I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to
another Family Worship.
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And we are glad
that you are with us,
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and it is our joy and pleasure
to tell you happy Sabbath.
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Amen.
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It's been a wonderful week.
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The Lord has been faithful,
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and here we are
to thank the Lord,
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and praise the Lord,
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and enjoy the Sabbath
hours with friends and family.
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We have our friends and
family here around the table,
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but also we count
you as our family too.
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As the years go by, you
know, every week, every day,
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we have the opportunity
to speak to our viewers
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or communicate through
social media or emails,
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and it's beautiful to feel
that sense of unity or family.
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Amen.
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And for those of
you that don't know us
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or are tuning in
for the first time,
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my name is John Dinzey
and this is my wife Idalia,
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and we are part
of the 3ABN family,
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and we hope that you'd
be part of the 3ABN family
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as you join us,
as we study together
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and also sing.
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I would like to introduce to you
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the rest of the family
members that are with us.
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And would you like to
do the honors this time?
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Well, of course. I
have Janelle to my left.
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Janelle, welcome to the program.
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Thank you. Thanks for having us.
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I'm so happy that you
are able to be with us
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along with your husband, Donald.
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Thank you.
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Amen, yes, glad to be
here, and it's a delight
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to get to see you guys' faces
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and be part of the
family, just been a joy so...
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It's a privilege. Amen.
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And so to my right
is Brother Dan Peek.
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We call him, Dan
Peek, Daniel Peek,
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and you are part of
the engineering department.
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How many people or
how many workers we have
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and volunteers we have in
the engineering department?
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Well, as far as engineers go,
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there are three
of us plus, Moses,
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but then we also take care of
master control and duplicating,
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so I guess we have
about six or seven,
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including our
administrative assistant.
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Great, wonderful.
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And we're glad
that you are with us,
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and we hope that
you would join us.
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And today, we're going
to talk about something
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that is very, very interesting
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and that should be a
part of all of our lives,
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and that is Christian
service, Christian service.
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And as we continue,
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you will see what
we're referring to.
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But for now, we would like to
invite you to join us in prayer
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because not only have we prayed
before this program started,
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but we want to include
you in the blessing of prayer.
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So let's go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
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we thank you so much
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for your
goodness and mercy to us.
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We pray that as we are together
and we draw close to you,
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you would draw close to us.
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We pray, heavenly Father,
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that you would
guide our conversation,
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bless us with the Holy
Spirit that we may speak words
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that will be of
inspiration to your children
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and a blessing to your children
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that are joining us
all around the world.
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We thank you, heavenly Father,
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because you have
extended your mercy
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to each and every one of us.
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And we pray, Lord,
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that your name will
be glorified in our words
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and in our singing.
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And we thank you
for hearing our prayer.
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We ask for these blessings
in Jesus' holy and blessed name,
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amen. Amen.
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Well, we have picked a song
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that we would
like to share with you,
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and what is that song, honey?
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Oh, it's a very special song,
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and every home should
be tuning it and singing,
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you know, these words.
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It's "'Tis Love
that makes us happy."
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So join us.
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It's 579 in the
Adventist hymnbook.
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'Tis love that makes us happy
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'Tis love that smoothes the way
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It helps us
mind it makes us kind
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To others every day
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God is love we're
His little children
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God is love we would be like Him
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'Tis love that makes us happy
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'Tis love that smoothes the way
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It helps us
mind it makes us kind
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To others every day
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This world is full of sorrow
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Of sickness, death, and sin
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With loving
heart we'll do our part
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And try some soul to win
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God is love we're
His little children
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God is love we would be like Him
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'Tis love that makes us happy
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'Tis love that smoothes the way
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It helps us
mind it makes us kind
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To others every day
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And when this life is over
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And we are called above
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Our song shall be
eternally Of Jesus and His love
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God is love we're
His little children
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God is love we would be like Him
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'Tis love that makes us happy
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'Tis love that smoothes the way
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It helps us
mind it makes us kind
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To others every day
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Amen. Amen.
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God is love, we're
His little children.
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God is love, we
would be like Him.
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'Tis love that makes us happy,
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'Tis love that smoothes the way,
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it helps us
mind, it makes us kind
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to others every day.
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So love is above all things.
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And I'll just read that
little bottom word there
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says "loving service." Oh, yes.
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Service, that's a
powerful little word there,
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"Loving service of that love."
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Yes, that's right.
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We need to
consider service for others.
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And, you know, sometimes
we're thinking of doing service
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for another
person out of the blue,
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and I truly feel that
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the Holy Spirit
impresses us to do it.
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Oh, yeah. Amen.
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And it's such a blessing
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in responding
to the Holy Spirit,
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when the Holy
Spirit impresses you
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to either pray for
someone in that moment,
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give somebody a phone call,
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bake some
cookies for our family,
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or make some delicious lunch,
like Cynthia has done for us.
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Praise the Lord for your wife.
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Oh, well, our privilege.
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Amen.
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And you know, when the Lord
impresses us to do something,
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there's an additional
blessing in the obeying part.
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Oh, wow, that's
great. That's great.
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Have you heard of
the text that says,
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"It's better to
give than to receive"?
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Yes.
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So I don't know
what you guys have done
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to give of your time,
or give of that service,
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and how you
have felt afterwards,
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but it's very rewarding. It is.
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And we had a lady that
we just did a health expo
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little while ago
through our church,
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and a lady just
stopped and trying to get warm
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for the day as
it was little cold,
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and the Lord impressed me
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to bring a
specific window scraper.
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And I just went
outside, she was out there,
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and I just looked and Lord says,
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"Why don't you scrape
her windshield for her?"
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I said, "Hey, can I
scrape your windshield?"
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And she says, "Grab a
'Steps to Christ' book."
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So I grab Steps to Christ book,
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and scrape the
lady's windshield.
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And she was on
her way to Indiana.
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And she came in,
we prayed with her,
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we gave her the book,
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and she came in just
a couple of weeks ago
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and said she was
so thankful for that,
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and she wants to share a
testimony before the church.
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Amen. You just don't know, yeah.
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Wow, beautiful.
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You know, it's interesting,
I think we'll go to you next.
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It's interesting...
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I don't know, you
get into the habit
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for a while everything I
did was cash, cash, cash,
00:09:07.34\00:09:10.38
but then I started
using these debit cards.
00:09:10.41\00:09:12.78
And I saw myself in need of cash
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and I didn't have any.
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But anyway, they're so
used to using the debit cards.
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I remember being
in the store one day,
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and the question came
up on the little screen,
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"Would you like some cash back?"
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I see an interesting question
00:09:30.00\00:09:31.33
because I haven't
given them cash yet.
00:09:31.37\00:09:34.77
Would you like some cash back?
00:09:34.80\00:09:36.40
And I say, "Well, why
would I want cash back?
00:09:36.44\00:09:38.87
I'm not using cash anymore."
00:09:38.91\00:09:40.94
But anyways, it was like,
00:09:40.98\00:09:43.18
"You never know
when you need it."
00:09:43.21\00:09:44.55
So I pressed yes, and $20,
and I had $20 in my pocket.
00:09:44.58\00:09:48.48
I said, "What am I
going to do with these $20?"
00:09:48.52\00:09:50.82
It was a strange
question to ask myself.
00:09:50.85\00:09:53.56
But anyway, I got in the
car, and I'm driving away,
00:09:53.59\00:09:58.03
and we got to the corner
where there's a stop sign.
00:09:58.06\00:10:01.30
And there was a family,
00:10:01.33\00:10:03.16
a husband, wife,
and two children,
00:10:03.20\00:10:05.27
and the sign says,
"We have run out of gas,
00:10:05.30\00:10:07.60
we really need your help to buy,
00:10:07.64\00:10:09.10
we really need your help,"
00:10:09.14\00:10:10.47
you know, "please
help us whatever you can."
00:10:10.51\00:10:12.01
And it was like, "I have $20."
00:10:12.04\00:10:17.41
And it just occurred to me
00:10:17.45\00:10:18.78
as if, may be
that's why I got the $20.
00:10:18.81\00:10:20.38
It wasn't for
me, it was for them.
00:10:20.42\00:10:22.32
Praise the Lord.
00:10:22.35\00:10:23.69
So I motioned to them,
they were able to come,
00:10:23.72\00:10:25.05
and I gave it to them,
and they were very grateful,
00:10:25.09\00:10:28.29
you know, you could see
the expression on their face
00:10:28.32\00:10:30.19
because I guess,
they expected a dollar,
00:10:30.23\00:10:32.16
but I gave them the $20,
00:10:32.19\00:10:34.36
and I was like,
"Thank You, Lord.
00:10:34.40\00:10:36.56
Now I know why
I needed the $20."
00:10:36.60\00:10:39.17
And you know, the
wonderful thing is that
00:10:39.20\00:10:42.80
what you do for someone else
00:10:42.84\00:10:45.31
either the Lord
gets it back to you,
00:10:45.34\00:10:47.24
or you have to
remember that Jesus...
00:10:47.28\00:10:50.51
There's a scripture
00:10:50.55\00:10:51.88
and, somebody will
probably share it as we go along
00:10:51.91\00:10:54.65
that says, "What you
have done for others,"
00:10:54.68\00:10:57.52
Jesus says, "you
have done for Me."
00:10:57.55\00:10:59.22
And I'm, you know,
really paraphrasing,
00:10:59.25\00:11:01.09
what you have done for
others, you have done for Me.
00:11:01.12\00:11:03.43
And so it's a
marvelous opportunity
00:11:03.46\00:11:06.33
and blessing to do
something for others, yes.
00:11:06.36\00:11:09.06
Amen.
00:11:09.10\00:11:10.43
Well, Janelle had
something to share.
00:11:10.47\00:11:11.83
Yes, please.
00:11:11.87\00:11:13.20
Just thinking of the idea
that you mentioned, Idalia,
00:11:13.23\00:11:14.90
about the Holy
Spirit impressing us
00:11:14.94\00:11:17.77
because, you know,
sometimes I think about,
00:11:17.81\00:11:19.97
you know, when we go out places
or, you know, even in church,
00:11:20.01\00:11:23.71
there's so many
people that are hurting,
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.55
but if we could go crazy
trying to stretch ourselves to,
00:11:25.58\00:11:29.78
you know, try to be there.
00:11:29.82\00:11:31.35
Yeah, and so, I think
that's the key is, you know,
00:11:31.39\00:11:33.66
asking the Holy
Spirit for those moments
00:11:33.69\00:11:36.42
because He has a
person for you at that moment,
00:11:36.46\00:11:40.76
and you can use
your energies better
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.26
if, you know, if it's from Him
and knowing that it's from Him
00:11:43.30\00:11:47.20
instead of wondering,
who do I need to go to help,
00:11:47.24\00:11:50.17
He'll show you if you're asking.
00:11:50.21\00:11:51.74
And I think
that's, you know is...
00:11:51.77\00:11:53.61
From my own
experience, just, you know,
00:11:53.64\00:11:55.44
the best way that I've
been able to stay focused
00:11:55.48\00:11:59.91
and to help people.
00:11:59.95\00:12:01.32
And the awesome thing is
when God confirms that, like,
00:12:01.35\00:12:04.65
you know, meeting a need
that you don't even know existed
00:12:04.69\00:12:07.96
and just something you
say, or do, or whatever,
00:12:07.99\00:12:10.66
and that person needed
it right at that moment.
00:12:10.69\00:12:13.60
It's custom-made. Yes, exactly.
00:12:13.63\00:12:15.66
Custom-made, something
that was for you to do.
00:12:15.70\00:12:17.97
Intelligent design.
00:12:18.00\00:12:19.37
Exactly. Amen, amen.
00:12:19.40\00:12:22.00
Very good.
00:12:22.04\00:12:23.37
It's interesting
they're phrasing,
00:12:23.41\00:12:24.87
intelligent design.
00:12:24.91\00:12:26.24
But, you know, as
Christians, it was interesting,
00:12:26.27\00:12:30.08
I was reading something recently
00:12:30.11\00:12:32.45
that says that every Christian
is really a missionary,
00:12:32.48\00:12:37.05
and we're all missionaries,
and it's interesting.
00:12:37.09\00:12:40.22
God has a work
for everyone to do.
00:12:40.26\00:12:43.89
And no one really,
00:12:43.93\00:12:45.29
and I'm sure some
people have said it,
00:12:45.33\00:12:46.73
"Well, I don't know what to do,"
00:12:46.76\00:12:48.30
but God has something
that every person could do
00:12:48.33\00:12:51.97
to be a blessing to others.
00:12:52.00\00:12:53.94
And when we really
open our hearts to the Lord
00:12:53.97\00:12:57.01
to use us in some way,
00:12:57.04\00:12:59.41
the Lord provides
opportunities to help people.
00:12:59.44\00:13:03.08
And it's amazing how
these things work out.
00:13:03.11\00:13:08.05
You and your family, I
think your wife also can,
00:13:08.08\00:13:11.35
maybe you can share a
little bit about that.
00:13:11.39\00:13:13.22
You have been a missionary
at one time or another.
00:13:13.25\00:13:16.46
Tell us a little bit about that.
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.06
Well, we spent...
00:13:18.09\00:13:20.73
Well, really, all of our lives.
00:13:20.76\00:13:23.13
Part of it has just
been as expatriates.
00:13:23.16\00:13:26.37
We're still
missionaries right here.
00:13:26.40\00:13:27.74
It's actually
much more difficult
00:13:27.77\00:13:29.40
to be a missionary
in one's own culture.
00:13:29.44\00:13:32.44
When we lived
overseas, you know,
00:13:32.47\00:13:35.71
I lived in Latin
America, now, you know.
00:13:35.74\00:13:38.11
You can tell that I look
a lot like John and Idalia.
00:13:38.15\00:13:40.28
I mean, that's really obvious.
00:13:40.32\00:13:43.49
In one way or another.
00:13:43.52\00:13:46.19
And by the way,
Brother Dan speaks Spanish.
00:13:46.22\00:13:51.76
People don't expect
me to be fully Latino.
00:13:51.79\00:13:55.56
I mean, I may speak
Spanish reasonably well,
00:13:55.60\00:13:58.13
but I'm still not.
00:13:58.17\00:13:59.80
Now my wife has dark hair,
00:13:59.83\00:14:01.17
and as we would
drive through Mexico,
00:14:01.20\00:14:02.70
roll down the
window, and ask questions,
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.21
"How do we get there?"
00:14:05.24\00:14:07.14
they would
invariably turn to her
00:14:07.18\00:14:09.41
assuming that I must
have married a Latino,
00:14:09.44\00:14:11.21
and say so and so and
so, go here, go there.
00:14:11.25\00:14:15.72
And she speaks, but
not nearly like I do.
00:14:15.75\00:14:21.22
And so it's easy,
00:14:21.26\00:14:24.49
you know, when you're
expected to be different.
00:14:24.53\00:14:27.10
But when you're
in your own culture
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.13
and people, they
expect you to be this way,
00:14:29.16\00:14:31.07
it's much more difficult.
00:14:31.10\00:14:32.43
Yeah, that sure is a good point.
00:14:32.47\00:14:33.80
That's right.
00:14:33.84\00:14:35.17
So you were in...
00:14:35.20\00:14:36.54
What particular
countries were you in?
00:14:36.57\00:14:37.91
We served in Peru,
then later in Belize,
00:14:37.94\00:14:42.21
China, and Guyana.
00:14:42.24\00:14:44.05
Wonderful. Praise the Lord.
00:14:44.08\00:14:45.41
Of course, visited a number of
other long way here and there,
00:14:45.45\00:14:48.78
but those are
the official places
00:14:48.82\00:14:50.15
that we've
actually had residences.
00:14:50.19\00:14:51.52
And perhaps you can share
00:14:51.55\00:14:52.89
because this may
be new to some people.
00:14:52.92\00:14:54.26
What type of
things were you doing
00:14:54.29\00:14:57.19
that you would say, I
was doing missionary work?
00:14:57.23\00:15:00.60
Well, you know, some
people might not say,
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.70
oh, you know, I'm an
engineer, I'm not a preacher,
00:15:02.73\00:15:06.17
maybe you've already discovered
that this far into the program.
00:15:06.20\00:15:09.84
But our first assignment was
00:15:09.87\00:15:13.07
our Adventist University in Peru
00:15:13.11\00:15:15.64
where we were in
charge of telephone system,
00:15:15.68\00:15:18.61
the computers,
00:15:18.65\00:15:20.65
getting parts and
things for the printing press,
00:15:20.68\00:15:23.12
and large bread
bakery that we had there,
00:15:23.15\00:15:26.86
we ran a farm in
Belize, in China.
00:15:26.89\00:15:32.99
You know, I did the last thing
I thought I would want to do
00:15:33.03\00:15:34.86
where I really did
the most evangelism,
00:15:34.90\00:15:36.23
I taught English.
00:15:36.26\00:15:38.20
But, you know, the
people were in a learning mode.
00:15:38.23\00:15:39.83
Yes.
00:15:39.87\00:15:41.20
And they would ask us questions
00:15:41.24\00:15:44.31
about our
culture and our religion,
00:15:44.34\00:15:45.67
and it was the
perfect opportunity.
00:15:45.71\00:15:47.04
Amen.
00:15:47.08\00:15:48.41
You know, in other
places I was working with people
00:15:48.44\00:15:49.78
that were already Christians,
already Seventh-day Adventists,
00:15:49.81\00:15:52.98
you know, there
was still stuff to do.
00:15:53.01\00:15:55.15
I mean, we would go
out to the shanty towns
00:15:55.18\00:15:57.89
next to the University in
Peru on Sabbath afternoon,
00:15:57.92\00:16:00.59
and talk to the people
and try to do things for them.
00:16:00.62\00:16:04.83
In Guyana, I've
operated a TV station.
00:16:04.86\00:16:08.83
That was the last...
Christian TV station?
00:16:08.86\00:16:10.20
Yes, it was the last
assignment before I came here.
00:16:10.23\00:16:13.97
So those were the things we did,
00:16:14.00\00:16:16.67
you know, I wasn't
particularly a preacher,
00:16:16.71\00:16:19.14
I did preach a few
sermons but for the most part,
00:16:19.17\00:16:21.74
they decided I would
do something else better.
00:16:21.78\00:16:24.81
So then it goes to show
the sign that has been on 3ABN,
00:16:24.85\00:16:28.68
I don't know if they're
still, that sign that says...
00:16:28.72\00:16:31.42
We need to put it back. Okay.
00:16:31.45\00:16:34.19
Now people are wondering
what does the sign say.
00:16:34.22\00:16:38.33
So tell us what the sign says?
00:16:38.36\00:16:41.76
Preach the gospel. Yes.
00:16:41.80\00:16:43.26
If necessary, use words.
00:16:43.30\00:16:45.10
Oh, I like that. Amen.
00:16:45.13\00:16:46.47
So it's an attitude
of service, you know,
00:16:46.50\00:16:50.91
and sometimes we think
that sharing the gospel
00:16:50.94\00:16:55.01
is by preaching our Bible study,
00:16:55.04\00:16:57.58
but your life is
a sermon, you know.
00:16:57.61\00:17:01.48
And your faith is going
to wake up in the interest
00:17:01.52\00:17:04.95
in somebody else,
00:17:04.99\00:17:06.55
"I want that
faith, I want that peace,
00:17:06.59\00:17:09.16
I want to learn
00:17:09.19\00:17:10.53
how to have that
relationship with the Lord,
00:17:10.56\00:17:13.70
I want my trust
in the Lord to grow."
00:17:13.73\00:17:16.63
And just as we
have our journey here,
00:17:16.67\00:17:19.80
in this earth,
00:17:19.83\00:17:21.30
we are being read, you know.
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.34
Yeah, like a letter, yeah.
00:17:24.37\00:17:25.71
Exactly, it's an open
letter, public letter,
00:17:25.74\00:17:28.78
and nobody has to put anything
on social media about you.
00:17:28.81\00:17:33.15
It's just your lifestyle
00:17:33.18\00:17:35.38
and the service
that you offer to others
00:17:35.42\00:17:38.19
that lets the people
know about the gospel.
00:17:38.22\00:17:40.39
And then they want to learn more
00:17:40.42\00:17:42.42
of what you have
00:17:42.46\00:17:43.79
and before you know it,
00:17:43.83\00:17:45.83
they'll be
enamored with the Lord
00:17:45.86\00:17:47.20
and the gospel
that He has left for us.
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.33
I think, you know,
what you're hitting on,
00:17:49.36\00:17:50.70
really touching on...
There is a word passion.
00:17:50.73\00:17:52.47
Yes. I see your passion... Yeah.
00:17:52.50\00:17:53.97
and what you are
passionate about.
00:17:54.00\00:17:55.34
You know, Christ
was really passionate
00:17:55.37\00:17:57.21
about seeking and
saving that which was lost.
00:17:57.24\00:17:59.37
I think that's what we all
should be about as Christians.
00:17:59.41\00:18:01.51
Amen.
00:18:01.54\00:18:02.88
You know, seeing some of
these people I rerun into,
00:18:02.91\00:18:04.68
especially doing
with addiction recovery
00:18:04.71\00:18:07.28
is just incredible,
00:18:07.32\00:18:08.85
the pain in the brokenness,
but yet, they want the healing.
00:18:08.88\00:18:11.25
And just
recently, I've been accepted
00:18:11.29\00:18:13.76
to go into a local prison
to do an addiction recovery.
00:18:13.79\00:18:16.29
Praise the Lord.
00:18:16.32\00:18:17.66
And these men in there,
they said they want healing,
00:18:17.69\00:18:19.29
they want truth.
00:18:19.33\00:18:20.66
They're hungry. Freedom.
00:18:20.70\00:18:22.03
Yeah, they're hungry, and
they want to know the Lord.
00:18:22.06\00:18:24.50
Amen. So Lord is good.
00:18:24.53\00:18:26.67
Well, I know you have
Bible text to share and all,
00:18:26.70\00:18:30.11
but because of the
topic, the service,
00:18:30.14\00:18:37.01
what I felt in my
heart to share was one that
00:18:37.05\00:18:42.02
a chapter that you all
know and we've heard so much of,
00:18:42.05\00:18:45.65
1 Corinthians, chapter what?
00:18:45.69\00:18:48.49
Thirteen. Thirteen.
00:18:48.52\00:18:51.29
And I think, the
Bible speaks for itself,
00:18:51.33\00:18:55.60
and you will be able to identify
00:18:55.63\00:18:58.63
with whichever verse
that we're going to read.
00:18:58.67\00:19:01.74
So I think that
00:19:01.77\00:19:04.71
we should take
turns reading, why not.
00:19:04.74\00:19:11.25
You all have chapter 13? Yep.
00:19:11.28\00:19:13.11
Okay, very good,
00:19:13.15\00:19:14.48
so we'll start with you, Donald,
00:19:14.52\00:19:15.98
just read two
verses, and we go down.
00:19:16.02\00:19:18.52
Sure.
00:19:18.55\00:19:19.89
"Though I speak
with the tongues of men
00:19:19.92\00:19:21.79
and of angels,
00:19:21.82\00:19:23.43
and have not
charity" or selfless love,
00:19:23.46\00:19:26.96
"I am become as sounding
brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
00:19:27.00\00:19:30.77
And though I have
the gift of prophecy,
00:19:30.80\00:19:33.60
and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge,
00:19:33.64\00:19:36.17
and though I have all faith,
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.14
so that I could
remove mountains,
00:19:38.17\00:19:39.51
and have not charity,"
or again selfless love,
00:19:39.54\00:19:42.38
"I am nothing."
00:19:42.41\00:19:44.65
"And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor,
00:19:44.68\00:19:47.72
and though I give
my body to be burned,
00:19:47.75\00:19:49.68
and have not charity,
00:19:49.72\00:19:51.25
it profiteth me nothing.
00:19:51.29\00:19:53.09
Charity suffereth
long, and is kind,
00:19:53.12\00:19:55.79
charity envieth not,
00:19:55.82\00:19:57.49
charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up."
00:19:57.53\00:20:01.96
"It does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own,
00:20:02.00\00:20:07.24
is not provoked, thinks no evil,
00:20:07.27\00:20:11.81
does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth,
00:20:11.84\00:20:16.75
bears all things,
believes all things,
00:20:16.78\00:20:20.42
hopes all things,
and endures all things."
00:20:20.45\00:20:24.49
Amen. Verse 8.
00:20:24.52\00:20:26.49
Verse 8, "Love never fails,
00:20:26.52\00:20:30.89
but whether there be prophecies,
00:20:30.93\00:20:32.96
they shall fail,
00:20:32.99\00:20:34.40
whether there be
tongues, they shall cease,
00:20:34.43\00:20:36.93
whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.
00:20:36.97\00:20:40.57
For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part."
00:20:40.60\00:20:47.38
"But when that
which is perfect has come,
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.64
then that which is in
part shall be done away.
00:20:49.68\00:20:53.11
When I was a
child, I spake as a child,
00:20:53.15\00:20:55.58
I understood as a
child, I thought as a child,
00:20:55.62\00:20:58.05
but when I became a man,
I put away childish things."
00:20:58.09\00:21:01.76
"For now we see
through a glass, darkly,
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.03
but then face to face.
00:21:04.06\00:21:05.96
Now I know in part
00:21:05.99\00:21:07.36
but then shall I know
even as also I am known."
00:21:07.40\00:21:11.53
Oh, it's powerful.
00:21:11.57\00:21:12.90
"And now abideth
faith, hope, charity,"
00:21:12.93\00:21:15.50
or again selfless
love, "these three,
00:21:15.54\00:21:17.51
but the greatest of
these is selfless love."
00:21:17.54\00:21:21.18
Love.
00:21:21.21\00:21:22.54
And now by the
faith, hope, love,
00:21:22.58\00:21:24.95
here Bible says charity,
but in its place is love.
00:21:24.98\00:21:29.22
"These three
00:21:29.25\00:21:30.59
but the greatest
of these is love."
00:21:30.62\00:21:32.39
You know, could
you love a stranger
00:21:32.42\00:21:36.29
in order to do
something kind for them?
00:21:36.32\00:21:40.46
I believe that you can love them
00:21:40.50\00:21:42.30
in the action of helping them
00:21:42.33\00:21:45.20
because you may
have pity for the needy,
00:21:45.23\00:21:48.70
for example, the
example that you gave us,
00:21:48.74\00:21:51.77
your experience
that you gave the $20
00:21:51.81\00:21:53.68
to a person that ran out of gas,
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.18
you didn't know them.
00:21:56.21\00:21:57.91
But once you approach them,
you see their eyes, you know,
00:21:57.95\00:22:01.82
the eyes are the
windows to your heart.
00:22:01.85\00:22:03.79
And you see their
need, their sincerity,
00:22:03.82\00:22:06.35
and something grows in you,
00:22:06.39\00:22:09.52
you know, and
it's a sincere help.
00:22:09.56\00:22:12.79
We're not helping to say
and boast what I have done for,
00:22:12.83\00:22:17.10
you know, "This is
what I did, that's..." no.
00:22:17.13\00:22:19.77
What we're doing
during this hour is
00:22:19.80\00:22:21.40
we're sharing
experiences, actions of love
00:22:21.44\00:22:25.84
to minister to the needy
00:22:25.87\00:22:27.91
but yet we benefit, you know,
we grow, that love grows in us.
00:22:27.94\00:22:33.62
And if we don't
have love for the others,
00:22:33.65\00:22:36.48
you know, why are we doing it?
00:22:36.52\00:22:37.85
Yeah, sure.
00:22:37.89\00:22:39.22
Could I share
something that goes right along
00:22:39.25\00:22:40.59
with what you are talking about?
00:22:40.62\00:22:41.96
Please, do. Yes!
I love this book.
00:22:41.99\00:22:43.49
It's "Christ's
Object Lessons." Okay.
00:22:43.53\00:22:45.09
And this is a really old
one but it's really nice.
00:22:45.13\00:22:48.96
And this is from the
chapter on "Who is my neighbor?"
00:22:49.00\00:22:53.13
And this paragraph here it says,
00:22:53.17\00:22:55.50
"Love is the basis of godliness.
00:22:55.54\00:22:58.01
Whatever the profession,
no man has pure love to God
00:22:58.04\00:23:01.54
unless he has
unselfish love for his brother.
00:23:01.58\00:23:04.51
But we can never come
into possession of this spirit
00:23:04.55\00:23:07.22
by trying to love others.
00:23:07.25\00:23:09.32
What is needed is
the love of Christ
00:23:09.35\00:23:11.25
in the heart.
00:23:11.29\00:23:12.62
When self is merged in Christ,
00:23:12.65\00:23:14.49
love springs
forth spontaneously.
00:23:14.52\00:23:17.03
The completeness
of Christian character
00:23:17.06\00:23:18.99
is attained when the
impulse to help and bless others
00:23:19.03\00:23:22.20
springs constantly from within.
00:23:22.23\00:23:24.60
When the sunshine of
heaven fills the heart
00:23:24.63\00:23:26.47
and is revealed
in the countenance."
00:23:26.50\00:23:28.77
Amen. Wow.
00:23:28.80\00:23:30.14
I liked it and it
kind of falls true
00:23:30.17\00:23:31.81
with Romans 15:1
and 2 in your Bible,
00:23:31.84\00:23:34.81
this is really good...
00:23:34.84\00:23:36.31
Okay. For us to read.
00:23:36.34\00:23:38.18
I got this in
amplified version here
00:23:38.21\00:23:39.88
but let's turn to it.
00:23:39.91\00:23:41.25
Okay. Romans,
what? Romans 15:1 and 2.
00:23:41.28\00:23:43.75
Okay.
00:23:43.79\00:23:45.12
This is speaking to the church.
00:23:45.15\00:23:47.36
Okay.
00:23:47.39\00:23:48.72
It says then,
00:23:48.76\00:23:50.09
"We who are
strong, in our convictions
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.66
and of robust faith,
00:23:51.69\00:23:53.66
ought to bear with the
failings and the frailties
00:23:53.70\00:23:55.63
and the tender
scruples of the weak,
00:23:55.66\00:23:57.37
we ought to
help carry the doubts
00:23:57.40\00:23:58.83
and qualms of others,
00:23:58.87\00:24:00.34
and not to please ourselves.
00:24:00.37\00:24:02.07
Let each one of
us make it a practice
00:24:02.10\00:24:03.91
to please, make happy,
00:24:03.94\00:24:06.01
his neighbor for his
good and for his true welfare,
00:24:06.04\00:24:08.54
to edify him, to strengthen him
and build him up spiritually."
00:24:08.58\00:24:12.61
Wow. Amen.
00:24:12.65\00:24:14.15
Now, you know, we've been
talking about the strangers
00:24:14.18\00:24:16.99
but what about
reaching to our brethren
00:24:17.02\00:24:19.75
within the church body?
00:24:19.79\00:24:21.12
I know what this
is speaking about.
00:24:21.16\00:24:22.49
You know, the
congregation itself.
00:24:22.52\00:24:24.29
So I was raised going door
to door Bible, obra misionera,
00:24:24.33\00:24:29.40
it's what it's
called. Missionary work.
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.83
So it's mission work, yes,
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.23
door to door,
frame Bible studies,
00:24:33.27\00:24:36.47
prayer, and it's beautiful.
00:24:36.50\00:24:38.64
It's nice to see
even the pathfinders,
00:24:38.67\00:24:40.04
you know, going door to
door and sharing tracks.
00:24:40.08\00:24:44.28
But when we are...
00:24:44.31\00:24:47.08
It's so easy to, you know,
00:24:47.12\00:24:49.18
"A stranger? Oh,
sure, I'll do that,"
00:24:49.22\00:24:51.05
but we need to
nurture each other
00:24:51.09\00:24:55.19
within a congregation
00:24:55.22\00:24:56.86
because we are all
going through something.
00:24:56.89\00:25:00.63
So praise the Lord,
tonight is Friday, right?
00:25:00.66\00:25:05.37
And Sabbath hours,
and the Lord, if you pray,
00:25:05.40\00:25:10.64
and ask the Lord,
"Please place that person
00:25:10.67\00:25:13.51
that should need
me to minister to,
00:25:13.54\00:25:17.91
and give me the opportunity
to be able to fulfill our need."
00:25:17.95\00:25:23.02
I'm going to share
00:25:23.05\00:25:24.39
the actual
definition of nurturer is
00:25:24.42\00:25:25.89
to care for and encourage
the growth or development of,
00:25:25.92\00:25:30.49
support, another
word, or tend, look after.
00:25:30.53\00:25:34.10
So we're giving our
family, homework, right?
00:25:34.13\00:25:37.23
Yeah.
00:25:37.27\00:25:39.37
Is it good to do...
00:25:39.40\00:25:41.30
Is it bad to do good on Sabbath?
00:25:41.34\00:25:43.97
Well, I guess Jesus
could answer that question.
00:25:44.01\00:25:46.41
He seemed to be
asking that frequently.
00:25:46.44\00:25:48.64
Yes.
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.01
Can I share
testimony to that? Yes.
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.08
We went and did
a thing last year.
00:25:53.11\00:25:54.88
It was called Moonstock
down in Carterville, Illinois.
00:25:54.92\00:25:59.25
And they had
some big names there,
00:25:59.29\00:26:01.36
I won't go in the detail,
00:26:01.39\00:26:02.72
but just the fact
that we were very...
00:26:02.76\00:26:04.23
The Lord definitely
opened the door there,
00:26:04.26\00:26:06.19
and we were ministering
the people through the books,
00:26:06.23\00:26:08.50
Hacksaw Ridge giving out books.
00:26:08.53\00:26:10.60
Well, anyways this young
man who is from Kazakhstan
00:26:10.63\00:26:14.00
flew all the way over there
00:26:14.04\00:26:15.44
just to hear
one particular group
00:26:15.47\00:26:17.21
which, guess what,
they canceled on him.
00:26:17.24\00:26:18.94
Wow!
00:26:18.97\00:26:20.31
All the way, first
time to America ever.
00:26:20.34\00:26:22.18
Wow!
00:26:22.21\00:26:23.55
And he is in this tent asking,
00:26:23.58\00:26:24.91
he said, well, it's a tent
00:26:24.95\00:26:26.51
where they are
serving and stuff, drinks.
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.62
And he said, "I
just want to get a tent.
00:26:28.65\00:26:30.99
Do you happen to have
a tent that I can rent?"
00:26:31.02\00:26:33.05
We were like, "We don't
have a tent that you can rent."
00:26:33.09\00:26:35.06
And so he said,
"Well, I would like to,
00:26:35.09\00:26:36.73
I need to go buy a tent."
00:26:36.76\00:26:39.23
And my mind says, "Oh, okay."
00:26:39.26\00:26:40.80
I said, "Guess what?
Get in my car, let's go.
00:26:40.83\00:26:42.60
We're going to get you a tent."
00:26:42.63\00:26:43.97
And so we went to Walmart,
00:26:44.00\00:26:45.80
he bought his
tent, got in the car.
00:26:45.83\00:26:47.60
He said, "I would like to go
to the little gift shop there,
00:26:47.64\00:26:50.14
it's at this place."
00:26:50.17\00:26:51.51
I said, "Sure, let's go there."
00:26:51.54\00:26:52.87
It happens that I get
to strike a conversation
00:26:52.91\00:26:54.74
with this lady
about addiction recovery,
00:26:54.78\00:26:56.11
she's a Baptist I believe,
just a good conversation.
00:26:56.14\00:26:59.11
So we got in the
car, he says, "Donald,
00:26:59.15\00:27:00.92
I want to tell you
something, you have made my day.
00:27:00.95\00:27:03.99
It's the best time ever."
00:27:04.02\00:27:05.65
And that turned
out he was Muslim.
00:27:05.69\00:27:07.46
Oh, wow! He did not even know.
00:27:07.49\00:27:08.99
Yeah, he was a Muslim.
00:27:09.02\00:27:10.36
We took him to
Amtrak the next day,
00:27:10.39\00:27:11.99
and he wanted to pay
me for taking him there.
00:27:12.03\00:27:14.96
I said, "No, we
don't have to do that."
00:27:15.00\00:27:17.33
He was in shock. He's like...
00:27:17.37\00:27:20.04
"Thank you,"
that's all he could say.
00:27:20.07\00:27:21.40
He didn't know what to do.
00:27:21.44\00:27:23.37
Wow.
00:27:23.41\00:27:24.74
You know, it's marvelous
00:27:24.77\00:27:26.11
because there are so many things
00:27:26.14\00:27:29.04
that we can
share concerning this.
00:27:29.08\00:27:30.61
I mean, so many scriptures,
00:27:30.65\00:27:32.11
but right now, I'm
thinking of what Jesus said
00:27:32.15\00:27:34.32
to His disciples in John 13
00:27:34.35\00:27:37.59
because it helps us understand
where our focus should be.
00:27:37.62\00:27:43.16
And so here in John 13:34 and 35
00:27:43.19\00:27:48.33
is what I'm going to read.
00:27:48.36\00:27:49.90
"This is a new
commandment I give unto you,
00:27:49.93\00:27:52.47
that ye love one
another, as I have loved you."
00:27:52.50\00:27:57.21
Now there is a difference here.
00:27:57.24\00:27:59.01
As I have loved you,
so now I say to you...
00:27:59.04\00:28:02.08
I'm sorry,
00:28:02.11\00:28:03.45
"That ye may
also love one another.
00:28:03.48\00:28:05.58
By this shall all men
know that you are my disciples,
00:28:05.61\00:28:09.28
if you have
love one to another."
00:28:09.32\00:28:12.95
And so this is
what Jesus had left us
00:28:12.99\00:28:18.59
to understand,
00:28:18.63\00:28:20.20
this is how you know,
00:28:20.23\00:28:21.66
this is how you know
that you are my disciples
00:28:21.70\00:28:25.00
if you have
love one for another.
00:28:25.03\00:28:26.84
And it's very interesting
because it doesn't say here is,
00:28:26.87\00:28:29.80
by the way you
dress, by the way you eat,
00:28:29.84\00:28:32.87
by the way you speak,
00:28:32.91\00:28:35.78
but if you have
love for one another.
00:28:35.81\00:28:38.61
And so this is an
opportunity for us
00:28:38.65\00:28:41.08
to show the love
of Christ to other,
00:28:41.12\00:28:42.52
and this is what you did.
00:28:42.55\00:28:43.89
You know, you showed the
love of Christ to someone else,
00:28:43.92\00:28:46.12
he said you gave him
one of his better days.
00:28:46.15\00:28:49.42
Yeah.
00:28:49.46\00:28:50.79
So we praise the Lord for
the opportunities He gives us.
00:28:50.83\00:28:53.60
And you know, I think
that should be a prayer for us
00:28:53.63\00:28:56.77
to say, "Lord,
help me to recognize
00:28:56.80\00:28:59.77
that you're
giving me an opportunity
00:28:59.80\00:29:02.54
to be a witness to
show others your love."
00:29:02.57\00:29:05.74
You know, there
is another scripture,
00:29:05.77\00:29:07.11
it says, "Let you
light so shine before men
00:29:07.14\00:29:11.35
that they may see
your good works and..."
00:29:11.38\00:29:13.78
Glorify.
00:29:13.82\00:29:15.15
"Glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:29:15.18\00:29:17.52
And so much as
that we do good things
00:29:17.55\00:29:20.49
is to really
point people to Christ,
00:29:20.52\00:29:23.02
really to glorify
our heavenly Father.
00:29:23.06\00:29:25.99
And so not to say,
"Well, did you see what I did?"
00:29:26.03\00:29:31.63
No, it's to glorify our Lord.
00:29:31.67\00:29:33.67
And that's really was
going to impact people's lives.
00:29:33.70\00:29:37.77
People know when
you have done something
00:29:37.81\00:29:40.28
like actually, you kept
using the word selfless love,
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.88
you know, actions
00:29:43.91\00:29:45.25
where you're not really
expecting anything in return.
00:29:45.28\00:29:47.22
Yes.
00:29:47.25\00:29:48.58
Yeah, and if you find yourself
expecting something in return,
00:29:48.62\00:29:51.82
you're going to be disappointed.
00:29:51.85\00:29:53.62
You know, and it's best just
to do something from the heart,
00:29:53.66\00:29:57.76
and you're
going to grow from it,
00:29:57.79\00:29:59.66
and you're going to be really...
00:29:59.69\00:30:02.03
You feel the blessing of doing
00:30:02.06\00:30:04.40
what the Lord
promised you to do.
00:30:04.43\00:30:05.93
You know, I was...
00:30:05.97\00:30:07.30
You just
reminded me of something
00:30:07.34\00:30:08.67
but you go ahead and
say what you want to say.
00:30:08.70\00:30:10.04
Go ahead.
00:30:10.07\00:30:11.41
You know, I was
driving down the road,
00:30:11.44\00:30:13.24
and you get into these places
in the middle of the highway
00:30:13.27\00:30:16.95
that there is this box,
and there is somebody in it,
00:30:16.98\00:30:19.91
you recognize it as a tollbooth.
00:30:19.95\00:30:21.95
I don't know if
it's happened to you
00:30:21.98\00:30:24.15
but, well, I'm talking
about going through a tollbooth,
00:30:24.19\00:30:27.19
I'm sure a lot of people
have gone through a tollbooth.
00:30:27.22\00:30:29.86
But I have gone up to
the tollbooth and he said,
00:30:29.89\00:30:33.53
and the person
says, "You can go,
00:30:33.56\00:30:36.40
the guy in front
of you paid for you."
00:30:36.43\00:30:38.37
Oh, wow. And I said, "Really!"
00:30:38.40\00:30:40.04
The first time that happened
to me, I was like, "What?"
00:30:40.07\00:30:43.04
He had no idea
who was behind him,
00:30:43.07\00:30:45.47
but yet he paid for me.
00:30:45.51\00:30:46.84
And I don't
remember how much it was
00:30:46.88\00:30:48.21
but the act, the idea
00:30:48.24\00:30:50.28
that he did
something for someone
00:30:50.31\00:30:51.81
he doesn't know behind him,
00:30:51.85\00:30:53.55
I said, it really touched me.
00:30:53.58\00:30:55.55
And I was like,
00:30:55.58\00:30:57.52
"Oh, well, thank
you. I was surprised."
00:30:57.55\00:31:00.09
And so many different
things we can do for people.
00:31:00.12\00:31:04.26
And really go,
as you say unnoticed
00:31:04.29\00:31:07.13
because I couldn't thank him,
I couldn't return money to him,
00:31:07.16\00:31:11.90
but he did me a kindness.
00:31:11.93\00:31:13.67
And so in the same way,
00:31:13.70\00:31:15.54
we can do a kind
thing for others.
00:31:15.57\00:31:18.37
There used to be...
00:31:18.41\00:31:21.54
People do things here at 3ABN,
it's amazing, it's amazing.
00:31:21.58\00:31:24.45
Angelo blessing.
00:31:24.48\00:31:25.81
Many years ago,
the Angelo blessing,
00:31:25.85\00:31:27.18
you want to
tell Angelo blessing?
00:31:27.22\00:31:28.55
No, go ahead. Go ahead.
00:31:28.58\00:31:29.92
Many years ago,
00:31:29.95\00:31:31.29
there was a person
that had a need at 3ABN,
00:31:31.32\00:31:35.92
and they said, "Could
you please pray for me?
00:31:35.96\00:31:37.99
I need to get..."
I forgot what it was,
00:31:38.03\00:31:40.10
"So I need to get a
tent," and you know.
00:31:40.13\00:31:42.40
And the next
time we had worship,
00:31:42.43\00:31:47.50
that person said,
"I'm just so grateful
00:31:47.54\00:31:51.27
because by my door,
there was this tent,
00:31:51.31\00:31:56.44
and I don't know who did it,
00:31:56.48\00:31:59.55
but the sign said,
'The Angelo blessing.'"
00:31:59.58\00:32:03.62
And so everyone was,
00:32:03.65\00:32:05.82
"Oh, wonderful.
Praise the Lord."
00:32:05.85\00:32:07.59
About a day or two
later, somebody else said,
00:32:07.62\00:32:09.82
"Oh, I don't know how
they knew I needed this
00:32:09.86\00:32:12.03
but there was
this thing by my desk,
00:32:12.06\00:32:14.00
or this thing by my door,"
00:32:14.03\00:32:15.36
and the person said,
"And there was a sign
00:32:15.40\00:32:16.73
that said, 'The
Angelo blessing.'"
00:32:16.77\00:32:18.33
And I think
people were just saying,
00:32:18.37\00:32:20.14
"Hey, that's a good idea.
00:32:20.17\00:32:21.50
That's a good
way to help someone
00:32:21.54\00:32:23.41
and not really know who it was."
00:32:23.44\00:32:25.71
And so, I don't know how long,
00:32:25.74\00:32:28.04
there were these
things being done for people.
00:32:28.08\00:32:29.94
I think somebody
even was given money
00:32:29.98\00:32:32.45
for a vacation or something,
00:32:32.48\00:32:33.82
and it was the
Angelo blessing that did it.
00:32:33.85\00:32:36.28
And that's a wonderful thing
to do for people. Yes, it is.
00:32:36.32\00:32:38.82
It's a neat idea.
00:32:38.85\00:32:40.26
I was thinking about
this little quote I had
00:32:40.29\00:32:41.79
out of "Steps to Christ,"
00:32:41.82\00:32:43.16
it kind of
represents what you're saying.
00:32:43.19\00:32:44.53
It says...
00:32:44.56\00:32:45.89
It's actually in chapter
13, "Rejoicing in the Lord"
00:32:45.93\00:32:47.26
it says, "The children of God
00:32:47.30\00:32:48.66
are called to be
representatives of Christ,
00:32:48.70\00:32:50.70
showing forth the
goodness and mercy of the Lord.
00:32:50.73\00:32:53.30
As Jesus has revealed to us
00:32:53.34\00:32:54.67
the true
character of the Father,
00:32:54.70\00:32:56.17
so we are to reveal Christ
00:32:56.20\00:32:58.04
to a world that does not
know His tender, pitying love.
00:32:58.07\00:33:01.18
'As Thou hast sent Me
into the world,' said Jesus,
00:33:01.21\00:33:05.41
'even so have I also
sent them into the world.
00:33:05.45\00:33:08.15
I in them, and Thou in Me
00:33:08.18\00:33:09.68
that the world may know
that Thou hast sent Me.'
00:33:09.72\00:33:12.25
The apostle Paul says
to the disciples of Jesus,
00:33:12.29\00:33:15.59
'Ye are manifestly declared
to be the epistle of Christ,'"
00:33:15.62\00:33:17.99
we talked about this,
00:33:18.03\00:33:19.39
"'known and read of all men.'
00:33:19.43\00:33:21.66
If every one of His children,
Jesus sends a letter to..."
00:33:21.70\00:33:25.53
okay, "In every
one of His children,
00:33:25.57\00:33:27.17
Jesus sends a
letter to the world.
00:33:27.20\00:33:29.30
If you are Christ's follower,
00:33:29.34\00:33:31.11
he sends in you a
letter to the family,
00:33:31.14\00:33:33.88
the village, the
street where you live.
00:33:33.91\00:33:36.75
Jesus, dwelling in you, desires
to speak to the hearts of those
00:33:36.78\00:33:39.98
who are not acquainted with Him.
00:33:40.02\00:33:41.72
Perhaps they do
not read the Bible,
00:33:41.75\00:33:43.22
or do not hear the voice
00:33:43.25\00:33:44.59
that speaks to
them in its pages.
00:33:44.62\00:33:46.32
They do not see the love
of God through His works.
00:33:46.35\00:33:48.89
But if you are a true
representative of Jesus,
00:33:48.92\00:33:51.13
it may be that through you
00:33:51.16\00:33:52.96
they will be led to understand
something of His goodness,
00:33:52.99\00:33:55.40
and be won to
love and serve Him.
00:33:55.43\00:33:58.47
Christians are
set as light-bearers
00:33:58.50\00:34:00.04
on the way to heaven.
00:34:00.07\00:34:01.40
They are to reflect to the world
00:34:01.44\00:34:02.77
the light shining
upon them from Christ.
00:34:02.80\00:34:05.17
Their life and
character should be such that
00:34:05.21\00:34:07.04
through them others will
get a right conception of Christ
00:34:07.08\00:34:09.54
and of His service."
00:34:09.58\00:34:11.41
Wow.
00:34:11.45\00:34:12.78
Beautiful. Wow.
00:34:12.81\00:34:15.28
It's a powerful
thought. Any comments?
00:34:15.32\00:34:16.65
Yeah. It's tremendous.
00:34:16.69\00:34:18.19
It's tremendous.
00:34:18.22\00:34:20.49
I think just being
available and relatable
00:34:20.52\00:34:26.73
and really
desiring, like you said,
00:34:26.76\00:34:29.13
pray for those opportunities
00:34:29.16\00:34:31.13
and asking the
Holy Spirit to say,
00:34:31.17\00:34:32.80
"Hey, would you
have me to help today?
00:34:32.83\00:34:35.20
Lord, it's not
about me, it's about you."
00:34:35.24\00:34:38.71
Well, I've had the opportunity
00:34:38.74\00:34:40.58
of talking with
quite a few people
00:34:40.61\00:34:44.78
that are going
through a lot of trials,
00:34:44.81\00:34:49.02
and they are so discouraged.
00:34:49.05\00:34:51.39
And as many of you
know, we were in this,
00:34:51.42\00:34:56.22
could have been a very
easily a fatal car accident
00:34:56.26\00:34:59.13
but it was not fatal.
00:34:59.16\00:35:01.16
Praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:35:01.20\00:35:02.70
And they say,
"How can you look up?
00:35:02.73\00:35:06.94
How can you even
open your eyes every day?"
00:35:06.97\00:35:10.17
You know, I am going
through so much right now,
00:35:10.21\00:35:13.48
and it's incredible
00:35:13.51\00:35:15.44
how much time you can
spend on social media, Facebook.
00:35:15.48\00:35:21.12
Many people
write private messages
00:35:21.15\00:35:24.55
and share their situations.
00:35:24.59\00:35:27.49
It could be marriage situations,
00:35:27.52\00:35:30.33
it could be situations
that they're requesting prayer
00:35:30.36\00:35:32.76
for their children.
00:35:32.79\00:35:35.00
How can I get my children
interested in mission work?
00:35:35.03\00:35:38.87
Because our children...
00:35:38.90\00:35:40.84
We share so many
pictures and experiences
00:35:40.87\00:35:43.07
in mission work,
projects of service.
00:35:43.10\00:35:46.37
And as you don't
focus in your condition
00:35:46.41\00:35:52.65
but seek to lift
somebody else's spirit out,
00:35:52.68\00:35:56.58
you know... Yes.
00:35:56.62\00:35:58.22
That is better
than going to a...
00:35:58.25\00:36:02.09
A therapist? A therapist, yeah.
00:36:02.12\00:36:05.33
I mean, I am not
saying, "Don't go," you know,
00:36:05.36\00:36:07.56
you have your conditions,
00:36:07.60\00:36:08.93
and what have
you, and your needs,
00:36:08.96\00:36:10.53
but if you're
one of those people
00:36:10.57\00:36:13.13
that are feeling discouraged,
00:36:13.17\00:36:15.77
and feeling
lonely, or no one cares,
00:36:15.80\00:36:18.41
or you just want to give up,
00:36:18.44\00:36:20.24
or my marriage is
going down to drain,
00:36:20.28\00:36:24.31
just try to focus
in the positive side
00:36:24.35\00:36:28.98
of helping somebody else out.
00:36:29.02\00:36:31.29
And you will not be
dwelling on your condition,
00:36:31.32\00:36:35.52
but then you are going
to make somebody else smile,
00:36:35.56\00:36:37.99
you are going to
feel happy and satisfied
00:36:38.03\00:36:41.16
that you have set
yourself aside and your needs
00:36:41.20\00:36:44.23
to tend to someone you need.
00:36:44.27\00:36:46.50
And you don't even have to
knock on a stranger's door,
00:36:46.53\00:36:48.90
there are so many needs
within our congregations.
00:36:48.94\00:36:51.67
And yes, we want
our church to grow.
00:36:51.71\00:36:53.51
Yes, we want to
give Bible studies,
00:36:53.54\00:36:55.48
we want to go out
into the community
00:36:55.51\00:36:57.55
and invite people to our church.
00:36:57.58\00:36:59.91
But every
congregation, now mind you,
00:36:59.95\00:37:02.32
I am not particularly referring
to one particular church,
00:37:02.35\00:37:06.59
this is a general statement
00:37:06.62\00:37:08.59
because in every
single church building,
00:37:08.62\00:37:13.29
we are the church.
00:37:13.33\00:37:15.53
So every one has
a different need,
00:37:15.56\00:37:17.93
whether it's for
prayer for health,
00:37:17.97\00:37:19.40
prayer for your talent,
00:37:19.43\00:37:21.04
students, you know,
they have tests coming up,
00:37:21.07\00:37:23.94
college students
that have been married
00:37:23.97\00:37:26.14
but are going through
school and dealing with marriage
00:37:26.17\00:37:30.15
and all the low
that comes with that.
00:37:30.18\00:37:32.45
I mean, there are so many needs.
00:37:32.48\00:37:34.88
But if we focus in each other,
00:37:34.92\00:37:38.42
you know, make
the church stronger,
00:37:38.45\00:37:40.99
and who wouldn't want to be part
00:37:41.02\00:37:44.09
of such a nice
solid church family.
00:37:44.13\00:37:47.66
And you first
mentioned the topic of nurturing
00:37:47.70\00:37:50.17
in Christian service,
00:37:50.20\00:37:51.83
I was just like, "What?"
00:37:51.87\00:37:53.77
We had a friend that talk to
us about the exact same thing
00:37:53.80\00:37:57.14
about couple of
months ago... That's right.
00:37:57.17\00:37:59.11
Gave us some
really good counsel.
00:37:59.14\00:38:00.64
And so, you know,
00:38:00.68\00:38:03.55
as personal
ministries in our church,
00:38:03.58\00:38:07.92
you know, we do these
things in the community,
00:38:07.95\00:38:09.55
but God has been shown
us through different ways
00:38:09.58\00:38:11.82
that maybe it's
time to change the focus,
00:38:11.85\00:38:14.39
not totally change
the focus to the outward
00:38:14.42\00:38:16.62
but the inward
00:38:16.66\00:38:17.99
that could be
done in the nurturing
00:38:18.03\00:38:19.89
that, maybe there
are some that need more,
00:38:19.93\00:38:24.00
you know,
uplifting, and some prayers,
00:38:24.03\00:38:26.23
and you know, Lord shows
those people that need it,
00:38:26.27\00:38:29.74
because we want visitors
00:38:29.77\00:38:31.27
to come in and
see a healthy church.
00:38:31.31\00:38:33.07
Exactly. I think too.
00:38:33.11\00:38:34.44
I think if they don't...
00:38:34.48\00:38:36.11
It will be, you know, why,
00:38:36.14\00:38:37.88
what's the point
of coming to this?
00:38:37.91\00:38:39.61
It's a club for them.
00:38:39.65\00:38:41.38
But they are not doing
anything for anybody else,
00:38:41.42\00:38:43.95
so they are just
going through the actions.
00:38:43.99\00:38:46.86
And, you know, we just kind
of touched on the word nurture
00:38:46.89\00:38:48.82
means support.
00:38:48.86\00:38:50.19
And that's something, I think,
00:38:50.23\00:38:52.26
for probably most denominations,
00:38:52.29\00:38:54.90
they don't really have
that safe place to come in to
00:38:54.93\00:38:57.83
to have support and
to be able to share some,
00:38:57.87\00:39:00.27
like you are saying,
the hurts and the pains,
00:39:00.30\00:39:02.30
it's like we just
kind of, we put on this...
00:39:02.34\00:39:04.54
as our friend
upstairs, Claude said, he goes,
00:39:04.57\00:39:06.91
"It's time to
remove the makeup."
00:39:06.94\00:39:08.48
The makeup remover
00:39:08.51\00:39:09.84
'cause people put on
their makeup and look all,
00:39:09.88\00:39:12.38
but inside, the
people are hurting,
00:39:12.41\00:39:14.15
and they want to be
able to feel comfortable
00:39:14.18\00:39:15.62
to share what
they are going through.
00:39:15.65\00:39:16.99
And that's why we're
really been thankful for with us
00:39:17.02\00:39:18.85
doing addiction
recovery about two years now,
00:39:18.89\00:39:21.12
it's just seeing
the tremendous need
00:39:21.16\00:39:24.09
for people to be
able to open up and share,
00:39:24.13\00:39:26.36
you know, and
not being judgmental,
00:39:26.39\00:39:28.10
judged wrong, or
feel condemned, you know.
00:39:28.13\00:39:30.50
Jesus said in
John 3:17, He said,
00:39:30.53\00:39:32.73
"I didn't come into
the world to condemn it,
00:39:32.77\00:39:34.37
but the world
through Him might be saved."
00:39:34.40\00:39:36.10
So it's like, you
know, we really need a place
00:39:36.14\00:39:38.84
where people are
going to be safe,
00:39:38.87\00:39:40.21
they can feel supported
and they feel welcomed.
00:39:40.24\00:39:43.31
So you have a ministry
that the Lord opened up for you
00:39:43.35\00:39:49.65
where you say, you
mentioned addiction recovery,
00:39:49.68\00:39:51.99
it's like addiction
recovery is not a program.
00:39:52.02\00:39:54.72
But what is it?
What would you call it?
00:39:54.76\00:39:56.42
Addiction recovery seminars,
you do, what is it that you do?
00:39:56.46\00:40:01.10
It's, like, it's a program.
00:40:01.13\00:40:02.70
Yes, consider it a
program. It's a program, yeah.
00:40:02.73\00:40:04.37
And well, we have
used Cheri Peters'
00:40:04.40\00:40:06.67
Celebrating life
in Recovery material,
00:40:06.70\00:40:08.37
and we also went
00:40:08.40\00:40:09.74
and did kind of our own
thing and got some of books,
00:40:09.77\00:40:12.17
it's called, what is it?
00:40:12.21\00:40:14.18
We use Life Recovery Bible,
00:40:14.21\00:40:16.14
and there is a
workbook that goes with that.
00:40:16.18\00:40:18.35
But after we finished the
Celebrating life in Recovery
00:40:18.38\00:40:21.82
which is a 14 week program,
00:40:21.85\00:40:23.49
we asked the group
if they want to continue
00:40:23.52\00:40:25.52
because people still need
support even after 14 weeks.
00:40:25.55\00:40:28.72
And so at that time, it was
decided to form our own group,
00:40:28.76\00:40:33.93
actually have a
name and we came up
00:40:33.96\00:40:35.70
with "Dove recovery group."
00:40:35.73\00:40:37.43
And Don remembers
better than me the acronym,
00:40:37.47\00:40:40.17
I always mess it up.
00:40:40.20\00:40:41.54
Divinely overcoming,
00:40:41.57\00:40:42.90
becoming
victorious and empowered.
00:40:42.94\00:40:44.67
Yes. Amen.
00:40:44.71\00:40:46.04
Yeah.
00:40:46.07\00:40:47.41
So there's such a great need
in the church, I mean really,
00:40:47.44\00:40:50.95
there's so many people I guess
are hurting and brokenness,
00:40:50.98\00:40:53.85
and God wants to
heal that brokenness,
00:40:53.88\00:40:55.38
and we need to know
that we can go somewhere.
00:40:55.42\00:40:57.65
I got a gentleman
I've been talking to,
00:40:57.69\00:40:59.29
I mean, pastoral now,
and he was telling me about
00:40:59.32\00:41:01.86
how this church
he's been going to.
00:41:01.89\00:41:03.22
And they have a first, like,
00:41:03.26\00:41:04.73
worship together
on a certain night,
00:41:04.76\00:41:06.86
and they break into
individual groups like,
00:41:06.90\00:41:08.33
if you have
anxiety and depression
00:41:08.36\00:41:09.86
you go to that room,
when you go to this room,
00:41:09.90\00:41:11.23
it has like whatever,
00:41:11.27\00:41:12.83
they have got like
eight or nine rooms
00:41:12.87\00:41:14.24
for people to go
to, and they can break
00:41:14.27\00:41:15.60
and talk private.
00:41:15.64\00:41:17.34
I think that's great.
00:41:17.37\00:41:18.71
You know, it's like something
00:41:18.74\00:41:20.08
that I would love to
see in our church, you know.
00:41:20.11\00:41:21.44
But, you know, we are
talking about the people
00:41:21.48\00:41:23.24
that are broken and
have a contrite spirit
00:41:23.28\00:41:26.18
and all, but you know,
00:41:26.21\00:41:28.78
we don't come to church looking
like what we're feeling, right?
00:41:28.82\00:41:34.12
Our members don't.
00:41:34.16\00:41:36.56
So, you know, it is a joy
00:41:36.59\00:41:38.53
to come to the house of the Lord
00:41:38.56\00:41:41.00
and worship together.
00:41:41.03\00:41:42.76
It is strengthening
to, spiritually speaking,
00:41:42.80\00:41:47.17
to worship with the Brethren,
00:41:47.20\00:41:50.14
you know, but there are
issues in the lives that,
00:41:50.17\00:41:53.31
I don't want to give the
impression that everybody
00:41:53.34\00:41:55.11
that goes to church is
going through something, yes,
00:41:55.14\00:41:58.45
something very big and positive
in celebrating something big,
00:41:58.48\00:42:01.82
and there are some challenges
00:42:01.85\00:42:03.25
is to reality of life, you know.
00:42:03.28\00:42:06.65
But when we all pull
together and might my weakness
00:42:06.69\00:42:11.79
with your strength, you
know, we make a good team
00:42:11.83\00:42:14.83
because we
balance each other out.
00:42:14.86\00:42:17.13
So I was thinking about
our Sabbath experiences.
00:42:17.17\00:42:23.91
How can my Sabbath experience
be nurtured in such a way
00:42:23.94\00:42:28.58
that I can just break away
00:42:28.61\00:42:30.88
from whatever is
going on in my life,
00:42:30.91\00:42:33.42
and really sense, you
know, the gift of worship,
00:42:33.45\00:42:39.42
and adoration,
and Sabbath, you know,
00:42:39.45\00:42:42.46
because sometimes
we carry everything
00:42:42.49\00:42:44.46
into the Sabbath hours.
00:42:44.49\00:42:45.86
How do we disconnect?
00:42:45.89\00:42:47.80
Well, you know,
it's interesting how,
00:42:47.83\00:42:50.23
by those divine appointments,
00:42:50.27\00:42:51.97
they contribute
to me being able to,
00:42:52.00\00:42:55.24
"Okay, it's going to be fine
00:42:55.27\00:42:57.14
and let's just
continue to worship together."
00:42:57.17\00:42:59.97
There is a connection,
there is a support system.
00:43:00.01\00:43:03.18
There are so many
names, whether it's spiritual,
00:43:03.21\00:43:07.85
financial, physical,
we cannot meet them all
00:43:07.88\00:43:12.75
but we all have a gift.
00:43:12.79\00:43:14.36
Amen.
00:43:14.39\00:43:15.72
So for God's glory,
00:43:15.76\00:43:18.23
let's use our gifts
to build each other up,
00:43:18.26\00:43:21.40
and don't forget about
our pastors too, you know.
00:43:21.43\00:43:23.83
Oh, my! It's
like, you know, we...
00:43:23.87\00:43:26.07
The pastor's the preacher,
the pastor's the nurturer,
00:43:26.10\00:43:28.57
the pastor...
00:43:28.60\00:43:29.94
But even...
00:43:29.97\00:43:31.37
They need support, yeah.
00:43:31.41\00:43:32.74
The shepherds
need their support too.
00:43:32.77\00:43:35.81
So anyway, I just pray
that the Sabbath experience
00:43:35.84\00:43:42.18
when we gather
together as church members
00:43:42.22\00:43:45.05
and family in Christ
00:43:45.09\00:43:47.02
that we've come to a
strong unity in Christ
00:43:47.06\00:43:53.56
and with each other.
00:43:53.60\00:43:55.46
You know, I would love to see
00:43:55.50\00:43:59.10
many people come to the church,
00:43:59.13\00:44:03.34
to the foot of the
cross because of the testimony
00:44:03.37\00:44:08.31
or the open letter,
00:44:08.34\00:44:10.08
public letter that
people are reading on us.
00:44:10.11\00:44:14.15
I want to...
00:44:14.18\00:44:17.92
There are so many
things in my heart right now
00:44:17.95\00:44:19.39
but I don't even
know where to start,
00:44:19.42\00:44:21.32
but I will share
two things, okay.
00:44:21.36\00:44:24.66
We are so blessed
with our church family.
00:44:24.69\00:44:27.30
Amen.
00:44:27.33\00:44:28.66
The deaconesses department has,
00:44:28.70\00:44:32.27
when we've gone
through our trials
00:44:32.30\00:44:34.17
of the car accident and all,
00:44:34.20\00:44:36.91
we had meals on wheels gourmet.
00:44:36.94\00:44:40.14
Amen.
00:44:40.18\00:44:42.64
Gourmet, you know, the ladies
took turns, and not only that,
00:44:42.68\00:44:48.85
but then we had
Garland and Donna,
00:44:48.88\00:44:51.15
Brandon who would pick us up
00:44:51.19\00:44:53.02
and take us to
doctor's appointments.
00:44:53.05\00:44:55.02
And we're talking about
five different community towns,
00:44:55.06\00:44:58.26
now we have appointments in.
00:44:58.29\00:45:00.26
Day after day, it's a full time
job trying to keep my schedule,
00:45:00.30\00:45:04.47
right, honey?
00:45:04.50\00:45:05.83
Oh, yes.
00:45:05.87\00:45:07.74
And our church
has helped us so much
00:45:07.77\00:45:10.81
and with our children as well.
00:45:10.84\00:45:12.71
But then, being that
there is a community out there
00:45:12.74\00:45:17.55
that does not get a chance
to come to a church building,
00:45:17.58\00:45:22.88
I'm talking
about those in prison,
00:45:22.92\00:45:25.02
and those that are in
nursing homes or hospitals,
00:45:25.05\00:45:29.59
even from your
bed, even from yourself,
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.29
you can bless somebody
else. That's right. Amen.
00:45:32.33\00:45:35.06
So don't let
the rails around you
00:45:35.10\00:45:37.80
keep you from or limit you
00:45:37.83\00:45:40.97
to not being able to reach
out to somebody else in need
00:45:41.00\00:45:44.77
because other
cellmates have family,
00:45:44.81\00:45:48.04
other cellmates are
anxious to hug your children
00:45:48.08\00:45:51.88
or to see their
children, you know,
00:45:51.91\00:45:54.48
and we cannot forget
about that community.
00:45:54.52\00:45:58.95
When you are in the hospital,
00:45:58.99\00:46:01.36
don't forget that your attitude
00:46:01.39\00:46:05.66
will also rub
off on the caretaker,
00:46:05.69\00:46:10.33
the nurses, the
doctors, you know.
00:46:10.37\00:46:13.40
Your testimony is being
read by the medical staff,
00:46:13.44\00:46:17.11
are you going to
be a blessing to them,
00:46:17.14\00:46:18.84
because we are
waiting for our blessing,
00:46:18.87\00:46:20.84
you know, as a patient.
00:46:20.88\00:46:22.34
We want our blessing,
we want you to serve me,
00:46:22.38\00:46:25.01
we need you to do this and that,
00:46:25.05\00:46:26.95
but what are we doing for them?
00:46:26.98\00:46:28.92
It's like you want
to put God as genie.
00:46:28.95\00:46:30.39
You just reminded me
of a video I saw recently.
00:46:30.42\00:46:32.79
It's a campaign in
the United Kingdom.
00:46:32.82\00:46:37.19
It's called Campaign to
End Loneliness, I think.
00:46:37.23\00:46:40.60
And there's a video of this guy,
00:46:40.63\00:46:43.43
he went on week, a whole week
00:46:43.47\00:46:45.47
with no interaction, no phone,
00:46:45.50\00:46:48.60
no contact with humans at
all, no interaction period.
00:46:48.64\00:46:53.24
And throughout the
video, you could see his face,
00:46:53.27\00:46:56.61
he was just so distraught.
00:46:56.64\00:46:58.15
And, you know,
00:46:58.18\00:46:59.51
he's kind of sharing
his experience and stuff.
00:46:59.55\00:47:01.78
And at the end, he goes
and talks to a man next door,
00:47:01.82\00:47:05.42
and it's an older man,
00:47:05.45\00:47:07.02
and I think the
whole campaign is actually,
00:47:07.06\00:47:09.42
the target is to
visit older people.
00:47:09.46\00:47:14.00
And so he goes and
visits this older man.
00:47:14.03\00:47:16.56
And older man was like,
00:47:16.60\00:47:18.23
"Yeah, it's
pretty rough, isn't it?
00:47:18.27\00:47:19.63
He said, "I lost my
wife a couple years ago
00:47:19.67\00:47:21.54
and hardly ever get visitors."
00:47:21.57\00:47:24.17
And so it really touched me.
00:47:24.21\00:47:26.21
That's right.
00:47:26.24\00:47:27.58
It's a lonely stage adapting,
00:47:27.61\00:47:30.38
you got to get used
to the new lifestyle,
00:47:30.41\00:47:33.25
after having your
companion and all.
00:47:33.28\00:47:36.08
But I want to say
that, praise the Lord
00:47:36.12\00:47:39.22
that we have a
worldwide church family.
00:47:39.25\00:47:41.76
Amen. Yes.
00:47:41.79\00:47:43.12
The Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:47:43.16\00:47:44.49
is not just the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:47:44.53\00:47:47.96
it is worldwide.
00:47:48.00\00:47:50.03
Anywhere you go in the world,
00:47:50.07\00:47:51.63
there is a Seventh-day
Adventist congregation.
00:47:51.67\00:47:55.04
And it's family,
00:47:55.07\00:47:57.97
and that family was
also present in Michigan
00:47:58.01\00:48:01.58
when we were
dealing with our accident.
00:48:01.61\00:48:04.88
And I just
wanted to share with you
00:48:04.91\00:48:08.28
that a lot of
times the pathfinders
00:48:08.32\00:48:10.09
or the Sabbath School classes...
00:48:10.12\00:48:12.42
Dan, have you
gone to nursing homes
00:48:12.45\00:48:14.72
and stuff for singing and...
00:48:14.76\00:48:16.36
Yeah, yeah. Oh, yes.
00:48:16.39\00:48:18.09
And on Sabbath
afternoon, we often go out
00:48:18.13\00:48:19.86
and visit people
that are shut in.
00:48:19.89\00:48:21.43
And, you know,
we think, you know,
00:48:21.46\00:48:23.80
we don't even
get to our neighbors
00:48:23.83\00:48:25.17
that are around
us that, you know,
00:48:25.20\00:48:26.70
aren't church members
00:48:26.74\00:48:28.07
to know what's going
on in their lives so much.
00:48:28.10\00:48:31.14
But, yes, we often do that
00:48:31.17\00:48:32.77
and go to nursing
homes from time to time.
00:48:32.81\00:48:34.74
That's right. Yeah.
00:48:34.78\00:48:36.11
Yeah.
00:48:36.14\00:48:37.48
You know, Idalia, you mentioned,
00:48:37.51\00:48:38.85
you were going to say
something else, weren't you?
00:48:38.88\00:48:40.22
Well, tagging on that is that,
sometimes there are members
00:48:40.25\00:48:44.95
that are just not
strong in that area,
00:48:44.99\00:48:48.96
or gifted, or interested,
for a lack of better word,
00:48:48.99\00:48:52.93
to attend a nursing home.
00:48:52.96\00:48:55.63
But if you're not
wanting to go inside,
00:48:55.66\00:48:59.60
but you can be a driver,
00:48:59.63\00:49:01.30
you know, and
support that visit.
00:49:01.34\00:49:03.44
That's right.
00:49:03.47\00:49:04.81
Because you don't necessarily
have to be the one in there,
00:49:04.84\00:49:08.78
everybody, you know,
00:49:08.81\00:49:10.15
just like the body
has different parts,
00:49:10.18\00:49:11.55
you know, so we
all have a function.
00:49:11.58\00:49:13.58
That's right.
00:49:13.62\00:49:14.95
And that support is so pleasant.
00:49:14.98\00:49:17.59
And what I
wanted to share was that
00:49:17.62\00:49:19.62
the Traverse City
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:49:19.65\00:49:26.19
Cadillac 13th Street,
00:49:26.23\00:49:28.33
Cadillac
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:49:28.36\00:49:30.13
was very pleasant.
00:49:30.17\00:49:31.93
While we were in the
hospital, you're talking about?
00:49:31.97\00:49:33.44
Yes, when we were in a hospital.
00:49:33.47\00:49:35.17
Hospitals are not fun to go to.
00:49:35.20\00:49:37.21
But oh, boy, does that ever
00:49:37.24\00:49:38.81
make a big
difference in our lives
00:49:38.84\00:49:41.91
when we are there
00:49:41.94\00:49:43.28
because you would charge
our energies our batteries,
00:49:43.31\00:49:46.41
and you encourage us to witness,
00:49:46.45\00:49:47.85
just your presence is a witness
00:49:47.88\00:49:49.32
to those that are
taking care of you.
00:49:49.35\00:49:51.39
They are like,
00:49:51.42\00:49:52.75
"Who are all these
people coming to see you?"
00:49:52.79\00:49:54.42
You know, and wow!
00:49:54.46\00:49:56.36
Sure, I am glad
you asked, you know,
00:49:56.39\00:49:58.83
so you share
about your congregation,
00:49:58.86\00:50:00.50
you share about your
church, and the pastors.
00:50:00.53\00:50:02.93
And not only
that, when you're home,
00:50:02.96\00:50:05.30
you have your
coworkers visiting,
00:50:05.33\00:50:07.27
your church members visiting,
even organizations like,
00:50:07.30\00:50:11.87
you know, any
organization from ministries.
00:50:11.91\00:50:14.64
And, you know, and I wanted
to show a collage of pictures
00:50:14.68\00:50:18.08
of different people
that have nurtured us.
00:50:18.11\00:50:20.72
When I left the
hospital, 3.5 weeks there,
00:50:20.75\00:50:25.09
two weeks in ICU
or what have you,
00:50:25.12\00:50:27.42
I cried because I felt
like, you know, we had a family.
00:50:27.46\00:50:32.76
They would see us or
hear us praying for them,
00:50:32.79\00:50:37.40
encourage them in the Lord,
00:50:37.43\00:50:39.53
and encourage
them in their workload
00:50:39.57\00:50:42.17
because it's not
easy to be a caretaker,
00:50:42.20\00:50:45.67
not every patient is patient.
00:50:45.71\00:50:49.91
It is not fun to
take care of, right?
00:50:49.94\00:50:52.25
So anyway, that just goes to
00:50:52.28\00:50:54.75
try to meet the
needs of the others
00:50:54.78\00:50:56.55
and not just
focus on your needs.
00:50:56.58\00:50:58.72
Yes. And we had tremendous...
00:50:58.75\00:51:02.42
And it was hard for us
00:51:02.46\00:51:04.26
because here we
were in a situation
00:51:04.29\00:51:07.30
where we normally
are helping others
00:51:07.33\00:51:10.97
and now people were
helping us, you know.
00:51:11.00\00:51:12.43
Yes. They were bringing us food.
00:51:12.47\00:51:13.90
They were even
taking me to the store
00:51:13.94\00:51:16.54
to get things for us.
00:51:16.57\00:51:17.91
Yes, Catherine
and her husband Chris.
00:51:17.94\00:51:19.91
Pastor Charles
Brooks, Pastor Jeff,
00:51:19.94\00:51:22.61
they also came and,
00:51:22.64\00:51:24.61
you know, still they are
contacting us, Mr. Evelyn.
00:51:24.65\00:51:28.18
It's amazing what an impact
they have had in our lives,
00:51:28.22\00:51:31.75
and it's really been
a tremendous blessing.
00:51:31.79\00:51:34.12
And what can you say but,
you know, "Thank you, Lord,
00:51:34.16\00:51:37.73
thank you for this church family
00:51:37.76\00:51:39.73
that has been
such a blessing to us."
00:51:39.76\00:51:41.36
But we have the opportunity
to be a blessing to the others.
00:51:41.40\00:51:44.20
Yes, absolutely, absolutely.
00:51:44.23\00:51:46.37
And, you know,
the Lord, you know,
00:51:46.40\00:51:48.97
we mentioned several things,
we mentioned prison ministries,
00:51:49.00\00:51:52.37
we've mentioned
00:51:52.41\00:51:53.81
addiction
recovery of ministry...
00:51:53.84\00:51:55.51
Nursing homes. We
mentioned nursing homes.
00:51:55.54\00:51:57.41
I remember when we
were able to, I say able,
00:51:57.45\00:52:00.98
because traveling for 3ABN has,
sometimes we're not able to do
00:52:01.02\00:52:04.49
as many things
locally that we used to do.
00:52:04.52\00:52:07.19
I remember we used
to go to nursing homes
00:52:07.22\00:52:09.96
and a group of people comes
00:52:09.99\00:52:12.66
that are not
necessarily preaching
00:52:12.69\00:52:15.40
or doing any of
the in front work
00:52:15.43\00:52:17.77
but they are just singing along.
00:52:17.80\00:52:19.67
Yes.
00:52:19.70\00:52:21.04
And that helps the
00:52:21.07\00:52:22.70
all of the nice
wonderful senior citizen people,
00:52:22.74\00:52:25.81
some were on wheelchairs,
00:52:25.84\00:52:27.58
some are, you
know, just with a walker,
00:52:27.61\00:52:31.11
and some really, they need help,
00:52:31.15\00:52:34.38
and they are so grateful
just for someone to say,
00:52:34.42\00:52:39.82
"It's good to see you"
because some of those people
00:52:39.85\00:52:43.16
and some of the
people in the nursing homes
00:52:43.19\00:52:44.99
are not visited as often
as they would like, you know.
00:52:45.03\00:52:48.40
Their children are busy,
members of the family are busy,
00:52:48.43\00:52:51.80
and they don't always get out
as much as they would like to.
00:52:51.83\00:52:55.04
But some of the
people who are there
00:52:55.07\00:52:58.01
just longing for
attention from someone else.
00:52:58.04\00:53:02.21
Because, yes,
the nurses are there,
00:53:02.24\00:53:04.31
but to see someone else
that becomes a friend to them,
00:53:04.35\00:53:07.68
and you've done that.
00:53:07.72\00:53:09.35
And there are
people that are very quiet,
00:53:09.38\00:53:12.25
but they go to the
nursing home anyway and sing,
00:53:12.29\00:53:14.69
and those voices are heard
by the people that are there,
00:53:14.72\00:53:18.33
and they are blessed, you know,
and so it's a tremendous thing.
00:53:18.36\00:53:21.43
And we were talking the
other day to Brother Fitz,
00:53:21.46\00:53:26.43
he was saying,
"Well, I got to go.
00:53:26.47\00:53:28.14
I'm going to the nursing home."
00:53:28.17\00:53:29.90
And I said, "Okay."
00:53:29.94\00:53:31.74
And so we have that
ministry here for the Benton
00:53:31.77\00:53:35.31
and the West Frankfort area,
people that are doing this,
00:53:35.34\00:53:37.41
and we praise the
Lord for the opportunity
00:53:37.45\00:53:40.08
that He gives to each
one of us to do something.
00:53:40.12\00:53:42.08
And if so, if you don't
think you have anything to do,
00:53:42.12\00:53:46.09
well, if you don't
think you have anything to do,
00:53:46.12\00:53:49.22
just say to the Lord,
00:53:49.26\00:53:50.59
"Well, Lord, I
want something to do."
00:53:50.63\00:53:51.96
And guess
what's going to happen.
00:53:51.99\00:53:53.43
So Lord is going to
provide something for you to do.
00:53:53.46\00:53:56.10
I'm willing to
share the scripture
00:53:56.13\00:53:57.67
on kind of what you are
touching on Galatians 6:2,
00:53:57.70\00:54:00.24
it says there,
00:54:00.27\00:54:01.60
"Bear ye one another's burdens,
00:54:01.64\00:54:03.30
and so fulfill
the law of Christ."
00:54:03.34\00:54:04.94
Yes. That's really huge.
00:54:04.97\00:54:06.57
And, you know, kind of
what we've been talking about
00:54:06.61\00:54:08.58
is being intentional.
00:54:08.61\00:54:10.31
We have to be intentional
00:54:10.35\00:54:11.68
when we go to
want to nurture people
00:54:11.71\00:54:13.05
'cause there is
people walk in our churches,
00:54:13.08\00:54:14.42
and they are first
timers, or they just come in.
00:54:14.45\00:54:16.92
And if you don't go up and
shake their hand, you know,
00:54:16.95\00:54:18.75
people get upset,
you know how it is.
00:54:18.79\00:54:20.22
And they're like, "Oh,
nobody came and said hi to me,
00:54:20.26\00:54:22.62
nobody shook my hand."
00:54:22.66\00:54:24.23
You know, it's like
we need to be intentional
00:54:24.26\00:54:26.16
about nurturing.
00:54:26.19\00:54:27.53
We've actually talked about
00:54:27.56\00:54:28.90
sitting at the
back of the church,
00:54:28.93\00:54:30.27
and watching people come in,
00:54:30.30\00:54:31.63
and going, and
trying to 'cause, you know,
00:54:31.67\00:54:33.00
people are like swarm you like,
00:54:33.03\00:54:34.37
"Hey, you know, I got
to get to this one though."
00:54:34.40\00:54:36.84
So you are trying to get
to that one person, you know,
00:54:36.87\00:54:38.67
just to say hi and say, "Hey,
it's glad to see you here,"
00:54:38.71\00:54:41.51
and just let them know
that they've been seeing,
00:54:41.54\00:54:43.38
and I think it's really intense.
00:54:43.41\00:54:44.78
That's a ministry in itself.
00:54:44.81\00:54:46.18
I received a very
long handwritten letter.
00:54:46.21\00:54:49.95
And I know, time is
short right now in the program,
00:54:49.98\00:54:53.46
but this young
lady and her mother
00:54:53.49\00:54:56.66
were watching 3ABN Latino,
00:54:56.69\00:54:59.13
and they decided to
visit a Spanish church,
00:54:59.16\00:55:02.20
and you know, they're like,
00:55:02.23\00:55:03.57
"Oh, please, I
want to visit a church.
00:55:03.60\00:55:06.27
We've learned so
much watching 3ABN Latino.
00:55:06.30\00:55:09.17
Where is the nearest church,
you know, where we live?"
00:55:09.20\00:55:12.14
I'm not going to say the town
or the place, but I told them.
00:55:12.17\00:55:16.44
And they went, and
they were so excited,
00:55:16.48\00:55:19.25
so excited to go to church.
00:55:19.28\00:55:21.92
But then when church was over
and fellowship dinner was over,
00:55:21.95\00:55:25.55
they were heartbroken
00:55:25.59\00:55:27.62
because no one
greeted them and at lunchtime,
00:55:27.66\00:55:30.56
everybody with their
own groups, you know.
00:55:30.59\00:55:33.46
And the two were eating
by themselves in the corner.
00:55:33.50\00:55:36.20
I mean, this doesn't
happen in every church
00:55:36.23\00:55:38.23
but I think we
should create awareness
00:55:38.27\00:55:40.50
so that this
doesn't repeat itself.
00:55:40.54\00:55:42.97
So be in the joy of
the Lord, today's Sabbath,
00:55:43.00\00:55:46.54
and we don't
have any obligations
00:55:46.57\00:55:50.75
that would draw us away.
00:55:50.78\00:55:52.71
So make sure
that just as you want
00:55:52.75\00:55:55.75
or you need to be nurtured
00:55:55.78\00:55:57.62
that you nurture
somebody else today.
00:55:57.65\00:56:00.22
And, you know, it's amazing.
00:56:00.26\00:56:02.12
I don't know why
I've thought about this.
00:56:02.16\00:56:03.49
I remember when,
when Samuel and Caleb,
00:56:03.53\00:56:05.23
they both did the same thing.
00:56:05.26\00:56:06.66
It's kind of interesting.
00:56:06.70\00:56:08.40
I guess, they gained
some of this from Idalia.
00:56:08.43\00:56:12.00
They're more prone
to say hi to somebody
00:56:12.03\00:56:16.91
than I probably would be.
00:56:16.94\00:56:18.27
And Samuel was in a
little car, little tiny,
00:56:18.31\00:56:21.01
and were passing
people in the store
00:56:21.04\00:56:23.24
and Samuel's going, "Hi"
00:56:23.28\00:56:25.58
out of the blue and
the people go, "Oh, hi.
00:56:25.61\00:56:27.98
How are you?" they
would say to Samuel.
00:56:28.02\00:56:29.72
And he would
say, "I'm doing fine."
00:56:29.75\00:56:31.09
And we would...
00:56:31.12\00:56:32.45
And that's the way, you
know, he was as a little boy.
00:56:32.49\00:56:35.96
And, you know,
we praise the Lord
00:56:35.99\00:56:38.46
that they were able to
minister to people that way
00:56:38.49\00:56:41.46
because people
were suddenly smiling,
00:56:41.50\00:56:44.07
you know, they
weren't smiling before
00:56:44.10\00:56:45.43
but now they're smiling
00:56:45.47\00:56:46.80
because someone said hi to them.
00:56:46.84\00:56:48.17
And so, well, it's unbelievable.
00:56:48.20\00:56:50.44
The time is
drawing to close here.
00:56:50.47\00:56:52.34
We just have
seconds to be with you.
00:56:52.37\00:56:54.64
So we are grateful
that you have been with us
00:56:54.68\00:56:57.58
during this time that
we have been together.
00:56:57.61\00:56:59.45
We thank you
Donald for being with us,
00:56:59.48\00:57:01.52
Sister Janelle,
00:57:01.55\00:57:02.88
and Brother Daniel
Peek, they had been with us.
00:57:02.92\00:57:04.79
And we just praise the Lord
00:57:04.82\00:57:06.39
for the time we've had together.
00:57:06.42\00:57:07.76
Sorry, that we can't
stay with you any longer,
00:57:07.79\00:57:09.79
there's another
program coming on very soon.
00:57:09.82\00:57:11.49
We were just getting started.
We were just getting started.
00:57:11.53\00:57:13.43
But we want to encourage
you to let the Lord know
00:57:13.46\00:57:16.50
that you are available,
00:57:16.53\00:57:17.87
that you are willing
to be used by the Lord
00:57:17.90\00:57:19.47
to say
something, or do something,
00:57:19.50\00:57:21.14
to help someone, find
encouragement, find hope.
00:57:21.17\00:57:25.44
And so just make
yourself available to the Lord.
00:57:25.47\00:57:27.91
And finally, we'd
like to all say to you
00:57:27.94\00:57:30.55
have a happy
Sabbath, God bless you.
00:57:30.58\00:57:33.15
Amen.
00:57:33.18\00:57:35.05