¤¤
00:00:01.90\00:00:04.80
¤¤ >> I don't
know about you guys,
00:00:13.31\00:08:29.47
but as we're singing these
songs, I can't help but imagine
00:08:29.47\00:08:32.34
what the shepherds must have
felt like on that silent night.
00:08:32.34\00:08:35.61
You see, they were the first
to tell of Jesus' First Coming.
00:08:35.61\00:08:38.81
But we're given the opportunity
to tell of His Second Coming.
00:08:38.81\00:08:41.98
So as we sing the second verse,
we invite you to stand and sing
00:08:41.98\00:08:45.59
with us.
00:08:45.59\00:08:46.96
¤¤
00:10:07.14\00:10:09.07
>> ¤ Infant holy ¤
Infant lowly ¤ For his bed
00:10:21.58\00:10:32.66
¤ A cattle stall ¤
Oxen lowing ¤ Little knowing
00:10:32.66\00:10:44.84
¤ Christ, the babe ¤ Is
Lord of all >> ¤ Swiftly winging
00:10:44.84\00:10:56.62
¤ Angels singing ¤ Bells
ringing ¤ Tidings bringing
00:10:56.62\00:11:08.03
¤ Christ, the babe ¤ Is
Lord of all ¤ Christ, the babe
00:11:08.03\00:11:18.57
¤ Is Lord of all
00:11:18.57\00:11:27.02
>> ¤ Infant holy ¤
Infant lowly ¤ For his bed
00:11:36.32\00:11:47.40
¤ A cattle stall ¤
Oxen lowing ¤ Little knowing
00:11:47.40\00:11:59.18
¤ Christ, the babe ¤ Is
Lord of all >> ¤ Swiftly winging
00:11:59.18\00:12:10.63
¤ Angels singing ¤ Bells
ringing ¤ Tidings bringing
00:12:10.63\00:12:21.80
¤ Christ, the babe ¤ Is
Lord of all ¤ Christ, the babe
00:12:21.80\00:12:32.48
¤ Is Lord of all
00:12:32.48\00:12:40.89
>> ¤ Flocks were sleeping ¤
Shepherds keeping ¤ Vigil till
00:12:49.36\00:13:00.68
¤ The morning new ¤ Saw
the glory >> ¤ Saw the glory
00:13:00.68\00:13:08.95
>> ¤ Heard the story >> ¤
Heard the story >> ¤ Tidings of
00:13:08.95\00:13:16.39
¤ A gospel true >> ¤ Thus
rejoicing >> ¤ Thus rejoicing
00:13:16.39\00:13:24.53
>> ¤ Free from sorrow >> ¤ Free
from sorrow >> ¤ Praises voicing
00:13:24.53\00:13:30.07
>> ¤ Praises voicing >> ¤ Greet
the morrow >> ¤ Greet the morrow
00:13:30.07\00:13:35.78
>> ¤ Christ, the babe ¤ Is Lord
of all >> ¤ Christ, the babe
00:13:35.78\00:13:42.35
¤ Is Lord of all >> ¤
Christ, the babe ¤ Is Lord
00:13:42.35\00:13:52.13
of all ¤
00:13:52.13\00:14:00.37
[ Music stops ]
>> Amen. >> Amen.
00:14:12.41\00:14:17.62
¤¤ [ Static crackling ]
00:14:21.32\00:14:24.23
>> Hey, Sis, Dad, Mom, come
on! "Children's Story" is on!
00:14:24.23\00:14:29.96
>> Merry
Christmas, boys and girls.
00:14:29.96\00:14:31.87
Today, I'm going to share a
story with you about when my
00:14:31.87\00:14:34.84
son, Christian,
was a little boy.
00:14:34.84\00:14:37.31
Oh, did Christian love trains.
00:14:37.31\00:14:40.24
He loved trains so much that he
would have me take him to every
train museum, buy him every
00:14:40.28\00:14:46.48
single toy, and not just a
Thomas the Tank. He used to like
00:14:46.48\00:14:51.45
those wooden BRIO sets. And he
used to make the entire Hoboken
Station while he played
00:14:51.45\00:14:56.39
for hours and hours with his
wooden trains. Well, one day, I
00:14:56.39\00:15:02.33
found out about a train museum
in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. And
I also found out that you
00:15:02.33\00:15:08.27
were able to stay at a hotel
that was an actual train. And
you would be able to sleep
00:15:08.27\00:15:14.74
there, eat there, have your
family there. Well, one day, we
00:15:14.74\00:15:19.55
found out about a
steam-train-engine ride. And I
talked to Christian and my
00:15:19.55\00:15:26.79
daughter, Ariana, and I said to
them -- They were probably 6 and
4 at that time. And I said to
00:15:26.79\00:15:31.06
them, "Would you like to do this
trip with Mommy and Daddy?" And
of course they said "yes."
00:15:31.06\00:15:35.53
So we planned this trip for two
months away. And every day, we
00:15:35.53\00:15:40.94
would go to the calendar and we
would "X" out the days
remaining. First, there were
00:15:40.94\00:15:47.78
four weeks. Then there were
three weeks. Then there were two
weeks. Then there was one week.
00:15:47.78\00:15:54.05
Then seven days, six days, five
days. Finally, the day came for
00:15:54.05\00:16:01.09
us to go on this trip when we
would be going on this
steam-train ride. We loved it!
00:16:01.09\00:16:07.83
We got to Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. There were so many
00:16:07.83\00:16:11.83
trains, and it was everything
train museum you can think of.
And every activity was centered
00:16:11.83\00:16:17.74
on being on this train. When we
finally went to the train ticket
agent and we bought
00:16:17.74\00:16:26.68
our tickets to go on the train
ride, Mommy even dressed the two
children -- Ariana in her pink
00:16:26.68\00:16:34.69
little overalls and her train
hat, and Christian in his blue
overalls and his train hat.
00:16:34.69\00:16:41.46
And we got to the train station,
and I got the tickets and I let
Christian even hold all four
00:16:41.46\00:16:48.24
tickets -- Daddy's ticket,
Mommy's ticket, Ariana's ticket,
and Christian's ticket.
00:16:48.24\00:16:54.41
And we saw the first train
go by. But it wasn't our train.
00:16:54.41\00:16:59.18
We saw the second train go by,
and it wasn't our train. And,
finally, after waiting so
00:16:59.18\00:17:04.85
many weeks and days and hours
and minutes, the time came for
us to go on this train ride.
00:17:04.85\00:17:11.43
Christian had the tickets in his
little pocket, and I sat
Christian on my lap.
00:17:11.43\00:17:17.10
And as the conductor came by to
get the tickets from people to
people, the train was really
00:17:17.10\00:17:23.61
full, so we waited and we
waited. And Christian looked out
00:17:23.61\00:17:28.14
the window and looked out the
window, holding on to the
tickets in his little pocket.
00:17:28.14\00:17:32.58
And as he held the little
tickets, we waited and we waited
and we waited some more.
00:17:32.58\00:17:40.32
And, finally, when Mr. Conductor
came to where we were sitting,
Christian had fallen asleep!
00:17:40.32\00:17:49.56
Fallen asleep?! We had waited
so long to be on this very train
00:17:49.56\00:17:55.90
ride, and Christian had fallen
asleep. I gently took the
tickets out and I gave them to
00:17:55.90\00:18:04.95
Mr. Conductor and I said, "Thank
you very much." And I handed the
00:18:04.95\00:18:09.15
tickets to them. Well, the train
ride was only about 30 to 40
00:18:09.15\00:18:14.99
minutes long, but the whole
time, Christian slept and he
slept and he slept. We arrived
00:18:14.99\00:18:24.17
back at the station where we
left off, and when we got off
the train, Christian woke up.
00:18:24.17\00:18:29.70
He had waited so long for this
moment, and the entire time, he
fell asleep and never even
00:18:29.70\00:18:37.75
realized that he was on the
train that he so longed to be a
00:18:37.75\00:18:42.95
part of. More importantly, he
did not get to experience that
joy of being on the train
00:18:42.95\00:18:49.76
because he was asleep. Boys and
girls, it's the holiday season,
and Jesus has given us
00:18:49.76\00:18:55.10
the greatest gift, which is the
gift of His son. But I'm asking
00:18:55.10\00:19:02.57
you today not to miss the train.
Do not miss that opportunity to
know Jesus as your personal
00:19:02.57\00:19:08.48
savior. Do not miss that
opportunity to know Jesus every
00:19:08.48\00:19:14.25
day by reading your Bible,
practicing your memory verses,
and spending time with Jesus by
00:19:14.25\00:19:21.26
praying with others, for others,
and on behalf of others. I want
to give myself to Jesus
00:19:21.26\00:19:26.39
today for the holiday season and
say, Jesus, take my heart today
and always and help me to be
00:19:26.39\00:19:33.37
awake always for you. How many
boys and girls today would like
00:19:33.37\00:19:40.28
to say, "Jesus, I give you my
heart. I will stay awake, I will
stay alert, and I will love you
00:19:40.28\00:19:45.91
with my whole heart, until you
come soon. And, Jesus, thank you
00:19:45.91\00:19:51.12
for the gift of salvation." Have
a good Sabbath, boys and girls.
00:19:51.12\00:19:54.59
Bye.
00:19:54.59\00:19:56.39
>> Let's pray. >>
Jesus, thank you for this
00:19:56.42\00:19:59.03
day. Thank you for helping us.
00:19:59.03\00:20:00.93
>> We thank you, Lord, that you
can keep us safe from danger and
00:20:00.93\00:20:04.33
help people to know that it's
not about presents, but about
00:20:04.33\00:20:07.57
your birth and
that you saved us.
00:20:07.57\00:20:12.21
And, Lord, please help
our church family to be safe.
00:20:12.21\00:20:15.74
We thank you, Heavenly Father,
and we pray in Jesus' name.
00:20:15.74\00:20:19.48
Amen. ¤¤
00:20:19.48\00:20:26.15
[ Static crackling ]
00:20:26.15\00:20:28.09
>> Happy Sabbath,
everyone, and merry Christmas.
00:20:34.00\00:20:36.53
My name is José
Bourget. This is my daughter,
00:20:36.53\00:20:39.27
Abigail Rose, the best
that 2020 had to offer.
00:20:39.27\00:20:44.04
And we're gonna be
reading today's Scripture from
00:20:44.04\00:20:47.34
Matthew 2:3-6. Here we go.
00:20:47.34\00:20:53.52
Can't wait to hear what
God teaches us today in the
00:21:31.62\00:21:37.26
Scriptures and
teaching of His Word.
00:21:37.26\00:21:40.70
>> I want to pray with you,
and then let's plunge into this
00:21:45.83\00:21:49.87
Christmas moment. O
God, birthday of the King, we
00:21:49.87\00:21:55.71
know it's not
December 25. We know that.
00:21:55.71\00:21:59.45
It probably was in
October, before the rains.
00:21:59.45\00:22:02.98
The shepherds are outdoors.
But, still, with the whole
00:22:02.98\00:22:07.66
world, we pause, in this dark
pandemic season, to remember the
00:22:07.66\00:22:13.13
coming of the King. He
was born in our midst to save
00:22:13.13\00:22:16.70
us. May he be
front and center these
00:22:16.70\00:22:19.37
few moments we have now.
We humbly pray in Jesus' name.
00:22:19.37\00:22:24.37
Amen. So,
lookit, I don't know if
00:22:24.37\00:22:26.21
you've been following
the news. I have no idea.
00:22:26.21\00:22:29.18
In case you haven't, I need
to tell you, in case you don't
00:22:29.18\00:22:33.75
know, in two days --
I'm telling you the truth.
00:22:33.75\00:22:36.95
In two days, you and I are
gonna experience a very unique,
00:22:36.95\00:22:44.23
once-in-a-thousand-lifetimes
moment, when we witness a
00:22:44.23\00:22:49.06
spectacular space event.
00:22:49.06\00:22:51.47
Are you following this news?
Come on. You got to be. Am I the
00:22:51.50\00:22:54.70
only one following that? The
last time this event was this
clear and this close was
00:22:54.70\00:23:01.84
when Genghis Khan was roaming
the Asian steppes -- March 4,
00:23:01.84\00:23:08.82
1229 A.D. Almost 800 years ago.
The last time we would be this
close and this spectacular.
00:23:08.82\00:23:17.06
So, I've already set -- I have
it right here in my phone. I'm
gonna get an alarm.
00:23:17.06\00:23:21.66
I'm gonna get an alarm in two
days, on December 21. I'm gonna
get an alarm two hours
00:23:21.66\00:23:26.74
in advance so that I can find a
horizon to the southwest, okay?
00:23:26.74\00:23:31.74
So, this is south. This would be
southwest. You got to find a
horizon. Don't find a treed
00:23:31.74\00:23:36.08
horizon. Try to find one without
trees, because that's the moment
when the two massive behemoths
00:23:36.08\00:23:42.45
of the solar system, Jupiter and
Saturn, will come the closest
they have been in almost
00:23:42.45\00:23:48.79
800 years. How close will
it be? I want to take you to
00:23:48.79\00:23:54.03
Scientific American. You know,
this is kind of a scientist
00:23:54.03\00:23:59.03
website and a magazine. I want
to take you there, and I've got
the changer in my own
00:23:59.03\00:24:04.64
pocket here. So let's go.
Scientific American website.
00:24:04.64\00:24:08.51
"For the last great conjunction
--" That's what they call this
moment when Jupiter
00:24:08.51\00:24:11.98
and Saturn get close. So, about
every 20 years, the orbits get
00:24:11.98\00:24:16.92
close, okay? It's no big deal.
"On May 28, 2000, the apparent
distance between Jupiter and
00:24:16.92\00:24:21.96
Saturn in the sky was 68.9 arc
minutes." I don't know what that
00:24:21.96\00:24:27.56
is. I didn't have time to look
it up. But scientists here are
00:24:27.56\00:24:30.47
all saying, "Yeah, we know."
Okay. "68.9 arc minutes, or more
than twice the diameter of the
00:24:30.47\00:24:34.44
full moon." So, I put my hand
out here. There's the full moon
00:24:34.44\00:24:37.61
right there. And I double it.
That's about how close they got,
00:24:37.61\00:24:40.61
okay? Now, how's
it gonna be this time?
00:24:40.61\00:24:44.58
Here we go. "In contrast, with
2020's great conjunction --" In
00:24:44.58\00:24:51.12
two days, may I remind
you? Don't be sleeping early on
00:24:51.12\00:24:57.36
December 21. "In contrast, with
2020's great conjunction --
which coincides with the
00:24:57.36\00:25:01.60
December solstice, the shortest
day of the year in the Northern
Hemisphere and the longest in
00:25:01.60\00:25:05.93
the Southern Hemisphere -- the
gas giants will appear separated
by just 6.1 arc minutes.
00:25:05.93\00:25:11.07
That is roughly the thickness of
a dime held at arm's length." So
you hold a dime right out
00:25:11.07\00:25:17.01
here. So, I'm gonna hold it
between your thumb and index
00:25:17.01\00:25:20.22
finger. That little space is how
far apart they're gonna be. I'm
imagining -- I've never seen
00:25:20.22\00:25:24.65
this before. I'm imagining, to
the naked eye, it's gonna look
00:25:24.65\00:25:28.39
like one glorious white light
just -- They're calling it, in
fact, "the Christmas star."
00:25:28.39\00:25:36.33
For the life of me, I cannot
imagine what the real Christmas
00:25:36.33\00:25:40.94
star looked like. I love the
story. You know, the Christmas
story is only told twice in the
00:25:40.94\00:25:44.44
New Testament. It's amazing.
It is the greatest holiday in
00:25:44.44\00:25:47.74
Christendom, the most music, the
most pageantry, and it's only
00:25:47.74\00:25:53.78
told twice. Calvary is told four
times. The resurrection, four
times. The Christmas was told
00:25:53.78\00:25:57.49
once in Luke -- that's the
shepherd story -- and in
Matthew, where we're going right
00:25:57.49\00:26:01.02
now. Matthew 2. Open your
Bible, please to Matthew 2.
00:26:01.02\00:26:03.26
This is the Wise Men story. But,
oh, I'm so -- I am so glad that
God gave us these details.
00:26:03.26\00:26:13.60
I want to think about that star.
And, by the way, I want to say
to our media team, just a
00:26:13.60\00:26:19.24
superb -- Richard and Gaddel in
particular. You know this moving
00:26:19.24\00:26:24.21
background? We're not gonna get
snow this year, so we decided,
"Let's get it right now and just
00:26:24.21\00:26:30.15
pretend." So we have this
snowing background. And we got
stars up on the wall,
00:26:30.15\00:26:34.16
and the little planetarium light
stars are moving around and
00:26:34.16\00:26:38.39
around. Let's go to the
story. Come on. Mark -- Matthew,
00:26:38.39\00:26:42.73
rather. Matthew 2. So, I'm gonna
have it here. This is gonna be
00:26:42.73\00:26:46.94
from the N.I.V. We'll set it up
here. "After Jesus was born in
Bethlehem in Judea, during the
00:26:46.94\00:26:52.21
time of King Herod, Magi from
the east came to Jerusalem."
Thank you, Pastor Raleigh.
00:26:52.21\00:26:56.28
You dealt with this with your
other two preacher partners last
00:26:56.28\00:27:01.42
week. "Magi from the east came
to Jerusalem and asked --" This
is the only place the Wise Men
00:27:01.42\00:27:06.39
speak in the entire narrative.
This is what they say. "'Where
is the one who has been
00:27:06.39\00:27:11.23
born king of the Jews? We saw
his star when it rose and have
come to worship him.'"
00:27:11.23\00:27:21.00
A lot of people think that, you
know, the shepherds came one
night, and the next night, the
00:27:21.00\00:27:27.21
Wise Men show up. No, no, no,
no. When Matthew says "after,"
00:27:27.21\00:27:32.61
that "after" encapsulates a lot,
a lot of time, because the star
is moving, and they've been
00:27:32.61\00:27:39.92
following it. You can't prove
that the star is moving, Dwight.
00:27:39.92\00:27:43.73
I sure can. Come on. Drop
down to Verse 9. Here it is.
00:27:43.73\00:27:47.20
"After they had heard the king,
they went on their way, and the
star they had seen when it rose
00:27:47.20\00:27:53.13
went ahead of them until it
stopped over the place where the
00:27:53.13\00:28:00.78
child was." That star is not
moving fast. It can't be moving
fast. I love walking in the
00:28:00.78\00:28:05.75
early morning. Oh, I just love
it. It's just my favorite part
00:28:05.75\00:28:07.98
of the day. "The heavens
declare the glory of God."
00:28:07.98\00:28:09.92
And I tell you what, when you
walk before there's any sun up
and it's just stars and there
00:28:09.92\00:28:14.12
are no clouds, it is a spiritual
moment. You will know if you do
00:28:14.12\00:28:21.36
it. But what I'm always looking
for is a satellite, a moving
00:28:21.36\00:28:26.43
star as it were. I had a bonus
morning one week ago. Three
satellites in one walk.
00:28:26.43\00:28:31.81
Wow! That's something.
Anyway... [ Laughter ]
00:28:31.81\00:28:35.81
Yeah, you're not impressed,
I can tell. Satellites --
00:28:35.81\00:28:39.15
satellites... [ Laughter ]
...you know, speed of a
satellite is just like this.
00:28:39.15\00:28:42.12
If you take your eyes off of the
satellite, you go back, look at
the stars, your eyes will go
00:28:42.12\00:28:46.02
back to the same place. It's no
longer there. It's just -- They
00:28:46.02\00:28:50.23
move fast. This is a moving --
It is a moving -- We know it's
moving. But it's moving slowly.
00:28:50.23\00:28:58.03
Oh, and I love this -- I
love the classic on the life of
00:28:58.03\00:29:00.74
Jesus. If you don't have the
book "Desire of Ages," go to
amazon.com and get that book for
00:29:00.74\00:29:04.07
yourself. "Desire of Ages."
Best book I've read on the life
00:29:04.07\00:29:06.91
of Jesus. It fills in
some blanks beautifully.
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.68
So, let's just take a look at
"The Desire of Ages" here "The
Wise Men had seen a
00:29:09.68\00:29:14.52
mysterious light in the heavens
upon that night when the glory
of God flooded the hills of
00:29:14.52\00:29:20.69
Bethlehem." When Angel Gabriel
shows up, this nuclear moment.
00:29:20.69\00:29:25.16
"Fear not. Don't be afraid."
That moment, when the choir
00:29:25.16\00:29:30.83
behind him says, "Come on, give
us the cue, Gabriel. We're ready
00:29:30.83\00:29:34.97
to sing." At that moment, the
explosion of light. They saw it.
00:29:34.97\00:29:39.24
It was just this...light. "The
Wise Men had seen a mysterious
light in the heavens
00:29:39.24\00:29:46.48
that night when the glory of God
flooded the hills of Bethlehem.
As the light faded --" so now
00:29:46.48\00:29:51.79
the light disappears -- "a
luminous star appears and
lingers in the sky.
00:29:51.79\00:29:57.26
It is not a fixed star, nor a
planet, and the phenomenon
excites the keenest interest."
00:29:57.26\00:30:03.37
So, here are these pagan
scholars -- "Hey, did you see
00:30:03.37\00:30:06.40
that? Did you see that? Did you
see that?" "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
00:30:06.40\00:30:09.24
"That star was a distant company
of shining angels, but of this,
the Wise Men were ignorant."
00:30:09.24\00:30:14.74
We're not dealing with a natural
phenomenon here. This is moving.
00:30:14.74\00:30:18.28
They are taking their directions
from this moving star, whatever
00:30:18.28\00:30:28.06
it is. And it attracted their
keen minds. Oh, keep reading.
00:30:28.06\00:30:34.60
"Yet, they were impressed --"
Something inside said that "the
star was of special import to
00:30:34.60\00:30:39.27
them. They consulted
priests and philosophers.
00:30:39.27\00:30:41.90
They searched the scrolls of
ancient records. The prophecy of
00:30:41.90\00:30:45.61
Balaam had declared, 'There
shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Scepter shall rise out of
00:30:45.61\00:30:50.78
Israel.'" Star, king. Star,
king. What is this? "Could this
00:30:50.78\00:30:54.82
strange star have been sent as a
harbinger of the Promised One?
The Magi had welcomed the light
00:30:54.82\00:30:58.72
of heaven-sent truth. Now it was
shed upon them in brighter rays.
00:30:58.72\00:31:02.49
Through dreams, they were
instructed to go in search of
the newborn Prince."
00:31:02.49\00:31:08.86
Wow. By the way, they got dreams
at the end. We'll see that in a
00:31:08.86\00:31:13.17
moment. Dreams at the beginning,
dreams at the end. Some of you
00:31:13.17\00:31:16.91
are bothered by that. You say,
"Listen, I don't like to have
the fingerprints of God
00:31:16.91\00:31:20.01
that much on a human event. We
need to be able to just kind of
plow through this alone."
00:31:20.01\00:31:23.81
Are you kidding? I would like to
ask God to place His
fingerprints on my life in
00:31:23.81\00:31:31.02
every way He can possibly
imagine and just leave my life
covered with His fingerprints.
00:31:31.02\00:31:35.89
Why wouldn't you want God's
fingerprints? Some of you right
00:31:35.89\00:31:40.20
now -- I believe, one day, when
we look back, some of you are,
right now, going through the
00:31:40.20\00:31:45.70
most mysterious moment of your
life, the most perplexing, the
most confusing, the most
00:31:45.70\00:31:51.94
painful. Associate Chaplain
Danielle, just a moment ago, was
00:31:51.94\00:31:55.24
praying for you. Some of you are
going through what you cannot
believe is true. I believe the
00:31:55.24\00:32:01.38
day will come one day when we
will look back on these dark
moments of this very dark
00:32:01.38\00:32:07.09
pandemic, and, somehow, the God
who did not cause this has His
fingerprints on our lives right
00:32:07.09\00:32:11.56
now. You have nothing to be
afraid of. He has not abandoned
00:32:11.56\00:32:14.40
you. He has not abandoned me. I
say, O Jesus, star of the night,
put your fingerprints all
00:32:14.40\00:32:24.01
over me, please. I'm
not bothered a wit by God
00:32:24.01\00:32:29.04
intervening. That's my God for
you. He intervenes. Well, let's
00:32:29.04\00:32:36.89
read Verse 10. We read Verse 9.
Verse 10. "And when they saw the
00:32:36.89\00:32:39.99
star --" Oh, I love this. "When
they saw the star, they were
00:32:39.99\00:32:43.49
overjoyed." It seems a little
undersold to me, underplayed.
And, so, Frederick Dale Bruner,
00:32:43.49\00:32:48.70
in his commentary on the Book of
Matthew -- here's how he renders
00:32:48.70\00:32:52.97
it. "When they saw the star,
they felt the deepest and most
00:32:52.97\00:32:57.34
profound joy." Don't you love
that? We're not talking about
00:32:57.34\00:33:00.04
just joy. We're talking about
the deepest and most profound
joy you can imagine.
00:33:00.04\00:33:03.31
They had it. Do you know
why? Because here's what I'm
00:33:03.31\00:33:05.91
suspicious of. I'm suspicious
that after they've had this
00:33:05.91\00:33:09.78
little tête-à-tête with King
Herod and the clergy of
Jerusalem, they go back to their
00:33:09.78\00:33:15.59
dromedaries, if they rode
camels. I have no idea. They go
back to those beasts of
00:33:15.59\00:33:20.06
burden. And there's a gnawing
doubt in their hearts now.
00:33:20.06\00:33:27.17
"I mean, we came to the capital
of Israel, and the clergy had no
00:33:27.17\00:33:35.14
clue. The King, half Jew, says,
'I don't know anything about
00:33:35.14\00:33:39.85
this.' Maybe we were wrong.
Maybe we've been following a
dream that isn't true."
00:33:39.85\00:33:49.06
Are there times when you doubt?
Oh, there are times when I
00:33:49.06\00:33:56.67
doubt. There have been times
when I've just, in the dark,
said, "What if this isn't true?
00:33:56.67\00:34:02.50
What if all of this is a story
that they've brilliantly put
00:34:02.50\00:34:09.14
together? No God." Oh, just
chills up and down your back and
say, "I don't want to
00:34:09.14\00:34:15.65
go down that road." Do you know
what? That we've been created
00:34:15.65\00:34:19.45
with the capacity to doubt. If
we were not created with the
capacity to doubt, when the
00:34:19.45\00:34:23.39
enemy comes to us, we'd say,
"Yeah, that must be true. Yeah.
Oh, yeah. I believe you."
00:34:23.39\00:34:27.40
We would believe everything told
to us. We have to be able to
00:34:27.40\00:34:30.50
doubt. It is not a sin to doubt.
The sin is if I coddle that
doubt, I embrace it, and I grow
00:34:30.50\00:34:35.94
it. I refuse to consider the
voice that's saying, "That's not
00:34:35.94\00:34:39.14
true, Dwight. You don't
have to believe that voice.
00:34:39.14\00:34:41.34
That voice is lying to you.
Listen to me." If I say, "No, I
00:34:41.34\00:34:44.78
don't want to hear from you,"
then it becomes an issue of
rebellion against my creator.
00:34:44.78\00:34:52.79
I can't imagine them not getting
back to -- getting back to their
transportation and not
00:34:52.79\00:34:59.16
wondering, "Man, did we make a
mistake?" The next night -- You
00:34:59.16\00:35:03.37
see, that's why there's this
super, abounding joy. The next
night, they get out,
00:35:03.37\00:35:07.24
and there is the star, and it's
moving. And no wonder it reads,
00:35:07.24\00:35:11.91
"When they saw the star..."
"Whew! We were right. We have
not made a mistake."
00:35:11.91\00:35:16.38
"When they saw the star,
they felt the deepest and most
00:35:16.38\00:35:22.68
profound joy." Ah, yeah. Reminds
me of this sentence from the
apocalyptic classic,
00:35:22.68\00:35:26.89
"The Great Controversy."
"Whoever is with singleness of
purpose seeking to do God's
00:35:26.89\00:35:30.99
will --" and that would be you,
because I know you -- "Earnestly
heeding the light already given
00:35:30.99\00:35:35.66
to you, you will receive
greater light." I love this.
00:35:35.66\00:35:38.47
This is a promise for us. "To
that soul who's seeking some
star of heavenly radiance will
00:35:38.47\00:35:45.81
be sent to guide him, will
be sent to guide her into all
00:35:45.81\00:35:52.11
truth." Isn't that beautiful?
Some star of heavenly radiance
will be sent to guide you.
00:35:52.11\00:36:00.52
And where will the star
lead you? Where the star always
00:36:00.52\00:36:06.96
leads, of course, to Jesus. Look
at Verse 11. "And on coming to
00:36:06.96\00:36:12.27
the house --" By the way...
Didn't say, "On coming to the
stable," "In coming to the
00:36:12.27\00:36:19.74
manger." Time has gone by.
You've got to get the Magi all
00:36:19.74\00:36:24.15
the way from Persia, Babylonia,
the Land of the Two Rivers --
You've got to get them thousands
00:36:24.15\00:36:28.88
of kilometers up the Fertile
Crescent and down. Even if they
00:36:28.88\00:36:33.25
cut across the desert, you've
got to get them to Jesus. The
blessed family has moved
00:36:33.25\00:36:40.30
into a house now. That's
not a typo. He's in a house now.
00:36:40.30\00:36:44.27
"On coming to the house, they
saw the child with his mother,
Mary, and they bowed down and
00:36:44.27\00:36:48.47
then worshipped Him. Then they
opened their treasures and they
00:36:48.47\00:36:52.21
presented Him with gifts of gold
and frankincense and myrrh. And
having been warned in a
00:36:52.21\00:36:57.11
dream --" God's on a pretty
close basis with this crew of
00:36:57.11\00:37:03.82
pagan scholars. "And having been
warned in a dream not to go back
to Herod, they returned to their
00:37:03.82\00:37:09.79
country by another route." Moral
of the story? In this world of
00:37:09.79\00:37:18.90
utter pandemic darkness, be the
star. Be the star God needs to
lead somebody in that darkness
00:37:18.90\00:37:32.48
to Jesus. You be the
star. Why not? You be the star.
00:37:32.48\00:37:39.42
I think of the life of Brandon
Bernard, who was executed a week
00:37:39.42\00:37:43.32
ago Thursday at 9:27 in the
evening at the federal
penitentiary in Terre Haute,
00:37:43.32\00:37:48.40
Indiana. That's one week
ago and two days. A tragic crime
00:37:48.40\00:37:53.27
committed at the age of 18.
00:37:53.27\00:37:56.44
Could have ended in an even
greater tragedy at the age of
00:37:56.47\00:37:59.57
40, had not this young
Seventh-Day Adventist prisoner
00:37:59.57\00:38:05.01
reconnected with the forgiveness
and redemption of the Lord
00:38:05.01\00:38:09.02
Jesus Christ. And,
so, we were praying.
00:38:09.02\00:38:12.79
The story got picked up.
The division was praying across
00:38:12.79\00:38:17.43
Canada and North America.
Praying that God would somehow
00:38:17.43\00:38:21.46
intervene. And when
Thursday evening came
00:38:21.46\00:38:23.77
and we kept following the
news -- And I'm following guys
00:38:23.77\00:38:26.77
that are tweeting media
reporters who are on-site, at
00:38:26.77\00:38:30.14
the penitentiary, part of the
witness team for the execution.
00:38:30.14\00:38:34.71
I'm reading their tweets. "Will
the Supreme Court -- Will the
Supreme Court come through?"
00:38:34.74\00:38:38.91
We know that the Supreme Court
eventually turned down the
petition, and he was executed.
00:38:38.91\00:38:46.42
I woke up the next morning. I'm
telling you the truth. Early
Friday morning -- It was a
00:38:46.42\00:38:50.76
week ago yesterday. I mean,
there, we had rallied people
across the nation to band
00:38:50.76\00:38:54.93
together in praying for God,
"Please, intervene and save this
young man's life," when, in
00:38:54.93\00:38:59.10
fact, the Holy Spirit whispered
to me, "Hey, Dwight." Did it
ever occur to you that we
00:38:59.10\00:39:08.28
have an entire human race
sitting on the death row right
00:39:08.28\00:39:13.18
now? Every man, woman, and child
is on death row, and you're
rallying the troops for one
00:39:13.18\00:39:19.32
young man. What are you doing?
Where are you rallying the
00:39:19.32\00:39:26.36
troops for a lost
world?" Oh, my. Good question.
00:39:26.36\00:39:36.37
In all honesty, it had never
occurred to me before -- the
human race is sitting on death
00:39:36.37\00:39:42.81
row right now. My. And
who's praying for them now?
00:39:42.81\00:39:49.35
Who's praying for your
neighbors? What are we doing for
00:39:49.35\00:39:55.16
them now, for my neighbors? It
is intriguing that Matthew --
God bless this Evangelist -- has
00:39:55.16\00:40:04.47
already covertly inserted,
embedded in the story the
compelling -- the notion of the
00:40:04.47\00:40:10.34
compelling love of God for all
humanity sitting on death row.
He's already embedded that.
00:40:10.34\00:40:15.78
We don't get this, but in
Matthew 1, this mysterious
genealogy, guess who he embeds.
00:40:15.78\00:40:20.88
Surprise entries in his
genealogy. Four pagan women --
00:40:20.88\00:40:25.72
Tamar, a fake prostitute, Rahab,
real prostitute, Ruth, pagan
Moabite, is the wife of Uriah --
00:40:25.72\00:40:35.20
We remember her as Bathsheba.
Pagan wife seduced by King
David, whose blood is in
00:40:35.20\00:40:41.00
the Messiah's veins. Matthew's
making a huge point. Four of
them, four pagans on
00:40:41.00\00:40:48.11
death row in Chapter 1. And
guess what. He's the only one to
00:40:48.11\00:40:50.65
remind us, "There are three
pagans you need to know about."
You say, "How do you know there
00:40:50.65\00:40:53.45
were three?" Well, we're just
gonna guess, as tradition does,
00:40:53.45\00:40:56.12
that there are three gifts, so
there are three Magi, okay?
Three pagan scholars sitting on
00:40:56.12\00:41:03.69
death row. Seven of them.
Seven of them on either side of
00:41:03.69\00:41:12.17
Jesus. As it was when Jesus was
born, guess what -- on either
00:41:12.17\00:41:19.37
side of Him when He dies,
Matthew drives home the same
point -- two thieves.
00:41:19.37\00:41:25.11
He is born and He dies in the
middle of sinners, like you and
00:41:25.11\00:41:33.62
me. Wow. And, by the way, you
think, "Well, these Magi -- you
know, the Jews had a heart for
00:41:33.62\00:41:40.96
these Magi." No, no,
no. Let me share with you
00:41:40.96\00:41:44.13
Frederick Bruner. "Official
Israel deeply despised the
magicians and astrologers of
00:41:44.13\00:41:51.64
the Gentiles and felt that God
has rescued His people from the
tyranny of the stars and from
00:41:51.64\00:41:55.98
those who claimed to know their
secrets." "Yeah, stay away from
00:41:55.98\00:41:59.25
people -- Children, don't ever
play with those kids."
"Biblically faithful Israel felt
00:41:59.25\00:42:02.72
about the Magi roughly the way
theological orthodoxy --" and we
have a lot of orthodox
00:42:02.72\00:42:07.06
theological professors here --
"feels -- How theological
orthodoxy feels in the present
00:42:07.06\00:42:12.83
about the New Age spirituality."
"Kind of kinky, kind of weird,
but, you know, there might be a
00:42:12.83\00:42:16.87
little light in that." That's
how the Jews felt about these
00:42:16.87\00:42:21.40
Magi. Keep going. "To Israel and
to the early church --" even the
00:42:21.40\00:42:24.84
readers of Matthew, who are
dominantly Jews, the intended
audience, to them, "then,
00:42:24.84\00:42:31.05
astrologers, which is exactly
what the Magi were, would be the
least-deserving guests at the
00:42:31.05\00:42:37.19
birthday party of the Christ."
Yeah, just sings the birthday of
the King, and Matthew wants you
00:42:37.19\00:42:41.96
to know He had the
least-deserving guests. That's
00:42:41.96\00:42:45.96
his point. "That's why Matthew
-- the Evangelist! -- is
delighted to see exactly such
00:42:45.96\00:42:52.67
people invited." Isn't that
beautiful? Matthew has set this
00:42:52.67\00:42:57.14
story up. He has set this story
up so that we will notice what
00:42:57.14\00:43:02.28
comes between. Here's what comes
between the four and the three
sitting on death row.
00:43:02.28\00:43:06.88
"But after Joseph had considered
this --" divorcing his young
betrothed fiancée -- "an angel
00:43:06.88\00:43:12.29
of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in a dream and said, 'Joseph,
son of David, do not be afraid
00:43:12.29\00:43:17.59
to take Mary home as your wife,
because what is conceived in her
is from the Holy Spirit.
00:43:17.59\00:43:22.96
She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give Him the name
Jesus, because He will save His
00:43:22.96\00:43:29.00
people from their sins.'" We
ought to really be reading that,
"He will save His people
00:43:29.00\00:43:33.44
from our sins." I'm talking
about my sins and your sins.
00:43:33.44\00:43:37.48
Ladies and gentlemen, this
is the Christmas Gospel. This is
00:43:37.48\00:43:41.25
it. Born in the middle of pagans
on death row, dies in the middle
of pagans, sinners, and rebels
00:43:41.25\00:43:51.86
on the cross. It's love
on the move. It's what it is.
00:43:51.86\00:43:57.20
It's love on the move. That star
is a symbol of love on the move.
00:43:57.20\00:44:05.47
And guess what. The moral of the
story is this. You're the star.
00:44:05.47\00:44:11.35
You're the star. How did that
line go? "To that soul that's
00:44:11.35\00:44:15.35
seeking some star of heavenly
radiance will be sent to guide
him, to guide her to Jesus."
00:44:15.35\00:44:20.29
Be that star. Please, be that
star. God hasn't forgotten that
00:44:20.29\00:44:27.23
person on death row. You're
His solution. Love on the move.
00:44:27.23\00:44:30.63
You be that star. You move into
that darkness. "How's it work,
00:44:30.63\00:44:37.27
Dwight?" Works like this. Just
a few days ago, about a week, I
00:44:37.27\00:44:44.81
was shopping in a Dollar General
store, my favorite shopping
place. And I'm looking for
00:44:44.81\00:44:51.02
essentials. That's why I go to
Dollar General. So, as I get up
00:44:51.02\00:44:55.69
to the cash register, there is
one of these whirly turnstile
carousel bookracks.
00:44:55.69\00:45:02.73
I never pass one of those. I
never pass one of those without
spinning it around.
00:45:02.73\00:45:06.33
If it's in an airport, I'll
spin it around. I'm looking for
00:45:06.33\00:45:09.74
something worth reading. Those
are the two key words -- "worth
00:45:09.74\00:45:12.44
reading." So, I'm spinning it
around. It's before I go to the
cashier. And I see a book I have
00:45:12.44\00:45:16.38
never read before, and I buy the
book. Title of the book, "The
Autobiography of Malcolm X."
00:45:16.38\00:45:22.88
Hmm. I bought it. I'm
about halfway through it now.
00:45:22.88\00:45:29.86
But imag-- You should have seen
my eyes -- you should have seen
my eyes when I read what you're
00:45:29.86\00:45:34.83
gonna read now on this screen.
Alex Haley, the great writer,
interviewed Malcolm X and wrote
00:45:34.83\00:45:42.00
the story. So, Malcolm X is
thinking about his childhood in
00:45:42.00\00:45:45.17
Lansing, Michigan. Anybody heard
of Lansing? Of course. Just up
00:45:45.17\00:45:48.61
the road. This is Malcolm X
writing in his biography. "About
this time --" He's just
00:45:48.61\00:45:53.85
an adolescent. Lanky adolescent.
"About this time, my mother
00:45:53.85\00:45:57.45
began to be visited by some
Seventh-Day Adventists --" I had
00:45:57.45\00:46:02.59
to stop. I said, "Wait a minute.
Let me get that again."
Seventh-Day Adventists.
00:46:02.59\00:46:05.53
Spells it a little differently,
Alex Haley does, but we got it.
00:46:05.53\00:46:09.66
"Visited by some Seventh-Day
Adventists, who had moved into a
house not too far down the road
00:46:09.66\00:46:15.57
from us." Good for you,
neighbors. Good for you. Keep
00:46:15.57\00:46:18.97
reading. "They would talk to her
--" his mother -- "for hours a
time and leave booklets and
00:46:18.97\00:46:25.21
leaflets and magazines for her
to read." Kind of sounds
familiar, doesn't it?
00:46:25.21\00:46:29.08
From another generation. "We
began to go with my mother to
the Adventist meetings that
00:46:29.08\00:46:35.06
were held further out in the
country. For us children, I know
00:46:35.06\00:46:39.03
that the major attraction was
the good food they served." I
have been to a lot of
00:46:39.03\00:46:43.20
Adventist potlucks, and I
can tell you, Malcolm X is
00:46:43.20\00:46:47.64
absolutely right. It's good
food. It's just good food.
Doesn't get any better.
00:46:47.64\00:46:53.38
"But we listened, too." When
you do the social stuff, don't
00:46:53.38\00:46:59.58
forget, people are listening, as
well. They're not just there to
eat. They're following what
00:46:59.58\00:47:03.69
you're doing." "We listened,
too. There were a handful of
00:47:03.69\00:47:08.39
Negroes, from small towns in the
area, but I would say it was 99%
white people" in that church.
00:47:08.39\00:47:15.56
Hmm. "The Adventists felt that
we were living at the end of
00:47:15.56\00:47:22.94
time, that the world was soon
coming to an end. But they were
00:47:22.94\00:47:26.78
the friendliest white people I
had ever seen." I'll leave that
on the screen. [ Laughter ]
00:47:26.78\00:47:34.12
"The friendliest white people
I had ever seen." 99% of the
00:47:34.12\00:47:44.09
church, whites. But when he
writes his story -- And, by the
way, you know his life.
00:47:44.09\00:47:50.20
Young American Muslim minister,
human-rights activist, popular
00:47:50.20\00:47:54.70
figure during the Civil Rights
Movement in the early '60s. Best
known for his time spent as
00:47:54.70\00:48:00.11
a vocal spokesman for the Nation
of Islam, eventually gunned down
00:48:00.11\00:48:06.78
at the age of 39. That's Malcolm
X. But he remembers his
childhood. "And they were the
00:48:06.78\00:48:14.72
friendliest white people I had
ever seen." Just this lanky
adolescent with his mom and
00:48:14.72\00:48:20.60
siblings. Who could have guessed
that he would end up becoming
the great Malcolm X?
00:48:20.60\00:48:26.13
They had no idea. It was just
love on the move. We don't care
00:48:26.13\00:48:30.94
how you're gonna turn out. We're
just glad that you turned in to
our church, and we're
00:48:30.94\00:48:35.81
gonna love on you. "They were
the friendliest white people I
00:48:35.81\00:48:43.05
had ever seen." Makes you wonder
if they had come, at that time,
to this church, at that time,
00:48:43.05\00:48:51.66
would he have been able to say,
"Yeah, those people at Andrews
00:48:51.66\00:48:56.43
University are the friendliest
white people I've ever seen --
Pioneer." It's called love on
00:48:56.43\00:49:04.11
the move, brothers and sisters,
not because you know that some
kid's gonna become world-famous.
00:49:04.11\00:49:07.51
"I'd better love him in case
he turns out to be famous." Who
00:49:07.51\00:49:11.18
does that? Nobody does that. No.
Simply because that's the story
of the Christmas star.
00:49:11.18\00:49:17.12
Love on the move is the
Christmas star that always leads
00:49:17.12\00:49:20.79
to Jesus. "So, Dwight, would you
please be that star? Yo, you --
would you please be
00:49:20.79\00:49:25.13
that star?" What was that line
again from "Great Controversy"?
00:49:25.13\00:49:28.53
"Whoever is with singleness of
purpose seeking to do God's
will, earnestly heeding the
00:49:28.53\00:49:32.53
light already given, will
receive greater light." Keep
looking, keep seeking.
00:49:32.53\00:49:36.47
You're gonna get it. God
has measured and noted your
00:49:36.47\00:49:41.58
persistence. "To that soul some
star of heavenly radiance will
be sent to guide her, to guide
00:49:41.58\00:49:48.98
him into all truth." You be
that star of heavenly radiance.
00:49:48.98\00:49:52.72
It's called love on the move. I
think it's the most beautiful
definition that you could come
00:49:52.72\00:49:56.69
up with for love on the move.
Some star of heavenly radiance
that moves the darkness and
00:49:56.69\00:50:03.16
comes into the orbit of someone
who needs to know Jesus now.
00:50:03.16\00:50:13.58
Wow. I received a letter this
Monday. Good timing. I'm gonna
end with it right now.
00:50:13.58\00:50:23.49
"December 10. Dear
Pastor Nelson, my name is..."
00:50:23.49\00:50:29.12
I'll leave the name out. "I'm
writing to thank the Pioneer
Memorial Church for
00:50:29.12\00:50:32.69
helping us and showing
compassion during a difficult
00:50:32.69\00:50:36.00
time in our lives. My wife and
I, along with our three
children, emigrated to the
00:50:36.00\00:50:40.94
United States from India in the
year 1988 and joined Andrews
University as students. Life at
00:50:40.94\00:50:47.38
the university was very
difficult for us at that time
because of financial problems.
00:50:47.38\00:50:51.71
We struggled through three years
of education and were totally
broke by the year 1990, so we
00:50:51.71\00:50:56.69
decided not to celebrate
Christmas in 1990. No Christmas
tree, no Christmas gifts, no new
00:50:56.69\00:51:02.09
clothes, no toys for the kids.
We explained our difficulties to
the kids, and they understood.
00:51:02.09\00:51:06.33
The Sabbath before Christmas, we
went to Pioneer." Do you
understand this is the
00:51:06.33\00:51:10.57
Sabbath before Christmas? This
is the day they were in Pioneer,
00:51:10.57\00:51:14.77
alright? "The Sabbath before
Christmas, we're there. We went
to first service, and
00:51:14.77\00:51:19.14
then the children went to
Sabbath School. It was a very
00:51:19.14\00:51:22.31
cold and dreary day." Some
things never change in Michigan.
00:51:22.31\00:51:24.41
[ Laughter ] "When the church
was over, I asked my wife and
00:51:24.41\00:51:29.38
children to stay inside the
church while I went and heated
up the car and brought it to
00:51:29.38\00:51:33.15
them. While they waited at the
church, someone started talking
to the kids about Christmas and
00:51:33.15\00:51:37.46
gifts, and my children told
them our story of no Christmas
00:51:37.46\00:51:41.26
celebration. I was not
aware of this conversation.
00:51:41.30\00:51:44.57
On Christmas Eve, I received
a call from someone from the
00:51:44.57\00:51:47.27
church. She asked
me not to sleep early,
00:51:47.27\00:51:49.27
because she and her friends
were coming over to see us.
00:51:49.27\00:51:52.11
She came later with so
many gifts, clothes, and toys.
00:51:52.11\00:51:55.14
What an amazing
event for our children.
00:51:55.14\00:51:57.48
Unfortunately, I forgot to
ask her name and never met her
00:51:57.48\00:52:01.58
again." You know why?
00:52:01.58\00:52:03.99
Because love on the move
never leaves a business card.
00:52:03.99\00:52:09.22
I don't care who I am.
It's not important for you to
00:52:09.22\00:52:12.99
know who I am. I'm
just gonna love you.
00:52:12.99\00:52:15.10
That's all I'm gonna do.
00:52:15.10\00:52:16.90
I'm nobody to you, but who
cares? "I forgot to ask her name
00:52:16.93\00:52:23.94
and never met her again." Maybe
she's sitting here. "She truly
00:52:23.94\00:52:28.74
was an angel. We have never
forgotten that kindness. We also
met many other amazing
00:52:28.74\00:52:32.15
people at Andrews. I worked
on campus, and the supervisors
00:52:32.15\00:52:35.85
there were so kind and gracious
to us. At the end of 1990, I
graduated with an MBA in
00:52:35.85\00:52:40.29
accounting from Andrews, and my
wife graduated with a degree in
nursing from Southwestern
00:52:40.29\00:52:45.93
Community College. We moved to
California. I completed a CPA
exam and started a tax practice,
00:52:45.93\00:52:50.53
which has grown well. My wife
became a registered nurse,
served the community
00:52:50.53\00:52:54.07
hospital for 30 years.
Our children have become
00:52:54.07\00:52:57.27
professionals. God has been
extremely gracious to us. We
have not had the privilege to
00:52:57.27\00:53:00.94
go back and visit Andrews, but
we have never forgotten the
kindness, compassion, and grace
00:53:00.94\00:53:05.58
we received there. We thank
God for the university and the
00:53:05.58\00:53:10.85
church. We look back, and
all that we can say is, Lord, we
00:53:10.85\00:53:16.52
praise you." Yeah. "I'm sorry
for writing a long letter, but
we wanted to express
00:53:16.52\00:53:19.89
our thanks to you and others
at Andrews. As we celebrate
00:53:19.89\00:53:23.47
Christmas again, we want to help
someone there. I am attaching a
check for $1,000 with this
00:53:23.47\00:53:30.77
letter. Please use this money
to bless someone." We ended up
00:53:30.77\00:53:35.21
blessing several someones. "As a
gift during this season of his
first Advent, maybe some
00:53:35.21\00:53:42.38
poor ones will appreciate the
gift as we did many years ago.
God bless you all and thank you
00:53:42.38\00:53:48.22
for being a beacon. We've been
listening to Pioneer for the
00:53:48.22\00:53:53.03
last 30 years. We thank God for
you." Love on the move. Somebody
got blessed because
00:53:53.03\00:54:01.74
anonymous love on the
move just loved. Just loved.
00:54:01.74\00:54:07.31
You are that star of heavenly
radiance that God is sending out
into this dark pandemic world.
00:54:07.31\00:54:14.52
Don't kid yourself. You are a
beautiful sight for the kingdom
of heaven, and they
00:54:14.52\00:54:19.12
are cheering you on. If you're
a young teenager, it doesn't
00:54:19.12\00:54:23.19
matter to heaven. They're just
as excited about you as they are
00:54:23.19\00:54:26.63
of octogenarians. They're
cheering you on. You are love on
the move. What you do for
00:54:26.63\00:54:32.73
someone, it may never be
recognized. Heaven keeps a
record. And one day, you'll be
00:54:32.73\00:54:40.54
told the rest of the story. Love
on the move. I say let's be that
00:54:40.54\00:54:49.85
this new year. What do
you say? Let's just be that.
00:54:49.85\00:54:52.15
Come on. Let's do it. There may
be somebody that's being brought
00:54:52.15\00:54:57.83
to your mind right now. Act on
that, act on that. Let's pray.
00:54:57.83\00:55:03.20
O God, here we are the Sabbath
before Christmas. Beautiful
00:55:03.20\00:55:07.64
music, beautiful church,
beautiful people to worship
with, and now we're going home.
00:55:07.64\00:55:12.97
Please, Dear Father, know our
hearts. Keep making us stars of
00:55:12.97\00:55:23.22
heavenly radiance that you might
be able to send us to guide
00:55:23.22\00:55:28.66
someone else. Love on the move.
We'll love them to you, Jesus.
We'll love them to you by your
00:55:28.66\00:55:34.00
grace. In your
name, we pray. Amen.
00:55:34.00\00:55:36.97
[ "The First Noel" plays ] >>
What is it about the holiday
season that has given you
00:55:41.54\00:55:46.41
the greatest joy? Is it the time
spent cutting down the family
00:55:46.41\00:55:50.95
Christmas tree at the local farm
or maybe a special ornament
placed on that lighted bough?
00:55:50.95\00:55:55.88
Or do you find joy in
contemplating the profound
meaning of the carols we sing?
00:55:55.88\00:56:00.62
Maybe Christmas joy is found in
the memories you make together
with friends and family
00:56:00.62\00:56:04.66
and the spirit of giving that
surrounds this season. As we
reflect on these joys,
00:56:04.66\00:56:10.47
let's always remember the great
light who guides us, the One who
brings and meaning to life --
00:56:10.47\00:56:15.74
a loving Father who is at the
heart of all treasured
relationships and the wonderful
00:56:15.74\00:56:20.31
God who gave the ultimate
gift in a newborn child.
00:56:20.31\00:56:24.61
Some of my joy this season
comes in part from your letters,
00:56:24.65\00:56:27.85
your prayers, and your faithful
giving of support to this
00:56:27.85\00:56:30.79
ministry which reaches
literally around the world.
00:56:30.79\00:56:33.76
If you've been blessed this
year, I'd like to ask you to
00:56:33.76\00:56:36.46
join the many people who
financially support this global
00:56:36.46\00:56:39.26
New Perceptions
ministry. It's simple to do.
00:56:39.26\00:56:42.90
Just call our toll-free number
877 -- two words -- HIS-WILL.
00:56:42.90\00:56:47.74
One of our friendly operators
will be happy to help you.
00:56:47.74\00:56:50.44
You can also click the donate
link at the top of our website.
00:56:50.44\00:56:53.34
Trust me, no gift is too small
for God to use to spread the
00:56:53.34\00:56:57.45
good news of His love,
His sacrifice, and His future
00:56:57.45\00:57:01.02
plans for our happiness.
Every gift, by the way,
00:57:01.02\00:57:05.15
is entirely invested in our
mission to communicate God's
00:57:05.15\00:57:07.69
good news to a generation
who needs a hope found in Jesus,
00:57:07.69\00:57:11.59
which will bring
them to joy in life.
00:57:11.59\00:57:14.10
So once again, the
number to call is 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:14.10\00:57:18.67
This season, my wish for
you is that the mighty God,
00:57:18.67\00:57:22.00
the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace will be at
00:57:22.00\00:57:24.91
the heart of the very
best memories made together
00:57:24.91\00:57:28.74
with your family and friends. ¤¤
00:57:28.74\00:57:38.82
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:38.82\00:57:54.97
¤¤
00:58:00.11\00:58:03.04