Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP120410
|
04:25 Let's pray.
04:26 And then plunge into the last piece 04:30 in our series entitled "The Gift" this is it. 04:33 Let's pray together. 04:35 Dear God, in this season that begins where we 04:39 celebrate the coming of the Messiah the first time 04:42 in our hearts that set ablaze with a hope 04:44 of His return the second time. 04:46 We do come to that last piece, the last teaching. 04:50 May it be clear, may Holy Scriptures speak 04:54 in unequivocal tones and terms to us. 05:00 And what we hear, let us follow 05:04 as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, 05:05 in His name we pray. 05:07 Amen. 05:09 When I was in school, in fact, when you were in school, 05:12 the favorite time of the day or the week besides recess 05:19 was when the teacher put her pencil down 05:21 and she said, "Boys and girls, 05:22 we're having show-and-tell today." 05:25 Three minutes of fame. 05:29 As you stand in front of your little friends 05:31 and you show what you found, 05:35 what you made, who you know, 05:40 whatever it was, show-and-tell. 05:42 Well, teacher says we can have a little show-and-tell today. 05:44 I want to share two items with you both headlines. 05:47 Three weeks ago, this headline came, 05:50 Cyberspace, one of the most respected 05:52 news organizations in the United States, 05:54 the Christian Science Monitor, three weeks ago. 05:59 The headline naturally would catch my eye. 06:02 Here's the headline, "For real education reform, 06:06 take a cue from the Adventists." 06:09 Well, he got my attention now. 06:12 Here we go, "Amidst all of the buzz on education reform, 06:14 the Seventh-day Adventist school system 06:16 might seem an unexpected place 06:18 to look for models in improving student achievement 06:20 but by educating mind, body and spirit, 06:23 Adventist schools outperform 06:24 the national average across all demographics. 06:29 Since 2006, as part of the cognitive genesis study 06:32 two colleagues and I," this is written by Elisa Kido. 06:35 "Two colleagues and I have been gathering data 06:37 on more than 50,000 students 06:38 enrolled in Seventh-day Adventist schools 06:40 unbeknownst to many the Adventist church runs 06:42 a Christian school system, second only in size 06:45 to the Roman Catholic parochial schools. 06:51 Even we were surprised by the results, 06:53 our four-year independently financed study show 06:55 that students at Adventist schools 06:57 outperformed their peers 06:59 at the national average in every subject area. 07:02 Our research shows the demographics 07:04 at Adventist schools are closer to those of public schools 07:08 and this is the shocker, closer to public schools 07:11 with high economic and socioeconomic diversity." 07:14 Because people says "Oh, yeah, yeah private school, 07:15 unique, you get the creme de la creme 07:17 and that's why you have the high scores." 07:19 No, we're just like public schools, 07:20 they look at our diversity. 07:22 Okay. 07:23 "Enrollment is open, many students are admitted 07:25 without the kind of screening for ability 07:26 that many other private schools employ. 07:28 In North America, the Adventist Church runs 07:30 almost a thousand schools, we're one of them. 07:33 Many of which are small and rural. 07:35 We found no relationship between the size of the school 07:38 that students attended and achievement," 07:40 Isn't that great? 07:41 Some of you came from a very small school 07:44 and you are doing very well here 07:47 and we are very proud of you. 07:50 Good on you. 07:51 "So how do we account for the Adventist's advantage? 07:53 We believe it lies in the holistic approach 07:56 these schools take. 07:57 A commitment to educating mind, body and spirit." 08:00 Whoa. 08:02 Andrews University, our latin motto, 08:04 Mens, Corpus, Spiritus. 08:07 We believe in that, don't we? 08:08 "Unlike public schools, Adventist schools 08:10 across the country have a standard curriculum. 08:12 It includes the traditional three R's 08:14 along with emphasis on spiritual 08:15 and physical development. 08:16 There's a coherence and a connectedness 08:19 between Adventist schools 08:20 that doesn't often exist in other systems." 08:23 Final sentence, here it comes. 08:24 "True reform of the public school system 08:26 will take hard work and innovation, 08:29 but the Adventists provide a model 08:31 that can help reformers hit the reset button." 08:37 Show-and-tell, headline number one. 08:40 Here comes headline number two. 08:42 Hold it up here for you to see 08:44 the respected National Geographic magazine. 08:48 Here we go. 08:49 You can see the cover story, you see it? 08:51 "The Secrets of Living Longer," cover story. 08:55 So I'm curious now. 08:57 I open up my National Geographic. 08:59 "What if I said you could add up 09:01 to ten years to your life? 09:04 A long healthy life is no accident. 09:06 It begins with good genes, 09:07 but it also depends on good habits. 09:09 If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, 09:11 chances are you may live up to a decade longer. 09:15 So with this study for funded in part 09:18 by the US National Institute on aging. 09:20 Scientist focused on several regions. 09:22 Sardinia, Italy, sent the crew there. 09:25 Okinawa, Japan, I've been there, sent a crew there. 09:28 Loma Linda, California, 09:30 researchers studied a group of Seventh-day Adventists 09:32 who rank among America's longevity all-stars, 09:35 they live the longest." 09:37 So I turned to this little section 09:40 called Adventists in the National Geographic. 09:42 Let me just read a line here. 09:43 "The Adventists church born during the era 09:45 of 19th century health reforms 09:47 that popularized organized vegetarianism, 09:50 the graham cracker and breakfast cereals. 09:52 John Harvey Kellogg was an Adventist 09:54 when he started making wheat flakes, cornflakes today. 09:58 Has Seventh-day Adventist church has always preached 10:00 and practiced a message of health. 10:02 It expressly forbids smoking, alcohol consumption, 10:06 and eating biblically unclean foods, such as pork. 10:08 It also discourages the consumption of other meat, 10:11 rich foods, caffeinated drinks 10:13 and stimulating condiments and spices." 10:15 Quoting now, someone, "Grains fruits, nuts 10:18 and vegetables constitute the diet, 10:20 chosen for us by our Creator," wrote Ellen White. 10:24 "An early figure that helped shape the Adventist church, 10:27 Adventists also observed the Sabbath on Saturday, 10:30 socializing with other church members 10:32 and enjoying a sanctuary in time 10:33 that helps relieve stress. 10:34 Today most Adventists follow the prescribed lifestyle, 10:37 a testimony perhaps to the power 10:38 of mixing health and religion." 10:41 You want to know what these two headlines have in common? 10:44 They have in common, the same 5'2" little woman, 10:50 whose writings have shaped the community of faith 10:53 that I'm privileged to belong to. 10:55 Ever read a book, Education? 10:57 I have. Amazing. 11:00 Ever read a book, Ministry of Healing? 11:01 I have. Amazing. 11:04 10 year advantage, please. 11:06 Amazing. What's up with that? 11:11 I mean, the word on the street is practically everything 11:14 she got, she borrowed from somebody else. 11:17 Well, you if that was true, you think about this, just-- 11:20 Let's just be logical. 11:21 If she borrowed it all, how come nobody else 11:23 has come up with the same positive results? 11:27 Why they're making headlines? 11:31 How come the people who follow the principal 11:34 she wrote and championed 11:35 live up to 10 years longer than those who don't. 11:40 That's the question that intrigued 11:41 Australian ENT, ear, ear, nose 11:45 and throat specialist, Don McMahon. 11:48 In Loma Linda University biologist, 11:50 paleontologist researcher Leonard Brand, 11:52 they collaborated to find the answer. 11:54 I'm reading at the very last page 11:55 of their book, delightful little book, 11:57 I put the words on the screen for you. 11:58 "The critics claims that Ellen White's writings 12:01 can be explained as originating from strictly human sources 12:05 do not stand up to critical evaluation. 12:07 Dr. Don McMahon's research reveals 12:10 a dramatic difference in quality 12:12 between Mrs. White's health principles 12:14 and those advocated by other health reformers in the 1800s." 12:18 So they-- I photocopied this from their book. 12:20 So they-- they put some of the other health reforms. 12:23 These are the people that she could have borrowed from. 12:25 She could have borrowed these ideas. 12:27 Let's see, here's Sylvester Graham, 12:30 graham crackers, all right, 12:31 graham crackers, this is the guy. 12:34 This is, listen. 12:35 These are his health principles. 12:36 Don't heat your house, go naked. 12:43 Don't rock-- Parents, don't rock a baby to sleep. 12:48 Don't drink water, get liquids only from fruit. 12:52 Somebody is borrowing, fortunately left all that out. 12:56 Here's another health reformer contemporary 12:58 to Ellen White, William A. Alcott, 13:00 wear very little clothing even when it's cold. 13:03 These guys must have lived in California, 13:04 that's what I'm thinking. 13:06 Where do you come up with this stuff? 13:09 Don't use eyeglasses. 13:12 Don't comfort children, crying is good for them. 13:17 Avoid sweating in hot weather. 13:21 They didn't live in California. Okay, here's another one. 13:24 Larkin B. Coles, another contemporary. 13:26 Avoid excessive spitting. Well, that's good counsel. 13:30 Don't rock a child in a cradle. Don't nurse babies at night. 13:34 When you're supposed to nurse them? 13:37 Just wait till day. Drink little water. 13:40 Here's another guy, James C. Jackson, 13:42 don't wear black. 13:47 Why are you laughing at me for? 13:53 Marital sexual activity is dangerous to your health. 13:59 Rubbing the body with the hands will substitute for a bath. 14:02 You're right. Okay. 14:05 So McMahon the specialist and the researcher Brand, 14:09 they examine what's happening to her contemporaries. 14:12 She's leaving all this behind. 14:13 What she comes up with gives you 14:14 a 10 year advantage today. 14:16 Something's going on here, these men conclude. 14:18 I'll put it on the screen for you. 14:20 Take a careful note of this. 14:21 "This difference between the health reformers indicates 14:24 that Mrs. White had health information 14:26 that could not have come from any human source 14:29 available anywhere at the time she lived and wrote." 14:33 It just didn't exist. 14:35 The stuff was not around 14:36 for a 10 year advantage back then. 14:38 Where did she get it from? Keep reading. 14:41 "At least in the area of health, 14:43 our research has provided evidence 14:45 that demands an extra biblical, that means outside the Bible, 14:48 extra human, outside of human, 14:50 source of information to account 14:53 for the accuracy of her health principles." 14:56 Amazing. Amazing. 15:00 Reminds me, of these words to God, 15:03 to the children of Israel, 15:04 the chosen people on their way 15:06 to the Promised Land, liberated from Egypt. 15:08 This is Exodus 15:26, God speaking to Israel, 15:11 "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God 15:15 and do what is right in His sight 15:17 give ear to His commandments, keep all the His statutes," 15:19 those health embedded health principles 15:21 in the mosaic writings. 15:23 "Keep all the statues, I will put none of the diseases 15:27 on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. 15:29 For I am the Lord who heals you." 15:33 Amazing. Up to a 10 year advantage. 15:38 Wow. 15:39 Maybe the Creator of our bodies really does know what's best. 15:43 And maybe, just maybe that little 5'2" woman 15:46 really was divinely inspired to lead her readers 15:49 back to the timeless principles of this book right here. 15:53 Which is why by the way, we might understand now 15:57 the ending that the Christmas story has to it. 16:00 Lot of people don't know this. 16:03 Well, they just say, God, John just forgot-- 16:05 I mean, they read the Gospel of John, 16:06 there's no Christmas story in the Gospel of John. 16:08 He forgot it, no, he didn't forget it, 16:09 he was saving it. 16:11 He embedded it into his apocalypse, 16:14 the dramatic apocalypse and I want to go there today, 16:16 the dramatic Christmas story, the cryptic Christmas story. 16:19 The moment you read these words, you will just say, 16:21 "Oh, yeah, that's Christmas, all right." 16:22 Open your Bible, please to the Bible's last book 16:24 written by John, Book of Revelation. 16:27 Revelation 12. 16:30 You didn't bring your Bible, you got to see this, 16:32 this will be page 829 in the pew Bible. 16:35 Revelation 12. Look at this. 16:38 The cryptic Christmas story, yeah, you'll see it. 16:41 You'll say, "Well, that is Christmas right there." 16:44 I'm in the New King James Version today, 16:46 any translation you have, it's fine with me. 16:50 All right. 16:51 Revelation 12:1, "Now--" John's envision. 16:55 All right, that's what happens to prophet, they get visions. 16:57 God shows them what others cannot see. 17:01 "Now a great sign appeared in heaven, 17:03 a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, 17:08 and on her head a garland," 17:09 now the Greek word for garland there is Stephanus, 17:11 from whence comes our word Stephanie or Stephen. 17:15 All right, it's a--it's a wreath, 17:17 you cross the finish line in the ancient Olympus races, 17:21 you get this wreath. 17:22 It's the conqueror, it's the winner. 17:24 "On her head a garland of twelve stars." 17:26 All right, let's just put an artist portrayal of that. 17:29 Okay, there she is. There's the woman. 17:31 Now in Revelation a pure woman 17:33 such as this one represents God's true community of faith. 17:36 If there's an impure woman and she appears in Chapter 17, 17:39 she's called the prostitute, the whore or the harlot. 17:42 That represents the fallen system 17:44 a fake, counterfeit truth. 17:46 All right. 17:47 So that the two are just opposed in the apocalypse, 17:49 the pure woman, this is the pure woman here. 17:52 Keep reading, verse 2. 17:53 "Then being with child," oh, oh, that woman 17:56 that we just saw is pregnant. 17:58 "Then being with child, she cried out in labor 18:01 and in pain to give birth." 18:04 And then watch this, John says, when I'm watching verse 3. 18:07 "Another sign appeared in heaven, 18:09 behold, a great fiery red dragon having seven heads 18:12 and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads." 18:15 Let's see that dragon now on that screen. 18:18 Whoa. Found him in Google. 18:23 I typed in dragon, Revelation 12 18:25 and that's what I got. 18:26 Isn't that something? 18:27 Hey, by the way, who's the dragon in this prophecy? 18:30 Who's a dragon? Verse 9, it's clear. 18:32 The dragon, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, 18:36 we know who the dragon is. 18:38 The dragon is Satan. Okay. So now let's go. 18:40 Here Satan appears in verse 3, here goes verse 4 now. 18:43 "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven 18:46 and threw them to the earth." 18:47 Those are clearly members of the family 18:49 of God's angels who joined with him. 18:51 This is the origin of demons by the way. 18:53 There are demons, that's not a figment 18:55 of my imagination, they're fallen angels. 18:57 A third of them were drawn to this rebellion by Lucifer, 19:00 the fallen one and the dragon, now here it goes. 19:02 "And the dragon stood before the woman 19:04 who was ready to give birth, 19:06 to devour her Child as soon as it was born." 19:09 Now we're getting to the Christmas story. 19:11 What happened in that Christmas story? 19:13 Who was poised, ready as soon as the Christ child is born? 19:16 And who is the front man for the dragon? 19:19 Who is the front man? King Herod. 19:21 Ready to devour that baby as soon as it's born. 19:25 This is the cryptic Christmas story 19:26 and it's in fast forward. 19:27 Watch this. 19:29 Verse 5, "So she bore a male Child 19:32 who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron." 19:34 That's a messianic sign, symbol rather. 19:36 Straight out of Psalm 2. She bore the Messiah. 19:39 "And her child was caught up to heaven and gone. 19:43 That's the whole story, his whole life 19:44 in half a sentence, because that's the point. 19:48 The point is the dragon in this story. 19:50 The dragon and the woman, the woman. 19:53 What happens to the woman? Verse 6. 19:55 "Then the woman--" after he was ascended to heaven. 19:57 "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, 19:59 where she has a place prepared by God, 20:01 that they should feed her there 20:03 one thousand two hundred and sixty days." 20:05 In Bible prophecy, a day equals a year, that's 1,260 years. 20:08 The dark and middle ages now. Whoa. 20:11 She goes underground, the community of faith 20:13 goes underground preserving divine truth 20:16 for a ruthless power seeks to exterminate 20:22 that truth and that community. 20:25 Long dark and middle ages. 20:28 Well, just read-- just drop down to verse 13, 20:30 "And when the dragon saw 20:31 that he had been cast to the earth," 20:32 and by the way that happened at Calvary. 20:34 This chapter's clear, Calvary, 20:35 when Jesus said it is finished on the cross, 20:37 over, it's curtains for Satan and he knows it. 20:40 He's cast to the earth fully. 20:42 "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast 20:44 to the earth, he persecuted the woman 20:46 who gave birth to the male Child." 20:48 I can't get at my antagonist, I cannot get it. 20:52 I will kill the woman that gave birth to him. 20:57 Now, fast forward all the way to the end of the chapter. 20:59 This is the final generation at the end of time 21:02 that is faithful to God. 21:04 Seed of the woman, watch this. Verse 17. 21:07 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 21:11 and he went to make war 21:13 with the rest of her offspring," 21:16 King James says with the remnant. 21:17 That what's comes at the very end. 21:19 He went to make war with that at the very end. 21:21 Who are these people? 21:22 Oh, these are they who keep the commandments of God. 21:25 And notice this, have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 21:30 Ladies and gentlemen, there it is. 21:31 Did you catch that line? 21:32 And the dragon was enraged, raged with the woman. 21:39 That's what happened at Christmas. 21:41 By the way, that's what's happening today. 21:43 Now you know, now you know. 21:46 Because if we take a look at this woman 21:48 and her end time children. 21:49 Do you see what they have? 21:51 The Greek word here is very clear, 21:53 it can be translated, they possess. 21:55 They don't have the commandments of God. 21:56 God has those. They're radically loyal to God. 21:59 They only have one solitary possession 22:01 and what is that possession? 22:02 They possess the testimony of Jesus Christ, 22:06 that's what they possess. 22:07 Final community, what's the testimony of Jesus Christ? 22:09 Revelation-- We've been there a few weeks ago. 22:11 Just a little refresher, Revelation 19:10, 22:13 we put it up here, direct quote, 22:14 "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 22:20 That means we found out from Revelation 22, 22:22 that means there is the presence 22:23 of a divinely inspired prophet in the midst of the community. 22:27 I'm not making this up, this is in the apocalypse. 22:34 So here's a question we need to be asking, 22:35 really here's the question. 22:37 Why has the dragon, this evil grinch 22:39 that almost destroyed the first Christmas? 22:42 Why has the dragon from the very beginning 22:43 of time been so enraged at the gift of prophecy, 22:46 at the spirit of prophecy, at the testimony of Jesus? 22:49 Why has he always slaughtered the prophets? 22:51 John the Baptist. 22:54 Why has he being going after the prophets? 22:57 I tell you why? This isn't rocket science. 22:59 Now the answer is very simple. 23:01 Because the gift of prophecy 23:05 through it, God shines a massive halogen light 23:11 straight into that dark secret layer of the dragon 23:16 and exposes his secrets 23:19 and brings to light his deceptions. 23:23 And so the dragon is enraged at the woman, a killer. 23:29 Now snuff out that light. 23:34 You see, the bright halogen light 23:37 closes in on the mo, the modus operandi of the dragon. 23:42 For example, how he uses diet? 23:46 What we're eating, what we drink 23:47 to control how we think? 23:49 Now light suddenly shines, 23:51 you don't want to be under that control. 23:53 Watch what you eat, watch what you drink. 23:56 There's another for example. How he uses reading material. 24:02 You watch that goes through into your brain 24:05 and onto the hard disk. 24:06 How he uses that to open the door of your life, 24:08 straight to his attack. 24:10 Now light shines, look out for what you read. 24:13 What you watch, what you hear, be very careful, he wants it. 24:19 That's what the-- that's what 24:20 the halogen light of the spirit of prophecy does. 24:22 It illumines the fallen culture of a doomed planet. 24:30 Don't be marinated in that culture. 24:33 It exposes philosophical confusion, 24:36 it exposes false record, 24:37 hey, we got time, man, I got time. 24:40 This world's not coming to an end. 24:41 Bright halogen the hiss of the serpent, 24:45 the dragon, all exposed. 24:47 I tell you what, if I were the dragon, 24:49 I would be, I would be tip to high heavens 24:54 over that bright halogen light. 24:56 Because by the way, the bright light, 24:57 not only exposes the end game of Lucifer, 24:59 it also exposes the strategy 25:02 and end game of Almighty God Himself. 25:05 So that when you and I think curtains, there's no hope, 25:08 we might as well give up our faith and surrender. 25:10 That light shines, it says, 25:11 don't you let go, I'm coming soon. 25:14 When you see these things begin to come to pass, 25:16 sit up, sit up, sit up, I'm coming soon. 25:18 Hang on. 25:19 It gives us hope in a future. 25:22 If I were the dragon, I would obliterate this gift, please. 25:27 In fact, if I were the dragon, 25:29 there are two diabolical strategies 25:31 that I would resort to. 25:32 May I put them on the screen for you? 25:34 Two strategies, if I were the dragon. 25:36 Strategy number one, I would ravage the author, 25:40 "I would ravage the author and her writings 25:43 so that no one will read her." 25:47 If I were the dragon I would raise up every critic 25:49 I could find in an effort to destroy the credibility 25:52 of that little 5'2" woman and a prophetic gift. 25:55 I would seek to destroy her influence, 25:57 I would seek to cast down on her integrity. 25:59 I would accuse her of the basest of motives 26:01 that I could possibly concoct, because if she is read, 26:06 if she is read, I am exposed and I lose big-time. 26:14 Destroy it, destroy it. 26:18 Two strategic plans, the other is the very opposite, 26:22 put the second one up. 26:23 "I would overemphasize the author and her writings 26:27 so that no one will read her." 26:28 Either strategy, they don't read her. 26:31 What's the strategy number two? 26:32 I'd find well-meaning but fanatical people 26:34 who use her writings to beat others over the head. 26:37 I'd raise a generation of baby boomers, 26:39 many of whom appeared to have experienced 26:41 that sort of legalistic punitive use 26:43 of her writings when they were young 26:44 and I would make those baby boomer parents 26:46 so gun-shy over the Spirit of Prophecy 26:48 that they would end up neglecting 26:51 to teach their children 26:52 the immensity and value of the divine gift, 26:54 so that I would have an entire generation 26:56 in the university right now. 26:57 An entire generation that has not been exposed to her 27:01 because of their parents' gun-shy timidity. 27:04 That's what I would do. 27:07 I wouldn't want them to know that now was the time, 27:09 forget what your mom and dad did. 27:11 Don't do what your mom and dad did. 27:13 Read it for yourself. 27:14 I wouldn't want them to know that. 27:17 Either extreme, I win 27:19 because nobody reads her that way. 27:25 Pretty bright dragon. Pretty smart dragon. 27:29 Which is why I'm grateful 27:30 for the very bright mind of the scholar 27:34 who is the namesake of Andrews University. 27:37 Now go, come on, help me out here. 27:39 We surely wouldn't have named our university after someone 27:42 who was not intellectually bright and biblically literate. 27:46 Now would we have? No. 27:49 Having established that point. 27:52 Then please listen to what J.N. Andrew says 27:55 about this end-time community and the gift of prophecy. 27:59 In February, 15, 1870 issue, the Review and Herald Magazine, 28:03 Andrews lays out 20 sure points to express 28:05 what Seventh-day Adventists believe 28:07 about the Bible teaching of spiritual gifts 28:08 and Ellen White's prophetic ministry in this church. 28:11 I'm not gonna share the 20 with you, 28:12 I'm gonna share just the last two. 28:13 All right. 28:14 Number 19, I put it on the screen for you. 28:15 Number 19, here it is. 28:17 This is the namesake of this university writing. 28:20 "One of the chief gifts of the Spirit of God 28:22 that he has placed in the New Testament church 28:24 is the gift of prophecy." 28:25 And there are list of texts. All right. 28:28 "This gift the Bible connects with the closing work 28:31 of this age, this dispensation." 28:33 There are those next texts. 28:34 Spiritual gifts do not, here's the keeper for 19. 28:37 "Spiritual gifts, therefore, 28:38 do not cease to be of importance 28:40 in the sight of God at the end of time." 28:42 No, no, no, just go all the way to the end. 28:44 "Nor of importance to his true people. 28:47 And that message which is to accomplish the perfecting, 28:50 the shaping of the saints to fit them for translation, 28:53 for the return of Christ. 28:55 That message has the Spirit of God connected with it." 28:59 The Holy Spirit is in the think of the gift of prophecy. 29:03 I dismiss that gift, I'm dismissing him. 29:05 Hey, I don't need you. He's in the thick of it. 29:08 Of course, he is. Now here comes number 20. 29:12 This is where I can tell 29:14 we chose the right one, bright mind. 29:17 Notice the balance, notice the careful balance here. 29:19 Number 20, on the screen for you. 29:20 "Finally, in the reception of members into our churches," 29:23 all right, so you're bringing people in. 29:25 "We desire on this subject to know two things." 29:27 You want to come and join 29:28 my community of faith, two things. 29:30 "Number one, we desire to know 29:33 that they believe the biblical doctrine, 29:35 the Bible doctrine of Spiritual gifts." 29:36 Well, that's not rocket science, 29:37 every Christian today believes in the doctrine 29:39 of Spiritual gifts is right here. 29:40 And the Spiritual gifts go all the way 29:42 to the end of time, very clear from Holy Scripture. 29:44 All right, so number one, that's what we ask 29:45 and then number two, watch this. 29:47 "That they will candidly acquaint themselves 29:50 with the visions, the writings of Ellen White, 29:54 which have ever held 29:55 so prominent place in this work. 29:57 We believe that every person standing 29:59 thus, you do these two. 30:00 Carrying out this purpose will be guided in the way 30:02 of truth and righteousness." 30:03 Now the last sentence is the key point. 30:06 And these are my italics. 30:07 And these who occupy this ground, 30:10 are never denied all the time 30:14 they desire to decide this matter." 30:17 You can have all the time you wish. 30:19 You don't have to come to the conclusion I come to. 30:22 Now take all the time you wish. 30:24 Study the Biblical teaching of Spiritual gifts. 30:26 Read from Ellen White's writings. 30:28 Take your time, be a stern as you can possibly be 30:31 and then, here's what you ask yourself, 30:33 ask yourself, when I read her writings, 30:36 am I tasting the fruit of the testimony of Jesus? 30:40 Is this the fruit? You know what? 30:43 I'm just as confident as John Nevins Andrews, 30:45 that if you'll do that, I just trust you 30:47 and God to work it all out. 30:49 You don't have to talk to me about it, you just do it. 30:52 I trust the Holy Spirit to lead you. 30:55 So you're saying, Dwight, what do we do next? 30:58 I say we embrace 30:59 the great Kellogg's cornflakes marketing strategy 31:03 from a few years ago. 31:04 Let's put Kellogg's cornflakes, 31:05 make us hungry just for a moment. 31:07 Taste them again. 31:08 Wasn't that, that was brilliant. 31:10 Taste them again for the first time. 31:14 You say, come on, Dwight, how can you do that? 31:15 How can you do something again for the first time? 31:17 But of course that's the whole point, isn't it? 31:20 You can't but of course you can. 31:24 But of course is the message, come back to what you thought 31:26 you gave up when you grew up, come back to it. 31:30 Now look, when I grew up, I grew up in Japan. 31:33 Let me tell you about the breakfast cereals in Japan. 31:34 We had hot soggy oatmeal. 31:39 All right, God bless my mother. 31:42 It was good. 31:44 We had hot soggy oatmeal 31:45 or because we have a college in Japan 31:46 as well schools are all over there. 31:48 They produced granola, 31:49 so we had granola or hot soggy oatmeal. 31:51 When we came home on furlough, 31:53 back to the United States 31:54 and we step for the first time into an American supermarket 31:58 and saw that there are miles of shells 32:01 of American breakfast cereal. 32:04 We think that we are dining on heaven. 32:06 I mean, can you believe it, 32:09 they even have something called frosted flakes to die for. 32:16 Whoa. 32:18 Of course, now that I'm grown up, 32:22 I did out the much more sophisticated palates. 32:26 Kenny frosted flakes now, Karen says so. 32:32 Ah, well, that's the whole point 32:33 of the marketing strategy, come back to what you thought 32:37 you gave up when you grew up. 32:38 Come on, come on back, 32:40 taste them again for the first time. 32:42 Go back to what nourished you when you were a child. 32:45 Open up another box of cornflakes, 32:48 eat, eat and enjoy. 32:52 What if we all did that, what if we all decide. 32:54 Okay, I'm gonna read a book or two of Ellen White's 32:57 for the first time, we call for the first time 32:58 I'll pick up a book and it will be just like 33:00 I'm reading it for the first time. 33:01 I pretend like I never read it before 33:03 with new eyes now, I experience what has always been there. 33:07 What would happen? 33:09 If you and I began to read 33:10 writings of Ellen White, guess what? 33:12 We don't have to, 33:13 we don't have to wonder what will happen. 33:14 Because two friends of mine 33:16 have done the empirical research. 33:18 Now this is gonna blow you out of the water. 33:20 Have done the empirical research, 33:21 two very respected and rigorous researchers 33:25 have done their research, who are my friends, 33:27 Roger Dudley, Des Cummins Jr. 33:31 They did this research, get this. 33:33 They surveyed more than 8,200 members 33:37 of a 193 Seventh-day Adventist churches across North America. 33:40 Their research empirically has confirmed on a broad scale 33:43 what many of us have experienced 33:45 on a deeply personal level. 33:46 And I can hardly wait to share this with you. 33:47 There they were measuring 33:49 20 different categories of spiritual life 33:52 with one of the categories being this question, 33:54 whether those surveyed were regular readers 33:56 of the writings of Ellen White or not. 33:58 The results are stunning 34:00 and they're on the back of your study guide 34:02 which we'd not fill in the day, it's just a take-home. 34:05 So pull your study guide out right now 34:06 and deacons will you please make sure 34:08 that everybody here 'cause you're gonna want this graph. 34:10 Everybody here gets this, 34:11 just go ahead and stand right up now, 34:13 start moving down the aisle 34:14 and make sure you get this piece. 34:17 This is the keeper, you don't have to fill it out. 34:19 You want to have the peace and then I'll go to the graph 34:22 and I want to little belatedly now welcome all of you 34:24 who are watching on television delighted to have you. 34:26 I want you to be please to have the same graph. 34:28 So go to our website. 34:30 Put it on the screen for you right now. 34:32 There it is www.pmchurch.tv. 34:35 Go to that website, Pioneer Memorial Church, pmchurch.tv. 34:40 This is the last in the series, man, the semester is gone. 34:43 Series has been the gift, the final piece, 34:46 Ellen White, "Taste them again for the first time." 34:49 When you see that teaching title, 34:50 it's says study guide beneath it, 34:53 you click that and you will have the same graph, 34:54 you'll have all the material, I am sharing this morning 34:57 and you won't have to fill out a single line. 35:00 That's a little holiday break for you. 35:02 All right. 35:04 So let's take a look at this graph. 35:06 Just hold your hand, if you sitting in overflow, 35:07 make sure you get this graph. 35:09 All right, I'm not gonna wait any longer just be patient, 35:11 they're coming your way. 35:13 But I want to put, 35:14 I want to pull this graph out myself first, okay. 35:17 So here's the graph. 35:18 Let me draw your attention to this. 35:20 Okay, so they're two bars, the top bar, the lighter bar 35:23 are the readers of Ellen White. 35:25 The dark bar, the non readers. 35:27 Okay. Let's find out. 35:29 They asked, everybody surveyed over 8,200 people. 35:31 They ask them, do you have 35:33 a strong relationship with Jesus Christ? 35:37 85% of those who read Ellen White 35:41 regularly, say yes, I do. 35:44 59% of those who do not read her, said yes, I do. 35:50 Now I want to get the differences. 35:52 That's a 26 percent spread. 35:56 Do you have a strong relationship with Jesus? 35:58 Those who read her, say, yeah, I do, way more. 36:04 Also look at the next one, what is this one. 36:06 Do you have the assurance of being right with God? 36:08 Do you have that security, that assurance right now? 36:11 82% of those who read Ellen White says, yes I do. 36:13 59% of those who don't read Ellen White say, yes I do. 36:16 Look at that spread. 36:20 Let's drop down, here's another one. 36:21 Feel well prepared, you see that, 36:22 feel well prepared for witnessing. 36:24 49% said yep, 24% said no, look at that spread. 36:29 Let's drop down another one. 36:31 I thought this was significant. Daily personal Bible study. 36:34 You see that one. 36:36 82% of those who read Ellen White say, 36:39 I read the Bible every single day. 36:41 Now if it were a false prophet, 36:43 we would expect the reaction, it would be no, 36:44 I don't need the Bible anymore, I found another prophet. 36:48 Isn't that amazing? 36:49 82% of the people who read Ellen White say, 36:52 you bet, I read the Bible every single day. 36:55 How about those who don't read her? 36:56 47%, 35% point spread. 37:02 Something is happening here, 37:05 not rocket science, it's called research. 37:09 One more I'll have you take a look at, 37:10 it's next, third from the last. 37:11 Have daily family worship. 37:13 I want to speak to the parents 37:14 who were up here just a moment ago. 37:17 Notice this, those who read Ellen White, 37:21 daily family worship, 70% of them. 37:23 Those who don't read Ellen White, only 42% of them. 37:25 You want a little something to boost you, 37:28 as you raise your children, read, 37:31 read, taste them again for the first time read, read. 37:38 Wow. 37:40 As you can note in everyone 37:42 of the 20 spiritual life categories surveyed 37:44 the regular readers of Ellen White scored higher 37:46 than the non readers in their conclusions. 37:48 I'd put Dudley's and Cummings' conclusion 37:52 on the screen for you. 37:53 "Seldom does a research study find the evidence 37:57 so heavily weighted toward one conclusion. 37:59 In the church grow survey, on every single item that deals 38:02 with personal attitudes or practices of spiritual life, 38:05 the member who regularly studies Ellen White's books 38:08 tends to rank higher than does the member 38:10 who reads them only occasionally or never." 38:15 Which means, ladies and gentlemen, 38:16 if you will, if you will taste them again. 38:19 When you taste them again for the first time, 38:21 you're reading of the writings of Ellen White 38:23 will open the door, I believe to a deeper walk with Christ 38:27 and a more meaningful life of service with Him. 38:32 Taste them again for the first time. 38:37 You say, come on, Dwight, there are over 130 titles 38:39 that bare her name, where am I gonna start? 38:41 It's a fair question. 38:42 I say, let's start with the Testimony of Jesus. 38:45 Let's start with the Testimony of Jesus. 38:47 I'm gonna recommend three classics and then sit down. 38:49 Here they are, I have right here 38:50 in the podium with me, three classics. 38:52 Put it on the screen, classic number one. 38:55 Steps to Christ, I've right here. 38:57 Steps to Christ this short Christian classic, 38:59 I went into Wikipedia and found out 39:00 this is translated somewhere between 135 and 140 languages, 39:04 it's the most translated book she has, 39:06 Steps to Christ, right here. 39:08 I shared this with you a few weeks ago. 39:10 This little book when I was in graduate school 39:11 at Andrews University, this little book 39:13 is what sparked my re-conversion to Jesus. 39:15 This, the reading of this little book, 39:17 it's why I'm so big on the book. 39:19 In fact, you know what, 39:21 I want you to have this book, You may have it. 39:23 When you leave today at the Welcome stations, 39:25 you don't have one of these, stop by and pick it up. 39:28 We got one for you, take one. 39:30 When you comeback from holidays, 39:32 we're not gonna have 40 days of prayer, 39:34 we're gonna have 31 days of prayer, 39:35 we're gonna wait till you're back, 39:36 so we don't start till January. 39:38 When you come back from the holidays, 39:40 we're gonna take this little book 39:42 and it's gonna be the text that we, 39:44 that we work our way through. 39:45 Somebody on Facebook, 39:46 we will give you the address when you get back. 39:48 Somebody on Facebook 39:49 has divided this book into 31 daily readings. 39:52 We will give you that when you come back, 39:54 more on that later. 39:55 Get the book, taste them again for the first time. 40:00 All right, classic number one is Steps to Christ. 40:03 Classic number two, I'm really excited about this one 40:06 for more reasons than one. 40:09 Classic number two, Desire of Ages. 40:11 Hands down, outside of the Bible, 40:13 this happens to be my most favorite book of all. 40:16 But I've got a brand new edition 40:18 right here in my hands, I need the camera 40:19 to pull in as closer as you can see it. 40:21 This is a new edition. 40:22 My friend Jerry Patzer, now sleeps in Jesus. 40:26 One of his projects before he died 40:28 was to work for the publishers, he said, listen, you know what, 40:30 the King James, oh, I agree with him, 40:32 the King James makes this really tough reading. 40:35 Could you pull all the King James out, 40:36 put New King James in, sometimes NIV, 40:39 Sometimes New American Standard, just put it in. 40:42 A friend of Jerry sent this book to me last February 40:44 and I started reading it, read it through. 40:47 I tell you what, what a difference. 40:49 Amazing. You're gonna love it. 40:51 This is the book, the classic in the life of Jesus. 40:56 A second feature by the way 40:57 and that's why I'm holding this up. 40:58 'Cause I need you to come in on. 40:59 The second feature is that publishers decided 41:02 to hire the award-winning artist, Daryl Tank 41:05 to give a pencil sketch, scenes from the life of Jesus 41:08 at the beginning of every chapter, 41:10 this is his pencil sketch for Calvary. 41:11 By the way the most moving chapter 41:13 I've ever read anywhere in literature on Calvary 41:16 is the one titled Calvary in this book. 41:19 It will change you just by reading it, I promise. 41:22 Anyway this is a pencil sketch, they've kind of doctored it up 41:25 with some color for the cover. 41:26 I prop this book up where I worship every morning, 41:28 just so that I can look at that cover. 41:30 And remind myself there's the Victor. 41:34 There's the winner in this cosmic battle 41:38 that you and I are engaged in. 41:39 Wow. 41:41 But beyond all of that, I'm quite confident 41:42 that you'll never read a more inspiring 41:44 and life changing portrayal 41:45 of the life of Jesus than this book. 41:47 I've been blessed to read it a dozen times. 41:50 Hey, listen, you can read, look, 41:51 you can read this for your devotions. 41:53 At the bottom of every chapter, there are the gospel references 41:57 where the chapter is based on. 41:58 You could read a chapter a day, 41:59 you could read a chapter a week, who cares. 42:01 "Taste them again for the first time." 42:03 It's the testimony of Jesus. Take a look at your savior. 42:09 You will never be the same again. 42:10 "Taste them again for the first time." 42:12 All right, two classics, "Steps to Christ." 42:14 "Desire of Ages." 42:15 Here's the third, hands down "The Great Controversy." 42:20 Hands down, this is the most dramatically influential book 42:23 Ellen White ever wrote. 42:26 This book, trust me has been read in high places. 42:32 I have three scholar friends 42:35 who became Christian of this community of faith 42:40 after reading this book, Great Controversy. 42:46 You know what this book does? 42:48 It concentrates on the books of Daniel and Revelation. 42:51 And like no other book that you'll ever read 42:54 unveils the end game of both Christ and Satan 42:57 in the final chapter of earth's history. 42:58 It's all exposed. 43:00 Bright halogen light right here. 43:03 I'm warning you. 43:05 You will never be the same again 43:07 if you read this book. 43:08 Promise you. 43:09 Listen to this, Ellen White describing this book, 43:11 here's what she says about the book. 43:12 Put it on the screen. 43:13 "The Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. 43:17 It contains the story of the past, 43:19 the present, and the future. 43:22 In its outline of the closing scenes of this earth's history, 43:25 it bears a powerful testimony in behalf of the truth. 43:27 I am more anxious to see 43:28 a wide circulation for this book 43:30 than for any others I have written, 43:33 for in The Great Controversy, the last message 43:35 of warning to the world is given more distinctly 43:37 than in any of my other books." 43:40 Now I want to say something to some of you. 43:42 If you're a pastor and I know, I've got a bunch of colleagues 43:47 who listen on the radio and watch on television, 43:49 if you're a pastor or a spiritual leader, 43:51 I want you to read this book. 43:54 I've given my copy of this particular one, 43:56 because this is the other one Jerry worked on two 43:59 that has the New King James Version in it. 44:01 I gave my copy 44:02 to a South Bend Pentecostal pastor friend of mine. 44:05 He is reading my copy. I want you to get this book. 44:11 Open it up, just lay everything aside, 44:13 say, okay, okay, okay, I'll check it out. 44:15 Listen, George Barna, 44:18 the celebrated Christian demographer. 44:20 Everybody knows George Barna. 44:22 George Barna surveyed American clergy, asked them, 44:25 what is the most influential writers you are reading? 44:28 And get this, for pastors under the age of 40. 44:33 Okay 40 and younger, they mention, 44:36 in fact Barna uses the word, 44:37 they championed the author Ellen White. 44:42 Three authors and she was one of those three. 44:45 Pastors 40 and under are reading this book. 44:48 I'm telling you what ladies and gentleman, 44:49 she is no longer the best kept secret 44:53 in the Seventh-day Adventist church. 44:54 Every denomination the survey, 40 and under, 44:59 we read an author named Ellen White. 45:02 What up with that? 45:07 Readable, compelling this would be 45:08 a prophetic page turner for you. 45:10 Get the book, three classics, "Steps to Christ." 45:12 "Desire of Ages." "The Great Controversy." 45:16 By the way, I need to tell you this, 45:18 these three are part of a five volume series, 45:23 it's called "The Conflict of the Ages Series." 45:27 Takes the entire story of the Bible 45:28 from Genesis through the Revelation 45:30 and in a sweeping panorama of sacred history. 45:35 The five books describe God's activity on this planet. 45:39 You can get the other two here, one here. 45:43 I want you to ponder for a moment, 45:45 the words of a theologian who researched 45:48 these five books, called the Conflict of the Ages. 45:50 I put his words on the screen, his name is Joseph Battistone. 45:53 These are his words. 45:54 "The 'Conflict of the Ages Series' 45:56 is in many respects a theological masterpiece." 46:01 I believe the five are Ellen White's magnum opus, 46:04 the greatest writing that she's done, those five. 46:07 He goes on, "In a unique way 46:08 Ellen White unfolds the drama, the drama of the most 46:11 significant controversy in human history, 46:13 she identifies the main issues in the conflict, 46:14 and demonstrates their relevance for each individual. 46:17 In a simple way she provides answers 46:19 to some of the most vexing questions 46:21 relating to the human dilemma, 46:22 those having to do with the problem of evil. 46:25 One of the major achievements of this work, 46:26 if not the most important, 46:28 is the exoneration of God's character." 46:31 The five books begin with the word, 46:33 the first book begins with the three words, God is love, 46:35 The Great Controversy ends with the three words, 46:38 God is love and between those book ends 46:40 the revelation of God's divine passion 46:44 and love for the human race 46:45 and the lengths heaven has gone to. 46:47 You want to read five books. There you go. 46:50 By the way, I neglected to mention that those of you 46:54 who are watching on television right now, 46:55 these little classic Steps to Christ, 46:56 I'll send it to you free of charge 46:57 that come in the mail. 46:58 There is a toll free number coming up in just a moment, 47:00 call that toll free number, the book is yours. 47:02 If you are here in this building right now, 47:04 stop by our Welcome Center 47:05 and ask for your own copy of Steps to Christ. 47:08 And I'll make one more offer, those of you who are watching, 47:13 this book right here, I'll send the book to you. 47:16 You call the 800 number, 47:18 I'm not gonna give it in the church here 47:19 because everybody will call. 47:20 So they don't know the number 47:22 it's between you and me. 47:24 You call the number, as this is a more expensive book, 47:27 but I want to have the book. 47:28 By the way, since you brought it up, Amazon.com. 47:30 Where do I find these books, 47:32 this book Amazon.com 299 brand new, 299. 47:37 all three of these classics, Amazon.com, and by the way, 47:40 hi-techie, third millennials, 47:42 you can get them for your e-readers. 47:44 Your iPad, your Kindle, your Nook, 47:48 everything's there ready and waiting for you. 47:51 Just go to Amazon.com, 99 cents, Amazon.com 47:54 for the electronic edition of this one. 47:57 So go to Amazon.com. 48:00 If you like it, if you look it-- if you like, if you like 48:02 everything this woman ever wrote, for $19.99, 48:07 whiteestate.org, you can buy a CD rom, I have that, 48:10 you put on your laptop, you got them all. 48:12 Hey, listen guys. 48:14 This isn't about selling books, here's a deal. 48:17 This is about a generation at the end of time. 48:21 This is about a generation where the dragon is marked 48:24 to destroy and eliminate. 48:26 And there is a halogen light 48:28 that he does not want you to find. 48:32 Go out running every morning at 6:30, 48:34 every morning and it's dark right now, 48:36 it's 6:30, I carry a little LED flashlight, 48:38 it has these, you know, these little, 48:40 looks like the blue lights 48:41 that the new cars have on them. 48:42 I shine them, boy, I shines way ahead in the dark. 48:45 Why do I carry a flash light in the dark? 48:47 Because I don't want to stumble upon something 48:48 that I didn't know was lying in my pathway. 48:51 You can have the test, you can have the halogen light 48:55 of divine prophecy and shine it. 48:59 And what is coming ahead, you'll see with clarity. 49:03 Taste them again for the first time. 49:05 Taste them again. 49:06 All right, let me end the story. 49:07 The whole series ends with this story. 49:11 By the way, I can't think of a more heart inspiring, 49:13 a life changing Christmas gift to give somebody. 49:19 Giving the books. 49:22 Those of you who are bibliophiles 49:23 like me and you have to have to hold, 49:25 you have to hold the book in your hand, 49:26 'cause you can't figure out 49:27 how you change the pages with this electronic gizmo. 49:32 Just walk across campus, university bookstore, 49:33 you'll find all three classics. 49:34 Across the street to the ABC Christian bookstore, 49:37 they are all there, hard cover. 49:38 You can turn the pages, mark them, study them, 49:41 and come back to them. 49:42 Taste them again for the first time. 49:44 Want to end with the story, 49:45 the whole series, the gift ends now. 49:48 This is an oral interview between James R. Nix, 49:50 my friend, Jim Nix and Ella Mae Robinson, 49:55 granddaughter of Ellen White. 49:57 He asked her the question, 49:58 "Hey, what was it like to watch your grandma upfront." 50:00 All right. 50:01 So this is an eye witness, grand daughter speaking. 50:03 She says, "I see grandma. 50:05 I see grandma standing in the pulpit, 50:07 dressed in her loose fitting black sack suit, 50:09 narrow cuffs of white, 50:11 narrow white collar secured the throat by a brooch, 50:14 she's been telling of the matchless love of Christ 50:16 in suffering shame and death. 50:19 And even running the risk of eternal separation 50:21 from His father in heaven 50:22 by taking upon Himself the sins of the world, 50:24 she pauses, she pauses and she looks up 50:28 and with one hand resting on the desk, 50:30 they call the podium back then. 50:32 And one hand resting upon the desk 50:33 and the other lifted heavenward, 50:35 she exclaims in a ringing voice, 50:38 oh, Jesus, how I love you. 50:42 How I love you, how I love you. 50:46 Granddaughter goes on, there is a deep hush. 50:49 Heaven is very near. 50:52 Ladies and gentleman, there is a reason 50:56 why the gift is called the testimony of Jesus. 51:01 And here's my testimony about the gift, 51:04 like no other author on earth, 51:07 her writings have taught me to say, 51:15 oh, Jesus, how I love you. 51:19 How I love you. How I love you. 51:24 Which is why I'm unabashed, absolutely unapologetic 51:27 to stand in front of you right now 51:29 and tell you, I am what I am 51:34 because of the writings of Ellen White. 51:37 I am where I am right now, 51:40 because of the writings of Ellen White. 51:44 I appeal to you. 51:46 Taste them again for the first time, 51:51 for your sake, for Jesus' sake. 51:56 Amen. 51:59 Want you to sit back and listen to my friend Glenn Russell, 52:05 Professor of Religion here at Andrews University. 52:07 He wrote a song in college, 52:09 I want you to hear that song right now. 52:15 And his college buddy, also my friend, Gary Burns, 52:20 editor of the Lake Union Herald is gonna be on the string base. 52:23 Listen up. 52:48 To a church of searching sinners 52:53 To a world of suffering men 52:57 You were given Holy vision 53:02 As a prophet, as our friend 53:07 All the conflicts of the ages 53:12 Was unfurled by God above 53:17 And you wrote it with such beauty 53:21 That it moves me now with love 53:26 As a woman, as a vanguard 53:31 Through the life of growing faith 53:35 I'm so glad you wrote for Jesus in your way 53:45 Though you pleaded with each Christian 53:50 To prepare for Christ return 53:54 Still so many clung to emptiness 53:59 Sought salvation they could earn 54:04 Even now I hear the voices 54:08 Of opinion raised in spite 54:13 And we use your word since decades 54:18 To cut and prove we're right 54:22 Would it break your heart in sadness 54:27 If you touched our hand with mercy 54:31 Oh, how much we need the man of God indeed 54:47 Even though there's been confusion 54:52 God's son kept shining through 54:57 Through His work and through His spirit 55:01 Using messengers like you 55:06 As a woman, as a vanguard 55:11 Through a life of growing faith 55:15 I'm so glad you lived for Jesus in your way 55:24 I'm so glad you wrote for Jesus in your way 55:43 Let's stand as we pray. 55:55 Holy Father, thank you for the testimony of Jesus. 55:58 Where would we be without it? 56:02 It's all about Him, from Christmas to the end. 56:09 Oh, God, grant us the wisdom 56:15 to taste them again for the first time. 56:20 Nourish us, our souls, our bodies, our lives, 56:27 as we countdown to the Messiah's second coming. 56:36 And now may the love of the Father 56:40 and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 56:42 and the communion of the Holy Spirit 56:43 be with you and me 56:45 while we are absent one from another. 56:48 Amen. 57:05 This little classic was what God sent to me 57:07 when I hit rock bottom spiritually, 57:09 as a graduate student on this campus years ago. 57:12 The title became a self fulfilling prophecy, 57:14 Steps to Christ. 57:16 Because that's precisely what I discovered in this short 57:19 but inspiring and for me life changing book. 57:22 And I'd love for you to experience the same, 57:24 which is why we're setting aside 57:26 a few of these books for our viewing friends. 57:28 If you'd like your own copy of Steps to Christ 57:30 call our toll free number 877-His-Will, 57:33 just punch those two words "His Will" on your keyboard, 57:36 877- His-Will and ask for the book. 57:38 You want it in Spanish? Ask for it. 57:40 It's one of the most translated books in the world. 57:43 Our friendly operators are standing by 24/7 to assist you 57:46 and will get the book to you 57:47 as soon as possible, straight to your address. 57:49 So why not go to the phone right now 57:51 and see if your walk with Jesus 57:52 isn't deepened by this spiritual classic. 57:55 It's our gift to you. 57:57 And until I see you again next time, 57:58 may you sense the living Christ 58:01 walking beside you every step of the way. |
Revised 2014-12-17