Hello and welcome
to another edition
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of the Sabbath
School Study Hour.
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It's always good
to be able to see
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each and every one of
you that is joining us
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from different parts of America
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as well as
different parts of the world.
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And we want to
welcome you to our church
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here in Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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in the Greater Sacramento area.
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It's always good to have
each and every one of you
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that is here with us here today,
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of course, in our church family.
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It's always
encouraging to be able to see
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all those faces
of my church family.
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And it's always good to
be able to come together
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for the most
important reason of all,
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which is to worship
God and to study His Word.
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And that we're here for both.
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And so I welcome
everybody that is here.
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And again, welcome everybody
that is watching online.
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Now before we
open it with prayer,
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and we get into our
subject that we have here today,
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want to take advantage,
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or I'll invite
you to take advantage
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of a special free offer that
we have available just for you.
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It's called "Keys
to a Happy Marriage,
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Keys to a Happy Marriage."
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Now, this is one
of the best studies
00:01:32.05\00:01:33.66
that I've ever
used in the past years,
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and I know that it will be a
great benefit to you as well,
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especially if
you're looking at marriage,
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or you're involved in a
marriage even right now.
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Keys for a Happy Marriage,
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you can text or you can call in.
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Now, the number that you can
call in for is 1-866-788-3966.
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Again, that's 866-788-3966
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and ask for free
offer number 164,
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that's free offer164.
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We'll be happy to send that free
00:02:02.18\00:02:03.59
to you in North America
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or different
American territories
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available to you as well.
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Now, if you don't
live in North America,
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or you don't want a hard copy,
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and you'd like to be
able to get a digital copy,
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we also have that
available for you as well.
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You simply need to
text the code, "SH046."
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That's SH046,
and you want to text
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that to the number
40544, as you can see
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on your screen as well.
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And so please, I
want to encourage you
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to take advantage of that,
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as we have that
available for you.
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Now, for those of
you who don't have
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the lesson quarterly study
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that we started
just two weeks ago,
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entitled Family
Seasons, I want to invite you
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to be able to take advantage
of a free copy of that as well.
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Now we can't mail a
hard copy out to you,
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but what we can do
is encourage you to go
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and get a free digital download
of this particular quarterly.
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And you can go
to Lesson.aftv.org.
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Now, again, I'm
gonna say it one more time,
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because you might be
running for your phone,
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plug it in or to be
able to write it down.
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It's Lesson.aftv.org.
00:03:03.78\00:03:08.88
Please take advantage of
that and get yourself a copy.
00:03:08.92\00:03:11.29
That way you can kind
of take a daily devotion
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as you study the
different topics,
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even before we get together,
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as we are looking at
lesson number three here today.
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Well, with that being said,
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I want to invite all of us
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to come to the
Lord as we ask Him
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to be with us in prayer.
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Father in heaven, we're thankful
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here this morning to
be able to worship You.
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We're thankful for Your Word.
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We're thankful for the
truth that You give to us,
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and the great encouragement
that You offer to us
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in the subject that
we look at here today.
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God, we want to pray
that You will help us
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to take it to heart,
that Your Holy Spirit
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will guide us and
lead us as You promise,
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and we pray all these
things in Christ's name,
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amen.
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Well, today we are
looking at lesson number three,
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lesson number three
and what is the title?
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Preparing for Change,
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I hear some of you calling that.
00:04:03.41\00:04:04.67
Okay, that's right.
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Okay, Preparing for Change,
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and let's look
at the memory text
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that we find on page
22 at the very beginning
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of this particular lesson study.
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It comes from Psalm 85:13.
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It says, "Righteousness
will go before him,
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and shall make his
footsteps our pathway."
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Now, how reassuring is that?
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Very reassuring.
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Let's stop and think
about that for a moment.
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God is telling us
that if we submit to God,
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if we worship
and if we trust God,
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He will go ahead of us.
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That's what He
just said, didn't He?
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We simply follow
in His footsteps.
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Now, I don't know about
you, but I've come to recognize
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and realize that God's footsteps
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are much larger than mine.
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And I have come to recognize
that God is much smarter
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and wiser than I am.
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And I've also
come to recognize that
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God has a special plan for me
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and so He's watching out for me.
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In other words,
this verse is saying,
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He's got our back.
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Isn't that reassuring?
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Every time I get
up in the morning
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as I go through the
day, I keep reminding myself
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as I talked with the Lord
that He's going before me.
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All we need to do is
simply follow in His footsteps
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is what the Word
has just told us.
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And so it's not our
footsteps, it's His.
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Now, can this reality
help us in handling unexpected,
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sometimes
unwanted change in life?
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Sure, it can, can't it?
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Of course, yes.
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One of the deep
realities of living in this life
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is that there's a
lot of changes in there.
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Okay.
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Now, I wish I could say
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that all the
change was positive,
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but is all the
change always positive?
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No.
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A lot of the times
that change is negative.
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A lot of the
times there's change
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that is
unwanted, it's uninvited.
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It's something that we would
rather not have in our life.
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And so God gives us
this powerful promise
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in Psalm 85:13.
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Now, it is true
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that there are
some that might say
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that this may help us
in a psychological way.
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But that's kind of
the end of the story.
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That's it, the best of
it in concern to realities,
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or I should say verses
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such as we just
read in Psalm 85.
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But that's not
what the Bible offers.
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That's not what
the Bible is saying.
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The Bible offers something more.
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God is offering
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a psychological
benefit to be sure.
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My heart is at much more
peace, my mind, my emotions
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are much more controlled
when I lean upon the Lord,
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when I know that
when I am worshiping
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and putting my trust
in Him, that His footsteps
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are making the
trail ahead of me,
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that God is my trailblazer.
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And so to be sure,
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there is a
psychological benefit.
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But that psychological
benefit does not come
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because we can
imagine a God going before us
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in an imaginary
way as some might
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try to conclude or suggest.
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No.
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The Bible makes it very clear.
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What the Bible
is offering is that
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because we can know that
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God is literally
going ahead of us,
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because we can know
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that He is
preparing us a future,
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we can lean upon Him
and have that benefit.
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And so it's more
than psychological,
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even though it also includes
that psychological benefit.
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Now, last week, we
shared an old saying,
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and it's an old saying that
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we chuckle out
through the years,
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you know, there's two
things that is certain in life,
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death and taxes.
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For those of you
who were here last here,
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about last week,
you remember that
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and you've heard it before,
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I'm sure.
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And, of course, last
week, we added at least one
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and today we're
adding the second one.
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This week and last week
study, add at least two more
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to that saying,
and that is Choices,
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as we studied last
week, and now also Change.
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Those two things
are certain as well.
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In fact, we can't
get through the day
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without facing both of those.
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We have to make
several choices every day.
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And we also have to face
change every day as well.
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Every day we face changes.
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In fact, we can
even start with our face,
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our physical face.
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Does our physical
face experience changes?
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Sure, it does. Okay.
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All right, it starts right
from the get-go, doesn't it?
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When we're born, do
we have a certain face?
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Yes, we have that
cute little pudgy.
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You know, and
sometimes not even pudgy face,
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but then as that mommy
keeps feeding the little one,
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you know, the
cheeks kind of puff out
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a little bit more
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and you have
that kind of squirrel
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or go for kind of look,
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and we enjoy
that look for a while
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and it's important to
have that extra body fat
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because the brain requires that.
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As the brain is
developing that the body draws
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on that extra
body fat to be able
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to develop the brain
in a very healthy way.
00:08:35.58\00:08:38.38
And so it's
healthy to be able to start
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with kind of pudgy
cheeks, and a pudgy body.
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And then as we
continue on, of course,
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that body fat is drawn
into the brain development
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and, of course, they
get more and more active
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as they start to run
around on their little feet,
00:08:49.42\00:08:51.13
legs for the first time
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and that body fat is burned off,
00:08:52.86\00:08:54.23
and then pretty
soon the face changes
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and you look at
them from two months old,
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or six months
old, to two years old,
00:08:57.77\00:08:59.60
and they almost look like a
different person, don't they?
00:08:59.63\00:09:02.37
And so the face changes
in a very noticeable way.
00:09:02.40\00:09:05.61
And then even
from two years old,
00:09:05.64\00:09:07.01
if you're out of
town for three months,
00:09:07.04\00:09:08.38
you come back, that person,
00:09:08.41\00:09:09.61
that child
looks different again,
00:09:09.64\00:09:10.78
doesn't he or she?
00:09:10.81\00:09:12.31
And so our face continually
go through different changes
00:09:12.35\00:09:14.82
as we experience and
grow into our adulthood,
00:09:14.85\00:09:18.89
but doesn't stop there?
00:09:18.92\00:09:20.96
No, of course not.
00:09:20.99\00:09:22.09
Now, of course, as we continue
to grow in teenage years,
00:09:22.12\00:09:25.09
but also for many of
us, in our adult years,
00:09:25.13\00:09:26.90
there's acne
that comes and goes.
00:09:26.93\00:09:28.16
Our face has
experienced bumps and bruises,
00:09:28.20\00:09:30.80
and cuts and swelling.
00:09:30.83\00:09:33.10
For those who are a
little bit more of pale skin,
00:09:33.13\00:09:35.50
sometimes we look
pale in the winter
00:09:35.54\00:09:37.41
and our face would look
tanned and brown in the summer.
00:09:37.44\00:09:40.58
Sometimes it will even be burnt.
00:09:40.61\00:09:42.54
All kinds of changes
we find in our faces.
00:09:42.58\00:09:45.98
Sometimes our faces
are green with envy,
00:09:46.01\00:09:50.79
or is that just the saying.
00:09:50.82\00:09:52.45
Doctor Friend, is that?
I think that's just to say.
00:09:52.49\00:09:56.52
What about seasickness,
does seasickness turn us green?
00:09:56.56\00:09:59.66
Well, we say it, I'm not sure,
00:09:59.69\00:10:00.83
I can't remember
seeing somebody seasick,
00:10:00.86\00:10:02.23
and if they're green or not,
00:10:02.26\00:10:03.33
but we think of green,
don't we when we are seasick.
00:10:03.37\00:10:06.60
And, of course, we
can be green with envy.
00:10:06.63\00:10:09.10
Sometimes our face is turned red
00:10:09.14\00:10:10.57
when we're blushing
or we have a high fever.
00:10:10.61\00:10:13.54
Then sometimes our
faces can turn blue,
00:10:13.58\00:10:16.58
when we're too cold.
00:10:16.61\00:10:18.95
Sometimes we have crooked noses,
00:10:18.98\00:10:20.45
because we've
just had an accident
00:10:20.48\00:10:21.75
and it broke our nose.
00:10:21.78\00:10:22.82
We might have missing teeth.
00:10:22.85\00:10:24.09
Sometimes our face
has experienced black
00:10:24.12\00:10:25.89
or swollen under the
eyes as we've been underslept,
00:10:25.92\00:10:29.12
or overstressed, or both.
00:10:29.16\00:10:33.33
And then, of
course, our face is changed
00:10:33.36\00:10:34.73
hundreds of times every day
because our expressions change.
00:10:34.76\00:10:38.17
Sometimes we have
looks of confusion,
00:10:38.20\00:10:40.00
sometimes we
have looks of anger,
00:10:40.04\00:10:41.64
sometimes we have
looks of happiness and joy,
00:10:41.67\00:10:44.17
sometimes sadness.
00:10:44.21\00:10:45.71
And so our faces go through
hundreds of different changes,
00:10:45.74\00:10:48.34
just through that
alone every single day.
00:10:48.38\00:10:52.08
For those of us who are over 40,
00:10:52.11\00:10:55.45
we're also daily...
00:10:55.48\00:10:56.48
We have a daily reminder
that we are growing older.
00:10:56.52\00:10:58.59
Why?
00:10:58.62\00:10:59.65
Because as we stare in our face,
00:10:59.69\00:11:00.92
in the mirror every day,
it gets different, doesn't it?
00:11:00.96\00:11:04.89
I have to chuckle still,
00:11:04.93\00:11:05.96
and I still
have to look back on.
00:11:05.99\00:11:07.66
It was just a few weeks ago
00:11:07.73\00:11:08.76
or maybe a couple of months ago,
00:11:08.80\00:11:10.03
when our lead
pastor, Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:11:10.07\00:11:12.90
was up front here.
00:11:12.93\00:11:14.07
And he was saying that,
you know, every, every morning,
00:11:14.10\00:11:16.50
I look in the
mirror and it gets worse.
00:11:16.54\00:11:20.34
And I'm still
chuckling over that,
00:11:20.38\00:11:22.68
you know, our faces
go under transformation,
00:11:22.71\00:11:25.98
doesn't it?
00:11:26.01\00:11:27.12
Sometimes transformations
that we're not excited about,
00:11:27.15\00:11:29.28
some of us are
spending thousands of dollars
00:11:29.32\00:11:31.15
to be able to avoid
and resist that change
00:11:31.19\00:11:34.66
in our faces as we grow older.
00:11:34.69\00:11:38.06
And so just our faces
alone can represent much change
00:11:38.09\00:11:42.53
that there is in the
life and in this world.
00:11:42.56\00:11:45.33
Now, some of the
change that we experience,
00:11:45.37\00:11:47.14
we expect that
change, we know it's coming.
00:11:47.17\00:11:49.57
We all know that we're
gonna grow old, don't we?
00:11:49.60\00:11:51.24
We all know that
00:11:51.27\00:11:52.27
that's gonna take
place for all of us.
00:11:52.31\00:11:53.88
Now when we were
17, sometimes we think,
00:11:53.91\00:11:56.48
tempted to think
it'll never happen,
00:11:56.51\00:11:57.78
but it doesn't take
long till you're 40,
00:11:57.81\00:11:59.78
and all of a
sudden you recognizes,
00:11:59.81\00:12:00.88
I'm in the same
boat he was or she was.
00:12:00.92\00:12:05.22
So some of that we expect,
some of that comes unexpected.
00:12:05.25\00:12:08.86
Some changes comes
right out of the blue.
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.73
We didn't know it was coming.
00:12:10.76\00:12:12.03
Some of that change is good.
00:12:12.06\00:12:14.36
And very sadly, some
of that change that comes,
00:12:14.36\00:12:17.30
we wish had never happened.
00:12:17.33\00:12:20.57
Now, did I talk
about old age yet?
00:12:20.60\00:12:22.00
I fear that too
many of us fear change
00:12:26.17\00:12:29.14
and resist it at all costs
00:12:29.18\00:12:31.91
when it comes to
negative changes,
00:12:31.95\00:12:33.38
like contracting a new disease,
or financial bankruptcy.
00:12:33.42\00:12:37.65
Well, I can't
blame you, you know,
00:12:37.69\00:12:39.69
who would want to embrace that?
00:12:39.72\00:12:42.02
Who would not want to resist
these different unexpected
00:12:42.06\00:12:45.29
and unwanted changes
that come into our life?
00:12:45.33\00:12:47.86
But I think at the
same important point,
00:12:47.86\00:12:50.33
it's also important for us
to be able to understand that,
00:12:50.37\00:12:53.20
that change is God
given, do you believe that?
00:12:53.23\00:12:56.17
Do you understand
that change is God given?
00:12:56.20\00:12:59.14
God came up with
the idea of change.
00:12:59.17\00:13:01.94
Now, can you imagine
how boring life would be
00:13:01.98\00:13:04.18
if we didn't have change?
00:13:04.21\00:13:05.81
I want to invite
you to think with me
00:13:05.85\00:13:07.45
as we think this through.
00:13:07.48\00:13:09.22
There's a very good reason
why your hymnal is this thick.
00:13:09.25\00:13:12.39
Okay.
00:13:12.42\00:13:13.59
There's a very good reason
why we have hundreds of hymnals
00:13:13.62\00:13:15.82
and not just one or two, why?
00:13:15.86\00:13:17.93
Because we like
variety, don't we?
00:13:17.96\00:13:20.10
We like the whole gamut.
00:13:20.13\00:13:21.40
And some of those
hymns say the same thing.
00:13:21.43\00:13:22.96
It's not like
everyone says different things.
00:13:23.00\00:13:24.57
But we like different
tunes, we like different,
00:13:24.60\00:13:27.04
we like different
hymns as we continue to sing
00:13:27.07\00:13:29.57
and to worship God.
00:13:29.60\00:13:30.64
Why?
00:13:30.67\00:13:31.71
Because God has
given us a desire
00:13:31.74\00:13:33.31
and a need for change.
00:13:33.34\00:13:37.01
We don't want to
sing the same hymn
00:13:37.05\00:13:38.21
every single week.
00:13:38.25\00:13:40.75
Now God created change,
00:13:40.78\00:13:41.85
continual change
right from the get-go.
00:13:41.88\00:13:43.72
As soon as we open
the Bible, we find change.
00:13:43.75\00:13:45.82
We come to Genesis in Chapter 1.
00:13:45.85\00:13:48.69
In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth.
00:13:48.72\00:13:51.99
And then it tells
us that on day one,
00:13:52.03\00:13:53.36
He created light.
00:13:53.40\00:13:55.13
He said, "Let there be
light and there was light,"
00:13:55.16\00:13:58.97
was there not?
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.17
Now, did He keep it light? No.
00:14:00.20\00:14:03.17
Now, he turned on the
lights, and you know, of course,
00:14:03.20\00:14:05.17
then He started to
create the daily cycle.
00:14:05.21\00:14:07.88
But was the
daily cycle intended?
00:14:07.91\00:14:09.61
Did God say, "Well,
now that we have light,
00:14:09.64\00:14:11.18
let's just kind of
try to hold it there.
00:14:11.21\00:14:12.95
Let's just stay with light.
00:14:12.98\00:14:14.98
No, it tells us that He
turned the darkness into light,
00:14:15.02\00:14:17.05
but then He mixed it up a bit,
00:14:17.09\00:14:18.35
He kind of mixed it up
and He said, you know what?
00:14:18.39\00:14:20.19
Let's bring
some variety to this.
00:14:20.22\00:14:21.36
Let's bring the
darkness back for half.
00:14:21.39\00:14:23.16
And so we're
gonna have half light,
00:14:23.19\00:14:24.99
we're gonna have half dark.
00:14:25.03\00:14:26.26
we're gonna bring some
change every single 24 hours,
00:14:26.29\00:14:28.63
every 12 hours,
things are gonna mix it up
00:14:28.66\00:14:32.30
just a little bit.
00:14:32.33\00:14:34.34
And then after He created us.
00:14:34.37\00:14:37.81
After He created us,
00:14:37.84\00:14:38.91
He didn't tell us to hunker down
00:14:38.94\00:14:40.08
and maintain the status
quo, no matter what the cost.
00:14:40.11\00:14:43.88
Is that what He
said? No, not at all.
00:14:43.91\00:14:45.51
When we read the
original Genesis record,
00:14:45.55\00:14:47.15
we find that God
says, "Okay, now,
00:14:47.18\00:14:48.92
look and embrace the
world that I have given to you.
00:14:48.95\00:14:51.82
Go and be
fruitful and multiply."
00:14:51.85\00:14:55.96
Now, let's think about
that for a moment, friends.
00:14:55.99\00:14:58.03
As we think
through that commission
00:14:58.06\00:14:59.36
that God had
given to the first man
00:14:59.39\00:15:00.96
and the first woman,
00:15:01.00\00:15:02.53
the first husband and
wife as they looked out
00:15:02.56\00:15:04.50
into the grand world
that God had created.
00:15:04.53\00:15:07.47
Friends, we find here that
there's all kinds of change
00:15:07.50\00:15:09.84
that is implied
with that commission.
00:15:09.87\00:15:12.17
Okay, there's travel,
00:15:12.21\00:15:14.04
there's
exploration that is involved.
00:15:14.08\00:15:17.11
There's all kinds of change
00:15:17.15\00:15:19.85
that was involved in
that particular commission.
00:15:19.88\00:15:22.25
Change is the spice of life.
00:15:22.28\00:15:26.15
And again, friends,
00:15:26.19\00:15:27.22
I fear that too
many of us fear change.
00:15:27.26\00:15:30.69
And some of us make the mistake
00:15:30.73\00:15:32.09
of resisting
change at all costs.
00:15:32.13\00:15:35.00
But that's not what
God intended for us.
00:15:35.03\00:15:36.73
God intended for
us to embrace change,
00:15:36.77\00:15:39.27
to look for good
change, of course,
00:15:39.30\00:15:40.84
and not negative change.
00:15:40.87\00:15:43.71
And even when we
have negative change,
00:15:43.74\00:15:45.17
to be able to
look for God's hand
00:15:45.21\00:15:47.54
and His help as we
go through it and for...
00:15:47.58\00:15:49.24
What is He going to say,
00:15:49.28\00:15:50.41
accomplishing in spite
of the negative change.
00:15:50.45\00:15:55.05
God calls us to set new
goals, to accomplish things
00:15:55.08\00:15:58.32
that keeps us
growing and getting,
00:15:58.35\00:16:00.66
and keeps us younger.
00:16:00.69\00:16:02.56
God wants us to continue to,
00:16:02.59\00:16:04.39
to stay as young in our hearts
and our minds as possible.
00:16:04.43\00:16:07.36
And one of the
ways that He does that
00:16:07.40\00:16:08.93
is He calls us to set goals.
00:16:08.96\00:16:10.73
He calls us to embrace change,
00:16:10.77\00:16:12.20
He calls us to be
able to continue to grow
00:16:12.23\00:16:14.70
and to embrace new
things and to accomplish things
00:16:14.74\00:16:17.27
that God has
set upon our hearts.
00:16:17.31\00:16:21.44
Now, this week's lesson
touches on two of life's
00:16:21.48\00:16:23.75
most largest positive changes
00:16:23.78\00:16:26.82
that most of us
experience in this life.
00:16:26.85\00:16:30.39
Now, when I say
positive, of course,
00:16:30.42\00:16:32.05
that comes with a bit of
an explanation or explanation
00:16:32.09\00:16:36.36
that is necessary, which is that
00:16:36.39\00:16:38.63
if you do it right,
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.66
it can be one of
the most positive,
00:16:40.70\00:16:42.20
and was intended to be
00:16:42.23\00:16:43.47
one of the most positive changes
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.33
that we bring in our life.
00:16:45.37\00:16:46.63
And that is
marriage and children.
00:16:46.67\00:16:50.14
Okay, having
children, raising children.
00:16:50.17\00:16:52.74
So these are two
that are looked at
00:16:52.77\00:16:54.94
two of the biggest,
largest positive changes
00:16:54.98\00:16:57.58
if we do it right,
that can come into our life
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.72
that God has
planned for many of us.
00:17:00.75\00:17:04.32
And then the lesson study
00:17:04.35\00:17:05.42
also touches on two of
life's most challenging
00:17:05.45\00:17:08.39
and unwanted changes.
00:17:08.42\00:17:10.76
And that is old age and death.
00:17:10.79\00:17:14.10
So two positives,
potentially positives
00:17:14.13\00:17:16.83
and two negative changes
00:17:16.87\00:17:19.10
that come into our life as well.
00:17:19.13\00:17:21.80
Now, we're not
gonna be able to address
00:17:21.84\00:17:23.20
all four topics in this program.
00:17:23.24\00:17:24.71
I just want us to
know that up front
00:17:24.74\00:17:26.51
because we just won't
have the time allotted
00:17:26.54\00:17:29.11
for us here to be able
to study through them all.
00:17:29.14\00:17:32.38
But I do want to encourage
you to read the quarterly.
00:17:32.41\00:17:34.82
If you haven't read
through this week's quarterly,
00:17:34.85\00:17:36.42
go back and
look at some of these
00:17:36.45\00:17:38.05
in regards to
these four big changes
00:17:38.09\00:17:40.56
that most of us
experience in life.
00:17:40.59\00:17:43.02
And there's great counsel,
00:17:43.06\00:17:45.29
there's great tips for us
to be able to, to benefit from.
00:17:45.33\00:17:51.40
Now, of course,
old age and death
00:17:51.43\00:17:53.00
can represent all
the negative changes
00:17:53.03\00:17:56.07
that are involved in this life
00:17:56.10\00:17:58.24
and, of course,
that all came since sin
00:17:58.27\00:18:00.98
and rebellion against
God entered into the picture.
00:18:01.01\00:18:05.38
And so what is the key
00:18:05.41\00:18:06.48
to handling all
these negative changes?
00:18:06.51\00:18:08.75
Negative changes are inevitable.
00:18:08.78\00:18:10.02
That's just one of
the realities of this life
00:18:10.05\00:18:12.72
and has been ever since
sin but how do we handle them?
00:18:12.75\00:18:17.23
What is the key to them?
00:18:17.26\00:18:18.39
Somebody else
said, John had said,
00:18:18.43\00:18:19.59
put our trust in God.
00:18:19.63\00:18:21.63
Yes. Good.
00:18:21.66\00:18:23.13
And that's why I believe
that the authors of this week,
00:18:23.16\00:18:25.20
they put in there Psalm
85, you know, trust in God
00:18:25.23\00:18:27.67
and allow Him to
make the footsteps.
00:18:27.70\00:18:30.41
Let Him go ahead.
00:18:30.44\00:18:32.01
Good.
00:18:32.04\00:18:33.64
Yeah.
00:18:33.68\00:18:35.08
How do we handle all
the negative changes?
00:18:35.11\00:18:37.65
Well, one of the ways
that I think we can do that
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.38
is to imitate one of the models
00:18:39.41\00:18:40.75
that God has given
unto us in the Bible.
00:18:40.78\00:18:43.35
Now, his name is very
familiar to many of us.
00:18:43.39\00:18:45.19
His name is Daniel.
00:18:45.22\00:18:46.89
And Daniel was no small person.
00:18:46.92\00:18:50.83
Now, he was a
great man of faith.
00:18:50.86\00:18:53.46
He was one of
the greatest examples
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.00
that God has given
to us in all history
00:18:55.03\00:18:56.70
and all the Bible.
00:18:56.73\00:18:58.20
Now, the question that
we need to ask first off.
00:18:58.23\00:18:59.93
Did Daniel face any
negative challenges,
00:19:00.04\00:19:02.10
any negative
changes that came unexpected
00:19:02.14\00:19:04.67
and unwanted in his life?
00:19:04.71\00:19:07.18
Some of you are
smiling and it say,
00:19:07.21\00:19:08.54
well, yeah, of course, He did.
00:19:08.58\00:19:10.98
He faced all kinds
of negative changes.
00:19:11.01\00:19:14.02
Now, Daniel probably faced
00:19:14.05\00:19:15.22
more negative change in his life
00:19:15.25\00:19:17.02
than most of us in this room
00:19:17.05\00:19:18.42
have ever faced
and will ever face.
00:19:18.45\00:19:20.49
Not all of us, but most of us.
00:19:20.52\00:19:24.66
Daniel, first, was about
17 years old, 17 years of age.
00:19:24.69\00:19:28.96
He was enjoying his
home city of Jerusalem.
00:19:29.00\00:19:31.63
He was enjoying his friends,
his cousins, his families,
00:19:31.67\00:19:34.47
his uncles and
aunts, his uncles,
00:19:34.50\00:19:35.94
his grandma, his grandpa,
00:19:35.97\00:19:37.07
you know, he was enjoying
all the things that many of us
00:19:37.11\00:19:38.91
have the privilege
of enjoying in life.
00:19:38.94\00:19:40.41
He was enjoying his home country
00:19:40.44\00:19:41.48
and then suddenly,
00:19:41.51\00:19:42.58
this foreign war
came into his land,
00:19:42.61\00:19:45.81
a foreign army that came in
00:19:45.85\00:19:48.45
and began to conquer
the land of Jerusalem.
00:19:48.48\00:19:51.59
Now Daniel was
close enough to God
00:19:51.62\00:19:53.25
that he was probably listening
00:19:53.29\00:19:54.69
to the Prophet
Jeremiah very closely,
00:19:54.72\00:19:56.42
he understood that things
were not as they should be.
00:19:56.46\00:19:59.13
Unexpected and unwanted change
00:19:59.16\00:20:00.96
was already entering in his life
00:20:01.00\00:20:02.73
before Nebuchadnezzar
00:20:02.76\00:20:04.57
and the Babylonian
army had come into town.
00:20:04.60\00:20:07.87
But nevertheless, he, his world
00:20:07.90\00:20:10.37
was turned upside
down literally, wasn't it?
00:20:10.41\00:20:12.87
He was taken a
captive during that war.
00:20:12.91\00:20:15.91
We can only imagine that
it was almost for certain
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.71
that he had seen
with his own eyes,
00:20:18.75\00:20:21.32
some of his own friends,
some of his own family members
00:20:21.35\00:20:23.79
that were killed by some
of those Babylonian soldiers.
00:20:23.82\00:20:28.12
And so the trauma
that Daniel went through
00:20:28.16\00:20:30.39
was no small trauma.
00:20:30.43\00:20:32.19
And then after that,
the Bible record tells us
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.96
that he was
taken a captive along
00:20:35.00\00:20:36.53
with many hundreds and thousands
00:20:36.56\00:20:38.13
of other Israelites.
00:20:38.17\00:20:40.04
And then he was
marched over 1000 miles
00:20:40.07\00:20:42.54
to a land that he had never seen
00:20:42.57\00:20:44.94
and probably
never wanted to see.
00:20:44.97\00:20:46.94
He was taken to
the land of Babylon
00:20:46.98\00:20:48.58
over 1000 miles away.
00:20:48.61\00:20:51.61
And then when he
arrived in Babylon,
00:20:51.65\00:20:53.75
rather than being the
one, some of the ones,
00:20:53.78\00:20:55.52
the majority of the
Israelites who were set free
00:20:55.55\00:20:57.85
to be able to, to
be able to make a life
00:20:57.89\00:21:00.89
for themselves, to build houses,
00:21:00.92\00:21:02.29
to be able to plant vineyards,
and gardens, and so on.
00:21:02.32\00:21:05.39
No, Daniel was young
00:21:05.43\00:21:07.30
and he was one of great
health and intelligence,
00:21:07.36\00:21:10.00
and so he was recruited
into the king's palace.
00:21:10.03\00:21:14.50
Now we might be
thinking to ourselves,
00:21:14.54\00:21:15.97
well, that's better
than having to build a house
00:21:16.00\00:21:17.77
and try to, you
know, kind of homestead out
00:21:17.81\00:21:19.47
in the land and
make a life for yourself
00:21:19.51\00:21:21.01
and all the vigors and
stresses that come with that.
00:21:21.04\00:21:23.88
He'd be able to...
00:21:23.91\00:21:24.95
He got to be able to enjoy
00:21:24.98\00:21:26.08
the luxuries of
the king's palace.
00:21:26.11\00:21:29.12
But it wasn't
quite like that, was it?
00:21:29.15\00:21:30.95
When he got there,
00:21:30.99\00:21:32.09
not only was it
against his free will,
00:21:32.12\00:21:33.52
he was a slave for life,
for the rest of his life.
00:21:33.56\00:21:36.86
Daniel was
commissioned to be a slave.
00:21:36.89\00:21:39.16
And not only that,
00:21:39.19\00:21:40.23
but when you're
assigned to the king's palace,
00:21:40.26\00:21:42.76
and you're a man, you
are physically castrated,
00:21:42.80\00:21:45.63
that was standard procedure.
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.74
And so Daniel had experienced
that in a very real way.
00:21:47.77\00:21:52.07
Now, why is that?
00:21:52.11\00:21:53.31
Well, because he's
near the king's harem.
00:21:53.34\00:21:56.78
And so if you have
access to the king's harem, why?
00:21:56.81\00:22:00.88
You are physically castrated.
00:22:00.92\00:22:03.15
And so Daniel was traumatized
physically, emotionally
00:22:03.18\00:22:07.79
in some very, very serious ways.
00:22:07.82\00:22:11.19
When he also experienced
that particular procedure
00:22:11.23\00:22:13.76
by the Babylonian army
00:22:13.80\00:22:15.40
or powers to be, of course,
then that caught off any,
00:22:15.43\00:22:19.00
any hopes of being
married or having children.
00:22:19.03\00:22:22.64
Two of the
biggest positive changes
00:22:22.67\00:22:24.91
that we can bring into our life.
00:22:24.94\00:22:27.18
Did Daniel
experience negative changes?
00:22:27.21\00:22:29.98
Sure he did,
00:22:30.01\00:22:31.28
he experienced huge,
massive negative change.
00:22:31.31\00:22:35.88
Now, in spite of all
this negative change,
00:22:35.92\00:22:37.49
did Daniel achieve
positive changes for himself?
00:22:37.52\00:22:40.56
Did he shine and
interact in a positive way
00:22:40.59\00:22:43.69
to those around him?
00:22:43.73\00:22:45.33
He did, didn't he?
00:22:45.36\00:22:46.80
It's a resounding
yes. It's a resounding yes.
00:22:46.83\00:22:51.37
And so it's important for us
to be able to understand that,
00:22:51.40\00:22:56.07
that there are
a number of things
00:22:56.10\00:22:57.61
that we can
remember if we've read
00:22:57.64\00:22:59.37
the Book of Daniel in the past
00:22:59.41\00:23:00.81
and there are
number of things that,
00:23:00.84\00:23:03.08
that, of course,
if you're reading this
00:23:03.11\00:23:04.48
and studying it
for the first time,
00:23:04.51\00:23:06.58
maybe new to you.
00:23:06.61\00:23:08.05
Now one of the first things
that God did in life of Daniel,
00:23:08.08\00:23:10.82
is that He rose Daniel
00:23:10.85\00:23:12.65
to the top of the
Babylonian government.
00:23:12.69\00:23:15.16
Not only was he a slave
in the king's household,
00:23:15.19\00:23:17.19
but then he became the
right hand man of the king.
00:23:17.23\00:23:19.86
He was the prime minister
00:23:19.89\00:23:21.30
of the entire grand
empire of Babylonia.
00:23:21.33\00:23:25.47
And so that was no small thing.
00:23:25.50\00:23:27.70
And so he rose and he shone
within his sphere of influence.
00:23:27.74\00:23:32.51
He made decisions and
choices and trusted in God
00:23:32.54\00:23:35.21
to the point where
God's large and powerful
00:23:35.24\00:23:37.71
and wise
footsteps went ahead of him
00:23:37.75\00:23:39.78
and brought him all the way down
00:23:39.81\00:23:41.55
right next to the
throne of the king himself.
00:23:41.58\00:23:44.25
Not only that, but
he led that same king
00:23:45.52\00:23:48.06
to a saving faith relationship
with the one and only true God.
00:23:48.09\00:23:52.19
Not only through his example,
00:23:52.23\00:23:54.03
through the interpretations
of the prophetic dream
00:23:54.10\00:23:56.60
that God had given
to that Babylonian king.
00:23:56.63\00:23:59.23
In fact two prophetic dreams
00:23:59.27\00:24:00.90
that he had given
to the Babylonian king.
00:24:00.94\00:24:03.17
And all those different things,
00:24:03.20\00:24:04.87
the model that Daniel had
the different conversations
00:24:04.91\00:24:08.04
that he inevitably
had with Nebuchadnezzar
00:24:08.08\00:24:10.95
as they discussed
the things of life
00:24:10.98\00:24:12.51
and the philosophies of
religion and gods and so on.
00:24:12.55\00:24:16.08
And all of that culminated
00:24:16.12\00:24:18.42
completely into
the full conversion
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.99
of this powerful ancient
king called Nebuchadnezzar.
00:24:21.02\00:24:24.73
And so Daniel had made choices
and positive change in his life
00:24:24.76\00:24:28.26
to the point
where he had converted
00:24:28.30\00:24:30.00
the most
powerful man of his day.
00:24:30.03\00:24:31.90
Not only that, but we also read
00:24:33.50\00:24:34.67
in the very first
chapters of Daniel
00:24:34.70\00:24:36.34
that he was also the leader
of his faithful four friends,
00:24:36.37\00:24:39.61
that small circle of the ones
that decided not to compromise.
00:24:39.64\00:24:43.38
They wanted to
follow, and worship,
00:24:43.41\00:24:44.95
and submit
themselves to God fully.
00:24:44.98\00:24:47.35
And so he had,
they had determined
00:24:47.38\00:24:49.42
that they would not
eat of the king's diet.
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.69
Now the king's
diet was very deadly.
00:24:51.72\00:24:53.36
It had lots of alcohol,
00:24:53.39\00:24:54.66
and unclean foods,
and meats, and so on,
00:24:54.69\00:24:56.83
and so they had
decided to be able to request
00:24:56.86\00:25:02.06
the one that was
in charge of them
00:25:02.10\00:25:03.67
if they might be able
to eat only vegetables
00:25:03.70\00:25:05.80
or a vegetarian
plant based diet only.
00:25:05.83\00:25:09.47
And so Daniel
was the spokesperson,
00:25:09.50\00:25:11.74
he's the kind of,
was the head of that,
00:25:11.77\00:25:13.98
that faithful
circle, and he was the one
00:25:14.01\00:25:15.81
that approached
the powers to be and...
00:25:15.84\00:25:18.91
So because of that,
00:25:18.95\00:25:20.02
they were able to
live a much healthier life,
00:25:20.05\00:25:21.68
eat a much healthier
diet, a God given diet
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.89
rather than the
king's much more deadly diet.
00:25:23.92\00:25:28.19
And then the
fourth positive change
00:25:28.22\00:25:30.53
that he brought into his life,
and God brought into his life
00:25:30.56\00:25:34.60
is that because
of his faith in God,
00:25:34.63\00:25:36.20
he had received
the most important,
00:25:36.23\00:25:38.77
and powerful, and
longest reaching prophecies
00:25:38.80\00:25:42.37
in the future
that any human being
00:25:42.40\00:25:44.94
has ever received.
00:25:44.97\00:25:47.24
Now, friends, that's
no small thing, is it?
00:25:47.28\00:25:49.74
Because of
Daniel's positive choices,
00:25:49.78\00:25:52.78
and bringing
positive change into his life,
00:25:52.81\00:25:55.38
in spite of all these
massive negative changes,
00:25:55.42\00:25:58.62
he was able to
accomplish great things for God.
00:25:58.65\00:26:03.29
I would propose to you that
indeed the prophecies of Daniel
00:26:03.32\00:26:06.36
are the most
important prophecies
00:26:06.39\00:26:07.86
of the future than
any other Bible prophet.
00:26:07.86\00:26:10.23
Now, some of
you might be saying,
00:26:12.07\00:26:13.20
well, what about Revelation?
00:26:13.23\00:26:15.17
I thought Revelation
was the most important
00:26:15.20\00:26:16.91
and the most powerful book
that points us into the future.
00:26:16.94\00:26:20.21
And certainly is a
very, very close number two,
00:26:20.24\00:26:23.24
but let me tell you why I
put still Daniel on the top.
00:26:23.28\00:26:26.98
As it turns out, many of us
00:26:27.02\00:26:28.25
that have studied
the Book of Revelation
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.09
have discovered that
most of the symbolism
00:26:30.12\00:26:31.95
and you can't understand
unless you have the book of...
00:26:31.99\00:26:35.36
Unless you have the
prophecies of Daniel.
00:26:35.39\00:26:37.93
And so the Book of
Revelation is largely useless
00:26:37.96\00:26:40.33
unless we have
the Book of Daniel
00:26:40.36\00:26:41.73
to be able to
interpret the great deep symbols
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.53
that God had revealed
in the Book of Revelation.
00:26:44.57\00:26:47.17
And so that's why
I still put Daniel
00:26:47.20\00:26:48.74
at the top of the
list with Revelation
00:26:48.77\00:26:50.74
being a very close,
brother, in second place.
00:26:50.77\00:26:54.88
And, of course, they're
sister or brother books.
00:26:54.91\00:26:58.88
And so these are some
massive great examples
00:26:58.91\00:27:01.98
of somebody in great distress,
massive negative change
00:27:02.02\00:27:06.82
that was able to shine for Jesus
00:27:06.86\00:27:08.16
in some of the
most powerful ways
00:27:08.19\00:27:09.59
any human being has ever shined.
00:27:09.62\00:27:11.53
And so the question again.
00:27:13.33\00:27:14.83
What enabled Daniel to handle
00:27:14.83\00:27:16.50
these massive
negative changes so well,
00:27:16.53\00:27:19.07
that he accomplished
such great positive changes?
00:27:19.10\00:27:23.51
Well, first and foremost,
00:27:23.54\00:27:24.81
he chose a faith relationship
with God every single day.
00:27:24.84\00:27:28.48
And, of course,
this was the key,
00:27:30.25\00:27:33.18
it was the bedrock,
it was the cornerstone,
00:27:33.21\00:27:35.35
it was the foundation
for his success in life.
00:27:35.38\00:27:40.06
Now, of course, he had that
00:27:40.09\00:27:41.32
and he was
setting that foundation
00:27:41.36\00:27:43.02
before the negatives came,
00:27:43.06\00:27:44.63
that's where you
want to be, is it not?
00:27:44.66\00:27:46.63
Friends, you want to
be in that foundation
00:27:46.66\00:27:48.63
and that cornerstone of faith
before the storms of life come.
00:27:48.66\00:27:52.73
Now, some of us,
00:27:52.77\00:27:53.80
you know, we
make foolish choices
00:27:53.84\00:27:55.24
and we don't set that bedrock.
00:27:55.27\00:27:57.27
And we don't come to the rock
00:27:57.31\00:27:59.07
and make sure
we're connected with it.
00:27:59.11\00:28:01.14
And so when the storms come,
now we're searching desperately
00:28:01.18\00:28:03.88
for the rock and
the Lord is merciful.
00:28:03.91\00:28:06.18
He will use
those times quite often
00:28:06.21\00:28:08.25
to be able to
start connecting with us.
00:28:08.28\00:28:10.49
But, friends, those storms
00:28:10.52\00:28:11.52
are gonna be
much harder to handle
00:28:11.55\00:28:13.22
because of that.
00:28:13.25\00:28:14.49
And so you want to be
able to set that foundation,
00:28:14.52\00:28:16.93
even right now,
just as Daniel did
00:28:16.96\00:28:18.93
in the very
earliest years of his life.
00:28:18.96\00:28:22.43
And so that's the bedrock
00:28:22.46\00:28:23.87
that's the
cornerstone of his success.
00:28:23.90\00:28:27.10
Now, Daniel had an
experience that's very similar,
00:28:27.14\00:28:29.47
not in the
circumstances so much,
00:28:29.50\00:28:31.17
but in their feelings
00:28:31.21\00:28:32.61
and the great
negative changes and challenges
00:28:32.64\00:28:34.94
that came upon their
shoulders in their life.
00:28:34.98\00:28:37.75
And the other
figure that I'm thinking of
00:28:37.78\00:28:39.28
is another prophet
by the name of David.
00:28:39.31\00:28:42.52
David went through
a lot of hard years,
00:28:42.55\00:28:46.05
great challenges.
00:28:46.09\00:28:47.52
Now, be it, it is true
00:28:47.56\00:28:48.59
that some of them
he brought upon himself
00:28:48.62\00:28:50.96
and he had reaped
those consequences for years.
00:28:50.99\00:28:53.13
But even before that,
I mean, can you imagine,
00:28:53.16\00:28:56.73
you marry into the
family and your father-in-law,
00:28:56.77\00:28:58.70
you know, my
father-in-law's here today.
00:28:58.73\00:29:00.84
I'm thankful to be able to have
00:29:00.87\00:29:01.90
such a good loving
relationship with him.
00:29:01.94\00:29:03.61
But can you imagine
if your father-in-law
00:29:03.64\00:29:05.27
was out to get your head?
00:29:05.31\00:29:07.14
Okay, so imagine
if my father-in-law
00:29:09.31\00:29:11.01
turned on me and he
was doing everything
00:29:11.05\00:29:12.71
within his power to
be able to take my life.
00:29:12.75\00:29:16.08
That's where David was.
00:29:16.12\00:29:17.99
That's where David was,
is that a negative change?
00:29:18.02\00:29:20.96
Sure, it's a
great negative change
00:29:20.99\00:29:22.59
and challenge in his life
and he had a number of those.
00:29:22.62\00:29:24.76
And so David experienced
a lot of negative changes,
00:29:24.79\00:29:28.00
massive negative changes,
just like the Prophet Daniel.
00:29:28.03\00:29:32.77
And I believe that's
why when he was inspired
00:29:32.80\00:29:34.97
to write the 23rd Psalm,
00:29:35.00\00:29:36.64
it's something that not
only David could relate to,
00:29:36.67\00:29:38.77
but of course,
Daniel would be able
00:29:38.81\00:29:42.98
to relate to that as well.
00:29:43.01\00:29:44.78
And so Daniel would
have leaned upon Psalm 23,
00:29:44.81\00:29:50.52
I'm sure more than
once during his experiences.
00:29:50.55\00:29:53.66
And so I'm gonna invite
Denise to be able to read
00:29:53.69\00:29:56.09
that Psalm in its fullness,
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.03
'cause it's just so fitting
on this topic here today.
00:29:58.06\00:30:00.53
Psalm 23, "Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.
00:30:01.53\00:30:06.97
He makes me to lie
down in green pastures.
00:30:07.00\00:30:10.67
He leads me
beside the still waters.
00:30:10.71\00:30:13.31
He restores my soul.
00:30:13.34\00:30:15.38
He leads me in the
paths of righteousness
00:30:15.41\00:30:17.81
for his name's sake.
00:30:17.85\00:30:19.85
Yea, though I
walk through the valley
00:30:19.88\00:30:22.25
of the shadow of death,
00:30:22.28\00:30:23.92
I will fear no
evil, for you are with me,
00:30:23.95\00:30:27.89
your rod and your
staff, they comfort me.
00:30:27.92\00:30:31.29
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
00:30:31.33\00:30:35.30
You anoint my head with oil.
00:30:35.33\00:30:37.57
My cup runs over.
00:30:37.60\00:30:40.07
Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me
00:30:40.10\00:30:43.20
all the days of my life,
00:30:43.24\00:30:45.41
and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever."
00:30:45.44\00:30:49.64
Amen.
00:30:49.68\00:30:51.55
Do I hear an
amen out there? Amen.
00:30:51.58\00:30:54.68
You know, I don't think
there's any passage of scripture
00:30:54.72\00:30:58.59
in history,
00:30:58.62\00:30:59.69
at least in American
history that has been memorized
00:30:59.72\00:31:02.92
by American Christians
than that particular Psalm.
00:31:02.96\00:31:06.49
How many times have
I been at the deathbed
00:31:06.53\00:31:08.66
or the sickbed of
different church members
00:31:08.70\00:31:12.27
that are
reciting the 23rd Psalm?
00:31:12.30\00:31:15.90
That 23rd Psalm
00:31:15.94\00:31:17.11
kind of
encapsulates the heart of God
00:31:17.14\00:31:20.14
and encapsulates the
hard experience of David,
00:31:20.18\00:31:22.68
Daniel and many of us
sitting in this room as well.
00:31:22.71\00:31:26.01
The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want,
00:31:26.05\00:31:27.88
He leads me beside still waters.
00:31:27.92\00:31:29.75
It's reflective
and I'm unpacking
00:31:29.78\00:31:30.99
really the first verse,
00:31:31.02\00:31:32.09
the memory text in Psalm
85 that we read, did we not?
00:31:32.12\00:31:35.16
That it is God that goes ahead.
00:31:35.19\00:31:36.69
He's the one that's in charge.
He's the leader of our life.
00:31:36.73\00:31:39.86
Is He the leader of your life?
00:31:39.89\00:31:42.20
That's what God
wants in our life.
00:31:42.23\00:31:45.40
Well, Daniel made it a
regular habit of looking
00:31:45.43\00:31:47.47
to His God for help.
00:31:47.50\00:31:48.60
He learned to trust in
Him in all circumstances,
00:31:48.64\00:31:51.04
no matter how overwhelming
and negative they might become,
00:31:51.07\00:31:54.38
as change, inevitable
change came into his life.
00:31:54.41\00:31:59.18
As the famous pastor by
the name of Chuck Swindoll
00:31:59.21\00:32:02.75
once had
stated, it's a statement
00:32:02.78\00:32:04.72
that has echoed
through the years
00:32:04.75\00:32:07.99
ever since it's been
repeated by many of us
00:32:08.02\00:32:10.13
is that life is 10%
what happens to you,
00:32:10.16\00:32:12.96
and 90% of how you react.
00:32:12.99\00:32:16.60
Isn't that true?
00:32:16.63\00:32:17.93
Life is 10% of
what happens to you,
00:32:17.97\00:32:20.44
but it's 90% of how you react.
00:32:20.47\00:32:24.04
And if your heart
is connected to God,
00:32:24.07\00:32:26.27
if your heart is
connected to the one
00:32:26.31\00:32:27.84
that made the
heavens and the earth,
00:32:27.88\00:32:29.58
the one who has a
desire to prosper you
00:32:29.61\00:32:31.78
and to give you
hope and a future.
00:32:31.81\00:32:33.28
Friends, you can,
00:32:33.31\00:32:34.45
there's nothing
that you can't handle.
00:32:34.48\00:32:37.15
There's been
examples that are too strong,
00:32:37.19\00:32:39.55
that are too deep,
00:32:39.59\00:32:40.62
even as we looked at
Daniel's life itself.
00:32:40.66\00:32:43.29
Now, Daniel made
choices that armed him
00:32:43.32\00:32:45.16
with the armor of God,
00:32:45.19\00:32:46.33
so that when the storms
and negative challenges of life
00:32:46.36\00:32:48.66
came along, they
surely, as they surely do,
00:32:48.70\00:32:51.33
for every one of us.
00:32:51.37\00:32:52.40
None of us is
exempt from the storms
00:32:52.43\00:32:54.00
and the negative changes
that life brings in this life.
00:32:54.04\00:32:56.40
If you have not
experienced it yet,
00:32:56.44\00:32:58.24
just wait until tomorrow.
00:32:58.27\00:33:01.61
Because,
friends, I'm telling you,
00:33:01.64\00:33:02.81
none of us comes out exempt,
00:33:02.84\00:33:05.21
none of us comes out
without being challenged
00:33:05.25\00:33:08.88
by the negative storms of life.
00:33:08.92\00:33:11.12
But Daniel was able
to handle those storms,
00:33:11.15\00:33:13.89
he was able to
stand for the right,
00:33:13.92\00:33:15.52
he was able to persevere
in achieving positive changes
00:33:15.56\00:33:19.09
in spite of the negative changes
00:33:19.13\00:33:20.56
that this world
brought upon him.
00:33:20.60\00:33:23.53
And God may be
speaking to you right now.
00:33:23.57\00:33:26.63
You may know in the
depths of your heart
00:33:26.67\00:33:28.04
that you have not
been making the choices
00:33:28.07\00:33:30.14
that Daniel made.
00:33:30.17\00:33:31.87
You may know in
your heart of hearts
00:33:31.91\00:33:33.24
that when things get tough
00:33:33.27\00:33:34.34
and unwanted change
comes into your life
00:33:34.38\00:33:37.35
that you react in
some very unhelpful ways.
00:33:37.38\00:33:41.92
Let me give you some examples.
00:33:41.95\00:33:43.15
Perhaps you're one of
those that when negative changes
00:33:43.18\00:33:45.29
come into your
life, unwanted changes,
00:33:45.32\00:33:47.79
negative changes,
you blow your top,
00:33:47.82\00:33:50.79
you lose your temper,
00:33:50.83\00:33:52.39
you find yourself in
uncontrollable anger,
00:33:52.43\00:33:54.60
perhaps that's
been your unhealthy
00:33:54.63\00:33:56.90
and unhelpful way of
handling negative change.
00:33:56.93\00:34:00.34
Or perhaps you're
one of those types
00:34:00.37\00:34:01.84
that just wants to
curl up in your bed
00:34:01.87\00:34:04.64
into the fetal position,
pull the covers over your head
00:34:04.67\00:34:06.98
and hope that it all goes away.
00:34:07.01\00:34:09.58
And by the way, friends,
00:34:09.61\00:34:10.65
even if you're not
finding yourself in bed
00:34:10.68\00:34:12.45
all curled up,
and you're at the bar,
00:34:12.48\00:34:14.78
you're drowning your woes
00:34:14.82\00:34:16.48
and your negative
changes in alcohol, or drugs,
00:34:16.52\00:34:18.72
or in your work.
00:34:18.75\00:34:20.39
Friends, that's the same thing.
00:34:20.42\00:34:21.52
It comes under
the same category.
00:34:21.56\00:34:25.63
Unhelpful ways.
00:34:25.66\00:34:27.03
Maybe you immediately
compromise what is right,
00:34:30.10\00:34:32.87
and you find yourself lying,
and cheating, and stealing.
00:34:32.90\00:34:35.30
You're betraying as
much as you need to,
00:34:35.34\00:34:37.14
to be able to make
things good for yourself again.
00:34:37.17\00:34:40.64
These are all
very common, unhelpful,
00:34:40.68\00:34:43.85
unhealthy ways of handling
negative change in our life.
00:34:43.88\00:34:47.48
And, friends, if
you're finding yourself
00:34:47.52\00:34:48.98
in that position, and
God is calling to you,
00:34:49.02\00:34:50.85
and He wants to help you
to be able to connect with Him
00:34:50.89\00:34:53.69
and to be able to
make those good choices
00:34:53.72\00:34:56.19
and stand for the right
though the heavens fall.
00:34:56.22\00:35:00.70
To be able to maintain
and develop an integrity
00:35:00.73\00:35:03.53
that regardless of the
storms that come around us
00:35:03.57\00:35:05.63
that I will be
able to handle it,
00:35:05.67\00:35:06.87
I will be able
to lift up my head
00:35:06.90\00:35:08.40
and keep it high
00:35:08.44\00:35:09.60
and find myself on a
regular basis on my knees.
00:35:09.64\00:35:13.68
So that I can allow the God,
00:35:13.71\00:35:15.01
the Lord and the
God of the universe
00:35:15.04\00:35:16.51
to be able to go ahead of
me and make those footsteps.
00:35:16.54\00:35:20.75
Then I can leave
all these negative,
00:35:20.78\00:35:22.15
unhelpful ways, and
unhealthy ways behind
00:35:22.18\00:35:24.35
and handle them in a
positive and productive way.
00:35:24.39\00:35:29.32
I want to invite you here
today to surrender to the God
00:35:29.36\00:35:31.66
that loved and help
Daniel in a 100 different ways
00:35:31.69\00:35:34.03
that allowed him to shine,
even in the darkest valleys.
00:35:34.10\00:35:38.37
Daniel was able to shine.
00:35:38.40\00:35:42.17
This is the one and only way
00:35:42.20\00:35:43.44
that you can really
come through this life
00:35:43.47\00:35:45.14
and end up on top,
00:35:45.17\00:35:46.34
that you can really
find yourself undefeated
00:35:46.37\00:35:48.91
when it's all said and done.
00:35:48.94\00:35:51.55
Isn't that the way
you want to end your life?
00:35:51.58\00:35:53.92
Don't you want to
end your life on top?
00:35:53.95\00:35:56.28
Now, I'm not talking
about the one who dies
00:35:56.32\00:35:57.95
with the most toys wins.
00:35:57.99\00:36:00.49
No, I'm talking
about really being on top,
00:36:00.52\00:36:03.53
knowing that I
have followed the Lord,
00:36:03.56\00:36:05.43
knowing that I have
stood for the right,
00:36:05.46\00:36:06.96
knowing that I
have lived the truth
00:36:07.00\00:36:09.30
and the life that
God has given to me.
00:36:09.33\00:36:12.77
This is the way that God
wants us to live our life
00:36:12.80\00:36:14.80
and to end it, to be
able to end up on top
00:36:14.84\00:36:16.94
when it's all said and done.
00:36:16.97\00:36:20.71
Well, we have a
little bit of time
00:36:20.74\00:36:21.94
to look at one of
our subjects here today.
00:36:21.98\00:36:24.18
But I want to
invite our last volunteer.
00:36:24.21\00:36:26.08
He's a young man
by the name of Ben,
00:36:26.11\00:36:27.35
and he's agreed to
be able to read for us
00:36:27.38\00:36:29.38
from Matthew 11:28-30.
00:36:29.42\00:36:33.22
And so if you have your Bibles,
you want to follow along,
00:36:33.25\00:36:34.99
that's Matthew 11:28-30,
00:36:35.02\00:36:38.43
as we come to
the words of Christ.
00:36:38.46\00:36:42.33
"Comes to me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden,
00:36:42.36\00:36:45.13
and I will give you rest.
00:36:45.17\00:36:46.63
Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me,
00:36:46.67\00:36:48.94
for I am gentle
and lowly in heart
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.81
and you will find
rest for your souls.
00:36:50.84\00:36:52.87
For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
00:36:52.91\00:36:56.01
Thank you, Ben.
00:36:56.04\00:36:57.91
One of my favorite
scriptures, is Christ again,
00:36:57.95\00:37:00.32
the heart of God
calling out to us,
00:37:00.35\00:37:02.28
and saying, learn from me.
00:37:02.32\00:37:04.35
Jesus wants to be our teacher.
00:37:04.39\00:37:06.35
He wants to be our leader,
00:37:06.39\00:37:07.46
but He also wants
to be our teacher.
00:37:07.49\00:37:09.86
Now, both my daughters
00:37:09.89\00:37:10.89
can tell you about
some very, very awesome
00:37:10.93\00:37:13.36
and amazing teachers
00:37:13.40\00:37:14.36
that they've had during
their grade school years,
00:37:14.40\00:37:17.57
as they look back,
and my youngest one,
00:37:17.60\00:37:19.50
even if she's experienced,
a good teacher even right now.
00:37:19.53\00:37:23.04
But, friends, none of them
00:37:23.07\00:37:24.07
compared to the
greatest teacher of all.
00:37:24.11\00:37:26.71
And that's Jesus Christ.
00:37:26.74\00:37:27.78
Come unto me and learn from me,
00:37:27.81\00:37:29.71
Jesus says, enter
into the school of Christ,
00:37:29.74\00:37:32.08
be a disciple, a
student of the master.
00:37:32.11\00:37:35.18
Come to the one that knows
life and is the creator of life
00:37:35.22\00:37:37.85
and will be able
to give you a life
00:37:37.89\00:37:39.29
that you can
never find without Him.
00:37:39.32\00:37:41.39
Well, earlier on we
are talking about old age
00:37:45.66\00:37:47.96
and I heard
somebody in the audience,
00:37:47.96\00:37:49.16
I think they said,
"You're not old yet."
00:37:49.20\00:37:52.60
How can you talk
to us about being old?
00:37:52.63\00:37:54.27
Well, I don't know
if my Mom just gave me
00:37:54.30\00:37:57.61
the right
vitamins or what it was,
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.18
but you know, I'm 51,
and so I'm old enough to say
00:38:00.21\00:38:05.58
that I'm not old as in a senior,
00:38:05.61\00:38:09.42
but I'm certainly old enough
to know what it's like to be
00:38:09.45\00:38:11.29
on the other side.
00:38:11.32\00:38:13.15
And I certainly
know what it's like
00:38:13.19\00:38:15.06
to be able to start
going down the other direction.
00:38:15.09\00:38:19.63
And there's different changes
00:38:19.66\00:38:21.33
that have started
to develop into my life
00:38:21.36\00:38:23.63
that I'm not
exactly excited about.
00:38:23.67\00:38:26.20
And, you know, of course,
00:38:26.23\00:38:27.80
as I visit and
pastor different members
00:38:27.84\00:38:30.47
that are a few
years ahead of me,
00:38:30.51\00:38:31.71
they share some
things that I can expect
00:38:31.74\00:38:34.11
and look forward to.
00:38:34.14\00:38:35.64
And I'm not sure I'm
all that excited about it.
00:38:35.68\00:38:39.88
You know, preparing for
old age and accepting the fact
00:38:39.91\00:38:42.82
that we all grow old,
it's not exactly something
00:38:42.85\00:38:45.05
that we all get up
in the morning and go,
00:38:45.09\00:38:46.35
hey, great, I'm
older again today.
00:38:46.39\00:38:49.32
You know, when we
say we're over the hill,
00:38:49.36\00:38:51.36
there's a real reality to that.
00:38:51.39\00:38:53.86
You know, you kind of
peek and then things start
00:38:53.90\00:38:57.17
to kind of go down
the other direction.
00:38:57.20\00:38:59.43
And so let's look at
that for a little bit.
00:38:59.47\00:39:02.90
Psalm Chapter...
00:39:02.94\00:39:04.84
Not chapter, there's no chapters
00:39:04.87\00:39:06.21
in Psalm really,
00:39:06.24\00:39:07.28
it's a collection of 150
songs, did you know that?
00:39:07.31\00:39:12.28
It's 150 songs.
00:39:12.31\00:39:13.95
So these were really
inspired by God to be sung.
00:39:13.98\00:39:16.45
And they were sung originally.
00:39:16.48\00:39:17.65
Psalm is an old
English word for song.
00:39:17.69\00:39:20.89
And so really,
it's the book of songs.
00:39:20.92\00:39:23.89
Let's go to the 90th
Psalm which is verse 10.
00:39:23.93\00:39:27.40
Now, you can look
at it in your Bible
00:39:27.46\00:39:28.56
or you can go to
your quarterly study,
00:39:28.60\00:39:29.90
if you desire, on page 26.
00:39:29.93\00:39:35.40
And on page 26, at the very top,
00:39:35.44\00:39:39.31
we find that verse
Psalm 90:10, it says,
00:39:39.34\00:39:41.88
"The days of our
lives are seventy,
00:39:41.91\00:39:44.05
and if by reason of
strength they are eighty years,
00:39:44.08\00:39:46.11
yet their boast is
only labor and sorrow,
00:39:46.15\00:39:48.85
for it is soon cut
off, and we fly away.'
00:39:48.88\00:39:52.22
And, of course, the flying away
00:39:52.25\00:39:54.19
is that we start to
disappear and we go to our rest
00:39:54.22\00:39:57.63
until Jesus
comes again and so...
00:39:57.66\00:40:02.53
That's one of the
realities of life.
00:40:02.56\00:40:03.93
One of the realities of life
00:40:03.97\00:40:05.03
is that life
doesn't last forever
00:40:05.07\00:40:06.53
in this life.
00:40:06.57\00:40:08.37
There's an
intermission for most of us
00:40:08.40\00:40:10.27
until Jesus comes again.
00:40:10.31\00:40:11.51
Now, we have the hope
that God is gonna resurrect us
00:40:11.54\00:40:13.41
from that death.
00:40:13.44\00:40:14.44
Death is an
enemy that has overcome
00:40:14.48\00:40:15.91
and this lesson study
wisely points that out,
00:40:15.94\00:40:17.85
as the Bible tells
us, death is an enemy
00:40:17.88\00:40:20.05
that Jesus had conquered.
00:40:20.08\00:40:22.28
And so it's good
to be able to know
00:40:22.32\00:40:24.32
that even if we
go to our rest today,
00:40:24.35\00:40:26.79
that Jesus is
still there for us,
00:40:26.82\00:40:28.59
and He will wake us up tomorrow.
00:40:28.62\00:40:32.86
So preparing for old age.
00:40:32.89\00:40:35.86
Now, on Wednesday's
lesson, we looked at Psalm 71.
00:40:35.90\00:40:39.37
And that's the key
passage that we look at
00:40:39.40\00:40:42.14
and it speaks to
aging with success.
00:40:42.17\00:40:45.24
Now, the best way
to maximize success
00:40:45.27\00:40:47.74
in growing old is
beginning to invest early on.
00:40:47.78\00:40:51.68
You need to start investing
00:40:51.71\00:40:52.75
early on to prepare for old age.
00:40:52.78\00:40:56.69
You don't want to wait
until you're 50, or 60, or 70
00:40:56.72\00:40:59.35
to be able to
prepare for old age.
00:40:59.39\00:41:01.92
You want to start investing now.
00:41:01.96\00:41:05.16
And so what does that mean?
00:41:05.19\00:41:07.03
Well, does that mean
that I should start looking
00:41:07.03\00:41:08.56
and studying stocks,
and bonds, and real estate?
00:41:08.60\00:41:11.43
Well, it's good to
have a good retirement plan.
00:41:11.47\00:41:13.60
I don't want to
advise against that,
00:41:13.64\00:41:15.77
I've got a
retirement plan, conference,
00:41:15.80\00:41:18.31
you know, gives
us a retirement plan,
00:41:18.34\00:41:19.91
we have different
options to look at.
00:41:19.94\00:41:21.68
So it is good to be able to look
00:41:21.71\00:41:22.84
into your future
financially and make sure
00:41:22.88\00:41:24.58
that you're not a burden
00:41:24.61\00:41:25.61
as much as possible on yourself,
00:41:25.65\00:41:27.22
your family and such.
00:41:27.25\00:41:29.52
But there's
more to it than that.
00:41:29.55\00:41:31.02
I'm talking about investing
00:41:31.05\00:41:32.19
in other very
important areas of life.
00:41:32.22\00:41:35.39
So that when you do
reach your old age years,
00:41:35.42\00:41:37.49
that you're prepared.
00:41:37.53\00:41:39.23
Now, the most
important investment
00:41:39.26\00:41:40.66
that we can make,
00:41:40.70\00:41:41.70
of course, we already
spent most of our lesson study
00:41:41.73\00:41:43.20
looking at and that is,
that is our faith in God,
00:41:43.23\00:41:46.67
investing spiritually in
your relationship with God.
00:41:46.70\00:41:50.77
So that when our
older years do come along,
00:41:50.81\00:41:52.74
we can lean upon Him
because we do, we need God
00:41:52.77\00:41:55.58
perhaps even more
00:41:55.61\00:41:56.61
when we find
ourselves in our senior years.
00:41:56.64\00:41:59.25
In some ways, yes.
00:41:59.28\00:42:00.62
We need to be able to
lean upon Him to be able to,
00:42:00.65\00:42:03.32
to make sure that we have a rock
00:42:03.35\00:42:04.85
in which we can
lean upon and look to.
00:42:04.89\00:42:07.99
And we want to start that now.
00:42:08.02\00:42:09.99
Again, just like Daniel
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.13
before the storms
came and the challenges,
00:42:11.16\00:42:12.96
and the negative changes came,
00:42:12.99\00:42:14.66
he had already
established himself
00:42:14.73\00:42:16.70
with the rock.
00:42:16.73\00:42:18.50
He had already
established himself with God.
00:42:18.53\00:42:20.04
And so Psalm 71:5,
00:42:20.07\00:42:24.47
it points out for us and says,
00:42:24.51\00:42:25.74
"You are my hope, oh Lord God,
you are my trust from my youth,
00:42:25.77\00:42:30.08
from my" what?
00:42:30.11\00:42:31.58
"From my youth."
00:42:31.61\00:42:32.61
And so it's in our youth
00:42:32.65\00:42:33.68
that we want to start
depositing those investments
00:42:33.72\00:42:36.85
so that when we
reach our senior years,
00:42:36.89\00:42:38.65
that we can have a
rock solid relationship
00:42:38.69\00:42:40.76
with God.
00:42:40.79\00:42:41.79
And we can also have
better memories as well.
00:42:41.82\00:42:44.26
When we're in the
latter stage of our life,
00:42:44.29\00:42:45.93
we can be able
to lean upon those
00:42:45.96\00:42:48.10
and reflect upon
all the different ways
00:42:48.13\00:42:49.83
that God had led
you in your life,
00:42:49.86\00:42:51.97
all the different
beautiful relationships
00:42:52.00\00:42:53.80
that you have
developed in the church of God
00:42:53.84\00:42:55.67
over the years,
00:42:55.70\00:42:57.04
and with your
neighbors as you've loved them
00:42:57.07\00:42:58.47
with the love of Christ.
00:42:58.51\00:43:00.78
And then, of course,
00:43:00.81\00:43:01.74
we also want to invest
depositing our families.
00:43:01.78\00:43:05.08
In Proverbs Chapter 31,
00:43:05.11\00:43:06.38
we find one of the
most powerful examples
00:43:06.41\00:43:08.18
of that as we read through that,
00:43:08.22\00:43:09.72
that Psalms, particularly
the last half of Proverbs 31,
00:43:09.75\00:43:13.69
we find there that
there is a wife and a mother
00:43:13.72\00:43:15.72
that is pouring her
life out into her family,
00:43:15.76\00:43:19.06
beautiful scriptures.
00:43:19.09\00:43:21.60
She's depositing something there
00:43:21.63\00:43:23.16
that she's gonna
reap in her senior years,
00:43:23.20\00:43:25.13
is she not?
00:43:25.17\00:43:26.47
Sure, she is.
00:43:26.50\00:43:27.57
She's investing in her future,
00:43:27.60\00:43:29.44
even as she's investing
in her family in the present.
00:43:29.47\00:43:32.57
And so investing in
your family relationships,
00:43:32.61\00:43:35.14
and making sure that your family
00:43:35.18\00:43:36.34
doesn't fall to the wayside
in that most important circle,
00:43:36.38\00:43:39.85
social circle is protected
00:43:39.88\00:43:42.25
and that you're investing
in it in a regular basis,
00:43:42.28\00:43:44.72
so that you can
have a bright future
00:43:44.75\00:43:46.25
when you reach
your senior years.
00:43:46.29\00:43:49.86
And then, of
course, our marriage,
00:43:49.89\00:43:50.99
Ephesians Chapter 5,
00:43:51.03\00:43:52.76
God calls husbands and
wives to invest in each other,
00:43:52.79\00:43:55.23
to bring lots of love
and respect to one another
00:43:55.26\00:43:58.73
as you make your way
through the years together
00:43:58.77\00:44:01.17
in your marriage relationship.
00:44:01.20\00:44:03.71
It is God's plan,
00:44:03.74\00:44:04.67
is it not for us to
be able to become closer?
00:44:04.71\00:44:07.98
If you're celebrating
your silver anniversary,
00:44:08.01\00:44:10.91
and then your golden anniversary
00:44:10.95\00:44:12.78
after 50 years of marriage,
00:44:12.81\00:44:14.18
should you be closer
together at the golden
00:44:14.22\00:44:16.28
than you were at the silver?
00:44:16.32\00:44:18.59
Sure, that's
God's plan, is it not?
00:44:18.62\00:44:21.56
God has called
the husband and wife
00:44:21.59\00:44:23.19
to invest into their marriage,
00:44:23.22\00:44:24.79
and how many of us
have made the mistake
00:44:24.83\00:44:26.43
of not investing
00:44:26.46\00:44:27.46
into their
marriage relationship?
00:44:27.50\00:44:30.87
How many tragic stories
that we have represented
00:44:30.90\00:44:32.93
just in this room alone.
00:44:32.97\00:44:35.14
Now, I'm not talking
about you individually,
00:44:35.17\00:44:36.60
but people that you know,
00:44:36.64\00:44:38.54
you know, in your families
00:44:38.57\00:44:39.61
and so on, the pain and
the hurt that is resulted
00:44:39.64\00:44:41.88
because there's couples
00:44:41.91\00:44:43.51
that have been
married for 10, 20, 30,
00:44:43.55\00:44:45.68
sometimes even 50 years,
00:44:45.71\00:44:47.75
and then all of
a sudden they make
00:44:47.78\00:44:48.85
this grand
announcement to the family,
00:44:48.88\00:44:50.29
we're separating,
we're getting a divorce.
00:44:50.32\00:44:53.96
Why?
00:44:53.99\00:44:54.99
Because they had
made the tragic mistake
00:44:55.02\00:44:56.46
of not investing in
that marriage relationship
00:44:56.49\00:44:59.23
all the way through those years
00:44:59.26\00:45:01.10
so that when they
reach their senior years,
00:45:01.13\00:45:02.93
they have the companion
00:45:02.96\00:45:04.13
that God had
designed you to have.
00:45:04.17\00:45:08.00
That you have
that lifelong friend
00:45:08.04\00:45:09.50
that knows you,
00:45:09.54\00:45:11.04
that the only person
that knows you better
00:45:11.07\00:45:12.97
is God Himself.
00:45:13.01\00:45:15.58
Isn't that the
plan that God has?
00:45:15.61\00:45:17.91
Invest in your marriage now,
00:45:17.95\00:45:19.48
if you're not
investing in your marriage,
00:45:19.51\00:45:21.22
God is speaking to us today.
00:45:21.25\00:45:22.75
And He's calling
us to be able to,
00:45:22.78\00:45:24.65
to do some soul searching
00:45:24.69\00:45:25.85
and find ourselves
realigning our lives
00:45:25.89\00:45:28.32
in such a way
that we're investing
00:45:28.36\00:45:29.59
in that which is so important
that we can have the best,
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.13
most successful
senior years possible.
00:45:32.16\00:45:34.30
Well, I think we're
running out of time.
00:45:38.03\00:45:40.90
Psalm 71:14
00:45:40.94\00:45:42.94
also talks about developing
good habits and attitudes.
00:45:42.97\00:45:47.18
So that when we
reach our senior years,
00:45:47.21\00:45:49.38
we can find ourselves
developed into the character
00:45:49.41\00:45:52.88
and people that
He wants us to be.
00:45:52.91\00:45:54.82
Psalm 71:14,
00:45:54.85\00:45:56.95
it says, "But I
will hope continually, "
00:45:56.99\00:45:58.75
I will what?
00:45:58.79\00:46:00.42
I will hope continually
00:46:00.46\00:46:02.12
and will praise
you yet more and more."
00:46:02.16\00:46:04.56
And so having a lifetime
of good habits of praising God
00:46:04.59\00:46:09.76
clinging on to
hope, and recognizing
00:46:09.80\00:46:12.33
that God always has a future
00:46:12.37\00:46:13.94
and He desires to prosper us
00:46:13.97\00:46:15.40
and give us a positive future
and bring positive changes
00:46:15.44\00:46:18.51
into the lives of
those in whom we touch.
00:46:18.54\00:46:21.14
Developing good attitudes,
00:46:21.18\00:46:23.48
how sad it is
that so many of us,
00:46:23.51\00:46:25.05
we find ourselves
at the end of our life,
00:46:25.08\00:46:26.68
and we find ourselves
with the worst attitudes
00:46:26.72\00:46:28.65
when we're retired.
00:46:28.68\00:46:30.95
How many cranky, crankity,
grumpy people do we find,
00:46:30.99\00:46:36.09
you know, in the
last years of our life?
00:46:36.12\00:46:38.29
Friends, we should be
the sweetest, most loving,
00:46:38.33\00:46:40.76
most godly, most caring people
00:46:40.80\00:46:42.90
by the time we
reach our senior years.
00:46:42.93\00:46:44.93
God is finishing a work
00:46:48.67\00:46:49.97
that He had
already begun in you.
00:46:50.01\00:46:54.68
It hurts my heart sometimes.
00:46:54.71\00:46:55.88
And this might
sting a little bit
00:46:55.91\00:46:57.61
for some different
pastors and world leaders.
00:46:57.65\00:46:59.28
And I'm just
saying that as an example,
00:46:59.31\00:47:00.92
because that's my world,
00:47:00.95\00:47:02.08
you know, I rub shoulders
with church leaders and pastors
00:47:02.12\00:47:04.69
and so on.
00:47:04.72\00:47:05.75
And more than once,
00:47:05.79\00:47:07.09
and this is still the
exception and not the rule.
00:47:07.12\00:47:08.86
So don't get me wrong.
00:47:08.89\00:47:09.89
This is not the general pattern.
00:47:09.92\00:47:11.09
But I've seen more than one
00:47:11.13\00:47:13.56
that has found
themselves retired,
00:47:13.60\00:47:16.23
they're not accountable to them,
00:47:16.26\00:47:17.27
they've got an empty
nest, their house is empty.
00:47:17.30\00:47:20.14
And so now they're not
accountable to anybody,
00:47:20.17\00:47:22.04
and they could just
be as grumpy and cranky
00:47:22.07\00:47:23.91
as they possibly want to be.
00:47:23.94\00:47:26.64
And they do.
00:47:26.68\00:47:28.58
Is that what God wants?
00:47:28.61\00:47:30.65
No, He doesn't want that,
He wants us to be the opposite.
00:47:30.68\00:47:34.02
We should be at the pinnacle
of our Christian character.
00:47:34.05\00:47:37.22
We should be
reflecting Christ more
00:47:37.25\00:47:39.05
in the last years of our
life than at the beginning.
00:47:39.09\00:47:42.62
And yet the devil is
convinced too many of us
00:47:42.66\00:47:44.49
when the
accountability has gone on earth
00:47:44.53\00:47:48.16
that now we can just kind of
00:47:48.20\00:47:49.23
be as cranky and
grumpy as we want.
00:47:49.26\00:47:53.67
Investing into the
passion of God's mission.
00:47:53.70\00:47:55.50
Psalm 71:15 will
be our last verse.
00:47:55.54\00:47:57.81
It says, "My mouth shall
tell of your righteousness
00:47:57.84\00:48:00.48
and of your
salvation all the day."
00:48:00.51\00:48:03.48
Friends, having a
passion for God's mission
00:48:03.51\00:48:05.28
both now through the years
00:48:05.31\00:48:06.82
and through your
retirement years as well.
00:48:06.85\00:48:10.19
Just because you've
retired from your job,
00:48:10.22\00:48:11.69
your career should
never include retiring
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.49
from helping
people to find faith.
00:48:13.52\00:48:16.26
From being a witness,
00:48:16.29\00:48:17.29
a mouthpiece
for Jesus to be able
00:48:17.33\00:48:19.23
to continue to
spread the good news
00:48:19.26\00:48:21.13
and to be able to
contribute to His mission
00:48:21.16\00:48:22.93
in other ways as
much as possible,
00:48:22.96\00:48:25.17
volunteering in the church,
00:48:25.20\00:48:26.33
volunteering in our neighborhood
00:48:26.37\00:48:27.54
and different community events
and touching people's lives.
00:48:27.57\00:48:32.41
Well, we're at the end
of our study here today,
00:48:32.44\00:48:35.21
and I'm just so glad
00:48:35.24\00:48:36.24
that all of you
were able to join us
00:48:36.28\00:48:37.65
both here at the
Granite Bay Church
00:48:37.68\00:48:38.88
as well as online
00:48:38.91\00:48:41.88
and the different
television networks.
00:48:41.92\00:48:43.85
Don't forget to take
advantage of our free offer,
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.42
which is Keys
for a Happy Marriage.
00:48:46.45\00:48:48.16
This is Amazing
Facts study guide number 5,
00:48:48.19\00:48:51.23
and you just have
to dial 1866-788-3966
00:48:51.26\00:48:55.33
and ask for free
offer number 164.
00:48:55.36\00:48:59.17
And again, you can
see that the number,
00:48:59.20\00:49:00.50
free offer number 164
00:49:00.54\00:49:01.87
and the number is on the screen.
00:49:01.90\00:49:03.37
And I encourage you to
take advantage of that.
00:49:03.41\00:49:06.57
One of the topics on
positive changes was marriage.
00:49:06.61\00:49:10.28
Thank you for joining us,
and we will see you next week.
00:49:10.31\00:49:14.05
Don't forget to request today's
life changing free resource.
00:49:14.08\00:49:17.65
Not only can you receive
this free gift in the mail,
00:49:17.69\00:49:19.85
you can download a digital
copy straight to your computer
00:49:19.89\00:49:22.39
or mobile device.
00:49:22.42\00:49:23.73
To get your digital
copy of today's free gift,
00:49:23.76\00:49:26.39
simply text the keyword
on your screen to 40544,
00:49:26.43\00:49:30.47
or visit the web
address shown on your screen.
00:49:30.50\00:49:33.27
And be sure to select
the digital download option
00:49:33.30\00:49:35.67
on the request page.
00:49:35.70\00:49:36.97
It's more easier
than ever for you
00:49:37.01\00:49:38.81
to study God's
Word with Amazing Facts,
00:49:38.84\00:49:41.48
wherever and whenever you want.
00:49:41.51\00:49:43.45
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:49:43.48\00:49:46.08
Amazing Facts changed lives.
00:49:50.85\00:49:53.72
When I was a little boy,
00:49:59.79\00:50:01.23
I grew up in a
typical Christian family.
00:50:01.26\00:50:05.10
We had the American dream,
00:50:05.13\00:50:06.57
but I began to realize that
something was not quite right.
00:50:06.60\00:50:11.47
I wanted to be with the girls.
00:50:11.51\00:50:15.24
I wanted to do girl things,
00:50:15.28\00:50:17.65
I would pretend
to be one person,
00:50:17.68\00:50:22.02
but yet feel like I
was trapped like this,
00:50:22.05\00:50:26.62
this girl was
trapped inside my body.
00:50:26.65\00:50:30.13
You know, my parents would,
00:50:30.16\00:50:32.29
would go to the mall
or we'd be at a store
00:50:32.33\00:50:34.76
and I would sneak off to,
00:50:34.83\00:50:40.90
you know, the girl's department.
00:50:40.94\00:50:42.60
I was living this double life.
00:50:42.64\00:50:44.91
So as I started
to attend college,
00:50:44.94\00:50:47.04
on one hand, I
would be going to school
00:50:47.08\00:50:49.54
and on the other hand, I
would be starting to dress up
00:50:49.58\00:50:54.35
and something was working
in my mind and in my heart
00:50:54.38\00:50:58.95
to tell me that
this is not right.
00:50:58.99\00:51:02.52
And so I joined an on
campus Christian group.
00:51:02.56\00:51:07.30
We took several trips
to overseas, to Taiwan.
00:51:07.30\00:51:11.00
And after I
graduated from the university,
00:51:11.03\00:51:14.60
I got my ticket and I...
00:51:14.64\00:51:16.17
It was a one way ticket,
00:51:16.20\00:51:17.27
and I was planning on
staying in Taiwan for a while.
00:51:17.31\00:51:22.01
And there I met my wife,
00:51:22.04\00:51:24.78
we finally came back to America.
00:51:24.81\00:51:26.92
And I thought,
well, maybe marriage,
00:51:26.95\00:51:29.28
you know, would
be the right answer.
00:51:29.32\00:51:31.59
It was only a couple
of years into our marriage
00:51:31.62\00:51:34.79
and the desires to be a woman
started to come back up again.
00:51:34.82\00:51:41.30
I would get airline
tickets and I would fly
00:51:41.33\00:51:44.60
to get away from her
00:51:44.63\00:51:45.70
so that I could
live my lifestyle.
00:51:45.73\00:51:47.97
You know, for 24 hour
periods, for one week periods,
00:51:48.00\00:51:51.14
to go shopping,
00:51:51.17\00:51:53.54
just spending
inordinate amounts of money,
00:51:53.58\00:51:56.88
because I felt like
I had missed so much
00:51:56.91\00:51:59.28
and I was trying
to be that person
00:51:59.31\00:52:03.32
that I thought it
was on the inside.
00:52:03.35\00:52:06.86
And so I started to
live my life full time.
00:52:06.89\00:52:12.29
I started
wearing women's clothes.
00:52:12.33\00:52:17.33
I started to grow
my hair out real long,
00:52:17.37\00:52:19.10
and I just didn't
see any way around it.
00:52:19.13\00:52:21.94
So finally, I had
made my transition
00:52:21.97\00:52:24.21
and I had realized
fully who I thought
00:52:24.24\00:52:26.37
I was supposed to be.
00:52:26.41\00:52:27.58
But there was still
something missing, like I was...
00:52:27.61\00:52:30.41
I felt empty inside.
00:52:30.45\00:52:31.91
I decided to search online,
I stumbled upon Amazing Facts.
00:52:31.95\00:52:35.68
And I started to watch one
00:52:35.72\00:52:37.75
and then I had watched
the entire seminar series,
00:52:37.79\00:52:40.52
and I started
to see who God was,
00:52:40.56\00:52:43.86
and who I was.
00:52:43.89\00:52:46.33
That God loved me so much..
00:52:46.36\00:52:48.33
That I just can't
live this life anymore.
00:52:51.40\00:52:55.84
He says to me, I'll
work with you on this.
00:52:55.87\00:52:59.24
I love you and you can change.
00:52:59.27\00:53:03.01
Going through the
central study hour
00:53:03.04\00:53:05.01
Sabbath School lessons on
the Amazing Facts website,
00:53:05.05\00:53:08.42
I decided to finally
change in the male attire
00:53:08.45\00:53:12.39
for the first time
in a couple of years.
00:53:12.42\00:53:16.19
I still had my long hair.
00:53:16.22\00:53:18.56
But you know, I'm
gonna go to church,
00:53:18.59\00:53:20.30
and I attended
the AFCO to Go series.
00:53:20.33\00:53:23.13
It was just an
amazing experience.
00:53:23.16\00:53:25.27
My life was totally different.
00:53:25.30\00:53:28.10
That love that God showed
me started to work in my life
00:53:28.14\00:53:33.51
to where I wanted to do
exactly the same for others.
00:53:33.54\00:53:36.78
I started to want to give
more, to give more of my time
00:53:36.81\00:53:43.45
and give more of my energy
00:53:43.49\00:53:45.39
and God continued
to gradually change me.
00:53:45.42\00:53:47.79
The desires to be that
person finally then went away,
00:53:47.82\00:53:51.79
and I finally felt free at last.
00:53:51.83\00:53:55.00
And I can say with
a big smile on my face
00:53:55.03\00:53:58.13
that God has completely
healed me through the process.
00:53:58.17\00:54:02.84
I just thank God for
giving me a second chance.
00:54:02.87\00:54:07.08
I'm Wendell,
00:54:07.11\00:54:08.58
and God has used
you to change my life.
00:54:08.61\00:54:10.65
For over 60 years,
00:54:34.10\00:54:35.37
Jeepneys have been the
virtual king of the road
00:54:35.40\00:54:37.61
here in the Philippines.
00:54:37.64\00:54:39.11
These unique
vehicles that are festive
00:54:39.14\00:54:41.21
with colorful
stickers, lights, and chrome
00:54:41.24\00:54:43.65
have grown into the chief source
00:54:43.68\00:54:45.31
of
transportation in the country.
00:54:45.35\00:54:47.25
Let's go.
00:54:47.28\00:54:48.35
These iconic four-wheel
drive military vehicles
00:54:52.82\00:54:55.69
made by the Willys
Company were known as Jeeps
00:54:55.72\00:54:58.66
because it stood
for general purpose.
00:54:58.69\00:55:01.36
And it also
came from a character
00:55:01.40\00:55:03.63
in a Popeye cartoon
00:55:03.67\00:55:05.57
that was known
as Eugene the Jeep.
00:55:05.60\00:55:08.00
He was an imaginary dog
00:55:08.04\00:55:09.30
that could crawl across
the ceilings and the walls,
00:55:09.34\00:55:11.71
and these jeeps
could go anywhere.
00:55:11.74\00:55:13.68
When the Americans
left the Philippines
00:55:13.71\00:55:15.28
following World War II,
00:55:15.31\00:55:17.21
it was just cheaper for
them to leave these thousands
00:55:17.25\00:55:19.51
of military vehicles behind
rather than to transport them
00:55:19.55\00:55:22.35
back to the States.
00:55:22.38\00:55:23.79
The creative Filipino people
00:55:23.82\00:55:25.59
modified these military vehicles
00:55:25.62\00:55:27.36
by extending the
frame about six feet.
00:55:27.39\00:55:29.92
They added a
couple of cozy inventions
00:55:29.96\00:55:31.89
that are designed to
carry about 18 people.
00:55:31.93\00:55:35.00
They put a cab over it
00:55:35.03\00:55:36.10
to prevent the
water from coming in,
00:55:36.13\00:55:38.60
but I've seen what
looks like 20 to 25 people
00:55:38.63\00:55:41.64
hanging on every possible
edge and ledge of a Jeepney.
00:55:41.67\00:55:44.91
They're jumping off,
00:55:44.94\00:55:46.17
they're jumping
on as it goes through
00:55:46.21\00:55:47.91
congested Manila traffic.
00:55:47.94\00:55:51.11
Every Jeepney is
little bit different.
00:55:51.15\00:55:53.55
Some are just held together
with patches of daily wire
00:55:53.58\00:55:56.69
and bubblegum, a
little bit of duck tape.
00:55:56.72\00:55:58.85
Some are little
more ornate and modern,
00:55:58.89\00:56:00.62
they've got chrome
and stainless steel.
00:56:00.66\00:56:03.16
And there's good reason
that the ceilings are padded.
00:56:03.19\00:56:05.33
When one of the local Filipinos
wants to ride on a Jeepney,
00:56:08.60\00:56:11.43
they just flag
them down, they shout,
00:56:11.47\00:56:13.20
they tap on the hood,
and then they jump on board.
00:56:13.23\00:56:15.90
They may not even
slowdown when they do this.
00:56:15.94\00:56:18.31
Then they pay about 8 pesos
00:56:18.34\00:56:20.38
which is
equivalent of 16 cents for us.
00:56:20.41\00:56:23.04
It's by far the
most economical way
00:56:23.08\00:56:25.01
to get around in the country.
00:56:25.05\00:56:26.11
Some Jeepneys are even equipped
with an own emergency privy.
00:56:31.39\00:56:34.26
One little
downside to the Jeepneys
00:56:37.39\00:56:39.13
is because the
cabs are open like this,
00:56:39.16\00:56:41.30
they're not air-conditioned,
it gets very hot in summertime
00:56:41.33\00:56:44.40
and all the fumes
from the street coming in
00:56:44.43\00:56:46.84
which can make it an
exhausting experience.
00:56:46.87\00:56:50.57
One of the
downside of the Jeepney
00:56:50.61\00:56:51.81
is they don't have all of
the modern safety features,
00:56:51.84\00:56:54.48
no seatbelts.
00:56:54.51\00:56:55.84
You have to take
advantage of the padding
00:56:55.88\00:56:57.51
if you hit a hard bump.
00:56:57.55\00:56:59.08
And if you're in
a serious accident,
00:56:59.11\00:57:00.95
there is no airbags
00:57:00.98\00:57:02.42
other than the friends that
might be sitting around you.
00:57:02.45\00:57:04.92
And that's the
upside of the Jeepney
00:57:04.95\00:57:06.62
because you're up close
and personal with everybody,
00:57:06.65\00:57:09.16
you make some new friends.
00:57:09.19\00:57:11.09
Riding on a
Jeepney requires teamwork.
00:57:11.13\00:57:13.50
If you buy something
from one of the vendors,
00:57:13.53\00:57:15.50
you all sort of pass
it back to each other.
00:57:15.53\00:57:17.53
And when
passengers get on board,
00:57:17.57\00:57:19.53
you just pass
your money up front.
00:57:19.57\00:57:20.94
Thanks a lot.
00:57:26.94\00:57:28.01
Friends, it's safe to
say there are no two Jeepneys
00:57:31.95\00:57:34.72
that are exactly the same.
00:57:34.75\00:57:36.62
They're all unique and
distinct and so are you.
00:57:36.65\00:57:40.02
Have you ever felt that you
get lost in a massive humanity
00:57:40.06\00:57:43.43
and God doesn't notice you?
00:57:43.46\00:57:45.23
The Bible tells us
that He knows your name,
00:57:45.26\00:57:47.23
the very hairs of
your head are numbered
00:57:47.30\00:57:49.06
and He hears your prayers.
00:57:49.10\00:57:50.47
More than that,
00:57:50.50\00:57:51.50
the Lord wants to
take you to His kingdom,
00:57:51.53\00:57:53.77
you just have to get on board.
00:57:53.80\00:57:55.37