scenes, that's actually what's taking place, right? Like in the, uh, spiritual realm.

Anthony: 8:12

Absolutely. Man, we all, we all, I mean, um, that's why the, you know, that's why I say walk by faith, not by sight, man. Because if we could see everything going on right in front of us, it's, it's stuff, like you said, it's stuff going on behind the scenes that we just, I mean. If you're not walking in the spirits, you're not even paying attention to it, you know that energy is there and, um, only in the spirit that you can recognize these things, man. Yeah. You know, and some people, even that, some people that's are people of faith, they just can't recognize'em because they just haven't been, um, in tune to have alert to tap into that side of their life. You know what I mean? So, um, yeah. It's, it's, you know, that's the double job. It's the truth. That's exactly us, you know? And if you can't see what he doing, you'll continue to keep acting the way we acting. Whether if it's sin, pride, lust, whatever the case may be, man. Um, yeah, it's so, God gave me this play, man, and I could be doing other plays, secular stuff, but um, I know whatever I do in the name of Jesus, man, it's gonna have legs to it. It's gonna thrive. It's gonna always flourish. Just like the first play, did I put Christ in it, man? And I got some, you know, it was well received. I expect no less with this one man. Um, you know, for real, it's a lot of scripture references in here. Um, a lot of, just a lot about faith man. You know what I mean? And it just, it just shows different scenarios and instances that's going on in this world. But I just, you know, weave into the story and just come out with the, you know, the outcome that I come out with, man. So. It's a blessing for real, bro.

Omar: 9:53

Amen. Amen. No, that, that's good. You know, I was actually checking on my, uh, me and my wife, we, we got a shared, uh, calendar on the 24th. I already got like something scheduled, man. We're gonna be at a gala. It's gonna be like a fundraising thing. Uh, but man, I wish I could have definitely made it. Are you gonna be having it like another, uh, date as well?

Anthony: 10:10

I'm gonna have it another

Omar: 10:11

place. I'm

Anthony: 10:12

gonna have it in, um, humble Park at a church called, uh, uh, San Lucas. And, um. I'll go out there, perform the same, I'm do like, say sort of the same venues that I did with my other play. And especially, I, I, I think I'll be hitting more churches up because it'll be more to, so now that people know about me and that I, you know, write gospel and Christ centric content, that they'll be reaching out to me a little bit more because, um, you know, we gotta support each other, man, the brothers in Christ, you know, I got a vision for this and um, you know, I'm not out here writing salacious, you know, you. Stuff I'm writing now, stuff that's gonna build a kingdom up, man. So, um, I definitely need the support of the Saints and, and for the average person that just wanna see creative, you know, entertaining art. Yeah. You know what I mean? Um, yeah. I wrote this coming off the other play. I, I went, that was two years, two years that I had performed that other play. So, um, I'm expecting this one to go even further, so

Omar: 11:11

Right.

Anthony: 11:12

You know, you gonna see what God gotta say about it. If he wanted to, you know, his name to go for it is going, is it? It shall be. And I believe he will, man.

Omar: 11:22

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, he will. You know what, uh, uh, on the first time that we talked, uh, you mentioned how, how guys, when they're behind bars, a lot of'em begin to write, whether it's poetry, whether it is like plays, uh, and then just have visions and dreams. And then you mentioned how a lot of them. Just come out and get, get a job, you know, a nine to five or factory job, and they basically, yeah, let, let go of that dream. And, and right now you mentioned that the guy that's gonna be starring in this play, which you was, uh, in, in inside as well. Uh, what, what does that do to somebody that, came from, from behind bars to be able to almost, to to live out or play out that dream that they had when they were in there?

Anthony: 12:02

Hey, let me, let me tell you bro. All the brothers out that I still talk to, that's incarcerated, that's locked down. They can't wait till they get an opportunity, man. You know, I talk to'em all the time and just let'em know like, Hey man, you could do it too. And they in there writing, you know, they all hit me up, man, we proud of you, bro. Keep going. Oh, somebody I haven't heard from in years. And be like, man, I heard you doing plays. I heard you got your shows going. Like, man, we just chasing dreams, bro. Trying to. Stand firm in the foundation that we built while we was there. Once we had that spiritual transformation and that epiphany of coming to ourself like the prodigal son, we gotta stand in that. You gotta keep that discipline and that's the only way to really succeed out here because, a lot of us have those expectations of what the world gonna be like. You know, when we get out, we gonna do this. You know, you have lofty expectations, right. It's not until you get here, till you see how really fast things are moving, man. And how detriment, how detrimental, certain aspects, just being around certain people is to you. I mean even mostly even family members like that. It's like, the things that you expected is, you know, they there, but it's the things that you didn't expect that really, you know, um, stick out to me specifically, you know? And, um. I really thought I did the best of, working on myself and staying, you know, uh, locked in with my faith man. And, um, hopefully that will carry you through. And it ends up just being the thing that you can go to the most man to keep you outta trouble, man. To keep you out the, you know, to keep you outta the way, to keep you from getting back, locked up or just doing something that to hurt somebody else, man. So. Um, I'm still in Bible study. I'm still doing night church. I'm, I'm involved with the church 7, 8, 9 times a week. You know what I mean? Gotcha. And, um, yeah, bro, and it's, it keep you, you know, when you around the saints, man, you in the, you in the foundation. You in a, you in a you in a place of peace, man. Yeah. You know what I mean? Uh, I don't have to worry about, man, well, I gotta have a gun to go here. No, I don't need to be there. You know what I mean? Yeah. I, I don't have to worry about if I'm gonna have something to eat, like, man, look. Bro wife made some food, you know what I mean? I ain't got to be out at the club or the bar or, you know what I mean? Caught up in nefarious behavior because I'm around the saints, I'm around people who, you know, so we all got the same mission. And that's, um, Christ first, you know, family and, and chasing dreams and, you know, accomplishing goals. So, and like, like same way. What you doing bro? I'm so proud of your podcast, man. I always. Comment and

Omar: 14:41

Yeah.

Anthony: 14:41

You know, tell people, man, check out bro stuff. I'll rep your sweater, I'll rep your, you know, your t-shirts, you seen pictures of me on there? Yeah. Posted. You know what I mean?

Omar: 14:49

Hey, hey, man. You know what? Thanks, I, I truly appreciate the support. I appreciate the love. Yeah, I definitely be seeing the likes, you know, thumbs up and the, all

Anthony: 14:58

day, That's it, man. We gotta support each other, bro. Oh.

Omar: 15:00

Yeah. Yeah. I wish I

Anthony: 15:01

would've got with you, man. I, I'm thinking about it now. I'm in a marathon, the Chicago Marathon coming up this Sunday. I coulda got you on. I coulda, coulda put your name on my shirt, man. Oh, man. That was, I would,

Omar: 15:12

man, I would've put 5, uh, five bucks on there for you to sponsor me. I mean,

Anthony: 15:15

I mean, you know, ed Dollar have every dollar.

Omar: 15:20

I got you, man. I, I, I, I know when you were on the podcast, man, right before we signed off, you made a comment like. About, Hey man, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm looking for a wife. Hey man, how, how's that going for you, man? I, I even told you, I dunno if you remember, you're like, Hey man, if you, if you get a wife B because of my podcast, man, you got a, I think you said you're gonna invite me to the wedding, man.

Anthony: 15:37

Yeah. I ain't got a wife yet, man. But, you know, I'm, I'm hopeful, bro. You know what I mean?

Omar: 15:42

Gotcha.

Anthony: 15:43

I'm definitely hopeful, man. You know, it's hard out here, man. So we gotta be selective, um, and who we choosing man and who we trying to build that with, man. Hopefully, you know. They got Christ at they foundation, man, first, you know, and then a lot of the other things have fall into place. But, um, that has evaded me. You know? I'm hopeful though, for sure, bro.

Omar: 16:04

Oh no, you, you, I think with everything you mentioned, you know, the discipline, putting God first family and all that, you the right, uh, mindset, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Ain't no doubt, man. Sir. Hey, I was gonna tell you, you know, earlier I told you that I, I could make like a short clip out of our conversation. Yeah, yeah. So right now, basically just. Promoted, like if you were doing like a short clip. Okay. And then I'll make like a little reel from, from what you're gonna say, you know what I'm saying? Okay. So basically talk to the out, uh, uh, audience and tell'em what it's about. Give'em the date, uh, the, the location and, and, um,

Anthony: 16:39

go ahead and can I give you my, uh, can I send you my song for background too? Like you had background music?

Omar: 16:44

Yeah. Okay. Yeah,

Anthony: 16:46

yeah, yeah. You gonna

Omar: 16:47

have, uh, lyrics as well?

Anthony: 16:49

Um, it does have it, but it's, it's the song. It's the song. Um, um, I was just gonna send you the complete song, but Okay. I'm trying to

Omar: 16:59

Yeah, yeah. If, if you send it to me, like, is, is there like a part that's got Yeah. Like the instrumental or, so,

Anthony: 17:06

I mean, you could just listen to it and chop it up however you want to, bro.

Omar: 17:09

Yeah, no, yeah. Yes. Send it. I'll put it on there.'cause the thing is with, uh, like a lot of times. And when I put music, sometimes they'll put like a block on it if it's got a, if I don't have a license for it. But yeah. Yeah, send it to me and I'll definitely put it on there. And if they block it, they block it, and if they don't then it'll be on there, you know? Well, no,

Anthony: 17:26

it's, this is my, this is my original song, so it ain't, so it hasn't been out

Omar: 17:29

there?

Anthony: 17:30

No, no, this, I saved it, I kept it in the tuck specifically for the show.

Omar: 17:34

Okay. Yeah, yeah, send it. I'll definitely put it on there, man.

Anthony: 17:37

Okay. Yeah, bro, it's price. It's, you know, this is, the theme song is called Champions. So I'm, I'm, I'm gonna definitely send it to you if it right with the show. I mean, I, I, I specifically made it for the show, so Oh, wow. I'm, I'm gonna definitely send it to you. That be

Omar: 17:53

And an exclusive then, huh? Exclusive. You got, man. Yeah. Right. Uh,

Anthony: 17:57

I played a, I played, uh, one of the brothers that, uh, was incarcerated too. He does, and he did a. Small edit to, uh, promo and, um, it's just a chorus, but I'm, I'm gonna send you the whole song if you wanna play the whole song with just a snippet or whatever. Yeah. You, you know, you can, man. But, uh, yeah, it's, it's, I think it's, I think it's dope, but it just go right with the, with the play man drop. So, um, so, so can I do those, um, that, that promo so you can do the clips of it or however you want to do it, then? Yeah. Yeah. Go. Okay. Go ahead. So peace everybody. This is Am Spalding, Anthony Spalding, you know, and, um, your brother. You know your brother in Christ. And I just want to tell y'all about my show called Fighting for My Life. It's a show to tell you, um, to fight for your dreams. Don't just settle, don't just don't just survive, but thrive. If you was the guy that got your Tonga truck, took you in the sandbox, you probably was the same one that got your lunch money snatched. When you was in high school, and if you let that happen to you, you probably let somebody over talk. You in the boardroom. I'm telling you to stand up for yourself. And how we stand up for ourself is through Christ, man, you get all everything you need through Christ Jesus. Man. In this show, I'm fighting the devil, man. The devil don't stand a chance, but we know what we do. We give him opportunities. And in this show, I'm telling them, and I'm telling you, man, just crush'em. You got all the power, you got everything. You got all the power. So this show is going down. October 24 at Definition Theater. At seven o'clock you can get in free. You just gotta register at for the Resilience Festival. That's Friday, October 24 at Definition Theater. I'm gonna be there. My, my crew, we going, we going, we going to tear that stage down, man. You will be thoroughly entertained for sure. God will get praise and glory. If you come early, you'll get a little food to eat to go with it too. You can't be the dinner, a dinner in the show for free. You don't get no better than that. Why you gonna get that at? So, um, I appreciate all the support from the saints, from all the people who need to hear a good word and just some positivity. This is for you too. So come through. Definition Theater, seven o'clock. October 24, written, produced, directed, performed by Anthony Spaulding. Am Spaulding. Let's go,

Omar: 20:24

man. Hey, that, that, that, that's great, man. I ain't, I ain't even, I don't even gotta edit anything, man. I'm just gonna cut it. Throw your song on there and it'll be good to go, man.

Anthony: 20:32

There you go, bro. I appreciate the love, bro. For sure. I know. Yeah,

Omar: 20:35

yeah. Trust me, man, that that's one thing that, that, that I love about doing this. It's not just sharing the testimonials. It's, uh, n networking and, and, and if I have the time, man, yeah, I'll definitely, you know, so support, obviously, you know, um, um, I got a wife, I got three kids. Full. Yeah. Yeah. Stop working Saturdays, but man, uh, you gotta

Anthony: 20:53

do what you gotta do.

Omar: 20:53

Oh, yeah. Yeah, bro. Gotta, man, so, this is like my, my man. This is a ministry, you know, and, so, um, yeah, my, my vision is to get this content into the prisons. All, all these testimonials of, of hope and redemption. Um, yeah. Like, you know, like I, I, I know you, um, we, we mentioned that you were behind bars 27 years and that's why you, you get calls from these guys how man, they're proud of you and how you are encouraging them while watching their man. Like,'cause it was rough. I, I dunno, you wanna share real quick, but you weren't Yeah, sure bro. You, you weren't supposed to get out right?

Anthony: 21:27

Right. Um, I was sentenced a mandatory, not your life at the age of 16. Um, I was sentenced to life and as a, as a, as a younger, as a child. And, um, after spending 27 years incarcerated, I worked in a law library with some brothers and we came up with, um, a bill to, to, uh, to challenge a, a juveniles being, um, tried as adults. We were successful and the Supreme Court overturned over a hundred cases. Um, while I was there, I had built relationships and bonds with people that I had been incarcerated with for over 20 years. Some of'em, um, some of'em became, you know, Christian brothers. We, you know, we, we, we had our journey together. Um, I consider a lot of'em brothers, you know, um, we definitely, you know. You know, we would play scripture games together. We would go to church together. We'd work on songs together. We'd work on poems together. Um, all with the hopes of one day having an opportunity to come home. Um, my faith never faltered. Some of'em still there, some of'em waiting for their turn. Um, it was just my season. In the meantime, uh, I was a law, I was a law library clerk for quite a, you know, few years. So. Some of'em ask me for illegal assistance and I can look up a case for'em. I'll do it. If I could help they mom out with something, if I could send'em a little money, which I have, which I do, um, if they just want to talk a little bit, because that's what it is, brothers just need support. So I talk to these brothers all the time. We talk about our faith walks, you know, they keep, they hold me accountable out here.'cause it's just a lot of traps out here. So when I hear'em, brothers, the first thing they, you know, they, they, they all hallelujah or praise Jesus brother. So, you know, to keep it 100%, I was a lot more focused while I was there, far as giving all praise and glory to to God because it's just so many distractions out here. Oh yeah. But to hit hear them brothers and how inspired they are and how focused they are, because it's like. You ain't got nothing but Christ, you stay so focused because it's like, what else do you got to lean on? But God. But when you come out here and you start making a little money, you know, you start having some success in different fields. Um, you don't, not necessarily, uh, lose your faith, it's just you not on fire as you was. And I will say that about myself. I'm not speaking about nobody but myself, um, because I'm the biggest judge in myself as my walking face. I know I could be doing more. I'm still a believer, I'm still, you know, doing what I, um, uh, doing what I said I was going to do, but not to the ex. Not, not to the extent that I was. I, I had higher expectations and goals that I'll be out here tering more and, um, you know, walking more of a tight line. Um, and to tell you the truth, I have compromise in some of them levels. I would've, I would've never had. Um. A sip of alcohol, but I have, you know, occasionally had a drink in, um, in passing. Um, you know, just different, different scenarios that pop up where, um, you know, you have to control yourself, um, and if your mind goes there, you already have committed sin. Whereas before I had it in my mind, I said, when these scenarios pop up, I'm gonna be able to do this and to tell you that I've, I've not had, you know. Uh, situations that arisen where I was like, man, man, it's on with this. You know what I mean? It's on with this dude. But, um, thank God that, um, you know, people intervened or it just happened where God just kept me from acting in that way. Man, you know, uh, it just like, it just. You know, it's the same way being incarcerated. A lot of times people think because you are a Christian now that you soft and it's like, man, no, you don't, you don't understand where I come from, man. You, you don't, you don't know me like that, bro. So, um, and you getting to this ego thing, you getting to this sinful nature, man, look man, this don't this, you know, this dude try me. He don't know what I'd do to him, to him or, or, you know, or any situation that it caused you to sin in that fashion, man. Um. I have, you know, I fall into that with, you know, with women, you know what I mean? But not, um, in a position where I'm actually finding my wife, you know what I mean? Like, in that journey, it's just like, man, uh, I felt I fell into the aspect of, um, what the world saying now, what the words say, you know? And, um, will make excuses, make excuses and compromise. For, um, my acts man. And to be just straight out, just raw with it is just having premarital sex. You know what I mean? I know what the words say, but you can know what it's saying if you're not applying it. Um, you living in sin, you know what I mean? So, um, it's a lot of things like that, man. So that and that focus that I had while I was incarcerated, I have, I have not been on fire like that when I was, when I was, you know, when I was in there. Um, but God bring me back to it. Like I say, with my, you know, with my steady, steady praying and reading the word every day, steady going to Bible study. Um, but those, those, those lust of the flesh of, um, generating more success and putting more time into that, then giving God praise. It's just so many things, um, that take you off course. And when you know, like, I know, you know what I mean? It, the spirit convicts you and brings you back to Christ. But, and writing this play, bring me, you know, bring me back. Just all the different things. Oh, you wanna do music? Oh, you doing music, but it just convicts you, you know, because man, I know man, I'm supposed to be living this. You know what I mean? So, um, um, that's a little bit of my testimony of, of the adventures and the journey of, of coming home, man. Um, uh, people will see you and say, you doing great. Really don't know. I just say, I'm blessed, bro. You know?

Omar: 27:39

Yeah. You know what, man? Thank you for being transparent and, and of, of vulnerable with everything you just shared, man. Because honestly, you, you, you didn't have to share all that, like all the, all the struggles, but you said, man, I'm gonna keep it 100. And man, those are the things that, that come to men. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I, I could imagine, man, uh, like being, being away for so long and coming to the world and then just having access to everything, you know? To the alcohol, to the women and all that, and just how tempting it is. Um, yeah, I, I know you mentioned like, man, you felt like you're more on fire. Like, you know, when you were in there'cause it was all just Jesus, right? Jesus and Yeah, but, you know, but, but just hearing you tell that story, man, it, it's still Jesus. Yeah. Be because if it weren't man, you, you wouldn't be feeling that that conviction and, and sharing what you shared, man. And, and I know there's some men out there that are gonna hear that and, it's gonna, uh, let them know that, they're not alone.'cause I believe one of the main tricks of the enemy is to make you think that you're the only one that's going through that. That you're the only one that that's battling that, you know, and, and that if anything, it'll make us, uh, uh, what's the word? Um, like withdraw from God. I'm thinking about, uh, yeah, I, I, man, separation? Yes. Uh, yeah, yeah. Separation from God, or, man, I isolation. Like you become, yes, you wanna be by, by yourself. Uh, but, I was doing a Bible study on Zoom, uh, last night with a pastor. He's out in, uh, Tucson, uh, Arizona. We were going through James, I believe it was chapter, we did four and five, but in, in one of those verses is where it talks about, uh, to confess your sin to one another, that you may be healed. And, and, and it's in, in times where we're open and transparent, but what we're struggling with, but what we're sinning with. And in that, like we, we experience a healing from God, you know?

Anthony: 29:22

Absolutely, man. Absolutely. Um, like I say, I don't, I don't want people to get it twisted, like you say. I keep it real. I do, man. Um, I told try to be totally transparent and vulnerable to, um, with my testimony because it's the only way that you get healing, man. Yeah. Um, I tell the brothers that same way. I just said that. I said, I tell the brothers that's, that's, that's in there. That like, like man, bro. Um, I hear y'all and I'm, I'm blessed to hear y'all because it reminds me of. Where I was when I was in there, I could hear myself in there. You know what I mean? And it, and it, like I said, holds me accountable and, and it inspires me to say, I gotta get back to that man. You know what I mean? Um, just reading your word and praying that ain't enough. When you know, um, it's your actions, you know, know everybody reading it, you know, get up and praying, you know what I mean? Um, are you living it, you know, living it is an action word, you know what I mean? The application and, um. I definitely know that. And I just got to keep, I just gotta do better, you know? Um, I know I can, I know I will, man, because I gotta represent, I gotta represent them brothers that stay up. First off, I gotta represent Christ because if you tell people you are a Christian, they expect a certain, you, you know, behavior from you, you know, and not that they not what somebody else says matters more than Christ because. That's who it's really all about in the first place. He's gonna be the, you know, the intercessors that have me in front of the father and hold me accountable to my actions in the first place. I know these things, you know, a lot of us saying we know what we doing, man. You know what I mean? Um, uh, but um, all we can do is bro, just repent our sins. Yes. And that's what I do. I repent on my sins, man. And, um, and I, one thing too, I don't wanna make it seem like I'm just, uh, out here all willy-nilly, man. It's just, I'm just talking about indiscretions that have happened, man. You know what I mean? Um, it's just having that discipline and that, that conviction of the spirit to know that you gotta go back, man. And that's, um, that's all I would tell that to other brothers that's listening to this man. We know what ain't right. We know we compromised in, in them situations, and it's a lot of the influence of the world that's looming over us like that due to, radio, social media, just the environment that we in. But you know, we know we gotta do to get right. Let's get right.

Omar: 31:40

Amen. You

Anthony: 31:40

know? Amen.

Omar: 31:42

Definitely, man. Yes sir. Brother, is there anything we haven't touched on that, that you wanna share before we get ready? You know, uh, uh, sign off.

Anthony: 31:50

Um, nah, bro, I think that's, I think that's everything. Um, we talked about my shop, we talked about the show, and, you know, the struggles and the triumphs too. So I think, you know, that's a blessing, bro. So yeah, that's everything that's been going on, just. Just trying to do the best, bro, you know?

Omar: 32:08

Yeah, for sure. You know what, man? I definitely wanna encourage all the viewers, uh, those that are gonna hear this man, definitely go check it out. And I believe everything you just shared, man, that that's, that that ring, uh, thing, man. You know what I'm saying? That's the, the vision of it, man. The battles. Uh, uh, I know you said it's gonna be you and the enemy in there. Uh, going, yes, sir. And that's life, man. That's a life of believers. A a a lot of people think that that coming to Christ or coming to God is gonna make life easier. But I believe that as soon as we come to Jesus, when we accept Him as Lord and Savior, it's like we're putting a big old target, a big old or bullseye on back man. And that enemy Yeah. Is like when, when he comes right at us, man.'cause I know when I got saved, man, like I, I had experienced spiritual attacks, but man, right before I got saved, when my girlfriend at the time started praying for me. Oh man, them demons rose up man, and those attacks are real, man. So man, I, like I said, I, yeah, I might not be able to make it to the 24th, but definitely. I know you mentioned you might be at a, a couple other places or churches, uh, and if you share that, man, I'll try to put it in the show notes as well as far as like the date and the time. That way people Okay. Bro, if they can't go on the 24th, they could definitely go on, on, on, on another date. Okay.

Anthony: 33:21

Yeah. See that? The only difference is, bro, like the show is gonna change. Because I'm in this, in this theater, I got access to more, um, the theatrics, the sounds, the, the lighting, the, this, the, you know, the other aspects. And, um, so I'm just gonna, you know what I mean? So each show going to be a little different, but this, this kickoff show is the one that's gonna be the, you know, the most, uh.

Omar: 33:43

Yeah. Yeah, because you can have the stage, the ring and all that.

Anthony: 33:46

Exactly, man. Yeah. So I'm going from that to churches. So churches have pulpits, you know, they stay just different, bro. You can

Omar: 33:53

just go in there and throw a ring in the, on the pulpit. Right.

Anthony: 33:55

Exactly,

Omar: 33:56

man. You see what I'm saying? I gotcha though. Yeah, for sure. So definitely, man, if you guys wanna see the, the, I guess the real deal, man, you gotta, gotta go on October 24th then. Check this out.

Anthony: 34:07

It is, bro. Peace man. Thanks for being

Omar: 34:09

here, brother. Hey, would you mind closing this out in a prayer?

Anthony: 34:12

Absolutely. And I'm gonna send you the song right after this too, bro. Yes sir.

Omar: 34:15

Yes sir.

Anthony: 34:16

Alright, so, uh, dear Heavenly Father, we come to you with our hearts open, Lord God, ready to receive your word. Ready to, um, not just be sayers but doers and apply what we know to be is truth. And that's your word, your word of God that you give to us through the Bible, um, and that you give to us through prayers that you give us through us, through, um, our spirit, Lord God. Um. We just lift up the brothers that's struggling. I lift, I lift up. We, we lift up all our sins to you, Lord God. We ask you, forgive us our sins, Lord God. Let us reconnect. Let us come close to you. Let us just be in your presence, Lord God. Let us remember the blessings that you have already given us and know that. You can, you just apply more. You just give more and you everything is better, Lord God with you, Lord God. Um, that should just bless this podcast for every ear that hears it, Lord God, and know that, my testimony is a testimony that they can have too. Just come back to Christ, just to come back to you, just to give it all to you Lord God, because in you is success, you as His happiness is Joy, is peace. That and that peace in you and that joy, you, it feels better than anything. That's in the sinful nature, Lord God. It's, it is just you. You are the greatest God. We praise you. We worship you. We honor you, Lord God, and let us continue to do things that will be pleasing to you, father. We ask You just bless our families, Lord. Just, just cover'em, Lord God. Take all the stress and ses off s stripes off of us, that, that will, separate us from you, Lord God, let us just focus on you. I ask You just bless this play, bless this testimony that it reaches eyes, that it reaches hearts, that it, people hear it and they are inspired and they are blessed by Lord God. You know, our hearts, our wants, our needs, our desires. We ask you, just bless'em Lord God, according to your will.

Omar: 36:16

In Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen. Amen. Yeah, definitely in Jesus' name. Uh, hey brother, do you have a flyer as well, like for this, like a Absolutely. I, I, I'm gonna see you.

Anthony: 36:26

That too, bro. Yeah,

Omar: 36:26

send me the song, send me the flyer and I'll, when I release it, I'll put it on there, you know, that way people can check it out as well. Yes. But man, uh, I just wanna thank you for your time and thank you for being on here. And we're gonna get ready to, to sign off. Uh, alright. Uh, Matthew four 16 reads, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. Alongside my brother Anthony AM Spaulding. I'm your host Omar Calvillo, and we are from Wrong to Strong. It's strong peace. Love, bro.