I will follow
00:00:26.67\00:00:30.88
I will listen
00:00:30.91\00:00:35.04
I will love You
00:00:35.07\00:00:39.17
all of my days
00:00:39.20\00:00:42.66
I will sing
00:00:42.69\00:00:43.86
I will sing to and worship
00:00:43.89\00:00:47.87
The King who is worthy
00:00:47.90\00:00:52.12
I will love and adore Him
00:00:52.15\00:00:56.36
I will bow down before Him
00:00:56.39\00:01:00.57
I will sing to and worship
00:01:00.60\00:01:04.72
The King who is worthy
00:01:04.75\00:01:09.00
I will love and adore Him
00:01:09.03\00:01:13.07
I will bow down before Him
00:01:13.10\00:01:17.37
You're my Prince of Peace
00:01:17.40\00:01:19.36
And I will live my life for You
00:01:19.39\00:01:23.04
We're gonna try the echo now.
00:01:27.14\00:01:28.72
You are holy, sing.
00:01:28.75\00:01:29.91
You are holy You are holy
00:01:29.94\00:01:34.15
You are mighty You are mighty
00:01:34.18\00:01:38.20
You are worthy You are worthy
00:01:38.23\00:01:42.23
Worthy of
praise Worthy of praise
00:01:42.26\00:01:45.72
Say with me I will follow.
00:01:45.75\00:01:48.91
I will follow I will follow
00:01:48.94\00:01:50.84
I will listen I will listen
00:01:50.87\00:01:55.00
I will love You I will love You
00:01:55.03\00:01:59.02
All of my days
00:01:59.05\00:02:01.95
I will sing to and worship
00:02:01.98\00:02:03.61
I will sing to and worship
00:02:03.64\00:02:07.56
The King who is worthy
00:02:07.59\00:02:11.78
I will love and adore Him
00:02:11.81\00:02:16.03
I will bow down before Him
00:02:16.06\00:02:20.15
I will sing to and worship
00:02:20.18\00:02:24.40
The King who is worthy
00:02:24.43\00:02:28.70
I will love and adore Him
00:02:28.73\00:02:32.84
I will bow down before Him
00:02:32.87\00:02:37.05
You're my Prince of Peace
00:02:37.08\00:02:39.06
And I will live my life for You
00:02:39.09\00:02:43.79
You're my Prince of Peace
00:02:43.82\00:02:45.44
You're my Prince of Peace
00:02:45.47\00:02:47.57
And I will live my life for You
00:02:47.60\00:02:50.83
You're my Prince of Peace
00:02:53.97\00:02:56.29
And I will live my life for You
00:02:56.32\00:03:00.51
Above all powers
00:03:48.49\00:03:52.23
Above all kings
00:03:52.26\00:03:56.10
Above all nature
00:03:56.13\00:03:58.70
And all created things
00:03:58.73\00:04:03.49
Above all wisdom
00:04:03.52\00:04:06.11
And all the ways of man
00:04:06.14\00:04:12.01
You were here
before the world began
00:04:12.04\00:04:18.18
Above all kingdoms
00:04:18.21\00:04:21.84
Above all thrones
00:04:21.87\00:04:25.38
Above all wonders
00:04:25.41\00:04:27.85
The world has ever known
00:04:27.88\00:04:32.49
Above all wealth
00:04:32.52\00:04:35.08
And treasures of the earth
00:04:35.11\00:04:40.74
There's no way to measure
00:04:40.77\00:04:43.28
What You're worth
00:04:43.31\00:04:46.71
Crucified.
00:04:46.74\00:04:48.08
Crucified
00:04:48.11\00:04:51.21
laid behind the stone
00:04:51.24\00:04:54.75
You lived to die
00:04:54.78\00:04:58.39
Rejected and alone Like a rose
00:04:58.42\00:05:03.86
Trampled on the ground
00:05:03.89\00:05:07.98
You took the fall
00:05:08.01\00:05:11.57
And thought of me above all
00:05:11.60\00:05:19.18
Above all powers
00:05:22.51\00:05:25.97
Above all kings
00:05:26.00\00:05:29.56
Above all nature
00:05:29.59\00:05:31.96
And all created things
00:05:31.99\00:05:36.43
Above all wisdom
00:05:36.46\00:05:38.94
And all the ways of man
00:05:38.97\00:05:44.39
You were here
before the world began
00:05:44.42\00:05:50.48
Above all kingdoms
00:05:50.51\00:05:53.91
Above all thrones
00:05:53.94\00:05:57.38
Above all wonders
00:05:57.41\00:05:59.86
The world has ever known
00:05:59.89\00:06:04.36
Above all wealth
00:06:04.39\00:06:06.76
And treasures of the earth
00:06:06.79\00:06:12.44
There's no way to measure
00:06:12.47\00:06:14.96
What You're worth
00:06:14.99\00:06:19.33
Crucified
00:06:19.36\00:06:22.59
laid behind the
stone You lived to die,
00:06:22.62\00:06:29.52
Rejected and alone Like a rose,
00:06:29.55\00:06:34.82
Trampled on the ground
00:06:34.85\00:06:38.87
You took the fall
00:06:38.90\00:06:42.51
And thought of me above all
00:06:42.54\00:06:50.34
Crucified
00:06:50.37\00:06:53.64
Laid behind the
stone You lived to die
00:06:53.67\00:07:00.48
Rejected and alone Like a rose
00:07:00.51\00:07:05.94
Trampled on the ground
00:07:05.97\00:07:09.86
You took the fall
00:07:09.89\00:07:12.39
Just point to yourself.
00:07:12.42\00:07:13.75
And thought of me
00:07:13.78\00:07:15.71
You took the fall
00:07:15.74\00:07:16.95
You took the fall
00:07:16.98\00:07:18.94
And thought of me
00:07:18.97\00:07:20.50
And thought of me
00:07:20.53\00:07:22.90
You took the fall
00:07:22.93\00:07:23.96
You took the fall
00:07:23.99\00:07:27.66
And thought of me
00:07:27.69\00:07:31.84
Above all Like a rose,
00:07:31.87\00:07:39.38
Trampled on the ground
00:07:39.41\00:07:44.09
You took the fall
00:07:44.12\00:07:48.36
And thought of me
00:07:48.39\00:07:52.90
Above all
00:07:52.93\00:07:59.12
Thank you, Jesus.
00:07:59.15\00:08:00.90
All right, let me
plunge right into it.
00:11:58.81\00:12:00.19
I'm gonna go to the mail bag
this morning if you don't mind.
00:12:00.22\00:12:03.71
I tell you what, after
preaching last Sabbath's sermon
00:12:03.74\00:12:07.02
and a bunch of you weren't here,
00:12:07.05\00:12:08.79
but I have got a lot of mails,
00:12:08.82\00:12:10.63
I've got emails,
I've got snail mails
00:12:10.66\00:12:12.67
and I've got drop
it by the office mails.
00:12:12.70\00:12:15.01
I guess the
moral of the story is
00:12:15.04\00:12:16.52
when you preach an entire
sermon from a rocking chair
00:12:16.55\00:12:19.05
you are bound to
hear from somebody.
00:12:19.08\00:12:21.26
And that's what I did this week.
00:12:21.29\00:12:23.27
Thank you, for all your mail,
00:12:23.30\00:12:24.37
many of you thank
you, thank you, thank you.
00:12:24.40\00:12:27.77
I'm gonna share a
couple letters with you,
00:12:27.80\00:12:29.92
just a couple letters.
00:12:29.95\00:12:32.14
I have contacted the writers
of these letters by the way
00:12:32.17\00:12:35.17
and I've asked
permission to share the letters.
00:12:35.20\00:12:37.15
Now one name I'm gonna share
with you for obvious reasons
00:12:37.18\00:12:40.11
I'm gonna keep one
writer anonymous, all right.
00:12:40.14\00:12:43.23
Let me read
these letters to you.
00:12:43.26\00:12:44.56
"Hi, Pastor Dwight."
00:12:44.59\00:12:45.63
Oh, this is a letter from,
00:12:45.66\00:12:47.10
this is a letter
from the manager.
00:12:47.13\00:12:48.31
Listen to this.
00:12:48.34\00:12:49.37
The Manager of
the Talent Management
00:12:49.40\00:12:50.74
and Organizational
Performance Department,
00:12:50.77\00:12:53.62
Whirlpool North America.
00:12:53.65\00:12:56.24
All right, her
name is Danae Atkins,
00:12:56.27\00:12:59.09
she happens to be a member
here at Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:12:59.12\00:13:01.40
And Danae wrote me a note
00:13:01.43\00:13:02.46
this last week,
sent me an email.
00:13:02.49\00:13:03.60
"Hi, Pastor Dwight, I'm excited
00:13:03.63\00:13:05.29
about the sermon series
you started last Sabbath."
00:13:05.32\00:13:07.81
Hallelujah, the good news,
Danae is it started last Sabbath
00:13:07.84\00:13:11.35
and it ends today
this is it just these two,
00:13:11.38\00:13:13.67
it's not a long series.
00:13:13.70\00:13:15.40
But something is very important
00:13:15.43\00:13:16.46
I'm about to share with you.
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.24
So I'm glad you're exited.
00:13:18.27\00:13:19.87
As Danae goes on "I
think it's vitally important
00:13:19.90\00:13:22.75
my husband Andy and I joined
a small group for about a year
00:13:22.78\00:13:25.63
when we were first married
and it was so valuable to us.
00:13:25.66\00:13:28.28
At first we wanted to
share about the time commitment,
00:13:28.31\00:13:30.16
but it turned out
to the fellowship."
00:13:30.19\00:13:31.61
And she lists all these
people that were in the group.
00:13:31.64\00:13:34.34
"Was exactly what we needed
at that point in our lives.
00:13:34.37\00:13:37.67
Plus like you
mentioned in your sermon
00:13:37.70\00:13:39.22
'meeting more people
00:13:39.25\00:13:40.28
and recognizing
more smiling faces
00:13:40.31\00:13:42.03
on Sabbath helps
you feel more connected
00:13:42.06\00:13:44.44
to another wise overwhelmingly
large congregation.'"
00:13:44.47\00:13:47.23
And yes, that true,
yep, that's the reality,
00:13:47.26\00:13:49.73
we know that for a
large congregation like this.
00:13:49.76\00:13:53.92
She said "Look, I found
your mention of Starbucks."
00:13:53.95\00:13:57.92
So she is kind of referencing,
00:13:57.95\00:14:00.13
talking about
Starbucks last week.
00:14:00.16\00:14:01.45
By the way I
got from five of you
00:14:01.48\00:14:04.33
this is rather coincidental,
00:14:04.36\00:14:06.07
but the Sunday
paper the very next day
00:14:06.10\00:14:08.43
had a huge
nationally syndicated column
00:14:08.46\00:14:10.71
written by Terry Mattingly
00:14:10.74\00:14:12.87
that compares Starbucks
to the Christian church.
00:14:12.90\00:14:16.66
And so five of you ripped
that out and sent it to me.
00:14:16.69\00:14:18.68
Thank you very much.
00:14:18.71\00:14:20.65
Now interesting story in
that column, interesting story
00:14:20.68\00:14:25.60
a pastor up in the Puget
Sound in Washington State
00:14:25.63\00:14:28.13
he has formed a church,
he calls it St. Arbucks.
00:14:28.16\00:14:30.75
You take the ST of a
Starbucks St. Arbucks.
00:14:30.78\00:14:34.21
And he is focusing on
creating this median space.
00:14:34.24\00:14:37.35
Remember this little two part
00:14:37.38\00:14:38.88
is called the
front porch median space,
00:14:38.91\00:14:41.22
the space between my
private world at home
00:14:41.25\00:14:43.17
and my public
world at work and school
00:14:43.20\00:14:44.76
wherever, there
needs to be median space
00:14:44.79\00:14:46.72
and that's why
for this generation
00:14:46.75\00:14:48.26
Starbucks is so successful.
00:14:48.29\00:14:49.67
So Danae she says "I
found you mentioning Starbucks
00:14:49.70\00:14:52.53
as the new front
porch extremely interesting.
00:14:52.56\00:14:55.36
As part of the
classes I teach at Whirlpool."
00:14:55.39\00:14:57.32
Listen to this.
00:14:57.35\00:14:58.38
"We talk about consumer insights
00:14:58.41\00:15:00.47
and why they are so important.
00:15:00.50\00:15:02.49
Starbucks is an example
that we point to of a company
00:15:02.52\00:15:05.67
that did an extremely good job
00:15:05.70\00:15:08.14
of uncovering core
insights about its consumers
00:15:08.17\00:15:10.75
and then crafting its
business around these insights."
00:15:10.78\00:15:14.68
Now she quotes from
the Starbucks manual.
00:15:14.71\00:15:16.56
"In fact Starbucks main
insight was" here she quotes.
00:15:16.59\00:15:19.60
"Starbucks is not a
product sold in a coffee shop
00:15:19.63\00:15:23.72
rather an experience
marketed in a third space
00:15:23.75\00:15:26.64
between home and work
00:15:26.67\00:15:28.45
where people can
gather and relax."
00:15:28.48\00:15:32.08
So she writes here mentioned
the Starbucks is right on.
00:15:32.11\00:15:34.37
Thank you, Danae.
00:15:34.40\00:15:35.66
Isn't that something,
that's what Starbucks is about,
00:15:35.69\00:15:37.61
it's this third space,
it's this median space.
00:15:37.64\00:15:41.92
And like we talked a little
bit about that last Sabbath,
00:15:41.95\00:15:44.26
if you weren't here last
Sabbath this is just a two part.
00:15:44.29\00:15:46.50
I'd love you to get both parts,
00:15:46.53\00:15:48.04
so I'm gonna
put it on the screen
00:15:48.07\00:15:49.10
just for one second
00:15:49.13\00:15:50.35
and then I gonna
plunge into the second letter.
00:15:50.38\00:15:52.61
But there is our website
on the screen www.pmchurch.tv
00:15:52.64\00:15:56.31
go to that
website and you're looking
00:15:56.34\00:15:58.13
for a little two part
called the Front Porch.
00:15:58.16\00:16:00.61
There is one and two, that's it.
00:16:00.64\00:16:02.30
You can download
those to your iPod,
00:16:02.33\00:16:04.74
listen to them at your leisure.
00:16:04.77\00:16:06.70
Kind of
ruminate with me will you
00:16:06.73\00:16:08.38
about this call
to the front porch?
00:16:08.41\00:16:11.14
That I believe Holy
Scripture is sounding to us.
00:16:11.17\00:16:15.26
All right, two letters.
00:16:15.29\00:16:16.95
This letter is
gonna remain anonymous.
00:16:16.98\00:16:18.82
This letter
writer "Pastor Nelson,
00:16:18.85\00:16:21.37
I listen to your sermon
via the radio this morning.
00:16:21.40\00:16:26.45
I'm must tell you why
I resorted to listening
00:16:26.48\00:16:28.22
to the sermon on
the radio this morning.
00:16:28.25\00:16:30.00
I have been an
active member at Pioneer
00:16:30.03\00:16:32.44
for seven years this month."
00:16:32.47\00:16:35.24
All right, not a stranger.
00:16:35.27\00:16:38.01
"I've been an active member here
00:16:38.04\00:16:39.25
although I sit among
3,000 people each Sabbath
00:16:39.28\00:16:42.10
the worship experience is
usually painfully lonely for me.
00:16:42.13\00:16:47.78
There are many
times when I skip church
00:16:47.81\00:16:49.35
for several weeks at a time
00:16:49.38\00:16:50.73
and allow the
radio or the television
00:16:50.76\00:16:52.31
spiritual feed me
during the Sabbath hours.
00:16:52.34\00:16:55.56
I don't want to
be a Sabbath recluse.
00:16:55.59\00:16:58.45
One of the highlights
of my Pioneer experience
00:16:58.48\00:17:00.25
is when I was in a small
group and she lists the leader.
00:17:00.28\00:17:02.41
A few years ago I attempted
to join a small group this year,
00:17:02.44\00:17:05.21
but my work schedule
overruled, I love Pioneer.
00:17:05.24\00:17:08.95
I will miss the glorious music
and thought provoking messages.
00:17:08.98\00:17:12.20
I will also miss the
people I greet in passing,
00:17:12.23\00:17:15.04
but at this stage in my life
00:17:15.07\00:17:17.26
I need more than
passing relationships,
00:17:17.29\00:17:19.52
I need to feel the
sense of belonging,
00:17:19.55\00:17:21.91
I need to experience abundance,
00:17:21.94\00:17:24.37
spending most Sabbaths
being lonely and depress
00:17:24.40\00:17:26.83
can no longer be
an option for me.
00:17:26.86\00:17:29.08
And so last week
00:17:29.11\00:17:30.84
I submitted a request to
have my membership transferred
00:17:30.87\00:17:34.20
and she list a church
in another town nearby.
00:17:34.23\00:17:36.64
I'm hoping that a
smaller church will provide
00:17:36.67\00:17:38.68
the sense of
community that I am seeking.
00:17:38.71\00:17:40.91
Pray for me please
as I venture beyond
00:17:40.94\00:17:42.97
the comfort zone of pioneer."
00:17:43.00\00:17:44.72
And she signs her name.
00:17:44.75\00:17:47.97
I guess not everybody
00:17:48.00\00:17:50.45
feels like this is a
place where you can belong.
00:17:50.48\00:17:54.80
America is a nation in
search of a front porch
00:17:58.51\00:18:01.32
and guess what, so are
we as a church in America
00:18:01.35\00:18:05.33
we got a 100 nations
here Africa included,
00:18:05.36\00:18:08.49
but we're all people
that we've been wired
00:18:08.52\00:18:10.66
and shaped to
hunger for front porch.
00:18:10.69\00:18:15.21
Here somebody says, you know,
00:18:15.24\00:18:16.27
I just couldn't
find one around here.
00:18:16.30\00:18:18.33
I think I'll go
somebody, somewhere else
00:18:18.36\00:18:20.61
after seven years, ouch.
00:18:20.64\00:18:26.03
I told you last week
I've been reading this book
00:18:26.06\00:18:27.55
by Joseph Myers "In
Search of Belonging."
00:18:27.58\00:18:30.19
Rethinking small groups
and intimacy and community.
00:18:30.22\00:18:34.20
It was in that book
that I came across the study
00:18:34.23\00:18:37.70
and research of a social
scientist name Edward T. Hall.
00:18:37.73\00:18:40.87
I've never heard of him before
00:18:40.90\00:18:42.26
but he is the guy who
came up with the proxemics.
00:18:42.29\00:18:45.91
What are proxemics?
00:18:45.94\00:18:47.07
Proxemics have to do
with proximity, proximity.
00:18:47.10\00:18:50.46
He studies human proximities
00:18:50.49\00:18:52.70
how we moving
relationship to each other
00:18:52.73\00:18:54.87
and Edward T. Hall
is the man who came up
00:18:54.90\00:18:56.86
with the four
spaces, the four spaces.
00:18:56.89\00:19:00.75
He says in every life
00:19:00.78\00:19:02.29
we need to belong in
four different spaces.
00:19:02.32\00:19:04.57
We have number
one, our public space,
00:19:04.60\00:19:06.32
you got to belong there.
00:19:06.35\00:19:07.62
We have number
two, our social space,
00:19:07.65\00:19:09.39
you need to belong there.
00:19:09.42\00:19:10.59
Number three,
we've got personal space.
00:19:10.62\00:19:12.46
And number four, we
have intimate space.
00:19:12.49\00:19:16.13
Now I want to illustrate,
00:19:16.16\00:19:17.78
I want to
illustrate this for a moment
00:19:17.81\00:19:19.55
and I need a volunteer.
00:19:19.58\00:19:22.03
Thank you, Pastor Tim,
00:19:22.06\00:19:23.09
could you come up here please?
00:19:23.12\00:19:25.56
I don't know why you
are so quick to volunteer.
00:19:25.59\00:19:27.15
That is incredible.
00:19:27.18\00:19:28.94
He is Pastor Tim
our campus Chaplin.
00:19:28.97\00:19:31.22
Tim.
00:19:31.25\00:19:32.32
Yes please. No, no.
00:19:32.35\00:19:34.65
Save the personal
space to later, Tim.
00:19:34.68\00:19:36.67
All right, okay, so, Tim,
let's illustrate four spaces.
00:19:36.70\00:19:40.77
There you are, now I--
00:19:40.80\00:19:42.52
Edward T. Hall says public
spaces 12 feet to infinity.
00:19:42.55\00:19:47.00
All right, so we got to
be at least 12 feet apart.
00:19:47.03\00:19:49.51
That is public space.
00:19:49.54\00:19:51.55
Let me tell you about
belonging in public space.
00:19:51.58\00:19:53.62
I happen to be a
New York Yankees fan.
00:19:53.65\00:19:55.26
Don't hold that against me.
00:19:55.29\00:19:56.41
But if I would ever
go-- well, bless your heart.
00:19:56.44\00:20:00.78
I already feel at home
in this very public space.
00:20:00.81\00:20:03.03
All right, okay,
now don't get close yet.
00:20:03.06\00:20:05.19
When I go to public space,
let's say I go to Yankees game
00:20:09.75\00:20:11.86
which is really hard to do,
00:20:11.89\00:20:12.92
but let's say I
go to a Yankees game
00:20:12.95\00:20:14.49
I don't have to touch you,
I don't have to hear from you,
00:20:14.52\00:20:16.46
I don't have to
have you shake my hand,
00:20:16.49\00:20:17.88
say I'm so glad you're here.
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.18
I just know
you're here 50,000 of you
00:20:19.21\00:20:21.32
and I have one
thing in common you and I
00:20:21.35\00:20:23.28
we belong to the Yankees family.
00:20:23.31\00:20:26.36
All right, so
that's public space.
00:20:26.39\00:20:27.95
I need to
belong in public space.
00:20:27.98\00:20:29.52
Now there is also social space.
00:20:29.55\00:20:31.87
Social space is 4
feet to 12 feet all right.
00:20:31.90\00:20:35.58
So it's a next space
in 4 feet to 12 feet.
00:20:35.61\00:20:38.17
So that when Tim
and I end up in a party
00:20:38.20\00:20:41.83
and there we're just
kind of mixing around,
00:20:41.86\00:20:43.31
you know, we'll get up
to about four feet here.
00:20:43.34\00:20:45.32
This about it, this
is our social space.
00:20:45.35\00:20:46.91
Hey, how are you doing?
Hey, I'm doing real great.
00:20:46.94\00:20:49.23
I see. What's happening?
00:20:49.26\00:20:50.68
Okay, so we move
around like that.
00:20:50.71\00:20:53.10
Now I have Karen and I belong
to Indianhead Association,
00:20:53.13\00:20:57.93
our neighborhood
had some late front,
00:20:57.96\00:21:00.16
riverfront property
that the association owns
00:21:00.19\00:21:02.90
and so once a
year we had a picnic
00:21:02.93\00:21:04.17
in the summer down by the river.
00:21:04.20\00:21:06.32
That's our social
space, so we get together,
00:21:06.35\00:21:08.30
hey, how's it been,
haven't seen you a long time.
00:21:08.33\00:21:09.83
Hey, I'm fine.
And so we connect.
00:21:09.86\00:21:11.88
Nothing more than four feet,
nothing close than four feet,
00:21:11.91\00:21:14.19
4 to 12 feet
that's our social space.
00:21:14.22\00:21:16.81
Edward T. Hall says there
00:21:16.84\00:21:18.36
actually four
spaces in your life
00:21:18.39\00:21:19.77
and you have to
belong in all four.
00:21:19.80\00:21:21.38
The next one is personal space
00:21:21.41\00:21:24.09
that's from 4 feet to 18 inches.
00:21:24.12\00:21:29.01
Now there are fewer people
that are in your personal space.
00:21:29.04\00:21:33.68
Tim and I happen to belong
at the same pastoral staff
00:21:33.71\00:21:35.77
and I considered
the pastoral staff
00:21:35.80\00:21:37.39
my personal space,
we are small group.
00:21:37.42\00:21:39.76
And so when we have
lot, when we have saddening
00:21:39.79\00:21:42.27
you know, we just
sitting all around the table
00:21:42.30\00:21:44.22
we're on our elbows,
we're on each others faces
00:21:44.25\00:21:46.08
and it doesn't bother us.
00:21:46.11\00:21:47.73
You know, that sometimes
00:21:47.76\00:21:49.76
when somebody is not a
part of your personal space
00:21:49.79\00:21:52.26
and that somebody comes
up and starts talking to you,
00:21:52.29\00:21:54.72
do you know-- You
know what happens right?
00:21:54.75\00:21:59.71
That's what happened.
You just, you just instigate.
00:21:59.74\00:22:01.34
Man, you brush
your teeth or what?
00:22:01.37\00:22:03.93
I don't like
getting this close to you,
00:22:03.96\00:22:06.30
because you're in my space.
00:22:06.33\00:22:08.63
There is one more,
there is one more space
00:22:08.66\00:22:11.22
and it's called intimate space.
00:22:11.25\00:22:13.62
Intimate space--
00:22:13.65\00:22:17.20
intimate space
is 18 inches to 0,
00:22:17.23\00:22:22.20
18 inches to 0.
00:22:22.23\00:22:23.54
I have one person in my life
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.07
who is at the 0 stage.
00:22:25.10\00:22:27.36
Me to. Yeah.
00:22:30.43\00:22:33.17
Those our wives, we're
talking about our wives.
00:22:33.20\00:22:36.49
Sandria and Karen. Why?
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.82
Because I can't handle
00:22:39.85\00:22:41.82
being intimate
with a lot of people.
00:22:41.85\00:22:43.02
In fact I have a few others,
a few other close friends
00:22:43.05\00:22:46.31
I can count them on
the fingers of one hand,
00:22:46.34\00:22:48.11
who get that close to me.
00:22:48.14\00:22:50.47
The Bible calls it being naked.
00:22:50.50\00:22:52.68
The Bible calls it being naked.
00:22:52.71\00:22:53.75
Isn't that right, Tim?
Adam and Eve were naked.
00:22:53.78\00:22:55.21
They had no idea that
they were intimate with God
00:22:55.24\00:22:57.21
and this is something to be
embarrassed about God, says No
00:22:57.24\00:22:59.31
we're supposed to
be intimate you and me
00:22:59.34\00:23:00.81
and so they are naked
and feeling entirely at home
00:23:00.84\00:23:03.83
until sin comes along and
says it destroys that intimacy
00:23:03.86\00:23:07.18
and suddenly now oh,
that was way to close.
00:23:07.21\00:23:12.33
You see, everybody
Pastor Tim, thank you very much.
00:23:12.36\00:23:15.98
Everybody has these four spaces.
00:23:16.01\00:23:18.36
We're in good hand
to our chaplains here.
00:23:18.39\00:23:20.56
Four spaces.
00:23:20.59\00:23:21.97
Now Joseph Myers in
commenting on those four spaces
00:23:22.00\00:23:25.49
Edward T. Hall four spaces.
00:23:25.52\00:23:26.78
Let me put this on
the screen for you.
00:23:26.81\00:23:28.15
We'll get the
study guides next week.
00:23:28.18\00:23:29.48
No study guides now
we're still preschool
00:23:29.51\00:23:31.19
so let's put--
this is Joseph Myers
00:23:31.22\00:23:35.77
"All belonging
in all four space"
00:23:35.80\00:23:37.85
all right, all four spaces.
00:23:37.88\00:23:39.46
"All belonging is significant.
00:23:39.49\00:23:41.62
Healthy
community, the goal humankind
00:23:41.65\00:23:44.30
has sought since the beginning."
00:23:44.33\00:23:45.83
Everybody wants to belong.
00:23:45.86\00:23:47.88
"Is achieved when we hold
00:23:47.91\00:23:49.30
harmonious
connections in all four spaces.
00:23:49.33\00:23:52.97
Harmony means more
public belongings than social."
00:23:53.00\00:23:58.07
You understand that?
00:23:58.10\00:23:59.13
I got more over here
a few less here social.
00:23:59.16\00:24:02.10
"More social than personal.
00:24:02.13\00:24:04.26
And a very few intimate."
That's what harmony is.
00:24:04.29\00:24:07.31
You don't have to have
hundreds of intimates please.
00:24:07.34\00:24:10.20
"A healthy strategy for
those working to build community
00:24:10.23\00:24:13.96
entails allowing people to
grow significant relationships
00:24:13.99\00:24:18.05
in all four spaces, all four."
00:24:18.08\00:24:20.12
Those italics are his, all four.
00:24:20.15\00:24:23.27
You know, some people think
that when you come to church
00:24:23.30\00:24:24.60
you got to get intimate.
00:24:24.63\00:24:25.66
You're crazy, you
don't have to get intimate
00:24:25.69\00:24:27.00
to belong to a church.
00:24:27.03\00:24:28.10
No way hosay.
00:24:28.13\00:24:30.77
That's a very, very narrow
slice of your relationships
00:24:30.80\00:24:36.04
fit into the intimate stage.
00:24:36.07\00:24:38.97
But we have to belong, I
have to belong in all four.
00:24:39.00\00:24:41.76
What's that have to do
with the university like this?
00:24:41.79\00:24:43.73
Oh, that's a lot to do
with the university like this.
00:24:43.76\00:24:45.25
What is it have to do
with the church like this,
00:24:45.28\00:24:46.64
big like this?
00:24:46.67\00:24:47.70
Everything Randy Frazee
00:24:47.73\00:24:49.08
in his book "Dealing with
00:24:49.11\00:24:52.24
Human Relationships
within the Church."
00:24:52.27\00:24:53.38
Let's put Randy Frazee up.
00:24:53.41\00:24:54.46
"The development of
meaningful relationships
00:24:54.49\00:24:56.24
where every member carries a
significant sense of belonging
00:24:56.27\00:24:59.49
is central to what it
means to be the church."
00:24:59.52\00:25:02.91
We all have to feel
like we belong here.
00:25:02.94\00:25:06.32
Now I may give my belonging need
00:25:06.35\00:25:07.87
just by showing up in
the stadium every week
00:25:07.90\00:25:09.73
50,000 people
singing praise to Jesus,
00:25:09.76\00:25:11.81
3,000 people
singing praise to Jesus.
00:25:11.84\00:25:13.91
I feel like I belong
00:25:13.94\00:25:15.46
and I could tell
you people by name
00:25:15.49\00:25:17.62
that's the only connection
they have with our congregation.
00:25:17.65\00:25:20.32
They show up in worship
00:25:20.35\00:25:21.39
either first church or
second church that's it,
00:25:21.42\00:25:23.77
but they feel like they belong.
00:25:23.80\00:25:26.29
Everybody has got
to belong some where.
00:25:26.32\00:25:29.24
And by the way,
00:25:29.27\00:25:30.73
did you know that
Jesus was a master
00:25:30.76\00:25:32.54
at understanding these spaces.
00:25:32.57\00:25:35.19
Remember the story
about the Centurion
00:25:35.22\00:25:37.37
who came to Jesus and he said,
00:25:37.40\00:25:39.03
remember that he said,
my servant is at death door,
00:25:39.06\00:25:42.55
I need You to heal him please.
00:25:42.58\00:25:44.66
This is a pagan Centurion.
00:25:44.69\00:25:46.38
And what does Jesus said,
00:25:46.41\00:25:47.77
Jesus says great idea
let's go to your house
00:25:47.80\00:25:50.47
and I'll heal your servant.
00:25:50.50\00:25:51.63
And the Roman
Centurion said wait a minute,
00:25:51.66\00:25:54.91
I'm here in public space.
00:25:54.94\00:25:56.79
I don't want You
in personal space,
00:25:56.82\00:25:59.10
I don't even need to be
in social space with You.
00:25:59.13\00:26:01.28
I'm content to it.
He said, hey, hey, hey.
00:26:01.31\00:26:04.69
Listen, I'm a
man in the authority,
00:26:04.72\00:26:05.88
I said a word it happens,
you're man in authority,
00:26:05.91\00:26:08.51
I believe you can do it
00:26:08.54\00:26:09.89
in this public
space heal my servant.
00:26:09.92\00:26:11.75
And Jesus turns He
said, hey guys, okay,
00:26:11.78\00:26:14.01
have you ever seen this
kind of faith in Israel?
00:26:14.04\00:26:16.60
Your servant is healed.
00:26:16.63\00:26:18.47
Jesus could have said,
hey no way, in order to have
00:26:18.50\00:26:21.20
really meaningful
relationships in church
00:26:21.23\00:26:23.01
I got to go home with you
00:26:23.04\00:26:24.16
and we got to get
up front and personal.
00:26:24.19\00:26:25.88
No.
00:26:25.91\00:26:27.12
He respected a man
00:26:27.15\00:26:28.99
who says I relate to
you in public space along.
00:26:29.02\00:26:31.89
So its okay, by the way,
00:26:31.92\00:26:33.53
which means that what happens
here on Sabbath mornings,
00:26:33.56\00:26:36.42
is not just another
little event on this campus.
00:26:36.45\00:26:39.06
This is a huge event
00:26:39.09\00:26:40.70
where people, come
3,000 come together
00:26:40.73\00:26:43.16
and at some point
sense a connection.
00:26:43.19\00:26:46.18
Does everybody
feel connected here?
00:26:46.21\00:26:48.11
I just read to you
a letter from somebody
00:26:48.14\00:26:50.60
who is sat here for seven years
00:26:50.63\00:26:51.98
and said, no I don't feel like
I belong in this public space,
00:26:52.01\00:26:55.63
I'm gonna find some more space.
00:26:55.66\00:26:58.01
See we all are different.
00:26:58.04\00:26:59.55
We have different
needs, but that what is clear
00:26:59.58\00:27:02.31
as that we have
been wired by God
00:27:02.34\00:27:04.37
to need this belonging,
this sense of community.
00:27:04.40\00:27:08.08
In fact, that's what I find
00:27:12.25\00:27:14.11
so phenomenal
about this description
00:27:14.14\00:27:16.05
of the early church
in the Book of Acts.
00:27:16.08\00:27:17.71
Let's go to the Bible now,
00:27:17.74\00:27:18.77
pull the Bible
out in front of you.
00:27:18.80\00:27:19.89
There should be a pew Bible,
00:27:19.92\00:27:20.95
if you didn't
bring your own Bible
00:27:20.98\00:27:22.29
there is a pew Bible
in the same translation.
00:27:22.32\00:27:24.47
I'll be reading
from the New King James.
00:27:24.50\00:27:27.43
If you have your Bible
turn to Acts Chapter 2 please,
00:27:27.46\00:27:29.92
open you Bible
to Acts Chapter 2,
00:27:29.95\00:27:31.86
page 734 in your pew Bible.
00:27:31.89\00:27:36.17
Page 734 and I want to show
00:27:36.20\00:27:40.87
the four spaces of
Edward T. Hall right here
00:27:40.90\00:27:44.22
long before there
were social signs.
00:27:44.25\00:27:46.97
Take a look at
this, it's amazing.
00:27:47.00\00:27:48.80
Acts 2:41 all
right, page 734, Acts 2:41.
00:27:48.83\00:27:56.56
I'll start reading it then--
00:27:56.59\00:27:57.63
oh, by the way, this
is the day of Pentecost.
00:27:57.66\00:27:59.26
Peter has just
preached his heart out.
00:27:59.29\00:28:01.61
Thousands of people
have listened to him.
00:28:01.64\00:28:03.37
Now notice the response verse 41
00:28:03.40\00:28:05.29
"Then those who gladly received
00:28:05.32\00:28:07.54
his," Peter's
"word were baptized,
00:28:07.57\00:28:10.04
and that day about
three thousand souls
00:28:10.07\00:28:14.71
were added to them."
00:28:14.74\00:28:15.93
Boy, that's fledgling
little movement of Christianity
00:28:15.96\00:28:19.60
to go by 3,000
in one day, amazing.
00:28:19.63\00:28:23.19
So how do they
behave with 3,000 verse 42.
00:28:23.22\00:28:26.56
"And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles doctrine
00:28:26.59\00:28:30.65
and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers."
00:28:30.68\00:28:34.90
Hold on, think of
this with me for a moment.
00:28:34.93\00:28:37.84
There they are the four spaces,
00:28:37.87\00:28:41.79
they continued to in
the apostles doctrine
00:28:41.82\00:28:43.35
that's public teaching.
00:28:43.38\00:28:44.48
It's like we're
doing right here,
00:28:44.51\00:28:45.54
we're having public
teaching, public worship,
00:28:45.57\00:28:47.01
so they have their public space.
00:28:47.04\00:28:48.95
They continued in
the apostles doctrine
00:28:48.98\00:28:50.74
steadfastly and fellowship.
00:28:50.77\00:28:52.18
Greek word for
fellowship is Koinonia,
00:28:52.21\00:28:53.92
it's another word for community.
00:28:53.95\00:28:55.74
So they had to
social, it's a social space.
00:28:55.77\00:28:58.05
So they have the public space,
they have the social space
00:28:58.08\00:29:00.59
and then they
broke bread together.
00:29:00.62\00:29:03.25
And then verse 47 it
says from house to house.
00:29:03.28\00:29:05.49
So now we're down
to personal space.
00:29:05.52\00:29:10.29
And in prayers,
they share the intimacy
00:29:10.32\00:29:13.87
well, that space with God.
00:29:13.90\00:29:14.93
Isn't that amazing?
00:29:14.96\00:29:15.99
You got the four
spaces right there.
00:29:16.02\00:29:17.80
What happens verse 43
00:29:17.83\00:29:18.86
"Then fear came upon
every soul of that city,
00:29:18.89\00:29:22.17
many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles."
00:29:22.20\00:29:24.55
Now verse 44 "All who believed."
00:29:24.58\00:29:27.44
Talking about a front
porch community here it goes.
00:29:27.47\00:29:29.61
"All who believed were together,
and had all things in common,
00:29:29.64\00:29:32.87
and they sold their
possessions and goods,
00:29:32.90\00:29:34.73
and divided them among
all, as anyone had need."
00:29:34.76\00:29:37.30
So here's the punch line.
00:29:37.33\00:29:38.90
"Continuing
daily with one accord
00:29:38.93\00:29:41.71
in the temple" public space
00:29:41.74\00:29:43.77
"and breaking bread
from house to house,"
00:29:43.80\00:29:45.59
from front porch to
front porch social space
00:29:45.62\00:29:49.70
"they ate their
food with gladness
00:29:49.73\00:29:51.56
and simplicity of heart,
00:29:51.59\00:29:53.30
praising God and having
favor with all the people."
00:29:53.33\00:29:55.43
And guess what when you
get community right God says
00:29:55.46\00:29:58.20
I can hardly wait to
keep growing that community
00:29:58.23\00:30:00.43
and He keeps adding.
00:30:00.46\00:30:01.91
Why, because it's a compelling
draw as I'm about to show you
00:30:01.94\00:30:05.48
with some fascinating
research done with the Moonies.
00:30:05.51\00:30:09.49
Have you heard of the Moonies?
00:30:09.52\00:30:11.73
Before I tell
you about the Moonies
00:30:11.76\00:30:12.79
let's just make sure
we have it clear here
00:30:12.82\00:30:14.52
what's happening
in Acts Chapter 2.
00:30:14.55\00:30:17.42
Overnight literally in one day
00:30:17.45\00:30:19.93
the church
explodes to over 3,000.
00:30:19.96\00:30:22.71
Guess what that's a
Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:30:22.74\00:30:24.36
Our membership is 3,400.
00:30:24.39\00:30:26.31
So suddenly you have a church
00:30:26.34\00:30:28.00
the size of Pioneer in
Jerusalem that very day.
00:30:28.03\00:30:32.32
Isn't that amazing
00:30:32.35\00:30:33.58
that the leaders of the
church when they realize
00:30:33.61\00:30:35.86
what is happened
instantly concluded
00:30:35.89\00:30:38.83
under the social science
direction of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:38.86\00:30:42.45
We can't leave this thing big,
00:30:42.48\00:30:44.34
we have got to begin
to create front porches.
00:30:44.37\00:30:47.30
Isn't it amazing
00:30:47.33\00:30:48.97
that their response to a huge
setting is to immediately create
00:30:49.00\00:30:54.11
small little front
porches of community.
00:30:54.14\00:30:57.80
You know what, may be
that's a clue for you and me.
00:30:57.83\00:31:01.19
May be this church is got
to have this big celebration
00:31:01.22\00:31:03.83
where we have
our finest musicians
00:31:03.86\00:31:05.65
and we praise and we worship,
00:31:05.68\00:31:07.65
but may be it's not enough
to be content having that.
00:31:07.68\00:31:12.58
May be we need
around Andrews University
00:31:12.61\00:31:15.37
small little
front porch communities
00:31:15.40\00:31:18.57
where we work
and where we worship.
00:31:18.60\00:31:22.80
Three thousand
people come together
00:31:22.83\00:31:24.02
it's called the celebration,
00:31:24.05\00:31:25.08
when ten people come
together its called community
00:31:25.11\00:31:27.51
and has a big difference.
00:31:27.54\00:31:29.08
Now about the Moonies.
00:31:29.11\00:31:31.53
Last week worshiping with us
00:31:31.56\00:31:33.50
last Sabbath
was a friend of mine
00:31:33.53\00:31:35.77
he was a former student.
00:31:35.80\00:31:37.55
He had his PhD in Missiology.
00:31:37.58\00:31:39.72
He is planting a
church in what is arguably
00:31:39.75\00:31:42.47
the most godless and
secular nation perhaps on earth.
00:31:42.50\00:31:46.51
Certainly in Western
Europe in the Czech Republic.
00:31:46.54\00:31:49.75
He was sitting here last Sabbath
00:31:49.78\00:31:51.72
with the rocking
chairs and he was listening
00:31:51.75\00:31:53.46
and he met me at that back
door afterward he says, Dwight,
00:31:53.49\00:31:55.78
I got to share
something with you.
00:31:55.81\00:31:56.98
I said, come on in this week.
00:31:57.01\00:31:58.04
He came in and he is
the one that shared with me
00:31:58.07\00:32:00.24
this research
regarding the Moonies.
00:32:00.27\00:32:03.81
Now look at when I
was with my PowerPoint man
00:32:03.84\00:32:06.31
who is up in
there, he is a junior
00:32:06.34\00:32:07.37
bioengineer here Anthony Wills.
00:32:07.40\00:32:10.18
I say hey, do you
know what the Moonies are?
00:32:10.21\00:32:11.28
And he says, nope.
00:32:11.31\00:32:12.54
So I suddenly
realized wait a minute,
00:32:12.57\00:32:13.60
Moonies that's going back.
00:32:13.63\00:32:15.85
Moonies goes back to the
60s, the 70s, and the 80s.
00:32:15.88\00:32:19.13
Some of you're just
getting born at that time.
00:32:19.16\00:32:21.44
But Reverend Sun Myung
Moon, a Korean visionary
00:32:21.47\00:32:25.47
who claimed to be Christ
manifested to this generation
00:32:25.50\00:32:28.37
he started what they came
to call the unification church
00:32:28.40\00:32:31.80
and American kids
00:32:31.83\00:32:33.10
by the
thousands were signing up.
00:32:33.13\00:32:36.11
Amazing, a
sociological phenomena.
00:32:36.14\00:32:39.94
So Rodney Stark who
is the social scientist
00:32:39.97\00:32:43.04
and he collaborated
with another socialist
00:32:43.07\00:32:45.76
John Lofland in the early 60s.
00:32:45.79\00:32:48.50
They did the
research and then Rodney Stark
00:32:48.53\00:32:50.60
has written the book
the Rise of Christianity
00:32:50.63\00:32:52.24
and so this is just
blow your socks out.
00:32:52.27\00:32:55.24
Listen to this,
think of the implications
00:32:55.27\00:32:57.30
for life here at
Andrews University.
00:32:57.33\00:32:58.64
Listen up, so he said in
the early 60s "John Lofland
00:32:58.67\00:33:01.78
and I were the first social
scientist to actually go out
00:33:01.81\00:33:05.11
and watch people convert
to a new religious movement."
00:33:05.14\00:33:08.32
Now hold on.
00:33:08.35\00:33:09.38
"Although all the
converts were quick to describe
00:33:09.41\00:33:11.67
how their spiritual
lives had been empty
00:33:11.70\00:33:12.96
and desolate prior
to their conversion."
00:33:12.99\00:33:15.03
It turns out we
found the only ones
00:33:15.06\00:33:17.64
who join and became Moonies.
00:33:17.67\00:33:19.75
"The only ones
who join were those
00:33:19.78\00:33:22.42
whose interpersonal attachments
00:33:22.45\00:33:24.34
to members of this new community
00:33:24.37\00:33:27.35
over balance their
attachment to nonmember
00:33:27.38\00:33:30.22
i.e., their parents,
their peers back at home."
00:33:30.25\00:33:34.13
This is in San Francisco.
00:33:34.16\00:33:36.21
Kids just start to showing up
on buses, the Moonie movement.
00:33:36.24\00:33:40.76
And so these two
social scientists
00:33:40.79\00:33:41.92
begin to interview them.
00:33:41.95\00:33:42.98
What's going
on? What's going on?
00:33:43.01\00:33:44.31
Do you know what they found out?
00:33:44.34\00:33:45.83
In fact, let me put out,
let me put three sentences
00:33:45.86\00:33:47.41
from this research
on the screen for you.
00:33:47.44\00:33:49.23
"Attachments."
00:33:49.26\00:33:50.29
Here's what they
concluded after hundreds
00:33:50.32\00:33:52.92
and hundreds of
these interviews.
00:33:52.95\00:33:54.37
"Attachments lie at
the heart of conversion."
00:33:54.40\00:33:56.40
This is a key point.
00:33:56.43\00:33:57.91
"And therefore
that conversion tends
00:33:57.94\00:34:00.56
to proceed along
social networks formed
00:34:00.59\00:34:03.84
by interpersonal attachments."
00:34:03.87\00:34:06.89
Did you get their findings?
00:34:06.92\00:34:08.07
They're finding
that's for the Moonies
00:34:08.10\00:34:10.66
which by the way they
define as a deviant religion,
00:34:10.69\00:34:15.28
which by the way is exactly
00:34:15.31\00:34:16.89
what Christianity
was in the beginning.
00:34:16.92\00:34:19.04
It was a deviant
religion consider by the public
00:34:19.07\00:34:23.27
that way isn't that right.
00:34:23.30\00:34:24.73
Why were people
joining the Christian church
00:34:24.76\00:34:26.68
by the thousands?
00:34:26.71\00:34:28.31
When they did this research
00:34:28.34\00:34:29.55
they found out
that these attachments
00:34:29.58\00:34:31.99
the new
attachments became so strong
00:34:32.02\00:34:34.70
that they over
rowed mom and dad,
00:34:34.73\00:34:38.57
kids back at home,
00:34:38.60\00:34:39.98
people at work, they went ahead
00:34:40.01\00:34:43.13
because of the
strength of the new attachments.
00:34:43.16\00:34:47.55
You thinking on this? You
see what's happening here?
00:34:47.58\00:34:50.79
And that conversion
was not a theological
00:34:50.82\00:34:53.76
change of mind,
conversion turns out
00:34:53.79\00:34:56.25
it was dominantly
moving along social networks
00:34:56.28\00:34:59.62
and that when you had that
00:34:59.65\00:35:00.68
social network
in place, I convert.
00:35:00.71\00:35:04.24
In fact, this is amazing.
00:35:04.27\00:35:05.42
They talk to these Moonies
00:35:05.45\00:35:06.48
who had been
Moonies now for years
00:35:06.51\00:35:07.77
and they said, tell us
why you join this movement.
00:35:07.80\00:35:11.20
And those who
been here long enough,
00:35:11.23\00:35:14.21
you know what they said?
00:35:14.24\00:35:15.27
Oh, well, it was
the theology, man,
00:35:15.30\00:35:16.94
this philosophy,
this life, this worldview
00:35:16.97\00:35:20.11
I knew that this is for me.
00:35:20.14\00:35:23.02
The very same people who
when they interviewed them
00:35:23.05\00:35:25.97
coming into the
movement they said, hey,
00:35:26.00\00:35:28.53
I got new friends
here, this is where I belong.
00:35:28.56\00:35:32.12
Over the course of a few years
00:35:32.15\00:35:34.53
the mind blocked out the
social network party said,
00:35:34.56\00:35:37.87
oh, no, I really came in here,
00:35:37.90\00:35:38.93
'cause I'm
thinking really clearly now.
00:35:38.96\00:35:41.56
Now how I made it all.
00:35:41.59\00:35:42.98
You didn't come in
because the theology,
00:35:43.01\00:35:44.57
you came in
because of a personal
00:35:44.60\00:35:47.47
attachment to
somebody on the inside.
00:35:47.50\00:35:50.29
Look at this second statement.
Put this on the screen.
00:35:50.32\00:35:52.30
Number two "Conversion to new,
deviant religious groups occurs
00:35:52.33\00:35:56.49
when, other things being equal,
00:35:56.52\00:35:58.14
people have or
develop stronger attachments
00:35:58.17\00:36:01.02
to members of the group
than they have to nonmembers."
00:36:01.05\00:36:04.72
We put one more
sentence, one more.
00:36:04.75\00:36:06.52
Let's put that
third sentence up.
00:36:06.55\00:36:07.82
"The basis for successful
conversionist movements
00:36:07.85\00:36:12.86
is growth
through social networks,
00:36:12.89\00:36:15.36
through a structure
of direct and intimate
00:36:15.39\00:36:18.56
interpersonal attachments."
00:36:18.59\00:36:20.58
Now watch this,
this is the bull's-eye.
00:36:20.61\00:36:23.14
"Most new
religious movements fail
00:36:23.17\00:36:26.88
because they
quickly become closed,
00:36:26.91\00:36:29.41
or semiclosed newtowks.
00:36:29.44\00:36:31.22
That is, they
fail to keep forming
00:36:31.25\00:36:33.58
and sustaining
attachments to outsiders
00:36:33.61\00:36:36.23
and they will lose
thereby the capacity to grow."
00:36:36.26\00:36:38.44
Isn't that
true? Isn't that true?
00:36:38.47\00:36:42.14
That's exactly what
happened the church in Acts.
00:36:42.17\00:36:46.22
It was the social
network that got another
00:36:46.25\00:36:49.54
and it brought
another deviant religion.
00:36:49.57\00:36:52.43
Religio licita in
Rome, illegal religion,
00:36:52.46\00:36:55.36
doesn't matter, because I have
the connections I'm drawn in
00:36:55.39\00:36:59.91
and my former
attachments weaken.
00:36:59.94\00:37:02.71
And I take a stand for what
I believe God wants me to do.
00:37:02.74\00:37:07.06
What's the point, ladies
and gentlemen, it's inescapable.
00:37:07.09\00:37:09.26
The point is
inescapable social networking
00:37:09.29\00:37:13.22
and attachment are critical
00:37:13.25\00:37:16.76
to building a strong community.
00:37:16.79\00:37:19.49
In fact, there is a line
00:37:19.52\00:37:22.19
that I'm gonna
run by you right here.
00:37:22.22\00:37:25.49
It's a simple
line, but could it be--
00:37:25.52\00:37:26.86
let me put that
one-liner up on the screen.
00:37:26.89\00:37:29.52
Could it be that "the
best way to close the back door
00:37:29.55\00:37:33.38
is to build a front porch."
00:37:33.41\00:37:36.03
There is a lot of
angst in the church today.
00:37:36.06\00:37:38.39
Our kids are
leaving, our kids are leaving
00:37:38.42\00:37:40.57
what do we gonna do?
00:37:40.60\00:37:42.03
You know, this is a
terrible predicament.
00:37:42.06\00:37:45.57
No, no, no, no, you
want to close the back door.
00:37:45.60\00:37:48.75
The best way to
close the back door
00:37:48.78\00:37:50.57
build a front
porch, build a place
00:37:50.60\00:37:53.19
where somebody
belongs for our midst
00:37:53.22\00:37:55.34
when I don't show up a place
00:37:55.37\00:37:56.84
for I am love
for me just being me.
00:37:56.87\00:38:03.04
The best way to
close the back door
00:38:03.07\00:38:06.49
is to build a front porch.
00:38:06.52\00:38:09.39
Book of Acts case in
point classic case in point.
00:38:09.42\00:38:13.78
So here's the question.
00:38:13.81\00:38:15.89
How can we grow, how can we grow
00:38:15.92\00:38:17.96
those little
front porch communities
00:38:17.99\00:38:20.69
here at Andrews University
00:38:20.72\00:38:21.94
and the Pioneer Memorial Church?
00:38:21.97\00:38:23.68
I have a friend in Africa,
00:38:23.71\00:38:24.74
I want to show you a
picture of a small group.
00:38:24.77\00:38:26.22
This group may be
five people to many
00:38:26.25\00:38:27.73
because generally
small group is ten.
00:38:27.76\00:38:29.63
They got 15,
but when you have 15
00:38:29.66\00:38:30.90
you have a whole a lot of front.
00:38:30.93\00:38:32.15
And a friend of mine in
Africa sent me this picture
00:38:32.18\00:38:33.73
just this last week
there is a small group for you.
00:38:33.76\00:38:36.75
They are having fun,
00:38:36.78\00:38:38.20
'cause that's what
the small group is for.
00:38:38.23\00:38:39.45
You supposed to
feel like you belong,
00:38:39.48\00:38:41.06
you cheering the same
team, you are a part see.
00:38:41.09\00:38:44.87
Look at that poor truck. Oh my.
00:38:44.90\00:38:48.25
I'm gonna talk
about the small groups.
00:38:48.28\00:38:49.73
In fact, we did a survey here,
00:38:49.76\00:38:52.70
a congregational survey
00:38:52.73\00:38:53.89
Pastor Esther over
saw that the survey.
00:38:53.92\00:38:56.53
Here some of the responses.
00:38:56.56\00:38:58.31
Hey look, here are
objections people give to me.
00:38:58.34\00:39:01.06
I talk to people about you
want to join the small group?
00:39:01.09\00:39:02.90
Oh, let me just
run a few of these by.
00:39:02.93\00:39:05.69
I found them in
your survey responses.
00:39:05.72\00:39:07.60
Here's one.
00:39:07.63\00:39:08.66
Hey, I'm not into
cooking and brining food,
00:39:08.69\00:39:10.99
I hate potlucks.
00:39:11.02\00:39:14.38
I need to tell you something,
00:39:14.41\00:39:16.05
nobody says small
groups have to eat
00:39:16.08\00:39:18.83
in order to grow community.
00:39:18.86\00:39:20.52
In fact, if you
do a lot of eating
00:39:20.55\00:39:21.86
you're growing something else.
00:39:21.89\00:39:24.86
But here's my philosophy,
'cause I belong to small group.
00:39:24.89\00:39:28.07
Here's my
philosophy, I never bring food,
00:39:28.10\00:39:30.52
I just make
sure I get into group
00:39:30.55\00:39:31.68
where there is some good cooks.
00:39:31.71\00:39:33.51
That's all you have to do,
you don't have to bring food.
00:39:33.54\00:39:36.77
So don't worry
about the cooking part
00:39:36.80\00:39:37.96
that's come on you
could meet a midnight
00:39:37.99\00:39:40.74
there's no food involve at all.
00:39:40.77\00:39:42.10
Okay, here's another one.
00:39:42.13\00:39:43.16
Nobody ever invites
me to join a small group.
00:39:43.19\00:39:46.36
That was in the survey.
00:39:46.39\00:39:47.59
My friend, in two seconds
00:39:47.62\00:39:49.16
you're gonna get an
invitation all right.
00:39:49.19\00:39:51.10
Here's another
one, number three.
00:39:51.13\00:39:52.55
Oh, I don't like strangers.
00:39:52.58\00:39:55.69
No, don't laugh,
we're all that way.
00:39:55.72\00:39:58.26
What it call xenophobia.
00:39:58.29\00:40:00.56
I don't like strangers,
00:40:00.59\00:40:01.84
I want to keep
America just America,
00:40:01.87\00:40:03.22
you know, that
kind of crazy thinking.
00:40:03.25\00:40:05.22
No, it's true,
they call it xenophobia,
00:40:05.25\00:40:08.28
they are afraid of strangers.
00:40:08.31\00:40:10.13
Now we all that way,
00:40:10.16\00:40:11.22
I mean, come on the
fact of the matter is
00:40:11.25\00:40:13.02
I love being
around people I know,
00:40:13.05\00:40:15.01
but here's my point
under capable leadership
00:40:15.04\00:40:18.79
and we got a team
a top notch leaders
00:40:18.82\00:40:20.56
I'll talk about
them in just a second.
00:40:20.59\00:40:21.89
But under capable leadership
00:40:21.92\00:40:23.31
you're not gonna be
strangers for along anyway.
00:40:23.34\00:40:25.57
You're not gonna be a stranger
00:40:25.60\00:40:26.63
and that person is
not gonna be a stranger,
00:40:26.66\00:40:27.85
so you're not gonna
have to spend your life
00:40:27.88\00:40:29.28
with strangers.
00:40:29.31\00:40:30.81
Okay, here's another one.
00:40:30.84\00:40:32.24
I don't know how
to lead a small group.
00:40:32.27\00:40:34.54
I want to promise you something,
00:40:34.57\00:40:35.84
you will never have
to lead a small group.
00:40:35.87\00:40:37.82
Join in a small
group does not mean
00:40:37.85\00:40:39.75
I now have to
lead a small group.
00:40:39.78\00:40:41.94
Not at all.
00:40:41.97\00:40:43.47
That's why we have train
00:40:43.50\00:40:45.59
very warmhearted
and caring leaders.
00:40:45.62\00:40:47.38
Once in a while I get
to meet with the leaders
00:40:47.41\00:40:49.12
and kind of just share
stories and here what's up.
00:40:49.15\00:40:51.39
And I'm telling you they
are the good hands people.
00:40:51.42\00:40:53.12
Pastor Esther has put a
top notch team of small group
00:40:53.15\00:40:57.34
front porch leaders together.
00:40:57.37\00:40:59.42
You're not gonna have
to worry about a thing,
00:40:59.45\00:41:02.48
trust me.
00:41:02.51\00:41:03.65
However, listen, if you
want to become a leader,
00:41:03.68\00:41:07.46
a skillful
leader we'll train you,
00:41:07.49\00:41:09.71
Over here-- you hear this
00:41:14.78\00:41:17.19
and I saw this in the survey
00:41:17.22\00:41:18.99
I prefer my own kind
for community building.
00:41:19.02\00:41:23.36
That certainly
logical most of us do.
00:41:23.39\00:41:25.66
We prefer our own kind.
00:41:25.69\00:41:26.72
Whatever you mean by
own kind you prefer it.
00:41:26.75\00:41:30.34
That's okay,
00:41:30.37\00:41:31.66
but I tell you what
one of the huge bonus is
00:41:31.69\00:41:35.58
of being a part
of a diverse group
00:41:35.61\00:41:38.54
is it there is a
whole life expending
00:41:38.57\00:41:41.77
richness that comes into you.
00:41:41.80\00:41:43.37
I have belonged
to diverse groups
00:41:43.40\00:41:45.50
I do right now.
00:41:45.53\00:41:47.49
You know, if you want to
have-- I want to have a group
00:41:47.52\00:41:49.42
of only males 25 years old.
00:41:49.45\00:41:52.88
Well, you can.
00:41:52.91\00:41:54.88
It gets boring after a while.
00:41:54.91\00:41:58.03
Diversity nothing wrong with it.
00:41:58.06\00:41:59.79
One of the responses
00:41:59.82\00:42:00.87
we got a bunch
of these responses,
00:42:00.90\00:42:02.09
'cause we did
this survey last year.
00:42:02.12\00:42:05.24
I'm a student is
there a group for me?
00:42:05.27\00:42:09.07
Oh, there sure is.
00:42:09.10\00:42:11.14
I got to tell you about
this, if you're student here,
00:42:11.17\00:42:14.06
I'm glad you freshmen are here.
00:42:14.09\00:42:15.25
If you are young adult here
and you would like to check out
00:42:15.28\00:42:18.28
a front porch
group no string attached
00:42:18.31\00:42:21.88
we have a front
porch group that needs
00:42:21.91\00:42:23.42
every Sabbath
morning at 10 o'clock
00:42:23.45\00:42:25.15
over in the student
center first floor, ground floor
00:42:25.18\00:42:28.95
in the campus ministry complex
00:42:28.98\00:42:31.29
they gather there they
have some snacks together.
00:42:31.32\00:42:34.25
They are building an incredible
front porch community.
00:42:34.28\00:42:37.87
Go on over there,
00:42:37.90\00:42:38.93
if you are young
adult check it out.
00:42:38.96\00:42:40.58
You say I don't
want to be a part of that
00:42:40.61\00:42:41.64
I want to get my
own group together.
00:42:41.67\00:42:43.35
You may, in just a moment
00:42:43.38\00:42:44.87
I'm gonna give
you piece of paper
00:42:44.90\00:42:46.12
you tell me, you tell me
00:42:46.15\00:42:47.67
what kind of group you'd
like to see this church provide.
00:42:47.70\00:42:49.73
Let's see if we can put
something together for you.
00:42:49.76\00:42:52.50
Students, come
on I know, freshmen,
00:42:52.53\00:42:54.90
look at it's a busy
life around you trust me,
00:42:54.93\00:42:57.08
it's just fast pace.
00:42:57.11\00:42:59.43
The years over before
it starts it's that bad,
00:42:59.46\00:43:02.30
but if you had a little
group that you connected with
00:43:02.33\00:43:07.57
just once a
month or twice a month
00:43:07.60\00:43:12.18
somebody once a week.
00:43:12.21\00:43:13.90
If you had a little
group that you connected with
00:43:13.93\00:43:16.09
it could just be, it could
be the win beneath your wings.
00:43:16.12\00:43:18.82
All right, these are objections.
00:43:18.85\00:43:20.31
I say no, I got
to share this one.
00:43:20.34\00:43:22.49
I don't want to
sign my life away.
00:43:22.52\00:43:25.39
Don't make me sign a contract.
00:43:25.42\00:43:26.82
Trust me my friend,
00:43:26.85\00:43:28.18
you will not
sign your life away.
00:43:28.21\00:43:29.43
Around here Pioneer
Memorial small groups
00:43:29.46\00:43:31.26
I can't speak for others,
00:43:31.29\00:43:32.54
our small groups
have a sunset clause
00:43:32.57\00:43:34.67
that's means the
sun eventually sets
00:43:34.70\00:43:36.39
and the group is over.
00:43:36.42\00:43:37.69
You are never gonna join
for life ever, ever, ever.
00:43:37.72\00:43:41.67
We need everyone
of us as humans needs
00:43:41.70\00:43:43.73
to be able to get
out of it gracefully
00:43:43.76\00:43:46.41
and we'll make
sure that you can.
00:43:46.44\00:43:48.00
Final, this is kind of a
summary of some responses
00:43:48.03\00:43:50.94
I hear from guys like that.
00:43:50.97\00:43:52.21
But you see, Dwight,
00:43:52.24\00:43:55.11
I'm just not a
small groups kind of guy.
00:43:55.14\00:44:00.61
I'm not lonely, I have
friends, I'm not a misfit,
00:44:00.64\00:44:06.01
I don't need, I don't need
little touchy fuzzy-wuzzy touchy
00:44:06.04\00:44:11.94
healing groups.
00:44:11.97\00:44:16.35
No, I hear that
particularly from men.
00:44:16.38\00:44:22.30
I want to tell
you something guys,
00:44:22.33\00:44:23.64
we need community even more.
00:44:23.67\00:44:26.09
But let me tell
you, you are right
00:44:26.12\00:44:27.25
okay, you're right.
00:44:27.28\00:44:28.32
You got it
together, you're cool.
00:44:28.35\00:44:31.14
Initially,
initially you are right,
00:44:31.17\00:44:34.22
but listen carefully could
it be that the radical power
00:44:34.25\00:44:37.61
of Christian community is
00:44:37.64\00:44:39.39
that what ends up happening is
00:44:39.42\00:44:40.89
you become a part of a
group not in order to get,
00:44:40.92\00:44:44.87
you become a part of a
group a front porch community
00:44:44.90\00:44:47.96
in order to give.
00:44:47.99\00:44:49.97
That's the secret of
Jesus irrepressible joy.
00:44:50.00\00:44:53.28
You think about
Jesus oh, mercy Father,
00:44:53.31\00:44:56.07
I have to join that
group of misfits down there?
00:44:56.10\00:45:00.10
Why did He have
irrepressible joy,
00:45:00.13\00:45:02.14
because He did not come here
to get there was nothing to get,
00:45:02.17\00:45:04.85
it was bankrupt down
here, he came to give.
00:45:04.88\00:45:09.23
And He says I want
my joy to be in you.
00:45:09.26\00:45:11.67
On the eve of His death,
I want my joy to be in you.
00:45:11.70\00:45:15.65
So rather than thinking
about oh, what can I get,
00:45:15.68\00:45:17.66
what I gonna get, get, get, get.
00:45:17.69\00:45:18.82
No, one-- did it
ever occur to you
00:45:18.85\00:45:20.70
that maybe you're on this planet
00:45:20.73\00:45:22.40
because you have
something to give
00:45:22.43\00:45:24.03
and there is this
small front porch group today
00:45:24.06\00:45:26.77
just leading you to give
what God is placed in your life.
00:45:26.80\00:45:30.59
Hey, come on,
let's not be too hard
00:45:30.62\00:45:32.07
on each other all right.
00:45:32.10\00:45:33.13
How many of you, raise you hand,
00:45:33.16\00:45:34.19
how many of you picked
the family you were born into?
00:45:34.22\00:45:36.69
Just raise your hand.
00:45:36.72\00:45:38.74
Nobody picks his family.
00:45:38.77\00:45:40.53
No girl picks her family.
00:45:40.56\00:45:41.98
You know what, you're
stuck that pesky brother,
00:45:42.01\00:45:45.18
that bratty sister
you're stuck for life.
00:45:45.21\00:45:48.66
But because of
the miracle of love
00:45:48.69\00:45:52.79
you get to saying hey,
00:45:52.82\00:45:55.15
can't stand the
guy, but we're family,
00:45:55.18\00:45:58.38
we're family and I
really do love them
00:45:58.41\00:46:00.67
in my heart of hearts.
00:46:00.70\00:46:02.13
That's how family is.
00:46:02.16\00:46:04.17
So don't you go
around and say well,
00:46:04.20\00:46:05.35
I got to find a group
that just perfect like me.
00:46:05.38\00:46:07.25
No.
00:46:07.28\00:46:09.56
All right,
00:46:09.59\00:46:11.54
point is and I don't
want you to forget this
00:46:11.57\00:46:13.33
and I'll quickly throw this back
00:46:13.36\00:46:15.65
and then I got
to get out of here.
00:46:15.68\00:46:18.22
I want you to know
that joining a small group.
00:46:18.25\00:46:21.67
Well, it's true think
about giving you're gonna get.
00:46:21.70\00:46:24.55
May I run this by a real quick?
00:46:24.58\00:46:25.73
Four significant
blessings you will get
00:46:25.76\00:46:28.82
when you become a part of our
front porch spiritual community.
00:46:28.85\00:46:31.76
Let's put up number one.
00:46:31.79\00:46:33.09
"We find strength
for life's storms."
00:46:33.12\00:46:36.69
I like to say, this
is been a rotten summer,
00:46:36.72\00:46:38.56
too much travel I
haven't sail it once
00:46:38.59\00:46:40.03
the boat still
under wraps, terrible.
00:46:40.06\00:46:41.97
But when I go out
sailing on Lake Michigan
00:46:42.00\00:46:44.03
and it's kind of
grain the distance
00:46:44.06\00:46:45.38
I never want to be
on Lake Michigan alone.
00:46:45.41\00:46:47.77
When I'm going into a storm
00:46:47.80\00:46:49.33
give me somebody
to suffer with me
00:46:49.36\00:46:51.45
just somebody to sit
there and go through that
00:46:51.48\00:46:54.14
and pray for me
and we go through it.
00:46:54.17\00:46:56.72
Why, because it's no,
00:46:56.75\00:46:57.78
it's terrible to go
through a storm alone.
00:46:57.81\00:47:00.23
You don't know what's gonna
happen in your life this year
00:47:00.26\00:47:02.38
freshmen friend of
mine, you have no clue
00:47:02.41\00:47:04.86
what's gonna happen.
00:47:04.89\00:47:07.23
I have no idea what's
gonna happen in my life.
00:47:07.26\00:47:09.84
I just want to make
sure that when something,
00:47:09.87\00:47:11.58
when the bottom
falls out in my life
00:47:11.61\00:47:13.22
I got a little group around me.
00:47:13.25\00:47:15.00
It's great for when you,
let's put it up there please.
00:47:15.03\00:47:17.25
"When you go through
life storms we find strength."
00:47:17.28\00:47:19.51
Here's another "We
receive wisdom from small groups
00:47:19.54\00:47:21.89
for making important decisions."
00:47:21.92\00:47:23.69
I love the way King
Solomon put it in Proverbs.
00:47:23.72\00:47:25.78
He said, as-- have
you ever seen a butcher?
00:47:25.81\00:47:29.05
Pull out that butcher
knife and that metal file.
00:47:29.08\00:47:34.48
Nobody goes to butchers anymore,
00:47:34.51\00:47:35.80
but it just kind of
imagine that happen.
00:47:35.83\00:47:38.33
That's Solomon's
point as iron sharpens iron.
00:47:38.36\00:47:42.84
You think it pretty bright.
00:47:42.87\00:47:45.33
Puts you in a group of peers
and more experienced in life
00:47:45.36\00:47:49.58
puts you in a group
and you suddenly find out
00:47:49.61\00:47:51.20
there is a whole lot of wisdom
00:47:51.23\00:47:52.73
I could go for
and I can tap into.
00:47:52.76\00:47:55.43
That's what small communities
do they give you that wisdom.
00:47:55.46\00:47:57.59
Give me number three.
00:47:57.62\00:47:58.71
Here's the third
significant blessing.
00:47:58.74\00:48:00.43
"We experience accountability,
00:48:00.46\00:48:02.29
which is vital to
spiritual growth."
00:48:02.32\00:48:04.48
I know some guys
who've gone through
00:48:04.51\00:48:05.89
just some major spiritual,
00:48:05.92\00:48:07.63
I know some girls
who've gone through
00:48:07.66\00:48:08.87
spiritual burnout,
spiritual meltdown.
00:48:08.90\00:48:11.60
When I go into
spiritual meltdown trust me
00:48:11.63\00:48:14.34
I have left the
group and I am on my own.
00:48:14.37\00:48:18.20
Some guys say
I'm like lone ranger,
00:48:18.23\00:48:21.01
I don't even need tonto.
00:48:21.04\00:48:24.61
But seriously I've read
this in one of the books.
00:48:24.64\00:48:28.32
A lone ranger, a lone
ranger is alone ranger.
00:48:28.35\00:48:35.22
You're all by yourself.
00:48:35.25\00:48:36.57
Why do you want to go
through life by yourself?
00:48:36.60\00:48:39.01
What are you trying to prove?
00:48:39.04\00:48:40.79
you got nothing to prove.
00:48:40.82\00:48:42.85
We need each
other, we need each other.
00:48:42.88\00:48:45.79
Okay, there is a
four significant blessing
00:48:45.82\00:48:47.33
let's put that up
on the screen too.
00:48:47.36\00:48:48.88
"We find acceptance
00:48:48.91\00:48:49.94
that helps us
repair our wounds."
00:48:49.97\00:48:52.57
I've lived in this
community for a few years now,
00:48:52.60\00:48:56.63
I've lived on this
campus for a few years now
00:48:56.66\00:48:59.01
and I've seen
people who are secure
00:48:59.04\00:49:02.17
and confident and in control.
00:49:02.20\00:49:06.07
Come face to
face with the Christ
00:49:06.10\00:49:07.54
as they just knocks the
legs out from under you.
00:49:07.57\00:49:12.40
I've gone through Christ
here since I've been here.
00:49:12.43\00:49:15.12
You if you haven't
will go through Christ
00:49:15.15\00:49:17.41
see in this journey ahead.
00:49:17.44\00:49:18.99
The joy of a small
front porch group is
00:49:19.02\00:49:23.00
that when they
come charging in on you
00:49:23.03\00:49:26.21
your friends in that small,
that little front porch group
00:49:26.24\00:49:29.22
circles the wagons
around you and they say
00:49:29.25\00:49:31.05
we're gonna stand
this ground with you, boy,
00:49:31.08\00:49:33.06
don't you worry about
it, we got you covered.
00:49:33.09\00:49:36.46
That's what you
need, that's what I need.
00:49:36.49\00:49:40.20
And there is only
one place you can find.
00:49:40.23\00:49:41.66
You can't get it from coming
to church and just worshiping.
00:49:41.69\00:49:44.10
I'm sorry, we don't know
what you're going through.
00:49:44.13\00:49:46.37
We can't give you what you need.
00:49:46.40\00:49:48.08
You need a little
front porch community
00:49:48.11\00:49:50.74
that says I'm
praying for you, boy.
00:49:50.77\00:49:53.12
Girl, I'm with you a 100%.
00:49:53.15\00:49:58.16
Hundred years ago
these words are written
00:49:58.19\00:50:00.67
I considered them
rather appreciate.
00:50:00.70\00:50:02.63
Look at this 100 years ago
00:50:02.66\00:50:05.02
"The formation
of small companies,
00:50:05.05\00:50:06.71
the formation of
little front porch communities
00:50:06.74\00:50:09.65
as a basis of Christian
effort has been presented to me
00:50:09.68\00:50:13.48
by One who cannot err."
00:50:13.51\00:50:17.99
Because Acts 2 is right.
00:50:18.02\00:50:19.72
That's how a big church like
this survives the long haul.
00:50:19.75\00:50:26.33
Student of Andrew's
University you need community
00:50:26.36\00:50:28.56
don't you tell me you
can do it alone, you can't.
00:50:28.59\00:50:31.69
We'll do everything we can
to help you find that community.
00:50:31.72\00:50:35.23
In fact, you know
what I wish right now?
00:50:35.26\00:50:36.30
I wish the front of
the pew, right ahead of you
00:50:36.33\00:50:39.68
could become you
the laptop right now.
00:50:39.71\00:50:41.29
I wish I could put
this survey right there
00:50:41.32\00:50:43.58
and you can just fill it out.
00:50:43.61\00:50:46.54
I don't want you to go
home and try to fill it in.
00:50:46.57\00:50:49.94
It will enter the data for you.
00:50:49.97\00:50:51.73
Let's do this, inside
your worship bulletin right now
00:50:51.76\00:50:53.98
would you pull out
please a little buff card
00:50:54.01\00:50:56.82
we'll put it on
the screen for you,
00:50:56.85\00:50:57.91
so you can see
what it looks like,
00:50:57.94\00:50:58.97
has a rocking chair on it,
00:50:59.00\00:51:00.14
it's called the
Front Porch Groups.
00:51:00.17\00:51:02.13
See that card?
00:51:02.16\00:51:04.01
It's says it's not even a
card just look piece of paper.
00:51:04.04\00:51:06.39
Open your bulletin right now.
00:51:06.42\00:51:07.53
Ushers, let's go.
Ushers, thank you.
00:51:07.56\00:51:09.56
Hold your hand if you
didn't get one of these
00:51:09.59\00:51:10.98
I need to hear
from you, so just--
00:51:11.01\00:51:12.90
we got golf pencils for you,
00:51:12.93\00:51:14.40
so don't worry this
will take 30 seconds.
00:51:14.43\00:51:16.95
Just hold your hand up.
00:51:16.98\00:51:18.96
Thank you, Philip,
nice to have you back.
00:51:18.99\00:51:21.36
Hold your hand up and
we'll get one of these surveys
00:51:21.39\00:51:24.54
to you and a golf pencil.
00:51:24.57\00:51:26.67
Yeah, just hold your hand
00:51:26.70\00:51:27.73
all the way to the
back of the balcony.
00:51:27.76\00:51:29.90
Those of you
watching on television
00:51:29.93\00:51:31.06
you can keep watching with us,
00:51:31.09\00:51:32.61
but this is a
little in-house moment
00:51:32.64\00:51:34.25
where we gonna do take a survey.
00:51:34.28\00:51:37.52
All right, I'm
gonna read a story to you,
00:51:37.55\00:51:39.28
a dynamite story so don't you
turn that television off yet.
00:51:39.31\00:51:42.09
But I want to give
you just a moment please
00:51:42.12\00:51:43.84
to fill this
little Front Porch Groups
00:51:43.87\00:51:46.63
information interest survey.
00:51:46.66\00:51:49.21
Did you get one, you got one?
00:51:49.24\00:51:52.09
You got one?
00:51:52.12\00:51:53.93
All right, just
hold your hand up
00:51:53.96\00:51:55.07
if you didn't get it.
00:51:55.10\00:51:56.13
I'm gonna plunge right
into while you're doing that.
00:51:56.16\00:51:57.81
Look at, guys, this
is a simple little form.
00:51:57.84\00:51:59.78
Name, address, email that's it,
00:51:59.81\00:52:05.10
name, address, email.
00:52:05.13\00:52:07.43
Let us know how we
could be in touch with you.
00:52:07.46\00:52:09.19
Listen to me right here please
00:52:09.22\00:52:11.40
nobody, nobody is
getting put into a group
00:52:11.43\00:52:17.40
against his or her wishes.
00:52:17.43\00:52:20.04
You by filling this out
this will help us very much
00:52:20.07\00:52:22.79
as we think about moving into
small groups as a community.
00:52:22.82\00:52:26.25
You're not locking
yourself into anything here
00:52:26.28\00:52:28.74
nothing, so just
relax on that one.
00:52:28.77\00:52:31.66
Not gonna get a little post
card in the mail says show up.
00:52:31.69\00:52:36.60
You don't have to.
00:52:36.63\00:52:38.28
But look at your name,
address, email, cell phone,
00:52:38.31\00:52:41.24
you got a cell,
everybody is got a cell.
00:52:41.27\00:52:42.83
Okay, now just look
at three more circles
00:52:42.86\00:52:45.49
your age category
circle it, circle it.
00:52:45.52\00:52:47.52
Watch your age
category circle it.
00:52:47.55\00:52:49.17
If you're offended by your
age category circle it anyway.
00:52:49.20\00:52:53.80
Are you student or community?
00:52:53.83\00:52:55.30
Circle one or the
other student or community.
00:52:55.33\00:52:58.18
That was quick enough.
00:52:58.21\00:52:59.27
And here is a last
one time available.
00:52:59.30\00:53:01.80
You know what, if
I like this group,
00:53:01.83\00:53:04.57
if I were
willing to try this group
00:53:04.60\00:53:07.23
I could meet Monday evenings at.
00:53:07.26\00:53:09.88
Okay, that's all you need to do.
00:53:09.91\00:53:10.96
Circle, as many circles you
do want point you could make.
00:53:10.99\00:53:13.73
Now you are
freshman, you can say
00:53:13.76\00:53:14.79
I have no idea what my
life is gonna be like here.
00:53:14.82\00:53:17.34
Well, you just
put that as available.
00:53:17.37\00:53:21.11
But just circle
it, if you have an idea
00:53:21.14\00:53:22.39
oh, I working on
campus, you know what,
00:53:22.42\00:53:25.29
I'd be free late
afternoon, Tuesdays whatever
00:53:25.32\00:53:28.13
doesn't matter to me
just put a circle there.
00:53:28.16\00:53:29.86
Finally you got a what kind
of group you are looking for?
00:53:29.89\00:53:33.21
Help us, help you just tell us.
00:53:33.24\00:53:36.69
Write any comment down you wish.
00:53:36.72\00:53:39.15
And while you
are finishing that,
00:53:39.18\00:53:40.21
'cause we're gonna
receive this right now.
00:53:40.24\00:53:41.53
I want to read a
story, I want to read a story
00:53:41.56\00:53:42.96
there is a beautiful story.
00:53:42.99\00:53:44.22
It's a personal testimony
by gentleman name Rob Thomas.
00:53:44.25\00:53:46.88
I founded in Kay Kuzma's
delightful book "Fit Forever."
00:53:46.91\00:53:50.41
Okay, so we're ending
with this story, this is it.
00:53:50.44\00:53:53.86
So just thank you for
going ahead and filling that out
00:53:53.89\00:53:55.40
while I read.
00:53:55.43\00:53:56.58
My mom's suicide.
00:53:56.61\00:53:58.93
Okay, my mom's
suicide rocked my life.
00:53:58.96\00:54:03.69
This guy is writing.
00:54:03.72\00:54:05.05
"My first reaction was shock.
00:54:05.08\00:54:07.25
Then denial. Then anger.
00:54:07.28\00:54:08.44
How could she do this to me?
00:54:08.47\00:54:09.59
To my kids? Then guilt.
00:54:09.62\00:54:11.36
Why didn't I do something more?
00:54:11.39\00:54:13.58
As I tried to put the
pieces of my life together,
00:54:13.61\00:54:16.04
I questioned God's
role in mom's suffering.
00:54:16.07\00:54:18.53
She was manic depressive.
00:54:18.56\00:54:20.99
And her subsequent
choice to end her life.
00:54:21.02\00:54:23.08
Blindly," look, look,
"I saw only two options.
00:54:23.11\00:54:25.71
Number one, God
didn't fulfill His promise
00:54:25.74\00:54:27.83
not to allow any temptation
beyond what mom could bare
00:54:27.86\00:54:30.75
or number two, mom just blew it!
00:54:30.78\00:54:33.93
Either way it was
a losing situation.
00:54:33.96\00:54:36.10
Either God or mom screwed up,
00:54:36.13\00:54:39.96
and that
conclusion almost destroyed
00:54:39.99\00:54:41.86
my relationship with God.
00:54:41.89\00:54:44.05
Over the next year or two
00:54:44.08\00:54:45.11
I really struggled
with my spiritual life.
00:54:45.14\00:54:47.20
In retrospect, I
think it was a combination
00:54:47.23\00:54:49.24
of my relatively
sterile spiritual life
00:54:49.27\00:54:51.26
before Mom's
death, her suicide itself,
00:54:51.29\00:54:53.92
and the subsequent
question that raise in my mind
00:54:53.95\00:54:56.01
about God's role in our lives.
00:54:56.04\00:54:57.65
Also I attended a
large, impersonal church
00:54:57.68\00:55:02.06
where I had no
support group to listen,
00:55:02.09\00:55:03.78
encourage or
reinforce to me the truth
00:55:03.81\00:55:06.16
is God who loves
and Satan who destroys.
00:55:06.19\00:55:10.25
I'm embarrassed to say
that I almost gave up on God.
00:55:10.28\00:55:13.87
I kept going to church
but mainly for the kids sake.
00:55:13.90\00:55:16.44
Even though I was struggling,
I still believe in the God
00:55:16.47\00:55:18.66
to whom I wanted
my kids to relate.
00:55:18.69\00:55:20.70
I didn't want them to
grow up not going to church
00:55:20.73\00:55:22.48
because of me.
00:55:22.51\00:55:23.61
Before making a final
choice to bail out on God,
00:55:23.64\00:55:26.31
I committed to do some
more reading and investigating.
00:55:26.34\00:55:29.03
I read a book by Philip Yancey
'Where is God When it Hurts.'
00:55:29.06\00:55:33.74
" Oh, that's a great
book, that's a great book.
00:55:33.77\00:55:36.93
Do you ever want to read
00:55:36.96\00:55:38.64
something it
will move your heart.
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.03
"So I read this
book by Philip Yancey
00:55:40.06\00:55:42.96
that really helped me to
00:55:42.99\00:55:44.02
'wake up and smell the roses!'
00:55:44.05\00:55:45.08
My family also began
attending a smaller church
00:55:45.11\00:55:47.53
where I became
involved and made friends
00:55:47.56\00:55:49.08
who love me
regardless and I began therapy."
00:55:49.11\00:55:52.47
Guess what, it's
okay to get therapy.
00:55:52.50\00:55:56.03
When I have a cold I
go to that kind of doctor,
00:55:56.06\00:55:58.86
when my heart is sick
00:55:58.89\00:56:00.43
I go to that
other kind of doctor.
00:56:00.46\00:56:01.92
It's okay. It's okay.
00:56:01.95\00:56:05.89
"I began therapy.
00:56:05.92\00:56:06.97
Over the past--" listen to
this now here's a punch line.
00:56:07.00\00:56:08.77
"Over the past five years
00:56:08.80\00:56:10.55
I've really come
alive spiritually!
00:56:10.58\00:56:12.74
I've benefited
from four small groups.
00:56:12.77\00:56:15.25
One secular recover group
00:56:15.28\00:56:16.84
and three
spiritually based groups.
00:56:16.87\00:56:18.80
I've had a much more meaningful
devotional and prayer life
00:56:18.83\00:56:21.52
and I've been much
more active in my church.
00:56:21.55\00:56:23.24
It's been wonderful like
my own spiritual resurrection
00:56:23.27\00:56:27.23
I wonder why it took me so long
00:56:27.26\00:56:30.90
30 years to get connected."
00:56:30.93\00:56:36.43
Are you connected?
00:56:36.46\00:56:38.82
Are you connected to
a front porch community
00:56:38.85\00:56:41.63
that can journey for
you in the midst of living?
00:56:41.66\00:56:45.60
Don't wait long,
don't wait 30 years.
00:56:45.63\00:56:49.75
Connect.
00:56:49.78\00:56:51.53
There is a front
porch just waiting for you.
00:56:51.56\00:56:55.28
A front porch
that desperately needs
00:56:55.31\00:56:58.87
what you will bring.
00:56:58.90\00:57:01.63
Let me take one more moment
of your time to let you know
00:57:01.66\00:57:04.02
that one of the blessings
I receive from this telecast
00:57:04.05\00:57:06.66
is being in touch with viewers
like you all across Michiana
00:57:06.69\00:57:09.62
and our nation and
literally the world.
00:57:09.65\00:57:12.11
I am humbled and honored
00:57:12.14\00:57:13.18
with your sharing
the journey with us.
00:57:13.21\00:57:14.62
Sometimes it's a Bible question
00:57:14.65\00:57:16.36
other times its an
observation or suggestion
00:57:16.39\00:57:18.72
and sometimes just a
note to share a prayer
00:57:18.75\00:57:20.60
or a prayer request.
00:57:20.63\00:57:22.20
I'd loved to hear from you
and it's so easy to be in touch.
00:57:22.23\00:57:24.85
Just go to our Pioneer
Memorial Church website
00:57:24.88\00:57:27.36
www.pmchurch.tv
00:57:27.39\00:57:30.37
and click on contact
and then the word pastor.
00:57:30.40\00:57:33.61
And then jot down the
message you wish to send.
00:57:33.64\00:57:36.00
If you have a prayer
request click on those words
00:57:36.03\00:57:38.82
or call our toll
free number 1-877-HIS-WILL
00:57:38.85\00:57:43.07
And I promise you
00:57:43.10\00:57:44.33
that our prayer partners
will lift your need to God
00:57:44.36\00:57:47.06
because no body
should have to journey alone.
00:57:47.09\00:57:49.47
Not only do we have Jesus
but we also have each other.
00:57:49.50\00:57:52.46
So write me won't
you at www.pmchurch.tv
00:57:52.49\00:57:56.92
In the mean time
may the God whose mercy
00:57:56.95\00:57:59.02
continually runs after us
00:57:59.05\00:58:00.96
be with you 24/7
every step of the way.
00:58:00.99\00:58:05.01
I will see you again
right here next time.
00:58:05.04\00:58:08.03