Hey, I'm CA Murray and this is "Free Indeed." 00:00:01.15\00:00:03.51 It's a different kind of program. 00:00:03.54\00:00:05.01 On "Free Indeed" you get to meet real people in real situations, 00:00:05.04\00:00:09.09 who have made mistakes but are trying to correct their lives, 00:00:09.12\00:00:12.52 trying to change their destinies, 00:00:12.55\00:00:14.68 trying to get their selves correct not only with society 00:00:14.71\00:00:18.04 but with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:00:18.07\00:00:19.95 This is Prince, Prince has the time to create 00:00:19.98\00:00:23.69 chess pieces out of tissue paper 00:00:23.72\00:00:26.84 but he also has time to read the word. 00:00:26.87\00:00:28.94 He has time to read his Bible and he plans on getting out, 00:00:28.97\00:00:32.81 getting straight, giving his life to God 00:00:32.84\00:00:36.12 and becoming a servant of God and a servant to man. 00:00:36.15\00:00:39.81 That's what "Free Indeed" is all about, 00:00:39.84\00:00:41.41 its real people telling real stories. 00:00:41.44\00:00:45.57 I'm free indeed. 00:00:57.89\00:01:00.98 When I was arrested and prior to my arrest, 00:01:03.57\00:01:08.55 I had numerous associates and people 00:01:08.58\00:01:12.30 that always wanted to be around me. 00:01:12.33\00:01:13.69 I'm goofy person, I'm easy to get along 00:01:13.72\00:01:15.75 but you know and I like to have fun 00:01:15.79\00:01:17.27 but outside of that I had money. 00:01:17.30\00:01:19.57 So people like to be around me because they knew 00:01:19.60\00:01:21.97 that whatever they needed, I would most likely 00:01:22.00\00:01:23.86 get it or I'll find a way for them to have it or whatever. 00:01:23.89\00:01:26.71 And when I got arrested everybody disappeared, 00:01:26.74\00:01:30.74 everybody and my mom always 00:01:30.77\00:01:32.54 tells me that family is all we have. 00:01:32.57\00:01:34.79 You know, your family will always be. 00:01:34.82\00:01:36.60 If anybody else, if everybody else leaves, 00:01:36.63\00:01:38.68 your mom is always going to be here and she was there. 00:01:38.71\00:01:41.57 And before I realized, you know, this is after months 00:01:41.60\00:01:46.42 of sitting in this county. 00:01:46.45\00:01:47.53 It set me to realize that my family is the only people 00:01:47.56\00:01:50.28 that are showing up here. 00:01:50.31\00:01:51.69 And that are doing the small things that really matter, 00:01:51.72\00:01:54.40 everything else doesn't matter. 00:01:54.43\00:01:57.37 I took so much stuff for granted, 00:01:57.40\00:01:59.48 like tying with my family or just seeing 00:01:59.51\00:02:01.78 their face or hearing their voice, 00:02:01.81\00:02:03.72 I took all these things for granted and I never-I had 00:02:03.75\00:02:09.58 so much materialistic stuff and none of that matters now. 00:02:09.61\00:02:13.70 I never thought that being put in the situation like this, 00:02:13.73\00:02:17.26 everybody would disappear and everybody 00:02:17.29\00:02:19.27 would just find the next person. 00:02:19.30\00:02:22.05 You know, just vanish out of my life. 00:02:22.08\00:02:23.71 I never thought that they would just disappear like that. 00:02:23.74\00:02:27.07 And when I was arrested, my lowest point. 00:02:27.10\00:02:32.97 I was in the county jail and I had beat this girl up 00:02:33.00\00:02:37.39 and I had to stay in a room by myself for 28 days. 00:02:37.42\00:02:41.01 No toilet paper, no type of hygiene. 00:02:41.04\00:02:43.10 I couldn't keep a towel, I couldn't keep watch clock. 00:02:43.13\00:02:45.06 They took my mattress from me every morning about 5:30. 00:02:45.09\00:02:47.88 I didn't get it back till about 10 o'clock at night. 00:02:47.91\00:02:49.84 And during this time it seemed like everything 00:02:49.87\00:02:54.44 around me crumbled and all like I have 00:02:54.47\00:02:56.23 in that little room with me was a Bible. 00:02:56.26\00:02:58.19 And I can only have one visit a week for 30 minutes. 00:02:58.22\00:03:01.45 And my mom came to see me and started to share 00:03:01.48\00:03:04.77 with me and just tried to help me make it through that. 00:03:04.80\00:03:07.60 And that was some of the worst-- that was the worst 00:03:07.63\00:03:11.04 that I have experienced I thought, 00:03:11.07\00:03:14.01 and so down the road when my mother relapsed again. 00:03:14.04\00:03:19.08 And I just fell like I was back into a corner and the only thing 00:03:19.11\00:03:23.26 that I could do was call out to God. 00:03:23.29\00:03:25.39 And I didn't realized that's where my help and my strength 00:03:25.42\00:03:27.99 lied until I actually decided to give everything 00:03:28.02\00:03:31.25 that was on my shoulders to Him. 00:03:31.28\00:03:32.56 I didn't realize that it would be that much easier 00:03:32.59\00:03:35.89 in the midst of all that madness and all that chaos 00:03:35.92\00:03:38.32 if I just turned it over. 00:03:38.35\00:03:41.39 At times when I had a lot of money, 00:03:41.42\00:03:43.86 I felt like I was, you know, unstoppable. 00:03:43.89\00:03:47.74 And even when my money was low, 00:03:47.77\00:03:50.21 I knew that I will get it back as soon as my phone rung, 00:03:50.24\00:03:52.93 I would get that money right back. 00:03:52.96\00:03:54.06 It didn't matter to me, you know, when because 00:03:54.09\00:03:57.54 I knew that time will come eventually. 00:03:57.57\00:03:59.08 And I didn't-I place my money before everything. 00:03:59.11\00:04:03.36 I stopped going to church. 00:04:03.39\00:04:04.85 I mean I respect my grandfather a whole lot. 00:04:04.88\00:04:06.98 He is the main man in my life next to God. 00:04:07.01\00:04:10.05 And I-- he will call 00:04:10.08\00:04:12.49 and asked me to come in church and get on the drums. 00:04:12.52\00:04:14.07 And I'm like, "Okay, I'll be there." 00:04:14.10\00:04:15.38 And my phone would ring to go give money 00:04:15.41\00:04:16.97 and I will do that instead of coming to do 00:04:17.00\00:04:18.93 what my grandfather asked me to do. 00:04:18.96\00:04:20.07 I realized giving myself to God was the only answer 00:04:20.10\00:04:24.74 when everything else that I exhausted 00:04:24.77\00:04:27.10 all those other options, the people, 00:04:27.13\00:04:29.89 the things they all failed. 00:04:29.92\00:04:31.97 That is when I realized that there was no other way. 00:04:32.00\00:04:35.71 There is no other option or avenue 00:04:35.74\00:04:38.86 that I could choose besides God. 00:04:38.89\00:04:41.23 I definitely feel that people can be outside of this prison 00:04:41.26\00:04:45.29 and still be imprisoned in their soul. 00:04:45.32\00:04:48.40 I was so black and darkened inside, 00:04:48.43\00:04:50.57 I felt like I was swimming in a sea of emptiness. 00:04:50.60\00:04:53.25 And was trying to fill that with instinct ratification 00:04:53.28\00:04:56.06 and it never worked ever, it may have last for a minute. 00:04:56.09\00:04:58.82 You know, with a blend or a drink 00:04:58.85\00:05:00.96 or whatever but it always went way. 00:05:00.99\00:05:03.15 But when you fill yourself up with the goodness of Jesus, 00:05:03.18\00:05:06.08 there is no better feeling than that. 00:05:06.11\00:05:08.69 And it's not a feeling that comes and goes, 00:05:08.72\00:05:10.83 it's something that you want to hold on to and it's something 00:05:10.86\00:05:13.13 that you want to share with someone else 00:05:13.16\00:05:15.38 and try to encourage them to try to grasp or hold off, 00:05:15.41\00:05:18.51 so that they can share that with the next person. 00:05:18.54\00:05:22.44 What is grace? What is mercy? 00:05:22.47\00:05:25.23 Are grace and mercy two sides of the same coin? 00:05:25.26\00:05:29.19 Is grace, mercy in action or is mercy, grace in acting? 00:05:29.22\00:05:34.66 Is grace not getting what we deserve or getting 00:05:34.69\00:05:37.85 what we don't deserve? 00:05:37.88\00:05:39.91 Or getting what we want or not getting what we want. 00:05:39.94\00:05:44.84 In today's program Vince is a recipient of God's mercy. 00:05:44.87\00:05:48.20 He sings about God's mercy and His grace. 00:05:48.23\00:05:51.59 It's God's grace that keeps us. 00:05:51.62\00:05:53.89 It's His mercy that draws us. 00:05:53.92\00:05:56.10 It keeps us sound and saved 00:05:56.13\00:05:58.89 and sane even in a place like this. 00:05:58.92\00:06:02.34 I had children when I was right coming out of high school. 00:06:05.09\00:06:09.95 Started having children-- and my whole thing 00:06:09.98\00:06:12.12 was I had to take care of them. 00:06:12.15\00:06:14.02 I knew that my parents took care of me 00:06:14.05\00:06:17.85 and I will be there for my children. 00:06:17.88\00:06:19.17 And at first I tried working 00:06:19.20\00:06:21.07 but I just wasn't making enough money. 00:06:21.10\00:06:23.27 So my thing was to by any means necessary 00:06:23.30\00:06:26.40 to take care of my children, I had do it. 00:06:26.43\00:06:28.25 So that's what I did, whatever it took 00:06:28.28\00:06:31.25 to get to feed my children's what I did. 00:06:31.28\00:06:33.19 Back then it seem like the not so honest made more money. 00:06:33.22\00:06:36.40 So they are not so honest job, that's the job that I took. 00:06:36.43\00:06:40.99 I sold drugs, I obtain items 00:06:41.02\00:06:44.18 that were stolen and I resold them. 00:06:44.21\00:06:45.76 I was middleman, I was all that. 00:06:45.79\00:06:48.17 When you become a hustler, if--to me hustling 00:06:48.20\00:06:51.80 is not just selling drugs. 00:06:51.83\00:06:53.23 If it comes down to painting a house, 00:06:53.26\00:06:55.63 I'm going to be the best house painter I could paint it. 00:06:55.66\00:06:57.53 If you're going to paint it for $100, 00:06:57.56\00:06:59.02 I'm going to paint it for 99. 00:06:59.05\00:07:01.84 So I make sure that I get that job. 00:07:01.87\00:07:03.52 So if it comes to feed my children. 00:07:03.55\00:07:05.57 I'm going to do it. 00:07:05.60\00:07:06.90 I can't envision a time or situation 00:07:06.93\00:07:09.82 that where I want to go back to where I was. 00:07:09.85\00:07:12.07 Because my mother always told me, 00:07:12.10\00:07:13.52 if you do what you did, you continue to get what you got it. 00:07:13.55\00:07:16.84 So you're going to get the same results for your action so. 00:07:16.87\00:07:20.30 Now there's no possible way I go back. 00:07:20.33\00:07:22.76 When I came to the system, at first I was angry because 00:07:22.79\00:07:26.16 there were lot of things that I did do and didn't get caught 00:07:26.19\00:07:29.67 for it and I thought about it when 00:07:29.70\00:07:31.21 I sat back and to see about myself 00:07:31.24\00:07:33.59 and I really thought about it. 00:07:33.62\00:07:34.76 I was really blessed because 00:07:34.79\00:07:37.93 I didn't have to make it this far. 00:07:37.96\00:07:39.20 I could have gotten killed, 00:07:39.23\00:07:40.26 things that I was doing out on the street. 00:07:40.29\00:07:42.23 And to me God put you where you need, 00:07:42.26\00:07:46.36 where He needs you to be actually. 00:07:46.39\00:07:47.89 Because doing what I was doing I could have been dead. 00:07:47.92\00:07:51.59 I wouldn't be able to call my children. 00:07:51.62\00:07:53.35 I wouldn't be able to write to them. 00:07:53.38\00:07:54.63 They wouldn't be able to come and visit me. 00:07:54.66\00:07:56.36 They wouldn't have a dad at all. 00:07:56.39\00:07:58.21 So I think he just put me somewhere 00:07:58.24\00:08:00.02 to sit down to really, you know, catch my breath basically 00:08:00.05\00:08:04.35 and get by head together. 00:08:04.38\00:08:05.56 I was at wreck one day. 00:08:05.59\00:08:06.95 I went over there to try to give my, 00:08:06.98\00:08:09.34 try to work out a little bit. 00:08:09.37\00:08:10.49 And I heard a guy singing in the yard. 00:08:10.52\00:08:12.42 Two guys are walking and they were singing 00:08:12.45\00:08:13.89 and so I walked to them and I was listening. 00:08:13.92\00:08:16.67 So I asked the guy, I said, "Hey, do you know this song." 00:08:16.70\00:08:18.59 Like that and I started singing it. 00:08:18.62\00:08:20.04 And he said, "Hey, you know, 00:08:20.07\00:08:21.27 you can sing a little bit like then." 00:08:21.30\00:08:22.58 And I said, "Well, I do a little." 00:08:22.61\00:08:24.02 And then he said, well, would you like to come over 00:08:24.05\00:08:25.96 here and come over check at the choir like that. 00:08:25.99\00:08:27.91 So I was like ah, I don't know like there so. 00:08:27.94\00:08:31.66 I said well, I'll check it out, went there, so he said, 00:08:31.69\00:08:35.07 well, here sing this with me. 00:08:35.10\00:08:36.22 So we started singing and we've been 00:08:36.25\00:08:37.37 singing through the whole [838]. 00:08:37.40\00:08:39.42 And finally I get a pass telling me to call 00:08:39.45\00:08:41.75 to the chapel and they know. 00:08:41.78\00:08:43.50 And I'm here and I wouldn't, I mean it's the best thing 00:08:43.53\00:08:45.92 that ever happened to me as far being down here. 00:08:45.95\00:08:49.95 Having guys to sing with and worship with. 00:08:49.98\00:08:53.33 And if you just need somebody to talk to, 00:08:53.36\00:08:55.31 just I feel like the choir is my brothers. 00:08:55.34\00:08:57.37 All of them are my brothers even from another mother 00:08:57.40\00:09:00.03 because I can go to them 00:09:00.06\00:09:01.66 and we can talk about anything. 00:09:01.69\00:09:03.13 And if I have a problem or they have a problem, 00:09:03.16\00:09:05.26 we can share that with each other. 00:09:05.29\00:09:06.48 And it's almost like, you know, like first hand. 00:09:06.51\00:09:09.68 I mean it's like, like Vince our choir director. 00:09:09.71\00:09:13.16 If I'm having a problem with something, 00:09:13.19\00:09:14.77 I can go to him. He is going to stop doing 00:09:14.80\00:09:17.05 what he is doing to make sure I'm okay. 00:09:17.08\00:09:19.90 Again I've being singing for him. 00:09:19.93\00:09:22.38 God's mercy kept me means to me on a personal level 00:09:22.41\00:09:25.61 that if it wasn't for God's mercy, 00:09:25.64\00:09:28.57 I wouldn't be here today. 00:09:28.60\00:09:30.14 I'd probably be six feet under. 00:09:30.17\00:09:32.69 So it means a lot to me and it comes, 00:09:32.72\00:09:35.40 it really hits home when it comes 00:09:35.43\00:09:37.22 you know my personal life because 00:09:37.25\00:09:39.53 if it weren't for God's mercy shew... 00:09:39.56\00:09:44.81 I just wouldn't be and I know that for a fact. 00:09:44.84\00:09:49.54 Lamentations 3:22 says, "God's mercies are new everyday. 00:09:49.57\00:09:55.51 His compassion fails us not. 00:09:55.54\00:09:58.28 Oh, great is thy faithfulness." 00:09:58.31\00:10:01.49 When you think about what the Lord 00:10:01.52\00:10:02.65 has done for you and where He has brought you from, 00:10:02.68\00:10:05.26 you should want to shout hallelujah. 00:10:05.29\00:10:07.29 God's mercy will sustain you and will keep you, amen. 00:10:07.32\00:10:11.63 I almost let go 00:10:22.69\00:10:27.58 I felt like I just couldn't take life any more 00:10:31.43\00:10:36.60 My problems had me bound 00:10:39.98\00:10:44.28 Depression weighed me down 00:10:44.31\00:10:47.58 But God held me close 00:10:47.61\00:10:51.41 So I wouldn't let go 00:10:51.44\00:10:55.79 God's mercy kept me 00:10:55.82\00:10:59.99 So I wouldn't let go Hallelujah 00:11:00.02\00:11:05.87 I almost gave up 00:11:10.02\00:11:16.78 I was right at the edge of a break through 00:11:18.04\00:11:21.60 I couldn't see it 00:11:21.63\00:11:26.88 The devil really had me 00:11:26.91\00:11:30.71 But Jesus came and grabbed me 00:11:30.74\00:11:34.24 And He held me close 00:11:34.27\00:11:38.08 So I wouldn't let go 00:11:38.11\00:11:42.35 God's mercy kept me 00:11:42.38\00:11:46.41 So I wouldn't let go 00:11:46.44\00:11:51.32 So I'm here to day because God kept me 00:11:51.35\00:11:59.28 I'm alive today only because of His grace 00:11:59.31\00:12:06.26 Oh, He kept me 00:12:06.29\00:12:11.35 God kept me 00:12:11.38\00:12:15.20 He kept me 00:12:15.23\00:12:18.81 So I wouldn't let go 00:12:18.84\00:12:24.65 Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Come one man. 00:12:24.68\00:12:28.33 I almost let go 00:12:28.36\00:12:35.75 I felt like I just couldn't take life anymore 00:12:35.78\00:12:41.46 Come on man 00:12:41.49\00:12:44.28 My problems had me bound 00:12:44.31\00:12:48.28 Depression weighed me down 00:12:48.31\00:12:51.26 But God held me close 00:12:51.29\00:12:54.09 Yes, indeed 00:12:54.12\00:12:55.15 So I wouldn't let go 00:12:55.18\00:12:59.19 And God's mercy kept me 00:12:59.22\00:13:02.94 So I wouldn't let go 00:13:02.97\00:13:07.59 So I'm here today because God kept me 00:13:07.62\00:13:15.50 I'm alive today only because of His grace 00:13:15.53\00:13:22.64 Oh, He kept me 00:13:22.67\00:13:26.43 My God kept me 00:13:26.46\00:13:30.30 He kept me 00:13:30.33\00:13:33.14 He kept me God kept me 00:13:33.17\00:13:38.73 He kept me 00:13:38.76\00:13:41.22 Jesus kept me 00:13:41.25\00:13:43.34 God kept me 00:13:43.37\00:13:45.16 Oh, He kept me 00:13:45.19\00:13:47.62 He kept me 00:13:47.65\00:13:49.07 I know that God kept me 00:13:49.10\00:13:51.52 God kept me 00:13:51.55\00:13:53.19 He kept me 00:13:53.22\00:13:57.07 In storm and in rain 00:13:57.10\00:13:59.11 God kept me 00:13:59.14\00:14:00.67 God was right by my side 00:14:00.70\00:14:03.34 He kept me 00:14:03.37\00:14:04.60 When I was running out of my mind 00:14:04.63\00:14:08.75 God was right by my side 00:14:08.78\00:14:10.75 He kept me 00:14:10.79\00:14:13.06 Through the storm and the rain 00:14:13.09\00:14:16.69 And when my body was in pain 00:14:16.72\00:14:20.16 God reached down and picked me up 00:14:20.19\00:14:22.94 He put my feet on a solid rock 00:14:22.97\00:14:27.61 In the midnight I would wake 00:14:27.64\00:14:31.46 God was right by my side 00:14:31.49\00:14:33.69 Yes, He was 00:14:33.72\00:14:35.44 Trouble all around me 00:14:35.47\00:14:36.82 And I couldn't find my way 00:14:36.85\00:14:38.38 God, my God stepped in 00:14:38.41\00:14:41.07 He stepped in Yes, He did 00:14:41.10\00:14:43.19 He picked me up like 00:14:43.22\00:14:44.37 He did Daniel in the lions' den 00:14:44.40\00:14:46.89 He was checking me like 00:14:46.92\00:14:48.14 he did with Paul and Simon [...14.51] 00:14:48.17\00:14:51.28 He reborn them in the fire of furnace 00:14:51.31\00:14:53.92 My God would do the same thing 00:14:53.95\00:14:55.80 Same thing for you 00:14:55.83\00:14:57.15 Yes, He will 00:14:57.18\00:14:59.00 God, trust in the Lord 00:14:59.03\00:15:01.99 So I would know 00:15:02.02\00:15:06.34 He kept me 00:15:06.37\00:15:09.91 So I wouldn't let go Hallelujah. 00:15:09.94\00:15:15.54 Let's pray, Father God, 00:15:27.36\00:15:28.39 we're going to reach your word now. 00:15:28.42\00:15:29.78 And we ask You please shine the light in our eyes, 00:15:29.81\00:15:34.10 so that we can truly see. 00:15:34.13\00:15:36.88 We thank You in Jesus' name, amen. 00:15:36.91\00:15:39.60 Amen. "Then he began 00:15:39.63\00:15:43.06 to speak to them in parables." 00:15:43.09\00:15:45.63 I'm in Mark 12:1 reading from the New King James. 00:15:45.66\00:15:50.35 "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, 00:15:50.38\00:15:54.72 dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. 00:15:54.75\00:15:59.36 Then he leased it to vinedressers 00:15:59.39\00:16:02.24 and went into a far country. 00:16:02.27\00:16:06.70 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, 00:16:06.73\00:16:11.86 that he might receive some of the fruit 00:16:11.89\00:16:14.60 of the vineyard from the vinedressers." 00:16:14.63\00:16:17.49 It's only fair, he want to get little some back 00:16:17.52\00:16:18.93 on his investment. 00:16:18.96\00:16:21.13 "And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 00:16:21.16\00:16:26.73 Again he sent another servant, and at him they threw stones, 00:16:26.77\00:16:32.96 wounded him in the head, 00:16:32.99\00:16:34.81 and sent him away shamefully treated. 00:16:34.84\00:16:39.04 And again he sent another, and him they killed, 00:16:39.07\00:16:42.62 and many others, beating some and killing some. 00:16:42.65\00:16:47.97 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, 00:16:48.00\00:16:52.54 he sent him to them at last, saying they will respect my son. 00:16:52.57\00:16:59.22 But those vinedressers said among themselves, 00:16:59.25\00:17:02.52 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, 00:17:02.55\00:17:05.57 and the inheritance will be ours.' 00:17:05.60\00:17:11.01 So they took him and killed him 00:17:11.04\00:17:14.24 and cast him out of the vineyard. 00:17:14.27\00:17:18.92 Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? 00:17:18.95\00:17:25.09 He will come and destroy the vinedressers, 00:17:25.12\00:17:29.30 and give the vineyard to others." 00:17:29.33\00:17:35.12 There is an old song sung by Elvis Presley. 00:17:35.15\00:17:39.55 I guess it's got to be better part 00:17:39.58\00:17:40.96 of 60 years old called Return to Sender. 00:17:40.99\00:17:47.07 Now if you know that song, you're no baby. 00:17:47.10\00:17:53.98 Because that's an old song. 00:17:54.01\00:17:55.75 And I remember hearing that when I was a little fat. 00:17:55.78\00:17:57.98 That song is almost 60 years old. 00:17:58.01\00:18:00.01 But the thoughts of that song are still the same. 00:18:00.04\00:18:06.31 It's about a guy who loves a girl and he is sending 00:18:06.34\00:18:10.85 her letter to tell him about his love. 00:18:10.88\00:18:15.74 But she is sending them back unopened and unread. 00:18:15.77\00:18:22.05 And so the last part of the song says, 00:18:22.08\00:18:24.52 this time I'm going to walk right up 00:18:24.55\00:18:28.70 and put it right in her hand. 00:18:28.73\00:18:33.60 And if it comes back the very next day 00:18:33.63\00:18:38.79 then I'll understand. 00:18:38.82\00:18:41.48 She wrote upon it "return to sender." 00:18:41.51\00:18:47.72 I don't think there's anything worse in the world 00:18:47.75\00:18:53.36 than loving somebody, who don't love you. 00:18:53.39\00:18:56.90 Amen. That's about the worst thing 00:18:56.93\00:19:01.36 in the world, loving somebody, who doesn't love you. 00:19:01.39\00:19:05.31 Amen. Caring about somebody, 00:19:05.34\00:19:07.87 who doesn't care about you. 00:19:07.90\00:19:09.71 Needing somebody who just doesn't need you. 00:19:09.74\00:19:15.65 That's tough Amen. 00:19:15.68\00:19:19.48 This parable that's recorded 00:19:19.51\00:19:21.89 here in Mark is also written in the Book of Luke 20. 00:19:21.92\00:19:26.85 And Christ is talking about that kind of relationship. 00:19:26.88\00:19:32.03 God sent prophets, priests, finally Jesus. 00:19:32.06\00:19:39.00 We neglected the priests, 00:19:39.03\00:19:41.34 rejected the prophets and killed His Son. 00:19:41.37\00:19:47.07 It's tough when you love people, who don't love you. 00:19:47.11\00:19:50.22 That's right. Me people, don't need you. 00:19:50.25\00:19:57.12 Care about people that don't care about you. 00:19:57.15\00:20:03.44 Years ago when I first realized this as a young Christian, 00:20:03.47\00:20:08.24 I kind of felt bad for God. 00:20:08.27\00:20:15.77 Because it occurred to me that God 00:20:15.80\00:20:17.41 was a prisoner of His own love. 00:20:17.44\00:20:23.19 God's in this thing for keeps. 00:20:23.22\00:20:27.68 He can't get out. 00:20:27.71\00:20:31.77 God is as much a prisoner as you are. 00:20:31.80\00:20:36.73 Have you ever thought about that. 00:20:36.76\00:20:38.35 He can't get free, 00:20:38.38\00:20:42.62 He cannot stop loving. 00:20:42.65\00:20:48.36 1 John 4:8 says, "He that loveth 00:20:48.39\00:20:50.07 not knoweth not God, for God is love." 00:20:50.10\00:20:53.73 Not has love, sells love, rents love, 00:20:53.76\00:20:56.68 gives love, God is love. 00:20:56.71\00:21:00.34 He is a prisoner of His own love. 00:21:04.97\00:21:09.98 He is got to love you. 00:21:10.01\00:21:13.05 And He cannot stop loving you 00:21:13.08\00:21:17.39 whether you love Him or not. 00:21:17.42\00:21:24.33 It's tough when you love somebody 00:21:24.36\00:21:27.14 that doesn't love you. 00:21:27.17\00:21:29.39 Care about somebody, doesn't care about you. 00:21:29.42\00:21:34.02 Needs somebody who doesn't need you. 00:21:34.05\00:21:40.21 So when I realize that I felt bad for God. 00:21:40.24\00:21:44.94 Then I realized I don't have to pity God. 00:21:44.97\00:21:47.05 God needs to pity me. 00:21:47.08\00:21:52.97 But He is a prisoner of His own love. 00:21:53.00\00:21:59.55 God cannot change, He says that. 00:21:59.58\00:22:02.56 I'm the Lord, thy God I change not. 00:22:02.59\00:22:05.50 So He loves you yesterday, today forever and there 00:22:05.53\00:22:09.74 is nothing you can do to change that. 00:22:09.77\00:22:15.81 You know, I'm so glad and its in my just popped in my mind. 00:22:15.84\00:22:19.01 There is nothing you can do that's God is not prepared for 00:22:19.04\00:22:21.94 Amen. You can't surprise God. 00:22:21.97\00:22:24.89 That's right. Can't sneak up on him. 00:22:24.92\00:22:27.39 It's funny sometimes we do things 00:22:27.42\00:22:29.06 and we say what was I thinking. 00:22:29.09\00:22:32.71 Did you ever do that? 00:22:32.74\00:22:35.15 I don't know what is going through my head 00:22:35.18\00:22:37.09 I'm so what was I thinking.. And you're surprised at you. 00:22:37.12\00:22:43.56 But it's interesting the devil is not surprised 00:22:43.59\00:22:50.42 because he prodded you to do it. 00:22:50.45\00:22:52.12 So he knew it was coming. 00:22:52.15\00:22:55.07 God is not surprised because He knew it was coming before 00:22:55.10\00:22:58.36 the thought entered your mind. 00:22:58.39\00:22:59.94 The only person that surprised 00:22:59.97\00:23:01.55 when you do the things you do, is you. 00:23:01.58\00:23:04.41 Amen. Because God is not surprised, 00:23:04.44\00:23:08.86 devil is not surprised. 00:23:08.89\00:23:11.81 And through all of that God says, 00:23:11.84\00:23:14.63 I love you still, I can't stop loving. 00:23:14.66\00:23:19.50 Let me show you a great text, just popped in my brain. 00:23:19.53\00:23:22.09 Let me show you and this is a great text. 00:23:22.12\00:23:24.64 2 Timothy 2:13, its great text. 00:23:24.67\00:23:29.13 "If we are faithless, He remains faithful." 00:23:29.16\00:23:36.80 Yeah. "He cannot deny Himself." 00:23:36.83\00:23:42.39 Now here is what that saying. 00:23:42.42\00:23:44.34 He's not saying if you give upon the faith 00:23:44.37\00:23:46.85 you're still going to be saved. 00:23:46.88\00:23:48.69 That's not what he is saying. 00:23:48.72\00:23:51.75 God is saying His faithfulness 00:23:51.78\00:23:55.24 is not dependent upon your faithfulness. 00:23:55.27\00:23:58.85 Amen. Right. He is saying 00:23:58.88\00:24:01.46 I don't move the goalpost. 00:24:01.49\00:24:04.92 I'll always be here whether you're looking for me or not. 00:24:04.95\00:24:11.73 So when you run away, I'm right here waiting 00:24:11.76\00:24:15.16 for you and when you get back around to looking for Me, 00:24:15.19\00:24:19.25 I will be right where you left Me. 00:24:19.28\00:24:22.85 Do you follow me. 00:24:22.88\00:24:25.80 Whether you are faithful or faithless, 00:24:25.83\00:24:30.37 I'm going to be faithful. 00:24:30.40\00:24:32.52 So that when you get around to need something, 00:24:32.55\00:24:35.96 I have it ready for you. 00:24:35.99\00:24:38.67 He cannot deny himself that's just how He is. 00:24:38.70\00:24:41.68 He can't stop loving you. 00:24:41.71\00:24:43.51 He can't stop caring about you. 00:24:43.54\00:24:45.47 He can't stop needing you because that's what God does, 00:24:45.50\00:24:50.15 He can't do anything else, cannot change. 00:24:50.18\00:24:55.48 He is the loving God. 00:24:55.51\00:24:58.07 And He loves us with an everlasting love. 00:24:58.10\00:25:01.53 Ah, Rob, it is, this is very serious. 00:25:05.58\00:25:07.66 This is a very life changing experience 00:25:07.69\00:25:11.86 that you've shared with me in that baptism orientation. 00:25:11.89\00:25:15.69 Tell me little bit about yourself 00:25:15.72\00:25:17.11 and why you made this commitment? 00:25:17.14\00:25:18.58 Well, 12 years in penitentiary, five years ago, 00:25:18.61\00:25:24.20 after 25 years of drug addiction I fell on my face 00:25:24.23\00:25:28.24 in a visit room and gave my heart to God. 00:25:28.27\00:25:31.27 Amen. What inspired you, who told you about God, 00:25:31.31\00:25:34.14 who encouraged you, who gave you a Bible. 00:25:34.17\00:25:35.92 Tell me about that? 00:25:35.95\00:25:36.98 A family friend after 30 years of not seeing her. 00:25:37.01\00:25:42.01 As she wrote me a letter and asked 00:25:42.04\00:25:44.71 to get on my visit list. 00:25:44.74\00:25:46.66 Okay, no problem, she says will you put 00:25:46.69\00:25:48.85 my new husband on there too. 00:25:48.88\00:25:50.18 Yeah, no problem. 00:25:50.21\00:25:51.76 Well, the next letter I get she says my husband is minister. 00:25:51.79\00:25:56.35 Okay, I was kind of raised in a church. 00:25:56.38\00:25:59.18 I can handle that. 00:25:59.21\00:26:01.45 After a little while, we corresponded 00:26:01.48\00:26:05.10 they came to see me and I couldn't get 00:26:05.13\00:26:08.46 to the visit room fast enough to get with this preacher 00:26:08.49\00:26:11.79 to give my heart to God. 00:26:11.82\00:26:13.38 I was so sick and tire of being sick and tired 00:26:13.41\00:26:16.04 in my life in drugs and alcohol. 00:26:16.07\00:26:18.44 And the freedom I feel now on the inside, 00:26:18.47\00:26:22.95 the freedom from that bondage to drugs is so powerful. 00:26:22.98\00:26:26.75 Yeah, freedom on the inside, 00:26:26.78\00:26:27.94 you're on the inside on the inside. 00:26:27.97\00:26:29.89 So double inside and you're free indeed. 00:26:29.92\00:26:32.25 Amen, praise God let me ask you something man. 00:26:32.28\00:26:34.34 As far as expressed to me and our viewers 00:26:34.37\00:26:37.63 about the power of the gospel. 00:26:37.66\00:26:39.07 You haven't been baptized yet. 00:26:39.10\00:26:40.55 But tell me about the power that God 00:26:40.58\00:26:42.53 has instilled in your life prior to baptism? 00:26:42.56\00:26:46.04 God started with me 10 years before I got saved. 00:26:46.07\00:26:51.44 He started dropping things by the wayside one at a time. 00:26:51.47\00:26:54.80 What kind of things. 00:26:54.83\00:26:56.28 First he dropped away alcohol, in 2001 I quit drinking. 00:26:56.31\00:27:00.65 Then he took away some hatred in my heart for my codefendant. 00:27:00.68\00:27:04.51 I want to kill him for years. 00:27:04.54\00:27:06.23 I had murder in my heart. 00:27:06.26\00:27:08.16 Amen. And if I would have seen him, 00:27:08.19\00:27:09.31 I would have killed him. Amen. 00:27:09.34\00:27:11.07 He took away, he took away the drugs in 2008. 00:27:11.10\00:27:18.01 It was after I was saved. Amen. 00:27:18.04\00:27:20.38 I had a relapse but since Christmas of 2007, 00:27:20.41\00:27:27.58 the first of 2008 no drugs whatsoever. 00:27:27.61\00:27:30.94 None. So four or five years 00:27:30.97\00:27:32.48 clean you've been experiencing this power of the gospel- 00:27:32.51\00:27:35.24 Each day something drops away from me. 00:27:35.27\00:27:37.56 Each day I get stronger in the walk. 00:27:37.59\00:27:39.54 This year is an outward proclamation 00:27:39.57\00:27:42.66 of my faith in Jesus Christ of what He has being doing 00:27:42.69\00:27:45.49 in my life and He is going to continue 00:27:45.52\00:27:47.17 to do and He can do for you too. 00:27:47.20\00:27:49.26 Amen, amen. Pray, 00:27:49.29\00:27:50.99 and I love that because you said the old man- 00:27:51.02\00:27:53.13 He keeps falling away, I got to kill him everyday. 00:27:53.16\00:27:55.58 Amen. And he keeps going 00:27:55.61\00:27:57.03 by the wayside everyday. 00:27:57.06\00:27:58.09 Somebody in the Bible that shared that Paul said, 00:27:58.12\00:27:59.78 I died daily, amen. Amen. 00:27:59.81\00:28:01.74 Died daily and I love Christ in. 00:28:01.77\00:28:03.69 thank you so very, very much, blessings to you. 00:28:03.72\00:28:06.22