My Sunset Testimony.

When I Realized I Wasn’t Superman… and That Was the Point.

For conversations that matter in the twilight of a life spent learning from the Light.

They Don’t See Me the Same Anymore…

There came a moment, in mainly quiet and sudden — when I knew it:

The cape had come off.

My children no longer thought I could fix everything.

My grandkids saw the cracks.

Church members who once applauded began to question.

The honeymoon season of “Superman” had ended.

And it stung.

But what followed… was a holy understanding.

 That Was the Moment They Were Ready for the Real Lesson

I used to think my job was to protect everyone from ever seeing me fall.

But that day, the Lord showed me:

"Now that the fantasy is gone, they’re finally ready to meet Me."

    “He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30

The spotlight wasn’t meant to stay on me. It was always supposed to land on Him.

And now, when I’m weak, tired, honest, or even misunderstood —

Jesus gets seen more clearly.

 My Life Became a Lamp, Not a Spotlight

    “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” — Deuteronomy 6:7

For years, I thought teaching was mostly preaching.

But the real lessons?

They come when people watch how you live when no one's clapping.

My job wasn’t to be a hero.

It was to point to the only one who is — Jesus.

 Guilt Could’ve Crushed Me — But Grace Carried Me

I’ve had enough regrets to fill a dump truck.

I could’ve lived under that weight.

But I made a choice:

I knelt before God,

I asked for forgiveness (and constantly try to keep changing) to my family when needed,

And then I stood back up — not in shame, but in GraceGraceGrace.

    “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” — Romans 8:1

 What I Tell People Now

    “If I, a flawed man, raised other flawed people — and we still love Jesus and each other — that’s a win.”

Not because of who I was,

But because of who He is,

And how I’ve tried to live transparently before Him.

 Major Takeaways (Scripture-Backed Talking Points)

    Losing your “Superman” status is holy ground.

    → That’s when they’re finally ready to see Jesus through you.

    (2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”)

    Teaching isn’t limited to pulpits.

    → It’s how you eat dinner, forgive, and repent in front of those watching.

    (Philippians 3:17 — “Join in following my example… as you have us for a pattern.”)

    Confession is stronger than perfection.

    → You didn’t ruin your legacy by being flawed. You enriched it by being real.

    (James 5:16 — “Confess your trespasses to one another… that you may be healed.”)

    The win isn’t flawless parenting or perfect pastoring.

    → The win is: Do they still see Jesus through you… Even now?

 Quotes to Use in Conversation

    “When they stopped looking at me, I pointed them up to Him.”

    “The cape never saved anybody. But the cross still does.”

    “I thought my strength would lead them. Turns out, my weakness taught them more.”

    “It’s not about how many people saw me as Superman. It’s about whether they saw Jesus at all.”

 Illustrations You Can Share Casually

    The Falling Star:

    “You know, a shooting star grabs attention when it falls… not while it shines quietly. Same with us — sometimes, the moment we 'fall' is when people finally look up to see the real Light.”

    The Worn-Out Tool:

    “I’ve learned a rusted tool still used in the Master’s hand is better than a polished one on a shelf.”

 Final Thoughts:

What I carry now is wisdom in its purest form —

not from seminary, but from scars.

And scars speak loudly to a generation drowning in filtered perfection.

I don’t need a microphone for this.

I just need a willing heart, a soft voice, and the eyes of someone who finally sees clearly.

This is how anyone can teach the next generation to know Jesus — not because you were flawless,

but because you walked with Him through your flaws.

And the truth is:

You will never look more like a hero than you will look then.

Pastor Terry Bailey

One Truth At A Time

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