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 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast.

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 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you.

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 Thank you for joining us today.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, God, we ask you to your spirit to really fill this place.

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 Yes, Lord, we welcome your spirit right here, right now.

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 Lord, we want to receive something directly from you today.

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 Regardless of audible words, Lord, we want you to speak into our hearts today,

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 into our spirits, Lord, so that we can be more connected to our Heavenly Father,

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 that we can fall even more in love with you as the perfect Father.

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 So that, Lord, as we leave here, Lord, we will know to whom we belong to.

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 Yes, it's in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 You know, when you think of the word Father,

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 many people have many different visual pictures in your head.

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 You know, maybe you're thinking about the guy who fixed everything.

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 Okay. And my father fit into some of these things,

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 but he walked, or at least he tried to fix everything.

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 Okay. But he had grease on his fingers.

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 He was always working under the hood or, you know, out cutting the lawn.

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 Always do it until we had to.

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 But always doing something, fixing, fixing.

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 Maybe you have that picture of the fix it guy,

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 and he just was always working, you know, around the house.

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 Or perhaps you think about the guy who always had the answers.

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 You know, just ask Dad. Just ask Dad.

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 You know, it's funny as my kids get older, I get phone calls,

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 and I think they just want to hear my voice for support

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 because they ask me things that I can't help them with.

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 And they know more about the subject than I do sometimes,

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 but I think they just like that comfort of,

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 I'm talking to Dad. I'll figure it out from there.

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 Whatever he's telling me to do, I'll do the opposite.

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 No, it's not that fair.

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 But like just that connection, you know,

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 but the answer guy, he always has the right solutions,

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 you know, to the problems or maybe the protector.

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 You know, the guy who's always making sure

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 the doors are locked at the end of the night.

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 He's always making sure, make sure you fill that tire up

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 when you get past a gas station, you know,

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 or, you know, your treads are getting low,

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 always safety-minded, always protecting,

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 always aware, you know, of those things.

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 Maybe that's the picture you have

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 when you think of a father, that visual image in your head.

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 Or maybe you're thinking about the provider, you know.

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 Oh, Dad, he worked, you know, he worked two jobs.

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 He was just always out making money,

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 making sure we had a roof over our head,

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 food on the table, clothes on us.

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 You know, he was just always busy providing,

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 providing, providing, you know.

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 And maybe that's your picture.

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 Or maybe your father just was a real great gift-giver

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 in terms of, you know, he always knew what to bring you

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 or to give you that would really light up your day,

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 you know, perhaps you have a father like that.

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 But many of us might not have that picture in our head,

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 you know, maybe it's the father

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 who was emotionally distant, physically absent,

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 passive, disengaged, or preoccupied.

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 Maybe because of situations like divorce

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 or work or military service

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 or difficult family circumstances,

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 you just simply didn't have enough time with Dad.

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 And there's a lot of broken families,

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 a lot of people can probably relate with that.

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 And some people, unfortunately,

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 never even knew their biological father.

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 There's too much of that in society today.

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 You know, so there's a lot of baggage.

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 And, you know, unfortunately,

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 the picture we have of a father in our head

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 based on our experience

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 can affect the way we perceive God, obviously.

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 You know, we can perceive God through this lens, you know,

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 and not really know our heavenly father.

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 But, you know, our heavenly father,

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 he doesn't make mistakes.

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 He always provides for his own.

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 He always protects.

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 He always has the answers.

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 And he always knows how to fix things.

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 You know, not just physical things,

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 not just cars or lawnmowers or whatever.

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 He fix what's most important, our lives, you know.

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 That's the heavenly father we have

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 is a heavenly father who fixes us.

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 And many of us just can't look past our experience

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 and really appreciate who we have as a heavenly father.

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 And today, I would just like us

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 to really like perceive, let even the Holy Spirit

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 be teaching you in your mind and in your heart, you know.

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 How much our heavenly father loves us

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 more than any earthly father can.

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 All of us have fallen short of loving our kids in perfection.

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 You know, we just have to realize,

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 yeah, there's going to be things,

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 oh, I wish I would have done that better.

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 I wish I wouldn't have done that better.

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 And if you haven't had children yet,

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 you're saying, you know, I'm not going to do that.

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 I'm not going to do that.

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 Well, you're going to do some things you'll regret.

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 But guess what?

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 As long as you're pointing your kids

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 or even your spiritual sons,

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 people that come under your sphere of influence

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 that you're a mentor to,

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 pointing them to your heavenly father.

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 You could say, yeah, I'm not it.

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 He's it.

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 If you can like introduce people in your life

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 to your heavenly father, you've done your job.

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 It takes all the pressure off of you

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 and puts all the pressure on God.

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 And guess what?

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 He can handle it.

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 He can handle whatever you bring him

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 because he is all knowing.

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 He is all problem solving, right?

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 And that's our God.

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 You know, we want to be that the people

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 who lead others to the Lord, the heavenly father.

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 So today we're going to talk about the father of lights.

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 And we're only really studying,

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 studying two verses.

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 It's one of my favorite thinking about fathers.

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 I always, this is like the verse

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 that always pops into my head, you know,

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 the father of lights.

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 And it's interesting because this book,

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 this letter of James is written

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 by the half brother of Jesus Christ.

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 You know, there were the original 12 disciples,

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 Peter, James, and John.

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 That James is a different James than this James.

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 That James was a disciple and an apostle.

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 And he will read in a couple of weeks

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 how he's actually martyred during the early church.

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 But James becomes really the leader of the church

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 in a sense.

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 Peter kind of did his thing,

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 but James was the administrator of the early church.

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 And James shared a household with Jesus Christ.

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 Can you imagine that?

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 He lived under the same roof as Jesus.

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 He shared their same earthly father

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 as Jesus, Joseph.

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 Of course, they were half brothers

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 because Jesus was born of Mary,

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 the virgin mother of Jesus,

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 and the Holy Spirit who impregnated her.

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 So they didn't share the same father biologically,

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 but the same earthly father, Joseph.

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 And so James and Jesus really had a lot in common,

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 only, you know, he didn't believe Jesus

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 during his ministry until he rose from the dead.

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 He didn't actually believe Jesus Christ

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 really was the son of God.

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 Or he's the son of Joseph until he realized.

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 And why I really am amazed by James's letters,

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 because he doesn't even introduce himself

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 as the half brother of Jesus.

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 He doesn't even consider himself

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 on the same level as Jesus,

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 even though they shared the same household.

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 But he didn't even rest his identity

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 in his earthly father, Joseph.

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 He rested his identity in his heavenly father, God.

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 And guess who introduced him to our heavenly father?

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 Jesus.

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 You know, I mean, I can't imagine

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 how James must have just been thinking,

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 wow, I just didn't know it all those years.

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 It just went right over my head.

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 And now here I am.

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 And I know, not Joseph.

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 I know my heavenly father.

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 You know, Joseph was a good guy.

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 I mean, Joseph, as you know, was a just man.

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 In fact, we read in Matthew 1.19

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 how when the angel came to him and spoke to him,

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 he was already decided in his heart

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 that he wasn't going to tell people

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 that she was already pregnant,

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 assuming it was with another man,

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 because he had mercy.

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 Theoretically, he could have almost had her stone.

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 Roman, you know, government

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 might have gotten in the way of that a little bit,

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 but people were stoned.

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 Look, Stephen's going to be stoned next week.

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 Well, two weeks from now.

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 In Acts 7 and 8, we're going to read all about that.

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 So there was stonings,

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 and Mary could have been subject to that.

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 But at the very least, a lot of ridicule, scorn,

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 and she would have just been kicked out of every synagogue.

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 But Joseph had mercy on her.

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 And he cared for her.

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 Then he says, you know what?

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 I'm not going to marry her,

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 but I'm just going to, you know,

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 just hide the fact that she's pregnant

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 and we'll see what happens.

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 I'm paraphrasing, of course.

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 But the angel came and told him,

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 no, this is of God.

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 But he was just going to put her away

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 because he had a lot of mercy.

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 And, you know, we also read about,

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 you can put that down, JT.

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 We also read about how Joseph, you know,

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 took Jesus out of Jerusalem

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 and he heard that Herod was killing all the babies.

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 And he actually brought him to Egypt

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 and kept them there for a while

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 until he was told it was okay to come back.

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 But then when he was coming back,

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 he said, oh, no, you know,

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 there's another mini-king.

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 Now that Herod's dead,

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 his son is in Jerusalem.

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 I can't go there either.

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 So he was very protective of Jesus.

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 You know, he was a protective father.

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 We could see that, you know.

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 And he shared a trade with Jesus.

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 He probably shared all,

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 I'll bet you James was probably a carpenter.

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 So my point is they learned a lot

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 from this earthly father.

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 They gained a lot,

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 just like we've all gained a lot

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 from our earthly fathers.

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 But no one can compare with our heavenly father

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 because he gives us the ultimate source of life.

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 He gives us our purpose.

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 So let's read James chapter one verse 17.

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 Every good gift and every perfect gift

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 is from above and comes down

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 from the father of lights

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 with whom there is no variation

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 or shadow of turning.

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 And we're gonna be piecing this verse apart.

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 But the first thing is every good gift

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 and every perfect gift.

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 You know, that word good means good.

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 It means it brings happiness.

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 It brings joy.

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 It's useful, that kind of thing.

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 But perfect is complete.

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 It's whole.

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 It satisfies.

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 That's that word for perfect.

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 And our father of lights,

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 he has every good and perfect gift.

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 You know, as a dad,

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 I like giving good gifts.

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 To my kids, you know,

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 and I always did when, you know,

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 when they were growing up,

264
00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,039
 depending on our financial situation,

265
00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:42,159
 sometimes they were better,

266
00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,860
 sometimes they were lesser, you know,

267
00:13:44,340 --> 00:13:45,620
 but, you know, when we could,

268
00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:48,159
 and some of those gifts brought a lot of fun.

269
00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,220
 Like I'm looking back at the swing set,

270
00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,179
 which we brought to two houses, you know,

271
00:13:53,220 --> 00:13:54,940
 and we had a lot of fun with that

272
00:13:54,940 --> 00:13:56,220
 until the woods took it over

273
00:13:56,220 --> 00:13:57,620
 and everything grew over it.

274
00:13:57,620 --> 00:13:58,159
 And then it was like,

275
00:13:58,220 --> 00:13:59,679
 yeah, no one wants to play on that thing.

276
00:14:00,139 --> 00:14:01,639
 Have you ever had one of them?

277
00:14:02,279 --> 00:14:04,080
 And then we had the trampoline.

278
00:14:04,620 --> 00:14:04,779
 Okay.

279
00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:05,700
 And that was fun.

280
00:14:05,799 --> 00:14:06,840
 And they would have all their kids

281
00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,179
 and too many kids got hurt on that thing.

282
00:14:09,419 --> 00:14:10,639
 But, but anyway, you know,

283
00:14:12,340 --> 00:14:13,240
 they like to live dangerous.

284
00:14:13,460 --> 00:14:14,179
 So they're all, you know,

285
00:14:14,220 --> 00:14:16,019
 and then finally the nets came down

286
00:14:16,019 --> 00:14:17,159
 and they broke apart.

287
00:14:17,460 --> 00:14:18,519
 Still they're bouncing.

288
00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:19,220
 I'm thinking, you know,

289
00:14:19,279 --> 00:14:21,320
 we should take that down someday.

290
00:14:21,919 --> 00:14:22,820
 And before you know it,

291
00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,299
 they're jumping off the deck

292
00:14:24,299 --> 00:14:25,659
 onto the trampoline

293
00:14:25,659 --> 00:14:27,279
 and then off onto the ground.

294
00:14:27,460 --> 00:14:28,379
 I'm like, all right, that's it.

295
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,639
 We got to disassemble this thing, right?

296
00:14:30,639 --> 00:14:32,559
 This is becoming too dangerous.

297
00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:34,379
 When we first,

298
00:14:34,580 --> 00:14:35,120
 when they're real little,

299
00:14:35,220 --> 00:14:37,100
 we moved to our new house

300
00:14:38,579 --> 00:14:41,440
 back in 2020, 2001.

301
00:14:42,539 --> 00:14:44,419
 And we had a lot of woods back there.

302
00:14:44,580 --> 00:14:45,559
 So I said, we got to get something right.

303
00:14:45,820 --> 00:14:47,639
 So I ended up getting them mini bikes,

304
00:14:47,919 --> 00:14:50,080
 you know, three mini bikes for three boys.

305
00:14:50,659 --> 00:14:51,820
 Morgan ended up riding it

306
00:14:51,820 --> 00:14:52,840
 more than Jake did.

307
00:14:53,299 --> 00:14:55,840
 But, and I'll never forget,

308
00:14:55,980 --> 00:14:56,600
 like we get them,

309
00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:57,360
 we bring them home.

310
00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:58,019
 It was a deal

311
00:14:58,019 --> 00:14:59,279
 because it was a package deal.

312
00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:01,000
 A little Pee Wee 50.

313
00:15:01,159 --> 00:15:02,940
 Anyone ever ride one of those things?

314
00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:04,320
 And a Pee Wee 80.

315
00:15:04,999 --> 00:15:06,480
 Two 80s and one 50.

316
00:15:06,980 --> 00:15:07,779
 So anyway, bring them home.

317
00:15:08,159 --> 00:15:08,860
 I'll never forget.

318
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,039
 It's that night.

319
00:15:10,580 --> 00:15:11,639
 It's in the middle of the night.

320
00:15:11,779 --> 00:15:12,480
 And they're only,

321
00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,480
 how old are they back in that day?

322
00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:16,179
 They're young.

323
00:15:16,399 --> 00:15:17,559
 They're maybe, I don't know,

324
00:15:18,139 --> 00:15:22,179
 eight, seven, and five or something.

325
00:15:22,179 --> 00:15:22,960
 You know, something like,

326
00:15:23,279 --> 00:15:24,100
 maybe a little older.

327
00:15:24,220 --> 00:15:25,559
 Anyway, I should have figured that out

328
00:15:25,559 --> 00:15:26,039
 ahead of time.

329
00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,019
 But they were little, right?

330
00:15:28,019 --> 00:15:29,460
 And it's in the middle of the night.

331
00:15:29,559 --> 00:15:30,139
 I'm waking up.

332
00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:31,039
 You ever do this and I'm suddenly,

333
00:15:31,179 --> 00:15:32,039
 am I an idiot?

334
00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,179
 Like I bought three motorcycles

335
00:15:35,179 --> 00:15:37,360
 for my little kids who never rode

336
00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,740
 a mini bike or anything motorized

337
00:15:39,740 --> 00:15:40,860
 before in their lives.

338
00:15:41,179 --> 00:15:42,679
 Like what a bad dad.

339
00:15:43,299 --> 00:15:44,840
 But you know, I already own them now.

340
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:45,620
 What am I going to do?

341
00:15:45,679 --> 00:15:46,799
 But they survived.

342
00:15:47,139 --> 00:15:47,700
 Praise the Lord.

343
00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:49,159
 They live.

344
00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,320
 But yeah, those are some fun gifts.

345
00:15:51,539 --> 00:15:52,559
 But you know, as time went on,

346
00:15:52,659 --> 00:15:54,840
 they needed to get better gifts.

347
00:15:55,820 --> 00:15:57,139
 More gifts that have

348
00:15:57,139 --> 00:15:58,740
 a more complete purpose.

349
00:15:59,659 --> 00:16:00,559
 Like education.

350
00:16:01,039 --> 00:16:02,820
 I started putting into their tap fund

351
00:16:02,820 --> 00:16:04,519
 and everything when I could, you know.

352
00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,000
 You know, for their education,

353
00:16:06,159 --> 00:16:07,259
 for college and all.

354
00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:09,379
 And even we shifted to, you know,

355
00:16:09,639 --> 00:16:10,440
 Christian school

356
00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:11,240
 because we just felt

357
00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,139
 it was better for them.

358
00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:13,840
 Not judging anyone who doesn't.

359
00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,139
 I'm just saying it was better

360
00:16:15,139 --> 00:16:17,100
 for our family.

361
00:16:17,659 --> 00:16:18,779
 But really investing.

362
00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:19,899
 And they might not have

363
00:16:19,899 --> 00:16:21,059
 seen that as a gift.

364
00:16:21,740 --> 00:16:24,220
 But it was much more impactful

365
00:16:24,220 --> 00:16:25,419
 for their lives

366
00:16:25,419 --> 00:16:26,620
 than the trampoline,

367
00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:27,559
 than the swing set,

368
00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:28,559
 or the minibikes.

369
00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:31,080
 Because they're important things, you know.

370
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:32,100
 But you know what?

371
00:16:32,259 --> 00:16:34,000
 The perfect gift we gave them.

372
00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,120
 The perfect gift we gave them

373
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,879
 is plugging them into a youth group.

374
00:16:42,139 --> 00:16:43,980
 Plugging them into missions trips.

375
00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,759
 Plugging them into church.

376
00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:49,659
 To Godly families.

377
00:16:50,580 --> 00:16:54,440
 To a community of believers.

378
00:16:55,059 --> 00:16:56,740
 So that they could really learn

379
00:16:56,740 --> 00:16:59,039
 the lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

380
00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,039
 Because that's eternal value there,

381
00:17:02,279 --> 00:17:02,559
 you know.

382
00:17:02,860 --> 00:17:04,220
 That's the perfect gift.

383
00:17:04,940 --> 00:17:05,839
 But in the end,

384
00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,299
 it comes from our heavenly Father.

385
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:08,920
 That perfect gift.

386
00:17:09,039 --> 00:17:11,880
 You know, my dad was a good guy, you know.

387
00:17:12,579 --> 00:17:14,440
 He taught me a lot of things.

388
00:17:14,619 --> 00:17:15,900
 He was the most humble guy.

389
00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,900
 He really was a humble man, you know.

390
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,180
 And not a man of many words.

391
00:17:20,779 --> 00:17:22,579
 But he just expressed, you know.

392
00:17:22,740 --> 00:17:23,740
 He just, his character

393
00:17:23,740 --> 00:17:27,599
 just expressed that he was a kind man, you know.

394
00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,299
 And he always had this love for me, you know.

395
00:17:31,319 --> 00:17:31,960
 No matter what.

396
00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,460
 And I needed a lot of love many times

397
00:17:34,460 --> 00:17:37,859
 when I did a lot of disappointing things growing up.

398
00:17:38,299 --> 00:17:40,099
 And I just never questioned, like,

399
00:17:40,140 --> 00:17:41,400
 he still loves me, you know.

400
00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:42,500
 He still loves me.

401
00:17:42,559 --> 00:17:45,960
 Even though I'm just not a lovable son many times.

402
00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:48,160
 And yet he still loved me.

403
00:17:48,220 --> 00:17:50,440
 And he demonstrated a lot of things to me.

404
00:17:50,599 --> 00:17:53,640
 He demonstrated like hard work, you know.

405
00:17:53,740 --> 00:17:57,819
 He demonstrated, again, like that patient, humble nature.

406
00:17:58,980 --> 00:18:03,660
 He demonstrated that work ethic and commitment.

407
00:18:04,579 --> 00:18:05,400
 And I'll be honest with you.

408
00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,819
 My mom and dad didn't have the best relationship

409
00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:09,759
 most of the time.

410
00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:10,619
 A lot of the time.

411
00:18:11,220 --> 00:18:13,319
 But there's never a question they're staying together.

412
00:18:14,339 --> 00:18:17,619
 Now they could have worked on the actual relationship.

413
00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:21,900
 But in that day, staying together was a big thing.

414
00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,339
 And even more so nowadays, right.

415
00:18:25,059 --> 00:18:26,099
 They stayed together.

416
00:18:26,279 --> 00:18:28,500
 He just had loyalty and dedication.

417
00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:30,319
 And I learned that from him.

418
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:31,420
 I really did, you know.

419
00:18:31,819 --> 00:18:34,259
 That type of like long suffering.

420
00:18:34,599 --> 00:18:37,220
 And sometimes with my mom, he needed some long suffering.

421
00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:39,119
 And she for him too.

422
00:18:39,660 --> 00:18:41,019
 But just that I learned those things.

423
00:18:41,220 --> 00:18:44,940
 But you know, and he even like taught me religion.

424
00:18:45,599 --> 00:18:47,559
 You know, I wouldn't say he taught me

425
00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:50,900
 that deep relationship with the Holy Spirit and everything.

426
00:18:50,900 --> 00:18:53,660
 But he did teach me religion and fear of God.

427
00:18:53,859 --> 00:18:54,539
 You want to meet him?

428
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:56,400
 He's not here today.

429
00:18:56,579 --> 00:18:58,200
 But I have some pictures of him.

430
00:18:58,539 --> 00:19:00,119
 But I just thought I'd show you a few

431
00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,740
 because I didn't even realize I could find any.

432
00:19:03,519 --> 00:19:05,079
 But there he is, okay.

433
00:19:06,019 --> 00:19:08,039
 Entering World War II, okay.

434
00:19:08,759 --> 00:19:10,579
 My dad, Connell Bonner.

435
00:19:11,019 --> 00:19:12,440
 He actually looks a lot like Jake.

436
00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:17,819
 And then the next slide is my dad and mom.

437
00:19:18,180 --> 00:19:19,299
 And there they are.

438
00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:24,480
 Getting married and then the next slide, I forget.

439
00:19:24,740 --> 00:19:27,480
 Okay, so that's my dad at Wildwood Beach

440
00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,880
 with my sister and third, my oldest brother.

441
00:19:32,259 --> 00:19:35,299
 Were you guys Wildwood goers in the day, you know?

442
00:19:35,579 --> 00:19:37,000
 That's the only place you went.

443
00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:44,140
 And then the next one is yours truly, right there.

444
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,440
 I'm Buddha, okay.

445
00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,480
 I'm the little pot belly guy, right there.

446
00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,019
 I was the youngest.

447
00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:53,500
 And there's my brother just above me.

448
00:19:53,539 --> 00:19:55,519
 We were about 15 months apart, Brian.

449
00:19:56,099 --> 00:19:57,359
 And there's my dad, you know.

450
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,480
 And so, you know, I'm just showing you these

451
00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,319
 just to put some skin on the game.

452
00:20:02,799 --> 00:20:06,579
 And then the next one is him and his dad, okay.

453
00:20:07,079 --> 00:20:10,619
 Now, my grandfather came over from Ireland

454
00:20:10,619 --> 00:20:12,700
 at the age of about 16.

455
00:20:13,539 --> 00:20:15,180
 He had to prove he had a job.

456
00:20:16,819 --> 00:20:19,839
 Prove he had a job to enter Ellis Island.

457
00:20:20,259 --> 00:20:21,839
 That's a thing you don't hear about too much anymore.

458
00:20:21,980 --> 00:20:23,859
 But anyway, that's another story.

459
00:20:25,319 --> 00:20:29,160
 And he was a blacksmith and he worked with iron.

460
00:20:29,859 --> 00:20:33,519
 And do you know, he shoeed the horses.

461
00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:34,819
 If Michelle's here, she's gonna say,

462
00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:35,859
 that's not how you say that.

463
00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:37,200
 She's a horse girl, right.

464
00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:41,960
 But he shoeed the horses of the trash trucks

465
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,140
 that took the trash in Philadelphia

466
00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:49,160
 all the way up until he was in his 70s.

467
00:20:49,279 --> 00:20:51,200
 He still, they went a long time.

468
00:20:51,299 --> 00:20:52,099
 There was like a couple left.

469
00:20:52,299 --> 00:20:56,400
 He was the last blacksmith of the horse shores

470
00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,160
 of the Philadelphia trash trucks.

471
00:20:59,660 --> 00:21:01,960
 So, and there's pictures of him like this.

472
00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,460
 It was like this bald guy, old man, bam, bam.

473
00:21:06,019 --> 00:21:08,480
 Holding this big Clydesdale or whatever horse

474
00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,740
 and just trying to squish him.

475
00:21:10,740 --> 00:21:15,720
 But my dad learned a work ethic from his dad.

476
00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,880
 And these are earthly valued things.

477
00:21:22,539 --> 00:21:24,720
 And then I have one last picture of him.

478
00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:25,240
 There he is.

479
00:21:25,579 --> 00:21:29,079
 So this is just before he passed away.

480
00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,759
 He was taken in a fatal car crash while I was up at Penn State.

481
00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:36,720
 And it was quite alarming.

482
00:21:37,019 --> 00:21:38,720
 You know, I was 20, got the phone call.

483
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:44,259
 And so that was, you know, this was right around the end there.

484
00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:47,220
 And he didn't know, you know, we never know.

485
00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:51,660
 But as long as he was alive, he invested everything

486
00:21:51,660 --> 00:21:55,220
 I believe he could to the best of his knowledge,

487
00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:57,019
 you know, the best of his ability.

488
00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:00,700
 And, you know, we just don't know how long we have.

489
00:22:01,619 --> 00:22:03,299
 And we really do need to invest,

490
00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:05,240
 whether they're a biological child

491
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,259
 or just people that need help and guidance.

492
00:22:08,259 --> 00:22:10,559
 We need to invest, you know.

493
00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:17,339
 You know, I had a little issue back in February.

494
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:20,500
 I'm running on a Planet Fitness treadmill.

495
00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,319
 And I pass out, okay.

496
00:22:23,779 --> 00:22:25,480
 Ended up I go to the hospital.

497
00:22:25,660 --> 00:22:30,059
 Ended up I find these things in my heart, these scarring.

498
00:22:30,220 --> 00:22:33,180
 I end up getting the defibrillator and pacemaker.

499
00:22:33,599 --> 00:22:35,019
 And I'm thinking, who is this guy?

500
00:22:35,140 --> 00:22:36,859
 I never knew this was going to be me, right?

501
00:22:36,859 --> 00:22:39,099
 And so ever since then, you know,

502
00:22:39,099 --> 00:22:40,880
 I have the device just in case.

503
00:22:41,319 --> 00:22:43,619
 But when I go out jogging, I still think, you know,

504
00:22:44,140 --> 00:22:46,279
 I wonder if that's going to happen again, right?

505
00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:47,940
 But, you know, God's got me.

506
00:22:48,220 --> 00:22:49,319
 So this morning I'm running.

507
00:22:49,339 --> 00:22:52,039
 I love when God gives you metaphors up to the last minute.

508
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,119
 And you could just keep editing, right?

509
00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:56,940
 But I'm jogging along this morning.

510
00:22:57,180 --> 00:22:59,519
 And as I'm jogging, I'm running up this road

511
00:22:59,519 --> 00:23:04,039
 and I see four turkey vultures in the middle of the road.

512
00:23:04,779 --> 00:23:06,599
 And I'm like, that's kind of weird.

513
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,200
 And so as I'm jogging towards them,

514
00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:11,039
 I'm like, well, they'll fly away soon.

515
00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,920
 Everybody's, every animal's afraid of man to some degree.

516
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,539
 I'm jogging, I'm getting closer and closer.

517
00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:18,160
 I'm like, they're not leaving.

518
00:23:18,539 --> 00:23:20,440
 This is really kind of creepy, right?

519
00:23:21,019 --> 00:23:25,559
 And then finally, I'm maybe 12 feet away, 13,

520
00:23:25,819 --> 00:23:29,460
 and two fly up in the air, but they start kind of hovering.

521
00:23:30,420 --> 00:23:32,160
 And I'm jogging and I'm like,

522
00:23:32,819 --> 00:23:35,779
 and I'm running like within five feet of these things.

523
00:23:35,779 --> 00:23:37,480
 And I'm like, and they're just staring at me like,

524
00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:38,859
 what the heck?

525
00:23:39,500 --> 00:23:40,779
 Where's the roadkill?

526
00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,700
 Like where's a party without a roadkill?

527
00:23:44,019 --> 00:23:46,920
 That's the only reason turkey vultures gather together

528
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,559
 is to eat the roadkill.

529
00:23:49,319 --> 00:23:52,519
 And as I'm jogging by, I thought of something funny.

530
00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:54,380
 Maybe they know something I don't.

531
00:23:56,339 --> 00:23:57,980
 I swear that happened.

532
00:23:58,420 --> 00:24:00,839
 I'm thinking, I got to plug that into this morning.

533
00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:02,460
 Because that seems funny to me.

534
00:24:02,779 --> 00:24:03,980
 I don't know if they'll get it.

535
00:24:03,980 --> 00:24:07,599
 But you just never know, you know?

536
00:24:07,940 --> 00:24:10,940
 But you know, life is short and we just have to invest.

537
00:24:11,759 --> 00:24:14,319
 But you know, Father God is the perfect God,

538
00:24:14,460 --> 00:24:15,779
 the Father of lights.

539
00:24:16,799 --> 00:24:18,420
 And He has the perfect gifts.

540
00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:19,599
 You know what He gives you?

541
00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,599
 In Ephesians 2.8, He gives you salvation.

542
00:24:23,799 --> 00:24:25,779
 For by grace you have been saved through faith.

543
00:24:25,980 --> 00:24:29,859
 That not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

544
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:30,339
 Amen.

545
00:24:30,980 --> 00:24:32,559
 Remember on Pentecost,

546
00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,180
 when Peter is giving this long speech

547
00:24:35,180 --> 00:24:36,140
 and suddenly they say,

548
00:24:36,220 --> 00:24:38,140
 what do we got to do to be saved?

549
00:24:38,599 --> 00:24:41,359
 And in Acts chapter 2, Peter says this,

550
00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:42,920
 if you have that JT, he says,

551
00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,980
 Repent, let every one of you be baptized

552
00:24:46,980 --> 00:24:48,480
 in the name of Jesus Christ

553
00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:49,940
 for the remission of sins

554
00:24:49,940 --> 00:24:51,619
 and you shall receive what?

555
00:24:52,380 --> 00:24:54,519
 The gift of the Holy Spirit.

556
00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:56,200
 Man, just that alone.

557
00:24:56,799 --> 00:24:58,759
 Salvation, the Holy Spirit.

558
00:24:58,839 --> 00:24:59,819
 We have everything we need.

559
00:25:00,339 --> 00:25:03,559
 We are empowered for an amazing life

560
00:25:03,559 --> 00:25:05,500
 down here and beyond.

561
00:25:06,940 --> 00:25:08,079
 And so that's the idea.

562
00:25:08,539 --> 00:25:09,440
 So let's read on.

563
00:25:09,940 --> 00:25:11,980
 Again, look at James 1.17.

564
00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:16,200
 And we're looking, why the Father of lights?

565
00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,099
 Every good and perfect gift is from above

566
00:25:19,099 --> 00:25:21,500
 and comes down from the Father of lights.

567
00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:22,619
 What is that all about?

568
00:25:22,759 --> 00:25:24,660
 Well, you know, God is light.

569
00:25:24,839 --> 00:25:26,180
 In Him there is no darkness.

570
00:25:26,319 --> 00:25:27,880
 One John 1.5, right?

571
00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:34,220
 And when He brings us into salvation,

572
00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:36,339
 we are born again.

573
00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:39,819
 We are born of light.

574
00:25:40,599 --> 00:25:42,039
 We become children of light.

575
00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:46,619
 I have a little menage of verses there, JT,

576
00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:47,759
 if you could put those three.

577
00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:49,420
 Ephesians 5a,

578
00:25:49,579 --> 00:25:50,980
 for you were once darkness

579
00:25:50,980 --> 00:25:53,640
 and now you are light in the world.

580
00:25:54,140 --> 00:25:55,700
 Walk as children of light.

581
00:25:56,540 --> 00:25:59,099
 Let your light so shine before men

582
00:25:59,099 --> 00:26:01,400
 that they may see your good works

583
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,220
 and glorify your Father in heaven.

584
00:26:04,740 --> 00:26:06,539
 And finally, Colossians 1.12,

585
00:26:07,339 --> 00:26:08,740
 giving thanks to the Father

586
00:26:08,740 --> 00:26:11,460
 who has qualified us to be partakers

587
00:26:11,460 --> 00:26:15,599
 of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

588
00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,960
 We are ambassadors of light.

589
00:26:19,599 --> 00:26:21,619
 The word says we wear the armor of light.

590
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,000
 We have the light in us, upon us.

591
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,380
 We are children of light.

592
00:26:26,579 --> 00:26:27,259
 Think about that.

593
00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:29,839
 Like we carry the light with us.

594
00:26:29,940 --> 00:26:33,579
 I was thinking, you ever go to a wedding

595
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,119
 and the bride and groom are ready

596
00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:40,400
 to come running out of the reception,

597
00:26:41,140 --> 00:26:43,740
 the sermon, the hall, whatever it is.

598
00:26:44,099 --> 00:26:46,180
 It's the smallest words I can't come up with.

599
00:26:46,619 --> 00:26:48,559
 But anyway, they're in that place.

600
00:26:48,819 --> 00:26:50,140
 They're in that place, right?

601
00:26:50,579 --> 00:26:51,799
 And everyone's lining up

602
00:26:51,799 --> 00:26:54,460
 and then they light the sparkler, okay?

603
00:26:54,779 --> 00:26:55,599
 And they're passing on

604
00:26:55,599 --> 00:26:57,079
 and everyone lights another sparkler,

605
00:26:57,279 --> 00:26:58,119
 another sparkler, and it's like,

606
00:26:58,200 --> 00:26:59,539
 and everyone's like, whoo, whoo, whoo.

607
00:26:59,759 --> 00:27:00,779
 And then they don't come out.

608
00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:02,920
 And you're like, come on.

609
00:27:03,019 --> 00:27:04,599
 I got this, it's about to burn my hand.

610
00:27:04,759 --> 00:27:05,220
 Where are you?

611
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:05,539
 Right?

612
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,440
 But then finally, they come out

613
00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:08,519
 and all the pictures and say,

614
00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,200
 but one sparkler lights the next sparkler.

615
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:15,000
 And it's a brilliant picture,

616
00:27:15,079 --> 00:27:17,559
 but eventually those sparklers go out.

617
00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,660
 The only eternal light

618
00:27:20,660 --> 00:27:22,140
 that we can have in us

619
00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:24,279
 is through the father of lights.

620
00:27:25,059 --> 00:27:29,680
 The Lord who puts his light in to us,

621
00:27:29,700 --> 00:27:31,119
 makes us like him.

622
00:27:31,460 --> 00:27:32,059
 You know, I was thinking about

623
00:27:32,059 --> 00:27:34,099
 another example of light,

624
00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,460
 how it passes on and on.

625
00:27:36,819 --> 00:27:39,140
 And I was thinking of fiber optic cable.

626
00:27:39,339 --> 00:27:40,119
 Do you know how that works?

627
00:27:41,019 --> 00:27:41,599
 Fiber optic cable.

628
00:27:41,740 --> 00:27:43,400
 I never realized it's literally light

629
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,140
 that travels through cables.

630
00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,140
 Some of you are like, no, duh, right?

631
00:27:47,539 --> 00:27:48,539
 But I didn't know that.

632
00:27:48,599 --> 00:27:50,640
 And I'm like, wow, that's really cool.

633
00:27:50,660 --> 00:27:53,660
 In the 1800s, they discovered this process

634
00:27:53,660 --> 00:27:56,119
 because they ran water through,

635
00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,240
 they ran light through water.

636
00:27:58,799 --> 00:28:00,579
 And as the water came out

637
00:28:00,579 --> 00:28:02,700
 and like a kind of an arc,

638
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,339
 the light followed the water

639
00:28:05,339 --> 00:28:06,900
 and they discovered this.

640
00:28:07,059 --> 00:28:07,259
 Wow.

641
00:28:07,619 --> 00:28:09,359
 And then eventually they put glass

642
00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:12,519
 into these cables and plastics.

643
00:28:12,740 --> 00:28:15,259
 And now in the 80s,

644
00:28:15,259 --> 00:28:16,759
 they ran the first cable

645
00:28:16,759 --> 00:28:18,599
 across the entire ocean.

646
00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,440
 And it all starts with one laser beam

647
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,559
 at the beginning of the cable.

648
00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:24,259
 Isn't that amazing?

649
00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,900
 Like so one laser beam goes in the front

650
00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:29,339
 and it just spreads and spreads

651
00:28:29,339 --> 00:28:31,220
 and goes out everywhere it goes

652
00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,920
 to bring a signal to wherever it's going,

653
00:28:35,180 --> 00:28:36,339
 to bring communication.

654
00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:37,640
 And that's like us.

655
00:28:37,799 --> 00:28:40,319
 We carry that light wherever we go

656
00:28:40,319 --> 00:28:41,819
 and it's his literal light.

657
00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:42,900
 We're not reflectors.

658
00:28:43,059 --> 00:28:44,339
 You know, I hear examples of like

659
00:28:44,339 --> 00:28:46,019
 the moon reflects the sun.

660
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,000
 Well, we're not just reflecting.

661
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:48,920
 We are.

662
00:28:49,619 --> 00:28:51,400
 We are the light of God.

663
00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,539
 You know, we are children of the light, right?

664
00:28:53,839 --> 00:28:56,460
 So that's who we are born to be

665
00:28:56,460 --> 00:28:58,859
 when we become born again.

666
00:28:59,740 --> 00:29:01,380
 You know, we need to know who we are.

667
00:29:01,779 --> 00:29:04,200
 I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts

668
00:29:04,659 --> 00:29:07,140
 this week, Think Biblically.

669
00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,039
 If you ever want to check it out,

670
00:29:09,140 --> 00:29:10,019
 it's really good.

671
00:29:10,220 --> 00:29:11,240
 It's Talbot University.

672
00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:12,579
 But anyway,

673
00:29:13,599 --> 00:29:15,319
 and I heard this interesting,

674
00:29:15,319 --> 00:29:18,099
 this interesting interview

675
00:29:18,759 --> 00:29:20,339
 and it was,

676
00:29:20,460 --> 00:29:22,900
 do you remember the Michael Jackson song,

677
00:29:23,099 --> 00:29:23,579
 Billie Jean?

678
00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:29,779
 Should we try it?

679
00:29:36,519 --> 00:29:37,700
 We're saying it good.

680
00:29:39,259 --> 00:29:39,839
 Well, all right.

681
00:29:40,039 --> 00:29:41,319
 I'm not going to,

682
00:29:41,319 --> 00:29:42,400
 I'm not going to moon dance.

683
00:29:42,559 --> 00:29:43,700
 If anyone knows how to,

684
00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:45,539
 you could try it right up the aisle here.

685
00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:46,599
 No, maybe not.

686
00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:47,200
 But like,

687
00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,160
 I could never moon dance.

688
00:29:49,319 --> 00:29:49,660
 Could you?

689
00:29:50,579 --> 00:29:51,180
 I couldn't even,

690
00:29:51,579 --> 00:29:52,200
 well, Jill could.

691
00:29:52,500 --> 00:29:52,720
 Okay.

692
00:29:52,819 --> 00:29:53,539
 But I couldn't.

693
00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:53,859
 Okay.

694
00:29:54,279 --> 00:29:55,099
 And I'm like, how do you,

695
00:29:55,220 --> 00:29:56,480
 anyway, it does whatever.

696
00:29:57,299 --> 00:30:00,859
 But, but Billie Jean is not my lover.

697
00:30:01,599 --> 00:30:02,980
 So, but Billie Jean,

698
00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:03,839
 I heard this interview

699
00:30:03,839 --> 00:30:05,839
 and it was with the daughter

700
00:30:05,839 --> 00:30:07,359
 of the real Billie Jean.

701
00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:07,980
 Okay.

702
00:30:08,079 --> 00:30:10,299
 Her name is Laneige Garrison.

703
00:30:11,019 --> 00:30:12,500
 And it was an amazing story.

704
00:30:12,660 --> 00:30:13,480
 You ever look her up

705
00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:14,420
 and she's,

706
00:30:14,420 --> 00:30:16,420
 she's amazing, amazing speaker.

707
00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:18,019
 She's born again.

708
00:30:18,299 --> 00:30:19,880
 She's like, has a doctorate.

709
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:20,700
 She's amazing, right?

710
00:30:21,059 --> 00:30:21,660
 I think a doctor,

711
00:30:21,819 --> 00:30:22,619
 but whatever.

712
00:30:23,140 --> 00:30:25,180
 But so she was telling the story

713
00:30:25,180 --> 00:30:26,240
 about how her mom,

714
00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:26,980
 unfortunately,

715
00:30:27,619 --> 00:30:28,660
 a beautiful lady,

716
00:30:28,740 --> 00:30:30,400
 but she was mentally ill.

717
00:30:30,859 --> 00:30:32,440
 And she thought her children,

718
00:30:33,079 --> 00:30:33,759
 three of them,

719
00:30:33,759 --> 00:30:36,740
 were all born by Michael Jackson.

720
00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:38,420
 He was the father of her children,

721
00:30:38,839 --> 00:30:39,900
 two twins and her.

722
00:30:39,980 --> 00:30:40,880
 She was the older one.

723
00:30:41,220 --> 00:30:42,779
 They were four years younger.

724
00:30:42,779 --> 00:30:45,500
 And so she would tell them all the time,

725
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:46,599
 Michael Jackson, he's going to,

726
00:30:46,619 --> 00:30:48,079
 you know, he's going to eventually,

727
00:30:48,079 --> 00:30:50,440
 you know, admit that you're his

728
00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:51,400
 and all this stuff.

729
00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:51,900
 And it's like,

730
00:30:52,359 --> 00:30:53,839
 and so it's really tragic,

731
00:30:53,839 --> 00:30:55,240
 the stories she told.

732
00:30:55,980 --> 00:30:57,380
 And they literally camped out

733
00:30:57,380 --> 00:30:59,099
 across the street from his mansion

734
00:30:59,099 --> 00:30:59,980
 outside of his gate

735
00:30:59,980 --> 00:31:01,839
 for two weeks one time.

736
00:31:02,220 --> 00:31:03,180
 And we're just waiting

737
00:31:03,180 --> 00:31:05,000
 for him to come out, you know?

738
00:31:05,259 --> 00:31:06,420
 And at one moment,

739
00:31:06,420 --> 00:31:07,900
 they saw a flash of someone

740
00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:08,819
 who was in disguise,

741
00:31:08,819 --> 00:31:10,220
 take off in a vehicle.

742
00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:12,400
 And they, and then she said,

743
00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:13,720
 that's him, that's him, you know?

744
00:31:14,180 --> 00:31:15,819
 But so finally,

745
00:31:16,380 --> 00:31:17,720
 she was in and out

746
00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:18,799
 of mental institutions.

747
00:31:19,220 --> 00:31:21,339
 She and her siblings

748
00:31:21,339 --> 00:31:25,460
 were in and out of foster care.

749
00:31:26,039 --> 00:31:26,619
 And eventually,

750
00:31:27,079 --> 00:31:29,900
 her aunt and uncle adopted her.

751
00:31:30,660 --> 00:31:32,759
 And they introduced her to the Lord.

752
00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:34,640
 And she got saved.

753
00:31:35,019 --> 00:31:37,920
 Meanwhile, her mom was Muslim.

754
00:31:39,059 --> 00:31:39,779
 And so was,

755
00:31:40,119 --> 00:31:41,839
 she didn't know her biological father

756
00:31:41,839 --> 00:31:43,359
 because she thought it was Michael Jackson.

757
00:31:44,039 --> 00:31:44,680
 But eventually,

758
00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:46,480
 she got adopted.

759
00:31:47,099 --> 00:31:48,759
 And she was introduced

760
00:31:48,759 --> 00:31:50,440
 to the father of lights

761
00:31:51,059 --> 00:31:53,019
 through these adoptive parents.

762
00:31:53,799 --> 00:31:54,619
 And it was awesome

763
00:31:54,619 --> 00:31:55,359
 because finally,

764
00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:57,400
 she felt like she belonged

765
00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:58,720
 all these years.

766
00:31:58,940 --> 00:32:00,019
 She figured it out, by the way.

767
00:32:00,180 --> 00:32:01,140
 She said, by the time

768
00:32:01,140 --> 00:32:02,180
 she was in like high school,

769
00:32:02,259 --> 00:32:03,779
 it's like, Michael Jackson

770
00:32:03,779 --> 00:32:04,420
 ain't my dad.

771
00:32:05,579 --> 00:32:07,059
 And I know my twins,

772
00:32:07,220 --> 00:32:08,240
 they're not from him either.

773
00:32:08,660 --> 00:32:10,059
 She figured it out, you know?

774
00:32:10,059 --> 00:32:12,559
 But it was just sad

775
00:32:12,559 --> 00:32:13,680
 because she see her mom

776
00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:15,180
 was locked up one time,

777
00:32:15,279 --> 00:32:16,079
 you know, on the news

778
00:32:16,079 --> 00:32:17,759
 and everything for all this.

779
00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:19,859
 But she always told

780
00:32:19,859 --> 00:32:22,440
 the wrong person was her father.

781
00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:23,900
 But then she had this

782
00:32:23,900 --> 00:32:24,819
 adoptive father,

783
00:32:25,019 --> 00:32:26,960
 but he wasn't really her father either.

784
00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:28,940
 The father of lights,

785
00:32:29,559 --> 00:32:30,559
 the heavenly father,

786
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,059
 that's her real dad.

787
00:32:33,759 --> 00:32:35,319
 And as she was talking about this

788
00:32:35,319 --> 00:32:36,579
 in the interview,

789
00:32:36,759 --> 00:32:38,200
 it was like so moving

790
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,920
 to think how inspiring

791
00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:41,960
 this lady is

792
00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,779
 in spite of her upbringing

793
00:32:43,779 --> 00:32:46,180
 and in spite of her past.

794
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,319
 And she just shared these things.

795
00:32:49,740 --> 00:32:50,460
 And then finally,

796
00:32:50,460 --> 00:32:51,779
 her biological father

797
00:32:51,779 --> 00:32:52,759
 reached out to her,

798
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:54,400
 a Muslim man with,

799
00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,400
 I think he had other wives and stuff,

800
00:32:56,539 --> 00:32:57,259
 reached out to her,

801
00:32:57,420 --> 00:32:57,759
 hey, you know,

802
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:00,380
 why don't you,

803
00:33:01,319 --> 00:33:02,460
 you know, come over

804
00:33:02,460 --> 00:33:03,900
 and maybe, you know,

805
00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:06,180
 maybe you can be part

806
00:33:06,180 --> 00:33:07,339
 of our faith too.

807
00:33:07,900 --> 00:33:10,859
 And we can be re-engaged

808
00:33:10,859 --> 00:33:11,559
 as a family.

809
00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:12,019
 And she's like,

810
00:33:12,019 --> 00:33:12,960
 are you kidding me?

811
00:33:13,660 --> 00:33:16,000
 Like after the way you've abandoned me,

812
00:33:16,039 --> 00:33:17,299
 you think I'm going back to that?

813
00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:19,279
 No, I belong

814
00:33:19,779 --> 00:33:21,259
 to the family of God.

815
00:33:21,460 --> 00:33:23,700
 I belong to the father of lights.

816
00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:25,319
 If you ever check her out,

817
00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:26,799
 it's just an amazing story.

818
00:33:27,519 --> 00:33:28,740
 You know, so let's look

819
00:33:28,740 --> 00:33:31,160
 at the rest of 17,

820
00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:32,640
 James 1 17.

821
00:33:34,180 --> 00:33:35,359
 Every good gift,

822
00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:36,740
 every perfect gift

823
00:33:36,740 --> 00:33:38,400
 is from above and comes down

824
00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:39,339
 from the father of lights

825
00:33:39,339 --> 00:33:42,000
 with whom there is no variation

826
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:43,859
 or shadow of turning.

827
00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:46,079
 The ESV, I like the version,

828
00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:46,559
 it says,

829
00:33:47,079 --> 00:33:48,660
 with whom there is no variation

830
00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:50,539
 due to change,

831
00:33:51,319 --> 00:33:52,559
 due to change.

832
00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:53,420
 In other words,

833
00:33:54,559 --> 00:33:56,059
 God never changes

834
00:33:56,660 --> 00:33:58,799
 his perspective of you.

835
00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,519
 His face is always shining down

836
00:34:02,519 --> 00:34:04,400
 upon you.

837
00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:06,319
 He always loves you.

838
00:34:06,879 --> 00:34:07,880
 Oh, they just did that.

839
00:34:08,079 --> 00:34:08,699
 All right, I'm going to turn

840
00:34:08,699 --> 00:34:09,260
 over here then.

841
00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:09,780
 I just can't.

842
00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:10,360
 I can't do this.

843
00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:11,780
 No, he's always looking.

844
00:34:12,500 --> 00:34:13,159
 It's a matter of

845
00:34:13,159 --> 00:34:14,460
 where are you looking?

846
00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:15,460
 You know, in fact,

847
00:34:15,559 --> 00:34:16,780
 they say when they talk

848
00:34:16,780 --> 00:34:18,199
 about the sun rise,

849
00:34:18,659 --> 00:34:19,980
 you know, the sun doesn't rise,

850
00:34:20,179 --> 00:34:21,079
 but that's what we say.

851
00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:21,659
 Oh, the sun.

852
00:34:21,780 --> 00:34:22,840
 Look at that beautiful sunrise.

853
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:24,739
 No, the earth is turning

854
00:34:25,259 --> 00:34:26,619
 towards the sun, right?

855
00:34:27,039 --> 00:34:28,260
 The sun never moves.

856
00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:29,460
 Well, if it moves,

857
00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:30,840
 it doesn't move around the earth.

858
00:34:31,059 --> 00:34:31,900
 That's for sure, right?

859
00:34:32,340 --> 00:34:33,739
 But it's the earth moving.

860
00:34:33,739 --> 00:34:36,300
 It's us turning into God's

861
00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,159
 wonderful shining face towards us.

862
00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:41,619
 He doesn't shift

863
00:34:42,419 --> 00:34:44,800
 based on our actions.

864
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:46,800
 He's always loving us.

865
00:34:46,980 --> 00:34:48,119
 No matter what,

866
00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:49,460
 he's always there.

867
00:34:49,659 --> 00:34:51,960
 He's always ready to love us.

868
00:34:53,340 --> 00:34:54,780
 You know, I love how

869
00:34:54,780 --> 00:34:57,139
 Jesus tells the parable

870
00:34:57,139 --> 00:34:59,659
 in Matthew 18,

871
00:35:00,139 --> 00:35:01,280
 how he talks about,

872
00:35:01,679 --> 00:35:02,579
 you know, this is like

873
00:35:02,579 --> 00:35:03,639
 the love of God.

874
00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:04,840
 And he says, what do you think?

875
00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:06,639
 If a man has a hundred sheep

876
00:35:06,639 --> 00:35:08,679
 and one of them goes astray,

877
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:10,940
 does he not leave the 99

878
00:35:11,599 --> 00:35:13,199
 and go to the mountains

879
00:35:13,199 --> 00:35:15,559
 to seek the one that is straying?

880
00:35:16,039 --> 00:35:17,440
 Even if he should find it,

881
00:35:17,519 --> 00:35:19,199
 assuredly I say to you,

882
00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,139
 he rejoices more over that sheep

883
00:35:22,139 --> 00:35:23,860
 than over the 99

884
00:35:23,860 --> 00:35:25,480
 that did not go astray.

885
00:35:26,099 --> 00:35:27,840
 Even so, it is not the will

886
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:28,679
 of your father

887
00:35:28,679 --> 00:35:29,739
 who is in heaven

888
00:35:29,739 --> 00:35:31,860
 that one of these little ones

889
00:35:31,860 --> 00:35:33,119
 should perish.

890
00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:35,639
 He's chasing after us.

891
00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,880
 You know, he's always going after us.

892
00:35:39,300 --> 00:35:41,579
 And when you see that picture though,

893
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,019
 I think about the prodigal son

894
00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,199
 because there's what could seem

895
00:35:51,199 --> 00:35:52,260
 like a contradiction

896
00:35:52,980 --> 00:35:54,760
 because God also compares

897
00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:56,239
 our relationship.

898
00:35:56,500 --> 00:35:57,539
 And I know it's more of Israel

899
00:35:57,539 --> 00:35:58,460
 being the older son

900
00:35:58,460 --> 00:36:00,219
 and Gentiles being the younger son.

901
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:01,159
 But let's just use

902
00:36:01,159 --> 00:36:02,539
 the parable for this purpose.

903
00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:08,280
 You know the prodigal son?

904
00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:09,420
 Parable, right?

905
00:36:09,539 --> 00:36:10,440
 So the younger son

906
00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,380
 just squanders his money, okay?

907
00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:13,139
 He says,

908
00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:14,780
 Dad, I want all my inheritance now.

909
00:36:15,079 --> 00:36:16,559
 He leaves, goes to a faraway land

910
00:36:16,559 --> 00:36:17,559
 and spends, spends, spends,

911
00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:19,219
 on all the debauchery

912
00:36:19,219 --> 00:36:20,119
 and everything else.

913
00:36:20,780 --> 00:36:21,360
 And then finally,

914
00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,559
 he's down to like working

915
00:36:23,559 --> 00:36:24,940
 as a slave basically

916
00:36:24,940 --> 00:36:26,900
 for this guy of that land.

917
00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:28,380
 And he's looking

918
00:36:29,099 --> 00:36:31,000
 and he's watching the pigs eat.

919
00:36:31,159 --> 00:36:31,900
 And he's like,

920
00:36:32,340 --> 00:36:35,179
 man, that month old broccoli

921
00:36:35,179 --> 00:36:36,780
 is looking real good right now.

922
00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:37,239
 You know what I mean?

923
00:36:37,300 --> 00:36:37,579
 He's like,

924
00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:39,820
 he's just yearning to have the pods,

925
00:36:40,059 --> 00:36:41,179
 whatever a pod is,

926
00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,380
 in that mud, that slop.

927
00:36:43,639 --> 00:36:43,920
 He's thinking,

928
00:36:44,139 --> 00:36:46,079
 that even looks good, right?

929
00:36:46,380 --> 00:36:47,420
 So he's just yearning.

930
00:36:47,539 --> 00:36:49,260
 He's that hungry and starving.

931
00:36:49,679 --> 00:36:52,119
 And he's just longing for anything.

932
00:36:52,260 --> 00:36:54,280
 But no one gave him anything,

933
00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:54,960
 the word says.

934
00:36:55,059 --> 00:36:55,940
 He didn't actually eat it.

935
00:36:55,980 --> 00:36:57,360
 He wasn't allowed, right?

936
00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:58,639
 And then finally,

937
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:00,239
 something came over him

938
00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:02,199
 and we read in Luke 15

939
00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:04,219
 that one version says

940
00:37:04,219 --> 00:37:05,639
 he came to his senses.

941
00:37:06,639 --> 00:37:07,500
 But most versions,

942
00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:09,139
 including King James version,

943
00:37:09,139 --> 00:37:11,360
 says he came to himself

944
00:37:12,780 --> 00:37:15,480
 when he came to himself.

945
00:37:16,460 --> 00:37:17,179
 Think about that.

946
00:37:17,900 --> 00:37:18,179
 He said,

947
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:19,820
 how many hired servants

948
00:37:19,820 --> 00:37:20,639
 of my fathers

949
00:37:20,639 --> 00:37:22,539
 have bred enough

950
00:37:22,539 --> 00:37:23,860
 and to spare

951
00:37:23,860 --> 00:37:26,340
 and I perish with hunger.

952
00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,300
 I will arise and go to my father

953
00:37:29,300 --> 00:37:30,760
 and will say to him,

954
00:37:30,940 --> 00:37:32,679
 father, I have sinned against heaven

955
00:37:32,679 --> 00:37:33,639
 and before you

956
00:37:33,639 --> 00:37:35,480
 and I am no longer worthy

957
00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:36,699
 to be called your son.

958
00:37:37,159 --> 00:37:38,280
 Make me like one

959
00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:40,000
 of your hired servants.

960
00:37:41,599 --> 00:37:43,519
 And so that's what he did.

961
00:37:43,639 --> 00:37:45,219
 But this came to himself.

962
00:37:45,539 --> 00:37:46,019
 Think about that.

963
00:37:46,380 --> 00:37:47,559
 He finally realized,

964
00:37:47,659 --> 00:37:49,260
 I don't belong here.

965
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:51,360
 I belong there.

966
00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:55,219
 I belong with my father.

967
00:37:55,380 --> 00:37:56,639
 You know, he was a great dad.

968
00:37:56,780 --> 00:37:57,460
 What am I, nuts?

969
00:37:58,280 --> 00:37:58,739
 Like, I thought

970
00:37:58,739 --> 00:38:00,920
 I was gonna find satisfaction,

971
00:38:01,380 --> 00:38:04,460
 joy and purpose away from him.

972
00:38:04,980 --> 00:38:06,400
 He is my satisfaction,

973
00:38:06,679 --> 00:38:08,519
 joy and purpose with him.

974
00:38:08,739 --> 00:38:10,460
 Like, he is the source

975
00:38:10,460 --> 00:38:11,679
 of all those things.

976
00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:13,519
 I have to go home.

977
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:15,840
 Now, he right away says,

978
00:38:16,019 --> 00:38:16,800
 but he probably won't,

979
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:19,219
 he even misunderstood

980
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,780
 the mercy of his father.

981
00:38:23,739 --> 00:38:25,239
 And I think a lot of people do that.

982
00:38:25,340 --> 00:38:26,400
 They fall away from God.

983
00:38:26,579 --> 00:38:28,099
 And I've seen this many times

984
00:38:28,099 --> 00:38:30,900
 that are in this pattern of repentance,

985
00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:32,440
 a pattern of repentance.

986
00:38:32,659 --> 00:38:34,440
 It's like, oh, I'm really screwed.

987
00:38:34,579 --> 00:38:36,760
 I'm on the drugs, the alcohol.

988
00:38:37,079 --> 00:38:37,900
 I'm going back

989
00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:39,539
 and I just have to do this

990
00:38:39,539 --> 00:38:40,820
 and I have to do that

991
00:38:40,820 --> 00:38:42,679
 and I just have to measure up

992
00:38:42,679 --> 00:38:44,380
 and how come you're not doing more?

993
00:38:44,559 --> 00:38:45,920
 You should be doing more.

994
00:38:46,219 --> 00:38:46,920
 And then all of a sudden,

995
00:38:46,980 --> 00:38:48,159
 they cave again.

996
00:38:48,380 --> 00:38:50,000
 They go back to all the other stuff

997
00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:51,159
 and they're doing all the things

998
00:38:51,159 --> 00:38:51,880
 and they're like,

999
00:38:52,019 --> 00:38:53,300
 they're finally going back again.

1000
00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:54,800
 Like, I just got to do more.

1001
00:38:55,159 --> 00:38:55,960
 I got to do more.

1002
00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:57,199
 I got to do more.

1003
00:38:57,199 --> 00:38:59,239
 And that's what religion is, by the way.

1004
00:38:59,599 --> 00:39:01,159
 And it's trying to purge yourself

1005
00:39:01,159 --> 00:39:02,760
 of the contamination

1006
00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,360
 of what you keep going back to.

1007
00:39:05,619 --> 00:39:06,900
 But it's not going to work.

1008
00:39:07,579 --> 00:39:08,719
 You have to die.

1009
00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:10,699
 You have to die.

1010
00:39:11,059 --> 00:39:12,480
 That person's dead.

1011
00:39:13,079 --> 00:39:16,099
 My life belongs with dad,

1012
00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:17,920
 with Abba's father.

1013
00:39:18,340 --> 00:39:19,940
 He's the father of lights.

1014
00:39:20,159 --> 00:39:21,940
 That's where I belong.

1015
00:39:22,780 --> 00:39:23,840
 And until we just say,

1016
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:25,360
 I'm dead.

1017
00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,619
 I want to go back to being really alive.

1018
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:30,019
 And we go back

1019
00:39:30,019 --> 00:39:30,960
 and that's the picture.

1020
00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:31,679
 He's saying,

1021
00:39:33,079 --> 00:39:34,280
 he came to himself.

1022
00:39:34,380 --> 00:39:35,619
 He says, I don't belong here.

1023
00:39:36,119 --> 00:39:37,019
 I belong there.

1024
00:39:37,179 --> 00:39:38,579
 But he's probably going to make me

1025
00:39:38,579 --> 00:39:39,139
 one of those things.

1026
00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:40,639
 But they're treated pretty good too.

1027
00:39:41,260 --> 00:39:42,159
 And he goes back

1028
00:39:42,159 --> 00:39:43,579
 and you know what happens?

1029
00:39:43,980 --> 00:39:44,679
 Dad's there.

1030
00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:46,960
 But he didn't go after him.

1031
00:39:48,380 --> 00:39:49,780
 He didn't go after him.

1032
00:39:50,619 --> 00:39:52,820
 But something told him to go home.

1033
00:39:53,700 --> 00:39:55,639
 And we know that's the Holy Spirit.

1034
00:39:56,179 --> 00:39:59,440
 The Holy Spirit draws people back.

1035
00:40:00,099 --> 00:40:01,860
 Even if he's not physically

1036
00:40:01,860 --> 00:40:03,260
 running after the people,

1037
00:40:03,380 --> 00:40:05,179
 the Holy Spirit is drawing.

1038
00:40:05,780 --> 00:40:08,440
 Drawing people to the Heavenly Father, right?

1039
00:40:08,940 --> 00:40:10,280
 And so he finally goes back

1040
00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:12,119
 and there's dad out on the porch

1041
00:40:12,119 --> 00:40:13,039
 seeing like,

1042
00:40:14,619 --> 00:40:16,860
 like, that's him.

1043
00:40:17,139 --> 00:40:20,920
 Like, look, like it says he was far off.

1044
00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:23,260
 And he went running.

1045
00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:26,039
 Dad went running towards him.

1046
00:40:26,679 --> 00:40:27,559
 And the sun starts saying,

1047
00:40:27,739 --> 00:40:28,619
 I am not worthy.

1048
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,280
 He just like smothered him,

1049
00:40:32,699 --> 00:40:33,719
 like kissed his neck.

1050
00:40:34,119 --> 00:40:34,860
 They were weeping.

1051
00:40:35,519 --> 00:40:37,059
 And he's like, go get the robe.

1052
00:40:37,260 --> 00:40:38,019
 Go get the ring.

1053
00:40:38,179 --> 00:40:39,239
 Go get the sandals.

1054
00:40:39,380 --> 00:40:40,460
 Go get the fatted cap.

1055
00:40:40,820 --> 00:40:42,400
 Worth throwing a party.

1056
00:40:43,159 --> 00:40:44,880
 Because my son who was lost

1057
00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:46,340
 is now found.

1058
00:40:46,659 --> 00:40:47,659
 Like, that's God.

1059
00:40:47,980 --> 00:40:49,239
 He doesn't turn away.

1060
00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:51,440
 You know, when his light is shining,

1061
00:40:51,639 --> 00:40:53,519
 if there's shadows in your life,

1062
00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:55,099
 it's not him who moved.

1063
00:40:55,940 --> 00:40:57,000
 You moved.

1064
00:40:57,780 --> 00:41:00,099
 His light is always upon you.

1065
00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:02,699
 His face is always shining upon you.

1066
00:41:03,179 --> 00:41:04,739
 It's not him who's moving away.

1067
00:41:05,300 --> 00:41:06,820
 It's you who's moving away.

1068
00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,519
 And he says, just turn towards my light.

1069
00:41:10,820 --> 00:41:13,199
 You remember when Cain killed Abel?

1070
00:41:13,699 --> 00:41:16,300
 That picture is so embedded in my head

1071
00:41:16,300 --> 00:41:18,619
 because, you know, he said to Cain,

1072
00:41:18,619 --> 00:41:20,940
 why has your countenance fallen?

1073
00:41:21,539 --> 00:41:23,920
 That meant his face was literally at the ground

1074
00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:25,320
 as God's talking to him.

1075
00:41:25,820 --> 00:41:28,400
 And he's saying, sin is creeping at the door.

1076
00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:29,659
 You don't want to let it have you.

1077
00:41:30,059 --> 00:41:31,519
 And just Cain is just like saying,

1078
00:41:32,119 --> 00:41:33,619
 I just can't look at you.

1079
00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:35,760
 You know, he has creatures.

1080
00:41:36,900 --> 00:41:39,000
 It's kind of a weird way to say that, isn't it?

1081
00:41:39,460 --> 00:41:40,800
 First fruits of his creatures.

1082
00:41:41,099 --> 00:41:42,239
 And it's literally not,

1083
00:41:43,159 --> 00:41:44,019
 it doesn't mean man.

1084
00:41:44,179 --> 00:41:44,900
 It means everything.

1085
00:41:45,219 --> 00:41:46,099
 Everything created.

1086
00:41:46,579 --> 00:41:47,579
 We're the first fruits.

1087
00:41:48,139 --> 00:41:51,960
 You know, God made man in his own image.

1088
00:41:52,820 --> 00:41:54,599
 In his image, he made man.

1089
00:41:54,719 --> 00:41:58,739
 You ever read that in Genesis 1, 27?

1090
00:41:59,219 --> 00:42:00,239
 It's a chiasm.

1091
00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:01,460
 You know what a chiasm is?

1092
00:42:01,900 --> 00:42:03,719
 It's kind of like A, B, B, A.

1093
00:42:03,820 --> 00:42:07,699
 It's like a point, a point, that last point again,

1094
00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:09,360
 and then the first point again.

1095
00:42:09,559 --> 00:42:11,199
 It's like a little algorithm.

1096
00:42:11,679 --> 00:42:14,780
 But the center of it is always the main purpose, image.

1097
00:42:14,780 --> 00:42:17,280
 We are the image of God.

1098
00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:20,880
 All humanity is the image of God.

1099
00:42:22,179 --> 00:42:27,320
 But you know, there's only few who are called children of God.

1100
00:42:28,679 --> 00:42:33,420
 Only those who receive him as their Lord and Savior.

1101
00:42:33,659 --> 00:42:37,880
 In fact, John 1, 12, 13 says this.

1102
00:42:38,039 --> 00:42:40,659
 He says, but as many as received him to them,

1103
00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:43,800
 he gave the right to become children of God.

1104
00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:45,920
 To those who believe in his name,

1105
00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:50,039
 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,

1106
00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:52,880
 nor of the will of man, but who?

1107
00:42:53,739 --> 00:42:54,519
 But of God.

1108
00:42:54,980 --> 00:42:58,159
 You know, it's his will that you be saved.

1109
00:42:58,699 --> 00:43:00,500
 But you must receive him.

1110
00:43:01,199 --> 00:43:03,320
 You know, not everyone are children of God.

1111
00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:05,599
 I hear a lot of people erroneously say that.

1112
00:43:05,679 --> 00:43:06,920
 Well, we're all children of God.

1113
00:43:07,039 --> 00:43:07,719
 Well, who's all?

1114
00:43:08,519 --> 00:43:09,099
 Who's we?

1115
00:43:09,099 --> 00:43:14,519
 You know, only those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ

1116
00:43:14,519 --> 00:43:17,000
 as their Lord and Savior, and they die

1117
00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:18,960
 and are brought back to life.

1118
00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:20,900
 They are children of God.

1119
00:43:21,079 --> 00:43:22,780
 The others are actually, in some cases,

1120
00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:24,420
 referred to children of the devil.

1121
00:43:25,099 --> 00:43:26,659
 They're still apart from God.

1122
00:43:26,780 --> 00:43:28,559
 I mean, that's scary.

1123
00:43:29,199 --> 00:43:31,500
 We have to be right with God.

1124
00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:33,500
 And I just want to encourage right now.

1125
00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:37,639
 You know, he wants to adopt us.

1126
00:43:37,639 --> 00:43:42,599
 I love these verses, Galatians 4, 15, and Ephesians 1, 5,

1127
00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:47,559
 which says, to redeem those under the law

1128
00:43:47,559 --> 00:43:51,079
 that we might receive adoption to sonship.

1129
00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:53,619
 You know, five times adoption is mentioned,

1130
00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:56,320
 and every time after it says to sonship.

1131
00:43:56,380 --> 00:43:58,139
 That means to daughtership too.

1132
00:43:58,699 --> 00:44:04,800
 But every time he predestined us for adoption to sonship

1133
00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:06,639
 through Jesus Christ in accordance

1134
00:44:06,639 --> 00:44:08,360
 with his pleasure and will.

1135
00:44:08,780 --> 00:44:11,940
 You know, nobody was born into this.

1136
00:44:13,579 --> 00:44:15,219
 We need to be adopted.

1137
00:44:17,059 --> 00:44:18,199
 And you can only be adopted

1138
00:44:18,199 --> 00:44:20,440
 if you're ready to die to your old self

1139
00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:22,500
 and be alive in Jesus Christ.

1140
00:44:23,219 --> 00:44:25,659
 And so we might as well give an altar call now.

1141
00:44:26,300 --> 00:44:28,800
 Not an altar come up, unless you want to.

1142
00:44:28,900 --> 00:44:29,380
 That would be awesome.

1143
00:44:30,539 --> 00:44:33,699
 But invite you to receive the Lord Jesus Christ

1144
00:44:33,699 --> 00:44:34,360
 as your Savior.

1145
00:44:34,599 --> 00:44:35,699
 It's just time.

1146
00:44:36,260 --> 00:44:37,619
 Like, what are you waiting for?

1147
00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:38,340
 The vultures?

1148
00:44:39,139 --> 00:44:41,119
 Yeah, don't wait for them.

1149
00:44:41,579 --> 00:44:43,960
 You know, don't wait for the car accidents.

1150
00:44:45,599 --> 00:44:47,300
 You know, I mean, you know,

1151
00:44:47,380 --> 00:44:49,179
 how I wish I would have known that

1152
00:44:49,179 --> 00:44:50,400
 before that would have like

1153
00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:53,119
 changed my relationship with my dad, for sure.

1154
00:44:54,179 --> 00:44:55,219
 But I wasn't saved.

1155
00:44:55,480 --> 00:44:58,980
 And I hope he was to some level of

1156
00:44:59,620 --> 00:45:00,619
 being with the Lord.

1157
00:45:00,820 --> 00:45:01,539
 I'll know someday.

1158
00:45:01,940 --> 00:45:04,079
 But, you know, I can't figure that out.

1159
00:45:04,219 --> 00:45:04,659
 Neither can you.

1160
00:45:04,659 --> 00:45:06,480
 Don't worry about who's not here anymore.

1161
00:45:07,199 --> 00:45:08,800
 You can't fix the past.

1162
00:45:10,159 --> 00:45:12,619
 We have to make sure our destiny,

1163
00:45:12,820 --> 00:45:15,760
 our future is secure in Jesus Christ.

1164
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:16,860
 That's all we can deal with,

1165
00:45:16,900 --> 00:45:18,360
 is the now and the future.

1166
00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:20,019
 The past is past.

1167
00:45:20,980 --> 00:45:23,500
 Don't let the past decide your destiny.

1168
00:45:24,380 --> 00:45:25,440
 You know, we're looking forward.

1169
00:45:25,860 --> 00:45:26,780
 We can't look back.

1170
00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,480
 A lot of people refuse to receive

1171
00:45:29,480 --> 00:45:30,960
 the truth of the gospel

1172
00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:33,099
 because they don't want to even consider

1173
00:45:33,739 --> 00:45:35,940
 those who have already passed away

1174
00:45:35,940 --> 00:45:37,139
 are not with the Lord.

1175
00:45:37,619 --> 00:45:38,719
 Well, why figure that out?

1176
00:45:39,559 --> 00:45:40,559
 Don't worry about it.

1177
00:45:40,559 --> 00:45:41,679
 That's God's problem.

1178
00:45:42,300 --> 00:45:43,340
 That's humanity's problem.

1179
00:45:43,420 --> 00:45:44,199
 That's not your problem.

1180
00:45:45,139 --> 00:45:47,179
 You worry about you.

1181
00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:48,800
 It's the same thing with that island thing.

1182
00:45:48,940 --> 00:45:49,619
 Oh, what about the island?

1183
00:45:50,119 --> 00:45:51,260
 Why don't you worry about you?

1184
00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:52,139
 Okay.

1185
00:45:52,579 --> 00:45:54,159
 You need to be right with God.

1186
00:45:54,619 --> 00:45:55,239
 So let's pray.

1187
00:45:55,500 --> 00:45:58,380
 Father God, I know I'm a sinner

1188
00:45:58,980 --> 00:46:00,860
 and I know I need a Savior.

1189
00:46:02,059 --> 00:46:05,679
 So, Lord, I want to surrender myself to you today

1190
00:46:05,679 --> 00:46:08,059
 to receive a new life,

1191
00:46:08,699 --> 00:46:11,159
 to become a child of life.

1192
00:46:11,860 --> 00:46:14,619
 In Jesus' name, amen.

1193
00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:16,780
 You know, one last thing.

1194
00:46:17,199 --> 00:46:18,860
 When you're going to watch the fireworks,

1195
00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:21,579
 if you go to see them on July 4th,

1196
00:46:21,659 --> 00:46:25,660
 I'll never forget this amazing, amazing message

1197
00:46:26,500 --> 00:46:27,440
 that Chuck Smith,

1198
00:46:27,619 --> 00:46:29,260
 the founder of Calvary Chapel,

1199
00:46:29,820 --> 00:46:32,000
 gave one time and he said,

1200
00:46:32,159 --> 00:46:34,639
 you know, when you go to see the fireworks,

1201
00:46:34,940 --> 00:46:37,460
 right, and you put out your chair,

1202
00:46:37,599 --> 00:46:38,079
 your blanket,

1203
00:46:38,199 --> 00:46:40,179
 you're watching these brilliant boom,

1204
00:46:40,380 --> 00:46:41,400
 boom, boom, right?

1205
00:46:41,940 --> 00:46:42,780
 And then the finale,

1206
00:46:43,019 --> 00:46:44,119
 it's like, wow, you know,

1207
00:46:44,340 --> 00:46:45,280
 it's, they're gorgeous.

1208
00:46:45,500 --> 00:46:46,119
 They're beautiful.

1209
00:46:47,619 --> 00:46:49,219
 But then when they're all done,

1210
00:46:51,219 --> 00:46:52,639
 everyone starts packing up

1211
00:46:52,639 --> 00:46:53,960
 getting their stuff.

1212
00:46:54,159 --> 00:46:55,360
 It's all over now and they start

1213
00:46:55,360 --> 00:46:57,619
 going back to the car,

1214
00:46:58,260 --> 00:47:00,800
 and the smoke is still covering everything,

1215
00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:02,380
 but then it starts to drift away.

1216
00:47:03,420 --> 00:47:04,139
 And what do you see?

1217
00:47:05,460 --> 00:47:08,719
 The stars, the stars.

1218
00:47:09,679 --> 00:47:11,960
 You know, we are children of light

1219
00:47:11,960 --> 00:47:12,920
 in the darkness

1220
00:47:12,920 --> 00:47:14,519
 and we never burn out.

1221
00:47:15,619 --> 00:47:16,679
 Fireworks are here today

1222
00:47:16,679 --> 00:47:17,500
 and going tomorrow.

1223
00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,300
 The lights of this world are temporary,

1224
00:47:20,519 --> 00:47:21,780
 but the father of lights,

1225
00:47:21,960 --> 00:47:23,059
 he is eternal.

1226
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:25,579
 His gifts are eternal.

1227
00:47:25,579 --> 00:47:27,820
 He is the one who fixes everything.

1228
00:47:28,019 --> 00:47:30,000
 He is the one that provides everything.

1229
00:47:30,320 --> 00:47:32,400
 He is the one that protects everything.

1230
00:47:32,659 --> 00:47:34,599
 He is the one with all the answers.

1231
00:47:35,019 --> 00:47:37,719
 He's the father we've always wanted

1232
00:47:38,460 --> 00:47:40,139
 and we can have him.

1233
00:47:40,780 --> 00:47:40,940
 Amen.

1234
00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:43,420
 Let's give the Lord a round of applause.

1235
00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:52,800
 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church

1236
00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:53,960
 as we praise God

1237
00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:55,320
 and discuss His word.

1238
00:47:55,880 --> 00:47:57,260
 Don't forget to join us

1239
00:47:57,260 --> 00:47:59,079
 for Worship Live Sunday mornings

1240
00:47:59,079 --> 00:48:01,480
 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube.

1241
00:48:02,539 --> 00:48:04,579
 Be blessed and have a great day!