Hey, boys and girls,
nice to see all of you.
00:01:52.24\00:01:55.71
I know you're
expecting me to show up
00:01:55.74\00:01:57.41
right there in front
of you, but look at that,
00:01:57.45\00:01:59.58
they brought
this beautiful chair,
00:01:59.61\00:02:02.75
and I get to
sit down right here.
00:02:02.78\00:02:07.96
Oh, merry
Christmas to you almost.
00:02:07.99\00:02:10.96
It's a beautiful
Sabbath before Christmas.
00:02:10.99\00:02:14.06
Good to see you.
00:02:14.10\00:02:15.43
Do we have any
visitors who are here?
00:02:15.46\00:02:16.87
Do we have any visitors who...
00:02:16.90\00:02:18.53
Oh, I see a visitor.
00:02:18.57\00:02:19.90
Welcome. Welcome.
00:02:19.93\00:02:21.44
Any visitors on this side?
00:02:21.47\00:02:23.61
Welcome. Welcome.
00:02:23.64\00:02:26.31
Where are those
little girls of mine?
00:02:26.34\00:02:27.88
Where are they sitting?
00:02:27.91\00:02:29.24
Oh, there is Ella right there.
00:02:29.28\00:02:31.81
You can't see
here, but I can see here.
00:02:31.85\00:02:34.05
And is Izzy here?
00:02:34.08\00:02:36.25
No, Izzy is back in there.
00:02:36.28\00:02:37.62
All right.
00:02:37.65\00:02:39.35
Nice to have you all.
00:02:39.39\00:02:41.42
So Benji could hardly wait.
00:02:41.46\00:02:46.86
"Reuben, you're not
going to believe this,
00:02:46.90\00:02:48.80
you're not going to
believe this, Reuben.
00:02:48.83\00:02:50.67
Yo, Reuben, where are you?
00:02:50.70\00:02:54.84
Yo, Benji, I'm over here."
00:02:54.87\00:02:56.87
Benji and Reuben were cousins.
00:02:56.91\00:02:58.97
Benji came running up to Reuben.
00:02:59.01\00:03:02.01
"You're not
going to believe this,
00:03:02.04\00:03:03.38
but our dads talked to our moms
00:03:03.41\00:03:04.81
and our moms gave us permission!
00:03:04.85\00:03:07.42
We get to go out
with our dads tonight.
00:03:07.45\00:03:09.48
All night long!"
00:03:09.52\00:03:13.05
You see, Reuben and
Benji were sons of shepherds.
00:03:13.09\00:03:19.19
And what does a shepherd do?
00:03:19.23\00:03:20.56
What kind of animals
does a shepherd lead?
00:03:20.60\00:03:21.96
Let me hear the sound of
animals a shepherd leads.
00:03:22.00\00:03:24.63
What kind of sounds?
00:03:24.67\00:03:26.00
Baa, baa,
00:03:26.03\00:03:29.04
baa, baa!
00:03:29.07\00:03:33.21
Oh, you are a perfect flock.
00:03:33.24\00:03:35.81
That's lovely.
00:03:35.84\00:03:38.55
Okay. Okay.
00:03:38.58\00:03:39.91
We got it.
00:03:39.95\00:03:42.35
All right, so Benji and Reuben
00:03:42.38\00:03:46.22
cannot believe that
Mommy actually said yes,
00:03:46.25\00:03:48.36
both moms said yes
00:03:48.39\00:03:49.72
because their dads were brothers
00:03:49.76\00:03:51.09
so that made the dad
the uncle of the other boy.
00:03:51.13\00:03:53.80
"We get to go out tonight,"
00:03:53.83\00:03:55.23
and Mother made a
most wonderful stay out
00:03:55.26\00:03:57.87
all night with your daddy,
00:03:57.90\00:03:59.53
supper she packed
it in a little cloth,
00:03:59.57\00:04:02.30
she gave it to Benji.
00:04:02.34\00:04:03.67
"Now, Benji, don't you eat it
00:04:03.71\00:04:05.04
before you get out there
to the fields with the sheep."
00:04:05.07\00:04:06.64
"Reuben, don't you eat this
00:04:06.68\00:04:08.08
before you get out to
the fields with the sheep
00:04:08.11\00:04:09.74
and be sure and help
Daddy pick up the wood
00:04:09.78\00:04:11.48
so that we have a big...
00:04:11.51\00:04:12.85
so that you will have a big fire
00:04:12.88\00:04:14.22
tonight and mommy...
00:04:14.25\00:04:15.75
and the other
mommy will be back here
00:04:15.78\00:04:18.49
praying for you."
00:04:18.52\00:04:22.26
Have you ever stayed up
all night with your dad?
00:04:22.29\00:04:25.13
Yes! Yes.
00:04:25.16\00:04:26.49
In his work?
00:04:26.53\00:04:28.56
Oh! In his work?
00:04:28.60\00:04:30.97
These dads were
professional shepherds.
00:04:31.00\00:04:34.20
They knew what to do.
00:04:34.24\00:04:35.57
They had their sheepdog...
00:04:35.60\00:04:37.11
what is the sound that
a sheepdog makes, please?
00:04:37.14\00:04:39.17
What's the sound
of a sheepdog makes?
00:04:39.21\00:04:41.38
Baa!
00:04:41.41\00:04:42.74
No, that would be the sheep.
00:04:42.78\00:04:44.91
Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!
00:04:44.95\00:04:50.12
So the fathers have
their favorite sheepdogs
00:04:50.15\00:04:53.15
with them, they have
their favorite two little boys,
00:04:53.19\00:04:55.62
Benji and Reuben, and
everybody went, and...
00:04:55.66\00:04:59.96
All the sheep are hurrying
out the gate of the fold
00:05:00.00\00:05:03.70
out into the rolling
hillside, outside the town.
00:05:03.73\00:05:07.64
"Go, go, go, go!"
00:05:10.64\00:05:11.97
Benji and Reuben went out.
00:05:12.01\00:05:14.18
They finally found their
spot, oldest son is going down.
00:05:14.21\00:05:18.01
"Quick, quick, boys,
00:05:18.05\00:05:19.38
I need you to stop
everything right now,
00:05:19.41\00:05:20.75
pick up all the
firewood you can find.
00:05:20.78\00:05:22.52
We need old gnarly branches.
00:05:22.55\00:05:24.69
Bring them all here
00:05:24.72\00:05:26.05
because we need a fire
that will burn all night
00:05:26.09\00:05:27.96
to keep the wolves away,
to keep any robbers away,
00:05:27.99\00:05:30.76
we need a bright light tonight."
00:05:30.79\00:05:32.23
And so the boys,
00:05:32.26\00:05:33.60
Benji and Reuben began
to pick up pieces of stick,
00:05:33.63\00:05:35.40
stick, stick, pow, pow, pow.
00:05:35.43\00:05:37.23
"Father. Father."
00:05:37.27\00:05:38.60
The two fathers leaned over.
00:05:38.63\00:05:41.64
They had a little bit of flint.
00:05:41.67\00:05:44.67
And soon there was
a wonderful campfire.
00:05:44.71\00:05:50.08
As the sun set,
00:05:50.11\00:05:51.88
the campfire burst
into flames and the two boys
00:05:51.91\00:05:56.48
and their dads just sat around,
00:05:56.52\00:05:58.35
and they ate the sandwiches
mother had made for them,
00:05:58.39\00:06:00.86
and they're thinking...
00:06:00.89\00:06:02.22
the boys are thinking,
00:06:02.26\00:06:03.59
"It doesn't get
any better than this."
00:06:03.63\00:06:07.63
And when the supper was
through, and now it's dark,
00:06:07.66\00:06:10.23
and you can see the
little twinkling stars
00:06:10.27\00:06:12.37
all over the sky when
the supper was through,
00:06:12.40\00:06:16.57
Benji said, "Hey,
Reuben, isn't this something?
00:06:16.60\00:06:20.18
Think of all the
boys back in the village
00:06:20.21\00:06:21.54
who don't get to come out
and be shepherds for a night.
00:06:21.58\00:06:24.35
We get to be shepherds tonight."
00:06:24.38\00:06:27.18
And before you know it,
the father started talking.
00:06:27.22\00:06:31.85
And Benji and Reuben,
00:06:31.89\00:06:33.92
whenever they would
hear their dads talk
00:06:33.96\00:06:35.52
about the coming King,
00:06:35.56\00:06:37.33
there was something
different about their daddies.
00:06:37.36\00:06:40.40
They took on a
little more serious...
00:06:40.43\00:06:42.53
a serious kind of
expression, more earnest.
00:06:42.56\00:06:47.34
And the two daddies are
talking, "You know what,
00:06:47.37\00:06:49.50
this is as bad as
I've ever seen this nation.
00:06:49.54\00:06:52.07
I've never seen
trouble like this before.
00:06:52.11\00:06:54.78
And it just makes you wonder,
00:06:54.81\00:06:56.14
do you think the
Messiah is about to come?
00:06:56.18\00:06:58.45
Maybe the Messiah is
coming sooner than we thought."
00:06:58.48\00:07:02.52
And the little boys, as
they listen to father talk,
00:07:02.55\00:07:05.39
like a grown-up father
talks, they leaned back,
00:07:05.42\00:07:08.36
and Benji said,
"You know, Reuben,
00:07:08.39\00:07:10.43
I can just imagine
when the King comes,
00:07:10.46\00:07:12.36
he'll be a Jew,
just like you and me,
00:07:12.39\00:07:14.83
and when the King comes,
00:07:14.86\00:07:16.26
our hated enemy
soldiers will be gone
00:07:16.30\00:07:19.23
because the King will be
on that giant white stallion,
00:07:19.27\00:07:22.50
and He will rule the world,
and we will be rulers with Him.
00:07:22.54\00:07:27.84
Oh!
00:07:27.88\00:07:29.21
Reuben, can you imagine
what that will be like?"
00:07:29.24\00:07:33.15
"Yeah, Benji, I sort of can.
00:07:33.18\00:07:36.18
I sort of can."
00:07:36.22\00:07:37.59
And before Reuben knew
it, he was sound asleep.
00:07:40.99\00:07:43.09
And Benji tried
to keep his eyes open
00:07:43.12\00:07:44.86
to listen to dad as they talk,
00:07:44.89\00:07:46.23
but pretty soon
Benji's head went down,
00:07:46.26\00:07:47.80
the fire was warm,
00:07:47.83\00:07:49.16
there would be a
little pop in the fire,
00:07:49.20\00:07:50.73
and there would be a
shower of orange sparks
00:07:50.77\00:07:53.64
flowing up to heaven.
00:07:53.67\00:07:55.80
Soon both boys...
00:07:55.84\00:07:57.17
The fathers' low voices seem
to get farther and farther away
00:08:05.11\00:08:09.38
as the two boys
spent their first night
00:08:09.42\00:08:11.82
all night out
shepherding the sheep.
00:08:11.85\00:08:16.32
When all of a sudden,
00:08:16.36\00:08:18.63
there was an explosion so bright
00:08:18.66\00:08:22.16
and so loud that
little Benji and Reuben
00:08:22.20\00:08:25.97
flat on that rocky hillside,
00:08:26.00\00:08:28.07
when that
explosion burst like thunder,
00:08:28.10\00:08:31.34
those two little boys
just lifted off the ground
00:08:31.37\00:08:34.34
just like this into the air,
and while they're in the air,
00:08:34.38\00:08:37.48
it's as if they were
having the same nightmare,
00:08:37.51\00:08:40.28
while in the air, they
both screamed, "Daddy!"
00:08:40.32\00:08:46.59
And when their eyes opened,
their daddies were hovering,
00:08:49.52\00:08:54.76
they are hovering,
00:08:54.80\00:08:56.40
they are looking,
and there is this "Oh,
00:08:56.43\00:08:59.77
Benji, Benji, Benji,
00:08:59.80\00:09:01.64
can you see it?
Can you see Him?"
00:09:01.67\00:09:04.41
A fiery warrior soldier
00:09:04.44\00:09:10.05
standing and
looking down at them.
00:09:10.08\00:09:13.72
They're hiding.
00:09:13.75\00:09:15.08
It's so bright they
can hardly see his face.
00:09:15.12\00:09:17.79
But they hear his voice.
00:09:17.82\00:09:20.06
"Shepherd boys, don't be afraid.
00:09:20.09\00:09:24.89
For I bring you
good tidings of great joy
00:09:24.93\00:09:27.73
which will be to all people,
00:09:27.76\00:09:30.30
for unto you is born
this day in the city of David,
00:09:30.33\00:09:34.17
a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord,
00:09:34.20\00:09:37.54
and this will be
a sign and to you,
00:09:37.57\00:09:40.48
you will see a
baby wrapped in cloth,
00:09:40.51\00:09:44.31
lying in a box of cow
feed, and when you see Him,
00:09:44.35\00:09:48.92
that will be the new King."
00:09:48.95\00:09:52.95
Slowly, their
eyes are adjusting,
00:09:52.99\00:09:54.89
they hear the words,
00:09:54.92\00:09:56.26
but before their eyes
could adjust even further,
00:09:56.29\00:09:58.19
there is another boom
and all heavens are on fire.
00:09:58.23\00:10:02.63
Ten thousand
angels, all of them singing.
00:10:02.66\00:10:07.37
Do you know what they sang?
00:10:07.40\00:10:09.00
"Glory to God." Say it with me.
00:10:09.04\00:10:11.01
"Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace,
00:10:11.04\00:10:16.31
goodwill to all people."
00:10:16.34\00:10:19.75
And then as if
somebody hit a switch...
00:10:23.18\00:10:27.26
it's black!
00:10:27.29\00:10:29.32
Their eyes are so...
00:10:29.36\00:10:30.79
Have you ever
looked at a bright light,
00:10:30.83\00:10:32.16
and then the light went
out, and you're in the dark,
00:10:32.19\00:10:33.53
and your eyes
can't see anything?
00:10:33.56\00:10:34.90
They couldn't see a thing.
00:10:34.93\00:10:36.26
"Benji." "Reuben, are you near?"
00:10:36.30\00:10:37.77
"Benji." "Daddy, daddy, daddy!
00:10:37.80\00:10:39.13
Are you here?"
00:10:39.17\00:10:40.50
Daddy can't see either.
00:10:40.54\00:10:41.87
And their eyes slowly adjusted.
00:10:41.90\00:10:44.57
The echo of music gets
further and further away.
00:10:44.61\00:10:48.61
And when their eyes
adjust and their ears adjust,
00:10:48.64\00:10:50.51
do you know what
all four of those...
00:10:50.55\00:10:54.05
those legs did
eight legs, four bodies,
00:10:54.08\00:10:56.92
do you know what they
all did at the same time?
00:10:56.95\00:10:59.52
They started running
as fast as they can run.
00:10:59.55\00:11:02.19
Do they have flashlights? No.
00:11:02.22\00:11:03.56
Do they have a torch? No.
Do they have any light at all?
00:11:03.59\00:11:05.33
No, they're just running.
"Get back to the village.
00:11:05.36\00:11:07.16
Get back to the village.
Get back to the village."
00:11:07.20\00:11:09.00
"But oh, I hit a rock!"
"Keep going, keep going."
00:11:09.03\00:11:11.60
They enter the
open village gate,
00:11:11.63\00:11:13.30
"I know there's
only one place there
00:11:13.34\00:11:14.67
where there would be
manger, there would a manger,
00:11:14.70\00:11:16.04
and a stable in the back cave."
00:11:16.07\00:11:17.84
And they went to their place
as they round the last corner.
00:11:17.87\00:11:20.18
"Benji, look at that.
00:11:26.08\00:11:28.92
Look, over there by the
manger, the box of cow feed."
00:11:28.95\00:11:33.02
There was a man standing there.
00:11:33.05\00:11:35.29
There was an
exhausted young woman
00:11:35.32\00:11:37.19
leaning against the wall.
00:11:37.23\00:11:38.59
And in the
little box of cow feed
00:11:38.63\00:11:40.73
was a tiny
little brand new baby.
00:11:40.76\00:11:46.57
Oh!
00:11:46.60\00:11:50.27
Do you think Benji and Reuben
kept that story to themselves?
00:11:50.31\00:11:54.01
No.
00:11:54.04\00:11:55.38
As they went back to
their sheep that night
00:11:55.41\00:11:56.75
as they saw anybody that bumped
into wide awake, they yelled,
00:11:56.78\00:11:59.38
"Guess what, the
King's been born,
00:11:59.41\00:12:01.15
the King has come!
00:12:01.18\00:12:03.22
We just saw Him
and worshipped Him."
00:12:03.25\00:12:08.39
Oh, I love that
story of Benji and Reuben.
00:12:08.42\00:12:10.73
You know what I think?
00:12:10.76\00:12:12.19
I think that when
those boys grew up,
00:12:12.23\00:12:13.70
because they weren't
much older than that baby,
00:12:13.73\00:12:16.00
I think those two boys
00:12:16.03\00:12:17.73
became followers
of that little baby
00:12:17.77\00:12:20.50
whose name became Jesus
and who became the Messiah.
00:12:20.54\00:12:25.44
I like to think
that Jesus knew them,
00:12:25.47\00:12:27.84
the boys that were at His birth.
00:12:27.88\00:12:30.15
And whenever He'd spot them
in a crowd, He'd wink at them,
00:12:30.18\00:12:33.31
He'd nod at them,
00:12:33.35\00:12:34.68
and they would
stare back at Him,
00:12:34.72\00:12:36.58
"This is our King."
00:12:36.62\00:12:39.25
In fact, you know
what I'd like to think,
00:12:39.29\00:12:40.62
I'd like to think you boys
and girls when you grow up,
00:12:40.66\00:12:42.62
you will get to
know the same Jesus,
00:12:42.66\00:12:45.76
you become disciples,
00:12:45.79\00:12:47.13
you become followers of His,
00:12:47.16\00:12:48.73
and you become
warriors for His kingdom.
00:12:48.76\00:12:51.00
Oh, that's what I think
00:12:51.03\00:12:52.73
because the news is even better,
00:12:52.77\00:12:54.14
He not only came the first time,
00:12:54.17\00:12:55.50
He's coming again soon.
00:12:55.54\00:12:56.87
How many want to
say, "Thank You, Jesus,
00:12:56.91\00:12:58.24
You are coming again soon?"
00:12:58.27\00:13:00.01
Put your hand up
if you want to say
00:13:00.04\00:13:02.14
thank You, Jesus, You
are coming again soon.
00:13:02.18\00:13:07.12
That's what Christmas is about.
00:13:07.15\00:13:09.48
He came once and
He's coming again.
00:13:09.52\00:13:12.25
Now do I have a
microphone up here?
00:13:12.29\00:13:13.76
I don't know that I do.
00:13:13.79\00:13:15.19
Is there anybody down
there where the microphone is?
00:13:15.22\00:13:17.59
Who's got the
microphone down there? Dan?
00:13:17.63\00:13:19.19
All right, no, you stay...
00:13:19.23\00:13:20.56
Okay, somebody down
there, would you like to pray?
00:13:20.60\00:13:25.67
Would you like to pray?
00:13:25.70\00:13:28.60
Do I see any hands?
00:13:28.64\00:13:29.97
Oh, I see so many hands,
00:13:30.01\00:13:31.34
but you got to
be close to the...
00:13:31.37\00:13:32.71
you got to be
close to Dan Agnate.
00:13:32.74\00:13:34.08
Okay, little boy
with your hand up
00:13:34.11\00:13:35.44
and your curly hair, Samuel.
00:13:35.48\00:13:36.81
Would you stand
up, Samuel, please,
00:13:36.85\00:13:38.18
and would you thank
Jesus for coming again?
00:13:38.21\00:13:40.92
Samuel, you can
go ahead and stand,
00:13:40.95\00:13:42.55
go ahead stand on your feet.
00:13:42.58\00:13:43.92
Yeah, you.
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.72
And Mr. Agnate
is going to give you
00:13:45.75\00:13:47.62
a microphone right now.
00:13:47.66\00:13:48.99
In fact, you can
stay seated right there.
00:13:49.02\00:13:50.36
Let's close our eyes
with Samuel as he thanks Jesus
00:13:50.39\00:13:53.40
for the promise that
our King is coming again.
00:13:53.43\00:13:58.57
All right, the
little sissy right here...
00:13:58.60\00:14:01.44
Okay, right, there you go.
00:14:01.47\00:14:04.44
Dear, Jesus, please
help us to have a good day.
00:14:04.47\00:14:09.81
Please help us to
have a wonderful Sabbath,
00:14:09.84\00:14:12.41
please help us to
stay connected to You.
00:14:12.45\00:14:15.38
Amen. Amen.
00:14:15.42\00:14:16.82
What a beautiful prayer.
And, boys or girls, I have...
00:14:16.85\00:14:18.75
we have a gift
for you, don't leave,
00:14:18.79\00:14:20.22
we have a gift for you.
00:14:20.26\00:14:21.59
Now where are
Jesus' helpers here?
00:14:21.62\00:14:23.96
Where are the
ladies? I see Claudia there.
00:14:23.99\00:14:25.43
Where's another one? Lelani.
00:14:25.46\00:14:26.80
Where's Diane?
00:14:26.83\00:14:28.16
Is there anybody on
this side over here?
00:14:28.20\00:14:30.07
Claudia, is there
anybody on this side over here?
00:14:30.10\00:14:32.33
We have Joanne.
00:14:32.37\00:14:33.84
She's not here. Okay. Okay.
00:14:33.87\00:14:35.67
So everybody
sitting on this side,
00:14:35.70\00:14:37.37
I hate to do this to you,
00:14:37.41\00:14:38.74
but you got to go
this way to get a present.
00:14:38.77\00:14:40.68
Go right down.
00:14:40.71\00:14:42.04
A merry Christmas
to you this next week
00:14:42.08\00:14:43.95
and a blessed Christmas Sabbath.
00:14:43.98\00:14:46.38
So glad you
were in church today.
00:14:46.41\00:14:48.52
Amen and amen.
That was beautiful.
00:18:17.46\00:18:19.59
Eric Lofgren, Kenneth
Logan, Flugelhorn in Oregon,
00:18:19.63\00:18:26.30
a perfect Christmas combination.
00:18:26.33\00:18:28.97
Such a plaintive melody.
00:18:29.00\00:18:31.54
Thank you for that, Jonah.
00:18:31.57\00:18:34.31
I need to tell you,
00:18:34.34\00:18:35.68
I've been looking
forward to this moment
00:18:35.71\00:18:38.05
ever since I crashed and
burned on that ice skating rink
00:18:38.08\00:18:41.75
three weeks ago tomorrow.
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.85
In many ways, in all honesty,
00:18:43.89\00:18:45.39
it seems like
it's been three months.
00:18:45.42\00:18:47.02
I mean, it's just like, wow.
00:18:47.06\00:18:50.23
I don't know what
there is about boys and men,
00:18:50.26\00:18:52.29
I guess it's just...
00:18:52.33\00:18:53.66
we're just this way,
00:18:53.70\00:18:55.03
but you know how
men love showing off
00:18:55.06\00:18:56.40
their scars to each other.
00:18:56.43\00:18:59.70
Oh, I got them right here,
00:18:59.73\00:19:01.07
the 47 staples that
they pulled out yesterday.
00:19:01.10\00:19:04.94
I said to the girl,
00:19:04.97\00:19:06.31
"Would you mind
keeping these for me?"
00:19:06.34\00:19:08.04
she said, "Keeping them?"
00:19:08.08\00:19:09.41
I said,
"Listen, I paid for them.
00:19:09.44\00:19:12.38
I want them."
00:19:12.41\00:19:14.95
So I got these 47
little metal staples
00:19:14.98\00:19:18.05
that they punch into you.
00:19:18.09\00:19:20.92
Women don't do that, do they?
00:19:20.96\00:19:22.29
They don't say,
"Hey, look at my scar,
00:19:22.32\00:19:23.66
you've ever seen this?"
00:19:23.69\00:19:25.83
But I want to make sure
00:19:25.86\00:19:27.20
that this is not
just a guy thing.
00:19:27.23\00:19:29.70
I want this to be a God thing.
00:19:29.73\00:19:32.33
There's no question in my mind.
00:19:32.37\00:19:35.20
And because of your therapeutic
and loving intercessions,
00:19:35.24\00:19:40.51
I'm able to be vertical
right now three weeks later.
00:19:40.54\00:19:44.95
I got some
pictures I want to show you.
00:19:44.98\00:19:46.41
I have a story, a
short story I want to relate.
00:19:46.45\00:19:50.59
But I want to make sure
00:19:50.62\00:19:51.95
right here at the
beginning that it's clear
00:19:51.99\00:19:54.36
that we have
gathered to praise God today.
00:19:54.39\00:19:56.83
Amen.
00:19:56.86\00:19:58.19
And I've gathered
to thank you today
00:19:58.23\00:20:00.36
for the way you have interceded,
00:20:00.40\00:20:01.93
and it has been
such an awesome blessing
00:20:01.96\00:20:05.63
for my own soul.
00:20:05.67\00:20:07.24
Yeah, but, Dwight,
come on, I mean please.
00:20:07.27\00:20:09.74
How are you going to
get something spiritual
00:20:09.77\00:20:12.57
out of you messing up
in that Notre Dame Rice...
00:20:12.61\00:20:15.48
I mean ice rink.
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.95
Here's how I planned to do it.
00:20:17.98\00:20:19.81
In my humble opinion,
00:20:19.85\00:20:22.02
what we're going to share
is all about synchronicity.
00:20:22.05\00:20:25.45
Let me put the word
on the screen for you.
00:20:25.49\00:20:26.82
We don't use the word a lot.
00:20:26.86\00:20:28.19
I've been using it a lot
00:20:28.22\00:20:29.56
since I've
gotten into you and I,
00:20:29.59\00:20:30.93
there's baptism,
00:20:30.96\00:20:32.29
the daily Baptism
of the Holy Spirit.
00:20:32.33\00:20:33.66
But you see that
word synchronicity,
00:20:33.70\00:20:35.83
I can agree
that reading the word
00:20:35.86\00:20:38.80
doesn't just pump your pulse
00:20:38.83\00:20:40.84
because if you go online,
00:20:40.87\00:20:42.37
you get a definition you
see up there on the screen.
00:20:42.40\00:20:44.87
This is synchronicity.
00:20:44.91\00:20:46.24
The simultaneous
occurrences of events
00:20:46.27\00:20:47.98
that appear
significantly related
00:20:48.01\00:20:49.54
but have no
discernible cause or connection.
00:20:49.58\00:20:52.41
There's something
strange about this.
00:20:52.45\00:20:55.38
It's like
Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
00:20:55.42\00:20:57.79
You remember? They
come back into the house.
00:20:57.82\00:20:59.52
"Somebody has been
eating my porridge.
00:20:59.55\00:21:01.69
Somebody sat in my...
00:21:01.72\00:21:03.26
Somebody slept in my bed."
00:21:03.29\00:21:05.29
The fingerprints of somebody
is all over the crime scene.
00:21:05.33\00:21:08.83
That's the Goldilocks' factor.
00:21:08.86\00:21:11.23
And that's synchronicity.
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.93
And by the way,
00:21:12.97\00:21:14.74
synchronicity is
always after the fact
00:21:14.77\00:21:17.34
because if it's before the fact,
00:21:17.37\00:21:19.11
it's not synchronicity at all.
00:21:19.14\00:21:20.48
It's just ipso facto,
00:21:20.51\00:21:21.84
another little piece of
reality that you witnessed.
00:21:21.88\00:21:25.35
When it happens afterwards
that you begin to realize,
00:21:25.38\00:21:29.38
"Somebody has his fingerprints
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.05
all over what I've
just gone through."
00:21:32.09\00:21:35.39
That's where the
difference is made.
00:21:35.42\00:21:37.43
And it turns out
that his fingerprints
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.53
are all over
this humble testimony.
00:21:41.56\00:21:43.90
So December 2,
00:21:43.93\00:21:45.27
that would be 3
weeks from tomorrow,
00:21:45.30\00:21:46.63
our pastor's family's
field trip day in Michiana.
00:21:46.67\00:21:52.64
So that's our
pastoral staff here pioneer,
00:21:52.67\00:21:54.41
take all our
kids, take the families,
00:21:54.44\00:21:57.91
go down to the India Gardens
00:21:57.95\00:21:59.51
and enjoy a
delectable Indian buffet.
00:21:59.55\00:22:02.78
And then head over to
the Compton Family Ice Arena
00:22:02.82\00:22:05.85
on the campus of Notre Dame
00:22:05.89\00:22:07.22
for 2 hours of
family ice skating
00:22:07.26\00:22:08.59
from 3:00 to
5:00 in the afternoon.
00:22:08.62\00:22:09.96
So that's exactly what we did.
00:22:09.99\00:22:12.23
What could be more fun?
00:22:12.26\00:22:13.60
How could you have
a more wonderful time?
00:22:13.63\00:22:14.96
So cutting to the chase,
00:22:15.00\00:22:17.20
we're about 45
minutes into our skate.
00:22:17.23\00:22:20.37
A bunch of us passes, and
kids and spouses are on the ice.
00:22:20.40\00:22:23.04
And a bunch of us passes,
00:22:23.07\00:22:24.41
and kids and
spouses are not on the ice.
00:22:24.44\00:22:26.27
And in fact, I said to Karen
00:22:26.31\00:22:27.64
as we were driving
down the South Bend.
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.34
I said, "You know, love,
00:22:29.38\00:22:30.71
you need to strap on some skates
00:22:30.75\00:22:32.08
and just enjoy a little
time with me out on the ice."
00:22:32.11\00:22:35.52
And you know,
just in an instant,
00:22:35.55\00:22:37.29
she replied, she says,
00:22:37.32\00:22:38.65
"I am not doing that.
00:22:38.69\00:22:40.02
Sure as anything,
I'd fall on that ice,
00:22:40.06\00:22:41.86
break my hip,
00:22:41.89\00:22:43.29
and we have the
whole family coming in,
00:22:43.32\00:22:44.69
and that would be just awful,
00:22:44.73\00:22:46.19
so I'm not
going on on that ice."
00:22:46.23\00:22:47.56
I tell you the truth.
00:22:50.50\00:22:51.83
That's exactly what she said.
00:22:51.87\00:22:53.34
"I'll break my hip.
00:22:53.37\00:22:54.70
You go, Dwight."
00:22:54.74\00:22:56.07
Okay.
00:22:59.04\00:23:00.38
So here's a picture
of me out on the ice,
00:23:00.41\00:23:01.74
kind of lollygagging around.
00:23:01.78\00:23:03.11
Now what's wrong with that?
00:23:03.14\00:23:04.48
Not a real pretty form.
00:23:04.51\00:23:05.85
But, you know,
you're just starting out.
00:23:05.88\00:23:07.22
And by the way,
look in the background.
00:23:07.25\00:23:08.58
You see those green...
00:23:08.62\00:23:09.95
Those are green plastic walkers.
00:23:09.98\00:23:11.32
That's what they give
the children so the children
00:23:11.35\00:23:13.39
put on their skates.
00:23:13.42\00:23:14.76
You get inside
that little shield
00:23:14.79\00:23:16.76
and you stand up.
00:23:16.79\00:23:18.13
You will never
fall. You just stand.
00:23:18.16\00:23:19.79
So I took one of them.
00:23:19.83\00:23:21.16
"Man, this is great."
00:23:21.20\00:23:22.53
Once I got my sea legs, I said,
"Man, I don't need this stuff.
00:23:22.56\00:23:24.67
This is baby stuff."
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.20
I used to have ice skates
as a boy growing up in Japan,
00:23:26.23\00:23:29.14
so I'm just going to be
fine skating around the rink.
00:23:29.17\00:23:32.44
And so that's the first picture
of me lollygagging around.
00:23:32.47\00:23:34.81
We actually have
another picture of me
00:23:34.84\00:23:36.95
picking up a little bit speed.
00:23:36.98\00:23:38.31
Let's see if we
can put that out.
00:23:38.35\00:23:39.68
Yeah, it is me.
00:23:44.92\00:23:46.25
You thought I was Apolo Ohno.
00:23:46.29\00:23:47.72
No, oh, no.
00:23:47.76\00:23:49.12
That's Dwight,
Dwight on the ice.
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.36
I was just going
around and having my...
00:23:51.39\00:23:54.76
I had some friends...
00:23:54.80\00:23:56.13
We had some friends come over
to visit us, and they said "No,
00:23:56.16\00:23:57.50
Dwight, if you tell this story,
00:23:57.53\00:23:58.90
you got to do
this with Photoshop."
00:23:58.93\00:24:02.54
I thank you for the idea.
00:24:02.57\00:24:03.91
It worked.
00:24:03.94\00:24:05.34
But anyway,
00:24:05.37\00:24:09.31
I'm not sure of
actually what happened next.
00:24:09.34\00:24:13.62
I didn't hit anybody.
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.52
Nobody hit me.
00:24:15.55\00:24:19.82
But the next
split second, I know,
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.69
is that I'm suddenly
flat on my back, stunned,
00:24:22.72\00:24:24.69
I'm staring at the ceiling
of the Compton Ice Arena,
00:24:24.73\00:24:28.26
and I'm saying, "Now what?"
00:24:28.30\00:24:31.77
These little Notre Dame
students are skating around
00:24:31.80\00:24:33.40
with a red cross on them.
00:24:33.44\00:24:34.87
And boy, two of those guys
00:24:34.90\00:24:36.24
came skating right
over, "You okay, sir?
00:24:36.27\00:24:37.77
You okay, sir?"
00:24:37.81\00:24:39.34
They reached down and touched
my arm, "How's your arm?"
00:24:39.37\00:24:40.84
"Ah!" I said, "Don't touch that.
00:24:40.88\00:24:42.21
Don't touch that. Fire."
00:24:42.24\00:24:44.25
"Okay, well, we're
going to get you off this ice.
00:24:44.28\00:24:45.75
How's this leg?"
"Oh, don't touch this leg.
00:24:45.78\00:24:48.08
It's fire."
00:24:48.12\00:24:51.52
It's just instant pain.
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.05
I said, "There's no way
I'm getting out of here."
00:24:53.09\00:24:54.66
They said, "We'll
get some big guys."
00:24:54.69\00:24:56.02
Coming at us,
there's a bunch of big guys.
00:24:56.06\00:24:57.39
Some of the pastors came over.
00:24:57.43\00:24:58.76
And they just did
what those big guys do,
00:24:58.79\00:25:00.46
just got to pick you up
00:25:00.50\00:25:01.83
and just drag
you off of that ice.
00:25:01.86\00:25:03.87
Put you down on a bench.
00:25:03.90\00:25:06.03
The Notre Dame Security
00:25:06.07\00:25:07.40
were the first people to arrive.
00:25:07.44\00:25:08.77
They went through a
series of questions.
00:25:08.80\00:25:10.14
"How are you? What's your name?
00:25:10.17\00:25:11.51
What you doing?"
00:25:11.54\00:25:12.87
You know, all that.
00:25:12.91\00:25:14.24
And then, of course,
I had a bunch of pastors
00:25:14.28\00:25:15.61
on the team who are just
wisecracking the whole time.
00:25:15.64\00:25:19.45
I don't get
mad. I just get even.
00:25:19.48\00:25:23.79
Anyway, so then
they said, "Well,
00:25:23.82\00:25:25.15
we have to call the Notre
Dame Fire Department Team."
00:25:25.19\00:25:26.92
So the Notre Dame
Fire Department Team,
00:25:26.96\00:25:28.32
they come, they
ask the whole thing,
00:25:28.36\00:25:29.99
very professional, very kind.
00:25:30.03\00:25:32.33
And they come, and
they say, "No, no, no."
00:25:32.36\00:25:34.53
And Karen, my
Karen, and Christine,
00:25:34.56\00:25:37.20
Jose's pediatrician
wife are both saying,
00:25:37.23\00:25:40.20
"He's not going home.
00:25:40.24\00:25:41.57
He's not going to the car.
00:25:41.60\00:25:42.94
You will call an ambulance."
00:25:42.97\00:25:45.37
And I finally agreed.
00:25:45.41\00:25:46.74
With this pain,
there's no way I could make it,
00:25:46.78\00:25:48.11
there's a long flight of
stairs up to the parking lot.
00:25:48.14\00:25:51.81
So anyway, they
called the ambulance.
00:25:51.85\00:25:56.02
And a little girl,
security girl there,
00:25:56.05\00:25:57.55
Jose, chaplain.
00:25:57.59\00:25:59.15
Jose turns to her
and he says, "Listen,
00:25:59.19\00:26:00.69
we have a motto
in the Pioneer staff,
00:26:00.72\00:26:03.26
'Go big or go home,'
00:26:03.29\00:26:05.73
So would you mind getting
the Notre Dame fighting band,
00:26:05.76\00:26:08.86
marching band,
00:26:08.90\00:26:10.23
to play as we put
him in the ambulance?"
00:26:10.27\00:26:13.34
And she didn't miss a beat.
00:26:13.37\00:26:14.70
She was cool on her feet.
00:26:14.74\00:26:16.07
She just looked
back and then she said,
00:26:16.10\00:26:17.44
"No, it's Sunday.
They don't work on Sunday."
00:26:17.47\00:26:18.81
Anyway, there's a picture
of me going into the ambulance,
00:26:21.74\00:26:27.05
they're South Bend ambulance.
00:26:27.08\00:26:29.22
Luckily, this
wonderful trauma center named
00:26:29.25\00:26:32.05
South Bend Memorial
Hospital is just two miles away.
00:26:32.09\00:26:34.26
So that's where we headed.
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.16
Great ER team met us,
00:26:36.19\00:26:37.69
little young ER nurse turns out.
00:26:37.73\00:26:39.93
When she was little,
00:26:39.96\00:26:41.30
her aunt brought her to
the Pioneer Memorial Church
00:26:41.33\00:26:42.66
on the campus of
Andrews University.
00:26:42.70\00:26:44.63
So she'd been here.
00:26:44.67\00:26:46.87
Doc comes walking
in and he said, "Man!"
00:26:46.90\00:26:49.60
He said, "We're going
to get an X-ray, buddy."
00:26:49.64\00:26:52.04
The little X-ray tech comes in.
00:26:52.07\00:26:54.14
She says, "All right,
00:26:54.18\00:26:55.51
now I need to roll you
over onto this little gurney
00:26:55.54\00:26:57.35
and we'll take you
down, take some pictures."
00:26:57.38\00:26:58.71
"Oh!"
00:26:58.75\00:27:00.32
Anyway, she gets me
down into that little room,
00:27:00.35\00:27:02.92
and it's a dark
little room, and she says,
00:27:02.95\00:27:04.75
"I'm going to get
this board under you.
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.92
Can you..."
00:27:06.96\00:27:09.22
And for some reason...
00:27:09.26\00:27:10.59
Because of the fiery pain here,
00:27:10.63\00:27:12.03
I just ran a 10K that morning
00:27:12.06\00:27:13.83
and I got shin splint
cramps in the good leg.
00:27:13.86\00:27:17.47
So this leg is cramping.
00:27:17.50\00:27:18.83
This leg is hot on fire.
00:27:18.87\00:27:20.20
And I'm crying for Karen.
00:27:20.24\00:27:22.47
"Send me my wife, please."
00:27:22.50\00:27:25.21
She says, "No,
but I got a friend
00:27:25.24\00:27:26.57
in the next room over."
00:27:26.61\00:27:27.94
So she gets a friend.
00:27:27.98\00:27:29.31
They came over
and said, "All right,
00:27:29.34\00:27:30.68
now it's not going to feel good.
00:27:30.71\00:27:32.05
One, two, three!"
00:27:32.08\00:27:33.72
And then they hold you up there
and snap, snap, snap, snap.
00:27:33.75\00:27:37.49
Back in the ER room,
00:27:37.52\00:27:39.45
the doctor comes
walking with the X-ray,
00:27:39.49\00:27:41.12
he says, "I got bad news, buddy.
00:27:41.16\00:27:42.82
You have
fractured both your shoulder
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.66
and your hip.
00:27:44.69\00:27:46.03
We'll be doing surgery
first thing in the morning
00:27:46.06\00:27:48.06
on the hip, and after that,
00:27:48.10\00:27:49.96
we'll do surgery
on the shoulder."
00:27:50.00\00:27:52.03
I said, "Oh, great.
00:27:52.07\00:27:53.40
Yep."
00:27:53.44\00:27:54.80
So that's what happened.
00:27:54.84\00:27:56.27
Hip surgery was
on Monday morning,
00:27:56.30\00:27:57.64
shoulder surgery
on Wednesday morning.
00:27:57.67\00:27:59.37
I got the pictures to prove it.
00:27:59.41\00:28:01.18
I'll put them up
on the screen for you.
00:28:01.21\00:28:02.91
This is the hip implant.
00:28:02.94\00:28:04.55
You see it there,
three titanium pieces.
00:28:04.58\00:28:07.08
You see that
long titanium piece?
00:28:07.12\00:28:08.92
They drilled the
morrow out of the bone
00:28:08.95\00:28:11.72
so that they can get
it down into the bone.
00:28:11.75\00:28:13.89
You see the
fracture head of the femur,
00:28:13.92\00:28:15.76
that's a big screw
that goes through the top.
00:28:15.79\00:28:17.39
That's a little screw to keep
the titanium plate in place in,
00:28:17.43\00:28:19.53
so about three pieces there.
00:28:19.56\00:28:21.73
Two days later, they
went in for the shoulder.
00:28:21.76\00:28:23.87
I'll show you a picture there.
00:28:23.90\00:28:25.23
There is the shoulder,
shoulder with 16 pieces,
00:28:25.27\00:28:28.00
1 plate, and 15 screws.
00:28:28.04\00:28:29.74
Let's get one more
picture of the shoulder.
00:28:29.77\00:28:31.81
So that's what's
happening on the shoulder.
00:28:31.84\00:28:33.98
I mean, these
guys are professionals.
00:28:34.01\00:28:36.41
They know exactly
what they're doing.
00:28:36.44\00:28:37.78
But you add that up, total,
exclusive of tax and delivery,
00:28:37.81\00:28:41.75
19 pieces of hardware
permanently in my body
00:28:41.78\00:28:44.82
until Jesus comes.
00:28:44.85\00:28:46.69
And Karen and I've
been trying to figure out
00:28:46.72\00:28:48.06
where on ascend to heaven
do these pieces disappear.
00:28:48.09\00:28:51.39
I don't know.
00:28:51.43\00:28:53.16
They surely won't go
all the way to heaven.
00:28:53.19\00:28:56.63
And then of course yesterday,
00:28:56.67\00:28:58.00
the 47 staples
which I have right here,
00:28:58.03\00:28:59.73
but I want to
give a word of tribute
00:28:59.77\00:29:01.37
'cause the story is over now.
00:29:01.40\00:29:02.74
A word of tribute,
00:29:02.77\00:29:04.11
first of the
surgeon Dr. Joel Post.
00:29:04.14\00:29:06.61
He's with the ortho group,
00:29:06.64\00:29:07.98
trauma group's
there at Memorial.
00:29:08.01\00:29:09.34
He was young.
00:29:09.38\00:29:10.71
I'm guessing 32-33 years of age.
00:29:10.75\00:29:12.08
Extremely
conversant, knowledgeable,
00:29:12.11\00:29:13.55
and I'm vertical right now
00:29:13.58\00:29:14.92
because of his God-given skills.
00:29:14.95\00:29:17.62
Just a top-notch doc.
00:29:17.65\00:29:18.99
He did both surgeries,
Monday morning and back again,
00:29:19.02\00:29:22.89
Wednesday.
00:29:22.92\00:29:24.36
Anesthesiologist
Calhoun and Graham,
00:29:24.39\00:29:27.00
they came in and said,
00:29:27.03\00:29:28.36
"We're doing a nerve
block on the second one.
00:29:28.40\00:29:31.00
Your arm would be
numb for 12 hours,
00:29:31.03\00:29:32.97
but it will help us,
and it will help you."
00:29:33.00\00:29:35.40
Great team.
00:29:35.44\00:29:37.74
Four days and four
nights in a hospital
00:29:37.77\00:29:39.37
is nobody's picnic.
00:29:39.41\00:29:41.21
Not the patients
00:29:41.24\00:29:42.61
nor the nursing staff, trust me.
00:29:42.64\00:29:46.18
And on an ortho floor,
00:29:46.21\00:29:48.05
but the team that was
absolutely incredible,
00:29:48.08\00:29:49.65
I want to show you a
picture of my night nurse.
00:29:49.68\00:29:52.79
Schimony is her name.
00:29:52.82\00:29:54.16
She's a nurse practitioner
and a registered nurse,
00:29:54.19\00:29:57.56
and she's smiling.
00:29:57.59\00:30:00.86
She was that way
all the way through.
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.60
I'm telling you,
smart, compassionate,
00:30:03.63\00:30:05.27
when you hit the button...
00:30:05.30\00:30:06.63
"Do you mind
emptying this, please?"
00:30:06.67\00:30:08.00
I mean, you have
to do stuff like that,
00:30:08.04\00:30:09.37
and they do it with a smile.
00:30:09.40\00:30:11.27
They first measure it,
but then do it with a smile.
00:30:11.31\00:30:15.28
But when I say a word
of tribute to the children
00:30:15.31\00:30:17.75
and the students
00:30:17.78\00:30:19.11
who sent their handcrafted cards
00:30:19.15\00:30:20.52
to the hospital
and to the church
00:30:20.55\00:30:22.95
and to the house,
00:30:22.98\00:30:24.42
you don't know what
those little cards did,
00:30:24.45\00:30:26.49
just looking at
one after the other
00:30:26.52\00:30:28.76
and your little
scribbly handwriting,
00:30:28.79\00:30:33.06
what a blessing it is
to belong to this parish
00:30:33.09\00:30:35.16
for all of us.
00:30:35.20\00:30:36.87
And these kids are our future.
00:30:36.90\00:30:38.23
You saw them just a moment ago.
00:30:38.27\00:30:40.27
They are the
life of this parish.
00:30:40.30\00:30:42.17
I have two little friends.
00:30:42.20\00:30:43.54
They live down
the end of our street,
00:30:43.57\00:30:44.91
Sophie and Fiorella.
00:30:44.94\00:30:46.98
They're
worshippers here at Pioneer
00:30:47.01\00:30:48.84
and they're students,
00:30:48.88\00:30:50.21
and they sent me a
little Christmas artwork.
00:30:50.25\00:30:51.58
I'll put it on
the screen for you.
00:30:51.61\00:30:52.95
It's a Christmas ball
and it says Jeremiah 30:17.
00:30:52.98\00:30:55.62
And in the words under it,
00:30:55.65\00:30:56.99
"For I will
restore health to you,
00:30:57.02\00:30:59.45
and I will heal
you of your wounds,
00:30:59.49\00:31:02.29
says the Lord."
00:31:02.32\00:31:03.83
And that's sitting
on my desk at home.
00:31:03.86\00:31:05.39
And all of you who sent cards,
and phone calls, left messages,
00:31:08.10\00:31:14.74
you do not
understand the effect,
00:31:14.77\00:31:17.94
the therapeutic positive effect
00:31:17.97\00:31:20.38
of that sort of
response that you give.
00:31:20.41\00:31:24.48
And you say, "Well, I
just do this for everybody."
00:31:24.51\00:31:26.35
I know you do it for everybody,
00:31:26.38\00:31:27.72
but the fact
that you do it all...
00:31:27.75\00:31:30.35
It's always so easy to
say, "Well, he'll find it.
00:31:30.39\00:31:33.05
She'll know that
we're all praying for her."
00:31:33.09\00:31:36.02
But when people go
out of the way to say,
00:31:36.06\00:31:38.19
"I'm praying for you,"
you'll never forget it.
00:31:38.23\00:31:42.36
It just blesses your soul.
00:31:42.40\00:31:45.67
Well, it isn't over
yet. I need to say that.
00:31:45.70\00:31:47.47
There's a
grueling PT rehab program
00:31:47.50\00:31:49.44
that soon kicks into gear
00:31:49.47\00:31:50.81
that doctor gave
the orders yesterday.
00:31:50.84\00:31:52.97
But you know what, the
God who got us this far,
00:31:53.01\00:31:55.01
Karen and me,
00:31:55.04\00:31:56.38
the God who got us this
far will get us all the way.
00:31:56.41\00:31:59.91
If you just keep praying,
00:31:59.95\00:32:01.28
and I'll do the
exercises for you.
00:32:01.32\00:32:02.85
I want to give one
more word of tribute,
00:32:05.75\00:32:07.92
and that is to my wife.
00:32:07.96\00:32:10.39
There aren't many men
blessed as much as I am.
00:32:15.53\00:32:22.50
And I know I
have a beautiful wife.
00:32:22.54\00:32:25.41
I have a wife who's
a professional nurse.
00:32:25.44\00:32:29.01
She does it for a living.
00:32:29.04\00:32:32.61
And when you get to
sleep with your nurse,
00:32:32.65\00:32:38.05
I know just the
right kind of groan
00:32:38.09\00:32:39.89
that will get her out of bed
00:32:39.92\00:32:41.26
and right around the other side.
00:32:41.29\00:32:43.79
She is such a sweetheart.
00:32:43.83\00:32:45.86
And I am so blessed, so loved.
00:32:45.89\00:32:49.03
I thank God for you.
00:32:49.06\00:32:51.67
I couldn't have made it.
00:32:51.70\00:32:53.84
I couldn't have
made it without her.
00:32:53.87\00:32:55.44
But most of all, I want
to say thank you to God.
00:33:06.45\00:33:08.98
There is no
question that synchronicity
00:33:09.02\00:33:11.32
is all over this thing.
00:33:11.35\00:33:12.69
He said,
"Dwight, I haven't heard
00:33:12.72\00:33:14.06
one bit of synchronicity.
00:33:14.09\00:33:15.42
Synchronicity, synchronicity."
00:33:15.46\00:33:16.79
I haven't heard a bit now.
00:33:16.83\00:33:18.16
Let me just give
you one if you want,
00:33:18.19\00:33:19.53
a huge one to begin with.
00:33:19.56\00:33:21.20
The force with which I landed
00:33:21.23\00:33:22.60
on that ice is
absolutely unbelievable.
00:33:22.63\00:33:25.43
Folks, nobody touched
me and I touched nobody.
00:33:25.47\00:33:30.94
Two nights ago, in the dark,
00:33:30.97\00:33:34.44
I'm in bed 'cause I can't sleep.
00:33:34.48\00:33:37.51
I'm looking at the ceiling
and God said, "Hey, guess what,
00:33:37.55\00:33:40.55
Dwight, that wasn't an accident.
00:33:40.58\00:33:46.86
That was on purpose.
00:33:46.89\00:33:49.59
That was an attack.
00:33:49.62\00:33:51.99
You need to understand.
00:33:52.03\00:33:54.80
You're not just a
little lollygagging human being
00:33:54.83\00:33:58.60
making his way through life."
00:33:58.63\00:34:00.40
The fact that you
can go from standing up,
00:34:04.17\00:34:05.97
there's nothing in
between, and it's just like...
00:34:06.01\00:34:08.24
And when I realized
that, I said, "My Lord..."
00:34:11.78\00:34:18.25
There's a promise I've
marked for years in my Bible.
00:34:18.29\00:34:21.82
Psalms 140:7,
00:34:21.86\00:34:23.46
"And the Lord will
shield my head in battle."
00:34:23.49\00:34:28.10
That was this
huge synchronicity.
00:34:28.13\00:34:30.73
Do understand?
00:34:30.77\00:34:32.10
Not a hair on my
head touched that ice.
00:34:32.13\00:34:34.44
Somehow I landed on
that ice and my head is up.
00:34:34.47\00:34:38.67
My head is up,
00:34:38.71\00:34:40.24
not leaning back
on the ice, it's up.
00:34:40.28\00:34:44.81
We have a friend in Spokane,
00:34:44.85\00:34:47.48
church school teacher
when we started the ministry
00:34:47.52\00:34:49.28
together at New Oregon.
00:34:49.32\00:34:51.39
He said, "Hey, listen,
00:34:51.42\00:34:52.75
we just had a
story in the newspaper
00:34:52.79\00:34:54.12
a few weeks ago.
00:34:54.16\00:34:55.49
'Accomplished skater from Canada
00:34:55.52\00:34:57.53
now living in
Spokane, Washington,
00:34:57.56\00:34:59.29
she went out on the
new skating venue...'"
00:34:59.33\00:35:02.26
They were making these down
back over in Chicago other day.
00:35:02.30\00:35:05.60
They're doing these little...
00:35:05.63\00:35:06.97
You know, you just
wander around the city
00:35:07.00\00:35:08.34
with ice skates on.
00:35:08.37\00:35:10.11
I'm telling you all, if
you're over 30, forget it.
00:35:10.14\00:35:13.98
If you're over 30, forget it.
00:35:14.01\00:35:16.54
Anyway, this woman,
experienced skater, went down,
00:35:16.58\00:35:19.41
hit her head.
00:35:19.45\00:35:21.28
They rushed her to the hospital.
00:35:21.32\00:35:22.68
The CT scan already
has black spots on it.
00:35:22.72\00:35:25.22
According to the news
report, her brain was dying.
00:35:25.25\00:35:27.29
She's dead in two
days. She's dead in two days.
00:35:27.32\00:35:30.33
She's just
skating, having a good day,
00:35:30.36\00:35:32.06
she hit her head, it's over.
00:35:32.09\00:35:33.60
Synchronicity number one,
00:35:37.83\00:35:39.97
somebody kept my head
00:35:40.00\00:35:41.34
from bouncing
off of that concrete.
00:35:41.37\00:35:46.47
And I praise Him,
somebody in mercy.
00:35:46.51\00:35:51.65
Synchronicity number two,
00:35:51.68\00:35:53.01
a top team of ortho
specialists two miles away
00:35:53.05\00:35:55.08
South Bend Memorial.
00:35:55.12\00:35:56.72
Man, wow!
00:35:56.75\00:35:59.35
Synchronicity number three,
00:35:59.39\00:36:00.72
if you get to pick
one time on the calendar
00:36:00.76\00:36:02.39
when you'll be able to be
out of the pulpit for recovery,
00:36:02.42\00:36:04.23
there was only
one slot available,
00:36:04.26\00:36:05.76
and God said,
00:36:05.79\00:36:07.13
"This would be the
one you'd pick, Dwight.
00:36:07.16\00:36:09.16
This would be it.
00:36:09.20\00:36:10.63
This is it."
00:36:10.67\00:36:13.20
"Yeah, but come on, Dwight.
00:36:13.23\00:36:14.57
I know how this works.
00:36:14.60\00:36:15.94
Why didn't God just
keep you off the ice
00:36:15.97\00:36:17.31
in the first place?"
00:36:17.34\00:36:19.01
Well, you'll have to
ask Him because, number one,
00:36:19.04\00:36:23.04
we live in a free choice world
00:36:23.08\00:36:24.45
and I chose to
enjoy some skating
00:36:24.48\00:36:26.41
three weeks ago tomorrow.
00:36:26.45\00:36:28.05
And I was having a great time.
00:36:28.08\00:36:29.52
Number two, we know
that all things work together
00:36:32.09\00:36:33.86
for good to those who love God.
00:36:33.89\00:36:35.29
Not all things are good
but He causes all things
00:36:35.32\00:36:38.19
to work together for
good to those who love God
00:36:38.23\00:36:40.46
and are called
according to His purpose.
00:36:40.50\00:36:41.83
And number three,
guess what, it is from me,
00:36:41.86\00:36:44.80
some lessons in life can only
be learned through adversity.
00:36:44.83\00:36:49.44
Yeah, I'm an impatient man
in the very core of my being.
00:36:49.47\00:36:52.41
Those who live with me
or work with me know that.
00:36:52.44\00:36:56.04
I don't like to sit
around and wait for anybody.
00:36:56.08\00:36:59.61
And now I'm forced to just wait,
00:36:59.65\00:37:02.98
go slow, can't drive.
00:37:03.02\00:37:07.19
And I'll tell you one
thing, I'll be vulnerable now.
00:37:10.83\00:37:14.56
I've had a lack of
empathy for those who suffer.
00:37:14.60\00:37:18.77
"Why don't you just suck it up?
00:37:18.80\00:37:20.60
Get over it.
00:37:20.64\00:37:23.47
You're okay."
00:37:23.51\00:37:24.84
And now I realize
you can't suck it up,
00:37:37.85\00:37:41.62
and you're not okay,
and the pain is there.
00:37:41.66\00:37:46.80
Just live with it.
00:37:46.83\00:37:50.03
So I just thought
of this this morning.
00:37:50.07\00:37:52.73
I've put it on
the screen for you.
00:37:52.77\00:37:54.10
"The trials of life..."
00:37:54.14\00:37:55.47
This is Thoughts from
the Mount of Blessing.
00:37:55.50\00:37:56.84
"Is this choice,
the trials of life
00:37:56.87\00:37:58.21
are God's workmen to
remove the impurities
00:37:58.24\00:37:59.57
and roughness
from our character.
00:37:59.61\00:38:01.21
Their hewing,
squaring, chiseling..."
00:38:01.24\00:38:03.21
That's what they do.
00:38:03.24\00:38:04.58
You know what
the nurse said to me?
00:38:04.61\00:38:05.95
"You know why this
surgery is so painful for you
00:38:05.98\00:38:07.32
'cause they're in
there chopping on you,
00:38:07.35\00:38:08.88
they're with their
hammer and a mallet.
00:38:08.92\00:38:10.79
And they're just
chopping a hole, they're sawing,
00:38:10.82\00:38:13.32
they have to wear hazmat, gear
00:38:13.36\00:38:15.32
so they won't
get in their faces.
00:38:15.36\00:38:16.73
It's all over the room
as these saws are just..."
00:38:16.76\00:38:21.23
She said,
"That's why you're sore.
00:38:21.26\00:38:22.60
They've been pounding on you."
00:38:22.63\00:38:25.63
There it is right there.
00:38:25.67\00:38:27.57
"They're hewing," life's trials,
00:38:27.60\00:38:29.47
"hewing, squaring, chiseling,
00:38:29.50\00:38:30.84
their burnishing
polishing is a painful process.
00:38:30.87\00:38:33.68
It is hard to be pressed
down to the grinding wheel.
00:38:33.71\00:38:38.11
But the stone is brought forth
00:38:38.15\00:38:39.55
prepared to fill its
place in the heavenly temple."
00:38:39.58\00:38:41.62
Keep reading.
00:38:41.65\00:38:42.98
"Upon no useless material does
the master bestow such careful,
00:38:43.02\00:38:46.35
thorough work."
00:38:46.39\00:38:47.72
You're going through something
bad right now in your life,
00:38:47.76\00:38:49.59
something that you just cannot
believe is happening to you,
00:38:49.62\00:38:52.63
I'm telling you what, sister,
I'm telling you what, bro,
00:38:52.66\00:38:55.60
this is no use,
00:38:55.63\00:38:56.97
this bit of material
that God is dealing with.
00:38:57.00\00:38:58.93
You are precious to Him,
00:38:58.97\00:39:00.54
and your nose is
to that grindstone,
00:39:00.57\00:39:02.60
and it's grinding
on you to polish you.
00:39:02.64\00:39:07.51
And you come out of this thing
smelling like a rose, you will.
00:39:07.54\00:39:10.35
"Only His precious
stones are polished
00:39:13.21\00:39:15.05
after the
similitude of a palace."
00:39:15.08\00:39:19.49
So synchronicity in
my testimony, absolutely,
00:39:19.52\00:39:21.82
but let me close with this.
00:39:21.86\00:39:23.19
There are 10 instances
of divine synchronicity
00:39:23.22\00:39:24.66
in the Christmas story.
00:39:24.69\00:39:26.43
I'm going to fly through these
because you'll recognize them,
00:39:26.46\00:39:28.63
so we don't have to unpack them.
00:39:28.66\00:39:30.00
The first one you
will not recognize,
00:39:30.03\00:39:31.80
they're 10 instances
of divine synchronicity...
00:39:31.83\00:39:33.94
And by the way,
00:39:33.97\00:39:35.50
divine fingerprints
and you may be thinking,
00:39:35.54\00:39:39.04
"I wonder if this is
00:39:39.07\00:39:40.41
what I'm going
through right now.
00:39:40.44\00:39:41.78
I wonder if divine fingerprints
are all over me right now,"
00:39:41.81\00:39:44.81
I want you to hold that thought.
00:39:44.85\00:39:47.05
The synchronicity number
one from the Christmas story,
00:39:47.08\00:39:49.42
no one ever comments on this.
00:39:49.45\00:39:50.79
This is in Luke 1.
00:39:50.82\00:39:52.15
So I'll read it
and you're hearing.
00:39:52.19\00:39:53.96
Luke 1.
00:39:53.99\00:39:55.59
We're picking up in Luke 1:39.
00:39:55.62\00:39:56.96
Gabriel has just
appeared to Mary.
00:39:56.99\00:39:58.33
Luke 1:39.
00:39:58.36\00:39:59.69
"And at that time Mary
got ready and hurried."
00:39:59.73\00:40:01.06
She just learned from Gabriel
that she's going to be pregnant
00:40:01.10\00:40:03.06
an implanted baby by
Almighty God Himself.
00:40:03.10\00:40:07.90
Angel mentioned
to Mary, "You know,
00:40:07.94\00:40:09.50
your cousin Elizabeth is
already six months pregnant,
00:40:09.54\00:40:11.81
you didn't know
that, didn't you?
00:40:11.84\00:40:13.17
There's no
social media back then,
00:40:13.21\00:40:14.54
nobody knew anything."
00:40:14.58\00:40:16.21
So Mary now is hurrying,
00:40:16.24\00:40:17.75
there's only one person on earth
00:40:17.78\00:40:19.11
that would possibly understand
00:40:19.15\00:40:21.58
what she's going through
and that has to be Elizabeth.
00:40:21.62\00:40:23.55
She goes flying to Elizabeth,
00:40:23.59\00:40:25.22
"And at the time
Mary got ready and hurried
00:40:25.25\00:40:26.59
to a town in the
hill country of Judea."
00:40:26.62\00:40:28.02
Verse 40, "And when she
entered Zachariah's home
00:40:28.06\00:40:31.53
and greeted Elizabeth.
00:40:31.56\00:40:32.99
When Elizabeth heard
Mary's greeting, the baby,
00:40:33.03\00:40:35.50
the fetus leaped in her womb
and Elizabeth rather was filled
00:40:35.53\00:40:39.93
with the Holy Spirit.
00:40:39.97\00:40:41.30
And in a loud voice
Elizabeth exclaimed,
00:40:41.34\00:40:43.30
'Blessed are you among woman,
00:40:43.34\00:40:45.01
and blessed is the
child you will bear!
00:40:45.04\00:40:47.01
But why am I so favored,
00:40:47.04\00:40:48.38
that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?
00:40:48.41\00:40:51.01
As soon as the
sound of your greeting
00:40:51.05\00:40:52.41
reached my ears,
00:40:52.45\00:40:53.78
the baby in my
womb leap for joy.'"
00:40:53.82\00:40:56.38
Oh, Mary.
00:40:56.42\00:40:57.75
"'Blessed is she who
has believed that the Lord
00:40:57.79\00:40:59.42
would fulfill his
promises to her!'"
00:40:59.45\00:41:01.52
Do understand what
Elizabeth has just done?
00:41:01.56\00:41:03.36
It's a moment of
divine synchronicity.
00:41:03.39\00:41:05.06
Mary has needed to
hear what she has just said.
00:41:05.09\00:41:08.23
Elizabeth has no clue
that Mary is pregnant.
00:41:08.26\00:41:11.73
There's no
social, there's nothing.
00:41:11.77\00:41:13.84
She walks to the door,
and the Holy Spirit says,
00:41:13.87\00:41:16.47
"The Messiah is in your cousin."
00:41:16.50\00:41:19.44
She speaks because
Mary ever since Gabriel
00:41:19.47\00:41:22.34
was there has been
finding this thought,
00:41:22.38\00:41:24.51
"It cannot be.
00:41:24.55\00:41:25.88
How could I
possibly become pregnant?
00:41:25.91\00:41:28.55
I know no man."
00:41:28.58\00:41:30.95
She needed the synchronicity
of that split second timing
00:41:30.99\00:41:35.36
to say, "You're bearing my Lord,
00:41:35.39\00:41:40.20
my Lord."
00:41:40.23\00:41:42.33
Synchronicity number one,
00:41:42.36\00:41:43.70
divine fingerprints all
over with no causal connection,
00:41:43.73\00:41:47.40
no causal connection, but
somebody very much at work.
00:41:47.44\00:41:50.24
Synchronicity number
two, three, four, and five.
00:41:50.27\00:41:52.57
These are the
four dreams of Joseph
00:41:52.61\00:41:54.38
because when Mary comes back
00:41:54.41\00:41:55.74
after three
months with Elizabeth,
00:41:55.78\00:41:57.55
Mary now looks
like she's pregnant.
00:41:57.58\00:42:01.42
And Joseph
takes one look at her,
00:42:01.45\00:42:03.75
"I wondered where
you were and now I see
00:42:03.79\00:42:06.32
what you've been doing."
00:42:06.35\00:42:08.29
And he makes up his
mind, "I'll do this quietly,
00:42:08.32\00:42:10.63
but I'm getting
rid of that girl."
00:42:10.66\00:42:12.86
His mind is made
up, he goes to sleep.
00:42:12.89\00:42:14.43
Boom! There's a dream.
00:42:14.46\00:42:15.80
Synchronicity
number one for Joseph.
00:42:15.83\00:42:18.53
"No, no, no, no, no,
we put that baby there.
00:42:18.57\00:42:22.90
That's our baby,
you stay with her."
00:42:22.94\00:42:26.47
Synchronicity number
two in Joseph's dream.
00:42:26.51\00:42:29.01
"Get up! Get up! Get out!
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.11
The king has
heard about the birth.
00:42:31.15\00:42:32.98
He'll kill your baby.
00:42:33.01\00:42:34.42
Get away now Egypt."
00:42:34.45\00:42:36.42
Synchronicity number
three in Egypt, dream again,
00:42:36.45\00:42:40.16
"You can leave now. Go home!
00:42:40.19\00:42:41.89
It's safe! All is clear."
00:42:41.92\00:42:43.79
Synchronicity number four,
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.16
"We'll then now go to Bethlehem
00:42:45.19\00:42:46.53
because I'm of
the tribe of David."
00:42:46.56\00:42:47.90
"No, not Bethlehem.
00:42:47.93\00:42:49.73
Wrong, Herod.
00:42:49.76\00:42:51.37
Go Nazareth, go Galilee."
00:42:51.40\00:42:54.34
Four synchronicities.
00:42:54.37\00:42:55.97
And Joseph is led by
the God of the universe.
00:42:58.51\00:43:02.74
As an average old Joe
00:43:02.78\00:43:05.38
who trusted in
his Heavenly Father.
00:43:05.41\00:43:08.02
Okay, so there is
synchronicity number five.
00:43:08.05\00:43:09.88
Let's go to synchronicity
number six, Desire of Ages.
00:43:09.92\00:43:11.92
If the shepherds
out in the field,
00:43:11.95\00:43:13.29
we relive the
story a moment ago.
00:43:13.32\00:43:14.66
On the screen Desire of
Ages, "Through the silent hours,
00:43:14.69\00:43:18.69
the shepherds
keeping watch by night,
00:43:18.73\00:43:20.53
talked together of
the promised Savior,
00:43:20.56\00:43:23.10
and prayed for the coming
of the King to David's throne."
00:43:23.13\00:43:26.60
As Pastor Ben,
noted last Sabbath
00:43:26.63\00:43:28.30
in our children
celebration for Christmas,
00:43:28.34\00:43:30.27
why a bunch of ragtag shepherds
00:43:30.31\00:43:32.97
get the VIP announcement
00:43:33.01\00:43:35.54
because they're
the only ones watching
00:43:35.58\00:43:37.75
and waiting for the coming King.
00:43:37.78\00:43:40.22
So that will go to
whoever is with synchronicity
00:43:40.25\00:43:42.65
will show up right
there then and they did.
00:43:42.68\00:43:45.32
Ellen White in Desire of Ages
00:43:45.35\00:43:46.69
desires describes that is
the most spectacular picture
00:43:46.72\00:43:49.59
ever be held by human eyes.
00:43:49.62\00:43:52.96
And a bunch of ragtag
shepherds got the honor.
00:43:52.99\00:43:56.16
Because they were
watching and waiting.
00:43:56.20\00:43:58.93
Synchronicities
number seven and eight.
00:43:58.97\00:44:00.74
Joseph and
Mary, the Christ child
00:44:00.77\00:44:02.10
a few days later
headed to Jerusalem
00:44:02.14\00:44:03.51
as soon as they
walk into the temple,
00:44:03.54\00:44:05.17
a holy man, an
old man named Simeon
00:44:05.21\00:44:07.38
comes racing up to
them and snatches that baby.
00:44:07.41\00:44:10.01
What is this a
baby snatcher or what?
00:44:10.05\00:44:11.61
Snatches that baby
out of Mary's arms.
00:44:11.65\00:44:13.88
He says, "I
have lived for this."
00:44:13.92\00:44:16.32
And he lifts that baby up,
00:44:16.35\00:44:17.69
"Now I can die in peace,
00:44:17.72\00:44:19.35
I have seen the coming
of the Lord's Messiah."
00:44:19.39\00:44:22.32
Boy, did Joseph
and Mary need that?
00:44:22.36\00:44:24.03
Everything is gone
raw and rotten for them.
00:44:24.06\00:44:27.40
Nobody to welcome the king
but a holy man steps forward.
00:44:27.43\00:44:31.43
Synchronicity number seven.
00:44:31.47\00:44:33.20
And then number eight a
little old lady named Anna
00:44:33.23\00:44:35.80
come shuffling over
00:44:35.84\00:44:37.17
because she sees
the four of them,
00:44:37.21\00:44:38.54
Simeon and the
three in the holy family.
00:44:38.57\00:44:40.28
And she starts with a
loud voice proclaiming,
00:44:40.31\00:44:42.78
"This is the promised of God!"
00:44:42.81\00:44:44.98
Synchronicity, no
causal connection,
00:44:45.01\00:44:48.65
but it is connected.
00:44:48.68\00:44:51.95
That baby is the
baby that's been promised.
00:44:51.99\00:44:55.16
Wow! Two more.
00:44:55.19\00:44:56.52
I'll sit down.
00:44:56.56\00:44:57.93
Synchronicities number 9 and 10.
00:44:57.96\00:45:00.20
Yeah, I guess I'm sitting here.
00:45:00.23\00:45:03.23
I come to think of it.
00:45:03.26\00:45:05.07
I can go through lunch.
00:45:05.10\00:45:07.80
All right, Matthew, Matthew.
00:45:07.84\00:45:09.44
Come on, let's go to
our homily text today
00:45:09.47\00:45:13.24
Matthew Chapter
2, Matthew Chapter 2.
00:45:13.27\00:45:17.71
And we'll end with
these two synchronicities.
00:45:17.75\00:45:20.82
We got a beautiful
piece of music coming,
00:45:20.85\00:45:22.22
don't you go anywhere.
00:45:22.25\00:45:23.59
I'll tell you what
that music means to me
00:45:23.62\00:45:24.95
in just a moment.
00:45:24.99\00:45:27.16
Matthew Chapter 2,
let's pick it up in verse 9.
00:45:27.19\00:45:29.46
And then Herod called the...
00:45:29.49\00:45:30.83
No, this is verse 9.
00:45:30.86\00:45:32.19
And after they heard the
king, he said, "Hey, listen.
00:45:32.23\00:45:33.56
Hey, fellows,
when you find the baby,
00:45:33.60\00:45:34.93
get back to me right away,
00:45:34.96\00:45:36.40
I want to go and
worship him just like you."
00:45:36.43\00:45:38.77
Wink, wink, wink, wink, wink.
00:45:38.80\00:45:40.57
They think he's serious.
00:45:40.60\00:45:42.50
So, "After," verse 9,
"they heard from the king,
00:45:42.54\00:45:45.84
they went on
their way," the Medjay,
00:45:45.87\00:45:48.41
"and the star that they had seen
00:45:48.44\00:45:50.31
when it rose and
went ahead of them
00:45:50.35\00:45:52.78
until it stopped over the
place where the child was."
00:45:52.81\00:45:55.42
Now read verse 10
00:45:55.45\00:45:56.79
because this is
an astounding line
00:45:56.82\00:45:58.79
that's just tossed
into the Christmas story
00:45:58.82\00:46:00.96
until you
remember synchronicity.
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.09
Verse 10, "And
when they saw the star,"
00:46:03.12\00:46:05.79
they are on this
nocturnal mission the search.
00:46:05.83\00:46:08.86
"And when they saw the
star, they were," what?
00:46:08.90\00:46:11.93
They were
absolutely beside themselves.
00:46:11.97\00:46:14.40
Do you know why?
00:46:14.44\00:46:16.07
Because they have
no assurance in proof
00:46:16.10\00:46:19.04
that the star would yet appear
once they arrive in Jerusalem.
00:46:19.07\00:46:21.34
I mean, this is the
capital of the people
00:46:21.38\00:46:23.11
to whom the king is being sent.
00:46:23.14\00:46:24.88
But they're crestfallen,
00:46:24.91\00:46:26.28
they're heartbroken
because not a soul in the city
00:46:26.31\00:46:29.48
gives a rip
about any coming King.
00:46:29.52\00:46:32.15
And they pick up the innuendos,
00:46:32.19\00:46:33.66
they know that
they're considered pagans,
00:46:33.69\00:46:35.79
they read the
whole sordid reality,
00:46:35.82\00:46:39.66
and they're sick on the death.
00:46:39.69\00:46:41.76
And they're wondering if
we go and search beyond this,
00:46:41.80\00:46:45.37
will the star even return?
00:46:45.40\00:46:47.54
So when the star
appears in the sky
00:46:47.57\00:46:49.80
where they saw at last,
they are absolutely over joyed.
00:46:49.84\00:46:56.75
We have not followed
cunningly devised fables.
00:46:56.78\00:47:00.52
Almighty God
has been leading us.
00:47:00.55\00:47:05.02
Divine fingerprints all over.
00:47:05.05\00:47:06.39
Now here comes the
last one, verse 11,
00:47:06.42\00:47:08.79
"And on coming to the house,
00:47:08.82\00:47:10.29
they saw the child
with his mother Mary,
00:47:10.33\00:47:12.63
and they bowed down
and worshiped the Christ.
00:47:12.66\00:47:16.00
And then they
opened their treasures
00:47:16.03\00:47:17.37
and presented him
with gifts of gold,
00:47:17.40\00:47:18.83
and frankincense and myrrh.
00:47:18.87\00:47:21.40
And having been
warned in a dream
00:47:21.44\00:47:22.77
not to go back to Herod,
00:47:22.80\00:47:24.14
they returned to their
country by another route."
00:47:24.17\00:47:27.08
They worship the
king with three gifts.
00:47:27.11\00:47:30.28
Gold is the coinage of kings,
00:47:30.31\00:47:32.61
frankincense is
the smoke of gods.
00:47:32.65\00:47:35.82
You burn to the
gods frankincense
00:47:35.85\00:47:38.25
and myrrh is the aroma of death.
00:47:38.29\00:47:41.76
There three gifts
00:47:41.79\00:47:43.43
are a powerful symbolism of
a divine king come to earth,
00:47:43.46\00:47:48.96
who will die as a human,
00:47:49.00\00:47:51.80
as a sacrifice
for the rebel race.
00:47:51.83\00:47:55.30
And we often
stop it right there.
00:47:55.34\00:47:58.97
But there is more
that synchronicity
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.68
is actually a down payment,
00:48:01.71\00:48:06.15
a financial sponsorship
00:48:06.18\00:48:08.95
from the father of the child.
00:48:08.98\00:48:13.66
So when they flee in the
middle of the night with nothing
00:48:13.69\00:48:17.16
but the cloaks on their
back, and they get to Egypt.
00:48:17.19\00:48:24.17
The largest of
those Medjay, the gold,
00:48:24.20\00:48:27.57
their frankincense
and myrrh were advance,
00:48:27.60\00:48:30.81
emergency funding for
the unanticipated flight
00:48:30.84\00:48:34.28
of immigrant refugees
00:48:34.31\00:48:36.91
who seek help in a foreign land.
00:48:36.95\00:48:39.71
Who now have the treasures
of the Medjay's to cash out.
00:48:44.92\00:48:49.06
You know, Joseph can set
up that little carpenter shop
00:48:49.09\00:48:51.63
this time in Nazareth.
00:48:51.66\00:48:54.30
Wow!
00:48:54.33\00:48:55.66
You see the God
of synchronicity,
00:48:55.70\00:48:58.20
it's God that you
and I love and worship,
00:48:58.23\00:49:01.20
It's God of
Jesus, the God of Joseph,
00:49:01.24\00:49:03.04
the God of Mary, the God of you,
00:49:03.07\00:49:05.71
the God of me, the
God of synchronicity,
00:49:05.74\00:49:08.44
I need you to catch this
line, you go home with it.
00:49:08.48\00:49:11.15
"He is the God who
is always prepared."
00:49:11.18\00:49:16.89
Always!
00:49:16.92\00:49:18.35
Always prepared!
00:49:18.39\00:49:19.72
Flat on your back
in an ice skating rink,
00:49:19.75\00:49:22.06
He's already ready,
00:49:22.09\00:49:23.83
flat on your back
because of the crisis
00:49:23.86\00:49:25.79
it's just your
marriage, it's just your job,
00:49:25.83\00:49:27.80
it's just your education,
00:49:27.83\00:49:29.86
that's just your
finances flat on the back
00:49:29.90\00:49:32.27
and absolutely
convinced you can't walk away
00:49:32.30\00:49:35.44
from this one,
00:49:35.47\00:49:36.81
the God who is always prepared
00:49:36.84\00:49:39.31
has already been
prepared for you.
00:49:39.34\00:49:42.74
He's been
watching you for weeks,
00:49:42.78\00:49:44.91
He's been
watching you for months,
00:49:44.95\00:49:46.75
He's known this was coming,
00:49:46.78\00:49:48.12
He's known all
about it, some of you,
00:49:48.15\00:49:50.22
He's been
watching this for years,
00:49:50.25\00:49:52.25
you had no clue
this was coming to you.
00:49:52.29\00:49:54.49
But He has been
prepared for years
00:49:54.52\00:49:57.13
for when this
will dawn upon you,
00:49:57.16\00:49:59.03
and the crisis breaks,
00:49:59.06\00:50:00.90
and you are sure
that there is no way out,
00:50:00.93\00:50:03.80
there will be a
nail scarred hand
00:50:03.83\00:50:05.20
that reaches to that
door and opens a door
00:50:05.23\00:50:08.40
that can't be
opened in no other ways
00:50:08.44\00:50:10.61
but through adversity
00:50:10.64\00:50:12.51
because for Joseph's dream
00:50:12.54\00:50:14.34
there must first
be Joseph slave hood.
00:50:14.38\00:50:18.18
And for Jesus Christ mission
00:50:18.21\00:50:20.68
there must first
be His crucifixion.
00:50:20.72\00:50:24.39
The dream of
Joseph, the dream of Jesus,
00:50:24.42\00:50:27.82
the door held open by a God
00:50:27.86\00:50:29.86
who has been waiting
for you all these years.
00:50:29.89\00:50:32.43
Synchronicity means,
He's always been faithful,
00:50:32.46\00:50:37.63
He's always been faithful.
00:50:37.67\00:50:40.54
Little Sara Groves wrote a song
"He's always been faithful."
00:50:40.57\00:50:43.41
And I've been
listening to that song
00:50:43.44\00:50:44.87
wearing out my little
YouTube track on my phone.
00:50:44.91\00:50:48.14
"He's always been faithful."
00:50:48.18\00:50:52.71
I want you to close your
eyes. Now I want you to listen.
00:50:52.75\00:50:56.22
As these three friends of mine
sing Sara Groves' great piece.
00:50:56.25\00:51:00.99
I'll close my eyes too.
00:51:01.02\00:51:04.29
I know, I'll get tears in them.
00:51:04.33\00:51:07.80
But I need you to know,
00:51:07.83\00:51:10.73
He will always
be faithful to you,
00:51:10.77\00:51:13.40
He will always
be faithful to you.
00:51:13.44\00:51:16.24
Close your eyes now.
00:51:16.27\00:51:17.77
Sinegugu Katenga,
she's going to sing,
00:51:17.81\00:51:20.84
Stephen Zork's going to
play the keyboard, piano,
00:51:20.88\00:51:24.71
Jamison Moris on his cello.
00:51:24.75\00:51:28.42
Sara Groves song,
"He's always been faithful."
00:51:28.45\00:51:31.82
Morning by morning
00:51:42.33\00:51:46.07
I wake up to find
00:51:46.10\00:51:49.87
The power and comfort
00:51:49.90\00:51:53.48
Of God's hand in mine
00:51:53.51\00:51:57.98
Season by season
00:51:58.01\00:52:01.65
I watch Him, amazed
00:52:01.68\00:52:05.75
In awe of the mystery
00:52:05.79\00:52:09.52
Of His perfect ways
00:52:09.56\00:52:14.06
All I have need of,
00:52:14.10\00:52:17.83
His hand will provide
00:52:17.87\00:52:21.94
He's always been faithful to me.
00:52:21.97\00:52:27.98
I can't remember
00:52:34.65\00:52:38.02
A trial or a pain
00:52:38.05\00:52:41.86
He did not recycle
00:52:41.89\00:52:45.59
To bring me gain
00:52:45.63\00:52:49.73
I can't remember
00:52:49.76\00:52:53.50
One single regret
00:52:53.54\00:52:57.17
In serving God only,
00:52:57.21\00:53:00.78
And trusting His hand
00:53:00.81\00:53:04.98
All I have need of,
00:53:05.01\00:53:08.48
His hand will provide
00:53:08.52\00:53:12.85
He's always been faithful to me.
00:53:12.89\00:53:19.43
This is my anthem,
00:53:46.96\00:53:50.76
This is my song
00:53:50.79\00:53:54.60
The theme of the stories
00:53:54.63\00:53:58.30
I've heard for so long
00:53:58.33\00:54:02.60
God has been faithful,
00:54:02.64\00:54:06.14
He will be again
00:54:06.17\00:54:09.91
His loving compassion,
00:54:09.94\00:54:13.72
It knows no end
00:54:13.75\00:54:18.05
All I have need of,
00:54:18.09\00:54:21.79
His hand will provide
00:54:21.82\00:54:25.93
He's always been faithful,
00:54:25.96\00:54:30.73
He's always been faithful
00:54:34.34\00:54:39.67
He's always been faithful
00:54:43.48\00:54:48.28
To me.
00:54:48.32\00:54:55.06
Amen.
00:55:10.91\00:55:12.24
Oh, God that's the truth.
00:55:20.42\00:55:22.62
We believe this
Christmas worship
00:55:22.65\00:55:29.59
for that truth
00:55:29.62\00:55:33.36
brightly shining
within our souls.
00:55:33.40\00:55:37.83
You've always been faithful.
00:55:37.87\00:55:41.00
There is never been a
time when You are not prepared,
00:55:41.04\00:55:46.81
and You did not do
well, and so we trust You.
00:55:46.84\00:55:51.68
Whatever the New Year
brings, we have no idea.
00:55:51.71\00:55:57.19
But we know it will
bring You and with You,
00:55:57.22\00:56:01.86
we can go anywhere with
the faithful, faithful God
00:56:01.89\00:56:07.76
we can do anything.
00:56:07.80\00:56:11.13
And so in the
name of the Lord Jesus
00:56:11.17\00:56:14.44
became that baby
for us, our King,
00:56:14.47\00:56:19.87
our Lord, our Savior
00:56:19.91\00:56:23.71
in the name of the Lord Jesus
sent us forth into the year
00:56:23.75\00:56:28.58
that awaits us
that all the people say
00:56:28.62\00:56:35.52
amen and amen.
00:56:35.56\00:56:37.93
Before you go, let
me take an extra moment
00:56:58.75\00:57:00.08
to share with you an opportunity
00:57:00.12\00:57:01.45
to get into the
Bible in a fresh new way.
00:57:01.48\00:57:04.49
All across the
world more and more people
00:57:04.52\00:57:05.89
are hearing the call to examine
scriptures for themselves.
00:57:05.92\00:57:09.39
If you felt drawn to
learn more about God's Word,
00:57:09.42\00:57:11.63
but you don't
know where to start
00:57:11.66\00:57:12.99
or you're just looking
for more in-depth examination
00:57:13.03\00:57:15.40
of Bible truths,
00:57:15.43\00:57:16.83
then I have something
right here that I believe
00:57:16.87\00:57:18.83
you're going to enjoy.
00:57:18.87\00:57:20.20
I want to send a series
of guides to get you started.
00:57:20.24\00:57:22.60
This once is entitled
"Why Does God Allow Suffering?"
00:57:22.64\00:57:25.37
This guide begins with a story
00:57:25.41\00:57:27.14
and an
introduction of the subject
00:57:27.18\00:57:28.51
then to a series
of focused questions,
00:57:28.54\00:57:30.68
you'll be learning
portions of the Bible
00:57:30.71\00:57:32.05
you may never have known before,
00:57:32.08\00:57:33.58
and when you're through,
00:57:33.62\00:57:34.95
you'll be able
to share with others
00:57:34.98\00:57:36.32
some of these
inspiring Bible truths.
00:57:36.35\00:57:38.09
So just call our
toll-free number,
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.45
it's on the screen 877,
00:57:39.49\00:57:41.09
the two words, HIS-WILL.
00:57:41.12\00:57:43.32
Our friendly
operators are standing by
00:57:43.36\00:57:44.83
to send these
study guides to you.
00:57:44.86\00:57:46.36
Once again, that's 877-HIS-WILL,
00:57:46.39\00:57:49.66
call that number.
00:57:49.70\00:57:51.07
And then again,
00:57:51.10\00:57:52.43
join me next week right here
00:57:52.47\00:57:54.84
at the same
time New Perceptions.
00:57:54.87\00:57:56.94