Participants: C. A. Murray (Host), Nate Mace, Martin Wever, Will James
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY015088A
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00:02 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello, and welcome once again 01:08 to Three Angels Broadcasting Networks 01:10 Today program. 01:12 And thank you for your prayers and support of this ministry. 01:14 Today again, is one of those special programs 01:16 that we look back at a recent large gathering 01:19 of the Seventh-day Adventist church, 01:21 in particular, this time 01:22 the General Conference's meetings 01:23 held in July of 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. 01:29 We always set up our booth 01:30 because we get a chance to record the exploits, 01:33 dare I say, of any number of ministries 01:36 that are doing great things for the Lord around the world. 01:38 And we see that 01:40 ministry is not limited to any race or any age. 01:44 We see young people, we see older individuals, 01:46 we see individuals who have retired 01:48 from active church service, 01:49 doing things for the Lord on their own, 01:51 any number of combinations, 01:54 doing a great work for the Lord. 01:56 Up just now our pastor, our friend John Lomacang 01:59 had a chance to interview Nate Mace 02:02 someone he's known for quite a while. 02:03 And Martin Webber, they're both of Logos Bible Software, 02:08 a very interesting concept 02:10 that pastor the lay persons that you want to give ear to 02:13 because it has much information that you can use 02:15 to help you in your ministry. 02:17 This is John Lomacang, Nate Mace, Martin Weber. 02:26 Hello, friends, and welcome 02:27 to the General Conference Session, 2015. 02:29 My name is John Lomacang, 02:31 and I'm here with two very interesting individuals 02:34 that you will be excited to meet. 02:37 Martin Weber and Nate Mace, 02:39 both are working with Logos Bible Software, 02:43 and I believe that as the Bible says, 02:45 "In the beginning was the word." 02:46 If the word, if the world began with the word, 02:49 how much more important is the word in these last days? 02:53 So let's welcome our guests at this time. 02:55 Nate, good to meet you. Absolutely, thank you, John. 02:57 And, Martin, good to meet you over there. 02:58 Thank you. 02:59 Thank the Lord, you have long arms. 03:01 You know a few days ago 03:03 I had a chance to meet you over at the NAD meetings 03:06 and really found out about something 03:08 that has become a part of my life, 03:10 the Logos Bible Software. 03:13 Now, Nate, just for our audience, 03:14 tell us who you are, where you're from, 03:17 and actually what you do right now. 03:18 Great. Yeah. 03:19 So again, my name is Nate Mace 03:21 and I am with Logos Bible Software. 03:23 Currently living in Bellingham, Washington, 03:25 which is where our headquarter is at. 03:27 And I have the honor and privilege 03:28 of traveling around this great country 03:30 and demonstrating our software to pastors, 03:33 lay leaders, missionaries, seminary professors, 03:36 and getting to show them the power of ourselves, 03:39 we're connected with the great theological library 03:42 that allows them to really do in-depth biblical research. 03:44 Okay, well, good to have you here today. 03:45 Thank you, John. 03:47 And, Martin, you're no, 03:48 we're no stranger to one another 03:50 but somebody watching may not know who you are, 03:51 so tell us who you are 03:52 and give us some background on who you are. 03:54 Sure, sure. 03:56 It was my privilege 03:57 to write scripts for George Vandeman 04:00 on Bible prophecy and doctrine 04:02 and travel with him as well 04:04 and then to work at the General Conference 04:06 with Ministry Magazine and to travel around, 04:10 training pastors, and to be a pastor 04:13 also of 11 different churches through the years. 04:17 And right now you're an SDA I could use the phrase, 04:20 Liaison to Logos? Yes. 04:23 I was working away at my office 04:25 in the Mid-America Union one day 04:27 when a email dropped in from Logos 04:30 saying that someone at the General Conference 04:32 had recommended me to have the opportunity 04:36 to be the Seventh-day Adventist product manager 04:39 to bring a whole line of Adventist products into Logos. 04:44 So I quickly retired and here I am. 04:46 And I am glad that you are here today with us. 04:48 Now, Nate, give us, for those who are look, 04:51 listening to this interview, 04:52 somebody may not even know 04:53 what Logos is outside of the fact 04:55 that it does associate with, 04:56 "in the beginning was the word." 04:59 For those who are novices to software at all 05:02 or maybe those who are professionals, 05:04 kind of give us an overview what Logos is. 05:06 Absolutely. 05:07 So let me, let me paint this picture for you. 05:09 Logos Bible Software 05:10 is a digital theological research library. 05:13 So that means we're going to take 05:15 all your biblical resources, so your Bible translations, 05:18 commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, lexicons, 05:21 preaching and teaching resources, 05:23 maps, photos, medias, journals, sermons, 05:26 just everything, combined with our tools. 05:28 We have tools to help with passage study, 05:30 exegetical study, words studies in the original language, 05:33 topical studies, we have tools 05:35 to help you build lesson plans and sermon outlines, 05:37 we have all the biographical data 05:39 for every single person, place, thing 05:41 and the event in scripture. 05:42 That's all 3,600 names, every single place. 05:45 A timeline that covers the expanse of history 05:47 from creation to present day 05:49 with biblical history, church history, 05:51 and world history, 05:52 not to mention a plethora of other tools 05:54 provided to interact with those resources. 05:56 But the key of Logos Bible Software 05:58 is our books. 06:00 You're not just getting a digital copy, 06:01 you're getting what we call Smart Books. 06:04 So when you touch a word, you're going to get the Greek, 06:06 the Hebrew, Parsing and concordance, lexicon, 06:09 definition, transliteration, 06:11 we'll even pronounce the word for you 06:12 in the original language. 06:14 And that's just touching the word. 06:15 Click on the word, 06:16 we're just going to open, wide open for you. 06:18 Wow, wow, wow, 06:20 that's a whole lot you said there. 06:21 Breaking that down into components 06:23 because I had a chance to work with Logos 6, 06:26 and that's the most recent version 06:28 of the Logos software. 06:30 But it also comes, 06:31 before I get into some of the specifics, 06:33 a Logos comes in various packages 06:36 from the beginning to the top, 06:38 kind of give us an idea of what they range. 06:40 We have libraries to meet every single need. 06:42 So whether you are just a novice 06:44 and want to dig into God's word, 06:45 you're not really sure where to start 06:47 or you're a lay leader, 06:48 and maybe you're a regular personal study, 06:50 but maybe you lead a small group 06:52 or a Sunday school class or some women's or men's group. 06:56 And then even beyond, if you're a full time ministry, 06:58 you're a senior pastor, a scholar, a theologian, 07:02 we have libraries built for all those needs. 07:04 And of course, you can always build your library 07:06 as time goes on, meeting your personal needs. 07:09 So anywhere from the layman, 07:10 for the person that just wants to dabble 07:12 in understanding the Bible, 07:13 all the way to the professor level. 07:15 And as you mentioned, 07:16 you travel and give seminars 07:18 and workshops to help individuals understand 07:20 more so at the academic level also, understanding. 07:24 There's also another aspect 07:25 and I want to have Martin Chime in on this 07:27 because I noticed as the software was talked about 07:30 and both of you could comment on this, 07:32 that it creates a continual community. 07:35 For example, if I'm able to comment 07:38 on a particular part of the Bible, 07:40 does that become a part of the Logos community? 07:43 Help me understand that. 07:45 Yes, it does. 07:46 Part of our software allows you to interact 07:49 with different communities that you can create. 07:51 We do that through our faith life groups, 07:53 so you can make notes 07:54 on your Bible or any other text, 07:56 we'll be able to share that with your groups. 07:57 So you can have essentially, 07:59 an online small group or online Bible study, 08:03 reading scripture together, 08:04 be able to make comments together 08:06 and work through that as a group 08:08 and not actually have to be in the same room. 08:09 Okay. 08:11 Now, Martin, something you talked about a while ago 08:13 when we had a chance to look at the Logos software 08:15 at the NAD meetings. 08:17 You mentioned how much time it saves in study, 08:20 because as pastors and those who present sermons 08:23 and those who teach, one of the deficits is time. 08:29 How does Logos make the best use of our time? 08:32 If there's a funeral, if there's a vacation 08:36 or just some emergency, your time is really crunched. 08:42 And with Logos you can type in a scripture or a topic 08:46 with one click to actually 40 hours of research 08:49 just unfolds with one click. 08:53 And the SDA Bible commentary is now in Logos gold version. 08:59 Can I tell a little quick story about how we got the rights. 09:01 Sure. Okay. 09:03 So we're getting Logos 6 together 09:08 and I wanted so much to get the life works 09:10 of Ellen White, 402 volumes in there. 09:13 And so finally got the green light 09:17 from the White Estate 09:19 to include it in base packages on the last day 09:22 that I could squeeze something into Logos 6. 09:26 So the reformed product manager 09:30 and the orthodox product manager 09:32 worked into the night with me 09:34 to figure out a way to take this or that, 09:36 that Adventist might not be quite as interested in 09:40 to get the full life works of Ellen White. 09:42 And that touches me deeply, 09:43 and we didn't have to raise the prices one bit 09:46 to get that done. 09:47 Wow, and something else as a liaison to Logos, 09:51 also, I understand that some of the resources 09:53 from Andrews University is included 09:56 in the Logos Software, talk about that. 09:58 Oh, yes, they have opened the door wide 10:00 to some of the really prime resources 10:04 from Andrews including right now 10:07 the book on homosexuality is of course, 10:10 an important topic in these discussion. 10:13 And so we have that. 10:16 Biblical research institute, 10:18 in fact, almost a little miracle, I would say. 10:22 We wanted DARCOM, 10:23 the Daniel and Revelation seven volume series, 10:27 and it had gone out of print. 10:29 So many pastors wanted it. 10:31 So I called the General Conference 10:33 that was put through the biblical research 10:36 to ask for DARCOM. 10:39 And first, he said, I have a question for you, 10:42 I have just mailed DARCOM off to you, 10:45 would you publish it? 10:46 So can you imagine? So, yes. 10:49 So we have it. 10:50 And also some of those who are followers, 10:53 maybe of Pastor Doug Batchelor 10:55 or there are those scholars or teachers 10:57 that read Dr Jon Paulien's writing, 11:01 those are also available, am I correct? 11:03 Yes, we have five of Pastor Doug's books. 11:06 Jonathan Paulien came up 11:08 and actually recorded a Mobile Ed course. 11:12 We have his wife works as well. 11:14 And he actually came back a second week, 11:18 spent two full weeks with us 11:20 and said that working with us might be his legacy. 11:23 He was deeply impressed by what he found there. 11:26 Now, Nate, giving a broader view 11:28 of the benefits of Logos, is it designed in such a way 11:32 that pastors can get continuing education credit 11:35 by using your software? 11:36 Do you know about that? 11:38 As of right now there is no credit that will be given. 11:41 But the beauty of our software connected with the resources 11:44 that are trusted and known and desired, 11:47 along with our Mobile Ed education 11:49 like we had Dr. Paulien do, 11:51 you can do that continuing education 11:52 no matter where you are. 11:54 So whether you did a degree 11:55 in just pastoral ministry or particular area, 11:58 you can get that continuing ed 11:59 such in counseling or a particular field of study 12:03 without having the cost of going back to school. 12:04 Okay. 12:06 Now some people may not always 12:07 want to carry around their laptop, 12:09 talk about the mobility of Logos. 12:11 How accessible it is, 12:13 because we have various devices nowadays, 12:15 you know, we have the iPad, the Kindle, the tablet, 12:20 talk about the mobility of Logos. 12:22 Absolutely. 12:23 That's the beauty of our software, 12:25 not only do we function on both laptop and desktop, 12:28 Mac and PC, but all your mobile devices. 12:30 So whether you're an Android user, an OS user, 12:33 Kindle Fire, Nook HD, 12:34 and you're going to be able to have access 12:36 to your entire library with you on the go. 12:37 Okay. 12:39 Which means, and both of you could chime in on this, 12:41 say, if I have, if I'm doing research 12:44 but I don't want to carry my laptop today, 12:46 I could carry my iPad, 12:48 and because I am making my own personal notes, 12:50 does it interconnect? 12:51 Absolutely, it does. 12:53 It's going to connect and sync with your other devices 12:55 so that the notes and research you're doing on that tablet 12:59 would then sync over to your desktop, your laptop 13:01 and if you open it up, 13:03 and you can continue on once you open it. 13:05 Okay, now for those who may say, wow, 13:07 you know, there is a whole lot 13:08 they talk about all these resources 13:10 and sometimes I may feel overwhelmed, 13:14 does Logos offer training to use the software? 13:18 Absolutely, we do offer training, 13:19 because that's important to us. 13:21 We want to make sure 13:22 that not only are you investing in a great theological library, 13:24 but you'll be able to use it right away. 13:27 So first, we are very user friendly off the bat. 13:30 So once you jump in, it's going to be easy to navigate. 13:32 And we offer many different places for training. 13:34 Even right within our software, in your library, 13:37 we offer 26 to 28 videos 13:39 to teach you how to walk through all of the tools. 13:41 We have a great YouTube channel that can subscribe to, 13:44 that we almost daily upload 13:45 with tutorials and walkthroughs. 13:47 As well as our website provides great free training. 13:49 You know it's good 13:50 because there's a large YouTube community. 13:52 Somebody once mentioned that on a daily basis, 13:54 500 years worth of videos are viewed on YouTube, 13:59 so, but there are beneficial sites 14:02 to the use of Logos software. 14:04 I went there myself and looked at 14:05 some of the webinars that Logos does, 14:08 and I download some of those to my laptop. 14:10 Now, Martin, what I want to also talk about 14:12 is now as a pastor, 14:16 how can our clergy enhance their day to day, 14:21 or their weekly sermon preparation 14:23 with the use of Logos? 14:25 Sure. 14:26 Logos just walks with them every step of the way, 14:30 it's like having a paid research assistant 14:33 in every phase of the sermon preparation. 14:37 They can actually create different layout pages 14:39 for every phase of a sermon preparation. 14:43 And it just is a fabulous tool to have, 14:47 not only Adventist works but works that Adventists trust, 14:51 recommended by the seminary. 14:53 For example, we just, when Dr. Hans LaRondelle 14:57 the beloved professor from Andrews, 14:59 when he passed away he left behind two laptops 15:02 with a million words of information 15:05 and Logos licensed those. 15:09 And so we have them, 15:10 just vintage, wonderful resources. 15:13 In fact, this has never happened 15:16 in the history of the Adventist church 15:19 where a non-Adventist publisher has just thrown open the door 15:23 for whatever we want so the biblical research, 15:27 Andrews University Press, the seminary, 15:30 our publishing houses, 3ABN or any of your authors, 15:35 we could get them in Logos SDA and just go out there. 15:40 So it connects the entire community together? 15:42 Yes. 15:44 Now, another question, for the Bible student, 15:49 if a person wants to do a word study, 15:52 tell us about the power of Logos 15:53 when it comes to that. 15:55 Absolutely. 15:56 As simple as just touching the word 15:58 and immediately getting the Greek and Hebrew. 15:59 Of course, your concordance and lexicons and definitions. 16:02 But our Bible Word study tool is so powerful 16:05 and visual as well. 16:06 Opening up that term 16:08 showing you all of your lexicon definitions, 16:09 translation wheel, the root definition, 16:12 all the places it's translated in the English text. 16:14 And simply clicking on that wheel, 16:16 let's you see all the places in the Scripture where it's found, 16:19 but beyond that all your roots, grammatical relationships, 16:22 semantic rules, example uses, 16:25 prepositional diagramming, textual searches, 16:28 just immediately accessible in a moment. 16:30 So you can really understand 16:32 how that word is used in its context 16:34 and apply that to our daily lives. 16:36 One of the other features I heard about 16:37 that's really a tremendous benefit, 16:39 I mean, as a graphic designer 16:40 is that Logos also offers an online connectivity 16:45 for people that want to use slides. 16:47 Talk about that, 16:48 the presentation aspect of Logos. 16:49 Absolutely. 16:51 So not just helping you with your theological research, 16:52 but with your presentation. 16:54 So we have thousands of images loaded into your library 16:57 that you have access to, you have our visual copy tool. 16:59 It will let you create 17:00 customize artwork with scripture 17:02 or if you want to quote an individual, 17:04 we have customize artwork with their faces. 17:06 So you can use that for the presentation. 17:09 And the images, by the way, as I understood, Martin, 17:11 these images have been pre-selected 17:13 to be some of the best images on the topic. 17:16 Because sometimes people go to YouTube or Google 17:19 and they look at images 17:20 and it may not be the best suited 17:22 for that particular topic. 17:23 The other thing that amazed me was 17:26 about Solomon Temple, talk about that. 17:28 It showed the, the contemporary as well as the ancient version 17:34 and by just swiping your tool over that 17:36 you can see both of those. 17:38 Talk about that. 17:39 Wonderful interactive tool called our Before and After 17:42 allowing you to see these, these places, 17:44 these biblical places that you can see 17:46 how it was currently after many, many years, 17:50 and then we hired just a fantastic designer 17:53 to be able to show you what it looked like 17:55 back in the first century, back in its glory days. 17:57 So you can see how it's built, how it's structured. 18:00 Really get a better idea as you read through the text 18:01 when it describing these items what they look like. 18:05 Now we're living in the post paper era. 18:07 I think we can all agree on that, 18:09 paper is still being sold, we print on that, 18:11 but we're getting to the place where paper is becoming 18:13 almost nonessential with iPads and all the other things. 18:17 So Logos is ahead of the curve 18:18 when it comes to not having to write sermons any longer 18:22 but you can type those and carry them with you. 18:24 If you were saying to those who are watching the program, 18:27 giving them a nugget on 18:28 why they need to be a part of the Logos community, 18:31 what would you say? 18:32 You now have access to all your biblical resources 18:36 on the go, not being tied to 18:38 which ones am I going to bring with me, 18:40 if I am going on a mission trip, 18:41 if I am traveling. 18:42 Or I just happen to be on my daily routine 18:45 and run into someone 18:46 and I want to have access to resources 18:48 so I can tuck them through God's word. 18:50 That's the power of Logos, 18:52 you know, that will be on your tablet or on your Smartphone. 18:54 And to the Adventist community, 18:56 Martin, tell us why would it be necessary 18:58 to be apart from the Sabbath school teacher 19:01 to the lay pastor, to the student 19:02 all the way up to the professor, 19:04 why would Logos be a great benefit? 19:06 Everybody wants to be relevant and biblical at the same time, 19:11 and Logos facilitates both. 19:14 There is a tool we have called Cultural Concepts 19:18 that makes a sermon not only or in class, 19:21 a study class, or a small group Bible study, 19:23 not only interesting but accurate. 19:26 And that's important because while you're teaching 19:28 people are googling, testing you. 19:31 Quickly, give me the Logos website 19:32 that's been developed for this GC session. 19:35 Absolutely, because of the General Conference, 19:37 we're offering a phenomenal discount. 19:39 So if you just go to www.logos.com/60th. 19:44 Okay, well, thank you so much, Nate, for being here. 19:46 Thank you, Martin, for being here. 19:47 And friends, the Bible says, "In the beginning was the word, 19:50 the word was with God and the word was God." 19:53 You can tap into the power of Logos today. 19:55 God bless you. 20:00 Amen. Well done. 20:02 Up next, Shelley Quinn had a chance to speak with 20:06 Will James and Peter Thomas. 20:09 They both represent Friendship for Hope Ministries. 20:12 Now this is a coming together consortium as it were 20:15 of any number of ministries that are coming together 20:18 to do some great things for the community. 20:19 And you like to see 20:21 when ministries can sort of cross boundaries 20:23 and come together to do a great work for the Lord. 20:26 Shelley Quinn, Will James, Peter Thomas. 20:35 Well, as you can tell 20:37 the convention exhibit halls are really fall this morning, 20:41 and we got a lot of noise going on in the background. 20:44 But you're going to enjoy the story 20:46 you're about to hear. 20:49 During this interview, we will be featuring a ministry 20:52 that is called Friendship For Hope, 20:56 and Friendships For Hope 20:58 is based in San Diego, California, 21:02 which is the refugee capital of the United States, really. 21:06 So let me introduce you to Pastor Will James. 21:10 And, Will, so glad that you're with us today. 21:12 It's a privilege. And Peter Thomas. 21:14 And, Peter, thank you for joining us. 21:16 You know this is such a fascinating ministry, 21:19 especially the way in which God began the ministry. 21:23 Pastor Will James, tell us a little bit about 21:27 your move to California, 21:30 what you found there, and what you did about it? 21:34 Well, God called me 21:35 to the Paradise Valley Church 13 years ago, 21:38 and it was an institutional church at the time, 21:40 tied to Paradise Valley Hospital. 21:42 Shortly after I got there, they sold the hospital 21:46 and everybody said, well, the Church is going to die. 21:49 And to be very honest, 21:50 the church was not a vibrant church at that point, 21:53 it was basically a dying church. 21:59 But I believe that God wanted to become relevant 22:02 and meaningful to the community I lived in. 22:05 I've had a patient in all my ministry 22:06 that its church needs to do more than 22:09 just have worship on Sabbath morning. 22:11 They need to be reaching the community 22:13 and using the gifts that God has given to them. 22:15 And so I begin to educate my members 22:18 that they are all ordained of God, 22:20 they are all ministers of God, and the God is placed them 22:24 where they are to do a work for Him. 22:27 And we begin to explore 22:29 what God wanted us to do in National City, 22:33 where our church is located, 22:35 in the heart of San Diego, really. 22:37 And our community services was giving out day 22:41 old bread in making quilts 22:43 and doing the typical little thing. 22:45 But as the recession hit, 22:49 I felt compelled to really step up the food ministry 22:53 and I put an ad on Craig's list for a walk-in cooler. 22:56 To make a long story short, 22:57 we had a walk-in cooler donated to us, 22:59 a company came in and installed it 23:00 for us free of cost 23:02 and we began to grow our food ministry. 23:05 In that first year, we gave out 1000 pounds of food a week, 23:08 on average to 300, 400 families 23:12 and we thought we were really getting busy. 23:15 Today were giving out 11,000 pounds of food a week 23:19 to over 500 families and through that ministry, 23:23 God has lead us into a refugee ministry, 23:26 which we call a Refugee Assimilation Project. 23:29 It's to just try to help these refugees 23:32 that are floundering in our community 23:35 to learn English, to learn job skills 23:37 and become successful in life. 23:41 Go back and explain to us because many of us aren't, 23:44 there's many areas where we don't have many refugees. 23:48 Where these refugees coming from? 23:50 Why are they here? 23:52 How did they end up in United States 23:54 where they don't speak the language, 23:56 they don't know what's going on? 23:59 What is the program that's bringing them here? 24:01 The United Nations are actually relocates refugees. 24:05 They are from war-torn communities 24:08 or communities that are going through religious persecution. 24:13 Our first group of refugees were Bhutanese, 24:16 who have been driven out of Bhutan by the king, no less. 24:19 He did an ethnic cleansing 24:20 of all Christians and Hindus in his country, 24:23 he wanted only a Buddhist country. 24:25 And so they fled to Nepal, 24:27 where they had lived in refugee camps 24:29 for 15 to 18 years, and really in squalor, 24:33 and finally the United Nations 24:35 got involved and relocated them. 24:38 And they were one of the first groups 24:40 that God gave us the privilege of working with. 24:45 Many of them completely illiterate 24:46 even in their mother tongue. 24:48 So it's very difficult for them to learn English 24:51 and really get established in America. 24:54 Yes, so now when they come here, 24:57 are they here for certain period of time or is there? 25:00 They are permanent here. 25:01 All right, they are permanent here. 25:03 They are legal residence, they are able to work, 25:05 they are able to get jobs. 25:07 What holds them back of course, is the language. 25:11 If you can't speak English, 25:12 there's very few jobs that you can really do. 25:16 So when you first started ministering to the refugees, 25:20 what were the projects that you were putting forth? 25:24 Well, we began to teach them English and job skills. 25:30 We found they really struggled with depression. 25:33 You know, I mean, 25:35 you stop and think what they've been through. 25:36 Yes. 25:37 They've been driven from their home, 25:39 they've lost everything they have, 25:41 many of their families been killed, 25:43 and they've come to America 25:45 where they have been given this false picture 25:49 that America is a land full of milk and honey, 25:51 and they will have everything just given to them. 25:52 Yes. 25:54 And they get here and it's not that way. 25:56 They have to work, they have to work hard. 25:58 And a lot of them got depressed, 26:01 and we remember there was a little lady 26:03 once who wrote a statement 26:04 that if you get your hands in the soil 26:07 it's therapeutic to the mind and body. 26:10 And we believe that message is from God 26:13 and we've chose to follow that, and we found it really worked. 26:17 As we open a community garden up to them, 26:19 they start working and they dig out on that garden 26:22 and started chattering and singing 26:24 and the depression lifted 26:25 and they were happy and cheerful, 26:28 and able to learn. 26:29 And God has just really, really blessed them. 26:32 So besides the Bhutanese, 26:34 who else are you ministering to? 26:36 What people groups? 26:37 Many different people groups. 26:39 In fact, now I'm translating church into eight, 26:41 seven languages every Sabbath. 26:43 Oh, my. 26:44 We have Arabic, we have French, we have the Bhutanese, 26:47 we have Laotians, we have a French, 26:51 Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, 26:55 many, many different language groups. 26:56 It doesn't really matter what language group it is, 26:59 they're there to learn English. 27:00 Amen. 27:02 And so on we're helping them and ministering to Africans, 27:06 and Asians, and in Arabic nations. 27:09 It's just amazing what God is doing. 27:11 And how many refugees are you working with, 27:14 kind of, do you have a certain number 27:17 that you're working with? 27:18 Well, it keeps growing constantly. 27:20 We try to keep our classes small 27:22 so that we can give individual attention, 27:25 but as they learn English and they start getting jobs, 27:28 we're still working with them. 27:29 We have helped over 100 families get jobs 27:32 and become self-sufficient. 27:34 You know, and our number 27:37 that is probably around 200 families right now 27:40 that we're really actively touching. 27:42 Now how large is your church? 27:45 We have 850 members. All right. 27:47 It's a good size church, 27:49 A good size church which would take, 27:52 but still you've got a strong percentage 27:56 of your people are very active 27:57 if you're doing all of these projects. 28:00 Yes, we have over 125 volunteers working every week. 28:04 Glory to God. 28:05 That is very exciting, that's exciting. 28:08 One is as old as 99 years old. 28:11 With these refugees, 28:13 how many are Christians of other denominations 28:15 and how many are other world religions? 28:19 We have Buddhists, we have Hindu, 28:20 we have Muslims as well as other Christians. 28:25 We don't, we don't even try to decide or decipher 28:29 what they are, we're there just loving them as they are 28:32 and many of them choose to start coming to church 28:35 and being part of our family. 28:37 We just want to be their family. 28:40 And how did Peter become involved 28:43 in your refugee project? 28:46 Peter actually lived in Washington State 28:48 and he came down 28:49 because he had heard about our ministry 28:50 and heard that there was a lot of 28:52 Arabic speaking refugees coming there, 28:55 and he came down to see what was happening. 28:57 So, Peter, what are you doing now 28:59 at the Paradise Valley Church? 29:01 Well, my focus is that the Muslims, 29:04 the Arabic speaking Muslims who live in San Diego. 29:08 You know that the population of Muslim 29:09 now in the world is about 1.7 billion. 29:11 Yes. 29:13 And out of that we have a 100,000 to 150,000 Muslims 29:17 who live in San Diego. 29:19 We have 100,000 to 150,000 of Chaldeans 29:22 who live in El Cajon, which is a nearby city. 29:25 And so I came to work with the Muslim population, 29:29 you know, because I grew up in Iraq, 29:31 I know the culture, I know the language, 29:34 I have been immersed in Islamic study 29:37 so to speak from the time I was young, you know. 29:40 So it wasn't something strange to me, 29:44 but I love the people. 29:45 So I began to reach out to them 29:47 and what helped is that Paradise Valley, 29:49 already have a feeding program. 29:51 So we start carrying stuff to them 29:53 and caring for them or providing for them, 29:55 as a result we became friends. 29:57 So today, I have about 35 families 30:00 that I'm in excellent relationship with them. 30:04 You know, I visit them at their home. 30:06 They have gone through our English school. 30:11 If they-- Somebody is sick they call me. 30:13 If somebody... If they're gonna have a baby. 30:15 They'd call me to go to the hospital 30:17 and visit and have a prayer. 30:19 In every area of their life, 30:21 you know, they include me, so they call. 30:23 And I include them in activities 30:24 that we have in the church as well. 30:27 So when we have a new birth, 30:28 I'll arrange for them to have baby dedication. 30:31 So they will experience. You know they don't mind. 30:33 Muslims, they don't mind prayer 30:35 because they want their children to be blessed. 30:38 They want their children to live in an environment 30:40 where there would be no hatred, no anger, none of that. 30:43 They have the same needs as we do. 30:45 So when you reach out to them 30:46 and they see that you really care for them, 30:49 then they respond. 30:50 I've given out more Bibles to this group 30:53 than any other group because... 30:54 You-- Wait a minute. 30:55 You're saying you're giving out 30:57 more Bibles to the Muslims than any other group? 30:58 Really? So... 31:00 Because they want to know what does the Bible says. 31:03 And I know the Quran and I read the Quran with them 31:06 when I visit them at their home. 31:08 And I us the verses in the Quran 31:11 that talks about Jesus 31:12 to refer them to the Old and the New Testament 31:15 and they are very receptive. 31:16 There's no problem with that. 31:19 You know, so they are-- their openness 31:20 and they know we care about them. 31:22 We are not trying to convert them per se, 31:25 but we're trying to help them understand 31:27 that there's a bigger picture 31:29 and for them to see the bigger picture, 31:31 they have to go to the Old Testament 31:32 and the New Testament and read it. 31:34 So many times I get them involved in three books 31:38 to study together in our study and interaction with them. 31:42 So it's been very, very enjoyable time with them 31:44 and I really appreciate 31:47 the friendship that I have with them, you know. 31:50 So tell us a little about the effect this is having? 31:56 Do you have any one that is interested in converting in? 31:59 You have been doing this for a year? 32:01 Well, no, I've been there about three years now. 32:03 Oh, three years, okay. Three years. 32:04 And, you know, we began gradually 32:07 and now we have about 35 families 32:09 that we are actually involved. 32:11 You know, for me, as I see 32:13 how God is working in their life. 32:15 For example, one man, he told me the story. 32:19 He... 32:20 They had to, as a refugee, 32:22 he has to run away from his country, 32:24 Muslim country to another country, okay. 32:27 Now when he arrived to this new country, 32:29 he did not have the proper papers, 32:32 so he was kind of illegal. 32:36 Sooner or later they arrested him 32:38 and because he didn't have proper papers, 32:40 they put him in prison 32:41 and they were gonna deport him back to his country. 32:45 Now he came across to this nation 32:48 with his wife and two of his kids, okay. 32:51 And he knew that if he should go back, 32:53 his life will be a threat, 32:55 plus he would be separated 32:56 from his family for probably forever. 32:58 So it was a big concern for him. 33:00 So they held them for a week 33:02 and two, a month, a month and a half went by 33:05 and they are in the process 33:06 of doing the papers to export him. 33:09 But then, while he was sitting in that prison cell, 33:13 one day he looked at the door and right by the door 33:16 somebody have carved a cross 33:19 and he looked at that cross and he told me that, 33:22 the thing came to his mind at that moment was to pray. 33:26 But he didn't know how to pray. 33:27 He didn't know how to pray the right prayer he thought. 33:31 But he looked at the cross and all he could remember 33:34 and know to say was, the God of the cross help me. 33:39 He said, after he said that, in matter of two or three days, 33:42 he was let out of the prison. 33:44 They set him free. 33:45 Though his papers were illegal, they let him free. 33:48 They said, you go, you're free to go to your wife. 33:51 And when he was set free, then a few days later 33:54 the United Nation called in 33:55 and said, your papers are ready to leave to the U.S. 33:58 and he came here and joined us here. 34:00 And he hears many stories like that. 34:02 That you know, that God is working already. 34:05 God is preparing the souls. 34:06 So we just pray that the Lord will bring us people 34:09 that we can plant more seeds in their heart. 34:12 As a result, we have one family who-- 34:16 I really can't go into more details, 34:17 but I say that God's spirit is working on many hearts 34:21 that we don't realize. 34:24 And sometimes, when I'm checking in churches 34:26 and ask them, have you ever noticed a lady 34:29 covered head walking in the street? 34:31 What is your reaction to that person 34:33 when you see them? 34:34 Most people tell me, 34:35 oh, I cross the street 34:37 or I will go the other direction. 34:39 They avoid this person. 34:40 I said, well, do you know 34:42 or do you think that this woman, 34:43 God has already been working with her. 34:45 And she will be receptive 34:46 if you should stop and communicate with her. 34:49 So I encourage people to make contact with people 34:53 because God is working in the lives of people. 34:55 And you know that 90 percent 34:58 of people learning about Jesus is through dreams. 35:01 90 percent of the Muslim, yes. 35:02 The Muslim world, yes. Yes. 35:03 It's the dreams. 35:05 And we have experiences like that as well. 35:07 So God is alive. 35:08 He's working because they are the children of Abraham. 35:13 And there's a classic scripture in the Bible. 35:17 It's in Luke 13:16. 35:19 And here Jesus have healed the woman 35:21 and He was criticized 35:23 for healing a woman on the Sabbath day. 35:26 Then He turned to the accusers and He said to them, 35:30 "Shouldn't a daughter of Abraham be set free, 35:35 who's been set, who is in bound, 35:37 who Satan has bound her. 35:39 Set free on the Sabbath day." 35:41 And I take the scripture to be very-- 35:43 How would I say? 35:45 A message for us as Seventh-day Adventist 35:47 because Muslims are the children of Abraham. 35:49 Okay. 35:51 And this lady that you see 35:53 in the street covered or in the market, 35:55 she is the daughter of Abraham. 35:58 Shouldn't she be set free from her worries, 36:01 her concerns, her uncertainty? 36:06 Life is changing constantly with them, 36:08 they fear, and anxiety they have. 36:10 And then shouldn't that, 36:13 setting people or giving them the freedom, 36:16 shouldn't that be done by Seventh-day Adventist 36:18 because it's done on the Sabbath. 36:19 To be that means that, we as Seventh-day Adventist 36:23 are the only one who can help those individuals 36:27 to be set free from their bondage. 36:29 Well, we know that, 36:31 have enough exposure to ministries 36:34 that work with the Muslims to know that 36:36 most Muslims think of Christians as being-- 36:40 When you use the word Christian, 36:41 they are thinking that you are pork eating, 36:44 idol worshiping, alcohol drinking person. 36:49 They associate that with Catholicism and the crusades. 36:53 But, I do believe, you know, we don't often think of 36:57 or speak of Muslims also being children of Abraham. 37:01 We think of the Jews, we think of Christians, 37:04 but they also are children of Abraham. 37:07 And I do believe we are uniquely-- 37:09 As a Seventh-day Adventist 37:10 we're uniquely positioned to minister to the Jews. 37:14 We are uniquely positioned to minister to Muslims. 37:18 And so our time is coming down here. 37:21 But I did want-- You mentioned to me 37:23 that there is one family that is, 37:25 at the point of conversion, 37:27 who is also, they are giving Bible studies 37:29 and getting others interested in Bible studies. 37:32 So it all basically begins with that bond of love, 37:37 showing that you care 37:39 and this is for all of your ministries. 37:42 Now you're feeding, how many pounds? 37:46 11,000 pounds a week. 37:48 11,000 pounds a week 37:50 is going through your Foods Ministry. 37:54 You are teaching these immigrants 37:57 how to speak English. 37:58 35 hours a week 38:00 English language and job training classes. 38:02 Five days a week. 35 hours a week you are doing. 38:04 That's amazing. 38:07 And you have got your church so involved that-- 38:12 Do you think that your members are drawing near to the Lord 38:17 because of their involvement with this ministry? 38:19 Our church is much, much more spiritual today. 38:23 Praise God. And much more active for God. 38:25 And it has truly changed our church for good. 38:28 Amen. 38:29 What's your vision for the future, pastor? 38:32 Just to be faithful to what God calls. 38:34 He keeps opening new doors. 38:37 I mean, this Muslim ministry is a new ministry for us. 38:40 Yes. 38:42 Everything we have done has just been, being faithful 38:44 to what God has called us to do. 38:45 And as He opens the new door, we step through. 38:48 I don't know where He's leading us. 38:51 I don't know what the next step is. 38:53 I'm beginning to get a feeling 38:55 that we've got a Farsi language beginning to come to us. 38:58 And so that we, 39:00 an eighth language for us to translate. 39:02 And, you know, we just want to be faithful. 39:05 Amen. 39:06 Well, and you are translating your services right now 39:09 in eight different languages? 39:10 Seven languages. Seven languages. 39:11 That will be the eight. Soon to be eighth probably. 39:13 Soon to be eighth. 39:14 I believe that the Paradise Valley Church 39:18 and what you and your church members are doing-- 39:21 What a role model to the rest of us. 39:24 You know, we may not have refugees in our area, 39:27 but we have people who abound by Satan, 39:29 who need to know the truth, 39:32 and if all churches could just be activated. 39:35 If we would get off the pews 39:37 and get out and reach the community, 39:39 we will speed up the process of Jesus returns. 39:42 We must, we must have a ministry 39:43 that has called us to and prepared us for 39:45 and gifted us for that we're doing. 39:47 It's not enough just we coming to church 39:50 and going through the motions of church. 39:55 You know, you are 501s Friendships for Hope. 39:57 Is that 501 (c) (3) Organization 40:00 and so you can take donations. 40:03 If there are those of you who are at home, 40:06 who feel like the Lord is telling you that 40:09 or maybe the Holy Spirit is moving upon you 40:11 that you would like to support this ministry, 40:13 you can go to Friendships, with an S, 40:17 FriendshipsForHope.org. 40:20 And perhaps your church would like to model 40:23 what the Paradise Valley Church is doing. 40:26 I just want to thank you, Pastor Will James. 40:28 For everything that-- It's been a privilege. 40:31 Well, just not for being here today, 40:32 but for following God's leading. 40:34 And, Peter, thank you so much for what you're doing. 40:37 And may God bless you richly as you continue to do His work. 40:40 Thank you. Thank you. 40:45 What a great interview. 40:46 Usually, Shelley Quinn 40:47 does the vast majority of our interviews 40:49 at a General Conference or at ASI. 40:52 But there were so many ministries 40:53 that we wanted to contact 40:55 and so many people that had so many good things 40:57 to say about the works of the Lord, 40:59 that we had to sort of spread ourselves 41:00 a little thinner this time. 41:01 John Lomacang did some interviews. 41:03 Danny Shelton did some interviews. 41:05 Jill Morikone also did some interviews 41:07 along with Shelley Quinn. 41:09 We sent Jill out to talk with Nathan Greene, 41:11 that name ought to be familiar to many of you. 41:14 He is dare I say, a world renowned painter, 41:18 an Adventist painter has done some beautiful paintings. 41:21 So we ask Jill to go out 41:22 and just speak with them just a little bit 41:24 and bring back a report, bring back a story. 41:27 Usually, when someone has great art, 41:29 be a music or song, painting, 41:33 there is a story behind each offering. 41:35 And of course, with Nathan Greene 41:37 that is no exception. 41:39 He has great material, 41:41 he's a beautiful painter and there is a story 41:43 that goes along with some of those paintings 41:44 and we sent Jill out 41:45 to speak with him and talk with him. 41:47 We sent her to his exhibit which was quite large 41:50 and elaborate at General Conference. 41:51 And he told us a little bit about 41:53 why he paints, how he paints, 41:54 the motivation behind his paintings 41:57 and the story that lies behind each offering 41:59 that he makes not only to the world, 42:02 but to the cause of Christ. 42:03 You'll like this interview. 42:05 I'm standing here with, with painter Nathan Greene. 42:09 And, Nathan, it's such a joy to have you here. 42:11 Thank you very much. 42:12 We're standing in front of his booth. 42:14 You can see your paintings behind here, 42:16 but before we get to some of the paintings 42:17 that you have on display here. 42:19 How long have you been painting professionally 42:21 and where did you attend art school? 42:23 Sure, I have been painting professionally 42:24 for 31, almost 32 years now. 42:27 I attended art school 42:28 at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. 42:31 But really, my mother was a landscape painter as a hobby 42:35 and that's what got me interested, 42:36 probably at age five. 42:37 So I've been drawing and painting ever since then. 42:40 So it's a natural God given gift 42:42 from the beginning and then you developed it? 42:44 I think God definitely gives 42:45 gifts of creativity in different ways. 42:48 And for me, it was probably partially genetics, 42:51 but it was also lots of practice. 42:53 You know, it's like learning a musical instrument. 42:55 If the more you practice, the better you get. 42:57 Yeah. And that's for sure. 42:58 Now we have several paintings behind us here in the booth. 43:01 There's a large one right in the middle, 43:03 a beautiful one of Jesus right at the resurrection. 43:05 Tell me about that painting. 43:07 Well, that painting, this is kind of unique, 43:09 this particular GC 43:11 because I have three originals with me, 43:13 that's the most recent painting, 43:15 I finished it about two months ago 43:17 and it's a depiction of the resurrection of Christ. 43:20 That something I've always wanted to do. 43:22 And I tried to make it unique. 43:24 In that you see an angel putting the robe on Christ, 43:28 something I've never seen done before. 43:31 So I thought this would be a special unique to portray it. 43:34 Amen. 43:35 And you have the guards falling down around. 43:38 Yeah, that was part of the fun for me 43:39 because I like to collect costume 43:42 and Roman armor and fact. 43:45 If you know Dick Steinberg and he and I happened 43:47 to eat lunch together the other day. 43:49 And we were comparing notes for our sources 43:52 for Roman armor and chain mail and swords 43:54 and it's become kind of a side hobby 43:57 for me to study Roman military history. 44:00 That's wonderful. 44:02 Now how long did this painting take you? 44:03 And how long would be paintings take on average? 44:06 On average there are three or four months per painting, 44:08 but this painting took a little longer, 44:10 about six months all together. 44:12 Four months of painting time, 44:13 about two months of preparation time, so-- 44:16 That's incredible. It's a long time. 44:18 You know, when we look at it, 44:19 we think, oh, Nathan Greene is gifted. 44:21 He just puts a few things up there, 44:23 but it's time, it's tedious. 44:24 It's tedious. 44:26 Tell me is it, is it frustrating, 44:28 is it exhilarating, is it relaxing, 44:30 how do you feel when you paint? 44:31 I think all of the above 44:33 would probably the best answer to that. 44:35 I really love what I do. 44:36 There are definitely times where it can be tedious, 44:38 it can a little frustrating. 44:40 The most challenging thing I ever do 44:42 is painting the face of Christ 44:44 because I know I'm trying to take a human model 44:47 and make him look divine, and also show compassion 44:51 and his love for humanity and it's hard to do that. 44:54 Sometimes I paint the face over and over and over 44:57 until I feel it's right. 44:58 In fact, the painting of the paralytic at Bethesda, 45:01 I painted Jesus face over 11 times before I kept it. 45:05 Oh, do you use the same model of Jesus always or different? 45:09 I've had two models over the last 25 years or so. 45:12 The first one for about 10 years. 45:14 The current one for about 14 years, 15. 45:18 Jesus was 30 to 33 during His ministry 45:21 and models they grew older and change. 45:23 Yes, it's true. 45:24 So I have to, you know, 45:26 I'm soon gonna need to find another model, so, yeah. 45:28 That make sense. 45:30 Now at the far end you have a painting here 45:31 and it's done in a hospital. 45:33 Jesus touching the nurse. 45:34 Tell me about that painting. Yes. 45:36 Well, years ago when I was 29, I'm bit older now. 45:39 But, when I was 29 I did a painting 45:41 that most people are familiar with, 45:43 it's called Chief of the Medical Staff. 45:45 I love that painting. 45:46 Christ. Thank you. 45:47 Christ is guarding the hand of the surgeon 45:49 and I get more feedback from that painting 45:51 probably from any other that I have done. 45:54 And it's crossed all denominational boundaries. 45:58 So for a number of years though, 45:59 we've had request to do something 46:02 to honor the profession of nursing. 46:04 And finally, my publisher actually commissioned it 46:06 and they will probably sell the original 46:08 after we've done prints and cards and things. 46:12 And this is to honor the profession of nursing. 46:16 You will notice if you look at the painting 46:17 that Jesus is not doing the work, 46:20 He's touching the shoulder of the nurse. 46:22 The nurse is caring for the patient. 46:24 And I like the idea that nurses think 46:26 that of themselves as the hands of Jesus 46:29 when they treat and care for, for patients. 46:32 Amen. 46:33 There's something else unique about that painting 46:35 that I'd like to point out, that the girl, 46:38 this is the nurse is our new daughter-in-law, 46:40 she married our son Tommy. 46:42 They were married-- 46:43 That's special. Two years ago, yes. 46:44 Now everybody thinks she's a nurse, she's not. 46:46 She's actually a graphic designer 46:48 and so is my son. 46:50 But now she is, you know, in theory 46:52 everybody thinks she's a nurse. 46:53 That is her grandfather posing as the patient. 46:56 His name is Warren Pop. 46:57 And I pose them together 47:00 because I think there's already was a strong emotional bond. 47:03 So the look of compassion on her face, is a natural. 47:05 It's real. It's natural. 47:07 Yeah, it's the real thing. Yes. 47:08 And that's special when you can put your family. 47:10 Some of your family in there-- Oh, yeah. 47:12 That is special. And that happens a lot. 47:13 Yeah, I like to tell people, we thought we would, 47:16 you know, raise our own models, that would be cheaper. 47:18 It has not been cheaper, but my children-- 47:22 I've never appeared in my paintings, 47:23 but my children have all been in paintings repeatedly. 47:26 Amen. That's wonderful. 47:27 Now we have over here-- 47:29 This is a very famous painting. 47:32 This one here was it commissioned 47:33 for General Conference? 47:35 The one that Jesus coming in the clouds? 47:36 It was commissioned for the GC 47:38 and unveiled in the Atlanta General Conference Session 47:41 five years ago. 47:43 The truth is, I wasn't quite finished with it. 47:45 When it was done 47:47 I was painting frantically the week of the GC 47:49 where my wife and kids held down the booth 47:52 and I brought it the last weekend. 47:53 Mark Finley said, well, it doesn't matter 47:55 if it's not ready, just bring it, we'll unveil it. 47:58 But the original now hangs in the atrium 48:00 of the General Conference building 48:02 in Silver Springs, Maryland. 48:04 And it's large. 48:05 It's, with the frame it's nine feet by six feet. 48:08 So-- 48:09 I like that about your paintings 48:10 because they each communicate truth. 48:12 Yes. You know it communicates-- 48:13 This one communicates the Second Coming of Jesus 48:16 and you see that. 48:17 It gives us hope looking-- 48:18 We're all looking forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. 48:20 Yeah. Absolutely. 48:22 So once you have a painting and it's commissioned and say, 48:24 like you said the original hangs in the GC, 48:26 then you can make postcards or cards 48:29 or what happens with it after that? 48:31 The first thing that happens when a painting is complete, 48:33 it's shipped to Los Angeles where we do scans, 48:36 a very high-end scan of it. 48:37 And then it's proofed up in Walla Walla at Color Press 48:40 and then they can make prints and postcards 48:42 and then the owner can receive the original. 48:46 But I want to mention a couple of things about this painting. 48:49 Again, family members appear in it, 48:51 but some special stories 48:53 are in that Second Coming painting. 48:54 There's a little girl being reunited 48:56 with her parents in this painting. 48:58 Her name was Christy Grellman. 49:00 Their parents were missionaries in Sierra Leone, Africa. 49:05 They came back because Christy became ill 49:08 and they are very dear friends of ours. 49:10 She passed away when she was four and half. 49:12 And I did a portrait of her... I'm sorry. 49:14 Yeah, it was a very sad especially, for the family. 49:17 And I put them in the painting being reunited with Christy 49:21 because I wanted to remind her parents 49:24 that they will see her again. 49:25 And there is... 49:27 That's beautiful. 49:28 That's a personal special touch. 49:30 And we know they were maybe many, many families 49:32 where that's gonna happen. 49:34 Maybe you've lost the loved one 49:35 and you're looking forward to the Second Coming 49:37 saying, "Someday soon Jesus is gonna come again 49:40 and I will be reunited." 49:42 That's precious. Absolutely. 49:43 There are other stories in that painting too 49:44 that we probably don't have time to discuss all of them. 49:47 But, like there's a baby 49:48 being reunited with the parents. 49:50 They are also friends of ours. 49:52 She had a miscarriage, which is a fairly common thing, 49:54 but for the mother especially and the father, 49:57 it's a very difficult thing to go through. 50:00 And I wanted them to remember, 50:02 you know, there will a chance again to care for this child. 50:05 Amen. Yeah. 50:06 Amen, that's beautiful. I like that. 50:09 Now moving on, we have another painting over here. 50:11 This is a civil war painting. Yes. 50:13 Lincoln coming to Richmond. So tell me about that painting. 50:16 Well, I have a real interest in American history. 50:19 For years as I work I listen to books on tape 50:23 and books on CD and usually biographies 50:25 in American history. 50:27 I admire certain people in history 50:29 that showed the character of Christ 50:31 in what they did and how they lived their lives. 50:33 I believe Abraham Lincoln was one of those people 50:35 that God chose this man for the time 50:38 because he was needed. 50:40 He entered Richmond 50:41 right after the Confederates fled 50:43 and what was special about this scene is, 50:46 there was a large group of newly freed slaves 50:48 working by the James River when he landed. 50:50 When they recognized Abraham Lincoln, 50:52 they immediately set down their tools 50:55 and they flocked around him and started celebrating 50:57 and thanking him for their freedom. 51:00 Within minutes, there were hundreds 51:01 and then thousands that were lining the streets 51:04 to see Abraham Lincoln. 51:06 The war ended five days after this. 51:09 Lee surrendered at Appomattox. 51:11 Ten days after this 51:12 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. 51:14 So it was really, I think a special moment 51:16 where a large group got to thank him for their freedom. 51:20 The title of the painting is "New Birth of Freedom" 51:22 which of course is a quote from Gettysburg Address. 51:25 And the title also implies that freedom is an ongoing process, 51:30 we are still struggling for freedom. 51:32 And it's a maturing process that takes time. 51:35 And we all play a role in that process. 51:39 To me the beautiful thing about your paintings, 51:41 in addition, they're-- you are meticulous 51:43 and you are careful with what you do. 51:44 There's the attention to detail. 51:46 There's a level of professionalism, 51:48 but to me they all have heart. 51:49 Thank you. You know, you can see... 51:52 Like you mentioned in the other paintings, 51:53 you see with Lincoln and you see that 51:56 joy on the slaves, the freed slaves' faces. 51:59 And how they feel or with the Second Coming painting, 52:01 you see the joy of being reunited and I like that. 52:05 To me, that's what touches the heart in the paintings, 52:08 is there's that human element, that connection. 52:11 It's not just putting colors on a canvas, 52:13 you know, it's from your heart and that comes through. 52:16 Thank you. 52:17 I like that you used the word meticulous. 52:19 My family uses the word 52:20 obsessive compulsive perfectionist, 52:22 but that's okay, I like meticulous. 52:25 Amen. Amen. 52:26 Well, thank you so much, Nathan, for sharing. 52:29 I would say coming, 52:30 but you are already here at the booth. 52:32 But thank you for sharing with our 3ABN audience at home. 52:35 You're very welcome. Your gift-- 52:36 The talents God has given you in your paintings. 52:38 Thank you very much. 52:40 And we want to encourage you at home, 52:41 continue to pray for Nathan Greene 52:43 and support these paintings. 52:44 I know I'm a huge fan. Thank you. 52:47 And it is a huge blessing. 52:48 I love his paintings because they have heart. 52:52 Thank you so much. |
Revised 2016-01-21