From the campus of
Andrews University,
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this is New Perceptions
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with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson.
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I want to tell
you why I'm excited
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about this opening Sabbath.
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Two, first, this
is the first time
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in the history of
Andrews University
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when we have had three
major worshiping communities
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gathered simultaneously
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on opening Sabbath.
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And the second
first is really cool.
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This is the first time
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we have had all
three worship communities
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linked by technology right now,
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some big screens
over at the seminary
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and in Buller Hall,
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and I'm going to ask that
we switch first to New Life,
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The New Life Worship
Community is meeting.
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There they are.
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Let's give a hand to New Life,
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put your hands
together for New Life.
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Pastor Tim, Tim
Nixon, come on up here.
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Chaplain Tim is the
pastor of our New Life
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Worshiping Community.
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Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
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Great to have
them on the big screen.
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We also have today
the new kid on the block.
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This is the brand new worship
community just from last year.
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Of course, I'm
talking about one place,
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I'm talking about Buller Hall.
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Let's see if we have Buller Hall
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on this screen as well.
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There we have Buller Hall.
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Come on, Pastor Jay
with the alma mater.
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Pastor Jay, come on up.
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And, of course,
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we have the Pioneer
Memorial Church right here,
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and I'm talking about
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our own Chaplain
Jose Bourget, Pastor Jose.
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Come on, give a
hand to the Pioneer.
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So guys, take a look at that.
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These are our
chaplains on this campus,
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just a fine team
of spiritual leaders.
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And I say in all
sincerity, it really is an honor
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to be partnered with you leaders
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in this kind of a ministry.
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I love every
single one of these three.
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They have a...
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It's because you
have a heart for Jesus.
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That's what
really has me excited,
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you have a heart for Jesus.
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Now listen, guys,
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I'm telling them that
we huddle this summer.
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We were saying, man,
we got to do something
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that symbolizes
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our shared
mission on this campus
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and our unity in Christ.
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We're worried about the weather,
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we say we can't
do an outdoor event.
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We were starting to
plan that way, guys,
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look at the weather,
we could have done it.
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But the next best
plan was to hook up
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through
technology, which we are now.
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We're on every screen
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in these three
worship communities.
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And we decided like what if we,
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brand new
worship paradigm 11:45,
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we're now beginning
75-minute worship services
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except for New Life.
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You can go as long
as you want, Pastor Tim.
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Let's start our three
worship services together.
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Let's have a call to praise.
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Let's sing a majestic hymn,
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and let's have a
prayer of consecration
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and then the three
communities will switch
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to what they have planned.
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And so we're going to put...
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I'm going to
invite everybody to stand.
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And all three
worship communities stand,
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would you please,
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where you are
gathered right now.
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And on the bottom
third of your screen,
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on the bottom
third of the screen,
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you're going to see
the call to worship.
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And, pastors, would you lead us
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in this call to
worship the mighty
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Psalm 95.
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All right, man.
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"Oh come, let us
sing to the Lord!
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Let us shout joyfully to
the Rock of our salvation
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Let us come before His
presence with thanksgiving
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Let us shout
joyfully to Him with psalms
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For the Lord is the great God,
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and the great
King above all gods
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Oh come, let us worship
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and bow down,
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let us kneel
before the Lord our Maker
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For He is our God,
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and we are the
people of His pasture
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and the sheep of His hand."
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Let all God's
people say amen and amen
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Let's sing
together that majestic hymn
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"All Hail the
Power of Jesus' Name"
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All hail the
power of Jesus' name
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Let angels prostrate fall
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Bring forth the royal diadem
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And crown Him Lord of all
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Bring forth the royal diadem
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And crown Him Lord of all
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Ye chosen seed of
Israel's chosen race
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Ye ransomed from the fall
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Hail Him Who
saves you by His grace
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And crown Him Lord of all
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Hail Him Who
saves you by His grace
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And crown Him
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Lord of all
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Let every kindred, every tribe
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On this terrestrial ball
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To Him all majesty ascribe
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And crown Him Lord of all
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To Him all majesty ascribe
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And crown Him
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Lord of all
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Oh, that with
yonder sacred throng
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We at His feet may fall
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Join in the everlasting song
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And crown Him Lord of all
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Join in the everlasting song
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And crown Him
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Lord of all
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Amen and amen.
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We have come to crown Him
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in all three worship
communities this morning,
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He is the Lord of all.
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So I'm going to
invite everybody,
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all three worship communities.
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All three worship communities,
let us go to our knees.
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It's a little tighter in
Buller, but you can do it.
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Let's go to our knees together,
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and let us lift up
our hearts collectively.
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We'll kneel right
here on the platform.
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And so, Father,
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here we are all
three worship communities,
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we we are on our knees.
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This is a posture
by which we assure you
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that we
desperately need all the gifts
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that You have for this new year.
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Oh God, You have
heard these prayers.
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We are praying for
a mighty outpouring
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of the Holy Spirit
on these three leaders.
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But they will have more
than human wisdom this year
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as they lead us
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that they will
be Your front edge
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to the mighty
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
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on the campus
of this university.
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Please, God, do
whatever it takes this new year,
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fill us all, fill us
to the max this year,
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students,
faculty, staff, community,
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fill us up with the fullness
of the Spirit of Christ.
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And then, Father,
three separate communities,
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but let the word go for us
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that we are one in Christ Jesus.
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We share His
mission, we bear His name.
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And we will live out His truth
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on this campus
and into all the world
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where you send us.
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To that end, be
glorified this day
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in the name of Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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Let all the people
say, amen and amen.
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Oh Lord our Lord.
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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The heavens
declare Your greatness
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The oceans cry out to You
00:11:07.63\00:11:11.53
The mountains they
bow down before You
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So I'll join with the earth
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And I'll give my praise to You
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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Oh Lord our Lord
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How majestic is Your name
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In all the earth
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The heavens
declare Your greatness
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The oceans cry out to You
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The mountains they
bow down before You
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So I'll join with
the earth and I'll sing
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The heavens
declare Your greatness
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The oceans cry out to You
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The mountains they
bow down before You
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So I'll join with the earth
and I'll give my praise to You
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Let's worship Him this morning.
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I will worship You
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I will worship You
00:12:31.18\00:12:39.09
We will worship You
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We will worship You
00:12:46.93\00:12:54.74
We will worship You
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We will worship You
00:13:02.61\00:13:09.22
The heavens
declare your greatness
00:13:09.25\00:13:13.15
The oceans cry out to You
00:13:13.19\00:13:17.03
The mountains they
bow down before You
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So I'll join with
the earth And I'll sing
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The heavens
declare Your greatness
00:13:24.93\00:13:29.17
The oceans cry out to You
00:13:29.20\00:13:32.81
The mountains They
bow down before You
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So I'll join with the earth
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And I'll give my praise to You
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I'm goin'a sing I'm goin'a sing
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When Spirit says
sing Yes, I'm goin'a sing
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Well, I'm goin'a
sing Well, I'm goin'a sing
00:14:06.01\00:14:10.65
When Spirit says sing
Oh, yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:14:10.68\00:14:17.85
Yes, I'm goin'a
sing Yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:14:17.89\00:14:20.19
When the Spirit says sing
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I'm goin'a obey
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the Spirit of the Lord
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I'm goin'a sing
00:14:38.57\00:14:39.91
When the Spirit says sing
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Hallelujah I'm goin'a sing
00:14:41.31\00:14:42.94
When the Spirit says sing
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Yes, I'm goin'a sing
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When the Spirit says sing
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I'm goin'a obey
00:14:48.22\00:14:49.95
the Spirit of the Lord
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I'm goin'a shout
00:14:52.09\00:14:53.42
When the Spirit says shout
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Hallelujah, I'm goin'a shout
00:14:54.82\00:14:56.46
When the Spirit says shout
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Yes, I'm goin'a shout
00:14:58.13\00:14:59.86
When the Spirit says shout
00:14:59.89\00:15:01.66
I'm goin'a obey
the Spirit of the Lord.
00:15:01.70\00:15:05.33
Let the earth be glad
00:15:05.37\00:15:07.44
Let the earth be glad
00:15:07.47\00:15:08.94
Oh, let the sea be moon
00:15:08.97\00:15:10.81
Let the sea be moon
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.51
Let the fields be filled
00:15:12.54\00:15:14.51
Pray for the joy
00:15:14.54\00:15:16.48
Obey the Spirit of the Lord
00:15:16.51\00:15:19.35
Let the skies rejoice
00:15:19.38\00:15:21.28
Let the skies rejoice
00:15:21.32\00:15:22.92
Oh, let the mountain see
00:15:22.95\00:15:24.82
Let the mountain see
00:15:24.85\00:15:26.42
Let the heavens shine
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.72
Pray for the joy
00:15:28.76\00:15:30.49
Obey the Spirit of the Lord.
00:15:30.53\00:15:33.50
I'm goin'a sing
00:15:33.53\00:15:34.86
When the Spirit says sing
00:15:34.90\00:15:36.23
Hallelujah, I'm goin'a sing
00:15:36.26\00:15:37.77
When the Spirit says sing
00:15:37.80\00:15:39.37
Yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:15:39.40\00:15:41.14
When the Spirit says sing
00:15:41.17\00:15:42.90
I'm goin'a obey
the Spirit of the Lord
00:15:42.94\00:15:46.94
I'm goin'a pray
00:15:46.98\00:15:48.91
Pray
00:15:48.94\00:15:50.28
When the Spirit says pray
00:15:50.31\00:15:52.15
I'm goin'a pray
00:15:52.18\00:15:53.78
Pray
00:15:53.82\00:15:55.15
When the Spirit says pray
00:15:55.18\00:15:57.12
I'm goin'a pray
00:15:57.15\00:15:59.29
Pray
00:15:59.32\00:16:00.66
When the Spirit says pray
00:16:00.69\00:16:02.42
I'm goin'a obey
00:16:02.46\00:16:05.03
The Spirit of the Lord
00:16:05.06\00:16:10.17
For the earth is His
00:16:10.20\00:16:13.03
The earth is His
00:16:13.07\00:16:15.84
Yes, He made the hills
00:16:15.87\00:16:18.91
He made the hills
00:16:18.94\00:16:21.54
And He sits on
His heavenly throne
00:16:21.58\00:16:27.52
He sits on the heavenly
00:16:30.62\00:16:37.53
Heavenly,
00:16:37.56\00:16:39.73
Heavenly
00:16:39.76\00:16:41.20
I said a heavenly throne
00:16:41.23\00:16:46.87
On heavenly throne
00:16:46.90\00:16:50.51
I'm goin'a sing
00:16:50.54\00:16:53.07
I'm goin'a sing
00:16:53.11\00:16:56.04
When Spirit says sing
00:16:56.08\00:16:59.01
Yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:16:59.05\00:17:01.85
Well, I'm goin'a sing
00:17:01.88\00:17:05.05
I'm goin'a sing
00:17:05.09\00:17:07.72
When Spirit says sing
00:17:07.76\00:17:11.23
Oh, yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:17:11.26\00:17:16.93
Yes, I'm goin'a sing
00:17:16.97\00:17:19.63
When Spirit says sing
00:17:19.67\00:17:23.24
Yes, I'm goin'a shout Pray,
00:17:23.27\00:17:25.71
and obey I'm
goin'a obey The Spirit
00:17:25.74\00:17:31.91
I'm goin'a obey the Spirit
00:17:31.95\00:17:38.25
I'm goin'a
00:17:38.29\00:17:43.73
Obey the Spirit
00:17:43.76\00:17:49.56
Let's pray.
00:18:00.88\00:18:02.21
Oh, God, You heard our desire.
00:18:02.24\00:18:05.51
You say sing, we sing,
00:18:05.55\00:18:07.02
You say pray, we pray,
00:18:07.05\00:18:08.68
You say shout, we shout.
00:18:08.72\00:18:11.69
That's the kind of year we wish
00:18:11.72\00:18:14.62
for on the cusp of this new year
00:18:14.66\00:18:17.06
here at Andrews University.
00:18:17.09\00:18:20.40
We come to this
moment where holy scripture
00:18:20.43\00:18:22.56
engages our minds
and addresses our hearts.
00:18:22.60\00:18:24.80
Let, let this be
clear humbly we ask,
00:18:24.83\00:18:30.11
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:18:30.14\00:18:35.41
"Now, brothers and
sisters, about times and dates,
00:18:35.44\00:18:39.35
we do not need to write to you
00:18:39.38\00:18:41.28
for you know very well
00:18:41.32\00:18:43.28
that the day of the
Lord will come like a thief
00:18:43.32\00:18:45.49
in the night,
00:18:45.52\00:18:47.12
while people are
saying, 'Peace and safety,'
00:18:47.16\00:18:49.56
destruction will
come on them suddenly
00:18:49.59\00:18:51.26
as labor pains
on a pregnant woman,
00:18:51.29\00:18:53.70
and they will not escape."
00:18:53.73\00:18:56.97
San Francisco Chronicle
00:18:57.00\00:18:58.93
right here in my
hands dated July 21.
00:18:58.97\00:19:05.54
May I read it to you?
00:19:05.57\00:19:07.81
Dateline Aurora, Colorado.
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.91
For the six friends,
00:19:09.94\00:19:11.28
the movie was to be
the kickoff to a day
00:19:11.31\00:19:12.85
of celebration.
00:19:12.88\00:19:14.22
Megan Sanders was turning 20
00:19:14.25\00:19:16.35
and her best buds were home
from college for the summer.
00:19:16.38\00:19:19.05
She had one
particular birthday wish
00:19:19.09\00:19:21.32
that they all hit
the midnight premiere
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.89
of the new Batman
flick, The Dark Knight Rises
00:19:23.93\00:19:28.30
inside theater number 9
00:19:28.33\00:19:29.66
of The Century 16
Complex in Aurora.
00:19:29.70\00:19:31.90
The atmosphere
couldn't have been more festive.
00:19:31.93\00:19:33.74
Little boys had done
their best Batman mask,
00:19:33.77\00:19:36.50
while others are clad
full on as the caped crusader.
00:19:36.54\00:19:39.94
A woman near the front
was dressed as Catwoman,
00:19:39.97\00:19:42.18
when the lights
dimmed at 12:05 am,
00:19:42.21\00:19:44.95
a cheer went up
00:19:44.98\00:19:46.31
followed by an even bigger shout
00:19:46.35\00:19:47.75
when Bruce Wayne
appeared on the big screen.
00:19:47.78\00:19:51.52
Megan and her friends
00:19:51.55\00:19:52.89
sat side by side
in the fourth row
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.39
from the front
engrossed in the movie.
00:19:54.42\00:19:56.19
They had long anticipated
00:19:56.22\00:19:57.59
about a
superhero facing down evil.
00:19:57.63\00:20:02.26
Then the emergency
exit door burst open.
00:20:02.30\00:20:05.47
And suddenly evil was no longer
00:20:05.50\00:20:06.94
the stuff of comic
books and summer blockbusters,
00:20:06.97\00:20:09.80
the man stood only
feet from them clad
00:20:09.84\00:20:11.74
in black wearing
goggles and a gas mask,
00:20:11.77\00:20:14.11
holding a hissing
canister in one hand
00:20:14.14\00:20:15.88
and a gun in the other.
00:20:15.91\00:20:17.25
For an instant, Megan thought
00:20:17.28\00:20:18.61
maybe he was a SWAT team member.
00:20:18.65\00:20:20.38
Next to her, her
19-year-old friends,
00:20:20.42\00:20:22.02
Emma Goosen and Hannah Jackson
00:20:22.05\00:20:23.59
thought it was all
just a part of the show,
00:20:23.62\00:20:25.12
some extra theatrics
to help set the mood.
00:20:25.15\00:20:28.32
It would take only seconds
for these childhood friends
00:20:28.36\00:20:30.63
to realize the horror
00:20:30.66\00:20:32.79
of what was about to unfold.
00:20:32.83\00:20:34.56
The man in black lob
the canister into the crowd
00:20:34.60\00:20:37.40
as smoke spewed in the darkness.
00:20:37.43\00:20:40.70
He fired one
shot at the ceiling,
00:20:40.74\00:20:42.84
then he started up the aisle.
00:20:42.87\00:20:44.74
Megan and her
friends hit the floor
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.11
as people all around
them began screaming.
00:20:46.14\00:20:49.68
Two rows in front of
Megan and her friends,
00:20:49.71\00:20:51.31
22-year-old Jennifer Seeger,
00:20:51.35\00:20:53.11
studying to become a
firefighter paramedic
00:20:53.15\00:20:55.48
felt bullet cases
falling on her head,
00:20:55.52\00:20:57.95
burning her skin.
00:20:57.99\00:20:59.92
Behind her
people moan and pleaded,
00:20:59.95\00:21:01.69
"Please don't shoot me."
00:21:01.72\00:21:04.49
In the upper
section of the theater,
00:21:04.53\00:21:05.86
41-year-old Marcus
Weaver, a father of two,
00:21:05.89\00:21:08.26
her children
crying for their mothers,
00:21:08.30\00:21:10.23
and parents frantically crying,
00:21:10.27\00:21:11.77
"Where are you?"
00:21:11.80\00:21:13.23
All the while the
gunshots kept coming.
00:21:13.27\00:21:15.57
He later said it
was just pow pow.
00:21:15.60\00:21:18.91
All you saw was a
light of the gun flash
00:21:18.94\00:21:20.81
between the
smoke, then pow, pow.
00:21:20.84\00:21:26.25
From the ground in row 4,
00:21:26.28\00:21:27.88
Megan and Emma heard a
round of 20 to 25 shots.
00:21:27.92\00:21:32.62
Then for an
instant, maybe 15 seconds,
00:21:32.65\00:21:35.99
the firing stop
and an eerie silence
00:21:36.02\00:21:39.63
fell over the theater.
00:21:39.66\00:21:42.03
He was simply reloading.
00:21:42.06\00:21:43.90
"Now, brothers and
sisters, about times and dates,
00:21:47.74\00:21:52.67
we don't need to write to you
00:21:52.71\00:21:54.04
for you know very well
that the day of the Lord
00:21:54.08\00:21:55.81
will come like a
thief in the night
00:21:55.84\00:21:58.88
while people are saying,
00:21:58.91\00:22:00.25
'Peace and safety,'
00:22:00.28\00:22:01.62
destruction will
come on them suddenly
00:22:01.65\00:22:02.98
as labor pains
on a pregnant woman,
00:22:03.02\00:22:04.82
and they will not escape."
00:22:04.85\00:22:08.46
Within hours of
the Aurora massacre
00:22:08.49\00:22:12.03
in which 70 Americans,
00:22:12.06\00:22:13.43
men, women, teenagers,
and children 12 of them,
00:22:13.46\00:22:17.63
70 Americans
gunned down 12 of them,
00:22:17.67\00:22:19.93
their lives
extinguished by a single bullet
00:22:19.97\00:22:22.84
from the hand
of that 24-year-old
00:22:22.87\00:22:24.94
graduate student,
00:22:24.97\00:22:26.31
a PhD in neuroscience major
at the University of Colorado.
00:22:26.34\00:22:32.55
Within hours of the massacre,
00:22:32.58\00:22:34.35
the social and
moral post mortem began.
00:22:34.38\00:22:37.52
We put the words of David Poland
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.45
on the screen for you.
00:22:39.49\00:22:40.82
He writes for the blog
site moviecitynews.com.
00:22:40.86\00:22:43.12
You see it
there? Poland writing,
00:22:43.16\00:22:45.03
"This is someone coming
into our chosen church."
00:22:45.06\00:22:49.16
Well, that was
interesting language.
00:22:49.20\00:22:50.93
"Coming into our chosen
church and killing people
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.17
who were sharing
the communal experience
00:22:53.20\00:22:55.80
that is so much a part
of so many of our lives.
00:22:55.84\00:22:58.11
It was a massacre
00:22:58.14\00:22:59.47
of some of the most
enthusiastic members
00:22:59.51\00:23:01.54
of the movie-loving community."
00:23:01.58\00:23:06.25
America's chosen
church, that's how he puts it.
00:23:06.28\00:23:09.98
Then what have they been
showing lately in church?
00:23:10.02\00:23:14.46
The Batman trilogy
00:23:14.49\00:23:15.92
had already come
under moral scrutiny
00:23:15.96\00:23:17.59
when the Dark Knight,
00:23:17.63\00:23:19.03
which is the
precursor to the final piece,
00:23:19.06\00:23:21.30
The Dark Knight Rises.
00:23:21.33\00:23:23.57
When the Dark
Knight was released,
00:23:23.60\00:23:24.93
in The Dark Knight,
00:23:24.97\00:23:26.43
the celebrated Hollywood actor
00:23:26.47\00:23:27.80
Heath Ledger played the Joker,
00:23:27.84\00:23:29.94
an evil protagonist
described by one reviewer
00:23:29.97\00:23:32.67
this way the
Joker was like the devil
00:23:32.71\00:23:34.51
personified, calmly,
00:23:34.54\00:23:36.75
and enjoyably
spreading evil wherever he went.
00:23:36.78\00:23:40.78
What kind of evil?
00:23:40.82\00:23:42.15
Listen to Jenny McCartney,
film critic with the Telegraph,
00:23:42.18\00:23:45.45
that's a London newspaper.
00:23:45.49\00:23:46.82
Put her words on the screen.
00:23:46.86\00:23:48.19
"The greatest
surprise of all, even for me,
00:23:48.22\00:23:50.23
after eight years spent
working as a film critic."
00:23:50.26\00:23:52.79
She has seen hundreds
and hundreds of films,
00:23:52.83\00:23:56.43
"The greatest
surprise of all for me
00:23:56.46\00:23:58.97
has been the
sustained level of intensely
00:23:59.00\00:24:02.67
sadistic brutality
throughout the film."
00:24:02.70\00:24:06.34
She goes on to
describe the scenes,
00:24:06.37\00:24:08.01
words I can't even put,
just from her description,
00:24:08.04\00:24:10.15
I can't put it on the screen.
00:24:10.18\00:24:11.61
Let me just quote a line.
00:24:11.65\00:24:14.02
Her critique continues,
00:24:14.05\00:24:15.98
"The film begins
with a heist carried out
00:24:16.02\00:24:17.49
by men and sinister clown mask.
00:24:17.52\00:24:19.35
As each clown completes a task,
00:24:19.39\00:24:21.39
another shoots in
point blank in the head.
00:24:21.42\00:24:23.63
The scene ends with a clown,
00:24:23.66\00:24:24.99
The Joker, stuffing a bomb
00:24:25.03\00:24:26.80
into a wounded
bank employee's mouth."
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.86
And you can imagine the rest.
00:24:29.90\00:24:32.23
Later, she
writes in her critique,
00:24:32.27\00:24:33.84
"A plainly terrorized child
00:24:33.87\00:24:35.47
seen on the screen,
00:24:35.50\00:24:36.87
a plainly terrorized
child is threatened at gunpoint
00:24:36.91\00:24:40.98
by a man with a melted face.
00:24:41.01\00:24:44.11
All," she writes,
00:24:44.15\00:24:46.21
"It is all intensely realistic."
00:24:46.25\00:24:52.85
Hey, listen, guys.
00:24:52.89\00:24:54.22
Think, think, think with me.
00:24:54.26\00:24:55.99
Is it any wonder then
00:24:56.02\00:24:59.63
when the filming of The
Dark Knight was completed,
00:24:59.66\00:25:01.66
but before it was released
to the public Heath Ledger,
00:25:01.70\00:25:05.53
the actor playing the Joker
00:25:05.57\00:25:07.67
was found dead
of a drug overdose.
00:25:07.70\00:25:10.64
And is it any wonder
00:25:13.81\00:25:15.74
that when the real
life gunman showed up
00:25:15.78\00:25:19.21
a few minutes after midnight
00:25:19.25\00:25:20.95
this summer in Aurora,
Colorado, James Holmes.
00:25:20.98\00:25:24.75
He shows up
painted as the evil dark
00:25:24.79\00:25:28.06
incarnate Joker, red-dyed hair,
00:25:28.09\00:25:31.39
and all.
00:25:31.43\00:25:34.30
Could it be?
00:25:34.33\00:25:36.43
Could it be
possible that the Dark Knight
00:25:36.46\00:25:38.30
is darker than
anybody first thought?
00:25:38.33\00:25:43.81
One reviewer
described the Dark Knight Rises
00:25:43.84\00:25:47.68
as containing,
and I'm quoting now,
00:25:47.71\00:25:49.04
"One of the most
memorably brutal fights
00:25:49.08\00:25:51.71
ever portrayed in the
movies, disturbingly realistic,
00:25:51.75\00:25:54.58
and larger than
life at the same time."
00:25:54.62\00:25:58.89
Roger Morley,
00:25:58.92\00:26:00.42
a columnist for
trumpet.com exclaims,
00:26:00.46\00:26:02.76
and I put Morley's
words on the screen.
00:26:02.79\00:26:04.59
"This was the movie
00:26:04.63\00:26:05.96
that people
wanted to see so badly
00:26:05.99\00:26:07.83
that they took
their infants with them.
00:26:07.86\00:26:10.27
Parents: Have
we lost our minds?"
00:26:10.30\00:26:12.93
Could it be possible,
00:26:16.97\00:26:18.51
ladies and gentlemen,
00:26:18.54\00:26:19.87
that the Dark Knight is
darker than the public realizes?
00:26:19.91\00:26:23.71
Maybe he isn't
00:26:23.75\00:26:25.61
who we thought he was.
00:26:25.65\00:26:30.89
Read it with me now.
00:26:30.92\00:26:33.46
Just been reading it to you.
00:26:33.49\00:26:34.82
Open your Bible to 1
Thessalonians Chapter 5.
00:26:34.86\00:26:38.19
1 Thessalonians Chapter 5,
00:26:38.23\00:26:39.86
a passage
written for this moment
00:26:39.89\00:26:41.76
of transition in society.
00:26:41.80\00:26:44.70
This world you and I live
in, this third millennium.
00:26:44.73\00:26:47.37
1 Thessalonians Chapter 5.
00:26:47.40\00:26:48.87
If you didn't bring a Bible,
00:26:48.90\00:26:50.24
just pull the pew
Bible out in front of you,
00:26:50.27\00:26:51.61
it's page 796 in the pew Bible.
00:26:51.64\00:26:53.71
I'm in the New
International Version today.
00:26:53.74\00:26:57.81
And I want to read
these words with you,
00:26:57.85\00:26:59.88
1 Thessalonians 5:1.
00:26:59.91\00:27:03.15
Let's put it on the
screen. There we go.
00:27:03.18\00:27:05.09
"Now brothers and sisters,
00:27:05.12\00:27:08.06
about times and dates
00:27:08.09\00:27:09.42
we do not need to write to you.
00:27:09.46\00:27:10.83
For" verse 2,
00:27:10.86\00:27:12.19
"You know very well
00:27:12.23\00:27:13.56
that the day of
the Lord will come
00:27:13.60\00:27:14.93
like a thief in the night."
00:27:14.96\00:27:16.40
Verse 3,
00:27:16.43\00:27:17.77
"While people are
saying, 'Peace and safety,'
00:27:17.80\00:27:19.97
destruction will
come on them suddenly
00:27:20.00\00:27:22.24
as labor pains
on a pregnant woman,
00:27:22.27\00:27:23.87
and they will not escape."
00:27:23.91\00:27:26.91
And I suppose, I
need to hasten to explain
00:27:26.94\00:27:31.15
why on this tranquil moment
00:27:31.18\00:27:32.95
of a new year at
Andrews University,
00:27:32.98\00:27:35.82
we would be examining
this Hollywood production
00:27:35.85\00:27:38.09
that is now gross by
the way as of this week,
00:27:38.12\00:27:40.16
$423 million in
box office receipts.
00:27:40.19\00:27:45.76
Why talk about the
Dark Knight Rises at all?
00:27:45.79\00:27:48.90
Because could it be
00:27:48.93\00:27:51.43
that the tragedy
in Aurora this summer
00:27:51.47\00:27:55.70
is a dress rehearsal
00:27:55.74\00:27:58.57
for the reality on
this planets soon to come.
00:27:58.61\00:28:00.94
Could it be
00:28:00.98\00:28:03.21
that what happened
in that midnight theater
00:28:03.24\00:28:06.48
is a metaphor
00:28:06.51\00:28:07.85
of what is about to
happen on planet earth?
00:28:07.88\00:28:14.46
Could it be for earth,
a dark night is rising?
00:28:14.49\00:28:17.46
By the way, that
night is not with a gate?
00:28:17.49\00:28:19.33
Could it be the
darkened night is now rising
00:28:19.36\00:28:22.20
for the human race?
00:28:22.23\00:28:24.73
You remember the survey?
00:28:24.77\00:28:26.10
Those of you who are here
last spring, you remember,
00:28:26.13\00:28:27.47
we took a survey in
April, a couple of them.
00:28:27.50\00:28:30.74
Over my study break,
00:28:30.77\00:28:32.11
I had a chance to pray
over all of those responses.
00:28:32.14\00:28:33.61
Hands down 18 to
25, 25 to 40, 40 to 60.
00:28:33.64\00:28:38.78
Hands down,
00:28:38.81\00:28:40.15
no matter the age,
00:28:40.18\00:28:41.52
the number one
request was, "Pastor,
00:28:41.55\00:28:42.88
would you please preach
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.79
on the second coming of Jesus,
00:28:44.82\00:28:46.29
the end of the
world, and last days."
00:28:46.32\00:28:49.49
No matter the age,
the interest is piqued.
00:28:49.52\00:28:53.60
And so over my study break,
00:28:53.63\00:28:54.96
I had the opportunity to examine
00:28:55.00\00:28:56.33
just how dark the night is
that is slowly hemorrhaging
00:28:56.36\00:28:59.53
across this nation and world.
00:28:59.57\00:29:01.44
A few days into the break,
00:29:01.47\00:29:02.80
the Aurora tragedy happened,
00:29:02.84\00:29:04.17
and the title to this miniseries
00:29:04.21\00:29:05.91
presented itself rather quickly.
00:29:05.94\00:29:08.78
They put the title slide
00:29:08.81\00:29:10.15
for this little
miniseries only three,
00:29:10.18\00:29:11.58
only three teachings
long, The Dark Night Rises One,
00:29:11.61\00:29:15.92
The Dark Night Rises Two,
The Dark Night Rises Three.
00:29:15.95\00:29:19.92
Next week, we begin to
disassemble the evidence
00:29:19.95\00:29:23.86
indicating we are in the
thick of the dark night now.
00:29:23.89\00:29:28.70
You see a website on there
00:29:28.73\00:29:30.07
when I want to
say to those of you
00:29:30.10\00:29:31.43
who are listening right
now or watching on a screen.
00:29:31.47\00:29:32.80
Delighted to have you.
00:29:32.83\00:29:34.17
That website is where
you can get the study guide.
00:29:34.20\00:29:35.54
We'll get to the study
guide in just a moment.
00:29:35.57\00:29:36.91
The website www.pmchurch.tv.
00:29:36.94\00:29:40.11
You go to The Dark Night series,
00:29:40.14\00:29:41.81
you'll see study guide part one,
00:29:41.84\00:29:43.98
and you'll be ready to go.
00:29:44.01\00:29:45.78
Only four times, count
that, one, two, three, four.
00:29:45.81\00:29:47.88
Only four times
does the Apostle Paul
00:29:47.92\00:29:50.15
ever use a double
negative in the Greek.
00:29:50.19\00:29:53.25
And here comes one of them.
00:29:53.29\00:29:54.86
Let's read it again.
00:29:54.89\00:29:57.13
1 Thessalonians 5:1.
00:29:57.16\00:29:59.69
"Now, brothers and
sisters, about times and dates
00:29:59.73\00:30:01.86
we do not need to write to
you, for you know very well
00:30:01.90\00:30:04.63
that the day the Lord will
come like a thief in the night."
00:30:04.67\00:30:07.57
Let's hit the
pause button right there
00:30:07.60\00:30:08.94
because there's
the night metaphor.
00:30:08.97\00:30:11.27
It came as a surprise to me
00:30:11.31\00:30:12.64
as I'm getting ready
for this little miniseries
00:30:12.67\00:30:14.18
to discover that night time
00:30:14.21\00:30:16.24
over and over again
in the New Testament,
00:30:16.28\00:30:19.11
nighttime portrays
the return of Christ.
00:30:19.15\00:30:21.45
It's at nighttime.
00:30:21.48\00:30:22.82
Let me run some text.
00:30:22.85\00:30:24.19
In fact, grab your
study guide right now.
00:30:24.22\00:30:25.55
Ushers, let's go.
Bless your hearts.
00:30:25.59\00:30:28.12
If you didn't get a study guide,
00:30:28.16\00:30:29.49
hold your hand up and our
ushers will come your way,
00:30:29.52\00:30:31.36
but I'm going to
just keep moving here.
00:30:31.39\00:30:33.09
Thank you, ushers, up
in the balcony as well.
00:30:33.13\00:30:34.96
Bless you.
00:30:35.00\00:30:36.33
Let's go to the study guide.
00:30:36.36\00:30:37.70
Let's go to this first
text, the words of Jesus,
00:30:37.73\00:30:39.07
Matthew 24:43, Jesus says,
00:30:39.10\00:30:42.84
"His coming will be
like a thief in the night."
00:30:42.87\00:30:46.57
Well, we just
heard that from Paul.
00:30:46.61\00:30:47.94
Where do you
think Paul got it from?
00:30:47.98\00:30:49.31
He got it from the
Lord. Look at that.
00:30:49.34\00:30:50.68
Look at Jesus in Luke 12:39,
00:30:50.71\00:30:52.68
"Even if he comes in
the middle of the night
00:30:52.71\00:30:56.02
or toward daybreak."
00:30:56.05\00:30:57.52
Be on the alert,
there's night again,
00:30:57.55\00:30:59.69
John 9:4,
"Night," write that in.
00:30:59.72\00:31:03.09
"Night is coming
when no one can work."
00:31:03.12\00:31:08.96
Jesus speaking of the end.
00:31:09.00\00:31:11.40
You jump ahead in
the New Testament,
00:31:11.43\00:31:12.87
you have Paul in Romans 13:12,
00:31:12.90\00:31:15.07
"The night is nearly
over, the day is almost here."
00:31:15.10\00:31:17.64
By the way if you're getting
your study guide a little late,
00:31:17.67\00:31:19.34
I'll give you a clue,
00:31:19.37\00:31:20.71
every blank is
filled with the word night.
00:31:20.74\00:31:22.41
All right. Just to
go, oh, I missed it.
00:31:22.44\00:31:24.41
No, you didn't miss it.
The night is nearly over.
00:31:24.45\00:31:26.41
Paul, we just read
this, 1 Thessalonians 5:2,
00:31:26.45\00:31:29.12
"The day of the Lord will
come like a thief in the night."
00:31:29.15\00:31:31.52
Peter not willing, not
wanting to be left out.
00:31:31.55\00:31:34.26
Here goes Peter, 2 Peter 3:10,
00:31:34.29\00:31:36.02
"The day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night."
00:31:36.06\00:31:40.30
In fact, in further
study, I discovered.
00:31:40.33\00:31:43.80
Get this, that the
early church actually believed
00:31:43.83\00:31:47.07
that Jesus would come
at midnight, at midnight.
00:31:47.10\00:31:52.97
Jerome, the church father,
00:31:53.01\00:31:55.08
he's the one that links that
00:31:55.11\00:31:56.71
that belief to a
Jewish tradition that said
00:31:56.75\00:31:58.85
even as the Lord
came down upon Egypt
00:31:58.88\00:32:02.02
with the mighty
Passover deliverance,
00:32:02.05\00:32:03.79
even so the Messiah
would also come at midnight.
00:32:03.82\00:32:06.99
Midnight in Egypt,
00:32:07.02\00:32:08.36
midnight at the
Messiah's return.
00:32:08.39\00:32:09.72
And guess what?
00:32:09.76\00:32:11.09
I go to that
apocalyptic classic,
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.46
Great Controversy.
00:32:12.49\00:32:13.83
I take a look in
there, here's what I find.
00:32:13.86\00:32:15.20
You'll have to fill
it in your study guide.
00:32:15.23\00:32:16.70
Great Controversy.
"It is at midnight..."
00:32:16.73\00:32:19.27
Amazing.
00:32:19.30\00:32:20.94
"It is at midnight
that God manifests His power
00:32:20.97\00:32:23.74
for the
deliverance of His people.
00:32:23.77\00:32:25.21
The sun appears,
shining in its strength.
00:32:25.24\00:32:27.38
Signs and wonders
follow in quick succession.
00:32:27.41\00:32:29.84
In the midst of
the angry heavens
00:32:29.88\00:32:31.21
is one clear space
of indescribable glory.
00:32:31.25\00:32:34.12
The glory from the throne of God
00:32:34.15\00:32:35.62
seems flashing through.
00:32:35.65\00:32:37.55
The clouds sweet back,
00:32:37.59\00:32:38.92
and the starry heavens
are seen unspeakably glorious
00:32:38.95\00:32:42.02
in contrast with a black
00:32:42.06\00:32:43.39
and angry
firmament on either side."
00:32:43.43\00:32:45.53
Keep reading, "The glory
of the celestial city streams
00:32:45.56\00:32:48.86
from the gates ajar.
00:32:48.90\00:32:50.23
Soon there appears in the east,
00:32:50.27\00:32:51.83
a small black cloud about
half the size of a man's hand."
00:32:51.87\00:32:54.87
Look at, here's a
man's hand right here.
00:32:54.90\00:32:56.54
Half the size of a man's
hand would be to go like this.
00:32:56.57\00:33:00.21
A small black
cloud in the distance,
00:33:00.24\00:33:02.78
half the size of a man's hand.
00:33:02.81\00:33:04.31
"It is the cloud
which surrounds the Savior
00:33:04.35\00:33:06.55
and which seems in the distance
to be shrouded in darkness.
00:33:06.58\00:33:09.65
The people of God
know this is to be the sign
00:33:09.68\00:33:12.49
of the Son of man."
00:33:12.52\00:33:15.76
Dark Night Rises.
00:33:15.79\00:33:17.56
Turns out
prophets from the beginning
00:33:17.59\00:33:19.43
had been seizing that metaphor
00:33:19.46\00:33:21.26
to describe the day of the Lord,
00:33:21.30\00:33:22.86
the return of Christ,
00:33:22.90\00:33:24.70
the end of the
world, night time.
00:33:24.73\00:33:27.14
Pick it up again in verse 2.
00:33:30.17\00:33:32.87
"For you know very well
00:33:32.91\00:33:34.44
that the day the Lord will
come like a thief in the night.
00:33:34.48\00:33:36.91
While people are
saying, 'Peace and safety,'
00:33:36.95\00:33:39.18
destruction will
come on them suddenly
00:33:39.21\00:33:40.82
as labor pains
on a pregnant woman
00:33:40.85\00:33:42.45
and they will not escape."
00:33:42.48\00:33:44.22
There it is in the
Greek, double negative.
00:33:44.25\00:33:46.39
You will no, not escape.
00:33:46.42\00:33:49.49
Just in case you
missed the first one.
00:33:49.52\00:33:50.86
Paul says, let me
throw another one in.
00:33:50.89\00:33:52.53
"You will no, not escape."
00:33:52.56\00:33:54.93
Boom, it'll
happen, just like that,
00:33:54.96\00:33:56.73
just like Aurora by the way.
00:33:56.77\00:34:00.20
And you will no, not escape.
00:34:00.24\00:34:04.17
I have good news for you.
00:34:04.21\00:34:05.71
Paul's not writing
about the friends of Jesus.
00:34:05.74\00:34:07.48
That's the good news.
00:34:07.51\00:34:08.94
He's writing, he's describing
to the friends of Jesus,
00:34:08.98\00:34:11.61
how it will be for
those who are not watching,
00:34:11.65\00:34:14.48
and praying, and waiting.
00:34:14.52\00:34:17.52
Maybe even in a
community like this,
00:34:17.55\00:34:19.15
it can happen.
00:34:19.19\00:34:20.62
You know,
people who never speak.
00:34:20.66\00:34:23.66
Have you ever
met people like this?
00:34:23.69\00:34:25.03
They never speak of
the end of the world.
00:34:25.06\00:34:29.13
You'll never hear them
access the last day's paradigm.
00:34:29.16\00:34:33.44
You will never
hear on their lips,
00:34:33.47\00:34:34.94
the second coming of Christ.
00:34:34.97\00:34:38.64
It's as if it were a non event.
00:34:38.67\00:34:41.78
And I can
understand. I mean, come on.
00:34:41.81\00:34:43.98
It's no doubt they're
tired of being disappointed
00:34:47.35\00:34:50.39
again and again.
00:34:50.42\00:34:52.35
So not another series, please.
00:34:52.39\00:34:56.73
But they banish that notion
00:34:56.76\00:34:59.46
with a nifty little
bit of cheerful philosophy
00:34:59.49\00:35:01.86
that says, it
really doesn't matter.
00:35:01.90\00:35:03.67
And it goes like this.
00:35:03.70\00:35:05.03
Here's this, it
doesn't matter philosophy.
00:35:05.07\00:35:06.43
So look, "I mean, come on,
00:35:06.47\00:35:08.10
what difference
does it really make?
00:35:08.14\00:35:10.07
If he comes today, I'm ready,
I'm going home with Jesus.
00:35:10.11\00:35:13.27
But if He doesn't
come for a long time,
00:35:13.31\00:35:15.74
hey, guess what?
00:35:15.78\00:35:17.11
I get to finish my education,
00:35:17.15\00:35:18.51
I want to marry
a beautiful girl.
00:35:18.55\00:35:20.22
We're going to
raise a wonderful family.
00:35:20.25\00:35:21.95
I'm going to find
a glorious career,
00:35:21.98\00:35:24.02
and then I'm going
to come to retirement,
00:35:24.05\00:35:25.65
and sit back, and
live on the fruits.
00:35:25.69\00:35:28.26
And one day as a happy old man,
00:35:28.29\00:35:31.59
I will die, and
then the end shall come."
00:35:31.63\00:35:35.13
I mean, what's not
to like about that?
00:35:35.16\00:35:39.10
Hey, listen, that little
bit of feel good philosophy,
00:35:39.13\00:35:42.20
why don't you tell that
to the 80 million people
00:35:42.24\00:35:45.84
who this year
will starve to death,
00:35:45.87\00:35:48.71
one human being
every 3.6 seconds.
00:35:48.74\00:35:52.55
You go up to them, and you say,
"Hey, listen, it doesn't matter
00:35:52.58\00:35:54.75
whether it comes now or forever.
00:35:54.78\00:35:56.22
Who cares?"
00:35:56.25\00:35:58.42
For whom?
00:35:58.45\00:35:59.79
These 80 million, deliverance
now would be salvation,
00:35:59.82\00:36:02.46
deliverance now
would be the difference
00:36:02.49\00:36:03.89
between life and death
00:36:03.93\00:36:05.99
or painful agony
until death comes.
00:36:06.03\00:36:08.10
You tell that to the 80 million
00:36:08.13\00:36:09.46
who will starve to
death on the planet this year.
00:36:09.50\00:36:11.63
Tell that. Keep your pen moving.
00:36:11.67\00:36:13.00
Tell that to the 46
million in the United States
00:36:13.03\00:36:15.30
who are living on food stamps.
00:36:15.34\00:36:16.84
Can you believe that?
00:36:16.87\00:36:18.21
Forty-six million Americans
don't have enough money
00:36:18.24\00:36:20.71
to buy their own food,
00:36:20.74\00:36:22.14
so they're
living on food stamps.
00:36:22.18\00:36:23.68
Tell that to
the 1 million people
00:36:23.71\00:36:25.31
who commit
suicide every single year,
00:36:25.35\00:36:28.92
30,000 in the
United States alone.
00:36:28.95\00:36:30.69
"Hey, don't worry about it.
00:36:30.72\00:36:32.05
I know you're without hope,
00:36:32.09\00:36:33.42
I know you're
despairing right now.
00:36:33.46\00:36:34.79
But, hey,
whether Jesus comes now
00:36:34.82\00:36:36.16
or where the Jesus comes later,
just hang in there, buddy."
00:36:36.19\00:36:38.29
How could you ask anybody
to hang in when his life,
00:36:38.33\00:36:41.86
when her life is melting down?
00:36:41.90\00:36:45.13
It makes all the
difference in the world.
00:36:45.17\00:36:47.10
Tell that. Jot
this down, will you?
00:36:47.14\00:36:48.80
Tell that to those
who are sexually assaulted
00:36:48.84\00:36:50.91
every two minutes
in the United States.
00:36:50.94\00:36:54.41
Twenty-four hours a day,
00:36:54.44\00:36:55.78
every two
minutes, male and female
00:36:55.81\00:36:57.35
sexually assaulted.
00:36:57.38\00:36:58.71
Tell them, "Just
live with your guilt.
00:36:58.75\00:37:00.08
Just live with your concern,
00:37:00.12\00:37:02.65
your fear that you
caused it when you didn't.
00:37:02.68\00:37:04.99
Just live with
that awful wound."
00:37:05.02\00:37:07.86
If Jesus comes to
the end of your life,
00:37:07.89\00:37:09.26
you got to be thankful."
00:37:09.29\00:37:10.93
Tell that to them.
00:37:10.96\00:37:12.73
Whether Jesus comes now
00:37:12.76\00:37:14.10
or 100 years
from now, who cares?
00:37:14.13\00:37:15.46
God cares. That's who.
00:37:15.50\00:37:17.87
God wants to come
and stop this insanity.
00:37:17.90\00:37:20.84
He wants to return and end
00:37:20.87\00:37:23.00
this midnight of
despair and pain.
00:37:23.04\00:37:25.74
He wants to come.
00:37:25.77\00:37:27.11
The sooner He comes,
00:37:27.14\00:37:28.48
the less pain
will be experienced
00:37:28.51\00:37:29.98
by the human race.
00:37:30.01\00:37:31.65
It's a big deal when He comes.
00:37:31.68\00:37:34.08
The problem is I'll
tell you what the problem.
00:37:34.12\00:37:36.82
The glaring weakness of
those who live by the...
00:37:36.85\00:37:39.45
I have a
wonderful airtight world
00:37:39.49\00:37:40.96
in which I live
securely in a middle class
00:37:40.99\00:37:42.72
Christian
Adventist bubble philosophy,
00:37:42.76\00:37:45.13
the glaring
weakness of that philosophy
00:37:45.16\00:37:47.50
is that they have
totally written off
00:37:47.53\00:37:49.40
the majority world
of immense suffering,
00:37:49.43\00:37:51.47
crippling, pain,
heartache, and despair.
00:37:51.50\00:37:53.23
They have written it off.
00:37:53.27\00:37:55.50
How could you do that?
00:37:55.54\00:37:58.87
Of course, it matters.
00:37:58.91\00:38:01.24
Such a "Who care..."
00:38:01.28\00:38:02.61
Will you jot this down please.
00:38:02.64\00:38:03.98
"Such a, 'Who cares
when Jesus will come?'
00:38:04.01\00:38:06.25
Thinking is utterly vacuous."
00:38:06.28\00:38:08.28
That's a new word.
00:38:08.32\00:38:09.65
Memorize that word.
Put it on the screen.
00:38:09.68\00:38:11.02
Make sure you spell it right.
00:38:11.05\00:38:12.39
"Utterly vacuous which
being interpreted means
00:38:12.42\00:38:14.39
it is airheaded,
it is empty-headed."
00:38:14.42\00:38:17.13
That philosophy is worthless.
00:38:17.16\00:38:20.56
Yet people use it to
assuage their consciousness.
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.70
Who cares?
00:38:23.73\00:38:25.07
We'll get there.
00:38:25.10\00:38:26.43
He'll come.
00:38:26.47\00:38:29.30
Of course, it matters
00:38:29.34\00:38:30.67
because while I'm enjoying
my vegan cottage cheese loaf
00:38:30.71\00:38:33.38
every Sabbath day,
00:38:33.41\00:38:37.65
every 3.6 seconds somebody
else on this miserable planet
00:38:37.68\00:38:41.62
is dying of starvation.
00:38:41.65\00:38:43.59
Don't you tell
me it doesn't matter
00:38:43.62\00:38:44.99
when Jesus comes.
00:38:45.02\00:38:46.35
It matters that He comes soon.
00:38:46.39\00:38:47.86
Come soon, Lord Jesus,
come soon, I beg of You.
00:38:47.89\00:38:51.76
I'm tired of
divorce, I'm tired of disease,
00:38:51.79\00:38:54.76
I'm tired of destruction,
I am tired of melting down.
00:38:54.80\00:38:59.90
Come and deliver me.
00:38:59.93\00:39:02.27
It's okay to wish Jesus to come.
00:39:02.30\00:39:04.47
Sometimes people
make us feel selfish
00:39:04.51\00:39:06.17
for wanting Him to come soon.
00:39:06.21\00:39:07.58
You're not
selfish, you're human.
00:39:07.61\00:39:10.18
And you need liberation
from this concentration camp
00:39:10.21\00:39:14.38
that the dark
night is holding us
00:39:14.42\00:39:15.95
in night and day.
00:39:15.98\00:39:17.75
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:17.79\00:39:19.72
We act as if the great goal
of life is to enjoy the arts,
00:39:19.75\00:39:21.99
relish, beauty,
bask in the heady,
00:39:22.02\00:39:24.86
while the vast
majority of the world
00:39:24.89\00:39:26.23
collapses into a
dark and hellish end.
00:39:26.26\00:39:31.10
That's why two
emails that I received
00:39:31.13\00:39:32.87
from two young adults,
00:39:32.90\00:39:34.30
one at the
beginning of the summer,
00:39:34.34\00:39:35.67
the other at the
end of the summer.
00:39:35.70\00:39:37.87
Two emails have
stirred up my mind.
00:39:37.91\00:39:39.64
And so, in this sermon,
00:39:39.67\00:39:41.54
I'm going to
share the first one.
00:39:41.58\00:39:43.01
I'll hold the
other one till next week.
00:39:43.04\00:39:46.45
Let me read this to you.
00:39:46.48\00:39:48.42
This one came at the
beginning of the summer.
00:39:48.45\00:39:52.12
It's from my young
friend Peter Domstake,
00:39:52.15\00:39:55.09
Andrews University student.
00:39:55.12\00:39:56.46
Student missionary right
now in Bangkok, Thailand.
00:39:56.49\00:39:58.39
Peter grew up in
this little village.
00:39:58.43\00:40:01.80
He went to
academy with his mother.
00:40:01.83\00:40:04.73
Hello, Pastor Dwight.
00:40:04.77\00:40:06.10
He's not a member
of this congregation.
00:40:06.13\00:40:07.47
Hello, Pastor Dwight.
00:40:07.50\00:40:08.84
Doing student
missions over here in Thailand,
00:40:08.87\00:40:10.21
this semester has
been quite eye opening.
00:40:10.24\00:40:12.07
Before I ever
left, I thought to myself
00:40:12.11\00:40:14.24
that all was good
out in the mission field.
00:40:14.28\00:40:17.68
Before I left, I used to
think of places like North Korea
00:40:17.71\00:40:19.98
where the only locations left
to be reached by the gospel.
00:40:20.02\00:40:22.75
Yet, I'm working here in
Bangkok city of millions,
00:40:22.78\00:40:25.29
and there is so
much need spiritually.
00:40:25.32\00:40:27.46
Even people in this
what we call reached area
00:40:27.49\00:40:30.36
have no idea who Jesus
is other than some word.
00:40:30.39\00:40:33.40
Maybe they've heard
on the Hollywood movies
00:40:33.43\00:40:35.16
that roll through here.
00:40:35.20\00:40:36.53
Oh, sure, there are
little pockets of missionaries
00:40:36.56\00:40:38.60
here and they're
all over the world,
00:40:38.63\00:40:39.97
yet there is so
much work to be done.
00:40:40.00\00:40:41.90
I'm doing video stuff mostly
with a little graphic design,
00:40:41.94\00:40:44.94
and no, I'm not in
the middle of nowhere.
00:40:44.97\00:40:46.57
There's Wi-Fi,
there's mobile phone service,
00:40:46.61\00:40:48.81
food places just down
the street where I live.
00:40:48.84\00:40:51.11
Yes, there are regions
out in the middle of jungles
00:40:51.15\00:40:53.11
that need to be
reached, but listen,
00:40:53.15\00:40:54.82
people need to realize
that there are mission fields
00:40:54.85\00:40:57.65
in the cities as well.
00:40:57.69\00:40:59.85
Missions isn't the typical
out in the boonies kind of thing
00:40:59.89\00:41:03.09
anymore.
00:41:03.12\00:41:04.96
Either way, I
love his heart here.
00:41:04.99\00:41:06.73
Either way, middle of nowhere
00:41:06.76\00:41:08.53
or here in the middle
of a busy concrete jungle,
00:41:08.56\00:41:10.60
people are dying
to hear the gospel.
00:41:10.63\00:41:12.80
I suppose my point is...
00:41:12.83\00:41:14.17
He's giving a little
counsel to his pastor friend.
00:41:14.20\00:41:16.00
I suppose my point is,
00:41:16.04\00:41:17.37
if you have a
sermon series anytime soon
00:41:17.41\00:41:19.57
that has any
reference to missions
00:41:19.61\00:41:21.28
or spreading the
gospel, tell them the truth.
00:41:21.31\00:41:23.81
It's like nothing
is happening out here.
00:41:23.85\00:41:25.85
We need workers.
00:41:25.88\00:41:27.22
I remember the words of Jesus
00:41:27.25\00:41:28.58
when He was looking
over the fields in that city.
00:41:28.62\00:41:30.39
Jesus said, "The
harvest is truly great,
00:41:30.42\00:41:32.39
but the laborers are few."
00:41:32.42\00:41:35.12
Indeed that's true today.
00:41:35.16\00:41:36.56
And there have been
times that I find myself
00:41:36.59\00:41:38.39
praying for more workers.
00:41:38.43\00:41:40.00
That kid is sitting in the heart
00:41:40.03\00:41:41.46
of one of the
great cities of earth,
00:41:41.50\00:41:42.83
and He's begging,
"God, can you send
00:41:42.86\00:41:44.20
somebody else to help us here?"
00:41:44.23\00:41:46.74
Last line, I love this.
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.30
I'm really getting
tired of this world.
00:41:48.34\00:41:51.51
Let's finish this work.
00:41:51.54\00:41:53.64
Hope you have a great weekend.
00:41:53.68\00:41:55.04
Peter.
00:41:55.08\00:41:57.78
Thanks a lot, P.
00:41:57.81\00:41:59.98
Just ruined my day.
00:42:00.02\00:42:03.18
Ain't that something.
00:42:03.22\00:42:04.55
What's going on with Peter?
00:42:04.59\00:42:05.92
Come on, think with me,
what's going on with Peter?
00:42:05.95\00:42:07.36
I'll tell you what's going on.
00:42:07.39\00:42:08.72
He's living out
the deep conviction
00:42:08.76\00:42:11.06
that Jesus is coming soon.
00:42:11.09\00:42:12.86
That's what He's
doing. He's living with it.
00:42:12.89\00:42:15.33
He's using it to
interpret the paradigm of life.
00:42:15.36\00:42:18.40
It's precisely what
Paul is saying here.
00:42:18.43\00:42:20.67
Look at verse 4.
Keep reading here.
00:42:20.70\00:42:22.97
"But you," this
is 1 Thessalonians 5,
00:42:23.00\00:42:25.44
"But you, brothers and
sisters, are not in darkness
00:42:25.47\00:42:27.88
so that this day should
surprise you like a thief."
00:42:27.91\00:42:30.15
No, no.
00:42:30.18\00:42:31.51
Verse 5, "You are
all children of the light
00:42:31.55\00:42:34.72
and children of the day."
00:42:34.75\00:42:36.69
I love that.
00:42:36.72\00:42:38.05
If I were tweeting one
line from this teaching today,
00:42:38.09\00:42:40.26
at the opening of the
year at Andrews University,
00:42:40.29\00:42:41.99
that would be the line I tweet.
00:42:42.02\00:42:43.49
Put it on the screen please.
00:42:43.53\00:42:44.86
"You are all
children of the light."
00:42:44.89\00:42:47.56
You are all...
00:42:47.60\00:42:48.93
Doesn't matter what you
are demographically your age,
00:42:48.96\00:42:51.03
you are all, I,
00:42:51.07\00:42:52.70
we are all children of the day.
00:42:52.73\00:42:55.80
Wow.
00:42:55.84\00:42:58.31
What's happening with Peter?
00:42:58.34\00:42:59.67
I'll tell what's happening.
Here's what's happening.
00:42:59.71\00:43:02.11
The immensity of the
need drives us to the Savior
00:43:02.14\00:43:05.41
who is the light of the world.
00:43:05.45\00:43:07.72
If you don't know Jesus,
but you're hearing about Him,
00:43:07.75\00:43:10.72
you're thinking about
Him every now and then,
00:43:10.75\00:43:12.85
the light penetrates your mind,
00:43:12.89\00:43:15.02
and the light
exposes the darkness in you.
00:43:15.06\00:43:18.23
And it drives you hopefully,
not further from the light,
00:43:18.26\00:43:20.96
but it hopefully draws
you closer to the light.
00:43:21.00\00:43:24.03
So it's either the
darkness in you that you sense
00:43:24.07\00:43:27.10
when you come to
the light of the world
00:43:27.14\00:43:28.57
or it's the darkness in
your world that you sense.
00:43:28.60\00:43:32.77
Either way,
00:43:32.81\00:43:34.14
it drives you to go to
the one who is the light.
00:43:34.18\00:43:36.81
In fact, Jesus put it
this way in John 8:12,
00:43:36.85\00:43:40.72
"When Jesus spoke
again to the people,
00:43:40.75\00:43:42.22
He said, 'Hey,
listen, everybody,
00:43:42.25\00:43:43.89
I am the light of the world.
00:43:43.92\00:43:45.79
Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness,
00:43:45.82\00:43:48.92
but will have
the light of life.'
00:43:48.96\00:43:54.76
" It's as if Jesus is
saying, "Hey, hey, yo, yo, yo,
00:43:54.80\00:43:56.90
before you leave it,
yo, yo, before you leave,
00:43:56.93\00:43:58.87
I want you to bring
your darkness to Me."
00:43:58.90\00:44:01.04
You came into this
place with darkness in you.
00:44:01.07\00:44:03.51
You came into this
place with darkness in you,
00:44:03.54\00:44:05.04
but I'm asking you to
bring your darkness to me.
00:44:05.07\00:44:07.74
Bring your darkness to
me. I'll take your darkness.
00:44:07.78\00:44:09.81
If you bring darkness
into the presence of light,
00:44:09.84\00:44:11.71
darkness is gone
and light remains.
00:44:11.75\00:44:14.32
Bring your darkness to me.
00:44:14.35\00:44:15.92
Come to me.
00:44:15.95\00:44:17.29
The dark night has had His
way in your heart too long.
00:44:17.32\00:44:21.76
Say no to the dark night,
say yes to the morning star.
00:44:21.79\00:44:26.09
Come to Me.
00:44:26.13\00:44:27.53
I will give you light,
00:44:27.56\00:44:29.36
and I'll drive, I'll
banish that darkness.
00:44:29.40\00:44:31.57
You are a child of the light.
00:44:31.60\00:44:33.60
You are a child of
the day, come to Me.
00:44:33.64\00:44:36.37
I am the light of the world."
00:44:36.40\00:44:39.17
Wow, thank You, Jesus.
00:44:39.21\00:44:42.81
So I wrote
Peter, I wrote it back.
00:44:42.84\00:44:44.85
I said, "Peter, bless you."
00:44:44.88\00:44:46.65
He replies to my reply.
00:44:46.68\00:44:48.48
And he gives me
the website to a blog.
00:44:48.52\00:44:50.72
He's been keeping
a blog over there,
00:44:50.75\00:44:52.45
and you can find him
00:44:52.49\00:44:55.06
just by googling his name.
00:44:55.09\00:44:56.66
But let me read to you
a blog. I found a blog.
00:44:56.69\00:44:58.29
This is March 30,
Bangkok, Thailand, March 30.
00:44:58.33\00:45:01.40
He's just
finished a week of prayer
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.30
for little
Buddhist kids, all right?
00:45:03.33\00:45:05.07
They've been
singing Jesus songs,
00:45:05.10\00:45:06.43
but they're
little Buddhist kids.
00:45:06.47\00:45:07.80
And his heart has been
moved as he's seen them
00:45:07.84\00:45:09.97
react to the story of Jesus.
00:45:10.01\00:45:11.61
And he's going back to his room,
00:45:11.64\00:45:12.97
the week of prayer's over.
00:45:13.01\00:45:14.34
Here we go.
00:45:14.38\00:45:15.71
In walking back to
the mission compound,
00:45:15.74\00:45:17.08
I could not help but
shed a couple of tears.
00:45:17.11\00:45:19.65
I love the guy's
heart. I love his heart.
00:45:19.68\00:45:22.25
I could not help but
shed a couple of tears.
00:45:22.28\00:45:24.69
Guy's aren't
embarrassed about admitting
00:45:24.72\00:45:26.45
that tears spring to our
eyes when the need is immense.
00:45:26.49\00:45:29.86
I could not help but
shed a couple of tears.
00:45:29.89\00:45:31.56
Here in the middle of the world,
00:45:31.59\00:45:32.93
there is so much
darkness and there...
00:45:32.96\00:45:34.73
Oh, hold on,
00:45:34.76\00:45:36.10
"And the candles
that could be out here
00:45:36.13\00:45:38.30
or any other dark place
00:45:38.33\00:45:39.80
shining in the
darkness are wrapped up
00:45:39.83\00:45:42.10
in other lighted
rooms, if you catch my drift."
00:45:42.14\00:45:45.57
Can you believe we got
3,000 candles on this campus,
00:45:45.61\00:45:48.41
and were all where
we don't need lights.
00:45:48.44\00:45:51.35
And the candle is not making
a flicker of a difference.
00:45:51.38\00:45:54.55
What makes a
difference for candles
00:45:54.58\00:45:56.05
is if you take them
out of a lighted room
00:45:56.08\00:45:57.92
and you put them in a dark room,
00:45:57.95\00:45:59.32
one candle make an
immense difference.
00:45:59.35\00:46:02.46
He says, "You got
all those candles.
00:46:02.49\00:46:04.93
Come on out
here where it's dark.
00:46:04.96\00:46:08.33
Whoa,
00:46:08.36\00:46:09.90
there honestly so few
missionaries in the world.
00:46:09.93\00:46:12.37
I'd loved to be proven wrong,
but from seeing for myself,
00:46:12.40\00:46:15.00
and from talking
to other missionaries,
00:46:15.04\00:46:16.40
and hearing from
world church leaders,
00:46:16.44\00:46:17.77
I'm not very far off.
00:46:17.81\00:46:19.17
You think it's
happening but it is not."
00:46:19.21\00:46:22.88
Last line, "Honestly,
00:46:22.91\00:46:24.71
I don't want to be
here in this world anymore.
00:46:24.75\00:46:26.92
It's so messed up.
00:46:26.95\00:46:28.28
Whether or not you choose
00:46:28.32\00:46:29.65
to join the ranks
of reaching others
00:46:29.68\00:46:31.02
and spreading the
gospel's up to you.
00:46:31.05\00:46:32.39
But as long as I
have breath in me,
00:46:32.42\00:46:34.29
there is at least
one more person somewhere
00:46:34.32\00:46:37.63
that I have to
reach, and I have faith
00:46:37.66\00:46:40.00
that God will
lead me to that person.
00:46:40.03\00:46:42.33
As long as
there is breath in me,
00:46:42.36\00:46:44.33
somebody else is alive,
00:46:44.37\00:46:45.70
and I will go to
him with my candle."
00:46:45.73\00:46:48.64
What happens when you
believe Jesus is coming soon?
00:46:48.67\00:46:53.24
When you believe
the dark night is rising
00:46:53.27\00:46:55.31
as it has never
risen in the history
00:46:55.34\00:46:57.55
of the human race.
00:46:57.58\00:46:59.05
When you realize
00:46:59.08\00:47:00.68
that if we don't get a
light to some of these soon,
00:47:00.72\00:47:03.45
they will perish
forever and ever.
00:47:03.49\00:47:06.96
When it hits you,
00:47:06.99\00:47:09.22
you get a few
tears in your eyes,
00:47:09.26\00:47:11.13
walking back to
your dormitory room,
00:47:11.16\00:47:13.80
and you say, "Oh, God, I cannot,
00:47:13.83\00:47:17.43
I cannot hold my candle
where the light is so bright.
00:47:17.47\00:47:22.17
Send me to a dark room somewhere
00:47:22.20\00:47:25.74
on behalf of Him who
is a light of the world."
00:47:25.77\00:47:28.48
Ladies and
gentlemen, that's the truth.
00:47:28.51\00:47:30.35
Put it on the screen again.
00:47:30.38\00:47:31.88
"You are all
children of the light
00:47:31.91\00:47:34.72
and children of the day."
00:47:34.75\00:47:37.22
That's the truth
about you and me.
00:47:37.25\00:47:39.99
So what shall we
do? Isn't this amazing?
00:47:40.02\00:47:42.52
The New Year is
barely a Sabbath old,
00:47:42.56\00:47:44.13
and already our hearts have been
00:47:44.16\00:47:45.49
confronted by
the Spirit of Christ,
00:47:45.53\00:47:46.86
His call to move out
into this dark world for Him,
00:47:46.90\00:47:49.23
not waiting until we graduate,
00:47:49.26\00:47:51.60
but right now, not
waiting until we retire,
00:47:51.63\00:47:55.77
but doing so right now,
00:47:55.80\00:47:57.14
not waiting till
we're in a nursing home,
00:47:57.17\00:47:59.77
but doing so right now.
00:47:59.81\00:48:03.08
Light a candle,
00:48:03.11\00:48:04.85
go out into that darkness.
00:48:04.88\00:48:07.75
Twelve miles up
the road from us,
00:48:07.78\00:48:09.42
right now, is an inner city
00:48:09.45\00:48:11.69
where we have
planted a beachhead
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.05
called Harbor of Hope.
00:48:13.09\00:48:14.46
At 3:00 this afternoon,
the buses will be lining up
00:48:14.49\00:48:17.26
from front of Lampson Hall,
00:48:17.29\00:48:18.66
get on a bus,
drive to that inner city,
00:48:18.69\00:48:21.00
and join a band
of young missionaries
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.06
who are lighting candles
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:48:23.10\00:48:26.70
You don't have to go overseas,
you can do it right here.
00:48:26.74\00:48:28.84
We've got the city for you.
00:48:28.87\00:48:30.57
The dark night is rising,
00:48:30.61\00:48:32.67
but it can still be penetrated
by the children of light.
00:48:32.71\00:48:35.68
So I say, let us
heed the admonition
00:48:35.71\00:48:37.55
of that ancient Chinese proverb.
00:48:37.58\00:48:39.25
Put it up please.
00:48:39.28\00:48:40.62
"Do not curse the
darkness, light a candle."
00:48:40.65\00:48:44.32
Read that out loud with me.
00:48:44.35\00:48:45.69
"Do not curse the
darkness, light a candle."
00:48:45.72\00:48:49.82
Light a candle.
00:48:49.86\00:48:51.26
Light a candle.
00:48:51.29\00:48:53.09
I wish on this opening
Sabbath to rededicate my life
00:48:53.13\00:48:55.70
to light as many candles
as Jesus asked me to light
00:48:55.73\00:48:58.53
on this planet before He comes.
00:48:58.57\00:49:00.00
How about you?
00:49:00.04\00:49:01.60
I want to light
a candle for Jesus.
00:49:01.64\00:49:03.81
I won't let Satan blow it
out, I'm going to let it shine.
00:49:03.84\00:49:06.94
I want to light a
candle for Jesus, don't you?
00:49:06.98\00:49:10.21
Share that with me in
the connect card today.
00:49:10.25\00:49:12.41
Open your worship bulletin,
there's a connect card inside.
00:49:12.45\00:49:15.92
There's a connect card inside.
00:49:15.95\00:49:17.29
This is a very important moment.
00:49:17.32\00:49:18.65
There's some of you
who are going to make
00:49:18.69\00:49:20.02
a life changing
decision right now.
00:49:20.06\00:49:22.16
And I need you to be
listening very carefully
00:49:22.19\00:49:23.96
to the Holy Spirit.
00:49:23.99\00:49:25.33
And I'm going to try
not to speak over His voice
00:49:25.36\00:49:27.70
in your mind.
00:49:27.73\00:49:29.06
On the front of the
card, just write your name.
00:49:29.10\00:49:31.20
Please put your email address
00:49:31.23\00:49:33.37
because some of these
responses will necessitate
00:49:33.40\00:49:36.17
sending material to
you through cyberspace.
00:49:36.20\00:49:38.41
So make sure you
put your name here.
00:49:38.44\00:49:40.24
I'd like to know, you
know, your little demographic,
00:49:40.28\00:49:42.88
and then your email address.
00:49:42.91\00:49:47.68
Turn the card
over, turn the card over.
00:49:47.72\00:49:49.92
We call this my next step.
00:49:49.95\00:49:52.05
Because look, what's the point
of having a teaching like this
00:49:52.09\00:49:54.46
and nobody does anything.
00:49:54.49\00:49:55.82
We all go home to that
vegan cottage cheese loaf,
00:49:55.86\00:49:58.16
and we are unchanged.
00:49:58.19\00:50:00.73
We can't be unchanged.
00:50:00.76\00:50:02.10
We cannot be unchanged.
00:50:02.13\00:50:04.13
We cannot be unchanged.
00:50:04.17\00:50:05.77
Don't worry about
the noise around you,
00:50:05.80\00:50:07.44
just focus right now.
00:50:07.47\00:50:08.94
Focus right now, please.
00:50:08.97\00:50:13.84
Some of you are going to
make a decision right now
00:50:13.88\00:50:15.41
that's going to
change your life forever.
00:50:15.44\00:50:16.85
I know it, I know it.
00:50:16.88\00:50:18.71
What are your next
steps? Turn it over.
00:50:18.75\00:50:20.08
It says, "My next
step today is one,"
00:50:20.12\00:50:21.88
I put a checkmark here
because I turned these in.
00:50:21.92\00:50:24.42
"I would like to dedicate
my life today and seek to light
00:50:24.45\00:50:26.99
as many candles
in this dark world
00:50:27.02\00:50:28.49
as I can until Jesus comes."
00:50:28.52\00:50:29.92
Is there anybody who says,
00:50:29.96\00:50:31.29
"No, I don't want to
be a candle for Jesus."
00:50:31.33\00:50:32.69
Don't put it there if you don't
want to be a candle for Jesus,
00:50:32.73\00:50:34.63
but if you are
willing, put a join me,
00:50:34.66\00:50:36.46
put a checkmark right
there, put a checkmark.
00:50:36.50\00:50:39.40
In just a moment,
the ushers are coming by,
00:50:39.43\00:50:41.07
and then we're going to end
with the glorious Lord's prayer
00:50:41.10\00:50:43.61
that ushers in the new year here
00:50:43.64\00:50:45.21
at the Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:50:45.24\00:50:46.57
There's nothing like it.
00:50:46.61\00:50:47.94
So stay right where you are.
00:50:47.98\00:50:49.31
The ushers are coming your way.
00:50:49.34\00:50:50.68
But here's the second box.
00:50:50.71\00:50:52.05
I would like to know
how to become a missionary
00:50:52.08\00:50:53.55
for Christ in this dark world,
00:50:53.58\00:50:55.42
please send me more information.
00:50:55.45\00:50:57.22
We need your email address.
00:50:57.25\00:50:58.62
We will send you information.
00:50:58.65\00:50:59.99
We will put you
in touch with people
00:51:00.02\00:51:01.36
who can send you
anywhere on earth
00:51:01.39\00:51:03.66
you're willing to go.
00:51:03.69\00:51:05.39
Would you like more information,
00:51:05.43\00:51:06.76
put a checkmark there.
00:51:06.80\00:51:08.13
Here's box number three,
00:51:08.16\00:51:09.50
"I would like to join the
Harbor of Hope Kids Zone,"
00:51:09.53\00:51:10.93
that's our children's ministry
00:51:10.97\00:51:13.67
up in Benton Harbor.
00:51:13.70\00:51:15.04
"I would like to join that."
00:51:15.07\00:51:16.40
If you put your email address,
00:51:16.44\00:51:17.77
we will have the leaders
there be in touch with you
00:51:17.81\00:51:19.87
and set you up for a
life of holding your candle
00:51:19.91\00:51:22.64
in an inner city,
holding a candle for Jesus.
00:51:22.68\00:51:25.58
Any one of those
would change your life.
00:51:25.61\00:51:27.08
Any one of those
will change your life.
00:51:27.12\00:51:28.65
But now I want to go to
the second box right here,
00:51:28.68\00:51:30.69
the second box
00:51:30.72\00:51:32.05
because this now is where lives
spiritually will be changed.
00:51:32.09\00:51:35.12
Some of you came
into this room today
00:51:35.16\00:51:39.09
with darkness in your heart.
00:51:39.13\00:51:40.83
It's not an
accident, you're here,
00:51:40.86\00:51:42.20
Jesus led you here.
00:51:42.23\00:51:43.63
But you came with
darkness in your heart,
00:51:43.67\00:51:45.00
you're feeling a
bit uncomfortable about
00:51:45.03\00:51:47.07
how the new year is beginning.
00:51:47.10\00:51:48.44
You're thinking, you know,
00:51:48.47\00:51:49.80
"I really have
never gotten it together
00:51:49.84\00:51:52.17
in a friendship with Jesus."
00:51:52.21\00:51:54.08
I'm telling you what, my friend,
00:51:54.11\00:51:55.74
there are only two choices,
00:51:55.78\00:51:57.11
the morning
star, the dark night,
00:51:57.15\00:51:58.48
you can't have them both.
00:51:58.51\00:51:59.85
You'll serve one or the other.
00:51:59.88\00:52:01.68
If your heart is
speaking to you now,
00:52:01.72\00:52:03.69
and Jesus is saying,
00:52:03.72\00:52:05.05
"I'm the light of
the world, come to Me.
00:52:05.09\00:52:06.42
Let Me grow a
friendship with you."
00:52:06.45\00:52:07.82
Would you put a checkmark here?
00:52:07.86\00:52:09.19
I'm interested in beginning
a relationship with Jesus.
00:52:09.22\00:52:11.49
We'll send you
material through cyberspace
00:52:11.53\00:52:14.30
that will help you grow a
daily friendship with Jesus.
00:52:14.33\00:52:17.23
You will never
regret this decision.
00:52:17.27\00:52:19.20
We get these
decisions every single week.
00:52:19.23\00:52:21.40
If you wish,
00:52:21.44\00:52:22.77
and the spirit is
speaking to you right now,
00:52:22.80\00:52:24.14
put a checkmark there.
00:52:24.17\00:52:25.87
Turn it, turn it in
when the offering plate comes
00:52:25.91\00:52:28.34
in just a moment.
00:52:28.38\00:52:30.01
We'll get in touch
with you within 48 hours.
00:52:30.05\00:52:33.31
Why go with a dark
night into a new year,
00:52:33.35\00:52:36.89
go with the light of the world.
00:52:36.92\00:52:38.59
Why not grow a
friendship with Him?
00:52:38.62\00:52:40.89
Put a checkmark
there, we'll help you.
00:52:40.92\00:52:42.26
We'll do everything we can.
00:52:42.29\00:52:43.63
Oh, I'm interested in baptism.
00:52:43.66\00:52:44.99
I can't think of a better
way to begin a school year.
00:52:45.03\00:52:46.53
You won't be
baptized today or next week,
00:52:46.56\00:52:48.50
but we'll help you
to be baptized soon
00:52:48.53\00:52:50.13
if you wish, put
a checkmark there.
00:52:50.17\00:52:53.20
Line up with the
light of the world.
00:52:53.23\00:52:55.60
God will bless you.
00:52:55.64\00:52:57.61
Other boxes, you can check.
00:52:57.64\00:52:59.61
I want to pray
with you right now.
00:52:59.64\00:53:01.08
I want to pray with you
00:53:01.11\00:53:02.44
and pray over every decision
that has just been made.
00:53:02.48\00:53:04.61
Would you bow your
head with me, please?
00:53:04.65\00:53:07.02
Dear, God, the
dark night is rising.
00:53:07.05\00:53:11.05
Okay, and it doesn't
matter, either way it's rising.
00:53:11.09\00:53:16.42
Jesus is coming soon.
00:53:16.46\00:53:18.89
We cannot live life,
00:53:18.93\00:53:21.13
business as usual, any longer.
00:53:21.16\00:53:25.03
And so on the
cusp of this new year,
00:53:25.07\00:53:26.47
Father, take our decisions,
our decisions to go for Christ,
00:53:26.50\00:53:29.90
our decision to light
a candle in this world,
00:53:29.94\00:53:31.97
in this city nearby.
00:53:32.01\00:53:33.58
Our decision is to begin
00:53:33.61\00:53:35.68
a new relationship
with the light of the world.
00:53:35.71\00:53:37.65
Take all our
decisions and seal them.
00:53:37.68\00:53:39.98
Don't lose these decisions, God,
00:53:40.02\00:53:41.88
lock them in our
hearts and minds.
00:53:41.92\00:53:44.69
And now as we return to
your tithes and offerings,
00:53:44.72\00:53:46.82
take our humble
gifts to spread the light
00:53:46.86\00:53:49.72
around the world.
00:53:49.76\00:53:51.09
We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:53:51.13\00:53:53.80
Let us stand together as
we sing our prayer to God.
00:54:03.44\00:54:08.91
Our Father
00:54:17.19\00:54:23.16
Which art in heaven
00:54:26.29\00:54:34.14
Hallowed by
00:54:37.91\00:54:43.41
Thy name
00:54:46.41\00:54:51.89
Thy kingdom come
00:54:55.56\00:55:02.86
Thy will be done
00:55:02.90\00:55:09.04
On earth
00:55:09.07\00:55:13.81
As it is
00:55:13.84\00:55:18.08
In heaven
00:55:18.11\00:55:25.15
Give us this day
00:55:39.27\00:55:44.01
Our daily bread
00:55:44.04\00:55:49.91
And forgive us
00:55:49.94\00:55:52.78
Our trespasses
00:55:52.81\00:55:58.12
As we forgive those
00:55:58.15\00:56:02.72
And lead us not into temptation,
00:56:07.16\00:56:14.04
But deliver us from evil
00:56:14.07\00:56:20.64
For thine is the kingdom
00:56:20.68\00:56:27.92
And the power
00:56:27.95\00:56:31.52
And the glory
00:56:31.55\00:56:36.49
For ever and ever
00:56:36.52\00:56:40.56
Amen
00:56:46.74\00:56:53.74
Living as you and
I are in this time
00:57:18.80\00:57:20.34
when the dark night is rising,
00:57:20.37\00:57:22.74
I believe it's
absolutely critical
00:57:22.77\00:57:24.34
that we prepare ourselves
for what's yet to come.
00:57:24.37\00:57:26.94
That's why I'm excited
about this little book.
00:57:26.98\00:57:29.61
You can see it,
"On the Edge of Time,
00:57:29.64\00:57:31.61
Preparing for the Crisis Ahead."
00:57:31.65\00:57:33.92
This is a short condensation
of that apocalyptic classic,
00:57:33.95\00:57:37.22
The Great Controversy.
00:57:37.25\00:57:38.59
And I'd love to
send this to you.
00:57:38.62\00:57:40.12
No charge, even
the phone call is free.
00:57:40.16\00:57:42.72
So jot this number down.
00:57:42.76\00:57:44.09
It's easy to
remember. Here's the number 877.
00:57:44.13\00:57:46.13
That's all you have to remember,
00:57:46.16\00:57:47.50
877 plus two words,
his will, 877-His-Will.
00:57:47.53\00:57:53.00
Our friendly
operators are standing by
00:57:53.03\00:57:54.40
to receive your order.
00:57:54.44\00:57:55.77
No cost to you.
00:57:55.80\00:57:57.14
I'm happy to send you
this gift copy of a book
00:57:57.17\00:57:58.71
that will stir your
mind and your heart,
00:57:58.74\00:58:01.21
I believe to the core.
00:58:01.24\00:58:02.61
You'll never regret
reading the book for yourself.
00:58:02.64\00:58:05.61
So please call our toll
free number 877-His-Will.
00:58:05.65\00:58:09.78
And until we
meet again next time,
00:58:09.82\00:58:11.79
God be with you.
00:58:11.82\00:58:13.15