>>Announcer: It has
stood the test of time....
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God's book, The Bible
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Still relevant in
today's complex world
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It Is Written
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Sharing messages of
hope around the world
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>>Chris: Have you ever
been waiting for or anticipating
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something, then because of some
type of delay, you became
distracted and weren't
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ready anymore? I remember during
my childhood that I loved to go
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camping, it was always the
highlight of our summer.
Frequently, when I knew that the
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day had come for us to leave for
our camping trip, I would be up
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early and rey to go. But then
the waiting would begin. My mom
would have to put the
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finishing touches on getting the
camper loaded, we would have to
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wait for my dad to come home
from work. I remember one
particular occasion that
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we were going to go to Copper
Harbor Michigan. I believe it
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was a Friday, I was ready, early
in the morning to make that
trip. But, there were delays,
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but I was anxious to go and
asked my mom, several times - is
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it time to go yet! But as the
day wore on, I began to be
distracted. I started
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playing with toys, no longer as
anxious as before. Then before
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you knew it, it was time to go,
but now I was the one who wasn't
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ready. I had toys to put away to
get ready. Could it be friends
that many of us, as we
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have been waiting for Jesus,
have drifted in our commitment
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to be ready for His return?
In Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus said
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these words, Those two keys,
watch and be ready. In Matthew
24 Jesus gave signs of His
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return - this is what we are
to watch for. We have had two
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programs on those signs in the
programs Signs of Hope Part 1
and 2 - If you missed them, you
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can log on to our website
"www.ItIsWrittenCanada.ca and
view those programs in
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our program archive. But in
Matthew 25 Jesus gave a series
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of three parables whose main
point is to teach how to be
ready. Today we will study the
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first of those three parables,
let's read the parable in
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Matthew 25:1-13 As we look at
the text, Jesus begins in verse
one by saying, "Then the
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kingdom of heaven shall be
likened to ten virgins who took
their lamps and went
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out to meet the bridegroom."
Jesus likens the kingdom of
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heaven to ten virgins or
bridesmaids, if you are looking
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at a different translation.
Jesus points out, in this first
verse, the three important
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elements of this parable: the
ten virgins, their lamps, and
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the bridegroom. Jesus used
imagery that was familiar to his
disciples. He used the
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Eastern custom of a wedding.
In that custom, the groom or
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bridegroom would go forth from
his house and with him some of
the wedding party. Along
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the way they would pick up
various participants in the
wedding and finally
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they would arrive at the father
of the bride's home. It is here
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where he would pick up his bride
and then return to his home for
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a wedding feast. These ten
virgins, in the parable, are all
a part of the wedding party, and
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are awaiting the bridegroom.
Christ is represented as the
bridegroom, in this
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parable. The people He comes for
are represented by the virgins.
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We are those virgins. Why does
the parable call them virgins. A
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virgin is pure and in this
parable this represents a faith
that is pure and unadulterated.
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Each of them has a lamp, no
doubt this is a reference to the
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word of God. In Psalm
119:105 the Bible says,
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These ten virgins are awaiting
the coming bridegroom and at
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first glance the ten virgins
seem to be equal, but in verse
two the text reveals
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a different story.
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Jesus now divides these ten
virgins into two classes. Five
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were wise and five were foolish.
In the original the word wise
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literally means intelligent,
prudent, sensible and mindful of
one's interests. And the
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word foolish in the original,
means to be full of folly,
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impious, godless, and stupid.
Jesus divides the group in two,
those that are wise,
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intelligent, and prudent
and then those that are foolish,
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full of folly, and impious.
Verse 3 reveals the key
characteristic of the
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foolish, they take no oil with
them, but the wise take oil with
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them. Why is this
distinction important?
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In that time, lamps didn't work
like they work today. A lamp
resembled more of a
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bowl than a lamp. And if you can
picture in your mind a bowl, and
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the brim was pinched at one
point to make like a spout. Into
that spout a wick was
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inserted that would draw up the
olive to fuel the flame. Lamps
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were kept burning day and night
in ancient times, for the lamps
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served not only to give light
but also to keep fire at hand.
The lamp of Jesus' time would
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be comparable to today's
flashlight. Just like a lamp
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needed oil, a flashlight needs
batteries. And in Jesus' time if
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you didn't have any oil, you
didn't have any light.
Throughout scripture oil is used
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symbolically, especially olive
oil, as a symbol of the Holy
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Spirit. Here in this parable,
Jesus has made it very clear
that all ten virgins have a
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pure faith and each of them has
the lamp of the word of God, but
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only five of them have the fuel
of the Holy Spirit. Friends,
having a head knowledge of
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the word of God is not enough.
In this parable, Jesus teaches
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that a head knowledge of the
word without the oil of the Holy
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Spirit is just foolishness and
folly. However this story
reveals that despite their
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differences these two groups
resemble more than one might
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think. The Bible states that the
bridegroom was delayed and then
all of them slumbered
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and slept. Both the wise
and foolish They slumbered, they
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became careless and began to nod
off and became drowsy. Then they
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slept. The word for slept is the
same word used to refer to death
This was a deep sleep.
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They were no longer watching,
they were no longer ready, they
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were no longer paying attention,
they were sleeping as if they
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were dead. Are you struggling
today with your relationship
with Jesus. Does it seem
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to you that your religious
experience is almost dead There
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is hope. Listen to the remainder
of this parable. The parable
comes to a conclusion and in
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verse 6 the parable says,
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In the original language it says
literally says in the middle of
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the night. At the deepest and
darkest hour of the night a cry
goes forth. The bridegroom
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is coming now go out to meet
him. I picture in my own mind
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the surprise of the virgins. Do
you remember a time where you
were startled out of a
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deep, slumbering sleep. These
virgins are having that same
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experience. Bewildered and
groggy they get up and trim
their lamps. They took the burnt
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portions of the wick and they
cut it off and then replenish
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their supply of oil. But at this
point that the foolish realize
that they have no oil and
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so they ask the wise for some
of theirs. And this request is
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denied. This may seem selfish,
but friends it is not selfish,
it emphasizes the point
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that we cannot be responsible
for someone else's salvation nor
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can someone be responsible for
ours. We can show someone to
Christ, we can show
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them His ways and we can
demonstrate what a living faith
looks like, but each
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individual is responsible for
their own salvation This is why
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Paul says in Philippians 2:12,
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Only we can take responsibility
for our own salvation. This is a
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key point of the passage today -
we, individually, must be ready
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for the return of Christ. We
must take responsibility for
being ready. I would like
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reflect even further on these
few texts. Friends this passage
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we are studying today is direct
counsel to those who claim to be
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God's people. But most troubling
is that all of them fell asleep.
This parable is a call for
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God's people to wake up. I have
to wonder how this parable would
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have played out if the wise
would have stayed awake. They
could have warned the foolish.
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Friends, while this
passage emphasizes personal
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responsibility, it also is a
call to wake up. This passage
has and ending that is very
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disappointing but abundantly
clear. There will be a time when
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it is too late to make a
decision to follow Jesus The
foolish virgins had
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the knowledge where to go to
get the oil, but they did not
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utilize that knowledge until it
was too late. And as they try to
get into the banquet at a
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late arrival, they here the most
disappointing words anyone could
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every hear. Jesus, the
bridegroom, says to them - I
never knew you. Friends
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another point of this passage
is that time will eventually run
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out for people to make a
decision and there is no second
chance for that decision.
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The last verse of this passage
gives us our last point. Verse
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13 says This passage advises us
to be spiritually awake, and to
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be in a state of constant
readiness. The only difference
between the foolish and the wise
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is that the wise had an intent
desire to do all that is within
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their power to be ready for the
coming of the bridegroom. And
because of that they find
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themselves receiving the reward
of the promise Preparedness,
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friends, is the key. This
parable outlines how we are to
be ready for the return of
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Jesus. It gives us hope in this
helpless and hopeless planet. It
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calls upon us to have that lamp,
the word of God, the Bible and
to be filled with the Holy
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Spirit. To take personal
responsibility for spiritual
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life. It's time to wake up. We
need to stop just going through
the motions. We must wake
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up and get our spiritual house
in order. We must realize that
00:16:06.70\00:16:12.93
time will eventually run out. We
need to wake up now and stay
awake. Is that your
00:16:12.93\00:16:18.16
desire today. Do you want to
have a living relationship with
00:16:18.16\00:16:23.40
Jesus and be in a constant state
of readiness for His return. He
00:16:23.40\00:16:28.33
is coming friends. He is coming
to take those home, who are
ready Do you want to be
00:16:28.33\00:16:38.66
ready? John 6:37 says of Jesus,
00:16:38.66\00:16:49.43
Jesus doesn't reject anyone.
Today let's come to Jesus commit
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to a life of reading the
scripture, being filled with the
Holy Spirit and being ready to
00:17:05.70\00:17:11.23
meet Him. I want you to listen
now to this song, Seekers of
00:17:11.23\00:17:19.80
Your Heart. And today, as you
listen to that song, may you
pray that you would become a
00:17:19.80\00:17:25.90
seeker of the heart of Jesus.
00:17:25.90\00:17:29.26
Until we give You first place
00:17:35.66\00:17:42.53
Until we let You begin
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To fill us with your spirit
00:17:50.13\00:17:56.16
Renew us from within
00:17:56.60\00:18:04.23
Nothing matters
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Nothing's gained
00:18:11.90\00:18:16.90
Without your Holy presence
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Our lives are lived in vain
00:18:24.70\00:18:31.26
Lord we want to know You
00:18:31.70\00:18:38.13
Live our lives to show You
00:18:38.53\00:18:44.96
All the love we owe You
00:18:45.36\00:18:52.06
We're seekers of your heart
00:18:52.46\00:19:03.66
Because your heart was broken
00:19:04.16\00:19:10.70
Because You saw the need
00:19:11.06\00:19:17.93
Because You gave so freely
00:19:19.43\00:19:24.73
Because of Calvary
00:19:25.10\00:19:31.66
We can now be called
00:19:33.36\00:19:40.13
Called your own
00:19:40.43\00:19:45.06
Completed creations
00:19:45.40\00:19:52.20
Filled with You alone
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Lord we want to know You
00:19:59.90\00:20:06.53
Live our lives to show You
00:20:06.93\00:20:13.36
All the love we owe You
00:20:13.86\00:20:20.33
We're seekers of Your heart
00:20:20.66\00:20:27.70
Lord we want to know You
00:20:28.10\00:20:34.73
Live our lives to show You
00:20:35.10\00:20:41.56
All the love we owe You
00:20:41.90\00:20:48.40
We're seekers of your heart
00:20:48.80\00:20:57.40
We're seeking
your heart, oh Lord
00:20:57.93\00:21:03.70
We're seeking
your heart, oh Lord
00:21:04.40\00:21:10.80
Show us your face, oh Lord
00:21:11.16\00:21:18.43
Lord, we adore you, oh Lord
00:21:19.26\00:21:34.73
>>Chris: Lets Pray Dear Father
in heaven, we come to you today.
00:21:36.73\00:21:43.46
We are sorry, that like those
ten virgins we have slept and
slumbered, but we want to
00:21:43.46\00:21:50.33
be awake, we want to be ready.
Today Lord give us the strength
00:21:50.33\00:21:56.80
to leave everything els aside
and focus completely on you. We
have been distracted.
00:21:56.80\00:22:03.33
Today we come to your son Jesus,
who has promised that He won't
00:22:03.33\00:22:08.56
turn us away. As we give our
lives to Him, help us to be
ready We pray in Jesus
00:22:08.56\00:22:16.13
name, Amen.
00:22:16.13\00:22:19.26
>>Bev: Hi, everyone! Wh you're
traveling, do you find that it's
00:22:52.26\00:22:56.26
difficult to eat as healthy as
you'd like? When you're on
vacation, do you usually
00:22:56.26\00:23:00.20
return home with five extra
pounds as a reminder of your
00:23:00.20\00:23:05.16
trip? Let me share some tips
with you for healthy eating
while you're traveling. First,
00:23:05.16\00:23:09.66
whatever your mode of
transportation, pack a meal so
00:23:09.66\00:23:14.90
you won't have to purchase
less-than-nutritious food at the
00:23:14.90\00:23:18.16
airport or at gas stations. I
like to take things like
sandwiches, dried and fresh
00:23:18.16\00:23:22.53
fruit, and nuts. Next, plan
where you're going to eat
There's a wonderful
00:23:22.53\00:23:27.06
website called Happy Cow,
where you can search for healthy
00:23:27.06\00:23:32.00
vegetarian, vegan, or raw food
restaurants practically anywhere
in the world. You can also
00:23:32.00\00:23:36.16
search forhealth food
stores, and they've got lots
00:23:36.16\00:23:39.73
ofinformation on vegetarian
nutrition. The website address
is happycow.net, and there's
00:23:39.73\00:23:45.63
even an app for your smart
phone. Here's another idea: when
00:23:45.63\00:23:50.13
you're on vacation, there are
apartments and condos you can
00:23:50.13\00:23:53.96
rent with fully equipped
kitchens. That way you can enjoy
shopping for great local produce
00:23:53.96\00:23:59.46
to cook your own healthy,
delicious, low-cost meals. Or,
if you prefer staying
00:23:59.46\00:24:04.60
in a hotel, get a room
with a fridge, and stock it with
00:24:04.60\00:24:10.10
non-dairy milk, high fibre
cereal, whole grain bread,
hummus, fruit, nuts, and bottled
00:24:10.10\00:24:15.10
water from a local grocery
store. I find when I'm
traveling, it's often
00:24:15.10\00:24:19.66
difficult to get a good, healthy
breakfast in a hotel, sokeeping
00:24:19.66\00:24:24.40
a stash of healthy food in your
room is a great convenience.
00:24:24.40\00:24:29.33
Also, eat where the local people
eat. You're likely to find
little "hole in the wall"
00:24:29.33\00:24:33.43
kinds of restaurants with great
local food at really affordable
00:24:33.43\00:24:39.30
prices. At restaurants, if there
are no vegetarian choices, the
chef is usually more than
00:24:39.30\00:24:43.93
happy to prepare a lovely
platter of just vegetables for
00:24:43.93\00:24:48.83
you. Whenever I've asked for
that, everyone else always looks
at my plate with envy! Also, at
00:24:48.83\00:24:54.00
a restaurant, order the entrees
that are steamed, broiled or
00:24:54.00\00:24:58.96
baked. Avoid foods that are
fried, deep fried, or swimming
in creams or heavy sauces.
00:24:58.96\00:25:04.46
Ask for your pizza without
cheese. A nice, wholegrain-crust
00:25:04.46\00:25:08.93
pizza with just grilled
vegetables equals delicious!
00:25:08.93\00:25:13.70
Restaurants are notorious for
the amount of salt and sugar
they use. Stay away from the
00:25:13.70\00:25:18.03
soy sauce and anything pickled.
Salad is usually our friend, but
00:25:18.03\00:25:23.13
not when it comes smothered in
cheese, lots of dressing, or
bacon bits. Instead,
00:25:23.13\00:25:28.20
ask for a piece of lemon to
spritz on your salad In fact,
00:25:28.20\00:25:34.76
don't be shy about asking your
waiter to substitute or delete
ingredients from your
00:25:34.76\00:25:38.40
order. Remember, when you're
traveling, be good to yourself.
00:25:38.40\00:25:43.50
Of course, you can have a few
treats along the way but,
overall, eat healthy, live
00:25:43.50\00:25:48.23
healthy. I'll see you next time!
00:25:48.23\00:25:51.20
>>Chris: Friend, has Jesus moved
upon your heart today? Do you
00:25:56.96\00:26:00.16
want to be ready for Him when He
comes again? Part of being ready
00:26:00.16\00:26:03.86
is to be a student of the Word.
Today we want to offer you the
Discover Bible school lessons.
00:26:03.86\00:26:08.36
Those lessons will provide a
resource for you to know more
about Jesus, to know
00:26:08.36\00:26:13.96
more about His Word, and to
become a student of His word so
00:26:13.96\00:26:18.43
you might be ready when He comes
again. Here's the information
you need to get those lessons.
00:26:18.43\00:26:23.20
>>Chris: Friends, I want to
thank you so much for watching.
00:27:25.76\00:27:29.00
I hope and pray that you sense
Jesus calling you into a
relationship with Him. I
00:27:29.00\00:27:32.46
want to invite you to
itiswrittencanada.ca. There you
00:27:32.46\00:27:37.10
can find spiritual resources
to help you further develop that
00:27:37.10\00:27:42.10
relationship with Jesus to be
ready for Him when He comes
again. I want to invite you to
00:27:42.10\00:27:47.00
join us again next week. Until
then, remember, it is written:
00:27:47.00\00:27:53.33
"Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of
00:27:53.33\00:27:57.50
God."
00:27:57.50\00:27:59.16
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