¤¤
00:00:01.43\00:00:04.33
>> ¤ Oh, come, and
let us worship the King ¤
00:00:16.21\00:00:24.09
¤ Our joyful praises now we
sing ¤ ¤ Alleluia, Alleluia ¤
00:00:24.25\00:00:38.37
¤ Alleluia, Alleluia ¤
¤ Alleluia ¤ [ Song ends ]
00:00:41.90\00:00:59.79
>> Oh, God, with the psalmist,
we exclaim, "This is the day the
00:00:59.79\00:01:04.73
Lord has made. Let us rejoice
and be glad in it." For this is
00:01:04.73\00:01:09.70
the day we have prayed over and
waited for. And forgive our
curiosity, God, but what is this
00:01:09.70\00:01:15.84
day to You? On this last Sabbath
of this semester, we wish to
extend a very special invitation
00:01:15.84\00:01:22.08
to you, dear Father. Do You
see the open door to our hearts?
00:01:22.08\00:01:26.68
We humbly ask that You might
enter in and inside of us all at
Pioneer Memorial Church, at
00:01:26.68\00:01:34.42
New Life Fellowship. Enter in
and do a new thing, a
reconciliation thing, a "Jesus
00:01:34.42\00:01:41.43
on the inside" thing, a "my God,
who has begun a new work in you,
will bring it to completion by
00:01:41.43\00:01:46.30
the day of Christ Jesus" thing.
Oh, God, in Christ Jesus, our
Lord, let this day be all it can
00:01:46.30\00:01:53.38
possibly be, as a shining
tribute to Your unifying love
both here and up there, both now
00:01:53.38\00:01:59.95
and forever. Amen. >> Amen.
00:01:59.95\00:02:04.05
[ "My Hope Is Built
on Nothing Less" plays ]
00:02:04.05\00:02:07.52
[ "Oh, How I Love Jesus" plays ]
00:03:31.74\00:03:33.68
[ "All Hail the Power
of Jesus' Name" plays ]
00:05:52.68\00:05:56.08
¤ All hail the power of Jesus'
00:06:10.53\00:06:11.13
>> ¤ My hope is built on nothing
less ¤ ¤ Than Jesus' blood and
00:08:51.83\00:08:58.83
righteousness ¤ ¤ I dare
not trust the sweetest frame ¤
00:08:58.83\00:09:05.27
¤ But wholly
lean on Jesus' name ¤
00:09:05.27\00:09:11.48
¤ When darkness veils His
lovely face ¤ ¤ I rest on His
00:09:14.08\00:09:21.99
unchanging grace ¤ ¤ In
every high and stormy gale ¤
00:09:21.99\00:09:27.60
¤ My anchor holds within the
veil ¤ ¤ On Christ, the solid
00:09:27.60\00:09:35.74
rock, I stand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:09:35.74\00:09:41.38
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:09:41.38\00:09:49.42
sinking sand ¤
00:09:49.42\00:09:52.59
¤ His oath, His covenant,
His blood ¤ ¤ Support me in the
00:10:01.43\00:10:09.74
whelming flood ¤ ¤ When
all around my soul gives way ¤
00:10:09.74\00:10:15.41
¤ He then is all my hope and
stay ¤ ¤ On Christ, the solid
00:10:15.41\00:10:23.65
rock, I stand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:10:23.65\00:10:29.16
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:10:29.16\00:10:36.93
sinking sand ¤
00:10:36.93\00:10:39.97
¤ When He shall come with
trumpet sound ¤ ¤ Oh, may I then
00:10:46.88\00:10:54.92
in Him be found ¤ ¤ Dressed
in His righteousness alone ¤
00:10:54.92\00:11:00.32
¤ Faultless to stand before the
throne ¤ ¤ On Christ, the solid
00:11:00.32\00:11:08.23
rock, I stand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:11:08.23\00:11:13.84
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:11:13.84\00:11:21.58
sinking sand ¤ ¤ On Christ,
the solid rock, I stand ¤
00:11:21.58\00:11:27.28
¤ All other ground is sinking
sand ¤ ¤ On Christ, the solid
00:11:27.28\00:11:34.92
rock, I stand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:11:34.92\00:11:43.80
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:11:43.80\00:11:53.78
sinking sand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:11:53.78\00:12:03.79
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:12:03.79\00:12:14.23
sinking sand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:12:14.23\00:12:24.57
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:12:24.57\00:12:36.85
sinking sand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:12:36.85\00:12:47.66
¤ On Christ, the solid rock,
I stand ¤ ¤ All other ground is
00:12:47.66\00:13:00.58
sinking sand ¤ ¤ All
other ground is sinking sand ¤
00:13:00.58\00:13:10.59
¤ On Christ, we stand
¤ [ Song ends ] >> Amen.
00:13:10.59\00:13:23.16
>> Well, good morning, boys and
girls. Nice to see you on this
00:13:25.27\00:13:30.11
last Sabbath of April, last
Sabbath of the semester, last
Sabbath of the year.
00:13:30.11\00:13:38.28
And you're looking just great.
All right, so, let's think about
00:13:38.28\00:13:44.49
this. Thank you, Sharon Dugan,
who sent me this story. This
00:13:44.49\00:13:51.53
comes from Darwin. This comes
from Darwin. You want to have a
seat right there, Corey?
00:13:51.53\00:13:55.43
This comes from Darwin,
Australia, so this is in
Northern Australia.
00:13:55.43\00:13:59.27
And in Australia, the farther
north you go, the hotter it
00:13:59.27\00:14:03.14
gets. So it's tropical weather
up in Darwin. [ Imitates radio
00:14:03.14\00:14:09.51
static ] "We have an emergency.
We have an emergency. We need
00:14:09.51\00:14:15.12
fire trucks. We need fire trucks
on the south of town. Please,
00:14:15.12\00:14:18.55
fire trucks. We have a two-story
building that's on fire. Would
you please send fire
00:14:18.55\00:14:22.39
trucks?" [ Imitates radio
static ] "We'll be on our way.
00:14:22.39\00:14:25.19
We're coming on our way
right now, mate. Good day. Bye."
00:14:25.19\00:14:27.40
[ Imitates radio static ] A
house is on fire, two stories
tall, going up in smoke.
00:14:27.40\00:14:34.07
Ohh! It's a sad picture whenever
a house catches on fire.
00:14:34.07\00:14:37.24
So, the firemen all come. [
Imitating siren ] And they come,
00:14:37.24\00:14:42.34
they drive up. They jump out
of their fire trucks. They grab
00:14:42.34\00:14:45.35
those big, heavy hoses. They're
dragging the hoses around.
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.25
"All right, turn the water up."
[ Exhaling sharply ] They're
just getting ready to go
00:14:47.25\00:14:53.32
around the back of the yard. One
of the big, brave volunteer
firemen has the hose, and he's
00:14:53.32\00:14:57.69
getting ready to go.
Oh, he stops. "Chief! Chief!
00:14:57.69\00:15:01.93
Come here, come here, come here!
There's no way I'm going in that
00:15:01.93\00:15:05.87
backyard! I don't care what
house is burning!" "What's the
00:15:05.87\00:15:09.60
problem, mate? Let me see what
--" [ Gasps ] The backyard...
00:15:09.60\00:15:15.71
do you know what was in
the backyard? May I show you a
00:15:15.71\00:15:20.02
picture of what was in the
backyard? Look at the screens.
Let's look at the screens.
00:15:20.02\00:15:23.28
In the backyard -- a saltwater
crocodile!? 13 feet long?
00:15:23.28\00:15:32.29
More teeth than 13? [
Laughter ] Saltwater crocodile?!
00:15:32.29\00:15:37.67
"I'm not going, Chief!" [
Exhales sharply ] "Well, get the
00:15:37.67\00:15:41.30
fire from here. "No, but we have
to get to the back!" [ Panting ]
00:15:41.30\00:15:45.21
The men all stood there looking.
00:15:45.21\00:15:47.38
What would you do? [ Laughing ]
What would you do? "Just let the
00:15:51.51\00:15:59.29
building burn down. We
don't need the -- Just let the
00:15:59.29\00:16:01.82
crocodile go." [ Chuckles ]
No! You volunteered to put fires
00:16:01.82\00:16:04.76
out! You've got to rescue!
That rescue includes saltwater
00:16:04.76\00:16:08.66
crocodiles. And then somebody
noticed -- "Wait a minute.
00:16:08.66\00:16:12.93
It looks like there's a little
fence around it." "You sure?
00:16:12.93\00:16:15.70
Okay, bring the hoses, guys." [
Exhaling sharply ] And they
dragged the hoses in.
00:16:15.70\00:16:23.11
[ Exhaling sharply ]
[ Laughter ] [ Laughs ]
00:16:23.11\00:16:28.35
Ohh, my. "Shall we save the
house, or save the crocodile?"
00:16:28.35\00:16:32.05
Well, they lost the house, but
they saved the crocodile. That's
a female crocodile.
00:16:32.05\00:16:37.56
Her name is Albert. Go figure.
That's the pet. She's a pet.
She's been a pet before the
00:16:37.56\00:16:44.60
1970s. These crocodiles in
Australia will live up to 70
00:16:44.60\00:16:51.14
years old. Ohh! I'm so glad,
when Jesus said, "I want you to
00:16:51.14\00:16:55.08
work for me; go fishing for
fish," I'm glad he didn't mean
saltwater crocodiles, aren't
00:16:55.08\00:17:00.85
you? Although, I wonder if Jesus
loves even crocodiles. Do you
00:17:00.85\00:17:08.89
think He does? Oh, yes, He made
them. And because the fish and
crocodiles represent people, He
00:17:08.89\00:17:13.63
loves all people. And so, when
He says, "Go fishing," He says,
00:17:13.63\00:17:18.97
"Just help me get everybody you
can because I died for them
all." That's what this cross is
00:17:18.97\00:17:24.87
all about right here on the
stage. That's what that cross is
all about on the floor.
00:17:24.87\00:17:29.78
You can just barely see it. "I
died for everyone. Now help me
reach them, please."
00:17:29.78\00:17:38.35
How many want to say, "Jesus, if
You died for me and all of them,
I'm willing to help You"?
00:17:38.35\00:17:43.93
Anybody want to put a hand
up and say, "I'm willing to help
00:17:43.93\00:17:46.90
You, Jesus"? Not -- No, no, not
saltwater crocodiles. I'm
willing to help You reach
00:17:46.90\00:17:51.53
people. I want to
love them just like You.
00:17:51.53\00:17:55.37
Who would like to pray and
thank Jesus -- Sissy, come here,
00:17:55.37\00:17:59.81
please. Yeah, you, please.
What's your name? >> Joanna.
00:17:59.81\00:18:02.71
>> Joanna? Perfect. Joanna
-- Can we get a microphone for
00:18:02.71\00:18:07.02
Joanna, please? Bless you.
Joanna, let's pray together, and
let's thank Jesus -- Come here,
00:18:07.02\00:18:11.62
Joanna. Let's thank Jesus for
loving us and asking us to help
00:18:11.62\00:18:18.19
Him love everybody. Thank you,
Joanna. >> [ Clears throat ]
00:18:18.19\00:18:22.93
Let's close our eyes and pray.
Our Father, thank You for making
00:18:22.93\00:18:30.01
us. Thank You for
giving us the Sabbath. >> Amen.
00:18:30.01\00:18:35.58
>> We want You to forgive our
sins. And everywhere we go, will
00:18:35.58\00:18:45.12
You be with us? In Jesus'
name, we pray. >> Both: Amen.
00:18:45.12\00:18:49.29
>> Thank you, Joanna. Beautiful
prayer. As you quietly and
00:18:49.29\00:18:52.56
reverently back to your seats,
just like Joanna said -- thank
You, Jesus. Thank You, thank
00:18:52.56\00:18:57.97
You, thank You. Happy Sabbath,
everybody. [ "Christ for the
00:18:57.97\00:19:03.07
World" plays ] [ Song ends
] >> Let's pray. Dear God...
00:21:08.60\00:21:12.10
oh, at the foot of the Cross, we
all stand. Here is where broken
00:21:12.10\00:21:21.04
hearts can be mended -- not
fully healed, but mended.
Eternity is where there will be
00:21:21.04\00:21:27.78
no more tears and no more death.
So at the foot of the Cross, we
receive Your divine Word, that
00:21:27.78\00:21:37.29
this day is Your day. And we,
Your children, eagerly follow
00:21:37.29\00:21:45.57
where You lead. Make this day
all You dreamed it to be for the
glory of our Lord Jesus, in
00:21:45.57\00:21:51.14
whose name we pray. Amen.
00:21:51.14\00:21:52.61
[ Birds singing ]
00:21:54.91\00:21:56.31
[ Footsteps approach ]
00:22:01.02\00:22:02.42
Christon Arthur, the university
provost, came into cabinet the
00:22:31.48\00:22:34.52
other day, and he said, "Guys, I
have a story you need to hear,"
00:22:34.52\00:22:37.65
and you need to
hear it, as well.
00:22:37.65\00:22:39.45
Hurricane
Katrina, you remember that?
00:22:39.45\00:22:41.16
'05. New Orleans is underwater.
00:22:41.16\00:22:44.16
People are dying.
Master Sergeant Mike Maroney of
00:22:44.16\00:22:48.30
the U.S. Air Force is on board
an Air Force chopper, rescue
00:22:48.30\00:22:51.67
chopper. They're looking.
00:22:51.67\00:22:53.70
They're looking. Any survivors?
00:22:53.70\00:22:56.71
Maroney spots a family on top
of the roof. He's a pararescuer.
00:22:56.87\00:23:04.85
Pararescuer. Down the rope he
goes. One by one, the family
plucked away from certain death.
00:23:04.85\00:23:13.62
[ Exhaling sharply ] They are
flown to safety, and, as the
family is getting off, a
00:23:13.62\00:23:19.79
little 4-year-old girl, a part
of that family, in an act of
spontaneous joy, throws her arm
00:23:19.79\00:23:27.10
around Maroney, cheek to cheek,
and hugs him in gratitude. The
little girl didn't know that
00:23:27.10\00:23:36.38
Maroney was suffering from PTSD,
post-traumatic stress disorder.
He would soon be redeployed to
00:23:36.38\00:23:43.55
Iraq and then to Afghanistan,
and, during those dark days of
his life, when he suffered on
00:23:43.55\00:23:50.36
the inside, he kept pulling out
the little picture of this girl
-- her name he does not
00:23:50.36\00:23:56.46
know -- but this little girl
who hugged him. Because when he
00:23:56.46\00:24:00.80
looks at the picture, it's like
he sees the purpose of his life.
"Somebody has gotten rescued by
00:24:00.80\00:24:05.77
my life." I want you to see the
picture that he carried in his
00:24:05.77\00:24:09.31
pocket all those dark days.
There he is. He'd stare at it.
00:24:09.31\00:24:14.78
"Wow! I did something."
Eventually, he returned to the
United States, set out to find
00:24:14.78\00:24:20.42
that little girl. Doesn't know
her name. Starts a social-media
00:24:20.42\00:24:24.19
campaign -- #FindKatrinaGirl.
All to no avail. Then, 10 years
00:24:24.19\00:24:31.80
later, Master Sergeant Mike
Maroney gets the surprise of his
life when, on a television set,
00:24:31.80\00:24:40.28
that little girl comes walking
into the room. The place goes
00:24:40.28\00:24:44.91
bonkers. You can check it out on
YouTube sometime. And as he is
00:24:44.91\00:24:51.45
holding her in his arms -- I
want you to see the "before" and
"after" picture. [ Laughter ]
00:24:51.45\00:24:56.02
As he is holding her in his
arms, he says to LeShay Brown --
00:24:56.02\00:25:02.60
that's her name. He spoke a line
we, too, need to hear today. He
says to her, "You rescued me
00:25:02.60\00:25:09.10
more than I rescued you." She
gave him a reason for living.
00:25:09.10\00:25:14.44
She kept him going. Because
that's what rescue does to the
00:25:14.44\00:25:24.42
rescuer. "You rescued me more
than I rescued you." Because,
you see, it's true --
00:25:24.42\00:25:29.56
when you rescue others, you
yourself are the one that gets
00:25:29.56\00:25:33.93
rescued. Unbelievable. You pluck
them out of the waters where
00:25:33.93\00:25:38.87
they're stranded. You rescue
them, but, by that very act,
they end up rescuing you.
00:25:38.87\00:25:44.84
It's the great law of reciprocal
giving. Let me just run this law
00:25:44.84\00:25:49.34
by you in case you're not sure
it really exists. Let me put it
00:25:49.34\00:25:52.55
on the screen for you. No study
guides today. As Jesus once
00:25:52.55\00:25:55.18
promised -- this is in the
Sermon on the Mount -- "Give,
and it will be given to you."
00:25:55.18\00:25:58.19
Rescue another, and you will be
rescued. James, his stepbrother,
00:25:58.19\00:26:01.26
goes even further.
00:26:01.26\00:26:02.66
His words on the
screen -- James 5:20...
00:26:02.82\00:26:05.29
Even your own
sins as the rescuer.
00:26:10.30\00:26:12.97
Rescue another, and
you will be rescued.
00:26:12.97\00:26:14.87
It's no wonder that wise
King Solomon exclaimed in the
00:26:14.87\00:26:17.34
Book of Proverbs -- on the
screen, Proverbs 11:25 and 30...
00:26:17.34\00:26:20.84
Rescue another, and
you will rescue yourself.
00:26:27.98\00:26:31.05
The great prophet Daniel
exclaims, at the end of his
00:26:31.05\00:26:34.02
book -- Daniel
12:3, on the screen...
00:26:34.02\00:26:36.66
Rescue another, and you
yourself will be rescued.
00:26:41.56\00:26:45.00
It's a reciprocal act of fishing
for people. It is absolutely
00:26:45.17\00:26:49.47
stunning what God brings back to
the fishers. Unbelievable. And
as Mike Maroney said to
00:26:49.47\00:26:57.55
LeShay Brown, "You rescued me
more than I rescued you." It's
no wonder that Jesus was so
00:26:57.55\00:27:05.95
big about fishing for people. I
want to go back to a line we
have never actually examined
00:27:05.95\00:27:11.49
together in this four-part
series. Oh, we touched it as a
00:27:11.49\00:27:14.96
Scripture reading. Never
went here, Matthew chapter 4.
00:27:14.96\00:27:17.20
Open your Bible, please, to
Matthew chapter 4. Thank you,
00:27:17.20\00:27:20.74
Terri and Yolanda, for reading
that for us and with us. Matthew
00:27:20.74\00:27:25.21
chapter 4. I'm in the New
International. Matthew chapter
4, just before the Sermon on the
00:27:25.21\00:27:30.85
Mount in Matthew's rendition.
Matthew chapter 4. Let's pick it
00:27:30.85\00:27:35.38
up in verse 18... [ Chuckles
] Red letters. Verse 19...
00:27:43.99\00:27:47.03
"At once --" verse 20 -- "they
left their nets and followed
00:27:50.53\00:27:52.97
him. Going on
from there, Jesus saw
00:27:52.97\00:27:55.40
two other brothers, James son of
Zebedee and his brother John."
00:27:55.40\00:27:58.14
That would be John boy.
"They were in a boat with their
00:27:58.14\00:28:00.81
father Zebedee,
preparing their nets.
00:28:00.81\00:28:02.74
Jesus called them, and
immediately they left the boat
00:28:02.74\00:28:05.38
and their father
and followed him."
00:28:05.38\00:28:07.82
Because, you see, there comes a
time when you no longer follow
your parents, but, instead, you
00:28:07.98\00:28:14.29
follow Jesus. Now, if your
parents also follow Jesus,
[Chuckles] that makes it
00:28:14.29\00:28:20.33
all the easier for you, trust
me. But whether they follow
00:28:20.33\00:28:24.10
Jesus or not, there comes a time
when they no longer serve. They
no longer become the
00:28:24.10\00:28:28.07
impetus for your
decision-making. They no longer
00:28:28.07\00:28:31.21
serve as the reason for your
living and serving. They had
career dreams for you,
00:28:31.21\00:28:34.58
but let them have their dreams.
God has a dream for you, and
that's the one you pursue.
00:28:34.58\00:28:40.28
You shift your purpose, you
shift your motivation from them
00:28:40.28\00:28:44.12
to Him. And it's okay because
you will still love and honor
them for the rest of your days,
00:28:44.12\00:28:49.12
but you follow Jesus. And that's
exactly what you saw happen just
a split second ago.
00:28:49.12\00:28:55.06
But I want you to
notice verse 19. Red letters...
00:28:55.06\00:28:59.07
Ah. [ Tsk-tsking
] God bless the NIV.
00:29:04.24\00:29:07.81
They tried their hardest to make
that sentence feel comfortable,
but, in doing so, they totally
00:29:07.81\00:29:13.72
sidestepped the actual Greek
Matthew uses. I'm gonna put the
00:29:13.72\00:29:20.66
Greek on the screen for you
right now. This is the Greek
rendition. "Follow --" It
00:29:20.66\00:29:25.53
literally reads, "Come behind."
It's two words. "Follow Me, and
00:29:25.53\00:29:31.13
I will make all of you --"
'cause it's plural -- "I will
make all of you fishers of
00:29:31.13\00:29:36.04
people." You see, the NIV turns
the "I will make you" into "I
will send you out."
00:29:36.04\00:29:41.11
But that robs us of the very
good news that Jesus offers to
make us what He calls us to be.
00:29:41.11\00:29:48.42
It reads, "I will make you."
That little chorus, "I will make
you," we'll sing it for the last
00:29:48.42\00:29:53.56
time in a moment. The chorus is
right. It got the Greek right.
00:29:53.56\00:29:57.46
"I will make you fishers of men.
You don't have to fret," Jesus
00:29:57.46\00:30:02.00
is saying to you and me. "You
don't have to fuss. All you need
to do is trust me."
00:30:02.00\00:30:06.13
"I will put my trust in Him."
Seven-word Credo. Works here
00:30:06.13\00:30:11.27
beautifully. "You just trust me,
and I will make you a successful
00:30:11.27\00:30:15.51
fisher of people. I'll do it for
you." Isn't that great? Let me
repeat 'cause you might
00:30:15.51\00:30:23.75
not be getting it. It's too
early in the morning. Jesus
doesn't just command us to
00:30:23.75\00:30:28.59
be fishers of people. He offers
us an extreme makeover -- maybe
00:30:28.59\00:30:34.36
change the word to a "joyful"
makeover -- that will actually
make us fishers of people.
00:30:34.36\00:30:40.97
"I will do it for you. I'll
do it." What's not to like about
00:30:40.97\00:30:51.35
that? I love that line from
"Christ's Object Lessons." 333
00:30:51.35\00:30:54.78
-- on the screen.
This is so true...
00:30:54.78\00:30:56.25
"What I ask you to
do, [Snaps fingers] I do.
00:30:59.65\00:31:03.29
I will equip you.
I will empower you.
00:31:03.46\00:31:08.60
I will energize you. You
will be a fisher for people
00:31:08.60\00:31:13.20
because I will do it. I
will make you into what I need
00:31:13.20\00:31:16.97
you to be." Isn't that great?
00:31:16.97\00:31:19.57
"I'll do it."
00:31:19.57\00:31:21.28
Whatever Jesus asks us to do, He
enables us to do. So if He says,
00:31:21.44\00:31:25.55
"Become fishers of people --"
"Yo, Lord, I will be a fisher of
people." No sooner does the word
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.68
leave Your lips, then that
omnipotent word immediately
creates the reality it
00:31:29.68\00:31:33.46
describes. "I am now a fisher of
people. I am now a fisher of
people." Yes, sir. Yes, Lord.
00:31:33.46\00:31:39.26
And by the way... the reason
this is so is because [Chuckles]
the truth is fishing
00:31:39.26\00:31:47.14
does not come natural to nobody
-- to nobody. You're not born a
00:31:47.14\00:31:54.14
fisherman. There's no woman who
wakes up and says, "Aw," and
starts sobbing, "I'm just not a
00:31:54.14\00:31:58.11
fisherwoman." You're not
born -- no fisherman is born.
00:31:58.11\00:32:01.35
You got to hang around somebody
whose done it before. And you
learn the little tricks
00:32:01.35\00:32:04.85
of the trade. You learn the
little -- "This is this, and
then this is what you
00:32:04.85\00:32:08.12
do next." And that's
how you learn, by observing.
00:32:08.12\00:32:10.39
The deal is, the more times you
go fishing, the more successful
you are at fishing.
00:32:10.39\00:32:14.30
But if you never go, guess how
many fish you're gonna catch.
Zero. Not a nothing.
00:32:14.30\00:32:19.10
You have to go.
00:32:19.10\00:32:20.67
"I will make you." Some
of you have put off fishing
00:32:20.84\00:32:25.94
for people, for one reason or
another, for most of your life.
00:32:25.94\00:32:30.38
You know who you are. You just
have not done it. You've said,
00:32:30.55\00:32:35.45
"Aw, it's not my gift. No, it's
not my responsibility nor my
mission in this life.
00:32:35.45\00:32:38.69
Mnh-mnh. I know what I'm gifted
to do, and it's not fishing.
00:32:38.69\00:32:41.66
So thank you." Doesn't cut it.
Jesus gave this call and command
00:32:41.66\00:32:49.66
to all 12 of his followers. And
you want to talk about a very
00:32:49.66\00:32:54.84
diverse group? Some were gifted
in some ways. Very diverse. None
00:32:54.84\00:33:00.58
of them is alike. All 12 of
them, recipients of His command
-- I'll put that on the screen
00:33:00.58\00:33:05.58
for you. "Follow Me --" All 12
of them. "All 12 of you, follow
Me, and I will make you fishers
00:33:05.58\00:33:10.45
of people." All 12 of them.
"Go therefore unto all the world
00:33:10.45\00:33:13.29
and make disciples of
all nations." All 12 of them.
00:33:13.29\00:33:15.86
"Don't be afraid. From now
on, you will fish for people."
00:33:15.86\00:33:20.26
All 12 of them. It's the
Great Commission, not the "Great
00:33:20.26\00:33:31.17
Suggestion." It's a commission.
"You follow me? You fish. Do you
00:33:31.17\00:33:35.74
hear me? You fish, girl. You
fish. I teach you. I'll make you
00:33:35.74\00:33:39.91
a fisherman. You can count on
me. I'm not gonna let you down.
I want you to succeed more than
00:33:39.91\00:33:46.19
you'll ever know. Come on. Let's
go. Follow Me." So, to protest,
00:33:46.19\00:33:54.20
"Oh, it's not my gift; I just
have other things I can do in my
life --" wrong! "I know it's not
00:33:54.20\00:34:00.80
your gift," He's saying, but
that's precisely the point. "I
will make it your gift.
00:34:00.80\00:34:06.04
I will make you a fisher of
people. Follow Me. Follow Me.
00:34:06.04\00:34:11.35
I'll make you a fisher of
people." By the way, Mark's
00:34:11.35\00:34:16.79
rendition of this story -- Mark
adds a second word that's not in
Matthew. We'll put Mark -- The
00:34:16.79\00:34:20.39
New American Standard
Bible catches it, so it's on the
00:34:20.39\00:34:24.16
screen now. "And Jesus said
to them, 'Follow Me, and I will
00:34:24.33\00:34:27.13
make you become
--'" See that extra word?
00:34:27.13\00:34:28.70
It's in the Greek.
It's an extra word.
00:34:28.70\00:34:30.63
Become -- "I will make
you become fishers of men."
00:34:30.63\00:34:35.70
Mark adds that word "become."
00:34:35.70\00:34:38.04
You know why? Because
it's a process, that's why.
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.78
[ Chuckles ] It's a process.
It's a life journey based on a
heart, love for the Savior who
00:34:40.78\00:34:45.38
saved you when you yourself
were lost. And you carry Jesus'
00:34:45.38\00:34:49.95
picture in your wallet, and you
look at it every day, and you
say, "This is the God who saved
00:34:49.95\00:34:55.62
me." And it's looking at that
picture every day that makes you
realize, "I have to do it for
00:34:55.62\00:35:00.56
others. What He did for
me, I must do for others."
00:35:00.56\00:35:05.50
For those who are still
protesting -- "Aw, but come on,
00:35:05.50\00:35:08.24
Dwight. I'm just not sure this
is me. I'm not there, and I
don't think I'm ever gonna be
00:35:08.24\00:35:11.87
there." For you, I want to read
some words. These are rather
00:35:11.87\00:35:15.94
provocative. These are from
Erwin Raphael McManus' book,
"Seize Your Divine Moment."
00:35:15.94\00:35:20.32
Wow. What a powerful book. I'll
put the words on the screen for
00:35:20.32\00:35:25.12
you. "This relationship
between faith and uncertainty is
00:35:25.29\00:35:31.63
inescapable. What required faith
for you yesterday --" Hold on
00:35:31.63\00:35:34.56
now. Read it. "[
Singsong voice ] What
00:35:34.56\00:35:36.53
required faith for you yesterday
may become commonplace for you
00:35:36.53\00:35:40.84
tomorrow." [ Normal
voice ] Pause button.
00:35:40.84\00:35:44.54
In other words, this life that
you're living, that you and I
00:35:44.54\00:35:48.28
are living right
now, this life...
00:35:48.28\00:35:51.85
you know, living without the
need or desire to do any fishing
00:35:51.85\00:35:55.18
at all for people -- the life
that you're living right now, in
00:35:55.18\00:35:58.55
the beginning, it may have been
sufficient for you, in the days
00:35:58.55\00:36:02.02
and the years that are passed.
00:36:02.02\00:36:03.93
But guess what. You've
gone on. You have gone on.
00:36:04.09\00:36:06.59
You're at a different place now
in your walk with God. This is
not beginner's faith
00:36:06.59\00:36:10.40
anymore. Look at you.
Look how mature you are, not
00:36:10.40\00:36:13.70
just by looks, but by your life
experience. And no fishing? No
00:36:13.70\00:36:22.64
fishing? Listen to
McManus' point. This is good.
00:36:22.64\00:36:24.91
Back on the screen here...
00:36:25.08\00:36:26.82
"Although --"
Now, listen, listen.
00:36:33.15\00:36:35.19
Read. "Although they are still
00:36:35.19\00:36:37.03
expressions of your faith,
they --" And we're talking about
00:36:37.03\00:36:40.26
your everyday ways of living,
living out your faith, "But I
00:36:40.26\00:36:42.60
don't want to fish."
Living out your faith, but no
00:36:42.60\00:36:44.67
fishing. "Faith, but no fishing.
00:36:44.67\00:36:46.10
That's what I want, God."
Those thoughts, that way, is no
00:36:46.10\00:36:50.91
longer -- This way of living
is no longer the challenge that
00:36:50.91\00:36:54.21
launched you to a
new-faith experience.
00:36:54.21\00:36:57.61
Once upon a time, when you
stepped out for Jesus, that was
00:36:57.61\00:36:59.95
a huge challenge.
00:36:59.95\00:37:01.42
But guess what. Guess what's
happening. You're flatlining
00:37:01.58\00:37:06.25
right now. I'm flatlining. You
cannot hold this flatline,
no-growth, no-challenge,
00:37:06.25\00:37:10.36
no-fishing choice without
significant spiritual
repercussions in your own walk
00:37:10.36\00:37:15.23
with God. It will
impact you. You will suffer...
00:37:15.23\00:37:21.67
lack because of it. "Wow,
Dwight. You're getting kind of
00:37:21.67\00:37:27.21
punchy here." No. No, no,
no, no, no. You think about it.
00:37:27.21\00:37:29.21
If your faith is no longer
growing, because there's nothing
challenging you -- "I don't need
00:37:29.21\00:37:32.61
to pray God-sized prayers. I can
do this all pretty much myself
00:37:32.61\00:37:37.72
these days." If your faith is no
longer challenging you, you are
00:37:37.72\00:37:41.26
no longer growing. You are
maintaining the status quo, and,
in the Christian life, status
00:37:41.26\00:37:46.56
quo always means no growth -- no
growth. That's McManus' point.
Now, I want you to catch this
00:37:46.56\00:37:51.30
last sentence.
00:37:51.30\00:37:52.90
"While at first simply trusting
God to take you outside your
00:37:53.07\00:37:56.77
experience is a huge leap of
faith --" oh, it was when you
00:37:56.77\00:38:00.44
and I came to Jesus --
"eventually, God will expect
00:38:00.44\00:38:05.58
more from you." Hmm.
00:38:05.58\00:38:11.32
"Remember, faith is being sure
of what we hope for and certain
00:38:11.32\00:38:15.29
of what we do not see."
McManus writing -- "Once
00:38:15.29\00:38:18.46
something is a certainty,
it no longer requires faith.
00:38:18.46\00:38:21.96
"Don't be surprised..."
00:38:21.96\00:38:23.57
It doesn't cut it anymore.
You've already reached that
00:38:29.14\00:38:31.54
level.
00:38:31.54\00:38:32.44
You got to go higher. "Lord,
lift me up --" we sang it a
moment ago -- "on higher
00:38:32.61\00:38:39.85
ground." You got to keep going
higher and higher and higher.
00:38:39.85\00:38:42.85
You can't stay back there.
There's no growth. Jesus' appeal
00:38:42.85\00:38:49.29
to you and me -- and I'm
listening to this just as
carefully as you are -- is to
00:38:49.29\00:38:53.40
become fishers of people. It is
tactically and tacitly the
divine offer to raise the bar in
00:38:53.40\00:38:59.73
our spiritual walk with God. "I
want to raise the bar. I want to
raise the bar." We've become too
00:38:59.73\00:39:05.61
comfortable. We have become too
secure. And what's true for
individuals is true for
00:39:05.61\00:39:10.75
congregations. Too comfortable,
too secure, too "same old, same
old," too status quo -- too "no
00:39:10.75\00:39:19.22
growth"! No growth. It no longer
takes great measures of faith
00:39:19.22\00:39:25.66
for us to live out our
spirituality. It is precisely to
counteract that dangerous
00:39:25.66\00:39:31.23
plateauing in our spiritual
experience that fishing for
people will push us to new,
00:39:31.23\00:39:36.27
exhilarating faith experiences
with Christ because now I really
need God to intervene.
00:39:36.27\00:39:40.38
Now I really need Jesus to step
in. Now we're praying God-sized
00:39:40.38\00:39:45.31
prayers. Why? Because
now I'm concerned about
00:39:45.31\00:39:47.82
saving lost people, which is
what's driven God from the
beginning -- only now I'm
00:39:47.82\00:39:51.59
catching it. You're not too old.
Some of you are in your 70s.
00:39:51.59\00:39:55.66
Some of you are in your 80s.
You are not too old to start
00:39:55.66\00:40:00.13
fishing. Ask any fisherman on
this planet, and he'll tell you
you're never too old to fish.
00:40:00.13\00:40:04.60
So, let Him raise you. Let Him
lift me, like that rescue
helicopter, out of our
00:40:09.40\00:40:15.04
comfort zone, into a world of
radical faith and unpredictable
but deeply fulfilling and
00:40:15.04\00:40:20.08
exhilarating fishing. "I will
make you. I'll do it. You follow
00:40:20.08\00:40:25.05
me. I'll do it, but I need your
permission. Grab ahold of that
00:40:25.05\00:40:31.63
net with me. It won't hurt you.
Grab ahold of that with me.
Let's do it together."
00:40:31.63\00:40:38.47
Wow. "In the very act of
rescuing others, could it be you
00:40:38.47\00:40:45.71
rescued me more than I rescued
you?" Hmm. Jesus promises great
00:40:45.71\00:40:54.02
news. "I will make you." You
don't even have to go to school.
00:40:54.02\00:40:58.45
You don't even need a -- There's
no degree on this you get.
Anybody, anywhere, anytime on
00:40:58.45\00:41:04.93
this planet... can be
made into a fisher of people.
00:41:04.93\00:41:12.60
It's that simple. No kidding.
It's that simple. Let me end
with a quotation and
00:41:12.60\00:41:19.07
a story. First, the quotation.
"Desire of Ages" makes this
00:41:19.07\00:41:21.94
point powerfully, this
reciprocal-giving point. Wow.
00:41:21.94\00:41:25.58
Look at this. On the
screen -- "Desire of Ages."
00:41:25.75\00:41:27.42
"And he who seeks to give
light to other will himself be
00:41:27.42\00:41:31.92
blessed." Let me repeat that.
00:41:31.92\00:41:34.56
And she who seeks to give
light to others will herself be
00:41:34.56\00:41:39.13
blessed. "There
shall be showers of
00:41:39.13\00:41:41.76
blessing,"
quoting Proverbs 11:25.
00:41:41.76\00:41:44.20
"He that watereth shall
be watered also himself."
00:41:44.20\00:41:47.50
She who waters
will herself be watered.
00:41:47.50\00:41:50.21
It's reciprocal,
remember? Reciprocal.
00:41:50.21\00:41:53.58
You rescue, but you're actually
getting rescued in the process.
00:41:53.58\00:41:57.48
"God could have --"
Now continuing on here.
00:41:57.48\00:41:59.65
"God could have reached His
object in saving sinners without
00:41:59.65\00:42:02.58
our aid --" Could've done
it. Of course he could've.
00:42:02.58\00:42:05.12
"But in order for us to develop
a character like Christ's, we
00:42:05.12\00:42:09.06
must share in His
work. In order..."
00:42:09.06\00:42:12.26
And I have very
good news for you.
00:42:18.77\00:42:20.64
Jesus assures us, on this last
day of the semester... "I have
very good news for you.
00:42:20.80\00:42:31.58
I will make you fish for people.
I'll be your Maker. I'll be your
00:42:31.58\00:42:42.39
mentor." Hey, wait a minute. Is
Jesus is your Maker and mentor,
does it get any better
00:42:42.39\00:42:45.49
than that? Come on, does it get
any better? "I'll be your Maker,
00:42:45.49\00:42:48.40
I'll be your mentor. I will do
this with you." [ Exhales deeply
00:42:48.40\00:42:55.37
] How could you go
wrong? Want to end with a story.
00:42:55.37\00:42:59.87
This is from Donald Miller's
book, "Blue Like Jazz." This
book is whimsically
00:43:02.51\00:43:07.72
powerful -- or maybe I should
say powerfully whimsical, but
00:43:07.72\00:43:12.75
it's a great book. Found it for
a dollar on a used-book tray.
00:43:12.75\00:43:18.86
Donald Miller. Goes
like this. This is the story.
00:43:21.46\00:43:26.67
"The first day of school was
exhilarating. It was better than
00:43:26.67\00:43:30.57
high school." He's going to Reed
College. Now, you need to know
that Reed College is one of the
00:43:30.57\00:43:37.45
top Ivy League, liberal-arts
colleges in the nation. I went
00:43:37.45\00:43:42.55
online. They have an admission
waiting list a mile long. It's
00:43:42.55\00:43:50.29
expensive. And it's not
Christian. It's just an Ivy
League, liberal-arts school.
00:43:50.29\00:43:55.93
"The first day of school
was exhilarating." So he's a
00:43:55.93\00:43:58.97
freshman. "It was better than
high school. There were 400
freshmen in my humanities class.
00:43:58.97\00:44:06.04
Dr. Peter Steinberger, the
acting president, delivered a
lecture of which I understood
00:44:06.04\00:44:09.88
about 10%, but the 10% I
understood was brilliant. I
00:44:09.88\00:44:12.81
loved it. I made noises while he
was teaching --" hmm -- "humming
noises, noises --" mm-hmm,
00:44:12.81\00:44:16.52
mm-hmm -- "noises in agreement
with his passionate decrees."
Rather heady for a freshman
00:44:16.52\00:44:22.79
accepted into such a top school.
"After class, I would usually go
to the commons and organize my
00:44:22.79\00:44:28.36
notes. It was in the commons
where I met Laura, who, although
00:44:28.36\00:44:31.93
she was an atheist, would teach
me a great deal about God." Hmm.
00:44:31.93\00:44:36.64
"Her father, whom she loved and
admired deeply, was a Methodist
minister in Atlanta, yet she was
00:44:36.64\00:44:40.61
the only one in her family who
could not embrace the idea of
00:44:40.61\00:44:43.45
God. She explained that her
family loved her all the same
and that there was no tension
00:44:43.45\00:44:47.55
because of her resistance to
faith. Laura and I started
meeting every day after lecture,
00:44:47.55\00:44:50.95
rehashing the day's themes. I
don't believe I ever met anybody
as brilliant as Laura.
00:44:50.95\00:44:56.36
She seemed to drink in the
complicated themes of Greek
literature as though they were
00:44:56.36\00:45:00.56
cartoons. 'What did you think of
the lecture?' I once asked her.
00:45:00.56\00:45:03.77
'I thought it was okay.' 'Just
okay?' I asked. 'Yeah, I mean,
00:45:03.77\00:45:07.67
you know, this is supposed to be
a pretty challenging school, and
I wasn't that challenged.
00:45:07.67\00:45:11.34
Not that good of an
introduction, if you ask me. I
hope they don't put the
00:45:11.34\00:45:14.74
cookies on the lower shelf
all year.' 'Cookies?' I asked.
00:45:14.74\00:45:17.65
I thought she had
cookies." [ Laughter ]
00:45:17.65\00:45:20.42
"Laura would go on to explain
the ideas I didn't understand.
00:45:21.48\00:45:24.09
In time, she figured out that
I was a Christian, but we didn't
00:45:24.09\00:45:26.76
talk much about it.
00:45:26.76\00:45:31.26
The goofy thing about Christian
faith is that you believe it and
don't believe it at the same
00:45:31.43\00:45:36.67
time. It isn't unlike
having an imaginary friend.
00:45:36.67\00:45:39.73
I believe in Jesus. I believe
he is the Son of God. But every
00:45:39.73\00:45:43.14
time I sit down to explain this
to somebody, I feel like a palm
reader, like somebody who works
00:45:43.14\00:45:46.91
at a circus, or a kid who's
always making things up or
somebody at a "Star Trek"
00:45:46.91\00:45:50.38
convention who hasn't figured
out the show isn't real." [
00:45:50.38\00:45:54.45
Laughter ] "Until..."
One-word paragraph. "Until...
00:45:54.45\00:45:58.59
When one of my friends becomes a
Christian -- which happens about
every 10 years because I am such
00:45:58.59\00:46:03.39
a sheep about sharing my faith
-- the experience is euphoric.
00:46:03.39\00:46:08.66
I see in their eyes the trueness
of the story. Everybody at Reed
00:46:08.66\00:46:12.73
was telling me something was
wrong with Laura. They said she
was depressed or something.
00:46:12.73\00:46:15.97
I ran into her at a lecture at
the Vollum lounge, which is
beautiful like a museum with its
00:46:15.97\00:46:19.91
tall white walls. Laura sat in
front of me, and, when the
lecture was over, she
00:46:19.91\00:46:23.21
didn't leave. Neither did I.
I didn't want to bother her, but
00:46:23.21\00:46:26.45
I could tell she was sad about
something. 'How are you?' I
00:46:26.45\00:46:30.49
asked. 'I'm not good.' She
turned to face me. I could see
00:46:30.49\00:46:34.59
in her eyes she'd spent the
morning crying. 'What's wrong?'
00:46:34.59\00:46:37.49
'Everything.' 'Boy stuff?' I
asked. 'No.' 'School stuff?' I
00:46:37.49\00:46:40.73
asked. 'No.' 'God
stuff?' Laura just looked at me.
00:46:40.73\00:46:44.77
Her eyes were sore and moist. 'I
guess so, Don. I don't know.'
'Can you explain any of it -- I
00:46:44.77\00:46:50.77
mean, the way you feel?' 'I feel
like my life is a mess. I can't
00:46:50.77\00:46:54.11
explain it. It's just a mess.'
'I see,' I said. 'Don, I just
00:46:54.11\00:46:58.21
want to confess, I have done
terrible things. Can I confess
to you?' 'Ooh, I don't think
00:46:58.21\00:47:03.59
confessing to me is gonna do you
any good.' As I said it, Laura
wiped her eyes with her fingers.
00:47:03.59\00:47:09.69
'I feel like He's after
me, Don.' 'Who's after you?' I
00:47:09.69\00:47:12.49
asked. 'God.' 'Well, I think
that's very beautiful, Laura.
00:47:12.49\00:47:14.93
I believe you. I believe God
wants you.' 'I feel like he's
00:47:14.93\00:47:18.17
after me,' she repeated. 'Well,
what do you think he wants?'
00:47:18.17\00:47:20.40
'I don't know. I can't do
this, Don. You don't understand.
00:47:20.40\00:47:23.10
I can't do this!' 'Can't do
what, Laura?' 'Be a Christian.'
00:47:23.10\00:47:27.11
'Well, why can't you be a
Christian?' Laura didn't say
00:47:27.11\00:47:30.45
anything. She just looked at me
and rolled her tired eyes. She
dropped her hands into her
00:47:30.45\00:47:34.45
lap with a sigh. 'I wish I could
read you my journal,' she said,
00:47:34.45\00:47:38.22
looking blankly at the wall.
'There is this part of me that
00:47:38.22\00:47:41.56
wants to believe. I wrote about
it in my journal. My family
believes, Don. I feel as though
00:47:41.56\00:47:45.49
I need to believe, like I'm
gonna die if I don't believe,
but it is all so stupid, so
00:47:45.49\00:47:51.40
completely stupid.' 'Laura, why
is it that you hang out with the
Christians on campus?'
00:47:51.40\00:47:54.74
'I don't know. I guess I'm
just curious.' She wiped her eye
00:47:54.74\00:47:58.77
again. 'You're not dumb, I don't
think. I just don't understand,
Don, how you can believe this
00:47:58.77\00:48:03.88
stuff.' 'I don't either, really'
I told her, 'but I believe in
00:48:03.88\00:48:07.62
God, Laura. There is something
inside me that causes me to
believe, and I now believe that
00:48:07.62\00:48:12.69
God is after you, that God wants
you to believe, too.' 'What do
you mean?' she asked,
00:48:12.69\00:48:18.16
dropping her hands in her lap
and sighing once again. 'I mean
the idea that you want
00:48:18.16\00:48:21.90
to confess. I think that God is
wanting a relationship with you,
00:48:21.90\00:48:25.50
and that starts by confessing
directly to him. He is offering
00:48:25.50\00:48:29.54
forgiveness.' 'You're not making
this easy, Don. I don't exactly
00:48:29.54\00:48:32.91
believe I need a God to forgive
me of anything.' 'I know, but
that's what I believe is
00:48:32.91\00:48:36.88
happening. Perhaps you can see
it as an act of social justice.
The entire world is falling
00:48:36.88\00:48:40.82
apart because nobody will admit
they're wrong, but, by asking
God to forgive you, you are
00:48:40.82\00:48:45.22
willing to own your own mess.'
Laura sat silent for awhile. She
sort of mumbled under her
00:48:45.22\00:48:53.29
breath. 'I can't,
Don. It isn't a decision.
00:48:53.29\00:48:56.03
It isn't something you decide.'
'What do you mean?' 'Well, I
00:48:56.03\00:49:00.50
can't get there. I just can't
say it without meaning it.' She
was getting very frustrated.
00:49:00.50\00:49:03.81
'I can't do it. It would be
like trying to fall in love with
00:49:03.81\00:49:08.44
somebody or trying to convince
yourself your favorite food is
pancakes. You don't decide those
00:49:08.44\00:49:11.81
things. They just happen to
you. If God is real, He needs to
00:49:11.81\00:49:17.39
happen to me.' 'That's true, but
don't panic. It's okay. God
brought you this far, Laura.
00:49:17.39\00:49:21.76
He will bring you the rest
of the way. It may take time.'
00:49:21.76\00:49:25.26
'But this hurts,' she said. 'I
want to believe, but I can't. I
00:49:25.26\00:49:33.40
hate this.' Laura went back to
her room. The next day, I got an
e-mail from Penny, saying she,
00:49:33.40\00:49:41.08
too, had talked with Laura.
Penny asked me to pray for her,
as Laura felt trapped.
00:49:41.08\00:49:45.05
Penny said she was going to
spend a great deal of time with
her, really walking her through
00:49:45.05\00:49:48.35
her emotions. I had no
explanation for Laura. I don't
00:49:48.35\00:49:53.62
think there is an explanation.
My belief in Jesus did not seem
rational or scientific, and yet
00:49:53.62\00:49:57.33
there was nothing I could
do to separate myself from this
00:49:57.33\00:50:00.56
belief. I think Laura was
looking for something rational
because she believed that all
00:50:00.56\00:50:04.70
things that were true were
rational, but that isn't the
case. Love, for example, is a
00:50:04.70\00:50:08.37
true emotion, but it's not
rational. What I mean is people
00:50:08.37\00:50:11.74
actually feel it. I've been in
love. Plenty of people have been
in love, yet love cannot be
00:50:11.74\00:50:15.44
proved scientifically. Neither
can beauty. Light can't be
00:50:15.44\00:50:18.08
proved scientifically, and yet
we all believe in light and, by
light, see all things.
00:50:18.08\00:50:21.62
There are plenty of things that
are true that don't make any
00:50:21.62\00:50:25.52
sense. I think one of the
problems Laura was having was
that she wanted God to make
00:50:25.52\00:50:32.23
sense. He doesn't. He'll make
no more sense to me than I will
00:50:32.23\00:50:38.17
make to an ant." In his book,
"Orthodoxy," G.K. Chesterton
says, "Chess players go crazy,
00:50:42.10\00:50:47.44
not poets." [ Chuckling ] I like
that. [ Laughter ] Donald Miller
00:50:47.44\00:50:53.01
goes on. I think he's
right. "You'd go crazy trying to
00:50:53.01\00:50:56.45
explain penguins. It's best just
to watch them and be
entertained. I don't think you
00:50:56.45\00:51:01.22
can explain how Christian faith
works, either. It's a mystery.
00:51:01.22\00:51:03.73
And I love this about Christian
spirituality -- it cannot be
explained, and yet it is
00:51:03.73\00:51:07.60
beautiful and true. It is
something you feel, and it comes
00:51:07.60\00:51:12.77
from the soul. I crawled out of
bed a few days later and cracked
open the Bible on my desk.
00:51:12.77\00:51:16.30
I didn't feel like reading,
honestly, so I turned on my
computer and fidgeted with the
00:51:16.30\00:51:20.24
'Sim City' town I'd been working
on. I checked my e-mail and
00:51:20.24\00:51:25.11
noticed one from Laura. She had
sent it in the early hours of
00:51:25.11\00:51:29.48
the morning. The subject read,
'So, anyway, about all that
stuff.' 'Dearest friend Don, I
00:51:29.48\00:51:37.53
read through the Book of Matthew
this evening. I was up all
00:51:37.53\00:51:44.30
night. I couldn't stop reading,
so I read through Mark. This
Jesus of yours is either a
00:51:44.30\00:51:48.70
madman or the Son of God.
Somewhere in the middle of Mark,
I realized He was the
00:51:48.70\00:51:53.91
Son of God. I suppose
this makes me a Christian.
00:51:53.91\00:51:59.11
I feel much better now. Come to
campus tonight, and we'll get a
00:51:59.11\00:52:04.19
bite to eat. Much love, Laura.'"
00:52:04.19\00:52:06.19
I'm telling you... [ Taps
book ] ...this is fishing.
00:52:09.36\00:52:14.40
It's not contrived. It's not
forced. It's in the course of
00:52:14.40\00:52:23.27
everyday relationships. It just
happens. And if you'll be there
00:52:23.27\00:52:30.88
when it happens, you get to pull
the net in. "Don't be afraid.
00:52:30.88\00:52:36.55
Don't be afraid. From now
on, you will fish for people."
00:52:36.55\00:52:44.16
And as Donald Miller wrote,
catching one is euphoric. Let's
00:52:44.16\00:52:54.00
pray. Oh, God... I'm sure there
is someone in this universe
00:52:54.00\00:52:59.44
who's trying to over-complicate
all of this so that we will
never put hand to net, never
00:52:59.44\00:53:07.92
place heart in Jesus' command --
never. But, oh, we have only
robbed ourselves and you, those
00:53:07.92\00:53:15.82
we could've reached, if we
just had said yes. You make me,
00:53:15.82\00:53:21.46
Jesus. You make me what You need
me to be. And by Your grace, I
00:53:21.46\00:53:27.60
will fish with You for people. [
"I Will Make You Fishers of Men"
00:53:27.60\00:53:35.41
plays ] [ Song ends ] >> And now
to Him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we
00:56:29.05\00:56:34.52
ask or imagine, according to His
power that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
00:56:34.52\00:56:40.86
and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations, forever and
00:56:40.86\00:56:46.00
ever. Amen. >>
Amen. [ Organ plays hymn ]
00:56:46.00\00:56:49.67
>> I want to take an extra
moment to thank you for joining
us in worship today.
00:57:01.62\00:57:05.35
It's by the continued support
from viewers like you that we're
able to bring this telecast.
00:57:05.35\00:57:09.79
Today I want to invite you,
though, to share with us how
this ministry has blessed you.
00:57:09.79\00:57:14.50
Truth is I get inspiring notes,
e-mails, letters from viewers
literally all over the world,
00:57:14.50\00:57:20.34
sharing with us how God has
blessed them through this
program, and I'd love to hear
00:57:20.34\00:57:23.71
from you, as well.
00:57:23.71\00:57:25.11
It's not that
hard -- simple, really.
00:57:25.27\00:57:27.01
Just visit our
website, newperceptions.tv.
00:57:27.01\00:57:29.74
That's one word,
newperceptions.tv.
00:57:29.74\00:57:33.05
And click on the contact
link at the top of the page.
00:57:33.05\00:57:35.92
Shoot me that e-mail.
Once again, thank you for being
00:57:35.92\00:57:38.19
with us.
00:57:38.19\00:57:39.42
Thank you, by the way, for your
own support. That support is
00:57:39.59\00:57:43.76
what keeps this telecast, week
after week, reaching America,
reaching North America, and
00:57:43.76\00:57:49.20
reaching the planet. That kind
of generosity that you share is
00:57:49.20\00:57:53.47
a huge boost and blessing to us.
And I hope you'll join us right
here next time 'cause we'll be
00:57:53.47\00:57:58.31
here. In the meantime, God
be with you and bless you real
00:57:58.31\00:58:03.31
good. ¤¤
00:58:05.31\00:58:08.22