>>> GOOD MORNING. IT'S FRIDAY, APRIL 24th, AND OUR JOINING US LIVE FROM LIBERTY UNIVERSITY'S CONVOCATION. ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING SEASON FOR ALL OF US, I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT IN YEARS TO COME, MANY OF US WILL LOOK BACK AND REALIZE THAT THIS TIME OF PRUNING HAS ULTIMATELY MADE ALL OF US BETTER. IT'S MADE US BETTER AT LOVING ONE ANOTHER, BETTER AT SERVING,, AT GIVING, AND GROWING, AT RESTING, BETTER ADD LISTENING AND DOING. IT'S ALSO MADE US MORE THANKFUL, MORE APPRECIATIVE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M MORE THANKFUL THAN EVER FOR THE THINGS THAT BEFORE ALL OF THIS I TOOK FOR GRANTED. THIS IS NOT JUST TRUE FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT AS THE CHURCH. IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO SEE CONGREGATIONS AROUND THE WORLD THAT DISCOVERED WHAT THEY FORGOT THEY HAD. THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. NOT JUST STRIVE, BUT THRIVE ON SUNDAYS. HOW CHURCHES CAN DELIVER SERMONS AND SONGS THROUGH THE INTERNET AND TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND SERVE LIKE WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. SURE, WE'RE ALL HUMAN, SO AT FIRST IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF CHURCH LEADERS WERE ASKING THIS QUESTION HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS. QUICKLY THE CHURCH RERECALENDAR OPERATED AND REALIZED THE BIGGER QUESTION WAS HOW IS GOD GOING TO USE US DURING THIS. ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED TO US BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC THAT WEREN'T AFFORDED TO US IN THE PAST, HOW DO WE NOT WASTE A MOMENT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE OPEN AND ASKING QUESTIONS THAN EVER BEFORE WHEN IT PERTAINS TO THE GOSPEL. THE TRUTH IS THAT IN SOME WAYS, I'M LONGING TO GET BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC, BUT IN SOME OTHER WAYS I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK. I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS SEASON AND SAY I GREW FROM IT. THERE WERE MISTAKES I MADE BEFORE THAT I WON'T HAVE TO MAKE BEFORE. THERE WERE MOMENTS WHAT I WAS NOT A GOOD STEWART OF WHAT I HAD AND BEYOND THIS PANDEMIC I'M GOING TO BE A BETTER STEWART OF. THIS IS WHY WE WANTED TO SIT DOWN WITH PASTOR LOUIE GIGLIO FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA. HE'S NOT A GREAT TEACHER, HE'S ALSO A GREAT LEARNER. I WANT TO ASK HIM HOW HE LEARNED AT HO -- AND NOT JUST APPLY IT THROW HIS LIFE, BUT THROW HIS CHURCH, PASSION CITY CHURCH, THROUGH THE GENERATIONS. LET'S ASK HIM TOGETHER. THANKS FOR BEING PART OF THIS WITH US. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NO STRONGER TO OUR STUDENTS. THEY LOVE YOU. YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE FOR CONVOCATIONS, CONVO SELECT. THANKS AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. >> I HAVE THRILLED TO BE HERE, DAVID, AND LIBERTY WAS THE NUMBER ONE REPRESENTATIVE AT MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM THIS YEAR. I KNOW YOU AND JEN WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE IF NOT FOR THE JOURNEY YOU WERE GOING THROUGH WITH BEN. AGAIN, ALL OF US IN THE LIBERTY FAMILY LOVE YOU GUYS, WE ARE WITH THAT FAMILY AND WE ARE CELEBRATING WITH THIS LIFE AND THE LIFE FOR ALL OF THE LIBERTY FAMILY AND EVERYBODY WHO KNOWS YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING LOVE I DEMONSTRATED. I LOVE LIBERTY, SO THANKS FOR BEING ONBOARD TODAY. >> LET ME SAY, SPEAKING OF BEN JOE, HE LOVED YOU. YOU GUYS WERE SO KIND TO HIM. WE WERE GOING TO BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT WE COULDN'T BECAUSE OF HIS HEALTH. THE GOOD NEWS ON THAT WAS NOT JUST JENNIFER AND I, BUT BENJI JOINED US AND WATCHED. AGAIN, SO THANKFUL FOR YOU. HOW ARE YOU AND SHELLY DOING? THE REASON I ASK THIS IS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING ARE ALL OF A SUDDEN SPENDING NINE TO FIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WITH THEIR SPOUSE. A LOT OF THEM DON'T WORK TOGETHER. YOU DON'T JUST LIVE TOGETHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER AND VACATION TOGETHER, YOU WORK TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. SO IN ONE SENSE, THIS IS NOT THE NEW NORMAL, THIS IS THE NORMAL, BUT NEW DYNAMICS AS WELL. TALK TO US ABOUT JUST YOUR MARRIAGE, YOU GUYS AS INDIVIDUALS BEING LOOKED IN THE HOUSE TOGETHER. I KNOW THERE'S THREE OF YOU, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE DOG. >> WE'RE DOING GOOD. WE'VE HAD 33 YEARS HONESTLY OF PREPARATION AND ISOLATION FOR GLOBAL LOCK-DOWN. WE WORK TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. I'M IN ONE OFFICE, SHE'S IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING IN ANOTHER OFFICE. OUR LIVES CROSS PATHS AND IT'S GOOD. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET STUCK AT HOME FOR AWHILE, SHELLY IS A PRETTY GOOD PERSON TO GET STUCK WITH. WE'VE BEEN BUSY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING, DOING A LOT OF GATHERINGS FROM HERE, AT THE BUILDING WE'RE DOING A LOT OF LOCAL ENGAGEMENT, SO WE'RE NOT CONFINED TO THE FOUR WALLS EVERYDAY. WE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF PREP TIME FOR IT. I HAVE GOTTEN ON HER NERVES A COUPLE TIMES, BUT THAT'S NORMAL. [ LAUGHTER ] >> , SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING PRETTY GOOD. SHE'S AN AMAZING LEADER. SHE'S SUPERSMART, INCREDIBLY DECISIVE, BUT SHE TURNS OUT AS A FABULOUS COOK ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT AND THAT HAS REALLY COME OUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I'M AT MY QUARANTINE WEIGHT RIGHT NOW, DAVID. >> YOU AND ME BOTH, MAN. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I FIND MYSELF ALL OF A SUDDEN IN A LOT MORE AT MEETINGS, MEETINGS THAT HAPPEN ONLINE, ON THE PHONE, FACETIME OR SKYPE AND SHE'S ALL OF A SUDDEN PIPING IN THIS MY MEETING. PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM HER PRESENCE. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M HAVING TO -- WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE GETTING LIKE TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE, YOU KNOW. >> THIS IS TRUE FOR MOST PASTORS. IT'S A NEGATIVE IT'S GOING TO CORRECT FOR US GOING FORWARD. I HAVE A STUDY IN MY HOUSE. WE HAVE A POOR STORY TOWNHOUSE KIND OF THING. UP ON THE TOP I'VE GOT A STUDY. BUT SHELLY AND MOST PASTOR'S WIVES DON'T GET A STUDY. SHELLY HONESTLY BARELY HAS A SHELF OR -- A DESK OR EVEN A SHELF. THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. FOR ALL OF THE LADIES, AMEN. SHELLY HAS TURNED OUR KITCHEN ISLAND INTO HER STUDY. SO EVERY ZOOM CALL, SKYPE, SHE'S ON -- I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THIS OR NOT, WITH ABOUT 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN MINISTRY AND THEY JUST ARE PRAYING HEAVEN DOWN. IT'S NOT ONLINE, NOBODY KNOWS IT'S GOING ON. THEY ARE JUST PRAYING LIKE CRAZY. I MEAN, I AM IN IT. I'M IN IT FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR EVEN THOUGH SHE'S FOUR BELOW AT THE KITCHEN COUNTER AND EVERY CALL, CONVERSATION, WHATEVER, I AM IN IT AND THEY'RE GETTING A STUDY. >> A WOMAN CAVE. >> YEAH. >> TALK TO BUS THE CHURCH. IT'S BEEN SO ENCOURAGING TO FOLLOW YOU AND FOLLOW CHRISTIAN -- SO MANY OF YOUR MEXICO THAT ARE PRETTY MISERABLE AND PART ABOUT PASSION CITY IN BETWEEN SUNDAYS, MORE THAN JUST A GATHERING THAT IS ONLINE NOW. THE WHOLE CHURCH IS PRETTY -- HAS PRETTY MUCH TURNED INTO A DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN ONE SENSE. TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS ARE MINISTERING THROUGH THIS MOMENT IN YOUR LOCAL CONTEXT. >> WELL, WE FOUND THAT THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT. AND DAVID, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST. JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT THE NEW WINE AND A NEW WINE SKIN. IN A TIME LIKE THIS YOU FIGURE OUT IF YOU HAVE NEW WIN SKINS OR NOT OR YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. EVEN PHYSICALLY WE'RE IN AN OLD HOME DEPOT EXPO DESIGN CENTER. WE'RE IN 120,000 SQUARE FEET, OUR FLOORS ARE POLISHED CONCRETE, YOU CAN DRIVE A TRUCK PRACTICALLY THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND IT'S A PERFECT SETUP FOR TIMES LIKE THESE. WE'RE CENTRALLY LOCATED, RIGHT IN THE CITY, RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE, WE'RE VERY VISIBLE AND WE JUST IMMEDIATELY WERE LIKE, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE, HAVING AS YOU ARE, AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL. UNLIKE EVERYTHING WE'VE EVER DREAMED OF, THE REACH OF THE GOSPEL IS AMAZING. BUT JUST TO REACH TO THE CITY. ON ANY GIVEN TODAY LIKE TODAY WHEN I PULLED IN TO DO THIS CALL, BUT WE HAVE A COVID-19 TESTING CENTER IN OUR PARKING LOT, A CAR WAS PULLING IN, SOMEONE TO HAVE A TEST DONE YESTERDAY. WE HAD A FOOD PANTRY DROP-OFF DAY IN THE MORNING, WE HAD HUNDREDS OF CARS COMING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, WE HAVE A BLOOD DRIVE ON ANOTHER DAY, A DROP-OFF AREA FOR PEOPLE SEWING MASKS, DELIVERING HUNDREDS OF MEALS, MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS OF MEALS TO FOUR HOSPITAL FRONT-LINE WORKERS, COVID UNITS, ICU UNITS. I GOT TO DO A FEW OF THOSE YESTERDAY, ACTUALLY SPEND A FEW MINUTES WITH THE NURSES AS THEY COME DOWN TO TAKE THE DELIVERS. WE JUST ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO WHAT JESUS SAID, WHICH IS LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THIS IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. >> RIGHT. >> LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELVES, PART OF LOVING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. WE ARE DOING THAT. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A GREAT SETUP FOR IT. OUR TEAM HAS BEEN GAME FOR IT. IT'S ALL VERY SAFE. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OUR MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, BELIEVE, AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED, BUT WE WANT TO BE A LIGHTHOUSE RIGHT NOW. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THAT IS WHEN THE CHURCH NEEDS TO BE BRIGHT. THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE. >> JUST TO AFFIRM YOU, A LOT OF TIMES CHURCHES ON COME INTO THESE KIND OF MOMENTS AND THEY LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES AND GO, HOW DO WE GET STARTED, A CONVERSATION WITH A GOVERNOR WE DON'T KNOW, OR WITH A CHEF WHO RUNS RESTAURANTS IN TOWNS THAT WE DON'T KNOW. WE WANT TO DO THINGS WITH THE HOSPITAL, BUT WE'VE NEVER -- HOW DO WE BEGIN TO BUILD A BRIDGE OF COMPLETING THE CALL, WHEREAS YOU HAVE SO MANY OF THESE THINGS PLUMBING LINED, SO MANY OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SO YOU CAN GET GOING QUICKER ON SOME OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SATISFYING THE COMMUNITY LONG BEFORE THIS, RIGHT? >> WE HAVE A WEEK IN THE SUMMER, WE DO SERVE THE COMMUNITY YEAR-ROUND, BUT WE HAVE A WEEK IN THE SUMMER CALLED LOVE ATLANTA, WHERE FIVE, SIX, 7,000 PEOPLE ARE GIVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS AND HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS WITH HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS. KIND OF ON A KALE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR GLOBAL TEAMS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN IT. THAT WEEK CHEFS GOT MOVED UP. INSTEAD OF LOVE ATLANTA HAVING IN JUNE, LOVE ATLANTA STARTED HAPPENING SIX WEEKS AGO AND WE JUST SHIFTED GEARS. I THINK THE THING ABOUT TIMES LIKE THESE, DAVID, IS THAT THEY HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW GOOD YOUR TRANSMISSION WORKS AND WHAT KIND OF LINK EDGE YOU HAVE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. THE CHURCH IS MEANT TO FLEX AND FLOW. I CAN'T DICTATE WHAT THE CURRENT IS GOING TO BE. I HAD ZERO INPUT IN WHETHER WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC OR NOT, BUT I CAN DETERMINE HOW WE STEER THE FLOAT AND STEER THE CURRENT. SO THE CHURCH HAS GOT TO -- IT WAS DESIGNED TO FLEX AND FLOW. NEW WINE, NEW WINE SKINS, FLEX AND FLOW. FLEX AND FLOW. BOB AND WEAVE, IF YOU WILL. WHAT THE CHURCH TURNED INTO WAS A PROGRAM ON A SCHEDULE, COME TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK WHEN JESUS COMES. FOR US I THINK IT'S JUST BEEN GOOD TO SAY HEY, LOVE ATLANTA, WE -- I KNOW I'M GOING LONG ON THIS, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH ENERGY OUR TEAM HAS SPENT IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS PLANNING FOR JUNE. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SAY HEY, ALL THAT IS UP FOR GRABS. THIS IS THE NEW REALITY AND THIS IS THE NEW OPPORTUNITY. LET'S SHIFT GEARS. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY COMMITTED TO NOT FURLOUGHING OUR TEAM AT LEAST FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHOSE JOBS KIND OF PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, REDEPLOYING, WE'RE SERVING THE CITY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE MAIN THING WE'RE DOING, LET'S GET INVOLVED. I LOVE IT. >> SPEAKING OF FLEX AND FLOW, I GET TO ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN SO OPEN IN OTHER CONVERSATIONS GLOBALLY ABOUT JUST MAYBE LOOKING BACK IN HINDSIGHT, FISHING -- WISHING YOU'D DONE SOME THINGS DIFFERENTLY, YOU AS A CHURCH. TALK TO US ABOUT THAT. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS, IF YOU COULD GO BACK, THINGS YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY AS A CHURCH LEADER AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THAT FOR FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES. >> I THINK THE MAIN THING, IT'S FUNNY, I MENTIONED IT TO SOMEONE IN OUR CHURCH, THEY SHOT ME DOWN, YOU DON'T NODE TO APOLOGIZE. WE MAYBE WERE THE LEADING CHURCH IN ATLANTA THAT ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING ONLINE. MAYBE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION. BUT WHEN I REALIZED THAT -- WHAT I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS AND TURN IT INTO AN ISSUE, BUT IF LEADERS ARE LEADING BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE READING IN THE NEWSPAPER, THEY ARE SUNK BECAUSE A, MOST OF WHAT YOU READ IN THE NEWSPAPER ISN'T TRUE, A LOT OF IT ISN'T TRUE, AND B, YOU'RE ALREADY LIKE SIX CONTACT BOOSTS OFF THE BACK OF THE TRAIN -- CABOOSES OFF THE BACK OF THE TRAIN IF YOU'RE JUST -- PEOPLE WHO NOW WERE REALIZING MY FRIEND'S BROTHER DIED LAST AUGUST AND THEY NEVER FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM, BUT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL ALL THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME. SO HERE WE ARE ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE MARCH THE 15THth, I THINK IT WAS, IN A BIG MEETING ABOUT ARE WE GOING TO GO ONLINE AND WHEN WILL WE GO ONLINE, IF THE UNITED SOCCER TEAM PLAYS SATURDAY, WE'LL MEET SUNDAY, IF THE HAWKS TEAM PLAYS SATURDAY, WE'LL MEET SUNDAY. >> IF I'M LOOKING BACK, FOR US, EVERY 10 MINUTES THINGS WERE CHANGING. >> 100%. WE'VE HAD MEETINGS, DAVID, LIKE YOU WHERE WE WOULD SPEND AN HOUR PUTTING OUR BEST EFFORTS INTO A SOLUTION, AND LITERALLY WHEN THE MEETING ENDED, EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS IRRELEVANT. >> RIGHT. >> AND SO HERE WE ARE ON A THURSDAY I THINK IT WAS TRYING TO DECIDE IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE CHURCH ON SUNDAY. BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE WHOLE WORLD WAS CLOSED. >> RIGHT. >> AND WHEN I REALIZED THAT I THOUGHT TO MYSELF HERE IS THE BIG THING I WAS LOOKING BACK AT. I WISH WE'D CLOSED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I WISH I HAD UNDERSTOOD THAT WE ARE THE THIRD OR FOURTH LARGEST AGGREGATOR OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA. YOU ARE THE LARGEST AGGREGATOR OF PEOPLE IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, SO YOU HAVE THE MOST RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE COVID AND WE HAVE WAY MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN CORPORATIONS AND GYMS AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IN OUR CITY AND THEN WE STARTED HEARING THE REPORTS. NEED TO LET YOU KNOW I SERVE AT THE WHATEVER GATHERING AT SUCH AND SUCH LOCATION AND I WAS SERVING TWO WEEKS AGO, I TESTED POSITIVE. JUST LET YOU KNOW I WAS IN SUCH AND SUCH A GATHERING THREE WEEKS AGO, I'VE TESTED POSITIVE AND I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, DAVID, FAITH SOMETIMES CRYPT ELSE US FROM LETTING REASON AND WISDOM LEAD US. >> YEAH, HOW DO WE BECOME JUST GOOD CITIZENS OF BOTH KINGDOMS AND JUST BE THE BEST CITIZEN IN GEORGIA, THE BEST SIT SUN IN VIRGINIA, HOW DO WE SHOW OUR FAITH BY SAYING WE ACTUALLY HAVE FAITH ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO MEET, WE ACTUALLY HAVE FAITH ENOUGH JUST TO OBEY THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER THAN US. I'M A PASTOR. I KNOW THEOLOGY, DOCTRINE, DISCIPLE MAKING. I DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT MEDICINE, MAN, SO I NEED TO DEFER TO PEOPLE THAT ARE BETTER THAN ME AT THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? >> YOU KNOW, DAVID, THERE IS A PERSON IN OUR CHURCH, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO SPECIFIC. I'LL JUST SAY THERE'S A PERSON IN THE CITY THAT I KNOW THAT WORKS FOR THE CDC AND I SAW THEM THE WEEK BEFORE WE MOVED ONLINE, AND WHEN I SAW THEIR FACE, WE WEREN'T IN A CONVERSATION, I JUST SAW WHAT THEY WERE CARRYING , IT HIT ME LIKE NO HEADLINE, ARTICLE, TV DID. WHEN I SAW THIS PERSON'S FACE I THOUGHT, OH, WOW, THIS IS A WAY BIGGER DEAL THAN I THINK IT IS. WE JUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE REAL SOMETIMES. THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS IF YOU'RE STUCK IN AN OLD WINE SKIN, THAT'S ALL YOU GOT AND CHANGE AND DISRUPTION IS YOUR ENEMY. YOU'RE GOING TO FUTURE TO GET IN THERE, DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, KEEP ON ROLLING AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ENTREPRENEUR REALLY SPIRIT THAT SAID I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T LOVE THIS, BUT WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE WAY TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT, THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WANT TO GET BACK TO MEETING AS SOON AS YOU CAN. >> TALK TO BUS THE PERFECT STORM. I HEARD YOU RECENTLY SAY HOW GOING OUTSIDE OF COVID-19, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD, SO MUCH CALENDAR TEE, FIRES. TALK TO US ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS SEEMS TO BE COMING TOGETHER, CONVERGING ON THIS MOMENT, THING GO YOU USED, PERFECT STORM. THE REASON I WAS SAYING THAT, DAVID, IS BECAUSE YOU AND I WENT THROUGH 911 LIKE NOT A FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY, IT WAS A REAL THING FOR US, IT HIT US AT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL, AT LEAST IT DID ME, BUT IT WAS A DEFINABLE CALENDAR LAMBERTI. WE GOT ATTACKED, WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO ATTACK SOME PEOPLE. FOR A LITTLE WINDOW OF TIME YOU WONDERED IS THERE GOING TO BE ANOTHER ATTACK AT THE MALL OR IN MY TOWN. YOU COULD SEE SORT OF THE FRAME OF IT. THIS THING IS INVISIBLE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS, WHERE IT'S GOING TO END, IF YOU'RE IN SOMETHING FOR A YEAR OR MONTH. I TALKED TO SOMEONE IN NEW YORK THE OTHER DAY THAT SAID THEY'RE LOOKING AT A TWO-YEAR CYCLE OF RECOVERY AND ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS AND I WAS READING, THIS IS CRAZY, I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE SUBJECT, BUT YOU LOVE JERUSALEM AND I LOVE JERUSALEM, AND THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY CHURCH, WHERE MANY SAY JESUS WAS BOTH CRUCIFIED AND RAISED FROM THE DEATH CLOSED FOR EASTER THIS YEAR. ONLY THE SECOND TIME IT'S BEEN CLOSED IN HUMAN HISTORY, THAT CHURCH. THE FIRST TIME, 1349 DURING THE BLACK PLAGUE. THE BLACK FLAGRANT STARTED INTERESTINGLY IN CHINA, MOVED ON THE SILK ROAD THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAN, MOVED THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST ON BOATS TO EUROPE, DEVASTATED EUROPE AND EVENTUALLY WIND OUT ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ONE IN FOUR HUMAN BEINGS ON PLANET EARTH. >> WOW. >> AT THE END OF IT TOOK EUROPE 200 YEARS TO REPLACE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LOST DURING THE BLACK PLAGUE. SO A, LIBERTY, WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS. THAT IS NOT HI, THAT IS NOT HYPE, THAT IS NOT A SLOGAN. WE HAVE FAITH AND WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT. THE QUESTION ISN'T AM I GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THESE DAYS. THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THESE DAYS GOING TO MAKE ME. AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT OF THIS AND HAVING FORKED AND FORMED THROUGH IT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER SIDE OF A MOMENT COMING THROUGH HERE. WHAT IT SAYS TO ME IS I THINK THE RECOVERY, THE BOUNCE-BACK, IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE PROTRACTED THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK. WHEN YOU PUT THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT, THE MIDDLE COMPONENT, WE'VE ALREADY HAD TWO SUICIDE IN OUR WORLD RELATED TO COVID-19. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COUNT ON ANY STATISTIC. PUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE SOCIAL IMPACT. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN 9/11. IN 9/11 YOU HUDDLED TOGETHER, YOU HUGGED YOUR PEOPLE, YOU GOT CLOSE AND YOU GOT TIGHT. SO THIS THING IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER THING IN THAT REGARD. IT IS FINANCIAL, IT IS -- IT'S HITTING EVERY LEVEL. THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S THE PERFECT STORM AND IT'S THE TIME WHERE WE -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO TEST WHAT WE ALL BELIEVED. >> YOU JUST MENTIONED SEPTEMBER 11th 11TH. IN YOUR OWN LIFE YOU'VE BEEN OPEN ABOUT THE SEASON OF ANXIETY, IT OVERTOOK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN VERY HONEST ABOUT OVERCOMING THAT. I WENT THROUGH A REVOLUTIONAL -- PRETTY TRAUMATIC ONE WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD IN IRAN. IN ONE SENSE THIS IS NEW, BUT IN ANOTHER SENSE I'VE LEARNED HOW THE WEATHER THROUGH OVERWHELMING WORRY AND CONCERN. A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, THEY HAVE KIND OF BEING I THINK WAITED -- INK BAITED, THEY HAVE LIVED IN AN OVERCHLORINATED POOL, THIS IS THE FIRST-TIME SOMETHING HAS THE VIRUS IN IT. OVERPROTECTEDDED ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY MET SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER. THEY'RE LOOKING TO THEIR PARENTS FOR ANSWERS, THEY DON'T HAVE THEM, SAME THING WITH PASTORS, SO SOMEONE WHO IS WEATHERING THIS FOR THE VERY FIRST-TIME AND IS MAYBE FINDING THEMSELVES EVEN AS A CHRISTIAN, DISCOVERING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE JUST HUMAN BEINGS WHO BELONG TO GOD. TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE ABOUT NAVIGATING BETWEEN WORRY AND CONCERN AND HOW SOMETIMES CHRISTIANS FEEL LIKE CONCERN SEEMS LIKE A LOT TO FAKE. WE'RE GOOD, SING A LOT OF SONGS AND WALK OUT. IT'S ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BE CONCERNED, BUT HOW DO -- >> JESUS WANTS US TO BE CONCERNED. IN FACT, IF YOU READ LIBERTY AND YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE WORLD DOESN'T KNOW THE STORY OF GRACE, THEN YOU MISS LIBERTY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT LIBERTY IS ABOUT, EQUIPPING PEOPLE TO GO INTO ALL SPHERES OF SOCIETY, RIGHT, AND TO BE LIGHT FOR THE STORY THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER STORY, AND IF THAT DOESN'T DOMINATE YOUR WAKING UP AND YOUR SLEEPING, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR TIME ON PLANET EARTH, THEN YOU'RE MISSING IT. JESUS SAID I WANT YOU TO BE CONCERNED. AND SO CONCERN SORT OF GOT A BUM RAP SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. IF YOU'RE A PARENT AND YOU LIVE AT THAT BUSY INTERSECTION AND YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER YOUR KIDS CAN RUN OUT IN THE STREET, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS BEING A PARENT. BUT CONCERN, DAVID, IS ME FOCUSING ON A REAL ISSUE AND TRUSTING GOD TO SOLVE A PRESENT DILL MEMORIAL. IT'S TRUSTING AND LEANING ON THE RESOURCE OF GOD TO HELP SOLVE A PRESENT DILEMMA. WORRY IS THE ENEMY WANTING TO HIJACK CONCERN, PUT IT ON STEROIDS, PUSH IT FOUR MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE AND CREATE SCENARIOS THAT MOST LIKELY ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO PASS, GET ME TO TRANSPORT OUT OF TODAY INTO TOMORROW AND THE TOMORROWS AFTER TOMORROW INSTEAD OF MY EMOTIONAL SPIRIT AND ENERGY, SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT PROBABLY ARE NEVER GOING TO BE A PART OF MY LIFE. THAT ROBS ME, AS WE KNOW, THE OLD PHRASE SAYS, THE JOY OF TODAY, AND IT CON ADDICTION THE NATURE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER, WEST GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. SO YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT. YOU WENT THROUGH A REVOLUTION, YOUR PSYCHE WAS SHAKING BY A REVOLUTION, AND SO THAT PUTS SOMETHING IN YOUR DNA. I'M 61 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN A LOT OF TIMES. SHELLY AND I, OUR FAMILY, WE HAVE TAKEN SOME BLOWS AND BEEN THROUGH SOME STORMS, AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO COME THROUGH THIS ONE. BUT IF YOU'RE 22 YEARS OLD AND MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH A GLOBAL STORM OF THIS SIZE, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CHOP IT DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FOCUS ON. YOU GOT TO CHOP DOWN THIS SIZE OF THIS THING TO WHAT IS TODAY, OKAY, WHAT DO I NEED TODAY, WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF ME TODAY THAT I NEED TO TRUST GOD FOR TODAY, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK GOD TO CREATE A FIRE WALL OVER HERE TO KEEP ME OUT OF THE PROJECTIONS WAY DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL THE WHAT-IFS SCENARIOS AND I THINK IF WE DO THAT, WE FIND OURSELVES RIGHT BACK WHERE GOD WANTED US TO START WITH, WHICH IS MAN, WHICH COMES DOWN EVERY DAY, THERE'S ONLY A SUPPLY FOR TODAY, AND COSTCO AND PUBLIX, THE INVENTORY IS GOING UP EVERY OTHER DAY, GOD'S UNATORY DOESN'T GO UP AND IS HI INVENTORY DOESN'T GO DOWN. HE'S STAYING GOOD EVERY DAY. >> THAT IS SO PRACTICAL, WAKE UP AND LOOK AT TODAY. JUST BE FAITHFUL IN THE MOMENT. WE HAD DR. TONY EVANS AS ONE OF OUR GUESTS DURING THE SEASON AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WORRY OWNS YOU, BUT A BURDEN YOU OWN. CONCERN YOU OWN. AND HE TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE MOMENT OF WORRY, WHERE IT'S OVER OF TAKEN, HE SAID GO BIRD WATCHING BECAUSE A BIRD JUST WORRIES ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO EAT THAT DAY. ANY MORE ADVICE FROM YOU ON JUST HOW TO DEAL WITH WORRY, WHEN SOMEBODY SAID I DON'T WANT TO WORRY, I DON'T WANT TO BE THIS OVERWHELMS -- OVERWHELMED, BUT I JUST LOST MY JOB, I JUST GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT IS VERY BAD NEWS, I DON'T SEE A WAY OUT, WHEN THEY FEEL IT'S COMPLETELY OVERTAKEN THEM. >> I THINK THAT THE PRACTICAL ADVICE IS FOR ME A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE, GOD KNOWS THAT WE'RE PREDISPOSED TO WORRY. OBVIOUSLY HE ADDRESSES IT SO MANY TIMES THROUGH THE WORD BECAUSE THIS ISN'T A NEW PHENOMENON. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF A SCREEN GENERATION AND ALL THE THINGS WE'RE GOING THROUGH. IT'S LIKE, NO, I THINK THERE ARE 365 REFERENCES TO THE PHASE DO NOT FEAR IN THE BIBLE, AND SO ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE ANCIENT TIMES, PEOPLE WERE ALREADY PREDISPOSED TO WORRY. I THINK IT'S A TRANSACTION. WORRY IS ABOUT -- JUST LIKE DR. EVANS SAID, WHAT IS IN MY HANDS VERSUS WHAT IS IN GOD'S HANDS AND THAT IS THE INVITATION JESUS GAVE US. JESUS IS VERY PRACTICAL, BY THE WAY. THIS IS NOT ALL SUPER SPIRIT. HE SAID CAST YOUR ANXIETY ON ME. THAT'S NOT LIKE A MISS CULL THING. HE'S LITERALLY SAYING WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT, THIS? OKAY, WHAT'S IN IT, NAME IT, AND THEN HAND IT, HAND IT TO ME. AND I THINK THAT IS NOT A DAILY THING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY, IT'S NOT A WEEKLY THING, IT'S NOT I READ A LITTLE BOOK THING, IT'S LITERALLY A BREATH BY BREATH MOMENT BY MOMENT TRANSACTION GOING ON, SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, WHY AM I SHORT OF BREATH RIGHT NOW, I'M HOLDING IT, I NEED YOU TO HOLD IT. I ASK YOU TO HOLD IT, BUT I TAKE IT RIGHT BACK WHEN I AND YOU TO HOLD IT. I THINK IT'S JUST REMEMBERING THAT GOD IS THERE, BUT NOT TO GIVE US A PAT ON THE BACK OR SING A LITTLE LULLABY OVER US, BUT HE'S THERE TO ACTUALLY TAKE WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO HAND HIM. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY STRUGGLING WITH FEAR OR WORRY, NAME IT, AND LET HIM TAKE IT. NAME IT. THIS IS WHAT IS CONCERNING ME, JESUS, I HAND IT TO YOU. I HAND HER TO YOU. I HAND THE SITUATION TO YOU. AND WE'VE GOT IT ALL ROUND US RIGHT NOW AND EVERYBODY DOES. CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST COVID, IT'S CANCER, IT'S ELDERLY PARENTS DYING, IT'S PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES, PEOPLE HAVE TO DRY BY AND WAVE THROUGH THE WINDOW, IT'S JOB LOSS, IT'S BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE, IT'S CHURCHES ARE GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. THIS IS REAL STUFF. >> YES. >> AND YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP HAND IS IT TO HIM. I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY THAT IS WHERE I'M -- WHERE I FIND FREEDOM. AND IF I'M NOT FREE, THAT JUST MEANS I GOT IT. >> I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THIS GREAT SENTENCE, YOU SAY WHEN YOU CAN'T HOLD IT ALTOGETHER, THEN WHAT? LET IT GO. >> I SAY -- I SAY WHEN -- I SAY IT THIS WAY THE OTHER DAY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE, THEN LET GO. >> YEAH. [ LAUGHTER ] >> NOT QUIT. DIFFERENT MESSAGE. >> NOT TRY HARDER. >> IF YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR YOUR ROPE JESUS IS NOT STANDING THERE SAYING HANG ON TIGHTER, HANG ON, STATER -- TIGHTER, COME ON YOU CAN DO IT. IF YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE AND OUR TELLING GOD I'M AT THE END HE OF YOUR ROPE AND HE SAID LET GO, FREE FALL TO GRACE, YOU WEREN'T HOLDING ON TO THE ROPE THE WHOLE TIME. I WAS HOLDING ON TO YOU THE WHOLE TIME. YOU JUST THOUGHT I WAS HOLDING YOU TOGETHER. I WAS ALWAYS HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN WHEN FAITH BECOMES SIGHT INTERESTED IN IN A WAY IT DOES WHEN YOU LET GO OF THAT ROPE THAT YOU REALIZE OH, MY WORD, THIS IS WHAT PAUL SAID WHEN I AM WEAK, I AM STRONG. ONE OF THE PROBABLY MISQUOTED VERSUS IN THE BIBLE OTHER THAN THE -- EVERYBODY SAYS THAT VERSE LIKE THIS. WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN HE IS STRONG. THAT IS THEOLOGALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL SAID. HE SAID WHEN I AM WEAK, I AM STRONG. WHEN I LET GO AND REALIZE IT'S NOT ME, THAT IS WHERE I ACTUALLY FIND MY STRENGTH TO MOVE FORWARD, AND IF -- LORD KNOWS WE ALL NEED TO BE IN THAT ZONE. >> JUST AS A LAST THOUGHT, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO TAKE YOUR PASTOR HAT OFF BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYTHING COMES OUT OF YOUR OWN -- JUST AN OVERFLOW OF YOUR OWN FAITH, BUT MAYBE EVEN MORE JUST ON A PERSONAL CHILD OF GOD, IS THERE A PARTICULAR VERSE IN THIS SEASON THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU, YOU MEMORIZED IT AS A KID, BUT NOW TODAY YOU SEE IT THROUGH THE LIGHT OF THIS PANDEMIC IN A DIFFERENT WAY OR A SONG, YOU KNOW, GOODNESS, THE WORLD HAS BEEN GIVEN SO MANY SONGS THROUGH PASSION, GOD HAS GIVEN US SO MANY SONGS THROUGH THAT, BUT IS THERE A SONG THAT YOU USED TO SING IN THE PASSES THAT MAYBE IN THE LAST WEEKS MEAN SOMETHING NEW TO YOU, THESE LYRICS HAVE BEEN REAWAKENING YOUR SPIRIT, A SONG OF VERSE THAT COMES TO MIND? >> A COUPLE THINGS. I THINK THE CREATORS AMONG US SHOULD BE WRITING SOMETHING ARE -- GREAT RIGHT NOW. MICHAEL RED MAN WROTE -- IT WAS A BIG WRONG, MY HELPED WENT BLANK, BUT I THINK HE DID WRITE IT DURING 9/11, SO THESE ANOINTED PSALMISTS THAT ARE AROUND US RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE WRITING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE, I THINK THE CHURCH, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO, TOO THERE'S MORE A PROPHETIC TONE OF WORSHIP IN THESE DAYS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE STOP JUST, PROPHETIC MEANS WE'RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE, CALLING PEOPLE TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BE WHEN EVEN GOD IS READY FOR THAT CALL AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PROPHETIC SONGS CAME IN THE LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY A LONG LIKE "WAYMAKER," WHICH STARTED FROM A GIRL IN AFRICA, THIS SONG, AND SOMEHOW GOT TRANSLATED TO THE WHOLE GLOBE. AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT LITTLE VIRAL VIDEO THAT WENT AROUND A FEW WEEKS AGO OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THE CHURCH JUST NORTH OF ATLANTA AND THEY WERE SINGING OVER THE CHURCH AND SOME OF THE STAFF CAME OUT AND JOINED THEM IN THE SONG AND THE PRAYER FROM THE ROOF OF THE HOSPITAL, THEY WERE WAGES "WAYMAKER," A SONG THAT GOD JUST STARTED AT THE RIGHT TIME BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO NEED THIS SONG AND THEN CHRISTIANS SAID WE ARE WRITING. WE'RE ALL WRITING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE JUST REALLIED TO THE WORLD THE SOUND TRACK THAT WE BELIEVE GOD WANTED QUEUED UP FOR THIS MOMENT, SONGS "THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR MOMENT THAT GOD CAN'T DO. -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN AT A SUPERMARKET OR GROCERY STORE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN LEADING LIBERTY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. I STILL GO TO PUBLIX. BUY GROW OWES ROWS. I WENT INTO PUBLIX ONE DAY AND I JUST SAUCE SOMETHING THAT HADN'T BEEN IN THE STORE FOR AWHILE. WE DIDN'T NEED IT, BUT I GRABBED IT ANYWAY. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE THING, BUT I HAVE SPENT TWO OR THREE SLEEPLESS LIGHTS IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS FORECASTING SIX MONTHS, NINE MONTHS, 10 MONTHS, THINKING ABOUT OUR TEAM, STAFF, FAMILIES, KEEPING WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING BABIES, WHOSE PARENTS ARE DYING AND I HAVE PANIC MODES, FREQUENT-OUT MOMENTS, LITTLE SEASONS, IF YOU WILL, AND IN THOSE, THE HOLY SPIRIT -- I LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE'LL BRING A VERSE OUT OF WHO KNOWS WHERE, AND NORMALLY DAVID FOR ME IT'S IN KING JAMES BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SOAKED DOWN IN THE BONE MARROW WHEN I WAS SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE YEARS OLD. THE VERSE CAME. WHEN MY HEART IS OVERWHELMED, LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I. AND I JUST THOUGHT, OKAY, I SHOULD KNOW WHO WROTE THAT SONG, IT'S DAVID, BUT I'M GOING TO GO DOUBLE-CHECK. I DID. I'M SO GLAD IT WAS IT WAS DAVID BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO BE A VALIANT WARRIOR, A MIGHTY MAN, A FEARS DUDE, I WANTED THAT GUY TO BE TELLING MOW MY HEART GETS OVERWHELMED. WHEN IT DOES I USE IT -- AS A CATALYST. I PREACHED ON IT. THAT WAS OVERFLOW ABOUT A MONTH OF IT BEING MY RHYTHM. I BET 100 TIMES I SAID, LORD, LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I. YOU KNOW WHAT IS COOL IS HE SAYS IN THE NEXT VERSE THAT THAT ROCK IS NOT A PLACE, IT'S A PERSON. YOU HAVE BEEN MY STRONGHOLD AGAINST THE FOE. AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE LITTLE GIFTS. I DON'T KNOW, WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF THEM INSIDE OF US THAT IF YOU SAID RIGHT NOW, TELL ME ABOUT SUCH AND SUCH CHAPTER, I'D GO I DON'T KNOW, BUT IN THE RIGHT MOMENT, THE SPIRIT GOES I'M GOING TO GRAB THAT VERSE, IT WENT WAY DOWN IN THERE 30 YEARS, I'M GOING TO PULL IT BACK OUT, BRING IT TO THE FOREFRONT AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SHEPHERD TO BE BALANCED IN YOUR BOAT, IF YOU WILL, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS CRAZY STORM. >> SO GOOD. DO YOU WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE? >> I KNEW YOU'D HAVE A TRENDY BLACK MATTER OF FACT. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HAVE A LITTLE P IN THE CORNER. ALREADY BRANDED. >> WHEN WE COME INTO THE BUILDING HERE, THERE'S ONLY MAYBE A DOZEN PEOPLE HERE RIGHT THIS MINUTE, BUT WE'RE TEMPERATURE TAKING, MASKS ON, I'M NOT WEARING A MASK BECAUSE I'M TALKING TO YOU, BUT WHEN WE FINISH THIS CONVERSATION I'LL HAVE IT BACK ON. SO, YEAH, I'M PROBABLY WEARING IT IN THE GROCERY STORE. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE STORE SINCE WE WENT TO THE MASK PROTOCOL MAYBE A WEEK AGO, BUT, YEAH, I'LL PROBABLY WEAR IT. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE LEADERS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OF FAITH, SAY IT'S NOT A LACK OF FAITH TO WEAR A MASK. IT'S MORE ABOUT NOT GIVING IT TO SOMEBODY THAN CATCHING IT FROM SOMEBODY, THINKS ABOUT OTHERS THAN MYSELF. >> MY NEIGHBOR CAME OUT THE OTHER DAY AND WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND, OBVIOUSLY, I'M THE PASTOR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT EVERYONE'S PASTOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY KNOW I'M THE PASTOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT. >> AND HE GOES MAN, WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE CHRISTIANS, I'M COMING FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS. I'M NOT AFRAID. AND HE WAS JUST LIKE GOING FOR IT AND I WAS LIKE, OH, MAN, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK GOD GAVE US GREAT FAITH AND I HAVE GREAT FAITH THAT HE'S ACTUALLY USING COVID-19 IN THIS ENTIRE CRISIS TO START A REVIVAL LIKE WE'VE ALL BEEN PRAYING FOR. HAD WE NOT THE LIBERTY STUDENTS BEEN INTERCEDING LIKE WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE IN THE LAST YEAR FOR REVIVAL AND REAWAKENING AROUND THE WORLD, WE ALWAYS THINK WE KNOW HOW GOD IS GOING TO ANSWER THAT OR WE WANT A MISSION TRIP TO CONGRESS GO AND A REVIVAL WILL SPILL OUT INTO CENTRAL AFRICA, SPILLOVER INTO THE MIDDLE EAST, INTO AFGHANISTAN, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. MAYBE GOD SAID, NO, THERE'S ACTUALLY A VIRUS RIGHT NOW THAT GOT TRANSMITTED FROM THESE BATS AND IT'S ALREADY IN THE AIR AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE CATALYST FOR GLOBAL AWAKENING AND THE RERIVAL THAT ALL YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR. SO GREAT FAITH, I DON'T KNOW, ISN'T CONTRIBUTED BY WISDOM, NEVER HAS BEEN, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT -- I POSTED THE OTHER DAY A PICTURE OF SHELLY AND ME AT OUR EASTER GATHERING AND WE BOTH HAD MASKS ON IN THE BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW, I SAW ONE COMMENT DOWN THE LIST OF SOME GUY, THAT WAS LIKE REALLY RUNNING ME DOWN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I HAD A MASK ON, AND I JUST THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BETTER TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND TO SHOW THE WORLD. I PRAYED THIS PRAYER, DAVID, THEN I KNOW WE GOT TO WRAP UP, WE WERE DELIVERING MEALS TO THE HOSPITAL. A LOT OF PEOPLE COME DOWN THERE ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS. THEY'RE NICE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP WITH REALLY GOOD TODAY. ONE OF THE BEST CHEFS IN TOWN GAVE THE FOOD. OR MAYBE HE CAME FROM OLIVE GARDEN, WHICH SMELLS AWESOME COMING THROUGH THE DOOR. WE WERE LOOKED AWAY. MY PRAYER WAS LORD, I JUST PRAY THE STOCK OF THE CHURCH, NOT OUR CHURCH, THE CHURCH, WILL RISE TODAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL GO, MAN, I DIDN'T THINK CHRISTIANS CARED. I DIDN'T THINK THE CHURCH EVEN KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. I DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD SHOW UP DAY AFTER DAY WITH MEALS THAT ARE OF HAD QUALITY, THAT ARE SERVED IN THIS EXCELLENCE AND GIVEN WITH THIS KIND OF LOVE AND CARE AND I JUST PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT BECAUSE OF OUR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, COMBINED WITH OUR FAITH, THE TWO THINGS, HAPPENED IN HAND, THAT THE STOCK IN THE CHURCH, IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, WILL RISE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE A STEPPING STONE FOR THEM TO COME AND EXPERIENCE WHAT WE'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR. >> AMEN, MAN. FOR US TO BE A COMMON PRESENCE, FOR US TO BE AN OBEDIENT PRESENCE, A SUBMITTED PRESENCE, IS SO MUCH LOUDER THAN JUST AGAIN, TRYING TO HAVE THE RIGHT THING TO SAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SO MAN, YOU HAVE DONE THAT. WE LOVE YOU. THANKS AGAIN. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON CAMPUS HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, IN PERSON, BUT UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS. WELL, YOU DO US AN HONOR AND JUST PRAY FOR US? >> SO, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF JUST BEING A PART OF CONGRESS OCCASION AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. WHAT A PRIVILEGE. COVID HAS CANCELED A LOT OF THINGS, BUT IT DIDN'T CANCEL CONVOCATION TODAY. IT'S NOT CANCELED THE MISSION OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, IT'S NOT CANCELED THE HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS, NOT CANCELED THE SESSION OF -- SENSE OF MISSION WE HAVE FOR SEEING PEOPLE OF THE WORLD COMING FOR THE STORY OF GRACE THAT WE KNOW, IT HASN'T CANCELED OUT TRUTH, HASN'T CANCELED OUT OUR WORSHIP. HASN'T SILENCED TODAY. ON THE CONTRARY I FEEL OUR WORSHIP HAS BEEN MORE MEANINGFUL THAN AWHILE, OUR WORD HAVE BEEN MORE WEIGHTY AND YOUR WORD FEELS MORE VIBRANT AND MORE NECESSARY THAN IT HAS TO US -- THAN IT HAS TO US IN DAYS PAST. I PRAY FOR F PERSON LINKS INTO THIS GATHERING, SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE FEELING THIS SAY VERY REAL LEVEL AND OTHERS ARE BARELY FEELING IT AT ALL, SOME PEOPLE'S HOME CITIES ARE IN THE DARK AND OTHERS ARE IN THE LIGHT, BUT, LORD, ALL OF US ARE IN ONE FAMILY TODAY, NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US BECAUSE YOU HAVE UNITED US BY YOUR SPIRIT. SO THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE IN OUR MIDST, JESUS, BE NEAR TO EVERY PERSON BY HELPING THEM SEE AND UNDERSTAND HOW NEAR YOU ACTUALLY ARE. I PRAY THAT HOPE WOULD RISE TODAY. I PRAY THAT EVEN THIS CONVERSATION WITH DAVID WOULD PUT SOME AIR IN EVERYBODY'S RAFT TODAY, NOT FOR 100-MILE JOURNEY, BUT JUST TO KNOW THAT TODAY, THIS DAY, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE US THE BREAD THAT WE NEED, AND, LORD, I DO PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD THE CHURCH FORWARD TO BE A LIGHT, TO BE A LIGHTHOUSE, TO BE A BEACON, AND LEAD EACH ONE OF US IN THAT WAY, LORD. HELP US REFRAME OUR OWN NARRATIVE TODAY AND NOT JUST PARROT WHAT THE WORLD IS SAYING, BUT TO SAY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHICH IS WITH MAN, IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. LET THAT BE OUR STORY TODAY. WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, LORD. SO LEAD US. DON'T LET US MISSING A MOMENT AND DON'T LET US WASTE THIS PANDEMIC BUT DO YOUR WORK IN US, THAT IS MY PRAYER IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. >> MAN. WE LOVE YOU. THANKS AGAIN. THANKS FOR WEARING THAT COAT AND TIE. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, I AM TELLING YOU, I MIGHT JUST AWARE THIS TO CONVOCATION NEXT TIME. >> I WAS GOING TO WEAR MY ROAR SWEAT SHIRT YOU GUYS SENT ME, BUT I PUT ON THE COVID-19 15. I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE. >>, HEY, LOVE YOU. >> LOVE YOU, TOO. SO GRATEFUL FOR PASTOR LOUIE AND SHELLY, NOT JUST FOR THE WAY GOD IS USING THEM AND ATLANTA, GEORGIA, BUT REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD. WE WANTED TO END OUR TIME TOGETHER THIS MORNING BY CON CONGREGATING AND SINGING TOGETHER A SONG, AN IRISH HYMN THANS TRANSLATE IN 1912 INTO ENGLISH CALLED "BE THOU MY VISION." IN MOMENTS, WHERE WE'RE NAVIGATING THROUGH FOG OR DARKNESS, A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, IT'S GOOD TO COME AND NOT RELY ON OUR OWN PHYSICAL VISION, BUT ASK GOD TO BE OUR EYES TO GAFFE I.T. -- NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS VERY SEASON. LET'S SING THIS TOGETHER. ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ >> THANKS AGAIN FOR-DOWNING US THIS MORNING. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR VERY LAST CONVOCATION OF THE YEAR. AS ALWAYS WE DO LAWNVO. SINCE WE'RE NOT TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO DO FRONT LAWNVO. WE'LL JOIN EACH OTHER FROM LITERALLY LAWNS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL STUFF IN STORE FOR US MAY THE FIRST, NEXT FRIDAY. JOIN US FOR FRONT LAWNVO. SEE YOU THEN. ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪
