¤¤
00:00:01.43\00:00:11.11
[ Organ plays ]
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>> ¤ Sanctus,
Sanctus ¤ Sanctus, Dominus
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¤ Sanctus, Sanctus ¤
Deus Sabaoth! ¤ Deus Sabaoth!
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>> ¤ Sanctus,
Sanctus ¤ Sanctus, Dominus
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¤ Sanctus, Sanctus ¤
Deus Sabaoth! ¤ Deus Sabaoth!
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>> ¤ Pleni suni coeli et terra ¤
Pleni suni coeli et terra gloria
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tua ¤ ¤ Pleni suni coeli,
coeli et terra ¤ ¤ Pleni suni,
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pleni suni gloria tua ¤
¤ Pleni suni ¤ Pleni suni
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gloria tua ¤
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>> ¤ Pleni suni coeli >> ¤ Pleni
suni coeli >> ¤ Pleni suni coeli
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>> ¤ Coeli et terra >> ¤ Coeli
et terra >> ¤ Coeli et terra
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>> ¤ Gloria tua >> ¤
Gloria tua >> ¤ Gloria tua
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>> ¤ Pleni suni coeli ¤
Coeli et terra >> ¤ Gloria tua
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¤ Gloria tua ¤ Sanctus,
Sanctus ¤ Sanctus, Dominus
00:04:09.54\00:04:28.53
¤ Sanctus, Sanctus ¤ Deus
Sabaoth! ¤ Sanctus, Sanctus
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¤ Sanctus, Dominus ¤
Sanctus ¤ Deus Sabaoth!
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¤ Osanna ¤ Osanna
in excelsis ¤ Amen
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¤ Amen
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>> Oh, good morning, boys
and girls. >> Good morning,
00:05:50.98\00:05:54.52
Pastor Dwight
Nelson. >> Nice. [ Laughter ]
00:05:54.52\00:05:58.05
Well, thank you. I like formal
greetings. But nice to see you.
00:05:58.05\00:06:03.53
What a sight you are. I think
you're the most beautiful boys
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and girls on this whole planet.
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Thank you for being who you are.
And what a treat to have you
00:06:10.57\00:06:13.87
here today. So I thought,
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"Oh, boy, what shall I
share? Our last children's story
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together." And
then I remembered --
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Oh, it's true. There
was a children's story
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we shared years ago.
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You weren't even alive yet. So
I knew you wouldn't remember it.
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But for some reason the story
got picked up online and then it
just started going everywhere.
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So I went on because I forgot
some of the details. So I went
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online and typed it in, the few
words, and, bingo, there's the
story. "Dwight Nelson once
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said..." What? Are you tying
that story to me? Actually, a
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Romanian lady -- This is a true
story. A Romanian lady wrote me,
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and she said, "You got to hear
this story." So I'm not sure if
it happened in Romania or in
00:07:08.79\00:07:15.70
America, but... It's about a pet
-- well, I don't want to say a
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pet cat, but a little tiny kitty
cat. Anybody have cats at home?
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Come on. If you have cats
at home. Oh, I see my three
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granddaughters raising their
hands. Ella. Izzy's hand went
00:07:26.34\00:07:28.88
up. And there's little Lily's
hand. Yep. How about -- How
00:07:28.88\00:07:33.75
about dogs? Equal opportunity.
Anybody have dogs at home? Okay,
so we got them covered.
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>> My mom can't have cats
because she's allergic. >> She's
00:07:36.72\00:07:39.62
allergic to cats, so your mother
doesn't have it. Okay, well,
that makes sense to me.
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I wouldn't have it either if
I were allergic. But the pastor
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of a church in that town,
wherever that town was, walked
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outside into his backyard.
True story. And he saw a little
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kitty. Now, little kitties come
and little kiddies go, but the
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little kitty had actually
started climbing up into the
tree in the pastor's backyard.
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And you know how little kitties,
they have very sharp little tiny
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claws. And that little kitty
just going up, up. The pastor
said, "Yo, yo, stop.
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Hey! Psst, psst!
Meow, meow! Come here."
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And the kitty just looked down.
Ohh! Oh, she's not gonna go
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down. And the kitty kept
climbing. The pastor said,
"Okay, I'm gonna climb this
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tree. That's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna get up there and I'll
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grab that cat and I'll bring
it down, put it in my pocket.
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That's it." But he couldn't get
high enough in the tree, and the
branches were -- it
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wasn't a big tree, and the
branches would -- would break.
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Oh, man. He said, "I
know what I'm gonna do.
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Oh, she's too high now. I'm
gonna get a rope and I'm gonna
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take this rope and throw it
around that branch where she is,
get the other end and I'm going
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to bend the tree back."
He did. Tree started to bend.
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Oh, the tree's too big. It's not
bending enough. And the little
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kitty's just up there. [ Meowing
] "Oh, I got to get that cat
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and save its life. Oh, I know
what I want to do. I'm gonna
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take that rope and I'm gonna get
my car. That's what I'm gonna
do. And he backed up his car
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right into that backyard. He had
the back bumper facing the tree.
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He said, "Okay, okay, now, don't
go anywhere." And he tied that
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rope around his back bumper.
He said, "This is gonna bend the
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tree. I'll just drive it five
feet. The tree will be down. I
can grab that kitty
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and save its life." And that's
what he did. He got in the car.
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He stepped on -- ooh, go easy.
Don't go fast when you're
driving on your own lawn.
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Go slow, go slow. And so the car
began to go. And sure enough,
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the rope got taut and he began
to pull it and pull it. And that
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little tree began to bend
farther than he could bend it on
his own. And that tree kept
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bending over and he said, "Oh,
this is gonna be... Oh, no."
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He looked out the window
looking back, "No, that's not.
00:10:04.20\00:10:07.24
It's got to come back more." So
he's backing -- he's driving the
00:10:07.24\00:10:11.87
car going forward and he's
pulling that tree and it's
coming down. "Oh..." he said,
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"Oh, we're almost there." And
he drove just a little further,
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and suddenly -- Boing! [
Laughter ] The rope broke
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and that little tree
went -- zhoo! [ Laughter ]
00:10:28.69\00:10:36.56
The cat was gone.
[ Laughter ] Gone.
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Did I tell you this is a
true story? The cat was gone.
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Oh, no! Oh! He prayed
a prayer of forgiveness.
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The cat is gone. Well, maybe it
came down. So he started going
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door to door in that
neighborhood, everywhere around,
saying, "Hey, have you --
00:11:02.39\00:11:05.86
have you seen a little kitty?
A little kitty? You're missing a
00:11:05.86\00:11:09.63
little kitty? Has one shown
up in your front yard, backyard,
00:11:09.63\00:11:13.80
whatever?" "No, no,
no, no." "Oh. Well, I hope
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God will take care of that cat."
A few days later, this Romanian
00:11:18.17\00:11:24.31
lady -- who wrote this story to
me, so I know it's true -- a few
days later, the pastor
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is in the little grocery store.
He's doing a little shopping.
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And he bumps into one of his
church members. She's a member
of his church like I have church
00:11:36.86\00:11:41.63
members in my church, and you
can meet at Apple Valley Market.
00:11:41.63\00:11:47.77
And he said, "Hi, sister, how
are you?" She said, "Fine,
Pastor." He looked --
00:11:47.77\00:11:52.24
pastors should never do this. He
looked in the grocery cart to
see what was in it.
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And pastors don't want to
do that ever. He looked in the
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grocery cart, and he
saw... >> A kitty. >> No.
00:12:02.98\00:12:07.02
Cat food. He said,
"Sister, you have always
00:12:07.02\00:12:14.93
let us know at church you just
do not like cats. Why are you
00:12:14.93\00:12:23.51
buying cat food?" She stops and
says, "Oh, Pastor, my little
girl has been begging me for
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weeks, "We need to get a cat."
And I said, "No, we're not,
we're not, we're not."
00:12:32.95\00:12:37.19
She said, "I'm gonna pray
for a cat." Mother said, "Won't
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help to pray for a cat.
You're not gonna pray for a cat.
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You're not gonna get one.
Finally, the other day, she
00:12:42.09\00:12:46.13
said, 'Mommy, just let me pray
for a cat.' Mommy said okay. So
she went out in her backyard.
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She knelt down. She
started praying for that cat.
00:12:54.67\00:12:59.24
And, Pastor, you are not gonna
believe this. You are not...
00:12:59.24\00:13:03.04
You are not gonna believe
this. While she was praying,
00:13:03.04\00:13:07.38
I saw it with my own eyes..."
[ Laughter ] "Out of heaven...
00:13:07.38\00:13:15.72
comes a kitty with all four
legs out." "I'm coming down!"
00:13:15.72\00:13:21.70
[ Laughter ] Isn't
that something? True story.
00:13:21.70\00:13:30.31
The lady sent it to me. Somebody
picked it up, and now it's on
00:13:30.31\00:13:36.88
the Internet. I just got it last
night late from Weslaco, Texas.
First Baptist Church,
00:13:36.88\00:13:43.12
March 23, 2023. So the story
is still going. Well, it's a
00:13:43.12\00:13:49.56
wonderful story to keep going.
You know why? Because we laugh
00:13:49.56\00:13:52.76
when our little children
ask Jesus for big things. Oh, we
00:13:52.76\00:13:58.90
say, "Girl, wait till you grow
up. You'll quit praying those
00:13:58.90\00:14:01.30
kind of prayers. Boy, don't --
don't ask so much from Jesus."
00:14:01.30\00:14:06.44
And you know what the Bible
says? Do you know what Jesus
said? He said, "Listen, you ask
00:14:06.44\00:14:10.91
and you will receive.
You seek and you will find.
00:14:10.91\00:14:14.15
You knock [Knocking] and the
door will be opened. Now, I know
00:14:14.15\00:14:20.06
-- I know nobody's praying for a
cat, but I know that on your
young little heart you have
00:14:20.06\00:14:26.83
something you want Jesus to give
you soon. And I'm praying that
you'll start praying and asking
00:14:26.83\00:14:34.84
Jesus for that very special
gift. It may be -- I was just
talking with somebody,
00:14:34.84\00:14:39.67
a mommy and a daddy having a
very difficult time. It may be
you want your mommy
00:14:39.67\00:14:44.18
and daddy to be able to be okay.
It seems like a big prayer. And
there's some grown-ups
00:14:44.18\00:14:51.35
who say, "Well, you better just
quit praying that prayer because
00:14:51.35\00:14:54.16
that's not gonna happen." I'm
here to tell you that you asked
00:14:54.16\00:14:58.79
Jesus with a heart that believes
like a little heart does, you
ask Jesus, and you let
00:14:58.79\00:15:03.77
Jesus decide how best to answer
that prayer. Don't you ever quit
00:15:03.77\00:15:09.40
praying. Don't you ever stop
asking Jesus, because the best
00:15:09.40\00:15:13.84
is yet to come. So you stay
close to Jesus and I'll be
cheering you on from a distance
00:15:13.84\00:15:17.41
-- yes, I will -- knowing that
you and Jesus are gonna be the
00:15:17.41\00:15:23.52
best of friends forever and
ever. And on this last story
time, who is gonna be the last
00:15:23.52\00:15:32.53
one to pray today? Noa, I saw
your hand. I'm sorry, but Noa
00:15:32.53\00:15:40.84
beat you. Noa, come on. All
right. I've known Noa all her
life, and she's a sweet friend
00:15:40.84\00:15:46.54
of Jesus. And you know
what? After you're through,
00:15:46.54\00:15:49.18
Noa, I want to say a prayer
for the children. Would that be
00:15:49.18\00:15:52.61
okay? But let's just thank Jesus
for asking us to ask Him. All
right. Close your eyes.
00:15:52.61\00:15:57.49
Close your eyes and fold your
hands. And let's listen to Noa.
00:15:57.49\00:16:01.79
>> Dear Jesus, thank you
for this day. Please help that,
00:16:01.79\00:16:05.49
whoever is sick, lay angels
around them. Please help that as
00:16:05.49\00:16:12.03
we are celebrating our last day
with Pastor Dwight preaching,
please help that this day we can
00:16:12.03\00:16:17.04
cherish it for the rest
of our lives... >> Amen.
00:16:17.04\00:16:19.77
>> ...as he is a great pastor.
Please help that we can all have
a good rest of the Sabbath
00:16:19.77\00:16:25.38
and keep on preaching You
forever and ever until You come
00:16:25.38\00:16:29.82
wash away all our sins that we
have done In Your name we pray.
00:16:29.82\00:16:33.02
Amen. >> Amen. And dear Jesus,
dear Jesus... [ Applause ]
00:16:33.02\00:16:37.59
Dear, dear Jesus, thank
you for Noa's beautiful prayer.
00:16:37.59\00:16:44.00
And I pray that You will take
her and every girl up front and
every boy up front,
00:16:44.00\00:16:49.87
and that Your nail-scarred hands
will just go around them and
give them a Sabbath hug
00:16:49.87\00:16:54.51
right now. But dear
Jesus, don't ever let them go.
00:16:54.51\00:16:58.68
Keep listening to their prayers.
They trust You. And You know
00:16:58.68\00:17:04.95
the very best answers to give.
So keep loving on them until one
day we're all at --
00:17:04.95\00:17:12.49
sitting, big people and
little people sitting at your
00:17:12.49\00:17:16.53
nail-scarred feet, and You'll be
telling the children's stories
in heaven. And we thank You for
00:17:16.53\00:17:22.00
that. In Your name we
pray. >> Amen. >> Amen.
00:17:22.00\00:17:25.77
Thank you, Noa. That's
beautiful. Bless your heart.
00:17:25.77\00:17:28.68
Thank you. >> Love you, Pastor
Dwight. >> I love you, too.
00:17:28.68\00:17:33.01
All right, boys and girls,
quietly and reverently, let's go
back to mom and dad
00:17:33.01\00:17:37.19
right now.
00:17:37.19\00:17:38.72
>> I have so much I want to
say. I just want to love on you
00:17:41.46\00:17:46.70
is really what I want to
do. I'm not very good at that.
00:17:46.70\00:17:51.20
And I think I've
been kind of hiding behind
00:17:51.20\00:17:57.21
the line...
00:17:57.21\00:18:00.71
"Well, we'll just be gone for a
year, and then we'll come back,"
to kind of steel me
00:18:00.91\00:18:10.22
to the very possible reality
that we will never come back. I
hate saying goodbye.
00:18:10.22\00:18:19.93
It's almost as if goodbye is
baked into our human DNA, isn't
00:18:19.93\00:18:24.93
it? We know it all comes to
an end. You think about it, the
00:18:24.93\00:18:28.80
relationships that matter the
most to you will either end with
a farewell, which means "fare
00:18:28.80\00:18:36.71
thee well," or with a funeral.
That's the human reality. That's
00:18:36.71\00:18:43.92
it. I suppose this melancholy
soliloquy on goodbye actually
00:18:47.72\00:18:55.30
can draw some strength from the
fact -- and you already know
this -- that "goodbye" is the
00:18:55.30\00:18:59.90
contraction of the Old
English phrase "God be with ye."
00:18:59.90\00:19:07.08
"Goodbye ye." You see the
"ye" at the end and the "good,"
00:19:07.08\00:19:09.81
the "God," at the beginning.
"Goodbye." And that's not so
00:19:09.81\00:19:14.05
unique to English. In Espaņol
it's "adios." That means "to
00:19:14.05\00:19:18.29
God." In French, it's "adieu."
It means "to God." If we thought
00:19:18.29\00:19:23.29
about that, it wouldn't be so
bad. "I send you to God." I send
00:19:23.29\00:19:28.53
you to God. In fact, it can mean
"God be with you." God be with
00:19:28.53\00:19:35.54
you. Spent some time between
services with a young friend of
00:19:35.54\00:19:40.54
mine who flew in today to be
here from Baltimore. His dad was
00:19:40.54\00:19:49.75
a dear friend of mine and a
prayer partner. Professor of
English here at Andrews
00:19:49.75\00:19:56.62
University. His dad's name is
Joe Warren. Joseph Warren.
Jophy, his eldest boy.
00:19:56.62\00:20:07.64
Talking with him. Joe became an
anonymous prayer partner during
00:20:07.64\00:20:14.04
Net '98, this satellite
evangelistic series, and he
00:20:14.04\00:20:16.98
would slide these beautifully
composed prayers under my office
door every day I'd get late
00:20:16.98\00:20:21.08
afternoon, get ready for the
evening program, and there would
00:20:21.08\00:20:25.22
be that prayer. Only afterwards
he finally identified himself.
to me, and we became
00:20:25.22\00:20:29.62
dear friends. He became a dear
friend. And we became prayer
00:20:29.62\00:20:37.17
partners. So Joe used to tell me
whenever we would gather to
prayer, "Hey, Dwight, don't
00:20:37.17\00:20:43.07
forget. Until you hear
otherwise, His previous orders
00:20:43.07\00:20:50.91
still stand." I'd never heard
that before. But I tucked that
00:20:50.91\00:20:57.42
away in my heart. And whenever
Karen and I would come to those
00:20:57.42\00:20:59.95
moments of just wrestling, "God,
what should we do?" the words of
00:20:59.95\00:21:04.39
Joe would come back. "Until
you hear otherwise, His previous
00:21:04.39\00:21:13.57
orders still stand." So...
we finally heard otherwise.
00:21:13.57\00:21:23.65
And that's why we're all
here today. I want Karen to come
00:21:23.65\00:21:28.42
and stand by me just so that you
know, when I say we're loving on
00:21:28.42\00:21:34.16
you with gratitude and deep,
deep honor and appreciation,
it's not just the boy saying it.
00:21:34.16\00:21:43.57
It's the boy and the girl.
Because you have been... just an
incredible family to us.
00:21:43.57\00:21:54.58
Okay? So... I want to say also,
00:21:54.58\00:22:02.32
while we're standing here
together, that I owe my life,
00:22:02.32\00:22:07.26
I owe my ministry to this woman
who's standing beside me. [
00:22:07.26\00:22:13.43
Applause ] Long before we fell
in love at the age of 19, God
00:22:28.31\00:22:33.98
picked her out. Said, "Boy,
I got somebody for you. Keep
00:22:33.98\00:22:39.69
yourself for her." I got a
letter from one of you. I was
reading it yesterday. "Forgive
00:22:45.36\00:22:52.93
my assumption, but I think Karen
is the one who keeps you
grounded." [ Laughter ]
00:22:52.93\00:22:57.64
"Her common sense has been a
pillar for you, and that may be
00:23:00.78\00:23:04.01
her biggest contribution
to PMC." [ Laughter ] You're
00:23:04.01\00:23:10.39
absolutely right. As a wife, as
a mother, as a Grammy, as a
nurse, as a professional, as
00:23:10.39\00:23:17.96
just a -- a disciple of Jesus
who has stood by me all these
years. 49 coming up in June.
00:23:17.96\00:23:26.43
Yeah. I am what I am because
of her. And that's why Kirk
00:23:26.43\00:23:32.44
and Krissy, our two kids
that we love to death, one day
00:23:32.44\00:23:36.68
they're gonna stand up with
their spouses, who we also love
00:23:36.68\00:23:41.75
dearly -- Chelsea for Kirk,
and Andrew for Krissy -- they're
00:23:41.75\00:23:46.99
gonna stand up one day as
Proverbs 31 declares, and they
00:23:46.99\00:23:51.09
will announce to the world...
00:23:51.09\00:23:53.53
I forget how that wording goes
in Proverbs 31. [ Laughter ]
00:23:58.23\00:24:04.54
>> She was a handful. >> No,
"They will rise up..." Here it
00:24:07.34\00:24:12.58
is. "They will rise up and call
her blessed." And Ella and Izzy,
00:24:12.58\00:24:19.22
who's sound asleep right now,
and Lily, who's out with Mom,
00:24:19.22\00:24:25.96
loving on Grammy. Okay, so
enough of this. [ Laughter ]
What was your comment, Ken?
00:24:25.96\00:24:31.23
By the way, thank you for
your kind remarks. It was very
00:24:31.23\00:24:34.40
thoughtful of you. And we love
Ken and Pat. We've known him, as
00:24:34.40\00:24:39.17
he said, forever. Um...
But what was that you said?
00:24:39.17\00:24:44.25
You said, "Since it's the last
day, it doesn't matter how long
00:24:44.25\00:24:48.15
you go"? Didn't you say that,
Mr. Union President? Didn't you
00:24:48.15\00:24:51.45
say that, Mr. Union President?
>> "What can we do about it?" >>
Yeah, "What can I do about
00:24:51.45\00:24:55.19
it?" >> Oh, okay.
I thought you meant
00:24:55.19\00:24:58.49
since this is the last day, we
can go as long as we want. >>
"What are you gonna do about
00:24:58.49\00:25:02.33
it?" >> [
Chuckling ] Ahh. Anyway.
00:25:02.33\00:25:08.20
People ask, "So, what are you
two gonna do now?" Thanks for
00:25:08.20\00:25:14.74
asking. We don't know.
Well, we do. We're gonna stay
00:25:14.74\00:25:18.98
in our house for a while.
And I'm gonna tell you a little
00:25:18.98\00:25:24.69
secret. The new pastor -- I'm
gonna talk about him a little
00:25:24.69\00:25:28.26
bit later -- because the whole
point of a leader is you prepare
the way for the leader who
00:25:28.26\00:25:32.86
follows you. And my farewell
sermon was last Sabbath. Sorry
to let you in on this.
00:25:32.86\00:25:38.03
This is now the preparation for
what's to come, okay? But I want
00:25:38.03\00:25:43.67
to tell you something. He bought
a house four doors down from us.
00:25:43.67\00:25:47.24
[ Laughter ] If he thought
he was getting away from Dwight,
00:25:47.24\00:25:50.85
he's not getting away from
Dwight now. I'll be out there
00:25:50.85\00:25:54.38
every Sabbath morning,
"Yo, Shane, you're a little late
00:25:54.38\00:25:58.15
today, aren't you? Man. What
do they teach you in Virginia?"
00:25:58.15\00:26:04.29
You're gonna love him and
Darlene and the two girls. But
anyway, so we're gonna
00:26:04.29\00:26:08.83
stay in that house.
00:26:08.83\00:26:10.43
And we're gonna stay put because
until we hear otherwise, His
00:26:14.17\00:26:17.41
previous order still stands. You
got that part? That's locked in
00:26:17.41\00:26:20.84
our minds. So we're gonna love
on our kids, we're gonna love on
00:26:20.84\00:26:22.74
our grandkids this summer. We're
going to love on our family
00:26:22.74\00:26:25.35
spread out all over the country.
And just Karen says, "Dwight,
00:26:25.35\00:26:30.12
three months. That's what
we do." Man, I'm... >> Or more.
00:26:30.12\00:26:32.95
>> Okay. [
Laughter ] Is that a speech
00:26:32.95\00:26:36.49
you want to give? >> No speech.
>> Because I was gonna ask
00:26:36.49\00:26:40.50
her if she wanted
to say anything. >> No.
00:26:40.50\00:26:42.33
>> Hold on to it because I'm
getting to the end right here.
00:26:42.33\00:26:45.33
So here's the deal. Now I'm
talking from my heart to you,
00:26:49.94\00:26:53.61
and you already know my heart.
Things are continuing to heat up
00:26:53.61\00:26:59.28
on this planet and in this
nation. And I do not want to be
far from the action.
00:26:59.28\00:27:04.25
Okay? Thank you for
that prayer, Pastor Rodlie.
00:27:04.25\00:27:08.66
I do not want to be far from the
action. I don't know what that
00:27:08.66\00:27:14.36
means. I just know that I
love the Seventh-day Adventist
00:27:14.36\00:27:18.30
Church. I believe it is the
apocalyptic -- It represents the
00:27:18.30\00:27:23.07
apocalyptic remnant of God. I'm
a fifth-generation Adventist,
00:27:23.07\00:27:27.74
a fourth-generation preacher.
And I remind my seminarians
00:27:27.74\00:27:33.28
every time I teach a class
there, Romans 11:29 -- "Both the
gifts and the calling
00:27:33.28\00:27:37.12
of God are irrevocable." Once
God gifts you, the gift stays.
00:27:37.12\00:27:42.22
You can mess up, but the gift
stays. He does not withdraw it.
00:27:42.22\00:27:47.23
Irrevocable. So I must continue
to preach. That's all I know.
00:27:47.23\00:27:54.50
And God will show -- the God who
has given the gift will provide
00:27:54.50\00:28:00.04
the way to exercise it for His
glory. Which leads us straight
00:28:00.04\00:28:10.29
to our last story. Did you want
to say anything? >> No. >> Okay.
00:28:10.29\00:28:13.09
[ Laughter ] >> Can I
sit down yet? >> You may.
00:28:13.09\00:28:17.66
>> Thank you. [ Laughter ]
>> I just love holding her hand.
00:28:17.66\00:28:24.43
I could stand up here and just
hold her hand the whole way.
00:28:24.43\00:28:27.80
Before the story of
prayer. Let us pray. O God.
00:28:33.11\00:28:37.58
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,
dominus. Holy, Holy Lord God
00:28:37.58\00:28:44.75
Almighty. God of our fathers and
mothers. God of the pioneers for
whom this church is a memorial.
00:28:44.75\00:28:51.49
One last time we are
gathered together with You in
00:28:51.49\00:28:56.16
this house of prayer for
all people. Be glorified.
00:28:56.16\00:29:00.20
Please be glorified in our
midst. Through Jesus Christ our
00:29:00.20\00:29:07.24
Lord. Amen. >> Amen.
00:29:07.44\00:29:10.35
>> Once upon a time, there
was a man named Moses who was
00:29:10.35\00:29:13.18
also a shepherd.
40 years a shepherd.
00:29:13.18\00:29:19.55
With one flock.
I know the feeling.
00:29:19.55\00:29:23.53
Not knowing that there would be
00:29:23.53\00:29:24.99
another 40 years with a
very different kind of flock.
00:29:24.99\00:29:27.93
The kicking and bucking
of the children of Israel.
00:29:27.93\00:29:32.20
Two 40-year terms.
"Until you hear otherwise,
00:29:32.20\00:29:37.64
Moses, your
previous order still stands.
00:29:37.64\00:29:40.34
Did you hear me,
boy?" "I got it."
00:29:40.34\00:29:45.08
>> Well, on the day he heard
otherwise, at the end of 40
00:29:45.28\00:29:51.25
long, repetitious, uneventful,
utterly unglamorous years,
00:29:51.25\00:29:54.69
Moses, who remains faithful and
contented to remain for the rest
00:29:54.69\00:30:00.70
of his life a simple shepherd
who leads his flocks in blessed
anonymity, all of that changes
00:30:00.70\00:30:07.27
on that afternoon. And we love
the story "The Prince of Egypt."
00:30:07.27\00:30:13.81
My little granddaughters,
I've watched it with them,
00:30:13.81\00:30:17.85
when that former prince of
Egypt, now forgotten shepherd --
00:30:17.85\00:30:24.99
and we always see it before
he does. Have you notice that?
00:30:24.99\00:30:28.29
We always see what's burning on
the rocky slope of this crag
called Mount Horeb.
00:30:28.29\00:30:33.96
We see it and we say, "Whoa!"
And we watch as he looks up and
starts running towards it.
00:30:33.96\00:30:41.34
"Stop, stop, stop! Back, Back!"
Because there on that shaly
00:30:41.34\00:30:52.85
slope is a desert mountain
scrub shrub. Probably an Acacia
00:30:52.85\00:30:59.22
nilotica. The plant that
eventually can grow up meters
high into a tree. The Hebrews
00:30:59.22\00:31:09.40
called it sneh. In the story,
it's called sneh. From which
00:31:09.40\00:31:14.47
many believe the name Sinai came
from. Sneh. The burning bush.
00:31:14.47\00:31:21.14
A bush this afternoon that
is engulfed in roaring flames,
00:31:21.14\00:31:26.45
but it's still green. Enveloped
in fire. And it's preserved.
00:31:26.45\00:31:35.39
The crackling is of the flames,
not the bush. All alone with the
00:31:35.39\00:31:44.40
sheep pushed back, Moses is
gonna check it out. And we love
00:31:44.40\00:31:51.91
that moment again when, as he
draws nearer and a voice speaks
from the flames and Moses
00:31:51.91\00:31:57.61
practically leaps out of his
skin. And the voice calls his
name. Let's go to it.
00:31:57.61\00:32:06.09
Exodus. Exodus 3. I'm
gonna save the time and
00:32:06.09\00:32:11.19
put it right here on the screen.
00:32:11.19\00:32:13.16
R. Arthur Mathews, in his book
"Born for Battle: Studies on
00:32:52.70\00:32:57.67
Spiritual Warfare" makes a point
I had never -- in this story --
a point I had never thought of
00:32:57.67\00:33:04.18
before. And I got to share
it with you. I'll put Mathews on
00:33:04.18\00:33:07.55
the screen. Wow. Nothing in
the bush is feeding the fire.
00:33:36.64\00:33:41.72
It just keeps roaring brighter
and more orange. What's up with
00:33:41.72\00:33:49.19
that? But by focusing on the
bush that doesn't burn, could it
be we've been missing
00:33:49.19\00:33:53.73
the greater miracle the whole
time? Mathews says, "Yep, you
00:33:53.73\00:33:59.47
have." "What do you mean?"
00:33:59.47\00:34:01.37
>> Amen. >> Isn't that
something? It's not about the
00:34:16.52\00:34:21.89
bush that is burning up.
It's about the fire that is not
00:34:21.89\00:34:27.03
running out. >> Amen.
>> My. How did he put it?
00:34:27.03\00:34:32.93
"Not the burning bush but the
fuel-less fire." You get what
00:34:32.93\00:34:38.91
he's saying? It's a big point.
For that reason and that reason
00:34:38.91\00:34:43.88
alone. Any old bush will do. Now
we're to the point. Any old bush
00:34:43.88\00:34:53.89
will do. There's been a lot of
fuss and hoopla about the pastor
of the Pioneer Memorial Church
00:34:53.89\00:34:57.66
these last few weeks.
Some people have put attractive
00:34:57.66\00:35:01.36
material together summarizing
the outgoing pastor's life and
ministry. And I've been blessed.
00:35:01.36\00:35:05.87
I have felt the love of the kind
words multiplied in this last
00:35:05.87\00:35:12.84
lap of the race. But in the
end, the bush -- the pastor --
00:35:12.84\00:35:20.22
really doesn't matter.
00:35:20.22\00:35:23.12
Because as it turns out,
the miracle is not the bush that
00:35:26.29\00:35:30.93
does not burn. The miracle is
the flame that does not go out.
00:35:30.93\00:35:36.23
That's the point.
That's the point. [ Applause ]
00:35:36.23\00:35:40.50
Which rightfully, by the way,
shifts the focus from the bush
to the God who ignites the bush,
00:35:44.94\00:35:51.28
shifts the focus from the human
to the divine behind the human.
And on the side of the human.
00:35:51.28\00:36:00.82
In fact, it's not about the
pastor at all. It's about the
00:36:00.82\00:36:05.83
God who has always led his
people and very humble sheep who
00:36:05.83\00:36:11.00
become shepherds. How do you
like that? The pastor is not
some super shepherd.
00:36:11.00\00:36:14.47
The pastor is a sheep who gets
called to lead the other sheep.
00:36:14.47\00:36:20.94
And through a long succession of
pastors and spiritual leaders,
that's how God has chosen
00:36:20.94\00:36:25.55
to lead his people on Earth. I
get it. Whoever's turn is done,
00:36:25.55\00:36:32.15
leaves. Whoever's turn is next,
comes. That's what happens. But
00:36:32.15\00:36:37.03
the fact is, any old bush will
do. It's not about the bush.
00:36:37.03\00:36:47.14
Here's a way... I like the way
some people think. Someone has
00:36:47.14\00:36:50.44
said that a new pastor is like
a new baby that comes to the
00:36:50.44\00:36:57.28
family. Right? When that new
baby comes into that family,
what does that family do?
00:36:57.28\00:37:03.95
Well, let's just decide a
minute. Let's just decide.
00:37:03.95\00:37:06.65
Do we like him as much
as the older kid? You know?
00:37:06.65\00:37:13.86
Shall we keep the baby or not?
No. It's a no-brainer. When a
00:37:13.86\00:37:20.10
new baby comes, the family
immediately, automatically,
throws wide its arms and says,
00:37:20.10\00:37:25.84
"Welcome to the family. You're
the newest one here. And we're
loving on you now."
00:37:25.84\00:37:32.51
You don't lose anybody when
you welcome somebody. >> Amen.
00:37:32.51\00:37:37.92
>> Because it's all about the
bush, and any old bush will do,
and bushes will come and bushes
00:37:37.92\00:37:42.49
will go, but the fire stays. And
hopefully goes with those who
00:37:42.49\00:37:51.87
go. And comes with those who
come. Wow. The story of Moses
00:37:51.87\00:37:59.31
is a reminder that the locus and
focus of the story is not Moses.
00:37:59.31\00:38:06.28
It's not Moses. It's
God. "I am the father
00:38:06.28\00:38:14.52
of your fathers. The God of the
universe." And who is this God
00:38:14.52\00:38:21.56
who's fuel-less fire -- code
term for "glory" -- can ignite
00:38:21.56\00:38:28.10
any old bush? That's exactly
what Moses wants to know.
Because God is saying,
00:38:28.10\00:38:31.97
"Hey, boy, you're gonna
go for me now." "Oh, really?
00:38:31.97\00:38:35.74
And who shall I..." Well,
let's just read it right here.
00:38:35.74\00:38:40.68
"Moses said to God, 'Suppose I
do go to the Israelites to say'"
00:38:40.68\00:38:45.09
-- God's gonna set you free
because God's heart is always
burdened and crushed when
00:38:45.09\00:38:49.69
His people are under bondage.
00:38:49.69\00:38:52.39
And right now, in the
history of this earth,
00:38:52.59\00:38:54.46
His people are under bondage.
They are under attack night
00:38:54.46\00:38:59.13
and day. The enemy of us
00:38:59.13\00:39:00.84
all has his sights on
you and his sights on me.
00:39:00.84\00:39:04.61
"I'll get her
yet. I'll get him yet.
00:39:04.61\00:39:06.27
Till my dying day."
That's how long we need to go.
00:39:06.27\00:39:11.45
Till His dying day.
God's heart is moved at the end
00:39:11.45\00:39:16.55
of Exodus 2 as he
looks on his people
00:39:16.55\00:39:19.82
and he hears their
cries for deliverance.
00:39:19.82\00:39:22.89
He needs somebody to go for Him.
00:39:22.89\00:39:26.76
I AM. Wow. And
who is this great I AM
00:39:49.12\00:39:58.33
that sends shepherds and pastors
wherever He chooses? Who is He?
00:39:58.33\00:40:03.97
I love this corroborating
red-letter identification of the
00:40:03.97\00:40:07.47
God inside the burning bush.
We'll let Jesus tell us. John 8.
00:40:07.47\00:40:12.74
Thank you, William. One of our
kids in our office staff that
00:40:12.74\00:40:18.25
grew up as a boy, and now he's
a handsome young adult. Yeah.
00:40:18.25\00:40:25.22
His mother's our treasurer.
"Jesus replied" -- because he's
00:40:25.22\00:40:31.73
-- the hierarchy of the temple,
are gunning for him. We're
00:40:31.73\00:40:35.13
getting closer to the end of the
Gospel. They are gunning. Jesus
00:40:35.13\00:40:39.67
replies to the countercharges.
00:40:39.67\00:40:41.30
Ha ha ha!
00:41:03.73\00:41:05.93
'Very truly I tell you' -- now,
this is code language, a
literary device that only
00:41:06.39\00:41:10.13
the Gospel of John uses, and
it's always only in red letters.
00:41:10.13\00:41:14.14
It's a double ameen. Whenever
the double ameen appears, it'll
00:41:14.14\00:41:19.37
be translated either "verily,
verily" or "very truly."
"'Very'" -- ameen, ameen --
00:41:19.37\00:41:23.81
"'I tell you,' Jesus answered,
'before Abraham was born,
00:41:23.81\00:41:30.09
I AM!'" What?! The
very next line reads,
00:41:30.09\00:41:35.32
"They picked up stones."
Why? Blasphemy. He claims
00:41:35.32\00:41:38.49
to be the self-existent one.
Get it. That's right. He is the
00:41:38.49\00:41:45.60
self-existent one. In our flesh.
Animated dust, just like you and
00:41:45.60\00:41:51.81
me. Came down, the pre-incarnate
Christ of the burning bush.
00:41:51.81\00:41:56.71
"I AM!" And it's Jesus. Wow.
00:41:56.71\00:42:04.29
And who is he... of whom the
angels sing sanctus, sanctus,
00:42:04.29\00:42:11.76
sanctus, holy, holy, holy?
Who is He? He's the maker of all
00:42:11.76\00:42:16.80
things, who loves and wants me.
He's the maker of all things,
who loves and wants you.
00:42:16.80\00:42:21.77
That's who He is. He's, by
the way, the very same I AM that
00:42:21.77\00:42:25.87
sends Abraham to the top of a
mountain, another mountain,
called Moriah. "Take your only
00:42:25.87\00:42:33.82
beloved son and sacrifice him to
me." And when that knifed hand
00:42:33.82\00:42:40.16
goes up and Abraham
has made the decision --
00:42:40.16\00:42:45.73
"I will put my trust in Him."
The seven-word credo of Jesus.
00:42:45.73\00:42:50.63
And the hand starts to come
down. Boom! Stop! Abraham,
Abraham. People God loves,
00:42:50.63\00:42:56.14
He calls twice. Moses,
Moses. Abraham, Abraham.
00:42:56.14\00:43:06.61
Saul, Saul. When you hear your
name twice, it's God loving on
00:43:06.61\00:43:12.32
you with some
very strong language.
00:43:12.32\00:43:15.59
And Mount Moriah becomes the
foretelling of Mount Calvary.
00:43:18.99\00:43:24.07
When Jesus says, "Abraham saw my
day and was glad," he saw
Calvary for Moriah.
00:43:24.07\00:43:30.51
Geographically there here.
But he saw the Gospel. And he
00:43:30.51\00:43:37.58
believed. "Desire of
Ages" explains it this way...
00:43:37.58\00:43:41.25
For you and for me. He gives
his only son to save us from our
00:44:00.57\00:44:12.21
sins. Jesus, the Lord of
Calvary, was and is and ever
will be the great I AM.
00:44:12.21\00:44:21.76
You know what that means?
That means -- now, here's the
00:44:21.76\00:44:27.03
application. No more pastors
now. This is you. That means
00:44:27.03\00:44:32.73
that what the pre-incarnate
Christ did to that scrub shrub
00:44:32.73\00:44:41.48
he can do to you. Any old bush
will do. God doesn't expect --
"Show me your credentials.
00:44:41.48\00:44:46.75
Then I'll decide what I can
do with you." You can have zero
00:44:46.75\00:44:50.35
credentials, zero education,
zero money, zero friends, zero
anything, and God says, "I can
00:44:50.35\00:44:57.46
do business with you." That's
all I need is a scrub scrub.
00:44:57.46\00:45:02.56
No matter your age
or your station. No.
00:45:06.87\00:45:11.01
I told the teens the other
day, I went into their Sabbath
00:45:11.01\00:45:13.71
school. Pastor Lindsey said,
"Dwight, come on, just say
something to the teens,"
00:45:13.71\00:45:16.31
about two weeks ago. And I
told the teens, man, I love you
00:45:16.31\00:45:23.15
sitting up there in that
balcony. I think it's the
greatest place in the world
00:45:23.15\00:45:25.99
for you to be sitting. And every
time I step up, I look in the
00:45:25.99\00:45:29.69
balcony. How many teens are here
today? You know why? Because you
00:45:29.69\00:45:38.00
are the miracle of God in
progress now. And this church
00:45:38.00\00:45:44.17
desperately needs what you
already have. And we're not
talking about the the no money
00:45:44.17\00:45:51.35
you don't have. I'm talking
about the gift that God
irrevocably has already placed
00:45:51.35\00:45:56.69
in your heart in life. You're a
teen because He's called you.
You're disciple of Jesus
00:45:56.69\00:46:00.89
because he's loving on you, the
maker of all things, who loves
00:46:00.89\00:46:04.63
and wants you. Man. Hey,
this isn't just for teens, but I
00:46:04.63\00:46:08.66
carry this little piece of
paper. It's "Christ's Object
Lessons." One of the
00:46:08.66\00:46:12.30
great unnoticed treasures in
many libraries. It's "Christ's
00:46:12.30\00:46:19.21
Object Lessons." So I go to our
church copier because I've read
this many times, and I
00:46:19.21\00:46:23.14
get it done color so
that this will just stand out.
00:46:23.14\00:46:25.85
And I want to read just a little
paragraph here because if Jesus
00:46:25.85\00:46:30.95
can do that to a bush, think of
what he can do to you, through
you. Okay. Come on. Let's go.
00:46:30.95\00:46:38.03
"You need not go to the ends of
the earth" -- the writer of
"Christ's Object Lessons,"
00:46:38.03\00:46:44.47
writing to me and to you...
00:46:44.47\00:46:46.30
Some of you are saying, "My time
on this earth is over. My
contribution to earth
00:46:57.58\00:47:02.08
is finished." It
is not. 80 years old,
00:47:02.08\00:47:05.55
God is just warming up with
Moses. Don't you ever use your
00:47:05.55\00:47:09.69
age as an excuse. >>
Amen. >> You're never too old
00:47:09.69\00:47:12.99
and you're never too young. You
don't have to go to the ends of
00:47:12.99\00:47:17.87
the earth. God is near. It's not
what you can do now that matters
00:47:17.87\00:47:20.67
anyway. Keep reading.
00:47:20.67\00:47:22.37
Watch this. "He can sharpen
the intellect." "Well, you don't
00:47:43.19\00:47:49.56
know. My parents had me take
an IQ test when I was a kid, and
00:47:49.56\00:47:53.00
then I found out what the
score was. My life is nothing."
00:47:53.00\00:47:57.71
Rubbish. Rubbish. They shouldn't
have showed you the score
00:47:57.71\00:48:04.15
anyway. "He can sharpen the
intellect." There's no excuse.
00:48:04.15\00:48:12.99
You're able. "He can give tact
and skill. Put your talents into
00:48:12.99\00:48:16.29
the work, ask God for wisdom,
and it will be given to you."
00:48:16.29\00:48:21.06
Amen. >> Amen. >> "Just give
me the bush. Give me your life.
00:48:21.06\00:48:27.04
Give me your life. I'll take
your life, and I'll do for you
00:48:27.04\00:48:31.27
what you can never do for
yourself. Just give me your
life." You're a mid-aged
00:48:31.27\00:48:37.51
professional. That's what you
are. And your career is pretty
00:48:37.51\00:48:40.65
much locked in now
for the rest of your life.
00:48:40.65\00:48:42.22
Well, my friend, I
need you to know that God
00:48:42.42\00:48:45.02
can step into that
mid-aged moment and do a miracle
00:48:45.02\00:48:49.46
in your life and set the
fire. The maker of all things,
00:48:49.46\00:48:55.20
who loves and wants us.
That blaze in your heart and
00:48:55.20\00:48:58.60
life. "I will ignite such a fire
00:48:58.60\00:49:01.97
of divine love in
you," He says, as we end.
00:49:01.97\00:49:05.77
"I will ignite such a
fire of divine love in
00:49:05.77\00:49:09.08
you that people
will, in astonishment,
00:49:09.08\00:49:13.38
walk over to where you work.
Walk over to where you live."
00:49:13.38\00:49:18.19
Like Moses, they see something
they've never seen before
00:49:18.19\00:49:21.52
and they will see your life
set ablaze by the great I AM.
00:49:21.52\00:49:27.13
And that's you. >>
Amen. >> That's you.
00:49:27.30\00:49:31.87
So that's my prayer for Pioneer.
That you will be that people
00:49:36.67\00:49:41.28
that he can ignite for his glory
in the next chapter that begins
00:49:41.28\00:49:49.48
soon. That you personally will
be that person set ablaze for
00:49:49.48\00:49:57.39
Him. In the words of Pierre
Teilhard de Chardin, the very
famous paleontologist,
00:49:57.39\00:50:04.70
on the screen.
00:50:04.70\00:50:06.50
>> Amen. >> Oh, I love
that. The fuel-less fire.
00:50:26.59\00:50:33.46
of the love of God, who
loves and wants the whole world.
00:50:33.46\00:50:39.20
and will use any old bush
like you to do just that. Amen.
00:50:39.20\00:50:46.98
>> Amen. >> And amen.
You're gonna have a chance
00:50:46.98\00:50:51.91
to pray in one second. But I
have to pray right now. Father,
00:50:51.91\00:51:00.19
here they are. They're your
children. They're your people.
You granted me a few years,
00:51:00.19\00:51:10.63
with great honor, in Your
presence, to come to You on
behalf of my people.
00:51:10.63\00:51:20.54
But they're Your people again.
And I pray that you will so
00:51:20.54\00:51:30.92
infill them with the glory of
self-sacrificing love that the
truth about the maker
00:51:30.92\00:51:37.73
of all things who loves and
wants me will spread through
them across the land
00:51:37.73\00:51:45.63
around the world. The fire is
Yours. We the bushes are Yours.
00:51:45.63\00:51:56.91
Do with us as You wish for your
glory. Through Jesus Christ our
00:51:56.91\00:52:06.12
Lord. Amen.
00:52:06.12\00:52:07.66
You willing to give your life
to Jesus to be used? Are you?
00:52:12.46\00:52:19.60
Yeah, me too. I'm gonna
ask you to stand right now.
00:52:19.60\00:52:24.44
In my humble opinion, the best
worship tradition of the Pioneer
00:52:29.08\00:52:37.75
Memorial Church happened the
first Sabbath of the school year
in 1983. September.
00:52:37.75\00:52:45.03
At the end of September. We were
on quarters back then. It
happened then, when
00:52:45.03\00:52:52.00
at the end of the first Sabbath
of the year, we stood to our
00:52:52.00\00:52:59.44
feet and we sang together out
loud the Lord's Prayer. I have
00:52:59.44\00:53:05.48
never been the same since. It
is a cherished tradition in this
00:53:05.48\00:53:12.49
family, and I know that it will
remain. 40 times now we've done
that. But today, for the 41st
00:53:12.49\00:53:23.70
time, our last time, let's
do it. Okay? Yeah. Charles,
00:53:23.70\00:53:35.11
Brenton, Kenneth.
Let's sing it together.
00:53:35.11\00:53:36.64
[ Organ plays ]
00:53:37.51\00:53:39.45
>> We've been really
blessed by the financial support
00:56:47.34\00:56:49.57
that comes from our
viewers. And we've made
00:56:49.57\00:56:52.04
a conscious decision --
and you know this is true --
00:56:52.04\00:56:54.38
not to continually
appeal to you for that support.
00:56:54.38\00:56:57.35
But the fact is, as everyone
in the industry will tell you,
00:56:57.35\00:57:00.15
we need to be making constant
upgrades to our technology.
00:57:00.15\00:57:04.19
While I'll be leaving Pioneer
soon, I'm confident that God
00:57:04.19\00:57:06.86
has a plan to
continue growing the media
00:57:06.86\00:57:09.02
ministry here
with the new leader.
00:57:09.02\00:57:11.69
The new lead pastor
will need your support,
00:57:11.69\00:57:14.40
in prayer and financially.
If God has blessed you
00:57:14.40\00:57:18.03
and you'd like to further
the work of this ministry,
00:57:18.03\00:57:20.54
we invite you
to partner with us.
00:57:20.54\00:57:22.57
Every bit of your gift
goes to the mission of blessing
00:57:22.57\00:57:25.21
your community and
our world. You can donate
00:57:25.21\00:57:27.68
on our website.
Here's the website --
00:57:27.68\00:57:29.51
pmchurch.org. Then
click "Giving" up at the
00:57:29.51\00:57:33.15
top and then
select "Media Ministry."
00:57:33.15\00:57:35.38
Or you can call the
number -- 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:35.38\00:57:39.19
Again, that number is
"877" and then the two words
00:57:39.19\00:57:42.52
"HIS WILL." My
prayer is that the God who
00:57:42.52\00:57:45.39
has blessed you will
continue to pour into your life
00:57:45.39\00:57:48.43
the gifts of His
joy and His hope.
00:57:48.43\00:57:51.80
So thank you in advance
for your gracious generosity.
00:57:51.80\00:57:56.04
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:59.67\00:58:18.29
¤¤
00:58:18.29\00:58:27.37