"Refresh
Spokane," family fun fare.
00:01:02.88\00:01:06.98
It's an
absolutely unique experience.
00:01:06.99\00:01:10.56
I hope you feel
like Guinea pigs.
00:01:10.57\00:01:13.62
I hope you feel
involved in participating
00:01:13.63\00:01:16.78
because that's
what it's all about.
00:01:16.79\00:01:19.87
Well, I say it's unique, I
really need to take you back
00:01:19.88\00:01:23.64
in a little bit of
Adventist history quickly.
00:01:23.65\00:01:26.14
If you go back a
150 years plus a few,
00:01:26.15\00:01:30.34
you would find that in
early Adventist history,
00:01:30.35\00:01:32.66
camp meeting played
a very significant role
00:01:32.67\00:01:36.11
and camp meeting
was a special time
00:01:36.12\00:01:39.29
that those early Adventists,
just a handful actually,
00:01:39.30\00:01:43.25
would take
large tents pitch them
00:01:43.26\00:01:47.07
next to large metropolitan areas
00:01:47.08\00:01:49.30
and people would
come by the thousands,
00:01:49.31\00:01:51.13
by the tens of thousands.
00:01:51.14\00:01:53.22
They would share the Gospel
of Jesus and they would share
00:01:53.23\00:01:55.34
the prophecies
of His soon return.
00:01:55.35\00:01:56.99
And camp meeting
was a wonderful way
00:01:57.00\00:02:00.66
to impact people's
lives, to reach cities,
00:02:00.67\00:02:04.49
to reach metropolitan areas.
00:02:04.50\00:02:07.68
In fact, sometimes
they would even take
00:02:07.69\00:02:10.49
tents as large as
5,000, you see 5,000
00:02:10.50\00:02:16.54
and we have
record of the fact that
00:02:16.55\00:02:19.60
they would come
in with their stoves,
00:02:19.61\00:02:23.24
you know, their electric stoves
00:02:23.25\00:02:25.12
and their microwaves
and their refrigerators.
00:02:25.13\00:02:28.75
Ah, you're awake, that's good
00:02:28.76\00:02:29.99
I just was checking you al outl.
00:02:30.00\00:02:32.72
Woodstoves and they would prefer
00:02:32.73\00:02:36.04
food and they would give--
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in fact one time you know
where they pitched the tent?
00:02:37.39\00:02:40.38
Next to Barnum Bailey,
menagerie they called it.
00:02:40.39\00:02:45.74
Barnum Bailey
what? Circus, yeah.
00:02:45.75\00:02:50.16
And thousands of
people were impacted.
00:02:50.17\00:02:54.19
Thousands of
people heard about Jesus,
00:02:54.20\00:02:56.15
heard about the
prophecies of His soon return.
00:02:56.16\00:02:59.23
So I tell you what
we are doing here today,
00:02:59.24\00:03:01.80
though it is unique for us,
00:03:01.81\00:03:04.11
it really is built
on Adventist history.
00:03:04.12\00:03:09.21
And the
principles are still there.
00:03:09.22\00:03:11.41
In the past 150 years,
00:03:11.42\00:03:12.81
somehow we slipped
away from that idea
00:03:12.82\00:03:15.31
and the steering
committee of "Refresh"
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has spent some time considering,
00:03:19.29\00:03:22.39
restudying,
praying about, thinking,
00:03:22.40\00:03:24.84
what does this mean?
00:03:24.85\00:03:26.86
What is this history and
this early council that we had?
00:03:26.87\00:03:30.08
And I can tell you it
was a growing conviction,
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I can speak from my own heart.
00:03:31.88\00:03:33.45
It's was a
growing conviction that
00:03:33.46\00:03:35.22
we needed to do
something different.
00:03:35.23\00:03:38.21
We needed to
impact Spokane for Christ.
00:03:38.22\00:03:42.37
And so I just like to say
when you hear "Refresh Spokane"
00:03:42.38\00:03:46.79
think of camp
meeting, renaissance,
00:03:46.80\00:03:51.34
camp meeting renewed, refreshed.
00:03:51.35\00:03:54.73
And we pray that you will have
00:03:54.74\00:03:56.32
a refreshing experience today.
00:03:56.33\00:03:58.31
We believe speaking again
of the spearing committee,
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we believe that
many of the resources
00:04:01.73\00:04:05.30
of our message which
is a holistic message
00:04:05.31\00:04:08.17
which reaches
the spiritual needs,
00:04:08.18\00:04:10.86
the physical needs,
the emotional needs.
00:04:10.87\00:04:14.07
We believe that we
can make a difference
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through the grace of
Christ in the hearts and lives
00:04:17.50\00:04:20.69
and homes of many who live
in this Greater Spokane area.
00:04:20.70\00:04:26.21
So it is our need to
connect more intentionally
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with our city and our attempt
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is what your involved in today,
00:04:33.69\00:04:36.23
which you are
participating in today,
00:04:36.24\00:04:38.23
which you are
experiencing today, "Refresh."
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And as you can imagine, this
is not cheap nor is it easy.
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I do want to just
publicly thank the scores
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and scores of volunteers,
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who have
stepped up to the plate,
00:04:55.97\00:04:57.51
who have helped
us in countless ways.
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We could not do this
without you as a team.
00:05:00.70\00:05:03.15
We want you to know how
much we appreciate that.
00:05:03.16\00:05:05.13
You've already
given very, very heartily
00:05:05.14\00:05:09.31
from your heart and I
just wanna thank you for that.
00:05:09.32\00:05:11.96
Financially "Spokane
Refresh" is costing us
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something over 200,000 dollars.
00:05:27.51\00:05:30.24
It is a venture of faith.
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And this offering opportunity
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right now is simply
an invitation for you.
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If you've been refreshed
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or if you really
see life in this concept
00:05:40.69\00:05:44.01
and you'd like to help us
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get this thing up
off the runway and flying
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because we
really like to believe
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that this isn't the end,
that this is only the beginning.
00:05:50.18\00:05:54.35
That's what we
would like to think,
00:05:54.36\00:05:55.68
that's what we
would like to believe.
00:05:55.69\00:05:57.47
So we are giving
you this opportunity
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to share with us
today financially to meet,
00:05:58.96\00:06:02.41
help meet the "Refresh" expenses
00:06:02.42\00:06:05.10
and may it only
be the beginning.
00:06:05.11\00:06:08.06
And when I say that
it's not just for Spokane,
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we would like to think
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the cites all over North America
00:06:11.66\00:06:13.31
potentially could be
touched by this approach.
00:06:13.32\00:06:17.46
May God bless each of
you as you generously share
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and may you be
refreshed. Let's pray.
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Dear Father, we have been
awed as we have seen your work.
00:06:24.86\00:06:31.19
Because Lord many times
as we have vision together
00:06:31.20\00:06:34.30
on this and move forward,
00:06:34.31\00:06:36.35
we have
contemplated the fact that
00:06:36.36\00:06:38.66
it all could come to
nothing but You have helped
00:06:38.67\00:06:41.29
time after time to
open doors of opportunity.
00:06:41.30\00:06:44.59
And we thank You for
that and we praise You.
00:06:44.60\00:06:47.32
We just ask that You
will take this simple approach
00:06:47.33\00:06:49.88
one that You've
blessed over 150 years ago
00:06:49.89\00:06:54.41
and bless it again. Do
it again, God, do it again.
00:06:54.42\00:06:58.52
For Your name we sake
00:06:58.53\00:07:00.31
that people may be
touched by Your grace,
00:07:00.32\00:07:05.42
by Your gospel,
by Your goodness.
00:07:05.43\00:07:10.81
Bless now as
each one participates.
00:07:10.82\00:07:14.18
We thank You in
Jesus name, amen.
00:07:14.19\00:07:16.54
Dr. Lou Wildman is the director
00:07:21.25\00:07:24.18
of the Oregon Men's
Choir, Oregon's Men's Chorus.
00:07:24.19\00:07:28.85
He got up this
morning and said to his guys,
00:07:28.86\00:07:31.62
"Let's get into minivan
and go over to Refresh."
00:07:31.63\00:07:35.24
And I must admit
that was some minivan
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as you can see right here.
00:07:37.69\00:07:39.82
Actually this men's chorus
00:07:39.83\00:07:41.08
has been together for ten years.
00:07:41.09\00:07:43.26
It's always the
chorus that's growing
00:07:43.27\00:07:45.79
and obviously a
dynamic singing group.
00:07:45.80\00:07:49.36
They have made
several recordings.
00:07:49.37\00:07:53.21
Their prime reason
for existence is to just
00:07:53.22\00:07:55.95
let God know what a wonderful
and awesome creator He is.
00:07:55.96\00:08:01.03
Let's give a nice warm
welcome to Dr. Lou Wildman
00:08:01.04\00:08:03.36
and the
Oregon--Oregon Men's Chorus.
00:08:03.37\00:08:05.18
Lift up the
trumpet, and loud let it ring
00:08:42.89\00:08:47.29
Jesus is coming again
00:08:47.30\00:08:51.51
Cheer up, ye
pilgrims be joyful and sing
00:08:51.52\00:08:56.05
Jesus is coming again
00:08:56.06\00:09:00.59
Coming again coming again
00:09:00.60\00:09:05.06
Jesus is coming again
00:09:05.07\00:09:09.31
Echo it, hilltops
proclaim it, ye plains
00:09:18.23\00:09:22.57
Jesus is coming again
00:09:22.58\00:09:26.82
Coming in glory
the Lamb that was slain
00:09:26.83\00:09:31.30
Jesus is coming again
00:09:31.31\00:09:35.86
Coming again coming again
00:09:35.87\00:09:40.28
Jesus is coming again
00:09:40.29\00:09:46.01
Nations are angry
by this we do know
00:09:54.70\00:09:59.00
Jesus is coming again
00:09:59.01\00:10:03.30
Knowledge
increases, men run to and fro
00:10:03.31\00:10:08.01
Jesus is coming again
00:10:08.02\00:10:12.52
Coming again coming again
00:10:12.53\00:10:17.14
Jesus is coming again
00:10:17.15\00:10:24.48
Many of the men on this
platform sang those words
00:10:39.75\00:10:43.15
in a great, great
outdoor amphitheatre in Africa.
00:10:43.16\00:10:47.04
There were 50,000
people there and it translates
00:10:47.05\00:10:50.87
"Lift up the trumpet
and loud let it ring,
00:10:50.88\00:10:53.90
Jesus is coming again!"
00:10:53.91\00:10:56.52
And one of the great
things that I remember
00:10:56.53\00:10:59.14
as we're on that great platform,
00:10:59.15\00:11:01.87
we were surrounded by a
lot of our African brothers
00:11:01.88\00:11:05.44
who would come from every
part of Africa to sing with us.
00:11:05.45\00:11:09.24
We were astonished that
how important it was for them
00:11:09.25\00:11:12.54
to come there and
sing with us and we really,
00:11:12.55\00:11:15.24
thought we had
come to sing with them.
00:11:15.25\00:11:17.53
And so together we got to
join our voices in this song
00:11:17.54\00:11:22.13
and it was a most
memorable occasion.
00:11:22.14\00:11:25.52
But even more than
that I remember the moment
00:11:25.53\00:11:27.66
when we left Africa
and we were all sheltered
00:11:27.67\00:11:31.44
away in this small room
in a little tiny airport
00:11:31.45\00:11:34.97
waiting for our
airplane to come.
00:11:34.98\00:11:37.04
And so are trumpeters
said let's do some music.
00:11:37.05\00:11:39.69
And they got out their trumpets
00:11:39.70\00:11:41.00
and they began to play
this and we began to sing it.
00:11:41.01\00:11:45.46
And before we got done,
00:11:45.47\00:11:47.00
all the operations on
that airport came to a halt.
00:11:47.01\00:11:51.90
The police were
there. The people who took us
00:11:51.91\00:11:56.65
through customs were there.
00:11:56.66\00:11:58.48
The people who
sold tickets were there,
00:11:58.49\00:12:01.41
the people who
weighed our baggage were there
00:12:01.42\00:12:04.25
but what's
surprised me most of all
00:12:04.26\00:12:06.32
was how many of those
people sang this song.
00:12:06.33\00:12:10.60
I wonder--I would like to know
00:12:10.61\00:12:12.10
if there's one person
in this audience today,
00:12:12.11\00:12:14.01
come on now be honest, face up,
00:12:14.02\00:12:15.30
it's okay, is
there somebody here
00:12:15.31\00:12:17.25
that never heard this before?
00:12:17.26\00:12:18.62
I would like to
here see your hand.
00:12:18.63\00:12:20.96
Okay, we got one up down there.
00:12:20.97\00:12:23.37
Oh, it's pretty
universally known, isn't it?
00:12:23.38\00:12:26.11
Yeah, thanks for
being honest about that.
00:12:26.12\00:12:29.51
Well, the Oregon
Adventist Men's Chorus
00:12:29.52\00:12:32.92
has been together for ten years
00:12:32.93\00:12:36.18
but the reason we are
still together is just because
00:12:36.19\00:12:40.05
we are men of faith. Amen.
00:12:40.06\00:12:42.52
We are men just like all
of you guys sitting out here.
00:12:42.53\00:12:44.80
We're no different at all.
00:12:44.81\00:12:46.79
We are bound together by faith.
00:12:46.80\00:12:49.35
Do we all think exactly alike?
00:12:49.36\00:12:51.79
Well, if I told you we
did, you'd know I was wrong.
00:12:51.80\00:12:55.46
Yeah, we have our differences
00:12:55.47\00:12:57.46
but when we get on the platform,
00:12:57.47\00:12:59.01
we come for one common cause,
00:12:59.02\00:13:01.52
that's to praise the Lord. Amen.
00:13:01.53\00:13:04.58
If, in your journey in life,
00:13:04.59\00:13:06.22
you haven't had that experience
00:13:06.23\00:13:08.01
or that opportunity we'll
invite you to think about it.
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.81
Mull it over in your
mind, give it a chance.
00:13:10.82\00:13:14.39
We believe that
there is great majesty
00:13:14.40\00:13:17.24
in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:13:17.25\00:13:19.41
And we'd like to
sing about him now.
00:13:19.42\00:13:20.77
Majesty worship His Majesty
00:13:48.01\00:13:55.63
Unto Jesus, be all
glory power and praise
00:13:55.64\00:14:05.53
Majesty Kingdom authority
00:14:05.54\00:14:13.09
Flow from His throne
00:14:13.10\00:14:15.58
unto His own, His anthem raise
00:14:15.59\00:14:22.28
So exalt, lift up on high
00:14:22.29\00:14:26.42
The Name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify
00:14:26.43\00:14:35.52
Christ Jesus the King
00:14:35.53\00:14:41.58
Majesty worship His Majesty
00:14:41.59\00:14:49.42
Jesus who died now glorified
00:14:49.43\00:14:54.16
King of all Kings
00:14:54.17\00:14:59.09
He is Lord lift up his name
00:14:59.10\00:15:03.43
The name of Jesus
00:15:03.44\00:15:08.36
He is risen from the dead
00:15:08.37\00:15:12.94
And he is Lord
00:15:12.95\00:15:20.02
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
00:15:20.03\00:15:29.60
Early in the morning
our song shall rise to thee.
00:15:29.61\00:15:39.23
Majesty worship His Majesty
00:15:39.24\00:15:47.87
Unto Jesus, be all
glory power and praise
00:15:47.88\00:15:57.87
Majesty worship His Majesty
00:15:58.03\00:16:06.19
Jesus who died now glorified
00:16:06.20\00:16:10.98
King of all Kings.
00:16:10.99\00:16:15.84
Jesus who died now glorified
00:16:15.85\00:16:22.08
Holy, Holy Majesty
00:16:22.09\00:16:32.08
Individuals are here
today, from every church,
00:16:46.10\00:16:48.99
every denomination likely.
00:16:49.00\00:16:50.86
Some of you that are
here today that maybe
00:16:50.87\00:16:52.24
have no connection
with any church at all.
00:16:52.25\00:16:54.19
You are in the right
spot because the reason
00:16:54.20\00:16:57.00
we exist here
today is to make sure
00:16:57.01\00:16:59.47
we get to know Him more.
00:16:59.48\00:17:01.50
We all do have
something in common today
00:17:01.51\00:17:03.32
as I look out there,
00:17:03.33\00:17:04.46
the majority we have
some thing in common.
00:17:04.47\00:17:07.40
You know what it is?
00:17:07.41\00:17:08.86
For some strange reason,
00:17:08.87\00:17:10.99
most people in
this audience today
00:17:11.00\00:17:13.55
have a symbol of
a fish on your wrist
00:17:13.56\00:17:17.90
and with Jesus
written in the middle of it.
00:17:17.91\00:17:21.08
Try to find out
what that means today
00:17:21.09\00:17:22.45
that will be a good,
a good exercise for you.
00:17:22.46\00:17:25.57
Max Torkelsen,
our speaker today,
00:17:25.58\00:17:27.72
president of the
Upper Columbia Conference
00:17:27.73\00:17:29.30
and the
organization hosting "Refresh,"
00:17:29.31\00:17:31.93
let's give them a nice
warm welcome this morning.
00:17:31.94\00:17:33.83
In the year 1895,
there were only two cars,
00:17:42.34\00:17:48.57
only two automobiles in
the whole state of Ohio.
00:17:48.58\00:17:55.77
Can you guess what happened?
00:17:55.78\00:17:59.07
That's right they collided.
00:17:59.08\00:18:04.50
It's the
natural order of things,
00:18:04.51\00:18:06.19
you know, anytime you
have two cars free to go anyway
00:18:06.20\00:18:09.93
they want to
without regard to the other,
00:18:09.94\00:18:12.05
you can count on a collision.
00:18:12.06\00:18:14.92
In fact most of the 13
million automobile accidents
00:18:14.93\00:18:18.95
that will occur in this
country this year will happen
00:18:18.96\00:18:21.96
because somebody broke a law,
00:18:21.97\00:18:25.57
goes through a stop
sign, has one for the road,
00:18:25.58\00:18:29.44
straddles the center line,
00:18:29.45\00:18:31.71
doesn't give full
attention to their driving,
00:18:31.72\00:18:34.99
like they use those
cell phones while they drive,
00:18:35.00\00:18:39.55
tailgates, goes 75 in
a 50 mile an hour zone.
00:18:39.56\00:18:44.63
And folks when
you think about it,
00:18:44.64\00:18:46.49
most collisions that
happen between neighbors
00:18:46.50\00:18:51.18
or between nations or
between God and man occur
00:18:51.19\00:18:56.60
because someone
breaks a law, God's law.
00:18:56.61\00:19:01.55
And that's what I
want to talk to you
00:19:01.56\00:19:02.69
a bit about, God's law.
00:19:02.70\00:19:05.31
Dr. Laura does. She
even wrote a book about it
00:19:05.32\00:19:09.86
that sold millions of copies.
00:19:09.87\00:19:13.35
One of our early
presidents, James Madison,
00:19:13.36\00:19:17.63
I just found this out
yesterday when a friend of mine
00:19:17.64\00:19:20.18
Jerry Mon gave
me a little brochure
00:19:20.19\00:19:22.52
he'll be glad to
give you one too,
00:19:22.53\00:19:24.07
and this quote is
written on that brochure.
00:19:24.08\00:19:26.63
This is what
President James Madison said
00:19:26.64\00:19:29.85
"We have staked the whole
future of American civilization,
00:19:29.86\00:19:33.46
not upon the power of
government, far from it.
00:19:33.47\00:19:37.98
We have staked the future
of our political institutions
00:19:37.99\00:19:40.95
upon the capacity of
mankind for self government,
00:19:40.96\00:19:45.60
upon the capacity
of each and all of us
00:19:45.61\00:19:48.55
to govern ourselves,
to control ourselves,
00:19:48.56\00:19:52.90
to sustain ourselves
00:19:52.91\00:19:54.74
according to the Ten
Commandments of God."
00:19:54.75\00:19:58.98
Maybe concerned
about the Ten Commandments
00:19:58.99\00:20:01.72
is something we
need to think about,
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.61
something we need to rediscover,
00:20:03.62\00:20:07.02
shouldn't come as a
surprise that God has a law,
00:20:07.03\00:20:12.26
guaranteed to keep us on
the right side of the road
00:20:12.27\00:20:15.14
safe and secure and happy.
00:20:15.15\00:20:18.25
We need to be
reminded that many,
00:20:18.26\00:20:20.35
even of our personal problems,
many of our unhappy days
00:20:20.36\00:20:26.16
come because we are
running God's stop signs.
00:20:26.17\00:20:30.96
When you've got a whole
universe to keep running,
00:20:30.97\00:20:33.44
you've got to have law.
00:20:33.45\00:20:35.37
Law that keeps
suns from flaming out,
00:20:35.38\00:20:39.27
laws to keep planets from
colliding with each other.
00:20:39.28\00:20:43.52
Laws to keep the
people on those planets
00:20:43.53\00:20:46.17
living in peace and happiness.
00:20:46.18\00:20:49.54
We need to rediscover these days
00:20:49.55\00:20:51.87
that while the law of the Lord
00:20:51.88\00:20:53.77
is given to us from above,
00:20:53.78\00:20:56.42
it's not an arbitrary law.
00:20:56.43\00:20:59.21
It's not subject to our whims
00:20:59.22\00:21:01.46
but it's in
harmony with our nature.
00:21:01.47\00:21:05.07
You can't violate the moral law.
00:21:05.08\00:21:08.40
We violate ourselves.
00:21:08.41\00:21:11.14
I mean stop and think about it,
00:21:11.15\00:21:12.66
a man doesn't
break the law of gravity
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.98
by jumping out of
ten storey window.
00:21:14.99\00:21:17.82
He doesn't break the
law, he illustrates the law.
00:21:17.83\00:21:22.61
And we can't run our fingers
00:21:22.62\00:21:24.53
against the
grain of the universe
00:21:24.54\00:21:26.25
without getting
splinters in them,
00:21:26.26\00:21:28.41
splinters that can often fester
00:21:28.42\00:21:30.56
and poison the blood stream.
00:21:30.57\00:21:34.48
Even if God had never breathed
00:21:34.49\00:21:37.00
the word about honoring parents,
00:21:37.01\00:21:40.13
mothers would still
weep at midnight over sons
00:21:40.14\00:21:43.62
who can't stand their fathers.
00:21:43.63\00:21:48.04
Without the Ten
Commandments, murdered people
00:21:48.05\00:21:50.73
would be just as dead.
00:21:50.74\00:21:53.90
Without the
Decalogue, unwed mothers
00:21:53.91\00:21:56.49
would still feel abandoned.
00:21:56.50\00:21:59.11
Even if God hasn't said it,
00:21:59.12\00:22:01.11
stolen goods
would still be missing.
00:22:01.12\00:22:05.40
The Ten
Commandments don't make sin.
00:22:05.41\00:22:09.39
They identify
sin for our benefits,
00:22:09.40\00:22:12.64
so that we can live in harmony
00:22:12.65\00:22:14.28
with these
principles of the universe
00:22:14.29\00:22:16.80
for our own good and
for our own happiness.
00:22:16.81\00:22:21.45
I was driving to
Coeur d'Alene a while back
00:22:21.46\00:22:25.32
and I followed a
highway patrol on to I-90.
00:22:25.33\00:22:29.57
You've all driven
through Spokane and I-90,
00:22:29.58\00:22:31.77
I suspect, even if
you're just visiting us.
00:22:31.78\00:22:34.91
And I was
driving along in my car
00:22:34.92\00:22:36.63
and I suddenly
found myself in danger
00:22:36.64\00:22:38.78
of tailgating a police
officer in his nice shiny car.
00:22:38.79\00:22:43.05
It was one of those
with inconspicuous lights
00:22:43.06\00:22:47.10
that make it
really hard to identify
00:22:47.11\00:22:49.68
that they are highway
patrol and hardly seemed fair.
00:22:49.69\00:22:52.49
Does it seem fair to you?
00:22:52.50\00:22:56.71
Well, glancing
at my speedometer,
00:22:56.72\00:22:58.56
I slowed down a little bit
00:22:58.57\00:22:59.77
because I observed that both
00:22:59.78\00:23:03.71
myself and the policeman
had been speeding a bit.
00:23:03.72\00:23:09.41
And so I slowed
down and now we're both
00:23:09.42\00:23:12.07
at a legal 70 miles an hour.
00:23:12.08\00:23:14.54
I think we were out far enough
00:23:14.55\00:23:16.90
where the speed limit was 70.
00:23:16.91\00:23:19.62
I hope so, at least
I didn't get stopped,
00:23:19.63\00:23:21.44
so I must have been.
00:23:21.45\00:23:24.38
And that's where I went
for a three or four miles,
00:23:24.39\00:23:27.33
the only incident
of interest occurred
00:23:27.34\00:23:29.06
when this little
Porsche sports car
00:23:29.07\00:23:32.63
came rushing up behind me,
00:23:32.64\00:23:35.20
started to breeze by me in
passing lane only to discover,
00:23:35.21\00:23:40.23
you know who in front of me?
00:23:40.24\00:23:42.75
You could almost see him
stumbling over his radials
00:23:42.76\00:23:45.40
as he took
about 20 miles an hour
00:23:45.41\00:23:47.12
off his speed limit
and ducked in behind me,
00:23:47.13\00:23:50.30
it's amazing the effect of
the law on people, on cars.
00:23:50.31\00:23:56.02
You know in a few minutes time,
00:23:56.03\00:23:58.17
I think we had
about 12 or 15 cars
00:23:58.18\00:24:00.92
lined up all behind me,
all behind the police officer,
00:24:00.93\00:24:04.24
all obeying the
law. What an impact.
00:24:04.25\00:24:11.57
Well, then the police
officer slowed down a bit,
00:24:11.58\00:24:15.32
he's going about 65, maybe 66
00:24:15.33\00:24:21.06
and so I didn't want to
make a mistake at this point
00:24:21.07\00:24:25.71
but I kept one
eye on the police car
00:24:25.72\00:24:28.79
and one eye on my speedometer
00:24:28.80\00:24:30.74
and I gingerly eased
out into the passing lane.
00:24:30.75\00:24:35.90
And almost
immediately, it seemed like
00:24:35.91\00:24:37.60
he speeded up a little
bit and I found myself passing
00:24:37.61\00:24:42.29
that police
officer inch by inch.
00:24:42.30\00:24:45.36
Thus really trying to
not let my speed limit
00:24:49.20\00:24:51.70
go over 70 or 71.
00:24:51.71\00:24:54.46
And about a light,
light year or two later,
00:24:54.47\00:24:58.92
I finally got my
patrol friend behind me
00:24:58.93\00:25:01.47
and eased back
into the right lane
00:25:01.48\00:25:03.91
but I saw that my
speedometer was almost at 75.
00:25:03.92\00:25:08.46
And then I overreacted,
slowed down too much
00:25:08.47\00:25:11.45
causing the cop to
start tailgating me.
00:25:11.46\00:25:16.35
Finally I adjusted in just
after passing the state line,
00:25:16.36\00:25:20.15
he went off on an exit.
00:25:20.16\00:25:22.30
And I left his unwanted company
00:25:22.31\00:25:24.74
and continued
my trip in comfort.
00:25:24.75\00:25:30.01
Have you ever felt like that
when confronted by God's law?
00:25:30.02\00:25:35.27
I know I have and when I
broke one of His commandments,
00:25:35.28\00:25:38.54
I'd either break
into a real sweat
00:25:38.55\00:25:41.59
or I'd say, "Well, what's
the use I can't do it anyway."
00:25:41.60\00:25:46.63
God's law can sometimes appear
00:25:46.64\00:25:50.30
like a tailgating
cop waiting to arrest us.
00:25:50.31\00:25:56.02
Makes me wonder why
King David talked about it
00:25:56.03\00:25:59.05
in such a
different way in Psalm 19.
00:25:59.06\00:26:02.10
He wrote a song about the law
00:26:02.11\00:26:05.35
and the lyrics were
recorded in Psalm 19
00:26:05.36\00:26:08.80
"The law of the Lord is
perfect, reviving the soul.
00:26:08.81\00:26:13.39
The decrees of the
Lord are trustworthy,
00:26:13.40\00:26:16.12
making wise the simple.
00:26:16.13\00:26:18.95
The commandments
of the Lord are right,
00:26:18.96\00:26:21.28
bringing joy to the heart.
00:26:21.29\00:26:23.57
The commands of
the Lord are clear,
00:26:23.58\00:26:26.18
giving insight to life.
00:26:26.19\00:26:28.92
Reverence for the Lord
is pure, lasting forever.
00:26:28.93\00:26:32.32
The laws of the Lord
are true, each one is fair.
00:26:32.33\00:26:36.27
They are more desirable
than gold, even the finest gold.
00:26:36.28\00:26:40.10
They are sweeter than honey,
00:26:40.11\00:26:41.62
even honey
dripping from the comb.
00:26:41.63\00:26:44.29
They are warning to
those who hear them.
00:26:44.30\00:26:46.75
There is great reward
for those who obey them."
00:26:46.76\00:26:50.77
How could David
describe the law like that?
00:26:50.78\00:26:55.02
If David held
the Ten Commandments
00:26:55.03\00:26:57.17
in such a high esteem how come
00:26:57.18\00:26:58.90
I find myself feeling resentment
to this list of negative rules?
00:26:58.91\00:27:06.16
Now I just suppose
that someone broadcast
00:27:06.17\00:27:11.49
that tonight at 8 o'clock,
00:27:11.50\00:27:15.11
God himself was going to appear
00:27:15.12\00:27:17.80
over the city of Spokane to
give us a two minute message.
00:27:17.81\00:27:24.23
Now what would you
hope that He would say?
00:27:24.24\00:27:27.94
What answer are you looking for?
00:27:27.95\00:27:31.67
How to cure cancer?
00:27:31.68\00:27:35.05
How to prevent world war III?
00:27:35.06\00:27:39.00
Do you need help
with some personal problem
00:27:39.01\00:27:41.75
or are you in the
midst of making a decision
00:27:41.76\00:27:44.55
that's very important
and you need an answer
00:27:44.56\00:27:47.62
or may I first
just think a minute
00:27:47.63\00:27:52.69
there was a time when
God came down to earth
00:27:52.70\00:27:57.03
and gave a two minute message.
00:27:57.04\00:27:58.95
There was a time
when He came down
00:27:58.96\00:28:01.27
to an assembled
multitude of people
00:28:01.28\00:28:03.28
and spoke audibly to humans,
one of the very few times
00:28:03.29\00:28:07.61
He has ever done that in
the history of this world.
00:28:07.62\00:28:10.72
And upon what subject
did He choose to speak?
00:28:10.73\00:28:15.52
As our maker and our creator,
00:28:15.53\00:28:18.45
He would surely know
the best news to convey,
00:28:18.46\00:28:22.34
the information that
you and I need the most.
00:28:22.35\00:28:25.93
Listen, He speaks and
it's recorded word for word
00:28:25.96\00:28:30.89
in Exodus 20
verse 2 and He says,
00:28:30.90\00:28:33.03
"I am the Lord your God."
00:28:33.04\00:28:36.36
And you're thinking oh, yeah,
those are Ten Commandments,
00:28:36.37\00:28:40.70
no, in fact, God did
not just give Ten Commands.
00:28:40.71\00:28:47.38
God did not peer down
from the skies one day
00:28:47.39\00:28:49.90
and see a
bewildered band of scouts,
00:28:49.91\00:28:52.98
nomads wandering
around in the desert
00:28:52.99\00:28:55.19
and say to himself I
wonder how I can make life
00:28:55.20\00:28:57.49
just a little bit
more miserable for them.
00:28:57.50\00:29:01.46
Well, I'll set them
up with an impossible law
00:29:01.47\00:29:04.38
and when they can't
cope I will destroy them.
00:29:04.39\00:29:07.57
Now if you think that
that's what God was thinking
00:29:07.58\00:29:10.50
when he gave the
Ten Commandments,
00:29:10.51\00:29:12.00
then you're thinking about
a different God than I know.
00:29:12.01\00:29:16.42
What did God say?
00:29:16.43\00:29:17.94
Well, you have to look
first at the previous chapter
00:29:19.28\00:29:22.56
in Exodus 19 verses 4 to 6.
00:29:22.57\00:29:25.48
It's always a good idea to know
the context of a Bible passage.
00:29:25.49\00:29:31.25
And in Exodus 19 it says,
00:29:31.26\00:29:33.13
"You know how I
brought you to myself
00:29:33.14\00:29:35.57
and carried you
on eagle's wings.
00:29:35.58\00:29:38.17
Now if you will obey
me and keep my covenant,
00:29:38.18\00:29:41.68
you will be My
very special treasure
00:29:41.69\00:29:45.45
from among all of
the people of the earth,
00:29:45.46\00:29:47.97
for all the earth belongs to Me
00:29:47.98\00:29:50.34
and you will be to Me a kingdom
of priests and a holy nation."
00:29:50.35\00:29:54.64
Do you see that
the Ten Commandment law
00:29:54.65\00:29:56.73
is part and parcel
of a love agreement?
00:29:56.74\00:30:00.30
The law is involved in
a process to make them,
00:30:00.31\00:30:04.38
to make us a special treasure
00:30:04.39\00:30:08.90
among all the
people of the earth.
00:30:08.91\00:30:12.64
When God came down
before that multitude
00:30:12.65\00:30:15.16
He gave to simple man some
of the most important truths
00:30:15.17\00:30:18.48
that He could
have ever comprehended
00:30:18.49\00:30:20.87
not just ten negative rules.
00:30:20.88\00:30:24.60
He revealed in
that two minute message
00:30:24.61\00:30:26.90
some of the basic
secrets of the universe.
00:30:26.91\00:30:30.25
When God came down
00:30:30.26\00:30:31.48
He gave a blue print for living
00:30:31.49\00:30:33.20
which if you
and I had understood
00:30:33.21\00:30:34.80
and practiced it
earlier would have saved us
00:30:34.81\00:30:37.92
most of our
mistakes and our sorrows.
00:30:37.93\00:30:40.72
It would not have been
necessary for us to blunder
00:30:40.73\00:30:43.48
as we have through life
because on that occasion,
00:30:43.49\00:30:46.60
God came to tell us how to live.
00:30:46.61\00:30:50.98
And so I want to
notice in just a few minutes,
00:30:50.99\00:30:53.90
the three
secrets that God unveiled
00:30:53.91\00:30:56.41
when He spoke at Mount Sinai,
00:30:56.42\00:30:58.26
secrets that were
engraved on tables of stone
00:30:58.27\00:31:01.28
but principles designed
for modern living as well.
00:31:01.29\00:31:05.56
And first of all,
He revealed the most,
00:31:05.57\00:31:09.15
the greatest
secret of the universe
00:31:09.16\00:31:11.49
and I know it
may seem common place
00:31:11.50\00:31:13.46
and yet it's possibly
the most fundamental fact,
00:31:13.47\00:31:18.14
the most vital
truth for human beings
00:31:18.15\00:31:21.11
to understand and this is it.
00:31:21.12\00:31:24.30
The universe, the whole universe
is run by law not by luck
00:31:24.31\00:31:31.70
and the person
who obeys these laws
00:31:31.71\00:31:33.82
and lives within
these principles will endure
00:31:33.83\00:31:36.15
for as long as
the universe endures.
00:31:36.16\00:31:38.52
That's secret
number one that God gave
00:31:38.53\00:31:40.51
when He came down on Mount Sinai
00:31:40.52\00:31:42.22
that the whole universe
is run by law, not chance.
00:31:42.23\00:31:46.83
Chance is atheism.
There is no chance.
00:31:46.84\00:31:52.97
Things don't just happen.
00:31:52.98\00:31:54.92
Our condition today and tomorrow
00:31:58.04\00:32:00.17
is inevitably tied
up with our obedience
00:32:00.18\00:32:02.57
or our
disobedience to natural law,
00:32:02.58\00:32:05.10
like the law of
gravity or the laws of health,
00:32:05.11\00:32:09.31
the laws of chemistry
and physics and biology
00:32:09.32\00:32:13.08
and the Ten Commandments.
Yes, they're all laws of God.
00:32:13.09\00:32:18.51
All life is a sowing
and reaping sequence a cause
00:32:18.52\00:32:22.63
and effect
relationship and happiness
00:32:22.64\00:32:25.34
depends up on
obedience to those laws.
00:32:25.35\00:32:28.16
Sorrow and pain come
through transgressing the law,
00:32:28.17\00:32:30.93
whether we know the law or not.
00:32:30.94\00:32:34.33
You stub your toe, it hurts.
00:32:34.34\00:32:39.03
It's kind of like traveling
in a new city or a new country
00:32:39.04\00:32:43.72
and breaking a traffic
regulation without knowing it.
00:32:43.73\00:32:47.93
In fact I did that
one time in Norway.
00:32:47.94\00:32:51.27
I couldn't read the signs
00:32:51.28\00:32:53.34
and I went
through this toll gate
00:32:53.35\00:32:56.67
and I didn't see
the sign that says
00:32:56.68\00:32:58.31
that toll gate
was only for people
00:32:58.32\00:33:00.00
who had monthly
passes to go through.
00:33:00.01\00:33:04.95
Well, I just drove through,
there wasn't anybody there,
00:33:04.96\00:33:07.21
nobody stopped me
but they had a camera
00:33:07.22\00:33:12.56
and they got my license
number on the back of that car
00:33:12.57\00:33:16.29
and they traced that license
number to the rental company
00:33:16.30\00:33:20.04
who traced it to the period
of time I was renting the car.
00:33:20.05\00:33:23.96
I was a stranger there
00:33:23.97\00:33:25.94
but they didn't ask
if I was a stranger.
00:33:25.95\00:33:28.50
They didn't ask if
I could read the sign.
00:33:28.51\00:33:30.68
They didn't ask
if I knew the law.
00:33:30.69\00:33:32.76
They just sent me a ticket
in the U.S. for 792 kroner,
00:33:32.77\00:33:38.38
that's about 132 dollars.
00:33:38.39\00:33:41.98
Ignorance of the
law was no excuse.
00:33:41.99\00:33:45.71
You see because you
and I have been ignorant
00:33:45.72\00:33:47.91
of so many laws of the universe,
00:33:47.92\00:33:49.62
we've made a lot of blunders
00:33:49.63\00:33:50.94
and we're still
paying the fines.
00:33:50.95\00:33:53.88
When the Apostle Paul said,
00:33:53.89\00:33:55.19
"You will always
reap what you sow."
00:33:55.20\00:33:57.34
He was in effect saying
that life is run by law.
00:33:57.35\00:34:01.53
Pharaoh caused the boys
among Israel to be killed
00:34:01.54\00:34:04.83
and he was killed himself
00:34:04.84\00:34:06.60
when the Red Sea
rolled back on his chariot
00:34:06.61\00:34:08.75
while he was
pursuing the Israelites.
00:34:08.76\00:34:12.18
Jacob deceived his father
about his father's favorite son,
00:34:12.19\00:34:18.07
years go by and
Jacob was deceived
00:34:18.08\00:34:21.06
about his
favorite son, by his boys.
00:34:21.07\00:34:25.27
Hamon prepared a
gallows for Mordecai
00:34:25.28\00:34:27.76
but he swung from it himself.
00:34:27.77\00:34:30.42
Sowing and reaping. The breaking
of a law brings a reaction.
00:34:30.43\00:34:35.14
That's the teaching of scripture
and it's a teaching of life.
00:34:35.15\00:34:38.17
And it's the first thing
that God told the world at Sinai
00:34:38.18\00:34:41.48
that the universe is run by law.
00:34:41.49\00:34:43.88
And what does that
mean to you and to me?
00:34:43.89\00:34:46.51
Well, I can think
of at least two things
00:34:46.52\00:34:47.77
that it ought to mean
to us we ought to find out
00:34:47.78\00:34:50.30
all we can about the laws of God
00:34:50.31\00:34:52.81
and we ought to pay
attention to them. Amen.
00:34:52.82\00:34:57.14
Now the second
secret that God revealed
00:34:57.15\00:34:59.16
was that to be happy
for time and for eternity,
00:34:59.17\00:35:03.95
we must put God first.
00:35:03.96\00:35:07.57
You notice, the secret
is not first things first.
00:35:07.58\00:35:13.02
First thing's first, it's
not things that goes first.
00:35:13.03\00:35:17.90
The second
secret of a happy life
00:35:17.91\00:35:19.84
and successful living
is to put first, first
00:35:19.85\00:35:22.99
and that's to put God first.
00:35:23.00\00:35:25.79
And how did God tell us that?
00:35:25.80\00:35:27.95
By his
introduction for one thing
00:35:27.96\00:35:29.96
what did he say first at Sinai?
00:35:29.97\00:35:33.83
Now unfortunately when
you see the Ten Commandments
00:35:33.84\00:35:36.33
written out, they
usually leave this out.
00:35:36.34\00:35:40.52
My friend that gave me
the pamphlet last night,
00:35:40.53\00:35:43.53
Jerry Mon he
has been responsible
00:35:43.54\00:35:46.85
along with some
others helping him
00:35:46.86\00:35:48.73
of distributing
hundreds of thousands of copies
00:35:48.74\00:35:52.34
of that Ten Commandments
and he's done it right.
00:35:52.35\00:35:55.32
He didn't leave off
00:35:55.33\00:35:56.36
the first sentence of
the first commandment.
00:35:56.37\00:35:59.13
They're almost always incorrect.
00:35:59.14\00:36:02.40
Except when you
read them in the Bible
00:36:02.41\00:36:03.69
or in Jerry Mon's
version not his version
00:36:03.70\00:36:06.62
but he just included all of it.
00:36:06.63\00:36:09.25
The first part of the
first commandment says
00:36:09.26\00:36:12.41
"I am the Lord your God."
00:36:12.42\00:36:15.53
Therefore do not
have any Gods before me.
00:36:15.54\00:36:20.88
And by the way what
commandments did he give first,
00:36:20.89\00:36:24.34
the ones that
pertain directly to Him.
00:36:24.35\00:36:27.34
Don't worship
any Gods besides Me,
00:36:27.35\00:36:30.88
don't make idols of any kind,
00:36:30.89\00:36:33.80
don't misuse the
name of the Lord thy God
00:36:33.81\00:36:38.33
and remember the
Sabbath of the Lord your God.
00:36:38.34\00:36:42.24
What did God put
first? Relationship to Him.
00:36:42.25\00:36:47.13
The Bible begins with God,
00:36:47.14\00:36:49.12
the very first
words of scripture
00:36:49.13\00:36:50.79
are in the beginning God.
00:36:50.80\00:36:53.74
The Lord's Prayer
begins the same way,
00:36:53.75\00:36:56.02
our Father who art in Heaven,
00:36:56.03\00:36:59.32
the Ten
Commandments begin that way,
00:36:59.33\00:37:02.61
"I am the Lord your God."
00:37:02.62\00:37:04.58
God is trying to teach
us something, put Him first.
00:37:04.59\00:37:08.24
Not first thing's
first but put God first,
00:37:08.25\00:37:10.93
He comes before things.
00:37:10.94\00:37:13.04
And God should be the
first in every person's day.
00:37:13.05\00:37:17.09
He should be the
first in every family.
00:37:17.10\00:37:20.53
He should be the
first with our energy,
00:37:20.54\00:37:23.37
first with our time,
first with our talents.
00:37:23.38\00:37:27.47
If we give Him seconds,
instead of hours and days,
00:37:27.48\00:37:33.20
would we really expect
that we deserve eternity?
00:37:33.21\00:37:38.35
If we give him
our left over nickels
00:37:38.36\00:37:40.92
and dimes and the
bottoms of our pockets,
00:37:40.93\00:37:43.30
would we expect that
we deserve eternal riches?
00:37:43.31\00:37:48.65
If His main business
is the redemption of man
00:37:48.66\00:37:53.41
and we are not
active in His business,
00:37:53.42\00:37:57.04
would we be comfortable
living with him for eternity?
00:37:57.05\00:38:02.16
Something to think about
and then the third great secret
00:38:02.17\00:38:06.80
that God gave at Sinai
00:38:06.81\00:38:08.29
was that people are
more important than things.
00:38:08.30\00:38:12.79
That's a hard truth to learn
00:38:12.80\00:38:15.66
especially when we live
in self-centered society.
00:38:15.67\00:38:19.59
We're counseled and taught
to look out for ourselves,
00:38:19.60\00:38:24.35
to do what is right for me.
00:38:24.36\00:38:27.13
When something goes wrong,
00:38:27.14\00:38:28.76
it's always
someone else's fault.
00:38:28.77\00:38:31.89
Our materialistic
culture values people
00:38:31.90\00:38:34.61
by how much they own
with little regard for where
00:38:34.62\00:38:38.05
or how their
wealth was obtained.
00:38:38.06\00:38:40.30
Who do we reward in our society
with the largest salaries?
00:38:40.31\00:38:44.83
Those who contribute
the most to other people,
00:38:44.84\00:38:49.42
those who contribute
the most to our city,
00:38:49.43\00:38:53.21
like teachers or
scientists or public servants
00:38:53.22\00:38:57.87
or policemen or firemen?
00:38:57.88\00:39:00.33
No, our society rewards
entertainers and athletes
00:39:00.34\00:39:06.18
who are among the
most self-centered category
00:39:06.19\00:39:10.73
with a few exceptions
that are quite refreshing.
00:39:10.74\00:39:15.39
But the third
secret of the universe
00:39:15.40\00:39:17.10
is that people are
more important than things.
00:39:17.11\00:39:21.76
Do you know this where things
00:39:21.77\00:39:23.03
are mentioned in
the Ten Commandments?
00:39:23.04\00:39:26.41
Last. Exodus 20:17,
00:39:26.42\00:39:30.05
"Do not covet anything
that is your neighbor's"
00:39:30.06\00:39:33.34
it's the last part
of the last commandment
00:39:33.35\00:39:36.25
and that's where
things come in, last.
00:39:36.26\00:39:40.01
So the law begins with God
00:39:40.02\00:39:42.56
then it moves on
to our relationship
00:39:42.57\00:39:44.56
with our fellow beings
and at the end it puts things.
00:39:44.57\00:39:48.93
Now it must be admitted
00:39:48.94\00:39:50.94
that things are
lot easier to deal with
00:39:50.95\00:39:53.02
and to get along
with than people are.
00:39:53.03\00:39:56.33
It's far easier to handle wood
00:39:56.34\00:39:59.10
or stone or soil than to deal
with cantankerous human beings.
00:39:59.11\00:40:05.00
But the easiest
course is often the wrong one
00:40:05.01\00:40:07.29
and it is so in this instance.
00:40:07.30\00:40:10.08
And I wonder if it
wouldn't be a good idea for us
00:40:10.09\00:40:12.57
to take a little
evaluation of ourselves.
00:40:12.58\00:40:16.29
Where for
instance does our time go?
00:40:16.30\00:40:20.27
How much of our time is spent
on things taking care of things,
00:40:20.28\00:40:26.52
obtaining things and how much
of our time is spent on people,
00:40:26.53\00:40:31.72
caring about people?
00:40:31.73\00:40:34.18
And how much time
do I spend with God?
00:40:34.19\00:40:39.01
And where does my energy go?
00:40:39.02\00:40:41.60
How much to things
and how much to people
00:40:41.61\00:40:43.93
and how much energy
do I spend on my family
00:40:43.94\00:40:47.03
the people I love the most?
00:40:47.04\00:40:49.33
And how about finances?
00:40:49.34\00:40:51.87
You know the outcome
of such an evaluation
00:40:51.88\00:40:54.01
might be a revelation as to
where our hearts really are.
00:40:54.02\00:40:59.04
Please don't let
anyone ever convince you
00:40:59.05\00:41:01.30
that God gave only commands
or negative rules on Sinai.
00:41:01.31\00:41:07.29
Don't buy the
argument that his revelation
00:41:07.30\00:41:09.92
there was intended
merely for the Jews
00:41:09.93\00:41:11.99
until Jesus came
to die on the cross
00:41:12.00\00:41:14.28
and then it was
all done away with.
00:41:14.29\00:41:16.12
No, in love to us,
00:41:16.13\00:41:18.29
God unveiled the fundamental
secrets of the universe.
00:41:18.30\00:41:22.25
And He gave instruction
for all men for all time
00:41:22.26\00:41:25.17
regarding how to
live even in modern times,
00:41:25.18\00:41:27.61
so as to secure
the greatest happiness.
00:41:27.62\00:41:31.50
In the message from
Sinai, God has taught us
00:41:31.51\00:41:33.84
that our happiness depends on
living in harmony with the law.
00:41:33.85\00:41:38.09
And that real obedience
involves a hierarchy of values,
00:41:38.10\00:41:43.89
the placing of God
first above all else
00:41:43.90\00:41:47.64
and that we must
place people before things.
00:41:47.65\00:41:53.62
Does it help you understand
why the psalmist exclaimed,
00:41:53.63\00:41:57.86
"Oh, how I love Your law?
00:41:57.87\00:42:00.63
I think about it all day long,
00:42:00.64\00:42:02.90
Your commands make me
wiser than my enemies,
00:42:02.91\00:42:06.03
for Your commands
are my constant guide.
00:42:06.04\00:42:09.27
Yes, I have more
insight than my teachers
00:42:09.28\00:42:12.06
for I'm always
thinking of Your decrees.
00:42:12.07\00:42:14.70
I'm even wiser than my elders
00:42:14.71\00:42:16.69
for I've kept Your commandments.
00:42:16.70\00:42:19.27
I refuse to walk
on the path of evil
00:42:19.28\00:42:21.74
that I may remain
obedient to Your word.
00:42:21.75\00:42:25.03
I haven't turned
away from Your laws,
00:42:25.04\00:42:27.06
for You have taught me well.
00:42:27.07\00:42:29.07
How sweet are
Your words to my taste,
00:42:29.08\00:42:32.38
they are sweeter than honey.
00:42:32.39\00:42:34.36
Your commandments
give me understanding,
00:42:34.37\00:42:36.57
no wonder I hate
every false way of life.
00:42:36.58\00:42:39.57
Your law is more valuable to me
00:42:39.58\00:42:41.53
than millions
in gold and silver.
00:42:41.54\00:42:44.45
You made me, You created me.
00:42:44.46\00:42:48.19
Now give me the sense
to follow Your commands.
00:42:48.20\00:42:52.22
May all who fear You
find in me a cause for joy,
00:42:52.23\00:42:56.20
for I have put my
hope in Your word."
00:42:56.21\00:42:59.89
Those are the
words of King David,
00:42:59.90\00:43:02.53
God's beloved, who
knew God very well.
00:43:02.54\00:43:07.94
I don't want anyone
that's here in this room
00:43:07.95\00:43:10.42
at this moment to think
that I said anything today
00:43:10.43\00:43:15.05
and I think if you
listen carefully you know
00:43:15.06\00:43:17.22
I didn't say anything
today that would suggest
00:43:17.23\00:43:20.12
that by keeping the
law one can earn salvation.
00:43:20.13\00:43:25.95
Keeping the law is a response
to God's tremendous gift.
00:43:25.96\00:43:30.89
And to illustrate that point,
00:43:30.90\00:43:32.34
I'm gonna tell you a
story about my wife Linea.
00:43:32.35\00:43:36.46
We had been
married just one month,
00:43:36.47\00:43:40.29
we were living in
Springfield, Oregon.
00:43:40.30\00:43:42.96
I came home from
work and she had fixed
00:43:42.97\00:43:45.95
a special supper for me
using all those fancy dishes
00:43:45.96\00:43:51.12
that you get on your
wedding that you hardly ever use
00:43:51.13\00:43:54.82
and using menus that she
was familiar with from her home.
00:43:54.83\00:44:00.79
And there was candle light
00:44:00.80\00:44:03.06
and there was a
beautiful loving bride
00:44:03.07\00:44:06.19
to welcome me at the door.
00:44:06.20\00:44:07.98
I sat down to eat
and one of the things
00:44:07.99\00:44:10.13
she had fixed was a
salad, it was a macaroni salad
00:44:10.14\00:44:13.76
that her family enjoyed.
00:44:13.77\00:44:17.11
This macaroni salad
had chunks of pineapple
00:44:17.12\00:44:20.06
and canned green grapes in it.
00:44:20.07\00:44:23.08
And it was enough
to make my tongue jerk.
00:44:23.09\00:44:26.43
I don't like to mix
salty things with sweet things
00:44:26.44\00:44:30.49
and I just choked down a
little bit of this salad.
00:44:30.50\00:44:36.61
And of course I wanted Linea
to know how much I loved her.
00:44:36.62\00:44:40.04
I wanted her to feel good
00:44:40.05\00:44:41.74
about that
relationship but fortunately
00:44:41.75\00:44:45.76
I thought to
myself if I tell her
00:44:45.77\00:44:47.81
that this salad is wonderful,
00:44:47.82\00:44:49.28
I probably will
have to eat it again.
00:44:49.29\00:44:52.65
So I said the
truth, I said Linea,
00:44:52.66\00:44:54.87
I didn't really
care for the salad,
00:44:54.88\00:44:56.80
I'd enjoy almost
any other kind of salad
00:44:56.81\00:44:59.08
better than this salad.
00:44:59.09\00:45:00.67
Lettuce and tomato
salad, potato salad,
00:45:00.68\00:45:04.33
jello salad, any kind of salad.
00:45:04.34\00:45:06.76
Do you know that we have
been married a long time?
00:45:09.94\00:45:13.63
I think we've
been married 30 years.
00:45:13.64\00:45:17.17
Linea has never
made that salad again.
00:45:17.18\00:45:21.11
Why?
00:45:21.12\00:45:23.02
She learned that if she
wanted to show her love to me,
00:45:23.03\00:45:27.92
she should show it in a way
that I enjoyed receiving it.
00:45:27.93\00:45:33.45
Folks, Jesus said
00:45:33.46\00:45:36.01
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:45:36.02\00:45:39.95
He didn't say if you
keep My commandments,
00:45:39.96\00:45:42.50
I will save you.
00:45:42.51\00:45:43.85
He didn't say if you
keep My commandments,
00:45:43.86\00:45:45.95
I'll have to take you to heaven
00:45:45.96\00:45:47.24
whether I liked you or not.
00:45:47.25\00:45:49.42
He said "If you love
Me, keep My commandments."
00:45:49.43\00:45:54.11
If you love Him, offer Him
00:45:54.12\00:45:56.94
as a freewill
gift your obedience.
00:45:56.95\00:46:01.72
It's not a hard thing to do.
00:46:01.73\00:46:05.58
It is a guaranteed
formula for success
00:46:05.59\00:46:10.06
and happiness in your life.
00:46:10.07\00:46:12.81
Oh, that we
would all love his law.
00:46:12.82\00:46:16.47
Let's bow our heads for prayer.
00:46:16.48\00:46:19.15
Father, thank You
for loving us enough,
00:46:19.16\00:46:23.14
to share with us the
secrets of the universe.
00:46:23.15\00:46:26.70
Thank You for
caring enough about us,
00:46:26.71\00:46:29.79
to give us
information that can prevent
00:46:29.80\00:46:32.10
most of the pain and suffering
and sorrow in this world.
00:46:32.11\00:46:36.48
Please help us to be wise enough
00:46:36.49\00:46:39.12
to pay attention
to those principles.
00:46:39.13\00:46:42.67
And then please make us perfect
00:46:42.68\00:46:46.62
in the righteousness of Jesus,
00:46:46.63\00:46:48.90
prepare us for Your soon return
00:46:48.93\00:46:51.08
because of His gift of
salvation freely given.
00:46:51.09\00:46:54.53
In His name we pray, amen.
00:46:54.54\00:46:56.92