¤¤
00:00:00.20\00:00:04.93
[ "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore
Thee" alternate version begins ]
00:00:08.97\00:00:12.21
¤¤ >> ¤ Joyful,
joyful, we adore Thee ¤
00:00:16.38\00:00:28.39
¤ God of glory, Lord of love
¤ ¤ Hearts unfold like flowers
00:00:28.39\00:00:35.70
before Thee ¤ ¤ Hail Thee as the
Son above ¤ ¤ Melt the clouds of
00:00:35.70\00:00:43.07
sin and sadness ¤ ¤ Drive the
dark of doubt away ¤ ¤ Giver of
immortal gladness ¤ ¤ Fill us
00:00:43.07\00:00:53.45
with the light of day ¤ ¤
Fill us with the light of day ¤
00:00:53.45\00:00:59.69
¤¤ >> ¤ Now thank we all our God
¤ ¤ With hearts and hands and
00:01:02.62\00:01:10.00
voices ¤ >> ¤ Who
wondrous things hath done ¤
00:01:10.00\00:01:14.54
¤ In whom His world rejoices ¤
>> ¤ Who from our mother's arms
00:01:14.54\00:01:21.14
¤ >> ¤ Hath blessed us on our
way ¤ ¤ With countless gifts of
00:01:21.14\00:01:27.78
love ¤ ¤ And
still is ours today ¤
00:01:27.78\00:01:31.79
¤ Ahhhh, ah, ah ¤ ¤ Ah,
ah, ah, ahhhhhhhh ¤ ¤ Rejoice ¤
00:01:35.52\00:01:47.47
¤ Rejoice ¤ ¤ Give
thanks ¤ ¤ Give thanks ¤
00:01:47.47\00:01:58.48
¤ Jo-o-o-y ¤ ¤
Tha-a-a-nks ¤ [ Crescendo ]
00:01:58.48\00:02:18.70
[ Song ends ]
00:02:18.70\00:02:21.04
>> Amen. Hallelujah. What a
wonderful Sabbath, and during
this time of our worship,
00:02:25.54\00:02:32.41
we want to invite you to really
invite joy into your heart
through the gift of gratitude.
00:02:32.41\00:02:39.72
Right now, I invite you to, with
your whole body, participate in
00:02:39.72\00:02:44.46
a call to joy. Please stand.
Turn in your bulletins to page
00:02:44.46\00:02:49.76
4. Also, take a moment to note
that all of our hymns that we're
singing are listed in the
00:02:49.76\00:02:55.17
bulletin, and please use your
hymns today as we sing joyful
melodies to the Lord.
00:02:55.17\00:03:03.08
[ Pages rustling ] "Make a
joyful shout to the Lord, all
00:03:07.12\00:03:14.16
you lands." >> Together: "Serve
the Lord with gladness. Come
before His presence with
00:03:14.16\00:03:19.56
singing." >> "Know
that the Lord, He is God.
00:03:19.56\00:03:23.26
It is He who has made us, and
not we ourselves." >> Together:
00:03:23.26\00:03:29.77
"We are His people and the sheep
of His pasture." >> "Enter into
His gates with thanksgiving and
00:03:29.77\00:03:36.41
into His courts with praise. Be
thankful to Him, and bless His
00:03:36.41\00:03:41.15
name." >> Together: "For
the Lord is good. His mercy is
00:03:41.15\00:03:46.65
everlasting, and His truth
endures to all generations." >>
May we rejoice in the Lord
00:03:46.65\00:03:53.19
today. I invite you to
remain standing as we sing.
00:03:53.19\00:03:57.97
[ "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore
Thee" traditional version begins
00:03:57.97\00:04:03.20
] ¤¤ >> ¤ Joyful,
joyful, we adore Thee ¤
00:04:06.11\00:04:17.85
¤ God of glory, Lord of love
¤ ¤ Hearts unfold like flowers
00:04:17.85\00:04:25.29
before Thee ¤ ¤ Hail Thee as the
Son above ¤ ¤ Melt the clouds of
00:04:25.29\00:04:32.93
sin and sadness ¤ ¤ Drive the
dark of doubt away ¤ ¤ Giver of
immortal gladness ¤ ¤ Fill us
00:04:32.93\00:04:43.51
with the light of day ¤ ¤ All
Thy works with joy surround Thee
00:04:43.51\00:04:49.32
¤ ¤ Earth and heaven reflect
Your rays ¤ ¤ Stars and angels
00:04:49.32\00:04:56.42
sing around Thee ¤ ¤ Center
of unbroken praise ¤ ¤ Field and
00:04:56.42\00:05:03.40
forest, vale and mountain ¤ ¤
Blossoming meadow, flashing sea
00:05:03.40\00:05:08.24
¤ ¤ Chanting bird and flowing
fountain ¤ ¤ All has to rejoice
00:05:08.24\00:05:17.31
for Thee ¤ ¤¤ ¤¤ ¤
Always giving and forgiving ¤
00:05:20.02\00:05:37.60
¤ Ever blessing, ever blest ¤ ¤
Wellspring of the joy of living
00:05:37.60\00:05:45.94
¤ ¤ Ocean-depth of happy rest
¤ ¤ Loving Father, Christ our
00:05:45.94\00:05:54.02
brother ¤ ¤ All who live and
love the light ¤ ¤ Teach us how
00:05:54.02\00:06:01.59
to love each other ¤ ¤ Lift us
to the joy divine ¤ [ Song ends
00:06:01.59\00:06:12.90
] >> You may be seated.
I'll read from Job 38:1, 4-7.
00:06:12.90\00:06:22.51
"Then the Lord answered Job out
of the whirlwind and said,
'Where were you when I laid the
00:06:22.51\00:06:29.58
foundations of the Earth? Tell
me if you have understanding.
00:06:29.58\00:06:34.59
Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know! Or who
stretched the line upon
00:06:34.59\00:06:41.10
it? To what were its foundations
fastened, or who laid its
00:06:41.10\00:06:46.10
cornerstone when the morning
stars sang together and all the
sons of God shouted for joy?"
00:06:46.10\00:06:53.34
May we rejoice in
God the creator today.
00:06:53.34\00:06:57.45
[ "This Is My
Father's World" begins ]
00:06:59.68\00:07:02.75
¤¤ ¤¤ >> ¤ This is
my Father's world ¤
00:07:06.55\00:07:26.27
¤ And to my listening ears ¤ ¤
All nature sings, and 'round me
00:07:26.27\00:07:36.48
rings ¤ ¤ The music of the
spheres ¤ ¤ This is my Father's
world ¤ ¤ I rest me in the
00:07:36.48\00:07:52.10
thought ¤ ¤ Of rocks and trees,
of skies and seas ¤ ¤ His hand
the wonders wrought ¤
00:07:52.10\00:08:04.05
¤ This is my Father's world ¤ ¤
The birds their carols raise ¤ ¤
The morning light, the lily
00:08:04.05\00:08:19.23
white ¤ ¤ Declare their Maker's
praise ¤ ¤ This is my Father's
00:08:19.23\00:08:30.61
world ¤ ¤ He shines in all
that's fair ¤ ¤ In the rustling
grass, I hear Him pass ¤
00:08:30.61\00:08:41.48
¤ He speaks to me everywhere ¤ ¤
This is my Father's world ¤ ¤
Oh, let me never forget ¤
00:08:41.48\00:08:58.50
¤ That though the wrong seems
oft so strong ¤ ¤ God is the
00:08:58.50\00:09:09.34
ruler yet ¤ ¤ This is my
Father's world ¤ ¤ Why should my
heart be sad? ¤ ¤ The Lord is
00:09:09.34\00:09:23.89
King, let the heavens ring ¤
¤ God reigns, let the earth be
00:09:23.89\00:09:34.10
glad ¤ [ Song ends ] >> Please
stand with me as I read from
00:09:34.10\00:09:39.47
Psalm 98. "Oh, sing to the Lord
a new song, for he has done
marvelous things; His right hand
00:09:48.28\00:09:55.72
and His holy arm have gained Him
the victory. The Lord has made
00:09:55.72\00:10:00.90
known His salvation. His
righteousness he has revealed in
00:10:00.90\00:10:05.33
the sight of the nations. Shout
joyfully to the Lord, all the
00:10:05.33\00:10:10.27
earth. Break forth in song,
rejoice, and sing praises. Sing
to the Lord with the harp,
00:10:10.27\00:10:17.48
with the harp and the sound of
a psalm, with trumpets and the
00:10:17.48\00:10:24.09
sound of a horn." May we be
joyful today for God's marvelous
doings. Please remain standing.
00:10:24.09\00:10:30.89
[ "Sing Praise to God" begins ]
00:10:30.89\00:10:33.56
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:36.50\00:11:06.43
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:11:06.43\00:11:33.86
>> ¤ Sing to praise to God who
reigns above ¤ ¤ The God of all
00:11:33.86\00:11:42.70
creation ¤ ¤ The God of power,
the God of love ¤ ¤ The God of
00:11:42.70\00:11:51.37
our salvation ¤ ¤ With healing
balm my soul be filled ¤ ¤ And
every faithless murmur
00:11:51.37\00:11:59.21
stilled ¤ ¤ To God,
all praise and glory ¤
00:11:59.21\00:12:06.05
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤ What God's
almighty power hath
00:12:09.29\00:12:31.85
made ¤ ¤ His
gracious works He keepeth ¤
00:12:31.85\00:12:36.75
¤ By morning glow or evening
shade ¤ ¤ His watchful eye ne'er
00:12:36.75\00:12:43.96
sleepeth ¤ ¤ Within
the kingdom of His might ¤
00:12:43.96\00:12:49.86
¤ Lo, all is just and all is
right ¤ ¤ To God all praise and
00:12:49.86\00:12:59.67
glory ¤ ¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:13:01.94\00:13:23.57
¤ The Lord is never far away ¤ ¤
Throughout all grief distressing
00:13:23.57\00:13:44.82
¤ ¤ An ever-present help
and stay ¤ ¤ Our peace and joy ¤
00:13:44.82\00:14:02.27
¤ And blessing ¤ ¤ As
with a mother's tender hand ¤
00:14:02.27\00:14:20.72
¤ He leads his
own, His chosen band ¤
00:14:20.72\00:14:33.00
¤ To God all praise ¤ ¤ To God
all praise and glory ¤ ¤ Glory ¤
00:14:35.17\00:14:49.15
¤ Glory ¤
00:14:49.15\00:14:54.22
¤ Glory ¤
00:14:57.16\00:15:04.57
¤¤ ¤ And all my
toilsome way along ¤
00:15:06.97\00:15:21.88
¤ I sing aloud Thy praises ¤ ¤
That they may hear the grateful
00:15:21.88\00:15:31.83
song ¤ ¤ My voice unwearied
raises ¤ ¤ Be joyful in the
00:15:31.83\00:15:41.80
Lord, my heart! ¤ ¤ Both soul
and body, bear your part ¤ ¤ To
God all praise and glory ¤
00:15:41.80\00:15:54.15
¤ Sing praise to God ¤ ¤
Praise to God ¤ ¤ Amen ¤¤
00:15:54.15\00:16:10.40
[ "One Faith, One
Hope, One Lord" begins ]
00:16:13.50\00:16:16.87
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:16:19.41\00:16:44.70
¤ One faith, one hope, one Lord
¤ ¤ One Church for which He died
00:16:44.70\00:16:53.88
¤ ¤ One voice, one song ¤ ¤
We lift in praise ¤ ¤ To Him who
00:16:53.88\00:17:06.89
was and is and
shall be evermore ¤
00:17:06.89\00:17:16.53
¤¤ ¤ There is one
body, one Spirit ¤
00:17:19.13\00:17:30.78
¤ As you were called to one hope
¤ ¤ One Lord, baptism, and faith
00:17:30.78\00:17:47.93
¤ ¤ One God and Father of all ¤
¤ One God and Father of all ¤ ¤
One God and Father of all ¤
00:17:47.93\00:18:03.14
¤ Who is in you all ¤
00:18:03.14\00:18:13.05
¤¤ ¤ One faith,
one hope, one Lord ¤
00:18:15.99\00:18:23.33
¤ One Church for which He died
¤ ¤ One voice, one song ¤ ¤ We
00:18:23.33\00:18:36.61
lift in praise ¤ ¤ To Him who
was and is and shall be evermore
¤ ¤ Though we be many people ¤
00:18:36.61\00:18:53.63
¤ Diverse in various gifts ¤ ¤
We are given to each other ¤ ¤
For the unity of faith ¤
00:18:53.63\00:19:11.41
¤ That we grow in the knowledge
of the Son of God ¤ ¤ In the
fullness of Christ ¤
00:19:11.41\00:19:29.90
¤¤ ¤ One faith,
one hope, one Lord ¤
00:19:32.90\00:19:39.44
¤ One Church for which He died
¤ ¤ One voice, one song ¤ ¤ We
00:19:39.44\00:19:51.89
lift in praise ¤ ¤ To Him who
was and is and shall be evermore
¤ ¤ One faith, one hope, one
00:19:51.89\00:20:05.50
Lord ¤ ¤ One Lord ¤
¤ One Lo-o-o-o-o-o-rd ¤
00:20:05.50\00:20:19.21
¤¤ [ Song ends ]
00:20:19.21\00:20:22.08
>> So, here's the question this
weekend before Thanksgiving.
00:20:25.05\00:20:28.09
Will there be
Thanksgiving in Paradise?
00:20:28.09\00:20:33.06
You know, of course, I'm talking
about that little California
00:20:33.06\00:20:38.10
town perched along the foothills
of the beautiful Sierra Nevada
00:20:38.10\00:20:43.30
mountains -- 26,000
small -- Paradise, California.
00:20:43.30\00:20:50.75
And you and I and the nation
have been riveted this week with
the images streaming live out of
00:20:50.91\00:20:59.52
the ashes of what used to be
Paradise, California. And what's
00:20:59.52\00:21:06.26
so stunning -- it just takes
your breath away -- is the
mind-numbing speed with which
00:21:06.26\00:21:13.87
this wildfire they named "Camp
Fire" -- the mind-numbing speed
with which it traveled. You read
00:21:13.87\00:21:19.87
these numbers? At one point,
observers reported the inferno
was torching the equivalent of
00:21:19.87\00:21:27.62
one football field of ground
every second for 90 minutes --
90 minutes, every second.
00:21:27.62\00:21:34.36
10,000 acres just [Exhales
sharply] gone. Everybody in it
00:21:34.36\00:21:39.69
[Exhales sharply] gone.
Unbelievable. And, by the way,
00:21:39.69\00:21:48.20
if that fire were traveling in a
straight-line velocity, 300 feet
a second, that's traveling at
00:21:48.20\00:21:52.97
204 miles an hour. You
can't outrun a fire like that.
00:21:52.97\00:21:58.78
And they didn't. It's no
wonder the flames were almost
00:21:58.78\00:22:06.09
unassailable. 5,400-plus
personnel fighting that fire.
620 fire engines, 24
00:22:06.09\00:22:13.23
helicopters, giant water
aircraft dumping their payload
00:22:13.23\00:22:20.34
over the flames. And then they
had to bring them in -- 300
search-and-rescue personnel, 50
00:22:20.34\00:22:27.11
National Guard sifting now
through the ash, looking for any
sign of former human life.
00:22:27.11\00:22:34.28
As of today -- 63 dead. And
now the number is going up. 631
00:22:34.28\00:22:43.69
missing. 8,650 houses [Exhales
sharply] torched. You know what?
00:22:43.69\00:22:50.03
I went online and said, "Okay,
how many houses are in Berrien
00:22:50.03\00:22:52.83
Springs? All right, how many
houses are in Oronoko Township?"
The Census Bureau, it's all X'ed
00:22:52.83\00:22:56.14
out for that number. They
just didn't try to count it.
00:22:56.14\00:23:00.04
They're at least four
times the size of us. Go figure.
00:23:00.04\00:23:06.01
The whole town, this valley,
gone. You can't imagine it.
00:23:06.01\00:23:11.25
But rather than put pictures up,
I saw a fascinating graphic from
00:23:11.25\00:23:17.76
CAL FIRE forestry. It's a map
that represents the painstaking
process by which rescue
00:23:17.76\00:23:23.30
personnel went from house to
house to house and indicated the
quality of the house that's
00:23:23.30\00:23:29.00
left, if there's anything there
at all. I'm gonna put it on the
00:23:29.00\00:23:31.11
screen for you. I want you to
look at this. The red represents
"gone." Then you'll see up there
00:23:31.11\00:23:36.68
-- maybe you'll see a little bit
of orange, and then you'll see
some yellow and green.
00:23:36.68\00:23:41.62
Black means "escaped." You can
understand that, with the people
unable to return back
00:23:41.62\00:23:47.49
to Paradise, this map is
hugely... either discouraging or
00:23:47.49\00:23:52.66
comforting. Because they're
gonna find their address, and
00:23:52.66\00:23:56.20
they will go to that spot.
"That's where our house is or
00:23:56.20\00:23:58.53
was." Let's zoom in on this so
that you can see the
differentiation. Look at all
00:23:58.53\00:24:03.81
those houses. The red is "gone."
In fact, if you zoom out on this
CAL FIRE map, the city limits --
00:24:03.81\00:24:10.28
just one giant red glob.
That's the wildfire. Wow.
00:24:10.28\00:24:17.45
But let's go ahead and do two --
come on -- two actual
photographs, a "before" and
00:24:17.45\00:24:22.39
"after" for those of us who are
here in worship today -- much
closer to home, these
00:24:22.39\00:24:30.30
photographs. Let's put the
first photograph up, please.
00:24:30.30\00:24:33.44
That's the Paradise Seventh-Day
Adventist Church. Beautiful
00:24:33.44\00:24:37.07
church. A-frame church. I
pastored a church that looked
just like that in Salem, Oregon.
00:24:37.07\00:24:42.41
The pastor, Steven Hamilton, his
first Sabbath -- listen to this
-- his first Sabbath,
00:24:42.41\00:24:46.51
October 13, four weeks ago. Just
moved to town. And four weeks
00:24:46.51\00:24:51.65
later, they're gone.
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.12
Here's the
"after." Here's the "after."
00:24:53.29\00:24:55.29
[ Spectators murmur ]
Doesn't it break your heart?
00:24:55.29\00:24:57.73
Because I'm thinking Pioneer.
I'm thinking, "What would happen
00:24:57.73\00:25:00.63
here?" God bless them.
00:25:00.63\00:25:04.10
Steve Hamilton wrote a message
to his scattered flock and
00:25:04.10\00:25:07.14
ravaged congregation on their
website, beneath the new hashtag
00:25:07.14\00:25:10.37
that's circulating through
Paradise -- #ParadiseStrong.
00:25:10.37\00:25:15.08
Put it on the screen.
That's what everybody's rallying
00:25:15.08\00:25:17.71
around. Now,
beneath that, he wrote
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.58
these words. The
words are on the screen...
00:25:19.58\00:25:22.18
They're gone. And
then, wanting to be gracious
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.49
as a pastor...
00:25:31.49\00:25:32.89
There is no church office.
00:25:40.74\00:25:44.44
The Chico church 17 miles away,
by the way, has opened their
doors and said, "Listen, you can
00:25:44.61\00:25:48.44
set up mission headquarters
right here, and you can worship
here until you figure out what's
00:25:48.44\00:25:53.38
gonna happen." Can you
believe it? [ Clicks tongue ]
00:25:53.38\00:25:57.15
Oh, but he goes on like
a pastor, keeps writing...
00:25:57.32\00:26:00.19
Has no home, but they
write those words. Wow.
00:26:16.74\00:26:23.55
Will there be Thanksgiving
in Paradise? I don't know.
00:26:23.55\00:26:28.35
I really don't know. But I do
know that you and I can respond
out of the largesse of
00:26:28.35\00:26:33.56
our own hearts. If you read my
blog today, there will be three
00:26:33.56\00:26:39.39
ways that you can donate.
00:26:39.39\00:26:40.30
I'll save you reading the blog.
Let me put it on the screen for
00:26:40.46\00:26:42.90
you right now -- three ways that
you can donate to the tragedy in
00:26:42.90\00:26:45.43
Paradise, California.
Number one, you can donate
00:26:45.43\00:26:49.34
online as I did last night.
This is the church website --
00:26:49.34\00:26:52.64
paradiseadventist.org.
You go there, and you click
00:26:52.64\00:26:56.51
"giving" on the giving
page, and -- bingo -- you're on
00:26:56.51\00:26:58.98
Adventist giving
online, and you got it.
00:26:58.98\00:27:02.52
Listen, I don't want to just
talk about their calamity and
not do anything about it.
00:27:02.68\00:27:06.65
I'm no hero for making a
donation, nor will you be, but
why can't we help, we who are
00:27:06.65\00:27:12.79
sitting in this comfort? And we
complain about our pews getting
00:27:12.79\00:27:17.63
beat up and a roof that's
leaking, but at least we got a
00:27:17.63\00:27:23.47
roof. Mm. So, you can go
straight to the Northern
California Conference
00:27:23.64\00:27:28.41
SDA, so that's nccsda.com.
That's their website.
00:27:28.41\00:27:32.45
You'll find these methods
of giving available there.
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.92
And then you can do
it right here, right now.
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.09
Text N-double
C-S-D-A -- N-C-C-S-D-A.
00:27:37.09\00:27:41.56
You text that to 77977.
You can give whatever you want
00:27:41.56\00:27:46.86
to give, and it will go
immediately to the recovery
00:27:46.86\00:27:49.36
efforts of this
burned-out, bombed-out town.
00:27:49.36\00:27:54.77
It's worse than World War II.
Will there be Thanksgiving in
00:27:54.94\00:28:01.81
Paradise? In all candor, the new
normal that we are experiencing
in this nation now means that
00:28:01.81\00:28:06.05
opportunities to express our
compassion and care -- guess
what -- are only gonna go now in
00:28:06.05\00:28:10.55
one direction. This is the new
normal, folks. And you know what
00:28:10.55\00:28:13.89
the direction is? It's
up. It's called "escalation."
00:28:13.89\00:28:19.69
Escalation. Intensification.
The twin realities of the new
00:28:19.69\00:28:24.20
normal on this planet. And,
trust me, we'll have our turn
00:28:24.20\00:28:29.87
someday. We'll have our turn.
You can't have an intuitive
heart within you and read the
00:28:29.87\00:28:39.65
Apocalypse and not realize that,
in fact, escalation and
intensification are the twin
00:28:39.65\00:28:44.19
realities of the endgame
that the Apocalypse predicts and
00:28:44.19\00:28:47.99
prophesies. What's the big deal?
You think God planned all this?
00:28:47.99\00:28:51.76
Are you kidding? Don't put this
on God. Let's give credit to
where credit is due.
00:28:51.76\00:28:55.23
We know the wannabe god who
longs to control this nation,
rule the world, and destroy
00:28:55.23\00:28:59.73
every last one of us.
00:28:59.73\00:29:01.47
The Apocalypse 12:12
-- read it on your screen.
00:29:01.64\00:29:04.94
There's only one way to go
on this, and escalation and
00:29:12.88\00:29:15.65
intensification, it's
the name of the game, folks.
00:29:15.65\00:29:18.59
Get used to it. We'll be calling
on each other to give more and
00:29:18.75\00:29:24.63
more, and maybe that's what God
wants, to just break us loose of
our own innate selfishness.
00:29:24.63\00:29:32.33
Jesus is absolutely right --
"An enemy has done this." Hey,
00:29:32.33\00:29:35.84
listen, I heard a firefighter --
true. Listening on the radio, I
heard a firefighter being
00:29:35.84\00:29:39.67
interviewed, and he was
describing the flames, and he
said, "You know what?
00:29:39.67\00:29:42.58
I cannot understand it. It was
like there was some sort of
master intelligence behind
00:29:42.58\00:29:47.02
the flames, the fury. Every
move we made, the flames kept
00:29:47.02\00:29:50.95
checking us. We couldn't put it
out." Oh, there is a mastermind.
00:29:50.95\00:29:56.49
[ Chuckles ] "An enemy has done
this." Jesus was right. So let's
00:29:56.49\00:30:01.90
get used to it. Compassion and
care is the way forward. But, by
the way, compassion and
00:30:01.90\00:30:06.37
care born out of crisis --
that's a perfect description of
the churches in Macedonia.
00:30:06.37\00:30:10.54
Turn to our Thanksgiving homily
passage, short little passage
here in 2 Corinthians chapter 8.
00:30:10.54\00:30:15.91
Open your Bible. 2 Corinthians
chapter 8. Pick it up in verse
00:30:15.91\00:30:19.55
1. I'll be in the New
International Version. Oh, boy.
00:30:19.55\00:30:22.52
And given their economic status,
I'm not surprised they have
00:30:22.52\00:30:27.16
hearts like this.
Watch this. Verse 1...
00:30:27.32\00:30:29.22
Verse 2...
00:30:36.10\00:30:37.50
Wow. You know
what's going on, don't
00:30:46.94\00:30:48.48
you?
00:30:48.48\00:30:49.38
The Jewish Christian church in
Judaea, in Jerusalem, they're in
the grips of a debilitating
00:30:49.54\00:30:55.58
famine. The Macedonians, who are
brand-new gentile Christians,
00:30:55.58\00:30:59.22
have heard about their brothers
and sisters, and, out of their
extreme poverty, they're raising
00:30:59.22\00:31:04.53
money to help the church in
Jerusalem. I like the way Eugene
00:31:04.53\00:31:10.20
Peterson in his
"Message" renders this line.
00:31:10.20\00:31:12.50
Put it on the screen for you.
"Fierce troubles came down on
00:31:12.67\00:31:15.74
the people of those churches,
pushing them --" that's the
00:31:15.74\00:31:18.71
Macedonian churches
-- "to the very limit.
00:31:18.71\00:31:21.01
The trial exposed their true
colors: they were incredibly
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.78
happy, though desperately poor."
Apparently, you can be poor and
00:31:24.78\00:31:30.05
still be happy.
00:31:30.05\00:31:31.75
They were incredibly happy,
though desperately poor. Wow.
00:31:31.92\00:31:37.03
To the place... Them ministering
out of their extreme poverty and
00:31:37.03\00:31:42.26
generosity, to the place Paul is
bragging on the Macedonian
Christians. He said, "Yo, you
00:31:42.26\00:31:46.43
guys in Corinth, you need to be
like the Macedonians." That's
exactly what he's saying.
00:31:46.43\00:31:50.31
Drop down to verse 7.
00:31:50.31\00:31:51.91
Says, "Hey,
Corinthians." Verse 7.
00:31:52.07\00:31:54.04
"Since you excel in
everything --" yep -- "in faith,
00:31:54.04\00:31:57.48
in speech, in knowledge, in
complete earnestness and in the
00:31:57.48\00:32:01.35
love we have kindled in
you -- see that you also excel
00:32:01.35\00:32:04.89
in this grace of giving."
00:32:04.89\00:32:08.66
"Come on, Andrews University.
Since you excel in everything --
don't you? -- then why don't you
00:32:08.82\00:32:16.93
also determine to excel in this
grace of giving? Just like the
00:32:16.93\00:32:22.57
church in Corinth, the appeal
of the Scripture to our hearts.
00:32:22.57\00:32:27.21
Wow. "Excel in the grace -- see
that you also excel --" just
like the Macedonians -- "in the
00:32:27.21\00:32:34.65
grace of giving." Came across a
blogger. His name is Benjamin P.
00:32:34.65\00:32:39.22
Hardy. He wrote a piece titled
"The Secret to Happiness Is 10
Specific Behaviors."
00:32:39.22\00:32:44.59
So you would enjoy reading
this piece. Hardy -- H-A-R-D-Y.
00:32:44.59\00:32:50.67
You'll find it through Google.
The blog opens up with an
interview with Conan O'Brien and
00:32:50.67\00:32:58.54
Louis C.K. He was talking to
O'Brien about flying on a plane
00:32:58.54\00:33:03.48
with all this new-fangled
equipment, and, of course, a few
years ago, they came out with
00:33:03.48\00:33:06.85
Wi-Fi on the plane, and so he
said, "Man, this is really
something. We're flying with all
00:33:06.85\00:33:09.98
this technology. You can get
Wi-Fi in the air! You can do all
00:33:09.98\00:33:12.89
your surfing you want!" So, he's
talking to his partner. "Man,
00:33:12.89\00:33:16.69
isn't this great." Halfway
through the flight -- I've seen
it happen. Halfway through the
00:33:16.69\00:33:19.96
flight, the Wi-Fi goes down --
[Exhales sharply] nothing. And,
immediately, the man
00:33:19.96\00:33:24.67
sitting next door to Louis C.K.
becomes extremely upset. He's
00:33:24.67\00:33:30.97
just mouthing off. And Louis
C.K. commented, "As if the world
owes this man something he only
00:33:30.97\00:33:37.78
knew existed 10 seconds ago." [
Laughter ] Just like you and me.
00:33:37.78\00:33:42.95
Focusing on the negative,
complaining about life, "how
life is treating me."
00:33:42.95\00:33:50.06
As Hardy writes, "Bad stuff
happens to everyone, but life
isn't about what happens to
00:33:50.06\00:33:54.36
you -- it's about how you
proactively respond." Written
like a psychologist.
00:33:54.36\00:34:01.74
Hmm. So, Benjamin Hardy proceeds
to lay out 10 behaviors that are
00:34:01.74\00:34:07.01
the secret, he says, to
happiness. I'm only gonna give
00:34:07.01\00:34:10.35
you number 4. Put it
on the screen please...
00:34:10.35\00:34:12.55
Ha! He opens up with a quotation
from the well-known writer
00:34:17.09\00:34:20.32
Sarah Ban Breathnach.
00:34:20.32\00:34:22.06
Her words on the
screen now, and I love this.
00:34:22.22\00:34:25.13
"Both abundance and lack of
abundance exist simultaneously
00:34:25.13\00:34:29.00
in our lives as
parallel realities."
00:34:29.00\00:34:31.63
We all have
abundance, we all have the lack.
00:34:31.63\00:34:34.74
"It is always our conscious
choice which secret garden we
00:34:34.74\00:34:38.57
will tend..." We
decide where to spend our
00:34:38.57\00:34:41.54
time, with which
garden. Isn't that right?
00:34:41.54\00:34:44.51
Yeah. "When we
choose not to focus on
00:34:44.51\00:34:46.45
what is missing from our
lives but are grateful for the
00:34:46.45\00:34:48.88
abundance that's present..."
What kind of abundance are you
00:34:48.88\00:34:51.49
talking about? Here she goes.
00:34:51.49\00:34:52.92
"...love, health, family,
friends, work, the joys of
00:34:52.92\00:34:55.56
nature, and personal pursuits
that bring us happiness --" and
00:34:55.56\00:34:58.56
now, oh, this is great -- "the
wasteland of illusion falls away
00:34:58.56\00:35:04.00
and we
experience heaven on earth."
00:35:04.00\00:35:07.50
That's why Hardy's
saying happiness is as simple as
00:35:07.50\00:35:10.11
gratitude. Are you grateful?
00:35:10.11\00:35:12.17
Are you a grateful person? Do
your friends think of you as a
00:35:12.34\00:35:16.54
grateful person? [ Thud ]
Apparently not. No, they do.
00:35:16.54\00:35:21.42
I'm just talking to the
choir behind me. [ Laughter ]
00:35:21.42\00:35:23.95
Somebody dropped something.
Are you okay? [ Laughter ]
00:35:23.95\00:35:26.49
Are you still with us, girl? I'm
thankful you are. [ Chuckles ]
00:35:26.49\00:35:30.93
Yeah, come on. Happiness
is as simple as gratitude.
00:35:30.93\00:35:34.30
You ever read those lists that
describe the benefits, physical
and psychological, of gratitude?
00:35:34.30\00:35:38.30
Come on. They're all over
the Web. What are the physical
00:35:38.30\00:35:41.20
benefits of gratitude? Let
me run a few by you. Come on.
00:35:41.20\00:35:43.44
"Stronger immune system, less
bothered by aches and pains,
lower blood pressure."
00:35:43.44\00:35:47.91
You exercise more, and you take
better care of your health. You
sleep longer and feel more
00:35:47.91\00:35:52.71
refreshed, more awoken and
wakened. Come on. It's called
00:35:52.71\00:35:59.49
gratitude. Be happy. Be
thankful. Oh, by the way, the
psychological benefits?
00:35:59.49\00:36:04.46
Let me read this list. "Higher
levels of positive emotions,
more alert and alive
00:36:04.46\00:36:08.23
and awake, more joy and
pleasure, more optimism and
happiness, more helpful and
00:36:08.23\00:36:12.00
generous and compassionate, more
forgiving, more outgoing, feel
less lonely and isolated."
00:36:12.00\00:36:17.71
Man, I say let's celebrate
gratitude. What do you say?
00:36:17.71\00:36:21.38
Come on! Not just one
day a year -- the whole year!
00:36:21.38\00:36:25.98
Gratitude. That's the way it
was in the church of Macedonia.
00:36:25.98\00:36:28.98
In fact, how'd that line go? Put
them up on the screen again for
00:36:28.98\00:36:32.62
us, please. I love this line...
00:36:32.62\00:36:34.02
You can tell which secret garden
they were tending -- what they
had, not what they didn't have.
00:36:36.59\00:36:41.80
And put that other line
that the NIV renders it...
00:36:41.96\00:36:44.47
Ooh! I like that. You know what?
00:36:48.44\00:36:50.47
It's like the silver circle of
thanksgiving, because the more
00:36:50.47\00:36:54.08
grateful you are, the more you
give, and the more you give, the
00:36:54.08\00:36:57.48
more you're glad, and the more
you're glad, the more grateful
00:36:57.48\00:37:00.52
you are, and the more grateful
you are, the more you give.
00:37:00.52\00:37:02.98
It's the silver
circle of thanksgiving.
00:37:02.98\00:37:04.75
In fact, let's put it
on the screen right now.
00:37:04.75\00:37:07.42
This is how is works --
gratitude, giving, and gladness,
00:37:07.42\00:37:10.59
and it's all the way
down. You can't go beneath that
00:37:10.59\00:37:13.56
screen, but it's going all
the way down because that's the
00:37:13.56\00:37:16.77
cycle. It's the silver circle of
00:37:16.77\00:37:18.77
thanksgiving.
00:37:18.77\00:37:21.77
The more we give, the gladder we
become, and the gladder we
become, the more grateful we
00:37:21.94\00:37:27.41
are, and the more grateful
we are, the more we give. [
00:37:27.41\00:37:34.28
Exhaling sharply ] Isn't it
Jesus? Isn't it just like Jesus?
Jesus is the one, by the way,
00:37:34.28\00:37:37.45
who speaks this line that
appears nowhere in the Gospels.
Can't find it in the Gospels,
00:37:37.45\00:37:41.19
but it's tucked away in the New
Testament. I'll put it on the
00:37:41.19\00:37:44.39
screen for you. Let's say it
out loud together. "It is more
00:37:44.39\00:37:49.76
blessed..." Come on, help me out
now. >> Together: "It is more
blessed to give than to
00:37:49.76\00:37:55.54
receive." >> That's the point.
Because when you give, you're
glad, and when you're glad,
00:37:55.54\00:38:04.68
you're grateful, and when you're
grateful, you give, and it just
00:38:04.68\00:38:09.35
keeps going. Come to think of
it, that's the way Jesus Himself
00:38:09.35\00:38:12.99
lived, isn't it? Wasn't He the
biggest giver that ever lived?
00:38:12.99\00:38:15.92
Put it on the
screen, our last text.
00:38:16.09\00:38:17.76
It's verse 9. Just
drop right down there,
00:38:17.76\00:38:19.59
verse 9. "For you
know the grace of our
00:38:19.59\00:38:22.26
Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your
00:38:22.26\00:38:25.93
sake --" and my sake -- "he
became poor so that you and I
00:38:25.93\00:38:29.67
through his poverty
might become --" what?
00:38:29.67\00:38:32.54
We might become rich in
what lasts forever and ever.
00:38:32.54\00:38:38.98
The whole gaping universe is
staring at that center cross as
00:38:38.98\00:38:43.89
they watch the King of Kings,
the darling of heaven, expire in
00:38:43.89\00:38:49.46
agony. And they
realize He is emptying
00:38:49.46\00:38:55.56
Himself to the last degree in
order to save the likes of you
00:38:55.56\00:39:02.44
and me -- willing to die forever
so that we might live forever.
00:39:02.44\00:39:07.11
"He became poor so
that we might become rich."
00:39:07.11\00:39:11.98
Folks, it doesn't
get any better than that.
00:39:11.98\00:39:14.15
"Desire of Ages."
This is the very famous
00:39:14.15\00:39:16.22
quotation, by the way, from
"Desire of Ages" on the screen.
00:39:16.22\00:39:19.05
You'll see it there. "To
the death of Christ we owe
00:39:19.05\00:39:21.96
even this earthly life."
Everything I have, I owe to the
00:39:21.96\00:39:25.99
death of Jesus.
"The bread we eat is the
00:39:25.99\00:39:27.96
purchase of His broken body.
The water we drink --" You gonna
00:39:27.96\00:39:30.73
have bread today and
gonna drink something?
00:39:30.73\00:39:32.80
You will. "And
the water we drink is
00:39:32.80\00:39:34.74
bought by His spilled
blood." Now, here it goes.
00:39:34.74\00:39:37.21
"Never one, saint or sinner,
eats her daily food, but she is
00:39:37.21\00:39:42.01
nourished by the body
and the blood of Christ."
00:39:42.01\00:39:45.85
Now the clincher. "The
cross of Calvary is stamped
00:39:45.85\00:39:49.85
on every loaf. It is
reflected in every water
00:39:49.85\00:39:53.49
spring." Calvary
stamped on everything we
00:39:53.49\00:39:59.19
own.
00:39:59.19\00:40:00.40
He bought it for us. Go figure
that price tag. Will there be
00:40:00.56\00:40:11.94
Thanksgiving in Paradise? Oh,
I've got great news for you.
Yes, there will be one day in
00:40:11.94\00:40:16.31
the paradise above, when you and
I and the children of Earth bow
at the nail-scarred feet of
00:40:16.31\00:40:21.75
Jesus and we pour out our hearts
in thanksgiving, which will be a
thanksgiving for ever and ever.
00:40:21.75\00:40:28.89
Amen. >>
Together: Amen. >> Amen.
00:40:28.89\00:40:31.43
>> There is a psalm that says,
"Make a joyful noise." And I
00:40:33.36\00:40:39.53
love this time at Pioneer. I
love Feast of Hymns because
that's exactly what we're gonna
00:40:39.53\00:40:43.17
do right now, is we're gonna
make a joyful noise. Many of you
00:40:43.17\00:40:47.64
have brought some donations of
food. Many of you have brought
some offering so that we can
00:40:47.64\00:40:52.01
take care of the people in our
community who need this, who
would be blessed by the meals
00:40:52.01\00:40:56.85
and by the donations that come
in. Now will be your opportunity
00:40:56.85\00:41:00.89
to do that. If you also wanted
to make sure that you gave like
00:41:00.89\00:41:04.96
you do every Sabbath for
children's education, go ahead
and mark that on your tithe and
00:41:04.96\00:41:09.50
offering envelope. And, just so
you know, the loose offering
this morning goes to
00:41:09.50\00:41:13.54
support our staff, our staff
that work in the office, that
ensure that we take care of
00:41:13.54\00:41:19.47
others when they come to
our church for need. Every year,
00:41:19.47\00:41:24.18
we're able to support the needs
of people in this community
because of your gifts, and our
00:41:24.18\00:41:29.45
staff's helped to curate that
process during the week every
week. So please give generously
00:41:29.45\00:41:33.99
in taking care of them. Here are
the instructions, if you would.
00:41:33.99\00:41:37.63
Our deacons are going to dismiss
you row by row. You'll come down
00:41:37.63\00:41:42.03
through the outside aisles. Our
pathfinders will be lined up
right here in the front.
00:41:42.03\00:41:46.23
The baskets will notate what it
is that they're receiving. You
can hand your food donation
00:41:46.23\00:41:51.04
to one of them. They'll make
sure it's situated. And then we
invite you to return
00:41:51.04\00:41:55.01
down the center and go back to
your seat that way. If you
happen to bump into
00:41:55.01\00:41:58.78
somebody, do so
gently. [ Laughter ] Okay?
00:41:58.78\00:42:04.15
Do so gently, and encourage one
another while you're doing that.
While that's happening, we're
00:42:04.15\00:42:12.29
gonna have lyrics on the screen,
and you can sing with your heart
00:42:12.29\00:42:20.40
that entire time. That is going
to happen after this song, "What
Gift." I was so excited to give
00:42:20.40\00:42:27.54
this morning that I jumped the
gun on this announcement, so
we're gonna sing the song that's
00:42:27.54\00:42:34.38
on the back of the bulletin.
00:42:34.38\00:42:36.85
[ "What Gift Can
We Bring?" begins ]
00:42:43.16\00:42:46.56
¤¤ >> ¤ What gift can we bring?
¤ ¤ What present, what token? ¤
00:42:50.67\00:43:02.51
¤ What words can convey it ¤
¤ The joy of this day? ¤ ¤ When
00:43:02.51\00:43:14.26
grateful we come ¤ ¤
Remembering, rejoicing ¤ ¤ What
song can we offer ¤ ¤ In honor
00:43:14.26\00:43:26.87
and praise? ¤ ¤¤ >> ¤ Give
thanks for the past ¤ ¤ For
those who had vision ¤
00:43:29.00\00:43:41.82
¤ Who planted and watered ¤ ¤ So
dreams could come true ¤ ¤ Give
thanks for the now ¤
00:43:41.82\00:43:52.89
¤ For study, for worship ¤ ¤ For
mission that bids us ¤ ¤ Turn
00:43:52.89\00:44:05.54
prayer into deed ¤ ¤¤ ¤ Give
thanks for our friends ¤ ¤ For
families and strangers ¤
00:44:07.84\00:44:19.59
¤ For all those who touch us ¤
¤ In hope, let us wait ¤ ¤ With
00:44:19.59\00:44:30.90
tokens of love ¤ ¤ Affection and
caring ¤ ¤ Be thanking their
neighbor ¤ ¤ In deeds large and
00:44:30.90\00:44:44.18
small ¤ ¤¤ ¤ Give thanks for
tomorrow ¤ ¤ Full of surprises ¤
00:44:46.75\00:44:58.19
¤ For knowing whatever ¤ ¤
Tomorrow may bring ¤ ¤ God gives
00:44:58.19\00:45:09.70
us His Word ¤ ¤ And always
forever ¤ ¤ We rest in God's
keeping ¤ ¤ And live in God's
00:45:09.70\00:45:23.45
love ¤ ¤¤ ¤ This gift we
now bring ¤ ¤ This present, this
00:45:26.42\00:45:37.27
token ¤ ¤ These words can convey
it ¤ ¤ The joy of this day ¤ ¤
When grateful we come ¤
00:45:37.27\00:45:48.98
¤ Remembering, rejoicing ¤ ¤
This song we now offer ¤ ¤ In
00:45:48.98\00:46:03.76
honor and praise ¤
¤¤ ¤¤ [ Song ends ]
00:46:06.03\00:46:23.88
>> We're thankful for all the
early adopters of the procession
of hope, and we now give you
00:46:31.29\00:46:37.39
opportunity to the rest of you
to participate in our procession
of hope as we sing aloud and
00:46:37.39\00:46:43.53
make a joyful noise to the lord.
00:46:43.53\00:46:46.20
[ "Rejoice, Ye
Poor in Heart" begins ]
00:46:49.67\00:46:52.87
¤¤ ¤¤
00:46:56.95\00:47:16.16
¤¤ [ Congregation sings ]
00:47:16.16\00:47:20.40
¤¤ ¤¤
00:47:20.40\00:47:40.09
¤¤ ¤¤
00:47:40.09\00:48:00.08
¤¤ ¤¤
00:48:00.08\00:48:19.36
[ "The Lord Is
My Light" begins ]
00:48:19.36\00:48:22.50
¤¤ ¤¤
00:48:25.30\00:48:45.32
¤¤ ¤¤
00:48:45.32\00:49:05.37
¤¤ ¤¤
00:49:05.37\00:49:25.36
¤¤ ¤¤
00:49:25.36\00:49:45.35
¤¤ [ "For the
Beauty of the Earth"
00:49:45.35\00:49:54.86
begins ]
00:49:54.86\00:49:55.79
¤¤ ¤¤
00:49:58.86\00:50:18.85
¤¤ ¤¤
00:50:18.85\00:50:38.83
¤¤ ¤¤
00:50:38.83\00:50:58.85
¤¤ ¤¤
00:50:58.85\00:51:11.10
[ "'Tis So Sweet to
Trust in Jesus" plays ]
00:51:11.10\00:51:14.84
¤¤ ¤¤
00:51:16.94\00:51:36.96
¤¤ ¤¤
00:51:36.96\00:51:56.95
¤¤ ¤¤
00:51:56.95\00:52:17.00
¤¤ ¤¤
00:52:17.00\00:52:37.02
¤¤ ¤¤
00:52:37.02\00:52:57.01
¤¤ [ "To God Be
the Glory" plays ]
00:52:57.01\00:53:06.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:09.45\00:53:29.44
¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:29.44\00:53:49.46
¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:49.46\00:54:09.51
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:09.51\00:54:29.50
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:29.50\00:54:49.52
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:49.52\00:55:09.57
¤¤ [ "Praise God, From Whom All
00:55:09.57\00:55:15.64
Blessings Flow" plays ]
00:55:15.64\00:55:17.18
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:20.85\00:55:40.84
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:40.84\00:56:00.46
[ Song ends ] >> And
now, for all who brought
00:56:00.46\00:56:04.16
bright joy this day, for all who
gave deep thanks today, and all,
00:56:04.16\00:56:10.03
as well, whose joy was dole,
who struggled over the word
00:56:10.03\00:56:13.87
"grateful," take joy in
all things. See God's grace.
00:56:13.87\00:56:18.17
Live thanks. In all things, hear
God's voice. And in the coming
00:56:18.17\00:56:23.91
days of living, let us touch the
world with joy and thanksgiving.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
00:56:23.91\00:56:29.82
we pray. Amen.
>> Together: Amen.
00:56:29.82\00:56:33.12
[ "Take Joy! Live
Thanks!" plays ] >> ¤ Take joy ¤
00:56:33.12\00:56:41.40
¤ Take joy ¤ ¤ Live
thanks ¤ ¤ Live thanks ¤
00:56:41.40\00:56:50.34
¤ Joy ¤ ¤ Thanks ¤
00:56:50.34\00:57:02.82
[ Song ends ]
00:57:05.55\00:57:06.59
>> Think of the last time
someone said, "I'm praying
00:57:09.49\00:57:12.06
for you." Didn't
it give you a sense of
00:57:12.06\00:57:14.30
peace and reassurance
that somebody cares for me?
00:57:14.30\00:57:16.63
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
00:57:16.63\00:57:19.33
saying, "Yo, Dwight.
I've been praying for you
00:57:19.33\00:57:21.44
lately." There's
nothing like knowing
00:57:21.44\00:57:23.04
someone is praying for
you. So I want to offer you an
00:57:23.04\00:57:25.07
opportunity to partner -- let
me, let us partner with you in
00:57:25.07\00:57:28.68
prayer. If you
have a special prayer
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.65
request or a praise of
thanksgiving you'd like to share
00:57:30.65\00:57:33.18
with us, I'm inviting you
to contact one of our friendly
00:57:33.18\00:57:35.68
chaplains. It's simple to do.
00:57:35.68\00:57:37.49
You can call our toll-free
number -- 877 -- the two words,
00:57:37.49\00:57:40.49
HIS WILL. 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:40.49\00:57:43.73
That friendly voice that
answers, you tell him, you tell
00:57:43.73\00:57:46.70
her what your prayer need
is, we'll join with you in that
00:57:46.70\00:57:49.70
petition. May the
God who answers prayer
00:57:49.70\00:57:52.33
journey with you these next
few days until we're right back
00:57:52.33\00:57:54.97
here together again next time.
00:57:54.97\00:57:57.24
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:59.91\00:58:19.56
¤¤
00:58:19.56\00:58:26.84