¤¤
00:00:00.20\00:00:02.06
>> Father God, we come humbly
bowed at the foot of the throne.
We just want to thank you for
00:00:10.21\00:00:14.28
this beautiful Sabbath day,
Lord. The Holy Spirit is moving,
00:00:14.28\00:00:17.98
Lord. And so we ask that you
come and you fill this place,
you fill the temple that is us,
00:00:17.98\00:00:23.39
Lord. We just thank you so much
for a Sabbath day, that we get
to praise you and be a part of
00:00:23.39\00:00:28.89
your family. We love you, Lord.
In your son Jesus' precious and
00:00:28.89\00:00:32.39
holy name, we pray. Amen.
00:00:32.39\00:00:35.26
Would you stand with
me as we celebrate this?
00:00:35.43\00:00:39.07
My professor was telling me that
his granddaughter -- He just got
00:00:39.07\00:00:43.44
a new granddaughter and he
was so excited about it that he
00:00:43.44\00:00:46.78
wanted to celebrate it. And
I imagine that God feels the
00:00:46.78\00:00:49.94
same way, that when one of us
says we want to give our lives
00:00:49.94\00:00:52.71
to him, that we
want to celebrate that.
00:00:52.71\00:00:54.65
So, let's celebrate
with our Father in Heaven.
00:00:54.65\00:00:56.89
This song goes like this.
00:00:56.89\00:00:59.32
Sing it with me.
00:01:11.07\00:01:13.03
Let's sing "hallelujah."
00:01:15.24\00:01:17.47
Praise him.
00:01:37.93\00:01:39.76
Hallelujah.
00:01:51.24\00:01:53.48
Our God is worthy. Hallelujah.
00:02:00.12\00:02:02.35
Hallelujah.
00:02:27.08\00:02:29.04
Hallelujah.
00:03:03.14\00:03:05.05
¤ Oh, oh ¤
00:03:21.63\00:03:24.00
Hallelujah.
00:03:26.63\00:03:28.50
One more time.
00:03:35.24\00:03:37.35
>> Praise God. >>
We're gonna keep on praising
00:03:40.58\00:03:43.69
the Lord,
because he is God alone.
00:03:43.69\00:03:46.32
¤¤
00:03:46.32\00:03:48.22
¤¤
00:06:51.67\00:06:53.58
Now is this time that we ask you
to come forward and lay your
burdens down before the throne,
00:09:33.30\00:09:41.41
before the throne of God, which
is so gracious and so kind. Open
up your hearts to the
00:09:41.41\00:09:47.18
Holy Spirit and let him rain
down in your life. So, now is
00:09:47.18\00:09:51.82
the time. Please come forward
and let God take your burdens.
Let him be the strength where we
00:09:51.82\00:09:57.09
can't be. ¤¤
00:09:57.09\00:09:59.79
Come forward.
00:10:06.37\00:10:08.57
How we need your touch.
00:10:57.45\00:11:00.09
>> Happy Sabbath to you. So,
here's a story. It happened just
00:12:03.69\00:12:07.52
a few days ago, from my story
hunter, Sharon Dugan. She's
00:12:07.52\00:12:10.63
found this. This is over in
Devonshire. That would be
England. Southwest England.
00:12:10.63\00:12:15.40
Mother Edwards is at
the kitchen. [ Humming ]
00:12:15.40\00:12:20.30
"Breakfast plate's got to
be clean." Well, how come she's
00:12:20.30\00:12:23.71
doing it all alone? Because her
husband and her son are out in
the corral, where the
00:12:23.71\00:12:27.88
sheep are. They're a
little farm family. [ Humming ]
00:12:27.88\00:12:32.28
[ Imitates water running ]
And, suddenly -- Does this ever
00:12:32.28\00:12:37.95
happen to you? That, sometimes,
when you're -- You feel like
there's somebody behind you?
00:12:37.95\00:12:42.02
Does it ever happen to you? You
just feel like there's somebody
standing behind you.
00:12:42.02\00:12:46.26
And she said, "That's strange,
because I'm all alone in this
00:12:46.26\00:12:49.66
kitchen. Who could it be?" And
she turned around. Oh, it's
their border collie,
00:12:49.66\00:12:53.27
Rocky. Let's see Rocky on
the screen. It's their border
00:12:53.27\00:12:57.54
collie, Rocky. 7 months
old. She said... [ Pants ]
00:12:57.54\00:13:00.18
She said, "Rocky, what are you
doing here?" And she went back
00:13:00.18\00:13:03.88
to... [ Humming ] But she said
-- Then she went like this...
00:13:03.88\00:13:09.25
[ Sniffs ] She
said, "Rocky..." [ Gasps ]
00:13:09.25\00:13:14.09
And when she turned around, do
you know what she saw? From her
kitchen, right behind
00:13:14.09\00:13:18.19
her, let's see the picture on
the screen, please. That is what
00:13:18.19\00:13:23.40
she saw. Those are her sheep.
Her brand-new sheepdog, border
collie is just figuring
00:13:23.40\00:13:30.64
out what to do. And he saw the
back door open and he brought
00:13:30.64\00:13:37.08
nine sheep in. Nine sheep. We've
been talking about shepherds.
00:13:37.08\00:13:39.75
He brought in, this little
shepherd dog, nine sheep. She
said -- In fact, she quickly
00:13:39.75\00:13:45.29
took a video. So, that's a
screen capture. She said, "What
00:13:45.29\00:13:50.33
am I gonna do?! Oh, no!" And she
said, "It's wee, poo, and mud."
00:13:50.33\00:13:53.13
That's what's happening in
the space. She says, "Oh, no."
00:13:53.13\00:13:56.43
She said, "All right." Proper
English woman that she is, she
00:13:56.43\00:14:01.10
said, "You came in through the
back door, but let's do this
proper. You will go out the
00:14:01.10\00:14:05.04
front door." And they all, with
Rocky leading, went out the
front door, leaving their
00:14:05.04\00:14:10.25
reminders all the way out, until
-- Oh, let's put the picture on
the screen, because somebody
00:14:10.25\00:14:16.38
left the gate open, and Rocky
thought, "They all --" the sheep
-- "need to go home."
00:14:16.38\00:14:23.83
Oh. We just had some shepherds
up here a few moments ago.
Sometimes, you can't follow a
00:14:23.83\00:14:28.63
shepherd. Rocky the Shepherd
did not know what to do.
00:14:28.63\00:14:33.03
But there's one shepherd in
the universe who is the bestest
00:14:33.03\00:14:38.71
shepherd there is. And what's
his name? Jesus, the good
shepherd. And if we follow him,
00:14:38.71\00:14:45.51
he takes us home. Oh. He takes
us home. How many are glad we
00:14:45.51\00:14:52.12
have a very, very, very good
shepherd named Jesus? And how
00:14:52.12\00:14:57.33
many want to say, "Jesus, I will
follow you wherever you lead"?
00:14:57.33\00:15:02.53
Amen. So, do I have a young man
today? Oh, you were fast. Who's
00:15:02.53\00:15:07.74
gonna pray? All right. Come on
up. Let's take that microphone.
00:15:07.74\00:15:13.78
What's your name? >> Jasiel. >>
Jasiel. All right. Let's bow our
00:15:13.78\00:15:18.58
heads and fold our hands, close
our eyes as Jasiel thanks Jesus
for being our very best
00:15:18.58\00:15:24.92
shepherd. >> Thank you, God.
Thank you for this beautiful
00:15:24.92\00:15:27.86
day. And thank you -- God is our
shepherd, where he can keep us
safe from the bad peoples and
00:15:27.86\00:15:34.83
help the ones who are sick and
hurt, where they can have a
really good time and have really
00:15:34.83\00:15:43.67
good hearts in their body. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you, Jasiel.
00:15:43.67\00:15:48.44
That was a beautiful prayer. As
you go quietly and reverently
back to your seats, you can say
00:15:48.44\00:15:53.82
that "thank you, Jesus, for
being our very best shepherd."
00:15:53.82\00:16:03.46
¤¤ ¤¤
00:16:31.09\00:16:32.99
>> ¤ Lord, I will lift ¤ ¤ Mine
eyes to the hills ¤ ¤ Knowing my
00:16:50.57\00:17:13.86
help ¤ ¤ Is coming from You ¤ ¤
Your peace You give me ¤ ¤ In
time of the storm ¤
00:17:13.86\00:17:38.05
¤ You are the source
of my strength ¤ ¤ You are
00:17:38.05\00:17:46.56
the strength of my life ¤ ¤ I
lift my hands in total praise to
00:17:46.56\00:18:05.18
you ¤ ¤ Lord, I will lift ¤
¤ Mine eyes to the hills ¤ ¤
00:18:05.18\00:18:25.87
Knowing my help ¤ ¤ Is coming
from You ¤ ¤ Your peace You give
me ¤ ¤ In time of the storm ¤
00:18:25.87\00:18:48.69
¤ You are the source
of my strength ¤ ¤ You are
00:18:48.69\00:18:57.00
the strength of my life ¤ ¤ I
lift my hands in total praise to
00:18:57.00\00:19:12.61
you ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:19:12.61\00:19:23.26
¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:19:23.26\00:19:33.67
¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ You are
00:19:33.67\00:19:48.48
the source of my strength ¤ ¤
You are the strength of my life
00:19:48.48\00:19:59.96
¤ ¤ I lift my hands in
total praise to you ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:19:59.96\00:20:14.08
¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:20:14.08\00:20:24.69
¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:20:24.69\00:20:37.87
¤ Amen ¤ [ Applause ]
00:20:37.87\00:20:50.91
>> Oh. Hector
Flores, two doors down,
00:20:56.08\00:21:00.42
our neighbor, and the Academy
orchestra, the Academy Chorale,
00:21:00.42\00:21:04.83
"Total Praise."
00:21:04.83\00:21:06.83
Let's pray. Oh, God, that's
what we need -- total praise.
00:21:07.00\00:21:10.17
Total praise when we don't feel
like praising you at all. That's
kind of the backstory to
00:21:10.17\00:21:18.31
these few moments we have left
together -- total praise. Oh,
God, infuse the story and
00:21:18.31\00:21:28.38
make it fit for us each.
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:21:28.38\00:21:33.76
>> All: Amen.
00:21:33.79\00:21:34.79
>> Here's a story I bet you
have never heard before in your
00:21:34.99\00:21:38.56
life...maybe. Once
upon a time, there was a
00:21:38.56\00:21:44.30
very good king. He was
a great leader and a very
00:21:44.30\00:21:49.80
bad devil.
00:21:49.80\00:21:52.91
And, so, one day, Satan shows up
in the throne room itself. I
imagine Satan sitting right
00:21:53.07\00:22:00.45
before -- right beside, right
beside the king. "Yo, King.
00:22:00.45\00:22:06.89
You're looking good today. Boy,
if that is a look of happy
contentment on a face if I've
00:22:06.89\00:22:12.83
ever seen one. I suppose you
have every right to be happy,
00:22:12.83\00:22:18.73
given who you are, the gifts you
have, the leadership you bring.
You know, if you just run the
00:22:18.73\00:22:26.24
numbers again, King, you
remember the numbers when you
00:22:26.24\00:22:29.98
became king? Puny and poor, this
nation. Look at it now. You've
00:22:29.98\00:22:35.85
done this. Good on you. Your
Majesty, good on you. One little
fly in the ointment,
00:22:35.85\00:22:41.79
however. I'm a little
worried for you, King.
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.93
Mm-hmm. Yes, I am. You see, the
enemies that you have living all
00:22:45.93\00:22:50.33
around you -- they don't know
how strong you really are. You
haven't sent the word out.
00:22:50.33\00:22:57.87
It makes me wonder -- if you
could marshal every able-bodied
young man in your kingdom, how
00:22:57.87\00:23:04.88
many would you have in
your army? Oh, I know you're not
00:23:04.88\00:23:08.52
supposed to take census to find
that out, but you know what the
00:23:08.52\00:23:12.09
problem is? I'm gonna tell you.
It's this theocracy business.
God leading his Israel.
00:23:12.09\00:23:19.49
Pfft! It's you, King. You
have to have a human leader,
00:23:19.49\00:23:24.47
and you're the leader. So I'm
wondering -- what would happen
if you went ahead and
00:23:24.47\00:23:30.81
commissioned a census? Nobody
has to know. Just do it low-key.
00:23:30.81\00:23:35.31
But once you've taken the
numbers, we could get them --
Just let them slip, and a few
00:23:35.31\00:23:40.18
people here. And the word gets
to your enemies -- 'David has
00:23:40.18\00:23:45.82
that big an army? We'll never
touch him.'" That's what I would
00:23:45.82\00:23:51.66
do if I were you." And, lo and
behold, once upon a time, the
00:23:51.66\00:23:58.37
good king David listened to the
voice beside the throne and he
said, "Great idea. I think we'll
00:23:58.37\00:24:06.17
do it." Open your Bible with me
to that story that you've never
read before...maybe.
00:24:06.17\00:24:10.81
1 Chronicles 21. Check
it out. 1 Chronicles 21.
00:24:10.81\00:24:19.99
I'm gonna be in the New
International version. You
didn't bring a Bible, grab
00:24:19.99\00:24:23.86
the pew Bible. It's gonna
be page 290 in your pew Bible.
00:24:23.86\00:24:26.36
Let's just take a look at this
story for a moment, because it
opens up exactly as we've just
00:24:26.36\00:24:30.17
described. Look at that. 21:1.
00:24:30.17\00:24:34.24
And so David calls in the joint
chiefs chairman. "Yo, Joab. Got
00:24:42.94\00:24:49.22
an idea. I'm want find out --
how many able-bodied young men
that can bear a sword do we
00:24:49.22\00:24:53.92
have? Let's go a little census."
And Joab -- I've got to tell you
-- Joab is a rascal.
00:24:53.92\00:24:58.59
He's a scoundrel a lot of the
time. But even here, he sniffs
00:24:58.59\00:25:03.13
the Devil and he responds, "King
--" Well, you've got his
response right here in Verse 3.
00:25:03.13\00:25:08.64
"Aren't you the happy singer
of Israel? And aren't your songs
00:25:19.28\00:25:24.59
all filled with this 'I trust
God'?" Why would you do this?"
But notice Verse 4.
00:25:24.59\00:25:30.63
9 months and 20 days later,
according to 2 Samuel that has
00:25:38.10\00:25:43.37
the same account. 9 months and
20 days later. "Oh, King, we've
done as you asked."
00:25:43.37\00:25:47.84
And here comes
the report, Verse 5.
00:25:47.84\00:25:50.28
...including 470,000 in the home
state of Judah, where the king
00:25:57.95\00:26:02.66
is from.
00:26:02.66\00:26:04.19
And something happens. When he
hears "1.1 million" -- "You've
got an army -- Wow! --
00:26:04.36\00:26:10.60
of 1.1 million!" He's just
leaning back for a high five,
and every alarm bell
00:26:10.60\00:26:20.31
in his conscience, every red
light -- "Ding, ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
00:26:20.31\00:26:23.58
Flash, flash, flash, flash,
flash, flash." And he realizes,
00:26:23.58\00:26:30.69
"My God. What
have I done to you?"
00:26:30.69\00:26:35.46
Drop down. Those
are his words. Verse 8.
00:26:35.62\00:26:39.19
"What was I thinking?"'
[ Knocks on lectern ]
00:26:51.24\00:26:56.11
Knock-knock. "Who
is it?" "It's Gad."
00:26:56.28\00:26:59.68
"Oh. Gad, the prophet. Oh,
so you've heard, huh?" "I have."
00:26:59.68\00:27:07.39
"God knows?" "He does.
And, Your Majesty, God cannot
00:27:07.39\00:27:15.06
sit by and allow this challenge
to His rule in Israel go
00:27:15.06\00:27:21.17
unrequited. So I have been sent
to you to give you three
options. You choose.
00:27:21.17\00:27:25.67
These are your three options.
Option number one -- for three
years, a devastating
00:27:25.67\00:27:31.28
famine in your land. For three
months, option number two, your
00:27:31.28\00:27:39.82
enemy ravaging you and your
people. Or three -- for three
days, a destructive pestilence
00:27:39.82\00:27:50.80
for your people. I'll give
you some time to think about it.
00:27:50.80\00:27:54.24
I'll come back." "Stop!"
And David cries out to Gad.
00:27:54.24\00:28:01.58
Look at this. Verse 13.
00:28:01.74\00:28:04.18
"Please,
please, please, please."
00:28:07.55\00:28:10.39
"I don't want the enemy here
-- not even for three months.
00:28:14.06\00:28:16.99
Let me fall into
the hands of the Lord."
00:28:16.99\00:28:19.66
In other words, "Give me those
three days." And Gad said, "Very
00:28:19.83\00:28:26.00
well. The clock begins when I
walk out this door." [ Imitates
00:28:26.00\00:28:29.94
clock ticking ] 72-hour
clock. We're not told what the
00:28:29.94\00:28:34.48
pestilence is. All we're told is
that, from Dan in the North, all
the way to Beersheba in the
00:28:34.48\00:28:41.78
South, Israelites start dropping
like flies. And before the 72
00:28:41.78\00:28:48.16
hours are up, 70,000 Israelites
are dead. Dead. It's kind of
like -- It must have been like
00:28:48.16\00:28:55.46
when God was in the wilderness
with the children of Israel. You
00:28:55.46\00:28:58.67
remember that? And, one day,
they said, "We've had it with
your leadership. Out of here."
00:28:58.67\00:29:01.74
God said, "Okay, okay. I'm
backing up. But you'll wish I
00:29:01.74\00:29:05.44
hadn't." Because God had been
holding them at bay, these
venomous vipers, who then sneak
00:29:05.44\00:29:10.31
into the camp and, with their
poison, take down thousands.
00:29:10.31\00:29:14.42
This is it. "Okay, King. You're
the big head honcho around here.
00:29:14.42\00:29:17.89
Have at it. Let's see what
you can do." Boom! 70,000 dead.
00:29:17.89\00:29:23.32
David now is dressed in
sackcloth, ashes, with the board
00:29:23.32\00:29:29.53
of elders. They're down on their
knees, pleading with God. The 72
hours not quite up,
00:29:29.53\00:29:33.70
because there's one more
destructive act. Drop down to
00:29:33.70\00:29:37.81
Verse 16. And David looked up
while they were in this prayer
00:29:37.97\00:29:41.21
service. You see, leaders are
shepherds. We just have five
leaders ordained as shepherds.
00:30:01.50\00:30:07.74
"Stop the plague." Knock-knock.
00:30:18.08\00:30:23.05
It's Gad. "God just heard you.
His instruction is -- build an
00:30:23.22\00:30:28.69
altar on the spot where you see
the angel." David scrambles to
00:30:28.69\00:30:33.40
obey. Offer sacrifices. He
offers sacrifices. And now watch
00:30:33.40\00:30:38.37
this. Verse 26. And
hallelujah. Look at this, guys.
00:30:46.31\00:30:48.78
And hallelujah.
00:30:48.78\00:30:53.01
God nukes, and that altar's
gone. God nukes the sacrifice
00:30:53.18\00:31:02.89
from Heaven on the altar
of burnt offering. Isn't that
00:31:02.89\00:31:13.54
something? Wow. "You're
forgiven. Hey, King, it's over.
00:31:13.54\00:31:22.24
I forget it now. I forget it. I
forget it. You're forgiven." God
has mercy on the foolish,
00:31:22.24\00:31:29.52
guilty king. But David is so
relieved with joy that he races
00:31:29.52\00:31:34.36
from that spot, back to the
palace, grabs a pen, and begins
to compose a new song, a new
00:31:34.36\00:31:40.93
prayer, a new psalm. And you and
I -- iGen members, you and me,
as well, desperately
00:31:40.93\00:31:50.84
need what David has embedded in
this profound praise of hope.
IGen. Hey, are you acquainted
00:31:50.84\00:32:03.42
with this little description,
iGen? The generation iGen?
00:32:03.42\00:32:09.22
I had some friends who gave me a
a book just last week. Wow. The
00:32:09.22\00:32:13.86
book's written by a psychologist
at San Diego State University.
Her name -- Jean Twenge.
00:32:13.86\00:32:18.00
Here's the title of the book
-- "iGen." Little "I" and then a
00:32:18.00\00:32:21.74
capital "G." "iGen: Why Today's
Super-Connected Kids Are Growing
00:32:21.74\00:32:24.84
Up Less Rebellious, More
Tolerant, Less Happy -- and
Completely Unprepared for
00:32:24.84\00:32:28.81
Adulthood -- and What That Means
for the Rest of Us." She got the
00:32:28.81\00:32:32.58
whole book in a title. [
Laughter ] Apparently, she's the
00:32:32.58\00:32:37.39
one who has invented this
moniker, iGen, for this new
generation. That's all those
00:32:37.39\00:32:42.29
born -- Listen. Do the
arithmetic. All those born
between 1995 and 2012.
00:32:42.29\00:32:48.26
These sociology demographics are
generally 17 to 19 years long.
So, if you're born from 1995 to
00:32:48.26\00:32:56.84
2012, do the arithmetic. If
you're born in 1995, you would
be 22 years old now.
00:32:56.84\00:33:05.08
So, you've got the 22-year-olds,
and coming up behind them, you
have the 20-year-old.
00:33:05.08\00:33:09.42
And then you have the
19-year-olds. And then you have
00:33:09.42\00:33:12.52
the 18-year-olds. And good
night. Look at this. 18 to 22 --
that is the average
00:33:12.52\00:33:17.19
demographic for American
colleges and universities. We're
talking about university
00:33:17.19\00:33:21.23
students right here. IGen.
IGens. You know why she calls
00:33:21.23\00:33:27.04
them iGens? Because these kids
who are alive today were born
00:33:27.04\00:33:31.54
with the "I," with the Internet
wired into their brains and a
smartphone stuck forever in
00:33:31.54\00:33:39.81
their hands and their walls
papered with social media. I
have some iGen friends on this
00:33:39.81\00:33:45.85
campus. I love hanging around
them. They've got a lot of
00:33:45.85\00:33:49.49
energy. They have a crazy
sense of humor. But look out.
00:33:49.49\00:33:52.46
I could not believe this when I
read the book last week. Listen
00:33:52.46\00:33:57.27
to this. This stunned me. "The
mental and emotional stress this
new generation is living
00:33:57.27\00:34:01.54
with --" In spite of all that
energy -- Let me put Jean Twenge
on the screen for you.
00:34:01.54\00:34:06.04
You have this in the study guide
that you can take home. "In 2016
--" I'm quoting her
00:34:06.04\00:34:11.41
now. You got iGen right here.
This is iGen right here, okay?
00:34:11.41\00:34:16.82
She says it's not an accident.
Twenge goes on to report that
screening tests show -- and I'm
00:34:37.54\00:34:43.95
quoting her again -- "A shocking
rise in depression in a short
period of time --" listen to
00:34:43.95\00:34:48.72
this -- "With 56% more teens
experiencing a major depressive
episode in 2015 than in 2010 and
00:34:48.72\00:34:55.56
60% experiencing severe
impairment." They're the highest
00:34:55.56\00:35:02.43
entering class in college to
self-identify. "I have
mental-health issues
00:35:02.43\00:35:07.37
that rank me lower than
average. My health is not good,
00:35:07.37\00:35:12.77
mentally." The numbers are now
in. 1 out 9 teenagers, 1 out of
00:35:12.77\00:35:18.28
11 young adults are
experiencing, as she puts it
here, "clinically diagnosable,
00:35:18.28\00:35:25.89
major depression." I wish you
could have been here last Friday
night. It was great last night.
00:35:25.89\00:35:29.42
It wasn't here, though. We were
with Dan Jackson. But last
Friday night, a week
00:35:29.42\00:35:33.36
ago, Proximity Vespers here. A
young college student -- her
name Sarah Hill -- she tells the
00:35:33.36\00:35:40.34
first-person account.
00:35:40.34\00:35:42.60
This is a testimony of her
suicidal depression and how the
00:35:42.77\00:35:47.94
baptism of the Holy Spirit
was God's turning her around.
00:35:47.94\00:35:53.42
You know what? When
she tells that story -- And
00:35:53.42\00:35:55.75
there are people here who
are not iGen, a bunch of you.
00:35:55.75\00:35:59.22
When she tells that story,
it's not good news, but it's a
00:35:59.22\00:36:03.89
reassurance that those of us
who are a little bit older than
00:36:03.89\00:36:07.30
iGen, those of us who have been
on the way a little bit longer
00:36:07.30\00:36:10.77
aren't so alone
as they once thought.
00:36:10.77\00:36:13.03
We used to think, you know,
college kids -- happy-go-lucky,
00:36:13.03\00:36:16.17
got nothing, got nothing.
This generation, more than any
00:36:16.17\00:36:19.34
other, college kids
is struggling to survive,
00:36:19.34\00:36:25.28
emotionally and mentally.
00:36:25.28\00:36:27.85
Pssh! So, David, who goes
through this horrendous mental
00:36:28.02\00:36:35.26
-- this emotional meltdown, this
spiral of depression -- The
toxic mix of personal guilt and
00:36:35.26\00:36:40.40
helpless inability to change his
circumstances -- When David
composes a song of healing and
00:36:40.40\00:36:44.67
hope -- and that's where we're
going with this -- it turns out
it's not just for iGen.
00:36:44.67\00:36:49.14
It's for all of us, this song.
In fact, I'll tell you this.
I've been keeping prayer lists
00:36:49.14\00:36:53.54
for a long time, where I put my
friends and people I know on the
00:36:53.54\00:36:57.08
list. I have never in my life
had so many on my prayer list
who are friends of mine, my age
00:36:57.08\00:37:04.85
and younger, who are battling
for their very life right now.
I've never had this many.
00:37:04.85\00:37:14.93
It's not just the young.
It's all of us. You may not be
00:37:14.93\00:37:22.37
suffering physically, and that's
okay. But you may be battling
00:37:22.37\00:37:29.71
mentally. You may be battling
emotionally. And, by the way,
you don't need to be embarrassed
00:37:29.71\00:37:34.85
about that either, because we
all face it. It's life. It's
like the opening words in
00:37:34.85\00:37:40.62
Scott Peck's book. What
is it? 20, 30 years ago?
00:37:40.62\00:37:44.09
"The Road Less Traveled." The
opening three words -- put it on
00:37:44.09\00:37:50.93
the screen. Welcome to the human
race. But for iGen and for the
Third Millennials that we all
00:37:50.93\00:37:56.40
are, it is compoundedly
more difficult today. That's the
00:37:56.40\00:38:01.91
deal. So, now we've got to go
to this. So, David composes this
00:38:01.91\00:38:06.55
beautiful psalm. You've got to
go. Come on. Psalm 30. Psalm 30.
Middle of your Bible.
00:38:06.55\00:38:10.32
Psalm 30. Find it. Let's
read this psalm. You'll see.
00:38:10.32\00:38:15.29
Scholars believe that, in fact,
he wrote this after the meltdown
that we just relived together.
00:38:15.29\00:38:20.36
Psalm 30. Here we go. Verse
1. Total praise. "I bring total
00:38:20.36\00:38:27.47
praise to you, Dear God." That's
a Hebrew word that pictures the
00:38:27.47\00:38:34.71
lowering of a bucket into a very
deep well, dark well, and then
you pull and you pull and you
00:38:34.71\00:38:42.25
pull it. Remember him saying, "I
don't care which punishment you
send. Just don't put the enemies
00:38:46.35\00:38:50.09
on me. Don't let my
enemies gloat over me."
00:38:50.09\00:38:52.69
Keep going.
00:38:52.86\00:38:54.30
What are you
talking about, David?
00:38:58.47\00:39:02.87
"I thought I was going to
die. That's the realm of -- "You
00:39:02.87\00:39:07.04
brought me up from the realm
just before I went into that
00:39:07.04\00:39:11.61
grave." Oh, total praise again.
00:39:11.61\00:39:19.15
And then here comes Verse 5.
00:39:22.02\00:39:24.19
Keep reading.
00:39:29.16\00:39:30.90
Hallelujah. We have a friend,
and every time Karen and I go to
00:39:37.47\00:39:44.11
stay with them, spend the night,
he always -- Invariably, he
always opens up our time in his
00:39:44.11\00:39:48.75
house with these words. "Hey,
Dwight, I just want to remind
you that houseguests and
00:39:48.75\00:39:52.59
dead fish have this in common
-- they all begin to stink after
00:39:52.59\00:39:56.76
three days." [ Laughter ]
"There's the door. Go! Don't
00:39:56.76\00:40:01.90
stay three days. Please deliver
us." That's exactly the language
that the psalmist is using here,
00:40:01.90\00:40:06.07
David is using. He's describing
weeping as a houseguest.
00:40:06.07\00:40:10.64
Oh, he's lingering. His weeping
may linger over the night.
00:40:10.64\00:40:14.04
The weeping may stay in your
house and in your heart over the
night, but -- boom! -- the
00:40:14.04\00:40:18.91
dawn -- And the Hebrew reads
this way. There's no verb in the
00:40:18.91\00:40:22.95
Hebrew -- "At dawn, joy,"
because our houseguest is gone.
00:40:22.95\00:40:30.33
It's gone. Weeping may endure
for the night. But rejoicing,
00:40:30.33\00:40:38.87
joy comes in the morning.
There's some powerful, poetic
parallelism going on here, and
00:40:38.87\00:40:41.84
you need to see this. I'll
put it on the screen for you.
00:40:41.84\00:40:44.44
David -- first, the poet, the
singer -- he describes anger.
Okay, he's got the anger.
00:40:44.44\00:40:49.24
Then he says, "But anger leads
to favor." Then the next one.
00:40:49.24\00:40:53.08
He describes a moment of anger,
but a lifetime of favor. Then he
describes the night, but
00:40:53.08\00:40:58.32
it's paralleled with the
morning. And then he describes
00:40:58.32\00:41:02.12
weeping, but it's paralleled
with joy. "Oh, good news," David
00:41:02.12\00:41:08.16
says. "Good news. Weeping, the
houseguest will stay only one
night, but then comes the
00:41:08.16\00:41:19.94
morning -- joy." Wow. "Oh, but
that's right -- I have a
confession to make." He's so
00:41:19.94\00:41:24.78
caught up in this total praise.
Oops. And he goes straight to
00:41:24.78\00:41:27.85
his confession. What we just
experienced a moment ago. Look
00:41:27.85\00:41:32.79
at him. Verse 6. Okay? Mr.
Confident, Mr. Cocky Leader. [
00:41:32.79\00:41:35.89
Snaps fingers ] "Give me a
census. How big is my army?" "I
00:41:35.89\00:41:42.43
will never topple. The enemies
are no threat to me." "It wasn't
00:41:42.43\00:41:50.94
me." "God, if I die now, you
have no praise from me. Do you
00:41:59.11\00:42:02.52
understand that? I cannot praise
you. No total praise, nothing,
if I go to this grave.
00:42:02.52\00:42:07.09
Don't let me go." Keep reading.
00:42:07.09\00:42:11.43
And then he just can't keep back
from that total praise. And now
here comes the title of
00:42:17.77\00:42:22.10
our little miniseries, straight
out of the Bible, Verse 11.
00:42:22.10\00:42:26.34
I'm quoting the
Bible. >> Amen. >> Yes!
00:42:34.68\00:42:38.55
>> Total praise.
Amen. >> All: Amen.
00:42:48.26\00:42:53.10
>> Isn't that great? Total
praise. ¤ You turned my mourning
00:42:53.10\00:42:59.17
into dancing again ¤ You ever
heard that song? Some of you are
00:42:59.17\00:43:03.81
trying to sing it. "Because,
Dwight, we sure know you aren't
00:43:03.81\00:43:07.72
singing it." [ Laughter ] I
think of those words by Tommy
Walker and Ron Kenoly.
00:43:07.72\00:43:14.79
¤ You turned my mourning into
dancing again ¤ ¤ You lifted my
00:43:14.79\00:43:23.13
sorrows ¤ ¤ I can't stay silent
¤ ¤ I'm must sing, for your joy
00:43:23.13\00:43:29.24
has come ¤ [ Vocalizes ]
[ Laughter ] [ Applause ]
00:43:29.24\00:43:32.84
No, no, no, no. Now, that --
Have you ever noticed that when
00:43:32.84\00:43:41.78
a child gets good news -- No
kidding. When a child gets good
news, what does a child
00:43:41.78\00:43:45.22
instinctively do? Daddy comes
home early. "Hey, kids, we're
00:43:45.22\00:43:47.69
going to the beach today. I'm
taking the rest of the day off."
00:43:47.69\00:43:49.96
And then mama says, "Hey,
Grandma's coming." "Whoa!"
00:43:49.96\00:43:52.83
"We're gonna have a party
tonight." What does the little
00:43:52.83\00:43:57.43
child to, naturally, without
restraint, when good news dawns
upon that young mind?
00:43:57.43\00:44:03.94
Starts dancing, huh? No,
you don't do that. You don't do
00:44:03.94\00:44:08.94
that. [ Laughter ] What does
a child do? The child responds
00:44:08.94\00:44:14.12
physically. And when I told this
story in first service, my
friend Skip MacCarty, who used
00:44:14.12\00:44:18.22
to be a pastor here, came up to
me and he said, "Hey, Dwight, do
you remember, just a few months
00:44:18.22\00:44:21.46
ago --" And I had forgotten
all about this. Listen to this.
00:44:21.46\00:44:23.76
So, I'm coming to the end of
first-service sermon. We have a
00:44:23.76\00:44:26.66
little girl named Chloe. She's
just precious. And, so, at the
00:44:26.66\00:44:30.40
end of the sermon, we're just
getting ready -- Candice is
sitting right over there, and
00:44:30.40\00:44:33.00
we're gonna move now to the hymn
at the end. And little Chloe
00:44:33.00\00:44:37.97
can't stay still any longer. She
comes flying out of her --
Because second row.
00:44:37.97\00:44:42.18
She flies up here. She
grabs my leg. Excuse me. Whoops.
00:44:42.18\00:44:45.71
She grabs my legs and starts
going 'round and 'round while
she's holding on to my legs.
00:44:45.71\00:44:49.92
And I'm saying, "We're
gonna sing number..." and then
00:44:49.92\00:44:54.06
whatever it was. And her mother
is dying a thousand deaths. [
00:44:54.06\00:44:59.13
Laughter ] And I told her
mother, Tanya -- I said, "Tanya,
that was the most beautiful
00:44:59.13\00:45:02.46
thing. That was the most
beautiful thing." But why?
00:45:02.46\00:45:04.47
Because she didn't know you're
not supposed to show joy in
00:45:04.47\00:45:08.94
church. >> Come on! >> She just
thought it just flows naturally.
00:45:08.94\00:45:13.04
"You turned my mourning into
dancing again. ¤ You lifted my
00:45:13.04\00:45:23.05
sorrows ¤ "I can't stay silent.
I must sing, for your joy has
00:45:23.05\00:45:28.72
come." Lookit -- David is not
"Dancing with the Stars." Let's
just get that clear.
00:45:28.72\00:45:32.39
He's not "Dancing with the
Stars." He's dancing before the
00:45:32.39\00:45:36.16
almighty, Lord of all stars.
>> Come on, come on! >> He's
00:45:36.16\00:45:40.64
moving. He tells the patriarchs
and prophets he's moving to the
beat of the -- the rhythm of the
00:45:40.64\00:45:46.01
song. That's their word.
He's moving to the rhythm of
00:45:46.01\00:45:49.01
what is being performed. He's
moving to it. Why? "Because you
00:45:49.01\00:45:55.12
set me free. You turned my
mourning into dancing. You took
my sackcloth and you
00:45:55.12\00:46:02.02
gave me joy." Ah.
Wow. Could it happen here?
00:46:02.02\00:46:06.93
It has to. Hey, iGen, everybody
behind me, and iGen out there,
00:46:06.93\00:46:12.60
it has to. That's your only
hope. The most depressive
generation in the history of
00:46:12.60\00:46:16.60
record-keeping. So, what's
up with that? The technology has
00:46:16.60\00:46:20.48
conspired against us all. Trust
me. Not just you, all of us.
00:46:20.48\00:46:24.21
But God says, "Don't worry."
When you get to feeling dark and
mournful, I have a solution for
00:46:24.21\00:46:32.35
you." And I want to share
them now. Three mental-health
00:46:32.35\00:46:36.22
nuggets. And I'll talk about new
life and Pioneer, all right? And
then we'll be done.
00:46:36.22\00:46:40.96
Here they are. I want to
share these with you. These are
00:46:40.96\00:46:44.07
fascinating. If you want to read
a chapter that will just lift
your spirits, in terms of mental
00:46:44.07\00:46:47.97
health, there's a little classic
called "Ministry of Healing."
And the chapter title is
00:46:47.97\00:46:52.41
"Mind Cure." I read it this
last week. Man, I said, "This is
00:46:52.41\00:46:56.71
dynamite stuff." So, I'm gonna
give you three mental-health
00:46:56.71\00:47:00.28
nuggets from that chapter.
Here we go. First one's on the
00:47:00.28\00:47:02.75
screen. Write that down, 'cause
it's on your study guide. It's
that little card stock
00:47:09.92\00:47:14.03
thing. You write it down.
Nothing will raise your spirits
00:47:14.03\00:47:17.17
more than gratitude and praise.
Isn't that good? Why does that
00:47:17.17\00:47:20.77
work? I'm gonna show you
in a second. She goes on.
00:47:20.77\00:47:24.64
Write that down. It's a duty
to pray, but so is praise and
00:47:29.71\00:47:34.42
gratitude. We're coming up
to the Thanksgiving season.
00:47:34.42\00:47:36.95
Come on. Keep reading.
00:47:37.12\00:47:39.89
Come on. "Nothing
will promote health of
00:47:49.46\00:47:53.30
body and soul more than a
spirit of praise and gratitude."
00:47:53.30\00:47:56.97
"You turned my
mourning into dancing."
00:47:56.97\00:47:58.67
Here comes
mental-health nugget number two.
00:47:58.67\00:48:00.64
And it's number three
that will give us the how-to.
00:48:00.64\00:48:02.84
Here comes number
two. Oh, I love this.
00:48:02.84\00:48:05.65
Depression.
00:48:10.09\00:48:11.95
Song -- "You turned my
mourning into dancing again."
00:48:18.13\00:48:23.13
You say, "Dwight, you don't even
know that song. How can I
possibly learn it?"
00:48:23.30\00:48:26.74
Well, you can do what I do.
Seriously. Here's what I do. I
just make songs up.
00:48:26.74\00:48:31.71
No, I do. I don't need the words
to rhyme. I don't think God
00:48:31.71\00:48:35.41
needs the words to rhyme. He
likes them to tunes, so I make
up the tune and the song.
00:48:35.41\00:48:39.95
¤ Jesus, you're my best friend ¤
¤ Right now, yes ¤ ¤ Jesus,
you're my best friend
00:48:39.95\00:48:45.35
right now ¤ ¤ Yes! ¤
¤ Jesus, stay with me ¤
00:48:45.35\00:48:48.22
¤ Jesus, don't you go ¤ ¤ Jesus,
stay with me ¤ That's what I do.
00:48:48.22\00:48:52.33
I'm talking to him. I'm singing
to him. I'm making up a song.
00:48:52.33\00:48:55.90
That's all. That's all
I'm doing. You can do that.
00:48:55.90\00:48:59.93
Nobody's listening to you. And
nobody cares, which is half the
00:48:59.93\00:49:08.51
problem. But there's a song --
Lookit. You know, blessed
assurance. Jesus is mine.
00:49:08.51\00:49:12.05
Oh, what a friend we have in
Jesus. ¤ Oh, how I love Jesus ¤
00:49:12.05\00:49:16.18
¤ Oh, how I love Jesus ¤ ¤ Oh,
how I love Jesus ¤ ¤ Because he
00:49:16.18\00:49:27.66
first loved me ¤ They won't all
join you in singing, but it
doesn't matter. You're not
00:49:27.66\00:49:31.47
singing to them. You're singing
to yourself. Song is a weapon
00:49:31.47\00:49:37.17
discouragement. against
depressive I'll pin you to the
ground with that song. Okay, but
00:49:37.17\00:49:41.44
here's the how-to. This is
-- Finally, mental-health nugget
00:49:41.44\00:49:45.65
number three. Come on,
get this, now. This is huge.
00:49:45.65\00:49:48.75
What you talk
about you become. Mm-hmm.
00:49:53.99\00:49:58.79
Whoa! Flip the coin
over. Now, jot this down.
00:49:58.79\00:50:03.97
What's the principle here?
"Feelings follow behavior."
00:50:03.97\00:50:07.44
Write that down.
"Feelings follow behavior."
00:50:07.44\00:50:10.47
So, that's a little
bracket I stuck in there.
00:50:10.47\00:50:14.31
Explain that in a second.
00:50:14.31\00:50:16.68
And I put it in brackets
here. "Talk faith until you have
00:50:28.29\00:50:32.16
faith." It will come.
00:50:32.16\00:50:34.10
Behavior is to lead feelings.
Feelings follow behavior.
00:50:34.10\00:50:39.47
That's the key to
living. That's it.
00:50:39.47\00:50:42.54
That's the point she's
making. You see, if you let your
00:50:42.54\00:50:45.17
behavior -- Look, look. If
you let your behavior follow
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.81
your feelings -- "I'm
sad. I feel sad. I feel sad.
00:50:47.81\00:50:50.21
I feel sad."
Guess how you behave.
00:50:50.21\00:50:51.98
"I'm sad. I'm
sad. I'm sad. I'm sad."
00:50:51.98\00:50:53.88
You can't help it.
I'm just responding.
00:50:53.88\00:50:56.02
But you've got to turn it
around, say, "No, feelings.
00:50:56.02\00:50:59.02
To the back of the
line. I'm glad. I'm praising.
00:50:59.02\00:51:02.99
I'm happy in Christ.
00:51:02.99\00:51:05.03
I'm glad. I'm praising. I'm
joyful in Christ." You behave
that way, and guess
00:51:05.19\00:51:09.86
what -- like obedient children.
They just step right in behind
00:51:09.86\00:51:18.47
you. And now they feel the way
you're behaving. So, even when
00:51:18.47\00:51:24.75
you don't feel like it, start
dancing. Not where people can
see you. Just start dancing,
00:51:24.75\00:51:29.08
start praising, and before you
know it, your feelings will
follow. Why? Because feelings
00:51:29.08\00:51:33.92
follow behavior. That's how
it works. Three mental-health
00:51:33.92\00:51:40.10
nuggets, which, when you think
about it, turns out to be true
not only for the ancient King
00:51:40.10\00:51:44.03
David, but listen to this,
listen to this. It was also true
for the living son of David.
00:51:44.03\00:51:49.84
Come on. Hold on, hold on.
The son of David -- when Jesus
00:51:49.84\00:51:54.11
hung on the cross, what is
happening at Calvary? That was a
00:51:54.11\00:51:59.35
dark and terrible night, and
Jesus is weeping. "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?"
00:51:59.35\00:52:06.55
He's weeping, but he holds on.
In the darkness, he holds on. He
reaches out by faith, and
00:52:06.55\00:52:13.86
behavior leads feelings, until,
finally, when he dies, he says,
"Father, I commit my life, my
00:52:13.86\00:52:19.47
spirit into your hands.
Amen." What happened there?
00:52:19.47\00:52:24.77
Weeping endured for the night,
but by faith, Jesus knew there
was a new morning about to
00:52:24.77\00:52:33.92
break. And joy comes in the
morning, which means, really,
00:52:33.92\00:52:39.82
the song that we should be
singing -- Put it on the screen,
please. Just spell it
00:52:39.82\00:52:48.20
differently. What you and I are
mourning over right now -- And
we have a litany, all of us.
00:52:48.20\00:52:51.93
What we are mourning over right
now, here's the promise -- that,
with Jesus, he can turn our
00:52:51.93\00:52:56.84
mourning into morning. What's
the morning? It's the morning of
00:52:56.84\00:53:02.08
Jesus' resurrection. Is
that not good news for us all?
00:53:02.08\00:53:04.45
What's the morning? It's
the morning of Jesus' return.
00:53:04.45\00:53:07.12
Is that not good for us all?
"You turned my mourning into
00:53:07.12\00:53:16.52
morning again." Behavior -- "You
turned it." So, whatever you're
going through, my friends -- And
00:53:16.52\00:53:23.47
I'm looking out into faces that
I know the answer to. Whatever
00:53:23.47\00:53:28.60
it is you're going through right
now, don't give up. Do not, do
not, do not give up.
00:53:28.60\00:53:32.67
There's only one person in this
universe that's trying to take
00:53:32.67\00:53:38.75
you down. Don't give up. Lord
Jesus, turn this mourning in my
life into the morning of
00:53:38.75\00:53:46.65
your forever love and hope,
I pray. Thank you. Thank you,
00:53:46.65\00:53:55.60
Jesus. I will dance in faith to
what I just confessed to you.
You've turned my mourning into
00:53:55.60\00:54:04.54
morning. "Come, Thou
Fount of Every Blessing."
00:54:04.54\00:54:08.41
Let's sing it with our hearts
wide open. Just three stanzas.
00:54:08.41\00:54:12.88
¤¤
00:54:12.88\00:54:14.78
>> ¤ Come, thou fount of every
blessing ¤ ¤ Tune my heart to
00:54:34.44\00:54:42.18
sing Thy grace ¤ ¤
Streams of mercy never ceasing ¤
00:54:42.18\00:54:48.42
¤ Call for songs of loudest
praise ¤ ¤ Teach me ever to
00:54:48.42\00:54:58.09
adore Thee ¤ ¤ May I still Thine
goodness prove ¤ ¤ While the
00:54:58.09\00:55:06.30
hopes of endless glory ¤ ¤ Fills
my heart with joy and love ¤
00:55:06.30\00:55:14.38
¤ Here I raise my Ebenezer ¤ ¤
Hither by Thy help I'm come ¤ ¤
And I hope by Thy good
00:55:14.38\00:55:27.39
pleasure ¤ ¤ Safely to arrive at
home ¤ ¤ Jesus sought me when a
00:55:27.39\00:55:37.83
stranger ¤ ¤
Wandering from the fold of God ¤
00:55:37.83\00:55:44.74
¤ He to rescue me from danger ¤
¤ Interposed His precious blood
00:55:44.74\00:55:56.08
¤ ¤ Oh, to grace, how great a
debtor ¤ ¤ Daily, I'm
constrained to be ¤
00:55:56.08\00:56:05.79
¤ Let Thy goodness like a fetter
¤ ¤ Bind me closer still to Thee
00:56:05.79\00:56:16.27
¤ ¤ Prone to wander, Lord, I
feel it ¤ ¤ Prone to leave the
00:56:16.27\00:56:25.01
God I love ¤ ¤ Here's my
heart, oh, take and seal it ¤
00:56:25.01\00:56:31.99
¤ Seal it for Thy courts above ¤
00:56:31.99\00:56:41.26
>> And now may the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ and the love
of God and the fellowship of the
00:56:41.73\00:56:48.17
Holy Spirit be with you
all. Amen. >> All: Amen.
00:56:48.17\00:56:52.77
¤¤
00:56:52.77\00:56:54.64
>> Think of the last time
someone said, "I'm praying for
00:57:04.82\00:57:07.72
you." Didn't it
give you a sense of
00:57:07.72\00:57:09.82
peace and reassurance
that "somebody cares for me"?
00:57:09.82\00:57:12.43
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
00:57:12.43\00:57:15.13
saying, "You know, Dwight, I've
been praying for you lately."
00:57:15.13\00:57:17.63
There's nothing like knowing
someone is praying for you.
00:57:17.63\00:57:19.93
So I'm gonna offer you
an opportunity to partner.
00:57:19.93\00:57:22.27
Let me, let us
partner with you in prayer.
00:57:22.27\00:57:24.67
If you have a special
prayer request or a praise of
00:57:24.67\00:57:27.21
thanksgiving you'd like to share
with us, I'm inviting you to
00:57:27.21\00:57:29.91
contact one of our
friendly chaplains.
00:57:29.91\00:57:31.91
It's simple to do.
You can call our toll-free
00:57:31.91\00:57:34.25
number,
877-HIS-WILL. 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:34.25\00:57:39.35
That friendly
voice that answers?
00:57:39.35\00:57:41.26
You tell him, you tell
her what your prayer need is.
00:57:41.26\00:57:44.03
We'll join with
you in that petition.
00:57:44.03\00:57:46.16
And may the God who answers
prayer journey with you these
00:57:46.16\00:57:49.23
next few days, until we're right
back here together again next
00:57:49.23\00:57:52.53
time.
00:57:52.53\00:57:53.70
¤¤
00:57:56.50\00:57:58.41