He is my salvation
from sorrow and sin
00:00:28.07\00:00:32.94
This blessed
persuasion the Spirit brings in
00:00:32.97\00:00:38.61
The lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:00:38.64\00:00:44.83
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:00:44.86\00:00:50.66
The Lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:00:50.69\00:00:56.45
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:00:56.48\00:01:04.43
The Lord is my light,
though clouds may arise
00:01:04.46\00:01:10.13
Faith, stronger than
sight, looks up to the skies
00:01:10.16\00:01:15.88
Where Jesus
forever in glory doth reign
00:01:15.91\00:01:21.64
Then how can I
ever in darkness remain?
00:01:21.67\00:01:27.51
The lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:01:27.54\00:01:33.93
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:01:33.96\00:01:40.01
The lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:01:40.04\00:01:45.50
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:01:45.53\00:01:53.43
The Lord is my light,
the Lord is my strength
00:01:53.46\00:01:59.11
I know in His might
I'll conquer at length
00:01:59.14\00:02:04.39
My weakness in
mercy He covers with power
00:02:04.42\00:02:10.60
And, walking by faith,
He upholds me each hour
00:02:10.63\00:02:16.57
The Lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:02:16.60\00:02:22.36
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:02:22.39\00:02:28.60
The lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:02:28.63\00:02:34.07
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:02:34.10\00:02:42.06
The Lord is my
light, my all in all
00:02:42.09\00:02:48.32
There is in His
sight no darkness at all
00:02:48.35\00:02:53.93
He is my
Redeemer, my Savior and King
00:02:53.96\00:02:59.89
With saints and with
angels His praises I sing
00:02:59.92\00:03:05.62
The Lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:03:05.65\00:03:11.47
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:03:11.50\00:03:17.51
The Lord is my
light, my joy, and my song
00:03:17.54\00:03:23.38
By day and by
night He leads me along
00:03:23.41\00:03:30.22
In my blog today I
report on the recent pew forum
00:03:34.48\00:03:40.01
on religion and
public life survey
00:03:40.04\00:03:43.89
that discovered that over
one half of American adults
00:03:43.92\00:03:50.09
have changed their religion.
00:03:50.12\00:03:54.14
Amazing. One half, over a half.
00:03:54.17\00:03:58.16
Today, I want to
have conversation
00:03:58.19\00:04:00.56
with two of those adults
00:04:00.59\00:04:03.52
who happen to be
husband and wife,
00:04:03.55\00:04:06.70
who have changed their religion.
00:04:06.73\00:04:10.29
I met these two,
two Novembers ago
00:04:10.32\00:04:15.72
after giving a public lecture
in the beautiful Century Center
00:04:15.75\00:04:18.97
down in South
Bend one night event
00:04:19.00\00:04:23.90
and they had a story.
00:04:23.93\00:04:25.06
I want to hear their story.
00:04:25.09\00:04:26.92
So I'm gonna
invite them to come up
00:04:26.95\00:04:28.11
and join me now, Herb
and the Nanette Gundt.
00:04:28.14\00:04:34.60
Thirty five minutes
from your home in South Bend.
00:04:34.63\00:04:39.09
That's a long drive early in
the morning, wouldn't you say?
00:04:39.12\00:04:41.73
Yes. Coming here
Nanette, bless you.
00:04:41.76\00:04:44.96
So Herb, tell me how you
really feel about televangelist?
00:04:44.99\00:04:52.22
Well, I used to
ridicule and make fun
00:04:52.25\00:04:58.53
of evangelist that I
always see on television.
00:04:58.56\00:05:04.52
Obviously, I didn't
hold them in high regard.
00:05:04.55\00:05:07.45
So one Sunday, see,
if I have this straight,
00:05:07.48\00:05:10.30
so one Sunday you
are channel surfing,
00:05:10.33\00:05:13.29
Nan's out of the house
00:05:13.32\00:05:14.35
and you are just moving
around and what happened?
00:05:14.38\00:05:17.36
I stumbled on
the New Perceptions
00:05:17.39\00:05:19.74
television program,
which was right here.
00:05:19.77\00:05:24.42
Right. In this facility
and listened to your message.
00:05:24.45\00:05:29.51
And for whatever
reason I was attracted
00:05:29.54\00:05:34.29
to what I was
hearing and Sunday after that
00:05:34.32\00:05:38.84
I found my way
back to the same program
00:05:38.87\00:05:43.55
and then the Sunday after that
and I became a regular viewer
00:05:43.58\00:05:48.35
and I found that what
I was hearing ring true.
00:05:48.38\00:05:54.96
And Nan, you kind of drawn
into that same Sunday apparent,
00:05:54.99\00:05:59.80
Sundays at
noon, Channel 46 WHME,
00:05:59.83\00:06:02.68
our New Perceptions telecast.
00:06:02.71\00:06:04.36
So months go by
and in October of 2007,
00:06:07.39\00:06:10.76
I started we put this
little clip on at the end
00:06:10.79\00:06:13.25
of our telecast talking
about an event Century Center,
00:06:13.28\00:06:16.12
Century Center come on down.
00:06:16.15\00:06:18.20
The lecture was
a new way to pray.
00:06:18.23\00:06:20.92
And lo and behold,
both of you came down.
00:06:20.95\00:06:23.99
What gave you the courage
00:06:24.02\00:06:25.81
and attitude to
just kind of step out
00:06:25.84\00:06:27.50
and drive on down
to Centuries Center?
00:06:27.53\00:06:30.10
It's just felt right.
00:06:30.13\00:06:32.14
We had heard the
message through the television
00:06:32.17\00:06:36.18
and I feel that the Holy
Spirit guided us into attending.
00:06:36.21\00:06:42.86
Now I need to
tell you pioneer family
00:06:42.89\00:06:47.02
that we were in the
thick in the fall of '07
00:06:47.05\00:06:49.87
in a series called The Chosen.
00:06:49.90\00:06:51.47
We're tracking
the children of Israel
00:06:51.50\00:06:53.76
through the 40
years in the wilderness
00:06:53.79\00:06:55.73
and it just so
happen that Sunday
00:06:55.76\00:06:58.48
after our Saturday night
together in century center
00:06:58.51\00:07:02.79
the telecast was entitled,
00:07:02.82\00:07:04.63
"How Much of
Naked is Acceptable?"
00:07:04.66\00:07:08.61
That's kind of great
way to follow up of it,
00:07:08.64\00:07:11.40
our Saturday tonight contact.
00:07:11.43\00:07:13.73
And of course I got
a-- we have a congregation
00:07:13.76\00:07:16.44
full of young
adults and we talking about
00:07:16.47\00:07:18.88
how much clothing
or the lack there of
00:07:18.91\00:07:20.64
this generation is wearing
00:07:20.67\00:07:22.55
and we talked about
the children of Israel
00:07:22.58\00:07:24.99
and there at the
foot of Mount Sinai,
00:07:25.02\00:07:26.67
the spiritual
revival and they strip
00:07:26.70\00:07:28.71
all their jewelry
off, you remember that?
00:07:28.74\00:07:31.56
So, when Herb tells you
to listen to it, Nanette,
00:07:31.59\00:07:35.26
and you do, what
thought crosses your mind?
00:07:35.29\00:07:37.62
Well, I had worn
jewelry to the event in,
00:07:37.65\00:07:44.21
I was totally
ashamed at what I had done,
00:07:44.24\00:07:47.09
and I couldn't sleep.
00:07:47.12\00:07:50.00
I just fell very shameful.
00:07:50.03\00:07:51.90
So what you do about it?
00:07:51.93\00:07:54.20
Well, we prayed and then
we wrote a letter to you.
00:07:54.23\00:07:58.83
Yeah.
00:07:58.86\00:07:59.95
So I tell you
what, you want to know
00:07:59.98\00:08:02.09
who felt the worst of
the three of us upfront?
00:08:02.12\00:08:05.75
So I get this
email from this woman
00:08:05.78\00:08:08.33
and I'm thinking I wonder
00:08:08.36\00:08:09.82
because there are number
of people I met that night,
00:08:09.85\00:08:12.74
now would this be that
one, would this be that?
00:08:12.77\00:08:14.65
Was this the couple that
we talk together afterwards?
00:08:14.68\00:08:19.34
And then I
pulled the letter out,
00:08:19.37\00:08:20.94
your letter and response
because I still have them,
00:08:20.97\00:08:24.80
and I just-- as
I'm reading this email
00:08:24.83\00:08:27.88
I'm backpedaling all over
the place, hey, now listen,
00:08:27.91\00:08:31.04
listen let me tell you
about this congregation,
00:08:31.07\00:08:32.97
let me tell you
about our faith community
00:08:33.00\00:08:35.36
and that is not
something we focused on
00:08:35.39\00:08:38.71
but we are into
controversial subject matter
00:08:38.74\00:08:41.06
for young adults and on
and on and on and you asked--
00:08:41.09\00:08:44.31
you had a question on
new way to pray as well.
00:08:44.34\00:08:47.92
So I write back
and the last line
00:08:47.95\00:08:50.55
and I'm
convinced now Nan and Herb
00:08:50.58\00:08:52.99
that the Holy Spirit
used you to see the program.
00:08:53.02\00:08:55.53
Say, hey, Nan,
listen to this thing
00:08:55.56\00:08:57.65
then you'll say, well, I
got to write an apologize
00:08:57.68\00:09:00.20
which you, of course,
didn't have to do it all.
00:09:00.23\00:09:03.85
But the whole-- God used that,
00:09:03.88\00:09:06.32
because now I get the letter,
00:09:06.35\00:09:07.85
I shoot the letter
back and at the very bottom
00:09:07.88\00:09:11.47
I say, you know
sometime the three of us
00:09:11.50\00:09:13.54
will have to get
together and we'll talk.
00:09:13.57\00:09:16.82
And then, Nan, get
it email back for me,
00:09:16.85\00:09:18.54
yeah, let's do that sometime.
00:09:18.57\00:09:20.25
And that was right
at Thanksgiving time
00:09:20.28\00:09:21.69
and Christmas was coming,
so we put everything on hold
00:09:21.72\00:09:24.03
till after the New year
00:09:24.06\00:09:25.60
and because of your
graciousness and kindness
00:09:25.63\00:09:27.58
I end up in your
home, sitting right there
00:09:27.61\00:09:29.69
in your family room at the
table and we begin studying
00:09:29.72\00:09:35.21
using the
Discover Bible study guides
00:09:35.24\00:09:36.70
which we offer on our program
at the end of every program.
00:09:36.73\00:09:40.90
So Herb, what did you think,
00:09:40.93\00:09:43.06
I mean here we're
getting into the word together.
00:09:43.09\00:09:45.28
You hadn't been to
church in centuries
00:09:45.31\00:09:47.88
and now we're into, well
not that long you understand.
00:09:47.91\00:09:55.01
We're getting to
there, what were you thinking?
00:09:55.04\00:09:58.12
Well, lot of things really--
00:09:58.15\00:10:03.15
first a lot of work
was old and familiar.
00:10:03.18\00:10:07.66
It was coming back
but at the same time,
00:10:07.69\00:10:12.31
it was realization this
was the beginning of a new path
00:10:12.34\00:10:15.51
and new journey
00:10:15.54\00:10:16.57
and that things
will gonna be different.
00:10:16.60\00:10:24.11
And Nan, for you this
whole question of salvation
00:10:24.14\00:10:28.21
and Jesus as
Savior as friend as Lord
00:10:28.24\00:10:33.06
and that was kind of
some new exploration for you.
00:10:33.09\00:10:36.57
How was your heart responding?
00:10:36.60\00:10:40.08
It absolutely was new,
00:10:40.11\00:10:42.93
I had never looked
at God as my friend
00:10:42.96\00:10:48.40
and I have learned so much,
00:10:48.43\00:10:52.72
it's truly been a blessing.
00:10:52.75\00:10:56.24
Well, it was a treat for
me, because of my crazy schedule
00:10:56.27\00:10:59.17
I mean, we go two or
three weeks at a time without
00:10:59.20\00:11:00.72
getting together
but then we touch base
00:11:00.75\00:11:03.11
and eventually you came up here
00:11:03.14\00:11:04.32
we would have
study in my office here.
00:11:04.35\00:11:07.25
Herb, you made a
statement to me to once
00:11:07.28\00:11:09.53
and what you meant by this or
00:11:09.56\00:11:12.87
I really wanted was the truth?
00:11:12.90\00:11:15.54
That's about as simple
and as basic as it can get.
00:11:15.57\00:11:21.41
You know, all of us here
00:11:21.44\00:11:22.47
know about the
various deceptions
00:11:22.50\00:11:26.01
that are throw in
front of us through life
00:11:26.04\00:11:27.91
and it comes from
all different directions
00:11:27.94\00:11:29.73
and I think all my life
00:11:29.76\00:11:31.90
all I was ever
interested in what was real
00:11:31.93\00:11:34.83
and what was true
00:11:34.86\00:11:36.19
and that's really all I
have been searching for.
00:11:36.22\00:11:41.92
And Nan, we get into this
teaching of the Bible Sabbath
00:11:41.95\00:11:46.25
the Seventh-day
Sabbath, and we get into--
00:11:46.28\00:11:48.38
I mean, we spend several
weeks thanking and praying,
00:11:48.41\00:11:52.83
I remember one Sabbath
standing their at the back door
00:11:52.86\00:11:55.46
greeting the
worshippers as they were leaving
00:11:55.49\00:11:56.96
and all of a sudden
here you two come walk into
00:11:56.99\00:11:59.55
and I am thinking, good night
here there are, halleluiah.
00:11:59.58\00:12:04.76
Nan, tell us this
Sabbath experience,
00:12:04.79\00:12:08.57
what is that meant for you?
00:12:08.60\00:12:09.77
It has been such a
blessing, I can come home,
00:12:09.80\00:12:15.22
I can dedicate
the Sabbath to God
00:12:15.25\00:12:21.43
and relax and be
recharged, reenergized.
00:12:21.46\00:12:28.07
I can't even describe
what it is done for me.
00:12:28.10\00:12:32.48
I tell its been a joy
for me to watch your journey
00:12:32.51\00:12:35.08
as you've taken steps,
00:12:35.11\00:12:36.93
always in step
with Christ in the word,
00:12:36.96\00:12:40.38
we have been at
this two and half years
00:12:40.41\00:12:41.85
when you do the
arithmetic two and half years
00:12:41.88\00:12:43.54
since we met in
the Century Center
00:12:43.57\00:12:46.11
and can you believe this,
00:12:46.14\00:12:47.32
this is your
baptism Sabbath, halleluiah.
00:12:47.35\00:12:52.46
Nanette, you
sent me an email just,
00:12:52.49\00:12:54.92
I think it was last
week, you said I came home
00:12:54.95\00:12:57.75
and Herb had the
huge smile on his face.
00:12:57.78\00:13:00.10
Well, what's up for that?
00:13:00.13\00:13:01.88
He was just, he was beaming,
00:13:01.91\00:13:03.55
I haven't seen him that happy
00:13:03.58\00:13:07.12
probably since we
took our wedding vows
00:13:07.15\00:13:10.28
and he was on the phone
talking to you about this day
00:13:10.31\00:13:15.97
and it was really good
to see, really good to see.
00:13:16.00\00:13:20.60
I know God has led
your lives, step by step
00:13:20.63\00:13:26.55
and I also know
this is just a beginning.
00:13:26.58\00:13:30.28
I'm thinking God has put you in
South, South Bend for a reason
00:13:30.31\00:13:33.96
and I'm scrambling with
our senior leadership team here
00:13:33.99\00:13:36.78
and I said okay,
00:13:36.81\00:13:37.89
where are these
two going to find
00:13:37.92\00:13:40.35
of very active niche
in the mission of Christ.
00:13:40.38\00:13:45.22
But I want to tell
you, I want to tell you,
00:13:45.25\00:13:48.71
there surely is
already a network of lives
00:13:48.74\00:13:53.36
that God has on
His little check list,
00:13:53.39\00:13:55.51
okay, Herb,
check, Nanette, check,
00:13:55.54\00:13:57.78
but the names
that follow are names
00:13:57.81\00:14:00.80
God has strategically
placed in your circles.
00:14:00.83\00:14:04.21
You know, I can only,
00:14:04.24\00:14:05.48
I can only wait
with eager anticipation
00:14:05.51\00:14:07.95
for what God is
gonna do to you both.
00:14:07.98\00:14:10.55
Now you're not the
only ones happy today.
00:14:10.58\00:14:12.24
I want to tell you why,
I'm a especially happy today
00:14:12.27\00:14:15.83
and that is these
two individual represent
00:14:15.86\00:14:22.46
the harvest of this
ministry that you and I got into
00:14:22.49\00:14:26.54
about three and half years ago,
00:14:26.57\00:14:29.94
called New Perception
television on Michiana.
00:14:29.97\00:14:33.00
We have been on
global satellite for years
00:14:33.03\00:14:35.30
but we one day
felt we got to making,
00:14:35.33\00:14:38.66
we got to be sharing
the good news right here.
00:14:38.69\00:14:41.81
I want to take a good
look at Herb and Nanette
00:14:41.84\00:14:45.32
because this is what
television ministry is.
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.57
These are the
first I have believe
00:14:47.60\00:14:49.93
there are many other
thinking, men and women
00:14:49.96\00:14:52.17
and young, adults, teenagers
00:14:52.20\00:14:53.51
and in Michiana who are
open to the tug of the Spirit.
00:14:53.54\00:14:58.72
And I want to see you
tell these two, dear people
00:14:58.75\00:15:01.37
how glad you're, that they today
00:15:01.40\00:15:04.31
they're gonna be
baptize in second service.
00:15:04.34\00:15:06.29
How glad you're
that they have come
00:15:06.32\00:15:09.16
and joined our
community of faith.
00:15:09.19\00:15:11.80
Amen and amen.
00:15:11.83\00:15:15.00
God bless you both.
00:15:15.03\00:15:16.07
I'm so proud of you
and so happy for you.
00:15:16.10\00:15:18.73
Thank you for
sharing your story.
00:15:18.76\00:15:22.15
Halleluiah.
00:15:22.18\00:15:23.38
Herb we're celebrating with you.
00:15:31.83\00:15:35.43
We are so happy for your both,
00:15:35.46\00:15:37.97
I suggest that you can tell
00:15:38.00\00:15:40.07
this is a joyous
day for all of us.
00:15:40.10\00:15:42.94
I can't believe that
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.31
the baptism
Sabbath has finally come.
00:15:44.34\00:15:46.79
After long journey
00:15:46.82\00:15:48.32
but God is been in the
sake of you with you both.
00:15:48.35\00:15:52.82
I'm gonna pray with you now
00:15:52.85\00:15:54.62
and when I do I'm gonna
put my hands on your head
00:15:54.65\00:15:57.69
as a symbol of the Holy Spirit
00:15:57.72\00:16:00.15
who brings a
special gift cluster.
00:16:00.18\00:16:02.84
I'm convinced as I mentioned
in the in our last service
00:16:02.87\00:16:06.70
that God has called you
00:16:06.73\00:16:08.68
for some special
mission at this time
00:16:08.71\00:16:12.67
and I'm excited to see
00:16:12.70\00:16:14.39
when you open
these spiritual gifts
00:16:14.42\00:16:15.69
what is gonna end up being,
00:16:15.72\00:16:17.58
but for sure your
called and you got a mission.
00:16:17.61\00:16:22.36
About our pioneer family
you put your hands together
00:16:22.39\00:16:24.24
and now let's
give that pioneer wave,
00:16:24.27\00:16:26.54
as we welcome them
into our community of faith
00:16:26.57\00:16:30.10
for a journey that who knows,
00:16:30.13\00:16:32.41
who knows how long
the journey is gonna last,
00:16:32.44\00:16:34.53
until Jesus comes of
course and be faithful.
00:16:34.56\00:16:37.74
Four weeks ago if you would
kind of mean say, hey, Dwight,
00:16:58.90\00:17:00.71
which one of these two
animals do you want to be,
00:17:00.74\00:17:02.74
I would made a selection
but now four weeks later
00:17:02.77\00:17:07.35
I know, I would
have changed my answer.
00:17:07.38\00:17:13.44
The reason I would
change my answer now is
00:17:13.47\00:17:15.13
because of what my
friend Bruce Moore sent to me
00:17:15.16\00:17:19.49
three weeks ago.
00:17:19.52\00:17:21.27
He sent me a page from
Joshua Cooper Ramos new book
00:17:21.30\00:17:25.25
"The Age of the Unthinkable."
00:17:25.28\00:17:28.07
The book just came out
00:17:28.10\00:17:31.36
and after reading that page
00:17:31.39\00:17:32.64
I think I would switch.
00:17:32.67\00:17:34.27
Let me give you
little background
00:17:34.30\00:17:35.55
to where we are going.
00:17:35.58\00:17:36.81
The British philosopher
Isaiah Berlin was the one
00:17:36.84\00:17:41.24
who years ago said
the world's thinkers
00:17:41.27\00:17:43.58
can be divided
into two categories,
00:17:43.61\00:17:46.87
there are the hedgehogs thinkers
00:17:46.90\00:17:50.05
those who,
those are the thinkers
00:17:50.08\00:17:51.68
who latch onto one idea
00:17:51.71\00:17:55.65
and stay with it
through their lives
00:17:55.68\00:17:57.06
and then Isaiah Berlin said
there are the fox type thinkers,
00:17:57.09\00:18:01.47
those who the thinkers who
dart from idea to idea to idea.
00:18:01.50\00:18:09.36
Here they are hedgehog, fox.
00:18:09.39\00:18:13.23
I would have said I want to
be a hedgehog a few weeks ago
00:18:13.26\00:18:15.76
but now let me tell
you why I want to be a fox.
00:18:15.79\00:18:18.94
Isaiah Berlin said by the way
00:18:18.97\00:18:20.01
you want examples of
hedgehog, hedgehog thinkers
00:18:20.04\00:18:22.73
these are great names,
Plato, Pascal, Nietzsche.
00:18:22.76\00:18:25.98
These all are
great philosophers.
00:18:26.01\00:18:27.11
You want examples
of fox kind of thinkers
00:18:27.14\00:18:30.29
that would be
Aristotle, Erasmus, and Goethe,
00:18:30.32\00:18:33.08
the German philosopher.
00:18:33.11\00:18:35.59
But then I'm
reading, I'm reading Ramos
00:18:35.62\00:18:38.25
and he begins to describe
a fascinating discovery.
00:18:38.28\00:18:45.26
A political scientist
and psychologist named
00:18:45.29\00:18:47.14
Philip Tetlock teaches
at University of California,
00:18:47.17\00:18:49.94
Berkley discovered
that you could put thinkers
00:18:49.97\00:18:53.11
into this fox
and hedgehog category
00:18:53.14\00:18:56.88
and ascertain their ability
00:18:56.91\00:18:59.37
to prognosticate
about the future,
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.18
their ability to predict.
00:19:01.21\00:19:02.97
Now let me just
begin reading here
00:19:03.00\00:19:05.49
out of Ramos book.
00:19:05.52\00:19:06.97
Tetlock, U.C., Berkley
00:19:07.00\00:19:09.53
and his team interviewed
hundreds of experts on subjects
00:19:09.56\00:19:12.88
such as economics
00:19:12.91\00:19:14.24
international
relations and politics
00:19:14.27\00:19:16.32
and ask them to make prediction
about the short term future
00:19:16.35\00:19:18.73
the next five years.
00:19:18.76\00:19:19.79
What do you things
gonna happen in economic
00:19:19.82\00:19:21.47
that in next five years
and so and so, all right.
00:19:21.50\00:19:23.74
Then they divided
the subjects of the study
00:19:23.77\00:19:26.34
into a number of categories,
optimist and pessimist,
00:19:26.37\00:19:29.55
left and right wing
political persuasion,
00:19:29.58\00:19:32.05
foxes and hedgehogs.
00:19:32.08\00:19:34.73
After sometime Tetlock's
team reviewed prediction sheets
00:19:34.76\00:19:38.60
to see who was most often right.
00:19:38.63\00:19:41.07
They found, now listen up,
00:19:41.10\00:19:42.41
that the only
reliable predictor was the one
00:19:42.44\00:19:45.36
that divided thinkers
into foxes and hedgehogs.
00:19:45.39\00:19:49.39
Low scores,
according to Tetlock,
00:19:49.42\00:19:51.22
now, low scores look like
hedgehogs, he wrote later.
00:19:51.25\00:19:54.32
They are thinkers
who know one big thing
00:19:54.35\00:19:56.27
and aggressively extend
the explanatory reach of that
00:19:56.30\00:19:59.40
one big thing
in the new domains.
00:19:59.43\00:20:01.23
I'm hanging on to
this, I'm hanging on.
00:20:01.26\00:20:03.49
But the high scores he
said, look more like foxes.
00:20:03.52\00:20:07.06
They were skeptical of
easy historical analogy.
00:20:07.09\00:20:09.94
They tended to be more
probabilistic in their thinking
00:20:09.97\00:20:13.07
and they were comfortable
updating their models.
00:20:13.10\00:20:16.22
Now I'm gonna put the
next words on the screen
00:20:16.25\00:20:17.94
because I need you to
follow the logic here.
00:20:17.97\00:20:19.49
Put it on the screen.
00:20:19.52\00:20:20.56
"It wasn't," I'm
reading Ramos now,
00:20:20.59\00:20:22.97
"It wasn't, Tetlock explained,
00:20:23.00\00:20:24.96
that the foxes knew any
more or less about the subject.
00:20:24.99\00:20:27.65
After all, they were experts,
00:20:27.68\00:20:28.99
" they're all experts.
00:20:29.02\00:20:30.22
"It was how they acquired
and updated their knowledge
00:20:30.25\00:20:32.95
that seemed to matter.
00:20:32.98\00:20:34.01
The more
wide-ranging their curiosity,
00:20:34.04\00:20:36.62
the more accurate
they tended to be."
00:20:36.65\00:20:39.08
Now hold on.
00:20:39.11\00:20:40.14
"The problem, he suspected,
was the hedgehog personalities
00:20:40.17\00:20:43.53
were generally very
eager, too eager, for closure.
00:20:43.56\00:20:48.62
They stuck with
one big idea precisely
00:20:48.65\00:20:50.85
because they wanted
to know it completely,
00:20:50.88\00:20:53.09
to have the
sensation of reaching a total
00:20:53.12\00:20:56.75
and final understanding
00:20:56.78\00:20:57.81
as if they had
finished the Saturday
00:20:57.84\00:20:58.87
New York Times
crossword in pen."
00:20:58.90\00:21:01.09
Look at, I did
the whole thing in pen
00:21:01.12\00:21:02.19
and never had a
change in one answer.
00:21:02.22\00:21:03.67
Wow.
00:21:03.70\00:21:06.72
So well, am I
fascinated by this,
00:21:06.75\00:21:11.56
because I'm
wondering, I'm thinking,
00:21:11.59\00:21:14.66
maybe the son's of
Issachar are like foxes.
00:21:14.69\00:21:21.39
Let me explain.
00:21:21.42\00:21:22.57
Open the Bible to our theme text
00:21:22.60\00:21:24.18
will be mini series
just last Sabbath together
00:21:24.21\00:21:26.19
open the Bible to
1 Chronicles 12:32.
00:21:26.22\00:21:30.57
I want to, I want to
kind of brood over this
00:21:30.60\00:21:33.06
with you for a moment.
00:21:33.09\00:21:34.14
Old Testament, 1
Chronicles Chapter 12
00:21:34.17\00:21:36.93
this is
fascinating, if you didn't--
00:21:36.96\00:21:38.78
by the way you
didn't bring a Bible
00:21:38.81\00:21:39.90
grab the pew Bible
right in front of you.
00:21:39.93\00:21:41.28
Let me give you the
page number be page 285.
00:21:41.31\00:21:44.50
Pew Bibles in the
New King James Version,
00:21:44.53\00:21:46.47
that is the translation,
00:21:46.50\00:21:47.96
I'll be reading
from this morning
00:21:47.99\00:21:49.48
all right.
00:21:49.51\00:21:51.13
1 Chronicles Chapter 12,
and list of the tribes how many,
00:21:51.16\00:21:54.59
how may soldiers
00:21:54.62\00:21:57.24
they contributed to
the new king David's army?
00:21:57.27\00:21:59.23
Well we're gonna
skip the rest of the tribe
00:21:59.26\00:22:00.83
because we got a
very small tribe here
00:22:00.86\00:22:02.65
they are called Issachar.
00:22:02.68\00:22:04.10
Notice how they are,
00:22:04.13\00:22:05.62
how their identification
marker is established.
00:22:05.65\00:22:08.28
Watch this, 1 Chronicles12:32,
and "Of the sons of Issachar
00:22:08.31\00:22:14.34
who had
understanding of the times,
00:22:14.37\00:22:17.85
to know what Israel ought to do,
00:22:17.88\00:22:20.13
their chiefs were two hundred
and all their brethren were
00:22:20.16\00:22:22.19
at their command."
00:22:22.22\00:22:23.25
Small tribe but a fascinating
identification marker.
00:22:23.28\00:22:27.23
Did you catch that marker?
00:22:27.26\00:22:28.29
Let me put it on
the screen for you.
00:22:28.32\00:22:29.81
Number one, They
understood the times, okay.
00:22:29.84\00:22:34.89
And as a consequence number two,
00:22:34.92\00:22:36.85
they knew what
Israel ought to do.
00:22:36.88\00:22:40.29
Were calling it
the Issachar factor.
00:22:40.32\00:22:42.89
Small little tribe that we
met for the first and last week,
00:22:42.92\00:22:46.54
I believe-- hey,
here's where I'm going.
00:22:46.57\00:22:48.18
I'm suggesting they are
best described as foxes.
00:22:48.21\00:22:55.24
Let's go back to that Joshua
00:22:55.27\00:22:58.40
Cooper Ramos
quotation for a moment.
00:22:58.43\00:23:00.06
Grab your study guide.
00:23:00.09\00:23:01.17
I want you to take a look at it.
00:23:01.20\00:23:02.23
I'm much close to
look at that one quotation
00:23:02.26\00:23:03.60
we put up on the screen.
00:23:03.63\00:23:04.66
Grab your study guide
00:23:04.69\00:23:05.76
it should be tucked away
in your worship bulletin.
00:23:05.79\00:23:07.58
If you didn't get a
study guide holds your hands up
00:23:07.61\00:23:09.74
our friendly ushers
are coming your way up
00:23:09.77\00:23:11.28
in the balcony as well.
00:23:11.31\00:23:12.34
Just hold your hands up,
00:23:12.37\00:23:13.95
glad to have you here today
00:23:13.98\00:23:15.01
just ask, just keep the hand up
00:23:15.04\00:23:16.69
and we'll get
that study guide to you
00:23:16.72\00:23:18.25
and we're
delighted have those of you
00:23:18.28\00:23:19.70
who are joining us
on television today,
00:23:19.73\00:23:21.81
you can have
the same study guide
00:23:21.84\00:23:23.16
let me put it on
the screen for you,
00:23:23.19\00:23:24.44
so that you know
what you looking for.
00:23:24.47\00:23:26.36
You're looking
for this mini series
00:23:26.39\00:23:27.87
we're plunging in to
part two of this mini series.
00:23:27.90\00:23:30.75
You see I there
in your screen now,
00:23:30.78\00:23:31.91
the Issachar Factor.
00:23:31.94\00:23:34.09
Fascinating line
from ancient scripture,
00:23:34.12\00:23:38.42
that has strong application
for generation today.
00:23:38.45\00:23:40.81
The Issachar Factor,
00:23:40.84\00:23:41.87
we're plunging
now into part two,
00:23:41.90\00:23:43.82
when you find part two
it will say study guide,
00:23:43.85\00:23:45.68
you click on the study guide
00:23:45.71\00:23:46.74
you'll have the
same study guide we have
00:23:46.77\00:23:48.60
and you get this
Joshua Cooper Ramos quotation.
00:23:48.63\00:23:52.34
You want that
quotation, all right.
00:23:52.37\00:23:55.53
Everybody have a
study guide? Good.
00:23:55.56\00:23:56.90
Let's go.
00:23:56.93\00:23:58.46
Were the children of Israel--
children of Issachar rather,
00:23:58.49\00:24:01.00
more like foxes than hedgehogs?
00:24:01.03\00:24:02.42
I'm suggesting they are.
00:24:02.45\00:24:03.48
Let's read that
again fill it in,
00:24:03.51\00:24:04.97
"It wasn't Tetlock,
00:24:05.00\00:24:06.70
" University of
California Berkley.
00:24:06.73\00:24:08.46
It wasn't the professor
"explained that the foxes,
00:24:08.49\00:24:12.08
" write that down,
those are the one's
00:24:12.11\00:24:13.97
whose predictions
scores were the highest,
00:24:14.00\00:24:15.75
they knew had a read the times.
00:24:15.78\00:24:17.72
It wasn't that they were,
00:24:17.75\00:24:19.05
that they "knew any more
or less about the subject.
00:24:19.08\00:24:21.78
After all, they
were experts, too.
00:24:21.81\00:24:23.80
It was how the foxes acquired
00:24:23.83\00:24:25.93
and updated their
knowledge that seemed to matter.
00:24:25.96\00:24:28.25
The more
wide-ranging their curiosity,
00:24:28.28\00:24:30.49
" that's a
keyword write that down.
00:24:30.52\00:24:32.37
That's the word I want to have,
00:24:32.40\00:24:33.63
I want to become curious.
00:24:33.66\00:24:35.87
"The more
wide-ranging their curiosity
00:24:35.90\00:24:38.75
the more accurate
they tended to be,
00:24:38.78\00:24:41.72
the problem, he
suspected, was the hedgehog,"
00:24:41.75\00:24:45.34
write that in "the
hedgehog personalities
00:24:45.37\00:24:47.82
were generally very
eager, too eager, for closure.
00:24:47.85\00:24:51.92
They stuck with
one big idea precisely
00:24:51.95\00:24:54.53
because they wanted
to know it completely,
00:24:54.56\00:24:56.75
to have the
sensation of reaching a total
00:24:56.78\00:24:58.36
and final understanding
00:24:58.39\00:24:59.74
as if they had
finished the Saturday
00:24:59.77\00:25:01.28
New York Times
crossword in pen."
00:25:01.31\00:25:03.79
Wow. I got it all.
00:25:03.82\00:25:05.44
Never had a change my view once.
00:25:05.47\00:25:10.35
What's that have to do
with the Issachar Factor, a lot.
00:25:10.38\00:25:14.20
Keep your pen
moving, jot it down.
00:25:14.23\00:25:15.63
"Tetlock's research reveals
that the highest predictor
00:25:15.66\00:25:18.40
for
'understanding of the times,'"
00:25:18.43\00:25:19.63
remember Issachar's
able understand the time,
00:25:19.66\00:25:21.64
the highest predictor.
00:25:21.67\00:25:22.99
"Is a wide-ranging
and probing curiosity
00:25:23.02\00:25:25.83
that drives thinkers to acquire
00:25:25.86\00:25:27.86
and update their knowledge."
00:25:27.89\00:25:30.24
Leading me to wonder out loud
00:25:30.27\00:25:31.39
could that be one of
the critical factors,
00:25:31.42\00:25:33.84
one of the critical components
to these son's of Issachar.
00:25:33.87\00:25:36.90
What made them with
this uncanny ability
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.80
to discern what is
still come and down the line
00:25:39.83\00:25:42.92
and then to know how to respond?
00:25:42.95\00:25:45.19
Could it be that this--
this sense of what's coming,
00:25:45.22\00:25:50.50
comes from a
wide-ranging curiosity
00:25:50.53\00:25:52.85
and could it be that those
00:25:52.88\00:25:53.91
who are the spiritual
descendants of Issachar
00:25:53.94\00:25:55.91
we who want the Issachar Factor
00:25:55.94\00:25:58.02
could it be that
will be our key too.
00:25:58.05\00:26:00.31
In fact, jot
this down. Will you?
00:26:00.34\00:26:01.70
"The Issachar Factor is the
gift of an unusual discernment"
00:26:01.73\00:26:06.39
unlike we're not
gonna impact that.
00:26:06.42\00:26:07.45
That was last week,
If you miss last week
00:26:07.48\00:26:08.96
go back to that
website download it.
00:26:08.99\00:26:11.06
You can listen to
that in your leisure.
00:26:11.09\00:26:12.46
You got to have part one as
we build on it for part two.
00:26:12.49\00:26:15.66
Okay, so last week
was about discernment.
00:26:15.69\00:26:17.94
"The Issachar Factor
is the gift of an unusual
00:26:17.97\00:26:20.51
discernment of the
times that is predicated
00:26:20.54\00:26:23.62
upon a wide-ranging
curiosity of the trends."
00:26:23.65\00:26:27.98
That's what I want to
talk to you about today.
00:26:28.01\00:26:29.23
I want to think
about these trends.
00:26:29.26\00:26:32.62
I want to think
about the trends,
00:26:32.65\00:26:34.18
because this is not amazing.
00:26:34.21\00:26:35.24
You think about
this, it's no accident.
00:26:35.27\00:26:37.77
I would suggest
00:26:37.80\00:26:38.83
that when Christ decided
to line up for His disciples,
00:26:38.86\00:26:43.09
He said, I'm gonna
give you the human,
00:26:43.12\00:26:44.45
I'm gonna give you
the human societal trends
00:26:44.48\00:26:48.27
that will peak simultaneously,
just before I return.
00:26:48.30\00:26:52.01
Last week
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.33
He calls them the
"Signs of the times."
00:26:54.36\00:26:56.00
Those are His words.
00:26:56.03\00:26:57.06
He said hey, guys,
00:26:57.09\00:26:58.12
you can read the
signs of the sky.
00:26:58.15\00:26:59.39
Red skies at
night sailors delight,
00:26:59.42\00:27:00.89
reds skies in the
morning sailors take warning.
00:27:00.92\00:27:02.82
By the way those
are Christ words.
00:27:02.85\00:27:05.22
He said you can read
the signs of the sky,
00:27:05.25\00:27:06.81
why can't you read
the signs of the times.
00:27:06.84\00:27:10.34
I'm wondering
perhaps it is no accident
00:27:10.37\00:27:13.42
that when Jesus string
these together in gospels,
00:27:13.45\00:27:16.67
we don't have, we
don't have a one trend list,
00:27:16.70\00:27:20.36
we have a strange of trends.
00:27:20.39\00:27:22.84
He is thinking like a fox,
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.78
He is putting
the trends together.
00:27:24.81\00:27:26.62
When you see all these
ascending together look out,
00:27:26.65\00:27:31.22
I'm about to return.
00:27:31.25\00:27:33.37
In fact, I want to take you to,
00:27:33.40\00:27:35.32
what some scholars
call the Little Apocalypse.
00:27:35.35\00:27:39.17
Matthew 24, go, go.
00:27:39.20\00:27:40.62
We were in the Old Testament now
00:27:40.65\00:27:41.68
let's go to the New Testament.
00:27:41.71\00:27:42.98
Here is Jesus great
signs of the times chapter.
00:27:43.01\00:27:47.76
This is amazing,
00:27:47.79\00:27:48.88
I want you to
take a look at this.
00:27:48.91\00:27:50.43
kind of brood, keeping
the brooding going with me.
00:27:50.46\00:27:53.49
Matthew 24:3 sets us up.
00:27:53.52\00:27:56.86
We want to know,
00:27:56.89\00:27:59.37
we want to understand the times.
00:27:59.40\00:28:00.83
In fact, the
disciples had a little bit
00:28:00.86\00:28:02.01
of the Issachar factor in them,
00:28:02.04\00:28:03.47
because they come
with Jesus here in verse 3
00:28:03.50\00:28:05.05
let's read it here.
00:28:05.08\00:28:06.11
"Now as Jesus sat
on the Mount of Olives,
00:28:06.14\00:28:08.17
the disciples
came to Him privately,
00:28:08.20\00:28:11.08
saying 'Tell us,
when these things be?
00:28:11.11\00:28:14.03
And what would be their sign'"
00:28:14.06\00:28:15.14
here we go now,
00:28:15.17\00:28:16.20
"'what will be the
sign of Your coming
00:28:16.23\00:28:18.76
and of the end of the age?'"
00:28:18.79\00:28:22.94
Tell us, we want
that Issachar Factor.
00:28:22.97\00:28:26.26
Jesus, all right.
00:28:26.29\00:28:27.93
Verse 4 "And Jesus
answered and said to them,
00:28:27.96\00:28:29.87
'Take heed that no
one deceives you.'"
00:28:29.90\00:28:33.37
Now he could
have-- he could have
00:28:33.40\00:28:34.46
put the period right there.
00:28:34.49\00:28:35.77
Say, okay that's,
00:28:35.80\00:28:37.00
I've give you
one big hedgehog sign
00:28:37.03\00:28:39.39
this thing is
gonna grow over centuries
00:28:39.42\00:28:40.72
but when that is
huge then you know.
00:28:40.75\00:28:43.87
But He doesn't do it.
00:28:43.90\00:28:46.22
He goes on unless
seven global trends.
00:28:46.25\00:28:51.43
I'll tell you what,
00:28:51.46\00:28:52.79
for a preacher
it is very tempting.
00:28:52.82\00:28:56.41
Tonight I only
give you these some
00:28:56.44\00:28:57.66
but comment on them as we go.
00:28:57.69\00:28:58.99
I cannot do it.
00:28:59.02\00:29:00.05
I'm on a rapid fire
sequence here they come.
00:29:00.08\00:29:02.81
Notice his fox like thinking.
00:29:02.84\00:29:04.45
He says watch for
these seven trends
00:29:04.48\00:29:05.67
they will peak together.
00:29:05.70\00:29:06.80
Here we go write it down.
00:29:06.83\00:29:07.91
Number one, trend number one,
00:29:07.94\00:29:09.52
Religious deception.
00:29:09.55\00:29:11.56
Many will come in My
name and say I'm the Christ.
00:29:11.59\00:29:13.55
False prophet will
arise, I'll tell you what,
00:29:13.58\00:29:16.00
I have a file of this
thick that I've started--
00:29:16.03\00:29:18.68
I've just been working
on for the last two years.
00:29:18.71\00:29:20.23
Speaking of religious deception,
00:29:20.26\00:29:21.90
I've been focusing on that
like its going out of style.
00:29:21.93\00:29:25.00
And this teaching suddenly
took me up by the lepers
00:29:25.03\00:29:28.26
and said hey,
boy, wait a minute.
00:29:28.29\00:29:30.58
Don't be so myopic.
00:29:30.61\00:29:33.06
There are series of trends,
00:29:33.09\00:29:34.87
think like a fox not a hedgehog.
00:29:34.90\00:29:36.97
Watch for the movement
of those trends together.
00:29:37.00\00:29:40.83
Now I got files, I
got files and all of these
00:29:40.86\00:29:43.51
and I'm planting
little seed in your mind
00:29:43.54\00:29:45.17
your inquisitive mind I hope,
00:29:45.20\00:29:47.62
that will lead
you to go and begin
00:29:47.65\00:29:48.68
a collection of these yourself.
00:29:48.71\00:29:50.50
Anybody can do it,
00:29:50.53\00:29:51.56
He's got eyes and
a mind that you have.
00:29:51.59\00:29:54.80
All right number one
is religious deception,
00:29:54.83\00:29:57.03
number two, Military conflicts.
00:29:57.06\00:29:59.30
Wars and rumors of wars.
00:29:59.33\00:30:01.53
Militay conflicts, we
have got plenty of those today.
00:30:01.56\00:30:04.28
Number three, Natural disasters.
00:30:04.31\00:30:06.47
Jesus says, famines,
pestilences and earthquakes.
00:30:06.50\00:30:09.43
Well, got those two I guess.
00:30:09.46\00:30:11.14
Number four, now number--
00:30:11.17\00:30:14.04
number five is Legal breakdown.
00:30:14.07\00:30:16.83
Legal breakdown.
00:30:16.86\00:30:17.89
In a spirit of lawlessness,
it says in Mathew 25,
00:30:17.92\00:30:21.96
oh mercy, are we
moving in that direction?
00:30:21.99\00:30:23.91
Number six, Social collapse.
00:30:23.94\00:30:27.79
Social collapse, the
hearts are many will grow cold,
00:30:27.82\00:30:31.21
society begins to disintegrate.
00:30:31.24\00:30:33.59
And trend number
seven, Spiritual revival.
00:30:33.62\00:30:36.21
Just before I come He says,
00:30:36.24\00:30:38.05
gospel goes to
the entire planet,
00:30:38.08\00:30:39.79
Spiritual revival, seven trends
00:30:39.82\00:30:42.40
watch those
trends, think like a fox,
00:30:42.43\00:30:44.58
don't become concentrating
on one watch the spread.
00:30:44.61\00:30:50.22
So you can do the same
piece of cake, you know.
00:30:50.25\00:30:52.60
You do, you get a shoe box.
00:30:52.63\00:30:54.34
You just start
stuffing in a shoe box.
00:30:54.37\00:30:56.21
You got a file folder
just start putting them in.
00:30:56.24\00:30:57.42
News paper clippings,
00:30:57.45\00:30:58.48
we're are talking about
web releases, press releases,
00:30:58.51\00:31:00.91
we're are talking about essays,
00:31:00.94\00:31:01.99
we're talking about books,
00:31:02.02\00:31:03.33
we're talking about I
heard in on television,
00:31:03.36\00:31:06.12
you begin to
assemble your own collection.
00:31:06.15\00:31:09.15
Watch the trends.
00:31:09.18\00:31:10.80
Jesus says think like a fox,
00:31:10.83\00:31:13.12
watch these seven
as they ascend together
00:31:13.15\00:31:16.00
then you know
00:31:16.03\00:31:17.67
and by the way with cyber space
00:31:17.70\00:31:19.00
and this glut of
information today,
00:31:19.03\00:31:21.14
there is no
excuse for you and me
00:31:21.17\00:31:22.20
not to be able to trend.
00:31:22.23\00:31:23.49
I mean, there
are so many websites
00:31:23.52\00:31:24.55
that are trending now.
00:31:24.58\00:31:25.61
You can just follow the trenders
00:31:25.64\00:31:27.13
as they analyze the trends.
00:31:27.16\00:31:30.69
But here is the question,
what's the big deal, Dwight?
00:31:30.72\00:31:32.56
I mean, come on,
00:31:32.59\00:31:33.62
why should we track
Jesus listed trends at all?
00:31:33.65\00:31:37.87
I think they're
gonna enable us to zero
00:31:37.90\00:31:39.67
in on the date of His return.
00:31:39.70\00:31:41.57
I'm telling you what
no, no, no, no, no, no,
00:31:41.60\00:31:43.94
Jesus is
unequivocal you cannot know, no.
00:31:43.97\00:31:46.75
Don't go to these trends
00:31:46.78\00:31:48.22
to try to find out
the date for My coming.
00:31:48.25\00:31:50.32
In fact, just
turn the page, boy,
00:31:50.35\00:31:52.17
He doesn't want
to get into this trap
00:31:52.20\00:31:54.18
and what is this?
00:31:54.21\00:31:55.24
Verse 36 same
chapter Mathew 24 Jesus said,
00:31:55.27\00:31:57.82
"But of that day
and hour no one knows,
00:31:57.85\00:32:00.50
not even the angels of heaven,
00:32:00.53\00:32:02.50
but My Father only."
00:32:02.53\00:32:05.77
There is no way
Christ ever intended
00:32:05.80\00:32:07.42
for these global trends
00:32:07.45\00:32:08.55
to become a calculus
for the date of His return.
00:32:08.58\00:32:12.28
Too many Christians
have crashed on that heap.
00:32:12.31\00:32:15.03
Trust me you don't want
to go down on that road.
00:32:15.06\00:32:17.54
Can we know the times? Yep.
00:32:17.57\00:32:19.29
Can we know the date? Nope.
00:32:19.32\00:32:21.59
Don't get sucked into that,
00:32:21.62\00:32:23.05
there are people
out there on the web
00:32:23.08\00:32:25.09
who would loved to have you know
00:32:25.12\00:32:26.67
they find if you get
it up, they got the date.
00:32:26.70\00:32:29.30
It's a killer
because the date is too far,
00:32:29.33\00:32:32.05
you're in trouble,
if the day is too soon--
00:32:32.08\00:32:33.71
you forget the date.
00:32:33.74\00:32:37.67
Then why, then why track
these predicted trends at all?
00:32:37.70\00:32:40.63
I tell you why?
00:32:40.66\00:32:41.84
Answer Issachar
Factor, Issachar Factor.
00:32:41.87\00:32:45.67
Let me put it on the screen
again for you, 1 Chronicles 12,
00:32:45.70\00:32:48.22
"They had
understanding of the times"
00:32:48.25\00:32:50.90
now notice this "to know
what Israel ought to do."
00:32:50.93\00:32:55.66
Would you jot it down?
00:32:55.69\00:32:57.52
"The Issachar Factor,
00:32:57.55\00:32:59.49
To decipher the times
00:32:59.52\00:33:02.04
in order to
decide the response."
00:33:02.07\00:33:06.64
Jot that down.
00:33:06.67\00:33:07.70
We got a decipher of the times
00:33:07.73\00:33:08.76
for a reason to
decide the response.
00:33:08.79\00:33:10.82
Divine revelation is always
for the sake of human response.
00:33:10.85\00:33:13.91
God does get his
jollies over say,
00:33:13.94\00:33:15.76
hey, let Me show
you how much I know
00:33:15.79\00:33:17.04
that you don't know.
00:33:17.07\00:33:18.10
Wow, look at that. Nope.
00:33:18.13\00:33:20.36
God says I'm gonna give you,
00:33:20.39\00:33:21.77
I'm gonna reveal
some information to you,
00:33:21.80\00:33:23.61
but the information
should leaves to react,
00:33:23.64\00:33:26.19
you must respond to this,
00:33:26.22\00:33:28.33
decipher the trends in
order to decide the response.
00:33:28.36\00:33:34.93
And what's the
response Christ would have us?
00:33:34.96\00:33:38.19
Bring.
00:33:38.22\00:33:39.49
Trend number seven,
that's it, hands down.
00:33:39.52\00:33:41.68
It's trend number seven.
00:33:41.71\00:33:43.29
Let's look at trend number
seven verse 14 same chapter,
00:33:43.32\00:33:46.79
and this gospel oh,
you know these words.
00:33:46.82\00:33:50.12
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:33:50.15\00:33:51.64
will be
preached in all the world
00:33:51.67\00:33:54.27
as a witness to all the nations,
00:33:54.30\00:33:56.72
and then the end will come."
00:33:56.75\00:34:01.20
I He-- now hold on,
00:34:01.23\00:34:02.96
as we witness an
exhilaration of the trends,
00:34:02.99\00:34:06.85
as we witness an
exhilaration of the trends
00:34:06.88\00:34:09.13
we are then to
exhilarate our response,
00:34:09.16\00:34:12.91
namely His mission.
00:34:12.94\00:34:15.43
Exhilarate.
00:34:15.46\00:34:17.57
Exhilaration of the
trends, exhilarate our response.
00:34:17.60\00:34:21.29
A final line collaborating
this several years ago,
00:34:21.32\00:34:24.11
when I was reading
00:34:24.14\00:34:25.37
that classic on the life
of Jesus the Desire of Ages,
00:34:25.40\00:34:27.46
it's in your study guide
take a look at this line.
00:34:27.49\00:34:30.33
"With vigilant watching
00:34:30.36\00:34:33.38
we are to
combine earnest working."
00:34:33.41\00:34:36.36
Okay you got to
watch, you got to watch.
00:34:36.39\00:34:37.59
Follow the trend, respond.
00:34:37.62\00:34:39.54
"With vigilant watching
00:34:39.57\00:34:40.60
we are to
combine earnest working.
00:34:40.63\00:34:41.66
Because we know that
the Lord is at the door,"
00:34:41.69\00:34:44.91
these trends, these indicators
are all rising together.
00:34:44.94\00:34:47.37
"Our zeal is
quickened to co-operated
00:34:47.40\00:34:50.11
with the divine intelligences
00:34:50.14\00:34:52.00
in the working for
the salvation of souls."
00:34:52.03\00:34:56.39
That's it, jot
it down, will you.
00:34:56.42\00:34:58.13
"The shorter our
time the greater our zeal
00:34:58.16\00:35:04.49
and the more
earnest our mission."
00:35:04.52\00:35:08.46
The shorter our
time, the greater our zeal
00:35:08.49\00:35:11.39
and the more
earnest our mission.
00:35:11.42\00:35:13.43
Hey, listen just
think about this, come on.
00:35:13.46\00:35:16.22
When you've been
told by your doctor
00:35:16.25\00:35:18.23
that you have
five months to live
00:35:18.26\00:35:20.94
and trust me I know this
00:35:20.97\00:35:22.86
I've had the sacred
privilege of being up-close
00:35:22.89\00:35:25.02
and personal as parishioners
have lived through this.
00:35:25.05\00:35:28.99
When you have been
told by your physician
00:35:29.02\00:35:30.57
you have five
months or five weeks
00:35:30.60\00:35:33.71
you can know that suddenly
00:35:33.74\00:35:35.49
every thing
preferable is dropped off
00:35:35.52\00:35:37.55
and only that
which deeply matters
00:35:37.58\00:35:40.16
to you will occupy your time.
00:35:40.19\00:35:43.28
Is that not
true? Of course, it is.
00:35:43.31\00:35:46.38
Who has time for the rest?
00:35:46.41\00:35:52.09
The shorter our
time, the greater our zeal,
00:35:52.12\00:35:56.35
the more earnest our mission.
00:35:56.38\00:35:59.88
That was precisely the point
00:35:59.91\00:36:00.94
Jesus was trying to hammer
into the minds of His disciples
00:36:00.97\00:36:04.08
on that very
sunny Sabbath afternoon.
00:36:04.11\00:36:08.24
We know its Sabbath I
am guessing it's sunny
00:36:08.27\00:36:10.63
because it's
Jerusalem, all right.
00:36:10.66\00:36:12.11
Take a look at
this our last line
00:36:12.14\00:36:13.50
that we'll look up together.
00:36:13.53\00:36:14.56
The Gospel of John read for us
00:36:14.59\00:36:16.50
just a moment ago by Edwin Buck.
00:36:16.53\00:36:20.12
Go to John page
722 in the pew Bible.
00:36:20.15\00:36:25.63
See here-- this is precise
of the point Jesus is making.
00:36:25.66\00:36:28.39
John Chapter 9. John Chapter 9.
00:36:28.42\00:36:34.17
Let's get a
little context for this.
00:36:34.20\00:36:35.64
Let's begin with verse 1
00:36:35.67\00:36:37.15
"Now as Jesus passed
by," that Sabbath afternoon,
00:36:37.18\00:36:40.03
"He saw a man who
was blind from birth.
00:36:40.06\00:36:43.86
And His disciples asked Him,
00:36:43.89\00:36:44.94
saying 'Rabbi, who sinned,
00:36:44.97\00:36:48.09
this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?'
00:36:48.12\00:36:50.52
Jesus answered,
00:36:50.55\00:36:51.58
'Neither this man
nor his parents sinned,
00:36:51.61\00:36:54.36
but that the works of God
should be revealed in him."
00:36:54.39\00:36:56.61
Now watch this verse 4
"I"-- some times manuscripts
00:36:56.64\00:37:00.42
we "must work the works of Him
00:37:00.45\00:37:04.90
who sent Me while it is day,
00:37:04.93\00:37:07.29
for the night is coming
00:37:07.32\00:37:08.52
when no one can work.'
00:37:08.55\00:37:10.65
As long as I am in the world,
00:37:10.68\00:37:11.88
I am the light of the world.'"
00:37:11.91\00:37:14.37
That's it.
00:37:14.40\00:37:15.43
Now obviously
ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:15.46\00:37:16.84
Jesus is speaking
of His impending death,
00:37:16.87\00:37:21.44
the dark night at Calvary
00:37:21.47\00:37:23.43
I understand that,
00:37:23.46\00:37:24.96
but His words
are just as precious
00:37:24.99\00:37:26.99
for generation living
on the edge of eternity.
00:37:27.02\00:37:29.68
We got to work while its day,
00:37:29.71\00:37:31.75
night is
coming, night is coming.
00:37:31.78\00:37:35.26
"We must do the works of him
00:37:35.29\00:37:36.32
who sent us while it is
day for the night is coming
00:37:36.35\00:37:39.71
when no one can work."
00:37:39.74\00:37:42.44
Hey, didn't we used to
sing an old gospel song,
00:37:42.47\00:37:46.06
how's it go, "Work
for the night is coming"
00:37:46.09\00:37:48.04
wasn't that a song like that.
00:37:48.07\00:37:49.12
"Work for the
night is coming" yeah.
00:37:49.15\00:37:52.24
That's based on John 9:4.
00:37:52.27\00:37:54.52
Work while it's light
00:37:54.55\00:37:56.27
why you can the
shorter our time,
00:37:56.30\00:37:59.65
the greater our zeal the
more earnest our mission.
00:37:59.68\00:38:03.08
But I got to
tell you, I am sorry.
00:38:03.11\00:38:05.02
I'm gonna say,
I'm gonna say this.
00:38:05.05\00:38:07.12
This will get
everybody here off the hook.
00:38:07.15\00:38:09.35
I'm gonna say
present company accepted,
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.89
all right, so you're not in this
00:38:12.92\00:38:14.79
but I know some people
00:38:14.82\00:38:16.02
who have gotten themselves
00:38:16.05\00:38:17.48
deep into trouble by
some mistaken thinking.
00:38:17.51\00:38:21.80
I mean they think,
you saw they think,
00:38:21.83\00:38:24.79
they think that if
they can convince God
00:38:24.82\00:38:27.02
to accelerate these
seven trends simultaneously
00:38:27.05\00:38:30.42
that society
will have to collapse
00:38:30.45\00:38:32.68
and the world will be been
thrown into such global chaos
00:38:32.71\00:38:35.51
that the end will have to come
00:38:35.54\00:38:37.71
and Jesus will
come again, Hallelujah.
00:38:37.74\00:38:42.05
That is such misguided thinking
00:38:42.08\00:38:44.98
that I am gonna
lay on you right now.
00:38:45.01\00:38:47.36
I carry this one line in
my Bible it is a very sober.
00:38:47.39\00:38:51.06
Waving away don't go there,
00:38:51.09\00:38:55.16
one line you got
it in your study guide
00:38:55.19\00:38:57.19
and you have to fill it in.
00:38:57.22\00:38:58.37
One line written a
century ago isn't some thing.
00:38:58.40\00:39:02.81
"The work which the
church has failed to do
00:39:02.84\00:39:06.20
in a time of
peace and prosperity
00:39:06.23\00:39:10.39
she will have to do
in a terrible crisis
00:39:10.42\00:39:16.02
under most discouraging,
and forbidding circumstances."
00:39:16.05\00:39:20.71
Isn't that amazing? Jot
it down, terrible crisis.
00:39:20.74\00:39:24.36
Ladies and
gentlemen, there is no automatic
00:39:24.39\00:39:26.27
get out of jail
free card for the church
00:39:26.30\00:39:28.31
when society implodes
00:39:28.34\00:39:29.37
and earth begins
her final melt down.
00:39:29.40\00:39:31.74
God doesn't step in and
say, oh man, this is so bad.
00:39:31.77\00:39:34.59
Sorry you didn't do
what I asked you to do.
00:39:34.62\00:39:36.55
Guess hey, step over.
00:39:36.58\00:39:38.16
Guess I want have
to take the supper
00:39:38.19\00:39:39.44
and finish it myself.
00:39:39.47\00:39:40.69
No one else say.
He will not do it.
00:39:40.72\00:39:45.07
If it is bad now guess what,
00:39:45.10\00:39:48.27
you still got to do it.
00:39:48.30\00:39:50.35
You still have the mission
00:39:50.38\00:39:52.89
I gave you, there is no pass.
00:39:52.92\00:39:56.93
Why? Oh, it's easy.
00:39:56.96\00:40:00.13
Jot it down, will you.
00:40:00.16\00:40:01.43
"Because the whole
point of the Gospel Commission
00:40:01.46\00:40:05.58
is that it is to be a co-mission
00:40:05.61\00:40:08.95
that we share with Christ."
00:40:08.98\00:40:10.17
That's it.
00:40:10.20\00:40:11.29
Its co, co means together with.
00:40:11.32\00:40:13.78
The Gospel Commission is
a co-mission with Christ.
00:40:13.81\00:40:17.09
Hey, you look come on please,
00:40:17.12\00:40:19.47
God can finish His
work anytime He wants to,
00:40:19.50\00:40:21.08
can he just like
that He can finish it.
00:40:21.11\00:40:24.00
But as every parent knows
00:40:24.03\00:40:26.24
who invites his
son or her daughter
00:40:26.27\00:40:28.53
to stand by daddy or
mommy and do the same work,
00:40:28.56\00:40:31.73
it isn't so much
about task accomplishment.
00:40:31.76\00:40:34.98
We got some young parents here,
00:40:35.01\00:40:36.15
please, you can do the thing
faster yourself, isn't true.
00:40:36.18\00:40:40.06
It isn't so much
about task accomplishment
00:40:40.09\00:40:42.71
as it is about
relational bonding.
00:40:42.74\00:40:45.76
We'll gonna do the
same thing together.
00:40:45.79\00:40:48.06
You gonna be
right here beside daddy,
00:40:48.09\00:40:49.57
and daddy is gonna
be right here beside you
00:40:49.60\00:40:51.30
and we're going to
move through this together
00:40:51.33\00:40:53.98
and as we do the work,
00:40:54.01\00:40:55.53
we're going to get
closer and closer and closer.
00:40:55.56\00:40:58.40
Ladies and
gentlemen, it's a co-mission,
00:40:58.43\00:41:01.11
co-mission.
00:41:04.19\00:41:05.23
Because if we don't
share the father's work,
00:41:08.82\00:41:13.38
we will never
share the father's heart,
00:41:13.41\00:41:15.83
and if we don't
share the father's heart
00:41:15.86\00:41:17.31
we will never
share the father's home.
00:41:17.34\00:41:20.84
I promise you,
no father's heart,
00:41:20.87\00:41:23.87
no father's home.
00:41:23.90\00:41:25.63
Please we do it together.
00:41:25.66\00:41:28.03
That means and this
whole thing melts down
00:41:28.06\00:41:29.41
and we're not done,
we still do it together.
00:41:29.44\00:41:32.06
How did Jesus put it here?
00:41:36.30\00:41:38.84
"We must work the works of Him
00:41:38.87\00:41:41.16
who sent Me while it is day."
00:41:41.19\00:41:43.69
Come on, we got a
wide open door right now.
00:41:43.72\00:41:46.06
We need to be working right now.
00:41:46.09\00:41:47.26
The door is
wide open, let us do,
00:41:47.29\00:41:49.82
"We must work the works of Him
00:41:49.85\00:41:51.03
who sent Me while it is day,
00:41:51.06\00:41:52.20
the night is coming when
no one " no one "can work."
00:41:52.23\00:41:58.01
So here's a question.
00:41:58.04\00:41:59.07
Wrap it up with this question.
00:41:59.10\00:42:00.37
How would you like to be
in co-mission with Christ?
00:42:00.40\00:42:06.24
Wouldn't you like to?
00:42:06.27\00:42:07.62
I mean we're not talking
about rocket science here.
00:42:07.65\00:42:09.51
we're not talking
about the accumulation of
00:42:09.54\00:42:10.77
multiple degrees
until you can do this.
00:42:10.80\00:42:12.81
I want to share with you
enclosing seven simple steps
00:42:12.84\00:42:16.00
were you can be
drawn into Jesus co-mission
00:42:16.03\00:42:18.47
every single day of your life.
00:42:18.50\00:42:19.78
I don't care where
you spend this summer
00:42:19.81\00:42:22.30
or memorial day we
can, seven simple steps.
00:42:22.33\00:42:27.29
I'll end with these.
00:42:27.32\00:42:28.44
I'm gonna fly through them.
00:42:28.47\00:42:29.51
Number one, jot it down, please.
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.79
Make yourself
available daily in prayer.
00:42:31.82\00:42:36.46
Make yourself
available daily in prayer.
00:42:36.49\00:42:38.76
So you begin the day dear God,
00:42:38.79\00:42:39.82
look I realize
it's a co-mission,
00:42:39.85\00:42:42.24
so what I want to do is
00:42:42.27\00:42:43.30
I want to make myself
available to You today.
00:42:43.33\00:42:45.02
I need You to open my eyes.
00:42:45.05\00:42:46.36
Let me sense when You're
bringing something to be,
00:42:46.39\00:42:50.75
something to bear, let me know
00:42:50.78\00:42:53.87
that an opportunity
is presenting itself.
00:42:53.90\00:42:55.91
Make yourself available
at the beginning of everyday.
00:42:55.94\00:43:00.56
I'll tell you what,
when I pray that prayer
00:43:00.59\00:43:02.34
and the times when
I get some enforced
00:43:02.37\00:43:06.44
contact with people that
I-- that are strangers to meet
00:43:06.47\00:43:09.94
are the times that I fly.
00:43:09.97\00:43:12.45
When I pray before I fly,
00:43:12.48\00:43:14.97
I amazed the door is
opening and conversation.
00:43:15.00\00:43:18.39
I just came back from Arkansas
00:43:18.42\00:43:19.78
and so I'm sitting beside the
00:43:19.81\00:43:20.84
vice president of a
company that services Wal-Mart
00:43:20.87\00:43:23.20
and we fall in the conversation.
00:43:23.23\00:43:24.78
He is a dad and I'm a
dad and he Presbyterian
00:43:24.81\00:43:27.44
and we're talking together
and we get into spiritual things
00:43:27.47\00:43:30.21
and send him a book.
00:43:30.24\00:43:35.07
He writes Henry Noble,
hey Dwight, thanks for this.
00:43:35.10\00:43:37.56
I'm reading the book now.
00:43:37.59\00:43:40.10
When I pray I
amazed I have doors open
00:43:40.13\00:43:44.60
but when I do not
pray man, I am so tired,
00:43:44.63\00:43:46.68
God I don't want to
talk to nobody today.
00:43:46.71\00:43:49.09
Guess what, God says okay,
00:43:49.12\00:43:50.56
you are not worth talking
anybody today, sleep, boy.
00:43:50.59\00:43:53.07
I find that the
prayer makes the difference.
00:43:56.07\00:43:57.93
So number one
jot it down please,
00:43:57.96\00:43:59.58
make yourself
available daily in prayer.
00:43:59.61\00:44:01.09
Number two, look for
opportunity throughout the day.
00:44:01.12\00:44:04.48
Don't guess what
its gonna look like,
00:44:04.51\00:44:06.42
it could be a phone call.
00:44:06.45\00:44:08.81
Any encounter can turn
out to be more than chance,
00:44:08.84\00:44:12.69
a phone call, a
visit to the gas station.
00:44:12.72\00:44:14.48
When I'm in this
village pumping gas,
00:44:14.51\00:44:16.32
I meet people all the time.
00:44:16.35\00:44:17.85
You don't have to be,
you don't have to be--
00:44:17.88\00:44:22.10
what's this personality type
00:44:22.13\00:44:23.29
where the people are
just always sanguine.
00:44:23.32\00:44:25.61
You don't have to be sanguine.
00:44:25.64\00:44:27.53
You don't have to be sanguine.
00:44:27.56\00:44:28.59
You're just pumping gas
00:44:28.62\00:44:29.65
but the guy is right beside
you on the other side of pump.
00:44:29.68\00:44:32.35
You can have these.
00:44:32.38\00:44:33.41
I'm in the grocery line,
you are in the grocery line
00:44:33.44\00:44:35.23
it doesn't matter
look for opportunity
00:44:35.26\00:44:38.15
throughout the day.
00:44:38.18\00:44:39.52
Number three,
00:44:39.55\00:44:41.03
because it's gonna
stand right in front of you.
00:44:41.06\00:44:42.74
Number three,
take the natural route.
00:44:42.77\00:44:45.95
Now this is very important.
00:44:45.98\00:44:48.16
I need to affirm
some of you great thinkers
00:44:48.19\00:44:50.02
whether you are
hedgehog or foxes,
00:44:50.05\00:44:52.11
that there is nothing
wrong with innocuous chit chat.
00:44:52.14\00:44:55.33
Some people who have
become educated for a longtime
00:44:55.36\00:45:00.04
aren't excited about
innocuous little chatter.
00:45:00.07\00:45:02.90
They don't have time for that.
00:45:02.93\00:45:04.65
My dear friend,
innocuous chit chat
00:45:04.68\00:45:07.40
is the door to
meaningful encounter.
00:45:07.43\00:45:09.45
You have to start innocuous.
00:45:09.48\00:45:11.46
So humble yourself and
talk about the weather,
00:45:11.49\00:45:15.61
talk about stock market,
00:45:15.64\00:45:18.71
talk about the delay
in the tarmac, the news,
00:45:18.74\00:45:20.83
what you do for living.
00:45:20.86\00:45:22.32
It's just
innocuous I understand it,
00:45:22.35\00:45:24.04
but boom just
like that, it works.
00:45:24.07\00:45:27.72
You don't need to blurt out.
00:45:27.75\00:45:30.12
Jesus is coming repent sinner,
00:45:30.15\00:45:34.17
has not yet, you loose Him.
00:45:34.20\00:45:37.29
Sleep, sleep in the plane.
00:45:37.32\00:45:41.06
Better to sleep.
00:45:41.09\00:45:42.53
So here is the point
be winsome and friendly,
00:45:42.56\00:45:44.84
take the natural route.
00:45:44.87\00:45:46.22
We're not having as a,
no just the natural route.
00:45:46.25\00:45:49.01
Let it flow you'll get there.
00:45:49.04\00:45:51.17
Okay that was number
three, take the natural.
00:45:51.20\00:45:53.01
Number four, watch
for a transition point
00:45:53.04\00:45:56.12
to make a spiritual point.
00:45:56.15\00:45:58.44
This is very important
because you are in this now.
00:45:58.47\00:46:01.02
You didn't plan to be.
00:46:01.05\00:46:02.08
You know, somebody realize,
00:46:02.11\00:46:03.14
I'm have a
conversation with a stranger.
00:46:03.17\00:46:04.46
Oh, that's right I
prayed this morning
00:46:04.49\00:46:05.91
and I would, you
know, meet somebody.
00:46:05.94\00:46:07.97
So now you are on the
look the Holy Spirit is saying,
00:46:08.00\00:46:10.77
hey, hey, hey, hey, watch this.
00:46:10.80\00:46:13.02
Watch for a transitional
point to make a spiritual point.
00:46:13.05\00:46:17.71
Kind of give you the
words, don't worry about it,
00:46:17.74\00:46:20.60
just watch for that point.
00:46:20.63\00:46:21.75
I love the story of
Nehemiah for that reason.
00:46:21.78\00:46:23.51
Nehemiah, you remember has been
praying to God all night long
00:46:23.54\00:46:26.49
and now he is
serving the king next morning
00:46:26.52\00:46:28.01
and in the middle of a
sentence hit blindsided.
00:46:28.04\00:46:31.15
The king said, hey
boy, what do you want?
00:46:31.18\00:46:33.60
And Nehemiah says, and I
doted a prayer to heaven.
00:46:33.63\00:46:37.75
It was not a long prayer.
00:46:37.78\00:46:39.34
It was only one word, "help."
00:46:39.37\00:46:44.50
And-- you know,
one of a little book
00:46:44.53\00:46:46.05
"Traveling Mercies"
writes that's my favorite prayer
00:46:46.08\00:46:50.44
"help," and look what happens.
00:46:50.47\00:46:53.64
Luke Chapter 12, I love this
in the New Living Translation.
00:46:53.67\00:46:55.82
Luke 12:11 Jesus says,
00:46:55.85\00:46:57.98
"And when you
are brought to trail
00:46:58.01\00:46:59.48
in the synagogues and
before rulers and authorities,
00:46:59.51\00:47:02.04
don't you worry"
come on, don't you worry
00:47:02.07\00:47:03.75
about what you
gonna have to say.
00:47:03.78\00:47:04.81
Don't even think about it.
00:47:04.84\00:47:05.87
Look at the next verse 12
00:47:05.90\00:47:06.99
"For the Holy
Spirit will teach you
00:47:07.02\00:47:08.75
what needs to be said even
as you are standing there."
00:47:08.78\00:47:14.49
Isn't that great?
00:47:14.52\00:47:15.57
While you are standing there,
00:47:15.60\00:47:17.02
something's comes
in your mind, speak it.
00:47:17.05\00:47:21.42
Number five, Be
open to a follow-up.
00:47:21.45\00:47:25.21
See lot of people have this
chance encounters and that's it.
00:47:25.24\00:47:27.63
Boy, well, I did something.
00:47:27.66\00:47:29.69
Well, of course, you did.
00:47:29.72\00:47:30.75
Why don't you setup a
follow up, offer a book?
00:47:30.78\00:47:33.64
Hey, by the way,
I got something--
00:47:33.67\00:47:34.93
I got something
you need to read.
00:47:34.96\00:47:36.34
I got a magazine I
want to pass along your way.
00:47:36.37\00:47:38.36
I got a study guide I
would like to give you.
00:47:38.39\00:47:40.96
Be open to follow-up.
00:47:40.99\00:47:42.02
Herb and
Nannette just a moment ago
00:47:42.05\00:47:43.44
that's how we got together.
00:47:43.47\00:47:44.86
She writes this email.
She is feeling terrible.
00:47:44.89\00:47:46.72
I write an email back,
the very last line says
00:47:46.75\00:47:48.55
I hope someday
we can get together.
00:47:48.58\00:47:49.99
She shoots an email
back, yeah let's do.
00:47:50.02\00:47:52.49
Good, I will be down.
00:47:52.52\00:47:54.56
The follow up is what
leads to the conversation.
00:47:54.59\00:47:58.02
The first meeting is nothing,
00:47:58.05\00:47:59.54
the first meeting
is just setting you up.
00:47:59.57\00:48:01.90
So don't close your mind to
the possibility of a follow up.
00:48:01.93\00:48:04.84
Now I can't tell you how
many people I give them books to
00:48:04.87\00:48:08.02
on planes who
never write me back.
00:48:08.05\00:48:10.86
Oh, this is such great a book.
00:48:10.89\00:48:11.92
All right, thank you.
No, never, not a word.
00:48:11.95\00:48:15.02
That's okay, I'm
just one tiny little link
00:48:15.05\00:48:17.14
in a long chain
that God is weaving
00:48:17.17\00:48:20.12
to draw their heart to Him.
00:48:20.15\00:48:21.92
I don't have to be big
link, I'm just a little one.
00:48:21.95\00:48:24.49
Just one word sometimes,
00:48:24.52\00:48:26.24
God says I just
needed you for one word,
00:48:26.27\00:48:27.93
thank you, good bye.
00:48:27.96\00:48:31.23
That's great.
00:48:31.26\00:48:33.45
Just be used.
00:48:33.48\00:48:35.70
Number six, Solicit
help in your mission.
00:48:35.73\00:48:37.58
This is important don't be
afraid ask somebody to help you.
00:48:37.61\00:48:40.03
I mean, talk to a friend,
00:48:40.06\00:48:41.09
talk to a
colleague, call the pastor.
00:48:41.12\00:48:42.47
We got eight
pastors on this staff,
00:48:42.50\00:48:44.08
there is nothing wrong
with calling and up and say
00:48:44.11\00:48:45.89
hey, listen, I can't believe--
00:48:45.92\00:48:47.55
I told a guy I'm
gonna send him a book,
00:48:47.58\00:48:48.75
I have no idea what
book I am sending him.
00:48:48.78\00:48:51.68
What is the conversation,
people are happy just like that,
00:48:51.71\00:48:54.54
go view the ABC
they'll do that just like that.
00:48:54.57\00:48:56.63
Oh, I got a magazine for you,
00:48:56.66\00:48:57.69
here's a little
pamphlet, here's a book.
00:48:57.72\00:49:00.12
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
00:49:00.15\00:49:02.14
We're not trying to
prove that we are some kind of
00:49:02.17\00:49:04.56
authority in anything.
00:49:04.59\00:49:06.38
We're just human beings
meeting other human beings.
00:49:06.41\00:49:08.55
Number seven,
finally, Give to mission needs
00:49:11.64\00:49:16.00
and volunteer for mission tasks.
00:49:16.03\00:49:20.19
I like that because you
know what that means, don't you.
00:49:20.22\00:49:22.44
It means keep your heart
in this co-mission pasture.
00:49:22.47\00:49:26.92
So somebody comes up
and stands up here in church
00:49:26.95\00:49:29.79
or in chapel and the word
00:49:29.82\00:49:31.39
hey, we need more
help in Benton Harbor.
00:49:31.42\00:49:33.02
Hey, I'll go.
00:49:33.05\00:49:34.73
I don't know what I'm
gonna do there, I'll go.
00:49:34.76\00:49:36.67
Just go.
00:49:36.70\00:49:37.73
Keep yourself in a
pastor of co-mission.
00:49:37.76\00:49:40.30
Somebody says we
need help down here
00:49:40.33\00:49:42.02
in the community service center.
00:49:42.05\00:49:43.09
Go, you can count on me.
00:49:43.12\00:49:44.83
Show up.
00:49:44.86\00:49:45.89
We're gonna have
evangelist meanings coming up
00:49:45.92\00:49:47.88
this next winter show
up, volunteer, be a part.
00:49:47.91\00:49:52.91
Now I want to tell
you about the giving part.
00:49:52.94\00:49:55.24
Come on, you join now.
00:49:55.27\00:49:58.89
Giving, volunteering,
okay we did that one,
00:49:58.92\00:50:01.29
but I want to talk about giving.
00:50:01.32\00:50:02.76
Giving is the
part of co-mission.
00:50:02.79\00:50:05.26
Now think very careful with me,
00:50:05.29\00:50:07.05
my friends Herb and Nannette
00:50:07.08\00:50:10.20
would not have been
in that baptistery today.
00:50:10.23\00:50:14.23
Read my lips, if some of you,
00:50:14.26\00:50:18.48
who three years
ago in the month of May
00:50:18.51\00:50:20.53
when I stood up and I said
00:50:20.56\00:50:21.73
I need 90
volunteers to give $10 a week,
00:50:21.76\00:50:25.11
so then we can be
on Michiana television
00:50:25.14\00:50:27.14
and reach a 1.75
million percent audience.
00:50:27.17\00:50:31.97
Herb and the Nennette
00:50:32.00\00:50:33.08
would not have been
in the baptistery today
00:50:33.11\00:50:35.66
if our whole
bunch you didn't say,
00:50:35.69\00:50:37.96
I can give co-mission that
I will give ten bucks a week.
00:50:37.99\00:50:41.79
You been giving
every singly week
00:50:41.82\00:50:44.57
and look what
God has finally done.
00:50:44.60\00:50:47.94
Don't you ever
minemalize the giving,
00:50:47.97\00:50:53.01
the giving is co-mission.
00:50:53.04\00:50:55.00
It keeps you in the posture.
00:50:55.03\00:50:56.45
I'll give, I'll give to AFM,
00:50:56.48\00:51:00.05
I'll give to
student missionaries,
00:51:00.08\00:51:03.29
I'll give to New
Perception, I'll just give.
00:51:03.32\00:51:05.59
If it involves mission give
to do something to your heart.
00:51:05.62\00:51:10.57
You know, how it
works, don't you?
00:51:10.60\00:51:11.63
God gives you the money,
00:51:11.66\00:51:14.06
so that you can give it back.
00:51:14.09\00:51:16.23
That's the way it works.
00:51:16.26\00:51:18.18
I want to end with the story
00:51:18.21\00:51:19.24
that Brennan Manning
tells on the last page
00:51:19.27\00:51:22.19
of his delightful
little book "Lion and Lamb."
00:51:22.22\00:51:24.31
I'm gonna read it
to you right here.
00:51:24.34\00:51:26.78
I love this, in
1980, listen, "in 1980,
00:51:26.81\00:51:30.34
the day before Christmas,
00:51:30.37\00:51:31.75
Richard Ballenger's mother
in Anderson, South Carolina,
00:51:31.78\00:51:35.08
was busy wrapping packages
00:51:35.11\00:51:37.27
and asked her young
son to shine her shoes.
00:51:37.30\00:51:40.71
Soon," you can picture
this "with the proud smile
00:51:40.74\00:51:42.73
that only a
seven-year-old can muster,
00:51:42.76\00:51:45.33
he presented the
shoes for inspection.
00:51:45.36\00:51:47.57
His mother was so pleased,
00:51:47.60\00:51:49.25
that she reaching her purse
00:51:49.28\00:51:50.31
and she gave him a quarter.
00:51:50.34\00:51:52.26
On Christmas morning"
that would be the next day
00:51:52.29\00:51:54.34
"On Christmas morning
00:51:54.37\00:51:55.40
as she put on the
shoes to go to church,
00:51:55.43\00:51:59.86
she noticed a lump in one shoe.
00:51:59.89\00:52:03.72
She took it off and found
a quarter wrapped in paper.
00:52:03.75\00:52:09.20
Written on the paper
00:52:09.23\00:52:11.47
in a child's
scrawl were the words,
00:52:11.50\00:52:15.66
'I done it for love.'"
00:52:15.69\00:52:20.97
I done it for love.
00:52:21.00\00:52:28.19
I done it for love.
00:52:28.22\00:52:30.19
Oh sure come on
I understand this.
00:52:30.22\00:52:32.91
The shorter our
time, the greater our zeal
00:52:32.94\00:52:34.48
the more earnest our mission.
00:52:34.51\00:52:35.67
I understand this,
00:52:35.70\00:52:36.73
but the greatest reason for
our co-mission is I done it.
00:52:36.76\00:52:44.07
I done it for love.
00:52:44.10\00:52:45.92
After all He has
done for you and me
00:52:45.95\00:52:51.04
we must done it,
00:52:51.07\00:52:54.70
we must done it for love.
00:52:54.73\00:53:01.25
Sing with me will you.
00:53:01.28\00:53:03.34
I love you, Lord,
00:53:03.37\00:53:08.92
and I lift my voice
00:53:08.95\00:53:16.13
To worship You,
00:53:16.16\00:53:22.57
O my soul rejoice
00:53:22.60\00:53:30.57
Take joy, my
King in what You hear
00:53:30.60\00:53:38.57
Let it be a sweet,
00:53:45.06\00:53:49.62
sweet sound in Your ear
00:53:49.65\00:53:56.60
Stand with me,
let's sing that with me.
00:53:59.46\00:54:01.00
I love that one.
00:54:01.03\00:54:02.70
I love you, Lord,
00:54:02.73\00:54:09.57
and I lift my voice
00:54:09.60\00:54:17.56
To worship You,
00:54:17.59\00:54:24.58
O my soul rejoice
00:54:24.61\00:54:32.58
Take joy, my
King, in what You hear
00:54:32.61\00:54:40.58
Let it be a sweet
00:54:48.90\00:54:53.56
sweet sound in Your ear
00:54:53.59\00:55:01.56
Oh, God, we done it for love.
00:55:07.20\00:55:12.73
Why else can we do it?
00:55:12.76\00:55:14.71
In the end the Christ
00:55:14.74\00:55:18.44
who emptied the
treasury of heaven
00:55:18.47\00:55:21.27
to save the likes of us.
00:55:21.30\00:55:25.24
Oh, we can never
repay you, dear Father.
00:55:25.27\00:55:29.42
But we can do
it out of deep love
00:55:29.45\00:55:32.92
and gratitude to the God
00:55:32.95\00:55:34.55
who is done it all for us.
00:55:34.58\00:55:37.42
So who you gonna
send us to this week?
00:55:37.45\00:55:39.91
Who be there, who
will cross our paths,
00:55:39.94\00:55:42.21
who will ring our number,
00:55:42.24\00:55:45.37
who will stand in our line,
00:55:45.40\00:55:47.43
who will sit in our seat?
00:55:47.46\00:55:50.04
Whoever it is, Oh, God,
please make a co-mission.
00:55:50.07\00:55:56.16
It's with You not for us.
00:55:56.19\00:55:59.91
We did it for You so
that every friend on earth
00:55:59.94\00:56:04.97
might become a friend of Yours
00:56:05.00\00:56:07.00
and You are friend of
theirs until Jesus comes,
00:56:07.03\00:56:10.83
co-mission until
the Savior returns
00:56:10.86\00:56:16.21
we done it for love
00:56:16.24\00:56:18.77
and we thank You
in Jesus name, amen.
00:56:18.80\00:56:26.50
I'd like to take a moment here
00:56:26.53\00:56:27.56
at the end of the
service to tell you about
00:56:27.59\00:56:29.01
one of the most
important groups of people
00:56:29.04\00:56:30.93
that make this
ministry possible.
00:56:30.96\00:56:33.78
They are team of people,
00:56:33.81\00:56:35.35
they are not afraid to get down
into the thick of life itself
00:56:35.38\00:56:39.12
which is why
you're gonna find them,
00:56:39.15\00:56:40.23
you will find them
moving forward on their knees.
00:56:40.26\00:56:43.54
They are our prayer partners.
00:56:43.57\00:56:45.38
A group of men and
women and young adults
00:56:45.41\00:56:48.43
who believe that this
humble television ministry
00:56:48.46\00:56:51.26
has been raised up by
God for such a time is this.
00:56:51.29\00:56:53.75
And so they pray earnestly
00:56:53.78\00:56:54.81
that God will use the preacher,
00:56:54.84\00:56:57.07
that God would use me,
00:56:57.10\00:56:58.13
that God would use the countless
00:56:58.16\00:56:59.26
other volunteers to
spread the everlasting gospel
00:56:59.29\00:57:02.86
and the Word of God in ways
00:57:02.89\00:57:04.00
we could never
have imagined before.
00:57:04.03\00:57:06.25
They are ones who are praying
00:57:06.28\00:57:07.75
that God is gonna open
up the hearts of people,
00:57:07.78\00:57:10.90
open up the hearts of viewers
00:57:10.93\00:57:12.56
around the
world for the message,
00:57:12.59\00:57:14.56
the critical message for
this end time generation.
00:57:14.59\00:57:18.69
And what I'd
like to do is ask you,
00:57:18.72\00:57:20.79
would you be willing to
be a prayer partner with us,
00:57:20.82\00:57:23.55
a prayer partner
with New Perceptions?
00:57:23.58\00:57:25.24
You don't have to
call a toll free number,
00:57:25.27\00:57:26.83
you don't have to
go online and register,
00:57:26.86\00:57:29.07
all I need to know
is that you'd be willing
00:57:29.10\00:57:31.78
to lift this little ministry
up day after day after day
00:57:31.81\00:57:37.47
pray that somehow through
radio and television and the web
00:57:37.50\00:57:41.33
God will open up new
doors, new regions on earth
00:57:41.36\00:57:45.89
where the everlasting
gospel can be proclaimed.
00:57:45.92\00:57:48.28
There is no
question the power of prayer
00:57:48.31\00:57:50.96
has potential to take
this ministry to places
00:57:50.99\00:57:53.11
we could never
have imagined before.
00:57:53.14\00:57:56.03
So that's it, would
you please be willing
00:57:56.06\00:57:59.05
to partner with me in prayer?
00:57:59.08\00:58:00.78
The times are
urgent, the need is critical,
00:58:00.81\00:58:04.59
and I hope you'll say yes.
00:58:04.62\00:58:06.31
Till we're
together and next time
00:58:06.34\00:58:08.39
may the prayer answering God
00:58:08.42\00:58:10.48
accompany you
every step of the way.
00:58:10.51\00:58:13.26