Oh, thank you.
00:02:23.39\00:02:25.97
It's an honor
for me to introduce
00:02:26.00\00:02:27.39
to you today a
family, I'm so proud of.
00:02:27.42\00:02:32.86
You're gonna learn their
story in just a few moments.
00:02:32.89\00:02:36.65
I want to introduce
this family to you in shifts
00:02:36.68\00:02:39.24
so I'm gonna step
away from the here.
00:02:39.27\00:02:45.01
I want you to meet
the Filipova family
00:02:45.04\00:02:47.08
but first I want to meet,
00:02:47.11\00:02:49.84
want you to meet papa Yuliyan.
00:02:49.87\00:02:52.54
Yuliyan Filipova
was one of my students
00:02:52.57\00:02:55.19
here this last spring
in our preaching class,
00:02:55.22\00:02:57.78
preaching to the
contemporary world
00:02:57.81\00:02:58.90
at the theological seminary
00:02:58.93\00:03:00.23
and Yuliyan, always
nice to have you here.
00:03:00.26\00:03:02.74
You used to sitting
about right in that row,
00:03:02.77\00:03:04.43
row number two.
00:03:04.46\00:03:05.61
I'm gonna let you
since you are preacher
00:03:05.64\00:03:07.09
you just hold that microphone
00:03:07.12\00:03:08.99
because this man
has an incredible story.
00:03:09.02\00:03:11.60
Now I'm gonna bring
the rest of the family in
00:03:11.63\00:03:13.43
for where we are going in
our Christmas journey today.
00:03:13.46\00:03:15.92
But Yuliyan, I want
to start in Bulgaria.
00:03:15.95\00:03:18.58
What was the town
you are born in Bulgaria?
00:03:18.61\00:03:21.24
Vidin. Vidin. Vilin.
00:03:21.27\00:03:22.89
Vidin. Yeah. Vidin.
00:03:22.92\00:03:24.68
On the Danube.
00:03:24.71\00:03:25.96
You born into a Christian
home, what denomination was it?
00:03:25.99\00:03:28.67
Atheist. Yeah. Oh, you
were in a atheist home?
00:03:28.70\00:03:32.59
So this is back
during the communist era?
00:03:32.62\00:03:34.09
Yes, exactly.
00:03:34.12\00:03:35.16
You just hold that
little closer to you.
00:03:35.19\00:03:37.16
During the communist area, okay.
00:03:37.19\00:03:39.06
So no church?
00:03:39.09\00:03:40.70
No. No God?
00:03:40.73\00:03:43.00
Religion was opium for the mass.
00:03:43.03\00:03:45.32
Opium for the masses.
00:03:45.35\00:03:46.56
Atheism what was
taught in school.
00:03:46.59\00:03:48.47
Atheism at home.
Atheism everywhere.
00:03:48.50\00:03:53.02
Bible forbidden.
00:03:53.05\00:03:54.75
But God obviously had His eye
on you from the very beginning.
00:03:54.78\00:03:58.72
I want to start the story age 13
00:03:58.75\00:04:00.51
we got the couple guns stories.
00:04:00.54\00:04:01.90
Let's take the
first gun story, shotgun.
00:04:01.93\00:04:03.68
Okay.
00:04:03.71\00:04:05.08
I was very
innovative-- inventive boy.
00:04:05.11\00:04:08.57
I decided to make a rifle myself
00:04:08.60\00:04:11.22
or better say kind
of shotgun with pellets.
00:04:11.25\00:04:16.54
And one day I decided to
try the power of my shotgun
00:04:16.57\00:04:20.67
and to see if its able to go
through the windshield of a car
00:04:20.70\00:04:25.22
that was parked about
70 yards away from home.
00:04:25.25\00:04:29.97
And of course I
was eager to do that
00:04:30.00\00:04:33.53
and I put extra gunpowder,
extra pellets in my shotgun
00:04:33.56\00:04:40.46
and because of
these I gave the shot
00:04:40.49\00:04:43.21
but it came
backwards right into my face.
00:04:43.24\00:04:46.38
The gun exploded
in your face? Yes.
00:04:46.41\00:04:47.90
They rushed you to the hospital.
00:04:47.93\00:04:50.08
The doctor is worried about
you're having eyesight at all
00:04:50.11\00:04:53.42
and then he makes
for a communist doctor
00:04:53.45\00:04:55.02
a most
interesting statement to you.
00:04:55.05\00:04:57.59
I was sitting in the
room under a microscope
00:04:57.62\00:05:00.31
and he was doing something on me
00:05:00.34\00:05:02.03
and he explained that my eyes
00:05:02.06\00:05:04.52
were totally
covered with the gunpowder
00:05:04.55\00:05:07.43
and this was what
prevented me of seeing
00:05:07.46\00:05:10.04
and he said-- he
made the remarkable
00:05:10.07\00:05:13.76
comment, Atheist doctor.
00:05:13.79\00:05:16.10
What did he say?
00:05:16.13\00:05:17.39
I don't know if
there is God to hear him
00:05:17.42\00:05:19.75
but if there is one pray
that my hand stayed still.
00:05:19.78\00:05:26.57
Did you pray?
00:05:26.60\00:05:29.49
That was the first
time I took serious God,
00:05:30.49\00:05:34.29
I didn't know who
this God made to be.
00:05:34.32\00:05:37.14
I hold it for you.
00:05:37.17\00:05:38.20
I just, just
decided to try and said God,
00:05:38.23\00:05:44.35
if you really exist just
help me to get my eyesight
00:05:44.38\00:05:48.20
and hold the
hand of this doctor.
00:05:48.23\00:05:51.10
You got through the-- you
got through that procedure
00:05:51.13\00:05:53.39
you were still able to see?
00:05:53.42\00:05:54.69
Did you become a believer than?
00:05:54.72\00:05:57.60
Actually I was able to
see even without glasses
00:05:57.63\00:06:00.96
that that doctor
he had promised me
00:06:00.99\00:06:02.53
I would have to wear
00:06:02.56\00:06:04.82
but amazingly the human nature
00:06:04.85\00:06:07.91
is so resistant to God's grace
00:06:07.94\00:06:11.00
I was the same
unbeliever as before.
00:06:11.03\00:06:13.26
So this Bulgarian
teenager turns 20,
00:06:13.29\00:06:16.66
was is it mandatory
military service in Bulgaria?
00:06:16.69\00:06:21.09
So you are in the army? Yeah.
00:06:21.12\00:06:23.33
Your son-in-law is home,
they just arrived last night.
00:06:23.36\00:06:26.94
He is in the US
army, he is US army ranger.
00:06:26.97\00:06:28.85
Going to Iraq in February.
00:06:28.88\00:06:30.49
Yeah, so you are in
the army, you have to be?
00:06:30.52\00:06:32.54
Yeah. Another gun story.
00:06:32.57\00:06:33.97
Three, three life
threatening accidents
00:06:34.00\00:06:38.26
but let's just take
accident number one.
00:06:38.29\00:06:40.17
Well, we were at
the shooting range
00:06:40.20\00:06:43.23
and we were down shooting.
00:06:43.26\00:06:45.44
I was about to
raise, we were lying down
00:06:45.47\00:06:49.13
and at this moment I had
the impression I was glued
00:06:49.16\00:06:53.90
to the ground as if
somebody had sat over my body
00:06:53.93\00:06:58.00
and I couldn't move
00:06:58.03\00:06:59.84
and nobody was
around in 10, 12 feet area.
00:06:59.87\00:07:04.08
And I started asking
myself what's going on?
00:07:04.11\00:07:07.90
And in a split of a
second I just heard the shot.
00:07:07.93\00:07:13.29
It happened with one
of my fellow soldiers
00:07:13.32\00:07:16.56
has forgotten to empty
the magazine of his AK47
00:07:16.59\00:07:22.44
and from a distance of
about 10 feet he gave a shot.
00:07:22.47\00:07:28.94
Had I be able to
stand up at this moment
00:07:28.97\00:07:32.29
I will be hit by
the bullet for sure.
00:07:32.32\00:07:34.47
So you feel this
unseen hand pushing you down
00:07:34.50\00:07:39.30
and you believe in God than?
00:07:39.33\00:07:40.84
No.
00:07:40.87\00:07:43.25
It's amazing how human being
00:07:43.28\00:07:45.80
resistant towards God's calling
00:07:45.83\00:07:47.85
and God kept to shout
into my ears in order to hear.
00:07:47.88\00:07:53.69
Two more life
threatening incidents
00:07:53.72\00:07:55.17
we'll leave those out.
00:07:55.20\00:07:56.52
Because I want to go to
that moment you are in the army
00:07:56.55\00:07:59.93
and you get into a fist fight
00:07:59.96\00:08:02.42
and you fight with
the wrong, the wrong man.
00:08:02.45\00:08:05.25
Yeah, that was the wrong man.
00:08:05.28\00:08:07.00
I beat him up but really
00:08:07.03\00:08:10.21
I'm not thought
of it especially now
00:08:10.24\00:08:12.25
and even then I wasn't felt
00:08:12.28\00:08:14.12
because just few
minutes after the fight
00:08:14.15\00:08:18.82
I realized too late
that the guy was the nephew
00:08:18.85\00:08:22.77
of the colonel of the unit,
00:08:22.80\00:08:26.64
of the boss of
our military unit.
00:08:26.67\00:08:29.32
And that man for
me, a military tribunal
00:08:29.35\00:08:33.57
and a six month of
prison if they charge me.
00:08:33.60\00:08:37.91
But amazingly somebody shows up
00:08:37.94\00:08:39.47
in prison with
you, to visit you.
00:08:39.50\00:08:41.44
No, I never went to prison.
00:08:41.47\00:08:45.83
I just decided to
try again praying to God
00:08:45.86\00:08:48.85
as I did at the age of 13.
00:08:48.88\00:08:51.07
All right.
00:08:51.10\00:08:52.66
And I prayed that's never before
00:08:52.69\00:08:55.23
and God did a miracle.
00:08:55.26\00:08:58.04
He worked on the hand of
the heart of this young fellow
00:08:58.07\00:09:02.11
and he came to me
apologize for being offensive
00:09:02.14\00:09:07.92
and since he said don't
worry all charges dropped.
00:09:07.95\00:09:12.77
I spoke with my
uncle, you're okay.
00:09:12.80\00:09:18.46
You believe in God now?
00:09:18.49\00:09:19.55
Yes.
00:09:19.58\00:09:22.07
I want you to come out here.
00:09:22.10\00:09:23.83
You believe so it took
that that almost jail sentence.
00:09:23.86\00:09:28.49
Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:28.52\00:09:29.61
And so what did you do
with you belief in God then?
00:09:29.64\00:09:31.99
Well, I went to the university
00:09:32.02\00:09:33.32
to pursue my engineering degree.
00:09:33.35\00:09:34.80
So you are out of the army now?
00:09:34.83\00:09:36.11
Out of the army.
Engineering degree.
00:09:36.14\00:09:37.65
Yes. All right.
00:09:37.68\00:09:39.04
And I was on a quest for
this God who saved my life,
00:09:39.07\00:09:42.07
who did so many miracles for me.
00:09:42.10\00:09:45.14
And I said okay, I'll try first
00:09:45.17\00:09:47.42
with the
Christians I didn't know
00:09:47.45\00:09:51.64
and I was on a quest for a Bible
00:09:51.67\00:09:53.82
and one day by
chance I discovered
00:09:53.85\00:09:55.64
with one of my
fellow students had a Bible.
00:09:55.67\00:09:59.25
So I asked him to lend me
00:09:59.28\00:10:01.47
his Bible everybody
for two or three hours.
00:10:01.50\00:10:04.72
So he loaned you his
Bible two to three hours a day.
00:10:04.75\00:10:06.96
Yes.
00:10:06.99\00:10:08.06
And one Friday evening
I was reading in Matthew
00:10:08.09\00:10:11.25
and I came to those place
in Matthew 7:7 where it says
00:10:11.28\00:10:15.25
"Ask and it
will be given to you,
00:10:15.28\00:10:17.37
seek and you will find,
00:10:17.40\00:10:18.63
knock and it will
be opened to you."
00:10:18.66\00:10:21.50
Then I just knelt in
the spot and said Lord,
00:10:21.53\00:10:24.17
if it were You who saved
my life so many time in a row
00:10:24.20\00:10:30.33
then tomorrow I'll
go with this fellow
00:10:30.36\00:10:32.27
to the Adventist church.
00:10:32.30\00:10:33.69
So he had invited
you to come to church?
00:10:33.72\00:10:34.80
Yes, although he
wasn't an Adventist either.
00:10:34.83\00:10:37.44
Oh, he wasn't? Okay. No.
00:10:37.47\00:10:39.10
And if they give
me over there a Bible
00:10:39.13\00:10:42.14
I'm not telling
anybody about it.
00:10:42.17\00:10:44.12
If they give me a Bible
00:10:44.15\00:10:45.50
then I'll know it was
You who saved my life.
00:10:45.53\00:10:49.57
So you go to
church the next morning.
00:10:49.60\00:10:51.19
And after the Sabbath
school I sat on the first row
00:10:51.22\00:10:55.14
and a guy
approached me and said,
00:10:55.17\00:10:57.49
"Would you like
to have a Bible?"
00:10:57.52\00:10:59.48
Now I will be
chilled to have one.
00:10:59.51\00:11:02.17
And in a minute
or two he disappears
00:11:02.20\00:11:03.74
and brought me the Bible.
00:11:03.77\00:11:04.89
I open it and on
the first page I wrote,
00:11:04.92\00:11:07.16
"Ask and it
will be given to you,
00:11:07.19\00:11:08.96
seek and you will find,
00:11:08.99\00:11:10.38
knock and it will
be opened to you."
00:11:10.41\00:11:11.59
Isn't that some.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
00:11:11.62\00:11:16.63
But the story is not over.
00:11:16.66\00:11:17.95
The story is not over
because a little later
00:11:17.98\00:11:20.57
in the worship service
just as we are getting ready
00:11:20.60\00:11:22.27
to do here the offering
plate came by what did you do?
00:11:22.30\00:11:26.65
When the offering plate
in the same service came by
00:11:26.68\00:11:29.62
I put there all the
money I had in my wallet
00:11:29.65\00:11:32.68
that was worth one
third of my stipend.
00:11:32.71\00:11:36.15
You just emptied
your wallet into it.
00:11:36.18\00:11:37.22
I emptied my wallet to the full
00:11:37.25\00:11:39.00
and I knew till
the end of the month
00:11:39.03\00:11:42.18
all about a week or ten days
00:11:42.21\00:11:44.44
I didn't get any money,
anything to eat nothing.
00:11:44.47\00:11:47.66
You just gave all
your food money away?
00:11:47.69\00:11:49.20
Yeah. You gave it to God?
00:11:49.23\00:11:50.48
Yes. Out of gratitude.
00:11:50.51\00:11:51.61
Yes. I was so delighted
00:11:51.64\00:11:53.43
and so grateful for
what He has done for me.
00:11:53.46\00:11:56.61
Praise God. So
then what happened?
00:11:56.64\00:11:59.77
Well, guess what,
normally after ten days
00:11:59.80\00:12:02.72
we have to lose a lot of weight
I didn't lost even an pound.
00:12:02.75\00:12:08.39
You ate for ten
days. I ate for ten days.
00:12:08.42\00:12:10.19
Because every day people
will meet me on the street
00:12:10.22\00:12:14.57
from the same church
that saw me just once
00:12:14.60\00:12:16.97
they recognize me and say,
00:12:17.00\00:12:18.60
why, don't you come
for lunch or dinner?
00:12:18.63\00:12:20.98
And even twice I was
invited for breakfast.
00:12:21.01\00:12:25.80
You told me when we
were sharing the story
00:12:25.83\00:12:28.15
you said that you
had your meals covered
00:12:28.18\00:12:30.15
for the ten days that
you were without a stipend.
00:12:30.18\00:12:32.56
Isn't that some?
00:12:32.59\00:12:33.85
Yeah, all right,
00:12:33.88\00:12:36.12
are you a believer
now with all your heart?
00:12:36.15\00:12:38.18
Yes. Yes.
00:12:38.21\00:12:40.20
And then you need
time to read the Bible.
00:12:40.23\00:12:44.26
I needed time to read the Bible.
00:12:44.29\00:12:45.62
On the next day
after the Sabbath
00:12:45.65\00:12:46.73
I got the Bible,
Sunday, I read the whole day
00:12:46.76\00:12:49.80
from the
morning till the evening
00:12:49.83\00:12:53.09
and as the evening approached
00:12:53.12\00:12:55.22
I saw I had to prepare
for my classes on the next day
00:12:55.25\00:12:58.66
and I said Lord, I would like
to have time to read Your book.
00:12:58.69\00:13:03.32
Then I remembered
00:13:03.35\00:13:04.38
what I had written in
the first page of the Bible
00:13:04.41\00:13:06.12
and I knelt down and prayed.
00:13:06.15\00:13:09.82
Please, Lord, give me
time to read the Bible.
00:13:09.85\00:13:12.91
I want the students who
are here to listen to this one.
00:13:12.94\00:13:16.19
All right, you so
asked God you need
00:13:16.22\00:13:18.22
extra time to read the Bible?
00:13:18.25\00:13:19.28
Yes.
00:13:19.31\00:13:20.34
How did God answer the prayer?
00:13:20.37\00:13:21.60
On the next day in the morning
00:13:21.63\00:13:22.99
I went to the
university and it was changed,
00:13:23.02\00:13:26.27
many people were coming
back from the university
00:13:26.30\00:13:28.81
and it was so early morning.
00:13:28.84\00:13:30.42
I said what's
wrong with these guys.
00:13:30.45\00:13:32.76
And when I
approached the building
00:13:32.79\00:13:34.78
I saw a big
poster saying, strike.
00:13:34.81\00:13:38.24
All the communist professors
out of the university.
00:13:38.27\00:13:41.62
It was the time of the change
00:13:41.65\00:13:43.20
of communism to
democracy in Bulgaria
00:13:43.23\00:13:46.94
and the students
association decided to throw out
00:13:46.97\00:13:49.20
the communistic professors
out of the university.
00:13:49.23\00:13:50.55
So how much
time did God give you
00:13:50.58\00:13:52.75
to study the Bible
through the strike?
00:13:52.78\00:13:54.62
Fifty eight days in a row.
00:13:54.65\00:13:57.16
Can you imagine that?
00:13:57.19\00:13:59.40
Fifty eight days, now I
don't want to suggest anything
00:13:59.43\00:14:01.41
if there any university
students who stayed home
00:14:01.44\00:14:03.40
over the Christ's break
00:14:03.43\00:14:04.78
because we are
non-union school here
00:14:04.81\00:14:06.49
so don't even
bother praying that prayer.
00:14:06.52\00:14:09.30
Fifty eight days
00:14:09.33\00:14:11.00
and you read
the Bible every day?
00:14:11.03\00:14:12.25
Yes.
00:14:12.28\00:14:13.34
Every day and I was every day
00:14:13.37\00:14:14.79
with the pastor asking questions
00:14:14.82\00:14:17.22
I read also the Great
Controversy during this time.
00:14:17.25\00:14:20.88
And you go back to that church
00:14:20.91\00:14:22.62
and eventually you meet this
00:14:22.65\00:14:23.77
beautiful young
lady named Milana.
00:14:23.80\00:14:26.23
And she was afraid of
me. And she was afraid.
00:14:26.26\00:14:28.24
I wasn't the very
Christian looking guy.
00:14:28.27\00:14:31.13
But you fell in love. Yes.
00:14:31.16\00:14:32.67
You began to bring
your engineering colleagues
00:14:32.70\00:14:34.36
and friends you
led them to Christ.
00:14:34.39\00:14:37.03
I want to invite
Milana and your daughter Lora
00:14:37.06\00:14:40.31
to come and join us
here because the story
00:14:40.34\00:14:42.11
now expands a bit
Yuliyan, and God is still
00:14:42.14\00:14:48.06
obviously strategically
at work in your life.
00:14:48.09\00:14:51.92
You fall in love
with this lovely lady.
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.60
You lady stand
right here by papa.
00:14:53.63\00:14:55.90
By your husband.
00:14:55.93\00:14:56.96
You fall in love with
this lovely lady Milana.
00:14:56.99\00:15:00.34
You get married. Yep.
00:15:00.37\00:15:02.90
Lora is born. Where
were you born, Lora?
00:15:02.93\00:15:05.68
Bulgaria. Where in Bulgaria.
00:15:05.71\00:15:07.50
Vidin. Vidin.
00:15:07.53\00:15:09.41
The same town where
you were born, yeah?
00:15:09.44\00:15:10.92
Okay.
00:15:10.95\00:15:12.20
But you know that
00:15:12.23\00:15:14.20
God is saying something
to you, sensing in your heart
00:15:14.23\00:15:16.45
that God has
called you to ministry.
00:15:16.48\00:15:18.09
And by the way
having heard you preaching
00:15:18.12\00:15:19.56
that class I know God has
called you to preach here.
00:15:19.59\00:15:22.60
Strong preacher
and a very careful,
00:15:22.89\00:15:24.74
very careful biblical thinker.
00:15:24.77\00:15:27.96
So the Lord opens
a way for you to go
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.59
to Bogenhofen is that right?
00:15:31.62\00:15:33.33
Exactly. Yeah,
to go to Bogenhofen.
00:15:33.36\00:15:34.72
One year or how
long you were there?
00:15:34.75\00:15:35.98
More than five years.
Five years so you go to school.
00:15:36.01\00:15:38.20
And during that time Lora,
are you in a church school?
00:15:38.23\00:15:40.23
Yes.
00:15:40.26\00:15:41.40
Where there any
church schools in Bulgaria?
00:15:41.43\00:15:42.46
No.
00:15:42.49\00:15:43.64
No, church
schools but in Bogenhofen
00:15:43.67\00:15:45.38
you get to go
to a church school.
00:15:45.41\00:15:47.13
Yeah.
00:15:47.16\00:15:48.21
Then the call comes to ministry
00:15:48.24\00:15:50.24
and you are out
to back to Bulgaria.
00:15:50.27\00:15:52.16
That's right.
00:15:52.19\00:15:54.30
Any doc-- any masters program
00:15:54.33\00:15:56.00
over there in
Europe that was available.
00:15:56.03\00:15:58.17
Just in Germany but many people
00:15:58.20\00:16:00.49
were encouraging
me to come to Andrews.
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.44
So they say
come to Andrews. Yes.
00:16:02.47\00:16:03.90
You got a sponsorship?
00:16:03.93\00:16:06.88
The German's
will say yes, and no.
00:16:06.91\00:16:11.05
Okay, I get it.
00:16:11.08\00:16:12.15
I didn't get any
sponsorship just in the last day
00:16:12.18\00:16:15.15
before I left
Bogenhofen people came to me
00:16:15.18\00:16:17.92
and put money in my
hands and they said,
00:16:17.95\00:16:20.17
this money to pay you tickets
00:16:20.20\00:16:22.43
and the first
tuition to come to Andrews
00:16:22.46\00:16:25.05
afterwards you are on your own.
00:16:25.08\00:16:27.49
And they didn't
give any money for Lora?
00:16:27.52\00:16:29.17
No.
00:16:29.20\00:16:30.23
Eleven years old at the time
00:16:30.26\00:16:31.30
when you came to
be in church school.
00:16:31.33\00:16:33.31
So you get to Andrews University
00:16:33.34\00:16:35.41
and I want to cut right
to this, this closing moment.
00:16:35.44\00:16:38.33
The very next morning
after you arrived Milana
00:16:38.36\00:16:41.85
at Andrews University over
in the apartment Beachwood?
00:16:41.88\00:16:44.86
That Beachwood court
and then you are coming out
00:16:44.89\00:16:49.25
of the apartments
and you meet somebody.
00:16:49.28\00:16:51.49
You knew this
person for a long time.
00:16:51.52\00:16:53.19
Yeah, exactly.
00:16:53.22\00:16:54.32
Just by accident
the person met us.
00:16:54.35\00:16:56.37
We've never seen
this woman before
00:16:56.40\00:16:58.87
and she approaches us
and say, you look new here.
00:16:58.90\00:17:02.59
Do you have kids?
Yes, we have one daughter.
00:17:02.62\00:17:05.01
Where is she gonna go to school?
00:17:05.04\00:17:07.16
We said, of course,
to the public school.
00:17:07.19\00:17:08.42
We are not rich
people to send our kid
00:17:08.45\00:17:10.70
to an Adventist institution.
00:17:10.73\00:17:13.00
And she said,
no, no, no, no, no,
00:17:13.03\00:17:15.13
Adventist education is not
just for rich people, she said.
00:17:15.16\00:17:19.15
You go to Ruth Murdoch
you talk with the Swinyard
00:17:19.18\00:17:24.54
the principal of
that time for Ruth Murdoch
00:17:24.57\00:17:28.65
and he will find a way.
00:17:28.68\00:17:31.20
Well, it was surprising to
me and I but anyway we both did.
00:17:31.23\00:17:36.35
I spoke with Dr.
Swinyard and then he said, yes.
00:17:36.38\00:17:40.26
And I thought only
because of my Slavic accent
00:17:40.29\00:17:43.49
and because of my broken English
00:17:43.52\00:17:44.90
the guy didn't understand
00:17:44.93\00:17:45.96
that we don't have the
money to pay the tuition.
00:17:45.99\00:17:48.66
And I tried to
rephrase and to explain,
00:17:48.69\00:17:51.44
he said I
understand what you said.
00:17:51.47\00:17:54.42
Yeah.
00:17:54.45\00:17:55.95
But it's okay. Praise God.
00:17:55.98\00:17:57.39
And then he said
some thing very important.
00:17:57.42\00:17:59.96
They are faithful Adventist
who love Christian education,
00:17:59.99\00:18:04.77
who love your
daughter and faithfully
00:18:04.80\00:18:07.18
they give money to
support the school,
00:18:07.21\00:18:09.30
to support children that cannot
afford to pay the tuition.
00:18:09.33\00:18:15.15
And Lora, you knew that
00:18:15.18\00:18:16.41
you are gonna be have
to be in public school.
00:18:16.44\00:18:18.05
You have been in
public school in Bulgaria
00:18:18.08\00:18:19.66
and you realize you are
gonna out be in public school.
00:18:19.69\00:18:21.60
Now when you got the word
00:18:21.63\00:18:23.56
that you are gonna be
able to get in Ruth Murdoch.
00:18:23.59\00:18:25.57
Were you happy with that at all?
00:18:25.60\00:18:27.16
Of course.
00:18:27.19\00:18:29.50
And you been at Ruth
Murdoch now how many years?
00:18:29.53\00:18:33.42
This is the fourth year.
00:18:33.45\00:18:35.64
What grade are you in? Eight.
00:18:35.67\00:18:36.98
This is you last
year at Ruth Murdoch?
00:18:37.01\00:18:38.81
What do you like best about
Ruth Murdoch Elementary School?
00:18:38.84\00:18:41.37
Well, the
teachers at Ruth Murdoch
00:18:41.40\00:18:43.38
really care about
you and they just show me
00:18:43.41\00:18:46.25
how to live a Christian
life by how they were living in.
00:18:46.28\00:18:49.47
Yeah.
00:18:49.50\00:18:51.02
We are so proud that A,
you are graduating this year.
00:18:51.05\00:18:55.27
B, that God has a
dream for you life
00:18:55.30\00:18:57.85
just as much as He had
a dream for momma and papa
00:18:57.88\00:18:59.82
and see papa, that God is gonna
continue to provide for you
00:18:59.85\00:19:03.69
and your little
family while you are here.
00:19:03.72\00:19:05.16
When you are done you
are going back to Bulgaria?
00:19:05.19\00:19:07.45
My initial plan when I came here
00:19:07.48\00:19:08.97
was to go to the
PhD before I go back
00:19:09.00\00:19:11.24
but I don't know right now--
00:19:11.27\00:19:13.63
I hope you go back to Bulgaria.
00:19:13.66\00:19:15.16
Bulgaria needs
you. I would like.
00:19:15.19\00:19:17.56
Thank you Yuliyan,
00:19:17.59\00:19:18.80
and Milana and
Lora, God bless you.
00:19:18.83\00:19:20.87
We are so honored to have
you part of our Pioneer family.
00:19:20.90\00:19:22.47
Thank you very
much. God bless you.
00:19:22.50\00:19:23.81
How about a warm congratulations
00:19:23.84\00:19:25.58
to our family who
have found God's help.
00:19:25.61\00:19:31.23
Let's pray together.
00:19:33.17\00:19:36.63
oh, God, like those wise men,
00:19:36.66\00:19:39.86
lead us, lead us, lead us
00:19:39.89\00:19:43.06
and may their response be
ours not just this Christmas
00:19:43.09\00:19:46.96
but every step across
00:19:46.99\00:19:53.94
the uncharted journey ahead.
00:19:53.97\00:19:55.91
May the star guide us, we
pray in Christ name, amen.
00:19:55.94\00:20:02.55
Speaking of
those "We Three Kings"
00:20:02.58\00:20:04.61
that the Bells
just played for us.
00:20:04.64\00:20:07.01
Did you know,
true, this is true,
00:20:07.04\00:20:08.84
did you know that the
wise men stayed in motels
00:20:08.87\00:20:13.67
on their journey
from the east to west?
00:20:13.70\00:20:17.18
Absolutely true.
00:20:17.21\00:20:18.66
Thanks to my Oystein LaBianca
who is an anthropologist
00:20:18.69\00:20:21.22
and archeologist here
at Andrews University.
00:20:21.25\00:20:24.20
I'm gonna show you
some pictures right now
00:20:24.23\00:20:28.40
one of their motels.
00:20:28.43\00:20:30.21
It's called a caravanserai.
00:20:30.24\00:20:33.27
The caravanserai's were motels
00:20:33.30\00:20:35.06
for the business travelers
of the east 2,000 years ago.
00:20:35.09\00:20:37.72
Underground caves dug
right out of the desert sand.
00:20:37.75\00:20:41.25
And before I put the pictures up
00:20:41.28\00:20:42.55
let me just read to you
this note Oystein sent to me.
00:20:42.58\00:20:45.64
So you get a little bit of feel
00:20:45.67\00:20:46.95
for what you are
about to see, fascinating.
00:20:46.98\00:20:49.33
Hi, Dwight,
attached is an image showing
00:20:49.36\00:20:51.21
the inside of an ancient
cave what you are about to see,
00:20:51.24\00:20:55.29
located on the
outskirts of a Amman, Jordan.
00:20:55.32\00:20:58.37
You know where that is?
00:20:58.40\00:20:59.43
The city of the Decapolis known
00:20:59.46\00:21:00.79
in the time of
Christ is Philadelphia.
00:21:00.82\00:21:03.05
Dating based on archeological
and epigraphic evidence
00:21:03.08\00:21:06.99
the carvings inside
dating to the centuries
00:21:07.02\00:21:10.12
immediately before and
after the birth of Christ
00:21:10.15\00:21:12.65
the cave was located
by Andrews University
00:21:12.68\00:21:15.74
archeological in
1993 while conducting
00:21:15.77\00:21:18.08
an archeological survey
00:21:18.11\00:21:19.40
in the region to
the south of Amman.
00:21:19.43\00:21:22.20
The cave has a panel in the back
00:21:22.23\00:21:23.51
which contains a large number
00:21:23.54\00:21:24.66
of Bedouin tribal
marks, you will see those.
00:21:24.69\00:21:27.02
Drawings of camels and donkeys
00:21:27.05\00:21:28.77
and the names of
certain specific tribes
00:21:28.80\00:21:30.50
written in Thamudic and Safaitic
00:21:30.53\00:21:32.87
to very similar types of
pre-Islamic Arabic scripts
00:21:32.90\00:21:36.68
commonly used by tribes
from the east 2,000 years ago.
00:21:36.71\00:21:39.58
Two drawings
illustrating how this cave
00:21:39.61\00:21:41.81
might have been used by
these Arab tribes man follow
00:21:41.84\00:21:45.98
in separate slides these
are drawings by Rhonda Root
00:21:46.01\00:21:49.28
who is here at
Andrews University
00:21:49.31\00:21:50.80
professor in the
division of architecture,
00:21:50.83\00:21:52.28
she is a professional artist
you will see those in a moment.
00:21:52.31\00:21:54.75
What is
significant about this cave
00:21:54.78\00:21:56.54
and its
inscription panel is that
00:21:56.57\00:21:58.01
it lend support to
your point about Arabs
00:21:58.04\00:22:01.03
roaming the deserts to the east,
00:22:01.06\00:22:02.56
there is no
disputing that these caves
00:22:02.59\00:22:04.26
were used by
pre-Islamic Arab tribes man.
00:22:04.29\00:22:06.69
So far no one has
attempted to search the panel
00:22:06.72\00:22:08.51
to see if there
might be any sings
00:22:08.54\00:22:10.89
on it that could link directly
to the story of the wise men.
00:22:10.92\00:22:14.05
Let's put those
pictures up on the screen now.
00:22:14.08\00:22:17.21
There is a caravanserai,
that is a motel 2,000 years ago
00:22:17.24\00:22:21.68
for travelers in the east.
00:22:21.71\00:22:25.30
Now Rhonda has brought
her artistic eye to that
00:22:25.33\00:22:29.22
to that to give us
a sense of what that
00:22:29.25\00:22:30.74
actually looked
like 2,000 years ago.
00:22:30.77\00:22:32.44
You see that,
right out of the desert
00:22:32.47\00:22:34.45
that motel comes as springing up
00:22:34.48\00:22:37.14
and travelers would
stop there be fed, sleep
00:22:37.17\00:22:41.67
and then head on the
rest of their journey.
00:22:41.70\00:22:44.30
Inside the caravanserai
there are the inscriptions.
00:22:44.33\00:22:49.55
Nomadic Bedouin Arab tribesman
00:22:49.58\00:22:52.72
put those inscriptions up there.
00:22:52.75\00:22:55.54
In fact, here is
Rhonda's rendition of that.
00:22:55.57\00:22:59.72
They would tell the story,
they would describe perhaps.
00:22:59.75\00:23:02.33
So those who came to visit
all of that archeologically
00:23:02.36\00:23:06.89
now verifying that in fact
00:23:06.92\00:23:09.31
in this Transjordan
region to the east of Israel
00:23:09.34\00:23:13.29
even our three wise
men would have spent
00:23:13.32\00:23:17.08
their days in those motels.
00:23:17.11\00:23:18.79
You know, they
traveled at night, didn't they.
00:23:18.82\00:23:20.44
So they would spend the
days in the caravanserai
00:23:20.47\00:23:22.60
and then at night they
would follow that star.
00:23:22.63\00:23:24.84
We three kings, we don't
know if they really were three.
00:23:24.87\00:23:30.04
We really don't know
much about these three.
00:23:30.07\00:23:31.94
Is it were these
heroes of the Christmas story.
00:23:31.97\00:23:34.57
We don't know
what they look like.
00:23:34.60\00:23:38.16
We don't know the
route they traveled.
00:23:38.19\00:23:39.53
We-- now we can picture
the motels they stayed in.
00:23:39.56\00:23:42.05
We don't even know the
quantity of their gifts.
00:23:42.08\00:23:47.64
I have those
three gifts right here,
00:23:47.67\00:23:49.18
my friend Conrad
Demsky dropped by the office
00:23:49.21\00:23:51.44
the other day and
said hey, Dwight, look,
00:23:51.47\00:23:53.42
here are the three gifts
that the wise men brought.
00:23:53.45\00:23:56.87
Very interesting about
these three gifts by the way.
00:23:56.90\00:23:59.51
Did you know that
5th century Arabia,
00:23:59.54\00:24:02.60
all right 5th
century B.C., Arabia
00:24:02.63\00:24:05.27
they specialized
in the production--
00:24:05.30\00:24:08.32
now I'll just
look in just a moment.
00:24:08.35\00:24:10.11
They specialized
in the production
00:24:10.14\00:24:11.91
of frankincense, and myrrh.
00:24:11.94\00:24:13.11
In fact, Herodotus the Greek
historian 5th century B.C.,
00:24:13.14\00:24:16.18
wrote that these two products
00:24:16.21\00:24:17.53
frankincense, myrrh could
only be procured in Arabia.
00:24:17.56\00:24:22.10
Thus lending support
collaborating support
00:24:22.13\00:24:24.81
to our previous
teaching that in deed
00:24:24.84\00:24:26.45
these three wise men were Arabs.
00:24:26.48\00:24:29.04
You see you won't hear
for the previous two teachings
00:24:29.07\00:24:31.39
you go to our
website and you can download
00:24:31.42\00:24:33.63
those teachings on podcast
00:24:33.66\00:24:35.29
and you can listen
to it at you leisure.
00:24:35.32\00:24:36.68
So Conrad says, hey
take a look at these.
00:24:36.71\00:24:38.49
I'll be very careful with
these because here they are,
00:24:38.52\00:24:41.94
here is the gold
I'm not gonna open this.
00:24:41.97\00:24:44.39
I have no idea. Can
you see that on the screen?
00:24:44.42\00:24:48.71
Yeah, this is the gold.
00:24:48.74\00:24:51.28
There is the gold
00:24:51.31\00:24:52.65
and the little tag
at the bottom of this.
00:24:52.68\00:24:54.09
I open this, I have to smell it.
00:24:54.12\00:24:55.34
It doesn't have
the smell anymore.
00:24:55.37\00:24:57.03
Don't think this
is 2,000 years old
00:24:57.06\00:24:58.73
but this is the frankincense,
this is the frankincense
00:24:58.76\00:25:02.55
and this one
right here is the myrrh.
00:25:02.58\00:25:05.94
Isn't that something
frankincense and myrrh
00:25:05.97\00:25:07.36
are only produced back
in those days in Arabia.
00:25:07.39\00:25:13.65
Good. Thank you
very much, David.
00:25:13.68\00:25:18.15
Now, let's face it,
ladies and gentlemen
00:25:18.18\00:25:21.98
and thank you
Conrad Demsky for that.
00:25:22.01\00:25:23.98
Let's face it.
00:25:24.01\00:25:25.05
There is so little we know about
00:25:25.08\00:25:27.22
these three Arab strangers
00:25:27.25\00:25:29.75
who came seeking Christ
but there is one, one, just one
00:25:29.78\00:25:33.58
and on this final
portion of this advent series
00:25:33.61\00:25:37.75
that we have
been reflecting upon.
00:25:37.78\00:25:39.70
I want to draw your
attention to on significant
00:25:39.73\00:25:43.80
and shining distinction
about these three wise men
00:25:43.83\00:25:46.98
that we may have
never noticed before
00:25:47.01\00:25:48.37
and that is-- hold
on here, listen to this
00:25:48.40\00:25:51.10
in the entire
Christmas narrative
00:25:51.13\00:25:53.78
in the gospels
from stem to stern
00:25:53.81\00:25:56.02
the entire Christmas story
the wise men are the only ones,
00:25:56.05\00:26:00.43
they are the only
ones not the shepherds,
00:26:00.46\00:26:05.32
God bless those country lads
maybe some of them were older,
00:26:05.35\00:26:07.80
not Joachim and Anna,
00:26:07.83\00:26:08.86
you remember those two
elderly saints that were later
00:26:08.89\00:26:11.27
meet the Christ
child in Jerusalem's temple
00:26:11.30\00:26:14.51
at his dedication.
00:26:14.54\00:26:15.57
Not Jerusalem's
hierarchy of the religious elite
00:26:15.60\00:26:17.96
who refused to believe
not even Joseph and Mary,
00:26:17.99\00:26:21.01
this is what astounding,
only, only these kings,
00:26:21.04\00:26:25.50
these Arab kings from the east
00:26:25.53\00:26:26.80
in the entire record
of the Christmas story
00:26:26.83\00:26:28.94
they are the
only ones that worship
00:26:28.97\00:26:32.35
the baby in the entire story.
00:26:32.38\00:26:36.73
Nobody but the wise men
00:26:36.76\00:26:39.06
worships the Christ
child in the Christmas story.
00:26:39.09\00:26:42.09
Open your Bible
one last time please,
00:26:42.12\00:26:44.12
to the gospel of
Matthew, St. Matthew Chapter 2
00:26:44.15\00:26:48.71
one more reading together.
00:26:48.74\00:26:51.86
Part three in this
advent series Matthew Chapter 2,
00:26:51.89\00:26:55.08
if you didn't bring a Bible grab
00:26:55.11\00:26:56.17
the pew Bible in front of you.
00:26:56.20\00:26:57.29
It will be page
649 in your pew Bible.
00:26:57.32\00:27:00.16
Isn't this something
they are the only ones,
00:27:00.19\00:27:02.31
watch this, Matthew Chapter 2.
00:27:02.34\00:27:05.82
We've read so
many versus in this
00:27:05.85\00:27:07.13
we'll cut to the
ending of the story.
00:27:07.16\00:27:10.07
Drop down to verse 9 please.
00:27:10.10\00:27:12.84
Matthew 2:9 I'm in
the New King James Version
00:27:12.87\00:27:15.56
which will be the version
you have in your pew Bible
00:27:15.59\00:27:18.84
and it will be the
version we have on the screen.
00:27:18.87\00:27:20.37
Matthew 2:9 let's read.
00:27:20.40\00:27:22.60
"When they heard the king,"
00:27:22.63\00:27:24.08
so they had this
private audience for King Herod,
00:27:24.11\00:27:26.48
we noted that last time.
00:27:26.51\00:27:27.85
"They departed,
and behold, the star
00:27:27.88\00:27:30.05
which they had seen in
the East went before them,
00:27:30.08\00:27:32.18
till it came and stood
over where the young Child was."
00:27:32.21\00:27:35.51
Now verse 10,
"When they saw the star,
00:27:35.54\00:27:38.75
they rejoiced with
exceedingly great joy."
00:27:38.78\00:27:41.19
And that's where we hit
the pause button last time
00:27:41.22\00:27:42.72
but let's move on now.
00:27:42.75\00:27:43.90
Verse 11 "And when they
had come into the house,"
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watch them now,
00:27:48.64\00:27:49.96
"When they had come
into the house they saw
00:27:49.99\00:27:51.19
the young Child
with Mary His mother,
00:27:51.22\00:27:53.50
and fell down and worshiped Him.
00:27:53.53\00:27:56.10
And when they had
opened their treasures,
00:27:56.13\00:27:57.73
they presented gifts to Him,
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
00:27:57.76\00:28:00.74
Then verse 12, "Being
divinely warned in a dream
00:28:00.77\00:28:02.93
that they should
not return to Herod,
00:28:02.96\00:28:04.72
they departed for their
own country another way."
00:28:04.75\00:28:07.55
The only ones lock it down,
00:28:07.58\00:28:10.29
the only ones in the
entire Christmas narrative
00:28:10.32\00:28:13.13
that worship the
baby are these wise men.
00:28:13.16\00:28:18.18
Question is why?
00:28:18.21\00:28:20.62
I mean was there
something about the surroundings
00:28:20.65\00:28:22.84
of that baby
that was a huge clue
00:28:22.87\00:28:26.00
to the legal
residence of this new born.
00:28:26.03\00:28:28.44
Anything in the surroundings.
00:28:28.47\00:28:29.69
Oh, you
kidding, hard impossible.
00:28:29.72\00:28:32.62
Joseph and Mary I remind you
00:28:32.65\00:28:34.63
are still residing in
Bethlehem's in stable.
00:28:34.66\00:28:39.59
Now I got to tell you
I've had a difficult time here
00:28:39.62\00:28:42.01
with the Christmas narrative,
we've never talked about it.
00:28:42.04\00:28:44.06
I just you know, once in a while
00:28:44.09\00:28:45.12
you live with some of
these questions you say,
00:28:45.15\00:28:46.64
I don't understand how it fits.
00:28:46.67\00:28:48.72
I'll be honest,
trying to somehow
00:28:48.75\00:28:53.29
harmonize the
obvious discrepancy
00:28:53.32\00:28:55.30
between Luke and
Matthew's two accounts,
00:28:55.33\00:28:58.23
these are the only two accounts
00:28:58.26\00:28:59.30
of the birth of the Christ child
00:28:59.33\00:29:01.44
and I haven't been
able to make them fit.
00:29:01.47\00:29:03.19
Because in Luke's account
the record is very clear.
00:29:03.22\00:29:06.42
He was born in a backyard cave.
00:29:06.45\00:29:09.20
He was born in a manger
where they keep the animals
00:29:09.23\00:29:10.92
and that was a backyard cave.
00:29:10.95\00:29:12.07
That's, that's Luke's story.
00:29:12.10\00:29:13.81
But in Matthew
story, which we just read
00:29:13.84\00:29:15.99
in Matthew story it says
when they came to the house.
00:29:16.02\00:29:20.43
So which one is right?
00:29:20.46\00:29:21.54
Was He born in the house
or was He born in a stable?
00:29:21.57\00:29:26.09
But then came my conversation
00:29:26.12\00:29:27.25
a few days ago
with Oystein LaBianca
00:29:27.28\00:29:28.72
and I tell you what,
my conundrum was resolved.
00:29:28.75\00:29:30.94
I want to show you
some backyard caves.
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Watch this fascinating again.
00:29:33.20\00:29:35.06
I'm gonna show you
some backyard caves
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from the middle
east, from Palestine
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but before, before I do
this let me just start this
00:29:39.75\00:29:43.62
and then we will
put the caves up.
00:29:43.65\00:29:45.30
Here's another not that Oystein
send me after our conversation.
00:29:45.33\00:29:48.11
Dwight, here are three
images of caves adorned
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and I want-- let's go ahead
and put an image up right now.
00:29:51.62\00:29:54.72
So that's a
backyard cave all right,
00:29:54.75\00:29:57.44
in the region of
Bethlehem, all right.
00:29:57.47\00:30:00.54
Here are three
images of caves adorned
00:30:00.57\00:30:02.20
with masonry
entrances from my collection
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.36
of over three dozen of
such cave habitations in Jordan.
00:30:04.39\00:30:08.05
I have no doubt that the place
00:30:08.08\00:30:09.38
where Christ was born
was a cave not a barn.
00:30:09.41\00:30:12.25
Okay.
00:30:12.28\00:30:13.44
We have no
archeological evidence
00:30:13.47\00:30:14.80
for barns anywhere in Palestine.
00:30:14.83\00:30:17.33
People of means lived in houses
00:30:17.36\00:30:19.05
and sheltered their animals
in open air pens or caves.
00:30:19.08\00:30:22.20
Let's put another
one out. Look at this.
00:30:22.23\00:30:23.99
Poor people lived
with their animals in caves
00:30:24.02\00:30:26.95
during the cold
months of the year
00:30:26.98\00:30:28.53
and when moving the
tents or simply camp
00:30:28.56\00:30:30.32
in front of the caves
during the warmer months.
00:30:30.35\00:30:32.21
In practically every
village I visited in Jordon
00:30:32.24\00:30:35.05
you will find new construction
hiding older construction
00:30:35.08\00:30:39.07
which typically
involved masonry caves
00:30:39.10\00:30:41.20
as part of a larger
house cave habitation complex.
00:30:41.23\00:30:44.17
Let's put one more
up there. Look at that.
00:30:44.20\00:30:46.45
The inn in Bethlehem likely--
I'm still reading Oystein,
00:30:46.48\00:30:49.21
the inn in Bethlehem
likely were such a complex,
00:30:49.24\00:30:51.55
a house with a cave in the
back which doubled as animal pen
00:30:51.58\00:30:55.46
and overflow bedroom for guests.
00:30:55.49\00:31:00.04
Isn't that some?
00:31:00.07\00:31:03.01
Archeology confirms that in fact
00:31:03.04\00:31:05.26
both Luke and
Matthew are correct.
00:31:05.29\00:31:08.57
It really was a
stable in a cave out back
00:31:08.60\00:31:11.95
but because of the
stone construction--
00:31:11.98\00:31:13.96
constructed structure in front
of the cave you could certainly
00:31:13.99\00:31:16.47
and accurately call it a house.
00:31:16.50\00:31:22.10
But when the wise men
going back to them now,
00:31:22.13\00:31:24.27
when the wise men
walk into this cave house
00:31:24.30\00:31:26.58
whatever he wanted,
normal creature he want to use,
00:31:26.61\00:31:29.35
when they walk into
this cave house pitch black.
00:31:29.38\00:31:33.23
There hardly was
a shred of evidence
00:31:33.26\00:31:37.01
that they are in
the presence of royalty.
00:31:37.04\00:31:39.03
Was there?
00:31:39.06\00:31:40.54
I want to share with you
00:31:40.57\00:31:43.18
a quotation worth brooding
over-- there's a line here
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that I hope you
will take away with you.
00:31:47.41\00:31:48.63
This is J. B.
Phillips, the English writer.
00:31:48.66\00:31:50.83
I'll put it on the screen
for you, no study guide today,
00:31:50.86\00:31:52.65
put it on the screen for you.
00:31:52.68\00:31:54.63
J. B. Phillips writing,
00:31:54.66\00:31:56.16
"God's insertion of
himself into human history"
00:31:56.19\00:31:59.30
I love this "God's insertion
of himself into human history
00:31:59.33\00:32:02.75
was achieved with an almost
00:32:02.78\00:32:04.26
frightening
quietness and humility.
00:32:04.29\00:32:09.09
There was no advertisement,
00:32:09.12\00:32:10.74
no publicity, no
special privilege,
00:32:10.77\00:32:13.36
in fact the entry of
God into his own world"
00:32:13.39\00:32:16.70
here is what just
says stuck in my heart
00:32:16.73\00:32:19.10
"the entry of God
into his own world
00:32:19.13\00:32:20.66
was almost
heartbreakingly humble."
00:32:20.69\00:32:24.92
Isn't it something?
Heartbreaking humble.
00:32:24.95\00:32:29.46
"In sober fact" Philips goes on"
00:32:29.49\00:32:31.80
there is little romance
or beauty in the thought
00:32:31.83\00:32:33.80
of a young woman
looking desperately for place
00:32:33.83\00:32:36.40
where she could giving
birth to her first baby.
00:32:36.43\00:32:38.61
I do not think for a
moment that Mary complained,
00:32:38.64\00:32:41.01
but it is was a
bitter commentary"
00:32:41.04\00:32:43.37
and the more I thought about
it Philips is absolutely right.
00:32:43.40\00:32:46.08
"It was a bitter
commentary upon the world
00:32:46.11\00:32:49.64
that no one would give up
a bed for a pregnant woman
00:32:49.67\00:32:52.52
and that the Son of God
must be born in a stable."
00:32:52.55\00:32:57.62
Isn't that something?
00:32:57.65\00:32:59.60
Almost how do you put
almost heartbreakingly
00:32:59.63\00:33:02.11
humble the entry of God.
00:33:02.14\00:33:03.95
It's a bitter
commentary on our world.
00:33:03.98\00:33:07.36
Which you given up a bed,
00:33:07.39\00:33:08.81
would you given up a bed
for pregnant stranger, come on.
00:33:08.84\00:33:13.23
So why did they worship Him?
00:33:13.26\00:33:15.29
It's only wasn't because of His
regal surroundings, no was it.
00:33:15.32\00:33:18.59
Was it than that
the-- oh, this must be it.
00:33:18.62\00:33:20.52
The baby the Middle
Ages artist were right,
00:33:20.55\00:33:23.52
the baby had a little
shining round halo over his head
00:33:23.55\00:33:28.10
and they do that's the one.
00:33:28.13\00:33:30.11
It's got to be
that one. Was that it?
00:33:30.14\00:33:33.58
But of course now,
let me disabuse you.
00:33:33.61\00:33:35.07
If you think it
is let me quickly
00:33:35.10\00:33:36.94
disabuse you of that notion.
00:33:36.97\00:33:40.41
There was no halo,
there was no distinctive id
00:33:40.44\00:33:43.05
for this new born
as God come to earth
00:33:43.08\00:33:45.17
because you see-- look it,
what was true about Christ,
00:33:45.20\00:33:48.24
what was true about
Christ in His manhood
00:33:48.27\00:33:51.40
must therefore had been true
about Christ in His infancy.
00:33:51.43\00:33:56.10
I want you to take a
look at a verse in your Bible.
00:33:56.13\00:33:59.23
This is a picture
of Christ manhood.
00:33:59.26\00:34:02.04
Isaiah 53, go back to the
gospel prophet for a moment.
00:34:02.07\00:34:04.99
Isaiah 53.
00:34:05.02\00:34:06.33
Notice what the gospel prophet,
00:34:09.20\00:34:12.04
notice the wording
he uses to describe
00:34:12.07\00:34:16.49
the presence of the
suffering servant, the Messiah.
00:34:16.52\00:34:22.39
This is Isaiah 53, by the way
00:34:22.42\00:34:23.65
it's in the pew
Bible's page 496.
00:34:23.68\00:34:27.24
But I want you to see
this in your own Bible.
00:34:27.27\00:34:29.40
Speaking of the
one who is Immanuel
00:34:29.43\00:34:32.33
who would come to earth, for he,
00:34:32.36\00:34:33.39
this is verse 2 now, Isaiah 53:2
00:34:33.42\00:34:35.21
"For He shall
grow up before Him"
00:34:35.24\00:34:36.88
before god "as a tender plant,
00:34:36.91\00:34:39.76
and as a root out of dry ground.
00:34:39.79\00:34:41.64
He has no form or comeliness."
00:34:41.67\00:34:45.17
See, nothing.
00:34:45.20\00:34:47.68
"And when we see
Him, there is no beauty
00:34:47.71\00:34:50.32
that we should desire Him."
00:34:50.35\00:34:51.55
Verse 3, "He is
despised and rejected by men,
00:34:51.58\00:34:54.35
a Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief.
00:34:54.38\00:34:56.29
And we hid, as it
were, our faces from Him,
00:34:56.32\00:34:58.85
He was despised, and
we did not esteem Him."
00:34:58.88\00:35:03.12
In other words
ladies and gentlemen,
00:35:03.15\00:35:04.18
there was nothing in
the physiognomy of Christ
00:35:04.21\00:35:07.02
that was
remotely nothing about Him
00:35:07.05\00:35:08.82
that was remotely
physically attractive.
00:35:08.85\00:35:11.94
I'd like to, I'd
like to follow that guy.
00:35:11.97\00:35:14.27
There was nothing in Him.
00:35:14.30\00:35:16.48
In fact, hundred years
ago these words were written.
00:35:16.51\00:35:19.06
Let me put them on
the screen for you.
00:35:19.09\00:35:20.13
"Jesus labored
constantly for one object,
00:35:20.16\00:35:23.26
all His powers were employed
00:35:23.29\00:35:24.65
for the
salvation of men and women,
00:35:24.68\00:35:26.43
every act of His
life tended to that end.
00:35:26.46\00:35:28.40
He traveled on foot,
00:35:28.43\00:35:29.77
teaching His
followers as He went.
00:35:29.80\00:35:31.29
His garments were
dusty and travel stained,
00:35:31.32\00:35:34.23
and His
appearance was uninviting."
00:35:34.26\00:35:38.72
Not neutral, it was uninviting.
00:35:38.75\00:35:41.30
Wow, please,
isn't that something
00:35:41.33\00:35:44.82
and his
appearance was uninviting.
00:35:44.85\00:35:47.35
"But the simple, pointed truths
00:35:47.38\00:35:48.94
which fell from His
divine lips soon caused
00:35:48.97\00:35:51.62
His hearers to
forget His appearance,
00:35:51.65\00:35:54.98
and to be
charmed, not with the man,
00:35:55.01\00:35:57.47
but with the
doctrine He taught."
00:35:57.50\00:36:00.92
Sometimes you are I
are little but envious.
00:36:00.95\00:36:03.93
I mean, come on let's be honest.
00:36:03.96\00:36:05.01
We see people
walk by us and say man,
00:36:05.04\00:36:08.73
why was I born the way I was.
00:36:08.76\00:36:12.53
Look at Jesus, He
came, there was nothing.
00:36:12.56\00:36:16.04
In fact, he was
almost uninvited like please,
00:36:16.07\00:36:20.72
but God of the
universe laid it all aside.
00:36:20.75\00:36:25.80
No beauty that we
should desire Him.
00:36:25.83\00:36:27.94
No physical attraction.
00:36:27.97\00:36:30.36
Let's also be honest there
are some people that we see--
00:36:30.39\00:36:32.98
I'd like to follow that woman,
I'd like to follow that guy.
00:36:33.01\00:36:35.17
Hey, their charisma there.
00:36:35.20\00:36:37.80
Nothing, zero.
00:36:37.83\00:36:39.36
We had our annual
staff retreat this last week
00:36:43.28\00:36:46.64
and we were
discussing Jim symbol--
00:36:46.67\00:36:48.48
I mean Jim Collins
his book "Good to Great"
00:36:48.51\00:36:52.93
and in the first
chapter of his book
00:36:52.96\00:36:53.99
he talks about
level five leadership.
00:36:54.02\00:36:55.48
The greatest
companies in the United States
00:36:55.51\00:36:57.56
they are found are
led by level five leaders.
00:36:57.59\00:37:00.03
Level five leaders are noted
00:37:00.06\00:37:01.96
for their profound
modesty and humility.
00:37:01.99\00:37:04.34
I mean, its exact
opposite that you would expect
00:37:04.37\00:37:06.29
from a great company.
00:37:06.32\00:37:07.64
They are known
for their humility
00:37:07.67\00:37:09.00
and so we are sitting
here in our staff circle
00:37:09.03\00:37:12.59
kind of ruminating on
that thinking that you know,
00:37:12.62\00:37:15.01
Jesus was classic
level five, wasn't He.
00:37:15.04\00:37:17.19
He operated out of
personal modesty and humility.
00:37:17.22\00:37:19.70
In fact, Tim Nixon, Pastor Tim
00:37:19.73\00:37:21.24
was on the route with me today.
00:37:21.27\00:37:24.04
Tim points out
and says hey wait,
00:37:24.07\00:37:25.10
you know, that's absolutely true
00:37:25.13\00:37:26.25
because you think about
it when John the Baptist
00:37:26.28\00:37:27.80
is trying to show
Jesus to his disciples
00:37:27.83\00:37:31.44
he has to keep saying hey, guys,
00:37:31.47\00:37:33.03
I know they look
like this, there He is.
00:37:33.06\00:37:35.98
He keeps saying it on and
on behold, look, there He is.
00:37:36.01\00:37:38.35
Look, look, there
was nothing in Christ
00:37:38.38\00:37:40.67
that said, wow, I
want to follow that man.
00:37:40.70\00:37:44.44
Zero. Zero.
00:37:44.47\00:37:47.48
We just read His
appearance is uninviting,
00:37:47.51\00:37:49.53
there was no beauty
that we should desire Him.
00:37:49.56\00:37:51.41
And if that was
true of Christ is the man
00:37:51.44\00:37:53.01
had to have certainly
been true of Christ the child.
00:37:53.04\00:37:55.38
No halo to identify
Him, so how do they know?
00:37:55.41\00:37:57.53
Here's the question, how
do they know to bow down?
00:37:57.56\00:38:01.50
Go back to, go back to
chapter 2 and verse 11.
00:38:01.53\00:38:05.00
"And when they had
come into the house,"
00:38:05.03\00:38:06.78
see why does this happen?
00:38:06.81\00:38:08.71
"They saw the young
Child with Mary His mother,
00:38:08.74\00:38:11.33
and they fell down
00:38:11.36\00:38:13.77
" they fell down"
and worshiped Him."
00:38:13.80\00:38:16.38
The Greek word for
fell down is pipto.
00:38:16.41\00:38:18.71
Very interesting
word. It means going
00:38:18.74\00:38:19.94
from an erect position posture,
going erect to, to prostrate
00:38:19.97\00:38:23.31
with your forehead
pressed against the earth
00:38:23.34\00:38:25.94
as an expression
of profound reverence.
00:38:25.97\00:38:28.28
In fact, Matthew will use
the same word a little later
00:38:28.31\00:38:31.34
in the gospel
story when Satan comes
00:38:31.37\00:38:33.07
in the third
temptation in the wilderness.
00:38:33.10\00:38:34.78
You remember
that third temptation?
00:38:34.81\00:38:35.95
Fall down and
worship me and no Calvary
00:38:35.98\00:38:38.87
you can have the whole planet.
00:38:38.90\00:38:40.27
Satan is begging
for Christ pipto,
00:38:40.30\00:38:44.73
fall on His face.
00:38:44.76\00:38:46.69
But Christ refused
to do before Satan.
00:38:46.72\00:38:48.90
The wise men freely
did before the Christ.
00:38:48.93\00:38:51.14
How is that read?
00:38:51.17\00:38:52.22
"And they fell
down and worshiped Him."
00:38:52.25\00:38:56.45
I want you to just kind of,
00:38:56.48\00:38:57.85
just for a moment wrap
your mind around that scene.
00:38:57.88\00:39:02.53
I remember its pitch black,
00:39:02.56\00:39:04.22
maybe a torch
somewhere flickering.
00:39:04.25\00:39:08.69
There kings find themselves
in the dark, it's been night.
00:39:08.72\00:39:12.32
They only travel
at night remember.
00:39:12.35\00:39:14.84
The star has
stopped in Bethlehem,
00:39:14.87\00:39:16.70
its pointing to this cable stave
00:39:16.73\00:39:18.92
behind
Bethlehem's in obediently.
00:39:18.95\00:39:22.22
I don't know how that
light pointed by obediently
00:39:22.25\00:39:24.40
they stepped into the
dank dark barnyard cave
00:39:24.43\00:39:28.64
of diferous domesticated animals
00:39:28.67\00:39:31.90
enclosed body
order mammal halitosis
00:39:31.93\00:39:36.55
would be reason enough
for some of us to wish,
00:39:36.58\00:39:38.87
can I stay out and refresh?
00:39:38.90\00:39:40.17
You guys let me know
00:39:40.20\00:39:41.23
what you're
finding there and tell me.
00:39:41.26\00:39:44.67
One could be
forgiven for thinking.
00:39:44.70\00:39:45.95
You think about the wise men.
00:39:45.98\00:39:47.02
Now put yourself in their place.
00:39:47.05\00:39:48.55
One could be
forgiven for thinking.
00:39:48.58\00:39:50.08
We have been following
the star for weeks for this.
00:39:50.11\00:39:55.98
I mean, one that
would be tempted to wonder
00:39:56.01\00:39:57.95
if one of the wise man say
hey, guys, stay right here.
00:39:57.98\00:39:59.55
I'm gonna go
back and I got to make
00:39:59.58\00:40:00.94
sure that this star is
pointing down on this thing.
00:40:00.97\00:40:03.23
Is it down on here?
00:40:03.26\00:40:04.67
No, royal entourage,
00:40:09.67\00:40:11.87
no government dignitaries,
no accouterments of majesty.
00:40:11.90\00:40:15.55
Nothing but a hole
in the side of the hill.
00:40:15.58\00:40:18.92
Two parents and a baby
and the baby's parent's
00:40:18.95\00:40:21.88
as far as these Arab
kings, these Arab scholars
00:40:21.91\00:40:25.21
can tell in the grove
that single flickering torch
00:40:25.24\00:40:27.51
they appeared to be two
very, very humble peasant people
00:40:27.54\00:40:32.92
who you would never id out of
a police line up you ask to say,
00:40:32.95\00:40:36.18
please pick the
mother and stepfather of God,
00:40:36.21\00:40:38.13
Almighty God, pick
them out of this id line.
00:40:38.16\00:40:40.47
You never would pick them.
00:40:40.50\00:40:43.26
And the baby, this new born
00:40:43.29\00:40:45.21
that they have been traveling
for mile after mile across
00:40:45.24\00:40:47.98
hot and cold
desert sand, the baby.
00:40:48.01\00:40:52.17
Isn't even in an better cradle.
00:40:52.20\00:40:54.24
The parents have
flocked a box of caffeine
00:40:54.27\00:40:55.91
into a makeshift bassinet.
00:40:55.94\00:40:57.44
That's all it is. No halo.
00:40:57.47\00:41:01.13
The infant wrapped in strips
of un-sterile dirty cloths
00:41:01.16\00:41:05.12
to keep the baby warm in the
night air chill of that cave.
00:41:05.15\00:41:08.48
There is nothing
that physically says
00:41:08.51\00:41:12.99
this is the one, nothing.
00:41:13.02\00:41:16.08
And yet the record
reads and this is what--
00:41:16.11\00:41:17.61
I'll tell you what Oystein
00:41:17.64\00:41:18.67
might wondering
so this Christmas.
00:41:18.70\00:41:20.74
The record reads,
look at it down verse 11
00:41:20.77\00:41:24.97
"And when they saw the
Child with Mary His mother,
00:41:25.00\00:41:28.47
they fell down
and worshiped Him."
00:41:28.50\00:41:32.83
They are on their faces
00:41:32.86\00:41:34.38
before the baby
chases and worship God.
00:41:34.41\00:41:38.21
Hey, guys, please,
please explain this to me.
00:41:38.24\00:41:40.00
Explain this to me.
00:41:40.03\00:41:42.50
Just a few days later
00:41:42.53\00:41:44.54
these very same
parents they don't dress,
00:41:44.57\00:41:46.75
the very same parents
will present this very same
00:41:46.78\00:41:50.94
new born child in
Jerusalem'sholy temple
00:41:50.97\00:41:53.88
for the requisite
levitical dedication
00:41:53.91\00:41:55.53
of the first born male child
00:41:55.56\00:41:57.28
and the priest will
pick up that very same baby
00:41:57.31\00:42:01.52
and hold him in his crucial arms
00:42:01.55\00:42:03.58
without a solitary premonition
00:42:03.61\00:42:06.86
that he has divine
majesty within his embrace.
00:42:06.89\00:42:09.94
What's the
difference? Nothing's changed.
00:42:09.97\00:42:15.21
How should we
explain it, the wise men?
00:42:15.24\00:42:18.56
You know what, it
is the shining truth
00:42:18.59\00:42:21.87
about the wise men.
00:42:21.90\00:42:23.78
And that is the heart can see
00:42:23.81\00:42:27.33
what the mind will not
and there in my friends,
00:42:27.36\00:42:32.06
lies the compelling
truth of the Christmas story,
00:42:32.09\00:42:34.27
the grand story of Christmas.
00:42:34.30\00:42:35.73
We see everybody else
in the Christmas story
00:42:35.76\00:42:37.44
looked upon that
baby with their mind
00:42:37.47\00:42:39.77
and decided it cannot be
00:42:39.80\00:42:43.46
but it was these
children of the east
00:42:43.49\00:42:44.85
who gazed upon
them with their heart
00:42:44.88\00:42:46.60
and concluded it must be He.
00:42:46.63\00:42:49.13
Their heart could see
what the mind would not.
00:42:53.27\00:42:59.55
Their heart can see
what the mind would not.
00:43:02.33\00:43:05.36
Which is why by the
way Israel's great Shema
00:43:05.39\00:43:09.10
opens with the line
00:43:09.13\00:43:10.16
"You shall love the Lord
your God with all your" what?
00:43:10.19\00:43:13.80
With all your what?
00:43:13.83\00:43:15.09
"With all your
heart." Heart first.
00:43:15.12\00:43:18.31
The heart must lead
and when heart leads
00:43:18.34\00:43:20.63
the mind will follow
but the heart must lead
00:43:20.66\00:43:22.36
for the heart can see
what the mind will not.
00:43:22.39\00:43:25.02
Which is why the
wise men worshiped
00:43:25.05\00:43:26.66
when the rest did not.
00:43:26.69\00:43:28.98
Got a prayer this
morning and I was reading
00:43:29.01\00:43:30.14
Desire of Ages and I came across
00:43:30.17\00:43:31.70
these words after the manuscript
00:43:31.73\00:43:33.73
was written we slipped
in there just a moment ago.
00:43:33.76\00:43:35.58
I want to put them on the
screen for you Desire of Ages
00:43:35.61\00:43:37.21
that classic on
the life of Jesus.
00:43:37.24\00:43:38.88
look at this, "Beneath
the lowly guise of Jesus,
00:43:38.91\00:43:43.52
the wise men recognized
the presence of Divinity.
00:43:43.55\00:43:47.42
They gave their hearts
to Him as their Savior,
00:43:47.45\00:43:51.92
what a faith was their's!
00:43:51.95\00:43:58.57
The heart can see
but the mind will not.
00:43:58.60\00:44:04.14
By the way that's a word of hope
00:44:04.17\00:44:06.31
and promise for those of you
00:44:06.34\00:44:07.45
who even in this
season of Christmas joy
00:44:07.48\00:44:12.09
are troubled by a anemones
uncertainty in your soul.
00:44:12.12\00:44:15.57
Some of you are
looking to the future today.
00:44:15.60\00:44:18.50
Your future looks dark as black
as the night over Bethlehem.
00:44:18.53\00:44:23.99
You are not sure of
what lies ahead for you
00:44:24.02\00:44:27.03
and it feels for you, it
feels like the guiding star
00:44:27.06\00:44:30.68
has vanished from your sky,
00:44:30.71\00:44:32.41
you struggle to know the
will of God in your life,
00:44:32.44\00:44:34.51
your mind is fatigue,
your emotions are exhausted
00:44:34.54\00:44:38.04
and your spirit confused.
00:44:38.07\00:44:43.18
In this
midnight of your own soul
00:44:43.21\00:44:45.74
learn the lesson of
the wise men, please,
00:44:45.77\00:44:48.65
learn the
lesson of the wise men.
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.14
The heart can see
what the mind will not.
00:44:50.17\00:44:54.40
So my friend,
listen to your heart.
00:44:54.43\00:44:56.37
Just listen to your heart.
00:44:56.40\00:44:59.13
Listen, listen to your heart.
00:44:59.16\00:45:03.96
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
00:45:03.99\00:45:07.14
and lean not to
your own understanding
00:45:07.17\00:45:09.80
and all your
ways acknowledge Him.
00:45:09.83\00:45:11.99
He will direct your path.
00:45:12.02\00:45:15.65
The star is still there I'm sure
00:45:15.68\00:45:18.66
in your life the
star is still there.
00:45:18.69\00:45:22.48
Listen to your
heart because the wise men
00:45:22.51\00:45:24.98
has shown us all it is
only when we worship the Christ
00:45:25.01\00:45:28.42
with all our
hearts even in the dark
00:45:28.45\00:45:30.85
or perhaps
especially in the dark.
00:45:30.88\00:45:34.90
Its only then the
God's dream will follow
00:45:34.93\00:45:37.84
and His way for our
future will be made plain
00:45:37.87\00:45:42.05
for "Then, being warned
divinely warned in a dream
00:45:42.08\00:45:45.39
that they should
not return to Herod,
00:45:45.42\00:45:48.04
they departed for their
own country another way."
00:45:48.07\00:45:52.92
There is another way for you
00:45:52.95\00:45:54.04
that you have
not yet considered.
00:45:54.07\00:45:55.80
Listen to your
heart this Christmas,
00:45:55.83\00:45:57.77
listen to your heart.
00:45:57.80\00:46:00.33
God has that other
way and you will see it.
00:46:00.36\00:46:03.54
You will see it one day,
00:46:03.57\00:46:07.03
just listen,
listen to your heart.
00:46:07.06\00:46:10.80
Let me conclude now
as I often like to do
00:46:14.51\00:46:18.43
on this Christmas Sabbath.
00:46:18.46\00:46:21.88
I find a great story
for the Christmas season.
00:46:21.91\00:46:25.79
This is the place that
I've choose to slip it in.
00:46:25.82\00:46:29.81
So I'm gonna read
you Tom Darling's story
00:46:29.84\00:46:33.58
entitled "The Beast."
00:46:33.61\00:46:35.16
Once came the title for this
00:46:35.19\00:46:37.33
Christmas harmony
today, "The Beast."
00:46:37.36\00:46:39.27
Listen to this, he
was the ugliest of men
00:46:39.30\00:46:45.15
and he had a request that
seemed completely unacceptable.
00:46:45.18\00:46:50.02
Came to my desk holding the job
application in his huge hand.
00:46:50.05\00:46:54.15
I asked him to be seated
00:46:54.18\00:46:55.57
and his giant
boak filled the chair.
00:46:55.60\00:46:59.51
He was the ugliest
man I had ever seen
00:46:59.54\00:47:03.79
and his presence made me uneasy.
00:47:03.82\00:47:06.22
I had never seen
anyone so physically repulsive
00:47:06.25\00:47:09.34
and to think that
he was applying for job
00:47:09.37\00:47:10.87
at the department store
seem completely unacceptable.
00:47:10.90\00:47:13.35
In my ten years
as personal manager
00:47:13.38\00:47:15.31
I had seen all
kinds of applicants
00:47:15.34\00:47:16.84
but this was
extraordinary to say the least.
00:47:16.87\00:47:21.67
But in response to my questions
00:47:21.70\00:47:23.26
his voice was
surprisingly gentle.
00:47:23.29\00:47:26.35
More sincere the most
00:47:26.38\00:47:28.47
and at the same
time more anxious.
00:47:28.50\00:47:31.07
His application stated that
he was employed by a carnival
00:47:31.10\00:47:34.38
which was presently set
up on the outskirts of town.
00:47:34.41\00:47:39.61
You are already
employed, I said to him
00:47:39.64\00:47:41.37
so why is that you like
this temporary job at the store?
00:47:41.40\00:47:44.47
Well, sir, he replied
00:47:44.50\00:47:46.06
its just a kind of
job I have always wanted.
00:47:46.09\00:47:51.21
There may be many
applicants for the job.
00:47:51.24\00:47:53.18
I told him the
competition is very keen.
00:47:53.21\00:47:54.89
I know that, he answered.
00:47:54.92\00:47:57.42
His beady eyes searching mine
but I'm willing to take the job
00:47:57.45\00:48:01.43
without pay and the
hours won't conflict
00:48:01.46\00:48:03.66
with my job at the carnival.
00:48:03.69\00:48:06.95
Well, I said finally, if
you should get the position
00:48:06.98\00:48:11.28
you will be paid at
the advertised rate.
00:48:11.31\00:48:14.70
He shrugged his
gigantic shoulders,
00:48:14.73\00:48:16.81
I'd still wanted
if they paid nothing.
00:48:16.84\00:48:18.83
I never wanted
anything more, sir.
00:48:18.86\00:48:20.48
Never in my whole life.
00:48:20.51\00:48:23.85
I dismissed him
down and advising him
00:48:23.88\00:48:25.55
that he would be
considered fairly
00:48:25.58\00:48:26.72
along with the other applicants.
00:48:26.75\00:48:29.28
At the door he
turned and thanked me
00:48:29.31\00:48:31.16
his great ugly face
sending shutters through me.
00:48:31.19\00:48:37.16
And for the rest of the
day I could not forget him.
00:48:37.19\00:48:41.13
When sheer repulse on
this comes into your life
00:48:41.16\00:48:44.06
its not easy forgotten
but there was more to this man
00:48:44.09\00:48:47.03
than his pitiful frightening
features his sincerity,
00:48:47.06\00:48:49.77
his desperation,
clung to my memory
00:48:49.80\00:48:52.01
and I was
determined that he is one
00:48:52.04\00:48:53.30
of God's creatures was
entitled to a fair opportunity.
00:48:53.33\00:48:55.89
Perhaps I was being foolish,
reckless even to consider him
00:48:55.92\00:48:58.43
but there was
nothing else I could do
00:48:58.46\00:49:00.23
and still call myself a
human being just as he was.
00:49:00.26\00:49:05.50
All that night I couldn't sleep.
00:49:05.53\00:49:09.00
I kept thinking about this
poor and fortunate creature
00:49:09.03\00:49:11.12
who must have
experienced great hardships
00:49:11.15\00:49:12.94
in his lifetime
because of his ugliness.
00:49:12.97\00:49:14.84
I kept trying to
imagine how disappointing life
00:49:14.87\00:49:16.44
must have been for him.
00:49:16.47\00:49:17.51
How frustrating, how
hopeless just a side of him
00:49:17.54\00:49:20.83
and curt
loathing and banishment.
00:49:20.86\00:49:22.77
He had to be an
all cast a target
00:49:22.80\00:49:24.39
for ridicule to the apathetic
00:49:24.42\00:49:26.44
and the
uncompassionate of the world.
00:49:26.47\00:49:28.64
The next day I decided,
00:49:28.67\00:49:31.35
I decided I had to see
him in his own environment,
00:49:31.38\00:49:33.27
so I went to the carnival
ground feeling like a spy.
00:49:33.30\00:49:38.35
It was something I
had to do before I decided
00:49:38.38\00:49:39.99
which applicant
would get the seasonal job.
00:49:40.02\00:49:41.97
I had to see for
myself what type of work
00:49:42.00\00:49:43.80
this man with a
beast like features
00:49:43.83\00:49:45.97
and the angel like voice did.
00:49:46.00\00:49:49.36
After some
searching and questioning
00:49:49.39\00:49:50.52
I was directed to a tent
00:49:50.55\00:49:51.83
over which hung a
sign reading the human?
00:49:51.86\00:49:55.88
Beast.
00:49:55.91\00:49:58.98
Not wanting to think
much about this distasteful
00:49:59.01\00:50:00.92
announcement I
bought a ticket went inside
00:50:00.95\00:50:02.61
and stood in the back row of
a large group of curious people.
00:50:02.64\00:50:06.33
And last the lights dim
and the spot light played
00:50:06.36\00:50:08.23
on a crucially built stage.
00:50:08.26\00:50:10.49
In a few minutes he
emerged from behind that curtain
00:50:10.52\00:50:12.75
and gasp of horror rose
from the crowd, children scream
00:50:12.78\00:50:15.58
and mother's who
should have known better than
00:50:15.61\00:50:17.11
to bring them in
there in the first place
00:50:17.14\00:50:18.45
hugged into their breathes.
00:50:18.48\00:50:20.37
He was painted unearthly colors
00:50:20.40\00:50:22.54
and his great boak was
bent under the weighted chains
00:50:22.57\00:50:25.71
which surrounded
his massive body.
00:50:25.74\00:50:28.05
Back and forth across the stage
he ride uttering deep gutter
00:50:28.08\00:50:32.99
o groans in the
smiles of a caged animal.
00:50:33.02\00:50:37.03
He was indeed
the beast he played
00:50:37.06\00:50:39.28
and my heart ached for this man
00:50:39.31\00:50:40.78
who had sat
before only yesterday
00:50:40.81\00:50:42.80
and pleaded for an escape.
00:50:42.83\00:50:44.65
No matter how brief from
this agonizing role he played
00:50:44.68\00:50:47.12
before adjourning and ridiculing
00:50:47.15\00:50:49.25
mob of thrill seekers.
00:50:49.28\00:50:52.83
The only time he
seem to break out
00:50:52.86\00:50:54.22
of the frightening character
was each time some one would
00:50:54.25\00:50:56.89
hustle the child from the tent.
00:50:56.92\00:50:58.82
His sad eyes
followed the children
00:50:58.85\00:51:00.65
with sheer unmistakable anguish.
00:51:00.68\00:51:04.90
I wanted until
the tent was emptied
00:51:04.93\00:51:07.33
and made my way inside
the curtain and I found him.
00:51:07.36\00:51:10.74
He looked at me in shame.
00:51:10.77\00:51:14.34
I wish he hadn't come here,
he said in that soft voice.
00:51:14.37\00:51:19.06
I wish-- if you
still want the job,
00:51:19.09\00:51:22.25
I said to him, it's yours.
00:51:22.28\00:51:25.85
His giant head nodded
00:51:25.88\00:51:28.02
disbelief, oh,
yes, yes, yes, I do.
00:51:28.05\00:51:31.45
And be at the store tomorrow
afternoon at four, I said.
00:51:31.48\00:51:35.34
And again the great
head nodded and I left.
00:51:35.37\00:51:37.77
Next day because of other duties
00:51:37.80\00:51:38.84
I was unable to be at the store
when he started on the job.
00:51:38.87\00:51:41.78
I arrive at six
o'clock and went directly
00:51:41.81\00:51:43.32
to the toy department
and there he was surrounded
00:51:43.35\00:51:47.39
by great multitude
of delighted children.
00:51:47.42\00:51:51.20
The expressions on
their faces told me
00:51:51.23\00:51:53.40
that I had not made a mistake.
00:51:53.43\00:51:55.45
The face which has brought jeers
00:51:55.48\00:51:56.94
and hoots from so many others,
00:51:56.97\00:51:58.46
so many times in his
life at the carnivals
00:51:58.49\00:52:01.10
was not hidden
behind a white beard
00:52:01.13\00:52:04.18
and his huge frame clothed
00:52:04.21\00:52:05.95
in the red and white
suit of Santa Clause.
00:52:05.98\00:52:10.69
The eyes which had
chilled people to the bone
00:52:10.72\00:52:13.25
were no longer sad but
filled with tears of joys.
00:52:13.28\00:52:15.80
He took one child
after another on to his lap
00:52:15.83\00:52:18.46
playing the
wonderful friend of children.
00:52:18.49\00:52:21.46
They all loved and trusted.
00:52:21.49\00:52:25.62
The end.
00:52:25.65\00:52:26.93
It's true, isn't it? It's true.
00:52:29.93\00:52:33.05
The heart can see
what the mind will not.
00:52:33.08\00:52:39.23
Then let us look with
all our hearts this Christmas
00:52:39.26\00:52:44.34
and we too, I
believe, we too shall see Him
00:52:44.37\00:52:47.47
whom to see
00:52:47.50\00:52:50.08
and know His life eternal.
00:52:50.11\00:52:52.69
Want you to sit
back, close you eyes,
00:52:55.69\00:52:59.11
and listen now as my
wife Karen sings for us
00:52:59.14\00:53:03.07
a beautiful plaintive carol.
00:53:03.10\00:53:06.14
It's called the star carol.
00:53:06.17\00:53:08.12
Having heard this
since my childhood,
00:53:08.15\00:53:09.82
want you to be as blessed
00:53:09.85\00:53:12.80
as I was the
first time I heard it.
00:53:12.83\00:53:14.30
Listen to this
story of Christmas.
00:53:14.33\00:53:17.36
Long years ago
00:53:37.56\00:53:41.11
On a deep winter night
00:53:41.14\00:53:46.31
High in the heavens
00:53:46.34\00:53:49.45
A star shone bright
00:53:49.48\00:53:54.99
While in the manger
00:53:55.02\00:53:58.29
A wee baby lay
00:53:58.32\00:54:03.18
Sweetly asleep
00:54:03.21\00:54:07.07
On a bed of hay
00:54:07.10\00:54:13.39
Jesus our Lord
00:54:13.42\00:54:16.83
Was that baby so small
00:54:16.86\00:54:22.51
Lay down to sleep
00:54:22.54\00:54:26.15
In a humble stall
00:54:26.18\00:54:32.31
Then came the star,
and it stood over head
00:54:32.34\00:54:40.14
Shedding its light
00:54:40.17\00:54:44.08
'Round his little head
00:54:44.11\00:54:49.14
Dear baby Jesus
00:54:51.58\00:54:55.09
How tiny thou art
00:54:55.12\00:55:00.78
I'll make a place
00:55:00.81\00:55:04.17
For thee in my heart
00:55:04.20\00:55:10.59
And when the stars,
in the heavens I see
00:55:10.62\00:55:18.04
Ever and always
00:55:18.07\00:55:22.15
I'd think of thee
00:55:22.18\00:55:28.63
Ever and always
00:55:28.66\00:55:34.53
I'd think of thee
00:55:34.56\00:55:40.37
Let's stand for prayer.
00:55:49.73\00:55:56.18
And so heavenly
Father, dear baby Jesus,
00:56:06.20\00:56:11.25
we cannot understand it
00:56:11.28\00:56:16.60
but like the wise
men of all we wish
00:56:16.63\00:56:18.88
with all our
hearts to worship You too.
00:56:18.91\00:56:23.81
The year is heading away,
00:56:23.84\00:56:25.05
we know not what lies before us.
00:56:25.08\00:56:30.23
But oh, God, let our
heart see what the mind will not
00:56:30.26\00:56:36.77
and when we see
you teach us to follow.
00:56:36.80\00:56:41.79
And now may the
grace of the Father,
00:56:45.48\00:56:48.06
and the love of the Son
and the communion of the Spirit
00:56:48.09\00:56:51.79
abide with us into that journey,
00:56:51.82\00:56:54.46
into the new year, amen.
00:56:54.49\00:56:58.03
Hello, I'm Dwight Nelson.
00:57:00.40\00:57:01.82
During this holiday
season when everyone
00:57:01.85\00:57:03.49
is celebrating Jesus
birthday by giving gifts
00:57:03.52\00:57:06.26
I want to encourage
you to take the opportunity
00:57:06.29\00:57:08.11
and share Jesus with someone.
00:57:08.14\00:57:10.21
This book the "Life of
Jesus" written by Ellen White
00:57:10.24\00:57:12.97
is one of the best books I
found on the life of Christ.
00:57:13.00\00:57:16.18
It's the perfect gift.
00:57:16.21\00:57:18.41
This hard cover classic
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00:57:18.44\00:57:20.47
by Review and Herald has
beautiful art work depicting
00:57:20.50\00:57:23.34
the most expressive
scenes of the Savior's life.
00:57:23.37\00:57:26.63
Based on the gospels
it shows that Jesus loves
00:57:26.66\00:57:28.82
and cares for each
of us the world over.
00:57:28.85\00:57:32.34
Here's a book with
the good news of Jesus
00:57:32.37\00:57:34.38
that is your perfect opportunity
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to share the
greatest gift of all.
00:57:35.91\00:57:38.26
For this holiday season
00:57:38.29\00:57:39.94
why don't you
give the Life of Jesus?
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As we celebrate
the birth of Jesus
00:57:43.26\00:57:45.62
this season call
our toll free number
00:57:45.65\00:57:48.04
and take advantage
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00:57:48.07\00:57:51.18
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What better
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00:58:10.26\00:58:13.41
So call our toll free
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Call for as many
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