Good morning and happy Sabbath. 00:00:08.57\00:00:11.21 It is good to see all of you here this morning. 00:00:11.24\00:00:14.04 I assume all of you ate enough for Thanksgiving, 00:00:14.08\00:00:17.65 though I did speak to a couple of the youth 00:00:17.68\00:00:20.08 who assured me they did not. 00:00:20.12\00:00:23.28 But I hope that wasn't the case for everyone. 00:00:23.35\00:00:25.89 I like to invite you 00:00:25.92\00:00:27.26 to turn to page 10 in your worship bulletin, 00:00:27.32\00:00:29.89 where we will worship together in the Call to Worship. 00:00:29.92\00:00:35.20 The Lord is our light and our salvation. 00:00:35.23\00:00:38.77 Whom shall we fear? 00:00:38.80\00:00:41.60 One thing we have asked of the Lord, 00:00:41.64\00:00:44.41 and that we will seek after 00:00:44.44\00:00:47.51 that we may dwell in the house of the Lord 00:00:47.54\00:00:50.08 all the days of our lives, 00:00:50.11\00:00:52.51 to behold the beauty of the Lord 00:00:52.55\00:00:54.85 and to inquire in his temple. 00:00:54.88\00:00:58.05 I believe that we shall see the goodness of the Lord 00:00:58.09\00:01:01.02 in the land of the living. 00:01:01.06\00:01:03.43 Wait for the Lord, be strong, praise the name of our God. 00:01:03.46\00:01:09.13 I would like to now invite you to sing, 00:01:09.16\00:01:11.30 stand to sing the doxology. 00:01:11.33\00:01:13.40 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow 00:01:27.72\00:01:33.42 Praise Him, all creatures here below 00:01:33.46\00:01:38.39 Alleluia! Alleluia! 00:01:38.43\00:01:44.30 Praise Him above, ye heavenly host 00:01:44.33\00:01:49.30 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost 00:01:49.34\00:01:54.51 Alleluia! 00:01:54.54\00:01:57.21 Alleluia! Alleluia! 00:01:57.28\00:02:02.55 Alleluia! Alleluia! 00:02:02.58\00:02:09.52 Our Father in Heaven, two days past Thanksgiving, 00:02:14.40\00:02:17.73 but we could still smell the wafting aroma 00:02:17.77\00:02:20.70 of about a flea spread table. 00:02:20.74\00:02:23.30 We are still basking in the glad joy 00:02:23.37\00:02:25.01 of having others to share with. 00:02:25.04\00:02:27.44 And we still feel thankful, 00:02:27.48\00:02:29.74 really we do Lord we feel thankful, 00:02:29.78\00:02:31.71 we're not just saying it, are we? 00:02:31.75\00:02:34.68 It's true. 00:02:34.72\00:02:36.05 Black Friday sort of knocked 00:02:36.08\00:02:37.45 the stuffing out of our spirit of gratitude, 00:02:37.49\00:02:39.15 but God will get it back, we really will, won't we? 00:02:39.19\00:02:46.03 Oh, God, teach us please, 00:02:46.06\00:02:49.60 help us to find in Christ reason enough 00:02:49.63\00:02:52.63 to live in gratitude, 00:02:52.67\00:02:54.67 not just next week, next year, 00:02:54.70\00:02:57.44 but right now, right here as we bow in worship 00:02:57.47\00:03:01.58 before our God through Jesus, our Lord. 00:03:01.61\00:03:05.51 Amen. 00:03:05.55\00:03:07.35 Now thank we all our God 00:03:53.90\00:03:57.93 With heart and hands and voices 00:03:57.97\00:04:04.44 Who wondrous things hath done 00:04:04.47\00:04:09.31 In whom His world rejoices 00:04:09.34\00:04:15.55 Who, from our mothers' arms 00:04:15.58\00:04:20.86 Hath blessed us on our way 00:04:20.89\00:04:26.19 With countless gifts of love 00:04:26.23\00:04:31.47 And still 00:04:31.50\00:04:33.17 is ours today 00:04:33.20\00:04:38.57 All praise and thanks to God 00:04:38.61\00:04:44.01 The Father, now be given 00:04:44.05\00:04:50.15 The Son, and Him who reigns 00:04:50.19\00:04:56.02 With them in highest heaven 00:04:56.06\00:05:01.90 The one eternal God 00:05:01.93\00:05:07.27 Whom earth and heaven adore 00:05:07.34\00:05:12.94 For thus it was, is now 00:05:12.97\00:05:18.38 And shall be evermore 00:05:18.41\00:05:24.82 In a time of Thanksgiving to be reminded, 00:05:32.29\00:05:35.06 for thus it was, is now and shall be evermore. 00:05:35.10\00:05:41.57 As we worship our God of eternity, 00:05:41.60\00:05:47.54 I'd like to invite you to come forward 00:05:47.58\00:05:50.71 to not only celebrate the things we're thankful for, 00:05:50.75\00:05:53.58 but also to lay 00:05:53.62\00:05:55.88 before this God of eternity our temporary burdens. 00:05:55.92\00:06:00.12 So at this time as we sing, Blest be the tie that binds. 00:06:00.19\00:06:03.46 I would like to invite you to come forward 00:06:03.49\00:06:05.99 as we worship together in prayer. 00:06:06.03\00:06:07.93 Blest be the tie 00:06:24.98\00:06:29.45 That binds 00:06:29.48\00:06:32.29 Our hearts in Christian love 00:06:32.32\00:06:38.69 The fellowship 00:06:38.73\00:06:42.96 Of kindred minds 00:06:43.00\00:06:47.50 Is like to that 00:06:47.54\00:06:51.57 Above 00:06:51.61\00:06:57.41 Before 00:06:57.45\00:06:59.91 Our Father's throne 00:07:00.05\00:07:05.09 We pour 00:07:05.12\00:07:07.29 Our ardent prayers 00:07:07.32\00:07:11.99 Our fears, our hopes 00:07:12.03\00:07:16.43 Our aims are one 00:07:16.46\00:07:20.97 Our comforts 00:07:21.00\00:07:24.44 And our cares 00:07:24.47\00:07:30.68 Dearest Heavenly Father, 00:07:34.58\00:07:36.92 God of the universe, supreme ruler, 00:07:36.99\00:07:40.76 for every wild animal of the forest is Yours, 00:07:40.79\00:07:44.89 the cattle on a thousand hills, 00:07:44.93\00:07:47.23 You know all the birds of the air, 00:07:47.30\00:07:49.53 all that moves in the field is Yours. 00:07:49.56\00:07:53.17 You've promised to open the windows of heaven 00:07:53.20\00:07:54.87 and pour down for us an overflowing blessing. 00:07:54.90\00:07:59.54 And yet, we have been content with things of this earth, 00:07:59.57\00:08:04.45 confusing them for wealth. 00:08:04.48\00:08:07.18 Forgive us. 00:08:07.25\00:08:08.82 Help us realize that we are wretched, 00:08:08.85\00:08:11.55 pitiful, poor, blind and naked, 00:08:11.59\00:08:15.32 and remind us 00:08:15.36\00:08:17.16 You are the provider of all things. 00:08:17.19\00:08:20.63 It is this time of year 00:08:20.66\00:08:21.96 we celebrate with Thanksgiving all of the gifts 00:08:22.00\00:08:24.37 that You have given us, thank You. 00:08:24.40\00:08:28.37 For our health, we thank You. 00:08:28.40\00:08:31.21 For our nourishment, we thank You. 00:08:31.24\00:08:33.98 For our safety, we thank You. 00:08:34.01\00:08:36.08 For our lives, we thank You. 00:08:36.11\00:08:39.25 For Your love, we thank You. 00:08:39.28\00:08:43.12 And dearest Heavenly Father, as You hear our prayers, 00:08:43.15\00:08:47.92 so where Your people have come to You. 00:08:47.96\00:08:50.76 We also pray that You will pour out Your Spirit 00:08:50.83\00:08:54.30 on this place 00:08:54.30\00:08:56.20 and on Your servant Pastor Dwight 00:08:56.23\00:08:57.90 to speak Your words this morning. 00:08:57.93\00:09:01.90 In Your gracious name, amen. 00:09:01.94\00:09:04.54 Amen! 00:11:20.78\00:11:22.11 My name is Innocent Rutabanzibwa. 00:11:29.78\00:11:32.79 I'm from Tanzania. 00:11:32.82\00:11:34.39 I was raised as a Catholic in Tanzania. 00:11:34.42\00:11:39.96 I came around to meet one friend of mine 00:11:40.00\00:11:42.76 who we actually grew together, his name is David. 00:11:42.80\00:11:46.70 David, he really didn't get that much of his life, 00:11:46.77\00:11:50.17 ready to teach me about Bible. 00:11:50.24\00:11:52.21 I remember one day he gave me this verse. 00:11:52.24\00:11:55.68 It was Psalm 119:105, verse 105, 00:11:55.71\00:12:01.28 "Your word is a lamp to my feet, 00:12:01.32\00:12:04.72 and a light to my path." 00:12:04.75\00:12:07.46 This verse really changed my life. 00:12:07.49\00:12:09.56 I really made my decision to be baptized 00:12:09.59\00:12:11.73 because I wanted to share... 00:12:11.76\00:12:13.09 I really wanted to give up myself to Jesus, 00:12:13.13\00:12:16.56 I want to surrender my life to Jesus. 00:12:16.63\00:12:17.97 I wanted everybody to have it as a testimonial to me. 00:12:18.00\00:12:22.90 I surrendered myself to Jesus. 00:12:22.94\00:12:25.11 This is me, 00:12:25.14\00:12:26.64 but I wanted to be as a confession, 00:12:26.68\00:12:28.41 I wanted to clear my mind, 00:12:28.44\00:12:30.61 I wanted to clear it in front of people, 00:12:30.65\00:12:32.95 I wanted to clear in front of God, 00:12:32.98\00:12:35.55 that the real me is the real me to save others. 00:12:35.58\00:12:40.96 I'm the real Innocent to save others, 00:12:40.99\00:12:43.59 I'm not the real Innocent to be saved anymore. 00:12:43.63\00:12:46.66 I've already saved by God. 00:12:46.70\00:12:48.36 God's really wants me to tell others 00:12:48.40\00:12:53.07 that I'm ready to help them. 00:12:53.10\00:12:57.14 I'm ready to receive God's hand to help others as well. 00:12:57.17\00:13:01.58 And, Innocent, 00:13:06.82\00:13:08.25 we're so privileged to be able to hear your story 00:13:08.28\00:13:11.22 and to be a part of your story. 00:13:11.25\00:13:13.36 And before coming into the baptistery, 00:13:13.39\00:13:14.99 you said something really interesting, 00:13:15.02\00:13:17.16 it's kind of caught me a little bit off guard, 00:13:17.23\00:13:18.63 but you said, I didn't sleep last night. 00:13:18.66\00:13:22.83 You were so excited that God's Spirit kept you up 00:13:22.86\00:13:27.60 and you basically just spent time 00:13:27.64\00:13:29.70 with God all night long. 00:13:29.74\00:13:32.61 And I can tell that God's Spirit is moving 00:13:32.64\00:13:34.58 on you right now. 00:13:34.61\00:13:36.54 So praise God for the heart that has given you 00:13:36.58\00:13:39.55 and we know and believe 00:13:39.58\00:13:40.92 that God is going to use you in a powerful way. 00:13:40.95\00:13:44.62 And I know there's lot of people, 00:13:44.65\00:13:46.49 my bother Innocent, that have been supporting you, 00:13:46.52\00:13:49.26 and been excited about your faith journey. 00:13:49.29\00:13:51.53 And some of them are here today, 00:13:51.56\00:13:52.89 I want to invite them to stand, 00:13:52.93\00:13:54.23 would love to just acknowledge them 00:13:54.30\00:13:55.60 for just a moment, 00:13:55.63\00:13:57.00 if you've been supporting and walking with him. 00:13:57.03\00:13:58.57 Amen. Amen. 00:13:58.60\00:14:00.14 So there you see them throughout the congregation. 00:14:00.17\00:14:02.87 You may be seated, thanks for being here. 00:14:02.90\00:14:05.54 And, of course, 00:14:05.57\00:14:06.91 how many of the Pioneer Memorial Church family 00:14:06.98\00:14:09.41 are excited and honored to welcome him 00:14:09.44\00:14:12.35 to be part of our family. 00:14:12.38\00:14:14.02 Lift up your hands wherever you are. 00:14:14.05\00:14:15.58 Amen. 00:14:15.62\00:14:16.99 That's all part of your family now as well. 00:14:17.02\00:14:21.12 So let's pray, church, 00:14:21.16\00:14:22.49 please join me 00:14:22.52\00:14:23.86 in praying silently in your hearts 00:14:23.93\00:14:25.26 as we pray that God would bless him. 00:14:25.29\00:14:26.70 Let's pray together. 00:14:26.73\00:14:30.73 Our Father, here is Your son, 00:14:30.77\00:14:33.64 the one that You have died for, 00:14:33.70\00:14:37.47 Innocent. 00:14:37.51\00:14:39.91 He's working on this computer science degree 00:14:39.94\00:14:42.54 here at Andrews, but when he finishes, 00:14:42.58\00:14:45.11 he feels called to go back 00:14:45.15\00:14:46.48 to his home country of Tanzania. 00:14:46.51\00:14:49.62 And, Father, may You use him in that same way 00:14:49.65\00:14:53.25 that you used that other African brother 00:14:53.32\00:14:55.76 as recorded in The Book of Acts, 00:14:55.79\00:14:57.63 that Ethiopian, 00:14:57.66\00:14:59.33 who he encountered Jesus on the way 00:14:59.36\00:15:02.66 and he went back, 00:15:02.70\00:15:04.27 and we know that You used him 00:15:04.30\00:15:06.20 to begin a whole movement of Christianity 00:15:06.23\00:15:08.67 in that country. 00:15:08.70\00:15:10.81 And so, Father, in that same way, 00:15:10.84\00:15:12.77 I know that You have prepared a missionary right here. 00:15:12.81\00:15:17.28 He has sensed 00:15:17.35\00:15:18.68 Your Spirit moving upon his heart, and yes, 00:15:18.71\00:15:21.18 he's gonna do this IT degree, and we thank You for that. 00:15:21.22\00:15:24.92 Oh, but he knows 00:15:24.95\00:15:26.59 that he's going to be missionary for Jesus, 00:15:26.62\00:15:28.12 no matter what he does. 00:15:28.16\00:15:30.03 And so even today 00:15:30.06\00:15:32.26 as he goes under these waters of baptism 00:15:32.29\00:15:35.00 that represents this death, 00:15:35.03\00:15:36.46 burial and this resurrection of life, 00:15:36.50\00:15:38.83 may You continue to mightily pour out 00:15:38.87\00:15:41.50 Your Spirit upon his life, 00:15:41.54\00:15:44.17 bless him, thank You for being with him, 00:15:44.21\00:15:47.18 in the name of Jesus. 00:15:47.24\00:15:48.78 Amen. 00:15:48.81\00:15:50.31 And, Innocent, because of your love for Jesus, 00:15:56.69\00:15:59.69 your desire to follow Him and be as His disciple, 00:15:59.72\00:16:02.59 it's my honor to baptize you now 00:16:02.62\00:16:04.86 in the name of the Father, 00:16:04.89\00:16:06.49 and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:16:06.53\00:16:08.63 All right, boys and girls, 00:16:24.88\00:16:26.21 nice to see you on this Thanksgiving weekend, 00:16:26.25\00:16:30.52 Thanksgiving Sabbath. 00:16:30.59\00:16:32.35 Oh, I can tell you, 00:16:32.39\00:16:33.76 you had a blessed Thanksgiving day. 00:16:33.79\00:16:35.16 And you know what? 00:16:35.19\00:16:36.52 Thanksgiving here in America, come on, 00:16:36.56\00:16:37.89 let's talk about America, it's about the pilgrims coming, 00:16:37.93\00:16:41.66 and the pilgrims met native North Americans, 00:16:41.70\00:16:45.47 that's what they met. 00:16:45.50\00:16:46.84 Those we call them in the past, we call them the Indians. 00:16:46.90\00:16:51.97 Well, lo and behold, I have a Grow Group this fall. 00:16:52.01\00:16:54.48 And in our Grow Group 00:16:54.51\00:16:55.94 we have the joy of having Morningstar Moore. 00:16:55.98\00:16:59.35 Now I want you look right over here, 00:16:59.38\00:17:00.78 you hear my voice? 00:17:00.85\00:17:02.18 Yeah, right here. 00:17:02.22\00:17:03.55 Because this lady is a Native North American, 00:17:03.59\00:17:05.65 she's a Canadian, 00:17:05.69\00:17:07.02 so it would be a Native Canadian. 00:17:07.09\00:17:08.42 I guess you would say, yeah. 00:17:08.46\00:17:09.79 And she is dressed, look at this... 00:17:09.82\00:17:12.93 Morningstar, before you tell this wonderful story, 00:17:12.96\00:17:14.83 just a word about the dress. 00:17:14.86\00:17:17.27 This is a paddle dress that I'm wearing. 00:17:17.30\00:17:19.40 Okay. And can you see these? 00:17:19.43\00:17:21.00 They look like little paddles. Can you see them? 00:17:21.04\00:17:24.41 And this is a gift from a lady, an elder, 00:17:24.44\00:17:27.51 we call them an older lady, 00:17:27.58\00:17:28.91 who made my dress and she is a Cowichan Indian 00:17:28.94\00:17:31.75 or Kw'amutsun Indian from Vancouver Island 00:17:31.78\00:17:35.45 where I worked counseling children. 00:17:35.48\00:17:39.02 And I still like 00:17:39.05\00:17:40.39 to counsel children now with my stories. 00:17:40.46\00:17:42.56 We are so glad to have you, happy Thanksgiving to you. 00:17:42.59\00:17:44.89 Boys and girls, listen, 00:17:44.93\00:17:46.26 as she tells us a story about... 00:17:46.29\00:17:47.76 Happy Sabbath, and I'm so glad that you're here today. 00:17:47.83\00:17:50.53 I'm going to tell you a story today 00:17:50.57\00:17:52.97 about two characters, 00:17:53.00\00:17:55.57 one is about your age 00:17:55.60\00:18:00.24 and her name was Singingstar, 00:18:00.31\00:18:02.04 and she had a brother and his name was Redhawk. 00:18:02.08\00:18:05.31 And he was a little bit older, probably about your age. 00:18:05.35\00:18:09.32 They lived a way, way up north in Canada, 00:18:09.35\00:18:12.52 in Sault Ste. Marie. 00:18:12.55\00:18:13.89 Now they were used 00:18:13.92\00:18:15.26 to all kinds of trees, lots of forest, 00:18:15.29\00:18:17.69 Lake Superior 00:18:17.73\00:18:19.06 which is the largest great lake that there ever was. 00:18:19.09\00:18:22.40 And you can sit right here. Good. Thank you. 00:18:22.43\00:18:27.70 And their father was the chief of the tribe. 00:18:27.74\00:18:32.34 Well, one day he came to them and he said, 00:18:32.37\00:18:35.58 "You know, I know about a tribe, 00:18:35.61\00:18:39.25 they live in Arizona. 00:18:39.28\00:18:41.45 They don't have a whole lot, they don't have enough clothes, 00:18:41.48\00:18:44.95 they don't have enough food. 00:18:44.99\00:18:47.09 And do you know how they lived? 00:18:47.16\00:18:48.82 In the back of the camper 00:18:48.86\00:18:52.26 that goes on to sometimes a half ton truck, 00:18:52.29\00:18:55.43 but it wasn't on the truck, 00:18:55.46\00:18:57.73 it was just stuck on posts and that's where they lived. 00:18:57.77\00:19:00.97 Can you imagine? Not very pleasant. 00:19:01.00\00:19:06.11 Well, Singing started no, 00:19:06.14\00:19:07.64 but that she didn't want to go so badly 00:19:07.68\00:19:11.18 that she decided before 00:19:11.21\00:19:12.55 she even got there that she hated it, 00:19:12.58\00:19:14.95 and she used that word, 00:19:14.98\00:19:17.22 "I don't want to go, daddy, I just don't want to go, 00:19:17.25\00:19:20.69 I hate the thoughts of leaving all the stuff that I have here. 00:19:20.72\00:19:25.16 Please don't make me go." 00:19:25.19\00:19:27.03 So her dad said to her, 00:19:27.03\00:19:29.23 "Singingstar, that's just the way it is. 00:19:29.26\00:19:31.50 Sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do. 00:19:31.53\00:19:35.50 And that we don't think are very pleasant." 00:19:35.54\00:19:39.04 She didn't have a choice, 00:19:39.07\00:19:40.41 she knew better 00:19:40.48\00:19:41.81 than to not do what her father wanted her to do. 00:19:41.84\00:19:45.15 So off they went. 00:19:45.18\00:19:46.51 They drove a long, long way and they had collected 00:19:46.55\00:19:48.25 all kinds of good stuff for them. 00:19:48.28\00:19:50.32 They had collected clothes, they had collected food, 00:19:50.39\00:19:53.96 they had collected money, and they were taking 00:19:53.99\00:19:56.16 a whole bunch of tracks with them to pass out 00:19:56.19\00:19:58.66 because daddy 00:19:58.69\00:20:00.03 who was a chief knew Christ as a Savior, 00:20:00.10\00:20:03.03 and he was going to hold meetings for them. 00:20:03.06\00:20:05.87 Well, she got there, happy? 00:20:05.90\00:20:09.04 She was not. She didn't like it at all. 00:20:09.07\00:20:12.91 There was no forest there, there was no water, 00:20:12.94\00:20:17.68 there are no lakes much, 00:20:17.71\00:20:19.15 and if they are, they are manmade. 00:20:19.18\00:20:22.82 She didn't even like the people 00:20:22.85\00:20:25.62 because she didn't take a chance 00:20:25.65\00:20:27.02 to get to know them. 00:20:27.06\00:20:29.19 So they went around door to door with the tracks. 00:20:29.22\00:20:34.40 And pretty soon 00:20:34.46\00:20:36.43 she found a few friends 00:20:36.46\00:20:40.50 that she really liked. 00:20:40.57\00:20:43.24 And her brother said to her, 00:20:43.27\00:20:44.61 "See, I told you it wasn't going 00:20:44.64\00:20:45.97 to be so bad, isn't this great?" 00:20:46.01\00:20:50.08 Well, she wasn't sure. 00:20:50.11\00:20:51.85 She found a little shrub out in the middle of the desert 00:20:51.88\00:20:55.85 and she sat under there, and she cried, and she cried, 00:20:55.88\00:21:00.56 and she cried. 00:21:00.59\00:21:02.39 She didn't want to stay there at all. 00:21:02.42\00:21:06.03 After a while she decided, 00:21:06.06\00:21:08.33 well, maybe this will be all right. 00:21:08.36\00:21:09.93 So she went around and she helped the family, 00:21:09.96\00:21:12.97 deliver all of the things that they had brought. 00:21:13.00\00:21:16.54 And lo and behold, 00:21:16.57\00:21:18.94 three of those people came to the meetings 00:21:18.97\00:21:22.61 that daddy was holding. 00:21:22.64\00:21:24.95 And guess what? 00:21:24.98\00:21:26.55 They accepted Christ as their Savior, 00:21:26.58\00:21:31.02 as Jesus into their hearts. 00:21:31.05\00:21:34.12 And one day daddy noticed that she was missing. 00:21:34.16\00:21:38.39 Now he had noticed 00:21:38.43\00:21:39.76 that she was missing before and so, 00:21:39.79\00:21:41.10 he sent her brother out in order to find her. 00:21:41.13\00:21:46.70 And when he went the second time, 00:21:46.77\00:21:49.60 he didn't see her crying underneath 00:21:49.64\00:21:51.41 that little shrub. 00:21:51.44\00:21:52.77 Lo and behold, how do you think he found her? 00:21:52.81\00:21:56.31 He found her laughing and having such a great time, 00:21:56.34\00:22:01.15 and even showing her new friends, 00:22:01.18\00:22:03.89 the Indian dance that we do up north. 00:22:03.92\00:22:09.29 Three of those people accepted Christ. 00:22:09.32\00:22:12.36 Now, if you don't have Jesus in your heart, 00:22:12.39\00:22:15.16 you can do that this very moment. 00:22:15.20\00:22:20.00 Who would like to come and pray? 00:22:20.04\00:22:21.37 Thank you. 00:22:24.44\00:22:25.77 Can you pray and thank Jesus for coming into our hearts? 00:22:30.41\00:22:35.95 Thank You, God, for everything You gave us for today. 00:22:35.98\00:22:41.36 And we ask and thank You for the children who came here. 00:22:41.39\00:22:47.60 And we ask Your forgiveness for wrongdoings, 00:22:47.60\00:22:50.60 in the name we pray. 00:22:50.63\00:22:51.97 Amen. Amen. 00:22:52.00\00:22:54.10 Thank you so much 00:22:54.17\00:22:55.50 and you can go back to your seats now. 00:22:55.54\00:22:57.14 Thank you for coming. 00:22:57.17\00:23:00.78 The scripture reading this morning 00:23:00.81\00:23:02.24 is found on page 11 00:23:02.28\00:23:04.88 based on Psalm 100:16. 00:23:04.91\00:23:08.48 Page 11 in your bulletin. 00:23:08.52\00:23:10.39 And we will read it responsibly. 00:23:14.86\00:23:19.16 "I love the Lord, for He heard my voice, 00:23:19.19\00:23:22.63 He heard my cry for mercy. 00:23:22.66\00:23:24.97 Because He turned His ear to me, 00:23:25.00\00:23:27.70 I will call on Him as long as I live." 00:23:27.74\00:23:31.67 Return to your rest, my soul, 00:23:31.71\00:23:34.48 for the Lord has been good to you. 00:23:34.51\00:23:37.81 What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me? 00:23:37.85\00:23:42.45 I will lift up the cup of salvation 00:23:42.48\00:23:45.39 and call on the name of the Lord. 00:23:45.42\00:23:49.46 Amen. 00:23:49.49\00:23:50.83 Brother Jose and son Joseph, well done. 00:23:50.89\00:23:54.23 There's a... 00:23:54.30\00:23:55.60 just a lifting 00:23:55.63\00:23:56.97 Thanksgiving hymn tucked away in our hymnal, 00:23:57.00\00:23:59.13 I want you to turn there now, it's number 560, 00:23:59.17\00:24:03.61 just two stanzas. 00:24:03.64\00:24:04.97 But it has this, 00:24:05.01\00:24:06.34 just this updraft of praise and gratitude. 00:24:06.37\00:24:09.14 And we need to sing it, 00:24:09.18\00:24:10.65 as we are in the heart of the Thanksgiving weekend. 00:24:10.68\00:24:14.22 Hymn 560, please. 00:24:14.25\00:24:16.42 Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving 00:24:43.18\00:24:50.05 To God the Creator triumphantly raise 00:24:50.09\00:24:56.69 Who fashioned and made us 00:24:56.73\00:25:00.36 Protected and stayed us 00:25:00.43\00:25:03.40 Who guideth us on to the end of our days 00:25:03.47\00:25:10.31 His banners are o'er us 00:25:10.34\00:25:13.78 His light goes before us 00:25:13.81\00:25:17.05 A pillar of fire shining forth in the night 00:25:17.08\00:25:24.02 'Til shadows have vanished and darkness is banished 00:25:24.09\00:25:30.83 As forward we travel 00:25:30.86\00:25:33.70 From light into light 00:25:33.73\00:25:39.67 His law He enforces 00:25:39.70\00:25:43.00 The stars in their courses 00:25:43.04\00:25:46.17 The sun in his orbit 00:25:46.21\00:25:49.48 Obediently shine 00:25:49.51\00:25:53.05 The hills and the mountains 00:25:53.08\00:25:56.55 The rivers and fountains 00:25:56.58\00:25:59.65 The deeps of the ocean 00:25:59.69\00:26:02.96 Proclaim Him divine 00:26:02.99\00:26:06.93 We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing 00:26:06.96\00:26:13.44 With glad adoration a song let us raise 00:26:13.47\00:26:20.28 'Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving 00:26:20.31\00:26:27.12 To God in the highest 00:26:27.15\00:26:30.52 Hosanna and praise 00:26:30.59\00:26:35.22 And so, Father, we unite our voices 00:26:39.16\00:26:41.20 with all things living. 00:26:41.23\00:26:43.43 One common thread 00:26:43.47\00:26:46.80 through all the praise, 00:26:46.84\00:26:49.24 gratitude, Thanksgiving. 00:26:49.27\00:26:53.34 In the few moments we have in the word, 00:26:53.38\00:26:56.81 come flip the coin for us. 00:26:56.85\00:26:59.58 Let us see the other side of Thanksgiving. 00:26:59.61\00:27:03.52 Give us a whole new reason to give thanks, 00:27:03.55\00:27:05.72 we pray in Christ's name, amen. 00:27:05.75\00:27:08.79 Speaking of Thanksgiving, 00:27:08.82\00:27:10.19 I need to give thanks to somebody, 00:27:10.26\00:27:11.93 but I can't, somebody dropped this by the office, 00:27:11.96\00:27:14.56 a delightful essay written by Jessica Shaver. 00:27:14.56\00:27:19.90 But no name on it, 00:27:19.93\00:27:21.27 just two words at the top very good 00:27:21.30\00:27:22.64 and then two lines under it and a circle around it. 00:27:22.67\00:27:25.21 And I agree, it is very good, 00:27:25.24\00:27:26.57 and I'd give you the credit for it, 00:27:26.61\00:27:28.61 if I knew who you were. 00:27:28.64\00:27:29.98 But let me just... 00:27:30.05\00:27:31.38 I want to share this with everybody, 00:27:31.41\00:27:32.75 just a few lines to get you, 00:27:32.78\00:27:34.15 to help you pick up the flavor of this. 00:27:34.22\00:27:36.58 The title of it is, "Thanks for nothing". 00:27:36.62\00:27:38.85 This year I'm thanking God 00:27:38.89\00:27:40.26 for the things that did not happen, 00:27:40.29\00:27:42.26 all right. 00:27:42.29\00:27:43.66 My brother once said 00:27:43.73\00:27:45.06 that the trouble with being an atheist 00:27:45.09\00:27:46.90 is that when your motorcycle plunges off a cliff 00:27:46.93\00:27:49.13 into the Colorado River and you aren't killed, 00:27:49.16\00:27:51.83 there's no one to thank. 00:27:51.87\00:27:56.07 I'm a Christian, but sometimes 00:27:56.10\00:27:57.47 I forget to thank God for the things 00:27:57.51\00:27:58.84 that haven't happened. 00:27:58.87\00:28:00.28 Okay, so now she's going to have two columns worth, 00:28:00.31\00:28:01.64 let me just share a handful with you. 00:28:01.68\00:28:03.98 I'm grateful for the accidents I wasn't involved in, 00:28:04.01\00:28:08.05 the illnesses that never developed, 00:28:08.08\00:28:09.62 and the times 00:28:09.65\00:28:11.02 I could have been mugged but wasn't. 00:28:11.05\00:28:13.49 I'm thankful my house didn't burn down, 00:28:13.52\00:28:14.86 when I left the iron on for five hours. 00:28:14.89\00:28:17.56 We all have done that. 00:28:17.59\00:28:18.99 I'm thankful that when we left the garage door up all night, 00:28:19.03\00:28:21.16 nothing was taken. 00:28:21.20\00:28:23.06 I thank God for the time our neighbors found 00:28:23.10\00:28:24.60 the convicted rapist... 00:28:24.63\00:28:25.97 This is kind of creepy. 00:28:26.00\00:28:27.54 You found the convicted rapist be outside our bathroom window 00:28:27.57\00:28:30.51 before he could get in the house. 00:28:30.54\00:28:34.58 I'm thankful that the phone call 00:28:34.61\00:28:36.28 in the middle of the night was a wrong number 00:28:36.31\00:28:38.55 and not someone calling to tell us 00:28:38.58\00:28:39.91 about a death in the family. 00:28:39.95\00:28:41.95 Now how many times as the phone rang at, 00:28:41.98\00:28:43.42 what 2 o'clock in the morning and you're absolutely, 00:28:43.49\00:28:45.59 just adrenaline rush, and it's the wrong number. 00:28:45.62\00:28:50.03 Yeah, this idea of thanks for nothing. 00:28:50.06\00:28:56.26 Let's confess that as American Christians, 00:28:56.30\00:28:58.57 we're pretty much programmed to thank God for what we got. 00:28:58.60\00:29:02.87 I got this, I got that, 00:29:02.90\00:29:04.24 I got this and I got that this year, 00:29:04.27\00:29:05.81 and I got this, and oh, God, thank You, thank You. 00:29:05.84\00:29:07.68 But what would happen if we flip the coin over 00:29:07.71\00:29:10.78 and we thank God 00:29:10.81\00:29:12.15 for what we didn't get this year. 00:29:12.18\00:29:15.58 Wouldn't that be a novel thought? 00:29:15.62\00:29:17.42 In fact, I bet you, 00:29:17.45\00:29:18.79 we could sit around the dinner table today 00:29:18.82\00:29:20.19 at the end of another great Thanksgiving to dinner. 00:29:20.22\00:29:24.26 And I imagine we could fill up a list of 100 reasons 00:29:24.29\00:29:28.03 why we are grateful something didn't happen. 00:29:28.06\00:29:31.63 In fact there's a... 00:29:31.67\00:29:33.00 There is a study guide in today's worship bulletin, 00:29:33.03\00:29:34.94 pull it out. 00:29:34.97\00:29:36.30 I filled in the first three, 00:29:36.34\00:29:37.67 but I came up with a list of ten, 00:29:37.71\00:29:39.04 so I'm gonna give you three, 00:29:39.07\00:29:40.41 then the fourth through ten is blank, 00:29:40.48\00:29:41.91 you could easily just do this at the end of a dinner today. 00:29:41.94\00:29:44.45 Yup, just go around to serve, 00:29:44.48\00:29:45.81 "Hey, guys, let's just thank God 00:29:45.85\00:29:47.22 for what didn't happen this year." 00:29:47.25\00:29:49.05 The flip side of Thanksgiving 00:29:49.08\00:29:50.49 is the title of this little homily, 00:29:50.52\00:29:52.32 the flip side of Thanksgiving, thanks for nothing. 00:29:52.35\00:29:56.93 As it turns out thanks for nothing 00:29:56.96\00:29:58.29 is embedded in the song 00:29:58.33\00:30:00.30 that our father and son team just read. 00:30:00.33\00:30:03.43 I want to go to that song with you. 00:30:03.47\00:30:04.90 Psalm 116, just one psalm away 00:30:04.93\00:30:07.50 from the shortest chapter in all the Bible 00:30:07.54\00:30:08.87 which would be Psalm 117. 00:30:08.90\00:30:11.91 Psalm 116 just two, three, three chapters away 00:30:11.94\00:30:14.58 from the longest chapters, Psalm 119, 00:30:14.61\00:30:17.01 but we don't read Psalm 116 much, do we? 00:30:17.05\00:30:21.08 I want to take you there embedded in this Psalm, 00:30:21.12\00:30:23.55 three thanks for nothings. 00:30:23.59\00:30:25.35 Three thanks for nothings, 00:30:25.39\00:30:26.82 kind of prime the pump for us as we think about thanks... 00:30:26.86\00:30:33.50 we can be thankful that didn't happen. 00:30:33.56\00:30:35.36 But the Psalmist opens up, 00:30:35.40\00:30:36.73 this is Psalm 116, I'm in the NIV. 00:30:36.80\00:30:38.20 By the way, you didn't bring your Bible, 00:30:38.23\00:30:39.57 grab the pew Bible in front of you, 00:30:39.60\00:30:40.94 it'll be page 416. 00:30:40.97\00:30:43.94 "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice, 00:30:43.97\00:30:46.47 he heard my cry for mercy. 00:30:46.51\00:30:48.21 Because he turned his ear to me, 00:30:48.24\00:30:50.08 I will call on him as long as I live." 00:30:50.11\00:30:52.91 The Psalmist just begins with this burst 00:30:52.95\00:30:55.45 of spontaneous unabashed adoration. 00:30:55.48\00:31:00.66 Because it's really... 00:31:00.69\00:31:02.02 I need to tell you this is rare to come 00:31:02.06\00:31:03.53 across these words in the Psalter, 00:31:03.56\00:31:05.96 in the Psalms. 00:31:05.99\00:31:07.76 I mean, in Psalm 119, David is all over God. 00:31:07.76\00:31:10.23 He says, oh, I love Your precepts, 00:31:10.27\00:31:12.23 I love Your law, I love Your commandments, 00:31:12.27\00:31:13.74 I love Your testimonies, I love Your name, 00:31:13.80\00:31:15.94 elsewhere in the Psalms, I love Your house, 00:31:15.97\00:31:18.07 I love Your salvation. 00:31:18.11\00:31:19.51 But for David... 00:31:19.54\00:31:20.88 Now, we don't know who wrote this, 00:31:20.94\00:31:22.28 but for David only one Psalm he composes begins 00:31:22.31\00:31:27.42 with the word Psalm 18:1, "I love You, Lord." 00:31:27.48\00:31:32.45 I mean, this is not a prayer, this is a testimony. 00:31:32.49\00:31:34.42 Hey, guys, I want you to know, 00:31:34.46\00:31:35.79 I just love God with all my heart today. 00:31:35.82\00:31:37.59 That's what's happening here. 00:31:37.63\00:31:39.36 Only once, David begins, "I love You, Lord." 00:31:39.39\00:31:44.03 In the Old Testament, it was just a little, 00:31:44.10\00:31:45.77 you know, a little less free to express love. 00:31:45.80\00:31:49.50 But, boy, you get to the New Testament, 00:31:49.54\00:31:51.14 you, Peter, 00:31:51.17\00:31:54.24 do you love me? 00:31:54.28\00:31:57.65 Come on, do you love me? 00:31:57.68\00:32:00.95 Do you love me? 00:32:00.98\00:32:02.58 Three times you spit on my name, 00:32:02.62\00:32:05.25 I'm asking you, boy, do you really love me? 00:32:05.29\00:32:10.23 And the big fisherman's eyes dropped to the ground, 00:32:10.26\00:32:14.46 his bare toe scratching 00:32:14.46\00:32:17.03 in the sand beside Galilee that early morning. 00:32:17.07\00:32:21.24 Finally Peter finds his voice and he said, 00:32:21.27\00:32:25.21 "You know everything, Lord. 00:32:25.24\00:32:27.48 You know my heart. You know I love you." 00:32:27.54\00:32:32.75 Why are we so reticent about telling God 00:32:32.78\00:32:34.72 that we love Him? 00:32:34.75\00:32:36.69 You know, when we're kids... 00:32:36.75\00:32:38.09 Let me tell you as a parent, as a grandparent trust me, 00:32:38.12\00:32:40.32 there's the sweetest sound in the world 00:32:40.36\00:32:42.12 as far that little child to throw his 00:32:42.16\00:32:44.29 or her arms around you 00:32:44.33\00:32:45.66 and then whispering in your ear, 00:32:45.69\00:32:47.03 "Daddy I love you. 00:32:47.10\00:32:48.40 Papa I love you." 00:32:48.43\00:32:50.60 Can you imagine what it does to God? 00:32:50.63\00:32:53.03 Do you think God enjoys it? Are you kidding? 00:32:53.07\00:32:55.34 And some of us are so sophisticated 00:32:55.37\00:32:56.94 that we think we outgrow, 00:32:56.97\00:32:58.31 happen to never tell God that we love Him. 00:32:58.34\00:32:59.67 Hey, come on, I'm not a child anymore, 00:32:59.71\00:33:01.58 I'm mature now. 00:33:01.61\00:33:03.55 Kid a life. 00:33:03.58\00:33:06.28 Be it... 00:33:06.31\00:33:07.65 Is there ever time when you quit telling 00:33:07.68\00:33:09.02 your mother that you love her? 00:33:09.05\00:33:11.02 Of course not, you tell her out until you die. 00:33:11.05\00:33:16.73 God's the same way. 00:33:16.76\00:33:18.53 Do you love Me? 00:33:18.56\00:33:19.89 Hey, Dwight, I need to hear this 00:33:19.93\00:33:21.23 in your prayers more, do you love Me? 00:33:21.26\00:33:23.00 Tell Me, tell Me. He loves it. 00:33:23.03\00:33:25.47 I love the Lord. 00:33:28.90\00:33:30.27 My testimony today for "He heard my voice, 00:33:30.31\00:33:31.94 He heard my cry for mercy. 00:33:31.97\00:33:33.58 Because He turned his ear to me, 00:33:33.64\00:33:35.01 I will call on him as long as I live." 00:33:35.04\00:33:37.61 Now Derek Kidner in his masterful commentary 00:33:37.65\00:33:42.45 in the Book of Psalms, two volume commentary. 00:33:42.48\00:33:44.19 Kidner, I put these words on the screen for you. 00:33:44.25\00:33:47.22 Kidner says, what's happening right here, 00:33:47.26\00:33:49.39 "It is a resolve," you see there, 00:33:49.42\00:33:51.86 "It is a resolve to trust God exclusively 00:33:51.89\00:33:54.83 and worship Him explicitly." 00:33:54.86\00:33:57.60 Oh, I like that, to trust Him, 00:33:57.63\00:33:59.43 to trust God exclusively and worship Him explicitly. 00:33:59.47\00:34:05.01 I was visiting with a man in prison last week. 00:34:05.04\00:34:08.68 And he was sharing with me his earnest testimony 00:34:08.71\00:34:11.85 of how his adversity has been drawing him nearer 00:34:11.88\00:34:14.95 and nearer to God by teaching him to trust God. 00:34:14.98\00:34:18.72 And I said to him, "Are you serious?" 00:34:18.75\00:34:21.16 I am not inside these walls, but God is working on 00:34:21.19\00:34:23.46 that very same lesson in my life, 00:34:23.53\00:34:25.89 He's is trying to teach me to trust Him more. 00:34:25.93\00:34:29.03 And I have a feeling of this, that kind of a family Sabbath, 00:34:29.06\00:34:31.23 we pass the microphone up and down the pews, 00:34:31.27\00:34:33.50 give a testimony. 00:34:33.54\00:34:34.87 I have a feeling most of us would testify, yup that's it. 00:34:34.90\00:34:38.14 I'm still trying to learn 00:34:38.17\00:34:40.54 how to trust Him even in adversity. 00:34:40.58\00:34:44.25 Kidner, I like that line, 00:34:44.28\00:34:45.68 "It is a resolve to trust God exclusively 00:34:45.71\00:34:48.58 and worship Him explicitly." 00:34:48.62\00:34:52.09 I called on the name of the Lord, 00:34:52.12\00:34:53.62 four times in this Psalm, 00:34:53.66\00:34:55.02 I called on the name of the Lord, 00:34:55.06\00:34:56.62 I will call on the name of the Lord, 00:34:56.69\00:34:58.13 I call on the name of the Lord. 00:34:58.16\00:35:01.20 So with this little introductory salvo now, 00:35:01.23\00:35:03.00 here they come. 00:35:03.03\00:35:04.37 Three thanks for nothings, 00:35:04.40\00:35:05.73 now here's a little study guide, 00:35:05.77\00:35:07.14 I give you a list of ten... 00:35:07.17\00:35:09.30 I give you three that only means seven after dinner. 00:35:09.34\00:35:11.47 You come up with seven, that'd be great. 00:35:11.51\00:35:13.24 Pull out your study guide, let's go. 00:35:13.27\00:35:15.08 Here's the first one thanks for nothing number one. 00:35:15.11\00:35:17.55 Let's read it first here verse three, the Psalmist, 00:35:17.58\00:35:20.22 "The cords of death entangled me, 00:35:20.25\00:35:23.15 the anguish of the grave.." 00:35:23.18\00:35:24.52 that would be Sheol, 00:35:24.55\00:35:25.89 "The anguish of the grave came over me, 00:35:25.92\00:35:27.26 I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 00:35:27.29\00:35:29.66 Then I called on the name of the Lord: 00:35:29.69\00:35:32.59 'Lord, save me!'" 00:35:32.63\00:35:35.90 Thanks for nothing number one, jot it down. 00:35:35.93\00:35:39.27 Death and the grave did not snatch me. 00:35:39.30\00:35:42.14 Write it down, 00:35:42.17\00:35:43.57 death and the grave did not snatch me. 00:35:43.61\00:35:46.47 I made it to the year, the grave did not get me, 00:35:46.51\00:35:48.91 I am still alive, hallelujah. 00:35:48.94\00:35:51.55 In fact that's the very last word 00:35:51.58\00:35:52.91 of this Psalm in Hebrew. 00:35:52.95\00:35:54.28 Hallelujah, praise be to God, hallelujah. 00:35:54.32\00:35:58.12 The grave... 00:35:58.15\00:35:59.49 some of you, oh, boy I know your story. 00:35:59.52\00:36:02.26 Some of you here have had a very close call 00:36:02.29\00:36:05.56 with death this year. 00:36:05.59\00:36:08.70 Sheol came and knocking at your door. 00:36:08.73\00:36:10.87 And you thought this was it, 00:36:15.40\00:36:17.84 I'm gonna die, but you didn't, hallelujah. 00:36:17.87\00:36:21.88 Look, I could flip a picture on the screen right now 00:36:21.91\00:36:24.85 of a Honda minivan like an accordion 00:36:24.88\00:36:28.05 with two Andrews University students in it, 00:36:28.08\00:36:30.92 members here should have been dead, 00:36:30.99\00:36:33.22 hit a truck, hit a truck from behind, it's over. 00:36:33.25\00:36:37.73 Some of you know that this was the year 00:36:37.76\00:36:39.56 that could have been your last year on this planet. 00:36:39.59\00:36:43.93 Praise, thank the Lord, hallelujah. 00:36:43.97\00:36:46.07 The grave and death did not snatch me. 00:36:46.10\00:36:49.34 When's the last time 00:36:49.37\00:36:50.71 we thank God for what we didn't get? 00:36:50.77\00:36:53.38 I got this, I got that, I got this, no. 00:36:53.44\00:36:55.54 When is the last time we thanked God 00:36:55.58\00:36:57.31 for what didn't happen to us? 00:36:57.35\00:36:59.85 That's what the Psalmist is doing here. 00:36:59.88\00:37:02.42 Death did not get me, 00:37:02.45\00:37:03.82 death and the grave did not snatch me, 00:37:03.85\00:37:05.55 hallelujah. 00:37:05.59\00:37:07.02 Thanks for nothing number one. 00:37:07.09\00:37:08.66 Here comes, thanks for nothing number two, jot it down. 00:37:08.69\00:37:10.86 Evil and tears did not overcome me. 00:37:10.89\00:37:15.93 Death and the grave did not snatch me, 00:37:15.96\00:37:17.30 evil and tears did not overcome me. 00:37:17.37\00:37:19.53 What's that all about? 00:37:19.57\00:37:20.94 Let's go to verse 5, 00:37:20.97\00:37:22.30 "The Lord is gracious and righteous, 00:37:22.34\00:37:24.87 our God is full of compassion. 00:37:24.91\00:37:27.08 The Lord protects the unwary," 00:37:27.11\00:37:28.91 that's the key word, we're coming back to that word. 00:37:28.94\00:37:31.38 "The Lord protects the unwary, when I was brought low, 00:37:31.41\00:37:33.52 he saved me." 00:37:33.55\00:37:34.88 Verse 7, "Return to your rest," 00:37:34.92\00:37:36.58 a little bit of self taught now. 00:37:36.62\00:37:38.12 "Return to your rest, oh, my soul, 00:37:38.15\00:37:40.46 for the Lord has been good to you." 00:37:40.49\00:37:43.02 Anybody saying amen to that one? 00:37:43.06\00:37:45.49 Come on, He's being good to me this year. 00:37:45.53\00:37:47.96 Now that a word, fairly knew how good He's been to us. 00:37:51.20\00:37:54.47 That little word unwary in the NIV. 00:37:54.50\00:37:56.54 Some of your translations render it simple, 00:37:56.57\00:37:58.64 as open minded, 00:37:58.67\00:38:00.11 open to the instruction of wisdom or folly, 00:38:00.14\00:38:02.31 it actually includes a touch of naivete. 00:38:02.34\00:38:06.98 So that if we had a good sense, bad sense, meter right here, 00:38:07.05\00:38:09.85 your needle would be passed midpoint leaning 00:38:09.88\00:38:12.45 towards bad sense. 00:38:12.49\00:38:15.42 You're not careful, 00:38:15.46\00:38:16.79 you're not watching, an evil almost, 00:38:16.86\00:38:20.03 the evil one almost took you down. 00:38:20.06\00:38:23.16 That's what he's describing here, 00:38:23.20\00:38:24.87 the Lord watch me unwary though I was. 00:38:24.90\00:38:30.54 Boy, it can happen, can it? 00:38:30.61\00:38:32.24 I'm reading a book right now, 00:38:32.27\00:38:33.88 entitled Philosophers Who Believe: 00:38:33.91\00:38:35.68 The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers. 00:38:35.71\00:38:38.55 It's a collection of 11 testimonies 00:38:38.58\00:38:40.02 from these philosophers who embraced faith in God 00:38:40.05\00:38:43.12 and faith in Christ from Mortimer Alder 00:38:43.15\00:38:45.82 to Alvin Plantinga, 00:38:45.85\00:38:47.39 taught at Calvin College for years, 00:38:47.46\00:38:48.89 and then ended his career teaching down here 00:38:48.92\00:38:50.83 for just as long at Notre Dame University, 00:38:50.86\00:38:52.56 Nicholas Wolterstroff, still teaching Yale University. 00:38:52.59\00:38:56.33 One of the philosopher, 00:38:56.36\00:38:57.77 you know, I don't move in those areas circles 00:38:57.80\00:38:59.33 and I had never heard his name 00:38:59.37\00:39:00.77 before Frederick Suppe, S-U-P-P-E. 00:39:00.80\00:39:04.04 He describes in his testimony, 00:39:04.07\00:39:05.67 how he grew up in a home with an abusive father, 00:39:05.71\00:39:08.51 not sexually abusive, but verbally abusive. 00:39:08.54\00:39:12.68 Physically abusive at times, 00:39:12.71\00:39:14.28 and how at the age of 18 he ran away from home. 00:39:14.35\00:39:17.12 Said, I'm gonna just go off to college on my own, 00:39:17.15\00:39:19.15 he bumped into a youth pastor who got him into a youth group, 00:39:19.19\00:39:22.42 and so here's this kid, 00:39:22.46\00:39:23.79 a freshman in community college, 00:39:23.86\00:39:25.79 but he finds Christ, he also discovers 00:39:25.83\00:39:28.56 that he has a love for philosophy, 00:39:28.60\00:39:30.30 things of the mind 00:39:30.37\00:39:31.70 and it just keeps blossoming for him until academically, 00:39:31.73\00:39:34.67 professionally now, 00:39:34.70\00:39:36.04 he's in the thick as a philosopher. 00:39:36.07\00:39:39.54 But as it would happen, 00:39:39.57\00:39:40.91 speaking of unwary or simple minded, 00:39:40.98\00:39:44.78 Suppe became a master in a relationship 00:39:44.81\00:39:46.92 that spiraled out of control. 00:39:46.95\00:39:48.95 Years later he described his unraveling, 00:39:48.98\00:39:51.52 the unraveling of his fate 00:39:51.55\00:39:52.89 as a consequence of this relationship. 00:39:52.92\00:39:56.86 I'm gonna put his words on the screen for you. 00:39:56.93\00:39:58.63 Frederick Suppe. 00:39:58.66\00:40:00.00 "It was no dramatic, 00:40:00.03\00:40:01.43 decisive decision to leave the Church. 00:40:01.46\00:40:05.33 When it finally came... 00:40:05.37\00:40:06.70 Rather it was as Downing once observed: 00:40:06.74\00:40:09.40 'The erosion that precedes 00:40:09.44\00:40:10.87 the major lapse is seldom publicly visible.'" 00:40:10.91\00:40:14.98 Some of you right now are going through an erosion 00:40:15.01\00:40:16.81 that you might not even be aware of yourself. 00:40:16.85\00:40:19.41 It's just quietly eroding, you're unwary, 00:40:19.45\00:40:22.18 you're being a little simple minded, 00:40:22.22\00:40:23.55 you're being a bit naive in the way 00:40:23.59\00:40:24.92 you're living your life 00:40:24.95\00:40:26.29 and somebody is just drawing you 00:40:26.32\00:40:27.96 to the edge of a precipice, a moral precipice. 00:40:27.99\00:40:31.73 It just happens, you don't see it. 00:40:31.76\00:40:33.09 People outside of you don't see, 00:40:33.13\00:40:34.46 it it's just this quiet erosion, 00:40:34.46\00:40:38.83 seldom publicly visible, keep reading. 00:40:38.87\00:40:40.47 "Characters dissolve much as they are built up, 00:40:40.50\00:40:43.64 by a slow accumulation of seemingly unimportant deeds. 00:40:43.67\00:40:47.01 Keep reading. 00:40:47.04\00:40:48.38 As our relationship that we just spoke about, 00:40:48.41\00:40:50.01 as our relationship moved along its counterproductive course, 00:40:50.08\00:40:53.35 doing immeasurable harm to both of us, 00:40:53.38\00:40:56.32 I gradually moved 00:40:56.35\00:40:57.69 from nonpracticing to nonbelieving, 00:40:57.72\00:41:00.26 and eventually to positive disbelief. 00:41:00.29\00:41:02.46 Toward the end I became an atheist, 00:41:02.49\00:41:03.93 and viewed the very possibility of eternal life as a bad joke." 00:41:03.96\00:41:09.73 Unwary, unsuspecting, gotcha. 00:41:09.76\00:41:14.77 The Psalmist is saying, I could have been there, 00:41:14.80\00:41:20.64 but it didn't happen for me. 00:41:20.68\00:41:22.78 Keep reading here, verse 8, 00:41:22.81\00:41:24.81 "For You, Lord, have delivered me," 00:41:24.85\00:41:26.88 unwary though I have been, you delivered me from death, 00:41:26.92\00:41:29.38 you delivered my eyes from tears, 00:41:29.42\00:41:31.52 you delivered my feet from stumbling 00:41:31.55\00:41:33.25 over the moral precipice that I may walk 00:41:33.32\00:41:36.06 before the Lord in the land of the living." 00:41:36.09\00:41:38.76 It could have been worse, the Psalmist is exclaiming. 00:41:38.79\00:41:41.56 And as you read 00:41:41.60\00:41:42.93 Frederick Suppe's torture testimony, 00:41:42.96\00:41:45.73 that spiritual spiraling out of control, 00:41:45.77\00:41:48.40 you realize, man, this could be a lot worse, 00:41:48.44\00:41:51.24 thank God, I've been through, 00:41:51.27\00:41:52.61 what I've been through, but I didn't go there, 00:41:52.64\00:41:54.58 You kept me unwary though I'm, you stopped me, 00:41:54.61\00:41:58.65 thanks for nothing God. 00:41:58.68\00:42:00.95 Thanks for nothing. 00:42:00.98\00:42:02.32 Number one, death 00:42:02.35\00:42:03.69 and the grave did not snatch me. 00:42:03.72\00:42:05.05 Number two, evil and tears did not overcome me. 00:42:05.09\00:42:08.66 And finally now number three, thanks for nothing. 00:42:08.69\00:42:11.73 Here it is in verse 12. 00:42:11.76\00:42:14.10 "What shall I return to the Lord 00:42:14.10\00:42:15.76 for all his goodness to me?" 00:42:15.80\00:42:17.93 By the way, there's a great thanks... 00:42:17.97\00:42:19.30 There is a great Thanksgiving. 00:42:19.33\00:42:20.70 Go back please to the verse 12. 00:42:20.74\00:42:22.97 There's a great Thanksgiving thought right there 00:42:23.00\00:42:25.31 because the way we do Thanksgiving it's... 00:42:25.34\00:42:27.44 I got this, I got that, I got that, 00:42:27.48\00:42:28.88 we got this missed, list a mile long. 00:42:28.91\00:42:31.15 Okay, so here's the question. 00:42:31.18\00:42:33.15 The Psalmist just raises it, what are you gonna do to God 00:42:33.18\00:42:35.92 to show your gratitude for His generosity? 00:42:35.95\00:42:38.89 That's what he's asking. What is he saying here? 00:42:38.92\00:42:42.06 What should I return to the Lord 00:42:42.09\00:42:43.43 for all His goodness to me? 00:42:43.49\00:42:45.09 Hey, listen, ladies and gentleman, 00:42:45.13\00:42:46.46 God has already given away. 00:42:46.49\00:42:47.83 Listen, listen, listen, 00:42:47.86\00:42:49.16 He's already given away, it's called tithe. 00:42:49.20\00:42:52.13 It's called tithe. 00:42:52.17\00:42:53.77 He says, you return that to Me, it's already mine anyway. 00:42:53.80\00:42:56.10 You want to show me your generous, 00:42:56.14\00:42:57.47 you want to show me 00:42:57.54\00:42:58.87 that you're grateful for My generosity, 00:42:58.91\00:43:00.31 return to Me, return to Me your tithe, 00:43:00.34\00:43:02.44 your offerings out of a heart of grateful love. 00:43:02.48\00:43:05.15 I love the Lord, I give this to you. 00:43:05.18\00:43:08.75 It's a good question to ask at Thanksgiving time, 00:43:08.78\00:43:10.42 this year of bountiful blessings. 00:43:10.49\00:43:12.02 What shall I return? 00:43:12.05\00:43:13.39 Just read it again verse 12, 00:43:13.46\00:43:14.79 "What shall I return to the Lord 00:43:14.82\00:43:16.16 for all his goodness to me? 00:43:16.19\00:43:17.53 Ah! 00:43:17.56\00:43:18.89 Here comes verse 13, 00:43:18.93\00:43:20.26 "I will lift up the cup of salvation 00:43:20.30\00:43:22.00 and call on the name of the Lord." 00:43:22.03\00:43:25.87 Thanks for nothing number three, 00:43:25.90\00:43:27.67 would you write it down please? 00:43:27.70\00:43:29.14 Grace and salvation did not abandon me this year. 00:43:29.17\00:43:34.64 You kept your grace going, 00:43:34.68\00:43:37.11 you kept your salvation within reach. 00:43:37.15\00:43:38.68 The Hebrew actually should be translated, 00:43:38.71\00:43:40.78 now I take up the cup, it's not lift up. 00:43:40.82\00:43:44.15 I take up the cup 00:43:44.19\00:43:45.52 that has been placed in front of me. 00:43:45.55\00:43:46.96 I take the cup of salvation up now. 00:43:47.02\00:43:50.63 Can you imagine all the ways, God has poured out Himself, 00:43:50.69\00:43:54.76 His grace, the floodgates of heaven have opened up, 00:43:54.83\00:43:57.60 He's poured out His grace on you and me. 00:43:57.63\00:44:01.94 Reminds me of that old hymn, 00:44:01.97\00:44:03.30 Oh, to grace how great a debtor 00:44:03.34\00:44:07.71 Daily I'm constrained to be 00:44:07.74\00:44:12.51 Let Thy goodness 00:44:12.55\00:44:14.45 Like a fetter Bind me closer 00:44:14.48\00:44:19.02 Lord to Thee Now 00:44:19.05\00:44:20.39 come on keep going. 00:44:20.46\00:44:21.79 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it 00:44:21.82\00:44:26.19 Prone to leave the God 00:44:26.23\00:44:29.43 I love Here's my heart 00:44:29.46\00:44:33.13 O take and seal it 00:44:33.17\00:44:36.77 Seal it for Thy courts above 00:44:36.81\00:44:42.64 Thanks for nothing God. 00:44:42.68\00:44:44.71 You didn't take the grace away. 00:44:44.75\00:44:47.42 I'm the one that left you this year 00:44:47.48\00:44:48.82 when you had every right to leave me, 00:44:48.85\00:44:50.55 thanks for nothing, thanks for staying, 00:44:50.59\00:44:52.65 thanks for Your grace and salvation in this cup, 00:44:52.69\00:44:55.92 thank you God. 00:44:55.96\00:44:57.59 Wow. 00:44:57.63\00:44:58.96 Back to Frederick Suppe for one more moment. 00:44:58.99\00:45:03.16 So here's this philosopher who finds God, 00:45:03.20\00:45:05.63 then walks away from God, and then God finds him, 00:45:05.67\00:45:10.31 no he refines God again. 00:45:10.34\00:45:13.14 Now he's writing, he's back to God now. 00:45:13.17\00:45:15.68 And this is choice, put it on the screen. 00:45:15.71\00:45:17.91 My problem, so he's speaking 00:45:17.95\00:45:19.28 as if very candid now, very candid. 00:45:19.31\00:45:20.75 "My problem, his emphasis, is that I am scared, 00:45:20.82\00:45:24.49 now that I am back, 00:45:24.52\00:45:25.85 that if I don't indulge in spiritual exercises, 00:45:25.89\00:45:28.22 in good works, in various acts of faith, 00:45:28.26\00:45:30.96 I will once again reject God. 00:45:30.99\00:45:33.90 I do not delude myself here. I fully have within me." 00:45:33.93\00:45:37.17 Now he's making a very significant point 00:45:37.23\00:45:38.87 that you and I had very well for us to get. 00:45:38.90\00:45:42.67 "I have fully within me 00:45:42.70\00:45:44.47 the capacity to turn my back on God 00:45:44.51\00:45:47.44 and to walk away once again." 00:45:47.48\00:45:52.41 Free choice is so highly valued in this universe 00:45:52.45\00:45:56.05 that you get free choice all the way through your life. 00:45:56.08\00:45:58.29 There never comes a moment, God said, 00:45:58.32\00:45:59.65 "Okay, you're locked in, 00:45:59.69\00:46:01.09 you can't be lost now, it won't happen." 00:46:01.12\00:46:02.46 No. 00:46:02.49\00:46:03.86 God says, "You have the free choice, 00:46:03.89\00:46:05.23 you have the choice 00:46:05.26\00:46:06.59 until the last day if you wish." 00:46:06.63\00:46:08.80 I'm wooing you, I'm winning you. 00:46:08.83\00:46:11.53 I want you to stay, 00:46:11.57\00:46:13.94 but if you want to walk away again? 00:46:13.97\00:46:16.54 That's what this brilliant mind is saying. 00:46:16.57\00:46:17.94 You can walk away. 00:46:17.97\00:46:20.28 I have the capacity in me to walk away again. 00:46:20.31\00:46:22.98 So he's concerned. 00:46:23.01\00:46:24.35 Now keep reading, 00:46:24.38\00:46:25.71 "In my disconsolate over that realization, 00:46:25.75\00:46:27.85 through dark nights in which I become so desperate 00:46:27.88\00:46:30.52 that I have to pray to God for extra grace merely 00:46:30.59\00:46:33.99 to be able to open 00:46:34.06\00:46:35.39 the sufficient grace already granted me." 00:46:35.42\00:46:37.13 My God give me that grace 00:46:37.16\00:46:38.56 just to take the grace you already have given me. 00:46:38.59\00:46:42.36 "I came to realize that I lack in myself 00:46:42.40\00:46:45.40 even the resources to accept God." 00:46:45.43\00:46:47.60 Now, ladies and gentlemen, 00:46:47.64\00:46:48.97 this is the gospel, keep reading. 00:46:49.00\00:46:50.34 "My very faith, my very acceptance of God, 00:46:50.37\00:46:53.94 is not in my power. 00:46:53.98\00:46:55.84 It is a gratuitous gift of God, 00:46:55.88\00:46:57.75 and I struggle to make that realization 00:46:57.78\00:47:00.45 more than episodic, 00:47:00.48\00:47:01.82 more than just another episode in my life." 00:47:01.85\00:47:05.79 Everything we have even in salvation, 00:47:05.82\00:47:08.69 even our faith is a gift, 00:47:08.72\00:47:10.66 you can't conjure up enough faith. 00:47:10.69\00:47:12.19 Well, I just screw up enough faith 00:47:12.23\00:47:14.46 and then God will save me, you kidding? 00:47:14.46\00:47:16.00 The faith you have is already from Him, 00:47:16.03\00:47:18.40 to every man and woman 00:47:18.43\00:47:19.77 has been granted a measure of faith, 00:47:19.80\00:47:21.14 the scriptures are clear, 00:47:21.17\00:47:22.50 just a mustard seed that's all you need, 00:47:22.54\00:47:24.04 but you have enough to reach out to Me. 00:47:24.11\00:47:28.01 But it's your call, it is your choice, 00:47:28.04\00:47:31.38 you may walk away 00:47:31.41\00:47:32.75 and break my heart, but I let you. 00:47:32.78\00:47:36.32 Wow. What kind of God is this? 00:47:36.35\00:47:38.85 Oh, we need to thank Him today 00:47:38.89\00:47:40.26 for what didn't happen this year. 00:47:40.29\00:47:41.92 Here they are again, thanks for nothing number one, 00:47:41.96\00:47:45.49 death and the grave did not snatch us this year. 00:47:45.53\00:47:48.00 Thanks for nothing number two, 00:47:48.03\00:47:49.63 evil and tears did not overcome us this year. 00:47:49.66\00:47:52.43 And finally, thanks for nothing number three, 00:47:52.47\00:47:54.20 grace and salvation did not abandon us this year. 00:47:54.24\00:47:57.74 Read it one more time with me. 00:47:57.77\00:47:59.17 Verse 12, 00:47:59.21\00:48:00.61 "What shall I return to the Lord 00:48:00.64\00:48:01.98 for all his goodness to me? 00:48:02.01\00:48:04.28 I will take in my hands the cup of salvation 00:48:04.31\00:48:07.15 and I will call on the name of the Lord." 00:48:07.18\00:48:09.85 It's very interesting that word 00:48:09.88\00:48:11.22 for salvation in the Hebrew is this, Yeshuw`ah. 00:48:11.25\00:48:14.46 What name does that sound like by the way Yeshuw`ah? 00:48:14.49\00:48:17.49 Joshua. 00:48:17.56\00:48:18.89 And Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. 00:48:18.93\00:48:22.80 So that the Psalmist is saying, 00:48:22.83\00:48:24.27 I take in my hands the cup of Jesus. 00:48:24.30\00:48:27.84 For Frederick Suppe, for you and me that's it, 00:48:27.87\00:48:30.94 the reason for Thanksgiving everything, 00:48:30.97\00:48:33.71 everything can be laid 00:48:33.78\00:48:35.11 at the feet of a God name Jesus. 00:48:35.14\00:48:38.68 I take up the cup of Jesus, Yeshuw`ah. 00:48:38.71\00:48:44.19 And I call upon the name of the Lord. 00:48:44.22\00:48:48.42 Who laid down, yes He did. 00:48:48.46\00:48:51.23 Who laid down His life for me. 00:48:51.26\00:48:54.73 The man with the story, you didn't hear their story 00:48:54.73\00:48:58.20 because we, two Fridays ago we were so caught up 00:48:58.23\00:49:02.54 with the immense tragedy of Paris, France 00:49:02.57\00:49:06.47 that we missed the story, that 24 hours before Paris, 00:49:06.51\00:49:11.31 France there were two terrorist bombings 00:49:11.35\00:49:13.85 in the port city of Beirut, Lebanon. 00:49:13.88\00:49:17.32 The world missed this story, but thanks to a doctor's blog, 00:49:17.35\00:49:21.62 the editors of the South Bend Tribune 00:49:21.66\00:49:23.22 did something very... 00:49:23.26\00:49:24.59 I've never seen them do this. 00:49:24.63\00:49:25.96 They wrote a signed editorial in which they say... 00:49:25.99\00:49:28.73 Listen, we're not going to put this as a little story 00:49:28.76\00:49:31.13 in a three inch column somewhere, 00:49:31.17\00:49:32.50 we're going to tell you the story in our editorial 00:49:32.53\00:49:35.00 because you haven't heard it. 00:49:35.04\00:49:36.84 Here's the story. 00:49:36.91\00:49:39.74 This is the day before the Friday, 00:49:39.77\00:49:41.71 so that would be Thursday. 00:49:41.74\00:49:43.08 Father is an auto mechanic, he's got two kids, 00:49:43.11\00:49:46.48 little eight-year-old daughter. 00:49:46.51\00:49:48.18 They've just gone to prayers in the mosque, 00:49:48.22\00:49:51.09 they've been praying, 00:49:51.12\00:49:52.45 they've come out of the mosque now, 00:49:52.49\00:49:55.09 and spread out before them is an open air market, 00:49:55.12\00:49:57.56 I mean, all the merchants 00:49:57.63\00:49:58.96 are hawking their wares, their goods, their produce, 00:49:58.99\00:50:02.50 and daddy and little girl are walking along, 00:50:02.53\00:50:06.00 admiring this and admiring that, 00:50:06.03\00:50:07.67 when all of a sudden in a split second 00:50:07.70\00:50:09.44 there is a blinding flash yards away, 00:50:09.47\00:50:13.04 fortunately far enough. 00:50:13.07\00:50:15.84 A suicide terrorist has detonated 00:50:15.88\00:50:17.95 his bomb vest taking his life 00:50:17.98\00:50:20.12 and killing all those around him, 00:50:20.18\00:50:22.38 the dust settles, father has his daughter. 00:50:22.42\00:50:28.39 And as the father is watching where the dust has settled, 00:50:28.42\00:50:31.33 he sees a man beginning to run, 00:50:31.36\00:50:35.23 and the man is running straight for the mosque 00:50:35.26\00:50:39.23 where the father and daughter have just emerged from, 00:50:39.27\00:50:42.34 the man with a look of determination, 00:50:42.37\00:50:44.24 and that daddy one split second realizes 00:50:44.27\00:50:47.21 what's happening, this is a second bomber, 00:50:47.24\00:50:50.68 he's going to go into that packed mosque. 00:50:50.71\00:50:55.85 And without thinking further, 00:50:55.88\00:50:58.39 the young father starts running as fast as he can run, 00:50:58.42\00:51:01.72 he's running behind the terrorist 00:51:01.76\00:51:03.43 and coming from behind 00:51:03.46\00:51:04.79 he tackles the bomber to the ground 00:51:04.83\00:51:07.60 and when they hit the ground the father throws himself 00:51:07.60\00:51:10.73 over the bomber to somehow shield 00:51:10.77\00:51:13.60 what is inevitably next and it was next. 00:51:13.64\00:51:17.47 And his little girl watched as her father disappeared. 00:51:17.51\00:51:23.55 That night a Lebanese physician said 00:51:23.61\00:51:28.05 I need you to hear a story you will not hear now 00:51:28.08\00:51:31.39 with all the preoccupation up there. 00:51:31.42\00:51:34.29 And the South Bend Tribune actually 00:51:34.32\00:51:36.19 is a Lebanese doctor's blog and they quoted here, 00:51:36.22\00:51:39.19 and I read the words, these words. 00:51:39.23\00:51:41.53 "Tonight Adele that would be a Adele teramosque, 00:51:41.56\00:51:43.90 the one who gave his life for the sake of the others. 00:51:43.93\00:51:46.97 Tonight Adele is no longer of this world, 00:51:47.00\00:51:49.84 but his legacy will live on for years 00:51:49.87\00:51:51.74 and the repercussions of his heroism 00:51:51.77\00:51:53.17 will become a tale to tell, Adele is the reason 00:51:53.21\00:51:55.74 we are not talking about fatalities 00:51:55.78\00:51:57.48 in the three digits today, 00:51:57.51\00:51:59.68 he is a reason for some families 00:51:59.71\00:52:01.12 that some families 00:52:01.15\00:52:02.48 still have their sons, daughters, 00:52:02.52\00:52:04.22 they still have their fathers and mothers, 00:52:04.29\00:52:06.15 he is a Lebanese hero whose name should be in front 00:52:06.19\00:52:09.76 and center of every single news outlet on earth. 00:52:09.79\00:52:14.20 He died a savior. 00:52:14.20\00:52:16.40 He gave his life, so that others might live. 00:52:16.43\00:52:20.60 We know the truth, same truth. 00:52:24.07\00:52:27.94 Desire of Ages 00:52:27.98\00:52:29.31 in the familiar words captures... 00:52:29.34\00:52:32.51 This Thanksgiving theme. 00:52:35.92\00:52:37.69 Put it on the screen for you, 00:52:37.72\00:52:39.05 "To the death of Christ we owe even this earthly life. 00:52:39.09\00:52:43.39 The bread we eat 00:52:43.43\00:52:44.76 is the purchase of His broken body. 00:52:44.79\00:52:46.26 The water we drink is bought by His spilled blood. 00:52:46.29\00:52:49.23 Never one, saint or sinner, eats his daily food, 00:52:49.26\00:52:52.03 but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ. 00:52:52.07\00:52:54.84 The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf. 00:52:54.87\00:52:58.91 It is reflected in every water spring." 00:52:58.94\00:53:04.75 What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 00:53:04.78\00:53:08.85 I will lift up the cup of salvation 00:53:08.88\00:53:11.72 and I will call on the name of the Lord. 00:53:11.75\00:53:17.63 Let us pray. 00:53:17.66\00:53:20.23 Oh, God, thank You for this, thank You for that, 00:53:20.30\00:53:24.03 thank You for this, thank You for that, 00:53:24.07\00:53:25.40 we've been doing it the whole weekend long, 00:53:25.43\00:53:29.14 but somebody flips the coin for us 00:53:29.17\00:53:32.51 and suddenly we remember 00:53:32.54\00:53:36.01 thanks for nothing is a huge prayer to pray. 00:53:36.04\00:53:40.48 Truth is, our thanks for nothing prayers 00:53:40.52\00:53:44.19 because of Calvary become a thanks for everything, 00:53:44.25\00:53:46.29 prayer all over again, 00:53:46.32\00:53:47.92 and we do thank You for the cup of Yeshuw`ah, 00:53:47.96\00:53:51.63 the cup of Jesus, 00:53:51.66\00:53:52.99 that His salvation and grace that we cling to today, 00:53:53.03\00:53:56.70 don't ever let us let go of Him. 00:53:56.73\00:54:00.97 Ever, ever, ever 00:54:01.00\00:54:02.34 and we will thank You forever and ever and ever. 00:54:02.37\00:54:08.21 In Christ, amen. 00:54:08.24\00:54:12.35 I'm gonna sing a stirring Thanksgiving prayer, 00:54:12.38\00:54:14.02 you've never sung these words before ever. 00:54:14.05\00:54:16.42 We've never sung them together. 00:54:16.45\00:54:17.82 So we're putting them to a very familiar tune, 00:54:17.85\00:54:20.59 open your hymnal to 556. 00:54:20.66\00:54:22.22 The words would be on the screen, 00:54:22.26\00:54:23.73 but I found with a new song 00:54:23.76\00:54:25.29 that if I read it from the hymnal, 00:54:25.33\00:54:26.90 subconsciously I'm able to go ahead 00:54:26.93\00:54:28.50 and I can get the whole drift of a thought. 00:54:28.53\00:54:31.23 556, you'll recognize the tune, 00:54:31.27\00:54:34.10 we're gonna stand as we sing that soon 00:54:34.14\00:54:36.24 as this introduction is over. 00:54:36.27\00:54:37.74 As saints of old their first-fruits brought 00:55:12.04\00:55:16.11 Of orchard, flock and field 00:55:16.14\00:55:20.22 To God, the giver of all good 00:55:20.25\00:55:24.32 The source of bounteous yield 00:55:24.35\00:55:28.09 So we today first-fruits would bring 00:55:28.12\00:55:32.26 The wealth of this good land 00:55:32.29\00:55:36.50 Of farm and market shop and home 00:55:36.53\00:55:42.57 Of mind, and heart, and hand 00:55:42.60\00:55:49.01 A world in need now summons us 00:55:49.04\00:55:53.31 To labor, love, and give 00:55:53.38\00:55:57.45 To make our life an offering 00:55:57.49\00:56:01.69 To God, that all may live 00:56:01.72\00:56:05.83 The church of Christ is calling us 00:56:05.86\00:56:10.07 To make the dream come true 00:56:10.10\00:56:14.67 A world redeemed by Christ-like love 00:56:14.70\00:56:21.31 All life in Christ made new 00:56:21.34\00:56:27.85 In gratitude and humble trust 00:56:27.88\00:56:32.12 We bring our best today 00:56:32.15\00:56:36.39 To serve Your cause and share Your love 00:56:36.42\00:56:40.10 With all along life's way 00:56:40.13\00:56:45.13 O God, who gave Yourself to us 00:56:45.17\00:56:49.64 In Jesus Christ Your Son 00:56:49.67\00:56:54.14 Teach us to give ourselves each day 00:56:54.18\00:57:00.75 Until life's work is done 00:57:00.78\00:57:06.35 Now in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:57:11.06\00:57:14.23 and the love of God, 00:57:14.30\00:57:16.13 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:57:16.16\00:57:17.70 be with you all. 00:57:17.73\00:57:19.30 Amen. 00:57:19.33\00:57:22.84 I wanted to take an extra moment 00:57:22.87\00:57:24.21 to let you know how grateful I am you joined us today. 00:57:24.24\00:57:26.88 I hear from viewers and listeners 00:57:26.91\00:57:28.24 like you all across this nation and literally around the world, 00:57:28.28\00:57:31.88 and I'm thankful, 00:57:31.91\00:57:33.25 because it's through the generosity of the members 00:57:33.28\00:57:34.85 of this congregation and people like you, 00:57:34.88\00:57:36.72 that we're able to bring you this program. 00:57:36.79\00:57:39.19 So if what we shared today has touched your heart, 00:57:39.22\00:57:41.26 I like to invite you to become a financial partner with us. 00:57:41.29\00:57:43.73 Just give us a call. 00:57:43.76\00:57:45.09 Toll free number 877, the two words HIS-WILL, 00:57:45.13\00:57:48.36 877-HIS-WILL, 00:57:48.40\00:57:49.73 or if you'd rather 00:57:49.76\00:57:51.10 go to our website www.pmchurch.tv. 00:57:51.13\00:57:55.37 Either way, your generosity will bless 00:57:55.40\00:57:57.37 a new generation in cyber space 00:57:57.41\00:57:59.24 all over this planet, so thank you. 00:57:59.27\00:58:02.24 Thank you very much for your partnership. 00:58:02.28\00:58:05.21