い
00:00:02.03\00:00:09.97
>> So, for our first
song, we'll be talking about
00:00:14.64\00:00:18.51
how God has always been
with us, and He always will be.
00:00:18.51\00:00:21.65
And the song is
called "You Say I Am."
00:00:21.65\00:00:24.05
>> Our scripture reading today
is found in Jeremiah 29:11 --
00:05:29.49\00:05:34.23
through 13. "'For I
know the plans I have
00:05:34.23\00:05:37.27
for you,' says the
Lord. 'Plans to prosper you,
00:05:37.27\00:05:40.70
plans not to harm
you. To give you a future
00:05:40.70\00:05:43.97
and a hope.
00:05:43.97\00:05:45.31
Then, you... Then, you will call
upon me, and come and pray to
00:05:45.51\00:05:50.75
me. And I will listen to you.
You will seek me, and find me
00:05:50.75\00:05:55.55
when you seek me,
with all your heart.'"
00:05:55.55\00:05:57.02
>> Amen. >> Our next song is
00:05:57.22\00:05:59.72
"Good, Good Father."
This song talks about how good
00:05:59.72\00:06:02.69
and perfect our Father
is, and how He has our plans
00:06:02.69\00:06:06.90
for us.
00:06:06.90\00:06:08.00
>> This next song that we're
gonna sing is actually the theme
00:10:09.24\00:10:13.17
song for the Tent this year.
00:10:13.17\00:10:15.01
And if you see
on the on the shirts
00:10:15.21\00:10:16.61
of some of these beautiful,
wonderful students up here,
00:10:16.61\00:10:19.58
the number 10.
It's the 10th Tent --
00:10:19.58\00:10:22.72
which kind of
makes sense, right?
00:10:22.72\00:10:24.05
It worked out. And
it's been -- it's been
00:10:24.05\00:10:27.22
a wonderful experience so far.
00:10:27.22\00:10:28.46
And this song was written
by students of Ruth Murdoch
00:10:28.66\00:10:35.76
Elementary in a worship-leading
class. Yeah. Let's give it up
00:10:35.76\00:10:38.73
for them. [ Applause ]
00:10:38.73\00:10:40.70
It's called "This is Our Faith."
00:10:44.61\00:10:46.14
>> One more time.
00:13:29.97\00:13:31.01
>> ...in back, there, to tell
those junior high specialists
00:14:16.58\00:14:21.22
what a great job they
did. Isn't that something?
00:14:21.22\00:14:23.99
There are junior high
kids, and they composed that.
00:14:23.99\00:14:26.39
I scribbled the words down.
I've heard it two nights, now,
00:14:26.39\00:14:29.03
in a row. "This is our faith.
00:14:29.03\00:14:30.90
Though it is small,
as long as we trust,
00:14:30.90\00:14:34.60
You lead us on."
00:14:34.60\00:14:37.31
We are so blessed, as a parish,
to have Ruth Murdoch Elementary
School in our parish.
00:14:37.51\00:14:42.68
Man, we must never take
for granted that -- that fine
00:14:42.68\00:14:48.22
institution, and the kids that
come out of it. Boy, I got their
00:14:48.22\00:14:51.22
names here -- Ava, Luke,
Sebastian, Autumn, Jonah,
Daniel, Ryan, and Peter from the
00:14:51.22\00:14:57.53
seminary. They just make us
proud. Thank you, singers. It's
kind of a nostalgic day
00:14:57.53\00:15:03.20
today. Next Sabbath will be
our last service together --
00:15:03.20\00:15:10.31
only in second service, by the
way. So we had our last first
00:15:10.31\00:15:14.28
service this morning. And...
I think, in the next seven days,
00:15:14.28\00:15:19.51
it's just the last of everything
-- the last time I ride in a
00:15:19.51\00:15:22.35
car, the last time I... [
Laughter ] ...think of you,
00:15:22.35\00:15:25.75
the last time I hum on the
way to work, the last time I
00:15:25.75\00:15:31.26
whistle. Whatever. This
has just been one long goodbye.
00:15:31.26\00:15:34.93
I'm giving a shout-out to the
the incredible team that planned
00:15:34.93\00:15:38.00
this. But this has been going on
since April, and it'll all come
to an end next week.
00:15:38.00\00:15:45.34
Speaking of nostalgia, I'm
telling you -- Oh, and by the
00:15:45.34\00:15:48.51
way, I need to say a word about
the Tent. Ben Martin is our
youth pastor, and he's done a
00:15:48.51\00:15:53.55
bang-up job. And this is the
10th year that the Tent has been
holding these evangelistic
00:15:53.55\00:15:57.65
meetings. And I'm telling you,
it's one of our huge feeders for
young Christians --
00:15:57.65\00:16:03.56
baptized -- newly baptized young
Christians. And so, Pastor Ben,
00:16:03.56\00:16:07.76
he was in first service. But we
give you a shout-out. Thank you
00:16:07.76\00:16:11.50
for the hard work that you've
done. And tonight, 5:00, come
00:16:11.50\00:16:17.41
on. 5:00. And then, another
preacher at 7:00. Don't miss
00:16:17.41\00:16:20.61
either one. Come out for them
both, and get blessed real good.
But it is a nostalgic day
00:16:20.61\00:16:25.65
because, 40 years ago right now,
I'm sitting on a little bench up
here -- because they had
00:16:25.65\00:16:35.16
benches in those days -- and I'm
holding this very -- this is the
00:16:35.16\00:16:40.46
actual one. I'm holding this in
my hand. This is the actual one.
00:16:40.46\00:16:44.53
Yeah. I never lose this. So,
this is -- what's the date on
00:16:44.53\00:16:48.64
it? May 14th, 1983. Wow.
This is May 13th, today, 2023.
00:16:48.64\00:16:54.61
I went to Google yesterday, and
I said, "Hey, Google, how many
00:16:54.61\00:16:57.31
days has it been since we
started here?" And Google, she
kicked out the answer "14,609
00:16:57.31\00:17:05.19
days." Man, yeah. It
makes you feel old, doesn't it?
00:17:05.19\00:17:07.42
14,609 days.
Please. I've had such a --
00:17:07.42\00:17:13.23
It's just been... It's been...
Yeah, memory -- memory lane,
00:17:13.23\00:17:17.67
or whatever you want to call it.
But that's true. I was sitting
00:17:17.67\00:17:21.80
in that -- in that pew right
there, putting the finishing
touches on the largest butterfly
00:17:21.80\00:17:26.94
collection in the world in
my stomach. I'm telling you. I'm
00:17:26.94\00:17:33.58
telling you, you don't know what
it's like to be just turned 31,
sitting there, waiting for
00:17:33.58\00:17:38.35
the hymn of preparation to end
because the president has
already introduced you,
00:17:38.35\00:17:42.79
and you're gonna walk. And you
had to climb into the pulpit in
00:17:42.79\00:17:46.80
those days. You had to have
oxygen masks just to kind of
breathe. It was -- It was like
00:17:46.80\00:17:50.53
those old European pulpits. And
to open your mouth for the first
00:17:50.53\00:17:54.80
time. I mean, all those memories
are going through my mind as I'm
sitting on the front row, here.
00:17:54.80\00:17:59.81
And I'm just saying, "You know,
thank you, Lord." Was I nervous?
00:17:59.81\00:18:04.65
Are you kidding? I started
becoming nervous three months
00:18:04.65\00:18:10.82
earlier, on Friday -- Friday,
February 18th, 1983. When I got
00:18:10.82\00:18:16.12
-- living on the West Coast,
East Salem, pastor in that
00:18:16.12\00:18:19.73
church. Got a call from Arnold
Kurtz, my professional mentor,
and a major seminary --
00:18:19.73\00:18:25.93
seminary major professor. And he
said, "Hey, Dwight, how are you
00:18:25.93\00:18:30.31
doing?" "Fine." "Are you
preaching tomorrow?" I said, "I
00:18:30.31\00:18:33.14
am." He said, "What are
you preaching on?" I said,
00:18:33.14\00:18:34.58
"I'm preaching on forgiveness."
I said, "Why are you asking?" He
00:18:34.58\00:18:37.78
said, "Well, I just want to make
sure you're not preaching on
00:18:37.78\00:18:40.02
in-gathering." I said,
"In-gathering? Come on, Arnold.
That's in the fall.
00:18:40.02\00:18:42.55
No, come on. What's up?"
He said, "Well, somebody is
00:18:42.55\00:18:46.49
going to be in church tomorrow,
so, I was just checking.
00:18:46.49\00:18:49.49
Blessings on you. Goodbye."
00:18:49.49\00:18:50.19
And I'm saying, "What?" That
night, I called a friend of
mine, also teaching
00:18:52.26\00:18:57.87
in the seminary, Garth Thompson.
He was my academy principal. And
00:18:57.87\00:19:01.70
I said, "Yo, Garth, what's
up?" He said, "Nothing." I said,
00:19:01.70\00:19:05.14
"Really? Well, why did Arnold
Kurtz call me this morning, and
say, 'Somebody's going to be in
00:19:05.14\00:19:07.61
church tomorrow?'" Garth
said, "Well, I don't know.
00:19:07.61\00:19:12.08
Maybe they're looking for
a youth pastor." I said, "Oh,
00:19:12.08\00:19:15.25
really? Okay. Well, okay."
And before he hung up, he said,
00:19:15.25\00:19:18.89
"Oh, by the way, John Cronke
is preaching his farewell sermon
00:19:18.89\00:19:24.59
tomorrow." And when he said,
"Farewell sermon tomorrow," my
00:19:24.59\00:19:28.03
stomach went into a three-month
perpetual knot just like that. I
00:19:28.03\00:19:35.40
knew what was up. And sure
enough, the next morning, I'm
leading out in worship
00:19:35.40\00:19:37.64
at the East Salem Church.
And during the opening hymn, a
00:19:37.64\00:19:42.31
stranger steps in, and sits on
the back row. So, I'm trying to
kind of see who that stranger
00:19:42.31\00:19:50.22
is. "Oh. That's -- That's
the university president, Grady
00:19:50.22\00:19:55.79
Smoot." I'd seen him once before
in my life, when I walked across
00:19:55.79\00:19:58.53
this platform, and he shook my
hand, giving me my MDiv degree.
Oh, now, butterflies.
00:19:58.53\00:20:06.40
Anyway, sure enough, at
the closing hymn, last stanza,
00:20:06.40\00:20:11.44
he just slips out, and
disappears. So, I give the
00:20:11.44\00:20:15.78
benediction, go to meet the
saints as they're going out the
door. I get to the door,
00:20:15.78\00:20:18.25
I look into the parking lot,
he's walking to his rental car.
00:20:18.25\00:20:21.48
He's just getting to the rental
car. He turns around like this,
and our eyes connect.
00:20:21.48\00:20:25.42
And I know they connected. A few
days later, I get a letter from
00:20:25.42\00:20:33.23
snail mail. E-mail had not been
invented. That's true. It hadn't
been invented then.
00:20:33.23\00:20:37.83
In fact, they had just invented
electricity. So, it was just a
00:20:37.83\00:20:42.70
long time ago, I'm telling you.
40 years. Anyway, the letter --
00:20:42.70\00:20:48.68
and I memorized the opening
salutation. "My dear Dwight."
00:20:48.68\00:20:56.02
He said, "I am so sorry. I was
under strict orders not to have
00:20:56.02\00:21:01.42
any communication with you.
Protocol. But by now, you've
00:21:01.42\00:21:04.83
heard we're looking for a
new campus pastor." Oh, my.
00:21:04.83\00:21:09.23
And then began three months
of insomnia. I'm telling you the
00:21:12.70\00:21:17.01
truth. Man. So, I look at
this. The other day, at the --
00:21:17.01\00:21:23.04
the afternoon program, they
played the first few clips of my
00:21:23.04\00:21:29.22
-- my sermon. First sermon in
the Pioneer pulpit. "Of Leopards
00:21:29.22\00:21:33.42
and Lepers, and Other Such
Spots." The two factoids you
don't know, I'm gonna pass them
00:21:33.42\00:21:39.73
on to you, for what it's worth.
Factoid number one is, once I
00:21:39.73\00:21:44.27
got that sermon written in
Salem, I recorded it onto a
little cassette recorder. You
00:21:44.27\00:21:50.61
don't know what that is, but you
speak into it, and it has this
thing that goes around.
00:21:50.61\00:21:53.98
And I recorded it. And then, I
played it back over and over and
00:21:53.98\00:21:58.48
over and over, as I'm driving
around the parish, just
listening to that. And the other
00:21:58.48\00:22:02.85
factoid is that I couldn't fall
asleep Friday night. True story.
00:22:02.85\00:22:05.69
I could not sleep Friday night.
Everybody in the house,
including my principal
00:22:05.69\00:22:10.49
and his wife. Everybody --
Kirk, Karen. I couldn't sleep.
00:22:10.49\00:22:14.73
I tried everything. Hot and
cold water on my feet. Nothing.
00:22:14.73\00:22:18.67
I laid awake that whole night.
That's what it meant to me to
00:22:18.67\00:22:24.91
have the privilege the next
morning of being able to step
into this pulpit, and open my
00:22:24.91\00:22:31.45
mouth to a family that would
become a church family like no
00:22:31.45\00:22:37.09
other on earth. If God had told
us, then, "Hey, boy, this is
gonna be about 40 years of your
00:22:37.09\00:22:41.92
life," "Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa. Wait, wait, wait. Are you
00:22:41.92\00:22:45.99
serious?" Nobody, of course,
knew. In fact, when they flew
Karen and me out --
00:22:45.99\00:22:50.33
We got the call, as Karen
mentioned the other day at the
program -- we got the call
00:22:50.33\00:22:53.20
on April Fool's Day.
Friday. It was a Friday.
00:22:53.20\00:22:56.10
And they said, "Hey, Dwight,
we're inviting you to come be
00:22:56.10\00:22:58.37
the pastor of the campus church.
Come on out here and look at us.
00:22:58.37\00:23:01.98
Ask us questions." So, we flew
out. And it was another Friday.
And we're sitting in
00:23:01.98\00:23:05.25
the Lake Union office, the old
building, and the top brass of
00:23:05.25\00:23:10.09
the university, the union
conference, the Michigan
conference, they're all there,
00:23:10.09\00:23:13.09
asking us questions. We're
getting acquainted. And then,
00:23:13.09\00:23:15.82
all of a sudden, they ask a
question Karen and I had
absolutely no clue they would
00:23:15.82\00:23:20.36
ever even think to ask, and we
never thought of it -- about it
00:23:20.36\00:23:23.63
ourselves. And they looked at
me, and they said, "Yo, Dwight,
00:23:23.63\00:23:26.84
when you come, if you come,
how long do you think you could
00:23:26.84\00:23:29.77
stay?" I looked at Karen.
Just blank in her eyes. Blank.
00:23:32.14\00:23:37.65
We had been two years, nine
months, two years, nine months,
00:23:37.65\00:23:39.58
two years, nine months. So I
said, "Okay, I'm gonna go way
00:23:39.58\00:23:46.25
out on a limb." And I
looked at them, and I said...
00:23:46.25\00:23:47.89
"If God blesses, we could stay
probably five to seven years."
And they looked at each other,
00:23:50.89\00:23:59.13
smiled, and nodded. And I said,
"That was the right answer."
00:23:59.13\00:24:02.74
[ Laughter ] I know
what the answer was gonna be.
00:24:02.74\00:24:07.48
So, oh, my. Unbelievable.
"Five to seven years."
00:24:07.48\00:24:11.18
It's embarrassing. In fact, I'll
tell you this -- after we moved
00:24:11.18\00:24:14.48
here -- so, May 14th, we
preached. Then, we move the 1st
of June, from Oregon,
00:24:14.48\00:24:18.79
with all our earthly goods in
the back of a pickup. And John
00:24:18.79\00:24:26.06
Cronke -- Dr. John Cronke, the
senior pastor of this church for
almost 17 years -- which was
00:24:26.06\00:24:31.33
some sort of world record,
he pays a social call, and the
00:24:31.33\00:24:36.74
whippersnapper that's taken his
place, sitting behind his desk,
standing behind his pulpit.
00:24:36.74\00:24:41.94
I was terribly intimidated. Man.
But he was gracious about it.
00:24:41.94\00:24:46.45
We had a wonderful visit. And
just before he left, he -- he --
00:24:46.45\00:24:51.02
he leaned forward. He said,
"Dwight, I have a bit of counsel
to give you." Well, I'm all
00:24:51.02\00:24:58.13
ears. So, I lean a little
forward, and I say, "John, what
is it?" He says, "Don't do what
00:24:58.13\00:25:06.33
I did. Don't stay too
long." [ Laughter ] And I leaned
00:25:06.33\00:25:11.11
even further forward. I said,
"John, John, trust me. I won't."
00:25:11.11\00:25:16.54
[ Laughter ] Oh,
brother. > Oh, my, my, my.
00:25:16.54\00:25:24.92
So, here we are, looking at the
next to the last Sabbath, but
it's the actual day,
00:25:24.92\00:25:29.42
the moment. And...
we just love you for it.
00:25:29.42\00:25:34.46
Karen and I love you. We love
you to death. I kind of thought
00:25:34.46\00:25:40.10
I was gonna end up that way...
[ Laughter ] ...but it didn't.
00:25:40.10\00:25:44.54
We lived too long. Anyway,
we love you with all our hearts.
00:25:44.54\00:25:49.64
You -- You took in this little
31-year-old pastor with his
00:25:49.64\00:25:55.52
31-year-old wife and 3-year-old
boy, and you just started loving
00:25:55.52\00:25:58.52
on us. And you have been so
compassionate. You've been so
00:25:58.52\00:26:00.96
tolerant. You've been so
patient. You've put up with a
lot. But there is no way --
00:26:00.96\00:26:06.13
Look it, life is changing. Your
life is gonna change. Our life
00:26:06.13\00:26:11.20
is gonna change. Everything
changes. But what will never
change is the way our hearts
00:26:11.20\00:26:16.81
will hold our love for you this
tight throughout all eternity.
We thank you for the privilege,
00:26:16.81\00:26:24.71
for eternity, the privilege
you gave us to serve in this
00:26:24.71\00:26:29.78
capacity. What I'm gonna do
right now, I have all -- the
word-for-word script, written on
00:26:29.78\00:26:35.59
a typewriter with black and red
ribbon. You don't know what that
means. But I wrote a prayer.
00:26:35.59\00:26:41.73
So, after this lengthy
introduction, like I've just
00:26:41.73\00:26:47.14
done... Before we begin, let's
pray. I have the words written
00:26:47.14\00:26:50.51
right there, in case my mind
goes blank. So, I'm gonna read
to you the prayer I prayed --
00:26:50.51\00:26:54.88
the first prayer I ever prayed
into a microphone in the Pioneer
00:26:54.88\00:26:59.71
Memorial Church. I'm gonna pray
it right now. Couldn't get
through it in first service,
00:26:59.71\00:27:03.39
but I'm kind of
steeled for it now. All right.
00:27:03.39\00:27:08.59
"Father of this family, Lord of
this Word, through this living
00:27:08.59\00:27:16.53
encounter, speak to us. Hide
these two lips and these many
hearts in the shadow of
00:27:16.53\00:27:23.04
Jesus' presence, whose voice we
have come to hear, in whose name
00:27:23.04\00:27:31.51
we listen. Amen." >> Amen.
00:27:31.51\00:27:35.28
>> Like the slide says,
the best is yet to come.
00:27:35.48\00:27:40.86
The best is yet to come for you.
The best is yet to come for me.
00:27:40.86\00:27:45.36
The best is yet to
come for all of us.
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.86
You say, "Dwight,
you can't prove that.
00:27:47.86\00:27:49.20
You just cannot prove
that." I can prove it.
00:27:49.20\00:27:54.44
You'll see. You know the story
00:27:54.44\00:27:56.91
backwards and forwards.
But because I know Jesus,
00:27:56.91\00:28:01.94
I know that is true.
Because Jesus is there,
00:28:01.94\00:28:05.15
His mother is there,
His disciples are there.
00:28:05.15\00:28:07.42
It's a village just
like Berrien Springs,
00:28:07.42\00:28:09.35
and they're going to
have a big celebration because
00:28:09.35\00:28:12.25
they're gonna have a wedding --
like weddings have taken place
00:28:12.25\00:28:15.02
in this little village
church of Berrien Springs
00:28:15.02\00:28:17.63
for 40 years now.
00:28:17.63\00:28:19.49
They're gonna have a
big wedding. But in the day,
00:28:19.69\00:28:22.43
as you well know, these events
could be prolonged for -- for up
00:28:22.43\00:28:29.77
to a week. How would you like
that, father of the bride? My.
00:28:29.77\00:28:33.51
And sure enough, that's exactly
what happened. Got prolonged.
00:28:33.51\00:28:38.68
They ran out of
refreshments. No wine. Bad news.
00:28:38.68\00:28:44.62
F.F. Bruce, the great New
Testament commentator, "...to
00:28:44.62\00:28:50.79
run short Before it was due to
end" -- Speaking of this little
mini crisis -- "...was a serious
00:28:50.79\00:28:56.56
blow, particularly damaging to
the reputation of the host. Mary
may well have had some
00:28:56.56\00:29:01.80
responsibility for catering. At
any rate, she knew that, in such
00:29:01.80\00:29:06.07
a crisis, she could not do
better than to call upon her
son's resourcefulness."
00:29:06.07\00:29:09.98
Now, watch this. "Probably she
had learned by experience that
00:29:09.98\00:29:13.55
to draw his attention to a
need was a sure way of getting
00:29:13.55\00:29:19.32
something done." By the way,
that last line is true. Some of
you have a huge need.
00:29:19.32\00:29:23.06
You need Jesus to step in your
life right now. There's
something going on,
00:29:23.06\00:29:26.46
and it's not -- it's not pretty.
I want you to know that that
line is absolutely true --
00:29:26.46\00:29:30.70
if you will bring that to His
attention, He can do something
00:29:30.70\00:29:37.74
about it. Hold it to yourself.
Not willing to fold them, but
00:29:37.74\00:29:41.54
hold them. No. You go on.
You go on with that need unmet.
00:29:41.54\00:29:47.65
Wow. So, you know the
story. In fact, when the wine
00:29:47.65\00:29:52.85
was gone -- this is John
2, verse 3. "When the wine was
00:29:52.85\00:29:55.89
gone, Jesus' mother said to him,
'They have no more wine.'
'Woman, why do you involve me?'
00:29:55.89\00:30:02.06
Jesus replied. 'My hour has not
yet come.'" Mary appears twice
00:30:02.06\00:30:08.47
in the Gospel of John. The
fourth Gospel, she appears twice
00:30:08.47\00:30:11.34
-- once in Cana, and once at
Calvary -- once at a wedding,
00:30:11.34\00:30:16.68
once on a cross. And both times,
Jesus calls her "woman."
Tomorrow is Mother's Day.
00:30:16.68\00:30:25.62
Don't you dare call your mother,
and say, "Yo, woman, how you
00:30:25.62\00:30:29.59
doing?" You can't do that. The
culture has totally changed in
00:30:29.59\00:30:35.06
two millennia. The Greek word
that is used is a title of -- of
00:30:35.06\00:30:39.27
great respect -- "Madam," or
"Milady" if you're from the UK.
00:30:39.27\00:30:42.70
"What does this have to do
with me? It's not my hour."
00:30:45.27\00:30:48.08
You know it was spoken with
tenderness. But the whole point
00:30:48.08\00:30:55.72
is this -- Jesus never calls his
mother "Mother." Not in John.
00:30:55.72\00:31:04.56
Mnh-mnh. Why? Craig Keener,
00:31:04.56\00:31:07.60
another brilliant -- and
still living -- New Testament
00:31:07.60\00:31:11.27
commentator. "She" -- Mary --
"...approached him not as her
son, but as a miracle worker.
00:31:11.27\00:31:17.07
He replies not as her son,
but as her Lord." The boundaries
00:31:17.07\00:31:23.68
must not be broken. "You
need to understand who I am.
00:31:23.68\00:31:26.41
Yes, I'm your boy. And you're
my mother. But I'm your Lord.
00:31:26.41\00:31:32.05
Do you understand that
about me? I'm your Lord." Oh.
00:31:32.05\00:31:37.86
I got it.
00:31:37.86\00:31:39.09
The story goes on.
00:31:42.73\00:31:43.73
"His mother said to the
servants, 'Hey, do whatever he
00:31:46.07\00:31:51.04
tells you.'" If you're wrestling
right now with something Jesus
00:31:51.04\00:31:53.98
has told you, and you're saying,
"Nah, nah, maybe, no, nah." That
00:31:53.98\00:31:58.41
is a -- That is the great
success line of life -- of you
do what He tells you,
00:31:58.41\00:32:04.22
you'll find ultimate success.
"Do what he tells you," she
tells the servants.
00:32:04.22\00:32:08.86
"Nearby stood six stone water
jars, the kind used by the Jews
00:32:08.86\00:32:12.26
for ceremonial washing, each
holding 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus
said to the servants,
00:32:12.26\00:32:17.13
'Fill the jars with water.
So they filled them to the brim.
00:32:17.13\00:32:19.87
Then, he told them, 'Now, draw
some out, and take it to the
master of the banquet.'
00:32:19.87\00:32:23.24
They did so, and the master of
the banquet tasted the water
that had been turned into wine.
00:32:23.24\00:32:26.91
He did not realize where it had
come from, though the servants
00:32:26.91\00:32:30.48
who had drawn the water knew
this was water. Then, he called
00:32:30.48\00:32:34.32
the bridegroom aside, and he
said, 'Everyone brings out the
00:32:34.32\00:32:38.35
choice wine first, and then the
cheaper wine after the guests
have had too much to drink.
00:32:38.35\00:32:41.86
But you have saved the
best till now.'" You know why?
00:32:41.86\00:32:48.10
Because with Jesus, the best is
always yet to come. You asked me
00:32:48.10\00:32:54.34
to prove it. I just did. >>
Amen. >> Let's just isolate that
00:32:54.34\00:32:57.61
line. I want you to see it. "But
you have saved the best till
00:32:57.61\00:33:05.01
now." My, oh my, oh my.
"With Jesus..." How's that go?
00:33:05.01\00:33:13.22
"With Jesus, the best is always
yet to come." By the way, that's
00:33:13.22\00:33:20.90
been the prevailing truth in the
universe from in the beginning.
In fact, in the beginning,
00:33:20.90\00:33:25.57
this little hunk of rock --
third rock from the from the
00:33:25.57\00:33:30.61
sun, as we like to think of the
Earth, this little humble,
humble hunk of rock
00:33:30.61\00:33:35.08
is in a no-name solar system,
doing nothing, until the creator
of the universe walks by,
00:33:35.08\00:33:42.02
and, after seven days, turns it
into the garden hotspot of the
00:33:42.02\00:33:47.29
universe. Why? Because with
Jesus, the best is always yet to
00:33:47.29\00:33:53.13
come. Abraham and -- Abraham and
Sarah were just another
infertile Middle Eastern couple,
00:33:53.13\00:33:58.83
until He came along and said, "I
want to tell you something."
Abraham had a hard time
00:33:58.83\00:34:03.17
sinking his mind into this. "I'm
gonna make your descendants like
the stars of heaven.
00:34:03.17\00:34:07.38
The entire planet will be
blessed because of you." How
00:34:07.38\00:34:14.52
could that be? Because with
Jesus, the best is yet to come.
00:34:14.52\00:34:19.59
He comes by -- by a median
shepherd. He says, "Go let my
people go." And under the cover
00:34:19.59\00:34:24.69
of dark, under the blood of that
midnight escape, Moses leads the
00:34:24.69\00:34:30.40
children of Israel to freedom.
And God is promising them, "When
00:34:30.40\00:34:35.10
this is over, you're gonna --
you're gonna move into a land
flowing with milk and honey."
00:34:35.10\00:34:40.54
Why? Because the best is yet to
come. It's always been that way.
00:34:40.54\00:34:45.05
Even when Israel exiled
themselves into rebellion in
00:34:45.05\00:34:51.85
Babylon, Jeremiah dashes off a
line from God to the exiles
locked in captivity.
00:34:51.85\00:34:57.89
These words read just a moment
ago -- Jeremiah, 29, verse 11,
00:34:57.89\00:35:01.20
God speaking, "For I know the
plans I have for you." And He's
talking to you, girl,
00:35:01.20\00:35:05.03
He's talking to you, boy, right
now. "'I know the plans I have
00:35:05.03\00:35:08.50
for you,' declares the Lord,
'Plans to prosper you.'" "I
don't care what's happening
00:35:08.50\00:35:12.17
in your life right now, I'm
gonna prosper you. You just got
00:35:12.17\00:35:16.81
to stay with me. You quit too
soon. Stay with me." "'Plans to
00:35:16.81\00:35:23.62
prosper you, and not to harm
you. Plans to give you hope and
00:35:23.62\00:35:29.49
a future.'" How can that be?
Because with Jesus, the best is
always yet to come.
00:35:29.49\00:35:33.23
That's why. I'm telling
you, we're not just bumping into
00:35:33.23\00:35:37.17
some little inconsequential
revelation from the universe.
00:35:37.17\00:35:42.20
This is the
truth of the universe.
00:35:42.20\00:35:43.74
No matter what predicament
you're going through right now
00:35:48.11\00:35:50.18
-- and some of you are in a real
pickle. No matter what terrible
00:35:50.18\00:35:54.62
misfortune or awful suffering
has descended upon you, whether
you're fighting your way
00:35:54.62\00:36:00.32
into a divorce or you're
battling your way out of a
disease, it doesn't matter.
00:36:00.32\00:36:06.80
Do not give up. >> Amen.
>> "I know the plans I have
00:36:06.80\00:36:14.14
for you. Plans to prosper
you, and not to harm you."
00:36:14.14\00:36:19.11
This boy is gonna be a preacher
one day. That's the only reason
00:36:19.11\00:36:21.64
children come forward, 'cause
they're being called by God to
00:36:21.64\00:36:25.38
be preachers. And so -- And this
is gonna be the mother of a
preacher. [ Laughter ]
00:36:25.38\00:36:31.72
Precious. Yep.
00:36:31.72\00:36:34.86
Never give up.
Why? Because with Jesus,
00:36:37.16\00:36:39.46
the best is always yet to come.
There are some here I know that
are getting ready to retire.
00:36:39.46\00:36:44.43
I don't know who they are, but
God be with you. And you need to
00:36:44.43\00:36:49.70
know this is not only a promise
for the sweet by and by. This is
00:36:49.70\00:36:53.61
not a promise for eternity. This
is a promise for the now and
00:36:53.61\00:36:59.71
now. Existentially, your
existence right now. This is a
00:36:59.71\00:37:05.25
promise for you. Right now. Not
manana, it's now. I came across
00:37:05.25\00:37:10.23
-- you know, I read a psalm a
day. And about 17 days ago I was
00:37:10.23\00:37:14.73
in Psalm 92, 'cause I was in
Psalm 109 this morning. Came
across these words --
00:37:14.73\00:37:18.17
Oh, listen to these words. Psalm
92, verse 12, and then verse 14
00:37:18.17\00:37:22.77
-- "The righteous will flourish
like a palm tree. They will grow
00:37:22.77\00:37:26.91
like a cedar of Lebanon. They
will still bear fruit in old
00:37:26.91\00:37:31.05
age, and they will stay fresh
and green." Well, I got a big
"amen" in first service.
00:37:31.05\00:37:35.12
And you know why? 'Cause it
was for us. This isn't for you.
00:37:35.12\00:37:40.39
This is for us. Man, oh,
man. "They will still bear fruit
00:37:40.39\00:37:43.89
in old age, and they
will stay fresh and green."
00:37:43.89\00:37:47.10
And then, I scribbled some time
ago, in the cycle of reading
00:37:47.10\00:37:50.37
through this, I came across
these words in a book called
"The Retirement Years."
00:37:50.37\00:37:54.37
And I want to share the
line with you. "The Retirement
00:37:54.37\00:37:57.51
Years." "If you will unite
willingly with the Lord in this
00:37:57.71\00:38:02.08
work, your last days
will be your brightest
00:38:02.08\00:38:04.95
and best." Take
that to the bank.
00:38:04.95\00:38:09.45
Take that to God.
I want my last days
00:38:09.45\00:38:14.69
to be my brightest and my best.
You want that, and I want that.
00:38:14.69\00:38:20.10
Why not? I see my
friend Peter, here.
00:38:20.10\00:38:23.47
I haven't seen
Peter in a long time.
00:38:23.47\00:38:25.47
Good to have you come out
today. I saw you coming in.
00:38:25.47\00:38:29.14
Yeah, just a theologian
that's in his mid-80s now.
00:38:29.14\00:38:34.98
The best is yet to
come even for Peter.
00:38:34.98\00:38:37.41
God bless you, Peter.
Yep. "Your last days will be
00:38:37.61\00:38:42.18
your brightest and
best." Wow. Which, by the way,
00:38:42.18\00:38:46.25
doesn't mean that everything
ahead is gonna be hunky dory.
Let's be clear about that.
00:38:46.25\00:38:50.66
That doesn't mean no potholes
in the road, no detours, no
00:38:50.66\00:38:58.13
precipices. That is not what
this is saying. This is saying,
"On spite of what life is like
00:38:58.13\00:39:03.20
on this planet, God will bring
you through it." Yeah, you got
00:39:03.20\00:39:08.88
flat tires, that engine is going
to blow, but don't give up.
God's got the solution,
00:39:08.88\00:39:15.78
and He gets you
through. Wow. Why?
00:39:15.78\00:39:20.36
Because... With Jesus, the
best is always yet to come.
00:39:20.36\00:39:24.59
There's only one word in the --
there's -- there's one word --
00:39:24.59\00:39:28.06
I say "only" -- one word in the
English language that summarizes
00:39:28.06\00:39:32.57
this line -- "With Jesus, the
best is yet to come." And that
one word is "h-o-p-e."
00:39:32.57\00:39:36.87
"Hope." That's the
word. This is all about hope.
00:39:36.87\00:39:39.94
Hope. You got hope.
When you confess that
00:39:39.94\00:39:43.45
the best is yet to come with
Jesus, you are making a
confession of hope.
00:39:43.45\00:39:47.58
Because somewhere in the Bible,
there is a line that goes like
00:39:47.58\00:39:50.72
this -- "He has placed eternity
in our hearts." Eternity.
00:39:50.72\00:39:55.82
There is something numinous
inside of us that believes, that
dares to believe --
00:39:55.82\00:40:00.00
maybe you don't quite believe
yet, but the dares to believe
that this is not it.
00:40:00.00\00:40:04.90
This is not all. This is not the
end. There's something better
00:40:04.90\00:40:09.90
coming. You couldn't tell it
by my life today, but there's
00:40:09.90\00:40:13.17
something better coming.
Somebody has put that -- planted
that eternity in our hearts,
00:40:13.17\00:40:18.88
so that we won't let go,
so we will hold on. Come on.
00:40:18.88\00:40:24.92
John Eldridge, in his wonderful
book "The Journey of Desire,"
boy he nails it, here.
00:40:24.92\00:40:28.72
"Something in us longs, hopes,
maybe even at times believes
that this is not the way
00:40:28.72\00:40:34.86
things were supposed to be.
Our desire fights the assault of
00:40:34.86\00:40:40.44
death upon life." How true. "And
so, people with terminal
illnesses get married."
00:40:40.44\00:40:44.87
"Prisoners in a concentration
camp plant flowers.
00:40:48.28\00:40:53.78
Lovers long divorced still reach
out in the night to embrace one
00:40:53.78\00:40:57.55
who is no longer there."
00:40:57.55\00:40:59.65
"At some deep level, we refuse
to accept the fact that this is
the way things are,
00:41:04.39\00:41:09.93
or must be, or always will be."
No. Eternity has been planted
00:41:09.93\00:41:15.94
in our hearts, and something
dares to believe the best is yet
00:41:15.94\00:41:21.44
to come. Don't ever let go
of that belief, ever. No matter
00:41:21.44\00:41:25.75
what's happened to you, don't
let go. I came across these
words some years ago,
00:41:25.75\00:41:31.55
reading "Christianity Today."
And boy, something clicked when
I read these words.
00:41:31.55\00:41:36.09
The author, Harry Blamires, "If
only we could have the positives
00:41:36.09\00:41:41.63
of earthly life without the
negatives. But that is precisely
what Heaven has to offer --
00:41:41.63\00:41:47.77
the removal of the negatives."
Keep reading. "here below time
00:41:47.77\00:41:53.84
withers flowers and human
beauty. It encourages good
intentions to evaporate.
00:41:53.84\00:41:57.51
It deprives us of our
loved ones. Within the universe
00:41:57.51\00:42:01.25
ruled by time, the happiest
marriage ends in death. The
00:42:01.25\00:42:06.29
loveliest woman becomes a
skeleton. Fading and aging,
losing and failing, being
00:42:06.29\00:42:12.33
deprived and being frustrated
-- these are negative aspects of
00:42:12.33\00:42:17.07
life in time. Life in eternity
will liberate us from all loss,
00:42:17.07\00:42:22.07
all deprivation." Can I get an
"amen" for that? [ All talking ]
00:42:22.07\00:42:25.11
All loss. All deprivation.
Gone. The best is coming.
00:42:25.11\00:42:31.18
And it's the best of
the best. So don't let go.
00:42:31.18\00:42:35.48
And what's the best of the best?
That's something is a someone.
00:42:43.86\00:42:51.70
And that's someone is the one
who, on the eve of his execution
-- in hours, He will die an
00:42:51.70\00:42:59.24
excruciating death pinned
between Heaven and Earth. That
00:42:59.24\00:43:06.28
night before, this someone made
a promise that you must never
forget. In fact, if you call
00:43:06.28\00:43:12.15
yourself an "Adventist," these
are the -- these are the most
00:43:12.15\00:43:16.66
beloved words -- next to John
3:16 -- in the entire Scripture.
00:43:16.66\00:43:23.23
John 14. On the eve of his
execution. In fact, I want us to
repeat these words together.
00:43:23.23\00:43:28.97
"Let not your heart be
troubled. You believe in God.
00:43:28.97\00:43:33.81
Believe, also, in me. In
my father's house are many
00:43:33.81\00:43:39.68
mansions. If it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.
00:43:39.68\00:43:46.69
And if I go and prepare a place
for you..." what's the next --
00:43:46.69\00:43:52.06
what are those four words? --
"...I will come again. And
receive you to myself,
00:43:52.06\00:43:58.23
that where I am, there you may
be also." "I will come again."
00:43:58.23\00:44:08.31
Those four words prove
the truth -- that with Jesus,
00:44:08.31\00:44:13.21
the best is yet to come, because
Jesus is yet to come. That's it.
00:44:13.21\00:44:20.39
That's it. H-o-p-e. You have it.
00:44:20.39\00:44:24.73
His promise. Hold on to
it. Don't ever let it go.
00:44:24.73\00:44:30.77
Wow. So, I suppose the question
-- as I draw to an end now,
00:44:30.77\00:44:37.07
I suppose the question is...
"Are you ready for Jesus to
00:44:37.07\00:44:45.58
come?" No, I'm serious.
Are you ready... for Jesus...
00:44:45.58\00:44:50.79
to come?
00:44:50.79\00:44:51.85
>> Back in January, early
one morning, I grabbed my yellow
00:44:56.52\00:45:00.23
pad, and scribbled down these
words. Got them right here. I
scribbled down in pencil.
00:45:00.23\00:45:06.33
"Jesus is coming soon." And
then I put a little, you know,
00:45:06.33\00:45:10.07
pointy at the bottom of that,
and then I scribbled "Sooner
00:45:10.07\00:45:17.71
than we think." And then,
the words, "Are we ready?"
00:45:17.71\00:45:20.52
Are we personally ready? I mean
you and me. Are we collectively
00:45:23.55\00:45:29.42
ready? Corporately?
Institutionally? Are we ready...
00:45:29.42\00:45:34.50
for Him to come? Does the way
we live, does the way we work,
00:45:34.50\00:45:43.30
does the way we play, does is
the way we entertain, does the
00:45:43.30\00:45:52.31
way we socialize? Could
you tell it by the way we live?
00:45:52.31\00:45:56.32
Does it reflect our cognizance
of our mission to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord?
00:45:59.49\00:46:05.89
Does it reflect our cognizance
of our condition, the culture
00:46:05.89\00:46:09.13
around us, and the culture
inside of us? Are we ready for
00:46:09.13\00:46:14.44
Jesus to come? Put it another
way -- and I -- my scribbling
continues, here -- if He were to
00:46:18.34\00:46:23.85
show up tonight -- tonight --
and sit down beside us, Beside
00:46:23.85\00:46:31.62
that laptop, beside that big
screen, beside that gaming
console -- if he were to show up
00:46:31.62\00:46:43.16
tonight, would he conclude...
we are eagerly waiting for him?
00:46:43.16\00:46:47.87
Are you ready for Jesus to come?
I'm asking you. For 40 years,
00:46:51.37\00:46:57.08
I've wondered about me,
and I've wondered about us.
00:46:57.08\00:47:04.02
One of these days, God's going
to run out of 40s. It's over.
00:47:07.66\00:47:14.63
Sorry. Oh, by the way, the drunk
that swerves into your lane,
00:47:14.63\00:47:23.30
and that's the end for you.
Jesus just came. That was Jesus
00:47:23.30\00:47:29.88
coming for you. So don't give me
this, "Well, I'm looking for
something to happen out there
00:47:29.88\00:47:32.65
on the horizon, and then I'll
get ready." You're a fool if you
00:47:32.65\00:47:38.19
do that. You could be dead
tonight. Come on. You get the
00:47:38.19\00:47:45.53
point. If the best is yet to
come, if the best is soon to
come, am I, are you,
00:47:45.53\00:47:51.93
are we ready for Jesus to come?
And so, I'm gonna end with an
00:47:51.93\00:47:56.37
appeal today --
my last one, maybe.
00:47:56.37\00:47:58.81
Because getting ready for Jesus
is really very simple. It's not
00:48:02.28\00:48:08.98
rocket science. It's conscience.
That's the word "science" with
"con" in front of it.
00:48:08.98\00:48:15.66
Because that's inside of you.
You already know. You already
00:48:15.66\00:48:22.70
know how to be ready for Jesus.
In the long shot, you have no
00:48:22.70\00:48:28.50
clue. Let me just say, it's just
throwing -- throwing your life
00:48:28.50\00:48:31.14
open. "Jesus, you may come into
my heart right now. Whatever
that means, however you
00:48:31.14\00:48:35.14
do it, just come into my life. I
receive you as my savior. I
receive you as my master.
00:48:35.14\00:48:40.82
Come into my life." That's
it. If you mean it, that's it.
00:48:40.82\00:48:48.22
The conscience is what says,
"Get it out. Get that out of
00:48:48.22\00:48:54.36
here. Take it out." What Jesus
did in the temple right after
00:48:54.36\00:48:58.13
this story -- "Take it out. Get
it out. This does not belong."
00:48:58.13\00:49:01.27
That's what the conscience does.
You'll be fine. The conscience
00:49:01.27\00:49:05.24
will not kill you.
00:49:05.24\00:49:06.41
The conscience is the voice
of God to help you, to draw you.
00:49:06.61\00:49:13.68
You have
nothing to be afraid of.
00:49:13.68\00:49:15.98
The best is yet to come.
Do whatever he tells you.
00:49:15.98\00:49:21.89
Do whatever He tells you.
You can't play a game with Him.
00:49:21.89\00:49:25.39
No. You want a
miracle in your life?
00:49:25.39\00:49:29.53
Do whatever he tells you.
Then, you get your miracle.
00:49:29.53\00:49:35.14
So... if you're
watching on a screen
00:49:35.14\00:49:39.07
right now, I'm
talking to you, too.
00:49:39.07\00:49:42.24
You know
exactly what I'm saying.
00:49:42.24\00:49:43.38
You know exactly what your
conscience is saying to you
00:49:43.58\00:49:47.75
right now. Obey. Do
whatever He tells you. Obey it.
00:49:47.75\00:49:52.72
You'll be fine. Because the
best is yet to come. You lose
00:49:52.72\00:49:57.93
nothing. You gain everything.
So, I want you to sit back, and
00:49:57.93\00:50:05.50
be thinking, "What do I -- What
should I say to Jesus about...
being ready to come right now?
00:50:05.50\00:50:11.91
What should I tell Him?" Oh, I
think you know what to tell Him.
00:50:11.91\00:50:16.24
Tell Him. Karen's gonna come.
My sweetheart all these years.
00:50:16.24\00:50:21.52
And she's gonna sing this
beautiful song, "Are You Ready
00:50:21.52\00:50:24.59
For Jesus To Come?" It's as old
as the hills. But just listen to
00:50:24.59\00:50:31.23
the words. Just listen to the
words. And talk to Jesus, will
you, while she's singing.
00:50:31.23\00:50:36.43
い
00:50:38.13\00:50:45.61
[ Applause ]
00:54:26.80\00:54:30.07
>> So, are you ready? I want
you to be ready. I love you.
00:54:39.84\00:54:46.11
And I want to be in Heaven. And
I know you want to be in Heaven,
00:54:46.11\00:54:51.72
too. So, it's not gonna hurt us
to go on record before the
witnessing universe right now,
00:54:51.72\00:54:59.06
by the grace of Jesus. I want to
be ready. Do whatever you wish
00:54:59.06\00:55:06.50
in my life, Father, to get
me ready. Because the best --
00:55:06.50\00:55:14.04
the very best -- is yet to
come. If you'd like to send that
00:55:14.04\00:55:19.08
prayer to Heaven, don't jump up
because everybody around you is
00:55:19.08\00:55:21.88
jumping up. No, you got to mean
it. You're not doing it for me.
00:55:21.88\00:55:29.52
Do it for Him. Did you stand to
your feet, and send that message
00:55:29.52\00:55:33.09
to Heaven? So God, Dear Father,
blessed Jesus, beloved spirit,
You've never failed us.
00:55:42.20\00:55:53.42
Your fingerprints are
all over us. 40 years.
00:55:53.42\00:55:57.69
What's that to You? And you'll
never leave us or forsake us.
00:55:57.69\00:56:04.19
We do want to be ready if Jesus
were to come tonight. But of
00:56:04.19\00:56:09.30
course. Why would I not want
to be ready? So, give us the
00:56:09.30\00:56:13.77
courage, and grace, and the
gumption, and the strength... to
do what needs to be done.
00:56:13.77\00:56:21.11
We'll throw that door wide open
to our forever friend. And we
00:56:21.11\00:56:26.35
will spend forever together, we
who stand in your presence now.
00:56:26.35\00:56:32.19
We love you back, Father. We
love you back. In Jesus' name,
00:56:32.19\00:56:39.49
amen. Before you go,
let me take an extra moment
00:56:47.40\00:56:49.50
to share with you an opportunity
to get into the Bible
00:56:49.50\00:56:52.11
in a fresh, new way.
All across this planet,
00:56:52.11\00:56:55.21
more and more people are hearing
the call to examine scriptures
00:56:55.21\00:56:57.91
for themselves.
00:56:57.91\00:56:59.28
If you've felt drawn to learn
more about God's Word, but you
00:56:59.48\00:57:02.62
don't know where to start, or
you're just looking for a more
in-depth examination of Bible
00:57:02.62\00:57:06.96
truths, then I have something
right here that I believe you're
00:57:06.96\00:57:10.63
going to enjoy. I want to send
you a series of guides to get
you started. This one is
00:57:10.63\00:57:14.23
entitled -- you can see it right
here -- "Why Does God Allow
Suffering?" Each guide begins
00:57:14.23\00:57:19.07
with a story, an
introduction of the subject.
00:57:19.07\00:57:20.80
Then, through a series of
focused questions, you'll be
00:57:21.00\00:57:23.54
learning portions of the Bible
you may never have known before.
00:57:23.54\00:57:26.74
And when you're
through, you'll be able to share
00:57:26.74\00:57:29.04
with others some of these
inspiring scriptural truths
00:57:29.04\00:57:31.68
for yourself. Just
call our toll-free number.
00:57:31.68\00:57:34.38
It's on the screen right now
-- 877 -- you see it there --
00:57:34.38\00:57:37.45
877. And then the two words
00:57:37.45\00:57:39.42
"his will." Friendly operators
00:57:39.42\00:57:41.89
are standing by to send
these study guides to you.
00:57:41.89\00:57:44.33
So, once again,
that's 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:44.33\00:57:47.76
Call that number.
And then again, join me
00:57:47.76\00:57:51.13
right here next
week, at this same time.
00:57:51.13\00:57:54.50
い い
00:57:59.04\00:58:12.82
い い
00:58:12.82\00:58:26.37