From the campus of
Andrews University,
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this is New Perceptions
with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson.
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O come to the Father
through Jesus the Son
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And give Him the glory,
great things He hath done
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Rejoice ye pure in heart
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Rejoice, give thanks and sing
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Your festal banner wave on high
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The cross of Christ your King.
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Rejoice! Rejoice!
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Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
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Yes, on through life's long path
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Still chanting as ye go
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From youth to
age, by night and day
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In gladness and in woe.
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Rejoice! Rejoice!
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Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
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Praise Him who reigns on high
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The Lord whom we adore
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The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
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One God forevermore.
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Rejoice! Rejoice!
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Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
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Amen, amen. You may be seated.
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This year we have been blessed
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to see over and
over and over again
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the witness of those people
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who have given their
lives to Jesus Christ.
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And we get to do that one more
time during the school year.
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Celebrate with us the commitment
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and the passion of these
people to accept Jesus Christ
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as their friend
and personal savior.
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So I'm gonna invite Donna Heyer
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with her dear friends
John and Sylvia Baldwin
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to join me right here as
we testify to Jesus together.
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Glad to have you here and
that is a very lovely outfit.
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Thank you. You're welcome.
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So you have lived in
this village of Ohio?
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Yes, I came when
I was 10 years old.
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10 years old? So
that about 50 years ago?
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Thanks. You're welcome.
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So you came when
you were 10 years old.
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And you grew up in this town
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that has gone
through some changes.
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What are some of the changes
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you've noticed
in Berrien Springs?
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Well, the first
thing I have to say,
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I'm the last member
of the class of 1931.
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The last surviving--
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The last member, I'm
pastor, vice president,
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treasurer and
cheerleader as a class of '31.
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1931, let me do
arithmetic, quick, quick, quick.
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What is that 81, 80? No.
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Don't whack your
brain, it's not worth it.
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So you've grown
up in this community,
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you have seen the
changes, the Berrien Springs
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the little village of Berrien
Springs has gone through.
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But I want to
shift gears now and talk
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to these two dear people
who are standing beside you.
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I'm gonna come
over to Sylvia's side.
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And Sylvia, so
you and John are--
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you were with your
friends, the Webbers.
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Do I have it right?
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Freddy and
Joyce. Freddy and Joyce.
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And you're at Rio, you're having
just a good Mexican lunch.
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So Sylvia, what--
tell us the real story.
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Well, I noticed this
elderly lady by herself
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which is kind of an usual
in the Mexican restaurant.
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And I thought to myself,
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I wondered why she
is here by herself.
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And about that
time we were finishing
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and so I walked
over to her and I said,
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"I heard about what
happened to you today."
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Because baker to his concern,
the owner had walked by and said
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"See that lady, her
house burned down today."
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Her house had
burned down that very day.
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And she-- lot of what she owned
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was burned up with
that including her pet cat.
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So she was very down I'm sure.
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So when I went
over to her, I said,
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"I'm so sorry about
what happened to you today.
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And is there
anything we can do?"
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And she said, "Oh, I'm staying
over here in this motel."
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And she said,
"The insurance company
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is trying to sort it out."
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So we by this time
all of us were walking out
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and we walked toward her van.
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And she was driving,
you asked me yesterday,
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how longer that was
and I figured it out
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it was--she was 92
and she was driving a van.
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You were driving a
van, Donna, bless her.
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I think, Dwight. What?
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Nothing,
Dwight. All right, okay.
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And so we stood by the van
and talked to her a little bit.
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And John said, "Would you mind
if we had a word of prayer?"
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She said, "Oh, I'd
love that." So John prayed.
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She got in her van and went
across the street to her motel
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and I went home, we went home.
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The next day I decided
that I would give her a call
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and see if there's
anything that she thought of
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in the meantime
that we could do.
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I said, "I'm
going into Saint Joe,
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would you like to go with me?"
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Is there anything
you need we'd like to do?
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She said "Yes, I have some
lamps that need to be rewired
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because they got burned up."
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I said, "Okay, come with me."
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So we went to
town and came back.
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By that time it was Friday.
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And so I said, "I
go to church tomorrow,
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would you like to go with me?"
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I said, "After church be in
my house, we'll have lunch."
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She said, "Oh,
that would be lovely."
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And guess what?
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When we got to church,
guess what was happening?
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Communion and I thought,
how am I going to explain
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the foot washing
part of this to Donna?
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Well, that turned out that I
didn't need to explain a thing
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she thought it was
the most wonderful thing
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she had ever experienced.
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She said, "This is lovely.
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I think every church
should do this." Wow.
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So let me get this
straight, John and Sylvia.
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You're professor here
at theological seminary.
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And Sylvia, you've
been a nurse in a community.
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So you're having,
you're just having supper,
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enjoying a great
meal, and it all begins
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by seeing another
patron at the same restaurant.
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You step out of
your comfort zone,
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you walk across the
room, you initiate the contact
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and these years
later here we are.
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Now Donna, you have been,
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I think that
Sabbath mark the beginning
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of Sabbath after Sabbath
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that you have worshiped
here at pioneer. Oh, yes.
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Then there came "I Perceive".
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That was that little series
of nine nights in Saint Joseph.
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And I tell you what,
no matter the weather,
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there is no weather
that intimidates you.
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You were there
every single night.
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Well, thank John
and Sylvia for that too.
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They were faith for you.
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I don't drive that van anymore.
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You don't? Well,
I'm glad to learn that.
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I'm actually very
glad to hear that.
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But you were there
night after night after night
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as we went deeper and
deeper into scripture.
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And so Donna, there you were
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and every night
we were handing out
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little decision
cards, you were responding.
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And you made a decision
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at the end of
that I Perceive series.
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Yes. And what was that decision?
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Well, I happen to baptized once
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but I decided I'd be baptized
again and join this church.
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Now Donna, how old
does a person have to be
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to really give her
heart completely to Jesus?
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Well, I would say
about 2. And how old are you?
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Ninety eight. Are you?
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Going on a 100.
Ninety eight, going on a 100.
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How about that, congregation?
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Oh, I can say
through me. No, it can't be.
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Donna, isn't that something,
98 years young you are, right.
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What a beautiful testimony.
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To Jesus love for you
and your love for Jesus.
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You love Him with all
your heart, don't you?
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Oh, yes. So much.
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And with every breath you have,
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you're gonna continue to testify
to Him and to live for Him
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in this little
village where you grew up.
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Yes. Always.
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We want to give you the
official pioneer welcome.
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We are so proud of
you. You know what?
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Donna, I've had the
privilege of baptizing
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a few men and women and
children over the years.
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You are the first 98 year old
I've ever had that privilege.
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That's my first experience too.
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And it's your first
experience, there you go. Amen.
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All right, pioneer
family, let Donna see the way.
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Give her the pioneer wave.
Donna, this is your family.
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John and Sylvia
and all their friends,
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we're family together.
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I want to pray with you
before you're baptized. Sure.
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Dear God, You have walked
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with this friend of
Yours all these years.
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And isn't that something,
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You lead some other friends to
cross the path of this friend.
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And a contagious witness
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just walking across
a restaurant is born.
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This is how You grow the kingdom
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and Donna is living
proof that Jesus really
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does work through
every day relationships.
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As I place my hand on her head
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may be a symbol
of the Holy Spirit
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coming into Donna
in a new and fresh way,
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spiritual gifts that she will
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continue to
exercise for Your kingdom.
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Give her joy,
every step of the way
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and may there be others
because of her testimony
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who will find the
Lord Jesus as well.
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In His name we pray, amen.
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Give your hand
here, there it goes.
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Donna, I'm so honored,
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And get that. Okay.
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What was that?
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That's why I'm telling you,
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you should not be
driving anymore now.
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Right. All right.
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You just hold her
right there, that's perfect.
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I'm gonna slip this hand
behind you, there you go.
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It is such a joy that
you've chosen to follow Jesus
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and now the honor for me
to be able to baptize you
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in the name of God, the Father,
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God, the Son and
God, the Holy Spirit.
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Just take a quick breathe
and just bend your knees.
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Amen. God bless you.
00:11:14.22\00:11:18.15
God bless you. Amen.
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I love you all. Beautiful.
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Let's pray together.
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Oh God those shades of
green we could see them.
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This is the season of green.
00:15:57.20\00:16:01.37
You are the Creator,
we are Your children,
00:16:01.40\00:16:03.82
all of us your creatures.
00:16:03.85\00:16:06.72
In Holy Scripture,
please, engage our minds,
00:16:06.75\00:16:10.25
address our hearts one last time
00:16:10.28\00:16:12.62
as we head out into the
waiting new season before us.
00:16:12.65\00:16:17.99
In Jesus name. Amen.
00:16:18.02\00:16:21.87
If Jesus were to suddenly
appear right here in worship,
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right in front of
you and got in your face
00:16:31.47\00:16:34.37
and asked this
question, what would you answer?
00:16:34.40\00:16:39.43
All right, so He's
looking in your eyes,
00:16:39.46\00:16:41.68
you and Jesus and He asks you,
00:16:41.71\00:16:43.69
"Do you love Me?"
How would you answer?
00:16:43.72\00:16:49.26
I wonder if we might
answer like Golde did to Tevye
00:16:49.29\00:16:55.00
in that classic scene
in Fiddler on the Roof.
00:16:55.03\00:16:57.72
You remember Fiddler on
the Roof, you've seen it.
00:16:57.75\00:17:00.31
Those of you who don't know
00:17:00.34\00:17:01.37
Tevye is a poor
Russian Jewish farmer,
00:17:01.40\00:17:03.38
he's just come in out
of that dilapidated barn
00:17:03.41\00:17:05.74
into their little
home on a Friday afternoon,
00:17:05.77\00:17:07.56
the Sabbath is about to arrive,
00:17:07.59\00:17:10.43
the three daughters are
scurrying around outside.
00:17:10.46\00:17:13.48
But Tevye is inside and he
must ask his wife of 25 years
00:17:13.51\00:17:18.80
a question he has
never asked her before.
00:17:18.83\00:17:23.20
Do you love me?
00:17:23.23\00:17:25.91
I found a YouTube
clip of this moment
00:17:25.94\00:17:27.81
so take a look at this and
kind of relive the memories.
00:17:27.84\00:17:30.97
All right, let's go.
00:17:31.00\00:17:33.25
Love.
00:17:33.28\00:17:34.52
Golde, do you love me?
00:17:38.64\00:17:43.16
Do I what? Shh.
00:17:43.19\00:17:45.66
Do you love me?
00:17:45.69\00:17:48.49
Do I love you? Well?
00:17:48.52\00:17:52.34
With our
daughters getting married
00:17:52.37\00:17:54.37
and this trouble in the town.
00:17:54.40\00:17:56.54
You're upset, you're worn
out, go inside, go lie down.
00:17:56.57\00:18:00.49
Maybe it's indigestion.
00:18:00.52\00:18:03.05
No, Golde, I'm
asking you a question.
00:18:03.08\00:18:07.13
Do you love me?
00:18:07.16\00:18:09.73
You're a fool. I know.
00:18:09.76\00:18:12.70
But do you love me?
00:18:12.73\00:18:16.22
Do I love you? Well?
00:18:16.25\00:18:19.41
For 25 years, I've
washed your clothes,
00:18:19.44\00:18:22.24
cooked your meals,
cleaned your house.
00:18:22.27\00:18:24.71
Given you
children, milked your cow.
00:18:24.74\00:18:27.63
After 25 years, why
talk about love right now?
00:18:27.66\00:18:33.01
Golde, the first time I
met you was on our wedding day,
00:18:33.04\00:18:38.66
I was scared. I was shy.
00:18:38.69\00:18:40.94
I was nervous. So was I.
00:18:40.97\00:18:44.02
But my father and my mother said
we'd learn to love each other.
00:18:44.05\00:18:49.46
And now I'm asking, Golde.
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.64
Do you love me?
00:18:52.67\00:18:55.25
I'm your wife. I know.
00:18:55.28\00:18:58.04
But do you love me?
00:18:58.07\00:19:01.03
Do I love him? Well?
00:19:01.06\00:19:06.39
Oh, I love that
moment again, do you love me?
00:19:06.42\00:19:12.08
And if Jesus would
ask us that question
00:19:12.11\00:19:13.79
this morning in our
face, what would we answer?
00:19:13.82\00:19:16.49
Like Golde, look it, I've been
going to church all my life.
00:19:16.52\00:19:20.71
And we turn the
tithes and kept the Sabbath.
00:19:20.74\00:19:23.37
What do you mean do I love You?
00:19:23.40\00:19:26.08
No, but do you love Me?
00:19:26.11\00:19:31.16
Everybody who has read
the Fourth Gospel knows
00:19:31.19\00:19:33.22
that it ends with Jesus asking
that penetrating question.
00:19:33.25\00:19:36.72
Do you love Me?
00:19:36.75\00:19:39.84
The question is for
us third millennials,
00:19:39.87\00:19:41.65
what's the answer gonna be?
00:19:41.68\00:19:42.88
Open your Bible,
let's go last time,
00:19:42.91\00:19:47.11
last narrative of the
last chapter of the last gospel
00:19:47.14\00:19:52.07
on this last Sabbath of
the school, your John 21.
00:19:52.10\00:19:54.34
Open your Bible to John 21,
00:19:54.37\00:19:55.93
a fitting
episode for the last time
00:19:55.96\00:19:59.19
in this Fourth Gospel, John 21.
00:19:59.22\00:20:02.14
You didn't bring a Bible, oh,
you got to track this John 21,
00:20:02.17\00:20:06.07
grab the pew Bible in
front of you, it's page 732.
00:20:06.10\00:20:09.46
What are we gonna
call this teaching?
00:20:09.49\00:20:10.71
Let's put it on the screen.
00:20:10.74\00:20:11.89
Let's call this
Requiem for a loser.
00:20:11.92\00:20:16.94
Requiem for a
loser, the last days.
00:20:16.97\00:20:21.72
By the way it's just a reminder.
00:20:21.75\00:20:24.13
The Fourth Gospel
series divided into two parts,
00:20:24.16\00:20:26.94
the last word is
the first semester,
00:20:26.97\00:20:28.62
the last days,
the last semester.
00:20:28.65\00:20:31.19
You didn't get any of
these teachings, go to the site,
00:20:31.22\00:20:33.46
all the videos are archived,
there are all the study guides.
00:20:33.49\00:20:37.32
Let's pick it up John 21,
00:20:37.35\00:20:38.61
this is the New King James
Version as is your pew Bible.
00:20:38.64\00:20:43.37
John 21:1, "After these things
Jesus showed Himself again,"
00:20:43.40\00:20:46.89
we were just with
Thomas and Mary last week.
00:20:46.92\00:20:48.96
So now this is
following that narrative.
00:20:48.99\00:20:51.40
"After these things
Jesus showed Himself again
00:20:51.43\00:20:53.18
to the disciples at
the Sea of Tiberias,"
00:20:53.21\00:20:55.45
Only John calls it
Lake of Galilee, Tiberias
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.14
for reasons known to him,
00:20:58.17\00:20:59.90
"The Sea of Tiberias and in
this way He showed Himself."
00:20:59.93\00:21:03.62
Okay, so here
is how it happened.
00:21:03.65\00:21:06.51
Verse 2, "Simon
Peter," we know him.
00:21:06.54\00:21:09.60
We saw his meltdown.
00:21:09.63\00:21:10.80
"Thomas called the Twin,"
we were with him last week,
00:21:10.83\00:21:13.31
Patron Saint of
Higher Education.
00:21:13.34\00:21:15.38
"Nathanael of Cana" remember him
at the beginning of the journey.
00:21:15.41\00:21:19.10
When he came walking in,
00:21:19.13\00:21:20.16
the fellows are all
standing around Jesus,
00:21:20.19\00:21:21.72
he points at Him and said,
00:21:21.75\00:21:22.78
I want to see a
life that has no smear,
00:21:22.81\00:21:25.17
no stain, he is
absolutely transparent.
00:21:25.20\00:21:28.27
This is that same Nathanael.
00:21:28.30\00:21:30.48
"The sons of Zebedee,"
the first time in the gospel
00:21:30.51\00:21:32.75
and the last it appears.
00:21:32.78\00:21:34.63
John boy and his older James
and then two unnamed disciples,
00:21:34.66\00:21:39.41
"Two other disciples
of His were together."
00:21:39.44\00:21:41.06
And verse 3, "Simon Peter said
to them, 'I am going fishing.'
00:21:41.09\00:21:47.38
They said to him, 'We
are going with you also.'
00:21:47.41\00:21:48.96
And so they went out and
immediately got into the boat,
00:21:48.99\00:21:51.19
and that night
they caught nothing."
00:21:51.22\00:21:54.61
Requiem for a
loser, I have looked
00:21:54.64\00:21:58.17
on the men and
women in our community
00:21:58.20\00:21:59.71
and the young
adults on this campus
00:21:59.74\00:22:01.50
who have fallen
in a moral meltdown.
00:22:01.53\00:22:07.00
I have watched them.
00:22:07.03\00:22:09.08
The shame, the
stigma, the sorrow.
00:22:09.11\00:22:15.03
I was going through a
stack of birthday letters,
00:22:17.92\00:22:20.46
signing the letters.
00:22:20.49\00:22:22.00
I come to a letter
that belongs to a man
00:22:22.03\00:22:24.46
who in humiliation
fled our community,
00:22:24.49\00:22:27.34
practically under
the cover of darkness.
00:22:27.37\00:22:29.73
And I am ashamed
to confess to you
00:22:29.76\00:22:33.52
that when I came to
that letter, pen in hand,
00:22:33.55\00:22:37.31
I thought to
myself, may be I just,
00:22:37.34\00:22:41.99
scribble, no message at
all, I'll just signed it.
00:22:42.02\00:22:46.34
Oh, no. I tell you what?
00:22:46.37\00:22:48.42
I'll scribbled
something so eligible,
00:22:48.45\00:22:50.47
he will never
be able to read it.
00:22:50.50\00:22:52.01
This of course what happens
00:22:52.04\00:22:53.39
every time I write
one of these letters.
00:22:53.42\00:22:56.47
I say, no, no, no, what I'll do,
00:22:56.50\00:22:57.85
I'll deep six,
I'll drop in file 13,
00:22:57.88\00:23:00.37
he won't even know that
the letter got thrown out.
00:23:00.40\00:23:02.54
He will think look at that,
I guess I'm off their list.
00:23:02.57\00:23:06.11
Requiem for a loser.
00:23:06.14\00:23:09.14
Requiem is Latin
and it means rest,
00:23:09.17\00:23:10.85
but here's the
question, is there ever any rest
00:23:10.88\00:23:12.97
for a brother or a sister
who has fallen on this campus?
00:23:13.00\00:23:17.85
Who has fallen
in this community?
00:23:17.88\00:23:22.23
What did Peter say here?
00:23:22.26\00:23:24.28
"I am going
fishing." I love that.
00:23:24.31\00:23:28.81
Because what happens next
00:23:28.84\00:23:29.90
is a shining
testimony to Peter's bros.
00:23:29.93\00:23:34.28
They instantly step out,
yo, you're not going alone,
00:23:34.31\00:23:36.76
we're going with you.
00:23:36.79\00:23:38.13
I love that about them.
00:23:38.16\00:23:39.53
Because let's face
it, Peter has publicly,
00:23:39.56\00:23:41.90
Peter has publicly
shamed the name of Jesus Christ
00:23:41.93\00:23:46.18
in the most
humiliating way possible.
00:23:46.21\00:23:49.17
When all the
attention around that campfire
00:23:49.20\00:23:51.22
remember, when all the attention
00:23:51.25\00:23:52.94
around that
campfire was pinned on him.
00:23:52.97\00:23:55.37
He cried out, "Read my lips."
00:23:55.40\00:23:57.90
And somebody on the
balcony was hearing it all.
00:23:57.93\00:24:00.95
Read my lips, I have never known
00:24:00.98\00:24:03.77
that blankety,
blank, blank man in my life.
00:24:03.80\00:24:07.12
You can't fall more dramatically
00:24:11.15\00:24:17.05
and publicly in a
way Peter has just done.
00:24:17.08\00:24:21.42
I say, I think it is a
testimony to his circle
00:24:21.45\00:24:26.57
when he says, I
am going fishing.
00:24:26.60\00:24:29.36
We're going with you,
you're not gonna be alone.
00:24:29.39\00:24:34.54
Verse 3, "So Simon Peter said
to them, 'I am going fishing.'
00:24:34.57\00:24:36.82
And they said to him,
'We are going with you also.'
00:24:36.85\00:24:38.55
And they went out and
immediately got into the boat,
00:24:38.58\00:24:40.52
and that night
they caught nothing."
00:24:40.55\00:24:43.13
But once full Passover
00:24:43.16\00:24:45.32
or but it's now
and its waning sliver.
00:24:45.35\00:24:49.09
But it's still, it is
still picture perfect tonight.
00:24:49.12\00:24:53.56
The lake calm, the
silver left of the moon
00:24:53.59\00:24:57.37
reflected on those waters.
00:24:57.40\00:24:59.11
It's beautiful
but it's depressing.
00:24:59.14\00:25:01.27
Because guess what?
00:25:01.30\00:25:03.36
Peter's not only morally fallen,
00:25:03.39\00:25:05.59
he is now
professionally failing.
00:25:05.62\00:25:08.96
And I have seen it
time and time again
00:25:08.99\00:25:12.20
when a man goes
through moral meltdown
00:25:12.23\00:25:15.79
and he falls beyond his control
there is a professional failing
00:25:15.82\00:25:21.81
that accompanies
the moral falling.
00:25:21.84\00:25:25.81
Sad. No fish all night.
00:25:25.84\00:25:32.61
That's a record read,
"And they caught nothing,"
00:25:32.64\00:25:36.58
zero, not a nothing.
00:25:36.61\00:25:38.72
I tell you what, there's nothing
worse than nothing, is there?
00:25:38.75\00:25:42.36
Nothing to show for the class.
00:25:42.39\00:25:44.55
A whole
semester and I failed it.
00:25:44.58\00:25:48.02
Nothing to show for
sales, the entire month nothing.
00:25:48.05\00:25:53.55
No fears, no sparkle left
in your marriage, nothing.
00:25:53.58\00:25:58.03
No advancement, no
promotion, nothing.
00:25:58.06\00:26:00.73
No success with your social
fishing on campus, nothing.
00:26:00.76\00:26:05.29
No resources, no
money, no nothing.
00:26:05.32\00:26:10.35
There's nothing like nothing to
make you feel a failure faster.
00:26:10.38\00:26:17.18
And they caught
and he caught nothing.
00:26:17.21\00:26:21.26
Very interesting.
00:26:21.29\00:26:22.85
The same Greek word
Jesus uses in the upper room
00:26:22.88\00:26:25.84
when He declares
to the disciples,
00:26:25.87\00:26:28.26
without me you can do nothing.
00:26:28.29\00:26:32.21
Maybe that's the point.
00:26:32.24\00:26:37.19
Verse 4, "But when
the morning had now come."
00:26:37.22\00:26:42.65
Oh, hit the pause
button right there.
00:26:42.68\00:26:44.70
"When the morning had
now come," I love that.
00:26:44.73\00:26:48.45
Beyond every midnight of nothing
00:26:48.48\00:26:50.13
there is still comes
the morning of promise.
00:26:50.16\00:26:53.19
Midnight is not the last word.
00:26:53.22\00:26:56.38
I'm thinking of that gospel song
00:26:56.41\00:26:57.82
that Gloria Bill
Gaither wrote and sang.
00:26:57.85\00:27:01.10
You remember this one?
00:27:01.13\00:27:02.16
Then came the morning
00:27:02.19\00:27:06.50
Oh, night turned into day
00:27:06.53\00:27:09.69
The stone was rolled away
00:27:09.72\00:27:11.40
Hope rose with the dawn
00:27:11.43\00:27:12.85
Then came the morning
00:27:12.88\00:27:15.05
Shadows vanished before the sun
00:27:15.08\00:27:17.71
Death had lost and life had won
00:27:17.74\00:27:20.89
For morning had come Hallelujah
00:27:20.92\00:27:25.65
After your midnight there
will always come a morning,
00:27:25.68\00:27:28.36
don't give up.
00:27:28.39\00:27:30.32
Look at how this year
is ending on your analysis
00:27:30.35\00:27:33.32
and on your
spreadsheet of evaluation,
00:27:33.35\00:27:35.59
but don't give up.
00:27:35.62\00:27:37.36
There's a morning
always that follows a midnight.
00:27:37.39\00:27:42.22
All right, Verse 4 again,
00:27:42.25\00:27:44.02
"But when the morning had
come, Jesus stood on the shore,
00:27:44.05\00:27:50.25
yet the disciples did
not know that it was Jesus."
00:27:50.28\00:27:52.40
Then verse 5,
"Jesus said to them,
00:27:52.43\00:27:54.31
'Children, have you any food?'"
00:27:54.34\00:27:56.93
one translator says
it ought to be lambs
00:27:56.96\00:27:59.18
and another says it ought to be
00:27:59.21\00:28:00.24
yo, friends,
caught anything yet?
00:28:00.27\00:28:03.97
"And they answered him. 'No.'
00:28:04.00\00:28:07.40
And He said to
them, 'Cast the net
00:28:07.43\00:28:09.65
on the right side of the
boat and you will find some.'"
00:28:09.68\00:28:16.65
The boys got the story down.
00:28:16.68\00:28:21.86
He's gonna be a preacher,
Rodney, that's your boy.
00:28:21.89\00:28:25.20
Pastor, he's
gonna be a preacher.
00:28:25.23\00:28:27.78
You go, "so they cast
00:28:27.81\00:28:30.71
and now they were
not able to draw it in
00:28:30.74\00:28:32.16
because of the
multitude of the fish."
00:28:32.19\00:28:35.14
The commentator
suggest that the reason
00:28:35.17\00:28:37.51
the disciple that cast
their net on the left side
00:28:37.54\00:28:40.95
is because of the steering
ore is on the right side.
00:28:40.98\00:28:43.87
And nobody is gonna
cast a net over the ore.
00:28:43.90\00:28:46.04
But Desire of Ages comes
along and adds this insight.
00:28:46.07\00:28:49.66
We put it on the screen for you,
00:28:49.69\00:28:50.90
this classic
devotion on the life of Jesus.
00:28:50.93\00:28:52.98
I hope you'll read it
through some day soon.
00:28:53.01\00:28:56.22
The words on the
screen, "Jesus had a purpose
00:28:56.25\00:28:58.03
in bidding them cast their net
on the right side of the ship.
00:28:58.06\00:29:01.53
For on that side He
stood upon the shore.
00:29:01.56\00:29:05.65
That was the side of faith.
00:29:05.68\00:29:08.12
If they labored in
connection with Him,
00:29:08.15\00:29:10.19
His divine power combining
with their human effort,
00:29:10.22\00:29:13.01
they could not," read
those last three words.
00:29:13.04\00:29:15.82
They could not
what? "Fail of success."
00:29:15.85\00:29:19.22
You will not fail
00:29:19.25\00:29:21.37
if you cast your net
on the side Jesus is on.
00:29:21.40\00:29:24.23
Look, I know all your
friends are over here, they say,
00:29:24.26\00:29:26.86
"Yo, come on over here."
00:29:26.89\00:29:28.40
Jesus says, "No, no, no,
cast your net this direction."
00:29:28.43\00:29:32.26
For where I am it is
always the right side."
00:29:32.29\00:29:35.54
All your family
is over here and say,
00:29:35.57\00:29:36.87
what got in you that university,
you're getting fanatical on us?
00:29:36.90\00:29:40.11
Who cares, Jesus
said, "I'm over here,
00:29:40.14\00:29:42.14
I'm on the right side,
cast your net this way."
00:29:42.17\00:29:45.95
Because when you cast
your net on the right side
00:29:45.98\00:29:48.32
you were always
casting to Christ Himself.
00:29:48.35\00:29:53.73
How did that line go?
They could not fail of success.
00:29:53.76\00:29:59.75
Your career point,
hey, you got to go this way,
00:29:59.78\00:30:01.48
now that you're finishing
up at Andrews, go this way.
00:30:01.51\00:30:03.51
Jesus said, "No, no,
no, no, I'm over here,
00:30:03.54\00:30:05.90
throw your net in My direction."
00:30:05.93\00:30:07.93
It's not about you
becoming a grand success
00:30:07.96\00:30:10.49
for the headlines
of earth to pick up.
00:30:10.52\00:30:12.30
It's about you
becoming my disciple
00:30:12.33\00:30:15.86
and saving this
world in this generation.
00:30:15.89\00:30:20.04
Wow.
00:30:20.07\00:30:22.77
Verse 7,
"Therefore," 'cause they draw,
00:30:22.80\00:30:26.45
they're drawing in
their net and it's full.
00:30:26.48\00:30:27.73
"Therefore the disciple
whom Jesus loved as jamboy
00:30:27.76\00:30:30.52
said to Peter,
'Yo, it's the Lord!'
00:30:30.55\00:30:33.51
Now when Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord,
00:30:33.54\00:30:35.63
he put on his outer garment,
00:30:35.66\00:30:37.00
for he had removed it
and he plunged into the sea."
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.07
He's so excited
he did it backwards,
00:30:39.10\00:30:40.62
you don't get dressed
when you jump in the water.
00:30:40.65\00:30:42.56
You hold your clothes over
your head and paddle to shore
00:30:42.59\00:30:44.39
but he just said, I got to go.
00:30:44.42\00:30:46.91
Verse 8, "But
the other disciples
00:30:46.94\00:30:48.18
came in the little
skiff, that little boat,
00:30:48.21\00:30:49.92
for they were not far from land
00:30:49.95\00:30:50.98
about two
hundred cubits, 300 feet,
00:30:51.01\00:30:52.72
dragging the net of fish.
00:30:52.75\00:30:55.11
Then as soon as
they had come to land,
00:30:55.14\00:30:56.69
they saw a fire of coals
there, and fish laid on it."
00:30:56.72\00:31:00.68
Isn't that amazing?
00:31:00.71\00:31:02.81
How often we discover
00:31:02.84\00:31:04.52
that while we are fretting
about coming up with nothing,
00:31:04.55\00:31:07.28
not a nothing, not a nothing.
00:31:07.31\00:31:09.53
All the while God
is already had work
00:31:09.56\00:31:12.83
and Jesus is frying
up breakfast for you.
00:31:12.86\00:31:18.13
It looks like nothing to you
00:31:18.16\00:31:19.39
but it doesn't look like nothing
to Him, He's ready in advance.
00:31:19.42\00:31:23.16
It reminds me of this
great line, jot this down
00:31:23.19\00:31:24.67
because there's
no study guide today.
00:31:24.70\00:31:26.09
You need to keep
this promise near you
00:31:26.12\00:31:27.76
as you head off into
the adventurous summer.
00:31:27.79\00:31:29.77
Isaiah 65:24, God speaking,
00:31:29.80\00:31:32.00
"It shall come to pass that
before they call I will answer."
00:31:32.03\00:31:37.71
Before you even
ask I'm answering.
00:31:37.74\00:31:40.18
"And while they are
still speaking, I will hear."
00:31:40.21\00:31:43.84
It may feel like nothing
to you right now, my friend
00:31:43.87\00:31:47.07
but good news he has
already made provision for you.
00:31:47.10\00:31:53.44
Now we come to the
heart of the story.
00:31:53.47\00:31:57.62
Verse 10, "Jesus said to them,
00:31:57.65\00:32:00.84
'Bring some of the fish
which you have just caught.'
00:32:00.87\00:32:02.95
So Simon Peter went up and
dragged the net to the land,
00:32:02.98\00:32:05.36
full of large fish, one
hundred and fifty-three."
00:32:05.39\00:32:09.01
And scholars have
ragged their brains,
00:32:09.04\00:32:10.48
there's some mystical,
there's some mysterious,
00:32:10.51\00:32:12.38
there are some divinely
00:32:12.41\00:32:13.98
significant
reason for this number.
00:32:14.01\00:32:15.62
No, not at all.
00:32:15.65\00:32:18.11
Listen, when you
are poor fisherman,
00:32:18.14\00:32:20.09
you are poor fisherman
00:32:20.12\00:32:21.15
and the deal is we
split the catch among us.
00:32:21.18\00:32:25.73
You will remember
the total amount of fish.
00:32:25.76\00:32:29.37
Divide by 7 and
that's what I get
00:32:29.40\00:32:32.20
and so John, that
number just stuck with it.
00:32:32.23\00:32:34.03
153 we caught in
a tiny little net.
00:32:34.06\00:32:38.05
Obviously miraculous.
00:32:38.08\00:32:40.35
"Although there were so
many, the net was not broken."
00:32:40.38\00:32:42.66
Keep going, verse 12.
00:32:42.69\00:32:43.94
"Jesus said to them,
'Come and eat breakfast.'
00:32:43.97\00:32:46.17
Yet none of the
disciples dared to ask Him.
00:32:46.20\00:32:47.99
'Who are You?'
Knowing that it was the Lord.
00:32:48.02\00:32:50.01
Jesus then came
and took the bread
00:32:50.04\00:32:52.24
and gave it to them,
and likewise the fish."
00:32:52.27\00:32:54.48
Wouldn't you just love sitting
around a campfire with Jesus?
00:32:54.51\00:32:57.31
Having Him pass the food to you,
00:32:57.34\00:32:59.61
the toast never
burned, the fish. Wow.
00:32:59.64\00:33:06.93
Now Verse 14,
"This is the third time
00:33:06.96\00:33:09.54
Jesus showed
Himself to His disciples
00:33:09.57\00:33:11.58
after He was
raised from the dead."
00:33:11.61\00:33:14.53
So, here we go now.
00:33:14.56\00:33:16.46
"When they're eating breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
00:33:16.49\00:33:21.16
'Simon, son of
Jonah, son of John,
00:33:21.19\00:33:26.20
do you love Me
more than these?'"
00:33:26.23\00:33:31.38
Scholars believe,
He's pointing at the fish.
00:33:31.41\00:33:33.32
More than these, do you love Me?
00:33:33.35\00:33:38.35
"Peter said to
Jesus, 'Yes, Lord,
00:33:38.38\00:33:41.83
You know that I love You.'"
00:33:41.86\00:33:43.99
No, no, I'll tell you what
00:33:44.02\00:33:45.52
everyday everybody
else may desert you
00:33:45.55\00:33:47.08
but I will die for
You, it's all gone,
00:33:47.11\00:33:49.37
it's gone,
ashamed by his failure.
00:33:49.40\00:33:52.70
That's required. You
know Lord, that I love You.
00:33:52.73\00:33:57.82
"Jesus said to
Peter, 'Feed My lambs.'"
00:33:57.85\00:34:01.39
Verse 16, "Jesus said
to him again a second time,
00:34:01.42\00:34:04.09
'Simon, son of
John, do you love Me?'
00:34:04.12\00:34:07.47
He said to Him, 'Yes,
Lord, You know that I love You.'
00:34:07.50\00:34:11.93
Jesus said to
him, 'Tend My sheep.'
00:34:11.96\00:34:15.03
Jesus said to
him the third time,
00:34:15.06\00:34:16.87
'Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?'
00:34:16.90\00:34:21.06
Peter was grieved because
He said to him the third time,
00:34:21.09\00:34:23.44
'Do you love Me?'
00:34:23.47\00:34:26.21
And he said to him,
'Lord, You know all things,
00:34:26.24\00:34:30.04
You know that I love You.'
00:34:30.07\00:34:34.09
And Jesus said to
him, 'Feed My sheep.'"
00:34:34.12\00:34:38.49
Three times, three
times You declared with curses
00:34:38.52\00:34:44.71
that You never knew
me, three times in public.
00:34:44.74\00:34:48.54
I also ask you, do you love Me?
00:34:48.57\00:34:52.13
Three denials,
three confessions,
00:34:52.16\00:34:57.26
three restorations,
do you love Me? Do you?
00:34:57.29\00:35:02.94
Verse 18, Jesus speaking now,
00:35:07.76\00:35:11.82
"Most assuredly, I say to you,"
00:35:11.85\00:35:13.67
oh, whoa, whoa, whoa,
there it is, number 25,
00:35:13.70\00:35:16.30
the last of that
literally device of John's
00:35:16.33\00:35:18.18
we've been tracking
them all through this gospel.
00:35:18.21\00:35:20.30
Double Amen. Amen, amen.
00:35:20.33\00:35:22.97
When you see two
amens right side by side,
00:35:23.00\00:35:25.69
you know that something
huge is about to be spoken.
00:35:25.72\00:35:28.81
The last number
25, you just read it,
00:35:28.84\00:35:30.97
"Amen, amen, I
say to you, Peter,
00:35:31.00\00:35:33.43
when you were
younger, you girded yourself
00:35:33.46\00:35:35.84
and walked where you wished
00:35:35.87\00:35:37.13
but when you are old, you
will stretch out your hands,
00:35:37.16\00:35:39.71
and another will gird you
00:35:39.74\00:35:41.14
and carry you
where you do not wish.
00:35:41.17\00:35:43.46
This Jesus spoke, signifying
00:35:43.49\00:35:45.00
by what death
Peter would glorify God.
00:35:45.03\00:35:47.25
And when Jesus had spoken this,
00:35:47.28\00:35:49.02
He said to Peter,
'Follow Me. Follow Me.'"
00:35:49.05\00:35:54.76
I know we all have
to admit, we must admit.
00:35:58.61\00:36:01.73
that the story of Jesus
forgiving and restoring Peter
00:36:01.76\00:36:04.85
into His inner
circle of disciples
00:36:04.88\00:36:08.51
is truly one of the great
finales of all sacred history.
00:36:08.54\00:36:11.52
How can you think about,
00:36:11.55\00:36:12.61
John opens his
gospel with a call of Peter.
00:36:12.64\00:36:15.76
John dutifully records the fall
of Peter and now hallelujah,
00:36:15.79\00:36:19.62
John ends his gospel
with a forgiving of Peter.
00:36:19.65\00:36:23.36
I tell you what
ladies and gentlemen,
00:36:23.39\00:36:24.77
all over it are the fingerprints
00:36:24.80\00:36:27.92
of the profound lover of
Calvary the Savior of the world,
00:36:27.95\00:36:32.54
His fingerprints
all over this ending.
00:36:32.57\00:36:37.32
No matter how awful your sin,
00:36:37.35\00:36:41.18
no matter how far you will fall.
00:36:41.21\00:36:46.81
My grace is sufficient
for you for we're sin abounds.
00:36:46.84\00:36:53.87
Grace does much more abound.
00:36:53.90\00:36:59.23
Forgive you. Restore you.
00:36:59.26\00:37:04.17
Follow Me. If you want to.
00:37:04.20\00:37:10.36
But there are some who fall
00:37:10.39\00:37:12.07
and this is what
is so heartbreaking.
00:37:12.10\00:37:15.02
There are some who fall,
who do not want to un-fall.
00:37:15.05\00:37:22.53
You can't believe it.
00:37:22.56\00:37:24.71
But so strong is the
draw of the dark kingdom.
00:37:24.74\00:37:32.60
Thus is the tale of two men
that early Friday in Gethsemane,
00:37:32.63\00:37:35.87
they both fell,
they both to be restored
00:37:35.90\00:37:38.31
at this moment
around the same campfire.
00:37:38.34\00:37:41.46
One fell and
begged to be unfallen,
00:37:41.49\00:37:44.60
the other fell and
determined to stay fallen
00:37:44.63\00:37:47.55
and that's difference
between Peter and Judas.
00:37:47.58\00:37:50.72
Same master, same
grace, same drawing.
00:37:50.75\00:37:56.15
But Judas says,
I'm not going back.
00:37:56.18\00:38:00.98
What a tragic, tragic contrast.
00:38:01.01\00:38:04.12
Requiem for a
loser, are you kidding.
00:38:04.15\00:38:06.03
This is restoration
for a sinner, hallelujah.
00:38:06.06\00:38:09.76
Restoration that
begins with do you love me
00:38:09.79\00:38:12.49
and ends with follow me.
00:38:12.52\00:38:14.53
And that ladies and
gentlemen is the last truth
00:38:14.56\00:38:16.91
of the last story, do
you love me really means.
00:38:16.94\00:38:22.92
I'll put this on
the screen for you.
00:38:22.95\00:38:26.04
Will you follow Me?
00:38:26.07\00:38:27.95
That's the truth
of what we just read.
00:38:27.98\00:38:33.67
Robert Smith in his
wonderful book, Wounded Lord,
00:38:33.70\00:38:36.98
reading the Fourth
Gospel through the eyes Thomas.
00:38:37.01\00:38:39.29
Put Smith's words
on the screen for you,
00:38:39.32\00:38:40.85
take a look at this.
00:38:40.88\00:38:41.92
This was insightful for
me, "Only in the Fourth Gospel
00:38:41.95\00:38:45.32
is the bond uniting disciples
to Jesus described as 'love.'"
00:38:45.35\00:38:50.58
Nowhere in the
synoptic is He called love.
00:38:50.61\00:38:52.80
John says, "No,
no, this is love."
00:38:52.83\00:38:55.56
"When Jesus three times
asked Peter, 'Do you love Me?'
00:38:55.59\00:38:58.80
He is really asking,
'Will you be my disciple
00:38:58.83\00:39:01.42
whatever the cost or not?"
00:39:01.45\00:39:03.53
In other words,
"Will you follow Me?"
00:39:03.56\00:39:07.63
You see, "Do you love Me?"
00:39:07.66\00:39:11.55
really means
"Will you follow Me?"
00:39:11.58\00:39:16.03
Craig Keener in his
majestic two line commentary
00:39:16.06\00:39:19.21
that we've been tracking
through this entire series,
00:39:19.24\00:39:21.69
puts it this way, put Keener's
words on the screen for you,
00:39:21.72\00:39:24.66
"The point of the
passage has nothing to do with
00:39:24.69\00:39:28.05
a supposed difference between
two Greek terms for love."
00:39:28.08\00:39:31.25
But some try to make it to
be, there's no difference there.
00:39:31.28\00:39:34.15
But the--the
point the passage has
00:39:34.18\00:39:36.07
"Everything to do
with the way love for Jesus
00:39:36.10\00:39:38.69
is expressed in this Gospel."
00:39:38.72\00:39:41.04
How is it expressed
in this Gospel? Obeying.
00:39:41.07\00:39:44.63
John 14:15 "If you love Me,
keep My commandments, obey."
00:39:44.66\00:39:49.06
That's how love to Jesus
is expressed, you obey Him.
00:39:49.09\00:39:52.07
Keep reading which implies
by the way you see this line,
00:39:52.10\00:39:56.99
"Which implies
utter self-sacrifice
00:39:57.02\00:39:59.77
and potentially death."
00:39:59.80\00:40:03.72
You see, "Do you love Me?"
00:40:03.75\00:40:05.87
really means, "Will you
follow Me even to death."
00:40:05.90\00:40:13.86
But by the way
not only follow Him
00:40:13.89\00:40:16.46
to the death of martyrdom
that Peter is going to die.
00:40:16.49\00:40:20.71
Most of us here, no doubt will
not die the death of a martyr
00:40:20.74\00:40:25.16
which means for us,
okay, for most of us here.
00:40:25.19\00:40:28.09
"Will you follow Me to death
means the death of old age.
00:40:28.12\00:40:35.74
If times you last and
Jesus doesn't come soon.
00:40:35.77\00:40:38.41
Old age, I want you
to change your glasses.
00:40:38.44\00:40:42.00
Excuse me.
00:40:42.03\00:40:43.06
I want you to change your
glasses and re-read verse 18
00:40:43.09\00:40:47.27
because with new
glasses on, you're gonna see
00:40:47.30\00:40:48.82
a classic description
of old age, watch this.
00:40:48.85\00:40:53.02
Verse 18, again Jesus
speaking, most assuredly,
00:40:53.05\00:40:55.24
"I say to you Peter,
'when you were younger
00:40:55.27\00:40:58.05
you dressed yourself and
walked where you wished.'"
00:40:58.08\00:41:01.27
Boy, is that
true on this campus.
00:41:01.30\00:41:02.75
When you were young
you dressed yourself,
00:41:02.78\00:41:05.88
kind of wish
sometimes may be, no.
00:41:05.91\00:41:11.12
"When you were
younger you dressed yourself
00:41:11.15\00:41:14.67
and you walked
where you wished but,"
00:41:14.70\00:41:16.99
now hold on, here it comes.
00:41:17.02\00:41:18.66
"But when you are old, you
will stretch out your hands
00:41:18.69\00:41:23.24
and another will
dress you and carry you
00:41:23.27\00:41:25.33
where you do not wish
to go." That is old age.
00:41:25.36\00:41:32.47
I've had a chance to
see it up close in personal.
00:41:32.50\00:41:37.89
With my mother-in-law,
such a classic regal woman
00:41:37.92\00:41:42.21
by the way Karen's
mom, Virginia Oswald.
00:41:42.24\00:41:45.99
Just a sweetheart,
I've known her for years
00:41:46.02\00:41:48.04
and always well manicured
00:41:48.07\00:41:50.73
and dressed with
such taste for beauty.
00:41:50.76\00:41:53.71
But as she aged, she was living
with us here in this community.
00:41:53.74\00:41:57.58
As she aged her mind
and her memory began to dim.
00:41:57.61\00:42:05.01
Until she couldn't remember
00:42:05.04\00:42:06.29
which dress to
wear or not to wear
00:42:06.32\00:42:08.11
or how many days in a
row she's already worn it.
00:42:08.14\00:42:12.44
And so her daughter
had to become her dresser.
00:42:12.47\00:42:16.09
No, mother not that dress again.
00:42:16.12\00:42:18.23
Let's try this one today.
00:42:18.26\00:42:21.59
And there she was all
dress up and no where to go.
00:42:21.62\00:42:26.31
Sitting in that easy
chair until we would come
00:42:26.34\00:42:30.16
and we would
take her by the hand.
00:42:30.19\00:42:33.72
And we would lead her to the car
00:42:33.75\00:42:35.90
and we would lead her to church.
00:42:35.93\00:42:38.36
And we would
lead her to the house.
00:42:38.39\00:42:40.76
We would lead her
to the wheelchair.
00:42:40.79\00:42:45.54
Until the day she
died this last September.
00:42:45.57\00:42:48.37
It was a Sabbath
evening just before Sunday.
00:42:48.40\00:42:52.04
I'm so grateful
we both were there,
00:42:52.07\00:42:53.80
we were holding her
hand on either side of her.
00:42:53.83\00:42:57.20
Holding her
hands, her eyes open.
00:42:57.23\00:43:00.37
And then she breathed her last.
00:43:00.40\00:43:04.76
That's what happens in old age.
00:43:04.79\00:43:07.53
When you're
young dressed yourself,
00:43:07.56\00:43:08.97
you go wherever you want.
00:43:09.00\00:43:10.03
But when you become old
somebody else dresses you,
00:43:10.06\00:43:12.67
somebody else takes you
where you don't want to go,
00:43:12.70\00:43:14.94
but you have to go anyway.
00:43:14.97\00:43:17.48
"Do you love Me?
00:43:20.99\00:43:23.43
Will you follow
Me even unto death?"
00:43:23.46\00:43:27.60
Even to the death that comes
at the end of what Nietzsche
00:43:27.63\00:43:31.18
calls a long
obedience in the same direction.
00:43:31.21\00:43:35.15
Now look, I'm not in the habit
00:43:35.18\00:43:36.50
of quoting
atheist from this pulpit
00:43:36.53\00:43:37.92
but I'm gonna do it today
00:43:37.95\00:43:38.98
because Friedrich Nietzsche
quietly profound these words,
00:43:39.01\00:43:42.99
so we're gonna put it
on the screen for you.
00:43:43.02\00:43:44.27
The great
atheist of 20th century,
00:43:44.30\00:43:47.12
"The essential thing 'in heaven
and earth'" Nietzsche writing.
00:43:47.15\00:43:50.84
"The essential thing
'in heaven and earth'
00:43:50.87\00:43:52.18
is that there should be
00:43:52.21\00:43:53.24
long obedience in
the same direction."
00:43:53.27\00:43:57.09
I'm gonna hold that screen in
front of your eyes for a moment.
00:43:57.12\00:43:59.36
I want you to lock
that phrase in your mind.
00:43:59.39\00:44:01.77
"Long obedience in
the same direction.
00:44:01.80\00:44:07.46
There thereby results, and has
always resulted in the long run,
00:44:07.49\00:44:10.74
something which has
made life worth living."
00:44:10.77\00:44:15.08
A long obedience
in the same direction
00:44:15.11\00:44:20.12
really does make life
worth living, doesn't it?
00:44:20.15\00:44:24.21
I think of the hundreds
of you in this community
00:44:24.24\00:44:28.59
who live in a community
dedicated to the young.
00:44:28.62\00:44:31.58
Everything we do
here is for the young.
00:44:31.61\00:44:34.27
And what you do, you who have
sojourned long on this pathway.
00:44:34.30\00:44:39.74
I'll look at you
with utter admiration.
00:44:39.77\00:44:42.80
Talking about a long
obedience in the same direction.
00:44:42.83\00:44:46.93
Look at the way
you faithfully live,
00:44:46.96\00:44:49.96
quiet, no fanfare as you
follow after the same Jesus.
00:44:49.99\00:44:54.23
You're obedient to your Lord
and your master and your work.
00:44:54.26\00:44:57.32
You're obedient to
Him in your marriage.
00:44:57.35\00:44:59.86
You're obedient to
Him in your worship.
00:44:59.89\00:45:02.26
You're obedient to
Him in your retirement.
00:45:02.29\00:45:06.15
A long obedience
in the same direction
00:45:06.18\00:45:11.01
and I think to myself
00:45:11.04\00:45:12.70
how lucky this congregation
is to have people like you.
00:45:12.73\00:45:19.18
'Cause life isn't
only about the young,
00:45:19.21\00:45:22.54
it's about those who
are aged, slowly but surely.
00:45:22.57\00:45:28.23
"Do you love Me?"
00:45:28.26\00:45:30.71
really means
"Will you follow Me?"
00:45:30.74\00:45:32.83
And will you follow Me
means till your last breath.
00:45:32.86\00:45:38.11
So Jesus is
explaining all this to Peter.
00:45:38.14\00:45:40.29
All right, it's okay, so Peter
00:45:40.32\00:45:41.35
and they're walking, having
a very private conversation,
00:45:41.38\00:45:43.36
walking along the Sea of Galilee
00:45:43.39\00:45:45.37
when Peter suddenly
notices some movement behind him
00:45:45.40\00:45:47.83
and He rolls
around, it's John boy,
00:45:47.86\00:45:50.66
what, you've been eavesdropping
on this whole conversation?
00:45:50.69\00:45:52.88
Of course he did, that's
why we have the conversation.
00:45:52.91\00:45:56.96
But Peter and John
are friends fortunately
00:45:56.99\00:45:58.38
wherever they appear in Acts
they always appear together,
00:45:58.41\00:46:01.28
in the Synoptics
they are always together.
00:46:01.31\00:46:03.05
Young boy, older
man but fast friends.
00:46:03.08\00:46:06.39
So Peter has got me instructions
about he is going to die.
00:46:06.42\00:46:09.14
So he turns to me and he said,
"Jesus, Jesus, look at him. Him.
00:46:09.17\00:46:11.62
Tell me, how is going to die?"
00:46:11.65\00:46:15.53
Now listen to
how Jesus responds.
00:46:15.56\00:46:17.98
Verse 22, "Jesus said to Peter,
00:46:18.01\00:46:20.33
'If I will, if I
wish that he, John boy
00:46:20.36\00:46:22.95
remain till I come,
what is that to you?'"
00:46:22.98\00:46:26.72
Polite way for saying,
it's none of your business.
00:46:26.75\00:46:31.08
You, three words in the
Greeks, three words in English,
00:46:31.11\00:46:33.81
"You follow Me."
00:46:33.84\00:46:39.27
Wow.
00:46:39.30\00:46:41.94
Apparently you can die
two very different deaths
00:46:41.97\00:46:47.12
and the ending is the same.
00:46:47.15\00:46:48.91
Peter, we know the
story about Peter, don't we?
00:46:48.94\00:46:50.66
Church tradition
tells us that Peter,
00:46:50.69\00:46:52.17
when he was taking
to the imperial city
00:46:52.20\00:46:53.54
on those Seven Hills of Rome.
00:46:53.57\00:46:55.94
When he was led
to his execution,
00:46:55.97\00:46:57.37
they said, we're
gonna crucify you.
00:46:57.40\00:46:59.16
He said, you can't crucify me.
00:46:59.19\00:47:01.55
In the manner of my
Lord crucify me upside down.
00:47:01.58\00:47:04.40
He was nailed upside
down. Head down, feet up.
00:47:04.43\00:47:07.46
He died. Because I
cannot follow Jesus.
00:47:07.49\00:47:10.76
I who denied Him.
Peter dies a bloody death.
00:47:10.79\00:47:17.24
John, John boy
becomes John the elder,
00:47:17.27\00:47:19.95
the only one of the twelve
who did not die a violent death.
00:47:19.98\00:47:23.73
John the elder, an aged pastor
00:47:23.76\00:47:25.98
who finally
quietly breathed his last
00:47:26.01\00:47:29.13
there in his parish in Ephesus.
00:47:29.16\00:47:31.71
Two very different
deaths alluded to here
00:47:35.18\00:47:37.18
at the end of a Fourth Gospel.
00:47:37.21\00:47:38.50
Where you see "Do you love Me?"
00:47:38.53\00:47:40.06
really means
"Will you follow Me?"
00:47:40.09\00:47:41.75
No matter how you die because
it doesn't matter how you die.
00:47:41.78\00:47:44.60
The critical issue is how
shall we live? How you live?
00:47:44.63\00:47:49.82
Which is why the last
record of words of Jesus.
00:47:49.85\00:47:52.12
Can you believe
that, you just read them.
00:47:52.15\00:47:53.63
If you ever read that of Bible,
00:47:53.66\00:47:54.69
are there any red
words after those three?
00:47:54.72\00:47:58.03
"You follow Me."
00:47:58.06\00:48:02.01
The book ends with a
call, "You follow Me."
00:48:02.04\00:48:07.72
The year ends with a
call, "You follow Me."
00:48:11.03\00:48:18.66
So how should we
answer? How's your answer?
00:48:18.69\00:48:24.34
In this last
moment we have together,
00:48:24.37\00:48:25.93
I wish you take out
your connect card right now.
00:48:25.96\00:48:28.85
I like to give
you a way to answer
00:48:28.88\00:48:31.15
at least two boxes to check.
00:48:31.18\00:48:33.54
Take out the connect
card, you know this one
00:48:33.57\00:48:34.60
that chaplain Jose just talked
about Pastor Jose a moment ago.
00:48:34.63\00:48:37.81
You filled in this part,
make sure we have your e-mail
00:48:37.84\00:48:40.00
because you're
gonna want something
00:48:40.03\00:48:41.25
that you're gonna check I
believe, you're gonna want it.
00:48:41.28\00:48:43.15
So put your e-mail
for sure on the front.
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.43
Now turn the card
over, my next step today is--
00:48:45.46\00:48:49.29
and I hope everybody
here and those of you watching
00:48:49.32\00:48:52.02
on television or live streaming,
00:48:52.05\00:48:53.49
we got these
cards on our website,
00:48:53.52\00:48:55.13
you can get this, you
can make the same response.
00:48:55.16\00:48:57.73
I hope everybody here checks,
00:48:57.76\00:48:59.23
I chose to follow
the Jesus of John 21
00:48:59.26\00:49:02.01
to the end of my
days no matter how I die.
00:49:02.04\00:49:05.87
Isn't that you?
00:49:05.90\00:49:07.45
Oh, I want to put
a check mark there.
00:49:07.48\00:49:09.53
And then look at
here, here's number two,
00:49:09.56\00:49:10.81
this summer I would
like a strategic plan
00:49:10.84\00:49:13.67
to focus on Jesus
while I'm away from campus
00:49:13.70\00:49:15.84
because I'm coming back.
00:49:15.87\00:49:17.05
But this summer, I'd like a way
00:49:17.08\00:49:18.68
to focus on Jesus
in my prayer life.
00:49:18.71\00:49:20.49
Please send it to me.
00:49:20.52\00:49:21.55
If you put your e-mail
address on the other side,
00:49:21.58\00:49:23.66
we will send you that
strategic plan all summer long.
00:49:23.69\00:49:27.04
You can focus on Jesus.
00:49:27.07\00:49:28.39
What does it mean to follow Him?
00:49:28.42\00:49:29.57
You can focus on
Him, you'll be fine.
00:49:29.60\00:49:32.77
Some of you saw a
baptism or two or three today
00:49:32.80\00:49:35.83
and Holy Spirit is speaking
in your heart and he saying,
00:49:35.86\00:49:37.69
hey, listen girl,
boy, you follow Me.
00:49:37.72\00:49:42.87
And the time has come
for you to make a decision.
00:49:42.90\00:49:44.28
You're saying, Dwight, look it,
00:49:44.31\00:49:45.34
I'm leaving, I'm leaving campus.
00:49:45.37\00:49:46.41
Don't worry about it,
we'll take care, we can wait.
00:49:46.44\00:49:49.69
But why not make the decision
00:49:49.72\00:49:50.98
on the cusp of the
next chapter of your life.
00:49:51.01\00:49:53.65
Over here in this little box,
00:49:53.68\00:49:54.82
I want to begin a relationship
with Jesus, check there.
00:49:54.85\00:49:56.80
I want information
on baptism, check there.
00:49:56.83\00:49:58.57
We'll get the
information to you,
00:49:58.60\00:49:59.86
we have to have
your e-mail address
00:49:59.89\00:50:01.34
but we will get the
information to you. Why wait?
00:50:01.37\00:50:05.54
Why not in this last moment
00:50:05.57\00:50:06.85
make it the first
moment, you and Jesus?
00:50:06.88\00:50:09.43
Whether you've walked
with Him all your life
00:50:09.46\00:50:11.38
or you're saying I
want to start a new chapter?
00:50:11.41\00:50:14.09
In fact here's how
I want to end today.
00:50:14.12\00:50:15.88
You don't do this
with the connect card
00:50:15.91\00:50:17.33
but I'm doing it today.
00:50:17.36\00:50:19.15
I want to sing a little chorus
00:50:19.18\00:50:20.31
and I want to invite
you if you're student.
00:50:20.34\00:50:22.44
To commit yourself to
walking with the same Jesus.
00:50:24.51\00:50:30.47
Bring a card, you
turn in just a second
00:50:30.50\00:50:32.90
but just hold
your card with you.
00:50:32.93\00:50:35.59
Would you mind coming forward
00:50:35.62\00:50:36.65
and let me have
a prayer with you,
00:50:36.68\00:50:38.00
a prayer that sends us out.
00:50:38.03\00:50:40.68
We're gonna sing
a chorus, you know,
00:50:40.71\00:50:41.74
this I have
decided, you know that one?
00:50:41.77\00:50:44.59
Yeah, lets sing that together.
00:50:44.62\00:50:45.98
And while we're
singing if you're student,
00:50:46.01\00:50:49.22
chaplain Jose has already
mentioned the categories here,
00:50:49.25\00:50:52.11
but you know what if you're
a student at the University,
00:50:52.14\00:50:54.20
undergraduate,
graduate, it doesn't matter.
00:50:54.23\00:50:57.00
I'm gonna invite the
others in a moment to join you,
00:50:57.03\00:50:58.75
but I'm gonna invite you first.
00:50:58.78\00:51:00.54
Would you mind
just coming forward
00:51:00.57\00:51:01.68
and let's have a
prayer right here.
00:51:01.71\00:51:03.41
I'm gonna start singing
and as we sing bless you.
00:51:03.44\00:51:06.55
As we sing come
forward, all right.
00:51:06.58\00:51:08.61
I have decided to follow Jesus
00:51:08.64\00:51:15.74
I have decided to follow Jesus
00:51:15.77\00:51:23.30
I have decided to follow Jesus
00:51:23.33\00:51:30.04
No turning back, no turning back
00:51:30.07\00:51:37.49
You're sitting in
the balcony, good,
00:51:37.52\00:51:38.81
I see some of you
going for the stair,
00:51:38.84\00:51:40.09
come on down, just come on down.
00:51:40.12\00:51:41.41
This is a rap moment,
00:51:41.44\00:51:42.63
you're in the overflow,
you come as well if you like.
00:51:42.66\00:51:45.94
If you're student particularly,
00:51:45.97\00:51:47.31
if you're a student
undergraduate or graduate,
00:51:47.34\00:51:51.17
come to the one
who says you follow Me.
00:51:51.20\00:51:56.17
Though no one join
me, yet I will follow,
00:51:56.20\00:51:58.08
let's sing that.
00:51:58.11\00:51:59.14
Though no one join
me, yet I will follow
00:51:59.17\00:52:06.19
Though no one join
me, yet I will follow
00:52:06.22\00:52:14.09
Though no one join
me, yet I will follow
00:52:14.12\00:52:21.36
No turning back, no turning back
00:52:21.39\00:52:29.14
Before we sing one more stanza,
00:52:29.17\00:52:31.61
some of you have not
come to Jesus before.
00:52:31.64\00:52:36.39
I'd love to have you today
00:52:36.42\00:52:38.43
with this connect card
make that connection to Christ.
00:52:38.46\00:52:41.79
If not been baptized,
00:52:41.82\00:52:44.15
you don't have to wait to
be an old man, elderly woman.
00:52:44.18\00:52:50.19
You can make a decision,
00:52:50.22\00:52:52.43
all the energy of
your young adulthood
00:52:52.46\00:52:54.73
but you'll make it for Christ.
00:52:54.76\00:52:56.06
You will never be
simpler than today.
00:52:56.09\00:52:59.67
If you need to
check one of those boxes,
00:52:59.70\00:53:01.13
I wish you do it right now.
00:53:01.16\00:53:03.77
And bring the box with you,
00:53:03.80\00:53:04.83
we're gonna sing one
more stanza, come on up.
00:53:04.86\00:53:07.47
And you who are here just
go and pull it up all the way,
00:53:07.50\00:53:09.69
come right up to the stairs
00:53:09.72\00:53:10.75
'cause we have
people behind you.
00:53:10.78\00:53:12.29
Come right in, bless you.
00:53:12.32\00:53:13.98
And let's sing, how it's go,
00:53:14.01\00:53:15.52
the cross before
me, the world behind me.
00:53:15.55\00:53:18.02
All right, let's do that.
00:53:18.05\00:53:19.08
The cross before
me, the world behind me
00:53:19.11\00:53:26.79
The cross before
me, the world behind me
00:53:26.82\00:53:34.79
The cross before
me, the world behind me
00:53:34.82\00:53:42.69
No turning back, no turning back
00:53:42.72\00:53:50.69
And how about the rest of us,
00:53:51.75\00:53:53.08
this is a
perfect time for us too
00:53:53.11\00:53:56.55
to make the commitment.
00:53:56.58\00:53:57.79
You know what Jesus,
You said you follow Me,
00:53:57.82\00:54:01.18
I will by Your grace follow
You, wherever You lead me.
00:54:01.21\00:54:05.10
Wherever the next chapter is
00:54:05.13\00:54:06.73
I'm with You
and You are with me.
00:54:06.76\00:54:10.29
You want to join these who have
made their confession clear.
00:54:10.32\00:54:13.70
Stand to your feet, you
can't crawl in the aisle now
00:54:13.73\00:54:16.11
but just stand to your
feet if you wish to say Jesus,
00:54:16.14\00:54:19.13
count me in on this.
00:54:19.16\00:54:20.88
You said, you
follow Me, I follow You.
00:54:20.91\00:54:25.38
Oh, Christ, risen
Lord, soon coming Savior
00:54:29.83\00:54:36.23
two millennia have fled by
00:54:36.26\00:54:39.12
since that fireside
moment by the Galilee.
00:54:39.15\00:54:46.59
But somehow amazingly it says
if you're calling us right now.
00:54:46.62\00:54:54.23
Do you love Me?
00:54:54.26\00:54:56.34
Do you really? Then follow Me.
00:54:56.37\00:55:01.25
And so we've responded,
00:55:01.28\00:55:02.36
these who have come forward
and now filling the aisles.
00:55:02.39\00:55:05.07
Oh, Christ Jesus,
seal that decision,
00:55:05.10\00:55:09.10
they go out a committed
man, a committed woman to You.
00:55:09.13\00:55:14.30
Hold on to that commitment.
00:55:14.33\00:55:16.47
Fresh way to focus on You,
00:55:16.50\00:55:17.98
every day of
summer, send that to them.
00:55:18.01\00:55:22.65
Make it the chapter that's
been waiting to be written.
00:55:22.68\00:55:26.68
And dear God,
some are saying I come,
00:55:26.71\00:55:30.45
I want to follow
into the Jordan River
00:55:30.48\00:55:32.71
with Christ Jesus my
Lord, seal that decision.
00:55:32.74\00:55:37.09
How many weeks
that go by between now
00:55:37.12\00:55:39.43
and the ratification of
that decision stay close,
00:55:39.46\00:55:42.84
hold her close, hold him close.
00:55:42.87\00:55:46.14
But we stand because we wish
00:55:46.17\00:55:47.92
in solidarity
release to share the journey.
00:55:47.95\00:55:52.12
Some of us are
nearing our last breath.
00:55:52.15\00:55:55.59
We can't yet say
how it is we will die.
00:55:55.62\00:55:59.00
But Jesus, if You
don't come soon, we will die.
00:55:59.03\00:56:03.70
But when that moment
comes, please hold our hand.
00:56:03.73\00:56:10.74
And we will follow You
straight into eternity one day
00:56:10.77\00:56:14.79
on that resurrection morning.
00:56:14.82\00:56:16.83
Seal it all Jesus, seal it all.
00:56:16.86\00:56:20.48
We pray in Your name. Amen.
00:56:20.51\00:56:23.56
I'd like to take a moment
here at the end of the service
00:56:25.56\00:56:27.43
to tell you
about one of the most
00:56:27.46\00:56:28.49
important groups of people that
make this ministry possible.
00:56:28.52\00:56:32.93
They're team of
people, they're not afraid
00:56:32.96\00:56:35.03
to get down into
the thick of life itself
00:56:35.06\00:56:38.17
which is why
you're gonna find them,
00:56:38.20\00:56:39.34
you will find them
moving forward on their knees.
00:56:39.37\00:56:42.60
They are our prayer partners.
00:56:42.63\00:56:44.41
A group of men and
women and young adults
00:56:44.44\00:56:47.49
who believe that this
humble television ministry
00:56:47.52\00:56:50.40
has been raised up by
God for such a time as this.
00:56:50.43\00:56:52.85
And so they pray earnestly
that God will use the preacher.
00:56:52.88\00:56:55.81
And God will use me
00:56:55.84\00:56:57.00
and God will use the
countless other volunteers
00:56:57.03\00:56:59.79
to spread the everlasting
Gospel and the word of God
00:56:59.82\00:57:02.67
in ways we could
never have imagined before.
00:57:02.70\00:57:05.39
They're the ones who are praying
00:57:05.42\00:57:06.80
that God is gonna open
up the hearts of people,
00:57:06.83\00:57:10.04
open up the hearts of viewers
around the world for the message
00:57:10.07\00:57:13.59
the critical message for
this end time generation.
00:57:13.62\00:57:17.68
And what I like
to do is ask you,
00:57:17.71\00:57:19.94
would you be willing to
be a prayer partner with us?
00:57:19.97\00:57:22.65
A prayer partner
with New Perceptions.
00:57:22.68\00:57:24.23
You don't have to
call a toll free number,
00:57:24.26\00:57:26.00
you don't have to
go online to register.
00:57:26.03\00:57:27.95
All I need to know
is that you'd be willing
00:57:27.98\00:57:30.67
to lift this little ministry
up day after day after day.
00:57:30.70\00:57:36.57
Pray that somehow through radio
and television and the web,
00:57:36.60\00:57:40.34
God will open up new
doors, new regions on earth
00:57:40.37\00:57:44.98
where the everlasting
gospel can be proclaimed.
00:57:45.01\00:57:47.40
There is no
question, the power of prayer
00:57:47.43\00:57:49.82
has potential to take
this ministry to places
00:57:49.85\00:57:52.18
we could never
have imagined before.
00:57:52.21\00:57:55.14
So that's it, would
you please be willing
00:57:55.17\00:57:58.02
to partner with me in prayer.
00:57:58.05\00:57:59.78
The times are
urgent, the need is critical.
00:57:59.81\00:58:03.52
And I hope you will say yes.
00:58:03.55\00:58:05.31
Until we're together next time,
00:58:05.34\00:58:07.31
may the prayer
answering God accompany you
00:58:07.34\00:58:10.45
every step of the way.
00:58:10.48\00:58:12.52