This is the Truth Network. Nacita, destroy, crush, demolish, all compatriots as he wanted. Here it is. And Mr. Koloa once again made his feelings very, very apparent.
It's been a long time, but the wait is over. That's a bad man. That's a bad man. That's a bad man. It's time to man up with Satan's nightmare, Nacchia Koloa.
In studio with me today, none other than the man. Reset. Yeah, we got a little tongue tie there. In studio with me today, none other than the man. Well, I'm even having trouble saying that, but hey, the man himself, Roger Gad.
Welcome to the Man Up Show. Oh, thank you, Nick. I'm honored to be here. Thanks for the invite.
Well, it's it's great to have you here. You know, before we went on air, you and I were just taking a minute reminiscing. I I know my producer Nick was asking you kind of how how we met or how we knew each other, and I had no idea you even enlightened me. We about 33 years we've known each other now. I would say over that because I've been married 33 years.
Wow, and so. I, you know, it's it's been a long time.
Well, congratulations on 33 years of marriage. By the way, that thank you. In today's world, that in itself is a milestone. It's 133 right now, too. That's interesting.
I just happened to glance at the clock. All right.
Well, something. Lord, is there is there a scripture there we need to look at? 133.
So anyway, um, well, well, in fact, I'll say this for the record, because you know, you say you go way, way back, even to the days when I was. Married to Mandy, which some people know that story. I mean, they, you know, some there's a lot of wrestling fans out there. People that have read my book or downloaded the book and you know the audio book and and learned that that Mandy was really who I walked away from wrestling in the peak of a career at the at the top. Main event, top.
You know, to take care of her because she had been diagnosed at age 24 with cancer, and and of course she went through that whole process of of chemo radiation, lost all of her hair. Beautiful woman, lost all her hair, and and it came back with a vengeance. Having gone into remission briefly, came back with a vengeance, and then she passed at age 26. It was really my first, I guess you'd say, exposure that that. That close, someone that close to you to to death at that point for me.
Um and and it it didn't lead me to the foot of the cross, but as we were kind of half joking before we got on the on the show today, um, that was really back in my BC days. I wasn't walking with the Lord back in those days, um, and so yeah. But it was I think a catalyst that led me eventually to the foot of the cross, certainly, and experiencing death that close, you know, being that close to to death like that.
So, um, which Which I want to get into your story because, man, you have quite a testimony. You are an overcomer as well. You have had some health challenges, some health issues that I'd love to get into. But, but before we get there, you know, you mentioned being married twenty three years. I mean, tell our listeners just very quickly about your bride and your your family.
And yes, my wife is her name is Michelle. Like I said, we've been married thirty three years. We have three kids. Ross, Madeline, Olivia, and believe it or not, I have five granddaughters, three and a half years and young. Wow, five, three and a half years, all granddaughters, and we just found out my son's wife is pregnant again.
So, about nine months from now, we're going to find out. You know, maybe granddaughter number six, maybe it could be whatever Lord says. We're going to be, we're going to be happy with your, your, your, your, your quiver is expanding, and of course, I can relate to that. Presently. Presently, I have six granddaughters, six grandsons, and my daughter Kendra, who who used to hang out.
Well, hung out at your house for quite. Our kids hung out together too over the years. Yeah, Madeline, Madeline, and Kendra did, right? Yeah, yeah. No, it was Madeline and Colby.
Okay, Madeline and Colby. Yes, it was.
Okay. Yeah.
Okay. Yeah.
It's Colby. Colby's my youngest, and and but Kendra, they're expecting their third. And because they have two girls, and they're they're old school, they're like they're like they they go down the path of of not finding out. They just like to they want to know when when the baby comes out the birth canal. Not to be too graphic here, but but so that'll be the tiebreaker though.
So six grandsons, six granddaughters, and and we won't know till next year who the tiebreaker is there. But so so and you're you're a business guy. I know we we've been in business together over the years, and and. A lot of a variety of different businesses that we've been involved in. The nutritional business, of course, being being one of them.
But what what are what are some of the other hats you've worn besides being a dad, a husband, a granddad? What are some of the other hats you've worn? Oh boy, that there's a good question. That there's a good one there.
So I have I had a decorative concrete company for. Gosh, twenty-five, twenty-five years. Marty Cox, right? Mutual friend, Marty Cox. Absolutely.
Yeah, and I still do that occasionally. It still finds me.
Okay. I just did a couple projects for Multiply Church and a couple things for Pastor Bill.
Okay. Pastor Bill needed. Twenty-five years in in the decorative concrete. Decorative concrete is that right?
Okay. Wow.
Okay. I had no idea. Did that, and I transitioned to insurance.
Okay. That's what you're currently doing, right? It is, sure. It is, it is. I do health insurance, life insurance, help people all all over the state with it.
Okay. State of North Carolina, state of North Carolina, and what it actually does for me is really, what's the neat thing? It puts me in front of people, new people every day, but then repeat people every month, every week, every year. That leads me to relationships with them. And that draws them right to the Lord.
All we always got questions that way, and it's just that relationship building. I can. It's obvious why the Lord has me doing what I'm doing.
Well, and and and being a marketplace guy that you are, and all these different. Jobs or or companies that you've owned or businesses you've been involved in, the one thing I've learned about you, Rogers, you well several things. One, you you've never met a stranger. In other words, you could talk to anybody anywhere at any time. You just have that gift, which which I think is a real gift.
But you're personable, you're friendly, you're approachable, which are some some of the other strengths I've seen about you, and then. The other thing I'll just kind of, kind of half jokingly say is, you can sell snow to a to an Eskimo. You just have the gift of sales.
Some people do, and some don't, quite frankly. But you have that ability to help people understand what it is you're selling, and and them and them wanting to purchase whatever it is from you, right? And so, what has been out of So, out of the different hats you've worn, is as one of any one of those businesses kind of stand out over another, or they all kind of maybe in the same, on the same page, so to speak. Honestly, really on the same page. Because I always tell people, I'm, I'm not defined on what I do.
That's something I years and years ago I just figured out that what do men normally do when they meet each other? The first thing they say is, "What do you do for a living?" Right? Yeah, you know, it's just that natural thing that people do. Right, and you know what? You know, the Lord told me long time ago that's not what we're defined as.
You know what I mean? Because because a lot of guys, you bring up a very valid point. A lot of guys, their whole identity, which is what you're alluding to, their whole identity is wrapped up in in what they do, right? And whether it's it's insurance, car sales, or whatever it is, that's that's who they become. For the longest time, you know, well, people identify me as in in many arenas.
So to speak, as the pro wrestler, right? Oh, you're the wrestling guy, right? Kind of funny. I've had this happen a number of times. These these younger girls, like I might be in a church service or something, or You know, so out and about, and they'll go, Dad, that's that's that preacher guy, and well, Dad knows me as the wrestler guy, and they'll go, No, honey, that he's he's a he's a wrestler, and she goes, No, he's a preacher, because you know, for a couple seasons we were part of a reality TV show called Preacher's Daughters, and so some of those teenage girls.
Don't know, didn't know I was a wrestler. Only saw me as a preacher, and then the parent, though, in many cases, knew me as a wrestler. Right, so they kind of have that argument back and forth. But all that to say, it is easy, I guess. Would you agree for for people in general, but especially men?
To get hung up or caught up in what they do as their identity, but when did you first recognize that's just what I do? That's not who I am. That's not my identity. Oh, but that's a good question. But I would say several several years ago, maybe even longer.
I just I don't know. The Lord kind of downloaded it with me and just kind of let me know who I am in in Him. You know, obviously. That's what it's about.
So your identity is in Christ. Yeah, yeah. It's not about you know. I mean, you know, it's in. It's important to make money, and you can help people in what you're doing.
But everything comes down to relationships. Everything when you when you're doing it because you've got relationships with people. They'll call you once or twice a year. You will you will help them with their needs, and then you know you may some of them I talk to a lot more than that, and some of them I don't. But it is, I don't know.
It's kind of one of those things that it was freedom knowing that. Where there is, yeah, there is freedom in in in and and peace, right? Yeah, that that if you're secure. You're secure and have peace about who you are in Christ, and there may be somebody out there listening today that that doesn't have it. You said comes down to relationships.
That maybe doesn't have that relationship with Jesus Christ. And I'll just take a moment right now and encourage you. You know, if that is you, um, no better decision you'll ever make in your life ever than surrendering your heart and your life to Christ. Would Would you agree with that, Roger? Oh, oh, absolutely.
That would that would actually ties back. To the story when you were talking about Mandy, because you know a couple years later than that, when I was twenty-seven, I had non-Hoskins lymphoma. I had a tumor in my chest. I had I had I had cancer. I had a tumor in my chest as big as your hand.
Uh, two surgeries, twelve, twelve chemo, twenty radiation treatments. You know, all my hair fell out. I look like you, or look like I do now. There you go. You know, that was the weirdest feeling in the world.
I had a head full of hair. I always say I had the uh, I had the high and tight before Schwarzenegger had it. You know what I mean? Come on, you had it a long time ago.
So, uh, but I was, you know, after my first uh, after my After my third or fourth chemo, I kept telling my chemo nurse, "I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna lose my hair." She said, "Oh, yes, you are." Okay, so it's real thick and coarse, and all of a sudden, I was laying on my mom and dad's couch because there was no nausea drugs then.
So I was thick as a dog.
So I was, I was, I was sick at the time, and all of a sudden, my scalp started tingling, and I could literally. Pull my hair out by the hand. I could just pull it out. Clumps of it. Oh, just it was unbelievable feeling, you know.
So went went through all of that. But in the middle of it, I'd say my fourth or fifth chemo. I was a guy that Nick, I, I wouldn't have known the Lord if He knocked me upside the head.
So you weren't a Christ follower. No, at that time I didn't. I had been to church a couple times in my life.
Okay, and I could say on one hand and start subtracting.
Okay, so I couldn't have told you where Genesis one one was. I mean, period. Didn't know anything about Bible, anything, and lived, you know, had great, great parents, but that wasn't a priority. Yeah, you know, very good moral people. Yeah, absolutely.
No spiritual. No, no drinking. No, just just a clean lifestyle. Is in that, but we're morally bankrupt. Obviously, we didn't.
You know, we didn't. We didn't. You know, like I said, spiritually bankrupt. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That would be a better way to say it.
So, I, so I'm, so I'm there, and I'm, I'm laying on my couch, and I'm saying, "Lord, if you're for real, come on, hey, I need you to show up." And I'm gonna tell you what—he put his hand on me, and like nothing has ever happened before in my life, I knew that he had me. He just put his arms around me, and things started changing. As you say, it was the time I had met my wife, which was a follower of Christ.
Okay, did she have her hiccups along the way? Probably. When I say that, but she grew up in we all do, and actually knew these things.
So, you know, I started going to church. You know, and it was just it was a radical change for me. You know, I always say it was—it was just a radical change that I knew what I had been missing. I understood the love of the Father like I had, like I had never seen ever before in anything. You know, and it was just that big arm that come down and picked me up, and I went through the rest of my treatments and all of that stuff like it was just kind of breezed.
I don't say I breezed through it, yeah, but it sure was a whole lot easier. Wow, much more.
Now you're at peace in a sense, even though you're struggling in in this in that particular trial or some might say tribulation, storm of life. But but in the midst of the storm. God gave you peace when you surrendered your life to Him. How long ago was that, Roger? That was going to be.
I'm just turned 61, so that would be 34 years ago. 34 years.
So 34 years, cancer survivor, and and and and and you began. You know, as we've been referring to a relationship. You began that journey, that relationship with Him, and I know in spending time with you ever since then, you've been growing and growing and growing and growing in your faith. And that's not the only health issue that you had to overcome, right? Oh gosh, you have another what?
What other story?
So. I'm the guy that doesn't get a cold. I'm never sick. I, you know, I I take care of myself. I eat right.
I exercise. I do all the things I think I should do. And then when I was 55, I'm standing in the lady's yard, and all of a sudden, my left arm went really limp.
So when it went limp, basically, long story short, there, I had a mini stroke standing there, and they didn't know why in the world that I had it. I went to the doctor. I was in Salisbury at the time, so I drove myself from there. It was crazy, crazy story.
So when I get there, they said, "How did you get there?" So they did all these tests on me. Long story short, I have a blood cancer called polycythemia vera that actually my bone marrow creates too many red blood cells.
So my hematocrit number was over sixty, which should have been in the forties.
Okay. So my blood was thick.
So they did some blood draws and different things. I'm kind of experiencing some things to go with it now. You know, so then, okay, we'll go help things.
So then, when I was fifty-nine, from my first cancer that I had, my aortic valve—they found a problem with it during all this period of time, and it had to be replaced four years later.
So I had open heart surgery.
So and always just always just say this, always say Satan. Every time he comes after me, only only get closer to the Lord.
So you know he ought to just stop all of this. Is what I say. You know that's a great word of advice.
So just pause on that note, let that sink in for you listening out there. You know he he said whenever he comes out, you know he's referring to there is an enemy of our soul. You know the Bible describes in many different ways. You know Satan, the devil. I mean that's the reality.
There is a heaven. There is a hell. There is good and there is evil, and you know he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Right? You know, go read the book of Job sometime if you if you want to see how he can you know attack us and and so all that to say.
Think about what Roger just said for a moment, and and and the the some pretty pretty major health issues, things that he just described, that that God has sustained him and helped him work through. And what he said was, whenever the enemy comes after him, it's been an opportunity for him to draw closer to the Lord.
So I just want to encourage you, you know, don't run in the opposite direction. You run towards the cross, right, Roger? Not away from the cross. Would say, run to the Father. Run to the Father.
Run to the Father, Abba, our Heavenly Father. Right.
Well, incredible testimonies that that God has clearly over the years had His hand on on your life and and such amazing stories. You did some coaching for a while too. Am I correct? Yeah.
You did some. I have. I have. Uh. I have coached at a Christian school.
Okay. Started out doing middle school football. And probably I wished I'd have probably never stopped doing that. I enjoyed that. Probably had more of a more of an impact there than I thought.
Then I started their JV program. Then I coached with Mike Mike Menner with the with the varsity squad. And you know I just enjoy competition. I in I enjoy kids. And believe it or not, you know people say it's such a joke.
I really like middle school kids. Let me tell you that.
Well, God bless. Roger. Two two quick stories right there.
So you mentioned Mike Minter, of course, played for the Carolina Panthers, defensive back. And you may or may not even know this story. Maybe you do, or I shared it. But yeah, I went to Mike's office, and and and I because I had considered coming aboard on staff too. Maybe in the same time you were there.
I'm not even sure. I know he won like three state titles, right, with that Christian school.
So was during that that window, that time frame. And he goes, "I want you to coach D line." I'm like. Mike, I don't want to coach D line. I'm a tight end. I played tight end in college.
I want to, which I actually looking back, I played defensive line in college as well. But in my mind, I wanted to coach tight ends. I'm like, dude, I want to coach tight ends.
So I never followed through. It's like one of those things, like. Man, I wish I had.
So, because my daughters were going to that same school and and cheerleading, and I could have been coaching on the sideline. My daughter Kendra, who we mentioned, would have been cheerleading.
So anyway, so a missed opportunity, I feel like, for me there. But um, and then the junior high thing. I remember I got a teaching degree from college. Like when I graduate, I graduated with a physical education minor in coaching and a minor in health in health, right? And and I remember.
We had to do these, I think, six weeks segments in a junior high and six weeks in an elementary school. And I don't know which one was first, but here's what I do remember: whichever it didn't matter which one was first. I walked away from each one going. I don't ever want to teach in junior high, or I don't ever want to teach in elementary. You know, man, maybe I'll coach at the college level or teach at the college level.
But anyway, so to hear you say, man, I would have loved to continue. And and even Nick here, the producer of the studio, is kind of grinning on that one when you said my preference would be to be with the junior hires.
So what? What? Just we just got a few minutes left here, but what? What? What prompts that that response?
Like what? Why you say that? Because you had such an impact on them, they were just looking for consistency. The coach, the the the guy that had did it before, in between me and Tim, Tim was the guy that started all that. Tim Hager.
So when the guy in between half showed up, half whatever.
So I don't even know his name, so I'm not talking about him when I say it. But what we did was we showed up. We worked hard, and those kids. I can remember a story. This is this is while I know what the impact you said.
It was a friend of mine. They were going to a cookout. And these some of these kids were in line getting food, and the guy said, "Do you want a soda?" He said, "No." Coach Gad said, "We can't have sodas during season. I'll take a water or a Gatorade." Come on, I love it.
So I'm just telling you, those kids would run through a wall for you, but it took time to build that.
So they were impressionable, extremely. And and you had an incredible opportunity to to make an impact on their life, and which we can do. Let's let's let's. Be honest. We can make a negative impact, or we can make a positive impact.
But with where you were at in life, your station of life, and and the opportunity that presented itself, you were making a a major Positive impact on on these kids' lives. I love that. Coach Gad said we can't have soda pop in in season. We gotta wait till out of season.
So give you a bottle of water. That's amazing. Wow! And before we run out of time, Roger, where like if people wanted to, do you have a website or do you have where where could people find out more about Roger Gad? Especially you know you're actively in the insurance world.
Where could they find out more about Rick? An easy way would just use my phone, which is fine.
Okay. Is seven zero four four two five eight two one six. Say it one more time. Seven zero four four two five eight two one six. And of course, you're in the.
You said all. You can. You can work all over the state of North Carolina. Your license across the whole state of North Carolina. And and you said health and what was so what what type of insurances do you offer and do you I do health insurance, life insurance, okay, individuals, corporations, in.
Individuals and groups. I have access to groups also.
Okay. Okay. And I assure you, you know, if you're a business owner out there, you're just an individual that that that needs some information regarding that. You know, write Roger's number down. Go back and re-listen to this show.
Write his number down, and I assure you, you you couldn't have a better agent working for you, looking out for your best interest than Roger Gad. I feel comfortable in saying that. Thirty. Three plus years that we've known each other, and just an amazing story, Roger. From from what you've overcome.
Last word.
Well, what's parting words that you would maybe want to leave our listeners with? Wow.
I would say that us men and women also, we are. Always defined on who Christ says we are, and we don't have to. We don't have to look very far because He's not very far away. He's always there. And you know, I could just go.
I could probably do another thirty minutes on what we had spoke about the other day, about the ministries and the way that the Lord has showed me to how to reach out to people and how to do. We kind of spoke about a little bit about that devotion list and how that the impact that you can have. The Lord has just showed me all kind of tools on how to share Christ. You know what I mean? And that's what really, at the end of the day.
Insurance, whatever it is, that's what it's about. Those are just assignments, right?
So, whatever chosen field you're working in are just assignments. It is about relationship, starting with that relationship with Jesus Christ. And then from there, just just figuring out than what it is the Lord wants you to do, and and and the marketplace. I'll just kind of kind of wrap up with this: the marketplace. When you look back at where Jesus, I believe, spent the majority of time, was out in the marketplace.
Now he certainly spent his time in the synagogue, you know, and reading out of the Old Testament, reading scripture. But more than anything, he was out out and about in the midst of people, and even got criticized for some of the people. That that he had supper with or hung out with, right? But that didn't stop him from his mission. And Roger Gad is on a mission, and Roger Gad is making an impact and a difference in people's lives, whether it's wearing the coaching hat, the insurance hat, the concrete coating business, or whatever else it is he's done as as a husband, as a father.
As a grandfather, and so I just want to challenge each of you today. I hope you were inspired by Roger's story and/or encouraged by by how he has overcome. And would you say, Roger, at the end of the day, I'm reminded Philippians four thirteen. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Would that be a scripture that you might say you've embraced over the years?
That would be. That would be a great scripture.
So Philippians four thirteen. I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me? Check him out. Check out Roger Gad.
Thank you for tuning in once again to another episode of the Man Up Show. Help spread the word. Get the word out there. Go to coloff.net and get the word out. And go out today.
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