I am "Free indeed."
00:00:13.27\00:00:18.13
Justification is
instantaneous credit
00:00:18.16\00:00:20.96
for the righteousness of Christ
00:00:20.99\00:00:22.71
given to us at the moment
00:00:22.74\00:00:23.95
When we given our
hearts and our lives to Him.
00:00:23.98\00:00:26.55
Sanctification is a
life long journey of making
00:00:26.58\00:00:29.67
ourselves what God
has declared us to be
00:00:29.70\00:00:32.47
at the point of justification.
00:00:32.50\00:00:34.76
It is a growing in grace
and a growing in Jesus Christ.
00:00:34.79\00:00:38.62
When we use terms
like justification,
00:00:38.65\00:00:41.08
sanctification,
righteousness, holiness,
00:00:41.11\00:00:44.70
we don't usually acquaint
them with the kinds of things
00:00:44.73\00:00:47.59
that go on inside prisons
and yet the truth is that
00:00:47.62\00:00:51.76
men and women
are being justified,
00:00:51.79\00:00:54.00
they are being sanctified,
they are being made righteous
00:00:54.03\00:00:56.99
and holy even inside prison.
00:00:57.02\00:00:58.95
Men and women are giving
their hearts to Jesus Christ.
00:00:58.98\00:01:02.05
Dexter is man, who has
given his life to Jesus.
00:01:02.08\00:01:05.47
He's put the past behind him.
He's put the old man behind him.
00:01:05.50\00:01:09.32
He's taken on a
new name, a new title,
00:01:09.35\00:01:11.51
a new mentor as it were.
00:01:11.54\00:01:13.09
That mentor,
Christian, child of God,
00:01:13.12\00:01:16.35
one who is like Christ.
00:01:16.38\00:01:19.24
Holiness is so good to me
that holiness gave me power,
00:01:19.27\00:01:24.86
holiness gave me hope,
holiness gave me my life back,
00:01:24.89\00:01:28.79
holiness brought
people that, you know,
00:01:28.82\00:01:31.54
they show me a lot of
love, that I can be loved
00:01:31.57\00:01:33.73
even though I committed a crime.
00:01:33.76\00:01:36.36
You know, when I
thought everybody had left me.
00:01:36.39\00:01:38.95
And holiness just
brought my whole future back.
00:01:38.98\00:01:40.94
Now, you know, I don't
have to worry about looking back
00:01:40.97\00:01:42.79
over to things that I had done.
00:01:42.82\00:01:44.40
Now its a new beginning for me
00:01:44.43\00:01:46.16
and I think that's
what holiness did for me.
00:01:46.19\00:01:47.82
Holiness,
holiness is what I long for
00:02:01.62\00:02:05.62
Holiness is what I need
00:02:09.62\00:02:15.29
I just want to be holy
00:02:15.32\00:02:18.34
Holiness, holiness
00:02:18.37\00:02:21.87
is what You want for me, for me
00:02:21.90\00:02:25.87
So, take my heart and mold
it So, take my heart and mold it
00:02:29.73\00:02:33.73
Take my mind, transform
it Take my mind, transform it
00:02:37.73\00:02:41.73
Take my will Jesus, my will
Lord Take my will, conform it
00:02:45.73\00:02:49.73
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:02:53.73\00:02:57.73
Faithfulness,
faithfulness is what I long for
00:03:05.83\00:03:09.83
Faithfulness is what I need
00:03:13.77\00:03:19.39
I just want to be faithful
00:03:19.42\00:03:21.81
Faithfulness, faithfulness
is what You want for me, for me
00:03:21.84\00:03:25.81
So, take my heart and mold
it So, take my heart and mold it
00:03:33.22\00:03:37.22
Take my mind, transform
it Take my mind, transform it
00:03:41.22\00:03:45.22
Take my will, hallelujah
Take my will, conform it
00:03:49.22\00:03:53.22
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:03:57.22\00:04:01.22
Brokenness,
brokenness is what I long for
00:04:08.76\00:04:12.76
Brokenness is what I need
00:04:16.41\00:04:21.64
I just want to be broken
00:04:21.67\00:04:24.35
Brokenness, brokenness is
what You want for me, for me
00:04:24.38\00:04:28.35
So, take my heart and mold
it So, take my heart and mold it
00:04:35.64\00:04:39.64
Take my mind, Jesus
Take my mind, transform it
00:04:43.64\00:04:47.64
Take my will, Hallelujah
Lord Take my will, conform it
00:04:51.64\00:04:55.64
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:04:59.64\00:05:03.64
So, take my
heart, Hallelujah Jesus
00:05:06.69\00:05:11.25
So, take my heart and mold it
00:05:11.28\00:05:15.25
Take my Take my
mind, transform it
00:05:15.72\00:05:19.72
Take my will Take
my will, conform it
00:05:23.21\00:05:27.21
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:05:31.17\00:05:35.17
So, take my heart, Hallelujah
So, take my heart and mold it
00:05:38.54\00:05:42.54
Take my mind oh, Lord
Take my mind, transform it
00:05:46.48\00:05:50.48
Take my will Take
my will, conform it
00:05:53.86\00:05:57.86
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:06:01.23\00:06:05.23
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:06:08.96\00:06:12.96
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:06:16.52\00:06:20.52
Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
00:06:27.79\00:06:31.79
Well, when I came to prison,
00:06:35.59\00:06:37.65
you know, I was kind
of, you know, up set,
00:06:37.68\00:06:40.33
not mad at the
people but mad at myself
00:06:40.36\00:06:42.93
because the way
my family brought me.
00:06:42.96\00:06:45.04
And then I got in Messiah
one day and I had a bible
00:06:45.07\00:06:50.87
and I've decided
to pick up that Bible.
00:06:50.90\00:06:52.56
Now I pick up that
bible it started take me back
00:06:52.59\00:06:54.72
how my parents raised me
00:06:54.75\00:06:56.59
my mind and that's
when I started reading
00:06:56.62\00:06:58.67
and dedicated my mind
and heart to those words
00:06:58.70\00:07:01.40
what, what God was
saying, you know, to me.
00:07:01.43\00:07:03.79
And God has said
it me, you know--
00:07:03.82\00:07:07.46
well, He
explained everything to me,
00:07:07.49\00:07:10.65
the good part and the bad part.
00:07:10.68\00:07:12.27
So He told me
and gave me a choice.
00:07:12.30\00:07:14.68
He said, I can even
choose death or choose life.
00:07:14.71\00:07:17.18
So I ended up choosing
life 'cause God has chosen me.
00:07:17.21\00:07:21.16
From there I've
never looked back.
00:07:21.19\00:07:23.16
With old Dexter?
00:07:23.19\00:07:25.49
Oh, man, he was always
into a whole bunch of stuff.
00:07:25.52\00:07:28.65
You know, he was
into all types of things,
00:07:28.68\00:07:30.76
martial things into this world.
00:07:30.79\00:07:32.73
You know, anything you would
name I had done it, you know.
00:07:32.76\00:07:36.31
But now the new Dexter,
now experienced the world
00:07:36.34\00:07:39.83
why Jesus had made a
good heaven and home for me.
00:07:39.86\00:07:43.15
So I don't have to worry
about going that, you know,
00:07:43.18\00:07:46.04
to the deepest
part of the world.
00:07:46.07\00:07:47.51
You know and I'm saying
now I'm in the light, you know.
00:07:47.54\00:07:50.42
So I thank God for
what He had done for me,
00:07:50.45\00:07:53.38
bringing me to
the light, you know.
00:07:53.41\00:07:54.97
Sister as my wife
was visiting with you,
00:07:58.79\00:08:01.85
she had a desire
when we came here
00:08:01.88\00:08:03.28
as we setting up to
go and visit the women.
00:08:03.31\00:08:06.14
And you told me this
not the first time we met.
00:08:06.17\00:08:08.60
Could you tell me
little bit about that?
00:08:08.63\00:08:10.96
I was in Grand County jail,
00:08:10.99\00:08:12.44
I'm not sure if it
was in '98 or in 2002.
00:08:12.47\00:08:16.36
Some years ago.
Yeah, a lot of years ago.
00:08:16.39\00:08:20.14
Those bags,
those sacks of goodies
00:08:20.17\00:08:22.97
meant as more than just the food
00:08:23.00\00:08:24.98
and the soap and what's not--
00:08:25.01\00:08:27.23
meant more to us
that was in the sack
00:08:27.26\00:08:29.95
and the items themselves.
00:08:29.98\00:08:31.78
There was also
scripter in the sack,
00:08:31.81\00:08:34.07
a letter, a Bible
and it meant, I mean,
00:08:34.10\00:08:37.91
that we have
never got those things
00:08:37.94\00:08:40.79
from anyone that other then God.
00:08:40.82\00:08:44.18
Because God
brought you people to us
00:08:44.21\00:08:46.50
that gave us a faith.
00:08:46.53\00:08:49.67
Well, may be not faith
but hope there could be faith.
00:08:49.70\00:08:53.24
You know, it gave
me hope that may be,
00:08:53.27\00:08:55.78
how I am terrible lost.
00:08:55.81\00:08:56.96
May be that, you
know, as mad I was,
00:08:56.99\00:09:00.90
down He still cared
which kind of made me mad.
00:09:00.93\00:09:04.37
I mean, you know, it's
hard to accept something
00:09:04.40\00:09:06.80
that you don't want to accept
but you're made to accept it.
00:09:06.83\00:09:09.69
You know, I mean, I
wanted that bag of goodies
00:09:09.72\00:09:12.88
so therefore I had to
believe that there was a reason
00:09:12.91\00:09:14.84
behind that bag
besides the goodies.
00:09:14.87\00:09:17.89
They didn't get
there by themselves.
00:09:17.92\00:09:19.69
You know, people of
God brought them to me.
00:09:19.72\00:09:21.96
Praise God.
00:09:21.99\00:09:23.02
And it was neat, I
mean, I never had anything
00:09:23.05\00:09:25.42
do with God before
then but I did get--
00:09:25.45\00:09:27.62
at that time I did start
reading the Bible and such.
00:09:27.65\00:09:29.99
So it brought you a bit of hope
00:09:30.02\00:09:31.27
that you were in that situation
00:09:31.30\00:09:34.68
and people would come in
and bring you some things.
00:09:34.71\00:09:36.50
Oh, yeah, it was great
'cause I dint get any--
00:09:36.53\00:09:38.31
at that time I had no money,
no commissary, no nothing.
00:09:38.34\00:09:41.42
And I was at a point
where I was spoiling my life
00:09:41.45\00:09:43.24
and a woman that hung herself
00:09:43.27\00:09:44.46
and we took her, me and bunky
took her down, she was dead.
00:09:44.49\00:09:47.43
And that's exactly
what Sergeant Malone
00:09:47.46\00:09:49.15
just shared here.
00:09:49.18\00:09:50.21
The Christmas is
the loneliest time
00:09:50.24\00:09:51.95
of ones incarceration
00:09:51.98\00:09:54.00
and somebody hung
themselves in that block.
00:09:54.03\00:09:55.95
Yeah, cell next to
mine, me and my bunky
00:09:55.98\00:09:57.86
is the ones who took her down.
00:09:57.89\00:09:58.92
And see, that's
what the devil wants.
00:09:58.95\00:10:00.31
He wants to
drive us to desperation
00:10:00.34\00:10:02.54
that will stick a
needle in our arm.
00:10:02.57\00:10:04.37
That will just check out.
00:10:04.40\00:10:05.43
I was on my way to
prison at 18 years old
00:10:05.46\00:10:07.54
and I remember one
night up in my room,
00:10:07.57\00:10:09.89
I took--I dumped the
whole bottle of pills up,
00:10:09.92\00:10:13.06
drunken the whiskey and
I remember falling asleep
00:10:13.09\00:10:16.42
and I said it's over now.
00:10:16.45\00:10:18.35
I don't have to
worry about tomorrow.
00:10:18.38\00:10:20.23
I don't have to
worry about the pain.
00:10:20.26\00:10:21.71
I don't have to worry
about going to prison.
00:10:21.74\00:10:24.34
And so I too was on
the brink of checking out
00:10:24.37\00:10:28.00
and, sister, I'm sorry
that you had to experience that.
00:10:28.03\00:10:30.43
But I'm grateful that
you've experienced the hope
00:10:30.46\00:10:32.93
and the power of Christians
coming in to let you know
00:10:32.96\00:10:35.91
there's hope in your life.
00:10:35.94\00:10:36.97
So that package meant more
to you than just commissary
00:10:37.00\00:10:39.45
even though you
didn't believe in God.
00:10:39.48\00:10:40.89
Right, yes.
00:10:40.92\00:10:41.95
I was raised my dad is agnostic
00:10:41.98\00:10:44.41
and I never ever
went to church ever, ever.
00:10:44.44\00:10:48.36
My dad's family was, I
mean, their God was hateful
00:10:48.39\00:10:53.98
and vengeful and scary
so that didn't appeal to me.
00:10:54.01\00:10:57.89
My dad was agnostic, you know,
00:10:57.92\00:11:00.16
he told me he didn't
think there was a heaven.
00:11:00.19\00:11:03.22
My mom never went to
church although she believed,
00:11:03.25\00:11:06.51
she does never went church
00:11:06.54\00:11:11.00
and I just started
looking at there are people
00:11:11.03\00:11:12.28
that call themselves Christians
00:11:12.31\00:11:16.75
and I looked down, and
thought they were worse
00:11:16.78\00:11:19.90
than some of the
people they didn't,
00:11:19.93\00:11:22.13
and I thought
them hypo-Christians
00:11:22.16\00:11:24.37
instead of hypocrites.
00:11:24.40\00:11:26.83
And I thought I don't
want to be part of that,
00:11:26.86\00:11:29.34
you know, I could be just
fine doing what I was doing
00:11:29.37\00:11:33.08
and not pretending
to be someone I'm not.
00:11:33.11\00:11:35.76
And that's what I've
done since then, I mean,
00:11:35.79\00:11:38.62
except for the short
period of time that I did
00:11:38.65\00:11:40.90
tried to do right and be right
00:11:40.93\00:11:44.11
but I've been mad
at God for a long time,
00:11:44.14\00:11:47.69
longer than I
really thought I was.
00:11:47.72\00:11:51.86
I'm mad at God.
00:11:51.89\00:11:53.23
You're mad at God but
let me tell you something.
00:11:53.26\00:11:55.63
God has brought this program,
00:11:55.66\00:11:57.35
God has brought these packages.
00:11:57.38\00:11:59.12
And, sister, God
is wanting to woo you
00:11:59.15\00:12:02.04
and wanting to call you
00:12:02.07\00:12:03.30
and wanting to help
you and wanting to--
00:12:03.33\00:12:06.57
you've lost a couple of
children on this journey.
00:12:06.60\00:12:08.59
Yeah, I buried two kids, they
were killed in a car accident.
00:12:08.62\00:12:12.04
Had a mother daughter
weekend with my oldest daughter.
00:12:12.07\00:12:14.96
I took the two youngest
kids to his parents house,
00:12:14.99\00:12:18.68
for the weekend not
knowing he was there.
00:12:18.71\00:12:22.26
He didn't tell me he was there.
00:12:22.29\00:12:24.00
He wasn't supposed to
have contact with them
00:12:24.03\00:12:26.52
at all and they went to a
Euro Club meeting that night
00:12:26.55\00:12:31.42
and he had keys--
spare keys to their car,
00:12:31.45\00:12:33.60
but they didn't know he had
00:12:33.63\00:12:35.42
and he drove in the town
drunk and killed my kids.
00:12:35.45\00:12:39.45
Probably the
worst day in my life.
00:12:39.48\00:12:42.78
I wouldn't be here if I
waiting for my oldest daughter.
00:12:46.14\00:12:50.08
It's hard.
00:12:50.11\00:12:51.14
I don't know where
they are since December 8,
00:12:57.89\00:13:02.76
I wanted it so bad.
00:13:02.79\00:13:06.81
But I have my other daughter
00:13:06.84\00:13:08.36
and I didn't want her
to think she wasn't enough
00:13:08.39\00:13:13.08
but you shouldn't
have to bury your kids.
00:13:13.11\00:13:16.16
When Free Indeed came to
this facility the other night,
00:13:20.70\00:13:25.21
it was unbelievable to me
00:13:25.24\00:13:26.78
'cause I don't go
to the church services.
00:13:26.81\00:13:30.46
I don't doany of that
'cause I'm a firm believer
00:13:30.49\00:13:34.52
but I'm not gonna ride the fins
00:13:34.55\00:13:36.65
and you gave me a new life,
00:13:36.68\00:13:40.23
a new way of look at things
and I've almost picked Bible.
00:13:40.26\00:13:44.99
I mean, I know I'm
going to and it scares me.
00:13:45.02\00:13:47.69
I don't know if I'm
ready but I've tried prayed,
00:13:47.72\00:13:50.87
I prayed for the first time
00:13:50.90\00:13:51.93
and I can't tell
you in how many years.
00:13:51.96\00:13:54.69
you know, and that's
what's it meant to me.
00:13:54.72\00:13:59.13
Christ has to be
your further friend
00:13:59.16\00:14:02.06
and it starts with a
personal relationship.
00:14:02.09\00:14:04.99
We don't know
Jesus, we've not met Jesus
00:14:05.02\00:14:07.27
but Jesus has been here tonight.
00:14:07.30\00:14:09.30
He's calling you and He is
saying, sister, I love you.
00:14:09.33\00:14:12.34
Can I help you with this pain?
00:14:12.37\00:14:14.59
Will you give Me your heart?
00:14:14.62\00:14:16.55
And that's a personal calling
for you and for me tonight.
00:14:16.58\00:14:20.31
Jesus wants to renew,
need to renew my commitment
00:14:20.34\00:14:22.95
to heaven this
day and He wants you
00:14:22.98\00:14:25.14
for the first time to say,
dear Jesus, will You help me?
00:14:25.17\00:14:30.01
Is that the desire
of your heart tonight?
00:14:30.04\00:14:31.75
Yeah. Let us pray.
00:14:31.78\00:14:34.75
It's what I need I
just want to be broken
00:14:34.78\00:14:38.75
Brokenness, brokenness is
what You want for me, for me
00:14:41.34\00:14:45.34
So, take my heart God
So, take my heart and mold it
00:14:52.55\00:14:56.55
Take my mind, Jesus
Take my mind, transform it
00:15:00.55\00:15:04.55
Take my will oh, Lord
Take my will, conform it
00:15:08.55\00:15:12.55
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:15:16.55\00:15:20.55
So, take my heart, Hallelujah
00:15:23.40\00:15:25.64
So, take my heart and mold it
00:15:25.67\00:15:29.64
Take my Take my
mind, transform it
00:15:32.46\00:15:36.46
Take my will conform it
Take my will, conform it
00:15:39.91\00:15:43.91
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:15:47.91\00:15:51.91
So, take my heart, Hallelujah
So, take my heart and mold it
00:15:55.17\00:15:59.17
Take my mind oh, Lord
Take my mind, transform it
00:16:03.17\00:16:07.17
Take my will Take
my will, conform it
00:16:10.48\00:16:14.48
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:16:17.80\00:16:21.80
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:16:25.71\00:16:29.71
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
00:16:33.28\00:16:37.28
Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
00:16:44.63\00:16:48.63
Let's pray.
00:16:57.85\00:16:58.88
Father God, feed us now
00:16:58.91\00:17:01.87
because we're thirsty and hungry
00:17:01.90\00:17:04.31
and we thank You
in Jesus name, amen.
00:17:04.34\00:17:07.68
I think one of
the greatest gifts
00:17:07.71\00:17:10.54
that comes with
surrendering your life to Jesus
00:17:10.57\00:17:13.57
is the ability
to overcome natural
00:17:13.60\00:17:18.84
and cultivated
tendencies towards evil.
00:17:18.87\00:17:23.52
When you give
your life to Christ,
00:17:23.55\00:17:26.48
you get control of yourself.
00:17:26.51\00:17:30.19
Now the truth is
everything that makes you, you,
00:17:30.22\00:17:34.35
you are not
necessarily responsible for.
00:17:34.38\00:17:38.19
Some of the stuff
that makes you, you,
00:17:38.22\00:17:42.29
you got from your parents.
00:17:42.32\00:17:44.92
Amen. Amen.
00:17:44.95\00:17:46.21
Yeah, you've got
hair color and eye color
00:17:46.24\00:17:49.78
and a lot of
other physical thing
00:17:49.81\00:17:52.31
but scientists are telling us
00:17:52.34\00:17:54.58
that also a lot
of the mental stuff
00:17:54.61\00:17:58.13
that makes you, you, you
inherited from your parents.
00:17:58.16\00:18:04.63
So what makes you, you, you
either got from your parents
00:18:04.66\00:18:08.00
or you picked it
up along the way.
00:18:08.03\00:18:11.46
And giving your life to
Jesus gives you the ability
00:18:11.49\00:18:15.15
to overcome all
of those tendencies.
00:18:15.18\00:18:18.91
Now suppose we were
in ship, this is a boat
00:18:18.94\00:18:21.97
and the boat
gets hit by a torpedo
00:18:22.00\00:18:25.25
and we're getting ready to sink.
00:18:25.28\00:18:29.16
Now everybody in this room
falls in one of two categories.
00:18:29.19\00:18:33.65
Either you're gonna be
one of us guys that says,
00:18:33.68\00:18:36.30
you know what, we can deal
with this, we can row this.
00:18:36.33\00:18:39.39
Let's, you know, let's get some
buckets and bail out the water.
00:18:39.42\00:18:42.61
Let's try to plug the hole.
00:18:42.64\00:18:44.30
Let's row to
shore. I can see the land.
00:18:44.33\00:18:47.25
We can do this, we can make it.
00:18:47.28\00:18:50.77
Or you are in
that group that says,
00:18:50.80\00:18:53.99
we are going to die.
00:18:54.02\00:18:56.86
And a lot of
that is in your genes.
00:19:00.21\00:19:02.38
You know, you get two
people the exact same stimuli,
00:19:02.41\00:19:06.35
they respond different ways.
00:19:06.38\00:19:08.00
There are some people
here if someone slaps you,
00:19:08.03\00:19:09.99
you gonna think.
00:19:10.02\00:19:11.05
Now do I need to knock him out
00:19:11.08\00:19:13.99
or should I take another route?
00:19:14.02\00:19:16.37
There are others
here, someone slaps you
00:19:16.40\00:19:18.43
immediately you
gonna slap him back
00:19:18.46\00:19:19.78
because that's
you wired that way.
00:19:19.81\00:19:22.76
But giving your
life to Christ allows you
00:19:22.79\00:19:26.26
the judgment
and the self control
00:19:26.29\00:19:29.56
so that you don't--
you're not on auto pilot.
00:19:29.59\00:19:31.63
You think your way
through stuff so it allows you
00:19:31.66\00:19:36.44
to have the
strength to control yourself.
00:19:36.47\00:19:41.03
Amen. Amen.
00:19:41.06\00:19:42.62
I got a friend, his
nickname is "we dead."
00:19:42.65\00:19:48.81
He is a
professor at the seminary
00:19:48.84\00:19:51.89
at Andrews University.
00:19:51.92\00:19:54.25
But years ago when
he was a young Christian
00:19:54.28\00:19:56.00
we were in Jamaica
driving along a road
00:19:56.03\00:20:00.01
and we had an American car.
00:20:00.04\00:20:01.41
Now American cars have
the steering wheel on the left
00:20:01.44\00:20:05.42
but in Jamaica,
they drive on the left.
00:20:05.45\00:20:07.82
So that means
you're always on the curve
00:20:07.85\00:20:09.52
when you're driving, so
in order to pass somebody,
00:20:09.55\00:20:12.82
you got to pull the
whole car out on the road
00:20:12.85\00:20:15.34
before you can see
if a truck is coming
00:20:15.37\00:20:16.98
'cause they're on
the right, you follow.
00:20:17.01\00:20:19.40
So we in the backside,
there's a guy on the front seat,
00:20:19.43\00:20:22.10
passenger guy he sleep
and so the driver's getting
00:20:22.13\00:20:25.29
kind of impatient
so he wants to pass,
00:20:25.32\00:20:27.63
now you pass on the right,
so he's got to bring the car
00:20:27.66\00:20:30.06
all the way out before he
can even see what's coming.
00:20:30.09\00:20:32.99
So he didn't see a
truck for while so he figures
00:20:33.02\00:20:35.39
its time to make my move.
00:20:35.42\00:20:37.25
So out he goes and
as we get out there,
00:20:37.28\00:20:40.19
there's a giant
truck right in front of us
00:20:40.22\00:20:43.28
and my friend who's
now a seminary professor
00:20:43.31\00:20:45.02
but he was a young
Christian that then,
00:20:45.05\00:20:47.75
he said two words, we dead!
00:20:47.78\00:20:53.28
And every time I see him
he teaches and preaches now.
00:20:53.31\00:20:55.58
I remind him of those days
00:20:55.61\00:20:56.81
when he was a young Christian
and he didn't have the faith.
00:20:56.84\00:20:58.74
Now we ain't dead,
praise God. We're alive.
00:20:58.77\00:21:02.36
But see, we're wired that way
00:21:02.39\00:21:04.87
and it takes time
with Jesus to get the faith
00:21:04.90\00:21:08.65
to be able to deal with
the things that life throws us.
00:21:08.68\00:21:12.87
In the natural we are
blamers and complainers
00:21:12.90\00:21:17.49
but in John 6:63,
Christ says, don't complain.
00:21:17.52\00:21:23.96
Now what does that mean?
That means, don't complain.
00:21:23.99\00:21:28.31
Now we need to
look at the context
00:21:28.34\00:21:29.74
because there are sometimes
when you see things going down,
00:21:29.77\00:21:32.48
you need to
complain, amen. Amen.
00:21:32.51\00:21:35.30
There are times when
you need to complain.
00:21:35.33\00:21:38.20
But Christ is
saying when I'm showing you
00:21:38.23\00:21:43.16
that I'm your Lord
when I'm showing you that
00:21:43.19\00:21:46.30
I'm the one driving
the bus and not you,
00:21:46.33\00:21:49.36
when I'm taking
you through things
00:21:49.39\00:21:50.71
that are going to
be for your betterment
00:21:50.74\00:21:52.03
or your growth, don't complain.
00:21:52.06\00:21:56.09
Get on the bus and let Me drive.
00:21:56.12\00:21:58.68
Amen. Amen.
00:21:58.71\00:21:59.99
There are times when
you ought to complain
00:22:00.02\00:22:01.33
but when Jesus is moving you
through stuff don't complain.
00:22:01.36\00:22:06.39
Just get on the bus and ride.
00:22:06.42\00:22:08.77
A friend of mine, years ago,
her son he was six years old.
00:22:08.80\00:22:13.85
He going to school
00:22:13.88\00:22:16.19
and she want to give
him a little independence.
00:22:16.22\00:22:18.75
So she would take
him to the bus stop
00:22:18.78\00:22:20.16
right across the
street from their house,
00:22:20.19\00:22:22.51
leave him there,
go back into the house
00:22:22.54\00:22:23.99
and watch him
through the window.
00:22:24.02\00:22:25.85
First day of school,
he gets on the bus, fine.
00:22:25.88\00:22:28.81
Second day of school, she's in
the house looking out the door,
00:22:28.84\00:22:31.85
looking out the
window, bus comes up, stops,
00:22:31.88\00:22:34.94
pulls off, he's
still standing there.
00:22:34.97\00:22:38.88
And so she said went
across the street and said,
00:22:38.91\00:22:41.93
and said to him,
what are you doing here?
00:22:41.96\00:22:47.53
Little six years
old, put his hand on hip
00:22:47.56\00:22:49.08
and said, I quit school.
00:22:49.11\00:22:52.76
She said, quit
school, you're six years old,
00:22:52.79\00:22:54.54
how do you quit school?
00:22:54.57\00:22:55.98
Why? He said, one, its too long.
00:22:56.01\00:23:00.88
This after one
day. Two, is too tough.
00:23:00.91\00:23:03.95
Three, its boring.
00:23:03.98\00:23:06.60
She said boy, you just
described life, get on the bus.
00:23:06.63\00:23:12.45
Gentlemen, sometimes its long,
00:23:12.48\00:23:15.85
its always going to be
tough, sometimes it's boring.
00:23:15.88\00:23:20.59
You got to get on the bus.
00:23:20.62\00:23:22.33
Amen. Amen.
00:23:22.36\00:23:24.42
You got to get on the bus.
00:23:24.45\00:23:26.79
That's what Jesus is saying.
You got to get on the bus.
00:23:26.82\00:23:30.17
Stop blaming and complaining,
00:23:30.20\00:23:33.26
get on the bus
and let Christ drive.
00:23:33.29\00:23:38.55
Usually, we get in trouble
00:23:38.58\00:23:41.69
when we try to
get in the front seat
00:23:41.72\00:23:45.92
and drive and find
out we can't drive.
00:23:45.95\00:23:50.41
Amen. Amen.
00:23:50.44\00:23:52.14
So now you guys
get in the back seat
00:23:52.17\00:23:54.81
and let Jesus drive.
00:23:54.84\00:23:56.97
Stop blaming and complaining.
00:23:57.00\00:24:00.45
Take your lumps
for things you do.
00:24:00.48\00:24:04.15
Own up and be a man and
then put it on Jesus Christ.
00:24:04.18\00:24:08.85
I'll close with this story.
00:24:08.88\00:24:11.98
Farmer, back in the 1800s came
with a load of hay to market.
00:24:12.01\00:24:17.47
Hits a bump, axle
on the wagon cracks,
00:24:17.50\00:24:22.32
the cart rolls over, the
horse is hurt really bad.
00:24:22.35\00:24:26.62
Couple of fractures,
neck is actually broken,
00:24:26.65\00:24:29.84
he got a little dog was
riding on the cart with him.
00:24:29.87\00:24:32.96
The cart rolled over
the dog so that dog is hurt
00:24:32.99\00:24:35.41
and the farmer
himself, couple of broken legs,
00:24:35.44\00:24:39.61
something wrong with his
pelvis and his arm is broken.
00:24:39.64\00:24:42.59
So when the sheriff comes along,
00:24:42.62\00:24:44.40
the first thing
he sees is the horse
00:24:44.43\00:24:46.68
and that horse cannot be saved.
00:24:46.71\00:24:49.02
Broken legs, neck is fractured,
so he has to take his gun
00:24:49.05\00:24:52.43
and put that
horse out of his misery.
00:24:52.46\00:24:56.98
Then he comes to the
dog, the dog is broken up
00:24:57.01\00:24:59.52
the cart has rolled over him.
00:24:59.55\00:25:00.58
He can't save that dog.
00:25:00.61\00:25:03.47
Takes his gun puts
the dog out of his misery.
00:25:03.50\00:25:07.21
Now he comes to the farmer.
00:25:07.24\00:25:10.67
He says how are you doing?
00:25:10.70\00:25:13.33
Farmer says never
felt better in my life.
00:25:13.36\00:25:20.09
It's your motivation, gentlemen.
00:25:20.12\00:25:22.04
Isn't it? It's your motivation.
00:25:22.07\00:25:23.91
That's why Christ says,
"Let this mind be in you"
00:25:23.94\00:25:29.54
which is also in Christ Jesus.
00:25:29.57\00:25:30.60
It's what motivates you.
00:25:30.63\00:25:32.69
Blaming and complaining
is not gonna help you.
00:25:32.72\00:25:35.40
Take your lumps for what you do,
00:25:35.43\00:25:38.04
trust Jesus and get on
the bus and let Him drive.
00:25:38.07\00:25:44.07
Amen. Amen.
00:25:44.10\00:25:45.52
God bless.
00:25:45.55\00:25:46.58
There's one I
really like is Romans 5:3-5
00:25:57.16\00:26:01.86
and it talks about,
"Through our tribulations,
00:26:01.89\00:26:04.77
it produces
perseverance and perseverance
00:26:04.80\00:26:07.18
will produce character,
and through our character
00:26:07.21\00:26:09.40
we'll gain hope."
00:26:09.43\00:26:10.85
And I like that. Praise God.
00:26:10.88\00:26:13.97
What would you say in
closing to the people,
00:26:14.00\00:26:16.08
our viewers around the world?
00:26:16.11\00:26:19.68
Actually I have a poem I
like to recite if it's okay.
00:26:19.71\00:26:22.92
Amen. Amen. Bless you.
00:26:22.95\00:26:25.31
With God's grace, I
remember all the words.
00:26:25.34\00:26:29.28
For so long I
didn't know what to do,
00:26:29.31\00:26:31.97
just one more
always turned into two,
00:26:32.00\00:26:35.00
then three, then
four, I was such a horror
00:26:35.03\00:26:38.55
selling myself to
temptation in every way,
00:26:38.58\00:26:41.76
every day just to stay okay.
00:26:41.79\00:26:44.60
Just to stay sane
and hide from the pain,
00:26:44.63\00:26:47.33
yet the hurt still
ran through my veins.
00:26:47.36\00:26:50.93
I tried and tried
to ignore the truth
00:26:50.96\00:26:53.59
and I cried and cried
but still it was no use.
00:26:53.62\00:26:57.60
No one heard me.
00:26:57.63\00:26:59.77
So I tried to run away
but then, then came the day
00:26:59.80\00:27:04.59
when my tears would come
falling and I would go crawling.
00:27:04.62\00:27:08.51
On my hands and
knees I went to repent,
00:27:08.54\00:27:12.26
to rise up and move
forward with a new hope.
00:27:12.29\00:27:15.23
Without dope to cloud my mind
00:27:15.26\00:27:17.38
and demote my spirit and
otherwise it tears us apart.
00:27:17.41\00:27:21.95
The only fix I need now
is God's love in my heart.
00:27:21.98\00:27:26.59
He takes away my
pain at my surrender.
00:27:26.62\00:27:29.40
He gives me the
strength to start a new day
00:27:29.43\00:27:32.06
and the assurity that
everything will be okay.
00:27:32.09\00:27:35.48
My future is bright and
I no longer have to fight.
00:27:35.51\00:27:39.79
My spoon is dry and
my pipe has been broken
00:27:39.82\00:27:43.41
because the Lord
my God has spoken
00:27:43.44\00:27:45.96
and I'm finally listening.
00:27:45.99\00:27:50.44
Praise God.
Praise God. Thank you.
00:27:50.47\00:27:55.78
We never imagined
that blessing or the beauty
00:27:55.81\00:27:58.87
that God would bring
out of this endeavor working
00:27:58.90\00:28:01.62
together for the kingdom of God.
00:28:01.65\00:28:04.00
Bringing hope to our
brothers and sisters behind bars
00:28:04.03\00:28:07.15
and now our brothers
and sisters behind bars are
00:28:07.18\00:28:09.60
actually bringing
hope and encouragement
00:28:09.63\00:28:12.33
to our viewers around the world.
00:28:12.36\00:28:14.88
God bless you and
we look forward to you
00:28:14.91\00:28:17.81
partnering with us,
christmasbehindbars.org.
00:28:17.84\00:28:22.16
Blessings to you
until we meet again.
00:28:22.19\00:28:24.99